Fic - Like Salt, FMA

[cornerofmadness]

Like Salt
cornerofmadness(and mjules)
Disclaimer – not mine
Rating – R
Pairing –Roy/Maes
Timeline – pre-manga series, set at the Academy
Summary – As they start year two, the boys find themselves with new roommates and Maes doesn’t like all the time Roy spends with his new one.
Author’s Note – Written for the 30kisses challenge, prompt #4 our distance and that person
The rest of the series here

Jealousy in romance is like salt in food. A little can enhance the savor, but too much can spoil the pleasure and, under certain circumstances, can be life-threatening. ~Maya Angelou


Moving was never much fun and the excitement of being freed from the underclassman housing was mitigated by the sheer fact that, as year two commenced, Maes would no longer be his roommate. Roy hated this. He had a hundred good reasons to want to keep Maes as his roommate. Their clandestine affair naturally topped the list. They would have to be a hell of lot sneakier in order to be together. Roy didn’t know how he’d handle the separation.

When Roy lugged his box of books into his new and somewhat larger domicile – hey, beds not attached to the walls and real book shelves! – he noticed another young man lounging indolently on a bunk, his belongings heaped in boxes around it.

“I hate moving,” he told Roy, brushing his dark hair back out of almond eyes, much like Roy’s own; Roy only hoped he didn’t look quite so arrogant. Drawing himself up like a cat, the teen threaded through his boxes and shoved a smooth hand at Roy. “Zolf Kimbley.”

Balancing his box on his hip, Roy shook hands. “Roy Mustang.” Roy sat the box down. “I think there’s two more I have to lug over yet.”

“Want a hand?” Kimbley asked.

The way he studied Roy made the young alchemist think there was more behind the offer than the mere desire to be helpful. “Sure.” Still he’d take what he was offered.

It didn’t escape Roy’s notice that they didn’t talk about much of anything important, just what classes they’d be taking, about the continuing violence in the eastern desert and what role they might play, small talk stuff but that changed the moment they got back. Roy suspected Kimbley had been waiting all along to ask it, “So you’re an alchemist?”

At Roy’s nod, Kimbley tossed himself onto his bed, making no effort to get started on unpacking his boxes. “What’s your specialty?”

Roy sat, too, rubbing his arms. He was out of shape or something. It wasn’t that far of a walk with those boxes. “I’m still figuring that out. I know what I’d like it to be but I haven’t gotten the arrays right and Teacher hasn’t been all that forthcoming.”

“I know what you mean. Mine keeps telling it’s too dangerous, that I’m too young to know all the secrets,” Kimbley snorted, very put out by that.

Roy’s eyes widened. Finally, someone who understood. “Exactly. Teenaged boys are too reckless,” he said, doing a good job of imitating Hawkeye’s cadence.

“So you got that line, too.” Kimbley shook his head. “I hear it all the time.”

‘So what is it that you’re studying?” Roy asked eagerly, unpacking totally forgotten.

“Controlled explosions, just little ones. I haven’t mastered anything big yet,” Kimbley replied, rubbing at his collar.

Roy saw a silver chain and wondered if Kimbley wore his array around his neck. “Explosions? That’s so cool. Fire, I’m learning to control fire.”

Kimbley whistled. “Not many can do that.”

“I can’t quite get it right yet but I’m almost there.” Roy made a face. “Fire and explosions, I guess I can see why our teachers are so cautious.”

Kimbley waved him off. “We deserve to know. We’ve studied hard, right? Besides, I want to be a State Alchemist, so I need to learn to control this.”

Roy nodded, pleased with all he had in common with his new roommate. “That’s what I want to do, too, but Teacher hates the idea. He doesn’t want the State to use what I’d be able to do. Still, I think I can do a lot of good as a State Alchemist, not to mention the money.”

“If he doesn’t like State Alchemists, what does he think of you being here?” Kimbley asked and Roy realized he had said too much, too swept up in someone who shared his more esoteric interests. Maes just never quite got alchemy. Usually Roy didn’t mind so much since he and Maes shared so much else. He had let himself get a little careless here. He didn’t want to say that Hawkeye didn’t know yet.

