I'm in love with your FMAB fics so much! For the Bingo, could I request wholesome fever/forehead kisses to check for fever for Roy x Riza, with Riza as the sick one?
Hell yea you can! Post promised day forehead kiss to check for fever in a fic!
Thanks for requesting. This one kicked me right out of some executive dysfunction bc it just hit me so hard. I hope you like it!
She still cant talk.
He still cant see.
Their new language has become quiet rustling of blankets, careful touches with shaky hands, and whispered puffs of breath in answer.
The worst is over, is what the radio says. Is what the doctors say. Is what everyone is breathing and dreaming and swallowing down with their pain pills and discomfort.
That morning was quieter. The rustle of sheets and quiet huffs of relieved laughter as he fumbled for her hands after another nightmare.
Her hands were still there. Trembling. Clammy. Squeezing his back after he smoothed the blankets.
Roy's free hand ran up her arm, reading the chill of her goosebumps like braille. Hee felt that her hair was a tied back mess and he told her so as he pressed his lips to her hairline.
"You're warm." He sat back, hitting the arm of the chair at her bedside before finding his seat.
She took his hand and held it over her bandages. He startled at her quiet pained sounds but kept steady as she traced his fingers along the edge of the wrappings. Her throat was hot and her pulse was thrumming. She was gasping by the time she let his hand go.
"Infection-" Roy moved to stand, but was blocked by her hand on his chest.
A broken rasp, nearly missed behind the sounds of the blanket over her knees crinkling and the door rolling open on its track.
"Stay."
He sat again. Taking her hand as a nurse or doctor came over and began checking over Riza. He hoped the quick press of her hand to his lips was missed before he schooled himself into a more professional state.
Riza snorted at his straightback and stiff posture. He was still mottled with bruises and his hair was in disarray, but he still looked as commanding as always in the starched hospital pajamas.
"God, he's shaking really badly again-" Roy brushed back the stringy bangs off Ed's face. "I don't know of its just chills or a seizure."
Ed's shaking arm flailed above the blanket. His hand gripped at the fabric covering his body, his face and chest, and Roy's sleeve in succession. Hughes walked over and put down the fresh cup of cold water on the nightstand. With one hand on Roy's shoulder, he reached forward to cup Ed's cheek. Feeling for a fever, the young man's unshaved face prickled Hughe's hand as Ed searched out the cool relief.
"Just fever, I think," Hughes patted Roy's shoulder as he straightened. "He's coordinated enough."
"'M right her-" Ed choked out and started another round of hacking coughs.
His ribs felt bruised as they were already. The combination of the damp air from the storm, the scratchy bed linens, and the fever making his skin hypersensitive was agony.
He was vaguely aware that he was being hefted into a sitting position with something shoved into hos lap, and a cold hand on the back ofnhis neck pushing his head down. A strong hand whacked on his back in time with the coughing, aching horribly but helping the shit in his lungs rattle up.
The fit died down as they all had been for a while, with Ed so weak, limp, and shaky he could barely keep his head out of the combined mess of sweat, sick, and mucous that he had heaved and choked up.
Another cold cloth ran over his face, and then a clean wet towel was pressed to his cracked lips. It was squeezed and fresh water dripped down his chin while he tried to stomach enough of it to stay hydrated in this hell-haze.
"I fuckin' hate thunderstorms. You goddamn assholes and your fuckin clouds-"
"Ed, relax. Your voice is so wrecked you barely make sense." Hughes was the one lowering him back down this time. "I'd hate the rain too if I were you."
--
This is the fic to that ask i just posted. Im on mobile. In bed. At 4 am. Just. Typin away lol. Mobile tumblr is a hot mess so pls forgive the formatting and such i was trying to paste this onto the asl but it wouldn't let me. :/
Thanks @unholygrass for your ask! This was fun to write.
@taylor-tut said: FMA PROMPTS?! YES. Okay, so what about something where Ed and roy have to go on a mission together and the evening before, Ed starts to feel sick. He tells Roy, but he doesn't believe him and thinks he's trying to get out of the mission. He chalks Ed's listlessness and lack of focus up to a hissy fit. But eventually Ed is like "I cant--it's hard to think" while they're talking and roy realizes that he's burning up, and worse, they're in a motel with no air conditioning and it's hot as hell.
YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE FMA PROMPTS. I have like 4 on the go and still tried to do this one short’n’sweet but it got longish and ????
