The two men walked down the hall to their own room; each lost in their own thoughts. Roy pushed open the door and stepped inside, Armstrong following close behind. As soon as the door closed behind the pair, Roy felt Alex’s strong arms circle his waist, pulling him close. “Alex?” he asked when the other man pressed a heated kiss into the place where his neck and shoulder connected.

The large man didn’t answer, except to slip his hands inside his lover’s robe, running his hands over the responsive body.

“Alex...” Roy tried to catch the hands that were roaming over his skin. It took a few attempts, but he finally caught them. “What’s the matter?” he asked, bringing one of the hands to his lips and kissing the captive fingers.

“I don’t know. Seeing you... like that... it...” Armstrong trailed off as he freed his hand and grabbed Roy’s chin with his fingertips. “The way you held Edward, I saw something. I want that something.”

“What?”

“I don’t know. Seeing it made me want you. I mean, I always want you, but... there’s something burning in me. You light a fire inside me,” Alex whispered before he crushed his mouth against Roy’s. He freed his other hand, which wasn’t hard to do since the other man had let go of it in shock, and turned the body in front of him after breaking the kiss. “Was he truly asleep when we left?” he asked once they were facing each other.

The dark-haired man pulled back slightly and studied his partner, confused by the question. “Yeah, he cried himself to sleep. He’s out like a light.”

“People usually sleep deeply when they do that, right?” Alex gazed into Roy’s eyes.

The smaller man saw the lust radiating from the bright blue eyes and swallowed. “Uhhh...” he thought about the question Alex had just asked. “I’m not sure. I think it may depend on the person. But, Edward’s young, so maybe...”

Alex tightened his hold on the smaller man. “Good,” he purred before picking up Roy and settling him on the bed.

Roy looked at Alex, confusion lighting his eyes. His lover was acting strangely. He had been silent throughout dinner as well. “Are you okay?”

The bald man crawled onto the bed, hovering over Mustang. “I’ll be fine...” he murmured as he attacked a bare patch of skin on Roy’s chest where the now loose robe had fallen open with his lips and teeth.

“Alex...”

With his mouth attached to his lover’s skin, Alex pushed Roy onto his back. With trembling hands, he fumbled with the belt that held the other man’s robe closed. Once the knot was undone, the large man tore the baggy garment open, and carefully pulled each arm from its sleeve, leaving the raven-haired man clad only in his boxers.

Roy lay where he was, shocked by Armstrong’s sudden amorous attentions. The man’s rough kisses left him dumbfounded. He wanted to respond to his partner’s sexual aggression, but Alex never gave him a chance. Every time he tried, the man would shift his focus to another part of his body. Roy knew he wouldn’t complain in the end, but he wished he could be a participating party in this little fling. He could feel his groin stirring with each rough caress, and waited eagerly for whatever it was Alex would do next.

- - - - -

Roy stretched out an arm sleepily, seeking his lover’s body warmth. The bed had grown cold, and the drop in temperature had worked its way into the man’s mind, waking him slightly. He opened heavy eyelids and searched the room, looking for the missing presence. As his eyes traveled around the room, he noticed his robe lying on the floor. He slipped out from under the light blanket, bending as he did so to grab the forgotten garment. He winced at the movement. ‘Ow. Haven’t felt this way in a long time...’ Mustang grunted as he stepped over to his dresser, pulling out some socks and underwear. These he tossed on his bed before pulling open his closet. Reaching inside, he grabbed a pair of blue jeans and a slate tee shirt.

The events of earlier that morning flashed through his mind. As the images wandered through his head, his stomach felt like it flipped. Not in a bad way, but in an almost excited way. Alex was so large, and so strong, that he was afraid of touching people for fear of breaking them. Roy pushed his arms into the sleeves of his robe as he contemplated his lover’s actions. What had caused the man to react the way he had? ‘Where is Alex, anyway?’ The raven-haired man looked around, his mind considering the places his lover may have disappeared to. ‘Hmmm... That’s got to be it... I know where he is.’ Roy left his room and padded down the hall to Alex’s room.

He knocked softly before pushing open the door. Alex was curled up under his blanket, his arms holding his pillow tightly.

“Alex...” Roy whispered, sitting carefully on the edge of the bed. “Wake up.”

“Nnnn... Wha...?” the bald man slurred, his voice thick with sleep.

The raven-haired man poked his partner playfully in the ribs. “Get up.”

Alex turned over, trying to get away from the disturbance that was interrupting his slumber.

“Mine, mine, mine...”

Alex raised his head once he recognized Roy’s voice, turning in his bed to stare blearily the man who had snuck into his room. He stared at the other man curiously. “What?”

“Mine, mine, mine...” the dark-haired man repeated.

“I heard you the first time. What do you mean by it, though?” the large man asked, genuinely confused. The conversation was serving to wake him up.

Roy strode over to the desk and leaned against it, crossing his legs at his ankles. He turned his gaze on his partner. “That’s what I should ask you. You're not usually so forceful, what's wrong?"