“Let’s just say, he’s not happy,” Roy dithered, getting up and tried to cover up his frustration at his loose lips by starting to unpack.

“Yeah, well sounds a lot like my teacher, too,” Kimbley said. “I guess I should start unpacking, too. There’s never enough room in these dorms.”

Roy shrugged. “Not really but I don’t have a lot so it works out. I guess so long as we’re not total slobs we won’t get into each other’s way.” Roy pouted a little. Maes could get slobby and he’d miss that, well a little, mostly because it reminded him of Maes. Still, the fact that his friend could never manage to get his socks into a hamper was annoying.

“You have nothing to worry about from me on that account,” Kimbley said, giving him a prim look.

X X X

Once the unpacking was done and they were tucked away for the night, it really hit Roy. He and Maes weren’t roommates any more and as cool as it might be to have an alchemist as a roomie, Kimbley wasn’t Maes. He wasn’t going to crush his way onto a too-small mattress to hold onto Roy when he needed reassuring. They weren’t going to have amazing sex together. The only thing Kimbley could add to the sexual parts of Roy’s life was to be in the way. There was no way he could have Maes over here and vice versa. What the hell were they going to do?

Roy flopped over on the bed, staring at the curtained window. He wondered if Maes was lying in his bed, unable to sleep, too, wanting to be with him.

XXX

It seemed like weeks instead of two measly days since Roy had seen Maes, outside of class work. School had been insane and he only had time to miss his friend at night. Embarrassingly enough, last night Roy had been so exhausted he had fallen asleep even before he had the chance to really miss Maes.

As if to make up for a rough start to the semester, nature granted him a gorgeous afternoon and Roy took advantage of it and his free period. He stretched out on a bench in the quad, soaking up the sun like a happy cat.

“Don’t you look indolent?”

Roy shielded his eyes, cracking them open to peek at Maes. “Be nice or I won’t share my bench.”

“I’m pretty sure I could muscle you off, bean,” Maes replied, grinning

Roy snorted. He didn’t care about being called short. He was short. It was his slanted eyes he didn’t like being teased about and Maes would never tease him maliciously anyhow. On the other hand, wrestling with Maes for the bench sounded like fun, not that he’d say so in public. “You’re annoying me, Hughes,” he said sitting up.

Maes plopped down. “What doesn’t annoy you?”

“Learning a new alchemic array,” Roy shot back without hesitation.

“Liar. Those annoy you the most. You have to worry at arrays until you can understand them completely and you want to understand immediately then get ticked when you can’t,” Maes replied. “Speaking of annoying, how’s the new roomie?”

“Not annoying, surprisingly. He’s relatively quiet and he doesn’t leave his socks all over.” Roy cocked an eyebrow at Maes.

Maes curled his lip at Roy. “I should have made you eat those damn socks.”

Roy laughed. “Kimbley’s not bad.”

“Wish I could say the same about Penrod, utterly annoying. He makes you look like a slob,” Maes said and Roy’s mouth dropped in shock. “He’s obsessive. He can tell if his cologne bottle has been moved a half turn and can’t sleep if his shoes are out of alignment where he keeps them along the wall.”

“So naturally, you’ve been putting his stuff a hair off-kilter just to make him insane.” Roy grinned.

“You know me so well.” Maes laughed. “And if he doesn’t knock it off about how my half of the room looks, I’m going to slip some dirty underwear into his pillowcase.”

“Ewww.” Roy wrinkled his nose. “Why am I friends with you again?”

Maes shrugged. “Bet you’re thankful that you never gave me cause to shove dirty laundry into your bedding.”

“You wouldn’t have. You’re too afraid of my alchemy.” Roy smirked.

“Keep telling yourself that, Mustang,” Maes shot back as Escha strolled past with a bunch of new female cadets in tow.

“Hi Roy, hi Maes,” she called. “You girls need to watch those boys. They’re bad.” She shot them a salacious smile and the girls tittered.

Roy wagged his head. “Somehow we’ve earned one hell of a reputation.”

Maes snorted. “Are you going to argue with it?”

“Hell, no. Oh hey, there’s Kimbley.” Roy waved a hand at the young man.

“What’s up, Mustang?” Kimbley asked, loping over to the bench.

