This story is an idea a dear friend of mine and I came up with. To be honest, she wrote most of what we´ve written so far and I have mostly acted as an adviser, but we´ll alternate sometimes, so don´t be too surprised if the writing style occasionally changes. I will be posting on fanfiction . net, but my friend (Generation Alchemist) will be posting the story simultaneously on AO3. She also has an account on fanfiction . net (also called Generation Alchemist) with an absolutely amazing story (called "Puppet") that deserves way more traction than it gets.
I will warn you beforehand that this will contain explicit content between three male characters. If that bothers you, you have been warned.
Disclaimer: Fullmetal Alchemist doesn´t belongs to me or to Generation Alchemist
The sun seared down on the world like hell from above, incandescent fire scorching the land and reflecting off the white and gold sand to blind anybody in its unlucky embrace. Summertime was like a plague that fell over the desert city of Ishval- and it was a city now thanks to the military's somber efforts to rebuild it to something even better than it was before.
General Roy Mustang had made sure to keep its cultural roots alive by building the houses and churches out of sandstone like they had been before, without ever complaining even though the process was difficult even with the assistance of alchemy. The Ishvalans were neither grateful nor vindictive. They were somewhere in between, just living in quite anticipation of the restoration of their old village to its former beauty and tranquility. But Roy couldn't really criticize them, seeing how he was one of very few the Alchemists who really tore down the original Ishval down to its foundations. If the Ishvalans had been grateful for his efforts to rebuild the town he destroyed, he would feel even worse than he already did.
The General trudged through the sand, wincing under the lashing wind that sent grainsof sand scratching his face like shards of glass. Around him, stone monoliths stood tall and proud, the housing for bigger families. Every building he put his hands into was enormous and towering, except for the few small ones that some of the Ishvalans preferred. They were big and open buildings, with many windows to let sunlight in on pleasant days and to throw open to the soon-to-be bustling city. The wood he used for the doors, windows, and inner structure was sleek, glazed, and light like the sand of their desert. It was all meant to be culturally imperative, and Roy conferred often with the Ishvalan elders, whom he was going to meet with, in a few moments.
He struggled against the wind and made his way toward the smaller district where the cozier buildings were located, while he thought about last night and smiled slightly to himself under the scarf that served as a windbreaker wrapped around the lower half of his face.
There was just something about spending a night under the gorgeous desert night, gazing up at the never-ending plane of sparkling silver stars, and talking about their lives like there was nothing else in the world at that moment. It was intoxicating, spending that sort of time with someone that he… loved.
"Roooooooooooooooooooy!"
Speak of the devil and the devil shall appear.
Roy turned on his heel and gave a grin since his mouth was hidden as he watched the blonde traipse through the whirling sand awkwardly. The younger man was obviously struggling, but was resilient in his pace as he raced up to Mustang. The blonde stopped, keeling over halfway to pant with his hands on his knees.
That was something Roy had always loved about this man- his penchant for the dramatic and his incredibly laid-back attitude were both charming and refreshing in the ever-so-serious military.
Blue eyes flashed an overzealous joy as they looked up at Roy, and the General would never get over the adoration in that gaze. It was like Roy was his entire world, the axis to his life, and Roy was always both terrified and humbled by that look.
"Hey Roy," Jean Havoc panted, straightening up and giving a lazy grin, "you heading over to see Asaf?"
"As a matter of fact, I am," Roy murmured, glancing around quickly before lowering his scarf and leaning in to give Havoc a quick kiss- just a press of lips and the teasing flick of his tongue against his Lieutenant's lips. They were cracked and tasted like the salt of the sand, but it was wonderful nonetheless, spreading warmth throughout Mustang's body that could rival even the desert's heat, "I wanted to know his thoughts on the small temple he commissioned a few miles west, on the edge of town. I transmuted it yesterday so he should have had plenty of time to see it. Hell, soon we'll be heading back to Central. Are you ready to get back to reality?"
Jean groaned and Mustang patted him on the back before directing them to begin moving towards the small shacks in the distance again, "No, I am so not ready. Can't we stay here another year or two please? There's something about this place…"
"You mean the fact that you barely do any work outside of overlooking my work?" Mustang smirked and playfully pushed at Havoc's shoulder.
