moonstone: Grand really is being haunted. Much to Ed's delight. Ed would be scary though if Grand got his hands on Roy.
Cheru-chan: The worst I could do with your password... write off color jokes about bana- oh, don't answer? XD And you're not the only one hoping for naughty dreams of a certain ghostie... even I'm pulling for Roy to start having them.
Eli: Those 4 hours built character. -flee- And sure, I'll get right on the squirrel production thing.
UP2L8: If Maes isn't careful I'll be murdered by his fans. It'll make the Inquisition look like a game of Hungry Hippos.
Rei-chan94: I know all about the laptop woes, so you have my sympathies. I think it would be fitting if Grand was killed by bad luck on a friday the 13th... like today.
anmb: Hey, I love belated holidays, it gives me a reason to celebrate them all over again. And yay! Muffins!
luna moon girl: Thank you so much!
Kiss4theRain: I can only hope it keeps getting better. And I really should start a betting pool on Ed's favorite dessert. Let the winner get something.
Aniki: Yes he will figure it out. And thanks! I'm glad to hear the Halloween thing was enjoyed. I couldn't resist writing it.
camiimary: Just wait until you start trying to catch wild squirrels. And form away those clubs.
accident prone: I think I need to give you that cake and let you go crazy... And yes, I can tell you hate Grant XD.
Soaha: You know, I wonder the same thing. And ever since I started writing yaoi, I get really nervous about what I might be saying if I do. Anyway, thank you! And Grant needs something to the head.
Sailor Silver Rose: Plus Ed's cake will be more magnificent.
MandaxPanda: There's nothing quite like Roy and Ed and cake all together, is there.
neena: If he dies though I'm sure you'll be cheering quite loudly.
kazuko: Fettu-... you know my weakness?! I luuurve pasta! And I will check into Olivia...
sugarspoon: I'll add you to the list of people who will come after me with pitchforks if I off Hughes.
Mary: That scene of Roy and Hazel was just utter cavity inducing fluff.
xwhitexspiritx: You died for a few days? So tell us, how was ghost land? -P
Koneko: I do what I can to tease you... and all you got out of that Hazel scene was squirrel slobber? XDD I now know what to get you for Christmas!
Mistress Mayu: Can't tell you that now or I won't have a very lovely story ending. But don't worry, I've got it all under control.
B.D.: Curve ball? Me? I can't even throw straight when I want to. But yeah, you never know with me XD.
Akira: Yes, poor him. Let's kick him while he's down! ...-cough-
GreedxEd: You want me to take pictures of... you mad, mad lady.
gali-o: Yay for... update? XD
haganeno: You're back! I am using the duct tape on you missy. And I do love Roy and Ed sharing a bed... such wonderful imagery.
blackrose5130: Well, I know now who one of them was... And yes! Cupcakes! Oh sugar how I love thee, I could write odes to each granule and -is dragged off-
Now let's see here... update news! Because shocker, I updated some other stories. I am so ready for college vacation you have no idea. -sigh- So... Ransom and November were updated on my LJ. My Scar/Al fic Those Who Dream was updated on here a few days ago. I do have half a chapter written for Fallen, so perhaps by tomorrow or Sunday expect that up. I doubt many people on my messengers will let me not put it up... they want shower and office - yeah, we're cutting there.
Now everyone, one of the dear readers is about to have a new sibling born into the family soon! So lets all laugh at her about the time the drinks arrive at the lunch table, and wish her good luck. Because this is what she'll be facing in about six years. Those of you already with kids or younger siblings, bless you.
And with those ominous words out of the way, I bid you all farewell until next chapter!
Enjoy!
Chapter Sixteen
When the group got to the pizzeria it was a crowded affair. By the looks of things one of the local schools was having a lunch out for several classes, and children were everywhere in the dining area. Even from the current vantage point it was easy to see that the shakers of red pepper flakes were becoming a much coveted accessory for attacking people with when the teachers weren't looking.
