The rain this time was heavy and came thicker and faster than before. People picked up their children or pets, running indoors to their desired fireplaces and mugs of hot cocoa. The ones that were caught in the street immediately pulled out umbrellas and held them over their heads, dodging quickly into nearby shops where shop-owners ushered people inwards if they still had room.

There were two people, however, who seemed oblivious to the liquid that was soaking through their clothes and skin.

"It wasn't a game" Roy said, maybe a tad too harshly. He was offended by the fact that Edward seemed so quick to believe it had all meant nothing. Edward was – for once – silent, and Roy watched as his lifted his left hand gently forward, peeling his wet glove off his human hand. Pale, pale fingers reached forward and pressed their tips against the glass of the window closest to Edward.

The water that was running down the window rippled at the flesh obstacle and ran around the digits, creating parts in the liquid. Edward watched it quietly, water dripping off his nose and his blue-pink lips.

"Edward-"

"Your notes are in a personalized code," Edward cut him off, leaning closer and peering at the clear substance that was rolling across his knuckles delicately "You chose to write it in the names of the woman that you have been associated with"

A wrinkly creased in Roy's forehead, and he lifted his head slightly, defiantly.

"Yes, I do. But half of those women I have only been associated with, not been in a relationship with"

"And the other half?"

Roy gritted his teeth and stepped forward, pushing Edward against the door. The blonde stumbled through it and they both entered the hallway. The carpet was plush and expensive, intricate paintings hung on the wall. But none of these facts registered to Edward as he tried to stop himself from falling. His hands flung outwards and grabbled hopelessly against the soft blue walls, leaving wide streaks of water on the walls.

He let out a cry as he fell hard backwards, arms flying wildly about him. His leg twisted and his cry became choked and strained. His back hit the ground hard, and despite the soft carpet the sound heard was hollow and painful.

After a moment of struggling, Edward pushed his torso up, supported on his arms that held out behind him against the ground. The look on his face was like a wounded animal.

Roy towered over him in an intimidating form of silent fury. He slammed the front door behind him and water shook off him with the force.

"So you are going to disregard all that has happened with us because I dated women previously?"

Edward scowled "And are you going to assume I'm shallow because I knew you had?"

Roy blinked, and took a shocked step backwards. He had struck Edward, when he was already injured. Talk about kicking the Military dog when he was down.

He surveyed Ed for a moment, before leaning forward and grabbing the front of his shirt, jerking him to his feet. He picked up the fallen crutch and handed it back to the blonde, who fitted it under his arm again, eyes downcast.

"I'm sorry Edward"

Edward shrugged nonchalantly.

"S'okay I suppose…I did kind of start it…" he rolled his shoulder and there was a small cracking sound.

"I just want you to know that it wasn't a game," Roy said, pulling off his soaked jacket and hanging it on one of the hooks that hung on a nearby rack. "I was completely serious in my decision"

Edward shrugged off his jacket, fumbling with it for a few moments before handing it to Roy, who hung it up beside his.

"Good to know" Edward paused, and then grinned weakly, a blush still evident on his face.

Roy sighed and shook a hand through his air, water droplets flying everywhere.

"Follow me"

Roy headed down the hallway and turned right, Edward limping after him. He pushed open another white door and they entered the small kitchen. Roy motioned for Edward to sit down at the small table, and he complied, resting his crutch against the wall.

The kitchen was small, but surprisingly comfortable. The table that Edward sat at had enough room for four, and there were two doors, one led back to the hallway and through the other open one Edward could see the lounge room. The kitchen bench curved around the corner of the room, and above it on the far wall was a window, water cascading down the other side.

Cupboards were raised on the wall, and Roy opened one, pulling out two mugs and a few sachets of hot chocolate.

Edward was breathing shallowly, the bruise on his cheek had worsened and the cut on his throat was red. Roy put some water on to boil, and grabbed a washcloth from under the sink, running it under the tap.

He approached Ed and held the damp cloth against his neck. Edward glanced up at him and held his hand up, taking the cloth from between Roy's fingers and holding it against his neck himself.

There was a lazy knock at the front door, and Roy looked up from where his eyes were locking with golden.

"That must be Havoc," he said, leaving the kitchen. "I'll be right back"

Edward watched silently as the water in the kettle whistled as it boiled, the steady Shhh sound of the rain lulling him into a relaxed state. He could hear murmurs in the hallway, and after a few moments Roy reappeared, a suitcase in his hand. He set it down on the table beside Ed, and went back to the kettle; pouring the hot water into the two mugs and ripping the sachets open with his teeth.

"How does it look outside?" Edward asked.

Roy set a mug in front of Ed and glanced out the kitchen window.

