Man, it's been awhile. Grad school is a major time sucker. But I didn't forget about you guys. And I have and exciting announcement.
I DECIDED TO MAKE THIS A SERIES. The supernatural element of Ed being able to see dead people is just too good to pass up. I got a couple things in the works already for a sequel in my "Ed can see dead people" idea hat. So yeah. There's that.
Also I'm a big fat sucker for parental Roy, so I'm probably gonna write a fic where Hohemiem comes back and is a bit of an abusive asshole at some pont. When? Idk man. I should be doing homework right now but I didn't feel like it.
I'd like to thank everyone for sticking with me this long. I WILL UPDATE THIS FIC WITH THE NAME OF THE SEQUEL WHEN THE FIRST CHAPTER IS WRITTEN. Thanks so much- I love each and every one of you! :)
Morning came. It left threads of golden sunlight and seemed to chase away the shadows and dark thoughts of the prior night.
There was a scratch across Ed's cheek- it ran down his face from the far corner of his closed eye to the center of his chin, standing out in stark relief against the ivory skin.
He didn't know what it was about one simple scratch. He'd seen Ed a lot worse off- prosthetics in pieces, confined to that damnable wheelchair. But seeing the mark on the kid's face- a simple scratch, not even that deep- brought it all back. That hated factory. The damnable place they'd been. Coming within a hair's breadth of losing the kid.
What do I do now? You're extraordinary... I've never seen anyone like you, even before I knew about your gift. An alchemist of insane talent. Your potential is limitless. How the hell am I going to keep you safe? How can I send you back out into that world when it almost ate you alive?
Ed shifted and hummed in the morning light, golden eyes fluttering open. Even though he'd slept, the kid still looked exhausted.
"...Mustang? Do we gotta go into work today?" Ed asked, voice still foggy with sleep. He huffed his next breath, blowing golden hair out of his face.
Yes. They did. They had mountains of paperwork to do, he had the arson of a building to cover up, explain away, sweep under the rug...
But somehow, it wasn't at the front of his mind.
"We'll go in late today. Go back to sleep."
Ed rolled over, pulling the blankets tighter to himself and humming.
He headed to the kitchen, but stopped in the doorway when there was a sleepy voice behind him.
"Mustang?"
"Yes?" he turned.
"You okay?" Ed was blinking at him through half-lidded eyes. Looked at the scratch on the kid's face and his sleepy body- exhausted, tired- but whole.
"Yes. Are you okay?"
"No. But I'll compartmentalize it. Eventually." and with that, Ed rolled back over and fell silent.
Roy inhaled, and was torn between grinning and wincing at such and Edward-esque response. He headed downstairs, making coffee. He ended up staring into the steaming mug at the table, too tired to focus on much else but the steam rolling off the mug and the brown liquid in the cup.
He was pulled from his thoughts by the sound of mismatched shuffling feet as Ed stumbling into the room, in his wrinkled red coat. He rubbed the sleep from his eyes- his hair was in a sloppy ponytail, and he frowned, looking at Mustang. "Coffee?" he asked hopefully. He was ambling over to the counter, pouring himself a cup.
"I thought I told you to sleep in." Roy said.
Ed frowned, taking a drag of black coffee. "It's been an hour." he said finally.
Oh. So it had been. His coffee was no longer steaming- still warm, but not hot. Ah- he'd lost time again. Damn- he must really be burnt out.
"You should probably shave. You're scruffy."
"You aren't exactly looking great either, kid."
Ed actually pulled his lips back and laughed. "Grumpy old man. Drink your damn coffee."
"Don't tell me what to do." Roy muttered, but he took a sip anyways. Ed sat down at the table, taking a sip of his own coffee and blinking.
Ed's eyes glassed over, and his eyes focused on the shiny metal of the kitchen faucet, which was glinting in the sunshine.
Roy snapped his fingers in front of the boy's face, and Ed blinked.
"You're the one zoning out on me, kid."
Ed sighed, rubbing his eyes and taking another sip of coffee. "Yeah. Well, I'm back now." he grabbed for his coffee mug, taking another sip.
"What do we have to do today?"
"A shitton of paperwork." Roy said honestly.
Ed sighed.
"What- you got plans or something?"
Ed nodded. "Yeah. I do."
"You're not going out on your own."
"Why not? We got all the sickos off the street. It's over."
It's over. the words seemed to echo in his mind. Yes- it was, in fact, over. At least, this case was. His mind and body were lagging- there was no danger anymore, but he still had this instinct to keep Ed close to him, not to leave him alone- because sure, there wasn't any known danger, but there was that haunting thought. What if. What if. Nobody out there we know of to fear. But by the time we know a serial killer is on the loose, it's too late...
"Forget about it. C'mon. Let's get moving." Ed stood, finishing his coffee and running a hand through his hair, which was sticking out a bit.
Work went by smoothly- though there was quite a bit of paperwork and rug sweeping to be done about the whole arson incident.
They ended up staying late, and when the phone rang, Roy was surprised at the call at the late hour, but answered anyways.
