A/N: Mornin' here! How are you all?
New chapter here and I don't know what to say about it. It's more like a filler, I'm not sure if there's any plot development... maybe there is? I hope it will match your expectancies (or most of them). The next chapter will definitely have some real action, this time I was like 'Meh... everyone needs a break' :D I'm glad you liked Roy's backstory!
As per warnings, swears, Edward questioning Roy's sanity a bit too many times, some graphic stuff and... well, the ending... that's all you get for now:/ Oh, and I don't own FmA, I almost forgot.
So, please enjoy and leave me a review/favourite/follow. On with the story!
Chapter 7 – Care for Some Tea?
Edward returned to his room at the hotel. The receptionist said something to him, perhaps a salute or a reminder, but he didn't pay any attention to him. He couldn't care less about his surroundings, all he wanted was to sit down. His back hurt like hell from the previous night, that bastard definitely didn't hold back and he hadn't stretched his limbs that much in a long time. The temperature in his cheeks rose slightly at the memory and his back jolted in what could be described as pleasurable pain. 'Fuck... have I gone mad?'
No, he has not. He knew that the only honest thing about him was his body. The rest could lie to itself as much as it wanted.
He looked around the room. It was plain and had no personality. Blank walls, blue curtains, modest oak furniture and that was pretty much it. The bed stood beside a tall window, impractically put diagonally. One had to jump over it to reach the bathroom. It was quite a mystery how it had gotten there, almost in the middle of the room, when it was supposed to be against the wall, but it did not matter that much. He must have pushed it one night when he could not sleep and forgotten to put it back, it had that orientation for quite some time and the maintenance personnel never changed the order of his things.
That was beside the point, because Ed was too tired to move it, so he simply dropped on the soft sheets. The bed creaked under his weight. He rolled on the mattress, nearly falling off. He closed his eyes to welcome some short rest before he opened them wide.
"Shit, I've promised to call Al! Fuck!" He stretched to the nightstand and grabbed the phone. He dialled the number he knew by heart and waited. A worried voice answered almost immediately.
"Brother! Are you alright? I have been waiting for your call!"
"Mhm, I am fine, Al, I promise! I did not find any time to call you last night. Sorry, I was extremely busy," he assured his brother. Ed blinked a few times. 'I was busy last night? The hell did I say? Damn it, Mustang, it is your fault!' he mentally cussed.
"Okay, okay, you've gotten me worried, but if you say you are fine... How have you been, brother?"
"Fine," he replied absently. The elder felt blood boiling in his veins. 'Not fine. Not fine. Shut up, Edward, don't say anything.'
Noticing the long pause in his sibling's speech, Al asked, "Are you sure everything is okay? You can tell me, you know."
"Yeah, yeah, so far, so well. I was just reading some briefing on a mission Ro- Mustang gave me." 'Did I just almost call him on his given name? Stupid mouth, stupid, stupid!' He was so tired that he couldn't find enough the energy to lie properly and the bitter pain in his lower half truly did not help.
"He overworks you again? You should not accept that many missions, brother, I am serious! Tell him or I will have a word with the General! I mean, you don't even have the time to go out with someone, you are all day with him at work!"
"Neah, it is nothing. Whatever, how are Winry and Granny?" Ed changed the subject. Maybe he did not want to go out with someone... else. He didn't want to get to that thought yet.
"They are good. By the way, Winry said she will have your head if don't come for the holidays! You never spend them with us!" Al exclaimed. Well, it was true Edward hated the Winter Holidays and everyone knew it. He made sure to never celebrate them, he had been avoiding them for years. When his brother's soul was still attached to the armour, he would always find an excuse to skip attending any festive dinners or anything that had to do with celebrating. Now, that Alphonse had his body back, it would be nice to come and stay with him for a few days. He had managed to avoid the Holidays for a few years, but it seemed they were catching up with him.
"Okay, okay, but they are in a few months, anyway."
"Brother!"
"Fine! I will come! Sheesh, I am doing this for you, you know!" Ed gave up. Eating gingerbread and drinking coffee with marshmallows... It was so much fun, he might choke on it.
Only because the year was coming to an end, why did they have to celebrate anything? It was useless to celebrate for almost a month, in his most humble opinion, but he was talking to a wall when it came to explaining that to his brother.
"See? You are already getting in the spirit! The holidays are about staying with your loved ones and welcome the next year's spring. Good for you, brother, it took you some time!"
"Sappy, if you ask me, but fine. Al, if you don't mind, I will hang up. I have to go get ready for today, Hawkeye's sick at home and the bastard will most likely slack off work. Talk to you soon, okay?"
He blushed, there was no way he would go to work that day. He didn't want to see that idiot face he so gently touched and... 'WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH ME?!' he scolded himself, almost hearing his nerves screech.
"Yeah, sure. Don't forget to call, for a change!" Al averted, not sensing the conflict in Ed's voice.
"That's a promise. Kiss everyone for me, Al! Bye, love you!"
"Bye, brother, love you, too!" Al put the receptor down and looked at the clock. 'It is nearly eleven... doesn't he start work at eight? Last time he complained about paperwork, but maybe he finished with that and only goes there to help. Or he has gotten the day off and just goes to see what's going on...'
