Each individual chapter will have a different rating, different pairings, different spoilers, and a different setting and timeline. Multiple people were involved in writing this fic, I do not claim to have written anything other than my own characters. I do however claim to have come up with the plot, story idea, and organizing it all. The others who write characters in this fic are well aware that I am posting it, and contribute willingly. This fic is an ongoing project with an unknown number of parts, with alternate storyline as of the fifth laboratory incident. Enjoy!
A Crazy Little Thing Called Love
Rating: PG13-R (For language, semi-smut)
Pairings: HavocxRoy, Implied HavocxEd and RoyxEd.
Disclaimer: I don't own FMA.
Spoilers: None really.
Setting: Central.
Timeline: A month or so after Roy found Ed all beat up in his office. FLASHBACK. This section and the next are purely for filling in a few details.
Colonel Mustang, the Flame Alchemist, sat calmly in his chair. Behind his desk. In his office. Roy Mustang on the other hand, was angry. Near the point of setting the entire building aflame, even. Nevertheless, he hid it, waiting with a practiced professionalism for a particular blond subordinate to enter his office.
Under the extreme duress of another blond-haired coworker, Second Lieutenant Jean Havoc was working his ass off to get paperwork done. Colonel Mustang may have been his superior officer, but Riza Hawkeye was just plain scary.
Roy almost let down his facade for a moment in favor of tapping a pen on the desk, but stopped himself at the last second. Wouldn't do to be seen doing something like that, especially not by Hawkeye. He glanced at the clock on the wall above the doors. Ten minutes...he'd been waiting ten minutes! He'd specifically requested that the subordinate in question would be sent as soon as possible!
"There's a mistake on the last page," Riza remarked in her liquid-calm voice.
"So white it out and write it in," Havoc snapped, more than just slightly harried. "Mustang wants me in his office... wait, no, I'll retype the entire page."
"Good boy," she said peacefully.
Mustang sighed, growled, and huffed. He was considering calling Hawkeye to ask him why the hell the Second Lieutenant was NOT in his office by now, when the thought struck him. Complaining to Riza Hawkeye was NOT a good idea. Even if you WERE Colonel Roy Mustang, the Flame Alchemist.
Havoc pounded on the 'A' key for a few minutes before realizing that the typewriter tape was out of ink. Outraged at the line of events that seem to conspire to screw up his entire day, he got up, shoved his chair in sulkily and stomped over to the supply cabinet to get a new tape.
"You abuse your typewriter too much," someone remarked, then gurgled into silence at the absolutely FOUL looks that Riza and Havoc both aimed around the office pool.
Roy tried to ignore the ticking sound of the clock, turning his chair around to face the window and standing to look outside. Patience was usually one of Mustang's virtues, but in this case it most definitely was not.
Havoc had finally wrestled the tape into place (honestly, could their typewriters be any older? his mother had a newer one, and he hadn't seen her in five years!) and was halfway through the faulty last page before he realized that he was supposed to have been in Mustang's office half an hour ago. He shrugged. Patience was a virtue, after all.
By now, Roy had begun to clean. Anything. Everything. If it had the smallest speck of dirt or dust on it, he cleaned it.
Havoc sneezed right after he finished the page. He leaned back, somewhat triumphantly. "Riza, check that, will you? I think it's clean."
She snatched the page with practiced ease, casting a professional eye over it. "It's good. I'm impressed, Havoc. You managed to make only one mistake, instead of one per page. Something on your mind?"
"Other than my impending doom?" He gestured towards Mustang's office door. "Really, Riza, you should know me better than that."
Hawkeye treated him to a rare smile. "Good luck."
Roy sat back down at his desk, propping his elbows on the wood surface that now sparkled like Armstrong, sans pink, and folding his hands under his nose to peer over them at the door. It was purely professionalism that kept him from looking asleep. Really, he wasn't...just zoning was all...but he didn't look it, he'd learned to fake paying attention a long time ago -- thank you Riza's Hawkeye.
Havoc lifted a shaky hand to knock at Mustang's door, the entire office in silent support. And sympathy. Yeah, definitely more sympathy than support from these goons. He knocked. Once.
Letting out a breath he didn't know he'd been holding, Roy steeled himself and responded. "Come in..."
Havoc slouched in, mentally and physically prepared for the browbeating he was probably going to get hit with. Years of serving under Colonel Mustang had conditioned almost everyone except Riza and Ed into completely servile attitudes when speaking alone with the man.
"You wanted to see me, Colonel." A statement, rather than a question. It came out more tired than anything else, an eloquent hint to the fact that he wanted out. Now.
"Have a seat, Lieutenant," the dark haired man unfolded his hands to place them crossed on the desk's surface. "I'm sure you know what this is about..."
"It could be one of any number of stupid things I've done recently," Havoc pointed out. "Including -- but not limited to! -- gambling in officer hours, annoying Lieutenant Hawkeye several times, not getting my paperwork done... the list goes on and on."
The Colonel stood and slammed his hands down on the desk, trembling with the effort of holding back his anger. "I don't know whether to be enraged at him for not telling me, or you for doing it in the first place! You know damn well what I mean now cut the crap!"
Havoc wasn't surprised that Mustang had found out. In fact, he had pretty much assumed it. But what boggled his mind to the point of hopelessly slagging it into mulch was the fact that Mustang was using up office hours to yell at him about it. That thought alone caused a tiny grin at the ridiculousness.
He got ready to duck as soon as he realized he was smiling.
Roy rubbed his temples absently, frustrated to the point where he couldn't stand it anymore. He walked around his desk and flopped gracelessly onto one of the couches, picking up a glass to take a sip only to realize it was empty and slam it back down so hard he himself was surprised it didn't break. The Colonel emitted a heavy sigh, still rubbing at his temples. "Do you at least have a reason as to why I was not told about this, Lieutenant? I understand this has been going on since even before Fullmetal and I..." he trailed off, it was already a well known fact to his staff, he didn't need to really elaborate on their condition...it was just that...Ed didn't even tell him...
Havoc shrugged. "Ed didn't want me to tell you. I guessed that he had already done it or was planning to. Other than that, no, I don't have a reason. Do I need one?"
Roy waved his hands in the air in a random gesture of utter loss at what to say. "Fuck I don't know, you're sleeping with my lover, it's all a big pit of fraternization, and here I thought you were actually straight what with all the fuss you'd make over my good luck with women! I don't know, Havoc, you tell me!"
Havoc shrugged. "Then in that case, I'd like to get back to my work. You've seemed to have staked out one hell of a claim on the Major, and I'll leave you to it." If there was a hint of defeat in his voice, he ignored it.
"Any work you've been assigned to for the rest of the day has been divided up between the others. I don't think I'm wrong in assuming you've nowhere else to be then?" Roy deftly changed the subject. He wasn't quite sure why, but that wavering tone in Havoc's voice, the briefest shadowing of his features that flickered just long enough for Roy to catch it, made him feel sick for some reason.
"There's always some place for me," he shot back, tone hard. "With the amount of work that we scrape up, there's plenty for me to do. With your leave, sir?"
No leave was granted, and finally, after a strained silence, Roy began to nod. Yes, that would be best, to just forget about it and continue on like nothing happened, that's what he did anyway.
Havoc turned and opened the door, disappearing from view. Good-natured ribbing and jokes floated through the open door, Falman perhaps making a poorly aimed jest:
"What, was Mustang barking at you about a love interest"
A brief pause, then Havoc's cheerful laugh, an unprintable retort, Riza making a comment about language, and the soft click of a lighter.
Roy cursed himself mentally, almost out loud, before composing himself and clearing his throat. "Lieutenant Havoc, I wasn't through with you yet."
A collective groan reverberated through the office pool. Havoc poked his head back in, a cigarette sticking out of his mouth and his eyes sour and cold. "You gave me leave to go, Colonel," he pointed out, not unreasonably.
"I made a vague gesture with my head, Lieutenant, that does not mean I granted you leave..." Mustang stood from the couch, swiftly making his way to the door to reach out and fist one hand tightly in the lapels of Havoc's uniform, yanking him back into the office. Once inside, Roy pushed the Lieutenant back against the open door, slamming it shut as his free hand snatched the cigarette from the officer's lips, dark eyes blazing from behind a piecy veil of black bangs up at his subordinate.
