Fic, "Lines Crossed"
So, this came off the top of my head during an all nigher to find sources for my Senior Thesis Paper. Reading scans of hundred-year-old womens' magazines gives fic ideas, I guess. Also, this is an experiment to see how well I write when a bit tipsy--my Creative Writing professor has been encouraging me to write drunk, for some reason. (Ever notice how the black cherry Mike's Hard kind of taste like the purple icicle pops they always gave kids in elementary school?)
Title: Lines Crossed
Rating: G
Paring: Edwin
Series: Manga/Brotherhood
Summary: You never expected things to change...
Somehow, you always took it for granted. You thought he would always be there; always finding a new way to annoy you; a new way to make you want to beat every inch of him to a pulp--
A new way to make you smile.
Somehow, you thought this would all last forever; the way all three of you were a trio, a unbreakable friendship that had faced everything from monsters in the closet to real horrors no adult should ever see. That was what you planned on; when all this was over, it would be all three of you again, just like it was years before.
You didn't expect things to change.
When he left, you didn't expect to spend several nights crying into your pillow, worried that he might never come back. When he returned, you hid your happiness behind frustration upon seeing a mangled object that was once your precious automail, crafted with tender care and love. You missed them both, but when it came down to it, your thoughts were always "I hope he's all right."
You got angry whenever he forgot to call. You said it was because "It's too much of a surprise when he shows up out of the blue". It was a convincing lie; you didn't realize until later that you really wanted him to call because you just wanted to hear his voice one more time.
They say absence makes the heart grow fonder, and maybe it's true.
You began to notice something was different. He was starting to get taller; starting to look less like a kid and more like a man. When he looked at you, you suddenly became more aware of yourself--Why did you forget to take a shower last night? Who cared that you were up all night working, you still probably looked gross! And why did you wear the blue top, when the black looked so much better?--And since when were you ever nervous around him?
You tried to stay the faithful friend, but there were problems. You heard jokes and laughs about what would happen if he ever got a girlfriend. And you were angry. You didn't know why, but you were. You tried laughing it off saying it would never happen, but you couldn't help it; at night, you stayed up late and wondered about what would happen if it ever came to that.
What would happen?
When you heard he was in danger, you wanted to do something. You wished you could somehow protect him and take all that hurt away. But you knew there was nothing you could do. You would always be forced to stay on the sidelines, cheering him on and waiting for him to come back, hopefully safe and sound. You thought that was enough. You wanted that to be enough.
It was then that you started realizing you wanted more to do with his life.
When was it, then, that you knew? Somehow, you can't quite pinpoint it--maybe it was the time you finally saw what kind of man he had grown up to be. Maybe it was when he saved your life, and held you as you cried it all out. Maybe it was when he left, and you realized that waiting wouldn't be enough for you.
Or maybe it was when you saw his back turned, and you realized that you might never see him again?
It didn't really matter, but you realized that a line had been breached--that unspoken line that divided just friends and something more.
But you said nothing--you were afraid. He still had things to do, and you also had your own life. Why bring it up now, when it would only cause you both pain? When you saw him again, you knew you couldn't worry him--he was worried enough.
Why didn't you say it when he came back one last time--that final goodbye before the coming of the storm? You knew you were still so afraid--What if he didn't feel the same? What if he saved the world, only to come back and tell you of another girl he had met and missed all this time?
You didn't think you could handle it if someone took him away from you. You had known each other since you were children. No one else had the right to have him.
But it was his choice. It was his life. If he wanted someone else, it wasn't your place to butt in.
So you waited.
And waited.
No word, and you waited still.
Then one day, out of the blue, he returned. They both returned. Happy, healthy, and restored.
And you knew what it was like to cry tears of joy.
Peaceful, sunlit days passed full of laughter, and smiles--vague smiles between you both, as his brother looked on and laughed at your reddening faces--and it was then after all those years that you realized why it had taken so long for you--for both of you.
"Edward Elric, you huge idiot! If you wanted to ask me out, you should have done it years ago, you stupid, stupid--!"