"It's flooding a bit, not too much though so we won't be barricaded inside"

The blonde nodded and blew gently at the rim of his mug. Roy disappeared again and came back with two towels. They were thin and did little to dry Edward up as he fitted one around his shoulders as Roy had, but it warmed him up considerably.

They sipped their drinks in silence, the suitcase beside Edward dripping water onto the smooth table surface.

"Nice place," Edward said, leaning to the side and peering into the comfortable-looking lounge room where a large but vacant fireplace was situated. "Though I suppose that's to be expected, a big ego needs a big house"
Roy smirked slightly, setting his mug down and lifting the towel to his head, rubbing it through his hair and over his face and neck.

Edward surveyed the suitcase beside him, and stood, unclasping the water ridden locks. Lifting the suitcase lid he grabbed his pajamas and glanced around.

"Where's your bathroom?" he asked, glancing around. "I need to get changed out of these clothes, I'm soaked"

Roy stood and led Ed out of the kitchen and into the hallway. The staircase was tucked away and surprisingly thin, so it took some time for Roy to help the injured alchemist up them. The second floor was just four doorways and a small hallway separating them.

"That's my bedroom," he said, pointing at the doorway furthest away. "That's the spare room, that's the study, and that is the bathroom"

Edward hobbled over to the door, and Roy helped him push it open. Ed glanced over his shoulder for a moment, before the door shut closed behind him.

--

Edward hissed through his teeth as he tilted his head to the side, displaying the cut that spread up his throat.

In the mirror above the bathroom sink, he tried to fix up his wounds. There was a streak of dried blood down his chest and on the edge of his automail, and he was diligently scrubbing it off with the washcloth.

"Winry is going to kill me" he sighed to himself.

His hair was drier now, and he swept it up into a high ponytail, drying behind his neck and down the top curve of his spine.

Once changed and considerably drier, Edward gathered his soaking clothes and glanced around, dropping them into a nearby wash basket. Grabbing the crutch he unlocked the door and stepped out into the hallway. At the same time Roy appeared from his bedroom, dressed in a new set of clothes and looking less like the drowned rat he had looked like previously. He approached Edward and glanced at the lack of blood on his neck.

"Did your injuries give you any trouble?"

Edward shook his head, and jerked a thumb in the direction of the bathroom.

"I chucked my clothes in the washing basket, didn't know where else to put them"

Roy nodded, and they both flinched violently as there was a tremendous crash of thunder outside. The windows rattled and shook with rain, and even the ground trembled slightly. Edward wobbled on his feet as his crutch fell out of place and he stumbled. His feet collided with each other and became twisted, and before he knew it he was falling for the second time that day.

Except this time someone caught him.

Roy stepped forward, bending on one knee slightly, and caught the alchemist in his arms. Unfortunately for him, the added weight of Ed's automail went against him, and it soon sent the two crashing to the floor. Faintly Roy could see the crutch snap, but none of that mattered to him at the moment, because when his head stopped reeling he held a tentative hand to it – and found Edward lying on top of him, head pillowed in the crook of his neck.

There was a fresh bloodstain trickling down his chin and collecting in the hollow of Roy's throat.

Coughing roughly, Roy sat up and helped Edward sit as well, gulping as Edward was moved onto his lap. He paused for a moment as he tried to restore the air that had been stolen out of his lungs as he hit the ground.

Edward blinked blearily for a few moments before he held a hand against his cheek softly, an angry red mark on his cheek.

"Oh…sorry about that" he smiled weakly and his lip split, a small line of blood slipping quietly over the curve of his chin. He wiped his hand furiously against his face, a smear of blood covering his hand and wrist.

Roy grumbled under his breath as he pushed himself to his feet, and glanced over at the crutch. It was snapped in two and splinters covered it.

Edward made an aggravated sound and Roy helped him to his feet, there was another gentle tremor through the house, and Ed clutched onto Roy tightly to stop himself from falling over again. They froze, exchanged glances, and gulped.

Roy took Edward's left arm and hung it around his neck, placing his hand on the blonde's hip and supporting him as he led him over to the guest room. They fumbled with the door for a moment, and then surged through it. The room smelt musty and unused, and it took a few minutes for Roy to set Edward down on the bed and open the window.

The sound of the rain running over the screen in the window was soothing and gentle, and when Roy turned back Edward was propped up against the pillows, eyes closed and breathing even. His sleeping body was at an awkward angle, and Roy moved him so he was laying down, pulling the covers up and over him.

As an afterthought, he leant over and placed a gentle kiss on Ed's brow, inwardly wincing at the sentimentality of it all. There was another thunderous crash from outside, and Edward frowned in his sleep, a solitary bead of sweat slipping over his brow.

Roy smiled to himself, and went off to his own room, for some well earned sleep.