Archive of Our Own

Edward Elric was starting to really fucking hate tents. Life in the woods could be miserable in general, but he decided that the worst part was having to climb into a bloody tent every night. They were cramped to sleep in - even for him, and that was really saying something - they had had the tendency to partially collapse at inopportune moments before Greed had condescendingly shown him how he was setting it up wrong; he could sometimes feel rocks and roots jutting up through the groundsheet like some dainty fairytale princess, and even when they weren't doing anything specific to provoke him, they did shit all to keep the cold out. He lay on the uneven forest floor night after night, curled into a pathetic ball inside his sleeping bag, listening to the howling of the wind, and wondered if it would be too much to ask to bring the Promised Day forward a few weeks.

Of course, the Promised Day stayed firmly in the future: threatening and inescapable and effectively taming all the other problems Ed had to the level of mere inconveniences. But even inconveniences could become borderline unbearable when they were a nightly occurrence, so while he did his best to outwardly grin and bear it, he complained heartily to himself whenever he got the chance. In a way, it was a welcome distraction: something else to direct his aggravation towards, something more manageable than the potential end of the world.

But distractions can only last so long before petering out, and the dull isolation he was so averse to became the perfect environment for dread. When he was too cold and uncomfortable to sleep, and it felt as though he was entirely alone in the world, there was little else to do but lie awake and think about everything that could go wrong. That was worse than both the cold and the discomfort: that gnawing loneliness, and that was what he truly wanted to escape from.

Perhaps, then, his problem was a little deeper than tents, and wouldn't be entirely solved by getting out of the woods, but still he'd much rather worry obsessively in a nice warm bed than out here in the wilderness.

So when he got the chance to do exactly that, he took it. The group had strayed into a relatively lively little town during their search for supplies, and while the others focused their attention on keeping their heads down, Ed's eyes were fixed on the alluring lights of the hotel in front of them. On a regular day, any suggestion of succumbing to temptation and abandoning their camp would have been met with sympathetic rejection, but today the odds were in his favour - which is to say they were against everyone else. They'd been plagued by awful weather for the past few days, and the storm-laden sky promised that tonight would be no different. The previous night had been especially chaotic, with a falling branch ripping a hole straight through the side of Greed's tent in the early morning. It was actually quite amusing to everyone but Greed, who insisted plaintively that 'I could have fucking died' while the others assured him that the immortality clause written into his chest probably covered accidents of nature too. It would be a simple enough fix with alchemy anyway, but it added to tensions that were already running just high enough for no one to object when Ed timidly suggested taking a little break, just for one night.

Heinkel was deemed the least conspicuous of the group, and was sent up to the desk while the others hung back in the shadows of the foyer. They weren't sure if there was any chance of being recognised or not, and they certainly didn't see any wanted posters, but when they were being so lax in one aspect of their fugitive lifestyle, it was important to keep up appearances in the others.

He returned a few minutes later, with a wide grin, and a suspiciously low number of keys clutched in his fingers. "All done! Got us two rooms, top floor."

"Just two?" Ed squinted up at him, his voice sullen and a tad petulant. He knew he was being ungrateful, not least because it was his money they were saving by not splurging on separate rooms, but this level of frugality did seem a little excessive. He didn't know why he was so dead set on privacy, because that was what he'd had every night in the woods, and look how much good it had done him then. Perhaps he just wanted to pretend everything was normal again - or at least that his life wasn't under direct threat, because how long had it been since anything had actually been normal? - and he couldn't exactly do that with a Homunculus or a chimera breathing down his neck.

"Last two, actually, so don't look too downhearted." He gave Ed's shoulder a friendly pat, which didn't do much to cheer him up, but at least he could be glad there had been more than one room left. "We just gotta buddy up. Edward, do you want to-"

"He's with me." Long fingers tightened on his shoulder with a possessiveness that had become so familiar as to be expected, and none of the three raised an eyebrow at the demand. It was no secret that Greed was not the sort of leader to shy away from favouritism. Whenever the team had to split up, it was invariably he who ended up at Ed's side, and his presence had become an almost gratifyingly reliable constant in his otherwise unpredictable life. Ed didn't quite know why he should be such an object of desire in Greed's eyes, or indeed what sort of desire it was: a question he'd found himself wandering back to more often than he'd care to admit, without figuring out what the answer was - or even what he wanted it to be. Regardless, the attention wasn't entirely unwelcome, and while he did still resent having to share a room with him, he also felt strangely disappointed when Greed's hand left his shoulder.

The Homunculus bounded up the stairs, coat flapping dramatically behind him, and Ed followed with a good deal less enthusiasm. They both ended up having to wait around on the balcony while the chimeras took their time to reach the top of the building, chatting away about something innocuous. Heinkel tossed Greed one of the keys, and he waved a thanks as he pushed it into the door on the right, which refused to open.

"You have to pull it," Heinkel offered cheerily, already ushering Darius into the neighbouring room through their successfully opened door.

"Oh, really?" He glared at him, voice heavy with sarcasm, and the chimera returned the hostility with a pleasant shrug.

Ed grinned to himself, leaning against the wall as Greed pulled the door open with an irritated flourish. Blocking Greed's way, he stepped inside - or he stepped as far as the threshold and then paused, eyebrows furrowing.

"You sure this is the right room?"

"Yes." Greed dangled the key before his eyes, and yeah, the bold number plastered across it did match the brass displayed on the door. "Why, what's keeping you? Get a move on." The demand was emphasised with a poke between his shoulder blades, and Ed squirmed in response, almost stumbling a step forward.

"Uh… there's only one bed." He swallowed against the palpable awkwardness Greed didn't seem to feel. Now this was unwelcome fodder for his overactive teenage imagination. Not that either of them would actually initiate anything untoward, but he hadn't quite reached the point of maturity where thoughts of sharing a bed didn't naturally snowball into, well, bedroom thoughts - State Alchemist or not. And did it really have to be Greed, of all people?

"I can see that." Ever-wandering hands came to rest on Ed's upper arms, dispassionately maneuvering him out of the way. "And?"

"Well there's one bed, and two of us." Indignation raised his voice to an embarrassed squeak.

