Bound by Desire

Warning: I wasn’t going to bother but, I think it would be wise. This is the chapter where Scar finally gets what is coming to him. If you don’t like bad things happening to Scar, I suggest you skip past the first part of this story. That’s all. ;]


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Edward did not have to wait long for Scar to return. It had felt like only an hour had passed since their last encounter before his ears picked up the distinct heavy clomps of Scar’s feet as they made their way down the hallway to the cell. Instantly, Ed reached out to cover his creation but was unable to finish the job before the cell door was pushed open with a low whine of rusty hinges protesting.

Faster than his battered body should have been able to move, Ed jerked his hand back just as Scar stepped into the room, his black boots pushing the fabric which covered the transmutation circle even further away. If he just happened to look down, the gig would be over. Except for one thing.

It was already too late for Scar. Even as his head turned and his eyes fell upon the blood drawn symbols, Edward was springing into action. The boy had flung himself forward, his only remaining hand coming in swift contact with the edge of the circle as he sent it into life. Ed’s golden eyes lit like tiny suns as the circle glowed its pale light.

There was a sigh, whether it be from Scar’s stunned reaction, or the ground on which he stood, Ed could not tell. Nor did he care. All that mattered was that alchemy was again at his fingertips and was again saving his life.

Scar tried to move, he really did. But the alchemy was faster than even he. The ground wavered for just a moment before it suddenly sprang skywards into a sharp stone peak; Scar found himself impaled alive upon the transformed floor.

The pointed column, which had skewered him from hip through collarbone, held him firmly in place; blood was already drenching the floor in thick waves. There was pain, but not nearly to the extent at which one would expect. He was in shock and he knew it. With a grim smirk, Scar called forth upon the last remnants of his strength and focused his cold, but dimming, glare upon the chained Colonel. His voice was a bare rasp, but he knew his words would still be heard and would still have effect. “You’ve won your freedom, asshole. But you’ll never…you’ll never be free of the memories,” he managed to hiss out, his breath becoming more labored as his vision grew blurred. “Every night you try to sleep, every breath you take, you will remember the faces of those you murdered. You will remember the innocence you destroyed…and I’ll be there in hell, waiting for you and the rest of your kind so that even death will not give you peace.”

Roy’s eyes were trained upon the dying man, his face solemn despite their obvious victory. In his heart, he believed Scar’s words to be true. He could only watch in silence as Scar gave another raspy breath before his body became slack, the last of his life draining away to nothing.

Ed, who had his hand still pressed tightly to the floor, gave out a whoop of joy. He had done it! They were free of this torture at last. And on top of that, he had slain the very enemy that he and Roy had originally went to find. With a grin set upon his lips, he reached up to Scar’s hip and retrieved the tiny silver key there. “We’re free, we’re free…” he repeated over and over again giddily, as though if he were to stop it would suddenly not be true.

He moved the key to the lock at his throat and fumbled with it for a few frustrating seconds before the most beautiful sound he had ever heard filled his ears; the sound of the metal collar falling from his throat and hitting the wall behind him. His bonds were broken, now for the Colonel’s.

With a shaky breath, Edward managed to push himself up to his knees and then his feet. The pain came rushing over him in a dizzying wave of agony yet still he managed to retain his balance. One slow step, then another led him to the Colonel’s side. Roy was watching him silently, a mixture of relief and sorrow filling his gaze. Edward offered him a reassuring smile in support. “Colonel,” he whispered, reaching up to undo Roy’s shackles. “We’re free…”

Mustang stumbled forward as his bonds were released. Edward was quick, however, and caught the older man before he could fall on his face. With the younger man’s arm wrapped around his bare waist, Roy began to grow uncomfortable. Images of Fullmetal stretched out under him crying in despair flashed through his mind, making him gasp and push Edward away from him. “I’m fine,” he grunted, instead supporting himself with a hand pressed to the wall.

Ed watched him, a flash of irritation shining in his golden eyes before he nodded in understanding. The Colonel was not being a prick this time; he was just traumatized over his ordeal, and rightfully so. “Colonel, it’s just me now. Edward. I won’t hurt you or t-touch you,” Ed stopped, his heart thumping louder in his chest as he too remembered. “We need to get out of here and you can not walk on your own. Let me help you.”

The other could only chuckle humorlessly. “You hurt me?” Roy shook his head, keeping his gaze to the floor. “Let’s go find help but,” Roy’s dark eyes flicked up to meet Ed’s again. “I can walk on my own.”

