Songfics

Disclaimer: I do not own, nor ever will, Fullmetal Alchemist or the characters within. 'Bridge Over Troubled Water' is the property of Simon and Garfunkel, lyrics by Paul Simon.

Bridge Over Troubled Water

When you're weary; feeling small,
When tears are in your eyes, I will dry them all;
I'm on your side oh when times get rough
And friends just can't be found.

Maes Hughes opened the door after his knock had gone unanswered and found his friend huddled against the wall. Paint, he hoped it was paint, was daubed across the floor and over the walls. Esoteric circles and symbols leered at him as he stepped carefully across lines and tins and scribbled notes.

He stood there and looked down at the man he called his friend. He took a deep breath before reaching down and grabbing a handful of his shirtfront and hauling him to his feet.

"Well, aren't you a sorry bastard, Roy." He looked at the red-rimmed eyes and the lifeless stare. "You look like shit."

A pale hand came up and batted at him half-heartedly.

"Typical bloody alchemist. Freaking weirdo, has to go and sulk and draw those silly circles. Can't do anything the proper way."

"I couldn't." The broken whisper cut through Maes and he sighed silently, the remainder of his diatribe going unsaid.

"Roy my friend, you are one damned idiot." He dragged the smaller man across the room and pushed him onto a rickety chair. He went to the dirty sink and found a small piece of relatively clean rag which he wet under the sputtering tap. He returned to Roy and like a mother grabbed the thin chin and wiped the wet cloth over the smeared and stained face.

Roy tried to pull back but Maes held his chin tight and he had to suffer the indignity of having his face cleaned. Maes clipped his ear as he finished and threw the cloth back into the sink.

"You are a fool, Roy."

"I know." Maes bit his lip at how lost and small Roy's reply was. "So funny really," and Roy's head rolled back on his shoulders as he looked up at his concerned friend. "I couldn't use the gun, I did try Maes. I did but I couldn't." He laughed and Maes frowned at the tears he could hear in it.

"And you think attempting something like resurrection would solve anything?" Maes waved his hand at the room.

"No, I couldn't even do that either." His head flopped forward. "I'm a coward, Maes."

Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down.
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down.


When you're down and out;
when you're on the street;
when evening falls so hard
I will comfort you.

Roy didn't see the fist that connected with his jaw and flung him from the chair into an ignominious heap on the floor. He didn't see the foot that caught him in his side and rolled him to crash against the wall.

"What the hell are you doing, Maes?" He shouted as he tried to stand up. He did see the left hook that split his lip, he just couldn't move out of the way. He struggled to stand and lost his footing as he tripped over a tin on the floor. He managed to throw his arms around Maes as he fell and brought them both crashing to the floor.

"So, you are alive after all." Maes voice whispered at his ear and Roy froze. "Listen to me, Roy. You are my best friend, you will always be my friend and I will beat the living shit out of you if you ever, ever doubt yourself again… do you hear me?"

Maes felt Roys' arms tighten around him and felt the wetness against his shoulder as his friend cried silently.

Maes never knew how long they laid there. He felt Roy's arms loosen their grip as he slid into a deathly sleep. Maes shifted and held Roy, keeping him warm and safe as the night grew long. Once Roy cried out in his sleep and Maes held him tighter until he fell back into a deeper slumber. False dawn saw Maes finally close his eyes and doze as Roy remained secure in his arms.

When Maes opened his eyes, he saw Roy standing at the dingy window. He stretched and studied his friend as he turned around. A bruise darkening his jaw and a split lip but his dark eyes were clear. Maes stood up and walked over.

"I found a way, Maes. I'm going to stop this from ever happening to anyone ever again." Roy spoke clearly and winced slightly, his hand pressing lightly at his side.

"What are you going to do?" Maes could hear no shadows in the strong voice and there was a renewed determination that he rejoiced to hear.

"I'm going to become Fuhrer. I'm going to make sure the military never ever dirties its hands like this again and that soldiers never have to obey stupid and pointless orders." Like I did stayed unspoken between them.

Maes looked at him, green eyes shining behind his glasses. His lips twisted into a wide grin.

"Are you with me?" Roy asked.

"Of course, you don't need to ask. I'm going to be right behind you, pushing you all the way."

I'll take your part
oh when darkness comes.
And pain is all around.

Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down

The stars were bright and shone clear in a cloudless night sky. Maes Hughes stared at them and smiled. The pain in his shoulder, the blood he could feel running down his chest were negligible as he fell.

Her face, the one he loved above all. His angel, the mother of his princess. She smiled at him and forgave him as he fell.

His face, the friend he loved. His safety had been paramount, his success had to be ensured. Maes knew he would never forgive him for this as he fell.

Sail on silvergirl;
sail on by.


Your time has come to shine.
All your dreams are on their way.
See how they shine.

Oh if you need a friend
I'm sailing right behind.

Colonel Roy Mustang looked up at the clear blue sky and felt the rain upon his cheek. They had all left, even Hawkeye. And he had stayed. Stupid, stupid idiot he said to the green eyes he could see so clearly.

"You weren't supposed to leave yet," he murmured again. "You're supposed to stay behind me, you damned clown."

The wind caressed his face and he shivered as the moisture on his face chilled suddenly.

"We were on our way, Maes. I was coming back to Central, we were going to do it together just like we promised." He stared at the smiling green eyes. "I'd bring you back but you'd crack my ribs again, wouldn't you? Just like last time."

He stared at the sky and watched the clear green eyes wink at him. "If you don't stay right behind me, I will bring you back." He threatened.

Roy bowed his head.

"I will never forgive you for this, my friend." He watched as the water from his face dripped onto the pristine marble. "You made me cry again, you bastard."


Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind.

Author's Note: This is a beautiful song and I rarely hear it anymore, so when I heard it on the radio the other day for some reason it brought Maes and Roy to mind and I had to try and see if it would work… and it has… sort of... I hope.

silken :)