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When Roy Mustang envisioned being in the military he always imagined it would be the way it was when he started. Warfronts, death, a need for constant vigilance. For a while, he was right.
So, a few years later, when he found himself in his own office at Central Command he couldn’t help but allow a small smile to overtake his face. It had been difficult, learning how to smile again after the Ishvalan War. Though, he had been lucky enough to have what was essentially a team of people who helped him learn.
In an inspiring turn of fate, he found the face of one such people peering in at him, smiling as wide as ever.
“What’s got you in such a good mood Colonel? I know for a fact you weren’t there to see Elicia this morning so I’m going to need some explanation!” Maes somehow had a sixth sense for any strong emotions Roy was feeling. If he smiled too long, felt his face heat in anger, anything really and Maes would be just around the corner.
Roy’s smile only widened as he looked at Maes. “Nothing in particular, just thinking about how impressive I had to be to get this cushy office!” Roy leaned back in his chair and threw on an overconfident look. Only for his chair to protest to being tipped back, causing him to scramble to regain balance.
He would have been embarrassed had anyone other than Maes been in the room. He found it quite difficult to feel anything other than unadulterated joy when he saw Maes throw his head back in laughter over his mistake. With that view he couldn’t help but join in on the laughter himself.
By the time they were both red faced and out of breath Maes had made his way to the front of Roy’s desk, the wooden table being the only thing that separated them. He had a hand down in front of him, supporting his weight as he laughed.
The pair thought they could control themselves and stop laughing, however it only took one moment of brief eye contact to send them into another fit of raucous giggles. Roy had to go as far as to put his head down on the desk in order to catch his breath.
“Oh damn! That is what I get for trying to look cool, huh?” Roy breathlessly mumbled as he pulled together his composure.
“Incredibly bold to try and look cool in front of me, the one you fumbled through an, admittedly mediocre, attempt at asking out on a date.” Maes held his toothy grin, unable to stop smiling down at Roy sitting in front of him.
“Hey! You and Riza both said it was endearing!”
“That didn’t make it any less awful, Roy. You’re just lucky that you’re hot enough to get away with it! You know, Flame Alchemist and all. Riza agrees with me!”
Roy overplayed a wince at the attempt of a pun before fondly shaking his head.
“Don’t remind me! I still owe you and Riza a date night because I was so certain that she was crazy for even suggesting that I ask you out.” Roy remembers it all fondly. A time before he was confident enough in himself off of a battlefield to truly ask for what he wanted. Only to find that, at every turn who he wanted, also wanted him.
“All I need is a time and place and I will tell Gracia I am yours for the night!” When Maes agreed to an explicitly romantic date invitation Roy had been shocked. He and Riza had spoken extensively about what they were and how they felt but to have this wonderful man agree without so much as a moment of hesitation? It still made Roy’s head spin years later.
“Oh just for the night, huh? Guess I’ll have to make the most of it then?” Roy attempted a suggestive look, Maes would never tell him it always looked a bit goofy when he tried it.
“Oh please, you see me more than my legal wife does! You should be lucky we don’t have to schedule alone time during business hours!” Maes’ smile never wavered, it took them a while but they all found a balance they were happy with. Plus Roy could see, and often hear, how much Maes loved Gracia and Elicia, and all he really wanted was for the man to be happy.
“Well, for what it's worth. When I’m fuhrer I will be sure to have the best locks in the city on my office doors, just so Gracia has all the liberty in the world to change her mind!” This time when Roy leaned back his chair supported him as he expected.
“Well, once you’re fuhrer you can just take the day off and whisk me away if that’s what you want to do, no need for locks they’ll call in Fullmetal to deal with.” Maes leaned more forward on the desk, closing some of the space Roy leaned out of.
Roy smiled again, he finally enjoyed thinking about the future- even if it was in jest. Imaging a future with those closest to him at center stage always made him feel like the luckiest man alive.
“Enough with the crazy talk, we both know Gracia would never! And speaking of her, how are her and Elicia? I think it’s been a whole two hours since you showed me a picture of them!” Roy joked, he knew that when he wasn’t around Maes was just as likely to pull out a photo of him from the seemingly endless fold of photos in his wallet.
Even though he knew it was in jest, Maes took the opportunity to speak about his wife and daughter, they were two of the many pillars of light in his life and he took a lot of pride in them.
“Elicia is getting smarter and smarter everyday! Ugh before I know it she’ll be just as grown up as the Elric brothers! Is this how you feel? Like you’re aging everyday? It's a harrowing way to live. I don't know how you stand it!” Maes dramatically leaned his head back.
“Hey! I’m hardly any older than you! And those brothers aren’t my kids!” Roy smiled at Maes’ antics, he really couldn’t help it.
