Fic - Needs Answered (series finale)
Jul. 30th, 2008 10:58 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
cornerofmadnessNeeds Answered
A Boys Blue story #30
![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
cornerofmadness (and mjules)
Disclaimer – So not mine, all right belong to Hiromu Arakawa et al, no profit made, just a lot of fun to be had
Rating – R for graphic violence and sexual situations
Pairing – Roy/Maes (mentions of Roy/Riza and Maes/Gracia)
Time Line –pre-series, manga based, this one is set after they leave Ishbal and after Roy and Hughes have been split up and sent to their current assignments.
Summary – Roy thinks Maes has invited him and Riza to Central for fun. Hughes has other plans.
Prompt – #22 cradle
Author’s note #1 – Sadly much of the plot of this came from real criminal cases. Thanks toevil_little_dog and mjules for the beta
Author’s Note #2 - This is the last of the![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
30kisses series. Thank you to everyone who’s been reading and feedbacking all along. You’ve made it worth the undertaking. Mjules and I appreciate your input over the last two years (yes, it took that long!). The series spans from their Academy days, through Ishbal and into their post-war lives. If you want to reread the series or found you’ve missed one, check out the link and enjoy. here you go All the Boys Blues
And a youth said, “Speak to us of Friendship.”
Your friend is your needs answered…..
For you come to him with your hunger, and you seek him for peace. – Khalil Gibran
XXX
Roy lounged on his chair in the coffee house, eyeing the little blonde bringing his coffee. He favored her with his best smile as she set the mug down. Riza was busy reporting to Colonel Hemmings to log their arrival, not that she didn’t know how Roy operated. Some harmless flirting and he’d have another contact for his collection.
Besides, he was feeling flirty, like he couldn’t stop smiling. Roy was finally getting to see Maes for the first time in months. Gracia and Riza would let them have their time to themselves and better yet, would join in later. Roy shifted on the chair, his pants feeling snug at the thought.
“Hey, buddy!” A companionable hand fell on Roy’s shoulder. Maes swung into the chair opposite him with a broad smile on his face. “You didn’t tan.” A pout kissed his lips. “I would have thought being out East, you’d get some sun.”
“I never get out of the office,” Roy grumbled, his chin thumping down on his propped up fist. “Hawkeye is a taskmaster.”
“As if you don’t like it.” Maes chuckled, tossing a large envelope on the table.
“What’s that?” Roy ignored Maes’ salacious suggestion.
“Wedding photos,” Maes replied brightly.
Roy’s shoulders sagged. “I’ve already seen gobs of photos. How many photographers did you hire? You sent me a bundle. I think my sister sent me fewer pictures of my niece.”
“I took these myself. “Maes’ eyebrows waggled. “There are some from us on honeymoon.”
“Hell, there aren’t ones of the honeymoon, are there?”
“None you’ll ever see.” Maes favored him with a smarmy smile. “You need to see my favorite one of you. You were so drunk.”
“I was celebrating my best friend’s marriage,” Roy huffed, thinking that it was true. He had celebrated and only felt a little sad at their changed lives. It helped knowing how happy Maes was.
“Do you remember it?” Maes smirked.
“Just assure me my clothes remained on and I didn’t try to tuck the money down the bridge’s cleavage during the bridal dance.” Roy blushed, hiding the best he could behind a coffee mug.
Maes snorted. “Did you wake up with a black eye?”
“No.”
“Then you didn’t touch Gracia’s boobs in public.” Maes’ lips pulled into a knife’s edge smile and Roy chuckled, reaching for the photos.
“You didn’t ask me back to Central for this, Maes.” Roy flipped through the photos.
“Of course I did,” Maes said lightly but Roy saw the grimness in Maes’ eyes.
Something was seriously wrong. Roy also knew his friend didn’t want to talk about it in public. They needed to make this look legitimate in case someone was watching Hughes. He pulled out a photo of himself drinking directly from the wine fountain. The way his shirt was hanging, Roy knew it had to be completely opened. “No wonder Riza was angry with me for weeks. Thank you for capturing my most embarrassing moments for posterity.”
