That's all the sign on hanging over the mess hall bar said. Ed didn't like it. But then, he distrusted any new food.
Roy was in line in front of him, and took a soup that had an odd red color, not blood but not healthy, and smelled awful. "What's wrong, Fullmetal? You kept complaining how hungry you were while giving your report."
"Shut up, Colonel."
Roy smiled. "Don't tell me you're passing up on this? It's very healthy, they imported it from some southern country."
"I'm not hungry anymore." A flat-out lie. Ed thought his jacket would taste pretty good at this point... but not that bile on Roy's tray.
Roy reached over and flicked the boy's antennae, taking a roll and a glass of milk. "Don't say that so loudly, there are fangirls in this military that would love to misconstrue that."
Ed's face went red, then pale white, and he didn't even bother swatting away the Colonel's arm. "In any case, I refuse to eat that.. stuff." He said, gesturing to the bowl. He took a stack of rolls and a cup of fruit juice, following his superior to a table. Al wasn't a member of the military, so he couldn't join him for lunch, and they needed to discuss the last mission anyway.
They seated themselves, and Roy began eating the soup eagerly, dipping his roll into it on occasion. "It's really tasty, rolls don't fill you up, but this stuff warms you from the inside." He said cheerfully. He held the bowl out to the younger man. "Come on, you gotta try this at least once."
Ed looked away and frowned. "I don't have to try anything."
Roy smirked. "It might make you grow taller."
The magic words.. Ed bit back an irate fit about his height, and sighed heavily. "Fine, fine..." he muttered, taking Roy's spoon and slurping up the reddish soup. It didn't taste too bad, so he took several gulps, nearly drinking out of the bowl.
And then the fire hit.
Roy pushed his tray out of the way and rested his head on his hand, laughing hysterically at the boy before him, who had suddenly turned a very strange shade of red, coughed up soup on the table, grabbed his throat, and started yelling hoarsely, something about people trying to kill him. Other military personnel looked over in curiousity, not really having any idea what was going on, some feeling sorry for Edward.
Roy gasped, his arm around his aching ribcage, and held up a glass of milk. "Fullmetal.. I hate to say it, but this is the only thing that'll stop that.."
Ed clawed at the table, feeling burning in his chest and stomach as well as his throat and mouth. "YOU TRICKED ME YOU BASTARD." he screamed, chugging his fruit juice.
The Colonel pushed the glass over to Ed, trying to contain himself. "Seriously, it's oil-based, that juice won't do it."
Ed glared at him, then grabbed the glass and ran out of the mess hall. Roy took the opporturnity to go back into fits of laughter, as Hughes came over. "What got into him?"
"Nothing.. nothing.. Ed hates spicy food." Roy said, between giggles.
The rest of the afternoon was mostly quiet, except for the occasional interrogation by Hawkeye, who had been in the restrooms when Ed had barged in, chugged a full glass of milk, then vomitted it in the nearest empty stall. Roy feigned innocence, knowing he could get away with it for now, considering Hughes had seen Al helping Ed off the premises to a restaurant.
After that, though, Ed made sure to call ahead before arriving in Central to hear the week's meal schedule. Just in case.