“Just wanted you to meet Maes Hughes. Maes, this is Zolf Kimbley.”

Maes stuck out his hand and Kimbley shook it. “Nice to meet you.”

“Same here. I remember you from those strategy classes from last year. You have a good head for that sort of thing,” Kimbley said approvingly.

“Thanks.”

“Do you study alchemy, too?” Kimbley asked.

Maes shook his head. “I’ll leave that to you and Roy.”

“Speaking of that, Mustang, I was wondering if you wanted to head for the lab after classes and work on something. If your teacher is like mine, you have exercises to do,” Kimbley said, rolling his eyes as if it was beneath him.

“Sure,” Roy replied eagerly.

“Maybe later when we have free time, I’ll show you how the explosions work. There’s got to be things we can blow up,” Kimbley said with a wave as he headed off.

“Okay.”

Maes stared at Roy. “Blow things up?” He blinked slowly. “Did I hear that right?”

Roy nodded. “He’s already progressed that far in his studies. Hawkeye is never going to let me manage fire and Kimbley is surely not going to show me how the arrays for explosions go.” A dejected look flashed over Roy’s face.

“Roy, has it ever occurred to you two alchemists that maybe blowing things up and setting them on fire at will is not a great idea?” Maes asked, almost as if he were afraid of the answer.

Roy looked at him shocked. “Why not? You can’t imagine the power Hawkeye wields. I want that, Maes.”

A very somber expression filled Maes’ long face. “No, Roy, I think I can imagine it and it’s a little frightening.”

Roy’s dark eyes reflected his hurt. “I guess. I have to go. It’s almost time for statistics.”

“Roy, wait!” Maes cried, realizing he had bruised Roy’s feelings.

“I’ll see you later, Maes.” Roy ran off towards his next class. How could Maes not understand how important his alchemy was to him? Maes was honestly afraid of it, of him. How had he not seen that before? It hurt more than he was ready for.

X X X

“That was so amazing!” Roy bent down to pick up a piece of shattered rock near the creek bed in the woods that the Academy owned and used for training purposes. He looked back at Kimbley who grinned broadly, flexing his fingers. Would Roy ever get the same control over his alchemy as his new roommate did?

Kimbley was amazingly cool. Roy wanted to be this good. He had to wonder how his roommate had gotten so good when his Teacher – by Zolf’s admission – didn’t seem likely to give up such secrets.

“Isn’t it? There’ll be no stopping me once I really get this under control,” Kimbley bragged.

For a moment, Maes’ consternation about their alchemy echoed through Roy’s mind. Kimbley honestly could be dangerous. “How big of an explosion can you manage?”

“Let’s find out.” Kimbley headed down the creek until he found a boulder. “I’d take cover if I were you, just in case.

Roy took the warning to heart and sequestered himself behind an wide old oak. He peered out, watching Kimbley putting his hand on the boulder. Roy felt the surge of the shockwave just before he was deafened by the explosion. Rock and water rained down; the rock at least had been blown the other direction but water seemed to have a mind of its own.

Kimbley trucked back up the small incline, laughing. Water sluiced down his face. A shard of rock had caught his cheek, leaving a bloody line. “My ears are going to be ringing for days,” he proclaimed, sounding thrilled by this fact.

“That was…scary,” Roy admitted honestly, his wide eyes fixed on the shattered boulder.

“Almost lost control,” Kimbley replied, wiping his bloody cheek.

“That’s not good.” Roy scowled. He didn’t like how easy Kimbley seemed to be with the near-mishap.

Kimbley shrugged. “When you do this kind of alchemy, you have to expect getting banged up a little while you practice.” His head snapped up as the sound of someone approaching reached the creek bed.

Roy was surprised to see Maes heading down the trail. “Maes, what are you doing here?”

“Someone said you two were heading down here,” Maes eyed the damage Kimbley had made. “I was going to see if you wanted to head to the bar with everyone since it’s the weekend. I didn’t know you were going to be wreaking havoc.”

Roy flashed him a lopsided smile. “We’re practicing alchemy. Well, Kimbley’s practicing. I’m just watching. I’d love to go but you know I spent all my money of Bryony’s wedding gift.”

