When we Backslide
Author's Note: I don't own any of these here characters. Chapter Four, my turning point chapter, will be shortly.
Enjoy! "You back-water, desert idiots!"
"Awe brother!" Al whined.
"No Al, you know we can't take any pets home!" Ed said crossing his arms over his chest and stood his ground.
"But h-he followed me home and- and just look at him…" Al held up a striped tan cat who stared up at Ed and meowed. It had a pink nose and two different colored eyes one blue, one green. Something about the eyes made Ed falter, but his mind was set and once the Fullmetal Alchemist put his foot down that was that.
"Yeah, they follow you home because you smell like a cat." Ed sighed. "I'm sorry Al. Maybe, maybe once we get our bodies back we wont be traveling so much. It's not safe for him… I-" He looked up at the hollow armor standing in front of him. Ed could have sworn he could see a tear glisten in the sunlight. Then he turned from his brother "I'm sorry…"
Al began to head down the alley where he had found the stray. "Are we any closer than we were three years ago, brother?" He stopped.
Ed, caught off guard by Al's directness was momentarily speechless. He didn't know what to say to make the answer sound any better.
"Well… are we?" Al said turning to look at his brother's back. "I want to get on with my life. I want grow and feel, laugh and cry. Brother, how many more wild goose chases are we going to go through before we can be normal again. I'm tired of people staring at us as if we're some kind of side show freaks. I want to get rid of this hollow shell of a
body before I forget what it like being the real Alphonse! Tell me! Ed! Tell me how much longer do I have live, if this is even considered living, like this!"
Real tears were filling Ed's eyes now. He had asked himself these same questions over and over, day and night. With every lead he was sure they would find something, something to raise their hopes on to another day, but they were
just dead ends. Each and every time they hit the bottom another score of setbacks would weigh them down, many times leaving them disabled by body and heart. "Soon Al… I know this time Mustang has something worth while…" and with that Ed headed toward Central when a heavy hand roughly gripped his real shoulder.
"You can tell me the truth, dear brother of mine."
After being released Ed began to run to Headquarters. I'm so sorry Al… I am trying hard. I take more than the I can handle for you, I am tough only for you . You are the top of my list, always. I will not rest until your body and soul are
reunited and you are whole again. I will give my all just to see you be happy. But Al, dear brother of mine. Please I beg, do not hate me. This words ran through Ed's mind as he reached the stairs leading to Central. Once inside the building and up the to the third floor he met Hawkeye who was waiting patiently.
"Hello Edward. The Colonel will see you now." She smiled down at him and escorted him to the door. She sighed "good luck" and left.
Ed looked back at the First Lieutenant's retreating figure and put his hand on the knob. He took in a deep breath. Be tough. Ed said to himself, but it didn't seem to hold any sway. He turned the knob and entered the long room. At the
desk was Colonel Roy Mustang. He sat with three stacks of paper, each almost a foot high, in front of him and was currently reading a collection. "Please sit, Fullmetal."
Ed continued toward the middle of the room and sat in the seat facing the Colonel. After about a minute of silence Mustang slipped the papers into a folder and looked at Ed.
"Well, I am going to have to postpone your next assignment until further notice. There--
"What! No way! I have already waited a week in this dump and it's not doing me any good--" Ed paused seeing the expression on Mustang's face. His eyes were blood shot and weary, his mouth which was usually in a smirk was
now a small thin line with a downward hook at the end. He wasn't in any mood to be talked down by his subordinate, especially a kid.
"Look Fullmetal, this world does not revolve around you and it never will. I have been given these direct orders to keep you at Central until things clear up. You and Al are to be in your dorm at nine o'clock, and I will be checking. Do I make my self clear?"
"Yes sir." Ed was now looking down at his feet. Today was not his day.
"You are dismissed." Mustang said and returned back to his work.
Ed stood up, bowed and turned to leave, but stopped and glanced back at the Colonel. "Excuse me. Sir. I- uh -I just would like to know what's going on.?"
Mustang slowly lowered his paper. He knew this question would be asked and had already answered it in his mind. It was no. Fullmetal had no right to know and he needn't to worry about the affairs above his concern, but as he
looked at the young alchemist standing in front of him, he looked into his eyes for the first time today. They were full of some poorly hidden pain and behind that danced the fire of determination. He hadn't seen this combination in
a while. He knew he was a little hard on the kid at times and the two boys had gone through more than he can imagine getting even this far. Mustang's motives were good, but many times they came out as cruel jokes and
reprimands . Deep down he did care for the two as if they were his little brothers that he must look after and he made a vow to do so. Mustang sighed and set the collated papers down. "There have been an outbreak of Chimera
sightings and attacks. They usually happen at night and have been happening in the eastern part of the city so far, but we know they will spread this way either tonight or tomorrow. Most of the Chimeras are just inter-animal
mergings, but an infant transmuted with a rat was found yesterday and so we believe that people are now being targeted not just by the creatures, but by their maker as well."
Ed's eyes were now large with surprise. "Do you think… Tucker is involved?"
"That was our first assumption too, but he is supposed to be detained in a prison or dead. We have sent officers to the prison now and I am waiting their call." Mustang said relaxing somewhat.
"So what are you doing to catch the Chimeras?" Ed asked, who was now fully facing the Colonel.
"I and other officials go out every night and patrol the streets. We have found many in the last week, but the creatures are becoming accustomed to the lay out of the city and it's getting harder."
"Well, can't I help."
"No. I have direct orders from my higher ups. They feel that if it happens to be Tucker, you might do something… let's say… a little rash. I can pull out the document if you'd like?" Mustang asked leaning back in his chair, a small smile creeping on his tired face.
"No. I understand fully. And thank you." Ed bowed and quietly left the room.
Roy ran his hand through his hair. Please listen this time Ed. After staring at the ceiling a bit wondering what was the matter with Fullmetal, Mustang picked up his papers again and the smile vanished.