They moved in concert, like a well-oiled machine. Roy would take Colt, Ed would take Trisha, and both children would be scrubbed within an inch of their lives.
At least, that was how it was supposed to go.
The two Alchemists had an unfortunate habit of underestimating their children's collective wiliness. And Roy never remembered that Trish aimed low.
As soon as Roy had his hands on Colt, there was the golden, dirt encrusted blur that was the eldest Elric daughter, between his legs, and her fist—
"Eeeghaaah!" Roy lost his grip on Colt, who kicked him in the shin before following his partner in crime. They made a filthy beeline for the trees.
Ed knew if they got there, the pair wouldn't return until well after nightfall, and would no doubt be even filthier than they were now. So he raised a wall out of the ground, deftly cutting off their escape. Colt flung a rock (where had he gotten that?) with devastating accuracy at Ed's face, squashing the man's nose.
"Bassard!" Ed yelped.
"The same could be said for your little terror…" Roy wheezed. "They're…" he pointed towards the river, where their errant offspring were headed.
"Drown 'em both." Ed growled.
"Now, while I'm sure Winry wont miss one from the litter, Riza would be most upset with me if I didn't bring Colt back. They're getting away." Roy took off (wincing with each step) after the pair, and Ed was right behind them.
Trish and Colt were well aware of this fact. And they knew exactly where they were going.
They stopped at the end of a steep embankment and waited. It wasn't a long wait. The fathers came charging in, only to have their offspring dart in two different directions…
And to have the embankment beneath their feet crumble and send them both tumbling into the mud below.
Colt and Trish were long gone before Roy and Ed got back up.
(break)(break)(break)
"Where did you two disappear to?" Winry asked, eyeing to two mud encrusted men as they approached. "Colt and Trisha have been back for ages! They even finished their baths!"
Ed and Roy peered around the mechanic and into the kitchen, where the two slightly damp but clean children sat, gobbling cookies. Cold waved to them, his smile wide.
"You can't come in like that! Use the outside spigot! I swear, you two are worse than the children!"