Much to Edward's frown of delight, of course, but when Roy looked over at him – he had taken to sitting up on a nearby counter under which menus were stacked in order to be out of the way – he had raised his hands in a gesture of supplication. "We can't exactly leave." He said, his voice undercut with a shadow of uncertainty. "I should be fine, but I'll let you know if I need to go outside."
Roy gave the ghost a small smile before turning to deal with the seating as a harried looking waiter made his appearance. "Obviously someplace away from the virus breeding ground over there." He jerked one thumb to indicate the children.
The waiter gave an understanding but almost exasperated looking nod. "Sometimes I wonder why we give the kids discounts. Seems we should be charging double the price." He bemoaned as he grabbed enough laminated menus for the entire group. "This way."
Their table ended up being reasonably far away from the pandemonium, and after the waiter had left with their drink orders Hawkeye turned to Roy with a smirk.
"Just you wait, Mustang," she began firmly, "one day you'll have your own personal virus breeding ground just like Maes."
Roy was not the only one at the table who found that statement amusing, and over the sounds of their amusement said, "I doubt the condom company is going out of business any time soon."
Edward had settled onto an opposite table, there being no empty seats at the one everyone else was at. "If they did it wouldn't matter. Celibacy might do you some good."
Roy was reasonably certain now that 'celibacy' was a potentially heart attack inducing word.
She merely smirked at him, "one day you're going to find someone, and then you'll be eating your words."
"Unless that someone is a guy." Havoc pointed out, much to Roy's gesture of approval.
"Adoption?" Fuery piped up thoughtfully.
Roy rolled his eyes, "I do not want kids. And I do not want to "find someone". Haven't we established this years before now?"
"We're hoping you'll eventually grow out of it, sir." Falman explained absently as he continued to eye the children as they began a messy looking game of racing around the tables with pizza slices much to the teacher's chagrin.
Roy turned a shocked look on him, "is everyone but Havoc now housing fantasies of me being domesticated?"
"You are domesticated." Edward finally spoke up, "you have a pet and you're living with someone the rest of your life. Even if I am dead."
Roy wasn't entirely sure that counted, but he couldn't mention that here.
"We actually have bets going on of how long it will take." Breda offered, really only to see the look on his superior's face. "Maes is a most generous contributor."
Roy let his head drop into one hand. "You all are impossible. Everyone here but Havoc is clearly insane, I'm sending you all in for psych evaluations."
An empty threat that was met with a bout of chuckling.
Their drinks arrived, and their pizza orders were given by the slice, and the waiter left again. It was around that time that the children had noticed their group, and living here in Central, they knew military officers when they saw them. And being children they were rather… enthusiastic about this discovery.
Edward was forced to shoot into the air with a bit of a yelp and a stormy glare towards the children who had suddenly swamped the table Roy was sitting at.
"Have you ever killed anyone?" One of the boys leered as he stared up at Fuery.
Fuery blinked in shock behind his glasses at the youth. "No…?" He knew it was a lie, but he wasn't sure it was appropriate to go around telling children he had killed someone before.
"What's the matter with ya then? You a girl?" The boy asked, clearly not meaning the "girl" comment in a nice way.
Which made a muscle above Hawkeye's eye twitch.
Roy was stifling laughter behind one hand. As would have been the others, were they not under similar attack.
Havoc currently was trying to detach a young girl from his arm as she shrieked, "I got the witch! I got the witch!"
Another boy was staring at Breda accusingly. "You ate all the pizza!"
Breda could only blink at him while slowly flushing pink, even if he was comfortable with his current overweight state.
"You look too old to be in the military!" One little girl was informing Falman quite helpfully, hands on her hips. "Can you even kill someone with your arther-arth-athertis?"
"Arthritis." Falman provided stonily, and gave Roy a deadpan look that sent the man into a fit of laughter unable to be stifled by his hand.
Edward could only watch, his irritation with the children fading as he found Roy's laughter contagious. Who'd have ever thought they'd become under attack by children in a pizzeria?
