-1Give Guidance or Counsel

Cats

Disclaimer: I don't own Fullmetal Alchemist

Chapter 5 - Many a Truth are Said in Jest

Sunday 10th of January

By Sunday, Ed had managed to convince himself that Roy and Hawkeye had only been together in the park - they hadn't been doing anything 'coupley'. Roy may have just leant in to talk directly to her ear because she couldn't hear. They hadn't even been holding hands, and he'd said himself that they were childhood friends - not sweethearts -. However, he hadn't found a home for Coco, the cat.

She was presently skirting around his feet as he pottered around the kitchen, trying to fix something edible for breakfast. He wasn't entire sure he was feeding her right either - was it okay to feed a kitten on a diet of cookies and leftovers? Ed had tried to give her orange juice, but Al stopped him and have her milk instead. He shuddered at the thought, poor Coco. He picked her up and cuddled her in his Automail arm, and poked her belly with the fingers attached to his other arm. Perhaps she was getting a little fat.

Coco gave a happy little mewl at the attention as Al entered the room, rubbing sleep from his eyes.

"She likes you, you like her - you're a match made in heaven!" said the younger brother, and for a short moment Ed thought he talking over the phone, until the younger continued. "Why can't we keep her?"

"Because" replied Ed, putting the kitten on the floor, who gave a meow of protest and wondered off with her nose held high. "We can't afford her - Cats are high maintenance." he continued, beginning to hum a little tune as he started making breakfast again. Al's stomach gave an appreciative growl at the idea of some food and the younger boy chuckled good-naturedly.

"Still - Where will she go?" he asked, leaning against the counter. Ed buttered a slice of recently toasted toast and held it out for his brother to take.

"I'll give her to Roy - he needs a cat."

Al rose his eyebrows.

"I thought you guys were 'over'." he semi-stated, semi-asked. Ed shook his head, his early morning smile turning into a huge grin.

"You don't splash out on a hotel break for a bit on the side." he rationalised.

"Maybe Ms. Hawkeye's the bit on the side." replied Al cynically, but Ed's optimism was winning out. He felt his own smile come to his lips at the idea of Ed and Mr. Mustang being okay - they really were a good couple. "And why does Mr. Mustang 'need' a cat?" he returned to their original discussion. Ed's grin widened, if that was even possible. He passed Al another piece of toast.

"Cats may be lazy and high maintenance, but they're dignified." he explained, as if Al didn't already know. "Roy is, in the nicest way possible, a slob… have you seen the state of his bedroom?" he asked through a laugh. Al gave a smaller laugh of his own.

"No Ed, I haven't." he reminded. "That privilege is yours alone."

Ed blushed. He'd only been in Roy's apartment a handful of times, and while the main room was generally neat and tidy - ish - , his bedroom (the glimpses of it he was permitted to see) was always messy. Clothes thrown on the floor and an unmade bed. Ed willed his blush away and smiled at his younger brother.

"Well, he could do with a lady around is all I'm saying."

And Coco, who was the perfect lady, poked her head back into the kitchen and meowed happily at the two brothers.

- X -

Monday the 11th of January

"Rooooy?"

"What do you want?" asked the counsellor, shuffling papers with a thoughtful expression. He was wearing his wireframe reading glasses that made him look really sophisticated, and Ed was watching him, marvelling at how handsome they made him. The blonde frowned at Roy's snappy response. He'd gone to Hawkeye's right after school, and as soon as he'd finished his detention under her watchful eye, he'd rushed to Roy's office. He was surprised that Mustang was still there an hour after school - he never usually stayed late if he could help it.

"Fine then, I'll leave," he snapped back. "You obviously don't want me here." He muttered it under his breath. While he said he was fine, he was still a little touchy about the whole Riza thing. He had his hand on the door handle to swing it open and leave, when Roy's hand wrapped over his own.

"I won't let you leave this office until you tell me what you wanted to say."

Roy's statement was the best thing Ed knew he would get to an apology - and further down he knew he didn't really need one, since he was being a brat to the older man and all…

"I've got a gift for you." he said, turning round and straining his neck to get eye-contact. Roy rose a well practise eyebrow.

