Roy smiled to himself as the bane and light of his existence stormed off in an attempt of escaping 'Colonel Bastard'.
He turned from the door that'd been slammed open and went back to the much-dreaded paperwork.
"Sir?" He looked up to see first lieutenant. She kept an almost indifferent facade, and if it wasn't for the slight furrow of her brow and the slight turn of her lips, he wouldn't have known she was concerned.
"Yes? What is it?" Mustang asked as he reorganized his papers.
"I... I was wondering why you aggravate the chief so often. Doesn't his past merit some sympathy?" Riza asked innocently, professionally, but concerned as well. She, too, had a soft spot for the boy. Just like everyone else who'd had the pleasure, and unfortune, to work alongside the alchemist.
Roy smiled. "He needs it."
Riza gave him a puzzled look. "He needs to be aggravated?"
Roy shook his head, smiling warmly down at his papers. "No. He needs people to stop pitying him. To treat him more like an equal and less like a child."
"But you're always mocking his height and inexperience..."
"Yes, mocking. I'm saying the truth without earnesty. He might think that I mean what I say, but he doesn't take me seriously," Roy explained. "Edward needs someone to question him. But it needs to be someone he actually respects and trusts. I am that 'someone'. I'm his superior, but I've also proven many times over that I'll be there for him and his brother. My mocking is simply to force him to think, and to give him a reprieve from the people around him who see nothing but a little boy."
Riza frowned so he continued to clear things up. "My mocking both acknowledges his youth and weaknesses while also pointing out the fact that I feel threatened enough to feel the need to 'put him down'."
Riza smiled. "So, you're teaching him and making fun of him in the same toss of a coin?"
Roy grinned. "The 'making fun' part is infinitely more fun, admittedly."
Riza nodded and backed away from the door. "You're like what Edward is to Alphonse."
This was true. Edward was teasing of Al's state of being, but this was helpful to the younger boy's sanity. The normalcy of having your older brother tease you, the reminder that there was someone who cared. Even if it was in a negative light.
But it wasn't negative. It was a reinforcement, encouragement.
And that's what Roy was to Ed. Roy was his older brother, with the addition of being his superior, his father-figure and his teacher.
Roy was many things to Edward Elric, but harmful? That wasn't one of them.
A/N: HIIII, this was just a little stupid drabble I had.
I know, it's terrible. But hey, I'm not great. I'm only okay. If that.
I hope you liked it, please review! Criticism welcome, even if it's just a REALLY SHORT FREAKIN DRABBLE.
*sigh* Okay, :) please review~