Sorry about the disappointing chapter length last time, I hope this one's better : )
Quite a bit of dialogue, hope you don't mind,
Enjoy!
"Are you sure?"
"Very sure"
"We could-"
"No"
"But-"
"For the last time Ed, we are meeting them at the platform whether you like it or not" Roy sighed. The two alchemists had been cooped up in the small carriage for some time now. How long had it been? An hour? Two?
The heat was becoming unbearable, getting worse as they got closer to central. Roy sincerely hoped there wasn't a heat wave going on. The thought of a grouchy Edward didn't thrill him the slightest.
The blonde in question had surrendered. He didn't have the energy to argue anymore. His shirt was open, sleeves rolled to his elbows, and hair remained loose. He would have tied it up, but that took far too much effort. Besides, it suited him better anyway. Edward couldn't have been happier as the train grinded to a halt, he honestly thought if he'd stayed cooped up a minute longer he would've be a puddle on the floor.
Roy stood, watching the teen still lifelessly sunk in his seat, making no intentions of moving. The heat really took its toll on the young alchemist, he wondered if he was ok.
"Ed?" There was a groan.
"Come on Edo, we need to get going"
The blonde did his best to sit up straight; he hoisted himself to his feet and leaned against the cool glass tiredly. Swinging his case over one shoulder, Ed dragged himself to the platform, finally making it back to central in one piece. As tempting as it was to say "Its good to be home", the teen didn't want to lie to himself. He wondered if he would ever be able to call a place home.
Roy turned, feeling a hand on his shoulder. Brushing it off, he stepped forward, only to find it pull him back again.
"Don't move"
"Ed?"
"Just give me a minute, please"
"Colonel, Chief! It been a while, I almost forgot what you looked like!"
Ed's smile soon dropped. Standing beside Havoc, as serious as always, was Hawkeye. He could almost feel her eyes on him, scanning him from head to toe.
"Your back sooner than I expected, I take it you completed the mission?" There was an awkward silence. Risa glared, hand on her hip. "You'll have to do it eventually"
"Get someone else to do the dirty work" Ed spat exhaustedly.
"Dirty work?" Risa raised an eyebrow.
"It's alright for you guys to complain, with your comfy office jobs, while I get sent half way round the world and blown to pieces!"
"Come on chief, we all get our fair-"
"Fair?! When was the last time you guys had a mission?" Silence. Risa stepped forward.
"Edward, now really isn't the time-"
"Now's the perfect time! You want to fix the homonculus problem? Get some other idiot else to do it"
"But you have the most experience in these matters-"
"Forget it! I'm having a holiday!"
"Oh really?" Roy raised an eyebrow, "Do you think you deserve one?"
"You know I deserve one" Ed glared, "Or do you need persuading?"
"FullMetal, don't threaten the Colonel" Hawkeye said sternly. Ed laughed tiredly, holding his side.
"Oh I wasn't threatening him" he grinned, "quite the opposite actually"
"Isn't it time we got going?" Havoc reminded them, he was sure the two would rather go home than stick around arguing all day. Leading them back to the car Havoc smiled, catching the sight of Ed's rare choice of hair.
"Nice hair chief" he grinned, flicking the ash from his cigarette.
"Thanks... I think..."
Roy began to twirl a strand of hair with his fingers, tugging playfully.
"Ow!" "Stop you moron! Or I'll strangle you with it!"
"Now that defiantly was a threat" Roy grinned.
Ed sighed as he collapsed into the leather seat that scorched his back angrily through his thin shirt. He hissed, and lazily rested his cheek against the cool window, earning himself a share from Hawkeye.
"What?"
"You know 'what' FullMetal"
He groaned "Leave me alone"
"Edward"
Ed growled as Havoc and Roy looked on sheepishly. They knew how dangerous both the blondes could be in a foul mood. The thought of even a short trip in the car was not worth thinking about. Who knew what could happen.
"Back five minutes and your already making a scene" Roy smirked, leaning on the teens shoulder. "Now calm down before you make yourself ill"
"Yes mother" the Colonel ruffled the blonde's hair, the teen fidgeted from the touch. Havoc turned in his seat as Hawkeye drove on, flicking ash out of the window.
