So I'm back from the hospital and the surgery went well, although my face is so swollen I look like a hamster and will do so for a few weeks. user needs a username, you were very right, jaw surgery sucks.
Which is why I would just like to give a small warning that if anything seems amiss with this chapter, it's probably the painkillers and lack of sleep...
Disclaimer: I do not own Fullmetal Alchemist.
Chapter twenty-six
The door was opened slowly by Hawkeye as she let the two Curtises inside the office. Roy was standing there with Ed on his arm and Al was standing beside him, holding Nina's hand. Nina was scratching Alexander behind the ear, looking slightly worried and a bit confused. She had merely been informed that the Curtises were friends of theirs that were visiting. Ed immediately began waving at the Curtises, they had been rather soft on him the week they were visiting. "Hi, Izumi! Hi, Sig!"
In response, the Curtises came over to him, and after checking that it was alright with Ed, hugged him both in turn. Sig then proceeded to pat Al's head while Izumi patted his shoulder, this time not flipping him over on his back and then they both kneeled down in front of Nina and Alexander. Alexander seemed to instantly recognise a fellow giant softie, and licked Sig's face, making Nina laugh and relax a bit more. Sig scratched Alexander behind the ear and then the dog lay down between the Curtises and Nina, asking to be cuddled with. The three of them chuckled over the furry icebreaker and then Izumi spoke. "Hello, Nina. I'm Izumi Curtis, and this is my husband, Sig. I see you too have found yourself a big, strong man to look after you, what's his name?"
Nina smiled and hugged the dog. "It's Alexander. We've had him as long as I can remember."
"That must be very nice. I can see that he loves you very much."
"He's my best friend in the whole world!"
Roy was just glad to see that the Curtises didn't seem to mind Alexander. It would make things a lot easier.
Ed was shifting slightly in Roy's arms, obviously uncomfortable. His behind had got a lot of bruising and scabs, so Roy was still holding him a bit awkwardly, but he didn't think that that was the matter.
"Daddy? I need to pee," Ed said, looking up at Roy, it was obviously a quite urgent matter.
"I'm just going to take Ed to the toilets, we'll be back soon," Roy told the others before they left. Ed kept shifting a bit as Roy carried him, waving people off when they asked if something was wrong and merely explained it with "toilet break," watching the instant comprehension in their faces with a slight smile.
They found their way through the corridors until they reached the toilets and Roy put Ed down and the boy instantly rushed over to the nearest stall and stayed there for about a minute before he came back out, lifting his hands in the air, ready for the next post on the programme. Roy lifted him up to the soap dispenser and then held him in front of the sink to wash his hands. With that done, Roy decided that it wouldn't be such a bad idea if he relieved himself too, so he put Ed back down on the ground. Ed looked slightly confused. "Daddy has to use the toilet too, Ed."
Ed nodded and smiled, and Roy was done washing his hands a minute later. Ed lifted his hands in the air, ready to be carried, and Roy picked him up with a smile. Roy thought that it was actually a good idea that the Curtises got to speak with Nina alone, while still having Alphonse there seeing as how he knew both Nina and the Curtises and made the situation easier for both parties. And so they entered the outer office and stayed there, which was actually rather nice.
He would never have chosen any differently from what he had, but it was still good to be around his old team and check on how they were doing. Besides, they seemed very keen on making sure that Ed was okay. It was still pretty apparent that they were horrified about what had happened to him and that they missed Fullmetal a lot.
What Roy wasn't expecting was that the door would open and that Major Armstrong would stand there, tears in his eyes, sparkles about his head and a bouquet of roses in his hand. "I JUST HEARD ABOUT THE ADOPTION! LET ME PARTAKE IN YOUR JOY OF PARENTHOOD AND OFFER YOU THIS GIFT! HOW AWE-INSPIRING THAT YOU HAVE WILLINGLY CHOSEN TO BE EDWARD AND ALPHONSE'S FATHER! THE SACRIFICE! THE BRAVENESS! THE LOVE!"
And so Roy found himself being embraced by a bare-chested Major Armstrong with a yelping Ed in his arms before he was handed a bouquet of about thirty or more red roses. Roy turned around to the rest of the team, blushing slightly, watching as Havoc and Breda smirked and Falman's mouth twitched slightly. Hawkeye joined them thankfully and took the flowers from him, allowing him to keep a much steadier grip on his boy.
Armstrong was still crying as he addressed Ed. "You must be truly proud of your father. He is a great man."
