To Riltani: That alternate storyline has no Dorset (Morse) and ends with Ed committing suicide. Less happy and fun than here!
To Castianamichaels: Eventually he will! But that is not yet to come!
Just after Kain had apologized for me, he had sat me again at the table. I felt the hunger that had originally brought us to the cafeteria, but my appetite was shot and it only made me feel nauseated.
I'm not hungry, Kain, I tap to him.
You have to eat. I managed to keep it from not getting upturned in the fray.
Slow down.
Sorry. But you have to eat.
Yeah Fullmetal, don't let what happened spoil your appetite!
The sudden intrusion of a third person into our back-and-forth conversation causes me to jump. My head shoots up as I glance around pointlessly.
"Hello?"
Hi! Sorry. I was listening in.
"Who are you?"
My name is Mark. I'm the Floral Alchemist.
"State Alchemist?"
Yeah. It's not a manly title, but I work with plants in my alchemy.
"Yeah okay but what-what makes you able to judge?"
I almost feel bad for balking at his encouragement in light of how I'd acted earlier, but he doesn't know what I'd been through.
Sorry. I saw what went down. That fight shouldn't have happened.
"Was I being attacked?" I ask, my right hand habitually traveling to the safety of my stomach.
Some guys were bumping into you. When you pushed back, they thought you wanted to brawl.
"So-so I started the fight," I murmur with a frown. "Everything that happened was my fault."
It was just an accident.
"Well if I hadn't-"
Sergeant Fuery told us you were hurt recently by a criminal. We understand why you reacted the way you did.
"Sometimes I slip," I admit, feeling a throb of pain as I move the fingers in my right hand. "I'm blind so I-I sometimes mistake what's going on... for being back there."
Do you mind if I ask how you got out of there? Did someone rescue you?
"Well I knocked the guy out. Then I crawled out and-and Roy-er, Colonel Mustang found me."
No way. Blind and deaf and you still kick butt! You know you were my inspiration for learning alchemy.
He's dangerously inflating my ego as my I swell with pride.
"Really?"
Yeah. Especially with the way you made things move fluidly with alchemy.
"Is that what you do with flowers?"
Plants, he corrects me. Flowers are too delicate. I use trees and grasses and bushes.
"Yeah, how?"
I can sense his eagerness as he goes on and tells me all about how his alchemy works and how the plants react to the alchemy, and then how he began learning a few years ago after he saw me using alchemy and being a badass while doing it, and he experimented in the greenhouse his mom had and she nearly threw him out when he accidentally overgrew the entire house in mere minutes.
By the end of his vividly told tale, the scene in my mind has me laughing and I actually fall off my chair but it doesn't stop the laughter. I'm pulled back up to my seat and I calm down, tossing my arm over Kain's shoulder with a blissful sigh.
"That's an awesome story, Mark. The military is lucky to have you."
Thank you so much, Fullmetal.
"Call me Ed. I'm not in the-in the military now. I'm retired."
Too bad. You did a lot of good for the country.
"Can't do it without my senses now, can I?" I shrug dismissively.
I bet you could. You're a walking and talking inspiration to so many.
I nod my head slowly in silent pondering, wondering if I could still be of use to people despite my limitations. I do have full use of my mind, despite the debilitating regression of the kidnapping.
Now will you eat, Ed? I know you used to have a record-breaking appetite!
"Yeah, sure," I laugh. "Alright Kain, you heard Flowers, bring on the food!"
Kain began the foodie festivity with a cup of cooled tea, quickly following with a heaping helping of mashed potatoes when the tea disappeared in a matter of seconds. He aided Ed in the first two spoonfuls, but the blonde quickly insisted on doing it himself and plowed through it like a boss.
"What else ya got, Kain?"
I grabbed a ripe banana and cut it up for you. You can chew that, right?
"Um, well, I can try. I can't feel my mouth so it might look silly...or I might start-start choking."
I'm right here for you, Ed!
The first few bites of the banana disappeared into Ed's throat after being thoroughly mashed by his teeth, but Kain jumped in panic when he saw a thin trail of blood leak out from Ed's bottom lip.
Ed stop chewing.
What? Why? Ed tapped out his reply on Kain's shoulder, his jaw freezing instantly.
