Vertically Challenged II

"Let's move to the patio." he said.

I nodded dumbly, surprised and wary all at once.

We moved to the patio through wide, tall French doors and walked out into the night.

We sat down at one of the tables and he snapped his fingers. The candle on our table lit up, casting a glow onto our faces.

"Roy…" I trailed off, not really knowing what to say. I wanted to tell him everything, how I felt about him, how I hoped he felt the same… Everything.

"You asked me earlier why I invited you to the ball." he said suddenly, making me stop and catch my breath in my throat. His hand moved on the table to grasp mine. I could feel the warmth of it; whether it was from the gloves or his hands, I didn't know.

"I asked you here," he continued as my face grew red and my heart sped up. (Is it just me or is it hot out here?) "because I want to tell you something Edward."

Get out with it!

"I know how you feel about me, and…"

And?!

He put my metal hand to his lips in a soft kiss and said, "Same here."

Roy stood and pulled me up with him. I was so shocked that I wasn't able to do anything at all as he pulled me close and smiled down at me. Suddenly he laughed.

"Jeez you're short." he laughed out.

Usually my answer to this would have been protest, anger, and screaming my ass off, but this time I just smiled at him.

"We prefer to be called the 'vertically challenged'." I growled at him.

He raised an eyebrow at this. I grabbed his collar to pull him down. He captured my lips in his and I felt myself practically melt. He wrapped his arms around me and I raised my hands to his cheeks.

We drew back and I let out a huge breath I didn't even know I was holding in.

Gasps came from the ballroom.

"Lieutenant Colonel? Full Metal?"

I pulled away, afraid that he might get into trouble, even lose his position. But he pulled me to him once more and kissed me deeply, stroking my cheek and brushing aside my golden bangs as I wrapped my arms around him.

They all went further inside, outraged, and I pulled away from Roy.

"Think they were mad?" I asked with concern.

"I hope so." he replied.

I laughed, relieved as I remembered that I wasn't the only one with a "fuck it all" attitude. He suddenly bowed and took my hand.

"How about another dance?"

I bowed to him and we took our positions, dancing to the faint music drifting out from the ballroom.

"One more question." I said as I removed my head from his chest.

"Hm?"

"Why were you dancing with Riza?"

He smiled and released a laugh, making me raise an eyebrow.

"Riza was the whole reason we were able to get together. She convinced me to invite you here, got you an invitation, and even volunteered to help me make sure you felt the same."

"So you purposely made me jealous?"

"It worked, didn't it?"

I grabbed his collar and pulled him down to my level once more.

"Just don't do it again." I said with a devilish smile.

He smiled back as we began kissing, that is, before we were interrupted…

"Sorry to interrupt, but the rest of the guests are starting to talk."

I turned to see Riza leaning against the doorframe, whiskey in hand. She didn't even look fazed by the strong alcohol. I couldn't stay mad at her any longer as I remembered what Roy said. Besides, I respected her too much as an alchemist.

"I suggest you move to the ballroom." she said.

"Won't that entice them to talk even more?" Roy asked her.

"As much as I would advise against it, I have a feeling that's exactly what you want." Riza responded as she took a swig of the whiskey.

"Ah Riza, you know me too well." Roy said as he walked up to her and smiled largely. He turned and offered and hand to me, which I took. He began to lead me into the ballroom with that same "kid-who-just-got-exactly-what-he-wanted" look on his face. And I loved it.

Riza finished her drink in one big swig and sighed.

"You're a pain in my ass, Roy…"

We wove in between the other dancers in a wonderful, mesmerizing movement. We never spoke, that would come later. When dancing, my mother had told me, words are spoken through motion.

He kissed my forehead and smiled down at me.

Forget shortness. Forget rulers and yardsticks. Forget high counters and the topmost cabinet with all the things I just happen to need in it. Forget shortness.

I was fine with standing on my toes and wearing tall-bottomed shoes. I'm fine with being vertically challenged. As long as he was fine with it, I was too.

We kissed once more, exchanged wide smiles, and then the music swept us off once more.

Author's Note: Well, that was really different for me to write. Something about it… Not really sure how it turned out, either. READ AND REVIEW!