Another short one. And yes, I watched the episode and copied down Roy's speech verbatim. I'm OCD like that. :-P

WARNING: Gay relationship, still only kisses and cuddles that no one seems to be there to see.

DISCLAIMER: I don't own FMA, but if I did would be so gone from this place.

A couple of weeks later, he got a letter from Ed. Ed explained everything about what Scar was going to do in Lior. But the words that caught his eye were:

NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, STAY OUT OF LIOR.

He tried his best to keep the military out of Lior. He argued with Archer, the Fuhrer agreed with him, and he thought everything would be all right. But he was wrong. He was locked in a room by Archer with Hawkeye, Armstrong, and a handful of Tucker's best chimeras. By the time they got out it was all over. Fuery, Breda, Fallman, and Havoc got them out and told them what they had seen. Archer was lying in pieces. Lior was lying in pieces. And everything came together. They had been played. He heard that Ed and Al had been seen fleeing the city. Then he was ordered to track down and capture Edward and Alphonse Elric. He was allowed to take them by force. He hated it. He wanted no part of this. But he had to do it if he was going to figure out what had happened in Lior.

He saw the river and knew that Ed would be heading back for Risembool. They were running. Havoc and Fuery were hurt and Fallman and Breda were turned into bouncy balls. Shortly after Winry and Sciezka were racing towards them on a metal cart that Hawkeye took down with one shot.

As they walked he barely heard Winry talking about her parents and Hawkeye silencing the girl with a look. Right now he couldn't listen to what she was saying. He only had one thought in his mind. He knew Ed didn't want him finding him and Al. But there was no choice now. Ed was in something deep and Roy was going to find them.

When he did it was a crazy battle. He didn't want to hurt them and he and Armstrong together made sure that they didn't. They shouted at each other and fought until the two brothers were cornered. As Roy walked forward he wasn't sure what he was going to do to them, hit them, scold them, grab Ed and kiss him in front of everyone, anything. But it was when Winry screamed out,

"STOP!!!" that reason finally broke through. He could finally hear again and think clearly. "Please... just stop..." Winry pleaded behind him. Ed looked defiant and Al looked nervous. The look on Ed's face screamed, I told you to stay away! Why didn't you listen?! You promised you would listen!

"I once executed two people, two doctors," he said. "There are no sides, just patients. That's what they said as they treated our fallen enemies in Ishbal." He remembered their words as clear as if it was yesterday. Their voices always haunted his nightmares. "But the people they were healing would just rise up again to fight us. The military asked them to stop, but they wouldn't. And their make-shift hospital was becoming a den for insurgents. I got my orders in the morning. And I shot them, that night. Afterwards I tried to kill myself, but I was too much of a coward." No one besides Marcoh and Hughes had known that up until now. For a second Ed's eyes looked panicked. "So I took an oath instead. To never follow unreasonable commands again. To reach a position where I wouldn't have to follow them. And I've stayed true to that. I'm not chasing you because I was commanded to. I'm doing it because I'm pissed." He pulled together all the anger he had left and shouted, "Now why the hell did two you run away without asking for my help first?!" Ed looked shocked and then smirked. Roy wanted to wipe that smirk off of Ed's face right then and there. Armstrong was the one who brought calm even to Roy. And then Al told them about the Fuhrer and the Fuhrer's secretary. Armstrong was taking the other soldiers back through Lior. Ed, Al, Breda, Fallman, Winry, Sciezka, Hawkeye, and Mustang continued the journey down the river and they talked. There was more arguing and yelling and Roy knew they were hiding something, but he let it slip by. When they took a moment to rest, Roy and Ed slipped away from the others behind a few trees. Roy grabbed Ed tightly to him and Ed didn't fight it. He wrapped his arms around Roy's torso in kind and they held each other tightly.

"What the hell did you get yourself into Ed?" Roy whispered fiercely to him.

"Why didn't you listen when I told you to stay away?" Ed replied just as fiercely. "I told you to stay out of Lior. You could have been killed."

"I wanted to protect you," Roy replied quietly. Ed's breath hitched and he shook with a sob that he had been holding back. Roy almost felt like the kid was falling apart in his arms. He held Ed tighter and Ed broke down into tears.

"Oh gods Roy," Ed whispered. "I... I can't believe... I..."

"What is it Ed?" Roy whispered soothingly.

"How many sins will have to be washed away from me?" Ed whispered. "I don't think they can be. I've done... so many things..."

"Scar did this," Roy said quietly.

"Not that, not Lior," Ed replied. "My mother... she... we..." Ed shook with fresh sobs that wracked his body. "Do you know anything about how a homunculus is born?"

"I can't say that I do," Mustang replied.

"Better that you don't," Ed replied. "You'll find out soon enough I'm sure."

"Ed, whatever it is-"

"Not now," Ed said for the second time. "One day I'll get enough time to tell you all of this. I wish I could tell you everything. We should get back to the others. They'll wonder where we've gotten to." Roy stopped Ed before he turned completely away from him and caught his lips in a kiss. Ed didn't fight it and wrapped his arms around Roy's neck.

"Please say that won't be the last time I kiss you," Roy whispered as he rested his forehead on Ed's.

"Don't tell me you're finally falling for me?" Ed said quietly.

"I think I am," Roy replied. They walked back to the others and made their way to Risembool. There Roy met Edward's father and he suddenly realized where the dark gold hair came from. Hoenheim told him about the birth of a homunculis and how they survive. They talked about many of the things involved and Roy realized that someone was controlling all of the homunculi. Roy could feel the tension between Ed and his father as thick as the dark night around them. The next day Hoenheim was gone. And Roy was trying to keep the investigation team from finding him. Ed followed him outside to talk for a minute before he left. Once they had been left alone outside, Ed grabbed the back of Roy's neck and brought their mouths together in a bruising and brutal kiss. Roy wrapped his arms tight around Ed's back as they lovingly fought. When Ed pulled away they were both breathless and needing more, but there was no time now.

"Whatever happens, with all the dark secrets I'm keeping, do you think you could still fall in love with me?" Ed said quietly.

"Yes, Edward," Roy replied. "I am falling for you. Dark secrets and all."

"I will see you again," Ed replied. Roy nodded in agreement. He didn't care that neither of them knew if that promise could be kept. Neither did Ed. They just wanted something that they could hang onto. Roy walked away towards his transport and Ed walked into Pinako's house.