The funeral service for Hughes was painful. Roy had known it would be.
"I-I… I think I—I love you, Maes!" a very young Roy Mustang had blurted out, younger than even Edward Elric was when he joined the military, face flushed and eyes screwed shut. His were tightly clenched at his sides.
Hughes' chuckle sent a cold shiver down Roy's spine.
"You're fifteen, Mustang. It's just a crush." The spectacle-wearing man ruffled the unruly black hair atop the alchemist's head.
The Flame Alchemist closed his eyes for a moment, willing the tears away. It had hurt enough when Hughes had mocked his 'crush', but it was so much worse when he had realized Roy was actually serious yet still asked him to be his best man at his and Gracia's wedding. Roy didn't want to think about how hard it was to play with Maes' daughter without crying.
Little Elysia didn't even know how her very existence shattered Roy's heart. Each time her father bragged about her, flaunted pictures of her, or brought in her mother's famed baking, Mustang's already dark eyes would darken further—dulling—and a shard of his heart would press all the deeper into his flesh.
But losing his best friend made Roy feel like his heart sprang into his throat and was slowly, but effectively, choking him to death.
He didn't show up in his office the next day. Or the day after.
Knock knock knock.
Roy sighed irritably. It figured the one day he actually DID his paperwork was the day he was interrupted enough to make it nigh impossible to finish any of it.
"Come in."
"Sorry to interrupt sir," Hawkeye stated politely, "But you have a phone call from the Fuhrer."
Roy swallowed.
"Alright," he said somewhat resignedly, "Forward it here, if you please, lieutenant."
Hawkeye nodded and saluted before leaving. Seconds later, Roy's phone rang.
"Hello, Fuhrer. How may I help you?" Roy fought to keep his voice all-business, and prayed to whatever god was out there that the Elrics hadn't done anything stupid.
"Ah, Colonel Mustang," came the smooth, cold voice from the receiver.
"Is there something you need me for, sir?" Mustang's eyes narrowed anxiously. He made a mental note to himself that it was much easier to talk to the Fuhrer on the phone than in person.
"Something needs to be brought to your attention, Colonel."
Roy held his breath.
"It seems that Fullmetal has been gallivanting through the country. I find this suspicious, Colonel, as one of your subordinates is running around while not assigned on a mission and seemingly has permission to do so."
The Flame Alchemist thanked years of military training for him to be able to reply quickly without too much thought.
"Fullmetal was assigned to investigate those areas, sir." Bradley.
"Oh? And what assignments were these?"
"Follow-ups on recent problems, sir. Lior was attacked last month, and Risembool had been in a state of distress not too long ago, sir." As if you even cared about the people, you pompous prick. "I sent Fullmetal to check up on things and make sure all was well."
Roy's grip on the phone was so tight his knuckles where almost translucent.
"Very well, Colonel," Bradley just about sneered, "But from now on, I want all reports passed by me whenever he returns."
"Yes sir. Is that all?" Roy's patience with the man was running painfully thin.
"I believe so."
The Colonel was about to put the receiver down when he heard the Fuhrer speak again.
"If you fail to comply with my orders, Mustang," the Fuhrer drawled dangerously, "I won't hesitate in having you punished. Severely. Good day, Colonel."
The line went dead and Roy's hands shook.
-.-.-.-.-.--.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
"What the FUCK were you thinking, you bastard Colonel?"
None other than Edward Elric was storming around in his office.
"At the moment, Fullmetal, I was thinking about how I was going to cover your ass."
"I don't NEED you to cover for me, you idiot! I can handle things well enough on my own without you, son of a bitch!"
"I am inclined to believe you, Fullmetal. I totally understand your capabilities, however," Roy's eyes finally left his papers and snapped up to stare directly into Ed's, "I don't think you would have still been in the Fuhrer's good graces, much less alive, had I not intervened."
The steam was almost visible as it came out of Ed's ears.
"Calm down, brother! The Colonel probably just saved us!" Alphonse grabbed onto his brother's coat to try and stop him, but it was to no avail.
Edward managed to pull free, and his fist made direct contact with Mustang's left cheek.
"BROTHER! What the hell do you think you're DOING!"
Had steam been able to rise out of Alphonse's ears, it would have.
Roy was on his side on the floor, propped up by his elbow and using his free hand to wipe the blood from the corner of his mouth.
"If that is all, Fullmetal, I would like to ask you to leave."
There was no change in the older alchemist's voice. He was calm and impassive as he stood, graceful as ever, and walked over to the window.
