Chapter 6
Onee-chan: sry for the long wait. I've been distracted. I'm trying to write a book. And I had drivers ed and.. Oh! Metrocon. That rocked my socks! Did anyone here go to Metrocon? I went as Itachi Uchiha from Naruto and Onee-chan 2 went as my little brother Sasuke, even though she's actually older than me. More than once, I had to ask people if they'd 'seen my gaara' because I kept loosing my friend who was dressed as him. And we met Chris Patton. I love him. lol.
Anyway, this chapter should be longer and contain enough to say I'm sorry for the wait. I'm trying to write this along with my 'coming soon' story and my book. It's all thanks to those of you who kept reviewing and I suddenly realized I really needed to post something. heh. Here ya go.
Ed stared, a gape, at the sight before him. Dead bodies. They were everywhere. It was the woman Barry had killed on one side and his mother on the other side. People he'd seen killed, lying there before him. He tried to muffle it. Tried so hard not to. The scream that echoed for such a long time around him.
— – – –
Ed woke with a sudden jolt. Taking deep breaths to steady his heart, he took in his surroundings. He was on a train.. Heading East. Al was sitting across from him, eyes dark. Ed called this mode 'off'. Although Al might find it rude to be referred to as though you were a television set, Ed found it quite amusing.
"What a creepy dream." Ed sighed, running a hand through his hair. Finding an urge for a drink of water, he headed to the food car. Yes! He loved such trains as these. Not those rickety old things with nothing at all in them.
Most of the passengers were sleeping or reading or something of the sort. Ed yawned just as he got into the dining car. Two arms wrapped around his waist and he was pulled backwards into another body.
After the shock, he relaxed slightly. The person rested their face in his hair even though they were much taller. Ed had grown recently so he was closing the gap. Ed sighed contentedly.
"You could give a little warning." he scolded in a softer tone.
"You could keep your guard up." was the smug reply. Ed glared slightly and shrugged him off.
"Anyway, were you standing here waiting for me?" he asked. Roy smirked.
"Never. You just happened to walk in at an opportune moment." the military man shrugged as though shrugging off any idea of the sort.
Ed huffed and continued on his way to get a drink. He and Roy had technically been a pair now for about 2 months, if Ed's calendar was right. No one else knew, of course, but they could act close all the same. They went out together and got each other gifts. The gifts were signed from 'F and F', Flame and Fullmetal.
Like usual, they fought a lot. Even over the F and F. Ed protested that the first F meant Fullmetal but Roy said that Flame just sounded better first. They didn't change, they just started showing their feelings to each other now.
– –
"Well, Edward.. There's a man over bugging East headquarters and those weaklings are asking for some assistance. You're up." Roy handed him the files.
"Bout time. You people have been so obsessed with my health I was afraid I'd die before I got anything serious again!"
Roy smiled. Ed was so energetic. In the pit of his stomach, Roy had hoped Ed wouldn't get anything serious. He was worried it would take quite a while to finish it up. Ever since he began testing the limits of his true feelings for Ed, he was sure he'd feel suffocated without him.
But he smiled.
Ed was so happy to be able to stretch his legs. Roy could understand that. Ed was a bird and he refused to be kept in a cage.. He needed to fly. That was the hard truth...
"Eh? What are you moping about?" Ed asked, face suddenly right in front of Roy's. Roy gasped. When did Ed get so close?
"I don't know what you're talking about." Roy gave his normal sexy smile and stood from his chair. He walked to a counter and began to pour himself a glass of water. It was early so there was no one around. Hawkeye had left to grab his paperwork.
"I'll only be gone for a week at most. This guy sounds like chump change." Ed said in his proud manner, trying to cheer Roy up.
"Of course. I never doubted your abilities." Roy noted, taking a swing of his drink.
"Hmph.." Ed smiled, Roy's back was to him. He walked over silently and ruffled Roy's hair.
"Hey!" Roy turned around and saw the childish, yet comforting face.
"See? I can even touch your head now." Ed gave him a cheeky grin and he sighed.
"Ya.. But I guess all small things must grow." Roy hadn't meant it as a joke. He was thinking. When Ed got bigger.. He would obviously have mixed emotions because he was growing in both mind and body. Would that rebel in him become so independent that Roy wouldn't be needed anymore?
"..doorknob!" Ed finished his ranting and glared.
"Oh.. Huh?" Roy's eyes widened slightly when he realized he'd zoned out again.
"... Roy? Are you sure you're okay? Maybe you're the one who needs to get some rest."
