2. Story RoyEd

It came as a great surprise to Edward Elric to discover his boyfriend was actually quite fond of children. One in particular Roy had doted upon for a long while quietly. Elysia Hughes.

As it stood to reason he tried to do more for the adorable little girl as she lacked the guidance that her father would have given her. Though sometimes he hardly got to see little Elysia the reaction of them both tended to be the same when they each other. Elysia would come running at the sight of the dark haired man walking from one of the house windows or at the sound of his voice. When she could get close enough to see Roy a smile would break onto her face and she'd run into the open arms that were waiting for her to be lifted up by the usually reserved man. Hugs and giggles would ensue of course.

Tonight Roy was looking after the little girl to give her mother a little break but Ed knew the real reason the little blonde was spending the night was his lover wanted to spend some time with her. Over the course of the night the pair had prattled on happily though in truth it made him feel a little like an outsider to their routine. It wasn't that neither of the pair didn't adore Ed but time spent between the two was something precious to them. Edward realized that so he kept quiet most of the night letting them be to their play. It didn't make the glimpses he got of two any less amusing or adorable. The night was winding down though and the older blonde found himself very anxious to have Roy all to himself but Elysia seemed just as eager to keep Mustang to herself.

"I'm not sleepy." The small fists rubbing at her eyes were a clear indication it was most certainly one little girl's bedtime but her will seemed to hold and pouting up at the dark haired man she waited for him to cave.

To the General's credit his decision didn't change. "It's late and you need to sleep. You are tired and I know it." Setting her down in the bed that she used whenever she slept over in the room right beside his he found little fists were holding tightly onto his shirt front. "Elysia.." The tone a little stern but still it appeared that Roy had not won the battle quite yet.

"Uncle don't go."

Sighing Roy removed the little hands himself and sat up on the bed with her. It was not long before the girl was tucked happily against his side.

"Tell me a story.." Waiting a moment not giving in to the other's demands just yet . "Please." Now he could.

"Alright..Just give me a minute to think of one." A hand moving up to smooth the head of pale blonde hair. It seemed to be enough for Elysia because she kept quiet and listened expectantly. Despite the older man's imagination and experience for the life of him he couldn't seem to think of a story. If he told her one of the standard ones she'd ask for another. That cleaned out just about everything that sprung up. Looked like he was going to have to wing it.

"Once upon a time there was a very sad man." A standard enough start. "He didn't laugh or smile. No one paid him any mind anymore because he was so cold and quiet. He did not speak to any of the townsfolk
Every day went exactly the same for him. Each morning he would stare out into the open land around his home to watch the sunrise then go into town. No one had ever asked him why he was sad because he would always just glare at anyone who came too near to him. Hobbling around during the day with his cane with only a whack or two to anyone who got in his way."

Now he was running out of ideas again. That was until he heard a door open and close in the house somewhere. Honestly Roy had forgotten about Ed. The younger man had made himself scarce for most of the night. It was at the sound of the other's uneven steps coming up the stairs that gave him a sudden idea of where to go with his story.

Edward could hear Roy talking on his way up the steps but he'd trailed off and that made the blonde pause outside the door to the guest bedroom to see if anything was wrong. He didn't have to wait long for the General to speak up again. Sounded like he was telling her a story.

"The man wasn't old but he was not so young either and he lived all alone. No one thought he was lonely because no one knew the man didn't hate people. He was just angry and sad.

But one day while he was walking a young boy walked up to him. Normally it would have meant a quick crack of his cane but the man found something help up to his face before he could react. A few flowers that grew wild out in the fields around the village. Looking confused he went to push them out of his face.

'Here. There yours.' The young boy didn't seem at all afraid of being smacked by the cane and waiting for the flowers to be taken. Not sure what else to do the man took them. Still he didn't smile nor did he speak. Instead he started to go on his way again though his daily routine. So the sad man was very surprised to hear someone walking beside him.

'Why are you so sad' The boy asked walking along at the gimping man's side hands held behind his back in a childish manner. He only got a grunt in reply but went on walking with the man. Against the man didn't know what to do about the boy so he let him do as he pleased. When the man was done in town he went home boy still trotting along at his side quietly. Once at the door of his home the boy turned saying he had to go. The man said nothing and just went into his home."

Feeling a little curious and never having heard this story himself before Ed leant back against the wall crossing his arms over his chest listening as well. Not like he had anything better to do at the moment.

"This became a part of the man's routine. The boy would come up to him with something from more flowers to strange little stones or trinkets he found. Walking together quietly most of the time. The man got used to it. Every time the boy asked the same question. 'Why are you so sad?' He still had yet to answer him. But one day the man spoke up.

'Why d you walk with me?' The boy was a little surprised but looked very pleased to have finally made the man speak.

'I want to know why you are so sad.' It was still a shock to the man since no one had ever asked him before.

'Why do you bring me these little gifts as well?' Though his tone was just as gruff as when he's spoken the first time the boy's smile grew.

'Because I want to make you smile.' Was his answer."

Unbeknownst to the pair inside the room the Fullmetal alchemist flushed. It might just have been him but the boy sounded a bit like him. Ed had an old habit of bring Roy silly little things to show his affection for the older man. Flowers had been one of the first things he'd brought too. Not to mention he'd tried to pry into the reason for his superior's coldness for a long while before he'd finally gotten him to crack and fess up. Was the story supposed to be about them in a way?

" 'What reason do you have to want to make me smile boy?' Limping along as usual he just went on walking not sparing the other even a glance. That had never sent the boy off before and it did not do so now either.

'Because you are sad.' A simple child's answer each and every time.

With a shake of his head the man still kept at his questions hoping to find a reason for the boy to act as he did. 'Why do you walk with me?' Still not looking down.

'Because you're lonely and have no one else to walk with.' Proving just how bold and brave the young boy was he took a hold of the man's hand which wasn't clutching his cane. People watched the man and the boy since they had started to walk together finding it very strange such a cheerful, sweet boy would waste time on a bitter and sad man. Now they stared without a sound waiting to see what the man might do to the boy.

Looking as it someone had struck him with his own cane the man looked down at the boy then their hands. Not knowing what to do he just stood there in confusion. 'What cause do you have to care that I might be lonely?'

Just tilting his head to the side the boy replied. 'Because I'm lonely too. I have no family." The boy's smile faded for the first time since he walked with the man. Looking down to the ground, digging his toe into it he waited surprised only to feel a light tug at his hand.

'Come on." The man said starting to walk with the boy again, hand in hand. 'We're going home.' And so the man took the lonely boy home with him so they could be lonely together.

From that day on the sad man wasn't so sad and the lonely little boy wasn't so lonely." At the end of his story Roy looked down to find Elysia was already fast asleep. She likely had been for awhile now but he'd been so caught up in his own story he hadn't noticed. Tucking her in the general got to his feet to turn the lights off after. Giving Elysia a kiss on the forehead before he stepped out of the room he was surprised to see his younger lover leaning against the wall staring down at the floor in a manner that seemed incredibly thoughtful. Closing the door behind himself he smiled slightly.

"Ed?"

Looking up the blonde blinked at the old man and gave him an honest smile. "That was a pretty good story."

With a soft chuckle Roy put an arm around the teen's shoulders once he hefted himself off the wall. "Thank you but it's time for bed for you too." In reply the blonde boy only leant against the older man.

"Mmm but you're staying with me for the night."

"Wouldn't have it any other way." Roy replied as they walked into their bedroom.