Work Text:
The bustling bodies of college students brushed against my body as I made a beeline towards the Central Café. I swept the stray strands of my hair out of my face with a puff of breath as I grasped the brass knob to the shop. I heard the quiet bell ring against the glass of the door, and I situated the strap of my bag while I placed myself in the relatively lengthy line. I glanced around the dimly lit room and ground my teeth when I realized there was absolutely no seats available. Why were there so many people in this place at five in the afternoon?
After I received my coffee with a shot of milk and espresso I turned on my heel to see there was still no seats for the taking. However, my eyes found one empty chair, but someone was rudely using it as a foot rest. The man currently occupying the table for two had his nose buried deep in a book and one hand abstinent-mindedly spinning his coffee mug around. The glasses he was sporting rested very low on the bridge of his nose once I noticed this, he pushed them up all the way. He turned a page in his book as I made my way towards this pompous asshole. Who did he think he was taking up space? Someone in need might need the chair. I need this chair!
I straightened my shoulders in a defensive manner as I stood before the brawny man and made sure to clear my throat loud enough to be heard over the roar of the café. He hasn't even glanced up from his book since his golden eyes kept skimming wildly at the words. I stomped my foot in annoyance, and then placed my hand on the table. The shaking of his book alerted him to my presence, and his fierce eyes looked up to connect with mine.
"Yes?" He questioned with a raise of his eyebrow. I was delighted I finally captured his attention, but now I was suddenly struck by how attractive he was. The angular lines his face showed off his sculpted beauty, and the slight smirk on his face wasn't helping. His tweed attire only added to his appearance.
With my job as an engineer, I hadn't had the time to dabble in the areas of men however a few came and went, but none of this man's caliber. He thrust his head forward in a pressing manner, and his ponytail bobbed with the motion. Well, I guess he wouldn't be classified as manly with his lengthy hair, but I found it very alluring. I wanted to skim my hands through it to see how soft to the touch it was. I stammered for a minute before remembering, I was Winry fucking Rockbell—I wasn't going to get caught up in this prick's appearance. Clearly he was extremely selfish for stealing the only chair in the vicinity and not the type of person I should be interested anyhow.
"I was wondering if I could use this chair, I mean you are just using it as a leg rest." I stated sternly. He sort of scoffed at my words and set his book face down to keep a tab on the page he was reading. He folded his hands over his stomach and sighed.
"There are plenty of tables outside."
I craned my neck a bit to the side, and heard a satisfying pop as I growled at his words. He smugly stared back at me with no care in the world about my dire need for this chair.
"I need to be inside, so I can work on my sketches." I informed him plainly.
"Ah, another stereotypical artist that has the primal urge to draw circles and flowers in a stuffy coffee shop. Well, sweetie, I need this chair as well. How about you run along back to your studio apartment, blast some reggae and paint me a picture about your feelings?"
I was stunned by his harsh words, and I yelled out in frustration as I slammed my coffee cup on his table. I proceeded to rip the chair from right under his foot, and I soon regretted it as I heard the sickening clunk of something that was clearly not made of flesh. Rage flew across his eyes as he struggled to stand and placed his hand over my own. He grasped my hand hard and leaned in very close to my face. It didn't help that ticking him off made him ten times more attractive. I calmed my womanly thoughts as he breathed heavily across my face.
"I need this fucking chair, so I can prop up my fake leg so the prosthetic doesn't pull against my skin. Now if you don't fucking mind, I will gladly take my goddamn chair back. Next time don't assume you need something more than someone else." He seethed as he clutched my wrist. He flicked it away from him, and scooted the chair back to where it was. He proceeded to plop himself back into his chair, and return to his book.
He didn't make a move to place his leg back up onto the chair, and decided to cross his legs under the table instead. His golden eyes found my face quickly, and he used his free hand to motion to the chair that was once occupied by his foot.
"If you want it so badly take it, but there are no tables." He cracked a smile at me and found it annoying but at the same time mesmerizing. "Are you going to fight another cripple for a table?"
I scoffed as I scooted out the chair and took a seat at his table. He seemed like he wanted to protest, but instead his eyes softened and returned to his book. He dragged his coffee mug closer to himself and allowed me to occupy space on the small tabletop. I began to gather materials, so I could place them on the table and begin my sketches. The black tipped pencil I started drawing with effortlessly skimmed across the grid paper. I intricately planned out how the fingers on my new prosthetic design would look like. I mused over how stupid I was not to notice his leg was not made of flesh and bone. If I hadn't been paying attention to the man's appearance, I may have noticed that his pant legs didn't hug his left leg like usual.