Thank you so much for the prompt! It was really fun to get to sit down and see something from start to finish again. I hope its enjoyable!
“Are you sure we can’t put the mission off for like, another week or two? C’mon Mustang,” Ed said holding his hands apart. “Al and I have to fix up where we’re staying and take back all these books before Winry gets here-”
“You really should just keep on top of your responsibilities. Honestly, by now the military’s schedule in your life should be making some difference. Its been how many years?” Mustang leaned back in his chair with crossed arms. Beside him, Havoc reached across the table to grab a copy of the next day’s itinerary.
“Says you,” Ed snorted harshly through his nose, “you’re name is more synonymous with ‘procrastination’ than any other word I’ve ever heard. Seriously, Winry’ll kill me if she gets here and its a mess.”
“More so than ‘bastard’?” Mustang slapped at Havoc’s arm and the man’s laughter lapsed into a rough hacking cough.
“Don’t encourage him. Fullmetal, this mission is unavoidable. I’ve had direct paperwork handed to me from General Grumman,” Roy smacked the back of his hand at the reports he held, “These rebel attacks can’t keep going this way.”
“So surprise them in a week. Make them think they got away with it, then wreck their shit. I don’t see what is so damn hard about changing the day.”
“Suck it up, Ed. No way, no how is Mustang going to be able to change it. The General kicked his ass in a match last week, so he- OW!”
“That’s quite enough, Havoc. Take your notes and go pick up something for the office, on my tab.” Mustang waved Havoc on.
“Alright,” Havoc pulled out a smoke as he walked past Ed. He gave Ed a solid nudge, “I know everyone’s go-to orders but yours, want anything special Ed? The Boss is paying.”
“I don’t care, whatever is fine.” Ed folded his automail hand under his chin as he stared down at his papers. He sighed through his nose and shut his eyes, eyebrows scrunching together. Havoc slapped his palm on the top of Ed’s head and gave him a gentle shove.
“Alright, geeze don’t work too hard, you’re putting me to shame.” Havoc gave a half-assed salute and left, “See ya .”
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“Memorized it yet?” Ed groused, chin on the table inches away from his unopened take-out.
“Have you?” Mustang snarked, “Or are you still hoping I’ll let you slack off?”
“Oh yeah, committed it to memory,” Ed sneered. “Stupid ass idea, they’ll be expecting us. It’s a straight retaliatory action- its insulting. Jump, boy, jump.”
“You’re getting it,” Mustang shook his head at Ed, who dropped his forehead to the table and snarked under his breath into the wood.
“Can I go now? This is stupid, we’re just going there to hand their asses to them and get rocks thrown at us, again.”
“Finish the briefing, and finish your dinner. Honestly- boy genius, smart enough to transmute without a circle. And you still need to be told to eat your vegetables.” Mustang nudged Ed’s food towards him. “Its boring, but its procedure. Trust me, it’s a lot less fun with every other Colonel out there.”
“I don’t want it, I just want to go.” Ed whined, but pushed himself off the table anyway. He opened the container and poked at his food. “Can we just put it off a couple days? I really don’t…“
“Don’t what, Fullmetal?” Mustang sighed. The rest of the office had broken into their mission groupings and were going over the details, and he and Ed were to be the main attacking force come the next day. Ed fidgeted under the silence; he pushed his bangs off his face and let his eyes dart around. After a few false starts, Ed finally answered.
“I really don’t feel right,” he finally mumbled leaning across the desk as much as he could. He kept his eyes down. “Not- not about it being a stupid military tantrum response, just- just in general.”
“Right,” Mustang kept his stare level with Ed’s despite the young man’s desperate attempt to hide between his own shoulders. His voice was flat as he continued, “Tomorrow. Eleven A.M.- go get yourself sorted for it. Break up all those ‘things’ you an Alphonse need to do, I’m sure he can deal with some chores and Miss Rockbell for the few days we’ll be gone.”
“Huh?”
“Go on,” Mustang was leafing through his papers with little interest. He flicked his eyes up and lifted Ed’s takeout to hold it out to him. “I’m not dealing with your tantrum while I have to plan.”
“F-fine,” Ed glared as he snatched the box from Mustang and stomped away.
“Eleven A.M. sharp; you show up late, I’m putting you in charge of garbage disposal for the entire floor.” Mustang didn’t even blink as Ed slammed the door behind him.
---------------
“Eleven-twenty-three, Fullmetal,” Ed slammed the car door after he sat down. “What did I say last night?”
