moonstone: I think if these two looked back on a lot of things they've said to each other they'd be mortified at how it sounds. Ah... to write a slapstick parody.
Batty: It's in my nature to post things at a time where you'll be disrupted. I actually text your girlfriend back and forth to see when the best time is, and then poof! I submit a chapter.
tsuki107: Now he just has to swim the upstream battle of his silly little nerves.
Aysu: The janitorial staff will definitely be reappearing soon. They have some definite final roles before this is all over. Never underestimate the janitors, they can cause some shit to happen.
MysticValkyrie: I'm trying to remember if 42 chapters is a new record for him. I shoot for the silliest darn records. And hey, look at it this way! Now you don't have school to worry about. You can stay up as late as you like.
LadysWords: Do I hear another chorus of yes? XD
gali-o: Ed will make a good housewife for his disastrously messy husband. Roy is smart to be afraid of the wife on a mission.
secret25: Well, not to any other people -sly grin-
Alex: If you thought I was dead then, I wonder what you thought this last time.
iruka92: It's a good thing the chemistry with them is compatible, otherwise I have a feeling that towns would blow up more frequently.
Toki Mirage: Now I wonder why you'd want a solid Ed... XD
The Second Hand of Time: Roy's sex marathon will never be over! He'll just find a different outlet... and Ed will be partially scarred for life I imagine.
sofferenza: I knew it'd happen somewhere between 40 and 50, I'm actually surprised it wasn't 50. Sometimes I truly enjoy being evil and throwing in another curve ball. But at this point, I know there's no more curve balls that these two need.
Barranca: That he is. He's the epitome of a survivor, he'll do whatever it takes. One of these days I really want to do an in-depth piece on Roy's time in Ishbal, I think it'd prove a good exploration of what made him who he is.
Marylover: Hi! -waves- Haven't seen you in ages.
lumisakom: What I wouldn't give to be able to push out an early update, trust me.
Cheru: I though I finally killed all those ninjas? I sent Ling after them and he assured me they had been taken care of... but anyway, I will do a story on Daphne, never fear. Roy's dad is going to be an interesting man I fear XD
Ana Lilly: Sometimes men do like to take their sweet time about things. Not that I can judge, I'm as clueless as can be when someone is interested in me. That's why I'm wary about a small blond one day crossing my path.
Blessed24 7: Thank you. I think it helps that Ed really does believe that. There's always been a spare bedroom, but he's never used it.
foolonthehill: Oh I have indulged in that several times, in finished and unfinished fics various places. And I would hope I've gotten better at writing over the years, I started right after middle school and can admit I wasn't all that awesome XD
A Single Fragile Rose: That was by far the longest attempt to wheedle me into making Ed solid that I've seen yet. But then I wouldn't have expected anything less from you XD
Kimba Lionheart: Roy deserves pie now for being a good boy.
daemonkieran: Yes, 42 chapters to realize that he's absolutely hopeless and a slave to Ed's smile or frown. And bless him for not seeming all that broke up about it. I would have kicked him if that was the route my Roy muse wanted to take.
SilverReader: Oh Maes will definitely be in for a shock when he learns what exactly Ed is. Something Roy will take immense pleasure in. As will I... but my pleasure is truly secondary to all this.
StoriesILike: You're right, Roy definitely is a sexual creature and he won't cope easily without some attention. It's part of what makes it so much fun!
Soaha: I truly think that if I were a bit more insane, I should have added sudden flares of Armstrong-sparkles to his realization.
RaiineDays: He was definitely getting there as fast as he could... now he just has to worry about how fast Ed will get there.
Keisuke Sora: Ed will be fun to get to the point Roy is at. And then writing Daphne's reaction to it all is throwing me into fits of wicked delight.
Koneko: Oh I know there are scary people in this fandom. There are just things that even I don't think should be done, and I'm fairly okay with most everything. And the thought of poor Ed trying to keep up in a sex marathon with Roy is giving me fits of laughter.
Guardian Radiance: Did you change your name again? You change names more frequently than a spy. Are you a spy? Hmm... and Daphne isn't nearly finished with all of this yet.
cocopower1: And don't forget decreasing the population by one!
Mesonoxian: And you can't imagine what a relief that is to me.
accident prone: I find that a lot of people love Roy killing others... I wonder if this is healthy XD
GreedxEd: Oh he doesn't need dreams, he just has to stare at Ed, pretending to be asleep...
Jathara: Never fear, the cute fluff shall arrive in due time. And the part of me that loves writing battle scenes shall cringe in horror that I actually have a fluffy side.
lyricalgurl8: Oh Maes will have plenty of opportunities to torture Roy, it is his favorite pastime after all. And now that he knows Roy is in love with someone, he can go all out like only a happily married man can.
Pinksakura200: Oh this will be a monster. Most of mine usually are. Although we are over halfway done. At which point I shall cry when it ends. I always do.
MaybeTomorrow: And that won't even be the worst cliffhanger XD
Secrets: Thank you, I'm rather proud of my OC's. I never actually expected them to be as well-loved as they are, or to be one day writing a separate story for one of them, but I'm proud of them, and very happy you appreciate them.