It was the first time he second-guessed Ed's lack of cooperation during a phone talk. He sounded, well... he did not sound like he usually did. His voice was more levelled and he did not argue as much as he used to about that winter's plans. Maybe he had finally grew up.
Maybe not.
Small chances.
He hoped his brother was as fine as he said.
XXXXX
The annoying replacement glared at the General. He has just come in and he was already flirting on phone! Of course, she did not know anything about his mission and that he, in fact, was speaking to a still very sick Hawkeye who wanted to make sure he was in one piece. She was not that trustworthy to be told, anyway.
Oh, how much did she want to say something about Roy getting extremely late at work, damn it! It was around eleven in the morning and he was supposed to get there earlier than eight. However, it would not do to comment on his tardiness. That was the advantage of being the boss - he had no need to justify anything to anybody.
The bad part about being the boss came soon, as he glared at the desk which was occupied by an overflowing pile of freshly baked paperwork, his favourite dish of the day. That was getting too cliché for his taste. 'I miss Hawkeye already, I never find this much work on the table when she is here... not in the morning...,' he agonised.
He sighed deeply and opened his lucky pen, the one he had received from Hughes at his graduation. The man sadistically wished Roy to sign as many papers as possible with it. Such vile words from such a kind person, they made him miss his friend even more. The pen had Olivier Armstrong's teeth carved in its metallic body. It was a long story how the instrument got those marks and he recalled it most fondly. It was impressive to think that the overly stoic Major General could do such idiotic things sometimes, but they all had been young and innocent once.
Roy curved his lips at the memory. He needed to remind his old friend and foe, as it was hard to determine where she resided, about the misfortunate event. She would make him chew his own limbs. 'Ney, it will be worse,' he mentally chuckled. It was not the time to do such thing, though.
Fuery gave him a few odd looks. He had to admit, it was interesting to see the always smirking General actually smiling sincerely. It was a smile, he was sure of it. It did not have its usual rudeness, it was somehow... pure. Clean.
The petite soldier stood up and walked to his commanding officer's desk. "Sir, Jacqueline called when you were not here. She said she misses you."
Roy looked at him with clouded eyes. "Yes, thank you. I will talk to her."
"Very well then, Sir." Fuery nodded and turned back to his seat. Mustang shook his head lightly. He remembered he had real things to do, besides talking with the voices in his head. He telephoned Havoc and played his usual role, the charming womanizer. He did not put too many thoughts into Jean's voice which was clearly not feminine. He tried to fake it, but he continued to fail with grace.
Roy always wondered why he had chosen to codify his knowledge and conversation into an almost whoring language, but it came so natural that he did not even need to blink to put it into practice. Anyway, he talked to Havoc and set a date with a woman for that night. When he ended the conversation, Roy patted his pockets to see how much cash he had at him. It was enough to make the date pretty plausible and maybe even pleasant.
He needed to buy some flowers, now that he thought of it. He wondered what he should pick up for the occasion.
XXXXX
Around six o'clock in the afternoon, Roy left his office. He did not bother to go home, he simply straightened his immaculate white shirt, opened a button to make himself look more casual and changed his trench uniform with a pair of black dress pants he kept in the office closet just in case. He ruffled his hair and put on some shiny black shoes. On his way out, he wrapped a blue silk scarf around his neck and hid most of it under his overcoat. He stopped to glance in the mirror he had insisted to put on one of the walls near the door and checked his appearance. He looked well groomed and very much civilian.
Perfect.
The alchemist was supposed to meet with his date at eight o'clock. He took his personal car and drove to a flower shop. He bought some huge white begonias, a tall yellow hyacinth and a purple and white iris, all surrounded by a few juniper twigs. The combination was surprising to those who did not know the language of flowers, but Roy knew their signification too well. Every flower he had ever offered, it held a secret message.
He took the nicely wrapped bouquet and paid the flower lady, who smiled at him. She was well into her sixties, with small hands and huge eyes. Despite her age, she was a beautiful woman, a former gentle child in a cruel world. She looked so good and kind - so few knew that she was part of the families that had served the Mustangs for generations, pretty much like in Armstrongs' case. Old families had all sorts of sources, most of them in the most surprising domains. The old lady had the ability to extract the truth out of the man and she knew how to keep a secret or hide the truth behind veridical lies. And she was great at procuring flowers that did not bloom in the season she was selling them.
Mustang smiled back and wished her a pleasant evening. He walked to his car and, as promised, he picked up his date from home at eight sharp. He drove to a nice restaurant downtown.
The woman had a fresh appearance, with green eyes and long brown hair. She looked stunning in her skinny black dress which cupped perfectly her generous forms. She let her white coat cascade on her shoulders, hugging her frame perfectly. She played with the flowers she was offered. "Roy, you are such a romantic... I love these, they are so beautiful..."
"My dearest Emma, they are nice, but you are nothing like them. You are more beautiful than any flower, more delicate and refined than any of their fragrances, but you will never wither as they do. Every day, you bloom more and more, when they can only die," Roy spoke lowly, in an intimate tone. He was getting so good at making compliments, it was ridiculous even to his own ears.
