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Prompt: (Now Starring: Second Lieutenants Havoc and Breda.) Edward is cold. Roy is tired.
Warnings: PARENTAL!RoyED. Obviously OOC-ness. Like seriously with this one, CHILDISH!Ed warning is go. I think we've gotten the hang of the whole "screw it I'm writing what I want to write" concept. NO PLOT. This happened in a matter of hours while sleep deprived. Did I mention FLUFF yet? Cause I'm pretty sure this qualifies as FLUFF. EPIC FLUFF.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
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The storm outside raged, the wind making the walls of the small shelter creak and groan. Inside, safely guarded from the torrential downpour, resided Colonel Mustang, Second Lieutenants Havoc and Breda, and one Edward Elric. The three men had made themselves comfortable by sitting on the cheaply made, metal chairs, but Edward had opted for standing by the poorly insulated window, hoping the rain would stop before it got too late so they could find actual lodging. He'd been standing there, or occasionally pacing back and forth, for about an hour. He had great focus.
During that time, Breda had settled into his chair and kicked his feet up on another. He now sat with arms crossed and his head bowed forward, asleep. It hadn't taken long for him to doze off with the constant rain as background noise. Plus he'd always been a magnificent sleeper. Didn't matter where he was.
In the chair just a few feet from him sat Havoc. The man had an unlit cigarette resting between his lips. He'd attempted lighting this cigarette just a little while ago when he'd grown antsy from watching Ed doing...whatever it was he was doing. Of course the minute he'd pulled out his box of matches, his superior's voice had lazily said, "If you want to slowly kill yourself, be my guest, but do it outside."
He'd given the man a pleading look, but Mustang was a stone-faced monster. Probably took pleasure in watching him go through withdrawal. So Havoc had put his matches away and made do with just pretending and looking forward to lighting his cancer stick the moment the rain let up. Which didn't seem like it would be any time soon.
They'd probably be stuck here for the night, the way he saw it. Though, all things considered, it could be worse. They were lucky there just happened to be a shelter nearby when the first drops of light drizzle had started pattering down. If it had started any earlier or later they would have gotten stuck in the sudden deluge. They got a little wet, sure, but at least they weren't soaking. The shelter wouldn't have been very useful then.
The window shook from a particularly strong gust, water slapping the thin pane. Then the door blew open, it slammed against the wall with the same intensity that the door to the office opened with whenever the blond boy had to come in on, what they all simply referred to as, "a bad day."
Edward had jumped and Breda startled awake. Nobody moved to shut it and water continued to pour through the opening in waves.
Mustang sighed loudly before loudly ordering, "Fullmetal, close the door."
"Oh. Right." The young alchemist nodded and quickly ran over, and he slammed it shut. The doorknob rattled and he looked at the door warily. "I don't think it's gonna stay shut for very long…"
"Figure it out, Fullmetal."
Ed frowned, then blushed because the solution was so simple. He clapped his hands and pressed them to the door, creating a seal and locking them inside, but most importantly he was keeping the rain out and the cold from getting in.
Mustang leaned back, crossed one leg over the other, and grunted his approval. "Maybe wanna do some work on your window too? It's getting later, so it's only going to get colder."
"So?" Ed asked. "It's not like we'll be here all night."
Havoc coughed awkwardly and made eye contact with Breda, before their attention turned to the colonel to see his response.
The man gave Ed a pointed look. "Do you really think we're getting out of here tonight, Fullmetal? With the way this storm is going? You've been studying it long enough. It's getting worse, don't you think?" He got his answer when Ed's lips drew into a flat line and he fiddled with the edge of his red coat. "We're staying here for the night. Then we'll wake up early and continue to the town. It'll take a few days to do the inspections, so we'll eventually stay in proper lodging, but for tonight, this is as good as it's going to get. So you might as well fix that window like you did the door, then come get comfortable. You're putting us on edge."
