Blood And Flame

Roy mustang rode on the back of a black horse. Dashing past houses burning turning into nothing but ash. He pulled back on the reins just in time to avoid degree falling violently in front of him. With smoke thick in the air Mustang choked attempting to take a breath. However in vain it seemed to be. Just barely he could hear it. Edward Elric's voice echoing in his head. Roy tried to call out to him but his words only mute could not reach fullmetal. Beckoning his steed to ride faster he passed through the flames. For the one whom controlled flames had nothing to fear. That was until he saw it. A trail of blood splattered at his horses hooves. Edward laying with his head against the sharpened rock. "ED!" the black haired man cried. Finally his voice was audible. Somehow. He held his throat before Roy paused hearing footsteps before behind him. With a loud whinnie the steed knocked Mustang onto the charred ground. He slid across the battle field away from the Elric brother. A click echoed catching Roy's attention. He paused slowly looking up. Though he could see no face. Heavy like lead his body refused to move. His gaze moving towards Edward's direction. Get up….he thought to fullmetal. He had to move. To get out of here. A gun pointed toward him. Roy could only see a figure hovering above before BANG!

Roy gasped as he shot up in a cold sweat. He could feel his heart pounding deep within his chest. Taking a quick look around he realized he was back in his bedroom. "….Damn it…I have got to stop eating pickled chips before bed…." He cursed. He always did have a habit of having a snack or two before calling it quits for the night. His line of work was demanding. And they didn't always have time for a long enough lunch break. Mustang threw off his covers and made his way to the bathroom. Splashing his face with cold water he gazed into the mirror. "…Man…what's my damage?" he questioned seeing his hands tremble. That dream again. Though he hated to admit it. He had, had the same one over and over again. It began the same. And ended the same. The worst part was he could never get back to sleep afterwards. So he went into work half asleep with an added dose of cranky. That image. That blood. All that fire. No. Not he was not going to let this stupid dream get the better of him. To think one of the heroes of the great isvallen cowering at a nightmare. FullMetal would certainly never let him live that one down. He could see him laughing right now. A smile softened his expression. But there was also worry there. Edward laying in blood. He didn't want his thoughts to linger. It was already too much with Scar out there hunting him and the boys. If he knew. That he was going to grow to care this much about the pain in the ass he would have never allowed him to live this life he now did. For now he would put that to the side. Now that he was officially awake Roy took out files he had gone over earlier that day. Still it wouldn't hurt giving them a second look. Better to be extra careful. Mustang needed to bring that ass hole in before he could kill any more of their men. Holding his head he groaned in frustration. Nothing seemed to give even an inkling of a clue of exactly the whereabouts of Scar were. Reports were he just disappeared after the First Branch Library was blown up. Irritation crept up on the black haired man as the phone began to ring. It seemed nothing was sacred even during the early hours of the morning. With a slight grumble Roy answered the phone. "Hughes I swear if this is you calling about your damn ki-Oh…uhuh….Lieutenant Ross?...THEY WHAT!? HOLD ON! I'm COMING OVER!" "Sir that's-" He hung up. He could NOT believe this! Just when he was worried ENOUGH! Taking a deepened breath the Colonel hoped in his car and mad a dash for the hospital.

"OUT OF MY WAY!" the black haired man exclaimed as he drove through traffic. His emotions were consuming Roy to the point he no longer was thinking straight. OH DAMN IT! Just when he was worried enough the boys pull this shit! No doubt it was Edward's idea. Oh he was in for an earful! He was sure Ross and her companion had said their peace but he was going to throw in his own two cents just for good measure! Mustang swerved as he parked nearly ramming two cars in between. The colonel wasted no time with the elevator shooting straight up the stairs. By the time he arrived in the assigned hospital room his face soured seeing Winry. While he couldn't explain it personally he found a dislike for the auto mail junkie. Mustang paused seeing he hadn't even been noticed yet as Al and Edward are in the middle of some kind of discussion. "It's true! Isn't it brother!? The thing you wanted to tell me! It's that I'm not really who I think I am! Just a puppet filled with false memories! Isn't that you wanted to tell me!?" Edward paused before he was quiet. Without a word Ed left the room struggling slightly with his wounds. Roy paused just listening. He opened his mouth to say something but seeing as Winry had Al the Colonel hurried to find the older brother. Finally coming upon the laundry balcony through the white sheets blowing in the breeze he located the little trouble maker.

