A/N: Mornin'! I'm so happy I got such nice reviews from you (but not many enough... *pushing my luck*). This chapter is longer and has some really graphic stuff going on, be warned.
Same warnings, same swears, same 'I don't own' blah-blah... Mention of future important original character. And, of course, some good old loving.
Anyway, on with the slaughter...
Chapter 5 – Poor Roy-Boy
Roy lost his composure. Alright, he was quite drunk, but he wasn't all that inebriated not to realise that Edward was kissing him. How could he miss that, when the heat was so exquisite and the sensation so enticing?
'What has gotten into him?' Roy asked himself, feeling his body quiver. He remained as still as a stone, hard like butter left in the sun. He was melting, truthfully. He shivered, his lips starting to respond to the little game. He realised he was taking things too far, he had to stop it all, to end that mistake they were making. He was the only one who could.
He had to stop it, yet it was so difficult. He didn't want it to end, never.
The raven haired officer mumbled into the kiss and was greeted by two hands which held him down in place. He shuddered under the different temperatures the hands exchanged with his overheated flesh. Blood was boiling in his veins, burning him from the inside.
He had enough of that- that incertitude. Regaining his strength, Roy twisted his captor's wrists in his hands and pinned them down.
"Alright, Fullmetal, you've made your point! Now, that is enough!" he admonished his subaltern, his inky black eyes rimmed with crimson red.
Edward jerked his hands free and pressed them to his chest, his neck blossoming bright red from anger. "Do you have no shame, you bastard? You dare to say you feel confused? What about me? I'm feeling so certain, I must be, because I don't start yelling for nothing whenever the mood strikes me! I do not insult or threaten everyone whenever I please, no, just all-mighty Roy can, you son of a bitch!" he shouted and violently punched Roy in the shoulder, sending him to the floor.
The older man fell on the carpet with a resounding thump, yet he did not make a move. He just kept on staring at the blond and his eyes stung, watching him intently as if he was prepared to jump and defend himself, to rip and maim.
Ed felt like a beast's prey, caged under its intense gaze. He pressed his hands deeper in the mattress, shaken and dazzled. He felt like he might burst in tears, but he continued to stand his ground. He was afraid to move forward. But he could talk, so that was what he did. "You push me around, you even dare to flirt with me and then what? I am so sorry, I forgot we have to consider oh-so-innocent Roy-Roy's feelings first, he is a delicate flower, after all! We cannot have him upset, right?"
He felt something raging inside him, making him forget all caution. The blond pushed Roy with his metallic leg and the other did not even flinch in his perfect stillness. Mustang was unmovable, paralysed under his surveillance. The chaser became the chase in the staring game. He kept his mouth shut and listened to his subordinate's voice, so low it could have been someone else's. "Just because you have been drinking, it doesn't mean you can fool around. You grew up an adult to make fun of people? You are disgusting, Mustang."
Roy gathered his wits at last. He was not a helpless animal. He was not to be pushed around. He struggled to say something, to riposte, but his mouth was no good, disconnected from his brain. "Huh?" he made, his head swirling. Damn, that hangover, it rendered him useless. He just couldn't put words together, but damn him, he had something to say.
Edward rolled his eyes and lowered his body to the ground. He kneeled next to Roy and shook his frame lightly. "Sleep that nasty hangover away and we shall talk in the morning. I am tired of this cheap game."
The blond got back to his feet and went out of the room. He slowly paced down the corridor to the guestroom he chose for himself and pushed the door open, only to be stopped by two cold hands grabbing his waist. He felt their iciness through his shirt, freezing his very core.
"Mustang, do you understand the word NO? NO MEANS NO! LET ME GO!" Edward yelled, feeling his body's temperature drop. The air was glacial around them.
"No means nothing and nothing means infinite possibilities," the response came, spoken in a very sober voice. It sounded too clear for how slurred his mind was. Roy was somewhat delighted to regain his ability to talk, but he didn't intend to sound so smug as he did.
"My, my, so poetical! I could fall for you! Get out of the fucking way!" Edward pushed the obstacle away, but the said obstacle was glued to his hips. He struggled to get free, yet he did not advance one single step.
Roy swallowed hard. It had finally dawned on him, the mockery. Ed would never mean such things, such passion he had shown him not so long ago. It would never be directed towards him, he understood. The boy only made fun of him and his temper. He boiled with rage for his drunken naivety. How could someone so righteous desire anything to do with him? He ought to be happy he got his support, he shouldn't have pushed him into such degrading acts. He was only a child, still wet behind the ears in comparison to Roy. He would only become soiled if he touched him.
Yet he could not help being selfish. "Oh, shut up, Fullmetal! There are other millions of people on this damned planet beside you and they just do not give a single shit about your sorry ass! I've put my fucking career in danger for an idiot who did the most stupid thing in the history of stupid things and that's the recognition I get? You consider yourself some sort of victim, but you are no better than me, you insolent brat," he said and let go of Edward's waist with a sudden jerk. The blond lost his balance and fell, nothing supporting him from behind.
Roy stormed downstairs, descending three stairs at a time. He clenched his fists, barely containing the pumping wrath that was twisting in his gut. He stopped to shout what he had in mind. "Now I totally mean what I've said about the court martial, Fullmetal! Just watch me!"
Edward slowly got up from the floor. He screamed profanities on his way to bed and continued for some time. 'Screw that man! That is what I get for showing I care? I gave up the arm that I have worked so hard to get back just to help him, because he said he needed me, and he repays me like that? I did not cry like this when Al lost his body and I'm crying for... for... God damn it, I hate him for this! I hate you, Mustang! I hate you!' he repeated in his head, again and again, until he fell asleep on the pillow, soaked in tears and shame.
Roy stayed up all night. It was not like he was hurt by the way things escalated, he tried to convince himself. But he knew it tore him apart, little by little, fibre by fibre. He could have shut up, let things flow in their natural course. He could have stopped himself from making advances on Ed, but he didn't.
All his life, he could have done certain things, but he ignored them. He listened to the pride and rage battling inside his head, pushing him to destroy and alter. He could have listened to his professor, but he didn't. He wanted to be known. He could have stayed away from the military, but he didn't. He was a dreamer. He could have helped people with his talents, but he didn't. He saw higher than the ordinary folk. He could have stopped killing the innocent, but he didn't. He wanted to climb to the top. He could have changed so much, but he didn't.
He could have been cleaner, but he wasn't. He was famous, he had a vision, he saw beyond the meagre view, but he was on top of a pile of corpses. He was dirty, impossible to bleach back to the time when everything in him was beautiful.
That was his price to pay.
Everything could have been different, if only the voices in his head muted and died away. It could have been a nice evening, him and Fullmetal drinking a late coffee together and talking about their golden times. About alchemy and future projects. Some insidious looks, lips curved in certain ways, some careless words with no real meaning... just the usual way. But no. They needed some more fire to their already fragile relationship. And why the hell did he brought up the human transmutation, when it obviously hurt the other?
