Full Metal Alchemist, "Empty Nest 6: Change," Ed/Russel, Al/Danny, NC-17
SailorMac beta’d this, like most of the other chapters of this arc, and for that I am horrendously grateful. This chapter is my nod to Fletcher, and more generally my nod to younger siblings in general. Sometimes, we just have to snap.
This chapter is NC-17 for two lemons (I’ve noticed that I do that ... it’s either no lemon or several lemons. Ah for the good ol’ days when I just wrote porn ...) and it counts as both Russel/Ed and Al/Danny because waiting doesn’t mean going mad. *snicker*
Empty Nest in its entirety:
Prologue: Prodigal Sons
Chapter 1: Awakening
Chapter 1.5: A Matter of Pride
Chapter 2: True Test
Chapter 3: Amestris Pie
Chapter 4: Waiting
Chapter 5: Allowance
[Chapter 6: Change]
Chapter 7: Truce
Chapter 8: Out Alone
Chapter 9: Growing Pains
Chapter 10: Resentment
Chapter 11: Back to Normal
Chapter 12: Perspective
Chapter 13: Understanding
Chapter 14: Distraction
Chapter 15: Silence
Chapter 16: Choose
Chapter 17: Bonds
Chapter 18: Healing
Chapter 19: Nesting
Chapter 20: The Morning After
Chapter 21: Reaction
Chapter 22: Aftershocks
Chapter 23: Goodbye
Chapter 24: Memory
Epilogue: Family
Empty Nest
Chapter Six
Change
by Mistress Quickly
Fletcher was asleep by the time Roy pulled up in front of the Tringham-Elric house, so the man parked and made his way around to the passenger side, scooping the boy into his arms, then closed the car door with a nudge of his hip. Fletcher squirmed and murmured something that sounded like his older brother’s name, then settled against Roy’s chest, breathing deeply, the expression of peace on his soft features bringing a smile to Roy’s lips. He carried Fletcher up the walk, balancing him against his own body long enough to press the doorbell, doing his best to shield Fletcher from the whipping wind.
Russel and Edward both met him at the door, Winry right behind them, their looks of worry melting into relief at the sight of the younger Tringham. Roy chuckled.
“Where’s his room?” he said. “I can carry him for you, if you’d like.”
Russel shook his head and held out his arms, grunting a little under his brother’s dead weight. “I’ve got him,” he said. “Thank you for finding him, and for bringing him home.”
“My pleasure,” said Roy. “He’s a very nice young man.”
Russel turned, slowly making his way up the stairs, kissing his brother’s hair. Roy watched him go, feeling very warm at the sight of the brothers, strongly reminded of Al carrying Edward, the sweet-natured suit of armor cuddling the prickliest teenager Roy had ever met.
“Would you like a cup of tea?” said Winry, tugging Roy out of his reverie.
“No, it’s late. I think I’ll head back,” said Roy. “But thank you for the offer.” He turned to go, breath misting as he yawned, hands in his pockets. When he was nearly down the steps, he heard the door open, once again, and turned to see Edward, the young man hunched and avoiding his gaze. “Yes, Full Metal?” he said.
Edward looked up at him. “My brother,” he said. “Is he okay?”
Roy sighed. “Alphonse is fine, Edward. Upset, yes, but fine. He’s staying with me tonight, but he said to tell you he’d talk to you tomorrow.”
Edward scowled. “Great,” he said. “Thanks.” There was a long pause, Roy watching the young blonde, Edward frozen, glaring at the cold cement of the front porch, shifting from foot to foot, his unease clearly telling Roy that he had more to say.
“Yes, Full Metal?” he prompted.
Edward looked up at him. “You know,” he said, “it’d be easier on all of us if you didn’t always side with Al. It’s like you want him to come running to you every time he doesn’t like the way something here is working.”
“I want him to have a safe place to go,” said Roy, not at all surprised by Edward’s words. “Tonight, he needed that, and I’m glad he came to me. I’d think you would be, too.”
“Yeah,” said Edward. “Real happy. Just like I was when you took him away to sit that stupid Exam, right?”
Roy sighed. “I just want what’s best for Alphonse, Edward.”
“What do you know about it?” said Edward, fists balling. “Nothing! You don’t know anything about my little brother, you bastard. He has a safe place! It’s here. His home.”
Roy pulled his hands out of his pockets and crossed his arms over his chest. “You’re overreacting, Edward,” he said. “Your brother is growing up, and he’s going to need his space.” He saw Edward open his mouth and cut him off. “And before you decide that I’m completely ignorant when it comes to Alphonse, allow me to remind you that I watched that ‘little brother’ of yours dress like you for two years, desperately searching for you. I watched that ‘little brother’ of yours study for the Exam and handle his disappointment at his failure with far more maturity than many grown men, even though it had to hurt that you passed the exam the first time you tried it. And tonight, I watched that ‘little brother’ of yours cry himself into a stomachache because you seem to be the only individual on this planet who sees him as something other than the brilliant young man he’s become, that you’re willing to humiliate him in public over something so simple as falling in love.”
Edward looked at him, eyes flashing, mouth open, but said nothing. Instead, he stomped his foot, turned, and fled into the house, leaving Roy on the front step, sighing with frustration, facing Winry, who shook her head.
“And he says Al’s still a kid,” she said. “I'd apologize for his behavior, but you know how he is anyway.”
Roy nodded. “Don’t know how Al can stand it, sometimes,” he said.
“He can’t, and doesn’t,” said Winry. “Just different, now that he’s got Danny to go to instead of me and Granny. Ed never even thought twice about his brother leaving to visit us. But now ...” She sighed. “Thanks, though, for bringing Fletcher home. I was really worried about him.”
“My pleasure,” said Roy. “Goodnight.”
“Goodnight,” said Winry.
Roy hesitated, then turned and made his way down the walk to his car, ghosts of his past whispering in his ear, smiling Winry’s smile when he turned to brush them away.
~*~*~*~
“Goddamn egotistical ignorant sonovabitch bastard telling me he knows more about my little brother than I do,” growled Edward, pouting on the foot of the bed, his husband watching him over the top of the latest plant Alchemy journal, which he’d been reading since he tucked his little brother into the bed the boy was sharing with Winry, kissing the boy’s temple and whispering goodnight, as he’d done for years. “I should go into the City and drag Al out of there right now before that Bastard puts any ridiculous ideas into his head.”
He looked over his shoulder at Russel. Russel dropped his eyes back to his reading.
“What, don’t tell me you agree with him, Russel,” said Edward. “Oh great. That’s just great.”
“Edward,” said Russel, “I haven’t said a word since you came up here. You do realize that, right?”
Edward wilted. “Yeah,” he said, “which usually means I’ve gone off the deep end and you’re waiting for me to shut up so you can remind me that I’m not being logical. Feel like a damned girl when you do that.”