Ed grumbled something in response with a discontented scowl but clapped his hands nonetheless, sealing the window as best he could. He walked over to the opposite end of the small room and grabbed a chair, and then noisily started dragging the thing over to the trio. It screeched like nails on a chalkboard. Breda covered his ears, Havoc cringed, and Mustang groaned in disapproval.
"Fullmetal, just because you don't want to stay here, does not mean you get to have an attitude. Now pick up the damn chair and get over here."
"I don't have an attitude," he muttered, rolling his golden irises disrespectfully. Then he picked up the chair and finished the short journey to the center of the room. He dropped the chair and plopped down, small arms crossed across his chest, a pout on his lips.
"Go to sleep, Fullmetal," Mustang ordered. "You're cranky and it's pissing me off. None of wants to be staying here."
"Not tired," he muttered sulkily. Still, Edward closed his eyes and curled up onto the chair so he could rest his head on the metal armrest. He did often get tired from a lot of traveling. Then there was the weather and the being cold and the having to tolerate the Colonel's didn't take long before his breathing slowed and his body relaxed.
Havoc smirked at the kid, amused by the way he'd dropped off-despite being 'not tired'-and also amused by the way his small body was contorted into what looked like an uncomfortable position. The blue-eyed man almost wished he was small enough to curl up on his chair, and that he was young enough that he wouldn't have the hugest crick in his neck afterwards. Must be nice to be a kid.
Havoc took the cigarette out of his mouth and put it back in his pack, and sighed longingly. With the door sealed he wasn't going to be smoking anytime soon, he might as well get some shut eye. It was dark outside now, which could have been from the storm, but it also could have been because it was nine o'clock now.
"What time are we waking up, boss?"
Mustang ran a hand through his hair. "Five? That sounds like a good time. An extra hour to sleep in."
Havoc grunted in agreement and nodded to Breda. "Let me share that foot rest, would ya?"
"Sure thing." The broad man hooked his boots on the arms and dragged it across the floor, making the same screeching sound that Ed had earlier. All three men cringed and instantly looked at the youngest with bated breath. They sighed collectively after seeing that there had been no reaction whatsoever. "Sorry, guys. My bad."
"Do I even need to say what I'm about to say?" Mustang asked idly, resting his elbow on the armrest, and then settling his cheek in his hand.
Breda stood up and gave him an unsteady grin. "No, I got it, Colonel. I'll pick it up."
Havoc snickered. And after the chair had been settled between Breda and himself, he kicked up his heels and got comfortable, Breda mirroring him. "Good night, gang."
"Hn." Mustang grunted, closing his eyes.
A couple hours later, Mustang's eyes snapped open when he heard a small whine of discomfort come from the chair to his right.
Havoc had also woken up and he cracked an eye open. His jaw stretched into a yawn. "What was that?"
Mustang pointed at Ed who was in the process of readjusting his position on the metal chair. He curled his legs up more onto the chair, but one of them just inevitably slipped back down because there just wasn't enough room. It didn't matter how small he was. He whimpered again and a violent shiver wracked his frame.
Covering a yawn, Mustang tapped the boy's chair with his boot, hoping to wake him. The childish cries were making him uncomfortable. It made him feel apprehensive. Unfortunately for him, Ed didn't wake up at the small movement, so he was forced to stand. He put a hand on Ed's shoulder to shake him. His eyes widened and then he groaned. "Dammit, Edward."
"What is it, boss?" Havoc asked, yawning again, hoping he'd be able to go back to sleep in a minute. Oh how he wished he was a deep sleeper like Breda.
"His coat. It's damp. No wonder he's cold."
"Why didn't he say anything earlier? Or take it off?"
The colonel grimaced. "He really thought we'd be getting to a hotel, I think. And we didn't take our jackets off, so he followed suit." He pointed to Havoc. "Ours are water resistant though. His is not." He shook Ed by his shoulder. "Fullmetal. Hey, wake up."
