oldestcharm

They're on a train back to Central when Ed considers his options and says, semi-casual, "So, that was nice."

Roy's head snaps up, and it takes him a moment longer than usual to arrange his features back into something more dignified. He folds his hands on his lap and looks at Ed with a curious mix of amusement and incredulity.

"I must admit," Roy says, lips curling into a terrible little smile that makes Ed's guts twist, "your definition of 'nice' is a touch out there even by my standards."

"What?"

"I didn't think your love for demolition extended to occurrences in which you were inside as it happened."

"Not— not the collapsing building, although that was kinda fun too if you look at it from—" Ed pauses just to glare at him and hopefully stop saying stupid shit out loud. "I meant... before. This morning. Today was nice."

He's not talking about the mission. He's especially not talking about the way Roy winces when he moves his shoulder, although Ed will most certainly look it over as soon as it's safe to demand he take his shirt off and...

Anyway.

He's talking about how earlier — exploring the city together, stopping for a bite, joking around with a view of the water — had felt different this time. Different in a way that there seemed to be some acknowledgment of the way they talk to each other when they're alone, and more often than not, how they do that anyway when they aren't.

Ed expects deflection, for Roy to run him in circles until his head spins and he's almost forgotten his point, but instead he stills and swallows.

"Oh," Roy says. It seems, as though, that's the only response he's got, but Ed's willing to wait him out. His eyes scan the train car and satisfied they're alone, he focuses on Ed again. "It was nice," he acquiesces, taking on a softer tone.

Ed's alarm bells go off. He knows this tone. This is the tone Roy uses when he's stating delicate truths, when he can't afford to give you what you asked for, but still wants to be kind.

"But?" Ed asks.

Roy's confused little frown is so cute it pisses Ed off. "There is no 'but' unless we're talking about yours, in which case—"

"Then what the fuck's the tone for?" Ed asks. He doesn't remember crossing his arms, but uncrossing them now would just bring more attention to it.

Roy blinks at him. "What tone?"

"The one you're using now."

"It's a tone I use for," he pauses, seeming to consider, "emphasizing sincerity."

"Oh," Ed says, flushing, and after a lengthy internal debate he adds, "well, in that case, we should do it again."

Roy smiles at him.

"Intentionally," Ed adds. "As a date."

The smile widens. "I would like that."

"Good," Ed says, and this time, he's unable to hold back his own grin.

They're nearly at the station when Roy blinks incredulously and says, "sorry, did you say the collapsing building was 'fun'?!" and Ed straightens up in his seat and says, "hold up, what did you say about my ass?!"