Celestial Dance: Thank you, I'm glad to hear that you wouldn't mind about 10,000 chapters of this... although I think at that point I might be in fear of my life XD
prettydarkmoonbunny: That I will!
Hawkpath 13: Writing Ed freaking out is one of my favorite things to do. He's such a little spitfire, more like a volcano really. When he erupts, it's best to take cover and do what must be done not to be burned alive.
Peluche-tan: Updated with a bit more Hazel.
rabid kuma: Not quite. These two have still got some things they need to take care of. With themselves, and Grand. They're not getting out quickly.
KyuuKitsunex3: My Roy muse was horrified that you'd refer to him as a virgin in any circumstance.
HotCrossPigeon: Thank you very much... and exploring the flaws is actually fun. Perfect characters are no fun at all, because there's nothing left to really do with them and that's just tedious. Best they're a bit messed up.
MegatronLove: You're going to absolutely adore some of the upcoming cliffhangers then.
Well I do suppose this was a longer wait than I intended, I actually had this mostly finished for a long part of the wait. Roy likes to be stubborn though. That and for the better part of a month I couldn't even touch my writing because of the car accident. The panic attacks I was getting from the flashbacks made it hard for me to focus on anything for very long. Still getting them a bit, but it's easier to control now.
Anyway let's see... I'm enjoying living at my new apartment. It's far more friendly here than the last place, and when things break they run over to fix it for me. As soon as I get myself another car though I'll finally be able to finish putting everything together. There's shopping I need to do that I can't right now.
Went to Phoenix Comicon as is standard and enjoyed myself for the most part. Many of the panels were boring as hell, but that's probably why I ended up making con-friends with more people this year. We were all bored to tears and thus, we must chat. And pose for pictures. And being that I was Captain Kisuke, I had to chase an Ichigo down a hallway.
I really need to get up pictures... I'll get to that eventually I suppose. My list of things to do just keeps growing longer. And may I just say... I don't remember FFnet looking nearly so cheesy last I was on here.
Anyway, I think I've rambled enough. Time to get back to the boys, who behaved admirably... or at least one did.
I hope you enjoy the chapter!
Chapter Forty-Three
"Morning!"
Edward screeched in alarm, flailing to one side before catching himself with a sidelong glower over to where Roy had just flopped himself next to him. "One of these days, Roy…" he grumbled in promise.
Roy chuckled, smirking over at the ghost before planting his feet on the roof and leaning forward against his propped up legs. "Of course," he agreed amiably. "Where's the sun?"
"It's not risen yet, you moron." Edward pointed out balefully, before turning to look towards the pale, but still sunless horizon for a moment, then turning back to the man still watching him. "You're up early, why?"
Roy merely smiled, and then a deep sigh came out of him as he turned to watch the sky. "I once promised myself I'd watch the sunrise with you. Today felt like a good day for it."
Edward gave a small frown, his head tilting oddly as he studied the man. "Honestly I'm surprised you're awake after the night you had." And then on sudden inspiration, asked, "you're not sleepwalking, are you?"
Roy snorted at the idea, shaking his head. He certainly was not, and by all rights, he should still be asleep… but after last night's revelation he felt surprisingly revitalized. It was the exact opposite of what he'd always believed he would feel if this happened. Not that he ever had believed it would. But there were no bouts of depression, manly tears, or anger at his apparent weakness to be drowned in copious amounts of alcohol. There was just this strange calm, this relief, and a sensation of lightness that he'd never before felt.
Studying Edward fondly, and that doubtful look the ghost was looking at him with, he could only smile.
He truly did love him.
Apparently that made all the difference. Then again, Edward always had.
"Are you sure you're all right?" Edward pressed, unnerved by the lack of verbal reassurance and the unwavering attention that Roy was smiling at him with.
Roy laughed, and then as he thought about the question and just what situation he now found himself in, laughed harder. It was a long moment of pure laughter before he was able to somewhat control himself enough to say "yes" in between a smile and another laugh. "Edward, you really are something, you know that?"
Edward blinked at Roy owlishly, completely baffled by his behavior. "I am?"
"Yeah…" Roy smiled, softer this time as he began to lose himself in watching the ghost beside him. "Yeah, you are." And reaching out as if to stroke through the silvery fringe of hair blocking some of Edward's face, his smile turned lopsided. "I'm okay, I promise."
Edward leaned towards the touch without conscious thought, "good. Although you're still up far earlier than you should be, and you're laughing."
"I had a good night last night." And at the repulsed look Edward rapidly gained, Roy quickly backpedalled with a hasty wave of his hand. "Not because of that!"
"The manwhoring or the killing people?" Edward deadpanned, unimpressed.
Roy smiled easily, "neither. It was something completely different," and his expression sobered thoughtfully just enough to notice, "so in advance… I'm sorry about leaving you here last night to go out for that. I know you wanted me to stay, I should have."
