Beta: Ca11iope. Thank you very much! I know you´ve been busy and I am very grateful you did the job despite RL being bossy :D
AN: Most people prefer pm-answers over in-chapter replies to their comments which means, the review replies in chapter will be kicked, except for the answers to non-members. There really is no other way to reply to their comments ^^ but the answers will be at the end. That said, I will also edit the other chapters already released ^^ But I will do that whenever I update, so you won´t get any alert-mails over nothing D:
The Bet of the Year
Chapter 25: Compromising Positions
It was an age old and often effective strategy that Roy hoped to prove transcended traditional gender roles.
He was attempting to bribe his way back into Edward's good graces, not with flowers and chocolates, since those choices ran the risk of giving Ed the impression that Roy was casting him in a woman's role, but with dinner. Still risky, but a calculated risk given the dimensions Edward's notorious appetite. Tight fitting jeans were also a factor that appeared to be tipping the scales in Roy's favor. So the Colonel played his hole card and mentally crossed his fingers.
He looked casually over his shoulder at the man he had pissed off so thoroughly, eyes a slow smolder, and innocently asked, "Hungry?"
Ed' jaw dropped and he stared incredulous, Roy's double entendre a direct hit. Damn, Roy wanted to kiss the man, for no other reason than just to do it, but he wasn't sure if it might result in the general being introduced to Ed's automail knee. Damn, if only he could read the blond a bit better.
Then he noticed the contemplative way Ed was biting his lip.
Oh, hell. Automail knee or not, it was probably worth it.
Roy bent down slowly, watching carefully for any sign that an attack might be imminent, and felt a rush of excitement when he was close enough to feel Ed's breath on his lips without suffering any injury. He was about to take this as permission to kiss the man – and celebrate his success in earning Ed's forgiveness – when he was resolutely shoved back.
The shorter man gave him a hard stare, breaking the spell, and only then did the Colonel notice Al's voice, altogether too near at hand.
"…idea. Thank you for bringing the food, Roy," the boy was saying.
So, they were back to his first name again, a good sign as far as Roy was concerned. Alphonse's obvious attempts to create a pleasant atmosphere fell flat though, as Edward's disturbed glare sent a chill down the older man's spine.
"It's a good thing you don´t have to cook, brother. Your cooking is… well, edible. Most of the- uhm… well, sometimes." Al was deliberately choosing words that would not sound too insulting, and Ed slowly turned his head towards his brother and blinked.
"Edible?" He repeated perplex. "My cooking's not that bad."
A glance in Al's direction revealed the reason why the younger Elric had failed to react to the almost kiss between his brother and former commanding officer. His back was turned, searching through the cupboards. On the third try the teen found what he was looking for, pulling out three glasses.
Roy had not even noticed when the boy entered the kitchen. Hmm. Was Al the reason Edward hadn´t let himself be kissed, or was the man still angry? Roy could speculate for the rest of the evening and it would get him nowhere. He would have liked to believe that Ed had only pushed him away because of his brother's presence, but at this point Roy had no way of knowing for sure. He had to play this very carefully, because if Edward was still mad and Roy pushed too hard, he was fucked.
Not literally though, sadly.
Brooding wouldn´t help either, so Roy left the food on the table and moved to take the glasses from Al, setting them on a tray along with the drinks he'd brought. The younger Elric continued to criticize his brothers cooking skills.
"Really brother, unless things have changed drastically in the last few months, I think 'edible' is a pretty generous description of your cooking," the teen said, scooping up some napkins and setting them on the tray with the glasses.
Ed crossed his arms over his chest defensively. "I eat my own cooking all the time," he said indignantly. "I think it's fine."
"I'll admit that you've mastered some simple dishes," Al allowed as he located the salt and pepper, depositing them on the tray as well, "but anything at all complicated is really out of your league. Remember the time you tried to make that Drachman dish with the herbed potatoes? I thought we were going to have to change your name to the Charcoal Alchemist, since 'Flame' was already taken."
Ed stopped peeking into the little packages printed with Xingese characters and shot his brother a venomous glare, which did absolutely nothing to discourage the younger alchemist. The next sentence however dropped the real bomb.
"You said the Colonel could cook. Maybe he should give you a few lessons," Al said casually as he clattered a fistful of chopsticks onto the table.
Both Roy and Ed froze.
So, the Elrics had been talking about him. Damn Riza for not letting him out any sooner.