Russel closed his book and set it on his bedside table, then sat up and crawled down the bed, stretching out beside his husband. “You’re not a girl, Ed, and I’m not trying to make you feel like one,” he said. “Just ... yeah, you’re not being very logical right now. You’re upset, which is understandable, and if you get it all off your chest, then you’ll feel better and be more ... receptive to what others say.”
“You’re just saying that I’m throwing a tantrum, then?” said Edward.
Russel sighed, smiling faintly. “Yeah,” he said. “That’s what I’m saying.”
“Okay, then,” said Edward. “How would you react, if it were your little brother, but instead of being with someone like Winry, who’s practically my sister, he was interested in a woman six years older than he-six years, Russ-and had kept their relationship secret from you for nearly seven months? How bad would you want them to start sleeping together?”
Russel’s eyes widened. “That’s what this fight’s about?” he said. “Wow. I thought ... Al said he was waiting, though. That he and Danny were going to wait.”
Edward waved a dismissive hand. “No, not sleep together like THAT, Russ. Sleep together like ... alone. Together. In the spare room.”
“With us next door?” said Russel. “Like my own little brother and his girlfriend are doing, right now?”
Edward wilted some more. “Yeah,” he said. “But you and I were quiet enough that no-one heard us, the first time.” He saw Russel arch an eyebrow. “If it were your little brother, Russ,” he said, “would you really care that we did it, if Fletcher wanted to rush into a relationship? Would the fact that we risked it and somehow got lucky make you any more comfortable with Fletcher doing it?”
Russel shook his head. “No,” he said. “You’re right, Ed, I’d throw a fit about that, too. But ... I don’t know. You seem to be overreacting to everything, even the little stuff. No, I don’t think Al and Danny should start having sex, no more than I think my little brother and Winry should start having sex, but if they just want to sleep alone together, with us right in the next room ...” He sighed. “Danny’s a nice guy, Ed. He treated Fletcher really well before the Exam, from what Fletch tells me, and he seems very sweet around Al. Not to mention that he’s very polite, and that Roy trusted him enough to give him the task of guarding you, Back Then.”
Edward snarled. “That Bastard barely knew him, Back Then,” he said. “Assigned him to guard us because the guy wasn’t doing anything to help with his little political coup-thingy.”
“You mean his coup that saved our country from a war-mongering homunculus?” said Russel.
“You know what I meant, Russ,” said Edward. “And don’t try to sidetrack me. Won’t work. I’m not letting Al sleep with Danny. Period.”
Russel stiffened. “So you did mean what you said, earlier. That you think I’m letting Fletcher turn into a slut because I trust him well enough to let him share a bed with Winry.”
Edward looked at him. “No, Russ, I-”
“Then what, Ed?” said Russel, standing and planting his hands on his hips. “What do you mean, exactly, if you think it’s ... immoral for Al to do what I’m letting Fletcher do? Huh? Explain that to me.”
There was a soft knock at the door, cutting off Edward’s stuttered attempts at explanation. Russel gave his husband a horrid, dark look, then padded over, twisting the knob and wrenching the door open. His expression softened as he looked down at his little brother, the boy’s eyes red-rimmed and a little blood-shot, short blonde hair sticking up in all directions.
“I’m sorry, Fletch,” said Russel. “Didn’t mean to wake you. We’ll be quiet now.”
Fletcher shook his head. “I have something to say,” he said. “To both of you. Preferably before you kill each other or get a divorce, whichever you manage first.”
Russel shook his head. “We’re not going to get a divorce, Fletch,” he said. “We’re just arguing, is all.”
“Then I want to say this before you kill each other, because that’s the other option,” said Fletcher. He crossed his arms over his chest, and walked into the room. “Sit down on the bed with Edward, please.”
Russel blinked at him, but did as he was told, taking Edward’s hand in his own, mindful as ever of the exposed stitches, the ointment Edward had just smeared on them still drying.
“Okay,” said Fletcher. “First of all, I don’t really care what either of you thinks about me and Winry sleeping in the same bed. I didn’t throw half the fit when I found out what you two were doing in that shed behind Belsio’s that Russel threw when he found me and Winry kissing on the couch, so you’re both hypocrites and I can therefore ignore you.”
“You weren’t just kissing, Fletcher Dominic Tringham,” said Russel, stiffening.
“No, but we were doing less than you and Edward were doing in that shed, so you have absolutely no right to pass judgment on me.”
Russel sighed. Edward gaped. Fletcher took a deep breath.
“Secondly,” he said, “you may not think you’re passing judgment on Winry when you say that kind of stuff about me, but you are, Edward, and it hurts her feelings to hear her best friend, the closest thing she’s got to a brother, saying those kinds of things about her. You owe her a very big apology, just for that, and you owe her your thanks for not beating the daylights out of you up here, earlier. She was really hurt, but she came up here and helped you out instead of just yelling at you.”
Edward blushed. “I ... didn’t think about it that way,” he said.
“I noticed,” said Fletcher. “Thirdly, Danny Broche is a great guy, not just because he took really good care of you and Al Back Then, and not only because he took care of us this year, before the exam-when you deserted Al completely, I might add-and not only because he patched up your arm, but because he’s been patient and loving and polite and put up with your shit ever since you found out he and Al were together. An outside observer would never guess, from the way you rant about Al and Danny, that they’re twenty and twenty-six, respectively. Never. You act like they’re children, and Danny’s patience with you, despite that, is absolutely amazing and admirable. You should be glad he’s dating Al, because anyone else would have beaten you to a pulp by now for your attitude.”
Edward stared at his brother-in-law, sputtering. “I didn’t desert Al!” he said, finally.
Fletcher rolled his eyes. “Then what did you do? Because last I checked, you ignored him, made him cry when he called you, then refused to come support him on one of the most important days of his life.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “The only reason you showed up at all was Danny Broche. Well, and Russel and Roy and Maria, too, I suppose, but Danny comforted Al when you hurt him, then came up here and faced your temper and got you into Central for Al’s exam because he loves Al and would do anything for him. And rather than being happy for him, you’re pouting.”
“I’m not pouting,” said Edward. “I’m just worried about him. What’s with you two, acting like it’s such a shock that Russ and I are trying to keep you from getting hurt?”
“Did you ever consider,” said Fletcher, “that maybe-just maybe-your attempts to keep us from getting hurt are precisely what are hurting us, in the end?”
Edward blinked at him. Russel stared at the ground. “No,” he said. “I’d never thought of it like that before.”
“I didn’t think so,” said Fletcher.
There was a pause, then Edward stood. “Okay,” he said. “I’m sorry for what I said, earlier. I honestly didn’t mean it. You and Winry are both good people, not sluts or immoral or anything like that. I’m really sorry.” He saw Fletcher open his mouth and held up his hand. “In our defense, Russ and I don’t have the slightest clue what we’re doing. We’re not your parents, but we’re certainly more than just your older brothers. It’s impossible to know when to play what role. We do our best, honestly we do, but sometimes we-well, usually I-fuck up. Al’s used to me fucking up. I’m sorry that, this time, you caught the brunt of it.”