"It isn't my birthday." he stated. Ed rolled his eyes - who questioned presents?

"I didn't even know you last time you had a birthday." the blonde said. Roy shook his head.

"Maybe not, but you gave me the best belated gift ever - I don't need another one."

"I didn't give you a gift before now!" Ed protested, getting annoyed at Roy's uncooperativeness. Roy lent forward, wrapping his arms securely round the young boy's waist and pressing his lips gently against the others.

"Did you know I met you the day after my birthday?" he muttered against the younger boy's lips. Ed blushed, not knowing at all.

"Just accept the gift bastard." he said, drawing back so he didn't murder his neck. Roy eventually nodded. Ed grinned. "You'll have to stop by to pick it up." he added.

"Oh!" exclaimed Mustang, "I have to work for this gift? Cheapskate!"

Ed grinned, and Roy looked back at his stack of paperwork forlornly. He ran a hand through his hair and sighed.

"Let me finished up here then I'll drive over. I'd say to stay and I'd drive you back, but this may take me awhile."

Ed nodded understandingly. He needed to go back and break the news to Al anyway. The younger Elric had become very attached to Coco, although Ed couldn't really talk, he would probably miss the cat too.

"Just call before you arrive okay?" he asked. "I'll need to get it ready."

Roy chuckled.

"I'm frightened about this 'gift' of yours - does it tend to wonder off?"

"No." said Ed, "Only sometimes." he added, jokingly. He got an amused chuckled from his partner.

Many a truth are said in jest, thought Ed.

- X -

Ed got the all at 8:30, as he was sitting on the sofa, reading a book with a very content Coco curled up on his lap. Roy gave him all of 5 minutes warning before the doorbell went - so if Coco had been out for a stroll he would not have had time to go and look for her.

He opened the door with Coco sitting like a parrot on his shoulder. Roy rose his eyebrows (something he was getting really good at with Ed around), and said;

"I didn't know you had a cat."

"I don't." replied Ed, pulling Coco down and giving her a quick hug before pushing her into Roy's arms. The man fumbled, looking surprised at the kitten in his clutch. "She's yours." Ed grinned. He could feel the instant connection between Roy and Coco - now they were a match made in heaven.

"Err… I think you're mistaken." Roy mumbled, trying to give Coco back. Ed refused to take her though.

"Happy belated birthday!" he gushed. Roy sighed.

"Ed… I can't look after a cat."

Ed mimicked Roy's earlier sigh and decided to take a leaf out of his brothers book of manipulation. He let his eyes water conspicuously - which, by the way, is an art. He looked up through his eyelashes and fringe.

"You… You don't like the present?" he asked in a small voice; trying to mimic whatever Al did whenever he wanted Ed to agree to something - like counselling for example, he mused. Roy faltered. He shifted Coco to his shoulder like she had been for Ed.

"The intentions great Edward…" he answered, reaching forward and resting a hand on the boys shoulder, where the cat had been sitting before. "But I can't take care of a cat."

Ed pouted slightly.

"But…" he said, paying mind to how he made his voice sway. He felt Roy stiffen, then heard him sigh.

"Alright…" he said, and Coco gave an impatient mewl at being left on some man's shoulder, out in the cold. "I'll take care of the damn cat." he sighed. Ed put his hand on his hips.

"She isn't a 'damn cat'." he reprimanded, frowning at the older man. "Her name is Coco!"

Roy smirked his signature smirk at the teen.

"Coco?" he asked, a hint of teasing in his voice. Ed blushed.

"Al named her?" he lied. He'd named her after noticing her chocolate brown fur. He'd quite fallen in-love with it.

"Sure." Said Roy disbelievingly, leaning in and giving Ed a quick peck on the cheek - making Coco mewl in protest - before carrying the kitten back to his car. Ed watched him go, sighing slightly - he'd thought he'd stay for a little longer.

Hope you enjoyed this. Fake nails reduce my typing speed (and please don't even ASK why I'm wearing fake nails. *pout*). But, yeah… please review to tell me what you thought.

~Od23