And was it his imagination or was Al trying to hook him up with his brother? Not that Roy minded of course. It just felt rather . . . strange.
"If I want to learn to cook, I can do that by myself." Ed snapped as he scooped up a few of the packages as well as some chopsticks, carrying them into the living room.
Alphonse hastily grabbed a bottle of water before snagging two more packages, and followed his brother out of the kitchen.
Despite the feeling that there was more going on here than it seemed, and the distinct impression the he was about to enter a mine field, Roy loaded the last of the food onto the tray with the glasses and cutlery and followed the Elrics into the living room.
When he entered the room, he stopped dead in the doorway, staring at the spectacle. Both brothers seemed to have forgotten he was even there, and –
It was a good thing Roy had ordered considerably more that he thought he'd actually need.
The Elrics hadn't wasted any time getting started on dinner. They didn´t even appear to care about exactly what they were eating, literally inhaling the food at an astounding rate.
Not that it inhibited their ability to carry on their conversation.
"I´m sure you're cooking would improve faster if the Colonel gave you some guidance." Al managed to get out, impressing Roy with his ability to speak coherently with his mouth filled to capacity.
The Colonel left the tray on the coffee table and went to take off his shoes by the front door, keeping his attention on the brother's exchange. What Roy needed was information, and listening to not only what was being said, but also how, was his best option for getting it. He needed to know how much progress the brother's had made in mending their relationship. He needed to know if Edward had revealed any details about his exile in the other world to his brother. And he had to know if Edward was still pissed off at his former commander.
"I don´t need Roy's guidance. Or anyone else's." Roy heard the older brother grumble. "I can do things on my own without anyone messing in my business."
Roy returned to the living room to discover the Elric's glaring at each other while swallowing food as if it might suddenly jump up and make a break for the door. Sitting down on the couch next to Ed, Roy felt a bit left out. Despite the fact that he was part of what they were arguing about, Roy had the distinct impression that they had simply forgotten him.
Al had lowered his chopsticks to glare more effectively at his brother. "You really should be grateful for any help a friend might offer, brother. The Colonel -"
"- is present." Roy informed the blonds dryly while he took off his gloves.
Ed almost choked on his food, only then seeming to notice the man sitting next to him. The Flame Alchemist tried his best not to feel insulted by this. Instead, he made use of the opportunity presented by the break in this conversation to take an active part in it.
"It would be my pleasure to give you any lessons you might desire, Edward," he offered with a smirk, true intentions clearly evident in his smooth tone.
Which earned him Ed's undivided attention.
Instantly, golden eyes locked to onyx, and Roy felt himself drawn in by their intensity. The blond alchemist might still be angry, but Roy was sure the man was intrigued by what Roy was implying, however reluctant he might also be to let go of his anger. Considering the way his gaze momentarily drifted to Roy's lap before returning to meet his eyes, Ed was definitely giving it some thought.
Heavy coughing from the other side of the table forced both of them back to reality. Ed blinked and resolutely looked away from the Colonel, a slight blush spreading across his cheeks. The Flame Alchemist couldn´t say if he was embarrassed about having his resolve crumble, or if it was his brother's presence.
"Okay, maybe you're right about not needing lessons from the Colonel," Al said once he had regained his breath.
What the -? Why the hell did the younger Elric look like someone had just kicked the part of his anatomy responsible for fatherhood? A few minutes ago Alphonse seemed to be shoving his brother into Roy´s arms.
Ed didn´t mind his brother's sudden change of attitude. His triumphant smirk was soon wiped away however.
"I mean, you do," Alphonse amended, nervously biting his lower lip. "Just for, you know, cooking. Not for . . . other stuff." The younger alchemist's face was beginning to resemble a silver eyed, blond tomato. "Or well, yes, for some other stuff," he stammered, "but not the kind of other stuff that's, you know, private. Or maybe 'intimate' is a better word. Or not. I, um, don't really... " Al's face got even redder.
Both the former and the current State Alchemists looked at him, Edward frowning, the Colonel's right eyebrow rising at the younger blond's strange behavior. Roy had no idea what Al was driving at. All he knew for sure was that this conversation no longer had anything to do with Edward's culinary skills. The younger teen was making less sense by the second, but Roy couldn't bring himself to stop the boy. Finally, Al threw his hands in the air and addressed Roy directly.
"Colonel, couldn´t you just give Brother some advice on the social aspects, and leave the physical stuff aside?"
"The social aspects of . . .?" Roy echoed, keeping his face completely neutral. What the hell were they talking about?
