A/N: 'Morning and Merry Christmas! It's not there yet, but come on, that's not an issue, right? I will cut this short, so, this chapter is pretty much the begging of explaining new stuff. Graphic scenes and swearing, but there's nothing new, right? And, I forgot to say I don't own anything besides the plot and some characters here and there. Obviously.
I hope you'll enjoy it, and please, don't forget to leave a review, follow and favourite!
Now, with the actual deal...
Chapter 17 – A name to a face
"We should have never gone out drinking with them" Roy nodded at that, his shoulder crooked on one side, allowing Ed to rest his head on it. "She's worse than you" He nodded again. "That girl's a monster" Ed concluded his series of complaints as he rubbed his bleary eyes. "How was I supposed to know Winry is so resistant?"
Roy returned his look, equally dizzy and blood-shot. "The only time in my life I can't but give you reason" he said and took another bitter sip of his coffee. Too raw, too strong, way too hot, absolutely tasteless on his aching tongue. Disgusting.
He grunted at the terrible taste, immediately regretting it as bile threatened to rise into his mouth. He suddenly preferred the bitter muddy liquid far better than that.
Ed frowned. "What do you mean? I'm always right, unlike others, you know, like um... you?"
"Hah, and who always gets you out of mess? I look at you, my fair damsel" Roy tried to flap his eyelashes, but the dizziness made it resemble what could only be called having dust in the eyes and trying to get it out.
Edward jumped to his feet and swallowed all his words as a wave of nausea bit at his brain. He slid back in his kitchen chair, and propped his head back on Roy's shoulder. "Remind me, why do we always end up in this position?"
"Because of your big mouth? Well, the metaphorical matter is quite problematic, as the anatomical aspect is just endearing" Roy hummed with a big lazy smirk. Ed threw him a look that could kill those light-hearted. "I bet even on your dying bed you would still be thinking of getting laid"
"If that'd be with you, it'd be a good way to die. Good indeed" Roy grinned, his teeth glowing into the electric light from the ceiling.
Ed pushed his head gently with the back of his hand. It was not like he cared the other man was as nauseous as him, he would have pushed far harder, but all the strength in his arms was gone. "Damn, my head hurts too much for this" he said and took the mug of coffee from Roy's hand, and gulped down a great deal. He grimaced.
"How can you even drink this shit?! Bleargh, tastes awful! What is this hemlock?"
"I can't fell its taste. But I see you've eaten a lot of shit that you know how it tastes, now that it comes to it"
"Only from you" Ed took a moment to think and quickly added "That sounded gross. I meant bullshit. Cheap flattery and convenient lies, the likes. You're full of it. Shut up, Mustang"
Roy chuckled. "Another thing that came from you I agree with. We should get drunk more often, I start to see your reasoning. They sure are right about starting to make sense out of anything after some drinks. I must be getting good at this!"
"Yet you still suck at making coffee. What the hell is this thing even supposed to be?" he placed the mug back in Roy's hand, who snorted and took a sip from the dreadful liquid. He gnashed.
"You're right, it tastes awful"
XXXXX
The previous night, at the club
Madam Christmas was overjoyed to see how much the table in the back could order. She didn't know where to put it, on Roy's 'making a good impression' mood or on a horrendously bad week, but the ridiculous amount her nephew must have drank sure brought her some pride. A Mustang could hold his liquor even it meant for a whole barrel of it.
Well, she supposed Roy didn't want to get to that barrel, but if things went in the same direction, he just might.
Winry finished her current glass and purred herself some more. Roy wanted to praise her on her resistance and drive, glad he finally found someone who was harder to get drunk, unlike Ed, who could be easily knocked out with pretty much anything, sometimes just with plain water. Not that it was what he needed after a long period of sleeping mainly two or three hours a night, but still, he had a reason to celebrate.
Unlike his overly cheery wife, Al didn't drink that much. He wasn't attracted by the concept of drinking more than he could hold, however, his overall mood improved significantly. Not the same could be said about his brother, who took it as a personal challenge to drink more than his friend, who was not supposed to get him under the table. Not that it mattered, as he was already with one foot lower.
Of course, Edward could make plenty of excuses, he was awfully good at it. What bothered him the most was that he didn't know the real reason why Roy took them to his aunt's club out of the sudden after receiving that call. Something told him that in the next few months, his lover's tinge of paranoia would suddenly increase, and he didn't want to know the motive.
But curiosity bit at him, and horribly so. They would have a very long talk about it. He'd make sure to make it very long, not wanting to wake up in a hospital without knowing why, like the last time.
He deserved to know why he would eventually end up in a hospital, at least. Because he would, he was sure of it. It was an unwritten law that when Roy was involved in any of his missions, he would see death before his eyes again and again. It was simply that way.
He crooked a lopsided smile. He had no time to die, when he had to make sure the General wasn't brutally murdered by who knows what or by his own bad habits. "Roy, shouldn't you take it easier?" he whispered, making sure not to be overheard.
"Perhaps" he said and drummed his fingers on the table. "But the hell with it, my aunt would come kill me if I stopped before she does" he whispers back. "Winry, I would have never guessed this side of you"
"Why? Feeling like losing the game?" she asked and leaned on Al's shoulder with glassy eyes. Roy wanted to respond with something smug, something to prevent the inevitable headache, but Ed was faster. He hated when Ed was faster at speaking his whimsical choice words. "You'd wish, right Roy?"
Roy smiled. 'Well, to the hell with my lucid mind'
"I say we play a game, and then we talk, Winry" he said and opened another bottle.
A few hours later, Ed thanked all the Gods he had ever heard of for knowing the way back home like the back of his hand, which was now tightly clasped into Roy's. At least, they made it back home in one piece, kind of, that is.
Kind of.
XXXXX
That was quite a headache, Roy thought grimly. But he guessed it wasn't all that bad, and he actually enjoyed it, somewhere in the back of his mind. Somewhere very deep in there. One could put it on his mildly masochistic behaviour, nevertheless, he felt alive and breathing. And now back to the aching, now that he reminded himself of the ways of the living.
'Damn, it hurts' he cursed and swallowed a fistful of aspirins and whatever pain killers he found in the closet. He only hoped they weren't too many to take at once, but what could go wrong.
Ed idly rubbed his wet hair with a large blue towel, drying it thoroughly. He was a little less nauseous and was actually ready for some real action. He narrowed his eyes at Roy, who put his arms up in defence, wordlessly, and went to the bathroom to take a shower. A very long and cold shower, but those were mere details.
Now that he was alone, Ed felt like it was high time to take matters into his own hands. He wrapped the towel around his head and let the edges fall on his back, staining his dark top with small wet patches. With soft steps, as to not be heard by Roy, he walked to the small table in front of the study's door, where a phone stood surrounded by small pocketbooks and scattered pencils.
After he looked around himself one more time, he did exactly as he had heard the martial police did when they investigated a murder that had something to do with phone calls. He clearly saw Roy writing something, he was sure it had to be there somewhere. He took one of the sharper pencils and scratched on the first page of every notebook and then ripped them to examine the results. Only on one of the pages some words could be made out, but that didn't help at all. With a very stylish penmanship, letters curved mockingly on the paper.
Not a chance, sunray, and a little sun was doodled at the end.
"Are you fucking kidding me?!" Ed gnashed and crumbled the paper in his fist. He made a beeline for the bathroom upstairs and pushed open the already shaking door. They had in plan to change it after one faithful night when they bumped into it confusing it for a sturdy wall. It was too dark and they were in a rather light headed mood, so the door had to suffer some really hard abuse and thumping.
The door flew open, nearly kicking Roy into the sink. He turned his head with a confused smile and a quirked brow. "What is it, Ed?" he asked and scratched his head, a small pool of water forming at his feet. He absently wrapped the long towel around his shivering shoulders, hiding himself behind the drenched cotton.
