Glint

"Don't you dare ask me where I've been, squirt, otherwise I just might have to throw you out." Havoc threw his uniform jacket onto the couch right next to where Ed was sitting.

Ed jumped guiltily. "All right," he said, totally subdued. "I'm sorry for making you mad..."

"I'm not mad," Havoc said, perching on the arm of a chair. "I'm frustrated, confused, and unhappy. But not mad."

Ed curled around Havoc's jacket like it was some lost toy newly found. Havoc couldn't help but think that the boy looked more like a chastised puppy than a fully competent, twenty-year-old alchemist. "I'm sorry... I just wanted you so bad... I wanted you to be mine and no one else's. Mustang's had you for years..."

"Remember I told you not to get friendship and sex mixed up? That's what happened between me and Mustang. Except in that case it was superior-subordinate affection gone totally wrong." He rested his chin on his fist. "We're too different, all three of us. I'm a dog, I'm pretty much incapable of doing something for myself at this point. Mustang's the alpha. He only does what's good for the pack, and I've always had a feeling that he was sleeping with me for some obscure reason that I can't figure out."

"Can't you make your own choices?"

"I did. I am. In some cases. Mustang and I separated for mutual reasons. I'm just not like him. It never would have worked."

"It worked for years."

"I know, and I honestly can't think of a reason why it did." He sighed. "Maybe it was just us deluding ourselves into believing that we needed one another."

"Everyone needs someone."

"I know that. I'm just not the one that you or Mustang need. You're alchemists. I'm a farmboy. There's something mutually incompatible with that." Seeing the crestfallen look on Ed's face, Havoc continued, "I'll be here if you need anything. I'll be your elder brother if you need me to. Heck, I'll even try being your father if that's what you truly need. But I just can't be your lover. It won't work that way anymore."

Ed smiled, sniffling slightly into his jacket. "Oh, well. It was a good fantasy while it lasted.

"I think I can agree with that..."

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Gah! It's another one of these things. But first, apologies and thank-you's! (advanced apology for the length)

sweatdrops- WOW. Roy's personality's done a total 180 since the debut of Sapphire and Onyx (recommended reading if you haven't already). I apologize profusely for anyone out there reading this who's a Roy/Ed fan. I was kinda basing their reactions on a conversation that I had with a friend.

Ed is a young man now, with a less-than-normal childhood. He's always gotten what he's wanted (even if it was in a supremely twisted way). He's worked hard for it, but now that he's back in Amestris and Al's restored, he feels like he's entitled to what he wants, no questions asked. He sees the older man almost as a brother, but there's a sexual appetite that needs to be sated. Havoc has been understanding (even if a bit gruff) in the past, and Ed feels that the man would understand now. The only problem is that Ed used force at a time when Havoc was feeling very insecure about things: he'd just gotten over some very severe trauma and Mustang hadn't been helping matters any. Mustang... was feeling threatened by the boy. He still has feelings for Havoc, and he views the encroachment of the boy as almost a challenge; the young male challenging the alpha male for territory and mating rights. Havoc... he's just unhappy about the whole mess. He likes Ed a lot, he likes Mustang a lot, but rationally he knows that he'd be better off with Miss Hawkeye.

Who will he end up with? We don't know...

Thanks to everyone who's left a comment since I started – you've really been there to keep me going.

Torii, if you hadn't commented every time I'd posted, I'd probably still be on the third chapter.

Kaori, I'm glad that I made one of my favorite non-cannon pairings so appealing to you! (I hope you're still reading, you know...)

sketchyheart, keep reviewing! I like hearing from you, 'specially since you wrote one of my favorite Roy/Havoc fics... -sparkly eyes- More?

Jade Pen What happened? I miss seeing your reviews when my little mail icon starts jumping... -sniffle-

I've gotten 27 out of 36 done (not counting the Grace mini-arc), and your reviews will just keep encouraging me to keep going!