Summary: Roy is captured and tortured and Edward willingly offers to help Mustang to recover from his injuries but he never expected how close they'd grow in that time or the risk that Roy's captors were to his own life and to the lives of everyone he cares for.

Rating: M - Check each chapter for the individual warnings about what it contains.

Warning:

Chapter 7

The party was held in a huge hall a couple of weeks after Roy had gotten home. Hughes had booked the venue and set up a guard to ensure Edward and Roy's safety. Hawkeye had contacted him and told him about Roy's confession that the men wanted Edward for some reason and since he'd set up a guard around the Elric's apartment. He'd told the men and women to be subtle and to stay out of sight unless they had to defend the Elrics. Edward was observant though and had noticed them within the week. He'd stormed into Maes' office, demanding to know what the hell was going on. Maes didn't want to tell him that Roy had been tortured by men wanting information about him – he and Roy's team had agreed that Edward shouldn't have that knowledge. He was harbouring enough guilt without that too, so Maes told him that he'd set up a guard to ensure that the brothers were safe. It wouldn't be unheard of for someone to go after Edward because he was the reason that they'd found Roy. He'd managed to trace them down to the exact building and had gotten Roy out. That could have angered someone.

Edward was as predictable as always. He snapped about he was not a child and argued that he could handle himself. That he didn't need protected and Maes was wasting resources that should be spent on ensuring that Roy was safe. Edward only accepted the help when Maes convinced him to leave it as it was for Al's sake when Ed was in the office. It was a reluctant acceptance, but it was one that Maes was happy to allow.

It had been the day before the party that Edward had found out the truth when he overheard Riza and Maes talking. He heard them say that Roy was certain that Edward needed the guard more. He'd had demanded to know what the hell they were talking about but neither of them told him and as higher ranking officers than him they had no reason to tell him anything that they didn't want to tell him. He shook his head and left early, wanting to barge into Roy's house and demand answers but he forced himself to calm down. He spent the rest of the day in the library, forcing himself to push the anger from his mind. What the hell was Roy playing at?

Ed followed his brother into the hall, suddenly thankful that Al had talked him into wearing the suit. This wasn't what he'd been expecting. It was massive and spectacular. There was a crystal chandeliers and marble arches and pillars. There was a grand piano, and the musician sat at it was playing a gentle lazy song. Ed was awestruck by it all and was unaware of the presence at his side until it spoke.

"Funded by the military." A female voice told him and Edward looked to his side and was further awestruck by Hawkeye at his side. He'd very rarely seen Riza off duty and when he had she was dressed in comfortable clothing, but there was nothing comfortable about the backless dress she now wore. There was a slit up the leg and it was low cut enough to show just a hint of cleavage. The neckline was covered in silver lace and Riza had her hair hanging down around her shoulders. Her arm was wrapped around Havoc's arm who was grinning ear to ear in a simple tuxedo with the jacket unfastened. It was common knowledge that the two of them close, but Edward was wondering just how close the two Lieutenants were.

" Wow, Lieutenant! You look amazing." Al exclaimed from Ed's other side and the older brother just mutely nodded his agreement. "This place is huge, how can the military justify this? It must have cost a fortune." Al said, looking around the room. The brothers followed Jean and Riza to the bar and it was just as the drinks were handed over that Edward noticed Riza wave at someone who just came in. Edward looked over his shoulder and he could have swore that his heart skipped a beat and he wasn't sure if it was from attraction or despair. Roy was the person that Riza had waved to. He was also wearing a suit like Ed himself, but unlike Ed and Jean's white shirts, Roy's shirt was red to match the dress of his date. The woman hanging off of Roy's arm was gorgeous. Tall and blonde, the woman was slim with slight curves. The dress was red and the back was white lace with a trail of red roses running from her shoulder, across her back and brushing her waist before the faded into the fabric that hugged her hips.

Edward felt sick watching them as they made their way across the room, and so he turned back to the bar and taking a long drink from his glass. The alcohol was bitter and burned his throat as he swallowed it but he kind of liked the burning sensation. It warmed his stomach and helped to distract his senses from Roy and his date.

"I never thought I'd see the day that Fullmetal was in a suit." Roy's smooth voice said from behind him. Roy must have moved to his side because Edward could feel the warmth radiate from him. His palms were sweating and his mouth felt dry, his tongue was too thick and heavy to belong in his mouth. He was on edge and he knew that it would be obvious. He cast a glare at Roy and then cocked an eyebrow. "Yeah, I guess there's hope for us all." He muttered, sarcasm dripping from his words. The small group around him laughed, Roy included. As Roy leant closer to the bar to order a round for him and the blonde, the woman turned to him, placing a friendly hand on his arm. "You're the Fullmetal Alchemist?" She asked him. He nodded at her, taking another drink. "You're not what I expected. You're so..."

