"Glad to see you're enjoying yourself."
Ignoring his comment, I turn to Maes and Gracia to ask if there were any other dining cars. To my disappointment, they say this is the only one, making sure to pass a curious look between me and the bastard. Of course there weren't any other places to go because why should there be any other places to enjoy not standing amongst the idiotic? Nope, just this one to take in the lovely company of the Colonel. On a train. Where there is no true escape. Great.
I'm ready to leave and head back to our seats when Mustang enthusiastically calls over the Hughes and me to join his little feast.
I decline before he finishes his sentence. Even Maes says so, taking my side and flashing the Colonel a dismissive scowl. Gracia however…
"We'd love to join you," Gracia insists, choosing the worst time ever to be the sweet thing she was. She gives Maes a subtle look saying 'resistance is futile', and he has no choice but to agree. Watching the couple take their places at the table, I slowly process that I may actually have to stick around. To my horror, Roy stands in a mock gentleman fashion, pulling out a chair for me. A chair that just happened to be right beside him. I grimace.
"I'd actually like to walk around if that's alright?" I try, shuffling away a few inches. Maes, sensing my plan, raises his hand, volunteering to accompany as a tour guide. After shooting him a dirty look, Roy puts his faith into Gracia who was blinking at Maes and me with pained disbelief. On closer inspection, I notice the Colonel has put on his own mask, feigning hurt and begging with shimmering eyes. Oh lord.
"Misaki, there really isn't anything else to see. The rest of the cars are basically seating areas for the other riders," Gracia points out, crushing my weak attempt to flee the scene. Maes, shooting an apologetic glance, relaxes into his seat. He's defeated and frothing with an unexplained frustration from having to put up with Roy, like me, but as soon as Gracia taps his shoulder and takes hold of his hand, he's back to goofy grins and glistening eyes.
So much for your appreciated support, Lt.
"Why don't you have a quick bite with us?" she asks. How am I supposed to refuse?
"Fine," I grumble, shooing away Roy's attempt to push in my chair like I was some kindergartener. After I had scooted with my chest pressing painfully against the corner of the table, the farthest I could manage from the despicable man, Roy takes his own seat. I don't pay him any attention, staring off in a sizzling anger at unfortunate passers. A few take in my foul mood with wide eyes, shivering their way down and into the next car. Maes, in the middle of fawning over his beloved, catches sight of my fit and almost snorts.
Roy, in a sickeningly cheerful tone, goes off on what a pleasant surprise it is to run into the three of us. The whole time he speaks, I can feel that searing stare of his digging into me. I leave the conversation to Gracia, frequently sending distress signals to Maes, who was on the border of cracking up. What was so funny? Was he laughing at me?
I hardly listen to what is being said until my name pops up.
"Oh really? I'm sure she'll love it."
"…Hmm?" What could Gracia be telling him? Roy rests his chin on his knuckles, watching me with a creepy fascination. He looks as if he'd been told the dirtiest secret, and judging by the way he's refusing to cringe under my deadly stare, it's about me.
"To think you've already earned the trust of the crew…" he says, tapping his cheek. He shakes his head in disbelief. I haven't the faintest clue what he's going off about. He's smiling, but remembering our talk from earlier, I notice a quiet hurting in his expression.
"What does he mean?" I ask, directing the question to Gracia, but finding myself unable to break away from Roy's gaze. Automatically he answers for her.
"They're taking you to their 'usual place'. Quite a big deal."
I toss the Hughes a curious glance. "I've been hearing that quite a bit now. Just where exactly is this place?" I ask. My two companions only wink, revealing nothing.
"The usual place, of course," Roy says happily.
Upset, I throw a sarcastic thanks, turning back to glare away at random passengers. What the hell was this usual place, and why did it piss me off to know that everyone knew but me?
Roy chuckles.
"So I'm guessing you're not a regular when it comes to trains, hmm?" he asks. I ponder whether this is a schemed attempt to insult me, taking the time to answer.
"No," I sigh. "No, I suppose not."
"It's her second time," Maes jumps in. I reward him with an acid smile. Thanks for the ammunition, friend.
"No kidding," Roy says with a hint of humor.
