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

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

italics are inside thoughts.

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

Mustang and Havoc were having coffee mid Saturday morning. A tradition that had started when Havoc asked Mustang's previous romantic interest, and now best friend, Riza Hawkeye out on a date. Roy had disliked the idea and wanted to keep an eye on the tall blond on behalf of his friend. Even going so far as trying to intimidate him, which hadn't worked and Riza had smacked him for.

Mostly though he was a bit jealous the man had found someone before him. So now they spent Saturday morning at the cafe at the edge of the city market and Havoc would challenge Mustang to take random women to dinner. If they said yes, then Havoc bought coffee next time, if they said no, Mustang paid. Usually it was Havoc footing the bill but today would be different.

"Why are we here so early? I could have slept in a bit more."

Havoc rolled his eyes, Mustang's whining was annoying this morning and he'd spent enough time with Hawkeye to understand what a baby the General was.

"It's not early it's 10:00, and once again, Sir. I'm taking Riza to a fancy lunch today, you're doing nothing."

Mustang pouted.

Havoc spotted what he was looking for out of the corner of his eye and turned his chair to face the market stalls, he changed the subject "Alright, let's find you a woman."

Mustang immediately jumped on board, turning his chair as well. The the pout gone and the devious spark returning to his eyes.

"I'm going to ask that brunette over there."

"Nope."

"What?!"

"I'm choosing today."

"You don't get to choose dates for me."

Havoc didn't reply, stalling for time and drinking his coffee, watching his friend as he checked out women at the market. He saw the moment Roy spotted the target.

"This is my date Jean, and I will be choosing."

Havoc could see Roy's gaze had not wandered and exaggeratedly turned in his seat to face the crowd on the left "Ok, I'll see if I approve. Which woman would you like to ask?"

"The small blonde over there in the blue dress, and I'm not asking your permission lieutenant."

Target acquired.

"Fine, but I happen to know that woman and I'm telling you she's not interested in dinner dates. She's single yes, a little young, 23, probably too smart for you. Easily angered… Nevermind. You'll figure it out." He said it to goad Mustang into making a move but it was unnecessary, the General was already focused on his goal.

Roy had puffed up, "You're wrong Lieutenant Havoc. She will join me for dinner and I will go prove it."

"Fine, but no more bets on coffee. You're going over there because you're interested, not because i made a dumb bet with you."

Mustang got up, suspiciously cautious and finally catching on, "You're setting me up."

Havoc stayed sitting but met his eyes, "Absolutely. But for the record this was Hawkeye's idea. Don't be too mad at her."

"I'm not going to be mad at Riza for setting me up, annoyed maybe, not mad."

Havoc sipped is coffee, hiding his expression from Roy, "I wasn't talking about Riza."

Roy didn't know how to respond and left the cafe with a feeling of foreboding looming over him, why would he be mad at a girl he was being set up with? So even though Havoc's comment was ominous, he couldn't back down while he was watching. He'd just have to go slow and be cautious. At least her back was to him as she looked at vegetables, he could assess her without looking like a creep. The only strange thing he could see was that she was wearing tall boots. Who wears tall boots to go market shopping?

-.-.-.-

Ed was annoyed, Riza had promised to go market shopping with her this morning and so far Hawkeye was a no show and Ed had no idea what she was doing. Her life experiences did not include knowing vegetable ripeness. She was extra annoyed because in order to get Riza to come with her she'd had to promise to wear the blue dress they'd bought last week. At least her boots hid her automail.

Ed grumbled as the stall tender fussed about behind the table, she could only pretend she knew what she was doing for so long. She picked up two vegetables and started to compare them, maybe the answer would just come to her.

-.-.-.-

Mustang decided to make his move and stepped into the blonde's personal space. "Good morning miss, which zucchini do you recommend?"

The shopkeep looked up, realised one customer was attempting, and failing, to hit on the other, who was clearly oblivious, rolled his eyes and went back to cleaning his extra stock behind the table. Because of this, he didn't get to see the priceless look of confusion that crossed over Mustang's face when the woman responded, "Fuck off Roy I'm busy."

Roy took a step back, his eyes wide, "Ed?!"

She put the zucchini down and turned, her intense focus on the vegetables evolving into irritation at her commanding officer's persistence. "Of course it's me Mustang, What the hell do you want?!"

Ed looked up at him and her irritation vanished at the expression on his face, she looked down at her dress. "Shit." And took a step back.

His hand snapped out and grabbed her arm so she couldn't leave while his brain processed what he was seeing.

Ed felt guilty, she hadn't wanted him to find out like this and she was immediately annoyed at Hawkeye, this was obviously a set up and now it looked like Roy was hyperventilating as he leaned over, still clutching her arm.

She waited for a moment while he composed himself and straightened up.

His first move was to glare at her so Ed immediately went on the defensive. "Don't fucking look at me like that, this wasn't my idea. I had a plan to meet you in the park… next week… maybe."

Her argument died as he kept glaring. It was her general idea to meet in the park, with no set date, that she kept procrastinating. Which is probably why Hawkeye set her up.

She dropped her gaze, "I'm sorry, I chickened out. I didn't know how to tell you."

Roy didn't seem to be listening but he did move into action, dragging her by the arm around the corner into the nearest alley.

She had thought he would start yelling, and it threw her off balance mentally and physically when he crouched down in front of her and started poking her in places; stomach, side, hip. She assumed to see if she was really a woman and let him, a blush colouring her face and his proximity clouding her brain. She was guilty after all, she should cut him some slack-

*Poke*

Mustang had stood while she wasn't thinking properly and she had to look up to meet his eyes, then she looked down to see his finger, pressed into her breast.

Anger cleared her head and she slapped him with her stronger left hand before marching away. How could she actually have a crush on such a perverted jackass.