Demons and Redemption
Chapter 7
"Colonel?"
Roy was vaguely aware of the quiet, concerned voice behind him. He was sitting at his desk, but the uncomfortable chair was turned around so that he could gaze out of the window. The sky had darkened considerably over the past few hours, its normal bright blue concealed by threatening storm clouds.
"Yes?"
"Is everything alright?"
The raven-haired man breathed out a heavy sigh before turning around and greeting the brown eyes focused on him. A sudden flash of lightning lit up the sky behind him, surrounding his silhouette with a brief, white glow.
"Of course."
But Riza was hardly convinced. She pressed her lips together for a few moments, scrutinizing every detail of the haggard face. There was a concern that echoed in her soft eyes, as deep as that which filled the onyx ones that momentarily met them. Of course, the object of her concern was sitting a few feet in front of her, while Roy's was miles away. The only similarity was that neither wanted to be helped. Ed would deny Roy's help as much as Roy would deny Riza's. It was an irony that the Colonel missed, but one his lieutenant sadly realized.
"It's just that you seem a little…. preoccupied."
Roy shrugged. "I have a lot of paperwork."
"You're worried."
The Flame Alchemist scoffed. "Nothing worries me, Lieutenant."
The soft frown that passed over the young woman's lips betrayed that she thought otherwise. It also betrayed that she knew exactly what that nothing was.
"You haven't asked about the Elric brothers yet." She gingerly pointed out.
Dark eyebrows lowered beneath straight, black locks. "Why would I ask about them?"
"It's just that you like to know what they're up to whenever they leave Central."
Shock flashed behind the dark eyes before Roy could quell it. He leaned forward, clasping his hands together on his desk, and quietly cleared his throat. "What do you mean leave Central?"
"They boarded a train this morning for—"
The shrill ring of the telephone interrupted Riza. She stared at the phone first then at Roy who promptly nodded his head. The receiver was immediately removed and placed against her small ear.
"Yes?"
Roy's eyes narrowed as the possibilities of just where the young alchemists were began to swirl around his head. A deep concern began to twist inside him, coupled with an anger that Ed had left the city without telling him. An anger not at the boy, but at Roy himself. It seemed his plan to save the boy by pushing him far away had not only backfired, but could have placed him in even more danger. Roy knew better, knew that when Ed was angry, his rage drew him to recklessness like moth to a flame. Now he was roaming the countryside somewhere, broken-hearted, furious, and without the help of a certain colonel to keep him safe.
"He's right here, sir. I can tell him."
Roy mouthed what, but Riza just shook her head.
"Right now?...Of course." The striking young officer briefly closed her eyes. "Thank you, sir."
The receiver was carefully placed back in its cradle, and Riza faced the Colonel once again.
"What is it?"
"The Fuhrer wants to see you."
Roy rolled his eyes before breathing out an exasperated sigh. "What now?"
Riza shook her head as she watched the man slowly rise to his feet. "He wouldn't say. He just asked that you come alone."
The soft brown eyes watched with concern as Roy slipped a pair of white gloves into his pocket. He then reached up and tried to brush the wrinkles out of his jacket before straightening it. "I don't like the sound of that."
"I'm sure it's nothing, sir."
The higher-ranking officer shrugged. The worry for the blond-haired alchemist was momentarily pushed into the back of the Colonel's thoughts.
"Well, only one way to find out, Lieutenant."
Riza could only nod as she watched Roy disappear into the darkening hallway.
XXXXX
"You asked to see me, Fuhrer?"
The middle-aged man peered over the newspaper he had been perusing to acknowledge the piercing eyes now fixed on his good one. He gave a slight nod before folding the paper and tossing it onto his polished desk.
"Colonel Mustang." Bradley's icy voice contained more than a hint of false cordiality. He briefly returned the younger man's salute before clasping his hands over the paper. "I have some good news for you."
But Roy's stomach tightened as the words left the older one's lips. Somehow the look on the stern Fuhrer's face betrayed that the news would be anything but good for him.
"Yes, sir."
"First, I'd like to talk to you for a moment." The knot in Roy's stomach began to cause a burn that crept under his ribcage. "I understand you took some vacation time, is that right?"
"Yes, sir."
A fake grin briefly adorned the older man's face. "How nice. And how exactly did you spend it?"
