Freelancer New York (freelancer_york) wrote in knowhereic, @ 2017-10-03 14:08:00 |
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Entry tags: | fullmetal alchemist: au: alphonse elric, fullmetal alchemist: canon: edward elric, haloverse: canon: york |
Who: Edward & Alphonse Elric, and York
What: Ed’s stuck in Clinic
When: The day after the tribble plot.
Where: The Clinic
Rating: PG-13
Status: Log - Complete
Ed had been out for twelve solid hours. Unaware of the world around him after the Colonel left him in York’s hands. Unaware of where he’d been taken in the first place or he might have been a little less content to sleep so soundly. He’d refused to let go of Roy’s jacket in spite of remaining asleep. When York had to remove it to work, he’d have found it difficult, and Ed’s sleep unrestful until it was returned. It was serving as a comfort blanket in a world that was suddenly uncertain again with lack of Roy. Which only his subconscious brain would ever be caught dead admitting to. His sleep was heavy, no real signs of nightmares until he finally stirred on the edge of wakefulness and he realized he had no idea where he was. The room without power was still dark, and Ed wondered briefly if he’d failed. Maybe he’d only dreamt all that up, Roy holding him and telling him how good he’d done. Maybe all those were illusions and this was a result of his failure, and Ed bolted upright instantly regretting it. His whole world swam as little teeny lights flashed in front of his eyes painfully. It was like a hangover without all the fun alcohol and Ed felt dizzy and sick all at once. --- When Ed jerked awake, he’d hear a soft grunt beside him and feel something in the bed shift. Tiredly, Al was turning a little and blinking blurry eyes up at his brother. Ed was covered with that blue military jacket-- and Alphonse, who had been sleeping atop the sheets, had a white lab coat draped over him, courtesy of the one-eyed soldier sitting in a chair near the bed. He smiled and stood up, reaching out to steady his patient and gently urging him to lay back down. “Hey there, welcome back to the land of the living. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves, you had a rough go of it. You need some time to wake up properly. Lay back down.” Orders from his doctor-- who wasn’t a doctor at all, but the only medic on the head. People would be returning soon, though. Shifting again, Al drew himself some to the side to make room for his brother, a hand wiping over his face. “You’re awake.” So observant. But it was clear he was pleased, that bright smile crossing over his face. Welcome back, Ed. --- The blonde felt awful the second he’d sat up like that. He didn’t put much fight against York in being placed back down in bed where the world didn’t spin as much. He tried to raise his arms, but they felt like lead so he just lie there unaware of his current condition-stuck in a hospital gown and the fact that very likely Roy and York had seen him naked. For the time being he was blissfully unaware, and he just let his eyes close for a moment to focus. “Mnh.” He responded to york, real words were a struggle. For a long moment he kept his eyes close before he felt Al looking at him in the dark. “M’wake.” He muttered tiredly. It was almost like someone had stolen away his life force itself. No matter how hard he struggled to properly wake up, it felt like he couldn’t. His eyes remained heavy with sleep as he opened them to look up at his brother with a groggy smile. “Hey.” “Did it work...or is this…?” Was this darkness the result of him failing? Ed didn’t even want to say the f word. ---- When that groggy smile was turned onto Al, the younger boy’s eyes welled up with tears-- so emotional, but those tears never fell. “It worked. They didn’t reproduce on schedule.” He nuzzled back in against his brother and tucked his face in against Ed’s neck. It was clear Alphonse had been worried his brother might never wake up. York didn’t seem as relieved, he had known the elder blonde would be just fine. “Al’s right, you did great, Ed. Everyone’s been by to see you. The Colonel, the Lieutenant, Cas, North, Harry.. Hell, even Texas refuses to leave her post right outside your door.” And as if on cue: “Shut up.” Came the mechanical-sounding voice of Tex, from the hall outside. “She won’t come in,” York mentioned with a smile, “But it’s nice to know she cares. And everyone’s gonna be so happy to see you’re awake.” And alive. And talking. And not a zombie or something worse. “I’m gonna get you outta here in an hour or so, get you back home so you can rest proper. The Colonel and Lieutenant already took some stuff back to the apartment that we’re gonna need.” Everything York might need for Ed’s care. “He might want his coat back sometime, too.. But for now, I think it’s yours.” --- Al always was the more emotional of the pair, Ed had trouble crying at all. Even when their mom died he’d been the rock until Al fell asleep and only then would he allow himself to feel miserable. He didn’t dare cry though, he knew if he cried Al would wake up again and cry more. Al cried enough for both of them, Ed would be his rock and didn’t mind the position. It was his job as older brother and he liked it, but he didn’t know how to turn it off sometimes. Even when he was the one in pain he found a strong wanting to comfort Al instead, it was just how he functioned. If Al was there and upset, Ed would turn that part of himself off. His fleshhand touched his brother’s back, more softly then he’d ever shown anyone he was even capable of. “I don’t remember much from the actual procedure..” There was a lie there, but he didn’t want to expand on it, so he just shook his head. “I’m glad.” And