Edward stared at him wide-eyed, before frantically jumping in. "No! I didn't –"
"I wanted to stay." Roy interrupted quickly, not wanting to hear Edward lie to him. He knew it would be a lie, one meant to protect him from feeling guilt. But the thought that Edward would do that for him hurt. He never wanted Edward to lie about what he was feeling, what he wanted, just to spare him.
Edward was left speechless a moment, his mind having gone blank of what he'd been trying to say. Then slowly, Roy's words sank in.
He'd wanted to stay.
Roy had wanted to stay… and he'd wanted him to stay, so badly it had hurt. But still, he'd not said anything because he'd thought he had no right to ask it. Suddenly unable to look at the man who was studying him so closely, Edward turned away hastily and at last managed to find his words. "You did?"
"Yeah." Roy smiled softly, his voice quiet as he reached a hand over to rest it over Edward's knee. "I'd say that next time you should tell me… but there won't be a next time, Edward."
Edward jolted in shock and confusion at that statement, and that shock overrode whatever had overcome him earlier as his head whipped back around towards the man.
Roy smiled at the surprised spirit, not sure that Edward even realized the hope that had begun to shine in his silver eyes. Gate help him, how he loved those eyes, and raising his hand from over Edward's knee he signaled him to be quiet just a moment longer. "Even so, I want you to promise me that you'll never try to lie to me again to spare me from whatever guilt you think I might gain. Promise me that if there's ever something you want from me, you'll not try and hide it from me again, because I know you wanted me to stay… and I'm sorry that I was so much of a bastard, and a fool, that I didn't."
Edward knew that Roy was waiting for him to say something, and there were so many things he wanted to say… slowly he shifted on the roof until he sat facing Roy, and one of his hands had risen to toy with a lock of his hair as he tried to puzzle this whole thing out. "Why are you saying these things?" He finally asked, and with that one question, the rest tumbled out in a flood.
"Why didn't you stay, if you knew? Wouldn't you have gone anyway, even if I had said something? If you wanted to stay, why did you leave me last night? And why the sudden change of heart about it? I never wanted to take over your life! I didn't! Just because I –" Edward hesitated, his silver eyes torn with the sudden onslaught of emotions before he shut them hard, continuing a bit more softly in his embarrassment, but unable and unwilling to stop himself even so. "Just because I hate it, just because you're wrong about me. You don't have to do these things because of me."
"How am I wrong?" Roy asked gently, knowing he had to take this one step at a time.
Edward looked down at his legs morosely, "you once told me that I couldn't be selfish if I tried. That's not true… it didn't used to be this way… but I've become selfish over you. You don't like sharing me with anyone, is it so hard to believe that I feel the same?"
Roy didn't even try to hide the delight he felt at Edward's words, nor the sparkle of happiness that appeared in his eyes. Not that the embarrassed ghost could see it anyway. "Did you really hate it when I'd go out?"
"Yes." Edward muttered almost petulantly. "Not at first, but yes."
"You wanted to know why I left last night…" Roy murmured, though he knew Edward had heard him by the slight shift in the ghost's posture. "Aside from being the bastard and idiot that you always accuse me of being, I was trying to deny that I've gotten accustomed to a life with you. That being with you was enough for me, and everything I never knew I wanted. I've been alone for a long time, Edward… and life-shaking changes and I don't always mix sanely."
Edward managed a small smile at that, he couldn't help it. He knew how true it was. Whenever Roy encountered something that truly shook him to his core, he didn't always react sensibly. But looking up at Roy, still smiling, his silver eyes had lit up with a flicker of humor. "I'm your next life-shaking change?"
"Yes." Roy affirmed in a tone that welcomed no argument. "I know what you've said in the past; that I need a life outside you, that I shouldn't ignore the outside world, and I understand that. I won't. I'm not about to abandon my friends, my ambitions, my mother, my team, but I'm not abandoning you either. Not again. Do you understand? I want to keep what matters to me."
Edward nodded, shoving aside those last fragments of an argument, the only one he knew he'd never have won, for his resolve in them had already broken long ago.
"Besides," Roy grinned easily, leaning back on his hands as he looked out towards where the horizon was beginning to quickly brighten with the coming sunrise. "The manwhoring is getting dangerous. I can appreciate kinky and rough sex, but I have to draw the line at gunplay."
"Gunplay?" Edward echoed weakly, then decided he really did not want to know.
Any other day, Roy might have launched into an explanation sure to give him the most priceless reaction from the ghost, but today was not any other day. Instead, he merely smiled. "So I do believe I'm going to be all yours, that is, as long as you want me home?" He asked in a slightly teasing voice.
Edward couldn't have hid his happiness if he tried, and he nodded eagerly. "Yes! Of course I do."
Roy smiled wider, "good." And then nudging his shoulder towards Edward, nodded out to where the sun was now rising. "Here it comes."
Both of them were quickly distracted by watching the sunrise. Edward to a far greater extent than Roy, who could not stare at it for too long. But if Roy spent more time watching him than watching the horizon, Edward didn't notice. He was too entranced, too caught up in soaking in the steadiness and the strength that the sun seemed to give him. It was something he needed after everything Roy had said.