As expected, the woman caught the bait. All the cheap flattery hit the right sensible cords. She blushed prettily and looked down in delight. 'I am so good at it, it is getting boring to make them fall backwards,' he thought smugly. All he needed was to tailor his bullshit on the other person's needs and he got mindless idiots who fell in love with him in less than ten minutes. He continued to flirt and insinuate passion where there was none. He did not even feel attracted to her, she was just another one in an ocean of other ones. But business was business, and appearances had to be held in case anyone was listening.
The dinner was pleasant. Roy drove Emma back to her place and went upstairs with her. "Oh, Roy," she mumbled as he closed the door behind her. After a few meaningful looks, he lowered the hand on her waist and entered the living room like he owned the very air around him. "Sorry, Emma, but we have to get down to business right now." She nodded and gave him a small package.
"Of course, dear. Take care of this, Jacqueline had a lot of trouble procuring the material and processing it."
"Send her all of my appreciation."
"But of course," she said amused as she removed her brown wig to reveal her natural blond wavy hair. The green lentils were also moved away. She blinked her light blue eyes a few times and then laughed.
"So it was you this time? You've fooled me, little minx, I knew I have heard your voice before!" Roy smirked and kissed her on the right cheek. "Make sure your brother gets my message, will you?" She simply nodded and let go of his hand.
They headed for the back door. Before stepping out, Roy said, "Thank you for everything and congratulation on your engagement, Marie! See you and Jean soon." She chuckled and waved her hand goodbye before locking the entrance.
XXXXX
"Sir?" the replacement asked, drumming her nails on the doorframe. Roy sighed and lifted his eyes to see what she wanted. His head and eyes hurt as he did not get any sleep the previous night. He had been too busy to test the package he received from Jean Havoc's sister, Marie.
"Yes, Lieutenant...?" he made vaguely. 'What does she want this time? Stop that fucking tapping, you clawed bitch! Bloody thing, I do not even know her name! I think it is Miranda or something. Yes, definitely Miranda. Or Martha. Mara? Whatever!' He looked on a report on which she was signed. It clearly wrote Amanda Montrello. Same thing to him, she could be called however she wanted - that woman still remained exasperating.
"The Fullmetal Alchemist is here, General Mustang," she said and let the younger man in. She made sure to dangle her dubiously round bottom at her temporary boss. Roy smiled politely at her and cursed all the heavens for Hawkeye's cold. He was so close to strangling her replacement.
"What do you want, Fullmetal?" the older alchemist demanded casually. Breda and Falman were already taking a fleeing position, as they both knew that when their commanding officer started his speech like that, Edward would explode and none of them knew what would happen next.
"I doubt there's anywhere written that I cannot come to work, though mind you, you are the last person I wanted to see today. Do I have anything to do or I came here for nothing?" he said a lot calmer than he was supposed to be under those circumstances. Roy looked at the tray on which were written Edward's name and rank and pulled out a dossier. Ed took it and read it thoroughly. He tore a page and returned the dossier. He saluted his colleagues and left the room silently.
The small crew working from the couch gasped a few times. Even Amanda stood still. Roy noticed their reaction, but he preferred to ignore it. He was holding back a loud laughter, for Edward's forced pacing was hilarious. No matter how much the blond struggled, he still walked funny. He shifted his hips a little too much. The older alchemist was almost proud he was the main cause for the distress the other felt in his lower body. He must have been a little too harsh, that the discomfort did not go away even after two days from the unexpected night they had shared.
Maybe they should resume training together like they sometimes did when Ed was in town, so that he could work his muscles better, but he doubted anyone needed their inevitable mess.
XXXXX
Some long hours have passed since the last time Roy saw Amanda, Hawkeye's most wonderful replacement. He took a short break from the uninteresting job he was doing and mused on the wonderful silence in the office.
"Sir, I have the requested papers from Lieutenant General Sherman about the Eastern situation," the red head's high pitched voice announced from the door. 'Damn, woman, give me a break! Why am I the only one who ever works in here? Wait, I gave Edward a simple task. What's taking him so long?'
Not before long, Edward bounced on the hallway. He was headed for Roy's office to give his report. It was the most boring thing he could possibly do, searching through military records the entire day. He was sore from the lack of movement, but it was worth the effort.
Opportunistic by nature, the older Elric brother did not waste his day on lame army jobs. He did his assignment fast and then rummaged for anything he could relate to the Mustangs. Roy did great with explaining him about his family. His description was flawless and very accurate. "My mother and father died when I was little, I don't remember a thing." - that did not help.
But Edward was not a stupid person. Not by any means. He had heard once that Roy's parents were murdered and now he said it like what happened came naturally. If it was natural, it meant they were expecting it. No matter how much of a mess the country was at the Promised Day, until then, it has been overall quite peaceful. So why were they expecting it? The few theories were all concentrating around the sudden death of the older Mustangs... Mustangs... 'That's it!'
After the discovery, he'd spent most of the time he had in the secret files room to rummage through documents about a family which was not even declared existent before Roy entered the academy. Sometimes, they were there, sometimes they just vanished. It was like Roy was born out of nowhere. But there was Madame Christmas, a certain sibling. So things had to be related to her, too.