closed his eyes a moment to try to relax. --- “You two take a few moments to rest. I’ll go gather up the last of the things we’ll need before I get you both ready to go home.” With that, York was standing and stepping forward. He leaned in to press his lips briefly against Ed’s forehead, then he leaned to kiss the side of Al’s head, where he was snuggled up there at Ed’s side. “Don’t get up.” Warned gently, before he turned and headed off, leaving the two alone. After a few seconds of silence, Al finally spoke up, bronze eyes still locked onto the door the Spartan had left through. “Hey, Ed?” A pause, then: “What do you think of York?” --- For once Ed decided he’d listen. The ground looked really far away at this point. His eyes remained closed but that soft kiss was weirdly soothing. Most other people would have gotten punched for trying that sort of move on him, but with York somehow it was okay. “I don’t think I could if I wanted to.” He admitted with a bit of a shrug as York went to go get whatever he needed so they could go home. Home sounded great, but medical wasn’t so bad with all the lights out. It was actually pretty okay that way. He didn’t have to see the various tools and what not so he wasn’t that afraid as he thought he might be coming back. Whether or not it was different with the actual lights on-who knew. Glancing up at Al he raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean what do I think of him? Did he say something weird to you?” Was Al having problems with York? He really hoped not. If Al had problems with York that meant he had to have problems with York and he really didn’t want to. Ed loved him. York had weaseled his way into Ed’s life and now the kid wasn’t about to let him go. --- “No, it wasn’t anything he said..” Al let out a breath and nuzzled in closer. “It’s how you two talk to one another. I don’t know..” There was a long pause, then: “Do you like him?” There wasn’t much room to be misunderstood. Not really. It was clear that he was asking if Ed liked York. The way he said it. The way it took him a moment to ask. The way he paused after. “Because if you do, that’s fine-- it’s great. I don’t know-- I was just curious.” And maybe a little jealous that his brother had become so close with someone else.. But that was part of growing up, wasn’t it? --- “...Like York?” He looked over at Al in confusion. Of course he liked him, but what Al was suggesting was something that went right over Ed’s head for a moment. It took him quite a while to process. “...As in?..” The blonde stared at Al like he was an alien or something and then back out the door where York had left from. He’d never really thought that he might actually like someone the way Al was suggesting. “I….” He didn’t know how to fill in the words. --- “You..?” Alphonse prompted quietly. He would wait a few seconds, then smile a little and shake his head. “You don’t have to answer me, Brother. I was only curious. I’m sorry if I overstepped my bounds.” He tucked his face in against Ed’s neck a moment later, just breathing in softly there and settling himself back in for rest. He was exhausted and for no good reason. “Are you ready to go home?” Surely the older Elric was ready to get home and relax, to sleep in his own bed, to sit on his own couch. To read his own books. Oh. Yeah. The tribbles had eaten those things. Alphonse fell quiet. This whole thing was his fault. --- Ed frowned a bit. He didn’t know what to think of Alphonse’s “question’ and so he was quiet for a moment as he moved to lie down easier. York wouldn’t take any interest in him, the whole idea was just absurd. Besides that, they were partners. He’d used the term partners and that didn’t usually indicate anything more than it was. ‘Nobody should be with me.” Ed said with a laugh as if it was ridiculous, but he didn’t outright answer Al. He’d never really had time to think about relationships or anything further before. He knew he was messed up, so he’d never pursued one. He never felt lonely or a need to. He always had them, he loved what he had. Why did it have to go further? “It’s okay.” Ed commented quietly, letting his eyes close for a moment in exhaustion as well. The event left him feeling a little drunk from exhaustion and energy drain, but not drunk enough to try to imagine himself involved in any kind of relationship the way Al was thinking of. “Yeah, I hate it here.” He admitted awkwardly. Medical was a cold place to be, he didn’t like it. --- “I think anyone who had the chance to be with you would be very lucky, Brother.” Alphonse insisted quietly, a little smile curling his lips.”You’d be a good husband.” It was the word the youngest always thought of when it came to relationships, it was the goal he’d always had in mind. He wanted to find a girlfriend. He wanted to make her his wife. He wanted to have children. But he wanted his brother happy and safe even more. He wanted everything for his brother. And if his brother couldn’t have those things.. Well. Alphonse might just forego them, too. Just so it didn’t create any issues between them. He loved Edward more than anything in the entire world. --- Al continued to talk about potentially Ed’s most uncomfortable subject and so he just laughed waving a hand. “I’d be a disaster.” The blonde responded. Al on the other hand, he could see him having kids and a wife if he wanted. If he knew the stupid thoughts his brother was thinking about giving it up just because Ed was a dysfunctional wreck he’d probably get smacked.Instead he just nudged Al a bit so he could put his flesh arm over his eyes. He didn’t complain, and wouldn’t in spite of being in pain that he actually was uncomfortable. He tried not to state the obvious when not