“I figured I could spot you a drink or two,” Maes said and Roy thought he saw, flashing in Maes’ eyes, an apology for Maes’ harsh words earlier. “And if you play it right Escha and those girls she was talking to might pamper you through the night.”

Roy snorted. “Now you’re suggesting I become a kept man? Yeah, I guess so. We’re done here, right, Kimbley?”

“Yeah.” Kimbley looked at the men expectantly.

Maes’ lips thinned but he did what he thought was right. “Want to come with, Kimbley? Everyone will be there.”

“Yes, thank you.”

Maes didn’t seem happy about Kimbley accepting the invitation but was more unhappy that Roy seemed oblivious to it.
X X X

“Thanks again, buddy,” Roy said, greedily sucking down his beer.

“I’m surprised you two are still friends. Didn’t he try to sleep with your sister?” Kimbley waved a hand at Maes who rolled his eyes.

“Nah, that’s just a rumor. If he had tried, her very large policeman fiancé would have shot him,” Roy snickered.

“Oh…so it’s the other rumor.” Kimbley’s dark eyes glinted with malevolent glee.

Roy scowled. “Which one?”

“That you two had a lovers' spat.” Kimbley’s fingers toyed with the rim of his mug. His dark eyes glinted almost maliciously.

Roy curled his lip. “Hardly.”

Maes snorted indelicately. “I have far more refined tastes. Mustang’s the wrong sex, too short and all the wrong coloring.”

Roy eyed him darkly, his feelings hurt and he knew he was being irrational. What else could Maes say in front of Kimbley but what if he really thought that? He tried to hide the emotional bruises. “How many damn rumors are there?”

“Besides, the other rumors about him being the boy toy of half the lady cadets could be true,” Maes added wickedly.

“Really? You don’t plan on bringing them back to the dorm without sharing do you?” Kimbley looked rather hopeful that he might get a taste of the action.

“No,” Roy grated out, glaring at both men. His luck took a turn for the worse as Escha chose that moment to seek him out, a pack of young cadets with her. She ran her hand up Roy’s back.

“Hi, Roy, Hi Maes.” She glanced over at Kimbley. “I think I’ve seen you around.”

“This is Zolf Kimbley,” Roy said, seeing she wanted an introduction. “Kimbley, this is Escha.”

Escha beamed, eyeing the dark-haired young man hungrily. “Nice to meet you.”

Kimbley smiled back. “The pleasure is all mine.”

“Hate to introduce and run but I’m working on limited funds,” Roy said, setting aside his drained mug. “You all have fun.”

“How about a game of darts before you go?” Maes asked, obviously not ready to let Roy go. He seemed upset. “It doesn’t cost.”

Roy nodded but his expression remained glum even through the first three tosses.

“What is the problem, Roy?” Maes asked finally, his dart placement making Roy’s look feeble.

“I was about to ask you the same thing. You’re being all weird,” Roy grumbled.

“Me? You’re the one acting like you barely know me all week,” Maes hissed back.

Roy’s gaze snapped around, taking in the crowd. “Do you really want to have this conversation here?”

Maes shot him back a sulky look that was very unusual for him. “I suppose not.”

Roy set his darts down. “I concede the game. I’ve had enough for one night.” He turned on his heel and started to go.

“Roy, wait,” Maes demanded, stopping just short of grabbing for him.

Roy glanced back at him. “It’s been a long week. I’m just going to go get some rest. You enjoy the night out.” Roy hurried off before Maes could say anything more.

X X X

Roy rubbed his eyes, wondering if he should have just stayed at the bar instead of acting like an idiot. It was past midnight, he was fairly sure of that, glad as always that alchemy students were given keys to the lab and allowed access whenever they wanted. Some rules were bent for alchemists since they were fairly rare and the military coveted them highly. He would stay here all night if he had to. Kimbley’s display at the creek had proven one thing to Roy, he needed to get better. He was a child in comparison to Kimbley. With that in mind, he had already mailed his journal with the encryption based on folklore to his sister. Most of that stuff was already well-memorized anyhow. He didn’t want Kimbley to figure out the cipher, just in case. He would need to devise a new encryption at any rate, something more mature.

