The Sick Alchemist
I don't own Fullmetal Alchemist
Chapter 1
Roy Mustang had many questions. But no question was as unexplainable to as why he was stuck babysitting a sick Alchemist. Nobody asked if he was okay with it, they just dumped him on his couch and left. Now what was he suppose to do? He wasn't fit taking care of him, he's never even been near a sick child before!
Ed was snoring, and quite loudly in fact. It was becoming quite annoying. He's been debating over whether or not he should wake him but decided against it. Better a sleeping Fullmetal than a conscious one. He was quite when he was sleeping, save for the constant snoring.
But what was he going to do. Alphonse was in Resembool, Hawkeye was at the store, and for some reason every subordinate of his had just disappeared without any reason. Just his luck. In about ten minutes time he was allowed to go home, but what was he going to do with the runt passed out on his couch. It wasn't like he could exactly leave Ed in his dorm. What if he woke up in the middle of the night worse? The only reasonable option was to bring Ed to his own house, but then everything might get contaminated with the germs, and who knows if the kid has the black plague. Well, that seemed a little unlikely, but it was always possible.
Where was Hawkeye when he needed her. She was good with kids, right? Nothing like him. He couldn't so much as look at a child without thinking of what he did all those years back in that bloody war. But Fullmetal was different. He was more of an adult than a child. At least that's the side Roy's seen. Sure, he acted like a kid at times, but he took on the responsibility of an adult.
The pipsqueak. He worked too hard, harder than any other kid. Maybe Roy should give him more days off? No, that'll just mean Roy would have to work extra hard, and he wasn't up to that. Selfish, huh?
A soft groan broke the silence of the room and Roy turned to look in the direction of the couch where Ed lay sleeping. He groaned again and rolled over, his hand unconsciously curling into a fist. Something must have been wrong. Roy silently got out of his desk and walked over to the couch. Better he find out what's wrong before Ed's groaning gets louder.
"Hey, Fullmetal." Roy snapped his fingers to get Eds attention but the blond never reacted. Roy slowly reached out a hand to shake Ed's shoulder but held back. Should he wake him or just let him sleep? Something might be seriously wrong with him, but he might just be dreaming. Yeah, he's probably having a dream of some sort.
Satisfied with the decision, Roy headed back to his desk and sat down, ignoring the occasional groan coming from Ed. Soon enough the small sounds ceased to exist and the room was once again plunged into silence.
But he couldn't rid himself of the gnawing feeling deep in his gut. Did he make the right decision to let Ed continue sleeping? Just stop thinking about it, you'll only stress yourself out.
Making the decision to listen to the voice in his head, Roy began to quietly sign the pile of papers in front of him. In less than five minutes he'll be able to go back home. But he still had that one small problem. What was he going to do with Ed?
Just then the solution to his problem walked straight into his office in the form of a gun bearing Lieutenant. The sniper glanced over at Ed before walking over to Roy's desk and handing him a small shopping bag.
"I picked these up at the store." She momentarily glanced behind her at Ed before turning back to Roy. "Is Edward any better?"
Roy only shrugged as he searched through the contents of the bag. Apparently Hawkeye had gone to the store with only Ed in mind because the contents of the bag were Tylenol and chicken noodle soup. Roy glanced up at her.
"Why would I need this?" he asked, genuinely curious. He dread the answer.
"Because you're going to take care of Edward until Alphonse comes back," she said simply. "It's not like he's capable of taking care of himself like that." She pointed a finger at the blond on the couch.
Roy's mouth fell open, unable to contain his surprise. She actually told him that he had to babysit Fullmetal. Life wasn't fair. "But I don't know to take care of kids," he insisted. Adding in a whispering voice, "And me and Fullmetal not exactly get along well."
"Then you're going to have to suck it up and stop complaining, sir." Sometimes that woman got on his nerves, but he knew better than to argue. Just last week he said he was done with paper work and ended up doing twice as much as he had before all the while having a gun to his head.
"But what if he gets sick when he's at my place?" Roy demanded, trying to talk himself out of having to take care of Ed without putting his life on line. The gun was clearly strapped to her side.
