Lot no. 37 (Mustang and Mistletoe) Part 2

by Granate, 2006


Disclaimer: Don't own, not making any money!

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Roy held the bouquet of roses in one arm and rang the bell.  A young woman with glossy auburn hair opened the door.  As discussed, she was not the winner of the auction.

"Oh my… it's really you," she said and her cheeks flushed.

"Julianna?" Roy smiled warmly.

"Yes… yes, that's me," she said unsteadily.

"Roy Mustang.  It's a pleasure to meet you," he introduced himself.

"I know who you are, Colonel," she replied.

"Please call me Roy," he beseeched.

"I still can't believe they did this," she said.

"Well, here I am, the limo is waiting, and you look positively stunning, so let's go have a good time," he suggested, taking her gloved hand and gently leading her out the door.  She locked up her house and then he took her arm to escort her to the limousine.  He got her inside and then went around the other side to join her.

"I've never been to the Officer's Ball," Julianna small talked, "my fiancée is a salesman, not a military man."

"Well, this will be your last chance, then, won't it?  You're getting married this summer, right?" he asked.  

"That's right," she replied.

"Your friends said your fiancée went skiing this week?"

"One of his friends had an extra ticket and asked him to go last minute.  I didn't really mind that much, but my friends thought it was terrible," she told him.

"As I understand, I'm part of their revenge," Roy smiled, "and we're supposed to make sure there are plenty of pictures of us together."

"Well, we don't have to do that," she blushed again.

"Of course we do, I've been given a very important assignment tonight," he joked mildly.
 
She smiled, still looking embarrassed.

He pondered something and finally spoke, "And just between you and me, Julianna, I am also seeing someone, and they are none too happy with this situation, so you are the best date I could hope for tonight."

"You're seeing someone?" she asked, surprised.

"It's a secret, that's why it needs to stay just between you and me," he said with a wink.

"I understand," she nodded.

"So we have an agreement," he said, "no expectations between us except that we dance a lot and have fun."

"Sounds perfect," she said with a wide smile.

"And make sure we get in lots of pictures together," he added.

"Oh, all right!" she laughed.

When they arrived, he escorted her inside and gave his tickets to the man at the door.  They checked their coats and entered the lavishly decorated ballroom.  He introduced her to anyone he could find that he knew and made small talk.  He made sure to keep getting her a full glass of wine any time her glass got low and waiter came along.  She was becoming very talkative and clearly having a good time.  After about an hour, something near the door caught his eye: a suit of armor over seven feet tall, wearing a red bowtie and cummerbund.  

Alphonse Elric waved when he saw the Colonel looking at him.  Roy waved back dumbly.  If Alphonse was here…  His gaze fell on the blond next to Alphonse.  Edward was smirking at him, his smile inviting and challenging at the same time.  Ed turned sharply and strode away in the direction of one of the tall glass doors leading to the patio.

"Excuse me for a moment, Julianna," Roy muttered before slipping through the crowd and out the same door.  It was cold outside and he and Ed were alone on the stone patio.  Ed was looking out over the snow-covered garden.

"I thought you weren't coming," Roy said.

Ed turned and smiled.  "Changed my mind," he said simply.

"You look…" Roy started but was unable to come up with the right word.  

Ed grinned back.  "So do you."

Roy went and leaned his palms on the cold stone of the waist-high wall so that he wouldn't grab Ed.

"So that woman you're with isn't the same one who won the auction, is she?" Ed asked.  She was a lot prettier, he'd noticed unhappily.

"No, her name is Julianna, and get this," Roy said, turning to lean back on the wall, "a group of her friends got together to buy me for her because her fiancée went on a skiing trip with his friends for the holiday!"

"He went without her?" Ed asked, making a face.

"That's the story."

"What a jerk," Ed shook his head.  "The two of you should get in lots of pictures and pretend to kiss and stuff."

The Colonel laughed in surprise.  "You sure change your tune fast," he said.  "You're giving me permission to do that, now?"

"Just this once," Ed added quickly.  

