Well, here' the final chapter folks! This is where it'll come to an amazing conclusion.
I can't thank tanglepelt enough, my artists, and my beta to help through it all.
King sat right by Roy's hospital bed, occasionally checking on him. Riza tried with all of her physical might to stay up through countless evenings. Time didn't even have its hold, minutes turned into hours. Since the pseudo "Philosopher's Stone" put him into such a hysteric state, the doctors had to keep him anesthetized for needed tests. In the meanwhile, Elizabeth was given orders by a doctor to recuperate from home and Selim helped her with that process.
Her nerves were starting to get the best of her and she needed to step outside for a moment. Come on girl, pull yourself together. Until the doctor comes in with the results then everything else will be fine. The dark circles underneath her eyes were pronounced and King did everything he could to keep her calm.
A knock was heard at the entryway, King was surprised to see the young alchemist. "Edward, I know last time you were in a rush, but I doubt this time you want to leave."
"Oh absolutely not Sir. What kind of man would I be to ditch a comrade at a time like this? Alphonse understands completely and when I explained to him about the situation, for the most part he was kinda okay with not being involved in this whole affair. I can only imagine his presence could have made things a little bit awkward. It was awkward enough for me to explain us at the Fifth Laboratory, but this 'laboratory' is unlike anything I've seen."
"You are right about that Edward, however I'm gonna figure out who these doctors are and what they could've done to my people. However, all of this talk about the Homunculi and Scar take a little more precedence. These monsters are wreaking havoc on my country and I need to do everything I can to prevent most of it."
Every once in awhile, Roy groans sounded groggy and he tried to move a little bit even if his wrist flinched. My body, my mind. I only wonder how long I'll be in the hospital? I'm so impatient it's not even funny. His head fell to the side, right back to sleep.
Edward wanted to crack a joke to put a smile on everyone's face. "I know Mr. Useless-In-Rain doesn't want to be here for too long."
"You're sure right about that FullMetal and for the fact, I'm not useless in rain." his throat lightening up with a grin on his face.
"Colonel!" Edward exclaimed in relief, "How are you feeling? I know you hate hospitals like me, but these doctors know what they're doing here. The other ones, those are scum."
Roy looked out towards the window. "Hey, could either of you open it for me?" a simple request he asked for.
King was a tad bit faster. "Sure, not a problem."
Metal squeaked and the cool breeze was incredibly soothing. For a moment, silence filled the room, but it was a serene kind. In his life, he never wanted too much chaos or disarray, however joining the military opened that gateway. From time to time, he felt like life was going way too fast. A soldier carried on his daily duties, but if there was ever a moment to take a step back he cherished those more than anything else.
"Thank you sir. It means a lot." He flexed his arm with the IV, the feeling of it made him partially tethered.
"Colonel Roy Mustang, I'm gonna order you to stay here in the hospital for just a few more days. Whatever was injected into you, took its toll on you and I want you in your best shape. The last thing I need is a soldier and alchemist who can't perform to the best of their ability."
Riza walked back in time before the Fürher was about to make his leave. "Sir, I cannot thank you for watching over him when I just couldn't. Even though I'm a second lieutenant, I watch over him so that he doesn't make any mistakes."
He gave her a comforting pat on her shoulder. "Well, you always seem to know how to help him in these kinds of situations. Not a lot of people typically have the patience and endurance like you; you're the prime example of a true friend and companion. Part of the reason why my wife and I worked out so well for thirty plus years. However, I think Edward and I will be leaving right now."
"Huh?" the pipsqueak questioned.
"Come on Edward, you don't want to leave Ms. Rockbell hanging. I think you might be due for another check-up."
Edward was so confused by it, but he went along with it. "Yeah, uh, sure." His youth was something to be honored and cherished; Edward kinda knew how lucky he was to have a woman back at home that cared about him. Edward and Winry would surely learn the road bumps of a relationship.
Riza and Roy were left alone to have a moment with each other.
Both of them looked with confidence and reassurance on their faces. No matter how far science or twisted morality may have pulled them apart, nothing stood in their way.
