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hughesxmaes · 20 days ago

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It was so simple, a dance, a night where they could both enjoy themselves for once. They both could use a pick me up after everything they have been dealing with. Especially when the Promised Day was closing in on them. Roy had to focus on trying to make sure everything went according to plans and Hughes was there to make sure he had the support he needed like he had promised him he would do.

Even if that meant he couldn't get involved, much to his dismay. He knew it was because Roy wanted to make sure he was safe and this was something that someone like Hughes wouldn't be able to do, but he'll be damned if he didn't do his best to make sure Roy was eating right or make sure he was able to get things done and just be there for him.

One dance was all he wanted, one where they could just forget the world for a bit and just focus on each other. That's what Hughes wanted this entire time, was to be noticed by Roy. He wanted to enjoy their time together, especially with his brush of death, he never knows when it will be their final days together and he wanted to make it count. He lost his family, but he didn't want to lose Roy either.

His heart racing at the fact this man actually said yes to one dance. It made him feel elated, it made him feel weak when he saw that grin, that beautiful smile of his adorning his features. He could stare all day if Roy would let him, but he never has told him those feelings for him that he's held deep within his heart. He kept shutting them down in his brain, because he never thought Roy liked him even in that way.

Hand in hand, he pulls Roy over towards the empty spot of the room so that they can dance without hitting any tables or walls nearby. A hand holding his in the air, while the other held his waist. This was perfect and there wasn't a place he'd rather be than right here with this man in his arms, dancing with him in Roy's apartment together.

"Don't worry, I am a pretty good dancer, ya know?" He said leading them both slowly as the soft music continued to play in the background. He was smiling back at him, excited to be dancing with his best friend that he had grown so close to over the years. The feelings he felt that he began to grow deeper and he couldn't ignore them any longer.

After losing Gracia he had been healing, but Roy was there to pick up the pieces and make him feel seen and safe. He wanted so much more from him, but he didn't want to ask for it in fear of losing him as his best friend. He didn't want to make it awkward for Roy since he was staying with him. He didn't even know what this man thought about other men.

What would he even say to him if he admitted these feelings that he held back for so long. Longer than he had realized. These feelings go deeper than they had recently, but Hughes didn't realize till after he got married. He thought he'd never get a chance to express these feelings so he never did.

Maybe now... No, that's silly, he couldn't risk making things harder on Roy than things already were. After losing his team he knows Roy is dealing with most things alone at work, but Hughes was here, he was the only one he had at the moment, if he risked that then... things could go wrong. Roy couldn't afford to lose another person by his side.

"The question is can you follow, Roy?" It's a tease really, and he can't help but grin more at him because of it. Their little quips at each other always made him excited. He can't get enough of them, since their very first encounter.

Everything about their friendship had relied on challenging each other to be the very best they can be. He was always excited to see what Roy threw at him next.

Now he wants to know what Roy would do on the dancefloor with him.

@hughesxmaes asked for a dance:

Hughes was walking over toward Roy, having just came back from the bathroom, as he moved to where Roy had been sitting on the couch doing paperwork that he was playing catch up on. They were both wearing their pajamas they usually sleep in at this point of the night. With a sly grin on Hughes face as he gazed upon his best friend, the room was filled with soft jazz music that had been playing in the background. There was a glass of whiskey on the table followed by some water and a little extra coffee for Roy as Hughes saw the other focused on his paperwork. Hughes wasn’t drunk or anything, he’s been taking his time with his drink so that he still had a clear mind and could move around because he had an idea and he wondered if Roy would go along with it. He knew the Promised Day was fast approaching so Roy had been focusing on figuring out his plan and catching up with loaded stacks of paperwork. The lighting was soft and it hit Roys face just right as he looked at him through his glasses. He began to watch the others focused eyes even though the place was a mess in front of him. He always wondered how the man could even focus on doing work with the amount of mess going around in him. Maes always saw Roy for the mess that he was though and that’s never changed. It was one of things he loved about Roy. This man kept him moving, kept him entertained, loved bickering at him at times, but it was all in good fun. He never found his time with to be unpleasant. Sure there were moments where their time in Ishval had been upleasant, but they had each other in the end to keep each other safe. To look after the other, and he knew Roy always was there for him. That was one of the reasons why Hughes fought to stay alive, to make sure they both made it out alive together. Roy saved him from losing himself completely, after everything Hughes had gone through after almost dying and then losing his family. Roy had been there to help pick up those pieces of his shattered heart. He kept him sane, kept him from doing something stupid, because he wouldn’t have known what to do had he not been able to see Roy again. It made him realize how deep his feelings were for this man alone. He loves him, every part of him, the messed up broken parts of him too. He wanted to be by his side for as long as he would let him, even if they were just best friends. His feelings continued to grow the passing months and it actually scared him a little, because honestly he’s never thought he love a man so much, he never thought he would even be at this point to even think about these deeper feelings he held for the man known as Roy Mustang. The Flame Alchemist, people who called him a Hero for something he didn’t want to be named or called. This man who meant so much to him and that he noticed every little thing he did and would admire him in secret. He held these feelings tight where nobody not even himself could realize till after it was too late when he got married and he try to squash those feelings down for the sake of his family. Now that he has lost that family, with Gracia finding a new partner to help move on with, he now had more time to really sit on these feelings he had kept pushing down. That’s when he finally focused on Roy, finally focusing on these feelings that he was so scared of having. Focusing on Roy, Maes thought it would be the perfect moment to do this because he enjoys catching this man by surprise and seeing what reaction he would make from such things he normally would never ask him. Finally reaching the couch where a busy Colonel had a pen in his mouth, deep in thought Hughes stands there a moment before speaking. “Hey, Roy.” He starts a soft smile upon said features as he bowed his body down, offering his hand out to him the soft jazz music was still playing softly in the background fitting the mood perfectly, “May I have this dance?”

