AN: Passion Beneath The Cherry Blossoms is a FMA fanfic told only from the point of view of Roy Mustang. This is a primarily Roy/Ed fic. That means there is Yaoi in here. Possible sex scenes at a later date.
I remember how it all began. I still regret that day so long ago, when I fell in love, under the cherry blossoms. I wasn't looking for love . . . I never meant to fall. I meant to be a good soldier, to save lives.
So isn't it ironic that the life most important to me was the only one I couldn't save?
"Roy, I've . . ." Edward bit his lip. "I've never done anything like this before."
I pushed a strand of flaxen hair out of his eyes and let my hand rest on his cheek. It felt warmer than any flame I'd ever ignited. "Are you afraid?" I murmured. "I can slow down if you'd like." I only wanted him to be happy.
Edward bit his lip again, squirming under me. "No, I want . . . I want you. But yes, I am nervous."
I laughed. "Don't worry," I chided. "I'll go easy on you, promise." I bent and kissed him softly on the lips. He really was such a baby, still a virgin in everything. He hadn't ever had anyone kiss him, let alone kissed anyone else.
But he did want this. I could tell when he reached up, experimentally, to twine his fingers through my raven hair and lean closer. I didn't hesitate. I dove to him quicker now. I didn't want to deny him anything. No, I couldn't.
I loved him more than anything.
So why couldn't he have just loved me back? Why couldn't things have stayed blissful forever?
Like a sailboat leaving a dock, he drifted farther and farther out of my grasp until I could hold only the memories of happier days in my arms. On the rare occasion that our eyes met, his amber orbs had lost all their shine and luster. The innocent love once held within them was replaced with a weak stare of melancholy. Edward had been lost at sea, sunk to the bottom of the ocean.
In happier times, Edward and I always had walked home together, hand in hand, worrying little of the public's opinion. Our bond was strong enough to bear the guilt of the occasional discerning eye or mocking comment. We walked, his warm palm against my own, our fingers laced together. Always, we took the long way home – the route that lay beneath the cherry blossoms – for the sake of reminiscence.
I remember how it all changed.
One day I exited the office, shut the door, and turned. As usual, Edward was waiting for me. However, today was different. Never again would we walk beneath the blossoms, hand in hand, so carefree. A single sentence would end the tradition, a single chip into our slowly shattering bond.
"Roy... I'm sorry, but I can't walk home with you today, I'm busy." His eyes stared at the pasty white tile. His head bowed in shame as he crossed his arms over his chest.
I was startled. "With what?" I asked.
Ed's looked at me, his eyes wide, but he answered quickly enough. "I have an appointment across town." He shrugged and turned away. "Sorry, Roy. Some other time."
I watched him disappear down the hallway and out the front door. After a moment, I followed him. Even then, I knew something was wrong. And I wanted to know exactly what it was.
The sun was setting fast. I walked at a hurried pace over cobblestone sidewalks, only a few blocks behind my love. The buildings turned russet with the light of the coming twilight. I wondered where Edward could be going.
Of course, there was the possibility that he did have some sort of appointment . . . But he hadn't mentioned it before now.
I was embarrassed as I crept down a road as inconspicuously as possible. I felt guilty . . . dirty. Why couldn't I just trust Edward, as he had always trusted me? Why couldn't I just believe what he said and go home?
Well, my intuition wouldn't let me. I had a gut feeling that something bad was about to go down, though I had no idea at the time as to what it could be.
I watched my golden-eyed lover retreat into a bar, but I didn't dare follow him. Instead, I slipped into a store on the opposite side of the street to watch him through the front window. I was prepared to wait as long as it took for him to finish.
But it didn't take long.
Only twenty minutes passed before I saw Edward stumble from the doors of the bar. He was alone, and he looked as though he'd taken more than a couple shots of liquor in the time he was inside.
I went to the door of the store I'd hid in, which apparently was a bookshop, and slipped it open. The owner had pressured me to buy something for the twenty minutes I stayed, but I ignored him. Edward was my only priority.
Stepping out into the cold night, I pulled my jacket tighter around me. Peaking around the edge of the building, I could see Edward was making his way slowly but surely in the direction of his apartment. His footfalls were uneven. If I didn't know any better, I would've guessed he was limping from an injury. But he was only drunk. He was passed buzzed, more than tipsy, but I figured I'd let him walk home by himself. I would only watch from the shadows and make sure he didn't hurt himself or freeze to death. Like his own personal guardian angel, my only desire was to protect him.
So, of course, I didn't know that my seemingly good intentions would only hurt him further.
AN: R&R please.