"So what," I say defensively, risking a glimpse at his smirk. With a steaming regret, I turn away again, peeved off. Smirks and stupid talk about seeing my flame burning bright. This man was an idiot.
"So your little display of awe earlier was adorable."
Someone sneezes and I jolt in my seat. My heart thrashes and I strain for composure, snarling at the Colonel.
"Don't be an idiot."
Roy tilts his head innocently, leaning forward.
"Bubbles-"
"Misaki," I correct.
"Why haven't you told me this before?" he asks with a mischievous gleam. I scoot to the furthest edge on my chair. "I would have taken you aboard one sooner."
I blow out through gritting teeth, lifting a curtain of hair. As if I would have ever considered going anywhere with him alone. He was a true nutcase. Bah.
"I suppose I just wasn't feeling up to telling you anything personal," I answer, trying yet again to look elsewhere. Roy wouldn't have any of it, striving to humor me.
"Don't have trains where you're from, eh?" he presses. Gracia, in the corner of my eye, looks suddenly interested. Maes, even with the glint in the glasses, I could tell was equally eager to hear my answer. Two of them, for sure, knew of my previous life in the palace. Was this to get some information out of me? Or was this genuine curiosity?
"No," I choose to say, looking over at the half empty glass resting in front of Roy. "We were more of a 'by foot' crowd." I notice I've used the past tense once again without thinking. If I was going to dance around and give up pieces of the past, I really should do so with more precaution. These were military officials. You never knew what they could use with even the minor details.
Wait a minute. Why bother saying anything? I could save myself the trouble.
"Roy," Maes goes off, leaving me simmering in my train of thoughts. "What are you doing here?"
He shrugs, taking hold of his drink and swirling it around. "Call it insightful traveling. Felt like going on a little adventure. Maybe catch some inspiration."
Well that's a load of bull crap.
"What could inspiration possibly do for you?" I grumble under my breath, casting a scornful expression. "You're perhaps one of the most unmotivated people I've ever come across."
"You don't know that," Roy says, waving the insult off.
"Your own Lieutenant had to come to her own quarters to tell you to go do your work," I point out.
"That's one thing," he dismisses.
"You fall asleep at your desk numerous times. You sneak away from the office to go on your little 'walks'. You wait for girls to fall at your feet and swoon into your arms," I list off, maintaining a withering look. In response, he opens his mouth, wondering how on earth I could possibly know all this.
Maes becomes interested with something outside the window. Roy catches his distraction.
"Maes…" he growls, setting his glass down almost with a crash. "Getting awfully comfortable with talking to her, aren't you?"
Maes messes with the collar of his attire, laughing. "Yes, ah, well she's a persistent one. Wouldn't have any of my 'sworn secrecy', I'm afraid.'
I glare at him. That wasn't at all the way it went. Way to throw me under the bus, Lt.
Roy, distrustful, sighs and turns back to me.
"So you got me there," he admits, defeated. This is probably where I'm supposed to celebrate and relish in the victory, but quite frankly, I don't care.
"With that made clear, what's the real reason you're here, and at the exact same time as us?" I ask accusingly. To this, Roy shrugs once again.
"Fate?"
I glower at his attempt to evade the truth. Something suspicious was going on. I didn't appreciate his vagueness.
"Misaki," Gracia pops into the conversation. She sounds reserved, a little nervous to speak amongst the men and me. I give her a welcoming smile to show she was still on my good side. She returns it before shaking her head and gazing down into her lap. "Never mind."
Roy, Maes, and I all pass her a confused expression before delving into awkward silence.
Of course the waiter chooses that moment to ask for our drink orders.
"Water."
"Water."
"What he has."
As the waiter leaves with a formal appreciation and assurance the wait would be next to nothing, Gracia and Maes look at me with wide eyes. Oblivious for a while, I continue to people watch/glare, and notice that eyes are trained upon me. Nervously I switch between the couple, wondering if there was something on my face.
"What?" I ask confusingly. Roy, beside me, also observes me with an almost impressive gawk. "Did I do something wrong?"