And then some of the other children spotted Roy, and promptly a boy and girl were trying to climb onto him. "You're pretty!" The girl declared as she nearly toppled off her one-shinned perch on Roy's leg, only to be caught and steadied by him. "Have you ever killed anyone?" This other boy interrogated as he climbed up sideways on Roy's lap.
Edward was suddenly scowling again.
Roy was rather used to children thanks to Elysia, and for that he was grateful all of a sudden. Otherwise the climbing all over him would have probably irritated the hell out of him. "Thank you," he told the girl, and then he looked at the boy, "killing people is a very bad thing."
Which was a lame answer, and the boy knew it, but Roy was saved from having the obvious pointed out when one of the teachers finally came racing over to rescue them.
"I'm so sorry!" She panted, looking truly scandalized. "Children, go back to your tables! You should know better than to bother these nice people!" And as they all began to leave, voicing their displeasure, she frowned after them. "And I'll be speaking to your parents about this!"
That shut them up rather quickly, and they fairly fled back to their own tables.
The teacher meanwhile turned back to Roy and the others looking genuinely apologetic. "I'm sorry about that."
Roy turned a smile on her, "please don't worry about it. They did no harm."
Not too long after the teacher left did their food arrive, and Edward settled back down onto the table he'd previously occupied. He'd stopped scowling, but he still felt irritation to both those children who'd climbed on Roy. Which was strange to him, because he'd not felt irritated when Elysia had been climbing on Roy or even being held by the man.
"And you lot wonder why Mustang doesn't want kids." Havoc muttered as he grabbed the shaker of parmesan cheese in one hand and began to drown his slices of pepperoni and mushroom pizza in the cheese and with the other, grab the red pepper flake shaker and add a healthy dose of those.
Roy smiled, but didn't answer as he took a bite of his bacon and sundried tomato covered slice minus all the parmesan and pepper.
"But he did well with them." Riza made sure to point out with a wicked smile.
"Of course I did." Roy agreed amiably. "I'm used to Elysia. And you should be glad she wasn't among them. Else we'd not have gotten away so easily."
Despite all his exasperation regarding Maes and the photographs of his daughter, or just even listening to the man prattle on about her, he had spent a lot of time with Elysia. It was just a part of being Maes's best friend. And truthfully he was rather fond of the child, and she him, as was evident in all the times she called him his uncle. But they'd not have gotten away so easily even with a teacher's assistance if Elysia had been there.
She would have been the ringleader of a gaggle of germy leech-like children.
He made a mental note to wash his hands exceptionally well later.
Roy didn't even notice that Edward hadn't made a peep, nor sat himself on his drink until long after the school children had left. Which made him suddenly turn around to look for the ghost, discovering Edward sitting on a nearby table and staring out the window looking rather preoccupied.
"You okay?" Falman asked, having seen Roy's sudden movement.
Roy turned away from Edward who hadn't noticed his gaze, to sit forward again and see that the others eyes were on him now as well. "Yeah. Thought I heard something."
Not too long later the group got up to file out, needing to head back to Headquarters and the never-ending job. As they did so Roy fell to the rear of the pack so Edward could float beside him. He waited until they were outside of the pizzeria before giving the ghost a worried look.
Edward caught the look out of the corner of his eye, and turned to look at Roy while dropping down to walk as well. "I'm fine. I just didn't like the kids who were pawing you." He explained, "trying to figure out why… I don't mind it when Elysia is around you."
Roy couldn't exactly say much, and Edward knew it, so a quick nod sufficed until they were able to get back to the office. Where as soon as Roy had shed the last living person vying for his attention he closed his office door to leave he and Edward in privacy.
"You spent all of lunch trying to figure out why you didn't like those kids climbing on me?" Roy recalled just to be sure of what it was exactly as he went to half sit and half lean on the front-facing edge of his desk.
Edward sunk to sit on the coffee table with his legs folded off to one side. "Yeah." He grumbled, and carded a hand back through his silver hair. "Doesn't bother me when Elysia does it."
