Stubborn Wills

Part 4

Colonel Mustang was the first to move, although he felt slightly light headed. As he straightened up, he cleared his throat and brought himself away from Ed. Fixing his uniform, he tilted his head some as he looked down at Ed.

"So what did you think?" The teen met his gaze and it was clear that after all the effort from earlier, he was about to fall asleep right there, for the rest of the night. Roy had a feeling he wouldn't make it back to his room. "Can you walk?" Edward simply grunted back. Reality was starting to creep up on him and the realization of what he had just been a part of made him feel flustered.

"I should get going." Unfortunately his actions couldn't follow through as he struggled to sit up. Roy finished zipping his pants up and moved back over, placing a hand on Ed's shoulder.

"There's no hurry, Ed. Just take a minute." The younger alchemist nodded but refused to meet the Colonel's deep onyx gaze. Lazily, he leaned back on his elbows. Mustang grabbed a couple of tissues and started to clean his hand off, followed by Ed's stomach and groin. It caused Edward's face to redden and he turned his head away.

"You don't have to do that. I can clean myself up."

"Stop being so ridiculous." He would give Ed the same treatment he would anyone else. "I hope she realizes what you're willing to do for her." Ed still wouldn't look up at him. "Cause obviously you weren't very comfortable with the idea from the start."

"Maybe I'm just thinking a little clearer now."

"So you regret doing it?" Roy reached down and brought Ed's boxers up followed by his pants.

"I don't know. Guess it just didn't seem right." Edward sighed as Mustang fastened his belt for him.

"Hey, I was amazing. Always am. Consider yourself lucky." Ed managed to sit up and grinned slightly at the statement.

"Great, now I've given you an even bigger ego then you already had. I get to be one of your many conquests to brag about."

"Bragging about this wouldn't do me any good. Now come on." The Flame alchemist helped the blond up from the desk and brought him over to one of the couches. Once he placed him down, he headed back over to the desk. Finding sitting somewhat uncomfortable, Ed laid back, placing his automail arm over his eyes. The steal felt good against his head. Feeling Roy place his jacket over him, he peeked out from under his arm. "Here, sit up." Ed moved slowly, staring at the single pill in Roy's hand.

"What's this for?" He took it from him.

"You're probably gonna be a little sore. This'll help." Mustang handed him a glass of water which he needed anyway. Since he was already feeling fatigue he decided it was probably a good idea.

"Am I gonna find cab fare on my pillow in the morning too?" Roy laughed at the question while Ed took the medication. After several gulps of water he set the glass on the coffee table where his superior was sitting. "Wow. Alcohol, sex and drugs all in one night. You're not a very good roll model." Edward was notorious for cracking jokes when things got a little too serious. Roy caught on and chose to go along with it.

"Guess I'm not ." Ed settled back down on the couch. "No one's coming in the morning, so you don't have to worry about being found here."

"I'm sure you tell all your dates that." Now it was just dry sarcasm.

"See if I ever help you with another problem again." Ed pulled the jacket up, almost covering half his face.

"But I gotta ask, if you really only date women, how did you know what to do earlier, with me?" Roy sighed loudly, leaning back on his palms and looking at the floor. At first he seemed a little reluctant to explain. When he finally spoke, his voice came out in a slow quiet tone.

"Despite how much you may think you dislike me, you are actually very fortunate, in this military that you got me as a superior." Ed raised an eyebrow at the statement but didn't say anything in hopes he'd continue. "I wasn't so lucky. I guess the best way to put it is to say that I had to do the occasional favor to get where I am today. Looking back, I know I should have said something but I really didn't know much at the time. Besides, it's not all that uncommon." He didn't have to elaborate any more. Ed got what he was saying. No wonder he kept giving him the chance to opt out earlier. And thinking back to more then a handful of situations, he recalled Mustang sending him out of the office when certain superiors were coming in for meetings. It actually made some kind of sense now. Roy brought his dark gaze up and attempted a faint smile. "I honestly hope you're never under anyone like that and if you are, I hope you quit."

Before the conversation could go any further, Ed let out a yawn and he was reminded how tired he was. "Anyway, get some sleep. Al isn't expecting you back tonight is he?" Edward shook his head.

