CHAPTER 2! Woot! Alright! So this was pretty much plugged out in a few hours, though I did have a good portion of it written down ahead of time. So if there's any mistakes I didn't find, I'm sorry. Anyway! Here we go! Next installment! I promise, I'll get to fixing up the first chapter sometime soon. Promise.

Recomended listening: Song for the Children by Lebo M. (Yes... from the lion king 2 soundtrack. Deal with it)

DISCLAIMER: Yes... Yes I own Fullmetal Alchemist. Because Ed and Roy just can't keep their hands off one another in the series... -_- let's be real people. FAN FICTION!


Swing Life Away

"I tell you a blind man once told me the true meaning of love at first sight…" – Unknown

First Encounters

DECEMBER 20, 1961 ELRIC-MUSTANG HOUSEHOLD 0:05 AM

Humming, Roy shifted as he made his way up the stairs for the second time that night. His knees popped, and behind him he could hear a snicker of amusement from his blond. He merely cast a mildly annoyed look over his shoulder before continuing up the stairs one step at a time.

"Wow, you really are getting old." Ed's voice piped up as Roy's knees gave a painful sounding POP! At the age of 63 it was a sound Roy was, sadly, getting used to. He grimaced and paused at the top to rub the offending joints. Arthritis was a bitch. But that was only Roy's personal opinion. Who knows, somewhere out there, he was bound to find someone that enjoyed the feeling of swollen joints and bone grinding against bone. He frowned and shook his head. That thought alone disturbed him.

Who the hell would enjoy getting old?

"Like you're one to talk. Your automail's creaking so loud, I'm surprised you haven't woken the girls yet." Roy shot back calmly. By now this was a familiar back and forth the two did regularly. It had only gotten more colorful as the years progressed and old insults began to hold more truth than irritation. Besides, tacking on a few years of extra knowledge, yes, things got very amusing when one of their verbal fights broke out.

Ed snorted, walking passed Roy and down the hall to their door. He lifted his left leg enough to flex his knee, bending and unbending the mechanical joint. A smirk formed as it merely clicked softly. "Nope. Still well oiled. C'mon, Fuhrer Bastard… I'm tired and the bed gets cold without your body for warmth." Ed teased good natured. Setting a hand on the door knob, he twisted and let himself in, leaving it open for Roy.

"So glad to be of service." Roy muttered, straightening up and following Ed into their room. It was a simple place, the walls a calming dark blue and the accents a dark and light grey. Ed's bright coloring always stuck out against the color scheme. Speaking of which… "You know the only reason you get cold at night is because you kick all the blankets to the floor in your sleep, right?"

"Hush. Don't try to win this with logic. Prodigy or not, this room is our sanctuary from everything work related. Which means out of that uniform." Ed stated, snapping his metal fingers – how he managed to do that Roy still couldn't figure out – and pointing to the floor. "Strip."

Roy rolled his visible eye and sighed, unbuttoning his dress shirt. "So demanding.." he grumbled, though he was fighting back a chuckle at the familiar antics of his blond lover.

A golden brow arched in amusement. "Says the ruler of our country." Ed muttered, turning his back on the other and stripping off his shirt, crossing his arms over his chest and lifting the fabric from the bottom and up over his shoulders. As the fabric was pulled over his shoulders and head, arms and back flexing, Roy paused in his own undressing to study the newly exposed skin. Slowly, the large image on Ed's back was revealed, drawing Roy in just like the first time he'd ever caught a glimpse of the ink.

It started as a large pentagon with a circle touching the outer edges. At each point of connection there was a blue circle filled in, five in total. Inside there was a slightly smaller circle. Five points of blue circled around it, a crescent moon spooned around each one. Ancient Xerxian was written between the two circles, cupping the upper half and sides. In the upper right hand section, a large lion curled around, lowering his head with his jaws open as if devouring. Inside, at the center, there was a smaller circle. Xerxian was scribbled above and below. Inside was a pentagon with the point down. At each corner there was a red circle, one of which rested before the lion's gaping jaws. Inside the pentagon were two simple images. At the top was the Xerxian script for "God". Below it, with both heads rearing up, was the double headed dragon from which Alchemy was based.

