Disclaimer: We own zilch
Authors: SeiferAlmasy86 and Dark Nuriko.
Edward winced. "You... sold yourself... for information..." he whispered, feeling tears well up once more.
Roy gently grabbed his hand "That's an ugly way of saying it."
"But its what happened, isn't it?"
Shame crossed the elders face "Basically." he looked at ed "is this the end of us?
"No... I told you... I love you. I just need to work... and get things off my mind."
"then.. have a good day." he murmured "i'm not going to work... if anyone asks.. i have food poisioning." he said as he turned around, limping and wincing as he walked away. Exposing those angry gashes ed left down his back to him. along with the bruises in various places. "Edward you should've kept going...you could've at least had came.." he murmured as he laid down on the bed.
"No... I couldn't Roy... I like love making to be mutual," he replied, before bowing his head and moving to leave.
"So do I.." roy retorted "i like everything to be equal." he looked away covering his face with the pillow his body shaking in silent sobs.
Edward paused at those words, half out the door and hald in. He stepped outside and dialed his work, particularly Maes phone. He was just far enough away that Roy couldn't hear him.
"Hello? This is Maes Hughes how may I assist you today?"
"Boss, I won't be coming in to work today," Edward replied, his voice cool.
"Oh? Is there a legitimate reason behind this?"
"Well, I could say I'm feeling ill. I mean, my boss did fuck my lover... but that isn't way. I need to take care of Roy... and if you want me to stay on your workforce... you'll grant me this day off to do it. I'll be back tomorrow and better than ever... and I'll even help finish that project the main team is working on that they can't figure out."
Maes remained quiet for a moment. "He told you? That's a change." he murmured "He asked me to fuck him," he replied "now what is wrong with him?" he inquired not bothering to comment about the latter part. "Depending on what is wrong with him, i'll grant the day off to you."
"He's crying... silently... in the living room. I don't want to leave him alone. And for the record... there were no scratches on his back. He didn't have to tell me anything... I guessed it. Next time you do that... make certain I'm not there... or that both your hair isn't wet from the shower."
"What did you do to him to make him cry? He never cries!"
"I don't know... but I intend to find out... he wanted me to abuse him last night... because he'd hurt me... but in the end... I couldn't really do it. Not the way he wanted me to. I love him, Maes. I don't want him to hurt. So even if it means I'll be the one hurting in the end... I want to make him happy."
"Edward, just.. let me know how he's doing." hughes murmured before hanging up on him.
Edward hung up and moved to go back into Roy's home, even as he walked quietly over to Roy and wrapped his arms around him from behind. Just holding him.
roy let out a startled scream and jerked away from him, causing another hollar to pass by his lips. "...e..ed?" he paused for a moment "why are you here?"
"I couldn't leave you, Roy... not like this..."
roy just looked at him 'Like what?"
"Doesn't matter... just let me hold you... okay..." he murmured, moving back over to wrap his arms around him.
relaxing into the embrace mustang sighed "it matters." he whispered
"I didn't like seeing you sad."
As "I've grown accustom to it." he said softly. "besides, your not exactly happy yourself."
"Doesn't matter. I don't want you to cry..." he replied, holding him close.
"I wasn't crying."
"Don't lie to someone who's used to silent crying..."
Roy looked at him "Listen to me, please." he requested "I hurt you, I made you cry...why are you feeling so guilty just because I may have shed a few tears? I'm alright...things...should get better."
"Because Roy Mustang doesn't cry easily," he answered. "I'm a cry baby. I cry over things I already knew."
"If I were in your shoes, I would've left...and not looked back. I encourage you to."
"I can't. I'm in love with you... and you already told me I'd be hurt if I stay. I can't turn away just because it hurt some."
"I'm sorry." he whispered as he turned in the embrace facing the blonde. he rested his head on the mans shoulder.
Edward continued to hold him close, kissing him softly. "I'm sorry too."
returning the kiss he pulled away a bit. "What do you have to be sorry for?" he asked
"Because I was being too into my own pain to realize you were hurting too."