"Assaulting a subordinate?" Havoc snapped, obviously not very happy at the turn of events. "Look, Colonel, we have a deadline to meet. I don't know about you, but I'd like to keep my ass in one piece by getting all the reports typed up on time. Will you just let me go do my job?"
His mood had been steadily getting worse throughout the farce, and it showed in the clipped tone of his voice and the unnaturally stiff attitude of his body.
"I told you already your workload was transferred, and will you just shut up already before I end up making sense of this situation?!" What in the hell am I doing!? "I can't even be angry with anyone but myself right now, thank you, and I really just wish you'd stop acting like you think I enjoy this!"
"If you're so angry with yourself, then keep me out of it!"
"You're already a part of it, Jean!" Roy was almost shocked at his own words, when was the last time he'd used just the Lieutenant's first name? Back in Ishbar perhaps?
Havoc stared, dumbfounded. Mustang had NEVER used his first name. Ever. He didn't even know the man knew his given name.
Oh, fuck... There was a moment in which the mask had faltered, Roy didn't know how long it'd lasted, but he'd hoped it wasn't noticed. The hand holding Havoc's lapels loosened and fell to his side as he turned away. "Sorry...for keeping you so long...I..." Roy trailed off, trying to calm his voice that he knew was wavering, hoping he wasn't trembling, that wouldn't do, he didn't lose control like that. Period.
NOW Havoc was confused, and didn't mind admitting it. "What the hell is going on here, Mustang?!"
Roy shook his head, spinning back around to face Havoc again. "You think I know?! I can't even begin to understand it, you think I really know everything?!" He felt small...too small...the idea of shrinking back to his chair seemed awfully appealing right now for some reason.
Havoc gave a disgusted snort. "Next time, make sure you know what you're doing before you decide to make my life hell. May I go back to work now?
"You say that like I planned all this!" Roy barely held back a wince at the somewhat hurt tone he'd used. He couldn't really figure out why he'd sounded that way, why he'd feel that way even. Why the hell did he feel like he just wanted to go crawl in a hole?
"You told me to see you in your office, during work hours I might add, for something as stupid as a romantic tangle-up. If you wanted to make an issue out of this, you should have done it on the off hours!" Now thoroughly angry, he opened the door and stormed out. "I'm going home early. I don't care what you say, I'm doing it."
A very distraught Mustang followed not long after Havoc, waving a hand to the rest of his staff. "Take the afternoon off, no questions, just go home!" The door slammed behind him and his footfalls became more rapid, quickly fading as he ran after the retreating blond.
Breda blinked. "That was weird"
Hands jammed in his pockets, Havoc made his way down to the street, ignoring his C.O., who was apparently running after him. He just wanted to get back to his apartment, take a nice shower, and maybe apply for a transfer.
"Havoc wait a second will you!" Roy barely managed to dodge a trash bin that seemed to jump right out in front of him. "Dammit I'm sorry!"
"Go to hell." It was symptomatic of his state of mind that he didn't even tack on a grudging 'sir' to the end of his sentence.
That would've been something to flare a quick incineration any other day, but today Roy felt a stab of pain in his chest that confused him to no ends. "No, I won't. If I don't follow you now I'll just kick myself for it for the rest of my godforsaken life, Jean!" He'd caught up now, though he didn't feel any less small than before at the moment.
"Good for you!" Havoc snarled, pure unadulterated rage seeming to surround him. "I told you to leave me out of this! You've won, dammit! Leave me alone!"
"I can't!" Roy grabbed Havoc's wrist as they reached the secluded complex. "I can't, Jean...this is more than me...more than you...more than Edward, understand? Hell right now I don't even think it has a damn thing to do with Ed!"
Havoc yanked his hand free. "Has it ever occurred to you that maybe I don't care anymore?" Opening the heavy main door, he stomped up a flight of stairs. He dug out his keys and unlocked his door.
Mustang didn't let up, he already knew he'd gone too far, but he couldn't just turn back. "Has it ever occurred to YOU that maybe I DO?!"
Havoc turned, his face gray with exhaustion, his blue eyes bright and brittle. "Yes. It has. It has also occurred to me that right now I probably couldn't give a rat's ass for what you want." That dead, even tone was perhaps even more frightening than the towering rage he had been in not a minute before.
The mask was gone; he didn't even remember when he'd just dropped it. Roy looked about ready to break, pride the only thing that kept him from tears at that moment, though he was sure they showed in his eyes nonetheless. He couldn't tell what twisted the knife more, the tone, or the look, only that both together were seriously gnawing at his self-control.
Havoc opened the door, leaving it open. Two cats bolted from the bedroom, nearly leaping on the tall man. A tight smile spread across his face.
Roy swayed, steadying himself against the doorframe before he could fall. He didn't say a word at all, couldn't really. What the hell would he say?
"Don't just stand there, either get in or get out." A pretty little calico perched on Havoc's shoulder, while a silvery-gray animal glared balefully at Mustang. The gray cat opened her mouth and began to mew rather peevishly. "Honoria, hush."
Roy looked a bit shocked for a moment, confused at the change, and then shook himself out of it and stepped inside, closing the door behind him. He still had to lean against it for support; at least until his knees stopped threatening to give out and his head stopped spinning.
Honoria hissed at the new development, seeming very ready to start mauling Mustang's leg. "Honoria!" Havoc said sharply. "Into the bedroom!" The gray cat slunk off and Havoc followed, ignoring his C.O.
A soft thunk sounded from the front door to signal Roy's knees hitting the floor, followed by another that sounded with the impact of his head against the wall. He sat there slumped over in a corner of the entryway, trying to piece together what just happened and why, not to mention what the hell he was doing in the first place.
Havoc returned in a few minutes, the calico following him. He was dressed in a worn work shirt and workpants. Honoria had apparently been left in his bedroom.
"Snap out of it, Mustang," he said, voice still cold. "You'll be leaving soon enough, and your world will return to normal. I'm requesting a transfer tomorrow."
"And you expect me to just sit there and let you go?" Weary, lightless coal orbs gazed up at Havoc from his spot on the floor, though he managed some kind of a sad smile. "Honestly, Jean, I thought you knew me better than that..."
"Yes, I do. And I'm leaving."
Roy dropped his eyes again. "What about Edward..."
"He'll understand."
"You're giving him too much credit..."
"At least, he'll know why. With understanding comes enlightenment. I trust him."
"I don't think he'd approve..."
"That part I don't care about. Understanding and approbation are two very different things, Colonel."
"So you're just going to hurt him? After he confided his soul to you?"
" 'Hurt'?" Havoc's tone turned mocking. " 'Confided his soul'? Mustang, I was a replacement for you, nothing more. Feel honored."
"You really think that?" Roy got to his feet again, staring at Havoc in disbelief. "Even if that's true what about your feelings, you're not the kind to just give up like that..."
Havoc's jaw clenched; there was definitely something sad in his eyes. "There's someone better for him. And it's not me."
"That's supposed to be my line..."
"Oh?"
"What the hell do you mean 'Oh?' That's been my line from the beginning! He'd have been better off never getting involved with me..."
"Then why did you let it happen?"
"Because I couldn't stop myself..."
Havoc began to chuckle bitterly. "At least I had a reason. Maybe just as misguided, but a reason nonetheless."
"And what was that?"
"Isn't it obvious?"
"If it was obvious why would I be asking..."
"I'm in love," he said simply.
"I thought that was a given in both our situations..." Roy needed a drink...damn did he need a drink...
"Then why did you ask?"
"I thought you might have had some other reason for letting it slip...don't suppose so..."
"Why would you care in the first place? I'm nothing more than a worthless subordinate officer who stole your boyfriend."
"Now you're just trying to put words in my mouth..." -- there's a much easier way to do that you know... Roy looked up to meet Havoc's eyes at the sudden flash of thought that came with the phrase. It surprised him, to say the least, that he'd actually almost gone out and said it... "Besides...it might be true that you've stolen something from me, but it isn't my boyfriend..."
Havoc eyes narrowed. "I was stating a plain fact, sir." He eyed Mustang warily at that last comment.