Roy could tell Ed felt better about the situation since he found out Roy's date was officially spoken for by another man - even if he was away skiing with his friends.  Roy moved a little closer.  "Listen Ed," he began, still not sure how he was going to put this, "I'm very glad to see you here and you look terrific, but… I was counting on the fact that you wouldn't be here."

"What are you saying" Ed asked, brows drawing together.  "Do you want me to leave?"

"No," Roy said, "it's just… I'm supposed to kiss this girl.  I didn't think I would have to kiss her in front of you.  I don't know if I can do that."  He turned to face Ed and his expression was something Ed had never seen on the face of Roy Mustang: contrition.  It was the most pathetic face Ed had ever seen on him, like he was about to apologize or something.  It flustered Ed for reasons he couldn't explain.

"Well, look who else is changing their tune!" he sputtered, not knowing what to do in the face of such a… face.  "You were the one saying it would be no big deal!" he reminded Roy.  He huffed and crossed his arms over his chest.  "Well, geez, if it's that bad for you, I'll find someone else to kiss, too.  We'll be even."

"Even it is, then," Roy nodded, sounding noticeably grateful.  He moved closer and Ed felt that powerful attraction, like when they were about to kiss.  Their bodies knew too well the feeling and Ed thought there was nothing that could stop it.  Just then, a glass door was pushed open and a small group of revelers came out to get some air.

"Why Fullmetal, you almost look fifteen!  And, what's this, did you even comb your hair?" Roy teased loudly.  "Did you have to use extra gel on it?" he asked, patting the top of Ed's head where his hair usually stuck up.

"You bastard Colonel," Ed growled back.  "Talked your cousins into bidding on you again this year, huh?"

"Ah, Flame and Fullmetal are at it again," he heard one of the other group say, followed by amused chuckles.

To finish the act, Ed wheeled around and stormed back inside.  Once in the hall, he looked around for someone to kiss at midnight.  He didn't know many girls.  He spotted a knock-out blonde in a sleek black dress that looked sort of like Lt. Hawkeye, but even if that was her, she would be out of the question.  Maria Ross was by the buffet, but Ed figured Brosh was most likely working up the courage to ask her.  Ed was beginning to think he was out of options until he spotted Sheska.

He hurried over to Sheska, who was standing alone by the tables.  Ed thought she was looking very pretty, with her hair up and a strapless green dress.

"Ed!" she exclaimed as he came over.  "I almost didn't recognize you!  It's the hair!"

"You look really nice, Sheska," Ed said with a genuine smile.  

"Thank you!" she beamed with a little curtsy.

"Say, I was wondering if you had a dance partner for the countdown dance," Ed said as casually as he could.

"Oh, I just promised to dance with - there you are, Al!" she exclaimed.  

Al came over to her and handed her a drink and a plate of hors d'oeuvres.  "She's promised to dance with me, nii-san," Al said, gloating quite successfully for a suit of armor.

"Al!" Ed exclaimed, and it came out as sort of a laugh.  Was this what happened when he left Al alone for ten minutes?  "All right then, Al, she's all yours," he shook his head.

"Has he met Luisa?" Sheska asked Al.

"I don't think so," Al answered and turned back to his brother.  "Actually, nii-san, I was introduced to someone who really wants to meet you.  A young lady."

"Yeah?" Ed asked, interested.

Al and Sheska led him to very pretty brunette about sixteen years old.  She wore a flowing white dress with silver embroidery.  "Excuse me, Miss Luisa," Al said, "you wanted to meet my brother?"

"Oh yes, Alphonse!" she exclaimed, turning.  

Ed tried to think of what Roy would do in a situation like this, as much as it made him gag.  "I'm Edward Elric," he said with a bow, "it's a pleasure to meet you."  Roy probably would have used more flattery and hand-kissing but that really wasn't Ed's style.  

"I'm so glad to make your acquaintance, Major," the girl was saying.  "I hear you've done some amazing things."

Major?  For a second, Ed wondered who she was talking to.  "Please call me Ed," he said sweetly.  "Do you dance, Miss Luisa?" he asked.

