5 years later

Roy had been fighting with some noodle stragglers when the phone rang.

He hadn't had Xingese in a while, but for the past two weeks he'd been having it pretty much everyday, like he used to do. But now he wondered how he had ever lived on this every day. He'd gotten used to Ed's cooking, and now Xingese didn't hit the same.

A travesty.

He pushed the empty bowl aside and tried not to rush to the phone on the wall, even though he was positive this was going to be—

"Ed?"

"You bastard," Ed said, and for a moment Roy paused, needing more information to determine whether Ed was mad at him or if this was a happy greeting. "Whatever that sappiness is you have, I have now fucking contracted it and it's so fucking embarrassing—"

Roy huffed a laugh despite himself, even though he had no idea what Ed was talking about. Just hearing his voice had instantly put him in a good mood. "Has something happened?"

Ed was quiet for a beat, and Roy couldn't help the flair of concern. "Well, I have come to the conclusion that I miss you. And even just saying that makes me want to throw up just a bit, because it's horrifically embarrassing—"

Roy's chest felt warm, his heart blooming like a flower. "I may or may not miss you too."

Ed snorted, and even that was a familiar sound that made him smile. "So you're having a meltdown." Before Roy could vehemently deny this, Ed continued. "I'll be back soon, try not to transform into a Xingese noodle in the meantime."

"I'm moving on to Cretan soon."

"Shit," Ed hissed, but Roy could hear the smile. "Situation's worse than I thought. I better hurry, then."

Roy chuckled, leaning against the wall with his shoulder as he tried to picture Ed, at a fancy Xingese phone booth, talking to him. "Ed, just enjoy yourself, I'm fine. No need to worry about me."

Ed was in Xing. Around four years ago Alphonse had made the leap and moved to Xing, where he eventually decided to settle, with Mei Chang. The wedding had been extravagant, and Roy was happy for them, but he couldn't help worrying how Ed would be affected being so far away from his brother. He couldn't help the niggling thoughts, even after all this time together, that Ed would choose Alphonse over Roy and move to be closer to him.

So far, that hadn't happened. But what Ed did like to do was visit Alphonse twice a year, each time for up to three weeks.

Roy endured. He never looked forward to the Ed-less periods of time; he always got sucked into work and stayed late, and didn't eat well, and just generally soldiered on until Ed returned, but getting random phone calls from Ed eased the ache just a bit. Especially when Ed rediscovered his ability to miss Roy every single time.

Ed grunted. "A bit hard to do when I miss you this bad, asshole. This is all your fault."

Roy was grinning despite himself. "Love you too, dear," he teased.

Ed sighed, deeply, wearily. "Don't die on me please."

Roy smirked. "I am fully capable of taking care of myself, Ed. I don't need a babysitter."

Ed ignored him. "I'll be back in…four days and three hours."

"You don't know how many minutes? I'm hurt."

"Fuck off."

Roy's smirk eased into a fond smile as his chest squeezed with—love, excitement, anticipation. There was a lot happening lately he was grateful for, but he had a lot to do still as well. He had plans, and some of those even Ed didn't know about. Those were probably the most important ones. "My inauguration is in six days."

"You don't have to keep reminding me, I'll be there."

"You better be." Because if he wasn't, Roy would potentially have a meltdown, and that would be bad. If he thought about it too hard he started freaking out already. He needed Ed there.

Ed chuckled. "Like I said, I'll be there in four days and three hours."

Roy took a breath. He only had to wait another four days. He could do that. "I can't wait."

Ed was quiet for a moment. "Yeah, me neither."

"Ed."

Ed had always liked the way Roy said his name. Maybe it was because for so long Roy had simply called him Fullmetal—tried to put an invisible barrier between them that left Ed feeling a very weird mix of disappointment and rejection. So now that Roy called him Ed—such a small, little thing—Ed cherished it.

Roy said his name in many different ways. It was kind of impressive, really, how much emotion Roy could convey simply by saying his name. And he said his name all the time—whether he was angry, stressed, mushy, sappy, concerned. A simple Ed conveyed way more to Ed than Roy probably realised.

And right now, this was his I am borderline hysteric and trying to act really cool about it kind of Ed.

"I'm coming!" Ed yelled, just to put off the inevitable second Ed, this one always more potent than the last.

Ed was going to give him this one though; it was Roy's inauguration today, and if Ed thought he'd been indecisive and perfectionistic about his appearance in the last five years, he was now greatly reevaluating his scale.

Going-out-for-a-meal Roy had nothing on becoming-Fuhrer-today Roy.

Ed ran into the bedroom—yes, that Ed had constituted running—and took in the mess that was Roy Mustang.

Well, inner mess. Outwardly, he looked like a put-together hot motherfucker. Goddamn him.

Ed clutched the coins he'd ran to retrieve in his fist and walked closer to Roy. "What's up?"

