Taken In Hand

Part 6: He is my Master


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Roy was woken the next morning by an insistent and loud knock on the door. He was confused as to why he was on the cold wooden floor for a minute before he turned over to see the beautiful blond boy stretched out beside him. He couldn't help but smile, getting shakily to his feet, cursing the snap and pop of his joints. a little old to be sleeping on the floor I guess, a small wry smile crept onto his face. He scooped the blond up gently, lifting him. Tanned arms wrapped easily and sleepily around his neck, golden eyes fluttered open before dropping closed again, a smile on the boy's face. Roy pressed his lips together tightly before laying the boy softly on the bed. There was a moment of struggle, a whisper of please, don't leave me but it was soothed away by a whispered word and a small kiss on the forehead.


He closed the bedroom door when he exited, padding quietly to the apartment door, pulling it open quietly, a finger pressed to his lips in the universal sign for "sshhh". He was not at all surprised to see Maes' smiling face there. He was annoyed though.


"Its a little early for your stuff right now, Hughes." It was a rolling grumble when it passed his lips, and his friend's face took an expression of mock hurt at the words.


"I'm truly wounded Roy, you only call me that when you're mad. And to think I was gonna invite you to a little party over at ours tonight. It'll be awesome, and everyone should be there. Even your staff, most of them are getting here sometime today, so what do you say, buddy?" The man grinned up at him again, and Roy shook his head slightly. Maes added, "And it's past noon Roy, not really that late. Gods, maybe that kid is a little too much for you. We can still take him back if you want."


The sound of a door roughly shutting behind him made Roy whirl and swear under his breath. He glared at his friend out of the corner of his eye before he hurried to the bedroom. He could hear the joking tone in Maes' voice, Edward probably could not.


"Sit, don't touch anything, and don't say anything else." He barked over his shoulder as he pushed into the bedroom, seeing Edward perched precariously on the edge of the bed, facing away from him, shoulders shaking slightly.


"Edward..." He started, but he didn't really know what to say then, he just wanted to wrap the boy up in his arms. He stepped up onto the bed for one second before dropping down on the other side, one leg on each side of Edward, arms around the boy's shoulders holding him tightly, chin resting on the boy's shoulder. From here Roy could see the slightly red eyes, wet with tears still inside. "Hey, Ed, no. He was just joking, that's nothing at all, I would never." The boy sniffled slightly, eyes on the floor.


"But why not, you got it didn't you? You got what you wanted, and now you can trade me in for another. I won't fetch nearly as much now, but I bet it'd be enough to get something else, someone better..." He was shaking again then and Roy was silent for a moment, still processing the soft mumbled words. He shook his head.


"Stop that right now Edward! I didn't - I'd never. No." The barking sound of his own voice hurt in his ears, and it softened then, he pushed everything into it. "Why would I want anything - anyone else - when I have you? I already told you thats what I want. Why would I dump you out now? There's so much more to teach you, you're everything I need, and what you aren't now I can teach you to be. Hm?" The boy was still and quiet then, so Roy squeezed him lightly, kissing him on the cheek. "Besides, you have to learn not to take Hughes out there seriously. He's a good guy, really, if a bit stupid sometimes. He got you didn't he?" Roy was smiling into the boy's neck then, and only once he was sure the boy was better did he let the small form go, watching him pull away and stand, turning to look into Roy's dark eyes.


"I promise, no more." He looked serious, so Roy cupped each cheek and kissed him lightly, on the mouth this time, quick and chaste and soft. When he let the boy go, there was only a sliver of gold visible under the heavy lids, and it reminded Roy too much of a sunset. He smiled.


"Now I gotta go out there and see what that asshole wants. How about you take a shower, and get ready, and when I'm done we can go look at some houses, okay?" The boy just nodded, because thats what he always did.

X

Roy sighed as he straightened the lapels of his dress uniform in the mirror hung by the door of his small apartment. He didn't know how he had let Maes talk him into this party, or how the man had kept himself from mentioning it until just this morning. He never had been good with secrets. But he had kept cajoling Roy until the man had given in, said yes, he'd go, alright? And Hughes had smiled then and hurried off.


That had been this morning though, and now it was tonight, and Roy was nervous. Really he just wanted to get the party over with, undoubtedly it would be a pesky affair, his team, a few old friends. It even sounded slightly relaxing until he remembered who was holding it. The man always had something strange up his sleeves, and Roy could only hope that his wife had managed to temper him a little bit.


The quiet shifting behind him caught his attention and he smiled, Edward was dressed as well as he could manage, black leather shiny and clean, a black pullover with long sleeves and white gloves. He looked wonderful, but Roy made a note to himself to take the boy shopping before the week was out, as the shirt was a little tight across his chest, the pants a little short. The blond looked nervous then, shuffling from foot to foot. He looked up at Roy's face as if to gauge his reaction, before darting his eyes quickly back down to the floor.


