Warnings: Implied battlescene. Roy and Ed genfic. Okay, that last's not a warning, really.. unless you're a yaoi fan.
Battlefield Tactics
The shudders were finally following the retching into stillness when the jacket landed on his shoulders. The unexpected warmth reminded his body that it was freezing and started up the shuddering again. He was sure if that helped his mood or made it worse.
The hand that landed firmly - was it with censure or support? he couldn't tell - on his shoulder confirmed his finder's identity.
"Fuck you, Mustang."
"You are not old enough, pretty enough, or, frankly, female enough for that, Fullmetal. Can you stand?"
"Is that an order, sir?" His only response was a hand held in front of his face. He considered it, checking carefully for any possible trickery and pondering the rough probability of his being able to make it to his feet on his own before taking the hand. "It's been a bad day."
There, that was almost an apology.
"I know. You did a good job, though."
If only it weren't a crime to attack your commanding officer. "A good job! How many families lost a father today because of me?"
"That's true, Fullmetal. But-"
Oh, how he hated that look.
"-how many Amestran families still have fathers tonight because of you?"
He was in no mood for logic tonight. "Shut up, Mustang. I don't want to hear it... Not tonight."
"Ah yes, I suppose not."
A pair of hands on his shoulders turned him around and guided him back toward the almost-comforting camp lights. It didn't occur to him and wouldn't until much later that for all the lights to be lit, he must have been missing, sitting there retching on a battlefield where too many people his age had fought and died, for quite a while and that it might be a little unusual for the officer in charge of an entire forward camp to go looking for a single unaccounted for soldier.
He never meant for Mustang to hear when he muttered, "I don't know if I can do this much longer," but Mustang was known for being contrary.
"You won't have to." Equally quiet, whether a promise or a reminder, neither knew, but it was enough.