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"Honestly Edward I have a hard time believing you'd made it this far in your life without learning how to properly dance. " Ling huffed.
Edward playfully rolled his eyes. "Sorry your highness I've had more pressing matters to attend to. " sarcasm bleeding into his voice.
"You should be sorry with how many times you've stepped on my foot, with your metal leg nonetheless. "
"Don't worry, not all of them have been intentional. " he shot a lopsided smile accompanied by a sly look in his eyes.
"Watch yourself, I'm still emperor you know, I can have you thrown from the castle window without a second's notice. "
"Awe but you wouldn't do that, not when you're throwing me this whole party. "
"Please Edward don't flatter yourself, the party will happen with or without you, you are not essential to the process. "
"Oh you wound me. "
"As do you, mind my foot. " a beat of silence went between them as Edward struggled to keep up with Ling. "Speaking of tomorrow you will wear the ceremonial garb won't you? " he leaned closer to Ed as his voice dropped to a low whisper, "It would mean a lot to me if you would. " Edward felt himself flush slightly.
"I uh I'm sure something can be arranged. "
"Great! " Ling said knowing just how to get what he wanted, probably without even knowing the full extent of what it did to Edward- what he did to Edward. "Then after this you wouldn't mind looking for something would you? I'm sure we could even look through my own selection if you'd like, although we'd have to hem the bottoms of the robes I'm sure. " Ling flashed that gorgeous smile of his mixed with mischief.
"I'll have you know I've grown, just ask Winry. "It's true, much to Winry's chagrin, even she had to admit that Ed had grown taller than her in fact. Something he hasn't let her forget as payment for all the times she called him short.
"That may be so, but I'm still taller. " Ling then looked at Ed in the eyes very intently, all while a smile on his lips and a cocky expression. The sight alone made Ed's stomach turn with butterflies and he felt his throat tighten.
Ed averted his gaze. "So when are you gonna play dress up with me anyway. "
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"Try this one, I had you in mind when I saw it.” Ling held out the mound of fabric in his arms to Ed who hesitantly took it.
This was by far one of the most expensive things his body will ever touch, he almost felt scared it would immediately ruin in his hands. "Ling...I can't wear this. " Ed spoke softly.
"Sure you can, I can help you put it on if that's the issue. "
Ed shook his head gently. "No it's -it's too nice. " Edward found himself admitting in the far too quiet room. He was never one to be materialistic, far too used to living off the clothes on his back but he still understood the value. And those valuable things didn't belong with him.
Ling stilled himself, his features immediately softening. "Ed, " he walked closer, placing a hand on his arm. "You deserve nice things too. " he offered Ed a smile and ran a hand over the red silk fabric in Ed's arms. "I won't force you to wear this. " Edward could fill in the blanks, lings words from earlier echoing back to him, "it would mean a lot to me."
"You really want me to wear this? " Ed asked, searching in lings eyes.
"If you would like, I think it would be nice. "So the answer was yes.
"Would you help me put it on then? "
Ling smiled to himself. "With pleasure. "
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It was the night of the Midsummer festival and the euphoria everyone in Xing felt was contagious. The celebration in the streets, the fireworks and most importantly the emperor.
Ling had personally put in a lot of effort to put this all together even in his already packed schedule. Sure he could have passed this on to whoever and worry about more pressing things but to him this was important because it was all in Edwards name.
The festivities outside were alive but it was nothing compared to the party that was taking place inside the castle. Filled to the brim with music and food, it was enough even the stiff self important rich people and those not as such were enjoying themselves. It was safe to say Ling really has outdone himself, even Lan Fan would agree.
It was time for the dancing to commence as was it time to put those one on one dance lessons to use. After Ling had a conversation with Lan Fan (who was stealthily hidden behind his throne) he then approached Edward.
"May I have this dance. " he asked with an outstretched hand.
As he did many times that night, Ed looked him over once more. He too was wearing very formal attire, even for an emperor. Dressed in a mianfu, Edward believed Ling called it, made up of beautiful silk both teal and gold layered.
It was much like the red and black one Ed was wearing with golden accents. It was an odd feeling to be had, realizing that they sort of matched attire.