“What are friends for?” Maes pointed to Roy’s coffee. “About done?”
Roy took a final swallow, knowing he was being hurried along. “Done.”
Maes bundled up his precious photos and led the way out the door. Roy left the blonde waitress a big tip before following his friend. Roy expected Maes to go toward his home or the park or even his office but this route didn’t seem too familiar. Maybe he didn’t know Central as well as he’d liked.
“Maes, where are we going?”
“The morgue.”
Roy glanced over at him, startled. Had he heard that right? “What?” He caught Maes’ elbow, hauling him to a stop. “What’s going on, Maes?”
Maes shook loose and started walking again. “Do you know General Morgan?”
“I’ve heard of him, why?”
“His daughter died in a fire two nights ago. Her boyfriend said the fire started when they were asleep and that they got separated in the smoke as they tried to get out. Morgan thinks the man killed her. I’m in charge of the investigation and I told him I’d get someone who knew more about burning deaths than anyone I knew,” Maes said very matter-of-factly. If he knew that statement might hurt Roy just a little, it didn’t show.
Roy sucked in a deep breath, trying to forget why he knew so much about burning deaths. “You want me to look at a dead body?”
Maes just shot him a look and Roy saw all the nice romantic ideas he had for this weekend crumbling away. Maes wanted him here for business. Roy had known before heading to Central that but he hadn’t imagined dead bodies. Why, he wasn’t sure. He knew what Maes did in Investigations. He was hoping Maes had a little time off or had an investigation near a lake, one that would require little clothing to be worn.
Roy tried not to wrinkle his nose as he followed Maes into the morgue. Yes, he was very well acquainted with the smell of death. Too much so. He could go the rest of his career without ever smelling it again, as unlikely as that was. The place was cold and he had to stand too close to shelves that he really didn’t want to be close to in the autopsy room. Hell knew what had been on them. He got a reprieve from that position almost immediately as the doctor called him over. Maes introduced him as Dr. Knox and Roy remembered a time the man worked on the living. So this is what the heat of the desert had warped him into.
“Have a closer look, Colonel. You can’t see anything back there. If I wanted you to do that, I’d have sent you snap shots. See here.” Knox pointed into Maribel Morgan’s mouth.
Roy peered past him, frowning. “There’s very little soot. If she were alive and trying to escape a fire, there would be a lot more.” He willed to death the part of his mind that visualized things as it offered up views of Ishbal.
Knox nodded. “That’s what I thought. That’s why I had Hughes get you here. I wanted an expert. I’m sure he’s told you her father is a very important man.”
Roy could almost see the eye roll with those words. “And here, her upper body is almost untouched but her legs are burned. The fire seemed to concentrate here.” Roy pointed to her groin and Knox nodded toward a box on those cold, foreboding shelves.
Hughes brought it over and Roy leaned closer, seeing it was the remains of her charred clothing. He took a deep whiff. “Yeah, accelerants,” he said, trying to ignore that slick greasy feel he associated with his own alchemy, that sickly sweet smell not unlike roasting pork. “The General was right to think about something other than an accident.”
“I’ll take you to the scene next,” Maes said, his cold professional demeanor intact.
“I’m going to crack open her chest and have a look at her lungs just to be sure. I’d like you to stay for just a little while longer,” Knox said, studying Mustang from behind his thick glasses. “Just to have another opinion to give the General.”
Roy and Maes waited back near the shelving as Knox and his assistant cut through the girl’s ribs with what looked like pruning shears. Knox wrestled free one lung then beckoned Roy back over. Clean, pink-grey, no signs of searing or soot. Roy assured Knox that he agreed with him; Maribel Morgan was dead before the fire started.
Once back outside, Roy took several greedy breaths of fresh air, trying to expel the stench of burnt, decomposing flesh from his lungs but it was everywhere. In his hair, his clothing and Roy felt a fine sweat cover his skin as bad memories swamped him.
