Author Note: Hello ^_^ In this story, the Military Dorms are full, and since Ed is a minor, The Fuhrer insisted that Ed stay with Roy while Al is in Risembool visiting with Winry and Pinako. Yes, this is a parental!roy story. Hope you enjoy!
Ed was woken up by a knock on his door. Blearily, he opened one eye, however doing this made his head throb.
"Whaaaaaaaaaaat?" the young alchemist groaned, realizing his throat was sore. His groan was answered by an all-too-framiliar booming voice.
"Time to get up, Fullmetal. Breakfast is on the table. I'm going to get a quick shower, and when I'm out you better be ready to leave for Headquarters."
"Shut up, Colonel Bastard." Ed muttered into his pillow. The blonde alchemist rolled onto his side, causing him to cough. He put his metal hand to his mouth and clutched his chest with his flesh hand. "Ugh, my chest..." Ed croaked, barely above a whisper.
He slowly slid out of bed, causing a light 'thud' when his feet hit the ground. He took in a deep breath, only to realize how stuffed up his nose was.
Ed grabbed a tissue out of the box on the dresser, and gently blew his nose, trying to keep his headache from worsening. When he was done, he coughed a couple times, then glanced at the tissue. It was covered with thick, yellow snot.
'Ugh, looks like I'm sick.' Ed thought to himself. 'I could probably recover quickly if Colonel Ass Hat would let me stay home. But obviously that would never happen.'
Ed started pulling on his clothes. 'Oh well. Maybe I can get Colonel Butt Hole sick!'
The little alchemist started towards the kitchen, but was frequently stopped by a constant need to cough or by feeling lightheaded.
Once he was in the kitchen, he sat down at the table and looked at his food. Eggs, bacon, toast, and a glass of orange juice sat in front of him.
Ed took one look at the food, and pushed the plate away. Not that Roy wasn't a good cook or anything, but Ed just had no appetite.
The blonde-haired boy sat at the table and stared at his food while thinking about how much he'd rather be in bed. He didn't know how long he had sat there, but soon enough he heard Roy enter the kitchen.
"Good morning, Fullmetal." Roy greeted.
Before Edward could say anything, he sneezed loudly into his hands, sniffling afterwards.
"Nice to see you too." Roy said sarcastically. He pulled a new box of tissues out of the pantry, opened it, and tossed it to Ed.
Ed pulled out a tissue and mumbled "Shut up" to Roy before blowing his nose.
The Colonel noticed that Ed was looking a little pale, but he figured it was because he had just woken up and was tired. He would wake up soon enough. "So today's plan-"
Roy was interrupted by Ed. He was coughing, and from the way the boy was wincing every time he coughed, painfully.
"Umm, Fullmetal?" Roy asked during a break in Ed's coughing. Before Roy could say another word, the blonde boy started coughing again.
Roy grabbed a glass, and filled it with water. Once Ed had started coughing, Roy handed him the water, and watched as the boy downed it rather quickly.
Ed then reached for another tissue. He blew his nose, sneezed, and blew his nose again.
"Edward, are you okay?" Roy asked cautiously. Normally, he would poke fun at the little alchemist, but he could tell that something was truly wrong with Ed.
To answer Roy's question, Ed simply shook his head "No".
Roy reached his hand out and put it on Ed's forehead. The blonde's forehead was fairly warm, and he leaned into Roy's cool touch, which worried the Flame.
"Ed, you have a fever. Why didn't you tell me you were sick?" Roy questioned.
Ed shrugged his shoulders. "I didn't realize it until now."
Roy sighed. "Okay. Come with me, Ed." The older alchemist gently helped the younger alchemist up, and let him towards the couch where Ed crashed down ungracefully.
"Do I have to go to work?" Ed asked hoarsely, coughing afterwards.
"What? Of course not! You're sick. The only thing you should be doing is resting, not working." Roy said, shocked by the boy's question.
Ed looked up at Roy. "I thought you would've made me go in with you, because you don't like me."
Roy had been walking into the kitchen to grab the tissues and other things Ed would need, when the younger boy's words stopped him dead in his tracks. 'He thinks I don't like him...?' Roy thought, appalled that Ed would ever think that.
Roy sighed, and came back over to the couch. He kneeled down so he was eye-level with the blonde alchemist.
"Ed, of course I like you. I wouldn't put so much effort into you if I didn't like you, and I certainly wouldn't let you stay in my house with me if I didn't. I actually have a great respect for you. Anybody who can become a State Alchemist at your age and who has such a passion for studying alchemy and such a determination to protect the people they care about has my respect. You've chosen a hard life, and I am extremely proud of you for sticking it out and for making the best of it. Believe it or not, I actually think of you as a son, in a way. Your health, safety, and happiness are some of my top priorities. And right now, we need to get you healthy again."
Ed didn't know what to say. He had respected and looked up to Roy in a father-like way, but never would have thought that Roy thought of him as a son. Ed felt loved, and cared for again. He finally had a fatherly figure back in his life.
"Roy..."
"Hmm?"
Ed reached his arms out and embraced Roy in a huge hug. "Thank you," Ed whispered, "for everything."
Roy smiled and returned the hug. He had always dreamed of having a son, but never believed it would really happen.