Edward was stunned. Why hadn't the bastard fought back, or at least defended himself?
"No! You're going to tell me where the HELL you get off trying to pretend you're protecting us and shit, and then you're going to keep yourself out of our goddamned LIVES!" Edward flew at the Colonel again, rage flushing his cheeks and making his attack much more powerful than normal.
Though it still didn't explain why Mustang hadn't simply moved and gotten out of the way before Ed collided with him and sent him into the wall.
A sickening 'crack' resounded through the room.
Golden eyes widened.
"Colonel Mustang? Are you alright?" Al made his way noisily over to where Roy was, again lying on the floor with his wrist at a strange angle.
"I'm fine, Alphonse. Thank you for your concern."
Even the suit of armour could tell that the phrase was said through clenched teeth, probably gritted in pain.
"Damn it, you bastard! Why aren't you even defending yourself?"
"I deserved it. And now, if you please, Fullmetal, kindly leave my office before any more damage is caused by your temper."
"WHO ARE YOU SAYING IS SO SMALL THEIR TEMPER IS—"
Al grabbed his older brother, flung him over his shoulder, and opened the door.
"Sorry, Colonel. I'll be taking brother and we'll be out of you hair."
"Thank you, Alphonse. Good day."
Roy sighed as the clanking of metal on metal retreated down the hallway, along with the infuriated screaming of the elder Elric.
"Is everything alright, sir?" Second Lieutenant Havoc poked his head through the door.
"Fine, thank you, Jean," Roy answered, pushing himself up off the floor. Unfortunately, he forgot about his injured wrist, and collapsed again with a small yelp.
"Whoa! Easy there, sir," Havoc said as he went over to help Roy up.
The blonde straightened the upturned chair and eased Roy into it.
"The kid sure did a number on you, eh, sir?" Havoc sent the Colonel a playful wink.
Roy sighed in irritation.
"I suppose so, Jean."
"Hey, I didn't mean to make you sad, Mustang," Havoc amended. He was always one to try and rectify his mistakes before anything ran too deep.
Again Roy winced as Havoc poked at his wrist.
"It looks like a pretty bad break, Roy," Havoc announced to his 'patient'.
"So it does."
The bone created a bulbous knob protruding from the skin.
"I'm going to call a medic…"
"Please don't," Roy pleaded so quietly that Havoc very nearly ignored him, thinking it was just the wind.
"Roy…"
"Just reset it yourself. We had to do that enough in Ishbal."
"But we have nurses, and—"
"Havoc, I would do it myself, but I need two hands. So I suggest you get over here and do it, as it only takes one hand to snap my fingers."
The Second Lieutenant didn't need to be told twice.
A soft 'pop' was heard, and Roy opened his eyes from how they'd been screwed tightly shut. Havoc went about binding the bone with a splint he'd gotten from the First Aid kit in the hallway, and tied everything in place.
"Take it easy, sir." It sounded more like a warning than a simple statement for his wellbeing.
"I will, Lieutenant. Thank you."
Havoc was just about out the door, when he turned around.
"One more thing, sir?"
"What is it, Havoc?"
"Don't let the kid get to you too much. I know he feels the same about you." A reassuring smile accented the words.
"I—Thank you, Jean."
"No problem, Colonel."
"Don't smoke in the office, Lieutenant."
A soft curse, a chuckle, the sound of a cigarette being crushed, and Havoc was gone.
-.-.-.-.-.--.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
The first thing Ed noticed was the cast on Roy's left arm, and the bruises in various places all over the Flame Alchemist's body.
'I put all of that there,' he thought, guilt creeping unbidden to his conscience.
"Hey… um… listen, Roy…"
"Get on with it, Fullmetal, I don't have all day," Roy said, while not unkindly, impatiently, with a wave of his hand.
"I guess… I just wantedtosayI'msorry."
The last words were jumbled and muttered, and Roy couldn't understand past 'I just'.
"I'm sorry, Fullmetal, but I didn't catch that." With just a hint of his infuriating smirk, Roy had managed to make Ed blush and tick him off a little more than necessary.
"FOR GOD'S SAKE I JUST SAID I WAS SORRY! STOP MAKING THINGS SO DIFFICULT, YOU BASTARD COLONEL!"
"Oh."
"IS THAT ALL YOU HAVE TO SAY?"
"Well, yes."
"WHO ARE YOU CALLING SO SMALL THAT THEIR APOLOGY IS ONLY WORTH AN 'OH'?"
"No one, Fullmetal."
"OH RE—"
Edward was cut off by the Flame Alchemists lips brushing against his own.
