Love Will Tear Us Apart, Again
A fic by Dark Zodiac
Disclaimer: I don't own FMA blah blah blah.
A/N: So now we now that Seraph is Gareth and that he and Mustang dated. What will happen once he gets to Central and sees Mustang for the first time in years? Read and find out! R&R please! Holler. Xoxo
- Chapter IV: Vapor -
Ed slumped down in his seat as he tried to get comfortable in the private cabin. The train whistle blew as it picked up speed, flying through the countryside towards Central. A few feathers poked out of Gareth's trench coat as he pulled it tighter around him.
"This is taking forever," Ed moaned as he pulled his legs onto the seat and leaned his head against the window. "And these cabins are so uncomfortable."
"Oh, stop complaining, brother."
"Yeah, Edward. At least you don't have to stuff your wings under a trench coat," he laughed as he tossed a feather over at Ed.
The two state alchemists made eye contact and exchanged big smiles. Ed blushed a little as he turned his attention to the blur of green passing by the window.
"You'd think some kind of radical group would try to take over the train or something. Sheesh."
"That's not funny, brother."
"Huh?" Gareth mumbled, puzzled.
"Ed and I just have bad luck with trains, sometimes."
A few hours later, the train pulled into Central and Gareth shook Ed awake.
"Time to wake up, Ed."
"Five more minutes," he murmured, still half alseep.
Gareth slid his arms around the half-conscious alchemist and pulled him to his feet. Reluctantly, Ed left the cabin and started walking down the aisle of the train. Ed gave up walking and Al was off the train by the time Gareth dragged FullMetal onto the platform.
"You should've left him on the train," Al commented as Ed leaned sleepily against Gareth.
"FullMetal," came a voice from behind a crowd of people. "Over here."
The three of them pushed through the crowd to where the stern, female voice originated from.
"Hey, Hawkeye," Ed said casually.
"We have a car...," she trailed off as her gaze shifted to, "Gareth?"
"Uh...yeah. That's me. Or so I'm told."
"Hawkeye, he doesn't remember anything," Ed whispered.
"What?"
"I'll explain everything on the way to HQ."
During the car ride, Ed, Gareth, and Al gave accounts of what happened while in New Haven. Gareth explained how he didn't remember anything beyond a few years and also told her about the dreams of war and the silver ring he wore around his neck.
"You don't remember when Roy gave you the ring?" Hawkeye asked in shock.
"I don't. And who's Roy? Why did he give me this ring?"
"It would be better if he explained it."
The car dropped them off at HQ and Hawkeye led them to Mustang's office, where they had to wait while Hawkeye talked with Mustang.
"Sir, he doesn't remember anything."
"What do you mean?"
"It's as if everything before the past three years never happened. He has dreams that sound like Ishbal, but he can't remember anything beyond that."
"Gareth doesn't remember you...or me?"
"I'm sorry, Lieutenant Colonel."
"It's...okay," Mustang responded, doing his best to keep his composure.
"Roy, it's okay to be upset. If you're not ready to see him right now, we can get him a hotel room with FullMetal for the night."
"Thank you, Riza, but that won't be necessary. Please, let them in."
"Yes, Sir," she said as she left the office.
"Is he ready yet?" asked Ed as he saw Hawkeye open the door.
"The Lieutenant Colonel is ready to see you now."
Ed and Gareth walked past Hawkeye while Al sat on a bench outside the office. Mustang faced the window and watched them enter the room in the reflection. His heart skipped a beat as Gareth slid his trench coat off and revealed his lush wings. Slowly, Mustang ran his fingers over the silver ring in his pocket as he stared at passing clouds.
"FullMetal, it's good to see you," he said as he turned to face them. "Please, tell me how your assignments went."
"Well, we saw what the Alnegite Ore can do. A small sample was enough to completely stop a transmutation."
"Interesting," Mustang said as he rubbed his chin. "Were you able to secure a sample?"
"Unfortunately we weren't allowed to take any. Only the scientists are allowed access to samples."
"Hm. And what of your secondary assignment?"
"Well, see for yourself," he said as he looked at Gareth. "He's been living in New Haven for about three years under the name Seraph. He doesn't remember anything except the past three years."
"Thank you, FullMetal. Major Hawkeye, please take Mr. Elric to your office and take down his account of what happened. And please cancel all my engagements for the day. I do not wish to be disturbed. I expect a full report on my desk in the morning."
"Yes, Lieutenant Colonel."
Hawkeye made her way out, along with Ed while Gareth awaited Roy to say something in the office. Many moments of silence passed as Mustang tried to compose himself, or maybe muster the courage to say something to this familiar stranger.
"Is...there something you wanted to discuss, Lieutenant Colonel?" Gareth asked, finally breaking the silence.
"Gareth...do you remember anything? Anything at all?"
"No, Sir. Nothing but my time in New Haven."
"Please, call me Roy."
"Sure, Roy."
"Do you have any semblance of your former life?"
"I have some army paraphernalia in New Haven and my dreams, but that's all."
"Gareth, you and I took the state alchemy exam together. You were given the title Holy Seraphim Alchemist."
