A/N: Mornin'! I know it's a veeery late update, and I'm so sorry for keeping you wait! I had such a busy time... I have so much to do, so many projects... whatever, I doubt anyone cares about my program... XD.

I hope there aren't too many mistakes in here, as I wrote it in the middle of the night, and that you'll enjoy this chapter even for a bit... it'd be great. Warnings - graphic stuff, some hints of violence, not too much plot development and some interaction between characters. Tell what you think! Reviews are welcomed!

I forgot - it all happens two months after the previous chapter.

On with the show...


Chapter 8 – A Good Day to Be Born

Edward Elric woke up in complete darkness, something large blocking his view. He poked at it with his finger, feeling warmth spreading over the tip. After brief examination, he discovered it was a hand resting limply on his face. He tried to get rid of the annoying member, but he could not move. He attempted to lift his automail arm to brush off the obstacle as far away as possible from his head, but in vain. He was caged.

On top of him, covering him entirely, a totally wasted Roy Mustang slept peacefully. After lots of struggling, the younger alchemist managed to shove the other man off of him, but the latter had his arms tangled around his waist. From the warm and comfortable bed, the two landed on the cold floor. Roy fell on his chest like some dead weight, kicking the air out of Ed's lungs. He winced in pain, as the elder was not exactly the lightest person. He started shouting in Roy's ear. "BASTARD, WAKE UP, DAMMIT! WAKE UP!"

Groggily, the higher ranked officer opened his shallow obsidian eyes and blinked a few times. He smiled sheepishly and blew off some of his long black locks from his pale face. "Mornin', Ed... no need to shout...," he mumbled, the grin on his face never leaving his tired features. He liked seeing the slightly tanned complex of his lover in the morning, he could not get enough of it.

"Bah, get off of me and then I will stop shouting, idiot! OFF, NOW!" the blond yelled again.

"Yeah, yeah." Roy rolled off Fullmetal. He stood still for a second and considered his surroundings. He blinked again. "Err... Ed, why are we on the floor?" he asked surprised.

The teen sighed and stood up. He rubbed his forehead and plopped on the soft bed. He ached everywhere and he was only dressed in an oversized shirt, definitely not his. He hoped it was Roy's, because if it was not... then that was a different story. "Man, I swear I am never going out with you for a drink ever again...," he vowed half-heartedly. His head ached too badly to be any more vehement.

It sounded like a great idea to try the newest pub in Central. Neither of them thought they would meet with some of Roy's old pals and drown a few too many glasses, playing poker. True, the General made a small fortune at the game, but they still should not have drunk so much. And they drank a lot, considering that Roy was reputed for his alcohol resistance. Ed never understood why he had to try to match him, he was far easier to be knocked out than the other.

In an almost magical way, the two alchemists arrived home sometime in the morning, completely wasted. They stumbled up the stairs in Mustang's house, making out hard and not really realising what was happening. Things led to another and that was pretty much how they got in the all too familiar room, not too far from being stark naked.

In the past two months, Roy's unjustifiably spacious mansion became Edward's residence as well, though he would not admit it for all the money in the world - not like he cared about them, but he still needed them to live a decent life. He always found a reason to spend as much time as possible there, to be part of Roy's slowly lighting up life. It was not as if he did not have a place to stay, but he felt good in the other's company. It was almost like an annoying addiction he couldn't get rid of. Yet he didn't want it to stop.

After the more or less disastrous accident not too long ago, when the two state alchemists slept together out of impulsivity, they finally came around and considered themselves some sort of dysfunctional couple. No one knew about them besides Madame Christmas, who didn't need to be told anything because she could sense everything about her adoptive son, and Riza Hawkeye, to whom the General had to explain for an entire day why he was on top of his subordinate, in the office, in the middle of a working day. It was a difficult feat, but after that, the Lieutenant proved herself rather supportive, as long as he did not skip his duties to molest their colleague. In addition, the team was starting to sniff them off and their usual stationary telephonist, Miss Carol, asked Roy why he was staring at Ed's bottom while he was making a call from the telephone room. Neither was problematic to their safety as officers. But more people knowing, that would be a serious issue.

Still a little dizzy from the hangover, Ed walked to the large window covered in heavy curtains and opened it. Outside, a cold winter wind blew fiercely, waking him up from his condition. He put his mismatched hands on the sill, warmed by the heater below, and watched calmly the still street in front of his eyes. The sun was not shining as brilliantly as it used to and the air smelled like snow. It was the beginning of December and the weather never missed a moment to show it. Yet it was still not snowing.

From the carpet, Roy watched him intently. A hidden fondness could be read in his eyes and it was all for the young man in front of him. During the short time they've spent together after the night he had imprudently jumped on his subordinate, he rediscovered what a delightful person Edward was. It was quite ironic, really, to lose to him. He was never supposed to fall for someone in his path to the top as it was too dangerous and most likely a nuisance in the great scheme of things, but he couldn't help it. He was going to protect Ed no matter what.

He knew for certain his feelings were returned, despite the fact that the short man referred from showing any affection. Who would have wasted his time with an insomniac and mildly depressive pyromaniac if there was nothing more involved? And, knowing the great alchemist, he did not have any ulterior motives. It was not like him.

Smirking, Roy stepped feathery behind the daydreaming blond and hugged his slim waist. The latter jumped in surprise, but those abnormally cold, yet so nice to touch long fingers soothed him back to his place. Edward turned his head and looked in the dark pools which fixed his golden ones. He could melt on the spot, no matter how glacial the weather was. He smiled and asked, "What do you want, bastard?"

Not paying too much attention to the question, the General continued to look through him at the world outside the warm bedroom. Old memories started to reopen the never fading wounds, carved deep in his whole existence.

It made Mustang weary. In over two months, he had not heard anything about his beloved Uncle. It was like the man had disappeared into thin air or evaporated somewhere. He knew better than to relax, that was for sure. He had learnt from the previous mistakes, not like the others. It was too similar to his parents' death scenario, the calm before the storm. He didn't want the history to repeat itself, that was why he fought to become strong and powerful. To protect the ones he cared about.

