Archive of Our Own

Alphonse Elric was smiling as he slipped the envelope into the slot on the outside of the tiny Resembool post office. It was a nervous smile, but a hopeful smile all the same.

He then turned to begin making his way back home.

A home that, hopefully, what he’d just put into the mail would bring welcome change to. For years now it had just been he and his brother. Their father had abandoned them when Alphonse was still in diapers, according to his brother, and their mother had died unexpectedly some time after.

Effectively orphans, Alphonse and his brother had been taken in as honorary children to almost every other person in Resembool. And he knew that that had probably kept them both from succumbing to and being further hurt by their grief. But now with him at sixteen, and his brother at seventeen, and seeing all their childhood companions pairing off, Al had realized that his brother had spent his entire life in care of what remained of his family.

Alphonse himself.

And so with the aid of their honorary sister, Winry Rockbell, a plan had been devised. A plan to find their brother a partner.

A plan that was currently sitting in a rural post office, waiting to go to Central.

***

A week later, Edward Elric watched with dismay as his younger brother seized the morning newspaper from the front porch, whipped it open to an inside page, gasped with delight, and promptly fled the house shouting something about going to visit Winry.

“Okay.” Edward muttered with a frown, but shrugged it off.

He had enough to do anyway without worrying about Alphonse being weird. In two months the tuition for Al’s last year of fancy genius high school in East City was due, and that meant he had a trip to the bank to make. And since the nature and amount of the bank transfers always took an exceedingly long time, he didn’t have the spare time to wonder about what his brother was doing.

So he finished up with what he needed to do at home, then pulled on his boots and started walking to town.

It took him almost an hour to get to town and then to the bank. Followed by almost three hours of banking bureaucracy, another ten minutes of making sure that Al’s spending account was resupplied and then pulling out more cash for himself, and then two horrifying minutes politely refusing the bank manager’s offer to hook him up with said bank manager’s granddaughter who lived in Rush Valley.

He never saw the bank manager fetch the newspaper that had been sitting innocuously on the corner of the desk, flipping it open, and continuing to read the other ads contained within. Otherwise he’d have noticed a picture of himself, below which were the words:

‘I’m trying to find my older brother (pictured above) a partner. He’s spent my entire life putting me first, it’s time I put him first. I hope someone out there will too. He’s short (but don’t tell him that!), a legitimate genius, an accomplished alchemist, he thinks he’s funny, he’s seventeen, and I do not recommend his attempts at blueberry pancakes. If you think my brother is the one for you, please write him at:  Edward Elric, Resembool, Amestris.’

***

It took two days for the local post office to call the Elric house, informing Edward that their box was full, and could one of them please come clean it out?

To say that Edward was shocked was an understatement. They rarely ever got mail, and certainly they’d never before gotten enough to merit a phone call about it. And hadn’t Al been there just a week or so ago?  

“Hey, Al?!” Edward called up the stairs.

A brief racket later, Al’s head appeared over the railing, “yeah, brother?”

“Weren’t you at the post office like, last week? Why’s our box full? Did you order something?” Edward asked with a frown.

What he did not expect, was for Alphonse to gasp in delight and thunder down the stairs like a madman.

“Wow, kid! The fuck did you order? Porn?” Edward chuckled as he sidestepped out of the way of his charging brother.

“You’ll see when I get back!” Al promised, practically tripping into his boots, “if it’s what I’m hoping it is.”

“If it’s porn, no. There are certain things brothers shouldn’t share.” Edward teased, grinning as Al flipped him off before running out the door.

Shaking his head, he went to go finish hanging up the laundry.

The laundry had been hung and was beginning to flutter in the spring breeze when Al got back to the house. Edward was at the little table outside, a beer in one hand and one of their dad’s ancient alchemy texts in the other. But at Al’s approach, Ed looked up and set the book aside with a raised eyebrow and a sip of his beer.

“Okay,” Alphonse began with a bubbling of nervous excitement, “I know you’re going to be mad – ”

“It’s not porn?” Edward interrupted with a shit-eating grin.

Alphonse glared, but almost immediately the nervous excitement was back. “You see, the thing is, you do so much for me, like, all the time.”

Ed opened his mouth, only to snap it shut when his little brother gave him that look.

“And if I get into that university in Xing – ”

“You will.”

“ – you’ll be all alone here. For two years.”

“There’s Winry!”

“Winry is not a substitute for a partner!”

“Not this again.” Ed passed a hand over his face. “Al – ”

“Shush!” Alphonse scolded. “I want you to be happy with someone like that! I know you’re always telling me you’d never, because of what dad did to mom, but if mom were here to hear you right now, I’d like to think she’d smack you! You deserve to be happy too! Not just me, brother.”

“I am happy.” Edward told him firmly, “I’ve raised my little brother from an annoying little mouth-breather to a respectable future graduate of that fancy university you’ll be attending before I can even blink.”

“A life you should have had as well.” Alphonse replied softly, and adjusting his hold on the strap of the bag he was carrying, he walked forward to crouch down in front of his brother, reaching out to put a hand on his knee. “It’s not fair that it all fell to you to remain here, so we wouldn’t lose our home too. It’s not fair that it took me so long to see what you were doing and why. And it’s not fair you’ve had to be my mom, my dad, and my brother.”

Edward’s grip on his beer tightened.

“At least humor me until I go back to school for the last term?” Alphonse asked softly.

Ed took a deep breath, keeping his silence until he was certain he had control over the emotions that had sprung to the surface at Alphonse’s words. Trying not to feel disappointed in himself that Al had noticed. Al was never supposed to have noticed. But finally, he let out a small sigh, “what is it?”

 Al smiled, and he swung the bag he was carrying up onto his brother’s lap. “I threw out the creepers, these are the normal people.”

“Normal people?” Edward repeated in confusion as he opened the bag to see a veritable mountain of… letters? “Al, what is this?”

“This, brother,” Al began with a positively wicked grin, “is my early graduation present from you. They’re all people responding to your personal ad in that love-finding whatever section of the newspaper.”

Edward whipped his hands out of the bag and away from having been about to grab a letter, his eyes wide. “I beg your pardon?! My what in the what?! Alphonse Elric!”

“Yeah, whatever.” Al grinned, “just promise me you’ll read them before you dump them in the fire?”

“Read them!” Ed exclaimed, “you said there were creepers? If they wrote to me here, they can find where I live, you absolute idiot! I thought your tuition costs meant you were supposed to be smart!”

“Smart enough to know you’d kill anyone creepy who arrived at the front door.” Al smirked and stood, “and I’m hoping some normal ones do show up, so you’re forced to actually interact and possibly meet someone you can’t get out of your head.”

Edward muttered a curse under his breath.

“But start with the letters for now, yeah?” Al prompted cheerfully, patting his brother on the shoulder. “I’m gonna go inside and leave you to your letter porn.”

Edward’s head whipped around to follow his brother's retreat. “Wait, you said you read them… there’s smut in some of these?!”

Alphonse’s response was laughter.

Edward looked back down to the bag with a frown, and then set it aside on the table with a sigh. Picking his book back up, he tried his best to resume his reading and ignore the siren song of the letters.

Throughout the remainder of the day the letters remained untouched. At one point Alphonse did have to rescue the letters from the outside, leaving them conspicuously in the middle of the chair his brother usually sat in at night. But by the time Alphonse finally couldn’t resist the call of sleep, the letters were still whole and safe, if unread.

Edward waited until his brother’s footsteps had faded before he crossed over to his chair, and picking up the bag of letters, he sat. For a moment he glanced over at the fireplace, considering dumping the whole lot of them in there.

The thing was, ultimately, this was something his little brother had done. In an attempt to do something nice and thoughtful for him. And honestly? He could at least humor the little brat until Al went back to school in two months.

With a sigh, he reached into the bag, not noticing that from the upstairs railing, his brother had sat on the floor, hands around the railing posts, a hopeful smile on his face.

The first letter was nothing special, a very tame introduction, a sonnet about his hair that made him realize he needed to ask Al a few more questions, and a request to write back.

He cast it aside.

The next letter included a few more details about the person, including, he was amused to see, an offer of how many goats Alphonse could be expected to receive as compensation for the loss of his brother to the household.

He had a strong suspicion that Al had included that one just to make him laugh, and it was a near miss he didn’t. But he did sarcastically say, “I think I’m worth at least ten more goats.”

At this point he was starting to enjoy himself a little more, and so grabbed another letter.

One by one he read through them. Some included pictures, some didn’t. Some included things that made him laugh, and others made him seriously consider murdering his brother. There were bad attempts at flattery and poetry, and there were admittedly quite nice ones too. But one by one they all ended up in the same pile.

Except one.

Alphonse watched as his brother clearly read the letter again, that different smile on his face that had been there the first time it had been read. Honestly, he had a good idea of which one it might be. But not willing to intrude to check his guess, he only watched as his brother finished reading it again, hesitated, reached out to put the letter in the pile with the others, only to pull it back.

This happened several times before he watched his brother swear and shake his head, then clearly force himself to put it with the others.

Alphonse’s heart sank a bit, and he sighed as he quietly got up. It was time to get to bed, and before brother noticed him.

***

The next two days saw Edward beginning to field his first in-person would-be suitors through various points in the day and early evening.

“Why the fuck was the ad you submitted about me so popular?” Edward groaned as he rested his forehead against the front door, having just politely told a very lovely woman that he appreciated her coming all the way to see him, but that he didn’t see it working out.

Out of sympathy for the ones who were nice and not creeps, Edward usually at least spoke with them for a few minutes, just to make Al happy, but so far none of them had made the impression on him that Al had mentioned: where he’d be unable to get the person off his mind.

“Uhm,” Al began with a bit of a laugh, “because you’re passably good-looking and have a fantastic younger brother?”

“Passably?” Edward echoed dryly as he lifted his head from the door and looked over at his brother.

Al grinned from where he sat on the sofa, “hey, while a bunch of my classmates think you’re, what was the phrase… devastatingly hot? I’m not about to use that to describe you.”

Ed blinked, then gave a little shudder, “please don’t.”

“Won’t,” Alphonse promised with a smirk, “but seriously, of course you’re popular. Given that it was written by me, a caring and loving little brother, it may have been reprinted a few times? As well as mentioned in some other parts of the newspaper as a ‘feel good’ sort of story?”