"No he's not, but for a completely different reason." He turned some and found a more comfortable position before settling in for the night. It didn't take long for him to fall asleep and he didn't even hear Roy leave.

-Monday Morning-

The office was once again busy, which was normal for Mondays. Ed moved past the main area, heading for the Colonel's office. For some reason it seemed easy to act like nothing had happened that weekend. As he reached the door, he paused when he heard Mustang talking with Havoc and Breda. He held his breath as he listened quietly.

"So how'd the date go? Get lucky," Jean was inquiring. Since he never managed to even get a girl to agree to a date, it was nice to hear someone was getting some action. Even if it was Mustang who seemed to be his only competition in Central. Roy was surprised he wasn't taking notes.

"It was okay. Don't think I'll go out with her again though." Some how Roy always managed to discuss the weekends events and work at the same time. As they spoke, he had a cup of coffee in one hand while he looked over the file laying in front of him.

"Really? I guess she wasn't that great then. Maybe you should up your standards," Breda piped in. It was the only way he could make Havoc feel any better that the Colonel pretty much had a date every weekend and he didn't. Mustang brought his line of sight up to his two subordinates snickering.

"As much fun as it is to listen to you two try to get details out of me every Monday, there's really nothing to report on. I try not to kiss and tell."

"Well some times you do. I just figured it was to make all of us feel bad." Of course what Havoc said was true. Usually when Roy had a great weekend, he was in a good mood the next day at work. Today he seemed to send mixed signals. There were other signs too besides his quiet attitude. This particular morning, there was the faintest smell of sex still lingering in the office, which wasn't the first time. It was hard not to notice. The other evidence he forgot to cover up was the two glasses still out on his desk this morning for everyone to see. He had to work really hard to distract himself and everyone else with work. Although his actions seemed off, it was no use. He wasn't gonna talk about his weekend. Finally he went back to his work and cleared his throat.

"Don't you two have better things to do? If Hawkeye gets back and you're still in here, who knows what she'll do." With that said, the two of them hurried back out to their own desks. As they past Ed, Havoc paused when he noticed the slightly embarrassed look on his face.

"Hey chief, everything okay?" Ed swallowed quickly only to cause a tickle in his throat and coughed loudly.

"Uh, yeah. Can't seem to swallow right. Just waiting for the Colonel. Is he in?"

"Oh sure, but watch yourself. He's in a weird mood."

"Okay, thanks." Before any thing else was said he wondered into Roy's office, closing the door behind him and breathing a little easier.

"You do realize if you act suspicious they'll figure somethings going on." The Colonel's demeanor had gone back to being completely professional. Nothing like he was the other night. The blond visibly jumped, not expecting Mustang to bring his behavior up. "Anyway I've got you a new assignment." Ed walked over and was handed a paper.

"Already trying to get rid of my again, huh?" He read over the page quickly before bringing his surprised gaze up. "This is near Resembol."

"It is?" Roy pretended to be shocked by the fact but his facial expression said otherwise. "How convenient." Ed didn't seem as pleased about it. "But things are still complicated." He kept his voice down.

"Yes, and the best way to fix the problem is to face it head on." Roy made sure his tone sounded official, just in case anyone was on the other side of the door, listening. "Besides Ed, you should be fine in that area now. Promise." He was also whispering.

"Are you telling me that what we did,...is the same thing I'd would do with..."His face started to turn red the more he thought about it. "Yah know this is not the place to be having this conversation. You totally threw me in the deep end again, Mustang." Although he was also whispering, his pitch was getting higher and higher.

"It might not be exactly the same but I think you'll be okay. And if nothing else you can patch things up at least." Now that the secret part of their conversation was over, Roy cleared his throat loudly. "I'm sure Al wouldn't mind heading back home for awhile anyway."

"Fine, we'll go. See you in a couple weeks," Ed grumbled back.

"Yup, you can tell me all about it." The Colonel grinned in a way that made Ed feel uneasy. The teen sighed loudly before heading for the door.

"Thanks, Colonel." Roy was kind of shock at the sincerity of the statement but took it at face value.

"Have a safe trip and good luck." With that said, Edward closed the door behind him, now on his way to get Alphonse and then to the train station.

The End

Author's Notes-Thanks everyone who reviewed. It was so nice. Also I have to thank my friend Heachan for Beta reading this for me.