Sensing the sorrowful expression on the usually easy-going features of his lover's face, Edward softened. "Is everything alright, Roy?"

The man in question lowered his eyes. Those depthless orbs returned to their hurtful coldness, that ancestral sadness Ed hoped he would never get to see again. Breaking the visual contact, Roy moved his gaze back to the opened window.

Idly, he muttered more to himself than anyone else, "It is going to snow soon..."

XXXXX

Olivier Mira Armstrong stared at her long sabre. A most wonderful sword, a true masterpiece passed down the family line for generations. She chuckled at the cliché her family was so proud of. 'What a bunch of conceited hardheads...' She stroked the leather scabbard fondly and put it back next to her.

She laid sprawled on her bed, too small for two persons but too big for one. She did not occupy much space, as she liked sleeping curved up in a ball, but the few arms she slept with took a lot of space. Of course, it was so not strange to sleep with deathly weapons next to you.

No wonder everyone considered her a bit paranoid.

The Major General made sure to never allow any personnel in her bedroom, as her surreal image of a strict and dignified officer would be blown after a single second inside. The room was not that small, but the heavy furniture and tons of books scattered all over the place cut a lot of the available space. It was a complete mess, to put it plainly. Everything was everywhere, though one thing was for sure – the way they were thrown around made some sense in her head. In their own twisted logic, the objects were grouped on not very well defined categories. Even her personal desk looked like after a tornado. Pencils, pens, nail polish she used when she had to go to Central and some strangely shaped things were buried under papers. Only her uniform was hanged neatly on a tall closet. At least she showed a little respect to the etiquette.

Like her brother, Olivier liked drawing in her spare time and scotched many of her doodles on the walls. She enjoyed drawing the people she encountered or the buildings that caught her eye. Next to the drawings, she nailed her family's portrait, on top of every member being written their specific name. Not like she would ever forget their names, but she saw them so rarely... it felt good to see the small letters reading Philip Gargantos, Olympe, Amue, Strongine, Alex Louis and Catherine Elle. She was between her father and her only brother and held her youngest sister's hand in hers. The cadet of the illustrious family was on Alex's shoulders and she was smiling happily. So was she, under the sparkling vanity everyone held up to the sky. Everyone in the photograph was grinning to the camera and it felt so far away. The officer hated admitting, but she loved her parents, her brother and three sisters. She missed everyone... the great Ice Queen was not as icy as she wanted to be.

It was still early in the morning and the woman didn't feel like getting out of her warm beddings. Not to mention that the mornings in Briggs sucked big time, without being overly pretentious. It was cold below freezing, the barren floor was covered in a thin layer of ice, the carpets were moist and the air was chilly, even that sorry excuse of a coffee they made at the fort was cold. She definitely needed to get a kettle and a burner in her room. It was horrible to start the day with that pitiful dark liquid, warm enough to lick it like ice cream.

She stretched and yawned abruptly. She was not the morning type, she enjoyed staying up late and waking up at noon. Of course, that was virtually impossible as the commanding officer of the most important fort in Amestris, but really, a girl could dream. She turned her eyes to the mechanical clock on the nightstand. It read quarter to four o'clock, far earlier than the general wake up call. So much for sleeping till noon, not even the sun was up.

The cushioned door of her messy bedroom opened slowly and a dark silhouette slipped in silently, a fragrance of freshly brewed coffee soon following. The commander instinctively grabbed her trusted sword, but let go of it when she distinguished the intruder. "Why are you already awake, Olivier? It is still early," a mild voice spoke.

"Seems the time you've spend in the East made you forget my schedule, Miles. It is never too early in here," she replied with an eerie smile. She kind of forgot how to do it properly, it hurt her cheeks.

The quarter Ishbalan soldier shook his head. "Sure," he chuckled.

"Are you mocking me, Major?" Armstrong rolled on her stomach and narrowed her light blue eyes. She was greeted by crimson red orbs, clearly showing sarcasm. "Never! I wouldn't dare to, not as long as you sleep with a sword next to you and a pistol under your pillow." He pointed to the hidden fire weapon. "Who knows what else you are hiding under that cover!"

"Well, old habits die hard," she stated proudly. She didn't know what she was so proud of. It must have been a family trait.

"Of course," Miles agreed, curving his thin lips. He seated next to her and offered a large mug of coffee. "No milk and lots of sugar, like you like it."

"Wasn't it too early for me to wake up?" she made, but accepted the cup nonetheless. "Thanks for remembering how I take my coffee."

"How could I possibly forget your morning routine after all these years? Do not belittle me, dear," the man said bluntly, if not a little insulted. Olivier snorted and looked down at the deep blue mug. She smelled it like a dog would. "Mm," she hummed. Damn, that sinful miasma one would die for! Not her, of course, as she was not that altruistic - or stupid if it came to that - of a person to die for another's pleasure, but she could find some idiots who couldn't refuse her.

After two long minutes of watching the Major General inhaling the hot steam, Miles shook her off her trance. "It will get cold if you keep sniffing it. It would be a waste after I've carried it around half of the country."

"You're such a joy killer." Olivier narrowed her eyes and took a sip. She was suddenly hit with the eye-watering sweetness of the sugar and the bitterness of the coffee. Many would have cringed at the combination, but that was one divine taste to her. Why didn't they have any decent coffee up North? Well, it was not like they were in the middle of nowhere. 'Genius, that's reason enough,' she scolded herself.

"How come you were able to visit our humble fort this soon?" she asked curiously. She made more space on the bed to allow the taciturn man to lay down next her. His skin was darker than she remembered it, the sun bathed it plenty in Ishbal. He placed his head on the spare pillow and answered thoughtfully, "I don't know what is so humble around here, but-"

The woman slapped him over the chest. "My answer, not flattery."