"I would love to!" she answered.

Ed took her arm and led her to the dance floor.  "So, Miss Luisa, are you here with someone?" Ed conversed as he began to lead.

"I'm here with my brother, you know him actually," she said.  "Heymans Breda?"

"Lt. Breda!" Ed nearly choked.  Luisa looked nothing like him!

"That's right!" she said with a big smile.  "Since I'm seventeen, he thought I should meet some military men," she blushed, "it's pretty common to do that, officers bring their daughters or sisters all the time, but there's no one here my age, I feel silly!"

"I'm seventeen, too," Ed put in.

"That's what Heymans said.  When he comes to visit mama and papa, he talks about you sometimes, and the adventures you and your brother have.  He also said that if I made friends with you, you would keep Colonel Mustang away from me."

Ed barked in laughter.  "Well, I can if you need me to, but I think he's preoccupied with his own date right now," he grinned.

"My knight in shining armor!" she swooned exaggeratedly.

"Actually, my brother is more like a knight in shining armor," Ed joked.

"Indeed, he is!" she agreed.

"Say, Luisa, do you have a partner for the countdown dance yet?" Ed asked.

"Not yet," she answered.

"Would you like to be my dance partner?" Ed asked.

"I would be honored," she replied with a radiant smile.

When the song ended, they joined Al and Sheska, who were sitting at a table with Sgt. Fury.  Fury was charged with being a photographer for the night and got the four of them together for a picture.  

After that, Ed took a moment to sit back and look around while the others chatted.  Farman, Breda, Havoc and a few other stags were hanging out by the bar.  The gorgeous woman in black who looked like Hawkeye had a crowd of men around her and seemed to be looking for an escape route.  Maybe it was Hawkeye after all, Ed considered.  Hughes and Gracia were dancing.  Armstrong still had his shirt and jacket on, thankfully, but Ed had a feeling that wouldn't last long.  Roy and his date were moving through the room towards the dance floor.  Ed noticed the female heads turning as Roy passed.  He did look especially handsome tonight, his coal-black hair slicked back and dressed to the nines.  

Women watched him from the side of the dance floor, too.  Ed almost felt bad for them, but then decided they needed to stop daydreaming and go ask one of the many other single guys in the room to dance.  Speaking of that, Ed noticed a young woman with raven hair in a scarlet dress walk right up to Lt Havoc.  She appeared to be asking him to dance and he offered her his arm.

Luisa gasped as the couple went by their table on the way to the dance floor.  "That's the Fuhrer's daughter, Vanessa!" she whispered to the others.  "I've met her, she was two years ahead of me in school before she graduated!"

"And she just asked him to dance," Ed filled them in.

"She's beautiful," Sheska commented hopelessly.

"Let's see how our Second Lieutenant conducts himself on this monumental occasion!" Fury said enthusiastically.  Ed half expected him to bust out a notebook and take notes.

To his credit, Havoc didn't miss a beat and was able to keep her smiling while they danced.  Fury snapped pictures of them and other couples.  The song ended and Havoc whispered something in her ear, eyeing their table.  Vanessa gracefully came over to Fury.

"Kain Fury?" she asked.  "Would you like to dance?"

"Y-yes Miss Bradley," he stuttered and she led him to the dance floor.

Havoc sat down with a laugh and patted the front of his jacket.  "Don't let that little punk forget that he owes me a favor," he said, taking a cigarette out of the pack he found.

"Lt. Havoc, you can't smoke in here," Sheska reminded him.

"What?" he asked, cigarette dangling between his lips.  

"The cigarette," Sheska sighed at him and reached out to pluck it away from him.

"Oh," he said as he snatched it back and slid it back in the pack.  He turned to Luisa.  "Heya, Lulu, you look dazzling tonight," he said affectionately.

"Thanks, Jean, it's nice to see you," she replied.

"Enjoying yourself?  Are Fullmetal, the Tinman, and Specs here showing you a good time?" he asked.

"Yes, I'm having a lovely time!" she said.

