My Inner Demon –FMA
Summary: Everyone knows Edward Elrics has his inner demons. But what they never realized was he inherited a very real demon. And it was going to take more than alchemy to get it out of him.
A/N: This story will probably be the most twisted work I've done since The Blood Spiller. Just a warning. There will be violence, death, blood, and disturbing imagery (well, within the words). Rated M.
Older brother: 19. Younger brother: 18.
Chapter One: Something Strange
"Brother, you look tired. Did you sleep at all last night?" Alphonse asked with a hint of worry in his hollowed voice. Ed kept walking through the halls of Central, his shoulders slouched and his head down. He felt like there were bricks tied to his ankles and the skin under his eyes felt equally heavy. He gave a great sigh and rubbed his face.
"I'm fine, Al. Would ya quit worrying?" He grumbled, making his armored little brother jump. He frowned, realizing his tone was harsher than what he intended, but he let it go. There was no sense in keeping up the conversation. He didn't want to talk about it. All he wanted was to get to the cafeteria, grab a bite to eat, and go to the library to research more on the stone and alchehestry. As they reached the doors, Al pushed them open and let Ed walk in first. The older brother scoped out the area, relieved there wasn't a line to wait in and there were a few empty tables to choose from. The room was alive with conversation, soldiers and alchemists alike mingling. Ed stared at his food choices, which consisted of pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage, toast, bagels, muffins, corn bread, biscuits and gravy, and an assortment of beverages. He frowned again, unsure of what he wanted.
Al walked to an empty table and sat down, waiting for his brother to get his nourishment. He sighed, feeling as if something wasn't quite right. Edward hadn't been sleeping lately and his night terrors had come back, leaving him screaming and whimpering in his sleep. Last night had been the worst yet, but he was yet to talk about it. Al feared he never would and would keep it bottled up until he exploded. But he didn't want to push for answers. That would just be reckless.
Ed plopped down at the table and began picking at the small quantity of eggs and a muffin on his plate. Al's glowing eyes widened within the metal helmet. "Brother, is that all you're going to eat?"
"Yeah…guess I'm not as hungry as I thought." He replied quietly, putting a forkful of egg in his mouth and chewing slowly. Al watched him silently as he always did, noting how his face was slightly paled, his golden eyes lacking their normal luster.
"Ed?"
"Hmm?"
"…Are you sure you're ok?"
"I'm fine! Geez, what'll it take for you to quit asking me?" Ed retorted. Al sweat-dropped. At least he still sounded like himself. Ed took a bite of his banana-nut muffin and glanced at the clock on the wall facing him. It was already pushing 10:00 AM. He had to get a move on. But he was so tired…
"Edward, you look worn." Riza Hawkeye walked up to him, making him twitch in surprise. She blinked, a tray of pancakes and orange juice in her hands. He ran a hand through his bangs and wrinkled his nose.
"I've been worse. What are you doing down here? I thought you ate before you came to work."
"The Colonel requested some breakfast. I obliged given that he started his paperwork." Al cocked his head.
"Will he really do it?"
"I didn't give him a choice. If he doesn't have a quarter inch stack done by the time I get up there, he doesn't get breakfast." She said simply, making the boys shudder.
She'd shoot him! They both thought.
"Well, since I ran into you two, the Colonel does want to see you in his office."
"We'll follow you up, then." Ed said, having had enough of the food on his plate. Al frowned inside. His brother had barely eaten two bites of either item of food. "C'mon, Al."
"Coming!"
. . .
"Ah, Fullmetal and trusty sidekick brother. So nice to see you before noon." Roy Mustang chuckled, a line of drool down his chin as Riza set the plate of food in front of him. She surveyed his paperwork, giving an approving nod before returning to her own desk. Ed sat cross legged on the couch, his arms across the back. Al stood behind him, his hands clasped in front of him. "No line of retorts?"
"Don't feel like it. What do you want?"
"Well, I haven't received a report on your latest mission, Fullmetal. The one from Stockwell?"
"Yeah, I haven't gotten to it yet. Been kinda busy, what with people annoying me and all." Roy furrowed his brows. Something's not right with him.
"Well, I expect to have it in hand soon. Oh, and one more thing, there's a new order I have for you as well."
"What would that be?" The Colonel picked up a corner of his tray and fumbled through a small stack of papers, pulling one out from near the bottom. Dusting off a food crumb, he handed it to Ed from over the desk. Ed took it, his eyes looking over it quickly, his jaw dropping slightly. "What the hell is this?"
"An order of leave. You've been working a lot, lately, and those in charge feel it's time for you to take a little break."
"Bullshit. Why would the military want to give me a vacation?" Roy glared at him, their eyes meeting in agitation.
'Alright, fine. I put the time in for you. I've been told of your night terrors, Edward. You're a mess. You won't eat, you don't sleep, and you're more irritable than normal. You need to take some time off and get yourself back together."
"No. I have work to do."
