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Ed blinked blearily as he entered the bullpen, a cup of coffee in hand. He never thought he’d be a coffee drinker, yet here he was, with a heaping helping of sugar and a pinch of salt to cut the bitterness (because there was still no way he was going to put milk or creamer into it).
He liked his job but there was always that grind that comes with any job, liked or not. He was tired and he would have preferred to stay in bed rather than come in and work on paperwork and reviewing cases they were consulting on. Roy had also been working late nights and traveling, so they hadn’t seen much of each other in the past two weeks.
They had settled into a routine, in this world. Ed stopped thinking of it as ‘new’ a while back. They’d been here for years and Ed’s timeline, which had many ‘befores’ and ‘afters’, was now firmly in the ‘After Amestris’ phase. They hadn’t given up on getting back, but it was difficult to hypothesize without experimenting, and the risks of experimenting with an unknown alchemy such as what brought them here was too high.
He supposed he could have tried to go to Truth, commit human transmutation again, but the thought made him nauseous and caused a pit of anxiety to well up in his center. No, they were certainly not going to try that.
So he was here, in an office in Quantico, Virginia. No longer military but still working for the government. A government that was probably also corrupt but Ed and Roy had long decided that was Not Their Problem. Let the people who belonged in this world figure that one out.
He set his coffee on his desk and moved to sit down when the group text came through reminding them to meet in the conference room. That’s right, there was some continuing education thing going on today. It was Friday and he was ready to get this week over with and -hopefully- spend some time with Roy on the weekend.
He checked his phone again and saw that he’d gotten a text from Roy that morning, a promising message containing “I have a surprise for you. ;)“
Which could mean *many* things, and Ed was willing to let his imagination roll with it because Roy rarely did surprises and when he did they were usually very *good*.
Ed sighed, picked up his coffee again, and made his way to the conference room where the rest of the team was waiting. Blake and Hotch were both gone, having moved on from the BAU. There was talk of another agent rejoining their team, but Ed didn’t care one way or another about the gossip.
Ed met up with Reid as everyone entered the conference room behind JJ, who paused to shake the instructor’s hand standing in the doorway. Ed froze, Reid jostling him slightly at the sudden stop, wherein Reid looked at him questioningly as he made his way around Ed to a seat, acknowledging the dark haired man in a well dressed navy suit with a brief handshake.
Rossi made his introductions as Ed stepped in, the last to enter. “This is our instructor for the day, Arson Investigator Roy Mustang with the…” Ed didn’t hear the rest, didn’t need to hear the rest, instead just glared at Roy who had his hand extended with a grin and a twinkle in his eye.
Ed took the offered hand and squeezed. Hard. With his automail hand. Roy’s eyes twitched in a wince as he let go to turn back to the room and Ed took his seat.
Application of Pattern Recognition in Arson-Related Homicides.
Ed had helped him write the presentation just a few weeks prior when Roy mentioned he was assigned to do some travelling to various agencies for some teaching opportunity.
He neglected to mention that part of his route this week was the BAU.
Ed didn’t notice the team shooting each other bewildered looks. Ed *never* shook hands with anyone. He usually played it off as part of his weird germaphobe ruse. They knew it was a ruse and he knew they knew; any attempts at calling him out on it were met with Ed coming up with a new, absurd reason as to why he wore the soft white cotton gloves, so eventually they gave up. Every now and then he would take one of them off or would wear the nitrile gloves as part of their crime scene analysis, and it never interfered with his work, so they eventually left him alone.
He scowled as he sat through the presentation with minimal interaction and paying minimal attention. Aside from a short break for lunch wherein he promptly left the conference room and blatently ignored Roy, it was eight hours of boring death by powerpoint torture. Roy was many things, handsome, charismatic, generally great with speeches and presentations but rehashing a powerpoint Ed could recite word for word was painful and Ed spent the time mostly staring out the window not looking at Roy. The rest of the team stayed fairly engaged, but Ed spent most of the time glaring at Roy. It did not go unnoticed by some of his teammates.
