Aly-chan is yet again continuing...
How can't I? As of now I got PsycoNeko15 that replied, and thanks very much! I'm not going to keep you guys hanging too badly for a long time, I know how awful that can be. Then you forget about the story and yadayada.
So just sit back and watch the tastrophe unfold...
;D
Chapter 2 - On the Edge
In an instant, Edward promptly sat upward, hearing the bustling groups of people amidst the large hospital building -- racks of foreign medicine and cartons of blood being hauled down the narrow white-covered hallways -- and murmuring voices of doctors rushing past in an attempt to perhaps salvage someone's life. His vision was clouded, like the state your eyes are in after a picture is taken with a fulgid flash; unclear, struggling to regain their usual acute awareness. In an endeavor to lift his arm, he found it to be covered in miniature cords and plugs, one he even discovered to be pumping food into his body.
Slowly realizing where he actually was, and the situation at hand, Ed stifled a yell as he tried to arise from the intolerable white sheets to contrast with the imperfect haunting of the alabaster-hued walls, eerie and undeniably unpleasant. An incoming confrontation from Al was the only thing that prevented him from tearing his ill sleeping-haven apart and abandoning recovery. "Brother... what's wrong?" Al's voice was imbedded with concern, though the distinct flints of glass-shards darting through his tone told only what he was feeling; since his physical features could not.
Ed gripped tightly on the tangible fabricated white sheets, gritting his teeth and fighting the urge for the more convenient alternative of using his alchemy to unbind him from the numerous tubes imprisoning him. His urge being quenched for the time being, he alleviated the grip he possessed on the sheets, turning to Al with immensely concentrated golden orbs, what would he say to him this time?
"It was nothing Al, guess I just wasn't thinking. Don't worry about it -- maybe an outburst I needed -- but otherwise I'm completely fine. Don't know why they're going to all this just because I passed out for a little while." At this retort Al started, emitting the sense of suprise since it wasn't obvious in his features, and he looked toward the floor in a focused demeanor. "Brother... you've been out for almost two days..." The reply caught Edward as extremely appalling, for it seemed like he'd only taken a short-lived sleep; a half-dazed nap even. Opening his mouth and then closing it again, he could only feel vulnerability at his vantage point, considering his brother would do anything possible to keep him implanted to his hospital bed; even if it meant doing so literally.
Alphonse approached him, taking one weighted step after the next, both congruent in sound, alike in mass. "They said you had passed out from lack of food and hydration, and that you looked pale and unhealthy. Brother, why are you doing this to yourself? Is it because of... those--" "It's NOT because of that Al, would you lay off?" The menacing retort made Al hesitate in his steps, then, thinking better of furtherly approaching Ed with more questions, remained stationary where he was. Ed, placing his palm over his forehead, fell back into the slightly off-set pillows, intaking a strong amount of air before releasing. "I'm sorry Al... I'm just tired. Let's get out of here. I don't need their help."
Eventually convincing his younger Brother to take him back home, Ed rushed in the house, overjoyed to be away from the treacherous hospital; Alphonse less than thrilled. But, the joy quickly supressed itself as Ed's rememberance of the voice and riddle came back. Crimson is bad? The only other object besides his cape he could think of that was crimson was the Philosopher's Stone. Why should he postpone -- and possibly abandon -- his own journey because of some wacko voice that entered his mind? Maybe his mind was toying with him, playing tricks because of its lack of energy.
His questions were quickly deterred for the moment, since they had an unexpected visitor -- Winry. Their childhood friend, Ed's mechanic, and a compassionate soul, Winry had been with them through it all, though she wasn't in on much past when they'd left Rizenbul. They never seemed to keep in touch with her, only when Edward needed a fix on his arm and leg. "Oh, Winry!" Alphonse was always excited to see her visits, since he barely acquired any home or friends during their tumultuous journey. "Alphonse!" She was equally as jovial to see him, and hugged his arm in a stupid attempt to show him how much Winry was happy to see him.
Detaching herself with a dazed naive expression, her attention turned to their apartment. "Where's Ed?" At the mention of his name, the state alchemist navigated his way to the front-room, to see Winry ornamenting her usual attire, a white tanktop with a black mini-skirt and black combat boots, hair tied into its also regular ponytail fashion. Winry's face alighted, and she pulled him toward her, her face slightly contorting into a more anger-like expression as he neared her. "How DARE you let yourself get in this condition!" Taking out a heavy wrench seemingly out of nowhere, she collided the tool with his head, creating an even more crippled Ed as he toppled to the ground.
Alphonse only watched in sheer horror at Winry's sudden atrocity, folding his hands and leaning desperately to a wall; hoping he appeared invisible to her temper. Eventually, and with a throbbing bump on the back of his head, Edward got up, mumbling unknown dissatisfaction, but promptly stopped when he saw her face. Her alluring blue eyes were staring straight into him, as worrying and serious as she'd ever portrayed to him. "What's wrong Ed? You never talk to anyone anymore, and Al told me what happened today. Why don't you speak up? We're all worried about you, and you're pushing us away... how are we supposed to help you if we don't know what's wrong, Ed?"