They sat there together until the sun had fully risen past the horizon, only then did Roy stretch and move to get to his feet. "Come on, I have to get ready for work."
Edward stirred as well, and as Roy offered down a hand, he took it in his own way and took to hovering just above the roof tiles. "Think Grand will have realized by now what you did?"
"I'd be insulted if he hasn't." Roy replied, matter of fact, "I certainly hope he doesn't believe that the reason his little mercenary didn't report back was because I bedded him thoroughly."
"I don't even want to know what you did to him." Edward muttered, remembering the blood that had covered Roy. "I was really scared…"
Roy's face softened. He knew, Edward had told him as much last night, and even if he hadn't… he knew. He could only imagine what his own thoughts would have been if their positions had been reversed and Edward had come inside covered in blood. "I'm sorry, Ed."
Edward shook his head, brushing off the apology. "You'd have to apologize to me if you'd gotten yourself killed."
Roy smiled as he began making his way towards where he could start climbing back down the side of the house. "I sincerely hope that doesn't happen any time soon. Especially not by Grand's hands. That would just be depressing."
Edward snorted, but followed after Roy. "You'd best get on with it and kill him before I do, because if this is what his interference in your life does to you… I've never heard you say so many shocking things before."
Roy had already begun scaling his way back down the house, and smiled thinly though he did not take his eyes from the wall in front of him. "It isn't him who's been changing me, Ed. You give yourself too little credit… because I'm not fool enough any longer to realize I was changing since the day I met you."
"I'd have been sad, if you'd stayed the same… because for that to happen, you'd have ignored me from the start." Edward murmured as he descended down towards the grass, and didn't need to wait long at all before Roy had scaled his way back down the wall.
"Not even Grand can ignore you, and he doesn't even realize you exist." Roy pointed out, dropping the last bit of distance to the ground and smirking at Edward. "You're probably his greatest enemy. The one he can't identify. I admit to being a bit envious."
Edward scowled somewhat at the notion. "Before I met you I had no enemies. You're a bad influence, Roy Mustang."
Roy laughed openly and winked at the ghost before turning to make his way inside through the back door. "I'd feel offended if you believed I was a good one."
Together they entered the house, and Edward trailed Roy back upstairs to the bedroom. Yet when Roy entered the room, he stopped just short of actually making it through the doorway with an "oh."
There, sitting in the middle of the bed, was Hazel.
Hazel had arrived into the bedroom some time ago, hoping to find his frustrating owner still abed and open to a rude awakening that would befit him after the previous evening. Instead, he'd found the bed empty. The mere fact of his revengeful fun being taken from him was causing his tail to twitch in sharp, irritated snaps as he sat on his haunches, staring down his owner.
"Hazel…" Roy began uncertainly, seeing the look he was being pinned mercilessly with.
Hazel immediately raised onto his hind legs, beginning a shrill chattering reprimand. Covering everything from how his owner had made his invisible friend sad last night, to the state of how he'd come home, to the fact he'd gotten up early. And when he'd covered it all, he began again just to be sure that Roy hadn't missed anything. His owner, after all, could be very dimwitted.
Roy stood meekly through the entire tirade, and the next, feeling properly chastised.
Edward had scooted around to Roy's side to watch the entire affair, a wicked grin on his lips. And although Hazel couldn't hear him interrupt, he still felt a bit nervous about it as he glanced towards Roy. "I'm afraid this is partially my fault."
"What?" Roy hissed out of the corner of his mouth, hoping he wouldn't be heard by his incensed pet.
Hazel immediately began screeching at him, waving front paws to emphasize important chatters.
Edward giggled, then quickly sobered. "He only started avoiding you last night when he sensed I was sad. He spent last night trying to cheer me up."
Roy sobered too, something far different from the effect Hazel's reprimands were having. He should have stayed, and while he'd already apologized to Edward for leaving, it didn't help sooth his regret about it. But he hadn't yet apologized to Hazel. So steeling himself, he walked over to the bed where Hazel remained enthroned with indignation.
Edward didn't say anything, but his eyebrows rose in curiosity as he watched Roy kneel down at the side of the bed.
"Hazel." Roy interrupted firmly, holding up one hand.
Hazel quieted quickly, and with narrowed eyes he scampered to the side of the bed to peer imperiously down at his kneeling owner.
Roy smiled with a flicker of humor and then bowed his head in apology. "I'm truly sorry that I made Edward sad last night. If I hadn't been such an idiot I'd have stayed with him, like he wanted."
Edward studied the man, trying not to feel embarrassed at the turn this apology was taking.
"I know he's your friend, and he's –" Roy halted a moment, his eyes softening as a defeated smile took its place, "he's very special to me. I never should have hurt him like that."
Hazel mumbled to himself, as if debating the words, when really he was mulling over Roy's tone.
Edward smiled then, and on a sudden decision, went to Roy's side to fold his legs under him and sit. He didn't even realize he was leaning towards Roy as he reached out a hand for Hazel to lock in on.
