Chapter 4
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Roy titled his head slightly as he watched the boy's cheeks turn red, it seems like he didn't realize that it was a joke, or did it hit a nerve? There was a moment of awkward silence and the blond decided to turn to make his leave. Roy excused himself to the lady he was talking to and followed Edward
''hold on'' the raven haired said stopping the other from his tracks by grabbing his wrist
'I didn't mean to offend you, I am Roy Mustang and you?'' the black haired continued, Edward stopped in his tracks and turned his head around, his eyebrows arched above his golden eyes and his lips parted with a look of surprise. There was something oddly charming about him, Roy thought to himself. The handsome model stretched his hand out to shake hands with Edward.
''I'm Edward Elric'' he replied and Roy noticed that he spoke in fluid English but with a hint of foreign accent. Edward returned the gesture by shaking his hand with his, the man before him had warm large hands, when Edward let go he rubbed the back of his head trying not to look directly to him, it was certainly a strange turn of events.
''What brings you here?'' he casually asked as he casually placed his hand in his pockets.
''Well…a friend of mine had two tickets and invited me to this exhibition'' Edward replied, deciding that was better to leave the part where he actually didn't want to attend.
''Are you interested in this kind of business? Oh yes you had an interview two weeks ago I remember, so are you an editor?''
Edward shook his head ''I'm a photographer actually''.
Roy rose an eyebrow ''A photographer?…I see''
''what's that supposed to mean?'' Edward replied with a suspicious look
''it's nothing, how did you go with your interview?''
''Well, the interview went well'' Edward replied crossing his arms ''but I didn't get the job'' he continued as a matter of fact
''oh I'm sorry to hear that'' Roy replied
''It's alright, it's not like I was hanging on a thread to get this job anyway'' Edward shrugged his shoulders ''so what about you? Are you some kind of a big shot?'' Edward eyed a curious look at him,
Roy chuckled in response ''something like that, well I work in an agency called Capitales as a fashion model''.
Edward remembered the main article of the magazine he bought, a two pages in the middle section featuring an interview a front page shot of this man who was standing right before him in flesh and bones, Rebecca would melt like butter if she's hear right now he thought to himself and he was kind of glad that she wasn't.
Another awkward silence followed and Edward kept staring at the floor (still feeling mortified about the incident earlier) and he started having mixed feelings about him; the first time they met, Edward found him annoying and yet this time he fell for someone whom he mistook Roy for a stranger! He hated the silence that was pending over their heads, until the model decided to speak up.
''You know usually the people around me can't take their eyes of me when I walk by, so what is so interesting that you'd rather stare at the floor?''
Even though Edward wasn't looking at him he knew that Roy was smirking as he said that, his voice had a haughty tone. ''Very modest'' the blond muttered sarcastically, truth to be told he didn't want to look at him, he knew he would blank, if he gazed directly at him. Roy bent a little forward and nudged Edward's chin with his forefinger making him look up, his eyes met with his large golden eyes that looked back at him in an expression of innocence, his cheeks were rosy, but his eyebrows curled to the centre just above his nose. He had this appeal of an honest boy with a defiant and tough attitude, Roy smiled to himself finding him more and more intriguing. The photographer then changed seemed to be contemplating about something because he tilted his head and raised an eyebrow.
''Do you have relatives from abroad?'' he asked out of the blue which took Roy off guard, and he was at loss of what to say for a moment, it baffled him how this young man shoots his question right out of nowhere but hits right through some truth as if he had some kind of insight.
''Well I was born in Germany but I moved to New York two years ago'' he replied, figuring to himself that there was no point in hiding it, it wasn't a secret. Edward flashed him a surprised look, his eyes went wide and gleaming and his lips slightly parted, Roy thought to himself that it was a delightful sight.
''I am from Germany too!'' he exclaimed with a hint of excitement in his voice, ''I moved six months ago'' he said lowering his voice, trying to control his emotions.
Roy started asking him about his hometown, and Edward seemed to have loosened up a bit and answered to whatever questions Roy had. They discussed about their past, their favourite local food and places, and for the first time in a long time Roy felt somehow at ease. Knowing that there is someone else out there who has the same connection to his birthplace. It wasn't that he never visited Germany, he tried to whenever he was on vacation, but it gave him a homey feeling, having someone to talk to about it, and even if he wasn't aware of it, Edward felt the same way. It was private communication between two people. Edward felt like he was lost in time while talking to him, it was a strange feeling, as if it didn't matter anymore that they were at the event and that in the end, Roy was a smug, annoying big-shot with a god complex
However, their conversation was cut off when Riza came along, glaring at the black haired man. ''Hello Riza'' he said in a casual manner though he had the face of someone who had been caught red-handed. ''I have been looking all over for you, don't forget that you have to make that speech'' she stated as she crossed her arms
''yes yes I haven't forgotten that, I was just making conversation with this young man'' his black eyes turned and looked at Edward.
The photographer looked flustered when he realized that he was suddenly introduced in to the conversation, he gave a shy smile at Riza.
