Orphaned

Sorry I didn't update yesterday...had a lot of crap to do last night. Anyway, enjoy!

Kai: *starts typing* Sorry, master, I didn't mean to disobey you! lol. Thanks for reviewing!

Juna: *has never had takoyaki* I would like to try it, though...Sure, it's tucked in if he throws a blanket over him and gives him a kiss! Lmao, impatient, aren't we? Thanks for reviewing!

Pepp: Ed spewing octopus on Roy is quite funny. Shark? Interesting...can't say I've ever had it. Oh, you're from MD too? Where about? I agree with the crab thing. Lol, and his...feminine structure helps with the wife thing, too. Thanks for reviewing!

creamybluebluebaby:Yes, I am quite satisfied with the fact that I have you hooked, lol. Hmm, you have just added pressure, though. Let's hope I don't disappoint. Thanks for reviewing!
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Golden eyes snapped open as a small groan escaped the young boy on the couch, 'Damn, sleeping on the couch...bad idea.' Ed told himself. He stretched his stiff muscles and sat up, cracking his neck. He had fallen asleep reading, waiting for Roy to come home, 'Bet that lucky bastard got to sleep in his own bed.' Ed thought. Though, it was partially his own fault for staying downstairs, but the details weren't important. Ed could find a way to blame this on Roy, so he would. Convinced that it was the older man's fault that he was sore (there's no good word to put in here; would you have perferred stiff?), Ed got up determined to wake Roy from his own peaceful slumber. If the older Elric wasn't at peace, then Roy didn't have a chance in hell.

Padding his way out to the kitchen, Ed saw that Roy had once again ruined his fun by already being awake. The blonde yawned and Roy glanced at him, a little startled since he hadn't heard him enter the kitchen, "Good morning." he said, smirking, "Sleep well?"

"Bastard." was Ed's only reply, "Why did you let me sleep on the couch? You have to know how uncomfortable that thing is." he said, waiting until Roy took the hint to pour him some coffee, "Rich bastard like you and you can't even get decent furniture?"

Roy frowned, "I didn't pick that out." he informed Ed.

The younger one snorted, "Then why the hell did you keep it? Besides feeling like a block of cement, it's got a horrible pattern."

"My mother bought it." Roy said, a little bitterly.

Ed opened his mouth and closed it a couple times, "Oh." was all he said. Deciding a change of subject was in order, the younger one noticed bruises covering Roy's face, "What happened to you?" he asked, slightly concerned. He had never seen Roy beaten up so badly.

"It's nothing." Roy assured him, finally pouring a mug of coffee and setting it in front of the boy.

Ed glared slightly, "Like hell it isn't. Your face is one big bruise!" he told the older one.

"Nothing for you to worry about. Just a rough day at the office." Roy said, a weak attempt at a joke.

It did nothing but deepen the creases in Ed's forehead, "Roy, I want to know something, and I want an honest answer out of you."

Said man sighed and glanced to Ed, their eyes locking. He knew that it would happen some day; Ed would find out everything. He knew it was inevitable, and there was no sense in beating around the bush, "What?"

"What do you do?" Ed asked for what felt like the millionth time, "What kind of job do you have that puts you in this kind of danger?"

"I'm not in any danger, Ed. I'm a big boy, I can take care of myself." he smirked, "Unlike some people in this room."

It came as a serious shock when Ed didn't blow up and freak out on Roy for that comment. In fact, his worried expression didn't change the slightest bit, "I'm serious Roy, I want to know what you do that has you coming home looking like this."

Roy swallowed hard, hating the almost desperate, begging tone he heard in Ed's voice. He went back to his previous thoughts of not putting this off any longer, and nodded, "Alright." he finally said, "I'll tell you."

Al's eyes darted open as Ed slammed the bedroom door shut. Their identical-colored eyes matched for a brief second, Al's full of confusion and Ed's of...what was that Al saw in his brother's eyes? Pain? Betrayal? Or was it simply hatred? Al couldn't tell, but guessed it was a mix of a whole bunch of emotions. A second of silence passed between them before Al spoke the word that Ed had been waiting for; the one he had been expecting, "Brother?"

It wasn't such a simple question as it seemed. Al was asking him what was wrong, why he was so upset, 'Maybe because that bastard lied to me. This entire time he's been lying!' Ed thought. To think he ever trusted him, to think he ever let that bastard touch him. Ed growled deep in the back of his throat, which in turn made Al back away a little.