A knock on the door startled Roy. Who could it be at this time of night? Roy was shocked to see Maes behind the door. “How did you find me?”

“Do you honestly think I don’t know how you think, Roy?” Maes snorted, exasperated. “I knew you weren’t going to just go sulk in your room, not when you could do it here. Especially since I saw the look in your eye over Kimbley.”

Roy yanked Maes inside and shut the door. “What is that supposed to mean?”

“You’re infatuated with him,” Maes said and Roy’s jaw dropped.

“Are you insane? What? Do you think I try to sleep with all my roommates? Do you think that little of me?” The hurt honed Roy’s tone to a knife’s edge. He wanted to hit Maes, he honestly did.

Maes’ face fell. “What…no, that wasn’t what I meant, Roy! I don’t think that at all. I’m not talking sex. I mean Kimbley’s power. You see it and you want it. That’s why you’re here.”

Roy looked at the alembic glassware he had been assembling. “Maybe, a little. But Maes, you don’t know what he can do!”

“I know he can blow up a boulder and if that doesn’t make you a little nervous, Roy, I’m worried about you,” Maes shot back.

“I didn’t say it didn’t but…I want that kind of control, Maes. You wouldn’t understand and I do think you meant it the other way, just a little.” Roy’s eyes narrowed. “I think you’re jealous.”

“I’m not!” Maes glowered at him.

“You’re sure acting like it. You look like you’re sucking lemons every time you see me,” Roy argued, thinking he might be onto something.

“Because I’m afraid he’s going to coax you to try something you’re not ready to.” Maes shot back, gesturing at the alembic array. “You two are inseparable.”

“Do you see him here now?”

“God, this is a moronic conversation.” Maes threw up his hands. “We’re fighting like a couple of-”

“Pissed off lovers?” Roy supplied, feeling some of his anger dissipating when he saw Maes was just as frustrated as he was.

Maes eyed him sourly. “I suppose that fits. Don’t you get it? I miss you. I miss having you in the room, even if you make me nuts with the constant studying and being so damn serious. I miss hearing you breathe at night,” he said softly, running his fingers through Roy’s bangs. “I miss being us.”

Bottom lip trembling, Roy leaned into Maes’ touch. “So do I. Kimbley’s no replacement for you, Maes. He’s just someone I can talk alchemy with.”

“I know.” Maes pulled Roy into a rough, needy kiss, teeth clashing, tongues fighting. When he let Roy go, he added, “And I guess I was a little jealous.”

“I know. It’s a little annoying and strangely quite hot, too.” Roy smiled and Maes kissed him hard again. Roy moaned a little against his lips. “Keep doing that and there’ll be a problem.”

Maes sat Roy down on the stool the boy had been perching on to study his array. “No problem.” Maes got on his knees, hidden from sight in the knee-hole of the chemistry table.

“What are you doing?”

“It’s two in the morning. Who’s going to catch us, Roy?” Maes grinned wickedly. “Besides Kimbley might have taken someone back to your place.”

Roy wrinkled his nose at the thought but was distracted as Maes ran a hand over his crotch. “If you’re sure.”

In answer, Maes unzipped him and quickly left Roy panting, using the lab table for support. Once Roy had spilled, Maes got to his feet, pulling Roy against his chest. He dropped a kiss on Roy’s crown. “We’ll have to get more creative to be together. The lab’s okay for this but I’m a little nervous to have too much bare flesh near chemicals.”

Roy laughed, leaning against Maes. “Understood. Guess it’ll be my turn to surprise you.” He smiled up at Maes.

The taller teen kissed his lover then took a step toward the door. “I’d better sneak back now. Knowing my new idiot roommate, he’ll report me for being out, even if it is our free night.”

“Go on, I want to work a little more on this.” Roy gestured to his alchemic array.

Maes shook his head. “You won’t get there in one night, my friend.”

“No, but I’ll get there.” Roy grinned.

“No doubt of it, buddy.” Maes patted Roy’s back.

Roy watched Maes go, feeling almost content for the first time in a week. He turned back to his array, thinking everything would be all right. It would be difficult to be together but sometimes the best things in life needed hard work to achieve them.