Koncha ladies and gents. Sorry I've been absent. I had to get ready for Anime Boston. Me, my sister and my friend went as characters from Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep (I was Ventus) and I had to beast on my cosplay to get it ready in time. And then when I got back I had to beast at work to get all the spring cleaning done before the health inspector came (I work at a bakery decorating cakes). And then I had to beast at home to get the bathroom painted. And then I beasted on this chapter cause I'm like lol I haven't updated in a month. And I'm just a major beast who hasn't had a day to write in awhile.
Now on with the show...
Chapter 6
Roy really wished Riza had consulted him before inviting Fullmetal to the Military Ball. He'd had to cancel his evening with the red-head Susana from the Central Security Department. She was a vibrant young woman with a wicked tongue, and acted crushed Roy couldn't escort her until about five more suitors knocked on the door. Her easy dismissal still burned slightly.
Not that he minded terribly about taking Edward to the Ball. Riza had been adamant about it being necessary for Ed to adjust to her new life. He just hoped she was on her best behavior since the Military Ball, while a social gathering, was also a political arena.
He'd borrowed one of the military cars to pick up Ed, and pulled up to park in front of Gracia's house. He felt a weight sink into his gut. Well the sooner they could get this night over with, the better.
Roy walked to the front door and knocked. Elisia answered and she smiled up at him. "Hi Uncle Roy. Mama is upstairs with Ed," she said and shut the door behind him. She raced over to the stairs and called up, "He's here!"
Roy put his hands in his pockets as he waited in the foyer. It always felt awkward being in this house without his best friend popping up to clap him on the shoulder. What would Hughes think of Roy bringing Ed to the Military Ball? He'd probably be thrilled.
"And here she is," Gracia hailed as she led Ed down the stairs.
Roy gapped at the figure before him. He hadn't expected her to look so…well…amazing. Dressed in her old male outfits the change wasn't as noticeable, but the moment she descended the stairs the truth of Ed's gender hit him like a punch to the gut. The dress hugged her figure like a glove, elongating her legs and swooping low to show off her breasts. Her hair was spilling down around her shoulders and seemed to make her face glow and drew you into her brilliant golden eyes that burned like the sun. And fire was Roy's element, so the smoldering gaze pulled him right in before he had a chance to register what was going on.
She was tipsy in her heels and clutched Gracia and the railing for dear life. It was so endearing that Roy found himself walking over to assist her the last few steps. Once she had steadied herself, Ed gave Roy a once over.
He was wearing a dark navy blue suit with a white undershirt and black tie. It was different, but Ed decided it didn't make him look like a penguin. It made him appear dashing and outlined the natural lines of his taller muscular physic. She noticed he was staring at her and shifted uncomfortably.
"Does it look stupid?" she asked and glanced down at herself.
"No," Roy said quickly. "Uh…you uh…you look very nice."
"Good," Ed exhaled, feeling a tad better that she didn't look like a complete idiot. She might not be the Fullmetal Alchemist anymore, but Edna Elric still had her pride.
Roy offered her his arm but she ignored it. "Thanks Gracia," she called to the woman as she headed for the door and opened it. "And Elisia you too for helping." She walked to the car and Roy was right behind her. He opened the car door and she paused in her steps.
"Okay," Ed sighed, tapping her toe. "Roy. You know who I really am. So please. No opening doors or dancing or weird stuff okay. I'm doing this more for Gracia and Riza. They're trying to teach me how to be a girl, and I'm giving it my best effort but don't make this anymore awkward."
Roy looked at the door a moment and then at Ed. He hadn't even realized what he was doing. "I was just…trying to be a gentlemen Ed," Roy said and paused in thought. "You said this was to teach you how to be a lady right? Well…part of that is letting gentlemen…dote on you." He blushed at the last part and Ed laughed out loud at the sight. She couldn't remember ever seeing Colonel Roy Mustang, The Flame Alchemist blush like a school boy. It calmed her nerves enough for her to slip into the car.
"Well if you doing things for me will teach me how to be a woman then fine," Ed snorted as Roy closed the door and went around to the driver's side door. "But no dancing."
"Well we need to dance at least once," Roy reasoned as he got in and started the car down the road.
"And why is that?" Ed asked as she wiggled to get comfortable. "How on earth do women wear these things? Heels suck." She let out a deep groan. "Listen Roy, I can barely walk and with my automail dancing is just not in the cards."
Roy drummed his fingers on the steering wheel. Now that he was over the initial shock, he was starting to get nervous. He wanted to slap himself. "Well how about you slip the heels off when no one is looking and just do one dance with me," he offered. "It's important Ed."
