Chapter 7

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Author's note: Last chapter finally! Just a little heads up it has non-explicit sexual references and also in this chapter I made references to another anime and a song, can you guess which anime and which song they are? XD please let me know if you do xD

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''It's nice for you to visit me for a change'' Alphonse smiled as he sat across the table looking at his brother

''yea of course I wanted to see how you are doing especially since the accident'' Edward wrapped his fingers around the mug feeling the warmth of the hot tea somehow soothing

''That is nice of you, but I am fine now, I'm still up and running'' he chuckled ''so how are you doing these days brother?''

''Nothing much still looking for a job and hanging out with Rebecca''

''still not seeing anyone?'' his younger brother had a knack of hitting the nail on the forehead and Edward felt a little at loss for a moment, he really wished he could tell him about the exciting news that he is dating Roy Mustang but he knew that he couldn't ''well no'' he felt a sharp guilt in his heart but he wanted to keep his words with his lover.

''oh I see well I wish you good luck on that keep looking and maybe you stumble across the right guy'' Alphonse was a really good natured guy and it pained Edward that he had to lie to him and keep it to himself. He did not say anything but just looking down and the cup and feeling miserable about it.

''What about your work are you working on a new collection?'' he felt a little relieved that he changed the subject

''well yes my theme is in the subway it's a perfect place to capture all kinds of people from different classes, age and background coming together in one place, it's somehow different from other public place like public gardens or restaurants''

''sounds like you are getting into socio-economic theme, it's quite the thinking out of the box''

''I am a walking eccentric, for me thinking about the box is in my genes'' Edward said chuckling

''That is true brother you always been the 'odd' one, in a good way'' Alphonse said smirking when Edward shot him a glare.

''Speaking of work, where's Winry wasn't she off today?'' Alphonse nodded in response ''Yes but she is out for shopping''

''Knowing your wife her way of 'shopping' is at the ironmongery''

Alphonse laughed in response ''no no she is actually shopping for some groceries, she said she is looking forward in cooking for dinner, she haven't done some cooking for some time now because she was always busy with her work''

''oh boy, I am sorry for you'' Edward muttered

''oh now Ed don't be so mean she's actually pretty good at it if you give her try especially her apple pie''

''I remember that she took the recipe from that nice flower lady back in Germany, man I miss our old home''

''I agree we should pay a visit in summer, Winry often tells me she wishes to visit her grandmother'' He nodded and lifted his cup finishing his tea, he placed it back down and glanced at his wrist watch. ''sorry brother, but I have to go now, I am going to meet with someone''

Alphonse cocked his head to the side ''Rebecca?''

Ed stood up ''no it's another friend'' he said as he pushed the chair back in its place.

He looked down as he rested his hands on the back of the chair, hating the awkward moment of silence, broken by the sound of mewling and something brushing against his leg

''hello Tobi' he knelt and picked up the ginger cat in his arms, it purred as he scratched it between its ears. Alphonse stood up as well

''He's probably hungry'' he said as he picked up his food and refilled it in its bowl.

The cat pounced off from Edward's arms and ran toward the bowl and started eating

''good boy'' Alphonse muttered as he patted its back.

''I shall be going then''

''of course have a nice day brother, and if you want to call or visit you can do it anytime''

''thanks, later'' Edward hugged his brother and made his leave.

He looked at his wrist watch again, he had to hurry up and head to Roy's place, it was the first time he ever invited to his home so he was a little bit excited. He took the subway train wondering what kind of fancy house he lives in, probably like one of those large mansions with a pool and a bar in the backyard. He made his way to his house and he was pretty surprised that it was rather a modest maisonette. He climbed up the front stairs and rang the doorbell but no one answered, he waited a little bit there was still no response, frustrated he walked around the house to find the back door open which led to the kitchen. ''Is there anyone here?'' there was no one in sight and he felt a little awkward because it felt like intruding.