"Of a relationship," Alphonse said, eyes serious. "For example, the right way to talk to someone you care about and -"
"I don´t need the Bastard for that!" Ed shouted in outrage.
"That's what you meant when you told your brother he needed lessons?" Roy asked, working hard to keep his amazement out of his voice.
Al nodded.
Damn, this was almost as convoluted as feminine logic. Well, Al had been living with the Rockbell women for the last couple of years, and Al's thought processes were bound to have been affected by all that female influence. Even so, this whole discussion was a mess. And the worst thing was, Roy was pretty certain that he was still missing something.
Before he could comment, Ed cut in.
"What makes you think that this Bastard could teach me anything?" Ed vehemently protested his younger sibling's suggestion. "In all the years I was under his command, he never told me shit!"
The alchemist turned to his former commanding officer. "You're just a manipulative Bastard and I refuse to be treated like your damn puppet again!" Ed snarled at him.
"Ed, that´s not -" the Flame Alchemist began, but the former Fullmetal was not finished.
"You can´t just go ahead and fuck around in my business!" Edward snapped. "What I told you, I trusted you to keep to yourself! I didn´t tell you so you could use it against me and –"
"Brother, that´s enough, the Colonel was only trying to help you!"
It was only through great effort of will that the Colonel did not send a sour look in the direction of his self proclaimed advocate. "Al, I´m perfectly capable of . . . " 'handling your brother on my own' was not something he should say out loud with the referred to brother present.
Thankfully, that strange sense of whatever it was that made Al think 'taking cooking lessons' might be equated with 'accepting advice in private matters' probably made finishing that sentence unnecessary.
"Right." Al placed the almost empty food box he had been attacking on the table before addressing his brother. "I can´t believe you´re being this stubborn!" He couldn´t? Roy had no problem with that. "And if you value my opinion even the slightest bit –" Ouch, that was way below the belt after everything that happened, but the Colonel felt no desire to tell Al that. After all, he was the one benefitting from it. " – then you would at least try to talk with the Colonel about it!"
Ed opened his mouth in protest, but no sound came out. Obviously, Alphonse's barrage had hit it's mark. And the boy wasn't even finished.
"And I mean talk," Al stressed, finger stabbing into coffee table amidst the take-out cartons. "No fighting, no screaming. Try to solve this diplomatically." Damn, he was good. And as a cherry on the top, the kicked puppy was back, staring at the mean brother who just wouldn´t listen.
Alphonse dealt the finishing blow. "Please, Brother."
There was no way Ed could refuse him. Roy didn't think he would have been able to either. And just as predicted – or rather, planned by Al – the former Fullmetal sighed in defeat.
"Fine," he said grudgingly. "We'll talk."
Once he had forced his brother to agree to a more or less civil discussion with Roy, the youngest of the alchemists simply stole Edward's apartment keys and stated that he was going for a walk so the other two could talk without any inhibition. Since Alphonse would probably be one topic of the discussion, the Colonel had no problem letting him go. It also left Roy alone with Ed, and even though Edward was not exactly welcoming Roy's presence at the moment, it gave the older man the opportunity to try to soothe the younger's temper. He also planned to use Ed's attraction to him against the other alchemist, and that was best done with Alphonse out of the way. Roy liked Al, but he couldn't pass up this chance.
"You are a manipulative, arrogant asshole. And a Bastard." Ed growled as soon as the door closed behind Al's back.
"You call that diplomatic?" Raising an eyebrow, the Colonel's voice displayed faint sarcasm.
"Al didn´t say 'no insulting'." Edward promptly countered, which actually was true, but also made the younger alchemist sound rather childish.
"It's a good thing we never sent you on any diplomatic missions," Roy said dryly.
"Good thing the Brass never trusted you to be anything but a lazy man-whore, you manipulative piece of-"
"It worked, didn´t it? You have your brother back, don't you?" the Colonel interrupted, and for a moment, Ed was stuck by the pure audacity of the statement. Then he caught on, and despite Al's warning, his outrage was likely heard by everyone in the apartment block.
"My life isn't some damn military assignment that you have to handle for damage control!" Hmm, so Edward was aware of at least some of the lengths Roy had gone to in cleaning up after him back in the day.
"Thank you for not shouting out any classified information," the Colonel answered, wincing at the ringing in his ear. Much as he would have liked to remind Ed about Al's 'no screaming' rule, Roy really didn't want to have to rely on Alphonse – in person or spirit - to control Edward.