"Sir, after this hospital visit. I suggest maybe we take some time off to get away. Maybe to a river or lake that we've never seen before. I know there's a couple of perks to living in the city, but I need to step back myself."
"I completely agree with you. It's just that, I begin to question who I can trust and what I can call truth. What I see in front of me right now is you, always willing to stay by me."
Her smile was something Roy always loved to see.
Roy had the ambition and goal to set things right for the country; he knew the right people would be there for him to help him out.
/
The entire fiasco was draining for King and even though he was able to shake off his wound, every now and then he wanted to kick back from it all.
Luckily for him, Selim was out and about with his friends. A newspaper was especially calming on a beautiful day. No clouds in the sky, the sun streaked at the right moments with the shade in its right place.
Deep breaths and whiffs of grass calmed the old man. He sat out there on his porch, text about plays and reviews on restaurants gave him a smile. An old newspaper crinkling underneath his fingers, pages curled inwards.
"Hey honey, mind if I join you outside?" Elizabeth inquired calmly. She looked rather ravishing by letting her hair down and wore a cute spring dress fitting for the season. In her hands were a couple glasses of lemonade she made prior.
"Of course." He quickly brushed off one of the chairs so it wouldn't stain her pretty dress. "I want to wonder, why are you dressed like that? I don't mean that in a condescending way to make it perfectly clear."
"Since when did you decide to be poetic with me? The last time you tried to say something nice, it was unfortunately misinterpreted and that resulted in me slapping you. Right on our first date too."
"But come on- I was hoping to make a play on words about your outfit and where our first date took place at. First, our favorite tea shop and then going by the riverside. You were about to fall in and I-" he tried to act all romantic like back in his youthful days but he knew it was no use.
"It's okay Hun, I know you want to say the right thing to make happy, but you already make me happy. You don't have to shower me with flowery words, just be yourself."
Thinking about "being just yourself" was that concept King could never grasp. His identity as a Homunculus was an immediate contradiction.
"You are right a couple of things, my words, while in hindsight, should always make you feel special. Heck, that's why I've been willing to put up with you for thirty years. Being myself is still something I have a hard time grasping."
Her green-gray eyes glimmered in the sun, a smile that always made things feel better. She reached out for him, their fingers intertwined. Tussling his hair and resting her other hand on his face.
King finally put down the damn newspaper. "Oh, sorry. I-"
"You don't have to say anything else, let's just enjoy this moment."
Lips met one another, an emotional bond. A single tear fell down her face and King stopped.
"Why are you crying?" he inquired.
She tried so hard to fight back against any other tears. "This almost reminds me when you asked me if you wanted me to be your girlfriend. The sun and nature were kinda similar to this. Maybe we should go on our own vacation and I don't want it to be at another country. Maybe, another part of Amestris we've never been to before where there's water."
"Sure, wherever you want to go I'll always be there with you as best as I can. The most any person can do is try." What on earth am I saying, I'm usually a lot more calm and collective about this, but… But I guess this is how humans feel when they're this emotional, she's my wife; the one person I chose amongst everything else.
He knew how much of a lucky man he was to find someone like her. A woman more than willing to put up with his faults, but saw him not as a monster; he was at his core a human with emotions and wants like any other person wanted.
/
Roy and King had somewhat similar goals and ambitions. Each of them found a woman in their lives to guide them down their path. While Elizabeth never used a gun in her life, she has her own inner power to fight against adversaries. Riza never liked to sit down for awhile, she took in stride that life needs to be taken down a few notches.
At the end of it all, both Roy and King can prove that determination and will is what sets a man apart from everyone else.
I love the final line so much, it's so poignant with not just those characters but the overall story of Brotherhood; perseverance and determination separates people for the goals they want in the end, those that really want to grab it.
I hope this journey touched my readers in some aspects and expect me to do a challenge like this again. Maybe not with these characters specifically, maybe I'll do something with Edward and Winry. ^w^
Please R&R!