On his way to the office, Ed reconsidered all his leads. It was interesting and fishy that he didn't find anything compromising. Maybe that was the most eerie aspect of the equation. He stopped and opened the heavy doors in front of him. Roy was at his desk, completely alone. Edward was paid no attention, so he simply threw his report on the coffee table in front of the couch. Without lifting his head, Mustang asked, "What took you so long, Fullmetal?"
Was it that obvious? "The files room is quite a mess, it was hard to search for anything in there," Ed lied.
"Really? I always go there and immediately find what I need." The General tilted his head and smirked. "Maybe it is harder from your point of view."
"Is that a joke about my height? Fuck you, whatever, I am out of here." The blond pushed the door open. Roy could not move his eyes from the slim silhouette, it was almost intoxicating to look at it.
As if he felt those burning glances, Ed turned his head. "What are you staring at, old man?" On his face, there was a large grin.
"You," came the reply. Rising a brow, the younger alchemist said a bit unsure, "You know... I am kind of hungry... are you hungry too?" It was worth the try.
The General muffled a crude chuckle with the back of his hand. "Why? Are you worried about my health?"
"As if! I don-" A loud growl came from Roy's stomach. The alchemists burst into laughter. "Yeah, I guess I am hungry. But I don't think the cafeteria is still open at this hour."
"It is not that la- yes, it is too late." Ed opened his silver pocket watch to read the hour. He was no longer afraid to look at it, the reminder carved on the inside of the carcass was not a painful memory anymore. His family was back to normal, his brother was in his original body and his mother reencountered their father in dead. Morbid as it sounded, he knew it was for the best.
"I have an idea. Are you up to some dinner in town?" Mustang offered.
"Why would I come with you in some shadowy place? Are you out of your mind?"
"A little, I don't know. I know a great place, quite cosy. You'll like it, I am certain. They have good food and lots of nice faces around there." Roy nodded to make his point.
"You truly are a goner, but whatever, if you pay, I don't mind shady." Edward crossed his arms over his chest. 'It will be interesting, going out with him... we used to do it quite often before- well, just before."
"It is settled, then. Give me a moment, I have to gather my things. See you in five minutes?" The Elric waved a hand in agreement and rushed out of the office. Roy drummed his fingers on the desk and stood up. He put his pens in their case. He grabbed his coat and closed the light behind him before leaving the office.
It was quite an experience to have an early dinner with Edward, or a late lunch, as it was a little after six o'clock and Roy rarely ate anything before ten o'clock in the afternoon as he never seemed to find the necessary time to do so. Surprisingly, the atmosphere was not as awkward as the blond imagined it would be after their little slip. They acted like old friends, perhaps a bit more than just that, considering that Ed blushed fiery red whenever Roy made an inappropriate joke or simply touched him by accident, but they could fairly pass if that was overlooked.
It was not the first time the two alchemists went out together, but definitely not under the given facts. The General struggled to hold down his laughter as he saw the other fidgeting in his seat and the other prayed to resist the urge to punch him in the face. It was almost hilarious, as the Flame suggested to eat at his Aunt's club, very stylish and comfy, but full of people Roy knew nearly too well. Especially his dear foster mother, who did not waste a second to tease the youth or place an interpretable remark. Ed had the feeling the two Mustangs were complotting over something he really did not want to hear about.
When they have arrived at the club, a pretty girl saluted Roy with heavy-lidded eyes. Instinctively, Fullmetal hid his face behind his bangs when the woman smiled at him.
"Hello, General, a new one? So little and cute, where do you find them?" She made sure to emphasize the 'General' - everyone knew how proud the man was about his rank.
Edward just wanted to jump at her throat and snap it a bit for being called small, but his superior smirked at him and replied defiantly, "My, my, don't give me away, ha-ha!" He then turned his eyes to the rest of the people in the club. He dragged Ed after him and stopped to talk with some other women, very beautiful as well. After some chatting, he asked with a charming smile, "Ladies, have you seen Madame Christmas?" They giggled and showed the way for him and his friend.
The two men took a seat at a private table, hidden behind a classy paper screen. A pale light danced on the plum coloured walls. "So... why did you bring me here?" Ed gathered the courage to ask. It was awfully awkward to be taken out after what they did two nights before... it was not like Roy, because he had always expected that the older man was not the kind to go out again with someone whom he had slept with. Not to mention he did not quite understand why he was taken to his Aunt's club.
"No reason," Roy replied. "Just some nice dinner. The cuisine is great here, by the way."
"Say something else and that will be the last thing you do, Roy-boy," a deep feminine voice spoke. A tall plump silhouette came next to the table, the scent of cigarettes and sweet perfume following her. The woman winked at Roy, who in turn grinned at some unknown joke.
"I wouldn't dare, Madame, but about my death – you should get in line."
"Boy, do not scare an old woman like me with these things! Oh, hello to you too, Edward. How are you, my dear? I hope you are good." Madame Christmas smiled at Ed, who nodded his head sheepishly.