The dark eyes narrowed, and a noticeable cringe followed as Roy tightened his jaw. "I traveled, Fuhrer, sir."
"Yes, I presume you did." The man cleared his throat before leaning back a little in his chair. His office was large, almost overwhelming, especially if only two people were in it. The windows framed the man and his massive desk, casting an eerie glow on his tan skin as the clouds overtook the afternoon sunlight. An occasional clap of thunder echoed through the immense room, rattling in every shadowed corner. "And just where to, Colonel Mustang?"
Roy drew in a deep breath, knowing full well that at this point, his superior already had the answer.
"Liore, sir."
"Oh, yes, Liore."
There was a thick pause, and Roy watched the man steadily as silence covered them. He was suddenly very aware of every breath he took, every shift of his body, every blink of his dark eyes. He tried to be just as impassive as the man seated across from him, but he knew that by now, a slight look of distress must have crossed his face.
"Don't worry, Colonel." Bradley suddenly stated. "I told you I have good news."
"Of course, sir."
"I received a call from the warden of the prison out there." Roy bit his tongue so hard he knew he was drawing blood. A bitter, coppery taste briefly passed through his mouth as he nodded. "He said you came by to check on things."
The younger man clasped his hands together behind his back. "Yes, sir. I knew of the recent uprisings and thought I would make sure everything was alright while I was there."
"That took some initiative, Colonel." The Fuhrer offered a nearly imperceptible smile with his wooden praise. "I appreciate that in my officers. That is why I'm transferring you where I think you'll do the most good."
Roy swallowed hard but let no other sign of his shock manifest. "A transfer, Fuhrer?"
"Yes. To Youswell." Bradley reached over and picked up the newspaper once again. "Seems like there have been reports of a possible uprising. I want the town and its prison to remain free of any trouble, at least for the few months it will take us to transfer the inmates to a larger facility. That's what we had to do in Liore. In any event, you've demonstrated that you're the perfect man for the job. Congratulations, Colonel Mustang."
A stiff hand pressed against stray raven locks to offer the Fuhrer a salute. So that was the official explanation of Liore's missing prisoners. Roy knew now that this went much deeper than a simple administration mistake in a countryside prison. His worry for Ed and Al quickly mushroomed. "I will accept the position with honor, sir."
"Excellent. You'll be leaving this afternoon."
"And my staff?"
The Fuhrer eyed the younger man briefly, a dangerous look settling behind his exposed eye. "You have a staff already waiting for you in Youswell."
"Sir, may I not be permitted to—"
"It's unnecessary, Mustang." The newspaper crinkled as the man disinterestedly flipped the page. "There is a small staff already in Youswell. Now, if I were you, I would start packing."
Roy offered the man a quick bow even though he was no longer watching. "Thank you, Fuhrer."
A brief wave of a hand signaled that he was dismissed. Roy waited until he was well outside the man's office before finally exhaling a shuddering breath.
"Damn."
XXXXX
Two weeks passed, with Roy learning very little about the whereabouts of the Elrics. He had to be careful in his phone calls to Central, unable to ask just where and how the boys were because of the unsecured lines. Each night found him settled in the same stool at the same bar staring down into glass after glass of cheap, burning scotch.
All he had sacrificed. All he had lost.
This is where it had gotten him.
Hughes' murder. The pain he had caused Ed. He had accomplished nothing but their downfall by trying to protect them.
His plan to atone for all he had done during the rebellion in Ishbal had all but disintegrated like the buildings and people he had annihilated with a single snap.
He would never see his goal of becoming Fuhrer now. He knew full well that the few months Bradley had transferred him was in reality a life sentence. The Fuhrer wanted him gone.
He was never going back to Central.
"Colonel Mustang?"
A flash of onyx eyes and a brief salute acknowledged the younger officer. "What is it?"
"Sir, we've detained two….uh….individuals trying to enter the city's prison. One's just a kid, and the other is….well…..I guess you should see for yourself."
Roy's heart clenched in his chest as he drew his eyes to the door. He fought hard to flush the shock from his face as he rose to his feet and greeted the ones that had consumed his every thought lately.
"The pipsqueak claims he's a State Alchemist."