He didn't flinch when Fullmetal left the house a little before Hawkeye came to pick him up. He was too lost in accusing himself. Riza sneezed and he didn't even register the sound, his mind screaming to him.
Being able to cut with a butcher knife through the air around her superior, Hawkeye dared to ask, "Sir, is everything alright?"
Just a few moments before, she had seen a fuming Edward rushing without really noticing her and she instantly knew something was off. He never looked so narrowly when he walked, he always saw what was happening around him.
"Yes, of course, why wouldn't it be?" the General answered with a glare. He looked presentable as always, his mouth forming an elegant smile, though his eyes betrayed him like they weren't his. They were terribly cold, the frost burning those who chanced a glance.
She was right, she must have been, otherwise why would Roy look so down? Something was very wrong, but it didn't look like she would get anything from her commanding officer.
"Let's go, Lieutenant, we have plenty of work to do," he said and led the way to the car.
That day, Roy worked more diligently than ever.
XXXXX
"Why, good morning, Mister Elric! Usual room, hm?" the man behind the counter asked. He was a kind middle-aged man who worked as a receptionist for the hotel Edward usually slept at. He didn't have the stability needed for an apartment and it was far cheaper to stay at a hotel than spend money on a house which would be most of the times empty, similar to his appointed dormitory, where he slept only when his brother visited.
"Yes, thank you, Sir. Put it in my tab as usual," Ed replied half heartedly and took the keys from the counter. He hurried to the room which was still full of his belongings. The room was always reserved for him, that of a loyal customer he was. He could say it was his home.
On the comfortable bed, Ed thought of possible causes for Roy's dangerously close death. Stabbed in the back. No, not painful enough. Shot in the chest. No, too fast. Drowned. That was too fast. Incinerated alive. Better! Oh, the irony, burning the Flame...
'Who am I joking? I've gone too far last night and I must have acted on instinct, right? I never thought I'd do such a thing... to kiss that bastard, what was I thinking? But does it mean that those are my instincts? Jumping on him and stuff? And he says he's confused!'
He shook his head. "Die, bastard" he murmured. "He should stop drinking, it messes with his head. And mine, too."
XXXXX
Roy read some old files on some undercover missions his state carried in Drachma. Major General Armstrong sent him some classified documents with her brother, her kindness determining him to think the woman finally accepted she had a thing for him. It didn't matter that thing might get him killed, it was still something. He smiled, remembering some of the more private moments they had while she was stationed in the East when he was just a fresh trainee. They were friends, no matter how much she struggled to deny it. That's why he existed after all, to constantly remind her they were friends.
He turned his eyes back to the papers. Sheska was kind enough to let him in the files room without questioning his motives, just as always, so that he could get some research done.
Research, he did, but nothing interesting popped up. He read about some General who sold secrets to misinform the enemy, about a team which infiltrated the Drachmann military and similarities, but nothing was related to what he was looking for. He had a hunch he knew whom the Fuhrer asked him to find. It had to be somewhere.
"Hold on... well hello, handsome!" he exclaimed, tapping a file. It belonged to a light haired man in his mid-forties, rather good looking and with wonderfully deep clear eyes. In the small black and white photograph provided by the file, he had a rigid face and not a single wrinkle, despite his declared age. It was an old picture, he no longer looked like that, Roy thought as he thumbed the pages.
He was a former undercover agent in Drachma who turned tables after making a horrid mistake against his state. He had fled the country many years before. Roy knew what it was too well, the man, his name, reputation and crimes. He was the prime suspect on his list. Scratch that, he was the only suspect. Anyone else didn't matter, no one. What he was asked to look for wasn't a threat to the country, but to himself.
The Fuhrer sure had a way of making him cut the loose ends with his past.
"I hope you have missed me, because it will be such a pleasure to burn you with my own two hands," Roy vowed to the tiny photographic paper and continued investigating the said man's entries. They were scarce, so few that it made Roy think his target merely assured the others he was still alive and kicking, nothing more. He had some good pride in him.
Later that night, Roy left the files room and retrieved the keys to the bespectacled lady officer. After thanking her for the sustained help, he went home to spend other many hours thinking of a good plan. Bloody old man Grumman, how he had smelled Roy's intentions. The Grandpa wasn't his mentor for nothing, they thought just the same.
It was time to surpass the Fuhrer's expectancies once again. After all, he wanted to be the next Fuhrer, he had to make sure nothing got in his way. If getting rid of his past got him there, he wasn't about to withdraw.
XXXXX
"Sir, the Fuhrer is requesting for your presence in his office," Hawkeye announced the following day, struggling to halt her sneezing session. Her health has only gotten worse since the previous day. She hoped she was going to regain it soon, she didn't need a cold at the moment. She left the office to retrieve more papers.
Roy nodded and continued sorting the papers on his desk. His men raised their heads and watched intently how he messed the desk and rearranged everything on it, just to mess it up all over again. He continued to find himself something to do for at least twenty minutes.
"Err, Boss?" Breda spoke from the side of his desk. "Shouldn't you be going to the Fuhrer? Boss? Hey, boss! BOSS!"
Mustang looked surprised at his trusted subordinate, eyes unfocused. The image of a certain sharp shooter woman popped up in his head and it was enough to drag him out of his state. If he could, he would have jumped over his desk to reach the door faster.
In the very moment he laid his hand on the doorknob, Riza opened the door. She backed out slightly to allow her commanding officer more space to get out and do his job. Blowing her red nose with a handkerchief, she made a mental note to make a call later that day. Very later that day, to be more specifically, as Roy had found his Working Muse and she suspected he would be staying quite late at the office.
'I really should talk to Grandfather and ask him to stop giving him such exciting jobs. It's enough I have to babysit him, last thing I need is to have him injured by some stupid ideas!' She sighed deeply.
Mustang had a way to find the worst possible ways of solving a problem when he enjoyed his work too much. Because the only moment when he worked so hard was when really bad things were about to happen. She hoped it was nothing too dramatic.
At exactly ten o'clock that night, she managed to drag herself out the office to the telephone room after she had kicked Roy's Working Muse and sent him home with a pointed gun. She had had enough of his relentless diligence.
'No, no, a public phone would be better," she thought and left the headquarters. She found a remote cabin in a back alley and dialled the number she usually typed when she felt lonely and needed some good old fashioned advice. The person on the other end of the line answered soon in a guttural voice. "Yes?"
"Oh, Christina dear! How are you?" Riza said in a cheerful tone. Way too cheerful for a woman who threatened people with a gun on a regular basis.
"Elizabeth, is that you? Why, I am fine, thank you! Such a pleasure hearing from you, my lovely girl. Spit it out, I want to hear everything."
