Disclaimer: I do not own Fullmetal Alchemist
I See London
Maes paced around the kitchen table. Damn he knew this was a bad idea, but he couldn't have just left her there, clothing shredded and spread throughout the alley. It was his civil duty as an officer of the law to help any and every damsel in distress, the only problem is, this was his first time. What was he supposed to do with her after scooping her out of the gutter? Bringing her home was out of the question. What would his co-workers think if they knew he was keeping some foreign girl in his home? They would think he was a pervert, that's what.
So Maes did the only thing he could think of, and was regretting it dearly.
"You can't just drop strays off at my house Officer Hughes." Miss Gracia Baum chided as she came back into her kitchen, towel in hand. On one hand Maes was thrilled she knew his name but the hard glint in her gentle eyes made him back up. Her normal sweet demeanour had vanished the moment she saw him carrying that poor girl to her doorstep and she switched into an aggressive mother bear. Within minutes a hot bath was poured and he was shooed to the kitchen to wait while she tended to her patient.
Now she was facing him down and Maes prayed he could be anywhere on Earth besides in that German kitchen. "Why did you bring her here? Isn't there some shelter or home you bring homeless too?"
Maes shifted his feet uncomfortably. "Miss Baum, I'm sorry, you were just the first person I could think of. Surely a few hours in your tender care will be enough. I don't purpose she stay here, just—"
Gracia cut in, "Just what officer?"
I wanted an excuse to talk to you. "I… she's very young and vulnerable. I wouldn't trust to leave a naked and unconscious girl in one of those pits. Who knows what would happen to her—"
Maes was interrupted for a second time in as little as a minute, but this time by a yell. He dashed up the stairs with Garcia at his heals. Not knowing what room to open at the top of the stairs, he stood aside let Gracia hurry by. She opened the first one on his right and stormed in. Maes looked over her to see the girl he found earlier on the floor with a blanket wrapped her like as if she expected skin exposure to be lethal. She was on her knees and curled forward, her head bowed and panting.
She kept muttering to herself in a language he didn't understand. Maes half wondered if she was a demon, but no demon would ever look so utterly horrified. Gracia knelt before her, making certain to keep her distance. The moment the strange blonde girl noticed Gracia's presence she froze. Her golden eyes were wide as she stared at Gracia with a peculiar expression. It an instant the girl had thrown herself into Gracia's arms and was sobbing.
Maes leaned against the door frame. She was definitely not a demon.
Edward couldn't help himself. The stress of it all had just piled up. It was as if the past twenty-four hours were divided up into intense moments that lasted an eternity while in them, and only an instance when looking back. The underground city, Rose's baby, Al, Envy, the gate and now this dream, it was all too much. He was just glad Gracia was here, in the dream with him. If it had been anyone else, he would have to suck it up and be strong.
He didn't feel very strong. Edward felt scared and alone, not certain of who was dead, who was alive and who he even was in those two categories. Was he Edward anymore? His head said yes, but his body clearly stated no. What had happened to him?
It was bizarre and unexplainable, so he let Gracia comfort him in this moment of weakness without thinking. Once he got his emotions out of the way, he could stand back and figure everything out. That's what Edward Elric was good at and known for, figuring things out, and also being loud, but that was another issue.
Edward clutched at her sweater and let her rubbed his back comfortingly. He had forgotten what it was like, to be hugged like this.
An hour later had Edward all cleaned up and in a robe at the kitchen table. Edward didn't trust himself to speak so he just waited and examined what was before him. For a dream or hallucination, everything was quite vivid, not in colour, but in texture. The kitchen walls, floor, table top, they were all real enough at a glance. The tea in front of him gave of heat and a light scent, forcing Edward to believe that for now, this was real enough to matter.
He then turned his attention to the two sitting at the table with him. Edward couldn't get our how real they seemed, Gracia and Maes Hughes. That was hard to swallow. Hughes was dead, yet here he was, fiddling with a spoon nervously. Did that prove Edward's theory of being dead? Maybe he should just ask them? They may know… if they were dead. It sounded incredibly stupid to Ed but it was worth trying.
Ed looked flatly at Hughes, figuring since he's been dead the longest, he would know. "Am I dead?"
Hughes looked up from his spoon and glanced sideways at Gracia. The two exchanged significant glances and remained quiet.
Edward tried again. "Where am I?"
He was answered with baffled looks and silence.
"Answer me, where am I?" He was growing angry now. Why wouldn't they speak? "Gracia? Hughes? What's the matter? Can't you hear me?"
Hughes's eyes grew wide behind his glasses. He leaned forward and spoke curiously but the words were… well they were unrecognizable. Edward suddenly realized that Hughes wasn't speaking Amestrisian.
Maes blinked when the foreign girl said his name. So she could speak! Maes asked, "What's your name?"
She blinked and took in a deep breath as if she just figured something out. He guessed he should know better than to expect an answer. They were obviously worlds apart and with no clue how to connect. How do you communicated with someone from another country?
A light went off in Hughes's head. One thing that was consistent with travel was locations. Maybe if he named a whole bunch of locations, they might be able to figure out where she's from based on her reaction.
He started with some easy ones to se if she knew anything about the country she was in. "Berlin? Munich? Cologne? No? Okay let's see…"
She was oblivious not German if their largest cities gained no glimmer of recognition. He took in her features. Light hair, fair skin, it was safe to assume she was from Northern Europe. Hughes decided to start with some country capitals, which would easiest.
"How about Paris? Wait no, shit that's south. You're probably from Sweden or something." He stammered.
Gracia smiled and enquired, "Why don't you let me try?"
"Sure," Maes conceded.
Gracia turned her attention back to the very confused looking girl. She cleared her throat and tried her luck. "Copenhagen? Oslo? Göteborg? You know Officer Hughes; I don't think she's from up there. She doesn't have that accent."
"Your right… but what accent does she have?" He turned to her and watched the cogs turn in her head.
The girl interrupted them with an abrupt word. "Amestris?"
Maes was please to find that it at least sounded like a work, maybe even a place. Did that mean she understood what they were doing? Maes shook his head experimentally to see what she would do. She sighed and tapped the table. Well at least there was hope that they may find a common ground. Their body gestures were communicated perfectly, but that could only go so far. Maes and Gracia needed to find out where she lived so that could at least narrow down whatever language she spoke.
Edward knew what they were doing now, naming places, but none of them sounded familiar. He dared ask about Amestris but only got a shake of Hughes's head. Well so much for that. Ed went through every city and country he knew, but all Hughes did was shake his head over and over. Did that confirm this was a dream or was it…?
A thought struck Edward like a bat. Impulsively he said the only location he knew and had not yet mentioned. "London."
To his horror, both Gracia and Maes looked relieved. London, London, London… he wasn't dreaming after all. He was through the gate, just like when Envy had stabbed him. He was in the parallel from before and that meant he needed to find someone fast.
Squaring his shoulders, Edward asked the question that would verify everything. "Do you know where my father is? Hohenhiem?"
Author's Note
Ed's off to a bit of a rough start, but things are looking up. At least he has an idea where he is.
Oni
