ATONEMENT
"Pull back!"
"Move! Move!"
"Get away from the building!"
People were running frantically away from the building which had suddenly decided to topple over. It was only by the unfathomable grace of Ishvala that very few people were inside during the accident.
A very audible sigh was heard as the last person fled the vicinity. And as if on cue, the building collapsed immediately. The scarred man glanced at the gathering around the site. Some were busy blaming the architect for faulty assessment of the site, while some would rather put the blame on the builder who supplied the raw materials.
He tuned out his mind from the chaos.
Ten years.
Ten years have passed. Ten years since the Promised Day. Ten years since the rise of a new sun. Ten years since the reconstruction of their war scarred land began. A grim smile formed on his face. Ten years since he had been granted pardon.
It had been a time of healing. For the country, for the memories, for the people. For him.
Yes, it had been a good time.
A sudden increase in the commotion brought his attention back to crowd. His brows furrowed in concentration. The blue light emerging from the area where the building once stood was clearly alchemical light.
But….
Alchemy was as prevalent in these parts as were the chances of winning of a certain Ishvalan officer against the Northern Wall of Briggs. Here, the elderly and the wiser ones had decide to limit the use of alchemy, that very science which had lead to the almost extinction of nearly a part of the world.
But his eyes were not deceiving him.
The building regained its former glory and an approval of murmur slowly rose among the people. Children were fazed at the "magic" which could seemingly create a building out of nothing but the adults were apprehensive. Being familiar to only the "deconstruction" part of alchemy, this "reconstruction" has rendered them speechless.
"Wow."
"If alchemy was only used for this, we would not have suffered.'
"Papa, was that magic?"
"No."
"Who is that anyway?"
"Seems like an Amestrian kid."
"What is that then?"
"Not now, dear, not now."
But amidst the din, the man's eyes were fixed on the fixed on the little figure, who seems to have hardly seen ten summers, standing with the newly formed structure as his backdrop. And beaming proudly at his handiwork.
Straight black hair.
Intelligent black eyes.
The boy… no, it couldn't possibly be… but… who was he staring at? He didn't know whether to laugh or cry at the irony of the situation. Sounds of military boot steps brought him back from his musings.
That boy…
A splitting image of a man he once knew. And hated. And as the boy glared at the military bodyguards who tried to push the crowd away, his confusions were cleared.
Yes, he must have inherited that death glare from his mother.
"Maes Mustang, you are coming back here THIS instant."
The boy grumbled a "Yes, father", and jumped down from the stairs he was perched on.
And as the boy ran past him to join his father, a knowing smirk formed on his face. He turned, slowly, to confirm his suspicions. Red eyes met black.
"Long time no see."
A barely imperceptible smile appeared.
"Mustang. Hawkeye."
They nodded.
"Scar."
His gaze slid on to the little boy standing beside the two high ranking military officer, regarding him curiously. Mustang junior grinned.
He paused.
"It has been a very long time indeed."
And as he clasped the hands his once sworn enemy and the present Fuhrer of the State Military of Amestris, only one word was sufficient to describe the events that happened today.
Atonement.
Author's Note:- This is my first fic and I would REALLY REALLY love some suggestions. So, review please? Should I write more or is it completely not worth the effort? Any suggestions would be helpful. *smiles expectantly*