"Hell," Roy moaned, slowly sitting up in his seat. "What happened?"

"Ed punched you," Alphonse replied, just the slightest hint of amusement in his voice. "What did you do to him?"

"I tried to teach him how to use the recliner."

"Apparently it didn't go very well?"

"He panicked when it laid him back, and once I snapped him out of it, he just grew really angry. When I tried to get him to relax, he um…" Roy rubbed his tender temple, wincing at the pain.

"Knocked you flat on your ass with one punch." Al chuckled lightheartedly. "Well, he's certainly… calmed down." Al motioned to the living room, where Ed was curled up in his chair, chin on his knees as he stared through the universe with resignation on his face. "When I heard you hit the floor, I came running and made it just in time to see Ed fall out of the chair. He was fine, but I think he's… lonely again."

"He needs to get his independence back," Roy murmured.

"How can he, Roy? He gets lost in the same room. He can't feed himself, he can't use the bathroom or bathe himself…"

Roy had a thoughtful expression on his face. He turned his gaze to Ed, the blonde's only movement coming from his breathing. "I'd bet against you on that, really."

"You couldn't even teach him how to use a recliner, Roy. How can you expect to teach him to eat? Or, heaven forbid, take care of his hygiene?"

"Let's tackle that recliner first." Roy stood and made his way into the living room, Alphonse tailing him curiously.

"Do you really think you can teach him?"

"We're going to find out right now." Roy pulled Ed's arms away from his legs, earning a noise of disapproval as the arms went right back to where they were. "You stubborn little shit." Roy pulled the arms away again, yanking Ed's feet to place them onto the floor.

"Asshole," Ed muttered again, crossing his arms indignantly.

"I hear the sentiment in that." Roy went to Ed's right side, placing the blond's hand by the reclining lever and giving it a tap.

Immediately, Ed tore his hand back with a panicked expression on his face.

"No!"

"Yes," Roy encouraged, placing Ed's hand there once more. He hit Ed's hand against the lever, then mimicked the pulling motion. He carefully studied the controlled fear on Ed's face, repeating the hitting and pulling several times for Ed, then tapped on his chest. "Your turn, Edward."

Ed lifted his arm curiously, eyes gazing around as he processed the information in his mind. After minutes of hesitant reaching and his mouth moving silently, he slowly reached down, tapping his hand around the lever. It took relatively few taps for him to find the solid protrusion, furrowed brows and sudden determination appearing on his face as he mimicked the pulling motion, setting the recliner into action.

His legs flew up and bounced slightly, his upper body fell back, and his head smacked against the plush headrest. He gasped in surprise, but kept his trembling relatively under control as his focused eyes showed that he was processing what had happened.

"Ed?"

He reached down for the lever that was no longer within reach from his current position, but paused before he could let it affect his composure. He tapped the footrest with his heel, following suit with both feet. Lifting higher each time he thumped it, he finally found the right pressure to push the footrest down and lift the back of the chair, much more gently than the first round. As he sat upright again with focused confusion on his face, his sudden outburst made Roy and Al laugh.

"What the hell kind of chair is this?!"

Roy stood, tilting Ed's head back gently. He stared at the widening golden eyes that suddenly filled with emotion.

"Roy? What are you doing?"

"You mean you've never caught us, Alphonse?"

"Caught you what?"

Roy leaned down, pressing his lips to Ed's. He pushed forward, giving Ed the sensory pressure he needed. In reply, Ed's hands connected with Roy abruptly, resting on his lower back before pulling him closer.

Ed made an effort to join Roy in the kiss, delighting the older man. His arms wrapped supportingly underneath Ed's rear, earning a blush and a mad giggle as he lifted him up for a better kiss.

"Colonel!" Al hollered his disapproval.

Roy paused from the kiss long enough to answer. "I thought you supported us, Alphonse."

"Some would think you're taking advantage of him!" Al crossed his arms. "He doesn't even know who you are!"

"Does he need to?" Roy frowned. "You know it's not possible for him to live as he used to, with the same moral standards that we have. You said it yourself, he needs help for everything. You know how prideful Ed is; can you imagine what it's like for him, that you have to take care of his every need?"

