Here it is! The conclusion. I wrote this late at night after working and staring at a screen all day so my vision wasn't the best by the end. I apologize in advance for any typos I may have missed. Anyways, enjoy!

Disclaimer: Still don't own...blah, blah, blah...see previous chapters.

Chapter 8

"Well, what do you think?" Ed asked as Roy finished reading over the documents he'd gotten from the seeker.

"I can't believe it..." Roy shook his head. "I knew the man was a little off, but I had no idea he was born in Drachma. So they fabricated this whole war just to, what? Kill off all of our citizens and take over our country?"

"That's what it looks like to me. I don't think they were expecting their spy to be able to rise quite so high in our military, but it worked out all the better for them. The man controls everything and he could easily send us all to our deaths. I suspect that the chimeras we ran into that day were the things that were supposed to kill the two of us off," Ed explained his theory.

"Alright, so how do we stop him?" Roy pondered, mostly to himself.

"It'll be tricky getting anywhere near the man. I wouldn't be surprised if he isn't working alone. There's a chance we're being watched."

"Any ideas then, Fullmetal?" Roy questioned in a tone that suggested he wasn't entirely happy about working with a criminal such as Ed.

"One...but you probably won't like it," Ed smirked.

***Two Weeks Later***

"Thank you all for your hard work," the Fuhrer smiled as he strolled through the military encampment greeting his troops. "You're all fine soldiers!" It was clear that the man was attempting to boost morale before the entire army would launch their final assault, win or die, on Drachma in the morning. Some of the nearby troops cheered, but most only responded with a small, sad smile. No one was sure they could win since Drachma's assaults had been getting more and more brutal lately.

"Ladies and gentleman," a voice suddenly rang out over the crowd and everyone began to look around, searching for the source. "There is something that you all need to know before tomorrow. You will not be marching into a battle that you can win, though most of you probably already suspect as much."

"Find out where that's coming from!" Bradley growled to his attendants who quickly scampered off to find and stop the source of that voice.

"This battle is being staged and there will be an ambush," the voice warned before the attendants found a loud speaker and quickly cut the wire.

"What the hell?" "Who was that?" "What did they mean, an ambush?" the soldiers murmured amongst themselves and the Fuhrer quickly raised his hands.

"Now now! It appears a spy may have infiltrated this camp!"

"I'm no spy Brad," the voice sprung up from a different location this time and the Fuhrer's attendants nearly panicked as they ran to find the new source. "I'm just letting these fine soldiers of yours know who they really work for. The Fuhrer is not who he claims to be. This man was born in Drachma and raised under their spy network, trained in the art of infiltration. He worked his way to the top of our military. Recently, he has been meeting with the officials of Drachma to plan this assault including their commander. He was overheard saying, and I quote, "these idiot soldiers will do everything I say, including marching to their own deaths, just because of my title," end quote." The soldiers were now glaring suspiciously at the Fuhrer.

"If that is true, why not reveal yourself and prove these accusations!" The Fuhrer called out, slowly turning his head to glance around himself. Just then the attendants found the second loudspeaker and cut the cord, causing an electronic squealing sound to ring out.

"No one has ever seen my face and lived, Brad," the voice rang out from yet another source. "I'm actually just a concerned criminal who doesn't particularly want to lose business by letting you destroy this country. Soldiers! I'm talking to you now. I'm a criminal who does shady business in the black market, yes. But ask yourselves this, why would I, a wanted man, risk my life and freedom just to lie to you over this loudspeaker today? What would be the point in protecting the lives of the very people who try to hunt me down?" The Fuhrer was now starting to look a little nervous and began to look around more frantically, spotting his panicked attendants who were still searching for the speaker.

"I want that speaker destroyed and the terrorist found and captured, now! Men! This intruder is clearly trying to incite panic. The Drachma army doesn't want to face us so they are trying to deter us from even fighting," Bradley tried to explain.

"If any of you truly believe that after what I've just told you, then go ahead. Join the hunt for me. Just remember what I've said. The only reason I'm doing this, is to protect the people of the country I live in. Without soldiers and the military, there would be no need for a black market and where the fuck else would Fullmetal be able to find work?" With that the loudspeaker cut out.

"Ah ha!" One of the attendants shouted, drawing the attention of nearly everyone around. "I found it!" The man held up the third and final loudspeaker, which was already silent and frowned suddenly when he realized that he was too late anyway.

"Hey! Where'd the Fuhrer go?!" One of the soldiers shouted as he noticed that Bradley was no longer in front of them.

"Find him!" someone else shouted and the camp burst into action.

