Coming around

Disclaimer: not mineee
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Roy/Ed
Warnings: ooc, fluff, some mild angst (maybe?), yaoi, stuff, mangled manga timeline, character study

A/N: so I’m finally mixing in some manga events. But because in my happy little lala land Roy and Ed are a couple I’m going to seriously mangle the manga story. *bows* I’m sorry. But according to my book™ it’s allowed if it’s necessary for the plot. But still I’m very sorry to do this to the manga ;_;

Comfort


When he had introduced Tucker to the Elric brothers he had never thought it would turn out like this. He had only tried to help them since he really hated being indebted to the Fullmetal alchemist, and he felt slightly guilty. Guilt wasn’t a new feeling to him since he had long ago decided to become the Fuhrer and he couldn’t have gotten even this far without stepping on someone else’s fingers. But somehow it was different when it came to Edward.

Roy looked at the report again. It seemed that the conflict in Lior wasn’t showing any signs of calming down. As far as he knew Ed didn’t know what had happened after he’d left the city believing that he had done the right thing. Ed didn’t know of the chaos that now ruled the city. And Roy didn’t tell him because… He shook his head. It was useless to think about that now. Especially now, Roy thought as he looked at the boy sitting on the couch.

Ed hadn’t said much after his final outburst and had now retreated behind his mental walls. Roy felt so useless since the only thing he’d managed to do was to get the boy out of the rain and that was only with the help of Alphonse.

“Fullmetal…”

Ed didn’t respond in any way. He just sat there staring at his hands and dripping water onto the floor and couch.

“Edward,” Roy said again using a softer tone of voice.

Nothing. Not like he had expected a response. He sighed and got up and walked to the couch sitting beside the boy. And then he waited. He could hear the faint noises of people talking and walking around in the other rooms and the sound that rain made when it hit the windows. In a way it was peaceful.

“Have you… ever…” Ed finally said quietly.

“Not like that no. But…” Roy answered knowing what the boy meant even if he didn’t get all the words to come out.

Had he ever seen a child that young die horribly? No not like Nina that was true but… he had been in a war. And as much as he hated to think about it there was no getting over it.

“Is it possible to forget?” Ed asked finally turning to look at the older man sitting next to him.

“You already know the answer.” Roy said.

Ed nodded slowly letting his gaze fall to the floor again.

“You’re soaked and shivering,” Roy said finally getting up. “we need to get you something warm to wear.”

He grabbed Ed’s hand and pulled the unresisting boy up. It was more than a little worrying that Ed didn’t protest when he was led out of the office and then out of the building into a waiting car. He was shivering constantly by then and even the added warmth of Roy’s coat didn’t seem to help any.

“Is your brother okay with staying at the Hughes’ house tonight?” Roy asked.

Ed nodded. “I guess.”

The rest of the drive they spent in silence.


***


“We’re here.” Roy finally said when the car stopped.

He got out of the car and thanked the driver. He knew better than to even try helping Ed out of the car. It might’ve been polite and courteous and all that but… Feeling down or nor Ed would kill him if he ever did that in front of other people.

“Where?” Ed asked halfheartedly.

“My place.” Roy answered simply walking to the door and opening it with a set of keys.

Ed walked in and looked around disinterestedly.

“Why bring me here?” he asked turning to look at the colonel.

“I have several reasons. One is that you really need a warm bath and dry clothes and probably some food into you. The second is that I don’t think you’d do that if you went back to your dorm room. And I know you don’t want to deal with all the fuzz you’d get if you went to Hughes’ house.” Roy explained taking his and Ed’s coat off the boy.

“And here I thought you lived in your office.” Ed said dryly.

The small bit of humor lifted some of Roy’s worries. If Ed felt good enough to try to cover his misery it wouldn’t be long before he’d be normal again. Or at least as normal as he ever could be.

“Well you’re right in a way. I really don’t spend much time here.” Roy said.

“Thought so.”

Roy just shrugged. “No go take a bath and I’ll find you something to wear and see if I can find anything edible.”

Ed looked hesitant for a while.

“The bathroom is there.” Roy said pointing at a door at the end of the small hallway.

Ed nodded slowly and walked to the bathroom door. Roy sighed as he heard the lock click shut after him. He wondered if it had been a wise decision to bring the boy to his own home but knew it was for the best. For both of them.

