Mission: Out of Bounds

Authors Note:

Background - Need to Read: This is a spin-off of Once Again We Repeat, it can also act as a sequel to it. You don't need to read OAWR beforehand, but I'd like you to. Basically, Al's body is restored, Edward has automail, Roy has an eye (as he didn't battle the Fuhrer). Everything else will be explained in the story. Maes Hughes also happens to be alive.

Summary: An assigned mission. One Edward Elric plus one Roy Mustang equals mission disaster? Maybe. Probably. Definitely. Most definitely. And, is that a ring?

Main Characters:

Edward Elric, Fullmetal Alchemist: age 16, state alchemist, major, short with a bad temper and stubbornness to go with it.

Alphonse Elric: returned body, age 15, tall and genuinely kind, often picks up after his older brother.

Roy Mustang, Flame Alchemist: age 30, "Colonel Bastard", wants to be Fuhrer, slacks off in paperwork, looks after the Elric brothers

Riza Hawkeye, Jean Havoc, Heymans Bred, Vato Falman, Kain Fuery: Mustang's subordinates, also good friends of the Elric's.

Warnings: This is an Roy/Ed fanfiction…therefore it'll have undertones of shounen-ai. This may also contain other things inappropriate for those under 13.

This will not be updated every week. I'm going to be working on multiple things; this and a parental!royxed story. Also, I'm doing NaNoWriMo and working on another original story.

Chapter 1: Hero

The Return of a Hero

Edward grumbled sourly. It'd been two months since he'd left on a quest, though it was more of a sightseeing trip than anything else. It had been a nice trip – no, that wasn't the problem. The problem was one Colonel who had recalled him to Central after getting back. The message that had been delivered sounded urgent; and he'd like nothing more than to put if off. He'd already stalled for a good two days. Mustang was probably simmering by now. Edward grinned. Well, time to face the beast. When he stepped into the outer office, he was greeted by a sight he'd never forget. Hawkeye had her gun leveled at the members of Mustang's unit. Al and Winry were sitting to the side. And in the middle of the table was an innocent looking book. The book where all bets from the secretarial pool were recorded.

Hoping to stall him from looking at the book, Falman decided to stick his neck out on a limb. "The Colonel's furious. You'd better hurry up – or he might just start sparking."

Havoc snorted and Breda muffled a laugh. Click. Hawkeye pulled her finger on the trigger and –

"FULLMETAL!" the voice roared through the door. "If you're here, get your ass in here now!"

Edward reluctantly dragged himself through the door and shut it behind him.

"No need to get so loud…Colonel. I'm here."

"Two days late, Edward."

Silence.

And more silence.

"Fullmetal," Mustang heaved an irritable sigh, "Please, I know you're seventeen…and it's May and there are girls to chase, but, you have a cooperative mission."

"Cooperative mission," suspicion echoed in Ed's voice.

"Yes, working with another alchemist on another mission – you've never done one before."

"Sure I have, with Al."

"It doesn't count."

"Originally, they wanted you to pair up with a newly licensed alchemist, however, I reminded them of your quirks."

"Don't make it sound so insulting," Edward grumbled, "So?"

"They decided to pair you up with an older alchemist."

"And?" Pause. "Tell me it's not Armstrong."

"No. But it is someone you know. Quite high in the ranks too."

"You." Edward stated without emotion. "You. They think you can teach me something…" Edward paused again. "No way in hell, No way in hell, No way in hell, NO WAY IN HELL!" he screamed.

The earsplitting shriek had the subordinates flinging the door open with drawn guns.

What they found was a fuming Edward and an overly smug Colonel.

"Oh. Hawkeye, I was about to call for you. Edward and I are going to need some things."

Breda made a bold move by offering, "Lube?"

"What the fuck are you talking about, why the hell would Mustang and I need that for?"

"Sex," Havoc offered. "Isn't that what you were yelling about – a threesome or something?"

Edward's face turned several shades of red. "Where are you getting this from?"

"The betting pool," Falman answered stoically. "It said you two were possibly going to…" Falman stopped speaking when Edward's look turned dangerous.

"And…" Edward was still red and blushing and to the team, he looked adorably young and virginal. "who told you this?"

Fuery blinked. "Hughes of course. He's the Colonel's best friend after all."

