Flame and Fullmetal 300 km/h

A/N: When I woke up this morning I was soo sleepy, but then I saw that I had gotten so many reviews on a chapter I thought would suck, so that got me up and going today. So after cleaning my entire apartment from roof to floor, I sat down and wrote a new chapter, keeping my side of the deal.

To my reviewers: ZexysBard, or my dear nastyscarythingunderthebed (which name do you prefer?) I was actually wondering why you hadn’t reviewed 19 earlier. Sorry to hear about your acount. *munches on one of the cookies* I’m a sucker for DVD collections as well. Just got myself all six seasons of Sex&theCity and I’ve been watching them with glee. Alien, sorry if I’m not currently fulfilling your and Roy’s expectations. I’ll try to fix that. Oh, and give Ed some ice-cream, it helps, and ask the two if they want to come over to my place for the weekend. We do have shared custody of them after all. Fleur_de_lys, still a nosebleed I see. Thank you so much for the doujinshi! The quick writing, well, it’s amazing what the right song can inspire you to write. But today I actually called work and said I wanted a day off, and I spent it cleaning and writing this new chapter. TrulyWished, Pauline, mina, milky and Carmen, thank you for the reviews. Just because I don’t say more than that to you doesn’t mean you are not as important as the other reviewers.

This chapter was written with haste, since so many reviewed the last chapter and I promised a fast update. Enough said...Enjoy!

Chapter 21; Stand By Me

“Why were you at the docks?” Ed asked again. He should have demanded an explanation earlier before he stepped into Speed’s car. Hadn’t he learned by now that nobody could be trusted? Not even the cops. Not the older brother Archer. He needed answers. “Is your brother a cop? And you? What about you Speed.”

Speed’s frown told Ed he was going down with it the wrong way. ‘Nice going, Ed. Don’t blame yourself if you get a bullet in your head!”

Speed sighed deeply. “Yeah, my brother is a cop. A military officer to be exact.” He started, absently massaging his neck. “We are not close. There are many reasons for that, I guess. Must be hard for you to imagine not being able to love your own brother.” He said glancing at Ed, a hint of embarrassment. No, Ed couldn’t. Maybe that was why this entire thing smelled so fishy, and not just because of the docks.

“Why?”

“My line of profession mostly. When little brother is a street racer it can’t look too good when big brother wants another promotion.” Speed chuckled in spite that there was a hurt glint in his blue eyes. By then, Ed didn’t think Speed was going to kill him for prying. “I started hating cops, and even more I hate a dirty one.”

Ed couldn’t be sure if Speed meant he knew what his brother was doing off-hours, or just generally. Ed still had to consider Speed to be an enemy, so he decided not to comment on the last part. “Why did you start hating cops?”

Since Ed hadn’t been to shy about his questions earlier, Speed wasn’t bothered by Ed’s sudden interrogation. He actually smiled a little, the mood lightening up instantly. “Well, I should actually be grateful to the good authorities. If it wasn’t for them busting me and locking my ass in jail for a night I wouldn’t have met Roy Mustang.”

Ed wasn’t that shocked, smiling at the thought. “You met Roy in jail?”

Speed nodded, grinning. “We both were in for reckless driving. We became friends, worked at the same garage by day and raced at night. Could you believe we were inseparable?”
Honestly, no, Ed thought, remembering Roy’s reaction each time the two were in the same room. Speed read his mind, a dazed look on his face as he continued, “Flame and Speed, a deadly combination. Those were the days. Then…we became more than friends, if you know what I mean.”

Ed visibly stiffened in his seat. “You mean…?”

“We were lovers.”

”Oh,” Ed said awkwardly. Speed glanced at him, wondering what part of that information it bothered Ed. ”It’s just that I thought you were more of a ladies man if you know what I mean,” Ed quickly explained. That was only half the truth however.

Speed shrugged. ”I swing both ways. So does Roy, if you didn’t know.”

”Oh,” Ed said again, not intending to tell Roy’s ex that he had learned that intimately.

