Hey guys! Thanks for the reviews! Thanks to Iris Tenebris who was my first review! I appreciate it! Writing is my way of procrastination so the length will always vary depending on how long I'm willing to put off my work. (Currently I'm avoiding doing my bronze cross reading...) I try my best to catch grammatical mistakes but I'm not good at self-editing so bear with me. Anyway, enjoy!

Disclaimer: I in no way own FMA or its characters.


Chapter 2

Roy Mustang

Edward goes limp in my arms and I panic slightly. He may or may not have known it, but he's bleeding heavily from a gash on his side.

A few feet away Riza is still trying to get Havoc to respond, but to little success. I catch the wine coloured eyes and see the fear that my own probably reflect. I try to collect myself and put on an act of confidence but I fail terribly.

I gently lift the small body of Edward in my arms and move beside Hawkeye and Havoc. I'm shocked to realize how frail his body really is when it's limp. It scares me at how easily one boy could shatter into a million pieces and be lost forever. (Author input: I like metaphors and puns so beware because I will use them.)

I can hear Havoc quietly whimpering in his unconscious state and I feel bad for the man. This is certainly bringing back memories of Ishval. Riza is quietly soothing him, I can only catch a few words.

"A statue stands in a shaded place, an angel girl with an upturned face, a name is written on a polished rock, a broken heart that the world forgot."

I smirk at Hawkeye and she raises an eyebrow. "What is it, Sir?"

I shake my head, amused. "Isn't that a bit morbid. Riza? I mean considering the situation we're in right now."

"My father always sang that song to me when I was sick as a little girl," she says quietly.

I snort, "I can't see Master Hawkeye singing." I really can't, its such a ridiculous picture in my head.

The woman glares at me. "Really Roy, he did have a slight idea on how to take care of a child."

I decide not to respond to that, knowing now was not the right time to. That and I'd probably end up with a bullet in my foot...again...

"Sir...?" I turn my attention to the unconscious Edward who's face was taunt and pale. "...Roy?..."

Sighing I answer Hawkeye, not moving my gaze from my young subordinate. "What is it Hawkeye?""

"Should we stay here or move," She sounds hesitant and unsure. It makes my skin prickle with goosebumbs, Riza is never hesitant and unsure.

"I don't know Hawkeye," I sigh, pinching the bridge of my nose in frustration. "Moving them would harm them only farther and possibly worsen their condition but staying here isn't going to do much good either. Clearly the building isn't structurally stable anymore."

Hawkeye nods silently and turns her attention back to the unconscious Jean Havoc. "Is he hurt badly," I ask solemnly, wanting to know the answer and, at the same time, not wanting to.

"No, just a slight gash on his forehead and maybe a small concision. I think the impact of being hit on the head is what knocked him out," the First Lieutenant replies. "What about Ed?"

"Probably the worst off out of all of us," I say quietly, hoping she doesn't hear the pain in my voice. "He has a couple gashes on his head, a deep cut on his side and some minor burns on his face and neck from the last explosion. It doesn't help that he said his automail has been aching all day. That probably caused part of his problem with walking earlier."

"Poor Ed," mumbles Hawkeye.

"Listen Hawkeye, we can't move Fullmetal without hurting him further but you could get Jean out of here," I say. She starts to protest but I cut her off. "It's the best option we have. Besides, once you're out you know me and Edward are alive and where to find us. You can bring proper medical help back."

"Go and take Jean, Riza. Get the pair of you out quickly as safely." Those wine coloured eyes plead with my not to make her leave. I can't stand the sorrow and pain in her eyes so I look away. "That's a order, Lieutenant."

I hear her lift up Havoc who mumbles quietly, slowly returning to semi-consciousness. She supports him as they hobble towards the stairwell. "Take care of Ed, Roy. I will kill you if that boy ends up dying." Their foot steps fade in the distance. The sure footed ones of Riza and the slow fumbling ones of Havoc.


I sit with my back against the wall, waiting and simply passing the time. I continuously apply pressure to Fullmetal's side but soon my jacket becomes soaked with blood. And of coarse since the rain is dripping through the open ceiling my ignition gloves are wet and useless.

"...mhhm...Al..."

My head snaps towards Edward. That was him who just spoke, surely it was. Who else would be asking for Alphonse?

"Fullmetal? Fullmetal, can you hear me," I ask cautiously, not getting my hopes up.

"...Colonel...? S'where are we," comes the slurred, barely audible response. He tries to sit up but I hold him down by the shoulders, careful not to apply much pressure to his automail port. "Why cant I sit'p?"

"Stay led down, I don't want you irritating that gash on your side," I snap.

He cringes but complies. He starts to shiver and I curse myself for leaving him without his jacket. "Hold on Fullmetal, I'll get you your jacket."

"Don' need it, Bastard," He says lazily but its clear that he does when his shivering intensifies. I lay his coat on top of him but he tries to throw it off.

"Stop being so damn stuborn, Edward," I snap yet again. Jeez, I can't be sympathetic and reassure for the life of me can I? If I keep this up Hawkeye's gonna kill me!

"S'cold," mutters the pint sized alchemist beside me.

