WHITE NIGHT-
"Now, honestly Brother. Just because you have to take that with food does not mean you have to gorge yourself each time! If you don't cut it out you'll get fat."
Ed popped the colorful pills into his mouth along with a bit of mashed potato. "Oh come on Al! The doctor practically ordered me to eat three times a day. I've got to take advantage of it." He grinned at his little brother's pouting display. In discomfort he shifted his barstool to face Al.
"But Brother-"
"Geeze Al! Would you stop harping at me like a mother hen?" Ed playfully smacked his companion's shoulder. "I wouldn't embarrass you by turning into a huge blob of fat." A certain bloated Homunculus came to mind.
"Brother, you're so vulgar…"
Edward was about to reply with a snide insult to his presumptuous brother, but the sight he saw halted him.
Two men from the military trod past the food booth and it was then that Ed forgot to breathe.
Roy waited until they were a fair distance away from the two blondes before he spoke. "Hughes, who was that kid? He looked at me like he knew me." Those golden eyes had pierced through the blanket of night and Mustang had felt his heart pull.
Maes sighed exasperatingly, "Of course he knows you Roy. Unlike you he probably reads files that are sent to him by the higher ups. Honestly, sometimes I wonder where your head is." A manila folder abruptly thrust out of Hughes' suitcase and was passed to a stunned Mustang.
"Is this for real?" He looked disbelievingly at the words. "That kid is being transferred from Archer's to my command?" At Hughes' nod of approval Roy snorted, "The Full Metal Alchemist."
I'm such an idiot.
Even though I had Al back and everything was nearly perfect, I made the worst mistake. Reluctantly Alphonse had agreed to my desire to become a State Alchemist. But he never questioned me. When I asked him why, he said that I must have my reasons.
I never told him that I did it to see Roy one last time.
The array my father designed in old research papers worked even better than I thought it would. Al was alive and from our brief encounter, it looked as though Hughes was as well.
I'll admit I was skeptical at the old man's theory at first. Seriously, turning back time to a specific date and place seemed utterly ridiculous. Yet from what I could see, it had worked fine.
The only real draw back was that no one would have memories of the past, except me. Roy didn't remember any of the time we'd spent together. And that hurt.
Even more, everyday I have to walk into his office, look at that fine smirk and listen to him make cracks at me. I mean, the jokes were quite harmless. He wasn't doing it to insult me for real. At least I hoped not.
I had no idea on how to get a grip on my feelings for a man that didn't know me and that I saw continuously. So I did the easiest thing, I got angry. I threw tantrums like a little four year old for every joke about my height, age, weight or anything that bastard could come up with.
Blindly, I used anger to hide my emotions for him.
It was for the best.
Full Metal has been under my command for nearly a year, and I still don't tire of his company.
You see, after work hours he unexpectedly became my drinking partner. But being the responsible adult I am, I refused to give an underage drinker, such as him, any alcohol. (However, I ignored that he hadn't asked for it in the first place.)
And quite honestly, I'm not sure what possessed me to ask him to stay for the first time. Maybe I was just lonely and sought brief comfort from anyone. I am excellent at lying to everyone but myself.
Anyway, it had already become an unspoken ritual between us. Every Friday night, when the hectic doors of Headquarters closed, Full Metal would slip unto my office. I proceeded by opening a new bottle of scotch and enjoying the warmth it gave me. And he and I would talk. I enjoyed conversing with him more than I did consuming the liquor. That was a first for me.
I took a sip of the relief before me and watched as Full Metal relaxed on my couch. "Do you believe in god?" I found myself quietly inquiring. I'd probably had too much to drink to bring up a topic such as religion. But I wondered from the first moment I saw the blonde boy what his thoughts were on it.
He shrugged nonchalantly, "No, not god. Just the devil."
I have no idea what possessed me to reply, "Because he believes in you." Somehow, I felt as though we'd had this conversation before and I knew what his answer would be.
Bewildered, I stared at the Alchemist whose eyes were now wide as saucers. A faint spark had appeared in Ed's eyes, one that I'd never witnessed before. One of happiness.
That in itself was strange.
I was not someone that enjoyed seeing other people in pain. Perhaps it had something to do with my role in Ishbaal. I hated being in hospitals, period. So the simple action of visiting one of my injured men was tearing up my insides.
