Koorii: Now, now, no humming. You must sing it!

crackedmind: Yes, that dream is a reaccuring theme. And no, if Riza knew Edward was a good influence on Roy, she'd be bringing him books herself.

GreedxEd: He looks good when he falls off the cliff.

moonstone: Door slamming might have gotten through as well. Though it may have made them wet theirselves... so not too sure how Ed would have explained to Roy why it smelled like urine the next morning.

Chaos Valkyrie: I know, right? Roy's work ethic is exceptional! ...exceptionally bad. But it is still exceptional! She must not doubt him.

kazuko: I know all about the school thing. Luckily this week is my last until Fall session. Which is sometime in late August. I have finals this week so it really killed time for my stories. And never fear! I shall share the chocolates with you.

Twisted Vixen: If Roy could keep a straight face XD. And yeah... Edward is rather huggable in this one. He needs hugs even for when Hawkeye swipes his book away.

ICan'tRewrite: No, Ed isn't alone all the time. It's a lot more bearable for him now than it was before Roy showed up.

Sailor Silver Rose: Thanks! I had fun writing about them, even if it was a short segment.

anmb: You need to split my rice krispie treat and ice cream with me. Sounds like we both need it. I'm glad you managed not to die choking on your soda, by the way XD. And the subtle bonding is so fun with them, they're great at it.

blackrose: I think Riza would be more worried if Roy started sleeping at his office. But oh... her reaction would be worth it.

Akira: Yes, Roy would love getting lost in all the shiny gold. So much prettier than silver.

Tana: Shame I couldn't have let Ed take the book out of her hands and hit her on the head with it... oh to dream about crackficcing my fanfics...

Toraus: He was very effective I must say. It got the job done.

haganeno: That does sound tiring. And I know about that wandering imagination, this is kind of the story for it. It's completely... unpredictable in parts of the plot.

amlf: Thank you! I'm so glad you're enjoying it.

E: Roy is a dirty man... doth Ed protest? XD

Eli: Staplers?! Remind me never to skive off on cleaning work around you.

mutantpenguins: It's not... unfortunately or fortunately. He's not in possession of the systems for it.

Rei-chan: He is a sex addict, I think he needs a therapist. Any nominations come to mind? And thank you! I adore pocky!

Disasterifik: Thank you, I really do make an effort at that. So I'm always pleased to hear I succeed.

secret25: I haven't seen a ghost one either... so this has actually been even more fun to work on. For me it's refreshing to write, so I'm pleased it's the same for reading purposes. And never fear, all your questions will be answered in due time.

Delays delays... what this time you ask? Last minute project for a final. My last week of summer school at the college is this week. So you know how crazy that last week is. Let's hope I survive it.

So without further delay, I give you chapter four.

I hope you enjoy!

Chapter Four

Edward didn't venture to that world of sleep-that-wasn't that night. He stayed up reading through three books fully and completely. Gradually he was picking up the speed he used to have. Because after all, he'd been out of practice for over a year. No one entered the office during the course of the night as the clock on the wall continued to tick away the time.

But as the hour hand neared the eight, Edward began to have trouble concentrating on his current book. Roy would be arriving soon.

House of Roy Mustang

Roy was beginning to think he should have gone straight to bed once he had arrived home last night. Even after a full seven hours of sleep he still felt like he was dragging. Perhaps going to the bar the previous night and getting laid hadn't been such a good idea so soon after finishing with the move. But he dragged himself out of bed, hoping that he didn't look as terrible as he felt.

The shower provided some relief from his bleary state of awareness, but it wasn't until he was sitting downstairs with his coffee in one hand and a homemade cheddar cracker in the other that he began to feel normal. The coffee was helping exceptionally well.

As for the cracker…

Roy didn't even flinch as a rust brown ball of fur jumped onto his shoulder. He angled the cracker up, and it was snatched away. "About time you stopped moping." He said, and took another swig of his coffee.

