Pills and Buttons

There Will Be Light

Edward was lying on the couch, his feet dangling over the arm as he listened to an audiobook, his head leaning on Mustang's shoulder. He was falling asleep, listening to the smooth voice describe the pain of this man's death. Plus he wasn't paying too much attention to the details. Hawkeye was also scolding Mustang from where he sat on the cushions, smacking him with a spatula. Sophie had left for her nightly rounds at the hospital a while ago.

"Ed." A finger poked his neck but he ignored it. "Fullmetal." The finger, persistent in its attempts, poked his ear. "Half pint of milk Pipsqueak." Edward almost pulled the finger out of Roy's hand, stopping when he screamed uncle. "Geez. What did I do?"

"You called me half pink of milk Pipsqueak. That's what." He growled, turning the audiobook off and putting his earbuds in his pocket. He drew in the lapels of Mustang's military jacket, enveloping himself in the charred smell of wood.

"Well, sorry. I can't get your attention any other way." Roy draped an arm over Ed's shoulder, the alchemist shifting into the touch. "I need to change the bandages and give you your medication." The Fullmetal runt whined, using a throw pillow as a weapon against the Flame Alchemist.

"Hey!" He snatched up the pillow, wrestling with Ed for a moment until he was straddling him. The pillow was forgotten, Ed's hands still clasping it even as Mustang held his wrists to the sofa above his head. Roy had his nose just barely brushing the other's, mentally debating whether to pull back or go in for a kiss. Elric decided for him, locking their lips together and relaxing into the Colonel's hold.

Roy put one arm around Fullemetal's back, pulling the alchemist closer and pressing their bodies together. He only stopped the kiss when he heard a sharp whistle at the hallway entrance. "Go away Rizaaaa." Ed whined, throwing the pillow at her. It merely brushed her leg. Mustang chuckled as he got off of him, moving around so Ed could climb onto his back.

"And you gave me hell for hearing what we were doing."

"Okay, that is so different and you damn well know it." Hawkeye threw her head back, laughing with a snort as she went back to cleaning Hayate's kennel. Bella came racing in from outside where she practically live, pouncing on Roy's shoulders. She licked his face, then Ed's.

"Bella!" A sharp whistle came from where Riza had gone and the dog disappeared.

"That dog..." Mustang growled while the small Elric laughed. "How did you live with that beast?"

"Very carefully." He rested his cheek on Roy's shoulder, smiling softly. His hands were clasped in front of Roy's chest, his legs around his waist and held up by his hands.

"Ah, yes because everyone has been tied up with a dog." Roy teased but caused Ed to wince. "Too soon?"

"Yeah," he said as he was set on the bed in his room, "way too soon." He grabbed one of his pillows, hugging it to his chest.

"I'm sorry." Roy's face had fallen from his smile. "I didn't realize." Edward gave his cheek a gentle kiss, his thumb tracing the curve of his jaw and cheekbone. He leaned in for a kiss on the lips, pecking his-- Roy realized that he didn't know what they were anymore. Was there a label for what he and Ed had, relationship wise?

"I'll get some new bandages." He walked the few paces to the bathroom, opening the medicine cabinet and grabbing a roll of white gauze. He shut the door again, watching himself in the mirror. He had a slight five o clock shadow, running his fingers over the stubble. I need a shave... and a few more brains. He joked quietly to himself, walking back to Ed's room. The Fullmetal Alchemist had found a way to get himself on the floor, rolling a button over and over in his palm like it was a wheel. "Hey runt." He got a punch to the leg with the automail, but it wasn't that hard of a hit. He still faked pain. He whined, smiling since he knew Edward couldn't see his face.

"Not a runt." He pouted, resting his head on the nightstand. He was pondering something deeply, from what Roy could tell. Mustang sat on the floor beside him, brushing his bangs out of his way. Very carefully, he slid a knife from his pocket and cut the bandages away. Ed barely flinches at the cold metal, taking it like a man.

"It was a joke, Fullmetal." Ed had his eyes closed under the bandages, his long lashes thick and black unlike his hair. It glowed in the sunlight from the window, despite the blinds that covered the glass. "Something wrong?" Roy pressed a hand to Edward's cheek, rubbing his cheekbone with a thumb.

"No, I'm fine." Ed has always been a bad lair, especially when he was sad or depressed. "Just thinking."

"Don't strain yourself." He kissed each of Ed's eyelids, the lashes fluttering apart when he backed up. Roy reached for the bandages, Edward stopped his hand. "What is it, Edw-?"

"I think the medication is working." His eyes were golden flames, flickering and dancing with power. "Everything's blurring but I can see you -- your outline, at least." He was looking right into Roy's onyx black orbs, his hands running through his hair. Edward's smiling face made Roy's heart skip a beat, his arms wrapped around the alchemist in a hug.

"This is amazing." He whispers, squishing him in a tight hug. "It really is."

"I thought I wouldn't see." Ed sniffled, rubbing gently at his eyes with the back of his hand. He felt Roy's fingers grip the back of his black shirt, making sure all of this was real and not a sick dream. "I thought I wouldn't actually see you again." Mustang stiffened when Edward said that. "I wouldn't see Riza, or Winry or Al again." He went on, not noticing that Roy had even done anything.

"Don't think like that Ed, it doesn't suit you. You have always had so much faith. Don't lose that now." Edward pulled him closer for a hard kiss, fingers rubbing the rib stitched blue fabric that covered Roy's torso.

"I won't. Not after all of... this." He gestured in the air wildly. "Not after any of this." Edward grew a bit more serious, straightening the collar of Roy's jacket -- he still wore it even now. "Can I ask you something?"

"Name it." Mustang smiled softly, holding Ed in his lap.

"What would you say if I said I had feelings for you?" His voice was quiet before he started speaking again. "N-not like I do or anything, but it was just a thought."

"I'd return them." Roy replied smoothly, grabbing a small bottle of liquid. "Now, anything else before eyedrops?"

"Do you love me?"

I AM SO SORRY PLEASE DON'T KILL ME 😫😫