-1Give Guidance or Counsel

Cats

Disclaimer: I don't own Fullmetal Alchemist

Chapter 7 - I Know

Wednesday the 13th of January

"Roy!… Roy! Roy Mustang will you stop for just one minute and listen to me?"

The tall, dark haired man, slammed the door to his office on the blonde. Ed gave an exaggerated sigh and placed his hands on his hips, disregarding the small voice at the back of his mind that sniggered at him for being a girl. He listened intently to the shuffling inside the office. Roy couldn't be that upset could he? He'd be a lot less upset if he gave Ed a chance to explain.

"You're completely overreacting." he mumbled to himself - but couldn't help but remember his reaction to Roy and Riza being out together, and they hadn't even been kissing. He spat on the ground. Ed just couldn't believe Russell would do something like that - didn't everything about Ed scream 'not interested'? The office door opened and Roy grabbed Ed's wrist, pulling the teen inside. Once the door was bolted locked, Roy pushed Ed against his desk, hands wandering over the petite body and lips locked; tongue shoved fiercely inside the warm mouth. Ed steadied himself against the desk, scattering papers Roy had left there. It was the second time he'd been kissed that day, but he was enjoying this one a lot more, even if it was rather forceful.

"R-Roy…" he whimpered out, managing to break away momentarily. He placed his hands on the others chest. Roy leant down, leaning their foreheads together.

"Don't you ever…" he trailed off, breath hot against Ed's skin. The younger brought his arms up to wrap around Roy's shoulders, despite it being a little awkward to do so.

"I wouldn't… ever." he replied, heart clenching painfully. An unbearable sadness swept down upon him at the idea of Roy thinking he would. He couldn't feel his hands clenching at the material of the shirt stretched across Roy's back. He always screwed something up in his hands when he was upset. He buried his nose into his partners neck. Roy tightened his hold around the blonde. "He… Roy, I wouldn't ever do that!" he exclaimed, feeling the need to explain himself.

"I know."

"I'd never… not when I've got you."

"I know."

"Even if I was being a depressive kid who thought you cheated on me! I wouldn't ever!"

"… I know?"

"Or if you really did cheat on me, because I probably wouldn't know, and I'd love you anyway!"

A sigh. "I know Edward."

"Or if you dumped me for Riza and took custody of Coco! I still wouldn't!"

A deep chuckle filled the room.

"What are you talking about? Riza? You can't be serious!"

Ed blushed, taking his nose away from where it was quite happily nuzzling the colonel's neck.

"Well…" he squirmed slightly, focussing on the buttons of the older man's shirt. "I saw you in the park the other day." he explained, ducking his head again. He felt, rather then saw, Roy shift; then a small bout of laughter filled the room as understanding dawned on him.

"And you thought we were dating?" he queried. Ed gave a small, barely noticeable, nod. Roy shook his head incredulously, tightening his hold on the blonde again. "I'd have absolutely no right to get angry if I was cheating on you. Which I'm not!" he confirmed. Ed blushed again.

"I know that now."

"Riza's scary anyway - I'd never date her."

"I know."

"Even if I wasn't… uh… dating you."

Ed raised his eyebrows against Roy's chest at the man's sudden shyness on that topic, but didn't bring it up.

"I… know?"

"Even if she wasn't a lesbian."

"I kn- She's a WHAT?"

Roy chuckled.

"You didn't know?" Ed shook his head soundlessly. "That's what she was telling me that night. You know Riza and I grew up together, so she wanted to tell me. She's way too independent to be tied down by some man. She's too much of a feminist." he chuckled.

"Feminists don't have to be lesbians!" Ed pressed, crossing his arms.

"What's your problem?" asked Roy, "You're gay aren't you?" he reasoned, making Ed blush.

"No!"

…..

"Err… you do realise I'm a man right?"

…..

"That's not what I meant."

"what?"

"I'm different Roy! You can't class me as straight or gay because there's only ever been you."

"And I'm a guy!"

"Yes… but… I'm not a good example."

"So you're not into men?"

"No."

"But you're into me?"

"Yes." Ed paused and blushed lightly. "Definitely."

"So… you're…" Roy trailed off, very confused. "Should I feel insulted?"

Ed shook his head.

"Either way I like you." he replied, "as the man you are."