"Damn you Fullmetal," Bradley cursed as he ran, unsheathing his swords. If the seeker he had hired back in Central was right, then he had a pretty good idea where Fullmetal would be hiding. Wretched seeker wouldn't tell him what Fullmetal looked like since they were afraid of the man, but Bradley could guess based on his own observations.

"Ready Roy? This ain't gonna be pretty," Ed asked as he took his stance, prepared for Bradley to show himself at the clearing in the trees, far away from camp, where they were hiding.

"As I suspected," Bradley stated as he casually strolled into the clearing moments later, a sword in each hand. "The Fullmetal and the Artifice Alchemist are one in the same."

"Guilty," Ed smirked. "You know, killing me isn't going to fix all the trouble I just caused for you, so why even try?"

"My pride will not allow this slight to go unpunished," Bradley responded before charging forward.

Ed quickly clapped, running his flesh hand over his automail and watching Bradley closely as it morphed into a blade. The Fuhrer's swords collided with the blade a moment later and the two began a deadly dance, jumping and slashing and dodging each other in rapid succession.

"Why don't you just give up old man?" Ed taunted as their blades collided once more and pushed against each other. "We both know I've got way more stamina than you."

"That may be so, but you're still just a child!" Bradley spat as he twisted his wrists, slipping his blades over Ed's to slash at him from the side. Ed spun away and jumped back, but wasn't quick enough to avoid a slash to his left side.

"Shit!" the blonde cursed, kneeling down for a moment in pain before quickly clapping once more and slapping his hand against the blood running down his side. Bradley's eyes widened as Fullmetal's hand flicked the blood toward him, except it was no longer blood. It was many sharp, iron needles that pierced his uniform jacket and embedded themselves in his skin. "Now Roy!"

Mustang quickly slapped his hands to the ground, activating a circle the Fuhrer hadn't noticed earlier. He turned toward the Colonel, intent on reaching him and cutting him apart, but made the mistake of ignoring Fullmetal to do so. He hadn't expected the blonde to be able to do much more with that wound he had just received, but Fullmetal jumped up, landing a solid kick to Bradley's back.

The Fuhrer was forced to the ground, landing hard and driving the iron needles even deeper into his chest and abdomen. It was then that the circle fully activated and electricity jolted through his body, amplified where ever the needles pierced him and Bradley screamed.

A few hours later, Ed groaned as he slowly blinked open his eyes. Though he had been standing on top of the Fuhrer, the circle had electrocuted him as well and now his head throbbed and every muscle in his body ached as he tried to move.

"Whoa, don't try to get up," Roy was suddenly beside him and Ed squinted, trying to look up at him.

"What happened?" Ed mumbled, slowly raising his flesh hand to rub at his forehead. He groaned again when the wound in his side protested the movement of that arm.

"I told the men we were returning from patrol when we overheard the tail end of the broadcast. That Bradley ran into us in the woods and attacked us first."

"Bastard didn't get away did he?" Ed grumbled, still trying to speak to loudly to avoid hurting his head further.

"No. He's...dead," Roy explained. "Those iron spikes nicked a few major blood vessels and with the combination of the electrocution he didn't survive." The Colonel dropped his gaze to the floor, clearly uncomfortable with having been responsible for the electrocution and therefore the death of his leader, even if the man was a spy.

"Roy," Ed held out his hand and Roy took it, albeit a bit reluctantly. "I'm sorry I made you do that. Killing people doesn't really bother me anymore so I didn't think much of it when I made that plan."

"Do you think you could ever stop?" Roy asked suddenly, "...being Fullmetal I mean."

"Why?" Ed asked warily.

"Because I...Well, I realized today that you could have died in that circle with Bradley. And bad guys like him are probably run of the mill where you normally work." Roy had been looking down at their joined hands, but now he looked up, meeting Ed's eyes. "I also realized that I love you, and I don't ever want to have to see you like that again."

"Umm...can I..take some time to think about it?" Ed asked and Roy nodded. The Colonel then stood and turned to leave the room.

"I'm going to attend a meeting. Drachma is suddenly wanting peace talks so I'll probably be at it for a few days. In the meantime you'll be taken back to Central for further treatment. You're welcome to continue staying at my place if you wish. Now get some rest," Roy half-heartedly ordered with a small, somewhat sad smile before closing the door behind him.

Dammit, Ed thought once he was alone. None of this was supposed to happen! First of all, no one was ever supposed to figure out who I really am and secondly I was NOT supposed to get that close to anyone, let alone a member of the military! He drew in a deep breath and released it in a sigh before deciding he could think about it later. Right now he was tired so Ed allowed himself to drift back into a restless sleep.

