Author's Note: I do not own anything related to Fullmetal Alchemist (including Roy Mustang and Maes Hughes). Would love to own them, but alas, I don't.
Nor do I own the song, "Call Me When You're Sober" from which the inspiration came.
His breathing caught on the phone when the other man asked to meet him at the bar later that evening, as there was "exciting news". Immediately, Roy's heart sunk to the bottom of his stomach. He knew it was not going to end well, one way or another.
He then finished up his paper work and signed out. He threw his winter jacket over his navy blue uniform and walked right outside of headquarters. The colonel reluctantly walked over to the establishment in question.
It was the bar they had shared a thousand countless memories in; the very bar that provided the liquid courage for the younger man to kiss his best friend so many years ago.
He shook that memory away, as their rendezvous ended the very next morning when consciousness came flooding back. Something about fraternization within the ranks came up in conversation, and how there was a lovely girl.
----
"She's wonderful, Roy. I'm falling for her."
With one kiss, he had found the very paradise he had been waiting for; with one phrase, the love of his life burned the prospects all to hell.
----
Maes was over in their usual corner. The friendship had remained intact throughout the years, and they usually came for a round of drinks after work. It wasn't strange for most of the Armestris soldiers to stop in and grab something every so often, therefore Roy and Maes were simply part of the crowd.
----
"Don't make this difficult for me, Roy. I'm asking you as my best friend, the one person who knows me better than I do."
Roy sat on the barstool, swirling the amber liquid in the heavy tumbler around with his wrist. He knew this day was going to come, but he never wanted to admit it. He took a gulp of his whiskey, savouring the sting at the back of his throat.
"Of course, Maes," he sighed, "Of course."
----
He stood there and watched them exchange vows. He made a toast to honor the couple, but in the back of his mind, questions were going back to that isolated evening, so long ago. He loved a man whose loyalty, unconditional love, and touch all belonged to someone else. Even if he had found his courage years before, he knew, Maes was never destined to be his.