Media: Anime
Timeline: Three years after Episode 51 ('Laws and Promises'), Largely follows canon, however the ending has been manipulated to fit my own ends.
Rating: MA, to be on the safe side for future chapters.
Characters: Edward, Roy
Warnings: This may or may not eventually contain slash. Warnings and ratings will change once a decision has been reached.
Dread filled the pit of General Roy Mustang's gut at seeing Hawkeye's grim face first thing in the morning. The strong woman normally looked stoic and well poised, but never grim, unless something had happened. She did not say a word as she saluted, picking up a file and handing it over. Forehead creased, he stared at it for a moment, unwilling to open it quite yet. Hawkeye had different ideas, however.
"Edward Elric is in the hospital, again, Sir."
Covering his face with his palm, he let himself drop into the seat behind his desk. Of course Ed was always in the hospital after missions. It would not normally be worth mentioning, unless something beyond the norm had happened.
"How bad?"
"Bad, Sir."
Cursing violently, he got back to his feet, letting the file flutter from his grip as he dashed out of the room. 'Bad' meant just that. He could not have his best alchemist possibly laying dead or dying in the hospital! Possibilities raced through his mind as he sprinted the short difference between the military headquarters and the medical ward. Upon seeing him, the receptionist did not say a word, merely pointing him towards Ed's normal room. The eighteen year old was in here often enough to warrant it.
Stepping through the door, he was not quite prepared for the sight that met his eyes. Gold locks tangled messily around his shoulders, loose for once. Blood and dirt stained it, making some strange desire stir to wash it clean. The blankets on the bed were pulled aside, allowing the doctor to work on tightly binding Full Metal's flesh leg. Such also allowed a clear view of several bruises, and smaller gauze patches stained with blood. The most shocking being, the automail was absent. Roy halted in his tracks as he took in the scarring, and exposed wires visible from where the limbs had been broken off.
It was strange. Through out the years, Roy had seen Ed without his arm at least. However, the full reality had never been laid quite so bare for him to see. He looked even smaller, and vulnerable without his arm and leg. The expression on his face was one of pained resignation, as the doctor finished with the bandaging. Observing the wrap, Roy felt the dread crash around him. Full Metal had a broken flesh leg, and his prosthetic had obviously been destroyed.
Both room occupants finally took notice of Roy, the doctor giving a nod of acknowledgment. Ed frowned in annoyance, reaching down to pull the covers over his body. The younger man was strangely subdued. Usually something like this would not get him down, or at least he would put up a brave front to stave off attention from his friends. For a moment, Roy regretted not reading the file before he had rushed headlong into this situation.
"General Mustang, pleasure to see you."
Roy acknowledged the doctor with a nod. Ed was remaining strangely silent to his presence. Glancing between them, the doctor took his leave. At a bit of a loss, Roy approached the bed, falling into habit where Ed was concerned.
"What do you have to report?"
The blonde glanced away with a scowl. "I already gave my report to Hawkeye."
"I am not asking Hawkeye. I am asking you. What happened, Ed?"
For a long moment, he thought the younger man was going to refuse to speak. Until, "Meestora was an ambush."
Roy sucked in a quick breath, unease coiling in his gut. A trap? But how, who? He had only sent Full Metal to investigate strange reports from the officer in charge out there. Nothing had seemed amiss about the assignment, or the information he had received regarding the situation. The blonde finally glanced at him, looking grim.
"Chimaera ambushed me on the road after my investigation. They knew to take out my arm and leg first. I managed to take most of them out, before they ripped off my automail. A military patrol heard the fight, and came to my rescue. I would be dead if they hadn't."
His flesh hand gripped the blankets in a stranglehold, and Roy could detect a minute shake to his frame. Suppressing a sigh, he stepped over and sat on the vacated chair. He knew that Ed loathed the reminders of his own mortality. Despite all the years, Mustang could still recall his reaction to his near-death encounter with Barry the Butcher when he was twelve. It never got easy. For that, he was glad. Edward Elric had lived through far more in his eighteen years, than most grown adults did in a lifetime of service to the military. Roy would be more concerned if Ed had no reaction.
"Is Winry available to come to Central to replace them?"
Ed nodded, looking thankful for the misdirect in topic. "She said she can make it, but she won't be out here until next week. She has a backlog of orders before she can drop it all to come fix me up."
Sighing quietly, Roy rubbed a hand over his eyes. His best alchemist was out of commission until next week. Joy of joys. He would have to pass off Full Metal's assignments until then. In good conscience, he would give Edward at least a month of recovery before shipping him out again. That is, if Hawkeye didn't threaten to shoot him for it. Roy knew more than anyone that Ed loathed being cooped up and idle, the General taking the brunt of the displeasure on the few occasions it had happened in the past.
Glancing the younger man over, Roy frowned. "Is Al at least coming out to help you until you have both arms working?"
Ed winced, glancing away again. The general had touched upon a harsh topic for Edward. Three years ago, they had succeeded in getting Alphonse Elric's body back, at the cost of a large chunk of his memories. With the loss of the Philosopher's Stone, there had been no means of returning Ed's automail to flesh. The now seventeen year old Alphonse had taken news of Ed's antics harshly. To Roy's knowledge, they were on speaking terms, but the relationship between the brothers was strained at best.