Maes’ hand lightly brushed across Roy’s shoulders. “Sorry, buddy, I know that’s rough.”
Roy tried to shake it off. “I’m used to it.”
“No one gets used to that,” Maes countered without recrimination and Roy managed a hint of a smile.
They went to Miss Morgan’s burnt out home with very few words passing between them. It almost surprised Roy that Maes didn’t try to draw him out of his funk. He wondered if that meant there was an even deeper hole for him to fall in waiting around the corner and Maes would be there then to give him a needed hand up.
Picking his way over charred debris, Maes pointed to the blackened stove. “He said the fire started here.”
Ignoring the return-to-Ishbal scent, Roy concentrated on what the fire was telling him. He had learned as much as he could about fire long before reading the array off Riza’s back. He knew how fire moved, how it worked. He had wanted to do things just like this with his alchemy. Put out fires, help learn the causes, catch arsonists, not to mention the sheer power of controlling fire. It had been all so alluring when he was young. Roy paused in his scrutiny as he caught sight of Maes’ face. He knew Maes’ had lost his family in a fire like this and when this was all over, he’d need as much comforting as Roy did. “Something’s wrong here.”
“What?” Maes’ tone suggested he had thought so himself but didn’t quite know why.
“Where the fire starts is usually where it burns the longest and the hottest. It causes lizard skinning of the wood, giving it a scaly appearance.” Roy gestured to the wall behind the stove. “But I’m not seeing it here. Show me more. Where did you find her?”
“This way, living room. He said she almost made it out, that she was right behind him.” Maes’ mobile lips twitched. “Knox has already more or less put the lie to that.”
Roy looked around the room then pointed. “There.”
“Yes.”
Roy waved a hand up the wall where metal bits showed where the couch had once been. “See the walls? This is where the fire burned hottest. It started here on the couch.”
“Are you sure?”
“As sure as I can be.” Roy rolled his shoulders, working out a kink. “You can show me the rest of the place.”
Maes did and Roy found nothing that changed his mind. He was happy for the escape back out into the street and for the quiet walk back to Maes’ office. “Are you okay?” he asked.
“Hmm?” Maes shrugged. “Fine.”
“When you’re monosyllabic, you’re not fine.” Roy snorted. “I know how hard this has to be on you.”
“On us both. We’ll survive.” Maes smiled.
“We always do.”
X X X
Roy stretched out on Hughes’ couch, having accepted Gracia’s offer of a nice hot lunch after his morning with Maes. She and Riza had then disappeared into town to do those mysterious things women did when they were alone, assuring him that they wouldn’t be back until dinner. In fact, if he and Maes could be so kind to meet them at The Rustic Inn for dinner, they’d be thrilled. Roy was fine with that and had settled in for some relaxation, listening to symphonic music on Maes’ phonograph. Upon threat of pain, Riza convinced Roy to bring fun things to read, not alchemy books. Roy was lost in two of his loves and didn’t even hear the front door opening. Hughes flopped in a chair across from him, nearly sending Roy out of his skin.
“Damn it, Hughes!”
“You never change. You get into your books and you’re oblivious to the world.” Hughes’ grin irritated Roy.
“And you always find a way to scare the hell out of me when I do!” Roy slipped the leather bookmark between the pages. “How did it go?”
“Knox called me back in. He took some X-rays and found multiple fractures. He ruled it a death by blunt force trauma. We brought in Lieutenant Piketon. It didn’t take him long to start bawling. Claims it was an accident and he panicked,” Hughes replied, his tone flat and tired.
“Isn’t that what they always say?” Roy asked and Hughes snorted. “Did he say why he set her privates on fire?”
“He caught her cheating.”
“Figured.” Roy heaved a sigh. “We’re so lucky our lady loves are understanding.”
“Speaking of which, where are they?”
