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Hey! Just for you, I'm trying to update this more!
A/N Ha! My older sister is graduating today, so what do I do? WRITE FANFICTIONS INSTEAD! YEAH!
Disclaimer: I don't own FMA
Chapter Seven:
Just How Much Pain
Roy watched, broken hearted, as the young Edward got up from the ground. The blonde picked himself up from the ground, dusting himself off, wincing when he hit his stomach.
The colonel wanted to simply pick the bruised boy up, cradle Ed in his arms, and run off to go burn those fuckers that hurt Ed.
Yes, that was a wonderful plan indeed, but there were a couple things that made it impossible.
1) He could not touch Edward, or anyone else
2) No one could actually see him
Well, that put a damper on his day. When Ed started to walk back, away from the yard and towards his home, Roy made sure he followed.
As he was walking, he couldn't help but think about what 'those fuckers' (as Roy so rightfully dubbed them) had said.
'What kind of man makes fun of a child... And his sick mother? Who the hell does that?' Roy thought angrily. 'And they just had to go and mention that bastard too.'
'Damn.' Roy cursed. 'Why am I getting so protective over him... Like a father would, or something...'
Thoughts of why raced through his mind, and before he knew it, they were back at the Elric household. Walking in after Edward had opened the door, he watched as the boy immediately made his way towards his mothers bed.
"Mom?" The small voice asked. "How're you feeling?"
It pained Roy to see Trisha again, for he knew what would happen to her, but she coughed and gave a small smile. "Oh, don't worry about me-" She coughed lightly again. "Dear, tell me why you're all covered in bruise!" She was going into protective mother mode "Was it kids at school? I'll go down there and give them a good lecture to never hurt my little man again!"
The sick, dying woman struggled to try to sit up in her bed, but Edward took his still-flesh right arm and pushed her down lightly. Ed gave a small smile to his mother. "Don't worry mom, I just tripped and fell." Ed was trying to save his mom the trouble, so he lied.
"Dear, don't lie to your mother." Was Trisha's reply.
Edward looked shocked that his lie hadn't worked, but knew his mother could always tell when he was lying or not. "It's nothing you need to worry about, honest." Ed paused "Why don't you sleep for a bit?"
Trisha nodded and closed her eyes, being so sick was wearing her petite body out.
After seeing that unfold before him, Roy realized that Edward had always been that way, always trying to save people the 'trouble' of knowing his pain. He didn't want anyone to know. Was it because of his pride? Or his selflessness?
Roy knew that this wasn't the first time Ed had gone through this.
Obsidian eyes opened with a jolt. He sat up in his bed. Was this going to happen every time he slept? Or until he was forgiven? All Roy knew for sure was that these dreams terrified him. Seeing Edward's past like this... It was painful.
It was hard to imagine the great Fullmetal Alchemist, Hero of The People, getting bullied like that. Yeah, Roy knew that he was younger then and those kids were twice as old as he was, and twice the size too.
Roy was more tired than usual. All his body wanted to do was sleep, but his mind didn't want him to sleep. He knew this feeling of exhaustion was part of The Truth's toll. The Truth wanted him to sleep, so that way, Roy got the full extent of his 'punishment'.
The colonel lifted a hand to his mouth as he yawned. Holy Gate, was he tired.
Well, maybe... If he took a short nap, he wouldn't have those dreams... Yeah, that was worth a shot.
And once more, the raven haired man fell into dreamland, not knowing the awful things he was about to witness.
Roy looked around him. A hallway, full of different doors. Ah, so he was in Ed's school this time, not outside...
"WAIT! Dammit! I'm not supposed to be here! WAKE UP, ROY!" He yelled to himself, the small children around him oblivious to his fake existence here.
'You can only wake up when I say so...' The Truth's voice echoed in his mind. 'So since I won't let you wake up yet, enjoy the show, Flame Alchemist.'
Dammit! He wasn't going to "enjoy the show!" There was nothing enjoyable about watching Edward suffer! Roy sighed, he knew he had lost this round with The Truth. Roy tried to be optimistic.
"Maybe it won't be that bad.." Roy muttered to himself as he walked down the hall, somehow knowing where Edward was.
Young seven year old Edward stepped out of his classroom, and into the hall. How many times will Roy's heart brake when seeing this? As soon as Edward stepped into the crowded hall, the kids around him shoved to the side, desperate to get out of the blonde's path.
Edward walked down the hall, face stoic, as the crowd around him parted, making him a path he would walk down alone.
"But why?" Roy asked himself. His questions were answered when he saw the kids "whisper" to each other. The "whispers" was really just as loud as normal talking. The colonel knew Ed could hear these comments.
"Look, it's that kid. Ed... He's so stupid, I mean sure, he's a genius or whatever but, he doesn't have to answer every question in class..." One kid said to the group around him.
"He's such a freak. He know's everything in class. He's. A. Freak." A young girl said to the other girl next to her.
A boy muttered something to himself. "The only friends he has are his brother and that Rockbell girl. I bet he bribes them by doing their homework so they'll play with him." Kids around him nodded in agreement.
"DAMMIT! YOU ARE ALL GOING ON MY 'TO BURN' LIST! YOU LITTLE BRATS!" Roy yelled at the kids around him, knowing they couldn't hear him. Each comment was getting Roy's temper more and more fired up.
It was clear these words hurt Edward, but the young boy was trying so, so hard to keep his face emotionless.
Roy woke up once more. He never wanted to sleep again, but knew that was impossible. Why were kids so awful to him? Just because he was smart, and had two friends, one of them being his younger brother? Just because his mother was sick, and his bastard of a father ran off?
Why were these kids saying these mean things to Edward? Ed had never done anything wrong to them, he would've seen it first. Just because Edward was different, he was excluded from the group of kids?
Yes, Edward was smarter than most kids, most adults actually.
Yes, Edward only had two friends, one of them bring his younger brother.
Yes, Edward had a sick mother, and a father who ran off.
Yes, Edward had all those things, but why was he a freak? Why did no one seem to like him?
Roy had never wanted to burn so many people. Hohenheim. The Truth. Those little brats at his school. Roy didn't know what to do, it was fascinating, seeing Ed's past like no one else ever had. It was intriguing, to be able to know so many new things about Ed.
But it was horrifying all at the same time.
Roy was mentally burning himself. How could he say those things to Ed? Yes, he had a bad dad, but in general, Edward had a bad life. And he was certantly not helping the poor boy's day become any easier for him.
But, the colonel had two questions that he would like the answers to.
Just how much pain would Edward still have to go through?
How much pain could Edward handle?
Just.
How.
Much.
Pain?
TO BE CONTINUED!
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