"Hm, you can count. I'm impressed." He wasted no time in collapsing onto the bed in question, spreading his limbs with a hum of satisfaction. After a moment in which Ed hung bashfully back, he lifted his head to fix him with a stare that was anything but impressed. "Though, since you're being so literal, there's actually three of us. And neither me nor Ling see a problem here, so that makes you outnumbered."

Ed grimaced at the novel, surprisingly unforeseen prospect of sharing a bed with Ling. It was possibly even more mortifying than sharing a bed with Greed, because at least with the latter he could put up the facade of professionalism. Greed could - would, most likely - find a way to tease him with the manufactured intimacy, but Ling would be altogether more sincere about it. "Three's a crowd. 'Specially when two is already too much."

"Have it your way." His head flopped back onto the cover with a muffled sigh, and the blanket rippled around him like an exhalation of breath. "Go complain if you feel so strongly about it. Make a scene, draw attention to us..."

"Shut up," he huffed, not pleased with being outdone by logic. Arguing with Greed was far easier when each drove the other into increasingly absurd hypotheticals. Reality rarely complied with their conflict, thus rendering it meaningless when shone on by that harsh light. That was always disappointing, because it gave them an undeniable reason to stop fighting, and fighting could be surprisingly cathartic sometimes. Reluctantly, he nudged the door shut and leant against it, arms crossed in petty defiance. Greed didn't look up, but the limited view of the bottom half of his face revealed the upward quirk of his lips at the concession. "These are the only rooms left, right? Looks like I'm stuck with you."

"Glad you've seen sense."

"Yeah. Well. Guess I'll just… sleep on the floor then."

Greed laughed at that, sharp and unfiltered, having not seen it coming - though he probably should have - and there was a certain vulnerable charm to his laugh when it wasn't calculated. "Remarkably defeatist of you." He pushed himself up to get a better look at the object of his entertainment. "If you don't want to share, aren't you going to fight me for it?"

"Not worth it." With a shrug that was meant to signify nonchalance, he tugged off his coat and threw it over the back of a chair. He must have laid on the airy carelessness a little too thick, because he missed, and it pooled on the floor instead.

"Hey, pick that up!" Greed chided, frowning at the innocent mistake with a peeved condescension that made Ed grit his teeth till his jaw hurt. "Don't make a mess of our lovely new room."

"I'm doing it, alright?!" Shaky fingers pulled the fabric up in one frantic jerk and after a second or two of enraged grappling, he managed to toss it over the chair properly.

Greed didn't give him a moment to recover before tilting his head and piping up again: "So why isn't it worth it? You that sure I'd win?"

"I'm that sure you'd cheat." He turned his head away, feeling the tension skitter across his cheeks in a humiliated flush.

"Course I wouldn't, because I don't care. You're the one getting worked up over it, making it into more than it is." He didn't have to look at him to hear the smirk lilt into his voice. "Look, come and sit down. I'm not stopping you."

Ed returned his gaze to where Greed sat, patiently patting the spot beside him and watching him with sparkling, fascinated eyes. "No, I'm good, thanks," he replied, voice sharpened by irrational frustration.

Greed took notice of that, his forehead creasing with uncertain curiosity. "What is it?" There was something like concern peppered in with the wheedling, but Ed was not so observant as he was, and didn't notice. "What's got you so rattled?"

He exhaled slowly, the back of his head coming to rest against the wood of the door with a dull thud, steadying his rationality. Some mockery would have been expected if he'd seemed too eager, but this stubborn, outright rejection was no better; it just gave the Homunculus more ammunition. Jumping to malicious retorts was getting him nowhere, especially in the face of Greed's unyielding amiability. If only he could reflect that patient calm himself, this could be settled quickly. "Nothing. I don't know." His tongue ran across lips that were forming a gentle grin. "Just thought I'd get a break from you for one goddamn day."

"That's not it." He leaned forward, his stare becoming less passively interested, more inspective, invested. "You could take a break from me whenever, if you wanted to. You just don't."

"Yes, I do." He shifted, unsure how to react to the unnuanced denial of his own damn mind.

"So what's stopping you? We live in a whole ass forest, you know, and I don't have superpowers. Plenty of places to go if you want to be alone. But it's only a problem now, the one time that's not possible? How does that work? Seems like you don't actually mind me all that much."

An automail finger clumsily traced a ridge in the door as he considered the criticism. Greed wasn't right, not about everything; at least, he could safely say that the unspoken implications stood on fragile ground at best - unless he was misreading them. But that conviction aside, all Greed had said were objective facts, and yes, there had to be some sort of explanation behind it. He just wasn't sure what it was. Of course, his chores kept him busy but no matter how it may sometimes have felt, they weren't actually all-consuming, and he had enough free time to wander undisturbed for hours if he chose. But he didn't. He stayed close to the others, basking in their warmth and companionship even as he cussed them out. It wasn't even that he'd outright rejected the idea of solitude; he had just never considered it in enough depth for that to even be an option, which had to mean something, right?

He pursed his lips, hiding in blank-faced ambiguity, crossed arms tensing as if he was curling in on himself. There was no reason to cling too long to this train of thought when he may have misunderstood what he was riding in the first place, never mind the destination. "What are you trying to say?"

"That you're full of shit."

"Why's that then?" He raised an eyebrow in deliberate affront, voice clipped or disguised. It was easier to question, to dig deeper into confusion than attempt justification, wasn't it?

"You tell me." So he wouldn't play along with this ploy of avoidance too compliantly, then. They were still clashing heads, and it was interesting to wonder just how closely they could intertwine if they didn't instinctively repel each other the second they touched.

"Maybe I'd like to. You don't exactly make it easy." He didn't even know what he was trying to prove; if this was an attack or an interrogation or something else entirely. Maybe Greed didn't either. Maybe this was just fun for him.

"I'm not making it harder than it should be. I'm just not letting you get away with the same bullshit you tell yourself with me," he said with a rationality so calm it was almost clinical, and Ed scoffed under his breath because what does that even mean? "You say one thing and do another. I'd like to make sense of it."

"Why?" he asked, again, the word bubbling involuntarily from his throat. It was easy, thoughtless.

"Why what?"

"Why do you care?"