The direction this conversation was going was not getting them any closer to resolving their differences however. Roy grabbed the wheel to steer it back on course before it could become one gigantic, senseless shouting match.
"You can't deny that Al needed to be made aware of a few things. And that he had to hear those things from you. And he did." That worked like a bucket of cold wa - ah, let´s not think about cold water.
Roy's former subordinate stopped shouting, but still scowled at him. It took Edward a few moments to reply, but the tone of his voice had changed drastically. No rage, no anger. In fact, his voice was a study in guarded coldness, and that more than anything else warned the Colonel.
"So, you were manipulating Al?" If it was about himself, Edward could rant and scream and punch impulsively. But if he feared that someone was trying to take advance of his brother, Ed's reaction gained a calculating edge. Roy definitely preferred impulsive anger over this. And as a matter of fact, the accusation was not even true.
"If anything, Al is manipulating both of us," the Colonel growled displeased, which earned him a skeptical glance from the alchemist sitting next to him. Oh joy, the absolute trust of an older brother in the innocence of the younger. Roy shook his head before the man could answer his statement with a defense of his sibling. "Alphonse simply found out a few things he didn´t know. And so did I." The dark haired man sent a disapproving glance towards Ed that only earned him a stubborn frown and a defiant look.
"I don´t approve of your actions, but I´m in no position to judge them," Roy said as Ed crossed his arms over his chest. The Colonel sighed and continued. "Actually, I shouldn´t even be surprised. You always did value your brother's life over your own."
Edward's only response was a skeptical glare. Shifting his attention to the food boxes in various states of disarray on the coffee table, Roy finally admitted something he was very reluctant to say, but it was true nonetheless.
"The decision was yours to make and that´s exactly what you did." Roy might believe that Edward's actions had been rash and imprudent, but it wasn't fair to sit back and second guess the young man after the fact. This had been a private matter, and Roy had no real right to question Ed's decision, or to judge the boys actions. "If there's one thing I know about you, it's that you always do what you believe to be right, regardless of the consequences to yourself."
Silence greeted this statement, and Roy couldn´t bring himself to look at the blond man next to him. Instead, he took one of the boxes along with a set of chopsticks and placed the paper carton between his knees, which allowed him to use both hands to break the sticks apart as well as open the box.
Since Edward had still made no comment, Roy finally looked up and found himself the target of a thoughtful gaze. Despite the searching stare, Roy didn´t feel uncomfortable. On the contrary, he was confident and relaxed to a degree that, under the circumstances, quite surprised him.
Certainly, acknowledging Ed's right to make such a heavy decision without any interference or judgment might be surprising for the younger alchemist, but Edward was not a child anymore. Roy would be a hypocrite to treat him as such when at the same time he was willing to accept him as a professional equal, and a possible bed partner as well.
Golden eyes firmly on Roy, the former Fullmetal took one of the opened food boxes, picked up his own chopsticks, and leaned back poking into whatever dish he had selected. He was obviously waiting for something. Roy kept his silence, hoping the young man would say something to verify Roy's interpretation of Ed's current behavior. He was pretty sure the blond had forgiven him now, but wanted confirmation.
"Well? You came here to talk, didn't you?" The blond finally offered, more than just slight amusement creeping into his voice. "I'm listening."
Good lord, was the food drugged?
Edward Elric was actually willing to listen to Colonel Bastard.
"How was your discussion with Al?" Roy asked carefully, still unsure about trusting this almost peaceful atmosphere. But the half expected attack failed to appear and Ed picked some noodles out of his carton before answering.
"Better than I expected. I haven´t told him even half of what happened but -" Edward shrugged and for a moment, he appeared incredibly tired and relieved at the same time. "- he´s trying to understand. It's his own actions that he's having the hardest time understanding," the blond muttered before shoving the food into his mouth. "It –" Another shrug, another failed attempt to explain the situation. Ed had never been a master with words and this was no exception. ". . . must be strange. To hear about things you've done in a life you don't remember. But he´s handling it surprisingly well."
Roy picked at his chicken and leaned back. "Did he . . . have anything to say about what he and I discovered in the underground city?" the Colonel asked before he bit into the breaded, deep fried morsel.
The blond shook his head.
"No," Ed answered. "I guess maybe he wants to hear the entire story first, or maybe he needs some time to sort out his thoughts, or maybe he's . . . " Edward's voice faded out.
