cornerofmadness

Title -- Pay Attention
Author-- cornerofmadness
series -- manga/FMA:B
Disclaimer -- Arakawa owns all
Rating -- soft R
Characters/Pairing -- Roy/Maes
Timeline/Spoilers -- set in their Academy days
Word Count -- 443
Warning -- suggestions of sex
Summary -- Roy never pays attention to anything but his alchemy books.
Author’s Note -- I wanted to do something more serious this time. Maes, being Maes, refused to comply. Thanks to evil_little_dog for the beta. Written for fma_fic_contest’s prompt of ‘nerd’ and won first place. Thanks to remaintobreathe for the lovely banner.


XXX

“You are such a nerd.”

Roy scowled without looking up. Maes usually resorted to insults when he was bored. ‘Nerd’ was a new one, though. No one had ever called Roy that before. His aunt and her girls valued knowledge. The rest of his life had been spent with his alchemy mentor. Master Hawkeye might just approve of the nest Roy had built for himself. Roy couldn’t spread his books out like he wanted to, crammed onto his bunk or his rickety desk, so he had pulled the mattress onto the floor and made a fortress of books around it. “I’m busy, Hughes. What do you want?”

“For you to pay attention to me.”

“I am paying attention to you,” Roy replied, even though he had only been listening to Maes’s endless blather with half an ear. “Not only do I have to study for our military history and strategy tests, I have to work on my alchemy, unlike you.”

“That would be why I called you a nerd. You always have your nose in a book. I don’t know why you don’t just move into the library,” Maes sniffed.

“Don’t tempt me. At least I’d have quiet there,” Roy said, turning over a page in a brittle alchemy book, researching the salamander. Its ancient history might lead him somewhere. If Master Hawkeye wouldn’t teach him flame alchemy, then Roy would find his own path there. It wasn’t like the hand of God reached down and planted the idea in Hawkeye’s head. Research and hard work had rewarded the crazy old man. “And I’m paying attention to you. You were babbling about exercise and beauty.”

“I said certain kinds of exercise could be a thing of beauty and offered to show you. That was a half hour ago,” Maes said. “You’ve been lost in your books ever since. It’s the weekend. We have plenty of time to study.”

“So you want to take a break? Go. I’m on to something here.” Still studying the symbols before him, Roy flipped a hand at his roommate.

“I don’t want a break. I’ve been trying to get you to look at me.”

“What are you? Seven? Besides, I looked at you when you asked,” Roy lied. He hadn’t even heard Maes trying to get his attention.

“Oh, really?” Maes sounded smug.

“Yes, really.” Roy peered over his wall of books. Maes sat on his bed, completely naked, his fingers brushing lightly over his manhood. Roy’s mouth went dry.

“Liar.”

“I’m an awful brat,” Roy said, making an opening in the wall. “I need punished.”

Smirking, Maes crooked a finger at him. Roy obeyed, books temporarily forgotten.