Lines formed in Alex’s brow as he scrunched up his eyes in thought, trying to remember an instance when he had uttered those words.

Mustang stayed silent, watching his lover concentrate. The memory of last night was hazy, the clearest memory he had was of Edward sneaking out and the teen’s nightmare. The teen had lesser nightmares throughout the remainder of the night, but they were nothing like the nightmare he had that woke up the household. However, some things from that night stuck with him. He crossed his arms his chest, quietly waiting for Armstrong’s response.

This was the first chance he’d had to really talk to Alex, and he was going to take advantage of this opportunity before he finalized the adoption of Edward. After a few more seconds of watching Alex try to recall the phrase, he cleared his throat.

“Mine, mine, mine...” Alex murmured, staring the grain of the wood his desk was made of between the various papers that were strewn across the top of it. Merely saying it brought to mind a night when he had been consumed by lust and jealousy. He lifted his head, barely able to meet Roy’s eyes. His heart started pounding in his chest at the memory, now that it had surfaced. “Roy, I... don't know. I lost control. I'm sorry if I hurt you.” The memory of slamming his body against Roy’s, of being so lost in a haze of emotion, made him feel like his heart had lodged itself in his throat. He swallowed, trying to force his throat to open enough to speak.

He wouldn’t blame Roy if he was upset over that night, and would accept any punishment his lover deemed necessary. “I’m sorry. I... I raped you, essentially...” he finally choked out. “I’m sorry, Roy.” He didn’t realize he had said anything out loud last night. His only thought then had been how badly he needed Roy then. The desire had overwhelmed him after he saw Roy cradling Edward after the teen had woken up screaming from a nightmare. He thought that it was just the roar of blood in his ears, but apparently he was so lost inside himself that he had spoken the words out loud.

Roy lifted an eyebrow, and uncrossed his arms as he pushed himself off the edge of the desk. Once he was upright, he began pacing. “No. It wasn’t rape. It was surprise sex. It's fine. There’s no need to apologize. I didn’t mind your actions as much as you might think. Remember what I just told you. I love you, Alex. I really do.” He sighed. “I mean, I am a little sore, but it’s only because we haven’t had rough sex in a long while.”

“Make light of it all you want, I still did something terrible...” Alex followed the other man with his eyes, mulling over what he was going to say next. He knew Roy only paced when he was nervous or upset, but it seemed the man was agitated by something other than what Alex thought he should be. He opened his mouth to speak more, when Roy cut him off.

“What I do want to talk about is how you really feel about me adopting Edward. I'm still going to adopt him."

Alex closed his mouth and folded his hands over his stomach. "I know. I can tell that you’ve already fallen in love with him," he said quietly.

The raven-haired man stopped in his tracks, stunned by the words his lover had just spoken. "What? In love? No... Edward’s much too young, I’m not like that at all...” he sputtered, blinking his eyes as if it would clear his thoughts. “Wait a minute... Are you... are you jealous?"

"I... Possibly," the bald man answered, feeling uneasy.

Roy had expected this answer, but he never intended on making Alex feel guilty, which he obviously was, if the expression on his face was anything to judge by. "Why? You have nothing to worry about. I'm devoted to you." He wished he could take back this conversation, but it had already started. Instead of pacing again, he moved to sit on Alex’s bed. He sat there silently, trying to think of a way to elaborate, and clarify, what he had just said.

The large man turned to gaze at Roy. "Well..." he started after a moment’s silence.

"You know that, right?” Roy interrupted, his voice cracking ever so slightly. He cleared his throat and continued. “You know I love you very much, don't you?"

"Yeah. I know.” Armstrong sat up, the blankets pooling around his waist. He placed an arm around Mustang’s shoulders. “I love you, too, Roy. However, when I see him, this feeling builds in my chest, and I don't like it. I know you’re not going to leave me for someone so young, no matter how attractive he is..." he sighed, pulling Roy close.

“Huh? What do you mean?” the smaller man asked, leaning over and resting his head on his lover’s shoulder.

The muscle man took a deep breath, his chest puffing out. He gathered his thoughts before slowly pushing the air out of his mouth. "When I say that, what I mean is...” He closed his eyes. “Well, there's something about him that reminds you of something... or someone..." Opening his eyes, he turned and gazed deeply into Roy’s obsidian stare. ‘Of me...’ He willed the other man to understand. When Roy had first rescued him from his boyfriend in college, Alex had followed the man around like a lost puppy. Over time, however, having gotten to know his savior, Alex fell in love.

"You're not going to leave me, are you?" Mustang asked, suddenly panicked.

Alex did a double take. "No. I love you. And, I know you're doing something you feel is right. Did I... hurt you that night?"

Roy shook his head, a faint smile on his lips. “Like I said, I’m not as upset over as you think I should be.” He placed a light kiss on the corner of Alex’s mouth. “Come on. Get dressed and come downstairs. I’ll get Ed up and make us all some breakfast.”