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lynx212
The phone rang and since Russell was busy chopping up vegetables Roy answered it.
“Hello Roy speaking,” Roy said with a smile. He felt accomplished every time he answered their phone. The typical greeting of answering with, you have reached the Mustang residence wasn’t applicable since it was actually the Elric Tringham Mustang residence and that was entirely too much to say every time the phone rang. Roy had been the one suggest just announcing who had answered the call as the solution. It was the first issue they tackled as a trio in their new home and that memory always made him smile.
“Hey Sparky.”
“Hello Ed. What do we owe the pleasure?”
“Just calling you guys to let you know that I’m going to be late, I’ll fire up the grill and get the food going as soon as I get home.”
“We can get things started for you.”
Silence.
“Ed?”
“I promise I won’t be too much longer, just hang tight until I get there. Love you guys, see you in a bit.”
When Roy hung up Russell noticed the odd expression he was wearing.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing I guess. Ed just seemed to think we should wait until he got home to fire up the grill.”
A smile claimed Russell’s face, “Well you know how Ed is when it comes to his grill and cooking out.”
“I do, but I think I might want to take a crack at this myself,” Roy said. “How hard could it be, it’s just a grill. Considering my title I think I should be a natural at this.”
“You head on out I’ll be right behind you as soon as I finish making the kabobs.”
With that decided Roy went through the house, out the back door and into the yard. There, just paces away, sat the unassuming metal contraption known as Ed’s Grill. They called it that because Ed considered himself a master at the craft. As well he should since his grill creations have been fought over before. People have even offered to pay him for his services . He could turn a standard hunk of meat into something drool worthy.
However, just because Roy wasn’t a master like Ed didn’t mean they couldn’t manage to grill a few steaks and some vegetables.
Once Roy was finally standing in front of the grill he realized it wasn’t as conventional as it had looked from the porch. There were dials, knobs and valves all over the thing. There were three compartments, two of which looked like normal grill compartments and the third was a tower.
When Roy lifted the lid the inside was just as complex. Racks and trays and shelves oh my… as he looked at everything an inner voice whispered, maybe you should wait for Ed to get home. As soon as he had decided that was best course of action Russell came out and asked him if he’d figured it out yet. He should have voiced what he was thinking but pride, being the evil thing it was, made him say, “Just about. I think we will be good to go in just a few minutes.”
An hour and a half later as Roy and Russell sat shoulder to shoulder at the edge of their lawn as they watched what was left of Ed’s grill smoldering in the afternoon sun he really wished he’d listened to that inner voice when it said wait for Ed.
Everything that could have gone wrong had and in the end it had taken alchemy, quick reflexes and luck to save the day. If not for Russell’s swift thinking when the thing first went up in flames the house might have caught on fire as well. When it erupted into a ball of fire and started spewing flaming coals Russell sent a ripple through the lawn that pushed the volatile contraption away from the house. It was an action that gave Roy enough time to pull on his gloves to wrangle with the flames. Even still the metal monster hadn't given up without a fight. In the end they were victorious but at a price.
Ed’s Grill was nearly charred beyond recognition, the yard looked like a war-zone due to the fact that the giant oak had caught fire, the grass was burned in several places, part of the fence was gone and the birdbath looked like a giant scorched ashtray. One top of that, all of the food was ruined and Roy’s pride… well it was in just as sorry a state as the yard and grill.
They heard the front gate creak open and they knew the end was near. This wasn't going to be pretty and they were not looking forward to it in the least. They knew Ed was walking through the house and when he came to the conclusion they were outside their fates would be sealed. The gasp Ed let out was a loud one, but his reaction wasn't at all what his lovers thought it would be.
Ed ran to where they were, dropped to his knees and flung his arms around both of them, “Are you two okay?”
“Uh… yeah we’re fine Ed,” Russell stated confused. “You’re not mad?”
“I was too scared you two were hurt to be mad. The yard looks like a battlefield. Are you sure you’re both alright?”