"Too bad. If you're even caught on premises tomorrow, you're alchemy license will be suspended."
"WHAT?" Edward stood up, his face red with rage and his fists clenched. He stared down the Colonel, but the raven haired man stood his ground, only giving him a small smile.
"Go back to your hometown. You guys could use some of that fresh, country air. Everything else can wait for you to come back."
. . .
"Why did you tell him, Al?" Ed scolded. The Elrics were on a train heading to Resembool, and Edward was pissed. Al shook his hands in front of him, wishing his brother would calm down.
"I didn't know what else to do. You've been crazy lately. And I'm worried. I thought it would be best if we got away for a while so that you could get some rest and relax for a bit."
"Waste of time. We need to focus on the stone, Al. Or do you not want your body back?"
"Brother, don't pull that crap on me. You're no good if you're just a bag of insults. That won't help anything. I told the Colonel because if you keep this up, you're gonna kill yourself!" Al shouted at him, quickly regaining composure when he finished. He was glad the train car was empty, given that they would have roused quite the scene by now.
Ed sighed, slouching back into the seat and resting his chin in his hand. "You're right." He said gruffly. "I don't know what's wrong lately. I just started having these strange nightmares lately."
"Of what?"
"…I…I don't want to tell you, Al." He clenched his fists again, fear gripping at his chest and making it tighten.
"Brother…"
"No. I don't even want to think about it. I'm gonna try and get some sleep. I'm tired."
"Ok."
. . .
Winry Rockbell tightened a screw on an automail arm she was completing for a customer. She slid back in her chair, taking an oil stained rag and dabbing her sweaty forehead. "Winry!" Pinako called from upstairs. She looked at the door and sighed. "Telephone!"
"Coming, grams!" She stood from her chair and stretched, sleep itching at her eyes. She had been working 8 hours straight and could use a small break. She climbed the stairs and squinted at the bright sunlight streaming in from the kitchen windows. Pinako held up the phone and she took it. "Hello?" She paused, surprise in her eyes at the voice on the other end. She looked at her grandmother. "Al! You guys are on your way?" She paused again, listening to what he was telling her. Pinako raised her brows and waited patiently to hear what was going on. But she grew concerned as Winry gave a deep frown and nodded to herself. "Right. Ok, I'll make sure we're ready for you. See you soon, bye." She hung up the phone, her bangs falling over her eyes and darkening her face. Pinako blinked.
"Winry?"
"Ed and Al are on their way here. Al thinks Ed is getting sick."
"Well, it happens from time to time."
"The military ordered Ed time off." Pinako sucked in a quick breath.
"Well…that changes things a little. I'll prepare the bedroom. You start cleaning up around here. You've left your tools scattered throughout the house again." Winry gave a nervous chuckle.
"Yeah." She set to work, picking up her tools and the many automail parts scattered about and putting them away. She then went back down to the basement to clean up her work area, putting the finishing touches on the arm before packing it up until the client's arrival. She went back upstairs and to her bedroom to shower, wanting everything to be clean. As she rinsed herself off, she wondered what was going on with Ed. It had been a few weeks since she last heard from either of the Elrics, but she thought since her and Ed had broken the ice and started dating it would change. She leaned against the shower wall and let the hot water run down her bare body. The last time she had spoken to Ed, he seemed fine, promising he would call her in a few days. But Al had called her and told her he was having night terrors again and now they were on their way back to Resembool on military orders. Something strange is going on. I hope Ed will be alright. She turned the water off and stepped out, grabbing a towel and wrapping it around her. As she began untangling her hair, she smiled to herself. I'll just have to make sure he gets better.
. . .
For an atheist man, you sure do talk about God a lot, don't you? That's ok. You'll be asking Him for help soon enough. But when I'm done with you, there won't be anything left. Your soul is mine.
"NOOOOOOOOO!" Ed sat up, wheezing hard as he grabbed at his chest. He squeezed his eyes closed in pain as his hand tightened, wrinkling his black shirt.
"Edward, are you ok?" Al ran to his side and kneeled down next to the seat he had been lying in. Ed panted, sweat dripping down the side of his face and soaking the collar of his red coat. He ran a hand down his face and forced himself to take in deep breaths to calm himself down. After a minute passed and his breathing regular, he looked his brother in the eye.
"How long was I asleep?"
"Uh…A couple hours. We're about to pull into the station. Brother, what is going on?"
"Nevermind, Al." He winced, a small pain still radiating in his chest. Looking out the window, he saw the small station approaching. "Let's gather our stuff." He pulled himself to his feet, but stumbled, gasping as his chest throbbed. Al caught him, pulling him back up, but Ed shrugged him off. "I'm…ok." He said, feeling as though his face had grown paler. It was going to be a rough few days.
He only wished he knew what was going to happen.
. . .
End Chapter One. Next, you will get a detailed look of what's going on inside his head, bouts of rage, and the beginning of a violent, dark road. Poor Ed. R&R!