Chapter Text
Against his own wishes, William stayed around. Hughes was too busy investigating with Christmas to take him in, and Roy…liked having William around. He was helpful with food and chores. That was the sole reason. Usefulness.
Roy was shopping for stuff and clothes for William. The kid was fluttering around and tugging on his hand, eyes wide and gleaming. Roy couldn't help the warmth of the sight from filling his heart. He was the Flame Alchemist after all, he knew a lot about warm things.
“William, we will need clothes for you as well as toiletries. I want you bathed tonight, and you need something to brush your teeth. I'll also need some more food for you, and, er…toys ?”
William gave him a glare. “I don't need toys. Toys are for children.”
“You are a child."
“Nuh-uh.” William shook his blonde head, self-assured in his smile. “I'm a big boy, and I don't need the kiddy stuff ! Just throw in toiletries and a shirt and I'll be fine ! Hey, I can even transmute clothes for myself if you buy cloth !” He added excitedly.
Transmute ?
Mustang wasn't expecting a boy to be able to perform alchemy. Was he bluffing ?
No, Roy, he isn't an enemy. He's probably just joking around.
Roy nodded and walked to the nearest shop. He ignored the stares of the passerby and his neighbors’ whispers and smug smiles. Let them think whatever they want, William was just a kid he found and wanted to help, he wasn't some hidden son of his.
“Why are they staring at us ?” William asked. Roy cringed and squeezed his hand.
“Shh.” He pulled him into the shop, then crouched in front of him. “They're just being nosy neighbors. Use your brain, kid, they see the single Colonel out with a child out of nowhere. Isn't that a little ambiguous ?”
He watched as William's face went red. He pulled his hand away and stalked four aisles away from Roy, eyeing him while picking up shirts. Roy snorted at the sheer silliness.
He didn't know what kind of clothes William would like. It was better if the kid chose by himself. Instead, he got himself a new coat. A black one. He let his fingers run down the heavy cloth, humming at the nice feeling. He decided to put it on. Warm, not stifling for a bit, and he looked good. He smirked at his reflection in the mirror, straightening the collar. He wondered if some girls were enjoying the view, ready for him to suck information out of them.
He pretended not to see William in the reflection looking at the smallest coat sizes.
After that, he looked over what the kid picked. A bunch of underwear, two pajamas with patterned cartoon cats, three shirts and three pairs of pants, as well as a black coat. He stared at him as if daring Roy to make a comment. He didn't.
What Roy did was ruffle his hair. “You didn't pick up shoes.”
The kid looked up. “Oh.” He turned around to get a pair when Roy grabbed his shoulder.
“Don't worry, I got you some already.” He handed two black shoes to the cashier. The kid gaped like a fish. It was funny.
“Thanks !”
“You're welcome.”
After that, they went to the market to pick up fresh fruits and vegetables. William made a face at the carrots Roy tossed at him. Roy wrinkled his nose to bite a cackle back, and let William hold his hand on the way home when he stopped in front of a toy store.
He longingly stared at its contents, mainly a trio of stuffed cats. White, tiger stripped and black.
Roy followed the kid's glance, and looked down at his wallet. State Alchemist was a good situation, financially speaking. He wasn't in need. If he lived frugally, it was only out of not caring much and being too lazy to try harder, to cook, clean, furnish his apartment with more than the basics rather than out of money issues. He wasn't so flashy as he pretended to be, and living with little didn't bother him. Even if it was depressing, he guessed it suited him. It wasn't like a criminal belonged in a classy palace anyways.
So, he had the money to walk into the store, drag William's blushing face behind him, and grab all three cats to slam them down at the counter in front of a bored looking old schmuck of a cashier, whose glasses surely didn't fit his vision's needs anymore.
The old man stared into Roy's soul while taking his money, all while William blabbered about not needing baby items, and not needing him to pay for it anyways, and not wanting them at all actually. Roy chose to ignore him.
This is how he ended up in front of his Second-Lieutenant Havoc, mouth agape enough to drop his ever poised cigaret into a puddle. The poor man stared at his superior holding three enormous stuffed cats with a tiny scruffy kid looking all flushed and outraged.
“Havoc, one word and your cigaret isn't the thing I'll light up.” Roy warned with his voice purposefully low and smooth. For intimidation. Of course, Havoc had known him for a long time by now, so it majestically failed as the man doubled over with hollering laughter.
