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It was 2 weeks later when Winry decided Edward's arm could be re-grafted.

Finally. It had been embarrassing for Roy to keep forgetting she was there and walk downstairs to make coffee in the morning still wearing fire-station flannel PJ's. Oh how he hated it when Hughes gave birthday gifts. There was a reason he didn't dare use the toaster when he had company.

"OK. Al, I want you to hold Edward down. Roy you're on tools again."

Ed didn't protest. He'd been unusually silent that morning. It was obvious he wasn't exactly looking forward to the re-grafting.

Roy had to admit, he respected anyone who managed not to scream through something like that.

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Al gently pulled his hands of Ed's chest. Finally he could let him sleep. Looking down at his brother's tear-stained face...it just reminded him so much of all the pain his automail had caused him. Sure Ed needed to get around, but it hurt him so much. Al heard Roy come in the door behind him. "He's asleep?" Al just nodded. Roy sat down in a chair against the wall. After a few minutes of both of them staring at Ed, Roy decided to find out a little more about Edward Elric. Aside from his more famous traits and habits, he really didn't know enough to keep peace living with him.

"Alphonse? Would you tell me a little bit about Edward and yourself? If you're going to stay with me, I thought I should get to know more about the two of you."

"Um. I guess. Living with my brother can be hard." he admitted. He knew exactly why the Colonel needed information.

"Well...let's see. Is Ed an early riser?" It felt so weird to call FullMetal 'Ed'.

"Um...It really depends. Sometimes he'll get into weird sleeping patterns for a week or two, but mostly if he wakes up he gets up. Well...sometimes anyway. And um, he's really loud in the morning. Usually he's really good about having automail, but when he's not completely awake he's really clumsy."

"Ah. Thanks for the warning. Does he like to eat right when he gets up? Or later?" 'That was random, Roy.' he told himself.

"He'll eat whenever. Usually, since we stay at inns so much, he gets dressed and wakes up, and I'm sure he'll do that here too."

"What does Ed like to eat?" ' 'Ed'. That's so odd.'

"Um...Croquettes, sushi, meatballs, dumplings, drumsticks, almost anything really. But Brother's always liked-" Al squirmed, glancing nervously at the sleeping boy on the bed. "Big brother likes finger-foods."

"Duly noted. Anything else I should know?"

"Well um, you already know he has a short temper, he hates coffee...I think that's it."

"Mmmph...I don't like it when people talk about me." Ed moaned. "Why da you wanna know what I eat?" Roy ignored Ed's sleepy question.

"Do you think you could eat something yet?"

"Yeah, maybe..." Ed drifted off again.

Al came downstairs as soon as he was sure Ed was asleep, to find Mustang up to his elbows in chicken and bread crumbs, making croquettes.

"You can cook, Colonel?"

"I can follow a recipe. If I need help, I call the restaurant where I'm a regular."

"Oh. Are those for Ed?"

"If he wants them."

"That's really nice of you Colonel." Al spoke softly now. "Ed will never say it, but I'm sure he'll really like that you made them for him." Roy only nodded.

When they'd been fried to a golden-brown, Roy carried a plate of them up to Ed's room. Setting the plate down on the bedside dresser he gently shook Ed's shoulder.

"Mmm...What is it, Al?"

"It's Mustang and it's food."

"...HUH?" Ed rolled over.

"Croquettes. Chicken." Roy told him. Ed looked at Roy for a moment, then at the plate.

"Thanks." No one moved. Roy started thinking about how self-conscious and stupid they were being. Ed's mind was still not entirely caught up on recent events. After several minutes of no one moving, Ed caught up with himself and took a croquette off the plate. He ate it in two bites, startling Roy. Quickly and quietly he demolished the pile on the plate.

"Are you sure you should eat all of those?" Ed looked at Roy suddenly, then said "I donno." as if he hadn't thought about it before. Roy just shook his head. "Well then, are you ready to walk now that you're mostly recovered?" Ed shrugged. "Yeah. I probably should get back to the library." he sighed. "I could get used to this though." he grinned and lay back. Roy smirked. "I don't think I'll let you. After all, little kids need plenty of exercise." Ed launched himself at Roy, knocking him onto the floor. "DON'T CALL ME LITTLE! OR SHRIMPY! OR SHORT!" Roy hadn't realized before how much extra weight in muscle Ed carried until the teen was sitting on his stomach, flailing at his head. He couldn't help but admire Ed's hard, compact torso and trace with his eyes the metal lines that sung of missing flesh. He'd never gotten a good look at the angry scar extending to Ed's neck either. "What are you staring at, huh?" Ed stopped flailing and stood, tiptoeing gingerly around the room to test his leg, then stretching. Roy stood up and Ed grinned his old devil's grin at him before taking a fighting stance. "C'mon Colonel. Let's see what you've got without your flames." Ed smashed Roy's nose and chin in a feinting downward stroke.

"FullMetal! Don't you dare hit me." Roy said coldly, walking from the room.

Ed stared after Roy as he walked out. 'Why is he so mad? I didn't mean to piss him off.' Ed thought regretfully. Then "Aw. He deserves it."

Still, Ed couldn't shake the feeling that he cared whether or not Mustang was angry with him.

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