He gave a sardonic little laugh, the eye contact he'd seemed so determined to enforce slipping a little as the questioning turned on him. "It's me who has to put up with this angst, in case you haven't noticed. Whenever you have a problem you can't be bothered to do anything about, it becomes my fault. Blame the Homunculus. So if you could do some soul-searching or whatever, and stop assuming everything that goes wrong is out of your control and maybe take a little responsibility if that's not too much to ask, I would be grateful."

Ed hummed, half assenting and half resenting because he'd expected - feared? - something a little more sentimental than another blunt jab. Something more productive, though that had an unfortunate irony to it considering how unresponsive he was all the time. "Sounds like you've got it all figured out already."

"Just a guess." He shrugged, irritating in his sudden apathy. "Correct me if I'm wrong."

He was. Ed just hadn't figured out what about yet.

There was a long pause before he sniffed and almost cautiously said, "Am I that bad?"

"Sometimes," he nodded assuredly. And then he faltered, a reluctantly concessive grimace crossing his face. "Maybe it's not bad. It's normal enough. God knows, no one's got their shit all figured out at your age. Still bloody annoying though. Just don't like hypocrisy."

"Yeah… neither do I." An awkward laugh filtered through the tension. "Ironic, huh?"

"Little bit."

"I'm not trying to lie to you, you know?" He blinked through ashamedly lowered lashes, the fire of his eternal defiance sputtering beneath the timid awkwardness. It felt as though a spotlight were on him, the attention he had felt used to especially intense. Perhaps that raw, humiliating side to vulnerability always came hand in hand with honesty, and he did want to be honest.

"I know. 'S not me you're lying to. Most of the time, anyway."

"And I do need a break from you sometimes, but I don't think it really matters right now," he said all in one solid rush, and found that he did mean it. He didn't particularly care about Greed's company - though that wasn't exactly true, because he was usually far closer to desire than neutrality - and actually if they'd had two separate beds this whole uncomfortable necessity could have been avoided.

"Yeah, I figured."

"I was just pissed off in general."

"Yeah. That's alright."

"Still don't wanna sleep with you though."

Greed paused at that, various shades of uncertainty flickering across his face as he tried to figure out how literal Ed was being. "Well, ah, sex doesn't solve everything… and," he registered the startled expression on the alchemist's face and continued blithely on as if he wasn't taking shots in the dark. "Neither does, uh, sleeping in the same bed? Though the latter is generally considered pretty uncontroversial so there's no real harm in it-"

"Yeah, um, I probably will just sleep on the floor."

"Seriously?"

"I've had to put up with the forest floor for weeks, I think I can cope with a few floorboards. I've even got a nice rug. See?" Greed's eyes traveled down Ed's body to where he was gently kicking at the rug at the foot of the bed.

"...comfy."

"Exactly."

The concerned knit of his eyebrows spoke of further insistence, but then he relaxed, shaking his head in detached bemusement and sinking back against his pillows. "Your loss."

In a half-compromise, Ed sat on the edge of the bed, remarking that it was actually quite luxurious, but now was not the time for fickleness. He had made his alas-only-figurative bed, and now he must lie in it. An amusing thought crossed his mind. "Think Darius and Heinkel are in the same predicament?"

"Yeah, probably." Greed replied, gazing up at him with an uncharacteristically subtle smile.

"How do you reckon they're dealing with it?"

"Well, they're not blushing virgins like you, so they're sharing, I'd say. Doubt they thought twice about it."

"You don't usually like to share." He prodded absentmindedly at the spongy mattress a few inches from Greed's thigh, the remark quiet and vague. He wasn't going anywhere specific with it; the contradiction had just occurred to him.

"I wouldn't say that," he blinked, his tone guarded as if facing critique, which hadn't at all been Ed's intention. He had thought the Homunculus would agree, actually, given his usual obstinance where possession was concerned. "I share a body all the time, don't I? Don't think a bed would be too tall an order."

"Not really the same though. You only share with Ling because he's too stubborn to leave you to it."

"You're not wrong there," he sighed, the hint of an affectionate smirk tugging at his mouth. "But it's not so bad. There are worse people to get stuck with than Ling. The brat is a prince, after all. He's got status and ambition, and those are useful tools to have in my arsenal."

Well, if anyone could reduce a problem into what could be taken from it, it was Greed. Even if said problem was a person. Ed wasn't sure if he should consider that optimism or objectification. "So if you had the option to give him up, you wouldn't do it?"

"Course not. I wouldn't give up anything I own."

Objectification, then.

"You don't own Ling just because you're using his body. That would be like saying when Ling's in control, he owns you, and I bet you wouldn't like that."

The comparison did not stir up the intended internal conflict, as Greed dismissed it with an indifferent scrunch of his face. "If Ling has control, it's because I've given it to him. Think of it as a gift, if you like. I treat my possessions well."

"So you don't even think of it as sharing?" To be honest, the aversion to anything less than absolute superiority was slightly amusing. He could phrase it however he liked, but rather than the undiluted, unsympathetic reflection of reality he was going for, the sentiment sounded almost petulant. A stubborn child unable to view the world through any other lens than their own self-importance. Their own inflexibility didn't make their perspective any more real to anyone else. Ling's ability to control when he took over wasn't what he was disputing, as it wasn't something Ed could understand as a mere spectator, but he did doubt that the relationship was as clear cut as Greed made it out to be. "That makes it even less relevant."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"I mean, how can you use your body as an example of being alright with sharing, when you still see it as a power struggle? Albeit one you think you're winning."

"I am winning!"

"That's not the point. If it's a competition at all, it's not really sharing, is it? You just have no idea what sharing means."

He pushed himself up onto his elbows to catch Ed in another intense stare, and the flash in his eyes wasn't quite anger. "Then show me."

"What?"

"Show me, if you're so clever."

"Are you joking?" He broke the eye contact with a nervous laugh, Greed's gaze on him never failing to make him feel a little exposed, a little out of his depth. "I already share my whole damn life with you."