Fletcher’s glare softened a little. “It’s okay,” he said. “I know you’d never mean something like that about Winry, so I figured you didn’t mean it about me, either.”
“I really didn’t,” said Edward.
“And Edward?”
“Yeah?” said Edward.
Fletcher took a deep breath. “You should let Danny and Al stay in the guestroom together. They’re not going to do anything bad, and it’s ... it’s not going to be the first time they’ve shared a bed, anyway.”
Edward stiffened. “What?” he said.
“Al passed out one night in the library, and Danny had no way to get him back to Roy’s house, so he took Al to his dorm room,” said Fletcher. “I was teasing him about it, because I knew he had a crush on Danny, but he said that he slept in Danny’s roommate’s bed, Danny’s roommate slept in Danny’s bed, and Danny slept on his bedroll on the floor until Al asked him to sleep with him.”
“My little brother asked Danny to sleep with him?” said Edward, through clenched teeth.
“Your little brother-who’s the same age as my big brother, by the way-felt guilty that the man who’d been up all hours of the night, making sure he was safe, was sleeping on a Military-issue bedroll on the floor, instead of in a proper bed,” said Fletcher. “You should be proud of Al’s good manners.”
Edward let out a low whistle. “That’s one take on it, sure,” he said.
Fletcher whined in frustration. “You’re going to yell at him about that when he gets home, aren’t you?” he said. “He’s never going to be old enough to do what you’ve been doing since you were just a kid, is he?”
Russel put his arm around his husband. “Fletch,” he said, “that’s enough. Give Ed a break, okay? This is all new to him. Took me awhile before I was comfortable with you and Winry being together, remember?”
“I remember that you’re still flipping out on us,” said Fletcher, “and I’m trying to put a stop to that, tonight.”
“Fletcher, that’s not possible, and you know it,” said Russel. “That’d be like telling someone to learn everything about Alchemy in one day. We’re not going to stop worrying about you, just because you’re a certain age now or because you’ve started dating someone.”
“I know that,” said Fletcher. “But you’ve got to start somewhere. You’ve started already, Brother, but Edward ... you’re behind.”
Edward snorted. “Don’t patronize me, Fletcher.”
Fletcher scowled. “That’s real funny, coming from the guy who’s been patronizing Al so unfairly for the past few weeks.”
A soft tap on the door quieted whatever Edward was getting ready to say. Winry pushed the door open and slipped inside, arms folded over her chest.
“This is getting you all nowhere,” she said. “Fletcher, you’ve said your piece. Edward, you’ve apologized. Russel, you’ve done well at keeping your mouth shut. May I suggest that we all part friends and go to bed, now before we start mudslinging and sniping each other?”
Silence answered her. Only when she draped her arm around her boyfriend did he sigh, then speak. “You’re right. I’m sorry for losing my temper.”
Russel stood and tugged his little brother close, hugging him. “You’re doing okay, Fletch,” he said. “I’m sorry I’ve been a pain in the ass.”
“So am I,” said Edward, standing. “Forgive me for not hugging you, but my Automail’s not the softest thing in the world, and my other arm’s kinda sticky right now.”
“Understandable,” said Fletcher. He turned, Winry’s arm around his shoulder, but paused at the door. “Please don’t yell at Al, tomorrow,” he said. “He’s going to come home tomorrow, and if you mistreat him, it’ll be very bad.”
Edward tensed. “You’re saying my little brother’s going to run away from home, Fletcher?”
Fletcher shook his head. “I’m saying that your brother can’t leave you,” he said. “Mistreat him tomorrow, and you’ll be trapping him here, miserable. Let go, just a little bit, and he’ll be able to have his brother and his boyfriend. It’s his home. Your choice how he feels here. That’s all I’m saying.”
And then he was gone, Winry pulling the door shut behind him. Edward closed his eyes and leant against his husband’s chest, wounded arm cradled in his Automail hand, eyes closed.
“When did our brothers grow up, Russ?” he said, so softly Russel could barely hear him.
“I don’t know, baby,” said Russel. He kissed the top of his husband’s head, then tilted the man’s chin up, claiming Edward’s lips with his own. “When did we grow up?” he said. “When did we change from kids sneaking around for a frantic grope in Belsio’s shed to two old guys ordering our brothers around like children?”
Edward chuckled. “We’re not old,” he said. “Just ...” He took a deep breath and pressed his forehead to Russel’s chest, listening to his husband’s heart beat. “Just scared.”
Russel didn’t answer. Didn’t need to, really. He kissed the top of Edward’s head, once again, then guided his husband back to their bed, undressing both of them, then pulling down the covers and stretching out, his long frame settling comfortably over Edward’s smaller body, his soft cock rubbing the familiar skin and curls of Edward’s groin, hardening slowly as he kissed the man he loved.
And it was comforting, losing himself in the kiss, in Edward’s breathless gasps of pleasure, in the wash of sensation when orgasm took him, reassuring that the infuriated blonde who had hurt him so badly earlier was still the passionate man he loved, the man squirming beneath him, quietly praising him, loving him with his words, as he orgasmed.
When the last pulse had shivered from his cock, he slid down Edward’s body and took the man into his mouth, licking away his own semen before sucking, hard and fast, bringing Edward to orgasm in only a matter of minutes, shattering the pain and fear and betrayal of the day with the familiarity of their passion. He swallowed his husband’s release, then grabbed the towel from his bath and cleaned them both, dropping the cloth to the floor and cuddling his lover, listening to Edward breathe.
“Tomorrow,” said Edward, “is going to be very, very hard.”
Russel nodded. “Yes,” he said. “It is. But sleep will make it easier, baby. Promise.”
Edward snorted. “Stop calling me that,” he said, but his voice lacked true venom. He lay quietly, his breathing eventually deepening to the soft snores of real sleep, safe and warm in Russel’s arms.
Sex solved nothing, Russel mused, slipping into unconsciousness himself, but it certainly made things hurt a lot less, even for just a little while.
~*~*~*~
Danny woke slowly, blinking in the dim light of the room, disoriented. He was warm, wrapped in soft sheets and plump pillows, his body cradled in a mattress that made his bunk in the dorm seem like a cardboard box in comparison, his balls throbbing and cock leaking, pressed tight against the front of his boxers. Molded against his side, thrusting steadily and moaning, was Al, the boy’s erection rubbing frantically against Danny’s hip. Danny grinned and remembered where he was.
He was in heaven.
He’d never watched Al reach completion before, had only seen the boy afterwards, hands sticky with come and cock softening in his palm, but from the sweat beading on Al’s brow, the breathlessness of the boy’s panting moans, Danny was fairly certain he was close. He moved his leg, just a little, in time with Al’s thrusts, giving him a little more friction. Al cried out and gripped Danny’s side, fingers digging brutally into the man’s soft skin, thrusting wildly only a handful of times before going rigid, hips jerking in little spasms against Danny, his semen spreading, thick and warm, over his boyfriend’s boxer-clad hip.