"Why is it so important?" Ed argued. "I mean there's going to be lots of people there can't you just ask someone else to dance with you."
"Because," Roy explained. "There is a dance about halfway through the night that involves all officers dancing with their dates. It would be seen as inappropriate to refuse in front of my superiors. After that we can leave if you want. I was planning on slipping out early anyway." He would need to leave after a dance with Ed. If he was this jittery just sitting next to her in the car than doing an intimate thing like dance would…
"Roy…" Ed waved her hand in front of his face. "You need me to drive?"
"No no…what was that you said."
"I said fine," she reiterated. "One dance." Ed rolled her eyes. Stupid military and their ridiculous standards. She was technically dead and it was still trying to tell her what to do.
The Ball was being held at the Augustina Hall in downtown Central. It was a three story brick building that was over two-hundred years old and was adorned with buttresses, large ornate windows, and balconies. The grand stoop in front was littered with various military personal and visiting dignitary as they entered the large ballroom inside.
"Wow," Ed said softly as Roy stopped out front. "I didn't realize there would be so many people here." She yanked on her dress a bit. Would anyone recognize her as Edward Elric? What if they did and she got laughed at? What if she did and got dragged off to some military lab? She suddenly wished she was back in Risembol with Alphonse.
While she was worrying, Roy had gotten out and handed the keys to the valet. He opened Ed's door and held out his hand. Ed grimaced and, feeling like moron, let Roy help her out of the car and up the stairs. She stiffened as heads kept swiveling to look at them. "Do you think they know who I am?" Ed hissed at Roy.
"No Ed," Roy said with a little smile.
"Then why…" Ed paused when she saw Roy looking at her. His face was calm and warm. It was a burning blaze, intelligent curiosity, and a fondness that caused Ed's breath to catch. She felt her cheeks flare and her stomach roll. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
Roy's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "Looking at you how?"
"There you are!" Riza called and waved from where she was standing arm in arm with an enthralled looked Furey. The young man looked to be astounded to be standing next to Hawkeye who was dressed in an elegant blue gown that shifted to a purplish hue as she moved.
"Havoc, Breda, and their dates are over there at our table," she explained as they neared. "Ed you look lovely," she complimented with a little wink before they both glanced at Furey. Ed had to revert back to citizen Edna Elric.
"I remember you from the bar. Your name is Furey right?" Ed said and the younger man nodded.
"It's good to see you again Edna," he smiled and then added jokingly. "Havocs going to be mad the Colonel got another girl he was after."
Ed stiffened and then forced a smile. "And who's to say the Colonel has got me?" She gave Roy a look that said yeah-fucking-right.
They made their way over to the table where the others greeted them. Ed found her seat next to Roy where a place card read 'Colonel Roy Mustang Guest.' She groaned internally when she saw that on the other side of her seat was Havoc. Great. Just what she needed. To be stuck between a man who had been trying to get in her pants and a man whom everyone was thinking wanted to get into her pants. And the more ironic part was she wasn't even wearing pants.
"Hi," Ed said stiffly. She'd never felt so awkward near the second lieutenant.
"Hi," Havoc returned neutrally. "So…you came with the colonel huh?"
"Yeah. Riza and Gracia set us up," Ed said.
"Really?!" the other man looked over at Roy with surprise. "Didn't know you were getting outside help with your dates?"
"I don't get help," Roy shot back as he sat down and glanced over at Havoc's date, a dark xingian woman with a heavy amount of make-up on. She was chatting with Breda who looked quite taken with her and was stumbling through a few phrases in Xing he knew. "Are you going to introduce your date?" Roy asked.
"Tachi," Havoc said to get the woman's attention and she turned and smiled. "Ah…more friends. Nice to meet you," she greeted in a heavy accent.
"Oai dekite ureshii desu," Ed greeted. "Watashi wa Edna Elric desu."
Everyone at the table gapped at Edward, and the woman scooted around Havoc and gushed, "Kokode rokkagetsu hataraiteimasu. Anata ichinin wa xing ga hanashimasu." The two women began chatting adamantly to each other in fluent Xing, leaving both their dates staring.
The talking ended though as the Fuhrer stepped up to the microphone and the Ball quieted. There was a brief speech thanking everyone for coming, and some boring political talk that Ed tuned out. Then the speech shifted and the friendly aura disappeared from the man up on stage.
"As many of you have heard. There are recent rumors that certain military divisions will be shrinking. I am here to put those rumors to rest. They are true. I'm not suggesting that you will be losing your positions but many of you will be reassigned, and many more moved from active duty."