Full Metal had been carted here for reasons unknown to me. That actually scared me.
As I stepped through his doorway a sense of déjà vu overcame me. I felt like I had already done this before.
I recovered quickly and made my way to the blonde head peaking out from under the covers. When I had asked him why the walls in his room were red he simply grinned at me.
"If they're gonna keep me here another three days then I'll damn well make this place homey."
So, he transmuted the white paint to a more likeable color for that plain reason. Full Metal truly was an ace in a deck. And I the joker.
'I planted my feet firmly in the tile. Now was the time for me to speak, or rather, act up. While Edward tried to push me out of his hospital room and down to safety I smirked and spun around, catching his lips in my own.
He was surprised to say the least, but didn't pull away and punch my lights out like I'd expected him to. Instead, he stood with wide eyes.
Damn his lips were soft.'
In a flurry I bolted awake and tried to slow my mile a minute heartbeat. What the hell had I just dreamed? I kissed Full Metal?
Suddenly I felt thoughts towards and early diagnosis of insanity.
So I was sick.
I knew full well that he was a fifteen year old male and my subordinate. This made him very different from the women I usually would court.
And that if I acted I could be court marshaled and lose what I'd spent my life trying to gain.
But I liked Edward, in a way that I really shouldn't have.
Everyday he would stomp defiantly into my office wearing those damn leather clothes. I never could help but gawk at him each time he came in.
While he began his ritual rant I would stare at his… beautiful appearance.
There was however, the many times that he would catch me gazing at something I couldn't have.
I usually threw him off with a smirk and proceeded to insult his lack of height. The formula's chain reaction led to him bursting into a rant and me feeling at ease. At ease for not being discovered. I hid myself well.
I had my moment to glimpse at heaven, and then it was over.
And it made me wonder why I always yearned for something I couldn't have.
Full Metal entered my office with his jaw set and his mouth thin. Immediately, I knew something was wrong and asked him.
"I apologize, Colonel. But I wish to be transferred to a different jurisdiction." Edward kept his head down as he spoke and handed me the document.
I became slightly angry. If this was another of Havoc's stupid jokes… Yet as I looked at him I noticed the little things. Dark rings under his eyes, matted hair, an overall disheveled appearance.
I realized that this was no joke.
Inwardly, I panicked. Who wouldn't? It was obvious that he was requesting this to get away from me. I fought to keep my expression as detached as possible.
"I'm afraid I need a reason as to why, Full Metal."
Edward sighed and twiddled his thumbs nervously. "I knew someone that looked a lot like you. It's a personal thing and it's bothering me." His gold eyes met mine, "I can't stand it."
Why did he sound to be in so much pain?
Suddenly some gears turned and clicked in my head. "Did you love this person?" I tried to keep my voice calm.
Ed scowled, "Yes for your information."
I had debated this for the past week and now came to a plausible conclusion. "I can't sign this," I gestured to the paper on my desk.
"Why?" The irritated reply came as expected. He must have though I was trying to be a bastard about it.
I swallowed once. Twice. It was now or never. "Because I do believe I've fallen in love with you Full Metal."
Slowly, I moved over to Edward. I knew I would have to be the one to initiate anything; after all, I had the last time too.
I reached down and carefully captured his soft lips once again. He instantly turned into a pile of Full Metal Mush, fisting his hands in my uniform to keep upright.
As I pulled back his eyes were glazed over and his face flushed. I couldn't blame him. I was not in a much better state.
Ed settled with reaching his arms around my waist and pulling me close.
In this blissful space a random thought popped into my head. "You know, I've still got your red jacket."
He smiled.
It was then I saw that the lost signs were slowly coming back. And that those cheesy romance novels were right, some things could transcend time.
I'm not so set on rules and laws anymore. When I look at the spent blonde next to me I am reassured of that.
What we have is one of those unexplainable things, an extraneous solution.
As light snoring comes into my hearing I decide I don't mind in the least.
Owari
AN: There you have it! The end came faster than I had expected, but it's here all the same. Thank you to all readers and especially to you reviewers. This story literally wouldn't have made it here without you.
If I confused anyone by jumping around so much, feel free to ask questions.