Gracia bites her lip. "No," she says, uncertainly, "I wouldn't say you did anything…wrong…"
"It's just…" Maes continues, having just as much trouble speaking. "It's just that we didn't think you were…umm… of that sort…"
I take in their answers with frustration, making absolutely no sense of their meanings. What did I do? Did I order wrong? Was there a way to do that?
Roy chuckles.
"What?" I say, on edge.
"They're just surprised that you're going straight for the hard stuff," he says, nodding at his drink. It then comes to me that I've just ordered alcohol. For no particular reason, except to see what it was the Colonel had been drinking. Because I was too stubborn to ask the man himself.
I have the urge to slam my head on the table. Repeatedly.
"Y-Yeah? So?" I recover my image poorly, trying to convince everyone drinking was not a big deal. Even though I'd never actually done it, because I wasn't of age yet.
Gracia and Maes go pink. Roy laughs.
"What?" I ask for the umpteenth time.
"Misaki," Gracia says, pausing. "How…umm…How old are you?"
The room seems oddly cold except for the fiery screwball of an alchemist beside me, watching with a burning question: Yes, how old are you?
"Twenty-three," I lie. "How old did you think I was?"
Roy catches my act immediately. He rolls his eyes, knocking back the rest of his 'strong stuff'. Maes and Gracia, however, have similar, horrified reactions. It's kind of…offensive.
"No kidding!" Maes exclaims, drawing attention from nearby customers. "Twenty-three?! I thought you were sixteen!"
The waiter came back with our refreshments, right when I decide to shout in a fit of rage.
"Are you serious?!" I exclaim, ignoring the performance our server gave, juggling glasses and trying not to spill any of its contents on us. "I do not look that young!"
I mean sure, I'm not exactly in the twenties yet, but I was nineteen for god sake. Nineteen.
Roy snorts and Gracia mutters a hundred apologies, since apparently she too felt the need to downgrade me to a freaking sixteen year old. Geez.
"Ma'am," the squeak of the waiter addresses me, trembling with sudden fear at the flames in my eyes. "Your drink...I'm afraid I've-"
"It's fine," I say. Roy smirks.
"Oh? Are you sure you can't just order another?" he provokes, leaving me wondering what in the world he was up to. The waiter seems to pray I won't take another, and I don't want one anymore anyways.
"I'm fine, really," I insist.
"Oh…I'd almost forgotten," he says, tossing a mocking, apologetic face. "You can't seem to handle anything at the mom-"
He hardly finishes before I've gone and commanded the waiter bring me another.
"I don't think that's a great idea, Misaki," Gracia warns, looking at Roy with disapproval. "You really aren't in the state to take in anything too severe."
Maes agrees.
"I can handle a little bit of liquor," I huff, staring daggers into the Colonel. There's a shimmer of concern in his eyes that I take as smugness.
"You sure, Bub-?"
"God dammit, that is not my name!" I shout with a homicidal gleam in my eyes. Gracia jumps at my outburst. Maes blinks in alarm. People closest to us begin whispering in hushed voices, the occasional pieces floating their way towards my sensitive hearing. "What's going on?" "Fighting?" "A lover's quarrel?"
I spin around to glower at the nearest group. They shrink down under my murderous gaze, wondering what had happened to the cheery girl who was freaking out earlier about dining on trains.
"We are not lovers," I clarify, nostrils flaring. Shakily, they nod. Roy, I find, hasn't stopped observing me. His corners fall up and down and I just know he's dying to smile. Maes suddenly breaks into laughter, earning a concerned stare from his wife. The waiter, drink in hand, paused in mid approach, debating whether or not I'd want it right this second. I cast a frightening glare, making his mind up for him. In a dash, he leaves us. Roy whistles.
"Getting a little aggressive there aren't you?" he teases.
"As I should," I snap. "Wouldn't want any outrageous ideas floating around in here."
"What's so terrible about being my darling? Give me a chance and you'll fall head over heels for me, I guarantee it," Roy says snidely. Disgusted, I let out a bitter bark.
"Big talk for a man who can't even last in a fight with a girl."
His eyes harden and his smile wavers. "I went easy on you."
"Is that what you say to your womanly friends?" I spit. "Right before they leave you with a lingering disappointment?"
