The clock was ticking close to 11 P.M as Roy internally growled. Just how much could this kid sleep? It had already been seven hours and the boy had yet to show any signs of waking up, there was only so much Roy could entertain himself with in this office with hardly anything but paperwork!

He should not have reassured Hawkeye with a promise that would earn his a bullet in the head if it was broken. Roy had thought that he had a good grasp of how much Edward could nap, but this shrimp easily destroyed his expectations...!

As if the boy felt the insult that ran through Roy's head just now, grunting noises could be heard from the couch, and Roy lifted his head with a look of relief; it had been so silent that he would've feared Edward had died without his occasional breathing and chest movements. "Ngh..." With discomfort, the small frame that was Edward slowly lifted itself from the couch groggily, not missing the fact that his coat was over him and as his eyesight finally cleared up, realisation hit him. "...Shit."

"You can say that again." Edward's eyes widened as he realised he wasn't alone, and he quickly shot a glance at the Colonel who was resting with one arm on his desk, bearing a look of utter boredom. "Good thing though that there weren't many issues with your report besides the usual chicken scratch and amount of destruction." Edward returned his gaze to his feet, rising from the couch with his coat in hand.

Though as he was about to head out of the office, Roy followed and stopped him with a hand on his shoulder. "The Lieutenant was worried, so I'll accompany you back." Edward tried to shake off Roy's grasp on his shoulder as he shook his head to refuse the offer, however Roy was growing tired of his withdrawn attitude and forced him out into the corridor after grabbing his coat.

"I didn't say I was leaving you a choice." Roy specified in a harsh tone but Edward only showed his back to him as if wanting to absolutely hide his face, and with that they started heading outside of the HQ.

As they arrived at the HQ entrance, they noted it was still pouring outside so badly that even if they were to hurry to the car, they would still be drenched. Only Roy did effort to avoid spending too much time under the rain regardless of that, as Edward merely dragged his feet along under the rain as if he was going to fall over at any time. Roy felt like just admonishing him, but there was no use calling out to him since he remembered a specific issue that justified Edward's tottering...

Automail users usually didn't do so well with rainy weather.

Splash!

"Ghk...kah! Hah... hah..." Edward panted out as he fell over from not managing to properly lift his left leg. He was dragged to the muddy ground while he clenched his automail shoulder with his left hand and his face was contorted with pain.

Roy, who felt bad for the poor boy having to endure this each time it rained, would have turned back to observe the fallen boy and offer his hand if he didn't know Edward wouldn't push him away with his arm, which he did to warn Roy to lay off as the young boy forced himself back up to limp his way to the car. Roy sighed for the umpteenth time today and slowed his pace in case Edward fell over again.

They finally arrived and sat down in the car without any further incidents thankfully. Roy only looked at Edward with worry... both for him, and for the seat that welcomed his muddy clothing. "Fullmetal." He called out as the engine started rumbling, the boy was more focused on tuning the pain out than paying attention to Roy. "Fullmetal..." He started again, feeling like smacking this kid's head for ignoring him even if he couldn't help his automail ports aching when this time, Edward only slightly shifted his head in Roy's direction. "Edward!"

"...W...hat?" A voice strangled by pain and an urging need to throw up finally replied, perhaps the first time Edward genuinely talked to Roy in what felt like a long time.

"You'll have some explaining to do about today."

"R-Really now..." Edward, despite the pain lingering in his arm and leg, still manage to retort with annoyed sarcasm, which threw Roy off beyond the limits of his patience with the boy. Roy was satisfied that he was talking now but it didn't mean Edward was free to have a constant attitude and as such there was a sudden change of plans. "Colonel..." Edward started when he realised that Roy suddenly changed the destination to something wasn't the way to his hotel, and there was no way Roy would just get lost even if it was pouring. "Where are we going?"

Edward was only greeted by silence from a Colonel very focused on the road right now for hardly any reason. "Hey, Colonel." Still nothing, Edward was growing worried at what Roy planned, his already short temper being even shortened by the automail ports hurting. He had checked the road real quick but surely there was nothing warranting such focus.

So he could only assume Roy was paying him back for the silent treatment he had given Roy for the past week or so.

"Mustang!"

"You'll see." Roy finally conceded, unable to properly stand the screech that was Edward shouting right next to him, especially with a voice twisted by pain. What Roy said didn't particularly reassure Edward, though the sound of the rain as well as his general lack of proper rest – despite the long "nap" from earlier – started to make him too drowsy to muster the energy to argue further. And thankfully, too drowsy to continue feeling the throbbing pain near his shoulder and knee.