He walked further in to find himself in the living room, he heard a strange noise that caught his attention he turned around ''Roy?'' he muttered and followed to where the noise came from. He pushed the door and his eyes widened in shock and horror when caught a glimpse of Roy butt naked lying on top of a half dressed woman. Her skirt was raised up and her smooth legs were wrapped around his waist, her head was thrown back as his fingers intertwined with hers. He couldn't bear to watch he turned and ran as fast as he could from where he came. It cannot be happening he told to himself over and over again, as he ran and he didn't know where he was going. He never felt so ashamed before.

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Sometime before Edward came by Roy was standing in front of the counter as he was chopping the condiments for his sandwich while he left the heat low on the cooker's knob as the egg was spread in the pan making a low sizzling sound and filled the kitchen with the delicious smell of the cooking egg. His mind was heavy as he thought about what the boss told him earlier, he didn't wish to leave Edward but at the same time he didn't wish to lose his job either, he had worked very hard in the space of two years in order for him to get to where he was. He felt that he was a very dangerous situation and he didn't know what to do. He knew that scandals like that were gems for the media to scoop about and make the story even more exaggerated then it really was. He didn't have the heart to read the article that encircled his relationship with Edward, he abhorred the very thing about it, imagining god knows what kind of stupidity and falsity it had in order to make it as much as interesting to the ignorant readers and possibly raising more gossip.

He was glad that the address of his house was kept strictly secret because he would have to face the mass of journalists and fans and ask him inadequate questions about his personal life, as if it wasn't bad enough to find them in front of the company waiting for him to appear. Sadly it wouldn't be long until the journalists find their way to his house too, maybe it was better to move in the old apartment he thought to himself. His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the doorbell, he felt a little relieved to see Edward again and he dashed to the door opening it. He did not, however find Edward standing on the doorway but instead a beautiful woman with long dark brown hair.
''What are you doing here?'' he asked surprised

''that isn't much of a warm welcome Roy my dear'' she said as she made herself home and walked in before he invited her.

''I am kind of in the middle of something'' Roy muttered in a frustrated voice

''you haven't even called me once for months'' she said as she sat down on the couch

''I have been busy'' ''busy with that contract you were talking about so much?''

''Yes'' he replied

''Or busy with that blond haired kid with the odd look'' her words made him feel like something had pierced right through him

''that is not of your own concern'' he replied with an irritated look.

She stood up ''well it is, since you've been saying that you want to take our relationship to more than just 'casual' dates'' she replied, she too felt hurt for giving her hopes up just to crush them into little pieces.

''Then we stopped meeting and you even stopped calling altogether what was I supposed to do? Pretend like nothing had happened?'' she said angrily as she placed her hands on her hips

''I was going to keep my word but things took a different turn''

''Stop lying, I know you are just trying to find an easy excuse for you to get out of this situation!'' she said pointing her finger down

''fine then don't believe me!'' Roy replied as he waved his hands in a manner of exasperation

''I don't want to be just tossed aside like other women'' she yelled and started to find it harder to control over her emotions

''I am sorry for that I never really intended to hurt you''

''Your words are empty, they don't mean anything!'' before she could say anything else she felt his lips pressing her own.

She was dazed at first but she could not pull away, at least this time she thought he was going to make it right. She wrapped her arms around his neck as she kissed him. They were so taken by the earlier argument that the heated moment had turned into passionate sex. It was like had no control over his body, for him it was the most natural thing. He snapped back to reality when Edward walked on them, and then all the horror of what he has done came burdening on him. It was like he was drunk and he suddenly became sober and he has to face the harsh consequence of his doings.

Perhaps what happened might have been a good thing after all.

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There was a loud knock on the door and still Rebecca called out her friend's name several times and still there was no response. His mail box was crowded with unopened letters and some where even scattered on the floor. She hated to resort to that but took out a spare key from her bag and opened the door of Edward's apartment. It was a good thing that she asked his brother to borrow it. The idiot had shut himself for three weeks in his own apartment without much reason why. She called him several times but he never answered the phone, and even Alphonse started to get worried when he didn't pick up his calls. Something was terribly wrong and she knew it, Edward wasn't the type to crash down so easily but whatever made him so devastated it was a complete mystery to her. She never had seen him breaking down like that, not even after break ups.