"Obviously it's not a plain fact now is it? If you were worthless why would I waste my time? And did I not just say that you didn't steal my boyfriend?"
" 'Waste your time?' I'm hurt."
"Well you sure as hell don't act like it."
"Apparently sarcasm is wasted on you."
Roy shrugged. "Apparently affections are wasted on you..." He steeled himself at that, hiding the pang of guilt that rose at his words.
"I wouldn't know one if I saw one," Havoc said without missing a beat.
Roy held back the automatic 'obviously' and let the battle end there, he was in no condition for a battle of wits, not in the least. He sighed heavily. "Maybe not everything can be seen right away...some things...just have to jump out at you when you could really do without the complications..."
"From your world-weary tone, I'm assuming that's what's just happened to you."
"You think?" Even his retorts lacked the usual edge. "No really, I just followed you here to piss you off..."
"Which would not be totally out of character," Havoc murmured.
"Right, so I relieved my entire staff four hours early, chased a subordinate to his house, INSIDE his house, had a verbal sparring match with said subordinate, dropped every last barrier I've ever put up for myself, and made myself look like a complete idiot in order to piss you off."
"It worked."
Roy brought a hand up to his face, covering his eyes for a moment. "Fine...wasn't my intention but okay..." He let his hand fall, pointedly avoiding looking at Havoc. "I'm sorry...maybe I'm more sorry for myself..."
Havoc could see all too clearly where this was going, and he tried desperately to subvert it. "Yes you are. And you probably feel guilty as hell, too."
"I'm sure there has to have been something I've kept you from, a shower maybe, lunch, a nap..."
"You're probably right," Havoc said imperturbably.
Roy's gaze was cast downward, slightly off to the side, and was that door farther away than it was just a minute ago? "I'm sorry to be an inconvenience..." One foot in front of the other...just move... But he couldn't.
"Any more heart-wrenching confessions before I feed you lunch and send you home?"
"You've got no obligation to feed me anything, you know..."
"You show up on my doorstep right behind me? Of course I feed you. If you have to go home an emotional wreck, at least you can go home a well-fed emotional wreck."
But I don't want to go home... Roy finally let his gaze fall back upon Havoc. "You don't have to do this...you don't owe me anything after all this..."
"I owe you my friendship, at least. I just don't want to be used again as a replacement."
"You never were a replacement for anybody, Jean...Ed isn't that stupid..." Roy had to fight the urge to step forward, frozen in his spot. "...Neither am I..."
"You weren't there, Roy. You were the one he was thinking of, not me. You have no idea how much that hurts."
Roy stepped closer this time without thinking. "Then would you let me be a damper for that pain?"
The familiar twinge tightened in his chest. "God... don't do this to me..."
Hesitation. "Then what would you propose that I do..." Roy started to reach up, paused. "I can't...just stand by..."
To his horror and dismay, Havoc felt tears well in his eyes. "I don't know! If I knew, I would have fixed this long ago..."
"Then let me help..."
"How?"
Roy fisted both hands in Havoc's shirt, pulling him down into an affectionate, gently reassuring kiss. When he pulled away, it was only a short distance, hands still clutching material. "The only way I know how..."
Havoc looked down and over, making no move to accept or deny the offer.
"Jean..." Roy reached up one hand to turn Havoc's head so their eyes met again.
Havoc's eyes dropped wordlessly.
Roy sighed, letting his hand drop and his head as well. "Sorry..."
Havoc tried to piece out what was going on. His peace of mind, along with any objections, had been left behind somewhere around the kiss. "I'm probably the one who should apologize. I'm being woefully insensitive."
Roy shook his head, letting his other hand slip from Havoc's shirt and wrapping both arms around the other man's lean torso. With a sigh, he let his forehead rest against Havoc's chest. "It's warranted, I'm sure..."
"Maybe." He stroked Roy's hair affectionately, one arm securely around the man's shoulders. "I'm confused, tired, and sick of fighting with people about things that don't really matter in the long run. I probably have every right to kick your ass, but for some odd reason, I just don't feel like doing it."
"I wouldn't blame you if you did, you know..." Roy didn't make a move from their current positioning.
"No you wouldn't, but you'd probably still take grave exception to it." Havoc's voice sounded light and cheerful again.
"Who wouldn't?" Roy grinned a bit ruefully, though it wouldn't be seen.
"When you take grave exception to something, it's rather more intimidating than when other people do."
"Ah..."
"Are you hungry? I have a chicken pudding that I can warm up if you want..."
"I think I'm more tired than hungry right now, truthfully..."
"Then you can sleep in my bed. I still have some things that ought to be done before I pass out on the couch."
Roy shifted slightly. "Need any help?"
Havoc laughed. "All I'm doing is taking out the trash and brushing and feeding the cats. Go on, you look like you could do with a nap."
"Mind if I borrow your shower and a pair of pants?"
"If you can find a pair that fits. There may be some old stuff in the back of my closet. Oh, and be careful when you open the closet door -- there's a lot of junk on the top shelf, and it hurts when it falls on your head."
Roy couldn't help but chuckle lightly. "Is your cat going to maul me when I walk in the door?"
Havoc made a face. "Oh. Right. I don't know why Honoria doesn't like you. Normally she's fairly good-natured."
The other cat, the calico kitten, bumped her head against Roy's ankle, mewing cutely.
Roy glanced down, then knelt to give the adorable feline a little scritching behind her ears with a smile. "I think it's been established she doesn't like me, but is she going to maul me when I walk in the door?"
"Not if I'm there. She behaves around me." Havoc grinned at the two of them, the little kitten purring up a storm. "I think you're Severn's new favorite person."
"I'm honored..." Roy hefted the little furball into his arms, still scritching lightly here and there, now up under her chin. "I never would have thought you to be a cat person, Jean.."
Severn meeped and murbled at him, happy as a clam. Havoc grinned. "Well, I think we've already established that I hate dogs. Birds are too noisy, and ferrets smell. Cats are quiet, sweet, affectionate, and they seem to like me."
Roy chuckled heartily as he got a tiny lick on the face from the rumbling ball of fuzz and warmth in his arms, nuzzling against the tiny teeth that nipped his nose. "I suppose if this little one insists I'll skip the shower..."
"She'll take one with you," Havoc said airily. "She's pretty much gung-ho to do anything with people she likes."
"A kitten that isn't afraid of water? That's a new one, but I'd be afraid she might fall through the drain.." He smiled at the irresistibly cute fluff.
Severn put a paw on his nose, meeping.
"I don't think she'd let me take the time to get clean!" Dark eyes flickered up to look at Havoc, a tiny paw still on his nose and a smile still on his lips.
"Go on, then," Havoc said, smiling himself. "She'll probably curl up close wherever you decide to crash."
"Didn't you have a few things to do?" Roy earned a finger biting for stopping the petting, and amiably rubbed under the calico's chin.
"Well, since you've stolen one of my maidens' hearts, it's pretty much a moot point," he retorted cheerfully, but began to gather up trash anyway.
Severn decided that she would much rather perch on Daddy's friend's shoulder, and wiggled accordingly. She ended up draped elegantly across Roy's right shoulder, still purring.
Roy sighed, gently stroking the soft fur of kittenhood, they always were the fluffiest. He took a seat on the couch for the time being, smiling as he closed his eyes and listened to the tiny little motor on his shoulder.
Havoc disappeared into the bedroom, arguing with Honoria in the process. A crash and a yelp were quickly followed with mild cursing. The gray cat streaked out, darting under the coffee table. Severn just ignored the ruckus.
Roy blinked, glancing at the puffed up gray form under the table for a moment, before deciding it was a better idea to ignore her.
Havoc stalked out, a very miffed expression on his face. He redisappeared into the bathroom.
For the briefest moment Roy thought to follow Havoc, then thought better of it and continued to stroke the small warm ball on his shoulder.
"Sorry about that," Havoc called from the bathroom, where he was currently trying to find bandages. "You might not want to go into the bedroom -- there's glass all over the floor." Honoria hissed, apparently telling off Havoc for something.
"You going to be alright? Sorry for putting your well-behaved little pet into a mood today..."
"I'm fine. I just cut my hand is all. And forget about Honoria, she's probably just PMSing." Severn murbled in what was clearly an amused way.
