Silence
Colonel Mustang prided himself this night as said man slept; he actually finished his paperwork leaving him free of Hawkeye's gun.
Though any ideas of being well rested for the next day flew out of his mind when the phone rang, it took three more rings before Roy woke up.
He grumbled about how only Hughes could be the one calling him t this hour or Fullmetal, the kid often loved to play that sort of prank on him.
Though he would never admit it, he did enjoy the way the kid's voice seemed to radiate nothing but pure annoyance and laughter at tricking him and being found out.
That didn't mean he liked the kid though as he picked up the phone on the table" Hughes or Fullmetal! If it's either of you-"he was cut off by a desperate and tear filled hollow voice.
"Colonel!" Alphonse nearly shouted as the man pulled the phone away.
"Alphonse? Do you know what time it is?" he tried to calm the child wondering what had him so spooked.
"It's brother! It's been hours and he's not back!" Al kept yelling in pieces as his fear took over" what if he's hurt, it'll be my fault!" Roy tried to take in the broken speech as it sounded like Ed was missing.
But why would Fullmetal even be walking outside at one in the morning?
"Alphonse!" he heard metal straighten through the phone as he tried to calm the boy down, he wasn't good at dealing with the younger Elric who was more sensitive than his brother" I'm coming over and I want you to explain everything" Alphonse gave a few 'yes sirs' and to hurry.
Putting the phone down he wondered what sort of trouble Edward had gotten himself into now, but he guessed he'd find out soon enough.
Dressing in his military uniform since he had a nagging feeling in the back of his brain that he wouldn't be going home once he left, he went outside the fall air making the night cool.
Starting his car he could only wonder what had happened but realized it was probably a fight and most likely Fullmetal's doing.
He shook his head; those boys were going to be the death of him one of these days.
That didn't mean he cared.
Then why are you driving at one in the morning to their dorm room?
He ignored his subconscious and just focused on what he'd have to say to get answers out of Alphonse.
When Edward first joined the military he tended to get kidnapped often leading him to be forced to deal with an emotionally wreaked Alphonse.
It had been three years though; Edward had gone through a lot and was less prone to those kinds of tricks now.
But that didn't mean it couldn't happen again, he was small despite his age.
He didn't find humor in that though; he often tried not to think about it when Ed got sent on certain missions.
These thoughts and many others swirled around in his head as an hour later found him at the only home the Elrics had in central.
He hadn't even knocked once on the wooden door before it swung open" Colonel!" he tried not to wince at the desperate tone in the boys voice.
This wasn't like other times; he knew it the minute he walked into the Elrics room.
"Alright Alphonse what happened" and as Al looked at him large form looking like a scared child he spoke meekly.
"Brother left around three hours ago and when he didn't come back I got worried" Roy's eyes narrowed at that.
He wasn't telling him the whole story, after all this was exactly how Ed acted when he tried to avoid answering how he got injured or destroyed a building in a town.
"Alphonse" he spoke in that specialized tone one got from working with Edward for so long.
The boy's helmet snapped down to look at him, wringing his large hands like a child who'd been caught taking sweets before dinner as he spoke hesitantly.
"Yes sir" it was cautious as if knowing what was going to be asked of him.
"What happened between your two" he assumptions of a fight seemed more accurate as the minutes passed.
Alphonse said nothing as he sat down on the couch" me and brother got into an argument a really bad one, I said something really bad to him" he was looking down at his hands which were tugging at his loincloth.
Even though Al couldn't feel it brought some comfort, better than punching walls and yelling like Edward usually did.
Mustang rubbed his temples, from the look and sound of Alphonse he believed it.
He had never in the four years of knowing the boys seen the kid so depressed, worried and it was easy to hear the guilt and self-loathing in his usually kind voice.
It was something else he'd picked up from the way Edward spoke.
"Who started the fight Alphonse?" he wasn't the best at comfort as the boy looked up.
"It was the both of us, I mentioned wanting to find dad" Alphonse almost muttered the last of his sentence but Roy heard it.
