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Ringing from the Colonel’s phone erupted into the thick silence that hung over the office, curious eyes making their way from where they were focused on individual tasks moments ago to the source of the new, unexpected noise.
Looking up from where his head was hanging over the stack of reports he had to go through, Roy’s eyes landed on the phone, a moment passing as he decided whether or not to pick it up. He mumbled to himself, although not so quietly that the others on the team couldn’t hear him from their stations, his statement earning a small chuckle from a few others in the room.
“I swear, if Hughes calls me again to brag about his wife, I’m burning the damn phone.”
Reaching over his neatly stacked pile of paper, his sleeve barely brushing against it and causing a single piece to fall to the side, he plucked the receiver out of the cradle and put the phone to his ear, holding it in place with his shoulder as he went to get the paper he’d knocked over.
“Colonel Mustang speaking.” He greeted in a monotone voice, leaning back into his chair and taking the phone into his hand once more.
“Oh, I’m sorry, I must’ve called the wrong number. You wouldn’t happen to have any relation to a child by the name of Edward Elric?” The woman on the other side of the line seemed genuinely apologetic, if not a bit afraid.
At this, Roy sat up straight in his chair, his face contorting to one of intense concern, this catching the attention of the others in the room, including one hawk-eyed soldier, who stood up from her desk, making her way towards the Colonel’s, her footsteps against the floors the only noise that filled the space now aside from the deafening silence. Finding a spot to stand beside him, she stood close enough that she was able to barely make out what the person on the other side of the line was saying, but not too close so that she was clearly eavesdropping; despite her intentions being very clear in her pinched expression and especially rigid stance, arms behind her back and head turned towards the phone’s receiver.
Switching hands so that the phone was now on the same side as his subordinate, Roy quickly spoke again. “I do, in fact. What about him? Is he alright?”
“Oh! Well, he’s currently at the East City hospital, and he had some minor injuries sustained from a fight. The reason I’ve called today is because due to his- uh, combative behaviour, he had to be sedated on site of the fight, and due to the nature of the drugs, doubly due to the fact that he’s a minor, he needs to be released into somebody’s custody for the night at least. He insisted that he had no guardians to call, but told us that this was his Dad’s number.”
Roy stiffened even more at the term, coughing awkwardly to get rid of the unease filling his chest. “I’m his legal guardian, yes. His parents are dead or estranged.” He explained, somewhat sorrowfully. “Is he hurt badly?” He followed up, reaching for the brass handle of the drawer by his desk, pulling a pen out and taking one of the small notepads he kept handy by the phone. Scribbling something down and handing it to Hawkeye, he turned his attention back to the phone call, barely noticing the way that Hawkeye’s shoulders relaxed a fraction of an inch, and her lips unpursed.
“Oh, not at all, just some minor scrapes. He is agitated, though, and his emotions are dialled up immensely, so he’d probably benefit from a familiar face right now. Is it possible for you to pick him up?”
Dropping his head in defeat, the Colonel responded positively, confirming that he would be able to pick him up as soon as he could get there. Thanking the woman on the other end of the line, he put the receiver back into the cradle, standing up and pushing his chair back into the desk, he went to grab his coat from the rack in the corner of the room, sliding one arm through it and pausing as he saw the anticipation etched on his team’s faces, realizing he stupidly forgot to fill them in. Fighting the urge to facepalm, he began to relay the information he was given moments prior.
“Fullmetal got himself into a fight.” He explained as he threaded his other arm through the sleeve of the signature black coat. “He’s at the hospital, they need to release him into somebody’s custody, and I suppose that lucky bastard is me.” He said, a small smile forming on his face as he made his way through the small room, ignoring the smug smile on Havoc’s face, his boots clacking against the well-worn wood.
“You don’t need our help? Havoc asked, half joking. The only response he received was an eyebrow raise and a short reply. “What will you do, infect his lungs too with your cigarettes?”
“Damn, no need to be so serious.” He huffed.