There was a clamor as much of the hall broke out in hushed urgent whispers and Roy noticed several generals up on the stage gave their leader a less then friendly look. The Fuhrer wished them all a pleasant evening and signaled for the musicians to commence.
"This is not good," Riza said seriously. Most of the guests were looking at each other anxiously and had risen to form tight little gossip circles.
"This is only the beginning I'm sure," Roy said and stood up from his chair. "Excuse me." Roy headed off towards a group of Lieutenant Colonels who had grouped together to discuss the Fuhrer's announcement.
"Your date seems tense," Tachi commented to Ed in Xing.
"They're worried," Ed told her. "This is their jobs the Fuhrer is talking about. Not only that, but Drachma is still trying to force their way south. It's a dangerous game the Fuhrer is playing."
"Dangerous yes," Tachi agreed. "But not altogether unpopular." The woman gestured one of her petite hands at the head table where some of the generals and Fuhrer's head of staff were shaking his hand and talking adamantly. Among them was an older man with a large ruddy beard that seemed like bear. He stood out as the only one who wasn't smiling, but he seemed to speak in harsh rough whispers to a woman standing next to him.
Food was brought out and the talking stopped as the attendees enjoyed the expensive spread of sliced roast beef, shrimp, and rigatoni. Ed collected a large plate and set it up on the table. Roy sat down next to her and eyed the spread. "I can see the announcement hasn't robbed you of your appetite." Ed snorted and took a large bite of potato. "What will happen will happen whether or not I have a full stomach," she responded.
"Which divisions do you think they're targeting?" Breda asked.
Roy shook his head. "I have my theories, as do the others, but now is not the time or place to discuss it. We'll work on it tomorrow morning in the office."
Ed pursed her lips. It was times like this she missed being a part of Roy's staff. As citizen Edna, she had about as much a right to this conversation as Tachi.
"The dance is going to start soon," Roy said as the feast wound down to an end and many of the officers and their dates flooded the dance floor. Ed wiggled off her heels underneath the table. They were pinching and she let out a little sigh of relief as her flesh foot lay flat again. She frowned up at Roy's offered hand and let him help her stand up and lead her over.
"This feels so stupid," Ed whispered. A few of the men were giving her long looks and her earlier fear of being recognized came back ten-fold. "And they're all looking at me again. Are you sure I don't look stupid. You can be honest with me."
Roy gave a little smirk and put his arm around her waist and his hand in hers. "Put your hand on my shoulder and follow my lead," he instructed. She suddenly realized just how close they were. It was odd feeling his body heat so close to hers and suddenly the clothing they were wearing felt confining. "I don't think you realize just how you look," Roy said to Ed.
"And how is that?" Ed wondered as her heart started to speed up for no good reason.
The music began and Roy started to spin them around the room slowly. Ed had danced before but not in the woman's role. It took a few steps before she managed to find the rhythm. She noticed Roy looking down at her with an unreadable expression on his face.
"Well…how is it I look?" Ed repeated her question.
Roy cleared his throat. "Since when have you spoken Xing."
Ed ignored the obvious change of subject. "I learned on the train with Alphonse," she explained. "We got some books on the subject and practiced. We learned a bit of Drachman too. Figured with traveling everywhere it would be useful."
Roy shook his head. "Only you and Alphonse could learn two languages on your own and speak them to someone who's fluent."
The music was rolling to an end and Ed found herself and Roy standing in the middle of the dance floor. Roy was still holding her close and Ed felt his hand tighten on her waist. "Roy. The dance is over," Ed told him, and almost instantly the man pulled back.
"Hmm…right," Roy said briskly.
"Are you alright?" Ed asked.
"Yes…I'm…" He noticed several of the officers watching them now that the dance was over. They had to be careful not to be overheard. Already they had said too much in a public venue. "Let's continue this out on the balcony," Roy said and steered Ed towards one of the many doors that were flung open.
"Colonel Mustang." They were intercepted as the large bearded man Ed had spotted earlier bodily blocked their way.
"Ah. Ambassador Olan Harbring," Roy greeted formally.
"A strange announcement," the older man said. "I hope this won't put any strain on our treaties."
"It's not really my place to say," Roy said stiffly.
"Yes. I suppose it's not," the ambassador agreed. His gaze turned down on Ed and she squared her shoulders against his gaze, inadvertently pushing out her chest. "Is this your wife?"
Ed balked and opened her mouth, but Roy cut in, "No…no this is my date, Edna Elric. A friend."
"And what does your friend do?" Harbring asked.
"I am an alchemist," Ed said, tired of being talked about as if she wasn't there. "And I own my own shop. I'm opening it soon."
