There was tension at the campsite when Ed returned. Ed didn't talk to Mustang any more than necessary. He was tired. He allowed Mustang to lecture him about being out in the rain unnecessarily, but did not comment on it. This caused the older man to frown and demand to know what was wrong. Ed told him it was nothing, but it just seemed to anger the older man.
Just over a week and this would all be behind them. Maybe less if Lambert made a move and outed himself. Ed had expected him to show up after the wolf attack to try and claim people for failure through injury, but the man, nor any of his soldiers, ever came.
Ed had spent the morning, when the rain had finally stopped, rebuilding their fire. Once again, he had Furey assist him. He used the same hand drill as before. However, it took much longer than that first night they used it. Some of their wood had gotten wet during the attack with their tent being damaged which hindered their attempts.
Mustang had tried to offer some help, or at least talk to Ed, but Ed had been very quick with a snide comment about the wet wood being similar to Mustang in terms of usefulness. Furey looked like a deer caught in the headlights as Ed and Mustang bickered. Their bickering quickly became less friendly. It wasn't long before both men were sniping where they could. Ed knew somewhere in his head that he wasn't being reasonable and he couldn't understand why. The bickering ended when Ed started screaming at his commanding officer and storming off once they had their tinder lit. Ed left Furey to deal with it while Ed went back down to the river.
Once again, he was filled with an overwhelming desire to jump into the river. Instead, he took his frustration out on a tree, slamming metal and flesh fist alike into the tree until they were either bleeding and brushed or dented horribly. Winry was going to kill him, but he felt better. He cleaned his hand off in the river before heading back to camp and bandaging it. For once, Mustang didn't fuss over him or lecture him about the injury or his stupidness. Ed hadn't expected something as little as that to actually hurt. It made Ed very aware of how much of a brat he was being and it just made him feel so much worse.
He stared down at his hands and felt like he had heaviest weight on his shoulders. He hadn't even made it two weeks before doing something stupid and destroying what little friendship they had just because he was tired and sore. So damn tired. His ports ached much like his heart. There was only so much he could deal with like this. How Hughes had thought this could possibly have ended well was beyond Ed.
Somehow, Ed managed to convince Furey to tell Mustang to get ready to go out hunting. Furey seemed to understand something was wrong, but did not press the issue. Instead he just stayed close by in case Ed should need a shoulder to lean on or someone to talk to. It was amazing how this was conveyed without words.
Hawkeye joined them as they set off for their mission. She hung close to Mustang and made small talk with him. Mustang looked annoyed, frustrated and confused. To him, it probably just seemed like something a stupid kid would hold a grudge over and wasn't yet willing to try and talk it out.
Not too far from one of Ed's traps, Ed noticed a berry bush. On closer inspection he found the berries were edible. He delegated the task of collecting the berries to Mustang and Hawkeye, while he and Furey inspected the traps.
"Did you want to talk about it?" Furey asked quietly while they carefully re-set their trap.
"Not really," Ed replied just as quietly. "But thanks anyway."
"You shouldn't bottle it up," Furey said gently, before adding with a small smile. "I'm not sure if you or the trees could handle it."
"We'll live," Ed smiled a little. "I'm grateful, Furey. But I'm not ready to talk about it."
"At least talk to the Brigadier General," Furey suggested when they were finished. "I don't know what happened, but he doesn't seem to get it either."
"It's not his fault," Ed said honestly, after all, Mustang wasn't the one behaving like a child. "I'm just a little fucked up and a few words seemed to make the world of difference. Maybe I have cabin fever. I'm not used to being around people for this long, let alone someone who likes to push my buttons."
"You're not fucked up," Furey said firmly. "If it's not his fault, tell him. He should know that much at least."
"I know," Ed sighed as he looked over to where Mustang was. "It's just… I don't know."
"Think about it anyway," Furey smiled at him. "Where was the other trap again?"
Ed smiled back and went with Furey to check the other trap. It didn't have anything either. If all else failed he was going to have to do some serious hunting for dinner. As they approached Mustang and Hawkeye, they could hear their conversation.