Looking at the man next to him, the Colonel noticed the signs of tension: a strained set to Ed's posture, the slight tremor of his hand as he brushed aside his bangs, the tapping of his chopsticks on the side of his food carton.
"His behavior didn´t give me any indications that he might be angry at you," Roy tried to reassure the younger man. "However he might be affected by what you have to tell him, he is your brother. Nothing can ever change that." But even as the Colonel stated this unalterable fact, he wondered what he would do if Al decided he preferred to distance himself from his brother. As unlikely as that might be, the Colonel liked to be prepared for any eventuality. He felt better having a plan B ready, just in case. And it didn't hurt to have plans C and D on the backburner either. In this case however, Roy had no idea how he could help. If Alphonse decided that he couldn't accept what his brother had been forced to do and went back to Resembool and live his life with the Rockbells, Roy didn't want to even think about how devastated Edward would be.
And since Roy had convinced Edward that he should tell Alphonse about his missing past, he would be responsible for causing the rift between the brothers. Back when Edward admitted the consequence he feared most in that one quiet question, Roy had reassured him that his fears were unfounded, based on his knowledge of how much the brothers loved each other. But if Al made the mistake of sitting in harsh judgment of his brother, and then passed sentence by returning to Resembool alone, what then?
Roy had his own technique for treating people going through difficult times and overwhelming situations. It consisted of challenging them to suck it up and move on. And in fact, Edward already had firsthand experience with it. Roy had used it on him years ago, during the Tucker chimera incident. Appealing to logic in order to ground a distressed comrade was Roy's plan B. He had never been successful in attempts to offer comfort, so it was not a strategy in his repertoire. And according to Riza Hawkeye, it was a good thing. Roy really sucked at giving comfort.
That was why it was so disturbing to see Ed eating at an almost normal pace, lost in brooding thought. Because there was not much Roy could do about it. They had to await Al's reaction to what Edward had to say. For the moment, it appeared that Alphonse was anxious to keep a normal relationship with his brother. Roy hoped that continued to be the case.
Since there was currently nothing more to be done on this front, Roy turned his thoughts to his other main objective.
As soon as he finished eating, Roy, as a considerate guest, took the liberty of clearing the empty boxes from the living room while Ed finished his own meal. The former Fullmetal's distress might have slowed down his rate of consumption, but the amount of food the young man was able to eat was still astonishing.
It came to an abrupt stop when the Colonel unobtrusively positioned himself in front of the younger man, back turned, then leaned forward to pick up a few of the empty cartons along with his own. Despite their light weight, he could hear Edward's chopsticks landing on the couch, and the light clicking as the wooden sticks bounced to the floor. The snug fitting jeans were working their magic.
It took a remarkable amount of willpower to not turn around and look into Ed's face or chuckle. Roy made his way to the kitchen, all innocence, and placed the empty containers on the counter, carefully listening for any other sounds Ed might make. That turned out to be a mistake. He perhaps should have guessed that Edward was able to move almost soundlessly. The man was a highly trained martial artist and moved with smooth agility, but Roy at least had expected to hear the automail footsteps approach.
He didn´t.
The Flame Alchemist barely managed to avoid a startled jump and an embarrassing squeak when, without any hesitation, his ass was groped. Not cupped, not caressed. Groped. It certainly was not the first time his butt has been handled in this manner, but it still took him a moment to recover from his surprise. Thankfully, the grip loosened after just few seconds, but Ed obviously had no intention of taking his hands away.
More amused than irritated by Edward´s boldness, the Colonel turned around to face his molester. Raising an eyebrow, he looked down at the blond man, whose hands still cupped his backside, arms looped around him in a lose hug.
"Don´t tell me you call that being diplomatic." The Colonel couldn´t help his slightly mocking tone. "Because if you do, then I´m really glad we never sent you on diplomatic missions."
The impish smile he received as an answer to this statement took Roy's breath away.
He wasn't sure why the sheer lack of respect didn´t bother him. Maybe it was because he was so used to Edward not giving a shit about subtle social graces. He certainly had a knack for cutting to the chase and getting right to the point. Ed was not limited in his actions by a bet either, so he saw no need to hold back, knowing that Roy was definitely interested.
"Don´t worry, Colonel. This particular negotiation tactic is reserved for Bastards alone." Ed quietly growled.