"Pipsqueak? Pipsqueak? Who are you calling so short that he—" But the rant immediately stopped when the golden eyes fell on the uniformed man standing behind the desk by the window. An immediate hatred filled them. "You bastard, you set us—"
"Colonel Mustang." Al hurriedly interrupted. "It's nice to see you again, sir."
The dark head dipped slowly in a brief nod. "Alphonse."
"You know this….." The stocky young lieutenant was scrambling for just the right word to describe the imposing suit of armor.
"Yes, these are the Elric brothers." Roy tried to calmly explain. "Edward is a State Alchemist."
"See? I told you I was, you dumb—"
"Thank you, Lieutenant." Roy sharply cut in. "I can handle the situation from here."
"I'm sorry, Colonel, sir, but the order from Fuhrer Bradley is that any unauthorized individual caught in or around the prison must be interrogated by at least two officers."
Ed gasped, looking at Roy in shock. He realized now that their quest for the elusive prisoner had caused them to stumble into something much bigger. It was something his younger brother had learned right after they left. Something Riza had carefully warned Al about when he had called in to check with Headquarters. Al had been too worried that one more obstacle might break his brother, so he hadn't told him just yet.
"Of course, Lieutenant." He smoothly agreed. "I'm sure these boys meant no harm."
"Maybe not, but the Fuhrer also made the punishment very clear to alchemists who engage in any illegal activity, sir. I think it's best if we follow his orders, right, Colonel?"
Roy stiffly nodded. "Fullmetal, give me your watch."
"Like hell I am."
"Brother, I think you should do what the Colonel asked."
Ed looked at his brother incredulously. "What?"
The white eyes glowed behind the cumbersome armored head, begging Edward to believe them. The older Elric drew his eyes back to the Roy's, studying them for the same message.
"It will be returned to you after a proper investigation, Fullmetal." Ed found the same pleading in the dark eyes before they almost imperceptibly shifted over to the short uniformed man beside Roy. Ed understood now. Don't say anything else. Not here. The boy gave a slow nod. Message received. "Until then, I have to ask that you stay away from the prison. With the threat of an uprising, we don't want any additional problems."
Without another word, Ed walked over to the desk and unceremoniously deposited his watch on a small pile of paperwork. The he spun around on his heel and headed for the door.
XXXXX
Ed found himself wandering the nearly empty streets under a starless sky. Al had finally explained everything to him once they had left the cramped interrogation room. Lieutenant Hawkeye told me that there's something happening in the prisons. When they found out the Colonel had been asking questions in Liore, he was sent here. He was demoted because of us, Brother. Because he helped us try to find the prisoner. I didn't want to upset you even more, so I didn't tell you. Ed had scoffed. Why would I care if that bastard got transferred here? But the desolate look in the golden eyes had been enough of an answer for Al. It had been the same look that filled them the night Ed had returned from Roy's house. A look of emptiness and hurt. The younger Elric thought it would be better to just leave things alone.
But then they had gotten caught.
"Bastard."
Ed kicked a loose stone as hard as he could, watching as it rolled along the uneven cobblestone walkway. There were only a handful of lights glowing against the dark sky now. Only a few buildings with their doors still open. Ed breathed out a heavy sigh and happened to glance into one of them. What greeted him was not a welcome sight.
A familiar figure was sitting alone in the far corner of the bar. The dark-haired man was hunched over what was probably not his first glass of scotch, staring at the rich liquid as he swirled it around.
He was demoted because of us.
"Fullmetal, it's not wise for us to be seen talking."
The younger alchemist had found himself waiting for the man to finally emerge, unsure of just why his body wouldn't seem to obey his mind's pleas to turn and walk away. But it hadn't, and he was there, undaunted by Roy's reprimand. He began to follow Roy as the older one headed down the street. "Al told me there's something going on involving the prisons. Something big." He said, struggling to keep up with the taller man. "I know that you were just trying to help."
"Fine." Roy lifted his collar up to shield his flushed face from the chilled winter winds. "You're welcome. Now go home."
"I didn't wait outside in the freezing cold to thank you, bastard." Ed shot back. "I want my watch back."
A numb hand unconsciously reached into the pocket of the heavy coat, feeling for the cold silver object. "I can't give it to you yet." He quietly replied. "They're too many people who would question that."