"And don't I share mine with you?" Ed felt fingers brush roughly across his, guiding his gaze back to where Greed was reclining. The Homunculus continued to watch him with bright, expectant eyes, and again Ed wasn't sure if this was some sort of experiment, or entertainment, or just innocent conversation. Perhaps the only one paying close attention to his response was himself, but either way he felt examined. He swallowed down the dryness in his throat. It would be reasonable enough to say that Greed was contractually obligated to give him time and attention, being his boss and all, but the same could just as easily be said of him, and they were not the same.

"But don't you think you own me, too?" It felt good to use his own obnoxious logic against him.

"Yes," he said with another sharp-toothed grin, as if the concession was not a loss - even though it obviously was because he was basically admitting that Ed was right. "I don't think the two should be mutually exclusive."

"Sounds like you're just making excuses. You want to have your cake and eat it too. Be the undisputed leader but still… the good guy, or something." He frowned, because it wasn't as though Greed made any great effort to seem righteous, or overtly philanthropic, or anything like that. But he did seem to want to push the narrative that he was good for Ed specifically, for reasons that still evaded him. "Actually, I don't even know what you want, but I don't think you're willing to compromise over it."

"Not if I don't have to, no. I want as much as I can get, like everyone else does, and the only reason they don't have it is because they stop themselves before they even get the chance. Because they're scared of failure, or power, or whatever. I'm not bothered with any of that, and you can't convince me that's a bad thing."

"Depends what you're talking about." He frowned at Greed's tendency to twist their debates into ambiguity. "You want as much as you can get of what?"

"Everything. Obviously." He sat up further, shifting so he wouldn't unbalance himself when he spread his hands out in emphasis. His face was inches from Ed's now, and this time he found he couldn't tear himself away from the demanding glint in his eyes. His grin was sinful, beautiful, so fucking close. "Life. Joy. You."

"You say that," Ed muttered, practically against his lips. A thrill sang along his spine, as it always did when Greed brought an attraction to him specifically into his grand proclamations of desire. It annoyed him sometimes - perhaps because nothing had ever come of it yet - but it made him feel special, made him feel giddy. "But you could only have me if you shared me, and you're not willing to do that."

Greed pulled back a little - not enough, too much - and the grin dropped from his face for a moment as he contemplated the accusation, before returning when he came to a conclusion. "I'll share you with Ling."

"Bastard." The curse came out less biting than he'd wanted; more of a sigh, really, and if anything Greed's smile grew wider at the animosity - or lack thereof.

"Is that a yes?"

And oh god, he was going to regret this, wasn't he? If Greed pulled away now he'd never live it down, but the temptation was just too overwhelming to resist, so he swallowed, and he whispered: "Yes."

Greed hummed approvingly, just watching him for one unreasonably tense second, before leaning forward to press his lips to Ed's.

The kiss was blunt, determined - he was certain in this, as in everything else he wanted - but still soft enough that Ed could pull away if he chose, and after a long, desperate moment he did. He looked up at the Homunculus with shining, unsure eyes, gingerly touching the corner of his mouth.

Greed's eyebrows creased into a worried frown. "Are you-"

And then Ed kissed him back: deliberate, resolute. He didn't know what he wanted from him - from anyone, really - but this was certainly something he wanted to try. To see how it felt, how it tasted, whether this was a vice he could allow himself to indulge in.

And half the time he didn't have a clue what Greed was on about, how much of his casual charm was a facade and what he was hiding behind the truths he chose to tell, and of course it was virtually impossible for Ed to articulate what he was thinking, even to himself, so that made them two mysteries entangled in each other's shortcomings, and that was hard - talking was hard, listening harder... but this wasn't talking, was it? This was easy. His hands curled in Greed's coat as he pulled him closer, and for once it was the Homunculus who was at a loss, fingers skittering indecisively across Ed's chest and shoulders before splaying out across his back in a rough embrace. Their mouths moved in unison, enthusiasm making up for any inexperience on Ed's part, and it was Greed who gasped involuntarily, blinking in almost innocent surprise when they broke apart, hands falling from each other's bodies.

It only took a second for Ed to catch up, a fiery blush spreading across his cheeks as the mortification of what he'd just done set in. He was shocked by his own instincts; the moment their lips had touched rational thought had dropped from his mind like a stone down a well, and he was only now hearing its echoes float up to him. There were innumerable reasons why he shouldn't be making out with his boss, his friend, his former enemy - but it had felt so right for those few thoughtless seconds where feelings were all he had. He had been lonely, and exasperated; maybe he could just blame the lapse on that, and he doubted Greed would dispute it, actually.

"This, uh, doesn't mean anything," Ed stumbled over his haste to assure him - or assure one of them, at least.

"Right, yeah." Greed had recovered far better than he had, looking perfectly presentable, especially compared to the flushed, wild-eyed alchemist.

"Doesn't make me your property or… yours in any other way, or… anything."

"Don't worry. It doesn't change anything," he nodded with reassuring solemnity. "Everything's exactly the same as it was before."

...which was his own subtle way of saying you are mine, Ed, not because of a silly kiss but because you always have been, ever since you joined me, since you put your life in my hands, you're mine because you want to be and on some deeply-buried, intrinsic level they both understood that.

After a moment of palpably awkward tension, Greed cleared his throat and spoke again, a teasing edge to his voice. "So, are you still determined to be a stubborn brat and sleep on the floor?"

"Yes," he replied without a second's hesitation, even more certain after what had just happened. He couldn't trust himself to treat the matter as casually as Greed obviously did; everything had to mean something to him - conflicted, overthinking teenager that he was - and this had the potential to mean an awful lot.

"Nothing I can do to persuade you…?"

"No," he said emphatically, because he was sure Greed could be very convincing when he wanted to be, and that temptation was exactly what he was afraid of.

"Fine. I give up." He threw him a look of slightly strained patience, before standing and holding out a hand for Ed to do the same. He ignored it, standing up on his own, and it dropped back to Greed's side. "Come on. Let's get the others and see if we can't find something to eat."

The dining room was relatively empty by the time they snuck furtively inside, the other guests having finished their meals and headed back to their rooms. The cook told them with cool finality that he absolutely was not turning the oven back on for them, but Ed insisted that whatever leftovers he had would be just fine, and so they all sat down to eat. It was such a change from what they'd grown used to: the civility of it all, actually having a napkin to spread over his lap, and multiple knives and forks to use. The brief return to normality was nice, grounding.