Although he seriously doubted his own words, Roy was determined to follow through with them. His body and mind may be broken, but he would not allow himself that close to Edward. He refused to hurt him again.

Edward bit his lip but nodded. “You’re the Colonel,” he muttered, going to the cell door awkwardly and holding it open for Roy to slowly stumble out.

This was the first time they got to get a glimpse of what lay beyond their tiny stone hell. From the looks of it, they were in the basement of a building, and an abandoned one at that. Everything was bare save for a few cobwebs and a pile of clothing in the corner.

Ed made his way straight to these, his face brightening as he reclaimed his lost clothes which had been left mostly intact. He quickly tugged on his pants, the leather biting into his bruised skin but it was a small sacrifice for modesty.

He frowned as he looked through their clothes and remembered what had happened to Roy’s pants.

“My dress coat, please. It will be sufficient,” Roy muttered from behind.

Giving a nod, Edward scooped up Roy’s shirt and dress coat and handed them to the Colonel before he finished tugging on the rest of his own clothes.

Never before had he been so grateful as to feel cloth on his skin.

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It had taken exactly one week before Ed could even think about returning to his former life. After the Colonel and he had managed to escape, he had taken a vacation, claiming illness. From the rumors he had heard, it seemed the Colonel had done the same. This, of course, only spread more rumors.

After all, their mission had been top secret to begin with. And with the state of their arrival back to Central, and refusal to add some details to their reports, well…it was like fuel added to a fire. There were many theories as to what happened to the great Flame Alchemist and the Fullmetal Alchemist, but Edward knew no one would ever know except for himself and the Colonel. It was their secret. Their burden.

Now if only he could explain that to Alphonse. “I told you a thousand times, Al. I appreciate the fact that you want to help, but this is just something I want to keep to myself,” Ed muttered to his younger brother as he walked down the hall towards Mustang’s office. He knew that the Colonel would only be able to take a week off, just like him. And the sooner they faced one another and got past everything, the sooner they could go on with their lives.

A few heads turned in his direction as he stepped into the room. The door to Mustang’s office was shut, but that had never stopped Ed from just barging in.

“But brother,” Al continued, his voice lowering so that the others in the office could not hear him. “We never hold anything from one another. This is the first time I’ve seen you out of your room since you returned! I’m just worried about you.”

With a sigh of defeat, Ed grabbed hold of his younger brother’s bulky metal arm and tugged him to the corner of the room. He looked up pleadingly. “Listen, Al. I will share everything in my life with you, I promise. But I am begging you, please let me have this one thing to myself. It’s something…I can’t…” Edward sighed, feeling the depression and shame creeping up on him once more. With a shake of his head, he dismissed it. He had business to do here; he did not have the time to wallow in self-pity.

Al watched with as much concern a suit of armor could express. He knew that what ever had happened on Ed’s mission had changed his brother. He was far more reserved and not so quick to anger. But most disturbingly, he seemed so utterly sad lately. However, he would respect his brother’s wishes. With a sigh, Al nodded. “All right, brother. But just know I am here for you if you ever need to talk.”

Edward flashed him a sad smile and nodded, feeling relieved that Al was finally backing down. “I will, and thanks. Now I really need to see the Colonel. Wait here for me, ’kay?”

When Al nodded, Ed approached the Colonel’s door once again only to be stopped, this time by Riza Hawkeye. “Edward,” she said, her tones unusually worried. “Are you going to see Mustang?”

He nodded, a growing sense of uneasiness forming in the pit of his stomach. Either she was curious too and wanted to prod him for answers, which was so unlike her, or something bad had happened to Roy. “Yeah, why? Is he in?”

Riza surprised him again as she handed him something: a pair of white gloves. “Roy Mustang has resigned his position within the military. I found his letter of resignation on his desk along with his gloves.”

The uneasiness tripled upon the news. The Colonel resigning? For as long as Edward had known the man, the Colonel had been clawing his way to the top. He had one goal and that was to reach the highest level within the military as he could. Now to find out that not only had he given up on such aspirations, but he also gave in his gloves? His lifeline? Something was wrong.

“Shit,” he cursed as he reluctantly took the white gloves in his hands, his eyes wandering over them as if they could somehow magically summon their true owner.

“Edward,” Hawkeye said, her arms folding over her stomach. “I won’t ask you what happened. I won’t ask him. Just go and speak with him, bring him back. You know as well as I do that this is where he belongs.”

