Planning for a Better Future
Chapter Ten
The Second Alchemist
Rented Room
When Roy woke in the morning, Edward was already there sitting at the small table near the door. Roy stared at him in confusion for a moment before remembering that he had decided to send for his son to help with the search and set up. He hadn't thought he had told Severus his intent thought clearly, he had. He shifted slightly, drawing Edward's attention.
Edward was dressed simply in white shirt and tan slacks instead of his uniform. His hair was currently loose around his shoulders and looked tired as if he had only recently woken himself. Ed smiled in his direction before pulling himself to his feet and walking over to the bed with a mug in his hand. "I brought coffee. Heard yesterday as rough on you." He said quietly.
Roy sat up and gratefully took the mug, before nearly spitting the drink back out in surprise. He swallowed quickly, glaring up at the boy. "How much sugar did you add to this?"
"Relax. I have enough experience with alchemic exhaustion. Sugar helps. A lot." Edward said with a smirk.
"Don't try to claim that's why you take your coffee impossibly sweet. You drink it like that when you're at a desk all day!" Roy grumbled though he went back to the coffee.
"It would look bad if the Lt. Fuhrer napped in his office every day. I have four kids, and only one of them consistently sleeps through the night, I need caffeine." Ed said with a wave. "I never stop working on arrays, even at my desk too. You know that."
"I think you're physically incapable of not working on an array." Roy agreed. "This much sugar is bad for you, remember the parenting books."
"That's for kids. I'm not a kid now."
"You're my kid. It counts."
"…That's not how aging works."
"Are you arguing with your father or your Fuhrer?"
"Both. They're both idiots." Ed said with a laugh. "I've been listening to you tell me for the better part of a decade not to overtax myself. Not to let the array drain me as if I didn't learn that when I was a toddler. Then I get here and find you like this. Hypocrite."
"I'm your father, I'm allowed to be a hypocrite."
"Pssh. So do we have another location or are we waiting to hear from the old man?" Ed asked as he sat back down at the table and began to braid his hair.
"We have a location. I don't want you doing anything. You're here to help make the crater and to act as a spotter. I WILL be the one who does the hard part." Roy said.
"You aren't doing shit until you've slept more and eaten. Expert at alchemic exhaustion remember?" Ed said as he rolled his eyes. "When you recovered, we will go to take care of the next piece. Now rest."
Roy wanted to argue but even with the coffee and sugar thrumming through his veins he was already close to falling back to sleep. Severus returned then even as Roy's eyes grew heavy with a large bag full of pastries.
"Is he sleeping?" Severus asked in a near whisper.
"No, he's not." Roy responded before Ed could say anything. "Please tell me not everything in that bag is over sweetened as well."
"Not at all. There is a nice selection." Severus said. "We wanted you to be comfortable until I return to have you help us with the destruction."
"I am not staying behind while you rush into danger." Roy said. "This is my mission."
"Nope." Ed said stubbornly.
"Edward…" Roy began with a tired sigh.
"You nearly hospitalized yourself with that stunt yesterday. You aren't young anymore, so you are going to let us handle this and come get you when we need you."
"I'm not old!"
"I didn't say you were, I said you weren't young. Besides, you're a grandfather that makes you old."
"I'm coming with you."
"Nope. You're staying here and sleeping, or I'll send Severus to get Ji Mu." Edward said as he tucked the blankets around Roy and walked back to the table.
Severus listened to the pair with humor. One thing he had learned early on in their meetings was that these two tend to tease each other, but it is not serious. Roy glared at Edward, but the threat of his wife seemed to have settled the matter.
He had noticed both men seemed to fear angering the woman, though she did not seem exceptionally dangerous to Severus. He mused that it was likely out of respect for her rather than true fear that they reacted like this over her. Edward had a similar attitude toward his own wife.
Then again…Severus knew from personal experience that being sweet and kind didn't necessarily make anyone less frightening. Lily Evans was a good example of this. She was the kindest person he had ever known and she was the worst person to anger. She would and could hex you with a smile and go about her day as if nothing had happened. Perhaps their wives had more in common with her than he noticed.
Once the three men had eaten and Ed glared his father back into bed, they decided it was time to head out to the site Dumbledore had listed. Dumbledore was luckily not intending to follow them this time to Edward's relief.
His feelings toward the older wizard were not subtle. Dumbledore had also done very little to make inroads with the young man. Severus was long resigned to acting as the go between for them. Hopefully, once the boy was old enough for school this situation would have been resolved. Though Severus also acknowledged the possibility that the boy would not attend Hogwarts at all, which would lead to further issues.
With a shrug to himself Severus created the port key they would be using to get as close as possible, pushing aside his concerns for now. Roy watched them disappear before he sat back up with a sigh. Honestly, he doubted he would sleep anymore until he was certain Edward had returned safely. It would have been better for his nerves to have been allowed to join them.
He visited the bathroom and ate another muffin before returning to the bed. He would at least attempt to sleep because Edward was right that he had overtaxed himself yesterday. He also knew that the next few days should be just as hard. Provided they kept finding the pieces, he would need all the energy that he could muster.