A/N: Finally, I am able to write this one. I hope you'll like this.
Disclaimer: I don't own Fullmetal Alchemist and the song I used in this chapter.
A Maes Hughes Tribute
Chapter 2:
Roy Mustang: My Old Friend
"Let's go Colonel."
Colonel Roy Mustang looked at his Lieutenant, Riza Hawkeye, who's standing by the door of his hotel room. They arrived in Central last night and he hasn't gotten a lot of sleep since then.
Roy stood up as he adjusted his military cap and the black sash on his military uniform then he went out of the room followed by his lieutenant.
He could sense the dread in the atmosphere between them. He knew she was also devastated. Who wouldn't be anyway? Last night just last night, he experienced the most painful feeling he ever had. Once they arrived in the military base in central, the Fuhrer's officers escorted them to their Excellency's office. As soon as the Fuhrer sees them, he started mumbling about the bravery of soldiers, dying in the line of duty and on how courageous they are. He was just partly listening until some words from the Fuhrer made his heart skipped a beat.
"…and Lieutenant Colonel Maes Hughes was found dead in a telephone booth three hours ago…his body is now…"
That's the only sentence that registered and got stuck in his mind.
Maes Hughes. Dead.
No emotion resided on his face. The seriousness lingered until the conversation with the Fuhrer ended. They were told that the funeral will commence tomorrow.
Once they arrived in the hotel where they put reservation to, he locked himself in his room and he just lie on his bed just staring at the ceiling the whole evening. He can't seem to comprehend what the Fuhrer said. It can't be true right? This is just a dream and the moment he wake up, he'll tell this to Maes and surely he'll just laugh it off.
But no sleep and awakening came.
Now, he's in the cab with Riza. They are going to where Maes is…
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They arrived there shortly afterwards. Some soldiers and Maes' friends are already there. They when inside and the soldiers there greeted him with a salute. He slowly made his way to the casket.
It can't be true. He's not dead. He's…
Roy looked at the man who looks like he was only sleeping. This is the man who's been with him during the Ishbal war; this is the man who's been pushing him into the top. This man is his best friend, his comrade. This man is Maes Hughes.
"Colonel, Mrs. Gracia Hughes has now arrived." Riza said. He turned to face his lieutenant and they walked outside.
"Mrs. Gracia Hughes." He called as soon as he spotted Maes' wife.
"Colonel Roy Mustang." The woman replied, her voice is so lifeless.
"I'm sorry for your loss. He's inside, his body that is." he said then he accompanied her inside. The moment the military personnel and other soldiers see Gracia, they quietly leave the room to give her some privacy. Roy soon followed, leaving Gracia inside.
He went to the place where Maes' body would be buried later. The soldiers are now gathered there with some of Maes' friends and subordinates. He saw familiar faces. The fuhrer is already there with Armstrong. Lieutenant Ross and Sergeant Bloch were also there. Their faces show no remorse but he knew deep inside, they are bleeding. Just like me…
He went to where Lieutenant Hawkeye is and he stood in front of her, just beside the hole on the ground. The procession began afterwards. He saw Maes' coffin being carried by some men towards them. They started saluting. That's when memories started filling Colonel Mustang's mind.
My old friend, I recall
The times we had are hanging on my wall
I wouldn't trade them for gold
"Maes, what are you doing? And what are those things?" Roy asked Maes who was so busy putting something on his bedroom wall.
"Come on, they are just photos." Maes replied.
"Photos?"
"Yes. These are the photos I took when we are still in the military and during the Ishbal war and of course some present photos."
"Then why the heck are you putting them in my room?"
"So your place would lighten up a little. You want me to put some of Elicia's photos here too?"
"No way Maes."
"Oh, come on! Look, she's so cute! Isn't she an angel?" Maes said as he shoved another of Elicia's picture to Roy's face.
"Stop that Maes!" Roy said obviously annoyed.
Cause they laughed and they cry me
And somehow sanctify me
And they're woven in the stories I have told
And tell again
Later that evening, Roy started looking at the photos. They are really good shots. There are pictures with him together with Maes. There are also many amusing shots that it made him smile and some, as he remembered, are taken after and during sad times. These photos are really telling their stories and it kinda made him feel warm inside. His eyes fell upon a certain photo of him and Maes together. He thinks that it was taken after they graduated as they were wearing their academy uniform. Maes was grinning broadly while he's so serious looking. It's always like that as he rarely smile on photographs. Then he saw a group picture of him together with his subordinates, Maes and Armstrong, whose body is the only thing that can be seen because of his gigantic height.