Hazel immediately perked up in a far different manner, and squealed in delight as he reached out towards the presence he could feel. And his tail began to fluff and twitch happily as he sensed only peace from his friend. There were no more traces of sadness.
Roy didn't even realize Edward's presence until he was hit in the chest with a launching ball of rust-brown fur, and sitting back on his legs as well he held a cuddling Hazel to him with a fond smile as he rubbed his fingers into the tiny body.
"I'm very special to you?" Edward asked with a soft, unassuming smile as he watched the pair make up.
Roy gave a throaty chuckle and a lopsided smile as he watched the ghost through fond eyes. "It's hardly justice for what you mean to me." And he wanted to tell Edward just how much. He wanted to tell him so badly it was tearing at him, but opening his mouth again all he got out was a barely audible sound before a flustering wave of nerves hit him and he staggered back to his feet in a barely coordinated way. "I'm never going to get to work on time like this." He managed to splutter before he fled.
Edward barely had time to process the man moving before Roy was suddenly behind the bathroom door, and he blinked owlishly several times before floating up to sit on the bed. He wasn't sure what had gotten into the man, but it certainly was giving him pause.
He'd never believed that anything would cause Roy to take a break from his manwhoring. Especially not anything that Grand had a hand in, however slight. If anything, Edward believed that it would have only made Roy frequent the bars more often, just to spite the Brigadier General. The fact that Roy was acting the opposite, however smart it was, was baffling.
Not that he wanted to complain…
The knowledge that Roy would be home with him now, instead of sleeping around, gave him a feeling of relief and peace that he hadn't realized it would. He hadn't been looking forward to more repeats of last night, and how he'd felt when Roy had walked out that door. He was happiest when Roy was with him… and even though he knew it was selfish of him, Roy hadn't seemed to mind when he'd admitted as much.
With a flicker of humor that startled a small laugh from him, Edward wondered what Maes would say, if he knew. Or what Daphne would. It was almost a shame that he had no way of easily telling them without clueing Roy in on what he was doing, he would love to see their reactions. And he suspected that Roy wouldn't be telling them on his own.
Resolving that he'd need a miracle to occur, Edward turned his attention to what he could do.
He could do something to Grand.
The knowledge that Grand had been behind the events of last night, and the scare he'd had over Roy showing up covered in blood did nothing to sate his vengeance against the man. Grand had taken this covert battle of wits onto personal terrain, and Edward didn't like it.
He knew that Grand couldn't escape unscathed from this transgression, as he knew Roy was going to allow for the good of the greater picture. Luckily, he answered to no greater picture. He supported it, but when it went too far, he was glad to be free of this maddening political game. So he would do what he could to strike back on Roy's behalf.
He couldn't allow Grand to think that interfering in Roy's personal life was an act to go unpunished.
He was mulling over possible plans of attack when Roy finally emerged from the bathroom.
"Don't try and stop me."
Roy abruptly halted just out of the doorway of the bathroom, the towel he'd been drying his hair with falling quiet as his eyes landed quickly on the ghost. A small frown began as he shooed Hazel from his other arm up onto his shoulder. "Stop you?"
Edward nodded resolutely, looking over at him now. "I don't know what I'll end up doing, but I have to do something to get back at Grand. I can't allow him to think he can try and win this thing through your personal life."
The frown didn't go away, but Roy slowly took the towel from his hair only to fling it up on top of Hazel who squeaked in offense and clambered onto his head instead to dangle his tail between Roy's eyes. "I won't try and stop you, if this is what you want. Just be certain the Fuhrer is nowhere nearby. I'd have a hard time getting to you in Grand's office."
"Now you just sound lazy." Edward grinned, but knew how serious the matter was.
"Not impossible," Roy made an effort to smile, "just hard." And he walked over to sit down next to the ghost on their bed, staring down at his knees. "I'd get to you if I had to."
Edward looked at him for a long moment, not saying anything. Finally he pulled his legs up under him, settling onto the bed a bit further. "I don't have any desire to repeat the experience of being around the Fuhrer any sooner than I have to."
"Good, else I'd have to wonder if the last experience addled your brain." Roy smirked then and gave a slight frown upwards as Hazel rearranged himself on top of his head. He had no clue what the squirrel was up to, but if the sudden paws in his hair were any clue, he was getting a grooming. "Anyway," he reached up to pluck the rodent off his head and smirk further at the reproachful look Hazel gave him, "I need to finish getting ready, and then we can go."
"Yes… I can't do anything to Grand if I'm here." Edward said firmly.
Roy's expression was one of reluctance, yet the humored agreement that came from resigning himself to the knowledge that he couldn't stop Edward anyway. All he could do was tell the ghost to be careful, as he always did. He'd never been able to stomach the thought of anything happening to Edward before, and now that he realized just how deeply he cared for Edward, how desperately he loved the fiery spirit who'd dropped into his life, the thought of Edward coming to harm was practically unbearable.
Edward cocked his head, seeing the torn expression on Roy's face, and frowned in concern as he twisted around the man to peer up at him, balancing his hands on either side of Roy. "Yes, mother, I'll be careful. I know that look, you know I do."
