Okay, so I know its been... A year... Since I last updated this. But here it is! I know that the majority of you don't remember this story, and if you do, you're just now realizing how sucky it truly is. I'd appreciate it if you reviewed anyway!

Disclaimer: It's been a year, but I still don't own FMA.

Chapter Five:

Pet Names and Goodnight Texts

Roy blinked steadily, trying to forget the semi-awkward evening he had had with Edward last night. Well, he was fairly sure that the blond noticed next to nothing different in his behavior, or ignored whatever he thought might be strange. Roy had gone home earlier that night than usual, making up some excuse about being exhausted from the Phys Ed class he had had earlier that day.

Edward had said nothing about his pathetic excuse, but his eyes shone with suspicion. And now, here Roy was, the pale light of early morning streaming through his curtains as he tried to forget exactly how his heart starting beating faster after seeing his best friend. Yes, Edward was attractive. Yes, Edward was a great person. Yes, his personality made Roy want to spoil him rotten. Yes, Ed's bright grins made Roy's day.

But that didn't necessarily mean that he was in love with the guy, right?

Of course it didn't.

There was no was that Roy Mustang really was in love with Edward Elric.

"Hey, so, Roy..." Edward muttered as they walked into the cafeteria. "You sure this whole thing doesn't bother you?"

At this exact moment in time, there was one thing that was bothering Roy. It was that he couldn't figure out his own damn feelings towards Edward. But looking into those concerned golden eyes, he said the only words that managed to fumble out of his mouth. "Nah, don't worry about it."

Ed looked wary, but shrugged. "If you say so. Don't blame me when we're holding hands and going to fuckin' prom together so no one figures it out."

Holding hands with Edward didn't sound too bad. "Just make sure our ties match." Roy winked. "I'll buy you a corsage." Smirking, he slid into the cafeteria booth next to Riza.

"Smug bastard." Ed mumbled, frowning before selecting his own seat next to Alphonse.

"Lovers quarrel already?" Jean asked with a grin before taking a rather large bite of his hamburger. "Come on, chief," he glanced towards Roy, "don't go makin' your lovely boyfriend all upset so early in the day."

Roy smirked, reaching over the tabletop to grab Edward's hand that wasn't holding his plastic fork. "Havoc's right." He squeezed Ed's hand, "forgive me, darling?"

Ed made a disgusted face. "Let go of my hand, asshole."

The raven-haired teen clutched his chest in mock pain. "Oh, Ed, you wound me."

The group laughed, Jean joking about how Ed was just too shy to show any PDA in public. Ed was torn between blushing and throwing his fork at the other blond.

"So, you two, have you had the chance to go on any dates yet?" Maes asked, glasses glinting ominously in the cafeteria lighting. "You two so owe me photos."

"We don't owe you shit." Ed replied, suppressing the grin the tried to appear on his face.

This time Maes was the one who acted wounded. "Ed, how could you say such a thing? After all these years I've been supporting you two to further develop your relationship, and yet I don't even get photos?"

Now, if Roy and Ed had been in a real relationship, Ed supposed that he just might've felt like he owed the bespectacled man something. But their relationship was fake, and there were no date photos to speak of. But before he could open his mouth, Roy spoke up.

"Well, Ed, we'll just have to take photos on our date this weekend to make it up to him, won't we?"

"What the hell? What date?" Ed growled, his cheeks tinging pink. He had come to the cafeteria for some peace so he could devour his lunch, and instead he had ended up with a half-eaten meal and a date with his best friend.

"Ed, darling, don't tell me you forgot about our date this weekend." Roy sighed dramatically, aware of the onlookers from other tables. "I swear, sometimes I just don't know how I ended up falling in love with you."

"Maybe you shouldn't have." He snorted, barely repressing the urge to roll his eyes.

Roy's hand pinched his cheek lightly. "Now, love, don't say something like that." He turned to the group of friends sitting at the table who were watching their interaction with identical smug looks on their faces. "Ed and I are going out this weekend, I'll be sure to take photos."

"And just where are you two lovebirds going?" Riza asked, sipping her bottled drink calmly, but with a smile.

Roy threw her a wink. "It's a surprise."

Roy had to admit that he was having more fun than he thought he would while he was acting as Edward boyfriend. Being able to have random bouts of physical contact, and being able to see Ed's flustered face when he said the word 'date' or 'boyfriend' or 'darling' filled him with an emotion he couldn't quite describe. It was above amusement, possibly closer to something like adoration. And well, being able to call Ed his boyfriend wasn't exactly the worst thing in the world.

Sure, Edward had his faults. He was moody and irritable and he was quick to strike. But when he smiled, the whole world felt alright. Ed's blushing face was one of the prettiest sights he had ever seen. His laughter was deep, genuine and loud. It was the sort of laugh that came from deep in the chest, a rumbling sort of barking laughter that was always a few notches too loud.

Edward had the worst taste of anyone he had ever met. It was all spikes and skulls, and it was simply horrid. He was homoromantic, but he was also asexual, meaning there was a large chance that if they were ever to have a real relationship, it would never go beyond a certain point. If it had been anyone else, Roy wouldn't have been able to even consider starting a relationship knowing that fact, but with Ed, it was different. He would be content just having Ed's hand in his as they watched some crappy horror movie for the umpteenth time and shared a bowl of crappy buttery popcorn.

Was this what love was? Roy couldn't say that he really knew. It was something he had never experienced before. It was a light feeling, as if his heart was soaring, but in a way it made him feel a bit like a parashooter that had just jumped from the airplane and wasn't quite sure the parachute would work.

His phone buzzed, and onyx eyes glanced at the screen. It was a text from Ed. 'Night, bastard' and Roy's chest bloomed with warmth. 'Goodnight, darling' he texted back with a teasing kissy emoji. Goodnight texts and morning greetings, they always made him smile.

If you were to skip all the whys, whens, or even the hows, Roy guessed that a kind of warm feeling like this would last an eon. Or well, it would last for as long as Edward was by his side. In a way, it was like this was always meant to happen. Ed was his friend, his best friend. But if their relationship could be something even closer, wouldn't that be even better?

Roy wasn't sure if this was love, but he was almost certain that it was like. At 12:16 AM on a Thursday, Roy wasn't entirely sure whether or not he fell in love, but he certainly fell into like.

Unlocking his phone, he went into his photos to find the last photo he and Ed had taken together. In the photo, Ed was grinning widely, his golden eyes sparkling, and Roy had his arm around Ed's shoulder. Once again, the warm feeling in his chest bloomed.

Well, maybe there was just a hint of love in there too.

To be continued

Hey so I know I suck because I haven't updated in a year, but I swear I'll update again soon! Review so I know whether you hate me or not (it's okay if you do).