"Short?" Ed muttered, interrupting her, only just keeping his anger at bay. He hadn't had this problem in a while, but then he was well known around Central now so people – other than those intentionally winding him up – rarely called him short or questioned who he was.

"No. Young." She said softly. She turned back to Roy then with a soft murmur of thanks as she took a drink from him, easily falling into conversation with Riza and Jean. Edward hated her all the more. Not only was she gorgeous, but she was nice and apparently easy to get along with. His jealousy was going to eat him alive standing where he was so he quietly excused himself and moved from them.

Ed wandered aimlessly around the room for a short time before hearing his name. He looked up and moved to Hughes, who was sitting at the side of his wife and an older, bigger woman. The unknown woman was similar somehow, as if he'd seen her before, but he couldn't put his finger on why that was. Maes beckoned for him to approach them, and seeing as he had nothing better to do, Edward went to them, dropping into an empty seat and taking a drink from the glass in his hand. He planned to get drunk and maybe take some girl home. He didn't want to sit about and watch Roy with his date.

"Hi Ed, how are you? This is Chris Mustang, I don't believe you've met." Hughes said, indicating the woman that was sat on his opposite side of Gracia. Ed narrowed his eyes slightly at the woman in confusion. Mustang? That was how she looked familiar.

"Mustang?" Ed said, glancing across the room at Roy. He was able to find the other man without any difficulty. Whether Roy went he was the centre of attention – if he wanted it or not. This party was for him, to celebrate that he was still with them, and that he was able to return to work. He was surrounded by wellwishers and admirers. His gorgeous date was still hanging from his arm and his hand covered the one of hers that rested on his arm. It was a simple gesture that spoke volumes of compassion for the woman. Maybe it was an act, or maybe she was significant in his life. Ed couldn't tell, how many woman had he done this with?+

"Yes. Roy is my foster son." The woman said, grabbing Edward's attention again, but not before he noticed Hawkeye. She was standing near Roy laughing with Havoc, but it was clear that she was tense. Edward had no doubt that she had a gun with her somewhere, but he didn't understand her tension. Was she expecting someone to attack Roy here? He shook the thought from his head, turning back to the woman.

"His foster mother?" Ed asked, frowning. So they weren't related? "He doesn't talk of you much." He said simply. He didn't even know that Roy didn't have his parents. It made him curious. What happened? Had Roy known them? Chris nodded, glancing over at the general with the hint of a fond smile.

"I'm his aunt really. My brother and his wife died when Roy was very young, so I took him in." The woman explained. "He wouldn't talk about me much. Roy likes to try and keep his professional and personal lives separate. The less the military knows of him the less they can use against him." She said, laughing at Ed's slightly confused look.

"His ambitions make him a threat to those that are higher up." Hughes explained. "Its not unknown of the military to kill off some of their own that get too ambitious. We've expected someone to take notice and dislike Roy's motivation and ideas for some time now." He continued to explain. Edward scowled down at the table and took another drink.

"Just one more reason to hate the army." He muttered to himself, glancing back at Roy. He was so breathtaking. The thought of someone putting an end to that was an idea so abstract and absurd that he almost couldn't believe it. This was Roy Mustang. Nobody would kill him. It was then that a thought struck Edward though and he looked back at Hughes. "That's not why he was taken though." He said, glaring when his observation was met with silence that screamed about how Maes already knew that wasn't the reason Roy had been taken and tortured. "You knew that? Does he?" Ed demanded, trying to stifle the first sharp spark of anger as it flared. "Hughes, why was he tortured? What information did they want?"

The look that Hughes gave him only fuelled his rising anger. He didn't need to speak, Ed already had an idea. Roy was taken, not because of his own ambitions and motivations, but because whoever was behind it wanted answers. Since Roy had gotten home, a guard around his house had been set up, and not long after that one had also appeared around his and Al's apartment. Whoever hurt Roy wanted answers about him, or his brother. Ed shut his eyes against the guilt. All of this had been his fault, much more than he already knew. "Excuse me." He muttered, standing and turning his back to them, his drink forgotten about on the table.

He was vaguely aware of Hughes calling out to him as he left the table, but nobody came after him. He felt sick and he had to push his way through the crowded dance floor to reach the french doors that led to the large porch. It was wet outside, but no longer raining - although the air was still thick with the threat of a coming storm. It was his fault. All of it was his fault, all of Roy's injuries were because of him. Because he'd behaved like a child and didn't take his report in. Because he was in the military and had clearly pissed someone off.

"It was Edward, right?" A woman asked him, making him spin around to face her. It was Roy's date. He hadn't caught her name. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." Ed didn't mean to snap at her, but he did. He sighed and ran a hand over his braid before turning away from the woman to look out over the gardens at the dull and miserable scene before him. Central was never dark, the city had too many lights to allow it to be dark, but with the thick, ominous cloud looming over them all, the city was dull and sullen under its threat.

