If you haven't seen the whole anime, or read the manga, beware of spoilers folks!
Title: Prove Yourself
Rating: T but watch out for higher rating I dunno how far I'll take this
Pairing: Roy x Ed
Warnings: Probably very OOC, since I'm not used to writing about FMA yet and it's AU coz when and if he comes into this story Hughes will be ALIVE dammit X3 God I cried when he died...anyways, dunno if it'll get lemony or not lol but I'll be sure to warn you if it does.
Summary: If Edward doesn't stop blowing things up, he'll get transferred to another unit. And to top things off, he's called a child and gets his first kiss. Now why can't he get another? He knows he's not a child...right? So he'll simply have to prove himself!
Disclaimer: Don't own squat coz if I did the story would be very different XD
A/N: okay this is my very very VERY first attempt at a FMA fic, and my second try at shounen-ai/slash...so be gentle. and english isn't my first language so I've got some problems with the grammar (most spelling errors are due to my fast typing) but never mind. okay, I don't know how far I'll take this story it depends on the reviews...if people like it, I'll continue, if not, screw this XD
that's about it I believe...
Prove Yourself
Chapter 1: Of warnings and affection
Edward Elric, youngest National State Alchemist and a well-known genius extraordinaire, snuck down an empty corridor in the Eastern Military quarters; golden orbs scanning the area suspiciously. Clearly, he was avoiding being seen by someone, and not doing such a good job. Even though the corridor was empty, it led to two other corridors that were lined with offices and various other rooms along the walls and currently bustling with activity, so he could be easily spotted by someone passing by. Which, apparently, he was.
"Is that Fullmetal? My, is he doing a good job hiding. He needn't try though, since he's so hard to spot anyway," a mocking voice stated, the words echoing off the walls. Edward froze, and slowly turned around only to come face to face with Colonel Roy Mustang, Flame Alchemist and a royal-pain-in-the-ass. Jumping backwards in surprise, Edward met the dark-grey eyes of his commanding officer. He didn't know the bastard could move that quickly.
"Wha--," he began; eyes wide. But before he could finish a very stupid question, the insult hit his ears. "WHO ARE YOU CALLING SO SMALL HE IS MISTAKEN FOR A GRAIN OF DUST IN A CORNER?!?"
The Colonel smirked and shifted the pile of paperwork he'd been carrying around, stepping aside easily as a dot of red, black and blonde darted towards him. Landing with a loud thump, followed by a groan and a string of wild curses, the Fullmetal boy glared up at him. Clenched in his thin gloved fist, he held three or four papers filled with what looked like writing. If you could call it that.
"Did I really say all that?" he mused, mock puzzlement in voice and expression. Edward growled and sat up, twisting his back to be able to face the dark-haired man. Roy looked down and raised a thin brow, taking in the angry flush across the boy's cheeks and his pouting lips. Before he could develop any weird thoughts about this, the moment was broken as Ed jumped up and straightened his clothes; holding out his small collection of crumpled papers all business-like. Roy couldn't help it; he burst out laughing.
"What?" Edward snapped, his sunshine eyes glaring and burning. The Colonel fell silent and shifted his paper stack once again. Damn, it was heavy.
"As you can see, Fullmetal, I am not in a state to simply take your - report, is it? - from your hands. And what, pray tell, have you been doodling on those second-handed papers on your way back this time?" he asked, titling his head in a way to make the boy follow him as he made his way towards his office. With a small grimace, Edward obeyed while looking down at his clenched fist; taking in the state of his report. So what if he didn't do it all stiffly and perfect as Colonel Shit wanted him to? It wasn't that bad. Well, perhaps it was. And Mustang wouldn't like the actual content either. Not that he ever did; Ed always seemed to do something the wrong way, even if it had the desired effect in the end.
"I haven't been doodling, you Colonel Bastard," Edward shot back, still sulking and sporting a nice flush. He had intended to give the report to Hawkeye, who'd give it to the Colonel, and when it was clear that Edward had blown up at least three buildings, no matter how small and insignificant they were, he'd be out of reach from the flames that surely would snap through the corridors of the Eastern quarters.
"Oh? Is it writings? I thought you had decided to surprise me with a nice drawing of how things went. Isn't that an explosion?" Roy said, nodding his head downwards and guiding a stunned Ed to the papers in his hand. In the middle of the first paper, the words linked with each other because of lack of space and a train bumping along the countryside. It looked somewhat like an explosion, but Ed wasn't someone to easily agree with the Colonel.
"No, you idiot," he sneered, "it seems your age is finally catching up with you. You'll need glasses, bastard."
"Colonel Bastard," Roy corrected, an amused grin spreading across his handsome and pale face. Edward looked away with a huff and crossed his arms over his chest.
"Yeah, whatever," Ed mumbled lamely, glad to finally arrive at the man's office. They stepped inside, Ed letting the Colonel struggle to open the door himself (serves him right, that bastard), and Roy dropped the heavy pile of papers on his desk with a relieved sigh.
"First Lt. Hawkeye is sick today, and all the others are on duty elsewhere at the moment. I had to fetch the paperwork myself," Roy complained, shoulders a bit slumped and his face expressing his misery perfectly. Ed blinked. What the..?
