Silken Strands

Roy was about to pack his belonging's and call it a night, wincing as the clock showed that he was up at a late hour. Grumbling about the next day, he absentmindedly began to twirl his pen around the desk, rewinding the past hours of his afternoon.

"We've got no choice." Ed's voice echoed. "We've gotta pay a visit to our mechanic."

He chuckled. No matter what was thrown at the his youngest charge, he always found a way to manage. His small, subtle smile turned sour when he remembered the way Fullmetal had lain on the street, ready to die at Scar's hand. If he had gotten there a second too late...

His thoughts were disturbed as a hesitant knock sounded through the room. He gathered his paper's, priding in making his desk look decent. He rubbed is hands across his tired eyes as he said, "Come in."

The door slowly opened, and in stepped the colonel's youngest subordinate. Mustang sat up, shocked by the outward display. He half expected the lieutenant to walk through the door to berate him on sleep, not a spunky teen who usually kicked the door with a strong sense of malice.

"Fullmetal. This is a surprise, I thought you were asleep." The young alchemist continued standing by the door, frowning as he saw no one else but the two of them in the same room.

"I couldn't sleep." Ed shrugged. The Colonel's eyes trailed towards the blonde's face, who had rubbed his eye's with his flesh arm. He seemed tired enough, but he was still in his dress clothes. More surprisingly, his hair was down, falling down his shoulders in long tresses of gold.

"It doesn't seem like you tried, Fullmetal." Mustang said, gesturing to the crimson coat.

Ed's frown grew into a scowl. "Well it's better than walking in here casually clothed and barefoot!" He retorted. He huffed to himself and rubbed his back. "The beds also suck."

"The barracks aren't good enough?" Mustang chuckled sarcastically.

Edward's antennae twitched irritably. "I would have been halfway to Resembool if you hadn't forced Al and I to stay here for the night!"

Mustang folded his hands and leaned over his desk. "No, you saw reason to my words when I said that Scar could tear you apart while you were defenseless." Had Fullmetal literally forgotten that argument already?

Ed paled considerably and grabbed his right sleeve, scrunching the fabric with his left hand. "Yeah, whatever." He mumbled, looking away.

Mustang viewed the display with wary eyes. He didn't like the way his charge had just behaved. That much was evident.

"What are you doing here then?" Was all he asked. His jaw almost slackened when he saw the young alchemist widen his eyes and blush lightly, trusting his gaze to fall to the floor. Mustang could hear the faintest of whispers coming from him.

"Say again?" He asked.

Edward shook himself, and breathed deeply. "I was wondering if you could..." He paused, glaring holes into the floor. He turned to face the door. "Fuck, this is hard."

Mustang was left in the dark by Ed's strange behavior. "What is it, Fullmetal? Are you going to tell me or chicken out?" He challenged. The seed was planted and all Mustang had to do was wait for the hot-headed teen to cave in.

Ed furiously ruffled his hair, growling softly to himself. He glanced to the left, deep in thought. He took another deep breath in and turned around to face Mustang. "I was wondering if you could braid my hair?" He let out in an explosive gasp. He dared to suck in another breath as he waited for a response.

Mustang sat in front of his desk with a blank look, trying to relay what Ed had just threw at him. It was so fast he almost didn't catch...

It clicked. Mustang felt his eyes widen and he slapped his hand across his mouth to keep in the sudden laughter that demanded to be voiced from reaching Ed. Too late, as a chuckle, and another escaped his throat, which then gave way to a roaring laughter.