"Are you sure? You look very pale?" The woman asked softly, moving to his side and seemingly unfazed by his harshness towards her. "Do you want some water or something? Maybe you should sit down?" Ed glanced at her, about to tell her to just leave him alone, that he was fine, when he caught movement out of the corner of his eye and cast a glance at the doors just as they opened. Roy stepped out, concern flashing across his face as he glanced at Ed before he moved to the woman's side and took her arm gently."Elizabeth, you'll get a chill out here. Why don't you head back in?" Ed heard him say softly as he turned his back to them both and wandered across the porch to the steps leading down to the grass. He tuned their mumblings out, still battling with the guilt that made him sick and the anger that Roy hadn't told him.

After a moment the sound of retreating heels met his ears and it was only after the sound of the door closing that Roy then spoke. "Maes told me that you've figured things out." He said simply, and Ed clenched his hands in fists at his side. He was at risk and Roy and Maes hadn't told him. Did the rest of Mustang's men know? How could he keep something like this from him? Something this important. "Ed, we need to talk." Roy said, and Edward heard him move closer. He turned around and shot the man a glare, who had stopped at the top of the stairs.

"How could you?" Ed snapped. "I need to know shit like this, Mustang. If someone wants me dead, then I need to know! What if they'd went for Al to get to me? You put my brother in danger, and you put me in danger by keeping this from me. Why?" He stopped once he realised that he was shouting. He marched back up the steps, forcing Roy to take a step back and glared at him. "Why?"

Roy lowered his gaze, running a hand through his hair and messing it from its neat style. Edward also didn't miss the flash of guilt in Roy's eyes but didn't have time to question it. "I shouldn't have hid it from you. In hindsight that was wrong of me, but you were already blaming yourself, I didn't want you to add more guilt to that by thinking what happened was your fault." Roy explained, looking back up at Ed. "You would know of any threat to you or your brother the moment it appeared, I was just trying to save you unnecessary pain, Ed."

"That's not your fucking decision to make, Mustang!" Edward shouted at him, shaking his head, turning away from the pained look that Roy had given him. His stomach twisted with guilt and anger and he wanted to hit Roy for so many reasons that it made his head spin. "You should have told me. If my life is in danger, I should be fucking informed of that. Why is this different from all those times you sent me off after some mad alchemist?" Ed snapped, glaring at his commanding officer. He hated how attractive Roy looked in that moment. His skin was slightly flushed from the chill in the air and his dark eyes were almost hidden under messed black hair. His suit begged to be taken off and with the top few shirt buttons undone there was a hint of what lay under those few layers of cloth.

"They don't just want you dead, Edward." Mustang muttered after a moment, looking up at Ed from the ground and by the look in his eyes, Edward knew that he wasn't going to get any more information. His anger still flared in his gut and for the moment was dousing any guilt he harboured.

"What the hell do you mean by that?" Edward snapped, refusing to back down despite the look Roy had given him. "What else do they want?" He demanded, but still only received a pleading look. He scowled at Roy, turning his back and moving back down the stairs, swatting Roy's hand away angrily when the older man reached out to him.

"Edward! Where the hell are you going?" Roy called out after him, following him down the steps into the damp grass, moving closer and taking his wrist firmly. "Stop. I know you're angry but you're still at risk, Ed. You can't just storm off."

Ed pushed Roy off of him, shooting him a glare. "You're difficult to be around at the best of times, but right now I can't stand to be near you." He all but growled at his commanding officer. "I'm not going back in there where everyone is lying to me and my brother." Ed muttered, clenching his hands again at his sides when Roy flashed him a confused look.

"What do you mean I'm difficult to be around. It was you that chose to spend so much time with me lately, and you've seemed fine with that." Roy questioned him, shaking his head slightly. He didn't miss the blush that spread across Edward's cheeks but he didn't mention it, too wrapped up in trying to figure out what it meant. "What's bothering you, Edward?"

"You are!" Ed snapped, taking a step back from Roy with a groan. "You're bothering me, and don't bother to play stupid either. You must have noticed the signs, you've had enough people want you, how could you possibly miss them." He muttered, glaring defiantly at Roy, who was stunned into silence at the implication behind Ed's words. "So yeah, you're bothering me. I can't fucking sleep without thinking about you, and at the office there are constant reminders of you. Its driving me mad, so just piss off!" Ed then turned away from Roy and walked away. When he had gotten far enough away that he was able to disappear without anyone being able to follow him, he did so, making his way back into the city towards his apartment.

Roy stood in the grass, stunned. He hadn't noticed any signs that Ed wanted him, but then he'd been so wrapped up in his own feelings for Ed, and the aftermath of his torture that he hadn't focused on anybody long enough to pick up on the things that weren't being said. When Roy had shoved the thought to the side for the moment, Ed had gone. Cursing under his breath, Roy turned and moved inside. He'd get Al and his men and they'd hunt Ed down. He wasn't safe out in the dark on his own. Roy didn't know fully what these men wanted with Ed, but he knew that it wasn't good.