His eyes were still closed, and Alphonse made no move to interrupt the two. At first he was worried about something happening and both state alchemists killing themselves or each other with a variety of arrays, but it was really very amusing to see his older brother leaning over Mustang's desk, hands flat on the wood, and the Colonel simply leaning forward and kissing him.
"Thank you for your apology, Ed, and you've already been forgiven."
The kid looked shocked, embarrassed, and stupidly happy at the same time.
"Mustang…"
"And I meant it, Edward."
"O-Okay."
A blushing Edward and chuckling Alphonse left Central that day.
-.-.-.-.-.--.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Roy collapsed into his large bed, grimacing at the heavy plop of his cast hitting the quilt.
A soft smile crept onto his lips as he looked at the white plaster.
There, in black permanent marker, was 'Edward' and a drawing of a small heart.
Ed cautiously opened the door to the Colonel's office.
"Roy?"
There was a stack of unfinished paperwork on the Flame Alchemist's desk, making Ed automatically check his watch.
11:58.
On top of the papers, head pillowed in the bend of his elbow, was a sleeping Roy Mustang.
Smiling to himself, Ed gently poked the Colonel's arm.
"Oi, bastard, wake up!" he whispered.
"Mmnnnngh…"
"C'mon Roy!"
Roy blinked, long, thick lashes fluttering open.
"Edward?"
"I called you at nine, and you said you'd drop by to see me. It's a little past midnight now."
"Is it? I suppose I got caught up…"
So like Roy to be unable to give a straight apology.
"You're still a jackass."
"What did you need me for, Ed?" The Flame Alchemist was still rubbing the sleep from his eyes.
Fullmetal blushed.
"I want to sign your cast." Downcast golden eyes were shielded by equally golden bangs.
"I'd be honoured if you would, Ed." Roy handed him a black marker with a smile.
Roy didn't realize how long it would take.
"Edward, I do believe a camel could perform a human transmutation in a shorter length of time than you are taking to sign a piece of plaster."
"Shut up," Ed hissed, but without his usual scathing tone.
Roy had no idea how it happened so fast, but it seemed that Havoc was right, and after the first—nearly accidental—kiss, he and Edward had become an item. After lov—liking, or being attracted to—the teen for so long, it seemed unreal for the feeling to suddenly become mutual.
He knew it was wrong. Ed was so much younger than him, not to mention being his subordinate…
If the Fuhrer found out, there'd be hell to pay.
Suddenly, the phone beside the lamp rang.
'Ugh,' Roy thought as he instinctively picked it up.
"Sorry for waking you up, sir, but this is fairly important."
"You didn't wake me up, Fuery. What is it?" he replied somewhat hotly. He wasn't even in the office, it was late, and he was tired.
"Um… it seems that Fullmetal is ill, sir. I-I don't know why Havoc had me call you, especially this late, but—"
Dark eyes narrowed and Roy cut him off.
"How ill, soldier?"
"Er, I'm not sure," Fuery replied, mind reeling with shock at the Colonel's vehement demand. He was startled at the fact that the man even cared so much.
Roy bit back the urge to groan.
"Sir, Second Lieutenant Havoc and First Lieutenant Hawkeye requested that you be informed. I don't quite know why…"
"Thank you, Fuery. Send them my regards."
'So they know, hmm?'
Heaving a sigh, Roy lifted the receiver again.
"Good evening. Ah—Alphonse. My apologies, it is rather late—" One o'clock in the morning "—but I'd like to speak to Edward, if he's feeling up to it, and if it's not too much trouble."
"Oh, not at all, Colonel," Al's voice was cheerful but sounded strained, "but you see, he's—"
A muffled sound that was suspiciously like "Al, give me the phone, goddammit," was heard, before Edward was on the line.
"Ed?"
"What is it, bastard Colonel? You can't even phone during decent hours of the day…" Edward's tone was listless and tired, but still held the passion the small alchemist was so well known for.
"I heard you were ill," Roy began, surprising himself with how soft and caring his voice sounded ('I really do care about him too much.'), "and I wanted to know if you were alright."
"I'm fine. It's late, and I'm going to bed."
"Goodnight, Edward." 'I love you,' Roy wanted to add, but his pride wouldn't let him.
"Feh. Same to you, bastard."
Fullmetal hung up.
The Flame Alchemist stood, shrugged on a coat, and was out the door and into the pouring rain.
-.-.-.-.-.--.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
bffimagine: Yay for long chapters! I really really really like this story so far… and just wait, the angst! Oh, the angst…
3 reviews update!