Rating: PG-13

Warnings: Shonen-ai (possibly yaoi), spoilers

Pairings: Roy x Ed, Russell x Ed, possible Envy x Ed, implied Al x Winry

Genre: Angst, Romance, Alternate Ending to the Series!

Summary: After receiving a call from a worried Al, Roy goes to investigate Ed's disappearance in Xenotime. Meanwhile, Fullmetal has come down with a nasty illness and is found by Russell Tringham. Romance ensues. RussellxEd, RoyxEd, and others. Alternate ending to the TV series.

AN: Hello everyone! Thank you for the great reviews! I never expected so many! Review responses are after the chapter. Once again, this story will be loosely based on the anime, and it pretty much ignores the real ending of the series and the events of episode 25.

Disclaimer: Fullmetal Alchemist belongs to Hiromu Arakawa, Square Enix, Funimation, and others. "Freeze My Love" belongs to Glay.

Freeze My Love
Chapter Two
by Abyssinian003

When Russell finally returned to his room with the bowl of water and washcloth, Elisa and Belsio were waiting for him. Noticing his brother wasn't present, he asked, "Where's Fletcher?" The man with dark, wavy hair replied, "He went to pick up some medicine. He'll be back soon." Elisa's uncle gestured to Ed, "Do you know what happened to him?"

The tall teenager found himself walking closer to Ed and fighting off a blush once again as he set the water and cloth on the bedside table. In response to Belsio's question, he shook his head and replied, "No. He was just lying on the ground when Elisa spotted him. He hasn't woken up yet, so we don't know what happened."

Belsio strode over to stand at the side of the bed and placed his tanned hand against Ed's forehead. Almost immediately, the owner of the house moved to grab the washcloth. He dunked it in the water and twisted it with both hands, wringing the crystal liquid out of it. The man brushed Edward's sweat-soaked bangs out of the way and placed the cool rag against the short teen's fiercely burning skin. Wiping his wet hands on his pants, he turned to Russell and said, "He has a fairly high fever. It's a good thing you and Elisa found him."

Russell's face was blank, but his eyes were laced with worry as they drifted over Ed's body. Was he really that sick? How did he come to Xenotime in his condition? More importantly, why did he come to Xenotime even though he was ill? Inexplicable irritation swelled in him, and Russell suddenly wanted to throttle the Fullmetal Alchemist. How could someone that cared so much about others' well-being care so little about his own?

Coal-colored eyes scanned the relaxing countryside scenery. Roy Mustang took a deep breath of Xenotime's fresh air. Stretching, he decided he'd thank Ed in the subtlest way possible for allowing him to escape his office in Central. Now, where to begin his search for the short alchemist?

Roy made his way through the small crowd that had come to Xenotime by train. He finally escaped the crowd to the main street and paused as a mouthwatering aroma wafted past him. His stomach growled painfully, reminding him that he had only had a mug of coffee early in the morning, and the colonel refrained from making a face.

Deciding to satisfy his hunger before actually beginning his search, Roy turned around to head toward a restaurant that caught his eye. He soon became aware that he was being watched by a small yellow-haired boy wearing an ensemble of a strange green hat, white shirt, and grass-colored overalls that clung to his small frame by one strap. A brown paper sack dangled from the boy's hand. Quietly, the blonde asked as he spotted Roy's watch, "Are you a National Alchemist?"

Roy nodded stiffly, knowing of the hate many towns had for the military, "Yes." The boy smiled slightly, "I hope you're as nice as my friend. He's a National Alchemist, and he really helped Xenotime before he left last time." Roy's mind registered two things the boy said: National Alchemist and Xenotime. The only National Alchemist that had passed through this town in the past couple years was Fullmetal.

Cocking an eyebrow, he asked, "Is this National Alchemist you speak of named Edward Elric?" The boy looked mildly surprised, "Yeah. Mr. Ed (1) is the person I was talking about. Do you know him?" Roy nodded once, "Yes. I'm actually looking for him right now. Have you seen him around?"

The boy's smile disappeared, "Yeah, I have, sir. I went to get medicine for him." As if to prove a point, he held up the brown bag clutched firmly in his left hand. "My brother, Russell, is watching him. He's the one that found Mr. Ed."

Fullmetal was actually sick? The boy's brother, Russell, found him? Why did the fact that someone else found Edward while the blonde was in trouble make his insides writhe with jealousy? Roy fought to calm the storm of questions raging in his mind.

"Do you want me to take you to him, sir?" the boy asked cautiously. "I mean, if you know Mr. Ed, then he'd probably like to see you." Roy found himself smirking at the boy's statement. Fullmetal wanting to see him of all people? It was highly unlikely, however hard that was to admit. Oh well, Roy thought as he brushed it off.

