Twisted Love – Chapter I: Delusions
This wasn't happening. His world wasn't supposed to fall apart like this.
She finally said yes.
How stupid he'd been.
You know I love her, right? You knew that?
Foolish. Idiotic. Moronic.
She said she'd go out with me. We can't see each other anymore.
It wasn't supposed to hurt.
It's been fun Edward. Really.
It was supposed to be fun. Supposed to have been done for kicks.
I'm sorry it ended this way.
He wasn't supposed to have fallen in love with the bastard.
Goodbye Edward.
Edward's vision was blurry. His eyes were unfocused and red, tears welling in them. This wasn't supposed to happen. He wasn't supposed to be upset. He knew getting into things that Roy was just looking for someone to screw. He'd been in between women, frankly because he'd noticed Riza Hawkeye. Roy had told him she was his ultimate goal. He wanted her, suddenly, and Edward, although intoxicated and his current lover at the time, had shrugged it off. They'd both been drinking heavily anyway. Roy often commented on other women and it had never bothered him. Probably because he had the prize. At the end of the day, he got to go home to Roy's bed. He got to spend the night writhing in pleasure in his arms and sleeping in the comfort. This confused him, how he could be so emotional now, when he had never been jealous before.
Life was mysterious that way.
Edward thanked whatever had made it possible that Alphonse wasn't witnessing this moment of weakness. This foolish dream and hope he had held. What did he think would happen? That he'd ride off with Roy into the sunset like a fairy tale? Of course not. For one thing, Roy would never get him into a dress. He snickered. He was morbid sometimes. Always thinking inappropriate things at just the wrong times. Perhaps this was insanity. He always wondered how one knew if they were insane or not.
Loving Roy Mustang had been insane. That much he knew. Clearly it got him nowhere. He needed a drink. It was an incredibly bad habit he had picked up after the war, getting drunk, but he found it was an effective way to clear his head. Nineteen years of age implied he had little time or experience with the drink, but he figured he could remedy that. Getting up off of his couch and walking to the cabinet, he pulled out a bottle of vodka and poured himself a shot in a nearby shot glass. "To forgetting Roy Mustang!" He downed it all at once.
He would have a hangover in the morning, but at that moment, he couldn't give a damn.
Their first date had gone well, he supposed, Roy Mustang mused. They'd gone out to dinner, Riza in her beautiful black dress, and he in a suit. It had been expensive, but nothing his pocketbook couldn't handle. She was elegant and graceful, with a rough edge that was distinctly Riza. He sighed contently. Something felt off however. Like he was missing something. He couldn't for the life of him place his finger on it. He had had a successful date with a beautiful woman, whom he loved, and there was something that didn't feel right about the whole arrangement. Maybe he shouldn't have broken things off with Edward so soon. For one thing, the sex was fantastic, and it was unlikely he was just going to fall into bed with Riza. He'd have to consider it, if he felt the urge to sleep with someone. He knew Edward wouldn't turn him down. Although he felt somewhat guilty for using the young man, he did care about him. It wasn't all bad.
This reasoning led him to Edward's door, two weeks later. He'd knocked and seen the young man's surprised golden eyes for naught two minutes before he was staring at wood again. That wouldn't do. He knocked again, harder. "Edward, open the door!"
"Bite me!" Came a voice from the other side.
"Edward, I just want to talk to you…"
"I saw your eyes, I know what you're after. Go see your damn girlfriend."
Oh yes. He remembered the young man's temper now. Cursing, he pounded on the door. He would not be denied, not tonight. "Edward, damnit! I need to talk with you!"
"You broke up with me!"
There were people watching him now. He could feel the cool stares at his back. This wasn't what he planned. "Edward please, it's over with her! I swear it!" He was lying through his teeth to manipulate the blond, and he knew it, but damn, if it was going to get him what he wanted, he'd do it. He stepped back as the door opened before him, the soft light illuminating Edward's pale features.
"Are you serious? You really aren't seeing her anymore? You don't love her anymore?"
"No…I was wrong. Misguided. Things didn't work out between us. Please Edward, you have to believe me." He didn't like the idea of pleading to his ex-lover out in the street under people's scrutinizing gaze, but if it would get him what he wanted, he would do it.
The blond appeared to be considering things. Roy watched carefully, hoping for the chance to redeem himself. He'd had multiple lovers in the past. This could work. He knew how to manipulate both parties into never knowing what was going on. It was risky, but he could manage it. A hesitant nod was all the man needed to head inside the warm townhouse. Edward did always like a warm home.
As the door closed behind him, he felt certain he could pull things off.
The changing seasons brought a sense of foreboding, Riza thought. The heat from the summer gave way to the cool breezes of fall. She had been seeing Roy for three months steadily and was considering taking the relationship up a notch. Of course, taking charge had occurred to her. She wondered why the man hadn't jumped her. Admittedly, he had the libido of an eighteen year old, and it was surprising really that he could go so long without sexual contact.
Unless he was getting it from somewhere else.