Roy chuckled lightly and stifled a yawn. "Ah.."
"If you hang on a sec, I'll sweep up the glass and you can take a nap." Havoc reappeared, his hand neatly wrapped. "Sorry to keep bothering you."
"No trouble at all...really..." Roy simply smiled.
Havoc snorted. "I'm sure."
Severn hopped down and made to follow the blond man into the bedroom, but he pointed back at Roy. "Nuh-uh," he said sternly. "Get back to your new boyfriend. I don't want your paws getting cut."
Roy scratched at the couch temptingly. "As much as the boyfriend comment irks me, he's right you know..."
Severn sat down, looking imploringly at both men with overlarge green eyes. She meowed piteously. "Go on," Havoc said clearly. "If you ask him nicely, he might give you a treat..." He jerked his head back towards the kitchen. "They're on the counter, sir." He popped into the bedroom, presumably to clean it up.
Roy got up off the couch, cringing just slightly as he heard a ripping sound near the floor. He sighed and shook his head at the torn leg of his uniform pants, eyeing the gray and seething furball of doom under the coffee table and walking past, ignoring further rips. Heading for the kitchen, he looked back over his shoulder at the small piteous overcute thing on the floor. "Well? Come on..."
Severn eyed Honoria foully, clearly plotting feline revenge. She got no farther than just plotting, though, when she saw Roy reach for the treats. She trotted happily after him, twining about his ankles lovingly.
Havoc swept up the glass, letting it rattle into the dustbin. He picked up the picture that had been in the frame, and his face relaxed momentarily into a grin. Funny, how you miss your family at the oddest moments. He put it face down on the bedside table.
The dark-haired man pulled out a few oddly smelling feline delicacies and took a seat on the kitchen floor, letting the adorable little fluffball bound into his lap to attempt and eat his fingers along with the treat.
Havoc appeared in the doorway, keeping Honoria back with a foot. A fond smile was on his face as he watched the kitten lick Roy's fingers.
Roy glanced up as he noticed Havoc's footsteps, returning a genuine smile of his own. Not often these days did he have room for one of those...
"She'll be miserable to see you go when you decide to leave," Havoc remarked quietly.
"I'll be sure to make frequent visits then..." Roy softly stroked the snoozing happy kittenball in his lap.
"We'd like that..." He caught a glimpse of the rents in Roy's pant leg. "Oh for... did Honoria get her claws into you?"
"Just the fabric, luckily...I can fix it without much hassle, it's nothing serious."
Havoc turned a glare of epic proportions on the scapegrace cat. Honoria slunk off to hide in depths unknown. Turning back to his C.O., he sighed. "I'm so sorry sir," he said apologetically. "If you want, I'll stitch up your pants."
Roy couldn't help but laugh. "I'm an alchemist, Jean, I can fix them myself. And enough with the 'sir', I think we're a bit beyond that at the moment..."
"Well, excuse me," Havoc said stiffly, his eyes glittering with high good humor. "Next time you get into a scrape, I'll just remember that you're an alchemist and fix things yourself." He violently beat back an impulsive urge to say the other man's name, mockingly or not.
Roy tilted his head a bit, leaning back on his hands. "It's just a scratch, torn fabric is nothing, you can stitch them if you want though, I'd appreciate the hospitality..."
"Hmph."
Roy made to stand up, much to the chagrin of the rather comfortable kitten in his lap, who he quickly scooped up to his shoulder again. "Wasn't there still something else you had to do?"
"What? Feed the cats or take a shower?"
"Well, you didn't mention having to take a shower, I believe that was my idea, but the cats I suppose might be hungry after all..."
He snorted. "Severn is stuffed silly. Just look at her. And Honoria is too miffed to eat anything." Even so saying, he dug out a fresh fish that he had picked up that morning and set it out. "There. Happy?"
"Alright..." Roy shrugged, earning an ear nip from Severn for moving his shoulders in the first place. He chuckled a bit and patted her before working loose the fasteners on his jacket, finally starting to feel a bit overdressed.
Havoc stretched mightily, back cracking. "I claim first dibs on the shower."
Roy nodded, heading for the bedroom. "Your house, go ahead, I'll wait."
"I'll be warming up some lunch after I'm done," he informed Roy. "How hungry are you?"
"Not really at the moment...I had a late breakfast..." No thanks to Hawkeye... went unsaid.
"Suit yourself." He vanished into the bathroom, and a few moments later, a torrent of water could be heard.
Roy sighed, taking a seat on the bed and setting Severn next to him so that he might get up later without disturbing her.
The kitten curled up close to his thigh, purring quietly and contently.
Dark eyes closed as Roy just listened to the sound of purring and water raining from a showerhead in the next room.
Havoc shut off the water after a few minutes, snagging a towel and rubbing it over his head. Humming quietly to himself, he got dressed though he disdained putting his shirt back on. He hadn't washed it for a few days. Ambling out, he bumped into a very pissy-looking gray cat. "Oh, lighten up," he said.
Roy had already shed his jacket and started unbuttoning the white dress shirt underneath by the time Havoc left the bathroom, not at all surprised when the little calico trotted after him past the taller man towards it. He skillfully avoided the angry ball of gray and claws before slipping through the door with Severn at his heels.
Havoc tried not to smile -- it would only piss Honoria off even more. He nudged her with his foot. "Come on, you sulky thing. Ignore him." With the gray cat close and possessive at his heels, he went to heat up some food.
Just as Havoc had said, Roy found a sopping little ball of mewls rubbing against his ankles the second he stepped into the shower, and he almost had to laugh.
Havoc fed bits and pieces of chicken to Honoria, mollifying her a little bit. The pudding smelled wonderful, warm, homey, and savory. He found himself missing his family even more.
Honoria meowed at him. "I'm fine, old girl. Just a little homesick."
It wasn't too long before Roy finally gave up on having a decent shower and plucked the dripping purrball from slipping around on the floor to dry her off in his towel. "I don't know whether to think of you as the loopiest cat I've ever met or the friendliest..." Toweling his own hair off after fluffing up the little fuzzball that wouldn't let him be, Roy wrapped the terrycloth around his waist and stepped out of the bathroom, fur-a-shambles-calico in tow.
Havoc heard Roy exit the bathroom and began the countdown to the crash and yelp of his closet attacking. It had done it that morning, and chances were, it would do it again.
Surprisingly enough, Roy managed to rummage up a pair of overly loose, too-big pants without incident, yawning just slightly as he walked into the kitchen entryway, messy-furred calico on his bare shoulder.
Havoc had nodded off slightly in the warmth of the kitchen, the gray cat happily asleep in his lap.
Roy smiled, content to stand there in the doorway and smooth Severn's fur before it dried that way.
Havoc's head fell forward, jerking him back into wakefulness. "Mn? Oh. Sorry." He blinked blearily. "My god, I'm sure there are smaller pairs of pants in my closet."
"I was afraid it might eat me if I delved any further..." Roy just grinned at the look on Havoc's face.
"I'm sure." He gestured vaguely. "Food's ready if you want any. Excuse me for not serving you myself, but I have a rather grumpy cat on my lap."
"I noticed..." Roy still contented to simply stand there in the doorway and please the kitten on his shoulder.
"Suit yourself."
Roy would've shrugged, had the cat not been on his shoulder.
Havoc slumped back in his chair, eyes drifting closed tiredly,
Roy sighed this time, stepping into the kitchen and pulling up a chair adjacent to Havoc's. He reached out to ruffle the damp blond hair and grinned lightly. "You might want to move to the bed if you're going to fall asleep sitting up..."
Havoc jerked awake again. "M'm? I'll be fine..."
"Will not..." Roy watched as Severn hopped down from his shoulder to blink innocently up at Havoc.
Havoc grinned, scratching Severn behind her ear. "'Course I will."
"You're not falling asleep at the table as long as I'm here...might as well get up now and find a more suitable place..." Roy stood and moved around behind Havoc's chair, one hand holding up the pants just a bit, seeing as they drooped a bit dangerously low on his waist. He leaned over, letting the small calico nip his fingertip over Havoc's shoulder. "Come on..."
Havoc pointed down at his lap. "Evil cat from hell?"
Roy shrugged. "I thought you said she was well behaved around you?"