“Of course it was,” Edward swept a hand back through his bangs. “Fantastic. Don’t expect anything for your birthday, you little shit.”

“I’ll consider you finding a partner gift enough.” Al promised him sweetly, and grinned at the gesture his brother gave him before stomping off.

***

Central was a half-day train ride away. And it was there, in one of the many offices of the military headquarters, that General Roy Mustang was staring at Colonel Maes Hughes in amazement at the sheer audacity and apparent size of the man’s balls.

“You did what?!”

“Forged a vacation request for you,” Maes repeated with a beaming grin, “for a whole month. Got it approved even!”

“You can’t just go around forging documents!” Roy hissed in horror.

Hughes snorted dismissively, “I do that all the time at your request.”

“But not against me!” Roy spluttered.

“It’s for you, not against you. You idiot.” Maes informed him loftily. “Gracia even bought your train ticket. You leave tonight.”

“Train ticket?” Roy exclaimed in growing alarm, “setting aside for the moment that you dragged your wife into this, why am I going anywhere, and why is it tonight?”

“It’s tonight so you can’t chicken out,” Hughes explained with a smirk and began to walk around to the other side of Roy’s desk, where the man still sat in abject confusion, “and you are going to Resembool.”

“Why the fuck would I want to go to Resembool on a month-long vacation? There’s nothing to do there.”

Hughes whipped open the topmost drawer of Roy’s desk, and before his friend could stop him, he snatched the newspaper clipping out and held it in front of his best friend’s face. “You could do him for a month?”

“Maes!” Roy snatched the clipping back, shoving it back where it belonged and slamming the drawer shut again.

“Have you even properly seen this guy?” Maes questioned, but not in the manner of a man expecting an affirmative answer. “He’s hot.”

“I’m well aware.” Roy muttered with the slightest hint of pink to his cheeks.

Maes gave him a knowing look followed by an exaggerated eyebrow waggle. “But have you seen a color photo?”

“There haven’t been any.” Roy admitted quietly, well aware he was revealing the fact that he’d looked.

“You need to hang out with more women that aren’t Hawkeye or one-night stands.” Maes informed him and pulled a rolled magazine free from inside his jacket to thump it on Roy’s desk. “There’s one in there, the magazine editor bought the original photo submitted to the paper.”

“Why would – ”

“Because that Edward Elric you’re crushing on?” Hughes began with his usual indicative wave to himself that screamed informations expert, “first, it’s the cutest story this country has seen in a long time, a little brother doing this. And second? They,” he pointed at the magazine, “have discovered he’s filthy rich. Old money of some sort rich. I did my own digging to confirm.”

Roy picked up the magazine, having to force himself not to immediately begin thumbing through to try and find the color photo. “I don’t care about money, Maes. I have more than I could ever use as it is.”

“Which is a real shocker considering how much you drink sometimes,” Hughes told him unhelpfully. “However, all the people who now see both an attractive young man and an attached fortune? He just became a very eligible bachelor, and if you want any hope at doing more than having a sad wank in your office while staring at his picture, you might want to get your ass to Resembool.”

“I don’t – ”

“Uh-huh,” Maes interrupted in deadpan disbelief, “fact is, is that at six tonight your train to Resembool leaves. You’re getting on it, and you’re going to at least go meet him.”

Roy watched as Maes turned on his heel and flounced out of the room cheerfully, giving him one last teasing jab about enjoying the new color photo. A photo he lasted all of two seconds at avoiding, before he flipped the magazine open hurriedly.

And really? What was one more sad wank in his office as he imagined those startlingly golden eyes lost in pleasure?

He cut out of work early to pack and make it to the train station with time to spare. He spotted Hughes over by the ticket counters looking rather smug and reluctantly made his way over.

“One-way.” Maes said as he thrust the ticket into Roy’s hands. “Come back when you’re ready, but if you need me to forge more time-off requests for you, just call.”

“We both know I’ll be turned away at the door. This is ridiculous, and the most foolish thing I’ve ever done, and I don’t know why I let you talk me into it.” Roy complained even as he glanced over the ticket and pocketed it. “Theoretically I should have just written him.”

“You already did,” Maes flapped a hand dismissively, “day the ad appeared, in fact.”

“I – ” Roy gave his friend an odd look, followed by a sinking feeling of horror, “what did you do?!”

Maes’s grin was wide enough to be seen from Xing. “You’ll just have to go ask him and find out.”

“Maes Hughes!” Roy blustered in a growing panic that he felt was entirely merited, given he knew how Maes could be.

Maes’s grin somehow managed to get wider. “Have a safe trip! Bye!”

Roy’s attempt to grab the man failed, and before he knew it Hughes had disappeared into the crowd. “Damn it,” he growled, but soon his head tilted back as he groaned. There was nothing for it now.

So firming his grip on the strap of his old military bag, he hoisted it over one shoulder and made his way to the train platforms.

***

Late the following morning Edward was inside enjoying a coffee and his book when he heard rain begin to tap against the glass of the nearby kitchen windows. It took him about ten seconds to realize why the sound gave him pause before he suddenly cast the book aside frantically, his coffee sloshing over the rim and splashing onto the table as he set it down with speed.

Then he was hurrying for the door, yelling for Al to stop pretending to sleep and come help him.

He ran over to the clothesline with a muttered swear, and as the rain began to steadily increase he started quickly unhooking towels and sheets from the line and piling them into the nearby baskets. They’d been nearly dry and he was not waiting for the process to start entirely from scratch.

“Don’t tell me that boy is actually still asleep.” Ed groaned as he cast a flustered look over towards the house.

“Can I help with that?”

Edward nearly jumped out of his skin, whirling around with wide eyes.

“Sorry!” Roy held up both his hands in a gesture of goodwill and apology. “I really didn’t mean to scare you.”

Edward eyed him narrowly, before a particularly fat raindrop hit him square in the ear. “Shit!” He whirled back around, “yeah, if you would I’d really appreciate it.”

Roy nodded, and shucking his military bag down onto the grass, he began to help unclip the sheets and towels from the line as the rain began to patter faster. And if he happened to take the opportunity to sneak looks? Well, he wasn’t the sort of man to squander an opportunity.

Especially given that the object of his attention was undeniably gorgeous. The photo had only given him some idea, but it was nothing compared to seeing him in person. Nor had he known just how accurate the description of Edward being short would be. But given that every time the young man went to retrieve another item off the clothesline his lack of height caused him to need to stretch up, arching his back in a way that exposed just enough of a hint of golden-tan skin to cause Roy’s brain to short circuit? Yeah, he wasn’t about to complain about Edward’s height.

Edward wasn’t exactly immune to sneaking furtive looks himself at the stranger who’d attempted to give him a heart attack. The man, whoever he was, seemed to be a walking definition of tall, dark haired, and handsome. Which, while appreciable, would have meant a lot less if the man wasn’t apparently decent enough to at least help him out. It wasn’t the only thing making him smile, but it certainly was part of it.

Soon enough between the two of them they managed to get all the laundry down and into the baskets, and with Roy’s help, all of the baskets got to the front porch and under the awning in one trip.

“Thank you,” Ed finally said as he straightened from setting down his last basket, turning to Roy with a bit of a sheepish smile. “Wait here, I’ll get you a towel.”

Roy nodded, and watched as Edward vanished inside the house, allowing himself to definitely take the opportunity to admire Edward from the back again.

Within a few minutes Edward had returned with a towel for Roy, having already draped one over his own head as he tried to dry his hair. “Thank you, again. You saved me from getting drenched.”

Roy chuckled and began to try and dry his own hair, “my loss becomes your gain.”

Edward couldn’t help but give in to the startled laugh, even as he felt his cheeks pink. “And what’s your name, then?”

“Roy. Roy Mustang.” Roy answered dutifully, only to groan as he saw Edward’s eyes widen. “Oh no, what did he write?”

Ed spluttered, his face feeling a bit warmer. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. I’ve had a lot of letters lately.”

“I only believe half of that, Edward.” Roy told him frankly, but couldn’t help smiling as the blond grew clearly flustered.

“Which part? So I can convince you of the other.” Ed quickly offered as he tried to fight back a smile.

“The part where you clearly know who I am because of my best friend, who I still intend to possibly murder.” Roy’s smile only grew when Edward couldn’t seem to help but to laugh.

“Oh, yes. I mean no.” Edward chuckled and rubbed at his hair a bit harder, hoping it would distract him from the way his insides seemed to flip at that smile. “Well, at least rest assured that he was not the man who was willing to offer my brother goats in exchange for me.”

“Goats?” Roy echoed with a laugh he couldn’t help, before considering Edward with a thoughtful smile. “I do hope that the fellow at least offered a flattering amount of them.”

“Afraid not,” Edward admitted, ducking his head with a grin. “Think I’m worth a fair few more.”

“How many, do you suppose?” Roy found himself curious at the hilarity of it.

Ed glanced up at him from underneath the towel, and smiled. “Thinking of offering my brother goats, are you?”

“Hardly.” Roy confessed, although he was still quite curious about the goats issue.

Ed hummed but said nothing more, draping his towel around his neck and beginning to unpick his braid so he could dry the rest of his hair properly.

“I actually came to offer you an apology,” Roy admitted, and those incredibly golden eyes shot back up to his. “I did not think Maes would do that, and if he wrote you anything offensive acting on my very unknowing behalf, I apologize.”

Edward studied him in silence for a few moments, finally unbinding his braid and beginning to gently squeeze out the rainwater with the towel. “He wrote nothing you need to apologize for. Truly.”

Roy felt relief hit him like a brick.

Then Ed couldn’t help but smile a bit teasingly, “unless you actually didn’t have trouble keeping your jaw off the floor when you saw my picture. Or keep that thrice-damned newspaper at your desk the whole day.”

“I’m going to kill him,” Roy groaned miserably, pressing the towel to his face both in an effort to dry it and to temporarily hide.

Edward chuckled unhelpfully, rather enjoying himself at the expense of Roy’s embarrassment. “You came all this way to apologize about your friend doing similar to you as what my brother did to me?”