The Colonel had to catch his breath again when his butt was given a good squeeze as the blond pulled him closer. Even though his dignity was not sure if it was being insulted, the Flame Alchemist was not about to complain when he was finally getting confirmation that the younger man had forgiven him. Roy placed his hands lightly on the man's waist instead of the body parts Roy longed to touch ever since he'd first seen the young man in his sleepwear.
"You know, these pants are an invitation." Ed hummed, leaning in as Roy pulled him closer. The blond man made good use of their height difference and nuzzled the pale skin just above the collar of the Colonel's soft pullover.
"They aren't." The Colonel was not about to let Edward know he was right. "For that I would have to get some leather pants, like the ones you used to wear. That would have been an – " his breath caught when soft lips brushed the hollow of his throat, sending shivers down his spine.
He couldn't remember ever being so aroused by so little, but his pants already felt uncomfortable as the general showed his appreciation for the situation. Roy's fingers acted on their own when they pulled the cloth of Ed's shirt up, slipping under the hem, his hands meeting soft skin marred with scars. Damn if it didn´t feel good to touch them. Roy had never had a kink for scars, but each and every one of these marks made him aware of just who it was he was touching. Strange, how it could feel so good to stroke this branded skin when not two weeks ago Roy would never have thought to touch Ed like this, would have been opposed even to the idea of doing so.
Now his hands made their way over these silent witnesses to a life much rougher than it should have been, and delighted in the privilege. He took pleasure as well in the shivers caused by his touch, and the way Ed's breath caught, and the press of Ed's lips against his neck. The young man arched his back when Roy's finger stroked over his shoulder blades, and he stepped back a bit to allow his former superior to pull his shirt over his head, leaving his torso bare.
Roy wanted to look, to appreciate the view, but fingers steel and flesh buried themselves in his hair, pulling his face down. Just before his lips were captured, he caught a glimpse of molten gold, hungry and needy and filled with raw desire.
God, he wanted to fuck him. Give him he wanted, what they both wanted. Those lips moving against his felt so good, but he wanted more. Despite the pure need he had seen in Ed's eyes, the man's tongue was fighting his when he pushed it between the shorter man's lips. But it was good, so good, to feel the other man challenge him, urge him on to earn it. Even though Ed wanted this, he wouldn´t surrender so easily.
Roy's arms wrapped around the smaller man's waist, pulling him closer, tight against his own body, and slipped one knee between the blond's legs. Roy's hips shifted forward, moving against the man pressed against him, rocking the hard bulge trapped in jeans against the blond's crotch. Roy could feel an equally hard arousal, and excitement rushed through his body, setting his nerves on fire. The rhythmic movement was enough to throw Ed off balance and let Roy gain the upper hand in their kiss. Edward's moan was swallowed by Roy's lips, and the Colonel planned to pull more of those wanton sounds from the younger man.
But his victory was short lived. Just as Roy claimed the younger man's mouth, he felt the other alchemist's hands leave his hair and settle on his shoulders. At the same time Ed's left leg slid up, the thigh brushing against Roy's hip and then –
He noticed Edward's foot hooking up behind his knee a split second too late. The Colonel was on his back the same instant he sensed Ed's intention. And damn the brat, Roy knew he could have softened the fall, but didn´t. The landing was rather rough, Roy's back and elbows hitting the kitchen floor hard.
It mattered shit when just a moment later the blond alchemist straddled his hips, a predatory smile on his lips and unhidden lust in his eyes. The young man sat down on the bulge of Roy's already too tight trousers and instantly the Colonel tried to rub his hardness against the weight on his crotch, but the position didn´t give him much room to move. The slight friction he did manage was barely more than a tease that only heighten his need. Pushing himself up on his elbows, the Colonel felt mismatched hands making their way beneath his pullover. Fingers caressed his stomach on their way up as Roy sat up, leaning forward until he could feel the blond's warm breath on his lips.
Ed tugged on the pullover's hem. "Off."
The demanding whisper against Roy's lips had a rough, needy undertone that made the Colonel's dick twitch painfully with hot arousal. He needed to get out of these damn pants, they were too tight. They were in the way, too much cloth between his hard dick and the ass he wanted to shove it in. His fingers grasped long hair, forcing the blond to tilt his head back, to bare the slender throat. Roy´s lips lightly caressed the tanned skin before sucking on it, hard enough to leave a mark. Ed gasped and the gentle pull on Roy's sweater became desperate and erratic.
"Take it off." The young man repeated, half moaning and half panting.
