Chapter Text
The smell of old paper and copper filled the library. You sat at the end of the long wooden table, nervously tracing the edge of your notebook. Across from you, Edward Elric was aggressively flipping through a heavy alchemy text, muttering under his breath and running a hand through his loose golden hair.
He looked exhausted. Dark circles shadowed his eyes, and his shoulders were tense.
Gathering your courage, you quietly slid a small, neatly wrapped sandwich and a fresh cup of tea across the table. They tapped gently against his book.
Ed blinked, looking up fast. "What's this?" he asked, his voice automatically loud.
"You... you forgot to eat lunch," you whispered, your face heating up instantly. You pulled your sleeves over your hands, looking down at your lap. "And I just wanted to say... you work so hard, Ed. You're really amazing. And... you look really nice with your hair down."
The library went dead silent.
Ed froze. The aggressive, loud Alchemist completely vanished. His golden eyes went wide, staring at you like you had just performed human transmutation right on the table.
Slowly, a deep crimson flush crept up his neck, spreading rapidly until his entire face and the tips of his ears were bright red. He opened his mouth to speak, but only a squeak came out.
"I—uh—what?!" Ed stammered, his arms flailing slightly. He gripped his hair, completely losing his usual cool. "Amazing? Nice? Who—me? I'm just—it's just a stupid research book! And my hair is a mess!"
"It's not a mess," you said softly, offering a tiny, shy smile.
That did it. Ed looked like he was about to short-circuit. He buried his glowing red face in his automail hand, his shoulders shaking as he tried to hide from your gaze.
"Don't just... say stuff like that out of nowhere," he mumbled into his palm, his voice muffled, sweet, and entirely defeated. "It's not fair."