much could be done about it. “Where’s York? I wanna get the hell out of here.” Ed frowned into the darkness as he looked up at where the ceiling ought to be It was just an inky blackness. “....Wonder what they’ll do about the electricity..” He commented off handedly as he took in an irritated breath. No he had all these ridiculous questions floating around his head. -- “You’d be perfect.” Alphonse insisted in a whisper. It would only be a moment later, as if on cue, that York came back through the doorway with a smile, a duffle bag over his shoulder. “Okay, Al, time to get up.” He called with a smile. It caused Al to groan and slowly climb from the bed, shuffling over to York, who handed him the duffle bag. Then the soldier was coming over to Ed and was tugging back the blankets. Roy’s jacket was taken from the chair and he offered to help the young Alchemist get it on, so he wouldn’t just be in that hospital robe. “Are you ready to go home, Ed?” Asked as he slipped the jacket onto those waiting arms. He hadn’t tried to help the blonde from the bed-- York planned to carry him. It wasn’t as if that automail weighed anything in comparison to the Spartan. --- Roy’s jacket smelled like fire and ash. But still he didn’t mind holding onto it for just a little while. It was still comforting. He let York help him with it. Ed didn’t want to be there in medical longer than he had to, so York’s interruption was just what he needed. Roy’s jacket was huge on him, he practically swam in it when he was given it to wear and his eye twitched a little. Stupid giant Colonel. The man really was a mountain to his current self. The blonde shifted slightly in an attempt to get up, figuring that was what York had come for. He would have to stand up to get home, so now or never. His flesh hand moved to York’s chest to use him like a rock. “I want to leave.” He wasn’t sure if he was telling his own legs that or York at this point. Trying to move was awful. He felt sick again. “I hate everything.” He muttered as the world in front of him blurred slightly in his vision under the strain. --- He wouldn’t be going anywhere fast. Once he had turned, the taller blonde bent some and scooped Ed up into his arms, like a bride. “I’ll try not to take offense to how much you hate me.” York remarked with a smirk, since Ed hated everything. “Come on, let’s get you home and into your bed.” Where Al would surely sleep with him. But his self-proclaimed protector would be an entire room away, settled in next to North. Al’s room never got used these days. Not anymore. York’s bed got used the most. He didn’t mind at all. He was turning to carry Ed out, Al following along with a smile up at his brother. Poor Ed. --- “I can walk on my own you know. You don’t need to show off just how gigantic you are.” Ed said with only mild exasperation as York lifted him like a little girl into his arms. It was strange, how attached to York he was but the man wasn’t allowed to leave him now. He looked down and over at Al to make sure his brother was following them before he decided to let his eyes close a little on the trip home. He wasn’t sure what was in store for them, but he was sure home was a thousand times better than medical. -- “It’s not about how short I am in comparison to the others,” because he wasn’t gigantic. Look at North! “I know you can walk, but you don’t have to. I can carry you.. And besides, it’s not often I get to hold you like this, so let me indulge while I can.” He flashed a smile down at him, then looked back at Alphonse, who was smiling, but blushing hard. He saw it. There was no way to unsee it. The trip back to their apartment wasn’t long, and York would take Ed into his room and lay him carefully down on his bed, then would help him out of Roy’s coat. The coat was laid on the bed beside him, so Ed could keep it near. “You’re going to need a bath, too. So take a bit, rest up,” surely the move had been hard on his stores of energy, “And I’ll run you a bath.” Alphonse watched from the doorway. --- “The entire time I was talking to them, my hand was shaking. They couldn’t tell since most of the time was on the internet but…” Even on there he got sort of overwhelmed by it all. “I felt sick but I couldn’t not say it all cause it was my idea. I didn’t want anymore death.” But even then just remembering it all his hand shook slightly and he put it in his lap instead. “I didn’t want to disappoint them.” Ed acted like he didn’t give a fuck, but the truth was he cared a lot about what other people thought of him. Ed could see Al’s face turn red and frowned. “Are you sick or something?” He asked with a slightly worried tone, the last thing they needed was for them to get sick ontop of it all. York was gentle and warm and Ed couldn’t help but to relax a bit near him as they finally made it home and he was placed in bed. Roy’s jacket serving as an extra layer of comfort in that moment that Ed desperately needed whether he’d admit it or not. He didn’t like feeling this vulnerable without alchemy. It scared him. He knew he couldn’t because of what the figure in the blackness had done, but also he didn’t have the energy to pay for it. Alchemy took something from him when he used it without the circles the way he did. “Baths are gross.” He remarked, but he didn’t have the ability to stand in a shower just then and he did feel equally gross himself having not had time to bathe and clean up recently. He looked around his room as he lie there for a moment and frowned. “...Everything’s gone.” The things he’d bothered to collect only existed in shreds of paper or plastic. It was stupid, but he couldn’t help but feel a sense of loss over the few things he’d actually owned there. --- Al just shook