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New Year's Resolutions	By : Saranwyn Category: Fullmetal Alchemist > Yaoi - Male/Male > Roy/Ed Views: 1478 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own FMA or the characters, nor do I profit from them.

Chapter List
- 8
- 9
- 10
Edward sat in silence as they drove to South Central. He was still thinking about the conversation he’d had with Mustang the night before. The colonel had been unnaturally forthcoming with information about his past. They’d sat for more than an hour and a half talking about how they’d grown up in the foster system, how Roy had always acted as a guardian for his brother as best he could, how he used to get in fights to protect them but never wanted to worry Liam with it. They talked about the abusive parents and the neglectful ones and the good ones. They talked about what it was like to be separated and only able to worry about each other without contact for months, or even years, at a time. At least Al and I never had to live like that, he thought. And Granny and Winry took us in. I guess we don’t necessarily have it that bad…He sighed and cast an anxious glance at Liam, who glanced over and met his eyes, smiling.
“Don’t worry, Thom. It may be a big job, but it’s not that hard, if you think about it,” he assured the boy, leaning over to kiss him swiftly. Edward forced a half-hearted smile.
“Thanks. It’s just nerves, you know. How did you and your brother end up so different?” Liam shrugged, shaking his head sadly.
“I wish I knew. But we can talk about that later. Do you have any last minute questions about the operation?”
“No, I think I’m good.” They fell into silence for the rest of the drive to the train station. They got out and headed towards their platform. “Hey, I’m going to use the restroom, I’ll meet you on the train,” Edward told Liam, patting his arm. The man nodded and went on without him. Now the boy ran back to where Svetlana was just getting ready to leave after dropping them off. “Hey, Sveta!” he called. She stopped, and he walked over to her.
“What is it?” she asked, rolling down her window.
“I think I left something in the trunk – mind opening it for me?” She sighed and got out of the van, taking the keys with her to open the trunk. Just as she got it about half-open, Edward came up behind her and hit her over the back of the head with his metal hand, hard enough to knock her out. Grunting with exertion, he caught her and tipped her forward into the trunk, Getting a rope out of the trunk, he securely tied her up before using alchemy to fuse the ends of the rope together. Then, he shut the trunk, leaving the keys in the lock, and went inside to make a call to the military headquarters before catching his train.
“South City Military Headquarters,” a man’s voice came over the receiver.
“Hey, I have a tip about a wanted criminal – one of the anarchists. Her name is Svetlana. She’s in the trunk of a white van in front of the train station.”
“May I ask who’s calling?”
“The Fullmetal Alchemist. Identification code A42MBC7.” There was a pause of silence as the secretary checked the code.
“Alright then. We’ll send a team over. Will you remain on site?”
“No, I’m heading after another one of the group, now.” He hung up and ran off. He got onto the train just as it started to move, and he let out a soft sigh. Half of him had wished he had missed the train. Now comes the hard part, he thought. Honestly, he had no problem screwing over Svetlana. She had been nothing but cruel to him, even after she trusted him. But Liam…that was a whole different story. He forced a smile as he made his way towards the other man to sit beside him on the train.
“Wow, that was cutting it close,” Liam noted. “I was beginning to get worried.”
“Sorry, got lost on my way back from the bathroom – my brain’s hardwired for Central City Station.” Liam nodded sympathetically. “You nervous at all?”
“Not really. I’ve done scarier jobs. This one’s fairly simple and easy, compared to some of the other things Sveta and I have pulled off.”
“Well, I guess I’m probably nervous enough for both of us.” Liam laughed softly, squeezing his hand reassuringly.
“Don’t worry – it’s normal.” Edward glanced out the window. “Why don’t you sleep – I’ll wake you up when it’s time. You were out late last night, weren’t you?”
“Y-yeah…couldn’t sit still. Nerves. I always get like this before something big.” The teen rested his head against the cool glass, closing his eyes. Slowly, he took a deep breath, trying to calm his jumping nerves. Liam had a hand on his knee, rubbing small, soothing circles. Unsurprisingly, that didn’t really help his guilty conscience. He slowly fell into a troubled slumber.
“Thom…it’s almost time…” Liam’s voice roused him from his slumber. Groaning, he opened his eyes. “There we are, sunshine.”
“We ready?”
“Almost, let’s get moving.” They stood up, slowly making their way towards the back of the train. They were sent pitching forward as the train screeched in a rush to slow down. Liam caught Edward against his chest, holding him securely against his chest. “You okay?”
“Y-yeah.” They continued through the cars until they got to the last passenger car, where they waited for the train to stop. Several guards got off the train to go outside, signaling it was time. Liam pushed open the door to the next car. There were four guards there.