"That's what happens when you lie in the rain, refusing a jacket for warmth," I say sardonically.

His eyes go hazy again and I begin to panic. "Come 'on Ed, stay with me." I quickly move to his side and sit him up against me, completely ignoring what I said earlier.

"Let'g o'me Bastard," he mumble incoherently, the only word I understand is "bastard".

"Even when I'm trying to take care of you I'm a bastard, thanks Ed," the sarcasm dripping from my words like molasses.

"Can'k teash an'ol dog new 'ricks," he mutters what I think is supposed to be an insult.

"And you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink," I say.

"S'hat suppose'd to b'a jab a' me," he asks, seeming slightly offended.

"Just stating the obvious about your stubborn ways is all Shrimp," I smirk, knowing this will snap him somewhat back to his regular self.

"WHO YOU CALLING SO SHORT HE'D BE MISTAKEn FOR A MISKITO AND COULD BE KILLED WITH THE FLICK OF A FINGER," he half-yells in a raspy dry voice.

"Calm down, I didn't say any of those things," I hold up my hands offended and defending myself.

"Lie' hell you didn'," he spits venomously. "S'you were 'mplyin 'em!"

"There's a difference between saying and imply," I say as I feel his muscles spasm. I pull him tighter to me, as if holding him closely will save him, gawd I'm pathetic.

He doesn't answer and I'm grateful for it. While talking helps assure me he's alive it also physically drains him. I can't let him die, Alphonse is counting on me. And Hawkeye'd shoot me dead.


We sit like that and both of us doze off at times. Where is Hawkeye and that rescue team I sent for?

Ed jumps in my arms, distracting me from my current thoughts. "What is it, Edward?'

"Di-did 'ya feel 'at," He tries to ask, and luckily I'm able to piece together the question.

I furrow my brow, confused and concerned. "Feel what, Fullmetal?"

"Th-th-the buildin' shook and shutter'd, like 'ey do when the supports fai'" he explains to me, annoyed at my ignorance.

I don't quiet follow what he's saying. He must realize this and musters up the strength to roll his eyes at me. "T'buildings gonna 'ollapse, moron."

Okay, now I get it. But the urgency of it takes a moment to register. "Ed, do you think you could move?"

"Wit'out passing out? No," he says bluntly, showing his weakness at the moment. It terrifies me, Ed never shows weakness. "I'm 'aving difficulty as't is."

The building violently trembles beneath us, and yes this time I do feel it. I make a quick and rash decision. "Ed keep talking to me, if you ever stop I'll court-martial your ass," I command the young boy as I move my arms around him, moving to pick him up.

"You 'on't have the heart," he mutters as I lift him, clearly embarrassing him.

I move towards the stairwell and look down at the pale boy in my arms who has now become even paler. Blood starts to soak the front of my shirt and I swear under my breath. "Keep talking Fullmetal."

"When we ge' Al's 'ody 'ack, the first thin' we're doin' is lettin' 'im eat Winry's apple-pie," he mumbles breathlessly, struggling to get out a coherent thought.

"Is Winry a good cook?" I desperately try to keep up conversation with the boy.

I feel him try to chuckle, "o'coarse 'he is"

"Well, one day I guess I'll have to try some of her pie too," I say, trying to imagine the fierce blonde girl cooking.

The floor shutters and tilts. I stumble banging into the wall. "Any idea's what we should do, Fullmetal?"

"Norm'l I'd jum' out'a window," he says, slightly shrugging. "Can' do 'at right now, though."

I continue down the stairs slowly, taking it one foot at a time. Left, right. Left, right. Then the ground tilts again and we're falling. I clutch Ed, trying to put the boy in the least possibly danger.

We fall through the air for what seems like forever. I pray to a non-existant god. Please let Ed be all right, he has people counting on him.


Authors Note: Hey guys thanks for the reviews and support! (Yeah, I'm cheesey I know!)

First thanks again to Iris Tenebris who was my first reviewer, you made me ecstatic with joy!

deteconan:

nnoooooooooooo as you leave him there? you are cruel! I want the update now, you hear? Now! I love the parental, drama and more when Ed's hurt! So move your ass and write peresoso now or I'll get really mad I want to see the new chapter!

Yeah I know how you feel, I'm sure I've reviewed to some fanfics like that. I know how mean it can seem but really, I needed to do it in order to go where I wanted to with this chapter. One question, what does "peresoso" mean?

Guest:

:Is there a reason you decided to have Ed write a report about a giant, purple polka-dotted chicken? Or was there some minor writers block...?

One, it was not giant, it was a normal sized chicken(if i remember correctly). And no, the real reason was I had just finished writing a chapter for the story me and my friend write together and they're really random and that's rubbed off on my writing in this. I have just those strange thoughts, I'm an art student so most people could accredit that to it, but whatevers.

Thanks for all the reviews and follows and favourites! You guys are great! Fridays are a hard day for me to update on since I have school than three hours of Bronzecross but I'll do my best. Updates may be a bit sparatic for a little while cause of exams but please bear with me!

(I need to stop being so cheesey)

~Twink