Ed moaned as he regained consciousness and blearily looked up at his superior. "Whaaaaat?" he complained. "'m tired…"
"Yeah, I know. So are we. But you're going to catch a cold if you keep that jacket on any longer. Take it off."
"It's cold."
"I know it is, but your jacket is wet, Edward. Now give it here."
Ed huffed irritably but slowly maneuvered out of the wet fabric and didn't stop Mustang when the man took it from him. He curled back up on the chair and Mustang draped the jacket over one of the extra chairs.
Mustang walked back over to the group and dropped himself heavily into his chair. He looked at Ed, whose teeth chattered noisily. Shivers spasmed through his frame every few seconds. Mustang sighed heavily. "Come here, Edward."
"No," the child mumbled back to him defiantly. He curled in on himself tighter.
"Ed, just come over here. You're cold. I'm tired. Havoc's tired. We can't sleep with all the noise you're making." Nothing. "Ed, if you don't get over here, I will come over there, pick you up, and drag you over here myself."
Ed fussed for a minute but slid off the chair and trudged over to the dark haired man, hugging his arms across his chest. As soon as he was within reach, Mustang circled an arm around the boy's midsection and dragged the twelve year old onto his lap.
Ed's eyes turned into pinpricks and he panicked. "Wait, what are you-?"
"It'll be warmer like this. For both of us." He wrapped his arms around the still shaking child and leaned back in the chair. Edward was stiff as a board. "Edward, just relax." He said, rocking gently. "We won't even talk about this in the morning, I promise. Now,please, just go to sleep."
The shivers were becoming less and less frequent, and Edward realized that Mustang was right. This was warmer. He let out a contented sigh and slowly started to relax. Closing his eyes, he reclined against the man's chest and settled in. It had been years since he'd been held like this, and while he never, ever would have chosen to be held like this by the colonel of all people, he wasn't exactly displeased with the current situation. The colonel made a pretty good one-time pillow. He was warm and far more comfortable than the metal chair. Edward felt safe. He yawned and slipped into unconsciousness with a small peaceful smile tugging at his lips.
Mustang let his eyes slide shut when he felt the rhythmic, slow breathing of his still very young charge. Ed wasn't shivering. There were no more distressed whines. He's finally asleep. Now they could all finally join him-well, him and Breda, deep-sleeping bastard.
"Night, boss," a voice whispered from across their small circle.
"G'night, Havoc." Roy hummed in response. "Oh, and it goes without saying, but this never happened. If anyone hears of it. I'll court martial you." The threat was empty, but the night wouldn't have been complete without it.
"I don't know what you're talking about, boss." He could practically hear the man grinning.
"Good man." Roy rested his chin on top of the blond's head and pulled the smaller alchemist closer to his chest. This was a good idea. He smiled. He's warm. I'm warm. We still have six hours before we need to wake up. His slipped further away and finally back into darkness.
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A/N: I need help. Like seriously….I obviously have a thing about sleeping. Ed always ends up asleep….And I'm sorry….(not really). So, where did this idea come from? (Asked no one ever.) Well let me tell you. What happened was, I forgot that it was supposed to get cold over the last few days and went outside with just as measly sweatshirt. I walked and shivered, and I shivered and walked. And my teeth would not stop chattering, even though I tried to put on a brave face and not feel like a complete idiot. (Which I was an idiot. Just so we're clear.) Anywho, this idea came along while I was walking and freezing my ass and face off and I saw a couple walking together-together as in hugging. They were hug-walking. How they were walking and hugging at the same time, I'm not quite sure but it was impressive and all I could think was, 'Damn I'd really like a hug right now.' And then I was like, I know. I need to make Ed cold. That'll prompt something, right? And it did. And thus this little diddy was created. Voila and/or oops….
If you liked it, let me know! If you hated it, I am so sorry. I know it was OOC. Elle, oh Elle.
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