So, I don't know when I'll post the next chapter because I'm going to have jaw surgery tomorrow and don't know how much writing I will get done over the next few days or when I will get out of the hospital. I'll try updating as quick as I can, but there won't be a new chapter tomorrow at least.
I'll see you people in a few days!
Disclaimer: I do not own Fullmetal alchemist.
Chapter twenty-five
Maes swore and put down the phone. Havoc had just informed him that it seemed like Scar had broken into the hospital and killed Shou Tucker as well as three MPs. As if it wasn't bad enough for Nina that her Daddy was a murderer and a monster, he was also dead now. Maes had instantly taken to Nina and he felt bad as hell for the kid. Al was reading to her at the moment and she was using Alexander as a pillow.
Maes had of course taken a few pictures of this adorable little scene before he left the outer office to take the phone.
The office door opened and in came Roy while carrying Ed a little oddly. He seemed not to want to come in contact with his behind. Maes went over to them. "What's wrong?"
"Gladys spanked me," Ed said, looking downwards a little shamefully.
"Ed, I told you, it's nothing to be ashamed of. That woman hit you while seeking to hurt you for something you didn't do. She's at fault," Roy said, looking down at Ed with stern warmth.
Maes had of course heard about the wretched woman with the ghastly rings, and if she was still wearing them when she hit Ed, then it would explain Ed's anxiousness. Maes didn't usually get angry, but when people hurt kids, he most certainly did. And with Ed even more so because what he had already been through.
Roy sat down on the couch and Maes joined him. He figured that he should probably tell the truth and Ed wouldn't really be too broken up about it, would he? Maes sighed and leaned forwards while Roy managed to place Ed on his lap without his sore bottom touching his thighs as he leaned into Roy's chest.
"Listen, Roy. I just got a call from Havoc. Scar broke into the hospital and killed Shou Tucker."
Roy looked like he was about to swear, but thought better of it because of Ed.
"He killed him?" Ed asked, eyes wide. "But if Scar is here then he could come after Daddy next!"
Ah, shit. Maes hadn't thought about that. Ed knew who that was after meeting him in Central. He couldn't exactly warn Roy either because that would just worry Ed even more.
Ed was clinging to Roy's uniform, looking frightened. Roy just leaned down and kissed his forehead. "Ed, nothing's going to happen to me."
"But Daddy! Your alchemy doesn't work in the rain!"
Maes couldn't help the slight smile at Roy's face at the reminder of flame alchemy's fatal flaw. The man looked slightly crushed that his son didn't believe that he had special super powers but was in fact mortal. Well, that's what you get when you adopt a genius.
Roy seemed to collect himself. "Maybe not, but I've still got a gun, and I've got Lieutenant Hawkeye looking out for me."
"But still, Daddy! He nearly killed you back in Central!"
Maes smiled sadly. This was why he never brought his work back home. If Elicia knew about how much danger that was involved in his work, then she'd probably be just as frightened that her Daddy wouldn't come home as Ed was. So even though Maes usually just had lots of paperwork, he was also called out on dangerous missions from time to time. He really felt bad for Ed that he couldn't take part in that innocence. Ed would probably have to worry about Roy until the day the man retired.
"Ed, it's okay. Roy's managed to keep himself healthy and safe up till now, that's got to count for something, right?" Maes offered as Ed clung to Roy with scared tears in his eyes.
"But what if something happens? If I hadn't jumped on Scar back in Central, then he would have killed Daddy! What if nobody is there to save him next time?! I don't wanna lose him!"
Ed began crying and Maes watched as Roy hugged him tightly, trying to soothe him.
Taking in the scene, Maes really hoped that Elicia would never have to learn just how dangerous his job was.
Roy really didn't know what to say. He had never had this kind of responsibility before. Yes, he was going to stay alive in order to become Führer, and he would never die on Ed and Al. But still, he had never had the responsibility not to die. He could die the most heroic death possible, but if he left Ed and Al without a father, he would never forgive himself. Not after promising to take care of them. Not after giving them a home.
And it terrified him. It was a very new kind of pressure on him.
And it left him so sad that Ed was going to grow up afraid of losing his dad. That his youngest son would be scared that his father may die each time he went into the office.
But at the same time, maybe it wouldn't be like that? Maybe Roy would be assigned to look after his boys for the next ten years? Maybe longer? Fullmetal had pissed off a lot of crooks after all. And so had Roy. The chances of someone trying to attack his kids was pretty high considering. Ed was an easy target. Maybe he wouldn't be allowed to go to school because of this? Maybe he would have to follow Roy to work every morning and just work with textbooks on a desk beside his? And what about Al? What if they found a way to get his body back and he decided to go off exploring the world when he turned eighteen? Roy had no way to stop him if he did, although he sincerely hoped that Al would stay at home with him and Ed.