Roy's tongue licked the freshly forming hickey, and Edwards's hips jerked forward, finally giving the Colonel's hard erection the friction it needed so desperately. Roy groaned, his hands beginning to reaching out, meaning to grab Ed's ass and urge the man to do that again. Instead, he lifted his arms, some distant part of himself warning that he should not to touch Edward like this for some important reason, though he'd be damned if he could remembered why. Who the fuck cared anyway? This was already out of control.
Lifting his arms allowed Ed to pull Roy's sweater up, and he was all for any progress towards being naked. As the cloth passed over his face, he noticed that Ed's hands let go for a moment, but he didn´t care other than that it delayed the stripping, and he didn´t hear the faint clap, so the tingling sensation of alchemic power came as a surprise. Even more, when Ed suddenly pushed against the changing cotton as it reached his wrists. It threw Roy off balance, and he found himself on his back again, hands pinned above his head. He instinctively tried to move his arms, but couldn't. Throwing his head back, the Colonel was just in time to see the successful merging of what had once been his pullover with the floor of the kitchen, securely binding his wrists above his head.
Ed took Roy's bared throat as an invitation to attack it with his mouth, much rougher than he had before, biting, sucking, and licking the pale skin. Despite the shock of the sudden transmutation and the trapping of his wrists, the Colonel was reminded of his aching erection as each new assault by Ed's mouth send hot waves of raw desire down to the heat in his lap. Once again Roy tried to move his hands, but the transmuted cloth was keeping them firmly in place. Edward paused, tilting his head to look Roy in the face.
"Okay?" he asked, with a nod towards the transmuted restraint.
It was a question, but at the same time a challenge, daring Roy to give up on his precious control and let his former subordinate do what he wanted. Ed's hands moved intimately over Roy's skin, gently stroking up his stomach and ribs. Roy let out a faint hiss when they caressed his nipples in passing, lightly, but it was enough for them to become hard, and the trapped man's hips jerked up. The movement was pure instinct, a reaction to the aching need he felt, the need for friction to get him closer to orgasm. Ed smiled at the reaction, his hands stroking up to Roy's collarbone, then back down the same way, coming to a rest at Roy's sinfully tight jeans' waistband.
Roy tried to move his arms again, to tear the cloth holding his wrists in place. Of course this wasn´t okay! He wanted Ed to release him. But more than anything, he wanted the man to move. How could Edward just sit there, the bulge in his trousers just as prominent as the one Roy was sporting, half naked and fucking gorgeous and - and doing nothing?
It wasn´t the first time Roy had been tied down, but this was very different. Whether he was the bonder or the bondee, he and his partner always left a possibility to get to free. Now, however, Roy had no key, no lock to open, and no gloves, or any way to draw a transmutation circle. But though part of him balked at the prospect of spontaneously giving up control, it was tiny and died a miserable death when Ed leaned down to nibble at his neck again, soft lips trailing a line from his jaw down towards his collarbone. Fuck it, he had a young and eager blond sitting in his lap, waiting for permission to give him exactly what he needed, so why not? Oh god, this was good, this was almost, perfect, just not enough, and damn the man for giving him only enough to make him want more. From his position astride Roy's hips, there was no way Edward didn't feel the eager twitch of Roy's cock against its prison.
And he soon proved that he did. The younger man shifted, blond bangs tickling the sensitized skin of Roy's chest as he moved. Ed's automail hand supported the young man's weight as his knees slipped between the older man's jeans covered thighs, settling between the Colonel' legs.
It felt like slamming face first into a wall. This was going in an entirely different direction than Roy was prepared to go. It was not a position Roy felt comfortable with. He was not going to let himself be –
Hips forced his thighs further apart as the younger man started to grind against the painful bulge in the Colonel's trousers. Fluid, continuous movement, the return of that delicious friction, the pressure becoming stronger each time the younger man's arousal rocked against his.
God.
Fuck.
Damn it.
"Move." He urged the man on, bending his knees to be able to thrust up in harmony with Ed's movements, to grind his own erection against the younger man's to increase the friction. Why couldn´t the other alchemist just abandon this slow and steady rhythm?
"Move faster, damn it." Roy growled, not caring that he sounded desperate. Hell, he was desperate, and as long as he got off, he was willing to live with it. Roy was pretty sure Ed would not fuck him if he refused. And he was absolutely sure that he would come before the man even came close. As long as the blond just kept moving.
Fuck, don't stop.
Don´t stop.
The humping stopped. Ed raised his lower body far enough away to prevent Roy from getting what he wanted by rocking up himself. The Colonel felt the sudden urge to cry out and barely prevented a nasty curse from escaping his lips.