Opening the heavy wooden doors with an exaggerated grunt, he waited for Hawkeye to make her way out of the room ahead of him before turning towards the still-occupied desks, ordering the remaining group to stay vigilant and not to ruin his reputation while he was out, closing the door behind him and falling into step with Riza.
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The first thing he saw when he entered the sterile-looking, eerily quiet room was Fullmetal’s small body curled up on the middle of the bed, arms tucked under his chin as though he were hugging some nonexistent thing. The walls around him were covered in drawings of animals, and a long green stripe continued along all four walls, only stopping at the sliding glass door that Roy and Riza had just entered from. He supposed it was fitting for Edward to be housed in the paediatric ward, although he felt incredibly out of place in a space filled with such innocence.
Making his way over towards the boy, careful to step around the now disconnected machine that he presumed was monitoring his vitals, he gently laid a hand on the former’s shoulder, shaking it lightly.
“C’mon, Ed, let’s get you outta here, yeah?”
All the response he got was a groan and the boy pulling his head closer to his knees.
“You can’t stay here forever. How about you just get up long enough to get to the car, then I’ll let you sleep in my nice comfy bed?”
“Noooo.” Ed whined, peeking out of one eye and snapping it back shut at the sight of the slightly smiling Colonel. “I don’t wanna see you, meanie Colonel.”
Appearing from seemingly nowhere, Riza smiled lightly at the boy, speaking up in a tone that Roy supposed matched his own, but something entirely out of character for her.
“Hey, sweetheart. You feeling a little off?”
A nod.
“How about you let Roy pick you up and then you don’t have to walk at all? And then, I know a certain boy named Ed who would’ve earned one of the Colonel’s special candies.”
“Hey! Don’t be offering that as an- ow! Okay!” He relented, the heel on top of his foot releasing. “Jeez, no need to pick favourites, Lieutenant.”
Appearing to mull it over, Ed eventually uncurled and reached his arms slowly towards Roy, scrunching his fingers at him once he’d extended his arm the full way.
“Alright, here we go, then.” Roy sighed, reaching under Ed’s arms and wrapping one hand around his back, supporting his head despite his ability to do it on his own and the other supporting his rear.
“Don’ drop me or I’ll be really sad.” Ed pouted, holding onto the back of the Colonel’s coat with a vice grip.
“Ready to blow this joint?” He asked, pulling Ed away from himself slightly, earning a small chuckle from the boy in question.
“I wan’ your candy, Roooy.” Ed said, pressing his face into Roy’s neck.
As he began walking out of the room, Roy laughed quietly. “It’s not very good, it’s just to keep me awake when I need to study in the nighttime. Which, by the way, you will not be doing tonight.”
“Ok!” Ed said, a smile forming on his face. “If I’m good can I have two-” he held up two fingers- “whole candies?”
“Maybe, Ed, we’ll see.” He placated, noting that the boy’s volume was unnaceptably loud for the hallways of a hospital, the thought solidified by the wandering eyes he felt burning a hole into his skull.
Letting out a breath when he leaned into the front doors of the building, exiting to the bright sun in his eyes, he followed Hawkeye’s lead as she led them to where she had parked her car.
Taking the front seat, she turned around to face the pair in the backseat, smiling when she saw Ed had taken up a place against the Colonel’s shoulder.
Unable to resist, she asked; “feeling sleepy, Ed?”
“Mhm. But I’m gonna stay up so you don’t forget to gimme candy.”
“Of course not, sweetheart.”
He didn’t manage to make it more than a block before falling asleep Roy.
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Waking up to hushed voices coming from somewhere beside him, Ed moaned uncomfortably, rolling over in the bed he didn’t remember falling asleep in.
He really should be concerned, but it was so comfortable, and he was so warm…
Deciding to make the adult decision and check out the surrounding area, he silently slipped out of the bed, his bare foot landing on soft carpeting, He looked down at himself, and as best he could see, he was basically swimming in an oversized long-sleeve t-shirt and a very long pair of sweatpants that seemed to be rolled up to his ankles purposefully.
