Heart's Flame

Chapter 1: Found

Roy could only stare in horror at the pitiful scene before him. Falman and Breda we're struggling to put Edward in the ambulance as he fought against them, shouting at unknown demons to leave him alone, as the much gentler Fuery stood to the side with tears in his eyes. 'Of course, with only two limbs' Roy thought with a twinge of sorrow, 'He can't really do anything to stop them.' Finally, he couldn't take it anymore and shouted "Fullmetal!"

Edward's head snapped up and he whispered hoarsely" Col... Colonel?" His voice sounded rough and scratchy, as if he hadn't spoken in a long time. Roy also saw with another jolt of dismay that his right eye was clouded and unfocused, with dried, flaked blood around it. He was horribly thin and extremely malnourished. His newly regained right arm had been crudely severed, and bandaged to prevent bleeding out.

He took the injured Alchemist from Falman's and Breda's arms and put him in the ambulance. Ed was immediately put on sedatives to calm him down for the trip to Central. As he watched them drive away he turned his attention to the single perpetrator Hawkeye caught.

"I'll deal with you later." Roy snarled savagely. It was a Lieutenant Colonel, by the looks of his… no it's uniform. Roy refused to think of any them as anything but objects after what they did to his subordinate. He looked over at Hawkeye.

"Take him to Central. We'll question him there." Roy looked back to the other soldiers in the rescue squad. "The rest of you! See if you can find anyone else! Remember, keep them alive for interrogation!" A responding chorus of "Yes Sir!" assured him that his order was being put into action. He turned back to his car and walked to it. Hawkeye stopped him halfway.

"If I may ask sir, where are you going?"

"To see my son, Riza."

Roy drove as fast as he could, probably breaking several laws in the process. He didn't give a damn. Edward was waiting on him.

He finally reached the steps and dashed into the waiting room. Several pedestrians looked alarmed to see a fully uniformed high-ranking officer of the military burst in the doors. A doctor waltzed into the room and said "Are you here for someone?"

"Yes! Was anyone by the name of Edward Elric admitted today?" Roy shouted frantically. The doctor looked at the clipboard he was holding and replied "Yes, sometime this evening. However, visiting hours are closed right now so if you could come back tomorrow… that'd be great."

Hearing his nonchalant tone, Roy felt a surge of dislike and fury rise. "I DON'T GIVE A SHIT WHEN YOUR VISITING HOURS END! HE NEEDS ME AND I'LL BE DAMNED IF YOU DECIDE WHEN I CAN OR CANNOT SEE HIM!"

"Sir, please….. calm down…"

"NO! I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR HIM FOR FOUR GODDAMN MONTHS! I WILL SEE HIM NOW AND MAKE SURE HE'S ALRIGHT!"

"Yes sir."

After the reluctant nurses led him to Ed's room, all that had happened came crashing back down on him. Looking at the former Fullmetal Alchemist like this, so helpless was tearing him up more than he cared to admit. He sat down and stared, unfocused into the opposite wall for what seemed like hours. He flinched violently when someone touched his shoulder and quickly looked to see who it was. It was Alphonse.

"When did you get here, Alphonse?"

"Just a couple of minutes ago. Miss Hawkeye told me and I rushed right over. I also brought Winry considering… considering his arm's missing." Roy felt horrible for both boys. Truth... they've been through so much and still they have to bear more.

"Who else knows that he's been found?"

"Well… Winry and Granny, of course. I also told Teacher and Sig… as well as Ling, Mei, and Dr. Marcoh."

"Why him?"

"I figured Brother would need a competent surgeon here."

Roy couldn't blame him there.

Winry visited the next day, with tears in her eyes. Roy heard her murmur something under her breath. He could only pick up "Won't cry" and "Promised" from her as she looked upon Edward's unconscious form. She then turned to Mustang. "Has the doctor given you his injuries?"

"Yes, but why do you want to know?" As soon as he said it, he regretted his harsh words and tone. She slowly fixed an angry stare at him and replied slowly, as if she were speaking to a small child. There was cold intensity in every syllable.

"Well, for one, Mr. Mustang, I, as his mechanic, need to know if he can handle automail surgery in his current state, and two, as his closest friend, I deserve to know!" Roy nodded and squeaked out a "Yes ma'am." Now he knew while Ed was so scared of her. But he cleared his throat and listed off the acquired wounds.

"He was stabbed and blinded in his right eye. His right arm was cut off. He has several smaller bruises and cuts. It looks like he was forced to drink toxic chemicals, starved, and dehydrated, not to mention any psychological damage he has." Roy felt sick at the end of his list, and, judging from Winry's expression, she did too.

"He… he will survive, right?"

"Doc said that , honestly, it's a 50-50 chance. He is in no condition to endure that surgery right now."

"I see…" Winry took the vacated seat across from Roy and stared at Edward's unmoving form. She sat there a while before pulling out a sketchbook and drawing what looked like an arm.

Many days passed, with friends and family coming and going, and no change in Edward's condition. Finally, after weeks of no response, he stirred. He looks around with his one eye, alarmed, until he saw Roy, Winry, and Alphonse all looking worriedly at him. He smiled and said one word.

"Home."

As the months passed, Edward recovered in leaps and bounds. While he did have to adjust to having half of his world gone, he was almost back to normal… if you were only seeing him on good days. Those deeply involved, knew otherwise.

Ed had nightmares that kept him up at night. He had a fear of cold and dark spaces. If you came up on his blind side, he would attack you. He had flashbacks and hallucinations sometimes too.

Pinako tried taking him in, but she was just too old to care for him properly, even with Al's and Winry's help. So, when Roy offered to adopt him to take him off her hands, she didn't hesitate. After all, she trusted him. They all did. So Roy adopted him and could finally call Ed his son and it actually be true.

As more time went by, and Ed got better, Roy began to work again. Their life was finally peaceful and complete, with no more interruptions.

Or so they thought.

So, just some things I need to clear up.

A lot of instances later on would feel really awkward if I kept Ed at his original age. So I'm just gonna say that the Promised Day happened when he was 14, he recovered while he was 15, and he is almost 16 next chapter.

This takes place Post-Manga, and during HP book 4.

Roy has glasses to help him read since blindness affected his sight.

Ed and Winry do get together, just much later.

Also, I will try to update regularly, at least once a week, but school and home life can and probably will get in the way at some point.

I know my writing probably sucks, constructive criticism is welcome and needed!

I do read your reviews! I just don't know how to reply if I even can!