“Hey! What are you-?” the man speaking was cut off by Edward’s foot in his face. The Fullmetal Alchemist made quick work of the guards and tied them up while Liam went and opened the side door. He leaned out and peered down the road, frowning. They’d given Svetlana plenty of time to be there, waiting for them. So where was she?
"Tom, where's Sveta?” Liam asked. “She should be here with the truck by now. Did she say any-?” He turned to face the boy and froze. Edward's metal arm had been transformed into a long blade, which now was barely touching his throat. The boy stared up at him solemnly, his face pulled into a determined frown. A look of slow realization crept over the older man's face. "Sveta's not coming, is she?"
"She's tied up in the South City Station -- the military probably has her in custody by now," Edward replied evenly.
"You fooled all of us...even when your cover was blown - how did you convince her?" Liam asked, a sad smile touching his lips. I was so stupid, he thought. After his cover was blown, I knew I couldn’t trust him. I knew something was wrong, and I ignored it. Sveta was right – I did let my feelings for him get in the way. Edward swallowed thickly.
"She seemed to think pain was some sort of motivator - that it could somehow make me reveal my true intentions. She was wrong. Pain is nothing," he replied. "I would have loved to join you Liam, but Al...Al needs his body back, and I can't do that with you. I need the military for that."
"Is all of Amestris worth Al's body, to you?" Liam challenged. There was no saving the mission, but that didn’t mean he was going to forfeit everything without any sort of fight.
"Maybe, maybe not, but my responsibility is to Al, not Amestris. Besides you're wrong about Mustang. He will change Amestris. And…and I think he has a better chance of it – even if only minimally better – than your plan. It was good and it was admirable, but rebellions like yours…the Fuhrer would’ve crushed you like a bug, if he ever got around to seeing you as a real threat, which he would’ve if this operation had worked."
"So this is it? You've been snickering at us the entire time," Liam murmured, hurt and defeated.
"No! I never once laughed at you! I wept. This decision...has been one of the hardest in my life. Liam, I'm not saying there's no possibility of success your way, I'm just saying...you're too gentle. You let people use you. And you have no way of enforcing a better way. It just...it won't work, as much as I want it to."
“Yeah, I let people like you use me,” Liam chuckled humorlessly, reaching out to touch Edward's cheek.
“I-I’m sorry. I know talk is cheap, and words don’t help at all, but I don’t have another choice. I have to do this for Al and…and for Mustang.” The older man nodded sadly.
"I understand. Are you going to kill me?"
"No. I could never kill you. You really are the only person who's ever treated me as kindly as you have. If I could, I would gladly have fallen in love with you and stayed by your side regardless of the consequences."
"But you already love Roy."
"That and I need to do this...for my brother." Liam bowed his head.
"Looks like I've lost, then." Edward's lips tightened.
"You don't have to. I mean...you're getting away alive, Scott-free. Nothing can be proven against you. But please...please consider siding with your brother. He could use your support."
"He kills people! I can't forgive that!"
"He kills people so you don't have to.” The older man’s eyes widened in shock and confusion, but before he could ask what the teen meant, Edward was continueing. “Liam...I'm sorry. It's not fair of me to say this to you now, after all you’ve done for me. The colonel told me to turn you over to the military, but I'm not going to do that. I'm going to deny all knowledge of any illegal action you may or may not have committed, and I'm going to let you go." Liam couldn't help but offer a sarcastic chuckle.
"How kind of you." Tears filled Edward's eyes.
"I'm sorry. From the very beginning...I've felt horrible." Liam's thumb swiped away a tear that came rolling down the boy's cheek. "Am I doing the wrong thing, Liam?" The older man smiled gently.
"I can't answer that for you, Thomas. That's something only you can know for sure, but I don't hold it against you. If I were in your position, I'd have done the same thing. I've used and deceived people, too. I have never met someone with as good intentions as you, Tom -- Edward. So don't be sorry. I'm not angry. I just want you not to suffer, anymore, so please don’t cry."
"How are you not angry? I don't understand." In truth, Liam wasn’t sure, himself. Logically, he knew he had every right to be angry, but he couldn’t bring himself to hate the boy. Instead, he just felt a sort of calm serenity – perhaps he’d known this was coming, all along.
"I know you don't. I can't explain it. Just know that I'm not. I'm grateful for all you've taught me and the chances you've given me and this last opportunity, here and now...thank you, Edward Elric." The Fullmetal Alchemist battled down the urge to cry. "May I kiss you, one last time?" Liam asked. The teen nodded, lowering his hand. Liam slid his hand behind his neck and pulled him into a soft, tender kiss, holding him close. "I hope you find happiness," he whispered before he turned and left, disappearing into the wilderness beyond...