Ed hated being caught off guard. Roy knew Ed hated being caught off guard. Roy had his travel schedule planned out weeks ahead of time, so not telling Ed was clearly intentional.
When the day was over, the team thanked Roy for his time and they began to pack up their things and file out of the conference room. Ed did not look at Roy and grabbed his notebook before storming out of the room with his teammates.
Rossi stayed behind. “I’m sorry about that one, not sure what’s gotten him in a mood.”
Roy laughed. “It’s alright, it wouldn’t be the first time that I’ve gotten that reaction.”
Rossi frowned; he’d have to talk to Ed about at least pretending not to be rude to guest lecturers. Sure, Mustang oozed arrogance and Rossi guessed he was former military with the way he carried himself, but he hadn’t directly challenged Ed in any way Rossi had seen.
It wouldn’t be the first time Ed had a “tone down the attitude” discussion, but it was *usually* reserved for encounters with police and military personnel who thought they could bully Ed with their own attitudes. Ed, Rossi found out rather quickly, was not enamoured with the nationalism that surrounded the law enforcement and military cultures of the country, and would bite back quickly when challenged by men of authority. He responded only slightly better to women up to a point, but then Ed could be an equal opportunity asshole when it came right down to it.
Rossi glanced out the window of the conference room and saw Morgan talking to Ed down in the bullpen.
“Listen, man, the presentation wasn’t that bad. I know you can be pretty passionate about certain types of cases but this guy seems to know his stuff.”
Ed scoffed. “Yeah, he knows his stuff alright. He’s a self-absorbed, arrogant bastard, is what he is.”
“What, do you know him?”
“You could say that.” Ed grumbled. “I’ve… utilized some of his work.”
Roy had been working with an annual research summit at his favorite fire conference for the past few years while Ed was with the FBI, wherein he conducted retroactive studies with other groups of investigators and fire departments with data analysis from the participating states’ records databases.
Ed had caved and gone with him when he presented his last abstract at the national conference, making platitudes and ignoring the slightly judgemental stares and whispers from some of the more conservative members. Overall it wasn’t a bad time and he was glad it gave Roy a hobby that didn’t involve obsessing over ways for them to get back, or things that would benefit them when they got back. He left the quantum mechanics research to Ed, and ready up on military history and politics that he felt would be beneficial for him to know in Amestris. Because they would return to Ametris.
Regardless, Roy’s group’s research had been well-received and he had been asked to travel as part of continuing education for law enforcement agencies.
Ed hadn’t realized it had caught the attention at the federal level.
Good for Roy. Ed was going to kill him.
“Okay, so, what’s the problem, kid?” Morgan looked at Ed and shrugged; he wondered if this was an odd-genius-thing. He’d seen Reid get personally offended at some researchers before when he found their premise wrong, but hadn’t seen Ed have the same reaction to, well, anything.
“He’s an insufferable bastard.”
“Whatever man.” Morgan could see he was getting nowhere with the conversations, and hesitated a moment. “Want to get some of your weird rage out at the bar? The team is going out for drinks at that new brewery; even Rossi is coming.”
Ed sighed, glanced up at the ceiling in exasperation and ran a hand through his hair. “You know what? Fine. Now is as good of a time as ever, right?”
Morgan’s eyebrows shot up; he hadn’t expected Ed to actually agree. They’d been extending invitations for team get togethers with Ed since they met him and had almost always been met with dismissal.
“Uh, great. I’ll text you the address. Around 7 work for you?”
“Yeah, sure. I’ll see you there.” Ed groused out. He grabbed his jacket off his desk chair and walked off fuming out of the bullpen towards the elevators.
That was. Well. Morgan wasn’t sure what it was but he knew Garcia would be thrilled that Ed agreed. He hoped Ed’s mood would blow over by then.
~~~~~~~~~
“I guess Ed’s not showing.” Morgan said, glancing at his watch. It was a quarter past the hour and they had been standing in front of the building, waiting for their last team member to show up. It was a busy, upscale place, and he wasn’t sure if they would even get a table without reservations at this hour, but it was worth a shot. He gestured towards the doors.
