"Edward, I'm home!" Roy Mustang shut the door behind him, closing off the outside world at last. A ragged sigh escaped his lips, lingering in the air, speaking volumes without words. Getting tired, getting older.
Roy entered the kitchen, exhausted dark eyes barely registering the oh-so-familiar room. He pulled out a chair from beneath the small wooden table, the screech of the tiles piercing his eardrums. By the time he had sat down, Edward Elric was by his side, in a flash of alluring gold.
"Tired?" was the one word he spoke, but it was enough to finally relax the older man. Ed knew him so well. Those golden eyes saw straight through him, those wide, still child-like eyes, that were now gazing at Roy, softened and loving.
Struggle though he did, Roy could not prevent the swelling of tears in his ebony eyes. Weary and on edge, he gave in to his more vulnerable emotions.
"Roy?" Ed's expression was one of concern. "You're crying?"
NO. Roy shook his head.
"That's not…"
I'm just so glad…to have an understanding lover…still waiting for me here…
"I love you, Ed." He watched the younger man smile, waiting for the response he so wanted –no, needed – to hear.
"I love you too, Roy. Always." Roy Mustang sighed, though this time with contentment. Still sitting down, he slipped his arms around Ed's waist, burying his head in the comfort of his lover's chest. Though Ed was younger by many years, the older man still clung to the blonde alchemist, desperately hanging on to the warmth that Edward's love gave him. Barely believing that anything could feel so good, never ever wanting to let go of the one thing that had gone right. Even years of living with Ed had not convinced him of the reality of love.
Can this beautiful thing…really be mine? My whole relationship with this wonderful young man…It has to be a dream. I could never deserve anything…so goddamn GOOD…
Still lost in thought, Roy barely felt Ed pull away, just slightly. Suddenly lips met lips, soft at first, but gaining a reassuring sense of passion, so undeniably dreamlike…
The two men pressed closer together, Roy's hands gently roaming over the younger man's body, longing to know that Edward was really there, really in love with him…
And the fire between them burned. Sparks exploded where their bodies met, the heat of desire warming the cold winter's night, eradicating the exhausting chill of doubt which had crept into Roy Mustang's heart.
And he, the Flame Alchemist, had ignited a flame inside the young blonde, but it was not just Edward's love which Roy desired. He needed the supporting warmth, the one piece of unbelievable perfection in a life haunted by war and grief.
It was this that Roy could not believe – a man such as himself, a man who had done so many wrongs, who had killed so many – how could he ever deserve beautiful, strong, spirited Edward?
Edward Elric, his rock to cling to in the rough seas of the years rolling by. Edward, though young, had kept the dark-haired older man going. Time had passed, wonderful years of true devotion, and Roy Mustang felt old now when he stood beside his beautiful youthful lover.
Few can understand how love of such depth could have blossomed between two men so different – older and younger, tall and small, dark and fair, golden eyes gazing into jet-black, tanned skin touching pale. And even as he drowned into the heat of desire, Roy's brain could still not comprehend how anything could be so right.