Flame and Fullmetal 300 km/h

A/N: To reviewers: Blissful Ignorance, when I added Speed to the story I thought that he’s and Archer and tries to break up Ed and Roy, I should not like him and make him unlikable. But I do like him. Damnit! I have to see what I plan to do with him. TrulyWished, now I’m confused! But I appreciate that you see Speed, and especially Jenny, from another POV, the one I try to point out. They are quite the duo, ne? ZexyBard, I made that chapter with you in mind and I’m glad you liked it, I hoped you would. mina, this chapter is phase 2. The sneaky plot is revealed! KansouAme, I agree on the first and second plan, and definitely agree on the third idea! Pip, take it easy, I update as soon as possible (or when I feel like it…woops, I wasn’t supposed to tell you guys that!) Pauline, sorry for distracting you! And now you FINALLY get to know what happens next. Koneko, I always enjoy your reviews. They are like brief summaries of the last chapter with good opinions that help me know what kind of impression the chapters have. Scarletta, I’m so touched! You said so many nice things I was like: I don’t deserve this! I’m glad you took n the challenge to start reading a fic that has so many chapters, and I’m glad you didn’t regret it. Please continue to read and review, that is what keeps me writing.


Warning: Hell is about to break lose. Enjoy!

Chapter 25; Imperial Plaza

Ed checked himself once more in the full-length mirror before turning around with a self-conscious look on his face.

"Whaddya think?"

Al sighed and fell back onto Ed’s bed. "I think this whole idea is amazingly dumb."

Ed looked up at the ceiling and gave a sigh of his own. "And this coming from you... I must be doing something wrong. Too much cologne?"

Al shook his head. "I’m serious brother. I don’t like this."
Ed went over to the bed and lied down on his back beside his brother.

"What? Wasn’t it you who told me to get out there and get a life?"

Al shook his head again. "Brother, I don’t know about this. Sure, Speed Archer is a good guy and all…but aren’t you going abut this the wrong way? I mean don’t you think things are progressing a little too fast?"

Ed was surprised his brother hadn’t mentioned the fact that Speed as a guy. And about he ‘progressing to fast’, Al was after all the one who told him to: “Go for it. If it feels right you shouldn’t hold back.”

They lay there for a few moments in silence. Ed placed a hand on Al’s knee. "I’ll have my cell in my pocket. Everything will be fine, Al. I’m sure you can handle Wrath for one night by yourself," Ed reassured Al.

"I hope so," Al answered reluctantly.

“Just remember: Safety first.” Ed smiled. Ever since he learned how to crawl, Wrath had developed the talent to scratch his knees, get a cut or bruise even in a room filled with nothing but soft pillows.

Al nodded, wondering where the kid was…then he remembered leaving the kid with Scar in the living room, the two watching a monster truck rally on cable. That would keep the hyperactive kid sedated for a while. "So, where are you going tonight?" Al inquired.

"This new Chinese place called the Imperial Plaza. It sounds nice and he promised something fancy for our third date…at the lack of a better word," Ed added quickly at Al’s raise of the eyebrows.

"Just friends, huh? Well, be sure to remember: Safety first." Al mocked playfully. Ed rolled his eyes.

"I’m not that interested in him! I’ll try to get home for the night."

“Don’t make promises you can’t keep.”

“That’s why I didn’t promise,” Ed said making his younger brother all the more worried.

********************************************************************************

“Why do I have to do the night shift?” Winry asked for the third time that evening.

“Because I have plans and I can’t afford that my ride for Race Wars is behind schedule.” Roy answered and started pulling of brown tarp from his car that just had a paintjob two days earlier. Roy looked at his black and grey Mitsubishi Eclipse.

"And where are you going tonight anyway?" the blond continued, checking out the black pants and white shirt straight from the drycleaner’s.

"None of your business," Roy answered simply, running his hand over the smooth surface before carefully popping the hood.

"I bet you’re going out with Ed," she prodded and used her hips to push him aside so she could make the last delicate changes on his ride.

"As if."