“Well, yes.” Roy couldn’t help but shift under that discerning gaze. He’d never once felt as exposed as he did now. “Honestly? I didn’t think you’d do much more than ask me to leave. And yes, you’re gorgeous. Whatever Maes wrote? He was probably right about it. But – ”

Edward arched an eyebrow. But?

“ – then I had to realize that your brother is wrong.” Roy admitted, and before Edward could do more than look properly puzzled in a budding indignant manner, he added, “you are funny. And if he’s wrong about that, I’m also wondering if he’s wrong about the blueberry pancakes, too.”

Edward couldn’t help it, he began to smile, and gradually, he began to laugh.

Roy stayed silent, admittedly enjoying the sight and sound of Edward laughing very much.

“I actually haven’t seen what he wrote about me,” Edward confessed. “That little shit was bitching about my blueberry pancakes to the entire country?”

“Yes?” Roy confirmed with no small measure of hesitance.

Ed huffed, but he was smiling. “Anything else he wrote that I should be aware of? I still have some time I can ground the idiot before he goes back to school.”

“No?”

“You’re a terrible liar, Roy Mustang.” Edward chuckled.

“Well, he did leave a warning about not mentioning your height?” Roy offered.

Edward’s eye twitched, and he glanced back towards the house. “I’ll just murder him instead.”

“It’s been that bad, huh?” Roy asked with a true measure of guilt.

Edward hesitated at the question, looking back towards Roy as that damnable flipping of his insides started up again, “it’s not been all bad,” he confessed softly with a small smile as he met Roy’s gaze.

It was at that moment that the front door burst open, from which tumbled an absolutely flustered Alphonse Elric.

“Brother, it’s raining! The laundry – ah!” Alphonse nearly fell into one of the laundry baskets.

Edward looked over at his brother in mild amusement. “Yes, I know. And had you decided to wake up when I yelled for you, you’d have been able to help me get it down. So now you’re putting it all back up on your own once the weather clears.”

Al groaned, but knew better than to argue.

“I should get going,” Roy spoke up, causing both brothers to look at him quickly. One, seemingly having just noticed he was there, and the other with confusion. “I dropped by entirely unannounced. And despite the reason I stopped by, I am staying in town for awhile. Because whatever he wrote? It’s not exactly untrue, and perhaps I have a fool’s hope.”

Edward blinked and managed to not delay too much in taking back the towel that was offered to him, because his head and his emotions were suddenly spinning. “But it’s still raining.”

Roy smiled and bent to retrieve his military bag from the porch, slipping his raincoat free. “I’ll be fine. Thank you for the towel.”

“You’re welcome.” Edward managed to get out, and watched as Roy shouldered his bag and turned to leave. “Thanks again, for the help.”

Roy paused to look back over his shoulder, smiling. “The pleasure was mine, I assure you.”

Edward was left to fight back the heat that wanted to spring to his face, and stared resolutely ahead, watching the man’s retreating back, and pointedly ignoring Al sidling up beside him.

“And that was?” Al asked with a positively wicked grin. “You’re smiling.”

“If I’m smiling, it’s only because I’m imagining all the ways to make your life miserable. You told the entire country you don’t like my blueberry pancakes.” Ed informed him, curling his fingers a bit tighter into the towel as he watched Roy make his way closer to the curve of the road that would take the man from his sight.

“And you’re watching him walk away because?” Al prodded with that grin still cemented firmly in place.

“I’m not.” He was.

Alphonse chuckled, “when are you going into town to see him?”

“Make yourself useful and reheat my coffee.” Edward told him, forcing himself to turn around and drag his eyes from Roy’s retreating figure. “I need dry clothes.”

Al smirked as he watched his brother escape into the house.

Edward shut himself in his room, and walking over to sit on his bed he blew out a long breath. That was… he hadn’t been expecting that. He hadn’t been expecting him. He hesitated a moment before standing back up and making his way over to his desk, and opening up the top drawer he slipped free a letter. The only letter he’d been ultimately unable to throw into the fire that first night.

The letter from Maes Hughes about his best friend, Roy Mustang.

He held it gently a moment before putting it back into its safe spot, shutting the drawer as he now flopped into his desk chair. And feeling just a bit foolish he lifted the towel he was still holding, that he’d given Roy, up to his face to realize that yes, he could smell a hint of the man’s cologne. A little shiver ran through him, ending in a place he tried to ignore.

He’d been fairly successful at lying to himself, to his brother, up to this point, that there hadn’t been anyone to tempt his interest. But the evidence against it was sitting in his desk.

And then Roy himself had appeared, all generosity and smiles and easy conversation and laughter, and Edward was sitting here clutching a towel like a cherished memento, realizing that he could no longer deny that he could not get Roy Mustang off his mind.

“Fuck,” he whispered to himself, heart pounding.

By the time his brain caught up to his actions, his trousers were already unzipped and his hand already wrapped around his cock which rose fully to the occasion so eagerly that he felt it was a miracle he didn’t get lightheaded.

Between remembering the way those dark eyes had looked at him, remembering the sound of that voice saying his name, and the scent of the man from the towel he’d pressed to his mouth to muffle himself, he came embarrassingly quickly.

To Alphonse’s credit, he said nothing when his older brother finally came back downstairs. Only handed him the coffee he’d had to reheat twice and made himself scarce.

***

Two days later Edward had to go back into town. This time because he needed to pick up some food they were running out of. So he left early, determined not to get caught up at the house by someone else hoping to meet him and talk themselves up. Besides, the earlier he got to the market, the better produce options he’d have.

He arrived just in time to be one of the first to go through pints of the first strawberries of the season. Quite pleased with how his shopping was starting out, he methodically began making his way around to all the other stalls and tables that he needed things at, finally finishing up just as the crowds were really starting to arrive.

He was quite laden down with three paper shopping bags, but managing easily as he made his way from the market, only to startle when one of the bags was snatched from his grip by a stranger who, upon spotting him, had hurriedly approached him from the side.

“Hey!” Edward complained, and loudly, as he turned to face the offender.

It was a woman not much older than him, and she only smiled in the face of his affront. “You look like you could use a hand. You’re Edward Elric, right? The guy from the magazine?”

“I don’t know about all that.” Edward denied. Magazine? Just what the fuck had Alphonse started?! “Give me back my food.”

“I could help you home?” She didn’t relinquish the bag. “That’s a lot for anyone to carry on their own. And we could talk? I’m – ”

“I don’t care who you are.” Edward interrupted coldly, “because most people with half a brain have enough courtesy to at least ask before doing what you did. It was foolish. Now, give me back my bag, and go back to wherever you came here from. I’m not interested.”

She gaped at him for a second, before shoving the bag back into his arms and fleeing.

Edward scrambled to not drop anything, swearing, but managed. “Crazy harpy,” he muttered and glanced around to be sure she’d gone.

He never finished looking for her, his eyes instead landing on the seated figure of Roy Mustang at the outdoor café just yards away.

He felt his pulse quicken as those dark eyes watched him, a smile on those lips that he’d thought far too much about the past few nights as he lay in bed with Roy’s name chanted out in between gasps of pleasure. The fantasy of what those dark eyes would look like, gazing at him as the man fucked into him was costing him sleep. And now, seeing the man sitting there with his sleeves rolled up to display perfectly chiseled forearms, Edward had to fight back a whimper of desire.

And it was that which made him suddenly flush, and frantically recall he was in public and he really needed to leave before he embarrassed himself. Now feeling extremely self-conscious, he tore his gaze from Roy and hurried away expeditiously.

Roy watched him go, his smile widening with amusement and a flash of fondness. Well, at least he hasn’t been asked to leave. And from what he’d gathered from the town gossip, everyone but him had been summarily turned down, or in some cases, told to get out of Resembool entirely.

He weighed his options and the risks, and then quickly finished his coffee.

Edward was a few minutes into his walk back down the little dirt road that led to home when he heard the sound of footsteps coming up behind him. Worried that the young lady from earlier was making another attempt he looked back over his shoulder, only to stop dead in his tracks.

It wasn’t her, it was Roy.

Well, fuck.

Doing his best to not give away how fast and hard his heart seemed to suddenly be beating, he half-turned to wait for the man.

“So,” Roy began with an easy smile as he finally caught up, meeting those golden eyes that watched him with such curiosity, “not a fan of unsolicited help? Perhaps I should apologize again.”

Edward grinned, unable to help doing so. “I recall you being quite different.”

“Oh?” Roy asked with the slightest teasing hint to his tone.

“You had the decency to ask first.” Edward reminded him, unnecessarily, he knew. Just as much as he knew that Roy was heading straight into flirting with him, and not minding it in the least. “And I actually admit I needed help then.”

“And you don’t now?” Roy asked with a smile, only to laugh as Edward promptly foisted one of the bags into his arms. “I’m at your disposal.”

Edward smiled just a bit shyly as he bit back the urge to admit that he didn’t exactly see a time where he’d want to dispose of Roy at all. “May I ask you something?”

Roy fell into step as the blond resumed walking down the dirt road. “Of course.”

Edward’s grip on his two remaining grocery bags tightened, the paper crinkling. “How is it that a war hero, a State Alchemist, and a General finds himself here?"

Roy let out a long breath, and glanced down to the young man he walked beside. “You mean crushing on someone who was born when I was, what, maybe fourteen?”

The chuckle escaped Edward quickly at that question, but he shook his head. “That doesn’t bother me, actually. You’re hardly the oldest, and you’re hardly what I consider old. And I dare anyone to lecture me about it, even you, because Al’s right. I’ve been his father, his mother, and his brother since I was only a kid myself. The town helped, yes. But I was the one to make the sacrifices, and to raise that kid instead of being one myself.”

Roy stayed silent as Edward spoke, even as he began to fully realize just what Edward’s little brother had meant in that personals ad about Edward always putting Al first. And just how much Al truly seemed to feel he owed it to his older brother to help him find happiness with someone.

“So no, I don’t mean to question whether or not you’re a creep. I’m well-versed in spotting those at this point, and I don’t get that feeling from you. What I mean is truly what I asked. Because I just don’t see you as the sort of man who doesn’t have other, easier options.” Edward told him matter-of-factly.

