Chapter 1

The noon sun was fairly warm for the season of autumn, even though fresh wind was wheezing since the morning, and filling the streets with crimson leaves. Edward was sitting at an outdoor table of a cafeteria, in his oversized white and blue stripped shirt and denim jeans that reached up to his knees. He was slurping loudly his soda can, through his straw and his head was ducked in the magazine that he was reading, save for his little antenna that was sprouting out of the book.

"Brother'

A familiar voice brought him to attention as he reluctantly lifted his chin up while still holding the book in between his hands. The younger man smiled, running his hands through his short spiked blond hair. He was in his twenties but his sun gold eyes and oval face made him look much younger.

'I hope I'm not disturbing you' he said

'Oh not at all I was just…taking a break' Edward placed the book on the table and looked at his brother with a smile

Alphonse pulled back the chair and sat down joining Edward at the table. He placed his shoulder bag beside his feet. He was wearing an unbuttoned white shirt with a red t-shirt underneath and jeans. He made himself comfortable as he placed his elbows on the table and joined his fingers together.

'So what's new?' he inquired as he eyed Edward.

Edward crossed his arms and legs, as he lay back against the chair, he turned his attention briefly to the passing waiter but then he turned back to Alphonse.

'I'm doing well, yesterday Rebecca spent all morning in Central Park preparing and taking photos'

'Sounds very productive' Alphonse commented as he watched intently at his brother

'It was, honestly at first I thought it was going to be hard to produce good results from street photography in a busy city like this, but with her help I'm actually getting the hang of it' Edward replied

"That's really good to hear, I met her at the groceries this morning by chance and she's really nice, and was the one who called me out by name" Alphonse continued sounding surprised.

"She recognized you because she saw pictures of us back when we used to live in Germany, she says that we look a lot alike"

"That explains it, oh by the way she mentioned that there will be a photography exhibition next week"

"Ah yes Rebecca is pretty excited about it, she told me too, obviously, but I don't have as much enthusiasm since it is too fancy for my kind of thing, but she insisted on it, saying that it is a very avant-garde and unique aspect of photography, since both regards to fashion and photography and well we are in New York" Edward rested his cheek on his palm he didn't look quite very pleased about it

"I hope she doesn't get too much of her hopes up since you will probably try ditch halfway" Alphonse replied with a smirk on his face

"I shall do my best not to" Edward answered sticking his tongue out "I really need to be more involved in the social stuff, because since I work on my own I feel so detached, I know what goes on only through magazines and the TV" he continued sighing

''Well it would help you a little, especially with inspiration''

Alphonse lifted his arm when the waiter was passing by so that he could order something, usually his wife prepares him lunch (never mind that his co-workers tease him on that) but today she had to leave early. He ordered tea with ham and cheese sandwich while Edward ordered another soda while finishing his meal consisting of mashed potatoes and sausage.

"That is the news on my side, what about you brother?" Edward inquired raising slightly his eyebrow

"Not much really, we finally find a nice apartment on Parker's avenue, which is one block away from work. Winry wished that she could have a workshop as part of our house but you know that is really hard to find especially in such a crowded place."

"Isn't she working with Garfield or something?" Edward inquired as the waiter arrived to their table and placed the tea and soda respectively as ordered.

"Yes and she's pretty happy with it too, she was really worried about finding a job when we moved, but she still dreams to start a business on her own" Alphonse answered as he poured the hot water in his cup and dipped the teabag, making the water turn into a golden brown colour.

"That's good to hear, I really wish I could visit sometime!" Edward returned while sipping his can of soda

'We would love that, maybe over a weekend, but we first need to settle in you know, we haven't even furnished it yet' Alphonse replied

"An engineer and a mechanic huh, two geeks furnishing their new apartment, oh I would definitely like to see that" Edward remarked with a cheeky grin plastered on his face

"Yea…very funny" he muttered sarcastically but amused, Edward could not help himself but chuckle at that.

"That reminds me, you could lend a hand you know"

"Dude I'm a photographer not an interior designer you know!"

It was Alphonse turn to laugh to that comment. He definitely did not regret that he escaped his break time just to have lunch with his brother like the old times.

On his way back to his apartment he was carrying bags with groceries when he stopped at a magazine vender. The vender greeted Edward, since he bought magazines everyday from the same place, he was used to the young man. Edward greeted him back and wondered through the mass of magazines stacked neatly next to each other as they filled the whole panel of the stand. Books which ranged from cooking to fashion magazines, there was one particular that caught his eye, it had the cover of a handsome looking man in tie and suit, he had black hair and almond shaped eyes. He was the kind that probably had many women swooning over him.