Ed didn't wait any longer and roughly grabbed his hand and pulled him out of the steamy bathroom. The towel got entangled in the taller man's feet, and it fell unceremoniously on the floor, making him stumble on it. The blond, who put all his force into dragging Roy, fell forward as his fingers slipped around the other's wrist. Like a heavy hunk of meat, he landed face first on the floor.
Roy, who rebalanced himself, crossed his arms in front of his chest, visibly unshaken by the fact he was stark naked and it was rather cold after the shower. He rested his back against the wall and patiently waited for Ed to burst into yelling or something like that.
As expected, Edward turned with a scowl on his face. The frown grew softer when he took a better look at his lover, who was impassibly staring at his nails like they were some wonders. He gasped as his eyes trailed across his tall figure, on his strong chest to his scarred abdomen. The signs of war were deeply carved on his torso, stomach and his thighs, drawing intricate figures on his translucent skin.
He didn't realise he was staring that hard, but for all his excuses, at least his object of interest was situated on the man's torso or somewhere around there. Or that's how it looked, but really, it wasn't that hard to look at Roy in all his bare splendour from his position on the floor.
As for Roy, he moved his eyes to Ed's face and smirked. "I understand how eager you are to undress me, but you could have at least told me. The floor is all wet now. Weren't you preaching about how water shouldn't get on the floor because it might swollen?" he pointed at the hardwood under his feet.
Colour returned in full force to Ed's cheeks. The frown seemed to make its triumphal reappearance, too. He tried to get back on his feet, but slipped on a small pool he dragged with his socks from the bathroom. He was back on the floor.
"See, I told you it's wet" Roy said matter-of-factly and extended his hand to help Ed up. "Up you go. So, what is the matter that made you feel the need to almost dislodge the door, again?" he turned and, after pressing his hands together, reattached the hinges with alchemy. "We really need to change the frame, looks like the poor door went at war. I don't know how much wood is left to keep mending it back with transmutations"
Ed snorted. "And how is that my fault?"
"When our house's slow demolition is in the phrase, it is always your fault" Roy hummed somewhat pleased, some other objects that needed to be changed during the year popping into his head.
The younger alchemist's eyes flew impossibly open. He gasped. Perhaps Roy didn't realise what he'd just said, but it was more than any declaration. He was told he belonged there, that he was no longer a wandering homeless like he has been for most of his life. That Roy's house was also his. That he had a home, a real home.
He fought the urge to drop to his knees.
Roy noticed the glimpse of fear in the golden orbs, burning like a bonfire. He uncrossed his arms and paced to him, letting his fingers wander on Ed's features. "Hey, is everything alright? If you want, we can stop changing stuff around, for me it's the same. If you want, we can renovate again, or paint the house in red, for all I care. We can put dots, too" he soothed, and hugged the now writhing form in his arms. "Or do you want stripes?" He stroked the long strands of blond hair, still wet but undeniably sweet scented, and hummed in his ear to calm his shivers.
"I prefer stripes, I hate dots" Ed said, voice a little shaken.
Wetness slid on his chest, and it wasn't only from their damp hair. "Are you crying? Edward? What's wrong? Edward?"
Ed hugged him closer, their understated state of clothing no longer an issue. He stopped trembling, and was now silently sobbing. "It's nothing, you idiot... I can't believe you"
"Nor can I, but please do tell what I should believe"
Ed grabbed his chin and tilted it down to take a better look at the dark eyes he enjoyed watching change shades. "It's stupid"
"Like half of the things you say" Roy couldn't miss the opportunity to get punched in the stomach, could he?
"Don't add me into your nonsense" Ed pouted. "But... I... how should I put it..."
"Well, put it" he teased.
"You really want me to beat the daylight out of you" Ed gulped a tear and smiled.
"Not necessarily, my head just stopped aching a few moments ago, so I think I'll pass the generous offer, thank you" The blond narrowed his golden eyes and roughly cupped his cheeks. "Shut up already" he said and kissed him fully, pressing all his weight into the embrace. Roy responded with little surprise, always ready to be close to his beloved. But sure, he expected to hear something close to a fight, not this. Quite some personality disorders, Ed had.
They broke the kiss and looked at each other. "Thank you. Thank you so much" Ed muttered, making Roy smile incredulously. "For?"
"For welcoming me in your life. In your home"
Roy smiled and nodded. "You were welcomed from the first moment I realised how much I loved you. And trust me, it was a long time ago"
Edward simply grinned. It was a sheepish looking one, but he couldn't help it. He was smitten, he was in love even more than he used to be. Than how much he thought he was. He was graceful for it.
With a swift pull down, the blond captured Roy's lips once again, less harsh and more passionate than before. He opened his mouth eagerly and allowed the sudden intrusion prodding his lips and sliding inside the cavity. Their tongues met halfway, as if they were waiting to greet each other, and formed a rhythmic aggression between them. Roy stepped back a little to get a better grip on Ed, whom he lifted up and cupped his perked backside to hold him. The blond's legs automatically wrapped around his waist, and he felt himself being pushed in a wall, the familiar coldness hitting him under his clothes.
"So impatient, greedy one" Roy slurred his words, a tell-tale smirk on his face. His eyes were darkened with lust, their shade of an impossibly perfect black, like a room that never saw light.
"Told you to shut up" Ed said with a dangerous glare, and sealed his mouth with a hand.
Roy could barely contain his chest. He enjoyed seeing that slightly dominant side in his lover, a part he saw in every little rebellion, but always in new forms. Perhaps his male pride didn't agree with him, but he would have loved to feel some old-fashioned domination from time to time. And he could swear it would be like pure gold.
They would turn into gold.
Small nips at his cheekbones, and a hand started trailing on his chest. It tickled, really, and it sent shocks of heat to the middle of the problem. A feral growl slipped past his lips when Ed's wandering fingers wrapped themselves around his already half-erected cock and moved in a hard tug.
He put more force into pushing his younger lover into the wall, the space between them smaller than before. He could feel every muscle in Ed's body, and hear his rapid heartbeat, the heat of it all sending waves of arousal to his groin, rapidly curving his pants' front. Their mouths smacked together again and again, the vice-like clench of their jaws seeming predatorily.
Edward pressed his hand on Roy's chest and pushed him away. He disentangled his feet and took a step back with a beamingly cruel smile. He examined him from head to toe, tracing the convulsing muscles into his memory.
Roy watched with amusement how starving eyes watched him with hunger. He wanted to be devoured, one way or another, the carnal need surpassing any rational thought. He wanted it so badly, and he didn't need that much to be stirred up. He liked being so naked, so exposed, and have his partner looking at him like he was a great feast on a starved man's ta- "ARGH!" he gasped, a groan chocking him, and blew his eyes wide as, out of nowhere, the blond head in front of him disappeared and planted itself between his legs, engulfing him fully.
His hand automatically went over his mouth to muffle himself, but Ed slapped him with the metal in his palm, and lifted his index finger disapprovingly. He bobbed his head harder and harder, and when he felt Roy's hands slowly making their way to his hair, he let the leaking head slip and turned to placing light kisses between his thighs.
Roy made a strangled sound as the chilly air hit his overheated dick, and it bit at him. He attempted pulling Ed's head higher to signal his need to resume the previous ministration, but that golden head seemed to be attached to the body by iron threads, and not by flesh and bones.
"Uh-huh" he hummed into the soft inner thigh flesh. He brought his flesh hand up on the milky skin, too soft for the rest of the body that it was attached of, and scratched his nails in languid motions, eliciting sinful, yet gulped, grunts.
"Edward, and here I was thinking that you loved me" Roy said with a tinge of desperation in his voice, not in the mood to ask for anything. Ed looked in his eyes through his eyelashes. "And what about the purity of love and stuff like this, hm?" he said and traced the most prominent vein under his cock with one cold steel finger.
