Roy simply stared with wide eyes as he tried to figure out how such a small body could eat so much food. Edward shoveled down pieces of waffles soaked in syrup, scarfed a whole bowl of chopped fruit, and devoured his order of eggs and toast, occasionally taking large sips from his glass of orange juice. He knew the kid had to be hungry, but this was just ridiculous. Was the kid even breathing? 10 short minutes after receiving his tableful of food, it was all gone. Ed leaned into the seat in satisfaction, then clapped his hands and touched the sides of each dish, leaving them spotless. He stacked the plates at the edge of the table, heaving a sigh. His eyelids drooped, and his eyes hazed over. Roy smirked, he knew it was only a matter of time before the kid would be sound asleep, and he figured he would be for the entire 5 hour train ride. Hawkeye, who was seated between Edward and the window, must have realized this as well, offering Roy a small smile as she leaned the sleeping child so that his head rest on her lap, before shrugging off her jacket and covering him up with it. Ed unconsciously burrowed into the new source of warmth, tucking his knees close and clutching the jacket in an automail hand. Roy couldn't help the smile it brought to his face. He silently wished he had brought Hughes along with him, knowing it would provide him with many pictures that would be useful for blackmail against the kid. Perhaps he would keep one in his wallet too, but no one had to know that. Roy was broken out of his thoughts when Hawkeye, professional mask back on, handed him a thick stack of papers in one hand and a pen in the other. The smile on his face dropped. Maybe this train ride will be longer than he thought.

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Roy had just finished swirling his signature onto the last document of the pile, hoping to finally be able to get some rest, when a voice came over the loudspeakers, letting them know they had arrived in Central. Roy grimaced, but packed away his stuff nonetheless. Fullmetal still lay fast asleep on Riza's lap, not having budged the entire trip.

"Sir," Riza called. "Should we wake him?" Roy frowned when he looked at the pale, bruised, exhausted face before him. He didn't have the heart to wake him up when he looked so peaceful. Roy swallowed his pride.

"No need, lieutenant. I'll have to carry him to headquarters anyway, so we might as well let him rest until we get there." It also leaves less room for protest from the stubborn brat, he thought to himself. Riza nodded in agreement. Roy crouched in front of the sleeping form, gently sitting him up and wrapping Ed's legs around his torso. Riza brought up Ed's arms to rest around Roy's neck, as he slowly stood up with his new cargo in tow. Edward shifted and lay his head in the crook of Roy's neck, murmuring unintelligibly under his breath. Roy made sure he had a good grip on the undersides of Ed's legs, before they set off in the direction of headquarters, much like they had this morning in Murin.

Roy tried to block out the states and confused whispers surrounding him. He hoped, for the sake of the kid's pride, that no one recognized him in his baggy attire and flowing hair. If the kid found out he had been seen in public, unconscious on his superior's back, he would blow a gasket, and Roy wasn't ready for the paperwork that would follow that.

Roy took a deep breath as he stood outside of Central Command. Riza gave him a sympathetic smile as they made their way up the stairs. The soldiers stationed by the doors gave him a firm salute as he approached, though he could see them biting their lips in attempts not to chuckle at the Almighty Flame Alchemist with a tiny kid on his back. He was also quite sure they hadn't recognized Fullmetal, as he then knew there would be no stopping the kerfuffle of gut-wrenching laughter that comes with seeing the most stubborn and rude kid you'll ever meet looking as harmless as a kitten on Roy's back. He scurried through the doors before they could realize.

The shocked gasps and murmuring only escalated as he walked through the halls of Central Command.

'Is that the Flame Alchemist?'

'Who's that kid on his back?'

'Oh my god, is that the Fullmetal Alchemist?'

'No way, that little blond kid with the red coat?'

'Oh god, he's adorable!'

Roy was glad the kid was asleep through all of the comments, he didn't want him to rip his stitches in a fit had he heard the 'adorable' or 'small' part. Roy powered through the motherly coos from female soldiers, and he ignored the snickering coming from the males. He nearly buckled in relief upon reaching his office door. Riza walked in first, earning a few hellos from the team. Roy followed suite.

"Hey lieutenant, where's the boss and- oh. My. God." Havoc stopped in his tracks and dropped the pen he was holding. The gape on his face quickly transformed into an ear to ear smile. The entire team followed Havoc's lead and soon they were all crowded around him and Edward. "Is that the chief?" Havoc giggled. "Who knew the brat could look so innocent!" Riza quickly shooed them away, but even she couldn't help the small grin on her face. Roy then hobbled to one of the couches in the middle of the room, and gently set Ed down on it, picking up his feet and laying them on the couch. Roy then lifted the casted hand that lay limp off of the side of the couch, and gingerly crossed it over Ed's chest, being mindful of the stitches that ran down it. The whole team had been watching the whole time, grins quickly turning into looks of concern.

"Damn, what happened to him? He looks like crap." Roy looked up to see Havoc, studying the bruises and stitches cluttering the kids face.

"If you think he looks like crap now then you don't want to see what's under the sweater." Roy responded simply, nodding as Riza handed him a blanket.

"What do you mean? Is he okay?" Called a nervous-looking Fuery. Roy lay the blanket over Ed, who didn't stir. Roy gave them all a sad smile.

"He'll be okay, but he's pretty beaten up." Roy sat down on the couch opposite to Ed. "Let's see... 44 stitches for cuts on his chest, arm, and head, 3 broken ribs, 2 broken fingers, 3 large burns, nearing on 3rd degree, and a moderate concussion, not to mention he's covered in bruises."

Havoc looked pissed, Fuery looked like he might be sick, Breda looked shocked, and even Falman paled a bit upon hearing the extent of his injuries.

"Son of a bitch... That lieutenant colonel did this too him?" Asked Havoc, a dangerous edge to his voice. Roy nodded solemnly. "Damn..." The office entered an anxious silence.

"He'll be okay, but he's in a lot of pain. He needs rest. So, naturally, if any of you wake him, you're dead." Roy added, followed by a flurry of quiet 'yes sirs.' "I'm going to call Alphonse and Hughes. Keep on eye on him." They all nodded as Roy whisked himself into his office and closed the door behind him. He let out a deep sigh. Ed was okay. He was safe. He was home. Not unscathed, but home nonetheless.