AN: Passion Beneath The Cherry Blossoms is a FMA fanfic told from the POV of Roy Mustang. This is a primarily Roy/Ed fic. There is Yaoi in here. Sex scenes at a later date. Thanks for the reviews!
"Edward?" I repeated in shock. He couldn't have. His silence now implied that he'd had an affair with none other than Alphonse Elric, his brother.
"I... I couldn't help it." Edward sniffled, "He was different. He wasn't like the Al I remembered at all… The gates gave him back to me… but it wasn't really him. He was a homunculus!"
A gasp entered my lungs. "Edward! He's still your brother!" I accused, disgusted with him. "He's your own flesh and blood!"
Clearly this was the wrong response. The volume of Edward's sobs increased as he curled his shaking arms around my waist. I was beginning to regret interrogating the blonde in the first place. Surely such melancholy was adverse to his health. But perhaps this is what had to become of my visit. If not now, how many more times would the root of the problem be avoided? How many more times would Edward's real thoughts and feelings be ignored?
This suffering was for the better, and I had to store that in my memory.
But still, Alphonse was his brother! Not only were they related by blood, they were best friends. I always believed that Alphonse understood the bond Edward and I shared. How could he shatter it?
"Roy..." the blonde's voice trembled over my silence. "Alphonse... he... he…"
Struggling to remain calm, I replied half-nonchalantly, "He what?"
"He seduced me."
I stared deep into my lover's eyes. "Alphonse… seduced you?"
Edward could only nod.
This information didn't fit very well into what I'd known of Alphonse as a suit of armor. Alphonse always seemed carefree, and selfless in his desire to be kind to others. But I found myself believing Edward when he'd said Al had changed. I leaned down and took my gold-haired beloved by his shoulders. My eyes revealed nothing of my intentions. "Did he hurt you?"
Edward looked at me with reluctance. "He was… forceful. But… I could have said no. I could have walked away."
The truth. He had told me the truth, but I'd almost wished he had lied.
Edward paused, "Roy… I am so sorry… I made a stupid, stupid mistake." Everything about him was pleading with me. His remorseful eyes, his weak, grasping hands… even his posture was submissive.
At one point, I would have kissed him greedily in a moment like this. But for the moment, I was too repulsed for anything like that. I stood, moving away from him.
"Roy!" Edward sounded hysteric. "Please, forgive me! I'm sorry!"
I turned once before heading for the door. "I will forgive you," I said quietly. "In time… but not now. I need to think about this." I nodded once, more to myself than him. Then I whispered. "I'll come back for you later."
I didn't look back.
Not that I needed to. I heard Edward burst into quiet sobs as the door slid closed. I imagined him crying into balled fists, shaking uncontrollably without a friend to comfort him. I figured he was either heartbroken that I hadn't immediately forgiven him or relieved that I'd decided to forgive him at all. Or maybe it was both. He'd been through a lot lately. I wouldn't put it past him.
I hoped he would wait for me and stepped out into the cold, stark-white hall. The world around me was a wasteland that I ignored. Chaos raged in my head. Was it right to forgive Edward? I wasn't sure if he deserved it, but I needed him. I needed him more than a drug addict needs his fix. I knew I could survive without him for a while. But a lifetime? That was insanity.
I was so concerned with my thoughts, I didn't even realize who passed me in the hall.
A lecherous grin plastered across his face and a strut in his step, a young man with amber-blonde hair strode past me, taller and more muscular than I would have remembered had I recognized him for what he was.
Alphonse Elric.
And he was headed straight for the room whose sole occupant was my Edward.
AN: R&R! Read and REVIEW, if you would be so kind! This was a shorter chapter, but we'll update again this weekend!