A/N: SHIT! I forgot to put the disclaimer in the last chapter! -runs around in circles- But um, anyway! -sweat drops- I feel really proud about my last chapter. I don't know why, I just think I did a decent job on it. The Fuhrer is Pride, the homunculi, right? Since I've only seen about thirty episodes I don't know who all the homunculi are yet.
TO MY REVIEWERS:
VampireChildofDarkness: -Blinks then laughs- I'm sorry you're confused. God, I will NEVER kill Maes off! I watched episode 25 four times in one day and cried my eyes out. I still can't believe they killed him! -screams and kills the creators that thought of killing Maes-
La hermana de aqua: … um … -coughs-
Hobosamiam: I know, I feel bad for Russell now too. I almost cried when I was working on that chapter. I guess I want everyone to like Russell again … I don't know. XD Oh yesh! The suspense!
Ebony Colmen: Hmn, kill the Fuhrer … maybe. Heh, you're just going to have to read to see if Ed dies or not! The summary to this story does say character deaths.
Br14nn4: Well, no. The wrist isn't the only spot that can kill you. Practically any spot can. It depends on how deep you go and how much blood you lose. But a lot of cutters go for their wrists just to feel but some end up accidentally going too far and kill themselves. I sort of know from experience and went to the wrist. A tip, NEVER start … it's a bitch. x.x;;;
Xueyan: Heh, I didn't even realize I left it as a cliff hanger till after I posted it. -sweat drops-
GoTrinba: Russell did take Fletcher's death well … but when he got on the train he completely broke down.
Emaya: Heh, the slap was dramatic I thought. Two slaps would be pushing it though. XD -blinks- He's the main character of my story … do you really think I'm going to kill him off? Yesh, Russell you bad boy!
Mika Rieu: Um … sorry? -sweat drops-
Loki el Diablo: I know the feeling of being crazy from lack of sleep. For the past week I've been pulling all-nighters to work on my story. It seems I can only finish a chapter around 4:30am in the morning. Rather strange. -shrugs-
Sonic16: Heh, the only way I'm suffering is from lack of sleep. I'm pretty dead right now. XD
Shinigami Akumu: Yeah, Russell isn't a complete heartless bastard. XD
DISCLAIMER: Phew, I remembered this time! I do not own Full Metal Alchemist … and I didn't for the last chapter either! -sweat drops-
Chapter sixteen / Timing
'Please don't let me be too late!'
Slamming the car door closed, Roy searched his pant pocket frantically for the house key. Finally finding it, he unlocked the door and swung it open.
"ED!" he called. But only silence greeted him. "Shit!" he muttered to himself as he raced for the stairs. Bounding up three at a time, Roy stopped in front of the bedroom door. Panting, he grabbed the door handle and slowly opened the door.
Seeing Ed sitting on the side of the bed made him sigh with relief; but then something caught his eye. Since Ed's back was turned to him it was hard to see, but when he finally realized what it was, Roy froze.
'His auto-mail … it's the dagger …'
"ED! DON'T!" Roy called, stepping into the room.
Startled, Ed jumped; causing the dagger to push down on his wrist. Whimpering, the blonde slowly lifted his right arm; cringing when he saw how deep the cut was.
"R-Roy …" he whispered before falling back onto the bed; changing his right arm back to normal.
"ED!" Running over to his love, Roy saw blood rolling down and dripping off Ed's left arm. "Shit! This is all my fault!"
"Roy … it's not your fault. I shouldn't have been even contemplating it," the younger man spoke softly; clamping his auto-mail down over the cut in hope to stop the blood-flow.
"Ed, I have to take you to the hospital. You hit the vein. If we don't take you, you'll lose too much blood."
"Heh, I'm fine, Roy. I just need to bandage up my wrist," he argued, trying to stand up. Mustang stood as well and held onto his shoulders; guiding him to the bathroom.
Edward slowly waddled over, clutching his wrist. Still, some blood escaped to the floor. Cursing, the blonde made some incoherent comment about cleaning it up later.
