Disclaimer- I don't own any of the original plot.
A DRUG TO KILL-
Roy breathed a heavy sigh of relief. He was sure that his heart had cracked when Ed looked at him that way. His face had shown such fear and anger. Wild panicked golden eyes that desperately searched for a way out of the strong hold on his shoulder.
The Colonel shuddered. He never wanted those eyes to look at him again. It was too much to bear, even for him.
Edward's head lolled back in sleep, to comfortably rest of Mustang's shoulder. He smiled.
When Full Metal had awakened, and Roy got himself under control, Alphonse was promptly alerted. And had rushed in, nearly knocking over a stray nurse in the process. He proceeded to scold his brother, not mentioning how he had nearly given the superior a black eye. They had both agreed against it. Knowing Edward, he would probably have enjoyed hearing of such a moment.
Btu when Roy had brought up Ed's questionable period the blonde denied anything and everything. He said that he was unaware of any occurrences beforehand. Yet something in his eyes told Mustang differently. The hidden message had been that he wanted to say more. He had additional information to say on the subject, but held back with a far away look.
All this happened in the early morning, yet the curious episode did not take place a second time. For some strange reason, that only made Roy worry more.
At this point, he was driving Alphonse to the dorms, with Edward sleeping on his shoulder when his worry had been confirmed.
The military car drove along the road silently; there had been no conversation from any of its passengers. Alphonse, to Roy's gratefulness, realized his brother and the Colonel may want some 'alone' time. Considering everything that happened recently. So he kindly offered to retreat back to where they usually resided. Although Mustang was plenty grateful for that insight, he could not help but wonder if perhaps the armour knew that something was amiss with his brother. If he did, not a word was hinted at it.
Edward snorted lightly and snuggled closer to Roy, as close as the awkward seats would allow. Soft mumbling flowed from his parted lips, "… Mmph… look-for you…" Mustang's eyes flickered to the mirror above his head, giving a stark view of a puzzled Alphonse. At least he wasn't the only one confused.
"… transmuted… present." They both paused to look at Ed. "You're welcome… Mom." Soft giggling emerged from his throat, making him sound like a child.
Roy paled considerably. Edward wasn't one to talk about either of his parents very often. But when he did, it usually meant something was wrong.
Al prepared to wake his brother up. He knew what these peaceful dreams frequently turned into. They became vivid nightmares. And Alphonse could only Imagine how bad it must be if they made Ed cry each night. His bother always had been a strong person, able to deal with his fears. He hardly ever cried. So Al dreaded it when his brother's defences broke down. He hated it.
Quickly, Alphonse reached forward to shake Ed's shoulder as he began to toss and turn. But Roy stopped him, "Let him sleep. He needs it."
Al hesitantly pulled away from his shaking sibling, uneasy about the whole situation.
Mustang took his gaze away from the road for a moment and smiled reassuringly at the distraught soul. However, the sudden pot hole jarred the vehicle as well as everyone inside. Edward's eyes flashed open to gold.
It was dark again. A great pool of blackness eluded his sight. He couldn't escape, unable to move. Fiercely, he loathed the dark.
Hesitant knocking rapped on his door and Edward's eyes speared to gold. With a look of awe he gazed as his old room, in his (burnt down) house. But that ultimately was not possible. Unless of course, this proved to be a dream.
Ed shifted in the covers of his bed as the door creaked open. Thunder rolled in the far distance, the sound echoed like an enormous clap, mingling with the pounding of torrential rain.
A second time that day, Edward was graced with the gift of seeing his baby brother again. Alphonse stood, barely in the room, a blue blanket clutched tight to his chest. A chubby thumb wandered to the babyish mouth for comfort.
Yet the blonde could not help but smile. He remembered this game. And sure enough, when more cracks of air pressure flowed, Al scurried closer to Ed's bed. He put on a half frightened pout and waited for the covers to be pulled back.
His brother cuddled close to his side, his trusty blanket placed between them.
A storm of this magnitude meant one thing, no light. Just complete darkness. That was what never failed to frighten Al, to the point of tears. Therefore, Edward Elric despised darkness, in any way shape for form.
Roy casually apologized for his lack of attention on his driving and pulled up near the military dorms. Alphonse leaned forward to touch his brother's shoulder to say good bye. However, his hand was violently smacked away with such ferocity it actually startled Al.
His hot-headed sibling could sometimes become slightly violent when irritated. But this was entirely different.
When the boy literally flung his back onto the car door, both passengers had unfortunately seen his look of utter panic. His breathing was erratic and pained; the golden eyes acquired a frenzied side.
Inwardly, Ed fought to keep himself from screaming. The amour, the one in the basement at the corner, the one that he and Al had been told never to touch was moving. It had tried to touch him! And the same scary perverted man sat there as well. Ed suddenly felt a grieving need for Alphonse. The last he had seen of him was at the dinner table. Just before the storm started. But the mere presence of these two strangers was nothing compared to when the armour said his name, calling out to him. At that, Edward's blood ran cold.
"Brother?" Al experimentally waited for a response. He was acting strangely, even for Ed. Why did he keep flinching away every time Alphonse neared him? A thought struck him, and he gave no time to actually think of what such a rash though implied. Maybe Edward didn't want him around…
Alphonse dejectedly exited the vehicle and said his farewells to the Colonel, but none to his brother.
Ed calmed down a fraction after this. That is until Mustang angrily pushed a hiss out, "What is the matter with you Full Metal?" He couldn't believe that the boy would be so cruel to someone he loved.
It was strange though. Why did that armour sound like the 'Brother' that he heard daily?
Roy prodded him in the shoulder and instantly regretted it. Those wild, frantic golden eyes he wished to never witness again were back. He sighed, his breath hitching slightly.
It was too much to bear. Even for him.
Especially for him.
AN: Just as a side note (the transmuted gift Ed talks about in the dream is a watery reference to the 'horses' the brothers transmute to show Trisha.)
Hope you enjoyed and look forward to the next one!