Chapter 1: The Spark
He kissed him.
Planning this confrontation for weeks, Roy Mustang had gauged all the possible outcomes including the very real feeling of steel clashing with his own very soft skin. No sparks, just the thud of compressed muscle and skin. A sad sound full of little restraint and little resistance on the receiving end. A hand made of alloys and earthy elements, joints stained with an orange patina, leaving a print of bright red and pink smudges forming the shape of said hand. A beautiful moment embodying the whim and the sway of the furies; the fragile separation of the organic and the inorganic.
But this was not what Roy's mind processed in that moment. No, all he felt was the surprise that came along with a smack from a hand made of hard metal. The taste of iron numbed his tongue as his teeth pushed into his lip as if it was made of gelatin; the initial layer is tough but once ripped the fresh was easily penetrated. Strained from the violence, his neck and head ached.
"Shit." Wiping the indignant sloppier and blood from his chin, Roy turned to meet his assailant.
"You assaulted me," Stated Edward Elric looking rather unharmed comparatively. Hair might have been a bit ruffled, and his clothes in the same manner, but other than that everything seemed in order. No bruises or scratches, actually Edward looked in a much more solid state than usually with all limbs attached and all scars healing quite cleanly.
"Assault is quite a serious charge, Fullmetal." More like unintentionally crossed boundaries without consent, Roy thought, his cheek hot. The finger pointed at him was clearly flesh, for it trembled in what he could only assume to be outrage. If he hadn't deserved it Roy might have had his own assault charge marring his own record.
"Your just the piece of shit that I always knew you were," Stated Edward as he wagged his finger in a loop designed to loop in and out in a made swirl of angry and disbelieve. "Alphonse is always defending you. Convincing me your just looking out for us, no ulterior motives. But now I know that I was right all along Mustang, you're a disgusting pig trying to just -"
"Edward." Mustang took in a sharp breath, thanking the great grace of luck, and it was Saturday, that nobody had walked into his office. It may have been seven with the sun already taking it's last bow on the horizon and many of the offices in Central locked their doors at the precise time five minutes to five, but many of the ambitious officers still lingered among their paperwork, schemes, and dreams. Himself included. "I didn't mean-"
"Oh, I'm sure that you didn't mean to do anything," Ed's sarcasm caused his already violent words to seem venomous as well as defensive. But that might have been the flesh hand that was wrapped around his body and the now clenched metal one. Or it might have been the way his voice than took a crescendo into soft hesitant tone while his face remained stoic. "It's not like you don't how I feel about you."
Roy's eyebrow arched as he took another real look at the man who had just walking into his office to than be 'assaulted'. Over the past three years when Edward was on the other side, he had gone through a growth spurt as well as gained the small lines that represented a usually cheery face. The Fullmetal Alchemist had disappeared three years ago leaving behind a newly discovered, than quickly hidden again, underground city, as well as a rather confused fully fleshed out younger brother. Roy had found himself missing the elder Elric more than he could of ever imagined, but what could he do. After miraculously appearing at the site of his own grave, Edward and Al had been looking happier and healthier than ever. But when separated, Al had enrolled himself at the university and had been excelling for the past two years. The Fullmetal Alchemist probably felt trapped and unneeded coming back after three years from the other side of the gate. Roy only knew minimum detail on what lied behind the other side, and no matter how much he pushed, Edward would outwardly refuse to give anything. That wasn't weird of the other man accept for Roy could swear that Edward was looking at those around them with an usually expression, maybe that of longing.
"I do know." Mustang was now just getting irritated by the claims of the man before him. "Why do you think I-"
"Shutup you manipulative bastard! You know how shitty I've been since-" He didn't finish, probably couldn't. "And you go and pull something like this knowing what it would do to me."
It was more of a question than a statement. Roy sighed, "Oh god just shutup for one second in your goddamn life." Reaching out, he grasped the younger man's upper arm, and pulled him closer. It was awkward but he needed this. The need to break a false reality was desperate.