“Yeah yeah, you keep telling yourself that one Colonel! Anyways, Gracia this morning was talking about the fresh flower blooms all over town. She was telling me to keep an eye on you- I told her about your allergies and how badly they can act up if there’s anything new in the air…”
Roy’s attention drifted. He was simply staring at Maes’ face, happy to listen to him talk about anything and everything, just as long as he kept looking at him the way he was. As if Roy had personally gifted him the world.
He tried to focus on the words Maes spoke, knowing that if they were important to Maes they were important to him. However, he simply couldn’t turn his mind away from considering how truly fortunate he was to be sitting here across from Maes, watching his handsome face light up the more he spoke. Everytime he pushed up his glasses with a knuckle or pushed that stray hair out from in front of his eyes Roy couldn’t help but itch to do it for him. A small act of service to drive home how much he cared, especially when he couldn’t verbalize it as often as he would like.
He watched as Maes gestured widely, most likely telling the story of Elicia learning to walk if Roy knew him well enough- it was one of his favorites too. He tracked the movement with his eyes, letting them wander from Maes’ hands down his arms though to his shoulders. He focused on the military uniform the man wore and was once again struck by the realization that he was probably the luckiest guy in Amestris.
It took a lot of sweet words and comforting touches over a long period of time to convince Roy he deserved to be surrounded with people who loved him. A lot of that came from Maes, who shared his love openly and without fear. It was that thought that pushed Roy to speak.
“I love you. So much. I really don’t tell you enough.” Roy happened to catch onto a pause in Maes’ speaking, giving him the perfect opportunity to speak before the courage left him.
Maes’ eyes widened in shock before a dopey grin overtook his face. “What's gotten into you, Colonel? Not that I’m complaining- you know how much I love ‘Sweet Roy’ he makes me feel appreciated.”
Roy cleared his throat and tried to think of something to say. Thankfully, for once, he didn’t come up empty.
“Just sitting here listening to you forced me to really understand how crazy lucky I am to be here. With you.” Roy matched his smile, hoping he could really convey the extent of the rush of feelings he was struck with.
“You can’t just say that! You better get up and come over here now!” Maes opened his arms for a hug, knowing Roy wouldn’t deny him, especially after what he confessed.
Roy did just as Maes expected and walked around the desk to accept his hug. They stood there for a moment, cherishing the feeling of being held by someone you trusted more than nearly anyone else in the world.
Roy rested his head against Maes’ shoulder, holding him snugly around his middle. All the while Maes had his arms draped over Roy’s shoulders, holding him as tightly as his arms allowed. Roy could hear Maes’ heartbeat beneath his ear, ever so slightly faster than normal and Roy could only hope to be the cause of that.
They held each other as if it were the last time every time they hugged and this was no exception. It was Maes who leaned away first, he let his hands slip loosely to Roy’s shoulders, keeping him close. He looked around, especially towards the open door before quietly speaking.
“Can I..? I know we usually make sure to keep professional but I can’t help-” Roy swiftly cut off what would assuredly turn into a ramble.
He quickly leaned in and pressed a swift kiss to Maes’ lips. It truly was more of a press of their lips than a kiss, Maes had hardly stopped talking by the time Roy had leaned all the way in.
“I appreciate you asking but if anyone had a problem with it no one would hear from them again. So please feel free to kiss me if the urge ever stops by.” Roy whispered into the small space between them, not wanting to break the intimate atmosphere they managed to create.
“Oh careful there Colonel, I might just take you up on that offer and prove to be an even worse distraction than I already am.”
“Hmm no one will hear me complaining…” Roy trailed off and leaned in again, hoping for a more substantial kiss.
Maes was never one to disappoint either. They kept it chaste, still being within the Central Command building did a lot in the way of dampening their desire. Roy’s desk looked more and more appealing by the second but they both pulled away before the items were all swept off and replaced by a reddened Roy Mustang.
They stayed in each other’s space, not quite willing to let the moment end even if they were unable to continue. They leaned on each other as they steadied their breathing.
"Maybe I’ll come bug you more often if this is the view I get before I take my leave.” Maes pushed around some of the hair on Roy’s forehead, just to watch him squirm just a little.
“You don’t need an invitation I assume- you know my door is always open for you. In any capacity.”
Maes picked up on the familiar sound of footsteps making their way towards them.
“Perhaps I’ll have to take advantage of your open door policy more often, Colonel Mustang.” And with that Maes slipped out of the door only a few moments before it swung open to reveal a small group of people looking for advice from Roy.
As they spoke Roy couldn’t help but hear the echoes of “Colonel Mustang” coming from Maes. It was always the words Maes spoke that stuck with Roy the longest, perhaps he could find more opportunities to share like he did today. Until then, however, he was at least able to sit with his small triumphs and hope that, even if he didn’t say it. Maes knew how loved and cared for he was.