"Alright, alright!" Miles chuckled mirthfully. "I had some free time and I've asked for permission to visit my former comrades. Scar is taking care of my job while I'm away, so I will find everything in order when I come back. The man is a diligent worker, really. Never thought we'd have such a good collaboration," he explained as he played with the overflowing strands of long blonde hair that tickled his face.

"Aha," she made. After a pause, she commented, "Sure, to visit former comrades."

Sensing the double meaning from far away, he defended himself, "That is what I am doing, right? We worked together, so you are my comrade, too."

"It sounds wrong but whatever, you should bring coffee more often. By the way, by whose authority did you get the whole month off? I've heard of such permissions before."

"That nice Flame of yours reported he needed me in a very urgent matter up here, of course. You see, he is a busy man and required all over the country, he cannot be everywhere at the same time."

"Why, obviously." Armstrong smirked. Sly indeed, this Mustang...

Roy was one of the very few who knew about her darkest and most confidential secrets. Despite the apparent - no, blatant - discrepancies between them, Roy and Olivier were very good friends who shared their pain and joy. He knew about the highly condemnable relationship the woman had with her adjuvant and he made sure to send Miles in 'very urgent matters at Fort Briggs' as frequently as possible so the two could spend some time together. Roy was managing the 'Ishbalan policy', was he not? He had fooled everybody and advanced ranks faster than normal, he could allow some little slips to his supporting peers from time to time.

"I will remember to thank him. By the way, my parents have been bothering me to come to Central and spend the holidays with them. Though I don't know if my men will handle things in here." 'Survive at its fittest... I have the best soldiers and I still have doubts?' Olivier thought. Turning her eyes to her dearest, she answered her own question, "Yeah, they will."

Miles smiled and kissed her forehead with light amusement.

XXXXX

Roy cracked some eggs and watched them fry in the pan. The oil was bubbling fervently around the perfectly round yolk. So soft and yellow, nearly golden. 'It looks like his hair... Don't be so sappy, stupid,' he scolded himself.

For some unknown reason, he was often finding himself associating things to his younger lover, who was currently fighting with his entangled hair in the bathroom. The fumbling from the previous night messed his long locks.

Edward finished with his hair and went downstairs to the kitchen. It smelled wonderfully of bacon and omelette. He sneaked behind the alchemist and jumped on his back. Surprised, the man almost snapped his fingers. No matter how hard he tried, it was impossible for him to forget the habits he had gained during the war. His reflexes had kept him alive. Being able to perform alchemy without a circle truly didn't come in hand in times such as this, when he was acting on instinct indoors.

Catching his hand before setting the kitchen on fire, Edward exclaimed, "Hold your horses, Mustang!"

Realising who had scared him, Roy turned on his heels and caught the playful teen in his arms. "Horses? Haha, nicely put, Edward... How funny you are sometimes, are you alright?" He kissed his lips and released him. "Let me finish breakfast. You have orange juice on the table." After a pause, he added, "Does your head hurt?"

"Fortunately, no! Seems I've gotten used to hangovers after spending so much time with you," Edward retorted casually.

"Are you making me a drunkard?" Roy questioned as he put the food on the plates and cut a slice of apple pie for each. What a good idea to practice his baking skills last night! Not that he remembered doing so, but it seemed like every time they drunk more than they ought to, they baked cakes or made sweets. It was almost magical.

"No, I'm just stating facts. If you consider yourself one, I'm not stopping you."

Fullmetal sat on a chair and began eating. They ate changing some idle chat from time to time. They were too hungry to talk. The first to finish was Roy. He snapped his fingers and lit up the gas cooker. He gingerly placed the coffee jug on the smallest ring and left it there to boil. He took his own plates and washed them. The water on his cold hands felt wonderfully warm. It was like-

He could have found a few things it resembled, but the phone started ringing loudly.

'Who the hell invented telephones?' Roy cursed and walked to the annoying apparel in the living room. He picked the receiver up and put it to his ear. "Mustang."

"Long time no hearing, love," a deep yet feminine voice spoke. The raven soldier wanted to burst into laughter, but he had the decency to keep just a light tint of irony in his tone. "Mirabelle, my sweetheart!" he said overzealously.

"Sweetie, how are you... I missed you so much! Do you know how hard it is for me to be without you?" Olivier lied with ease. Like hell she'd missed him.

Miles was still with her and could hear the conversation clearly. He curved his lips and leaned closer to Olivier in order to catch the Flame's words.

"You don't know how hard it is for me too! My life is pointless without you... your light is no longer following my footsteps and it is getting lonely... It's so difficult," the alchemist whispered tenderly.

'So cheap, Roy, so cheap,' he thought, holding back the urge to laugh at how the Major General sounded uttering her reply. He knew the repertoire all too well, but it never failed to amuse him.

"The days are so cold without you... only your warmth can sooth my broken heart. Your dark eyes that used to watch me get up and walk forward, giving me a reason... I want to see them again and make sure you were real and not only my imagination," the female retorted to the blank compliments. She smiled widely and looked at Miles, who wore a similarly amused face.

It was so much fun talking like that, no wonder why Roy used that technique to communicate with his allies. She could say so much without having to actually pronounce her intentions. She could fool around for a bit. It was in fact the only reason why she called Mustang that morning. And to announce her impending visit, because her mother had taught her to be civilised.

"How I wish I could see your lovely face, so angelic and pure, to live once again that faraway dream we had too long ago, when I had you in my arms. To touch that milky skin that shakes my entire being and gives me a taste of the sweetest heaven," the General replied sensually. What was the reason that Olivier wanted to come to Central and see him? Maybe she had some information for him or had too much spare time and wanted to bother him. Most likely the latter.

"I need to see your face again. All I can think of is the fire that drowns my senses in the most sinful sensations, my love." The interlocutor giggled lightly.

Roy wanted to say 'Be welcomed' as he understood from the mentioning of 'fire' that the woman thanked him for the diversion he undertook to allow Miles a few weeks off duty, but he kept his mouth shut. Instead, he replied velvety, sounding a little hurt, "I am afraid it is impossible, my dearest treasure. I wish it was different, but our worlds ar-AGH! OUCH!" Mustang almost fell off the couch on which he comfortably sat. The main body of the phone flew to the other end of the sofa. Bored out of his minds, Edward didn't find anything better to do than biting the exposed neck of his superior who was innocently speaking on the phone.