"You'll be waking her up from a sound sleep. You do the math."
"Correction. You will be waking her up from a sound sleep."
"Amounts to the same thing."
Roy sighed again. "Then transfer her from your lap to the table without waking her up. I've seen it done before."
The point was mooted when Honoria woke up on her own. She made to swipe at Roy with her claws out, but caught Havoc's scent on him. Sliding to the floor, she made no further issue about it.
Roy blinked slightly. "Well...that sure was interesting. Think you can move now?"
Havoc didn't hear him -- he had dropped off again.
This earned an eyeroll and a sigh from Roy as he nudged Havoc's arm just slightly. "Wake up sleepyhead, the bed's in the other room..."
"Mnrr? I'm awake, I'm awake..."
"Come on..." Roy tugged at Havoc's arm lightly, amused to see Severn nipping at the blond's fingers in an attempt to help.
Havoc aimed a slightly fuzzy glare at the kitten. "You're supposed to be on my side," he grumbled, staggering to his feet.
Roy smiled and offered the kitten a shoulder, using the other to help support Havoc's sleep-heavy form to the bedroom.
Havoc thumped down on his bed, gradually waking up from the blood flow. "My god, now you're ganging up on me? Roy, your pants are falling down."
The dark-haired man managed fairly well to hide a blush, tugging the garment up again as he took a seat next to Havoc.
Havoc snorted. "You should have looked for smaller clothing, I'm telling you."
"I'd rather not have been attacked by your closet, and I'm perfectly fine with what I'm wearing, thank you." He didn't, however, manage to hide the blush when Severn decided to start kneading his lap.
Havoc dissolved into laughter.
Roy simply glowered, plucking the kitten from his lap and setting her off to the side a bit. "That's not funny..."
"Yes it is..."
"Shut up..."
That just set Havoc off again. Severn just looked smug.
Roy sighed and ran his fingers through his hair.
"Oh, lighten up."
"You sure you want me to?" Mustang offered a playful grin.
"Sure, why not? You spend so much time clammed up that it gets boring."
Roy tilted his head thoughtfully. "Hnn...I still can't be entirely sure if you really know what you're getting into.."
"I'm not trying to get into anything. I wasn't even aware that there was something to get into."
"Exactly..." Roy lay back on the bed, staring up at the ceiling.
"Huh?"
"Maybe you really do need to get some rest, Jean..."
"Or maybe you can just tell me what's going on in that head of yours," he suggested.
"Maybe you don't really want to know..."
"Oh, helpy help," Havoc said sarcastically. "It's the return of the Rugged, Manly, Mysterious Colonel."
"I just don't think it's a good idea right now..." Roy rolled over onto his side, back to Havoc.
"Hmph."
"You're welcome to prove to me otherwise..." The smaller man shrugged lightly.
"How can I prove anything? YOU'RE the one being all mysterious and enigmatic. I'm just a simple farm boy."
It's probably for your own good... "I don't know..."
Havoc shook his head. "Even after all these years, you make no sense."
"Guess it's just a nasty little habit of mine..."
"I'll say."
"Sorry?"
"H'm?"
Roy just shook his head. Now he was starting to confuse himself.
Havoc shrugged, falling back and stretching his arms over his head. Severn minced over to stand commandingly on his stomach. "I'll say," he said to her. "You think he's going to be a bad influence on you?"
Roy reached back and dangled a finger for Severn to nip at.
She swiped lazily at it for a few minutes, then jumped off the bed and putzed out.
Roy sighed and once more rolled over onto his back, staring at the ceiling.
Havoc traced the line of a crack lazily. "I'm going to have to fix that..."
Roy avoided the automatic 'I can fix it, I'm an alchemist!' and settled for a noncommittal "Hn.."
"By all rights, I should leap up and run to get the putty with boundless energy," Havoc said dreamily. "But screw that. I'm infinitely more comfortable flat on my back."
Roy mentally cursed his libido, rolling back over so his back was to Havoc.
Havoc continued his monologue. "So I guess the great household gods will have to deal with me slithering out of bed with less than desirable energy."
Roy was unable to catch himself that time. "Or you could just stay in bed..."
"But if I stay in bed, I'm going to completely forget about it," Havoc pointed out, not quite innocently.
Oh, this was going everywhere it shouldn't too fast... "What's so bad about that?"
"The fact that I will forget about it." Havoc finally managed to haul himself up. "Now all I have to do is remember where I stuck the putty."
Roy silently thanked ignorance and how oblivious Havoc could be at some times, sighing heavily.
"Hrm." Havoc rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "It can't be in too many places in this dump..."
Roy immediately squelched the thought that rose, pulling the pants up a bit higher subconsciously.
Havoc blinked at him. "Something wrong? You're bright pink."
Well shit... Roy rolled over onto his stomach, burying his face in a pillow. "S'nothin'...'mfine..."
Havoc blinked. Then things clicked. "Right-o, I'm sleeping on the couch!" He immediately vacated the bed.
On an instinct, Roy bolted upright, grabbing onto Havoc's wrist before he really knew what he was doing.
Havoc stood there, tapping his foot with his arm in Roy's firm, possessive grip. "Hello? Earth to Roy?"
Roy blinked for a second, then his eyes focused and he flushed crimson, though he didn't loosen his grip. "I can control myself, thank you..."
"I don't doubt that. Could you let go now? I think you're cutting off the circulation to my hand."
"Only if you promise not to run off..." Roy managed a weak smile.
Havoc had no idea what to say. So he just gaped.
"Oh come on..."
"Er..."
Roy sighed heavily, relinquishing his grip and flopping back on the bed again only to curl up on his side. He waved an arm. "Sure...whatever..."
Still a bit wary, Havoc disappeared, beating a hasty retreat to the couch out front.
Roy snatched a pillow from the other side of the bed, clinging to it and burying his face in the linen cover. If by chance it ended up wet, he would blame it on drooling. Because Roy Mustang didn't cry into pillows.
Havoc stood in front of a stuffed bookcase, trying to find something that would take his mind off the complicated mess that his life had abruptly become.
The fact that Roy was curled in a ball on a twin-sized bed alone didn't help his feeling small complex one bit. Nope, it really really didn't.
A quiet meep sounded from the doorway.
Roy lifted his head, sitting up on the bed to look at the door, wiping his eyes a bit.
Severn had to make two tries to get up on the bed because of her tiny size, but she made it up eventually. She rubbed her head against her favorite person's knee.
A small, sad smile crept onto Roy's face, as he reached out and pulled the kitten up onto the pillow in his lap to pet her. "At least you didn't run away..."
She nipped his finger, tugging a bit.
Roy blinked, tilting his head. "Nn? What is it?"
Severn hopped off the pillow and pranced down to the end of the bed, her tail twitching expectantly.
Roy stared in disbelief for a second, then ran his fingers through his hair exhaustedly. "Don't tell me you're trying to play matchmaker now..."
She just yawned at him.
He sighed, wiping at his eyes some more and putting the pillow back in its place to crawl after the little calico. "What do you want from me..." Roy reached out to pet her.
The kitten rubbed her head against Roy's hand, purring.
Roy sighed again, scritching behind her ears. "That's one thing about cats though...unconditional love..."
Severn's back arched as she rubbed under Roy's fingers, purring until her long whiskers vibrated.
Fingers stilled for a moment as Roy shivered, one hand reaching back instinctively for the pillow.
Severn looked up, her big eyes slightly hurt.
Roy shook his head and scooped the tiny kitten up in his hands to nuzzle his cheek against her. "Sorry...just thinking..."
A soft, suede-fine paw slapped playfully against his cheekbone. Severn had discovered the joys of playing with Roy's hair.
Roy's smile faded slowly as the kitten played with his hair, and for a moment he wished he were back in his office under a mountain of paperwork with Hawkeye breathing down his neck to get it done...
A particularly enthusiastic swing overbalanced the kitten and she tumbled with a squeak of dismay down onto the bed where she bounced a bit, coming to no harm.
He shook his head and peeked down at Severn, before closing his eyes and curling up again with the pillow clutched tightly to his chest. What a mess...
Severn eyed him with dismay. She meowed huffily, whapping repeatedly at his knee.