The blonde scoffed before falling into a sort of somber silence. They walked on for a minute or two before Havoc finally murmured, "It'll be nice to get back to the team, though. I wonder how Riza is doing holding down the fort."
Mustang nodded slowly, completely understanding the feeling of loss that continued to ache in his heart at the absence of the team of soldiers he cared for like family, "Colonel Hawkeye is fine. I´m surprised we lasted this long without her."
"Yeah… so anyway, what we talked about last night."
Roy raised an eyebrow at the man, indicating how close they were to the small stone houses that made up the elders' housing, but the blonde just rolled his eyes and made a gesture that said, 'who gives a fuck, I want to talk'.
"What about it, then?" Mustang sighed and slowed his pace, eyeing the houses just meters away now.
"I've thought of a good candidate. You know Ira from the Inbar family? He's a cool guy, and I'm pretty sure he's you-know-what inclined."
Mustang hushed him now, giving him a sharp glance that meant they would talk later, as they approached the door to the quaint, little shack. Mustang raised his hand to knock, when the voices from within drifted out to him in a quiet candor. Somehow, both of them were familiar. Asaf's smooth, rolling growl like gravel was very obvious, but the other one…
Smooth like honey, lilting like velvet, and harsh like a waterfall. So bright and familiar and golden.
What the fuck was Edward Elric doing in Ishval?
Mustang knocked once, hard, and fought to conceal the emotions threatening to split his face one way or another. On one hand, he wanted to smile at the thought of meeting up with Ed once again. On the other hand, he wanted to punch that smug little brat's face for disappearing for two years without a word to anybody in the military. Only Alphonse writing to them was the only way they knew the dumb brat was alive. Mustang just assumed Ed didn't give a damn about keeping in contact with the lowly military after leaving, but hell. Who was he to criticize?
By Havoc's confused expression, he hadn't realized it yet. That changed quickly when the door was thrown open to reveal the blonde bra-
Not brat. Holy fuck, when did Ed grow up?
The young man standing before them was a picture of both beauty and masculinity, radiating adulthood like it was a fucking aura. Sharp cheekbones defined a smirk that was slowly fading, and long dark lashes framed those golden eyes that were slowly growing.
"Oh," said that voice, and now Roy noticed it was just a bit deeper than before. Still heady in its unusual tenor, but different still.
Fuck Edward was gorgeous. Almost as gorgeous as Roy's lover. Speaking of which, he glanced over to see that Havoc's jaw was dropped, and a familiar expression of adoration automatically made jealousy rise like a roaring beast inside Roy's chest.
"Mustang… Havoc… what's up?"
"What's up?" Havoc squeaked, and then jumped forward so that there were two tangled blondes falling to the sandstone floor within, "What's up with you, chief?! It's been ages!"
The muffled squawks and mumbles amused Roy to no end, and a buzz of tender affection vibrated along the cords directed at his heart. This was all so unreal.
What did ground him back to reality was the appearance of Asaf, who was looking both amused and puzzled as he stood over the mess of limbs sprawled out on his floor.
"Asaf," Roy stepped around the two blondes and reached out to grasp the Ishvalan's arm in greeting, "I just came to see if you could take a look at the new temple. Forgive my subordinates, they're… they haven't seen each other for quite a long time. Lieutenant Havoc and Edward had been rather close when Edward was still in the military."
"As Edward was just telling me," Asaf murmured with a soft glimmer in his eye as he looked down at the Elric, "after I told him you were restoring Ishval, he began to reminisce about his wonderful time under your command," at Mustang's quiet snort of disbelief, the elder looked up at him sharply but smiled genially, "and the temple is satisfactory."
"I'm glad you find it adequate," Roy nodded before crouching down and beginning to peel Havoc's limbs off of Edward. His lover muttered in complaint but Roy just shook his head with a smile, "Come on Jean. Stop suffocating Fullmetal. We still need to give him a tour around new Ishval. Can't do that if he's dead."
"It´s Edward, and when did you lose the stick up your ass, Mustang?" Ed huffed from under the Lieutenant.
