Disclaimer: Let's just say that if I did own Full Metal Alchemist, there would be much more *coughs* romance *coughs* ^.^
Author's Comment: Gomen ne, minna-san for the long wait! School's been very hectic lately, and I haven't found the inspiration needed, though I have an outline of how this'll go. Well, enjoy the chapter, I hope it does as well as the chapter before it!
Fireydraygon-san : Contrary to your request, I added more romance in this chapter, though it is a bit sudden XD There will probably be more Roy&Ed parts later on.
xxkurenaixx-san : School has taught me the art of cliffhangers, blame it on that :-D I'm very pleased that you liked it so far! I'll be nice this time then and not end it like that.
Kotonaru-san : Thanks for pointing that out! I was wondering about that u.u;; If you find anymore mistakes, please tell me and I'll correct it asap :)
Minna-san : Arigatou for Reading and Reviewing! I hope that you'll keep reading!
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Chapter 2 - The Inerasable Sin
Glaring at the innocent-looking cat, Edward peeled off his shirt and started to wipe himself down with the towel handed to him from Roy. If it weren't for the cat, he wouldn't be in this predicament in the first place. Where did the damn thing come from anyway? Animals weren't normally allowed onto the grounds. Ed's thoughts stopped when he caught Roy looking at him oddly.
"Na, what are you looking at," Ed said, glaring at Roy. As far as he was concerned, this was partially Roy's doing.
The man in question, not entirely coherent while he was lost in his thoughts, just kept on staring at Ed, dark eyes hazed over partially. When he stood, Ed moved back slightly on instinct, not knowing what the man was trying to do to him. Placing a hand on his shoulder, Roy leaned down to pause a breath away from Ed's lips. He was mildly surprised that Ed didn't move back more or hit him by now, but instead Ed just sat there, looking up curiously at Roy.
"Aren't you going to move away?" Roy asked the slightly trembling Ed huskily.
"Like I could," he retorted, back stiff against the wall he backed into when Roy started his advances. He was confused, though he didn't show it. Why was Roy acting like this suddenly?
Roy just smiled and brushed his lips against Edwards quickly in a chaste kiss before straightening up again. He just finished straightening his collar when Hughes burst through the front doors, a big grin on his face. Taking in the scene of Roy smirking and Ed still backed up against the wall, blushing, Hughes made a small 'kyuu' sound before shrinking back through the doors, closing them behind him.
Roy sweat dropped as he watched Hughes leave them alone, quite satisfied. Looking to Ed, Roy smiled evilly at him.
"Are you going to finish up drying yourself or are you so helpless that I have to finish the job for you," he asked. He wouldn't mind drying Ed off at all, especially since he could use that as an excuse to get closer to the golden-haired boy.
"I'm perfectly capable of doing that myself, thank you," Ed nearly growled out, quickly looking away and drying his automail and himself off. After he was done putting his hair back into its usual braid, Ed looked at Roy and found him staring at him once again.
"What? And what was that...that kiss for, anyway," he asked Roy, not sure what to think of it. He'd never been kissed before, not even a short one, so he was unused to the sensation of someone elses lips against his. He didn't know what to make of it, really. Should he be mad? Furious, even?
"To show you someone cares," Roy replied simply. Before Ed could think of a comeback, he thrust a small stack of papers into his arms. "Your new mission. You will be dispatched from here in seven days, taking Alphonse and," Roy grinned broadly, "Me along with you!"
For that, Roy ended up with multiple bumps on the top of his head and a fairly angry Ed.
"You will not be coming with me," he dared to say, stomping out of the room and heading for his own.
Roy sat back in his chair and shrugged, thinking back to what Hughes said earlier.
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"Ed, as you know, is a very fragile emotional boy, though he doesn't want everyone to see that," Hughes stated, pushing his glasses further up the bridge of his nose and leaning back on the chair in a more comfortable position,"He hasn't been quite the same since the decomposed body of the chimera, three years ago."
"Yes, and," Roy asked, wanting to know how much of an impact that had on Ed, "How much changed?"
"Ed hasn't opened himself up to anyone except his brother, and even then it was only a few times," Hughes explained, twirling a pen unconsciously,"He keeps all his real emotions pent up inside of him. Because of this, Edward is slowly dying on the inside. If he doesn't come out of his shell soon, it'll be the end for him. Scar will..."
Hughes was cut off by Roy slamming his hands down on the desk again before standing up and walking over to the door, a deep frown placed on his face.
"Then I'll draw him out," he quipped before nodding to Hughes and leaving his personal work area.
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Roy sighed. He knew he shouldn't have done that, but he was angry at Hughes for supressing the information for so long. Sure, it had taken a while for the nurse to really examine Ed, especially with the boy obviously trying to avoid being under her scrutiny. Still, Hughes must have had the info for a while. Roy had noticed that Hughes would stay silent for much longer than he normally would. The man would also go into Roy's office with the excuse of wanting to help with paperwork, but instead he would go to the window and look out it. When asked if he had something to say, Hughes would pause for a moment before replying with "Nothing". It was Roy's business to know what had happened to the boy under his charge, and Hughes was no idiot. He must have known that Roy did harbor some inklings of love for the boy.
