Blood?

Impossible... he had trained that same move a million times. He knew it like the back of his hand. There was no way anyone could get past this. Everything was covered, there was no opening for failure.

So why... was there blood?

He touched his side timidly and lifted his hand to look. Fighting his eyes to stay open, he promised himself he wouldn't give in. He would walk away with dignity. The bad guy was dead... he wasn't supposed to come away dead himself. He fell to his knees and clenched the gash with white gloves stained red. He looked straight ahead, mouth agape. The world had gone silent and time had begun to slow down. Just in front of him he saw someone reaching towards him. Their face was surprised and scared in a way that made him sick to his stomach.

What was happening? He couldn't feel himself breathing. Everything was turning into darkness. Confused, he tried to look around. He could have swore it was the middle of the day just a moment ago. And then it hit him.

Was he dying? Was this... the end?

"Where am I?" He shouted quickly. His expression was one of pure terror. He could hear others talking, but what they were saying was mashed together. So he screamed out once again.

"Where am I?!" Louder this time. There was silence for a moment, then hushed and loving tones in his ear. Why couldn't he move? Where was this voice coming from? Why couldn't he see them? Amid all the jumble someone asked him if he knew his name, but he couldn't remember how to use his voice anymore. He had just a moment ago. Then there was another voice. This one was strong and angry, telling someone to hold pressure. Hold pressure on what? His mind was foggy. Why couldn't he remember?

In the back of his mind, he knew who he was. He knew who had been talking to him. But, then there came silence. Darkness and silence and terror. Where was he? What was happening?

"Edward? Edward? Can you hear me. Come on, don't give up on me." Roy checked for a pulse once again. It was there but erratic.

"Some one help me!" He screamed to the teammates rushing towards him. It wasn't a controlled yell, it was the type that let others know you were truly scared. The type that came from instinct.

"WHERE AM I?!" Edward screamed suddenly. Everyone stopped, startled. But it wasn't a moment later that everyone had picked up the pace again. There was no time for error or delay. He was on the verge of dying. Roy checked his pulse again and found that it was not very strong and weaker by the second.

Quickly, he stripped off his jacket and placed his hands on Edwards sternum. His pressed down with enough force to kill, but this was supposed to do the exact opposite. He counted each push until he got to thirty and then leant over to blow air into his lungs.

"Put pressure on his side quickly! We need to get to a clinic, go!" That was all he said before he went back to palpitating Edward's lungs. The group wasted no time moving him to the car.

"What happened, sir?!" Riza shouted above the rest.

"We were ambushed."

Havoc wished the car could go faster. Even thinking that Edward could die was too much. He would never be able to go on the same person if something did happen to him. He doubted Roy would ever be sane again.

"Havoc, please!" Roy begged. Havoc nodded and put the peddle to the floor.

This was supposed to be a routine maintenance checkup of the grounds and warehouses. They were supposed to make sure nothing was in disrepair or the lights weren't left on. Silly things like that. How did this happen?

Roy realized he hadn't gotten a good look at Edward's attacker, but there was no need to worry. He would still be laying right there when they got back. Edward had taken a massive blow, but he made sure to completely take down his offender. Roy was proud of that.

Soon, they whipped into the long narrow road that led to the hospital. They burst out of the car and escorted Roy quickly as he carried Edward's small body in his arms. The doors slammed open as they entered.

"Please, I need a doctor." Roy urged a nurse from behind the counter. She hurried away and came back with help. A large man plucked Edward from his arms and carried him to places unknown. And they all sat.

Edward woke. He looked to window revealing that it was night. He wondered where he was. Finding that it was much too painful to sit, he leant back on his pillow and tried to relax. Machines. White walls. Body trivia. He was in the hospital. He sighed loudly and thought about what had happened. Maybe if he had only listened to Roy…..

He recalled the memory very clearly. He had been goofing off, he ran ahead of the others. They were within seeing distance. Roy had just called out to him to come back, that he was too far away…. then his lecture ended with him muttering about the safety in numbers and that sticking together was the best course of action. Edward had turned back to his colleagues to pop off and had felt the sting of thick, slicing metal pierce his skin.

