Fic- Bitter Trials Ch 2
Sep. 28th, 2008 09:42 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
cornerofmadnessBitter Trials
cornerofmadness
Disclaimer - not mine, all characters belong to Hiromu Arakawa et al, Square Enix and funimition. I don’t make a profit
Rating – All chapter are R rated for mature content except ch 4 which will be NC-17
Pairing - Maes/Roy, Roy/Riza, Maes/Riza/Roy, implied Maes/Gracia
Time Line - Ishbal, manga-verse (with hints of anime)
Summary – The Soldiers are not fitting back into civilian life after the war and their relationships with each other have crumbled.
Author’s Note – written for Kink_bingo for a simultaneous line bingo using hand fetish and double penetration. It’s fifth in the series but you don’t need to read the others. All you need to know is that during the war Roy was having a relationship with both Riza and Maes and when she found out about it, Riza didn’t react well. This takes place soon after they get home. If you want to read the others you can find
the Uncharted Series here (note, Delicate Entanglements needs Retconned)
Author’s Note 2 – As noted above, the bulk of the story will not contain erotica but the last chapter will (a non-erotica version will get posted to FFN). This story is DONE. I’m just tweaking the chapters a little so if you’re the sort who likes to wait for the whole story to go it, it won’t be a long wait.
Chapter One
What seems to us as bitter trials are often blessings in disguise – Oscar Wilde
Chapter Two
Gracia hadn’t expected Maes to say anything like the words coming out of his mouth. At first, she just couldn’t understand them, as if her boyfriend had learned some ancient tongue in the desert. Her meticulously prepared meal had gone to ash in her mouth. The thought of the candies she had brought home from work for dessert made her stomach flip. Why did he choose now to say these things? She might never be able to look at food again.
Getting up from the table, she walked away from him. Her strength left her when she hit the living room. Lucky thing or she might have made it all the way to the street and who knew what would have happened then. Gracia collapsed on the couch.
“Gracia?” Maes called from the doorway.
“You cheated on me,” she said flatly.
“It wasn’t...” Maes came into the room and would have sat next to her but a glare stopped him dead.
“I thought Roy was your best friend,” she interrupted his rationalization.
“He is,” Maes said, his shoulders slumping. He moved to the fireplace, resting against it.
“I didn’t realize that meant you had sex together,” she snarled and Maes winced.
“Gracia, it wasn’t anything we had planned.” Maes seemed ready to fall limp at her feet if not for the mantle he leaned on.
“Is that supposed to make me feel better?” Gracia propelled herself up and stalked over to him. “You cheated on me with another man , Maes. How do you think that makes me feel?” She wanted to hit him, to make him hurt like she did.
“I’m sorry, Gracia.” Maes reached for her.
She batted his hand away. “Why? Was it that place? Were you that lonely?”
“It wasn’t like that.” Maes shook his head, almost seeming angry with her. “It wasn’t some cheap...”
“Then what?” Gracia demanded, shoving at him.
Maes turned from her, taking a few paces away before whirling back. “I’m in love with him,” he said, his eyes meeting hers.
Gracia fell back, unable to speak. She felt as cold and pale as the marble mantle. She was as insubstantial as fog. “What? I don’t understand. You were supposed to love me and he was in love with...what did you say her name was? Hawkeye?”
“He is in love with her and I do love you, but I also love him,” Mae said, looking utterly weary. She would have pitied him if she wasn’t so frightened and angry.
“This doesn’t make any sense, Maes,” Gracia said, too worn to be loud. Her voice rasped like sand paper. “How am I supposed to feel? What would Hawkeye think if she knew?”
“She knows,” Maes said simply.
“Oh.” Gracia reared back as if slapped. She couldn’t take any more. Going back to the couch, Gracia sat down hard. “I see. Well, it’s good that she knows.” What a stupid thing to say! What could she say that wouldn’t sound inane?
“Gracia, I...”
“Get out, Maes,” she said softly.
