He didn't cry out or thrash. No, when Roy Mustang had a nightmare, it was quiet. He'd flinch awake, dark eyes opening to blackness around him, wide and staring. Silent, he would hold his breath, refusing to allow any sign of his fear to show. His heart would pound in his ears, and he'd be certain that the sound alone would wake the neighbors, and the alchemist would wish desperately that his dreams had been just dreams.

But Ishval could never be chased away that easily.

It was hard to forget the desperation, the fear, the smell of burning flesh and the sound of screaming children. The explosions and gunfire around every corner. The empty-eyed stare of the fallen. It was hard to forget anything when it was all as fresh as yesterday.

His bad dreams weren't frequent, but when they hit, he was left paralyzed, guilt threatening to drown him, pain blooming in his chest as time ticked on. Eventually he'd have to let out a shuddering breath, a quiet, grieving wheeze breaking the sanctity of the dark bedroom.

And Ed would wake up.

The blonde had never even asked what was wrong; the first time it happened, he'd simply wrapped himself around the older man, a firm, solid presence that reassured Roy that he wasn't alone. It had taken a few bad nights for the dark-haired alchemist to stop mumbling lies; he was fine, go back to sleep, please, Edward. The Elric had just grumbled a complaint, something about 'bullshit', and buried his face in his lover's neck, pressing himself further to the shaken Flame Alchemist, lending him strength through his simple, unwavering love.

In the mornings, neither would bring it up. They weren't really accustomed to spouting on about their feelings, and it would simply be rubbing salt in old wounds to talk about it. Anyway, it would embarrass Ed if Roy were to offer thanks.

But he couldn't describe the warmth that spread through him when the younger man curled protectively around him, as though the blonde thought he could shield him from his own mind. It was absurd, and even though Roy knew that the dreams would return soon enough, he couldn't help but feel safe in those moments.