Author's Note: EDITED! Man there was so much to fix! I feel horrible for leaving it like that for months. D: But I've added some little bits with Gracia and fixed the whole Maes, finger-yelling thing. Haha, enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own FullMetal Alchemist or its characters.
Acception or Rejection
At about 12:37 PM, a crafty ringtone echoed through the vast walls of a study hall in the University of Central. The obnoxious tune attracted everyone's attention to a blonde man in the back of the room who was cursing loudly and struggling to stop the problem.
Tired onyx eyes glared across the room to his best student, yet least favorite one. "Mr. Elric," Professor Mustang began, "would you kindly bring that abomination down here to my desk?" He asked ever so innocently. Cursing even more, Edward complied and made his way down the steps and to Mustangs desk. "Here you go... sir." Ed said with as much livid sarcasm as he could conjure up and tossed the cellular device onto his desk. "Thank you very much. Now would you please return to your seat?" Mustang replied with as much pleasure that was possible. "Oh and stay after this afternoon, I might have some extra-credit for you start early on." He added mischievously. "I'd be delighted." Ed replied through gritted teeth. He then made his way back to his seat muttering a 'bastard' here and a 'prick' there.
Ed finally sat down and listened to his classmates snicker, especially Maes. "Shut the fuck up Hughes." Ed grumbled to his partner.
"I'm sorry dude but really? I mean people's phones get taken all the time but the ringtone? Come on man that's fricken hilarious." Said Maes Hughes through hurting cheeks from laughing too hard.
"I said can it." Ed gritted out.
They then resumed their assignment and finished it quickly like usual. Later the bell rang for break. Walking out of the double-doors, Ed and Maes made their way to the cafe down the block that they always go to for lunch. After waiting a few minutes to get a small table they finally got to sit down and practically order everything on the menu.
"So who called anyway?" Maes asked through a mouthful of food.
"I have no clue, I was too damn busy trying to shut off the damn thing," he continued after taking the liberty to spare Hughes from seeing his mixture of meat and salad, "But on the way down to fuck-face I checked and I didn't recognize the number." He finished.
Maes saw Ed's eyes flicker around the room quickly and saw a look of question on his face. No wait... it was curiosity.
"What aren't you telling me Mr. Elric?" Maes mused in his best Mustang imitation.
"Don't fricken call me that you ass!" Ed huffed. "You already know I can't stand him calling me that so don't start something you can't finish." Ed then realized Maes's question and soon replied. "And whatever may or may not have happened is none of your damn business." Edward initialized.
Maes ignored the insult and persisted. "Come on man, you can tell me. Was it an ex?" He asked, trying to sound more sympathetic.
"No Maes I already told you I didn't recognize the number," he then asked, "and since when have I let you into my dating life?"
"Well I was only asking, maybe I could give you some advice or something." Maes offered.
"Yeah then you could give my ports a massage, why are you being so giving lately anyway? You're acting like my mother used to." Edward complained quietly.
Maes sighed. "Look I know why you always get defensive, but I clearly remember that you trusted me enough to tell me about other things in your life." Maes said seriously while gesturing to Edward's arm.
Edward's right arm and left leg were artificial limbs. A port for his arm was connected to his nerve endings in his shoulder blade and his leg was from mid-thigh down. Edward has very special kinds of limbs called automail. Because they are so advanced he can feel things and the movement is exactly that of the real limbs. Since they are very extreme for the body to handle, his metal ports are always in pain. Because of the advanced technology, he has to keep them hidden and has to wear gloves all the time. The way he lost his limbs involves his mother's death and father's leaving.
"I... trust you with things Hughes, and I'm glad you listen. But just because you know certain things about me it doesn't mean you can turn around and try to mother me." Edward finished, giving him a hard look.
"Relax man, I'm not trying to mother you, I just want to know what's got you so... off today. That's it. Nothing more." Maes let out a breath he had unintentionally been holding and was hopeful for a reply that wouldn't involve his ass being kicked.
