A/N: Mornin', here! This time, some real development. Lots of swears ahead and some graphic content, and from now on, these warnings will always be in full form. As usual, I don't own anything besides what's obvious I own (plot and OCS).
Oh, and because I didn't mention and I should have - the first chapter is set about an year after the Promised Day. And the age gap between Roy and Edward is of ten years.
Don't forget to review/follow/favourite! Enjoy!
On with the story...

Chapter 3 – False Accusations

Nearly two months passed since the two alchemists' shared discovery. Just as expected, their research proved to be a resounding success, that big that they even receives a promotion and a substantial raise to the salary. After Roy pulled a few strings, but that was redundant.

It sounded like an abuse of power to many, but to Mustang, the presidency was closer than ever. For Edward, however, the whole ordeal was a step closer to disaster. It made him fume with frustration, because his good will and keen mind blew up in his face.

All that fuss meant he had to spend a lot more time with the man he was supposed to hate like no other. He was determined not to befriend Roy, for no reason at all. He wanted to keep their relationship as professional as possible, no matter how friendly the other could get.

In spite of that decision, he started considering the newly invested General one of his best friends and even more than just that, to his utter shame and mortification. True, Winry was his best childhood friend, but Roy was his best adulthood friend, or close to that. He was his mentor, in a way, the one who shaped his destiny more than he realised. They have been through more than he cared to remember and was dependant on the raven haired officer's presence. It felt like home, strangely so.

To make matters worse, Roy started relying on his aide for the more complicated and delicate missions and he even fulfilled them by his side. Among the Central population, they were called the "Fire and Metal" team, and their fame spread its wings all over the country and even in other states. Edward was caught in a tornado he never wanted to get in and started working diligently for his officer in command. It all has happened much faster than any of them anticipated.

He hated that. He hated Roy, or at least tried to, at the best of his capabilities.

He desperately wanted to despise him because, with nothing to gain, the older Elric brother remained by the Flame's side to find himself developing the most embarrassing feelings for him, something he hoped with all his heart to be one sided. All he needed was an inappropriate relationship with the General. What a scandal would that be! All their efforts would be for naught, they would definitely get a ticket to a life of shame. Ed didn't care about what others thought of him, but Roy needed to be liked. He had to be spotless in front of the public opinion. He might as well not even think of him that way!

But maybe...

"No! What the hell is wrong with you, Edward?" the blond scolded himself. He was writing a report about his last mission in the East, where he was sent to make sure everything went well for the Ishbalans. The Ishbalan Law was by all means a very good project, as it turned out to be beneficial for both Amestris and its people. The black skinned and red eyed population had been willing to help the state to reconsolidate itself for the small price of protection and liberty of religion. The new Fuhrer approved Mustang's law project and agreed to have regular assessments of the situation, having Major Miles, newly borrowed from Briggs, as the principal liaison.

Edward walked the long and monotonous corridors of the Central headquarters with the said report in his flesh hand. Entering the door that pompously read "First Commanding Officer – General Roy Mustang", he saluted the small crew of trustworthy men and noticed Mustang seated behind his desk in front of Jean Havoc, talking business. The former officer remained in Roy's service and was just as loyal to him as he had been when he was paid by the state. He had the same superior and colleagues, after all. He had only changed the source of his income.

Havoc became more of a shadow used for undercover missions and called the quits in many dangerous situations. Who would have thought the sheepish "Jacqueline" could turn into one of the most influential traders in such a short period?

After taking over his family's shop in the East, Jean expanded the small firm into a blooming commercial empire. He made his way to Central, to be closer to the heart of the country. Helped by Roy, he obtained authorisations for importing almost anything he could dream of, so that he could provide the man with the needed equipment for any situation.

Despite being discharged, there he was, chatting with the General. Hearing Ed saluting, he turned around in his chair and waved his hand. "Hey, chief! How've ya been?"

Edward smiled poorly and returned the salute. "Hello, Havoc! I see your legs look so much better! Any trouble with walking?"

