Hello readers! This is just a fun little one shot I wrote because of a pin I saw on Pinterest. This is simply some parental!RoyEd and anyone who ships these two...So help me I'll chuck you out the window. No hard feelings. Why I rated it T...I'm not entirely sure. K just didn't sound right to me. So have fun reading! Oh, and before you continue,
I DO NOT OWN FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST OR ANY OF THE CHARACTERS!
Edward ran up the steps of Central HQ, clutching a pale yellow folder bulging with papers held together by a single paperclip. His long ebony hair splayed out behind him, having been dyed said particular color when his latest mission required him to go undercover. However, what he didn't account for, was the dye staining his golden hair and leaving the young alchemist wondering if it would ever wash out.
Due to lack of time and sleep, Edward didn't get much done that morning besides getting dressed and donning his signature coat. He left his hair down, not bothering to brush it nor pull it up.
Normally, he would have taken any opportunity to waste his superiors time. But unfortunately, the colonel had threatened to assign him to jobs simply dealing with petty thievery instead of ones including possible leads on the philosopher's stone. Edward knew his level of strength and intelligence was a total waste on such a task. It seems Mustang didn't share his opinion.
As he walked through the halls of the HQ he couldn't help but notice the prying eyes of his fellow soldiers, surprise written on their features. One of them whispered to his associate, jabbing a finger in Edwards' direction. The teen silently growled, suddenly tempted to march over and give the man a piece of his mind. However, he had no time seeing as he would be counted late in just a few minutes. After quietly promising to return and kick the man's arse, he turned the corner of the hall and continued on his way, all the while muttering under his breath.
Edward caught sight of 1st lieutenant Riza Hawkeye, walking down the hall opposite of him. She spotted him quickly, stopping as Ed neared her.
"Major Elric. The colonel has been expecting you," Riza spoke, her voice stern and emotionless as usual. Edward was slightly taken back, Riza having been the only person he had encountered that didn't mention his hair color in any way. But he knew he should have expected as much. Hawkeye was not one to make small talk, especially during work.
"Yeah, I know. Hope the jerk hasn't drowned in paperwork before i've even gotten the chance to speak with him," Edward replied casually, glad the topic wasn't about his new look for a change.
"You should be getting a move on now Edward. You can't be late this time," Riza informed him, walking past him and down the hall. Ed watched her leave, sighing.
Of course, he couldn't make it there without one more interruption by none other than Havoc. The blond smiled when he caught sight of Edward, immediately walking over to him.
"Hey chief! What's up with the new hair?" Havoc asked. Edward frowned slightly. He somehow knew this would happen…
"Can't explain Havoc! I'm gonna be late if i don't get going!" Edward pushed past a confused Havoc, running down the hall.
Once Edward made it to the large polished oak wood door he wasted no time in kicking said door open, as he had done everyday for the past year since he joined the military.
Mustang inwardly sighed at the sound of his door being kicked open, knowing exactly who was to blame should it ever fly off its hinges and hit someone square in the face. As well as who's paycheck would be damaged dearly because of it.
He didn't bother looking up as Edward marched over to his desk, slamming down his folder with an automail hand in front of the man. Mustang slid his other paperwork to the side, picking up the folder.
"Fullmetal. Glad to see we could make it on time tod-" Mustang halted mid-sentence, just now catching a glimpse of his subordinate's ebony hair. The kid looked irritated beyond belief, his long flowing hair falling limp across his shoulders. The slight bags under his bright golden eyes showed obvious evidence of fatigue, most likely from returning to his dorm late.
Edward growled slightly as he watched Mustang look him over, his expression nearly unreadable. Ed managed to catch a hint of curiosity spark in his superior's onyx eyes, quickly replaced with a cold and calculating expression.
"Stop looking at me like that! Just read the dang reports so I can get back to my dorm already!" Edward seethed, slumping down on one of the couches and propping his chin up with one hand in boredom.
Mustang glanced once more at his subordinate before flipping through Edwards reports. After attempting to focus on the papers currently in front of him for a few minutes he set the folder down with an approving hmph, when in reality he couldn't read past the nagging question residing in the back of his mind. Edward glanced up at the Man.