"Kid, all the girls I've been with, I assure you, I've satisfied to the final second," he fires back with an obvious anger.
"I am not a kid," I snarl.
"You are not twenty-three," he retorts.
"Beats being a perverted bastard, condemned to paperwork and having another woman to help him keep his life together."
He rises taller in his chair, smile widening unsettlingly. "So little miss adult, care for me to show you the friendly greeting, Flame Alchemist style?"
I pull away.
"Back off. I am not one of your toys you take home to play with," I hiss. Roy's smile slips. I've struck nerve. Gracia is at war with herself, trying to figure out what to say to ease the tension. Maes' laugh subsides. The entire train seems drawn to our argument.
"That's alright. I hardly mess with the broken ones anyway," he says through clenched teeth, hitting bull's eye on my sensitive side. That gets Maes to interfere.
"Roy-" he warns, but I've already gone to my feet, hair covering my eyes. Gracia looks horrified, just as disapproving of the Colonel's words as Maes. Darkly, I laugh.
"Right. Broken toy…" I mutter.
"Wait," Roy changes his tone, sounding regretful. "I didn't-"
"No, no," I insist, tightening my grip on the tablecloth, wrinkling its perfection. "You're right. This broken toy doesn't want jack shit to do with you either, so I'll be heading back to my seat." With that, I push away the chair, uncaring that I've accidently sent it toppling over to the ground. People continue to murmur and I force my way out of the dining car, refusing to well over with unreasonable tears.
As the first door leading outside shuts, I pause in the small, confined space and squeeze my fists against my eyes until I see black spots.
Why is it every time I come across that bastard, I end up leaving feeling like complete shit?
The door behind me swings open and soft hands curl around my wrist, tugging it away from my face. Gracia.
"Sorry," I say, refusing to budge. "That was immature of me."
"No," she replies in a huff. "What Mustang said to you was immature. You have nothing to apologize for, like always."
That's miles away from the truth. I had plenty to apologize for. But as always, I can't bring myself to come saying this out loud.
"I'm sorry I made you sit down with us," Gracia whispers. "I-"
"If I don't get to apologize, then you don't either," I interrupt, allowing myself to offer her a weak smile. To my relief, she returns it.
"Alright," she says. "Then shall we head on back?"
"In there?" I ask worriedly, not sure I could handle facing him again. She shakes her head.
"Our seats, c'mon." She leads the way, opening the second door to a blast of wind. "Girl to girl talk!" she yells over the noise.
What a wonderfully weird person to want to hang around me even after what happened. Momentarily I think of the absence of Maes, but I don't question my luck with Gracia and follow with her gentle pull.
"Kaze?"
I didn't respond, keeping my face shrouded beneath my trembling arms, pressing tightly against my knees. My body racked with sobs, my cheeks burned with embarrassment from being found in this state. Right beside me, the note I had read over and over sat, soaked by my tears. A shadow loomed over me and I knew it was Naomi.
"Kaze, what's wrong?" she asks. I don't answer. With a sigh, she takes a seat next to me, not making any contact whatsoever. She knew how I hated going through these moments. That I was not the type who normally demonstrated a depression like this. But she also knew I secretly sought for support. Her being there was enough.
She sighed again.
"Well if you're just going to sulk there all day, then I guess I'll have to keep my latest plot of operation: get rid of Himayo, all to myself."
Himayo, the world's most hated teacher. Naomi and I had been talking nonstop of ways to get rid of the devilish hag, but I was in no mood to ruin any lives today, let alone Himayo. Of course this came as a shock to my friend and she understood the severity of my funk.
"Dang," she mutters, suddenly sounding overwhelmed with concern. "You really are upset. Jeez K. Who did this to you?"
Her weight shifted and I know she's found the note. I sniffled, bracing for her to ridicule me for being such a weakling. It was such a stupid thing, what got me worked up. Such a stupidly, immature, childish thing. She stayed with me, reading the short message scrawled hatefully by one of our classmates. A jerk who bullied me from time to time and had never succeeded on hitting me where it hurts. Until now.