Roy took a deep breath, fiddling with his slicked-back hair in the mirror. Ed had never had a preference for that look. It was too put-together, too bastard-y. He liked his bastard served a bit more mussed up. "I want you by my side."

"On the podium?" Ed exclaimed, and rightfully so, because that was a Very Bad Idea. One of Roy's best, actually.

Roy sighed again. "Would that be unwise?"

Roy knew it would be, Ed didn't have to tell him. But even the fact that he was bringing it up made Ed realise just how stressed Roy was about this. So he pursed his lips and gently said, "Well, kinda. Just cause, you know, it's your inauguration today and I'm technically not supposed to be involved with you at all, and if asked why I'm even at the ceremony we planned for me to say I'm just paying respects to some old friends, and—"

Roy sighed a third time. "Yes, yes, you're right."

Ed sort of, kinda, wanted to give him a hug, and maybe make out a bit to relieve some stress, but Roy would freak out over a simple crinkle in his uniform—and no, Ed wouldn't even dare touch the hair.

So instead he raised his fist and opened his palm up, presenting Roy with the coins.

Roy stared.

520 cents. Not the original that Roy had given him but 520 cents all the same. He debated whether this was obsolete—he and Roy had been together for over five years now, after all—but he kept his promises, goddammit.

Roy kept staring at his palm like he'd never seen money before, and then scoffed, turning back to the mirror. "You owe me a lot more than that. Your stomach is an endless pit."

Ed gaped at him. That fucking bastard. Maybe Ed was fucked in the head from all those concussions he got as a teenager and that was why he was in love with this guy.

"Fine, asshole." Ed gripped the coins again, and went to stomp out the room and pretend he was mad for five minutes when Roy sighed again and then he felt guilty.

So he paused, turning round and staring at Roy's stressed back. "Why are you this anxious?"

"I'm fine."

Ed snorted. "No, you're not. You can't fool me."

Roy looked back at him, dismayed. "Are you sure the bond didn't leave a channel to my emotions open for you?"

Ed laughed. "Nah." They'd had this conversation before, so Ed didn't need to elaborate on how he could just read Roy like an open book based on the intonation of his name.

Roy turned back to the mirror. "Wouldn't you be nervous if you were going to your own inauguration?"

Ed shrugged. "Probably."

Roy watched as Ed plopped down on the bed, leaning back against his hands. "You'll be there, right?"

"Yes, Roy, for fuck's sake, we've been over this."

Ed had joked once about maybe skipping the boring part and joining in for the food after, and Roy had spasmed with stress so hard Ed thought he'd lost him. And then he'd said if you do that to me, Ed all ominously, the Ed implying very murderous intent, and Ed had very smartly said he was joking and then Roy had made a dying sound in his throat which Ed hadn't been sure what it meant.

But honestly, he hoped Roy wasn't this stressed because he wasn't sure if Ed would be in the crowd. Of course Ed would be in the crowd.

Roy cleared his throat, and straightened. "I best go downstairs, lest I miss the driver arriving."

Ed didn't reply, smirking after him as Roy very carefully descended the stairs so as to not crease his pants.

Ed could almost feel the emotion coming from Roy, he knew him that well now. He had a tell; clearing his throat and straightening, his words coming out a tad bit more formal than usual. Pursing his lips when he was holding something back or reevaluating. Ed knew all of them.

He hadn't told Roy, of course, because knowing him he'd be alarmed that he even had a tell at all and he'd teach himself to change it, and that would be a damn shame. So it was Ed's little secret.

He eventually joined Roy downstairs, just as the driver honked outside.

Roy went rigid, straightening again and acting all cool and unbothered. But, oh, Ed knew. Roy was freaking the fuck out.

Roy walked to the door, where he paused, turning back to look at Ed who was standing purposely out of the driver's view. "I shall see you there."

Ed grinned, and gave him a very exaggerated double thumbs up. "You got this."

Roy didn't seem impressed.

Ed was going to be honest; he'd zoned out during that entire speech. It wasn't that it had been a bad speech; quite the opposite. Roy's stupidly sexy baritone voice strung words together and delivered them so perfectly it often left Ed in awe, but he'd never had the attention span for speeches. It was no wonder, really, that he'd zoned out or dozed off countless times over the years when Roy had been talking to him.

He just went on and on and on…Bastard should just take it as a compliment that Ed found his voice that relaxing, really.

Ed was currently stuffing his face with mediocre rich people buffet food when Roy approached him. At first he was surprised; he actually hadn't been expecting Roy to speak to him today—not in public. But maybe he thought a brief conversation for the cameras would show the public Flame and Fullmetal were on good terms—

Fuck, he was becoming as bad as Roy.

"You fell asleep, didn't you?"

Ed blinked, looking at Roy probably a bit more hesitantly than he usually would. Because, well, he hadn't been expecting to be called out like that. "I mean…Not entirely. It was a good speech."