"Fullmetal, why have you changed the color of your hair?" Mustang asked, eyeing Edward. Ed sat up, glaring at Mustang and brushing his fallen bangs aside.
"Why should I tell you? It's in the report anyway!" Edward growled, folding his arms. Mustang leaned forwards in his chair, onyx eyes meeting gold.
"Your reports are as vague as a child's attempt to write a history report. But it seems I should expect as such from one," Mustang replied coolly.
"Hey! Maybe you should get some glasses old man! I'm no child and clearly, your years are finally catching up with you!" Edward sneered. Mustang scoffed.
"I'm merely curious, Fullmetal. What rights do you have to lash out at me?" The man sneered back, folding his arms. The two alchemists exchanged glares, each waiting for the other to cave. Unfortunately, both were incredibly stubborn. Edward knew it would be a while before Mustang gave in and dropped the topic, resulting in his decision to tell the man so he could get back to his dorm already.
"Fine! If you're so desperate to stick your nose in other people's business I might as well tell you! Some guys put a bounty on my head so I went undercover, part of my disguise requiring black hair," Edward grumbled, slumping back down in his seat once again. Mustang smirked victoriously before yet another question crossed his mind.
"Did you ever catch the men? If so, why is your hair still black?" The older alchemist inquired. Edward sighed in frustration. Why did the idiot ask so many questions!?
"For your information, I did catch the culprits," Edward stated. Mustang sat quietly, waiting for the blonde...no, ebony...to answer his second question. The kid simply stared back at him, not willing to cave so easily this time.
He wasn't going to tell Mustang the reason without a fight, convinced the man would never let him live it down.
Their staring contest was soon cut short at the sound of the office door closing behind someone. Both boys glanced in the direction of the door, finding Hawkeye.
"Back so soon lieutenant?" Mustang asked, his voice returning to its usual commanding tone. Yet, it was slightly off when in Hawkeye's presence. He must have realized he could have dismissed Edward a few minutes ago and returned to filling out paperwork instead of trying to pry some answers out of the kid. Thankfully, Hawkeye shook her head.
"I'm here to give something to Edward," The woman responded, walking over to Edward and handing him a hair brush, a red hair tie wrapped around the handle. Ed gladly accepted the brush, smiling.
"Thanks Hawkeye!" Edward exclaimed, realizing he hadn't brushed it that morning despite the fact that its color had become the main topic.
"You're welcome Edward," Hawkeye replied, turning and making her way back to the door. Much to Mustangs dismay, she stopped and glanced behind her. "Colonel, I ask you to return to filling out paperwork if you are done reading Edward's reports,".
Mustang nodded. "I..will lieutenant. I am simply asking Fullmetal here a few questions," The man defended himself, glancing over at Ed.
Hawkeye, in no mood to speak with the stubborn man, opened the office door and left, closing it quietly behind her. Mustang sighed in silent relief, glad he managed to escape without a bullet through his head...for now.
Edward rolled his eyes, muttering something under his breath. He stood up and took off his coat so he didn't have to bother with his hood well brushing his hair, draping it over the couch. Due to his right hand being metal, he had no choice but to brush his hair with his non dominant hand. He'd gotten pretty good at it in recent months, but still had some trouble occasionally. He took the hair tie off the handle, holding it between his teeth for later use.
Mustang watched the kid struggle a bit, having the misfortune of both long hair, and a non-dominant hand. He sighed after a moment, standing up and making his way around his desk. He held out his hand to Edward.
"Give me the brush," The man demanded, Edward glancing up at him in surprise.
"What?" The kid muttered around the hair tie in his mouth.
"You heard what I said Fullmetal,".
"Since when do you know anything about hair?"
"When you try to make someone like Havoc look presentable, you learn a thing or two," Mustang replied. Edward gave him a skeptical look, raising one eyebrow. However, he was surprised when the kid surrendered the brush, muttering something about a stupid colonel.
Mustang accepted the brush, this time holding back a smirk in fear that the kid would abandon all common sense and punch him with his automail fist. Yes, it had happened before. But he knew he wouldn't have been so lucky as to dodge the hit this time around.
Mustang waited, staring at Edward. The kid seemed to be confused as to what he wanted but soon catched on. He growled, turning his back to Mustang and folding his arms.