"Is everything alright, dear?" Armstrong asked worriedly, but the frown on her forehead disappeared when a muffled laughter ringed from the other end of the line. 'You little shit, are you having someone over?' She looked at Miles and mimicked they needed to find out whom.

Roy grunted as he picked up the telephone which fell ungracefully on the floor. "No, it's nothing. I just stumbled on the table when I was pacing, thinking of you. It is the most unfortunate, but I have to hang up, Mirabelle."

"Aha," she made. 'Stumbled? It means I know the person... hm,' Olivier pondered. That little tease made her blood boil with curiosity. "Of course, see you soon." 'Sooner than you think, I can guarantee.' She winked to the Major and nonverbally told him to take care of her needed papers to take a vacation. He simply nodded and resumed reading the book he started a few hours before, when he had brought the coffee. Consider it done.

"Yes, yes! Goodbye!" Roy nearly shouted in the speaker. He managed to put the receiver back in its cradle before falling to the ground under Fullmetal's weight. "What is wrong with you, Edward? Stop biting me, dammit!" he blustered. Not that he didn't like it, it was not that, but it tickled. What a bad idea to let Hawkeye tell him his weak points. Very bad idea, it made him wonder why his assistant knew them in the first place.

"Nope. Who were you talking to?" Ed whispered lowly in his ear. He climbed on top of the man turned upside down and restrained his hips. Sensing the dangerous glare in the other alchemist's solar orbs, Roy pulled out the oldest strategy. He muttered the golden words. "Are you jealous, little one? So childish..."

"Bastard, who are you to call me a c-" the blond stopped abruptly and his eye went wide. "You monster! I hate you!" He has just lost the bet he had placed four weeks before that he wouldn't flame up for an entire month whenever his height was brought into discussion and he has fallen in the lamest trap. He had less than one day to go!

"Tch, what a shame, you could have won the bet! But we both know you don't hate me," Mustang taunted. Maybe he could use the call he received to his advantage... oh, the possibilities! He almost wanted to pat himself on the back for it.

He moved his hand on Edward's back, stopping to cup those strangely round bottom cheeks. "Maybe I will forget how you lost the bet so easily... who knows?"

The blond felt himself getting purple. He hated trading himself for something so stupid, but the other would tease him to no end about how he was 'a brat with potty mouth'. He didn't need to hear that again!

Roy smirked mischievously. He lifted them both from the floor and put them down back on the couch, this time topping the bad-tempered alchemist. He batted his eyelids a few times in the most luscious manner that got him a snort. He lowered his head to capture those nice rosy lips in a heated kiss. Ed opened his mouth without any restraints and allowed the elder's tongue inside. He didn't feel like struggling or playing the unwilling.

Roy, on the other hand, wanted to make it worthwhile, he wanted some fight. He stopped his advances and transformed the kiss into butterfly pecks. Annoyed, Ed thrashed around. "Cut off the shit! Or, oh my, are you getting old? You old man!"

Like pushing some invisible buttons in Roy's system, the man attacked his mouth fiercely. He hated being called old when he was obviously not, especially so near to his birthday. Fullmetal welcomed his aggressor and battled his tongue along his in a predictable dance yet so full of surprises. The elder broke the kiss and trailed his mouth lower. He bit the skin stretching over the collar bone, eliciting low grunts from the the blond. Roy pinched the perked up nipples and twisted them in his fingertips.

"Uh, Must-ARGH-ang, stop it!" Ed mumbled. He muffled his half-opened mouth with his flesh hand and closed his eyes, prey to the sensations.

Roy started unbuttoning the large shirt Ed wore. If he thought really hard about it, it must have been part of the military issued uniform he never dressed. Did he have one? Or maybe it was one of his own older shirts, he could not say. Whatever. It was not the hardest task to open some buttons, but Roy got bored and preferred to tear the clothing open and reveal the naked forms of his dear subordinate.

He examined hungrily all the curves on the lean body and tasted the soft skin on the stomach. He moved his head to lick around the groin, never touching the leaking member pleading for some attention. The blond's back arched up in anticipation, but the black haired man didn't want to give in to his desires yet. "Ed, let me hear you... sing to me, little bird," Roy said and took the hand that muffled the moans he wanted to hear so badly.

Edward struggled for a bit, but his eyes shot up wide when something wet prodded at his entrance. A large hand grabbed his aching erection and rubbed it harshly, almost painfully, as a wet muscle smothered his tender flesh. Roy bit his buttocks and chuckled when metallic fingers entangled in his black hair. He pushed his tongue inside the tight hole and thrust as far as he could for a few times. He moved his hand faster and faster, the cock in his hand twitching harder and harder. "Argh, stop that... do it already... it's annoying, you are annoying...," Ed demanded. He didn't mean to start asking for it, but it kind of sounded so.

Not listening, Roy kissed the tip of his arousal and licked the head sloppily. He halted his ministration when the hand in his hair pushed down to meet the problem. If looks could kill, he should be dead by now. Ed was narrowing his eyes at him, impatient for a treat of sorts. Smirking, Roy kissed his younger lover's lips. His black top was removed aggressively and it landed somewhere in the room.

Without any restraints, Fullmetal pushed his superior off of him and threw him on his back. He toyed with his waist band and pulled down his boxers. Eyes locked on his, Ed lowered his head between the elder's legs. Mustang raised an eyebrow and waited for his little partner to do something, whatever that would be.

Licking his lips, Edward applied the same treatment he previously got. He didn't pay any attention to the straining hot need and just placed some disinterested pecks here and there. He wanted some begging, he was not someone to be played with.