Ed bit his lip then gave a slow nod. It was true. As much as he disliked the man before, he had never once doubted that Roy Mustang belonged anywhere else. And he knew that he would never forgive himself for allowing the man to ruin his life after Roy had sacrificed so much for him. “Thanks, Riza. I’ll see what I can do.”

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Roy’s house was thankfully close to the base. Sometimes, Ed wondered why the man even bothered owning a home since he seemed to live in his office.

Al had been more cooperative than Ed had expected. When he had announced that he was going to go and talk to Roy, Al had not even asked to accompany him. Instead, his younger brother had simply nodded and wished him luck.

Now it was just him and a few short steps to Roy’s front door. It was actually kind of humorous how terrifying such a small amount of distance could appear. After all he had been through, simply lifting his feet and placing them upon the ground should not be that difficult. However, with each step brought him closer to answering the gnawing question in the back of his mind. What happened to Mustang?

There were a dozen scenarios that refused to stop playing in his mind. One of which was of the man simply having picked up his things and left town. That would be out of character for him, but so was leaving his post. That scenario was the lesser evil of the two which refused to stop plaguing Ed’s mind. The other was far darker and something which hit close to home. Could the man have taken his own life?

After the horrors they had been subjected to, it would be easy to assume that as a possibility. During the week that Edward had locked himself in his room and refused to acknowledge the world outside, he too had thought of it. Briefly. It was just a whisper in his mind, really. One which promised him to rid him of his nightmares and forgive him of the shame he had suffered. The promise had been tempting until he realized that it was a childish idea. His death would only welcome more grief and this time it would be upon his brother, his younger brother who retained his innocence.

However, Mustang had no such loyalties which tied him here. He had friends, yes, but as far as Edward knew, Mustang had no family who depended on him, who loved him as only a family could. That and the fact that Mustang’s suffering had been a hundred times worse than Ed’s…

With a deep breath, the young alchemist took his final step to his former Colonel’s front door and knocked. Silence.

Ed bit his lip, his yellow eyes flicking to the window located near the door. Of course, the shades had to be drawn to obscure his view inside. God damned bastard. Edward raised his fist and began pounding upon the wooden door, letting anger fuel his actions rather than the growing fear. “Open up, you fucker. I know you’re in there!”

Again, silence was his only response. Edward slammed the fist of his newly attached automail hand into the wood, making it shudder in protest. Just as he was about to slam into it again in an attempt to break the door down, it opened.

Roy Mustang stood on the other side, or at least, a shell of what had been the Colonel. A few days worth of stubble graced his delicate features, his eyes were sunken with sorrow, and perhaps the most disturbing was the fact that Ed could make out the outlines of ribs on the man’s bare skin. He had not been eating or taking care of himself, but he was alive.

“Edward,” Mustang breathed, a flash of grief flashing behind his dark brown eyes. “You should not be here.”

The words were soft spoken, so unlike the strong proud tone the man usually held, but they were enough to shake Ed out of his daze. “Like hell I shouldn’t, Colonel. And what is with calling me Edward?”

Mustang’s shoulders slumped further as if he had gone through this coming conversation more times than he had wished and could not fathom suffering through it again. “I have resigned my post, Edward. I am no longer your Colonel. There is no need for me to call you by that name anymore.”

“Bullshit,” Ed growled, still clinging to that ounce of anger he felt. Even through his relief at seeing the man alive, Mustang was still able to nudge a small spark of fury within him. Without waiting for an invitation, Ed pushed past the half-dressed man and into the small home. The house mirrored its’ owner; it was unkempt with clothes and papers strewn around. These things Edward ignored as his eyes fell to the revolver laying upon the coffee table in the living room. So, he had thought of it after all. The man with supposed no feelings for anyone but himself had become so grief stricken over the suffering of others that he had nearly ended his own life. Edward slowly turned to face the other man.

Roy could only sigh as more shame fell upon him. The look in Ed’s eyes was all he needed to know that the younger man knew of his intentions. He closed the door before daring to speak again. “It wasn’t the first time I tried, you know. But I suppose once a coward, always a coward.”

All of the anger Ed had felt quickly drained away from him as the other spoke. This was not the first time? But when…the massacre. The sudden realization hit him like a brick to the head. “After the war. You tried it then, didn’t you,” Ed stated more than asked. The answer was so obviously clear.

Roy only nodded his head once then sat on the sofa, his eyes never leaving the gun upon the table. “Their screams would not leave me. Scar was right, they haunt my dreams. They haunt me when I am awake. Nothing will wash that blood from my hands. Not even my foolish hope to become…” at this Roy paused, his eyes squeezing shut as he gave a dry chuckle. “Did you know I honestly thought that if I became Fuhrer I could make up for it all? That I could stop all of this corruption in the government. Instead, I’ve only caused more suffering.”

