Disclaimer: I do not own FMA or any of the characters. They belong to Arakawa-Senpai~ I only own my OC's, my made up towns/cities/countries/other misc characters and this fanfiction.
Author's Note: I welcome CONSTRUCTIVE criticism, so please review somewhat kindly. Also feel free to PM me for any questions/queries about this story, or even just to say hello :3
Chapter: Vanilla Chai Tea
Summary: Something in common? Do you like it? 'I'm falling too hard...'
Knock Knock Knock..
"I'm coming!" Alphonse called out to his front door that had just been knocked on. He jumped up from the sofa he was sitting on and placed his book down on the coffee table as he made his way to the door. Unlatching the bolt and opening the door, he found Juniper on the other side. Today she wore a simple white sundress with her hair cascading down her back in a very charming way.
"Hello." She said softly. Her fingers were gently fumbling with the pages of a book she had held to her chest. She had butterflies in her stomach the whole day since she woke up in the morning.
"Hey there Juniper. Please, come in." He stood aside and held the door open as she walked in. He closed the door behind them and turned around to see her looking around the room.
"Oh wow, this place is ritzy. A Colonel's wage must be pretty good then eh?" She smirked as she teased him playfully.
Alphonse chuckled as he walked towards the kitchen. "Would you like some tea?"
"Oh, yes please."
"I have oolong tea, green tea or chai." He said as he placed the kettle on the stove to boil some water.
"Oooh chai please. You know, chai is my favorite tea actually. Though I usually add vanilla essence to it most of the time" She said smiling softly. She looked up and found him staring at her with a warm expression.
"Chai is my favorite also, and I like adding vanilla too. It's just such a happy and calming tea." This pleased him a little too much, and he knew it.
"Oh and please make yourself at home Juniper. I have the books we spoke of yesterday on the coffee table."
"Thank you Alphonse." She smiled again then walked over to one of the deep red sofas to sit down. She placed her own book down and picked up one from the pile he had set aside for her and began reading quietly. Five minutes later, Alphonse came in from the kitchen and placed a tea tray down on the coffee table and went about pouring the beverage into two cups. He passed one to Juniper.
"Mmmm thank you.." She gingerly took the mug from him and held it near her mouth, inhaling the sweet, yet spicy scent of comforting chai before taking light sips, tasting the sweet vanilla within. Alphonse sat down on the sofa opposite from her and sipped on his own tea.
"So how are you finding these books? Are they helpful?"
"Oh yes, very much. The few things I wasn't sure on before are making complete sense to me now." She beamed at him brightly.
He closed his eyes and smiled, happy to have helped her. "Good, I'm glad."
Juniper took another sip of her tea before placing it down on the coffee table. She picked up the book she had brought with her and offered it to him.
"This is the complete summary of my study on Air alchemy. It has everything from understanding all air and or gas based substances, to how to change and manipulate it."
Alphonse put his tea down and reached for the book. Taking it, he was surprised at how light and relatively thin it was compared to what he was expecting. Juniper quickly took note of his confused expression.
"As I said, it's just a summary. All my other major notes are back at my hotel room. They're kinda… hard to transport. But the summary has all of the key notes." She said as she watched him start to flip through the pages, briefly scanning each page.
"Woah, this is interesting. It makes so much sense seeing it in front of me now. It's not as complex as I first thought."
"Hmm… well, not anymore anyway. When I first started studying it, none of my alchemic equations made any sense. It took me a whole year just to get the basic oxygen and carbon dioxide right. Air alchemy is very unpredictable. There's only so much you can control of it before it goes its own way. It took me years of training to get it to where it is now, but not even I cannot control nature or its windy weather." She giggled, knowing just how much more effort it required when it was a windy day.
"Yeah, I can only imagine. Do you mind if I borrow this for a while?" He continued to flick through pages.
"Of course not. You're welcome to read my notes whenever you want. Well, of course that depends if I stay in Central or not." She looked down at her lap to her knotted fingers. Alphonse had stopped flipping pages and looked up.
"What do you mean? Are you leaving?" Even he was surprised at the worry in his own voice.
"It depends if I get certified or not. Even if I do, I might be transferred to another city where I'd be needed I guess."
Alphonse looked back down at the book and quietly shook his head while smiling softly. He knew she was going to be certified, and he also knew that the chances of her being sent anywhere besides Central were slim. He swore he wouldn't tell her until she was officially notified.