Reid, who had agreed to be their designated driver, held open the door and Morgan, JJ, Rossi, and Garcia walked in.
“I adore you all very dearly. You’re my family and the lights of my life, but I swear, you’re all the reason I drink.” Rossi said as they walked into the brewery. It was an establishment well known for its food, drinks, and entertainment. A cover band was playing in the corner and the lights were dim enough to give an atmosphere without being outright dingy.
JJ glanced around the room as they entered. A familiar dark haired man sitting at a large round table in the corner caught her attention.
“Hey, isn’t that Mustang?”
“Who?”
“The instructor we had today for our con-ed. It is. What’s he doing here?”
Mustang glanced up from his phone and caught their eyes. He grinned and waved them over, gesturing towards the empty seats around the table. They walked over to the table, confusion across their respective faces.
“Hope you don’t mind, Ed invited me.” Mustang said easily. The stunned looks he received from the team made him grin wider.
“Ed-?”
“Yeah, he’s over by the bar. Let me grab him.” Roy stood and walked over to where Ed appeared to be in a heated argument with a bartender. They watched in stunned silence as Roy approached him, placing a hand on his waist and leaning into Ed’s ear to say something over the noise of the music playing in the background. Ed glanced back over his shoulder, held up a hand in a slight wave before tossing his card at the bartender and turning to make his way through the crowd with a pitcher of beer. Roy followed, carrying several glasses.
“I think... I think Ed knows Investigator Mustang a little better than he let on.” Reid squeaked.
“Mustang, like Roy Mustang?” Garcia asked.
“Uh, yeah.”
“That’s Ed’s emergency contact. They were together when we first met Ed at the University. I ran a background check on both of them and-” Garcia started, halting herself as Ed approached.
“You would not believe how much they charge for beer here.” Ed whined as he set the pitcher down. “It’s downright criminal. Hope you like Belgian White because their IPA tastes like piss here and I’m not drinking it.” Roy shrugged and distributed glasses around he table.
“So, you two… know each other?”
Ed made a noncommittal noise and poured himself a drink. Mustang snorted in amusement.
“Why didn’t you say anything earlier?” JJ asked. She could see where this was going though, having initially wanted to keep her own relationship with Will private from the team. She had kept it from them for over a year before finally admitting it. Ed had been with the team for over three.
Ed rolled his eyes. “I was pissed because he didn’t tell me his next stop on his list was with us. How would you react if Will showed up to your job unannounced to teach an eight hour lecture on something you’ve read and edited until your eyes crossed?”
“... You’re just mad because you couldn’t get out of it?” She asked, confused.
“Aw Edward, I thought you liked the sound of my voice?” Roy teased with a Cheshire smile.
“Listening to you talk about accelerants is way more interesting when you’re actually setting shit on fire.” Ed spat back.
“It was an interesting presentation,” Reid began. “I particularly liked your theory about-”
“So how long have you guys known each other?” Morgan asked, interrupting Reid as he poured himself a glass from the pitcher.
Roy hmm’d to himself before saying, “We’ve been together for about seven years.”
Morgan shifted and did quick mental math. That would have put Ed at eighteen or nineteen. He guessed Mustang in his late thirties or early forties. And Roy only answered how long they had been *together*, not how long they had *known each other.* It was a sleight of hand that he was not going to go uncalled for, though he tried to be more… polite about his next question. It also made him uncomfortable in that Ed had been in a long term relationship and never mentioned it except in passing.
“That doesn’t-”
“You know, I’m surprised.” Rossi said candidly, interrupting Morgan. “I would have never taken Ed to be the type to date a military man.”
Ed sputtered. Roy laughed.
“Oh, we’re playing this game? Sure, I was in the military, in another life. And no one ever said Ed had good taste.” Rossi looked at him. Looked in his eyes. Rossi always said he could identify a killer by the look in his eyes. Roy’s were a dark void, full of secrets. But Rossi could see that flash of ruthlessness and vigilance.
“Please stop profiling my relationship.” Ed interrupted with a scowl.
