-.-.-.-.-. notes -.-.-.-.-.-.-

I do not own FMA, nor do I wish to.

Reviewing is nice. It's not like you're doing anything else in quarantine anyway.

italics are inside thoughts.

-.-.-.-.-. story -.-.-.-.-.-.-

Mustang arrived at work that day to an awkward silence. No one would look him in the eye or respond to his questions except Hawkeye, who just motioned for him to head to his office. So with one final look around, he did.

Sitting at his desk he realised what everyone's problem was, the newspaper. Which had an article about FullMetal. In a dress. Her picture splashed across the front page.

He suddenly remembered an envelope from Ed the week before. Rudely nailed to his front door. He had grumbled and put it in his coat's inner pocket and promptly forgot about it.

He checked, it was still there.

Hey Jackass,

I've been meaning to tell you for a while, but until we got Al's body back it just wasn't a safe thing to do, for any of us.

My name is not Edward Elric, it's Edaline Elric. I'm 23, not 19. Al is 20, not 17.

I wanted to tell you before I go public. I plan to have a grand opening at my new repair store and use this news as a promotional event.

If you need more time to adjust first though, let me know. You can even pick a fight with me if you want. I know i should have told you earlier, i just couldn't.

Sorry this isn't in person, i tried for a few days but you've been in meetings.

-Edaline

Meetings?! That was utter b.s. He'd had maybe two meetings all week. The little chicken shit.

Mustang balled up the letter and threw it across the room. Then he picked up the newspaper and threw it. Then a pen followed. A handful of pens. The cup that had been holding them. The lamp.

Hawkeye flinched every time she heard a crash from Mustang's office. She'd predicted the temper tantrum and had removed the most valuable items and the important do-not-misplace pile of paperwork. Hopefully he calmed down before Ed actually showed up around noon.

Mustang was a grown man so his temper tantrum was over after about 30 minutes.

He started picking up the broken pieces and lost paper, his mind still on revenge. He was going to murder Ed next time he saw her. Just straight up burned alive. No evidence. He'd throw the ashes into the wind. Fuck it, he'd throw her into the wind and then set her on fire. Better not burn the carpet. Plus he wouldn't have to sweep up ash. Yeah, next time he saw her. She'd better have bought a fireproof building for her new job. Stupid FullMetal just dropping this on him. Hiding from him.

Hiding.

FullMetal never hid. Not from something like this. She always came forward. Admitted the mistake.

She must be feeling pretty guilty.

He grinned.

Her guilt gave him the upper hand.

Around lunch he heard her in the outer office. Perfect. Time to lay on the guil-

"Hey flame brain, Hawkeye said you had a temper tantrum because you forgot about my letter."

Mustang stopped in his tracks. "What?"

"Probably because you're lazy. I gave that to you a week in advance so you'd have a chance to talk to me. Not my fault your dumb-ass didn't read it until today."

Mustang sputtered.

"Well, have at it, I'm on a lunch break. Those newspaper interviewers from yesterday are still freaking out. I thought after they published this morning they'd have calmed down. But looks like not. I snuck away to check in on you since I hadn't heard from you at all."

He watched as Ed took a seat on his office sofa.

"I've got about 15 more minutes so if you have any questions, comments… name calling, now's the time."

Mustang stared at her as he tried to get his thoughts in order. 5 minutes went by, 10, 15.

"Ok, well. That wasn't weird or anything. I've got to head back." Ed leaned forward and put a pen on his desk. He could see her uncertainty but still couldn't find the words he wanted to say. He'd been thinking about this all morning and now that she was here, he had nothing.

"This was on the sofa. Not sure why…. So i guess i'll see you around." She seemed to be hesitating, and he saw her look him over before giving up. "Ok. Bye i guess."

Ed took one last look around the office and walked out, he noticed she didn't check over her shoulder.

He'd have to figure his brain out and stop by her shop tonight. He just hadn't been prepared for how gorgeous she was in a dress.

-.-.-.-.-. notes -.-.-.-.-.-.-

I actually have quite a few pending stories right now. That just require some time to edit. So i guess i'll definitely post at least one more before the year is out.