Rendezvous
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Maria sat patiently at the two seater table, outside of her favorite coffee shop in Central. She let out a pleasant sigh as she leaned her cheek against her hand, glancing out at the bustling cars from behind the black iron gate that separated her from the street. This part of the city was hectic, loud, dangerous, and damn, did she miss it.
Her and her fiancé had left their cozy little apartment for a starter house approximately one month ago, but that four week period felt more like a lifetime spent away from a place she still considered home. She didn't regret moving; her and Denny were ready to start this stage of their lives (not to mention her job required her to relocate), but that didn't stop her from feeling just a bit of homesickness anytime she thought about that area.
A small peck on the cheek stirred her back to the moment, and she turned her head in the direction of the dirty blond smiling beside her.
"Sorry to keep you waiting," Denny laughed, and took the seat across from her. "I hope this isn't taken?"
Maria cocked a thin eyebrow, and smirked. "It was for my fiancé, but I don't mind giving it to you, since he couldn't bother to call me and let me know he'd be late."
"Hey!" he quickly replied, genuine worry in his expression. "I said I was sorry! The office has been crazy since they fired Archer!"
Maria laughed and reached for his hand. "I'm just kidding, you big softie."
Denny stuck his tongue out at her and leaned back in his seat. "It's nice to be back in this part of town."
Maria nodded and looked to the street again. "Mhmm."
"You think the others will be there tonight?" Denny asked, and the woman chuckled.
"Of course they'll be there, " she said. "They all still live in the same building. I doubt Alex would let them get way with not going."
He laughed and nodded his head. "Yeah, he probably burst into each of their apartments and made a spectacle of an invitation."
Maria laughed, and quickly began to beat on his hand. "Do the impression! Do it! Do it!"
"Okay! Okay!" he exclaimed, then puffed his chest out as he struck a dramatic pose. "The ability to coerce others to do my bidding has been passed down the Armstrong family for generations!"
A waitress walked by at that exact moment, staring perplexed at him, causing Denny to quickly shrink into himself and Maria to cackle hysterically.
"Knock it off, ya big bully," he grumbled, albeit with a blush and a smile.
"I'm sorry!" she gasped, and cleared her throat. "Do you still want to get drinks, or are you mortified to the point that you want to leave?"
Denny's ears went pink as a group of teenage girls began to giggle and point obnoxiously. "Let's go."
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Maria stared at the gigantic statue of a nearly naked, muscular, mustachioed man in complete disbelief. No, on second thought, it wasn't disbelief; if Alex didn't make something as gaudy as this, she'd be stunned.
"Why-how-when does he find the time to make this kind of stuff?" Denny managed to mumble out, but Maria couldn't formulate answer.
"Dear friends!" a voice boasted, and massive arms wrapped around the couple. "You came!"
Alex Louis Armstrong, their large and very emotional friend, began to sway their bodies back and forth as he hugged them tightly and spoke jovially of their presence in the city.
"Air, Alex!" Maria choked. "We need air!"
The giant of a man gasped and quickly let them both go. Maria sucked in a breath dramatically, and poor Denny's face was a violent shade of purple.
"My apologies!" he exclaimed, and rested the palms of his hands on their heaving backs. "It's just so lovely to see both of you!"
Maria smiled through her panting, and slowly straightened herself out. "It's nice to see you, too."
"Maria, dear!" came another voice from behind, and, once again, she was engulfed in a strong hug. "Ah! It looks like you did get my message!"
"Garfiel!" she laughed, as he put her down with a light, but not unpleasant, and friendly squeeze. She was thankful that he, unlike Alex, knew his own strength.
The eccentric man gave her a quick look up and down, and smiled. "You look absolutely radiant, dear. I take it Denny has been doing you right?"
Garfiel winked in what was meant to be an inconspicuous way, though it was quite the opposite, and Maria could feel heat tingle the tips of her ears as Denny and Alex, as well as many passerby's, turned around and look at her loud-mouthed friend.
She gaped at the man in surprise and slapped his shoulder lightly. "You brat! I should ask you the same thing with Alex!"
Garfiel laughed and wrapped and arm around her shoulder. "Oh, we'll have to catch up on sex stories later. This is Alex's special day! We must celebrate in the appreciation of his beautiful work!"
"Are the others here?" Denny asked, looking around the area lightly. "I figured everyone'd be coming."
"Lan Fanny and Ling-o are busy tonight with her grandfather," Garfiel explained, counting off names with his fingers as he spoke, "Rose had a gig," he let out a wistful sigh, "Paninya's visiting relatives in Rush Valley, and Jean and Becky are still backpacking Aerugo. Winry's here, though," he added with a little smirk, "and with the new neighbor."
Maria cocked an eyebrow, while Alex and Garfiel shared secretive sniggers.
"Whaaaat's going on that we don't know about?" she asked.
Garfiel cleared his throat. "Well, Miss Detective, let me show you."
He then guided her down the gallery's hall, with Alex and Denny close behind. She spotted Winry's bright blonde tresses immediately, standing off to the side analyzing a large painting of a nearly naked Armstrong on a large white steed. Beside her old neighbor, however, were two golden haired men that she did not recognize; one that was the picture of clean cut and handsome, and the other was ruggedly good-looking, but had a bad case of bitchy resting face.
"The one with the ponytail is living in your old place now," Garfiel told her. "He comes off very…rough around the edges, but trust me when I say he's a big softie."
"…and has a thing for our little Winry," Alex added.
Maria stared at them a little longer, and noticed how the 'new neighbor' and Winry bickered with one another and swatted at each other consistently, like little kids did with their first crush. It was… rather interesting.
"No way," Denny whispered, as the neighbor turned to Winry and gave them a full view of his face, then shouted, "Ed?"
The man turned, and his eyes grew when he noticed Denny. "No shit! Brosh?!"
Maria watched with great surprise as the two men ran to each other, hugging and fist bumping as they laughed at the strange and unexpected rendezvous. "I'm guessing you know each other?"
"Hell yeah!" Ed boomed. "This guy was my RA freshman year at XU!"
Maria's eyebrows shot up in surprise; she remembered visiting him all the time during his years at Xerxes University, but never recalled him hanging out with any underclassman. "Really?"
"Yeah!" Denny exclaimed. "This kid was my favorite!" He turned back to Ed and began to smirk. "Getting you smashed was hilarious!"
Winry snorted. "I bet!"
"I was nothing compared to Ling the other night," Ed quickly stated, a slight tinge of red coloring his nose. "That guy makes my drunken stupors look like teachings from Aristotle."
"I can vouch for that," his brother added quietly from behind them. "As belligerent as this one can get, he has yet to try and give me a strip tease in exchange for my hair."
The group burst into a fit of uncontrollable laughter, and took the tour of Alex's artwork together. As they flowed through the different sections of media and art styles, Denny was able to slip back to Maria's side.
"So," she whispered, as she eyed Winry and Ed walking by one another. "What do you think of those two?"
Denny glanced at them as well, and took her hand. "Definitely could work. He's just as stubborn and high-energy as she is."
Maria chuckled and twined her fingers with his.
"Now," she began, and her face turned stony, "about you giving alcohol to minors…"
Denny's face went ghostly pale. "Why must you always scare me with your interrogation face?"
"One of the perks of marrying a cop," she teased, and pecked his cheek.
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