Edward Elric couldn't concentrate. He was supposed to be studying for a biological alchemy exam, but he hated biology and the words all blended together on the page. He stood from his chair, and leaned over the library's third floor railing to watch cadets mill around the stacks beneath him. He didn't actually care about anything other than earning his state certification, and the process of studying the basics of all fields of alchemy was tedious.
His father had encouraged him to apply to the university and learn alchemy the legal way, as opposed to his own basement. Edward didn't see the point. Van Hoenheim was completely self-taught and practiced privately in their rural hometown with relative ease. He had no specialty, though, and seemed content to help his neighbors with whatever they needed without payment. Hoenheim insisted the only reason he'd been free to do this was the family fortune, which dwindled. Edward's interests were solely focused on alchemy, and he'd need the research grants to support himself when the money was gone - unless he wanted to be a farmer, a shopkeeper, or try his hand at medical practice like Pinako Rockbell had offered. The idea of slicing into living bodies, however, turned Edward's stomach.
Alphonse Elric opposed the military on every level and took Pinako's suggestions to heart. He'd met a nurse in Central City, and now devoted all his time to earning his medical doctorate and doting on May. They'd be married soon, and Edward was glad the military university was in East City. Al and May were disgustingly in love, and being in their presence seemed even less preferable than performing surgeries.
Because Edward was a handful of years older than most of the other cadets in his class, he often found himself in a mentor position, which he didn't care for. Sure, he had more than a basic knowledge of alchemy, but he didn't see why holding anyone's hand was his job. Twenty-one wasn't that old, anyway. Edward told himself that he only had one more year of this nonsense, and then he'd be amongst actual peers. He desperately wished the military still awarded the rank of major to State Alchemists upon certification. Abuse of subordinates and authority put a stop to that practice, though. A pity.
He drummed his fingers against the railing and lamented the loss of his weekend. The task of showing some student-cadets from Central City around the campus had fallen to him, and Edward wasn't looking forward to it. Student-cadets were the worst kind of cadets, in his opinion. They weren't even finished with their formal schooling and always radiated an air of overachieving arrogance. In his mind, there wasn't anything special about early acceptance. Of course the military wanted to net as many alchemists as possible! The legalization of privatized alchemy was just around the corner, and securing potential talent was paramount.
His thoughts drifted homeward and to Winry. He missed her terribly and often thought of leaving the military university to follow in his father's footsteps of living in obscurity. Winry was a brilliant mechanical engineer and would never want for work even in a backwater town like Resembool. Edward imagined himself as a private alchemist giving lessons to local children and being her house husband. He could almost feel a wrench assaulting him from across the room for even considering giving up. At the very least, he could earn his certification and later resign the commission once private alchemy was legal. Until then, he was stuck with three student-cadets and a never ending stream of classmates bugging him for help on one subject or another.
Edward sighed and turned back to his textbooks. Life was so unfair.
Roy stretched his feet out on the bleacher bench seat in front of him and watched Riza embarrass her archery teammates with ease. No one could stick the bull's-eye with the artistry she could, though many tried.
"Hey, Roy, you look like you're on vacation over here." Hughes made himself comfortable.
"Just enjoying the weather and view, Hughes." Roy glanced over at him with a crooked grin.
"Are you trying to beat Gracia and me in the most disgusting couple category? I'm taking it as a personal insult."
"Nah, you can have the title. I just want to be out here while I still can."
"Regretting your military aspirations already?"
"Not really, just the leaving part." Roy watched Riza pluck another arrow from her quiver and roll her shoulders before nocking it.
"You still haven't told her yet? I have to say, Roy, that's going to be an ugly conversation at this point."
"I know I'm an asshole, Hughes. You don't have to rub it in, but there's no avoiding it now. My acceptance packet was delivered to the office today. I'm going to have to tell her after school."
Maes clapped Roy on the shoulder as Coach Curtis blew her whistle, signaling the end of afternoon practice. "Good luck with that, man. I don't envy you."
"Me neither, but I suppose it's par for the course today. I tripped on my fucking shoelaces again and broke the shoulder clasp on my bag," he mumbled as he watched Riza gather her equipment and make her way across the field toward him.
"Hey, Maes," Riza greeted Hughes with a smile. "I almost didn't recognize you without Gracia glued to your side."
"If that's an insult, I am immune," Hughes chuckled before jogging down the benches, and leaving Roy alone with Riza.
"Ready to go?" Roy grabbed his book bag, forgetting the broken piece of plastic, and the contents spilled over the foot rest. He sighed and held the ruined bag for her inspection.
"How did you manage this?" Riza side-eyed him as he bent to gather his scattered belongings.
"Oh, the usual. Shoelaces. Absentmindedness. Blah, blah."
"Roy, you're hopeless," Riza opened the bag for him as he piled books and papers inside. "What's this?" She grabbed a white envelope from behind her feet and inspected it.