Not noticing the discomfort in Ed's eyes, Jean responded happily, shaking his smoking hand. "None at all! I mean, they're like nothing ever happened! The boss truly did something amazing with'em and thanks to you too, here I am!" Havoc pressed his hands to his chest, as to emphasize his presence.

"Good to have you back, Havoc." Fullmetal smiled and threw his report without looking at the man behind the desk. Roy instantly felt his distress, but he did not flinch. He would do his questioning later. He hated knowing that one of his subordinates was indisposed and something told him that it was his fault. Somehow, it was always him.

Hawkeye interrupted his train of thoughts when he saw her flash her gun to the smoker. The weapon erupted from the cloud of smoke. "Havoc, how many times do I have to repeat myself about not smoking in the office?"

Jean's cheeks flushed. Mustang immediately took his side and motioned for Hawkeye to stand down. "Lieutenant, no need to flame, I have allowed Havoc to smoke. I am not bothered by it, nor are the others. Are you?" he said in a deep, even voice. Perhaps he should not be so rude to the woman, but his mood did not add to his kindness.

Riza looked surprised by the statement, but quickly recovered. "No, I am not. I don't want the furniture to smell like nicotine and smoke. But I see the windows are opened, so fine by me, Sir." Roy nodded and continued his discussion.

Edward exited the office, frightened by Roy's unusual demeanour. He always agreed to Hawkeye's suggestions, but this time he was totally defiant. As if he was his own boss. After all, he was in charge of the whole damn city and most of the other regions. Next step, the whole country.

But he never showed it, or at least, not in front of him.

XXXXX

Lost deep in his reading, Edward did not notice the silhouette looking over his shoulder in that empty section of the national library.

"Hello, Fullmetal! A very good report, this time. Seems you have finally learnt how to write one!" Roy's deep voice spoke in the absence of a more interesting start of conversation.

Edward turned his head around, angry that the bastard preferred fooling around with him instead of talking to him as an equal. "The hell?" he interjected. He could not bring himself to shout, he had the tinniest of respects to the other occupants of the library. There was no one next to him, but he tried to be civilised anyway. But with Mustang looking so smugly at him, it was hard.

"What do you want, General?" he whispered and glared to the best of his ability.

Getting past the mocking tone, Roy stated bluntly, "Something is bothering you." He didn't need to ask.

"And how did you reach this conclusion?"

"It is not that hard to read you, you are like an open book most of the time. You never enter that silently in my office. You always bust the door and barge in. Or maybe you've just grown up, hm?" the General teased.

To hell with the library's silence. Visibly enraged, Edward got to his feet and yelled. "Well, that's so intelligent! Bastard, don't you have a country to overrule, some empire to destroy? Some whore to take out that stupid pent-up of yours to prevent you from annoying me? Leave me alone! Don't you-"

Roy patiently listened to the display and worried himself with what really bothered his young subordinate. "-see that I was reading? Sod off, bastard!" Instead of determining the other to leave, Ed stormed past Mustang and left the private reading room.

The General kept his cool, but deep inside he boiled. He considered himself Edward's friend, but the teen seemed adamant to toss his friendship away like garbage. He had only tried to be nice, he never thought it might aggravate Ed like that.

He proceeded into following the blond. However, the said youngster created a door on an exterior wall and flew away. Sighing, Roy clapped his hands and transformed the door back to its original status.

XXXXX

Edward barged into his room, fuming over his idiocy. Maybe he had been too harsh with the poor man. He merely wanted to help. How could he know that he was the cause of his distress? He had never told Roy he felt uneasy in his company.

Not knowing what to do, the blond went out to cool off his overheated brain. It hurt him to think that he was all over the most notorious womanizer there was and the biggest bastard he had ever met. He was selfish, rude, unscrupulous, a profiteer, really, an opportunist, not to mention a nagging bastard, annoying and... intelligent, good looking, quite loveable and a loyal friend. Damn, the man was not that bad, but at that moment, he was an enemy in his eyes.

