The next morning during breakfast, Edward was unnaturally quiet, eating for once in total silence. He didn't eat as much either, pushing the contents of his plate around a bit, taking a bite, and then playing with his food some more. It was really starting to worry him...
"Edward, what is it? Something bothering you?" He shook his head, and Roy's brow wrinkled. He knew better than to assume Ed was telling the truth, because he was never this quiet. God, he hoped he hadn't moved too fast last night... That Ed didn't hate him for it... He shivered, and finished his breakfast, taking his plate to the sink to be washed. "Are you done?" he asked, and Ed nodded, standing to go to Roy's room and get dressed, looking so far in thought that the building could have exploded and he wouldn't have noticed. Ed showered, dressed, combed and tied his blond hair, and then he left without a word, the slamming front door only serving to worry Roy more.
"Damn it... I've screwed up, haven't I Ed?" he shook his head, and trudged off to the shower to get ready for work.
Mustang called Al later that evening, after he had finished work, "Did Ed go back to your place?" He found himself hoping so, that Ed may not hate him at all and just needed some time to think things over for a moment.
"Yeah, he did, but he left again. He didn't tell me where he was going. Did something happen between you two?"
"I hope not... But I don't know. Thanks Al," and they hung up. Tomorrow... He was going to find out what it was Ed was doing, and if their relationship was really over, or if this was something totally different, and Ed had just gotten his sight on something else for the time being that had nothing at all to do with the Colonel.
Ed didn't even return to Roy's house for quite some time, not showing up on the front door until after ten thirty at night, still looking just as far away as he had when he'd left that morning, only this time he looked up at Roy and blushed a vibrant crimson, then immediately took off for bed. Well, at least Ed was still sleeping here... And now would be the prime time to call one of his loyal subordinates, so he could see what Ed was up to during the day now, assuming he did the same thing tomorrow. It wasn't that he didn't trust the Fullmetal, he'd just like to know if there was someone else in his life now, if he ran off and hid his "shame" for allowing Roy to do what he'd done, or whatever else the possibilities were. If there really was someone else, well... It'd hurt, but he wasn't about to hate the boy for it. He could handle break ups well, but maybe Ed couldn't bring himself to do it.
The Colonel picked up the phone, and dialed a number, listening to the phone ring for a few moments before someone picked up on the other line.
"Hello?"
"Lieutenant Havoc," he was speaking in hushed tones, just in case Edward was listening.
"Oh, hey Colonel," Havoc answered, "Is something wrong? Are you not coming in to work tomorrow? I'll tell Lieutenant Hawkeye if you need me to."
"No, no, I'm fine. I'll be coming in a little bit. Can I ask you a favor?"
"Uh... Sure, Colonel..." he sounded confused.
"You know Ed's been staying here, right?"
"Yeah."
"Well, this morning he ran off right after breakfast and didn't come back until just a few minutes ago. I don't want this to sound like I'm invading his privacy, but I'd really like to know what he's been up to. All I want is for you to follow him tomorrow, figure out what he's doing, then report to me on it the next day at work, ok? I'll tell Hawkeye you're out running errands for me. She'll understand."
"Yeah, I can do that. You want me to be there before he leaves, right?"
"Yes. That would be excellent. See you tomorrow." He set the receiver down, stretched and yawned, and then headed for bed. Ed was already sound asleep, curled beneath the blankets like a cat. Roy smiled, stripped to his underwear, and then climbed into bed with his lover, bringing Ed into his arms. In is deep sleep, the blond boy's arms encircled Roy's back and he made a soft grumbling noise as he readjusted, snuggling to the warmth that Roy offered. By the feel of things now, there was nothing wrong, and he hoped that it would stay that way.
"Colonel, would you like some more coffee?" He nodded, and Hawkeye poured more into his cup. He sipped it groggily, trying to bring himself out of the morning stupor that sleep always brought on. The fact that he'd been called in to work early didn't help either, and he'd been forced to leave his lover a note and some money so he could go out and get himself some breakfast.
"Where did you say the Lieutenant was again?" she asked as she returned the coffee pot to its holder.
"Errands. He'll be gone all day..." he gave a wide yawn, shuffling languidly through the paperwork on his desk. Urgh. There was more signing and work to do today than he should have to do on any given day, especiallytoday... The only thing tat as keeping him going was the knowledge that he'd be getting the news on Ed's afternoon doings from Havoc tomorrow morning, so he supposed this tiredness was the best way to hide his unnatural excitement.
All morning and afternoon Roy was forced to just sit and work while Havoc was out having fun chasing Ed down wherever he had gone in Central. He envied the Lieutenant, but he was afraid he'd be too conspicuous were he to be the one following Edward instead. When his work came to an end at five o' clock, after a long, boring, eventless day—the kind he would have stayed home from—he trudged to his front door and prepared to make dinner for himself and Ed should he come home. But he didn't. Roy ate by himself, anxiously anticipating what Havoc had to say in the morning, and even contemplated calling Havoc now, but if Ed wasn't back home, then neither was Havoc. He sat, reading, until Ed came through the front door, even later than before.
"Hey, Ed," he smiled. Ed glanced at him, and gave a crooked, half nervous smile.
"Hey Colonel. Thanks for the money for breakfast."
"You're welcome." Ed started to head into the kitchen, and then stopped and turned around again, his cheeks colored slightly as if he had done something completely embarrassing.
"Colonel? I... I saw Havoc at the library while I was heading in, and he said you'd given him some stuff to do... What was it?" Roy tensed un-noticeably. Oh God, had he found out that Havoc was following him?
"Oh, just some stuff I would have had you do," he chuckled, "No big deal. Why? Did that bother you?"
"N-no, I just thought... No, never mind..." he shook his head, wringing. "I'm tired... I think I'll just go to bed..." So, he did suspect Havoc was following him... Damn it, he was such a perceptive boy... But with is brilliance, it was to be expected. Still, he'd be able to find out just what it was that Ed had been doing at the library tomorrow morning, and something told him sleep was not going to come too easily for him that night...
Sure enough, he had been up for more than half of the night, both out of worry and excitement. He dressed in a hurry, left a note for Ed that he'd be back soon, and headed out to his car. When he finally pulled up in front of Central HQ, he practically sprinted to his office, knowing Havoc would be there for him with the information he was looking for. He threw the door open, and there Havoc was, sitting in the chair across from the Flame Alchemist's desk, with an odd, slightly comic, look on is face. He looked up,
"I, uh... Followed Ed yesterday like you asked... And I'm sure he told you he saw me..."
"Yes, he did, but I don't think he suspected you too much," Roy took a seat at his desk, "Go on."
"Well, after breakfast he went straight for the library, where he spent most of his day, and..." he fiddled with the manila folder in his hand, the look on his face suggesting that he wasn't sure whether he should laugh or be disturbed, confused, surprised, or horrified.
"What was he doing, Havoc?" he was more anxious than ever now.
"You... You know how State Alchemists are allowed to go to any part of the library without restriction, right?"
"Of course."
"And I mean any part..."
"Yes, Havoc, I know."
"Without being asked your age..." Roy raised a brow, and started tapping his fingertips on the desk impatiently. "Sorry... It's just..." finally, he chuckled, "This is all the titles I found him looking at." He handed the folder to Roy, who nearly tore it in half as he jerked it open, and stared at the titles written on the page. He blinked a few times. No... It couldn't possibly... Not Edward Elric of all people...? Roy grinned, and started to laugh softly.
"He was looking atpornography?"