His eyes widened in horror. Of course she'd pick up that envelope. "It's uh-" He reached out to grab it from her hands, but Riza twisted out of his reach.
"Is this the EUMA logo?" Her eyes flashed as she pried the envelope open.
"I-" He didn't have the words at his disposal to argue, and she was already scanning the paper inside it.
"This is an acceptance letter, Roy. When did you even apply?" The tone of her voice filled him with dread.
"Well-"
"Who else knows about this?" Roy's face reddened; he could only look at his feet and stuff his hands into his trouser pockets. "So basically everyone but me. Everyone but your supposed best friend and girlfriend." She shoved the letter and envelope marked with the traitorous crest at his chest and turned to walk away.
"Riza, wait! I meant to tell you! Your dad was helping me with my essays, and then… things happened, and I just-"
When she turned back to him, his heart constricted. There were tears in her eyes. "Oh, great, so my dad was in on this big lie, too? Fantastic!"
"No! It wasn't like that!"
"Just shut up, Roy. I am uninterested in everything you have to say right now. I'm going to find Becky." She made her way down the rows of bleachers, and Roy struggled to keep up.
"Why? Can't we talk about this?"
"Because I don't have a car, you asshole, and I'm not riding home with you now."
"Riza!"
She turned to him one last time before marching off toward the academy building. "Do not follow me, Roy Mustang."
Riza left him standing on the bottom row bench with a broken book bag, untied shoelaces, and a mess of school supplies spilling out all around him.
"Are you coming down for dinner, Roy?" His aunt's voice was muffled under the pillows he had stacked over his head.
"No," he mumbled.
"Bad day?"
He felt the mattress depress under her weight. Roy pulled his hand from under the pillows and held out the crumpled acceptance letter. She took it from him, and read it over.
"Well, this is good news! Expected, but good news all the same. Can I assume from your position that Riza only found out about this today?"
Roy rolled over and looked helplessly up at Chris. "She's very upset with me, and I don't know how to fix it. I can't remember a time where she's ever been this mad."
"You can't go back in time, kid. You should have told her long ago."
"I know!" Roy flung his arm over his eyes. "She was so angry she had tears. That's unlike her, and I feel like the biggest jerk on the face of the planet."
Chris sighed and glanced at the letter again. "Are you reconsidering early admittance, then?"
"No. I'm going next year. It's done."
"What about this tour of the campus? It's this weekend. Were your train tickets included with the packet?"
Roy sighed. "Yeah, it's all in my stupid book bag, which, by the way, is broken."
Chris reached out and tidied his mess of hair. "You've had some day, kid. Come downstairs and have dinner. It'll help you sleep."
"Do you think I should call her?" He sat up and folded the letter into thirds once again.
"I think you should let her have her anger. You are in the wrong."
"I feel horrible."
"You can't make her talk to you, Roy. Just let it lie for the weekend, and see how she feels on Monday." Chris wrapped her arm around her nephew when he leaned into her side.
"What if she never speaks to me again?"
"Don't be dramatic. Riza loves you, and even if she tells you to take a long walk off a short pier, she'd certainly say it to your face before cutting you off."
"Thanks," Roy drawled sarcastically.
Chris chuckled and hugged him closer. "It'll work itself out. Just give her some time. A lady needs to sort and validate her feelings on her own. Riza doesn't need you blowing up her phone, begging for attention. I should think you'd know her better than that."
"I guess so, but it's never been me on the receiving end of her wrath. Someone else was always on the target. Like Havoc or that Miles guy."
"Ah, Miles, I remember him. The muscular wrestler. Whatever happened to him?"
Roy poked at the carpet with his toe. "He graduated last year. I don't want to talk about guys Riza dated before me. It's depressing."
"I'm sorry." Chris kissed his temple. "Come on down when you're ready. I'll help you pack later. When does your train leave?"
"Eight in the morning or something. I'll check after dinner."
"Good boy. I'll see you downstairs." Chris left him alone in his room, and Roy buried his face in his hands. He'd expected Riza to be upset with him, but he'd never pictured her finding out in such an uncontrollable way. The idea of leaving home for one weekend, let alone months at a time, with Riza angry to the point of public tears filled his stomach with nauseating butterflies. It took every last drop of resolve to not call her house and beg for forgiveness. Roy absolutely knew her well enough to see the faulty judgement in that plan. She would not be ready to accept his apology, however heartfelt.
With a heavy sigh and a lump in his throat, Roy left the offending letter on his bed before making his way downstairs. As crushing as it was, the reality of his situation remained inescapable. He'd upset his best friend and the girl he loved with a lie by omission. His aunt's advice was sound, and Roy decided to leave Riza to her anger until the following week. It would be a hardship absorbing everything he'd need to over the weekend, but his bed was made, and he forced himself to stay in it.