Roy narrowed his eyes, another soft sound forming into his throat as Ed nibbled a particular bundle of nerves on his thigh. "To hell with them" he growled and cupped the blond's chin roughly. He moved his lover's head higher, now that it seemed so much lighter.
'That's more like it' Ed mused to himself. Roy was literally taken aback when he actually plunged his head forward and grabbed his hips to bring the slicked dick to his lips and capture it inside his moist cavern. He planted his nails in the flesh at grasp and started moving Roy's body back and forward, as to encourage him to move faster, on his own accord.
The demand was understood and complied to, Roy's hips starting to move at a firm pace, fucking himself into the awaiting mouth. His head tilted slightly back, the sheer pleasure clouding his judgement. Ed hummed approvingly, sending a fornication sensation to the coiling in his stomach. He desperately wanted more and more. Like he could read his mind, the blond's throat suddenly relaxed and took him even deeper, almost to the hilt, sending Roy's hands deeper into his hair. He pounded himself faster, a tiny voice in his head concerned of chocking the enthusiastic man in front of him. But he knew what Ed was capable of, and didn't want to hurt his pride either. He would at least go a tiny bit slower, for the sake of the argument.
Then he felt it, the need of release becoming imminent. He yanked Edward's head back and took a deep breath, staring into the golden orbs of his beloved. The look on the face below him was purely maleficent, the long strands of bright blond hair falling into his eyes like cascades of treasured fortunes. He swallowed hard and attempted to get to his knees and kiss him fully, but he was stopped when hands grabbed his buttocks and spread them.
He crooked one brow, not in displeasure, but in surprise. He guessed it was about time they changed their normal pace, and he welcomed it. He didn't care much about who did what in their physical bonding or whatever was that called - if he needed to be filled, he'd gladly do it. As in consent, he spread his legs a little more.
Edward, however, slowly rose up, his fingers touching everywhere. He encircled Roy's arse with the tip of his index finger, as if testing the waters, and then gave the ass a firm squeeze. Roy chuckled, earning himself a kick in the leg.
"How stupid, you think I'd let you do nothing?"
"What a shame to be thinking you might have suddenly decided to have me underneath you" Roy mocked and pushed at his cheek with his thumb. Ed snorted. "While I stand? And what, to carry your fat ass around when you have like what, thrice my weight? No way, bastard, you have to suffer"
Roy wanted to argue he wasn't that heavy, he was only taller and he didn't have heavy metal instead of limbs to make him heavier, but Ed gave him a light kiss on the lips. "It's too much effort right now, but once I deem it, you won't be able to walk for at least a week, mark my words, Mustang!"
After another little kiss, Roy agreed "Huh, it actually sounds like a good plan. When do we start?" He got a frown.
"Have I ever told you that you talk unnecessarily much?" Ed grabbed his head and kissed him again. With one hand, he lowered his pants and shook them off on the floor, then pulled off his tank top. He jumped back on Roy, who caught his feet in the air and secured them around his waist. He was grounded into the wall, his backside already being prepared by two thrusting fingers, promptly coated in saliva. "Stop-ah, stop that, just get on with it, ah... we do it way too often to actually hurt me, ah"
"Neah, don't care" Roy said as he thrust a few more times before pulling out and quickly replacing the fingers with himself. He entered with a swift move, and started thrusting slowly, mewling sounds ringing to his ears, along with a glorious kick in the kidneys. At that, he started moving faster, till he started pounding into Ed's hole, smacking their bodies together. He pushed harder and harder, long movement back and forth, slow at the beginning and forceful at the end.
They writhed one against the other, Ed entangling jet black locks in his fingers. Their lips crashed, moans dying in their throats before they escaped.
With a steady change of pace and angle, Roy hit Ed's prostate. Edward broke their kiss and threw his head back, hitting it into the wall, denting the flat surface. He was too lost in pleasure to feel any pain, and grounded himself faster on Roy's thrusting cock. He almost screamed when he felt his release, followed suit by Roy coming deep inside the clenching insides, like a small explosion.
And then pain hit him. "OUCH!" he groaned loudly close to Roy's ear, whose shoulders slumped down in discomfort, almost dropping Ed and catching him when it was barely too late. "Agh, don't scream into my ears, dammit" he hissed and lowered the blond to his feet.
Ed rubbed his aching head, narrowing his eyes to Roy. "It's your fucking fault, you bastard! You could have held my head or something, or just not pound me into the wall!"
"How is that my fault?!" Roy asked, and then gasped, looking at the wall in question. The once creamy coloured surface was now grey from the hole in the concrete. Ed turned on his heels to look at his work of art, and almost chocked on his saliva.
"Roy, dear, what were you saying about changing the wallpaper?"
Roy chuckled and gave his a peck on top of his head. "That it was a good idea indeed" he said and pressed his hands to the wall, repairing the denture without covering it back with the wallpaper. He didn't like the colour anyway.
XXXXX
"If they didn't make me drink so much! It's only their fault" Winry groaned and closed the suitcase. "Damn Roy and Ed and their booze and shit! Argh! Next time Mustang has such ideas I'm beating them out of his head, that asshole!"
Al smiled reassuringly at her, not knowing what to say. He had to admit, he didn't know how his wife had been able to drink so much, and actually didn't understand why she had to drink all that quantity of alcohol, but that was none of his area of expertise. He was the one who lived in a suit of armour for years, so what did he know about such things?
Winry continued cursing while she packed their things and prepared them for the next day, when they were supposed to catch the train in the morning. With that vicious headache, she didn't know how they would make it to the station, but she guessed she had Al to do everything, as he wasn't as buttered as her. He actually looked very fresh.
She smiled. It was all so simple.
Al suggested they should go out for a walk, see the city one more time before retiring for the night. He was fascinated by the speed of the rehabilitation, given the fact that the Central was left in a pretty shaken state after the Promised Day. Well, that happens when you have so many alchemists at disposal.
It was amazing how fast Amestris recovered after the event that should have put an end to its existence. Grumman, after assuming the role of head of state, instructed all his subordinates to help into the reconstruction of the country. Despite the rough shape some regions were left into, with the help of sheer will, manpower and alchemy, the country rose back to its glory in less than an year. People regained their trust into the military when well-known faces arrived with new strength, determination and a great story, men like Mustang or Miles giving real hope to the masses. Grumman was a convenient figure and experienced leader, straightening the path to the top for his protégé.
"What do you think of Roy and Ed?" Winry asked Alphonse as they walked in the central park. It was a beautiful patch of nature in a modern city, one of the many parks in it. They sat on a bench in front of the lake, watching wild ducks making loops on the water surface.
"I don't know what to say... Roy is a nice enough guy, and I know him well, or most of him, but still... it's strange to see brother with anyone, especially him. I mean, I don't mind he's found someone, but really? Mustang out of all people? He could have chosen someone less conspicuous and, well, not him"
"Hmh, I think I know what you mean. I guess that's how Ed felt when we married, too"
Al turned to look into her eyes, suddenly realising his selfishness. Of course Ed felt out-of-place when he found out that his only family was getting married, leaving him alone to start his own life. He must have felt left out, forgotten. "Poor brother... I shouldn't have reacted that way" he muttered.
Winry smiled and kissed his cheek. "Don't worry, I bet Ed already forgave you. After all, he loves his little brother"
"Hah, I guess so. I hope he is happy with Roy. Though, it's him..."
"Damn it, Al, You have one sole idea and one only. Even if it's Roy, he sure is happy, I'm more than certain life's good with him" Winry replied, her smirk almost screaming the other implications. Al nodded with a sour face. He couldn't help imagining a very graphic scene of Roy and his brother, and didn't know how to erase it from his head. He didn't need to see such things. No, he could do without them.
He was sure his brother was happy with Roy, and in a way he was happy too. Edward deserved to settle a little after the mess his life used to be.
Maybe not with Roy, but, well, he wasn't the one who was with him, so it was none of his business.