his head when his brother asked if he was sick. No, he was fine. And he fell into step easily as the giant carrying Ed began to move. With Ed tucked into the bed, and the Spartan heading out of the room, York called back: “Don’t care, you’re taking one anyway.” His voice came from the hall, and then it was just the two brothers again, Alphonse looking rather shamed. Like a dog who’d just been caught doing something wrong. “I’m sorry.” That everything was gone. That he hadn’t been able to defend it. The bed was even slightly mangled, but it would do for now. It would take a ton of money to replace everything, it would take time. And Al felt entirely responsible for it. He wasn’t wrong. “The Colonel says he has a job for us.. To make some.. Sunshades for Georgia?” Al was there to do the Alchemy, apparently, because his brother would surely be too weak to do it. Since coming here, Alphonse had been exceptionally excited. He’d been happy. Eager. Thrilled, even. But lately, he’d begun to feel.. Well. He’d begun to feel like he didn’t really belong here at all. More than that, he’d begun to feel useless. Worthless. He’d gone from being Lt. General Roy Mustang’s Golden Boy and Left-Hand (Riza was the Right, of course) to being.. some brat that no one really knew what to do with. Some faceless suit of armor that no one had ever really paid much mind to. Something that had no purpose except to make Edward Elric, the Earth Shattering Alchemist, happy. When had he been reduced to that? When had he stopped being Windstorm? It made him feel a little sick to his stomach. “But we can wait until you’re ready to get started.” --- “Ugh gross.” Did York have any idea how many germs were inside a bathtub? It was like sleeping in your own filth. Ed was not amused at this idea. The expression on his face showed it. Some of the books Ed had lost were first edition that wouldn’t be able to be replaced. Ed wasn’t that naive that he’d be seeing them again. “Why it’s not your fault.” He commented as he let an arm hang over the bed in defeat like a ragdoll. “Why’s your face so red then?” He just casually pointed out as though it were socially acceptable to point out someone elses embarrassment. He had no idea it wasn’t and wanted to know. It was better than focusing on the loss of books. “Ah! No, damnit! “ He suddenly remembered he had something important on that shelf but it too was nowhere to be found. His eyes scanned it and he got up with many regrets to his head to examine it a little closer. “I don’t have time to replace that..” Or energy to. Roy was not an easy person to shop for when he had no idea what kind of man he was-outside of psychopath. Standing didn’t last long, Ed ended up slumping down to his knees out of exhaustion, that was sorta pathetic, but he couldn’t help it. His head rested against what was left of the empty book shelf that had been also mangled by tribbles. He didn’t elaborate for a moment as he just let himself sulk until Al said something about Roy and alchemy. Ed looked over at him with a small frown. “I can’t do alchemy right now.” --- Thankfully, Al didn’t have to answer that question, Ed was distracted by something else and was suddenly climbing from the bed. It made his little brother jerk some-- but he stopped himself and instead just stood there and watched as Ed began to manically look for.. Whatever it was that Al had allowed to be eaten. The younger blonde turned his face away. He felt horrible. Ed sunk to his knees. Al looked back towards him, a frown on his face. “I’m so sorry.” His words were only a whisper between the two of them, nearly lost to the silence of the room around them. --- “The book I found for Roy’s birthday was on there.” He finally admitted as he forced himself to stand. Even standing took more effort then it should. Life was annoying this way, Ed really hoped things would return to normal soon. He didn’t know how much more of this he would be able to stand. He felt pathetic having to lean on things just to stand up, or worry people when he tried. “I need to go to Earth. Bath can wait.” Screw the bath in fact. He would replace it if it killed him, and at this rate an Earth trip just might do that. “Where’s the teleporting thing?” He just realized he wasn’t wearing his. That could be problematic in his plans. As Al apologized again, Ed gave him an irritated glance. “How many times do I have to say it’s not your fault?” He didn’t blame Al, he blamed the stupid tribbles. --- “York has them.” Their passports, that was. York had all of them. He knew the reckless nature of the Spartans-- and the eerily similar reckless nature of the Elric brothers. He had the passports in his care. No one would be running off to Earth for any reason. Not yet, anyway. Not until he was sure everyone was well and able to make the trek. He didn’t respond as his brother scolded him, just remained standing there in the doorway like some sort of shadow. Thankfully, he was saved from further irritated looks by the most irritating man in Ed’s life, who came into the room a moment later, smiling at Ed. “Hey, look who’s up and ignoring my one rule. That’s great, Ed, thanks.” He’d told him not to get up. “Bath’s ready anyway, come on, you stink.” He made a vague gesture for Ed to come forward. If he wanted to be out of the bed, he’d damn well walk to York in the doorway. Alphonse had since slipped back into the hall and disappeared to the living room. --- Watching Al stand there, Ed frowned. What the hell was going on with him now? He had told him it wasn’t his fault right? A look of confusion and a little resentment crept into his features as York showed up. Did that man have ESP or something? Ed touched the bridge of his nose gingerly as if that