The sun cackled down on the streets of Central, its heat flustering amongst the busy citizens as they hustled about. The cobblestone streets were buzzing with summer tourists and busy families as they scoped out the occasional street vendor or military monuments. Summer was a busy time for most places, Central being no exception.
However, with the great crowds of harmless citizens came a few nasty individuals with a knack for causing trouble.
Edward huffed as he rounded another corner, his golden eyes scanning the crowds in front of him. He was on the hunt for one of said trouble-makers, a petty thief who had been pickpocketing people for the past couple weeks. It was supposed to be an easy job, especially considering the thief wasn't mentioned to be an alchemist.
The teen mumbled under his breath as he rolled his shoulders, his automail arm creaking with the strain. The heat was never good to him, and the steel did nothing but cook the longer he was outside.
I just need to find this bastard quickly so I can get back inside and take a nap, Edward scowled to himself as he meandered through the crowds.
It would help to have Alphonse with him - his extra feet would've helped him to have spotted the thief ages ago – but the younger brother was back in Resembool helping Winry move parts around in their attempt to clean out her workspace. Ed would've loved to stay and help, but Colonel Mustang had other ideas for him.
Edward shook his head at the thought and stepped into a back alley for a minute to catch his breath. The sun bore down on his aching limbs, and he cringed as a shaky swipe left his arm covered in sweat from his forehead. The alley offered little shade, and even then- the temperature was simply too high for someone with metal prosthetics.
Once we find him, we can easily bring him in and be done.
Edward grunted as he stretched himself out before heading back out to scope the area. His tongue felt like paper, and his eyes stung as they tried to remain focused on the task at hand.
Just a little longer…
A flash of green caught his attention, and Edward swung his head around to catch the fleeting glance of the coated individual. His black hair was strewn about, and he kept his hands in his pockets warily.
Little hot for a coat, Edward almost chuckled before the heat from his own red garment reminded him, he was just as much a fool.
That is, until he realized the green coat belonged to the man he was sent to retrieve.
"Hey!" Edward spun around and launched after the thief, who immediately bolted after hearing the blonde's shout. Edward cursed to himself and bolted after the man, legs thudding heavily against the cobblestone streets. Every twist and turn sent Ed's stomach reeling, and his body ached in protest as he pushed on, determined to catch the guy that made him hunt all day in the blazing heat.
Eventually, after rounding a sharp corner, the man was backed into an inescapable alleyway. His eyes darted around frantically as he tried to figure out his next move, but Edward got there quickly.
"You're coming with me," He huffed irritably as he tried to brush his hair out of his sticky face.
"Yeah right, you're just a kid," The cloaked man sneered, bending his knees to prepare for a quick escape.
"Hey I'm a State Alchemist, so you'd better watch your tone," Edward glared. He started bringing his hands together slowly, ready to do what it took to bring the guy in.
"Ooh ho, State Alchemist you say? In that case, I have something even more special for you!"
Edward narrowed his eyes as the figure pulled his hands out from under his garments. The glint of metal made his stomach drop, but the heat left him groggy and disoriented and he just started to move when the shot rang out.
Sharp pain bloomed in Edward's abdomen, and he leaned forward in shock, his body freezing momentarily. The thief took this as his chance and ran past Edward, who didn't dare try and follow him.
Blood seeped through the black undergarments Edward sported and coated the hands that subconsciously latched onto his stomach. Edward grit his teeth as he leaned against the alley wall, peering down at the wound. The bullet hadn't gone straight through, but it didn't seem to have pierced anything vital. However, he needed to do something soon or he'd bleed out- especially considering how gross his body felt even before he was shot.
I was shot.
Edward grimaced and slowly made his way out of the alley, clinging to the wall and any portions of shade he could find, hand clasped tightly to his side. With all the noise and commotion on the streets, it didn't seem like anyone had heard the gunshot.
Probably for the best, Edward grunted to himself. The fewer people involved, the fewer people potentially hurt.
But as Ed made his way towards Central command, he could feel his legs start to grow heavier and heavier. His automail creaked and burned, and his lungs were filled with sand and fire. Crimson blood still flowed freely from his stomach, leaving his hands feeling even more sticky and gross than before. Black spots danced dangerously in front of Ed's eyes as he rounded the corner and made the beeline to the front doors, but he blinked them away determined to make it to Mustang.
Mustang would know what to do, Mustang would be able to catch the guy. Mustang didn't have to worry about automail overheating and not being able to see over the crowds of people, though Edward wouldn't admit to that last one. No matter how hurt he was.