"I am a man." Roy agreed, clarifying the situation.

"You sure?" Ed teased, and watched in silent amazement as Roy blushed. Ed grinned, once he got over the shock. "I don't think I've ever seen you flush before - did I hit a nerve?"

Roy, for his part, gained his resolve back very quickly.

"If I wasn't then it must be embarrassing for you to be with a woman so much taller then yourself."

"Who are you calling -" his rant was cut off by lips pressing against his.

"And what's all this about custody of Coco? I thought she was a gift!"

Ed pulled him back down for another kiss.

- X -

Winry placed her bag down on the bed, where Wrath had just motioned for her to. The room they were in was cold and incredibly bare. Two beds had been crammed into it's small space. She had thought Ed and Al lived in poverty, but at least they had a nice terraced house which was paid for by their father - where he was. Wraths home was a bungalow which seriously needed a paint job, and had two bedroom for the five people living there. Wrath and Envy shared a room, Greed shared the other room with their other brother - whom Winry had yet to meet. And their mother, Dante, was rarely home. Apparently, when she was home, she took Wrath and Envy's room, and they slept in the tiny lounge. The bungalow was paid for by the council.

"Err… well…" said the increasingly awkward Wrath.

"I brought some study material from when I was in 2nd year." Winry took over, placing herself down next to where she'd deposited her bag. The bed was hard and had a few springs poking out. Wrath sat down next to her, shifting a little to avoid said springs. He looked increasingly more awkward, and angry, as he spent more time with the blonde - and it was putting Winry on edge. "It should help." she added. Wrath nodded, and they both looked up as the bedroom door opened and a man with dark sunglasses and a sharp grin popped his head in. Winry had met him when she had ridden home in his car. Greed.

"Hey kids." he greeted. Greed was 21 going on 40. Since Dante was never around, Greed has taken it upon himself to be their substitute father. "Just checking in - plus Envy's going to the shop, you guys want anything?"

Both Winry and Wrath politely shook declined. Greed shrugged, and left the tiny bedroom (although not before sending Winry a suggestive wink. Greed had a lecherous attitude. Winry blushed and looked at her lap). Greed left and Wrath sent Winry an apologetic look.

"He's a natural flirt. He don't really mean much by it." he explained. "You're with that Elric… the younger one?" he questioned. Winry let a small, but happy smile slip onto her lips at the mention of Al. She nodded.

"How'd you know?" she asked, fingering her notes from 2nd year. Wrath played with his long hair.

"Ed mentioned it once." he supplied. "We go to counselling together." he added, at Winry's confused look. Winry nodded understandingly.

"So!" she exclaimed. "are we going to get some tutoring done or not?" she asked, standing up and handing Wrath her notes. "Learn them." she said, "and while you're doing that I'll set up some activities for you to do, based off those notes."

Wrath flipped through the book of notes, jaw dropping at page after page of neat, small writing. He had to learn all of this?

- X -

Al paced the living area again, glancing at the clock periodically. It had moved all over a minute since he last checked. He jumped as the door opened, and Ed strode into the room.

"Where've you been?" he asked, "It's almost half past Ten!"

Ed shrugged.

"With Roy, lost track of time." he replied, "What's up? You've never cared before…"

Al glanced at the wall, sitting down heavily in the arm chair closest to him.

"Sorry brother. It's Winry. She's not home yet. Pinako's called about nine times." he explained. Ed's lips pressed into a thin line as he thought. Eventually he said;

"She's probably just out with the girls and forgot to tell you. She'll be home soon."

"I can't reach her mobile."

"Maybe she's in the cinema, or somewhere where there isn't signal."

- X -

Winry said her goodbyes quickly, aware that she had ran over by a fair amount, and that her phone had no signal in Wrath's home, or the area around it.

Righty-oh then. I should address why this is called Cats. Because someone will ask, since there aren't that many references to cats, like there were to door handles in Door Handles. Anyway, I called it Cats because… I wanted to. XD I'd been calling it that the whole time I was writing it, and while once I'd finished I was tossing up between Cats and Trust, I went for Cats because it sort of sums up the story for me. Not anyone else, but me. I just truly think that if Ed and Al had walked past Coco, none of this would have started. But of course, there's lots more juicy stuff to come.

Thanks for reading, please review!

~Od23