Roy picked up the pace on his way to work. Sometimes when you were dwelling on something it seemed the best way to banish it was to walk faster, to run away. He couldn't help thinking of Ed the entire night after he had shut the door. Thinking of the hurt in his voice, but even worse, imagining him out with that damn Sergeant who could never even hold a candle to the brilliant Fullmetal Alchemist.
What if they had slept together.
Roy's thoughts began to take over. Ed's golden hair laying across that Cameron Lee's pillow, eyes soft with sleep as he woke up next to his lover. A lover that wasn't Roy Mustang.
Roy broke into an even brisker walk, scaring the birds on the sidewalk as he practically ran through them.
"So much for having the fresh air clear my head." He mumbled to himself.
The fact that Edward Elric was all Mustang could think about was seriously freaking him out. Those beautiful golden eyes matched with an incomparable intelligence, he couldn't blame Sergeant Lee for being so bold in asking him out for a drink. He did his best to forget about Ed as he made his way up the steps to headquarters.
Roy sighed as he pushed open his office door and saw, per usual, more paperwork. He wanted to abandon it all together and go back to Ishval where it was more hands on, where he felt like he was actually making progress, but all of the politics tied up there made it necessary he take on the diplomat role.
"Sir here's the formal invite for the Ball on Saturday, it's to give to your guest." Hawkeye strode in, holding one for herself and one for him. He looked past the door seeing the rest of the crew reading off their guest invites,
"Ugh. I completely forgot about that thing. How necessary is it I go?" Roy asked with a wry but hopeful smile.
"Sir, it is entirely necessary." Riza replied with a stone face. "You know pretty much every politician and top military member is going to the Central Centennial."
"I know that!" Roy snatched the invite and read it hastily. Maybe he'd invite Lily to make up for their interrupted evening.
"I think Havoc is bringing Sheska." Riza leaned in with a smile on her face. "I'm trying to convince him to do it."
"A bookworm and a chain-smoker, I feel like that wouldn't work out too well." Roy grumbled, eyes briefly scanning the invite. Noting the formal black tie attire and the poorly disguised 'suggestion' that all top military members attend.
"Well you never know, sometimes opposites attract. Are you going to bring Ed?"
Roy shot her a glare that would've made most cripple with fear, but Hawkeye stood firm. "No I am not bringing Elric." He said through closed and gritted teeth. "I don't know where you would get the notion. Also I'm sure he'll have plans with someone else." He looked down toward the floor avoiding her eyes.
Before Hawkeye could question him further, Roy decided the best thing to do would be run before she could ask anymore pressing questions. He strode to the door muttering something about already needing a coffee break.
Ed sat down at a small booth in the library. He had successfully avoided Cameron all day, abandoning his work on the Pritchart case to focus on a more minor affair, and taking his lunch outside instead of the cafeteria. However it didn't stop the handsome Sergeant from tracking him down around 2 PM, where Ed was sifting through some documents regarding court records.
"Hey Ed, how's it going?" Cameron placed a hand on Ed's shoulder and leaned down to where he was sitting.
He couldn't help but jump at the foreign contact before twisting to see his young co-worker. "Hey Cameron. It's, uhm, going allright just researching some things."
Cameron leaned over Ed's shoulder to take a peak at his work, making sure to brush their shoulders together. Ed could smell his hair and feel his warm breath with his close proximity.
Cam looked up with an easy smile. "Seems interesting. So I had a question for you." The Sergeant scooted, if it was even possible, closer to Ed. "Well, there's the ball on Saturday, I'm sure you've heard about it."
"Not much I just got into town, but it doesn't seem like my thing." Ed shrugged off his question and pushed his head back in his book.
"I'm not surprised." Cam laughed. "You're not like most other people, you know."
"I mean, I guess not." Ed frowned confused at what the Sergeant was getting at.
"I'd like you to go with me though, it could be fun." Lee smiled at him again leaning in. Appearing totally confident and at ease.
Ed was less than comfortable, eyes on the floor as Lee waited for his answer. "Oh, I don't know...it's really not my thing. I'll probably pass, but thank you anyway." He said, feeling guilty.
Cameron frowned and seemed confused. "Allright, but if you change your mind before then just let me know. Maybe another drink instead of a ball?"
