Title: Out of the Storm (ch1)
Author: ursweetheartles (me!)
Rating: PG here
Warnings: possible OOC and some weirdness. also unbeta'd as my beta has left for Romania and who knows when she'll be back...
X
"There is something to be learned from a rainstorm. When meeting with a sudden shower, you try not to get wet and run quickly along the road. But doing such things as passing under the eaves of houses, you still get wet. When you are resolved from the beginning, you will not be perplexed, though you still get the same soaking. This understanding extends to everything."
-Yamamoto Tsunetomo
X
It wasn't raining yet in east city, but Mustang knew the rain was coming, and he knew it would be a big storm. He could taste the thickness in the air that proceeded heavy rain, he could even hear the thunder in the distance. He had never really enjoyed the rain, in fact he would say he disliked it, especially the kind of harsh and lasting downpours that happened during this time of year, in the spring. He was a fire alchemist after all, and what made fire alchemy more useless than a large degree of dampness? nothing, and i mean nothing burned well wet, let alone soaked through. But there wasn't much to do about it, the rains of spring happened whether or not he condoned them so he usually tried to make the best of the situation. Making the best of the situation here meant he didn't get out of bed.
He'd called in sick that day, citing a vague pain in his head and some nausea. Hawkeye had been understanding. He was sure she didn't really believe him but she hadn't pushed the matter, so he was grateful. Now he sat wrapped up in his sheets and blankets staring out his bedroom window at the city skyline, watching the storm clouds slowly thicken above the city, dark and pendulous, heavy with water hidden inside.
He hunched over himself, pulling his knees to his chest, and rubbing the heels of his hands over his eyes. Sometimes he could swear he was solar powered because when days like this rolled around, with the sun held captive behind the somber screen of cloud, he felt so tired and helpless. His energy and ambition were drained away, leaving him stalled in one place instead of moving forwards. It left a hole in his being where his drive to succeed normally dwelt. As nature abhors a vacuum, that hole always filled up with doubts and regrets, the memories of the suns which were his cross to bear and his alone.
It was almost too much at once for him to get up and fix food for himself, but eventually hunger one out and he searched the ground below him for some semblance of clothing, slipping into loose lounge pants and soft slippers. His hair was a mess and he didn't care. he knew he looked like hell warmed over but he hadn't the energy to do anything about it but hate himself. That, it seemed, took no effort at all.
X
He was sitting on the couch, in front of the low flame of the fireplace staring into the crackling blaze when the phone rang. He had been trying to ignore the first drops falling, but he could still hear them tapping lightly against the windows. The ringing gave him a start but he tried to ignore that too. he hoped that if he didn't answer it maybe whoever it was would go away. No such luck though, so after letting it ring a few more times he snatched from its cradle on the sideboard, stalking back to his couch before answering it.
"Mustang" he said quietly, trying to keep a level note in his voice. The responding words were familiar, yet firm. he recognized it as Riza.
"Colonel, im sending someone over to your house." She spoke evenly, ignoring his sigh at this turn of events, she continued "There are some papers that i need you to sign, and a field report that needs your approval. He should be there in ten minutes or so." She paused, as he muttered something along the lines of okay whatever, then, in a slightly softer tone, "And if there's anything you need, Mustang, im sure he'll be glad to help you out."
He hung up the phone none too carefully. Mustang had lived alone for a very long time, he was used to the solitude, he had started to enjoy it immensely. He never really brought anyone else to his small townhouse, not the women he courted not the friends he drank and joked with, not even Huges, who he trusted more than anyone else. He just didn't do it. He disliked the idea of someone else coming here, it was like and invasion of his privacy. and on top of that, he would have to find a shirt. Could his day get any worse?
X
Edward Elric shifted the leather satchel on his shoudler and kicked rock on the path in front of him a little too hard, causing it to sail quite a ways into the air and hit a tree in front of him, startling several birds from the branches. It had been a bit compulsive of him to take this brief assignment. Him and his brother had gotten back from their last mission only hours before, and Ed had showed up at the office ready to present his report to the Colonel like always, but the man wasn't in the office. Riza told him he was out sick, but ed could tell she didn't quite believe it. Bastard, he thought, kicking anther rock absently.