Winry raised her eyebrows. "Okay, I’m going to pretend that Roy Mustang didn’t just use those two words side by side in the same sentence. And this just confirms the fact that you are going out with someone tonight. Who is it?"

He’d never been able to keep things from his chief mechanic. Mainly because she’d bug him about it for the remainder of his life. He sighed. "Well, if you simply must know, woman, I’m going out with Jenny Havoc."

Winry shook her head as if she’d heard wrong. "I could have sworn that ‘thing’ you guys had, went stale a long time ago."

"Don’t worry about it. I gotta go; I’m already late. How much gas is in the tank?”

"Enough to where ever you are going and back here," she answered, still stuck on the whole him and Jenny thing.

“Then fill the tank. Where’s Maes and Jean?" Roy asked, gently closing the hood and started searching for the keys.

“Maes took the night off since it is his and Gracia’s anniversary and Jean is working the bar since Riza took the night off as well. And I’m stuck back here to do the night shift all by myself.” Winry pouted, wanting some compassion from the lead racer. “And then I have to be here early tomorrow morning…”

”It sucks to be you,” Roy said, grabbing the keys and put on his jacket. He slid inside his car and started the engine. The car moved a few feet and barely avoided being hit by a wrench in the back. Roy stopped and looked out the window.

”If you would have made a bump, I would have killed you,” he warned Winry who was radiating with anger.

”Oh, drive away as fast as you can or I’ll tear that thing into small pieces!” She yelled back and grabbed another wrench. Roy did just that, hitting the gas and drove off like the devil herself was on his heels.

********************************************************************************

Ed and Al walked down to the living room and Al sat down next to Wrath who was staring at the big monster trucks in awe while Ed remained standing with his arms crossed behind the couch.

”I have decided that I want to be a monster truck driver when I get as big as Ed.” Wrath said determinedly, holding his own toy truck in his hands.

”When you are as big as Edward, you still won’t be of legal age to drive.” Scar chuckled.

”Who are you calling so short he can’t even see over the counter when he buys adult movies?!”

Scar turned his head, not at Ed’s outburst but at the smell of cologne. He looked at Ed strangely.

“What’s the problem?” Ed asked.

“Nothing,” Scar mumbled. “Just…what’s with the new look?”

Ed raised his brow and looked at his attire. Okay, he could see the man’s point. Ed was wearing a white Hilfiger sweater and semi worn denim jeans. The only ‘Ed’ about the outfit was the worn sneakers and the infamous braid.

Ed shrugged. “Nothing special, so fuck you.”

“C’mon. Obviously, you are going on a date. Somebody you want to impress, perhaps?” Scar said all too knowingly. Ed rolled his eyes. This man seemed to think he knew Ed that well. He did, but that was not the point. Scar shook his head. Well, at least he was glad Ed had gotten over Roy Mustang. Very happy indeed. The detective got up from the couch.
“You’re leaving?” Ed asked.

Scar nodded. “I have work. You know, what people go to make a living,” Scar said and reached his hand to ruffle Ed’s hair but the blond grabbed the man’s wrist. He had spent an entire hour to fix his hair and get it messed up. Scar pulled his hand back and waved it in a ‘my bad’ gesture, waving it again as in ‘see you later’ and headed towards the foyer.

"Hey, you got anything to eat?" Wrath asked, his eyes not leaving the TV screen. “I’m hungry!”

"What do I look like? Burger King?" Ed asked sarcastically.

"Oh, a burger sounds nice actually, thanks."

Ed rolled his eyes. “Al, be sure to make him some good old home cooked food. Something with lots of vegetables, milk and liver.”

There was a knock at the front door. Scar answered it since he was on his way out anyway.

"Hello sir," Speed greeted when the other man opened the door. "Ed ready yet?"

Scar responded by pushing the taller man against the door face first and started searching him. He needed to make sure Speed wasn’t up to any funny business.

"Hey! What the hell are you doing, man?" Speed demanded, voice muffled by the door.

"You got a gun?" Scar inquired patting down the guy’s pockets.

"No! Why would I have a--"

"Any drugs?"

"Al, you’re being ridi--"

"Weapons of mass destruction?"
Speed turned around and slapped Scar’s hands off of him.