"Well, you will not believe how lucky I got!" Riza exclaimed, rolling her eyes. That was the drawback in using public phones, she had to use codes.
"What, tell me!"
"I am going out with Ronnie, ha, ha!" the blonde giggled girlishly.
"No way! I am so jealous, you always get the best of them," the voice from the speaker teased.
"I know! It is so great, right? I have got to get prepared for the date, call you later!"
"Yes! You must tell me every detail about it!"
Riza hang up. She blew the hair form her face. 'She will know what to do about him.' She nodded at her reflection in the glass. She getting lucky enough to get a date with Ronnie meant, in the office's coding, that Roy was neck-deep in shit. Because no one went out with him unless there was a serious problem.
She sneezed hard, getting dizzy from it. 'Seriously? I cannot get a cold at this moment, damn it!'
XXXXX
A few hours before, in the Fuhrer's office
General Mustang opened the door to his supreme commander's office, a huge room with a huge desk and huge decorations. The room was all about grandeur, everything was all but small.
Grandiose as the office was, ever since the day Grumman styled himself as Fuhrer, it looked more like a cosy Grandma living room, with couches and armchairs, smelling of freshly brewed coffee and vanilla. On the fire place, he put little colourful vases that contained perfumed flowers, most of them artificial. Their leaves were shining in the electric light, polished with wax. He added little porcelains kittens in various positions and shells for a subtle touch. Next to them, he put an awkward looking statue of a horse- that's what the majority decided it was. Not even its owner knew for sure what animal it depicted because, in certain angles of view, it resembled a zebra or a cow, sometimes even a goat. It was only a matter of perspective.
One of the corners was fully occupied by a tall cactus which he said it reminded him of the East. Roy never saw any cactuses in the Eastern area, but maybe he did not look properly. However, the green monstrosity was nothing compared to the other decorations. The walls were crowded with huge oil paintings of dead nature and animal chases next to the portraits of some random persons, all so distastefully combined in what could only be described as a colourful cacophony. Though they were far more decent than the tapestry underneath them, which had a light shade of pink with flowers motives and stripes.
Not to mention the curtains the old man so tastefully changed, coloured in a deep shade of green. He said he wanted to make them look more patriotic, as their usual dull grey simply did not awake any country-loving feelings in him. Green was for Amestris, green as a swamp. The one thing the old officer forgot was that when light was filtered by dyed cloth, it changed its colour. The curtains made his office successfully look like a serene jungle.
The only decent part of the room was its middle, where a modest chess table stood humbly. That must have been a slip from the old commander, its simplicity sticking out like a sore thumb.
Roy blinked a few times to accommodate his eyes with the overly decorated surroundings. 'These things have nothing subtle in them,' he thought as he remembered the time when his mentor told him he wanted to add an insidious touch of originality to the plain office.
It had nothing to do with subtlety, but he had to admit it held a unique touch. Too unique for his taste.
"Hello, General! Glad you made it!" Grumman said from his desk, waving his hand.
"Pardon my tardiness, your Excellency."
The old man snorted. "Hah, cut off that kissing up attitude, Roy. Say, did you find anything?"
"Yes."
The bespectacled man looked over his round glasses and smirked. "I knew I could count on you, boy! So, do I get a report? I hear you are overly fond of them, my granddaughter says."
"Not too soon, I am afraid. The spy is dead to the world, from what I have gathered."
"But you know him, right?" Roy nodded. Grumman smiled like he won the grand prize. "Fine, Roy, take your time. You know you have free hand, just try to clean up after you finish."
"Thank you for the permission, Sir," Roy replied drily.
"No, don't mention it. I have a wild guess who this fellow might be and if I am correct, I hope he will get the shorter stick of the deal. If it is whom I suspect, you have all my support. After all, we are partners in crime."
"Don't talk like that, Sir! Who knows who might be listening?" Roy said, feigning a scowl.
"Who cares?" Grumman smiled. Like he gave a damn if someone listened. The horrid decorations were not there just because he liked them so much he could not live without them. They were specially designed objects which made the room completely soundproof. The Flame took good care of them along with their mutual friend, Fullmetal. They had spent a few days transmuting the paint to absorb sounds, but it turned out just fine. And so colourful.
Roy chuckled. "Indeed, Sir, but you can never be too cautious."
"You go be cautious, I will be taking full responsibility of whatever imprudence I commit! Never mind an old man and his banter," Grumman said, his eyes telling a different story. He might have been far in his years, but he had a more youthful soul than most.
The General nodded amused. "As you say, Sir," he agreed and saluted with his right hand. The Fuhrer didn't return the gesture, he merely nodded. "Oh, Roy? Just don't get yourself killed, yes?" he said and returned to his seat. The alchemist hummed in response and turned to the door.
Of course he wouldn't.
XXXXX
Back in Resembool, Alphonse and Winry made future plans. They decided to set the wedding's day on the first Sunday of the next year's June. For some reason, that date sounded perfect.
"Hey, just a few months and I will be Misses Elric!" Winry giggled and lightly pushed her future husband's forearm. "That's so strange, huh?"
Al looked fondly at her and nodded. He was so happy to marry the most beautiful woman in the whole universe, or at least that was how he saw her. She was older than both brothers, yet she chose the youngest of them, the one whom she knew better as a suit of armour than as a flesh embodiment. He proved to be a very gallant young man, something which was not that hard to tell even when he was larger than a barrel. She liked him when they were children, so much quieter than his boisterous brother and far more polite. However, she had always imagined she would be falling for Edward, but future proved how wrong she had been.
Time changed her. She needed someone level-headed to cool her off, someone who had a heart for settling down. Someone who would want to start a family, not to run around chasing who knew what dreams and who practically asked to be hit on a regular basis. Edward was her best friend and she loved him well, but he had no spouse material. His choice of action after the Promised day spoke clear about him. His place was in Central, with the General and his team. He was a military man, even though he had no respect for the uniform.
Alphonse, on the other hand, was like an open book and she loved him just like that. He had run all his life, he was eager to take things easy and learn about living like a normal human being. He was warm and gentle, he had a heart of gold. He wanted to travel, to see what wonders awaited him, he wanted to feel them all. She couldn't wait to begin their journey through life, with everything that meant. She suggested they took vacations from time to time, for her to research new automail techniques and him to learn new types of alchemy, and he couldn't agree more.
That was all Winry ever wanted, she couldn't be any happier.
"Yeah," Al replied dreamily, smiling. Pinako entered the workroom and shook them out of their perfectly pink world. "Winry, remember we have clients! Al, let the girl work, didn't you have something to do?"
"Right!" they said together and both returned to what they were doing. Granny left chuckling. 'Oh, kids. Will they ever grow up?'
Winry resumed her work at the prosthetic. "I thought of something. I think Ed should be our best man. It'd make sense, right?"