“Shut up and just drive, okay?” Ed stomped his foot and gestured out the front windscreen, “Go! Drive! If its such a big hurry, go.”
“You’re really testing me,” Mustang threw the car into gear. The tires squealed as they lurched forward and sped off.
“Yeah, yeah,” Ed slunk down in his seat and planted his feet on the passenger-side dash. He crossed his arms and plonked his forehead against the window to watch the city speed by.
“Punctuality is a core value in the military. How many times do I need to spell it out,” Mustang slapped the steering wheel with each sentence, “Are you trying to embarrass me? Make out our team as a joke? You went to the briefing, and were nearly half an hour late to the mission start.”
Ed snarked quietly, mocking Mustang’s rant while the Colonel dragged his hand down his face.
“I am not a babysitter. Do you hear me? I am not dealing with you being a brat. Curb your attitude before we get there.” From the edge of his vision Roy saw Ed roll his eyes and scooch further down into his seat.
“Sorry, geeze.” Ed mumbled, his words barely louder than the engine’s noise.
--------------------------
“…Damn brat. He shows up late and throws a fit.” Ed stretched as the conversation nearby flitted into his awareness. “The delay wasn’t too bad. We’re just a few blocks away now, at a payphone. You’re set?... And Havoc’s group? Good.”
Ed stretched his neck to let him look out the window. The sun hung low in the sky; a mess of oranges and purples bleeding between the buildings. Mustang stood a few feet away with the phone cradled between his shoulder and ear.
“Hey,” Mustang half turned at Ed’s voice. “Hey, are we there now? ‘wanna get out n stretch.”
“A few more blocks,” Mustang turned back to the phone, “Yeah that’s him now. See you tomorrow.”
Roy made his way back into the car. Ed groaned, all his muscles were locked up from sleeping in the car and his ports ached fiercely from inactivity. He gave a longing look to the sidewalk as the car rumbled to life, but couldn’t find it in him to ask to get out now.
‘Just a few more blocks, right?’ Ed shut his eyes as the car drove. The lingering haze of sleep and zooming scenery made his head spin. He hoped tomorrow morning would be smoother than the mess this morning, and nap, had been. The world was still askew when Mustang parked the car, but the freedom to stretch and walk off some of the aching held more power than the dizziness.
“You aren’t even listening, are you?” Ed startled and whirled around. “I’ll take that as a no. I’ll go over it, again, once we’re checked in.”
The check-in process was easy enough. Ed stared at a spot on the floor, zoned out until Mustang gave him a light push forward towards their room. The far corner of the first-floor hallway, a square little room with small windows high up on the cream walls.
Ed chucked his bag on top of one of the hand-stitched quilt covered twin beds in the room. Mustang dropped his to the top of the dresser and turned to Ed. He found Ed laying with his head hanging upside-down off the bed staring at him and picking idly at his bag beside him.
“Theres been some construction that is going to complicate the mission. Why it wasn’t in our intel is beyond me. It may drag it out a day or two more,” Ed huffed and rolled onto his stomach and pillowed his head on his arms. “We’re going to meet earlier tomorrow to try and plan around it. I’m- really at a loss. The one main road is out due to flooding from that last attack, and now the other is under construction. For now, we need to figure out what to do about that.”
“Mmmh.”
“Focus, Fullmetal.” Ed lifted his eyes to glare at Roy. Mustang leaned back with his arms crossed loosely. “I’m banking on more than just your ability to fight here.”
“I can’t-” Ed dropped his head to the bed again and stared at Mustang sidelong.
“Can’t?” Roy stood up from his lazy lean against the dresser. His brows furrowed and he sighed, “The longer you ‘can’t’ the longer the mission will be. I’m trying to work it out-I don’t want to waste the time or resources either.”
“No, not like that. Everything just-” Ed squinted and waved his flesh hand in a strange little wiggle. He let his hand fall and silence stole the room for a short moment.
“I don’t feel right.” Ed finally said in a small voice. “I can’t… I can’t see straight, let alone think.”
Mustang dropped his shoulders and stepped towards where Ed was laying. He dropped to a crouch beside the blond. Looking closer, Ed’s eyes were glassy and dark despite all the sleep on the drive over. He looked almost greasy with a thin layer of sweat- not entirely unwarranted in the summer heat- across his tense brow. Mustang reached forward to help pull Edward up to a sitting position. Ed groaned but pushed himself up with little prodding.