He turned around when he heard the water start running. First he went through his spare clothes to see if there was anything Ed could wear until his clothes dried. He found some old clothes that wouldn’t probably fall off the boy that easily and put them on the couch to wait for the boy to finish his bath.

He was in the kitchen when he heard the sound of running water stop and the door open a few moments later.

“The clothes are on the couch.” Roy shouted without turning around.

He heard the mismatched footsteps go to the couch and then he heard the rustle of clothes.

“Sorry but all I could manage is some coffee for me and hot chocolate for you.” Roy said turning around when he heard Ed walk into the small kitchen.

“That’s okay,” Ed said sitting down and accepting the cup.

Roy took a sip out of his own cup and savored the taste of coffee. He hoped he was right in guessing that Ed wouldn’t like the bitter beverage. He looked at the boy who was now dressed in too big clothes.

“It’s good.” Ed suddenly said smiling.

“Of course it is. I made it.” Roy answered answering the smile with a smug grin before changing it to a more gentle one.

“Starting to feel better?” Roy asked.

Ed nodded and finished the last of the sweet dark brown liquid.

“Thanks for putting up with me.”

“Well I knew you’d require high maintenance when I got involved with you. I think I’ll manage.” Roy said.

Ed glared at him but it was clear that he was feeling better if only slightly. Roy knew that some of it was faked but as long as some of the healing was real it would get better with time. They both knew that forgetting was impossible but it was possible to let the hurt fade until it was only a slight ache in your head.

“You’re staying for the night.” Roy said.

It wasn’t a question.

“A bit pushy aren’t you?” Ed asked dryly.

Not like he’d try to leave anyway.


***


“So you come here only to sleep?” Ed asked standing in the doorway looking at Roy.

“I’m a busy man. I don’t have time to just laze around.” Roy said.

“That’s not what Hawkeye says. She told me that she needs to always watch you so that you won’t skip work.” Ed said leaning against the doorframe.

“Hmph you should know better than to listen to everything she says. Don’t you trust me?” Roy asked pretending to be hurt.

Ed looked at him meaningfully. “Not in this.”

“Fine then. Yes I did skip work to go on dates. Are you happy now?” Roy said.

“So you aren’t doing that anymore?” Ed asked a bit sarcastically.

Roy looked at the smaller alchemist seriously.

“No these days all my time goes into work and looking after you.” he answered.

Ed blushed slightly and glared.

Roy smirked evilly. “And these I skip work to screw a certain fellow national alchemist too.”

The blush on Ed’s cheeks rivaled the color of his coat.

“Oh shut up old perv,” he said punching the older man lightly.

“I’m not the only one who enjoys those sessions, Fullmetal.” Roy said before surprising Ed by scooping him into his arms and carrying him over to the bed.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Ed asked red from embarrassment.

“I’m being a perv as you said.” Roy said smirking running his hand over Ed’s rear.

Ed oomphed when he was thrown on the bed and glared at the colonel who was towering over him. Roy just smirked and leaned closer stealing a kiss from the boy.

“But not tonight.” he said settling down next to Ed and pulling the boy close to his body.

He couldn’t see Ed’s face since it was pressed against his chest but he knew that the boy was grateful. Tonight wasn’t a good night for mindless sex no matter how good it felt.

“This is nice. You’re warm.” Ed murmured softly.

“So I’m not totally useless then?” Roy asked smiling even though Ed couldn’t see it.

“You’re only useless when it rains.” Ed muttered sleepily.

They were quiet for a moment and Roy thought that the boy had fallen asleep.

“Or maybe you’re useful when it rains.” Ed said silently.

Roy didn’t say anything. He knew what Ed meant. Sometimes just some comfort was enough.


~End~


A/N: Slight dose of angst and a whole bucketful of fluff… mix and you get a fic like this. *grovels* I feel so inferior to other fma writers. *gets up* but now I’ll stop whining! The next will have smut again… I think *scratches head*

B/N: Awww!! Fluff for fluffy!! >o< thankee mah fuhrer!!! And you shouldn’t feel inferior – why? Because I said so!! You write beautifully, never forget that!!! And they’re not OOC!!! NOT!!!! Alrighty, out~ -lutz aka: fluffy-chan