At the hospital the charge nurse offered Edward the use of a shower and a set of patient clothes, while the on call doctor tended to Wei with the alkahestris's assistance. Ed accepted the offer with gratitude. In the bathroom of the physician's lounge he stripped off his blood stained clothes. He consigned his best suit to the medical waste bin. It occurred to him that his brother could probably get the blood out with alchemy. All the same Ed couldn't imagine ever wanting to wear it again.
Edward Elric stood under the stream of hot water in the single shower. He turned his face up to the downpour, scrubbed at his skin and hair with just his hands. Turning around to let the water run down his back he looked down at his feet. Wei's blood mixed with the water, ran down his body in rivulets, and swirled around the drain. It reminded him of the shower he took at Central Headquarters after treading through the sea of blood within Gluttony's false gate.
He felt like he was going to be sick.
The theoretical alchemist drew a deep breath in through his nose. He waited for the feeling to pass and when it did he grabbed the bar of soap resting in the dish on the wall. Edward scrubbed every inch of his body, banishing the last traces of the blood down the drain. He washed his hair twice with the bar soap, heedless of how it would dry and tangle his tresses.
He lingered under the water until it ran cold.
The towel the nurse gave him with the stack of clothes felt softer than the linens he became accustomed during his many hospital stays. Edward pressed it against his face for a moment. The scent of fresh laundry reminded him of helping his mother take clothes off the line. These days thoughts of his mother were comforting. He could remember the good without conjuring the bad.
Edward finished drying himself off. He fumbled a bit with the unfamiliar clasps on the shirt, but the pants were easy enough to get on. They reminded him of the loose trousers Ling wore when he first met him. The ensemble felt comfortable overall. He wondered if the robes Ling wore these days were comfortable or if his friend missed his carefree attire.
Looking into the mirror he ran his fingers through his hair. He noticed he looked about as tired as he felt but at least he was clean. Edward managed to get the worst of the tangles out. He decided to leave it down until it dried and looped his hair tie around his right wrist.
The alchemist left his soiled shoes under the sink and stepped into a pair of slippers. His borrowed shoes whispered against the floor as he walked back to the nurse's station. The charge nurse was stern looking, yet kindly woman in her forties. Silver streaked her black hair and a pair of reading glasses hung around her neck. She looked up from her charting when he walked up to the counter.
"Feeling better?"
"Yeah. Thanks again, Ms…"
"Nurse Yang will do, young man. And you are?" Nurse Yang inquired.
"Edward. Ed is fine. Hey listen, is that kid going to be okay?"
"Kid?"
"The one I came in with. He lost a lot of blood."
"I see. Forgive my confusion. According to the young man's chart he is twenty-five."
Edward blinked at her. He had to laugh if only a little. After all those years of people mistaking him for a kid because of his small stature he'd gone and done the same thing to someone else. He hoped the guy wouldn't hold it against him.
"Right. Sorry. What's his name again?"
Nurse Yang put on her glasses to read the clipboard in front of her.
"Wei."
"Is Wei going to be okay?"
"He is expected to recover," The nurse said carefully. "I'm afraid I can't discuss the details of his condition with you, but Doctor Zhou should be finishing up his exam now if you'd like to peek in on him. Down the hall on your left. Room 307."
"Thank you," Edward walking down the hall.
At this time of night half the overhead lights were turned off. Save for one the patient rooms were dark. A soft glow emerged from beneath the door of Room 307. He knocked lightly on the door. A voice beckoned him in.
Edward eased the door open. He slipped inside, shut the door behind him, and turned around to see Roy Mustang's doppelganger standing on the other side of the hospital bed. Ed let out a strangled yelp at the sight of him.
Doctor Zhou had longer hair than General Mustang, worn in a disheveled topknot, but there were unmistakeable similarities in their features. The shape of his face, the thoughtful frown, the pale complexion. He wore a pair of spectacles with round lenses but behind them the eyes were the same.
At second glance Ed realized the doctor had to be forty-five, maybe even pushing fifty. Those familiar eyes were framed with fine lines as well as his mouth. If Roy aged as well as his doppelganger he'd look good well into middle age.
The bastard.
"You must be the gentleman Master Hsu told me me about," the doctor said in accented Amestrian. He spoke at a low volume to avoid disturbing his sleeping patient. Doctor Zhou hooked the bottle of donor blood to the intravenous tube snaking it's way from the port inserted into his patient's arm.
Edward tore his gaze away from the doctor to glance at the patient.
Wei looked as white as the sheet he laid on.
"Your actions saved this young man's life," Doctor Zhou commended. He walked around the bed and held out his hand. "You should be proud."
"Uh," Ed stared at his hand a beat before shaking it. The skin on the back of his hand was smooth. No scars from any hastily carved arrays. "If you say so."
"I do." The doctor tilted his head in question. He asked, "Are you quite all right?"
"'m fine."
"Are you certain? You look like you've seen a ghost."
"I didn't catch your name," Ed prompted.
"Forgive me. Doctor Lian Zhou," the doctor introduced himself with a bow. "You are Mr. Edward Elric. Is that correct?"
"The one and only," Ed said with intentional irony. "How's Wei?"
He could figure out doppelganger Roy later.
"In stable condition. Sedated. He had a fit when we first attempted to hang blood. Master Hsu informs me he is hemophobic."
"Seriously?" Ed asked, aghast.
"I'm afraid so."
"Has anyone called his family?"
Doctor Zhou shook his head regretfully.
"According to Master Hsu he has none to speak of," he responded.