"Then you're going to have to help him," Hawkeye answered.
Did that woman have an answer for everything?
Think Mustang, think! He didn't want to care for Ed, he really didn't. he barley even knew the pipsqueak. Hell, he wasn't even sure if Ed wouldn't have a fit if he woke up at his place. And that was probably what was going to happen.
But as he happened to glance over at Ed, he felt a pang of guilt. Just looking at him Roy knew that he was too sick to do much of anything. His pale face with flushed cheeks, his uneasy breathing. Maybe he should just give in and look after Ed.
It's just until Alphonse gets back, he told himself. No Mustang, stop letting yourself be manipulated by him! He's playing you!
Great, now there were two voices in his head yelling at him. What was he going to do? Ed was a strong kid, but he was also sick. Being sick effected your performance. "What do you think I should do?" Now he was asking for advice, that's how impossible this decision was.
Hawkeye gave him a hard look. "Just take him to your place. It's only for a few days, how hard can that be? Edward needs an adult to take care of him. He's not going to last long by himself. The only reason he's not injuring himself every day is because Alphonse is keeping him out of fights. That's how much he needs someone."
Roy contemplated what Hawkeye had said for a minute before finally giving in. "I'll take him. But if you help out. I can't do it alone." And now he willingly announced that he was pretty much clueless. Which he was. Something was seriously wrong with him. Maybe he caught whatever sickness Ed had? When he got back to his place he should check his own temperature. Who knows what he's picked up?
"Sir, I suggest you get going," Hawkeye spoke up. Roy nodded and rose up from his seat. "And sir, make sure to make Ed comfortable. I'll be over soon with dinner."
Roy nodded and walked over to the couch where Ed was still sleeping soundly. He reached out a hand and softly shook Ed's shoulder, hard enough to wake him yet soft enough to not scare him. But no matter what he did Ed wouldn't wake. It was annoying.
"He's not waking up," Roy reported. The frustration was easily noticeable in his voice. Why did the kid have to be so damn stubborn?
"Then just picked him up," Hawkeye suggested. Her reply startled Roy.
Roy didn't like that option at all, but he had no other choice. He hooked one hand behind Ed's back and the other behind his knees. Silently the counted down from three and once it hit 'one' Roy lifted Ed off the couch, surprised by how heavy he was. A pipsqueak shouldn't weigh that much. Then he remembered the automail and discovered for the first time just how heavy Ed's limbs were.
It must take a lot out of him. A kid his height shouldn't be forced under that burden. Another reason he was sick, perhaps? Hawkeye grabbed Roy's things for him because he had his hands full with a sick child. As he walked down the hall Ed's head fell against his shoulder and stayed that way.
He looked so peaceful. If he ever found out that Roy carried him through the halls of central HQ he would most likely die of embarrassment. Better keep it a secret so he didn't lose a subordinate. Luckily they didn't run into any officers in the halls who wouldn't hesitate to spread rumors and made it to the car in no time at all.
Roy had a difficult time maneuvering Ed into the passengers seat. His body was slack and kept falling over. Roy finally managed to buckle Ed's seat belt and close the door without harming either of them. Hawkeye handed Roy his things back and before she left she added, "Don't forget to make Ed comfortable once you get back to your place. And I'll be at your place at six to help with dinner."
Roy nodded and got into the car. He waved his arm before driving down the street. The mission: Bring a sick Ed to his house without him waking up so he wouldn't be sick in the car!
Mission complete! Roy successfully managed to make it to his place without Ed waking up and getting car sickness. Roy was currently trying to make a makeshift bed on the couch for Ed so Roy could keep an eye on him but he didn't know where to start.
How many pillows did Ed need? Was a blanket necessary? It was several long minutes of pointless struggling before Roy lifted the still sleeping Ed out of the armchair and laid him across the surface of the couch, his head resting in the single pillow Roy had thrown down. The Colonel pulled a blanket over his shivering body and took a step back to look at his masterpiece. Well, it wasn't quite a masterpiece, but it was the best he could do.