Okay, he vaguely knew who she was, but how could she recognise someone she had most likely never seen, especially in that dim light? The woman continued to smile and asked what they wanted to order. "Surprise us, Aunt, if you say you have such good services."
Blowing some floral scented smoke, Chris retorted, "You are lucky I am fond of you, else you would have flown through the window by now, son."
"Lucky me," Roy said and protruded his lips. The older woman snorted and cast a conspicuous look at the blond alchemist. "You two be nice till I came back, yes?" she averted and left.
"What the...?" Ed mumbled. Roy put his head in his palms and looked into the wonderfully confused golden orbs in front of him. "My most wonderful Aunt, Chris Mustang, widely known as Madame Christmas."
"I know who she is, but how the hell does she know me?" Ed furrowed his brows. Roy curved his lips. "I see..."
"Damn, you Mustangs have something screwed in your heads, both of you! Can you for once not find a double meaning for everything?" Ed scolded.
"No. Anyway, everyone knows you. But, of course, she also has her ways, my dear Aunt."
Ed made a face. "I don't know why I am bothering to talk to you."
"For food?"
"Most likely."
XXXXX
The food was delicious, alright - Edward had to give that to Madame Christmas. Her club was not that renowned for nothing, after all. Like a good host, the woman came to his most loyal client's table when they finished eating and asked, "How did you find the cuisine, sweeties?"
"Great, as always," Roy answered without taking his eyes off the other alchemist. Chris chuckled. "Never lose your touch, do you, General?" The black haired man jeered. "As you taught me, Madame," he winked.
"Very well I did, so do not let me down."
"But of course."
"My, my, that is gonna be a feast."
"Can't have it other way, ha-ha."
"That's my boy."
Edward stared at the two siblings who were making no sense to him and wondered what on Earth they were talking about. It was a complete mystery to him and it was most certainly not about how great the cook was. He heard Roy and Chris were very close, but to talk like that to each other? It sounded so... intimate, somehow. It was all too strange, they were too strange. Everything was queer to him.
They continued to mumble double-edged words, not minding the teen's confusion. It appeared he had found from whom Roy learnt how to play with one's mind.
"Alright, boys, I will let you be, for now. You better behave, Roy."
The older man smiled and tilted his head condescendingly. He raised his glass of wine and toasted with his confused partner for the eighth time that night.
XXXXX
Marie Havoc took a sip from her coffee. Great coffee, she thought as she read a long letter she had received from her fiancé, Harold Abrams, a fairly known doctor specialised in general surgery who was currently attending to a seminary in Xing. The state financed many of his projects and he was allowed to participate for free to different conferences all around the globe. Regardless of his young age, he was considered one of the best surgeons of Amestris.
Ling Yao, the future emperor of Xing, was kind enough to pay all the expenses for his short visit. Everything was done with Roy Mustang's help, who was the linking bridge between the two nations. The General never forgot the help he had received from Jean, Marie's brother, so he supported the Havocs as much as he could. And, of course, making trades of any kinds, especially intellectual, with the recently declared allied state was a huge boost to his image. Having a powerful empire's aid, he was proving what a great Fuhrer he would make when Grumman retired.
Suddenly, long fingers blocked her vision. She bit those hands and the intruder immediately backed off. "Ouch, Mar! It hurts!"
"Jean, you moron, how many times do I have to tell you to stop scaring me like that? You are so immature, how can you be older than me!" she clamoured. Very bad habit, frightening people with sharp teeth.
"Yeah, yeah, as you say. How are ya, sis?" Havoc asked brushing off some rebel strands of hair. He took a seat next to her and smiled at the waitress when she came to take his order. The café his sister had chosen was really nice and it was even better that he could smoke inside. He glared at the letter. "Ah, Karl wrote you?"
"His name is Harold! Is it that hard to remember?" she growled. She understood her brother was not overly fond of his future brother-in-law, but to purposefully mistake his name? That was a bit over the line.
"Whatever, I hope Harry does well at the conference." Marie rolled her eyes and gritted her teeth. Jean was asking for it. Badly. "Yes, H-A-R-O-L-D does great at it. Forget it, I did not call to brag about him and how great he is when you are a total idiot. You are making me look bad in public."
"Now, now, is that so? And I thought I was your brother!"
"So what? In Xing, brother and sisters kill each other in order to attain a better position for their clan!" She gestured widely and shifted dangerously on the chair.
"Oh, shut it! I know how those people are! I have protected one for some time!"
"Yeah, and that almost got you both killed! You are useless!" The waitress came with an espresso and placed an ashtray on the table. None of the siblings noticed her and she would have gotten her hair burnt by Jean's cigarette if she had not backed off in time. She narrowed her eyes and left them be.
"Like you are one to talk? By whose help did he get there, hm?"
"His own! You should shut up, it is not my fault you cannot keep a girlfriend! You are jealous of me because I'm getting married and you're forever single!" She folded her arms.
"I don't have one because didn't find the right one! At least I did something for this country, I'm not some bitch who licked everyone's boots to get her job!"
"Bullshit, I am a great pharmacologist and you fucking ran away from the front when you had the chance!"