From the dance floor, Fury was doing his best to gesture to the camera on the table, so Luisa picked it up and took a picture of Fury and Vanessa.  When the song ended, Vanessa deposited Fury and tugged on Havoc's lapel.  

"You promised me another dance," she reminded him.

"If the lady insists," Havoc said as he got up, but the music changed to a tango and he groaned.

"Come on, soldier," she said, unrelenting.

The tango cleared the amateurs from the floor, leaving plenty of space for the couples who were left.  Fury was taking pictures like crazy.  A few of the couples Ed didn't recognize, but Hughes and Gracia were out there, Roy was out there, though Julianna was laughing and looking embarrassed as he tried to teach her the steps.  Havoc was making a miserable show of it, while Vanessa appeared to know what she was doing.  It wasn't long before the two men decided to simply switch partners.  Havoc brought a relieved Julianna back to the table.

Ed tried not to look at her with any kind of face in particular.  It was even between him and Roy now, anyway, because he had Luisa to dance with for the countdown.

"Are you the Fullmetal Alchemist?" Julianna spoke up, breaking into Ed's thoughts.

"Oh, yes.  Edward Elric," he responded.

"Julianna Thomas, nice to meet you," she said with a gracious smile.

"Like wise," he said.

"You look pretty good out there," she smiled, "perhaps we could dance later."

"That would be fun," Ed answered with a smile.  "You can't let that selfish Colonel monopolize you all night."

She chuckled and gazed at the dance floor.  "He's doing much better without me for this one!" she noted.  

Ed looked over and saw that Roy and Vanessa were really cutting a rug.  They looked almost made for each other, with their striking black hair and perfectly timed dance steps.  It seemed to Ed like they knew one another.  He frowned and tried to find something else to look at.  Roy and Vanessa were good, but the flashiest dance moves were by a dark-haired man that Ed didn't recognize and the ravishing blonde who looked like Hawkeye.  Julianna noticed, too.

"Wow, look at them.  I wish I could dance like that!" she said.

"Yeah, they're really something," Ed agreed.  "Is that… Lt. Hawkeye?" he leaned over the table and whispered to the others.

"Yes, you dolt," Al laughed at him.

There was clapping for the brave dancers as the tango finished.  Roy came over to reclaim his date and Vanessa collected Havoc.  "You still owe me a dance," she said, pulling him away.

"Nice work out there, you brainless show-off," Ed said to the Colonel.

"Ah, a child like you would be too young to understand the tango," Roy replied as patronizingly as he could.

Luisa was giggling at their exchange until Roy turned to her.  "And who do we have here?" he asked.

"Miss Luisa Breda," Ed answered for her, emphasizing her last name.

"The darling sister of one of my own men!" Roy exclaimed, taking her hand.  "What a delight!"

"C-Colonel Mustang," she uttered.  Ed could have rolled his eyes.  She'd gone from pretty certain she should avoid him to star-struck in about twenty seconds.

"I feel cheated that we've never been introduced before!" he said.

Over by the bar, Breda was making a small commotion and Farman was trying to hold him back.  

"Please save a dance for me," Roy said and kissed Luisa's hand.  That was when Breda broke away and sprinted over.

"Luisa!  Here, dance with me," Breda clamored as he whisked his sister away from danger.  Roy peeled with laughter.

Ed had his arms crossed and a bored look on his face.  "Laying it on a little thick there, you louse.  And people say you have class!" he snorted.

Roy was still laughing.  "Ah, forgive me, everyone.  Breda is so much harder to irk than the others.  I couldn't pass up the opportunity to exploit his weakness."

And now that Roy knew about that weakness, he would probably continue to needle at it.  He was truly incorrigible.  "Julianna, would you like to dance?" Ed asked her.  "You really shouldn't have to put up with this sleazeball all night."

They went the dance floor and Roy followed, dragging Sheska with him.  After that, Roy got his date back, Farman stole Sheska, and Fury pried Luisa away from her brother.

Ed gladly sat down with his brother at the table.  "Not dancing, Al?" he asked, a little concerned.