Of course he wouldn't be that stupid, she chided herself for considering it. But after those first few weeks, Roy had changed. His attentions became…platonic. Less interested in the sensual, sexual aspect of their budding relationship, and while she didn't mind moving slowly, she certainly did mind if he was losing interest.
Why would he lose interest though? Had she offended him in some way, and he was afraid to tell her? That seemed unlikely. Was it that her chest was too small? No, she thought, she was well above average in that department. Was she too opinionated? Perhaps. She considered this aspect. Roy had never backed down from a debate with her, or a challenge. She doubted that's what was wrong.
Then, what was he up to? She had heard rumours, of course, before they were together that Edward and Roy had been hooked up. But of course Roy wouldn't have asked her out if he was seeing Edward, would he have? Clearly the man wouldn't be so stupid as to cheat on him; or her for that matter. She didn't think the young man was in the picture, but one could never tell these things if they weren't looking for them. She sighed. Love was so blind. She had to figure it out though. And if he was in fact cheating on her, he would pay dearly.
Roy Mustang shuddered. Somehow the wind seemed much colder at that moment. Someone must have been thinking bad thoughts of him. How rude of them, making him shudder so. He strolled along the dirt path at a leisurely pace. He wasn't due at Riza's for another hour or so, and his thoughts turned to her. She was beautiful. Her skin was soft and inviting. He longed to run his fingers along her smooth skin, to feel the strength and elegance wrapped up in one package. He hadn't wanted to rush things with her. He truly cared for her and didn't want to screw things up so quickly. That's what he had Edward for. Edward was hard as steel, and sexy in his own way. The way his muscles twitched as he came all over them, or the way his lips swelled when they kissed. His beauty was every bit as powerful and enticing as Riza's was, only far more masculine. His skin looked hard compared to hers, and probably was.
He shook these thoughts out of his head. The two were starting to blend together in his thoughts, and more than once he had considered inviting both blonds into his bed at once. Foolish thoughts, since neither party would go for that, mostly because they weren't aware they were competing in his mind for his attention. This competition in his mind was beginning to reach beyond it, which he didn't like.
It was hard to explain to Edward why he couldn't come by this night, or that one. It was harder to take Riza home instead of invite her in because he had plans to be with Edward later that evening. It was getting ridiculous. Beyond that, all of his free time was being sucked away as both lovers were moving into a stage where they were more demanding and needy.
This hadn't been the brightest idea.
He knew he had to let one of them go. Or both. The problem he was faced with now was who to choose. Three months ago he would have said Edward without thinking. But knowing him more intimately, as well as Riza, had only made things more difficult. He cared deeply for both of them. Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit…this wasn't supposed to happen. He wasn't supposed to love Edward. And he certainly wasn't supposed to love Riza. What the hell had he been thinking?!
Dinner was always a lovely occasion. Edward smiled as he entered the restaurant with Roy. It wasn't as fancy as some other places perhaps, and had he known Roy was still seeing Riza, he'd have known he was getting the second best places in town. Roy rarely took him out these days, and he was glad for a change in the monotony.
He looked over the menu, eyeing his choices carefully. It had been awhile since he had last eaten out at a restaurant and he wanted to select something delicious. Roy was smiling at him that lazy, annoying smirk he often gave him when he was patronizing him, or studying him before a sexual encounter. He hoped it was the latter. Things had certainly spiced up in their love life as of late, and he wasn't in a hurry to change things. It seemed as though his brief interlude chasing female Lieutenants was over.
The waiter came and took their orders before leaving again. He felt like he was floating. Roy hadn't paid as much attention to him in months as he was now, and he was thoroughly impressed. He'd forgotten what it was like to be the center of that powerful man's world. He found his cheeks heating up as he blushed over several flattering comments the man threw his way. It's not as though he'd remember them later. A hand was curled around his flesh hand, resting there calmly as though they were long time lovers. They had been, of course, and still were. But it felt as though their history was out for all to see.
Edward found he didn't mind so much. He had snatched up this gorgeous man, and no one else could have him, no matter how much they tried. He wouldn't back down. Not for a second. Of course he never saw the burgundy eyes watching them.
An evening out with Maria Ross had sounded good. They were distant girlfriends, occasionally breaking away from their male counterparts to eat, or discuss things that would put any men in hearing distance off the conversation.
The classy café had been her idea. She'd eaten there before, and it was one of her favourite places to go when she and Maria were out discussing things like men and firearms. Not in that particular order. Stepping inside the door, she had caught a familiar face in the crowd. Roy was here. At first she felt her heart beat faster, breaths coming out at a slightly more rapid pace and a slight light-headed feeling whenever she gazed at him from afar.
She had taken in the sight of the man, dressed casually, but looking attractive. The collar of his black dress shirt was undone, revealing a little bit of skin. The shirt broke off to reveal his hand on top of a gloved hand.
Wait a moment, she thought as her gaze turned to his companion. The blond braid and white gloves were a dead giveaway. He was out with Edward, on what clearly looked like a date. Her heart stopped and her body stiffened. She barely heard Maria call her name before she turned and stalked out. Roy Mustang was just like every other man. A cheating, lying bastard and for that, he would pay. Revenge would be hers.