"What's your name, kid?" Blue eyes blinked innocently, "Fletcher Tringham, sir. What's yours?" Tringham—the name seemed familiar, but Roy mentally shrugged it off. "I'm Colonel Roy Mustang, the Flame Alchemist," Roy introduced himself.

A pleasant smile spread across Fletcher's features, and Roy realized that despite most children's dislike of him, this one seemed to be able to stand him. His smirk softened into a closer to genuine smile, "Well, Fletcher, would you mind leading the way to Fullmetal?"

Fletcher grinned brightly and started walking back to Belsio's lemon orchard, "Just follow me!" Roy's stomach chose that moment to growl unpleasantly, and the younger Tringham brother giggled, "I'll get you something to eat while you're there, too." Roy was surprised by the boy's kindness; most people had a severe dislike for National Alchemists (2), even in a small town like this.

With a murmured thank you on Roy's part, the two continued on their way.

Having done what they could for Ed's fever, Belsio, Elisa, and Russell had left the room. Russell had wanted to watch over the older teen, but Belsio had asked for his help in making lunch. The tall alchemist had finally agreed, and now the bedroom was eerily quiet.

Slowly, hazy golden eyes opened to peer at a somewhat familiar ceiling. Edward Elric brought his flesh hand up to rub at his aching eyes. He dragged himself into a sitting position but realized his mistake too late as his lungs tightened painfully. A series of hoarse coughs emanated from his small frame and involuntary tears sprung to Ed's eyes.

This was what had happened earlier when he had first arrived in Xenotime. He had been walking along the dirt path just outside Belsio's house, wanting to drop by and surprise everyone, but his last coughing fit had struck him harshly, leaving waves of dizziness and heat in its wake. The Fullmetal Alchemist had promptly passed out and, Ed noticed with a wince, had most likely rolled down a nearby hill.

Sighing before taking a deep, somewhat hindered breath, he leaned back against the headboard of the bed. Belatedly, he noted that the attacks were getting worse. He had thought about visiting a doctor but had realized with a pained grin that there was nothing he could really do about the illness.

Red water poisoning—a few people he had come across in his travels had it themselves. He knew that was what was causing the attacks, seeing as he had been dealing with them since the incident at the Fifth Institute (3). While he was in Resembool, he had just hidden away in his room at Winry's house when they hit. However, the assaults on his body seemed to become more and more unpredictable with each passing day, and Al and Winry were starting to become suspicious. That was why he had started this journey—to escape the worried gazes and wary glances from both his brother and his mechanic.

Hearing the doorknob turn, Ed allowed his fevered gaze of molten gold to drift over the figure entering the room. A jolt of pain shot through his body, and he suppressed the urge to cough again. Swallowing thickly and grinning falsely, he greeted, "Hi Russell. It's been a while."

Russell hadn't really changed much. He was still quite a bit taller than Ed, and his hair was a little longer, as if he hadn't bothered with a haircut. However, he seemed unusually irritated at the moment, and Ed was loath to find out why.

"Ed, why aren't you taking care of yourself?" Russell's tone was somber, and Ed glanced down at the bed sheets clutched in his hands, both flesh and metal. What could he tell the younger alchemist? He had been taking care of himself, but slight complications had arisen. Finally becoming irritated with the oppressing silence of the room, he tried to defend himself, "I have been taking care of myself! It's just—it's a long story, Russell."

A frown graced Russell's handsome features as he sat in the chair next to his bed. Staring at Ed, he demanded, "Tell me then. Since you don't seem like you're up to going anywhere, we have all day."

Ed glared at him and adjusted his position on the bed. Lying back down, he made a sound of frustration and annoyance. What if he didn't want to tell Russell? He rolled onto his side, facing away from the taller blonde, "Here I came all this way to visit, and you're nagging me about things I don't want to talk about. I didn't miss you, you know. I just came to make sure you weren't using my name again."

Russell smiled fondly at Ed's attempt to redirect the conversation. He supposed he would let the subject be for the moment, but he would get his answers eventually. The taller alchemist reached over and playfully ruffled Ed's already messy hair, "I didn't miss you either, Ed."

End Chapter Two

Notes:

1) In Japanese, Fletcher refers to Ed as "Edo-san." I personally thought it would be cute for Fletcher to call him "Mr. Ed" in the story because I believe that's what the rough translation would be.

2) My DVDs call Roy and Ed "National Alchemists." In the dub, they seem to be called "State Alchemists" though. Does anyone prefer one title to the other? Or does anyone really care?

3) I'm not sure if it's actually called the Fifth Institute or not, but that's what it says in the subtitles.

AN: And so the second chapter filled with unintended fluff and angst is completed! I somehow can't just write one-sided RussellxEd since it makes me so happy to write it, so I think I'll make RussellxEd an official pairing along with RoyxEd.

Next chapter: Russell and Roy meet, and discoveries about Ed's illness are made by someone.