He smiled at these photos then he stood up and gathered them. He decided that he'll put them in a frame to adorn his office desk.
My old friend I apologize
For the years that have passed
Since the last time you and I
Dusted off those memories
Coming back to the present, he suddenly starts musing on when did the last time he and Maes had talked about the past. It's been years since they have a conversation about these things. Those memories are flooding his mind and he wanted to tell it to someone who's been with him that also experienced those moments. This would be a good time for them to reminisce about the past but only if he is here. They are so near each other yet he's so far…very far.
"I'm sorry Maes."
But the runnin' and the races
And the people and the places
There are always somewhere else I had to be
And time gets thin, my old friend
Of course, there are a lot of things for him to do. He has this dream to change this country and in order to fulfill that dream, he need to reach the top. It seems like it was only yesterday when he told Maes this dream of his then he heard Maes told him that he should have someone who has to support him from below and push him upward and he volunteered himself to do that part. But because of that dream, he has to be away. And yes, time gets thin.
If only he was here, he would have save this great man.
"I'm sorry Maes…"
Don't know why, Don't know why
Don't know why, Don't know why
That's when Roy heard a tiny voice as some men starts burying Hughes. Maes' daughter, Elicia, had started asking her mother.
"Mama… Why are they burying papa? Why are those men burying papa?" the little girl said as she looked at her mother with pleading eyes.
"Elicia…" her mother said while looking at her.
"Don't…don't… Papa can't go to work if you do that…" he heard the girl plead.
"Papa always said he has lots of work! Don't… Don't bury him! Papa!" Elicia continue pleading, she's starting to cry now too.
"Elicia…" Gracia said then she hug her daughter. Her hidden tears are now flowing freely on her face. Armstrong started crying too. he looks so strong in the outside but Roy knew that he has a very sofrt heart.
This heart wrenching scene should make him cry too but he keep telling himself that he's strong. he's a colonel, a soldier, a brave soldier, the hero of Ishval. He killed a lot of people before so he shouldn't be crying for something like this. He doesn't know why but he knew he shouldn't cry.
My old friend this song's for you
Cause a few simple verses was the least that I could do
To tell the world that you were here
Maes Hughes is a great man. That would never change. He will always remember him as someone so loyal and so brave and he knew he will be remembered by the people who loved him so much.
After the procession, Roy was left alone before Maes' grave. The sun is already setting and he could feel the gentle cold breeze passing by. He was looking at the name engraved on the gray tombstone and he felt the urge to talk to it…or to Maes…
"Getting a double promotion for dying in the line of duty. Brigadier General Hughes huh? You said you'd support me from below. Just what are you going to do now that you've gone up higher than me? You idiot." He said almost bitterly. Yes, he should be angry, not to Maes but to himself.
'Cause the love and the laughter
Will live long after
All of the sadness and the tears
We'll meet again my old friend
"Colonel."
He turned and he saw Riza walking towards him.
"It's gotten cold. Aren't you going back yet?" he heard her ask him.
"Yes, I will." He answered before looking again at Maes' tomb.
"Alchemist are horrible people, 1st Lieutenant. Right now a part of me is desperately trying to develop a theory on human transmutation. Now I feel like I understand what those boys felt when they tried to transmute their mother." He told Riza. But he knew he wouldn't have the courage to do it. He remembered the time when Maes punched him on the face when he told him this and he felt like an idiot just by thinking about this taboo. Well, he shouldn't be worried.
Roy knew that someday he'll see Maes again but before that, he has to be somebody first. He wouldn't want Maes' death to be in vain. Once he saw Maes again, he would brag about his accomplishments and he knew he will be proud.
"Are you alright?" Riza asked once again as she looked at him.
"I'm fine." He answered as he put his cap on his head. "Oh no, it's raining."
Riza looked up at the sky "It isn't raini-"
"No, it is raining." Roy said as tears starts rolling down his cheeks. Finally, he let himself weep.
Goodbye, Goodbye
Goodbye, Goodbye
My old friend
A/N: There...Please REVIEW!!! If you want to hear the song I used, please visit my profile.
P.S.: The song is tiltled "My Old Friend" by Tim Mcgraw