Roy smiled faintly, "perhaps because you know she's Maes's daughter. I don't mean this in a bad way, but it could be that your desire to keep me safe has extended now even to keeping me safe from children."
"That's ridiculous." Edward snorted.
"Is it?" Roy asked lightly and smiled, "don't be so sure, Ed. I know you're not mentally unstable… so don't be so quick to believe that you being that protective of me is ridiculous. Deep down, am I not worth that much to you?"
Edward didn't answer right away as Roy went around his desk at last to sit down and resume working. He sat there, thinking it over. Was it really that farfetched an idea that his instinct to keep Roy safe and alive now even extended to mere children? He'd been a child once… he had been an accomplished alchemist as a child. And therein perhaps lay the answer.
"You are." Edward finally replied, and seeing Roy's eyes look up at him, continued, "it doesn't matter who it is, Roy. I want to keep you safe. I want to do what I can for you. I know I'm not very useful in a lot of things being a ghost. But I want to do what I can… and protecting you is one of those things. Without you…" his voice faltered for a moment, "I don't want to be lonely again so soon. You're worth more to me than words could ever do justice."
Roy's smile was warm as he gazed at the ghost. "Just don't do to children what you do to Grand."
"No promises." Edward grouched, but smiled in return even as his arms crossed over his chest.
"And don't be so hard on yourself." Roy added gently, "I wouldn't call what you do for me being useful, but as you saw last night… when you're not around, I notice. There are plenty of useful people in this world, Edward… but there's only one you."
Edward stared at Roy in bemusement. "So I'm not useful?"
Roy rolled his eyes, of course that's what the ghost would take away from that. "You are. Just in a way that is different from everyone else. What I'm trying to say, Ed, is that you shouldn't try and fit in with everyone else. You're far too unique – being a ghost notwithstanding – to be grouped with them."
"Oh." Edward faltered rather intelligently, his crossed arms lowering now. And he fixed Roy with an indefinable look. "That was… sweet of you."
Roy smiled, a faint chuckle escaping him. "As you often tell me… it's honesty."
"Still," Edward began to smile as well, "only one me?"
Roy gave a slight nod, unable to look away from the shining silver eyes. "I can bear losing a lot of people in my life, Edward. But you… never you." He said softly, "so don't worry that you sometimes feel you're not useful, for even if you were the most impractical being to ever exist, I would never want to be without you."
"…nor I you." Edward replied after a long moment just spent gazing at each other, and his smile flickered to new life. "Even if you're the biggest manwhore to exist."
Roy scoffed and picked up his pen once more in his theatric indignation that was causing Edward to laugh, much to his genuine delight. "I have paperwork to do, you troublesome ghost. Do you want our game of chess tonight or not?"
Edward floated up off the coffee table still laughing. "And a bike too, don't forget. We're going to get me a bike tonight."
"Yes." Roy agreed with a smile as he turned back to his paperwork. "Chess, a bike, and cranberries. Is there anything else you want? You demanding thing."
Edward floated over to fetch the book he'd been reading earlier that day. "A pony."
"Right," Roy rolled his eyes with a snort, "I'll get right on that buying you a pony thing. Eighteen years old and you still want a pony. I thought you lived in a rural area?"
"My mom never allowed us pets, remember." Edward settled on the floor, wedged into the corner with his book open on his lap.
Roy did remember. "I don't have room for a pony, even if you were being serious." He said as he applied himself to his paperwork.
Edward merely smiled. He hadn't been being serious… but his smile faded a bit. Deep down a part of him ached with wistful wants he had no right having, but they remained. And he only buried them deeper as he forced himself to be lost in the words of the book.
The hours slid slowly past, with only the shuffling of papers or turning of pages to break the silence. But as had become habit, Roy did finish his paperwork early. He had a game of chess to play after all. And so he left the office to go turn the paperwork into Hawkeye for her to do with as she needed, leaving Edward to set up the chess board as was now customary.
Once Roy had returned and sat down at his desk, he moved first.
But was not the first to begin their round of questioning as Edward moved a pawn in turn. "So why have you never asked me to put cinnamon in your hot chocolate, with peppermint sticks and everything else?"