"Don't you ever sleep?" It might've come a bit muffled considering Roy had his face in the pillow. "I'm trying to feel sorry for myself here..."
"And it won't work, not with her hanging around," Havoc's voice said wryly from the doorway. "Trust me, I've tried."
Fuck...there goes that idea... Roy felt a knot tighten in his throat which he swallowed a bit roughly. "Come back to mock me?"
"No, I'm here with a cup of coffee for you. Or does that count as 'mocking' in your book?"
Roy sat up, rubbing his slightly red eyes. "Coffee in the middle of the afternoon?" He'd given up on trying to hide the fact that he'd been crying even in the least.
"Of course. It's decaf; I hope you don't mind, but caffeine isn't good for little kitties." Severn had perked up at the word 'coffee' and was apparently awaiting something.
Roy eyed Severn curiously. "She likes coffee?"
"Oddly enough, yes." Havoc came in and passed a warm mug to Roy. On the bed, he set down a tiny saucer filled with coffee. "There you go, sweetheart." The kitten drank down the coffee with gusto.
"Interesting cats you've got..." Roy gingerly sipped the hot drink. All was silent for a while save the sipping and purring, until Roy spoke again. "Sorry..."
"Not this again..."
"I ran you off, you expect me not to be?"
"Look, the more you say you're sorry, the more I get annoyed! Just DO something about it." There. It was out.
Roy ducked his head slightly, idly trying to formulate something logical out of his coffee cup, as if it would tell him what to do. My, coffee was an interesting color...
A small calico paw invaded his field of view, trying to dip into his mug. "Severn, cut that out," Havoc said, amused, but there was no force to the command. She kept trying.
Roy's eyes softened as he lightly batted at the paw, halfheartedly. "I don't want to fuck up again, Jean..." He shook his head and gave up, setting the coffee cup on the side table and placing Severn next to it where she could reach it. "I don't know what to do..."
"You'll figure something out," Havoc said confidently.
"Would you just run off again if I tried?"
"If it wasn't a halfassed attempt like the other ones, no."
Roy frowned slightly. "I wasn't trying to halfass anything...you were going to leave, I just did the only thing that came to mind...is that a bad thing?"
"Sometimes, yes."
The dark-haired man resisted the urge to immediately spout the inevitable 'sorry' and instead moved behind Havoc, arms wrapping around the taller man's waist as he nuzzled his face against his back. "Will you stay with me this time...?" Roy murmured against Jean's back.
"Convince me."
"How...?"
"You'll come up with something."
"For all I know you might run off if I do...you ran off the first time and I didn't do a damn thing.."
"What if I promise to stay put?"
Roy sighed, tightening his grip slightly. "I still think it would be a better idea if I didn't have to convince you of anything...I mean it's just so sudden..." he paused. "I wouldn't want to end up doing something I'd regret later..."
Havoc prudently chose to keep any and all comments to himself.
"You never said one way or another...I feel like I'm intruding..."
" 'Intruding'? An odd word choice, that."
Roy was glad for once he was unable to be seen, due to the flush that earned. "That's not what I meant..."
"Would you believe me if I said that's not what I meant, either?"
"I don't even know what you meant..."
"What makes you think you're... 'intruding'? I've tried to make you feel as at home as possible."
"I feel like I should be..."
"Uh-huh."
Roy huffed slightly and pulled Havoc down on the bed, holding him back against his chest and sighing against his neck. "Just stay here for now okay..."
"Gladly."
A light kiss was placed against Havoc's neck as Roy shifted slightly behind him. "Jean...?"
"What's wrong?"
Roy shook his head a bit and moved one arm up to slide around Havoc's shoulder. "Nothing..."
"All right."
Despite his firm resolutions to stay put, Roy still found himself shifting every so often, unable to get comfortable for some reason.
"Am I too heavy?"
"What kind of a question is that? Why would you even think something like that?" Roy was positively baffled.
"Because you keep squirming around..."
"What would your weight have to do with that?"
"Just a thought."
"Hnn..." Roy shifted a bit more, content for a while to nibble lightly on Havoc's ear.
The attention was nice, but Havoc wanted something to do. Anything, really.
Without even really realizing it, Roy's free hand had begun to wander a bit.
Havoc's muscles tensed as Roy's hand drifted aimlessly. "Um? Roy?"
"Nn..." half asleep, Roy really could only offer that as a response.
"Right." Havoc got himself situated more comfortably and prepared for a nap.
A half asleep Roy, on the other hand, was a Roy who acted purely on whim...well, that and hormones...and it just so happened that his hand was not going to stop any time soon.
Havoc's eyes popped open, badly startled. "Roy, this is more than just slightly important..."
Roy grunted slightly against Havoc's neck, being jerked back unwillingly into coherence. "What is it, Jean..."
"Other than the fact that you're feeling me without seeming to give a damn or even knowing about it? Really says something about my appeal..."
"I what?" Roy blinked for a moment, realized the current location of his hand, and swiftly made a startled retreat to the opposite end of the bed. "FUCK..."
"This is a shining example of halfassing something. Either do it or don't." Havoc propped himself up on his elbows. "I'm so glad to know I've made such an impression on you," he drawled self-depreciatingly.
Only good for a substitute... never good enough as yourself, are you, Jean?
Roy groaned, head in hands. That was most definitely not what he'd meant to do...not at all... "Fucked up again didn't I..." he mumbled into his hands.
Havoc was too deep in his fight with his massive inferiority complex to even notice. And damn it all if he wasn't LOSING.
"Jean...?" Roy looked up, frowning slightly as he moved back across the bed to Havoc's side.
Havoc had drawn his legs up, forehead resting on his knees. His inferiority complex had won out, and he really didn't feel like talking to anyone. Roy least of all.
Well, this wouldn't do... Roy sighed and moved behind Havoc, arms around his waist and lips brushing softly against his neck below his ear. "Why are you doing this to yourself, Jean..."
"Doing what?" he asked bitterly. "Making my life even more hellish than it already was? Sorry, but that wasn't me."
"Fine...but I can't apologize, remember? That just irritates you. What do you propose I do about it?"
"Just forget about it. If I don't matter enough that you actually REALIZE what you're doing, then it's pointless." He wished the entire mess would go away, that he had never met Ed, that he had never joined the military.
"Is it a crime for me to not realize what I'm doing when I'm half asleep, Jean?! Well I'm not half asleep now, and damn it all if I don't want to do that again!" Roy shoved Havoc's shoulder. "Fuck if I haven't wanted to since I got here, I just didn't want to push you away by diving right into it!"
"It would have been easier for the both of us if you had!" Havoc snapped back. "Instead you had to say you wouldn't do this to me, and then going and pulling an Ed on me! It may be a mere annoyance to you, but goddammit, it HURTS!"
"You think I don't know that! I haven't thought for a goddamn second you were any kind of replacement for anybody, you know, what you're doing right now is what fucking hurts, Jean!"
"Then let's get this straightened out here and now to save us this idiocy. You WILL NOT touch me like that unless you are fully aware of it and you actually mean it." He took a deep breath, calming somewhat. "Things like these aren't fixed in a few hours. Especially if they've been going on for as long as they have. I know it's not easy for either of us, but you just have to give me time."
"That's what I was trying to do..." Roy choked out, trying to keep himself from breaking down again.
Havoc turned, his face softening. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have yelled like that."
Roy opened his mouth to respond with something that would deny that, but closed it again and just looked for a moment. He then just shook his head briefly before leaning forward and securing Havoc's mouth in a fiery, almost possessive kiss.
Havoc blinked, stiffening in surprise. But when Roy's arms tightened possessively, he decided that it would be better to think about it later. Yeah, later. Preferably tomorrow morning.
Severn eyed her two males sulkily. She jumped back onto the bed, meeping furiously around them. Finally, she just tried to worm her way in-between.
Roy pulled back and looked down once he felt the insistent pricking of tiny claws, heaving a sigh at the look the small kitten gave him. Well...that was going to present a problem...
"I think we have an audience," Havoc remarked quietly, laughter thick in his voice. He nodded back to the door; Honoria sat there, apparently furious.
Roy glanced towards the door as well, running his fingers through his hair shortly. "Doesn't look like a very happy audience..."