Roy's lips twitched up. "How would you know? You fell asleep."

Ed felt his cheeks burn. "Your mouth would've spouted beautiful bullshit whether I listened or not."

Roy looked at him then, head on, and the tease in his eyes may or may not have turned Ed on just a bit. Goddamn him. At least the bastard seemed more relaxed now. Sexily relaxed.

Ed had expected Roy to keep teasing him about dosing off, but he said, "I have called for a driver for you. I will meet you at home."

And then the bastard walked away, immediately doing his charm thing to someone else, and Ed was left with an inexplicable semi as he continued stuffing his face with food.

He waited for the cab almost anxiously, but he knew full well by now the difference between anticipation and anxiety—especially when that anticipation was more sexual in nature.

As soon as the cab came he was in it, driving off, and then he was waiting at home, his leg bouncing as he lay on the couch—and fuck Roy for having the face that he had, to be honest.

He had no idea how long he waited for Roy to come home. He stared at the ceiling a lot, his groin throbbing until he found ways to distract himself—but then he'd think of Roy and the cycle would begin again.

Roy was such a fucking tease.

He couldn't blame his cock, really, for going rock hard the moment he heard Roy's keys in the lock.

Roy sauntered in like he owned the whole country—oh wait, he did.

He was going to be insufferable.

Ed jumped up from the couch, scowling, but it was half-hearted. "Took your damn time, didn't you?"

Roy raised a brow, looking for a moment genuinely confused, but then his voice was dripping with mock innocence as he said, "Well, I couldn't just leave my own inauguration party early, could I? I had a country to entertain."

One of these days Ed would kill him. Not kill kill him, but kill him.

"Glad to know your cockiness has just grown tenfold, bastard," Ed grouched. "And here I thought this morning would keep you humble for at least five minutes."

Roy smiled at that. Fucking weirdo.

But then he walked closer, wrapping his arms around Ed's waist and—eh, Ed couldn't exactly say he was mad.

"Thank you for waiting," Roy said, in that deep, intimately quiet voice of his that always made Ed melt—he had to be doing it on purpose, right? "I suppose I need to make it up to you."

And well—Ed really couldn't be mad at that.

Ed felt his body relax instinctively. "Yeah, whatever." He gripped Roy's new uniform jacket. "Let's get you out of this thing."

Roy's smile widened—more of a smirk, really, but Ed was purposely ignoring that—and he unclasped his jacket, shrugging it off and draping it very carefully over the back of the couch.

And then he started undoing his shirt buttons, and Ed was hard again.

"Fuck," he said, slightly annoyed with himself for being that desperate, and turned away towards the stairs, pretending to be unbothered—as if Roy would believe that. "Come upstairs, I'm tired."

Roy followed, a warm, steady presence behind him. It was making Ed aware of the blood pumping through his veins.

Ed was, to the detriment of his wants and needs, ignoring Roy as he got ready for bed. But he could feel Roy's amusement around him as he followed suit and got undressed for bed.

"I may need to have a shower," Roy said, and absolutely that was amusement in his voice. "If you'd like to join me."

Ed frowned, looking at him. "You can have one in the morning."

"But, ah." Roy lifted his head, slightly mussing up his carefully slicked-back hair. "This won't be a look in the morning."

Ed couldn't help the smirk as he pictured that.

Why was he stalling this? Why was he being so fucking stubborn? Roy knew he was horny. Roy knew he had been waiting all this time just to jump his bones. Roy knew his tells just as well as Ed knew Roy's. But the bastard had made it very obvious he was willing to drag this out until Ed actually climbed him like a tree.

Bastard was a damn tease.

Ed's exhale was harsh and loud in the room. He didn't wait to see Roy's reaction as he strode towards him and roughly pushed him onto the bed.

Roy fell with a grace that shouldn't be allowed. His body lightly bounced on the mattress as he grinned up at Ed—a shit-eating grin, because he'd gotten what he wanted.

At least he'd gotten rid of all the military bullshit, and all that was left on him was his boxers.

Ed was about to rip them off him.

"Thought you were playing hard to get." Roy was smirking at him now, clearly aware of where Ed's mind had gone when he'd looked at his boxers.

Ed glared at him, and then made the executive decision to lean down and kiss the smirk off his lips.

Roy grabbed him like a man starved—he always did though, like Ed was air while he was drowning, like Ed was keeping him sane in this crazy world. He kissed him deep and thorough, their tongues caressing each other as Ed's whole body throbbed at Roy's proximity.

He smelled so good. He always did. Something deep, and hot, and Roy. It reminded him of the days when Ed would be pining for him—and never, ever admitting it—and he'd catch a whiff of his scent and he'd be running to the bathroom, his cock rock hard.