They drove the rest of the way in awkward silence, stopping in front of the Silver Rose.

Speed sighed heavily. ”You realize that this is the second time I have bought you here?” Ed shrugged, the air between them still tense. Speed turned to Ed and looked at him for the longest time with his clear blue eyes, a small smile forming and brightening that handsome face. ”Next time I drive you someplace, it won’t be drinks for fixing my ride or drinks for almost hitting you with my ride. No, I’ll take you out for a dissent dinner at a fancier place. What do you think about that?”

He sounded so woundable and hopeful that Ed couldn’t put him down, a smile forming on his lips as well as he nodded. ”I’ll hold you to that then.”

Speed chuckled, nodding to seal the deal and they both stepped out of the car, walking into the Rose.

********************************************************************************

Roy was flipping through the songs in the jukebox, searching for something to his taste.

“C'mon Roy! Just put on Rihanna or something!” Winry whined, tugging his arm.

“This is an older model Tinkerbell.” Roy said for the third time that night. Really, he had to teach her how to drink. She didn’t handle her alcohol well and he had already told the bar not to give her anymore, and if she ordered, they would just give her a non-alcoholic version.

Winry moaned, pouting her bottom lip. “Well, does it have Sean Paul’s new hit?”
Roy sighed, about to say something hurtful when the door opened and Ed stepped inside. ‘Finally he shows up,’ Roy thought, accidentally pressing a button and Temptation’s “Stand By Me” came on. It was fitting until Roy saw who Ed had arrived with.

The two walked up to Winry and Roy and Roy was sure he was the only one who saw the mischievous amusement in Speed’s expression.

“Hey guy!” Havoc said, appearing from no-where and jumped at Ed and Speed. “Speed my man! I missed you last night!”

Speed chuckled and rolled his eyes. “I’m staying at his place for now. I got kicked out from my ex girlfriend’s house.” He quickly explained to Ed who had a weird look on his face. And speaking of former relationships…

“What are you doing here?” Roy asked Speed in his usual get-the-fuck-out-of-here way. The good thing about Speed was that he wasn’t so bothered by Roy’s aggressive behavior.

“Me and Fullmetal decided to get a few drinks,” Speed explained although he wasn’t obligated to answer to the lead racer. Roy looked at Ed and the blond had a feeling he should feel very guilty.

“So, you didn’t bother to die and enjoy the night with us like your friend Scar,” Roy said gesturing at the tables nearby where, to Ed’s surprise, Scar was sitting talking to a few members of the crew. “Instead you show up with him.”

“Actually, Scar and Riza are on a date—“

“Shut up Jean,” Roy snapped, Havoc taking a few steps back, knowing his friend’s mood and knew it was understandable when Speed was involved. Ed however couldn’t see as kindly upon Roy’s behavior.

“Listen Colonel-bastard,” Ed hissed, for the first time gaining the raven haired man’s full attention. “What is it to you who I go where with anyway?”

“Don’t start with me Edward,” Roy warned turning his glare at Speed. “Yu don’t know the half of it so—“

“So shut up?” Ed asked with mock. “I know more than you think.”

Roy couldn’t believe that Ed knew it all. If he did, he couldn’t be siding with Speed. Just then when they all stood in silence did the song go:

I won’t cry.
No I won’t shed a tear.
Just as long as you stand
Stand by me

Ed sighed at how pathetic Roy was acting and turned to Speed. “I’ll order some drinks and we can go play some pool, okay?”

Speed nodded, patting Ed’s shoulder, loving the way Roy gritted his teeth when he touched the blond. “Yeah, I’ll be right there.”

Ed looked at Roy, but didn’t bother to say anything more. “See you around Winry, Havoc.” the two nodded their heads, not daring to speak without permission from the lead racer, deciding to follow Ed’s example and walk away to leave Flame and Speed alone.

“What bullshit are you playing?” Roy asked in a hushed voice. Speed looked at him as if he had no idea what Roy was talking about. “Are you still riding with the Alchemists, Archer?”