The rust brown furball, a squirrel in fact, jumped down onto the table, the cracker in his teeth. And he sat down on his hind legs before transferring the cracker back to his small paws and beginning to nibble on it in true squirrel fashion.

"At least this time it took you less than a week." Roy said as he watched his pet. The squirrel, named Hazel, always had had issues with moving around places. "You're getting more ornery in your old age."

Hazel paid no mind to the chatter of his human. He was far more interested in the food he'd been given.

Roy took another drink of his coffee, "you know it's a shame Edward wouldn't be able to touch you. I think he'd like having an animal around. And you'd probably like him."

Hazel finished the cracker and began to groom his whiskers frantically with his paws, as if he only had a matter of seconds to clean them before they were soiled for good. Besides, he had no interest in getting to know another human. He liked his just fine.

Roy finished his coffee and got up to put the empty mug in the sink. And he walked back over to the table to pluck the squirrel up and set him on a shoulder. "Don't drip crumbs on my clothes." He instructed, passing another cracker before walking over to pull a bag of trail mix he prepared especially for the squirrel whenever they weren't at home.

But as he hadn't had time to go get the food Hazel would normally eat while at home, this would have to do. And he walked back to the laundry area with his companion still perched on a shoulder, cracker gone, and now chattering happily into his ear.

Finding the food and water dishes on a high shelf, Roy pulled them both down to check. The water level was fine, but he topped off the food dish. "Okay, Hazel, I'm going to work. You stay out of trouble, and remember, only chew on your toys."

Hazel jumped down to where the fresh food now was and chattered up at his human happily, holding out both paws.

Roy smiled and reached out a hand to grasp them both. "Now see this is the other reason I never invite anyone to my place. Because you're too cute, and I don't want anyone to steal you away." And he ruffled the squirrel's fur with his gloved hand before turning to leave.

If he hurried he'd still be on time.

And he was just barely on time as he reached his office, bidding Hawkeye a quick good morning. He listened to her rattle off what she'd already put in his office to work on, and as well as the list of people he needed to call back. "All right." He said, and turned to open his office door.

"Sir." Riza called him back.

Roy turned, "yes?"

"You have crumbs in your hair." She informed him with a smile.

Roy groaned. "Well I did tell him not to get crumbs on my clothes." He said, and opened the door. "Thanks." He called over his shoulder as he stepped inside and shut the door behind him. And he ruffled his hands through his hair to see the crumbs settle to the floor before he began to rake his fingers through it to try and tame the dark locks once again.

Edward frowned as he watched the man. "Are you okay?"

Roy chuckled and looked up to see Edward lounged in his chair. "Yeah, just had something in my hair. You're not asleep?"

"I don't sleep." Edward replied, "I lose touch with whatever this existence of mine is. But no, I didn't sleep last night. I stayed up and read."

"Will I need to bring you more books soon?" Roy queried as he walked over as Edward floated up out of the chair.

Edward settled onto the edge of the desk. "By tomorrow." And he looked Roy over as the man sat down."You look better. Rested. No whoring last night?"

Roy smirked a bit, and met the penetrating silvery eyes. "No. I went home and had a nice dinner and then went to bed. Alone."

"You look better if you do that." Edward noted.

"Yes, well," Roy chuckled under his breath, "other parts of me might begin to disagree."

Edward's gaze was utterly deadpan. "You'd survive. Eunuchs do."

"There is little point in being Colonel Roy Mustang if I am a eunuch." Roy argued, shuddering at the very thought. "The Flame Alchemist is someone who ignites the fires of passion, not an… observer of them."

With a chuckle, Edward slipped away through the air. "As you insist."

"Oh, but I do, Edward. I do." Roy winked at him and picked up the phone. "Now hold on while I call back this place. They're the ones who will deliver the furniture. And I think they might be ready to drop it off today."

An ear-to-ear smile instantly split Edward's face. "Really? I'll get my couches?"

"Yes. Hopefully today." Roy smiled and finished dialing. "Now hush for a minute."

