A/N: I love ch 95. There's so many, many different levels and angles to explore and consider. And since I can't find any satisfying ones I decided to do one of my own. If you know of any good fics, let me know!
Disclaimer: Not mine.
His world was clouded in a swirl of red and black. Red for rage and the flames he wield. Black for hatred and death. The death of Hughes and death to the monster that murdered him. Dimly, he heard Hawkeye, but the words didn't register. It didn't matter. She was alive, and that's enough. Nothing mattered now except killing the monster by his hands.
When Fullmetal and Scar deprived him of Envy, the crimson haze intensified. They dared to stop him from killing it. This creature had murdered Hughes – killed him by assuming the guise of Gracia. Taken away the other pillar of his life, rocking his world to the foundations and almost bringing him down. Hughes had been his anchor, the quiet, unyielding strength to his dream. When he faltered, Hughes pushed him from behind. When he lost himself in the Ishbal war, Hughes was there to anchor him, reminding him of why he fought. Hughes understood without words. Hughes didn't laugh when he shared his vision of overturning the Fuhrer. Hughes supported him. Hughes was his comrade, his brother, his family.
Hughes was family.
Gone. The cheerful fire that gave warmth was snuffed out and discarded like so much trash. No more mountains of photographs. Gone were the days of picking up the military line and hearing the wonders of Elicia. Never again would he relax in the constant that was Hughes.
And the bastard will pay for his death. Death by HIS HAND. Whoever stood in his way will be obliterated. There would be no exceptions. None..
Except for Riza Hawkeye.
Black despair flooded the red. He had not been able to follow Hughes. He could not. No matter that some small part deep inside his heart WISHED desperately that he could. The part that had died with Hughes. The emptiness that would never again be filled, the pain that never went away. He understood the anguish of loss. Maes..
He wanted to die. He would embrace death if it was delivered by her hands. Death would be a release..
Memory rose, unbidden. Hawkeye, waiting for Lust to kill her because she thought he was killed. The anguish of loss..
No. Not Riza Hawkeye. Never.
Clarity returned, anchored by his remaining conviction: He will not lose her too.
Uhm, first attempt at FMA. How did I fare?