Rumor Has It
Summary: It's Edward Elric's first day at the prestigious Amestris Academy. An infamous tour guide makes him second guess his decision.
A/N: Another oneshot for the RoyEd Event! Aged up Ed (18), aged down Roy (22) to meet the prompt.
Prompt:
Trope: College AU
Major level: Ed enrolls as a student in a university where Roy is a senior. Roy is assigned to give Ed "the tour".
Colonel level: One of them had already heard of the other before, either in a good or a bad way. Word count:
General level: The (in)famous one proves to be either EXACTLY as the rumors portrayed, or the COMPLETE OPPOSITE. 2437-3100
Here we go!
ENJOY!
~oOo~
Amestris Academy was one of the most prestigious colleges in the country; perhaps, even, the world. Only the best of the truly best gained admittance to the school and its top-tier education and networking capabilities. Boasting a long-standing history, the academy had persevered through wars, political upheavals, and time. Located in the outskirts of Central, the sprawling 32,000 acres of buildings and manicured landscaping were a feat of human ingenuity and creativity.
The Academy's oldest buildings consisted of early medieval architecture – castle towers, a nunnery, a cathedral, and an observatory – that were designed in European gothic style. Thick pillars, faded stone, and stained glass were all prominently displayed. A crumbled battlement surrounded the interior campus and added to the college's antiquated charm. The majority of the buildings were still in use and were meticulously maintained to preserve the academy's origins. The nunnery in particular had been repurposed into a museum of sorts, and was filled with the college's most precious historical artifacts.
Moving out from those original buildings was a visual representation of bygone eras.
Hand-moved stone transformed into brick transformed into reinforced steel and concrete. There were domed libraries, lecture halls named after influential people, theaters for the performing arts, a glass-structured botanical garden, and dorms that housed hopeful students. Sculptures and fountains adorned courtyards, and worn, cobblestone paths – lined with wrought iron lanterns – guided feet to their destinations.
The extensive campus made one feel a world apart from the hustle and bustle of the nearby city. Mulched flowerbeds provided a kaleidoscope of colors and aromas. Archways were ornamented with blossoming vines. Lawns were kept trim and tidy. The most impressive of the landscaping, however, were the trees. Flowing wisteria and willow were peppered between the towering trunks of oaks and maples. Some of the trees were older than the original campus, and it showed in their massive girth and remarkable height.
It was not unusual to find clusters of students nestled among the roots, sheltering from the sun's brutal rays.
Nor was it unusual to find lovers hidden between the shapely hedges, helping one another study biology.
And that is what Edward Elric, freshman quantum physics and mathematics major, had stumbled upon as soon as he entered the campus. He stared with embarrassed horror as two men kissed and groped in lusty fashion. A blush dusted his features as the couple moaned, uncaring of the voyeur in their midst. Clutching the handle to his wheeled trunk, and raising his rucksack to his shoulder, Ed hurried down the path lined with brightly-colored 'Welcome Freshmen!' banners without a backward glance.
Following the herd of nervous looking people into a nearby auditorium, Ed sat in an exit row towards the back. Perhaps it was his distinct features – long blonde hair braided at his neck, bright golden eyes, handsome face – but every person that passed gave him the side eye and whispered behind raised hands. Two girls sat in the row in front of him and to the left. Their quiet conversation was hardly quiet.
The first girl, a brunette, peeked at him. "Isn't that the guy who was in the news?"
The second girl, a blonde, followed her gaze. "Oh my god, you're totally right. I wonder if it's true he lost an arm and leg due to a freak car accident."
"I heard it was because of a house fire – the burns were so severe they had to amputate."
They scrutinized him from where he sat. Ed gave them a polite wave.
"I can hear you just fine, ya know," he called with a smile.
They both scurried off to find other seats.
He sighed.
Rumors about the infamous Edward Elric weren't uncommon. He was a genius, after all, and had been in the public eye since early childhood. At 6 he taught himself classical piano and played with the Amestris National Orchestra. At 8 he became a world chess master, and kept the title for three years until he grew bored of the sport. At 17 he became interested in quantum molecular physics, and built an extended version of the Wigner's Friend Paradox which threw the scientific community into a tizzy. It was at that point that Amestris Academy took notice and declared Edward Elric an absolute necessity. They offered him one of their rare, full-ride scholarships and he readily agreed. In part for the opportunity to speak to like-minded individuals, and in part to stave off the endless bouts of boredom he was prone to.
