(A.N.: Hi Guys. I guess that so far you like the story because I'm on chapter 7. Awesome! Just a quick note. There is a part where the story goes to Italics and Bold for a conversation between Havoc and Roy. This is a flashback. When the font style returns to normal, it's is the present time stream. So anyways, I own no characters from Fullmetal. Enjoy this latest installment.)


Roy rubbed his eyes furiously. He was angry with himself for getting attracted to Fullmetal. He didn't understand why he was all of a sudden willing to drop everything else to be with this selfish, bitter…young, attractive, funny, sweet kid.

"To be honest, I think you see some of yourself in Fullmetal."

Roy looked at Havoc through bloodshot eyes. "How so?"

"Well, you were both the youngest alchemists in Military history. You're both temperamental, and you always think your opinions are the only ones; you're both cocky, arrogant, self-centered..."

"Don't push it, Havoc."

"My point is, you and Edward have a lot in common."

Roy wiped his eyes again. "Do you think I've been to hard on him, Jean?"

"As you subordinate, I have to say 'no sir. You've done what is necessary.' But as a friend, I have to say…'yeah'."

Roy flopped onto his back, his eyes falling onto the clock that set beside his bed. The hands pointed to 3:45 am. Roy knew he should be sleeping, but he couldn't keep his mind off of Edward. Every time his eyes would begin to shut, he would hear that voice. He would picture that smiling face and plaited hair. Then a sensation would pass through his body; a sensation he received only when Edward touched him.

"What are you doing still awake?"

Roy shifted his gaze to Hawkeye. She was in a revealing, charcoal color nightgown that Roy would have found irresistible a few weeks ago.

"I just have a lot on my mind," Roy replied as her hand slid up his chest.

"Is it about what I said earlier today?"

In a way, yes. Roy bit back his response. "No. It's just the job of a Brigadier General, that's all."

"Can you stop being General Mustang and be Roy for just two minutes?" Hawkeye asked, her hand reaching Roy's chin. His face was directed toward her; her scarlet eyes were glazed with a gaze of compassion that was not often seen in the eyes of the lieutenant. "If there's something you need to say, then just say it."

How can I tell you I'm leaving you for another man? Damn. It's a lot easier to say you'll do something than to actually do it.


"What's wrong with you today?"

Roy brought his lips off of the base of Edward's neck. "Nothing? Why do you ask?"

"Because you've been avoiding all eye contact and verbal communication since I got here," Edward said, propping himself off the floor with his elbows.

"That's not true," Roy said to the lean, bare torso of his lover. "I said 'hi' when you came in."

"I said 'hi' and then your tongue was down my throat. Seriously, tell me what's wrong."

Roy turned his back to Edward, determined to not see the look on the younger man's face when he said what had kept him awake all night.

"Ed, I don't think I can do this. I can't tell her."

"You can't… or you won't?" Edward inquired to the back of Roy's head.

"I don't want to hurt her, Ed," Roy reasoned.

"I guess she means more to you," the younger man replied.

Roy turned to face Edward. "What?"

Edward turned his face away from Roy, but his voice conveyed his emotion clearly. "You don't care. Like I told you before, you don't care about how I feel." It sounded like his voice was starting to quiver. "You don't care how much this will hurt me or if my heart gets broken."

"No, it's not like that," Roy protested, placing his hands on Edward's bare skin. "I love you so much, I can't put it into words. This is just something that…"

"Roy, I'm just kidding," Edward said, turning around to reveal a smile. He placed a small kiss on Roy's lips to assure him. "But I understand what you mean." He placed his head on Roy's chest, the sound of his heartbeat filling Edward's mind. "I can't see anyway to tell Winry. I mean I love her but…"

"You don't love her as much as you love me."

Edward felt Roy's arms wrap around his shoulders as the general continued. "She was everything you wanted. You know that she would be the one. And you knew she felt the same way you did. Everything was perfect. But then that goddamn mission came along and put both of us in a situation that neither of us wanted to be in. And then, in some crazy way, we ended up falling in love. We don't know why and we don't know how. All we know is that now, things can't be the way they were before the mission.

"A few days ago, that would have scared the hell out of me. But now, I know that this is what I want. What we have right now is what I want for the rest of my life. I want to wake up beside you every morning. I want to kiss you anytime I want. I want to have you here for the rest of my life."

He pulled Edward closer to his body. He was almost afraid to release Edward from his grasp.

"Me too," Edward whispered. "I want everything you just said. Just seeing you a few times a week isn't working out."

"You know what? Hawkeye has a mission she's leaving for this afternoon. Why don't you come over around six and we can have an evening with just the two of us."

Edward looked into Roy's eyes. Those dark, beautiful eyes that had captivated him all those nights they were alone in that mountain country. "I'd like that," Edward said, his face overcome with joy. "I'd like that very much."

"Here," Roy said reaching into his pocket. "I want you to have this." He pulled a tiny key out and placed it into Edward's hand, a slight chill running through his palm.

"Think of this as a promise. A promise of how much I love you and that I would never hurt you."