Edward did hush, though he floated over so he could hover next to Roy's ear where it was touching the phone so he might listen in.

Roy tried not to roll his eyes and chastise the ghost for eavesdropping. He only managed when the other line picked up. "Yes, this is Colonel Mustang."

Edward grumbled darkly as he realized he couldn't make out what the other person was saying. So he floated over to place himself on the edge of the desk to Roy's right side.

"Very good." Roy said, his eyes drifting over the near-translucent figure next to him. "Yes. Goodbye." And he hung up the phone.

Edward's eyes widened as Roy suddenly busied himself with a new stack of papers that Riza had brought in. Roy was ignoring him, and on purpose! "Hey!" He slammed his hands down on the papers, keeping Roy from shuffling through them anymore.

Roy blinked up at him innocently. "Hi."

"Tell me!" He insisted, not quite registering the slight whine to his voice.

Roy, however, did register it. And he grinned in the human version of a cat who had stolen the cream. "Tell you what?" He asked back as innocently inquisitive as he could manage with such a smile on his face.

Edward growled, "what they said! And don't say 'words', or something idiotically clever like that."

Roy chuckled and lay his pen down. "They'll be here with the new furniture after lunch."

Edward promptly fell through the desk with an excited noise Roy couldn't discern.

He scooted his chair back so he could see the ghost lying there on the floor with a grin. "Happy?" He guessed with a smirk.

Edward met his eyes, and chuckled. "I haven't had a couch. Ever. Even when I was alive. And everyone before you always had chairs."

"Silly." Roy smiled, and righted himself so he could ascertain what madness Hawkeye had brought him this morning. And he quickly decided he'd rather not touch it. So he swiveled his chair around so he could look out through the windows.

The sun shone brightly, and there wasn't a single trace of a cloud in the cerulean sky. Wisps of smoke from bakeries or restaurants were the only things that crossed that blue expanse. The gentle breeze stirred not only the trees, but called to those watching indoors to go outside and experience its touch.

Edward had sat up so that he was now sitting beside Roy's leg. "What are you thinking?"

"Thinking?" Roy echoed, and tore his gaze away to look down at the silvery figure sitting at his side, staring at the wall. "I was actually wondering if you could blow away in the wind."

Edward cracked a small smile at that. "Wind… I remember it used to sing, and it felt so nice against my skin. I'm not sure it could blow me away. I'm not sure if nature can touch me any longer with wind, or lightning. If I could touch it." And he looked down towards the carpet. "Not that it matters anymore."

Roy relaxed back into his chair and looked out the window once more. "Will you tell me about your childhood some?"

"What would you like to know?" Edward asked quietly.

"Anything… everything." Roy admitted, and then a thought struck him. "Did you ever have a pet? Like a dog?"

What vibrated unreleased in his throat might have been best classified as a dark chuckle. "My mom never let us have pets. I remember the last time I tried… I'd found a kitten. Beautiful, soft thing. And she wouldn't let me keep it. And so I abandoned it, just the way I'd found it, and I cried myself to sleep that night thinking of that poor cat." Edward looked up briefly at Roy before glancing away. "Same thing happened with my brother. The only thing close to a pet that we ever had was Den, Winry's dog."

"I'm sure she had her reasons."

"Oh, undoubtedly." Edward tried not to feel bitter about it. He loved his mother. Enough to have tried to bring her back to life and subsequently lose his own. A lost pet or two wouldn't change his love. But even so… most of his life had been spent doing things that he realized now were not the activities of a kid. Practicing alchemy obsessively, reading his estranged father's large, ancient tomes, and so on. Very little of his time had been spent being a kid, playing with friends or his brother. In a lot of ways he felt as if he'd never been a child. Just this, in a child's body. "And you? Did you have any pets?"

Roy shook his head, "no. But I took a pet in when I got promoted and had to take a desk job. I hate desk jobs, but it's the quickest route for me to do what I need to to become the Fuhrer. At least it allowed me the luxury of being able to have a pet."

