One more chapter after this one guys XD
Almost done XD
Chapter 29- Someone Calls My Name
(Ed's POV)
Three Months, Three Weeks (January)
Ed wasn't even sure what he was doing really. Even if he knew where he was or who the two people speaking were... where would he run, how would he run? He couldn't even see right. or speak. Let alone stand up right and run.
He tried his voice again. Still weak and small, "Alphonse?" Where was his brother? He was with him before. Right? He would have put up a fight... Right? He wouldn't of just left him with that woman in the alleyway, would he? 100's of questions with no answers squashed themselves in his head and he wasn't sure what to tackle first. Where was he? What he should do now? Ask any of his stupid questions to the two people before him? He just couldn't think straight.
'Stupid gas...'
His eyes were open, but it was like he was looking a line of words but not reading them. The blur of green, grey and the cold all he could really make out in his daze.
"This will be over quickly, Ed." A women. Who he still couldn't tell the owner of. "Just hold out. It'll all be better soon, Ed. I..." She paused and took a long slow breath in and out. "I'm... sorry, Ed. I truly am... I'm the one meant to protect you. Not the other way 'round..." She commented on sadly
The slapping of hands onto concrete was the thing he dreaded to hear.
He smelt chalk in the air and pain deep in his bones.
Echoes of his piercing screams heard for miles.
(Roy's POV)
He was panicking. Ed was out there. He could be alone with the kidnapper or the kidnapper could also have Alphonse. This procedure could be something painful. Something invasive. Something... He didn't really want to think about it.
"Do you see anything?" A stupid question from Jean, but it was sensible to break the tension.
"No... Animals make our job so much harder... You would think that she would have left frag marks where he pulled Edward and Alphonse..." Worry and guilt heavy in his tone.
"Then maybe that means they aren't here."
"We'll keep looking. We can't give up yet. Not if they're both still out here."
"Sir."
The cracking of sticks and brushing of branches the only noise made in the forest. No birds or any sign of animals. It was a good sign. But also not. It meant more that Ed was here. But it meant Ed was here...
Roy just wished he never let Ed slip though his fingers for a third time.
And it was always his fault. He wasn't going to be too late again. Not again. Ed was going to be alright... he was going to be... alright...
Why was he always wrong.
Echoing of terrified screams bouncing off the trees as fumbled for the radio he had clipped to is belt.
(Ed's POV)
(GORE! Blood! Warning now! Similar brackets once gore over)
His lungs burnt as he desrletly tried to breathe. A gasping fish on the ground where he laid. His body shaking with pain as the blue lights around him increased. Blood rushed up his throat and gushed into the ground next to his head. Coughing, which impaired his breathing in an addition.
He could only just hear a, "Just a little longer! Hold on, Ed!" behind his heart beat, behind his grunts and wails of pain.
His back arched back and slammed onto the ground. His hands trying to grip the flat ground beneath him, getting hold of nothing as he scratched at the concrete, drawing blood from his now raw finger nails.
His chest felt like it was impaled a hundred times over. His breathing burning. His voice shredded. His bones broken. His pain unbearable.
Another blood curtailing scream rattled through his throat, paired with a name. "ROY!"
He wasn't really sure why he let his name roll off in a scream of desperation, but his brain was working on autopilot and Al wasn't there to save him. Someone had to be... someone... anyone...
He called again, his calls getting weaker, "ROY! AHHG! ALPHONSE! AHHHG!" His screams cutting his throat into sliced beef.
Then he felt it.
The worst of the pain that had yet to come.
The feeling of being ripped apart all at once and piece by piece.
The feeling of something crawling under his skin as it forced it way through his skin.
His mind failing to remember anything.
Where was he? When did he get here? How long had be been hear for? Why was a transmutation important and recurring? Why was he...?
All he knew was he was in pain. He was Edward Elric. His mind repeating it over and over. He was Edward Elric. Like it was to keep hold of that. Like he were to not forget that and everything else could fade away. His mind slowly fading into white.
His head holding the feeling of a splitting watermelon. His chest pulling in quick, forced breaths that he struggled to produce.
He couldn't hold on much longer. His body felt like it was about to fail. His heart working too hard. Too much blood exiting his mouth. Too many things forcing its way out of his skin. Too many bright alchemy produced lights.