"Brother?" came the question again, concern and worry lacing the younger one's voice.

Ed shot a look at Al, not in the mood to answer any questions. All he wanted to do right now was beat Roy's face in, but didn't see that as an option. It's not that he couldn't, though after what Roy told him he might be a little hesitant to try, but Roy could very easily call Winry back. As much as Ed despised the man living here, he refused to go back to the orphanage, if only for Al's sake. Ed looked once more to his younger brother, "I'm not in the mood, Al." he informed the still-confused one. Al watched as Ed flopped down on his bed, burrying his face in the pillow. He wasn't sure, but he thought he heard very faint crying coming from the older one. Wondering what Roy had done or said to upset Ed this badly, Al got up from his seat on his bed and made his way downstairs.

When the younger Elric reached the kitchen, he saw Roy sitting at the small island in the middle of the room. He had his head in his hands like he had just done something wrong or made a really huge mistake. Al hesitantly sat across from him, "Roy?" he asked, hoping he didn't get the same reaction as he did with Ed.

The raven-haired man glanced up to the innocent face of Al, "Yeah?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper. Of course, he had expected Ed to go straight to Al and tell him how Roy had been decieving them and lying to them. He didn't expect Al to react the same way and freak out like Ed did, but he knew whatever the younger one wanted, it couldn't be good.

"What happened between you and Ed?" he asked.

"What?" Roy asked, shocked. Ed hadn't told Al? Roy couldn't think of a good reason why. Unless, of course, Ed didn't want Al knowing. If that was the case, then it would be a bad thing for Roy to tell him.

"Brother won't tell me anything and he's really upset." Al said, a frown on his face, "Did you two have a fight?"

Roy chuckled, an empty and sad sound, "More like I was an idiot." he corrected Al, "I thought I could keep it a secret from him, but I should have known better."

"Keep what a secret?" came the next question.

For the second time that night, Roy explained his job, this time to the younger brother. When he was finished, he looked up to Al, "So, I've been keeping it a secret from you both." He had, of course, left out the part about any alchemist being the Underground's target; he didn't need to worry Al or Ed any more than he already had.

Al nodded slowly, still absorbing all of the information, "So, that's why Ed was so upset, because you've been lying to us about everything."

"I didn't want to hurt him or you..." Roy trailed off and looked down,"I just...I just wanted to make sure you both were safe. Keeping you in the dark was the easiest way to do that."

Al saw that Roy was close to breaking down, and quickly went to him. He sat next to him and leaned his head on his guardian's shoulder, an innocent gesture of affection, "I know you only wanted to protect us, and Ed does to. He just..." Al sighed, thinking he had moved past the point in his life when he had to say this, "He just overreacts a lot." Al closed his eyes as Roy wrapped an arm around his shoulders, 'Maybe brother will always be like that, though.' Al realized.

Roy nodded, finally acknowledging Al's words, "Yeah, he does. I guess he's just like that, though." he commented, mimicking Al's thoughts. The two sat there in silence until Roy shifted and removed his arm from Al's shoulders, "I think I need to go talk to Ed."

"Maybe you should give him some time to calm down." Al suggested.

Roy didn't have much time to think on the subject because his phone started ringing. He walked over to its place on the wall and answered, "Hello?" His eyes widened slightly as he realized who was calling him, "No...Yes, sir." he said, "Of course, I'll be right there. Goodbye, sir." He hung the phone up and turned to Al, "Guess I'll give him time to calm down after all." he commented, "I've got to go. I should be back before too long, though, and I'll start on dinner."

"Maybe you should make Ed some more takoyaki." Al suggested, "He wouldn't stop talking about it for days."

Roy smirked, "Maybe I'll do that." he said, then headed towards the door, "Just don't let him trash my house." he called to Al.

"Okay!" Al called back, waving. After the door closed he lowered his hand and sighed. He wasn't quite sure, if Ed really did decide to destroy the house, that he could stop him.
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Nothing too terribly exciting happened besides Ed getting pissed and Roy and Al sharing that little father-son moment. That's all that was, too, nothing like what's between Roy and Ed (or, at least what was between Roy and Ed). Next chappy interesting things will happen, though. We'll find out who called Roy, and why. Other things will happen, too, I'm sure. Maybe Al will talk some sense into Ed (not likely...).