Chapter Three

Roy awoke in a state of fuzzy contentness. He went to move, but frowned, looking down to find strong arms wrapped around him. He turned his head, chin tingling as it came into contact with the itchy green blanket that covered them both. As he caught sight of the ruffled dark hair and sleeping face nestled against his neck, Roy's memory quickly clicked back into place, reminding him of what had happened. Ah, so that explained it.

He looked back down at himself, noting the far too big clothes that clashed horribly - bright yellow trousers and a muddy brown jumper -, and then at the various packets and bottles of food and drink on the dusty floor, reading to be eaten. Light was filtering in through cracks and lines in the planks across the windows, and Roy felt a thrill of emotion. He was free from that confined life that had awaited him.

"Mnn ... awake, are you?" Roy shivered at the warm breath on his neck, and snuggled back, purring. "Yeah," he murmured, closing his eyes. "Thank you." He felt Maes shake his head, "No problem. I couldn't leave you in there." Maes didn't add his reason - it sounded stupid, at least to him it did. He slowly let go of Roy, sitting up and sighing. Roy looked so ... adorable there, spread out across the mattress, with his tail twitching against Maes' hip. "I got some food." He said slowly, lifting his gaze up to Roy's face. "And some more clothes."

Maes reached out, picking up a little multi-coloured ball and bobbing it, listening to the jingling sound it gave off. Roy's paw twitched, lifting as if to bat at it, but then dropping to his side as he changed his mind. Roy looked so lonely ... and so was Maes. But he didn't know how to deal with people, let alone get into relationship and stay together - but who was saying they were going to do that? Maes was the scary type. It would never happen.

Roy had sat up while Maes was pondering, crawling over and sitting on his lap. He rubbed his face against Maes' chest, purring softly. The homunculus blinked curiously, giving Roy's ears a gentle scratch. He delighted in the louder purrs he got, wrapping his arms around him tightly. That urge to cling ... to hold, to love, to cuddle, to adore and protect - it was too strong to resist it now. "I love you, Kitten." He murmured, holding him tightly.

Roy felt thin in his arms, brittle and delicate - like a glass swam or a newborn, and that only increased the urge. He was still purring, face nestled into Maes' chest, the loud rumblings making his body tremble. "Don't worry, Kitten. I'll protect you."