Ed still seemed frightened, but he never seemed to want to miss a chance at confirming how great Roy was. Probably because the two people who had called themselves his father before weren't really up to scratch. "Daddy's the greatest Daddy in the world! He's really kind and he always listens and he is a great alchemist and teacher!" Ed said with eager pride. Roy just kissed his cheek in thanks.
"Oh, how wonderful it is to see such fatherly love. You truly deserve the very best, Edward Elric!"
"It's Elric-Mustang. With a hyphen."
And so they found themselves being swept into another tight embrace.
"I can't breathe!" came a muffled voice from Roy's chest and so Roy gently convinced the Major to let them go.
Roy sat down on Havoc's desk with a sigh as Armstrong declared that he must get on with his paperwork. Ed just stood up on the desk, his left hand on Roy's shoulder, eyeing Havoc's paperwork interestedly. "No, Jean, "prosperous" is written with with an "ous", not "us" at the end."
Roy couldn't help but laugh at Havoc's incredulous look. "You're reading my handwriting upside down?"
Ed looked slightly unsure. "Is there something wrong about that?"
Then Havoc began laughing. "No, Chief, it just means that you're even more of a genius than I thought you were."
"Oh. Thanks."
Havoc ruffled his hair, grinning. Ed looked slightly unsure whether he was being patronised or not. Roy just put his arm around his waist and pulled him over to his chest, hugging him. Ed instantly hugged him back, his cheek pressed against his. The boy was always so warm and soft, it was quite marvellous. Roy didn't really think that he would ever get tired of hugging Ed and Ed seemed to be the same with him. It was just so warm and it reminded Roy that Ed was his son and nobody else's. And so each hug was a reminder of how much he loved Ed and Ed loved him.
Roy didn't even bother looking up as he heard the click of the camera. Hughes had practically been bombarding them with it these last few days. Even Ed didn't seem to mind anymore.
"Aww, Roy! It's so cute!" Hughes exclaimed as he walked over to them and Ed turned around to face him. Hughes leaned on the desk next to them. "So why are you still out here? Shouldn't you be inside?" He gestured his head towards the inner office.
"I figured Nina would have a better chance of getting to know the Curtises if we didn't go back inside."
Maes gave him a knowing look.
"Maes?" Ed asked cautiously.
"Yes, Ed?" Maes spoke softly and instantly in his father-y tone.
"Would it be alright for me to call you Uncle?"
Roy was pretty sure the man was about to have a fit. Maes threw his hands into the air and then pulled Ed in for a hug, swinging him around. "OF COURSE YOU CAN! HOW ADORABLE! QUICKLY! SOMEONE TAKE A PICTURE!"
That "someone" turned out to be Fuery, and so he was forced to take multiple pictures of Ed together with Roy and Maes.
And so Roy spent the next few hours teaching Ed some more alchemy. Ed impressed everyone which made the boy grin widely at all the compliments he was getting, until the office door was opened and the Izumi came walking out of the inner office, face unreadable. She walked over to Roy, her arms crossed. "Colonel Mustang, we have decided to adopt Nina and her dog. How long until the paperwork will be in order?"
"The Führer has already sent the necessary documents, you and your husband just need to sign them."
"Very well."
It was a few days later that Roy, Ed, Al and Hawkeye waved goodbye to the now four Curtises at the train station in Central. Madame Christmas had closed her bar for a week in honour of them and they would be staying with her for the duration of their visit.
All in all, Roy was happy. Things had turned out like they should, Ed and Al were happy, Nina had a home ... Yes, things were good.
Except for the tall blonde staring straight at them with a shocked look. Ed and Al were gasping, then the man slowly walked over to them, a look of incredulousness on his face. The man had glasses, blonde hair in a ponytail, a beard and a brown coat, looking perfectly normal. But he was walking determinedly in their direction. Hawkeye pulled out her gun, but Al actually motioned for her to put it away.
Ed was staring as the man stopped in front of them, looking curiously at Ed, apparently lost for words.
Then Ed released his hold on Roy's hand and stomped forwards, kicking the man's shin repeatedly, shouting loudly. "YOU BASTARD! YOU BASTARD! YOU BASTARD!"
The man didn't move, still not saying anything, and Roy picked Ed up. Ed was crying and kicking and screaming. "NO! LET ME TAKE HIM! THAT BASTARD LEFT MOM TO DIE! IT'S HIS FAULT! ALL OF IT!"
Then it clicked. This man must be Hohenheim.
Roy didn't think. He held Ed with his left arm.
Then he punched the stranger straight in the face.