He hadn't meant for the paperwork to explode all over his apartment. After he got home and changed into his pajamas, Roy's original plan was to keep his work contained to the coffee table in his living room. But, he needed almost that entire table just to see the layout of the Armstrong mansion, never mind go over the logistics of how the Northern troops planned to use it. More details needed to be planned out afterward, which included where those troops would be on the Promised Day, the signals he and his team needed to give them, how much communication they would have--and that was one portion of the plans.

That ignored his daily paperwork as well, which sat on his dining table. As usual, he didn't mean to get this behind. With a team, this workload had been much easier. Now? There was a reason for the almost empty glass of whiskey sitting on his side table, partially buried by budget proposals. It helped with the nerves, he told Hughes.

Hughes.

Maes Hughes was alive, a fact Roy cherished every single day of his existence.

How he survived was still unclear. The Homunculi weren't forthcoming on details, and it was clear they either blackmailed Hughes to not say much, or they purposefully kept him in the dark. Roy bet on the former considering he knew his friend's habits and how perceptive he was. All they told him was that he got to keep Hughes for a price: his compliance. The file sitting on the other side table next to a cold and almost empty cup of coffee, full of every scrap of information he could find about Hughes' case, was proof he didn't follow that order.

So was the rest of the mess. He had a government to overthrow. Hughes understood, but, as Roy chewed on the end of his pen, he knew he would still apologize to his new guest for being a poor host.

Apologizing, and shoving himself into all of this work, was easier than having any sort of deep conversation about their living situation, the implications, and any feelings beneath the surface. Roy knew what his purpose here was: to be a pillar of stability and refuge, to comfort, and to keep him safe. Maes Hughes had his entire life ripped away from him mere months ago when the Homunculi pulled their stunt. Now? He couldn't go back to it. Not for Gracia and Elicia's safety, especially when Gracia was seeing someone else. This was his home now--with someone he trusted, someone who had his back, someone who wouldn't hesitate to protect him if needed.

Someone who loved him with every fiber of his being.

Waking up to see Maes Hughes alive every single day was a gift. For months, he couldn't breathe, suffocating without oxygen in his lungs. These days, his system struggled to keep up with the influx of fresh oxygen, Maes' smile at him enough to make him dizzy. He couldn't ignore how his heart pounded in his chest by the mere sight of those hazel eyes either. The voice he longed to hear on the phone just one more time spoke to him every day, the sound almost bringing tears to coal eyes each time with just his name. Every brush of their hands was enough for the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end, and he yearned for more. Dare he say to be held? To be caressed? Kissed?

Maes couldn't want him, though. Especially not now. His life was in flames. He didn't need the Flame Alchemist adding more to it.

Thus, Roy did what he spent years doing: he put those feelings away, and he worked. His pen stayed in his mouth as he grabbed the budget proposal. Wait, hadn't he already read this? He felt like he read this one earlier. Where were his notes? Right, he didn't make any because he got distracted. This one was simple anyway: no way in hell was he approving this budget. Now, to write that in a professional way...

When did Hughes come into the room? A minute ago? He said something too. It took a minute or so for Roy to register his name, his pen not moving as he brought his gaze up.

"Hmm?" What was he... bowing? Why was he--oh, the music. Right, he turned that on a while ago to see if it would help him focus. Dark eyes widened as they stared up. He wanted to dance? But he had to--but he needed--he couldn't--why? Why did Hughes ask him to dance of all things? They never danced. Why? And why now? He was--he had to--

But, Hughes smiled at him, and Roy couldn't say no. He couldn't say no to that smile, those eyes, this man wanting to hold his hand--not when it was all he ever wanted. Putting his pen and papers to the side, he gave his hand to Hughes so he could pull him up.

"All right, I'll humor you," he replied with a grin, "I could use the break anyway. But you better know how to lead."

Hopefully, his little joke hid the fact that his heart raced, and his cheeks threatened to turn scarlet. This was fine. Just one dance.