With a sigh he shrugged and stood, heading out the door to Ed's room further down the hall. He paused at the door and knocked twice, but no one came to answer. Twisting the door knob, Roy found that the entrance was unlocked. A sly grin crossed his face coupled with a familiar evil glint in his eye. Of course there was no reason for Ed's "illness" to prevent him from having a little fun.
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Ed cleansed his hair, making sure that all the junk from the fountain water was gone. Since it was more of an open bath (there being a fairly big glass window near the showerhead) Ed wore his boxers, feeling a bit uncomfortable. Whose idea was that anyway? Some pervert, no doubt. Possibly Roy's. Then the kiss from earlier would make more sense. He lowered himself into the large tub filled with suds and hot water, relaxing as he did so. Ed sunk in a bit as he closed his eyes, sighing in the pleasure of taking time away from his normally busy schedule. Suddenly he twisted when he felt a pair of strong arms caressing his shoulders.
"What the hell?!" he shouted, catching a glimpse of black hair as the person backed off a little, "What are you doing here?" Roy really must have been the one to design this bath.
Roy winced, putting on the best puppy dog eyes look before replying.
"Giving you a nice massage?"
Apparently Ed didn't fall for it as Roy gulped. He wouldn't get out of this so easily...why did he think it was a good idea again?
Ed got up out of the water, hands reaching to strangle him, already making a wringing motion. Always one to play with fire, Roy felt an urge to stick out his tounge and tease Ed when he dodged the hands quite easily. Ed tried to run towards Roy but, unfortunately, he ended up slipping and falling straight into the pile of suds. Ed rose out of the water, shaking with anger.
"You...," he said dangerously before almost slipping again. Without realizing what he was grabbing onto, Ed pulled on the hem of Roy's pants, making Roy also fall on him. Taking the chance, Roy steadied himself by placing his hands on Ed's shoulders and kissed him fully, making it look like he accidentially did it.
Ed's mind went blank for a moment, freaking out at the situation they were in. It being too much for him to handle, Ed simply slumped to the floor, unconscious. Rpy held him in his arms and sweat-dropped, something he was doing an awful lot lately.
"Was it that bad?" he asked himself, carrying Ed off to his bedroom.
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Roy watched over Ed as he slept, the habit having formed while looking over the boy in the infirmary. Ed was clothed in only his boxers and his towel still, laying quite near the cat who seemed to enjoy his presence. Roy sipped tea from his mug, admiring the beauty of Ed near the fireplace. Remembering the first time he saw Ed sleeping, Roy kneeled down next to Ed, putting his mug in a safe spot and parting Ed's hair gently. He just toyed with the ends of the golden hair at first, scared that he would find Ed rejecting him in the most painful manner if he ever woke. To his relief, Ed never did. He got bolder and started to stroke his soft hair soothingly.
Roy nearly jumped when he heard a purr sound. Looking curiously at Ed, Roy wondered if the sound came from him. He heard it again, coming a bit further from Ed. Looking over the sleeping boy, Roy smiled as he saw the cat curled up beside him, tail jerking back and forth every now and then. Then it hit him- he knew who the cat reminded of him now. He shifted so that he could stroke both the cat's fur and Ed's hair contently.
"From now on," Roy told the sleeping cat, "I'll call you Ed."
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Next Chapter-
Alphonse reporting on the inside scoop! I got to do it this time since I haven't appeared in the two chapters the author wrote, how mean and malicious she is...Back to the point, we have six days remaining until we leave for East City on our next mission...With the Colonel?! Though Ed always says that he's not coming along, Roy is pretty persistent on going with us. I wonder why though, as does Onii-san. Roy talks to me saying something about Ed forcibly acting happy, and about what he must do to stop him from getting killed by Scar. So join us in the next installment, "Contemplations"!
End Comments: Since I was evil last chapter, I decided to let this one end happily. I've decided that, like in the anime, after most uppers, something'll happen. I'm open to any suffestions on how the next chapter will go, as I'm not very sure myself .; I'll try to get it finished by the 10th of Febuary, given that that is when I'll be busy playing Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles. I've come up with an idea for another FMA fic, but I'm not sure whether I'll start it or not since I'm already late in updating this fic.
As a hint for the next chapter, I'm going to re-watch the Night the Chimera Cries episode over and over until I finish an outline for it. I'm not very good at making things very angsty though, so it probably won't be very emotional or anything. Also, a new character will most likely be introduced towards the 5th chapter or so. Forgive any spelling mistakes and awkward sentences, my grammar isn't the best. Oyasuminasai!