Roy shook himself out of his thoughts, managing a faint mocking scowl. "If you're not I won't even wait for an exorcist to get there, I'll find their silly little spells and banish you myself."
Edward grinned, it had been a while since Roy had mentioned exorcists.
"It's going to be a miracle, isn't it," Roy realized as he reached a hand up to stroke at Edward's shoulder, "if I manage to get to work on time." And honestly, right now, he was having serious considerations of not going into work at all today. Calling the entire affair off if Edward continued to remain so close to him, fairly sprawled over his lap and staring up at him with those silvery eyes.
But he knew Edward would pout over not being able to harm Grand today, followed by demanding an explanation. An explanation…
Was wanting to spend the day with Edward away from the workplace, away from a weekend, an explanation that would soothe Edward's pout? Was wanting not to need to focus on his work, so that he could just focus on Edward an explanation? Was wanting to spend an entire day making Edward laugh and smile an explanation?
Never before had he a stronger desire to take anyone into his arms, and he let himself imagine that Edward would come willingly… if he could.
"Roy?"
The sound of his name made Roy blink, and suddenly Edward was in focus again. His hand was still resting just above Edward's shoulder, and he gave a fond smile as he slid it down the ethereal glow of Edward's arm until his hand rested through the ghost's on their bed.
"Sorry." Roy murmured, and allowed himself a few moments longer to gaze into those silvery eyes before he forced himself up.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Edward turned with a frown, still not getting up from the bed as he watched Roy move to the closet to search for the uniform jacket. "You're acting…" he tilted his head with a deepening frown, "distracted. Different."
Roy's hands froze on the jacket he had been working free of its hanger, his gaze dipping down towards the floor as his mind wandered to a place that made his heart pound fiercely. Then with shaking hands he barely managed to conceal and then quiet before Edward noticed, he pulled on the military jacket. "It's not an act."
Edward blinked after him in surprise and confusion as Roy was suddenly gone from their bedroom. He didn't even manage to get in a token vocal protest before he was scrambling from the bed and dropping down through the floor to intercept Roy at the bottom of the stairs.
Roy couldn't even manage to feel proud that he startled only a little as suddenly Edward was there blocking his path. He was too invested in attempting to bring his racing heart and emotions to heel.
"You can't just walk away from me like that." Edward scolded him firmly, his silver eyes flashing as he jabbed a finger ineffectually at Roy's chest. "What sort of idiocy are you mulling over this time? And don't you dare try to deny it, you're my personal idiot for a reason and you're more of an idiot than I thought if you think I don't know the signs."
Roy wavered where he stood on the last stair before he slowly stepped down from it, and when Edward didn't move back to put distance between them again, he reached out to encircle Edward's ethereal forearm in his hand. "Edward…"
He was an idiot. He knew it well. And he'd never felt it so clearly as he did now when faced with the perfect opportunity to tell the ghost in no uncertain terms just how he felt. Just how crazy it had made him to try and deny his feelings. Feelings that the more he thought about it, the more he began to wonder if he hadn't been falling in love with Edward since the moment he'd brought the ghost into his home.
Perhaps later Edward would call him an idiot for not confessing in this perfect opportunity, but Roy knew that he couldn't. He wouldn't.
He'd put Edward through so much because of his selfish desires; blind and even more recently, blatant disregard for Edward's own feelings. He'd said so many things he was coming to regret saying, and last night he'd realized he could never feel as if he deserved Edward if he won Edward's love through a simple confession.
He dared to hope that Edward loved him in return, even if the ghost didn't yet recognize the feelings for what they were. He had enough evidence to give him that hope, though it felt fragile in his current vulnerable state. Yet with that hope, fragile though it may feel, Roy knew what he had to do.
"You have my word that I'm okay." Roy said at last, not looking from Edward's searching eyes. "I am distracted, but you'll know why soon enough. I feel it'd be an injustice to you to tell you now."
"And you don't feel it's an injustice to aggravate me like this?" Edward asked, even though he was partially mollified by the promise that he'd know what was up with Roy without having to find some way to beat that ludicrous nobility out of him again.
"It's my personal privilege." Roy grinned at him unrepentantly.
Edward scowled, much to Roy's growing amusement, and he shook his head as he at last stepped back from the man. "At this rate you're going to have to take the motorcycle to get to work on time."
Roy smirked a bit as he stepped around Edward and made his way to the front door. "It's not quite time for me to pull it out. Besides, until I'm sure that I have it set up so I won't fall through it and you can't hijack it, I don't mind walking."
Edward didn't even debate the assumption that he'd attempt to make off with the motorcycle. Both of them knew very well how much he desired to take it for a ride. And all things considered, he'd enjoy running off with it just to see Roy's reaction. He didn't even need a real reason to qualify Roy's fears.
And so the motorcycle stayed where it was, hidden beside the small shed in the backyard.
When they arrived neither of them had been expecting to be the first there. So they weren't surprised when Hawkeye looked up at Roy's entrance. They were surprised, however, when she threw herself from her chair with an immense look of relief and came to a stumbling stop before her colonel.