He did not know when he started feeling that way, but he never asked for such a thing.

He wanted to see Roy as someone he was not. In truth, the one he antagonised was a very lonely person. One would swear the man was an infatuated dissolute who had a date every other night, though no one could really say whether the rumours were true or not.

Reality was a little different, as many of the women he supposedly dated were mere informants he paid after every encounter. Sure, he had his hot dates and share of scandals, but deep down himself, he hated that reputation he had to create. He never asked for such recognition, to be praised for using someone else, but his fairly good looks helped in the alimentation of rumours about his activities. All he wanted was silence and darkness to live his life without interruption.

Unfortunately, Edward became aware of his well hidden loneliness during the nights they spent together, working. There were no phone calls, no visitors, no house turned upside down, no compromising content. Just a normal man in a plain house too big for him.

Obviously, Roy acted like he had taken the nights off to work, because the country was far more important than his personal life. His lying face was so veridical that Ed's disgust for the man's womanizer acts did not falter.

That was at first. But there were too many signs that he did not enjoy his need of spending the night in the company of so many strangers that Ed did not have to work his brains out to discover the awkwardness of his situation. Everything he did, he did it for work. Everything.

Maybe the bastard was depressed and forgotten. Maybe he needed some real attention. Maybe he was working too hard.

Maybe Edward has lost his mind.

XXXXX

Roy returned home after that tiresome day. He began his routine. He took off his coat and shoes, faked eating something, stared at his food and rolled it around with the fork, then drowned himself in spiced tea or coffee and books. It was the same whenever he came that down from work.

During the previous months, his mood had gotten worse. He was not sure if it was something to be alarmed of. It was horrible to think that he had killed so many, cheated more and did everything to fulfil his selfish goal. But that was just so like him – the smirking, charming and overly confident officer who resided in front of a thick interior of emotional impotence and sheer anguish. It was more like he did not know what to do with his life, his own day to day life. When did he grow so ignorant of his own person, when he always looked after everyone?

He took a sip from his drink. What the hell was wrong with Fullmetal? He fretted, thinking at what he might have done to unnerve his colleague. In the past few weeks, the teen avoided him and, in the rare moments when he had to be in the same room as him, he just insulted him and ran away as fast as he could.

His thoughts were so loud, he nearly missed the knocking at his door.

"Who could it be at this hour?" Roy questioned aloud as he stumbled across the house to open the front door. Tilting his head, he stood straight in front of the unwanted visitor.

"What is it, Fullmetal," he stated more than asked, taken aback by the fact he did not find it strange to have the other in front of his house.

Edward looked even more confused that someone actually opened the door. He carefully pondered his options. He had no idea why he was there, really. His steps just took him there. He chose to say nonchalantly, "Well, I don't even know why I came. Sorry for that. Good night, General." He saluted formally and turned on his heels. Shook out of his slightly drunken state, Roy asked worried, "Is there something wrong?"

The blond stared at him and opened his mouth only to immediately close it. Eventually, the General snapped, saying in an stern voice, "Fullmetal, if there is nothing to report, refer from bothering me this late at night." His drunkenness wore off, apparently, or so he thought.

Edward sneered at the remark. "Stupid to think you might feel lonely and need some company! You are such a bastard I cannot understand how you live with yourself."

"Out," were the Flame's words. Ed looked idiotically at his lips, which were dangerously pressed in a thin line. "Huh?"

"Out. This instant," the older alchemist repeated.

"Huh? The hell? I'm not to be bossed around by you! I can stay wherever I want, you useless bastard!"

"Lieutenant Colonel Elric, this is MY propriety, I am YOUR commanding officer and I will give you to the court martial if you dare insult me just once more in any way possible or call me any names besides what the etiquette commands. Dismissed," he snapped and closed the door with a loud thump that might have woken up some distant neighbours.

