A quick add to apologize for the month I didn't post anything.
This chapter is much longer, one of the longest I've written in a while.
Hope you enjoy it and thanks for the wonderful comments so far! >w
Roy didn't sleep that night. The pain had subsided, but it wouldn't take long for the poison to kick in. He'd be very uncomfortable then. Death wouldn't overtake him however, as the nurse had given him an injection to slow the process of the poison. He knew he had stained Ed's soul yet again. But in the morning, the doctors would take him away, rip him open, and remove the demon building up in him. There was a possibility he'd never awake, he was very sure of it. He'd just shrug off the thought if Ed hadn't walked into his life. It was as if, ever since the day Ed admitted his feelings, Roy had gained the right to live on, but for how long bewildered him.
"Ed?" Hawkeye was standing over him. "Is there something wrong?" He simply shook his head. "Go away." She took a seat next to him. "Is it about the Colonel?" He made no response. "He's having surgery tomorrow morning. He'll be back on his feet in a couple days." Ed burst into tears, clinging to Hawkeye and sobbing on her shoulder. "Ed! Don't worry, the Colonel will be fine." "It's not that…"
Riza left quickly, nervously. She had offered Ed a ride home, but he refused. He sat on the steps to the hospital, waiting, hoping, crying. Until a shadow loomed over him. "What do you want? I'm not in the mood." He looked up, seeing a strange man that appeared to be quite young. He appeared mysterious, wearing a dark cloak that hid his eyes and hair. "Edward Elric?" He whispered, his daunting lips the only thing visible on his face. "Have we met?" "No. But we'll be properly introduced later." "Oh…" Ed sighed, looking down at the man's gloomy boots. "The one you love is in that hospital, correct? Room 217?" Ed gasped softly and looked up again. "How do you know that?" The shadow didn't answer. "He'll make a strong recovery." Ed began shaking, showing fear for the man before him. "Who are you?" "That's not important. Here." He grabbed a medication bottle from his pocket, handing it to Ed. "Heart medication…? For me? But why?" "Until then, Edward Elric." Ed jumped to his feet. "Wait!" He made no attempt to chase after the fading image.
Ed stood in the waiting room. The sun had arisen and the rain had stopped. He stared down at the object in his hand, rereading the label of the bottle that strange man had given to him. But why? His heart functioned fine, he was sure of it. Perhaps the man was insane? Maybe he figured I was someone else? But that doesn't explain the use of my name… A nurse opened the door, making Ed jump and shove the medication into his pocket. The nurse gave him a strange look before smiling. "He's ready to see you now." "Thank you ma'am." He quietly walked in, taking a seat beside Roy's bed. The nurse gave them privacy and shut the door before she left. "How do you feel?" "Like I've been plundered of half my soul." "Is that a good thing?" "In some ways." Ed laid the back of his hand on the Colonel's head. "You feel warm." "I'm fine." "Can you walk?" "Doubt it." "You want to try?" Roy, feeling too lazy to stand up, changed the topic. "Where did you go last night? I mean, when the hospital closed visiting hours up?" "On the stairs." "Isn't that a violation of property?" "I don't care." Roy chuckled. "Funny. Guess I'll have to pay for your bail again." Damn Colonel…
Ed stayed with Roy for the remainder of the day. If Roy needed something it would be there in a heartbeat. If he felt tired, Ed would calmly wait until he awoke. "Roy… Have you ever seen a young man wearing a black cloak that's been wandering around Central?" Roy thought for a moment. "Uh… I'm not sure. Why?" "Never mind. It's nothing." "If it was nothing, you wouldn't have asked." "Just let it drop." "No way. I'm quite curious. I know I've seen a report or two about him." That caught Ed's attention. "Who is he?" Roy shrugged, turning his attention to the window. "Some kind of 'Messenger of God'. Rids the world of demons and helps people through their sins, stuff like that." "Aren't they all phonies?" "Not this one. I've read somewhere in the newspaper that he uncovered a demon in Ishbal a while back. If I remember correctly, it said something about a birthmark of three sixes displayed on the back of his neck. Creepy little guy he is." "Do you know his name?" "No. I can't remember." It was odd. He'd remember everything about what the strange man had done and how, but not who he was. "How can you not remember?" Ed sounded frustrated. "God works in mysterious ways."