Speed chuckled. “You are always so quick to judge me. You haven’t changed at all, have you?”

“Neither have you. That’s why I know you are jerking me around.”

“You used to love it when I did that to you,” Speed smiled and stepped back before Roy got a chance to punch him. “As to your question: No. I have better things going for me. But I don’t know if I can say the same or you. You had more control back in the days when you were an Alchemist with me, Greed and Kimblee.” Speed said, hitting a nerve. “But that is something Edward doesn’t need to know, right?”

Speed walked passed him to the pool table where Ed was waiting for him. Roy growled and clenched his fist as the song went:

Won’t you stand by me
Oh stand by me
Oh stand
Stand by me

He hit the jukebox, letting go of some built up aggravation, walking away but stopping in his tracks when the song was changed to Elvis and it started with:

Are you lonesome tonight?

He glared at the machine as if t was his worst enemy and headed straight for the bar, ordering the strongest drink they had.

*******************************************************************************

"What’s up with all the lovin’ tonight?" Jay asked rhetorically to Breda, Havoc and Winry as he served them their drinks and gathering the dishes left after their dinner. “I mean, people are making moon eyes with the waitresses, people are dancing without having to be under the influence of alcohol and people are getting it on in the booths like the bathroom was some cheap motel.”

Havoc laughed. "Are you jealous, man?"

"Are you crazy? Have you seen my girls?"
To emphasize his point, he gave a little wave to Psiren who was on the dance floor, dancing with Rose who was on her break.

The other men (plus Winry) stared at the scene, just now noticing the two dancing together, nodding and taking a miserable sip of their drinks, wondering why they were not as lucky as the bartender.
Another coupe worth noticing was Riza and Scar the two of them dancing quite close. They watched how Scar smelled Riza’s hair as she leaned her head on his shoulder, his hand sneaking down from her waist. When he as getting a little to comfortable, Riza lightly slapped his hand and he raised it in a my-bad-gesture, smiling playfully down at her as she softly glared at him. He leaned down and whispered something in her ear, making her blush and giggled. She wrapped her arm around his neck and placed his hand on her hip, folding both arms around his neck. Scar smiled and winked at the four watching him.

"I’ve turned from gay to bisexual in ten seconds flat," Winry said. "And I’m being dead serious. Give me a tall, tanned, handsome guy like him and I’ll choose a cock over a cunt any day!"

Breda almost chocked on the cocktail snack Jay served them, Havoc chuckling and lighting another cigarette.

"What's eating the Colonel?" Riza asked the rest of the guys, returning from the dance floor with Scar right behind her.

"Who cares?" Breda responded taking another go at his beer.

"Well you gotta admit," Winry said to the others at the table, "he's been pretty weird for the past couple of days."

"Yeah, and he's been at the bar all night," Jay observed.

Havoc shook his head. "Must be girl troubles."

Breda snorted. "Everything's girls with you."

"Ha ha," Havoc mock laughed.

"Nah, I think it’s more like guy troubles. Look." Winry pointed across the room. Ed and Speed were immersed in a friendly game of pool. They were directly in Roy's line of sight. The guys could hear all the way to their table how Roy growl deep in his throat when Ed laughed at one of Speed's jokes.

Riza shook her head. "Can you say, 'the guy's got it bad'?"

"I don't know about you guy's, but I say we go cheer the old boss up," Winry suggested.
Breda rolled his eyes as the other men agreed. Forget them. He was content just drinking his alcoholic beverage thank you very much. If Roy wanted "cheering up" he would have asked for it. Scar wasn’t so keen on cheering Roy up no matter what the problem, taking a seat next to Breda.

Roy looked up when two stools on either side of him were taken by two very annoying men and two overly sister-like women.

"What do you want?" he growled.

"Oh, nothing," Havoc said, putting his arm around Roy's shoulder, but quickly took it off at Roy's glare. "We just thought you might need some company."

"I don't. Go away."

"Come on Flame," Jay said persuasively. "We're not stupid."

"You don't say?" he answered sarcastically, taking a swig from his half empty glass.

