Fullmetal Alchemist Fan Fiction ❯ The Pact ❯ Chapter 9 ( Chapter 9 )

Full Metal Alchemist Fanfiction

 

Full Metal Alchemist © HIROMU ARAKAWA/SQUARE ENIX, MBS, ANX, BONES, Dentsu, CARTOON NETWORK (A Time Warner Company), ADULT SWIM, FUNimation Productions, Ltd.

 

All Fanfics created by Chiruken (me) were written for the sole purpose of shared entertainment and not intended for publication or sale.

 

† ∞ †

 

Summary:Life is a series of disappointments, followed by death…and interspersed with laughably ridiculous events leading to increasingly impossible situations. Then again, there ISsomething worse than death, isn't there? Just ask Ed.Envy x Ed

 

Chapter Summary:When he was certain the other man was gone, Ed allowed his body to slowly sink to the floor. He still couldn't quite believe the colonel had believed him. Even to his own ears, the lies had sounded pathetic and obvious. Sighing, he shook his head slowly. Though he was almost certain the story of his supposed sexual experimentation would be floating around Central's military headquarters within the hour, he decided it was much better than the actual truth.

 

This chapter rated: M for descriptions of BDSM (just to be on the safe side)

 

† ∞ †

 

WARNINGS:

 

See Chapter 1 for the detailed warnings.

 

Constructive Criticism is welcome, Flames are not.

 

 

Thank you for reading.

 

Chiruken

 

† ∞ †

 

 

-- The Pact --

 

By: Chiruken

 

 

 

 

 

PreviousChapter:

 

“I'm still a heartless bastard.” Shoving the state alchemist away from himself, he threw his head back and planted one fist against his hip while running the fingers of the other through his hair. “As long as you remember that, Edward, you have nothing to worry about.” When the smaller man merely stared at him incomprehensively, he sighed and rested his fingertips against his temple while shaking his head slowly with an expression of affected disappointment. “I'm not the only homunculus, Chibi-san.” He began with exaggerated patience, as if he were speaking to a child. “There are six others like me.” His fingers stilled against his temple as he leveled a direct and intent look at the alchemist currently watching him with an almost comical mixture of irritation, surprise, and confusion. “We all have physical hearts…” He dropped his hand and folded his arms across his chest. “But don't believe for a second that there are any merciful feelings in any of us.” He nodded slowly as dawning understanding spread across Ed's features. “As long as you remember this…you should be able to manage to stay alive.”

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 9

 

Steam billowed out and around him as he stood beneath the steady stream of water flowing down over his head, plastering his hair against his cheeks and neck. Sighing heavily, Ed placed his left hand against the wet wall of the shower and bowed his head, eyes squeezed shut tight. He'd been hard pressed to answer his younger brother's demands as to where he'd been for more than half the night. He hated lying to Alphonse, but all things considered, the truth would've been a whole lot worse to deal with. He knew Al had suspected he wasn't being completely honest, but thankfully he hadn't pressed the issue. He didn't know what he would've done if his brother would've continued the interrogation.

 

Slowly opening his eyes, he glanced down at his nearly useless right arm. Grimacing, he knew he'd have to return to Rizenbul to have it repaired. He just wasn't certain how he was going to explain to Al why he couldn't accompany him this time. Truthfully, he felt odd about leaving the younger Elric brother behind since he never traveled without the constant companionship of the comforting presence of the armored body beside him. Shaking his head slowly, he reached down and twisted the taps, stopping the flow of water reluctantly. He'd have to face Alphonse sooner or later, and from past experience, it was much better to get the confrontation over with as soon as possible. However he disliked the idea of leaving Al in Central, it was unavoidable. He had no idea when Envy might show up and he really didn't want to have to contend with making up excuses for absences that his brother couldn't help but notice.

 

Stepping out of the shower stall, he reached blindly for the fluffy white towel he'd left folded neatly on the rickety wooden chair behind the door. When the towel was suddenly thrust into his hands, his eyes snapped open and he craned his neck to focus his startled gaze on the last person he expected to see. Yelping in embarrassment, he jerked the towel close to himself in a belated attempt at preserving his modesty. “What the hell are you doing here?!”

 

Colonel Roy Mustang smirked down at the younger man, dark eyes revealing nothing of his thoughts as he took in the dripping state alchemist's furious expression. “Full Metal.” He greeted coolly before leaning back against the door. “It has been brought to my attention that you have been taking unnecessary risks to your health.”