So many comments had to be bitten back, and by the twisted expression on Havoc's face, he was also tempted. But they were still in the presence of an Ishvalan elder and that may be deemed indecent to talk about certain kinds of relations. Finally Havoc began to stand and Roy leaned down to grasp Ed's outstretched hand to pull him up. Again the urge to punch the young man swelled in Mustang and he had to swallow it down.
Fuck they had all missed the idiot.
"So Edward," Roy dropped his hand and crowded close to hover over the adult Elric, "where have you been all these years? And without a single word to me or anyone else. I thought at the very least you would keep in contact with Gracia, but no."
A brow went up and Ed's lips tightened into a thin slash across his face, "Never mind what I said before, that stick is still firmly lodged in there."
Roy rolled his eyes and glared at his lover when Havoc snorted in laughter, before scowling at Ed. So many feelings rampaged through him, most prominently longing and joy. He had truly missed Ed. It had been too long since they last saw each other. Practically the Promised Day. And after everything they'd been through, and everything Ed had gone through, they were more than simple comrades at this point.
And so Roy let himself have a moment of weakness under Asaf's watch and reached forward to grasp Edward in a tight, hard hug. The young man grunted and hung lax for a moment before slowly, cautiously returning the embrace.
There was warmth, and unspoken words, and anxieties, but most of all there was a sense of homecoming that was too hard to put into words. It was just a swirl of galloping hearts and quaking stomachs. And when they pulled away, it felt like Mustang had given something up. There was a hollowness where his arms had wound around Ed's shoulders, and a coldness on his chest. But he was certain he could fix that later when he took Havoc to bed. It was just good to be reunited again.
"What are you even doing here, Edward?" Roy asked breathlessly.
The boy…no, the man shrugged, "I just got back from Xing and I figured I would swing by here first to see how the repairs were going. It looks fucking amazing you bastard. Good job."
"I'm glad you like it, you incorrigible brat."
"I'm not a kid, Mustang."
"Aren't you, though? Compared to me you're still snot nosed brat. And I see your mouth hasn't grown with your body."
"Oh please, you cuss too you piece of bullshit."
"Edward, language."
"Fuck you."
"Is that an invitation?"
Whoops. Roy kept his gaze firmly on Edward, not wanting to see Asaf's expression at the moment. Havoc sniffed loudly, obviously trying to hold in a raucous bout of laughter. Ed's face had gone red as fire and he was spluttering hopelessly. Satisfied, Mustang let his familiar smirk grace his lips before aiming the two blondes toward the door and throwing a, "Good day," over his shoulder to Asaf.
They were out in the biting desert once again, and they all gave a collective groan at the overwhelming heat shining down from above and blinding them as it reflected off the opal sand.
"Damn does it ever cool down here?" Havoc complained, raising his own scarf over his mouth. Roy mirrored the gesture and turned toward Ed to see him raising the hood of the tan coat he was wearing. Smart to wear a lighter color in the desert. He would be sweltering in his favored black and red.
"I don't think so," Ed answered, "why did I come to the ass crack of hell again?"
"To see our pretty faces, of course," Roy answered drily as they headed back into the inner city. Fuck the tour, they were heading straight to the central fountain, which was shaded by the looming buildings bordering it on all sides. The three of them bantered back and forth and in between on the walk there, bringing back old memories and smiles to all of their faces.
All in all, it was a wonderful turn to the afternoon. When they reached the fountain, Jean immediately ripped off his boots and socks, and rolled up his trousers to his knees so he could drop his legs into the cool water after climbing up on the edge of the fountain. Roy watched him with amused fondness, until he realized that Ed was watching him closely. Roy raised a brow at him and Ed simply smiled and shrugged.
"So how long are you staying, Edward?"
Ed leaned back against the fountain and crossed his arms, throwing his head back to yawn for a moment before staring up at the sky, "Hm, I'm not completely sure. Maybe a couple of weeks. I thought I could help out with the building and everything. If that's okay with you."
"Of course it is," Mustang smirked, "getting you to work without complaint? I have to see that."
"Oh fuck you, prick. And no, that is not a fucking invitation you pervert."
Roy guffawed and could only shake his head at his once-subordinate. Yeah, he'd definitely missed this.
"Oh stop flirting, you two!" Havoc laughed, making both Roy and Ed bury their heads into their scarves in shame, "And by the way Roy. How about the chief for a candidate?"