"So, this is fine?" The soft purr against his neck made him clench his teeth.
Damn brat.
Roy was going to kill him.
Afterwards.
"Yes. Now move."
Without further ado, Ed's left hand found its way to the Colonel's denim covered dick.
Even if he hadn't wanted to, there was no way Roy could not thrust up against the palm firmly pressed against the tented front of his trousers. He was pretty sure the moan that escaped his lips when he threw his head back contained some curse, but he didn´t give a shit about that as long as Ed's hand kept on rubbing the hard bulge.
Closing his eyes, Roy gave himself up to the feel of getting his erection stroked through thick cotton. He registered Ed's lips on his neck, sending pleasurable shivers down his spine every time the man bit down, this tiny bit of pain adding to the ecstasy.
Then the hand moved away from his dick, but Roy's desperate cry was lost as the younger man's tongue pushed its way past his lips to thoroughly ravish his mouth. All thoughts of putting up a fight, of providing at least some token challenge for control, were erased from Roy's mind when Ed, one-handed and therefore a bit clumsy, managed to open Roy's belt. Moments later the button and zipper of his jeans were also open, and the younger man's hand slipped into his shorts.
Roy broke off the kiss with a strangled hiss. He was losing it, coming apart at the seams, but damn it, it was so good, getting closer and closer as he moved against the hand in his shorts, the palm that pressed against the pulsing length of his erection, the fingers that curled around him, god, it was good. When the hand slipped out of his underwear, he let out a needy, desperate sound he never thought himself capable of making.
"Ed – " Roy's voice had been reduced to a hoarse, low whisper. If he could have, he would have hit the man for once again denying him his relief. Laughable, because in fact he couldn't hit Edward, couldn´t move, could do nothing but wait for the man to do as he pleased. The thought sent a thrill of excitement through his body. Damn it, but he was unbelievably turned on by this.
Edward began to slowly trace his lips along the hollow of Roy's throat, then in a straight path down towards Roy's lower body.
Scratch that, Roy no longer wanted to hit Ed. He wanted to push the young man's head toward his dick much faster than the pace Edward set. Hitting him would only delay this.
Of course Ed couldn't suck his cock through his pants, but Roy still hissed when the waistband of his jeans was eased down, finally- oh god, yes- releasing his erection. Edward stopped his journey over Roy's twitching abs for a moment to take a lingering look at the swollen and very hard length now lying against Roy's lower stomach, and – good lord – licked his lips. Very much reminding the Colonel of a cat in front of the cream. Ed was completely enjoying this.
As much as he wanted to come, Roy struggled now to hold off. At this rate, Roy would shoot his load even before it came to what Edward clearly had in mind, and Roy very much wanted to experience it. The young man's fingers wrapped around hot flesh, so very slowly starting to stroke the erection- as if it needed any more encouragement- and Ed's mouth returned to the place where it had left, continuing to kiss its way down towards the dick twitching in anticipation. When his lips reached the Colonel's stomach, all Roy could do was moan and stammer breathless encouragements to hurry.
Roy wasn't sure he managed to articulate the words among his heavy moans and pants. And he didn't care. His world had narrowed to the slowly reducing distance between Edward's mouth and his erection.
That was likely why Roy didn´t hear the sound of a key turning in a lock. Or the quiet squeak of the front door's hinges. Or the hurried footsteps rushing towards the kitchen.
What he did hear was Al's reaction to the sounds Roy was making. There was no way he could fail to notice the shout.
"Brother! I told you not to hurt - OH MY GOD!"
Tbc.
You like? ^^ I was so tempted to end a few paragraphs sooner :D But I like this ending as well ^^
Review answers to non-members:
Lorelai: Yes, I do ^^° I´m sorry for the wait but I hope the chapter – and this one – was worth the wait. I´m excited you enjoy the story so far and hope you will continue to do so :D As for the actual sex scene: I guess you got a bit of an teaser here ^^
Shane: Yay XD Glad you liked it ^^
Cristal08: No, Roy is not getting much slack here :D It´s too much fun torturing him.
Dr. Chel: Sorry, FFnet won´t let me write your name right, so I' had to add some space ^^° Dating Ed is exactly what Roy´s ego needs XD or rather, not dating Ed, cause the blond has something else planned XD Happy, you liked the jeans ^^ I hope you liked Ed´s reaction to them as well ^^