Roy opted to sleep through the five hour train ride to East City instead of attempting to interact with the Armstrong siblings. Alex and Olivier were polar opposites in personality, and being in the same room as both of them felt a whole lot like conversational whiplash. He woke when Alex nudged his shoulder.
"Rise, and shine, Mustang. Time to get moving." Olivier's snide voice sliced through the noise of exiting passengers. "Or would you rather sulk in the train car all weekend moping about your girlfriend?"
"Shut up, Armstrong."
Olivier smirked and left him alone in the car with Alex. "Sorry, Roy, she's always been a little abrasive."
Roy stood and stretched. "Only a little?"
Alex looked chagrined. "She's under a lot of pressure, you know. I know from the outside it may look like the Armstrongs have an easy life, but so much is expected. It's going to be hard on Catherine Elle when she realizes it's not all parties and popularity."
"Yes," Roy snorted, "I've been the subject of your little sister's attentions. She's pretty intense."
Alex laughed out loud and led the way out of the train car. "I've heard rumors. No need to explain."
On the platform, Olivier stood with an older boy, who looked even more impatient than she. "Fall back asleep, Mustang?" she asked with a curl of her lip.
"No. In case you didn't notice, there's a crowd of people. I don't expect the seas to part for me, Armstrong."
"Shut up, both of you," the older cadet said, "Let's just get this weekend over with." He cleared his throat and went on. "I'm Edward Elric, and I'm your host for the next day and a half. Just follow me, listen to what I say, and no bickering. I'm already over it."
Alex greeted Edward affably, while Olivier remained aloof. Roy suspected she wanted to be here even less than he did. She'd probably been born with every bit of necessary knowledge and resented Edward for assuming to be her superior in any way.
Edward turned his eyes on Roy. "So you're Mustang, huh? I've heard about you. Apprentice to the original Flame Alchemist."
Roy shrugged. "I guess. He's dead now, so it doesn't matter."
"Well, whatever. Just don't set any fires while you're here. I don't need another headache."
"You and me both," Roy mumbled.
Despite his standoffish personality, Edward was a decent host. He conducted a thorough tour and answered all of Alex's questions. Roy mostly feigned disinterest until they walked through the row of chemistry labs. He couldn't hold back his excitement. Edward's demeanor lightened, and they animatedly discussed chemical theory and application. The prospect of unlimited research material nearly erased all the anxiety over the situation with Riza. It all came rushing back, though, when Edward left them to the visitors' dorms until the next morning. Somehow, Roy found himself alone and dejectedly sitting on a bench near a payphone, running through all the reasons why calling Riza would be a bad idea.
"Are you going to use the phone, or is it open?" A female voice broke through his inner arguments.
"Oh no, please, go ahead. I shouldn't be calling anyone." Roy half-grinned up at the cadet.
"What's the matter, soldier? Girl trouble?" She sat next to him without invitation.
Roy sighed. "I'm not actually a soldier yet. I'll be a student-cadet next semester."
"New blood, huh? Let me give you some advice then, almost-student-cadet: don't bring problems from home with you. Fix your shit or shut it out."
"That's pretty sound advice."
"Trust me. I've got so much family drama it's coming out of my ears. There's no fixing it, so I shut it out. We all need to have a happy place." The female cadet leaned back against the wall. "You've got a happy place, right?"
"I did, but she's mad at me."
"I knew you had a girl problem! No one ever looks so sad because their uncle called them an embarrassment to the whole family." She grinned at him.
Roy raised an eyebrow. "Your uncle sounds like a real dick."
"Yep. He is. I'm Cadet Ross, by the way. I suppose you can call me Maria, for now." Maria winked at him and held out a hand.
"Roy Mustang." He shook her hand and tried to smile.
"Nice to meet you, Roy Mustang. Listen, another bit of advice? Girls are tricky. I've got one at home, myself. If she's mad at you, don't poke the fire, okay?"
"I don't want to poke any fires. I just want to fix it."
"It can't be as bad as all that. What did you do?
Roy sighed heavily and closed his eyes. "I didn't tell her I was planning on leaving. She found out in the worst way possible and blew up at me. I feel like I've lost my best friend."
"Ah, I see. Long distance relationships aren't easy, you know? Total honesty is always best. You can't be so far away from each other without defining absolutely everything."
"Lights out, Cadet Ross!" An older cadet marched past them with a stern glare.
"Yes, sir!" She watched the other cadet go and turned back to him. "Well, Mustang, I've got to get back to my dorm. Remember what I said! Fix it, or block it out. I'll see you around next semester."
"Thanks, Maria. Sorry for keeping you from making your call."
"Don't worry about it." Maria Ross stood and left him alone on the bench once again. Roy's heart felt just as heavy as before, but he wouldn't pick up the phone. He wanted to patch things over with Riza in person. She deserved that much. As he trudged back to his room, hands hidden in his pockets, he did his best to put the situation at home in a box and lock it away.