Don't Forget
By: Hakai
Disclaimer: I [Hakai] don't own anything Fullmetal Alchemist related. They belong to their respectful owners. Beware bad writing skills.
A/N: How is it that the once purely humor fic writer turned into the angst writer? . maybe they'll be equal amounts of angst and humor? Like in the series. l0l.
Renamed: was Memories. Sorry for the change. .
Set post-series: Roy/Ed, possible Winry/Al
Chp. 2 - Kinki - Taboo
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In his head Roy saw his eyes widen even though he knew that from years of training his facial expressions, it wasn't showing.
"Al, who is he?" Those words still rang in his ears. If he could, Roy Mustang would have broke down right there, and cried. But he couldn't. If he, cold, emotionless, bastard Colonel Roy Mustang, cried, what would that mean for the rest of the world? Surely the end was near.
"W-what do you mean? N-Nii-san…?" Al asked cautiously. The others gave Edward their full attention. Surely it was a joke. Ed was just joking. He was just trying not to be emotional and mushy, right? That had to be it. "Do you seriously… not know who he is?" The Fullmetal Alchemist nodded his head. And no one in that room could have said he was lying.
"Come now Fullmetal." Roy said faking a smile. "Who do you think gives you your missions?"
"Hawkeye." Ed stated pointing out said 1st Lieutenant.
True enough. Hawkeye was the one who informed them of their next mission. "Who do you think issues them then?"
"The Fuhrer?" Roy's face fell. He made a mental note to be a tad more involved when it came to his subordinates.
"This is Mustang-taisa." Al said a little nervously.
"Mustang?" Ed asked scrunching up his nose a little trying to see if he could remember.
"Roy Mustang." Your lover Roy refrained from saying.
Edward shook his head. "Sorry. I don't think we've met before." He stuck out his hand. "Hajimemashite [1]. But you seem to know me already." Ed laughed a little unsurely.
If this was a facade, Ed would have dropped it by now. He was a 'to-the-point' kind of person. Roy wished he could cry. The one person he would have been willing to spend the rest of his life with, had just forgotten him. "Hajimemashite." He said grasping the blonde's gloved hand.
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"Al?" Ed called from his place on the top bunk of their dormitory room.
"Yes, Nii-san?" Al answered without looking up from folding their laundry. It felt good to fold his own clothes knowing he could wear them the next day. It was funny how you didn't miss doing something in till it had been taken away from you. Now, every little thing Al couldn't have done nor enjoyed as a suit of armor seemed to make him smile.
"That… Mustang. Did I really know him?" The golden-eyed teen asked staring at the ceiling.
"…Yeah." Al said after a pause.
"How well did I know him? Were we friends?"
What could he say? 'Yes Nii-san, you were friends. And when you weren't biting each other's heads off with bickering you had sex?!' "Pretty well. I mean, he's your commanding officer after all."
"Hm…" Ed seemed to be processing this information. Al ran a hand through his short hair. He wished he knew what his brother was thinking. "Al, why do I remember everyone else? Why don't I remember him? I feel like I should, but I don't." True, after the Mustang shock they had tested to see if he remembered everyone else. He had, down to the last detail.
Al was reminded of a book he had once read. Where a girl had to save the world from a certain faith. That being, that several people she knew would forget about the one they loved most. [2] He sighed. If his brother was like this he couldn't begin to imagine how shocked Roy must be.
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Roy "Worthless" Mustang was definitely feeling worthless at the moment. He plopped himself on his bed and sighed. The colonel had worked late into the night at the office in an attempt to not have to think about the day's events. It had worked, not to mention Hawkeye had been rather pleased at the progress made, but it had left him dead tired.
But as tired as he was the dark-haired man couldn't bring himself to close his eyes and drift off to dreamland. How could Edward forget about him? Was it possible to have such a slight amnesia that only one person was entirely forgotten? Roy closed his eyes and he could see the day Ed had told him he would be leaving.
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"Roy." Ed breathed quietly dropping formalities in the private of Roy's private home. Roy turned to the younger man sprawled across his chest. He looked troubled. It was funny how much emotion they both could express when alone like this. "I'm leaving tomorrow." Roy sat up and Ed had to shift his position slightly. "I-I'm going to restore Al."
"Alone?" Roy asked. If Ed needed help, anything at all, Roy would help. He was, after all, the Flame Alchemist, and a genius in his own right. All Edward had to do was say the word and Roy would be there.
"Yes." Ed said locking eyes with his lover. And it was set.
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The black haired colonel rubbed his eyes. When Ed made up his mind there was no changing it. He had a one track way of thinking. Once he set a goal he'd push forward towards it without looking back. Any obstacle in his way would be overcome.