“Liam!” The man stopped in his trek through the woods, away from the train. He had been determined to get as far away from it as fast as he could. Now, it was sunset, the fading rays of light filtering dimly through the trees. Soon it would be dark, and he would have to find somewhere to hide for the night. “Liam!” He glanced over at the source of the voice.
“Roy.” The man covered the distance between them in two strides and, came to stand in front of him, swallowing nervously. Despite his impassive mask being intact, the younger brother saw right through it. His eyes were a little wider than usual and his hands clenched nervously.
“I know we’ve had our differences, but parting the way we did…I never forgave myself,” he admitted. “All I ever wanted was to protect you.” Liam exhaled deeply. Of course, some part of him had already known this. He and Roy had, at one time, been extremely close. It was his brother’s nature to protect the ones he cared about, and even if he had a weird way of showing it, Roy definitely cared about him. “Ed came and talked to me last night, and it got me thinking…that I don’t want to miss my chance to make things right between us, if I can.”
“But it won’t stop you from putting down my rebellion.” Mustang sighed, looking away uncomfortably.
“No, but…” Liam bowed his head.
“I know. Thomas – Edward told me everything. I think I understand. You have to do what you have to do.” The older man sighed heavily. “Thomas – Edward mentioned something to me, in the train. He said you killed so I didn’t have to. What did he mean?”
“O-oh…well, I always thought…if I could change the world, bring our dream into reality…you wouldn’t have to get your hands dirty trying, you know? I thought if I could fight for you, you wouldn’t have to. B-but it looks like I went about it all wrong, in the end.” Liam bit his lip, nodding. Things had really gotten screwed up between them. His mind went back to his last words to his brother, before their ten year separation, Mustang had been 18, and he had been 15: What the hell are you doing, you traitor?! You’re joining them! I hate you! I’ll never forgive you! You promised! We made a pact not to give in to them! He couldn’t even begin to describe how much he’d regretted those words, later, even if he didn’t ever really forgive his brother.
“Are you here to put me into military custody?” he asked meekly. He doubted he could get away, now, if he wanted to.
“No, nothing of the sort,” Roy assured him, startled by the accusation. As if he could actually throw his own brother into a military prison! “The only reason I wanted Fullmetal to capture you was so that I could fake your death and set you up somewhere else. We may not get along, but you’re still my brother, and you’re still very important to me.” Liam gasped softly. Such blatant confessions were rare from his older brother. Then, he flung his arms around the slightly larger man, who stiffened at the sudden action.
“I’m sorry things turned out like this,” Liam whispered into his shoulder. Mustang relaxed a little, putting his arms around Liam uncertainly.
“Me too.”
“You know, Tom – Edward really believes in you.”
“Does he? I think if anything, he’d like to support you more.”
“That’s true, he wants to support me more, but he doesn’t think it would’ve worked, and there’s his brother and…and you’re the one he loves.” Mustang drew back, his eyes wide.
“What?!” Liam blinked.
“You didn’t know?” Oops.
“He loves…how do you figure that?!”
“Well, the way he moans your name in his sleep is one thing to go by. But he’s admitted it to me, so…I’m pretty certain, though I guess he could’ve been lying. He’s awfully good at it.”
“He said he…he loves me?”
“Yes, so you’d better take care of him, or I’ll hunt you down and punish you.” Mustang nodded slowly. Oh, God, the situation just became so much more dangerous. If he returns my feelings…no, I can’t…it would put both him and my mission in jeopardy.
“You knew how he felt and yet you-?”
“I did what I did to help him. He was confused and in pain. I soothed him and gave him confidence to maybe, one day, aim for the one he truly likes. And before you ask, I didn’t take his virginity. The furthest we’d gotten was oral.”
“You what?!” Liam smirked. Maybe a little jealousy will get his butt into gear.
“And if you don’t intend to do anything about Edward, you can always send him to me.” Mustang scowled. “Oh, I see. So you return his feelings. Well, I guess I’ve lost on all counts then, haven’t I?”
“Do you really see it like that?”
“Is there any other way? It’s alright, about Edward though. I just wanted him to be happy. He’s already suffered so much.”
“Y-yeah. Well, you’d better get going. Send me a letter when you get settled down. It’s killed me…not knowing where you were or how you were doing for all this time.” Liam nodded and turned to walk away. “Liam! I will do it, you know! I’ll make our dream come true!” The younger man turned and glanced over his shoulder at his brother, and for the first time since they were kids, he believed him. He smiled sadly.
“I know you will.”
- 8
- 9
- 10
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New Year's Resolutions