It had mesmerized Roy the first time he'd seen it. The mystery of why someone so young would have something so grim permanently scarred into his skin intrigued the raven haired man. Now, knowing the truth, he felt a distinct pang of hurt, wishing he could have been there for the other. He and his brother had been through so much on their own…

"You're staring at it again…"

Ed's voice cut through the memories and Roy blinked, lifting his gaze to tired, yet sharp golden eyes. Roy had been caught and he knew it. Shifting, the blond turned and stepped over. He pushed the shirt from Roy's shoulders, flesh fingers dancing along the skin for a moment. A soft hum rumbled from the blond's throat, sounding much like a content purr.

"What story did you tell the girls?" He asked, glancing up at him with those honey colored eyes as he undid the belt around Roy's waist. Roy let him.

It was an intimate ritual they went through, helping one another change for bed after a long day. It was something between just them and yet it didn't harbor anything sexual. It was simply a way of being close after the stress of a work day before they curled up to let sleep take them.

"Peyton asked about how we met…"

Ed's finder paused on the third button of Roy's military trousers. It had been a while since either of them had really thought back to that period in time. Happy memories tend to avoid being associated with their lives in those years.

"… She did?" Ed finally replied, his fingers going back to work and undoing the last few buttons. The zipper followed and Roy stepped back to step from the heavy, blue dyed wool. He reached over to where his pajama bottoms were and pulled them on.

"Yeah… seemed hesitant about it too." Roy hummed, watching as Ed worked his own trousers from his hips and pulled his own pair of sleep pants on. The blond took a seat on the bed and Roy sat on the edge, facing him. Automatically, he reached over and took hold of Ed's left leg, looking over the metal joints and connections. Edward just hummed and leaned back against the pillows at the head of the bed.

"Did you tell her?" Ed's voice came out as a tired, husky whisper, sending a trill of pleasure down Roy's spine despite the fatigue audible in the question.

"Yeah… she might as well learn our history now before she goes over the events in school… Same with Riley and Harper."

An easy smile formed and Ed giggled, letting his shoulders lean deeper into their pillows. "I still remember the first time you talked to me…"

MARCH 7, 1921 CENTRAL SQUARE 6:30 PM

A full week. That was how long Roy had spent assimilating back into society. So far he had managed to report back into military headquarters. They were easing him back into the steady work flow of a soldier behind the desk, nothing but short missions and paperwork. For now, he could live with it as long as he didn't have to talk to people that irritated him. Though, truth be told, the paper work was rather boring. If he had the option of incinerating it, he would have gladly done so. The job was so tedious and it dragged on forever. And ever. And ever…

Unfortunately, his trigger happy underling managed to keep him in line. Riza Hawkeye was a force to be feared and fear her Roy did.

Groaning, the raven haired Colonel stretched and made his way out of Central Headquarters. Damn it felt good to stand up again. That and the fresh air felt even more amazing. And to think, he only had one more week as a Colonel. After that, it was hello promotion and bigger desk! Suddenly he felt more human than mindless zombie. He could still feel the pang of his hand cramping from holding his pen all day long. Now all he had to do was get home and he could get out of this god awful uniform.

He paused and looked over the crowd milling around out in the main square. Sighing, he trudged down the steps and out the gates.

Around him, he could pick up the sweet scent of spring. The snow was melting, the air getting slowly warmer, and Roy couldn't help but grin. He hated the cold. Warmth was something he felt at home in. Though that could have something to do with his alchemy. He shook off the thought and stepped into the mass of bodies.

It was peaceful. A true reprieve from the echoes of exploding shell as they rained down on the earth. A shudder rand down his spine at the thought. He pulled his coat around himself tighter and picked up his pace. He got almost all the way across the square before a very solid body slammed into him full force.

He gasped and suddenly he was on his back. Above him, a tanned male had landed, blond hair falling from the braid at the nape of his neck. Slowly, his eyes opened and gold met blue-black. Roy's breath caught in his throat, hitching out a gasp of shock.

"You…" he whispered, staring at none other than the blond from the station a week ago.

"You! Stop!"

Gold eyes widened and he scrambled to his feet, He wasn't fast enough and the officer snagged him by the arm and kept him from running.

"Now I've got you, Thief!"

"I didn't steal anything!" the blond growled, clearly fed up. The officer snorted.

"Really? Then how did you get a State Alchemist's pocket watch?"

Roy paused in his brushing himself off. He'd been standing up as he listened in on the argument. Pocket watch? He glanced down, hands going to pat his hips as he spotted his own still safely attached to his belt. He looked to the pair and noted the officer trying to wrestle an older model from the blond.

"It was my father's, asshole! The serial number's no longer active!" the blond snapped, baring his teeth. The officer scoffed and Roy decided it was time to intervene. After all, he held just a bit more weight than the officer before him. Civilian police were always fun to mess with.