Roy was actually taken aback by the question, not quite knowing where that had come from. "Because yours tastes delicious enough without." And he immediately pounced for his own question as he moved another pawn. "Why do you ask?"
"Well you told me once what you like in your hot chocolate and I've been adding none of that. Just to see I guess if you'd notice." Edward shrugged.
"To tell you the truth," Roy began, "I added that stuff because I found it bland without. All those extra flavors just for hot chocolate? Sure, they're good accompaniments, but sometimes simple is best. And you do simple very well. I dare not ask you to taint what is already good just for memory or experimentation, unless you desire it one day."
"Oh." Edward perked up a bit. He'd been wondering about it for a few days now at the most fleeting of moments. "I just wanted to be sure… it's just, I completely turned your life upside down. I know you can take care of yourself, but I wanted to do something nice for you."
Roy smiled easily, "then be assured, yours is better. My favorite drink is still hot chocolate… just a better kind." He moved another piece before addressing a potential question he could see arising in the future from what Edward had said. "I'm glad you want to do something nice for me, so do not worry that I might think you're trying to take care of me. Friends do nice things for each other. Now if you start cooking all my meals," he gave Edward a teasing smile, "then I might have to remind you that I do have a mother."
Edward gave him a mocking look, "I'd never presume to want to be your mother. I doubt I am as fearsome as she to have raised someone like you. And nor will I cook all your meals."
Roy was left to ponder whether Edward had been insulting him or not for the rest of their games. Until at last he was forced to assume Edward had insulted him, but if it was an insult indeed, it only made him smile. For there was nothing condescending about it.
After they had packed up the chess game and put it away, Roy was hurried by an eager Edward out of Headquarters.
On a rather crowded sidewalk, Roy was walking, leading the way towards the shop he knew sold bicycles. But as the sidewalk was so crowded with other foot traffic on its way to wherever, Edward was forced to walk in the road, dodging cars with little twirls whenever it seemed to suit him.
Roy forewent the thoughts of how silly Edward looked in lieu of still trying not to panic every time a car passed straight through the ghost. Though he did court the thought for a moment of what would happen if Edward suddenly went solid while a car was still passing through him. And why the hell was Edward allowing it anyway? He thought the ghost hated things passing through him. Sure, he was spinning out of the way every so often, but only whenever it seemed to suit him.
Edward was entirely unaware of Roy's observation or thoughts as he continued to make his way down the road, letting himself float upward briefly on every twirl. He was far too enwrapped in his excitement that he'd soon be getting a bike. A bike that he would master within only days, and then Roy would just have to let him try out the motorcycle!
When at last they reached the bicycle shop the crowds on the sidewalk had thinned enough to allow Edward to walk comfortably with Roy. Together they entered through the open door of the shop, and it didn't take any time at all for Edward to suddenly bolt away from Roy.
Roy cracked a smile at the childish enthusiasm he coveted so much in the ghost and followed after at a more sedate pace. There were just some adults that could get away with this type of enthusiasm, and Edward was one of them despite his being a ghost. Maes was another. As he reached Edward's side as the ghost looked avidly at the selection of full size bikes, he made sure no one was within earshot before asking quietly. "Why'd you let all those cars go through you, I thought you didn't like it?"
Edward gave a noncommittal sound that was almost akin to a raspberry as he didn't lift his eyes from his perusal of bikes. "Couldn't be bothered to notice the entire time. And if I'd have floated up above I was worried I'd lose track of the path we were taking and lose you."
Roy shook his head with a smile, completely unseen by the ghost who's attention was only for the bikes. As Roy looked around he saw that bikes were mounted to nearly every available space on the wall, some even hanging from the rafters. Then of course there were the bikes lined up in neat rows on the floor. The adult size bikes on one side, the children size on the other. And suddenly Roy knew he couldn't resist. "The kid bikes are on the other side." He remarked softly, for Edward's ears only.