“What now? I am listening, I’m laying down but I’m listening.” Roy bit the tip of the finger on his left glove and slipped it off while steadying Ed with his right. Ed complained to himself until he noticed Mustang’s hand in his peripheral and flinched away. “What are you doing?”
“Sit still for a second,” He pressed his palm to Ed’s forehead only to have it pushed away immediately with the mismatched pair of Ed’s hands. “Fullmetal, so help me- if you’ve got a fever I need to know how bad it is.”
“I-I-!” Ed stammered and backed up. Ed pressed the back of his fingers to his own cheek. “One second. I’m just- I’m tired. I don’t know, do I have a fever?”
“Yeah,” Roy pressed his palm to Ed’s forehead again. Ed let his hand drop to hold on to the edge of the bed and leaned forward. Mustang shifted to crouch on his one knee on the floor and moved his hand to the Ed’s cheek, and finally to the back of his neck. Ed’s face and neck were damp with sweat and the head was constant Roy frowned, “Damn. And here I thought you were just being a brat to annoy me. Wait here.”
Mustang stood up and Ed slouched further. Ed shrugged his shoulders as a chill washed over him and pulled his legs back onto the bed. Mustang shut the door behind him as he left and Ed laid down on his side.
Ed curled into himself; using his bag as a pillow he shuddered through another chill with his eyes scrunched closed. He let them drift open slowly and took in the swirling mess of the surroundings. When his vision stopped twisting, the room and modest decoration focused. He let out a groan of frustration. Everything ached and his head felt so slow and useless.
“Back. Here,” Roy opened the door to Ed curled up tight on the bed in the smallest ball he seemed to be able to manage. He stood there; casual shirt sleeves rolled to his elbows with extra towels draped over one arm and a glass of water in hand. Ed rolled to glare at the Colonel before pushing himself up again.
“I really thought you’d get yourself ready for bed, or at least move your things while I was out.” Mustang watched Ed’s back rise and fall for a few moments before he put down his armload of items. He shook his head, lifted the phone off the small writing desk in the room, and dialed out to the number Riza had provided on their last call.
Ed tuned him out. He shut his eyes and focused on his misery. His ports continued to protest the lack of movement, and he felt the blanket beneath him trap the heat from his body. The room was stagnant and warm and uncomfortable. Mustang’s stupid voice whispered in the background and the electric lights buzzed a low, irritating hum.
“…have to reschedule, its unavoidable…”
Ed shuddered though another chill. He groaned out loud; his fever must have gotten worse since that morning.
“…got to be at least 102. No, he wouldn’t…”
He groped behind him for the edge of the stitched-square quilt and pulled it over himself. He tugged it up over his head and put his hand over his ear to block Mustang out. His body pulsed in time with his heart, and as uncomfortable as it was it couldn’t keep him from falling asleep.
------------------------
“I’ll be owing him favors for years, I know. I really don’t know what else to do. I’ll have to reschedule, it’s unavoidable.” Mustang heard Ed move around and grumble to himself.
“Is it really that bad, sir? Everything seemed fine this morning.” Riza’s voice crackled over the phone line.
“He’s got a fever, its got to be at least 102.”
“You’ve checked?”
“No, he wouldn’t have let me even if I could. He’s burning, its got to be around there.” He watched Ed’s hand slide across the thin quilt. The boy got a hold of one of the seams on the blanket and tugged it over himself. Roy pinched the bridge of his nose and rubbed at his forehead. “I’ve got to go. Let the others know.”
“Goodnight, sir.” Mustang hung up the phone and turned to watch the lump that was Ed. He turned back to the desk and dialed out to a secure line to Grummun’s office.
-------------
Roy finally stretched up from the desk; a number of promises he’d rather not make, a rehashing a few of Edward’s points from the day before on stalling the mission, and a conversation far too long at this hour of the night with the eccentric General bought some time.
Mustang walked over to where Ed snored beneath the blanket and pulled it down to the boy’s shoulder. Ed’s hair was a frizzed mess and his face was now flushed red. Roy pressed the back of his hand to Ed’s cheek again only to shake his head at the heat. He grabbed a towel from the pile of what he had brought back and stepped into the bathroom to wet it.
Mustang flicked the lights off when he came back into the main room. He took a seat on the free bed and leaned over to smooth the wet towel across Ed’s burning forehead.
“What am I going to do with you,” he leaned his head in the palm of his hand. “Should be half delirious from fever and still giving better ideas than half the military…”
Ed shuddered under the blanket and rolled to his back. The movement knocked the blanket askew and left Ed half covered with his stomach bared to the warmth of the night. Roy tugged on the hem of the boy’s shirt with a quiet laugh to himself before tuning in for the night as well.