Ed’s breath caught again. He was beginning to feel as if he were in a boxing match as each statement from Roy’s lips punched him in the gut with cold realization. After all these years of hating the very man in front of him, of seeing him nothing more than an egotistical power hungry asshole, he was finally realizing how wrong he was. Roy did not want to lay claim to the title of Fuhrer for his own selfish desires; he wanted it to make atonement for his past sins. It was so human, so utterly opposite of what Ed had thought of the man before. He wanted to drop to his knees and ask Mustang for forgiveness for having thought of it as anything else.

Instead, Roy shocked him again as he himself went to his knees before his former subordinate. “Edward,” Roy whispered, his eyes still unable to meet the younger man’s. “What I did to you was worse than murder, I took your innocence. Your soul. Please for-“

Ed did the only thing he could think of; he slapped Mustang across the face. Both men blinked in surprise at the action for neither had expected such a response. Shaking slightly, Ed finally managed to pull himself away from the shock of his own actions and knelt in front of Mustang so that he could look into the other’s eyes, though it still infuriated the young alchemist that Roy still towered over him even on his knees.

With a sigh, Ed reached up and cupped the others jaw, his fingers tightening some when Roy tried to move away. “Look at me, Colonel.”

Roy closed his eyes for a moment before he slowly opened them again and turned his gaze to the other man. “I told you, I am not your Colonel.”

“And I say you are. You have more honor than most of the people working at that military and they need you. We need you. I’m just realizing this now and for that I am sorry. I always thought you were an asshole…” Edward paused and offered the other a sad smile. “Hell, I still think you are sometimes…but now I see there’s a lot more to you than that. You have a heart.”

Roy swallowed and finally managed to pull away from Ed’s grip. “If I had a heart, I would not have done what I did.”

Again, Ed growled and forced the former Colonel’s gaze upon himself. “What happened was not your fault. We were both violated, both forced. You did not do that willingly so there is nothing to forgive.”

Roy took a shuttering breath, trying to calm his rapidly beating heart. “I came though. He didn’t force me to do that.”

With reddened cheeks, Ed shifted his weight to his other leg. He remembered the hot pulse of Roy’s release all too clearly. Just as he remembered his own. “You baka, so did I! We were…it was natural. Our bodies were reacting to the stimulation.” Kami was that hard to say. His cheeks felt as if they would burn right off. But the truth had to be said. They had both been forced into that situation and their bodies had obviously enjoyed it on some level. Some part of his mind still wondered about that…about what it would have been like if they had not been tortured into doing it but rather had done it on their own free will.

A blush appeared to also be tormenting Roy as he bit his lip, giving a short nod in understanding. “It still haunts me though, Edward. Forced or not, I can’t get the image of you…I can’t stop thinking of…fuck!” Roy groaned and buried his face into his hands, fighting back a fresh wave of despair. “Your first experience should not have been like that.”

Ed licked over his lower lip as he watched the torrent of emotions wave over Mustang. It was like a dream, really. He had had more than a few of them where his subconscious had placed Roy in the exact position he was in now; on his knees on the verge of tears as he begged Ed for forgiveness for being such an egotistical prick. Only now, Ed wanted to do nothing more than to wrap his arms around the older man and comfort him. The thought was terrifying but something he found he could not resist. He wanted to get closer to Mustang.

After a moment, Ed scooted closer to Roy and slid his arms around the other man. His grip tightened as he felt muscles tense in preparation to pull away from his warm embrace. “Don’t. Don’t fucking pull away from me. You’re not going to hurt me, you’ve never hurt me.”

Roy sagged a little in Ed’s grip before he managed to turn his head some to look into the other’s eyes. “And if I said it had made me hard afterwards? That I woke up this morning with a hardon after dreaming of you lying underneath me? Let me go, Edward. I’m fucking sick, just as you’ve been saying all these years.”

Edward’s eyes widened a little at this statement. The thought of him made Roy hard? He bit the inside of his cheek. “If you’re sick, then so am I. This past week I’ve been beating myself up because I keep asking myself what it would have been like with you under different circumstances.”

Some small part of Ed’s brain gave a whoop of triumph as he finally administered a surprised blow to Roy. The other man’s eyes widened as Ed pressed on. “What happened was terrible, but it’s also let me see you in a new light. You were so caring and afraid for me. And you were gentle…” Ed huffed, not liking that he had to admit this but knowing he had to. “It felt good. And I’ve been ashamed of myself ever since for wanting to feel it again, but this time because we wanted to.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” Roy whispered after a long pause, his brain obviously trying to play catch up.