They spent the next half hour talking about alchemy. Juniper helped Alphonse understand Air alchemy while he gave her better knowledge in reconstruction. She was attentive, and a fast learner; something Alphonse found attractive in her. A loud rap on the door shook them out of their deep study. Alphonse stood up and went to the door with an exasperated sigh. He knew the pattern of the knock, and knew that it was Roy. Unlatching the door, he pulled it open and greeted the General.
"Hey." Alphonse said in in a soft huff. He was a little bothered with being interrupted.
"What's eating you?" Roy raised a brow and chuckled.
"Nothing, I'm just busy studying." Alphonse looked over his shoulder to where Juniper still was deeply absorbed in the book they had both been reading together.
"Well you should take a break. We've got a special letter to deliver to a certain someone I think you may want to see again." Roy teased and he held up an envelope and wiggled it in the air slightly.
Alphonse rolled his eyes. "Don't start that crap, General. She's here. I invited her over to study."
Roy's smug, teasing grin widened and he was about to open his mouth when he saw the younger Elric's eyes burn with warning. He snickered as he swallowed his comment, knowing better than to put fuel on an uncontrollable fire, even if it was just Alphonse. Those Elric's; no matter which one it was, were well known for their temper at the best of times when provoked.
"Never mind then. Do you mind if I come in?" He said as he held up the envelope once more. Alphonse stepped aside to let the man in, closing the door behind them.
A second voice and figure caught Juniper's attention as Roy walked in, and she jumped straight up of the sofa. She was surprised and taken aback at his sudden appearance.
"Good evening General Mustang, Sir." She was smiling, calm and polite, though she was freaking out internally.
Roy chuckled softly. "Relax Miss Fox, I'm not on duty. I came here to get Alphonse to help me deliver your letter to you at your hotel. Lucky for me, you're here." He stepped towards Juniper and passed her the envelope.
She gingerly took it and looked at it for a moment, admiring the red wax seal on the back that had the ardent dragon; the symbol of Amestris on it. After a beat, she began opening it. Pulling out and unfolding the paper inside, she began to read. Soon after, she looked up at the two men with wide, stunned eyes. "Really?"
"Really Miss Fox. Congratulations." Roy said with a genuine smile. Alphonse was also smiling.
She couldn't help herself. She let out a little squeak of excitement and hopped up and down clutching the paper to her chest. Her reaction made the two men laugh.
She gasped softly when she realized something. "Crap, I better call my family right away."
"You can use the phone here if you'd like." Alphonse said, pointing to the telephone on small corner table by the window.
"I'll be off now, you two have a good evening." Roy said with a hint of mirth, which earned a sharp glare from Alphonse.
"Thank you very much Sir." Juniper called out as Roy walked out the door.
"It was my pleasure. I'll see you in the Fuhrer's office tomorrow, Major Fox." He said humorously, being quite pleased with himself when he saw that she beamed at being called by her new title.
Alphonse closed the door behind Roy and turned to Juniper. "I guess that's the good news you were hoping for. I'm so glad you got picked."
"I'm very grateful to you as well Alphonse, since you were on the judge panel. I just hope I can live up to everyone's expectations."
"Actually, you surpassed everyone's expectations."
"You're joking?" She raised a brow
"Do you doubt me?" He smirked playfully.
"Hmm... Do I doubt Alphonse Elric, the RapidBlade Alchemist… Nah!…" She dramatically popped her hip out and folded her arms as she teased him with sarcasm. It simply made him laugh out loudly, and she too joined in the humor.
After the laughter subsided, Alphonse offered her the use of the telephone again, which she accepted. After a brief and hushed phone call, she came to sit back down on the sofa across from the one he was sitting.
"It's a shame I can't go celebrate right now, but I don't want to turn up to Grumman's office with a hangover."
"Good idea, though I doubt it would surprise him. You could always celebrate tomorrow night, since its Friday. You probably won't have to start till Monday anyway."
"Hmm that's true. Hey, wanna do something then?" Her tone was low and suggestive, surprising Alphonse.
"H-Huh?" He tried his best not to blush.
"Tomorrow night. Do you wanna do something to celebrate with me? I don't know anyone in Central, and it'd be no fun celebrating on my own after all." She smiled sweetly and he simply melted.
"Oh, s-sure! Shall we go to Monroe's Bar again?"
"Yeah!" She giggled softly.
