New chapter! ~Yay~
Disclaimer: I do not own
The next morning, Riza found Roy sleeping soundly next to the blond a protective arm around him; she gave a knowing smile and quietly left the room.
The others already seemed to know about the brewing romance between the General and the noble.
Hughes made no comment while Havoc was having a blast over it.
"I mean, damn, that the General would fall for a man! He was a real womanizer back in his days, I've heard about many knots were on his bedpost." Havoc gave a whistle and then laughed, "I can't wait to snatch up all the girls that rejected me for him, and he can have the temperamental brat to himself."
Fuery looked uncomfortable with the situation and just stared at his hands while Havoc kept on rambling on, "Do you think they'll elope? I mean they wouldn't be able to marry by law but who needs that? All they need is one of us and some rings, and lots of faith."
Riza annoyed already, cuffed Havoc over the head, and he gave a yelp, "what was that for lieutenant?"
Riza glared, "the General's and Edward's relationship is none of our business, so keep your lips sealed and your nose out of other people's business."
Havoc rubbed the back of his head as he mumbled, "Yes Ma'am."
Riza nodded and as soon as she was out of sight, Havoc turned toward Fuery who was twiddling his fingers.
"So you have a girl waiting for you at home? Hopefully not one like the lieutenant."
Fuery shook his head, and Havoc's eyebrows rose in surprise, "really? I would have thought with your intelligence and looks that somebody would have snapped you up by now."
Fuery blushed and stammered, "n-n-no, I-I was w-w-waiting."
That was all he was able to get out, his throat unable to produce anything else.
Havoc suddenly realized that Fuery was uncomfortable with the subject and cleared his throat.
"So what are you going to do after the war?"
The topic was safe and Fuery opened up more, once in awhile raising his head to meet Havoc's eyes but then looking back down.
Hughes quietly watched the exchange, his eyes analyzing and interpreting.
There might be hope for them yet.
For the next three days, Roy stuck to Ed's side, pulling him out of his many nightmares and giving him the comfort he seemed to look for unconsciously.
The rare times he was awake he was either delirious or hallucinating, it was a hard task to make him take his medication and feed him.
Roy ran a hand through his hair, as he watched Ed sleep. The fever had gone down but he still looked too pale and scrawny.
They were leaving in four days, it was too soon.
But a telegram was sent, requesting their presence as soon as possible. The war was calling and they had to answer, no matter how much Roy yearned to stay by Ed's side.
Roy gently moved onto the bed, lying on his side and watching as Ed breathed in and out.
His eyelids drooped and the last image he saw was Ed sleeping peacefully.
There was warmth beside him, enveloping him, and making him feel safe for the first time in a long time.
Ed's eyes blinked open and he quickly shut them as the sunlight stung them. He tried again and started moving, his limbs felt sluggish and his head felt heavy as a boulder.
Ed immediately stopped when he realized he wasn't the only one in the bed, and as his eyes landed on the figure next to him in the bed, his heart froze.
What's he doing here?
The thought resonated in his head, as images flashed, unfocused and blurry, but all of them of the same person.
He-He took care of me, while I was sick?
A tingling feeling entered his heart and his heart rate rose.
Why would he do something like this?
But the question was pushed aside when his stomach grumbled and the smell of eggs reached his nose.
Ed staggered off the bed, almost falling over as he made his way to the door.
He took one last look at Roy, the sun highlighting his raven hair, and cream colored skin that looked like the color of the coffee he sometimes drank.
Ed gulped, shook his head and closed the door shut behind him.
What was I thinking?
As Ed took his time taking the stairs, he heard snippets of joyful conversation coming from the dining table.
"Hughes—eggs—mine—not fair!"
There was a crash and Riza's voice rose in volume, "I can't believe you two! Stop acting like children and Havoc clean that plate up. Make sure to throw it in the trash and wash your hands."
Ed gave a light chuckle, the reprimand sounded like a mother scolding her child instead of a fellow comrade telling to act accordingly.
Eyes turned to him as he entered, a bright smile broke out on Riza's face but then a worried frown replaced it as she looked over his condition.
"Edward you shouldn't be out of bed!"
Ed held his stomach, "I ac unjri."
His throat was scratchy and hurt, the words came out all wrong and Riza rushed over with a glass of water. After he took a sip, Ed tried again, "I was hungry."
Riza shook her head, "You should have stayed in bed, wasn't Roy there? You should have told him."
Ed held his stomach as a new feeling entered his stomach, butterflies.
"He-He was sleeping."
Riza's face showed understanding and Ed wanted that understanding gone, what did she understand that he did not?
She put a hand on his back, leading him towards a chair, "Sit down, I'll go make a plate for you." Her eyes snapped to Hughes and Havoc, "I hope everybody will behave while I am gone."
Nods were sent in her direction; even though Riza still had her suspicions she left the room without a backwards glance.
Silence reigned for awhile until Hughes with his mouth full of eggs, pointed his fork at him, "So I guess you didn't die, huh? Thank goodness for that, Riza has been at our necks for days, 'you have to be quiet! Ed is sleeping!' Or 'stop roughhousing, you might break something valuable!' I swear she's sometimes worse than my own mother."
"Who's worse than whose mother?"
Hughes choked on his eggs, and havoc fell off his chair laughing. Ed smiled too, he had seen her enter seconds ago but decided against telling Hughes that, the kitchen was just right there and it didn't take long to get a plate of eggs.
Hughes finally stopped choking to reply with a weak smile, "How long were you there?"
"How long do you think?" Riza countered back.
Hughes stood, nervously muttering to himself, "I have to go….check the enlistment….yeah..That's what I have to do…so I'll see you guys later."
Riza rolled her eyes as she set Ed's plate down, "the man just doesn't know when to quit…."
Ed smiled painfully, it was hard to see people acting so friendly, so loving, so like….family.
It hurt.
Riza eyed him curiously, "you're not going to eat?"
Ed picked up the fork, and tasted the scrambled eggs, he savored the taste and Riza laughed.
"Don't worry Edward; I made more, so eat it all up."
Ed blushed, it was just that he hadn't eaten in awhile and well…..this was the first time since his brother….that somebody cooked food for him.
He swallowed and took a sip of water, "what did he mean by enlistment?"
Riza sat down in the chair next to him, pulling out a novel, "oh, it's nothing. It's a sign up sheet for people that want to join in the army and fight in the war. But you don't have to—they won't make you until it gets real bad."
The army?
"So you just sign the sheet and you're in?"
Riza gave him a weary look, "you're not thinking of joining are you Edward? You're sick and—
Ed shook his head, "No, I'm just curious."
She nodded, "well, there's a whole entire process to go through but that's the gist of it. Many stupid people sign up, just throwing their lives away, thinking that war is easy."
Ed raised a blond eyebrow, "what about all of you?"
Riza laughed, "Roy was in a war in the past but we're all from a special division that protects the safety of the people—almost like the police but with more influence and power."
Riza then continued reading realizing that Ed had no more questions to ask.
Ed pushed his plate to the side, not feeling like eating anymore.
Throwing my life away? To protect others? Why not?
He was dying anyways. There was nothing left to live for.
R/R
