Fullmetal Alchemist Fan Fiction ❯ Automail ❯ Idiot ( Chapter 5 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

All right, pay attention, if you please. When I wrote the last one-shot, `Thunder' I had planned to take it a bit further, however, when I got to the ending part, I just . . . stopped writing. I didn't think that it needed to go any further than that at that point; however, I still wanted to write the ending. So, I did that here, and will post it. You can see it as the real ending to `Thunder' or not. (shrugs)

Idiot

Ed sighed as he nuzzled his face into the crown of Roy's ebony hair, breathing in the Flame's comforting scent of soap and cinnamon. The nightmare had passed, along with the storm, and the alchemist—and night—were now, thankfully, still once again.

The blonde closed his eyes and whispered into Roy's hair, “You're really are an idiot, y'know.”

Roy shifted slightly against his chest, but said nothing.

Ed continued, undaunted by his lover's silence. “You don't have to . . . pretend . . . around me. You don't have to . . .” He paused, searching for the right words. “You don't have to be the brave one. Don't get me wrong—being an arrogant, egotistical asshole is part of your charm, but . . .”

The blonde alchemist opened his eyes and looked down at the top of Roy's head. He felt his heart tightening in his chest, his throat constricting, and he could feel that damn, familiar stinging in his eyes. There was a deep intake of breath, before Ed choked out in a hoarse whisper:

“You don't have to smile if it hurts.”

The older man shifted again and Ed felt calloused fingertips slid beneath his shirt and gently brush the skin of his back. He could feel Roy's warm breath against his chest, even through the folds of his shirt, and Edward could sense the man's heart beating . . . quickening.

Or maybe that was his heart . . .

“I love you, you stupid bastard,” Ed whispered, feeling something warm and hopeful swelling in his chest—it was the first time in their relationship that either one had actually admitted it. “You know that, right?”

Roy moved and brought his face up to nuzzle the crook of Fullmetal's neck, groaning slightly in his sleep . . . completely oblivious to the young man's confession.

Edward gently placed his chin atop the Flame's head and sighed, letting his eyelids slowly drift shut.

“Maybe someday I'll tell you this when we're both awake.”