~!WainGuy?` here and with me the final installment of this story! Sorry if it's terrible I did this in a few hours in one day since I had a busy week and weekend. Gonna hit the sack after this. Thanks goes out to those that alerted, fav-ed, read and reviewed this story! I love your reviews and I FIXED THE MISTAKE IN THE LAST CHAPTER! Im really sorry about it!
Disclaimer: FMA & The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button don't belong to me.
Pairing: Parental!RoyxEd
*Note: Be sure to be comfortable when reading and in a well lit room when reading. Thanks for sticking around!
Just Me And You
Roy was depressed. His friend, Edward Elric, had told him just about everything there was to tell about his 'condition'. He said that he had been born the way everyone else was born; small and fragile except he was covered in wrinkles, completely blind and had many problems with his body; just like an old man.
However his body grew quickly even though it was old. When he was seven he looked like an old man at the age of ninety, back hunched over and stuck in a wheelchair since his old man legs couldn't hold him up.
His father had abused his mother, calling her a witch because of his abnormal circumstances, because he was just like that. He had blamed her, always blamed her, because his first son was born an old man.
When Ed was only ten years old, his mother had passed away from her injuries. No one in the town knew about him, about his father's abuse. They only knew that dear Trisha Elric had passed on, her husband and son, Alphonse, grieving their loss.
He wasn't even allowed to go to the funeral.
The town's people would ask too many questions, he couldn't go there by himself… He didn't even get the chance to say goodbye to her.
Then his father – the bastard – had packed his things and dumped him at an old folk's home and left, deaf towards Edward's pleas or Alphonse's tears. He just took the younger boy and left. Not even looking back.
Edward was stuck there for at least another ten years, his body rapidly growing stronger and younger. The people there noticed but had promised to secrecy because they had grown fond of the young-but-physically-old man.
When he was twenty-one, he left the old folk's home. He promised the Rockbells – the ones in charge of the home – that he'd write given the chance. Then he went travelling with nothing but a bag – the very same one he saw when he was nine – filled with clothes, a journal and utensils.
He travelled the country, meeting many men and women. When he had decided to stay in a place, he'd stay for a maximum of five years before he'd just disappear without a word. Then he was on the move again.
He had seen so much and his body kept growing younger and younger. He wrote to the Rockbells in every new town, he wrote about his adventures and fond memories to them and into his journal, wanting to make sure he did not forget.
Then he had ended up here and the first person he had met was nine year old Roy Mustang. And, unlike the other times and places, he stayed. He stayed until Roy had noticed the changes and confronted him about it.
Roy stared up at the white ceiling, his thoughts scattered and resembling muddled mush. Edward was getting younger and there was no stopping it. What if Edward started to doubt him and packed his things and leave? Would he do that? He certainly hoped not.
X
Roy tapped his pen, worry gnawing away at his soul. Edward had promised that he'd be back from the trip in at least a week… But he hadn't showed. He was two weeks late and still no sign of him, or a word.
Where had he gone?
Had Edward just ditched him?
Did he do it on purpose?
Where was he?
Roy sighed and stood up. He had work to do and a customer was calling. He stuffed the notepad and pen into his pocket and answered the call. He had to think about Edward later. Now was not the time.
'Or maybe you just don't want to think about it, Roy-boy…' a small voice whispered but he ignored it.
X
Roy woke up from his dream and sat up, blinking rapidly. What had woken him up? He was having such a nice dream about him ruling over the town and making his annoying co-worker pay but something had woken him up.
Knock Knock Knock
Oh. Someone was knocking at the door. He glanced at the clock and it read 04:00am. Who would be awake at this ungodly hour? Hm… What about a madman? Yeah, they would be up at this time he thought as he dragged himself out of his comfy bed.
Knock Knock Knock
I'm coming, I'm coming! Yesh, aren't you a patient fellow.
He yawned as he walked down the stairs and reached the door. He scrubbed his eyes and pulled the curtain away to peer out the window. It was a man with dark blonde hair and blue eyes. Huh? Now who was this?
He unlocked the door and yanked it open.
"Roy Mustang?"
Well, ain't that nice? This guy knew him while he didn't. Great.
"The one and only. Now who are you?"
The man gave a sheepish smile and said, "Name's Demetri. You do know an Edward Elric right?"
Now this caught his attention. He hadn't heard from the man for years… Why now?
"Yes, he's a good friend of mine. Did something happen?"
The man nodded and pulled out a package. "Yeah. The Edward Elric you knew shrunk into a kid of twelve. He had an accident some time ago and couldn't be moved. He wrote letters addressed to you but never got to sending them."
Demetri looked at him, blue eyes dark. "Then one day he completely forgot everything and started growing younger at a much faster pace. This," he motioned to the parcel, "is for you. But you can't open it yet."
Roy blinked and stared at the man then the parcel and back to the man. "And why not?"
"He said that in one of his letters that was addressed to you and one to me and my family. He said so in the small piece of paper." He handed the parcel to Roy, stepped off the doorstep and turned to walk off.
"Wait! Where is he?"
He had to know. He really did!
Demetri look over his shoulder and gave a reassuring smile. "Well, he's on his way here. I'll be bringing him here tomorrow. Be careful, kid's got a temper about his height so don't mention anything about it."
Before Roy could formulate a sensible question the dark blonde had disappeared into the night… early morning actually.
Roy closed the door, went back up the stairs and placed the parcel on his bedside table. Edward was back… Except that he had grown backwards so much that he couldn't remember anything from years ago… That also meant that he didn't have much time in this world.