Ed shoved the heavy doors open with his free arm, flinching as the sun hit the steel sending a flash of warmth through his already overheated body. The door creaked loudly as he stumbled through it, but he pressed on. Havoc was walking through the hallway when he spotted the young alchemist.
"Fullmetal! Hey how'd the mission-"
"Need to talk to Mustang," Ed grunted, not wanting to be rude to Havoc but not in the mood to sit and chat. His stomach lurched with every step, and the blood flow wasn't ceasing.
"Hey, are you ok? You're looking a little pale," Havoc peered at the alchemist, not noticing the stomach wound through the dark fabric and Ed's measly attempts to hide it.
"M' fine, need to report in," The Elric brother huffed as he trudged through the hallway towards Roy Mustang's office. Havoc glanced after him, shrugging to himself when he couldn't pinpoint the unease he felt after seeing Edward's gaze.
Ed's vision was getting worse, the black splotches getting harder and harder to blink away. He could feel himself swaying a little with every step he took, but he was so close.
"Fullmetal you look awful, what happened? Do you need to go to a hospital?" Hawkeye immediately assaulted Edward with questions as soon as she saw him, her eyes attempting to scan him over for any injuries. She would have made him sit immediately and called someone, had she seen the gunshot wound, but Edward was quick to grab the door to Mustang's office, not letting her glimpse his front side.
"Just gotta report," He mumbled fairly incoherently as he lurched into the cool office room.
"Ah, Fullmetal, I see you're done with your pursuit. I take it, it went well?"
Edward shuffled towards the desk, stopping when his automail arm grasped the edge of it sternly, nearly cracking the surface of the nice wood.
"He's still out there," Edward stated plainly. Odd, considering he usually threw insults as fast as he could.
Roy glared at him, before noticing how pale he was, and how his skin seemed clammy and ghastly. Not to mention the slight sway the boy had or the fact that he was nearly doubled over the desk.
"Fullmetal is everything ok? What happened? Why did you let him get away?" Mustang wasted no time and attempted to get to the bottom of things. He was concerned, to say the least. It wasn't often the Elric brother simply let someone go so easily, normally he would have spent all day hunting the guy down as opposed to reporting to Roy empty-handed. It also was odd how quiet he was being, usually, the boy was easy to erupt and snap at his superior officer. However, his lack of anger didn't go unnoticed by the Colonel.
"Okay well…don't be alarmed… but I may or may not have just been shot," Edward chided, his eyes half closed as he leaned heavily against the desk for support, his hand clenching the black undergarments tightly.
"You….what?!" Worry seeped into Mustang's voice as he leaped from his chair and rounded the desk.
"I said…don't...don't be alarmed…" Edward trailed off, his voice hitching as he slurred half of what was said. His arm shook dangerously under him and without warning gave out under him. He would have hit his head against the desk had Roy not been there to grasp his shoulders and keep him upright.
"Sit. Now Fullmetal," Mustang guided the boy to the couch in his office and pushed him onto it gently, noting the lack of resistance Edward usually showed to direct orders.
"Stay here, I'm going to get an ambulance called for." Roy eyed Ed cautiously, "Don't move."
"Wasn't plannin on it…" Edward scowled lazily, leaning his head back against the cushions. His body was burning, but he could barely keep his eyes open.
Roy strode over to the door at an incredible pace, lurching it open and calling for Hawkeye.
"Sir, what can-"
"Fullmetal's been shot, call an ambulance up here," Mustang snapped quickly. "And get Havoc to bring up some towels and water."
A brief moment of panic flashed across Hawkeye's usually stoic face before she nodded curtly and rushed off.
Hustling back inside Roy froze when he saw Edward's head lolling on the couch, the young alchemist fighting to stay awake.
"Edward don't you dare fall asleep on me," Mustang rushed over and knelt by the boy, placing a stern grip on his knee.
"M' tryin, just tired," Edward groaned. "Hurts."
"I know it hurts, but you need to stay awake. Havoc will be here any moment with some bandages and an ambulance is on the way, can you stay awake until then?"
Mustang waited for a second as Ed seemed to pull himself together, at least as much as he could.
"I'll try," He rasped. "Hurts like a bitch."
Roy chuckled lightly, forgiving the harsh language considering the situation.
"M' hot," Ed grunted, attempting to pull his coat off one-handed.
"Hey, hey, don't move. I'll get it," Roy intervened, grasping the red fabric in an attempt to pull it off him.
"Can you sit forward for me for a second?" Roy asked. Ed huffed at him.
"You just told me not to move."