"I had to, I was fucking injured and paralysed! Like you'd know how that is!"
The Havocs continued arguing vehemently. They forgot their surroundings and almost punched each other in the face. They both jumped out of their seats when some mysterious hands patted their shoulders. With huge eyes, they watched the said intruder take a seat at their table.
"Jean, Marie, glad to see you getting along as usual," Riza Hawkeye spoke in a low voice. "You are not attracting any attention at all."
"For God's sake, Hawk, you've scared me half to death!" the former Lieutenant mumbled with a half burnt cigarette in his mouth. He shook his left hand and covered it fast with his right, trying to calm the burning sensation of the ashes that had fallen on it when he had jerked.
"I am so glad you've made it! How are you, Riza? Feeling better? How is your cold, sweetie? You've drank the tea I gave you, right?" Marie asked, panting lightly from the shock.
"Yes, thank you very much, Marie. I have to feel better or Roy will die drowned in reports before I kill him for not doing his job," she replied casually. The Havocs smiled sheepishly and laid back on their chair's backrests. It was not the best moment to start a fight with the blonde officer.
"We are both happy you are back in shape."
"Thank you. I am also happy the fever subsided, I think it will snow soon and it would be a shame to miss the Winter Holidays because of the flu." She tapped her fingertips on her chin, thoughtfully.
"I cannot wait to stay with everyone around the fire and drink mulled wine..." Jean said dreamily, playing with the ash that fell off his cigarette. He had forgotten his hand stung.
"It will be great. Harold already sent me my favourite flowers, white begonias, yellow hyacinths and irises! Can you believe it? He never forgets how much I love them. Oh, he even remembered I like them with juniper!"
"He is such a romantic, you wouldn't think he cuts people for a living," Jean commented idly. He still didn't like the man who was taking his sister away.
"Yeah, it is nice you have found him. I wish you all the luck in the world, dear." Riza smiled and squeezed Marie's hand to show her support. The other woman returned the gesture of her friend and closed her eyes thankful.
A few hours later, Hawkeye excused herself and left the two siblings alone. When she got home, around midnight, she mentally replayed the long conversation she had had with the retired soldier and the pharmacologist. No matter how tough she wanted to look, Riza was very attached to her friends and wanted to protect them. After all, they were all risking everuthing for the same goal. She made a mental note to check on the General the following day, when she returned to work after her short absence. "I bet the office is a mess, don't you also, Hayate?" She played with the fur of her black and white dog which jumped in her opened arms.
Holding her beloved pet in a loving embrace and patting its bicoloured head from time to time, she seated on the couch and opened an overused book. It looked miserably, covers faded and pages yellowed, but it was as useful as ever. The book was called 'The Miraculous Botanic World' and she had received it as a New Year's gift from Roy. He wrote on the first page a dedication in his small, straight script: For the only flower who had survived the flames, a charm to bloom again in the cold snow. Roy Mustang. Next to his signature, there was drawn a small red horse holding a rose in its mouth.
She opened the book with the precision of someone who had read it more than a few times. 'There you are.' She took a notebook and noted the key words from the conversation she had had with Jean and Marie. After compiling the names she had heard, Riza scribbled what the flowers Roy bought meant.
'Sneaky as always. I wonder how no one ever noticed how oddly he combines what he offers.' Of course, the message was not only for her, it was mainly for the former soldier who was in charge of strategic supplies, such as weapons, ammunition, maps and whatever they needed to accomplish their missions. Still, she needed to know her commanding officer's situation.
What Roy sent through the bouquet was a little alarming. Half was about River, whom they lost trace of a few days ago. The Iris did not pose any problems and it was most probably put there to make the floral arrangement more colourful. It showed 'hope'.
The white begonias signified 'worry'. That was not good. It meant it was dangerous that he dissipated into thin air and it was certain that he would strike when they were not expecting it.
The worst of all was what the yellow hyacinths transmitted, 'jealousy'. Not the feeling itself was the problem, but the colour. Yellow was Edward's hair colour and they used it to signify they were talking about him. It clearly stated that the alchemist found about the operation and he wanted to be a part of it. And that Roy had the situation out of his reach. The juniper was the tree of 'protection'. Edward was also in danger. It was not clear what the danger was, if it was just some stupid thing the alchemist accomplished or it had to do with Telford Mustang. The colours of the flowers explained that other things got involved too. Hawkeye could only fear what those things really were.
She needed to talk to Roy.
XXXXX
"No, that's how it happened!" Fullmetal assured his superior. The alcohol made his feet feel heavier than they were and he clung to Roy's coat in a firm grip to maintain his balance. The two men were laughing at a stupid joke. The evening went a lot better than both of them had expected.
After the talk with Madame Christmas, they started debating about life and death. The discussion got deeper till the moment they drunk a few more glasses than they should have. They left late at night, holding hands boldly when they reached a shadier part of the city. Anyway, the streets were empty at that hour, so they could do anything, for all they cared.
"Tell me, Ed, would you like to repeat this one of these days?"
"As if," he smirked and stumbled on Roy's feet. "Easy, don't mess that pretty face of yours." The raven haired officer pulled him up.