Hawkeye had taken his report, telling him she would send it over to the Colonel's house with someone in a bit, there were some other things the man needed to look over as well, and this might as well add to the pile. Edward had tried to ignore the small bead of dissapointment in his chest. Yeah, he always fought with the Colonel, him yelling and swearing the older man smirking and quipping, so smooth and dignified. But Edward knew the bastard really cared for him and his brother. He kept helping them, kept pushing them forwards, pushing them to go forwards, even if he did push their buttons often enough.
The truth was, somewhere along the line, Edward had started to really care for the son of a bitch. he blushed to think about it, knowing it was only an adolecent crush on a superior officer, someone caring and supportive but still strong and smart. He really did enjoy seeing the Colonel when he returned from missions now, the ritual making it more like returning home than reporting back to base. But it had still been impulsive for him to volunteer to take the things over, even if he had nothing better to do with the afternoon. Now he just felt flustered, knowing he had no idea what to say to Mustang when he got to the man's house. He'd never been anywhere close to the man's house before.
But at leat it was still raining, warm and wet, a light sprinkle nothing more. But he knew it would get heavier, he could feel the storm coming. Edward loved storms, the thunder, the lightning, the energy, the rain, it all came together and it created such a stir in the world around it. These spring storms changed everything they touched, making way for the new growth of the season by sweeping away the dirt and sediment of the winter, waking up the world around them. Besides, the rain always made him feel better.
He certainly needed that push at the moment, when he stopped dead still at the gate at the end of a short brick walkway leading to a normal looking front door. Mustang's house. Edward knew he should just blow past that gate, up that walk and through that door. If it was anyne elses door he would do just that. but here something stopped him, and he just stared. So Edward stood at the end of the walk in the rain, ignoring the nervous creature crawling in his belly. It was a good feeling, the droplets hitting the flesh of his face and rolling down, tickling slightly, to drip off his jaw and roll further. Edward closed his eyes and focused on the rain.
X
Mustang gorwled impatiently, seeing the sun almost touch the horizon. Whoever it was that Hawkeye had sent over must have gotten lost or something, they really should be here by now. He had thrown on an unbuttoned uniform shirt and had been waiting in the front hall for almost half an hour for this clown. All Roy wanted to do was go back to bed. Screw it, he thought, he'd just scribble a note and tape it to the door. I have stepped out for the moment. Leave the papers in the mailbox. Mustang. at least this way he could go back to his sulking in peace.
Now there were many things that could have met his gaze when he opened the door that would have suprised him, but if asked to list things he'd never expect to see there a dripping silent Edward Elric would not even have touched his mind. But that is exactly the vision which stood there, at the end of his walk. His hands at his sides, eyes closed, face tilted upwards, golden hair stuk to the sides of his face, and a content smile pasted across his lips.
It was an almost unmatchably erotic sight to say the least, but Roy tried to push those thoughts out of his mind for now, struggling to figure out why there was a soaking blonde in the rain in front of his house. He came up a blank.
"Fullmetal?" He barked, a little harsher than he ment, the boy jumped, eyes popped open, he blushed through the water rolling down his face. "may i ask why you are standing in the rain in front of my house?"
The boy frowned, still blushing, and mumbled something about liking the rain, and having something for him from Hawkeye. Roy sighed, he should have guessed. He hadn't thought the boy would be back from his mission so soon, and it hadn't even crossed his mind that it would be him bringing the papers over.
"Well then don't just stand there like an imbisile, come inside before you get even more wet. Its raining out!"
The blonde frowned, looking much like a hurt child, but came forward anyways, mumbling about how he was already wet, he wasn't going to get more wet, and anyways, he was enjoying his rain. But still he came inside, squeazing the excess moisture out of his braid on the doorstep before coming inside to drip hopelessly on the tile floor of Mustang's front hall.