Roy shrugged "That doesn't matter"
"It does too."
the man shifted relaxing against the blonde some more. "edward," he said softly "I dont think you'll ever grasp the concept of being disliked by another. Everyone likes you...if not loves you...for you. Because of that personality, your intelligance, beauty..grace. whatever it may be. However, for once I'd like to smile at someone and them just realize I'm being polite, i'm genuine. instead of the misconception that I'm a flirt, that i'm a whore...a good for nothing dog...I found someone, you, who doesn't see me as any of that and I ripped your heart out, stomped on it and flushed it down the toliet...I feel like shit, and nothing you say will make me feel better because I realize what I have done is wrong. it's immoral." his eyes closed as he trailed on his voice getting softer until he fell asleep in the youngers' arms.
Edward held him tightly to him, kissing the top of his head. "And that's why I can forgive you," he murmured. "And continue to love you," he murmured.
After not hearing anything out of his employee, hughes decided to give ed a call.
The cell was on vibrate... so he answered it with his voice low. "Hello?"
"How is he?"
"Sleeping... for now..." he replied softly.
"Why was he crying?"
"Because he hurt someone who had treated him like a person... instead of like a flirt... or whore... or dog..."
"No one treats him like a whore, dog, and he always has been a flirt."
"Doesn't mean it doesn't happen when you aren't looking, Maes... or that the flirting wasn't a cover for nerves."
"Look," hughes began "Your jealous, I get that. I apologize that I copulated with your partner last night, I should have turned the begging man down. But just because of that, doesn't mean you can assume how he acts and the reasoning behind it. Correct me if i am wrong but you dont know each other that well yet."
Edward snorted and couldn't help his retort. "You know... sometimes I wonder if this is your true personality. When I knew you before... you weren't such an ass..." he muttered. "Look, I was just suggesting. I didn't say he was acting that way. And I was jealous. But someone who has to put one person down to excuse his own actions... doesn't really scare me."
"You dont know me." hughes pointed out "and who am I belittling? it certaintly isn't roy."
the man scoffed as he continued "usually I am a nice person, however you admitted earlier that you injured a good friend of mine. Am I suppose to say 'gee thank you for making the man hurt?"
"Who hurt who first, Maes? Ask yourself that before you get all upset with me."
"I asked him if he wanted to go through with it, because I knew you were there. So dont be getting huffy towards me when he came to me BEGGING me to fuck him. I accept responsibility for my actions, but it seems to me your making excuses and too blind to see what's actually going on."
"And what's that?" he asked, feeling like Maes was more serious about Roy than he ever had been about Gracia.
"He's scared." hughes murmured "He told me he's scared of falling for you and knows he is...but keeps pulling stunts like these to keep himself and you from basically being happy." the sharp edge in his voice evaporated "inspite of what he said about the research, and him sleeping with me in exchange for it. I believe.. he's just testing to see just how far he can push you."
"I've offered my life to him, Maes... he can do whatever he wants... I've lost all I've loved once... and I refuse to lose it again just because I can't accept he doesn't want to love. He doesn't have to ever love me in return. I will always be here for him."
"You've been in love before?"
"I... suppose you could say that. It was one sided. The other never knew... and they died before I could say anything."
"Are you sure your not substituting feelings?" hughes asked
"Yes... I'm sure," Edward replied. If he was... then he would have went for the one who was most like his lost love. One he'd gotten over.
"Well I'm sorry the person you loved before never knew of your feelings for them. I apologize for being rude..or an asshole as you said. I'm just as concerned as you are,...just..not as gulliable."
"Well, I guess I am... but that won't change how I feel about Roy."
"Of course not," the man said s oftly "your sure he's alright though?"
"He's sleeping in my arms right now... I can't say how he feels awake... but he's able to sleep... and that means a lot."
"Well, you do realize the surgery for your brother is tomorrow so you best be getting some sleep yourself."
"I will..." he replied.
"Alright then.. good night ed." hughes said softly.
"Night," he replied, even as he sat back and sighed, smiling softly. He closed his cell and set it off to the side, cuddling close to Roy once more.
roy's eyes were open slightly watching ed
Ed blinked, looking back at him. "Sorry... did the conversation wake you?" he asked softly.
Mustang just looked away "no..."
Edward gave him a small smile and kissed the top of his head. "Are you hungry?"
"No.."
