"Stranger in Paradise"
Author's note: Drabble was inspired by the song "Nobody Needs to Know" from the musical The Last 5 Years. Said song excerpt is at the bottom of the story.
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The mattress is soft, and the pillows faintly smell of lavender. The air still lingers with the aroma of oil: some other flowery scent he can't quite pick out. The arm wrapped around his waist is warm, possessive in its grip. Its owner breathes softly, steadily, dark eyelashes fluttered down.
The scene should be perfect. Many people would give anything to be in his position. And Edward Elric has never felt more disconcerted.
It had started innocently enough, of course. A simple invitation to dinner to discuss his upcoming mission, a proposal he would have flat out refused if it weren't for the fact that yet another day without orders would have driven him mad, and he didn't seem to really have a choice otherwise. The food was good, so good that he had been in a pleasant enough mood to agree to accompany the Colonel back to his home for a cup of coffee or two.
He had been sitting in the living room, feeling rather worn out despite the liquid he was drinking. The Colonel's proximity should have been enough of a warning, a sufficient enough sign that maybe he should leave before things got any odder. The strong hands on his shoulders, hands that had barely lingered there before but were now firm and massaging.
He hadn't really understood nor realized what was going on, even as a pair of warm lips descended on his own. He doesn't know why he didn't run away or even resist at all. Even greater the mystery, why he followed the raven haired man to his bed with barely a word of complaint.
Bodies were entwined, cries echoing in the much too large bedroom. When it was all over, a hazy cloud enveloping them both, he had heard words of affection, admissions of love. He had stayed silent when the now soft voice informed him that no, he didn't expect a response right now, he could wait until the morning.
Edward lies there now, on a bed so soft it feels like it may swallow him whole. Or maybe the bed isn't the reason for that.
Before this night, he has always viewed the Colonel as nothing more than his military superior, a man who may have helped him and his brother along in their journeys, yet was still an insufferable bastard. Maybe an acquaintance, someone he might be able to go to sometimes, as after all, he was one of the only people who knew of his dark secrets. But never like this.
Even now, with what has happened, with the arm wrapped around him and holding him close, he does not know. In his sixteen years, he has never bothered with romance or anything it entailed.
Maybe it was about time, he thinks. Most people have been through at least one relationship of this nature by his age, haven't they? Colonel Mustang as a partner is something more than strange, but he figures it could have been worse.
He decides that maybe, just maybe, he can get used to this. He is still not sure of his feelings, but whether he is in love with the Colonel or not, he supposes that he could learn to be. After all, it is just another challenge to overcome.
And since I have to be in love with someone
Since I need to be in love with someone
Maybe I can be in love with someone
Like you…