"But he can't even feel the kiss!"

"Judging by how he kisses me back, I beg to differ."

"Hey! Kiss!" Ed's disgruntled call caught their attention, the blush still on his face. "And don't think I don't know your hands are under my ass, I can feel deep-tissue sensation!"

Roy laughed at the slack-jawed shock on Al's face, obliging Ed with another kiss.

"As little as he talks, that comes out of his mouth." Al put a hand to his head as it shook in disbelief. "Well, I'll condone it if Ed will."

"Thank you for your blessing, Alphonse." Roy chuckled as Al walked away, red in the face.


I mastered that chair. I mastered that chair!

Although I still feel stupid that it caused me so much panic on the first round.

I can make myself lay down in the chair whenever I want. It's really a nice change of orientation.

And as dumb as it is, I feel more in control.

Although since I've spent so long sleeping upright, I sometimes wake up in a panic when I'm horizontal.

It happens again. I wake with a start, feeling dizzy and anxious. I slam down with my heels, rocketing myself forward-and by some miracle, even though I'm thrown out of the chair, I manage to remain standing.

My heart is pounding. This is so annoying.

Feeling brave, I slowly begin to walk around, both of my hands spread forward to field any sudden obstacles. I try to remember the steps I took with him, and after what seems like an eternity, I keel over as something waist-length trips me up. Gasping nervously, I give myself a moment to perceive, and realize it's probably just a table-as half my body was laying on it, but my feet were still touching the floor.

Call me short again, I'm taller than the table, Mustang!

It takes me a minute, but I upright myself. I begin my blind exploration again, bumping into things more gently this time. I continue bumping the wall with my hand, my hip, and my foot; using this method, I'm able to follow it flawlessly.

I must be making a lot of noise. Where are they? Isn't she around? Did he leave again?

I do another smack of my hips, realizing how silly I must look doing this, but the thought falls dead as I suddenly feel myself falling.

The wall just gave out!

I didn't hit it that hard, did I?!

I lay dazed for a moment before rolling to my side, assuming I'm uninjured. My bones don't ache, my muscles don't burn. My head just thumps a bit, but it's dissipating.

I bet I'm bruised all over. Haha.

I shakily stand again, taking a few steps forward. My arms contact nothing as I suddenly slip forward, careening off of some invisible cliff.

While I haven't felt pain in a while, I'm glad that the one in my arm isn't all that bad as I slam roughly into something solid before rolling. As I finally come to a complete stop, I let myself lay, figuring I'd only get into more trouble if I kept exploring.

My body temperature is steadily growing lower.

I wonder if I can still shiver from the cold? Maybe I'm doing it now, but I don't even realize it.

Wait, cold?

It's not that cold in my room!

Am I outside?!

Oh, hell. Kitchen, door, stairs.

Edward, you idiot.

I wonder if I can make it back inside without incident.

I feel around curiously, but I must have rolled far enough away, because I can't find the stairs.

Oh, no.

I don't feel the sun warming me.

I'm outside, at night, with nobody around.

I try to keep my wits about me as I cry out for assistance.

"Hey! Hey! Someone, help!"

Calm your breathing. Hyperventilating will only make it worse.

"Help! Hello?!"

I wait for much longer than it should take someone to come to my aid, but I'm still surrounded by the cold loneliness. I feel a shiver as the cold and the dread work in tandem.

"H-hello!" I yell louder, at least I think it's louder. "Someone please!"

I remain on my hands and knees, feeling incredibly helpless. I could be just inches out of arm's reach of the stairs, but I have no way of knowing.

"Please," I gasp, reaching out for someone to take me back indoors. "PLEASE!"

I bow my head as I receive no answer, shaking terribly from the cold and the fear.

Some animal could come and attack me. Could I defend myself?

I wouldn't even know it was there until it was on me.

What if it's colder out here than I realize? I'm shaking, is that from shivering?

The rationalization of my situation isn't calming me as it usually does. Because usually, I'm indoors.

Where I'm warm.

And safe.

I yell out one last time for help, but nobody comes.

Nobody can hear me.

I scream.