The following day, Alphonse had stopped by Juniper's hotel to meet with her before heading off to Central Headquarters. They had agreed to go together the evening before. As they walked through the vast hallways of HQ, they were discussing what her state title could be.
"What about Thunderstorm?" Alphonse chatted happily.
"What? Thunderstorm? Did you hear me make any thunder on Wednesday or weren't you paying attention to my test?" She replied with amusement.
'Oh you made thunder sweetheart… Believe me…' Alphonse thought to himself as he simply chuckled outwardly at her response.
Before long, Juniper stood in front of Fuhrer Grumman's desk with Alphonse and Roy not so far behind her, sitting on the sofas.
"Good morning and congratulations Miss Foxy." Grumman said cheerfully.
"Good morning and thank you Sir." Juniper smiled brightly. She heard a faint knock on the office double doors behind her, and heard Alphonse jump up to see who it was as Grumman continued.
"You know, I've had this title picked for you since Wednesday, would you believe?"
"Really Sir?" she said as Grumman passed her official State Alchemist certificate to her. She read over it and found her title.
This official document certifies that the nation of Amestris, prefecture of the Generalissimo appoints the name SWIFTSHOT to JUNIPER JOSELYN FOX, in the name of Fuhrer Grumman.
The State Alchemist shall follow all orders and policies of the military.
A research assessment examination shall be held once every year. Participation in Alchemist Day events is mandatory of all State Alchemists. In the case that the State Alchemist does not show signs of progress in his/her research as a result of the examination or fails to participate in Alchemist Day events, he/she shall be discharged from the services of State Alchemist.
The State Alchemist is entitled to the use of ample research funds, unrestricted access to classified documentation, access to various governmental facilities, and a military rank equal to that of "major".
Fuhrer Grumman
"Oh wow. Thank you very much Sir. I love it!" She exclaimed.
Grumman chuckled. "I thought you might. Ah, and just in time…" He said as Alphonse came up to stand beside her with a black square box in his hands. He smiled down at her as he opened the box for her. Inside was soft violet silk, and nestled atop it was a brand new State Alchemist pocket watch. The silver glistened in the sunlight that poured in through the large office window. She was completely mesmerized by how such a simple, mundane object could hold so much meaning and value. She reached out and touched it's cool, smooth surface with an index finger.
"It feels so… surreal. All my years of study and hard work have paid off. Now I can really do some good." She smiled as her eyes slowly left the watch and made their way upwards to lock with Alphonse, who's smile reflected her own.
"I sure hope so. We need it as of late. Which brings me to where you will be posted at. After careful consideration, and I won't lie; some persuasion by some…" He shot Roy a look. "…I have decided to put you in one of the best teams running in the military, General Mustang's team."
She couldn't help but feel a slight rush of relief flood through her. She wasn't particularly confused by the feeling either.
Grumman started to laugh. "Go spend the weekend celebrating, my dear Swiftshot Alchemist."
"That title is actually a lot better than I thought it was going to be." Alphonse muttered softly as he walked Juniper to the front gate of HQ. He wanted to go with her, but he still had a day of work to get through first.
"It definitely suits." He added, hearing her soft giggle and looked down at her with a smile.
"It's better than Thunderstorm, that's for sure." She teased with a smirk.
"Okay so I'm not good at titles." He laughed softly as they reached the front gate. They stopped and turned to each other.
"So I'll come to your hotel at seven, right?" He said as he passed her the black box which contained her State pocket watch.
"Right. Then to Monroe's Bar." Said with a playful roll of her eyes. She couldn't help but find it amusing that he had asked this very same question three times already.
"Ha… r-right." He rubbed the back of his head, feeling embarrassed for asking the same thing again.
He was still deep in thought and hadn't even realized that she had stepped closer to him, leaving barely an inch between them. When he did realize, he blushed as crimson as Edward's old coat.
"I just want to say, thank you for all the help you've given me in the past few days. Knowing I have someone I can talk to is going to make staying in Central and away from my family so much more bearable." She stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him. But the friendly hug was so brief that Alphonse didn't even have a chance to respond. He simply blushed more and nodded.
"I'll see you tonight." She said as she started to walk away, waving to him.
"Uh… Ye-Yeah… Sure… S-See you then." He waved back, still a little dazed from the contact. He eventually turned and walked back inside with an exasperated sigh.
'I'm falling too hard, too soon.'