Edward shrugged and turned the pages looking through the articles inside that magazine, and found that in the middle section there was an interview with the man on the cover, he continued flipping through a few more articles then he bought it and tugged it in the bag between milk and a bag of apples. He took the subway train which moved out of the busy urban area and headed to his neighbourhood. He then walked a few blocks to his place which was one floor maisonette.

His apartment was a large room which seemed like it had a very old structure. The ceiling was high up and it had large window panels which were pushed open from the bottom and because it was an old place some of them couldn't be budges and the walls were made of bricked stones, it was a wonder how he could find a place like this. In this large space he filled most of his important living components, the kitchen, the living room and the bedroom.

The kitchen was beside the entrance door; equipped with all its needs and also a counter that extended like a bar, besides that it had a large brown couch facing the TV set which had a video game console underneath, behind the couch there was a round table which Edward uses it more as a place to set up his photos rather then eating. Finally there was the bed which stood under one of the large windows, it had a nightstand on one side and a stereo on the other. He had various posters hanging as well as large photographic prints. The only things that were divided in other rooms were the bathroom and his office/computer room.

He wished that he had a dark room to develop traditional photography but he knew that was very hard to build and expensive, besides he is working more often with digital media these days. He placed the bags on the counter and kicked his shoes off, he started placing the groceries back in their place.

After he finished, he switched on the TV and sat down on the couch taking his newly bought magazine with him. He crossed his legs and started reading when the doorbell rang. He groaned and sat up placing the magazine on the coffee table, he walked lazily to the door wishing he would be rather alone, he checked through the peephole and then he opened the door.

Rebecca was standing on the other side with her cheerful smile, her long black hair was pleated and she was wearing a beret over her head slightly titled to one side.

"May I come in?" she said placing her hands behind back

'Sure" he stepped out of the doorway as she strolled in

"What brings you here?" Edward muttered as he stuck his hands in his pocket. The woman pulled her scarf off and placed it on the hanger.

"I've got loads of things to tell you" she said as she lounged on the couch crossing one leg over the other. She was wearing a light turtle neck sweater and jeans with buckled boots that go up to the calf.

Edward walked behind the counter "coffee?" "Thanks" she replied "So tell me"
Edward said as he filled the kettle with water "You know about event that I've been telling you about?" "Yes" "Well the host is also the president of a very prestigious fashion magazine called Capitales" she said as she turned a little resting her arm on the top of the couch "And?" he continued as he finished making the coffee "He opened applications for photographers" "so?" Rebecca let out a shrugged "Come on! You know what that means!"

Edward walked around the counter with two mugs and joined Rebecca on the couch. "You know that it is not the subject of my interest" he said mildly annoyed. He gave one cup to Rebecca and held his between the palms of his hands as he puffed the heat off from his cup. "I know that but you got to try, if you want to be recognized you have to take whatever chance you get, even if you don't like them sometimes" shifted a little to the side facing her friend and took the cup by the ear

"I don't work like that" Edward replied stubbornly as he gazed intently as the cup. Rebecca sighed and dug her hand into her handbag to pull out a white sheet of paper which she placed it on the coffee table with a thud. "Well here it is a friend's humble advice" He unwinds his arms and picked the paper, sighing heavily. Rebecca turned her gaze towards the magazine that was left on the coffee table, she picked it up.

Her round brown eyes seemed to become wider when she looked at the cover. "This is it!" she said happily, Edward tilted his head looking puzzled. She turned the cover towards him holding it in front of him "Capitales! The magazine I was telling you about, oh and that reminds me of a little scoop" she said there was an edge in her voice, sounding very mischievous, she placed the side of her hand next to her mouth as if she was going to say a secret. He simply raised an eyebrow wondering what she was excited about

"You know this guy on the cover?! He's Roy Mustang, he's quite popular model, and he is going to be at that event" she said "isn't he handsome?"
She said elbowing her friend, but Edward rolled his eyes in response. "Oh come on you like guys, so why are you so cold?" Rebecca said pouting with a disappointed look on her face "Because I'm gay doesn't mean I swoon over the next guy in a suit and a handsome face unlike…" before he could finish his sentence he felt a sharp hit on his head "Oww..." he glared at her as he rubbed the aching spot which had been hit by the magazine she was holding.

"By the way how you do expect me to be hired to such a chic magazine when if I don't have any experience in fashion" Edward asked as he looked over the application again "you can never know, at least you can gain some experience if you get this job, you have degree in the subject so there is no particular reason you shouldn't try" Rebecca replied "You know it's not that simple, there's a huge difference between what I do and what they would ask me to do" Edward continued "but you are a freelance photographer looking for a job" Rebecca insisted in a matter of fact way. Edward shrugged, he couldn't just win this argument with her "fine" he said at last "I will give it a shot" he slumped his head in defeat

"As your protégé I'm so proud of you!" Rebecca stretched her arms to hug Edward with pouting face.