He kissed his wife on the forehead and held her close. She was such a great person, always saying the best things at the best moments. She was an angel when she didn't hit anyone with a wrench, a true delight.
XXXXX
Edward was definitely not happy with Roy. He laid in their shared bed with a deep scowl on his face. After they had two more rounds of rather strenuous sex, this time no objects being damaged in their passionate moment, he suddenly remembered why he went upstairs to scream at Roy. Definitely not for what they just did.
Roy was absolutely unfazed by Ed's accusing face. It was not like he didn't care, he did, but he started being immune to it. After all, he pretty much saw it on a daily basis. He was on his back, staring at the ceiling. "If we change the door, we should also buy a small cupboard for the bathroom. We have too many towels and too little place for them"
"Okay, we'll search for one when we buy new wallpaper, too. Or paint. Let's choose a livelier colour for it, that greyish beige thing is dull"
"Yup. I think something soft would do... maybe some light blue or green. Maybe yellow? Peach yellow? It would look nice, the space is pretty dark"
"Yeah... we should look" Ed hummed. He frowned. Again, Roy distracted him. "You know, I was supposed to be angry with you"
"Oh, really? If that's how it is when you're angry with me, I should put more effort in unnerving you"
Ed flipped on his stomach and planted his elbow in Roy's liver, making him sharply breath in. "Don't you even dare" he said and climbed on the brunette's irregularly moving chest. "Okay, time to speak. What the hell was with that note from the phone?"
Roy calmed his breath and said with a smirk "Hah, did you like it, sunray?"
"Stop with your sunray, and tell me what you are planning. Why did we go to your aunt's bar last night?"
"To present her your brother and sister-in-law" Roy retorted. "Why, do you suspect there was more?"
"There is always more. So, speak up, I'm starting to lose my patience"
"My, my, so dangerous. I see all that time with the guys up North didn't do you very much service"
"I hate you so much" Ed snarled, getting himself a soft kiss on the forehead. Roy gently pushed him off his chest and propped his body on his elbows. "Yes, you never fail to remind me. But you see, I'm hungry, should we go out and eat something? What do you think?"
Edward rolled his eyes. "Fine, take me somewhere I can bankrupt you, I feel like doing so. But we're not done"
"We're never done, I assure you"
XXXXX
Ed entered first in the restaurant, closely followed by Roy, who unknotted the silk scarf around his neck. He smiled at the waiter who showed them to a more reserved table. Very gallantly, the taller man pulled out a chair for his lover, who was a breath away from strangling him with his bullshit behaviour. "If you keep doing that, I swear I'll make sure you won't be able to move for a long time"
"Oh, and what would you do?" he asked with a shit-eating grin.
"Just watch me" Ed narrowed his eyes. A random waiter came with two menus, but soon fled away, intimidated by the fierce look in the blond's eyes, who forgot he was not supposed to look at someone like that, especially at an innocent civilian. Perhaps Roy didn't feel any danger in those golden orbs, in fact, he actually enjoyed the angry glimpse in them, but others didn't take it that well.
"Stop scaring people away. No wonder why everybody gets so paranoid around you" Roy said and flipped open the menu, seeming in deep thought. In reality, he wasn't even reading it.
Edward snorted and placed both of his hands on the table, without standing up. "Hah, not my fault people feel violated when you look at them"
Roy looked up at him with awe. "That's a new one. So resourceful, Fullmetal! I'm completely impressed, praise you"
"At least I am, you General bastard"
It was the standard conversation when they were in a place where people might overhear them, that when they didn't talk business or alchemy. They were merely playing their same old roles, the ever complaining, bile-spitting and childish subordinate and the always daring, sweet-worded and arrogant superior officer. That was their show, their mask over the relationship they shared behind the closed doors. It was safer, using their ranks and not their names, not wanting to seem too familiar. They bit at each other anyway, so there wasn't much of an effort to put up. It wasn't like anybody knew about them, and fewer had any reasons to believe it was true after all, but it was just them being cautions. At least in public.
A middle aged waiter came to them with a beaming smile and fine gestures. "What a pleasure to have you here tonight, sirs. Excuse my colleague, he's new. What shall we have this evening, hm?"
Roy closed the menu cryptically and looked at Ed, who shrugged lightly. "I believe you should surprise us this time as well" he replied and smiled politely to the waiter, who nodded. He was gone with a knowing smirk.
The chefs always outdid themselves when it came to them, and improvised all the time. Roy, before the first time he ever brought Edward here, never ordered anything in particular. He asked to be surprised. And he always was.
They were currently at one of the best restaurants in Central in terms of food and serving. The location was rather central, but didn't look that fancy as one would suppose such high class standards to be housed in. It had a warm looking interior design, much like a family-owned business, and the waiters were polite and helpful, really pleasant to talk to. Those who were working there for a longer time knew Roy and Edward very well, and always showed them a more secluded table in the back for their privacy. Maybe the first ten times they came there, it could have passed as work-related dinner, but two years of constantly going there at all the possible hours could be slightly suspicious even for them two.
And, of course, perhaps because one of Roy's most precious informants worked there and always served at their table, they were never frowned upon. Actually, they were found really sweet by the girls in the kitchen, and they all envied Ed's hair. And perhaps because Chris Mustang was a good friend of the owner, but that was obviously irrelevant.
After they finally ate, Edward sighed. "Now, are you ready to talk?"
Roy looked at his wine glass, watching how the liquid rolled around when he moved it circularly. "It's quite little to say. Seems like I managed to get more people who want my head on a plate. Though maybe this one doesn't want my head, just a limb or something. Like a trophy to put on a wall"
"Huh, tell me something new. What did you get yourself into this time? Should I reserve a room in a hospital or something?"
"Hopefully not. But I think we should get going, the sky is nice outside" Roy said as he signalled for the note.
XXXXX
The previous day
"Major General, Sir! Telegram for you! Fresh news all the way!" Karley announced from the door, waving a scrap of paper. Olivier Armstrong lifted her head from her palms with a great sigh. "What do they want this time?" She took the offered paper and read it carefully, trying not to miss a word. Not that it was that hard to miss anything, as the only words were 'Did you hear how much the fresh horse meat costs. Stop. It's on sale. Stop. End'
She leaned back on her chair, looking at the black haired communication officer. "Tell them I want to buy some for the winter" The man nodded and returned to his seat in the other room.
Olivier looked at the former Second Lieutenant Henschel, now a First Lieutenant. After Buccaneer's regrettable death and Miles' temporary situation in the East, he remained one of the most important aides in the queen's lair. He was a witty man and very sharp, understanding her commands fully and trusting her with his life. Maybe that was just the North's way, everyone put their lives' in the Wall's hands.
Henschel nodded and left the room without further questions. The female General entwined her fingers and patiently waited. Finally, Henschel returned with a portable telephone and took his leave.
She stood up from her chair and hopped on the table. Playing with her long blond hair, she extended a hand to the phone and dialled a number she knew by heart. She waited for a while, no one answering. When she finally decided to end the call, a voice answered. "Mustang"
"No shit" she replied and leaned back on the wall behind the desk. Roy snorted through the phone, his voice barely a whisper. "I'm so sorry to say, but I have very little time at disposal"
"Why, neck deep into the matter, as usual?"
"Not this time, unfortunately"
She snorted. "Why, did you get dumped already? Smart kid"
"No, you'd wish me alone and miserable. Of course, if you want to be alone and miserable with me, I wouldn't complain, dear" Roy teased, a sound of rustling being transmitted through the speaker. Good, he took something to write. It meant she was supposed to hurry and speak.
"Okay, straight to business. I've got words from the market, and they seem to sell some good quality horse meat at good prices, perfect for a fancy dinner. You should hurry up and buy some, winter is coming soon and I heard it's going to be cold"
"Ah, my darling, always so attentive with me. Thank you, I will. I will send you some, or maybe who knows, I might be able to give it to you in person" Roy slurred over the speaker. Olivier gave a giggle to that, almost falling off the desk from the stupidity of all this. Okay, she knew where she would be spending her holidays this year, and she'd be damned if she didn't drink Mustang's entire home bar. That is, if anything remained after her previous visit in Central.