When she finished, there was an awkward silence filled with my sniffles. I almost believed she had gotten up and left, when Naomi slammed her hands down angrily, startling me. For a while nothing was said. I continued to peer into the dark pits of my slouched over depression, waiting for Naomi to burst. Which didn't happen how I expected it to.
"What an asshole," she said aloud.
I appreciated her willingness to state the obvious, but that didn't change how down in the dumps I was. With a deep, shaky exhale I melted further into my gloom.
I contemplated ways of going into hiding and avoiding the 'asshole' who crushed my spirits, when Naomi snatched my wrists, pulling them forward and forcing me to blink surprisingly at her firm expression. Releasing one hand she took out the white paper, waving it in the air like some prize. Her mouth hardened and her ears pinked. My tears continued to trickle, making me feel uncomfortable. With a sigh and a swift grace, she used the back of her hand to erase away a couple of lonesome droplets.
"Kaze," she addressed, frowning. "He's an asshole. Nothing new there. But girl, you can't let him get to you. You and I both know he's all talk. We all know that he has no balls. And if he did, they'd be the size of that meal we had in that French parlor. Remember? The one where I ordered the steak and ended up with the flea sized dog treat? God that place sucked."
I snorted. Being this congested made it seem like I was readying to hack.
"But anyways," she continued, grateful to have gotten a promising reaction. "That's beside the point. What you need to be doing right now, instead of crying over some bullshit some twerp goes off writing about like some sissy-priss, is getting up, wiping that beautiful face of yours because tears do not go well with your fabulous complexion, and coming with me to go over operation: get rid of Himayo, and wait for it…prissy-pants himself."
She lifted my chin, making sure I'd clearly see her take the slip I'd beaten myself over, ripping it into several smaller pieces. Rather than dispose of them right away, she held the shreds in her palm. I saw the words clearly in my mind despite the now illegible note.
Hey whore spouse,
Be sure to let your insane mom know my father isn't up for grabs anymore. It must suck having a slut for a mother and a dad who is not only blind physically but also oblivious to the truth. Care to talk about it over lunch sometime? Oh wait, you probably can't even afford that.
Sucks to suck,
~Jahlil
"Kaze," Naomi said, snapping her fingers. "Earth to K." When she saw I was back in the world of the living, she continued. "Now, question time. Are you a, as the illiterate moron puts it, a 'whore spouse'?"
I hesitated before saying no.
"Wrong," she said, thwacking me on the nose. With an exclamation, I scowled and demanded what her problem was. "You hesitated. Hesitation is the incorrect answer. Let us start over. Fujiin, dude inhabiting a woman's body," she pauses here to grin at my hiccup of laughter, "are you or are you not, a 'whore spouse'?"
"No," I said instantly. Naomi nodded approvingly.
"Correct. Next up…"
She went on asking question after ridiculous question, stopping me whenever I seemed unsure, or whenever I was dying to break out into a fit of giggles. The ritual was over in a matter of a few minutes and I was good as new at the end. Naomi had completed her goal, getting me to communicate, poking and pushing me to my normal, witty self. What I felt to be impossible, getting me to see how silly the whole freak out was, turned out to be a snap for the incredible, amazing Naomi.
I sniffed, pushing back my hair and rubbing my eyes. She shoved the paper shreds in my face, switching to her infamous bossy mode.
"Wind Goddess. Work your magic."
I fixed on her, puzzled. Rolling her eyes, she flicked me. I winced. "Hey, what are you…?"
I understood.
With a sigh, I rummaged through my pocket, extracting a single glove marked by the symbol of wind alchemy. Naomi, unmoving, waited until I slipped my palm in the worn material, raising it to my lips. Before I could exhale, she cupped her other hand over the slips, adding, "Not just the paper. Your thoughts too."
Peaking a brow, I watched her open the hand again, and tried to make sense of her request. Not only did I rid of Jahil's cruel words, I sent away the part of me that cared. I let go of the shame and pain of the truth.
We watched the notes drift away until it was out of sight. Then with a poke to her cheek, I spoke jokingly to Naomi.
"That's the last time I let you force me to litter."
She laughed, clasping her hands on my shoulders.
"Atta girl. Let's go cause trouble."