“Out, we’re meeting them for dinner later.” Roy swung off the couch, nearly took out a knee on the coffee table in his haste, then feathered a kiss over Maes’ lips. “We have a lot of time to ourselves. This has been an all around hard day for us.” Roy didn’t say ‘emotional.’ It was understood and it wouldn’t have been manly. “I know how to make it better.”
Maes chuckled, accepting Roy’s hand up. “I just bet you do.”
X X X
There were few things that could make Roy feel safe; his assurance in his alchemy, Riza at his back, Maes being there to pick him up when he fell. Roy knew he nearly fell today. It would have been easy to have come back to Hughes’ place and drain whatever alcohol he had around down to the last drop. But Maes had every reason to be as torn up about a fire death as he had and his friend remained strong. Roy knew he wasn’t like Maes. His strengths were different, complimentary.
There was one more thing that made Roy feel safe but he would never admit it out loud; being cradled in Maes’ arms like he was now. Maes was drowsing, his long nose warming Roy’s neck. Roy still tingled all over, the memory of Maes being deep within him fresh. Roy shifted slightly, kissing Maes’ biceps.
Maes stirred, his arms tightening around Roy. “Do we have to get up yet?”
“I’m afraid so. We don’t want to be late to dinner or those understanding ladies might kill us.” Roy turned, hooking his leg over Maes,’ his penis nestled against Maes’ wiry hair. “I wouldn’t want to explain why we were late.”
“I’ll tell them I was comforting an old friend.” Maes grinned, squinting near-sightedly at Roy.
“They’re smarter than that.” Roy stole a greedy kiss.
“True.”
Roy captured a few more kisses then things got out of hand, or into hand, Roy thought ironically. Later, they took turns flying through showers and stripping and remaking the bed. Roy promised to drive Maes’ car, knowing he could get them there on time. Maes said he valued his life too much. They were still arguing about it when a military car pulled up and a lieutenant spilled out of the driver’s side. He snapped a salute to the two officers.
“Major Hughes.” The young man looked at Roy as if he should know him but couldn’t place him since Roy was in a suit and not a uniform.
“Yes?” Hughes asked patiently.
“General Morgan wishes to speak to you,” the lieutenant said, moving to open the door but General Morgan didn’t wait.
Morgan’s tight iron-grey crew cut seemed to have bled its monochromatic hue down into the man’s face. Sorrow etched the wrinkles around his eyes deeper. “Major Hughes.” The man’s hard blue eyes flicked toward Roy, “And you’re the Flame Alchemist, are you not?”
“Yes, I am, sir. I’m sorry for your loss,” Roy said and Hughes echoed it.
Morgan swallowed hard. “Thank you. Both of you, for bringing this to an end so quickly. I knew this was no accident. I’m thankful for your foresight in bringing in such an expert, Hughes.”
“You’re welcome, sir. Flame and I have been friends since the Academy. I knew he’d be invaluable,” Maes replied smoothly when all Roy could think of was, ‘Hell, I’m so glad we showered and aren’t stinking like sex in front of the General.’
“I’m glad I was helpful,” Roy said. “And again, I’m sorry it’s under such conditions.”
Morgan managed a tight smile. “Yes. Thank you both. This won’t be forgotten. I won’t keep you. You’re obviously on your way somewhere and I need to get back to my wife.”
“Give her our condolences, sir,” Roy said.
They watched him go then Hughes snatched the keys back from Roy. “At least we can tell the ladies the general made us late.”
Roy laughed. “I’m thinking they’ll sense how bad this day has been, they’ll want to comfort our brains out.”
“Is that what you’re calling it now?” With a chuckle, Maes slid behind the wheel. “But you’re right. See, you can be an optimist when you try.”
Roy got into the car just shaking his head. He was no optimist. He needed Maes for that, usually he was so overflowing with optimism Roy could just sponge off him for that little boost. Still, he knew he was a lucky man. He had wonderful people who loved him. He had his goals and his best friend to make sure he achieved them. Roy settled back against the leather of the seat, allowing himself this happiness.