"I'm afraid I'll step on her feet," Alphonse admitted.

"Give it a try," Ed encouraged.  "You're really coordinated, Al.  You…"

"Beat you at sparring all the time?" Al offered.

"That's not what I was going to say!" Ed hissed, though he couldn't deny it.

"I don't know, nii-san," Al sighed.

"Look, she dances pretty well!" Ed said, pointing.  "She looks nimble.  Besides, it's Sheska, she's a friend.  She'll forgive you, right?"

"Yeah, but…" Al paused uncomfortably.

"But what?" Ed prompted him.

"What if I make loud clanging noises or something?" Al asked.  "I mean, this armor isn't exactly quiet."

"Well, give it a shot.  If it's loud and annoying, then move less, or - or only dance every fifth song or something," Ed tried to suggest.

"Ok, I'll try it," Al agreed after some thought.

"Next song," Ed insisted.

"Ok, next song," Al nodded.

"You have to cut in between Farman and Sheska all dramatically!" Ed schemed.

"Oh, good idea, nii-san!" Al agreed devilishly.

+

About ten o'clock, the band took a break and everyone found seats as the event coordinators took the stage.  They described the different charity events and gave the total amounts of money raised.  They talked about which charities they had chosen this year and why, and then presented the checks.  The Fuhrer took the stage for a speech when everyone had finished applauding.  

When the band started again, Ed tried to be on the dance floor for the rest of the evening, because if he was sitting, he found himself looking for Roy.  He danced with Luisa and Sheska the most, but also Julianna, Gracia, and some women he just met.  His brother turned out to be a very successful dancer and a magnet for the ladies.  Al danced with Sheska, Luisa, Julianna, Ross, Gracia, Hawkeye, and plenty of women Ed didn't know.  He even wound up with Vanessa for a couple of dances.  Ed was glad that Al was meeting people and having fun, instead of feeling like he didn't belong because he wasn't an officer.

The countdown dance began exactly three minutes to midnight and giddy couples filled the dance floor.  At thirty seconds to midnight, a fleet of waiters appeared to hand out champagne flutes to all the guests.  

The countdown started at ten, and at zero everyone toasted and drank.  The band kicked up again and sparkling confetti poured down as the revelers kissed.  Ed caught a glimpse of Al stooping down and Sheska kissing him on the chin. He smiled and then turned his attention to the young lady next to him.  Ed leaned over to kiss Luisa and realized that, for the first time, he didn't have to lean up to kiss his partner.  She was shorter than he was!

It felt strange at first, but Ed decided that kissing her was nice.  Her lips were soft and pliant.  She tasted of champagne.  He tried his damnedest not to compare her to Roy.  One certainly wouldn't expect a sweet young lady like her to kiss like Roy Mustang!  It wasn't a disappointment or anything, it was just different than what he was used to.  Which was fine!  But as they parted, he couldn't stop thinking about Roy's lips.  He wanted to taste the champagne on Roy's lips, on Roy's tongue.

"Edward?" she said, cutting into his thoughts.  She was blushing and looking at him like he'd just transmuted an entire rose garden for her.

"Sorry, what?" he asked, genuinely sorry for having thought about Roy just now.

"I was saying that there are fireworks over the patio if you want to go see," she said.

"Sure, let's go," Ed said and she took his hand to lead him outside.

+

"Fury, one more!" Roy ordered before dipping Julianna low.  He didn't kiss her but it would look like they were kissing in the photograph.  The flash went off and Julianna dissolved into drunken laughter.

"Ok, Roy, I think that's enough!" she giggled once he had her upright again.

"Then I declare this mission a success," Roy said, puffing up his chest.  He deflated and asked her, "He's not going to come after me, is he?"

"I don't think so, but it might not be a bad idea to sleep in your gloves for a couple weeks, just in case," she joked.  They heard the boom of fireworks from outside.

"Would you like to go see the fireworks?" he asked her.

"Yes, let's do that!" she said agreeably.  They went out to the patio and melded in with the rest of the crowd.