I noticed the man in front of me was no longer reading his book instead he was observing me drawing. His intense eyes followed every line I marked and his brow scrunched up in confusion. He cleared his throat, and snatched his cup off of the wood table and brought it to his lips.
"So you aren't just an artist." He mused before sipping on his coffee. I glanced up at him and merely nodded. I set down my pencil, so I could gulp down my own sip of coffee. He held his hand out asking silently if he could see my sketch book. I hesitantly complied and observed nervously as he thumbed through my book.
"I'm technically a Biomedical engineer. I design specialty made prosthetics." I explained as he halted on a certain page, and set the book down onto the tabletop. He turned the book so that it was facing me, and his index finger tapped the page softly.
"I like this design. How have I never heard of this type of thing before?" The current design he was pointing at was one that was completely made out of steel and had a sleek look to it. I hadn't had the chance to try out that certain design due to the weight would add to the person.
"I'm just getting started essentially. I've sold about twenty designs, but I kind of have to contact the people in order for them to know about me." I declared to him as I pulled my book closer to me. He smirked again as he reached over into his bag with his left hand. I took notice that he didn't sport a wedding band, and the girly girl inside of me squealed in excitement. I hushed my conscious as he brought out a rather large pocket book and slid a white card over to me.
"The steel design, if you can get it all out into an actual product, contact me. I'm tired of having this dummy wooden leg." He said as I picked up the card.
Dr. Edward Elric, Professor of Chemistry
The rest of the card included his contact information and also informed me he taught at Central University. I smiled with all my teeth displayed as I slipped the card into my sketch book and closed it to mark the design he had chosen. He smiled when I looked back at him. His eyes darted around quickly trying to avert my stare, and blushed at me before stammering for a moment.
"It is going to cost a bit, though, since it is art after all." I chuckled with an extended hand hoping he would shake my own. I saw his eyes roll at my comment as he grasped my own hand. They were calloused and ink stained, but I didn't mind as I shook his hand. It wasn't like my hands were in any better shape.
"We have a deal, Dr. Elric. "
He chuckled with the same hint of red to his cheeks still present. "Just call me, Ed."
I responded with a grin as I saw him open his mouth to speak once more. "I'm sorry for being such a dick earlier. I just don't like being bothered when I'm reading. I didn't mean to be an asshole to such a attractive girl."
I rose one of my eyebrows at his words, and he let go of my hand quickly and his hands flew up in a defensive manner. "I mean—not a pretty girl—I mean you are quite beautiful, and it's just—"
"I get it, Ed." I giggled with a hand to my mouth.
"Sorry for being such a bumbling idiot."
"It's alright! Now, if you have some time, I need to get the dimensions of your leg—if that wouldn't a trouble."
"Sure! Of course!" He exclaimed as he started to clean up his belongings, and painfully stepped on my foot in his frenzy.
"Ouch!"
"I'm sorr—"
"You really do apologize a lot when you're not being a complete jackass." I laughed as I stood. During his embarrassed chatter I had managed to pack up all my belongings. I was buzzing in excitement to start my new project and to have such a handsome man to work on. I watched as he too stood with some trouble and slung his satchel onto his shoulder. Once he turned me I noticed how short he genuinely was. He most likely only had a few inches on me, and I only stood at five foot five.
"Wow, guess I won't need a lot of metal." I commented as he stood before me.
"What's that supposed to mean?!" His face scrunched up in anger as he stood his ground. He huffed with his arms crossed, and I couldn't believe this man obtained a doctorate in chemistry of all things. I merely laughed as I turned to head towards the door.
"C'mon, shorty, you want a new leg, right?" I grinned once more as I heard an annoyed sighed and his heavy albeit uneven footsteps follow behind me.
"It's alright! Now, if you have some time I need to get the dimensions of your leg—if that wouldn't a trouble."
"Sure! Of course!" He exclaimed as he started to clean up his belongings, and painfully stepped on my foot in his frenzy.
"Ouch!"
"I'm sorr—"
"You really do apologize a lot when you're not being a complete jackass." I laughed as I stood. During his embarrassed chatter I had managed to pack up all my belongings. I was buzzing in excitement to start my new project, and to have such a handsome man to work on. I watched as he too stood with some trouble, and slung his satchel onto his shoulder. Once he turned me I noticed how short he actually was. He probably only had a few inches on me, and I only stood at five foot five.
"Wow, guess I won't need a lot of metal." I commented as he stood before me.
"What's that supposed to mean?!" His face scrunched up in anger as he stood his ground. He huffed with his arms crossed, and I couldn't believe this man had a doctorate in chemistry of all things. I just laughed as I turned to head towards the door.
"C'mon, shorty, you want a new leg, right?" I grinned once more as I heard annoyed sighed and his heavy albeit uneven footsteps follow behind me.