“I do.” Roy confirmed, but with an almost uncaring and dismissive attitude. “While it’s true that I’d not be here right now if not for Maes, he’d never have done what he did if I hadn’t given him reason. So, at the risk of you demanding your food back and telling me to leave – ”

Edward, try as he might to deny it, couldn’t envision that. At least the demanding Roy leave bit.

“ – I’ll stop dancing around it. I never look at those ads, I was looking for a good deal on some books in the classifieds and flipped to the wrong page. And if you still haven’t read that ad yet, you can only believe me when I say I momentarily lost the ability to breathe. I’ve told you you’re gorgeous, and I mean that wholeheartedly.”

Edward was only partially certain he’d managed to keep from flushing, even as his insides seemed to take up fluttering again.

“I clipped out that ad, tucked it safe in my desk where I thought it would be safe from even Maes’s prying eyes, and found myself lost in thought about you far too often to remain unsuspicious to a man who’s accustomed to being my spy. Especially having the advantage of seeing my reaction when I first saw your picture, and the fact that yes, I did keep that newspaper on my desk all day because I kept losing the battle to throw it out.”

With the slightest nod, Edward looked over, finding himself meeting Roy’s gaze. “But you still could have anyone. I’m not fishing for compliments here, Roy, but I’ll be honest with you, I really need to know why you decided to wait here on some potentially slim hope of the chance of what, a date?”

“Because from the moment we met I realized it was more than my initial attraction to you. It was the fact that I would have probably stood on your front porch talking with you for hours and never noticed the time passing. It was the fact that I could have spent all day trying to get you to laugh again, and not considered it a day wasted. And I’ve never felt like that before, ever.”

Edward looked away, back towards the road, a soft smile on his lips given the way Roy’s confession made him feel. “Thank you. That’s what I needed to know.”

Roy smiled and looked up the dirt road as well. “May I ask you something now?”

A small laugh escaped Edward, “fair.”

“This whole thing your brother did, are you just being a good brother and playing along with it?”

Edward bit his lower lip a moment, “of course I’m being a good brother,” he agreed before steeling his nerves and looking over at Roy once again. “But I’m not playing, with anyone. Despite that, there are some things I need to think about. Some things I hadn’t expected to need to think about. Is that – can you accept that for a little longer?”

Roy knew it was hardly anything certain, but it was a far sight more than he’d had before, enough that it made his heart beat just a bit faster. “Yes.”

Edward smiled softly, and nodded. “I’d been planning to come speak with you later today. I figured generals get to sleep in. But this works.”

“Some do,” Roy confirmed readily enough, “but I volunteered to be on early morning shifts. Even on vacation it’s a hard habit to break. And I’ve never been one to sleep much. Have you known the whole time who I am? I mean, what I do?”

“And what you’re known for?” Edward filled in, and shrugged. “Yes, I have. I’m an alchemist myself, your name comes up now and again in certain circles.”

Roy did recall reading that, and the knowledge had honestly only proven to make him crush harder at the time. “Your brother wrote that you were. What do you usually do with it?”

“Make gold,” Edward teased recklessly, snickering as Roy snorted in disbelief. “You best not be thinking I can’t, Roy Mustang. Actually I mostly only experiment when Alphonse is away. And usually when he’s here we get into an alchemy fight at least once a week, just because.”

“Now that I would love to see.” Roy grinned at the mental visuals.

“I’ll bet you would. And don’t mock me, or I’ll kick your ass after I finish handing my brother his.” Edward told him frankly, eyeing him with suspicion.

Roy laughed and cocked an eyebrow at the blond beside him. “I’m not. I never underestimate another alchemist. I do, however, enjoy seeing another alchemist at work.”

“Honestly, the kid used to be able to kick my ass.” Edward admitted frankly. “But ever since he started attending that fancy private high school in East City, he’s gotten slow. Or I’ve gotten faster, although I doubt it. His legs keep growing longer.”

It didn’t escape Roy’s notice that the last bit was said rather grumpily, “so he told the truth about you being fussy about your height?”

Edward drew himself straighter in indignation, metaphorical hackles raised. “I am not fussy! And everyone else is just too tall! I’d have gotten home before you caught up to me if you didn’t have those stork legs!”

Roy snickered at both the outrage and the description. “I wasn’t even walking fast!”

“Oh, just keep digging that hole, Roy Mustang!” Edward goaded him.

Roy did not take the invitation, well aware of the potential dangers, and not having risen as far as he had in the military to make such rookie mistakes. “How about instead you tell me what you do out here all the time when Al is in school.”

Edward side-eyed him for the topic change, unsure if the man had earned a reprieve, but giving it all the same. “Besides the alchemy experiments? I help out my neighbors and a bunch of the people in town. Just whatever they need done, really. Not for money or anything, just trying to repay them for the help they gave Al and me the first few years after mom died.”

“So you actually are transmuting gold for money.” Roy noted with a faint smile, well aware that it was not the case. Or, at least he didn’t see how it could be considering that Maes had said Edward seemed to be in possession of an old money fortune.

Edward smiled and shot him a bit of a teasing look. “While I have done it once, just to see if I could, and while I am well aware of the fact you could have me arrested for admitting it to you, no. I’m not. My dad not only left his family, but he left all his money too. Now it’s my money, without all the strings attached, because once I turned seventeen I was able to have him legally declared dead.”

“I’m off duty,” Roy shrugged uncaringly, but found himself smiling. “If handcuffs are ever in our future, I’d prefer other people not be involved anyway.”

His face flamed scarlet at the innuendo Edward had not at all been expecting, but really should have anticipated. “Well, I kind of walked right into that one, didn’t I.”

Roy hummed in amused agreement, “I’m not complaining.”

“I’ll bet not,” Edward found himself smiling, and he cleared his throat in a pointed attempt to pull himself together again and push the thought of Roy cuffing him from his mind until he could revisit it again in private. “What about you? What do you get up to when you’re not working?”

The rest of the walk back to Edward and Alphonse’s house they talked about Roy’s life in Central, and more about the things Edward helped out with around Resembool. Only once they reached the front porch did the conversation shift again.

“Want me to hold another bag?” Roy asked as Edward began to try to open the door with his elbow.

Edward smiled as the door opened, and straightening, he looked over his shoulder at Roy. “Bring that one inside instead?”

Roy managed to not stand there staring in surprise for too long, eagerly nodding. “Of course, yes.”

Edward chuckled, even as he wondered if what he was doing was too much too soon for where they were at present with one another. But then Roy was following him inside and he didn’t have any more time for such thoughts. “Al! I’m back!”

Roy followed after Edward into the kitchen, trying not to be too obvious as he looked around the house with interest. It was tidy and almost immaculately clean, but still warm and inviting.

“Over here with that, please.” Edward requested as he dropped his two shopping bags on a kitchen counter. And as Roy came up right beside him to do so, he had to fight a sudden subconscious urge to lean towards the man. He bit his lip, giving himself a mental shake and trying not to inhale that cologne.

“And what,” Roy asked softly as they stood unmoving right next to each other, pressing his fingers hard into the kitchen counter to keep from reaching out, “would you like now?”

There were quite a few things that immediately crashed into Edward’s thoughts, and none of them anything that would stop his heart from pounding, or quench the heat that was beginning to again race through his body. “Roy – ”

The sudden thunder of footsteps startled them both, and when Alphonse appeared into the kitchen it was to see his brother looking flustered and, surprisingly, a familiar dark-haired stranger standing there with his brother and looking the slightest bit amused and resigned. It only took him a moment to realize, but despite the guilt that hit him, he grinned. “I didn’t realize we had company, sorry. Hello. Aren’t you the guy from before?”

“Yes,” Roy confirmed as he stepped forward to finally meet Edward’s younger brother and the first catalyst to him ending up here in the first place. “It’s good to finally meet you, I’m Roy Mustang.”

Alphonse’s jaw dropped, “seriously? You’re the – your friend actually wrote that letter?”

Edward watched them with the fond eye roll of an older brother who had been quite effectively cockblocked. And as Roy agreed and Alphonse introduced himself, he turned to working on putting away the groceries. It wasn’t until he heard Alphonse ask a question that caused his heart to skip a beat that he paid them proper attention.

“You’re staying for breakfast, right?”

“Al!” Edward gasped at the forwardness of his little brother.

“What?” Al shot him a shit-eating grin, one that said he was well aware of what he was doing. “You don’t let just anyone into the house, brother. And General Mustang is the first person to answer your ad that you’ve spent more than ten minutes with, and you’ve let him into the house.”

Edward was staring in an embarrassed wide-eyed horror at his younger brother. Oh, but he was going to kill that kid! And Roy was no help, standing there smirking!

“So,” Alphonse continued undeterred, “why wouldn’t he be staying for breakfast?”

Edward was just about to respond when his brother then came out with another idea.

“Unless he’d rather come to dinner instead?”

Edward’s mouth actually dropped at that point.

“Dinner would be wonderful,” Roy wasn’t looking at Al, he was smiling as he watched the expression on Edward’s face. “What time?”

Edward strode forward to slap the lettuce into Al’s chest. “Seven. And if you’re late, you can’t complain if I don’t leave you any food.”

Roy grinned, his gaze not leaving Edward’s as those golden eyes looked at him with flustered challenge, “seven.” He agreed, before asking, “do I need to bring anything? Flowers, wine, both?”

“Stop while you’re ahead.” Edward scolded him, blushing at this point and completely uncaring.

Roy chuckled and glanced away to nod to Al, “Alphonse, thank you for everything. And Edward,” he looked back to the eldest brother to smile at the fact that it seemed Edward could blush harder, “I’ll see you both at seven. But for now, I’ll make myself scarce. I know you have things to do and a little brother to murder.”

“Too right, I do.” Edward muttered.

Roy smirked at the offended noise that escaped Alphonse, and with a last smile to Edward, saw himself out the door under the watchful gaze of the two brothers.

***

To say that Edward was internally a mess of nerves by the time he had started getting dinner together would be an understatement.

“I can’t believe you did that,” he muttered nervously, not for the first time, and probably not for the last.

“Hey,” Alphonse defended with a grin, “it’s like I said; I clearly interrupted something. And I interrupted you both that first morning. And considering you two met because of what I did, I feel I owe it to you both to get you two finally having dinner together.”