Al turned the page of the book he was reading. "I think so, too. Brother will be happy! He will definitely accept! I just wonder who we should choose to formalise the marriage... I cannot think of anyone we know, though... I wouldn't like a stranger."
"Me neither... but who should we ask?" She paused her work, leaving the wrench float in mid air. After some pondering, she asked, "Do you think the General would accept to do it?"
XXXXX
Edward entered the reading room in the National Library to get some research done. It was an agreeable place, with many couches, coffee tables and ferns in pots. He especially like those plants, they were perfect to pluck their leaves out and occupy his hands with while he was reading.
He took a seat in his usual spot and started reading until he heard some hushed voices coming from the shelves of a faraway bookcase. He sneaked behind a big flowerpot to catch some of the discussion. 'I am so lucky I'm sma- argh!' He gritted his teeth. He had almost called himself small, it was inexcusable.
The conversation was hurried. Two men were talking, he noticed. He listened for a while and realised he knew those voices. He moved to see the faces of the persons speaking.
"I am telling you, General, it might be dangerous," Armstrong whispered, comically hunched so his head wouldn't stand out over the bookcase. Roy waved his hand, saying there were no risks. "I have to do it, Major. I will bring him to justice. He hurt my family. His family. He will not stop before he knew it's all gone."
"I know, Sir, but are you sure you want to do it? We can find other ways."
"No, I want to do it. It is my duty, Alex, I have to pay the toll for my past," Roy said with familiarity, preferring to use the Major's given name. "Please thank Olivier for her help, I owe her big time with this. Though I might not be able to repay her, knowing how she is so in love with me," the raven head jested.
"I wouldn't say that, if I were you... But about my sister, she insisted to tell you that it must be the first time you did something useful in your life. Sorry, her words, not mine."
Roy's onyx eyes widened mockingly. "Really? The Terrible Ice Queen? What happened to her? Did the age soften her? Oh my!" he joked.
"Sir, don't forget she is not a lot older than you are, not much older at all," Alex made a dangerous look, also surprised by his sister's kindness regarding their superior. It was common knowledge that the two hated each other to the bone, but she had her moments of incertitude.
"You know it is impossible to remember the age of a person when she wants to murder you with a flowerpot." Mustang's grin widened. He recalled how Major General Armstrong threw a blue flowerpot at his head and wished him to become impotent. They were still in the academy and she came as an exchange trainee to the East during his first year there.
For the life of him, Roy could not stop making fun of her every time they saw each other and she never missed the chance to respond. Reminding her of how she almost dated a transvestite way back in the academy drove her over the edge. He mocked her to no end after he heard the story. It was a well-guarded secret, as the woman had her pride and made sure the "man" who so nicely courted her got the fitting punishment for making her look bad, but nothing was enough guarded for the two best friends, Roy and Maes, who knew every single gossip since the formation of the state. They shared the camp for a short period, but they were savage when it came to blackmail material.
It was enough for her to think something for them to know it. That is how he was almost killed by that flowerpot.
Mustang smiled fondly at the memory and moved closer to the wall, getting past Edward's safe zone. The blond shivered but stood still, as he knew any movement could blow up his cover. Fortunately, the two officers haven't noticed him yet.
"Anyway, I have to ask you a favour, Alex. Under no circumstances should Fullmetal find out about this. Can I count on you?" Roy demanded with a tint of worry.
"Oh course. You can count on me, Sir, whatever your reasons are," the massive alchemist promised behind his yellow moustache. "Nothing will reach to Edward Elric."
"Thank you very much, my friend. See you later, then. Send my best regards to your family when you can, especially that nice sister of yours. Also, tell her I dug up some other things from her glorious past. Oh, I cannot wait to tell her. Delicious, I am telling you. Just delicious!" An evil line curved on the General's lips.
"Fine, Sir, but I advise you to postpone your intentions for a while. It would be a shame to be killed by her rage before you reach your goal."
"And to stop living with the thrill? No, thank you, Major! I have other plans," Roy chuckled and patted Armstrong on the shoulder. He left the library followed soon by the other.
Edward lifted from behind the plant, wondering what they were talking about. He understood Roy got some sadistic pleasure from jumping at Armstrong's older sister's neck, but he did not get who was that "him" who "hurt my family".
Who hurt Mustang's family? Why was it so important to keep it a secret from him? He needed to find out, curiosity ate him from the inside.
XXXXX
Chris Mustang, better known as Madame Christmas, took a deep drag out of her rose scented cigarette and watched the smoke dissipate into the air. Roy's aunt and foster mother, she returned to Amestris to rebuild the bar she blew up as a diversion sometime before the Promised Day. With her reputation clean from any doubts of treason against the state, she brought back the working girls and resumed her information network, well covered by her legal business.
The other day, Riza Hawkeye called her under the fake name of "Elizabeth". "Christina" was her own identity. Though it was not necessary to talk like that every time, the team continued to use the old code names to keep up the charade they created over the years. They never knew if their messages were being intercepted by someone too curious for their own good.
Chris was not stupid, not by any means. She was a sharp woman and a fine observant, just as she taught her dear Roy to be. She adopted him after her older brother and sister-in-law were killed and she raised him to become a good man, as she often said. She caught some uneasiness from her foster child the last time she saw him and Riza's call only confirmed it. Something was bothering him and whatever it was, whoever made him feel like that was going to pay dearly for it. Not like she didn't suspect what the cause was, but nonetheless, a good informer such as her had to do some research before jumping to conclusions.
She called Roy on his office phone in the afternoon and asked him whether he was up to some poker. Happy to change the scenery and to be able to shift his thoughts from the many problems he had, he accepted the invitation and headed for her bar.
There, he was welcomed by many sweet glances and lustful looks. He smirked nonchalantly and took a seat at the bar. Madame Christmas smiled, the love for her boy clear in her eyes. "My, my, our best customer. Cared to pass by and see this old lady at work?"
"Heh, I never would have guessed you were so desperate for my attention, Madame. Long time no see."
"Indeed, it has been a while, I though you have forgotten where you come from."
"How could I possibly?" he said and squeezed her hand gently. She clicked her tongue, approving of Roy's behaviour. She had taught him well. "Well, say Roy-boy, what do you want to drink?"
"A droplet of water in a bottle of whiskey, Madame."
His aunt raised her curved brows. "What is with this language, young man? I most definitely do not recall rising you this bad mannered! My whiskey is the best in Central!"
"Of course it is! On the rocks and as double is can be, would you mind, dearest darling?" He kissed her forehead and moved to a table where he recognized some old drinking buddies.
Not before long, Madame Christmas and two girls joined them and a heated poker game began. Just as usual, everyone declared bankruptcy, everyone but Roy and his aunt, who both wiped the table clean of chips. Their fellow gamers promised to win the next time, but they all knew it was impossible to beat those two. Chris was the best at poker in Central and Roy learnt how to play it from her.