''Edward it's me Rebecca'' she called out but he was nowhere in sight, his apartment was in a mess, clothes were lying on the couch and everywhere. There were food cans on the table and rubbish on the floor. Several garbage bags were piling up next to the kitchen counter and not to mention the dirty plates and silverware were left unwashed in the sink. Edward had never been much of a neat freak but he definitely kept his apartment relatively clean. She felt her heart skip a beat, she was getting even more worried about him now. She opened the door that led to his 'office' room which was generally a small desk with a computer, cabinet and some small bookshelves. Edward was there sitting on his moving chair with his arms wrapped around his legs and his face buried in his knees. Rebecca placed a hand on his back

''hey Ed you know I've been calling you, I am worried about you'' she said in a soft spoken voice

Edward looked up, his eyes were red and the bags under his eyes were visible, he looked tired and had been crying.

''I'm sorry'' he said ''I'm so sorry' he continued as he wrapped his arms around her and hugged her.

She looked dumbfounded because she had absolutely no idea what he was apologizing for

''listen why don't we move to the couch so I can make you some hot tea and you can tell me what happened'' she said as she rubbed his back trying to soothe him.

He nodded and slowly he stood up and walked out of the room. He flopped on the couch resting his head on the arm, while Rebecca made some tea for him. She then sat next to him and handed to him the warm cup in his hands. He picked it up with both hands and started blowing to cool it off, and started to tell her everything about what happened, from the moment he met Roy at the photography exhibition till he walked in on him cheating with some woman.

Rebecca's eyes widened astounded, those things happened in romance novels and movies, but to think that it happened to her best friend, she couldn't believe it was true. She started feeling guilty that she enjoyed gossiping things like that when it happened to someone else.

''Why then you were apologizing to me?'' she asked

''I kept it a secret from you even if you are such a good friend to me, I wanted to honour his promise about keeping it low but I can't believe I was such a big idiot and really fell for that bastard'' he placed a hand over his forehead, he started to get a headache, a low annoying pounding in his head. Rebecca remained quiet and she just listened, all that she came to know right now was so hard to believe, to absorb every little thing it seemed really surreal that her best friend was dating a womanizer and then he ended up cheating with her, it was all too much to take, it really sounded like something coming out of a soap opera.

''You have to pull yourself together'' she said nudging him a little from the shoulder

''How can I do that? I fell for such a low trick, I should have known''

''you can't really know about those things silly'' Rebecca said trying to comfort him

''I knew he was a skirt-chaser, I shouldn't even have thought about dating him in the first place'' he buried his head on her shoulder

''Now now you are being way too hard on yourself'' she then stood up and took her hands into his

''Get a shower and dressed we are going out'' he rose an eyebrow

''Where to?''

''Having fun of course''

He let out a shrug ''DO I looked like I am up for that?'' '

'Come on it will make you feel better trust me!''

He rolled his eyes ''you sound like some cheesy salary woman'' he answered unenthusiastically as he reluctantly stood up.

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In the following weeks Roy had announced that he was going out with the beautiful woman who works as a doctor in a local clinic and that mishap with Edward was just a misinterpretation of journalists in order to make scoop. It had surprised everyone (including his manager) that he finally decided to settle down, but eventually everything went back to normal

He was talking to the photographer before starting the shoot, luckily they re-established the contract by the help of his boss (that is he called them and talked to the manager in charge and seemed like he was able to smooth things over) Roy turned his head to see his manager always dressed neatly while holding her file in her lap.

''Good morning'' he said winking at her. She rolled her eyes and landed the file on his head making a thud sound.

''Morning'' she said dryly

''You are harsh, always damping my mood with boring stuff'' he replied as he took the file from her hands

''You seemed such in a good mood I thought you would be more eager to work harder'' at her reply he looked as though a lightning struck down on him

Havoc walked in ''I've been looking all over for you, your dear girlfriend wants to talk to you'' he said as soon as he saw Roy

The raven haired man looked at his agent ''Just a minute'' he said

She just eyed him but nodded and he sped off

''Thanks'' he said as he was walking out of the room and tapped Havoc's shoulder,

''Man you are lucky'' the blond journalist muttered ''Hey can you ask her if she has single sister or a friend?'' the blond haired man placing his palms together as if he was praying

Roy chuckled ''alright my friend I will'' he said

''Gee thanks!'' he said hoping that he might get lucky this time unlike the last time when he was hooked up with Armstrong's little sister, he shivered thinking about how he ended up turned down so quickly.