His larynx bobbed as he swallowed hard. “What?”
“Get out. I don’t want to see you,” she added more strongly, her fingers digging into the couch.
“You’ll call me when you’re ready to talk,” he added hopefully.
She twisted on the couch to face him fully. “I won’t call, Maes. I’m not going to see you again.”
His eyes glistened. “But Gracia...”
“Out!” She pointed to the door.
To his credit, Maes didn’t fight with her. He moved past her, tears in his eyes. She couldn’t let them sway her. She didn’t know how to handle this. Gracia lost track of time as she sat there after the front door shut. Finally, she staggered up numbly and went to the kitchen. Dinner was cold on the table and the candles had guttered.
Gracia grabbed the ends of the table cloth, folding up all four corners into a nice handle which she used to slam the contents into the wall a few times, cracking the plaster. She let the tablecloth filled with broken glass and shattered china fall to the floor. Walking like one already dead up the steps of her townhouse, Gracia drew a bath hotter than she could usually stand. She scrubbed her skin red then finally dissolved into tears as it all caught up to her.
X X X
Roy rubbed the sleep from his eyes as he stumbled into the Winking Lizard. The bartender glared at him as if he were somehow to blame for this.
“Usually I’m calling him to haul your drunk ass out of here. Guess it’s your turn.” The bartender jerked a thumb at Maes who swayed on a bar stool, gazing unfocused at his whiskey glass.
Roy snorted at the bartender and went over to Maes who reeked of the hard liquor he had been guzzling. “What’s wrong, Maes?”
“Get away.” Maes pushed at him and fell off his stool.
Roy caught him before Maes could hit the sticky floor. He staggered back against Maes’ weight. “Damn, you’re heavy, Maes.”
“She left me,” Maes said, slurring so badly Roy could barely make out his words. Maes tried to go for the door and nearly fell again, lurching against Roy.
Roy staggered, dragging Maes along. “What?”
“Ish told her ‘bout ush.” Maes careened off a table then finally made the doorway.
“Oh, damn. Hush up about that now,” Roy said, thankful he had a cab waiting. He poured Maes into it. Luckily, Maes broke into tears, embarrassing but at least he wasn’t about to tell the world he and Roy were lovers. Finally, he passed out on Roy’s shoulder, drooling down his neck. When they arrived at Maes’ apartment, Roy shook Maes until he came around.
“Wha?” Maes pushed at Roy.
“We’re home. Get out of the car.”
Roy had to get out of the cab and drag Maes out. He paid the fare and tried to get Maes into his apartment. He was practically dragging dead weight. He was shorter and slighter than his friend so it wasn’t easy. “Am I this much of a pain in the ass when I’m drunk?” he asked rhetorically. Maes didn’t really respond. Roy hauled him into the bedroom and let Maes crash on the bed.
“I’s feel terrible,” Maes groaned. Roy darted in with a trashcan and barely leapt back in time. Maes hugged the can close, getting violently sick.
“See, this is why you should leave the drinking to me.”
“She left me,” Maes blubbered.
Roy sighed, taking the can from Maes, nestling the smelly thing next to the bed just in case. “Why did you tell her?”
“How did you know I did?”
“Because why else would she have left you? Besides, you told me, remember?” Roy laid Maes back on the bed. He knew there were many reasons Gracia could have broken up with Maes but he also knew Maes. The man was very likely to have confessed.
“She wouldn’t even look at me,” Maes moaned.
“We’ll talk about it when you’re sober,” Roy said, feeling awful for his friend. At least Riza hadn’t walked out of his life. “Why did you tell her, Maes? I told you not to tell her yet.”
