An entire week.
A weeks worth of books he's already read, making no progress on the stone whatsoever while Mustang and his team wouldn't let him lift so much as a finger the whole time, all while he was stationed on the man's living room couch.
A full seven days with no developments regarding his case, not a single measly miniscule snippet of new information.
Nada. Zero. Zilch.
He was beginning to become overwhelmed with the unignorable urge to pull his hair out or dig his nails into his skin or punch a wall or something, anything to distract him from his quickly fleeting sanity.
At first, it had been kind of entertaining to have Mustang tend on him hand and foot, but now, he would cut off a couple toes if it meant he could simply take a walk around the house on his own. Edward had always been comfortable with who he was and his purpose in life, knowing he was inside, outside, and deep down, a big brother. He lived and died for Alphonse, and having his very own little brother have to provide for him and take care of him felt like a stab to his gut as well as his pride.
He held back the urge to let out a lifeless chuckle. Maybe this was how it was meant to be all along.
Maybe he lived only to suffer, only to be broken down and half-heartedly patched back together again with bandages and fleeting words of consolidation.
He sighed, adjusting his position on the couch and almost crying out with frustration at the twinges of pain that just wouldn't leave him alone. Not enough to be unbearable, but just enough to press his buttons in a way that irked him to no end.
He was sick of the pain, sick of the sitting, sick of the waiting and sick of everything to the point where he was just goddamn sick. He was sick, and tired, and hurting, and he had never wanted a hug from his mom more in his life. He just needed a sign that everything he was going through, all of the pain and the suffering, would all be worth it.
He sighed again, laying the cool metal of his automail hand against his forehead.
He didn't really know what to do anymore.
xXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx
Roy watched the boy from around the corner, keeping himself tucked inside the kitchen while peeking his head out the doorway so as to not reveal his position.
If Ed knew that he was there, he would put his mask back on, the hopeful and enthusiastic guise that was so obviously fake it was painful. He wore a facade whenever others were around, hiding his pain and hopeless feelings from everyone to avoid worrying them. Ed would only show his true feelings when he was alone, and Roy needed to know how the boy was really doing, even if it meant a little spying.
As he shifted his weight between his feet nervously, he watched the boy stare into the ceiling as if he could see right through it, his eyes clouded over with thoughts while he wore a look of pure defeat and frustration plastered on his face. Something within him tore painfully at the sight as memories of a dead-eyed boy in a wheelchair came flooding back.
This was all wrong, that broken little boy was supposed to be gone, and only then did he realize that the guilt and regret Edward bore ever since that day never truly diminished. Now, Roy couldn't even imagine how much pain he was still in physically and emotionally, and to be locked up in a house that wasn't even your home for weeks on end with the threat of someone coming to take you away always hanging over your head, it must be hell- for Roy, the fear of losing Ed sure was.
He frowned before he even realized his changing expression, ducking back inside the kitchen and wondering what he could possibly do to bring a little bit of life back into the boy who so greatly deserved it.
It hurt to see Ed this way, like a knife to his gut, severing some softer part of him he didn't even know he possessed that ached with love and seared with emotions he didn't recognize. It was the same part of him that wanted to roll Edward up in blankets and bubble wrap and just hold him before taking him to a secluded cabin in the woods where no one could ever hurt him again.
It was distracting to say the least, letting his mind run astray with worry when he should be making plans on how to catch the dirty bastards who had dared to touch his kid. He just wished he could do more, he needed to do more, but he just couldn't seem to escape his head when it mattered most.
He shook his head, his mouth a grim line as he dialed a familiar number into the phone.
If anyone knew what to do, it would be his best friend.
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxX
It wasn't hard to see that everything had begun to weigh down on Ed, and Maes could see it in his eyes whenever he came to visit or update on the situation. Unfortunately, everything had gone completely stale- no new discoveries, no contact with the enemy, nothing.
There was a more hopeful and trusting part of him that wondered if the people after Ed had acknowledged their defeat and decided to call it quits, but the logical part of him knew better than to let his guard down. In fact, he was beginning to feel that it was quite the opposite of a surrender- there was something coming, something big.
Maes had instincts for these kinds of things, and they were rarely ever wrong- working as head of investigations had conditioned him into having these gut feelings, and they had saved his life numerous times. He trusted his instincts, and something lately had the hairs on the back of his neck standing on end.