"No!" Speed exclaimed in an annoyed tone. "Shit. What are you? A fucking cop?"

"Actually--"

"What’s going on here?" Ed asked lightly when he came into the room.

Speed smiled, forgiving and forgetting Scar’s over protective nature and went to Ed. "Wow, Fullmetal. You look pretty damn nice."

In his head, Ed laughed. ‘Not that I went all out for this date or anything, but all he can come up with is ‘pretty damn nice’?’ Ed smiled at him. "Thanks Speed. You don’t look to bad yourself.”

“At least wait until you are out of the house before you move to first base,” Scar mumbled and Ed laughed embarrassed, practically pushing the detective out of the door and closing the door in Scar’s face.

Speed chuckled and smiled back at the blond. “You’ve got many brothers looking after you,” Speed said. Ed knew that was a heart filled compliment since Speed had told him that he and his brother weren’t close. Speed jerked his head towards the door. "You ready to go?"

"Yeah, I’m ready," Ed replied, checking his jacket and jeans pockets. Cigarettes, wallet, keys, cell and a lighter. Ed turned to Al who had come to stand in the doorway. "Okay, we’ll be off as well. And Al? Don’t forget to lock up if you decide to go out. Last time, this place was fully exposed to the best of Central’s burglars."

Al waved him off in a ‘don’t even worry about it’ gesture. Ed nodded and noticed a pair of curious eyes spying on them from behind the corner. He waved Wrath over and the kid shyly stepped forth and walked over to Ed.

“You’re going somewhere?” Wrath asked in a small voice. “But you promised to play more Xbox with me!”

“Tomorrow,” Ed reminded him. “I’ll play with you tomorrow. Tonight you and Al have the whole house for yourselves. I’m going out on the town with my friend.” Ed turned Wrath around to face Speed. “This is my friend Speed. Speed, this is my super cool brother Wrath.”

“Hey Wrath,” Speed said.

“Hi,” Wrath said back, not daring to out cool the blue haired man.

Ed ruffled the boy’s hair. “You can sleep in my bed tonight if you want. Be good, okay?”

The child nodded and Ed smiled at him before he and the blue haired man walked out the door. When they’d left in Speed’s car, Al and Wrath were left standing at the door.

Wrath scratched his head. "I’m confused."

"Why?"

"I thought he was in love with Roy."

Al quirked his eyebrows once again. "How do you figure?"

"He can’t sleep."

"Huh?"

Wrath shook his head and walked back into the house. "Forget it. Grown-ups never understand."

********************************************************************************

"Oh, Maes," Gracia gasped in awe at the restaurant before them. "Do you know how hard it is to reserve a spot at this place?"

‘Hell yeah I do!’ Maes Hughes thought, but instead said, "Hey, it was worth it."

Gracia straightened her new, green dress. When her husband had bought it to her she knew he had planed something special for their anniversary. But she never would have guessed to dine at the Imperial Plaza! She reached up and touched his tie, not intending to fix what was already perfect. Maes was an expert in tying his own tie since he wore a suit to his work every day.

He held out his arm so she could take it. "You know you didn’t have to do all this, right?" Gracia informed as she took the outstretched limb and they walked into the restaurant.

He smiled. "Yeah, well, it is our anniversary and I am da man."

"Yes, with da big ego."

They were directed to their seats after a short while and soon after, given their menus.
"What looks nice?" He asked, knowing that anything his wife decided to order had to be good. That was why he often let her order for them both. “Since we finally are here, I suggest we have some appetizers, an exotic main course and then some delicious dessert. And a few drinks on top of that. And then as a final dessert…” Maes winked at his blushing wife.

Gracia laughed and shook her head at her husband. Looking into his eyes Gracia remembering why she fell in love with the former street racer. When he asked her to marry him, he had promised to give up the race scene…anything for her. Gracia accepted his proposal but didn’t have the heart to ask him to leave the streets and cars he loved so much, but Maes realized by himself that street racing was not worth risking his life now that it was a loving wife richer. They had been married for years now, had their own house, he had a steady income and loved his job while she was a home maker. On top of that, they had a beautiful daughter.