Danny sighed happily, satisfied despite the ache in his balls, the desperate throbbing of his penis. Turning, he pressed a kiss to Al’s swear-damp hair, idly noting that the side of his shorts was soaked and sticky, but not really caring because it was Al’s come, and really, he couldn’t think of anything he’d rather be soaked with than Alphonse Elric’s-
“Oh my gosh ...”
Al stiffened, gasping softly, his hand brushing Danny’s erection as it flew to the sticky mess he’d made of their pajamas. When he looked up and saw Danny awake and watching him, he groaned and pushed himself up, covering his face with his hands.
“Ohdannyi’msosorry,” he whimpered behind his palms.
Danny sat up as well and tugged at Al’s wrists, pulling the boy’s hands away. He ducked his head, tilting Al’s chin up with the tips of his fingers, forcing the boy to meet his gaze. “Hey,” he said. “Calm down, sweetheart. Nothing wrong with ... this. It’s natural.” He offered his blushing boyfriend a shy smile. “Not to mention hot as hell,” he added.
Al bit his lower lip and looked away, his chin dropping from Danny’s gentle fingers. “I’m so sorry Danny,” he said. “This is so embarrassing ...”
“Hey,” said Danny, tugging the trembling boy close. “Oh Al, sweetheart, it’s okay. Not like I’ve never had the same thing happen to me before. Really.” He kissed Al’s hair, rubbing the boy’s back, holding him tightly while he cried. “You’re so beautiful when you come, Al,” he whispered. “I’m so lucky I got to see you like that.”
Al curled closer to his boyfriend’s chest, crying harder, hands fisting in Danny’s t-shirt. “B-brother was right,” he sobbed. “I am t-too young to share a b-bed with you.”
“Shh,” said Danny, squeezing Al’s shoulders and pushing him back, wiping tears from the boy’s flushed cheeks with the pads of his thumbs, cradling Al’s face in both hands, holding bronze eyes with his own gaze. “Al,” he said, “I’m six years older than you, and I was worried I’d come all over myself, just from feeling you curled around me in bed. You know, after the first time we made out, I came all over myself in my sleep, napping after you left to go home. I thought Akil was going to die from laughing at me.” He leant close, pressing a soft kiss to Al’s lips. “It has nothing to do with how young you are or how old I am, sweetheart. We both react like this to sleeping together because we’re not used to it. The littlest touches set us off. And personally-” he kissed Al, once again, “-I like it. Like this.”
Al sniffled and wiped tears from his eyes with an angry swipe of his hand, taking the handful of tissues Danny offered him from the box on the bedside table and blowing his nose. “Thanks,” he said. “I still can’t believe I did ... that.”
“Mmm,” said Danny, “neither can I. Dream come true for me, sweetheart, to get to watch you and feel you and listen to you, like that.” He shifted, squeezing his replenished erection through his shorts. “I’ve got to go take care of this now, though. It’s actually starting to hurt a little.”
He sat back, intent on adding “jerked off in the Flame Alchemist’s bathroom” to the list of things to brag about the next time he got horrendously drunk, right after “kissed the Full Metal Alchemist’s brother and didn’t get killed for it,” but as he turned to slide out of bed, Al launched himself forward, wrapping his arms around Danny’s waist. The man toppled back, unbalanced, barely swallowing his yelp of surprise as he fell on his boyfriend’s small frame. He righted himself quickly and flipped over, hands pressing into the mattress on either side of Al’s shoulders, his throbbing erection rubbing the boy’s knee, the slight friction making him tremble.
“Okay,” he said, “you’ve got my attention now.”
Al looked up at him, solemn and serious. “Prove it to me, Danny,” he said, voice soft and breathy. “Show me that it’s really okay that I did ... that.”
“What?” said Danny, shivering and grinding his hips against his boyfriend, just a little, when he felt the boy shift, intentionally rubbing against him.
“Equivalent trade,” said Al. “I came all over you. Come all over me. Let me watch you, like you watched me.” He blushed, his cheeks darkening in the dim light of the room. “Please?”
Danny swallowed hard, torn between knowing rationally that it would be a Very Bad Idea to jerk off all over the beautiful young man stretched out beneath him, and wanting with wild, lustful desire, to do just that. He swallowed hard. “It’ll make a mess,” he whispered. “I haven’t ... done anything with myself lately. There’ll be a lot.”
“We have to clean up mine anyway,” breathed Al. “I don’t mind cleaning up yours, too. Please Danny? For me?”
And he was so beautiful, soft hair fanned around him on the soft pillow, eyes wide and honestly pleading, that Danny could no more deny him than he could leave the warmth of the bed to satisfy his own wanting, cold and alone in the bathroom down the hall. He lowered himself onto Al’s hard body, pressed his mouth hard against Al’s, his tongue pushing in deep, thrusting hard as he ground his erection against Al’s hip, growling into the kiss. When Al bucked beneath him, panting, the boy’s hands sliding down Danny’s body to squeeze the man’s firm butt, Danny whimpered and began to come, his body tense and pressed firmly against Al’s, his breath hitching in his throat with each pulse of semen shuddering from his cock. Only when the last spasms stopped, when his body sank into the buzz of afterglow, did Danny draw a deep breath and roll off of his lover, sticky and exhausted and sated and grinning.
He felt Al’s lips on his neck, his chin, his cheek. Felt Al kissing him, soft and calming, gently giving Danny back the even rhythm of breath, fingers stroking the man’s breastbone until Danny’s heart stopped pounding, beating steadily.
“Thank you,” he whispered, fingertips tickling down to Danny’s belly, stroking around the man’s belly-button. “Thank you so, so much.”
Danny sighed and looked at his lover, reaching up to stroke Al’s soft hair. “If we can do that,” he said, “then I may be able to keep that promise to wait for sex and keep my sanity. That was amazing, Al. You are amazing.”
Al blushed and kissed him, once again, then pulled himself into a kneeling position, fingers moving lower still to touch the sticky mess on the front of Danny’s shorts. Danny blushed.
“I told you there’d be a lot,” he said.
“It’s kind of sexy, actually,” said Al. “I like that you come a lot.”
He clapped his hands and placed them gently, palm-down, on Danny’s shorts, purple light glowing around the wet spot. Danny tensed, watching the Alchemical reaction so close to the most sensitive parts of his anatomy, relaxing only when the light dimmed and Al was brushing the dehydrated residue of Danny’s release off of the patterned cotton, giving the man a shy little smile before doing the same to his own pajamas, then to the side of Danny’s boxers.
“There,” he said, lying down and curling around Danny’s side, nuzzling the man’s neck. “Just like it never happened.”
Danny turned and kissed him, deep and slow, holding the boy close. As he drifted to sleep, he replayed, over and over in his mind, the look of abandon on Al’s beautiful face, the feel of the boy’s stiff cock flooding them both with the warmth of his release.