Roy shifted under him, hips angling perfectly to get friction on his cock. Ed pressed his hips down, reciprocating, until he remembered the boxers.

He broke the kiss, making quick work of both his and Roy's boxers, and then hovered over Roy, inhaling his exhale, hands planted on either side of his head.

Roy's hair had become a sad affair, mussed and ruined, but still shiny from the gel. He was smirking up at Ed with the cockiness he'd come to love, but there was something vulnerable and open about it. Ed loved that even more.

He leaned down, attacking Roy's neck in the torturous way he loved, brutally sucking and licking and biting, until Roy was gasping and his hands came to grab his biceps. Ed grabbed his hair in a fist and turned his head to attack the other side of his neck.

"Ed," Roy panted. God, Ed loved it when Roy was out of breath like that. "You're going to leave a mark."

Ed released the patch of skin from between his lips with a small pop. "And that's meant to make me wanna stop?"

Roy chuckled breathily, but let Ed do what he wanted. Roy was Fuhrer now, no one could say anything about a hickey. Hell, after today, it would be weird if he didn't have any lovemaking marks.

When Ed finally released Roy's neck, satisfied with the three hickeys that were already starting to show, he pulled back to look at Roy's face…

He took in Roy's flushed cheeks, his mussed up hair, his hooded, hazy eyes. Ed's whole body burned at the sight. At the sight of this man, who was somehow his, who Ed was actually allowed to grab and bite and claim.

Roy's arms had wrapped around Ed's waist, and they stared at each other until Roy moved again, slightly, to get Ed to lean more of his weight on him.

Ed took the hint and rolled his hips, his eyes on Roy's face. He watched as Roy's eyes flickered shut, as he took a choppy, shallow breath when their cocks rubbed against each other.

He noticed everything about Roy, from the small dip in his brows when he was concentrating to the small burn scars on his fingertips. There was no bit of information he left untouched when it came to Roy Mustang.

And, in moments like these…Well, Ed was an easy man. And often, when it came to Roy Mustang, a man with no self-control.

He rolled his hips a few more times, growling with every wave of pleasure, but soon he was all-out thrusting, Roy grasping onto his hips and urging him on as they grunted and gasped and groaned. Fuck, they needed some lube, they couldn't just come like this, like fucking teenagers—

Ed looked at Roy, then, at his flushed face he was so self-conscious of, at the way Roy was looking at him, and he realised, perhaps a bit belatedly—

Roy was in that mood.

And that mood was rare. When he let Ed take control. When he wanted Ed to take control. When he wanted Ed to—

Ed paused, his brain synapses struggling to work. He stopped thrusting, leaning over Roy to get the lube from the bedside table. Roy's hands were caressing his sides, his back, trailing over his ass and deliciously distracting him—but Ed needed to focus right now.

And then it occurred to him; was this what Roy had meant when he'd said he'd make it up to him? Had Roy planned this? Or was it a more spontaneous thing he felt—

Not a thought to be having now, dammit, it didn't matter—

Roy squeezed his side. "Ed?"

Ed took a breath. "Sorry, I—My brain's a bit fucked."

Roy chuckled, that sexy, throaty, deep sound that always had Ed's balls aching. "We don't have to—"

"Shut up," Ed said, slightly out of breath. He squirted the lube on his hand and Roy shifted his legs, and holy fuck Ed had been right—

It wasn't often Roy wanted Ed to fuck him. It had taken about three years into their relationship for Roy to even want to try it, and since then it had been a very rare, very sporadic thing. Ed didn't mind; he wasn't under any pretences that he was any good at it, and their sex life was infinitely better when Roy was the one expertly fucking him into the mattress.

After their first time doing the opposite, Roy had needed a whole day to process, and Ed had genuinely worried he'd somehow ruined everything. It turned out that Roy had enjoyed it, but preferred to be the one buried in Ed. Well, Ed shared the sentiment.

But there were times, very rare times, when Roy wanted it. He never outwardly said it. But there were hints; ways that Roy acted, ways that Roy looked at him, and Ed had started to get the hint.

Ed worked on stretching him open, distracting Roy as he kissed and bit his neck, his free hand slowly caressing his cock. Roy was focusing on his breath, relaxing his muscles as he ran his fingers over Ed's shoulder.

Ed never questioned what got him into this particular mood. And he especially didn't question why he wanted this right now, on the night he became Fuhrer. If anything, Ed had expected Roy to want to do the fucking tonight, like most nights, but especially tonight, when he officially became an actually important person.

Like a control thing. A bastard thing. But Roy always continued to surprise him.

With three fingers buried deep into Roy, he said, "You okay?"

Roy looked at him, his gaze piercing, and his lips twitched up in a little smirk. Ed had his answer.

He removed his fingers, slicking up his cock and shivering despite himself, and then Roy was shifting again, spreading his legs further. Ed fisted his cock with one hand and grasped Roy's thigh with the other, pushing it upwards, towards him, to get better access. Roy wasn't anywhere near as flexible as him, but they made it work.