Sick/Exhausted!Ed, A+ Brother Al, and Parental Roy and Riza caring for the two of them awww
Basically some minimally edited (i read through it twice) indulgent shit because I had a sad and wanted to write something vaguely comforting.
1914 words long, and dreadful tense abuse im sure. No real warnings needed, but there is passing mention of their mom and kind of like that semi-depressed funk of exhaustion (or at least thats what it was supposed to be)
Ed laid with his head pillowed in his arms. He sniffled back the congestion causing his face to throb and felt it gather in the back of his throat. He kicked his good leg out from under the covers with a groan, and Alphonse found it hard to keep quiet.
“Do you need medicine, brother?” Al’s shoulders slumped with a creak of the cold metal. Ed had been laying in bed like this for hours, not answering past head shakes or something so muffled Al couldn’t understand. “Can I at least take your temperature? We still have a thermometer somewhere…”
Ed sniffed again and swallowed before shaking his head. He rolled to his side to look at Alphonse before rubbing at his watery, red-rimmed eyes and swiping his wrist under his nose. His head was so stuffed and felt so thick, and he tried to just wrap up in a blanket and sleep it off, but the stubborn lack of a fever made it feel silly. He stretched his arms over his head and felt his back pop and his heavy muscles pull. It almost felt good to sit up and stretch a little, but that energy would fade soon.
“Are you going to finish getting dressed?” Al looked over to where Ed had dropped his night clothes, and managed to get his pants and one sock on before flopping back into bed. He hadn’t moved much until now, but somehow his loosely-tied hair was even more of a knotted mess.
“I guess,” Ed’s one eye crinkled as he swallowed after speaking, arm brushing up under his chin before being used to push himself up.
“Why don’t you just get back in pajamas? Pajamas are more comfortable, even Teacher let us have pajama days.” Just like mom, Ed straightened, more defiant at the unspoken comparison.
“She’s not here.” He cleared his throat, grabbing the previously abandoned shirt and pulling it on. He eyed his red coat, and threw it over his shoulder before walking out.
Alphonse sighed and got up to follow. Ed swiped at his nose again, sniffling before coughing into his elbow. The congestion was awful and, though it was only a few coughs the combination was enough to loose a few stray tears. Ed grumbled and wiped them away too before turning and stomping quickly down the stairs. Alphonse locked their door and followed, lighter on his feet and caught the door as it was swinging shut behind his brother.
The brisk walk through the late-afternoon sun was quiet. Ed clearing his throat now and again, and Alphonse following behind. Anyone else walking on the street gave a wide berth or crossed to the other side. Ed would have likely bowled through them if they hadn’t, focused on moving forward. The steady thud and clang of his mismatched footsteps, the glint off his exposed automail arm, and the set glare on his face; with or without the tell-tale Fullmetal-Red cloak bunched up and slung over his shoulder it was surprisingly intimidating.
For as listless as he had been all day, once he got to the military HQ, Ed seemed to have more of his energy back. Running on pure spite again, brother?
Mustang’s office doors were left slightly ajar to allow better airflow through the summer, and Ed just planted his foot and kicked it open as usual. He cleared his throat once more, and Alphonse noted the brief tensing across his older brother’s shoulders immediately afterwards.
“Well. You’re here late,” Havoc blinked up at Ed from where he had been working.
“Well, I’m here.” Ed threw his cloak onto one of the couches. He crossed his arms, forgetting for a second about how warm the automail would be after being outside in the summer sun in just a short-sleeved shirt, but he ignored the bite of the heat at the inside of his arm.
“Alright,” Havoc held his hands up in surrender. “Hawkeye is out for a minute, but you’ve got some stuff on her desk there. Its all clipped together with your name on it.”
Ed walked over and picked through some of the piles on her desk, and upon finding his name took that pile and dropped himself into a sitting position on the couch by the door. He tried to clear his throat again but it turned into a single, harsh, cough. Havoc kept to his work, and Alphonse eased himself down beside his brother.
“Its empty in here today,” Al noted. Havoc chuckled and nodded.
“It’s a bit of a ghost town, Falman is on vacation, Furey went with Hawkeye, the Boss is squirreled away in his office as usual- and I think Breda is still on the tail end of his vacation from last week actually. Its kind of that time of year where you take it or lose the chance until mid winter.”