"Alright, fine!" Ed exclaimed raising his hands in the air, releasing the tension between them back to the normal friendly one. He gave him an overly large smile. "You win. So I met someone last night and I think she might have called me, there that's it. You happy?"
Maes's jaw literally dropped. "HAHAHAHAHA!" Maes cracked up hysterically and all eyes were on him in the very small cafe. Ed fumed as he watched Hughes wipe his eyes from laughing too hard. "That's it? You got so worked up over a girl? You must really like her to be this fricken hormonal."
"IM NOT BEING HORMONAL!" Edward shrieked and caused the whole rest of the cafe to join Maes in uproarious laughter. This made Ed turn beet red and quickly dodge out of the cafe.
Maes threw down probably too much money and chased after his friend. "Hey Ed! Come back! Come on, you know I didn't mean it like that!" Ed swiftly turned around in his tracks, facing Maes head-on. "That was the last time I will EVER tell you anything about me and a fucking girl! And what the fuck was so goddamn funny?"
Maes decided to be bravely honest towards his very-easy-to-piss-off friend. "Well you've never really dated anyone before, and I mean legitimately. Not just a one night stand. So that already surprised me, and you worried the hell out of me with you weird-ass act today! I've never seen you so worked up before so she must be pretty damn special, and I'm gonna be pissed if she's another one of your all nighters!"
Edward flinched and gave away way too much.
"ARE YOU KIDDING ME?" This was the most furious Ed had ever seen Maes. It was like an anger switch had just been flipped as the tension once again thickened. He never gets upset or yells if he's not really fricken pissed. The only time Ed could think of when he saw him this angry was when he found out his little sister, Elicia, got her first boyfriend in 3rd grade. Typical Maes, but now was different and Ed knew his ass was overdue for some chewing.
Ed backed up slowly from the time bomb in front of him, the situation reversed. "Look Maes okay you got me, yes I had another stand last night, but come on! I was getting bullshitted at work like it was cool! I needed a break!" The excuses kept coming and coming, "I know I made the biggest mistake a guy could ever make-"
"YOU'RE GODDAMN RIGHT! What would my dear Gracia think?"
"Oh come on, don't bring your girlfriend into a conversation for once!" Ed shouted, exasperated.
Maes's ears were stained pink with anger.
But then being the tougher man he is, Maes immediately stopped and calmed down very quickly. Otherwise a blonde head was going to roll. Pushing up his glasses and running a hand through his dark hair, he took a deep breath and made an understanding, listing them off one by one with his fingers.
"So what you're telling me is: Number 1: You had another one night stand last night. Number 2: You always do that shit when you have bad times at work *cough* bullshit excuse *cough*. Number 3: During your drunken stupor, you realize you've taken affection towards one of your weekly victims. Number 4: How the hell did she not notice your metal arm and leg during sex? Number 5: The affection itself is amazing because the only person who you care for is your younger brother. Number 6: You say you THINK she may have called you, meaning you've given her your number. Number 7: By giving her your number you risk rejection or an acception, what would you do if she rejects you? God you haven't thought this through. Number 8: Even if she does accept you, you'll never know because you'll never get your phone back from Mustang the phone Nazi. Number 9: Giving your number to a girl you've had a one night stand with is against the rules anyways, so what the fuck man? Number 10: That's a bullshit move! What would posses you to have her call you? That's practically an insult! Think about her self esteem, oh wait, I forgot, you don't have a fucking brain during your hangovers in the morning! Number 11: I've run out of fucking fingers on you!" Maes gasped for breath as he finished his monologue. He was now breathing heavily, staring at Edward for some kind of response.
Ed could only blink. 'Man I really sound like an asshole.'
"I err-um shit... you're right." He stared into space and realized it actually was true. It's no excuse to bang a girl just because work is awful, and he's right about not really dating anyone. He's also right and wrong about why he would give her his number. So he made a stand.