The shop owner and the family he was currently helping visibly jumped when a loud crash sounded from the opposite end of the store.
Roy was flat on his back, groaning under a pile of bikes. "My mistake."
Edward harrumphed and went back to his browsing as if nothing had happened.
The shop owner had since hurried over to Roy, looking aghast. "Sir! Are you okay? Whatever happened?"
Roy helped the shop owner heave the bikes off of him, "no idea. But I'm fine." He reassured the man, accepting the hand up.
"One of the kickstands must be loose." The shop owner theorized, muscling them over against the wall to lean them there. "Are you sure you're all right?"
Roy nodded, holding up an appeasing hand. "Perfectly. Please don't worry about it."
Once the shop owner had been convinced Roy was perfectly fine, he left to go finish with the family he'd been helping before the minor chaos. Leaving Roy to wander up to a smirking Edward who was staring at a dark blue, nearly black bike. "Pleased with yourself?"
"Fractionally." Edward grinned, turning sparkling silver eyes on Roy. "You're lucky I hold back with you."
Roy gave him an amused smile before turning to look down at the bike. "Do you like this one?"
The side of Edward's mouth quirked, "I'd like it better if it were black. Not just very dark blue."
Roy glanced it over, taking note of the contraption as if it truly mattered that he buy Edward a safe bike. "Well," he began with a forming smile, "you may not be an alchemist anymore, but I am." And he looked up at Edward's hopeful face. "So what do you say?"
"Yes!" Edward bounced into the air in delight. "Please?" And he landed directly in front of Roy to clasp his hands together in a begging gesture while turning wide silver eyes on Roy in a look that would have befitted a Spaniel. "Please, Roy?"
Roy stifled his laughter with one hand as he grinned openly at the ghost. "You know, when you act like this you make me feel like the most important person in the world."
"You are." Edward wheedled shamelessly. "A manwhore, but still important."
"Just had to bring that into it…"
"Couldn't let you get a bigger ego."
Roy rolled his eyes, but still smiled. "Okay. It's yours. Now wipe those puppy eyes off your face, god help me if Hazel ever learns that look as well. Between the two of you I'd be doomed for sure."
Edward cackled menacingly before hopping onto the seat of his new bike with a gleeful smile.
Roy chuckled at Edward's cackling, reminded that this ghost was the one who seemed set on killing Grand through paranormal means. Sometimes he could hardly believe that such a fearsome guard dog persona lay under that innocent and fun-loving personality he was beginning to know so well. "You're both ends of the spectrum, aren't you." He murmured to himself, before turning to go find the shop owner.
The shop owner was delighted to be making two sales so far this evening. Especially one to the customer who'd been flattened by some of the bikes. "Planning to do some cycling, Colonel?" The shop owner asked, taking correct note of the insignia on Roy's uniform.
Roy smiled easily. "I hear it's good for working off stress." And he eyed the shop owner seriously. "Stress makes you lose your hair. And I'm too young to be losing my hair."
"Lots of stress then?" The shop owner interpreted.
He sure as hell would have been if he had put off getting Edward a bike any longer. "I'm not waiting for it to get to that point and risk the damage already being begun."
Once the purchase had been made, Roy thanked the shop owner and walked over to where Edward was perched on the bike seat still. "Hold on, hmm?" He said quietly as he flipped the kickstand up and took the bike by both handlebars now.
Edward nodded, not seeing how hard it could be. His feet rested down on the pedals while he sat straight up with a delighted smile.
Only to screech as Roy moved the bike forward and turned it so it could be wheeled out of the store.
Roy tried not to laugh as he paused, waiting for Edward to regain his balance. "Sure you don't want training wheels?"
"Shut up." Edward growled. "You just surprised me."
Roy nodded sagely, "hold on." He repeated and started forward again. They made it out of the store fine, as Roy hadn't had to take a sharp turn. As he walked the bike, now one-handed down the sidewalk, he stuck his other hand in a pocket.
It was to the market next.
"Can't I try riding yet?" Edward asked as he just sat there as Roy guided the bike steadily along through the ever-thinning throng of people on the sidewalks.