A Boys Blue story #30
cornerofmadness (and mjules)Disclaimer – So not mine, all right belong to Hiromu Arakawa et al, no profit made, just a lot of fun to be had
Rating – R for graphic violence and sexual situations
Pairing – Roy/Maes (mentions of Roy/Riza and Maes/Gracia)
Time Line –pre-series, manga based, this one is set after they leave Ishbal and after Roy and Hughes have been split up and sent to their current assignments.
Summary – Roy thinks Maes has invited him and Riza to Central for fun. Hughes has other plans.
Prompt – #22 cradle
Author’s note #1 – Sadly much of the plot of this came from real criminal cases. Thanks to
evil_little_dog and mjules for the betaAuthor’s Note #2 - This is the last of the
30kisses series. Thank you to everyone who’s been reading and feedbacking all along. You’ve made it worth the undertaking. Mjules and I appreciate your input over the last two years (yes, it took that long!). The series spans from their Academy days, through Ishbal and into their post-war lives. If you want to reread the series or found you’ve missed one, check out the link and enjoy. here you go All the Boys Blues And a youth said, “Speak to us of Friendship.”
Your friend is your needs answered…..
For you come to him with your hunger, and you seek him for peace. – Khalil Gibran
XXX
Roy lounged on his chair in the coffee house, eyeing the little blonde bringing his coffee. He favored her with his best smile as she set the mug down. Riza was busy reporting to Colonel Hemmings to log their arrival, not that she didn’t know how Roy operated. Some harmless flirting and he’d have another contact for his collection.
Besides, he was feeling flirty, like he couldn’t stop smiling. Roy was finally getting to see Maes for the first time in months. Gracia and Riza would let them have their time to themselves and better yet, would join in later. Roy shifted on the chair, his pants feeling snug at the thought.
“Hey, buddy!” A companionable hand fell on Roy’s shoulder. Maes swung into the chair opposite him with a broad smile on his face. “You didn’t tan.” A pout kissed his lips. “I would have thought being out East, you’d get some sun.”
“I never get out of the office,” Roy grumbled, his chin thumping down on his propped up fist. “Hawkeye is a taskmaster.”
“As if you don’t like it.” Maes chuckled, tossing a large envelope on the table.
“What’s that?” Roy ignored Maes’ salacious suggestion.
“Wedding photos,” Maes replied brightly.
Roy’s shoulders sagged. “I’ve already seen gobs of photos. How many photographers did you hire? You sent me a bundle. I think my sister sent me fewer pictures of my niece.”
“I took these myself. “Maes’ eyebrows waggled. “There are some from us on honeymoon.”
“Hell, there aren’t ones of the honeymoon, are there?”
“None you’ll ever see.” Maes favored him with a smarmy smile. “You need to see my favorite one of you. You were so drunk.”
“I was celebrating my best friend’s marriage,” Roy huffed, thinking that it was true. He had celebrated and only felt a little sad at their changed lives. It helped knowing how happy Maes was.
“Do you remember it?” Maes smirked.
“Just assure me my clothes remained on and I didn’t try to tuck the money down the bridge’s cleavage during the bridal dance.” Roy blushed, hiding the best he could behind a coffee mug.
Maes snorted. “Did you wake up with a black eye?”
“No.”
“Then you didn’t touch Gracia’s boobs in public.” Maes’ lips pulled into a knife’s edge smile and Roy chuckled, reaching for the photos.
“You didn’t ask me back to Central for this, Maes.” Roy flipped through the photos.
“Of course I did,” Maes said lightly but Roy saw the grimness in Maes’ eyes.
Something was seriously wrong. Roy also knew his friend didn’t want to talk about it in public. They needed to make this look legitimate in case someone was watching Hughes. He pulled out a photo of himself drinking directly from the wine fountain. The way his shirt was hanging, Roy knew it had to be completely opened. “No wonder Riza was angry with me for weeks. Thank you for capturing my most embarrassing moments for posterity.”
“What are friends for?” Maes pointed to Roy’s coffee. “About done?”
Roy took a final swallow, knowing he was being hurried along. “Done.”