“If I would have had my camera right now, I swear, I would have taken the most perfect picture right here.” Maes whined. Gracia didn’t tell him that she had hid his newly purchased digital camera. She did feel a little guilty though, since Maes had left home his beepers and all but one cell phone. Besides, knowing her husband’s second passion after cars was taking photographs, she didn’t want to bother the other guests at the restaurants when Maes would ask them to take their picture every fifteen minutes. Maes had searched for the camera for a while, but being a man by the clock, he rather had no camera than be late. Gracia had it in her purse so they could later that night take one picture to remember their anniversary by.

A waiter took their orders and when they were left alone again, Maes reached for her hand and they held hands lovingly. “Tonight, as you sit here with me in your green dress, you make all the beautiful flowers in the far east jealous."

Gracia smiled. They had been dating ever since college when Maes’ studied economy and math. On the side he took a few poetry classes. It was there they met and he being a natural poet had charmed her with sweet and tender words.

“Your hair is like the hay prepared to be harvested at fall.” Maes continued. “Your eyes are like…” he trailed off as he caught a streak of blond out of the corner of his eye.”Hey, is that Ed?"

Gracia looked to her left. Across the room was Ed alongside…"Speed Archer?" she asked her husband surprised. "I didn’t know they were an item."

Maes shook his head. "I’m just as clueless as you," he said.

********************************************************************************

"Wow, Speed. This place is wonderful," Ed declared as they entered the Imperial Plaza.

"Yeah, it’s my favorite," Speed replied, smiling.
They waited to be seated, and within a few minutes, they were at a table, which seated four people.

"Well, would you look at that," Speed stated. "Looks like that means more room for us."

"That wasn’t real smart," Ed said. "They should have had us seated at a two-seat table."

"I don’t know. I kinda like how this table is dim and isolated. I’ll get to know you better," Speed smile that damn charming smile of his. And in truth, their table was set up in a secluded corner so he had a point.

"I’m really glad you asked me to dinner tonight, Speed," Ed said after they sat down.

"I’m glad I did too," Speed replied sincerely, turning on his charm.

********************************************************************************

"Is that Jenny?" Gracia asked, squinting.

Maes looked to his right. "Yeah, it is," he said, a little surprised. "What’s she doing here?" His eyes widened. "With Roy?"

Gracia raised an eyebrow. "What’s going on here?"

"I don’t know. Maybe they’re having a celebration that we weren’t invited to. Bastards."

"I smell something funny," Gracia said.

"Maybe it’s the new cologne I bought. I knew I--"

"No, dear. I mean, something’s up. And if it involves Jenny Havoc, it’s definitely not good."

********************************************************************************

"So, are we just going to act like you weren’t late tonight, Roy?" Jenny asked, after stepping out of his black and grey Eclipse.

"Yes," he answered gruffly.

She latched onto his arm as they headed into the restaurant. "I assume that you’re not going to be anal all night?" she inquired.

He didn’t answer her as they entered the place. Roy looked around. It was pretty formal, dimly lit with soft instrumental music playing in the background.

"This place is packed," Roy commented to himself.

"Yeah, well it is Friday night. And besides; love is in the air," she said, close to his ear.
If you asked him, he’d say that he’d rather be at an all you can eat, without all the mannerisms and bullshit. Or at home, watching a basketball game with the guys. Not that he hated Jenny. It was just that there were a million other things that he’d rather be doing.

And people he’d rather be with.

Finally, one of the restaurant’s waiters zigzagged them through the tables towards their seats.
Roy’s eyes narrowed when he spotted a flash of blond at one of the tables.

He thought his eyes were playing tricks on him when he saw Ed sitting across from Speed, seemingly in deep conversation.

"Here you go," said the waiter. "A table for four."

Roy saw Ed look up in shock. But fuck Ed’s shock! What about his?!

"Oh, hell no," they said in unison.

********************************************************************************

Gracia laughed as Maes threw a grape into the air and tried to catch it into his mouth. He missed again, of course.

"Are you trying to get us kicked out?" she asked between laughs.

