AN: Okay, so this is my first fanfic on this site, so it may not be (aka, probably isn't) that good. But hey, that's life, you know? Anyway, Ed might be out of character, but it's cold, and rainy, and he's tired. That isn't a good combination for a kid with automail. Mustang and his crew, I believe, really care for Ed and Al, so this fic came up. Enjoy!

Automail

Edward Elric, the Fullmetal Alchemist, the hero of the people, walked his fourteen year old self into Colonel Mustang's office in pain. It was raining outside, and it was also cold. Not a good day for a person with automail.

Scowling, limping, he flung the door of the Colonel's office room open, causing it to slam against the wall with a bang. Ed stalked up to the Colonel's desk and dropped the sloppily written mission report on it, ignoring the calls of "Hey Ed!" and "Hey Chief!"

Turning around, he also ignored Mustang's comment on his height and messy report, instead choosing to gingerly sit himself on the couch and pull his legs to his chest, closing his eyes. I hate the rain, he thought to himself. He heard Al walk in the room, saying hello to Havoc, Breda, Mustang, Hawkeye, Fuery, and Falman. They greeted him in return.

"You okay, Chief?" Havoc asked in concern.

Ed cracked open an eye and grunted in response.

Alphonse answered for him, "Nii-san's automail causes him pain in cold or rainy weather." They could hear worry in the tinny voice of the younger brother. Directing his voice to Ed, he said, "Maybe you should take it off, just for a few minutes. It's helped before."

Ed looked at the Colonel with eyes that were half-lidded with weariness. "Do you mind, Colonel Bastard?"

Rolling his eyes, Mustang shook his head.

Ed unfurled from his tight ball. He shrugged off his coat and jacket, wincing as his automail moved. Rolling up the leg of his pants, he inspected the aching port. The skin around it was red and slightly swollen. Sighing, Ed rubbed the aching stump, and then tinkered with the joint around his knee. The artificial limp came off with a slight popping noise.

He sighed again, but this time in minor relief. The pain was still there, but as the pressure he had felt previously was gone, it was much less intense. His fingers traveled up to his shoulder, which was exposed, as he had only a black tank top on. The fingers flew over a few buttons and gears, and the arm also popped off. Ed closed his eyes for a moment in bliss, savoring a lightness he hadn't felt in some time.

Opening his eyes once again, he moved the abandoned limbs from his lap to the floor next to the couch. He saw Al move closer to him and sit on the floor with a small clank!

His brother quietly said, "Nii-san, you should get some rest. You didn't sleep well last night."

But Edward shook his head. "I can't, Al, I'm at work." Contradictorily, as he said this, he laid back on the couch, closing his brilliant golden eyes.

He was breathing deeply and evenly within minutes.

"Sure you can't, Nii-san," Al joked gently, even though the sleeping boy couldn't hear him. Looking up to the Colonel, he apologized, saying, "I'm sorry, Colonel, but it's been raining all night, and Nii-san didn't get much sleep…"

Mustang held up his hand, stopping the boy's words. "It's quite alright, Alphonse. Sometimes I forget that he's just a kid," he said softly.

"Me too," Breda said. Everyone nodded in agreement.

"Well, he acts like an adult, and hates it when we treat him like a child," Havoc pointed out.

"He just had to grow up so soon," Hawkeye said in a rare moment of softness.

"Yeah," Fuery agreed. "And he looks so peaceful when he's sleeping."

It was true. The golden haired alchemist's brow wasn't furrowed in thought like it usually was, and his mouth wasn't situated in a frown.

"He always does," Alphonse said sadly. It was a pity his brother's day couldn't be as calm as his night.

The door opened and closed. It happened a few minutes later, again, and then a blanket was draped over the small body on the couch. The body's fist closed into it and curled up onto its side, making the tiny form even smaller. The alchemical prodigy muttered something in his sleep, and then settled down.

"I really wish Nii-san got more sleep," Al said.

Truth knew he needed it.

AN: So, that's it. Hope you liked it! Feel free to review, and thanks for reading. I accept constructive criticism, but any flames will be directed to the appropriate alchemist.

-Teki