AN: Almost no one writes about Yoki, probably because he's a coward and so mediocre compared to the rest of them - and really, he deserves a bit more credit than that. Hence, this ficlet was born. Enjoy!
Glory
It isn't some heroic esthetics that drive him to do it, or some self-righteous, courageous thought. It isn't glory either, not exactly.
It's just the need to prove to them that he isn't worthless.
Yoki isn't sure why their ("their" – meaning four burly chimera, a kid, a fugitive scientist and a mass murderer on the mend) opinions matters so much – but they do – and it hurts that they don't see any real value when they look at him. He's never realized this though, not until Envy latched onto his neck and threatened to kill him. Maybe they were bluffing, and maybe they didn't care – but it hits him like a tone of bricks: they don't think he's worth saving. He isn't important enough – and it reminds him dully of his last meeting with Edward Elric and how little impact he had on him, just like how little impact he has on the lives of these people. He isn't worthless! Even if he doesn't do anything important, and even if he's whiny, he's still worth something. As it turns out, it was a bluff, and they did save him – but the feeling of betrayal lingers even now.
Yoki maybe a coward, maybe a little naïve and close-minded and may have a ton of other faults – well, who doesn't?! He's tired of people thinking of him as scum, worthless, a low street rat. He's tired of people writing him off as useless, as a burden, a moron.
And that's why he wants them to see him as something more than a useless nincompoop. He's the most reasonable of them, after all. He doesn't go rushing off into danger because of guilt or vengeance or something as self-righteous as saving the world. He knows his limitations, he knows that he wouldn't last long on a battlefield. There's really no point in him risking his hide to save someone else's – he isn't strong, or cunning, or particularly brave. Yoki's just an average man, and how much can you really expect from him compared to chimeras and alchemists and an invincible suit of armor?
Maybe that's the reason he's so desperate to prove his worth.
Yoki grips the steering-wheel with sweaty hands, taking deep breaths in an attempt to calm himself.
Doctor Marcoh had already done most of the work. The soldiers Kimbley brought with him were tied to the ground, so it was easy enough to take their vehicle.
He crashes through the trees – well, he tries not to, but there's just so many of them! – and briefly wonders what the hell does he think he's doing. He shouldn't be racing toward his own death just to save some ugly doctor, an empty suit of armor and a chimera, but, for some reason, he is.
Yoki doesn't understand it, but for some reason that fact doesn't bother him as much as it should have, even though there's a creepy ten-year-old kid that controls shadows with red eyes and very sharp teeth waiting just beyond those trees and he should really turn back now, while he still can.
He doesn't though, because he may be scared, and even if he wasn't sure what he was doing – he isn't worthless. And when he crashes through the clearing, into the heat of battle, and Doc comes rushing in, Al and Heinkel on his heels – Yoki thinks they realize that too.
