Work Text:
Roy stood his ground in the doorway while trying his best to look indifferent, an expression belied by the tightening in his chest at the pitiful sight of a certain vertically-challenged prodigy who was presently begging his forgiveness for a particularly biting remark, one that, in retrospect, hadn't been the end of the world; they'd had more than their fair share of intense verbal confrontations, after all. But even so, the teen's mouth--when not engaged in more pleasurable activities--had a knack for being his undoing, and this time was no exception.
"You were right and I was wrong," Ed began.
This went without saying.
"I run my mouth way too much and I don't know when to shut up."
Talk about mentioning the obvious.
"I know I'm not easy to put up with."
The understatement of a lifetime.
"And..."
And?
Roy raised a curious brow while he watched Ed struggle to find the words--not quite a first, but certainly a rarity. The tightening within him persisted as the teen's mouth worked silently in an effort to say the right thing. Finally, Ed could only shrug in resignation as he gazed up at him with wide, golden eyes.
"I'm sorry."
Goddammit.
With a long sigh of defeat, the older man moved back and folded his arms. Ed approached him slowly and smiled gratefully, and damned if Roy wasn't overcome with the urge to kiss the little fucker or something equally and disgustingly romantic.
"Get in the house," he snarled, with not a trace of bite.
In an epic display of common sense, Ed remained silent as he stepped inside. After an appreciative appraisal of the young man's ass, Roy could only shake his head and follow, and wait for the next round to begin.