So many loving reviewers! But I'm only getting a small number of reviews for each chapter. . .I would surely hate to hold out chapters on you.

But I will if I have to.

Icicle1321 - There will be shooting. And pistol-whipping!
keosis-chan - Chapter for you, loyal reviewer.
Eds Lover - Ta-da, update!
PatrioticPuppy - Again, ta-da!
hobosamiam - I thank you.
Neo Diji - I read that watermelon story. It's fantastic!
Tsukiyomi Kagirinai - I thank you as well.
Suicidal Kitsune – I was wondering where your usual contribution was. . .

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Chapter 4: Love at Last

Stage 1

Ed was dozing in the hallway leading to Mustang's office. His plan was simple; whenever they encountered each other Mustang manipulated Ed's lack of height knowing it was his weakness. And now Ed had to do the same to Mustang. The Flame Alchemist liked to think he had no weakness but far from it. Ed knew.

He lowered his head and waited.

Almost a half hour later, when he actually had almost drifted to sleep, Mustang stepped from his office. Fortunately, he didn't trip over the roadblock that was the young alchemist. "Watch where you're going," Ed muttered faintly. Mustang straightened with a cocky smirk. "I do hope you'll forgive me. With such a small blockade one is liable to fall." Ed carefully contained his anger.

His complete ignorance of Roy's comment perked the older alchemist's interest. "Fullmetal, I'm speaking to you. Or perhaps, you can't hear me from way down there?" Again, Ed was silent. Mustang raised an eyebrow, curious as to why nothing worked in irritating him. Irritating Ed was one of Mustang's favorite pastimes. How disappointing.

He stepped carefully over Ed's legs. "Don't stay there to long, Fullmetal. One could easily forget you were sitting there." Ed's only response was a bored yawn. Mustang's eyes narrowed and he continued on his way. Edward grinned when he was sure that the Colonel was out of ear and eye shot. "That's advantage: Elric," he said triumphantly and rose to his feet.

In short, it continued that way for the rest of the day. All of Ed's friends, family, and acquaintances would be astonished by the patience that Ed displayed because Mustang was dishing out his best and at every turn.

Like in the mess hall.

"Don't forget to drink your milk, Fullmetal. It would surely benefit what little height you have." Ed eyed his milk like it was a more formidable opponent than Mustang and left it on the tray.

And in the library.

Ed searched the shelves of books as Mustang snuck up from behind. "Shall I call someone to help you, Fullmetal? Or maybe I'll just get you a stepping stool to reach the high-up books." Ed snapped close his alchemy book and left the bewildered Colonel.

And on the battlefield as he sparred with Al.

"Maybe we should find him a more height-suitable opponent. Say, a seven-year old?"

All day.

"Vertically challenged."

"Half-pint."

"Chibi Alchemist."

"Short stuff."

"Little man."

"Pocket-sized dwarf."

After every insult, Ed returned to his room and carefully burned a pair of Mustang's gloves with a small lighter. After, Ed's non-reaction to, "Tiny runt," Mustang was verbally exhausted. He sighed faintly and stopped short from saying, "I give up." and just retreated to his office. Well, Stage 1: Ignore the Colonel went very well and as night fell, Ed was completely prepared.

He went to Mustang's office and opened the door without asking. The Colonel looked up, "What is it now, Fullmetal? I have no time for games. Please find some else you can waste time-" Ed cut him off. "Come with me." And he turned away, knowing the Colonel would follow. And follow he did. He was silent while he walked behind the golden-haired boy. "Fullmetal, where are we going?" The duo exited the HQ building as Ed stood some feet away from Mustang.

The Colonel was pleasantly surprised. "Care to tell me what is going on?" he asked the rigid teen. Ed's fist clenched and he exploded. "YOU THINK I'LL LET YOU CALL ME SOME HALF PINT, MICRO, POCKET-SIZED, TINY, UNSEEABLE, COMPACT ALCHEMIST YOU CAN CARRY AROUND ON A KEYCHAIN! Well, you're gonna learn Mustang." He clapped his hands together and created a blade on his auto-mail. "What I lack in height, I make up for in other departments."