He waved it off. "They don’t care. I practically own this place."

"Right. And in which dream was that again?"

"Hey, look," Maes said, pointing. "They’re sitting down."

"I wonder when all hell will break loose."

"Shouldn’t be too long. 15 minutes tops."

"No way! That’s way too early. I say 20."

"Visiting your parents this weekend says 15."

She held out her hand to shake his. "You’re on."

********************************************************************************

Roy wasn’t dumb enough to think that this was all some coincident. If the passing smirk on Speed’s face was any indication.

"Well I’ll be damned. What a coincidence! Hey Speed," Jenny said in a friendly tone. "Fancy seeing you here. You two on a date?”

Speed raised an eyebrow. “What’s it to you?”

"Nothing. I’m just wondering how Speed Archer copped reservations."

Speed smiled a fake smile. "And I’m just wondering how Jenny Havoc copped a date with Roy Mustang."

Jenny glared at the blue haired man but then put on a sweet smile, hugging Roy’s arm as to prove what could possibly have her in such a good mood she would let Speed’s comment slide without scratching his face with her nails. “Wonderful night isn’t it?” She stated.

“With you two here, the night couldn’t get any better. Could it Ed?” Speed asked, turning to the blond.

Ed didn’t answer, instead he asked the waiter: "Aren’t there any other seats for them to sit?"
He knew he was being rude. But he was finally about to get on with his life and if it meant that he’d have to be an ass, then so be it.

The waiter shook his head nervously. "N-no sir," he stuttered. "A-as you can see, it’s really crowded tonight. A-and besides, these seats were specifically reserved for--"

"Okay, we get it," Jenny cut him off, sitting down. "No room, yadda yadda... now go make yourself useful."

The waiter gave them their menus and scurried away from the table.

Ed bit his tongue when Roy finally sat down. He didn’t know what was going on in Roy’s mind, but he knew it wasn’t real pleasant.

"Wow, this is just...such a coincidence," Jenny said sweetly. "I mean, out of all the joints in Central, you guys come to the Imperial Plaza. What a coincidence."

Speed gave him a look that clearly said, ‘shut up now.’ "So," Speed began while glaring at Jenny. "You see something you like, Ed?"

Roy chuckled to himself.

Ed didn’t look up from the menu. "No. Hopefully I haven’t lost my appetite."

Roy snorted. "That’d be the day," he commented under his breath.

Ed didn’t miss a beat. "And this coming from the guy who consumes food faster than a jet." He didn’t look up.

"Not when it comes to your cooking," Roy said, referring to the day after the sleepover when Ed and Al had cooked breakfast. He kept his eyes on his menu also.

"So I assume that you didn’t enjoy the 3rd and 4th helpings you took?"
Ed smirked to himself when Roy didn’t answer back. ‘Shot down!’ He thought, triumphantly, and a bit childishly. But so what?

"So, Roy," Jenny began, stroking his arm. "When are you going to fix my bedroom lock? You know how much I hate people barging in uninvited."

Ed froze noticeably. How did he know that someone would bring that up tonight?

"What do I look like?" Roy asked. "A locksmith? And how the hell am I supposed to read this menu?"

"Yeah, the language is pretty hard," Speed commented. "Especially since this place is a little fancier than what you are used to."

Roy looked up at the blue haired man. "And, at which point were you invited into the conversation? As far as this whole ‘date’ thing is concerned, you can worry about that one, and I’ll worry about this one," he said, pointing to Ed and Jenny respectively. "Don’t trip on what’s going on over here."

Speed grinned, proud to have gotten Roy so easily riled up. "As you wish."

********************************************************************************

"Your 15 minutes are up darling."

"No way. I get a 2 minute leeway."

"I hope you don’t seriously believe that, Maes Hughes."

"Of course I do."

"I’m getting fretty."

"Yeah, me too. I think it was the lotus root. I don’t know about you, but--"

"No, I mean, that right there," Gracia started, pointing at Roy’s table. "It’s way too easy."

"Huh?"

"What I mean is-- okay, do you ever feel the sexual tension?"