It was late at night when the Mustangs moved to a remote booth. The woman's sly features softened ever so slightly as she lit up one of her floral cigarettes. In an elegant manner, she gestured with her smoking hand while talking. "So, Roy, how is your life, my boy?"
"Well, same as usual, Madame. Papers, papers and Elizabeth trying to kill me," he replied jovially.
"Very well, she does. Get her hitched, already!" she punched softly his arm. "When will you gather your wits and ask her out?"
He cracked a smile. "She is taken as usual, that is".
"Oh, I see..." She tilted her head on the side and gave him a knowing look. "Did you set your mind on someone else, sweetie?"
"Not my kind. You know I will not settle down too soon. Be realistic, Chris." He shook his head, his black bangs moving in a circular motion.
The woman reclined on the backrest. "Really? How about that Blondie of yours, the one you are so fond of?"
"Excuse me?" he asked and coughed for good measure. His aunt sometimes knew too much for his taste.
"Tell me, my boy, how do you see that little subordinate of yours?" she asked and took another drag from her cigarette.
Knowing all too well who she was talking about, he retorted without giving it a second thought. "Fullmetal is a valuable ally and a good strategist, but too impulsive and reckless. Why?"
She smiled. "You should see your face, you cannot look me in the eye." She hooked a finger under his chin and pushed it up, making him lift his gaze from the glass he was holding. "Did I hit some sensible cords, pretty eyes? Don't lie to me, Roy. My sources tell me otherwise. I hear you hang out with him a lot more than work requires."
Roy pulled his head back. "I do not know about your sources, Chris, they might be getting rusty and I think-"
"You think nothing. My poor little Roy-boy, you are still so blind, even after such a long period since you recovered your vision. I wish you were more honest with me. If not with me, be with yourself. Elizabeth tells me you have been awfully down for the past few days, what happened?"
"Nothing," he stated. "There is nothing, I have been absorbed in work, that is all."
"If you say so, but I hear you had a fight with that boy of yours. He left your house crying, I gather. I didn't raise you like that."
"Madame, what is the point of this?" Roy asked, feeling his patience snap. Chris could not simply mind her own business when it came to her adoptive son. He did not want to hear what she knew about him.
"I am just trying to make you see, my boy," she started. "You are my flesh and blood and I love you like my child, I just want you to be happy. But you continue to make yourself miserable. You might not show it, but you are becoming weary before your time, Roy. You used to look much younger than your age, but you are getting old too fast. I don't know what makes you so down, but try to work it in your favour. For me, please my dear boy, stop looking at everything but what is right in front of you. For me, Roy, if not for you." She shook her head saddened. "For this old lady who raised you, please be happy."
His onyx eyes avoided her deep blue orbs. He could not reply to such a request, when the person who made him look forward to the following day mocked his feelings. He could not.
"What do you mean?"
"You know what I mean, you are smart. I wish I could protect you from the world, sometimes. I never could protect you as I should have."
"Chris, it's not your fault. You always took care of me."
She tapped her cigarette on the crystal ashtray. "I hear you have to deal with some spy of sorts," she deadpanned.
The sudden shift of subject did not go past Roy, but he ignored it. He nodded and took the heavy lighter from the table. He rolled it in his palms, still tasting the tobacco on his tongue even after all those years since he stopped smoking regularly. He knew that if he lit another cigarette on his own, he would end up setting himself on fire like he tried to when he was on the front and he was burning people alive. He sometimes wished he could internally combust, be consumed by the fire he produced with his hands. He never told his Aunt about that and dear her, she had never asked. He never told her about the fire inside his heart and how he sometimes hoped to burn.
He sighed. "Yes, it is the latest headache."
"Sounds like an acquaintance of ours." Chris crushed her cigarette in the ashtray a little too hard.
"If you would only know, Madame."
"Oh, I do. I am sure you will take care of it," she said, a smile adorning her painted lips. She drummed her long red nails on the table and rose from her seat. "Remember what I have told you earlier, Roy-boy."
She left him in front of his half-empty glass of liquor to face his sudden burst of emotions.
XXXXX
Roy's home phone rang angrily, vibrating on the low table. It shook so violently, it might have fallen off if he hadn't caught it in time. He oozed out of the bed and answered the call. "Mustang."
"Good morning, Sir," a stifled female voice spoke in the speaker. "I hope I am not disturbing you."
"Lieutenant, are you alright?"
"I am, but I caught a terrible cold. I have high fever and I cannot get in good terms with my nose. I am terribly sorry, but may I take the day off, General?"
Roy scratched the back of his head. A day away from the threatening gun he always had at his temple, it sounded too good to be real. "Of course, permission granted. Take care of yourself and return as soon as you feel better."
"Thank yo-ACHEW! Sorry, Sir, the cold got the better of me."
"No problem. Keep in touch on your condition. Goodbye, Lieutenant, take care of yourself!"
"Thank you, I will. Goodbye, Sir."
'Great, who is going to drive me now? Argh, worst time for a cold, Riza, especially when I am in the enemy's finder.'
It was going to be a long day, he knew it.
XXXXX
Edward searched through the military personnel documentation for Mustang's file. It had to be somewhere around there, he had been looking for hours. 'There you go! Let's see what skeletons you have in the closet, bastard.' He rubbed his hands together and opened the dossier.
Orphaned since he was a little child, Roy was raised by a close sibling. That was all that wrote about his family. 'What the hell? Even I have a more detailed biography!' Clearly, the military files were not the place to search through. Visibly impatient, he paced back and forth in the ink-smelling room.
Curiosity devoured him alive. What was so important to be kept away from him? He kicked a pile of books with his flesh foot and they fell to the ground. A single book opened and a note fell from it. He picked up the little paper and read it. The words were written in a neat script and they were disgustingly sappy, but he knew someone who communicated like that.
That might be useful, but he had to see someone he was not sure he wanted to see. He could give it a try, at the very least. How bad could things go?
XXXXX
Roy walked to his office, as his house was close enough to the headquarters not take him forever to reach. He didn't bother to take his own car. The weather was too beautiful to waste gas for something like that. It was no longer raining and the wind was pleasantly warm for an autumn day.
Work was slow without his precious assistant. He had absolutely no determination to sign the papers he was given by the red haired woman who temporarily replaced the Lieutenant. She flirted and flew her eyelashes at him in obscene ways to get his attention, but his mind was too far away. His mind was on his secret mission.
Who was he trying to fool, it was not on anything related to work. It was on his aunt's words from the previous night.
'Consider my feelings and try to be happy, really? Why is everyone saying this to me?' he thought as he took a sip from his coffee. Damn, he missed Hawkeye's miraculous coffee already. The red bitch, she forgot to add the milk.
Five utterly boring hours passed totally eventless and Roy almost fell asleep on top of his papers. A soft knock on the door woke him up. The red witch entered and he felt a vein pop at her sight.
