Warmth
By Henrika
Henrika- Response for this fic had been stellar. Looks like you people like it when I torture Ed. (Makes note to buy whips and chains.) And we come upon the angstiest chapter yet. After this I'll wrap things up nicely with a good, chapter-sized epilogue. I really hope you guys enjoy this chapter; half-concious Ed was kind of fun to write. Enjoy and Review!
Special thanks to Basser for drawing me a fanart! No one has ever done that for me before. Is it okay if I post the link in my profile?
Thanks to my reviewers- Terry McElrath, Shizu Kuwabara, crazyanimefreak15, Chibi Neko, Kurai Eymru, Tenka-chan, Ginger Ninja, randomwriter88, Kawaii-Syaoran, Chibi Cheesecake, IceWitch101, unexpectation, DaisyAnimeluvr, Luna Weasley and Hermione Potter, Basser, hashiba42, Autore, and thedoombunny.
Autore- I answer your question somewhat in an off-hand way in this chapter.
As a side note, I think a lot of people end up finding my profile and leaving me a bunch of reviews when they're having sick days. Squints her eyes as she ponders that So should I try sneezing around people?
Chapter 4
Mmm.
It's warm…and it's cold, if that makes any sense.
I realize it doesn't so I give up trying to think about it. I curl closer to the warmth, embracing it the best I can. A new sensation butts its way into the foggy part of my head: pain. Somewhere, I manage to equate that cold equals pain and I push closer to the warmth until it encircle s me. A warm chin finds a resting place in the top of my head and tepid breath gently caresses my hair.
Sensation slowly returns to me, even though I was rather content in just the heat. I realize with a start that I can't feel my right arm or left leg until somewhere my mind decides to supply the word "auto-mail". Little needles of pain shoot through my other two limbs, making themselves known. A hand runs through my hair and I relax against it as my body shocks itself into full awareness.
I hear voices around me, but I can't make out the words; it's like they're coming through a bad telephone connection. The top of my head vibrates a little and I realize that the person holding me is talking. The voice is familiar, almost hauntingly so, but I can't place it. I relax again, feeling tension that I didn't know existed dissolve from my muscles. The form I'm resting against wraps their arms tighter around me in surprise.
Two steady noises penetrate through the static; one is a steady clicking and the other is a rhythmic thumping against my ear. Train. I think to myself as I hear the click of the wheels. I'm on a train. It doesn't explain the other noise; though the sound of it is really too comforting for me to care. It would be somewhat nice to know how I got on a train and why I really can't think straight because of the cold (Why am I cold?), but that's mincing details and I don't particularly care.
And then a nasty thought occurs to me; Where's Al? I buck off the warmth, trying desperately to open my eyes, to say his name, to find him. The static gets louder and the arms pull me back, but this time I fight them. Do they not understand? I have to find Al. He needs me to protect him; I have to protect my little brother. I fight harder and then suddenly there's a cold hand against my shoulder.
"Brother!" The tinny voice breaks through the static and I slow my movements. "Brother! It's okay! Calm down! Please, it's me! It's Al!"
"…Al?" The name gurgles from my throat, weak and hollow.
"Yes, it's me. It's okay." My eyes still refuse to open and the sudden struggle took what little energy I had. I slip back against the strong chest, almost grateful when sleep takes everything away.
#&&#&()#()&#($&&
The voices are clearer when I wake up and instantly identify Al's voice, though the other two elude me.
"How long until we reach Central?" That's Al.
"The conductor said about another hour. We've been going full steam the entire night. 'It has to be a record,' he said, 'fastest trip ever made on these lines.'" A woman's voice said, her tone stern and disapproving, though I thought I detected a hint of admiration.
My body vibrated a little as a rich male voice responded, "Well, I did ask them for haste."
The lady ignores him, instead asking, "How are you doing?"
The arms around me shift a little. "Bruised, but I'll live. Auto-mail packs a very decent punch." I feel a bit guilty. I must have hurt whoever was holding me.
"We couldn't have removed it. It would have put too much of a strain of his system."
"I'm sure Brother didn't mean to." Thank you Al.
There's a "humph" of disbelief from above me, but the conversation ends there.
I squirm a little; the cold is finally seeping away from me.
"How's your leg?"
"It's fine sir." I wonder what happened to the woman's leg. I wonder what happened in the first place.
I try again to open my eyes, but the attempt is in vain again. "Are you sure?" I can practically and literally feel the man's concern.
"Yes. By the way, I contacted the hospital in Central while I was checking with the conductor. They've been informed of the situation and they'll be waiting for us.
"Thank you. I appreciate that. How is it that you cover everything?"
" I also called Lt. Havoc and told him what happened. He'll have a car waiting for us." Lieutenant Havoc? Then…that would mean that the woman is…First Lieutenant Hawkeye. That sounds right. But then, that means, the person holding me is…
"We'll get you treated, then we can check in on Full Metal's condition. Speaking of which, I think he's finally coming around." He sounded relieved. Not at all like the smug bastard that he normally sounded like. I finally forced my eyes open and it hit me full force that I was curled into the chest of none other than Roy Mustang, whose arms were holding me tight against him.
I did the only thing I could do.
I blushed like an idiot.
Though I didn't bother to move. I was far too comfortable for that.
"Brother! How are you feeling?" I tore my gaze away from the dark eyes above me and looked over to see Lieutenant Hawkeye and Al. There was a stained bandage on Hawkeye's leg and Al had blood streaked across his armor, though I couldn't place where that would have come from.
I finally remembered Al's question and took stock of my condition. I could feel all parts of my body and my auto-mail was still functioning, though everything was a bit numb. I was warm though, Mustang having a fair amount to do with that. I vaguely noticed that my hair was loose and that I was in my sleeping clothes before I answered, "I'm okay." My head felt a bit fuzzy as I moved to look at Al, so I lay back again, feeling the steady thump of Mustang's heartbeat against me. "What happened?"
"Do you remember the chimera?" Hawkeye asked. It came back to me that we had been on a mission involving chimera. I remembered going through a forest and then a cliff and then… I nodded and Hawkeye continued. "There was an avalanche and you were swept over. When we managed to reach you," She glanced strangely at Al for a moment, "You were still fighting them." I remembered a hazy outline of three shapes before orange exploded in front of my eyes and wiped out all the small growling shadows around me. "The Colonel took care of them and we managed to catch the train back to Central. We'll have you taken to the hospital as soon as we arrive."
"Oh. Are all of you alright?"
"I'm good." Al said too quickly, now trying to hide the bloodstains on his armor. Chimera blood. I realized, though there was far too much for just normal blood spray. He looked like he had been drenched in it.
"I'll probably need stitches, but I'll live." Hawkeye said, her face softening.
And my body vibrated as Mustang said, "Just bruises." I examined the arms around me, noticing the yellow-black bruise forming on the forearms.
"Sorry." I mumbled.
Mustang paused. "You didn't know what you were doing." He finally consoled.
I curled up against him again. "Thanks." I said, before I fell asleep, letting the warmth surround me.
Henrika- All together now...Awwww. The cuteness. Review please and tell me I didn't go overboard with it.