"FullMetal?" Roy's voice broke through the solemn silence. "….Oh great…lecture four…go ahead…get it over with…" the blonde grumbled. He wasn't in the mood. "As I recall you're the idiot who decided to get yourself bashed up again. Just look at those woods. You were lucky you even got out alive." Mustang muttered. "Lucky huh? Even if that's true. I think this luck of mine's about run out…heh…" "Luck? What the hell are you blabbering on about?" the Colonel questioned. "EVERYTHING!" Ed shouted as his anger and sadness erupted from him. "THE WHOLE FRICKEN SHIT STORM!" …But I guess…I deserve this…all of it. Just to bring mom back. Alphonse tried to warn me…and yet I lost everything for us…" Fullmetal slammed his fists onto the ground. "…I could care less about losing my arm and a leg…but Al…he lost his whole body…until now…I didn't realize….the pain he must be in…not feeling hot or cold, rain, not able to eat or sleep….going through a fricken living hell…and I'm responsible for it all…" the blonde trembled as he looked at his hands. "…But…I'm too afraid…" "Of what?" Roy questioned finally getting down to Ed's level. Ed could hardly look anywhere but the floor as tears gathered in his eyes. "….Afraid to ask…if he….if he blames me for what happened….to know if my little brother…hates me…." He wept. "Great! Now I'm crying in front of my commanding officer…this is all your fault you jerk….why'd you have to come here anyways…I was perfectly fin self-destructing on my own!" the blonde yelled taking his frustration out on Mustang. Served him right too. Couldn't he just leave him alone? He probably was going to poke fun at him later the ass hole. Sticking his nose in his business. "….FullMetal. Do you honestly think there is a person in this world who doesn't regret at least one of his actions? Even I've made…some terribly ones…but our mistakes help us to grow stronger inside. And if we're smart enough we learn from them. Though I can't say the same for someone in this room." Ed paused and only shot him a look. "Quit looking at me like that. You and Al are brothers. All you have is each other. Besides. Alphonse may not be as dense as you. But even the most confident people have their doubts…" "….Gee you really know how to put sugar in someone's coffee don't you?" Ed muttered. Roy sighed. "The point is. Al is kind hearted. In the end you both wanted the same thing. He could never blame you for what occurred those years past…" the fullmetal alchemist went silent. "…Do you really…think…he'll forgive me…?" Ed asked the Colonel before Mustang placed a hand on his head slightly ruffling his hair. Fullmetal made a face and swatted at him. Afterwards Roy only smirked. "I guarantee it. Now if you excuse me. I have some OTHER officers to lecture." The black haired man told the blonde gently tapping his forehead. Edward paused as he watched him leave before Al finally found him.

Walking back to the room Mustang smiled some to himself. Things oddly had a way of working themselves out around those two. He could already hear the sparing in the back ground. Edward. Geesh. The kid never sat still did he? As long as he didn't open those wounds back up. Unfortunately the problems never seemed to end as Havoc entered the scene with a case file. "Havoc? Come to pay the boys a visit?" the black haired man questioned. "So sir. Actually I came to see you. I have the autopsy results of the nut that tried to freeze central over." "…Freezer…." Roy muttered displeased. "…Was there something special about this case? Or-" "….Actually sir…." Without another word he handed the file. For the Colonel's eyes only. Opening the case file his ebony eyes widened. Quickly he shut it and looked back at Havoc. "Just how many people know about this?" "Just the one who performed the autopsy and us." "Keep it that way…I don't want anyone else INCLUDING the Elrics to know about this. You hear me Havoc?" "Yes sir." The soldier complied. For some reason Mustang could feel that dream again rising from its dormancy. Just what did it mean? Or did it mean anything? "…Sir?" Havoc questioned concerned about the Colonel. "As you were. Speak of this to know one…" "Right." He complied before Roy left. Thinking of nothing else better to do he bites the bullet.