"Actually, he's right."

The officer's gaze snapped to Roy and took in his appearance. "What you mean?" he asked, clearly unhappy with the idea of being wrong.

"That's an outdated pocket watch. They used those up until 1910. The news ones look like this…" Roy explained, showing his own and causing the officer to pale. Yeah, that's right, you self righteous prick… fear me.

The blond looked Roy over in shock, eyes slightly wide.

Grumbling, the officer roughly released the blond's arm and shoved the watch back into his hand. "I'm watching you…" he growled, Roy biting back a snicker of his own at the unintentional pun. The man pulled out a note pad and pen, now looking far less than pleased with this situation. "Your ID please?" it wasn't a request, nor was it a question.

The blond set his jaw, a glare of defiance in place as he pulled out his wallet. Handing the ID over, he waited. Little by little the officer's expression grew from annoyance to disgust. He eyed the blond critically for a moment before jotting a few things down. "We don't like your kind here…" he growled, tossing the ID to the ground and stalking off.

"BASTARD!" The blond called after him, his face red in humiliation. He bent to grab his ID, but Roy had already beaten him to the mark. He'd only planned on glancing at the other's name and handing it back. Honest. But when has Roy ever listened to his better judgment?

The card was the same boring plastic that everyone else carried with them as per law. At the upper right hand corner there was an image of the blond. His lips were pulled back into a wicked smirk, gold eyes narrowed intelligently back at the camera and offering up the visage of a predator. It was the information below, however, that shocked Roy into regretting his decision to snoop.

Name: Edward Van Elric

Sex: Male

D.O.B: 14 February, 1903

Height: 163 cm

Weight: 79 kg

Eye: Gold

Hair: Blond

*Amputee

*Homosexual

A cold trickle of fear ran down Roy's spine as he straightened and lifted his gaze to the blond before him. Gold eyes looked back at him uneasily, all traces of anger gone and instead an embarrassed shell of the previous fire remained.

Homosexual? This man? He was gay? Roy's mind struggled to wrap around this new piece of information. Throughout his life, Roy had never really met… one of them. But that wasn't technically right, was it? He himself had had thoughts that were less than straight. These had only increased since he'd caught a glimpse of the stunning golden man before him. But…

Society said they were disgusting. They weren't human. Society said that they were nothing but a lower sub form of life. That they didn't need the rights that "normal" people needed or wanted. They were sexual deviants that were doomed to Hell for their crimes against nature. Society wasn't forgiving for those that called themselves "gay". Especially not in Amestris.

They were carded. There was a national register that held the names and known addresses of homosexuals. It was available to anyone that had a photo ID and Amestrian citizenship. People had been killed for having the purple mark on their ID's. To hold the hand of the same gender out in public could lead to being jailed. A kiss could find you bleeding on the streets while the law turned a blind eye.

A cold sweat broke out on Roy's skin and he paled slightly. His hands shook as he gripped the card in his hand. If it weren't for his gloves, he wouldn't have been able to keep his grip on the ID. He swallowed, his throat constricting in nerves as he studied the younger man.

But then again, wasn't the man standing before him human? Just like Roy himself? He didn't see anything different about the other. In all honesty, the only difference was the blond's taste in partner. Nothing more. Hell, the blond looked just as afraid of him, if not more so, than Roy was of him. Mentally, he scolded himself and held the ID out to the other. His aunt would be disappointed in him if he bought into the bull shit that society spouted without trying to learn on his own. Besides, did he really even care? Not really…

"Here…"

The blond hesitated a moment before snatching the card from the other and quickly hiding it away in his wallet once more. "Th-thanks…." He eyed Roy a moment longer before shifting his weight. "So… you're not gonna, like…. Try to beat the shit out of me, are you?" he asked, rather blunt about the subject as he jammed his hands into his pockets.

Roy blinked and lifted a brow before a surprisingly easy smile formed. "No… No I'm not going to hurt you." He answered honestly, surprising himself, but finding it rather easy to relax now that he had the other talking. As long as he wasn't thinking about it, he could avoid thinking about where he himself sat on this issue.

The blond visibly relaxed. "Thanks… I'm Edward Elric… of course you already know that…" Edward accused, gaze narrowed on the other slightly.

Offering a sheepish smile, Roy held out a hand in an attempt at a peace offering. "Colonel Roy Mustang…"

The blond eyed the hand a moment before reaching out and gripping his hand with his own right hand. Instantly, Roy jolted with the shock of cold. Edward noticed and chuckled.