"Anyway, that aside, hand me the report," Roy demanded, sitting down behind his desk and staring straight into Edward's eyes in that intense way he used to do. Ah, back to the uptight officer again, Ed though while pursing his lips and slamming the papers down on the wooden surface.
"And Fullmetal? Please, take a seat," the Colonel called out at the retrieving back of the boy while gesturing towards the couch. Edward glared but promptly sat down, snorting in annoyance.
The minutes ticked by, and Edward amused himself with watching the Colonel's expressions change. Calm, puzzled, annoyed, worried (eh?), annoyed, amazed, amused, annoyed, slightly more annoyed, angry, a little bit more angry…and furious. Wopps, Ed thought; brazing himself.
Roy put the wrinkled papers down in front of him neatly, placing his elbows on either side of them and lacing his finger. He rested his chin on his laced fingers and took a deep breath, which he let out through his nose slowly. His eyebrow twitched, and his pale lips dropped down into a frown.
"After decrypting your…interesting…writing, I found that not only have you destroyed three buildings--," he began, but stopped as he picked up Edwards breathed 'they were small and insignificant; no one will notice they're gone'. Meeting the nervous golden stare with his own of steel, Mustang reached up to place his right hand into a snapping position.
"Are you saying that if, let's say, you disappeared, one wouldn't care or notice any difference?" Roy asked sweetly. Edward blinked, unsure of what he was getting at. "It'd be hard, Fullmetal, since even though you're small your presence can still be overwhelming; no matter how insignificant it may be."
Ed gritted his teeth and chose to ignore the lecture, focusing on the comment about his size. "Who're you call-" Roy interrupted him with a snap, making him yelp and throw himself over the couch to take shelter. Curling up into a ball, hands covering his head, he waited. Nothing happened, but as a shadow fell over him he looked up to see the Colonel loom over him. Ed caught a flash of amusement in his silver eyes, but it faded away quickly. Expression grave and mouth set in a frown, the man lifted his hand and once again set his fingers into the deadly position. Edward's eyes widened but he stayed still, watching the Colonel's face closely.
"My patience is running low, Fullmetal. I do not send you on a mission to have you blowing up various things, nor putting your damned life on the line. I've never given you a mission that demands that kind of effort. Yet you insist on leaving chaos behind wherever you go, and do you know where it goes? Straight into that pile of papers on my desk," he explained; taking on an expression of indifference when he noticed the intense stare he got from the boy hunching on the floor.
"I cannot have you do this again," he continued "because it is starting to reach my superiors ears and they do not like it."
Edward frowned and was about to say something, when the Colonel rounded the couch and sat down in front of him; reaching out to grab his chin and titling his head further up to meet his cold stare.
"They say I can't handle you, Fullmetal. And if I don't tighten your leash, they're going to remove me as your commanding officer," Mustang said quietly, searching the wide orbs in front of him. The silence stretched but neither moved; Roy couldn't bring himself to let go of the small chin in his grip or break the intense contact through their eyes. He recognized the tension that was slowly building up between them, but he couldn't stop it. At the sound of air passing through lips his eyes were dragged down to the boy's mouth. His lips were slightly parted, and as a pink tongue appeared to swipe the lower lip and moisture it with saliva, he felt something tug at his lower stomach. Not good, he thought as he lowered his head, eyes locking with Edward's once again. His own lips were now inches from Ed's, so close their breathing mixed and heated their skin. The flush returned to Edward cheeks, but this time it wasn't because of anger. Roy was about to back away, a voice shouting in his mind and calling him names he'd lived up to if his dreams counted as much as this moment, but Ed leaned in and closed the remaining distance between them nervously. The insure press of soft lips against his own made him respond and fight down a moan. His one hand stayed on the boy's chin, while the other wandered up to his braid; burying his fingers in the silky hair and pushing him even closer. Ed gasped, lips parting enough to let Roy's tongue in, and it soon turned into a moan. Small fingers gripped desperately at Roy's blue uniform, hands close together on his chest pulling him closer, while the kiss deepened. He hadn't done it before, the Colonel noted as the kiss became sloppy before it'd even begun. He didn't mind though, since the small noises the blonde made were enough to make up for it.
He had to break the kiss though, since Ed probably hadn't figured out the trick to breathe through his nose during heated snogging sessions like these and would be gasping for air. As he pulled back a bit, Edward's hand held him in place; keeping him close enough for their noses to brush against each other.
"Wha…what was that?" Ed asked, voice shaky and eyes half closed. Roy's eyes caught the dark-blonde lashes that fluttered against blushing, round cheeks when the boy blinked and was temporarily at a loss for words.
"It's called kissing, Edward," he finally replied, a slightly amused tone in his voice despite the situation they were in. He's just a kid Mustang, he thought angrily, slapping himself mentally as he'd done many times before. But this time it was because he'd actually done something.
Edward's blush deepened at his reply, but instead of pushing him away his grip of Roy's uniform only tightened.
"I know that, you Colonel Shit," he hissed, annoyed at the giddy feeling that still lingered in his body and mind.