“This is not a date, Alphonse.” Edward scolded him, waving a spatula in his general direction.

“Okay, so we’re skipping straight to meeting the family.” Al shrugged, “and if that goes well, maybe you can finally tell the guy you’re falling for him. Like he doesn’t already know, but I still think you should tell him. He’d probably like that.”

“I have met him probably a total of two hours, Alphonse!” Edward stirred the marinade for the steaks a bit harder than he should have. “I shouldn’t be falling for him at all!” 

“I dunno, I think it’s perfectly reasonable to have instant attraction and chemistry with someone. To think to yourself: that’s them. That’s the one I’m going to marry.” Alphonse surmised, tapping a finger to his chin.

“Marry!” Edward spluttered, gaping at his brother. “Oh no. No, no, no. You are not allowed to talk tonight. At all!"

Alphonse snorted, “look, brother. All I’m saying is, wouldn’t you rather let yourself be happy with this guy, for however long, instead of worrying about what someone else might think is proper? It’s your love life.”

“I should have written back the guy with the goats.” Edward muttered, “see what you would have said then.”

Alphonse just laughed and kept slicing tomatoes for the salad.

Close to the time they were expecting Roy, Alphonse shooed his brother upstairs to freshen up and do something with his hair that had become mussed in its braid as he’d cooked.

And if Ed took the opportunity to change into some of his nicer clothes as well, he dared his little brother to say anything. As it was, he made it back downstairs just in time to answer the knock at the door. He took a shaky breath, ignored Al flapping hands at him to get him to hurry, and went around the corner to pull open the door.

“Am I on time?” Roy queried with an easy smile, enjoying the way those golden eyes drank in the sight of him. Not that he wasn’t guilty of it himself.

Ed smiled, and motioned for him to come inside. “I think we may have saved you some table scraps.”

Roy chuckled as he stepped inside, but he didn’t move too far, instead turning to Edward as the younger man closed the door to ask in a low voice. “Did your brother survive?”

“Don’t worry,” Edward replied softly through a faint laugh, “I’m not about to ask you to help me hide a body.”

“Honestly, I get the feeling you wouldn’t need help at all with that.” Roy admitted, before he lowered his voice even more to say, “you look fantastic, by the way.”

Edward smiled as he looked up at Roy silently a moment, and then tentatively reaching out he took Roy’s hand in his, squeezing it gently. “You do too,” he replied just a bit shyly, “even if I’ve been remiss in telling you before.”

“In all fairness,” Roy began as he took his chance to link their fingers together, “you’re approaching this entire thing from a completely different direction I am.”

Edward glanced down towards their joined hands, heart thumping recklessly in his chest. Roy’s hand in his was pale in contrast to his own, larger, and the fingers longer, but his hand fit in Roy’s like it had always been meant to be there. And while he was well aware how ridiculous that thought sounded, it didn’t stop him from having it, there in their little stolen moment before dinner. “I never thought I’d actually – and then you.”

Roy frowned, about to question what Edward meant, only for the sudden appearance of Alphonse from around the corner caused them both to startle – although he’d managed to hold onto Edward’s hand.

“Oh! He’s here. I thought – it was so quiet,” Alphonse began to stammer, “I thought maybe someone else had showed? Anyway, the food is gonna get cold.”

Edward blinked as his brother fled back around the corner, and huffed out a resigned laugh. “Do you have any siblings?”

“No.” Roy answered with a growing smile.

“Want mine?” Edward offered dryly.

Roy laughed and gave a squeeze to Edward’s hand in his. “Your brother does bring up a good point, though. I’m not about to let a dinner you invited me to get cold.”

“Technically my hand was forced,” Edward grumbled, but didn’t slip his hand from Roy’s as he made his way towards the kitchen, Roy falling in beside him.

“This hand?” Roy asked with a smile as he lightly squeezed Edward’s hand.

Edward felt the heat try to creep back to his cheeks, but he didn’t take his hand back. Not even once they reached the kitchen table and Alphonse eyed their joined hands with poorly concealed delight and a certain smugness. Their hands only separated as they took their respective seats at the table, with Roy sitting in between the two brothers.

Honestly, Edward wasn’t sure what to expect. He’d never before sat at his kitchen table to have dinner with a man who made his heart race and his body burn. And he’d certainly never done so for the very first time with his little brother being present.

“I know there’s the saying about cooking enough to feed an army,” Roy stated in amusement as he took in the sight of the table that surely should have buckled by now under the weight of everything atop it, “and I know I am a one-man army, but – ” he gestured at it all.

Both the brothers laughed, and Edward primly picked up one of the serving dishes. “Simmer down, most of this is for me.”

“And he doesn’t mean just that dish,” Alphonse added helpfully, also picking up a serving plate. “Get some while you can, trust me.”

Roy couldn’t quite tell if he was being pranked somehow or not, but resolved to see it through to find out even as he took Al’s advice.

As they ate, Roy initially began speaking with Alphonse, given that they’d both finished dishing what they wanted long before Edward did. Which gave Edward an opportunity to sit there and eat, and watch, as Roy made a genuine effort to get to know his little brother. It was making the affection he’d been wrestling with bloom brighter in his chest, coupled with a growing yearning to have this again. Roy looked like he belonged there, with what was left of Ed’s family, and it made his heart clench.

And while Edward did eventually join the conversation as the three of them talked about their lives and each other and their dreams and ambitions, and ate and drank to excess - especially in Ed’s case, he still was quite aware the entire evening that what he was feeling for Roy was only growing, and certain truths were becoming harder for him to deny to himself.

It was nearing ten o’clock when a truly impressive yawn from Alphonse broke them out of their conversation about alchemy.

“You should get to bed, Al.” Edward told him with a bit of a laugh. “No staying up tonight cramming for school.”

Al grumbled but didn’t argue that his brother probably had a good point. “I still should help you clean up.”

Roy lost no time in speaking up, “I’ll stay and help him with that. But your brother’s right, you should get some sleep.”

Al only stayed stubborn at the thought of a guest helping for the time it took for another wide yawn to escape him. With that, he excused himself from the table and shuffled out of the kitchen wearily.

Edward watched him go with a fond smile. “I may have been a bit hard on him today,” he admitted, then stood, catching Roy’s eye. “He is more polite than I am, though. So since you’ve offered, I’m holding you to your word.”

Roy stood with a chuckle, already gathering some dishes. “By all means, do.”

Edward grinned, and with Roy’s help the dishes were conquered in quick succession. And he wondered briefly that he wasn’t more surprised that they had seemed to quickly fall into a rhythm of working next to and with each other as Roy washed and sometimes rinsed, while Edward sometimes rinsed in between drying everything and getting it put away. Everything had been taken care of before the clock struck midnight, leaving them alone in a clean kitchen as Edward handed Roy a towel to dry his hands.

“Thank you,” Edward told him in genuine gratitude. “I’d have been at this until one in the morning.”

Roy was smiling as he dried his hands, not minding the fact they’d gone wrinkled from the water. Not when Edward was looking at him like that, so warm and open, but at the same time with uncertainty. “I am coming to enjoy these little moments of you bringing me a towel.”

Edward ducked his head with a quiet laugh, “admittedly, I am too.”

Roy grinned, a chuckle escaping him as he moved to hang the towel from the hook Edward had snagged it from. “I hope you don’t find this out of line for me to say, but you’ve really done a fantastic job raising your brother.”

“That actually means a lot to me,” Edward admitted as he meandered over to where Roy was now leaning back against a kitchen counter, watching him. “I definitely made mistakes, but I tried my hardest. I still am, honestly. He’s not in university yet.”

“I don’t foresee him having any problem getting in,” Roy surmised as he reflected on their evening. “Even if he does have exceptionally awful timing sometimes.”

Edward couldn’t help but chuckle, and as he reached Roy he moved to stand beside the man, leaning back against the counter as well with a long, tired breath, and nodded. “Well, it’s like he said. I don’t let many people into the house, and never before anyone like you. He’s not accustomed to maybe proceeding with a bit more caution.”

“Like me, huh?” Roy echoed as he looked down at the head of blond hair beside him with the warm affection that had been rapidly rooting into and transforming the initial pure lust from the moment they’d met. 

Edward smiled contently and with just a hint of weariness from an incredibly long day, “like I said, there’re a few things I hadn’t expected to need to think over.”

Roy remembered, and whether it was anticipation or dread of whatever conclusion Edward would come to, he half-turned. “Before you do, just in case I never get another chance – ”

The next thing Edward knew, was that Roy was kissing him. And the moment his shock gave way, every bit of everything he’d come to feel for Roy, all the desire, all the yearning, flooded into him, and he tried to relay all of it as he desperately kissed Roy back.

Roy had been fully intending on kissing Edward for only a moment, but then Edward was kissing him back. And that knowledge alone, apart from the way white-hot desire flushed through him at the feel of Edward giving in to him, was enough to make him stay. And then he was gathering Edward into his arms, running a hand up into that soft golden hair and drowning in that kiss until he forced himself to pull away at risk of tipping Edward down onto the freshly cleared kitchen table.

Edward panted as Roy rested their foreheads together, their breaths mingling and his eyes still half closed. “Are you still worried about another chance?” He asked in a truly breathless voice, his fingers tangled in the man’s shirt and hair.

“I – ” Roy paused, “I’m waiting for your brother to interrupt us somehow.”

Soft laughter escaped Edward, and he pulled away in order to meet Roy’s eyes which shone with humor and happiness, but also gleamed with a heat that awoke memories of his late night fantasies. “Don’t tempt such things, Roy Mustang,” he chastised with another soft laugh.

“No?” Roy chuckled quietly, glancing towards the kitchen entrance. “He’s three for three so far.”

“Roy,” Edward fondly chastised again, and as Roy looked back to him, he smiled.

The moment Roy saw that smile, the rest of the world may as well have ceased to exist. Because Edward was standing there, still in his arms, smiling at him. “Have him retract that ad, Edward.”

A faint, but happy laugh escaped Edward as he ducked his gaze a moment, biting his lower lip in an attempt to keep from smiling so widely. He wasn’t having much success.

“Brother,” they heard Al’s voice pipe up.

“I told you,” Roy mouthed with a grin as Edward’s head shot up with a look of complete exasperation, laughing as quietly as he could and accepting the reprimanding tug he got to his hair.