It was all too much for his body to withstand.
'Just a little longer!'
'Just a little longer!'
That's what his head kept saying.
'Just a little longer!'
His mind yelling in frustration and pain
'Don't give in! Don't you dare ever give up! NEVER GIVE IN! You have too much to keep living for! NEVER GIVE IN!'
Maybe it was worth waiting it out. The weight finally lifted and he felt free and his body limped onto the ground, his head rolling to the side, a line of blood dripping from his bottom lip.
(Gore over)
There she was, kneeling at the edge of the circle, her eyes full of pained tears. Her eyes only meeting his for a moment in time. But that moment was a decade.
He was far gone, but one last word rolling off his lips, "Tori?..."
His mind blank.
(Roy's POV)
There it was again. That guilt attracting wail of pain. Ed was calling for help. His brother name the concentrated force of hope. "ALPHONSE! AHHHG!"
And he couldn't keep hearing it.
They were running. More than running sprinting. Moving as fast as they could. Jumping over rocks and tipped over logs. Ducking under branches and every stumble was paired with swears and more guilt. The longer they took. The longer Ed would be in pain.
Then his heart sank. His stomach dropped. And his speed picked up.
"ROY!"
The kid was calling for him. He was desperate for help. He was in pain. And Ed was calling him. And he couldn't do anything.
"ROY! AHHG! ALPHONSE! AHHHG!"
His screams cutting through his soul as he raced on. Havoc not far behind him.
They had to hurry. They had to hurry.
Then it was gone. Ed was silent.
They were too late...
He was...
How could he...
Was he...
They reached a clearing, a concrete surface covering the natural grass.
Blood. Chalk. Metal. Clumps of meat. Blood...
Lots of blood...
There Ed was. Limp, bloodied, pale and... and... and... was he breathing?...
He heard Jean unload bullets at someone as he ran towards Ed.
"Please be okay. Please be okay. Please be okay..." He knelt down next to Ed's body. Repeating his phrase as he checked using the back of his ungloved hand to check for any sigh of a breath of life.
Waiting.
Hands shaking.
Waiting...
There it was! Ed was alive. Breathing. That was all that mattered.
"Boss! Alphonse!" Roy's head shot upwards towards the metal that laid close to him. Jean scrambling next to it. "Alphonse?! Oi! ALPHONSE?!" Havoc looking up to Roy with fear in his eyes.
Roy took his focus back to Ed who shifted slightly in his arms. "Edward? Edward?!" He desperately asked for a response.
The kid groaned shifting again.
Attempting again, as Jean did with the other kid. "Edward? Edward?"
The teen cracked his eyes open, squinting at the sun that was above them.
"Edward? Can you hear me, Ed?"
Ed looked up at him in confusion. "Since when have you ever called me Edward... Let alone Ed. You have never called me that..." Ed commented weakly as he tried to sit up.
"Woo. Slow down there, Edward. You're hurt. Just slow down. Let me help you." Roy helping Ed into a sitting position, which ended up being leant onto him. Though he was sure the kid wasn't noticing. His eyes drifting towards his brother.
"ALPHONSE?!" Ed scrambling from his lean on Roy, who just watched Ed struggle to get to Al's side. Shaking the metal shoulders he heard a thunk. His eyes widened as everyone else's did.
(Ed's POV)
Moving was painful. He wasn't sure where he was. When it was. Why he was here. Why Roy called him by his given name. And why he was just so confused.
His eyes were wide as plates as he looked down at the two hands on Al's armour.
No miss matched pairs of hands.
He could feel the pressure on his left leg...
And a thunk.
A thunk.
His hands quickly scrambled to unclip Al's chest plate. Jean quickly catching on and undoing the other. Ed helping pry the plate off his brother.
His fingers flowing with pins and needles as his cold hands applied pressure to the cold metal. He couldn't think straight. If he was correct under this plate...
Time slowed to a stop as Jean pulled off the plate, a job he was unable to do in his condition. Which he had no idea of anything familiar, the origin, or reason.
Normally a red would flash in his eyes as the chest plate was undone. Red of guilt. Red of fear. Red of his blood. Red of his brother's soul.