Edward stared at the door. Was it real? The man who never gave a damn about being called in any way and even mocked himself with stupid pet names, the same who asked him to be called anything besides his rank out of the office, the same who told him he could come anytime at his place, just threatened to court-martial him. What was wrong with him?

Behind the heavy door to his small fortress, Roy shivered in anger. Why did he react like that to the quite kind visit? Dammit, Edward was right. He needed some company and no one was there to provide it. No one besides the boy to whom he's just yelled.

"Damned life!" Roy cursed. It was so not like him to swear or lose his composure. It seemed that fatigue finally caught up with him. He looked through the door's viewfinder to find the stairs in front of his house empty. Who would wait for him to cool off, anyway?

"Okay, Roy," he told himself in loud voice. "No more drinking for you tonight."

XXXXX

Edward returned to his room fuming. Again. Second time in the same day. What was wrong with him? His company was not desired, but he still wanted to offer it. It was true he denied him at the library, but that was not something to get mad about. He always acted that way, it was nothing new.

Now that he thought of that, it was the first time to see Mustang so enraged. He looked even more determined than the time he nearly killed Envy.

How could one care for someone so cold and mean? It must have been a joke.

XXXXX

Roy Mustang stood idly in the living room. The sinister sound of the phonogram filled the emptiness of the room and the darkness was barely penetrated by a flashing candle light. He had electricity, but he preferred the mystery of burning wax. He cursed his drunken temper and felt sorry for his subordinate. He shouldn't have yelled. He was beginning to grow tired of his moodiness. Not once did he think he would become such a bitter adult. It was sad no one saw him like that.

He would treat Edward with lunch and apologise to him. That might do the trick. After all, they worked together, so a proper collaboration was essential.

He went to work in the morning to find his office as pathetic as he had left it. Empty desks, too many files on the shelves and mounts of paperwork on the petite coffee table in front of the couch. He sighed and seated himself at his desk, took a pen out of its case and started filling in the many papers he received from Hawkeye as a "Welcome to work" gift. He was getting tired of those 'gifts'.

He went to lunch after being threatened with a gun for not wanting to eat. Alone, he sat at a remote table with a book in his hand, eating while reading. Pretty enjoyable, that was. He returned to his office soon after he took a short walk around the headquarters to rearrange his thoughts.

Nothing out of the ordinary for him. It was just another plain day. Only that he usually did not burn his brains with thoughts of a failed night.

He had never had a failed night. Ever.

XXXXX

Hawkeye noticed Roy's distress and immediately linked his mood to Edward, who came to the military centre to give the rest of his report with a death glare on his face. She took the papers from him and asked, "Are you alright, Edward?"

"Umm, yeah? Yeah, of course, why wouldn't I be? I am!" Ed defended himself.

"If you say so... see you later," she said and waved her hand.

'Is it that obvious?' he questioned himself. Apparently, it was. He wanted to argue with Roy a bit to lighten his mood, but that bastard definitely didn't want to see him. As stupid as it sounded, Edward was bothered by the different behaviour, he feared that he did something wrong.

Shaking off his doubts, he went to a public phone and called his brother, who cheerfully answered to him. "Brother! Haven't heard from you in ages! How are you?"

Edward smiled and spoke in the apparel. "Hey, Al. Fine, you know me. You? How are Winry and Granny?"

"All is great here, I promise! Everyone misses you, but we know you have work to do. By the way, I heard about your research! Why didn't you tell me about it?"

"Hehe, I forgot." Ed curled his long braid around his finger, happy he couldn't be seen over the phone.

"If you say so... Congratulation on the promotion, too! You forgot to tell me so many things, brother. Oh, nearly forgotten - how's the Colonel? Sorry, I mean, General," Al corrected himself. "I wanted to congratulate him too!"

"Whatever, the bastard jumps ranks too fast anyway," Ed made and rolled his eyes. He cleared his throat, not in the mood to give relations about his commanding officer. "I think I will take a break and visit you guys."

"Really? That's so cool! We can't wait to have you here! I have to show you some things Ling sent us from Xing!"

