I

"Hey, remember when we first met?"

This was a stupid question for Roy Mustang. He looked over at his colleague, his best friend, the love of his life, who was peeking thoughtfully over his glasses as he tilted his mug of cheap beer against his lips. This was their favourite pub; though it was filled to the brim of drunken hollers and the stench of tobacco during the weekends, it was nothing Roy wasn't used to and nothing Maes minded. It was quiet now, it being a Wednesday, and their habitual visit had become something of a tradition to get them through the long weeks that came with being part of the military.

"Obviously. My first time having to hear that annoying voice isn't something I could forget easily."

"Bastard," Maes hissed in his usual good-natured way, poking an elbow into Roy's ribs as he stuck his tongue out. The other easily swatted him off and rolled his eyes, taking a sip of his own stale alcohol.

"Yeah, yeah." He paused, lowering his drink. "It was training. You didn't pass the alchemy exam."

"I guess I should have seen it coming the moment I saw you do your fancy flame alchemy. I didn't stand a chance." He chuckled, glancing over at Roy as the other suppressed a blush and replaced it with a smirk.

"You know it, Hughes."

"Damn, I shouldn't fuel your ego any more. I'm surprised you can still stand with the size of your head."

"Yeah, it's almost as big as your nose."

"Dickhead."

The two laughed, and Roy was the first to fall into a smiling pause, before he looked over to the other once more.

"But you prefer your job now, right? You wouldn't want to be an alchemist. There's too much bloodshed."

Maes's only response was a nod, his fingers curling more tightly around the handle of his beer mug. "I like being in an office. Not too demanding." He glanced over at Roy, his lips twitching into a slight frown. "And you know you can't blame yourself. None of us can."

Roy merely took another sip of his alcohol, and he winced at the burning of the spirit as it scraped his throat before he put his glass down on the counter, muttering to the bartender for another drink.

"Oh, but I can, Maes."

Roy had always been in love with Maes Hughes. Or, at least, that's what Riza told him after he'd confided his strange feelings to her. Like how, even when he first saw him when he was about to brag about passing the state alchemy exam, and Maes had given him a bright smile and a chirp of congratulations, he'd felt his chest tightly constrict and his boastful words melt away on his tongue.

"I'm Maes Hughes! You're Roy Mustang, right? Great job! Your alchemy was totally cool!" He could still hear his first words.

His heart was racing.

"Yeah I am. Thanks I guess. Nice to meet you." Why had his voice trembled?

It was unlike anything else he'd ever felt.

Then again, Maes was unlike anyone else he'd ever met.

"Hey there Roy, you still awake?" Said man blinked, looking up a bit when he felt the other bump his shoulder. Maes's teasing smile was almost enough to make the longing in his heart evaporate and explode all at once.

"Gee, you're getting worse at holding your liquor, Colonel. And that's saying something; you were pretty bad before."

"Shut up, idiot," he rolled his eyes, and as he took a swig of his refilled drink his heart quivered.

"But I'm you're idiot, right?"

The sudden jolt in his chest almost made Roy choke, but he played it off.

"Mhm. Guess I'm stuck with you."

And he wouldn't have it otherwise.