chapter two. housing arrangements.
(Artwork not mine I found it on google Credited to ani-chanXD on deviant art I might replace it with my own drawing later)
Looking at his reflection in the slightly cracked mirror of the central headquarters bathroom Edward adjusts the collar and sleeve cuffs of the uniform with a slight frown.
It's not that he didn't like the blue military uniform, he actually rather liked it... just on other people. With a sigh, he picks up his discarded wet clothing and strolls out of the bathrooms. Once again ignoring the looks he got from other people as he made his way back to Mustangs office.
"How does that bastard even have a uniform in my size. Had he been waiting for something like this to happen so that I would have to wear it," Ed scoffs as he pushes the door open.
"Ok Colonel, can I please have her back now?" He asks dropping his wet clothes next to the door.
"Oh hey, Ed, she's a cutie, not as cute as my Elicia though," Maes Hughes coos as he cradles the baby to him. She was now dressed in a clean and dry navy blue one piece.
"Good afternoon Maes," Ed chuckles while walking up to stand next to the cheery man.
"Look Edward, Maes has agreed to look for her parents, he would like to talk to you about where you found her and how you found her, when the rain clears up you will need to take him and the investigation team to the spot you found her... if they think it is a case of intentional abandonment then her parents will be given the appropriate punishment for child neglect and child endangerment. Since we do not yet know if this will be necessary or how long it will take to find her parents... Maes has suggested that you and Alphonse come and live with me, that way you can take care of the child in a safe environment and if you need any assistance with her I will be there to help," Mustang explains, a slight glimmer of an unrecognizable emotion in his eyes as he spoke.
Ed blinks a few times silently staring between Maes and Mustang.
"I did think maybe you could come live with me but Gracia and I already have Elicia to look after, another baby girl... I don't think we could do that just yet," Maes says with a bright friendly smile.
"Thank you," Ed mutters. Causing Mustang to cough slightly at the unexpected gratitude.
"Oh shut up you bastard! I may not get along well with you and I'm not entirely thrilled about the idea of having to live with you but... you are willing to put up with me just to give me the opportunity to take care of her... so thank you," he mumbles rolling his eyes. As he says this the baby girl starts to cry. immediately Edward reaches out and carefully takes her from Maes. Holding her close he softly hushed her.
"Shush, it's ok. I'm here I've got you, are you hungry?" He whispers balancing her on his automail arm while reaching out and swiftly grabbing the bottle of milk out of Furey's hands. He scrunches his nose up and then looks down at the baby in his arms.
"You want milk?" He asks with a slight undertone of disgust.
The little baby girl stops her cries and makes a little gurgling noise reaching her arms up for the bottle.
"Ok if you insist," he says as he feeds her.
"Well, she is definitely in good hands, I don't think you will have anything to worry about Roy, I'll go get my team started off looking for her parents, Ed I'll be around tomorrow to talk to you about where and how you found her," Hughes says with a smile before he leaves the room to return to work.
"Milk is gross, I don't understand how you can enjoy milk," Ed softly says to the baby.
"Milk is good for you brother, it is essential for baby's," Alphonse sighs as he watches Ed from beside Mustangs desk.
"Yeah well I think it's gross," Ed mutters his eyes never leaving the small baby in his arms.
Once she finishes drinking the milk Ed hands the empty bottle to Falman, he carefully positions the baby girl so she is against his chest with her head on his shoulder.
"Mustang... would you...uh... would you be able to help me and Al pack our stuff," he asks with a slight pink tinge dusting his cheeks.
"If we are going to be staying at your place I'd like to be able to keep reading and researching while I'm there," he adds.
"I'll come help after work. For now, you can stay here with her," he says as he picks up his pen to continue with his massive pile of paperwork.
"Brother, you should rest you were up quite late last night," Alphonse suggest while taking a seat at one of the couches. Ed shakes his head.
"No I'll be fine Al," he insists. As he sits down with his legs crossed under him on the couch and baby still cradled in his arms.
"Hey Mustang," he calls out careful not to disturb her. "How come you just happened to have a uniform in my size lying around? I can understand having blankets and baby clothes you probably get a few missing children that turn up like this but... what could you possibly need this uniform for?" He asks with a curious tone.
"Hmm? Oh, it was supposed to be given to you when you became a state alchemist but I assumed you would just refuse to wear it. And also it probably wouldn't look too good if I sent a child out around Amestris while wearing a military uniform. We already have a lot of people who are not the happiest with the military, to have it public that we have someone as young as yourself enrolled as a state alchemist would not... or well did not exactly go down to well with many people," Mustang explains with a nonchalant shrug.
"Oh... OK," Ed mutters with a huff. 'Of course, it was because that bastard doesn't want the military to look bad' he thinks to himself while gently rocking the baby girl.
"It wouldn't be safe for you, some would probably protest your being in the military by attacking you, although I have faith that you can handle yourself in a fight I prefer to avoid that situation as much as I can," Mustang adds. Ed shrugs not entirely sure how to respond to that. 'I guess he isn't as selfish as I thought'
After a few minutes sitting still -although to Edward it seemed more like hours- of nothing but the sounds of pens against the paper and the soft almost therapeutic sound of the clock ticking Edward's eyes start to feel heavy. Letting them slowly drift shut as he lets out a yawn he sits up and carefully lays the baby down on the couch silently getting up and grabbing the blanket from next to Al. He lifts the child carefully into his lap and he lays back against the arm of the leather chair kicking his boots off and pulling the blanket over him and the baby. The soft scuttling caused by Ed's movements cause Mustang to pause in his work and watch the young blonde haired boy as he protectively wrapped his arms around the child while drifting off to sleep. Glancing at the report on his desk the Colonel ran a hand through his messy raven black hair with a sigh before returning his attention to the large pile of procrastinated paperwork. while Ed sleeps, and Mustang and his subordinates work. Al sat watching his brother as he protectively held the baby to him. All that the suit of armour could think at that moment was 'is that how brother had held me when I was a baby?'
(Word count 1254)
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