This only earned him an annoyed huff though. “Listen. I am not a kid anymore, Mustang. I’m capable of determining my own thoughts and feelings now.”

Roy raised a trembling hand up to touch Ed’s face, his fingers caressing along the outline of his cheekbone. “I learned that about you too. You are right, you’re not a child like I always thought you were. You were stronger than me there…”

“Don’t,” Ed growled a warning as he rested his hand on Roy’s upper arm, having sensed the other man’s lapse back into depression. “Don’t think about that anymore. It is over. You are strong. You saved us both even if it was my transmutation circle that killed him, you’re the one who stood up to him.”

Emotions again battled inside of Roy. Pain mostly, but also understanding…and some relief. The young alchemist did not hate him as he had thought and expected. Instead, he was there trying to comfort him. But the pain of what happened would never leave him, he would never heal from the…oh…

Having seen the doubt still present in Roy’s eyes, Ed again found himself acting without thought. He had leaned forward on his knees until he could feel Mustang’s warm breath over his skin and he had kissed him. Lips pressed against lips and time seemed to pause as all conscious thought left both men.

Roy shivered as he tilted his head a little and accepted the kiss, his lips parting to let Ed’s inquisitive tongue flick inside his mouth. It was lick wet fire filling the warm cavern of his mouth. The feel of Edward willingly kissing him, of doing so on his own free will, made Roy’s heart skip a beat. Yet still a part of him refused to let go of the past. He broke the kiss at last, panting lightly from lack of air. “What are you doing?”

Edward froze, not entirely sure what he was doing himself. But the look in Roy’s eyes, the look of hidden desire, gave him the courage he needed. “You said you wanted me, right? I want you too…I want to feel this without regret or without pain. I want to heal just like I want you to heal.”

The explanation seemed to be enough as Roy leaned towards Ed again to kiss the younger man deeply. It was hard, like Roy was starved and Ed was a tasty morsel of food waiting to be devoured. All of the anguish and all of the pain that had been felt by the two ever since their capture welled up inside them both in a surge of thankfulness and need. Thankful for their sudden understanding of one another and the new bond formed between them and need brought on by some primal force Ed hadn’t even realized he possessed.

Roy’s experienced hands made short work of the black clothing shrouding the smaller body in front of him. The red coat and black tank top were first to fall to the floor as Roy continued his assault upon the young alchemist’s skin, his lips having trekked down the smooth expanse of the boy’s throat.

Ed groaned as he tilted his head, the slight tickle of Roy’s unshaven jaw scraping over his skin. His heart was beating rapidly. It was like another reality he had stepped into; one where Colonel Mustang had become human and where Ed was about to have sex with another man. On his own free will. But he knew that this was what he wanted, what they both wanted and needed. Another groan escaped his parted lips as Roy’s fingers brushed over the outline of Ed’s cock through the tight material of his leather pants. He forced his eyes open and watched Mustang as he worked his pants open, exposing his half erect shaft. He blushed again.

As if sensing Ed’s nervousness, Roy stopped his exploration of the younger body offered to him, though his eyes refused to move away from the long shaft nestled between Ed’s legs. He had seen it before but had not allowed himself to look. Feeling a slight twinge of shame hit him, he forced his gaze away too look up to see Ed blushing furiously. “Shit…”

Ed blinked then shook his head, grabbing hold of Roy’s hand before the other man could pull away. “No. I want this. I’m just…you need to help me through some stuff, okay? I’m not as experienced as you.”

“No,” Roy mumbled, feeling his own cock shiver in protest of his own words. “I shouldn’t…”

Ed tugged Mustang’s hand down between his legs, brushing the other man’s fingers up his own shaft. He groaned, the organ between his legs swelling more. “You should. This is just me and you here. This is for us now, no one else.”

Roy smiled softly at that and nodded in agreement. “No one else. But let’s not here…not on the floor.”

Without wasting further breath on the matter, Edward stood, albeit with some difficulty. His growing erection was demanding more and more attention and moving away was not going to get it any. However, he had to agree with Roy. Floor sex was not going to be on the top of his most wanted things to do for quite some time.