"Maybe." Ed mustered up a weak smile, feeling guilty and cornered.
The Sergeant had a slight frown on his handsome face, but replied "I think that should be a yes, I can make it worth your while." He said the latter part with a low and deep tone of voice, and Ed wasn't sure he appreciated what the Sergeant was implying.
"We'll see Cameron, but I gotta get back to this, I'll see you at the office." Ed got up abruptly, and started walking away with his nose buried in a book of court records and history.
On his way back to the office to wrap up the case, Ed's nose continued to be buried in the book. Generally when people saw him, they made way for the red-caped prodigy but today he ran smack into the middle of a broad chest, falling back on the hard tile floor.
"Watch where you're going!" Ed screeched, rubbing his bottom as he grabbed his book and stood up to face a stricken Mustang.
"Fullmetal? Didn't expect to run into you here...literally."
Ed's face blushed a dark red and just the fact that he knew he was blushing made his blush that much more intense.
"I should get going." Ed was ready to rush off. Damn I can't escape anything today
"I was just going to take a walk around the park, if you want to join me."
Ed peered up at the dark haired man, angry that he had to look up at all. "I guess..that doesn't sound too bad."
Roy just gave a hint of a smile as Ed approached his side.
"Sometimes, I just like walking around here during the day to escape the office. It can be so confining." Roy said as they began walking around the small park just to the side of the offices. There were multiple trees and a small gazebo in the middle that was often used for military weddings.
"I don't know how you do it all day." Ed frowned. "I like investigations and all, but I don't think I'm destined for it."
"I think while you're good at investigations because of your intelligence, it just isn't the endpoint for you. You were destined to do great things Fullmetal. You've already done a lot."
"Well, without alchemy... I don't know. I like the alchemical research but it's really difficult when I can't practice it. It was who I was for so long."
"No it wasn't." Roy stopped and turned toward him. "It was a part of you yes, but it was never you."
Ed smiled, grateful at the reassurance. "Thanks Colonel, I mean General."
Roy chuckled. "Don't worry the crew slips up with that all the time. But there are cons of being a General, I pretty much have to go to that Central Centennial ball they're holding. Even though I really would rather not."
Ed wrinkled his forehead. "Yeah it seems stupid, stand around in a tuxedo with a bunch of stuffy people from work? No thanks."
"Exactly, and if you say the wrong thing consider yourself crucified." Roy frowned. "And I have to bring a guest too."
Ed glanced back up to peer at Mustang. "Oh a guest?" He tossed his hair over his shoulder nervously. "Who're you taking?"
"Probably Lily, she seems like she'd enjoy it." Mustang muttered.
"Yeah, she would." Ed felt instant disappoint, not too mention a feeling like the weight of a ton of bricks pressing on his chest.
Before he could even stop himself Ed replied "Well, I think I'm going with the Sergeant.". If Roy could bring a date, so could he.
Roy snarled. "Lee? So I take it your date went well. I thought you didn't want to go to the ball."
"Yeah it went fine, and he really wants to take me, so I guess I can suffer through it."
"I'm sure he does want to take you." Roy stared off darkly ahead of him. He couldn't believe Ed was entertaining the notion of a relationship with that overtly promiscuous, low rank, low moral Sergeant.
"Why do you think so?" Ed said looking up at him curiously, snapping Roy out of his mental rage.
"Please Fullmetal, I doubt you need an ego trip. You're just way out of his league. And I'll leave it at that."
"You're one to talk considering who you're bringing." Ed bit back.
Roy chose not to say anything to that. All he wanted was to stalk off and brood. As if this ball could get any worse, he'd have to watch Lee fawn over Ed all night. He shrugged his shoulders and turned back facing Ed. "Well I guess I should be heading back Fullmetal. I'll see you at the ball, don't forget it's a black tie affair so this red cape is going to have to take a day off." Roy picked up the back of Ed's cape and flipped it over his head, covering the younger alchemist's eyes.
Ed huffed and angrily pulled his cape back down, already regretting his decision to go to the ball with Lee. But maybe it would make Mustang jealous when he saw him with another man. What other options did he have left?
A/N: Thank you all so much for your reviews and favorites :D Next chapter is the ball and there will definitely be some progression with Ed and Roy there which I am excited for! I absolutely love military balls in fics. Thank you for reading!