Mustang's surprise changed to amusement. "You came to fight me? In that case, I fully accept." He pulled his hands from his pockets and raised it. "Are you rea-?" He was cut off as Ed charged at him. The Flame Alchemist's eyes narrowed and he snapped his fingers. Ed was already in the air as the blast of fire completely missed him. Mustang brought up his left hand and snapped again causing Ed to twist in mid-air. With a wild yell, he swung down and slashed open the front of the Colonel's uniform with the blade.

Mustang was very surprised that Ed had landed a blow. He jumped away but not before Ed could move in for another attack. He barely dodged an enraged swing at his head but he knew he had to. To be struck in the face by Ed would just be too much embarrassment. "My, you're aggressive aren't you?" Mustang said and snapped his fingers. Ed clapped both hands and then slammed them on the ground. A giant stone shield rose up. There was a black vortex in the middle and the fire was pulled in. "Strike quickly, and you'll end it quickly," Ed growled, quoting Mustang from their very first battle.

Mustang laughed. "Oh, you're quoting me now? You must really look up to me. Of course, you have to do that all the time." Ed slammed his hand against the shield and the fire that had been sucked in was now redirected right at Mustang.

"What?"

Needless to say, he was caught off-guard and ended up getting blasted by his own attack. Mustang flew a few feet and ended up on his back. Ed retracted the metal blade and again slammed his hands onto the ground. The rocks that had been dislodged from the ground because of his attack, melted slowly around Mustang. Surprise took over and it was too late when he noticed they were becoming water. His gloves were soaked.

Ed walked to where Mustang sat, standing in front of his officer. "A soldier favors haste over cleverness. But I favor both." A corner of his mouth lifted but then he smirked. "Oh you think you're clever?" He drew back his left hand and swung at Ed's stomach. But he'd expected that move. He caught the Colonel's attack with his automail hand, (severely hurting Mustang's hand in the process) and smirked an equally cocky smirk. "Yes. I do." Before the older man could react, Ed violently wrenched off his glove and headed back into HQ.

"Hey!" Mustang watched him run and rose to his feet. "Fullmetal!" He growled lowly and ran after the fleeting alchemist. Maybe it was because of Ed's size but he was able to jump, duck, and dodge furniture and obstacles. But being a war hero, Mustang could do this too. Ed jumped and cleared a fallen chair. Mustang, with surprising grace, sent himself into a one-handed front flip and also cleared it. Ed slowed a little to watch but kept moving, finally hiding in his room. Mustang furiously tried to dry his wet glove as he stood outside the door.

"Nowhere to run now, Fullmetal," he said darkly and kicked open the door. He ducked on instinct and with reason as Ed swung at his head. The Colonel retaliated with a swung of his own and Ed bent back and flipped away from him. He held up Mustang's glove. "This is what you want, right?" He stepped forward, "It's all for you." He barely finished his sentence before he lunged with another punch at Mustang.

But the older alchemist had anticipated that. The Colonel's fist buried itself comfortably into the center of Ed's stomach. The blonde-haired teen doubled over, wheezing and Roy took the time to snatch his glove back. "Foolish," the Flame Alchemist said, withdrawing his fist and causing Ed to fall to his knees. Ed struggled for breath but looked up as Mustang slipped on the glove, watched as the expression of surprise crossed his face and as the alchemist turned still.

Ed grinned, slowly rising to his feet. "Foolish, Mustang?" He took a short, painful breath. "You couldn't have seen it unless you were searching for it. While you were outside, I took the time to draw a zira circle on the inside of your glove. I'd say that was pretty clever, huh? I learned all about it," he continued. "It's up to me how much you can move. I left you the use of your limbs and mouth but it won't do you any good." Slowly, he reached up and ran a warm metallic finger down the side of Roy's face.

"Now I have you all for myself. . ."

"You said it yourself," he continued. (Mango quotes proceeding.) "The first thing you should do to gain control in a battle is to immobilize your enemy." Ed looked Mustang up and down. "Enemy: immobilized. Surprise attacks are very effective." He looked at Mustang's face. "You seem surprised to me." Mustang regained a former smirk. "And now what do you plan to do with me, Edward?"

Edward took Mustang's right hand and raised it to his face with a bored expression. "Whatever I want." Slowly, he bit down on the tip of Mustang's index finger and pulled off the glove with his teeth. Mustang watched, amazed as Ed performed the action and then slipped the glove onto his automail hand. It had dried now too which was bad news for Mustang.