Ed zoned out, reading his paperwork or using his leg as a table to fill in the bits where he was required. As much as he’d prefer being out and researching with Al, and as much as he was teased or suspected of not being able to handle the military work because of his age, Ed could get it done well, and quickly.
Usually, anyway. The package today seemed endless. He heard Riza and Fury return, and waved when he realized he was being spoken to. A heaviness was settling in across his shoulders and down his arm and into every inch of him again. He hadn’t felt particularly unwell, or dizzy, but this feeling came and went all day. He had nearly hit the floor getting out of bed late this morning because of it.
Ed scratched at his head, undid and redid his mess of a ponytail, and reread the same page for a third time. He started to read it for a fourth, see if anything would sink in, but just sighed quietly and let himself slump into the high arm of the couch. The heaviness got too much and sapped everything when it hit, so he let it. He shut his eyes and let himself relax for a few moments.
“How has today been Alphonse? Busy?” Riza looked up from her work now and again during their conversation, and seeing Ed break for a nap, she thought it would be a good time to ask.
“Um,” Alphonse thought for a moment, “No more so than usual, I guess.”
“You boys aren’t doing anything special for the summer?”
“We thought of visiting Teacher, or maybe going to see Winry for a few days, but it just hasn’t felt like the right time I guess.”
Nobody flinched anymore when Ed fell asleep, he was still young and working demanding hours, and on top of that had automail and other burdens too big for anyone to worry about. It wasn’t uncommon and work life continued around it. He’d usually have a quick ten minutes and wake up and get right back to what he had been doing, or on more trying days or days with heavy rain, he’d excuse himself for a few hours to sleep off the worst of his tension and exhaustion.
Sleeping for a few hours sitting up, then staring at his leg in the twilight darkness of half-past nine at night was less common. Riza stayed behind with Roy when it was clear Ed was needing more than his usual bit of a rest, and it was just the four of them now in the dim office. One of the desk lamps was left on, and Alphonse was sitting on the other side of the room now with Roy and Riza.
As Ed became more aware, he realized his coat had been draped over him and his paperwork moved to the desk a few feet away. He shifted a little, still feeling very heavy on top of sore from the slumped position.
“You awake now, Fullmetal?” Ed cleared his throat and hummed in response to Roy’s question. “You don’t look awake.”
Ed straightened and lifted his arms in a stretch from underneath his makeshift blanket. He yawned and rubbed at his eyes, before returning his head to the arm of the couch and staring across the room to the other three.
“Can I finish that tomorrow? I feel really tired,” he pointed to his abandoned papers. Roy laughed through his nose.
“I’d say so, you’ve been sleeping since four. If you’re that tired you don’t have to come in, Ed. We won’t be unreasonable.” Ed had shut his eyes again and just nodded. Everyone lapsed back into the quiet murmur of getting things put away for the day they had been in before Ed woke up.
“I don’t feel well,” his cracking voice broke the silence a few minutes later. When he opened his eyes again everyone had moved and were getting ready to leave. “Can I just sleep here for the night, I don’t think I can make it back to our dorm. Sorry, Al.”
“Don’t worry about it, we’ll drive you back.” Hawkeye sounded much closer now, and Ed felt her hand press to his forehead. There was no heat, but his face was so pale the lack of a temperature offered little comfort. “You just get home and sleep.”
Ed dragged his eyes open for a second then nodded. He scrunched up his face against a stinging in his eyes before giving a quick cough and pushing himself up to sitting. Alphonse stood nearby, and Ed leaned against him every now and then on the short walk to the car.
By the time Mustang had pulled up to their building, Ed had fallen asleep again. His breathing was leaving little puffs of mist on the side of Alphonse’s armor. Alphonse eased his way out of the car, going slowly and in short bursts trying to keep down the clattering noise he made.
Mustang and Riza had exited the car as well, and Ed remained peacefully asleep. Alphonse had leaned down to wake up Ed, but Roy carefully moved his hand through Al’s line of sight to tap his shoulder.
“I’ll take him up, if you and Hawkeye could hold the doors and show me where to go.” He rolled his shoulders before sitting in the car and leaning across the seat to ease Ed onto his back. “He’s a pain in the ass, but you two are a worthwhile pair of, well, just you, I guess. That was a lot less eloquent than I was trying for.”