"You are so sweet. Well then, I'll leave you at your things. I'll hear from you, be nice and good" she made a kissing sound and disconnected the call with a snarl. "Bleargh, keep it in your pants, Mustang" she said and jumped off the desk. She walked to the window and looked through it.
Miles overheard some not-intended-to-be-heard conversation the last time he came to Briggs, less than a month before. While playing with the radio, he accidentally tuned into the enemy's frequency, and he wasn't particularly pleased of what he heard. Obviously, Olivier found next, and sent him back East to gather more information. And now, there were the results. She had to think how to send a more detailed description of the situation to Roy.
XXXXX
"Let me get this straight. Now you no longer have a single person wanting you dead, you have a commander with an army after you? As in an entire state? What the hell have you done this time?!" Ed exploded. He walked shoulder to shoulder with Roy, stepping on the pavement covered in dead leaves in the small park.
"It wasn't that hard, really, and they don't want me as dead as you think, I told you. Only a little. I mean, I've only played a little with the politics in Drachma, not much"
"It's freaking Drachma, for crying out loud! They're like savages! Why would you do that, when you want to ascend the ranks? You should form alliances with them, not try to get your neck slit by them! Or half-slit, since you say they want you a little dead. Anyway, what the hell is a little dead?!"
"Not with Armstrong in the North. She's valuable, and has a bounty on her head in their country. So no alliances. Especially after the Promised Day... did you forget when Kimblee wiped out an entire army for that philosopher's stone? The middle of the problem is our growing relationship with Xing. The rails I was talking about not too long before are on the process of making, the miners working at their earnest and the engineers drawing up the project. That's the issue – if we build this railway, we have a better opening to Drachma. It's very hard to reach it because of the mountains, but through the desert, it's plain land"
"Okay, true, but the desert has always been there. And it makes no sense"
"But it makes. Me having good opening and strong allies – Xing has a big population of fierce warriors, and seems like Aerugo is finally agreeing with our armistice, and they have great plains and opening to the ocean, and many other things – this equals me having power to strike and take away other countries. I am considered a dangerous expansionist, and it seems like my very fast promotions scared this almost-General away. Heard he's the equivalent of a Major General, actually"
"Okay, but who exactly?"
"No one interesting, this one. Some big shot in their military, but at our fingernail tip. Though, the guy behind him, he's the real deal. There's, how to put it... some chemistry going on between us. A lot of chemistry"
"Aham, an old love, I get it. And he's who exactly?"
"General with who knows how many stars and I hope he's an officer in reserve because I don't know if there are any grades he doesn't have beside the presidency title, on his name Albert Crendell, commander of troops, military deserter, the most promoted man in the army, mass murderer, brain washer, national hero, and all you can think of and a few extras" Roy said with a grim look. "I get only the best. It's a forbidden love we have, no one can understand it, you see. It's special. The crook has a little too many relations to shrug him off, on the other matter. No that there is any linkage whatsoever, no"
Edward's eyes widened at the name, missing the rest of Roy's chit-chat on whatever he shared with the man. He wasn't interested in his lover's past relationships or what he was bubbling about. "Wow... how can you sleep at night?" he finally asked, rubbing his hands.
"I manage" Roy hummed and patted his shoulder. He was in deep shit, as usual, but maybe this time he won't land in any hospital bed, he hoped.
He still had hope.
XXXXX
Fourteen years ago, in an Eastern military training base dormitory
"Left, incoming!" a blond boy yelled after Maes Hughes, throwing a ball made out of rugged clothes. With the precision of a fetching dog, he caught it with one hand and threw it to a fellow trainee. The boy stood inertly as the ball advanced through the air, and suddenly crouched when it almost reached his face. Behind him, Roy jumped from one of the beds, caught it and plunged in front of the makeshift gate, throwing the ball right through the goal-keeper's hands. All the teens in his team climbed on his back, screaming their victory over their comrades.
"Damn you, Roy, how are we supposed to beat you at this game?!" one of the older boys and the dorm's junior leader, Carney Carlson, asked Roy as he was shaking his team off him. Roy smiled at him and wanted to answer, but his best friend, Maes, was a faster talker, and sometimes, a better one. "Don't worry, Carnes, 'cause you'll never beat us. It's simple, really"
"Ha-ha, Mae, you bet we will. Just watch us next time!"
"Sure thing, man, sure thing!"
Loud thumping sounded from the corridor. A red haired girl opened the door and shouted "Boys, get your shit in order, we've got attendance!"
"How long left, Lisa?" Roy asked as he put back some blankets on their respective beds that fell on the floor. The girl threw Maes two pillows she burrowed the day before along with two empty bottles of some nameless booze and replied "They were in the girl's dormitory like five minutes ago, I jumped through the window. Hurry your shit, I don' feel like running around the camp 'cause they caught me here!"
"Here!" Carney said and threw her a portable gas burner they used for marshmallows and three packs of cigarettes full of burnt stumps. It was a common trade they had with the girls in the next-door dormitory, exchanging goods and returning the empty packages, but it wouldn't do either of them a favour to show up with something that didn't belong to them, especially with objects like these that were highly restricted amongst the trainees.
Lisa snatched the stumps and stuffed them in her bra, and wrapped the gas burner in the scarf she was wearing and rolled it to look like it was empty. "Thanks, see ya all in the mass hall! Good luck, boys!" she said and ran back to her dormitory. One of the boys ran to announce the ones in the other sections about the incoming inspection visit, the rest continuing on hiding unwanted possessions and tidying up the room.
At the very last moment, they managed to clean up everything. Every week, the two separate trainee dormitories in the Eastern Military division received visits from their instructors, inspecting the state of their belongings and how they kept their rooms. Of course, the camp was in top shape for those moments, but never for the visits from the bigger fishes in the military that lacked the decency of announcing themselves.
"What is with this commotion?"
From the door, four officers entered the sleeping room. They all narrowed their eyes at the twenty boys in the room, all aligned and saluting their superiors. "Sir, squad thirty-two Atlas, boy's dormitory number fourteen wing Condor!" the boy who was in charge with the wakeup call in the trainee camp announced.
Carney took a step forward and greeted the officers sternly as the 'chieftain of the tribe', as his friends called him. "Cadet Carlson, Sir!" One of the men waved his hand dismissively and shrugged him off as if he were some dead leaf. The boy darted back into the formation, not letting his salute fall, or his posture. He was proud of his position as a squad leader, and he wasn't in the mood of making himself look like a fool.
After the formalities, the four men scrutinised the room thoroughly, failing to find anything out of order.
Or, actually... "What are these?" one of the officers asked in the general direction of the door. From there, a tall and alarmingly slim officer who couldn't be older than thirty, a Major by the looks of his badges, came strolling in. He ran his hand through his black hair and extended the other to the lower soldier. "Whose belonging are these?" he asked as he searched the room for a glimpse of incertitude.
Duncan, a boy in his last year of training, wanted to admit his fault. What those objects were, it was beyond doubt – amulets designed to 'protect' the superstitious lots from baleful spirits, and provide those who sold them with good money. Duncan was a fast learning trainee with a sly tongue and determination, aiming to become a military doctor, but with a bad financial status. A gambler for a father, a drunker for a mother, two happy-spending sisters and a happy-trigger and currently incarcerated brother for other siblings. He could say he practically raised himself, and could also say that he earned his own money from day one. An easy catcher of the tendencies, he smelled how anxious and fearful of the greater forces were the masses, and how they were so easy to fool with grand words. He read all he could find in the closest library on celestial protection, and started a small business on telling the fortune and selling overpriced charms. Obviously, such acts were forbidden in the military, but someone had to pay the rent back home.