"Sorry about that." He muttered, removing the glove on his hand to reveal shining silver fingers, mechanical joints well oiled. "Amputee… I'm sure you saw on my ID card…"

Roy just nodded and pulled his hand back. "I… I'm sorry. I shouldn't have looked without your permission…"

The blond merely shrugged and tossed his messed up braid over his shoulder once more. "Forget about it… It's normal. People are curious. It happens…"

"Still… regardless of your sexual status it's wrong how you were treated just now."

Ed studied him a bit closer before a small smile formed. "Thank you…. The help was appreciated. Really. My brother and I came to Central and all we've gotten so far is kicked to the curb more times than we can count… Not that we're not used to it by now." He grumbled, watching as an elderly woman scurried passed them. Her head was bowed and her eyes were wide. Obviously, she'd over heard part of the conversation.

Roy hummed and tilted his head, looking around for the blond he'd seen with Edward at the train station. "What brings you to Central anyway?"

Edward fell silent a moment before shrugging. "Sight seeing. We got bored in Dublith and we don't want to go home…. Though, I'm starting to wonder where that brother of mine ran off to…" he mumbled, looking around as well now.

"Your brother… he was the blond teen with you at the station last week?"

Edward perked up at the mention of his brother and nodded. "Yeah. That was Alphonse, my little brother."

"Little brother?" Roy asked, lifting a brow. If he recalled right… "But… he was taller than you…."

"WHO YOU CALLIN' SO SHORT AN ANT COULD SWALLOW HIM WHOLE?"

Roy just stood there in shock, amusement underlying his current gaping. He'd never seen someone react so violently to being called short. Maybe it was a touchy subject? … He was a scientist after all. What kind of scientist would he be if he didn't test his theory? For science!

"All I said was you seem a little short to be the older-"

"I'M NOT SHORT, DAMN IT! EVERYONE'S JUST FREAKISHLY TALL!"

"I thought I heard you screaming, Brother…" an exasperated voice cut through the young blond's tirade. Immediately, Edward stopped his fuming and turned to look to his left, a grin splitting his face in two. If it was possible for a human to resemble the Cheshire cat more, Edward would have been covered in pink and purple stripes and have been purring while snorting crack.

"Al! I was wondering where you got to!" He chirped, bouncing over to the newcomer. Roy followed the younger and spotted the blond that had accompanied Ed in the station a week ago. Darker bronze eyes smiled back at his elder – read shorter – brother.

"I was just trying to find us a hotel for the night…" Al hummed, chuckling as he shook his head. He lifted his gaze to Roy and tilted his head a bit. "I see you're making friends…"

"Hm?" Ed hummed, blinked and glancing to Roy, recognition forming as if he'd forgotten about the man for a moment. "Oh! Al, this is Roy Mustang. Colonel, this is my younger brother, Alphonse Elric." He introduced, sounding almost distracted as he listed off names and pointed between the two.

Alphonse rolled his eyes and shook Roy's hand. It was obvious which of the two was the more amicable of the brothers. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Colonel."

"Likewise… you said you're looking for a hotel?" Roy asked. It was odd, him taking an interest into other people's welfare. He usually only cared if they were his immediate subordinates or close friends and family. Who knows. Maybe it was because these two were obviously still kids in a lot of ways.

Alphonse grimaced slightly and nodded. "Yeah… we don't know how long we'll be here in Central and we need a place to stay. If we're caught sleeping on the park benches one more night we'll be arrested and… well, brother obviously doesn't need another mark on his record."

"Hey!"

Ed went ignored in the background.

"Why not stay with my aunt and I?" Roy offered, meeting Al's gaze. Honestly, he was starting to wonder if he was feeling alright.

"Are you sure?" Al asked, worrying at his lower lip.

"Oi! Don't I get a say in this?"

"Of course I'm sure. We have more than enough room and I'm sure my aunt would love to have more people around to mother." Roy chuckled, an easy smile forming. "I was just on my way home anyway. Why not come join us for supper and meet her? Then you can decide if you want to stay or not."

"Ah! Thank you!"

"Hey! Don't make decisions without me!"