"Dog?" Edward wondered aloud.

Roy laughed, and shook his head. "No. Not quite. I think I'll save that little secret for later. Maybe I'll bring him in and you can see for yourself."

"I'd like that." Edward admitted, he hadn't seen an animal since his death. Speaking to Roy, and in general just having him here, he was beginning to recall just how displaced he was from the rest of the world. His entire life was contained in four walls of a building, and one that one day might be abandoned. Or torn down. And then what would become of him?

Such thoughts only made him soak up every moment with Roy even more.

As if sensing the dark shadow that had settled upon his companion, Roy slid down to the floor to sit with Edward. "You know," he began as he looked at the ghost, "I'll do whatever I can for you. You know that, right? I've never acted like this before, but no one else has needed me like you do. So if something's bothering you, tell me."

"I know I could." Edward said, braving a smile as he looked at the man. "But there's nothing anyone can do for such a thing as what weighs on my mind right now. Even you. But don't think for a minute that I'm not happier than I've been in years. I'm happy because of you. I was so lonely… and then you came."

Roy smiled back at him, "and I'll do whatever I can to stay with you for as long as possible."

Edward didn't look away from that dark gaze, intrigued by their strange black color. He had seen people with dark brown eyes before, but these… these were black. And he was sure that this was how people had felt seeing his eyes… before they became silver. "I know."

And the two of them sat there like that, eventually looking away, until there was a knock at the door.

Roy stood up, keeping himself from looking back down at the figure he knew was watching him. And he strode over to the door. He knew he could have just resumed his seat and called for the person to enter, but he felt a need to have some space all of a sudden. Not for anything bad, but because Edward… trying to figure the ghost out, and figure out his own place in this… it overwhelmed him.

The feeling that there was something more overwhelmed him.

Edward watched him leave, and stood up himself to lean up against the window panes. Gazing through them as if he could see what was there on the other side. Trying to picture a city skyline. Trying to see a flock of sparrows chasing each other through what he assumed was windy weather.

Roy opened the door, revealing a rather cheerful looking Fuery. "Yes?"

"We were all going to go out to grab something to eat, sir. Do you want to come? Or have us bring you something back?" He asked quickly.

"Go." Edward said softly before Roy could answer. And he turned his head towards where Roy was now looking back at him, his posture that of a man in thought over the question. "You need to spend time with them as well. Otherwise they're going to worry about you. And I won't have your fall from what they deem as sanity on my conscious. I need you around, remember? Not in a mental institution."

Roy said nothing to that. He couldn't, not with Fuery still standing there. So he looked back to Fuery with a forced smile. "No, I'll come." And he glanced once back at Edward to see the ghost still watching him. And those silver eyes pierced his very soul until the moment the door blocked them from view.

Edward turned away with a sigh. He hadn't meant to become so melancholy all of a sudden. But it had happened even so. He had these moments, they were understandable for someone in his position. "Clearly," he whispered to the emptiness of the room, "I was wrong."

Someone finally seeing him was not what it would ultimately take to break him free of his prison.

For not all meanings of the word 'home', came with definitions of happy freedom and domesticity.

And it wasn't that he wanted to break free to stray around the world, away from Roy. He wanted to break free so that he could stay with Roy.

It was almost an hour before Roy returned.

By that time Edward had cheered up out of his dreary thoughts, and smiled as Roy walked in. "Did you have fun?" He asked with true curiosity.

Roy smiled back as he walked over take a seat on the edge of his desk, facing Edward who was floating up against the windows, legs bent up as if the ghost were sitting on a chair. "Yes, I did. I had your favorite."

Edward's expression was puzzled as he blinked at the man. His favorite? "I don't understand." He finally admitted. "My favorite what?"

"Thing to eat." Roy expounded with a smile.

"Which was…?"

"A medium steak with a pepper-brandy sauce." Roy said, a glint in his eye challenging the ghost to deny his claim.