With a strangled voice, he started "You s-"
"Cadet Mustang, Sir!" Roy presented himself and stood forward. "Duncan, no need to cover me. Major, Sir, they are objects I use for practising alchemy. I am preparing for the national exam. I'm trying to elaborate a theory on the transmutation of metals and such, though I'm not all that good with them. I haven't completely honed my skills" he lied with ease, all the time smiling with a grandiose facade of embarrassment like he had been caught with a hand in the cookie jar. He approached the man with the bag and lightly touched it with one finger. "I am very sorry for causing such disturbance"
"You know you are not allowed to use alchemy within these grounds" the Major said and took the bag of small metal pieces to examine it further.
"I am aware of this, Sir, but I believe that we could use some findings for our new line of weaponry. Here is the best place to experiments this aspect, and I want to help" Roy continued, not sure of how things would turn out. Duncan frowned, ashamed by his mistake, and lowered his eyes humbly.
"Mhm, I understand. Well, soldier, you should be more careful with this kind of things. However, I will take these into my custody, as a mean of precaution"
"Thank you, Sir, and please, forgive my imprudence and lack of judgement" Roy added, saluting at his earnest.
The Major and his men left, leaving the dorm breathing relieved.
"Why did you do this, Roy?" Duncan asked, his eyes watery. "You could have gotten into some real problems, I mean, playing such thing with a superior? You don't need to compromise yourself for me! Damn it, Roy!"
"Neah, don't worry, I've been causing problems since I was a child, I'm used to darting my way out of them. You have way too many on your plate. And most of the people around here know about my alchemy, so there's no secret in here" he shrugged it off.
"But Duns might have his share of problems if that meathead searches the base. Many idiots have things like those" Hughes suggested, cleaning his glasses. "It might be dangerous for you, lying to a Major"
"To search for hair pins? So many people use these, even I do when I'm working in the kitchen" Roy replied and patted Duncan's arm. "You need to start another business"
The senior year smiled and thanked him whole-heartily. Of course Roy changed his amulets into worthless hair pins. For all his big mouth and slick attitude, he was a great man. He always had a small pen up his sleeve to draw alchemical circles on his hands when needed, like his teacher instructed him to have until he decided on the suited type of alchemy for him. Some basic transmutation was an easy feat.
That night, Maes lowered his head to Roy's bunk underneath his and nudged him softly with a slipper he found at hand-reach. "Asleep?" he whispered.
"No" Roy replied and rubbed his eyes to adjust to the darkness. One of the boys was snorting soundly, covering their whispers. "What is it?"
"Why did you do that? You know you can't save everyone, idiot. Do you know who that guy was?"
"Hmph" Roy snorted. "Of course I know. He's Crendell, the greatest kiss-my-ass dog in the MP. Don't worry, I've gotten his attention, it might get me some points. I'm becoming a state alchemist no matter what, and that guy won't be getting in my plans"
"You sure?"
"Come on, Maes, you never trust me. I earned something good today. Now, go to sleep, I don't want to make up something to cover for you sneaking out of your bed in the middle of the night, 'cause I might not"
"Bah, what a friend you are" Maes gasped and rolled back on his bed. "G'night, traitor"
"Goodnight, friend" Roy whispered and covered his head with his soft blanket, charmed from the hands of one of the girls who did the laundry in their dormitory.
...
"Roy! Help me here, man!" Carney yelled after Mustang. He turned sharply and looked at his fellow cadet, who held some porcelain crocks in his arms.
"What are these?" Roy asked and inspected the flowery fragments. His eyes blew wide in realisation. He saw this pattern somewhere, all he could hope was that they weren't what he thought they were.
"Major General Ackroy's traditional and super old Xingese vase. The one he said he will have our heads if we touched it. And I broke it"
"Shit" Roy cursed. "How the hell did you break it?"
"You see, I had to report our training results, that Crendell or whatever his name is sent me to deliver some papers into Ackroy's office, and I bumped into it. It was in front of the door! It was impossible to avoid it! I'm sure old man Ackroy did it on purpose! Roy, what am I gonna do, I graduate in three months, I will be demoted from the first day, or worse... What the fuck am I gonna do, man?"
"Easy, Carnes, do you have all the pieces?"
"I think so. I took all I could find there, it's clean now"
"Okay... let's see what I can do" he said and produced a piece of chalk from his pocked. He drew a circle and some other symbols on the floor and the pressed his fingertips to the surface, emitting blue light. The vase reformed itself in front of their eyes. "Was it something like this?" he asked, looking in the frightened grey eyes in front of him.
"Yeah, something like this... do you think he will notice?"
"The old man? Neah, he won't suspect a thing, after all, he doesn't know it's missing. Though the problem is how we put it back"
"I heard he isn't at the base right now. He would be returning in the evening"
"Great then! Let's put it back" Roy said and took the expensive vase in one arm and pulled Carney with the other. "Let's hurry before we get into trouble"
They sneaked in front of the office, looking around to make sure they were alone. Covered by Carney's back, Roy kneeled and started picking up the door's lock with the safety pin on his trainee badge and a needle he had hidden in his boot's lining. "How did you learn to break locks?"
"Out of necessity? You just make sure we're alone, I'm almost finished"
"Hurry, I hear steps"
An oblivious officer turned around the corner. Roy grabbed his colleague and dragged him inside just in time. "Whew, nailed it. Put it where it was"
Carney put the vase back where he found it, close to the doorframe. Indeed, if one didn't know it was there, he would definitely bump into it when he opened the door.
The knock turned, however, and both boys jumped under the desk. Roy put a hand over Carney's mouth, making sure any sounds he could possibly make were lost in his palm. The boy nodded, and he let his hand down.
The Major who visited their dorm two days before entered the office like he owned the place. He put some papers on the desk and then looked around. He cleared his throat, wondering if he closed the door or not the last time he entered, but shrugged. On his way out, he looked at the vase, and kneeled in front of it, examining it. He didn't remember that side being visible, but maybe he didn't look properly at it.
A Lieutenant entered the room and excused himself, informing Crendell he was needed in the conference room. The man nodded and left the room after a quick glance. The Lieutenant locked it back.
The boys let out a breath they've been holding the whole time. "Let's get the hell out of here"
After Roy had to pick again the lock and close it back, they ran down the corridor to the kitchen, where they were on duty that evening. There was great surprise when they bumped into the man that nearly discovered them in the General's office, who didn't seem moved about their haste or presence.
"Why is the hurry, cadets?" he asked, recognising Roy in an instant. "Oh, Mister Great Alchemist, how are you?"
"Very well, Sir, thank you. Are you finding your stay here pleasant?" Roy answered sheepishly, not knowing what to reply.
The Major crooked a brow, but then shook his head. "You're the first to ask, but I find it fine, quite fine as a matter of fact, thank you" That insolent kid, he dared asking such things. He wanted to know more about that black haired boy with long eyes.
Carney wanted to punch Roy in the gut with his pleasantries, but it seemed they worked. The officer looked at the brunette from head to toe, pausing at a small chalk smudge on his sleeve Roy hid naturally when he felt the scrutinising eyes on it. Crendell crooked a small smile and then nodded. "Well, return to your business, you are dismissed"
...
Other two days passed eventless, and Roy and Maes were relaxing on the lawn after a long morning of running around in the camp. The visiting Major, who they learnt he was an inspector in the military police who was promoted surprisingly fast in the past few years, was due to leave the next day. The whole camp was on fire, not because they had an inspection, that was their last worry, but because their General was way too excited for the visit. They had to triple their training results in a matter of days, and the entire team was drained from the effort.
After Ackroy was satisfied seeing his trainees looking something similar to dying fishes, they were granted a free afternoon. Only an hour passed since the lunch, and three quarters of the camp was already fast asleep, and the rest was crawling through the extensive training grounds to stretch a little after whatever they did that day. The scenery was sinister, and if any foreign dignitary would come and see their state, he would definitely laugh at the Amestrian military. They looked terrible.