"Hughes you've been a hundred percent right about everything except one thing." Ed started.
"I'm always right." Hughes laughed, returning to his goodhearted nature. "But what am I wrong about?"
"By giving her my number it could mean a lot of things and you listed some like having affection for her or ruining her self-esteem. But my intention, which is affection, and yes I know she may not know my intention, isn't it a good thing?" He finally asked.
"Well yeah, having affection for someone other than your brother is a good thing, but what I'm talking about is the circumstances you're in Ed." Hughes contradicted.
Both Ed and Maes just sat for a minute to soak in what had just been laughed at, screamed at, and explained.
They walked it off, the meal and the argument, until the walk became a sprint. "Shit!" Maes grumbled, "Run your ass off Ed or we'll be killed by that crazy fuck of yours!" Maes announced while checking his watch and realizing how late they would be if they didn't sprint the whole way.
"Don't call him mine! That just sounds sick! How does that guy get a job like that when he's only a few years older than us anyways?" Ed yelled through heavy breaths, entirely unaware that because if Mustang's looks he could actually be older than Ed thinks. Both tripped and stumbled pathetically several times as they neared the wooden double doors.
"Hahaha! Glad to have you back man!" Maes answered as they ran up the stairs to Mustang's abode while the final bell took its time ringing through the halls.
Just as the bell ended both men burst through the door and leaped into their seats to the left of the door. Mustang eyed them as they gasped for breath, there was an obvious shown effort of making it in time. This made him decide for once not to worsen Elric's previous punishment.
Still evening out their breathing, they fist-bumped when Mustang didn't say anything about their almost being late.
"Hah, good luck with him after session two, you'll need it." Maes whispered when their note-taking began.
"I might as well kiss up if I want my phone back." Ed said full of dread because of how politely he knew he would have to speak to the shithead if people were still around by then.
"Yep... may God bless you too." Said Hughes inaudibly.
OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO
Earlier that same day, 12:39pm.
Winry stared at her cell phone after the rejected call and huffed in annoyance.
The little conscience laughed in mirth when Winry accepted the rejection. 'Did he change his mind?' She thought as she miserably forced herself up and off the carpet.
"He must have just been busy or something..." She tried to laugh it off with a false smile on her face.
She glanced at the clock and yelped in surprise. "Damnit Winry you've never been late in your life! You even already get to come in late today so you better fricken make it!" She scolded herself while grabbing her uniform out of her closet.
She stripped back to her underwear and pulled on her black slacks and tucked in a baby blue blouse with her name tag pinned on. Switching from a ponytail to a bun and bangs she then slipped on her flats and and grabbed essentials such as her cell phone, home/car keys, and Ed's keys as well. 'Just in case he calls back realizing what he left behind.' She thought carefully.
Leaving at 12:45pm she headed to her job as a waitress at the local restaurant by the University of Central. On the drive there she reminded herself to come home afterwards and grab her coveralls, bandana, and tools for her second job. An assistant to a local mechanic by the name of Garfiel.
'Eek! I'm so excited to see what Mr. Garfiel wanted to show me! Maybe it's the new upgrades for the filters, the oxygen levels will be phenomenal if he would just let me tinker with the clogs and etc...' Winry went on and on of thoughts of complicated formulas she would have to use for the improvement of recycled air in cars. Yes, Winry was a gear-head who loves mechanics and views it as an art. She would pick a new sterling silver wrench rather than a sterling silver bracelet as a gift for her birthday. Although she would be more feminine when necessary, such as being a waitress or going out with her friends. She hardly ever put on make-up, a natural blonde and sapphire-eyed beauty.
"Aagh, that reminds me! I have to tell Riza and Sheska about last night." She thought with fright, there's no way she'd make it a day alive without spilling her guts. Riza would have her in a chokehold before she could even use the restroom as an excuse to escape.
Riza Hawkeye: employee of the month, was always at the top of her game, and had hobbies that included shooting very powerful yet dangerous rifles. Riza's goal is to be a sniper and help the war going on in Drachma and other countries surrounding their country, Amestris.