Mustang started trembling with aching desire. He watched how the alchemist rolled his head between his opened hips, and how he was left with a standing erection to count sheep until it fell asleep. He began saying something, but stopped midway. He didn't want to give in. He wanted to make the other go crazy before him. With his toes, he gingerly touched the other's groin. He needed to try everything. Edward moaned and pushed back to feel again the friction. The foot fondled his balls and sometimes touched his rear. A hand reached for his cock and drummed its fingers on the length. Some moans escaped his lips in a melodious symphony.

Making fast use of the other's lack of attention, Roy curled Ed in a ball with a leg and pushed his head down to his need with the other. Sighing, the teen scolded, "How low can you possibly get?"

The elder chuckled. "You know better than me, you little thing."

Not really in the mood to argue, Ed simply nipped vengefully on Roy's tip, making the other jump with tears in his eyes. He engulfed the large heat in his mouth, rolling his tongue all over and grazing his teeth on a pulsing vein. Delighted to be ridden of the pain, the General opened the strap that held his lover's hair in a ponytail and wrapped the long strands around his hand. He pushed harder down. Mumbling something, probably cursing, Fullmetal welcomed more inside his mouth and continued to bob his head up and down ferociously fast. His muscles completely relaxed, he welcomed the now panting officer deep into his throat.

Not one to be selfish, Roy spit in his palm and distanced his partner's buttocks to push one poorly lubricated finger inside. He held his grip firm on the other's head and continued to push his finger inside his lover. Giving into the pleasure, Ed started moving on his own down the digit. Two more were soon added at once and they were curling inside him. They ravished his tensed insides and it felt so exquisite... He moaned again and nearly gagged, distracted by the sensation. At that, Mustang removed his fingers. The blond whimpered from the loss and he soon was lifted up and thrown on his back.

Predatorily, Roy slipped between Edward's opened legs and claimed him like a possession. With a smirk, he pushed inside the tight ring of muscles. The blond wanted to shout from the pain, but his mouth was sealed with a breath-taking kiss. Mustang didn't wait for any adjustments and simply started pounding, his speed increasing with every thrust. Harder and harder. Not before long, he hit Ed's prostate and the younger man mewled sinfully. "ARGH, Roy, the-AHH! Faster," he gasped, breath cut short. That was the nice part about him – he knew when to scream nonsense.

Complying, Roy sped up. He clenched his fingers around the forgotten arousal between them and started pumping in match with his movement. Not fully able to contain the feeling, Edward spilled his load all over himself and Roy, who never let go of his lips for more than a few seconds.

Roy bowed over him. He felt so squeezed inside the now clenching body, the absurd pace decreasing as he neared his climax. The officer pushed hard for a few times, until he found his sweet realise with a low grunt. He fell on his lover and closed his mouth over the other's, licking lazily. Ed hugged him and played with his hair. "You're right, I cannot hate you... too much, that is," he suspired.

Grinning, Roy mocked, "Took you some time, slow head." That won him a slap on the back. He tittered amused and straightened his back, still inside his partner, who winced lightly. He withdrawn a bit and then pushed back in, agonisingly slowly making himself hard again. "Really, Mustang? Give me a break!" Ed complained.

"That's for calling me old, sunshine."

Edward snorted and took a deep breath, his body responding fast to the stimulation in his lower back. He waited patiently for their bodies to react. Ah, it was so obscenely good... he took another deep breath, too excited to care about how he was acting. He shot his eyes open and said out of the blue, "Roy, did you stop the coffee?"

Realisation struck him hard. At that, Roy slipped out of him and left the living room in a hurry. He ushered to the kitchen to stop the overflowing beverage. The coffee spilled all over the stove, but in rest, nothing was damaged. At least it smelled good in there, if he went over the burnt tinge. He turned off the gas and looked at the mess. At that, he started laughing heartedly.

Edward came after him and stood still at the door, staring at the beamish naked man. "Okay, now I am really starting to doubt your mental health," he said, precautious with his tone not to startle him.

Roy looked back at him, rubbing his head. "I don't know, my medical report stated I am quite sane."

"Quite... Then why are you laughing? We will have a lot to clean now! You are so impractical and erratic! What the hell am I doing with you? Sheesh!" the blond haggled and crossed his arms over his chest, visibly annoyed.

"You will find it stupid, but I've just remembered something... You know, my father always boiled over the coffee and my mother scolded him every single time, just like you do now. Only that she had a pan in her hand and was cursing in three or four languages at once, threatening that she'd kill him if he didn't stop laughing, but it's almost the same. Some people, they were..."

Edward examined his commanding officer from head to toe. He looked relaxed and tensed at the same time. His eyes, darker than a moonless night, stared at the spilled liquid, countless feelings showing demurely. Anger, remembrance, sadness, happiness, love, hate, wrath, determination, they were all there for him to see.

Roy recalled one of his last memories with his parents. It was like it had happened just a moment before, yet it felt so distant.

He was in the kitchen with his father. He still could picture his unkempt sandy blond hair, the long bangs falling over his deep blue eyes. His mother exploded when she saw her husband towelling the freshly washed cooker on which about half a litre worth of coffee stood like a still lake.

"Hey flower, you were saying I never clean anything in the house," Cenric joked humourlessly. Amaya started rambling at him, but she stopped the moment she heard her little boy weeping. She asked him in her soothing voice, "What is wrong, my dearest jewel?"

Roy could never forget her soft charcoal hair, her floral scent and almond-shaped eyes. Between sobs, he replied, "Why are you shouting at Daddy? He wanted to make you a surprise, but I didn't let him watch the coffee and, and- I'm sorry!" He cried on her chest. She smiled and hugged him tightly. His father embraced his wife and son and kissed them, told them how much he loved them. They were so happy, so close... what did they do wrong to deserve such a fate?

Ed stepped next to him and stroked his hands. Roy didn't realise he has clenched his fists. He looked in his golden eyes and curved his lips slightly in a pained smile. His eyes were gloomy and sorrowful, the little light in them was gone. "What is wrong, Roy? It's the first time you ever mention your family so open," the blond tried to make the other talk. Roy could not believe it... he had the same tone as his mother. He covered his mouth with one hand, the other still clenched.

