Again, I'm so sorry for the really long wait. I've come to the conclusion that I only write when I am in Uni and actually supposed to be doing real work. Also, this is fic is now a struggle. It's like work to write it and there are a million other ideas in my head clawing to get out, but I am trying to keep it going so bear with me, please. Anyway, I hope that you enjoy the next installment. Sorry, there is no smut.
I own nothing…at all.
It's raining out, he thought as he rolled over in bed. The pitter patter of the water drops lulled Edward back to a light, peaceful sleep. The fact that it was winter and the rain he was hearing should have been softly falling snow never crossed his mind. Ed cracked open a dry, sleepy eye to peak out at the window where the early morning light was just beginning to filter through.
It's clear out. He scrunched his eyebrows together as the realization came about that his last two thoughts didn't coincide. Ed sat up in bed while thinking of the possibility of having down pour rain and a bright clear sky at the same time. Now that he was upright, he could tell that the sound of the water wasn't coming from outside but from down the hall. Maybe Roy decided to get up early and shower before work. He snatched up his pocket watch from the nightstand as he stood. 6:30 am.
Edward made his way down the hall and noticed that the bathroom light was on and the shower was indeed running. "Roy?" he called out from just outside the bathroom door. When there was no answer, he pushed open the door and immediately he saw the liquor bottle on the counter next to the sink. Almost empty, he scowled. Ed instantly became hot with anger that Roy had resorted to the bottle when he could have just asked for help. I was right down the hall, he thought.
When he looked over to the shower, his heart stopped. Roy was laid out on his side facing the wall, the white shower curtain draped over him. The now freezing cold water was raining down on him. Ed rushed over, turned the water off and cradled Roy's head in his lap, pushing cold, wet bangs out of his face. He noticed a small trail of blood running from where Roy's head had fallen to the drain. After quickly examining his lover's face, he concluded that the blood was flowing from Roy's nose.
"Roy, wake up!" Edward yelled worriedly, even though he was less than six inches from the man's face. He lightly slapped his flesh hand against a cold, wet cheek. Roy was shivering all over when he finally opened his eyes. He coughed to clear his throat and reached a hand up to grasp Edward's arm.
"Edward," he whispered weakly. "I woke up a while ago but was too tired to move." His tired eyes drooped again and his teeth proceeded to chatter.
"Shit, Roy. You are freezing and you are bleeding. Can you stand up?" Edward had dragged Roy to bed once and he wasn't up for doing it again anytime soon. Roy nodded and made an attempt to sit up. "Come on." With an arm around Roy's waist, he hoisted him up to stand. Roy's body was bitingly cold to the touch and the wet skin against Ed's white t-shirt soaked him through, giving him a chill. Ed helped him along the hallway to the bedroom, grabbing a few towels from the linen closet upon passing it.
Roy stood shivering while Ed wiped him dry with a fluffy blue towel, his eyes closed. Ed used another smaller towel to roughly dry Roy's shaggy black hair before clapping his hands together using alchemy to dry it completely. He went about the room collecting clean, dry clothes and found a pair of boxers and a sweat suit in a drawer. Without asking Roy to do it himself, Ed started to dress the man. Roy didn't object verbally, he only flinched a bit when the fabric rubbed on his cold, sensitive skin.
"Get into bed," Ed ordered, while dialing a number on the phone next to the bed. Roy obliged collapsing into the still warm sheets of his bed. The blonde draped the sheet and quilt over him and spoke softly into the receiver. "Hi, it's me. Roy won't be making it into work today." He paused listening and slapping Roy's hands away from trying to get the phone from him. "Yes, I'll try and make sure he is in tomorrow. Thanks, Hawkeye."
Edward hung up and climbed into bed snuggling Roy close to his chest, allowing his own body warmth to warm him. His hands rubbed soothingly up and down Roy's back trying to bring life to his frozen skin.
Roy winced at the touches, his skin still hypersensitive, but he welcomed it. He shut his eyes tight as the pounding headache from earlier hadn't subsided. The question that he knew he would have to answer eventually came sooner than he expected.
"What happened?" Ed whispered, warm lips pressed to the top of Roy's head.
Roy sighed, "I took the medicine you gave me. I also took a sip of alcohol, gin I think." He stopped to think about what he did next. "I got into the shower, the water was really hot. I was sitting on the floor just hoping that my headache would go away. I started to feel flush and a little dizzy from the steam. The last thing I remember was trying to stand up, I passed out."
Edward pulled away slightly to get a better look at Roy's face. "And the bottle of gin?"
Roy grumbled and tried to push in closer to Edward to avoid the question. A firm hand on Roy's chest stopped him and if the sharp look in Ed's golden eyes wasn't enough to make him answer, he did know what would. He sighed heavily.
"It was mostly empty when I found it in the living room. Honestly, I only took one sip before I realized what I was doing." He cringed remembering the burning liquid that used to make him feel so good, causing him to cough and sputter last night. "I practically choked on it when I realized what I was doing." He reached up to rub at his throat with his long, thin fingers.
Edward was watching him with narrowed, skeptical eyes. He soon deemed the story to be true and pulled Roy close again.
After a few minutes of silence between them, Roy could feel Edward smiling against head. It was infectious and although his body felt like it had been beat to a pulp, he couldn't help but smile as well. "What is it?"
"You'll have to start your one week sober over again from today." Roy could feel Ed shaking with quiet laughter.
"What?" He nearly yelled. "But I hardly swallowed any, I swear, Edward, please."
"Those are the rules, Roy. This is what you have to do if you want me." Ed paused a second before adding, "At all."
Roy wasn't surprised one bit about having to start over. He knew that's what Edward was going to tell him once he found out what happened; intentional or not, he still drank something. Even if he hadn't done it, it was the idea that he thought he needed it to feel better. Roy simply hugged the blond around is waist and wetly kissed his neck.
"Yes, I know."
As always, thanks for reading! Please review.