Edward blinked again. "What makes you so sure? I died when I was eleven. Do you seriously think I'd have had steak at that age? Much less in a brandy sauce?"

"Pepper-brandy sauce." Roy corrected.

Edward merely arched a silvery eyebrow.

Roy chuckled, and gave. "Because it's my skill." He explained. "I take all these men and women out on dates sometimes before I sleep with them. So I crafted the art of impressing them even further by honing my knack for guessing. And guessing correctly."

"Roy," Edward began with a smirk, "the only reason they say you guessed correctly is so that they seal their chance of getting into your pants. But I'm not looking to get into your pants, so I have no qualms about telling you that you're incorrect."

It was Roy's turn to blink and look puzzled. "It wouldn't matter… I'd still sleep with them."

"And that's because you're the igniter of passionate flames." Edward reached out as if to pat his cheek with a smarting stroke. "I know. But you see, the thing is… is that I always liked my steaks medium-rare with the pepper-brandy sauce." And he flashed Roy a grin as the man's eyes widened exponentially. "Which means you're still wrong, by the way."

Roy suddenly burst out laughing, "don't ever make me panic like that again."

"Why not? It's funny." Edward chuckled, and leaned back away from him. "No, Roy, you've yet to become proficient."

"How about your favorite dessert?"

"Oh, yes." Edward said, still laughing. "Pray tell, what used to be my favorite dessert?"

"Brownies, the ones with bits of hot fudge sauce still there as you bite into them as soon as you can get them out of the pan. Because of course, you never waited for them to finish cooling." Roy said as he considered the ghost.

Edward hummed to himself, before smiling. "Those were very good." And in the very instant Roy started to look victorious, said, "but they weren't my favorite."

"Ones without the fudge stuff?" Roy frowned, thrown. "Or perhaps you actually waited for them to finish cooling?"

"None of the above." Edward's smile turned devious. "Strike two for you with me. Now see, if this were a dinner date, your pants would be very empty afterwards. But go on, try for my drink. Now remember, as a child I wasn't allowed to drink alcohol of any form. It only went into the cooking so the alcohol could cook off."

Roy tapped a finger against his chin as he weighed his options. Few though they were. "Apple juice."

Edward smirked at him. "Keep going…"

"The kind that is slushy with ice." Roy finished confidently.

"Hmm…" Edward straightened from his sitting position. "One out of three. Congratulations. But your bed's empty tonight." And he swept past Roy to grab another book with a grin.

Roy scowled after him, but the scowl soon evaporated into a smile. And he made a thoughtful noise as he took his seat, feeling as if he'd just been enlightened. It was a very strange feeling indeed, and he kind of… liked it.

Edward was reading, and Roy was staring at his paperwork as if his glare could ignite it, when the knock they'd both been waiting for sounded at the office door. And in stepped Hawkeye.

"Sir, your furniture is here."

Roy, who had scrambled for a pen before she opened the door, now laid it down with poise. As if he'd just not been in a frantic rush. Edward, who had been floating in his favorite corner, had plummeted to the floor so fast it was as if he had suddenly lost his ability to be in the air and fallen like a rock. But the book now lay unobtrusively on the floor.

…unless she should happen to spot it again. But it was better that Riza see a book lying there, than zooming through the air.

Edward would have loved though, to see Roy explain that.

"Thank you, Lieutenant." Roy smiled graciously as he stood.

Riza's eyes gravitated to the stack of documents, and her eyes narrowed. "Sir, have you worked on that at all?"

"Enough chit-chat about work!" Roy announced grandly and strode around his desk. "We've got furniture to move so I can finish."

Edward watched him with a smile playing on his lips while he lounged against the wall. Book beside him. "If she takes my book again, I'm throwing it at her when she turns to leave."

Riza's eyes narrowed, but she said nothing, instead retreating back to where the movers were. "Here they are. Instruct as you will."

