Drifting

by Maaya

Train journeys with Alphonse had been something else entirely.

Implied RoyEd, PG. Ignores the end of the FmA anime.

Drifting
by Maaya

Train-journeys with Alphonse had been something else entirely. Edward had used to sleep a lot; they'd lie around lazily, play cards, read, and Edward would buy something to eat. He'd always have a water-bottle nearby, and a book, and for the day that particular train would be their safe place.

They had known everything about the Amestrian train systems back then. The seats on the western trains were often the least comfortable; that had been common knowledge. The southern railway-carriages were fine, as long as they stayed in the southern areas. If they continued too far up north, Edward would have to stay bundled up in his coat all day long because the carriages got much too cold.

Another thing had been different as well. Five years ago Edward and Alphonse had gone in the opposite direction. Away from Riesenburg, always, never ever towards the town, not if Edward could help it and if he couldn't, it was only an emergency case. That final way out because Riesenburg would--will--always remain the same. Bad things come when someone leaves Riesenburg, never when someone arrives there.

A luxury, hard to accept because their lives had been anything but and they couldn't allow it just yet.

Edward wonders if he can now. Sort of doubts it, because even if Alphonse liked to settle down and has done a good job of doing it (even has his own house that Edward and Roy can visit, darn it), it doesn't at all feel natural to Edward. The possibility never occurs to him as actual.

And somehow, Edward feels like this should be even less so. Strange that it doesn't because Roy, fast asleep on the seat beside Edward, is almost snoring and looking much too relaxed to be considered normal. Or it would have been, a few years ago. Now Edward doesn't bat an eye at the sight.

He does elbow the man in the ribs, though, to make him stop snoring.

Roy snorts, quietly, stupidly, and Edward finds delight in hearing such an inelegant sound from the other man. Roy's head falls down from its stiff position as he opens one eye to regard Edward, in all his sleepy glory still managing to look rather unimpressed. His neck makes popping sounds as he moves his head.

"You're getting old," Edward tells him, hurries with the jab before the other man has woken up enough to reply with something else than another snort. The comment is sadly true and they both know it because Roy can't easily hide the way strands of his hair are turning grey, anymore. Thirty-nine. Almost forty. For Edward, not yet thirty, it's a lot.

Artfully ignoring the comment, Roy sits up. "Anything you want?"

Edward wonders that, himself. "Nah. You've stopped snoring now."

"There's," Roy glances at his wrist-watch and does a good job of hiding the worst of what should probably have been a jaw-breaking yawn, "six hours before we reach Riesenburg. You should sleep some."

"Mm." Edward is noncommittal, voice perhaps, a little too small. Roy looks at him sharply.

"Edward," Roy states, his voice becoming clearer as he wakes up more and more. Edward knows that the man is trying to meet his eyes but Edward somehow prefers to look out the window instead. It's dark; he can only make out the outlines of fields and the occasional cottage. "Your problem is that you think too much."

Edward raises his upper lip in disgusted annoyance. The words are simple. Almost suspiciously so.

"You too," he replies after a while. He hesitates before nodding towards the suitcase, adding, "and give me my book."

And when Roy complies, Edward wishes that the man could stop looking so darn pleased.

end