It was a delicate balance for the 18-year-old, one that ended more often than not in severe depression. He often questioned his own existence, his own purpose, the purpose of mankind – and all his answers left him wanting. It was a wretched state of being when you were always the smarted person in the room, and no one else understood the insignificance of their being.
But what's life without a little existential crisis?
The lecture ended and the freshmen were directed to put their luggage in their designated dorm bin, and meet outside for their tour. Ed waited until the auditorium was more or less empty, before he left his seat. The bright afternoon sun blinded him as he exited the building, and he perused the line of guides looking for a small group to join. The majority of the crowd had already dispersed, and he found himself the lone occupant in front of the last guide.
Said guide leaned nonchalantly against a lamppost, arms crossed as he watched the rest of the freshmen scurry away like chicks behind a mother hen. Ed took in the man before him. He was tall and extremely well-muscled – if the outline under his form-fitting shirt was anything to go by. His eyes were ebon pools of the darkest night. Black hair was worn unkempt, casually falling over his face in elegant disarray. He had a proud nose, and his angled jaw was clean-shaven. The slightest hint of a smirk graced his lips.
Ed could only blink as he briefly wondered how those lips would feel against his. He was reminded of the passionate scene he witnessed upon entering the campus, and a confused blush spread over his cheeks like a forest fire. The man caught his gaze – and winked.
Ed was scandalized and his blush deepened further.
"If you're going to keep looking at me like that, you best buy me dinner first," said the man.
Ed scoffed, "I was just lamenting my bad luck that I was stuck with worst guide."
The man looked around and laughed. "How do you figure?"
"No freshman joined your group. That either means you're purposefully trying to get out of work or you're terrible at your job."
"Are those the only two options?"
Ed shrugged. "Seems like it. So, what'll it be?"
"Guess we'll find out." The man pushed off from the lamppost and sent Ed an easy grin. "I suppose you've assigned me to be your designated guide for the day. Let's go."
The blonde flushed and quickly adverted his gaze.
"I'm Roy, by the way. Roy Mustang – but my friends call me Colonel," called the man over his shoulder. He walked in measured strides; hands casually rested within his pockets.
"Yeah, I'm not calling you that."
"Well – I did say it was for friends and we're not quite there yet." Roy pointed to a long building to the right, ignoring Ed's embarrassed scowl. "That's the cafeteria, there's a second on the other side of the library. I recommend showing up early if you want to avoid the lines. And down there –" he pointed to the left, "is the business hall."
Golden eyes put the places to memory. He was already bored and his faced showed it. He sighed and glared daggers at his guide's back, ignoring the way the muscles bunched and flexed with each step. They walked a little further, Roy pointing out this and that in his casual manner, Ed giving a courtesy glance and contemplating multidimensional eternity – it worked for them.
"What's your major in, kid?"
"First off, the name's Edward Elric – not kid. I'm legally an adult." Roy rolled his eyes. "Secondly, I'm a quantum physics major doubling in mathematics." He preened at how important he sounded.
"Alright, squirt. So, anyway –"
Ed's eyes nearly bulged out of his head. "What did you call me, bastard?"
Roy chuckled at the unnecessary ferocity he was witnessing. It was like watching an especially small Chihuahua get upset because a Great Dane lumbered by, unnoticing of its antics. It was both mildly annoying and terribly adorable.
"Do you not know who I am?" asked Ed, outraged.
"Nope, moving on –"
Ed moved in front of Roy to cut him off. He glared up at the much taller man who, in turn, merely smiled. "You seriously have no clue who I am?" asked Ed. "I don't believe it for an instant. Everyone's been talking about me since the moment I entered the campus."
Roy shrugged, stepping around him. "Seriously, I have no idea and I can't say I particularly care." He walked up some nearby steps, "This way to the freshman dorms and, lucky for you, the majority of your studies are going to be in that building over there." He pointed across from them.
Ed wasn't listening. Instead, his gaze was caught on a gaggle of girls who all pointed excitedly at Roy as he strode away. The blonde male couldn't help but listen in.
"Oh my god, Roy is so gorgeous. I heard he had sex with Riza and Winry – at the same time!"
"I totally believe it, word on the street is he loves blondes."
"Pssh, don't trust everything you hear – because I have it on good authority that the Colonel is a secret homosexual."
"Ohhh! I've heard that one too! And that he loves sucking cock."
The girls twittered and giggled at their gossip and moved along. Ed blushed and hurried to catch up to his guide, who hadn't even realized his audience had fallen behind.
Idiot really is the worst tour guide. He shook his head as he watched Roy walk. But damn does he have a nice ass.