"If you tug on my hair in any way I won't hesitate to throw you out the window," Edward warned, glaring at the floor as if it offended it.
"Have a little faith Fullmetal," Mustang sighed, stepping forwards and running the brush through Edward's long hair. The kid immediately tensed, visibly enough that Mustang could see it.
"I have a little faith in you when you finally ask Hawkeye out," Edward responded. He felt a wave of triumph when the man fell silent. Ed soon fell silent as well, finding the feeling of someone else brushing his hair rather...calming.
The two alchemists stayed quiet, Edward subconsciously shutting his eyes. Mustang continued to brush his subordinates ebony hair, occasionally carding one through the strands to make sure no tangles remained. After a little bit Mustang stepped back, admiring his work. The boy's hair no longer appeared so messy, now strait and barring a smooth, almost silky feeling to it.
Edward instantly missed the feeling but shrugged it off, reaching up and braiding his hair. Holding the end of the braid with one hand, he grabbed the hair tie out of his mouth and tied it off. He turned around, looking up at Mustang.
"Better?" The Man asked, leaning forwards slightly.
"Yeah..Thanks i guess," Edward grumbled quietly.
"Welcome shrimp," Mustang replied, smiling.
"WHO ARE YOU CALLING A PIPSQUEAK MIDGET SO SMALL HE WOULD BE CRUSHED BY A SINGLE SNOWFLAKE YOU OLD MAN!?" Edward screeched, seething with rage.
"You, of course," Mustang responded nonchalantly. At this point the teen was growling much like a rabid dog, appearing to be ready to lunge forwards and strike at any given moment.
The man merely laughed, reaching forwards and ruffling the teens hair. Edward immediately jumped back, trying his best to smooth out his now crooked antena.
"Hey! Stop messing up what you just combed out!" Edward exclaimed, clearly very annoyed that Mustang messed with his anena.
"So..I did you a favor. Now will you tell me why it's still black?" Mustang inquired, turning and setting the brush down on his desk with a quiet clack. At first, Edwards' immediate instinct was to simply attempt to drop the topic. However, the man did deserve to know something...
"Iactidentallystaineditblack," Edward mumbled quietly. Mustang raised an eyebrow in question.
"Hmm?"
"I accidentally stained it black! Okay!?" Edward yelled, glaring up at the man. Mustang stared at Edward in surprise for a few seconds before sighing, the corner of lips twitching upwards.
"You can't wash it out?" Mustang asked.
"Yah think I haven't tried you idiot!?" The teenager threw his arms up in frustration. Mustang shrugged.
"It'll come out eventually," The Man reassured, sitting back down at his desk.
"What makes you so sure?" Edward asked, picking up his bright crimson coat and slipping his arms through the sleeves.
"Just trust me Fullmetal. You're dismissed. Unless you have anything else to talk about..," Mustang said, setting Edwards' report to the side.
"No, I don't! And it's about time I got out of this heck hole!" Edward exclaimed, turning and running to the door.
"Oh, and Fullmetal?"
"Hmm?"
"I have to admit, the color suits you," The colonel informed his subordinate, smiling smugly. Edward cast one more glare in Mustangs direction before opening the door, stepping out, and promptly slamming it shut harshly.
One thought entered the young alchemist's mind.
I have to find some way to wash this out!
Later that night Edward stood in front of the mirror, combing out his hair after just taking yet another shower. He suddenly noticed the tips of his hair were once again golden. Edward's eyes widen slightly and he threw his hands up in the air, laughing.
"YES!" He exclaimed.
Alphonse popped his head into the bathroom, soulfire eyes watching Edward.
"What's the matter brother?" The suit of armor asks, the young voice of his brother echoing from inside the armor. Edward turned to him, a bright smile lighting up his features.
"The dyes coming out of my hair!- wait a minute..," Edward halted his excitement, remembering the conversation he had with Mustang earlier that day.
"...DANG IT THE IDIOT WAS RIGHT!"
"What do you mean brother..?"
Feel free to criticize me. I wrote half of this late at night. I appreciate reviews and if you are looking for some more ParentalRoyEd I suggest checking out Akarri. They've been a huge inspiration to me along with WingedIceWolf. So do me a favor and throw some love at them.