#not as good w maths and not as prepared to put mental strain on myself

[kurthorton-moving]

me wanting to change classes in the 1st week

[smckinggun]

alright! chapter 1 of a jean/gracia drabble!

It has all started with a wedding. The wedding of Roy and Riza. Once the news got out, the entirety of the Mustang team paid each other their bets and had a laugh about how long they knew. The ceremony was all it could ever be. A very formal Military affair. All the en and women, excluding the bride, who were part o the Amestrian Military, all wore their formal uniforms. Riza wore a fairly simple, yet beautiful gown that complimented her.

Jean Havoc being one of the men in question. The most emotional moment of the entire ceremony was beforehand, when Roy had requested he stand in for Hughes as best man. There was a joke to break the tension from the taller blond. “What, I wasn’t your first choice?” A laugh was shared before he responded with how honoured he would be to take up such an important role. The respect he held for Roy, even after all they had been through, was still as strong as when he first agreed with his goals.

Up amoungst the other groomsmen, Jean found himself feeling nervous, almost as though he didn’t quite belong in the place he stood. It was not meant for him, he kept repeating mentally. It was meant for the new Fuhrer’s late best friend. A man he couldn’t even seem to hold a candle to. Yet there he stood, for all to see, watching his ever stubborn commanding officer finally get married.

After the “I do”s, they left for the dinner and reception. At the dinner, Jean had prepared a speech, as was his duty to the bride and groom. He shared their highs and lows, their laughs and sorrows. He finally rose his glass, a toast to the bride and groom, and added, just before people could put the glass to their lips, a toast for the man who gave it all for Roy to be at the top. A couple tears were shed at the mention of Hughes, but was held well. Though his heart was in his head as Jean sat back down, Roy assured him that it was greatly appreciated.

Then the dancing and alcohol. Also known as, the only time Jean was actually allowed to light up a smoke. He had placed himself down after dancing with Riza’s Maid of Honour, Rebecca. He was already sore from the dancing, leaning the cane he required on the table he sat at. The creak of the chair sounded the signal of him not moving for a while.

Tired eyes scanned the dance floor as it became free for others to dance on. He watched as Roy and Riza across the room spoke to one another. God only knew what they were talking about. Rebecca came back over to ask if he would dance again that night, but Jean declined, complaining of his back and legs. She lightly teased him about it before quipping a small “Suit yourself” and dancing off.

“You’re goign to set the table cloth on fire if you fall asleep like that, dear.” A sweet voice chimed Jean from a short nap he hadn’t realized he had taken. He realized the cigarette was dangling from his lips, nearly ready to fall onto the table cloth, before he plucked it from his mouth and raised it toward the source of the voice in a halfhearted “Thanks”.

However, the source of the voice was one he’d never quite heard before. She was quite pretty, young looking, and yet, mature in her body language. She looked like a mom. She had also made a motion, asking to sit, to which Jean waved his arm with a nod, allowing her to take the empty seat as he snuffed out the cigarette butt.

“I loved your speech.” She spoke so softly, Jean hadn’t caught what she said over the music and dancing. “What was that?” “I loved your speech, at dinner!” Her voice almost strained to go louder than it could.

“Ah, yeah. Thanks. Took a while to get right. Wasn’t sure what I should’ve gone with but I’m glad other people liked it.” A halfhearted grin made its way to his features. In that moment, he felt a smaller, softer hand place itself atop his own. “I also liked your toast to Maes. Thank you for that.” The look in her eyes was one of gratefulness and grief, two emotions Jean wasn’t even aware could be conveyed together. Were they close? “Uh, yeah. It only felt right. Roy originally wanted him for his best man. Return the favour, I guess. I didn’t want to screw that responsibility up, not on his special day.” The sincerity in Jeans tone made her tired smile widen. It almost saddened him to see it on such a gentle face. The loose grip her hand held on his own tightened. It almost  looked as though she were about to cry, an iconic shine in her eyes that only happened when tears sat on the brink.

“Hey- hey! What’s wrong? You okay, miss?” His spare hand moved to catch the tear as it fell from her eye. Shock took her features. She must have not expected to cry, as her own spare hand went up to wipe the tears away herself, causing Jean to retreat his. “I... I apologize. I’m alright. Oh dear, I haven’t properly introduced myself. I’m Gracia.” Suddenly, the tired smile seemed to fade slightly, revealing a semi-genuine one. One that was sweet and seemed to tug at the worn out strings in Jeans heart. That was when the fluttering began in his gut.