“So I was thinking – ”

Edward’s hands moved to rest against Roy’s chest and looked over to where his brother was just now appearing, “I doubt that. When I drop you off for next term, I’m having words with the headmaster.”

Alphonse stopped dead in his tracks as he realized that Roy had not yet left, and equal amounts of horror, embarrassment, and frustration with himself flooded up inside him. “In my defense, it all went quiet! I thought he left!” He then quickly looked at Roy, who seemed highly amused, “I thought you left. I am so, so sorry!”

“In what realm of logic – ” Edward groaned, trying not to smirk as Roy laughed some more. “You are not helping, Roy.”

“I’m well aware.” Roy conceded without shame, before adding. “Four for four. I think this necessitates a securely locked door in the future.”

“I’m going – I’m gonna go – now. Like, right now. Go to bed and sleep and – now.” Alphonse stammered and backed away in order to flee.

“It’s fine.” Roy chuckled and turned back to Edward, the blond still miraculously and wonderfully in his arms. “Honestly, I should give you some space to think about what I said.”

Edward let out a low sigh, but nodded, knowing Roy was right. He’d already told the man earlier that day that there were things he needed to think about, and the truth was, Roy’s request now only made him see clearer the need to do so. So he slowly stepped back as Roy released him, eyes darting up to catch the man’s gaze. “I’ll come find you.”

“I know,” Roy uttered softly, and quickly taking away the one step they’d parted, he stole a fleeting kiss before he was moving to leave. “Alphonse, best of luck tonight,” he smirked as he passed the younger brother, clapping a hand down onto his shoulder.

Edward trailed after him, feeling unsettled and unhappy at the thought of Roy leaving, even though he knew that right now it was for the best. He truly had things to think about. But he didn’t plead or even ask for Roy to stay, instead only wishing him a good night at the door, their eyes locked until the closing door broke their gaze.

Alphonse stood frozen for a moment, then squeaked in alarm as his brother turned.

“Oh stop,” Edward sighed, putting a hand to his head with a groan. “I’ll kick your ass later.”

Alphonse made to creep back upstairs, but hesitated at the look on his brother’s face. “What was it he said to you, brother?”

Edward cast a backwards glance to the shut door, “he wants me to have you retract that ridiculous ad you put in the paper.”

Alphonse smiled widely, hopefully, and crept a bit closer to his brother. “Do you want me to?”

Edward looked back at his brother, and smiled.

***

“All right,” Alphonse plopped onto the sofa next to his brother with an air of relief and success, “I’m staying the night at Winry’s.”

Edward looked over in a confusion that only lasted a few moments, then he nodded. “Thank you.”

“Hey, I can learn.” Alphonse grinned, “I’ll probably stay over until late tomorrow afternoon. But I’ll call you before I leave, and if you need me to stay longer with her, just say so.”

“Might not have that talk with your headmaster after all.” Edward smirked.

Alphonse rolled his eyes and stood. “Just make sure you use protection, hmm?”

Edward offered him a one-fingered answer to that, but was smiling as his little brother walked away.

“I’m going to go grab a few things and head over there. Good luck!”

Edward sucked in a deep breath in an attempt to settle his nerves, and nodded to himself as his heart pounded. He could do this. He could. And grabbing what he needed off the sofa beside him, he stood.

He had himself a Roy Mustang to find.

The walk back into Resembool itself took the usual hour, although it felt much quicker this time around. And while Edward had no idea where Roy had been spending his time, he at least knew where the one motel was, as well as the café he’d seen Roy at before. So he went searching. And as his luck would have it, Roy was in the first place he looked.

Edward slipped into the seat across from Roy at the little café table while the man was staring into his coffee.

“I wasn’t certain I’d see you today,” Roy admitted after he’d taken in Edward’s presence with a true smile and a leaping sensation in his chest, “I’m rarely so happy to be proven wrong.”

Edward smiled back at the words, “you don’t seem like the sort of man who has been proven wrong very much.”

Roy tipped his head in agreement, his fingers fiddling with the handle of his coffee mug as he watched Edward closely. “I find I don’t mind it with you. After all, when I was on the train to come here, I fully expected you to send me away. Being wrong has not been so bad.”

“Hey, Mister Elric, you want the usual?”

Edward paused a moment, just watching Roy, before he finally looked away to the café owner. “Yeah, thanks.”

“Just put his on my bill, please.” Roy insisted firmly, merely smirking as Edward gave him a piercing look as the cafe owner walked off. “What, your usual doesn’t consist of every morsel of food and drink in the entire town, does it?”

“Don’t tempt me,” Edward informed him with narrowed eyes.

Roy grinned.

After a roll of his eyes, Edward fell pensive as he tried to muster his nerves under control, finally taking a deep breath and placing his palms flat on the table in a subconscious effort to ground himself. “Ready to talk?”

Roy gave a silent nod, trying to stifle back down the nerves that welled up inside him. It was difficult, he hadn’t been nervous about anything since he’d been a Major. But with Edward? Edward made his heart pound and his thoughts race in ways that he’d thought lost to him.

Edward gave him a smile that he hoped didn’t show how nervous he was, because despite his nerves of hope and anticipation, he was also excited. Happy. And as his drink arrived, he took it in between both his hands to hopefully stop their subtle tremors. “When my mom died, I was only eleven. The inheritance came with strings attached until I reached majority. It was manageable, if not annoying.” He took a breath, then forged ahead, “the house though? In order for me to keep the house, to keep a roof over my brother’s head, I had to stay there. I couldn’t leave town except for a month total to maintain established residency.”

“That law exists?” Roy asked with a frown.

Edward hummed in confirmation, and took a sip of his coffee. “The house is mine now, free and clear without red tape. But I’ll admit, it was hard. I decided that my responsibility was to Alphonse, and made sure that he was able to go to the best schools of his choice while I stayed here to make sure he had a home to come back to. It’s why he did what he did with that ad.”

“It’s his way of trying to show his gratitude.” Roy acknowledged quietly as he watched Edward with frown still in place.

Edward tipped his head to the side with a wry smile and the slightest of nods. “He wanted me to find someone I could be happy with. Someone who’d keep me from being lonely when he’s away at university. Someone I couldn’t keep off my mind,” and not once did he look away from Roy, “and perhaps underneath all my pretense to him about humoring him, I think I’ve been hoping I’d find someone who’d have made everything I’ve gone through to get to this point in my life worthwhile. But the thing is, I haven’t put myself first in a very long time, Roy.”

Roy nodded again, feeling uncertainty clench around his chest and tighten his throat for the first time since he’d met Edward. But all the same, knowing he’d accept whatever Edward wanted. And not just because it was the right thing to do, but because he genuinely cared for and wanted Edward to be happy.

“So,” Edward took a deep breath, “I’m not going to be good at it, at first. I may talk way too much about my little brother, because he’s also, in a way, my kid.”

Roy was beginning to smile now, the tension of uncertainty and the sting at the mere thought of losing Edward fading and leaving him feeling raw.

“I didn’t actually expect that I’d want to try to put myself first,” Edward then admitted softly, almost to himself, before shaking himself out of his own thoughts to focus on Roy again. “So, if you can’t commit yourself to a relationship with just me, you need to tell me. Because if I’m finally going to put myself first, I don’t want to be your second.”

Roy’s smile widened, and he nodded in a relief that almost made him laugh as he reached across the little table, taking hold of Edward’s hand that reached out for him in turn. “There’s no one else, Edward. I’m not that sort of man. I’m beginning to believe that I’m more the sort of man who’s going to spoil you, if you allow it.”

Edward couldn’t have stopped the beaming smile that broke out on his face if he’d tried, relief and happiness filling him as he held onto Roy’s hand tightly. “I know with your work – is it okay if I come visit you? I don’t exactly work, so I have a bit more free time to travel than you do.”

“Edward,” Roy began gently as he threaded their fingers together, “I’m clearing you space in my closet as soon as I go back home. Preferably, with you beside me. And I fully intend to come visit you here every moment I can. As you are welcome to visit me.”

“You want me to come with you?” Edward clarified hopefully, heart pounding.

Roy nodded, squeezing Edward’s fingers gently. “It’s two months until Al goes back to school, right?”

“Yes.” Edward frowned a bit as he tried to follow.

“I’m on a month vacation, and I am fairly certain I know who will extend it.” Roy began to explain, “if you’d allow it, I’ll join you in dropping Al off for his next school year, and then I’d like to take you on a vacation of your own. To my place. To see Central, and to meet my friends.”

The smile that began to take over Edward’s face was radiant, and he nodded eagerly. “I think I owe Maes a thank you anyway.”

“Yeah,” Roy agreed with a soft laugh, “yeah, I do too.”

“So,” Edward cleared his throat happily, “I was wondering if you wanted to do dinner with me again tonight. Just us.”

Roy grinned at the offer, “you killed your brother, did you?”

“No,” Edward laughed, “he’s staying the night at our best friend’s place. Promised he’d call me even, before he came back home.”

Roy rubbed his thumb across the top of Edward’s hand, “he’s staying the night, is he?”

Edward flushed faintly, his smile growing just a bit shy, but he was determined all the same. He knew what he wanted. “He doesn’t want to accidentally intrude on us again. And while I’m not at all trying to push you into anything – ” he trailed off, beginning to grow flustered.

Roy smiled, managing not to chuckle at Edward trying to navigate his way through this particular conversation. So well knowing what he wanted, if Edward should be willing at the time, he attempted his best at a rescue, “do I get to try your blueberry pancakes in the morning?”

Edward flushed despite the grin that lit his face, “I’d like that, yes. But be warned, apparently they’re bad.”

Roy chuckled and knew that he’d eat them even if they were, just to see Edward smile at him like that. “I’ll take my chances.”

“Good,” Edward approved, and ducking his head with a soft, happy laugh, he squeezed Roy’s hand. “Finish your coffee. You’re helping me shop for ingredients and then helping me home again.”

Roy immediately picked up his coffee, as did Edward, and the two of them worked on finishing their drinks so Roy could pay.

They then left the café area together and briefly made a stop at the motel, with Ed waiting outside, so that Roy could grab his bag. Then they headed out to the market, which, while slightly later in the morning, still had plenty for Ed to choose from. And he loaded up a grocery bag which Roy was more than happy to hold for him.