"Don't touch me." But there was no resistance in that voice, actually Roy was surprised to find Edward looking at him with a calculating grimace. He felt the way the very real arm consisting of blood, skin, and bone under his arm trembled just a little bit and took it as comfort considering it matched the way his own knees were on the brink giving out. Fullmetal hesitantly looked at the large oak doors to his side and than back at Roy, "I have to go. Alphonse is waiting. I need to-"
"I need you here." It had escaped his mouth. Not like Roy's original plan for a graceful confession had worked considering as soon as Edward had made it through the doors wondering why he was called in three hours after he was off the clock he 'assaulted' him.
And now Roy did it again. This time with more precaution and a softer touch. Edward's lips were rough and cracked but wetter this time considering Roy's salvia had already been there. Still no reaction. No want but no rejection nor repulsion. The other man's lips kept still not even releasing quiver making for a stony kiss.
He pulled back, not shaken but full of resolve. Finally getting up the courage to make his feelings known, Roy wasn't going to be discourage by anything but a flat out snub. "Ed I want you." Skepticism combined glare like sun reflected off of well polished glass made Edward Elric hard to win over. "What would make you believe me. I mean God, kissing your subordinate is pretty serious business not to forget that your another man. Not a very good practical joke if you ask me." A snort, "This is just so similar."
"Hm?"
"Nothing."
Roy let him out of his grasp, and took a step back hoping to their was still a little bit of whiskey stashed away from the office New Years party. "I need a drink."
Pressure from his sleeve stopped him. The same hand that had smacked him only a few moments earlier, now pulled him in. "I thought you needed me."
Roy turned founding his waist captured in the nook of Edward's flesh arm, and his lips were intercepted with much surprise. His protest of 'I do' was muffled with the forceful kiss that was full of awkward teeth clashing and spit dribbles. It was rough, but not a desperate move by Fullmetal; relief and release were the only sentiments felt. Roy felt a hand brush against the dark hair just below his bellybutton after sneaking under his shirt.
"Brother we need to get downtown and-"
Pulling away from the frozen lips against his. "Fuck."
Shocked silenced soon followed by rambling. "What is-is this really-I mean really? God nevermind, we have no time for this, I'm real late as it is."
"The awards ceremony." Urgency pushed back the otherwise important issue of why a considerably older man of important stature was kissing another considerably younger man of equally important stature in a country were homosexuals were not the most respected individuals. Roy glanced at the now aspirated Edward slapping the side of his head with the automail hand that had assaulted to him. "I can't believe I forgot. Lets go, Al. I'm so sorry."
"You sure you don't want to finish up here?" A frown marred the usually handsome younger Elric's face as soon as he looked at Roy who meet his glaze with what he hoped would be a cool distant stare.
"No." The passion was gone from Fullmetal's voice. Just the metallic presence of distance was left as Ed pushed away completely and headed to the door not sparing him a breath. Roy could take rejection, he was after all in his thirties and had his abundance of failed romances. But usually he was dumped after months of neglect and being pushed out leaving no room for confusion
"Goodnight, Brigadier General. I do not think we will be seeing you tomorrow." It was cold, especially from Alphonse.
Wooden doors closed leaving him standing their with only the distant sound of late night drills and the crickets that encamped themselves in Central during the late humid nights of summer.
Roy turned heading back towards his desk, when he heard the sound of a safety clicking back. The cold butt of a muzzle tickled the hairs on the back of his neck. "Well, Mustang that sure was an interesting show."
A car was waiting for them on the curb outside of Central's walls. One of those new taxis that become popular along with the boom of the automobile in the past three years. Ed liked them more than a carriage ride but trains were still the preferred method of travel considering the smoother more familiar.
Any other night the two brothers would enjoyed the walk to the university's club being under two miles, but his automail joints felt stiff in the humid night air and the grease would be particularly watery staining his only dress shirt. They both slide into the back seat keeping the silence that had been held through the hall's of Central.
The rider smiled at them through a large bushy mustached, his reflection in the rearview mirror catching Edward's eye. Nothing special considering the Elric's were pretty highly regarded throughout the state's capital being the poster boys for the state's reform. Nothing more heroic than having your face on ever campaign. Nothing more heroic than being a dog of the state.