"I don't give a damn. It's mine, and I want it back."
Roy simply shook his head and sped up his pace. His head was already swirling from the scotch, and a deep pounding echoed against his temple.
"Look, the sooner you give it back, the sooner Al and I are gone."
The response was terse and offered the boy no invitation to continue. "It's too dangerous."
"Look, bastard, I earned that—"
"No."
"You want me gone, right?" Ed fumed, eyes on fire. "Give me the watch back, and I'll be out of your hair."
Roy said nothing this time, irritating the younger one even more. He continued walking, staring down at the chipped cobblestone, his blurry eyes studying the occasional discarded cigarette or crumpled paper on the path. He could feel the fury emanating from the younger alchemist beside him.
"I'll get it back somehow, bastard."
Roy suddenly stopped and breathed out a heavy, burning sigh. Just once, just once, couldn't the boy see he was only trying to protect him? He turned and faced Ed, finally meeting the wide eyes with his own.
"No, you won't, Fullmetal." He assured as firmly as the scotch allowed him to. "You're going to stay here until things blow over, then you'll get it back. I'm still your commanding officer, and for now, you'll do as I say."
"My commanding officer? From the looks of this place, it seems like you're more of a corporal than a colonel."
Ed regretted the words the second they passed through his lips and thickly hung in the air between them. The look of hurt that briefly drowned the onyx eyes stung the younger one bitterly.
"Go back to your hotel, Fullmetal."
The boy watched as the dark haired man turned and began fiddling with a door of a rundown building.
"Why are you going in this dump?"
"I live here."
Ed's cheeks flushed a deep red, partly from the nipping winds, and partly from sticking his foot in his mouth twice in the past ten seconds.
"Oh." He finally whispered. "Sorry."
Roy said nothing as he struggled to work the key into the rusted lock. He was aware that the shadow behind him hadn't moved.
"I'll find you later, when it's safe." He quietly informed, his tone all but shouting at the boy to leave. But Edward stood behind the man, hands on hips, eyes fiercely narrowed. "We can talk then."
"I want to talk now."
"Ed…." An exasperated sigh floated into the chilled air. Roy still had his back to the younger alchemist. "Things don't exactly go well when we're alone."
For once, the boy didn't argue. Roy closed his eyes as he heard the footsteps finally fade into the distance.
XXXXX
Roy had lost track of the time as he gazed out of his small apartment, watching mindlessly as the sheen of snow on the ground grew thicker and thicker. He was leaning against the wall, polished eyes void as they stared into an equally vacant night, watching the distant shadows. One hand was resting in his pocket, wrapped around the cold silver of an alchemist's watch, fingertips tracing the engraved design of its cover. The other was grasping a glass that was long ago dried of its rich, burning contents. An unrealized sigh escaped as he closed his eyes for a minute, trying to block out the pain that had been slowly building in the back of his head since that morning. When he finally opened them again, he realized one of those distant shadows was suddenly much closer.
"Damn."
Roy foolishly thought if he just stood very still, the knocking would go away. But it didn't. It only grew louder and more furious. The dark-haired man shook his head in defeat before placing his empty glass on the windowsill.
"Fullmetal."
The blond head was lowered, and the small frame was shuddering in the vicious winds. Roy raised an eyebrow, realizing the boy wasn't wearing his trademark red coat. He was clad only in his short black jacket which was now heavy with melted sleet.
Roy reached up and ran his fingers through his disheveled raven locks. He knew inviting Ed inside was reckless, was dangerous for much more than just the simple fact that they shouldn't be seen talking. With that much sadness in the golden eyes, and that much scotch in the drowning dark ones, it was bound to be a disastrous decision.
But Ed was shivering hard now, and he still hadn't said a word.
Roy's resolve was slipping fast.
"Come on." He whispered, nodding inside.
At first the smaller alchemist didn't move, and Roy wondered if he was just going to stand on his doorstep all night staring at some imaginary spot on his porch. But the blond head finally dipped in a quick nod. Roy pushed the door open further and watched as the boy walked past him.
"How long have you been out in this?"
Ed shrugged. He had been wandering around since he followed Roy there earlier, unsure himself why he hadn't just gone back to the hotel. Ed kept his back to the dark haired man, curling into himself in a very defensive position. His hands were shoved deeply into his pockets, the flesh one numb from the relentless winter storm. Roy cocked his head to the side, intently studying the boy's unsteady breaths.