"Then why are you asking?" Roy shot back, shifting and smiling slightly as Edward clung at him almost desperately. He sat down more comfortably and moved both his hands away; one cupping a hot cheek while pressing a thumb against kiss-swollen lips and the other covering automail and flesh hand alike. Roy sighed quietly.
"I wasn't asking about that! I-" Ed began after he'd watched the Colonel settle down, but paused to think about what exactly he had asked. "I mean, I…I meant why."
"Oh," Roy said, smirking. "I don't know why you pressed yourself against me, probably because I'm attractive in that way, hm?"
Edward stuttered and his grip loosened for a second before his face twisted in annoyance. "Bastard! Stop twisting my fucking words and just expl--" he was unable to continue, since he'd jerked at the uniform in his hands and brought Roy's lips crashing down on his own. Both were surprised, since Ed often didn't know what he did when in one of his rants and since Roy had been too preoccupied with trying to figure out how to settle this without too much blood shed.
It didn't take long until they were locked in another deep kiss, hands and tongues caressing. Roy groaned in frustration; this wasn't supposed to happen!
Breaking contact again, Roy stared down at Edward and covered his hands with his own.
"This has suddenly become very complicated," Roy muttered, brows furrowed and lips set in a frown again.
"Why?" Ed asked, blinking. The sight made Roy pause, but he regained his voice and shook his head.
"Because," he said, sighing, "no matter what you think, you are still a child."
"I'm NOT a-"
"Oh but you are Edward. You're sixteen. You may be premature in mind and you may be able to carry burdens only a man can handle, but you are still a child in so many ways," the Colonel stated quietly but firmly.
"What ways?" Edward asked, blushing deeper again while slightly turning his head away from the man before him and loosening his grip of his jacket. Roy took this opportunity to back away and give them a bit of personal space, studying the young man as if contemplating something.
"This was your first kiss," Roy said, making Ed's eyes dart back to meet his again.
"How di-"
"And you have no idea what it can do, or mean," he continued, ignoring Edward's attempt to speak up. "With this said, I'd like to add that what happened here didn't happen."
"You bastard," Ed breathed, now completely letting go of Roy and looking away. The affection in his heart that had bloomed for the boy over the years made him feel guilty at the confused and shameful look on Edward's face.
"This wasn't a fight, nor did you lose something without gaining another thing," Roy began, "and I'm sure it wasn't painful. So please don't handle this as if it were. I cannot explain my actions better then by saying that I care for you, and molesting a kid isn't exactly proper for a Colonel to do. The higher-ups are already at my heels concerning not only you, but me in general. So, please forgive me Fullmetal but for now; you're dismissed. I don't have another mission or information about anything related to your personal research for you yet, but I'll let you know as soon as I do."
Edward followed the Colonel's movements as he stood, and took his hand when it was offered to stand himself.
"I see," he said quietly, not sure what to say or how to react. Roy smiled slightly, making Ed speechless once again, before returning to his usual expression and leading the blonde to the door by placing his hand at the small of Ed's back and pushing slightly. Edward shivered at the light touch and allowed himself to be kicked out of the office in the gentlest way he'd ever been.
When he finally stood outside, door closed behind him, he allowed his brain to function. If the blush on his cheeks had settled before, it was coming back with full force now. Several times, Ed had felt as if the Colonel had been genuinely caring for him, and today seemed to be a confirmation of these suspicious. But did he care as an adult cares for a child, or as a man can care for another, be it man or woman? He didn't know, since his words spoke of the first, while his actions indicated that it was the latter.
Confused and a bit hurt by both the statement that he was but a child, and the rejection because of that, shook his body as he walked down the still busy corridor; random soldiers and officers sparing him puzzled glances before returning to work. He figured he looked dumbfounded and upset, but he didn't care. Continuing on his way, he began to worry about the Colonel's warning. If he didn't get his leash tightened, then he'd be transferred. Edward swallowed and tried to imagine what horrid person the Military would chose to take care of him and, dared he even think it, discipline him. Just like the dog he was, he supposed. But still… It seemed he really needed to be careful, if he wanted to stay with the Colonel and continue to escape the freaks that made up the Military by going out on trips to collect information about the Philosopher's stone.
And if he stayed close to the Colonel, perhaps he could find out why he was still a child in the man's eyes and maybe even convince him otherwise. Yes, he defiantly would do well on his next mission, whenever that was, and try to prove himself.
Touching his lips lightly, Edward smiled. It was true he'd fancied the Colonel for a while, but he hadn't thought it was quite as…deep as this. He'd thought he would've backed away in horror when their lips met, but instead he'd been the one to lean in and cause that contact. That contact which burned like the fire the Flame Alchemist caused with a careless snap. Breathing out and trying desperately to fight down his blush and the imagined scenarios that flashed through his mind, making him hot and a bit bothered, Edward broke into a run. He needed a cold shower, and a nap. Perhaps Alphonse had prepared a light meal he could consume too, he thought while rounding a corner; his uneven footsteps disappearing from Roy Mustang's ears and leaving the Eastern Military quarters as easily as he'd entered it.
A/N: review?