Persuasion
by Granate, 2005 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Ed stopped in the middle of a paragraph as a feeling washed over him. The hair stood up on the back of his neck, he instinctually held his breath and listened. The library was tranquil as usual, just the noises of pages being turned and people moving quietly around. Ed heard nothing suspicious but his instincts clearly told him he was being hunted, and his pursuer wasn't one to let himself be heard until he wanted to be. Ed simply went back to the books until Mustang decided to show himself. It was only a matter of time. The Colonel had been after him this morning too, it figured he'd track Ed to the library. Mustang was persistent, you had to give him that much. Sure enough the man in question slunk around a bookshelf and fluidly sat down in the chair across from Edward. No words were exchanged between them as Mustang sat forward and folded his hands on the table as if it were his own desk back in his office. Ed gave him a bleak look. "Come on," Roy beseeched in opening and smiled a very feline smile that may have worked on most people. "I'm busy here," Ed replied tersely. "I'm hoping you've reconsidered." "You asked me forty-five minutes ago!" "Well?" "You never give up, do you?" Ed shook his head. "Not when I want something," Roy said with an ill-concealed leer. Ed sighed. "I already said I don't want to," he reminded the Colonel. "It'll be fun," Roy promised. "No." "You'll be great, I know it." "You don't want me, I have no experience." "What? Never before? Really?" "I was never really interested." "Well, experience doesn't matter! Just do it with gusto and learn technique as you go!" Roy said, more loudly than really warranted in the silent library. "I really don't have time," Ed said quickly "It's not that big of a commitment, just a couple nights a week. You need a distraction from your work anyway." "What if I have performance anxiety or something," Ed asked, lowering his voice some. "Feh, I can't believe that," Roy said with the wave of a hand, "as an alchemist you're a regular exhibitionist, Fullmetal. When you get into it, you won't even remember to worry about it." "What if I… just can't do it?" Ed asked and pursed his lips. "Of course you can do it." "What if I can't, you know…" Ed whispered and looked down at the table, "carry a tune?" "I can tell these things about people. You have a fantastic voice," Roy told him in all sureness. "Come on, please? The men's chorus always needs more tenors." Edward frowned uncertainly. "Please? You're going to make me beg here, aren't you?" "No, don't!" Ed ordered hastily and prayed Mustang wouldn't make that face. "Pleeeeaaaase?" Roy begged. "Stop," Ed groaned. He was so bad at resisting a begging Roy Mustang. "Pleeeeeeaaaaaase?" Roy pleaded as he crawled onto the table. "Colonel, get down from the table!" Ed choked, nearly falling off his chair. Roy plopped down on the table and folded his arms with a huff. "Fine, then. No sex until you say yes," he sulked. "That's playing dirty! And keep your voice down!" Ed squawked, forgetting to keep his own voice down. "Please?" Roy begged one more time and made that face. "Just one rehearsal?" Ed let his head fall onto the table in defeat. "Ok, ok, I'll come to one rehearsal," he grumbled. Was he always going to give in so easily? Damn that Mustang for being so persuasive. |
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