Roy stared at her with a mixture of confusion and outright concern. "…Riza?"
Edward too was thrown by this new side of the fiery woman he'd come to believe of her. "You aren't that late… are you?"
Riza barely took a moment to try to compose herself before she gave up and seized him by the arm in haste. "The Brigadier General is searching your office right now!" She hissed in as high a voice as she dared. "Why'd you show up late today of all days?"
"It couldn't be helped." Roy murmured back, keeping his voice low, a frown quickly gathering between his brows. "What reason did he give for searching my office?"
"Does it matter?" Edward demanded icily, suddenly bolting into the air and headlong through the wall into the office.
It took every ounce of control that Roy had not to follow after him in that moment. He had to trust that Edward would be all right on his own for a little while. But it still clenched his chest in worry.
Riza gave a fracturing sigh that spoke of the stress she'd been under now quickly leaving her. "With the game you're playing, what do you think? He claimed he believed you to be dead and wants to hunt for clues as to where you might have managed it."
"I see you didn't believe that." Roy observed gratefully, not wanting to have had to deal with a spooked staff as well as a prowling Brigadier General. "Although where he got the notion that I was injured I'll never know. Maybe he's gotten one too many knocks on the head. No matter… I'll deal with it. Just stay out here and keep anyone else from entering."
"Yes, sir." Riza answered perfunctorily, although her eyes were still a bit haunted. Her colonel could say whatever he liked, but there was one thing they all feared, and that was ever getting news that Roy had been killed. Most of them still owed him too much to allow him to die now.
Roy gave a short nod and quickly started after the ghost, not at all comfortable with the idea of leaving Edward alone in there for too long. If he didn't hurry, he may not get any straight answers out of the General before Edward's pranks incapacitated him. "Oh, and Riza, it's good to know you worry about me sometimes." He called back to the woman. Stopping in front of his office door he shot her a cheeky grin before it fell away as he let himself inside his office.
Riza stared as the office door closed behind him, and hesitated a moment at the idea of trying to eavesdrop before she gave a shake of her head. If things got out of hand, she wouldn't be of any use standing at keyholes. So she quickly went back to her desk and sat down, her gun in hand and the safety off beyond the concealing shelter of her desk.
Roy didn't even have to search for Edward, but he was confused for a moment on what the ghost was doing. He'd fully expected Edward to have loosed the ceiling tiles by now, but the ghost sat instead on the back of the black couch, kicking his legs with a smug expression.
It took only one look at the surprised Brigadier General to see why.
"Colonel Mustang! How fortunate it is that you're okay! I'd believed the worst."
The Brigadier General said all this hunched over, with his hand caught firmly in one of the desk drawers.
Edward was smirking steadily, "my mother always said something about getting hands caught in cookie jars. Do you think this counts? He can't perform alchemy like that. You're safe."
It took a great deal of Roy's composure not to laugh at Grand's predicament. Instead, he drew himself up, a familiar calm steel filling his veins as instead of moving to aid the General who was snared like a rabbit, he walked in a slow, almost prowling arc towards the far corner of his desk.
"Dare I ask how that happened to you, sir?"
Grand's eyes narrowed, as if daring the Colonel to laugh. "The drawer suddenly slammed closed and I can't get it open."
"Try putting a bit more strength into it. The locks surely aren't that firm when it's not even properly closed." Roy suggested helpfully, all the while wondering what ingenious thing Edward had stuck in the tracks of the drawer to keep it that way against Grand's attempts to free himself.
The Brigadier General sneered inelegantly at him, "what do you think I've been trying to do?"
Roy tilted his head in consideration of that, his eyes resting thoughtfully on Grand. "Ransacking my desk, no doubt. But I wonder if you have a writ from the Fuhrer permitting it. I'm under his command, not yours, so you really have no true right to go through my office without his or my permission, Brigadier General or not."
"It's nothing he needed to get involved in!"Grand snapped. "I was hoping to resolve the matter so as not to bog him down with unneeded concerns."
"It seems you thought I was dead." Roy offered idly as he pushed aside the matter of the Fuhrer, his eyes never leaving the Brigadier General. "As grateful as I am for your concern as to my health, I must wonder why you believed me dead."
Edward leaned forward with a dangerous gleam in his eyes, wondering just how Grand was going to wriggle out of this one.
"Surely you don't mean to say that Ishbal did not leave its mark on you." Grand said in a voice filled with accusatory disbelief, and a certain amount of disdain. "That you never got hunches that one of your team was dead."
Roy kept his expression carefully neutral as he came up directly beside the hulking man, "I have not, and never will be, one of yours. Perhaps you should try a head count of your team. I'm not going anywhere, I can assure you of that." And with one brutal yank, he ripped open the drawer that had held Grand caught.
Grand had barely kept from wincing, and his wrist throbbed viciously as he forced himself to keep it at his side as if it wasn't the least bit uncomfortable. Drawing himself up to full height, he met Roy's gaze levelly. "For which we're all very glad."