"Nope." Roy muttered quietly, barely moving his lips.
Edward sighed, and his eyes flickered mischievously as he suddenly remembered where his feet were.
Roy cursed under his breath as the bike gave a lurch forward, and he glared back at Edward who had stopped pedaling now in order to laugh.
And then Edward shrieked as the bike suddenly pitched to the right. His hands flying immediately up to the central bar linking the two handlebars to steady himself.
"That," Roy began smugly, "is what the bike will do when you start to ride on your own."
It was Edward's turn to curse a bit, and vowed that he'd show Roy. He'd be mastering this bike sooner than Roy thought, and then it was on to the motorcycle!
By the time they reached the market the crowds had significantly thinned, and the vendors would be packing to go home in an hour or so, wanting to get some sleep before the next day of market. Roy easily guided the bike to his favorite fruit vendor to frequent.
Once there the kickstand went down on the bike, and Roy stepped over to begin examining cranberries as Edward joined him. "How many would you like?" He asked as he grabbed a small paper sack to put his purchases into.
Edward looked over the berries, running his hands through and over them. "Not many." And with a sudden burst of inspiration he began to select berries and plop them down into the sack as Roy held it. Clearly not caring if anyone saw.
Roy could only hold the paper sack and try not to smile. He was just glad no one else seemed to be looking their way.
"There." Edward dusted off his hands in an air of satisfaction.
Roy gave an approving nod as the ghost looked up at him. "We will make your cake then before these spoil." And he stepped away to pay for his cranberries.
When he returned Edward was already perched back up on the bike smiling happily. And he couldn't help but smile as well. He was glad that the ghost was so pleased, and apparently so determined to learn how to ride his new bike. Very first bike. He was glad that it was he who was able to give Edward this experience.
And he was immensely looking forward to the laughter that was sure to come from the initial trials.
Despite his teasing, he did want Edward to succeed.
"Time to go home." He smiled at the ghost, and flipped the kickstand back up so he could start the bike towards home.
They had gone perhaps halfway, in residential district again, when Edward spoke up again. "Thank you, Roy." He said softly.
Roy looked back at Edward warmly. "You're welcome. I'm glad you're happy with it."
Edward nodded shyly. "I've not had anyone buy me a gift like this before."
Roy turned back around as his eyes darkened. This gift should have been something Edward's father would give the ghost. But that would never happen now. It wasn't that he felt as if he was a replacement father to Edward, he knew neither of them felt remotely that way. But still… it should have been Hohenheim's moment, to give Edward a bike. "Don't get used to it. I plan on making you my slave for a month to pay me back."
Edward could only grin and laugh, not needing to hear the teasing tone of Roy's voice to know the man was joking with him.
Roy smiled as he listened to Edward's laughter, disrupting it every now and then by pitching the bike off to the right or left to cause the ghost to gasp or growl at him before the laughter began anew. He was beginning to believe Edward was now what was called "slap happy". He found he didn't mind it at all.
Finally they reached the gate of the fence around Roy's home, and he opened it to let them in. At that point Edward finally got off the bike and walked with Roy around to the backyard where he propped it up against the tool shed.
"I can't wait to get started!" Edward declared even as he followed Roy towards the backdoor of the house.
Roy laughed and tossed a smile at Edward. "Don't worry, you'll be falling off of it soon enough."
Edward gave a haughty sniff. "Just you wait and see, Roy Mustang."
They entered the house together, and Edward followed Roy into the kitchen, watching as the man poured the berries out into a bowl and then stuck them in the refrigerator for later. And as Roy rummaged next for some dinner he found his gaze attracted once more by something resting innocently enough on a countertop.
That cake.
Edward frowned as he stared at it, "Roy?"
Roy straightened from pulling out some chicken from the fridge, intending to fry it up. "Hm?" He asked back as he began to pull the things he'd need.
"May I get rid of that cake now?" Edward turned to him, silver eyes glittering with a sort of steel to them.