Roy headed out of the building to talk to his woman, he quickly took the elevator and headed down to the first floor. He walked past the reception room and she was there standing with her arms crossed as she looked around.

''Hey'' he approached her

''Hello sorry to drop in like this but I was just passing by and since you don't always pick up your cell phone I thought I just come here and tell you''

''Yell me what's up?'' he inquired curiously

''You know I was going to have an extra shift because one of the staff was sick, turns out that someone else is going to replace him and I can get home soon, so I was thinking we could go for dinner or something''

''Sure that will be great, than I shall call you when I finish?''

''Yes please'' she said as she tiptoed on her feet she pulled his tie slightly and kissed him on the lips. He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her closer as kissed her, caressing her jaw as he softly pressed his lips with her.

She then let go ''have a nice day sweetie'' she said and then she left, and soon he turned his heels and headed to the shooting. Nothing had ever felt so perfect,

At least that was what he believed, so why there was a tingling sense of void and aching inside his heart?

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Edward was in the balcony overlooking out at the street, with a packet of pocky in hand and one in between his lips, tasting it sweetness but at the same time, he wasn't eating it, he seemed lost in his thoughts. He started to feel a little better when he received an email that said that they reviewed his interview and he got accepted for the job, it wasn't a big deal, he was offered to do photography for special special events such as weddings, family portraits, and so on, it was a far cry from what he usually does but it was at least better than nothing. He felt that he should have been happier about it but still he was pretty depressed, he tried so hard to put past that mess behind but couldn't help thinking about him from time to time, that bastard invaded his brain even when he hadn't seen him since then, he hated it, he felt bitter, he thought over and over how he will never forgive him for what he has done, but at the same time he felt lonely, he missed him. He shook his head trying to get rid of those thoughts, he knew he had to get over him because he wasn't going back to him ever.

The doorbell rang which interrupted his thoughts, he quickly stood up and walked to the door, thinking that it was Rebecca as she usually visits him, but instead he found the last person on earth he was expecting to be dropping at his door.

''Hello Edward you look like you've seen a ghost'' Roy appeared at his doorstep with a bouquet of flowers, as if whatever had happened between them had never occurred

''YOU YOU'' he felt the rage going up to his head and he was so overwhelmed at that moment that he couldn't express himself with words so instead he shut the door in his face with a slam catching his nose in the process.

''Owow that hurts! Please Edward let me talk to you just for a minute!'' he could heard Roy from the other side of the door but he just flopped on the couch and crossed his arms ignoring him.

''I think my nose is bleeding please let me in!'' he continued pleadingly as he knocked on the door

''Why don't you just drop DEAD?!'' Edward muttered throwing the pillow cushion at the door

''Listen Ed I know you absolutely hate me right now, I know I've been a complete jerk to you but I want to make it up to you I left my job for you!''

A minute later he opened the door to find Roy cradling his injured nose.

''You did what?'' he said in an astounded voice

''It was tough to decide my career or you but then I figured…'' Edward pulled his arm and let him in and then he pushed him on the couch

''hold your head high'' he said, Roy did so as Edward went to the medicine cabin and brought some cotton pads. The blond sat by his side and pressed it onto Roy's nostrils. The older man held it with his right hand as he threw his head back and with his left hand he touched the hand that Edward was resting on his thigh.

''As I was saying between my job and you I can always find another place to work but I will never find someone like you'' he squeezed his hand a little ''this time it's for real''

Edward blushed but he glared at him ''what about the girl you were so proudly going out with'' he asked

''I dumped her and believe me she wasn't very happy, she really slapped me very hard'' '

'Serves you right'' Roy chuckled at his response

''This time let me tell you how I really feel about you'' but before he could say it Edward leaned over to him and kissed him

''Don't, you say it is best when you say nothing at all''

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