Why he stuck around after Mustang started using him for his campaign to successful create a parliament was a mystery to Edward. When the question came up after finding himself on the other side of the gate, he couldn't give the pocketwatch over saying he needed to stay a little while longer for more 'research'.
"Edward?" The formality of his full name from Al's mouth caused him to clench his jaw. Giving the driving a quick glance, Al whispered harshly, "What were you thinking?"
"I don't know." Uncomfortable, he started tugging at his sleeve with his automail arm avoiding any direct contact with Al.
Sighing, the younger brother smiled nervously, "This is dangerous you know. Could be seen as treason."
"Al, your being stupid," But completely honest and with no doubt right.
"I'm worried brother. You've been different since you got back. And now with this-" A bump patch reminded them of the price of celebrity. The driver leaned back in his chair a little too far to be just for comfort. "We'll finish this later."
Edward relaxed a little not worried too much of how Al would think of his 'choices', more worried to bring up some o fhis past 'choices'. "The food better be good. None of this vegan health that all you college folks are into. No freakin meat? What a load of crap."
A laugh, and than a snort came from Al; a brotherly trait shared. Ed looked at him with a smirk, after seeing the brushy eyebrow of the driver raise from the rear view mirror, "I'm not that funny."
"I missed you."
It was cold. But it was expected even in spring in New York. Steam wisped from the street vendors polish sausages and cups of coffee smelling bitter and spicy. But the coffee tasted quite sweet and the sausages were almost at good as the ones in Munich.
But today I didn't have time to stop for a snack, even though my stomach swished with acid and the coffee from last night. I was late for my lecture on the new atomic structure, and didn't want to lose my only connection to getting into the private libraries of some of high societies elite.
Being called Professor Elric is sort of fun as well as boasted my already huge ego. If I should never leave this world, maybe being a physics expert wouldn't be too bad.
Delusions won't get me home. Actually physics is all bullshit anyway. Einstein's theories are relevant but irrelevant to reality, try teaching that to students really, its worse than conveying equivalent exchange to non-alchemists.
But in all honesty I yearn for home even beyond the reunion with Alphonse. I know because that damn man is right there waiting outside of the door for me causing my breath to hitch itself against my throat. He leans against the wooden doors of the overwhelming glamorous library looking quite cocky in what probably is a custom suit with the lapels exaggerated and open wide.
"It's nice to see you Mr. Elric, I shall assume your morning has been glorious." His dark is cropped short, the height of fashion, and all the buttons on his jacket are painted with gold. Just so pompous, even as he opens the door for as if I was his date for the day.
"Goodmorning Mr. Mustang, your arrogance is just brimming this morning." My accent guttural almost compared to his smooth Yankee twang. The other Roy's hand lays against my back as if we were good friends, and had not just meet a week ago. We must look interesting together are outfits obviously of two different classes, mine brown and tailored to be Oxford Bags, but Americans aren't as judgmental as the British when it comes to friendship outside of money.
"I'm sure your nervous, but your lecture will be brilliant." Roy says as he pushes me through the hallway into the main room. All the shelves have been pushed back, and at least a hundred are chairs set up in rows. Soon they will be filled with young university students, older business men, a few physicians, and I heard maybe even a nuclear expert.
The other Mustang backs up and leans against the podium in the front center of the room. He smirks. "I'm sure all these intellectual types will be eating their hearts out when they see how young this genius is."
But it's not Mustang's smirk. It's soft and playful no hint of a scheme. Mostly the Mustang's right in front of me is genuine, but my Mustang's, the one of my world, is cold and fake; a mask to make other just assume arrogance.
"You're an ass." I look at my pocketwatch that's not as heavy as my state alchemist one, and sigh when I see I'm here twenty minutes early. "Vhay? Are you bored vith being rich, and need to follow me around now?"
He chuckles. "Maybe."
So its been years I know. Trying to write fan fiction again is going to be hard. But hell I'm quite a bit more reliable now, and promise to write chapter lonnggg and in time. So give me a change. J This is the original anime-verse and is a little Au. Movie is totally ignored. Update plan is going to be about a week and half inbetween chapter. Pov changes might be confusing, sorry. L