Hey everybody! I'm sorry it took me so long to write this chapter, but you see I've recently moved to a new place which for some reason has dedicated itself to making me miserable. I've been suffering from sunburns, viruses, sickness from pollution, and jerk-off schoolmates, and have generally been too depressed to want to do ANYTHING, let alone write a story. Even my schoolwork has been suffering (which is really something, for me--but it's not that bad, honest). So, I'm really sorry for the delay.
And thank you for all your reviews. It really makes me feel better to know that you all enjoy what I write. I only wish I could write faster for you all.
Erm, right, so, enough sadness! On to the story!
Chapter Ten
A Simple Sketch
It was Thursday morning and Edward was watching Roy cook with a dreamy look in his eye. Nothing much was different after that kiss at midnight, besides the fact that they had kissed at midnight. One might be justified to wonder why the hell Ed was staring at Roy like a lovesick puppy when just a week ago he would have been staring out the window, waiting for food. Well, to Ed, the difference was very obvious.
Roy had kissed him. And in the most sappy, romantic, wonderful way possible.
The difference was that Edward was now completely smitten.
And now, Edward was just waiting for Roy to finish cooking so that he could kiss him good morning…and then maybe a thank-you-for-breakfast kiss, too…and then maybe a because-I-want-to kiss…
Roy (finally) finished breakfast and set it on the counter like he did every morning. He walked around the counter and sat in the same seat he sat in every day, and then turned his head and smiled at him, like he did every morning.
And Edward lost his nerve. AGAIN.
Luckily for him, though, Roy didn't. Unlike every morning before, Roy leaned forward in his seat and gently pressed his lips against Ed's. And just as Ed started to enjoy the soft warmth, Roy pulled away.
"Good morning, Edward."
Ed blinked at him for a moment, then smiled. "Good morning, Roy."
And as they began to eat their meal, Edward could swear that he felt a new tradition in the making.
At work, Edward did what he always did. He wrote and wrote, and then wrote some more. But Roy worked extra hard, determined to finish early. All his hard work paid off; he was done by one o'clock.
Roy filed the last paper in the correct folder and looked up at Edward.
Still writing. Perfect.
Quickly, Roy took out the art supplies Ed had given him for Christmas and opened the sketchbook to a clean page.
Edward probably hadn't realized it at the time, but the colored pencils he had given Roy were actually oil pastels. This gave Roy the ability to make some really amazing pictures, as pastels had always been a strong suit of his. Oh, and the smooth glow you could get with the proper use of pastels…
Right then. Pencil sketch first.
Lets start at the forehead…in for the brow line…follow the straight line of his nose, the smooth curve of his lips and chin, down the curve of his neck to the collar of his red shirt. Ooo, so many lines to draw in a shirt…down the front, all the buttons, the extra wrinkles where his stomach is propping up the book—stop. Go back up to the collar, draw in the shoulder…not too broad, but not too slender, either…down the line of his right arm, the extra wrinkles at the elbow, a straight line again until you hit the wrist, where the many complicated lines of his automail show beneath his glove, which is holding the book as he scrawls diligently with his left hand…back up the lines and curves of his arm and draw in the other shoulder. Now back to the book, add details…then down to the thighs, one up, one flat, both clad in those wonderful leather pants…right, down to the knees, then the calves, then the blunt curves of his boots.
Now the couch. No need to go into much detail there, you just need the basic structure…the arms, legs, back, cushions…and then you just need to add in his hair, with his braid lying just so on the arm and his bangs hanging low to frame his face. Oh, and you can't forget that one unruly lock of hair that just insisted on sticking straight out. And then you move down to the face again, the lines of his lips barely there, blending in well with his tanned skin…but we're coloring later, not now…
And finally, the eyes. The most important feature, the thing that really draws you in with Edward; the eyes, the eyes, his beautiful eyes. So golden and long-lashed and lovely…
Right. And now on to inking, so that I can get to the real fun; coloring…
When Edward and Roy got home, Roy had a smug look on his face, and Edward noticed.
He wanted to ask…
But he didn't.
If he needed to know, Roy would tell him.
And if he didn't either tell him or lose the look, he would bug him until he did.
Ed and Roy were sitting in the living room on the couch, and Edward was pretending to write more in his book, but he couldn't really concentrate. Roy was drawing in his sketchbook again, but this time it was different, more intense, and it was starting to worry Ed.
What could he be drawing that he had to concentrate so hard on?
If he tried to look over his shoulder, Roy would probably get mad…
"DONE!!" Edward jerked in surprise as Roy lifted his sketchbook triumphantly and dropped it into Edward's lap. He raised a brow at Roy before looking down at the picture in his lap.
It knocked the wind out of him.
It was him, and in Roy's eyes, he must be beautiful to get such a picture. It was just him sitting on the couch at work, writing, but the lighting was at sunrise, and there was a halo around him from the light of the sun behind. His golden hair almost faded into the shining gold of the sun—almost, but not quite—as the drawn Edward sat comfortably, writing in the journal that Roy had given him for Christmas…but all of the bright, shimmering brilliance around the drawn Ed faded in comparison to the drawn Edward's eye—the only one you could see—which was like melted gold in its intensity.
Oh, wow…was this really how he looked to Roy?
"What do you think, Edward?" Roy's voice was quiet, cautious as he watched Edward gaze at his masterpiece.
"I think," Edward whispered quietly, "that this is one of the few truly stunning things that I have ever seen."
"Really?" Roy's smile was breathtaking and he leaned towards Ed in a picture of sheer delight.
Edward couldn't help but grin back. "Yeah. I feel like I should reward you or something."
"O-oh yeah?" Roy blushed slightly as Edward set the sketchbook down on the coffee table before leaning towards him.
"Yeah," Edward leaned closer until their lips were just barely brushing. "It really does deserve a reward…"
"I think you're right…" Roy closed his eyes as Ed finally pressed his lips fully onto the Colonel's.
For a moment, they just enjoyed the closeness, the gentle press of skin on skin.
And then Edward's left hand moved to barely touch Roy's neck and his tongue lightly ran across the Colonel's bottom lip.
And then everything escalated. Roy was on top of Ed and Edward's metal hand was ripping through the back of Roy's shirt, but the Colonel didn't care, because it was just so amazing and Edward was perfect and everything was perfect and—
And the phone was ringing.
Roy tore himself away from Edward with a low curse and jerked the phone from the reciever on the coffee table.
"Yes?" He barked.
Edward held back a snigger at the tone of Roy's voice. The Colonel scowled darkly at him, but Ed only raised a brow sardonically, mocking him.
"Colonel Mustang?" Hawkeye's cool voice rang in Roy's ear and he forced his attention back to the phone.
"Yes, Hawkeye?"
"You need to come in an hour early tommorow."
"What?" Roy frowned as he watched Edward brush himself off and stand, looking at him and gesturing towards the shower. Roy nodded at him. "Why do I need to come in early?"
"You need to break in a new recruit."
"Oh." Roy watched Edward leave and heard the bathroom door close. "Who is it?"
"His name is Private Reagan Moris."
Roy frowned again, wondering why the name set off a bell in the back of his head. "Edward and I will be in an hour early, then. He just needs the basic tour, then?"
"Yes, sir."
"Alright. We'll be there. Goodbye."
"Goodbye, sir."
Roy hung up the phone and drug his fingers through his hair with a groan.
For a moment, he just sat there, listening to the running water of Ed's shower.
Then he stood and went to bed.
Edward, unaware of who he was to meet the next day, continued his shower, and the night passed without incident.
Reagan Moris? Now, where have we heard that name before? –evil grin-
Oh, and hi Grandma! :D