Pills and Buttons

Nothing Of Pills

Roy spent his time on the floor, crossing his legs and picking out Die For Me once again. "Want me to continue reading?" He tilted his head back, his face childlike as he looked to the small Elric.

"Yes please." Ed was enthusiastic, smiling softly as he leaned back and closed his eyes. Roy's throat cleared and pages fluttered open.

"Wait, since when does the great Roy Mustang read to people?" Winry rose a brow, looking over the edge of the bed at the Colonel that claimed the floor.

"Since now. And it's exclusive to those trapped in hospitals that have blonde hair. Now shoosh!" Mustang sucked in a breath, looking for the small mark he made to remind himself of the sentence he would start on.

" "Maybe I do treat her like she's five, but that's how I remember her best." She looked at Vito. "I have sharp implements at my disposal. Don't make me use them."
Vito winced. "Yes, ma'am." He went to the conference room where Sophie was looking at the photo from Interpol." Roy stops when a sharp knock sounds on the door. Ed had begun to pet Winry's hair when the man had begun to read. He now stopped, the mechanic still resting her head on the alchemist's stomach. "Enter." Kain Fuery stepped inside, a now grown up Black Hayate on a thick leather leash joining him. "Yes, Master Sergeant?"

"Uhm, Ms Hawkeye thought it would be a good idea to bring Hayate in." He unclipped the dog's lead, his collar jingling as he sauntered over to Mustang. He then proceeded to lick the Colonel's face. Kain tried to not laugh while Mustang got slobbered all over.

"Hayate!" Ed patted the bed, the dog jumping up on cue. "Oh, I missed you." He ruffles the animal's fur, receiving a face licking as well. Winry had to move over to let the dog into Ed's lap. "Who's a good boy?" Hayate nuzzles the boy, sitting on his legs and laying sprawled across his lap.

"He seems to have missed you too, Fullmetal." Fuery dares a small laugh, walking straight over to Mustang with a box of tissues and the lead. "Here you go sir." He snaps a salute, heels clicking.

"At ease, and thanks. Tell that to Riza too." He smiles, watching Fullmetal laugh and enjoy the animal in his lap. "Just what the doctor ordered."

"We also found another dog, out at the cabin." Kain drops his voice, and his body to sit beside Roy. "We are holding it here, watching it closely. She's a very large beast, taller than maybe you on its back paws." He slides his glasses up on his nose. "Luna said to train and keep her. Do you think Edward would want her?"

Mustang worried his lip, glancing back at Ed. Seeing him smile made his heart lurch. "Well, when he's out he'll stay with me a while til he's on his feet. The dog was family at that cabin, so yeah. I think he would like to have her." He didn't realise it was quiet til he stopped talking. Ed and Winry had heard it all.

"Another dog?" Edward rose a brow, staring at a wall. All without realization, of course. "You mean Bella?" He ran his hand through Hayate's fur. "She'd been a good playmate for Hayate here." He ruffles the black furred creature again.

"Would you want her as yours, Fullmetal?" Roy dared move back up on the bed. He claims part on the edge, jingling Hayate's collar when he scratches the dog's neck.

He gnaws at his lip, of which started to bleed from its stitches. Edward licked the blood away. "Yeah, I would. She would be dumped somewhere otherwise." He rubs behind Hayate's ear, the canine's head in his lap. "Plus 'simple comforts' are good for recovery, right?" His slowly healing eyes look in Roy's direction.

"Right; they are comforts after all."

==========

Later that day, Edward is back in his black shirt and jeans. His hair is given a cut and combing, his automail adjusted slightly. His other leg was in a brace since it still lacked feeling. The doctor had given Colonel Mustang the medication and needles to held the feeling regain. It would jump start the nerves for a while, eventually allowing them to work on their own.

"Ready Fullmetal?" Mustang knelt in front of him, a hand on his knee and the other on the bed. They had wrapped his eyes in bandages to allow them to continue healing and Ed looked like a war victim. Well,he was a war victim... just from a different type of war.

"I'm ready Flame." He trusted Roy, feeling his body being lifted off the bed. His arms instantaneous wrapped around the Colonel's neck, shifting closer to his chest. One arm was around his shoulders with another under his knees. Edward had a dog's lead wrapped around his fingers, to which he held tightly. Bella sniffed at Mustang, her tan fur relaxing from its bristling. She proved him okay.

"Just relax." Riza opened the door for them, walking ahead to clear a path. Edward nodded, resting his head again Roy's shoulder. The gentle sway of each step was enough to nearly put him to sleep. Hell of a way to relax. His leg twitched, slowly starting to feel a bit in his very upper thigh. He had been given his first injection a few minutes ago and it was running its course. "We're almost outside." Ed nodded again, trying to stay awake. He snuggled into Roy's chest without realizing, feeling safer than he has for the last three and a half years. That year and a half... he had been fed and clothed. From there, it was all down hill and into hell.

"Still got that book?" Edward reached into the inner pocket of his jacket, tapping the cover loudly. "Good." He knew Roy was smirking. He didn't even have to see him to know that. Mustang continued walking, humming a light tune he had recently gotten stuck in his head. He was mentally singing really loudly, smiling softly when he heard Fullmetal yawn. "You can sleep when I get you in the car." He promised, walking through the door that Riza held open. Outside, the sun was just beginning to set and it cast the hospital in a warm golden color.

"Is the sun going down?" Ed yawned again, trying to silence it.

"It is." He responded slowly, wondering why it mattered.

"Describe it for me?" The statement was turned into a question, and Roy nodded.

"Well, the sun's a bright neon kinda yellow. Like a bar sign. The outer edge is softer, like butter. It fades from that into marigold orange, then a soft pink." He tries to think of something that was that shade. He snapped his fingers, mentally of course. "Like a orchid." Ed nodded, hanging onto his words as he was gently placed in the backseat. His legs were folded so he was sitting upright and behind the driver's seat. "From there it's like a Morning Glory blue... finally ending up in a field of plums smeared behind the orangey clouds." Roy stopped a moment to take it all in. He had never bothered before. Who thought this kind of event would make him appreciate such a small thing?

Someone who missed the sunset. That's who.

This took me less than half an hour but I feel bad for not updating sooner. I'm going write the next part and post this and the other as my apologie.