Chapter 8

Tears brushed at Ed's eyes, a mixture of confusion, tipsiness, and guilt. Another day, another issue with Mustang, he thought bitterly as he walked back toward the room where cam was, desperately willing his now painful erection to go down. How could Roy do that? Turn him away after their night together and then confess his feelings now? If those were even his real feelings. As if Ed was just a backroom, drunk hookup? It didn't make sense, none of it made sense, and he deserved better. Roy was almost surely just wanting Ed because now he was off the market. Of course the General wants what he can't have.

"Hey did you get lost back there or something?!" Cam sauntered up to him lazily throwing an arm over Ed's shoulders.

Ed's cheeks flushed as his head turned back to Roy who had just entered the banquet hall. "Yeah it just was hard to find something to drink other than alcohol."

Cam's eyes narrowed in Mustang's direction, apparently not missing Ed's glance at him and the odd coincidence they had come back to the hall at the same time.

"I have some wine, back at my place if you want to join me." Cam leaned in and smiled seductively, in a way that there wasn't a chance Mustang had missed it.

"Uhm yeah actually let's get out of here." Ed nodded, completely avoiding Mustang's glare even though he could feel it burning through the back of his jacket. He didn't want to talk to him, not here, not now. He was angry and embarrassed that things had even gone that far. He wouldn't let Mustang treat him like a hook-up, not when his feelings were so much more intense.

Ed followed Cam into the car and they left the party, Ed took in the fading golden lights growing in the distance as he gazed through the sideview mirror.
Leaving that whole episode behind. As they climbed up the stairs to Cam's small flat in downtown Central, Ed's mind was in another world, even after the front door opened and they stepped in he felt almost as if he were floating in an alternate reality.

"Ed?"

Coming back to his reality he looked at Cam's curious expression.

"Oh, I'm sorry. What did you say?" Ed blinked in surprise, Cam had obviously been waiting for a response to the question that Ed didn't hear.

Cam grinned. "Oh just remarking how insanely beautiful you are when you smile. I knew of you before and seen pictures, but it can't even compare." He said after topping two glasses full of a deep red wine.

Ed's face flushed as dark as it could go, he didn't doubt it was as dark as their wine. Cam certainly did shower him with compliments. Made him feel almost God-like.

"Thanks Cam, you're attractive too you know." Ed's compliment felt forced, as if it was protocol to respond with a similar statement and he looked away blushing from his awkwardness.

"You don't see how beautiful you are though. You know, I can make you feel beautiful." Ed looked up to see Cam's deep eyes filled with lust. And with that he leaned in pressing a kiss to Ed's lips.

Ed passively returned the kiss, feeling like a robot in his actions. Sergeant Lee was no stranger to a make out session as it became obvious with the way he grabbed Ed's neck and pushed his tongue through the barrier of his lips.

Making out with 2 different men in less than 2 hours was something Ed was unaccustomed too. And he felt guilt as his mind slipped to thoughts of Roy...

He gingerly pulled away from Cam, leaving the Sergeant confused. "Cam let's not do this, I don't know what I was expecting but..."

The Sergeant pulled further back, Ed noticed his eyes turning darker and he looked pissed.

"Why."

"Well, it's just not I'm not ready..and.." Ed fumbled with his words.

"That's not it. Am I just not your type? We don't have to be a couple or anything if you don't want." Cam gave a frustrated sigh and leaned back away from Ed to his seat on the couch.

"I think you're a lot of fun, but I just don't know if what you want is what I want."

"Well I want to have sex, and obviously if you wanted it too we'd be having it right now." Cam huffed, impatiently sucking down his wine glass. "I'm not used to being rejected." He pouted.

"You're a really attractive guy, don't get me wrong... I" Ed's words faltered as he looked at Cam who appeared to be having a revelation of some sort, eyes glowing brighter with clarity.

"Oh my God, you're in LOVE with him aren't you!" All of a sudden Cam's mouth dropped open and he jumped up, almost stumbling from his quick wine binge.

"What? Who?" Ed's cheeks flashed.

"General Mustang." Cam began smiling wide. "Of course, I feel so stupid for not seeing it before. Have you told him?!"

Ed's mouth instinctively dropped open to fight the accusation, but with slow realization he saw that Cam was completely convinced so it would be futile.

Fullmetal let out a deep sigh. "Well...no I haven't. I don't think he likes me like that. He just knows how to manipulate people." Ed's words were a mixture of sadness bitterness and anger.

"You need to tell him Ed." Cam grabbed his hands. "Look at me. It will only eat you up inside if you don't have closure one way or another."

"What do I say? He told me it was a mistake after we hooked up the first time." The words were out of Ed's mouth before he could stop them, but the relief he felt at confiding in someone was worth it.

"You hooked up?! Ed. He likes you. Straight men don't just drink too much and have a 'gay' moment, typically the alcohol just facilitates what was already there." Cam gave a wicked grin. "Trust me, I've converted my fair share of these so-called straight men."

Luckily Ed had chosen to put down his wine glass because he couldn't help but laugh. In a way he felt like he was getting to know the real Cameron.

"So you aren't mad at me?"

"It explains why you wouldn't hook up with me so it makes me feel a little better actually. Though I'm disappointed I didn't get to try that out." Cam's eyes unashamedly scanned Ed's body. "That damn General Mustang is a lucky guy."

Ed's cheeks couldn't have been more red. "I think I'm going to tell him tomorrow. So we'll see what happens. I'll let you know."

"I will have a full bottle of wine ready, whether it's for tears or for celebration." Cam smiled as he waved their now empty bottle at Ed.

Thoughts of the golden haired alchemist consumed Roy for the remainder of the evening. He promptly rejected Lily's offer to come upstairs citing an early work day. He doubt she believed it. But he didn't care. As he stepped into the shower he felt his lips with his fingers and recalled the way they had felt against Ed's skin. It was all so warm, and passionate. Had his feelings for Fullmetal really changed so rapidly..?

No it hasn't just happened. Roy admitted to himself. When Ed had gotten back he was more mature, more of a man, but there had always been some faint attraction there. It was just now that Roy was truly realized Ed as an adult that his feelings were changing.

What did it mean? Ed's words haunted him yet again. It isn't fair. Roy thought of their meaning, scrubbing his neck with soap. Did Ed not believe him when he told him he had liked him? He should've, considering what happened next was obviously pretty intimate. But who knows what Ed was thinking.

Roy frowned turning off the tap. It was obvious there was no more running, he needed to talk to Ed. To at the very least clear things up. Stepping out of the shower Roy brushed the fog off the mirror and stared at the reflection. "Tomorrow" he said to himself.

A/N: Yay! Thanks for sticking with me as we enter the last stretch of my very first fic!