-1Give Guidance or Counsel
Cats
Disclaimer: I don't own Fullmetal Alchemist
Chapter 17 - Here Goes…
Friday the 5th of March
More then two weeks later, and Ed still hadn't given Roy an answer. It'd taken him by such a surprise that he'd ended up completely ignoring it, and he had no clue as to how to answer.
Marry me.
It was more of a command then a request anyway. Not only was he completely confused, but now he had to face Roy today, in a group meeting. Part of him was happy that the rest of the group would be there - so he wouldn't even be able to bring up the subject of what had happened in Roy's office two weeks ago. The other part of him was willing for a situation where he'd be forced to make a decision. Yes or no… it wasn't that hard, right? He came to a halt in front of SC19 and rested his hand on the door handle. He stayed like that for a moment.
"Well, this brings back memories." said a recognisable voice. It was light-hearted and teasing, yet Ed could hear a slight nervousness there - and even though it shouldn't, that made Ed happy. It was nice to know Roy was really serious and waiting for an answer. Ed sighed, opening the door and marching his way inside. Roy followed him and they greeted Wrath and Miss Lust. He sat down next to Wrath; he needed to talk to the boy anyway.
The meeting got underway and while Roy was talking to Miss Lust, Ed nudged Wrath with his foot. The constantly angry boy turned to him with a scowl.
"You and Claus still together?" Ed whispered, and a very light blush graced the younger boys usually pale cheeks.
"Yeah. What's it to you?" he whispered back. Ed shrugged.
"You're getting tutored by Winry right?" he changed the subject.
"Yeah, so what?"
"Just askin'. She's going out with my brother." The blonde informed.
"So what?" Wrath repeated, losing patience.
"So she's like a sister to me."
"So?"
"Look kid." Ed said, voice low. He glanced at Roy to see he was still engaged in conversation with Miss Lust. "All I'm saying is, I care about my brother and I care about Winry, and I care about their relationship. I wont tolerate you getting in the way."
Wrath rolled his eyes.
"I'm not doing anything with her."
Ed growled threateningly.
"Then tell me why Winry wont tell Al about this tutoring thing?"
Wrath shrugged.
"I dunno, but I'm not interesting in Winry. Greed probably is though. Maybe she's sleeping with him." the boy accused. "Why don't you go give him the big brother talk?"
"Alright. I will." Ed said, "Where is he?"
Wrath smirked.
"He's picked me up after school today."
"I'll see him there then!"
- X -
After the meeting Ed went to follow Wrath out to meet with Greed, but was caught by the wrist by Roy. Ed waited until both Wrath and Miss Lust had emptied the classroom, then he said;
"I don't have an answer for you yet."
Roy waved off the fact that Ed had been 'thinking about it' for over two weeks now, and said;
"Don't go."
"Getting desperate aren't we?"
"Don't go see Greed. He's a bad guy. He wont take lightly to threats."
Ed glared.
"You were listening?"
"I couldn't help it. I am your counsellor."
Ed glared some more, raised his head, thought about it for a moment, then delivered a swift slap across the older man's cheek.
"I am so fed up of that god-damn excuse! You asked me to marry you and yet you still think all you are to me if a freaking counsellor?" This had been building up for a while, every emotion Ed had was turning into anger, and Roy was the target, since most emotions Ed had were meant for Roy anyway. He turned his back on the man. "I love you and you know that, but I refuse to marry you until you learn to trust me and start treating me like someone you want to marry."
Roy sighed.
"I swear Edward, I want to marry you. I'd jump off a cliff for you and any other cheesy romantic gesture like it."
Ed gave a hollow laugh.
"So you'd jump off a cliff for me, but you wont trust me enough to tell me what's going on in your life? Why did you move? What are you blaming on 'family things'? what are you keeping a secret from me?"
Roy, fidgeting and trying not to hold a hand to his cheek - which must have been stinging by then - sat down heavily on the classroom desk.
"Fine. You really wanna know?"
Ed nodded.
"Then here goes…" he ran a hand through his hair, "You know Rose Thomas?"
Ed nodded again.
"Rose's guardian, Cornello, was an old friend of mine. I say was because he's no longer alive. In his will he left all his belongings and money to Rose. However, because she's under 18, she can't claim any of it. So a team of solicitors has jumped in to sort out her finances for her and make sure she gets everything that is rightfully hers." Roy's voice was flat, but Ed couldn't help but interrupt.
"Where do you come into all of this?"
"Rose need a carer, since she can no longer live at Cornello's church. So I decided to become that carer." he paused, gave a bitter laugh, and shook his head. "I guess I was probably trying to atone for what I did to Winry. I orphaned one girl, so I should help out another orphaned girl… or something like that."
Ed moved forward, cupped Roy's cheek and forced him to make eye contact.
"What part of that had to be kept a secret?" he asked. Roy averted his eyes.
"I dunno… somehow, I feel guilty about the whole thing." He gulped. "I mean, I know why the government give carers allowance, but it's way too much then what Rose needs, and she wont take the extra cash because 'you deserve it Mr. Mustang'." His voice went high in what was a horrible impersonation of Rose, making Ed giggle slightly.
"I try to get rid of that money quickly, by taking you on trips and stuff, but by doing that it makes me feel great… that you're enjoying yourself makes me happy… but…" he swallowed heavily again, and Ed, stood by the desk in front of the man, could see he was shaking. Roy looked up and Ed almost gasped when he saw how watery the man's eyes had become. "Do I really deserve to be that happy?" he asked, and Ed sighed, nodding.
"You're such an idiot." he said. "You're selfish and arrogant, you suck at your job, you continuously take the piss out of me, you say it's girly to cry, yet here you are - crying." He watched as Roy brought his sleeve to his eyes to try and wipe the evidence away. "You're such a freaking idiot. But of course you deserve to be happy! And you know, when you're not happy, then how are you supposed to counsel us depressive teens?" Ed laughed, and grinned triumphantly when Roy laughed too.
*smiling* These two make me smile.
Yeah, jeez. I wanted Roy to have some huge back-story and all that, but I just couldn't think of anything - this was the best I could come up with.