"Mustang here."
"Hello Colonel. Is brother nearby?"
Roy couldn't help but smile at the voice. Al had all the pleasantness his older brother lacked- though in the time he'd been under his care, Ed's rough mannerisms had started to grow on him a little. "Yes. He's at his desk, one moment, Alphonse...".
Ed had already heard his brother's name and trotted over, taking the phone eagerly. It was like Ed was years younger while he talked on the phone to his brother- he smiled and even laughed. Though he was still tired, the lines on his face were less apparent, and he seemed happy...
A few moments later, Ed was hanging up the phone.
"Al's coming back in three days." Ed informed him matter-of-factly.
"Oh.".
Ed frowned, looking at him quizzically. "That's all you're going to say?"
"What do you want me to say?" Roy asked, equally frustrated. He hadn't expected to actually care about the Elric brothers, but he did, and he was exhausted and bad at communicating his feelings...
"I want to know if I can move back into the dorms. I know there was that order from the hospital, they said I had to be with someone..."
"That expires this Friday. You'll be cleared to move back into the dorms before your brother is here." But even as he said the words, he could taste the regret. He didn't want to kid to go...
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Ed asked, frowning.
Roy did what he did best- he deflected the question. "What's your plan, Fullmetal?".
"What do you mean?"
"You're just going to move into the dorms again and pretend none of this ever happened? What are you going to tell Alphonse?"
"Nothing!" Ed snarled, slamming his hands on Mustang's desk and learning forward, golden eyes steely. "I'm telling him nothing, he doesn't need to know any of this! He has enough problems, being a suit of armor..."
Roy sighed. "This isn't just going to go away, Ed. You can see dead people. You can talk to dead people. Al might be able to as well.".
"He has enough to worry about. I'll deal with this on my own." Ed growled.
"The team knows. What if they slip up and tell him. He'll be upset that you didn't tell him." Roy was watching the younger Elric. Ed snarled.
"I don't plan on talking to anymore dead people. You tell the team to keep their mouths shut. I know they can keep a secret- they've been quiet about me and Al's... situation... for this long.".
"Okay. If that's how you want to play it." Roy stood, grabbing his coat off the hook. They were both running on fumes and exhausted.
"I'll allow you to keep this to yourself on one condition, Fullmetal."
Ed sighed. "What now?".
"If you see anyone else... if you talk to anyone else who isn't alive anymore- I want to know. If your... condition... changes, even if you're in the field, I need you to report. Can you do that?"
"I guess." Ed groused. "Can we go now? I'm tired.".
Roy smirked. "Sure thing. Bet your bed in the dorm isn't nearly as comfortable as the one at my place. You two can always come visit, you know. There's more than enough room.".
"Whatever.". Ed wasn't meeting his eyes, which meant he had feelings he didn't want to be noticed. But when he thought Roy wasn't paying attention, he saw Ed cast him a cautious glance from the corners of his eyes. And he smiled slightly. Because he knew- with no father in his life, orphaned from age seven, Ed wasn't used to having somone look out for him. Help him without expecting anything in return.
Ed wasn't sure how to accept help from adults or how to say thank you without looking weak. But Roy knew him well enough by now to read between the lines.
It was the next evening after work when Roy caught Ed peering out the window. Everyone else had already left. It'd been a slow day.
"Thinking of going somewhere?"
Ed nodded. "Yeah. My paperwork is done- I wanted to go for a walk by the school."
Roy paused. He wanted to tell the kid no. To take him straight home and watch him and make sure he didn't leave his sight.
But the wistful way the kid was looking out the window at the street below- where he'd stood watching for Red only a few weeks ago-made him hesitate.
Roy sighed, looking at the clock. "Fine. It's a little after three right now, it doesn't get dark until five. I want you back home before dark."
"Deal." Ed was already throwing on his red coat and dashing for the door.
The streets had kids on them again. They walked down the sidewalks and sat on doorsteps, chatting and drawing with chalk. They stepped on crunchy fall leaves and laughed and played games.
Ed found himself relaxing slightly, though he was lonely, as he made his way down the sidewalk to the familiar grounds.
The school field was filled with kids just beyond the chainlink- some were jumping rope on the cement, but on the grassy field, there was a group kicking around a soccerball.
A girl was pretty far out in the field- close to the woods. She was kicking a rugby ball around. Ed knew just by looking at her who she was by her red, curly hair pulled back into a ponytail.
She kicked the ball too far over, and he caught it, smiling at her.
"Want to play a few rounds?" he asked her, giving her a winning smile.
The girl hesitated, but when she saw his expression, she smiled and gave a small nod. "Okay. But you have to walk with me back to my appartment after. Mom doesn't like me being alone."
"Deal. I have to be home by dark anyways."
"What's your name? You don't go to school here." she blinked her green eyes, peering more closely at him. She had freckles dotting her cheeks, like Red had had.
"Name's Ed. Edward Elric." he paused. "What's your name?" he asked, even though he already knew the answer.
"Melissa. Melissa Mullaney.".