Edward closed his had around the key and began to push lips against Roy's once again.


Edward smiled as he walked into house, one of his hands still clutching the key Roy gave him. He realized that he was smiling like a little girl with a schoolyard crush.

You've been smiling since you left Mustang's office. Edward's grin only broadened as he reminded himself of the evening he and Roy were planning.

"You're home early."

Edward looked in the kitchen. Alphonse was sitting at the table with his chin on his folded hands.

"Yeah. They just needed me for an…evaluation."

"Really…" Alphonse began to drum his fingers as his brother removed his jacket and hung it up beside the door. "What was the evaluation for?"

"Well," Edward began, sitting across the table from Alphonse. "You know the military. They're anal about how thorough procedures have to be."

Edward felt a twitch of confusion as brother rounded the corner of the table. "Who was there?"

"Uh…Hawkeye, Havoc, some random secretaries I've never met before…"

"Where there any drugs?"

"It's the military. Of course there were dru- Al, what the hell? It was just a simple, routine evaluation."

Alphonse leaned close to his brother's face. Edward felt heat rush to his cheeks. "Al…?" he asked uncertainly.

"I smell smoke on you, Brother," Alphonse concluded.

"Havoc smokes. I was with him, remember?"

"What was Havoc wearing?"

"A military uniform."

"Where did you meet?"

"Mustang's office."

"So you were with Mustang?"

"Yes. We were on the mission together."

"Where you two ever alone?"

"Christ, why are you interrogating me?"

"I'm not interrogating you!"

"Yes you are!" Edward slammed his hands on the table as he rose out of his chair. "FYI Al, I'm not a little kid! I'm perfectly capable of handling myself!"

"But I guess sometimes you need some help!"

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"Stop playing dumb, Edward!" Alphonse exclaimed, shoving his face into his brother's. "I know all about it!"

"All about what?"

"You and the General!"

Edward tried to maintain his composure. "I'll repeat myself. What the hell are you talking about?" When the hell did you find out?!

"I'm talking about you and the General. I saw the two of you together last night."

"Um…duh. He came over, so that would mean we would have been in the same room…together." It was difficult for Edward not to shout in anger at his brother for nosing into Edward's personal relationships.

"I mean afterward. You and Mustang were in the yard together."

"Is there a point to this?" Edward interjected. He wanted to end the conversation. His frustration was rising, which increased the risk of him saying something he would regret. Or worse, something that would hurt Roy.

"If you would shut up…" Alphonse drew in a shallow breath. "I saw you and the general…alone… "

"I never kissed Roy!"

Edward clapped his hand to his mouth. Oh shit!

"I never said anything about kissing, Brother," Alphonse stated, narrowing his eyes. "Where you?"

"No…" Edward squeaked.

"Stop lying, Edward!" Alphonse shouted. "This is serious! How could you even think about doing this to Winry?"

"Doing what? Mustang and I haven't done anything."

"Then explain what happened last night!"

"Nothing happened, Al!" Edward pushed himself out of his chair, shoving his face near Alphonse.

"Yes it did! You were standing in the yard macking on that…bastard!"

"Shut up! Don't you ever call him that again!"

"Why do you care? If you aren't doing anything with him, what does it matter?"

"Fine! I'm having a fucking relationship with Mustang!"

A tense hush fell over the brothers. Alphonse stumbled backwards, his gray eyes widening with shock. His hands slowly clenched into fists as his gaze fell to the floor.

"Al, listen," Edward said, reaching for his brother's shoulder.

"Don't touch me," Alphonse hissed, stepping further away from his brother.

"Al…"

"You lied. Not just to me, but to Winry too. All for some guy!"

"He's not 'some guy'," Edward retorted. "He's sweet and sincere. He genuinely cares about me."

"He obviously doesn't care that much if he's whoring himself out to another woman!"

SLAM!

Edward's left fist collided with Alphonse's check. The younger brother's back slammed into the cupboards beneath the sink. He ran the inside of his hand along his lip, a small streak of scarlet appearing on his index finger.

"Next time, keep your damn mouth shut," Edward said. He turned to leave the kitchen when a porcelain plate crashed against the side of his head.

"YOU BASTARD!" Alphonse screamed, rushing to his brother as he wound his fist back.

Edward pushed his brother's fist aside and slammed his own into Alphonse's other cheek.

"I HATE YOU!" Alphonse yelled, a stripe of blood dripping from his mouth.

"GOOD!" Edward shouted back. The brother's poised their hands for a third attack.

"What in the hell are you two doing?" Winry ran from the back door to the center of the fight, pushing the boys apart. "Seriously, what has gotten into you?"

"Why don't you ask your girlfriend?" Alphonse sneered.

"Shut up! You don't know anything!" Edward flailed against Winry's restraint.

"Oh, I don't? I can obviously see that you're a Bitch of the Military!"

"I'm going to fucking kill you!"

Winry pulled a wrench from her tool belt and slammed it against each of the brother's right temples. "Both of you, knock it off! Al, go upstairs. I want to speak with Edward alone."

