Pieces
Chapter 1
Summary: Ed's returned from byond the gate, this time he and his brother are back for good, but at what cost? Ed struggles with the memories left from his time spent in Germany and a young woman who captured his heart. What happens when he tries to pick up the pieces of his broken soul?
Finding comfort in the least likely places, Edward deals with life as a state alchemist once more.
A/N: Toying with this idea a while now, rated M for well... language, sexual themes and possible violence later on!
"I thought you'd at least miss me a little?!" a young mans high pitch voice screamed over the contents of an empty room.
His words met only with a slight headshake and few quiet words, "You should know better then that full metal," And then came the look, the moment the fire beneath Edward Elric's eyes dimmed, flickered and then died away with a breath of cold air. He shouldn't have said that, but being rude to Ed had always been so common place that words of kindness and joy would seem awkward. Still, something about the way the young mans shoulders fell, the way he suddenly found such interest in the floor. It was obvious, Mustang had gone too far.
He hadn't meant to, moving to rectify the situation Roy attempted a soft laugh, a smirk that could be seen as nothing more then condescending. Dammit Mustang, can't you manage just a little compassion! The Generals mind screamed as he watched his young alchemist slump further into the hole that Roy had so graciously dug for him.
Ed had been gone for what felt as if it had been forever. He had slipped between the two worlds so many times that Roy honestly though he'd never see the young prodigy again. A year passed, then another and another, he could remember wondering how Ed was doing, if age had blessed him with a sudden growth sprit the boy so desperately needed. Was he well, was Al looking after him? More importantly, did Edward ever think of home?
The truth was, yes Roy Mustang did miss the full metal alchemist, he's missed his officer and he'd missed his friend. But in that moment it was nearly impossibly to reiterate those feelings to the young man who now, more then ever needed to hear them.
"Shouldn't have expected much more then that from a Bastard General like you..." Ed's words fell with such contempt it actually hurt to hear, stinging the inside of his mouth as he spat the sounds upon the floor attempting in desperation to mask the hurt inside. "Guess it's no surprise eh, I'm not some child prodigy anymore am I? I'm just another alchemist, probably rusty from all my years out of practice."
No. There was no way Edward could be rusty, no way that the power that surged through his body could dissipate. Roy could feel the alchemic promise crackle and sizzle within the air as Ed struggled to keep his emotions under control. If anything, years out of practice created a more volatile mix, a dangerous shell of power just waiting to erupt. "That's it exactly full Metal..." Roy found himself drawling on, sarcasm oozing from ever word which suffered his lips. It seemed impossible to halt such a precession of defiant agony. Why not Roy, just see how far you can push him, see how much it takes for Edward to crack. Edward, he'd never utter the boys name aloud, never allow himself the personal space that was required to use such a name. He wasn't on a personal basis with the Full Metal Alchemist, not with Edward Elric. Roy was angry, hurt, lost amidst the ghostly feeling that accompanied watching the dead walk before him. "Just go home Fullmetal..."
Ed's hands balled into fists, his white gloves soiled in the process of coming home, spotted unnecessarily with blood, "Home?" the young man asked, he wasn't aware such a thing existed any longer.
"Home Fullmetal, go home, take a rest..."
No, don't go...
"You know I..." But Ed couldn't finish his sentence. He turned upon his heel and headed towards the door out of General Mustang's office, hesitating as his hand fell upon the brassy door knob. "Thanks for putting things in perspective for me General..." he growled, throwing the door open in a moments desperation. Roy had brought himself to his feet prepared to lunge after the young man, but his body wasn't able to move from behind his desk. Something had clamped onto his vocal cords muting all pleas for Ed to stop. Instead, Roy Mustang found himself letting the young man leave, letting Edward Elric storm off in a frantic mess. And yet the young man didn't scream or holler, he bit a sarcastic remark, preparing his walk of shame.
"I've just got one question for you Full Metal..." Roy barked.
Ed merely turned, sweet honey suckle eyes tearing up as he peered over his shoulder. He didn't say a word but waited for the question to befall the air. He allowed Roy a moment's redemption, matured in his time away into a young man filled self control.
"How did you manage it... how did you make it home...?"
It was the one thing Ed wanted to think of least. The one thing that pained him more then dying, more then passing through the gate, only to trap himself in another world. It was the one thing he knew the General wouldn't understand. "Some sacrifices are beyond your comprehension General Mustang... Sir."
Of course he had to say it like that, so spiteful... so cruel. His cryptic answer left the General lost within his own small mind. There came no slamming of doors, no screaming match or insults, Ed simply left, his body wrought with pain and remorse. Roy would never know what it would mean to loose someone so violently. To be loved in a manner that meant giving up everything. Roy would never understand Edwards's loss, his cruel words a reminder of why Germany, despite its foreign air, had been so comforting. The smell of pastries from the bakery down the street, the smell of coffee and the sound of idle voices as Al and the others set to breakfast, waiting on Ed to join their daily ritual. It had been so tedious, but as Ed walked through the halls of central command, his head hung low as he hid his face from the others, it was all he could think about. No, the general could never know the pain Edward Elric had felt ten fold within his life time. General Mustangs tremendous support effort an obvious testament to that.
read and review please! I want to know what you think!!