It amazed him how human the armor could be, shoulders slumped, head bowed and able to mumble without lips.
His mind registered the word dad as he looked at the younger boy" I take it Fullmetal went into his usually rants" he didn't sound amused though.
Something had gone wrong this time, whatever fight they had it wasn't one of their usually ones.
"Yeah brother got mad, and I just lost it too" he admitted as Roy blinked he had never seen Alphonse get mad before" I told him he should ask him for help since he knows more about the stone than us, but he started being stubborn and then I said, I said" it was as if he physically couldn't bring himself to repeat his words.
Roy wondered what Alphonse could have possibly said to get Fullmetal to leave this long.
When he spoke even Roy had to make sure he heard right" you told him what?" he asked him as if he couldn't believe the boy ever would speak that way.
Especially to his own brother.
"I told him if we had dads help I would have my body back by now" a dry sob echoed through the quiet dorm.
Even though he wasn't crying outwardly the way the armor shook and those hollow sobs wretched out of a nonexistent throat, it twisted the man's gut in a disturbing way.
He honestly didn't know what to say to the boy, he couldn't rebuke him for his words.
It must be exhausting living as a disembodied soul in a suit of armor, but the boy never seemed to mention it knowing how his older brother blamed himself.
Suddenly that sent a chill down his spine, Edward wouldn't try that would he?
"How could I say that to him? when he left, he said Goodbye like he wasn't coming back" Alphonse's voice snapped him from his inner thoughts as the boy ranted in fear" for a moment he looked at me like he was scared, I'm such an idiot!" Roy had to move out of the way as a large metal arm slammed down near a small table causing a large crack.
He had only seen the boy act like this once before and it was frightening how similar he and his older brother were in their fear, and guilt.
Making sure to approach the boy slowly he tried his best to calm him down" Fullmetal does a lot of stupid things but I'm sure he's out her probably asleep" he didn't realize he was also trying to reassure himself" Fullmetal can sleep anywhere when he's tired I'm sure he'll show up tomorrow" he didn't believe his own words though.
"And if he doesn't" Al's voice was scarcely a whisper.
"Then we'll send a search team for him, you know Hughes will be the first to help" he hoped mentioning the man who had taken to the Elrics like well an uncle.
He didn't know why it bugged him to say father though.
"What if brother?" he didn't need to finish the question Roy knew what he was asking.
And as he answered he wasn't even sure himself" I don't think he'd do that" at least he hoped as the helmet nodded.
The boy looked back down looking the entire world like a small scared child.
He sighed taking a seat beside the boy's armored form, he had been right.
He wasn't going to be able to return home tonight.
Alphonse's armor creaked as he stared at the door; since the boy couldn't sleep it was going to be a very long night for him.
Roy just hoped Fullmetal really hadn't done something stupid.
He didn't realize it would be a week before they found Edward or how much was going to change.
(One week later)
"Sir?" Mustang looked up.
Hawkeye was standing in front of his desk, her usually stoic and neutral expression hadn't been seen for over a week.
Ever since Edward disappeared a week ago, after the second day kidnapping was the only thing that made sense for the boy not showing up.
Since no one had reported seeing a golden haired boy, dead or alive; it was the only explanation they could think of.
"What is it" he didn't bother to hide the exestuation in his voice.
The entire thing was wearing on him, mostly from seeing Alphonse.
The boy had completely shut down on the second day of the search, so much that he was now staying with Roy.
He barley spoke unless spoken to and sometimes when he stood in a room, they forgot he was even there.
Alphonse really did seem like a suit of armor most days, standing there until work was over or someone spoke to him.
If they didn't find Edward soon they didn't know how long Alphonse would be able to live with himself anymore.
Havoc and Breda had suggesting sending the boy home but Alphonse's, in one of his rare moments had said that he hadn't wanted to be a burden to the Rockbells.
They always pegged Ed for being the one with a guilt complex, now they saw both brothers were the same in that aspect.