“Oh no, keep going.” Roy chuckled. “I’m enjoying this.”
“Sorry if we seem to be launching questions at you. Ed has never… mentioned you by name. You’ll forgive us for being curious.” JJ hesitated. “Ed, why-?”
Ed rolled his eyes. “It never came up. I prefer to keep my work and home life separate. It’s not because he’s a guy or whatever. I don’t really care what your opinions on that would have been.” Ed would have kicked their asses if there had been a problem. Literally or figuratively.
“Then why the secrecy? We knew you were seeing someone but you’ve never brought him around before.” Reid asked. “Is it his age because you said you’ve been dating for seven years, but that’s not how long you’ve known him for and-”
“There is no secrecy!” Ed squawked. “He’s listed on my emergency contact and beneficiary forms. I’ve referenced him when I’ve consulted with him on cases. Our work schedules tend to be opposite to each others’ so when we’re off work at the same time we prefer to spend it together. I swear I’ll bring him around more if you drop it.”
Roy brought his hand up, placing it on Ed’s right where it rested on the table in between them. Ed looked down, a faint smile on his face.
“Listen.” Ed started. He took a breath and released it through his nose. “There are many things in my life that I’m secretive about. You guys have picked up on that.” He paused, looking around the table. “Roy is not one of those things.”
Rolling his eyes, Ed stood up. “As for the age thing, I’m going to get another pitcher. I need more alcohol for this.”
Roy’s eyes followed him.
“So.”
Roy looked at Morgan levelly. The rest of the team had tensed around the table. “I don’t appreciate what you’re implying.”
“I’m just looking out for Edward.”
They stared at each other for several moments before Roy spoke quietly.
“I’ve known Ed and his brother Alphonse for a long time, that is true. But I never looked Ed’s way until he made the first move; never considered it.” Roy was not unfamiliar with the accusation of grooming. There had been many troublesome rumors that plagued him when Ed was assigned to his command. “Ed was a headstrong teenager when I knew him. But knowing him, do you really think he would be so easily manipulated? If he thought anything was inappropriate, I assure you, Ed is fully capable of kicking my ass in hand to hand.”
“You guys have been together longer than many marriages. I respect that. I’m sorry, I-”
“You’re uncomfortable because of the age gap, I understand. But when our friends and family learned we were together, no one reacted negatively. Not his brother, not our respective jobs, not even Ed’s ex-wife. We are both consenting adults, beyond that there is nothing to look at.”
Morgan shifted; Mustang was right. Ed was an adult, could make adult decisions. And now at 25, Ed was definitely no kid who needed someone to look out for him in his relationships.
Roy continued. “Edward and I have been through nightmares you can’t even imagine. The only other person I’ve ever met who loves and understands him better than I do is his younger brother.”
“What have you been through? Ed doesn’t talk about why he came to this country or why he’s associated with” Garcia dropped her voice “WitSec. And trust me, I’ve run checks on you and him and nothing ever comes up other than a false paper trail and normally I’m really good at finding things but there is *nothing.*”
Roy took a drink from his glass and seemed to stop and think for several moments. He glanced back to where Ed was once again bickering with the bartender. “If Ed hasn’t told you anything then it is not my place to.” He said, finally. “He may never tell you. But if he does, you will have to believe that what he says is true. I’m honestly shocked he got the job with the FBI because of the lack of history among other things, but I’m glad. It’s good for him. The travelling helps his wanderlust, it’s intellectually engaging, and he has a team that is supportive and from the way he talks about you, he likes everyone on the team.”
“It doesn't bother you that he hasn’t introduced us before this?” Morgan asked, probing.
“Ed doesn’t do things without reason. I’m not a dirty secret. I truly believe he wanted to keep things separate for as long as he could; most jobs don’t involve as close of a relationship with your coworkers as this one does.”
“You really do love him, don’t you?” JJ said softly.
Roy smiled. “More than you know.”
~~~~~~~~
‘Cause it’s you and me
And all of the people
With nothing to do
Nothing to prove
And it’s you and me
And all of the people
And I don’t know why
I can’t keep my eyes off of you.