As Ed pushed into him, he couldn't help the gasp, the way he had to grit his teeth to not combust on the spot. Roy was tight. Even his own fist wasn't this tight, and he liked that—that being inside Roy was a unique experience.

Roy was mostly silent as Ed pushed further, but his stuttering breaths gave him away.

Ed bottomed out with one last, quick thrust, and he paused, focusing on his breathing. Fuck, how did Roy keep his composure doing this? How did he not come on the spot?

Roy's arms wrapped around him, easing Ed down onto him. Ed lowered down onto his elbows, placed on either side of Roy's head. He'd shut his eyes, breathing heavily as he waited for Roy to adjust. Every little movement was making him want to thrust.

Roy's fingers traced small circles on his back. Ed could feel his warm breath on the side of his face, his nose nuzzling his cheek. It was comforting, to have Roy this close. Where he had no chance of ever leaving.

Experimentally, he pulled back to the tip, and then slowly, gently, pushed all the way back in. His whole body was throbbing. He was so hard he was sure Roy could feel the throb inside him.

"Fuck, Roy," he said. He sounded absolutely wrecked but—who wouldn't be, in this situation?

Roy kissed his sweaty neck. He must've felt Ed's pulse hammering on his lips.

Roy's hands lowered to his ass, gripping tight and firm as he made Ed thrust. Telling Ed he was ready, that Ed could—

Ed's hips thrust involuntarily, a bit harder than what he'd intended, and Roy's breath left him in a gasp.

Shit, had he hurt him?

Roy groped his ass harder, telling him to thrust again—and Ed did. He thrust again and again, slowly losing it but trying to keep cool. He buried his face in Roy's neck, groaning and grunting, and Roy's nails were digging into his ass, and Ed was going to explode.

"Feels good?" Roy mumbled.

Ed embarrassingly whined. "Yeah."

He was on the cusp of orgasm, embarrassingly, so he slowed down, rolling his hips gently instead.

Roy's hands left his ass to stroke his back again, gently easing his hair to one side. Ed was extremely aware he was currently panting against Roy's cheek, but he also couldn't move because he'd come.

One of Roy's hands cupped his cheek and turned his face enough to kiss him, softly and lovingly, and that was when Ed remembered precisely how Roy liked this. Slow, and sensual, and romantic. It only just occurred to him that every time Roy had wanted it like this he'd been more…gentle.

Ed took a breath and repositioned himself, just enough to get a deeper angle. And then he thrust again, but this time he did it slow, and deep, rolling his hips against Roy's ass and letting him feel every inch.

Roy shivered, and Ed took that as a good sign.

The sparks of pleasure were shutting down his brain once more, so he buried his face in Roy's neck again, focusing on his breathing. Roy's arms came around him and held him, tightly, as he took every thrust.

Roy wasn't a noisy person, not really. He still, even after five years together, tried to stifle any sort of noise from leaving his mouth. But that was exactly why Ed knew that every gasp, every grunt, every moan, that left Roy's mouth was involuntary and real. And for him to be unable to stifle it meant that something Ed was doing felt good.

Ed had reached the point of loud panting, every breath a half-moan half-gasp. Roy was gasping with him, his nails digging into his back until he was sure he'd leave marks, but it added to the pleasure of every thrust—and fuck, Roy felt so good, he had no chance—

"Roy—" He came with a gasp and a few brutal, deep thrusts, which caused Roy to groan, goddamn him—

And then he felt the wetness on his stomach, and it took him an embarrassingly long second to realise Roy had come untouched.

He all but collapsed onto Roy, his cock throbbing and his pulse in his throat.

He listened to Roy breathe, feeling his chest rising and falling against his.

Roy had come untouched. Holy shit. Did he mention it? Did he keep quiet? Was this something Roy would potentially be embarrassed about and need a twenty four hour processing session?

Roy was holding him tightly still, his arms wrapped all the way around his back like a hug. Ed was again breathing onto his cheek.

He shifted, a bit self-consciously, and said, "You okay?"

He saw Roy's throat bob as he swallowed. "Yes."

Shit, was that a good sign? Roy had said yes, but Ed couldn't always rely on his words when his body language seemed weird—

A sudden spike of worry gave Ed the energy needed to lift his bodyweight onto his hands and gaze down at Roy.

His face was blotchy red, which was fucking cute even if he hated it. His hair was ruined beyond repair—knowing Roy, he'd definitely be having a shower right about now—and his eyes were still hazy from the orgasm.

He looked spent. And hot.

Roy grinned at him, then, and Ed felt his heart clench as the worry dissipated. "You're getting better at this."

Ed narrowed his eyes at him, but it was playful. "I would take that as a compliment if it was from anyone other than your condescending ass."