“Wait, Gracia, as in, Gracia Hughes?” She had come over to thank him about the speech and toast to her late husband. It had been years, and Jean had never even met her at all in that time. It seemed like a crime for him to have not met her before. Suddenly, a lot of things about her began to make sense, her motherly nature and kind heart. No wonder he married her in the first place. The look on his face as he made the connections, caught her attention as she spoke up again. “I’ve... started going by my maiden name again, actually. It’s been quite a while. Calling myself a lonely widow was becoming an environment I didn’t want Elicia to grow up in. I want her to be happy, to home to a mommy and a daddy... even if her daddy is gone.” Gracia’s body language and expression bore such genuine weight that Jean could feel it across the table. It had been a process on everyone, including her. He had to wonder when she had decided to try and move forward in such a way. “Ah, sorry about that. I’ve never properly met you before. You can probably blame Roy. I’m Jean Havoc.” He kept the hand that was beneath hers motionless, for fear she would take it away the second he brought any kind of attention to it. If anything, he wanted to roll his hand over to take hers in his. Hold it for comfort.

Suddenly, the smile, that million cenz smile with a thousand different emotions hidden behind it, grew soft at the mention of his name. It made Jean’s heart feel light, reminding him to breathe. She repeated it, just to hear it on her own lips. “Jean. A lovely name. I believe Roy has mentioned you in passing. You and,” she chuckled and it sounded heavenly to Jean’s ears. “Mrs. Mustang, are the marksmen of the team, right?” It was odd having her know such information, though it shouldn’t have been too uncommon. He’d jab Roy in the side about it later. Possibly after all is said and done with the wedding. Though he gave a nod, moving a hand to the back of his neck. “Yeah, that we are. Out of everyone on the team, she’s got the best aim. She’s the hawk’s eye, ain’t nothing gonna change that or take it from her.” A cheeky grin as he spoke, reminiscing about their training in the shooting range, friendly competitions of who could bullseye the furthest target. He was naturally a close second and took it in stride. “That’s good to hear. At least we know she always has his back now.” Her gaze moved to that of the newlyweds, giving a wave to Elicia who was sat upon Roy’s knee.

In a way to bring the conversation back to her, Jean cleared his throat, slightly adjusting his position in the hard wooden chair. Hard to be the least bit comfortable in such a thing with a bad back. “So, how’s Elicia been doing in school? We don’t get nearly as much updates anymore.” Shit, the thought afterward. Probably shouldn’t have said that. Surprisingly, Gracia merely turned her attention back to him, a motherly appearance to her smile. “She’s doing very well, actually. She seems to be struggling a bit with math but I’ve been tutoring her as much as I can. I’ve had to start working, as the military pension isn’t enough anymore.” Jean had completely forgotten about the compensation given to the family of a deceased war veteran. He knew it would get Elicia through college, but not how it really lasted for the home. He found that his hand from beneath hers had finally rolled over to take her hand into his own. To his surprise, she never retreated it back, instead, holding his hand in return. “What are you working as? Are you struggling at all between work and home?” Jean knew of the struggles vaguely. He could only imagine a sole caretaker providing as well as being there for her daughter. He wanted to help, not just because of the position bestowed upon him, but out of concern for both Gracia and Elicia.

“It’s alright, Jean, honestly. You don’t need to concern yourself with us. You do what you do best, alright?” The way she spoke, like a mother telling her child there wasn’t anything wrong after having cried prior to the child walking out. Don’t concern yourself. How could he not? She actively sought him out in the first place to thank him, taking a seat and not immediately leaving after giving her thanks. “Please, I’d like to help you, in any way I can. As a friend, if that’s okay.” Such a bold assumption, considering they had only met that evening. Though she seemed shocked at first, she gave a chuckle before it turned into a laugh. He wasn’t sure if it was a good thing or not, but it was such a graceful laugh. One he’d never experienced before.

“Alright, I accept. However, that means we’ll need to be on a friendlier basis. I’ll give you my address and you can come over or lunch. Does Thursday next week work for you, Jean?”

He couldn’t believe it. The wording she chose, it almost sounded like she was asking him out on a date. He would have gladly accepted either way. Though he tried to assume a date was not what she meant. It was with friendly intentions. Of course it wasn’t a date. “Yeah, that works perfectly! Thank you for allowing me to help you, Gracia.” Though he himself was unsure of the extent he really could help, he was going to do anything she asked of him. He had also moved his other hand on top of hers, giving it a light squeeze before letting it go completely, allowing her to have it back. “And I’ll give you the house phone so you can call if something comes up, alright?” Gracia slowly slid her hand back to her side of the table, reaching into her hand bag and pulling out a small note pad and pen. Mom’s really are prepared for any situation. She wrote, quickly and in neat handwriting, her address and phone number, and ripped the page out, hanging it to Jean with a pleasant smile. “I’ll leave you be for the evening if you’re busy. I have to get Elicia from her Uncle Roy before he spoils her too much. And don’t be a stranger. You can drop by before then if you want.” She stood from her seat, and with a nod of her head, spun on her heel and was off to retrieve her daughter.

Jean gave a small wave to her before looking at the page before him. A small message was also written onto it along side the other information. “Be sure to call and stop by often” with a small heart beside it. That alone made the fluttering in his gut worse. It was there every time she smile, every gentle word she spoke. Fuck. He was in deep.