Maes bundled up his precious photos and led the way out the door. Roy left the blonde waitress a big tip before following his friend. Roy expected Maes to go toward his home or the park or even his office but this route didn’t seem too familiar. Maybe he didn’t know Central as well as he’d liked.
“Maes, where are we going?”
“The morgue.”
Roy glanced over at him, startled. Had he heard that right? “What?” He caught Maes’ elbow, hauling him to a stop. “What’s going on, Maes?”
Maes shook loose and started walking again. “Do you know General Morgan?”
“I’ve heard of him, why?”
“His daughter died in a fire two nights ago. Her boyfriend said the fire started when they were asleep and that they got separated in the smoke as they tried to get out. Morgan thinks the man killed her. I’m in charge of the investigation and I told him I’d get someone who knew more about burning deaths than anyone I knew,” Maes said very matter-of-factly. If he knew that statement might hurt Roy just a little, it didn’t show.
Roy sucked in a deep breath, trying to forget why he knew so much about burning deaths. “You want me to look at a dead body?”
Maes just shot him a look and Roy saw all the nice romantic ideas he had for this weekend crumbling away. Maes wanted him here for business. Roy had known before heading to Central that but he hadn’t imagined dead bodies. Why, he wasn’t sure. He knew what Maes did in Investigations. He was hoping Maes had a little time off or had an investigation near a lake, one that would require little clothing to be worn.
Roy tried not to wrinkle his nose as he followed Maes into the morgue. Yes, he was very well acquainted with the smell of death. Too much so. He could go the rest of his career without ever smelling it again, as unlikely as that was. The place was cold and he had to stand too close to shelves that he really didn’t want to be close to in the autopsy room. Hell knew what had been on them. He got a reprieve from that position almost immediately as the doctor called him over. Maes introduced him as Dr. Knox and Roy remembered a time the man worked on the living. So this is what the heat of the desert had warped him into.
“Have a closer look, Colonel. You can’t see anything back there. If I wanted you to do that, I’d have sent you snap shots. See here.” Knox pointed into Maribel Morgan’s mouth.
Roy peered past him, frowning. “There’s very little soot. If she were alive and trying to escape a fire, there would be a lot more.” He willed to death the part of his mind that visualized things as it offered up views of Ishbal.
Knox nodded. “That’s what I thought. That’s why I had Hughes get you here. I wanted an expert. I’m sure he’s told you her father is a very important man.”
Roy could almost see the eye roll with those words. “And here, her upper body is almost untouched but her legs are burned. The fire seemed to concentrate here.” Roy pointed to her groin and Knox nodded toward a box on those cold, foreboding shelves.
Hughes brought it over and Roy leaned closer, seeing it was the remains of her charred clothing. He took a deep whiff. “Yeah, accelerants,” he said, trying to ignore that slick greasy feel he associated with his own alchemy, that sickly sweet smell not unlike roasting pork. “The General was right to think about something other than an accident.”
“I’ll take you to the scene next,” Maes said, his cold professional demeanor intact.
“I’m going to crack open her chest and have a look at her lungs just to be sure. I’d like you to stay for just a little while longer,” Knox said, studying Mustang from behind his thick glasses. “Just to have another opinion to give the General.”
Roy and Maes waited back near the shelving as Knox and his assistant cut through the girl’s ribs with what looked like pruning shears. Knox wrestled free one lung then beckoned Roy back over. Clean, pink-grey, no signs of searing or soot. Roy assured Knox that he agreed with him; Maribel Morgan was dead before the fire started.
Once back outside, Roy took several greedy breaths of fresh air, trying to expel the stench of burnt, decomposing flesh from his lungs but it was everywhere. In his hair, his clothing and Roy felt a fine sweat cover his skin as bad memories swamped him.
Maes’ hand lightly brushed across Roy’s shoulders. “Sorry, buddy, I know that’s rough.”
Roy tried to shake it off. “I’m used to it.”
“No one gets used to that,” Maes countered without recrimination and Roy managed a hint of a smile.