Maes dropped his fork. "Y-you can’t be implying that we….you mean us in the bathroom right now?"

She rolled her eyes. "No, I mean between Edward and Roy."

He picked up his fork again. "Oh, yeah. Ed and Roy. That UST is practically oozing off them."

"Good," Gracia continued. "Because I don’t know Edward that well but even I can feel those oozies."

"Thanks for the image. So what’s ‘easy’? Maes asked.

She smiled and got up from her seat. "Follow me. And play along."

Maes quirked an eyebrow, but did just as she said.

********************************************************************************

Ed took a sip of his drink as Speed continued to talk with him. They had gone from a real discussion to small talk, which had not been the idea with this dinner. In all fairness, it was kind of Ed’s own fault. Speed had been trying to engage him into conversation but he’d only responded in one syllable words. How could he concentrate when Roy was sitting directly across from him? And Jenny was laughing loudly every five seconds as if Roy was someone hilarious.

Ed knew Roy was not that funny.

Roy turned to Ed and caught the blond staring at him. Ed quickly turned back and pretended to listen to Speed. Roy smirked and continued to play with his straw and listen to Jenny’s one sided conversation. If she laughed at one of her own jokes one more time, he might just throw his drink at her.

Did she really think that she and Speed were being discreet about their little plan? He almost laughed. He wondered if Ed had figured it out already.

"Oh my goodness, what a coincidence!" Roy winced. If he heard that word one more time, someone was going to get dropped. He looked up to find Gracia and Maes standing at their table.

"What the hell are you two doing here?" Roy asked bluntly.

"For your information, Roy," Gracia began. "We were here before you guys got here."

“I had no idea when I got reservations that there would be this much entertainment here.” Maes grinned. Gracia elbowed her husband in the gut noticeably and gave him a soft yet warning look.

"Well, we just came by to say hi," Gracia said. "And might I add that Ed and Speed, you both look very handsome tonight, as always."

"Oh, don’t" Ed said playfully. "I’ll start blushing."

Gracia laughed and turned to Jenny. "And you’re looking soo pretty, Jenny. Where’d you get your dress? I’ve never seen it before." Gracia asked, already setting her plan into action.

Jenny looked at the other woman suspiciously but then smiled flattered. "Thanks. Oh, this old thing? I honestly can’t remember, but I do recall that when I saw it and tried it on, it was perfect on me. A perfect match, like it was meant to be." Jenny said, fluttering her lashes at Roy.

“Oh, and I love that necklace. May I?" Gracia asked, wanting to touch it.

Jenny agreed proudly.

As the other woman went for the necklace, she knocked over a glass which poured all of its red contents onto Jenny’s lap.

Jenny gasped and stood up.

"Oh dear God!" Gracia exclaimed. "I’m so sorry. Here, Maes dear, hand me a napkin. And watch out for Speed’s glass."

Maes took the hint.

As he reached for the napkins, he ‘accidentally’ knocked over Speed’s glass which spilled over onto his own lap.

"Shit Hughes!" Speed exclaimed. By this time, they’d gained spectators. "Can’t you ever watch what you’re doing?"

"My bad, man." Maes replied simply.

Ed almost laughed at the quick smile he saw flit over Maes and Gracia’s lips. Roy was slightly amused. The night had just gotten interesting.

Jenny scowled at the other woman. "I’ll be in the ladies room," she told the table, "trying to get this stain out of my dress. Someone better pray this comes off."

She stomped off to the restrooms followed by Speed who had to do the same.

"Sorry for the inconvenience," Maes apologized. "We’ll be getting back to our dinner. You guys can continue yours," he ended with a wink at Roy.

Roy shook his head. He was really going to have to talk to Maes about winking at other guys. He turned back to Ed.

"I bet you planned all this," Ed said spitefully.

Roy snorted. "Right. Just as hard as I’d plan my own death."

"I’m pretty sure other people are doing that job for you," the blond said with a mock smile.

"And I’m guessing you’re one of them?" Roy inquired sarcastically.

"Would you blame me if I was?"

Roy leaned back in his chair and shrugged. "To each his own, right?"