Alphonse wiped the fresh blood off his forehead before flipping his brother the finger and storming up the stairs. Oh, that mature, Edward thought snidely.

"What was that all about?" Winry asked once Alphonse was out of sight.

Edward shrugged. "You know how kids are. He was just overreacting."

"Bullshit! Alphonse doesn't overreact. Now tell me, what was he talking about?"

Edward grabbed a towel from the counter and crossed to the sink on the other side of the kitchen. "Al was just saying that he saw me and Mustang together the other day."

"And?"

Edward turned the faucet handle, cool water cascading over his cut knuckles and soaking into the towel. "He said he saw Mustang and me doing something." He wiped the towel along his brow, pausing to hear Winry's respond.

"What was it?" Winry asked.

He knew that paused had incriminated him, but he only cared about protecting Roy. He knew that Winry would send her own hellfire and brimstone at the general if she thought any of this was his fault.

"Nothing…it was just nothing."

"Don't lie to me, Edward. What did Alphonse say you did?"

"Nothing. It's nothing," Edward insisted, wrapping his arms around Winry's elbows. "Don't you trust me?"

"Edward, I've known you since we were kids," Winry said, her arms reaching for his shoulders.

Thank God my girlfriend is dim…

"I've known you for too long," she pushed him away, "to trust you when you say 'trust me'."

"Winry, what the hell? Why wouldn't you trust me?" He reached for her arms again, but Winry stepped away from his grasp.

"I want you to look me in the eyes and tell me the truth."

"I am telling you the truth! What's it going take to prove that to you?"

"If you're not lying to me, why do you think you need to prove it?"

"It's not that I need to prove it," Edward said, his automail fingers curling into his metallic palm. "It's just that…"

"Just what, Ed? Tell me."

"Nothing ok? Just drop it."

"No! I won't drop it! I'm sick of you lying to me! I want you to tell me why you think it's necessary to lie!"

"Why are you so damn sure that I'm lying? Isn't part of being in a relationship trusting each other?"

"The other part of that is telling the truth! Letting the other person know when something is on your mind!"

"Nothing is on my mind, except wondering how to shut you up!"

"You want to shut me up? Tell me the truth!"

"You want the goddamn truth! Fine, I'm having an affair with Mustang!"

the couple stared at each other as Edward's confession echoed in the small kitchen.

Oh…

"Shit," Edward hissed.

"You're…you and Mustang…" Winry's eyes pooled with tears.

"Win…" Edward placed his hands around Winry's shoulders. He almost jumped when Winry's hands clenched around his wrist.

"Al was right. You really are a bitch of the military!"

"It's not like that, Winry. It was that stupid mission. We were just…um…well, it's complicated."

"How complicated can it be, Edward?" Winry demanded, her grip tightening. "What's in it for you? A promotion? A private mission with no strings? You always have a reason for these things! There's always a reason!"

"The only reason I'm doing this is because I love him." Edward felt her grip slowly loosen off his wrist. "My whole life has been founded in equivalent exchange. I have to give to get. But with him, I don't need to. He's given me so much and doesn't ask for anything in return." He lowered Winry into one of the chairs surrounding the table. "I know it doesn't make much sense, but that's the truth."

"No, Ed. What doesn't make sense to me is who you're really cheating on."

"Excuse me?" Edward asked.

"Whose the other person, Ed? Me or Mustang?"

"Winry, I love you."

"No! You can't love two people! You can love one and lust after the other, but you can't love two people! So tell me," she demanded, pushing herself out of the chair. "Who do you really love?"

"It's more complicated then that."

"Oh, I am so sick of hearing that from you! Either you love me or you love him! Which is it?"

"It's not that simple," Edward explained, his voice rising.

"Why not? Because you're gay now?"

"I don't know, Winry! I don't know."

"How can you not know? You're tonguing a guy, aren't you? Don't you think that qualifies as being gay?"

"Just shut up, okay? I need to think about this."

"What could you possibly need to think about? The best way to come out? Well, I've got to say, nothing says, 'I'm into guys' like cheating on your girlfriend with another man."

"Shut up."

"You know what, I'll even help you with this whole 'coming out deal'." She stormed to the window above the sick and pushed it open. She cupped her hands around her mouth and shouted, "My boyfriend is a fag!"

The only thing Edward remembered was getting to his feet and screaming, "SHUT UP!" He didn't remember pulling Winry from the window by her wrist. He had no recollection of bringing the back of his left hand across her face.

Winry didn't move; neither did Edward. What the hell…just happened? He released Winry's wrist and stumbled away. He watched as she slowly raised her fingers to the red hand that covered her cheek.

"Winry…" Edward said, extending his hand towards her.

"Don't touch me," she hissed, stepping away from Edward's reach. "Get out of my house."

"Winry, I'm sorry. Please, just gives me a chance…"

"GET THE HELL OUT OF MY HOUSE!" Winry screamed, drowning out any of Edward's protests.

Edward quickly ran to the door. As the door slammed behind him, tears cascaded down his face.

"What have I done?" For the first time in a long time, Edward Elric was terrified.