After Roy had risen to his own feet, he kissed Ed’s jaw then grasped the younger man’s hand, leading him upstairs to the bedroom he rarely used. The room was small but tidy, an obvious sign that Roy did not frequent it beyond getting a change of clothes in the mornings or bringing a random trick home every once in a while. He usually fell asleep upon his couch over a stack of paper work. This time, however, the bedroom would serve a far more important purpose. A place where he and Edward could fall into each other’s arms and find peace with their troubled souls. Edward was right, they needed this.

Ed turned to face Roy again and tugged the taller man down some to capture his lips in another hungry kiss. He did not move away as slender fingers found the top of his pants and pushed them over his hips, exposing the rest of his body to full view. With a shiver, he stepped out of his boots then his pants and let the other man push him onto the mattress.

Wide golden eyes looked up to meet dark brown as Ed watched the former Colonel strip himself of his jeans. It was amazing that even as unkempt as Roy appeared, he still looked so sexy. His hair may have been sticking up in odd directions and he may be unshaven, but he was still undeniably hot. And like hell Ed could pull his eyes away from the junction between the man’s legs. Roy’s cock was longer than Ed’s, it curved slightly towards his taut stomach, a bead of white precum already weeping from the head.

Roy seemed to be studying the naked form that draped over his mattress, as if he had never seen a naked male before but found the sight quite tempting. He took a forward step before he once again found himself kneeling in front of Edward, only this time to be at eyelevel with the other’s cock.

Edward had propped himself up upon his elbows as he watched Roy curiously. His breath caught as the other man leaned forward to kiss the inside of his thigh before spreading his legs further apart. Warm wet strokes of a hot tongue greeted the throbbing flesh of his arousal as Roy licked him from root to tip, wringing a strangled moan of desire from the younger man.

He reached down to run the fingers of his real hand through Mustang’s hair, liking the feel of the silky locks under his fingertips. He rolled his hips some towards the other man’s mouth, wanting, asking for anything and everything. When Roy obliged by taking the head of Ed’s cock into his mouth, Ed thought he had gone to heaven.

His fingers tightened in Roy’s hair, tugging gently as he urged Mustang forward, his slender hips rolling up off of the mattress to the warm cavern surrounding him.

Roy’s lips parted, allowing the young alchemist to thrust into his mouth willingly as he kept his eyes glued upon the writhing figure on the bed. Ed was beautiful, that he never doubted, but naked like this and shivering with want was enough to make Roy want to come. He fought back the urge, however, and instead focused on wringing more delightful moans and gasps from Ed’s pretty lips. He took a breath then engulfed the shaft completely, forcing his throat to relax around the shaft. Roy groaned with approval at the feel of the pulsating flesh filling his senses and he began to suck hungrily, eagerly slurping down the drops of pre-ejaculation weeping freely from Ed’s slit.

On the bed, Edward thought he had died and gone to heaven. Sure he had stimulated himself before and…well, the purpose of this was to forget all that. But the feel of Roy’s lips wrapped tightly around his cock and the feel of the other’s low groans of approval was like nothing he had ever experienced before. There was want in Roy’s eyes and in his actions. But if it did not stop now, it would be over way too soon for either of their liking. With a grunt, Ed managed to will his hand to tug at Roy’s hair. “Roy…gods, stop! I’m so close…too good. Fuck, your mouth feels good…”

At first, Ed doubted the other heard him as Roy continued to suck noisily at his throbbing erection. It was all he could do to hold onto the mattress with his free hand as he clung onto the last threads of his control, willing himself not to come so soon. Mercifully, however, Roy finally pulled away, allowing Ed to slip free from his parted lips with a soft ‘pop’ sound.

He smirked smugly, the same smirk Ed had always hated before but now found he did not mind so much. “You would come so fast? Am I that good?”

With a groan, Ed’s hand managed to find a pillow and he flung it at the other man. “Shut up, you bastard, and come here.”

Much to his surprise, Roy did just that. He slid onto the bed between Ed’s parted thighs and captured the boy’s mouth, letting his tongue lap into Ed’s parted lips. It was firmer than before, with much more need behind it. The taste of Mustang and his own unique taste mixed and caressed Ed’s senses, making him shiver in approval. He found he liked his taste upon the man’s lips.

But he also was not satisfied. Roy had free reign over his body but he had yet to explore Roy’s. And by the feel of both of their erections, they were both not going to last long enough for Ed to try.

As if sensing Ed’s disappointment, Roy reached for his nightstand and removed a small tube of lube. He handed it to Ed and kissed his cheek. “Put it on me, Ed. Make me slick for you.”