Edward visibly twitched when the man himself stuck his head around the door and stepped into the room. "I couldn't help but overhearing the conversation…so how is he, Ed?"

Ed, tired of the ragging, snarled, "First off, I'm seventeen. I've never kissed a girl. Or boy. Or anyone. And I'm still a virgin. And if I'd had sex with him I wouldn't be."

Mustang finally decided to intervene. "We were talking about our next mission – to an out-lying town where there's some rumors flying about. Classified you see."

Maes seemed to pout. "Fine, Roy. I'll be back later." A sulky glare as he walked away.

"What do you need, sir?" Hawkeye asked.

"We need living arrangements…a small house, perhaps?"

"…a house sir?"

A nod. "Edward and I will be living together…"

Breda snorted this time. "As father and son?"

"Obviously…not. Apparently, the Fuhrer liked the idea of male lovers because if we acted outrageously," a glare at Edward, "it could be pinned on the fact we're not comfortable in public because of our…orientation."

"Yes, sir. Will you need all the appliances?"

"Please, Hawkeye."

Edward was staring blankly ahead. "Why?"

"You don't need to worry. A little bit of hand holding or light touches should put everyone to rest. No need to go further than that."

"Fine. No touchy-feely though." Edward demanded. "Plus, there better be a lot of food."

"It's a mission – not a vacation."

"I'm growing, therefore I'm hungry."

"You still seem short, shrimp."

"WHO'RE YOU CALLING SO SMALL A SHRIMP COULD EAT HIM TWICE OVER?"

A smirk. "Well, you. You're the only one I can't see."

Edward swung a fist at his superior but Mustang caught it, standing up.

For a moment Mustang seemed weary, but his poker face was back. "Go home. Get some rest. Be back here in three days."

Tearing his wrist from the Colonel's grip, he stormed out of the office. Roy sank wearily into his chair, rubbing his eyes. Working with Fullmetal was a fulltime occupation and not one he was looking forward to. He ran one hand absently through his hair, thinking. What else was needed to make this mission a success? In no way was he willing to fail in "training" his young subordinate. If anything, he'd be learning from him. Three days seemed too short a time.

Two days later, First Lieutenant Hawkeye had found a suitable house. It had one bedroom, a small kitchen, a bathroom, small study/library and a living area. It was small enough that it wasn't expensive and held a homely feeling.

However, Edward was not happy there was a single bedroom, and complained all the way to the town of Itisius. Located in the high north – not so far as Briggs, but a few days journey south – it was also to the east of North City. Edward found it wasn't so bad once he walked into the house, as there was a nice couch and a chair in front of a – very – large fireplace that he couldn't wait to light. There was also a wide window that showed off the (typical) mountain range. The study itself was tiny, would barely fit two shelves of books, so he was glad he hadn't brought many. The bathroom's tub, Ed discovered, was enormous, or so he declared to Mustang when he came out. (It also had a shower, but Edward liked to soak when his muscles ached in the cold). The kitchen met his expectations as well. When he looked into the bedroom, he couldn't help but be amazed. There was a wardrobe and dresser, but the bed looked like the softest thing in the world. It had a dark blue bed spread, and was canopied by white netting and curtains around it. Not to mention there were nice…fluffy…pillows.

"I get the bed!" Edward had his jacket, vest and shirt of the floor when he realized his commanding officer was watching him.

"What?" he turned to look at the older man.

"What are you doing?" the Flame Alchemist looked amused.

"Getting ready for bed, as that is what one normally does at night."

"Naked? You know, I'll be sleeping in the bed too. No, don't put up a fuss, Edward. I'm not going to molest you."

"Oh, that's ever so comforting."

"Should be. I only molest handsome men. And obtainable ones. And ones that are free…or virgins…"

Ed took a step back and tripped onto the bed.

"And…do I not fit those requirements?" Why was he asking? Was he insane? He wished Al was here.

"You're not exactly obtainable, and you may be free…you're a virgin. You meet most of the requirements."

"I'm not handsome?" Ed didn't know whether to be pleased or offended.

"No, you're stunning. You're gorgeous. Beautiful. Elegant even."

"You're making fun of me now," he accused.

"I'm not." Mustang was dead serious. "As Gracia so kindly put it, you're sending girls and men alike into a tizzy. They all want you. You're the one unobtainable thing that they can't have."