“Gee, Colonel, you played it smooth, haven't you ? Whose is it ? A former conquest ? Oh, if Hughes from Intelligence was here, he'd ask if it was the Lieutenant's !” The man picked up his wet cigaret and grimaced at its sight, and threw it into the nearest bin, but not after ruffling William's hair, who bristled and tried to bite his hand. Havoc only snorted. “Yeah, you'll need more than that to get me, but well tried.” He said good-heartedly.
Roy hated that Havoc saw right about Hughes. Stupid man. He also hated that tomorrow, the whole office would know about his supposed hidden love child. They weren't dumb enough to believe such a gross rumor, especially with an age gap like Roy and William's, but they were annoying enough to bug him about it only for fun. And he would probably fall for it.
“He's just a lost child from the street I'm trying to reunite with his family. Nothing less, and especially nothing more.” He harshly barked at his subordinate.
Behind him, William flinched.
“Okay, okay, get it Boss. So, we'll see the champ in the office I guess ?” Havoc asked, and reached down to ruffle William's hair one more time, uncaring of the kid's teeth, who silently took it this time. All while staring straight through Havoc's soul.
Roy shrugged. “It depends on how fast Hughes can find info about his brothers’ whereabouts.”
“Aw. I hope we get to see ya around, kiddo. You seem cool.” Havoc grinned, making William blink and huff proudly, before flexing his biceps.
“More than cool ! I'm amazing !” He boasted, making Roy choke out a laugh. He hid it under a cough, ignoring Havoc's more than amused face. The Second-Lieutenant was holding his stomach.
“Oh, I love that kid. Boss, bring him in, please ! The guys'll love him !”
“That's what I fear.” Mustang deadpanned. “The Lieutenant'll shoot you all.” He warned, patting William's flexed muscle-
It felt weird.
He shook off the feeling from his hand, instead settling his hand on the kid's shoulder.
“A risk I'm willing to take. Well, goodbye, Boss ! Don't drown in education books !” Havoc waved, leaving a sputtering Roy who shouted empty threats of court-martial and latrine duty.
William giggled.
He looked a little sad. And he stayed a little sad throughout the day, until the night came and Roy tucked him in the couch, three plush kittens snug in his arms.
He resisted giving the kid a goodnight kiss.
-—-
William suffered from chronic pains. Roy learnt it soon enough when the poor kid woke him up retching in the toilets with barely contained sobs. He was hiccuping, struggling to keep his head above the white ceramic bowl.
Roy threw his blankets away from his body and lept towards his little protégé, kneeling down besides him to rub circles on his back.
“Roy…it hurts, it all hurts…” He groaned, voice feeble and hoarse from the acid irritating his vocal cords. Roy tried to ignore the unnatural bumps he felt on the boy's back, pulsing grossly. Just like he ignored the double biceps.
“I know, kid, I know…” Roy muttered, pulling him close against his chest. William grunted and clung to his pajama top. Thankfully he stopped sleeping in his barest attire ever since he took the boy in.
Then, slowly, his hand rose and landed on top of William's golden mop of hair. The kid shuddered, but didn't lean away, instead burrowing his face in Roy's chest.
“It hurts…” He whimpered again. Roy didn't know what to do. Did William have a random condition he forgot to tell him about ?
“What hurts, Will ?” He asked, keeping his voice low and calm, even though he was freaking out inside. William stiffened at the nickname, huffing.
“Everything. It ain't right, inside of me…” He answered. Roy furrowed his brows, befuddled. Maybe he should book a doctor appointment for the kid. “Say, Mister Roy…” William suddenly picked up. “Why'd you call me Will ?”
“Just a nickname. Slip of the tongue. You don't like it ?”
William seemed to ponder over the thought, distracted from his pain. Roy flushed the toilet, and stretched his arm out to grab a washcloth. The kid eventually shook his head. “Nah. I like it. It's got a nice ring to it…”
Roy couldn't help but fondly smile. Stupid kid. He wiped the sick away from the too-pale face, and helped William stand out shakily.
He looked like he wanted to ask something, so Roy patiently waited. He led him back to the couch, and began to prepare the blankets for a nicer sleep when William tugged on his pant leg.
“Yeah ? What's up, kid ?” Roy tried not to cringe at his flat tone. He was trying to be comforting, damnit ! Fortunately, William didn't seem to mind, and began to speak.
“Can I…well…it's just that…” He fumbled over his words, cheeks reddening and finally giving back some color to his face. He looked a little better now, still shaky and his eyes looked red and dry, but he clenched his fists in front of him and finished his sentence. “Can I sleep with you ?”