Ed kept crying into Roy's chest and he understood why. Ed was afraid of losing another parent, yet he knew that he couldn't just ask Roy to quit the military. He couldn't ask that they'd leave. He needed Al to get his body back and he wanted Roy to finish his goal. And so Roy just held him, stroking his cheek and letting him cry. Ed was allowed to be afraid and confused and Roy couldn't shield him from everything, especially when it was so close to him. But he would damn well hold him and carry him through the pain. That was Roy's job as a father. Roy was going to let Ed be a kid this time around and save him from having to carry everything on his own.
He could, however, distract him so that he wasn't afraid all the time.
"Hey, Ed? Would you like to talk to your new grandmother?"
Ed froze, looking up at him with teary eyes. "Your aunt? The one who adopted you?"
Roy smiled, happy to see that the offer was obviously intriguing to him. "That's the one."
"Okay."
Roy stood up and carried Ed over to the desk, sitting down with Ed, still careful of his bottom. He picked up the phone and dialled the number.
His adoptive mother used to tease him with that he should stop dreaming about her girls and just settle down with someone before it was too late. Ed rubbed the tears out of his eyes as the phone rang, until someone suddenly picked it up.
"Madame Christmas."
"Hello, Madame, it's Roy."
"What's the occasion? You only call once in a blue moon." She wasn't annoyed, she was just joking with him in her usual way.
"I have someone here who would like to have a word with you."
"Oh? And who's that?"
"Well, it's really your choice whether he's your great nephew or your grandson, although he certainly seems to like grandson better."
There was silence at the other end. "Don't tell me that you got someone pregnant?" She still spoke as monotonously as she always did.
Roy was kind of offended, but he could see her point with his usual lifestyle. "No. In fact we got the adoption certificate today."
"And the name change one too!" Ed added loudly enough for the Madame to hear.
"Was that him?"
"Yes. His name is, as of today, Edward Elric-Mustang."
"So that's what you did with the boy, huh? I heard about what happened to him."
"Nothing really gets past you, does it? Well, I did of course adopt his brother too, so it's Edward Elric-Mustang and Alphonse Elric, ages five and fourteen."
"Daddy? Can I talk to her now?" Ed asked, obviously getting tired of only listening to the conversation instead of actually talking to what had to be a fascinating woman.
Roy heard a slight chuckle. "I hear that he isn't patient. Put him on."
Roy handed the phone to Ed who took it with an interesting mixture of eagerness and caution. "Hello. This is Ed speaking."
"Hello, Ed, this is Chris Mustang, or Madame Christmas to most people, but you can call me whatever you like." Roy had to strain himself slightly to be able to listen, but he heard it once he rested his head on top of Ed's, and Ed didn't seem to mind. Roy was a bit nervous about this, after all. His adoptive mother usually scared people off, especially small children. Which meant that she would probably dote on Ed and Al.
"Thanks. So … how are you doing?"
"I'm doing very well. Business is going very good."
"You're Daddy's Mom, but also his Auntie. What's that like?"
"Well … Roy is a good kid, although he could phone a bit more often."
"You still think he's a kid? But he's – how old are you, Daddy?" Ed looked up at him with confusion, realising that he actually didn't know how old his father was.
"I'm twenty-nine, Ed," Roy said kindly.
"If he's twenty-nine, then he's not a kid anymore. Is he?" Ed sounded a bit unsure.
"Well, he's still a kid if you ask me. After all, he's been my kid since I adopted him."
"Oh, I didn't think about that! But I guess you're right." Ed studied Roy's face for a few seconds before he put his hand on Roy's cheek. "But it's still weird that Daddy's been small."
"Tell you what, Ed. If you three come visiting, then I'll show you some pictures of Roy when he was your age, I've got them around here somewhere."
"Then it will be the four of us. Auntie Riza is with us too. Daddy and her are our bodyguards."
"Your bodyguards you say?"
"Yes. Apparently I used to be really annoying and put many people behind bars and some of them would probably like to attack me. Besides, we still don't know where Lillian went. Daddy thought we should come visit you when we're done here in East City."
"I'd like that very much, Ed. Just tell your Dad to phone me before you come, and I can make some room for you."
"It's not Dad, it's Daddy."
"Is it very important to you?"
Ed was frowning. "Yes. Because the man I knew as Dad left us and made Mom cry. Daddy isn't like that."
"I see. Well, it was nice talking to you, Ed, but I need to sign for a delivery, so I have to hang up now. I look forward to seeing you and your brother."
"See yah, Grandma!"
The phone was hung up and Ed was grinning at Roy. "She sounds really grumpy, but she isn't."
Roy smiled back at Ed. He had been right about his feeling that his adoptive mother would have a sweet spot for these kids of his. After all, who couldn't like Ed and Al?
Their father, apparently.
Well, if I ever meet that bastard, I'll make sure to hit him.