might stop the world from spinning. “Yeah well, apparently everything's fucky anyway so who cares about that?” He responded to York’s comment about the one rule and took a good four minutes to even get himself to stand up. Ed took a few steps forward and managed to cross the distance to York. “I can’t just sit around. I need to go replace something. “ He’d never bothered to give a fuck about Mustang’s birthday before, but this was different. Everything was different. It mattered now and Ed was angry. All that trouble and everything he’d owned was basically destroyed. He was upset nearly to the point of tears that he refused to let fall and it was ridiculous. --- “No, you’re getting cleaned up and you’re resting. If you need something, I’ll take care of it for you.” He directed Ed in front of him and lazily wrapped his arms around him from behind, just around the younger man’s shoulders, directing him towards the bathroom. “Water’s already drawn and nice and warm. And when you’re clean, I’ll skip down to Earth and find whatever you want.” Directed into the bathroom, he took the Colonel’s jacket and hung it up, then began tugging at the strings on the hospital robe he’d made Ed wear home. “Climb in. I’ll find you something to wear.. I haven’t got much, just the clothes I had at the clinic, but they’ll work for now.” Anything was better than a hospital gown, right? --- “When did you become the boss of me?” Sometimes Edward Elric did actually listen though, and apparently this was one of those times. His eyes narrowed at his friend, but he didn’t fight the touch. Little by little, York had gotten him used to being touched by him in any case. Other people were still another story, but York didn’t treat him like a freak or hesitate to touch him because he had automail or because he was different. “What am I supposed to do, just sit here?” Ed looked a little flustered at the lack of strings suddenly to hold the robe together, and frowned. This was not his day. “I can go myself you know.” He commented with an irritated look. Whether or not he meant to the bathtub or to Earth was unclear, but in his head it was perfectly so. The little bite wounds he’d suffered from the tribbles on his side were already starting to heal. They weren’t as angry and red as they had been. Ed glared once more at York before in defeat turning away and letting the robe fall off before slipping into the hot water. “I can’t be in here long. It loosens my automail.” Bathing in water wasn’t a thing he’d been advised to do often. --- “I’m pretty sure it was when you started listening to me.” That was when he’d become the boss of you, elder Elric. And the smile on his face was just.. So easy and cheerful. Yeah, he was the boss of the Alchemist. So what? Neither one of them really minded it. And when Ed climbed into the tub, York came to sit on the edge of it. He clearly didn’t have any issue at all with anyone’s nudity. The Spartans just.. Didn’t have that hangup. “You won’t be in there long, we’ll get you all cleaned up, smelling like roses, and then back into bed so you can get better. In the meantime, I’ll go to Earth and pick up whatever it is you need.” Snagging the shampoo, York set it near himself and then splashed some water at Ed’s chest. “Head underwater. Come on. Chop chop.” York was gonna stay there? Really? Yep. --- “Noted, I’ll have to stop that shit then.” Ed responded as the warm water touched him. It stung some of the bite marks he suffered, but he didn’t really comment on it. He just looked up at him with an incredulous look. “Are you really gonna stay there and watch?” The blonde didn’t like getting his hair wet. It was much thicker and longer than it appeared when it was braided up the way he prefered to wear it. His skin was pale, it didn’t get touched by the sun often with all the long sleeve black things he usually wanted to wear. It did have quite a few marks in it from previous injuries though that were visible thanks to that stark color. Where the automail connected to both leg and arm were practically seamless, but some of the skin around his shoulder blades had suffered for it. They were scarred up from the point of connection and pressure the metal put on his body at the time. He stared down at the surface of the water at the leg sitting in it. “This is going to be a bitch to dry you know.” He frowned awkwardly. “Roy’s stupid birthday present.” It was october. His least favorite month of the year. Many unpleasant things had happened during it. It brought back hard memories he didn’t really want to deal with. Finally he reluctantly let himself sink down under the water and had half a mind to stay there, but the other was annoyed with the soapy water and wanted to get out, so drowning wasn’t a thing that day anyway. --- “I’m not gonna watch, I’m not a pervert, you know.” A pause, then: “I’m gonna help.” Another easy smile followed and he tugged Ed’s hair free before the boy dunked his head under. And when he came back up, York pushed that long, thick hair back with a small chuckle. “That’s better.” Shampoo grabbed up, he poured some directly onto the top of the eldest Elric’s head, then his hands came out to start soaping it up, working it into the hair and scalp like this was something normal for him. Maybe it was. “And I’ll help you dry off, stop being so negative all the time. You’ll get dry, I’ll get Roy a birthday present from you-- when’s his birthday?” He had no idea, of course, that it was the very next day. That narrowed his time frame just a little. War-hardened hands worked through that longer hair, it was gentle and careful and his motions were deliberate-- to help Ed relax. It’d certainly feel good. Ed didn’t like getting his hair wet and