Somehow Mustang found himself on Hughes doorstep the very next evening. The black haired man knocked before he was pulled in once the door flew open. "ROY! COME IN! COME IN! We were just about to celebrate my darling Alicia's birthday!" he grinned. Oh great. No wonder the doors just opened. He would kidnap a robber just to force them to have pictures of his adorable daughter smashed in their face. Roy nearly froze as he saw Edward was there as well. "Oh Mustang! You got roped into this two huh? Great we can both suffer together." The blonde teased with a grin. "Speak for yourself FullMetal." The colonel scoffed. As Edward looked towards Alicia attempting to attract his attention he smiled. Seeing him cuddle with the little girl was just plain adorable. Hughes however was his overprotective self as usual. "NOOOO! You can't have my precious little daughter! She belongs to meeee!" Ed only sweat dropped. "Now Now." Gracia interrupted. "We're celebrating two birthdays today." "Two?" Roy questioned. "Oh yeah. I almost forgot." Full metal snickered. "The world is full of surprises I guess." Mustang admitted. The evening was full of fun both Alicia and Edward blowing out the candles laughing and playing together. Al came late with a gift for both of them. A doll for Alicia and some pocky for his older brother. "ALRIGHT!" the blonde exclaimed. He wasted no time it opening it up. Roy paused as blush crept up on his face seeing Fullmetal lick the chocolate. He always had a habit of taking off the chocolate before eating the stick. The colonel gulped. Ed only gave the weirdo a questioning look. He himself had slightly reddened cheeks.

"What the hell are you staring at?" he asked grumpily. If he DARED make a joke about his height. He was going to send him through the roof. "Little old for candy are we?" Mustang teased before stealing one of his pocky. "HEY!" Edward exclaimed. Hughes laughed. "The way you guys fight it's like you're a married couple. "HA! AS IF!" Ed exclaimed. Like in a million years. "Taken one too many blows to the head Hughes…." Roy muttered. "Well we gotta get going anyway. Got a train to catch." Ed told them as he stood up. "Well…alright. Take care of yourselves you hear?" "Don't worry about us!" the blonde grinned. Just before they were about to leave Ed grabbed Mustang. "JUST A SEC AL!" he called to him. Roy raised a brow before he felt himself being pulled. For someone so short he was pretty strong. Once the two were away from the others fullmetal got quiet. "….Something wrong FullMetal?" the colonel questioned. This evening was already aqward enough. "….Hello?" the black haired man questioned again. "…Will you shut up and let me talk?" "Then hurry up and spit it out." "…Why you arrogant…" the blonde partly muttered under his breath as he slightly blushed. He sucked at this kind of thing. Mustang sighed. "…If there's nothing I'm leaving-" Before Roy could leave however Ed turned and grabbed at his uniform. "….About…the other day…at the hospital…" Wait a moment. Was he? He was wasn't he? "….Ugh…um…how do I say this…" Ed grumbled. His face was turning even redder. "…Thanks…But that's it! Don't be expecting anything else! Just thanks!" full metal cried before he took off past him. Roy only paused as he watched Edward leave. A smile manifested on his face. He was so cute just now. Wait. Why was he even thinking that!? The colonel's thoughts were interrupted as he received a violent pat on the back. Nearly knocking Roy over. Man could that guy be anymore obnoxious? His conclusion. No.