“Thank you, sir,” Alphonse stepped back and tucked into himself. Roy could imagine him as a boy like Ed, blushing in gratitude and slightly indignant at an adult interfering. Riza cleared her throat and pulled open the first door. The hour was getting late, and Ed was still just dozing in his t-shirt in the night air. It would be no good if he got a chill and a fever started.
“Don’t worry about it. Just make sure you call us if you need anything, and try and keep him from making himself too sick.”
Roy was quick to put Ed down, and to usher himself and Riza out. No need to over stay a welcome, and no need to work Ed up into a fit, he supposed. Alphonse was thankful for it, because it meant there was nothing he was going to be made to do out of obligation. He wanted to be ready if Ed needed him, and if he didn’t, he had a nice little stack of fiction novels to pass the night with.
First posted fic! Its not the one ive had requested, or either of the two other I had started. Its just a quick little thing. I fell asleep today really early after getting back so I havent had a chance to work on those yet. Ill cross post this to ao3 sometime tomrrow. Im also great at titles. Warning to talk of needles/shots but other than that its pretty tame run of the mill whump.
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Post Immunization (fma fanfic)
Edward stomped into the office, dragging his coat along in his left hand. His automail hand was curled in a protective barrier around his left bicep. He shoved his chair back with his foot and threw himself into his seat.
“Not a damn word, you traitorous bastard” Edward spat as Mustang looked up at the flurry of activity. “One word, and Colonel or not I’ll end you.”
“Brother!” Alphonse chided, “You can’t take it out on everyone. They are working, too; I’m sorry for Ed being so angry-“
“Don’t apologise for me!” Ed glared at his brother. “It was a dirty trick.”
‘Whatever do you mean, Fullmetal?” Mustang leaned back, mouth quirking up even as Riza shot him a look. “It was of utmost importance, and very relevant to your quest to get your bodies back. Immunizations are important.”
Ed reached forward and grabbed some of the paper work on his own, rarely used, desk. He was limited in what he could do for the rest of the day, banned from sparring or getting into anything strenuous to avoid bruising and pain from the set of shots. He was basically stuck with sitting around, but if course Colonel Mustang planned to ruin his day to the last shred of freedom and insisted he come catch up on paperwork like the rest of them. He grumbled, mocking Mustang under his breath as he worked.
The Colonel frowned, Ed wasn’t rising to the bait anymore, and as much as he would love to throw in a good jab about the boy’s height or the fact he was still getting children’s immunizations, this wasn’t the time. Quarterly reports were coming up, and in true Mustang fashion there was a very steep backlog. So work continued on with the addition of an irritated Edward rubbing at his sore shoulder every now and again.
After some time, patience and energy dipped and the others took turns to get up and stretch or grab a refill on coffee. Edward had slumped forward, resting his cheek on the desk’s cool surface. Alphonse, who had previously been content to read quietly or chat a little whenever conversation arose struck up a quiet conversation with his brother.
“Come on Brother, I know this sort of paperwork is a hassle but yore nearly done.”
“Mmm,” Ed nodded, but thats all Mustang could make out from his desk. He missed out on the rest of the mumbled reply. He shifted getting ready to crack a smart remark, but Alphonse’s reaction stopped him from trying to get a rise out of Ed again.
“Do you need to lay down? You do look pretty tired,” he clanked quietly as he fussed, “Are you feeling alright?”
“Everything okay boys?” Riza stepped in after that little bit of eavesdropping.
“Brother?”
“Tired ‘s all. Stupid paperwork’s givin’ me a headache.” Ed straightened, bringing his messy hair and flushed face back into view.
Without hesitation, Riza reached forward to press the back of her hand to his forehead. Mustang couldn’t blame her, even he was taken back by how pale the alchemist looked under the deep red flush.
“Sir,” she half turned to address the Colonel. Ed pushed at her arm gently, using his automail to save his flesh arm the soreness of moving. “Sorry Edward, I didn’t mean-“
“So I do have a fever?” He rubbed at his eyes, no wonder it was getting to hard to stay upright and focused. Riza nodded, turning back to Roy.
“Lay on the sofa over there for a bit, see if it helps.” Roy motioned to the two seater pushed up against the wall. Ed stood up to do so, but stopped to brace himself using his desk for a long moment before stumbling over as if his shoes were undone. Alphonse followed to quietly fret, tossing his brother’s jacket over him as he curled up. Ed pressed his face into the back of the cushions as work resumed in the office.