Roy turned around to head to his book shelf when he heard a small cough and a groan coming from behind. Turning around, Roy found Ed starting at the roof, his only expression full of confusion. Roy walked over and placed a hand on the boy's shoulder.
Ed turned and stared at Roy for a minute. "Colonel, what are you doin' in my dorm?" His question was mumbled.
Roy offered a light-hearted smile. "Hawkeye found you passed out of your floor earlier when she went to get your report. She brought you to my office and now you're here. And you're apparently sick."
"'M not sick," Ed muttered. He then tried to sit up, only to fall back down onto the couch with a thump muffled by the blanket beneath him.
"Yes you are. Now stop pushing yourself and get some rest." Roy pushed his hand gently onto Ed's forehead. "And I think you're fever's enough proof to show that you're sick."
"Bring me back to my dorm."
"No."
Ed was about to give a retorted response when he broke into a coughing fit that prevented him from saying much. Roy just stood by silently until Ed's coughing had died down before kneeling beside the couch and pulling the blanket back up to Ed's shoulders.
"Get some rest, will you?" he said softly. "And if you feel sick just tell me." He rose to leave but added one more important order before heading to do what he was going to do before Ed distracted him. "If you ever feel like you're going to throw up don't hide it from me. I don't want to have a mess everywhere."
Ed rolled so he was facing the other way and muttered, "Yeah, yeah, whatever you wish, bastard."
Roy sighed and grabbed a book from his shelf before taking a seat in the armchair and opening it to the first page and beginning to read. After reading several pages he glanced up at Ed and noticed the pipsqueak was curled in a tight ball and was shivering beneath the blanket.
"Fullmetal, you alright?" Roy called.
"Sh-shut up," Ed muttered before curling tighter and burying his head in the blanket.
Something told Roy that Ed wasn't alright but he just ignored it for now. It wasn't until he heard the sharp grunt that he looked up from his book to find Ed sprawled out on the couch, the blanket untouched on the floor.
"Ed, did you drop the blanket?" Roy asked.
"Colonel, think I'm gonna be sick," Ed whispered.
Roy shot up from his chair. The kid was going to be sick. What was he going to do? They never went over this in military training. Doing the first thing that came to mind, Roy dashed from the room and into the kitchen, grabbed the trash can, dumped the trash on the floor, and ran back into the living room. He made it there just in time. Looks like he wasn't going to have to wash his carpet today.
Ed leaned over the trash can, his entire body shaking and his hand gripping his stomach tightly. He made a sound that was a cross between a cough and a gag as he threw up most of the contents in the stomach. Ed's eyes widened momentarily before they snapped closed.
Roy could only stare at the suffering boy with pitying eyes. What was there to do? The kid would feel better once he was done, right? But how he just sit there and watch him going through this torture? Another cough as more vomit ran out of Ed's mouth and into the bucket that had been placed onto the ground. The trembling grew and he looked like he was ready to pass out. There was pretty much no color in his skin, just pure milky white flesh. Roy's hand reached out without thinking as his hand landed gracefully on top of Ed's trembling shoulder.
Ed's wave of sickness lasted only a few minutes but when he was finally finished he just collapsed where he was, his automail arm dangling over the side of the couch and swaying slightly.
"Ed, it's alright," Roy began. But then he noticed something different. Ed's hand was shakily wiping his eyes as his breathing sped up. "Hey, relax, it's over."
"Sorry," Ed whimpered, "I'm sorry"
"There's no need to be sorry," Roy said softly, sitting Ed up on the couch. That's when Roy realized what Ed's wiping away. The kid was crying. "Hey, you don't have to cry." Now what was he going to do? He didn't know how to take care of a sick kid and now he was crying. This wasn't his day.
Roy reached into his pocket and pulled out a white handkerchief and began to wipe off Ed's face. The boy was too sick to really care. He began to shake and Roy grabbed the blanket off the floor and pulled it around Ed, who pushed himself closer to Roy, burying his head in the wooliness of the blanket.