Ed sighed and shook his head. As pathetic as it was, he couldn’t wait until Speed came back. He swirled the contents in his glass without looking up at the raven haired man.

Roy watched Ed’s face. The blond looked defeated.

"Why do you look like that?" Roy asked without thinking.

"Like what?" Ed asked defensively.

"Like someone just murdered your dog."

Ed finally looked up at Roy with a bitter smile on his face. "Do you really have to ask?"

Roy became angry at the blond’s words. Was he supposed to feel guilty or something? "Don’t act as if you didn’t walk out The Rose with him that night."

Ed’s eyes widened slightly. "You’re not serious."

"When have I not been serious?"

"What did you expect me to do?"

"Meet me at the door after you’d come out the restroom like you said."

"It’s pretty hard to meet up with someone who isn’t there."

Roy’s eyes narrowed. "I waited for you, Edward. And when Jenny told me you’d left with Speed I--"

"Well that’s funny because Speed informed me that you’d left with Jenny and..." Ed trailed off. How the hell did he miss it? He’d been too pissed to think through the situation. "I guess that was just as planned as this sham of a date?" Ed figured out.

Roy nodded. "So you at least figured that part out?"

There was a pregnant silence as they thought it through. Ed played with his drink again. "That still doesn’t explain why you were practically ramming Jenny in her own house."

Roy stiffened. And not in the good way. "She was just there."

Ed almost scoffed. "So you’d make suck-face with anyone that’s ‘just there’?"

Roy looked the blond straight in the eye. "Basically," he blurted without thinking.

Ed’s eyes widened. He shook his head with disbelief and got up from the table.

Roy cursed as he watched Ed grab his jacket and walk out the door. The blond always seemed to leave him watching his retreating figure.

Not this time.

He got up from his seat and made his way towards the exit.

********************************************************************************

Ed took a deep breath and let the chilly air sweep across his body. Why did he always let that guy get to him?

Fuck.

Now he was going to have to go back in there and wait for Speed. How else was he going to get home? He could call Scar. But he could still be at work or with Riza. Just because Ed’s night was crap didn’t mean he should ruin it for Scar.

He hadn’t even had enough time to get to know Speed. He was so fucked! The night had been useless, he’d accomplished nothing, and Roy had basically told him he meant nothing to the lead racer.

Fucking asshole!

Ed held in tears of frustration and took another deep breath. Time to go back inside.

Before he could take a step, a motor revved in the distance. It was getting louder each second.
Ed refused to show any emotion when Roy’s car pulled up beside him the windows rolled down. Roy stopped the engine and stared straight ahead, not looking at the blond. Ed watched him for a moment in silence.

"What do you want?" Ed asked with as much emotion as a stone.

There was more silence as he waited for Roy’s answer.

"I’m about to head out," Roy finally answered, still looking straight ahead.

Ed let a few moments pass before asking: "Where are you going?"

Roy slid his fingers over the steering wheel a few times with uncertainty. "I don’t know."

Ed waited for him to continue speaking. ‘Why is he telling me this?’ Ed asked himself, waiting for the silence to end. When it was obvious that Roy wasn’t going to continue, Ed turned to go back into the restaurant.

"You coming?"

Ed stopped but didn’t turn around.

"Is it because I’m ’just here’?" he asked, tossing Roy’s words back at him.

"It was a yes or no question," Roy replied, finally looking at the blond. Ed turned away from him and looked through the glass doors of the Imperial Plaza.

Speed and Jenny were just coming back from the restrooms. Ed watched them look around for him and Roy and then begin to argue.

Ed bit his lip. He looked back at the shadowed man in the Eclipse. Roy’s eyes were hooded, giving him the perfect image of dark temptation. Ed turned once more to look through the glass doors.

Speed was staring back at him. Jenny was too caught up in arguing to notice. Ed felt a pang of guilt when Speed looked down at the table in defeat and rejection. He knew that Al would be shaking his head in disappointment if he knew.

Ed took his last deep breath and half ran to the car. He opened the door to the passenger’s side and stepped into the car.

“Go,” he said and Roy started the engine and hit the gas.

********************************************************************************