"Ling? How's he holding up? Future emperor and stuff?"

"He will take over Xing soon enough, I've heard. I think our country will be in very good terms, since the General is so determined and they seemed to get along quite well."

Edward froze in place at the thought that that idiot could actually become the president. Well, wasn't that what he also wanted for the man? He was suited for the chair. Damn, he should not be thinking about him.

"Brother, is everything okay?"

Edward coughed and excused himself. "Al, I have to go... you know, work. I have to go back to work," he said, more to convince himself that he had something to do.

"Fine... take care, brother! See you soon!"

"Sure thing, Al! Goodbye," Edward replied hurryingly and hung up the phone. "Shit," he cursed. He invited himself at his brother when he had so much work to do in Central. Screw it. He had a family, work be damned.

Everything be damned.

XXXXX

"Sir, Lieutenant Colonel Elric announced me that he is headed for Resembool," Riza announced from the office's door the next morning.

"Excuse me?" General Mustang demanded. Hawkeye shrugged and gave him some fresh reports. It was the first time in her carrier when she had defied her commanding officer's orders, which then consisted in not allowing anyone to be absent from work for the next weeks as they had some very important reforms to apply.

Edward paid her a visit late the previous night and told her that he needed some air. She suggested going to his brother and friend in Resembool and he jumped at her proposal with a train ticket in his clothed hand. It meant that he really didn't care if he was allowed to go or not, but it was considerate of him to tell the Lieutenant first. After all, she was like an older sister to him and one does not betray family. Or at least not him.

Back in the office, Roy asked about his subordinate's scandalous behaviour. Hawkeye's mask was impenetrable, she did not mutter another word about the sudden departure and the real reason behind it. By needing some air, Edward meant some distance between him and the General, she was certain. She did not want to indispose her friend any more than she already did with the news.

Boiling with rage but a fine observer of his own behaviour, Roy never betrayed his calm and calculated facade. He was better than that. He dismissed Hawkeye and reached for the table phone, dialling a number he knew quite well. He guessed that Edward must have arrived at his destination, given the hour. Indeed, the one who answered was the alchemist, who kindly spoke to the speaker "Rockbell Automail."

"Fullmetal, care to explain yourself?" Roy said in a composed voice.

He heard someone sighing deeply. "I don't have to explain myself. I have already spoken with your subordinate. Weren't you so fond of them?"

Roy tapped his fingers on the desk, visibly angered by that remark. "I did not joke about the possibility of being court-martialed. You went directly over my directives and left without any letters of appointment. I ask you to give me some good reason not to discharge you directly into prison for your acts."

Hearing the words, Edward exploded, "What did you just say? Discharge? The hell I will let you do that! You can't!"

"I will not accept being talked like this. It is my final warning, you hear me?"

"Why don't you ask your Lieutenant about it and thrust that fucking papers of yours up your ass? Fuck you, bastard! I think you might need it!" Edward shouted and threw the phone in its holster.

Roy threw the speaker away from his face, feeling the urge to smash it. That insolence was not to be tolerated. Despising that line of thoughts, he sighed.

Damn, he hated having to act all military. He was social by nature, he always knew how to act and talk to please everyone. But he had no idea what to do with Edward. He was one of his best allies. With a great filthy mouth, but still a great help. He thumped his clenched fists on the desk, making the wood clatter.

Alphonse showed up behind his brother, scaring him. "ALPHONSE! Damn, stop sneaking, you've scared me!" Ed yelled, and then chuckled nervously at his reaction. Al raised his brows at him, knowing something was off. He heard just a mere snippet of the conversation, but he could swear his older brother spoke to Mustang.

Only when he talked to him, he started to shout like his life depended on the level of his voice.

"Brother, is everything alright?" Al repeated the same question he asked the previous day.

"Yes, why wouldn't it be? Come on, we should not let that delicious meal Winry and Granny made for us to get cold!" Ed took the younger's hands in his and ran to the dining room, where the Rockbells were still setting the table.

