Iam, Suscipio Countdown (Now, Begin Countdown)

A/N: Warning for yaoi and Roy/Ed nothing explicit this chapter though. The chapter titles and story title are in Latin, for you information, the language of romance.

Chapter One: Septem (Seven)

Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays: seven days to a week.

Five for work:
As always, Ed stormed into the office half an hour late, spoke to no one except for Lieutenant Hawkeye whom he always said at least 'morning' to; that woman can train any kind of dog. He stomped over to the carafe holding rather poor office coffee, but to anyone addicted to caffeine that's better than nothing. Impatiently he tapped his foot allowing the stream of coffee to fill his Styrofoam cup at a rate much to slow for his taste. When finally that was finished he ripped the top one at a time off of six small paper wrapped packages of sugar, dumping each into his cup as he went. This took much more time than anyone who was already thirty minutes or so late had to spare, but in Edward's case no one said a word. He didn't do that much actually at the office anyway, but since regaining his younger brother's body the state required him to be in the office for a certain amount of time in order for him to keep his steady income.
Slowly the first cup of java was drained, he took his sweet time there was rarely ever a penalty for dawdling, in his case that is. Of course, once he was finished that meant it was time to speak with the colonel; ask about possible missions, report that he was in the office at all, and exchange insults. Stretching languidly, Ed stood, not bothering to throw his cup in the garbage; he would be requiring quite a lot more coffee after any meeting with Colonel Mustang. Another stretch, a yawn and he was knocking at the door that separated high -muckity-muck from lowly subordinate. "Over-paid bastard," he muttered under his breath before being admitted to stated bastard's office.

"Oh I am glad to see that you have finally arrived, Fullmetal." Colonel Roy Mustang greeted sarcastically. "I was beginning to worry that someone on the street accidentally stepped on you, I mean seeing as how you're so-."

"Shut the fuck up, Colonel Bastard!" Edward shouted, not allowing him to finish his short joke. Nonetheless Roy smirked, having gotten the rise he was after one way or another, Ed scowled at him. "You know I hate you, right?" He asked.

"Yes, you make yourself perfectly clear on that every morning," his voice practically purred and it sent a shiver down Ed's spine despite his anger.

"As long as we're clear on that," folding his arms over his chest the younger man crossed his ankles and leaned impatiently against absolutely nothing. "Okay, I'm here. Have anything for me?"

"Unfortunately I'm down on my luck and I'm stuck with you remaining in Central until further notice. No assignments that require a State Alchemist's attention have been passed to me, so you're off the hook for at least the day." Rolling his eyes at his commanding officer Edward spun on his heel.

"Don't think I'm any happier to be stuck here with you are than you are to be stuck with me." He called reaching for the doorknob.

"Where do you think you're going? I haven't dismissed you yet soldier."

Scathingly, he replied, "Sorry, sir." Biting back the urge to say 'shove it' he awaited a dismissal. Feeling the smirk bore into his back a cool:

"You may go now," penetrated his hearing and he turned the knob a twitch assaulting the corners of his stone-set mouth.

Two for play:

"Fuck you!" Edward sounded nothing but normal, those words were most definitely not a new addition to his vocabulary as Roy had been well aware for a long time. Henceforth it derived no special attention; instead he just smirked and answered:

"You're only angry because you lost, Edward." In such a public place, a festival, he should have been wary of saying or doing things that would announce their relationship to the world. But, if someone were to see he didn't really care anymore, besides his word counted more than just about anyone else'.

"Of course I'm angry because I lost, you probably cheated, bastard." The young man huffed, crossing his arms childishly, Roy smiled.

"It isn't very nice to accuse me of cheating," he said looping an arm around Ed's waist; the blonde stared off in the other direction as to alert him that he was still annoyed. Playfully Colonel Mustang bent to brush his lips across Ed's hairline, pushing his braid to the side. "I don't cheat." His whispered words accompanied a feathered kiss to his lover's ear.

"Fuck you," he insulted again but his tone was softer and he almost smiled.

"Gladly," Roy laughed, he knew Edward wouldn't remain angry over that kind of trivial blow to his pride for more than a few seconds. Of course he blushed lightly at the sexual banter and smacked the colonel's arm, alerting him that he was, in fact, perverted. Still chuckling, he suggested, "How about we go have some dinner?"

"I thought you'd never ask, I'm starving!" Gracing the taller man with a swift kiss to the cheek he dashed off, calling over his shoulder, "I'll meet you in the car!" That of course left Roy with the bill for their carnival game. Rolling his eyes at the long-gone-Edward he reached into his coat pocket for his wallet, not really aggravated with picking up the tab.

"That was certainly an interesting young man," the robust man behind the counter said with a jolly tone. Nodding amusedly Roy tossed the premeditated amount to him, including a few extra cens for the clerk.

"Absolutely. Keep the change." With another nod of farewell he departed into the crowd, in search of the parking lot.

The crowd writhed jostling him this, that, and the other way; couples bantered lightly laughing in the late evening sun, children screamed and weaved their destructive way through the walking legs of adults and teenagers out for the weekend; colleagues stopped to chat with one another briefly exchanging 'nice to see you's' and 'I'll see you Monday's', really just wanting to get back to their life outside of work. Calls rang out from booths voices and tones ranging from shrill and excitable to deep and eerie advertising whatever could be found behind multicolored tent flaps wavering in the warm breeze.

Roy smiled to himself, outwardly he never enjoyed major outings with crying infants and arguing families but inwardly the intricate inner-workings of a social crowd was interesting; besides blending in with hundreds of familiar and unfamiliar alike was simple, and being able to walk hand in hand with his lover was worth anything he might dislike about it.

The paved lot came into view as the crowd thinned near the edges his car was parked near the entrance, a rather impatient looking blonde lounging in the passenger seat, twirling his bangs between his fingers. Catching his eye, the colonel waved and was allowed an appreciative smile and a mocking salute. Upon reaching the vehicle he slid into the driver's side habitually. "What took you so long?" Ed asked immediately, a joke lingering in his words.

"Well, someone, whose name I won't mention but his initials are Edward Elric, left me to pick up the bill so I had to stay and pay for the game." Roy teased, inserting his key into the car's ignition.

"That certainly wasn't me," a cool metal hand grasped his wrist to pull it away from the steering wheel. "Not so fast, you're forgetting something." He said when Roy turned that direction.

"Of course," the elder answered dipping to capture Ed's lips warmly, briefly.

"That's better," Ed settled back into his seat and stared out the window. "Where are we going to eat?"

"Somewhere I'm sure," pressuring the gas pedal slightly, Roy smiled again as the vehicle backed from their parking space.

A/N: Reviews are well loved but of course not necessary. I won't beg.

Plures Gratiae, (Many Thanks)

SeeInBlackAndWhite.