It had not been easy to convince Winry that he needed to go see Mustang. She complained that reports and briefings could wait until the morning. He had promised to come home early. "Early" meant 8:00, as he was informed. He was fine with that, all long as he got to see Roy. As he had done several times before, Ed strolled up to the office as everyone was getting ready to leave. He waved a greeting to everyone in the outer office as he walked past, and entered Mustang's office without knocking. He sat on the couch and waited.
He didn't have to wait long for Mustang to give up on paperwork. He was barely working when Ed sat down. Without saying a word, Mustang strode over to Ed. Ed looked up at the general. Mustang extended a hand towards Ed. Ed, slightly blushing, took it, and was pulled to his feet. There was not enough room for two men between the couch and the coffee table. Ed found himself all but plastered against his superior. Unconsciously, he had placed his hands on Mustang's chest. Ed's face turned a dark scarlet, but he no move to put any distance between them. Meanwhile, Roy's conscience berated him. He's getting married. Mentally, he sighed. Roy shifted away the best he could in the confined space.
"It would be best to not mention this. We both have love interests, let's just…" Ed scoffed. Pain and anger flashed through his eyes. This was the same man who had flirted openly with him.
"Yeah, you wouldn't want your girlfriend to find out," Ed spat, shoving Mustang backwards. He barely missed toppling over the coffee table as Ed stormed out the door.
"And what about Winry?" Mustang called after him. Ed, just past the door, spun and gave a glare of death. Those who had not yet left the office, which happened to be mostly everybody, looked on at the scene.
"I don't even like her," Ed stated plainly, oblivious to the other officers in the background.
"Well, that is one Hell of a way to talk about your wife," Roy retorted, holding his ground inside his office.
"She's not my wife!" Ed practically screamed.
"Well, she's going to be. And you liked her enough to sleep with her," Roy stated coldly. The whole of the office was deathly silent.
"Once. God, fucking… once! And you wanna know the best part?" Ed leaned into Mustang's doorway, hands on either side of the frame.
"I don't remember a goddamn thing. And if it weren't for the situation, I wouldn't be marrying her."
"She sure seems to love you. I take it she knows nothing of your feelings or motives?" Mustang harshly accused.
"No, she doesn't! I haven't had the heart to tell her that I'm hopelessly in love with someone else!" Knowing the mistake he had made, Ed headed for the outer office door.
"Not that they give a damn," he muttered bitterly, loud enough for everyone in the silent office to overhear. Mustang slammed his door shut as Ed disappeared around the corner. Everyone in the office looked at each other, not quite knowing what to say. Seconds later, Mustang burst through his office door and shot down the hall. Jean, whose unlit cigarette had fallen out of his mouth from awe, addressed Hawkeye.
"Did he go after him?" Hawkeye shrugged.
"I sure hope so. Neither one of them needs to be isolated right now." Quiet conversations picked up, a couple bets on the outcome went around the room. Very faded, but unmistakable, Ed's voice rang out, screaming a slew of curses. As the sound got closer, the conversations dwindled. Mustang literally dragged a screaming Edward into the office. Once inside the outer office doors, Roy released the boy and the yelling stopped. Ed pointed a finger at him.
"You touch me one more fucking time and I swear I will clock you." Ed turned yet again, attempting to leave. Roy reached out and grabbed his automail arm to pull him back. Then, the office saw something that they had never seen before: Ed swing at Mustang. And not miss. Immediately, the general's lip split open and bled down his chin. Without waiting a beat, Mustang threw a punch back, hitting Ed squarely in the nose. Even as he threw the punch, somewhere in the back of his mind, Mustang was relieved that he hadn't been hit by Ed's automail hand. Riza placed a hand on her gun.
"Fucking bastard." Ed threw more swings, this time not making successful contact as he did before. Within seconds, the two resembled boys fighting on a playground. There was no alchemy, which everyone was glad for, but Hawkeye did not like fighting in the office. Arguments were one thing. Acting like children was another matter entirely. She drew her pistol, aimed it at the wrestling pair, and drew back the hammer with a loud click. Much to her dismay, neither seemed to noticed. She sighed heavily and fired several "warning" shots into the wall. Both men stopped, more afraid of her than they were angry at each other.
