Hey yall... im back after 138485 years. Let's get this show on the road lmao
Unsurprisingly, Winry was ecstatic. As soon as Roy left, first thing Edward did was go on break to call her straight away to share the 'good news', only to hear her shrill cries of excitement. He winced and took the phone away from his ear trying to recover from the sudden loudness.
"Thank amazing Ed! But first of all, what was he doing at the hardware store?" Her curiosity evident through the phone. He could imagine what Winry's face right now, probably wide eyed from the surprise but then looking smug afterwards.
"He was in the area." Edward shrugged, also trying to keep his voice casual.
"Surely not. That is a huge coincidence, Ed. Maybe he's checking up on you!" She gushes. Edward rolls his eyes at the idea but a small part of his mind betrays him when he realises that maybe he wouldn't mind too much if Roy really did find him on purpose. However, sometimes reality can be quite disappointing and Roy was most likely here for business anyway.
"No Winry, this isn't some cheesy romance novel. He's literally just funding some research." Edward grumbles.
"Ah yes! I heard he's given the farming division a $2.5 million grant."
Edward's eyes nearly bulge out of his skull. Wow. That could pay off more than his tuition and cover his rent for the next couple of years!
"Okay first of all, how do you know all of this. Are you sure you're not in love with him or something?"
"Oh Edward, so slow on everything." He can now imagine Winry shaking her head. "I'm a journalist so of course I've written a profile on the guy. It's literally my job to know this."
Edward snorts. "Yeah, yeah. So, do you want his photos or not?"
"Of course I do, dumbass. Only issue is, who's going to take them and where?"
Right. He forgot about that. "Wait no, we can ask him where since he's still in the area, remember?".
"Okay genius, and how will we do that?" Winry scowls.
"Why, I'm glad you asked, since I have his phone number!" Edward chuckles now feeling smug.
Winry gasps.
"The richest, most elusive, most enigmatic playboy in Central City, just gave you his number."
"Yes Winry, it's not a big deal."
"Oh shut up, Ed. He's interested in you! No doubt about it." Her tone suddenly excited now.
Edward flushes but shakes off the feeling. "He's just trying to be nice." But even as he's saying the words, they feel like lies.
It also comes as surprising to Edward. He just knows that Roy Mustang doesn't do nice. He's polite, sure (excluding that time he commented on Ed's height). Suddenly, a small voice in the back of his mind whispers, maybe Winry is right. Maybe he is interested. He feels like giggling but then scowls when he remembers how old he is and the type of person Roy is, he decides to abandon the thoughts. Winry continues talking through the phone.
"I don't know who we can get to do the shoot. Our regular photographer at the company is away on holidays."
He feels like a lightbulb has gone off above his head when Edward shares his idea. "What about Russel?".
"Yeah? That could work. How about this, you call him since we all know he's got the hots for you and will do anything for you. Then call Roy and find out where he wants us." Winry seems dismissive about Russel.
Edward decides to ignore her previous statement about him. "How about you call him?" He asks, exhaling deeply from his nose, feeling somewhat annoyed now.
"I'm not calling Russel." Winry scoffs.
"Oh my god, no. I mean Roy Mustang." Edward groans while Winry has the audacity to laugh.
"Edward, you're the one with the relationship.
"What the fuck?" Edward squeaks, voice going several octaves higher. "I barely know him."
"Okay and? At least you've met him," Winry grumbles. "And it seems like he's awfully interested in you. Edward, just call him. For me." Just as he was about to reply, the line goes dead.
Great. Another one-on-one interaction with Mustang. He really doesn't know how much more he can take.
He's about to give Russel a call when Ling bursts into the break room. "Sorry Ed, a little help please? It's getting busy."
Shit. He didn't realise his call with Winry lasted so long. "Yeah no worries". He mutters, ready to leave the room.
"Hey um. How come you know Roy Mustang?" Ling asks, surprisingly nonchalant. Edward nearly blanches thinking back to the awkward encounter in the store earlier.
"I don't actually know him… I was doing a few favours for a friend, she wasn't feeling well." Edward continues. "It was for one of her journalist things…'. He hopes he sounded casual enough that Ling wouldn't realise he was blushing just at the thought of Roy.