Roy allowed a small smile to slip onto his face. "I learned a different sort of skills in Ishbal." He said in a grimly promising tone then added, "next time you believe me dead and want to try launching a search for me, don't go digging through my desk. I hardly leave my schedule in there. You might try asking my team, they'd lead you in the right direction."
"Right down a dark alley." Edward put in helpfully.
"But," Roy continued and extended his right hand with a growing smile, "I must thank you for your concern, old comrade."
Grand stared at the hand a moment, and then back into Roy's eyes that had gone from utterly unreadable to challenging in the flash of a second. A growl nesting in his chest, he took the offered hand, and made every effort not to wince when Roy shook it firmly as if in gratitude. "It would be tragic if anything happened to you. Be careful, Colonel."
Roy released Grand's hand, curling his fingers unobtrusively against his palm. "I didn't get to be a hero by being anything less."
Grand fought back a derisive snort, the effort making the ends of his moustache twitch. Turning quickly, he began to stride from the office, knowing he'd get no further today. "Colonel." He called back in a farewell.
Edward, however, was not at all ready for goodbyes. "Oh no you don't." He snarled, and shoving off from the couch, he launched himself past the General and out through the door.
Roy could only stand there and wait as the Brigadier General vanished, and his fingers curled tighter around the paper in his hand that he had palmed back from the unsuspecting Grand. It was so fortunate that Edward had most likely made the General's hand go a bit numb, and that after the talk they'd just had, the General wouldn't be realizing he'd been duped until much later.
"Sir?" Riza poked her head in after a light knock.
"Not right now. It was exactly what you probably thought it was anyway." Roy told her absently, and as she vanished, he forced himself not to pace as he waited in worry for Edward's return. After all, depending on what Edward got up to, it could be a while yet until he returned.
And after their conversation this morning, and then Grand having been prowling through his office, he could only imagine that Edward was not in any sort of a forgiving mood.
With a melancholy sigh that didn't suit him in the least, Roy rested his elbows on his desk and his head in one hand as the other toyed with the phone cord. There was still another conversation he needed to have with Edward… and he allowed himself a brief moment to wryly reflect on the situation he now found himself in.
All his life he'd sworn he'd never fall in love. All his life he'd lived on the very brink of utter depravity because of such promises. And now all he wanted was to spend the rest of his life loving the one soul he can't ever touch.
The universe had a peculiar way of getting the last laugh.
A self-mocking smile slipped onto his face and he shook his head to break off that melancholy. Even if he would be leaving some things behind, he couldn't imagine keeping them now. It was worth it to keep Edward by his side, to be able to tell the ghost that he loved him.
"When did I get to be so lame…" he murmured to himself in faint amusement.
"Is that what has you acting strange?"
Roy jerked back, startled, as his eyes landed on Edward who stood with an amused smile on the other side of his desk.
"You're a man filled with faults, but I don't really mind." Edward finished rather firmly and leaned forward across the desk on his forearms. "It keeps you from being boring."
"It's not so much a fault, as it is a sudden realization that several of my faults have kept me blind for some time now." Roy answered quietly, glancing towards the office door and surprised to find it shut. He certainly hadn't, and nor had Riza.
Edward followed his gaze then turned back, "she didn't notice. She was too busy finding paperwork for you to do. I think the idea that you were dead really threw her off her routine."
"It would." Roy agreed solemnly. "She's spent too many years invested in doing her job to guard me to take my death easily."
"Roy," Edward began after a moment in which he seriously debated what exactly it was he wanted to say, and how to say it. "Whatever it is that's distracting you like this, don't let it turn into another fault. This isn't the best of times to be distracted by anything… and it worries me when you're not yourself."
"In that case," Roy came to a sudden decision, "my night out last night was rather spoiled. Would you like to get out of here early today and go somewhere together? I'll take tomorrow off work, and we'll be back in time for the carnival…" and his eyes rested on Edward as if somewhere along the way they'd gotten lost once more in that silvery gaze. "There's something I've been meaning to do for you, and now feels like the right time to do it. And it may give me the time I need to be less distracted before next week."
Edward was about to argue that Roy needed to be at work when he made himself think about it. This wasn't exactly something the man had ever requested, and right now… maybe this was whatever Roy needed to sort himself out again. Besides, to be honest, he much preferred going and doing things with Roy as opposed to sitting in this office all day. He'd spent enough of his afterlife here as it was. So he smiled, "don't you want to know what I did to Grand?"
Roy chuckled, smiling back rather wickedly. "I'll ask if it'll make you agree."
"Roy Mustang," Edward began firmly, "no force on this planet could make me do anything." And at Roy's laugh, his own smile grew. "I'll go with you. If only because I'm curious what it is you've wanted to do for me and if we don't go now we'll have to wait until next weekend," then added with a bit of a perplexed look, "and I didn't exactly know that I needed anything."
"You may not understand at first," Roy forewarned him gently, "but I know it'll come to you in time. We just have a quick stop to make after I'm done here so that I can outfit your first surprise and then we'll leave town."