"We know about your little situation," Riza said, as if she'd found out Roy's deepest darkest secret.

Roy sighed in annoyance and asked with reluctance, "What secret?"

Havoc nodded his head knowingly. "This little...thing you have going with Fullmetal. Yep. We know."

Roy was shocked. They couldn't possibly know about all the times he and Ed had "almost sex" or about last Friday night. No way!

He snorted, hiding his surprise. "What about the kid? What the hell does he have to do with me?"

Winry and Havoc shared a look that said, ‘Oh, poor, clueless Roy. Now we know what the problem is.’

"Roy," Riza started. "If you want him to like you, I don't think you should call him such derogative names. For example, referring to his lack of height doesn't go real well with someone who has an equal lack of temper.”

“Riza is right, Roy!” Winry nodded. “Maybe you should concentrate on what you are doing wrong. Like admitting you are wrong is the best start. And don’t harass him, or sound and act so damn arrogant and all-mighty. You see, I know how it is to be a good looking, blond, gifted mechanic working for you. Of course, I wouldn’t sleep with you, ever."

Roy shook his head. "I don't even--"

"And if you really like this guy, maybe you could buy him some flowers or chocolate or something," Jay interrupted. "He might really dig that kind of shit. Take it from me. I'm the one who gets laid every night. It pays to be Mr. Suave."

"Look, if I wanted your advice I'd--"

"And another thing," Winry added. "You need to be a good listener. There's nothing sexier than a guy who's not only good in the sack, but can listen too. Or pretend to anyway."

Roy shook his head once again. "You're not listening to--"

"It's okay to be in love Colonel. Nothing wrong with it," Riza comforted.

"In what!?" Roy exclaimed, appalled by such a suggestion. "I'm not, nor have I ever been in love!" With this, he pushed out his stool and left the bar. The four watched his angry retreating figure stalk out the back exit.

"Yep," Havoc said nodding his head. "He's got a case of in-love-itus."

Winry laughed as they turned back to the bar. "You're one to talk about love."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Don't play dumb with me Jean. The only reason you're probably here right now is 'cause Rose works tonight."

"Are you kidding me?" Havoc asked, offended that his best friends would think such a thing. "Her shift doesn't start for another 4 minutes...and 12 seconds."
Winry and Riza laughed.

"Looks like Roy's not the only one who's whipped." Winry said between laughs.

"Don't you think you guys are going a little overboard? I think you've forgotten just who I am. In case you have, I'm Jean Havoc," he emphasized. "He doesn't fall for chicks. They fall for him."

"What's Jean Havoc on about now?" Rose asked from behind the bar, wiping clean a drinking glass.

"He was just saying how--" Jay’s words were halted by Havoc's elbow to his gut.

"I was just saying how nice it is tonight. Forecast says it's going to rain though," he said quickly.

She gave him a skeptical look. "Uh-huh."

"I don't know about you guys," Winry said, grabbing Havoc before he would make a fool out of himself. "But I say we start a game of pool."

Riza nodded, but then her eyes caught a tall, tanned, handsome man walking up to the bar for another drink. "You guys go. I'll catch up to you in a little bit."

"Of course you will," Havoc said, nudging her in her side before leaving with Winry, both waving at Scar as he passed by.

"Hey, maybe later, we can work on finding Breda his own cupcake," they heard Winry say conspiratorially.

"What's up with those guys?" Rose asked pouring Scar a drink on the house.

"Who knows? They have this notion that everyone around here's in love." Scar shrugged, his eyes following Riza as she made her way to the other side of the bar to get herself a drink. Rose giggled at him, rolling her eyes and was off to serve her customers. But before she did, she pressed a few buttons on the jukebox and Sting’s “Every Breath You Take” started playing.

Scar sighed. “God, I wouldn’t want to be here on Valentine’s Day. I’m telling you, there is a conspiracy going on in this place.” He told Riza who laughed amused at him.

"What would give you that impression?" Riza asked, setting her elbows onto the bar.

"I don't know," he said, leaning forward onto the counter.