He smiled. Not quite like it had never happened, but certainly close enough. Sated and warm, he held his lover close and closed his eyes, drifting to slowly to sleep.
This chapter is NC-17 for two lemons (I’ve noticed that I do that ... it’s either no lemon or several lemons. Ah for the good ol’ days when I just wrote porn ...) and it counts as both Russel/Ed and Al/Danny because waiting doesn’t mean going mad. *snicker*
Empty Nest in its entirety:
Prologue: Prodigal Sons
Chapter 1: Awakening
Chapter 1.5: A Matter of Pride
Chapter 2: True Test
Chapter 3: Amestris Pie
Chapter 4: Waiting
Chapter 5: Allowance
[Chapter 6: Change]
Chapter 7: Truce
Chapter 8: Out Alone
Chapter 9: Growing Pains
Chapter 10: Resentment
Chapter 11: Back to Normal
Chapter 12: Perspective
Chapter 13: Understanding
Chapter 14: Distraction
Chapter 15: Silence
Chapter 16: Choose
Chapter 17: Bonds
Chapter 18: Healing
Chapter 19: Nesting
Chapter 20: The Morning After
Chapter 21: Reaction
Chapter 22: Aftershocks
Chapter 23: Goodbye
Chapter 24: Memory
Epilogue: Family
Empty Nest
Chapter Six
Change
by Mistress Quickly
Fletcher was asleep by the time Roy pulled up in front of the Tringham-Elric house, so the man parked and made his way around to the passenger side, scooping the boy into his arms, then closed the car door with a nudge of his hip. Fletcher squirmed and murmured something that sounded like his older brother’s name, then settled against Roy’s chest, breathing deeply, the expression of peace on his soft features bringing a smile to Roy’s lips. He carried Fletcher up the walk, balancing him against his own body long enough to press the doorbell, doing his best to shield Fletcher from the whipping wind.
Russel and Edward both met him at the door, Winry right behind them, their looks of worry melting into relief at the sight of the younger Tringham. Roy chuckled.
“Where’s his room?” he said. “I can carry him for you, if you’d like.”
Russel shook his head and held out his arms, grunting a little under his brother’s dead weight. “I’ve got him,” he said. “Thank you for finding him, and for bringing him home.”
“My pleasure,” said Roy. “He’s a very nice young man.”
Russel turned, slowly making his way up the stairs, kissing his brother’s hair. Roy watched him go, feeling very warm at the sight of the brothers, strongly reminded of Al carrying Edward, the sweet-natured suit of armor cuddling the prickliest teenager Roy had ever met.
“Would you like a cup of tea?” said Winry, tugging Roy out of his reverie.
“No, it’s late. I think I’ll head back,” said Roy. “But thank you for the offer.” He turned to go, breath misting as he yawned, hands in his pockets. When he was nearly down the steps, he heard the door open, once again, and turned to see Edward, the young man hunched and avoiding his gaze. “Yes, Full Metal?” he said.
Edward looked up at him. “My brother,” he said. “Is he okay?”
Roy sighed. “Alphonse is fine, Edward. Upset, yes, but fine. He’s staying with me tonight, but he said to tell you he’d talk to you tomorrow.”
Edward scowled. “Great,” he said. “Thanks.” There was a long pause, Roy watching the young blonde, Edward frozen, glaring at the cold cement of the front porch, shifting from foot to foot, his unease clearly telling Roy that he had more to say.
“Yes, Full Metal?” he prompted.
Edward looked up at him. “You know,” he said, “it’d be easier on all of us if you didn’t always side with Al. It’s like you want him to come running to you every time he doesn’t like the way something here is working.”
“I want him to have a safe place to go,” said Roy, not at all surprised by Edward’s words. “Tonight, he needed that, and I’m glad he came to me. I’d think you would be, too.”
“Yeah,” said Edward. “Real happy. Just like I was when you took him away to sit that stupid Exam, right?”
Roy sighed. “I just want what’s best for Alphonse, Edward.”
“What do you know about it?” said Edward, fists balling. “Nothing! You don’t know anything about my little brother, you bastard. He has a safe place! It’s here. His home.”
Roy pulled his hands out of his pockets and crossed his arms over his chest. “You’re overreacting, Edward,” he said. “Your brother is growing up, and he’s going to need his space.” He saw Edward open his mouth and cut him off. “And before you decide that I’m completely ignorant when it comes to Alphonse, allow me to remind you that I watched that ‘little brother’ of yours dress like you for two years, desperately searching for you. I watched that ‘little brother’ of yours study for the Exam and handle his disappointment at his failure with far more maturity than many grown men, even though it had to hurt that you passed the exam the first time you tried it. And tonight, I watched that ‘little brother’ of yours cry himself into a stomachache because you seem to be the only individual on this planet who sees him as something other than the brilliant young man he’s become, that you’re willing to humiliate him in public over something so simple as falling in love.”
Edward looked at him, eyes flashing, mouth open, but said nothing. Instead, he stomped his foot, turned, and fled into the house, leaving Roy on the front step, sighing with frustration, facing Winry, who shook her head.
“And he says Al’s still a kid,” she said. “I'd apologize for his behavior, but you know how he is anyway.”
Roy nodded. “Don’t know how Al can stand it, sometimes,” he said.
“He can’t, and doesn’t,” said Winry. “Just different, now that he’s got Danny to go to instead of me and Granny. Ed never even thought twice about his brother leaving to visit us. But now ...” She sighed. “Thanks, though, for bringing Fletcher home. I was really worried about him.”
“My pleasure,” said Roy. “Goodnight.”
“Goodnight,” said Winry.
Roy hesitated, then turned and made his way down the walk to his car, ghosts of his past whispering in his ear, smiling Winry’s smile when he turned to brush them away.
~*~*~*~
“Goddamn egotistical ignorant sonovabitch bastard telling me he knows more about my little brother than I do,” growled Edward, pouting on the foot of the bed, his husband watching him over the top of the latest plant Alchemy journal, which he’d been reading since he tucked his little brother into the bed the boy was sharing with Winry, kissing the boy’s temple and whispering goodnight, as he’d done for years. “I should go into the City and drag Al out of there right now before that Bastard puts any ridiculous ideas into his head.”
He looked over his shoulder at Russel. Russel dropped his eyes back to his reading.
“What, don’t tell me you agree with him, Russel,” said Edward. “Oh great. That’s just great.”
“Edward,” said Russel, “I haven’t said a word since you came up here. You do realize that, right?”
Edward wilted. “Yeah,” he said, “which usually means I’ve gone off the deep end and you’re waiting for me to shut up so you can remind me that I’m not being logical. Feel like a damned girl when you do that.”
Russel closed his book and set it on his bedside table, then sat up and crawled down the bed, stretching out beside his husband. “You’re not a girl, Ed, and I’m not trying to make you feel like one,” he said. “Just ... yeah, you’re not being very logical right now. You’re upset, which is understandable, and if you get it all off your chest, then you’ll feel better and be more ... receptive to what others say.”