Edward smiled and took the offered tube, squeezing a generous amount out onto his fingers. He let his eyes roam over Roy’s erection again before reaching down to wrap his fingers around the throbbing flesh. It felt a lot like his own cock, he realized. The same yet different. Roy’s was longer than his own shaft but slimmer. Not by much though. He stroked Roy slowly at first, his thumb caressing along the underside of the shaft in a way that he knew he himself liked.

Apparently, Roy liked it too. Ed watched with growing need as Roy closed his eyes and groaned, his hips thrusting slowly towards Ed’s pumping hand. If Roy came like this, it would be enough for Edward too. It was possibly the sexiest sight he had ever seen; his former boss moaning as he thrust into his hand.

It was over far too quickly, however, as Roy finally pulled away from Ed’s hand. Roy’s cheeks were flushed and his eyes were lit with want as he looked down again at the man sprawled under him. “Last chance, Edward. Are you sure?”

Ed just snorted and reached up with his real hand, his fingers wrapping around the base of Roy’s neck as he pulled Mustang down to kiss him again. It was all the response Roy needed. As his tongue danced over Ed’s, Roy pressed Ed’s legs further apart, the tip of his cock teasing over the puckered entrance.

They both shivered as Roy thrust into Edward’s tight body. Muscle stretched over muscle and soon both found themselves connected as one. It was enough to make Ed mewl and arch off the mattress for more. Gone was the pain from the earlier intrusion, all that remained was this hot pulsating heat filling his insides. It was possibly the best thing he had ever felt before. “Kami,” Ed panted, his blunt fingernails scraping over Roy’s skin.

Roy chuckled despite his gasps for breath, his dark eyes never leaving the young man below him. “Thank you for thinking so, Edward, but I’m far from one.” Without waiting for a reply, he nipped at Ed’s neck as he thrust smoothly into the tight body below him again.

It was like thrusting into hot silk. Edward’s tight walls were teasing him as they milked his cock. Roy’s hips rolled fluidly as he nipped and sucked at Ed’s hot skin. It was too much; built up emotion, raw unrelenting need. All of which sent them on a spiraling tumble towards ecstasy.

Ed was the first to let go as Roy slammed into him again, his cock striking his sweet center just so, sending the young alchemist over the edge as wave upon wave of pleasure rolled over his body. Thick creamy ropes of come spurted from his pulsating shaft, coating their chests and stomachs as he screamed out his pleasure.

Roy watched all this through half lidded eyes before he too succumbed to the writhing body beneath him, his own wails of ecstasy merging with Edward’s. He came hard, harder than he had ever remembered before.

With a final thrust, Roy finally collapsed on top of Ed, his breath ragged and harsh against the other’s neck. His body felt limp and sated, completely satisfied. And most importantly, no hint of the depression that had plagued him for over a week remained. All thanks to Ed’s surprising insight and willing caress.

With a final kiss to Edward’s neck, Roy rested his head upon the younger man’s shoulder and smiled, his eyes growing heavy with the need for sleep.

Below him, Edward sported a lazy smile of his own as he stroked the older man’s back. He clenched his muscles lightly, feeling the softening shaft still remained inside of him.

Soon, both had drifted off into sleep. The first restful sleep they had since their nightmare began.

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Child. Brat. Hot headed. All of the terms Roy had once applied to the young man stretched out beside him. However, he had never once doubted the strength of will contained in the small body. And after their encounter together, he realized just how much strength Ed had. He was not a child, but a young man. One who was beautiful and sensible.

The last person he had expected to see had been Edward. So when he opened the door to find the young alchemist at his doorstep, Roy was more than surprised. And hurt. He had wanted nothing more than to shut the door, to lock it and try to forget. Or better yet, to lock the door and find the strength to take his own life. But Fullmetal was full of surprises. Instead of yelling at him as Roy had expected, Edward had come to check on him. As if he cared.

And when things began to lead the way they did, Roy was stunned. Perhaps what stunned him the most was the feel of relief he felt after. He was beginning to feel like his old self.

Beside him, Ed stirred. His head turned to face Roy again, groaning softly before his honey colored eyes fluttered open. He seemed confused for a moment before he smiled warmly. “Hey. You’re up.”

Roy chuckled and reached up to brush a stray hair from the other’s eyes. “Yeah. Have been for awhile.”

Ed sat up slowly, a moment of pain flickering across his eyes. He stretched his arms lazily then paused as his gaze landed upon something on the floor. “Oh yeah, before I forget…” Ed squirmed closer to the edge of the bed then plucked his pants off the floor. He fished around inside the pocket before he tugged out two white gloves. Roy’s gloves. “I think these belong to you,” he said as he handed them over.