Not much could be said about Roy. Working his charms with the lady who was in charge of scheduling their duties, he managed to get to work in the kitchen with Hughes and Carney, and that meant they did pretty much nothing. The work in the kitchen consisted into washing dishes and cooking, but they only got to clean half the dishes or even less, since they had special personnel to do the job, and they did that only twice a day, as they had training in the morning right after breakfast. The cooks liked them, so they even got some snacks when they were 'tired'. To keep up pretences, they took to help in the workshop, fixing things up.
Their good life in the military was proverbial. They used up their time for studying, Roy alchemy and Hughes the law, history and regulations, but they could always use a break.
They were hidden from the bright sun by a tall tree. Hughes was laying on his back with his eyes closed, and Roy was reading aloud some alchemy book with faded covers. "Hey, did you know I can change colours to things with alchemy?" he asked, rising the pencil to his mouth.
"Nope, I don't know shit about alchemy, remember? All I know is from what you read me when you are too bored of talking alone"
"Haha, fuck you" Roy hissed and nudged him with his boot.
"Why, are you tempted?" Maes asked laughing, doubling over. Roy frowned, his already rather long eyes turning into two thick black lines. "Why, what happened with you being so popular with the girls? Are you that desperate?" he retorted smugly.
"Hmph, you'd wish. So, what's with your colour changing?"
"I think I can make things other colours. I've only tried it on some rocks and a few objects, so would you lent me something? Something organic, maybe..."
"Like?"
"Your hair. I'd make it green. No, blue, to match the uniform"
"Nope, no way" Maes said and pulled his glasses higher on his nose.
"Ow, then you want it pink? That would suit you just fine"
"Argh, fuck off, Roy" he groaned and punched his friend in the shoulder, who started pouting. "You're lame, Hughes"
"That's just me"
"ROY!" a storm of long blond hair stopped at their feet, almost falling on the two friends. "Karl?" they asked in unison, seeing the golden haired officer gathering his hair on his back and trying to tie it back in its usual bun.
"You two, I'm in shit. As big shit. Really big shit. Huge!"
"Aham?" Hughes asked. "And we should do... what?"
"Well, I have no idea. That's why I'm here" Karl said. He was a very handsome young man, with fine features, and usually a fast working mind. Usually, mark the inflection. He was an absolute failure when it came to physical aptitudes, and that was the reason why he was assigned for duty in the training grounds. His father, a reputable army man to the core and officer with a large perspective, allowed his son a comfortable life, but he fought to prove his necessity. His area of expertise was communications, and he was damn good at it, thank you. But only at that.
The thing with him, he was madly in love with the Major General Ackroy's secretary, Mathilde Roseburg, whose small bureau was next to her employer, on the first floor. She was on duty that day, as in every day, and he thought he might surprise her throwing a pebble in her window and chat for a while, or just stare at each other. Something romantic, anything would do, in the end.
Obviously, the rock was poorly aimed, and it broke through the window. The General's window.
"And, matters worse-" he continued "- the old man Ackroy was inside"
"What? Wow, you did it this time, Karl" Maes said, chuckling. "The guy already loves you, he will be charmed by your declaration of reciprocation"
"Shut it, Hughes. It's serious! I fucking hit him with a rock! As in the back of the head, you know, and he kind of fainted? I hope he fainted. Shit, I killed my boss. Fuck!"
Duncan came running with Carney in toe. "We've just heard the story from Mathilde, what's the plan?"
"Is he still unconscious?" Roy asked, closing his book and raising from the ground. Duncan nodded. "Yeah, I might have slipped a sleeping pill after Mathilde came to ask for my help. Not much, but it will be fine for an hour or two. Hopefully"
"Great" he nodded. "Let's go, then. Hughes, up!"
"Yeah, yeah, Mom" Maes protested and followed the others. They went up to see what Karl managed to do. Carney ran after the small party that came to inspect the camp, making sure they were busy with other things and not bothering them while finding a way how to hide the incident.
Old man Ackroy, as he was called by everyone around the military grounds, the Eastern trainee camp supervisor and commanding officer, was sprawled on his desk, face buried in papers. His secretary, Mathilde, was pacing around the room, chewing her lower lip. When she saw them enter, she jumped startled. "Damn it, what took you so long?"
Karl hugged her closely. "Go take whatever makeup you have"
Roy drew out a piece of chalk and started doing his job on repairing the window. He took a glass from the table and transmuted it with the reasoning "He doesn't need to drink anyway"
While Roy was taking care of the first issue, Maes was arranging back the desk. It was amazing with how much force the little stone managed to hit the officer, especially coming from the pretty much useless hands of Karl, who lacked the strength. Mathilde ran to her room at the end of the corridor to gather everything that might look like makeup, and Duncan was cleaning the wounds Ackroy got from the impact. The cuts were rather deep, and he acclaimed the blond for his perfect aim. Karl sneered from his place, where he was copying the documents that were destroyed on the impact.
"I'm done with the window. You?" Roy said as he cleaned the chalk off the walls.
"I brought some powder and makeup. And eyeliner? Does it help?" Mathilde said, closing the door. "And there's no one on the corridor, we're safe"
"The crime scene is clean" Hughes retorted.
"I'm not finished yet" Karl said. "Two more signatures, and I'm done. He crumpled the poor pages quite badly"
"And no blood whatsoever" Duncan said and extended his hand to Mathilde. She gave him the makeup, and he looked at Roy, who took it and looked at what he had to do. He slowly covered the bump in the back of the head in powder, almost perfectly, and then turned to the bruise on the forehead. "Damn hard head" Maes hummed.
"How on Earth do we cover this? It's almost purple!" Duncan said, looking critically. "Karl, you sure made it this time"
"It's not my fault! It was an accident!" he defended himself.
"Sweetheart, continue what you were doing, let us do what we can" Mathilde barked back, sending shivers up her boyfriend's spine. He loved her, but damn, she could be frightening.
Hughes drew back and grinned. "Roy, I think our friend here got you the best experiment subject"
Mustang turned to look at the skin and smiled. "You're so right, and I know how we can cover the accident"
Helped by Mathilde, Roy applied the makeup and then played a little with the colours. With alchemy, he changed it into the perfect shade and made it very resistant on the skin. He didn't know too much about that type of alchemy, but it turned out just fine.
Someone knocked lightly on the door and then entered. "How are things looking up?" Carney asked. "The high-stuck asses are starting to make a move, we should get the hell out of here"
Karl rose from his seat and handled Maes the papers he forged. He was fairly skilled at that, and it came in handy, as none of them knew how to extract blood from materials and neat them perfectly. The room looked perfectly in order, and old man Ackroy was still out.
They double-checked everything, and then took their leave. The supervisor shifted a little, showing signs he would wake up, and they got out almost stumbling on each other.
When they found themselves back on the lawn, Karl sighed in contempt. "Guys, you're big days great. Thank you so much"
The group smiled and laughed at their idiocy, and made promises to meet each other at the final stage of the plan. That night, being the last of Crendell and his monkeys at the camp, the dinner was going to be a little more special, the trainees getting to drink a little with their comrades. It was like a celebration that they made it out the inspection. Their commanding officer wasn't that bad after all, he just went with the flow too far.
Major General Ackroy was reputed for his drinking like a dehydrated dying man. He drank at his earnest, his head getting lighter a lot faster than usual, courtesy to Carney messing with the alcohol his father, who owned a bar, sent him to drink with his buddies. After some special distillation, promptly performed by Duncan, who found a new business to explore after the charms selling got busted, they got a liquid that was more potent than anything they had at the base. Mixed with whatever they had serving, the results were excellent.