Maes didn’t answer, out cold and drooling on his pillow. Roy covered him up and let himself out. He looked back at the apartment as he walked home. “Damn you, Maes, for being so honest. You just had to go and throw it all away.” Roy knew nothing was going to make it any better. He had messed them all up.
cornerofmadness
Disclaimer - not mine, all characters belong to Hiromu Arakawa et al, Square Enix and funimition. I don’t make a profit
Rating – All chapter are R rated for mature content except ch 4 which will be NC-17
Pairing - Maes/Roy, Roy/Riza, Maes/Riza/Roy, implied Maes/Gracia
Time Line - Ishbal, manga-verse (with hints of anime)
Summary – The Soldiers are not fitting back into civilian life after the war and their relationships with each other have crumbled.
Author’s Note – written for Kink_bingo for a simultaneous line bingo using hand fetish and double penetration. It’s fifth in the series but you don’t need to read the others. All you need to know is that during the war Roy was having a relationship with both Riza and Maes and when she found out about it, Riza didn’t react well. This takes place soon after they get home. If you want to read the others you can find
the Uncharted Series here (note, Delicate Entanglements needs Retconned)
Author’s Note 2 – As noted above, the bulk of the story will not contain erotica but the last chapter will (a non-erotica version will get posted to FFN). This story is DONE. I’m just tweaking the chapters a little so if you’re the sort who likes to wait for the whole story to go it, it won’t be a long wait.
Chapter One
What seems to us as bitter trials are often blessings in disguise – Oscar Wilde
Chapter Two
Gracia hadn’t expected Maes to say anything like the words coming out of his mouth. At first, she just couldn’t understand them, as if her boyfriend had learned some ancient tongue in the desert. Her meticulously prepared meal had gone to ash in her mouth. The thought of the candies she had brought home from work for dessert made her stomach flip. Why did he choose now to say these things? She might never be able to look at food again.
Getting up from the table, she walked away from him. Her strength left her when she hit the living room. Lucky thing or she might have made it all the way to the street and who knew what would have happened then. Gracia collapsed on the couch.
“Gracia?” Maes called from the doorway.
“You cheated on me,” she said flatly.
“It wasn’t...” Maes came into the room and would have sat next to her but a glare stopped him dead.
“I thought Roy was your best friend,” she interrupted his rationalization.
“He is,” Maes said, his shoulders slumping. He moved to the fireplace, resting against it.
“I didn’t realize that meant you had sex together,” she snarled and Maes winced.
“Gracia, it wasn’t anything we had planned.” Maes seemed ready to fall limp at her feet if not for the mantle he leaned on.
“Is that supposed to make me feel better?” Gracia propelled herself up and stalked over to him. “You cheated on me with another man , Maes. How do you think that makes me feel?” She wanted to hit him, to make him hurt like she did.
“I’m sorry, Gracia.” Maes reached for her.
She batted his hand away. “Why? Was it that place? Were you that lonely?”
“It wasn’t like that.” Maes shook his head, almost seeming angry with her. “It wasn’t some cheap...”
“Then what?” Gracia demanded, shoving at him.
Maes turned from her, taking a few paces away before whirling back. “I’m in love with him,” he said, his eyes meeting hers.
Gracia fell back, unable to speak. She felt as cold and pale as the marble mantle. She was as insubstantial as fog. “What? I don’t understand. You were supposed to love me and he was in love with...what did you say her name was? Hawkeye?”
“He is in love with her and I do love you, but I also love him,” Mae said, looking utterly weary. She would have pitied him if she wasn’t so frightened and angry.
“This doesn’t make any sense, Maes,” Gracia said, too worn to be loud. Her voice rasped like sand paper. “How am I supposed to feel? What would Hawkeye think if she knew?”
“She knows,” Maes said simply.
“Oh.” Gracia reared back as if slapped. She couldn’t take any more. Going back to the couch, Gracia sat down hard. “I see. Well, it’s good that she knows.” What a stupid thing to say! What could she say that wouldn’t sound inane?
“Gracia, I...”
“Get out, Maes,” she said softly.
His larynx bobbed as he swallowed hard. “What?”
“Get out. I don’t want to see you,” she added more strongly, her fingers digging into the couch.
