Contrasts

By his side were one limb of cold steel and one of warm flesh. One fragile and giving, the other hard and strong.

And that was the way it always was with Fullmetal.

When the boy ran warm, he ran sweet and innocent. Wide golden eyes, lofty selfless goals, a certain naivete about the harsh ways of the world, and a bright hope for the future.

When he ran cold, he ran bitter and cynical. Tense lines around his mouth, an attitude of grim determination, bitter self loathing, and the fear that his dream was both unattainable and undeserved.

One Edward Elric occasionally spoke soft endearments to him, a warm hand running through Roy's hair and down his naked back. This Ed spoke of his dreams, hopes, and plans for dinner and then the library. In this Edward Roy entrusted everything.

One Edward Elric often shouted insults to his face, a cold fist shaking in anger as the young alchemist vented his frustrations. This Ed spoke little, but bleak despair and regret showed through his every move and expression. He was depressingly easy for Roy to predict.

Roy Mustang knew and loved them both.

He knew the way automail felt when it punched his arm, but also he knew the delicious sensation it produced when gently trailed across hot flesh. Roy knew the way tanned skin was horribly scarred and maimed in many places, but also he knew the salty and sweet flavor it left in his mouth.

His lover shifted in their bed, warmth untwisting from Roy only to replaced with the icy sting of the blond's other leg. Ed yawned as he did so, slinging a flesh arm over the dark haired man's stomach even as his other, colder, limb pressed up against the older man's neck.

Edward Elric, older brother of Alphonse Elric. The amazing young man who saved so many and cried about those he couldn't help. A beautiful genius who knew the value of sacrifice and hard work and was more than willing to do both. The kind hearted soul who pretended his automail didn't sting so badly in the winter or burn so hot in the summer because he could still feel them and his brother couldn't...

The Fullmetal Alchemist, dog of the military since the age of twelve. The man-child who sinned greatly and also inadvertently caused the death of hundreds. An arrogrant alchemist who ran on a fool's quest knowing that the outcome of that might very well be worse than the hell he and his bother had already endured. The insubordinate Major whose mission reports were full of more swear words and pointless stories than actual information; so that Roy had to keep close tabs on him...

Warm flesh and cold metal.

That was just the way it was Edward Elric, the Fullmetal Alchemist.