The Flowing Alchemist [FMAB Fanfic]

26} Bet you didn't see this coming

"...we should talk to Roy. He may know what's happening." Ed groans, clearly not pleased to ask Mustang for help.

"Yeah..." Nodding my head, I sigh heavily and flex my new arm; it's a nervous tick of sorts that I've developed over the years.

"So...you didn't get a chance to read what I'd written?" He tips his head back and whines, "but it took me ages to figure out how to write that!"

"Sorry, blame Alec." Chuckling, I stand and offer him a hand up, which he takes after pouting a little. "You're here now so you can just tell me what it said."

Red creeps onto his face and his eyes dart away from mine, his hands squeezing mine as he searches for words.

"Well...I...(y/n) I've never met anyone like you. I know we haven't spent a lot of time together but I wanted the chance to get to know you..." My heart flutters and I brush the hair away from my face, smiling. "But me and Al are heading back to rush valley, Winry is waiting for us and-"

"I get it. Winry seems very important to you." I mutter, my heart sinking a little.

"It's not like that." He protests, shaking his head and gripping my hands tightly.

I slip mine out of his grip.

"It's fine, really. I can't transfer back to central anyway and I have a tonne of work to do so... This would be impractical anyway." Stepping away, I head to the door, Hokori padding along besides me and sniffing the ground.

One of your humans is here. I recognise his smell from the mission. Hokori yips to me.

"Eh? Which one?" I question, throwing the door open and taking one last glance at a defeated Ed before striding down the hallway to the staircase.

I enter the workshop and glance around, looking for Alec but finding no trace of the idiot.

He's probably stress smoking, he does that often. (Maybe he's a Santiago) {please understand the reference I will actually marry you!}

The rattle of the front door to the workshop opening draws my attention and I head down the corridor and into the large workroom - feeling safe with Hokori brushing against my leg as I walk.

"(Y/n)?"

Riley Moore, aka Bullseye, stands near the door, shocked for a few moments before hastily saluting me.

"At ease please, we're not in uniform now." I smile as warm as I can, assessing his demeanour. It's quite strange compared to how he was when we first met. "Why did you come to see me?"

Riley opens his mouth to speak whilst his cheeks steadily change to match his bright red hair.

"Um...I'm actually not here for you..."

{really trying not to sing congratulations right now!}

"Then why-"

"R-Riley??" Alec interrupts, having snuck in the room from behind me.

"Alec," the young man smiles as his cheeks grow darker and he moves to stand next to my friend, "I hope you don't mind me dropping by...I didn't realise you were (y/n)'s mechanic. Small world."

"You know each other?" Alec hopelessly glances between us whilst I chuckle.

"He's my sniper."
"She's my boss."

Alec's eyes dart back and forth between us, silence spreading through the room.

"So...this is the Riley you were talking about?" I giggle slightly and grin at them both. "You guys dating or what?"