Roy tensed.
He turned away. If he was about to be shot, he didn't really want to see it.
Some part of him wanted to face it head-on but another part wanted to run, which may or may not even have been possible.
He looked back to the white object. He knew what it was. He recognised it. He just had to get to it, and he also needed enough time to get it on his hand.
Riza shifted slightly.
Everything was so quiet. No one moved. It was so still. A gentle breeze was blowing more of the dusty air away.
Roy stared at the white glove. He turned slowly and almost imperceptibly towards Riza. He gave her a slight nod. She would understand it in a moment. He breathed deeply, dust tickling his throat, and dived at his glove, wincing in pain.
A gunshot echoed in the air and a bodily thump followed. Roy's brain refused to process where the thump came from, but he trusted that the bullet was from his Lieutenant's gun.
Roy had his glove on in a moment, turning back in relief to see his Lieutenant standing and her opponent on the ground.
"He's dead, sir. There is no need to be worried anymore."
Roy didn't spare Gideon another glance as he stumbled towards Riza.
"Sir, you need to rest."
"Yes, but first..." Roy had to remember what he was trying to get at. "Fullmetal."
"He's safe, Colonel. Havoc has him. They will be fixing him up," Riza assured.
"No, his tongue."
"What do you mean?" Riza asked curiously.
"Gideon cut it out."
Edward felt himself nuzzling into Havoc's warm body. He also felt himself being passed off to another person yet again to his frustration.
He was finally feeling warm and comfortable and he was being moved and put in a good deal of pain.
He wanted to tell them to let him stay in one place in comfort, but he couldn't. He also wanted water to wash the bloody taste off of the last bit of tongue he had left.
He looked up into an unfamiliar face. He jumped and tried to get away. All he could do was fruitlessly squirm in the individual's arms. He was fought against by strong arms, most likely the stranger's arms.
"Hey, Ed, stop that!" Havoc's worried voice shouted.
"Ahh, feh!" Edward tried to shout something that not even he knew what was.
The hands fighting against his escape stopped.
"What the hell? This kid doesn't have a tongue!" the unfamiliar individual shouted in horror and disbelief.
"What happened to you, Ed?!" Havoc exclaimed in distress.
"Mmmm-hhhmmm," Edward hummed in exhaustion. He reached out to where he hoped Havoc was. He wanted to be with someone he recognised.
"Lay him down." Havoc's voice sounded shaken. He was stressed. They still had to tend to Edward's injuries, though. He didn't want to find out that Edward was dying or something because he was internally bleeding or whatnot.
Havoc felt his fists clench. This explained the trail of blood down Edward's front. At least in part.
Edward curled up upon being let go. He whimpered and shivered.
Havoc set to work on Edward. He shuddered at the unnaturally cold skin.
No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't focus on anything but the sight of Edward's bloody mouth. The lack of tongue and the meaty flesh that remained. Those images would permanently be burned into his memories.
Thanks for the reviews!
Also we are nearing the end of this story. I will start another Whumptober story for the rest of the days after this one is completed.