However that was a long ways away from being a hostess at the restaurant Winry also worked at, that's how they met.
Part of Winry wanted to believe that she could do her best to support Riza with her goals but another part wanted her to stay safe and out of the cross-fire.
As for Sheska, she's the most intellectual person Winry had ever known, other than the strategic Riza. Sheska was book smart not street smart, you would even think she would know what Winry meant when she said that to her. Yet Sheska failed to ever hear of the term street smart.
Sheska also works at the restaurant that Winry and Riza do. Unlike Riza's higher status as a hostess, Sheska works as a bus person and her second job is a librarian at the Central Library. Because she is working for her mother to get into a better hospital, she even burdens herself with a third job. That job is a secretary for the criminal records of the military. The third job pays best but the pay dwindles so often because of tax abuse from the government.
Winry herself had considered being in the medical field and carry out her parents duties to the military. 'Why is everything about the military these days?' She thought in anger. 'It makes me sick to my stomach knowing people are going north like it's a migration.'
She finally pulled into the parking lot and ran inside the restaurant, down the hall on the left, and into the door labeled 'Employees Only'.
She was greeted by a very tired looking and changing Riza. "I was wondering when you were going to show up." Riza said amused, "Up late last night?" She added with a grin.
"I should ask the same to you, what happened after I left?" Winry countered.
Riza's chocolate eyes flashed in remembrance and said, "It should be pretty similar to what I assume you did last night." She then took a pill out of her purse and downed some water with it. That proved what Riza had also done last night.
"Oh! I forgot to take one this morning, can I get one?" Winry pleaded, for she did not want a 'bump' in the road of her future.
"Ah-hah!" Riza exclaimed and pointed at Winry's reddening face. "So you did fuck him last night, and sure thing." Winry caught the birth control pill and swallowed quickly enough to answer back.
"I did not 'fuck' him Riza, we just had hot drunk sex." She said quite matter-of-factly. "Besides, who did you have drunk hot sex with?"
Riza was silent but decided for once to let Winry into her more personal life. "His name is Roy. He was really tall, had dark hair, and his sexy onyx eyes wouldn't leave mine until the 'hot drunk sex' was over." Riza sighed. "I know it's against the rules to want someone's number after a one night stand, but I think I do."
Winry's eyes headed straight to the floor. "Yea... Um about that." She began. Riza eyed her suspiciously and the longer Winry waited to continue, the more fierce Riza's eye-daggers became. "He gave me his number this morning... I mean it was on my pillow this morning with the words 'Call me' and his number on it."
Riza stared wide-eyed at Winry. "He what?" She whispered, dumbfounded. "Hmm, you know I kinda like this guy for you, he's gutsy." Riza approved. "So did you call him?" She then questioned.
"Yeah well, that's the thing." Winry's eyes were downcast and Riza read her expression almost immediately.
"Oh I see, you're stressed out because he didn't answer on the first call." Riza announced in her know-it-all voice. "So now you're all depressed and wonder what you did wrong. Well I can assure you that you didn't fuck him wrong, otherwise he would've left your ass halfway through it. But don't worry Win," she reassured her, "if only you have his number, then it would show up as an unfamiliar number to him. He may have then just brushed it off, so if that's the case just keep calling until he answers." Riza continued wickedly.
"The other thing it may be is he was busy, you know like at work or school or something like that. So relax okay? Try again during break, I'll meet you outside like usual and be the one listening in." Riza stated while pinning on her name tag and heading out the door to the podium. "Better hurry girl! It's lunch time and you know we get busy right about now!" She shouted as she disappeared.
"Riza's right!" Winry told herself confidently. "I'm coming! Wait up!" She yelled after her friend and took off after her.
Little did she know, her phone would ring during her busiest hours later in the day.
To Be Continued
I hope the edited version is much better. :) And more professional too.