"Is there anything you want?"
"Just..to sleep." he looked a bit conflicted "Ed?" he whispered "If...maes...told you he was in love with you...what would you do?"
"If it was me... I'd be flattered... but I don't feel the same way about him."
"Okay."
"Did something like that happen to you, Roy?"
"The only person who's told me they were in love with me is you."
"Does it bother you that I said it?"
He shrugged "Not really. not anymore."
"Well, I do love you... but honestly... I don't expect anything in return Roy. I would love it if someday, you do return it... but what's most important is that I want you to be happy."
"I'll be happy...tomorrow." roy said cryptically "that's when you'll get everything you ...lost back."
Edward blinked. "But... I haven't lost anything, Roy. My bother will be healed and I'll be able to spend time with you. I have everything I want."
Mustang just looked at him and sighed heavily "You wont want to spend time with me...after tomorrow."
"Why do you say that?"
"Just call it a hunch."
"Just because my brother will be getting surgery doesn't mean I'll leave you, Roy. There's still a lot of work before he'll be out of there."
the man just looked at him, giving him a little smile. "Promise?"
Edward nodded. "Yes... Al is my brother... and I love him... but you are the man I gave my heart to."
"Alright...well I have a huge surprise in store for you tomorrow.." he cuddled close to ed, his eyes closing once again.
"I look forward to it, love," he murmured, closing his eyes as well, holding him close. Yes, he had work... and the surgery... but after that... his time would be Roy's.
The next morning, Roy saw Ed off, wishing him luck. He gave the blonde a quick peck on the cheek, before his lover went to work. Once he did he grabbed ahold of the research Hughes left with him a couple nights prior. Amazingly the man found a loophole, but the catch as Ed had said was a life. Doing everything the notes said to do properly, Roy began drawing the alchemic symbols on his entire body, all connected to the transmutation circle he bore on his chest. Clasping his hands together he closed his eyes...focusing on the gate, his thoughts filled with what he felt was the greater good for the blonde.
The surgeon at that time had successfully removed Al's spinal cord, making sure his patients vitals remained healthy, while directing ed how to carefully put the replica in. "Alright, so. now that it's inplace, all you need to do is finish it up how you did on your project, with connecting the nerve endings properly."
Edward nodded and began the slow, but steady pace of reconnecting his brothers nerves to the artifical spine.
"Great... great." the doctor encouraged after awhile. "he's already showing progress."
"He's an Elric, doc... of course he's show progress early," he replied, even as he continued his work, taking it deadly serious, even with the teasing to his voice.
Successfully seeing the door, roy approached it cautiously, letting out a startled scream. He felt as if he was being ripped apart. He kept thinking about ed and his desire to give ed back all he lost..just to keep the blonde...content. The man didn't belong anywhere else but there. Roy realized that, long ago.
"Hmm. yes well, it must be an Elric trait..your project is a success...and not. in..." his voice trailed off as everything began to shift form turning into total darkness.
Edward gasped, crying out, even as he moved to protect his brother, wondering just what was happening. It was way too much like something he had been through before and through it all... his heart prayed that it wasn't!
Roy was standing before Ed his right eye brow raised and left covered with an eyepatch. "...Fullmetal." he said calmly. "Why are you holding onto Alphone...in the middle of my bed?"
Edward's eyes widened as he looked at the man infront of him, dressed in the military uniform he was use to seeing the individual wear. The sickening truth of the meaning behind his lovers' words the night before settled in. "Sorry.." he paused looking at the insignia on the mans uniform "Brigadare General...for the...intrusion." tears welled in his eyes as he fought to speak "however, could you please allow us to stay the night? In the morning we'll be gone.."
Mustang sighed "Very well Fullmetal." he spoke calmly with that said he turned around and walked out of the bedroom, with each step he took away the blonde alchemist silently begged him to turn around. To take him back into his arms. To assure him that this was just a horrible nightmare. However, the older man did nothing Ed had hoped so desperately for. "your such a fool..." he whispered softly. his body shaking from the sobs he fought to stiffle. "such an idiotic bastard."
Author's notes: Sorry if you dislike this ending. but it is what i was going for. Anyways I hope you enjoyed it enough to review!