Roy gave Edward a pointed look, before he stepped out the door as well.

Edward took the hint. Grabbing the book he marked his place and quickly went over to place it with the others. Well out of Hawkeye's reach of terror. He then took to floating up in his favorite corner of the ceiling so he was out of the way of people walking through him, and had a good view of the activity.

"Now all of this goes out. Into the courtyard out." Roy said, picking up his stack of paperwork and letting it thump haphazardly into the cardboard box of his personal effects. He never saw a muscle near Hawkeye's eye twitch. "It can stay there until after work, at which time I intend to incinerate it until it's nothing more than fragile ash being swept away by the wind."

"Dramatic." Edward remarked, kicking one leg over the other as he leaned back against his corner.

And such began the process of furniture being moved out of the room, and new furniture being moved in. Roy gave directions on where he wanted everything placed. Everything except the couches. And when the movers went out of the office to get them and bring them in, he shot a look to the ghost. "Where?" He mouthed.

Edward sank to the floor and paced across the room, looking around as he did so. And finally he pointed. "Here and here. Bordering the table facing in, but move the table the other way."

"But that completely negates the point of having a place to sit for people to face me." Roy pointed out quietly, so as not to attract attention with the office door being open.

"No, not really." Edward disagreed, looking over at him. "They expect and will want to face you. And when they can't, it will throw everyone but the most confident off balance. Giving you more power."

"I like power." Roy mused, a hand worrying his chin as he considered the suggested layout.

Edward smirked, "and if that isn't a convincing enough reason, look at it this way. It'll save me the trouble of rearranging them myself after you leave tonight."

That decided it, and Roy looked up as the movers came in, carrying a large black leather couch between two people. Followed by another two movers with the last one. "There and there. And then shift the table so it's going the long way between them, and there will be leg room."

Edward had floated over to sink into Roy's new office chair. A sinfully indulgent leather creation that was much more fitted to curling up in. And he curled there, looking on as Roy finished handing out last minute instructions. Watched as people entered from and vanished into that white world beyond the door that he could not pass.

"Do you need help setting up in here, sir?" Riza asked as the movers started work on the work area for her and the rest of Roy's team.

Roy shook his head. "No, you go make sure everything goes smoothly out there." And as she departed, he closed the office door behind her. Only now that they were alone did he turn to Edward again. A smile he couldn't help appeared on his face as he saw the ghost sitting curled up in his chair, looking as contented as a cat. "Is it nice?"

"Nicer than the other one." Edward said as he relaxed back against it. "But like with everything else I touch, it's just the same pressure. Always. I can't feel anything but that pressure." And he glanced at the chair cushioning him. "But I fit better into this one."

Roy walked over to test out one of the couches, and a groan leaked from his lips. The leather cushioning wrapped around him, and was utterly the perfect medium between soft and firm. "Maybe I'll have you pick out my home furniture as well. I'm sure I can find a reason to get new."

Edward chuckled, and got out of the chair to pass through the desk and walk over to sink down beside Roy. "So you approve?"

"Absolutely." Roy smiled over at him. "Are you happy with it?"

Edward looked around the room, and slowly nodded. "There's just one thing missing."

Roy's eyes took on a curious glint. "And what's that?"

"A picture." Edward said softly as he continued looking around. "Do you have any pictures?"

Roy was about to answer that he didn't, when a sudden thought came to him. "What do you want a picture of?"

Edward looked at him, puzzled. Did Roy intend to get him a picture of whatever he desired? Uncertain of Roy's intentions, he answered. "A sunrise." He answered softly.

Roy nodded, and filed away the information for later. Even if he wanted to race away to find Hughes and his damn camera right now. "Anything else?"

"…No" Edward replied after a moment. "Just that."

After a few more minutes spent just sitting there on the couch with Edward, Roy stood up. "I better go get started on that paperwork. Then we can have another game of chess."

