Pairing: Roy/Ed; slightly one-sided
Notes: Written for the theme Like? (As in Love?) of the 45 Roy/Ed themes at Touka Koukan. Thanks to DevilsDevotion (from LJ) and AnimeMonster for betaing.
Warnings/Spoilers: None
"Shit..." Ed tried to veil his curses as best he could, trying to prevent from 'waking' his brother. "I can't believe this happened again..." He glanced over at Alphonse, seeing that the eye sockets in the armor were still dimmed, he began to pull the sheet off of the mattress.
Ed quickly balled the cloth under his arm, trying to map out a way to get to the door without causing too much noise. He tapped one of the books he had left out the night before, trying to figure out why he hadn't taken his brother's advice in cleaning up before going to bed. Too late to worry about that now... Curses were bit back as he stubbed his toe on a particularly large book he hadn't noticed. Ed glared at it momentarily before attempting passage again.
He was able to make it through the mess with minor difficulties, and a note to himself to listen to Al next time. Ed slid between the door and the wall, not willing to risk opening it up enough to have it creak, and hurried into the dorm hallway. He let out a sigh of relief when he saw it empty, glad no one would have to see his embarrassment.
In a few moments he hurriedly rounded the corner to the military laundry mats, stopping suddenly as he tried to make out a figure leaning just beyond the door way against the washer.
He froze completely when he noticed it was Roy, this wasn't exactly the best circumstances to see him in. Ed glanced from his sheets to the Colonel, deciding if it was worth being inevitably questioned over this. He decided it was at least better than risking having his brother question the sheets.
Ed walked resolutely into past the Colonel and began grabbing the detergent out of the cabinets above the dryer, which seemed to currently contain Roy's clothes. Roy watched Edward warily but didn't comment. He looked like he hadn't had a chance to sleep yet...
"You done using the washer?"
Roy nodded, moving away from the machine and going to stand a few feet away.
"What brings you here so late, Fullmetal?"
"...Couldn't sleep so decided to get some laundry done."
"Ah." The Colonel eyed the sheets, knowing that what Ed had said was only half true. The washer started and Edward turned around to face the older man.
"And you're here because?"
"Same reason you are Fullmetal, I had some laundry to do."
"You couldn't sleep, either?"
"Quite the contrary. Lieutenant Hawkeye needed me to finish up some paperwork before I left the office."
"Heh, meaning you waited till the last moment to do anything. Lazy bastard..."
Roy gave off his trademark smirk, eyeing the washer thoughtfully. "Fullmetal... Are you willing to tell me why you needed to wash your sheets in the middle of the night?"
"It's none of your business!" Ed glared and snarled somewhat in response, when the dryer stopped tumbling.
Roy walked over to it, pulling his clothes out and promptly folding the few pieces he had. The only noise in the room for a while was the rustling of clothing as it was pulled from the dryer and folded. Ed looked distastefully at the clean cut way Roy folded the material, opting to instead watch the washer bounce slightly as it worked.
Soon, Roy was ready to leave, carrying his apparel at his side. He nodded briskly at Edward before walking out. Ed's gaze followed him as he cursed his name silently. First he bothers me in my dreams and then he has to bother me when I wake up... "Bastard..." was the only thing Roy heard before getting completely out of ear-shot, and the only curse Ed let leave the safe confines of his mind.