"-Just so up and down," Mustang said quietly. "I thought we were doing fine and he suddenly goes off again. I'm trying not to provoke him, but then I slip and suddenly I have moody, agitated, teenage Ed again."
"I don't think friendship is a good idea," Hawkeye commented. "It's hard to relate to someone as young and temperamental as Edward. Perhaps a professional working relationship is how it should be left rather than reaching out. He should be investing more time in getting to know someone from his own age group anyway."
Ed stopped walking, feeling like he'd been hit hard in the stomach. He was aware that Hawkeye resented how close they had gotten lately, but this? This was low and it hurt like hell. Furey looked caught like he equally surprised by what they had heard.
"Perhaps you're right," Mustang sighed. "Just thought it would be nice to have someone to talk shop outside of work once and while. Alchemists are hardly a social bunch and finding one you can work with well on a friendship level is hard."
"It's just another week, Sir." Hawkeye reminded him. "Then things can go back to how they were. Edward would be caught up in missions and you'll be able to focus on your own goals."
It was all Ed could do to not run. He needed to though. The need to run and work the hurt out from these words. Furey took a hold of his hand and drew in his attention.
"This is why you need to talk to him," Furey said quietly.
Ed nodded slowly, feeling unsure. This is what he had wanted, right? To try a friendship even if it never became anything else. To start something before he left so there would be a reason to still keep in contact with Mustang when he quit.
Gently, Furey tugged at his hand to encourage him to continue walking. Furey made his steps loud, stopping the conversation where it was without letting on to what they had heard. Sometimes Ed forgot how reliable Furey could be when needed as a friend. It helped the hurt a little.
"Any luck?" Mustang asked, as if the conversation he'd been having hadn't happened.
"None," Ed said honestly, forcing himself to sound better then he felt. "Hopefully we'll have more luck for dinner. I'd rather not hunt today unless I have to."
"Looks like this will have to do til then," Mustang said as he looked down at his shirt which he had pulled the hem up to form a pouch for the berries.
Ed's eyes lingered slightly at Mustang's waistband where the skin now peaked out under the shirt-pouch of berries. He brought his hand to pinch the bridge of his nose, as he felt his heart sink. It was not for him to look at after all.
"Sure," Ed responded before he took the lead in walking them back to camp.
"Ed?" He heard Mustang say behind him, but he didn't pause. "What's wrong?"
"Just tired," Ed brushed the question off.
Mustang didn't pursue it and for the Ed was extremely grateful. He marched them back to camp with haste and only felt relieved when he was by the side of the fire munching on the berries Mustang had handed him. He had thanked the man and stared at the fire. His thoughts were like his transmutation circle in how they went round and round and seemed endless.
Ed was so deep in his thought that he didn't realise someone was next to him until them had grabbed him by his left arm and were dragging him up to force him to stand. Ed was startled and flinched away, only to see it was Mustang at his side.
"What the fuck are you doing?" Ed frowned at the older man.
"Putting you down for a nap," Mustang said sternly. "Sick of your grumpy ass mood when you're tired."
"I'm not fucking two!" Ed screech as he stood his ground against Mustang's pulling and shoving.
"Well you certainly seem to act like it," Mustang hissed at him. "I don't know what the fuck I did to set you off today, but I'm over it already. Sooner you get some sleep, the better off everyone will be."
"Fuck you," Ed spat as he pulled away.
"March your ass into that fucking tent and take a God damn nap," Mustang commanded.
"Are you ordering me around?" Ed challenged him.
"Damn right I am," Mustang confirmed. "You were sick yesterday, were attacked by wolves this morning and probably only got at most, a few hours' sleep in the last thirty hours. I have no use for you if you start making mistakes because you're tired."
Ed glared at Mustang and clenched his fists in anger at being treated like a child.
"I've survived on less," Ed stated. "In worse physical condition, against bigger and nastier threats, on my own during your stupid ass missions. I can handle myself just fine."
"Being by yourself is different from having people to protect and depend on you," Mustang said without hesitation.
Ed felt himself deflate a little at the moment. Mustang was right. He always was. They were depending on him for some of the most basic things like food and to form a protection with Mustang against the impending threat.