Roy looked over them before taking them. “I don’t know if I should. I gave up my position and alchemy just wouldn’t seem right with out it.”

“So take it back. Go in and say you’ve had a change of heart. You’re too good at what you do for them to refuse your old job. And they haven’t found a replacement yet,” Ed said, closing Roy’s fingers around the gloves. “The military still needs you. And I want you there. I’ll help you reach the top.”

The gloves felt good in his hands. For so long had they been a part of his life that since he had been parted with them, he had not felt the same. He swallowed then nodded his head, sliding them on. “I guess staying here won’t get anything accomplished. Just don’t expect me to go easy on you, Fullmetal.”

Ed huffed. “Since when have you ever been easy on someone?”

“My job as Colonel is to push my subordinates to be their best.”

“So that’s why you’re always such a bastard,” Ed muttered but laughed, laying back against Roy’s prone form.

“That and I enjoy seeing them squirm.”

Ed laughed again, slapping at Roy’s side. “Prick. Some things never change.”

Roy seemed to ponder this for a moment then nodded with agreement. “Maybe they’re not meant to. And maybe some things are.”

There was a moment of awkward silence as Roy slid his arm around Edward, each letting their minds wander over the possibilities behind that statement. True, there were a lot of things which had changed, but a complete change was not something either wanted. It was Ed who finally broke the silence. “Is this going to be it? I mean, are you and I going to go back to being at each other’s throats?” He fell silent again as he frowned, the idea saddening him.

In truth, it saddened Roy as well. He did not want to go back to that. As much fun as he had tormenting the other alchemist before, he knew he would not derive such satisfaction from it again. Now there was something deeper between them. Something they both shared besides pointless banter. “I don’t know. I don’t think so. Once I get my job back, I will be your superior again but beyond that, I honestly don’t know.”

“And what happened here tonight? Is that it?” Edward cursed at himself for asking such a dumb question, although, silently he wanted to know the answer. He had come here to help bring Roy back from his self imposed exile and had found something more than he had expected. He found that he had a stronger bond to Mustang than he had thought.

Roy let out a breath, clearly thinking Ed’s words over. He too felt that new found bond between them. “I don’t know. But I’ll be honest, I wouldn’t mind it happening again. On our own terms.”

Ed smiled, the answer seeming to have satisfied him. He closed his eyes, still feeling relaxed and protected. “On our own terms, no one elses.”

Roy bent his head, brushing a soft kiss over Edward’s. The feel of contentment filled him as he felt his soul finally being set free. Edward was okay, he did not hate him. And most importantly, he found that something new and wonderful was beginning to grow between them. Whether it was friendship or something more was yet to be seen, but it was more than either had hoped for.

“All right, shorty. Move. I need to get a shower,” Roy grinned, feeling a bit of mischief creeping over him.

Ed’s eyes widened then narrowed as his entire body tensed. “Why you god damned prick! How many times do I need to tell you that-“

Roy snickered and silenced Ed with a kiss. Okay, so maybe not all of the banter would be over. After all, some things were just not meant to be changed.

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Author’s Note: Thank you all for your kind comments. And I hope I didn’t disappoint with this chapter. Honestly, it kind of ran all kinds of places I wasn’t intending it too. I blame Roy and Ed though, they were begging to be corny.

Naria: Eek! No deadly ninja gerbils. I’ll cry ;]

Heather: You hit the nail on the head, so to speak. That’s exactly why I wrote this. I wanted them to build a relationship and to discover the good qualities each of them had. However, I knew both were stubborn so I had to come up with some way for them to see over their perceptions of one another. That and well…a chained Roy and Ed just seemed hot to me ;] Thanks for your nice review!

The damned: haha me too. I’ve only seen a few episodes of FMA but what I saw gave me the impression that Roy had a lot to hide. Ed has been through a lot but it was personal tragedies, where as Roy has been through a lot but he was the cause of those tragedies. It seems to me like that would weigh heavier on Roy and would make him break easier. Honestly, it was kind of hard to try and show his human side while keeping in character. At least, I hope I had managed to do that.

Envy: lol woops, I guess that is what I get for writing when it’s 3 am and I am dead tired. =x tiredness=sloppy writing. Actually, I think I made the same mistake in this chapter but I’m too lazy to find it. But thanks for catching it in the previous chapter. As for you editing my stories, I’ll think about it. Usually I just type something up and send it out though. Thanks for reading.

As for everyone else, thank you again! I appreciated all your comments. ;]