Nonetheless Ed was quick to respond. "You're asking for it, don't think I will mind myself more than I did before. "
"I suppose it can't be helped. " Ling said, shrugging off the future pain in his foot.
They made their way to the center of the dance floor, everyone's eyes were on them until Ling gave the signal to resume as normal.
"So many people watching. " Ed uttered.
Ling leaned closer to him, speaking slowly. "Then let's be sure to give them a good show then shall we? " He pulled back with a smile gracing his lips and it made Ed's cheeks warm.
The next few minutes consisted of Ed being conscious of how he moved, making more of an effort not to step on ling this time.
Ling leaned in again. "Relax, it's okay, just follow my lead. "The smile was ever present, Ed knew the bastard was enjoying every second of this.
It wasn't long though before both of them fell into rhythm, gracefully dancing with each other as well holding each other close as they did so. Swaying and spinning along with the music as though they were born for it- for this moment, and perhaps they were. Edward felt like he was at least.
Sway, step, sway, step step step, sway. The way Ling was leading was quickly getting more sporadic, he just did his best to follow as well not to get dizzy with every spin. Step step step, spin, part, let be pulled back, then finally before Ed even knew what had happened Ling dips him, holding on to the small of his back as he was mere inches from his face. The music stopped.
Ling pulled Ed out of the position as everyone else around them applauded the emperor and the guest of honor but to Ed they were all miles away as his heart fluttered so hard he felt sick and all the spinning did nothing to help.
"I'm going to get some air. " Ed said, gesturing over his shoulder to the balcony. Ling nodded his head, his face dusted with pink after such a dance.
When outside the party seemed so far away. Ed felt almost relieved to get a moment alone, he didn't realize how suffocating it felt to be in the eyes of the public like that until he was no longer under their dreadful gaze.
The late night breeze also did him wonders. his face felt warm and his heart was nearly exploding inside his chest. It couldn't be helped, especially when Ling would look at him like that.
The image ingrained in his mind, Ling staring down at him, his face so tantalizingly close to his, it made it hard to swallow, hard to think.
Edward ran a hand over his face. Guilt starting to consume him, he thought he got over this childish crush years ago. He rationalized it in his mind over a thousand times he shouldn't be feeling this way about his best friend.
The more he thought back to it the more he realized that it never really went away, it was always there, even if in the foreground. It was there in the hiccup in his heart when he read the letters Ling had sent. It was there during the phone calls between them when his cheeks would hurt from smiling. It was there during those late nights when Ed's mind would wander and he couldn't stop the sting in his eyes for reasons he'd ignored.
Those feelings were always there no matter how much Edward refused to notice them, because acknowledging them made them real. But what good did it do him, here he is and it feels like all those feelings are being thrown back at him at full force as vengeance for not feeling them before. Is this why it took him so long to come to Xing...
Edwards' thoughts were pulled to a stop as he heard a voice speak up behind him. "You really surprised me out there, you know. Only stepped on my foot three times, which is a drastic improvement I might add. " Ed could hear the smile in his voice without looking at him, it made him feel good which only made him feel worse.
"Probably would have been less if you weren't moving so fast. " Ed tried to retort as normal but it didn't have the same bite to it and Ed was sure Ling could notice.
Ling made his way over to the railing Ed was hunched over. "I knew you could keep up. " he took his place right next to him, looking up at the waxing crescent moon that served as their light out there. "Is something the matter? "
Ed couldn't peel his eyes off of ling who was still looking up. "I'm alright. " all those horrible feelings still relentlessly stirring in his chest, it felt as though a broken sob would escape his lips if he breathed wrong. "It was just stuffy in there. "
"I know what you mean, it was hell trying to slip out here unnoticed, I'm sure people will come out here looking for me so best try to make this moment the best of it yeah? "The way Ling spoke was airy and light, with a smile pulling at his lips. Everything Edward wasn't feeling right now.