Roy blinked, and looked over to where the cake had sat, forgotten by him, actually. "Cake…"
"Yes, the cake." Edward repeated in exasperation. "Have you had your trophy sitting there long enough? Can I get rid of it?"
Roy opened his mouth, about to ask why Edward wanted the cake gone so badly, when he thought better of it. It really didn't matter why… Edward didn't want it around. And as he'd forgotten it was even there… "you may." He allowed.
Edward lost no time in triumphantly stalking over to seize the offending confection and dump it unceremoniously into the trash bin.
As Roy watched him, it suddenly dawned on him when he saw how pleased Edward was that it was gone. The ghost didn't want to have any reminders in the house of the people he'd bedded. For all Edward taunted him about the manwhoring, the ghost didn't want any sign that one might linger on for more than a night. He was a bit confused as to why… but it was making him smile.
"What?" Edward asked, as he saw Roy smiling at him. "If you wanted it gone you could have done it yourself."
"No…" Roy shook his head, "it's not that."
"Then?" Edward arched a curious eyebrow.
Roy turned away, still smiling. "Nothing."
Edward stared at him in curiosity and some confusion a moment more before smiling as well. Roy seemed glad the cake was gone too. So quite happily he floated over to sit up on a counter next to the stove Roy was working at. "She probably saw right through you and poisoned it anyway."
Roy smiled up at the ghost, "probably. And besides," he tilted his head as he considered the apparition. "I'm making a cake with you."
Edward was silent for a time as Roy went back to his cooking before he spoke up again. "Did you mean what you said earlier?" And knowing that was hardly fuel for an intelligent answer, added, "about me being your friend? You said friends do nice things for each other…"
Roy smiled as he gazed down at the chicken he was cooking, taking a moment before looking up at the ghost once more. "Yes, I meant it. Very much."
"Even though I'm dead?" Edward asked in a voice laced with hope.
Roy shook his head quietly, "you're not dead to me. Not in that way."
Edward blinked, temporarily speechless. And then like a dormant geyser springing to life once more, the overpowering urge to just hug the man shot through him. But he couldn't… yet his eyes were shining like silver stars as he finally found words again. "I'm glad you're here with me, Roy."
Roy stirred his chicken some more, feeling how happy Edward was. And it made him wonder for a moment just how lonely Edward had been… and had the ghost not believed they were friends by now? It was evident that perhaps Edward had been waiting for permission, or something. But as Edward said those words to him, he looked up once more, captivated in those shining silver eyes. "I'd be nowhere else."
Neither knew how long they held each other's gazes before the chicken sizzling in the skillet gave a warning menacing hissing sound that would have preceded a charcoaling like never seen before. And Roy immediately jumped into startled action to rescue his meal.
It was barely rescued in time, but rescue it Roy did, and soon he was sitting down to eat.
"So tomorrow you're going out…" Edward bit his lip before changing his words, "Thursday, I get you all night?"
Roy nodded, "yes, on Thursday." But wanting to see what this news would do, added, "also Friday. I can't be showing up for an early train if I'm hung over and tired. I want to enjoy this weekend with you."
Edward brightened considerably. For more than the reason he'd be getting Roy all to himself for two nights in a row. They were also going on a weekend trip somewhere together. "And you still won't tell me where we're going?"
Roy shook his head with a secretive smile. "It's not like you have to pack."
Edward scowled at that, but it was short-lasted as he began smiling again. Everything had gone amazingly right today. Grand had gotten injured some more, he'd gotten a bike, the cake had been dumped in the trash, he was set to make his own cake with Roy, and he was approaching his weekend trip with Roy.
Roy knew where Edward's thoughts must be, and he quietly laughed to himself as he finished eating. And once he had the two of them finally headed upstairs. Roy intending to get in a hot shower to relax him, and Edward intending on picking up that book again and finishing it tonight.
And Edward flopped onto Roy's bed to pick up his book and contentedly begin to read as he heard the shower start. He wasn't sure that anything could wipe the smile off his face tonight.