"Who was on the phone?" Winry asked, waving the fork in her hands.

"No one. Let's eat!" They were soon seated and continued the evening in an enjoyable mood.

XXXXX

Not much to be said about Roy's mood, though. He paid a visit to Hawkeye, whom he found home playing with her dog, Black Hayate. She opened the door and let him in.

"Hello, Sir. Do you want anything to drink? Pardon the mess, I never seem to be able to find time to unpack my things." She motioned for the many boxes on the floor.

The very small studio in which Riza Hawkeye lived was furnished with a couch and an armchair cramped up between a coffee table and a tall book case. In a corner, separated by an opaque screen, a bed and an armoire stood next to a wall with a few photographs hanged on it, most of them made with her fellow officer friends.

In the middle of the display, there was a frame with a photo she made after the Ishbalan war, in which her, Roy and Hughes were posing in front of the Eastern headquarters, another held a picture with the small "Mustang Team", another with her late father and mother's portrait holding her as infant in their arms and the last with the Elric brothers after the Promised Day.

In the other corner of the small house, a tiny kitchenette was separated by a similar glass screen and next to it, a wooden door blocked the entrance to the bathroom. The only window was covered by thick curtains. The light was open, ghosting over the heavy furniture. The house had a nostalgic appearance and the unopened boxes just added to it.

He took the place he was offered on the couch and thanked for the tea he received. After taking a sip of the amber liquor, he looked up to his friend. "Riza, tell me, what did Fullmetal tell you?"

She shifted in her seat nervously. "Sir... Roy, I have to ask you something first."

He raised a brow and nodded. "Yes?"

"What did you do to Edward?"

He blinked twice and left his mouth hanging slightly opened. "What did I do to Edward? What do you mean? I didn't do a thing!" he replied.

"Please, don't. Edward came here last night and told me he needed some time away from you. These were not his specific words, but I figured that was the meaning. I overheard most of your phone conversation with him, too. What happened between you two?"

"Nothing," Roy replied rising from the couch. "I must excuse myself, I have to go. Thank you for the tea, Lieutenant." He headed to the door, only to be stopped by Black Hayate.

Riza took the opportunity to grab his forearm. "Roy, whatever you do, consider your feelings. You are not alone, you have us."

Mustang stopped in the doorway and turned to face the woman who looked genuinely worried. He frowned and left without saying another word. Hawkeye looked at the blank door and repeated her words.

"You are not alone, Roy."

XXXXX

Edward and his brother looked over the many gifts Ling had sent from Xing - books, amulets, special alchemy knives and utensils, along with an ensemble of odd substances, everything very helpful for Ed's research. He asked the Prince to look for some goods and send them to him.

The package had a small letter attached to it, addressed to the older brother. He opened it and read it aloud.

Dear Edward Elric,

Congratulations on your discoveries and I hope you are closer to your dreams. Thanks to you and your brother, I am closer to mine than ever. As promised, I found what you have requested from me last time we spoke and I look forward to hearing from you about your research.

Call or write me soon. You are so unreachable that it really makes me wonder how you can be so well known in your country. Nevertheless, I hope I shall see you again, my friend, and do not forget that the Empire of Xing is also your ally.

Please salute you brother, that nice lady friend of yours and her grandmother, the doctor, all our fellows from Central and North and General Mustang. I wait for the day our states will collaborate under his and my command.

Until then, your faithful friend,

Ling Yao

The letter was written by Ling's own hand and this simple fact emphasized their relationship. Edward and the future Emperor remained friends and swore to help each other. Indeed, the words were meaningful and almost playful, so like the black haired Xingese. Black hair like...

'Shit, not again,' Ed cursed. He was so not going to cry over the stupid General. The man did not deserve a single thought after what he dared to say to him. It hurt like hell to hear his venom, to see him as he never imagined he could, as a cold officer with no respect for anyone but himself. No love for those who loved him back. He had never been so selfish.

That was not the Roy he knew. And cared for. Deeper than he should have.

