A/N – be prepared for more OOCness! Haha I'm really bad at this, aren't i? oh wellll. I love writing..

Welll. (: on we gooo!

Roy woke to the sun. He stretched, wondering only for a second why he was on the couch. Then it got him thinking about Ed's bruises and wounds, and how they all led to under his boxers. What went on? Was it still happening?

"WHERE AM I?"

Ah, Ed. Roy got up and stood in the doorway of his bedroom in only his boxers. "You are in my bed," Mustang said, "and wearing my trench coat."

Edward noticed the fact that the Colonel was in nothing but boxers. He wrapped the covers around himself so he could hide himself. He couldn't hide the developing blush from Roy, however, even though he thought he had.

Roy smirked. "It started raining. I couldn't leave you out in the rain. The prodigy can't get a cold now, can he? It might 'bruise' his reputation.

Ed's eyes and head dropped. Roy climbed onto the bed, and grabbed the child's shoulders softly. "What's going on, Ed?" Edward shook his head and tears welled up. Roy saw the boy clench his fists to keep from crying.

Roy sighed. "Ed, really. I want to help you, and I can't if you won't tell me what they are doing."

Ed started to sob softly. Roy wasn't expecting an answer. He drew the frail child into his lap, and Ed buried his head in Roy's shoulder. Another sigh started to escape as he started rub the child's back soothingly, and he was almost startled when he the sobs stopped and a muffled voice spoke.

"Him. If there is a they after he is done, then I don't know about it and I don't want to." Then the cries started again.

"Who is it, Ed? Who is causing you this pain?" Roy asked the boy softly.

Ed shook his head and continued to cry. Not yet. Roy couldn't push it anymore and risk losing the trust he may have gained.

So they sat there, holding onto each other. Roy let his head rest on Ed's. The boy had changed positions and now had his head in the crook of his neck.

He actually liked it, holding Ed like this. The boy seemed to fit perfectly into his arms and body, his head wonderfully fitting against his own neck.

Softly he started to stroke the boy, the trench coat now having fallen away from Ed's body. His fingers traveled softly over the back, able to see the spine and ribs pushing against the white skin. His fingertips gently ran over skin that should had been nearly flawless, but they fell into grooves that shouldn't be there, but they were because of the cruelty of one man. He was suddenly filled with anger. He didn't know where it came from, but suddenly he was gripping Ed tighter.

"Colonel... sir?" Ed asked, turning to look at Mustang.

Roy stared into those golden eyes "I will kill who did this to you. I promise, Ed. I will kill him." With that he got up and went into the bathroom. The next thing Ed heard was the shower starting up, and then he fell back asleep.

When he woke up, it was Saturday. He had slept an entire day. Ed looked around. He was still in Mustang's room.

Shit. Saturday. Just because he was in Central didn't mean he got out of going. The threat was worse now. It wasn't citizens anymore. It was the higher ups.

Quietly Ed grabbed his clothes (though not clean, definitely dry) and scrambled into them. He snuck downstairs. Al was in the guest room and the Colonel was asleep on the couch. He couldn't blame him; it was only five in the morning, and Tucker would be worse if he was later than six.

Ed quickly scribbled a note to the two people, stating he had to meet someone and wouldn't be back till tomorrow.

He practically threw the pen down and slid the note on the table. With that, he flew out the door, not caring if Mustang heard him or not.

Edward raced along the sidewalk, determined not to be late. He glanced at the secret watch he had. 5:47. He wasn't going to make it. He ran harder, faster, straining his rusted automail to work with his body. Finally he arrived. He knocked at the door, wincing as he looked at the time. 6:01, 6:02. He lost.

A very angry Tucker opened the door. "You are late!"

'Only by a minute or two!' Edward wanted to protest, but only swallowed and replied softly. "Sorry, sir."

"Apologies don't fix everything, Eddie. Maybe you need to be punished." There was no question to it. It was a demand. And as Tucker dragged him into the house, a terror filled look placed itself on Edward's face, but he didn't dare protest. It would only make it worse.

And then the torment started, silent screams echoing through the house as the whip fell.

"Where is that boy?" Roy grumbled. It was around five thirty and they were both due to start work at six thirty. He wasn't in bed, wasn't in the house, or the yard. He growled and sat down at the table.

The note stared him in the face. 'Sorry, Mr. Mustang & Al, I must go see someone and I most likely will be back Sunday.

P.S
sorry i will miss work...

Edward'

Roy had a horrible feeling who this 'someone' was, but he still didn't know specifically, so he got ready for work. Before Al came down to go to his work, Roy grabbed the note and shoved it in his pocket. Once there, he thumbed it, comforting himself a little. Then he was out the door and to his work.

Walking along, he saw someone running. Normally he would have ignored this, but he could hear metal clanking against the ground. He looked up and what did you know. Edward Elric.

Skip work today. Find out who it is. Roy almost ignored these, and then followed Ed at a casual jog.

Roy noticed Ed kept looking at his watch. That was odd. Then at 6:02 the door opened almost immediately and a red faced man appeared.

"You are late!"

The words were heavy with anger. It was like a death sentence. But seeing Ed just hang his head and mumble a sorry or something made something in Roy snapped. But when he moved to confront the man, he was saying something about being punished. And he said Eddie. Something made him think this had to be man because then he was dragging a non-protesting Ed into the house.

It killed Roy not to know what was going on, but the eerie silence of the house meant he had no evidence to convict this guy. So after an hour of listening, he turned around and trudged to work.

"Colonel, sir, do you mind me asking where Edward is today?"

The question startled Roy. He looked up to find Jean Havoc looking at him, cigarette hanging in his mouth.

Unconsciously his hand went into his pocket and fingered the note. "He's sick."

"Oh. So you waiting to give him that assignment? Or you gonna switch it to someone else?"

"Nah, I'll wait. He'll be back in tomorrow."

"M'kay then. Can't wait to see him storming around the office complaining about how everyone makes fun of his shortness." Jean laughed.

"Me too."

Roy finished his day, now back at home, waited for Ed. It was past eleven and he was really worried.

He was just about to go looking for the kid when the door opened. In limped Ed, who at once noticed Roy and had shut the door.

"Fuck, Fullmetal," Roy almost shouted, instead growling it and moving to the door in long strides. He yanked open the door, and chased after the fleeing figure. Being older and uninjured, he caught up quickly. He slapped a hand over Edward's mouth and despite the boy's struggles, picked him up and dragged him into the one story brick house. Once inside he let Edward go, blocking the door.

"Roy! M-move!" Ed's voice was soft but full of defiance.

"No." His own voice was calm and stern. "You went to that guy's house. You arrived late. He got angry. And then, he hurt you. Must have, you're limping. Care to tell me how?"

Ed crossed his arms. "No."

"Eh, who cares. You have to go on a mission anyway, and who you are going with still has to be decided."

"Is it about the philosopher's stone?"

Roy was confused. "What do you want with the philosopher's stone?"

Ed looked exasperated. "It was the reason I joined in the first place! I didn't care to be apart of some dumb group! I just need to be able to look at military documents so I could continue research!"

Roy fell silent. "So you can get your arm and leg back?"

Ed nodded. "Yeah, and A-" he broke off. "Never mind. I'm not going on some dumb mission if it doesn't involve the stone."

This was Roy's chance. "Well, too bad! You're going on this mission and I'll come with you to make sure you actually do it!"

Edward opened his mouth and then closed it. He stormed into his bedroom, slamming the door and then locking it.

Roy sighed. "Oi."