"General, the Fullmetal Alchemist is requesting to see you. He says it is urgent."
'Fullmetal?! What is he doing here?'
XXXXX
Less than an hour ago, Edward figured out what the note from the book meant. It sounded like a love letter, but in fact it was a message to Grumman. It was definitely Roy's, as the code was very similar to the one he used, which consisted in either female names or eternal love testimonies. The text which resulted from his code cracking was a bit shocking, as he did not know anything about the mission that was mentioned there. It must have had something to do with what Mustang asked from Major Armstrong. If so, he was getting closer to the heart of the matter.
He looked again at the note and then put it back where he found it. He thought of what he read, words playing in his head like a broken record.
Found River. Mission on process.
XXXXX
Roy quickly arranged his hair and straightened his uniform. He did not want to look like he was about to dose off, especially not in front of Edward, who entered with a paper bag.
"Hey, General bastard! Heard you were Hawk-less and though to come by and annoy you. Wow, that's a shit ton of work!" He pointed to the small fort of papers on the desk.
"Yes, it is inconvenient, but I will survive. I hope," Mustang replied and smirked. It was a somewhat pleasant surprise to have the blond alchemist in his office, considering he threatened him not longer than three days before. He was too curious to see what Ed had up his sleeve. He definitely wanted something from him.
"Yeah, yeah, pity. I have nothing to do today, so do you want help with the reports?"
Roy's eyes twitched in pure ecstasy. "That would be more than welcomed."
"Fine, but let's grab a bite first. I guess you didn't eat lunch, so I brought something."
"I didn't eat for breakfast, never mind the lunch. Fullmetal, you are a life saver," Roy made, his mouth watering. He sounded pathetic, he knew, but he was too famished to care.
"Whatever, shut up and come here to eat."
Ed put the paper bag on the coffee table and unpacked the food he had bought from a nice restaurant nearby. They ate silently, sometimes exchanging some dull comments about weather and other simple things.
The temporary secretary came in after knocking and stared at Edward, who was laughing with a mouthful at an unknown joke Roy made. She noticed they were eating and she felt like tearing the hair out of her head. 'You mean he refused to eat with me just to have lunch with that little snot?' she fumed and put the papers she brought on the already full desk.
"Sir, those are all the papers for today. I was announced that there are many who took a few days off, so you have less reports," she said in a high pitched voice.
"Fine, thank you, Second Lieutenant. I will look on them and call for you when I finish," Roy said and dismissed her with a nauseatingly brilliant smile.
She nodded and left, her high heels clicking obnoxiously loud.
"Wow, you dismiss like that such a woman? You must have some loose screws up there in your head or some hottie next door, General," Ed bumped his elbow in Roy's shoulder. They started laughing and Roy almost choked.
"I don't know what to say, Fullmetal. Maybe, maybe not." The blond made a disbelieving face and raised his brows suggestively like he knew very well what Roy meant. In reality, he had no idea, or he declined most of the possibilities. He did not want to make himself suffer for nothing.
Edward proved to be very good at faking signatures and helped his commanding officer to finish the mounts of formal paperwork. He was surprised that the woman brought him so much paperwork at once, he never saw Roy having to look over so many reports. He guessed Hawkeye brought him the same amount, but at a certain interval of time. So she could check up on him. That was smart.
Their triumphal last report was signed a little after six in the afternoon. The two alchemists stretched in their chairs and began gathering their things. The red haired Lieutenant took the papers away and excused herself.
"Sheesh, what an annoying woman. Why does she look like she wants to kill me?" the blond scowled.
"Maybe she didn't like that you have spent the whole day here, when she could have molested me with her advances. I always hate it when Hawkeye is not here because I have to be harassed by that woman," the brunette suspired.
Ed rolled his eyes. "Poor you."
"Yes, poor me. By the way, Fullmetal, do you care for some late coffee?"
"With you? Why would I?" Ed crossed his arms.
"How should I phrase it... my explosion from a few days ago was the most unfortunate, you know that wasn't exactly me, I would never shout at you."
"You shout at me all the time, Mustang," the blond reminded him.
"Well yes, but I never meant to offend you. I have precious little memories of what happened, but I remember I was unnerved because of something. And so were you. You can call it a reconciliation coffee, if you want. It is the best coffee, they say! How does it sound?"
He tilted his head. 'Did he just apologise? So many surprises today... maybe I can get him to tell me what I shouldn't hear about,' Fullmetal thought.
"Fine, bastard, a coffee sounds great. But this time, try to remember not to put milk in it."
"Alright, I will try. But some milk would do you no harm. Who knows, you might grow a little more... or did your puberty end? Oh my, how children grow..."
"You truly want to be killed in your sleep, don't you?" Ed threatened. Roy looked at him and smirked. "You wouldn't."
"Give me one more reason and I will."
XXXXX
Roy made a pot of coffee and poured it in two large mugs, adding some milk in his. Despite the very late hour, the two of them made a habit out of drinking their coffee together late at night, at Mustang's house.
The brunette measured Edward with his eyes. 'Fullmetal seems a little too intent on having my company... What do you have in mind, you little runt?' Mustang stirred the liquid to melt the sugar and brought it to his subordinate in the living room.
"There you go, no milk whatsoever."
"Thanks. So, how is your life?" Roy regarded Ed funnily. "My life? Err... same as usual? I don't know, I have not thought of it. Why?"
'What does everyone have with my life and feelings? I am not some little girl who cannot handle emotions, damn it,' he though annoyed.
"Making conversation. By the way, how come you didn't give me any missions? All your team is busy with something and I have nothing to do. That means you have some secret thing going on," Ed stated bluntly. He was in no mood to beat around the subject.
"Who knows?" Roy took a sip from the black drink. "Maybe we do, maybe we don't."
'Is he for real?' Ed fumed. Roy really wanted to play with fire, it seemed. It was high time he pushed his luck, he was not going to get anywhere if he didn't. "Hey, Mustang? I thought a lot about our fight," he said and looked down at his mug. "Do you remember what you did?"
Roy flinched. "As I have already said, only vaguely, but yes. Just the main events," he lied. In fact, he recalled everything. He did stupid things when he got drunk, but he remembered them all. And if by chance he forgot something, there was always someone to remind him.
"I wanted to tell you something I have been considering for a while. It is embarrassing, but... well, I meant the... you know. Last thing before we both went on a rampage. It was nice," Ed spoke truthfully. He wanted to get closer to the older man, but he was not sure if it was the best course of actions.
Roy didn't say anything, he just sipped on his coffee. 'Oh, so that is your plan? That is dirty even for you, I thought you had more spine than that.'
He might have had those thoughts, but it didn't mean he was not glad to hear he was wanted.