Roy sauntered through an archway which led to a covered hall. A right turn took them to a dim passage, a left turn took them to an even darker one. The guide opened a nearby door and they walked up and up and up a curling spiral staircase. A final door was unlocked with a key Roy pulled from his pocket.
"Umm, where are we going?"
"You'll see."
The door opened and sunlight pooled into the hall. This time, Ed led the way. The view from the clocktower balcony was amazing. They could see the magnificent grounds in its full glory. The blonde couldn't help but smile.
"What did you think of my tour?" asked Roy, resting his arms on the railing beside Ed. "Not bad for an unofficial tour guide, huh?"
Ed frowned. "Unofficial?"
"Yeah, I was just random passerby. But you were so certain I was slacking on the job." He shrugged and laughed.
The blonde groaned and hid his face in his hands. "I'm such an ass."
"Eh, at least you're a cute one."
Ed froze and peeked between his fingers.
Roy grinned and tapped Ed's right hand. "Prosthetic?"
"Uh, yeah. My left leg too."
"How'd it happen?"
Ed looked out over the campus. "Now, I know you've heard the rumors. Why else would you ask?"
"Okay, so maybe I have. But instead of believing them and being a gossip, I'm asking outright."
The blonde scrutinized Roy's face and, finding no deceit, decided to tell him the truth. "Birth defect. I was born without. Nothing crazy like everyone says." Ed gave his guide a quick glance. He cleared his throat. "And, uh – what about you?"
Roy lifted an inquisitive brow.
"I heard some rumors about you…are they true?" Ed's heart was suddenly beating a rapid staccato in his chest. He rubbed at it absentmindedly, face aflame.
"Depends," said Roy, smiling coyly. "What have you heard?"
"Um, heard some girls say you had a three way with two other girls."
"True."
"And that you were into blondes."
"True."
Ed swallowed thickly. "That you were secretly gay?"
"True."
Roy's Cheshire cat grin stretched mischievously across his face at Ed's gasp. He moved to stand behind the blonde, hands placed on either side of the railing, effectively trapping the younger man against him.
"What else have you heard?" Roy whispered into Ed's ear. "I can tell there's something else on your mind."
Ed shivered and wet his lips – mouth suddenly dry. "That – that you like to – to suck cock."
Teeth grazed against his ear. "Mmm, true."
Fingers snaked to trace the outline of Ed's stomach and he unwittingly pushed himself back against Roy's chest. The latter grinned against his neck.
"What's this? Eager freshman looking to have his first gay ordeal with an experienced senior?"
Ed panted. "Sounds like the summary of a bad porno."
Roy barked a laugh. "Maybe you're right. But if I would have known it was this easy to pick up attractive looking men, I would have volunteered as school guide years ago. Saves me the money on dates."
Ed's body felt like an inferno and his head felt light. The world had come into sharp focus everywhere they touched. Large hands wrapped around his mid-section, hot mouth brushing against his neck, and an ungodly attractive-looking man at his back pressing suggestively – it was too much. Here he was, on his first day of college, practically begging a complete stranger to do gods knows what to him; he wasn't even sure of what he wanted in this instance.
"Would you want to?" asked Ed, uncertainly.
The Colonel placed wet kisses along the blonde's neck, turning his face to trace his jaw. Ed could feel the man's erection pressing against his backside and his own pulsed with need.
"You're asking me to suck your cock? Damn kid, you're a bold one – I like it." He glanced at his watch. "Yeah - I've got some time before class."
Ed spluttered and wrenched himself out of Roy's arms. Mortification and lust warred for dominance on his face. He tried to focus.
"Yes - I mean – no! I was asking if you'd want to go out on a date...with me." He shrugged, looking everywhere but at Roy. "If you're interested, it'd be my treat. Hopefully make up for being such an ass earlier."
Roy clasped his hands behind his head as he took in the younger man. Dark eyes raked across his features, settling on the apex of his thighs where a definite bulge still existed. He smiled warmly.
"You know what – sure, why not. Under one condition."
Gold eyes snapped to ebon. "Yeah, what's that?"
"You promise to not believe all the gossip you hear about me. And if you're unsure, you ask. Got it?"
"Fine, but same goes for me."
Roy grinned and sauntered closer; thumb pulling down Ed's bottom lip. "I've got a feeling this is going to be the start of something good."
~oOo~
A/N: Phew! Another Roy/Ed prompt is complete! I had a lot of fun creating the campus. I used Oxford University in the UK as inspiration!
I would love to hear what you think!
Thanks for reading!
3FF