A/N: Got this little plotbunny off of the puzzles on Gaia. Damn things. XP
As always, thanks to Mint Pizza Queen for being my beta.
Salvation
He felt sick. So sick. He had been shaking all day, his head was pounding, and he felt that he would throw up at any second. He thought he would die. But he was able to keep his mask on, that impenetrable barrier. No need to look weak in front of the men.
Foolishly, he declined his normal ride home from Hawkeye, claiming that he only needed fresh air. He stumbled out of the building and into the street, wincing as the cold air hit him like a brick wall. He felt so hot… he was burning alive.
He stopped, resting against a building that he could've sworn had not been there thirty seconds ago. It felt so good to not have to support his weight… He tried to move forward, but only ended up stumbling over his own feet. He waited dumbly for his body to hit the pavement, but it never came. Instead, he found himself caught by smaller hands, one cold, one warm. "Stupid bastard," he heard. "You shouldn't have even gone to work today. Damn, you look like shit." He knew that voice… just not at that moment… and it was dark… "Come on. Let's get you off the streets. You're a menace." And just like that, his arm was slung over the smaller person's shoulders, and it was easier to walk. He didn't know where they were going. He didn't care.
Not long after, he was staggering over the threshold of what seemed to be a military dorm. He was dumped somewhat gently onto a bed, didn't know whose. The other person stalked off, grumbling something about, "Gonna have a hell of a time trying to tell Al why you're here, and in my bed, no less…" He heard the sound of a faucet run.
He remembered now. "Ed…" The faucet stopped. "Why… are you doing this… for me?"
He heard uneven footsteps before part of the mattress sunk as Ed sat next to him. He heard hesitation in the blonde's voice as he said, "Because, bastard… You saved me once. Now it's my turn." A cool rag was carefully placed on his forehead, and he felt a little better for it.
"Thanks… Ed…" he murmured weakly.
Fullmetal snorted softly. "Shut up and sleep."
So he did.