The man balked in laughter and Ed's eyes narrowed dangerously. "A fine pretty young alchemist you'll be. What do you do? Fix ladies clothes and bake cookies with transmutation circles."
Ed opened her mouth to tell the man off, but Roy squeezed her wrist painfully and dragged her around Harbring towards the balcony. "Something like that," Roy said. "It was good speaking with you ambassador." He then pushed Ed out the doors as the man continued to laugh and walked away.
Ed broke away from Roy. "Let me go. I'm going to go give that asshole a piece of my mind," she snapped. "I'll pretty little alchemist his ass right into a wall."
"Leave it alone Ed," Roy said and closed the doors to seal off the balcony. "Olan Harbring is the ambassador of Drachma. He's here as a guest of the Fuhrer, and can pretty much say and do whatever he wants. From what the other Colonels and I were discussing, he's a major reason why they announced the military was liquidating several of its divisions." He took Ed's hand and led her to the edge of the balcony. "In Drachma women are second class citizens, so don't take it personally."
Ed pursed her lips. "Well its bullshit. All this women can't be alchemists. I'm going to be the best damn alchemist in the city and then they can all piss off." Her rage was starting to subside. "I know tonight was all about learning to be a woman, but I don't feel like I've learned anything, just that there are a lot of pricks in the world who stare at you a lot." She lifted up her skirt to look down at her automail leg. "At least the dress hides this."
"Yes…men will stare at a beautiful woman," Roy agreed and leaned on the balcony to look out over the city. Up high like this the darkness made the buildings look like a sea of different colored starlight. Each window voiced its own little ray to the night and the music of the ball filtered out to mix with the rumble of cars and chattering of couples down on the ground below.
Ed stared at him a moment before coming over to join him on the railing. She felt strange. As if they were both laid bare with no titles or constrictions. Just her and Roy alone being wholly themselves.
"I look beautiful?" Ed said disbelievingly.
"Yes you do," Roy repeated and he refused to look at Ed, instead focusing on his hands, rubbing his gloves slowly on the marble railing. Ed wasn't sure what to say to that. It was flattering she supposed, although she'd never thought of herself as beautiful. As a man she'd been called handsome a few times, and people kept telling her she was a pretty woman. But pretty and beautiful were two very different things.
"Thanks," Ed said slowly. "You look um… very handsome yourself." She tried to diffuse some of the tension by adding, "You know for a Bastard Colonel."
"Thanks," Roy returned. "Hey Ed. I know you said you only wanted to do one dance, but could we do just one more. We can do it out here."
Ed tried to figure out if he had any other alternative reason for wanting to, but seeing only honesty she nodded and agreed. "Alright. Can I ask why?"
"Well it is a ball after all," Roy said. "And I want to dance with my date."
Ed allowed Roy to pull her back close to him on the balcony.
They didn't talk, just moved around in a simple waltz not really paying much attention to the music coming in through the closed doors. Instead they danced to their own internal rhythm and Ed felt herself grow hot as Roy scrutinized her. It was almost like he was studying her, trying to figure something out, but every time he got close his eyes would drop to where they were pressed flush against each other.
She shivered and blamed it on the cool night air despite the fact she was sweating like mad. What the hell was wrong with her? "What are you thinking?" Ed finally asked trying to break the tension, but to her surprise her voice came out in a timid whisper. She cleared her throat and repeated in a forcefully normal tone. "What are you thinking Roy?"
"Ed…you really are beautiful. Beautiful and smart and strong," Roy murmured. They had stopped dancing and were just standing there. Ed couldn't seem to push away.
"Roy what are you talking about?" she asked, "You're acting…weird." She looked up at his eyes and felt her breath leave her. Had Roy always had such a piercing gaze? He was smiling softly but at the edges you could see a foreign nervousness.
He leaned down and Ed thought for a brief flash of panic that he was going to try and kiss her. Suddenly he jerked away, and let her go. Ed felt his absence of heat like a slap in the face and she panted as if she'd just run a race.
"We should go," Roy said.
"Yeah…let's go," Ed agreed quickly, neither of them daring to mention what had transpired.
"Oai dekite ureshii desu," Ed greeted. "Watashi wa Edna Elric desu."
"It's a pleasure to meet you," Ed greeted. "I'm Edna Elric."
"Kokode rokkagetsu hataraiteimasu. Anata ichinin wa xing ga hanashimasu."
"I've worked here 6 months and you are the first person to speak Xing."
(sorry if I screwed up the japanese for any native speakers ごめんなさい. 我慢してください.)