Here is the second chapter of these project. I hope my english is not terrible.
Dissclaimer: I don't own Fullmetal Alchemist, i'm just playing around.
Chapter 2:
-One of those popular cafes, they sell frapuccinos or something like that, right? They must have some… - And just like the kind stranger said, two blocks away they found one of those popular cafes where a very scared barista gave them a very big cup of ice and some alcohol for free, probably thinking that they were fighting each other or something like that.
Edward fixed his own hand rather quickly in the bathroom while the kind stranger waited on a table feeling the eyes of the costumers over his head and around his neck.
-All done…
The work done wasn't all that bad, if I do say so myself, but that only made it all that much strange.
-I must admit I'm impress, have you done that before? – Said the kind stranger pointing at the hand.
- Yeah, but not for the reasons you think, I don't enjoy harming myself – A moment of silence pass between them when a young waitress came with their coffees. – I'm sorry, i never asked your name, I'm Edward Elric…
- That's why…- The kind stranger whisper.
- What?
- No…nothing… I'm Roy Mustang…- Now, finally, the kind stranger had a name.
- Now that's why you were so familiar, I thought that was because i always see you reading but no, you were friends with… - And for some reason his name didn't come out of Ed's mouth, the expression on Roy's face was more than enough.
- Yes…it's been almost six months…
- I'm so sorry… I-I didn't…
-Don't worry, it's OK…
And again a new silence, more dense than before. Ed stared at his cup, hard, thinking in a way to break the tension that he had created for some stupid reason.
You know the poor guy lost his friend, why would you say that?
-So…you always see me read? – And the tension was gone.
-What?
-You said that you thought you remember me because you ALWAYS watch me read – It was rare to see Roy smiling, let alone laughing, but that was his expression when he saw Ed's face.
- That's not what I said…
-Oh, I think that's exactly what you said…
-Well I didn't mean it that way…
-Sure you didn't…
-Cut the shit, OK? Yes, I watch you read, sometimes, got a problem with that? – In that very moment the only thing that Ed wanted was to erase the smirk out of Mustang's face.
-No, not at all, I just wanted to hear you admitted…
-Bastard…-
[01:00 am]
The conversation wasn't uncomfortable, neither one of them was pretending to feel good, they were both laughing, they were having fun for ones (in several months to say the least) like they knew each other, like the best of friends. From one moment to the other the time, the hours, the surrounding people, the angry baristas, didn't seem to mind, not even a bit and while Roy looked at the glowing lights outside Edward broke the silence.
-Do you think that I can make it from here to the west side by foot?- Roy give him a doubtful look for a moment before laughing out loud.
-Do you want the optimistic answer or the realistic one?
-The realistic, always, please…
-No fucking way…- This time Ed was the one who laugh, he was a little disappointed because Roy told him exactly what he was thinking; crossing from where they were to the other point of town mean to walk, a lot, and thru several really dangerous places, in other words: If he wanted to die maybe taking that step was a very good idea.- Why do you want to go to the west side?
-I have to visit someone…my brother…
-Maes never mention you had a brother….
My brother…Idon't really want to talk about this right now.
-Maes talk a lot about me?
-Yes, a lot…very young, brilliant student…he found you to be very promising actually…-To remember that man made them both very nostalgic, it was very surprising how that could turn in to sadness that fast.
-Do you want to talk about it?
-Sorry?
-About Maes, Do you want to talk about him?- Silence - Even better, Do you want to talk about him while I keep my mouth shut and listen to everything you have to say?- And with those words Edward open a door that give away to a storm of feelings that Roy had hold in for a very long time, things that he didn't even had said to his closes friends or his wife, for some reason the offer of a chance to talk his minds out, without any restrictions, was too good to be rejected.
Roy told him about how Maes had actually died, the implicated in the situation, how his profession had mess in the middle and how a lot of figures of power may or may not be involved. Roy told him about how guilty he felt and how much he wished that would have been him the one how died, among other things.
After all that, after saying everything, Roy sigh, finally free of the pressure. And in all that time Ed didn't say a word.
-Do you feel any better?- Roy was silent, looking at the empty streets.
-Yes, but I need a drink, would you like to go…?- Ed accepted, there were no reasons to oppose, after all there were still a hell of a lot of hours to go.
[02:00 am]
Without being entirely sure where they will end up Ed follow Roy, whom walk silently be his side. The fresh spring breeze made the route all that much enjoyable while they started to run into more and more people, mostly university students, couples and office workers enjoying the Friday night. All of a sudden Roy stopped and like a reflex he held Eds hand; in front of them there was a bar that look very much like a house. For a moment they just looked at each other.
-W-we are here…
This is a very strange place…
From the outside nothing indicated that the house was a bar, but on the inside it was very much full of people; soon enough Ed started to notice that everybody was saying "hello" to Roy, it was like he was a regular.
-Do you come a lot to this place?
-No…no it's not like that…I'm kind of the owner, the bar belongs to my aunt but the house it's on my name- And the man just keep coming out with surprises. They sat down in front of the bartender and Roy order for both of them.- My wife tells me that a shouldn't drink, she says that it doesn't allow me to focus on my problems…
-No, of course not, it makes you forget them, and that's the point, right? – Ed hold his glass up – To Maes…
- To your brother…
- Alphonse…
- To Alphonse… - And they started to drink. Roy didn't want to start an uncomfortable conversation but quickly give in to the curiosity. – What happen to him?
- Nothing…
- You don't like talking about it, right? – Ed nodded with his head – It's alright, you don't have to…I guess that when you are read-…-On one zip Edward drank a whole glass of whiskey (And this was a young man that wasn't accostum to drinking) and order for more.- Take it easy…
-My brother it's catatonic…- And now it was Roy's turn to keep his mouth shut.- It's like he is there but he is not…his brain works, he is breathing and his hearth beats but he doesn't talk, he just looks at the horizon for hour, for days…and I did that to him-For a moment everything around them went silent, they entered a dark bubble created by Edward speech were Roy just looked at his face, how slowly it turned sad, how the guilt took over. – He came to the city to visit me one day, almost a year ago, and I took him out, show him around, we went out with some of my friends a-and I never thought… I didn't stop him when he started to drink and he got drunk, of course… I didn't check on him when we went towards the street…he got hit by a c-car…nothing crazy but enough to put him on that state…I did that to h-him…
-Edward it's not your fau…
-No, you see, you feel bad for the lost of your friend, but this is different…- And for a moment Edward couldn't talk anymore. – I'm sorry…I need t-to…-
To be continued...