Seeing no reaction, Ed continued, "You know? I think you look a lot like your mother, but I guess you are as clumsy as your father, from what you say... I saw a picture on your desk, was it of them?" 'Come on, start talking, idiot!' Fullmetal raged inside.

Mustang stood silent. He kept his sad smile up. He reached for Edward's face and caressed his cheeks. "It is not the time to tell you my story. Not now, maybe never."

"Why? Am I that much of a nuisance? I bet all your fellow comrades know it! I mean, Riza and-"

"No, they don't. The only ones who know it all are me and my Aunt. There are so many things not even she knows... You are not a nuisance and you will never be, Edward. I just want to protect you from what I had to live."

What a lie. His Aunt indeed didn't know everything, but Maes did. However, dead don't talk. That said it all. He didn't need another man down.

"Then what was that?" Ed said full of hope, but his expectations were turned down. Roy simply cuddled him in his arms and ruffled idly his long hair. "It was nothing..."

Pissed beyond limits, Edward pushed Roy's arms off of him. "Fine! It's the third or so time I mention your family and you look like you've seen a ghost! You really know how to ruin a perfectly good morning, you bastard!" he shouted and left him alone in the kitchen.

On a regular day, Roy would have run after him. He would have done something. But that day, he could not move. His legs were glued to the cold floor, his eyes nailed on the dirty stove.

What a damned life.

XXXXX

Hawkeye paced in circles around the huge office. She didn't care it was the weekend, that was her job and she had to come and do it. Well, she was not paid to chase after her tail like a dog, but close enough. Her commanding officer was not there, so she supposed he was with Edward, maybe it was because he was not supposed to be there. Nor was she, really.

She ached everywhere, but she was a soldier. She could be a woman in the outside world, but inside the military's building, she was nothing more but an officer. She did not have the right to complain. The news about Roy and Edward shook her deeply, but who was she to say anything about it? She was not entitled to comment.

She had a certain degree of feelings for Roy and it hurt to see him with another one, not to mention a man, but she was also his friend, and friends needed to support each other. Perhaps she should consider Havoc's invitation for dinner... was it still available? He asked her out a few days after the shocking realisation... yes, she should accept it, if Jean still wanted to go out with her. He was a nice man and perhaps things could work between them. Most importantly – he was no longer her comrade in arms. No fraternization issues there.

She looked at her watch. It was a gift from Roy. He gave it to her when she became his personal aid. She smiled at the reminder she had inside the carcass. A small photograph with her and her dear friend from when they were young and he was under her father's protective wing. They did not know each other back then, her father insisted they took a picture together so they start talking to each other. They did not, she remembered, she had been too shy to say anything. She had carved under it his birthday date... there were still a few days to the day he celebrated it.

She sighed. 'What are you doing, Roy... I think I stood by his side for too long and didn't do a thing... that's what you get for it, Riza."

Absorbed in thoughts, she did not hear the door opening and closing. "Hello, Lieutenant."

Turning around, she saw Mustang. He had a wonderful smile on his face, but she knew all his masks. Deep down, he was sad, she could read him like an open book.

"Hello, Sir. What are you doing in here? It's Saturday, you should be at home, resting. It's yo-" She stopped when the man raised his hand to silence her. "I have some work left to do. I should get to it."

"Yes, Sir. Of course," she nodded and took out the papers Roy left on Friday. He said he would do them on Monday, that they were not important... What had really happened?

XXXXX

Edward stared at a shop's display. He was not mad on Roy, he couldn't be. But he wanted some answers. They have been dating for two month or something, but he still didn't tell him what the whole deal with that River guy was. He didn't even mention him at all! Maybe it was a past lover and he didn't want Ed to know about his failure.

No, that was not it, why would he leave coded notes if it were? It had to do with his past, alright, but it was not that shallow. He had never seen the confident officer break before, but in such a short period, he assisted to the man's breakdowns for too many times. Something crushed his confidence, something bothered him... It pissed him that he didn't know what it was, when he was so close to Roy...

"Whatever," he suspired. He entered the shop. Roy's birthday was in a few days and he still didn't buy anything for him. Well, he had found about it the day before, when he was rummaging through Mustang's private correspondence, so it was no surprise that he didn't get him anything yet. He had found an old letter dated on his supposed birthday, signed by 'Amaya and Cenric'. He presumed it was from his parents. He read it, but he started to regret doing so soon after.

Our dearest Roy,

You are finally eighteen! You are an adult from now on and we are so proud of you. We hope you are doing well and you are having an illustrious future in front of you. You were born on a great day and your destiny is bright. Do not let yourself lose to the upcoming challenges, be strong and wise. We know you will be.

We deeply regret we cannot be with you right now. We have always wanted to have you, to watch you grow up and settle down, but we both knew it was too dangerous. Do not be mad on us, even now, when you cannot see us and maybe you have forgotten us. We still love you and we are with you, no matter where you are. We will watch your path closely and we will pray for your success. We are sure you are the redemption for our sins and we thank you for being part of our life, even for such a short period.

We would like to tell you this in person, and not through this letter we instructed Chris to give you when you turned eighteen. We truly hope it will not be necessarily for you to read it, and we will burn it together on this precious day, but, if you have to see these words, never forget to walk forward and to watch your back for enemies, to survive, no matter what.

We are watching you from up above and we know you will make us proud.

We love you so much and we wish you a Happy Birthday and Many Anniversaries Ahead!

With all the love that there is in the world and all the heart we can bring ourselves to write with,

Amaya and Cenric

We will always love you, our little jewel.

It was sad to discover that letter. Edward felt like he had violated Roy's privacy, but now, all he wanted was to know what was going on.

Letting all his thoughts aside, the blond searched for a meaningful gift. He roamed his eyes through the many things in the music shop – instruments, changes of cords, some stuff that looked very dubious... all sorts of things he considered extremely lame. But he was aware how fond of music Roy was, so he decided that there would be the best place to find something suited for his taste.