Still immensely confused, he grabbed one of the pillows off of the bed, struggling to get a good grip on it as his hands seemed to refuse to cooperate. He grabbed onto the small metal handle of the bedside table, yanking it open and seeing nothing but a small notepad. Finding nothing useful, he threw the discarded drawer to the side, wincing as it rebounded off the wall. Repeating the same thing with the second table and coming up empty, he discarded the drawer in the same way.
Concluding that there was nothing for him to use here, he made his way by unsteadily shuffling towards the door, taking a few tries to grab the handle and turn it, finally succeeding and making his way out into the semi-dark corridor, the floor covered in the same soft carpet.
Remembering he was able to do alchemy- duh-, he transmuted his arm into it’s usual knife, holding it out as he made his way towards where more light shone.
At the moment he stumbled again, before even being able to reach out for the wall, he felt two strong hands catch him, righting him and gently holding him in place.
“Edward! What are you doing out of bed?” The voice asked from behind him, and it took an embarrassingly long time for Ed to recognize the voice to be that of Lieutenant Hawkeye’s.
“Thought I-” He started, then stopped, because really, he hadn’t thought anything at all. Now seeing the Lieutenant kneeling in front of him, he continued.
“I never got my candy.” He pouted, dropping his dangerously sharp arm to his side.
“Good god, Ed, put that away! No knives for you right now!” She commanded, her voice sounding like an explosion in Ed’s sensitive ears. Her standing up and taking a pace back causing Ed to frown and allow a few tears escape his eyes. Was she mad at him? He didn’t mean to do anything wrong.
“Oh, sweetness, I didn’t mean to get angry at you, I’m just worried for your safety. Do you want to put that back to normal or do you want me to ask Roy to do it?”
“Can-” He hiccuped. “Can do it.”
Touching his arm to complete the transmutation, he looked back up at the Lieutenant expectantly, smiling when she reached down and ruffled his hair.
Ed yelped as he was scooped up into her strong arms, then deciding to place his head against her neck, he watched the small room turn into a larger, brighter one, and he reached out with one hand when he saw the Colonel sitting on a couch with a newspaper in hand.
“Hey, kiddo.” He smiled, standing up and extending his own hand for Ed to grab onto. “Feeling any better?”
“No.” He answered truthfully, earning a chuckle from both adults.
“Tell me how you really feel, Fullmetal.” Roy laughed.
“I did.” He said, confused.
“Do you want to sit with Roy?” Riza interrupted, pulling back so she could see Ed’s face light up. “Only if he gives candy.” He said defiantly.
“Of course, Ed.” She smiled genuinely, passing him off into the Colonel’s arms, who huffed at his weight. “Oh man, your automail makes you heavy.” He breathed, turning to sit back down on the leather couch, placing Ed down gently next to him.
“You’re clingy when you’re drugged, you know.” Roy teased lightly, ruffling the boy’s already messed up hair.
Riza returned from when she had discreetly made her way to the adjoining kitchen, grabbing a singular, green-wrapped candy from the bowl that Roy kept when he needed a pick-me-up.
“Now Ed,” She began, kneeling down once again to get face to face with him, “once you have this candy, you have to go back to sleep so you can get rid of all the yucky stuff in your system, alright?” She asked, holding the candy to her chest before she received an excited nod from the former.
“Yes Ma’am.” He said proudly, holding his hand out in anticipation of the candy, feeling more than hearing the low rumble of Roy’s laughter.
“Okay, here you go then, sweetheart.” She smiled as she placed the now unwrapped candy into the boy’s hands.
Popping it into his mouth, he smiled contentedly and leaned his head against the Colonel.
“Goodnight!” He said loudly before pretending to snore.
“You kinda sound like the Colonel right now, Ed.” Riza laughed.
“Hey! I do not snore!” Roy argued back.
Listening to their lighthearted bickering, Ed closed his eyes once again, snuggling into the warmth that the Colonel provided, feeling nothing but safe and content.