He shook his head in disappointment at himself. That mistake could have ended his life. There was a small lamp in the corner revealing most of the room. Scanning it slowly, he noticed someone snoozing in the chair to his left. He let out a sigh of relief. It was just Roy.

"Roy?" His small voice surprised even himself as Roy was startled awake.

"Wha-? What?" He looked up to Edward and smiled. Finally, after two days of lifelessness, he was here again.

"How long have you been here?" Edward's voice revealed that he was exhausted even after having been out for the last couple of days.

"It doesn't matter how long I've been here. I'm just glad that you're awake. Are you feeling alright? Do you need a nurse? Are you hungry?" Edward just shook his head and chuckled.

"No, no I'm fine." Edward leveled his head on his pillow and locked eyes with Roy.

"You almost got yourself killed, Edward." Roy just shook his head and looked at the ground.

"Your loss would have been a major blow to the team."

Edward only looked at Roy as if he had been scolded. Roy had never talked to him that way. Never…. The silence set in… It was time for a joke.

"So, you meant to say that you care about my life?" Edward's smile curled as he watched Roy's expression become sly and despicable once again.

"What do you mean? You little punk. I should have you discharged for insubordination."

Their quiet banter stopped and Edward looked softly at Roy.

"Who… found me?" Edward was dying to know who had spared him when he could have been left that way. Right now, all he is to the military was dead weight and a hospital bill.

"Well, I heard you yell and I was nearby so I ran over and you were on your knees… just staring into space."

Yes, Roy could remember it well.

Edward just looking to the sky, that surprisingly dumbfounded look on his face. There was so much blood. It swiftly trickled down his side and ran out into a puddle on the cold cement. The sickly smell of iron in the air; not only from Edward, but the assassin as well.

Edward's voice rang out into the dimness of the evening. Terrified and frantic he fell to the ground writhing and gritting his teeth. For Roy it was a heart stopping moment. Time slowed and his heart kicked at the site in front of him. His body reacted to the moment, his mind not fully processing anything. Fearful of death. Fearful of loss. Fearful of being broken.

And he cried out to the others.

"Edward, I think you need some time off." Roy said seriously as he clasp his hands together.

"Excuse me?" Edward was suddenly very lucid.

"It's an order, not a request. You could have gotten killed. You could have died, Edward! If we hadn't have acted so quickly you'd be in hole in the ground." Roy rubbed his forehead expressing true agitation.

"You don't care. I'm nothing, but a disappointment on your record anyway." Edward snarkily replied. His nose pointedly turn away from Roy. Arms crossed. He had played this game with Roy many times.

You will… I will… You won't… I will defy you… See what happens…

Every time is was the same. They argued, Edward proved his point, and Roy lost his temper.

"My record!? Are you insane?!" Roy leapt from his seat in the moment. His palms splayed out to his sides, willing himself to knock some sense into that brat. Edward looked up to him genuinely in shock.

"This isn't about my record. This is about your life! It has been about your life since day one. For the prodigy of our time, you're an idiot! What do I have to do, Edward? Do I have to get down on my hands and knees and beg you to be more careful!? Do I have to follow you around at arms length? What can I do to show you that your life is valuable!? You have meaning, Edward. I don't give a shit if you believe there is a God or not. You were put here to help this generation. Don't you dare fucking waste it. Can't you see that others care for you… that I care for you? Doesn't that mean anything to you?" Roy turned away.

He felt empty. So many nights he had stayed awake rereading handwritten letters from Edward. So many days he had worried that Edward was dead somewhere. Going months at a time without seeing him or getting word on how he was doing was gut wrenching. At first, it was worry because he didn't want to lose his best play in the game… but now… It was because he had grown fondness and familiarity for him. Handing him everything he needed. Wanted. Wished for. Edward was spoiled by him so much that other employees took notice. They scorned and laughed at Roy behind his back, calling him 'babysitter' and 'cradle robber'.

He scowled to himself. He had taken so much shit off of Edward that it was happening when Edward wasn't even in the same country.