MUSTANG HOUSEHOLD 8:20 PM

"So… You're from Dublith then?" Madame Christmas stated, eying the two boys her stepson had brought home. Honestly, she was ecstatic to have a few more mouths to feed. And such cute brothers they were. It was all she could do to not reach over and pinch their cheeks. Now if only Roy could still be that age…

"Resembool, actually…" Edward muttered around a bite of mashed potatoes. His younger brother shot him a look and swatted him on the left arm. He blinked, looking at his brother innocently for a moment before he blushed and swallowed. "Sorry…" he muttered. Al just nodded, as if pleased with himself and went back to his food. Chris chuckled and looked to her nephew.

Roy glanced up and blinked.

"Quite the find you brought me, Roy-boy. Seems like things will be lively around here for a while…" Chris mused, taking a sip from her red wine and leaning back further in her chair. She glanced back to where Ed was helping himself to another serving, just as Roy was doing much the same at the other end of the table. "Looks like we finally found someone with an appetite to rival yours as well…."

"Sorry if I'd like to enjoy real food…" Roy muttered, rolling his eyes playfully. "Military rations aren't the most delicious thing to have ever graced my pallet."

"'S not so bad if you know how to get creative…" Ed muttered, buttering another bun and popping half of it in his mouth. Alphonse made a face, grimacing slightly at his brother's lack of table manners. Roy didn't notice, too busy with his own meal while Madame Christmas just snorted in amusement.

"Seriously? What planet are you from?" Roy responded, tone incredulous as he turned to look at the blond.

Ed merely rolled his eyes and swallowed his last mouthful. "Earth. What about you?" he challenged. "Besides, if you know how to work with the herbs around you, you can actually add some flavor to that shit."

"Brother…" Al admonished softly, shaking his head. "And even if you add herbs, it still doesn't take away from the fact that the Colonel's right. It is disgusting…."

"So says you…" Ed sniffed, eating the other half of his roll.

"You're a bottomless pit, Ed…." Al stated flatly, clearly used to his brother's stubbornness. "You can eat anything."

Ed just glared at him, cheeks stuffed with food. Roy could honestly say he looked like a chipmunk in that second. He snorted, coughing as he nearly choked on his food. Damn you, Edward Elric. Trying to kill the great Roy Mustang… just you wait. Once I become Fuhrer you shall rue this day! Rue it! … After I finish choking on my fork…

Dishes were soon picked up and the water run as Roy rolled up the sleeves of his dress shirt. The top few buttons were undone, exposing a bit of smooth, pale chest as he stretched and stepped back to the sink, setting the last few plates into the soap filled water. The water was warm, enveloping his slightly chilled fingers in an embrace of heat that reminded him of the need to relieve himself. He sighed and grumbled to himself, deciding to avoid it for as long as possible. This always happened to him. Besides, the Elrics were both utilizing the time to shower.

"So… wanna explain to me why no hotel would take them?"

Roy paused and looked up at his stepmother's voice. Chris was leaning against one of the counters, a cigarette hanging from her lips, the end trailing a light tendril of smoke as she moved. He studied her as he debated a long moment. He could tell her…

"Edward's sexuality would bar them from hotels and they already have enough trouble with the authorities as is… besides… he's still a kid…"

Chris studied him a moment before nodding. "Kid huh? Seems only recently I could say the same thing about you…" she sighed and shook her head, exhaling a plume of smoke in the same action. "Whatever… and for god's sakes… just go already. You always forget to go before you do the dishes… even as a child you had issues remembering."

Scowling, Roy playfully flicked some bubbles at her before scurrying from the room. The living room was quiet as he passed through, stepping onto the stairs and making his way to the second floor where the bathroom was. He listened closely and heard nothing coming from the desired room. He guessed the brothers were either done with their showers or they were switching off.

Reaching the hall at the top, he turned to the left door and waited. Still nothing. Testing the handle, he found it unlocked and pushed the door open.

He was greeted with the image of a half naked back. Edward's half naked back. A towel rested loosely at his hips, tanned skin exposed as beads of water slowly dripped down the curve of his back and below the towel's edge. Golden locks of hair dripped, the strands clinging to the blond's shoulders as a flesh hand reached back to the grab them and pull them over his shoulder.

The veil of gold gone, Roy's gaze landed on the large tattoo on the younger's back. He knew that design. He knew what it meant. He knew the significance. But why would he have it tattooed?

"I will cast God down and create the perfect life form…." Roy muttered softly, not even realizing he had spoken aloud.

Mismatched shoulders of tanned skin and steel stiffened and slowly, the blond turned to look over his flesh shoulder, hiding the metal one from sight. In that second gold met black.


There we have the second chapter! Yay! Read and review?