washed because he’d never had it done by someone who loved showers more than anything else in the world. York hadn’t had a chance to get many when he was fighting.. And now, it was the most perfect luxury he’d ever had, aside from a flushing toilet. --- “How do you help someone take a bath?” Ed didn’t realize two people were necessary for this, but maybe with automail they were. “Yeah I’ll dry, in a week.” Ed muttered with a roll of his eyes. He was oddly shy, even though it was just York-but Al’s comment earlier still lingered in his head. Do you like York? ...Maybe it was possible, he’d never let anyone come this close before. Nobody had seen him naked like this, not that York was looking, and honestly it’d be a little weird if he did at this point, but the thought was still there. Thanks Al. A hint of pink touched his own face and he blamed it on the hot water. Steam rose after all. “The second.” The shorter alchemist had it picked out for a while now, since Riza told him when the Colonel’s birthday was. Ed never knew what to buy people. Birthday’s weren’t a celebrated thing for him. He ignored his own and planned to do just that this year too. “I hate October.” He grumbled, staring down at his hands in annoyance. “It figures that bastard would be born in it. Bet he did it just to spite me.” As if that were actually possible. But for Roy, Ed might think it were.. In spite of himself, Ed found York’s touch soothing and actually closed his eyes for a moment. This wasn’t a thing he would ever admit to enjoying, but the tense knots in his shoulders seemed to. A little bit of him even relaxed for a moment, forgetting everything else. --- “A little birdy told me that your birthday is in October, too.” York said with a smile, stroking his fingers through soapy hair to untangle it, then he had Ed dunk, so he could wash out the shampoo-- then he would start all over with conditioner. It was Al’s. The youngest, unlike his brother, took meticulous care of his blonde locks. “Is that why you don’t like October?” Because of the birthdays? Al hadn’t been able to tell him about anything else.. He didn’t have the same issues his brother did in October. His own brother had died in the summertime. Hair all slicked up with conditioner, York piled it all atop Ed’s head so it could soak in, then he grabbed the loofa (also Al’s-- Riza hadn’t been kidding, Alphonse might as well have been a sixteen year old girl) and poured some of the liquid soap onto it (York and North used bar soap and shampoo and that was it-- they were men, they were soldiers) before he urged Ed to sit forward and rubbed the loofa over the upper portion of Ed’s back, along his shoulders and where automail met skin. He hoped this all would help the poor kid relax. --- Ed picked up a bit of the water in his flesh hand and almost seemed to ignore the question as he watched the water slip through his fingers and back into the bath. “We don’t have to acknowledge my birthday.” Ed responded in a weirdly cold and serious tone for someone looking so ridiculous sitting in a bathtub. He wasn’t playing hard to get, he didn’t want anyone to go out of their way and surprise him-nope. He just didn’t want anything to do with his birthday and he’d stand by it when the day arrived. His birthday was nothing to celebrate. He’d lost his brother’s body, just barely clung to his soul so why should he acknowledge his own birthday? Neither one of his parents were around to do it. Not that he cared. Fuck that. He didn’t respond to the rest of the question at all, he ignored it in favor of actually enjoying the bath. Letting comfortable silence fall. “...It’s depressing that my only outfit left is Roy’s jacket. He’s going to make fun of me.” Ed commented off handedly as he let one of his arms hang over the edge of the bath while York hopefully avoided the subject of birthdays and october anymore. Ed didn’t want to talk about it. He’d barely managed not to cry over the loss of books, if he cried over this it may not stop-and he refused to do that just now when he already felt weak and pathetic. --- “I have some clothes you can wear until we get you some. I’ll take you and Al to Earth when you’re ready, we’ll get some new threads. Something not black, perhaps.” He grinned down at Ed and washed along his back, all the way down to his waist, before he came back up to do his fleshy arm. It was all clinical, but gentle. There was nothing lingering about it, nothing sexual, but it also wasn’t mechanical. It was a man, who loved another, and was helping take care of him. It really was that simple. “My birthday’s in December.” York offered casually. “There’s a holiday that people on Earth used to celebrate, called Christmas. It was sort of a big deal back in the day.. We still celebrate it where I’m from, but we just call it ‘The Holiday’. My birthday’s on that day-- it’s not my real birthday, I don’t know when my real birthday is, but they made all of us have the same birthday, for ease of record keeping. All of us on The Holiday.” York was nothing if not good at talking to fill the silence. --- ‘What’s wrong with black?” Ed didn’t seem to find it weird at all that his entire wardrobe had been different sorts of black things-but mainly consisted of black long sleeve shirts big enough to hide automail. Any trace of momentary embarrassment seemed to have faded from the younger alchemist with York’s touch. He wasn’t trying to do anything weird, and Ed felt comfortable with him, so why should he worry about it now? Al put ridiculous thoughts in his head but those thoughts for the moment were gone. It was warmth. Ed wasn’t used to someone treating him so softly. He was the sort who was fine with silence, so letting York talk was