"Anxiety attack?"
Gracia nods, helping me back to our seats, grasping firmly to my sweating palms. I'd just finished vomiting yet again in one of the bathroom stalls (which still completely boggled my mind…we were on a train still…I think) and Gracia had delved into a series of possible explanations for my recent illnesses. None of which had really seemed correct, until her final inquiry.
"So… you think that…I'm possibly unable to take in anything because I'm nervous?"
"Well," Gracia goes off, humming thoughtfully to herself. "If anything, I would think it would be because you've been stressed out."
I consider this, settling into the soft cushion of my chair. Gracia takes her spot beside me, watching with a staggering fretfulness.
I did suppose the times I lost my stomach were always at points where I caved down to negative emotions. Could that really be the case? But thinking back to recent times after the Aerugo incident, I'd experienced stages of grief and as Gracia put it, 'stress'. So why is it, out of the blue, I'm going around yacking like there's no tomorrow?
"Are you feeling sick again?"
I shake my head, realizing that wasn't such a great idea. For a moment the floor spins and I massage my neck. Gracia reaches out on impulse, feeling for a fever. She draws back with a lopsided frown.
"You are a little warm…"she murmurs. I brush away her concern.
"I'm fine, I'm fine."
Shaking her head she puts up a stern expression.
"I think," I add nervously. "So… going off on the whole anxiety dilemma… If that were to be the case, do you know if there's any way to, well, not constantly feel the need to lose my appetite? Because, I mean, I'd really like to fully enjoy your food again…"
Gracia puts a finger to her chin in concentration, tapping. She smiles at my last comment concerning her food, blushing slightly. "Hmm… I would guess that relaxing would help out a lot."
Something about the way she says that makes me believe she's scolding.
"That makes sense," I laugh weakly.
"It's reasonable," she agrees.
"Thus, I suppose that would mean you'd like to avoid speaking to me, correct?"
I glance away and out into the scenery, scornful of Roy's appearance. Unfortunately his reflection gazes back into me and I can't shake away his exposing influence. Right next to him, Maes looks tired. I briefly speculate about what the boys could have been talking about. I had a feeling Maes had argued on my part. The possibility is comforting.
"Maes," Gracia protests, but he gives a shake, signaling her to join him and leave the two of us to tear each other's throats. I was hoping she'd put up more of a fight to stay, but she pats me on the back and leaves. Roy, after the couple's departure, has the nerve to take Gracia's spot. I shrivel away as far as possible, squishing myself into the corner.
"If you go any further, you're going to become part of the décor," he says, resting his elbow on an armrest. I grumble something unintelligible. Roy sighs. "Are you alright?"
I look at him, annoyed.
"What do you want?" I ask bitterly.
"I was just asking if you're doing alright," he says, keeping a controlled tone. "Can I not demonstrate some concern?"
"No," I say. "You can't. So screw off."
Roy clucks his tongue, bothered. "Honestly, you're being a bit harsh."
"Sorry to have hurt your feelings," I mumble.
We sit in silence for a bit. I continue to gaze out at our surroundings, taking in the steady beat of the train. If it had been the Hughes at my side rather than the jerk, I probably would have been enjoying the ride. The view was relatively serene. Greenery went by in a blur and flowers of all kinds decorated the fields. They remind of the roses I'd been given and my heart does a slight plummet. Riza. When Riza arrives at the apartment, what will she think about my absence? What will she think of that mountain of a vase?
I still can't over the fact Maes and Gracia were sweet enough to bring me a get well gift. Really. It was too much. I had to think of a way to repay them.
"You're not a broken toy."
I turn to regard his statement taken aback. Roy has one eye closed and one focusing on me. "What?"
"I said you're not a broken toy. What I said was idiotic on my part," he explains, shutting his eye.
"I'll say," I fume, turning back to the window.
We go silent once again. I almost believe Roy is falling asleep. If he were to start leaning towards me, even accidently, I'd probably punch him. Savior or not, I wouldn't stand for his stupidity.
"Oy."
My veins throb and I actually do wish he'd pass out. It'd beat hearing him say anything else insulting.
"Oy," he says again, more demanding.