“You’re just saying that I’m throwing a tantrum, then?” said Edward.
Russel sighed, smiling faintly. “Yeah,” he said. “That’s what I’m saying.”
“Okay, then,” said Edward. “How would you react, if it were your little brother, but instead of being with someone like Winry, who’s practically my sister, he was interested in a woman six years older than he-six years, Russ-and had kept their relationship secret from you for nearly seven months? How bad would you want them to start sleeping together?”
Russel’s eyes widened. “That’s what this fight’s about?” he said. “Wow. I thought ... Al said he was waiting, though. That he and Danny were going to wait.”
Edward waved a dismissive hand. “No, not sleep together like THAT, Russ. Sleep together like ... alone. Together. In the spare room.”
“With us next door?” said Russel. “Like my own little brother and his girlfriend are doing, right now?”
Edward wilted some more. “Yeah,” he said. “But you and I were quiet enough that no-one heard us, the first time.” He saw Russel arch an eyebrow. “If it were your little brother, Russ,” he said, “would you really care that we did it, if Fletcher wanted to rush into a relationship? Would the fact that we risked it and somehow got lucky make you any more comfortable with Fletcher doing it?”
Russel shook his head. “No,” he said. “You’re right, Ed, I’d throw a fit about that, too. But ... I don’t know. You seem to be overreacting to everything, even the little stuff. No, I don’t think Al and Danny should start having sex, no more than I think my little brother and Winry should start having sex, but if they just want to sleep alone together, with us right in the next room ...” He sighed. “Danny’s a nice guy, Ed. He treated Fletcher really well before the Exam, from what Fletch tells me, and he seems very sweet around Al. Not to mention that he’s very polite, and that Roy trusted him enough to give him the task of guarding you, Back Then.”
Edward snarled. “That Bastard barely knew him, Back Then,” he said. “Assigned him to guard us because the guy wasn’t doing anything to help with his little political coup-thingy.”
“You mean his coup that saved our country from a war-mongering homunculus?” said Russel.
“You know what I meant, Russ,” said Edward. “And don’t try to sidetrack me. Won’t work. I’m not letting Al sleep with Danny. Period.”
Russel stiffened. “So you did mean what you said, earlier. That you think I’m letting Fletcher turn into a slut because I trust him well enough to let him share a bed with Winry.”
Edward looked at him. “No, Russ, I-”
“Then what, Ed?” said Russel, standing and planting his hands on his hips. “What do you mean, exactly, if you think it’s ... immoral for Al to do what I’m letting Fletcher do? Huh? Explain that to me.”
There was a soft knock at the door, cutting off Edward’s stuttered attempts at explanation. Russel gave his husband a horrid, dark look, then padded over, twisting the knob and wrenching the door open. His expression softened as he looked down at his little brother, the boy’s eyes red-rimmed and a little blood-shot, short blonde hair sticking up in all directions.
“I’m sorry, Fletch,” said Russel. “Didn’t mean to wake you. We’ll be quiet now.”
Fletcher shook his head. “I have something to say,” he said. “To both of you. Preferably before you kill each other or get a divorce, whichever you manage first.”
Russel shook his head. “We’re not going to get a divorce, Fletch,” he said. “We’re just arguing, is all.”
“Then I want to say this before you kill each other, because that’s the other option,” said Fletcher. He crossed his arms over his chest, and walked into the room. “Sit down on the bed with Edward, please.”
Russel blinked at him, but did as he was told, taking Edward’s hand in his own, mindful as ever of the exposed stitches, the ointment Edward had just smeared on them still drying.
“Okay,” said Fletcher. “First of all, I don’t really care what either of you thinks about me and Winry sleeping in the same bed. I didn’t throw half the fit when I found out what you two were doing in that shed behind Belsio’s that Russel threw when he found me and Winry kissing on the couch, so you’re both hypocrites and I can therefore ignore you.”
“You weren’t just kissing, Fletcher Dominic Tringham,” said Russel, stiffening.
“No, but we were doing less than you and Edward were doing in that shed, so you have absolutely no right to pass judgment on me.”
Russel sighed. Edward gaped. Fletcher took a deep breath.
“Secondly,” he said, “you may not think you’re passing judgment on Winry when you say that kind of stuff about me, but you are, Edward, and it hurts her feelings to hear her best friend, the closest thing she’s got to a brother, saying those kinds of things about her. You owe her a very big apology, just for that, and you owe her your thanks for not beating the daylights out of you up here, earlier. She was really hurt, but she came up here and helped you out instead of just yelling at you.”
Edward blushed. “I ... didn’t think about it that way,” he said.
“I noticed,” said Fletcher. “Thirdly, Danny Broche is a great guy, not just because he took really good care of you and Al Back Then, and not only because he took care of us this year, before the exam-when you deserted Al completely, I might add-and not only because he patched up your arm, but because he’s been patient and loving and polite and put up with your shit ever since you found out he and Al were together. An outside observer would never guess, from the way you rant about Al and Danny, that they’re twenty and twenty-six, respectively. Never. You act like they’re children, and Danny’s patience with you, despite that, is absolutely amazing and admirable. You should be glad he’s dating Al, because anyone else would have beaten you to a pulp by now for your attitude.”
Edward stared at his brother-in-law, sputtering. “I didn’t desert Al!” he said, finally.
Fletcher rolled his eyes. “Then what did you do? Because last I checked, you ignored him, made him cry when he called you, then refused to come support him on one of the most important days of his life.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “The only reason you showed up at all was Danny Broche. Well, and Russel and Roy and Maria, too, I suppose, but Danny comforted Al when you hurt him, then came up here and faced your temper and got you into Central for Al’s exam because he loves Al and would do anything for him. And rather than being happy for him, you’re pouting.”
“I’m not pouting,” said Edward. “I’m just worried about him. What’s with you two, acting like it’s such a shock that Russ and I are trying to keep you from getting hurt?”
“Did you ever consider,” said Fletcher, “that maybe-just maybe-your attempts to keep us from getting hurt are precisely what are hurting us, in the end?”
Edward blinked at him. Russel stared at the ground. “No,” he said. “I’d never thought of it like that before.”
“I didn’t think so,” said Fletcher.
There was a pause, then Edward stood. “Okay,” he said. “I’m sorry for what I said, earlier. I honestly didn’t mean it. You and Winry are both good people, not sluts or immoral or anything like that. I’m really sorry.” He saw Fletcher open his mouth and held up his hand. “In our defense, Russ and I don’t have the slightest clue what we’re doing. We’re not your parents, but we’re certainly more than just your older brothers. It’s impossible to know when to play what role. We do our best, honestly we do, but sometimes we-well, usually I-fuck up. Al’s used to me fucking up. I’m sorry that, this time, you caught the brunt of it.”
Fletcher’s glare softened a little. “It’s okay,” he said. “I know you’d never mean something like that about Winry, so I figured you didn’t mean it about me, either.”