"You know, it's just the idea of seeing someone like him in a hardware store that humours me." Ling chuckles to himself. "Hey, before you leave for the day, how about you and I catch up after work? Like over drinks and such."
Edward tries to hold back the urge to roll his eyes and instead masks his grimace with a tight smile. "Uh, I'm busy studying. Maybe another night."
"You say that every time I try to take you out". Ling pouts.
"As I've already told you, I'm busy." Edward snorts as he's walking away to do the rest of his tasks before finishing his shift.
"Hey Ed, I'm glad you've come to me for help but I hope you do realise that I do botany. That is no way related to photography, let alone modelling shoots." Russell sighs.
At this point Edward is ready to beg on his knees if it'll just get Winry to stop stressing about finding a suitable photographer. "Don't you take pictures of plants or something? Just improvise or something, you're our only hope here".
"Give me the damn phone". Winry snaps as she's marching up towards him before snatching it out of Ed's hands. "Russel Tringham, I hope you realise that by granting me this favour would also make Edward very happy as well. You want that, don't you?".
"Good. Now that's settled, Ed will fill you in on all the details". The conversation continues for a bit and it appears that they've both come to the conclusion that Russell will be coming in tomorrow for the shoot.
"All sorted. What's left now is the time and location". Winry's smirking as she's holding the phone out to Ed. "I'll leave the honours of calling Mustang to you, loverboy".
His stomach all of a sudden does a backflip before he's scowling. "Have I not done enough for y-".
"I said call him!"
Edward takes a deep breath and begins to dial the number left on the card. He picks up in less than two rings and his voice is stern and almost cold.
"Mustang."
"M-Mr. Mustang". Edward stammers which he immediately wants to bang his head against the fridge. What has gotten into him? He internally scolds himself. Since when has he become all meek and shy around people?
He clears his throat. "This is Edward Elric". Hopefully Roy can't hear the slight waver in his voice.
"Mr. Elric, I was wondering when you'd call me." Roy purrs. It almost gives Ed whiplash from the complete change in tone from when he first answered the call. "To what do I owe the pleasure of this call?".
Edward almost chokes at the slight suggestiveness in Roy's words before making eye contact with Winry. What did he say? She mouths, before he's darted out from the room and into the kitchen before he decided to fatally embarrass himself in front of her.
"Kate and I have decided to do the photoshoot. Tomorrow preferably." His voice almost sounds strained from how hard he's trying to sound somewhat professional. "Where is most convenient for you? Sir." He tries not to gag from the amount of sucking up he's doing right now, but then realises that Roy is still a man of power and showing any disrespect would cause him nothing but trouble.
He can almost imagine the pleased smile on Roy's stupidly handsome face. "How about the hotel I'm staying at. I'm sure they can accommodate for us. Would nine-thirty tomorrow morning be suitable?"
Nine fucking thirty in the morning? Edward almost wants to cry, not even his lectures are that early. "Um. Yes, just send me the details. We'll see you there."
"Of course, Edward. I'll be looking forward to it."
Ed hangs up in haste before he starts blurting out any of his embarrassing confessions. Winry is already in the kitchen who looks like she's holding in her laughter.
"Oh my god." She wheezes. "Ed, I was lowkey joking about you and Roy fucking but are you sure nothing is going on? Your cute little face is all red!"
He knows there's no way to get out of this one, especially when the evidence is all over his face. "Shut up, who wouldn't get nervous around a bigshot like him?
Winry is too busy reading the address from his phone. "Trust him to be staying there, I'll give the manager a call to let them know about the shoot."
He nods. "I'm gonna get a snack, this whole day has gotten me hungry." He's almost annoyed at the whole situation. A part of him wants to ditch tomorrow's plans and just sleep in, but he's hopeful that maybe Roy really wanted to see him tomorrow.
That night Edward's dreams are plagued with a dark and piercing gaze and warm hands roaming around the untouched areas of his body. He wakes up in the middle of the night and checks beneath the covers. His shorts feel tighter and there is an unusual flush to his face.
What the fuck, did he just dream of him of all people?