“What ?” Roy blinked. He's pretty sure he looked like a fish out of its tank. The kid wanted to sleep with him ? Well, he guessed it did make sense. He probably slept near his brothers, and felt lonely now, right ? Plus he was an orphan. And he was hurting everywhere. Of course he wouldn't want to be alone right now. Roy quickly pulled himself together by running his hand down his face, and nodded. “I mean, yeah, sure. Come here, I guess…” He muttered.
William bit his lip. “You don't have to say yes if you don't want to, you know…”
“Nonsense. I don't mind at all !” Roy replied with his booming voice. He winced at the volume, which made William flinch. He was fiddling with the hem of his pajama shirt, looking even less sure. Roy crouched down in front of him. “I-I mean it, William. It's okay. I'm just surprised…you'd want to sleep with me, that's all.”
William blinked. “Why would you be surprised a nothing more than a lost boy wants to…have a slumber party with you ?”
That caught Roy off guard. “Nothing more than a lost boy ? Will, you are much more than a lost kid ! I admit we haven't known each other for a long time, but…I…” He took a deep breath, struggling to find the right words. “I really appreciate your company, kid. I like it.” It seemed that the right words naturally poured from his mouth. Was that…parental instinct ?
“But you told the blonde guy that I was nothing more than an orphan…” William argued. Roy's eyes widened a little. So that was what was up. He pinched the bridge of his nose, sighing fondly.
“Kid, I only said that because he was teasing me. I don't do well with teasing. I'm…sorry I said something that hurt you. I didn't mean to. And I sure as hell didn't mean what I said.” He admitted. William seemed to think over his words, eyes jittering before he nodded.
“Okay. Makes sense. I keep telling Al things I don't mean.” He began, fidgeting with his thumbs. His slightly disgruntled and embarrassed face turned into a warm and fond smile, which piqued Roy's interest. “Brother gets so pissed off when people tease him. He makes it easy. He's so proud that he gets all red.”
“We're the same, then. Your brother and I.” Roy chuckled. “I guess we're even.”
“Yup.”
“Do you still want to sleep with me ?”
“Yeah, please.” William nodded gingerly.
Roy smiled, hopefully reassuringly, and led William to his bedroom. The kid curled under the blankets, clutching the white stuffed cat Roy bought. It made Roy feel…stupidly warm. Fuzzy. Like he cared. Like William was the whole center of the world.
Strange. He laid the thought no mind, swatting away a suspiciously Hughes-like voice whispering “Your kid !” in his ears.
Roy ruffled William's hair. “Good night, kid.”
“Good night, Mister Roy Sir.”
-—-
It had been seven days. William was irritating but so endearing he grew on Roy.
He was a lot. One of those things was an alchemy genius. He deciphered Roy's gloves in just two days, and almost burnt down the apartment. He was both impressed and terrified.
Right now, he was on the couch with the kid studying some of his books.
“Hey, Roy, can we agree this one sigil stands for ‘soul’ and those two for gold and silver ?” He asked.
Roy leaned over. This circle was…
It was…
Lord.
A knock. Roy stood up abruptly. Trying to erase the circle William drew from his mind. Because it was nothing, and it meant nothing. Just a genius child's musings.
He opened and saw Riza with her duffel bags and Black Hayate.
He blinked and gave her a raised brow. “Lieutenant ?”
She put Hayate down on the floor and let him sit in front of Roy, barking once to ask for pets. He delivered, crouching down to headpat the pup who bumped in its hand.
“My plumbing broke down. Apartment's flooded.” She said softly, her usual deadpan present as always. Roy did catch a slight playful glint behind those unassuming eyes, though. He was used to her being unphased, downright amused towards things that would send him flying with panic. An impromptu flood that would wet him to the bone sounded like something he would panic about.
Roy turned around to see William standing right besides him, nose scrunched up.
“I'm more of a cat person…” He grumbled, rubbing Hayate's belly. It made Roy smile at the innocent comment and how it was obviously untrue.
He kept trying not to think about that circle.
“I would take you in, but my couch is already taken…” Roy spoke up as Riza put her suitcases down on next to the couch. She gave him a look.
“Colonel, you're acting as if we never shared a bed.”
William snickered. “I sleep in the bed though, now.”
Riza's eyes zeroed in on the kid, softening in something gentle and loving. “I know for a fact three people fit in the Colonel's bed.”
William went beet red, as well as Roy.