Ed did his best to take a deep breath but it came out shaky. Before Ed could get a word in Ling spoke up. "Thank you. " for the first time since he came outside Ling looked at Ed. "For indulging me I mean. With the garments and the dancing, I meant it when I said it meant a lot to me. "
Ed felt absolutely flushed. "No problem, " Ed's breathing picked up as Ling started to get closer. "really." There was no doubt in his mind that he will be the death of him.
"Edward." His name on Ling's lips made it sound holy, like a forgotten secret that he uttered. Edward hummed in question. "May I ask that you indulge me again. "His voice was low, and Ed was scared to say anything, that it would come out too loud but he had to say something.
"Yes." It came out meek and breathy but it came out nonetheless. Ling placed a hand on Edwards.
"I don't wish to make you uncomfortable." The hand on Ed's started to trail up his arm, resting at his once metal bicep. "So tell me if i go out of line will you. "
Ed felt like every inch Ling went over left a trail of sparks that caught his whole skin aflame. "You won't. "
Ling smiled at him and it was the most damn perfect thing in the world. His hand moved from Ed's arm to cup his cheek as he moved closer, every inch closer felt like a tick on a bomb, making it feel like it was happening all too fast yet far too slow all at the same time.
A moment of courage took over Edward as he was the one to connect their lips. He brought his hands to cup lings one cheek and the side of his neck holding him close, scared to let go, scared to ruin this moment as it was almost searingly hot against his skin, it was desperate, it was messy and beautiful and most of all it was what Edward had wanted for as long as he could remember.
All those feelings bubbling over as ling held him just as close as he held him, but it didn't feel as horrifying as it did before, it didn't feel like it could kill him yet simultaneously Edward believed that if he were to die in this moment then maybe he would be okay with that.
Ling's hand was firm on Ed's arm, unrelenting and it comforted Ed that maybe ling wanted this just as badly as Edward did, maybe he too felt the hot coals inside his chest he did, maybe they could bask in this beautifully horrible feeling together.
Then their lips parted but they did not separate, instead resting their heads against one anothers as they caught their breath.
Ling let out a soft laugh and Ed couldn't help but do the same. Suddenly they were teenagers again, out in the woods unsure if they would both make it to the end of their journey. "You have no idea how long I've wanted to do that. " Ed heard the words and it was as though Ling just said what was echoing in Ed's own mind.
"Really? " Ed had a hard time believing that, had a hard time believing any of this was real while at the same time it all fell into place so perfectly it had to make sense.
"For someone who is as smart as you are, you're plenty stupid. " Ling grinned and continued before Ed could get an angry word in. " I was starting to think you didn't feel the same. " Ling looked a little embarrassed and it felt as though all the hints Ling tried dropping Ed over the years finally hit him. "Or maybe why you never came to visit. "
Guilt latched on to Edward. It was true that maybe he prolonged seeing Ling for a year or two, claiming he had traveling to do but the truth was that he was scared to face Ling or rather the feelings attached to ling. "I'm sorry Ling. "
Lings' features softened. "I understand you were busy. " Their hands still resting on each other, Ling squeezed Ed's arm as comfort.
Ed could only shake his head. "No, I was a coward, I was scared to face you. " Ed ran the pad of his thumb over lings cheek. "I tried running while still keeping you in my life only keeping you at arms distance- it was selfish and you didn't deserve that. "
"You're so ridiculous Edward. " the words sounded as though they should hurt but not a lick of maliciousness was on Lings face which comforted Ed. He leaned in to steal a kiss, a chaste one unlike the one they shared before. "Please don't push me away again. "
" I won't." With their faces so close it was easy for Ed to nuzzle his nose against lings. "I promise. " he seals the promise with another kiss hoping ling could feel the truth in his words.
They heard footsteps approaching, they were both quick to separate, if the wrong person saw them in this position it could end poorly.
To both of their relief it was only Lan Fan who walked out."My Lord, they're looking for you. "
Ling looked at Ed with all the sincerity in his eyes with a smile. "Best not to keep them waiting. " he held out a hand offering it to Ed to which he was quick to accept.
They returned to the party and the tight air Edward felt didn't seem as strangling as before, instead even from across the room all it took was one look at Ling and Ed knew that he was going to be okay.