Ed rolled onto his side in the bed and shifted his head on the pillow and looked out the window into the sky where the sun was just rising. The blood red sky seemed to drip down onto the city roof tops that were bathed in a hazy red glow. On the back of his neck he could feel the steady breaths of his lover, could feel the heartbeat against his back, could feel the warm arm draped across his hip. Even the comfort of his lover couldn't erase the feeling of unease as the room was draped in the same blood red color that stained the ground he walked on. As the minutes began to pass the red began to slowly fade out and a bright blue edged the horizon. The covers had slid down as he had shifted and he felt them drawn up over his shoulders. Ed twisted around so he could look at his lover whose hand was combing through his hair and cradling his neck.
"Edward," the voice murmured softly.
Ed sighed and nestled his face into the crook of the man's shoulder and neck.
"Ed, love," there was no question on the tip of the tongue, because he already knew why Edward was hiding from the day.
The arms pulled him in closer and held him tight against the broad chest.
"Ed," Roy's voice was soft against his ear and Ed listened to the way his name was spoken. Every time his name fell from the man's lips it felt like Roy was binding him closer and closer, it felt like Roy was saying, 'I love you' and 'I'll be there for you'. To Ed, it felt like being wrapped in warmth and kindness and happiness.
He felt a chaste kiss pressed to his forehead and a hand tilting his chin up and he finally had to meet the man's eyes.
"Love," Ed pulled his chin from the man's hand and ducked his head, "Will you please look at me?"
Roy never demanded anything of him, never ordered him around, he always made a request. Roy's gentle tug on Ed's chin made Edward look up. The dark eyes studied him, non-judging and compassionate.
"I will be here for you, and I will love you and always will no matter what you think of yourself. In other words, I will love you forever."
Ed let a little smile tweak his mouth. "That's good, because generally you only marry people who you intend on spending the rest of your life with."
Roy laughed soft and low and kissed Ed on the mouth, his jaw, and then his neck. When Roy looked up at him from underneath his lashes Ed thought to himself, maybe this is the world telling me I'm forgiven.