"What?" I snarl.
Startled, he takes a sec to gather his thoughts. "You… You really hate me, don't you?"
I laugh heatedly. "What gives it away?"
Roy broods, rubbing the back of his neck. He says nothing. At his silence, I go back to sight-seeing, hoping our destination would arrive soon. How I wish Gracia would come and pick me up to join her back in the dining area, rather than being here.
I couldn't keep myself from thinking back to those ridiculous things he spewed this morning. Nonsense about beautiful flames and fear of losing me. Stupid. Moronic. Gibberish.
"If…If you could be an animal…what would you choose?"
"…what?..."
Roy was shifting uncomfortably, his arms crossed in a fitful pose. "I said…if you-"
"No, I heard what you said, idiot," I glower, narrowing my eyes. "I'm asking what the hell kind of crap you're spewing."
Roy pulls a provoked profile, opening his mouth in exasperation. "It's called 'starting a conversation'."
"Ok," I retort testily, "then what I'm about to say is called, 'telling someone to shut up'. So shut up."
"I can't have one normal conversation with you?" he fumes.
"There was nothing 'normal' about what you asked me," I grumble.
"Would you at least answer the question? What if I'm actually curious?"
"Well that sucks on your part, go away."
With a growl lodged in his throat, he smiles wickedly. "I can never get used to that. The sheer feistiness in that tiny body of yours…how do you do it?"
"For the record," I hiss, spinning to have him completely in my view. "I'm not that small."
He swivels to match my position, holding me in his sights, smile widening. "What are you, 5"1?"
"Try 5"2, asshole," I spit.
"Oh, my apologies. I tend to forget just how crucial that single inch can be," he says sarcastically.
"Go back to your paperwork, Colonel," I say feverishly, pissed to have been made fun of age and size.
"It's my day off."
"Then go home."
"We're on the middle of a train. I'm not going to head out there just to purchase a ticket back home."
"Jump off, then. Right now."
"That's cruel, Bubbles."
"Misaki," I correct, frothing with rage. "That's M-I-S-A-K-I. Would it kill you to get it right?"
"Would it kill you to have a heart?"
I smash my finger against the glass, glaring madly. "I'll break the glass, you jump out. Got it?"
"That's cute."
"Ugh!" I yell. "Are you just not going to consider leaving me alone? Are you not going to realize that I do not want anything, I repeat, anything to do with you!"
He blinks at me.
"If you could be an animal…"
"Stop saying stupid shit! No, you know what? Stop talking all together! If you're going to stay, then sit and be silent!"
"No can do," he answers.
"And why not?"
"Because," he says, continuing to leer at me. "I want to know what animal you would choose."
There had to be a limit in this planet. There just had to be a limit to how stupid one person can be. Honestly.
I place my fingers at the bridge of my nose, pinching. "You're telling me if I answer your idiotic question, you'll leave me alone?" I groan.
"Maybe," Roy shrugs.
"GOD. FINE."
Animal…Animal… What anima would I choose to be… This was ridiculous! What the hell was I even doing? Animal…Animal…
"A white tiger."
Roy contemplates this, nodding at whatever he visualized in his mind.
"Ok, now go away," I command. Roy doesn't even budge.
"You strike more as the squirrel figure," he suggests, serious. A part of my head seems to explode.
"What are you even implying?" I demand hotly.
"Oh, you know, those little creatures that always seem to run to one side then just out of nowhere decides to settle for a different route dead center on the street. And before you know it, Ker splat. Road kill."
"You bastard…"
"Don't you see? You're both indecisive."
"You'd make for a perfect mule."
"Oh? And why is that?" he asks irritably.
"Because you're a complete ASS."
"Oh, you got me, Bubbles."
"GOD FREAKING DAMMIT. Can you not?" I explode, raising a trembling fist.
"If you were to ask me-"
"I didn't-"
"I'd go more for the wolf," he says, flashing a row of what could have easily been fangs.
"Try lion," I suggest, going back to the window, calming to a more sensible level. Roy, confused, asks why. "Because you're a disgusting excuse of a thing we tend to call a womanizer."
"Thank you, but this I know," he says without a hint of frustration.
