Melting Point
A/N: The beginning of this started out as being part of chapter one, but it made it very long. So I waited until both chapters were finished before posting it. I got stuck at one point half-way through this chapter and it took forever to pick it back up again.
Disclaimer: I don't own Fullemtal Alchemist or any of the characters.
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Ch.2
Ed barely registered the ride to Central, she was too caught up in her own thoughts. She hadn't even noticed when the train had stopped at their station. Al had tapped her on the arm," Hey sis, we're here."
Ed blinked up at him," Oh, already?"
She grabbed her bag from under the seat and hurried off the train. The walk to the main building went by just as quickly, and Ed found herself stopping at the gate. She took a deep breath. Today was the day she would face him and get though it with out any problems. She was the Fullmetal Alchemist damnit, she refused to get worked up over something that Winry had reffered to as a 'crush'. She was stronger than that. Flat out denial? Yes, that would do nicely. Ed would pretend it wasn't him in the room, turn in her report, then haul ass out of his office.
"Uh, Ed? Are we going in?"
Al's voice brought her back to reality and she laughed and said, "Sorry, I was just thinking about the report."
Her brother smiled and nodded like he'd bought it, and didn't think she was losing her mind. If Al only knew the restraint it took on Ed's part to be alone in the General's office with him. Her brother had no idea how uncomfortable it was. It wasn't as if Mustang was doing anything obscene while she was there, or making passes at her. He would act completely non-chalant, read her report, ask a few questions, and then she would be dismissed. He would hardly even make eye contact anymore. When she had first joined the military at age twelve Ed hadn't given much thought to Mustang's appearance, at the time she had no interest in anything regarding sex. Her single-minded goal to retreive her lost limbs and her brother's body had cut out everything else all those years. Pity for her. Eight years later and it had now returned full-force and with a vengence. The most frustrating thing was, why him? None of the other males she came in contact with made her so uncomfortable. It annoyed her to no end. Hell, she would have preffered Havoc to Mustang. At least she could deal with him, he wasn't a smug bastard unlike someone else she knew. Just the thought of him made her burn with anger. Unfortunately she knew the second she stepped into his office and closed the door the burning would become a different kind. The kind she wasn't used to handling. Anger was familiar, this... this was close to scaring her.
Ed cleared her throat and proceeded to go inside. She kept repeating what she was going to do in her mind as she walked through the building, smiling and nodding to the personell she knew when they greeted her. Al paused to chat with Havoc and Breda, and told her that he'd wait for her there. It felt good to be back into her usual fast-paced stride, but her steps slowed as she began to once again dred what was more than likely going to occur. Mustang's door was closed, as usual. She raised up one hand as if to knock, but stopped just before her knuckles came in contact with the wood.
Okay, Ed, you can do this, don't become agitated, she thought.
She knocked, if a little too loudy, and was answered with "Come in" a moment later. The alchemist opened the door planning to act like she normaly did. Mustang was at his desk, reading a paper in front of him. Without looking up he spoke," Lock the door behind you, Fullmetal, then take a seat."
She frowned but didn't ask why, and did as he had said. She held her report out and he glanced up at it before taking it and opening the folder to read it. Her back was rigid in the seat as she tried to concentrate on anything except the man sitting in front of her. It was hard, but she would force herself if necessary. She opted to fix her gaze on the desk lamp, which was an improvement from the last time she was in there.The embarassment of realizing that she had been staring at his chest the entire time still made her turn red when she thought about it. She squeezed her eyes shut as they had begun gravitating towards the center of the desk.
Nope, not paying attention to him at all, she told herself, turning to look at the file cabinet along one wall.
"Fullmetal."
"Hn?" She grunted, not wanting to turn her head back.
"Elric."
Ed sighed at the tone the General had spoken her last name with and didn't dare look him in the eyes, but instead stared past him at a point just over his shoulder.
"Care to explain?" He tilted the folder up in her direction.
She blinked in genuine confusion," Explain what?"
"Your report."
She smirked, attempting to pretend that nothing was wrong, Ed on a normal day would have made a snide remark," Can't read it yourself? Has your eye sight gone bad already?"
Her smirk faded when Mustang didn't react at all but instead leaned back slightly and opened a drawer on the side of his desk. From it he pulled six more folders which he then spread out one by one next to the report she'd just handed in.
"I've been noticing a pattern lately," He said, "the reports from the last five months have been far below your level."
He then pointed to the newest one, "This one is by far the worst. Your reports are many things, but they're never half-assed."
Ed momentarily forgot her personal dilemma to defend against him reffering to anything she did as 'half-assed', "I did the best I could under the circumstances."
The man looked thoughtful for a moment then pushed his seat back and stood up. Ed felt herself begin to gradualy tense up as he came closer. When he stopped Mustang was standing directly in front of her so that they were both in between the desk and the chair she was sitting in. There was less than three inches of space seperating them. If she tried to stand she'd have to touch him, she was effectivly trapped. Unless she lost her nerve and leaped over the back of the seat that is. The only thing that prevented her from doing just that was her refusal to do something so completely cowardly. That and the entire base would know of it by the next evening.
"And what circumstances were those?" Mustang asked, staring down at her as she visibly tried to avoid meeting his gaze.
She arched an eyebrow," What does it matter?"
"What ever happens to be effecting you this much needs to be dealt with."
Ed found herself counting the number of squares in the window behind him. Mustang was behaving oddly. A feeling a dread rose from her gut. Did he figure out what was going on? Was he just screwing with her for his own amusement? It certainly seemed like something he would pull.
"So I'll deal with it," She shrugged, "May I leave now?"
"Actually," A smirk slowly appeared on his face, "I think you sitting there while trying so hard to avoid looking at me is rather...cute."