"Stop acting this foolish. I won't miss again." Roy reached out and took Ed's hand, more gently than before and led him into his office. Ed didn't know what to do or say, he had pretty much said and done just about everything he had wanted to. As Ed entered the office, he swung the door shut out of habit. He stayed in front of the door, extremely uncomfortable. Mustang reached past Ed, locked the door, then pulled him into a tight embrace. Ed, more confused than ever, struggled a little bit. Roy put enough space between them to lean in for a kiss. It was hard and rough, but Ed eagerly returned it. Ed pushed away and backed himself up against the door.
"This is wrong," he said, without much conviction. Roy stepped forward and wrapped his arms around Ed's waist.
"Do you care that it's wrong?" Ed allowed his hands to travel up Roy's chest and encircle his neck.
"…No," he answered honestly. Roy leaned in again, his kiss more insistent. Ed melted into the kiss and leaned into the older man. Ed felt Roy's hands under his shirt, roaming over his bare stomach and chest. Ed moaned a little into the kiss, then pulled back for air. Roy dipped down to nip and suck at Ed's neck. Ed fumbled with the buttons lining the front of Roy's military jacket. After a minute of fighting with it, it finally came open and Ed pushed it to the ground. Roy removed his lips from Ed long enough to return the favor, sending the black tank top flying somewhere behind them. Ed pulled off Roy's white undershirt and found himself immediately in another lip lock. Mustang traced Ed's lips, begging for entrance. Ed parted his lips slightly and let Roy explore his mouth. Ed leaned forward, the soft skin against his sending electric shivers up and down his body. A loud bang made both men jump. Wrapped in each other's arms, disappointment registered on both of their faces.
"What?" Mustang all but growled, still holding Ed tightly to him. On the other side of the door, Hawkeye cleared her throat.
"Just wanted to make sure the two of you weren't killing each other in there." There was a hesitant pause.
"And you're not exactly being discreet." Before either had formulated a response, they heard the soft click of the outer office door swinging closed. Both relaxed when they realized that they were alone and no longer being unnecessarily foolish. Ed peered up into the older man's face and found a soft smile on the General's lips. He couldn't help but smile back, shaking his head at how quickly he had ended up in the arms of his love without ever meaning to. Mustang leaned in again, resting his head on Ed's.
"Come home with me?" Regretfully, Ed answered:
"I have to be home." Mustang's grip loosened a little and retreated a small distance. He studied Ed's face.
"I thought you said that you didn't love her or like her. Why would you go home to her now?" Ed sighed.
"She's pregnant. It's my fault. I can't just leave her."
"Well, it's at least partially her fault," Mustang grossed, determined to hold onto Edward. The younger man gave a sad half-smile and gently pushed the General off of him. He hunted down his shirt and slipped it over his head.
"She's still my friend. And I made her a promise. I won't just walk away. I know what it was like to not have a father growing up. I won't do that to a child." Mustang frowned, knowing that everything he was asking was wrong. He shrugged, gathering his own garments.
"I think you should tell her how you feel and let her make a decision based on all the facts, not just the ones you've already presented her with. You owe her that much." It was Ed's turn to shrug.
"Whatever I do, I'm going to hurt someone I care about." Ed waited until the last button on Mustang's uniform was buttoned before unlocking the door. The two walked out of the office, side by side, careful not to stand too close. The stopped in front of the building where they knew they had to part.
"Just let me think for a little while, ok? This isn't exactly easy." Mustang nodded, his mask in place, then turned and walked away without a sound. He did not look back until he rounded the corner, but felt fairly certain that he had felt the young alchemist's eyes on his back.
x x x x x
It took long enough, I know. The update the preceding this chapter will explain my absence if you want to know. Homework permitting, I should have something else up relatively soon, assuming another major disaster doesn't come my way.