"You'll catch a cold." He quietly stated. "Go sit by the fire."
Ed felt the man brush by him and lifted his eyes enough to watch as he disappeared down a short, narrow hall. The golden eyes widened a little as they examined the apartment. It was a far cry from Roy's spacious home in Central. The walls were dingy and bare, the faded paint peeling just beneath the sloped ceiling. The den was sparsely furnished with a few pieces of mismatched furniture. The couch was worn, its once blue cushions and armrests now faded beyond any recognizable color. There was a battered desk just under the window, adorned only with a gun and discarded holster. Just in front of the fireplace was an old wooden chair, a blue military jacket draped across its back. Unpacked crates were stacked in every corner, their contents ignored by Roy. The only sign that anyone really called the apartment home was a metal trashcan full of empty bottles.
It struck Ed then just how much Roy had lost trying to help him.
And you thought I loved you? I've never heard of anything more pathetic, Ed.
"Here."
Ed raised an eyebrow, staring disdainfully at the dark liquid in the glass being offered to him. "I don't like that stuff."
Roy's hand remained extended. "It's not for you to like." He quietly explained. "It's to warm you up. Take a sip."
The boy finally accepted and took a wary sip. Roy couldn't help the sorrowful smile that played on his lips when Ed grimaced at the pungent taste. As Ed settled in front of the fireplace, the older alchemist disappeared into the bedroom for a minute before returning to the cramped den. Ed watched as he tossed a pillow and coarse wool blanket on the couch.
"Take the bedroom."
"What?"
Roy gestured towards the window and the flurry of white snow that was beginning to coat it. The storm was vicious now, and there was no way the younger one would make it home. Ed lowered his head in defeat. "The couch is fine."
Roy closed his eyes as he briefly shook his head. Why must everything with this boy be a battle? He sunk onto the worn couch and reached up to unbutton the collar of his wrinkled white shirt.
"Go." He finally whispered, nodding his head towards the bedroom. There was a look of uncertainty that crossed over the younger one's face. The orange glow of the fire seemed to accentuate every emotion that flashed through the golden eyes. The hurt. The fear. The rejection. The boy finally rose and shuffled into the bedroom, closing the door behind him. The older one sighed as he slid out of his heavy blue pants and covered his haggard frame with the blanket.
Roy was vaguely aware that a quiet whimpering had slipped into his restless dreams. He sluggishly turned over and buried his head deeper into his thin pillow, trying to block out the sounds. He was hovering between a hazed consciousness and the listless abyss the scotch was lulling him into. A heavy arm came up and slung itself over the twitching eyes, and Roy began to drift once again. But then a loud cry echoed against the crackling fire, and the man found himself on his feet in an instant, his blanket tumbling to the floor.
"What….?"
Then he remembered. Edward. Roy rushed to the bedroom and swung open the door, fully expecting the boy to have fallen out of the bed and gashed open his forehead. But the only things on the hard floor were the blankets that had been tossed there in the midst of a fitful nightmare.
Roy sighed.
Ed was only dreaming.
The raven-haired alchemist leaned his weight against the door frame and crossed his arms over his chest. A brief shiver tickled down his spine from the draft, and suddenly he was very aware that he was clad only in his boxers and his white dress shirt. He stood there quietly, scrutinizing each expression that passed over Ed's face. His hopes that the boy would wake himself were fading with each pained whimper, so with a knot in his stomach, he finally walked to the bed.
"Ed."
The boy flung upright in an instant, his chest heaving, a thin sheen of sweat covering his face. It took him a few moments to remember just where he was, and just who was sitting on the edge of the bed next to him. The boy immediately groped for the blankets, only to find that he was lying in Roy's bed in his black tank and boxers and there was no covering to be found.
"They're on the floor." Roy quietly informed. "The blankets."
Ed immediately leaned over and grabbed them, hiding his small body under their soft warmth. His golden eyes warily studied the figure sitting very close to him. Roy kept his eyes decidedly off of the boy.
"You were dreaming."
"Oh."