Greed and the chimeras sparked up a lively conversation that Ed observed from a distance, not really participating. There were too many thoughts pushing against the boundaries of his own skull for him to pay too much attention to what was going on outside. Though when he tried to focus on them they dissolved into a weird, confused static of emotion and expectation, not unpleasant but not productive either, so it was easier to just sit back and let the noise wash over him; both internally and externally. He did notice that when the chimeras praised the comfort and cleanliness of their room, they didn't bring up the sleeping arrangements at all, which he did wonder at; but then again, there was no reason to expect two grown men to share his ridiculous modesty. In return, Greed didn't mention Ed's refusal to share a bed - which he appreciated because the decision was beginning to sound more immature by the second - though now the chimeras would assume he actually was happy to sleep with Greed, which wasn't ideal either. In reality, they probably didn't give it a second thought, but that didn't stop a nervous blush from spreading on his cheeks, and he prayed no one would notice.

The food disappeared quickly, and far too soon the staff were jangling keys and giving them not-so-subtle clear out looks. Greed smiled amicably, paying for all of them - which would have been honourable if the money hadn't still actually been Ed's - and they all traipsed back up to their respective rooms.

Once inside, Greed made a show of arranging the thick blankets, fluffing up the pillows and just generally emphasising how luxurious it was while Ed stared lamely at the floor. There was not much sprucing up that could be done on his part; the rug did look quite soft, actually, but that didn't make up for the fact that it was still a fucking rug.

"Ready for bed, then?" Greed shrugged off his coat, grinning over his shoulder at where Ed was slumped against the wall.

"Yup."

"Glad to hear." He scooped up the top blanket and tossed it over. It hit Ed's chest, one corner jutting up into his face, and he scrabbled to catch it in his arms before it fell to the floor. "Better take that. It'll get cold during the night and I can't have you catching your death… though wouldn't it be hilarious if this was what finally took the Fullmetal Alchemist out? Death by chastity."

"Yeah. Funny." The patronising was uncalled for - though even he agreed that this childish insistence was ridiculous, so it was pretty much fair game - but he did appreciate the blanket. The promised storm had begun to attack in earnest, drumming a chill into the windows and, vicariously, into his skin. He clutched it tighter, rubbing his goosebump-stricken arm through the fabric.

Greed returned the sarcasm with an obnoxious smile, watching Ed from where he'd climbed beneath the sheets. He pulled them right up to his chin, peeking over the top with playful eyes in a way that - god help him - looked kind of cute, actually. Or maybe it was just because the hint of mischief reminded him of Ling. Regardless, his heart softened. Despite that, or perhaps because of it, his glare deepened.

"Turn the light out when you're ready, will you?"

"Oh, uh, alright." He jumped at the distraction from thoughts that were headed somewhere he wasn't sure he wanted to go, and flicked the switch instantly, almost dropping the blanket in the process. Darkness fell over the room, and the sensory deprivation made the storm seem louder, closer, the constant pounding of rain broken only by Greed's muttered thanks and his contented shifting beneath the sheets. Ed stood motionless, barely even breathing, appreciating the luxury of being protected from the downpour by an actual roof, and the rare moment of silence between him and the Homunculus where there were no expectations. Mostly though, he wasn't moving because he couldn't see a damn thing, and he knew there was a chair somewhere between himself and the rug, and the way his luck was going he was guaranteed to fall over it.

"You decided to sleep standing up then?"

...and the moment, such as it was, was gone.

"Can't you give me a break for two bloody seconds?" He took an angry step forwards, feeling the toe of his automail foot connect predictably with the leg of the chair, and he hoped his growl of annoyance would disguise its humiliating scrape across the floor. His hands were preoccupied with the blanket but he did his best to reach out anyway, manoeuvring himself around until finally he felt the woolen curls of the rug beneath his feet.

"No," he replied, smug as all hell, and Ed really wished he could shut him up.

He didn't deign to respond, except for an exasperated sigh that hissed through his teeth before he could stop it, much to Greed's amusement.

"Night, kid."

"Night," he snapped, trying to settle into a comfortable position without much success. On his side, his automail dug into his flesh and on his back the floor was harsh against his shoulder blades and the bottom of his spine. There wasn't much space - which shouldn't usually be too much of a problem for him - but it was quite difficult to lie flat without a bedpost or chair leg getting in his way. If he moved to the other side of the room he might have more room, but that prospect was too degrading to even consider. Still, it could be worse. He could be cold; he could be outside; he could be sleeping with Greed, that idiot's body so close to his, those hands brushing against him in the middle of the night, the warmth-

He squeezed his eyes tight shut, willing his brain to just shut down and whisk him away somewhere airy and thoughtless; rescue him from this horrific fantasising. His brain did not comply, cruelly allowing him to suffer in numb, awkward silence.

Greed, in his astounding generosity, gave him about ten minutes of peace.

"So," he hummed, tiredness evident in his voice, though obviously not enough of it to just fucking go to sleep. "How are you doing down there?"

"Great, thanks." He rolled over at the sound of his voice, disrupting the pretty-much-bearable position he'd achieved.

"Not too cold?"

"Not at all."

"I'm not," he continued conversationally, and Ed was tempted to climb into the bed just to smother him. "It's nice and warm up here. Really cosy too. Plenty of space to stretch out. I feel like royalty."

He absolutely would not be provoked by this bullshit.

"And to think that just one day from now we'll be back in the forest, sleeping on the hard ground again. We won't get another chance like this for a while, probably not until after the Promised Day… So glad I'm not wasting it."

For the tiniest moment - and really it was Greed's fault for putting the idea in his head - he wondered if he would regret missing out on this. Not sleeping in a proper bed as such, because obviously he'd regret that sooner or later, but…

He didn't know what it was, this… thing with Greed. If it could even be called attraction, or just fascination. What it could develop into. Nothing at all, probably, if he left it well alone, because once this was all over and done with Ling would return to Xing, and he would have his own concerns to attend to. So provided he successfully locked it away in the back of his mind and ignored it until after the Promised Day, he should be alright. But by that time it wouldn't only be too late to worry about it; it would be too late to do anything about it… and what if he changed his mind? Perhaps the fact that he had that worry at all suggested that his mind was already changing, just beyond his conscious awareness.