'Like hell I'll say hi to that good for nothing bastard!' he internally flared up.

Noticing how his brother was tormented by dark thoughts, Al perked up. "Hey, brother, why don't we see the birds which live in my former armour? They are so big and many... they are very cute! Come!"

Ed nodded and followed his brother to the garden.

XXXXX

"Wow, the meal was really good! Winry, you've gotten so better at cooking! You are amazing!" Ed said with a full stomach and a great grin.

The dinner was simply delicious and the atmosphere was relaxed. Seeing the good mood installed on Ed's face, Alphonse decided it was time to have a serious talk with him. After Granny Pinako went to sleep, he ushered him and Winry to the living room.

"Hey, brother, can we have a word?"

"Err, yeah? Why not," he agreed eyeing Winry, who fidgeted in her seat. "What is it?"

"Brother, Winry and I decided to get married."

Ed looked back and forth to Al and Winry, who both smiled like two idiots. Not sure what to say, he jumped and hugged them as a silent congratulation. He didn't trust his voice that much. He asked after a short break, "Well, when?"

"When what?" Al asked.

"Did love burn your brain? The wedding, duh!" Ed smiled.

"Soon enough... next summer, we'd want. Weddings are the best in summer," Winry responded, laughing at Al's face. "What do you say, Ed?"

"Nothing! My little brother and best friend are getting married! I am just too excited for you two! Why didn't you tell me earlier?"

Al looked at his fiancée. "We wanted to tell you in private. Granny was very happy, but we didn't know about you. We wanted your opinion."

"My opinion? You know I will always support and love you, Al! And you too, Winry. I love you both, guys, you know it."

XXXXX

That night, Edward couldn't sleep. He never saw the engagement coming. He was happy for his brother, alright, but a bit jealous. A person who lived half of his life in an empty suit of armour was getting married before him. With their mutual best friend. Fate was a cruel bitch.

Trying to cool off his head, he went to the bathroom to take a long bath. Undressing hastily, he plopped in the hot water from the bath tub and engulfed himself in the pleasant heat. Thinking of unicorns and giant spiders, he played with the water like when he was younger. He missed the feeling of freedom, away from the problems of the world.

Relaxing, he remembered the discussion with his commanding officer. A very unpleasant event, really. He felt guilty that he got the charming young man in such a volcanic state. He would probably never admit, but he enjoyed the other's company. He found that out after the many nights they spent together working on different projects. He cared for the other's wellbeing.

He never wanted him to be hurt.

Sensing an extra wave of heat, Edward looked down his body. Many goose bumps accumulated on his skin and he looked flushed. A slight erection pooled in his groin.

He groaned. "Well, damn... let's say it's been some time, right?" he told himself, trying to ignore the fact that his previous thoughts brought him to that state. The mind had its own ways over the body.

He took himself in his flesh hand and pumped lightly, his body starting to ache. Moving his automail arm from his side, he covered his mouth to prevent a moan from escaping. After all, he did not need to have his brother worried by the sounds coming from the bathroom at three in the morning.

Speeding up and shivering more, from cold or maybe something else, he let his mind get blank and wander. In its emptiness, the image of the hated charcoal mop of hair and fiery black eyes appeared out of nowhere, making the hormonal blond even more excited. He thumped his head on the side of the tub, wishing the image to fade away. But it did not.

He needed something else, anything to cloud his mind. He did something uncharacteristic for him, something he found surprisingly pleasant if didn't think too much of it. Edward slid his metallic fingers to his bottom and slowly circled the tender skin. He wanted to scream over his act, but the sensations were far more important. He thrust a finger in, then two. He ignored the horrid coldness of the automail and the terrible stretch, he was too lost. He pushed himself down on his fingers and up in his hand. The friction was blissful to say the least.

Biting his lips to prevent any sound to get out of his mouth, he groaned as he brought himself closer to climax. Up, down, and back up. The image returned, making something in him snap.

