A Trial of Sin
Chapter 10: Home
December 23, 2005
By CCD

A/N: Sorry it's been so long since I've updated. I've been so busy with work and school that I've been lacking the motivation to write. Not that I'm going to stop, but I've had much more of a need to sleep than to write. I hope to get some more writing done this weekend, but if not, I hope to have some new stuff up soon. Enjoy!

A certain blond teenager was staring up at the ceiling from his spot on his bed. He silently fumed over the fact that he was once again confined to his bed. If there was one thing he hated it was having that bastard of a Colonel take care of him. Not that Ed had the strength to defy him. He smirked, however, as he remembered the events of that morning.

Yeah he had raised hell from the hospital till he got into the house, but he hadn't expected the Colonel to retreat so easily. The bastard had probably forgotten about him and was out with some pretty lady. Edward huffed as he rolled over to his side. He didn't care about Mustang in the least bit, let alone what he was doing, yet it bothered him that the Colonel hadn't come to check on him.

"Damn it all, damn it all to hell."

Colonel Mustang sat in his kitchen over a cup of coffee and the daily paper. A smirk covered his face as he heard Ed curse at something. Served the pesky teenager right for causing so much trouble…No the Colonel was not going in to see what was wrong. Not after all the grief he got this morning. He thought back on that small event.

"I know, I know, you bastard!"

Roy sighed as he and Lt. Havoc helped his stubborn ward out of the car. As Hughes had predicted, once the raven haired man was cleared from the suspect list, Ed was released back into his care. He was, however, under strict order to keep the blond hot-head under constant bed rest, but knowing Ed, it wouldn't last for very long. The Colonel had hoped that the two of them had come to an understanding in the hospital, but that too seemed shattered at this point in time.

"Ed, we're just trying to help. You don't have to yell at the Colonel so much," Havoc said coming to his superior's defense.

"Shut up!"

"Edward, why don't you shut up and sit still. I can assure you, if you don't, I will make the next couple of weeks hell for you."

The younger of the two alchemists glared at the elder, but stopped his verbal tirade. Mustang and Havoc were finally able to get Edward into the house and to his bedroom.

The commanding officer released his subordinate with a nod and turned his attention back to his ward. The said person had his arms crossed and his facial expression showed he was clearly unhappy with what the Colonel.

"Edward…"

"Don't start with me. You got me into the house now leave me alone."

"No, we're going to talk and then you are going to rest."

The younger alchemist snorted, "Fine, but if all you're going to do is lecture me then save it for someone who cares."

"I'm going to try not to lecture you, but I think I have the right to know why you're acting this way. You told me in the hospital that you would never get better if you didn't start listening to me at least a little bit. Damn it Ed, why does everything have to be so complicated with you?"

Ed let Mustang finish his argument. He glared at his former superior with pure loathing. If anything, he felt like he had the right to be in a bad mood. The young alchemist was in pain, and tired. That should account for something should it.

"I'll answer you later, bastard. I'm not feeling good and all I want to do is sleep, OK."

Realization clicked in the Colonel's eyes. He should have known that Ed's attitude stemmed from the fact that he was tired and probably in pain. After all, it had been a very long morning of paperwork and attempting to move the teenager from place to place.

"I understand. Get some sleep, and we'll talk later," he said in a softer voice before leaving the room.

The only other reason that Mustang left the room was because he could see that their talk at the hospital had sunk in. Unfortunately, Ed was stubborn and still healing from his illnesses. He knew that the more he pushed Edward and argued with him, he knew the stubborn boy would fight back with everything he had. The Colonel knew that Edward just needed some space and a chance to heal.

"Bastard," came a call from the bedroom.

He didn't know if his young ward was cursing for him or calling for him. The elder man sighed and put down the paper. He better go see what Edward wanted. After knocking softly on the door he stuck his head in.

"You called," he said.

"Hn, I didn't think you were listening."

"I was just in the kitchen reading the paper. Did you need something?"

"Well, I didn't really call you, but since you're here could you get me some water."

Mustang smiled as he said, "Sure."

He got the water and returned to Edward. Instead of leaving though, he took a seat next to his young ward.

"I know you're probably sick of hearing this asked, but are you feeling any better?"

"Yeah, I'm all right. I'm out of that damn hospital with the crappy food. Though I don't particularly like being in bed."

"Well, if you stay in bed and rest, you'll get well faster and then you can start to do things like you used to."

"But I can't do anything about the military. I've been discharged and I can't do anything."

"Maybe you should start looking at other options. You know that if this investigation into the death of your brother goes sour, you may never be allowed to return to the military."

They were silent as the words sank in.

"I know, and what would be the point. Al's gone now and I'm back to normal so there's no point in continuing my research, but the only thing I strongly excel at is alchemy."

"Well at least you have some time to still figure out what you want to do. I would suggest just working on your recovery and then we can work on what you can do about your future. There are more options for using alchemy to help the people than being a member of the military."

"Did you just say we?" the younger asked in a mocking tone.

"…if you want my help. I'm not going to force my help on you, but if you want it…"

"Got it."

"For now, Ed, just enjoy living a semi-peaceful at home," the Colonel said as he rose to leave.

"Home…"

"What?"

"I just haven't had one in a while, so it's a bit weird, especially to think of your place as home."

"It's only a home if you want it to be."

Edward watched as the Colonel left the room. He thought about considering the Colonel's home his home. The young alchemist allowed a smirk to cross his face.

I live with a bastard, but who knows. Maybe I can think of this place as my home.