InsaneJournal

A/N: After Mustang has returned from Ishval.

                                                             Just the Way You Are


The phone rang for the fifth time in half an hour, and Maes snatched it from the receiver as fast as he could, but the man on the other end was faster in hanging up. Muttering a curse, Hughes dialed, muscle memory kicking in after the first number. It rang once.

“Hello?”

“How many times are you going to chicken out before you let me answer?”

There was a silence, save for a little shuffling.

“I didn’t know it was ringing,” he said finally.

“Well it did, a total of half-a-dozen times, though I’m sure it would have been more than that if I’d let you. Why didn’t you just let me pick it up the first time?”

There was another pause.

“…Didn’t want to bother you,” he muttered.

Maes grinned, thinking that if ringing his phone only to hang up wasn’t bothering him, he didn’t know what was, but he restrained himself.

“It’s not a bother, Roy, I’ve told you a hundred times.”

There was an acknowledging grunt, but other than that he didn’t answer.

“So what’s on your mind?”

“Nothing really,” he hedged. “Just thought I’d see if you fancied a drink. Marty’s or somewhere.”

Maes certainly wanted to be there since Roy was obviously in need of someone to talk to, but he’d be damned if he let Roy drink anything stronger than soda.

“I’ll take you up on that,” he said. “I’ve just got a few things to take care of before we go. Meet you in an hour?”

Another grunt.

“Alright, see you then.”

“See you.”

Hughes set down the phone with a shake of his head. The man was getting more and more difficult to talk to. He was pulling away from him, and that was the last thing Maes wanted. He was still at the point where he could easily slip back down the slope, and if he did Hughes didn’t know if anyone could help him.

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Marty’s was always full on Fridays, but it was early enough not to be packed. It was mostly groups and families there around then, which meant the men had the bar all to themselves. Hughes chatted idly with his friend, as they always did before Roy got around to telling Maes what was bothering him, and then listened attentively to Roy describe his latest night horrors. Nightmares were of course a regular occurrence, but recently he’d dreamed of finding the bodies of his parents amongst the charred rubble. They discussed it a while, and Roy confessed he was considering going out to see them. Maes encouraged that as strongly as he could without scaring Roy off it. He hadn’t been to see them since before he left, and Hughes thought it would do him worlds of good if he could get up the guts to go. After that they were able to talk about less serious things, and after an hour or two Roy managed to relax and remember what muscles to use when smiling. Hughes took advantage of a pause in the conversation to bring up what he wanted to discuss.

“Roy, you know you can call me anytime, right? For anything.”

The man glanced down and scowled into his drink.

“I mean it. No more hanging up. I’m here for you.”

“You shouldn’t have to be,” he grumbled, that self-loathing creeping back into his eyes.

“I don’t have to. I want to.”

“It’s been months, Maes.”

“And?”

“You’ve been much more of a friend than I deserve, you shouldn't have to do this. You don’t have to pretend it’s all laughs to listen to me bitch and whine.”

“I’m not pretending anything. It’s been hard, and the next few months might only get harder, but I’m here and I’m staying, like it or not. I won’t leave you to take it alone.”

Roy’s face eyes remained hard for a few moments, as though trying to gauge the depth of sincerity in those words, but finally he relaxed and tried for a tiny smile.

“Thank you, Maes,” he said softly. “You’ve been…more than kind.”

“This isn’t charity here pal,” Hughes said with a grin. “We’re in this together, and don’t you forget it. I won’t let you take my best friend from me.”

Roy’s smile widened, and for the first time in months he let himself believe he might live through this.   

 

I wouldn't leave you in times of trouble         
We never could have come this far
I took the good times, I'll take the bad times
I'll take you just the way you are


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