"…..So…" Hughes began. "You didn't come here for nothing right? Come to gush about Scar? I know how crazy about him you are." "…You are just hilarious Hughes…." Mustang sighed. He was exhausting. "Garcia's putting Alicia to bed so we can talk." Finally! "Fine. But I'm making this quick. I need to get back home." Roy yawned. The two men sat on the couch with coffee in hand. "So what's on your mind dear old buddy?" the general questioned. "….This stays between us…" the colonel warned. "My lips are sealed." He grinned. Though Roy somehow knew one way or another he was going to regret this. These kind of things always came to bite him in the ass. "…Hughes…what do you make of…dreams?" "Dreams?" "Yeah. Like ones you seem to have over and over. Nothing else." "…Hmm…well. I have heard that sometimes dreams can be a window to the future…thing you know. To come. Memories can also be locked up inside your subconscious. It's just a matter of what you want to make of it." "…I see…" "….What's wrong Roy? This isn't like you?..." his friend asked concerned. "…It's nothing…say can I borrow the key to the library?" "…Uh…sure I guess." Hughes went ahead and handed over the key. "Just make sure to close up." "…Right. Night." Mustang told his old friend. Quickly he left and going to the central building he took advantage of the library. Anything he could get his hands on about dreams and their hidden meanings. Meanwhile Ed and Al were headed towards the train station. For some reason. Ed had this feeling. He couldn't explain it. "ED COME ON!" Al cried as his brother seemed to stare into space. "UH! COMING!" Ed told his younger brother. Once on that train Ed felt his eyes heavy. Drifting off into a dead snooze. His expression morphed into distress. All he could see was rain. Pouring all around. Mustang just standing in it mumbling something. "….It's raining…." The Colonel barely whispered. Slowly Ed attempted to get closer. "Colonel?" the blonde questioned. He didn't turn. "HEY! LOOK AT ME YOU BASTARD! YOU AREN'T ALLOWED TO IGNORE ME!" fullmetal yelled as lighting stuck across the sky. Ed gasped as he slipped and fell. Roy just an arm's reach away. What the hell was going on!? "MUSTANG!" he cried before finally the colonel slowly turned his head. A pained expression flashed upon Ed's face seeing the pitiful rain soaked Roy just looking into his eyes from afar. "…Mustang…." Fullmetal's lip quivered. Upon another flash of lighting Edward awoke from the horrifying nightmare. His heart pounded before he looked out the rain covered window. Al and he were caught in the middle of a storm. "…Brother?" Al questioned. "What is it Al?" Ed questioned. "…Is everything ok? You were crying in your sleep…." "Oh that? Just having another dream about teacher kicking our ass." He lied. "…Oh yeah…I suppose I would cry too." Alphonse admitted. Of course Ed felt awful lying to him. But he couldn't tell him the truth. Not if he didn't understand it himself. I mean what the heck!? Why would that jerk be in his dreams!? He felt like he needed to sanitize his brain! "Brother! Look! We're almost there?" Since Winry was gone he figured she must have got off while he was asleep. Now it was time to face the music. And just as they feared they were beaten right at her doorstep. Both Al and he flying across the city.

"AHHHHHHH!" Ed cried landing on a roof. "Safe…man I thought she was gonna kill them this time for sure. They barely survived that horrid island! What kind of person did that to kids anyways!? Fullmetal didn't have time to complain. Just barely he noticed some strange figures in cloaks. Was it possible they were alchemists? Carefully and quietly Ed lowered herself down a drain pipe. Keeping to the shadows. "Did you hear?" came one of the figures. "….About the fate of that guy Hughes? Then yes. I heard some real shady figures got to him…apparently…he knew too much…." {Hughes? They didn't mean} Ed thought to himself. "Met his end he did…but that is none of our concern…our goal always has, and always will be Mustang…he must be assinated…." At a single sound the cloaked figure vanished up in smoke. What did they mean by that? Did he hear correctly!? Panicked Edward ran to go back to his teacher's. The blonde gasped nearly stumbling on something. Looking down it was hard and shiny substance. Like crystals. Slowly Ed collected bits and pieces. Wait! He didn't have time for this! Nearby luckily there was a pay phone! He could use that! It was a secure line! Scrambling fullmetal shoved coins in the slot and picked up the phone. Dialing swiftly Ed was only met with a busy signal. Again! Ed tried once more. Same result. After about the third try the blonde could feel a rising panic. There was no time. Ed had to go! He needed to see the colonel immediately! Fullmetal left a message for Al and Izumi before hoping the first train back to central. However by the time he arrived the atmosphere was thickened with darkness.