Edward Elric had only ever known that feeling briefly. His blood pouring from his stump of a leg with nothing left of his brother save for a pile of clothes.
"Can I stay with him?" Ed asked.
Mustang's lookalike smiled faintly.
"I'm sure he would appreciate it. There are extra blankets in that cabinet," Lian gestured to the cabinet by the bed. "Please let Nurse Yang know if you need anything else."
Doctor Zhou departed to round on his other patients.
Edward Elric grabbed a blanket from the cabinet. He seated himself in the chair beside Wei's bed and settled in for the night. Ed tried to keep his eyes on Wei. Just in case he woke up and needed something. He meant to close his eyes for only a moment. Instead he fell fast asleep.
Ling stayed by Lan Fan's bedside throughout the long night. Mei remained with him, while Margot retired to get some much needed and well deserved rest. Mei cleaned the mussed makeup from Lam Fan's face with care. Qiyin sent Bolin off to bed. The lieutenant guard stood watch in the corridor. Every hour on the hour Mei checked Lan Fan's vitals to assure her older brother of his beloved's stability.
"You look like hell," Mei said in a low volume.
"Here I thought I looked dashing in these clothes," Ling said. His tired eyes were underscored with dark circles. He provided his sister a careworn smile.
"I mean you need to get some sleep."
He knew what she meant.
"I want to be here when she wakes up."
Lan Fan looked as if she was only asleep. Her fringe fell into her closed eyes. Ling reached out to sweep it to the side. He pressed the back of his hand to her forehead, even though Mei took Lan Fan's temperature not so long ago. Compared to earlier her skin felt warm as a furnace.
"It might be awhile," Mei pointed out.
"Then I will be here awhile."
Mei sighed in exasperation.
"You are so stubborn," she said.
The words were not without affection.
Ling laughed under his breath.
"If that's not the pot calling the kettle black…"
For a time the imperial siblings fell into silence. Ling's pocket watch ticked on a table nearby. From the bottle hanging by the bed saline dripped steadily into the intravenous tube connected to the port in Lan Fan's arm. The injured bodyguard's breaths were shallow but even.
"She's stubborn, too," Mei said.
"One of her most admirable qualities I assure you."
Another moment of silence.
"You're in love with her," the princess accused.
The emperor didn't try to deny it.
"Is it that obvious?"
"Sickeningly."
Ling gave her a withering look.
"You're one to talk."
"Shut up," Mei colored. "You're hopeless you know that?"
"I'm an idealist," he corrected.
"Like I said."
At daybreak Lady Xue took the time to bathe and change into clothes more befitting her station. His Eminence's mother selected a red gown embroidered with white cranes. Xue chose to wear her hair down, an aberration from her usual traditional hairstyles, with a section pinned back over her right ear. Thanks to her lady's maid all evidence of exhaustion was hidden beneath artfully applied makeup.
Xue put on her signature scarlet feather earring and crimson lip color. Fit to be seen she departed her rooms shortly after daybreak. An attendant intercepted her on the way to Master Hsu's office with an update from the alkahestris himself. Xue read the scroll at once. She ordered the attendant to clear all appointments for the day for both herself and the emperor. Escorted by the exhausted Tingzhe Lady Xue descended upon the Royal Alkahestris's study.
Lieutenant Gao greeted her with a bow upon her arrival.
"How is our dear girl?" Lady Xue inquired in a whisper.
"Commander Liu has yet to wake, Your Majesty. Her doctor informs us it could take some time due to the severity of her head trauma."
"And His Highness?"
"With her now."
Xue cast a glance at Tingzhe.
"Would you be so kind as to assume Lieutenant Gao's position? We must convene with His Highness regarding matters of security."
"As you wish, Your Majesty," Tingzhe swept into a bow.
Qiyin opened the door and stepped aside to allow Lady Xue to proceed him into the room.
Princess Mei to rose from her chair and fell into a bow when The Dowager Empress entered the room. The Emperor remained in his seat beside his future betrothed. In truth Xue held a fondness for the intrepid princess. Mei Chang had Xue Yao's trust. The Dowager Empress didn't dole out trust freely.
"We have a problem," Lady Xue declared.
"Just the one?" Ling quipped.
"A multitude I'm afraid but this one is pressing."
"Very well," he relented.
"The kitchen staff have an idea of Commander Liu's condition, and if they are aware-"
"-then the whole palace is talking about it," Ling swore under his breath.
"Is that bad?" Mei inquired.
"Would-be assassins will see her absence as an opportunity to make attempts on His Majesty's life," Lady Xue elaborated.
"We'll be fending off assailants left and right," Lieutenant Gao resigned.
"Considering what transpired in the kitchen last night-" Xue continued.
"What happened in the kitchen?" Ling questioned.
Xue Yao froze at the question. The Dowager Empress hadn't realized no one had informed the Emperor of the attack on his friend. Lady Xue did not wish to add to her son's troubles, but it couldn't be helped.
"Chef Wei was attacked by an unknown assailant. Edward Elric found him by happenstance. He will live thanks to the Fullmetal Alchemist."
"Live? How serious was this attack?"
Lady Xue hesitated to answer.
"Tell me what happened, "The Emperor's voice climbed.
"He had his throat cut," Xue confessed.
Mei Chang gasped.
Solemnity settled on her son's features.
"Unknown assailant… He didn't say who attacked him?"
"Master Hsu hasn't coaxed that information from him."
"Wei won't say?" Ling frowned in confusion.
Lady Xue took a measured breath.
"He is catatonic."