"I am not fucking cute!" She sprang out of her seat and realized her mistake too late when it put her flush up against him. Taking into consideration he was also entire head taller than her meant her face was close enough to see the rise and fall of his chest as he breathed. Which in turn caused a large blush to spread accross her cheeks. When she could finally move again she let out an undignified yelp and flopped back into the chair. Mustang still hadn't moved, nor had he made any reaction other than the smirk that had not left his face.
Daring to glimpse up, she met his eyes, and her face turned redder at the expression in them. His face was his usual arrogantly amused one, but in his eyes was a look she'd never seen before. Feeling a surge of indignation at the fact he was obviously mocking her in some way she glared at him.
"You did that on purpose, you sonofabitch," She fumed.
"You're the one who jumped at me, I didn't do a thing."
"I didn't jump at you!" Ed hissed out from between her clenched teeth.
"Are you sure? It seems to me like you did, since you remained there for a while. It almost had me thinking you weren't going to move."
"You're imagining things, Mustang," She attempted to control another out break of blushing and failed.
"Am I?"
Ed stood up on the chair so that she could glare down at him, and heatedly pointed an index finger at him," Screw you! I'm not stupid enough to say anything you could use against me!"
"Oh, I have more than enough to use, trust me," He said," I'm just making sure there aren't any misunderstandings."
That made her blink," Misunderstandings about what?"
"About this."
She froze with her finger still extended when he took a step forward, titled his head up, and pressed his lips against hers. The office suddenly felt as if someone had transmuted it into a sauna. Her eyes were wide and her hand was uselessly clutching at the air like it wanted to grab onto something. Mustang took her wrist and placed her hand on his shoulder. Ed was too shocked to return the kiss and after a while of her being unresponsive he pulled back and sighed.
She stared with her mouth open, still standing on the chair. Of all the senarios she would have assumed could happen, that had not been on the list.
"So, " She managed to say after a minute or two." I'm guessing that was why you told me to lock the door."
Mustang chuckled," You catch on quickly, Fullmetal."
"But why did you... k...ki...," She stuttured finding herself unable to get the last part of the question out.
"Kiss you?"
Ed nodded.
"Do you really want me to answer such an obvious question?"
She thought for a moment, then sighed," No, I guess it doesn't matter."
"Good, then let's continue," He cleared his throat, "I have a...proposal for you."
"Not interested," She said quickly.
The man blinked at her then smiled, "No? I thought maybe being presented the chance to boss me around would appeal to you, but if it doesn't..."
He gave a casual shrug and she narrowed her eyes at him.
"Boss you around, huh? I thought you liked being the one in control."
"Yes, but I'd be more than willing to relinquish my command for a while, at least for what I have in mind."
Ed swallowed," What do you have in mind?"
"I'm glad you asked, "He smirked before turning and walking back to his desk.
She let out a deep breath and got down off the chair but remained standing. Mustang folded his hands in front of him on the desk top and continued.
"As you've probably realized by now, I know why you haven't been able to concentrate on your work. And being as I am the one causing you to lose your focus I've decided to take care of it myself," His smirk then grew to a wide smile," Since I doubt that any teenage boy could satisfy you."
She felt her eye twitch.
"And I take it that you think you're man enough for me?" Ed sneered.
"Are you doubting my capabilities?"
Ed frowned in thought. She knew of his reputation with women, and the rumor the General had dated two at one time on several occasions. The whole situation had yet to really sink in, she wondered for a moment if she were still on the train and was actually dreaming. Mustang was offering to sleep with her? Her mind returned to her orignal plan of 'hurry up and get the hell out'. Once she was a safe distance away she would be able to think properly.
She snorted, "You already gave me a demonstration. Wasn't too impressive."
"You mean the kiss? That was just a way to stop you from yelling. I wasn't trying to impress you. Would you like me to?"
Ed again found herself at a loss for words. One side of her was curious enough to maybe say yes, the other was screaming at her that she would regret it. She decided to play it safe.
"I don't trust you. You snuck that first one in when I had my guard down."
The General smiled, "As I said, I don't want any misunderstandings. The idea I have in mind would prevent that. Since it would allow you to be in control of the situation."
"How so?"
"Well, you would tell me to do something, and I'd comply. You'd be the higher ranking officer so to speak. I'd have to wait until you gave me the order to act. So that kiss I 'snuck in' would had to have been a command for it to have happened."
Having a hard time believing Mustang would let her have that much control she narrowed her eyes at him," What are you getting out of this? I know you're not doing it out of concern for me."
"I have every intention of giving you control, I'm not doing it to trick you."
She arched her eyebrow," And if I tell you to shove it?"
"Then we never had this conversation."
"And you wont mention it again?"
He nodded," Not unless you willingly bring it up."
Ed sighed. As interesting as the offer sounded, she knew it came with strings attached some where, she just couldn't see them yet.
"I have a feeling you wont follow my "orders" unless you want to."
Mustang smirked, "As long as they aren't meant to purposely humiliate me I wont object."
"Damn," she muttered, crossing her arms over her chest, "I knew there was a catch. I was considering dressing you up as a dog, and then making you run around in circles while chasing your tail. But... I guess that's not going to happen."
"I'm not sure whether to be amused by that image, or insulted."
"Like I care what you think."
He chuckled again," You're not going to make this simple, are you?"
"I'm not a simple person," she stated matter-of-factly.
"Oh, I already knew that," He then paused in thought for a moment before saying," If you like, you can think about it for a few days, I'm in no hurry."
Ed shrugged, knowing she'd end up thinking about it whether she wanted to or not," Fine."
Mustang nodded," Then have a pleasant afternoon. Dismissed."
He began putting the folders back into the desk drawer and she turned to leave. When she closed the office door behind her she let out a heavy sigh.
I've lost my mind, she thought as she went to look for Al.