"So?" Havoc scooped up Severn, who squeaked unhappily, and set her outside his room, nudging Honoria along with his foot. He shut the door firmly, then turned back to face Roy, leaning casually against the venerable wood.
A thud and scratching from two little kitties demanded re-entry.
A predatory flame had lit in Roy's eyes and he rose from the bed, closing the distance between it and the door with fluid ease to press his body up against Havoc's, arms around his neck. He grinned slightly, trailing light nips and kisses up Jean's neck and under his chin, mumbling against his skin. "Seems they're even less happy about that..."
"I could always let them back in," Havoc said lightly, grinning lopsidedly.
Roy bit down lightly. "I'd rather stay in one piece for the most part..."
Havoc breathed in sharply. "That's an attitude that I share right now," he said weakly.
After soothing the bite with his tongue, Roy moved on to Havoc's mouth again, one hand trailing down his spine through the thin material of his shirt.
Havoc slumped back against the door, pulling the smaller man closer and wrapping his arms around Roy's shoulders.
Roy broke off the kiss quicker than he would have liked, sighing slightly. "Bed..." was all he could think to say before claiming those lips again. He wasn't quite sure if he could follow his own advice at the moment, though.
Havoc decided to ignore that. He was rapidly finding out (to his everlasting embarrassment) that he really really liked being kissed by Roy. There was just something fundamentally comfortable about it.
Roy, on the other hand, was trying desperately to recall if he'd read anywhere that second-hand nicotine could be addictive as well.
Havoc disengaged his mouth from Roy's having come up with a most unpleasant snag -- he still needed to breathe, unfortunately.
"Bed...?" Roy highly doubted that it was just the lack of oxygen that was starting to make him feel lightheaded, though for a moment he gulped air like it was life.
That earned a put-upon sigh. "If you insist..."
"I don't, really...just logic tells me it would be a better place for this."
Havoc snorted. "Since when have I ever been logical?" he murmured into Roy's ear, nipping slightly.
Roy purred lightly, the teeth on his ear sending shivers down his spine. "Point...well it's up to you...I for one really don't care right now..."
Havoc chuckled, licking, kissing, and nipping his way down Roy's neck. "I could care less."
"Suit...-ah-...yourself..." Roy tilted his head to allow for easier access, hands intently shoving up Havoc's shirt.
"Sorry, but no," Havoc purred, removing the hands out from underneath his shirt. "Hands against the door, please."
Roy growled slightly, but did as he was asked.
Havoc began to run his tongue down Roy's chest, inflicting a tortuous thoroughness that was probably driving Roy nuts.
Roy groaned softly, nails scratching against the wood of the door as he let his eyes close of their own volition, arching his back against the damp heat of Havoc's tongue.
Havoc nipped below Roy's navel, then soothed away the pain with teasing licks. Nuzzling up against the shorter man's sharp hipbone, he finally dropped down into a more comfortable kneeling position.
A light shiver ran down Roy's spine as he let his head drop, dark eyes gazing half-lidded down at Havoc. He sighed lightly, tiring of holding out his arms as he let his hands fall to rest on Havoc's shoulders. "Jean..."
Havoc looked up briefly, startled at the sudden touch. Absently, his hand tugged down the overlarge pants that Roy wore.
Roy shuddered as the cool air of the room wafted across slightly damp, heated, entirely oversensitive skin. He wanted to pull Jean back up again, wanted to kiss him, tangle his fingers in tawny locks and just get lost in it all, and god did he want!
Havoc's tongue darted out to briefly tease Roy's tip, then he leaned back against the door, waiting.
Roy gasped sharply, snapping out of his train of thought long enough to shake the glaze from his eyes and peer down into clear blue. His eyes were searching, questioning, as if to say 'what now...?' He swallowed hard, waiting himself for some kind of signal, for Havoc to give the go-ahead before he just did what he pleased like it or not.
Havoc trailed gentle fingers over Roy's midsection. "Well?"
Muscles twitched under Havoc's fingers and Roy tightened one hand's grip on his shoulder. "Well what? You need a fucking written invitation?"
Havoc outright laughed at that. "My, my," he murmured, letting his fingertips drift lower.
Roy mumbled something incoherent under his breath in response.
"Come again?" he said, right before leaning in for another taste.
The darker man had just opened his mouth to retort wittily when Havoc leaned in again, successfully reducing any wit into a low groan.
Havoc went slowly at first, experimenting to find out just what Roy reacted to. His hands lazily slid up the outsides of Roy's thighs, wrapping around his hips to keep him still.
Roy tested Havoc's grip by jerking his hips experimentally, shivering despite himself as one hand left his shoulder to twine careful fingers into Jean's hair at the back of his head.
Havoc licked lightly at the slit, his tongue pressing hard against hot skin down to the base.
That earned a long, low moan from Roy as the hand in Havoc's hair tightened its grip just slightly.
Taking the moan as his just due, Havoc slid his hands up to the small of Roy's back, even as he bathed the tip with his tongue.
The dark-haired man tried opening his mouth to say something, but only succeeded in a garbled "Nngh..." So he tried again, this time managing "Guh..." Apparently, trying to form coherent words was a bad idea for Roy at this particular time.
Havoc took it as a compliment. "Don't hurt yourself," he murmured, still teasing Roy.
Jean's comment received a husky growl, his teasing warranting a sudden thrust of Roy's hips.
Havoc was ready for the thrust, swallowing Roy whole.
Roy's breath caught in his throat for a few moments as his hips continued to rock of their own volition, his mediocre attempts to still them only resulting in an odd jerking motion as logic was met with all too pleasurable resistance.
Havoc's hands danced over Roy, stroking, tickling, encouraging him to loose control and just feel.
"Fuck...Jean..." Both hands now tangled in Havoc's hair, Roy held the blond's head in place, just letting go and continuing to thrust long and hard into the searing heat of the other man's mouth. Irregularly spaced pants and moans danced on the air, wrenching themselves from Roy's throat every so often as sensations ripped through his nerves.
Havoc knew that it was out of his hands now -- if it had ever been in his hands. His tongue still teased the other man, but he just let Roy have his way.
Roy distantly heard Jean's name, moaned in a voice he vaguely recognized as his own. Not long after his thrusts became erratic, white bathing his vision suddenly as he shuddered release in Havoc's throat. He couldn't be sure if he made a sound, though, every last thought focused below his waist and the heat that enveloped him still.
Havoc released Roy when the man seemed in danger of toppling over. He reached up, gently guiding him down into his arms.
Dark hair clung sweat-soaked to Roy's forehead and the back of his neck, just the way Roy himself now clung limply to Jean, slowly catching his breath and kissing every inch of skin his mouth could find.
Havoc caught Roy's lips with his own in a gentle kiss. "You should take five," he murmured fondly.
"Jean..." Roy was slowly dragging himself up from the hazy contentment he'd fallen into, tasting the slightly bitter tang of himself on Havoc's lips and lifting his head to take another sample. "You're still wearing clothes..."
"Yes, most people are at half-past two."
Roy had to turn that statement over a few times in his head before it really sunk in. "...Oh..."
"And aren't you supposed to be taking a nap?" He brushed damp hair away from Roy's forehead.
"Same goes for you..." Roy leaned in again, catching the faint residual taste of Havoc's lunch and grinning at it.
Havoc snorted. "I'm not tired. However, I do have some leftover paperwork that I need to finish, so get up into bed."
Roy grumbled at that, shooting a half-hearted glare towards his still-dressed subordinate. In whose lap he was still sitting. Naked.
"You're not moving..."
"Of course I'm not..."
"Why not?" Blue eyes sparkled innocently at him.
"What a silly question..." Roy just gazed back as though it were the most obvious thing in the world.
All right, maybe his eyes weren't quite innocent. "I'm well-known for being silly, sir."
"Of that I'm well aware, Lieutenant, but something as silly as paperwork after a blowjob?"
Havoc chuckled. "Fine, but you get to scrape up the pieces after Riza gets finished with me."
Roy shrugged, his sneaky ninja fingers creeping up Havoc's shirt again.
Havoc nudged his hands away. "Roy..."
Dark eyes looked up at Havoc, questioningly innocent. Well okay, more mischief than innocence. "Yes, Jean?"
