Summary: At the right angle, in a line of sight, one might wonder why he never stopped staring at her for so much as a second.

Theme: 072. Drawing A Boundary Line

Dedication: e1nav17, thank you!

Disclaimer: If I owned Full Metal Alchemist, the theme song would be a rendition of 'Hey Ya' by Outkast.

Angles

072. Drawing A Boundary Line

"There is sand between your toes."

Lately, the winter of the war had passed too quickly and melted into summer. Things had not changed much. Although he could not see the sky at the crack of dawn, or the murky blue of the sea or the sand on his cheek where he had been laying on his side; she knew he could still feel revolution in his blood and wanted to wave his arms in the air and scream for the great escape. He is not so young that he is foolish, and neither is he so old that he thinks himself wise, and so although he had salt water up to his ankles and they might starve before they actually manage to get anywhere she believes that things will work out alright.

"I love that you noticed." He answers, smirking a little. In response, somewhat out of offence at him mocking her and a little bit out of spite, she moves away from him. He stiffens. She knows he finds it hard to find his way without her, but for now it will have to do. When she sees a stick some way down the beach she goes after it, and digging it into the sand, draws a line between them quite physically and sits apart from him.

"Boundaries, Mustang." She reminds him. Her persistence in using his second name does not faze him, although he always supposes he will find it a little odd until things simply end for the both of them. She never tells him that a homunculus once called her Riza, and it took his form; but she tells Ed, and if it is any indication of loyalty the boy tells him. That night he had taken goose feathers and tied one into the ends of her hair for luck, because he cannot remember what a rabbit foot must feel like, and he does not know where to find a horseshoe that will not hold her down.

"What about them?" He asks. She has drawn a physical boundary line, but he cannot see it anyway. It makes no difference. Instead he moves around to face where he can hear her voice and stands up to walk towards her. He can smell sea salt, the typical briny beach dampness, and gunpowder.

Then he kisses her. He always supposed she would be flushed and yelling, arms raised to hit him as hard as possible – but time is running out more than ever nowadays – and he does not suppose it matters any longer. There is not time for boundaries, or holidays at beaches when they are living day to day whilst on the run, or excuses why he has not told her he loves her, not anymore. It takes her five seconds for her to draw the boundary line manifested over a lifetime with him, and it takes him almost as long to overstep it.

But all that matters is that for this moment, he has her.

I am getting rather sentimental, am I not? I do not pin them down as a couple for being overly emotional, and constantly needing attachment; but the little moments are what makes them what they come across as to me, I suppose. Also, I am sorry I am updating much less frequently, sixth form / social life combined is killer on art time.

Preview: "Stay close to me."

Reviews are loved. :)