And then you grab that stupid, embarrassed, idiotic boy, and with all your pent-up frustration and love, you give him the best kiss of his life.
Now if only you could get him to reciprocate...
Title: Lines Crossed
Rating: G
Paring: Edwin
Series: Manga/Brotherhood
Summary: You never expected things to change...
Somehow, you always took it for granted. You thought he would always be there; always finding a new way to annoy you; a new way to make you want to beat every inch of him to a pulp--
A new way to make you smile.
Somehow, you thought this would all last forever; the way all three of you were a trio, a unbreakable friendship that had faced everything from monsters in the closet to real horrors no adult should ever see. That was what you planned on; when all this was over, it would be all three of you again, just like it was years before.
You didn't expect things to change.
When he left, you didn't expect to spend several nights crying into your pillow, worried that he might never come back. When he returned, you hid your happiness behind frustration upon seeing a mangled object that was once your precious automail, crafted with tender care and love. You missed them both, but when it came down to it, your thoughts were always "I hope he's all right."
You got angry whenever he forgot to call. You said it was because "It's too much of a surprise when he shows up out of the blue". It was a convincing lie; you didn't realize until later that you really wanted him to call because you just wanted to hear his voice one more time.
They say absence makes the heart grow fonder, and maybe it's true.
You began to notice something was different. He was starting to get taller; starting to look less like a kid and more like a man. When he looked at you, you suddenly became more aware of yourself--Why did you forget to take a shower last night? Who cared that you were up all night working, you still probably looked gross! And why did you wear the blue top, when the black looked so much better?--And since when were you ever nervous around him?
You tried to stay the faithful friend, but there were problems. You heard jokes and laughs about what would happen if he ever got a girlfriend. And you were angry. You didn't know why, but you were. You tried laughing it off saying it would never happen, but you couldn't help it; at night, you stayed up late and wondered about what would happen if it ever came to that.
What would happen?
When you heard he was in danger, you wanted to do something. You wished you could somehow protect him and take all that hurt away. But you knew there was nothing you could do. You would always be forced to stay on the sidelines, cheering him on and waiting for him to come back, hopefully safe and sound. You thought that was enough. You wanted that to be enough.
It was then that you started realizing you wanted more to do with his life.
When was it, then, that you knew? Somehow, you can't quite pinpoint it--maybe it was the time you finally saw what kind of man he had grown up to be. Maybe it was when he saved your life, and held you as you cried it all out. Maybe it was when he left, and you realized that waiting wouldn't be enough for you.
Or maybe it was when you saw his back turned, and you realized that you might never see him again?
It didn't really matter, but you realized that a line had been breached--that unspoken line that divided just friends and something more.
But you said nothing--you were afraid. He still had things to do, and you also had your own life. Why bring it up now, when it would only cause you both pain? When you saw him again, you knew you couldn't worry him--he was worried enough.
Why didn't you say it when he came back one last time--that final goodbye before the coming of the storm? You knew you were still so afraid--What if he didn't feel the same? What if he saved the world, only to come back and tell you of another girl he had met and missed all this time?
You didn't think you could handle it if someone took him away from you. You had known each other since you were children. No one else had the right to have him.
But it was his choice. It was his life. If he wanted someone else, it wasn't your place to butt in.
So you waited.
And waited.
No word, and you waited still.
Then one day, out of the blue, he returned. They both returned. Happy, healthy, and restored.
And you knew what it was like to cry tears of joy.
Peaceful, sunlit days passed full of laughter, and smiles--vague smiles between you both, as his brother looked on and laughed at your reddening faces--and it was then after all those years that you realized why it had taken so long for you--for both of you.
"Edward Elric, you huge idiot! If you wanted to ask me out, you should have done it years ago, you stupid, stupid--!"
And then you grab that stupid, embarrassed, idiotic boy, and with all your pent-up frustration and love, you give him the best kiss of his life.
Now if only you could get him to reciprocate...