An uneasy silence settled between them and seemed to multiply with each one's raspy breaths. Roy scooted a little further away from the younger one, but somehow couldn't bring himself to leave. He also couldn't bring himself to meet the glowing eyes.
"Are you…..alright?"
When Roy didn't get an answer, he finally turned and looked at the boy. The moonlight that slipped past the slats of the battered shutters played among the loose strands of Ed's golden hair. With his eyes now closed, he looked so serene to the older alchemist, so passive. The sheen of the muted light coupled with the soft perspiration beaded along his forehead made his skin shimmer. Ed had no idea how hard the polished eyes were struggling to capture every nuance of his face until he felt the tender brush of fingertips along his cheek. He opened his eyes and searched Roy's.
The slightly trembling hand suddenly retreated and clasped with its twin in Roy's lap. The intensity that suddenly blazed from the younger one's eyes finally forced the dark ones away.
"Roy?"
The older one breathed out a heavy sigh and stared at his hands. "Yeah?"
Ed crossed his arms over his chest. Roy could hear the boy's breaths quicken with uncertainty.
"Do you really think that I'm only half a person?"
The sheer anguish that filled that one simple question was finally what broke the older one's resolve. Roy reached over and cupped Ed's face with his hands, gently stroking along the cheekbones with his thumbs. Through the anger, the uncertainty, and the panic of being rejected once again, Roy found himself falling deeper into them. He searched the wide eyes in silence, locked in a gaze that was far more intimate than any physical contact they had ever shared. Roy drew in a deep breath, knowing that this impending kiss would doom him. Knowing that this kiss could doom them both. But even then, he knew he wasn't going to stop, not this time. The scotch, the isolation, and the fire reignited in the golden eyes had made him very reckless.
Roy slowly leaned down and met Ed's lips, quickly prying them open. The press of the younger one's tongue to his own was urgent and needy. Roy's strong hands shifted as their tongues began to explore and tease each other, one slipping into the tousled braid, the other dropping to the boy's neck. He could feel the throb of the pulse against his thumb, reveling in how it quickened the stronger his tongue played.
It was Roy who finally broke the kiss, but before the younger one could protest, he felt soft nips along his jaw. He cocked his head to the side, allowing the older one better access to his smooth throat. One of Roy's hands fell, idly seeking the edge of the black tank.
"No."
Roy lifted his head, surprised by the iron grip that was now pinning his hand in place. It took his muddled mind a few moments to realize just why boy had stopped him.
The automail.
Roy swallowed hard as he leaned close to Ed's face, burying his lips by the small ear. "Edward….what I said before—"
"Don't." The blond quietly demanded. "Just don't take it off, okay?"
"Edward—"
"Don't."
The boy could feel the warmth of slow breaths against his neck, and he closed his eyes, waiting for
Roy to pull back. But he didn't. Instead, fingertips ghosted along the automail shoulder before slipping under the soft fabric. Ed jolted at the touch, at the gentle exploration of the edge of his skin and the beginnings of his metal limb. Soon, soft lips joined the fingertips, and the younger one writhed under the attention. Roy's warm tongue traced the path where metal met skin, lightly trailing along the cold automail. Ed shivered a little, closing his eyes as the tank top was gingerly lifted over his head and tossed to the floor.
"No."
Ed's golden eyes flung open. "No what?"
Roy breathed a sad sigh across the boy's exposed chest. "I don't think you're half of a person."
The softest of whimpers was his reply.
The soft eyes closed again, and Ed sighed contently as the wandering lips teased him. The dark head shifted lower, and Ed found that his nipple was now the center of the man's attention. The boy gasped, arching his back in the air as soft lips began to suck.
"Roy…."
A strong tongue teased the hardened nub with a few flicks before Roy dipped lower, trailing kisses down the boy's breastbone, then along the curve of each rib. His tongue moved in tiny circles before his lips covered each spot with a light kiss. Metal and flesh fingers began to tug at the raven locks as the wet warmth moved lower and lower, finally meeting the elastic waist of the boy's boxers. Roy hooked his fingers beneath it, intending to finish what he had started in that hotel room in Liore when two firm hands suddenly pushed him away.
"Don't."
Roy drew back in disbelief. Half of him expected the boy to stand up, stick out his tongue and say this time I'm the one leaving. But those weren't the words that left the younger one's lips.