"I'm sorry. I don't remember."
"Do you...remember me?"
"Your face seems familiar...like from my dreams or something. I have very strong feelings about the man in my dreams."
Mustang choked back tears as the words buried themselves like daggers into his heart. The love of his life didn't remember a thing about him.
"You and I were...together since we were 19, Gareth. We served during the war together. We exchanged promise rings. We...loved each other," he got out as he turned to face the window, tears sliding down his face.
"I...I don't remember you, Roy. I have a faint image of you in a dream and that's it. I still wear the ring, though. I never take it off because when I run my fingers over it, it soothes me."
"Do you know how you got to New Haven," Roy asked, as he turned to face Gareth once again.
"A man and wife said they found me injured and took me with them when they fled to New Haven."
Silence engulfed the room as Gareth awaited the next round of questions and Roy kept himself from crying. More than anything he wanted to wrap his arms around Gareth and absorb the winged man back into his life, but he couldn't. Mustang wasn't talking to Gareth Sinclair, the Holy Seraphim Alchemist, he was talking to Seraph, the winged man from New Haven. Roy wanted to pull Gareth back into his life and make things like they were before, but he couldn't. He couldn't force his former flame to love him, even though he was still very much in love.
"I'm...sorry to have wasted your time, Gareth. For all these years, I prayed you were alive, and you are." He paused for a moment and considered the next words he was about to say. "I love you, Gareth, and that's why you have to go back to New Haven. You have to live your life, even if that means I'm not part of it."
"Roy...I'm sorry. I wish I could remember you, but I just can't. I don't know you. I'm sorry I'm not the person you fell in love with."
"Before you leave, I...just want to tell you about the night you disappeared...for memory's sake. The war was pretty much over and our unit was staying in an abandoned hotel. We had a fight about my wanting to stay in the army and you wanting to get out. You said you were sick of all the death and violence and I said war is a necessary part of life. We exchanged words and you left to go for a walk. A few minutes later, we heard gunshots and I took some men to look for you. All we found were bloodstains and feathers in an alleyway. We searched all night for you, but you were nowhere to be found. I was devastated, Gareth."
"I...don't know what to say, Roy."
"It's okay, Gareth. At least I can take solace knowing you're alive and well."
Mustang turned and faced the window once more as Gareth took a few steps towards him. The winged man slowly reached out to touch Roy's shoulder, but pulled away and walked out. Al was still sitting outside the office, but Gareth walked right past him and out of HQ. The Lieutenant Colonel walked over to the window and pressed both hands against it as tears slid down his cheek. Suddenly there was a knock at the door.
"I'm busy right now," Mustang yelled, but Major Hughes entered anyway. "I said not now, Major."
"I was just handed Hawkeye's report. Gareth's alive?"
"Yes. And you just missed him."
"What? You're not keeping him here?"
"Why should I?" Mustang yelled as his eyes began to tear again. "He...he doesn't remember me! He doesn't remember anything!"
"No offense, Roy, but just what the hell do you think you're doing? You let the man you loved for the better part of seven years just walk out of your office?"
"That's out of line, Major!"
"What's out of line is your head and your heart! If you'd drop the damn military act for two minutes, you'd see you're making a mistake, maybe the biggest of your entire life, Lieutenant Colonel."
The two men stared each other down as more tears streamed from Mustang's eyes. His stomach tied itself in knots and soon he felt physically ill. Hughes pulled two chairs over, quickly motioning for the Lieutenant Colonel to take a seat before he fell over. Hughes positioned his chair across from Mustang's.
"Roy...you and Gareth had something special. What you had only comes around once in a lifetime. I don't care if he doesn't remember, you have to make him. Show him pictures...take him to places the two of you frequented. Don't let him leave again. I remember seeing your face a few days after you got back to Central. You looked dead, like a soulless zombie. I never want to see you look like that again, especially if you're going to be Fuhrer one day."
"I can't force him to be who he used to be. I love him and I'd rather he be happy without me than a distant stranger with me."
"Did you even try to help him remember? Don't you think he deserves to know who he was? He was a highly regarded state alchemist, Roy. He'd probably be a Lieutenant Colonel if he didn't go missing."
The two men stared each other down until Mustang finally conceded.
"Do you know where he went?"
"He's already left HQ. If I had to guess, I'd say he's headed for the train station. There's a train leaving for Driessgart in about 20 minutes and it's gonna be going all night."
"Excuse me, Hughes. I need to get out of my uniform."
"Good idea. Seeing the Lieutenant Colonel rushing around might rile a few people. Oh, and do you wanna see some pictures of my daughter? She just started walking by herself!"
"Hughes..." Mustang mumbled angrily as he rolled his eyes.
"Good luck, Roy."
- End Chapter IV: Vapor -
A/N: So Roy and Gareth had a fight on that night three years ago. That's terribly sad because it's partly Roy's fault all this happened, but now he has a chance to try and make things right. Will Roy catch the train? What will he do if he does? Will he be able to make Gareth remember? Stay tuned to find out! R&R please! Holler. Xoxo.