more than acceptable. The man could find the simplest subject to go on about where the elder Elric failed to find even one that wasn’t hard for him. Long wet hair stuck to his back as he just barely listened. “I know Christmas, York. I may be old as fuck but Christmas started in the eighteen hundreds...we just don’t celebrate it.” Ed said with a shrug. “....But I’ll remember your birthday. Mine just isn’t worth it.” He’d lost his brother, so why should he have a birthday? “Granny used to cook on Christmas though. I remember liking that part.” --- “Maybe we can talk Lieutenant Hawkeye into cooking for us on Christmas.” The word felt funny in his mouth, he wasn’t used to it. “Alright, head underwater.” He let Ed duck under and York quickly washed out all that conditioner. When Ed came back up, the Spartan combed his fingers through his hair again. Like silk. Wet silk, but still. It felt more like Alphonse’s hair. “When’s your birthday, Ed?” He let his hand slip around to the side of the Elric boy’s head and tugged him in closer, so he could press a kiss to his temple. “Tell me.” The Spartan spoke against the damp skin, before he pulled back again so he could resume his washing. Eventually, though, he’d get to Ed’s beltline and he’d skip lower to get at his leg and partial thigh on the other side. --- Ed snorted at that idea. “Good luck.” Hawkeye seemed barely interested in making the pie, but she’d done it because he’d asked. He wasn’t sure if even he would have such an easy job asking her to cook a big meal like that. When York’s hand came closer to his lower half however, that pinkish hue rose again. Not really because he felt like it was sexual, but more that he’d never let anyone that close to him. “Ever questioning that I like you, remember this.” Edward closed his eyes again as York came near and he leaned into the touch. The angry skin near his automail seemed to react fairly well to the attention, Ed never really gave it much mind just how much it hurt until it didn’t. He’d gotten used to pain. “Inconsequential.” Ed responded with a slight frown, he didn’t want anyone making any sort of fuss over his birthday. The last person who had was Hughes and his wife, and it’d been a surprise. Ed couldn’t have said no to them if he wanted. Ask him though and he’ll say no forever. The bath water was making him groggy. -- “Tell me.” York insisted again, finally finishing up and pressing that loofa into Ed’s hand. He could clean between belt-line and thighs. The soldier would wait while he did so. “I told you mine.” And York didn’t celebrate his birthday, so it was an even exchange, right? “If you don’t want anything to happen, that’s fine, it won’t.. But I still want to know it.” He could have just asked Al, but he didn’t want to. He wanted to hear it from Edward himself. He’d give Ed time to consider it, though, and once he was done washing, York slipped his arms under Ed’s and lifted him out, then set him simply onto the ground in front of the tub and wrapped a towel around him. A second towel was soon dropped onto his head and the taller blonde was drying his hair off. “We’ll get you all dried off.” Metal limbs and all. --- “...I don’t.” Ed responded with a slightly shaky tone. All the talk of birthdays brought back feelings of self loathing and worthlessness he’d tried to ignore before. Why did it matter so much? He wanted to ignore it. His birthday was the opposite of anything worth celebrating. His own father certainly thought so. The man was still alive, but dead in Ed’s eyes. Birthdays brought up all those things and then some. Birthdays he never got to have with their mother, with Al. Ed could only take the little spongy thing with his flesh hand, his automail would destroy it in seconds. He was glad when it was his turn though to clean more private areas. He didn’t suspect York would want to, but it would be a little awkward if he did. “Why? Why does it matter?” He could feel frustration at the continued question heat his face a little. When York lifted him like he weighed nothing, Ed glanced up at the slightly older Spartan and frowned a bit. “October Eleventh..but..” He didn’t want anything to happen, he just wanted it to pass by. It was just a day. --- “Because you matter to me. Is it really that difficult to figure out? Come on, Ed. Everything about you matters to me.” With that hair towelled dry, York knelt down and used the same towel to start working on that automail leg. Even knelt, he was tall. Where someone about the same height would come to waist-level, York’s head came to abdomen-level on Ed, as he was a decent sixteen inches taller. “October eleventh, but nothing. You’ve already made your wishes clear. No party. I promise. But you can’t keep me from getting you a gift, because I want to.” That single blue eye locked onto the golden ones above him and York gave Ed a grin. “But I promise not to make a big deal and I’ll make sure Al doesn’t, either. It’ll be low-key.” But York wouldn’t let it go by unrecognized. --- Al was probably annoyed at him anyway, but to be honest that worked out for Ed. If it meant no party, great. For someone so little he could hold a lot of self loathing. He didn’t think he was worth celebrating but he supposed he couldn’t stop York from getting him something if he wanted to, the man was a giant. It would be hard to stop him from doing anything he actually wanted. Ed could only give him a frustrated sigh at his stubbornness. “Fine.” He muttered as he watched him. He wasn’t used to anyone doing this kind of thing for him. It wasn’t something he’d let happen too often Ed was still a stubborn kid after all; but just then he was feeling a little vulnerable anyway so maybe being taken care of wasn’t