A disbelieving snort. "Stop flattering me, and we can go to bed."

"You'll have me then?" Roy's flirting was starting to make Edward turn into a child, flushed and embarrassed.

"You know what I meant!"

"Goodnight…Edward. Hopefully we'll get through this mission intact."

Edward raised a hand and shrugged. A golden band around his left ring finger sparkled in the air.

"Where'd you get that ring?" Roy asked when they were settled.

"When Al cast that transmutation at Dantes. It suddenly appeared, and I just felt that…it was important. For some reason."

Deeply asleep, Edward dreamed, a memory that was his, yet not.

Roy laughed and opened the door to his room, letting Hughes in. Hughes slid into the bathroom and into the shower as Mustang called through the door. "You can take my bed for tonight. I'll sleep with Edward."

"Sleep?" Hughes snickered, and Roy rolled his eyes, his best friend sometimes was a joke.

Roy himself snuggled down into bed, letting an arm fall across Ed who threaded his fingers through Roy's. "G'night," he mumbled.

"Goodnight," Mustang replied.

Shock made him tear from the bed in surprise and fling open the lone window in the room as he dragged in breaths. Roy sat up, rumpled and sleepy.

"Edward?"

"At the window," a hoarse voice alerted Mustang to the fact that Edward might be in pain.

He didn't speak, but let Edward organize his thoughts. "Sorry. I didn't mean to wake you. The dream just surprised me is all."

"All right. Go back to sleep. We have to be up in two hours."

Settling back into the bed, Edward spoke. "It wasn't exactly a memory of mine, yet it was. It's so hard to explain…it was me…this age…but…you were…I was…Hughes." He sighed. "I think you teased me too much if I dreamed you were sleeping with me."

Flopping over, Ed shut his eyes, hoping to get to sleep.

"What did you say? Did you say I was sleeping with you?"

"Uh-hm."

"Where?"

"At some hotel." A yawn. "Doesn't matter. Was jus' a dream."

"Could mean your hormones are raging."

"Up until four days ago everyone thought I was asexual."

A cough. "I didn't. You're into men." A devious smirk.

Edward rolled over so fast, he crashed into Mustang's chest. "How'd you know?" he hissed.

"I watch."

"It doesn't matter, though. To me. It had to affect on what I was doing."

"Sure. Go to sleep, then. We can discuss this at a more reasonable hour tomorrow. Over breakfast perhaps."

"We'd need food first."

A groan and a whump. "Fine. Grocery shopping then breakfast. Happy?"

But he received no answer because his young subordinate had fallen asleep. Looking down at him, Mustang could see why so many people were easily attracted to him. He was the light, they were the moths. And his dream tonight? Was it possible that Edward had feelings towards him and was denying it? Whatever it was, he needed to find out so he could deal with it. And this mission gave him the perfect excuse. He wondered what information he could pry from the young man before he asked for some in return.

But he was a prodigy, and so he would know Roy was manipulating him. He always seemed to know.

"Little brat, you seem to have become a part of my team whether I wanted you to or not."

When the morning light finally dawned and cold air brushed across Edward's body, he woke. Annoyance pooled in his stomach as he attempted to curl in on himself.

"Get up, Fullmetal! We're going shopping."

"G'way, Mustang."

Eyes rolled, and Edward snuggled back into the blankets tossed on top of him.

As Roy wandered through the small town, he could hear the whispers, whispers about the new couple that moved in; the rumors of what made them so special. Delight curled slowly in his belly, as he thought of how well the mission would go.

And later, when he returned to the house, Edward was up, in the kitchen and cleaning and "What are you doing" and then there was hands taking the bags, shuffling through them. He would complain; he couldn't cook, "Shouldn't you just buy easy to make food,"

Then, "I can cook," the older man stated.

There would be a knock, and there would be woman at the door, asking to come in and meet the new tenets. They even brought food which gave them points in Edward's book.

Then, "Kiss him!"

Ahh…I created a facebook app based loosely after Once Again We Repeat. It's a game entitled Fullmetal Alchemist: Once Again We Repeat. Go check it out!!!

I'm thrilled to post this new chapter however short it is, but I wanted something up there. Anyways, as always review. It's pretty lame. I can't drag out romance it seems.