"Well… I didn't know you felt so strongly about this." Edward replied, lying through his teeth.

He had known for a long time that Roy catered to his every need. Edward never wanted for anything in Roy's presence. He was taking Roy and his feelings for granted. He knew that he tried his best to cover up Edward's tracks. Give him every detail he wanted. Point him in the direction he was aiming for. Resources, research, room and board, exotic food, the list was endless. There wasn't a thing on this Earth that Roy wouldn't do to make Edward happy. All Roy ever asked for was to check in with him, but Edward refused saying that he didn't want Roy keeping tabs on him. He felt ridiculous. It was a childish thing to do to someone.

"I'm sorry." Edward said genuinely. Roy sat back down, telling Edward not to apologize.

"No, it's not fair to you. You do so much and I've tossed it in your face more than a few times. I don't deserve you. I promise to make things easier for you from now on." Edward said as he tried to lift himself up. He hissed at the pain coming from his side. It was bad.

"Let me help you." Roy took ahold of Edward's back and hand, guiding him to a sitting position.

"Your wounds were…. They were terrible, Ed. We thought for sure you weren't coming back from this one." Roy said carefully.

"Who sent the assassin?" Edward asked as he peeked at his gash. It was crusted and mangled from the stitches. Extending from his groin all the way to his ribcage. That asshole had literally gutted him.

"We believe it was an isolated attempt. He wasn't working for anyone that we know of. He didn't belong to any gangs in town. In fact, we have no idea who he is, but he's dead. We think he might have just wanted to take a stab at the military personnel. No pun intended. Unfortunately for him, he picked the wrong guy. They sent out reports to town to see if anyone can come forward with information or identify his body. No luck yet, though. " Roy answered. The man didn't have a tattoo, a birthmark, or anything to set him apart from other civilians. Average height, medium build, brown hair, brown eyes. He wasn't even carrying a wallet. No criminal record. No missing persons report. No medical records found because they didn't know who he was. It was like this guy just blended in with his surroundings.

"Maybe something will turn up. What did he cut me with?" Edward asked looking to Roy. He was a little disturbed by the velocity of his laceration. It had to be something ridiculously sharp, long, and jagged.

"You're never going to believe this, but it was a hack saw. We believe he swung it into your side and pulled backwards." Roy gulped feeling his throat sting. He felt like throwing up.

"He sawed me? Are you joking?" Edward peered down to his side and back to Roy.

"No. But for the life of us we don't know where he got it. It was medical grade. We've checked every surrounding clinic, pharmacy, and medical supply office for miles. He didn't work at any of them." Roy answered feeling frustrated. His men had been on it for days and every leading clue came up empty.

"I hate to change the subject, but I am starting to feel a little hungry and I'm parched." Edward said grasping his stomach. He felt like he was starving.

"Yes. I'll go get someone." Roy said a little frantically. It had been almost three days since Edward had eaten.

"Ok." Edward replied propping himself on a pillow.

"Be right back." Roy concluded as he walked out of the room.

Soon the entire hospital room was full of staff. They brought him food, water, extra pillows, checked his wounds, checked his vitals, and told him that if he needed anything to just ask. No request was too big after a life threatening injury. They were absolutely gracious to him.

"Thank you." Edward and Roy rang out as they exited the doorway.

"No thank you necessary. We just want you to be comfortable." One nurse said sweetly as she closed the door behind her.

"Wow. That was really nice of them." Edward said quietly as he plowed into his dinner.

"She was right. We just want you to feel better." Roy agreed as he sat down beside Edward and watched him carefully. Ed didn't miss it. He knew that look.

"If you have something to say…" Edward trailed off nonchalantly as he took a bite of his food. Roy looked to the door, then back to Edward.

"I'm scared." Roy said flatly.

"Of what?" Edward answered putting his utensil on his plate. Roy Mustang wasn't afraid of anything.

"Loving you." Roy answered, swallowing and rubbing his face.

They locked eyes. Edward's mouth fell open and then shut. He looked to the floor.

"Are you confessing to me?" Edward didn't know what to say. His heart was beating so fast he was fearful it might explode.

"Yes."