Once in the bathroom, Roy carefully sat Ed down on the toilet as he grabbed the gauze and bandages. Turning to his love, he pried the auto-mail hand away; quickly dabbing off the fresh blood.
Placing gauze on the cut, he then wrapped the thin wrist as gently as he could; but still tightly. When he was done, he wiped clean Ed's right hand.
"Does that feel alright or it is too tight?" he asked tenderly.
Ed smiled up at him. "It's perfect." Leaning up, the blonde gave the raven-haired man a loving and passionate kiss. "I love you, Roy," Ed murmured.
"I love you too, Edward." Roy cooed back as he leaned down to return the kiss; slipping his tongue in.
When he heard a moan escape his lover, he couldn't help but smirk into the kiss.
Tangling his hand in the golden locks, Roy's other hand cupped Ed's cheek. Parting very slightly, the older man looked deep into Ed's gold orbs. "Please try to stop hurting yourself. You have no idea how much you scare me each time this happens," he whispered against his love's lips. "I know this time was an accident … but if I didn't come in that door right then …"
Edward lightly kissed Roy. "I know … I sat there just staring at my arm. I held it to my wrist but … I-I couldn't do it … I couldn't …"
Roy sighed with relief. "That's good to hear. So at least this time wasn't on purpose."
Nodding, the blonde wrapped his arms around the older man -careful of his wrist- and laid his head down on his chest; sighing in contentment.
Roy smiled down at Ed. 'I could of lost him again … I don't know what I would do if I did.'
Moving his arms, he picked up the small frame and walked to the bed. Lying Ed down, Roy crawled over next to his beloved; unconsciously tightening his hold.
When he heard the blonde giggle, he looked over confused.
"Calm down, Roy. I'm not going to disappear in thin air."
Mustang chuckled and slightly loosened his grip. "I know … I just don't want to take any chances. I'm not going to lose you, Ed."
Cuddling up to the larger body, the Fullmetal Alchemist closed his eyes. "I'm not going anywhere. I'm not leaving you … not if I have anything to say about it …"
The older man didn't know for how long he just laid there, watching Edward sleep.
'He looks so peaceful and innocent. It's amazing how this same young man puts up such a strong front … but that's Ed for you.'
Lying his head on the pillow, Roy brushed a few stray hairs out of Edward's face. Smiling as he heard him mumble "Roy …"
Placing a kiss on top of his head, Roy then leaned down to the blonde's ear and whispered, "I love you, Ed … and I'll always be here to protect you."
Then closed his eyes to fall into a light sleep.
----------------
Maes Hughes was desperately looking through files. "Hey, Sciezka! When you're finished with that case file, you can go home."
Poking her head out from her office, Sciezka looked ready to pass out. "T-thank you, B-Brigadier General H-Hughes."
"I don't know what'd I do without you!" Hughes bellowed with a huge grin on his face. "After that fire, we lost so many case files. You saved my hide."
"No p-problem, S-sir!" the brunette squeaked.
Once she was out of site, Maes' cheerful face went serious.
'Why is the Fuhrer after you, Ed? What did you do that was so horrible?' His eyes went wide. 'Wait a minute … maybe it wasn't something he did wrong … but something he did right. But what …?'
Flipping through more pages, he sighed in defeat. "This is hopeless! I'm not going to find anything in these stupid files!" Slumping over, the man's head smacked in contact with the hard desk.
"Sir?"
A/N: Okay, I know that was short; sorry. I made Maes the Brigadier General because I felt like it. XD He was shot by Envy but didn't die, so was promoted. I have a question though: Can someone tell me more about the Fuhrer? I've only seen the few episodes he's been in to about episode 25. He is the homunculi Pride, isn't he? I just want to know more about him … was there an actual King Bradley in the military or was it always Pride? Or do I sound like a lunatic because none of this is true? x.x;;; I just would like to know for future reference!