As I changed out of my casual clothes into something a little more formal, I wondered what Denika would wear, and whether it would be frowned upon to dash out quickly to get flowers. I could hear Denika moving about downstairs, and decided that I didn't have time to get flowers.
"Vato, you are ready, yes?" I heard Denika call from the bottom of the stairs. Taking one last glance at the mirror, I sighed, and headed downstairs.
Denika had let her hair down for once, but had pulled part of her bangs back with simple, yet elegant clips. She had also put on makeup, which was quite a surprise. Despite working with her and living in the same house, I had never noticed how blue her eyes could be at times. I was stunned silent, but the moment passed quickly.
"Shall we then?"
Denika smiled, albeit a bit nervously, and replied, "We shall."
---
"And then he fell into the lake! Right into a patch of pond scum!" Denika snickered uncontrollably. I had just finished telling her about the time that Colonel Mustang, Havoc, Breda, Fuery, Hawkeye, Hughes and I had taken a vacation to the lake to get away from Central after the Ishbal conflict. Denika had asked more about the lake incident, and I had found it hard to deny her request.
Of course, by the time I had gotten to the actual story of what had happened at the lake, both she and I had had at least two glasses of wine…or was it a few more? I had lost count after I had started telling the lake story. Suddenly, I had a good idea.
"Say, Denika…why don't we pretend you're my girlfriend when we go to surprise Jean at the lake on his birthday? It'd be fun…" Denika shook her head.
"It sounds good, but is not good idea."
I frowned, confused. "Why wouldn't it be a good idea?"
"Because, we're both drunk off our rockers…Ideas are always better when one is shit-faced…" I couldn't help but laugh at that.
"Alright, I'll drink to that!" Denika simply shook her head with a small smile.
---
After about the first or second bottle, Denika and I had left the restaurant. Because the night wasn't too chilly, and because some of the "temporary" vendors were selling their wares, Denika and I agreed that a walk in the main garden in town would be nice. There were food vendors, vendors selling souvenirs, and a few flower vendors. Seeing the flower vendors gave me an idea.
"Denika, wait here…I'll be right back…" Denika watched me go, with a confused look on her face. I hurried over to the closest flower vendor and made a purchase.
"Vato /what in the name of Amestria are you doing/"
I chuckled a little as I made my way back through the crowd to where Denika waited. "Close your eyes…" I couldn't help but smile as Denika complied. She also held out her hands, which made placing the small bouquet into them easier.
Denika's eyes snapped open, and she let out a small delighted sound. The daffodils I had selected were simple, but hardy, and a welcome sight as the first flowers to emerge from the winter's snow. They reminded me of a certain someone I knew…
---
Denika and I wandered about the main garden for a good hour or so, admiring the flowers and the view of the stars that we had from the intertwining paths, and out past the small pond that housed the few ducks someone had brought in years ago, before Denika suddenly, and for no apparent reason, stumbled.
I was able to catch her before she hit the ground, which reminded me of another day, the day she had had a fever in fact, that I had acted that quickly. That gave me an idea, and since Denika was wearing slacks instead of her usual skirt, it would work a lot better than the last time.
"C'mon Denika…let's go home…" I had Denika lean on my back, and after a bit of maneuvering on both of our parts, she was on my back, similar to when I had carried her home after she had the high fever. I heard Denika sigh a little. "Something wrong?"
"Not at all…You smell nice…" I stopped suddenly, nearly dropping Denika in the process. I hoped against hope that it was just the fact that she was drunk that was making her say that sort of thing, because I could already feel my cheeks burning slightly. That was unexpected…
And slightly unnerving…
---
Denika had fallen asleep halfway back to the house, giving me time to think about what she had said. I realized something important as we were passing Mrs. McFarland's: Denika was important to me, and I didn't want to forget about her after I returned to Central…I knew deep in my heart, I had feelings for her…but what would happen next with those feelings would depend entirely on Denika.
---
After Denika and I had made our way home, I carried her to her bedroom, gently nudged her awake, and carefully set her on her bed. She smiled at me a little, and then yawned. "/Sorry…Today was nice…We should do that more often…/" I smiled a little at that, and nodded.
"/Yes, we should do that again sometime…only next time, not quite as much wine, yes?" Denika chuckled and began to remove her shoes. I took that as my cue to leave, and after we had both said our good-nights, I headed up to my own room.
Turning on the lights, I noticed something that hadn't been in the room earlier. A small notebook and some pencils. The notebook looked like one of the ones that the dime store in town sold, and had a note on it.
"Dear Vato,
I figured that the days here
would be a bit dull. I meant
to give this to you on your
first day of work, but completely
forgot…who knows, maybe you'll
be able to sell what you write and
make yourself some money!
-Denika"
I couldn't help but smile a little as I changed for bed, and opened the notebook. I noticed then that it smelled like the perfume that Denika favored. She must have held this close to her that day…no wonder it smells like her…
I noticed that all the pencils were of the pre-sharpened variety, for the sake of convenience. I also noticed that they were the same type that I used in my daily work.
I tapped the end of one of the pencils against the first page, and then began to write.
---
I don't know what exactly woke me up the next morning, but I could hear Denika moving about downstairs, and decided that some coffee would be a very good thing.
As I entered the kitchen, the telephone started to ring, and Denika gave it a very sour look. I surmised that she was also fighting off a hangover, and my suspicions were confirmed when she answered the phone.
"Not now Pytor…I had a bit too much to drink last night…" Denika held the phone away from her ear, wincing. I could hear Pytor on the other end of the line.
"Doesn't matter, Denika…I need to talk to Vato." I took the phone from Denika's outstretched arm, and hesitantly answered.
"Pytor, why in the world are you calling on a Sunday morning?" Pytor chuckled sheepishly.
"You're the only one who can decipher Arseny's handwriting even after having a few too many drinks…" I groaned a little at that. "Think you could come out to HQ to help Zahkar and me sort through papers so that we don't waste the week that the Lieutenant Colonel is gonna be gone? Please? I'd owe you big time…" I sighed at that.
"I'll be there as soon as I can…" Pytor must have started dancing, because I heard Zahkar tell him off.
"Sorry…just come in
casual clothes…it'll save you time…also, let Denika rest…she
sounds really out of it today…"
---------------------------
Many, MANY thanks to Magnet-Rose for betaing this, and many thanks to everyone who has reviewed...wow...i keep forgetting to do reader reviews...and i keep forgetting the disclaimer, so here it is...
DISCLAIMER: Den does NOT own Fullmetal Alchemist, as that is the property of Hiromu Arakawa, Square Enix, Bones, Aniplex, Dentsu, Funimation and Viz. She does, however, own Denika Bruzgul, as well as the other characters mentioned besides Jean Havoc, Heymans Breda, Kain Fuery, Vato Falman, Roy Mustang, Riza Hawkeye, Edward Elric, Alphonse Elric, and any other character that appears in the anime and/or manga. This work of fiction is soley for entertainment puruposes, and is not for profit. This means: Do not sue Den. She is a broke college student, and has nothing to give you.
Reviewer Responses:
SnakeCharmerFoxx: Glad to be of service! Hope you enjoy the latest chapter!
Havocmangawip: do i really need to say anything?
Okay. I'm gonna go work on chapter five now...