And so Edward lounged on the couch with a book while Roy commenced the arduous task of signing his name to documents that required it. Every now and then Roy would ask if Edward had heard of a certain person, and if the ghost had, he'd share what he knew. But otherwise the office remained silent.

When Roy had finished, and set aside his pen, he began to pull his effects out of the cardboard box and set them where they belonged in his desk while Edward finished reading the page he was on. And by the time the ghost had, Roy was just beginning to set up the chess board.

"Black?" Roy guessed as he finished lining up the pawns in their orderly rows.

Edward nodded, and knelt in the air so that he could see over the top of the desk at a level that suited him. "It'll be a cold day in that gate of hell when I choose white."

"Perhaps that's why you lost twice against me yesterday." Roy smirked as he finished setting up the pieces. "You can't stand the cold."

"That doesn't make as much sense as 'you can't stand the heat'." Edward pointed out, and waited for Roy to move.

Roy chuckled in agreement. "Yes… but it wouldn't have made any sense at all given the context. Now watch how masterfully I can kick your ass, and tell me why it's slushy apple juice instead of chocolate milk like regular kids?"

Edward actually smiled, and moved forward one of his pawns following Roy's first advancement. "I despise milk in all forms except sweets. I wasn't about to give up cake. Chocolate milk never qualified as a "sweet" to me. And there was an orchard about a few miles down the road… I remember going there with Al and picking apples to bring back home to mom. She'd turn them into juice and set them out on the porch at night to chill. And in the morning they'd be slushy and wonderful." His smile turned wistful. "I miss the mornings."

"Is that why you asked for a picture of the sunrise?" Roy asked, unmindful that it wasn't his turn for a question.

Edward didn't catch the slip. "One of them." He answered and moved forward another pawn. "And what of yourself? What drink do you like the most? Coffee? Hard liquors in vast quantities?"

"Neither." Roy answered, and knew that if his few friends or acquaintances had heard him say that, they'd be doubtful. But it was the truth. "I like hot chocolate. With a cinnamon and peppermint stick… a bit of whipped cream sprinkled with cinnamon."

Edward made a face at the mention of cream. "I've actually never had hot chocolate. Reminded me too much of chocolate milk to ever make me want to taste it."

Roy smiled and moved one of his knights that was quickly taken by a clever move of a bishop. He hadn't seen that one coming, but it was perfectly legal and logical now that he'd seen it done. "And how about this mystery favorite dessert of yours?" Roy ventured lazily, "my next guess is apple pie with caramel sauce. Am I right?"

"Not even close." Edward smirked at him. At this rate, Roy was never going to guess it. And for some reason, that thought made him feel very pleased with himself.

"You're joking." Roy gaped at him.

"Not a bit." Edward informed him, and moved a rook forward to intercept and annihilate yet another pawn. "Why is guessing it so important to you? It's not like I can eat it anymore anyway."

Roy shrugged, "can't explain it myself. I'd say it's a habit of mine, but it's not. Not unless you're on the other side of a dinner table."

Edward scowled as his rook was removed by a simple pawn. "Perhaps that's why you're failing so miserably at guessing. Don't be too hard on yourself."

"Thanks for the ego stroking." Roy laughed quietly, and contemplated Edward's latest move.

"You are a Flame Alchemist. Must keep the fires fanned unless we want you to fizzle out." Edward joked.

Roy could appreciate the humor there. "What's your favorite color?"

"Black." Edward said, waving an absent hand at the couches. "And not for any morbid or depressed reasons. I like a true black, the shiny one that's so black it shines blue in the sun. I find it fascinating. Or, I did… when I could still see the sun."

"So you like my hair then?" Roy grinned at him unabashedly.

Edward looked up from the chess board to give him a bland look. "Let's not get too vain now. I'm no more attracted to you than I am to a vacuum cleaner."

"You know, alchemically modified and used correctly, the suction-" Roy broke off with a yelp as a pawn hit him square in the forehead.

Edward sniffed in displeasure. "I don't want to know what perverted ideas are in your head about vacuum cleaners."