But could Roy have been one of those obstacles? Perhaps Ed had subconsciously forgotten about Roy in an attempt to lessen any possible distractions. But then, could someone push another so far in the back of their mind that they were completely forgotten? Who knew what the human mind was capable of.
At least Al's restoration had been a success. No bodily parts missing, and Al appeared to be in one piece as well. They were able to get his entire body back. It was even developed to the right age, fifteen, or was Alphonse sixteen now? He couldn't remember. It was odd though. The law of conservation should have still been in effect. Nothing was perfect. Not even the Philosopher's Stone could compensate for such an illegal act as human transmutation. Maybe it was that Ed would still have to bear the automail limbs? Or that Al had to suffer through two months of strenuous rehabilitation? Or… or… maybe…that was it! Roy sat bolt upright with sudden realization. That had to be it! What else could it be? He had to tell Al.
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"Edward. Edward." Someone was calling him.
Ed turned around. "K-Kaasan." She floated above him. He tried to reach out to her, but she was too far away.
"Edward. You've done well for Alphonse. The two of you have taken care of each other very well. I'm so proud of you, my son." She smiled at him, her voice full of pride, and yet…
"Kaasan, why are you crying?" Ed asked feeling his own eyes burn with unwanted tears.
"You've taken care of your little brother, Edward. Now take care of yourself." Trisha Elric said as her form slowly disintegrated.
"Kaasan. Kaasan!"
"Kaasan!!" Ed called out waking up. He was in the military dorm room. Rubbing his eyes he tried to remember his dream. "Take care of myself?" He whispered, confused. A knock on the door disturbed his thoughts and he got out of bed to see who it was.
He opened the door to see a black haired man. The one he had met that morning. "Erm… Mustang, right?"
"Mustang-taisa." Roy said forcing himself to keep this purely business. "Sorry to disturb you at such an hour, Fullmetal. Is your brother here?"
Ed shook his head. "He went to go see you, actually."
"Ah." Roy said with a nod. "Then I will take me leave. Excuse me for waking you." He was about to leave when he felt a hand tug at his sleeve. He turned to see Edward with a death grip on his shirt and his head turned down.
"Taisa." Ed said, that title unfamiliar in his mouth. "I'm sorry."
If he hadn't known better, Roy would have said the blonde teen before him was about to break into tears. "Sorry for what?" He couldn't remember Edward ever apologizing before.
"Sorry… for not remembering." Ed said looking up to meet his eyes. Though not filled with tears they were still unusually sober.
Mustang resisted the urge to pull Ed in a tight embrace and tell him over and over again that it wasn't his fault. And that he loved him and didn't want him to ever leave again. But he couldn't. And that hurt him more then Ed not remembering him. "You can't be blamed for that, Fullmetal. One does not choose what to remember or not." Roy took a step forward, suggesting that Ed let go of his shirt. He took the hint. "Well then, I'll see you in the morning… Fullmetal."
Ed nodded before closing the door behind him. He slide to the floor and shut his eyes tight. Why couldn't he remember?
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Roy swallowed hard. That sorrow in Ed's eyes was something he had witness only once before. When Nina had died. But if his foretellings were true, this could turn out to be worse. He had to find Al.
Lucky for Roy, Al found him. "Taisa. I was looking for you. You weren't in your office and--"
"Shh!" Roy hushed him. "Let's go back to my office. We need to talk."
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Once in his office Roy and Al took seats in opposite couches. It wasn't in till Roy had taken the first few sips of his coffee did he begin.
"Before I start, why was it you were looking for me, Alphonse-kun?" Roy asked.
"I just wanted to see if you were… you know…alright…?" Al murmured a slight pink tinge to his cheeks.
"Ah." Roy remarked pulling one leg onto the couch and taking another slow sip of his coffee.
To the untrained eye it would appear that the colonel was quite relaxed, but the younger Elric knew better. He was mentally preparing himself. But for what? For what he was about to tell Al? What could he have to say that could possible make this military man so nervous? Al gulped. "What is it…you wanted to say?" He asked cautiously.
Not meeting Al's eyes he set down his coffee cup and clasped his hands on his knees. "I may have figured out what is wrong with your brother." Al's eyes widened. Roy was usually right. And when he wasn't, he was damn well close to it. Roy finally met Al's eyes. "But I need you to confirm some things for me."
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[1] Hajimemashite - A "Nice to meet you for the first time" kinda thing.
[2] reference to Cardcaptor Sakura. Which I don't own (CLAMP) ; eww… shoujo-ness .
A/N: how was that for a second chapter. I want humor! Where is the humor?! . Just for the sake of my curiosity. Let's take a poll. Would you rather have more angst or humor? .;
Tell me how I'm doing. Advice is always welcomes. Actually… comments in general are welcomed. . sankyuu!