Melting Point

A/N: Thank you to everyone who reviewed the first two chapters, even with all the errors I didn't notice when I read through it to edit. I did go back and fix them, funny how I kept finding more.

I actually updated two different stories two days in a row, amaizing. It usually takes me forever just to update one.

Oh, and Hughes is still alive in this story. Yes, I know that plot device has been done to death, but I know we all wished he'd survived. Plus he's loads of fun to write, and Mustang needs someone to drive him insane.

Disclaimer: I don't own Full Metal Alchemist.

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Ch.3

I've lost my mind, He thought while leaning his elbows on his desk, his unfinished paper work forgotten. Roy Mustang almost never went through with a plan without first considering every possible senario and every possible outcome. In fact, he'd been thinking over this particular plan since Full Metal had celebrated her eighteenth birthday. However, he had never decided if it were a good idea to actually put it into motion. It had just been a fun daydream at first, a way to quell his boredom. Except now that was a past issue, the present one was much worse anyway. Ed now knew he was attracted to her, or at least he assumed she did, but to learn that she somehow reciprocated those feelings, that had surprised him.

At first he'd just been concerned that something was wrong, and had been completely truthfull when he told her that she'd been slacking on the quality of her reports. He'd thought for a while that she was just getting lazy now that a major chapter in her life was finally over. Then when she'd continuously avoided looking him in the eye, on top of ignoring him a few times, he'd realized that was not the case. In order to pry the information out of her he knew it would have to be by means of trickery. Although a dishonest method, one was forced to be sneaky in order to deal with someone so bull-headed.

Standing in front of her chair had been an attempt at intimidation. The comment about her avoidence being cute had just been due pay for Ed's crack at his age. He'd predicted she'd get angry, just as she always did, and he had been right. He had not predicted that she'd jump up out of her seat. A small oversight on his part.

Mustang was fortunate that all those years in the service of the military had given him exceptional self control. That and he'd be damned if he ever admitted to figuring it out during the conversation rather than before.

Kissing her had just been a test on his theory. It certainly wasn't due to how endearing she looked while yelling at him and blushing. Of course not. He hated to admit it to himself, but a small part of him wished she had kissed back instead of being stunned.

So what if he was attracted to her, she was probably approached by guys all the time.

Yeah, guys half your age, a nagging voice in the back of his mind said.

Plus, it wasn't as if she was still a kid. A fourteen year age difference wasn't that big of a deal if both people in question were adults, right?

...Hell, who am I trying to convince?

Brigadier General Roy Mustang. Flame Alchemist, war veteran, and now...

Cradle-robber.

He sighed, My mother would kill me if she ever found out.

A knock at the door and Lt. Hawkeye peering into his office paused his thoughts.

"I'm sorry to interrup you sir, but your mother is on the line."

Mustang's eyebrows went up, Shit. I forgot she was coming to visit this week... She always did have perfect timing.

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Ed fidgeted nervously while staring at the phone that was infront of her, it looked particularly foreboding at that moment. She really didn't want to call her, but she knew what would happen if she didn't. Winry would not be happy with her if she conveniently "forgot", but at the same time she had no desire to tell her what had transpired in Mustang's office just minutes earlier. Well, she didn't have to tell her everything now did she? She could just... edit a few choice peices of information. Such as the last five minutes of their conversation. Winry didn't need to know about that.

She sucked in a deep breath and dialed the Rockbell's number. After a few rings a cheerfull voice answered, "Rockbell automail, how may I help you?"

"Hey Winry... it's me," She said.

"Ed!" the mechanic exclaimed loudly, then added with a laugh, "I actually expected you not to call, I guess that means I wont have to beat it out of you the next time I see you, huh?"

Ed scowled at the receiver for a moment before sighing and putting it back to her ear, "Yeah, great..."

She could almost picture Winry smiling with glee, "So... what happend? Spill, I want to hear everything."

"Er, nothing much... just..."

"Ed..." Winry cut in," you wouldn't happen to be planning on leaving anything out would you? Like anything important?"

The alchemist flinched, the other girl knew her far too well.

So much for that plan. "No, of course not, why would I do that?"

"Edith..." the mechanic chided.

She sighed in defeat," Alright, but you'd better swear to me you wont speak a word of this to Al."

"I swear!"

Ed did end up leaving out Mustang's offer, there were some things Winry still didn't need to know, but did tell her about all of the embarrassing events that led up to that.

"Wow... he actually kissed you..."

She snorted," I'm sure he just did it to get back at me for the remark I made about his age, and he enjoys getting under my skin."

"Do you really think he'd go that far?"

"Yes," She said without hesitation.

"I don't know, a kiss is an awefully odd way to get back at someone for an insult."

"This is Mustang we're talking about here, Winry. I didn't call him 'Colonel Shit' for nothing."

The mechanic paused for a moment before saying, "I know, but... did you ever consider the possibility that he actually does find you attractive?"

"Whatever, even if he does it's not like he's ever going to get into my pants."

She wasn't sure what Winry's reply had been since a loud and unfortunately recognizable voice behind her almost caused her to drop the phone.

"Hey Eddie! How's it going?"

Ed gave a forced smile and turned to see none other than Maes Hughes standing there.

"Just talking to my mechanic."

"Oh, you mean Miss Rockbell? Great! I've been meaning to ask how she was doing!"

Before Ed could protest he took the phone from her," Hello Winry! It's Lt. Colonel Hughes! Remember me?"

As the man blabbed on about his daughter Ed wondered how much of the conversation he'd heard. Not that it mattered, he wasn't the sort of person to gossip about anything that didn't concern his child.

A few minutes later Hughes smiled and handed the receiver back to her, "Sorry about that, got carried away."

"It's okay."

He waved and turned to leave," I'll see you later. I'm off to see Roy."

"Bye, Lt. Colonel."

Right before he vanished around a corner he called over his shoulder," Remember to come visit Elysia some time soon! She'll be happy to see you!"

Ed picked the phone back up," you still there?"

"Yes... Ed?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you know how long he'd been standing there?"

She sighed," No idea, he tends to sneak up on you anyway, the man can be damn quiet for some one who talks so much."

Winry snickered," Wouldn't it be funny if he went and snitched to the General about what you said?"

"...No, it wouldn't be."

"I was just kidding, Ed, lighten up."