Roy retrieved the pawn with a bit of a laugh. "So is it the gender then?"

"I'm a ghost." Edward glared at him. "And the gender isn't an issue. It's the fact that I'm a ghost, and you're the exact opposite of what I'd want even if I were alive."

"You mean some poor sod who ventures into that commitment thing?" Roy queried.

"Yes, a poor sod just like that." Edward smirked, and raised an eyebrow at his companion. "Are you suggesting that I'd not be worth it?"

If Roy had ever felt thrown before, it didn't compare at all to how he felt now.

Edward burst out laughing. "Don't worry, I'm just playing with you. Your move." And he grinned at what he'd managed with Roy only paying a fraction of attention to the game. "Oh and by the way, checkmate."

Roy looked down, and swore.

Edward burst out laughing again.

By the time five o'clock came along, they were tied with wins and losses. And in Roy's case, a little out of breath from laughing so much. But Edward's eyes danced with the same laughter. And together they put away the chess set for tomorrow.

"I'll be back in the morning with more books for you to read." Roy promised, and began to court the thought of moving his entire home library here for Edward's use.

Edward grinned at the prospect. "I still have two to keep me occupied tonight."

Roy nodded, "I'll see you tomorrow then." And he walked to the door, taking what now felt like a habitual glance back at Edward as the ghost settled into his office chair. "Goodnight."

Edward watched him with that piercing silver gaze. "Goodnight, Roy."

And he watched Roy open the door and go out. As it closed the white world beyond it grew smaller as the door blocked it from view, and it flickered just once as if a film reel had been jostled before the door shut all the way. Edward never saw, he was reaching for his latest book.

As Roy walked out he went over to Maes who was getting his coat. "I have a favor to ask." He said quietly. "Can I talk to you alone?"

Maes gave his best friend a curious look, but nodded. "Yeah, Roy."

Roy nodded as well, and turned to walk with Maes out into the hallway. And they chatted about nothing of much consequence, and Maes showed a grudging Roy his latest pictures of Elysia. But when the picture show of torture was over, Roy pulled Maes aside so they could walk through the park. Empty for right now of the couples who would frequent it later, and the children who had rushed home minutes earlier for dinner. "This is going to sound strange, but it's very important to me."

Maes frowned at his friend, there was something up with the man. "Ask your favor. If it's important to you, you know I'll do what I can. You're my best friend."

Roy smiled. Yes, Maes was, even if he did manage to get on the nerves every now and then. But that was just part of Maes being Maes. "I need you to take a picture for me tomorrow morning of the sunrise. Have it blown up to about-" he motioned with his hands, "and framed. Bring it in to work. I don't care how late you are, and I'll put the cost on the business expenses."

Whatever request Maes had been expecting, it sure wasn't that. "You want me to take a picture of the sunrise, blow it up, and have it framed?"

"Yeah." Roy scratched at the back of his neck, and looked over at his friend. "I know it sounds odd, but please? You're the only one I know who's good with a camera."

Maes glowed at the flattery. "I'll do it. You wouldn't ask if it didn't have a purpose. Just one thing, do you have a setting for this sunrise of yours? Facing away from the city, or with the skyline in it?"

Roy thought about that for a good minute. It was a problematic decision at best. On one hand, Edward had grown up in Risembool, which was countryside. So a sunrise with the open fields surrounding Central might be the most appealing. But on the other hand, Edward had never seen Central. He was locked in an office in Central, but had never seen the city he was captive in. "With the skyline." He finally decided. A sunrise over fields could be shot anywhere, by any idiot with a camera. But he believed that Maes would be able to capture something far rarer.

"I'll do that." Maes promised. "Now why don't you come over for dinner. Gracia is making lasagna, and we can never eat it all ourselves."

Roy smiled at the offer, it had been too long since he'd been over to share dinner with them. "In that case I'd love to. Thanks." And he fell in step with the man as they walked through the park.