Luckily there was only a small amount of banana in Ed's mouth, so it was easy to see where he had bitten the side of his tongue to draw blood. Kain sighed and instructed Ed to swallow.
"Okay what happened?" He replied after swallowing, frowning in confusion.
I'm going to mash your banana. You bit your tongue and were bleeding.
"Whaaat?" Ed whined, putting his hand to his mouth. "This sucks."
You did better than I thought.
"But I can't even eat a banana without incident," he complained, crossing his arms.
Would you rather have chicken broth and a straw?
"That's rude, Kain."
I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be! Kain flailed, frowning. I just want to give you ease and preserve your pride. I can disguise it as a drink if you like!
"Oh, you-you weren't being a smartass? Right, you're not Roy." Ed grinned and placed a hand to his belly. "Yeah I-I still got room, I'll take a broth in a cup."
Coming right up!
As Kain ran off to get the warm liquid, Ed snickered at his enthusiasm. He hadn't a chance to grow lonely however, as he felt a tapping on his chest.
Edward Elric? I heard you're deaf and blind.
"Huh? Who's there?"
There's a pause before the Dorset continues.
Guess I heard right. You picked a good place to chat, most everyone here knows Dorset!
"Yeah I guess I did," I mumble, reaching out. "Do I know you?"
My hand suddenly jerks up and down and through my confusion, I realize he's shaking it.
I helped fight off that Father guy on the day of the coup. You probably don't remember me. Name's Dudley.
"Dudley?" I honestly don't remember him, but there were many Central and Briggs soldiers that I never had a chance to meet or thank. "Sorry, it doesn't sound familiar..."
I didn't think so. You know, when you used alchemy to bring your bro back, you returned looking half-dead. You barely moved. The only sound out of you was a cry for help. You didn't even make it out of the courtyard before you passed out.
I was that pathetic? I frown and bow my head nervously.
"I thought I could trade my alchemy for Alphonse. I was wrong." I put my good hand to my head. "All of Al was inside the gate... his soul, his-his body, everything. I was willing to make an even swap. But a-a living being can't survive there long. So I was sent back with Al... but everything that I needed to live was taken. All of my senses." My breath hitches and though I can't feel it, I know I'm crying. "I can't see, I can't hear, I can't feel or taste or smell. But I have wonderful friends who have-have helped me, cared for me, taught me and led me through this hell and given me back my life. And look, I can even chat with people again," I laugh, though it comes out as an emotion-laden sob. "S-sorry about the..the tears. Happy ones, really."
For all you lost, you're really doing well. A couple of us struggle with PTSD, but seeing you today after what happened to you? Well, we're inspired by your will to push on and forge a new life despite limitations.
"Hell Dudley, why are you a soldier? You should be a writer!" I laugh, reaching out to take his hand and return the handshake I was oblivious to earlier. "That means a lot to me, really. Thank you."
Of course. Oh, Kain is back with your broth in a cup.
"I really called it that, didn't I?" I smile as Kain carefully rests the cup in my left hand, though he tells me it's a short trip to the table if I drop it. "Thanks guys."
While Ed drank his 'hot tea' several more people had spoken with him, sharing their stories of overcoming obstacles and friends with disabilities. Every new person inspired Ed and gave him more hope, and their enthusiastic energy fed into him to combine with the caffeine from the tea he'd had earlier.
Needless to say, by the time his cup was empty, Ed was ready to be productive.
"Hey Kain let's go back to Roy's office!" The energy was clearly visible in Ed's fidgeting and stupidly big grin.
"He's sure hyped up," one man commented as Ed jumped up from his seat, nearly falling in his stumble.
"I have to wonder if Colonel Mustang doesn't give him caffeinated beverages," Fuery replied. "I'd better escort him before he runs off on his own."
"Take good care of that kid Sergeant," Dudley called.
"Of course!"
However, they had barely left the cafeteria and made their first turn than Ed's memory coupled with his energy overdrive caused him to shoot off, slipping easily from Fuery's supportive but loose grip. Before Fuery could even utter a cry of alarm, Ed had already skidded to a halt and disappeared around another corner.
"Crap! Ed!"
He bolted down the hallway with his uniform skirt flying behind him, but his shorter legs were no match for Edward who was already gone.
"Oh no oh no Mustang is gonna kill me..."