Then again, it wasn't too late for anything yet; he was still caught in the midst of this chaos, and if he ignored his pride long enough, he would have to admit that it could easily go either way. It wasn't too late to make a move, and wouldn't be for a good few weeks. Greed's tent wasn't exactly locked, and he doubted there would be any resistance to him crawling inside one night-

Honestly, fuck Greed for making him feel like this.

The Homunculus seemed to have given up with his pathetic provocations. His breath sounded calm and even against the backdrop of the deluge, and for a moment Ed thought he'd finally gone to sleep. Then he spoke again, and the alchemist could have sworn all the breath left his chest.

"Edward, come to bed with me," he murmured, voice raw and frayed with sleep, and a shudder ran through Ed's body, because surely he had to realise how that sounded. "That's an order."

His tongue flickered across suspiciously dry lips, and he had to consciously suppress the flicker of excitement in his chest, pulling himself back to the safety of scorn. "Oh, is it now?"

"Yes, it is."

"God, you're persistent." He choked on the mocking laugh. It would be hypocritical to judge the longing in Greed's voice, wouldn't it? "You must really want me..."

"Mm," he agreed: no derision, no deflecting, the sentiment stripped to pure, unapologetic honesty, and Ed supposed he owed him the same.

And this was a night of exceptions, wasn't it? They'd all agreed to tuck it away in a pocket of mutual weakness. They could desert their supplies and give up on lying low to hide away in a comfortable hotel, and it wouldn't count. They could kiss Greed out of desperate curiosity, and it wouldn't count. They could slip into the same bed and wrap their arms around each other like they were the only people alive, and it wouldn't count.

"Okay," he whispered, nervous relief blooming inside him at giving in. He stood shyly, gazing at the vague silhouette of Greed's body beneath the covers now that his eyes had somewhat adjusted to the dark.

The Homunculus leaned across, flipping the blankets up so Ed could clamber in. He tossed his own blanket haphazardly over the top, and sat down, pausing before swinging his legs up. He never would have thought he'd be capable of overthinking something so simple as getting into a bed, for christ's sake, but he was so conscious of Greed lying right beside him, and he didn't know if he should face him, or turn away, or curl up against him-

But no one was expecting him to make such torturous decisions himself, and why should he when Greed was so blunt and unashamed about what he wanted? He reached over Ed's chest to tuck the sheets around him, which transitioned quite tactfully into wrapping an arm around his waist and pulling him gently closer. Slender fingers slipped beneath his loose shirt and traced the curve of his hip, forcing him to swallow and squirm beneath the unexpected contact. Oh, he was not used to this; so sensitive, so easily flustered. Greed must be loving it.

"Is this okay?" he whispered, lifting his hand so it hovered just above his skin.

"Y- yeah," Ed breathed, reaching down to press Greed's hand back against him, their fingers frustratingly separated by the fabric of his shirt. It was a struggle to keep his voice under control; with his head spinning the way it was, melting into a shameless whine was a very real danger. He could feel Greed's breath on the back of his neck as he murmured his approval, and that really was not helping.

For a brief, hormonal moment he considered initiating more, but just this was more progress than he'd ever expected to make, and in any case he'd have no idea what to do. Besides, he was perfectly content to lie entangled like this; worryingly content, actually. Of course, he could blame it on the extra body heat, but the warmth that spread through his bones like honey seemed to come from somewhere else entirely: some internal haven where he felt accepted, protected, wanted. And lying on an actual mattress had to have something to do with that euphoric, floating sensation, but - despite how it might feel after weeks in the woods - he did actually have a lot of experience sleeping in beds, and it didn't feel like this.

Fuck, this was going to become a problem, wasn't it?

Greed's breathing had evened out again, and he seemed to really be asleep this time. His arm was still slung over Ed's waist, the touch of his fingers so light it felt tender, casual: like this was more than a one night thing… or maybe it was less, if you were going to delve into semantics; it lacked that scandalous, forbidden rush - it was muted domesticity, already so natural. He could stay like this forever.

Except he couldn't, not if he wanted to get any sleep tonight. Lying in Greed's arms was so relaxing, so easy, and it was that peculiar ease that was keeping him awake. He couldn't stop thinking about it: resenting it, appreciating it. And it was exciting too, an elation which was easier to accept because of course he'd react with this enthusiasm to being touched by someone he was attracted to; it didn't matter who it was, or what it meant. Point was, to sleep he needed to be free of thoughts, and every tiny movement Greed made was releasing a slew of new ones - or the same ones, returning with fresh intensity in a conflicted cycle.

With an almost apologetic gentleness, he pushed Greed's hand away, and rolled over so he was facing him. The storm outside had raged itself out, and moonlight streamed through gaps in the curtains, painting everything it touched silver. One delicate strip fell over Greed's face, illuminating the curve of his jaw in ethereal light, like some sort of angel - which had a brilliant irony to it. An angel of sin. Yeah, that was exactly what he was. Born of shame, and now a light against the very darkness that had spawned him… though his motives in that regard often seemed less than honourable. Still, in a more practical show of virtue, he had become Ed's guardian, in a way. The metaphor was close enough.

And god, no hazy symbolism was needed to justify the fact that he was fucking beautiful. Irresistibly so. Unfairly so. Edward Elric had never stood a chance. And there was no going back now, was there? Now that he'd fallen, he couldn't climb back up the precipice of blissful indifference. Maybe he should have known with the kiss; maybe he had known with the kiss; maybe that was what had started it - except that was clearly bullshit, because it had started long before today. Possibly right from the moment they'd teamed up, when he'd willingly placed himself under Greedling's control. At the time, his apparent motivation had been staying close to Ling, and that was still certainly a sizable part of it. But the prospect of conspiring with his enemy had sent a low thrill through him, and now that he knew what to look for, he could recognise it as more than the satisfaction of redeeming a villain.