In the back of the store, there was the 'Records Room'. He remembered Roy had a gramophone. He should check out that section, he decided.

The shelves were full of rare records. Perfect. He moved the big carton carcasses and read every title. Love songs, military anthems – evidently, that would only bring the man to depression - classic music, soft music, swing and some awkward sounding genres... He had no idea what to choose.

A shopkeeper came to him and asked if he needed any help. He explained that he looked for a special disc for the nostalgic type. Roy was definitely an incurable nostalgic. The kind woman smiled at him and showed him a highly rare record. It was entitled "Songs for Lonely Hearts" and it seemed to be premium edition. It was a collection of many genres, mostly jazz and blues, all sung by an old band he knew Roy was a big fan of. Oh, it had an autograph on it! That was not bad.

He turned it to look on the backside of the large disc. It was a remake of an edition which dated back from... December 1885? It was the same year and month Roy had been born! He had found the perfect gift, praise him.

He thanked the woman, took the record and paid for it. The cashier felicitated him for his choice, maybe also because it was tremendously rare and expensive – apparently, it was one of a kind, with autographs and all - and packed it nicely in gift wrap. Ed smirked as he thought of Roy's surprised face when he would receive the package... he would make sure to make this birthday memorable. He was definitely going to have a very nice anniversary.

Maybe Edward would get some information too...

XXXXX

Roy signed the hundredth paper for the day. It was already Monday evening... when did the time pass? He was thinking of his upcoming birthday. It was the following day. He was getting old... 'I am still young,' he reminded himself, too used to consider himself much older than he really was. 'How can I be thinking of such stupid things?' He was turning thirty and he was already a General aiming for the post of Fuhrer... what the hell did he do with his life to turn out like this?

He could not help smiling at the simple reminder of Edward asking him out for his third decade celebration, about which he had found out in questionable ways. They were going to a nice restaurant, all part of his lover's gift. He would even dress up! Mustang smirked. It was the nicest thing to think of. He liked Edward's leather pants, but him wearing a suit – that had to be one in a lifetime sight, literally.

He could almost swear it would happen just once in his lifetime, he didn't know if he would manage to convince Ed to get out of his usual attire. He could attend to the most formal event ever - the blond would still wear leather.

It was getting late. He should head home... Tonight, he was alone, because Edward refused to see him before his birthday. Some 'no touching before your day' bullshit, he didn't listen very closely to he was being told.

Knocking came loudly from the door. Roy was confused, Hawkeye never knocked... well, she kind of started to do so whenever Fullmetal was in his office, as she did not want to repeat the scarring experience of finding them almost naked on the desk. Nevertheless, she never knocked when he was alone. He said sternly, "Enter," and the door opened.

His eyes went wide. My, my, who was at his door...

No one other than Olivier Armstrong, closely followed by Miles. Well, she has kind of announced her presence in advance. The quarter Ishbalan closed the door behind them. Grinning, Roy greeted, "Who do we have here? What an honour! With what thoughts you two came here, dear Miles and Mira?"

Miles shook his hand. "Only peaceful thoughts," he responded before the Major General exploded at the pronunciation of her second given name. She hated that name. She said it was too feminine for her. They called her 'Sir' at the fort, she was not cut for a woman's name.

"To ruin your birthday, of course," Armstrong said smugly. Miles took off his glasses to narrow his red eyes at her. He put a fairly big box on the desk. "Happy birthday in advance," they said in unison.

"Thank you, Major General, Major. So nice to have you here," Roy said frankly. He opened the package. Inside, there were another two boxes, one black and the other one, blue. He wisely chose the blue one, on which was written From Miles. He smiled and thanked the Major for his great gift idea. "You really are great, Miles, for finding these books. With all my connections, I couldn't find them! Do you know how rare they are? Thank you so much!" Roy said excited.

But the black box was another story and he almost had a heart attack when he opened it. "Mira..."

The woman grinned evilly, her showing teeth resembling the fangs of a hyena. "It is surprising what you find up there in the mountains."

Miles disclaimed himself immediately, slightly disgusted. "Her idea entirely," he pointed to the woman, who was savouring the face Roy made.

"Figured that... but really Armstrong, what the actual hell? I don't want to be ungrateful, but-"

"Shut up, Mustang. You cannot hide anything from me and you know it. So, how's life with your subordinate?"

"I don't know what you are talking about," Roy spoke innocently. 'Bitch, how the hell did you find out?' She must have talked with his aunt, those two were like wolves whenever they talked over the phone.

"Bullshit. Whatever, you will tell us when you want to. Till then, you could make nice use of these. You see, I can almost picture you using these and ha, am I not laughing! We both know you are kind of twisted, boy, don't you lie to me."

Mustang pressed his lips together and stared at the dubious gift. Toys... phallus shaped toys... the woman had such a wrong way of telling her congratulations. But he indeed could make use of the things, he supposed. He nodded at her and closed the box after removing the precious books. The rest was for later.

Ed would definitely kill him, but he could at least try. Nothing seems too risky when one is threatened with a gun daily.

XXXXX

It was getting really late. In a way or another, Roy managed to sneak from work and get a drink with his unexpected guests. Armstrong denied that she came to see him just because she missed the annoying officer. She explained that she had to visit her family for the winter holidays, after all, she did not join her relatives for this celebration for- what, eight years? Nine years? Something like that. Why she had dragged Miles with her, that was another story.

After spending most of the afternoon with Olivier and her former subordinate, Roy excused himself and went to wander through the city. He walked around for hours, not really wanting to go home and find the house as empty as he had left it in the morning. So instead, he paced aimlessly.

Mustang looked at his pocket watch, it was already midnight. He chuckled mirthlessly. Another birthday spent outside, in open air.

"Happy birthday, Roy," he muttered, watching himself in a small ice pool. The air was frozen and the wind stung his face. The Flame Alchemist to be born in the coldest season of them all... his parents really pulled a sick joke on their child's destiny. No one knew he would take that wretched path, perhaps worse than what his parents had to do.