Roy laughed, and he looked calm and relaxed and happy, and fuck Ed was so in love with him. "Nothing condescending about what I said." His hand gently slapped Ed's ass cheek before resting there, his warmth seeping into Ed's skin. "I mean it, Ed."

Ed felt his cheeks burning, and it wasn't from his orgasm. "Yeah, well, I very nearly came in like two minutes, so—"

"But you didn't," Roy said, and then his grin became a smirk, and Ed was instantly on alert— "This time."

Ed growled, pulling out of Roy completely as he pulled back and glared down at him. "I'd be offended, but I can't find it in me to be insulted by a guy who has his own cum all over his stomach."

Okay, a bit petty, but fuck him.

Roy rolled his eyes. "Really, Ed?"

Ed got off the bed and threw the tissue box on Roy's chest. Roy chuckled again, the bastard— "Leaving me to clean myself up? How gentlemanly of you."

Ed scowled at him, but it was more out of embarrassment than anything. "This time I made you come real good, asshole."

Roy was doing the sexy smirk thing. "That you did."

Ed grunted, his cheeks flaming and his heart pounding. "Gonna go have a shower."

"Am I invited?" He could hear Roy's smirk.

Ed glanced back at him as Roy rose onto his elbows and sexily cocked his head. "I'll think about it."

10 years later

He'd never get tired of this view.

The Fuhrer's office, with its floor to ceiling windows and its ample natural light, felt like paradise compared to the other offices he'd worked in.

He had an overarching view of Central, and he found he often got lost in his thoughts while gazing at the people mulling about their daily lives, or the soldiers entering and exiting Headquarters. Riza would call it procrastinating. He called it contemplating his country.

But today wasn't just any other day. And he was just slightly nervous about it.

A knock on his door had him swirling in his chair, an eyebrow already cocked in curiosity. But the person gave themselves away by entering without Roy's verbal permission.

Ed stared him down, looking gorgeous as per usual in a white button up and slacks.

"Ed," Roy said, needlessly. He just liked saying his lover's name. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

Ed's eyes narrowed, and he strode closer, until he stood right in front of Roy's desk. Just like old times. "I've come to fucking collect you, that's what."

Roy had to try really hard not to show his amusement. "Collect me?"

Ed grunted, stuffing his hands in his pockets. "Not letting you work late today."

He smirked. A bit of play time wouldn't hurt. "Oh? And what is special about today that I'm not allowed overtime?"

He knew, of course.

"Our anniversary, bastard! You're the one who keeps saying you want to make a big deal out of this and then you go and forget!" Ed glared at him, and he seemed genuinely agitated, which amused Roy further. How could he still not know when Roy was messing with him?

They'd had plenty of playful arguments about this over the years. He and Ed had different anniversary dates; while Roy liked to think he was being classy by designating the day he told Ed to come home as their official get-together date, Ed had always strongly believed the day Roy had pushed him against the kitchen counter and ravished him for the first time to be the big shift in their relationship.

And while that was true, Roy hadn't been far enough into his process then, as Ed liked to call it.

So what they had ended up doing instead was celebrate two anniversaries. And while Roy of course remembered both, Ed always forgot his. So Roy always pretended to forget Ed's. Perhaps it looked a bit petty on the outside, but Ed's agitation over it always amused him. Roy was a man of simple needs.

But, of course, Roy never forgot. And today, for the first time, he was about to show Ed that.

Roy's smirk widened as he slowly stood from his chair. Embarrassingly, his back twinged in pain. He ignored it, sauntering around his desk towards Ed.

His scent hit him immediately, and his body reacted accordingly, like it always did. He was almost unable to stop himself from reaching out to him, from wrapping his arms around Ed's waist and pulling him closer.

The scratch of Ed's jaw rubbed against his face as he leaned in to steal a kiss. How unfair, that Ed could grow a beard if he wanted and yet Roy remained unable to grow anything at all. Though he supposed it made sense; Ed's father had had plenty of facial hair, while Roy had been told he took after his own father, who'd been mostly hairless.

Ed kissed him back, but kept the kiss brief. "Did you really forget again?"

Roy smiled. All in good time. "How about I make it up to you by going out for a lovely dinner?"

Ed eyed him for a moment, clearly unsure about whether he should stay mad or not, but at the offer of food decided to give in. He'd had no chance, really, Roy knew him by now. "You better get me some good-ass food."

He kept one hand around Ed's waist as he ushered him towards the door. "Only the best for you, my love."

Ed narrowed his eyes at him, and Roy had to stifle a grin. Was Ed actually onto him already?

"Are you being sarcastic?"

At that, Roy actually laughed.

He locked up the office and together they strode through Headquarters. It was past working hours, so they weren't disturbed on their way out, and a cab was very conveniently already waiting outside.

Ed was definitely onto him.