“I really didn’t,” said Edward.
“And Edward?”
“Yeah?” said Edward.
Fletcher took a deep breath. “You should let Danny and Al stay in the guestroom together. They’re not going to do anything bad, and it’s ... it’s not going to be the first time they’ve shared a bed, anyway.”
Edward stiffened. “What?” he said.
“Al passed out one night in the library, and Danny had no way to get him back to Roy’s house, so he took Al to his dorm room,” said Fletcher. “I was teasing him about it, because I knew he had a crush on Danny, but he said that he slept in Danny’s roommate’s bed, Danny’s roommate slept in Danny’s bed, and Danny slept on his bedroll on the floor until Al asked him to sleep with him.”
“My little brother asked Danny to sleep with him?” said Edward, through clenched teeth.
“Your little brother-who’s the same age as my big brother, by the way-felt guilty that the man who’d been up all hours of the night, making sure he was safe, was sleeping on a Military-issue bedroll on the floor, instead of in a proper bed,” said Fletcher. “You should be proud of Al’s good manners.”
Edward let out a low whistle. “That’s one take on it, sure,” he said.
Fletcher whined in frustration. “You’re going to yell at him about that when he gets home, aren’t you?” he said. “He’s never going to be old enough to do what you’ve been doing since you were just a kid, is he?”
Russel put his arm around his husband. “Fletch,” he said, “that’s enough. Give Ed a break, okay? This is all new to him. Took me awhile before I was comfortable with you and Winry being together, remember?”
“I remember that you’re still flipping out on us,” said Fletcher, “and I’m trying to put a stop to that, tonight.”
“Fletcher, that’s not possible, and you know it,” said Russel. “That’d be like telling someone to learn everything about Alchemy in one day. We’re not going to stop worrying about you, just because you’re a certain age now or because you’ve started dating someone.”
“I know that,” said Fletcher. “But you’ve got to start somewhere. You’ve started already, Brother, but Edward ... you’re behind.”
Edward snorted. “Don’t patronize me, Fletcher.”
Fletcher scowled. “That’s real funny, coming from the guy who’s been patronizing Al so unfairly for the past few weeks.”
A soft tap on the door quieted whatever Edward was getting ready to say. Winry pushed the door open and slipped inside, arms folded over her chest.
“This is getting you all nowhere,” she said. “Fletcher, you’ve said your piece. Edward, you’ve apologized. Russel, you’ve done well at keeping your mouth shut. May I suggest that we all part friends and go to bed, now before we start mudslinging and sniping each other?”
Silence answered her. Only when she draped her arm around her boyfriend did he sigh, then speak. “You’re right. I’m sorry for losing my temper.”
Russel stood and tugged his little brother close, hugging him. “You’re doing okay, Fletch,” he said. “I’m sorry I’ve been a pain in the ass.”
“So am I,” said Edward, standing. “Forgive me for not hugging you, but my Automail’s not the softest thing in the world, and my other arm’s kinda sticky right now.”
“Understandable,” said Fletcher. He turned, Winry’s arm around his shoulder, but paused at the door. “Please don’t yell at Al, tomorrow,” he said. “He’s going to come home tomorrow, and if you mistreat him, it’ll be very bad.”
Edward tensed. “You’re saying my little brother’s going to run away from home, Fletcher?”
Fletcher shook his head. “I’m saying that your brother can’t leave you,” he said. “Mistreat him tomorrow, and you’ll be trapping him here, miserable. Let go, just a little bit, and he’ll be able to have his brother and his boyfriend. It’s his home. Your choice how he feels here. That’s all I’m saying.”
And then he was gone, Winry pulling the door shut behind him. Edward closed his eyes and leant against his husband’s chest, wounded arm cradled in his Automail hand, eyes closed.
“When did our brothers grow up, Russ?” he said, so softly Russel could barely hear him.
“I don’t know, baby,” said Russel. He kissed the top of his husband’s head, then tilted the man’s chin up, claiming Edward’s lips with his own. “When did we grow up?” he said. “When did we change from kids sneaking around for a frantic grope in Belsio’s shed to two old guys ordering our brothers around like children?”
Edward chuckled. “We’re not old,” he said. “Just ...” He took a deep breath and pressed his forehead to Russel’s chest, listening to his husband’s heart beat. “Just scared.”
Russel didn’t answer. Didn’t need to, really. He kissed the top of Edward’s head, once again, then guided his husband back to their bed, undressing both of them, then pulling down the covers and stretching out, his long frame settling comfortably over Edward’s smaller body, his soft cock rubbing the familiar skin and curls of Edward’s groin, hardening slowly as he kissed the man he loved.
And it was comforting, losing himself in the kiss, in Edward’s breathless gasps of pleasure, in the wash of sensation when orgasm took him, reassuring that the infuriated blonde who had hurt him so badly earlier was still the passionate man he loved, the man squirming beneath him, quietly praising him, loving him with his words, as he orgasmed.
When the last pulse had shivered from his cock, he slid down Edward’s body and took the man into his mouth, licking away his own semen before sucking, hard and fast, bringing Edward to orgasm in only a matter of minutes, shattering the pain and fear and betrayal of the day with the familiarity of their passion. He swallowed his husband’s release, then grabbed the towel from his bath and cleaned them both, dropping the cloth to the floor and cuddling his lover, listening to Edward breathe.
“Tomorrow,” said Edward, “is going to be very, very hard.”
Russel nodded. “Yes,” he said. “It is. But sleep will make it easier, baby. Promise.”
Edward snorted. “Stop calling me that,” he said, but his voice lacked true venom. He lay quietly, his breathing eventually deepening to the soft snores of real sleep, safe and warm in Russel’s arms.
Sex solved nothing, Russel mused, slipping into unconsciousness himself, but it certainly made things hurt a lot less, even for just a little while.
~*~*~*~
Danny woke slowly, blinking in the dim light of the room, disoriented. He was warm, wrapped in soft sheets and plump pillows, his body cradled in a mattress that made his bunk in the dorm seem like a cardboard box in comparison, his balls throbbing and cock leaking, pressed tight against the front of his boxers. Molded against his side, thrusting steadily and moaning, was Al, the boy’s erection rubbing frantically against Danny’s hip. Danny grinned and remembered where he was.
He was in heaven.
He’d never watched Al reach completion before, had only seen the boy afterwards, hands sticky with come and cock softening in his palm, but from the sweat beading on Al’s brow, the breathlessness of the boy’s panting moans, Danny was fairly certain he was close. He moved his leg, just a little, in time with Al’s thrusts, giving him a little more friction. Al cried out and gripped Danny’s side, fingers digging brutally into the man’s soft skin, thrusting wildly only a handful of times before going rigid, hips jerking in little spasms against Danny, his semen spreading, thick and warm, over his boyfriend’s boxer-clad hip.