Edward didn’t seem to notice them, but Roy certainly hadn’t abandoned his acquired military talents, lending him the satisfying sight that was some of the townspeople looking at them with curious expressions. As well as catching what he suspected was another potential hopeful suitor to Edward’s affections start to gain a look of uncertainty and disappointment. He did not assuage anything there, settling for staring them down for the two seconds it took the person to duck away. As far as he was concerned, Edward was his now.

He’d worry about broaching retracting that ad again at a later time.

“That’s the last of this stuff,” Edward finally declared as he filled the grocery bag to the brim. “It’s not too heavy for you, is it?”

“It’s not that heavy, no.” Roy reassured, “don’t worry.”

Edward smiled up at him, and reaching out he looped his fingers around Roy’s free wrist, “one last stop I need to make,” he promised, and when Roy shifted so that his fingers fell and their hands clasped, he only firmed his grip with an approving hum and a wider smile.

“Lead on.” Roy was reasonably certain he’d let Ed drag him all over Resembool if it meant that the blond would stay at his side.

So Edward did.

The little brick post office was closed for the day, but the little mail flap was always open.

Edward pulled an envelope from his pocket and looking down at it a moment he then half-turned to offer it to Roy. “Did you want to do the honors?”

A grin flashed across Roy’s face, and he nodded as he reached out and took the envelope. “You’re sure?”

“About you?” Edward questioned, and stepping to close the distance between them he rose up, placing his hands on Roy’s chest to whisper towards the man’s ear. “Everything else aside, there’s no one else whose name I’m gasping when I’m three fingers deep inside myself.”

If not for the bag of groceries and the precious envelope he held, Roy would have seized Ed right then and there and pinned him against the wall. Public space be damned. “And what,” he began in a tone that sent a visible shiver through Edward’s body, “do you imagine I’m doing to you.”

Edward’s fingers gripped into Roy’s shirt, and he brushed a kiss to the man’s neck, relishing in the broken groan that escaped Roy. “It’s your fingers inside me - your cock driving into me over and over until I scream.”

Knowing that Ed would likely murder him if he dropped the groceries, Roy only clutched onto them harder, and abruptly crowded Edward back against the brick wall right next to the letter drop.

Edward’s breath seemed to stall right out of him, hitching in his throat. “Roy,” he begged, not even sure what he was begging for in this moment. Because for fucks’ sake, they were in public, and while there didn’t seem to be anyone else about right now, given their luck with interruptions…

Roy slipped the envelope into the letter drop. The little metal flap clinking shut satisfyingly, and freeing his hand to catch Edward’s chin. “What else?”

A broken groan caught in Edward’s throat, the warmth that had flushed through him during his moments of fantasy was nothing compared to the electric heat that was pulsing through him now. “I still haven’t washed that towel I gave you the first morning we met,” he admitted shakily as Roy’s eyes bore into his in a way that made him feel hopelessly exposed and wanting of the dark promise in that gaze, “it smells like you. I use it to muffle myself so Al won’t hear me when I’m imagining it’s your hand stroking me off, or your mouth around me.”

Roy was certain in that exact moment that if he didn’t have Ed delirious with pleasure and underneath him soon, he’d go mad from want. Because fuck. What else was he supposed to do with that confession but want to fuck Ed senseless? It was already taking every ounce of tenuous control not to risk being murdered for dropping the groceries as desire and want quaked inside him. “I’m going to take you home, and in between giving you everything you’ve been wanting from me, I’m going to show you exactly what I’ve been dreaming of doing to you.”

Edward shivered despite the heat sparking through him, “take me home, Roy.”

Roy lost no time in taking Edward by the hand and whirling the blond about to make good on that request.

Edward happily, if not a bit smugly, fell into step with the man. Because he’d put Roy in this state. And further proof that he’d made the right choice was in the fact that, as eager as he was certain Roy was, he wasn’t rushing. Edward had no problem at all keeping up with Roy’s longer stride, which only pleased him further.

And it didn’t slip his notice that despite the sexual tension between them, they still fell into conversation easily enough. It made the walk back to his house seem to go by all the faster, which was entirely fine by him.

He got the front door for Roy and then followed him into the kitchen.

“Where am I putting this?” Roy asked as he held up a jar of something that Edward had been excited about.

Edward pointed towards a nearby cabinet, “middle shelf,” he said, even as an approving warm happiness filled him. “Thank you for helping with that too. I didn’t even ask.”

“You don’t need to,” Roy shrugged it off, but smiled over at Ed as he passed the blond the pint of blueberries that grabby hands were made for, “but if there is something you need help with and I’m being too dense to notice, always tell me.”

“Okay,” Edward smiled gladly, chuckling a bit and moving to the refrigerator to slip the blueberries inside. “Same goes for you. I don’t really care that you’re some war hero and general. At least, not like that.”

“My poor fragile ego,” Roy teased with a laugh.

Edward rolled his eyes at the ridiculous idea that anything about Roy’s ego was fragile. “However will you recover,” he taunted dryly and pulled another item out of the grocery bag.

Roy smiled as he watched Ed move about the kitchen, distractedly putting away the apples into the fruit bowl on one of the counters. “I’ll just watch the way you look at me, I’ll be fine.”

The words caused Ed to nearly fumble the peppers out of his hands, and he wasn’t at all able to stifle the quick grin that sprung to his lips. “I’m sure I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Grinning, Roy put the bread in the proper bin on the counter and offered Edward the empty bag. “You know, the last time you tried to convince me of that, I got it out of you eventually.”

Edward smiled as he folded the grocery bag neatly, tucking it beneath the sink for reuse at a later time. “I took pity on you, that was all.”

“Pity, was it?” Roy chuckled, and as Edward walked over to him looking highly amused, he slipped his hands onto the blond’s hips to draw him in further. “What else needs to be done?”

Edward’s hands came up to rest against Roy’s sides, and he watched Roy’s gaze a moment before tilting his head a bit, smile softening. “Is this the part where I say some awful pick-up line?”

Roy smirked and gave a small shake of his head of denial. “I won’t stop you, but honestly? If there’s nothing food-wise that needs doing, or anything else around the house I can help with – stray laundry, for example –  ”

Edward couldn’t help the faint laugh that escaped him.

“I’m a man of my word, and I recall making you some promises at the post office. Ones I very much intend to keep.”

Edward smiled up at him, one hand reaching to brush his fingers against Roy’s jawline, “then you’re going to grab your bag and follow me up to my room. I’d hustle, soldier.”

Roy had never before really ever responded as anything other than neutrally to such military connotations in the bedroom, but that was before he met Edward. Because the speed with which he was incredibly onboard with it coming from Edward’s lips nearly made him stumble.

Edward smirked as he watched Roy all but scramble to obey, and walking after the man he waited by the staircase, leaning back against the banister to watch Roy retrieve the bag in question. And if he took the opportunity to admire the sight of Roy bending over, well, based on the look Roy gave him, the man wasn’t exactly opposed to being ogled.

Roy slung his military bag over his shoulder and promptly went after Edward, who upon his approach had turned and begun climbing the stairs.

“Set it wherever I won’t trip over it.” Edward grinned as he let them into his bedroom.

And despite the reason he’d taken Roy up here, instead of shoving Roy against his now closed bedroom door and kissing him like his life depended on it, he crossed over to his desk instead. Pulling open the drawer he kept it in, he picked up the letter he’d kept safe and secreted away, and turned to offer it to Roy. “I’ll want this back, but you deserve to read it.”

While Roy was very much intent on finally having Edward falling apart in pleasure underneath him, he crossed the rest of the way over to the blond with a different sort of true interest. Pinning Ed to the bed could wait another moment, because as he reached out to take the letter in hand, he already knew what it was. And he’d be lying if he said he wasn’t incredibly curious.

Edward was smiling as he shadowed Roy over to the bed, sitting down next to him and settling in to wait and enjoy the emotions playing out on Roy’s face as he read. Knowing by each changing expression just what part the man had reached – he’d read the thing so many times he was fairly certain he knew it by heart.

When Roy was finally done reading the letter he stared down at it, the paper crinkling just a bit in his grip. “It’s confusing,” he began, “I want to kill him, but… also thank him for not being as crude as I’d feared he’d be.”

Edward chuckled softly and resting his head against the man’s shoulder he closed his eyes, enjoying the smell of Roy’s cologne. “I burned every single letter but that one. I actually tried to burn it a few times, back before you came here, but I could never bring myself to drop it in the fire.”

Roy nodded slowly and then turned his head, unable to help but smile softly at the sight of Edward, eyes closed, leaning into him. “If I owe you any explanations about any of it, just ask.”

Edward smiled and shifted so that he sat up and met Roy’s gaze. “How you are at work is no concern of mine if it’s what has enabled you to stay safe in a sometimes volatile military and climb the ranks so fast. All I’ll say is that if you bring that attitude home to me, I’m not about to cow to it and I’ll require an attitude adjustment and an apology.”

Roy nodded in agreement, and as Ed smiled approvingly he offered back the letter. “Thank you for allaying my fears that he’d written you just pure filth. I hadn’t been sure, what with you getting flustered when I first told you my name.”

Edward huffed out a laugh as he took the letter back and stood, “I got flustered because this was the only one I kept, that I couldn’t bring myself to destroy.” He slipped the letter back into the desk drawer and turned to face Roy, “and then you turn out to be unfairly attractive, and kind, and for the briefest moment I was imagining that bit he wrote about you ravishing me and – and I hadn’t expected any of that to happen at all.”

Roy was smirking as he stood and closed the few steps between them, snagging Edward by his hips. “A brief moment? That’s all I inspired even by being unfairly attractive? Just a brief moment of lurid ravishing fantasy?”

Edward snorted out a laugh, and smirked up at the man teasingly. “You distracted me by being needy about wanting to know what Maes wrote! You’re your own enemy there.”

“Time to make it up to past you and me,” Roy determined as Edward laughed more.

“We have six hours until I need to start dinner.” Edward informed him with a grin, and raising his hands to Roy’s chest, gave him a gentle push backwards towards the bed.

