[Fullmetal Alchemist] Ed ficlet for ranalore

[thuviaptarth]

It's not possible to forget that Edward is small, but Hawkeye has already gotten used to thinking of him as small in a particular way: small like a pit bull, or a bullet, or a gram of ammonium nitrate. That is not the kind of small he looks crumpled unconscious in front of a crying child and a woman's corpse, or dumped in the back of an automobile in a tumble of black and red.

Mustang straightens up, his back still rigid with anger. "Take him back to Tucker's house."

Hughes would cluck his tongue and chide, but Hughes is still poking at the corpse.

"Lieutenant Havoc," Hawkeye says, and climbs into the back and pulls Edward onto her lap. Havoc coughs and "Ahh--"s and fidgets and finally hauls himself behind the wheel to the accompaniment of Mustang very loudly saying not a damn thing. He's gunned the engine twice before the Lieutenant Colonel gets in. Mustang slams the door closed so hard the frame shakes.

It sounds strangely peaceful, the motor's regular growl and the drumming of rain on the windows. Hughes, who has been pestering other new parents for tips, says the wife of a lieutenant in East City claims that when nothing else works, her baby will calm down during a drive. Hawkeye smooths Edward's damp hair and shifts him a little. He is very light except for the automail arm and leg, and very warm except for them, too. He snuggles into her, still unconscious, and curls a cold dense arm around her back. It feels like leaning against a steel bar. It is leaning against a steel bar.

His living fingers tighten on her sleeve. "Mother," he whispers. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry--"

"Shh." She presses her cheek against his head. "You're a good boy, Edward. Go back to sleep."

"He's not a child," Mustang snaps. She doesn't have to look to know that he's still glaring out the window or that he hasn't once looked at Edward since the boy fell down.

They've known each other a long time. He doesn't have to look to know what kind of answer her silence is.

Comments

[thuviaptarth.livejournal.com]

*evil grin* Oh, I like it when they whimper.