Roy had booked them a table at a restaurant already; and not just any restaurant. This place was extravagant—which usually wasn't Ed's favourite, but this place had won him over with the food. He had never outwardly verbalised his approval of the place, but the moans while he ate always led to a very eager and gratified Ed for the subsequent bed-related activities.

Roy knew a happy Ed when he saw one.

Once in the cab Ed fully leaned against Roy, resting his head on his shoulder.

It was nice to be able to be obvious like this, to go places together, to dine at public restaurants like the rest of the population. Roy had never made any sort of public statement about his relationship with Ed, but over time they stopped being so careful. Roy being Fuhrer had played a big role—and today, finally, finally, he would never have to hide again. He could show Ed off.

Hopefully.

"Should've made you take the day off," Ed mumbled. He was wrapped against Roy's side like a cat.

Roy kissed the crown of his head. "You can have me all to yourself tomorrow."

Ed pulled back just enough to look at him, and graced him with a confused yet mildly suspicious look. "You're not working tomorrow?"

Roy raised his brows. "It's Saturday."

Ed rolled his eyes and leaned back down onto his shoulder. "Yeah, so what? You always work weekends, even a little bit."

Roy pursed his lips in guilty shame. It was true; there was a lot to fix about Amestris, and especially the last year he'd been focusing on a very specific thing he wanted to implement and it had taken up a lot of his time. It had been a necessary evil, to temporarily spend less time with Ed.

But now it was done.

The driver pulled up to the kerb and opened the door for them.

People stared. He was more than used to it, but Ed had never fully gotten used to the attention. Especially now that he was no longer in the military, people had mostly left him alone.

It had only been the last couple of years that they'd been less secretive about their relationship. It was about time, to stop hiding Ed so much. He'd made sure it was a gradual shift; publicly, he'd spent less and less time with his sisters, and allowed very sporadic outings with Ed. Just enough to cause speculation.

And the speculation had been going in the exact direction he'd been wanting. Headlines such as 'Flame and Fullmetal; reacquainted?' had become the norm after every outing—and so far no one had even thought to wonder if this had been going on the entire time. No, enough time had passed, they had been patient enough with this, and the public had a very short-term memory. As far as the public were concerned, Roy and Ed had barely spoken the past ten years, and had only recently been seen potentially reigniting their relationship.

It was the status of said relationship that had been hazy, and speculation had gone wild. At first, the sexuality speculations had felt scary, but it was all part of Roy's masterplan.

And it had brought them to this moment.

The waitress led them to the table—or rather, the private booth Roy had booked for them.

Ed hadn't seemed surprised by the restaurant; he was used to Roy's preference for high-end establishments. But the booth made him pause. Because it was private. Because Roy had booked them a public meal and then made it private.

He could almost see the cogs turning in his head. Ed could never hide when he was mulling something over.

"You booked this in advance," he finally stated, as they sat down. The waitress had handed them their menus, set Roy's favourite red wine on the table beside the lit candle, and then scurried away.

Roy's lips twitched upwards despite himself. He focused on the menu. "Maybe."

He could feel Ed's eyes on him. When he didn't say anything, Roy lifted his gaze. Ed kept staring, his eyes narrowed. "You did remember the anniversary."

Roy shrugged, acting completely unbothered. "What can I say, after ten years of reminding me, you can teach an old dog new tricks after all."

Ed snorted. "Never thought I'd see the day you'd call yourself old."

Roy smirked, shutting the menu. "Well, when one passes the age of forty…Let's just say even I am not immune to aging."

And then, completely unexpectedly, worry crept up on him. A niggling doubt. A moment of hesitation.

He'd been confident about this. Hell, he'd been overly confident about this. Bastardly so, as Ed would probably think.

But he had a moment, now, where he thought—what if.

He had planned to wait through dinner. He'd had a plan, for this night. A way of doing things. An order. But he found himself itching to remove the document he'd tucked into his jacket, and present it to Ed.

And they hadn't even ordered dinner yet.

Ed saw the hesitation. It didn't even unnerve Roy anymore, when Ed saw him.

He narrowed his eyes further, studying him. "Something's up."

Roy forced a chuckle. "Aroused already, my dear? I had hoped we'd at least eat—"

"Not that, you idiot!" Ed blushed a cute pink, just as the waitress came over again.

The moment she left with their orders, Ed was eyeing Roy suspiciously again. Roy chuckled for real this time.

He couldn't help the fondness that squeezed his chest as he gazed at Ed, his lover of ten years, his partner. Somehow, that was what he and Ed had become. Partners through life; Ed improved every moment of Roy's life greatly, and Roy, somehow, insanely, improved Ed's.

He couldn't imagine his life without Ed. And while he hadn't felt the tug of a soul bond in long, long time, somehow he wondered if the urge to be around Ed was a lingering effect. It certainly felt like it. Like a gentle coaxing, a small agitation within him—a part of him that always wanted to be around Ed. He missed Ed, on a much, much deeper level than he missed anything else.