She quieted, dropping her wrench and lowering her head, perhaps to try to get her point across more effectively. Either way, her worry and concern was more than obvious to him, though his first reaction would be much different. First glaring indecisively at Al, he faced her again, folding his arms. "Nothing's WRONG with me! All my life, it's always been 'what's wrong?' Can I not have SOMETHING to myself - since my whole life has been pried into by everyone? It's because of the damn decision I made that we're the way we are, and I will compensate it my own way! I am carrying the burden on my own, so stop trying to pry into what little is left of me, damnit!" Hiding his face, for fear of any precipitous feeling to be revealed through his face, he ran into the bathroom, slamming the door with a clamorous slam!
The two left alone in the room were left blatantly speechless. Sure, Edward was hott-headed and made rash decisions, but blowing up on Winry was uncalled for. Not that they were fully knowledgable of why he did it, perhaps whatever was bothering him must've triggered it. Winry gaped toward the bathroom, turning to Alphonse. "Did I say something wrong?" Thinking the idea to be the worst sin in the world, she covered her face and started sniffling, then soon after leading into a soft-heard weep. Alphonse, looking around awkwardly for some manuever to calm her, he patted her shoulder, gazing curiously ahead into the room where Ed was situated.
Ed felt something inside of him slowly deteriorating, the will to go on, that will that separated him from his father. As soon as the thought came to mind, he gripped his hair and began shaking, feeling innumerable tears run down his face. "No.. I'm not like that bastard..." Reaching into his pocket and revealing an acuate dagger, he formed gashes down his free arm, alleviating pain with pain. "I'm... not.. you..." He could feel the crimson liquid relinquishing the thought, as it poured down the sinkhole, into oblivion... where he deserved to be. Why am I still alive? I don't deserve to be alive... Al should have a life, one that doesn't have to have his soul binded to armor to live... It only ushered the many tears and sobs that emitted from him afterwards, that similar pain of guilt stabbing at him much more than the dagger had.
Keeping his arm over the sink, he stared at the reflection of himself in the mirror, gazing at a teenage boy, who hadn't a normal life from the time alchemy was acquired in his blood. Disheveled hair stared back at him, and feral golden optics, as well as his inadequacy -- that, although, he was a child prodigy, he was nothing compared to regular kids that could do anything they wanted, they were free from the clutches of adult responsibility. Though inside his mind, he was increasingly aware that his sacrifice wouldn't bring Al's body back, it gave him a burning desire to do anything to get away from these responsibilities, this mandatory leash that was always tight.
Soon feeling a boiling anger rising inside of him, he broke the mirror, punching it with his automail, watching the glass disperse and scatter all over the cream-tiled floor. He heard pairs of footsteps, quick and nimble footsteps, heading toward his only semblance of freedom. They wouldn't take that away. Edging towards the window, he pounded his hands together, then pressing them to it, shattering it and creating a hole of escape. An escape of responsibility. Jumping out, he approached the roof, nothing short of sense running through his head, only the desire to alleviate himself of this impending guilt and doom he was leading his brother into.
Al broke down the locked door, opening it to reveal a pool of blood running down the sink, a broken mirror, and a shattered window. Winry, gasping, could only pull Alphonse along as they reached the roof, hoping to get there in time to save the Full Metal Alchemist from his own doom.
As they reached the roof, they saw Ed's crimson cape billowing continuously in the breeze, feet edging towards the endpoint of the secure rooftop. "Ed -- no! What are you thinking?" Winry screamed, taking a step towards him in an endeavor to get him away from the edge. Edward, turning around, faced Winry, a hint of instantaneous action covering the once sensible golden eyes. "This is for you, Al -- Equivalent Exchange, take me so Al can have his body back... anything to bring my brother back... he did nothing wrong.. this was all my fault... all my fault..." Yellow irises lost their gleam, as the alchemist turned around again, looking over the ten-story building before him.
"Brother -- just because you die isn't going to bring me back to normal! I helped you to bring mom back, it's not all your fault! Brother!" Ed gripped onto the railing, readying himself for whatever impromptu action he was deciding upon. "I can't do this anymore... we'll never find a damned Philosopher Stone... what am I going to do, how am I going to life with the fact that I --" Al had briskly knocked the teenager unconscious while amidst his confession, pulling him back away from death's ledge in one transaction. Winry, emitting a cry, ran over to Ed and cradled his head in her arms, not bothering to care that tears were dropping constantly onto Ed's face. "We almost lost him Al.. it was all because of me." Winry sobbed, holding him securely and protectively to her, blonde ponytail billowing alongside her shirt in the breeze.
"Don't you start on me, Winry!" Al picked both of them up, heading into the staircase to go back to their apartment room, hopefully not causing to attract any extra attention from any other passerby in the hallway.
Relinquish this fate, this fate that is yours
Give a life sothat his is happy and ensures
Whoah.. I'm making Ed sound a little cooky, aren't I? He's NOT crazy... or is he? You'll just have to find out next chapter. Please R&R, since only one person did last time D: Well, considering I just published this a couple of days ago, it's understandable, but. STILL!
If you people still think this is a destruction fanfic that has no plot, you're terribly wrong. I just thought I'd throw that in for fun, the real tastrophe is only beginning.. Mwamwamwa! Oo;
Stay tuned for next Chapter.. 3