A/N: I did it again, didn't I? BUT this is different because they're one shots that have nothing to do with each other! I've always wanted to do one of these, and now I have an idea! Anywho, the idea is Ed going through the stages of growing up, but I'm gonna try to keep this thing rated "T" for everyone! But, keep in mind, it won't just take place in the FMA world, I'll do modern AU, and then I have a genderbent AU in mind, and then I have at least one UA (universe alteration) coming up...
This is Ed dealing with a changing voice. Oh, the awkward.
Disclaimer here.
Review please?
~Usachan!
~Enjoy!
Ed was having the worst morning ever. When he first woke up, he remembered that Alphonse had gone back to Risembool for Winry's birthday, and Ed couldn't go because Roy had decided his time would be better spent in Central command, doing paperwork. Then, as Ed was headed in, his throat had gotten a little sore and the only thing being sold at the store on the way to HQ was milk! All in all, Ed only had one thought as he walked into Colonel Mustang's office that morning: today sucks.
"Well, if it isn't the Fullmetal Alchemist! You're late," Roy greeted as he shuffled his papers around, trying to find something interesting to file, no doubt.
Ed gave a grunt in response as he sat down and began filing out the paperwork on his desk.
The rest of the team, save Riza who was most likely enjoying her day off at the shooting range, sat in uncomfortable silence as they watched the boy work without a single word or sound, save the occasional cough, for nearly an hour. Normally, Ed could talk up a storm of random topics to discuss casually as he worked on his paperwork, but today he was silent.
"Hey, chief, something wrong? You haven't said a word," Havoc commented casually as he took the files from Ed and tossed them on Roy's desk with the rest that he needed to review and sign.
Ed shook his head, then decided his throat was feeling better, "Naw it's fin~e." Well, that wasn't right. Ed's voice cracked slightly. Right at the end. Maybe he could cover it up, if he just, gave a little cough. So, Ed gave a little cough and a shake of his head.
Havoc and the rest of the team rose an eyebrow at Ed's quick response and went back to work, or tried to, Roy kept looking over at Ed, trying to figure out something and finally Ed had had enough.
"Wha~t, Colonel bastard~?" Ed's voice squeaked, trying to sound menacing, but ending up sounding hilarious.
"What's up with your voice, chief? Got a cold?" Havoc snickered, picking up the unlit cigarette he dropped when Ed yelled at Roy.
"I do~n't know~! Maybe?" Ed groaned as his voice continued cracking and squeaking. He got up and stormed out of the room, leaving the rest of the team laughing at his back.
As Ed walked down the hallway, his throat still felt scratchy, as if it were made of sandpaper. Ed gave a view more coughs as he made his way out of Central Command and to the phone booth just a block away.
He dialed the number he had memorized so long ago, he couldn't forget it if he tried, and listened to the rings.
"Hello, Rockbell Automail shop, this is Winry speaking." Winry greeted over the phone. There was clanging sounds in the background, as if someone was shifting metal around on a hardwood floor.
"Winry~? It's me~, E~d." He tried to keep his level, but it didn't work and instead, cracked again.
"Ed? What's wrong with your voice?" Ed could literally hear her giggling, she wasn't even trying to hide her amusement.
"No~thing!" Ed whined, then realizing how childish he was being, gave another cough, "I mean, nothing. Happy birthday. Is Al there?" Ed managed without squeaking or cracking.
"Yeah, he's here, and thanks for the gift! I love them!" Winry's cheer managed to be contagious, even over the long distance between the two teens and caused Ed to forget the giggles from earlier.
"Not a pro~blem. Tell A~l to come home soo~n." Ed mentally began beating himself up over his voice problems.
"Sure thing, he said he's catching the next train. He'll be there next week. I've gotta go now, Ed, I've got a customer. Bye, Ed!" Then she hung up with a click, leaving no room for Ed to argue.
Ed shook it off and wandered back inside, then finally flopping back down at his desk with a, well, he didn't really know what the sound that had come out of his mouth and he instantly regretted it, trying to hide underneath his paperwork as the rest of the team burst out in an obnoxious laughter at his voice.
"Fullmetal, I think I know the problem!" Roy laughed, wiping a tear away from his eyes as he tried to gain control of his own voice. The rest of the team seemed to be in on what ever Roy was thinking as they began to nod and agree with their commanding officer.
Ed raised an eyebrow at the men, waiting for them to let him in on the secret.
"Then I guess we should stop teasing the poor kid," Fuery sighed, adjusting the glasses on his face. The rest of the men laughed and shook their heads.
"Why? We've all gotten teased for it too! Though, usually this happens a little earlier in life, how old are you, Ed?" Breda chuckled, getting an icy stare from the boy in question.
"Fifteen." He muttered, barely suppressing another squeak as he answered.
"Perfectly reasonable, then! It didn't happen to me until I was sixteen!" Havoc clapped Ed on the shoulder with a wink, getting a growl from the angry teen.
"Just te~ll me~!" Ed's squeaking voice whined, not that he cared though, he just wanted to know what was happening to his voice.
"Adolescent boys go through a series of changes during their teenage years, one of these changes includes the growing of your voice box, resulting in a creaking or squeaking in the voice until the boy is used to it." Falmen spoke up from the background, obviously annoyed with the other men trying to keep Ed in the dark.
"My voi~ce is, no~rmal?! How long 'till this goe~s away~?!" Ed stammered grabbing at his throat as if that would stop the change in his voice.
"Hard to say,it's different for everyone. It'll be a while, though," Roy chuckled as Ed dropped his head on his desk with a loud thump, today officially was the worst day of his short life.