Ed stepped out to get a bit of fresh air. He needed to clear his mind. To do so, he went to the park and sat on a bench. The bench was upon a hill that overlooked the lake before him. So calm water was. So pure, so pretty. He loved it as a child, but now it just seemed to be something he enjoyed watching. He lost himself in the time, and before he knew it, the sun was setting.
Water-the sign of purity, the sign of life. He could see it, he could touch it, but he couldn't feel it. The water would seep through his soul, dripping down into a puddle beneath his feet. Does this mean he couldn't live? Or did it mean he hadn't the right to live? Whatever the reason, he had to get back to Roy.
"Hey Fullmetal. I think I know the nickname of that man you were talking about earlier." Ed sat down in the empty chair beside Roy. "It's okay. I'm not really concerned about it anymore." Roy continued, ignoring what Ed had told him. "He's called 'Nightmare'. No one knows who or what he is. His hair color and eye color have remained a mystery." Roy smiled, taking Ed's hands into his. "Isn't that what you wanted to know? I called the Führer for the information. Just for you." Ed returned Roy's smile with one of his own. "Thank you Colonel."
"Colonel Mustang? I brought you're dinner." The same nurse from this morning walked in, holding a tray that contained some sort of soup. "Here you are, sir." She placed it on the table next to him and quickly left the two alone. "She's quite fast on her feet." Roy acknowledged. "I wonder what it'd be like to dance with her." "Colonel… I don't mean to interrupt your thoughts, but your soup will be cold." Ed sounded slightly annoyed, and he was. He didn't like Roy looking at another person, especially a female. But that was just how he acted, and Ed would have to get over the thought. Roy sat up, groaning. "Great, the same muck from this morning." Ed picked up the bowel and the spoon that was beside it. "Here." He said, holding the spoon near Roy's mouth. He chuckled and cocked his eyebrow at the man before him. "You need to save up your strength." "Ed, I'll be back to work tomorrow. I think I can feed my-" Roy was cut off as Ed stuck the spoon in his mouth. Always so persistent Fullmetal. "You know," Roy started, smiling at Ed. "It tastes better with you here."
A bowel was set down next to Ed. "Here. You need this." Ed looked up, finding 'Nightmare' standing over him again. Roy had gone to sleep and the doctors had allowed Ed to stay in their small cafeteria for a while. "What are you doing here?" He asked, pulling the bowel of noodles closer to him. "Just a visit." Nightmare took a seat next to Ed. "You haven't eaten all day. Your body cries out for food but you fear it'll be the end of you." Ed turned to Nightmare, giving him a strange look. "How do you know so much about me?" The figure made no response. "Have you ever killed someone?" Ed sighed slowly. "Sadly. I have. Although," "You don't want to admit it. You fear as if it could happen again." "Yeah. Something like that." "You and I are a lot alike Edward Elric." Ed turned back to the bowel, feeling hungry suddenly. "Hey, can I ask you a question?" But Nightmare was gone. When Ed had looked up he was no where to be found. A shiver was sent down his spine as he glanced behind him. Who was that?
The two remaining Homunculi sat across from each other in a bar, waiting the arrival of someone important. Nightmare stared down at them as he had with Ed. "You're late." "I had a problem to take care of. It seems as if Mustang has recovered." Lust sighed. "Fullmetal boy is the problem. Take him out and the Colonel is ours." Envy snorted in response. "We promised the old bastard. Remember?" Lust shrugged a shoulder. "Killing is rather hard with a victim in the way, isn't it?" "Shut up D'tyh." Envy growled, looking away. "Just trying to emphasize a point. Poison wasn't the best way." "Then what ideas do you have?" Lust asked, smirking at him. "If you be patient, and wait for Edward to leave, away from Roy, you'll have your chance." Envy snickered, watching rain fall from outside the window. "Like that'll ever happen." "Death has a funny way of changing, Homunculi." Nightmare spat, gritting his teeth. "Then show me the change, human."
The heart medication rattled in his pocket as Ed climbed the stairs back up to Roy's room. He took it out and ran his fingers over the label. Why does it always shake like that after Nightmare leaves? Is it cursed? Quickly shoving the bottle back into his pocket, he slightly opened the door and peeked in. Roy was still sleeping peacefully, blowing up a strand of hair in his face with every outtake of breath he had. Ed smiled nervously. The Colonel appeared angelic. He sat down in that empty chair and soon dozed off himself, dreaming of what the future could possibly hold.