Full Metal never talked about it, but through some digging, and covert talks with Winry, Mustang knew that a large part of the displeasure was aimed at Ed's continued employment with the military, as an alchemist. Alphonse had blamed the alchemy, more than Edward's actions, for their past and present disfigurement. On the topic of disfigured state alchemists, Roy heaved an annoyed sigh. Either Ed would have to stay in the hospital for the next week or two; or someone was going to have to take him home with them.
Hawkeye was out of the question, though no doubt her firm hand would keep him out of trouble. He wanted Ed better, not riddled with bullet holes for being his normal, restless, self. Armstrong was too soft, and would let the pipsqueak do as he pleased if Ed shed a couple crocodile tears. Likewise for Fuery and Havoc. Gracia Hughes would be happy to help Edward; she and Maes had practically adopted the two Elrics after they helped deliver their daughter into the world. But Roy knew that she more than had her hands full caring for her six year old bundle of disaster.
Weighing the pros and cons carefully, Roy reached a decision. "You'll be staying with me until you get your automail repaired."
Ed's look of incredulity was almost worth it; but the deciding factor of his decision was the thought of taking a week off from Hawkeye's stalwart insistence that he do paperwork instead of catch up on missed sleep.
Stepping through the doorway, he was hit with a sudden panic, wondering if he had left anything incriminating laying around for Ed to see and exploit. Wheeling the younger man inside, he glanced around furtively. Nothing seemed out of place in the flat. His pornography was safely hidden away in his personal room, his gun collection was locked in the safe, and any suspect books on Alchemy were in the library up stairs. He was thankful at Ed's inability to actually wander freely about the place. Some of the illicit books and videos were embarrassing.
Pushing the man into the living room, Roy's eyes narrowed as he noticed that something was out of place after all. A potted plant on the coffee table was upturned, dirt littering the surface, and leaves crushed. His lips pursed with displeasure. Something furry slunk from the shadows under the table, glowing eyes gazing at the two men unwaveringly. Ed looked puzzled as he stared the creature down. The General sighed, walking over to assess the damage and likewise glared at the culprit.
The cat swished its tail languidly, gazing up at Roy with big, watery eyes, unblinking. He was not buying the act one bit, as the dirt on its paws, and the overturned plant spoke volumes. Roy shooed the cat away with a scowl, grumbling under his breath as he carefully wiped up the spilled dirt. The Full Metal Alchemist stared at him strangely for a long moment, as if he had grown a second head. Ignoring it, he focused on cleaning up. No doubt Ed would have some snide comment, or complaint to share. However, he was pleasantly surprised once the young man finally got his thoughts in order.
"Wait, I thought you were nuts for dogs. Why do you have a cat?"
Roy stared straight ahead, expression carefully blank as Ed blinked at the orange tabby cat. The other man had a strange look, as if trying to dredge up some distant memory. Reaching out to neaten the plant, Roy commented idly.
"Dogs are fiercely loyal to their master. Eager to please, and craving attention and praise. Only stray dogs ignore commands, and those that refuse, are abandoned, or put down. Man's best friend never strays when they can help it, nor will they act for themselves, save when their master is in danger... But cats..." Roy shook his head, smiling faintly to take any sting from his previous words.
"Cats are independent. They follow their own rules, and only obey their master when it suits them. When they are displeased, they let everyone know, and when they want attention, they get it at all costs. Unlike dogs, a cat does not follow commands, and they wander as they please. But yet, if they grow to trust their master, they always come back when they are able. It is a great challenge to earn a cat's trust, but the rewards far outweigh the trouble, with time."
Ed frowned slightly, petting the feline when it glanced up and meowed at him. He knew Mustang was talking about more than just animals. Shrugging, he glanced over.
"Without cats, dogs would be mighty bored, too. When they're all alone with nothing to do, who would they chase to pass the time?"
The General smirked, returning Edward's look. "Who indeed."
Cleaning up the mess from the plant, Roy frowned, pondering on the state of Ed's appearance. There had been no time for a nurse to bathe him before they left. The general had preferred to leave as soon as Edward agreed, to avoid having to explain himself to Hawkeye. She would get the memo about his leave of absence. The blood and dirt still stained Ed's hair; it was beginning to bug the both of them.
"You need a bath. You're not sleeping in my bed like that."
"Who said I'm sleeping in your bed? I can just take the couch."
Heaving a sigh, Roy stared Ed down, "You're taking the bed, because I'd be skinned alive if anyone found out I made you sleep on the couch with a broken leg."
Ed blushed faintly, rubbing the back of his neck. "Oh... right." He dropped the act after a moment, staring at his lap anxiously. "How do I go about that?"
It was Roy's turn to blush, though he hid it with a well timed smirk, as Edward glanced back up, a light of realization dawning across his face. He fidgeted in his chair, scratching at his scalp, and avoided looking Roy in the eye. Not that the General could blame him. Things were about to become mighty awkward between them. Thankfully, Roy had faced more terrifying prospects than getting Edward Elric to let himself get bathed by his hated superior.