They would've done it by now. Broken the bond. Roy knew that with absolute certainty, and occasionally pondered it. He pondered the fact that he and Ed would have broken the bond without the reversal array.

Ed was like an extension of himself. A part of his home. The love of his life. His soulmate, as Gracia had once joked.

There was not a single part of his body and soul that Ed hadn't touched.

He took a deep, deep breath as his heart pounded in anticipation.

Fuck dinner. He had waited long enough for this moment. He had slaved over nights and weekends, had planned everything to perfection; every rumour, every hint, every word in his speeches. He had worked so, so hard for this, and it was time Ed knew about it.

He stood from his chair with an air of confidence he didn't fully have. His stomach had suddenly twisted—because there was always a worst case scenario, and Roy was programmed to take it into account every single time.

He produced the manilla folder from his jacket, and Ed was staring at him now, brows dipped in a confused curiosity.

Should he take the document out of the folder? Or should he let Ed do it?

He swallowed, momentarily pausing as he decided what to do. "It's done," he said, his hand extending the document to Ed on autopilot.

Ed blinked at him, then frowned as he took the folder and quickly extracted the document. Roy watched, his breath stuck in his throat as Ed read.

And then he took a deep breath and said, "Holy shit."

He could do this. His hands were trembling, just slightly, but he managed to joke, "I believe this means you have to marry me now."

Did Ed remember what he'd said, years ago? Maybe he shouldn't have led with that—perhaps Ed didn't remember, or would feel like Roy was trying to make him feel obliged—

Ed looked at him, wide golden eyes shiny in the bright lights around them. His lips parted. "You—" He took another breath. "You made it legal for us to…" He trailed off, stared at the paper again as though he thought he'd imagined it the first time.

"Effective as of today."

Yes, Roy had made it legal for them to marry. Perhaps it had been a bit selfish to do this while Fuhrer still; he'd planned for democracy to happen first, and then have people vote for this while working for more acceptance in the meantime…But dammit, he wanted one thing for himself, and that was Ed. And he wanted him now. Screw the backlash.

Ed was still not saying anything, his eyes on the paper in his hand, and Roy wasn't sure what type of scenario this was leaning towards. He worried regardless. "Ed, of course you are not obligated to marry me because of this, I would've done it anyway—"

And then Ed sniffled. And Roy paused.

"Ed?"

Ed roughly rubbed at his face and then stood, coming face to face with Roy. His eyes were slightly red, but Roy made a point not to bring attention to it. But his gut twisted with concern, and love, and worry, and he couldn't stop himself from taking Ed into his arms.

Ed wrapped his arms around his waist, and held him tight.

"Damn," he said against Roy's shoulder. "Hadn't been expecting that."

Roy sighed, squeezing Ed tighter. "I'm sorry if I—"

"Ask me properly, bastard."

Roy blinked, his brain momentarily stuttering—

He gently cupped Ed's face and lifted his head so their eyes met. His heart was beating so fast. "Ed," he started, and swallowed, before continuing. "Will you marry me?"

Ed blinked rapidly, but Roy didn't bring attention to that either. He nodded, once, twice, then laughed, a bit wetly. "Yeah."

And Roy felt—like he was floating. On top of the world. Like nothing else mattered, right now or ever, but Ed. Like nothing else existed but Ed.

Ed held him so tightly he could barely breathe. He reciprocated just as tightly, one hand gently threading through his ponytail, separating the strands.

When Ed was ready, he pulled back and shook his head as though in disbelief. He laughed again, quickly, as though amused by his thoughts. "I can't believe you changed the damn law to marry me and then came and ordered me to marry you because of some random shit I said ten years ago."

Roy scoffed. "I asked you to marry me, like a gentleman."

Ed laughed again. He seemed happy. Roy liked Ed happy. "Well, even if it had been an order, it'd be one I would've liked to follow for once."

Roy felt his eyes turn fond as looked at Ed. He was clutching the paper tightly in his hand, and seemed unwilling to put it down even for a moment.

He looked at it again, golden eyes scanning the words for a third time. He shook his head again and waved the paper. "Is this what I get instead of a ring?"

Roy frowned. "I can get you a ring, if that's what you wish. I just thought—"

"Nah," Ed cut him off. He couldn't stop grinning, his cheeks flushed red, his eyes shining gold. He looked happy, and healthy, and beautiful. And Roy loved him with his whole entire being. "This is perfect."

THE END

A/N It is done. It has ended. I'm feeling a bit emotional about it ;_; This fic has been a part of my life for over a year now as I've been writing it, and it means so much to me. Thank you everyone who has read it, bookmarked it, or commented. Hope you've enjoyed this wild ride as much as I've enjoyed writing it xx