"Are you tired?" he asked Julianna after the display was over and they were back inside.

"No way, Colonel!" she said.  "This is going to be my only Officer's Ball, and we're not leaving till it's over!"

"Yes, ma'am," he grinned and took her back to the dance floor.

+

Julianna was dancing with Armstrong and Roy was resting his feet at an empty table when Hughes slid into the chair next to him.

"Urgent information for you, sir," Hughes said in a hushed voice.  

Roy's eyes darted around to see who was near by.  He leaned closer to Hughes.  

"I have reason to believe that Edward Elric has a crush on you," Hughes reported.

Roy sat back and gave him a withering look.  "Edward Elric has a crush on me," he repeated.  "Exactly how is this 'urgent information?'  What are we, middle school girls?"

"Well, I thought it was interesting," Hughes said with a glint in his green eyes.

"What on earth would make you think Edward Elric has a crush on me?" Roy asked dryly.  "He can barely stand to be in the same room as me for more than fifteen minutes."

"Sounds like more proof to me!" Hughes said jovially.  "He was visiting me yesterday and he was asking about you the whole time.  He seemed mighty miffed that you would auction yourself off to greedy females."

"So Fullmetal is disapproving of me as always, I fail to see how that would be pertinent to me in any way," Roy said flatly.

"Oh, come on.  Think about it," Hughes smirked.

Roy made his best mildly horrified look.  "Dear god, man, what do you think I am?" he gasped.  "He's fifteen years old!"

"Ed is seventeen and you know it," Hughes cut in.  "He's also not such a bean anymore.  I'd say he's about as tall as you when you were seventeen."

"That is completely untrue!" Roy snapped.

"Of course he'll never be as tall and beautiful as my Gracia, but he's grown quite a lot," Hughes said, ignoring him.  "Have you seen Ed tonight?"  

"He's too young, Hughes," Roy said firmly, changing the subject from Ed's looks because, yes, he had seen how astonishingly grown-up Ed looked tonight.

"You've dated a seventeen year old before," Hughes helpfully reminded him.

"Yeah, when I was seventeen!" Roy replied exasperatedly.  "He also happens to be my subordinate," he added, "I don't know which is worse."

"Not like you haven't done that before," Hughes shrugged.

"This is different, this crosses the line," Roy replied firmly.

"Which line?  You mean there's still one you haven't crossed?" Hughes teased.

"Why are you encouraging me?" Roy asked, baffled.

His old friend hummed and met Roy with a calculating look.  "I admit he's a bit young, and you definitely don't deserve him, but he's the only one I know who can give you such a hard time.  You need to be with someone you can't control all the time.  You haven't had a successful relationship in years, Roy.  Don't you think there's a reason for that?  You date all these sweet, adoring girls and they're so crazy about you that they become complete push-overs.  It fails eventually because the poor things are always so miserable in the end."

"Maes, I have no idea what you're going on about.  This is ridiculous," Roy said sternly.  "I think you've had too much to drink."

"Hm, all this protesting but you haven't once said you're not interested," Hughes grinned, and floofed the handkerchief in Roy's breast pocket.

"Hey-"

"Well, I'm sure Gracia is looking for me!  Happy new year!" Hughes sang and waved as he leapt up and hurried off.

When he was sure Hughes had his back turned, Roy smiled to himself.  So, Ed had a crush on him.  They'd been carrying on their secret liaison for a month and a half, weren't crushes supposed to fade by then?  Even more unexpected was that it sounded like Hughes would be in support of his relationship with Ed.  Maes Hughes, the self-proclaimed surrogate father of the Elric brothers, whether they wanted him or not.  Roy had thought Hughes would murder him if he ever found out what he was up to with Ed.  For whatever convoluted, nonsensical reasons that probably had more to do with massive alcohol consumption than reality, Hughes seemed to think Roy and Ed would be good for each other.  Roy was still not totally convinced that two of them wouldn't end up killing each other, but he was willing to give his friend's intuition the benefit of the doubt and not rule it out completely.