"You mean you're proud of that fact?" I say incredulously. He sneers and I hold in the urge to vomit again. "You're revolting…"
"Thanks gorgeous," he says smugly.
"Screw off, Mule."
Roy erupts into laughter. Not expecting that, I flatten myself against the wall, startled by his sudden hysteria. "What is wrong with you?"
He takes his time to falter to a more sensible point, softening his expression to a comfortable level. "I win."
"Huh?"
He looks back over at me, crinkling his eyes with a strange contentment.
"I got you to engage in a conversation with me."
"And?"
He stretches, pulling out a hand to cover a yawn.
"That was my goal. I wanted to have a normal chat with you," he admits, leaning back into the seat.
"I don't see, at all, how any of that was considerably normal."
Roy shrugs. "It is what it is."
"Unless what you consider normal is when people are constantly yelling at you," I grumble, pleased by the thought. "The Colonel's rarely involved in a conversation with people who actually want to speak to him."
He tosses a perplexed expression. "Bub-"
"Stop it," I snap. "You don't need to constantly remind me of that…incident."
The horrible memory of him standing in the bathroom, cracking up at the sight of me submitting to my inner child…unbearable. I shudder. Roy smirks.
"Oh, but I do," he says, grinning evilly. "How else are you going to distinguish me from others when they call your name? I'm simply making it easier for you."
"Like I'd ever need to know when you're asking for me!" I yell, kicking his leg. Roy hardly reacts, making sure to taunt.
"Oh dear. It seems as though a bug's gone and nipped me."
"That bug's going to 'nip' at your eyes next," I threaten.
"Oh, I've got the chills."
"You're freaking dead."
"Care to accompany me outside for a friendly spar?"
"With pleasure," I growl, popping my knuckles. It'd just be another repeat of last time. "Even with this excuse of a shoulder, and no alchemy, you are no match for me."
"Is that a challenge?"
I scoff. "Hardly."
"Quite the determination there."
"It doesn't take much to convince myself you'd easily suffer an ass whooping, Mule."
"Squirrel."
"Bastard."
"Bubble-lover."
"Prostitute."
Roy goes red with frustration. "P-Prostitute?!"
"Isn't that basically what a womanizer is?"
"Do you know what you're saying?"
"Sorry, sorry. How do you call a man a slut?"
"…quite the ugly mouth you have on you…"
"What's the matter? Can't handle the 'flame'?"
He flinches, recalling his own words. "Wh-What?"
"Afraid to lose me?"
"I take back everything I said!"
"Thank you! Now perhaps my 'anxiety attacks' will tone done a notch."
"You'd make a nice pile of ash."
"Try it. I dare you."
"Now, now children. Let's make sure to get along here."
Roy and I simultaneously turn to glare at Maes. "Go away," we say in unison.
Stunned, we look at one another.
"Don't mock me," I snap.
"Don't imitate me," he retorts.
"You two are just so cute together," Maes coos, earning a frightening snarl from the two of us. From behind him, Gracia emerges, shakily holding out her hands in a peaceful surrender.
"Ah…Let's…umm…How about we all just sit together and order some refreshments…?" she timidly suggests, calming only when Maes loops his arm around her waist. I look at her, fall victim to her cuteness, and nod stiffly.
"That's a great idea, I'm pretty thirsty," I say. Roy, back to giving me his invasive stares, reclaims his composure. I go back to ignoring him.
Maes has this dreamy look to him that I do not approve. Gracia, fearing I'd go rabid and beat up the Colonel the second she left, snatches my wrist, tugging me quite a distance from the men. When we're far away enough, she leans towards me and whispers ever so quietly.
"I'm sorry about him… Maes always warned me of his temper, but…well I've never seen him lose it this much."
Why did it seem like everyone had to apologize on Roy's behalf?
"It's fine," I whisper back, sensing the boys following from afar. "Whenever we get to the station and head to wherever it is you plan to take me, everything will be alright."
Gracia pales then coughs, trying to cover it up.
"He's not coming right?" I ask hopefully.
Gracia only laughs nervously.
From behind me, I feel the stares of the demon's fiery gaze.