The supervisor was rosy and laughing, making jokes with everyone. Crendell loosened up a little, but couldn't help noticing a faint smudge of greenish purple on the older officer's forehead. He first put it on a drunken hit, but then saw the expecting eyes darting on the figure. From the corner, Roy, whom he remembered very clearly after their first meet and the next ones, and some other boys he faintly recognised, were scrutinising their commanding officer. One of them, a blond man with a tight bun in the back of his head, patted the brunette and another boy, like he was thanking them, and then left. Roy looked at his friend and smiled at an inside joke, and they subtly high-fived.
Crendell turned his eyes back on Ackroy, who was talking about some old war he fought in, right before he got transferred to the training camp, where he was currently stationed.
The Major smirked. He didn't know what was going in the black haired trainee's mind, and how it linked to the strange colouring on the Major General's forehead, but one thing he was certain of. He really wanted to meet that kid again. He had potential, more than he thought.
He looked forward to his graduation.
...
"Maes! Maes! MAES!" Roy knocked frantically on the door. "Open up!" he rattled again. Hughes opened the door to the small study in the back of the library with a frown. "What is burning, Roy?"
"My imagination. Let me in" he said and pushed his way inside.
"Well, come in, I think?" Hughes sighed and closed the door. He burrowed the keys from a librarian who allowed him to study in silence there.
No more silent studying, he thought grimly.
Roy took a seat in front of the desk and crossed his legs. "So, news. I have a good idea what to do after the graduation next week, and I might do it sooner than I thought"
"Oh, good. Spill it out" Maes said and went to his place.
"You see, you remember what I told you about my teacher?"
"The Bird-something guy?"
"Berthold Hawkeye, yes. I decided what type of alchemy I should master for the exam"
"Aha? Good, that's great! So, what's the thing?" Maes asked curiously and entwined his finger under his chin.
"Fire"
"Fire?"
"Yes, why not? I understand very well the basics of alchemy, and I can transmute without any problems, but I don't feel like this kind of simple skills would do the trick to enrol in the programme. I need something better, more... explosive?"
"And this is pretty much explosive, certainly" Maes snorted. "That's a good idea. So, did you tell your teacher?"
"That's the thing, he is very secretive when it comes to it. I tried suggesting him to teach me a few years ago, but he declined. And I never mentioned it again. Maybe, if he sees me as an enlisted man, he would tell me. After all, it's for a noble cause" Roy said dreamily. He was sure his teacher would teach him all he needed to know. After all, he had experience with alchemy now, and wanted to use it to help humanity.
"Well, good luck with that. I'm sure it will turn out just fine"
"Mhm, thanks. What about you? Do you have any plans for the moment?" Roy asked.
"Well, not much. I'm not in a hurry to die or something, unlike you, so I think I'll try to do something more peaceful, seeing the mess now in the South. I think I'll try and get in with the MPs. My law knowledge might come in handy"
"Oh, really? Nice"
"Yup. I heard girls love uniforms, so you bet I'll get there! Maybe meet some nice lady" Maes winked.
"Some nice lady mad enough to be with you, you mean" Roy chuckled and darted back to avoid being kicked in the leg.
"At least I'll get a nice lady, unlike you. What will you do, set her father on fire?"
"Haha, if I did, you would cover me, because you'll be a big guy in the police"
"Then it's a plan, my friend"
...
"I heard so much praise in your name, and I started to wonder who this amazing talent might be. I never thought it would be you, the trainee with the big mouth from two years ago" Crendell said as he read the briefing on Roy's academic evaluation and reviewed his grades on the practical exams for the national alchemy programme.
"Thank you, Sir, but I believe it's not the case. I'm not as talented as they say" Roy said, swallowing up his pride.
Crendell sneered. "Yes, yes, leave the modesty. I know what I'm seeing. I don't seem to find any problems in the way, as you have highest grades in everything. Well, welcome to the real military, Major Mustang. Momentarily, I shouldn't call you this, but you will receive a proper nickname. I wonder what our Fuhrer will think of your fire alchemy, it sounds interesting"
Roy bowed slightly. "Thank you, Colonel" he said, wondering how did the man manage to jump so many ranks in just two years and a half.
He left the office with a heavy heart, remembering what his teacher told him about the military, about the starved dogs and the sly wolfs. He needed to talk to Riza Hawkeye, but he didn't know where to find her. She allowed him to transcribe everything on her back and after he understood the formulas to burn the evidence tattooed on her skin, she disappeared. He wanted to let her know he succeeded, that he could at last help people like he always dreamed, but he guessed he should wait for that.
He wondered what Hughes was doing. He didn't see him in quite some time, he left after graduation to the Central City, and they haven't spoken since. All he could hope for his friend was to be happy.
He wondered what his aunt would say. She left the Eastern City for the Central too, to open a bar. He was sure she would be proud. If he found an available phone, he would call her. He had so many dreams... He felt like he could fly from all the possibilities.
And then, the war started.
There was no flying, in reality, just mud and blood.
XXXXX
Roy let go of Ed's hand to fish for his keys. He loved the coat he was wearing, but he could sometimes do with smaller pockets. Edward, whistling softly, leaned on a wall. The back-alley of their house was as dark as usual, and, if his vision wasn't that sharp, he would have missed the silhouette that waited at their door.
As Roy approached the said door, the light on top of the frame lit up, revealing a bored person. "Sir, with all due respect, I've been calling you for three hours, and I thought it would be better if I showed up in person"
"Lieutenant?" Roy made incredulously. "Do you know what time it is?"
"Yes, it's Sunday, twenty-four minutes to ten" she replied without looking at her watch. She must have counted the seconds while she waited. Roy pulled loose his scarf and mimicked for her to follow him inside, and narrowed his eyes at Ed. He simply shrugged and muttered something about it not being any of his concern.
Riza gladly accepted the cup of tea she was offered. "Thank you, Sir" she took a sip, all the while looking at Ed impassibly planted against the wall, arms crossed.
"If Edward's presence is hindering your speech, don't worry, he's the last person to sell us out" Roy suggested, noticing the unease in the female officer.
"Yes, pardon me. It's just..." she cleared her throat and started again "I received some unsettling news regarding the annual evaluation of the troops. In attendance, besides our usual faces, we will be having new ones"
"HAH!" Ed made from his corner. "Don't tell me it's your guy, Mustang, it'd be just over the top"
"Excuse me?" Riza said in disbelief.
"Just follow your idea, Lieutenant" Roy waved his hand to further his point.
"Um, yes, I made a list with the names of all the officers that will be observing the procedures. It is here" she produced a paper from her coat and gave it to her commanding officer. He read it carefully and then placed it on the coffee table. Roy frowned and cleared his throat. "Thank you for the information, I will see to it"
"Very well then, Sir. I will take my leave, now, goodnight" Hawkeye said and left, barely masking a yawn. She was tired after the all-nighters she had to pull out recently.
Ed tapped his foot into the floor, rising Roy's attention. The man sighed and pulled out his wallet to collect a note of a hundred cenz and passed it into his waiting hand, the pay for the lost bet. The blond nodded and smirked "Told ya"
Roy chuckled. He watched Ed escalade the stairs to their bedroom, and ran his hand through his hair. During their evening out, he did a briefing of his first interaction with this fellow Crendell, who took a strange liking, almost dangerous, to him. They had been digging each other's graves for some good years now, and the story was too long to tell in only one night. Edward had to wait for the details, and tomorrow was supposed to be a messy day.
His 'old friend' Albert Crendell, about whom he had no idea what he was up to this time, was coming back to Central City, after a long absence in Drachma for diplomatic reasons, and asked for an audience with Roy.
He was so joyed he felt his gut twisting. His stomach was making turns. He was so ecstatic, he felt like throwing up.
Hooray for a new week at work in the greatest institution of them all. Hooray.
A/N: Ta-da, that's it for now, I hope you enjoyed it. I guess it's kind of confusing, but I'm getting to the main thing. So, thank you so much for reading, and please don't forget to leave a review, follow and favourite! And happy holidays, everyone!
Till the next time, bye bye!