"I take it you guys are going home right?"
"Is that a joke? Course we are!" Ed ignored the tutting Jean, "So would you if you were in my shoes!" The teen's breath began to mist on the window, a thin layer of sweat beginning to pour from his pores. The heat definitely wasn't improving his mood, as were the tight bandages restricting his airways. He pulled at the material, only to find fingers caught by a glaring Roy.
"No touching"
"But-"
"No"
"But it's too tight!"
"That'll be the least of your worries if it gets infected, now stop touching it"
"Got yourself in a bit of a scrape huh chief?" Ed's eyes trailed from Jean.
"Yeah, something like that..." Roy caught the blonde's fingers again.
"And you'll be in an even bigger scrape if Winry has to fix you again, so stop touching!" The teen fussed against the Colonels grip, growling in irritation.
"If you don't stop I'll cuff you" Ed leaned over, his lips hovering over Roy's ear. He whispered just loud enough for the raven haired man to hear,
"Who says I wouldn't like that?"
"Edward, Roy" Hawkeye said slowly. "I know this is very hard for both of you, but could you please refrain from touching each other in the back of my car?"
"Aww, like an old married couple" Havoc grinned. Roy turned sharply, raising an eyebrow at Jean.
"Did you just imply I was old?"
Havoc grimaced. Wonderful, he'd just hit a nerve. "I... Urmm.. Well..."
"Chill pops, he was just joking" Ed grinned proudly, "Don't get stressed about it, you might strain a muscle"
"Oh I'll teach you about strenuous activity" Roy muttered to himself softly.
"And another thing" Edward looked to his hand, "Could you let go of me?" he tugged at his wrist, "Your making me hot"
"I don't even want to imagine what's going on back there" Jean laughed.
"Shut up!" the two alchemists yelled in sync, both blushing embarrassedly.
"Aww, did I just hit a nerve?"
Ed crossed his arms stubbornly, narrowing his eyes. "Would you like me to show you what that feels like?"
"Edward, I know this is hard for you, but could you not threaten my staff?" Roy leaned on the blonde, feeling the heat from his skin burn through his sleeves. He placed the back of his hand of the teens scorching forehead, wincing from the touch.
"You're calling in sick tomorrow"
"What are you doing?" he said, peeling the Colonels hand from his head.
"You're coming down with something"
"Yeah? And my names Wendy"
"I was being serious Edward"
"So was I"
"For the last time, could you please keep the noise down back there, I'M TRYING TO DRIVE!"
Silence. Hawkeye could always manage to silence a situation; she was a woman no one wanted to mess with. Sometimes, her colleagues found her more threatening than the pistols tucked in her pocket. Compared to them, Risa Hawkeye was the equivalent to hell.
Edward however, couldn't see what all the fuss was about. After all, the great FullMetal alchemist didn't batter an eyelid at the thought of a woman and a mere pistol. He'd faced much more viscous things. Speaking of viscous, the seat belt began to dig at his stitches painfully. He had several stitches and staples in his back, barely noticeable, but inevitably they would scar. Ed wondered how long it would take until he was a walking scar, not that they bothered him of course, just simply another to add to the collection.
The car grinded to a halt, jerking Edward in his seat. The blonde glared at a smug looking Hawkeye.
"Could you be more gentle next time?!"
"Aww, poor Edo" Havoc mocked, lighting yet another cigarette.
"Would you like me to dispose of that for you? I'm sure it would fit nicely up your-"
"OK that's enough for one day" Roy hooked his fingers under the blondes chin as Ed grabbed for the door handle. "I'm picking you up tomorrow"
"What! I thought I was calling in sick! What about my holiday!"
"That will be discussed in the morning, now go take a shower or something" he smirked, giving the blonde a small peck on the cheek. Clambering out of the car, Ed looked back to the man tugging on his shirt. "Just remember, don't do anything...stupid"
Havoc turned to Hawkeye, looking at the smoke in his hand in surprise.
"I don't know what they put in these things... but I think I'm hallucinating"
There will be much less speech next time (hopefully) :)
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See you next chapter!