They went to Miss Morgan’s burnt out home with very few words passing between them. It almost surprised Roy that Maes didn’t try to draw him out of his funk. He wondered if that meant there was an even deeper hole for him to fall in waiting around the corner and Maes would be there then to give him a needed hand up.
Picking his way over charred debris, Maes pointed to the blackened stove. “He said the fire started here.”
Ignoring the return-to-Ishbal scent, Roy concentrated on what the fire was telling him. He had learned as much as he could about fire long before reading the array off Riza’s back. He knew how fire moved, how it worked. He had wanted to do things just like this with his alchemy. Put out fires, help learn the causes, catch arsonists, not to mention the sheer power of controlling fire. It had been all so alluring when he was young. Roy paused in his scrutiny as he caught sight of Maes’ face. He knew Maes’ had lost his family in a fire like this and when this was all over, he’d need as much comforting as Roy did. “Something’s wrong here.”
“What?” Maes’ tone suggested he had thought so himself but didn’t quite know why.
“Where the fire starts is usually where it burns the longest and the hottest. It causes lizard skinning of the wood, giving it a scaly appearance.” Roy gestured to the wall behind the stove. “But I’m not seeing it here. Show me more. Where did you find her?”
“This way, living room. He said she almost made it out, that she was right behind him.” Maes’ mobile lips twitched. “Knox has already more or less put the lie to that.”
Roy looked around the room then pointed. “There.”
“Yes.”
Roy waved a hand up the wall where metal bits showed where the couch had once been. “See the walls? This is where the fire burned hottest. It started here on the couch.”
“Are you sure?”
“As sure as I can be.” Roy rolled his shoulders, working out a kink. “You can show me the rest of the place.”
Maes did and Roy found nothing that changed his mind. He was happy for the escape back out into the street and for the quiet walk back to Maes’ office. “Are you okay?” he asked.
“Hmm?” Maes shrugged. “Fine.”
“When you’re monosyllabic, you’re not fine.” Roy snorted. “I know how hard this has to be on you.”
“On us both. We’ll survive.” Maes smiled.
“We always do.”
X X X
Roy stretched out on Hughes’ couch, having accepted Gracia’s offer of a nice hot lunch after his morning with Maes. She and Riza had then disappeared into town to do those mysterious things women did when they were alone, assuring him that they wouldn’t be back until dinner. In fact, if he and Maes could be so kind to meet them at The Rustic Inn for dinner, they’d be thrilled. Roy was fine with that and had settled in for some relaxation, listening to symphonic music on Maes’ phonograph. Upon threat of pain, Riza convinced Roy to bring fun things to read, not alchemy books. Roy was lost in two of his loves and didn’t even hear the front door opening. Hughes flopped in a chair across from him, nearly sending Roy out of his skin.
“Damn it, Hughes!”
“You never change. You get into your books and you’re oblivious to the world.” Hughes’ grin irritated Roy.
“And you always find a way to scare the hell out of me when I do!” Roy slipped the leather bookmark between the pages. “How did it go?”
“Knox called me back in. He took some X-rays and found multiple fractures. He ruled it a death by blunt force trauma. We brought in Lieutenant Piketon. It didn’t take him long to start bawling. Claims it was an accident and he panicked,” Hughes replied, his tone flat and tired.
“Isn’t that what they always say?” Roy asked and Hughes snorted. “Did he say why he set her privates on fire?”
“He caught her cheating.”
“Figured.” Roy heaved a sigh. “We’re so lucky our lady loves are understanding.”
“Speaking of which, where are they?”
“Out, we’re meeting them for dinner later.” Roy swung off the couch, nearly took out a knee on the coffee table in his haste, then feathered a kiss over Maes’ lips. “We have a lot of time to ourselves. This has been an all around hard day for us.” Roy didn’t say ‘emotional.’ It was understood and it wouldn’t have been manly. “I know how to make it better.”
Maes chuckled, accepting Roy’s hand up. “I just bet you do.”
