Fun And Games

A/N: Spoilers through episode 6. I blame the rabid plot bunnies for this fic. And sugar. And Julisa. XD Have fun!

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"But brother! You promised!" A pair of innocent looking eyes stared pleadingly into his golden gaze. There was a slight tug on the leg of his pants when the boy started to glance towards his brother for help. Reluctantly, he faced the wide blue orbs of one of those few people over whom he still had a height advantage. "Please?"

"It's not that I don't want to..." Ed said, a hand reaching up to scratch the back of his head, giving him an excuse to look up and away. "Ne, why don't you and Al play instead?"

"Please, brother?" Her voice practically dripped honey, it was so sweet. "Big brother's hands are so large, but yours are just the right size. I can teach you the game if you don't know it!"

"Don't know it? I know it!" He replied somewhat irritably.

"Then there's no reason for you not to play with me – unless –"The girl's voice trailed in a downcast way as Ed struggled not to kick himself for making her sad. He looked at her hands, once raised beseechingly upward but now clasped in front of her. If she had asked for anything, anything but this, he would have been more than happy to do it, but there was just no way...

Suddenly, a smile quirked the edges of Ed's mouth. He leaned down in front of Nina and smiled at her, before tugging lightly on one of her pigtails with his left hand. Startled, she looked back at him.

"All right." He said, giving in with a playfully put-on sigh. "Go get your gloves on though, okay?"

"Awesome! Thanks, brother!" Nina said, throwing her arms around him in delight before bounding from the room in search of her gloves. Ed rose back to his feet, before turning to the snickering suit of armor beside him.

"Not one word!" He said, allowing the irritation to show in his voice.

"But brother," Al began, "it really is your own fault for promising to play anything with her."

Ed was mercifully spared an answer as a small blur bowled into him. Caught off guard, he toppled over, body tensing. He relaxed almost immediately, though, as the thing that now sat upon his chest resolved itself into Nina.

"Ready!" The girl said, waving her mitten – encased hands cheerfully in the air. Ed sat up and smiled at her, before setting the girl on the floor in front of him and pulling his legs in to sit Indian style across from her.

"All right then." Ed said, and some of the reluctance in his voice gave way to cheer at seeing her so happy. He brought his hands together and clapped as the girl began to sing.

"Pat a cake-"A flash, his gloves and her switching places. "Pat a cake –"A flash and a switch. "Baker's –"Flash / Switch. "Man. Bake –"Flash / Switch. "Me a cake –"Flash / Switch. "as fast –"Flash / Switch. "as you can!" Flash / Switch. Ed nearly sighed in relief as they switched to the traditionally rolling, patting, marking, and rocking motions for the rest of the song.

"Brother, brother!" Nina laughed gleefully, her hands encased in Ed's white gloves. "That was fun!"

"Yeah." Ed said noncommittally. He clapped once more, and restored their gloves to their original positions. He smiled at the cheerful child. "What would you like to do now, Nina?"

"Now?" She asked, her eyes going wide. "Let's play Miss Lucy!"

Ed couldn't quite conceal the wince that crossed his features as Al began to laugh.

End

Just by way of explanation, Miss Lucy is perhaps the longest clapping game in existence - - and it doesn't even have any of the complicated moves of Yankee Doodle to redeem it. Clap your hands, touch your partner's, and clap again... It goes "Miss Lucy had a steam boat, the steam boat had a bell, ding ding!" if that rings a bell for anyone. Please ignore the pun. ;;;;