“I’ve got a quick call to make, Lieutenant.” Roy picked up the phone and dialled the number of the paediatrician Hughes had suggested. No military doctor had the vaccines on hand that Ed was due for, as most everybody had gotten them at around age ten. It was a bit of a low blow to the boy’s pride as well, and one Roy was suddenly not so comfortable with.
“Hello, Doctor Leston’s office. How may I help you?” A chipper voice crackled across the line.
“Colonel Mustang,” he felt ill prepared for this conversation. “I had an appointment set up for an Edward Elric earlier today, as his technical guardian and commanding officer. I need to speak with the doctor regarding that visit.”
“Doctor Leston speaking, what seems to be concerning you today sir?” After the brief hold, Roy was surprised to hear such a young voice.
“Edward Elric was in earlier today for a series of immunizations,” he paused. “He’s feeling rather ill now, actually.”
“Oh, I am so sorry thats a shame. Is he having a rash reaction? Are you able to give me more information? There shouldn’t be many side effects to these vaccinations, but as I understand it is a rather special case with this boy. Being so far behind in them because of such a physically traumatic incident.” Her voice was kind, and she trailed off to allow him to answer.
“Hes got a rather noticeable fever. I’m afraid I don’t know how high exactly, but its interfering with his activities.” It was strange to have it so blatantly thrown at him- Ed was still very much a child. Here he was speaking to a child’s doctor, about a polio vaccine update most people got when they were aged nine or ten. And this was about is subordinate, the thirteen year old boy sleeping across the room.
“Oh! Goodness me, that is incredibly common; he’ll be fine. Many children get fevers after vaccinations. It shouldn’t last more than 24 hours, most don’t even last that long. Over the counter children’s pain and fever medication should be fine to use if he is uncomfortable. If at all possible, please keep an eye on it. I don’t usually get patients with automail, so I’m not too sure how differently it may effect him.”
“Ah, thank you. So its nothing to worry about?” he listened intently for a few more minutes as she relayed more information. “Alright. Thank you very much. If anything else happens may I call here again?… Yes if course, if it rises too high he will be taken to an emergency centre. Alright, thank you, you as well have a wonderful evening.”
“That doesn’t sound too bad,” Mustang looked over to the sleeping boy. “He’ll need to be monitored tonight I suppose. Alphonse where are you two staying this time around?”
“We were going to stay with the Hughes family again this time, Gracia always asks us to whenever we mention we’ll be in the area.” He had half turned to look at Mustang as he responded. His large gauntlet still rested on his brother’s back, moving in small circles to try and offer as much comfort as he could.
“Hm. It shouldn’t be anything contagious, but I’m not so sure you two should go there with him ill. It would be too much, with their daughter.” Alphonse seemed to sag slightly, arranging a room somewhere wouldn’t be very easy as just himself. Edward usually managed to get around the issue of them not having an adult guardian because of his status as a Major. “I’ll get Hawkeye to drive you two back with me.”
“Um? I’m sorry Colonel, I don’t follow.” Al’s voice was small, and it really reminded Mustang how young the boy really was. He felt about two inches tall after today, purposely trying to humiliate the boys by sending them somewhere that under other circumstances would be a totally normal thing for them.
“Its a one-time kindness,” He stood to gather his things. Hawkeye stood from her desk as well and went into motion, preparing her coat and fishing her keys from the top drawer. “He did everything I asked of him, and being in a house with an energetic little kid isn’t going to be easy on him. If you’d like to get your things together, follow Lieutenant Hawkeye down to the gate and we’ll meet you there.”
Alphonse did as he was told and gathered up the few belongings they had. He gave his brother another look before following Riza out of the office. Roy pulled his jacket on and silently thanked his subordinates for knowing when to keep their mouths shut and heads down as they continued to plough away at the stacks of reports.
“Fullmetal, time to wake up,” he stood over Ed sleeping on the sofa.
The boy barely stirred, but did roll enough for Roy to see the strands of hair plastered to his face with sweat. His face was glowing red and how he was twisted seemed incredibly uncomfortable, but he was still oblivious to the world around him. Sighing, Mustang crouched and manoeuvred Ed’s arms through his jacket sleeved and hoisted him up, staggering a little at the uneven weight distribution. After a small struggle, he had Ed on his back. The boy’s arms were slung loosely over his shoulders, and he held the small alchemist tight, tipping forward slightly so the boy wouldn’t fall backwards.
“Feel better, chief.” Jean called out quietly as Mustang made his way out of the office. Ed shifted and hummed, not committing to waking up but hearing enough to know he was being talked to.