"Ok smartass, I can't get your coat off if you don't move at least a little," Roy snapped. Edward rolled his eyes and slid forward, wincing as his stomach protested the movement.
The way his face scrunched together, and how his body seemed to quake with the effort didn't go unnoticed, and Roy moved quickly and smoothly.
"Ok you can lean back, but I'm going to need you to take your hand off your stomach."
Edward looked up at him, golden eyes starting to glaze over, but still holding their disbelief.
"I know it sucks and it's going to hurt but do you want this coat off or not," Roy stated matter-of-factly.
"Hey Boss, Sir, I brought bandages and water," Havoc waltzed through the door, his face paling slightly when he saw Fullmetal sprawled across the couch. "The ambulance should be here shortly."
"Thank you, put the wet bandages over his forehead to help cool him down," Roy ordered. Havoc immediately got to work, and Roy turned his attention back to his subordinate who had cocked an eyebrow at him.
"Your face is flushed, and don't think I haven't noticed how hard you're breathing. You've probably got mild heat stroke," Roy muttered.
Ed just nodded, taking a deep breath before slowly removing his hand from where it had been pressed against the wound. He threw his head back and grit his teeth as the cold air hit the now-exposed wound.
If Roy wasn't used to messy wounds from Ishval he would have been sick; the bullet hadn't entered very cleanly, and the skin was black and oozing with an ungodly amount of blood. Havoc immediately pressed clean bandages to it while Roy pulled the rest of the coat off.
"I-Is it bad?" Edward's voice quaked as he glanced down at the two men working around his stomach, cold cloth resting across his forehead.
"You'll be ok, just take deep breaths and focus on staying awake," Havoc chided in before Roy could say anything. Roy let out a breath he didn't know he'd been holding.
"M'kay," Edward muttered, resting his head against the back of the couch once more. It was unlike him to be so passive and quiet, which did nothing but further the Colonel's worry: if that was even possible.
"Sir the ambulance is here," Hawkeye poked her head into the room, eyes widening at the sight of Havoc struggling to hold the now-bloodied bandages in place. "It's going to be hard to get a stretcher up here, you'll need to bring him down."
"Thank you, Lieutenant," Roy nodded to her as he stood. "Fullmetal, bare with me here but we need to take you downstairs."
The blonde didn't respond, his head still resting against the back of the couch like dead weight.
"Fullmetal?"
No response.
"Fullmetal answer me, that's an order!" Mustang ignored the way his voice wavered with fear.
Still nothing.
"Edward answer me dammit!" He shook the boy's shoulder gently, and Edward's pale face looked up at him.
"M awake," He muttered, his eyes drooping with every second.
"Don't scare me like that, you need to stay awake," Roy sighed nervously. "Can you walk?"
"Maybe."
Roy nodded to that, placing an arm around Ed's shoulders. "We need to go downstairs to the ambulance, come on."
Edward huffed and slowly crept into a sitting position, before standing on shaky legs. He grunted as he stood, leaning heavily into Mustang's support.
"That's it, you've got it, we need to get you to a hospital come on," Roy encouraged him, walking with him slowly as they made their way towards the door. He tried to ignore the slow dripping as Ed's exposed wound painted the floor.
"Colonel I don't feel so good," Edward moaned, head hanging towards the floor.
"I know, but we're almost to the steps, you need to stay awake."
"It hurts."
"I know, but you're almost there."
Edward's breathing grew sluggish as the overly warm boy leaned heavier into Roy, nearly sending him tumbling.
"Hey, hey, we're almost there you can do this," Roy rasped, to himself or Edward he wasn't sure.
"I think…I need to sit down…" Ed mumbled hastily before his knees buckled and he slid towards the floor. Roy caught him quickly, Havoc helping to grab his other side before setting him down on the floor.
Roy knelt next to Edward, who was slumped against Havoc's side.
"Fullmetal are you ok?"
No response.
Edward's eyes were closed, his face pale and his breathing slowing.
"Fullmetal you need to wake up."
Nothing.
"That's an order Fullmetal!"
Still nothing.
"Edward stay with me, snap out of it!" Roy frantically shook the boy softly, but there was still no response from the limp figure in front of him. Havoc glanced up at him, pale with fright.
"Dammit," Roy quickly slid an arm under the boy's knees as he hoisted him off the ground, trying to ignore the waves of heat rolling off the alchemist's body.
"Stay with me Edward, don't you dare die on me now," Roy panted as he lurched down the stairs, Havoc and Hawkeye trailing closely behind.
Edward couldn't die on them, not now, not like this.