"Fuck, fuck, fuck! Not now! Any other time and this wouldn't be so bad but not now!" Mustang cursed and kicked at the broken down car as the engine smoked and filled the air with a vile smell, choking him a bit as he gave it one final kick. How in the world was he supposed to get there in time? What if he'd already found someone new? What if Mustang just didn't matter anymore? Well, he supposed he deserved that with the way he'd treated him only a couple weeks before.

Roy wasn't sure what had been going through his mind that night, the night he'd told Edward the two of them just didn't belong together, that it wouldn't work and the look he'd given Roy still haunted him even now. His eyes had taken on the pained look that had been within them for so long during his journey and he hated himself for putting that look back into Ed's eyes. At the time, he'd just walked away, leaving a silent Edward behind him in the park, leaving the boy out of his life.

No, that was wrong. He wasn't a boy anymore. He'd grown to be a strong man, stronger than most people Roy had ever even met and he was sure Ed could take it, could take the rejection that Roy was now berating himself for. Ed was strong and he had been for so long that something like this couldn't tear down those great walls he'd erected behind metal limbs and eyes that blazed with passion.

His strength wasn't the only growth he'd experienced in the years since getting Al's body back. He'd grown a bit taller though still smaller than Mustang and he'd become even more breathtaking than the fifteen year old boy he'd taken home so long ago. His hair had grown to unimaginable lengths, trailing down his back in a golden river and Roy had marveled at it whenever he'd worn it down, taking it from the ponytail it usually swung in.

But now he wouldn't see any of that. He wouldn't see the smile in golden eyes, the long trail of golden hair that teased at perfect hips as they swayed in his shirt, teasing and enticing him. He would never again hold that lithe body against his own and feel flesh and metal alike in his bed during the night, the familiar dip of the mattress now gone. His palms were grinding into his eyes to keep it all from flowing freely.

He would not let this happen! He had tried goddammit! He had fucking tried going to Edward and talking to him again but something was against him and he kicked the car again, furious with himself and the world but mostly furious at the image that kept appearing in his mind.

Fuck it. If he was going to lose he was going to die trying.

So Roy Mustang took off running.

"Shit!" Ed cursed, tugging on his pants as he ran towards the front door, hair swinging in a wet mess behind his back. He turned the knob of the door, eyes widening at the sight of a flushed and sweating Roy Mustang standing before him. "Mustang?"

Roy looked up at him with eyes that begged his forgiveness, begged for another chance and Ed didn't have time to utter a word as lips collided down on top of his, needy and desperate all at once. Ed made a soft squeaking sound as he was pushed back against a wall, Mustang's hands on either side of his head as he broke the kiss and stared down at him.

"Hey, are you okay? You look like shit."

Roy chuckled but still said nothing, wrapping his arms around Ed and holding him close as he sank to his knees.

"I'm sorry. I am so fucking sorry," he muttered, throat raw from emotion and exertion.

"Hey, what's gotten into you Mustang? What happened to all that we can't be together shit? If this is some fucking booty call I'll tear your fucking nuts off."

Roy tightened his hold on Ed, just breathing in the scent of freshly showered hair and running his fingers down a naked spine, head resting on the small of Ed's back.

"I was fucking stupid Edward. I thought it'd be better if we weren't together, if I just let you get on with life and just find someone else. I can't do it. I just can't. Every time I go to sleep I wake up and I swear to fucking god the bed was dipping on your side. I need you."

Roy buried his face in Ed's shoulder, taking in the smell of grease and strawberries and Ed. Ed was trying to pull back from him, escape his grasp but dammit all Roy didn't want to let go.

"Hey, let go," Ed hissed, pushing back to lean against the wall, the arms finally done suffocating him.

Roy sighed, raking a hand through his hair and giving a hollow laugh. "And here I thought I stood a chance. I should've known there was no going back."

"Stop feeling bad for yourself idiot," Ed said, his hands cupping Roy's cheeks and bringing his eyes level with the blond's. "You aren't getting rejected you fucking girl. You were just squeezing me so hard I thought I was gonna choke." Ed sighed, pressing his forehead to Roy's. "Listen to me you fucking moron because this is fucking hard to say and I feel like a goddamn girl but you need to hear it, I love you. I have for a long ass time and sure it hurt when you just left me in that park but dammit it all I still fucking love you."

Roy hand's slid up his shoulders, along the lines of his neck until they could meet in damp blond hair and tangle there, massaging gently at his scalp. "So, I still have a chance then?"

"Of course," Ed said, smiling softly up at the man before him. "You're the only one who ever did." Ed took one of Roy's hands from his hair, placing it on his chest where Roy could feel the steady beating of his heart and it was like a lullaby. "It's only beating like that for you okay? Just you."

Roy couldn't help the grin that split across his face just before he leaned in to capture the blond's lips with his own, teeth nipping gently and fingers gripping golden locks to tip Ed's head back and give Roy access to the wonderful flesh of his neck. He bit and licked at his neck, drinking in the taste as Edward's eyes slid closed and his hands gripped the white button down shirt Roy always wore.

Ed parted his lips for the older man, inviting his tongue in and god how Roy had missed the taste of the younger's mouth. The taste was one he never could place but he didn't care because it was Ed and it was the way he tasted. Ed's tongue joined the dance, coming out to play and stroke and just explore the mouth locked onto his. Roy tasted a bit like scotch and that always made Ed smile because he wouldn't have the man taste any other way.

They finally parted for air, staring at one another for long moments. Roy's eyes slipped shut as he pressed his forehead against Edward's again.

"I really am sorry."

"I know. You don't have to apologize," Ed replied softly, running his fingers through black hair and Roy practically purred at the touch. "If we're going to go further than just kissing we should probably shut the front door."

Roy laughed, laughing as if he hadn't before and Ed couldn't help the smile that curled his lips. Roy had it back, everything. His heart, his joy, his laughter, all in the form of one blond alchemist who had owned him from the day he'd strode into his office, all confidence and determination and fire. Unlike his namesake, this was one flame Roy could not control and he didn't care to control it either. He preferred to see the flame of Edward Elric burn bright and it consumed him, swallowing him in heat.

Roy Mustang smiled and just held him, Edward Elric, his laughter and his life.