"So, was that all you wanted to tell me?" Edward inquired as he finished his tea

"Yea and also would you like to hang out for a bit?"

A woman dressed in formal attire shrugged irritably when she watched her client idling by the corridor, talking to a female staff. He was standing his back at her, elbowing the wall and his other hand stuffed in his pocket. She marched out of the office right to where he was, her heels clicking as she made a halt. She placed her fist in front of her lips and coughed.

"Really, a beautiful woman like you is not working as a model here?" The man spoke not noticing the eerie glare he was getting from her stern brown eyes

The woman that he was talking to, blushed at his words "No I'm in the editorial section"

She coughed louder. He turned around and a cold shiver ran down his body from head to toe when he found her standing right behind him with a stern disapproval look on her face. He knew he was getting in to trouble

"Oh hello Riza' he said in a cheery tone, attempting to evade the verbal berating that he was going to get later.

'You have work sir" she stated firmly and calmly, holding a stack of file on one hand and the other on her hips

"I have to go for now, I'll catch up with you later at lunch" he said to the woman who he was talking too, she just nodded in response.

He followed Riza while he waved a little and winked at the woman he was talking to a moment before, she giggled in response. It took Riza's willpower not to grab him by the ear and drag him all the way to the office.

"I thought that photographer hasn't arrived yet" the man said indignantly as he plopped on the couch and crossed his legs, his arms widespread on the back of the couch

"Yes but I hope you didn't forget about your busy schedule" Riza said as she put down her file and took her seat dragging it closer to the desk. She pulled out her reading glasses putting them over the bridge of her nose. He smiled when he watched her, confirming to himself that her stoic manner was one of her greatest charm.

She cleared her throat before starting "Les Capitales are advertising on a brand new company that make ties and they want you to make a debut of their merchandize"

"So basically all I need to do is just being photographed in different ties?" he intercepted, but did not really look very interested

"It's a company from France and they are manufactured for tailored suites all over the world, but they are going to be launched in New York, it is profitable both for you, the magazine and the company"

"From the sound of it you already decided, so are you telling me all of this?"

She frowned "let me finish first, you know that since our president is actually French he likes making close ties with his native country, he helps new companies making their debut and they help him with profiting and keeping his magazine up to date"

"You lost me after you mentioned president" he said in a sarcastic tone

"I'm telling you what there is in the document that you supposed have read yesterday" she stated in an annoyed voice

"Alright alright fine" he said dejectedly

"Next" she flipped the next batch of papers

"There's a next?" Roy said, wishing he could get away instead

"Yes or else there will be no lunch" she said with out looking at him, but she could hear a grunt sounded coming from her male counterpart.

"The Fashion art photography event of next week you need to prepare a speech"

"Why?"

"Because you are the representing model of the contributor" she stated

'Dear president why does he likes making my life so terrible?'

"I'll order a pack of tissue with your cashmere suit for the event" she replied sarcastically, he chuckled in response

"What shall I say anyway?"

"Nothing big, just a speech on the behalf of the magazine"

"Alright I will work on that, but you know I'm not good with speeches"

"Yes it will give you good time for practice then"

"You must work for Satan on part-time bases Ms Hawkeye"

"Please refrain yourself from being so melodramatic" she feigned annoyance, but in truth she was smiling.

Later that day, they went to the studio for photo shooting male autumn fashion wear. It was one of the three things Roy listed as what he enjoyed most. Formerly because he always loved wearing clothes that made him feel and look good, and that was a pioneer reason which contributed to his fashion career. He admitted that he enjoyed attention too, and that makes him stand out of the crowd, it gives him a gratifying feeling whenever he walks down a street and feels the eyes of people staring at him. Especially because his face is now the most prominent in the magazine covers, though he is starting to feel that he and his persona are becoming two very different people.

He walked out of his changing room dressed on one of the attires that were ready for him, and stole a flirty wink to the make-up artist that was passing by. He walked up to the set up stage looking out at the blinding light of the sophisticated camera equipment. He closed his eyes and concentrated for work.

In the distance there was a woman who stood on the back by the door. She had her arms crossed and her back leaning against the wall. She looked like she was just observing from afar. The camera flashed in instant, making his eyesight hazy, but he saw an unmistakable familiar figure standing there across the room. His lips parted slightly as if he wasn't expecting to see her.