Fullflame
By: Bar-Ohki
Disclaimer: I own anything of real value in this world, please don't sue me.
Other Stuff: I feel a little lonely as I got no reviews last time. Could someone drop me one?
Chapter 7: Home
Originally the training of Pairs was not inhumane. It was more like a special boarding school that provided a well-rounded education with some extra time spent on the abilities of the Pairs. However, 70 years ago Amestris had a particularly nasty border conflict with Creta. To end this conflict quickly they called in Pairs to fight. Because of the remarkable and astounding success, the training program was revamped. In what seemed to be an overnight change, the program grew fierce and inhumane.
The aim of the new program was to eliminate all the weak Pairs and transform the remaining ones into human weapons. For the most part, it was a success. Within a few weeks of this change the parents of the Pairs had caught wind of the torture their children were being subjected to. Soon protests and riots began to flare up around the training facilities.
It was then the military built private and secure facilities. And with the relocation of children, all parental contact was severed. Since then the military made it a policy to prevent Pairs from contacting their parents in a fear of both the truth of the inhumanity being revealed and riots.
And with each ring of the phone, Roy was breaking another of those rules.
"…Hello?" The voice of a tired, old woman answered. Roy let out the breath he had been holding and took another.
"Good day ma'am." Roy reminded himself to keep his words simple thus hiding his nervousness.
"To who am I speaking?" The woman asked, sounding impatient.
"Roy Must-" Roy was cut off.
" 'Roy'!?" The woman gasped.
"Roy Mustang ma'am." Roy decided to finish. "I've been trying to get a hold of this number for years and-"
"My boy! My baby boy!" The woman sounded dazed. "Is it really you?"
"Yes, that is who I am." Roy assured her, using soothing tones. "I've been trying to find you, looks like I did."
"Oh Roy!" The woman gasped. "Do you remember me?" She sounded desperate. Roy shut his eyes and tried to remember the voice. The sound of song from lullabies once forgotten filled his ears. It was true, Roy Mustang knew her voice.
"Mummy, you're my mummy." He spoke softly, a small smile playing his lips. "I've never forgotten you."
"Oh Roy! What did they do to you? Why couldn't we see you? Why-" Roy cut his mother off.
"I'll explain in person when I come home." Roy promised her. "I'm planning on doing that soon, when is the best time?"
"Any love, any." His mother assured him.
-break-
Long, blond strands lay cast about the white pillow giving its owner an angelic aura. Upon the soft, silk sheets lay Edward Elric, naked and pure for all to see. His golden eyes were shut, a small smile rested picturesquely on his face. The entire bed was lit by sunlight creating a surreal holy ground in the black room. Gently the boy's chest raised and fell with each breath. His right hand lay just beneath his Name, as if he was embracing it.
"So pure…." Cooed a slick, male voice from a corner of the room. Edward's face stirred, then relaxed back into the smile.
A near silent padding of naked feet approached the sleeping boy. Into the strong sunlight stepped a lean figure of a person, their eyes shut. His dark emerald locks of hair fell past his waist; carefully tied back by a single red bow. His skin was deadly pale, barely contrasting with the sheets on the bed. He wore a skin tight top that barely covered his upper torso and left his strongly scrupled abdominal muscles for all to see. He wore what appeared to be a short skirt around his wait. On his narrow forearms rested two fingerless black gloves. To finish the effect he wore black toeless and heelless socks.
This man tenderly reached down and brushed a stray strand of blond hair from the sleeping face.
"I know you can't hear me…." The man whispered gently in the boy's ear. "But I have to tell you, despite being imperfect, I still love you brother." He carefully opened his violet eyes to gaze lovingly upon Edward.
"Promise me, that even when you are united with your Other Half, that there will still be room in your heart for me…."
Edward stirred in his sleep and nodded a little, smiling even brighter now.
"Thank you." And with that the man slipped out of the room.
-break-
"Why did he fall asleep!?" A woman sternly snapped at another figure in the shadows.
"I don't know!" The other woman cried back. "He relaxed, smiled and just fell asleep!"
"He never relaxes when you hold him!" The first woman pointed out.
"I know!"
"Calm down." A male voice injected. "I have news."
"What!?" Both women snapped.
"Roy Mustang and Edward are connected. The man passed out in the hallway from exhaustion comforting his Fighter Unit." The man continued.
"That makes my work complicated. How the hell did their Bond take root!?" The first woman spat. "I specifically separated them and took extra precautions to keep Edward pure!"
"It wasn't enough it appears." The man sighed. "I think we have a traitor."
"I'll murder them." The second woman remarked in a sing-song voice.
"All in good time, my love," The first woman reminded her companion, "first we have to find them."
"We will…." The second woman squealed.
-break-
An old woman with gray hair, too many wrinkles, and onyx eyes set down the receiver of the phone. She wore a simple blue dress and work boots. Her eyes sparkled with a fire that had all but burnt out over the long years.
"Cindy Lynn! Come down here and help me make your brother's bed! He's coming home!"
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Yay for another update! I love writing this story, so please drop a review!