"No need to call me that to make me go out with you, git."
"So, is that a yes I'm hearing?" Mustang hugged the other's slim waist and gingerly pecked the top of his head.
Ed looked up at him. "How does it look like?"
Lost in each other's eyes, the two kissed deeply. Gasping for air, as the embrace was suffocating, Ed whispered huskily, "But no alcohol this time. It makes us do stupid things."
"I agree. Let's get you home," Roy offered. Seeing the doubtful look on his subordinate's face, he added, "No other meanings, Fullmetal. I am not that much of a bastard like you see me. Not entirely."
"Well, sometimes it is better to shut up, Roy." Ed let go of the Flame's hands and ran into the night, leaving the other alone. A sincere smile crept up on the General's pale features.
He forgot about the coldness outside. Inside, he was feeling warm. He stopped regretting he had pushed Edward into that sinful act. Why, he hadn't pushed him into something without his consent, but now he was sure it hadn't been a mistake.
He walked to his house, too big for a sole person. He returned to his dark solitude and waited for the morning to come and take his worries away.
XXXXX
"Good morning, Sir. How are you?" Hawkeye asked Mustang when he entered his office at quarter to eight, far earlier than usual. Relived that he no longer needed to see that sorry excuse of a replacement, Roy retorted, "What a pleasant surprise to see you back so soon, Lieutenant."
"Figures." Riza shook her head disapprovingly. "Unfortunately, you will not have the time to show me how surprised you are, Sir, because you have a lot of work to do. However, I've noticed you did your job while I was away."
"Well, I survived. So, what do we have here?"
Hawkeye eyed her commanding officer. He looked somewhat... happy. That was the word. He was too happy for the given hour.
He had so many problems on his head, as a murderous psychopath was on his tail, but he still found the energy to feel good. She could not help wondering what the flowers Marie received truly meant.
XXXXX
"Hey, Lieutenant! You are finally better!" Edward said as he threw Mustang a report that hit the General squarely in the face. He was sent to gather some information about a scientist that was supposed to have supplied a company with illegally created chimeras. There was not much to do and he finished the task in no time.
"Thank you, Edward," Riza replied and left the room. Roy rubbed his chin, knowing it was turning red from the hit. He looked up at the younger alchemist and demanded sternly, "What's with this poorly written report? And did you really have to throw it, damn it!"
"That's all you get. I am so not rewriting anything, bastard, and go back to work," Ed defended himself.
"Don't take the Lieutenant's job away! She is the one who has to tell me this, not you." The elder ran a hand through his charcoal hair. The blond narrowed his eyes, but his face soon lost its tension. He dropped on the leather couch in the middle of the room. Looking through a random book, he asked, "How come there is no one around?"
"They are on official business, nothing important," Roy stated mechanically.
A deafening silence fell over the office. Only the pen's scraping and the rustling of papers could be heard from time to time. Ed cleared his throat to break the standstill. "What is it, Fullmetal? Is your throat dry?" Roy teased from behind a document. Blushing, Ed lowered his head, pretending to read. He answered swiftly, "No."
"Really?" Silence again. "You know what, Edward? Let's have something to drink at the pub that just opened on Wellington's Street. I heard it is very good, they make nice hot chocolate."
"Don't you have work to do?" Ed asked hopefully. No success, as Roy was already on his feet and in front of the couch. "It can wait. It is the lunch break, after all, we can at least drink some tea, if you like that better." He smiled seductively.
"What are you doing? You are-ARGH!" the blond growled. He was lifted up by two strong arms. "You forgot what you promised me last night? Or did I get you all flustered and forgot?" Roy asked amused.
"You are imagining things! No, I didn't forget! But isn't it a little too obvious to go out with me in the middle of the day? And put me down! I am not a girl to carry around!"
"I never said you were. Going out with you in the middle of the night isn't suspicious at all, either. Am I wrong? Please, do tell."
Well, it made sense, Ed had to admit. He sighed and stopped struggling. He wanted to play that game, no matter how much it hurt his ego. To be brought down on his knees by the most horrible person he knew.
What a joke. He had made it clear to himself that he wanted that bastard, it could be wrong, it could be right, but that was what he desired. His heart had known it for all this time, but his mind had been in need of a breakdown to realise his true feelings. He needed to stop running for a while, he needed to regain his strength to get back on the road.
He needed to rest.
Roy examined carefully the young man in his arms. His hair got in his eyes, its radiant colour bleached by the powerful sun of the passing season. He knew it would eventually darken to that shade of molten gold, so similar to his bright eyes. They seemed bigger than when he was a child, so wide and smart under his long pale eyelashes. His jaw was stronger and his lips were thinner than the first time they have met, his features bold and mature. His nose was rounder and its tip appeared to try to taste the sky, always tilted upwards. His cheeks were soft and lean, his shoulders were broad and he was taller than ever. His little sunny boy was a man now, he had become an adult right in front of his eyes and only then he had finally noticed it.
That little sunny boy, was he really his?
He put the lithe body on his desk, never breaking the eye contact. He could not get enough of that wonderful person he had in front of him. He tried to lie to himself that he still had everything under control, but he was well aware he was losing at his own game. He had never thought he could want someone for something beyond physical needs. Yet there he was, craving for his soul to open up.
