The moment after- the very second after finishing with all he could do for Edward, Havoc immediately picked him up. It wasn't any mystery that Edward was cold and in pain. It was now even more clear that he was in a lot of pain seeing those injuries. He just had to wait for the ambulance to arrive. He couldn't do anything more for Edward except to hold the cold boy close to his chest to share his warmth.
Edward whimpered. He probably had no control over that. Jean doubted that Edward would ever willingly whimper in front of him. It wasn't like him, but the kid had just had his tongue taken out.
He had every right to be scared. Fear is a normal reaction in this situation.
Havoc was still shaken by seeing that. He didn't expect it in the slightest. He didn't know. And he doubted Hawkeye had either. She hadn't seemed to be acting like she knew and she would have said something if she had known. This wasn't something she would have let him find out about on his own like he had.
He hoped the Colonel would be alright. He probably already knew about the tongue and if Havoc knew anything, it was that his commanding officer would take full responsibility for not managing to save Edward's tongue.
Damnit! Havoc wished tongues had the ability to fully regenerate. Edward without a tongue was scary. He was so different. It wasn't even that scary looking at it. It was the out of character behaviour that was going to come as a result. It was the thought that Edward wasn't going to rant about absolutely nothing. It was the that he and the Colonel weren't going to have stupid agreements that made everyone's day a little better. It was everything to do with it
Edward tightly gripped Havoc's shirt. He was tired. He felt weak and exhausted. He was drained. He buried himself in what Havoc's chest.
Havoc felt bad for Edward. He wasn't going to say so, though. Edward wouldn't approve.
Havoc was brought out of his thoughts abruptly. He felt his chest shatter.
Sobs escaped the child wrapped up in his arms. He froze. He couldn't really be crying. Edward wasn't crying. That wasn't right.
But he was crying. Probably the strongest person Havoc knew was crying.
Edward's throat was gurgling as tears steamed down his cheeks.
"Hey, Ed, I've got you. You're going to be alright." Jean never would have thought this could ever be his reality.
The sound of feet approaching from behind made Havoc stiffen. He spun around to see Riza running up to him and the Colonel hobbling after her.
"Lieutenant, his-" She cut herself off to breathe. "His tongue. It's gon-"
"I know... I saw. What the hell happened?!"
The Colonel's face fell. He was hosting a guilty expression. "I don't know. I- that damn bastard threw it at me..." Roy sighed. He looked up.
Havoc knew that Mustang hadn't seen the tears yet. There was no way he that he had seen them yet. Jean was worried about when he did see them. What the hell would he do?
"Havoc, let me see Fullmetal's injuries." It was a loose order that wouldn't be enforced if Havoc refused, but he wasn't going to go against it. Mustang needed it. He needed to take stock of his subordinate's injuries.
Roy's face went white when he saw the tear tracks on Edward's dusty cheeks.
Havoc was still trying to get Edward to let go of him. He didn't want to hurt him but Edward was refusing to be moved and Roy couldn't see what that bastard had done to Fullmetal the way Edward was clinging to Havoc the way he was.
Mustang would have let him stay but he felt like he had to see it. He could have avoided this. He should have done something. Maybe doing nothing was better for Fullmetal now.
"Havoc, he doesn't want to leave you. Just keep him against you. I'll call an ambulance." Mustang moved to get away but Hawkeye stopped him.
"I've had Fuery do that."
"Boss, you know, you really should rest those injuries," Havoc warned. He saw the way his superior was swaying dangerously. He most likely was fighting a nasty concussion. "You should sit down, sir. We don't want you to get anymore hurt."
"I'm fine."
"You aren't, and we can all see it. Sit," Hawkeye ordered sternly. "Edward will be fine."
Roy froze. He nearly crumpled on the ground as he sat down. "I hope so."
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