completely awful. He felt a little dizzy as he watched York idly. His hair hung below his shoulder blades. Part of him considered cutting it off out of sheer lazyness-but his mom had always said she liked long hair. He didn’t remember much about her these days except pointless little details. --- “Fine.” York mimicked with a soft chuckle, wrapping that towel around Ed’s waist and tucking it back in on itself, before he curled his arms around that trim waist and pulled the boy in closer, just holding him there against him, his cheek pressing briefly to Ed’s abdomen. “I was so worried.” He admitted after a moment of just hanging on. He’d been worried Ed was going to die. When he’d seen him collapse that way, the only thing that kept him from throwing himself at Ed and grabbing him up had been Mustang, who’d gotten there first. And somehow, York had felt like he’d failed his young friend. “We should get you into bed.” He needed his rest. --- Ed blinked golden eyes in confusion as York pulled him in so close again. It was still really hard for him to accept the touch of other people, but York he was getting more and more accustomed to. His expression softened slightly as his flesh hand reached to touch York’s head. Probably the for the first time since York was generally so huge. “Sorry.” Ed didn’t often apologize. It was almost like it wasn’t in his vocabulary sometimes, but maybe it was necessary then. “I knew it would take energy...I didn’t know how much.” He admitted. He didn’t admit what he saw in there though for the sake of both of their sanities. “My eyes hurt. So many years into the future and you people still can’t come up with shampoos that don’t hurt?” He gave him a faint nudge and wiggled his feet a bit. It wasn’t often they were out of those heavy combat style boots. Most shoes didn’t fit him properly, he’d given up on that a long time ago. Being barefoot was rare to him. His leg made him the most self conscious if he was entirely honest. The arm he could deal with, but the leg just looked weird. --- “Mine hurt too.” But it wasn’t shampoo. It’d been the blast of light. He still had a headache from it. Delta had been taking care of most of his visual needs since then. “Come on.” Pulling back just enough, he scooped Ed up, then climbed to his feet and turned to carry the towel-clad Alchemist out, back to his own bedroom, where he carefully set Ed on the edge of that bed, then picked up the clothes he’d brought in, and made a vague gesture. “Arms up.” The t-shirt was tight on him, it’d be huge on Ed. And, if the boy obeyed, York would pull the shirt on over his head, help it down his arms, and then tug back the blankets. “Climb in. Once you’ve rested, Al will braid your hair.” And then Ed could get back to normal. --- Ed frowned a bit at that. “They do? Why?” York never said so before, had something happened and he wasn’t aware? Who would do anything to York? Whoever it was, Ed would beat them with a metal fist. “I don’t like it in here anymore.” He admitted, the room was uncomfortably empty now with his stuff all destroyed. He was surprised there were even fuzzy towels left. He had half a mind to say no to the request, but he was also tired. He didn’t want to put up a fight just then so he did that and raised his arms. Any shirt of York would easily serve as a nightgown to the short boy in front of him. He pulled his hair away from the collar of it and looked up at him.. “.....I guess that wasn’t completely disgusting.” The bath he meant, but he still wasn’t supposed to take them often “ Gonna need oil though.” For the automail, and that had been eaten by tribbles. The night had been surprisingly emotional and exhausting, he hoped he would actually sleep well for once. He hadn’t been lately. “Don’t read too much into this me listening to you thing.” He said with a point of his finger as he slid under the covers and almost instantly his eyes were heavy. --- “All the excitement.” Came York’s simple lie. He wasn’t very good at it, but the more simple, the better. “I’ll get you some oil when I go to Earth. What do you want me to pick up for the Colonel?” With Ed tucked in, York took up a seat on the edge of the bed and brushed his fingers through that slightly damp golden hair again. “And do you want anything to read?” The apartment was pretty much empty. The towels had been part of the stuff York had taken from Medical. There was more in those bags-- necessities. And a few luxuries. Anything for his boys. All of his boys. “Get some rest. Al will be here when you wake up.” And would braid his hair for him, while York was off getting whatever the two of them needed. --- “Excitement?” What’d that mean? He was too tired really to figure it out that second, York’s gentle touch wasn’t helping matters of his brain continuing to be active either. He lie on his side, facing him and leaning into that touch much like a content cat. “Mnh?” York was talking, but Ed was hardly awake anymore. “Oh...that. It was a leather bound notebook with blank pages inside.” Ed wasn’t good at picking out gifts, but he’d wanted one too. Maybe Roy would like that sort of thing for alchemy notes. They were expensive though, Ed could only afford one. He had money, but it wasn’t endless. “I don’t want anything” He responded a bit awkwardly, he didn’t feel like collecting things just for the next wave of whatever to show up and wreck it again. What was the point? This was space, there was always going to be something to show up and wreck things. Ed was already half way to drifting off when York was telling him to sleep, and he nodded to the comment about Al. He wasn’t sure that was true, he was pretty sure Alphonse was annoyed with him but he was too tired to argue anyway. |