The affection had only grown with time, like some sort of blight inside his ribcage. Each cunning grin, each look of thoughtful revery beside the fire, each bad joke and friendly jostle sent him spiralling further. And with every admission, every gentle smile as he conceded that maybe Greed wasn't so bad, he was complicit in his own doom. He'd just been so good at keeping it hidden - or keeping himself distracted enough to overlook it, which wasn't hard considering all the shit he had to deal with. But now the candid light of the moon shone through his skin, illuminating the workings of his heart in undeniable detail. He'd never be able to think of Greed again without remembering this revelation, nor see him without remembering the way he looked now - lovely, ethereal, perfect - not even when the bastard was testing his patience right to its limits. He was utterly fucked, basically.

He tucked his arm beneath the pillow, propping up his head so he was lying more comfortably in hopes of finally getting some rest. He felt warm and safe and loved, and that was enough for his eyes to drift shut and his mind to relax into a dreamless blur.

-

When he awoke, the first thing his foggy, half-asleep brain registered was Greed's body pressed against his. Ha, he thought sluggishly, damn idiot can't keep his hands off me…

And then his eyes blinked open, and he realised it was he who was shamelessly draped across Greed's chest while the Homunculus lay still and sleeping, blameless in the whole affair. His head was nuzzled into his shoulder, as though he had subconsciously sought him out during the night.

He should probably disentangle himself now, maybe even get out of bed completely before Greed got the chance to notice his clinging and tease him for it. But his limbs were still numb with early-morning lethargy, and surely a few more minutes wouldn't hurt. The sun poured into the room with cheerful insistence, eager to shine directly in his eyes, and he groaned, burying his face in Greed's neck to get away from it.

He stayed like that for he didn't know how long, drifting in and out of sleep, before he felt the lazy trace of a hand along the ridges of his back, tugging him back to consciousness.

"Morning," Greed said when Ed's eyes had flickered open, and he shifted to look up at him. "You look comfy."

"Mhm, I am," he sighed contentedly, letting his head fall back down against his shoulder. It was too late for modesty or pretence now.

"Sleep well?"

"For the most part." Would've been more if you weren't so bloody distracting.

"So, the bed was worth it then, huh?"

"Yeah."

"So I was right?"

Of course that was where he'd take this. Ed's face creased up in exasperation, but he had no choice but to play along because, well… Greed had been right. Bastard.

"...looks like it."

"Sure does." He stretched his neck to press a kiss to the top of Ed's head, effectively nullifying any irritation he may have invoked, because how could he stay mad in the face of such pleasant affection? It was practically cheating, but he'd let it slide since it felt so fucking good.

This was how he wanted to wake up: cuddled in strong arms, gentle kisses floating across his face. He dreaded the fast-approaching return to the rugged bleakness of the forest, where night was something to be suffered through, where he'd wake with a chill set into his bones and a twinge in his automail that sent panic spiralling down to his gut. There were a good number of unpleasantries he could do nothing about, but he hoped that the isolation which sometimes engulfed him would be slightly abated. He'd still miss Al of course, and Winry and the others, but he wouldn't feel quite so alone in his loneliness anymore, if things continued the way they were going. He'd have someone on his side - not on the side of his cause but just his, just Edward Elric's, the scared little State Alchemist. And even when he didn't want to talk, or didn't know what to say, just a silent hand on his back could make all the difference.

Perhaps he was getting ahead of himself, because this did sound disgustingly romantic of him, and it wasn't as if he and Greed were dating - god, how wonderful it would be if his life was so simple that he could worry about that. All they'd shared was a bed, and here he was thinking of sharing everything: his traumas and his fears and all that sentimental bullshit. It sounded sweet, and it sounded terrifying. He didn't know if he wanted that, if he was ready for the sort of vulnerability that came with being understood, and he didn't know if Greed did either. Then again, Greed wanted everything, as he never tired of saying. But no one really wants everything, do they? They want the highs of life, and that's what they mean by everything: not the whole range of human emotion, but the very best in isolation, felt so keenly it's as if it's all there is. He wanted power and glory, and sometimes there was nothing powerful or glorious about Edward Elric.

His grip on the Homunculus tightened, a guard against such distressing thoughts. The rise and fall of his chest beneath Ed's cheek felt very real, very grounding. He should have been satisfied with that: one perfect moment of unity he couldn't sabotage with his pessimism, but he couldn't help squinting upwards, chewing on the corner of his lip as he asked:

"What do you want?"

Greed glanced down at him, mildly confused at the ambiguity of the question. "Right now? Breakfast, mainly."

"No, I mean-" he sighed, averting his eyes, mumbling into his skin because it was easier like that. "What do you want from me?"

"Oh, you know. Everything." Unknowingly, he was echoing Ed's words, and with it Ed's doubts, because it was so generic it was practically an evasion. He already knew Greed would want to take a whole lot from him: his loyalty, his adoration, his body, and Ed would give him whatever his elusive everything entailed, gladly, but he also wanted him to take him in his arms, and tell him everything was going to be alright. He wanted his support, his honesty, his helplessness. Everything. He wanted everything from him, the good and the bad, and somehow that sentiment sounded a lot more sincere when it was him saying it. Because he knew he meant it at its humblest, least embellished level. And actually, it wasn't so much desire as acceptance, because he didn't want the bad, didn't want either of them to suffer, but he knew it was coming and he knew it was worth it. But Greed… he elevated everything to the pedestal of desire, of avarice, because that was who he was, and that was how he saw the world. He had to want everything, but Ed wasn't always easy to want, and he didn't know if Greed would sink to tolerance. He couldn't speak for the old Greed, but the one he knew had never explicitly mentioned love as something he was interested in, and he had no idea if he was even capable of that sort of commitment, and what if they'd been talking at cross-purposes all night-

But he didn't know how to say any of that, and in any case it was far too early in whatever this relationship was to talk so seriously about their future. Still, he couldn't placidly accept the answer he'd been given: it was too vague, too naive almost, and it felt as though Greed was saying it because it sounded right - not that he assumed the Homunculus didn't believe it; only that he hadn't given it enough thought for realistic doubts to present themselves. Perhaps it was only pillow talk, and he shouldn't be looking so hard into it, but he felt as though once he left the bed and the night of exceptions was officially over, the subject would be a lot harder to broach. He had to fit all the uncertainty into this moment, even if it meant ruining it. So he sighed, shifting awkwardly in Greed's arms, still looking away, and he said: "No, you don't - believe me."