The atmosphere was strangely charged like the moments before a lightning strike, as if thousands of electrons were scurrying about around him and silently warning him of the impending tempest. Something was coming, what it was, he didn't know- only that it was going to be big, leaving them to soak to their bones in the rain in the midst of destruction that sudden blast of electricity would inevitably cost.
He knew better than to doubt his intuition, but he also knew better than to worry everyone with something they couldn't prevent- especially since they were already so worked up.
He'd be lying if he said he hadn't been expecting the call from Roy. After all, he worked in investigations, he knew how people worked and he knew there was only a matter of time before Ed grew tired of everything.
Which brought him to where he was now, trotting down the street with a tray of ice cream cups in his arms while wearing the most lively shirt he could find in his closet, which happened to be bright yellow. Not only was it the colour of happiness, in it's pocket were the best cheer-up material known to man- a large stack of photos featuring his beautiful wife and his little Elicia that turned him into a pile of sappy goo anytime he saw them. Ed could feign annoyance with the onslaught of pictures, but Maes didn't miss the small smile that always came to his face at the familial gestures.
It wasn't long before he found himself in front of the familiar house that sparked memories of whole-hearted laughter and Bourbon, igniting a warm feeling in his chest. He saluted the guards posted around the doors, who had come to know Hughes and his photos all too well. They parted to let him through, looks of slight apprehension on their faces as they scooted away a little farther than necessary to avoid the man's gushy rants.
Maes smiled to himself, placing a few firm knocks on the door.
It was mere moments before shuffling footsteps could be heard followed by the several loud clanks and jingles of tedious locks. After several long seconds the door swung open to reveal Roy Mustang, hand sheathed in a glove with a tense expression on his face that quickly melted into relief as he let his hand fall back down to his side.
"Geez, Roy! What's that look for?" He teased, stepping into the house. "I know you're on edge, but one of these days I'm sure you're really gonna set me on fire!"
Roy ignored his joking as always, but Maes could swear he saw the remnants of a fleeting smile as he turned away.
He made himself at home right away, kicking off his shoes and setting the tray of ice cream down for a moment on a nearby coffee table before picking up the cup with Ed's chocolate ice cream and hurrying to find the boy.
He clambered into the living room, finding Ed in his usual spot on the couch, still wrapped in his many bandages as well as a thin blanket, staring into the wall with unseeing eyes as he escaped into his thoughts. With the bruises, pale skin, and dazed eyes, he looked positively miserable, and although Hughes had expected it, it's still hurt to see the boy who was usually so spirited it was aggressive looking so lifeless.
"Hey, Ed!" He beamed, not allowing his worries to show through as he watched Edward jolt in surprise before shaking away his thoughts and looking up at the man with a bewildered look in his eyes.
"Hughes? What are you doing here?" He asked tiredly, rubbing the haze out of his eyes before blinking a few times at him to focus. Hughes smiled down at him with the air of someone who had all the time in the world to spare.
"What, I can't just visit for the sake of visiting? Lighten up, I've got something for you." He replied, showing him the cup of ice cream in his hand and holding the other out to help him sit up.
Ed visibly brightened, hurriedly wrapping his hand around Maes' offered appendage before pulling himself up, still slouching slightly in favour of his healing skin and bones. As soon as he was upright and as comfortable as he could be in his condition, he reached eagerly for the cup of chocolately goodness Hughes held in his hand with an automail hand, his other still restrained in a sling. It seemed as if Havoc had grown tired of Ed slinging his shoulder around and risking injuring himself further, so now his arm was swathed against his torso along with the sling, allowing him even less freedom. While he knew it was for the boy's own good, he also knew it would make Ed feel all the more trapped.
Despite his physical limitations, he dug into the ice cream like his life depended on it- wedging the cup between his knees and scooping it into his mouth quickly as if it would run away if he didn't finish it as soon as possible. Maes couldn't help but smile at the sight, feeling quite satisfied with himself that he was able to bring a little bit of happiness to the boy.
After assuring him he'd be right back, he hurried off to hand out the rest of the ice cream to his friends, even to Roy, who would endlessly insist he doesn't like sweets yet devour a chocolate bar in seconds.
The rest of the night was spent gathered around Roy's living room, recounting stories that brought life and happiness to the once dispirited house. They laughed until it hurt and they smiled until their faces went gooey with exhaustion, but the weariness was for once completely welcome.
The night was long, bug night in a way that felt tiresome- in fact, he felt much lighter than before.
So as he left, bidding goodbye to his friends and the best time he'd had in a while, he noticed that the stars looked a little brighter somehow.