#flameleads #he's alive but at what cost || alive verse #long post tw #//these two give me liiiiiiifeeee #//god I word vom lol #//anyways here we go I am so excited eheheheh #//one day ill think of a tag for them--#bond ; where you are is where i belong [ flameleads ]

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a-stars-art-blog · 6 days ago

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I like thinking that Albert makes Barok act kinder simply by being in his presence.

I haven’t revisited the games /100%/ yet so I’m probably missing some things that extremely contradict what I’m saying but whatever I’m not taking off my BenBaro tainted glasses >:[

Spoilers below 👍

The biggest point that made me think this is in 2-3 when Drebber threatened Tusspell and Barok called him out on it. Every time I watch someone play this part, they always act surprised that Barok spoke up. So it made me think that Barok hadn’t done anything similar. (Which I’m pretty sure is wrong but I don’t have a good enough memory to say for sure) ((me thinks Barok has had moments of his true gentlemanly nature beforehand but WHATEVER))

And then there was the section where they convinced Albert to let his experiment be investigated. Barok speaks directly to Albert to which Susato comments “I’ve never heard him speak that way before”. Obviously bc the games are not fully voiced, they have to throw lines like Susato’s to tell you things like a character’s tone. In this case, I think it’s fair to assume that Barok is speaking MUCH softer or more patient (maybe even desperate??? If we could be so delusional,,,) than he would be with most characters.

And of course there’s the biggie of Barok taking on Albert’s case and insisting the teleportation worked. We know that Barok took the case bc he didn’t trust anyone else to do the prosecution, and bc he ONLY trusted Ryunosuke for the defense (God I love Barok’s character arc okay anyways) and he knew it’d only be them two that could uncover the real truth to set Albert free.

Even knowing Barok’s intentions, it still makes my brain fuzzle thinking about Barok trying to prove Albert guilty of murder. Like, Barok knew Albert was innocent and definitelyyyy didn’t believe in the experiment but he still did all that?? I believe the game explains it as Barok wanting to keep Alberts reliability as safe for as long as possible.

Which??? is…so??? Cute???!?

Like, again, bc my memory of the games are pretty faint, I could be forgetting some of Barok’s scenes, but he just doesn’t seem like the type of character to prolong the inevitable??? He seems much more the type to want to get down to the truth as fast as possible. So for him to be like “I’m gonna defend my friend’s life work and credibility even if it means his death bc that’s what he would want” LIKE WAH??? Albert did literally say that he would rather die then be proved a sham and it’s, like….Barok knew that!!! He knows his friend!! And wants to respect his wishes!!! BUT ALSO…fuck that he’s not gonna let his only friend die??? So he does help convince Albert to give in but just…the fact Barok prolonged it at all is…yeah…

Maybe it was Barok trying to show Albert that even tho Barok has changed, and people call him awful things, he still understands him all these years later and cares for him. He wanted to let Albert know that before switching gears and disproving his theory. Like…I can’t think of why Barok would want to do that OTHER THAN FOR ALBERTS FEELINGS especially when Barok never intended to follow through.

Anyways this case has Barok acting noticeably weird. Bc it’s Albert.

Like Albert, Barok hasn’t talked to him in 10 years. The last impression/image Barok had of Albert was *10 years ago*. Just like Albert thinks Barok as “unassuming and gentlemanly” “a kind hearted soul”. Barok, too, is running off his thoughts of Albert from 10 years ago bc that’s all he has (obviously those thoughts have probably been altered slightly after seeing each other again but still)

So finally to the main point and reason of this ramble. I like to think seeing Albert again brought him back to his uni days. Seeing your close friend from school, only having memories of him from that time…maybe it ended up affecting him and he subconsciously found himself resurfacing those times.

Speaking up against someone being rude to a lady, defending your friend’s credibility bc you know it’s what they care about more than their own life, speaking softer to said friend, it all seems rather gentlemanly don’t you think?

Side bar:

I’ve found myself going back to the idea of “Barok not wanting Albert to see how far he’s fallen” or “Barok acting a certain way so that Albert won’t dislike him now” multiple times now…inchresting….

I think it just adds to the tragedy of Barok

#the great ace attorney #ace attorney #barok van zieks #albert harebrayne #benbaro #tgaa #dgs #(throwing the Benbaro tag in there even though I’m not insinuating any romance #but it is about them and how one affects the other #you know #character relationship stuff)#long post #this feels so delusional but I trust myself to say something with some merit #anyways I LOVE RAMBLING ABOUT MY THOUGHTS AND OBSERVATIONS #especially with characters I’m obsessed with 🤭🤭🤭#I was crying about Barok the other day #not even kidding #it’ll be its own post but HE MAKES ME ILL #WHICH IS SO FUNNY BC I USED TO NOT LIKE THIS GUY #LMAOOOO #anyways I like this idea a lot…#it’s fun to think about it applying in the future too #for serious or comedic effect #I’m probably gonna regurgitate this too my irl friends too bc at least 2 of them are interested enough to listen 🤭🤭🤭 love them

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