The world slowly fuzzed back into focus.

Over the dull, steady beeping and the hum of fluorescent lights, the sterile scent of alcohol met his nostrils.

A raspy moan escaped his lips, and a blurry shape was quickly moving to lean over him.

"...d? Ed?"

All at once, the world snapped into focus.

"Hey, Ed- can you hear me?"

There was a dull stinging in his flesh arm, and he could feel someone was hollding his hand in his own. His throat wa sore, like he's screamed himself hoarse- it felt raw and stung.

Colonel Mustang was leaning over the bed, coal eyes staring at him worriedly.

"...Dad?"

Mustang winced slightly at the sound of his voice. The kid sounded like he'd been gargling nails.

Even so, Mustang had yet to let go of his hand. He was wrapped in clean sheets that still left him cold, dressed in what appeared to be military blues.

Even in the halo of the fluorescent lights, he could make out the colonel's form more clearly.

Dried tan stains spattered his wrinkled uniform, and he looked as though he'd been stressed about something for a rather long time.

"Yeah, I'm here, kid." Mustang reached down as though to touch him but paused, face creasing again.

"How do you feel, Ed?"

"Confused? I... we were at the dinner..."

"Allergic reaction." Roy sighed, sinking down in a chair beside the bed and running a hand through his already messy hair. "Why didn't you tell me you were allergic to shellfish?"

"I... oh. That's why I feel so bad."

Roy jolted forwards in his chair. "Can you breathe?"

"...yeah..."

"They gave you epinephrine, they said it should help, but your cheeks are still red..."

Ed grimaced, as his stomach spasmed slightly and he curled up slightly, biting back a moan. He swallowed back the nausea, and Roy frowned, looking decisive as he stood.

"I'm going to get the nurse."

"...don't leave."

Roy paused in the door frame. "Can you breathe?"

"Yeah. But I don't... feel great... so just don't leave me, okay?"

Roy frowned, pulling the chair back up beside the boy's bed and sinking back down into it. "I won't leave, but you have to promise me you'll tell me if you start feeling any worse."

"Alright." Ed shifted slightly, wiggling and trying to get comfortable amidst the sheets.

The only noise for a minute was the humming of the fluorescent lights and the dull squeaking of a nurse pushing a cart down the hall, before Ed finally spoke.

"I... I thought you were supposed to be at the ball kissing boots." now that he was slightly more awake, he nearly winced at how raspy his voice was.

Mustang gave him a small smile. "Yeah. Kind of hard to do that when you find your subordinate half-dead in the men's lavatory."

Ed paused. "...it was that bad?"

"You don't remember?" Roy looked slightly shocked.

"...not really. My mouth started going numb and I realized what was in the soup, and I went to the bathroom and got sick. I couldn't breathe. I remember being scared... and... you... you carried me?"

Mustang sighed. "It doesn't surprise me. You were pretty out of it. We found you half-concious in the bathrooms, violently ill. You started rasping and managed to mutter something about shellfish, and I carried you to the car. You threw up in the car... you were crying... and then your eyes rolled back in your head and you went unresponsive on me..."

"So that's how it went, huh?"

Ed's eyes had a far off look in them, like he was only half listening.

"You don't get to brush this off Ed! You throw your life around like small bills enough. I watched you go from fine to barely coherent. You were completely slack when I ran into this hospital- dead weight. I watched them work on you for what felt like hours before you opened your eyes again- I thought I lost you! You don't get to ignore that!"

Roy's eyes were burning like coal embers.

"And come to think of it, why didn't you tell me you were allergic to shellfish! As your father, I have a right to know! We thought they poisoned you..."

"I'm sorry... did you think I wanted this to happen?" Ed croaked. He placed his hand to his forehead, swallowing as his stomach did another somersault.

Roy paused, looking down at Ed carefully. The kid looked absolutely miserable. His cheeks were still bright scarlet with hives, face pale, and just his general stillness and posture belied the fact the kid wasn't well. He softened slightly. Whatever chewing out the kid deserved, he certainly didn't need it now. Not when he was in this state.

"No. No, I don't think you wanted this to happen. I just... god, Ed, I was scared I'd lose you. You've gotta take better care of yourself, kid- both here and in the field. Or i'm gonna regret ever signing you on."

"Right. 'M sorry."

"Yeah, well, you can make it up to me by getting some rest. And Edward-"

"Yeah?"

"If you ever scare me like that again, I'll personally fry you."

Ed's red cheeks curved up into his trademark smirk, and Roy knew the kid would live to fight another day.