"So. Have they made up yet? Or is it a little more serious this time?"
Breda stopped in his tracks.
"I really don't know what you're talking about, sir. Lieutenant Havoc and Ed both are sick with a stomach bug. They can't possibly leave their rooms."
Mustang raised an eyebrow.
"Stomach bug, eh? Well, so long as they get it sorted soon. I don't relish the thought of having Lieutenant Hawkeye on my back about this. Just let them know, ok?"
Breda returned to his seat.
That colonel is really too cocky for his own good.
Well, he'd gotten them one extra day, at least. It was up to them to use it.
-------
"So what should I do?"
"I say just go and tell him how you feel. No games, no nothing. Just the truth. You'll have to do it sooner or later. Might as well make it now."
Ed sighed. He hadn't really wanted to hear that particular answer from his brother. Not that he would ever have given a different one.
"I can't just go over there! Not after what I said to him last night!"
You know Al's right about this, Ed. Why don't you grow a pair and just go over!
"Brother, you know I'm right. You have to do this. Please, just go over and see him."
"Why do I have to have the worlds most pushy brother?" Ed grumbled, but the was no real feeling behind it.
"Because you need someone to make sure you don't get distracted. Everything you've done lately has been for me. Just once, I want you to do something for yourself.
"But -"
"No buts, brother! You are doing this! Now are you going to go by yourself, or are you going to make me carry you there and then have to hang around for the yucky make-up kissing? Because I'd really rather not see that, if it's all the same to you."
Ed scowled at Al. They stared at each other, until Ed gave in. He shifted his gaze to a spot just beyond Al's left shoulder and sighed again. He squeezed his eyes shut, ran a hand over his face.
"Ok. I'll go. But if this doesn't work, I'm going to take it out on you."
"That really doesn't come as any surprise. But it will work. I know it will."
Al sat cross-legged on the floor, watching Ed retrieve his coat, straighten his hair and generally put off going as long as possible.
"Why are you stalling?" Al asked as Ed began working on non-existent loose hairs.
"I'm not stalling! I'm just making sure I look my best before I go over is all!"
"You do want to make up with him, don't you?"
"I do. It's just..." Ed stopped. He put his hands on the dresser and dropped his head.
"It's just what?"
Ed turned to face Al, but continued looking downwards.
"I'm scared, Al. What if he won't take me back? What if he says no? I don't think...it would just be too much."
"And what if he does? What if he says yes?" Al replied softly. "You're never going to know if you don't do it."
Ed looked at Al, a faint smile crossing his features.
"I love you, Al. You know that?"
"I know!" Al laughed. "Now leave! Get out!"
Ed grinned, and spun towards the door. He set out, hands shoved in his pockets.
"And don't come back 'til tomorrow morning!" Al shouted after him.
-------
Havoc sat in the yard. It had been an hour since Breda had left, and he was quite enjoying just relaxing in the warmth of the sun. He had been doing a lot of thinking in that hour. About himself, about Ed. Mainly about Ed though. Damn, but if he didn't love that boy. What he wouldn't do to get him back. But that would have to wait a few days. He had to give him at least that long.
CAN I though? Can I wait that long?
Havoc tipped his head back and watched the smoke from his cigarette wind it's way into the sky before disappearing. He took a drag, and blew another cloud skywards.
Fly away, smoke. Fly away and be free. Will Ed ever want to come back to me? Will I ever be enough for someone like him?
Havoc closed his eyes. He supposed that was the problem right there. He just wasn't good enough for anyone, especially not someone like Ed. He only had to look at his track record. Everyone always ended up leaving him for someone else.
Usually the same someone else, too. At least Ed hasn't gone there.
I hope.
No, the thought of Ed going there was ridiculous. This time, it was completely Havoc. He was the reason Ed had left. Not because he had found someone else, but because Havoc wasn't able to keep hold of him. Havoc felt the pain starting again in his chest, and he closed his eyes to it.
Damn. And I'd managed to make it go away for a whole hour.
He took another drag of smoke, then blew it out. The rushing air caused the build up of ash on the end to fall, straight into Havoc's partially open mouth. In shock, he took a breath in and immediately began choking on the inhaled ash. He slumped forward, unable to control the coughing.
"You know, if you'd quit when I told you to, you wouldn't be dying right now."
I must be dying if I'm hearing that voice.
Havoc looked up. There, standing at the end of the path, was an angel in red. Havoc brushed the tears of coughing from his eyes and blinked to clear them.
Edward...you're here.
Ed waited until Havoc had brought his coughing under control.
"Can I come and talk to you?"
Havoc nodded, but made no move to get up. He didn't know what he might do if he allowed himself to move towards this golden-haired god. Edward walked to Havoc. Still Havoc remained, not quite believing that Ed had come to see him.
Why? Why is he here? Has he come to kick me further?
Is it wrong that I would take it, if it were from him?
Ed sat on the grass near Havoc. He was close enough that one could say they were next to one another, but far enough away that Havoc couldn't reach and touch him.
"This ground is still damp. You'll get sick if you keep sitting on it." Ed said, looking toward the road. Havoc didn't respond, instead lighting a new cigarette. They continued sitting like that, both looking in the same general direction, neither saying a word, until Havoc was halfway through his smoke.
"Why are you here, Ed? You said you wanted to talk, but you're just sitting here. Why?"
"I – I don't know what to say. I mean, I know what to say, but I don't know the words."
I knew it. He's going to tell me that he was serious, that he can't be around me. He'll tell me he's leaving, that we won't ever see each other again.
"It's alright. You don't need to say it. I already know what you're going to say, so you might as well save your breath. I don't need to hear it again."
Ed's head whipped around. His eyes were narrowed, eyebrows drawn together in the centre.
"How can you know what I'm going to say when even I'M not sure? You always think you know better, don't you?"
"You've come to reiterate what you said yesterday, haven't you? You've come to say that you're leaving, that you'll be moving on. That you'll forget all about me."
Havoc looked straight into Ed's eyes as he said it. He saw as the boys eyes grew wider and wider as he went on. He wondered if Ed could guess how he knew why he was there, if he knew that Havoc had been through this time and time again. Well. It was done now. He could leave without feeling guilty, and Havoc could work through the rejection like he always did. He supposed it was better this way. Not that hurt any less.
Ed's face grew angry at the word 'forget', and he leaped to his feet. He took a quick step in front of Havoc, leaned down and shoved his shoulder.
"Shows what you know, doesn't it? I wonder who's the bigger idiot here – you, just for being one, or me for falling in love with you."
Havoc stopped rubbing his shoulder and stared in wonder. His cigarette fell to the ground.
Falling in love...with me?
"You – you what?"
"Figures you'd go deaf now. I came to say that I was wrong. I didn't mean what I said last night. I shouldn't have said it. I had my reasons, but I shouldn't have said what I did. I love you, Jean. I'm in love with you. Please, forgive me. Take me back. Please."
Before Havoc knew what he was doing, he was pulling Ed down into his lap and kissing him like he'd never kissed anyone before. He didn't care if the neighbours saw them, and from the feel of things neither did Edward.
"God, Ed. I love you so much." he mumbled into the kiss. He could feel the happiness about to burst inside him.
Well, not just the happiness.
Havoc pulled away from the kiss to look into Edwards eyes. He placed a hand either side of that beautiful face, and savoured the sight.
"Breda's going to be very upset we aren't going to be able to use his plan to get you back."
"We'll just have to tell him that Al's plan was faster."
Havoc pulled Ed into his arms, pressing his ear against the side of Edwards head. He was never going to let Edward go again. Never.
"I love you, Jean.""I love you too, Edward."
Owari