The blue mug in Roy's hands was put down on the table in front of them. Edward approached him on the couch and stared in his depthless pools, so black he could see himself in them. Without a word, he closed the distance between them and kissed him. This time, none of them pulled back. They just stood like that, lips pressed together, letting the time pass.
Roy raised a tentative hand and cupped the youth's chin. He deepened the kiss, his tongue gliding slowly between the two awaiting lips. The intrusion felt strange for Edward, but he didn't voice his complaints.
He was starting to feel something igniting inside his chest. It was warm and pleasant, so unlike what he had envisioned. He tried to remind himself he only came to find out what was being hidden from him, but to no avail. He was falling in his own trap and he was falling hard.
Roy shifted them so he would be on top of the smaller frame. He caressed the boy's cheeks and neck, stroking the heated flesh. He provoked the blond with gentle nips, rolling his lips between his teeth. Edward responded, returning the slight aggression with more straight-forward bites to his tongue.
They battled for dominance, none of them willing to let go. Roy allowed himself to enjoy the little game, carefully exploring the wet cavern of his newfound lover. However, the older won the war without too much struggle. It wouldn't be fun without a fight, he mused. To have the most acid person in his arms, he deserved some resistance.
They rolled and fell on the fluffy carpet on the floor. Lips still connected, they touched each other's bodies, craving to feel more skin being exposed. It was a small taste of heaven, or more likely of freshly brewed coffee. Roy brought his hands under Ed's black top and took it off. An automail arm ripped off his shirt and threw it on the other side of the room, buttons flying all around them. They were panting hard, looking in each other's eyes with very different looks. Roy could only be amused by how confused Fullmetal seemed to be under him, like he had no idea what he had just done. He captured his mouth again, wanting to taste him more, to know his weakness and feel his pleasure.
Sensing the flushed youth struggle with his sturdy belt, Roy smiled in the kiss and let him slip from his arms. He extended his neck and laid a gentle peck the other's nose. "Impatient, aren't we, Fullmetal? Never knew you had it in you."
"Shut up and just open it. Now," Edward demanded, his ears turning crimson red. He felt like he was on fire and he thought he might explode if he talked any more. He was beyond embarrassed by his behaviour.
Not being able to deny such an order, Roy forced his own belt open and unzipped Ed's pants just as soon as he was finished, getting the offending cloth out of the way. He wanted more and more, but he felt like he might choke if he took another bite of that ripe fruit in his arms.
The blond was breathing hard, his chest falling and rising irregularly. His head was swimming, the room was rotating with him and it did not help to have his neck nipped by a far too bold mouth. It moved to his already perked up nipples and teeth grazed one of the buds. It felt so strange yet so good for all the wrong reasons, he wanted to disappear and experience more of that at the same time.
He had to say something, to stop what they were doing, he realised. That was not what he had planned. But his mouth betrayed him, words telling anything but what they ought to. "Argh, cut the teasing already, I might fall asleep!" he heard himself say and started to see red.
"Really? I cannot say I see you bored, but fine," Roy whispered in his ear and gave a lick to the lobe, more interested in what they were doing.
He knew it was wrong, touching and desiring more than that from his subordinate. Damn all the rules, he should take whatever he wanted, he deserved a little gratification. He slid Ed's boxers down to find him painfully hard, the veins in his cock pulsing angrily.
He smirked and gave the hot flesh a squeeze, eliciting muffled moans from the blond who covered his mouth to stifle the sounds.
"Hey, I want to hear you... you sound so sweet, Edward," the General purred in his ear and assaulted his neck. The smaller man jolted in his pumping hand and grunted when the skilful tongue left his pulse and felt it go lower. He didn't want it to stop, it was too good, too sinful for it to stop. "Argh!"
He bit the inside of his cheeks when he felt some hot pressure on the tip of his arousal. It was more than he had ever expected, he didn't know what to make of the sensation. He had to look down, he had to see. The image between his legs was the most enticing he had ever laid his eyes upon in his life, it was surreal.
Roy licked sloppily around the proudly standing appendage and moved his head to kiss the interior of his hips, lower and lower, till he got to the automail barrier. He placed butterfly pecks on the scars till he felt a hand tangle in his hair.
"Stop it... argh! No! Ahhh...!" Roy returned to his need and took it swiftly in his mouth. He bobbed his head up and down a few times, lazily rolling it with his tongue. The fingers in his hair tensed and he was suddenly pushed into an alert rhythm, desperate for release. He took him deeper and deeper in his mouth, playing along.
"Mhm, oh God... Argh, Musta- ngh, Ro- ah!" Ed incoherently moaned, closer and closer to his climax. The warm seal on his aching groin disappeared and he grunted at the loss.
"Not yet, Edward. Not yet."
Roy moved his attention to his partner's swollen lips and tangled his tongue with his. He brought his right hand to the half opened mouth and played a little with the rosy lips. He twisted and pinched them until they were painted in red. He kissed them one more time and them he pushed his digits forward.
Edward, not really knowing what to do, licked the fingers. It was surprisingly pleasant to do it. He breathed harder, the golden in his eyes barely visible from the implication that hand held. It was suddenly getting real.
When he was sure he had enough of that little play, Roy replaced them with his mouth in another smothering kiss. The fingers trailed a straight line over his chest and stomach, teasing the teen to no end. He purposefully avoided his erection and went down to his arse. He encircled the ring of muscles and pushed a single digit inside, waiting patiently for the worst curses he ever heard in his life and maybe a punch.
Strangely, Edward did not show any discomfort and it made the General really wonder why. 'What are you doing alone, little Fullmetal, thinking of someone special perhaps?' He stroked his insides and added a second finger, testing the waters. A little frown formed on Fullmetal's forehead, signalling some faint pain in his back. 'Aha, there you are! So you did not do it with anyone like that, it is foreign to you,' Roy thought smugly and repeated the motion.
He inserted another digit, deciding it was enough. He wanted to play more, not to loosen his lover too much.
Edward almost bit his tongue when he felt the new intrusion and cursed, his head turning backwards and his eyes opening wide. It was getting more and more intense, he thought he might snap his own neck if he didn't control himself. "Fuck, damn," he grunted.
Roy rocked his fingers inside his younger partner and moved his other hand to his chest. He absently played with one of the nipples but he didn't make too much of an effort. It seemed the blond was not resenting that sting.
He knew he hit Ed's prostate when the little body stiffened and curved his spine. "There, do that aga-ARGH! Roy, you...!" Mustang withdrew his fingers and liberated himself from the tight confines of his pants. He would have waited more, but it was too tantalising to resist. Opening the creamy thighs wider and positioning himself at the entrance, he remembered to voice his concern. It was the right thing to do, he supposed, not that it mattered. He was going to be hit anyway. "Are you sure it is okay? I have no lubricant, so it might hurt," Roy said unconvinced, still waiting for something to blow up in his face.
