Fullmetal Alchemist Fan Fiction ❯ Through Metamorphosis ❯ Part II ( Chapter 2 )

Through Metamorphosis By RWThunder Part II               ; “Roy, will you ever go back to the military?” Ed asked suddenly. The two alchemists, now relieved of their silver clocks, sat side by side beneath a tall tree. The sun was rising.       &nbs p;     “No. What would be the point? After Ishbal, all I wanted to do was become the Fuhrer—that way I would never have to follow rash orders again. Now, the new parliament has been elected and besides, after my skirmish with Pride, I doubt they would have kept me long.” He chuckled lightly, leaning back against the bark.       &nbs p;     “Why do you ask?”       &nbs p;     “I was just wondering.” The blond replied, absently running his left hand up and down his arm. Roy had observed this action before, taking note of the fact that Ed still wasn’t used to having his biological limbs.       &nbs p;     “I guess it’s just strange to think of you as…not being in the military.” He shrugged.       &nbs p;     “Soldiers are people too, you know. You were one yourself.” Roy pointed out, stretching out his legs in front of him.       &nbs p;     “That’s true. Not that I was ever very involved—aside from a mission or two—Al and I were mostly off looking for the stone.” The corners of Ed’s mouth twitched upward in a small smile.       &nbs p;     “By my permission, as I recall.” The former general replied. “Not that any disapproval on my part would have made a difference.”       &nbs p;     “Hm.” Ed’s smile was wider this time. Roy felt a shiver run down his spine . At that moment, an image presented itself to his mind’s eye. It was Ed, five years ago on the day of the train abduction. The young alchemist was blocking his path, scowling. His posture was hunched and defiant, his hair tied back in its conservative braid and his hands balled into tight fists. An angry child. A stubborn, self-righteous, impudent child. Even then, these attributes had endeared him to Roy. Ed was different now. Looking at him now, Roy was still struck by how much he had changed. His body had lost its look of straining tension and awkwardness, not to mention the fact that he’d gained a few redeemable inches (a feat he had not let anyone overlook). Ed had started wearing his hair down more and more, also, he tossed the red jacket and began dressing more loosely, more casually. Many had also noticed a distinct change in his demeanor. As he aged, Edward lost none of his passion, but displayed it far more elegantly. He was still hot-tempered—only this ring of angry fire was surrounded by a calming layer of patience and responsibility. The blonde’s amber eyes were gentler, now, his voice and speech more refined. And, despite his countless reasons to be bitter and jaded, Edward Elric maintained a sunny disposition that could charm anyone, it seemed. Roy had always respected him in different ways—now he wasn’t so sure what to call the emotion. It was bigger, it weighed heavier on his heart and mind, its power over the Flame Alchemist was stronger—stronger and more insisting than it had ever been. “What are you staring at?” The brunette met the blonde’s questioning eyes without faltering. “You.” He replied, grinning. Ed frowned at him. “Why?” The eldest Elric gave his former superior a searching look. Roy thought for a moment. “Because I’m human.” He replied. “Get used to the fact that we aren’t separated by rank anymore, Edward.” The former general added with a smile. “I could do that.” Was the teen’s immediate answer. For a time, they remained silent. “Roy?” Ed stretched his legs out over the grass, turning on his side to address his companion. “Hm?” “Did you ever feel like you never really knew the other people in the army? The soldiers that worked with you?” His voice was almost hesitant, a timbre away from shyness. “What do you mean?” Roy turned his head to look at him. “It’s like what we’ve been talking about, how people are different in the military. You have to be robotic, following orders, performing duties…I never acted like a conventional soldier, neither did Hughes,” His tone dropped upon mentioning the name. “But, all in all, everyone behaved like a drone, or a machine. You know?” The blond furrowed his brow, struggling with his words. “Ah. I see.” Roy sighed, recalling his old regiment and group of hand-selected subordinates: Havoc, Farman, Hawkeye…“I think, despite the retraining nature of the government and military, that many people managed to differentiate themselves—if in small ways. As to knowing people, I knew a soldier as a soldier, nothing more. Does that answer your question?” “Yes.” Ed dropped his eyes. “Is that how you saw me back then, Edward? Or now?” Roy asked, hoping his question didn’t come across as being too intrusive. Ed’s amber eyes widened considerably. “N-no! You were different. You had a personality, Roy, an ambiance.” The Fullmetal Alchemist smiled slightly. “ As I recall, your appreciation of my personality earned me no reprieve from your rudeness or aggression—what’s changed, shorty?” He was asking for it and he knew it. “Nothing. And you were just an egotistical colonel with nothing but promotions on his mind.” Ed huffed, sitting up with his back to Roy. “Oh?” The ebony-haired alchemist sat up as well, stationed behind the miffed blond. “I thought I had an ambiance.” He murmured, leaning close to Ed’s ear. “I thought you said I was different, Edward.” This came out as a low purr, accentuated by the former general’s warm breath on Ed’s ear. Ed bit his lip, lowering  his head so that his gold tresses hid his face—and his blush. “Assuming you haven’t withdrawn this confession, I’ll give you one of my own.” Roy said, moving to sit beside his fellow alchemist once more. “You were different too, Ed. You weren’t like everyone else. I always loved that about you.” “I was just a stuck-up kid.” Ed replied immediately, forgetting his sulking. “You were a colonel and a State Alchemist, I respected you.” “I respected you just as much—if not more.” Roy insisted, turning to face his companion. “Why?” “I’ve already told you, you were different. You still are. You’re something else, Edward, something special.” The brunette mused. “That’s flattering, but I’m just like everyone else, Roy.” Ed protested, dropping to the grass beneath them. “Not to me.” Roy said softly, leaning just an inch closer. “Roy, do you like it here?” The Metal Alchemist asked suddenly, lifting his gaze to meet the brunette’s. Roy blinked. “I do. Resembool is just as you described it to me. It’s beautiful.” He watched the blond closely. “I’m glad you think so.” Ed replied mildly. The sun had nearly climbed above the skyline. “Why does it matter what I think of it, Edward?” Roy pressed, resisting the sudden urge to touch his hair. “Why wouldn’t it?” The blond asked suspiciously. “You tell me.” Silence. “Edward, you’ve been avoiding my questions ever since we came here.” Roy sat back, folding his arms over his chest. Still, the teen refused to answer.       &nbs p;     They had been playing this little game for days now. Roy had been trying, in earnest, to determine how Ed felt about him. It was an effort that had, so far, yielded nothing. He tried again.       &nbs p;     “Don’t be afraid of me.”       &nbs p;     “I’m not!” Ed whirled around to face him.       &nbs p;     “Then why won’t you answer me? Last night you asked me to meet you here. At the time, I assumed you wanted to talk about something. Was I wrong?” Roy tried to look approachable as Ed’s eyes darted nervously from his face to the ground. Suddenly, he sighed heavily.       &nbs p;     “Give me your hand.” Roy held one out in offering. Ed clasped it with both of his, pressing his left wrist to the brunette’s fingertips.       &nbs p;     “Your pulse…what’s wrong? Your hands are shaking, Edward.” Roy stared at the blond.       &nbs p;     “You. You’re what’s wrong.” He admitted. “I’m not afraid of you, Roy, I never was—even when I was younger. Everyone else was intimidated by you, but not me. I admired you, I suppose. Then, I didn’t know how I felt about you. I guess I thought it was just a…” Ed trailed off, beginning to move his hands away. Roy caught them in both of his, squeezing  gently.       &nbs p;     “…a crush.”       &nbs p;     “Ed,” The former general began.       &nbs p;     “Don’t tell me I’m too young, Roy, don’t try to tell me how I feel.”       &nbs p;     “Edward,”       &nbs p;     “I brought you here because I wanted to get a chance to know you on equal ground. I wanted you to know me, to know who I’ve become.”       &nbs p;     “Edward, I—”       &nbs p;     “I want to be with you, Roy, I’ve made up my mind. Give me a chance, please…!”       &nbs p;     “Edward Elric!” Nervous golden eyes stared pleadingly into ebony.       &nbs p;     “I can’t give you an answer right now.” Roy said gently.       &nbs p;     “What? Why?” Ed demanded, his voice shaky.       &nbs p;     “Edward, I have to think about this.” The brunette said firmly.       &nbs p;     “Stop kidding around—either you like me, or your don’t.” Roy faltered at the look on his face, the anguish that brought back memories of their time in the military. That face had introduced itself to Roy when Nina was murdered, then later when he had told Ed about the rebellion in Lior. Did he really care that much?       &nbs p;     “Edward, please.” The Flame Alchemist begged. Ed turned away from him, slouching into that familiar posture that told Roy that he would have to leave him alone.       &nbs p;     Roy spotted the tree a little ways off and broke into a run. Somehow, he knew that Ed was still there. Air rushed through the fabric of his white button-down shirt, the wind blowing behind him as though urging him on.             The former general jogged up the small hill and spotted Ed standing behind the tree. Catching his breath, Roy rounded the trunk and placed himself in front of the eldest Elric.             “Ed,” He began. The blonde’s hair hid his eyes from view.             “Edward,” He placed his hands on the alchemist’s shoulders, willing him to look up.             “Edward, I have to apologize to you, please look at me.” That did the trick.             “Apologize for what?” His companion questioned, gazing at him uncertainly.           &n bsp; “I always liked you, Ed. I watched you grow up, every year strengthening my feelings. But…but we can’t be together, it’s not right. I would be taking advantage of you.” He exhaled heavily and took in the blonde’s expression. He blinked. Ed was grinning.             ; “Take advantage of this, you idiot.” Soft lips, untouched by any other, brushed against Roy’s with an insistence that had him re-thinking his answer. The instant he felt a tongue run over his bottom lip, the alchemist’s resistance cracked.             Ed gasped when he was shoved roughly back against the tree, reveling in the feel of the other’s hands raking through his hair and fingernails biting into his shoulders. Roy wasn’t a gentle kisser. After a few heated seconds of warm, delicious wetness—the taller man pulled back.             Ed breathed deeply, flicking his tongue over his lips and tasting blood. He smiled, here it was, proof that he was wanted—that Roy wanted him. He opened his eyes.             “ We have to stop, Edward, you know we do.” With his tousled hair and flushed cheeks, the brunette was hard to take seriously. Ed could see it in his eyes, though, the guilt. He shook his head.             “That’s not going to work.” He warned. This time, the blond tried a different approach, clasping his hands behind Roy’s neck and pulling him down—crushing their mouths together. After mere seconds, the former general was responding, just as before, this time gripping his hips harshly.             Ed had to admit, the Flame Alchemist’s kiss was almost frightening. He could taste years of experience in every twist of Roy’s tongue, every change of angle and pressure on his lips. The blond soon found, that against the intensity, all he could do was take gasping breaths—whenever he was given the opportunity—and hang onto his companion for dear life.             He was against the trunk again. Roy’s hands snuck beneath the hem of his shirt, raking his blunt nails over the soft skin and effectively shocking every nerve in his body to attention. Ed’s own hands slid into Roy’s ebony hair, languidly running his fingers through it over and over.             The brunette grazed his teeth over the blonde’s lips, licking away the blood where he found it. By way of apologizing, Roy moved his hand down the side of Ed’s face, stroking his cheek repeatedly as he deepened the kiss even more, engaging the other’s tongue in a friendly duel.             Finally, Ed broke the kiss, placing his hands on the brunette’s chest in the universal sign of “stop.” Roy pulled back immediately, forgetting that one of his hands was still teasing the skin of Ed’s lower abdomen.             “Well, I’m glad we’ve discussed this.” Ed said, smiling.             “I, for one, think I still have to make a few things clear.” Roy replied, grinning wickedly.   TBC   -Thunder       &n bsp;           &nbs p;