"I'm fine." Roy ruffled Ed's hair and sat back in his chair. Ed instantly slid himself over Roy's legs, onto his lap. He kissed him deeply and then smiled. He leaned against Roy's chest and sighed. He heard Roy sigh in unison.
"Don't worry so much.." Ed ordered softly. "I'll come right back.. I promise."
– – –
"3 days now, right sir?" Hawkeye scribbled it on her clipboard.
"Yes. Must you remind me every four hours?" Roy asked, ruffling through his paperwork.
Hawkeye cocked an eyebrow. She'd never seen Roy so serious in his work. In truth, it was the only thing keeping him from thinking of Ed. The air around him seemed dense enough to choke on. His house seemed eerily silent without the visitations from Edward. The flowers Ed bought for him were in a vase and one of Ed's coats lay over the back of a chair.
Roy watched the flowers like they would move on their own accord, and then sighed. He remembered the day Ed brought these. He was wearing his street clothes, with the hoodie and jeans. The flowers had been set over his shoulder and he remembered Ed had been looking around and hadn't even noticed Roy open the door.
When Ed had looked back, it had been a picture perfect moment. The smile that graced his lips and the pose. Roy had melted in a second, a hopeless look on his face. That only cause Ed to laugh at him...
"3 days.." Hawkeye began..
"I'd rather you don't remind me!" Roy growled. Hawkeye huffed.
"Sir. I'm just saying I'm worried too. Now please.. Stop twisting the paperwork until it snaps.." she put her hand on his to catch his attention. Three sheets of paperwork were in wrinkled pieces. Roy blushed and turned his chair away.
– –
Ed skidded around a corner of a building and smirked. Then man he was after skidded to a halt before almost hitting Ed.
"What are you? How do you keep up with those short legs!" he cried, turning and running the other way. Ed twitched and clapped his hands. As he hit the ground, a steel cage trapped the man.
He grabbed the bars, frantically looking for a way out when Ed's face came from nowhere and the boy looked furious.
"I'VE GROWN AT LEAST 5 INCHES, YOU BASTARD! AT LEAST!" Al had to pry him off the bars, the criminal huddling away from Ed in the other corner.
"I..I give up." he stuttered, scared.
– –
Ed sighed as he left the police office. Another dud.
"When's this real thief gonna show and let me go home?" he whined.
"I miss that dorm building as much as you, but we need to finish this." Ed glared up at Al. Why did it seem like he knew something and wasn't going to tell him?
Ed took this time to promptly kick his brother's metal body and then hop around in pain.
– –
"Day Four. Walls aren't enough to hold in the thickness of the air around him. Guns wont stop him. One can only pray that our little warrior returns home soon to return him to his normal state. Oh we knew him well. We miss thee, Roy Mustang." Riza sighed dramatically after finishing writing her beautiful summary of the day.
SNAP!
"Hawkeye.. What was that?" Roy asked, his head flipping around to look at her.
"Nothing, sir." Riza turned around and picked the phone off the wall, dialing a number. "Hello.. Yes? Yes I need you to bring another chair up to the office. Yes, this is the fourth time. No, I'll pay for this one too."
Riza turned back and looked at Roy. Havoc's chair had lit into flame and the man was now rolling on the floor to put out his pants. Havoc was the fourth to suffer this fate.
'Come home soon, Ed.' she prayed, looking out the window.
– –
A figure darted in the darkness. His breath was heavy and he hid up against a wall, in the shadows so no one could see him.
Voices. So many people. They ran passed him. Yelling. Calling. What were they saying!
Hurried footsteps. Flashes. The feet ran passed the alleyway. He was running. His eyes darted everywhere. Above him, the roofs of the buildings he passed were flat. Fire escapes ran from the roof to the ground and he tripped as he felt himself smiling in relief.
Clanging. Banging. His footsteps were loud in his own ears. The ladder was old and wet. He slipped once but kept going. One bar broke away. He gasped as he reached the rooftop.
Alchemy. He heard it. The light was bright. He screamed as the light overtook him.
– –
"Brother!"
Ed's eyes snapped open. His breathing was rapid and his heart beat wildly in his throat.
"Are you okay, brother? You were shaking so badly and all.." Al could only stammer on as Ed stumbled to the bathroom and graciously... threw up.
– – – – –
Night fell and Ed perched himself on a familiar rooftop. He'd never been here before, but he'd seen it. In a dream, he'd watched it. It ran all the way down this block and he could get anywhere in this alley from this one rooftop.