''I'm afraid I have to borrow him'' Riza said in a friendly way as she pulled Roy's arm.
He seemed to be reluctant to actually leave, though Edward wasn't sure it was because he was enjoying the conversation or he just doesn't want to do the speech. The handsome black haired man pulled out a business card from the inner pocket of his jacket and gave it to him.
''If you want we can meet sometime for a cup of coffee or something'' The photographer looked back at him with an astounded look on his face. It almost felt like it was a date.
Edward pushed off those thoughts from his mind the same way Roy was pushed by the blond haired woman off from the place they were standing. The photographer decided that he should check where Rebecca was since she was most likely worried about him. He hovered around the place, but he did not pay attention that much to the exhibition, even though it was supposed to be the hot topic of the evening. His mind was filled with thoughts, how this strange encounter with the man named Roy Mustang, up until now he never bothered much about celebrities and models for cover magazines, it felt surreal.
''Where on earth have you been?!'' the piercing familiar voice brought him back to reality he turned to find his friend rushing to him.
''Sorry Rebecca I kind of got lost'' Edward felt guilty to lie to her but he couldn't bring himself to tell her the truth, at least not for now.
She let out a shrug and frowned ''geesh do I have to keep you on a leash?'' she muttered crossing her arms ''there's lot of people gathering at the centre of the hall, I was going to check it out'' she continued
''I'm really sorry but it's getting late and I'm tired'' Edward said
''it's not even midnight yet and we need to call the taxi driver'' Rebecca said looking puzzled
''look I'm going to get a cab to home ok?'' Edward hoped that she wouldn't press on the issue
Luckily she opened her mouth but all she said was ''good night'' touching his shoulder
''You too'' he said and he left journeying his way through the crowd to find the exit.
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Edward was lazying on a relatively normal Sunday afternoon. He was sitting down on his favourite spot on the couch with his arm resting on the couch's arm, lounging and rather bored. The television set was on random channel but Edward wasn't paying attention to it at all. All that he could think of was whether he would take the chance and call the man named Roy for a 'casual' meeting. He wasn't sure if it was right, surely there was no crime in calling up someone who offered you his number? But at the same time he reasoned why would a supermodel like him have anything better to do then to spend a Sunday with some photographer he just met? Edward shrugged and bent forward to pick up Roy's business card from the coffee table. Fuck it he thought to himself, might as well try rather then wasting any more time by just pondering on the couch. He stood up and walked to his cordless phone which was hanging on the kitchen wall. He pulled the receiver and dialed the number, the phone started beeping waiting for him to pick it up but it didn't. Edward leaned his shoulder onto the wall waiting patient, maybe he is busy he thought himself, but he wondered what could be so engaging on a Sunday afternoon.
Edward was going to resolute to call him some time later when a crackle sound came from the other end of the receiver followed by a voice
''Hello?'' ''It's me Edward Elric, listen are you free today?'' he said casually
''Edward?'' Roy muttered in a low voice as if he just woken up
''Yes we met at the photography exhibition last week''
''I met a lot of people that night'', Edward's heart sank the moment he realized that he didn't even remember him
''Well, I'm the photographer from Germany, we met once before in, in the Capitales offices''
''ah yes I remember, what can I do for you?'' he started to feel very foolish, perhaps calling him was a bad idea after all.
''You gave me your business card so I thought you might want to join me for lunch'' his question was followed by a pause, he now hated himself for sounding so clingy
''sure'' they set up a meeting place and time and then he hung up.
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The cell phone hummed in the perfectly still room, Roy groaned and tried to ignore it in hope that it would stop. It didn't help the pounding in his head, he groaned in his pillow as he laid on his stomach. Despite he waited patiently for the buzzing to stop, it kept on going until he gave up and stretched his arm to pick up the phone of the night side table. He propped himself up with an elbow when he brushed against something warm, he looked to his side to find a woman sleeping naked next to him. It took much effort to recall what happened that night so he decided to leave that later. He picked up his phone and pressed the button to receive the call and placed it next to his ear ''hello?'' He sat on the edge of the bed, his naked feet touching the cold floor and the sheet pulled over his lap to cover his naked body.
The voice from the other end sounded vaguely familiar, but it took way too much process for someone who had just woken up, however he could not remember the name Edward even though he did try to remember him. He started a resolute that perhaps it is better that he should stop giving his business cards to people. The rest of the conversation followed by setting up the meeting, he then hung up and felt a pair of arms wrapping around his waist. He turned his head to see the woman embracing him with a sleepy smile.
''Good morning'' she muttered
''good morning to you'' he replied and kissed her on the lips.
''I have somewhere to go, so I need to get ready'' she gave him a disappointed look
''I was hoping you take me to shopping today'' he unhooked her hands from his waist
''something came up so I'll make it up to you next time ok?''
She seemed satisfied with that because she didn't say anything further. He walked to the bathroom which was door to door with the bedroom.
''going to take a shower?'' she asked
''yes'' he answered
''want to join in?'' she smirked and followed him.
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