"I-I don't want….." Roy watched as the boy's face flushed brightly under the moonlight. Ed suddenly sat up and leaned very close to him, nestling close to his ear. "I want you."
Roy knew then that his last grasp at control was gone. He was freefalling, and there was no one there to stop him. All he could do was lower his head and give the boy a very slow nod.
"Lie down."
Ed obeyed with an uncharacteristic submissiveness. Roy shakily reached over to the nightstand and grabbed a small bottle, feeling the mattress jostle a little beside him. When he turned back around, he found that Ed was now naked and trembling, and the older one was convinced it wasn't entirely from the cold air brushing against his now exposed skin.
Roy leaned down and kissed the soft lips with an almost chaste gentleness. The fingers now carefully preparing the boy reminded them both that what they were about to do was anything but. An urgent tug on the waistband of his own boxers signaled to Roy that the boy was ready for him. So he slowly slid them down to free his now painful erection and carefully mounted the blond.
After drawing a deep breath, Roy slowly began to enter the smaller figure below him, feeling the hard shudder that ran through Ed at the intrusion. He paused and leaned down, placing a gentle kiss just under the pulse point on the exposed neck. After a few moments, he slid further in, closing his eyes as the flesh and automail thighs wrapped around his straight hips quivered a little. He knew from the low groan that the boy was in pain. When he opened his mouth to ask Ed if he had hurt him, the absurdity of the question stopped him. He had hurt Ed, more deeply than this act ever could. So instead, he simply reached up and threaded his fingers through the blond bangs that had fallen into Ed's face.
"It's okay." A strained whisper assured. "You can go deeper."
This time, it was the Colonel who shuddered. He nuzzled his nose against Ed's smaller one before capturing the parted lips with his own. As man began to devour him, Ed relaxed his hips, allowing the penetration to deepen. Soon Roy was fully inside him.
When Ed opened his eyes, he was greeted by two blazing ones. Roy suddenly covered the hand that was resting above the pillow with his own, lacing their fingers together. He gently squeezed them, offered the boy a smile, and then he moved.
Ed arched his back when he felt the heat of the body above his fade. But just as quickly, it returned, as did the heat inside him. Roy's strokes were unhurried at first. In. Out. Tip to base. Over and over in a maddening and deliberate slowness. But as the warmth of the boy's muscles clamped around him, his thrusts became quicker and more erratic. Some fast and hard, others slow and gentle. The mixture caused the hardness between Ed's own legs to throb mercilessly.
Ed focused on the sensations that surrounded them in that small, dark bedroom. The shadows against the far wall that followed the smooth thrusts in and out of him. The sounds of the sheets rustling beneath him, of the old mattress creaking under their weight, of the haggard breaths escaping Roy's lips. The scent of scotch and sweat and everything Roy that filled his nose with each inhaled breath. The feel of the tiniest drops of perspiration as they slid down the curve of the older one's jaw line and onto his own chin. The coarseness of Roy's starched shirt pressing against his chest and the softness of the face buried in the crook of his neck. He barely noticed that the hand which had been gripping the headboard had suddenly shifted. So when deft fingers wrapped around his neglected erection, the shock elicited a loud, unadulterated groan.
The raven-haired man skillfully matched his every thrust with a stroke of the boy's pulsing shaft. Each one elicited a louder moan—some wordless sounds, others taking the shape of his lover's name. Roy was hurled closer to completion with each one, even as he fought desperately to prolong it.
But his exhaustion, the scotch burning deep inside him, and the erotic sound of Ed's growing moans stole his self-control. As soon as he felt the spray of warm liquid against his chest, he closed his eyes and lost himself in his own draining orgasm. Ed squirmed beneath him, whimpering at the feel of the man climaxing inside him. Roy felt the fingers locked with his own offer a weak squeeze, and he smiled into the boy's slick neck as he squeezed back.
It wouldn't be until the morning sun slipped into the older one's dreams, luring him to wakefulness that the haze of desire and scotch would disappear. It wouldn't be until the weight against his chest clung tighter in the throws of a nightmare that Roy would open his dark eyes and realize just what had happened. Only then did a voice scream from deep inside his head. Only then did it scream the same question over and over again.
What the hell have I just done?
TBC…..