He heard a shot ring out but he didn't move. He was listening. The rapid breathing of someone running was getting closer. They couldn't see Ed on the roof. The running paused and the breathing hitched. Many men ran down below.
"He went this way!"
"Where is he?"
"Where's that State Alchemist when you need him?"
Ed stood up slightly. Just enough to run. He hurried silently across the rooftops as he heard someone run through the puddles and mud below him. Thank god for rain. He smirked as de ja vu set it.
Ed stopped, kneeling down so not to be seen. He clapped his hands and waited. He could he the squeak of the shoes on the rungs. The clanging of the feet on the steps. Then finally, the bar that fell away. Just like his dream, the man found himself staring into the eyes of the Full Metal Alchemist.
"Finally." Ed smirked, smacking the ground. The man screamed out as he grabbed for Ed, trying to stop the alchemy. Ed gasped slightly as the man's fingers caught a hold of his collar. He was being thrown back, passed the thief and in the air when the alchemy finished and the cage was in place.
The man's hand was caught in the bars but Ed's weight forced him to let go of his collar as the boy was still in motion. Ed's eyes widened, realizing he was heading over the edge.
He grabbed for the cage and he missed. The fire escape slipped from his grasp twice and he caught onto it the next time. He let out a sigh of relief. He let go and landed safely on the ground, only one and a half stories below. Thank god for his physical abilities.
"Yea, you think you're so hot!" The man cried from above. Ed saw alchemy up in the cage and narrowed his eyes. "Take this!" The cage crumbled and sent rocks down at the State Alchemist.
"Dammit.." Ed clapped, his hands met the earth, and then the rocks hit the ground.
The criminal, now free, cackled until guns were aimed around him. Al stood in the back as the military officials took the man into custody.
"At least I removed one stupid military dog." the man grinned proudly. Al turned away solemnly leapt off the roof. He saw the large pile up of rocks and began to try and dig through them.
"Brother! Brother!" He called. Light emitted from beneath the rocks and then they were scattered, a few hitting Al in the head. Ed climbed his way out of the rocks and sighed, sitting atop them.
"Well that was close." he looked back in his little hole. If he hadn't have made that shield around him out of the ground, he might have really been hurt. He laughed slightly, then coughed.
"Brother?" Al asked, sitting back up. He'd been knocked over by a particularly large rock that had smacked him. Ed stopped coughing almost immediately.
"Oh.. Al?" he asked. "Did the guys get him?" Al nodded.
"Uh-huh. He thought he'd snuffed you out!" Ed sweat dropped. Why did that sound so funny when Al said it?
– –
"Colonel. Phone call." Riza pointed to the phone on his desk from her position in the doorway.
"Ya ya."
"It's the Elrics." She shook her head when he basically pounced on the phone. Roy ran a hand through his hair, cleared his throat, and picked up the phone.
"Yes?" he asked.
"Hey, Mustang." Ed greeted. He seemed smug. "I finally caught the guy. See? I told you I'd finish in a week." Roy took a deep breath to compose himself, since Ed seemed fine, before he began to yell.
"Edward Elric, how long does it take to find one lousy man and catch him!"
"What are you yelling about? I caught 5 men in 5 days and you're gonna yell at me? I almost got crushed by a pile of falling rocks because our 'amateur' had skill! And you yell at me! You need to calm down!" Ed yelled. You could hear Al in the background, wondering how such a simple conversation turned into a yelling match.
"Five days, Ed! I incinerated eight chairs, two desks, and Hawkeye's paperwork and you're telling me to calm down because I was worried about you! That's some way to show.." Roy became silent.
"Brother!" he heard coughing and then a clunk as Ed's metal knee hit the floor he was standing on.
"I'm okay..I just felt like there was smoke in my throat.." Ed took deep breaths and stood back up.
Roy leaned back in his chair, trying to relax. Ed was fine. Roy, himself, had coughed like that this morning too, so nothing to worry about.
"Anyway, I'll be back in town by tomorrow." Ed went silent and Roy wondered if he'd hung up. The only noise was Al running off, probably to by train tickets.
Roy took a deep breath but couldn't hear Ed doing the same. Simultaneous, their lips moved and the sound came out. Even though they said it together, their voices could be heard.
"I missed you." And then they simultaneous smiled softly at the thought. And at the same time, they slowly hung up. Tomorrow. Tomorrow, they could properly tell each other.
Again, did anyone go to Metrocon besides me? Hope you liked the chapter!