"If I remember: When you snap, it makes a spark. Then, you use Alchemy to change the air's oxygen density and create bombs on command." Ed snapped his fingers and a spark appeared in midair. He did a few more times than smiled. "Easy." He leaned in to within inches of Mustang's face. "Now what will I do with you?"

Tension built in Mustang's eyes. "Fullmetal, you can be so unfair." Ed raised an eyebrow. "Fair? It was you who told me, 'all war is deception. That there are no cheap shots.' Mustang nodded, "It's good to know you listen to what I say." Ed lowered his eyelids and smiled, "I do more than that." He turned now and leaned against Mustang's body. "A frozen colonel and a handsome, young prodigy. What could happen?" With Ed in that position, Roy couldn't control his lust. Ed smiled faintly as he felt a part of Mustang's anatomy poke him in the back. Just to tease him, Ed gently moved his hips against him and listened with pleasure to his sharp intake of breath.

He turned back around and put his hands on the table and leaned close to the Colonel pressing their chests together. They were nose to nose. "What're you thinking, Mustang?" Ed questioned. How much you need a breath mint, he thought but refrained from saying. It wasn't true but Mustang thought he'd be happy with how Ed reacted. "I'm thinking, I may have underestimated you. And also that you're driving me crazy."

Ed leaned in closer. "What I lack in height, I make up for in sneakiness. You'd do well to remember that." Their lips brushed as Ed spoke and Roy felt himself almost explode. Even more so, when Ed pulled away.

He was speechless. Ed saw this and smiled, "What?" Mustang closed his eyes. Ed's smile grew bolder and his voice was smug. "You trudge around here like you're God on a gold platter but you undoubtedly know I'm an atheist. The mighty always fall and now it's time to teach you some humility." He regained his position and leaned into Mustang, their manhoods brushing briefly. "Now say it."

Mustang considered all possibly alternatives but there were none. Sadly, Fullmetal had him beat. The revelation astounded him. His lips were so close. . .Maybe, humbleness was the best way out. "Say it," Fullmetal said again.

"Ed. I want you."

Ed shook his head. "Ah uh." Mustang gulped. "No, I need you." Ed looked into his eyes. "Magic word?" Mustang sighed inwardly. "Please. Please Ed." He was short from pleading. Ed saw this and gave him his reward. The kiss was soft and sweet, pleasing beyond belief to Mustang. Ed, too had been holding back his desire, he let it all go now as their lips pressed together lovingly. He sharply bit back a moan.

Mustang's tongue ran over Ed's bottom lip, begging for entrance and Ed granted it. Their tongues battled briefly for dominance with Roy's winning and Ed smiled inwardly. The two broke apart when their lungs shouted for their damnable need of air. Ed lowered his head, panting slightly and then he turned away from Mustang and removed his shirt. He removed the glove with the zira circle and Mustang imitated his young love.

Ed smiled at him. "This should be fun." Mustang walked towards him and looked down at Ed. "I expect so." And again, he pressed his lips to the blonde teenager's. Roy took Ed's hand and led him to the bed. Seconds passed in which both alchemist's pants were discarded and Ed grew nervous, watching Mustang in all his glory. "Having second thoughts, Ed?" His resolve (and other things) hardened and he shook his head, "No sir."

Mustang smirked and distracted Ed with a passionate kiss as he reached down and fondled his length softly. Ed bit back a gasp but moaned lightly. "R-Roy. . ." Mustang's eyes opened as he kissed Ed's neck, licking faintly. "Are you ready?" Ed shut his eyes and with gritted teeth, mumbled, "Mmm-hmm."

He need not say anything more. Mustang automatically plunged himself inside the entrance of his lover once more, this time staying there until Ed adjusted to his size. Ed arched his back and cried out. Amused, Mustang smiled and sucked on the hollow of his neck, almost surely planting a future hiccie.

Ed couldn't believe this was happening. After the pain subsided, came his happiness and has he and Roy came together he knew that that happiness was something that couldn't be destroyed.

Argh! I'm horrible at sex scenes. Was that absolutely awful? Jeez. . . Well, I did my best without exploding in embarrassment. The next chapter includes, cowering alchemists, pistol whipping, chase scenes, and a lot of tears.