Title: Sharpest Cut
Author: S J Smith
Rating: K
Summary: Roy wasn't expecting KP duty in Resembool.
Disclaimer: I'm just playing paper dolls here.
Peeling potatoes was not a task Roy expected to do outside of KP. Still, here he was, dumping peeled potatoes in a bucket of water. The smell of beans and ham drifted by, teasing his nose. The scent reminded him that his hard work helped feed the people in the Rockbell house, even if he wasn't sure he should be here.
Prickles of doubt swarmed over him, the distraction making the paring knife slip and cut his thumb. Roy popped it into his mouth, sucking at the wound, the half-peeled potato rolling across the ground.
"You dropped something." Hawkeye's voice caught his attention, and he glanced toward her out of the corner of his eye.
"Cut myself," he grumbled around his thumb, taking it out and squinting at it. The cut seeped blood, and he thought it was fitting that he'd bleed out in front of this house, after causing so much misery to its inhabitants.
Hawkeye took his hand, twisting his wrist to survey the wound, ignoring his whine. "You're such a baby," she said dismissively. "It's barely bleeding."
"That doesn't stop it from hurting." Unable to meet her eyes, Roy reached for the potato. The grass kept it relatively clean, and he was sure the Rockbell women would wash the tubers before whatever the next step was.
"Get up, Corporal," Hawkeye said.
"What?"
"Get up. We're going for a walk."
"But I'm peeling potatoes," Roy protested, even though walking sounded like a good idea, especially if there were trees shading their path, because he was sweating like a pig.
"The potatoes will keep."
Hawkeye wasn't teasing him, was she? Roy peered up at her. "All right," he said, tossing the potato back in the pail, and putting the paring knife on the stool. "Let's walk, Captain."