Several bottles of wine and a lot of whiskey later, Ed and Riza stumbled out of the bar together. They had remained, talking for hours, even after everyone else left. In fact, they'd still be there if it weren't for a loud, booming voice declaring "Last call!"
The rain had subsided to a slight mist which glazed over Riza's face with a subtle sheen. Ed had offered to walk her home, and though she only lived about two blocks away, she accepted, but not without some slight protesting. "I'm not that drunk Edward", she laughed, even though she realized she had more that night than she'd had in a very long time. "Yes you are, and I'm not taking no for an answer", Ed replied smiling, though he was just as trashed as she was. He held his arm out to her, and she accepted it. Together, they stumbled down the sidewalk, talking and laughing all the way. The world was spinning for Riza, and though her senses were dulled from the alcohol, she felt and odd awareness and newfound perception of her surroundings. The sound of their feet hitting the pavement created a wonderful rhythmic beat. Ed's steps swayed as he fought to keep his balance, almost tripping and bringing Riza down with him. She laughed "Maybe I should be the one walking you home instead." He scowled as heavy eyes looked her up and down. She laughed harder, and pointed to her door. "We're here", she announced and fumbled for the keys. After what seemed like minutes, she finally found the elusive keys. They slipped through her fingers, and Ed reached down for them. In a gentlemanly manner, he attempted to open the door for her, but he couldn't get the damn lock to stop moving around. Riza giggled uncontrollably as she exclaimed "Ed, can't you get it in the hole yet?" Laughter overtook her as he mumbled something that sounded like "I'll show you who can get it in the hole", and he finally opened the door.
As Riza walked inside, she turned to see Ed standing out there, with an unexplainable look on his face. His eyes had a sort of sadness and longing to them, but there was also something else there. She shook her head slightly to clear off some of the drunken fog that surrounded her. What else was it she saw in him just then? She recognized it as something faintly familiar, but couldn't remember what. "Come on", she held out her hand to him. "I don't care whether you're the great Fullmetal or not, you're in no condition to go staggering around Central at this time of night." Smiling, he took the offered hand, and followed behind her, down the hallway to her apartment door. Taking the keys he still held, she opened the door, revealing a simple, yet elegant apartment.
"Sit wherever you want. I'll get us something to drink." She led him into the living room and went off into the kitchen. Ed looked around the apartment, obviously impressed with the appearance of it all. Though it wasn't overly big, it was lush looking with a simplistic style to it. A medium sized crystal chandelier softly illuminated the room. Deep cherry wood floors shone a reddish brown color in the light. 'Just like her eyes' he thought to himself. Ed walked around the room, admiring the impressive brick fireplace set into the wall. Not paying attention to where he was going, he stubbed his foot into the leg of a dark walnut table, one of two that flanked either side of a large, inviting sofa. A glass vase filled with white lilies wobbled slightly and he quickly steadied it with his hands. Taking a seat on the sofa, he realized it was as comfortable as it looked. Signing, he marvled at how refined his surroundings were. Nothing was too girly or overdone. It was classic and commanding, but with an underlying warmth to it all. 'It's so very like her' he sighed as his head leaned back into the cushy softness of the sofa. He felt slightly dizzy and closed his eyes, just enjoying the moment. They quickly opened again when he heard a soft pattering of feet entering the room.
Riza was carrying two wine glasses and an open bottle of chilled white zinfandel. She'd taken her boots and socks off, revealing pale toes that were painted a soft blue. She came towards Ed, set everything down on one of the tables by the sofa and poured each of them a glass. Handing one to Ed, she took the other. "A toast", she said and brought her glass towards Ed. "To one of the most wonderful nights I've had in a very long time. Thank you Ed", she touched her glass to his and they both drank deeply. His face tinged a crimson hue, obviously embarrassed by the comment she made. "Thanks", he said shyly, as he took another heavy drink from his glass. "I mean it though Edward, it was just really nice having someone to just talk to and be comfortable with. I always feel as if I have to be guarded and on point all the time. It wasn't like that with you tonight." She gave him a smiled that made him feel something very foreign but wonderful at the same time. "I liked being with you too. It's nice, just having someone to talk to again. I guess it's true what you said earlier. Even the strongest of us needs company sometimes."
They continued to drink and talk, laughing with one another. Riza was amazed by the way Ed could carry a conversation when he wanted to. Though he was younger than she, he spoke as if he were her contemporary. Ed proved to be knowledgable in a variety of subjects. His eloquent way of speaking enticed her into wanting to hear more and more words from those soft yet definitely masculine lips of his. There was just something about him she found herself drawn to. It was unexplainable, but distinctly there. Riza raised her glass, took a deep drink, afterward sighing into the glass.
Ed was slightly suprised to see the way Riza fed into his conversation. He enjoyed every reaction she gave to the words that left his mouth. Warm and very drunk, he shrugged off his coat as he continued offering his opinion on every topic imaginable. Her reactions to his words were engaging, enthralling, and just borderline seductive. Eyes, slightly closed but shyly revealing a color of rich cocoa were fixed on him, causing his insides to feel as if they were shifting around on him. Her hand touched his during certain points of discussion and he found himself shifting closer to her in anticipation of more contact. A slightly husky but definitely feminine voice interacted with him, proving that even drunk, she possessed an incredible wit and intellect. 'God, she's amazing', he thought to himself as he finished the contents of the third glass of wine she offered him. Throughout the time he spent at her apartment, he fought with himself to keep certain thoughts at bay. They were very foreign to him, and he was afraid of what may happen if he had chanced to act upon those thoughts.
That's when she did it, and his resolve left him.
He watched with a molten gaze as she drank from her glass. The motion of raising her glass to her lips had a beautiful fluidity to it. Supple lips parted slightly revealing the bottom of her slick, white front teeth. Feathery eyelashes fluttered almost coyly as she finished off what wine was left. As the glass left the sightline of her mouth, he noticed the miniscule droplets of wine that remained on sighing lips. When he saw that pink tongue of hers lick away those tiny drops from incredibly sensual lips, he absolutely lost himself.
Dropping his glass to the floor, it shattered into pieces. Her eyes widened as he leaned towards her, gripping her shoulder with cool metallic fingers. Hungrily, he pressed his lips against her still moist mouth and kissed her, begging for her acceptance.