"Whatever," Ed said quietly as he walked over to the tent.
Mustang didn't follow him and didn't say anything else. It was so different to last week when Mustang had chased him off for a nap after that bear attack. There had been a connection, the start of a friendship. It had been nice. Ed was seriously regretting every word his traitorous mouth had allowed out this morning.
He curled up in a sleeping bag, but in the end, he never fell asleep.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Ed wasn't sure how long had passed when he noticed Mustang sticking his head in the tent. He looked disappointed to see Ed awake.
"Did you manage to sleep at all?" Mustang asked quietly as he entered the tent.
Ed shook his head silently and sighed heavily as he closed his eyes. They were starting to hurt, like his head had started to not long ago. His body's complaints were starting to pile up and it just added to his misery.
There a rustling of sleeping bags nearby that suggested that Mustang had sat down close by. For a while, there was a silence between them. It was horribly tense. It made Ed want to leave the tent, but what good would that do anyone, really? So he had to man up.
"I'm sorry," Ed rasped.
"Me too," Mustang whispered back, sounding like he meant it.
"What are you sorry for?" Ed frowned as he opened his eyes to look at the man. "You're not the one behaving like a brat."
"No," Mustang admitted. "But I am the one who should be more grateful. It was only your automail arm that stopped a wolf ripping my throat out this morning."
"Still doesn't give me the right to be a grumpy, little shit," Ed said as he rubbed his right shoulder gently with his left hand.
"You must be tired," Mustang said as he moved closer and pulled Ed's hand away from his shoulder. "You just insulted yourself and called yourself little. Turn over."
"I'm fine," Ed protested, seeing where this was going.
"I doubt it," Mustang said as he felt the shoulder gently. "I can feel the heat from the port through your jacket. Turn over."
"But-" Ed started, but was cut off.
"You've done a lot for us, Ed." Mustang said carefully. "Even when you weren't feeling the best, you still give everything you have to protect us. You only let us help you yesterday because you physically couldn't stop us. Let us do things for you. Little things that will mean you are maybe just that little bit less tired or sore."
Ed stared into Mustang's eyes. He felt so lost.
"Why are you so nice?" Ed asked quietly. "Even when I'm behaving in a way that would drive anyone away?"
"You're a friend," Mustang said as he gently forced Ed to roll over. "Or at least I would like to think you are."
"I wanna be," Ed mumbled as he rolled over with Mustang's help. "I don't mean to be like this. Makes me miss Al. He would normally be the one to fix or sooth my social fuck ups."
"You're not always like this," Roy said as he gently started to press down on Ed's back with his fingers. "Most days you're fine. Great to chat with and interesting to observe as you show off your skills. It's just days like today that your behaviour becomes confusing."
"Tired," Ed hissed as Mustang pressed on a tender spot. "So tired and sore. Automail sucks balls sometimes."
"I can imagine," Mustang whispered. "Is it always like this?"
"No," Ed muttered. "Rain in central isn't as bad. Hurts a little, but not this bad. Can function. Just North is nasty. We're lucky we haven't had days on end of rain."
"I'd have to agree with that," Mustang commented as he started to work his way down Ed's spine.
For a time, there was silence between them as Mustang worked his back. Slowly, but surely, Ed was starting to relax. It was funny that he felt like he could just slip off to sleep any moment now. That was, until Mustang put his hands on Ed's thigh just above the port.
"I think I'm good now," Ed said quickly, not wanting those hands that close to his groin.
"Shut it, Fullmetal." Mustang told him firmly as gently pressed the muscles. "I'm nearly done. You've been limping a lot lately. If it's because of the automail, I think it would be best we do as much as we can for it."
"But-" Ed tried.
"It's not an option," Mustang cut him off. "Just relax. I promise not to let my hands wander."
Ed turned his face down into the sleeping bag as he blushed.
"Fucking bastard," he muttered as Mustang continued his work.
In the end, it wasn't as bad as Ed had feared it might have been. Though, he never saw the end. As the muscles in his leg finally started to loosen up, he found himself dozing and before he knew it, he was asleep.