"Fuery and Falman have returned" it was clear she was tired as well.
"And?" he asked already knowing the answer when the woman shook her head.
It had only been a week and already everyone was on the edge, when both boys joined the military no one expected to ever get attached to them.
Well at least that's what Mustang thought, Hughes though he saw that a mile away.
The man was a father after all; he had taken to the Elric's easily.
The first year everyone had seemed to be adjusting to the fact that children were not a part of the military and Mustang's group.
But as they all got to know the boys somewhere along the way they began to care about them.
Sighing he was about to speak when the phone began to ring, picking it up he answered trying to keep the tiredness out of his voice" Colonel Mustang" what answered him next caused Hawkeye to look at him.
"The Flame Alchemist himself huh, so you're the kids commanding officer" a snicker followed after as Roy tried to control his anger.
He had no doubt who this was" Tell me where my subordinate s now and you'll only walk off with a sunburn" Hawkeye now had a serious expression on her face as she turned towards the outer office.
"Little over the top for a kid colonel" the man sounded smug as Roy tried to control himself, he couldn't fry this guy through a phone.
"Where is he?" they didn't seem to be calling to negotiate.
"Central hospital be thankful we left the kid their it's only cause the boss ordered us to" the man sounded as if he wanted to have kept on doing whatever had being going on during the week.
"And who's this boss of yours, he couldn't speak to me himself" he looked up seeing several heads and a helmet peeking through the door obviously listening in.
There was a laugh that had him grinding his teeth as the man answered "why don't you ask the kid, that is if he can even tell you" Roy's eyes narrowed at the double meaning as before he could get another word in the line went dead.
And before they could know where the call came from to, damn it! He slammed the phone back onto its receiver.
"Was it about brother?" the soft voice of Alphonse filled the now quiet room.
Havoc, Fuery, Falman and Hawkeye were the only ones in the office" Fuery, Falman inform Hughes to call off the search" with a shout of 'sir' the two went on their order as he turned towards Havoc, Riza and Alphonse.
"The rest of us are heading to the hospital" there were no words as Havoc was the one to drive.
Mustang was unfortunately stuck in the back with Al's large armored body, but he didn't complain this was the most life he had seen in the boy since his fight with Edward.
But the entire ride Mustang couldn't help play the words the man had spoken over in his mind, what had he meant if Fullmetal would tell them.
The kid had been kidnapped before and he always recovered in the end, even when they found those suicide kidnappers.
Ed never took death well and having someone kill other captives and then themselves right in front you, Alphonse hadn't spoken to any of them for a near full two weeks.
He had blamed Roy since he was the one too send Fullmetal on that missing persons case, to be honest he felt guilty himself for several days after.
What seemed like too long a ride they arrived at the hospital, Alphonse was ahead of all of them if he had a face it was probably twisted in worry.
The receptionists seemed surprised by the armor bound boy and her blue eyes widened at the sight of the military.
"Has a boy with blond hair in a braid been checked in recently?" asked Roy as the woman checked through her paperwork.
"Maybe he was wearing a red coat" offered Alphonse as the woman looked up with a clipboard.
"About two hours ago a man walked in and left the boy in the waiting room, no one saw who he was though" she explained as Hawkeye, Mustang and Havoc mentally cursed.
There went their only lead" the doctor finished just a few minutes ago, are you family of the boy?" she asked.
"I'm his brother" the woman nodded at Alphonse as she stopped a nurse speaking to her as the light haired woman left.
"Please take a seat the doctor will be here shortly" the receptionists said as she sat down going back to work.
There seemed to be too much waiting for everyone as Alphonse couldn't say still, he began to pace and wring his hands like a worried mother.
Havoc seemed to be contemplating going out for a smoke while Riza kept taping the chairs arm rest.
Twenty minutes later a doctor with long grey hair in a low ponytail, glasses over his grey eyes and a thin beard appeared.
He held a clipboard as his tag said Dr. Vance" are you here to see the boy? Perhaps you can fill us in on his identity" the older man smiled kindly at them.