 

Ed paused in the act of wrapping the towel around his slender waist to glare up at his commanding officer. “What?” His eyes narrowed as he ran through the mental checklist consisting of his recent activities, immediately discarding the possibility that somehow, someway, the Flame Alchemist had discovered what had transpired between himself and Envy the previous night. Decided that the possibility was highly unlikely, he shrugged and turned away to secure the edge of the towel in place to prevent the material from slipping off while he moved around. “If you're talking about the chili dog with double jalapeno peppers I had yesterday for lunch, my eating habits are none of your business.”

 

A look of distaste crossed the older man's features. “As disgusting and unhealthy as that sounds, no, that isn't why I'm here.” He gestured almost casually towards the limp auto-mail limb hanging at the younger alchemist's side. “Care to explain that?”

 

Scowling, Ed reached up one-handed and wrung the excess water out of his long, blond hair. Taking his time in reaching for the brush he'd set on the edge of the sink, he refused to meet the other man's steady and penetrating gaze. Finally, after several long, tense moments, he cleared his throat and returned his gaze to the taller man. “No.” He answered simply and slowly began working the brush through the tangles in his hair.

 

One eyebrow rose in uncontained surprise. “I beg your pardon?” Mustang wasn't certain what surprised him more…the fact that Ed was openly defying his authority or that he was remaining so calm. This behaviour certainly wasn't what he'd been expecting. It had become almost comfortingly familiar for the younger man to fly into a rage at the least of provocations and as such, the Flame Alchemist had expected him to react in just that manner at having his personal life examined by his commanding officer. When the smaller man remained silent, Roy stepped forward and drew himself up to his full height. “As your commanding officer, I expect an answer.”

 

His fingers tightened around the handle of the brush until his knuckles turned white. Golden eyes narrowing, he gritted his teeth as he fought the impulse to do something foolhardy and drastic, such as shove the brush as far as he could up the other man's nose. “As my commanding officer, my personal life is none of your damn business.” He paused, lips pressed into a thin line. “Colonel.” He added with as much disdain as he could muster.

 

Expression tightening with growing impatience, the colonel took a half step closer to the smaller man. “If one of my subordinates is suspected of being involved in activities that may endanger his own life and those of his fellow officers, then yes, by God, it is my business.”

 

Mouth opening for a quick retort, Ed paused for a moment. Technically, he could honestly say that he wasn't endangering anyone's life, not his, and not anyone else's. He considered, for a moment, informing the other man of this fact before discarding the idea entirely. If he told the colonel that much, he was certain to demand details and, quite possibly, proof. However, if he didn't say something, the other man was bound to hound him until he did get the answers he was seeking. Sighing in resignation, he decided that he'd have to tell at least part of the truth. He winced inwardly, knowing he was going to have to embellish on the facts quite a bit in order to satisfy his commanding officer's curiosity and later endure the teasing he was certain would follow. “I still say it isn't any of your business…” He began slowly with a scowl, feeling the heat begin to rise into his face as he contemplated just what it was he was about to say to the other man. Clearing his throat he tossed the brush to the side, not caring that it thudded against the wall and clattered to the floor.

 

Mustang allowed his eyebrow to rise once again as he took in the sight of the undersized alchemist blushing. He leaned back against the door again and folded his arms across his chest. “Let me be the judge of that, Full Metal.”

 

Thinking quickly, he remembered a few conversations he'd overheard during his travels as well as some books he'd managed to get his hands on that he was certain would've made even his commanding officer blush. Mind working at a rapid pace, he pieced together what he hoped would be a plausible story. “I still maintain that this really isn't any of your business…and if you even breathe a word of it to anyone else, I'll hunt you down and transmute your clothes into horse hair.” He sent a withering glare in the older man's direction before fixing his gaze on the floor, fighting to hold back the blush he knew was flooding into his face. “I was with someone last night.”

 

“Is that so.” The Flame Alchemist studied the younger man's tense features and smirked at the increasing colour rising into his cheeks. “And just who would this have been?”

 

Raising his head just long enough to cast another scowl in his direction, Ed closed his left hand into a fist. “That really isn't any of your business.” He retorted hotly. Clearing his throat, he dropped his gaze again. “Any way…” He began slowly, nervously shifting from one foot to another. “Things got a little…er…carried away, I guess you could say.” Peeking up at the colonel from beneath his thick bangs, Ed groaned inwardly. He was going to have to go into details, it seemed, and seeing as how the older man's eyes remained narrowed suspiciously he'd best make it quick before he lost his nerve. “Everything was going just fine until one of the screws let go and the whole thing came crashing down.” He gestured towards his right arm. “That's how this happened.”