They'd spent the last few nights on the phone together staying on until 1 or 2 in the morning. In those few hours, Scar had learned more about Riza Hawkeye than he had any other woman besides his friends in his hometown. And even more surprising, he'd told her more about himself than he had anyone else, leaving out the fact that he was a detective of course.

And the scary thing was, he was okay with that. He trusted her. More than he should. For once in his life, Scar lived a little. It was so much easier to just go with the flow.

"I brought you something," he said, reaching into his back pocket and pulling out a bracelet. Riza’s eyes lit up and she blushed as he handed her the piece of golden jewelry. She looked at him and he nodded, helping her put it on, both ignoring the calls of "whipped!" coming from a nearby pool table.

"I was disappointed you couldn’t make it to dinner last Saturday," Scar told her.

"I told you I was busy," she said, avoiding his eyes.

"Busy? Or avoiding me?"

She sighed. "It’s not like that. I had to do this thing with Roy. He had fun last week when questioning me why I was so tired when I came to work. I had to blame my dog. He goes wild when a guy calls my house."

Scar quirked his brow. "And how old are we again? Twelve?"

"Come on, don't tell me you've never been protective over Edward and Alphonse."

"No way."

"So you've liked all of their friends and girlfriends?"

"Yes."

"Liar."

"Why don’t’ we leave this place before we catch this contagious love-thing gong on here?” He joked. “We could go get a bite to eat or something somewhere else, more private."

"It'll be way too late," she answered, already used to his tendency to suddenly change subjects.

"Live a little."

She smiled, giving in. "Fine. But if I don’t show up at the restaurant early in the morning Roy will start riding my ass." She paused. "That didn't come out the way I wanted it to."

Scar laughed, offering her his arm, the two sneaking out before anyone would miss them, jumping into Scar’s black car. They looked at each other and both leaned in for a deep kiss. With a satisfied smile on his lips Scar started he car. Yeah, just go with the flow.

********************************************************************************

Ed laughed genuinely at one of Speed’s jokes once again. Speed was pretty cool to hang around when he wasn’t making advances on him from time to time. Speed was a good flirt, leaving sentences hanging and giving some hints. Not that Ed was that bothered. Any chick, or guy, would feel lucky if a guy like Speed made the moves on them. Ed had to admit, he was very handsome, had a hot body and was just so damn attractive with his laid-back attitude and clear blue eyes.

"Your hit Ed," Speed informed, snapping the blond out of his thoughts.

"Oh, yeah. You know what, Speed," Ed said, realizing he was losing the game. He still sucked at pool. "I think I’ll sit the rest out. I’m going to get some fresh air."

Speed nodded, saving Ed from further embarrassment. "Want me to come with? You’ll need a big, strong man to protect you from all the big baddies out there." Speed smiled.

Ed smiled back at him. "No thanks, Speed. I’m sure I can handle all the monsters that come out at night." ‘And I’m pretty sure I could take out guys twice as big as you.’

Speed chuckled as Ed turned and walked out the back door of the Silver Rose for some fresh air and a cigarette. Ed took in a deep breath when he got outside. What happened at the docks still bothered him.

Was he just a toy for Greed’s amusement? And why the hell were they so reckless and told him so much about shipments and secrets that should stay with the people higher up? Ed had been struggling so hard to stay outside, now wondering if he unconsciously had been sucked in deeper than he could handle. As long as Al was in the blue and safe, Ed could consider being on top of the game. But this lying and secrecy was really starting to get hard and tiresome. He had to find a way to get out without getting killed.

It would be so much easier if he didn’t have to think. Like when he jumped the bridge and the wave breaker. Driving off an edge was so much easier than living on the edge of a sword. Ed brought his eyes to one of the luminous streetlights and stared at it until all he could see was a bright light. No thoughts. Just light.

"You shouldn’t be out here," a deep voice growled.

Ed turned his head to spot the owner of the voice but was blinded by the after-effects of staring into a light too long.

Fear shot through him as he tried not to panic.

********************************************************************************