It was of a great relief yet concern" you mean brother isn't awake yet?" the man looked at Alphonse as he reached out a slowly wrinkling hand and patted the boy's hand.
"Your brothers awake young man but" this made the adults stand up as the doctor began to explain.
"the boy's suffering from dehydration and malnutrition" he began looking at the clipboard" he has several abrasions which were unable to heal on their own for very long, there's also several knife wounds some were reopened" the doctor kept a calm face as did Mustang and the others.
Well except Alphonse's whose worry only showed as gasp and his shifting armor.
It was obvious the older man didn't like describing these kinds of details about a child even if Ed was fifth teen" some ligaments were pulled along with several blows to his head, his ribs were beginning to crack and his arm needs to been in a cast for the next six weeks" the man flipped to another page.
They wondered what else the boy had gone through as this didn't sound like the wounds of prolonged torture, they were about to find out.
"The worse physical wound he has is to his esophageal area, he'll be going into surgery for it later today" Dr. Vance was interrupted by Riza this time.
"His throat? How bad is the damage?" she asked, despite her neutral face worry was in her voice.
"We can't be sure but prolong strangulation and something that we haven't been able to identify was forced down his throat; we'll do what we can't but I can't promise the boy will be able to speak again" a yell came out of Al as Mustang and the others tried to process this realization.
Edward might be mute? That just didn't seem possible for Roy.
Fullmetal was loud and always ranting about one thing or another, the possibility that he wouldn't be able to speak again.
"Psychological wise he should be okay but I would advise you to be careful of touching him" this snapped them out of their fist shock now adding a second.
"Pardon?" Roy wondered what he meant by that.
The doctor sighed once again as he fixed his glasses" when he awoke he reacted badly to a nurse who was doing the check up, it was probably a blessing the boy didn't have his automail arm" they winced at the thought" I would also call the boys mechanic the port seems to have suffered damage as well, from his reaction I can only assume their might have been attempts-" Roy interrupted him for Alphonse's sake as well as his own.
"When can we see him?" he asked, once again trying to control his temper.
Good thing he left his ignition gloves in his pocket, he didn't want to scorch a hospital.
"He might react kindly to you, he woke up an hour ago come with me" they noticed how he said react and could only guess what damage Edward had caused.
Though as they followed the doctor Havoc spoke up" the chief might not be able to talk again? It'll kill the kid" Mustang only found himself agreeing with the man.
He looked left seeing Riza speaking to Alphonse obviously trying to calm the boy.
They stopped at a door as the doctor said he'd return in a few hours as he went on his way to his next patient.
They were all nervous as Havoc was the one to open the door, as one by one they shuffled in.
"Brother?" Al was the first to speak as they heard blankets rustling on a bed.
There he was laying in bed hair unbound, looking like he'd been through hell and back with how pale and thin he was, he looked the same besides several bandages and the cast.
That's when they noticed the bandages around the boy's throat and the way he was looking at them almost wearingly.
He seemed to glare at Mustang as the man was glad about this but then saw the boys eyes shift to his brother.
His didn't know how he seemed to go even paler, he opened his mouth before a wheezing sound came out and the boy's eyes widened.
They guessed either the doctor hadn't told him or he hadn't accepted what they had been told.
Hell Roy still couldn't believe it.
"Brother, this, this is all my fault" Al had slowly begun to walk up to his brother obviously the words of the doctor still fresh in his mind" this happened because of me" A tap to Roy's shoulder made him see Riza, she had a hold on Havocs arm.
It was obvious what she wanted, they had to give the boys some room then they'd have their time.
Now that they knew Edward was going to be okay, well as okay as he could be when he found out there was the chance he might never speak again.
As they left they never saw the way Ed's eyes seemed to follow them as the boy seemed to be hiding something under his pillow.
Things were going to change and it was going to get worse before it got better.
I hope you like it Flame this is my first time writing this kind of stuff
Pray that your Older Fanfiction Sister did good