"Go to bed."
Roy pretended to think about that for a long hard tenth of a second. "No."
Havoc rolled eyes and began to rub his forehead. "Please?"
"Only if you'll be joining me the second you can't concentrate on your work anymore..." Roy purred, tracing his tongue along the shell of Havoc's ear.
"Yes, whatever. Now scat."
"You don't sound so convincing..." Roy nipped a bit roughly just below Havoc's earlobe.
"Probably because I'm not convinced myself."
Roy frowned at that. "And just what is that supposed to mean..."
"I'll tell you later." He pushed Roy a little. "Come on, get going. Otherwise Riza's going to have my hide and any hope of a repeat performance will be out the window."
That got Mustang moving, albeit grudgingly, as he somewhat shakily got to his feet only to collapse onto the bed mere seconds after, pulling the covers up past his waist. "Just keep that gray mass of claws and teeth away from me for the time being and I'll be content to wait..."
"Of course." He opened the door, and a tiny streak of calico bounded into the room, scrambling onto the bed. Havoc chuckled and left, scooping up the gray cat and chatting to her as he went to dig out the overdue paperwork.
Roy grinned lazily at the fluffball that had darted immediately across his chest to nuzzle under his chin. "Sorry about that...wouldn't want to accidentally step on you..." He scritched behind her ears softly.
Severn curled up and began to purr happily.
Havoc spread out his work on the low coffee table, then remembered he needed the 'Who's Who' book that all Army Staff Personnel were required to have. He had left it in the bedroom last night. His luck SUCKED.
Roy let his eyes drift closed, petting of the kitten idly slowing as he bit back a yawn.
Havoc snuck into his bedroom. There it was! The big black book sat on the bedside table. Right next to Roy. Oh, well. He padded over, hefting the heavy thing.
One dark eye opened lazily, watchfully. "Back already?"
"No, I'm just getting a book. It's hard to write up a prosecution case if you don't know what you're talking about."
Roy frowned slightly, responding with a somewhat disappointed "Oh..."
Havoc smiled and ruffled the black mop of hair. "I'll be back soon enough, so don't worry." He ran a finger down Severn's backbone. The kitten yawned sleepily, and rubbed her head against his hand. "All I have to do is some minor stuff -- write up the list of accusations, classify each, yadda yadda."
That earned a sigh, but Roy nodded and closed his eyes again, shifting slightly under the covers and the cat.
Havoc disappeared out the door, suddenly not wanting to do his job very much.
Roy shifted again to get comfortable, earning a small meep from Severn to which he apologized with scritches.
Havoc sat down with the book in his lap. Reaching into his back pocket, he pulled out a lighter and a slightly squashed pack of cigarettes. He lit one and began to work.
"You think that hissy fit of a queen'll warm up to me eventually?" Roy questioned the kitten curled upon his chest.
Severn yawned, stretching out a foreleg and resting the paw on his chin. "Merp," she assured him.
Roy chuckled at that. "We'll see..."
She yawned again, gave a cat sigh, and proceeded to fall asleep, ears twitching occasionally.
Roy opened one eye to gaze down at the ball of fur warming his collarbone, sighing himself.
A deeper meow sounded from the foot of the bed, accompanied by the squeak of springs.
Roy blinked, trying to see past Severn's fuzz to the foot of the bed.
Honoria padded up. It was obvious she hated the bed, but she sat down by Roy's hip anyway.
Roy reached out a hand in offering, surprised that he wasn't being mauled at the moment. "Change of heart?"
She very carefully sniffed his hand, finding even more of Havoc's scent on the man. Finally she gave him a look that said quite clearly: 'You'll do.'
The look earned a smile and Roy rubbed dutifully behind her ears. "It's an honor, m'lady..."
Honoria's gold eyes shut slightly. The sound she was making wasn't quite a purr, but it was close.
Roy thought back on the days when he might have considered having pets... Of course, he was far too busy to give them a very good home and lavish them with attention...
Honoria's entire body spun around in an instant, and she was bounding to the edge of the bed like a kitten. Havoc's low chuckle could be heard, along with a few words of affection.
This time Roy did sit up, causing a disoriented kitten to tumble down into his lap sleepily. "Done?"
Havoc had picked up Honoria, holding her cuddled close. "Yeah. The poor sod's pretty much convicted by the looks of it."
"All too familiar by now, isn't it?"
"Unfortunately." He allowed Honoria to nibble on his shirt. "It's weird; you never hear of these people in the papers, but they're still out there, wreaking havoc on citizens. This time it was a rogue alchemist who decided that every single other alchemist in the country should be killed..."
"Worse than the predicament with Scar, at least he only went after State Alchemists..."
"But this guy was worse. He didn't explode them -- he MANGLED them." Havoc shuddered. "It was horrible."
Roy shuddered slightly as well, lying back again.
Havoc sat down on the foot of the bed, petting Honoria.
Roy shook his head for no particular reason, sighing and curling on his side despite the pitiful mewls coming from the bundle of fur that was toppled off his lap. Why did he suddenly feel out of place again?
Severn swiped at him, mewing in annoyance. "Oy, you've upset your girlfriend," Havoc said, grinning.
"Very funny..." Roy ruffled the kitten's fur a bit.
"Well, what else could she be? She's genuinely attached to you."
"And you'll be whining to the others at the office tomorrow about how I stole another one of your girlfriends, won't you?" Roy let the kitten lick at his fingertips and shot a grin over his shoulder at Jean.
"Of course." He grinned back.
"Too predictable...when do you think they'll catch on?"
"Right along when the whole of civilization goes kaput." Havoc allowed Honoria to jump down and mince out. "The only one that I could see actually catching on is Riza. Even Hughes can be kind of dense sometimes."
"You're not giving him enough credit for figuring these sorts of things out, you know...He's not quite as loopy as you'd think..." Roy neglected to mention the years before the war, it was best left unsaid, really.
Havoc leaned back on his elbows. "I'm not saying that he's not brilliant, I'm just saying that there are some things that he hasn't figured out that are blindingly obvious."
"Or maybe he has, just doesn't feel like letting on that he has."
"No, trust me, there are some things that he hasn't actually figured out."
"Alright..."
Havoc glanced up and saw the crack again. "Dammit, I KNEW I'd forget that thing was there."
Roy reached out and lightly brushed his fingers along Havoc's spine. "Care to forget it again?"
Havoc caught Roy's hand, bringing it to his lips and gently kissing the fingertips. "I never was one for home repair," he said thoughtfully.
Come into my parlor, said the spider to the fly... Roy chuckled at the thought. "Good..."
"But I think you're forgetting someone," the blond remarked, nodding at Severn.
That earned a sigh. "Woe is me..."
Havoc snorted. "C'mon, Severn, up and out."
The kitten yawned sleepily, crawled up over Roy and pattered out of the room.
"They're pretty obedient for cats..."
"They trust me and I trust them," he said. "Really, it's just that simple."
"Would they ask 'how high?' if you said to jump?"
"I don't know. The issue's never come up."
"Ah..." Roy flopped back down on the bed, still managing a bit of grace despite the obvious ungracefulness of the action.
For no particular reason, Havoc heaved a sigh.
"Coming?" Roy looked at the taller man expectantly.
"Ask nicely."
Roy 'harrumphed' at that, sitting up to drag Havoc back down with him in a playful tangle.
"Well, you're impatient," Havoc said cheerfully.
"I would've thought you'd be more impatient having to wait that long.."
"M'm? Oh, stuff like that's never really bothered me."
"Well damn you then..." Roy pulled on Havoc's shirt, bringing him close for a warm, wet kiss.
After one or the other broke the kiss, Havoc nuzzled Roy's ear. "So what are you planning to do to me?"
Slipping his hands up under Havoc's shirt, Roy mumbled against his throat, "Make love to you like it's the first time and fuck you like it's the last..." Any responses were cut off with a slow, tenderly passionate kiss as the dark-haired man held true to his word.
Please review, constructive criticism and questions appreciated, flames will be deflected back at you by Roy. n.n;
This section was solely for the purpose of explaining how Havoc and Roy got together, and the direction that this is going from a pairing point of view after the whole HavocxEd and then RoyxEd things. This happened before Ed died.