After arriving back in Central and finally being allowed to leave the military hospital, Ed took a taxi back to his apartment. He was still a bit to sore and tired to walk that far on his own. When the door clicked shut behind him, Ed locked it and dropped his bag, quickly kicking out of his shoes and shedding out of his jacket and gloves. Flopping into the easy chair by the window, Ed stared out at the evening sky as he began to think.

There was a lot to think about with Roy's admission. The man wanted Ed to give up the life of being a criminal. Was that something he could do? He'd been working in the underground for so long now that he wasn't sure he knew how to do anything else. No matter what, he knew he'd never be content to sit around doing nothing all the time either.

Then he also had to think about the fact that Roy apparently loved him. What was he supposed to do with that information? The sex had been great the one time they had slept together and living with the man hadn't been so bad, but what else did he really know about Roy? Was the man expecting Ed to love him back? Now there was a thought. Did Ed love him back?

Images began to flash through his memories of the time he had spent with Roy. The two times they drank together, quiet afternoons spent at Roy's house while Ed studied in the library, Roy's pale skin covered in a light sheen of sweat as he worked out in his basement, that same pale skin on display with muscles working as Roy thrusted in and out of him, Roy's laughter when he found something funny, and finally, the concern in his eyes whenever Ed had gotten hurt. For some reason, that particular detail stood out most to him.

Ed stood and made his way to the kitchenette to grab something to eat. As he prepared a simple meal of rice with vegetables and some beef Ed realized why that memory stood out to him. That look of concern was very similar to the look he used to receive from his mother and his brother oh so long ago. It wasn't concern for a friend or concern for a colleague. It was the concern of someone who truly loves you and values your presence in their life...a concern that could only truly be felt by someone who...

"Oh my god...I love him too," Ed stopped stirring his food to stare, wide-eyed, at a blank stop on wall in front of him. "Holy shit." He was snapped out his momentary shock when the timer for the rice went off and he quickly switched off the stove and plated his food.

A couple days later, Roy finally arrived back in Central. After dropping by headquarters to report in he was allowed to go home. He would be getting some time off while the military figured out whether there were any more spies to worry about as well as who would replace the Fuhrer. The Colonel was anxious to get home and wasn't sure what would be waiting for him so the extra time off could be useful. Either he would be very happy or he would need to drink himself into a stupor and stay that way for a few days. He hoped for the later.

It was nearly dark when he finally made it back to his house and he was disappointed to see that there were no lights on inside. Still maintaining a shred of hope, Roy made his way up the front steps and unlocked his door. There was no red jacket hanging in his entry which was disappointing as well, but there was a certain pair of black boots. Though he supposed Ed could have left them there from before they shipped out.

The Colonel glanced into the living room but still didn't see that flash of blonde hair he was looking for so he made his way into the kitchen. The bathroom door was open as was the door to his bedroom and both rooms were dark. Glancing to his right, he noted that the library was dark as well and his hope diminished a little further until he realized that the basement door was open and there appeared to be a light on downstairs.

Quickly dropping his bag, Roy made his way down to the basement. Looking to his right, Roy quickly realized the light was from his home gym. The room itself was empty, but there was a light coming from under the bathroom door and Roy held his breath as the door swung in and opened on Edward, clad only in a small towel that barely covered him from hip to upper thigh and still slightly dripping from the showers.

"Hello, Roy," Ed greeted, his face remaining passive.

"Hello...Ed," Roy responded, clearly cautious.

"Well, may as well get a few things straight right now. First of all, you'll have to find me a job. I can't continue to work for the military or I'll just paint a massive target on my back from all my former clients. Also, we'll live here because this house is a hell of a lot nicer than my crappy apartment. For your safety it'd be best if we didn't act like a couple in public for a while until the underground has some time to get over losing me. Oh, and don't expect me to give you any information on how things operate or where to find certain people. I'm no traitor and I can't be sure I'll never end up back there anyways since everyone I love always ends up dying or leaving, and..." Ed was rambling and Roy had finally heard what he'd been waiting for.

"Ed!" he called out before the blonde could say anymore. "Do you really?"

"Huh?"

"...love me?" Roy asked, somewhat quietly. Ed finally offered a smile. It wasn't sinister or condescending like Fullmetal's smile and it wasn't forced and overbearing like Allen's. This smile was bright and lit up Ed's whole face.

"Yes, I love you Roy." The Colonel didn't waste another moment before striding forward and pulling Ed into a bone searing kiss. They both knew this wouldn't be easy. Ed's past may come to haunt them, but no matter what, both of them knew that they would face it together.