With a deep, shuddering sigh he flopped back onto his bed and tried to sleep.
Roy didn't get much sleep.
The nest day, noon…
Roy had called his work place and told them he wasn't feeling well and was taking the day off. The manager just told him to get well and expected to see him on Friday.
Roy waited for the knocks on the door. While he waited he had cleaned all the windows in the house, filled all his books alphabetic order, tidied up his study and cleared out the fireplace of ash. He was just about to start filling everything in his kitchen when there was a loud knock.
He raced to the door and yanked it open to see Demetri, a red-haired woman and a young boy that looked exactly like Edward.
"So, this is…?"
Demetri smiled although it didn't actually reach his blue eyes. "Yes, this is Edward. Ed, this is Roy Mustang."
The boy – actually eighty-three years old – looked at him before he looked at Demetri. "You sure?"
"Yep, a hundred and ten per cent!"
The boy studied him before he said, "So, are ya gonna be a nice guy or a bad guy?"
Roy could only blink at the boy. How the heck was he going to answer that?
"Uh… A good guy…?"
X
"Roy! When's dinner gonna be ready?" the ten year old whined. He was hungry and he wanted to eat now! He was so, so hungry!
Roy looked at the older-but-younger-looking boy with a fond smile. "In a few more minutes, Edward."
The boy gave a snort and crossed his arms and fixed Roy with a glare. "You said that hours ago! When is it going to be ready?"
Roy laughed and ruffled the blonde's hair. "It was only half an hour ago Ed."
"But there's still an hour in it!" the boy defended lamely.
Roy rolled his eyes and continued with his cooking. Sometimes this Ed was such a brat. "Go set up the table and the food will be out in a few moments."
The boy whizzed away, grabbing at the usual things for dinner.
"Roy?"
"Yes Ed?"
"Is the fork on the right?"
X
Edward was confined to his room. He had caught a bad cold after he had ran in the rain. But that was not what worried Roy.
Ed was already eighty-nine and looked only seven.
Roy tried not to think about it, tried very, very hard not to but in the dark of the night those venom-laced thoughts would plague his mind; tormenting him endlessly.
He pushed the door open and looked at the boy. He was pale, blonde bangs plastered to his young face, his breath laboured and his small body wrapped in a cocoon of red covers. Roy placed his medication on the table and sat on the bed.
He brushed a hand against the soft blonde hair, his fingers sweeping over feverishly hot skin. The boy shifted slightly and opened pale amber eyes.
"Roy?"
Roy gave a smile and said, gently, "It's time for your medicine."
The boy didn't protest, like he'd normally do, but pushed himself up. Roy gave him the meds and after rubbing the boy's back he helped the boy onto the bed. He was just about to grab the glass and walk back to the kitchen when a small, pale childish hand gripped his shirt.
"Ed?"
"Please," the boy pleaded, his eyes bright, "don't go. Stay with me please."
Roy abandoned his mission to the kitchen and settled on the bed, his arm around the smaller body and planted a kiss into the blonde's hair.
"I'll stay with you until you fall asleep, alright kid?"
He nodded and snuggled closer, breathing a sigh of relief when he was comfortable in Roy's arms. It was silent for a while before the boy looked at him, amber eyes filled with something deep. Something truly deep, like he was suddenly older, but Roy did not notice.
"I'm so happy."
"Hm?"
"I'm so happy that I get to be in your arms when I go."
Roy blinked his mind wiping blank. "What do you mean?" he asked as he looked at the boy.
Tears were spilling down his eyes but he gave a smile and nuzzled against his chin.
"I get to say goodbye before I go."
No.
"Don't say that! Kids shouldn't say things like that!" he scolded. What was the kid thinking?
"But," Ed continued, tears still over-flowing, "I'm not a kid. I'm suppose to be an old man… Thank you so much. I love you so much Roy."
Then his amber eyes closed, tears racing down his pale face as he exhaled his last breath. Roy held onto the boy, not believing that he was so suddenly gone.
He lay there, hugging the cooling body as he bawled his eyes out, grieving the wonderful soul that left him.
X
Dear Roy,
I'm so terribly sorry that I can't go back to the town yet. Seems that breaking your leg and a couple of ribs is enough to make you stay in the hospital huh? Well, they say I'll recover but it would be really slow. And I was just about to head back to you when the accident happened.
The graveyard was cold and dead. Headstones – many covered in growing plants – scattered among the ground with a few trees here and there, a couple of bushes and flower beds. A lone man walked between the headstones. He was just going to pay a visit to an old friend.
…Seems that I still can't leave the town yet. Sorry Roy-boy. The doctors say I've got to go through some sort of something to help me get back the use of my leg. Well, it's slimmer than the other one and is definitely lacking some muscles…. I miss you so much.
I can't wait to go back to you.
Cold air blew by, the wind making the leaves dance in the air; a sign that winter was fast approaching but the man continued his casual stroll through the graveyard.
…Roy, you know, I think I'm losin' my memory. I can't recall a lot of things and had to look through my journal for help. Oh yeah! When I'm gone my journal's gonna be yours. You can do whatever you want with it. You can read it, store it. Anything except burn it that is.
The man reached his designated spot. It was a small headstone underneath an old oak tree. And it belonged to a very special friend of his. He stepped forward and placed a bouquet of flowers onto the ground.
….another thing is, I'm really glad I met you Roy-boy. You were like a son I never had and I cherish you the most. I hope that I was a good friend to you… Thanks for everything, Roy.
"Hello Edward."
P.s. Don't forget this but I love you.
End