They stood like that for some time. The taller man bent slightly to be on the same level with the golden eyes that made his cold heart melt and his still blood boil. A small scratch on his forearm stung a bit, reminding him it burnt to play with fire. He received it when he argued with Ed about hiding his mission. The blond punched him when he realised he would not get any information about the ghost man, River.
In the present moment, he definitely did not want his Uncle to take away his happiness. He knew that, if Telford ever discovered about his newfound lover, the boy would not get to live another day. He was equally afraid and excited because of that. It was finally the time when he could pay back for the crime that was committed against his parents. He could finally protect what mattered to him.
Losing his patience, Edward arched his back and captured Roy's lips in a fierce kiss. The other responded longingly and laid the blond down after throwing some papers off the desk. Screw work, he had something more important to do.
Greedily, the younger alchemist demanded for access, brushing his tongue on the other's clenched teeth. Chuckling, Roy accepted the intrusion and quickly dominated the kiss, taking the lead. They danced together in their little charade, their hands all over each other. A metallic hand entangled in his shiny black strands and one made out of trembling flesh cupped his face. Boldly, Mustang pushed himself between his lover's legs and trailed his hand to the other's belt. He played with the pants' buttons until Edward let out an irritated grunt.
His hand went lower, fondling Edward's crotch. The grunts turned into moans. It felt so good, it hurt to be imprisoned in those wretched confines. Roy closed the distance between them, brushing their slowly awakening clothed erections together. He put his hand on the back of Fullmetal's head and ravished his mouth, biting and licking his lips. The other hand played with his hidden chest.
Their lips bruised, but neither cared. That was what they both wanted and their bodies were screaming with lust. How badly they needed that... how they desired each other.
Roy shifted them as he opened his trench coat. It fell to the ground along with Edward's jacket. The General kissed and sucked without any restraints at the little man's neck, going lower.
"Roy, not in the offi- AH!" Ed moaned when a wet tongue swirled on his automail joints. How damn fine it was... he was getting drunk on it. He captured those sinful lips again and took his time with unbuttoning Roy's white shirt. He touched every inch of that well sculptured chest and encircled the scars peppered over the torso and abdomen.
Fullmetal didn't know how all the wounds got there, but it did not matter. They made Roy what he was. He pushed the elder's hands away and opened the fly of his military issued pants. The bulge hidden underneath was even harder than before and it demanded for attention. So Ed tugged at the boxers and slipped his hand inside, grabbing the man like his life depended on it.
"OH MY GOD!" a feminine voice shouted from the door. Edward jolted and pushed Roy off of him. The elder held his grip on him and fell backwards, soon followed by the swearing teen who landed on his chest. "WHAT THE FUCK? GODDAMIT!" the blond yelled in his ear, loud enough to raise the dead from the ground.
On his back, sprawled half naked on the office's floor, Mustang smiled sheepishly at Hawkeye, who stood dumbfounded at the door. She opened her mouth and then closed it, gasping like a fish. Edward tried to move off the man, but their belts entangled and kept them connected. He blushed and decided he wanted to die there, on the spot. He was so embarrassed and the damn bastard had the audacity to look amused!
Like nothing had happened, Roy asked in a calm voice, "Is there anything I can do for you, Lieutenant?" Ed hit his head as hard as he could on the other's chest, but the officer did not flinch. 'It seems I will have some explaining to do,' the General thought. The situation made it actually easier to break the news to his assistant, he was somewhat pleased of being discovered humping over the desk.
Hawkeye, managing to gather most of her cool, left the papers at the entrance and nodded her head in some sort of salute, not completely trusting her voice. She closed the door behind her.
So that was what he had really meant by the yellow flower and the juniper... That was unexpected.
Mustang lowered his head on the hard tiles of the floor. He ruffled Edward's hair and kissed him on the forehead. The blond shifted his eyes to stare at his own with a look that demanded murder. Roy smirked and lifted them both. He unravelled their tangled belts and put Fullmetal down, who was still fuming. Not losing his grin, the higher ranked officer whispered in his ear, "Well, it does not mean the invitation is no longer available."
The blood rushing to his face, Edward scolded, "Are you out of your fucking mind? Why do I keep on asking, anyway?! You are! What the fuck is wrong with you?"
"Yeah, I got that part. So? Your answer?" The blond alchemist pressed his lips together and looked hard at his superior. His hair was a mess, the shirt was half opened and his pants were crooked on his hips. He couldn't stop the smirk that formed on his lips.
"To hell with it, but you're paying, you hear me?" Ed made and lifted his top off the hardwood floor.
That was going to be interesting, to say the least. What wondrous prospects for the day.
A/N: Don't hate me for leaving the chapter like this... I feel almost evil after stopping the boys' little moment... My bad, sorry.
Whatever. Thank you so much for putting up with me and please leave me a review (I hope it was okay... don't kill me...)/favourite/follow! See you soon with another cartoon (err... that was the wrong line. Damn:/)
Special thanks everyone who reviewed. It really helps to gather my thoughts and do something!:D