White. Pale skin. Pulling on bone. Golden. Flowing gold.
Tears crept into his eyes. There he was. Not just the guilty red. It was the most joyful pale cream he had ever seen.
He didn't know how. He didn't know when. Hell, he didn't even care at this point. Tears escaping his eyes as his brother found his way into his arms.
"Al... you're..."
"Warm..." Al muttered in his ear as he wrapped his arms around his brother, closing his eyes as he felt his brother in his arms, resting his head on top of his brothers. His brother. Flesh and bone brother.
A fabric finding its way onto Al's back. But he didn't care that he was crying in front of Colonel Bastard. Or anyone. The god damn king could be here. His fucking father could be here for all he cared. He had his brother in his arms and he was done. His job was finally done.
He wasn't sure how long he sat there with his brother. But it was long enough for him to realise he was exhausted, as he felt himself falling asleep. Knowing full well that Al was already asleep in his gentle hold.
This was until he heard a rambunctious soldier. Riza. "Sir! We came as soon as we could."
"The culprit escaped. But the boys are fine... And... how can I say this..." Roy explained.
"Whole," Jean added.
"It's best you see for yourself. But I advise being quiet. I think they're both asleep." Roy advised.
He heard the gentle tread of footsteps and then and excited breath of air. "Ahh... That is the cutest thing..." Riza whispered.
"I still think we should have called, Hughes," Jean stated
Ed went against moving, realising his body had imitated him being asleep. Though his mind may be awake he knew his body wasn't.
"Now that we have all corollated here. We should wake them and get them to a hospital." Roy sternly advised. Louder. Stirring Al slightly.
"Sir." The four soldiers reverting to their positions as soldiers.
When nothing happened and nothing was said for a long ten seconds he decided on waking himself up.
Blinking his eyes he turned his head upwards to see Roy and Jean pointing at them. He raised an eyebrow at them in an unvoiced questioned.
Though he didn't notice it before. He surely did now. His eyes were unfocused. He could see everyone but as slightly blurred figures.
"Great timing, Chief," Jean said happily.
Looking at them with confusion.
"We need to get you both to the hospital. You're both in pretty bad shape. Can you wake your brother?" Roy enquired.
"Probably not." Looking down at the sleeping Al. "I'll try but..." Ed searching the area around them, spotting his item of need, "Can you pass me my coat. Al's going to get cold."
"What about my coat?" Ed noticing his coatless white blur of Roy.
"It's not going to be long enough... Just give me my coat." Ed growing inpatient.
Riza the one to receive the coat, which was folded at the edge of the circles that were scribbled on the ground.
"Hey, Al." Ed said sweetly to Al as he gave him a gentle shake. "Al? Alphonse?... I tried... He really missed sleeping." Ed smiling at his comment. Still not believing who sat in his lap, asleep on his shoulder.
Ed maundering the coat on and around Al, covering his whole body. Making sure that he was fully covered. Tucking Roy's coat over his, just to keep Al warmer, he would need it.
After the shuffling of Al, Ed saw Roy move closer to help him up. Ed trying to get up before help was given. Sadly Roy picked up his speed.
"Oi. Not so fast. How many times do I need to tell you. Take it easy. You're injured and tired. Here. Let me take Alphonse."
Ed pulled him closer, before letting Roy gently take him, getting Jean to help Al onto his back.
Jean extending his arm to aid Ed in standing. Ed wasn't really sure if he should take it but he was glad he did.
His balance was way out. Falling forward into Havoc.
"You alright, Chief?" Jean holding his shoulder and opposite arm.
"Just... Just lost my balance. Felt... just a... a little dizzy..." His head ending up in Jean's forearm.
"I'll carry you."
"No... I..." He didn't even finish before he realised that he had been aided onto Jeans back. He rested his head on his shoulder. "How's Al?" He asked at five minute intervals.
"He's fine," Roy commented on repeat.
Ed knew he was falling asleep when he heard someone comment on his lack of questions, more question...
Sacks being carried by the three without cargo. Sacks full of everything left behind from the mess of the transmutation. Ed not really sure what was on them but he shouldn't worry. Reassuring himself that everything was alright as he fell asleep.
'Al's fine... everything's... just... fine...'