"If I didn't, I wouldn't say it, would I?"

"But you always say it. You always say the same damn thing."

"Yeah, and I always mean it."

"Do you?" Can you, when it means very little to begin with?

"Yeah…?" he said, bewildered, not unsure of his answer but the question itself. The hand resting on his lower back skated up to stroke through his hair. "I want you, Ed. I thought I made that perfectly clear."

And it was more of the same. The words sent pleasant tingles down his spine while his mind rejected them, and he could only respond by lamely circling back to the beginning. "But what is it you want from me?"

"What, you want details? Should I give you a categorical list of how fucking perfect you are?"

He chuckled drily at the praise, because sweet as it was, it was sort of the opposite of what he was trying to say. "But I'm not perfect, that's the whole point. I'm all… fucked up, and I get scared, and sometimes I need help, and sometimes I lash out, and I... doubt you want to deal with all that, s'all."

To his surprise, Greed responded with a laugh of his own. "Fuck, Ed, you think I don't know that? You don't exactly make an effort to hide how bloody high maintenance you are, you know? I've been dealing with your shit for months. Don't think I'm gonna stop now that you've started kissing me." He smiled down at him, slightly baffled but with such wondrous devotion that some of the warmth melted through the cracks in Ed's anxiety, and he really did believe him this time. "Besides, I'm not always a joy to be around either."

"Ha… I won't argue with that."

"But you always stay anyway," he continued, playful fingers ruffling his hair as he somehow turned his coarse banter into something heartfelt, and Ed realised that, yeah, if he could put up with Greed, then Greed could certainly put up with him. "Such a loyal subordinate."

"Oh, piss off…" There was no malice in it; in fact he probably sounded a little too cheerful, but it was the only outlet he had to his relief. He wanted to move on from his moment of weakness, and slipping back into their typical mock contention seemed the most natural way to do it.

"Can't. You're on top of me."

"Shame," he sighed, trailing an automail finger along Greed's arm, voice thick with faux sympathy. "Guess you'll have to do something about that."

"And just what do you expect me to do?"

He paused a second, making a show of scrunching his face up in consideration, really getting into this charged dialogue. "You could tell me to move? Hell, you could order me to move."

"Okay then," he said slowly, wary at the complacency in Ed's tone, but still charmingly confident in his demand. "Move."

"No." He broke into an uncharacteristic giggle, and pressed himself closer, whispering in Greed's ear. "Looks like I'm not such a loyal subordinate after all."

"That's alright. I had other ideas anyway." He grinned, and Ed must have been pretty damn light - or Greed was even stronger than he looked - because the next moment he was on his back, the Homunculus straddling his hips and gazing down at him with dark, impassioned eyes, hands pressed into the pillow either side of the alchemist's head. He raised an eyebrow, prompting a response, and Ed could only swallow dumbly and blink with wide, startled eyes, and lean up into his kiss.

He clutched at Greed's shoulders, palms pressed into his back, dimly admiring the strain of muscles beneath his shirt. It was hard to concentrate on anything beyond the skilled movement of Greed's mouth on his, because god, he was so good at this, and Ed clung tighter as he lost himself to mindlessness.

He gasped when Greed pulled away: breathless, satisfied, and fell back against the mattress, letting the world return to him. "I like your ideas."

"Really?" he hummed, hand dancing along the stretch of skin revealed by Ed's shirt hitching up, the tips of his fingers sliding beneath the hem. "Because I have a few more you might be interested in."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah." He sat back, his weight settling around Ed's thighs. "First of all, I'm gonna need you to fix my tent." That earned him a glare, which he returned with an obnoxious grin. "I can't be nice all the time, you know. We still have responsibilities, and I need somewhere to sleep tonight. But if you do a good enough job," His voice dropped, and that ever-distracting hand caressed further up his chest. "… you could join me?"

He was being played like a fucking fiddle and he knew it; he was the audience applauding every note, begging for an encore. He exhaled shakily, trying to collect his thoughts into enough order to form words. He didn't want to sound too eager, give Greed too much ammunition - though it was kind of too late for that, because his yearning was already plastered all over his shuddering body. "Hm, I'll do a good enough job alright."

"That keen, huh?"

He fixed him with a stern look, slightly juxtaposed by his flushed cheeks and fluttering eyelashes. "That good at my job."

"Yeah, I'm sure there's a lot you're good at, kid."

"Wouldn't you like to know?"

"Oh, I will." He smirked in that infuriatingly self-assured way of his, eyes flickering appreciatively over Ed's body before he climbed off him and stood beside the bed, stretching his arms above his head.

Ed sighed, missing the comforting weight already. Greed disappearing right after saying something so suggestive had obviously been calculated, and he hated that it had exactly the desired effect. He wanted to call him back, and he wanted to pretend he didn't, because Greed should really have to work harder to earn the right to sound that fucking smug. He opted for neither extreme, instead just silently pushing the tangled blankets out of the way, and getting up too. He could get him back for the tease later, if he wanted to; a thought which brought a sly grin to his face. It was a novel opportunity that had been presented to him.

Yeah, the events of last night had brought up a whole new plethora of possibilities for Ed - most more wholesome than what he'd just been contemplating, though. So many things he'd never considered before, except with a wordless, faceless stranger as a hypothetical partner. Now he had a very real partner, one who was very good with words, and who did have a face - one he was technically only borrowing, but still, Ed wouldn't complain when he looked like that. Everything had fit into place so neatly; his past dilemmas seemed much more distant than, well… yesterday.

Of course, he still had innumerable struggles barrelling towards him, which would have to be dealt with sooner than he'd like. But right now, in this one moment of intimacy, where he watched Greed comb through his long hair and tie it back with deft fingers, it really did feel as though everything would be okay.

When they were both ready, Greed turned to him, an enamoured grin on his face and his hand held out in invitation. "I'm gonna get myself some of that breakfast. Coming with me?"

Ed took it gratefully, an equally enraptured smile spreading on his own face as his fingers intertwined with Greed's.

"Yeah… I'd like that."