“You’ll call me when you’re ready to talk,” he added hopefully.
She twisted on the couch to face him fully. “I won’t call, Maes. I’m not going to see you again.”
His eyes glistened. “But Gracia...”
“Out!” She pointed to the door.
To his credit, Maes didn’t fight with her. He moved past her, tears in his eyes. She couldn’t let them sway her. She didn’t know how to handle this. Gracia lost track of time as she sat there after the front door shut. Finally, she staggered up numbly and went to the kitchen. Dinner was cold on the table and the candles had guttered.
Gracia grabbed the ends of the table cloth, folding up all four corners into a nice handle which she used to slam the contents into the wall a few times, cracking the plaster. She let the tablecloth filled with broken glass and shattered china fall to the floor. Walking like one already dead up the steps of her townhouse, Gracia drew a bath hotter than she could usually stand. She scrubbed her skin red then finally dissolved into tears as it all caught up to her.
X X X
Roy rubbed the sleep from his eyes as he stumbled into the Winking Lizard. The bartender glared at him as if he were somehow to blame for this.
“Usually I’m calling him to haul your drunk ass out of here. Guess it’s your turn.” The bartender jerked a thumb at Maes who swayed on a bar stool, gazing unfocused at his whiskey glass.
Roy snorted at the bartender and went over to Maes who reeked of the hard liquor he had been guzzling. “What’s wrong, Maes?”
“Get away.” Maes pushed at him and fell off his stool.
Roy caught him before Maes could hit the sticky floor. He staggered back against Maes’ weight. “Damn, you’re heavy, Maes.”
“She left me,” Maes said, slurring so badly Roy could barely make out his words. Maes tried to go for the door and nearly fell again, lurching against Roy.
Roy staggered, dragging Maes along. “What?”
“Ish told her ‘bout ush.” Maes careened off a table then finally made the doorway.
“Oh, damn. Hush up about that now,” Roy said, thankful he had a cab waiting. He poured Maes into it. Luckily, Maes broke into tears, embarrassing but at least he wasn’t about to tell the world he and Roy were lovers. Finally, he passed out on Roy’s shoulder, drooling down his neck. When they arrived at Maes’ apartment, Roy shook Maes until he came around.
“Wha?” Maes pushed at Roy.
“We’re home. Get out of the car.”
Roy had to get out of the cab and drag Maes out. He paid the fare and tried to get Maes into his apartment. He was practically dragging dead weight. He was shorter and slighter than his friend so it wasn’t easy. “Am I this much of a pain in the ass when I’m drunk?” he asked rhetorically. Maes didn’t really respond. Roy hauled him into the bedroom and let Maes crash on the bed.
“I’s feel terrible,” Maes groaned. Roy darted in with a trashcan and barely leapt back in time. Maes hugged the can close, getting violently sick.
“See, this is why you should leave the drinking to me.”
“She left me,” Maes blubbered.
Roy sighed, taking the can from Maes, nestling the smelly thing next to the bed just in case. “Why did you tell her?”
“How did you know I did?”
“Because why else would she have left you? Besides, you told me, remember?” Roy laid Maes back on the bed. He knew there were many reasons Gracia could have broken up with Maes but he also knew Maes. The man was very likely to have confessed.
“She wouldn’t even look at me,” Maes moaned.
“We’ll talk about it when you’re sober,” Roy said, feeling awful for his friend. At least Riza hadn’t walked out of his life. “Why did you tell her, Maes? I told you not to tell her yet.”
Maes didn’t answer, out cold and drooling on his pillow. Roy covered him up and let himself out. He looked back at the apartment as he walked home. “Damn you, Maes, for being so honest. You just had to go and throw it all away.” Roy knew nothing was going to make it any better. He had messed them all up.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2008-10-17 04:44 am (UTC)Poor everybody being shoved through the emotional meat grinder.
Still, I really liked it. :)
no subject
Date: 2008-10-17 03:12 pm (UTC)