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Edward Elric had always hated crying.
As a teenager, he had done everything he could to keep others from seeing his tears. He would grit his teeth, swallow the hurt, and pretend he was fine long after his composure had begun to crack. As an adult, he had learned that there was no shame in showing emotion, but old habits were difficult to break.
Which was why he was currently sitting alone in Roy Mustang's apartment, shoulders hunched, staring at the floor while desperately trying to regain control of himself.
The day had been terrible.
Weeks of work had fallen apart.
A mission had gone wrong.
Nothing catastrophic, nobody had died, but the weight of responsibility had settled heavily on Edward's shoulders. Every mistake felt like his fault. Every setback felt like proof that he wasn't good enough.
And somehow, all the old wounds had chosen today to reopen.
His mother's face.
The years spent chasing impossible miracles.
The limbs he'd lost.
The guilt he'd carried for so long.
It all came crashing down at once.
The apartment door opened quietly.
Roy stepped inside.
He took one look at Edward and immediately stopped.
"Fullmetal."
Edward squeezed his eyes shut.
Great.
Now Roy had seen him.
"Go away."
"No."
"Mustang."
"No."
Edward let out a shaky breath that sounded dangerously close to a sob.
Roy set down his coat and walked over without another word.
Normally Edward would have protested.
Would have argued.
Would have snapped at him.
Today he didn't have the energy.
Roy sat beside him on the couch.
Silence settled between them.
Comfortable.
Patient.
Edward hated how safe it felt.
A few seconds later he felt Roy's hand gently rest against his back.
Not demanding.
Not pushing.
Just there.
And somehow that tiny gesture shattered the last of Edward's defenses.
A broken sound escaped him.
Then another.
His vision blurred.
"Damn it," Edward muttered.
Roy's voice softened immediately.
"Hey."
"I hate this."
"I know."
"I hate crying."
"I know that too."
Edward laughed weakly through tears.
The sound turned into another sob.
Roy shifted closer.
"You don't have to hold it together right now."
"Easy for you to say."
"No," Roy said quietly. "Not really."
Edward finally looked up.
Roy's expression held no judgment.
No amusement.
No pity.
Just concern.
Just warmth.
The kind reserved for someone precious.
The realization made Edward's chest ache.
For years Roy had been there.
Through disasters.
Through victories.
Through all the ugly parts Edward wished nobody had witnessed.
And somehow Roy had stayed.
"You don't think less of me?" Edward asked softly.
Roy looked genuinely confused.
"For crying?"
Edward shrugged.
"For... this."
Roy's eyes softened even further.
"Edward."
The use of his first name immediately made his heart stumble.
"You've survived things most people couldn't even imagine."
Roy's hand moved to gently brush a few strands of hair away from Edward's face.
"You're allowed to have bad days."
Edward swallowed hard.
A fresh tear escaped despite his best efforts.
Roy wiped it away with his thumb.
The gesture was so tender it almost hurt.
"Sorry," Edward whispered.
"What exactly are you apologizing for?"
"I don't know."
"Then stop apologizing."
Edward laughed weakly.
Roy smiled.
"There he is."
The knot in Edward's chest loosened slightly.
Not gone.
But smaller.
Manageable.
Roy opened his arms.
The invitation was obvious.
Edward stared.
"You serious?"
"Very."
"You know I'm an adult."
"I am aware."
"This is embarrassing."
"I disagree."
Edward rolled his eyes.
Then immediately leaned forward and buried his face against Roy's shoulder.
Roy wrapped both arms around him.
Secure.
Warm.
Steady.
Edward let out a long, shaky breath.
For the first time all day, he felt like he could actually breathe.
Roy's hand moved slowly through his blonde hair.
The repetitive motion was soothing.
Gentle.
Safe.
"You're not alone," Roy murmured.
Edward closed his eyes.
The words settled somewhere deep inside him.
Because he believed them.
He believed Roy.
After a long while the tears finally stopped.
Edward remained where he was.
Roy didn't seem interested in moving either.
Eventually Edward tilted his head back enough to look at him.
Their faces were suddenly very close.
Much closer than either of them could reasonably pretend was accidental.
Neither moved away.
Roy's gaze lingered on him.
Soft.
Affectionate.
Edward's pulse sped up.
"You're staring."
Roy smiled faintly.
"So are you."
"That's different."
"Why?"
Edward opened his mouth.
Then closed it again.
Because he had absolutely no good answer.
Roy chuckled.
The sound was warm enough to make Edward's stomach flutter.
"Feeling a little better?" Roy asked.
"Yeah."
"Good."
For a moment neither spoke.
The silence changed.
Not awkward.
Not uncertain.
Something gentler.
Something full of possibility.
Edward's eyes drifted to Roy's lips before he could stop himself.
Roy noticed.
Of course he noticed.
The man's observational skills were infuriating.
A tiny smile appeared.
"Edward."
The way Roy said his name made him melt a little.
"Yeah?"
Roy lifted a hand and cupped his cheek.
Edward instinctively leaned into the touch.
"You know," Roy said softly, "you don't have to carry everything by yourself anymore."
Edward's throat tightened.
Not from sadness this time.
From something far more dangerous.
Hope.
Slowly, carefully, he reached for Roy's hand.
Their fingers intertwined.
Roy's smile widened.
And before Edward could overthink it, Roy leaned forward and pressed a gentle kiss to his forehead.
Tender.
Patient.
Full of affection.
Edward's eyes closed automatically.
When he opened them again, Roy was still there.
Still smiling.
Still looking at him like he was something worth protecting.
Something worth loving.
Edward felt warmth spread through his chest.
"Hey, Mustang?"
"Hm?"
"I think you're getting sappy in your old age."
Roy laughed.
"There he is."
Edward smiled for real this time.
Then he leaned forward and kissed Roy.
Softly.
Briefly.
Just enough to make Roy blink in surprise.
A second later Roy kissed him back.
Slow and sweet.
No rush.
No pressure.
Just warmth.
When they finally pulled apart, Edward rested his forehead against Roy's.
The exhaustion was still there.
The bad day hadn't magically disappeared.
But somehow it didn't feel impossible anymore.
Not while Roy's arms were around him.
Not while Roy was smiling at him like that.
For tonight, that was enough.