"Riza!" Ed exclaimed seeing Mustang's loyal second him command. "…Oh…Edward it's you…" she answered almost surprised. "I got some urgent news! Where's the colonel?" "…Down the hall but I-" Edward spent no time to running past her. Riza only bit her lip. Fighting back her own tears. "….Riza aren't you gonna go…and try to cheer him up…?" Havoc questioned catching her path. "…There…there's no point…after all…I'm not the one he's waiting for…" she told him before she left. Fullmetal paused finally coming across the office. It was unusually quiet. "HEY! You in here Colonel?" the blonde questioned. All he could hear was the rain. Going in a bit further he attempted to get around the scattered files and books. Finally in the corner he found Roy. FullMetal paused. "…Mustang?" he found himself uttering before the thunder roared. Lightning lighting up the room. "….Edward…." a muffled sob came from Roy. Just like in his dream. The colonel was soaked from the rain. And his face. He…Had he been crying? A concerned look appeared on the blondes face. This time lowering herself down to his superior's level. "….Hey…this…this isn't like you?...What has you so upset?" he asked in a quieted tone. As if a reflex Mustang reached out for Ed and pulled him close to him. Hiding his face. Not wanting anyone but him to see such weakness. The blonde paused as he slightly blushed. This was a bit embarrassing. "…You're…kinda squeezing me…" fullmetal pointed out at Roy's tight hold. "….Seriously…what's up with you…?" Ed tried again. He was gonna catch a cold if he remained like this. "…Hughes….Ed….Hughes is dead…" he choked out. Edward's eyes widened as a flash of lightning struck. No. So then. Back there. What they said…about some shady characters. Fullmetal bit his lip until it bled. He could barely hold his own tears in shedding them down his cheeks. "….Don't…Don't you dare tell anyone about this…" Mustang shook. "I can't bare for anyone else to see me…in such a wretched state…" he cried. Edward was quiet before he held the colonel close to him. "….I wouldn't think of it….why would you even think…I would make fun of you right now?..." "Why? Because you never miss a chance to knock me off my high horse….when in reality I only act like that because hard heads always act on their own…never think to ask for help…and then wonder why I lecture them while they nearly they in pieces…why? Why do you all never come to me…? Damn it Hughes….What the hell did you get yourself into anyways…" Was it his fault? "Sorry but you fall into the category too Mustang…" Edward told Roy. "…And maybe…it's because we don't want you…to get hurt…" "And what good does that do? If you get yourself killed…." Roy finally rose his head to look at Edward's eyes. "…Now he's gone….do you honestly think I can just sit still?!" "What? So you can get yourself killed too?" full metal retorted. Roy bit his lip before Mustang sneezed. A sigh slipped from the blonde's mouth. "They say idiots don't catch colds. But you might. Come on we're both pretty soaked…it's better to wash away all this gloominess…afterwards…we need to talk…" "….Fine…." Roy muttered before the two went to the showers. Ed ran the water while Roy gathered towels. Washing away the cold raindrops with heated water the two scrubbed themselves down in the public showers. They were two men after all. If either of them got sick they would have lesser man power. Though the one place Edward always had trouble was his back. "….Hey Colonel. Do you mind getting my back? This arm doesn't exactly reach very well." "….Geesh you are such a pain." "Back at yeah. Come on. Be a pal. I'll scrub yours. Good lord knows you need it." "Hahaha…." Mustang deadpanned. As Edward pulled out his braid Roy couldn't look away as the blonde's hair glistened in the water falling down on his shoulders. "…What are you staring at?" Ed questioned. "Uh nothing." Roy quickly objected averting his gaze. Fullmetal shrugged and found himself in return looking back at the black haired man. He was still flustered from being held like that all of a sudden. Once their eyes met each averted their gaze. Maybe this WAS a bad idea. After a good scrub down as promised Mustang attempted to do as Ed had requested. Now that he looked he had a nice ass to go with his beautiful hair. He almost had a compulsion to run his fingers through it. In return Edward feeling Roy's hand against his back. He almost liked it. What the fuck was wrong with him!? This was the colonel he was thinking about! But-But how was he supposed to act when Mustang himself was acting so weird recently!? Edward paused as he noticed Mustang playing with his hair. He just couldn't resist could he? The blonde's face nearly lit up red as the jack ass only smirked at him with his hair curled around his finger. Pulling fullmetal closer to him. Suds covering their body and being naked and wet. Bad thoughts crossed each of their minds. Though they were both hesitant to admit.

Next time- The Mysterious Stone

After an aqward encounter Edward and Roy go back to the Colonel's house. After calling it a night Edward does some midnight snooping. Coming across the file given to Roy earlier Edward finds himself flabbergasted he wasn't alerted of this earlier. Yet another Nightmare Roy begins acting even weirder. Still depressed about Hughes no doubt. In attempts to calm Mustang he ends up somehow in bed with him. Over breakfast they talk about these mysterious characters and the crystal fragments. There's no choice. Mustang and Ed must go visit Dr. Mahrco. Perhaps he will have more insight. Unfortunately all does not go as planned. A train attack to take both of them out it seems. However Edward noticed they are avoiding hurt him and uses that to his advantage. Barely escaping alive the two notice a book left behind on the train. A clue to this mess? Perhaps. There is only notes of Alchemy and a single name. Nicedemous. There again fragments of the stone.