 

“What, exactly, was going well and what, precisely, came crashing down?” Dark eyes narrowed suspiciously on the younger man, the colonel studied his body language and concluded that either his subordinate was lying to him…a very likely possibility…or he was extremely embarrassed about whatever had happened the previous night.

 

Clearing his throat, he plunged forward and prayed he had the detail correct. “The bolts in the mounting kit were obviously defective. There's no other reason why the screws would've come loose like that.” Shifting uncomfortable from one foot to another, he chanced another look at the other man, noting that a look of confusion had replaced the earlier suspicion. “It was supposed to be completely safe, you know.” He added quickly lowering his gaze again to the floor, finding it extremely difficult to maintain a straight face while fabricating the scenario.

 

He was almost afraid to ask now, but morbid curiosity won over common sense. “What was supposed to be safe?”

 

“The Ceiling-Mounted Sling.” He shrugged and bit the inside of his cheek in an attempt to keep a straight face as he elaborated on the story he was concocting. “Like I said, everything was going well, but then the damned screws came loose, dumping me and the contraption to the floor. Talk about a mood killer.” He cleared his throat again and shook his head. “It's just lucky for…er…” He paused for a moment, at a loss as to what name he should supply, if any. “Well, it's just lucky that I landed on the floor. My…er…friend…” He coughed and felt the heat in his face increase. “Would've been hurt pretty bad otherwise.”

 

“Friend.” He repeated slowly, realizing belatedly just what, exactly, the younger man had been referring to all along. “I…see…” He studied Ed for a long moment before finally pushing away from the door. “Just how long has this been going on?”

 

“Um…” He did some quick calculations and decided that partial honesty was in order or Mustang would never believe his story. “First time.” He supplied with a grimace.

 

“Why on God's green earth would you choose BDSM for your first sexual experience, Full Metal?!” To say he was shocked wouldn't even begin to cover it. Not only did he honestly believe Edward Elric to be completely uninterested in sex of any kind, but he found himself still looking upon the younger man as the child he'd been when they'd first met.

 

“Well, it seemed like a good idea at the time!” He glared at the older man. “I told you…it isn't any of your business. And so help me…if this conversation goes any further than between the two of us, I'm going to…”

 

The colonel waved a hand dismissively. “I highly doubt your sex life is of any interest to anyone.” He shook his head slowly. “A word to the wise, Edward…” He stepped forward and clapped a hand to the shorter man's shoulder. “Safe sex doesn't necessarily refer to merely using contraceptives and protection against disease.” When Ed lifted confused, golden eyes to his own, he allowed a small smile to curve his lips upwards. “Further…ahh…experimentation should be conducted under safe conditions. Do yourself a favour and allow yourself to experience sex under normal conditions first before moving on to the…er…more imaginative scenarios. I'm certain your lover will understand…considering everything.” With that said, Mustang turned on his heel and retreated as fast as dignity would allow, silently cursing the younger Elric brother for panicking and dragging him out of his office for this conversation. Though he'd been concerned for his youngest subordinate's physical and mental development in the past, he really hadn't wanted to find out that he truly was a normal, healthy young man in such a manner. He suppressed a shudder at the mental image of the scenario just described him as it ran through his mind. No, he certainly hadn't wanted to know quite that much about Edward Elric.

 

When he was certain the other man was gone, Ed allowed his body to slowly sink to the floor. He still couldn't quite believe the colonel had believed him. Even to his own ears, the lies had sounded pathetic and obvious. Sighing, he shook his head slowly. Though he was almost certain the story of his supposed sexual experimentation would be floating around Central's military headquarters within the hour, he decided it was much better than the actual truth. He'd rather put up with the humiliation of being teased relentlessly about his first time ending in such disaster than dealing with the reactions sure to come if he'd told Mustang that he'd agreed to be Envy's lover the previous night. Grimacing, he slowly and awkwardly picked himself up from the floor and reached for his clothes, suddenly feeling more than a little uncomfortable with being naked…especially considering the turn his thoughts had just taken.

 

 

† ∞ †

 

To Be Continued…

 

† ∞ †

 

Author's Notes:

 

Tons of apologies for the late update.

My mother is still in the hospital and at the moment we're uncertain as to when she'll be released. I took one of the rare quiet moments to sit down and do a little relaxing writing. If the chapter isn't quite as good as the previous ones, again I apologize…stress does weird things to my brain. x.X

 

Response to Reviewers will be a little late this time around. But I'm sending out super amounts of thank you's to everyone who's read and left a review. It always makes my day when I receive comments.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1