"I-I'm sorry Master, this was the best I could come up with. I don't really have much. If this isn't good enough, I can ... I know, this isn't right, I'll just stay here." He turned back, before Roy held out a hand to grip his retreating shoulder lightly.


"Don't be silly Edward, you look fine. I'll take you shopping sometime soon, we can get something better then if you want, for now you look great though." The boy stopped and looked over his shoulder at the man, blushing slightly. "And of course you're not staying here. If I have to go to one of Maes' horrible little get-togethers I'm certainly dragging you along. I'd damn well say you're better company than any of those bastards." Edward was smiling again then, and that relaxed Mustang.


He turned back to the mirror for a second before deciding that was as good as he was going to look really. He sighed at his reflection before shooting a look down at Edward, who was staring absently off into space, facing the kitchen, small hands shoved in pockets, shoulders hunched. He couldn't help but let his own smile bubble to the surface then, as he reached up to turn out the light. The boy was silent as Mustang steered him out the door, locking the door carefully before placing it in Edward's capable hand to be tucked away safely.

X

The party had been rowdier than he'd honestly expected when he'd arrived, everyone in the room before him already two sheets to the wind. He held Edward's small hand a little more tightly, giving him a reassuring squeeze and keeping the boy close. A sloshed second lieutenant Havoc was soon draped across his left side, the opposite one from Edward thankfully, and was stuttering some greeting and congratulations. Roy rolled his eyes a little, and gently pushed past with a grunt, heading towards the kitchen, thinking he could fine Gracia there, keeping baby Elicia from the craziness of her husband's party.


Mustang sighed in relief when he pushed through the door and saw Gracia half standing with a scowl on her face, one that melted away when she saw who it was. She heaved a sigh of relief before standing the rest of the way and walking over.


"Sorry, I thought you were one of those troublemakers out there trying to sneak back. Come one in Roy." Her eyes fell to Edward then, who was blushing and holding to Roy's side like a two year old, not really sure what to do. "And who might this handsome boy be?" She smiled up at Roy then, " Could this be the legendary Edward? Maes told me about him." Roy grinned, watching as the boy clung to him more firmly now, hiding his blushing face.


"Why yes, this is Edward, and Ed, I'd like you to meet Gracia. She's Maes' wife, but don't worry she's a lot smarter than him and a whole lot nicer too." Gracia let her face fall into a mock scowl then.


"And just what has that little bastard been up to thats to mean to such a sweet boy?" Her voice was light, and happy, and Edward couldn't help but unstick from Roy's side in increasing amounts. The men outside had been a little much for him, but he could take this. His eyes widened as they fell on the bassinet set on the table and Gracia smiled at him quietly.


"That's Elicia, she's not even two yet. I have to keep her down here, she gets nervous when I go too far away, but I can't let her out of my sight, those boys are entirely too rowdy." He approached the baby slowly, eyes darting between Roy and Gracia before he was close enough to look at the baby itself, small and soft and beautiful. he couldn't stop the smile on his face, small and soft and round, like Al was. He jumped a little when he felt Gracia's hand on his shoulder, lighter and smaller than Roy's familiar touch. She was smiling though.


"Why don't you stay in here and help me, hm? I have some cookies to make and some letters to write so it would be nice. That is-" she paused to glance up at Roy's smirk, "- if your darling Master would let me steal you for a while." Roy shook his head, smiling still.


"If you wanna stay out here Ed, that's probably a great idea. Don't worry, we won't be here long. I'll be back out for you soon, okay?" Ed smiled, and Roy pressed a little kiss to his forehead and Gracia turned away, smiling slightly to herself. She could see the boy was good for him.

X

It was longer than anyone had planned on before Roy stumbled into the kitchen again, long enough that Edward was torn between worry and anger, not long enough fro him to show the second on his face, the first oozing in around the corners despite his best efforts to keep it back. He didn't notice the tight lipped frown Gracia cast Mustang when he entered. Edward hurried over to the man, and looked up at him, arm captured in the clammy grip. Mustang smiled.


"Lets go home, sweetie, I don't think this lovely lady wants us in her house anymore. I think we should take out leave before she sees what Maes did to the couch and starts demanding human sacrifices." There was a round of drunken giggles from the other side of the door, and a cry of Mustang you Bastard, you weren't supposed to tell her!, before Edward took the man's arm and draped it over his neck, holding him up as well as he could. He looked back at Gracia a little sadly.