Black hair, black eyes, white skin, thin smirking lips. They were all over him, in his mind and soul.

"Shit... ugh, Roy!" he moaned between his clenched teeth as he let himself go. He immediately sunk in the now cold water, hoping to disappear. "Damn it," he cursed, his mouth barely over the surface.

Back in his bedroom, Edward continued to curse all the Gods he knew and especially his stupid mind for letting Roy in. Why did he have to think of a man and, of all the men, Roy Mustang? To hell with his feelings! He did not want to feel anything for the other! He was a bastard who... who he cared for.

Why and how it happened, he had completely forgotten.

XXXXX

On the third day after Edward's departure, Roy received an urgent call from the Eastern command, where he was needed to solve some problems. He was not very excited about the job, but if it was an order, then he was more than pleased to execute it.

In crisis of escorting personnel, because he could not possibly leave the Central to someone he didn't trust, meaning Hawkeye was out of the question to walk him around, he decided to travel with Major Alex Louis Armstrong, who would eventually travel to North to collect some military goods from his older sister, Olivier.

The job at the Eastern Command turned out to be the most lame and stupidest possible, but the incompetent who was in charge of the headquarters as a temporary replacement for the regular commanding officer proved to be the most useless idiot that there could be. Roy solved everything quickly and then visited his sick friend from the Eastern Command, currently resting at home. He and Lieutenant General Andrew Sherman, the new commanding officer in the East, were good friends back from the Ishbalan war and they both shared the same ideals. He as well complained about his subordinate, whom he had to restrain not to hang on a daily basis.

"Don't worry, Lieutenant General," Roy assured him, "I will make sure the headquarters will be in good care while you are sick. So get better soon, I have a lot of work to finish with you!"

Sherman laughed at his eager colleague and shook his hand. "Sure thing, General. I cannot wait for our future collaboration."

As promised, Roy let Grumman know about his request and he complied with his protégé's request. He allowed Sherman free hand to choose someone better for the duty.

And so he did.

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Edward said his farewells to Winry, Alphonse and Granny. He congratulated the young couple once again for their engagement. He jumped into the train wagon and fell asleep soon enough, chewed up by thoughts about his brother's happiness... and Mustang.

The previous night was still vivid in his head. He rolled in his bed all night long and cursed the moment the General popped up in his mind. That diminished his ego and it was entirely that lowlife's fault for giving him so much trouble.

He was so confused... Nevertheless, he fell asleep on his suitcase in the train.

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The train station in Eastern City was as crowded as ever. Thanking his lucky stars for Armstrong's massive physique, Roy literally swam his way through the crowd. The Major was about to embark in his Northern train, but he offered to show Roy to his. They waved their salutes and went their separate ways.

Even though it was October, the weather was still warm for that time of the year. The overheated station determined Mustang to take off his long overcoat. Most of the people panicked at the sight of the shining stars on his shoulders and backed off, allowing him access.

Grinning to himself, he took a seat next to the window in a remote wagon and stared at his surroundings. He opened the book he held in his pocket and started reading.

"Can we be of any help, General, Sir?" some enlisted men asked. Roy raised his eyes from the book and mumbled a very dumb "Huh?" before coming to his senses. Realising the question, he returned to his intelligent self and responded in an official tone "No, thank you."

The men looked at each other and the youngest of them said condescendingly, "Sir, shouldn't you be staying in the private cabins? It might be dangerous to seat here alone and-"

"Officers, I believe I have stated my intentions and I do not need to repeat myself. Thank you." Roy cast a dangerous glance at the enlisted men's slightly relieved faces and resumed his reading with a smile.

He received a few weird looks from the rest of the passengers in his wagon. Who the hell would want to travel with commoners when they had first class tickets?

By the stares burning holes in his forehead, he guessed it was only him.

A/N: See? It has more plot. Next, Roy will have to investigate someone from his past and Ed will try to get over his frustration. It sounds bad, but it's better than worse :D See you soon, and review! It helps a lot! Thanks for the support!