“Yeah we’re okay,” Roy said. “But unfortunately your grill isn't.”
“I can see that,” Ed replied as he plopped down beside them and looked wistfully at the remains of his beloved cooking contraption. “I’m guessing you forgot to adjust the flues on the tower and the main compartment.”
“I’m sure I forget or just flat out didn't know a lot of things,” Roy admitted. “I’m sorry Ed, I should have waited on you like you suggested.”
“It’s okay Roy. Don’t worry about it,” Ed said with a smile.
“How can you be smiling?” Russell asked. “Just look at this,” he said as he pointed out at the disaster that is… was… their backyard.
Ed looked at both of their soot covered faces and said, “You guys know I loved that thing, but at the end of the day it’s just a grill. It can be fixed or replaced, but you two, you guys are irreplaceable to me. I’m just so damn happy you didn't end up hurting yourselves or blowing up the house I can’t help but smile.”
“Really?”
“Yes really. Especially once you consider the fact you were both either mortally wounded or dead for about five of the longest seconds of my life.”
“WHAT?”
“You weren't in the house. I was calling for you both but no one answered me and when I stepped outside I walked into a backyard version of Armageddon. I didn't see you two sitting here at first so yeah… my voice was trapped in my throat, as my heart hammered away in my chest then I see you two, sitting here and despite the carnage you two are all I can see right now and it’s just….,” words failed Ed for a moment. How can you describe that kind of panic and fear? You can’t, so he didn't even try. “It’s just so fucking beyond fine and that’s why I’m smiling.”
As the three of them sat there taking in everything that had happened and everything Ed said an odd sense of peace settled over them. It was funny to feel so centered and calm as they sat there looking at a level of destruction to their property that was likely to take weeks to repair. Nevertheless, Ed was right, it was just a grill. They were safe, the house was in one piece and all was really well despite the ruined backyard.
“So what are we going to do now?” Russell asked breaking the silence.
“You two need a shower,” Ed said. “You are both pretty grimy.”
“I bet we are,” Roy said as he stood up. “If you had seen what we went through you would know we earned every particle of this soot.”
“I can only imagine,” Ed said as he stood and pulled Russell to his feet with him.
“So a shower than what?”
“How about dinner and some music?” Ed suggested. “I’m sure I can find something to throw together for dinner and have it ready by the time you two get out the shower.”
Roy said it sounded like a good idea but Russell merely nodded.
“You want to do something different, Russ?” Ed asked.
“It’s not that I was just kinda hoping you’d join us.”
A wicked grin claimed Ed face and when he looked at Roy he could tell he liked that idea as well.
Maybe the day hadn't turned out as planned but it looked like it was going to end on a high note and they were all okay with that.
Sometimes you just had to take life as it came at you, mishaps and all, and just go with the flow.
*********
pics of Ed's grill just in case you were curious ^_^
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2013-05-28 11:54 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2013-06-04 10:46 am (UTC)I need more icons here... I tell ya
(no subject)
Date: 2013-05-27 08:34 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2013-05-27 08:38 pm (UTC)Roy 0 Grill 1
LOL
(no subject)
Date: 2013-05-27 09:28 pm (UTC)To be fair, I'm surprised Ed wasn't the one to suggest joining them in the shower ;)
(no subject)
Date: 2013-05-27 09:43 pm (UTC)As for Ed... I guess his mind isn't in the gutter all the time LOL
(no subject)
Date: 2013-05-28 02:07 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2013-05-28 10:16 pm (UTC)ho shit... I had a pic of Ed's grill I meant to add to this
(no subject)
Date: 2013-05-30 01:40 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2013-05-30 10:31 am (UTC)*hugs*
(no subject)
Date: 2013-05-30 03:34 am (UTC)Very cute!
(no subject)
Date: 2013-05-30 10:33 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2013-06-04 03:36 am (UTC)And poor Ed having a heart attack when he got home. I bet they'll have lots of snuggles to make up for it. :)