Ed opened his golden eyes with a look that screamed bloody murderer. "Are you mad in the head, Mustang? Screw pain, if I didn't want it, I wouldn't be here, un-ARGH! Shit, that hurts! Easy, idiot!" he shouted as Roy slowly pushed in, taking all of his will and determination not to pound in that tight hole. He let the smaller man adapt to the intrusion for a moment and then pulled back, leaving only the tip inside. The heat was mordant, he had to stop before it was too late.
Ed whimpered at the sudden loss and moaned when the large dick found its way back in him. Roy paid no mind to the blond's swears and started going back and forth in a slow pace, taking his time. There was no need to rush.
He hit again the bundle of nerves that made Fullmetal scream and rammed in it again and again, withdrawing ever so slowly. Edward patted his back desperately, signalling his desire. Nails sunk in his flesh, scratching and drawing droplets of blood.
"Faster, Roy! Fa- oh God! OH!" he mewled in an unearthly need. 'Damn, I should so not enjoy this...'
"No need to call me like that, my name is enough, you know?" Roy jested, getting a metal punch to his cheekbone. That was the only certitude he had anymore, that he was going to be hit sooner or later.
"Shut up, Mustang, and focus on what you're doing," Edward averted and motioned for the elder to move.
Roy chuckled, the sound rumbling in his chest. He sped up, driving Edward mad with overflowing lust. He grabbed the forgotten throbbing cock between them and pumped it in time with his precise thrusts. Fullmetal became even more vocal, if that was possible, signalling his approaching release.
Mustang slowed down a bit to compensate with more force. He fully savoured the lingering sensation he felt in his lower body. 'Fuck... Ed, do your thing, I would hate to finish first...' He would never hear the end of it if he did, he would be labelled as an old man forever.
Like he was hearing his thoughts, Edward's muscles clenched and he spilled his hot load over their stomachs. He hit a spot on Roy's chin, the climax reverberating through his pores. Roy smirked and let a low grunt go past his lips when he released deep inside the tensed cavern, absolutely dizzy. Still panting, he kissed the teen raw on his parted lips and they descended from their high together.
They broke for air and stared in each other's eyes. For the first time in such a long period, Roy felt happy. He had someone important to him in his arms, flushed and gasping, and most importantly, very willing. The golden gem he treasured since he had first saw it, glowing in his darkest despair. He was not sure if what they did was real or was just a mere show of hormones and lust or perhaps a play to spill some secrets, but it made his slowly dying heart feel more alive than ever. Like the fire in the other's solar eyes melted it at last.
Edward could feel all his body aching. It was just too surreal to have his fantasies fulfilled by the man he set his eyes for so many years without knowing. He was the corner of shadow he desperately needed to hide from the sun.
'I know he does not mean it, but maybe... no, I need to find out what he is hiding. No feelings here,' he reminded himself, feeling ashamed. He knew he wanted Roy but he just didn't want to understand he was also wanted. Because he was not, he was certain of that.
The lack of reaction from the blond made Roy impatient. He expected something, like another punch or a kick or a spit, anything but those confused golden eyes looking anywhere but at him. He lifted Edward up, still deep inside him, and put him on a fairly high table. He caressed his cheek and placed a feathery kiss over it.
"Tell me, Fullmetal, why have you come today? You want me so much or is it just information you need me to say? I think you are being a little too curious for your own good, but do not worry – I don't spill secrets in bed," he said as he started thrusting again in the sprawled man, letting his mind drift to his darkest thoughts.
XXXXX
Roy jumped a little when he chewed some blonde hair and spewed it. Not the best way to wake up in the morning after a very wild night, but the still asleep man on his chest just erased all the doubts he had the previous night. He could see it coming, he knew Edward was going to sense something was off in the office, but he didn't want to endanger him. He was too important.
Though he never expected the boy would go that far. He sighed as he slid from the couch and went upstairs to dress for work.
Edward woke up soon after. He no longer had those strong arms around his waist, he felt a little cold under the cover that he didn't remember to see before falling asleep. It smelled like cooked bacon or some other meat. He looked up to read the clock. It was only six, the sun was barely visible on the sky. Roy couldn't have left for work, it was too early.
Indeed, he was in his bedroom in a very twisted position. "Where the hell are they?" he mumbled with some toast in his mouth. He was dressed only in his blue uniform pants and had just one of his heavy military boots on - the other was thrown in front of the door. "Aha!" he made triumphantly. He took a velvet package out of the nightstand and put it in his pocket. He put a white shirt on, lifted his forgotten boot and slid it on his foot.
Edward looked at him in disbelief. 'Is that man okay in the head or is he still asleep?'
"Hey, good morning, Fullmetal!" Roy greeted as he licked the fingers he had just inserted in a jam jar that appeared out of nowhere. He sucked them clean and then smiled innocently, wobbling as he tied his laces.
"Yeah, 'morning. What on Earth are you doing?"
"Getting ready for work?" Roy asked more than answered. He got past Ed and headed to the staircase purposefully. "Are you hungry? Let's eat something, come here!" he called from the stairs, voice cheerful and, to put it bluntly, eerie. 'What's with this mood?' Ed mentally questioned. He shrugged and followed the man downstairs, slightly uncertain of his feet.
The table was already set for them and hot omelette was in both their dishes. Roy made it after he put some clothing on, knowing the smell of food would shift the starved teen out of the dream land. It would have kept him occupied while he searched for the package he hid in his pants' pocket.
"How come you are awake at this hour? Don't you start work at eight?" Edward tried to make conversation.
"I should be earlier at work today. You saw that yesterday, with no hawk's eyes to watch me do paperwork, business is painfully slow," he lied. In reality, he was expecting some report about the Drachma situation from the Lieutenant and he wanted to be on time at the office. Her cold seemed to be a welcomed coincidence. His plan was in its final stage and nothing could ruin it, it was decided. Nothing.
"Roy?" Ed perked up behind his fork. "Can I ask you something?"
"Mhm?" the brunette made, his interest peaked. 'My, my, already on first name basis... So reckless, Fullmetal.' He nodded for him to start talking.
"I need to know one thing... Don't get me wrong, I- um, enjoyed last night and it was not planned, believe me, but I am definitely sure you are hiding something from me. Am I right?" Edward asked, fire in his eyes. The same fire he had when Roy first met him, it made the older man flinch.
"I am glad you enjoyed yourself," Roy stabbed a tomato with his fork and chewed it slowly. He looked very intently at his plate.
His speech was being completely ignored, he noticed. "You still haven't answered me." He was greeted with the same silence. He had enough of that. "You know what, Mustang? Let's do it your way. Who is River?"
Roy choked with his coffee and looked up with startled eyes. 'How the hell did he find out?'
A/N: So, that's what you get. Hate it? Like it? How do you find the story in general? Review/follow/favourite! It boosts me up!
And also lots of thanks to everyone who follows this story! Till the next time... ta-ta!