"I'm sorry Ms.Hughes. If you want some help cleaning up I can ask Master to bring me back tomorrow, I'm good at that, I did really well in all those things." Gracia's eyes softened at that, and she smiled.


"If it really is that bad I might call him and take you up on that offer." Shaking her head, "Do you want a ride home then?" He shook his head a little.


"I can get him home fine, it's a short walk, we should be fine, even like this. But thank you Ms. Hughes." And with that he steered the inebriated man towards the door.

X

Roy sighed in contentment as he leaned heavily on the blond boy, trying to suppress a giggle. He was sure he was sober enough to walk on his own, but he was drunk enough that it seemed like a good idea not to tell the boy beside him that and let Edward feel useful. And from here he could bury his face in the beautiful blond hair every once and awhile. Before they had left Edward had straightened his uniform and made him presentable, but the boy was now seeing just how futile that gesture had been. He sighed, shifting the man on his shoulder a little bit, trying to compensate for Mustang's newly discovered lilt-to-the-left technique.


They were two blocks from the apartment now, the going had been slow but steady. He calculated that he should be able to get them home and in bed before 1am, which was good. Still, it was late then, and the district was empty, as it was a wednesday night after all. He shuddered slightly at the wind clacking the tree branches together. It was creepy to say the least. It made Edward want to hurry.


He readjusted the man on his shoulders slightly for the hundredth time, and sighed once more.


"You know, Master. I don't mean to be rude or anything, and I probably wouldn't say this if I thought you'd remember it in the morning, but I think maybe you should learn when you've had a little too much to drink, because this is ridiculous. You have an image to uphold after all and its partly my job to-" He fell backwards suddenly, having run into something or someone standing straight in their path. He hadn't been paying attention, he was too busy making sure Mustang didn't fall or something. When he looked up to apologize his blood froze in his veins.


The man he had run into, for now he knew it was a man, had desert darkened skin and red eyes, a scar criss-crossing his forehead like a battle scar. Edward gulped audibly, trying to rouse the new general quickly. He'd heard the descriptions and the reports while they had been at headquarters and, while he wasn't sure who the man in front of him was, he knew he was a very dangerous person. When he looked back Mustang was puling on his gloves sloppily, making Ed breath a sigh of relief.


The sigh was ripped out when the man snapped, and the flames hit nowhere near the intended mark, the flames a weak yellow in hue. Edward actually whimpered then, pushing the man back again while stepping in to face the man. He merely through his head back and laughed at the gesture. Scar opened his mouth then.


"You know you are no match for me, child. Step aside, my quarrel is not with you, in fact if I could I would free you from that prison you have been put into. Now step back." Edward scowled


"No, somehow I don't think so. He is my master and I will protect him." He repeated that mantra to himself silently then, He is my master and I shall protect him. it echoed in his ears thousands of times


So now he stood between a rather large man and a smaller more delicate frame, Roy scuttling backwards a little.


"Edward..." his words were shaky, "Edward, step back, you're going to get hurt." Ed just closed his eyes and shook his head slightly. He took a deep breath, pausing before he opened his eyes. Scar took a step forwards, tattooed arm now outstretched.


"This is your last chance child -" But he didn't get farther than that, because Edward had clapped his hands together, his automail arm elongating into a steel blade, slicing the white glove on his right hand cleanly down the middle. He charged at the man head on, something he clearly wasn't expecting, and managed to catch the blade on the flesh of the man's arm on the downswing.


It was a deep cut, and the blood flowed from it freely, the scarred man staggering backwards in surprise. Ed dropped into a fighting crouch then, ready to spring up again if needed. He reached out one hand, eyes never leaving the form in front of him, and wiped the crimson from his blade. The scarred man smiled.


"Well I seem to have underestimated you, I wasn't prepared for this. With the increased police patrols I do not have time now for the fight it would be to take both of you, and I doubt you will let me take him while you still breath. So I fear that I must leave now, but I promise you we will meet again, and I will be ready then, and your blood will wash these streets."


Edward watched him leave, disappearing surprisingly quick for someone of his size, but didn't wait a second longer before turning his attention back to the man behind him. Mustang hadn't gotten up yet, and his eyes were wider than usual, his face a little more blank. Then he smiled, holding out his hand so that Edward could help him to his feet. The blond shifted nervously as Roy brushed the dirt from his uniform, suddenly a whole lot more sober than before.


"Well, that was ... unexpected." Edward swallowed heavily and fixed his gaze on the ground in front of him, as Roy led the way towards home a little shakily still. Ed was silent the whole way, though be it from the shock of the attack or the uncertainty of what his Master would do he wasn't sure himself.


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A/N: srry guys, took me forever to update over here, but heres a two in one, if anyone's still reading this *sweatdrop* review? it would make me very very happy *puppydog eyes*