Sleeping Angels

Disclaimer: Get this out of the way first; I own nothing. There, all done.
Warnings: None, really, Roy/Ed pairing, but it usually is.

It just popped into my head while I should have been working on one of my others, or homework. Should be doing that too.

Sleeping Angels

It wasn’t raining but the hill seemed even higher than he remembered. How odd, to see the place in sunlight. Screaming laughter drew his gaze to a tree where two little boys played, chasing each other, tussling, and springing up to do it again. They were irresistible and he walked closer, examining them; gleaming blond hair, slightly chubby bodies still retaining baby fat, round faces shining with joy.

The oldest, obvious even though he was a bit shorter stopped and stared before shoving his brother behind him. “Who are you? Are you a friend of Winry’s parents?” He stopped and looked more closely, confirming what he had thought impossible. Edward Elric stood before him, whole, protecting his brother, and five years old.

“Ah, well, not really. I knew them. Are you Edward?” He crouched down to face them and Al scooted out to see him better, easily brushing aside his brother’s arm.

“Hi. I’m Alphonse. You can call me Al.” A magnanimous tone, bestowing a huge favor. “Do you want to come to our house? Mom says we have to bring new people home before we can play with them.”

“Al! Stop it, we don’t know who he is. Let’s just go home.” The smaller child glared at him and yanked on his sibling’s arm.

“No, brother, don’t be rude. Mom says we have to be nice to people, even people we don’t know.” Al turned and bopped his brother on the head, earning a squeal of indignation and the fight was on, both kicking and swinging wildly.

Roy hopped to his feet and grabbed them by the collars. “Don’t fight. We can go meet your mother. Why don’t you lead the way, Al? Edward, will you walk with me?” They both nodded and stuck their tongues out at each other. He set them down carefully and Al ran ahead, looking back to make sure they were coming. “Edward.” He didn't even know what to say to him.

“Who are you? You know who we are.” The little blond kept up to his easy pace, hands clasped behind his back in unconscious imitation. A quick study, even now.

“I’m Roy. I, don’t remember why I came. To visit you, I think.” A faint ‘Oh.’ and they walked the rest of the way in silence. The house was empty when they arrived, except for Al who had an apple and a glass of milk.

“Where’s mom? And where did you get that?” Ed clambered up to sit at the table too, looking for his snack.

“Mom went shopping. It was on the table and YOU can’t have any! So there!” The four year old stuffed the rest in his mouth and giggled around it.

“But, but I’m hungry!! I want a snack too!” Tears gathered in the corner of his eyes and his face got red.

Al started to look sorry and pushed his drink over. “Here, brother, you can have my milk if you want.”

It was immediately shoved back and Ed looked ill. Roy intervened. “Here, Edward, why don’t I cut up an apple for you too? Will that be ok?” He nodded quickly, casting a triumphant glance at his brother. An apple was cored and sectioned quickly and Roy sat at the table, watching them while Al sipped happily and Ed inhaled his treat.

“Want to see my new picture?” The youngest crawled off his chair and scooted off to the living room to grab a piece of paper off the floor. “Look!” He tried to climb into Roy’s lap and had to be lifted up. The paper had a series of circles, clumsy and uneven, but obviously the beginnings of an array.

“It’s nice, Al. What does it do?” Roy tried to suppress the shiver down his spine. It may not be perfect but he had the feeling that it would activate if they thought to apply power to it.

“Nothing, it doesn’t work.” He sounded disappointed but perked up in a second. “But, Daddy left a bunch of books and I’m gonna learn alchemy too!”

“That’s stupid.” Ed kicked the table from his chair. “He’s just a stupid old man, you shouldn’t want to be like him. Alchemy is for helping people, not being like him.” His brother made a face at him and scrunched his paper to throw. He cowered in the safety of Roy’s arms when the other blond screeched and tried to get him. Roy calmed the older with soothing words and a gentle hand on the head, which was shrugged off after a second.

“Do you know some alchemy, Edward?” A quick nod and he was off, presumably to find an example. Al babbled in his lap, arms around his neck as he played with the gold braid of his uniform and fondled the shining buttons. A piece of paper was shoved in front of his nose and he grabbed it, holding it further away. A simple array, two circles, a triangle and three runes. “What does it do?”

A quick grin and the paper was snatched back to be placed on the ground. “Ah, Edward, I don’t think that’s wise, maybe we should…” faint blue light flared and he froze, holding Al tightly to keep him from moving around. On of the first rules of alchemy; if someone if doing it, stay still. A small dog like form appeared and Ed sat down, wiping sweat from his forehead. Al wiggled to be free and was let go to pick it up and bring it over. “That’s very impressive Edward. Don’t worry, Al, you’ll get it.” He stood and Al latched onto his hand, dragging him to the living room and the couch. The man sat and was immediately sat upon.

Round arms wrapped around his neck and a blond head settled on his shoulder. “You’re nice. Can you stay here?”

“No, I can’t, Al. I have to go home soon.” He felt bad for this little boy, who obviously wanted a father badly enough to adopt a stranger to fill the position. Ed looked stubborn but shuffled closer anyways. His free hand reached out to the boy, inviting him to sit as well. Gold eyes narrowed but he snuck closer, listening to his brother’s breathing. The small child was curled around Roy’s arm, nestled against his chest, and quickly falling asleep. “Edward? Why don’t you sit with us?” A whispered invitation and the boy crawled up on Roy’s other side, not touching.

“HE didn't send you, did he?” The absolute loathing from such a small child made Roy pause and look closely. The boy was shaking and staring at him, partially with fear, and partially something else, hope, perhaps.

A soft smile. “No, I came all on my own. Just to see you and your brother. You’re very special, you two.” Stiff shoulders relaxed and he edged over to lean on the dark-haired man, falling asleep in seconds.

Roy sat, surrounded by sleeping angels, and regretted having to leave. But, he would have to, before their mother came back. He disentangled himself carefully, pulled Ed’s shirt down to cover his stomach, and found a blanket for them. One last look and he walked away, back to the hill he’d appeared on.

******************

Black eyes flew open and he jerked upright, staring at the dark wall. A muffled groan came from his side and he looked down to see soft blond hair on his pillow. “G’to sleep, bastr’d.” Slurred words and the boy was out again, as adorable and darling as he’d been as a child, but no longer as innocent or trusting. Roy put his head in his hands and cursed himself for the glimpse of what could have been.