Definite proof that Ed was indeed sick. If he wasn't he would be using Roy as a pillow, and he certainly wouldn't have been crying. This must be taking a lot out of him. Roy finished wiping the sick off of Ed's face and hair ends before he tossed the handkerchief to the ground and pulled the boy closer to him, feeling the heat generating off his shivering body.
Ed's hand gripped Roy's pant leg loosely and he tilted sideways so he was fully leaning on Roy, who wrapped his arm around Ed's frail body, allowing a small smile to grace his face. He could get use to this. Too bad Ed wasn't sick all the time.
The room fell silent as they sat there, and the silence was something Roy really enjoyed. His hand drifted to Ed's forehead and noticed that his fever was still there, and it seemed worse than before. He made a mental note to get a thermometer next time he got up.
There was a knock on the door and Roy knew that he had to answer it. Knowing Hawkeye she would be very pissed if she was ignored. Making sure that Ed wouldn't wake up, Roy silently rose to his feet and headed for the door. Standing outside was Hawkeye, carrying a small bag in her hand.
"Good evening, Lieutenant," Roy greeted.
"How's Edward?" She asked.
Not even a greeting. How rude. "I think he's gotten worse," Roy admitted. "He threw up about ten minutes ago and then began to cry. He's sleeping now, and that I'm glad of."
Hawkeye nodded sympathetically. "I understand. I have some food for him, and some tea. I think it'll be fine for him to drink."
Roy nodded and invited Hawkeye inside. She followed Roy into his living room and when she saw Ed she frowned.
"He looks worse than when I found him," she said softly, pointing out the obvious. When Ed first arrived in Roy's office that morning the only thing off about him was the fact that he was unconscious and was slowly developing a slight fever. But now he was as pale as a ghost, shaking from cold, sweating, and just threw up. Not to mention the fact that he was just crying a minute ago.
Ed stirred but didn't wake up. His left hand loosely gripped the blanket while his right hung off the couch limply. He truly looked terrible, even worse than when Hawkeye carried him into his office. Hawkeye prodded Roy's shoulder.
"Sir, can I use your kitchen to make Ed dinner for when he wakes up?" She asked.
Roy immediately nodded his head. Good, he wasn't going to have to make Ed dinner. It wasn't like he knew how to cook in the first place. A few years back he attempted to cook chicken with his flame alchemy, but it didn't go the way he planned. He ended up having to take Havoc to the hospital because he was the one who tried to put the fire out...with a broom. That was the last time he tried that. And that was the last time he allowed Havoc anywhere near the kitchen when someone was cooking.
"Thank you, sir." Hawkeye made her way to the kitchen, leaving Roy alone with Ed. The Colonel sat down in the armchair and sighed.
Some day he was having. What was he going to do if Ed threw up again? He wasn't prepared for it, not one bit. It was then he noticed that Ed was awake and staring at him. He blinked once before pulling the blanket further over his trembling body.
Roy got out of his chair and walked over to Ed. He smiled down at him softly. "How are you feeling?" He asked.
"Like hell," was Ed's only mumbled reply.
"Do you need anything? Are you hungry?" Roy asked.
Ed only shook his head, but his gaze remained on Roy. With no idea what to do, Roy just smiled until Ed smiled back. It was a fake smile, a forced gesture to show that he was fine. But Roy could tell that Ed was silently suffering.
Roy could see the sweat rolling down Ed's face and how much he was shaking. Roy made a mental note to get Ed another blanket later and maybe a cold cloth.
"Tired...gonna sleep." Ed yawned let his eyes slide closed. "Night...Bastard"
Roy let a small smile cross his face. "Good night, shrimp."
But the boy was already asleep.
A/N...Hello to all of you who decided to read this chapter till the end. This was originally suppose to be a one-shot but after the word count became greater that 10,000 I decided to make it multiple chapters. Still not done writing it and since everything I write never has a set plot and has a chance to go on forever.
Was it good? Bad? What did you like? I'd really appreciate any feedback. The next chapter will come out whenever I decided to proof read it and all that stuff. I hate proofreading. Well that's it. Hope you enjoyed :)