X X X
There were few things that could make Roy feel safe; his assurance in his alchemy, Riza at his back, Maes being there to pick him up when he fell. Roy knew he nearly fell today. It would have been easy to have come back to Hughes’ place and drain whatever alcohol he had around down to the last drop. But Maes had every reason to be as torn up about a fire death as he had and his friend remained strong. Roy knew he wasn’t like Maes. His strengths were different, complimentary.
There was one more thing that made Roy feel safe but he would never admit it out loud; being cradled in Maes’ arms like he was now. Maes was drowsing, his long nose warming Roy’s neck. Roy still tingled all over, the memory of Maes being deep within him fresh. Roy shifted slightly, kissing Maes’ biceps.
Maes stirred, his arms tightening around Roy. “Do we have to get up yet?”
“I’m afraid so. We don’t want to be late to dinner or those understanding ladies might kill us.” Roy turned, hooking his leg over Maes,’ his penis nestled against Maes’ wiry hair. “I wouldn’t want to explain why we were late.”
“I’ll tell them I was comforting an old friend.” Maes grinned, squinting near-sightedly at Roy.
“They’re smarter than that.” Roy stole a greedy kiss.
“True.”
Roy captured a few more kisses then things got out of hand, or into hand, Roy thought ironically. Later, they took turns flying through showers and stripping and remaking the bed. Roy promised to drive Maes’ car, knowing he could get them there on time. Maes said he valued his life too much. They were still arguing about it when a military car pulled up and a lieutenant spilled out of the driver’s side. He snapped a salute to the two officers.
“Major Hughes.” The young man looked at Roy as if he should know him but couldn’t place him since Roy was in a suit and not a uniform.
“Yes?” Hughes asked patiently.
“General Morgan wishes to speak to you,” the lieutenant said, moving to open the door but General Morgan didn’t wait.
Morgan’s tight iron-grey crew cut seemed to have bled its monochromatic hue down into the man’s face. Sorrow etched the wrinkles around his eyes deeper. “Major Hughes.” The man’s hard blue eyes flicked toward Roy, “And you’re the Flame Alchemist, are you not?”
“Yes, I am, sir. I’m sorry for your loss,” Roy said and Hughes echoed it.
Morgan swallowed hard. “Thank you. Both of you, for bringing this to an end so quickly. I knew this was no accident. I’m thankful for your foresight in bringing in such an expert, Hughes.”
“You’re welcome, sir. Flame and I have been friends since the Academy. I knew he’d be invaluable,” Maes replied smoothly when all Roy could think of was, ‘Hell, I’m so glad we showered and aren’t stinking like sex in front of the General.’
“I’m glad I was helpful,” Roy said. “And again, I’m sorry it’s under such conditions.”
Morgan managed a tight smile. “Yes. Thank you both. This won’t be forgotten. I won’t keep you. You’re obviously on your way somewhere and I need to get back to my wife.”
“Give her our condolences, sir,” Roy said.
They watched him go then Hughes snatched the keys back from Roy. “At least we can tell the ladies the general made us late.”
Roy laughed. “I’m thinking they’ll sense how bad this day has been, they’ll want to comfort our brains out.”
“Is that what you’re calling it now?” With a chuckle, Maes slid behind the wheel. “But you’re right. See, you can be an optimist when you try.”
Roy got into the car just shaking his head. He was no optimist. He needed Maes for that, usually he was so overflowing with optimism Roy could just sponge off him for that little boost. Still, he knew he was a lucky man. He had wonderful people who loved him. He had his goals and his best friend to make sure he achieved them. Roy settled back against the leather of the seat, allowing himself this happiness.
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Date: 2008-07-31 03:16 am (UTC)Typo: There was one more thing that made Roy feel safe but he would never admit it out loud; being cradled in Maes’ arms like his was now.
no subject
Date: 2008-07-31 03:45 am (UTC)got it
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Date: 2008-07-31 11:48 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-07-31 02:16 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-08-01 12:13 am (UTC)