Danny sighed happily, satisfied despite the ache in his balls, the desperate throbbing of his penis. Turning, he pressed a kiss to Al’s swear-damp hair, idly noting that the side of his shorts was soaked and sticky, but not really caring because it was Al’s come, and really, he couldn’t think of anything he’d rather be soaked with than Alphonse Elric’s-
“Oh my gosh ...”
Al stiffened, gasping softly, his hand brushing Danny’s erection as it flew to the sticky mess he’d made of their pajamas. When he looked up and saw Danny awake and watching him, he groaned and pushed himself up, covering his face with his hands.
“Ohdannyi’msosorry,” he whimpered behind his palms.
Danny sat up as well and tugged at Al’s wrists, pulling the boy’s hands away. He ducked his head, tilting Al’s chin up with the tips of his fingers, forcing the boy to meet his gaze. “Hey,” he said. “Calm down, sweetheart. Nothing wrong with ... this. It’s natural.” He offered his blushing boyfriend a shy smile. “Not to mention hot as hell,” he added.
Al bit his lower lip and looked away, his chin dropping from Danny’s gentle fingers. “I’m so sorry Danny,” he said. “This is so embarrassing ...”
“Hey,” said Danny, tugging the trembling boy close. “Oh Al, sweetheart, it’s okay. Not like I’ve never had the same thing happen to me before. Really.” He kissed Al’s hair, rubbing the boy’s back, holding him tightly while he cried. “You’re so beautiful when you come, Al,” he whispered. “I’m so lucky I got to see you like that.”
Al curled closer to his boyfriend’s chest, crying harder, hands fisting in Danny’s t-shirt. “B-brother was right,” he sobbed. “I am t-too young to share a b-bed with you.”
“Shh,” said Danny, squeezing Al’s shoulders and pushing him back, wiping tears from the boy’s flushed cheeks with the pads of his thumbs, cradling Al’s face in both hands, holding bronze eyes with his own gaze. “Al,” he said, “I’m six years older than you, and I was worried I’d come all over myself, just from feeling you curled around me in bed. You know, after the first time we made out, I came all over myself in my sleep, napping after you left to go home. I thought Akil was going to die from laughing at me.” He leant close, pressing a soft kiss to Al’s lips. “It has nothing to do with how young you are or how old I am, sweetheart. We both react like this to sleeping together because we’re not used to it. The littlest touches set us off. And personally-” he kissed Al, once again, “-I like it. Like this.”
Al sniffled and wiped tears from his eyes with an angry swipe of his hand, taking the handful of tissues Danny offered him from the box on the bedside table and blowing his nose. “Thanks,” he said. “I still can’t believe I did ... that.”
“Mmm,” said Danny, “neither can I. Dream come true for me, sweetheart, to get to watch you and feel you and listen to you, like that.” He shifted, squeezing his replenished erection through his shorts. “I’ve got to go take care of this now, though. It’s actually starting to hurt a little.”
He sat back, intent on adding “jerked off in the Flame Alchemist’s bathroom” to the list of things to brag about the next time he got horrendously drunk, right after “kissed the Full Metal Alchemist’s brother and didn’t get killed for it,” but as he turned to slide out of bed, Al launched himself forward, wrapping his arms around Danny’s waist. The man toppled back, unbalanced, barely swallowing his yelp of surprise as he fell on his boyfriend’s small frame. He righted himself quickly and flipped over, hands pressing into the mattress on either side of Al’s shoulders, his throbbing erection rubbing the boy’s knee, the slight friction making him tremble.
“Okay,” he said, “you’ve got my attention now.”
Al looked up at him, solemn and serious. “Prove it to me, Danny,” he said, voice soft and breathy. “Show me that it’s really okay that I did ... that.”
“What?” said Danny, shivering and grinding his hips against his boyfriend, just a little, when he felt the boy shift, intentionally rubbing against him.
“Equivalent trade,” said Al. “I came all over you. Come all over me. Let me watch you, like you watched me.” He blushed, his cheeks darkening in the dim light of the room. “Please?”
Danny swallowed hard, torn between knowing rationally that it would be a Very Bad Idea to jerk off all over the beautiful young man stretched out beneath him, and wanting with wild, lustful desire, to do just that. He swallowed hard. “It’ll make a mess,” he whispered. “I haven’t ... done anything with myself lately. There’ll be a lot.”
“We have to clean up mine anyway,” breathed Al. “I don’t mind cleaning up yours, too. Please Danny? For me?”
And he was so beautiful, soft hair fanned around him on the soft pillow, eyes wide and honestly pleading, that Danny could no more deny him than he could leave the warmth of the bed to satisfy his own wanting, cold and alone in the bathroom down the hall. He lowered himself onto Al’s hard body, pressed his mouth hard against Al’s, his tongue pushing in deep, thrusting hard as he ground his erection against Al’s hip, growling into the kiss. When Al bucked beneath him, panting, the boy’s hands sliding down Danny’s body to squeeze the man’s firm butt, Danny whimpered and began to come, his body tense and pressed firmly against Al’s, his breath hitching in his throat with each pulse of semen shuddering from his cock. Only when the last spasms stopped, when his body sank into the buzz of afterglow, did Danny draw a deep breath and roll off of his lover, sticky and exhausted and sated and grinning.
He felt Al’s lips on his neck, his chin, his cheek. Felt Al kissing him, soft and calming, gently giving Danny back the even rhythm of breath, fingers stroking the man’s breastbone until Danny’s heart stopped pounding, beating steadily.
“Thank you,” he whispered, fingertips tickling down to Danny’s belly, stroking around the man’s belly-button. “Thank you so, so much.”
Danny sighed and looked at his lover, reaching up to stroke Al’s soft hair. “If we can do that,” he said, “then I may be able to keep that promise to wait for sex and keep my sanity. That was amazing, Al. You are amazing.”
Al blushed and kissed him, once again, then pulled himself into a kneeling position, fingers moving lower still to touch the sticky mess on the front of Danny’s shorts. Danny blushed.
“I told you there’d be a lot,” he said.
“It’s kind of sexy, actually,” said Al. “I like that you come a lot.”
He clapped his hands and placed them gently, palm-down, on Danny’s shorts, purple light glowing around the wet spot. Danny tensed, watching the Alchemical reaction so close to the most sensitive parts of his anatomy, relaxing only when the light dimmed and Al was brushing the dehydrated residue of Danny’s release off of the patterned cotton, giving the man a shy little smile before doing the same to his own pajamas, then to the side of Danny’s boxers.
“There,” he said, lying down and curling around Danny’s side, nuzzling the man’s neck. “Just like it never happened.”
Danny turned and kissed him, deep and slow, holding the boy close. As he drifted to sleep, he replayed, over and over in his mind, the look of abandon on Al’s beautiful face, the feel of the boy’s stiff cock flooding them both with the warmth of his release.
He smiled. Not quite like it had never happened, but certainly close enough. Sated and warm, he held his lover close and closed his eyes, drifting to slowly to sleep.