A/N: This was started on Christmas… And well, it pretty much speaks for itself. Happy holidays everyone and have a happy new year! 2010 man! Awesome!
Garland and Mistletoe.
It was late on the night of December 24th and most everyone in Central was asleep, children curled in bed dreaming lightly about the gifts that Santa Claus would leave in their living rooms for when they awoke. Two drunk men walked down the side walk, the smaller of the two swaying more than the other. The taller man held onto the other, pulling him away from walking straight into lamp posts that flickered sickly yellow light on the snow that coated the area.
"I really cannot believe that you out drank Havoc." Hughes slapped Mustang lightly on the shoulder, sending him tipping over slightly.
"I can't believe that you didn't fucking stop me after seven shots." The Colonel slurred angrily while placing a hand to his head.
"Well, I figured you'd be okay to at least get back to my place. You're lucky that Gracia took Elicia to her parents' house for the night. They won't be back until late afternoon tomorrow so that hang over of yours better be gone by then." Hughes received a low grunt from Mustang before they turned to walk up the front stairs of Maes' apartment complex. The stairs were a task in itself with the smaller man half pulling himself up the stairs with the railing and half leaning on the other who was making his way up the stairs with little difficulty. "You hold your liquor like a woman, Roy."
"I swear to God, Hughes…" He snapped as they reached the top of the stairs and Hughes led him to the apartment door. After a quick laugh and a shove, the door was closed behind them and they were both within the heated room of Hughes' apartment. Roy squinted as the lights were flipped on; they shined blindingly on the masses of Christmas decorations that were tacked up all over the house. Garland of red and green hung from the crown molding of the walls and three over-sized stockings littered the area with glitter that fell lazily off the names that were written on them. Maes' and Gracia's were bright red with their names written in perfect cursive on the white fluffy edge of the top. However, his eyes were specifically drawn to Elicia's stocking which was neon pink with a princess crown on it. The color almost made Roy sick.
On the other side of the room, a rather large tree stood with bright white lights, silver tinsel, and a multitude of ornaments. The alchemist's eyes stung even more when he scanned the tree over, positive that no flame that he would ever produce would match the brightness that the Hughes family's home contained around Christmas.
"You like all the decorations? Eli-"
"Elicia helped me hang everything! Isn't she wonderful!?" Roy said in a mocking tone before plopping down on the couch, covering his eyes with one hand. "I'm going to throw up."
"That's the Christmas spirit!" Earning another glare, the Colonel picked himself up and shuffled to the bathroom, the door slamming behind him leaving the other with nothing but an echo. A few of the neatly stacked presents from "Santa" fell out of place from under the tree, forcing Hughes to crouch down and pick them up and re-sculpt them into their perfect form. A few minutes later, Mustang emerged looking even more pale than usual as Hughes looked at him and laughed a bit. "And there goes your Christmas spirit."
Leaning against the door frame, Roy felt the contents of his stomach shift again as he slid down the door frame to sit on the floor. He rested his head against the wall and let out a soft moan which caused Hughes to frown. Moving to the kitchen, he wet a few towels and made his way down the hallway and crouched by the smaller man.
"I guess I really should have stopped you…" He said with a bit of guilt present in his voice. Mustang merely glared, only to shove Hughes out of the way in order to get back to the toilet to expel the remainder of the stinging alcohol from his stomach. After a moment or two, Roy sat holding his sides while breathing heavily and shaking. Maes moved over to him and pressed one of the cool rags to his forehead, wiping the other over his face to remove the cold sweat that he had broken out in. A hand clasped over Hughes' as tired eyes finally lifted to meet his. He said nothing and dropped his head back down as the taller man stood up and opened the bathroom vanity mirror, grasping the new bottle of mouth wash Gracia had bought him a few days prior. Happy with the find, he closed the mirror and sat back down, pouring some of the minty liquid in the cap and holding out. It was graciously accepted and in a few moments, the toilet flushed and Mustang was trying to stand up. "Wait a minute, after all that you can't get up on your own."
"Y-yes I can." Roy protested, holding the bathroom counter as his knees shook a bit. Hughes pulled him up the rest of the way and slung an arm around Mustang's small waist in order to keep him up.
"I think you'd better lay down." Maes suggested moving the two of them forward and towards his room. The hallway was not nearly as decorated as the living room and dining room were; which shocked Roy, he had to admit. He was, however, grateful that his eyes got a rest from the nauseating colors and just allowed himself be pulled along by Hughes to the bed room. The door pushed open with ease to reveal a dark room with various decorations hung periodically in the room. The last few feet seemed to be the worst as Hughes managed to push Mustang into the bed, leaving him only for a moment to retrieve new wet rags. He placed one on his forehead and put the other in a bowl of water on the nightstand for if Roy needed it.
"This is definitely not how I wanted to spend Christmas. Sick… Not in my own bed—" The alchemist huffed while looking up at the ceiling at where garland and mistletoe hung tastefully over the bed. "—And the only person that I get stuck under the mistletoe with is you." Hughes looked confused until the sick man pointed up with a tired finger. Adjusting his glasses only slightly, Maes looked up to see that there was indeed mistletoe above them which caused a smile to blossom on his face.
"Well, it's not all that bad."
"…No, I'm pretty sure it is." Roy smirked slightly. There was a bit of a silence between them as Hughes leaned down and kissed Mustang on the lips lightly and sweetly. When he pulled back, the Flame alchemist had a look of mortification on his face which made the other grin wider. The taste of mint lingered on his lips as he sat on the edge of the bed, a devious smile lighting up the dark room as Roy touched his fingers to his own lips.
"M-Maes…" He mumbled out quietly. Hughes looked at Mustang without a hint of regret in his eyes which surprised Roy more than anything. It seemed like a few minutes had passed before the Colonel slowly took a fist full of the front of Hughes' shirt and pulled him down on top of him and back onto his own lips. He flung his arms around the larger man's shoulders as the cold rag that hung on his forehead slid to the floor with a dull 'plop.' Maes' hands were tangled within his raven hair for several minutes before one made its way down to start to unbutton the first few buttons of Roy's shirt. The alchemist pulled back suddenly, completely out of breath, and stared back at the man above him whose glasses were now shifted at an awkward angle on his nose. "Maes, wait, we can't."
"Gracia won't be back until tomorrow…" Hughes responded irresponsibly while pushing his lips back to Mustang's. Roy put his palm up to intercept the kiss and turned his head, leaving a very puzzled and slightly annoyed Hughes. "Roy, I promise she won't be back. She's had these plans for wee-"
"Maes, I'm going to throw up. Get off of me." No sooner had Mustang uttered these words, Maes found himself on the floor rubbing his head as the Colonel stumbled out of the door to the bathroom.