"I hope I'm not intruding." Ed's voice sounded weak. "I really do..."

Roy couldn't help but notice the edge of sadness as he trailed off in thought. Ed's face was cast down, never looking at him for more than a few seconds. The fire that had always been in those golden eyes had suddenly disappeared. The drive, the ever-so-evident attitude, the perseverance... has seemingly fled from him all together.

Roy knew what was bothering him already. He didn't have to ask. Ed was planning on going through with the transmutation to get his limbs and his brother's body back. Roy knew he was terrified, though Ed would never admit it.

"It's.. alright, Fullmetal. I was just getting off work. Sit down. I'll pour some tea."

Ed stepped over the threshold into the living room and Roy went off to the kitchen. It was dark inside with only a lamp to light the small space. Ed slumped down on the couch, letting out a sigh as he did so. Roy's blue military jacket had already been slung onto the furniture and the scent of freshly brewed tea was lingering in the air. He really must have just gotten home.

Roy returned with a single cup of tea and sat it on the end table next to Ed.

"What are you doing out at this time of night, Fullmet-... Edward?"

"Just taking a walk. Being crammed up in that building wasn't really my forte." Ed mumbled.

Roy frowned. "So, you came here to sulk, is that it?"

"No. I might as well lighten my mood. The big day is coming up, you know. I should be happy. I figured I could come over here and poke fun at you to make me feel a little better." He answered with a small smile.

"Oh, yeah? Is that so, Fullmetal Pipsqueak?"

Ed's eyebrows furrowed in annoyance. "I won't be Fullmetal anymore in a few days. You'll have to find a new name for me, you overgrown bastard."

Roy's lips curled into a grin. There it was. There's the Ed he knew.

Ed extended his arm out and studied it. The metal shifted and moved the way it always did.

"This will all be gone. It'll be flesh and blood. Just like the other one." There was determination in his voice.

"Do you think you'll miss it? I assume you've grown accustomed to it."

Ed stopped for a moment and lowered his arm.

"Its something I've been working towards since I can remember. Now, its in my grasp. I'm sure you'd understand, Fuhrer Mustang. But moving forward is better than sitting still. You may miss being Colonel, but being Fuhrer is so much sweeter. If that makes any sense."

"I suppose so, Edward."

"So, how's being Fuhrer treating you?"

"Its... stressful. To say the least."

"I'd figure you'd buy a bigger house with the new income." Ed said blankly.

Roy looked around the room and studied it for a moment.

"I've thought about it. I haven't had a lot of time to myself. Or anyone else important, for that matter."

"And who would you say constitutes as important?" Ed gave him a curious look. The question seemed to stun him.

"Drink your tea, Fullmetal, before it gets cold." Roy answered sternly.

Ed peered down into the cup. His stomach turned at the smell of it.

"I'm not really in the mo-.." He paused suddenly at the familiar sound of a lighter.

He looked up to see Roy taking the first puff of a cigarette. The sight shocked him.

"Since when do you smoke?" The last word hung on his lips bitterly.

"There's not many other ways to cope with the amount of stress I deal with on a daily basis. Besides getting roaring drunk, but that really isn't the best idea."

"Don't you think you think there's better ways? That maybe you're just trying to hide from your problems?" Ed said, eyebrows furrowed.

Roy looked at him for a moment. "Isn't that what you're doing now, simply trying to escape from your problems? Or did you just stop by for the tea?"

Ed stood up in a quick motion. "Damn it.. You don't need those!" He growled.

He stepped forward and snatched the lit cigarette out of Roy's hand. It crashed to the floor before he stepped on it. Before he knew it Roy had grabbed his arm and was standing over him. He calmly looked down into Ed's bloodshot eyes and immediately felt a ounce of pain. He knew Ed would never admit that he was afraid, but his eyes spoke for him. Roy was right. Those fiery, shimmering, golden orbs had faded to only a flicker.

"If only there was an easier way to escape..." Roy whispered solemnly.

Ed's mouth parted in a stunned silence. He thought that he was the only one in need of help. But here, looking at Roy, the Mighty Fuhrer Mustang, in such a vulnerable, pained state, he knew he was wrong.

"Mustang, I.."

Before he could finish, Roy's mouth was on his, smothering the words as he kissed him. He gasped at the sudden attack, but Roy wrapped his arms around him in a tight hold. Ed's body tensed at first, but relaxed almost subconsciously. Roy parted his lips and deepened the kiss. Ed's mind raced. What was going on?! Why was this happening and why with ROY? Should he pull away? Run out of the house and never return? These thoughts came to his mind all at once, but his body didn't act. It accepted it. His lips moved and parted seamlessly. He wanted to break off and beat the living sense out of the Fuhrer, but he couldn't. The sensation that came from the kiss... it felt so natural. So inviting. So... good.

It made him feel a way he hadn't felt in a while. Calm. Relaxed. And oddly, alive. All the anxiety of the days to come had disappeared with the warmth of the man in front of him.

Roy pulled away suddenly and took a step back. Ed swallowed the nervous lump in his throat as he tried to wrap his mind around what had just occurred. Roy pressed his lips as if about to say something, but couldn't find the words. They both stared at each other, mouths gaped open and lungs desperately trying to regain oxygen. Their eyes had locked. A spark had been set off. Something had forever changed within them.

Maybe they had both found what they had been so desperately in need of.

An escape.