Chapter twenty-one

Ed watched as Al and Dad fought against what Doctor Marcoh told them was a viral infection. Dad got better the next day, although he started coughing pretty badly. They managed to get Al's fever down with some stronger painkillers that Hawkeye snuck out to buy, and so Doctor Marcoh was gone by the next day. With it being the weekend there was nobody to miss Hawkeye for the time she was gone as long as she had collected Black Hayate.

All in all, it could have been worse. Even if he had a hard time trying to sort of balance the whole Dad thing now that Hawkeye was there too.

Then Greg came.

Followed by an old, tall, thin man who looked to be a Major General judging by his uniform.

Greg was grinning. Ed had never seen the man look so pleased.

"Everyone! We've got them!" Then he laughed.

"What do you mean?" Ed asked, hoping that this meant what he hoped it did.

"Colonel Elric, this is Major General Archibald Isaacs. And this man is the key to everything."

The tall man turned almost as white as his hair. "You're alive?"

"Yup. Now would you please just tell me how the hell you're "the key", sir?"

"I suggest we sit down first, it's a long story."

And so they all sat down on the camp beds and Dad sat down next to Alphonse on the couch.

"I'll be frank," Isaacs began. "I do not like your ambition, General Mustang. Ishbalans are filthy and dirty beings that deserve nothing more than what they got."

Ed felt his anger grow and he curled his fist so that he was ready to punch the man. "That's not a great start…" Ed growled.

"However, I do not approve of torturing and killing our fellow officers, and most certainly not a mere boy. I know full well how you were involved with saving this country this Spring, and I would like to see this as me paying off my debt. You were a part of saving not just this country, but also my life. Everyone's lives. I may not like you and the General, Colonel Elric, but I owe you a greater debt than can ever be repaid. It is a matter of honour. And it's a matter of being able to live with myself. I do not want to be part of an organisation that kills Amestrians, and certainly not one that tortures a child to death and then frames a man that helped save this country all together."

"So what are you going to do?"

"I am going to turn myself in to the Führer himself and give my statement, exposing as many people involved with this filthy business as I can as I go along. I can at least remember everyone I've met with, which includes the main people who are behind this."

"That sounds great! So what do we do, then?" Ed was grinning. This would mean that they would soon enough be allowed to breathe freely once again. Then Ed noticed the man losing some of his stiff composure.

"However, the organisation knows that I'm defecting, which means that getting to Central alive will be hard without proper backup."

"Which means that we're storming Eastern Headquarters in two days and you are going to make some noise, Edward," Greg said.

"What sort of noise?" Ed was more than ready. Dad looked worried however and was frowning.

"You're going to go to Eastern Times and tell them the whole story yourself."

"Sure! When?"

"Tomorrow afternoon. That way you can make the front page in two days, but not give them enough time to escape. We know where they live now after all."

"So that was your "mission"?"

"Yup."

"Great!"

"So you expect Edward to go alone and practically scream to the world that he's alive? You're willing to risk his life on this?" Dad said, a bit uncharacteristically.

"We're going use the sewer systems to get you there, so you're only going to have to walk about twenty metres out in the open. We're going to cover you and I guess the General is also going to come along?" Greg said to Ed.

"Of course I am!" Dad said.

"Well, I'm in!" Ed said, grinning.

That night was an odd one. It felt sort of like the night before the Promised Day, except this time it wasn't Ed's father, but his Dad that was with him. Ed still felt a bit odd about Hohenheim. The man had had a lot of pain and bad luck through his life, but he decided to leave them without telling them why. Ed couldn't forgive that, no matter what. It would have been so easy to leave a note, giving some kind of explanation, just something.

But it didn't happen.

He didn't even come to Mom's funeral.

He should have kept himself updated. He should have done something.

Even if he was willing to sacrifice himself to get Al back. Even though Ed had called him his father…

It was still just like he had said "just let me act like a father for once in my life."

Once.

Then there were all the times he didn't.

Ed didn't hate him anymore, but he couldn't think of him as "Dad". He was proud to be the son of a man who sacrificed everything to save the country, but he had never been much of a father.

And then he had gone off on his own once they were done fighting, not saying a word of goodbye even though he knew he was walking to his death.

He left them in his last few moments.

In his last moments on this earth, he chose to be at Mom's grave.

And that made Ed kind of happy, but it also hurt him.

Because Hohenheim had once again chosen to push Ed and Al away. Even when they were ready to give him a chance.

Even after Ed called him his father.

He just left.

He left them so he could rather be with Mom even though he was eleven years too late. Even though his sons were right there.

In the fucking hospital!

Ed turned around so that he was lying against Dad's chest, the strong arms closing around him.

"Are you fine, Ed?" Dad whispered. Al was already asleep. As was the Major General who was occupying the second camp bed and was currently snoring.

"Just thinking about Hohenheim. This feels a lot like the night before the Promised Day. I've got the same feelings as I did that night, but this time I've got you instead of him. It's just odd."

Ed received a kiss on his forehead. "I understand."

"And I guess I'm afraid that I'll lose you because of this. There are things that can go wrong and there are so many soldiers that are ready to shoot you on sight. At least Al's gonna be staying in the bunker."

"Ed, I'm not going to die. I promise."

"You better not. If you do I'll go back to calling you a bastard."

"Then I guess I prefer Dad."

"Good. So do I." Ed snuggled closer to him and received an even tighter hug in return. "Thanks, you know."

"For what?"

"For being my Dad. For being there for us whenever we need it. It's really good to have."

"Of course, Ed. I love being you and Alphonse's Dad."

"Thanks." Ed listened to the steady rhythm of Dad's heartbeats for about a minute. "Good night, Dad."

"Good night, Ed. I love you."

Ed smiled a bit. "Love you too, Dad."

It felt nice to hear and nice to say. Because it was true. Ed had a Dad in Roy Mustang that he had never had before. And he loved his Dad for it.

I really hope that nobody's angry with me for what I wrote about Hohenheim, but I didn't write it because I try to find reasons for Ed to choose Roy over Hohenheim, but because I know how it is to have your father abandon you. Let's just say that I'm a nineteen-year-old who didn't get a Christmas present from her father who lives about five kilometres away... Or a merry Christmas at all...

So yeah, know that whole "being angry at your father" deal...

And I'm not writing this to get sympathies or anything, I just want you guys to understand why I portray Ed's feelings as I do.