If I'm To Die Before You || Healing, Open

[Roy Mustang]

Roy didn't have many close friends here in the Ascendants. His struggle to genuinely get close to people began at his joining months back- he held almost no trust in any of them. Back then, even if he said he'd join them, the bobcat had no idea what kind of hell he was getting himself into. It felt like to Roy that he'd never warm up to them, and that he'd always feel like an outsider. But, Roy Mustang really surprised himself with how far he's come. He might not have a lot of good friends, and that newcomers/strangers still need to gain his trust, but some is better than none. Someone that Roy managed to click with just happened to be Cooper.

When Cooper fell ill, Roy made sure to visit the canine to give him company. Roy knew how boring it can be to sit in that Cleric's den all day, doing nothing- it's not fun. Roy remembered before he was allowed to walk around after his injury, it felt like time past by so slowly in there. It felt almost draining, as if it'd never come to an end. Roy tried to keep the conversations going, hoping to distract the male from his current condition. Roy didn't want Cooper to die, but he couldn't help it but feel a tiny sense of fear in his chest that he wouldn't make it. Roy trusts the Clerics and the Halos, but Roy isn't entirely used to how medicine is handled in this world. He's so used to modern medicine, it feared him that the herbs provided wouldn't be enough. To distract himself from that fear, and to hopefully make Cooper feel better, Roy remembered exchanging stories with him.

What Roy exchanged with Cooper would hopefully never be told to another person here. Cooper told Roy that he was an ex-agent, the Flame Alchemist learned some things Cooper went through in the past. Some of them were more messed up than others, and that's when Roy decided he could tell Cooper about Ishval. If Cooper was going to trust Roy with certain information that certain ears would hate to hear, then Roy can trust Cooper in return. Telling Cooper about Ishval was difficult, it wasn't everyday Roy openly told someone how he fought in a civil war, and was ordered to help murder thousands and thousands of his own people. Roy isn't perfect, he's done some horrible things that he wished he didn't do- but if he sulked about it and let the guilt take over his mind, Roy wouldn't be able to get out of his bed every morning. Roy wasn't sure how Cooper would take it, but he was surprised when Cooper didn't turn the bobcat away.

Roy wasn't exactly expecting to run across Cooper at the Pebble Coast. The male came to a stop as his blue eyes set on the back of the canine, eyes blinking slowly. Cooper? What was he doing all the way out here for? He's sick, he shouldn't be out here! Roy began to make his way over to the canine, ready to speak his mind to Cooper, when his gaze landed on the male's face. Any sort of thought he had in mind to tell Cooper to return to the observatory instantly disappeared. With one look, Roy had a good feeling in his chest- Cooper must be feeling better. If he was still feeling sick, there's no way he could have made it out here. Even after their talks, Roy still felt a worry in the back of his head. He was still afraid that the illness would take Cooper, even after all the work the Clerics put in saving him. Roy couldn't help it but feel relief begin to run through his veins, that fear beginning to fade. "I'm surprised to see you out here, Cooper," The Flame Alchemist spoke up, ears drawing back to his skull, "you're feeling better, aren't you?"