Roy knew that while they’d probably need to take a break for lunch, he fully intended to keep Edward in that bed for as much of the six hours as possible.

Ignoring for the moment the fact that they were both still entirely clothed, Edward gave Roy one last gentle push when the man’s knees hit the side of the bed. And as Roy sat with a bouncing thump, he lost no time in straddling the man’s lap and pressing forward with an eager kiss.

***

“Were you ever stationed here?” Alphonse asked as the train began to pull into the station at East City.

Roy glanced past Edward out the window of their private train compartment – perks of his rank – and smiled faintly. “A long time ago. It’s definitely grown since I was last here.”

Edward looked out the window as well, his usual melancholy at dropping his brother off for another school year, likely his last school year in Amestris, was present, but for the first time he felt excited as well. Because as soon as they dropped off Al, he was joining Roy in Central for a few weeks. Which was, unfortunately, the longest he could leave the house unattended and not have nature try and take over said house. But as soon as he’d taken care of things at home he had a strong suspicion that he’d be right back at Roy’s side.

The three of them grabbed their things from the luggage rack and Al led the way out of the train as Edward and Roy followed hand in hand.

“This is the extra fancy school all the higher-ups kids go to out here.” Roy remarked as it came into view after a good twenty minutes of walking and Edward stressing that Al had forgotten something – he hadn’t.

Alphonse nodded with a grin, “yeah. Which, by the way, some of them need to be a bit more careful about realizing if their kids are in earshot.”

“Noted.” Roy frowned, it seemed he had something to yell about once he got back to work.

Edward couldn’t care less about that stuff right now, “and you’re sure you packed enough socks?”

Alphonse grinned, and coming to a stop turned to grasp his brother by the arm. “I promise I packed enough socks, mom.”

Edward glared at him.

“Let’s get you checked in, before your brother murders you.” Roy determined with a laugh, and shooed Alphonse along.

“The only reason I haven’t murdered him yet is because of you, I hope he knows this.” Edward muttered, and bit down on a smile as Roy laughed beside him.

“You’ll miss him as soon as we leave the school, you can’t fool me.” Roy told him, helping to keep an eye on Alphonse, who was now very excited, apparently having spotted some friends and bouncing on ahead.

They caught up to Al near the front gates of the school and the crush of people there. But they left the youngest Elric to reuniting animatedly with his friends so that Edward could get Al signed in for the year. Only once he had, and collected his receipt for the payment he’d sent for Al’s tuition, did they go to say goodbye to Alphonse.

“You have Roy’s number?” Edward checked for probably the hundredth time as he and his brother embraced tightly.

Alphonse grinned, laughing a bit. “Yes, brother. I’ll call you this weekend.” And when Edward finally let him go, he turned to face Roy squarely, “take good care of my brother.”

“You’ve my word on that.” Roy promised without hesitation and a squeeze to Edward’s hand that had sought his out just then.

Al nodded in sharp approval, then cleared his throat to smirk over at his brother. “Now, mom, I think he’d make a good stepdad for me – ”

Edward’s eyes shot wide, and Roy began to grin.

“ – but please make sure the wedding is after final exams? That way I have plenty of time to devote to being best man.” Alphonse finished with a wicked grin.

“I’d just ask Winry, you little shit.” Edward told him with a reddening face.

“I’d let you officiate instead if he does that,” Roy offered out helpfully, grinning as he felt Edward shoot him a dirty look.

Alphonse grinned back in approval, and glancing over his shoulder as his friends called his name, he waved at them a moment before turning back to his brother, “all teasing aside, I’m really happy for you, and proud.”

Edward huffed, trying not to smile but losing that battle as he grabbed Alphonse in one last tight hug, “go be brilliant.”

“Yeah,” Al hugged him back, but before he let his brother pull away he whispered, “You’re the best parent and brother anyone could ask for, you know.”

If Ed’s eyes felt a bit misty after hearing that, Al had the decency not to remark on it as he stepped away and gave them a last wave.

“Talk to you guys soon! Have a safe trip!”

Roy raised a hand in a parting wave, even as his other arm moved to encircle Edward’s waist. And as Edward leaned into his side while they waved goodbye to Al, he said quietly, “you’re definitely going to cry when he goes off to university.”

“Please remember to bring tissues for me,” Edward didn’t bother to deny the assessment, and when he finally could no longer see Al, he rubbed at his eyes.

“And a pint of ice cream,” Roy promised and squeezed his arm around Ed, “come on, we need to start heading back to the station. You’ll feel better getting some food on your stomach before our train to Central boards.”

Ed only grumbled a little bit, but relaxed into letting Roy guide him off. “And a beer.”

“And a beer,” Roy agreed easily and with a grin.

***

They had arrived in Central late the following day, and after dumping their things at Roy’s place they spent the remaining two days of Roy’s vacation time taking advantage of the fact that there was no Alphonse they needed to worry about scarring.

The morning of Roy’s return to work was the first time that Edward had actually seen Roy in uniform. And he was smirking appreciatively as he let himself drink in the sight. “I may have a uniform kink I didn’t know about.”

Roy began to laugh, a wide grin on his face as he adjusted the stiffly-starched collar and glanced back at Ed through the mirror. “When I get home I do believe we’ll have to explore that.”

Ed grinned at the permission, “I promise I’ll be gentle with it.”

Roy turned and walked back over to where Ed sat invitingly on the bed wearing absolutely nothing but an appreciative grin and bent down for a kiss and a grope that caused Edward to squeak and pull away from the kiss laughing. “I have spare uniforms. Don’t worry about causing me to need to get this one repaired.”

“Careful what you start, General,” Edward warned him with clear desire shining in his eyes. “You may not make it to work on time if I decide to finish it.”

Roy grinned and pulled Ed into his arms to pick him up off the bed and set him on his feet with a swat to the blond’s pert ass. “And you’ll be upset with yourself if you don’t get dressed so you can surprise Maes.”

Twenty minutes later they were leaving Roy’s house and heading to the military headquarters of Central.

“And I thought the one in East City was big,” Edward commented as they turned the corner and the offensively large building came into view after about a fifteen minute walk.

“That’s because you’re the size of a hedgehog.” Roy accepted the punch to his shoulder without protest, and a smirk.

Edward had begun eyeing all the uniformed people, trying to see if he could spot the most likely culprit to be Maes. “You really need to be better at descriptions, Roy. ‘He has glasses and a punchable face’ is not the most helpful of descriptors.”

“Oh, I’m plenty fine at them,” Roy assured, “him having a face I dream about punching now and then is his best defining feature.”

Ed snorted and rolled his eyes.

“He’ll be here any moment, he and I usually arrive around the same time.” Roy reassured and stopped near the main gate, back up against the wall but turned to face Edward. “It’s going to be difficult not having you around. We’ve barely been apart for two months.”

“I’m worried you’ll realize you’re tired of me,” Ed teased him.

“That will never be possible,” Roy was quick to deny with a firm honesty.

Edward looked around a moment in indecision before looking back at Roy with a frown. “Am – ” he began, only to see Roy’s focus on him shift in a telling way, “he’s here?”

Roy nodded, and as Edward spun he pointed a finger past the blond. “The one with the punchable face.”

“Oh, for fucks’ sake, Roy.” Edward groaned, but at least he knew that Maes was supposed to have glasses, because there was only one person in the cluster of uniforms coming towards the main gates who had glasses. And who had stopped dead in his tracks at the sight of them. “He’s perfectly handsome.”

That was what Roy was left with as Edward darted from his side. He gaped in exaggerated offense, and followed.

Meanwhile Edward had already reached Maes, and promptly engulfed the shocked but giddily excited-looking man in a hug. “Thank you,” he told him with feeling.

Maes spotted Roy’s smug but truly happy expression as Edward stepped back, yet his full attention was on Edward for the moment. “You’re most welcome,” he answered with true warmth and an amazed grin, “when he had me extend that vacation I’d hoped it wasn’t so he could lick his wounds.”

Edward smirked and as Roy put an arm around him he startled only briefly before melting into the embrace with satisfaction. “Definitely not that,” he assured, glancing up at Roy with a fond smile before looking back at Maes, “he’s been wonderful to me. Even when we’ve had some disagreements.”

“Oh, so you can be reasonable,” Maes accused his best friend now, who looked incredibly pleased with himself. “I see how it is. You just have to drool over them for a few days first.”

Roy glared at him just on principle, “you are not going to enjoy my first day back.”

Maes rolled his eyes, completely unconcerned and instead put his attention back on Edward, who seemed highly amused. “You must come to dinner tonight at my place.”

Edward looked up to Roy with a curious but eager expression, “do we have any other plans?”

While Roy would always have plans involving he and Edward being alone, this was also important. After all, he hadn’t brought Ed here to hide him away. “Let’s join him for dinner.”

Edward grinned and turned back to Maes to nod eagerly. “I’m pretty sure I owe being here to you. You sent me him.”

“And we’re going to remember that, right, Roy?” Maes grinned wickedly at the man. “No threatening to light me on fire today.”

“I don’t make promises I can’t keep, Maes.” Roy told him loftily before looking down to Ed. “Afraid I need to get going now. You remember the way home? You have your key?”

Edward nodded with a reassuring smile, ignoring, as Roy was, Maes apparently freaking out in excitement over Roy’s choice of words. “I’ll see you when you get home. Have a nice day back, don’t make too many people cry at East City.”

“No promises,” Roy smirked, and slipping his free hand into Edward’s golden hair, enjoyed a thorough goodbye kiss that caused Ed to clutch at his jacket.

Maes observed them shamelessly and with the kind of smirk that implied he would be teasing his best friend about this a lot.

Edward was left happily flushed as they parted, but reluctantly drew away from Roy. “Don’t miss me too much.”

“Oh, he’s still got that picture of you in his desk. He’ll be fine.” Maes offered out helpfully.

Roy shot his best friend a murderous glare.

Edward laughed brightly, and as Roy and Maes began to move away, off towards the oversized Headquarters building – one of them looking far more reluctant than the other – he waved them off with a happy smile. Only once they disappeared from his sight did he turn to begin making his way back to his home here.

And if he stopped along the way to pick up a cheap disposable camera so that Roy could have some new pictures while he was at work, well, he’d surprise Roy with that gift later.