It was time to go home.

Quite lost in thoughts, he passed by a nonstop flower shop. Remembering something, he changed directions and headed for the military grave grounds. Idyllic indeed, spending the first hours of his birthday in a graveyard, but Roy made sure to make a tradition out of it.

With a small bouquet of immortelles, he entered the land of those who rest forever. Or that was how he hoped it would be when he died. To work even in the afterlife - that would be morbid.

He walked on the alley he knew all too well and stopped in front of a marble tombstone. "Hey there, Maes. Long time, no see, my friend," he said and placed the flowers on the grave. He took a seat on a nearby bench.

"See? I didn't forget to come. You remember we used to see each other at midnight and drink till the morning when it was our birthday. You, in March, me, in December. Well, I am kind of late, it's already half past twelve, but here I am! Anyway, mate, maybe you know about Edward... I feel quite dumb, you know, Maes? How could I fall in my own trap? The thing is, that instable uncle of mine - I know for sure he is up to something, but I am not sure what. I might be paranoid, but well... I am not sure if he showed up just to avert me. Maybe he has a mission somewhere and he needed to make a trap. But he is good at his job, so if he really wants me, he would not even touch me before he makes sure I lose my mind over something. And-"

Roy stopped abruptly and sniffed. It was so funny, talking to a grave. No, he was talking to his best friend, Maes Hughes, long gone. "You were not supposed to leave me like that, Maes," he taunted. "Not you. Where are you and your stupid advices that always helped me? Why the hell did you have to die like an idiot, when I have no idea what to do?" He punched the marble tomb. His hand hurt, but it didn't matter. A small tear seeped past his cheek. "I am the idiot, not you. To break so easily. I know. But I want to protect that kid. He is a kid, he might be twenty, but he is still a little brat. But he is also my brat. No one takes what is mine, didn't you say to never let go of what I have? So I shall take care of him. No matter how. You think it's okay to think like that, mate?"

Like an answer, the wind blew slower, almost soothingly. It was so peaceful... Roy stroked the tombstone. "I know, I know. I also miss you, dear friend. For once, I will listen to what you've told me some years ago and it will be fine. I will follow my heart."

XXXXX

The next day, Edward stood in front of Mustang's residence. It was way past four o'clock in the evening. He used his key and opened the door. As planned, Roy was still at work. That was great.

He placed the nicely wrapped record he had bought a few days before and a birthday card. Roy would find it when he returned home to change for their date. Ed smiled at that. The man's face shining with happiness, all because of him... what a mastermind he was!

Smirking, he looked at his pocket watch. The date of that fateful day when he had burnt his house glimmered in the poor light. It no longer hurt. It no longer meant anything. It was just an old reminder. He had prevailed in his quest. It currently meant nothing. He had Roy now. A new quest. All he could hope that his journey by Roy's side was not going to end. He didn't want that.

He sighed. It was about time he headed out and dressed into something more official. Roy would drop his jaw at the sight, that was for sure.

XXXXX

Roy left his office through the window. What a blind luck to work at the ground floor! Riza would kill him if she knew he had left so early, no matter the reason. Who cared it was his birthday? She most definitely did not.

He straightened his uniform and headed home. He was so excited! He wondered why Ed insisted on meeting him directly at the restaurant. Roy stopped in realisation. Of course! His lover wanted to go somewhere fancy so that they could dress smartly. The General didn't have any suits at the office, so he needed to go home. Most likely, Ed left him something there. He caught him a few nights before that he was duplicating his house keys using alchemy.

It made lots of sense. Quite slippery, his Edward. 'Such a refined choice,' Roy complimented himself for choosing to date him. It was so much fun, guessing what he had prepared for him.

XXXXX

Edward headed happily for the restaurant. He was in a perfectly fitted suit, surprisingly comfortable, but foreign on his skin. He never dressed like that. It pretty much sucked, but he could survive for a few hours like this, couldn't he?

Out of the blue, he stumbled into something. Or more accurately, something shook him. He looked around and didn't see anything particularly wrong. He continued to walk and he felt it again, only harder. It was like an earthquake, but nothing moved.

It was alchemy.

And then, not too far away, a huge explosion occurred. He stared at the fuming place and ran into its direction.

He had a bad feeling about it...

XXXXX

Twenty minutes before

Roy happily walked to his home. Five minutes to reach home, ten to dress up, another ten minutes to get to the restaurant... he would be perfectly on time, if not earlier. Lovely.

Musing to himself, he became quite oblivious of his surroundings. He paced instinctively. He turned on a back alley, a good shortcut when in hurry. He fished for his keys, as he was really close to his house. He fumbled with his pockets. Where the hell were they?

"Looking for these?" someone spoke behind him. Mustang turned on his heels and looked in the voice's direction. His eyes remained sharp and focused even after the mysterious person's reveal.

From the shadow, a tall silhouette rolling his keys on its index finger grinned at him. Greying sandy-blond hair shone in the winter pale light. Some ugly scars adorned his otherwise handsome face like a bad painting, colours faded and chaotic. On one side, he looked like a devil without horns, on the other, like an angel surrounded by halo. So vile and yet so pure, what a disturbing character.

"Boy, isn't it the time to get freaked?" he asked chuckling rudely.

Roy narrowed his eyes, not losing his composure. It was not the time to make wrong moves. He straightened his back and pulled on his ignition gloves. He did not need them, as he could do all sorts of alchemy without a circle, but appearances had to be kept up. And he had his ulterior reasons, of course. He smiled curtly at Telford Mustang. "How funny, Uncle. Long time, no see."

Around them, time stood still. Only some snowflakes dared to fall on the frozen ground.

It has started to snow, yet it smelled like death.


A/N: Pam pam pam! That's it for now, the rush will be explained the next chapter. Next, we will have lots of action and some flashbacks. I hope you don't hate me for this chapter. Anyway - please don't forget to review/follow/favourite this story! It really helps!

Thank you so much for putting up with me, you are all so great! Till the next time! Bye, bye!