Roy's eyes widened as disbelief shuddered through him and he turned to look at Havoc, who just smiled back smoothly.
Ed? No way. He would never agree to it. And anyway, he was pretty young. Almost a decade younger than Havoc who in turn is a few years younger than Roy . Roy wasn't a cradle-robber, despite the hot, stomach-wrenching dreams he'd had of his subordinate when Ed really began filling out a couple of years ago. When he mentioned this to Jean, the man had just nodded understandingly and admitted a similar problem. But fuck, what did they expect? It was Ed for gods' sake. Still, no, wait. Fuck. He was starting to think agreeing to the ridiculous situation.
"Absolutely not."
"Why not?" Havoc grinned at Ed, who was looking more and more confused and a little nervous, "Look at him, Roy. He's perfect."
"He's Edward."
Havoc swung his legs around and hopped down from the edge of the fountain, his feet making a soft plop in the sand as they dampened it quickly. He went and grabbed Roy's arm before dragging them away to the shade of one of the buildings. Jean threw a smirk and thumbs-up to Ed, where the boy was blinking, confused, leaning against the fountain still.
"Okay let's talk, Roy. You know you want to do this. With Ed. He's perfect- we know him, we're close but not too close. He's abso-fucking-lutely gorgeous, he's got to be good in bed. And after everything, Ed isn't going to turn tail and run. Even if we ask him and he says no, he's not going to just run away from us afterward. He'll understand."
Roy thought about this for a long moment before sighing and putting his head in his hand, "Okay, yes, I do want to do it with him. And you're probably right about all the rest, but…"
"But what, Roy?" Havoc moved closer and put a hand on his shoulder, leaning in closer, "Listen, I know you're worried about what he'll think and how he'll react. That's just who and how you are. But you know he's not going to react horribly."
"How do you know, though? This is Edward we're talking about. Loud-mouthed, rash Edward."
"Like he said before, Roy, he's not a child. And it's just sex. Just one night. It won't hurt to ask, I promise you."
Roy thought about this. He wasn't sure of himself, but he never really was, especially when it came to this topic. It definitely had its merits, and it was something he and Havoc had been talking about for a while now, but sex with three people was rather unheard of outside of brothels. And it was certainlyn not something Roy had any experience with.
And really, maybe that's why he was so nervous and uncertain. Sex with Ed… it was so forbidden and intoxicating just to think about. The thoughts about it was making Mustang uncomfortably tight in his trousers. And imagining both Havoc and Ed together… well, that was too fucking tempting.
Maybe, just for Havoc, Roy could agree to this. Just for Havoc, of course. And so he swallowed thickly, straightened his shoulders, and gave a sharp nod. Jean gave a joking salute, and Mustang could only sigh with longing. He fucking loved this idiot.
They made their way back over to Ed and Havoc grinned as he sidled up close to the other blonde.
"By the way, Ed. Roy and I are fucking. In a very intimate way," he waggled his eyebrows and Roy couldn't contain the low groan and put his face in his hands.
"I figured," Ed responded coolly, which had Mustang's head coming back up in surprise, "The way you guys have been looking at each other? Like you wish you could tear each other's clothes off every minute? It's kind of obvious."
Well fuck. Mustang hoped it was only obvious to Ed's genius perception, "And that doesn't bother you?"
"Why would it? It's kind of perfect, actually," Ed smiled and Roy felt like both hugging and strangling the stupid kid.
"So Ed. Roy and I have been talking lately. How would you feel about joining us for a night?"
Roy glared at Jean "You do realize that while I did agree to this I was thinking of a more, you know, controlled setting. Like, not in the middle of the street and not out of the blue" he hissed
"Sure." Ed interjected.
The two lovers stared at him incredulously at the quick affirmation. Well… fuck, Jean was right. But Ed agreed to that very quickly. Ed's pretty face was twisted in determination and interest, "What? It sounds interesting. And fun. So why not? Sex is sex after all- nothing huge."
Heat and cold and heaviness and lightness filled Roy to the brim and he could only stare between the two blondes in disbelief even as warm excitement swirled in his lower stomach.
Fuck. They were really doing this?
He needed a drink.