Riza then entered and made herself at home. As she did more times than Roy could count. And it also went the other way. Half of her closet was in the bottom right drawer of his wardrobe. She settled her suitcases by the bed, smiling at the sight of the colored bedsheets and the small pile of cat themed pajamas, as well as the three stuffed toys sitting on the bed.
Without a word, she smoothed down the blankets. And she went back to the living room. William was staring at her with curious eyes, roughhousing with Black Hayate while Roy sipped on a cup of coffee. She sat down on the couch, taking one cup that was conveniently filled with lemon honey tea, her favorite.
That's when she saw a notebook, with circles and ciphers. She raised a brow reaching for it when Roy slammed it shut. The apartment went silent at the loud action, and Hayate whimpered. Roy's eyes were haunted. They begged Riza to not say anything.
Don't bring it up again.
“Mister Roy ?” William warily called out. Roy breathed then smiled at the kid.
“Yeah ?”
William didn't say anything. He just stated at Roy, then went back to playing with the dog.
-—-
Riza read a book while Roy was doing things in his study. She was quiet, silently wishing for a glass of red wine and s'mores, when she felt watched. She turned around and saw William peeking over the couch to try and read along. She smiled and turned the book over.
“It's the ‘Phantom of the Opera’.” She said. William walked around the couch and plopped down next to her.
“Is it good ?”
“I think it is. Do you want to read with me ?” She asked. William seemed to ponder over her words, then nodded, shuffling closer. She smiled at him.
He was warm. Maybe a little too warm. It felt like a fever, but Roy did warn her something was wrong with the kid. So she didn't ask further. She was no doctor, unfortunately.
A few hours later Roy walked into his living room to see William napping on Riza's lap while she read a book.
Such a domestic sight.
He hadn't had a glass of whiskey since he met William.
He sat down next to her, stroking his kid's hair. William rolled over, drooling a bit and seemed to lean into the touch.
“He's pure.” Riza softly said, voice…
Well. Roy wasn't fatherly in any way. Riza sure as hell wasn't motherly either. They weren't allowed to be near kids after burning and shooting so many of them..They couldn't be so parental to a boy they met five days ago.
Something in the way she looked at William so tenderly made his stomach churn with sorrow. They shouldn't have had blood on their hands. If they hadn't enlisted, William could have been the son she carried with his DNA mixed with hers.
Wasn't that a real human transmutation ? Fusing DNA together to create one human being ? The only ethical version of that cardinal sin ?
He shook his head with a forlorn smile.
They chose a life of violence and pretending. Blood and heat in the middle of a desert was the root of their determination and their drive.
After some hours, it was time for dinner.
“Can we have stew ?” William asked for the fourteenth time since he began to live with Roy.
Roy was going to say no, for the fourteenth time, but Riza jumped in before he could.
“We can, William. I'm pretty sure the Colonel has everything we need, but I feel like you know the recipe more so I could use your help cooking.”
The boy beamed and jumped to his feet, running for the kitchen. Roy made a face. He decided to skim through his latest case, remembering his leave was slowly coming to an end. He wasn't looking forward to going back to the office. He knew for a fact all of his men awaited for him to come with William to properly meet him, and he didn't want to deal with that. Plus, sleeping in was nice. Not rushing not to be late was even better.
He sighed miserably at the thought. Maybe he could call in sick ? He might have been able to had the Lieutenant not moved in temporarily. She sure as hell wasn't letting him play hooky. He came to wonder if she hadn't invented this flood story, to keep an eye on him. He shuddered.
Getting sick of work, he hid the files in his drawer before peeking in the kitchen.
William was stirring a pot while Riza peeled some potatoes. The kid occasionally gave instructions out loud on how to make it the way his late Mom did, as if reciting the recipe to remember. It was sweet.
“And of course, carrots !” He chirped, grabbing a bunch of the vegetables. Roy lifted up one brow.
“I thought you hated carrots.” He said, leaning on the dining table. William pouted.
“Al's the big baby who hates carrots.” He answered. “It's a battlefield just trying to get him to eat one !”
He nodded, trying to quell the unnerved feeling in his gut.
It meant nothing.
The trio sat down a little later. Riza smiled. “Your Mom must have been a great cook.” She complimented, taking a sip of the broth. Roy hummed in delight.
“I keep forgetting how tasty your cooking is, Lieutenant.” He groaned. She chuckled.
“Mom was the best ! Now, Ed's the one who cooks for me. He's not as good, but God is it tasty.” William giggled. Roy laughed at his enthusiasm.
He stopped laughing when William downed the glass of milk he left for him as a joke.
He thought the kid hated the stuff.