This story will be coming to an end you for reading and reviewing, and for being so patient! It makes writing it more enjoyable :)
Edward could feel the hot, sticky flow of crimson running down his thigh, the usual black leather attire clinging to his skin. It was all too familiar, that gruesome feeling.
There had been numerous times when the blond had bled like a tap, running like a river, cascading over his body like rain. Most people under similar circumstances would panic, buckle under the strain and fall off of the edge.
Not Ed. He remained as calm and collected as always and simply looked back at his superior with a questioning look of uncertainty. He had a nervous feeling he knew what Roy was thinking. His stomach was plagued with nerves, the feeling should have been unbearable, but it wasn't. Despite the busy bundle of unfolding events being thrown at the young alchemist, he could still function as fully as ever. He knew there was a timid teenager inside of him that knew what the Colonel was thinking, he knew it existed, and kept it bound under lock and key.
Ed hoped he was wrong, hoped he was just jumping to conclusions and being irrational, paranoid and foolish. The black gaze lingered, and looked deep into his golden orbs as if they were looking into his soul, like watching something through a clear window.
Were eyes really windows to the soul? Roy sincerely hoped he was wrong. If that's what his subordinates mind was like at the moment (cloudy), he could just groan at the thought of the aftermath to come.
Two intoxicated men on God only knows what substance, were in extremely foul moods. The situation wasn't bound to end well, and the Colonel was no expert. He knew them both well enough to predict a suitable outcome. The room and occupants would soon be in pieces unless something was done. Roy looked on. The blond looked back, wide eyed and deep in thought.
They were both waiting, for something, anything to break the silence. It didn't take long. Ed battled with his lungs for another wheezing breath, a look of deep annoyance etched into his features. He felt like he'd been a chain smoker for the last 10 years of his life. It didn't feel too good in the slightest.
Taking one last glace at Roy, Ed lowered his gaze to the metal piercing his skin. Ignoring a stern glare from his superior, he wrapped his flesh fingers around it tightly and pulled, as if it were nothing. He felt nothing but the cold metal through his stained glove.
The eerie laugh of Frank Archer filled their ears, like the screech of nails running down a chalk board, dragging... and dragging irritatingly. Havoc and Breda welled in despair silently; Armstrong... had an unusual frown upon him. Rolling his sleeves to the elbow, he stood beside Roy, after all, the Colonel and Ed weren't the only alchemists present.
The Major had always frowned upon violence, ever since he could remember. Although war and violence were a regular occurrence in the military, Alex never found his job any easier. He had once naively thought that perhaps as the days went by, the sight of blood and destruction wouldn't faze him in the slightest. Years had passed, and Armstrong couldn't watch Edward clasp a hand over his bleeding leg, the crimson dripping through his fingers. Anger raged inside of him, hands curling into tight fists. It had been a while since the Major had last flexed his muscles, he couldn't refuse an opportunity to show Frank what he was made of.
With a single swing his colossal fist descended onto the concrete floor, brass knuckles creating an enormous crack. The ground split into fragments, only stopping when it reached the walls.
Roy was recovering from shock as Alex approached the man. The loud collision beside him had defiantly come as a surprise, his heart pounded vigorously against his ribs. The fight quickly escalated, shards of brick and concrete soaring through the air, moulding into different shapes and sizes after the single touch of a fist. The Colonel knew he should be relieved, confident in the man; after all, Armstrong was just as capable as anyone else. However a part of Roy was worried. If he let the Major get too carried away there wouldn't be a building left, just a pile of rubble and the corpses of several men, including himself.
"Mustang!" Breda called, motioning for the man to come over. Reluctantly, the raven turned his back on the unfolding battle and gave his subordinate a look of curiosity. Breda opened his mouth to speak, but was shortly interrupted by the loud clash of a demolished wall.
"MAJOR!" Havoc cried, "Be careful! You'll bring the whole place down!"
Jean soon expected the man to apologise in his usual enthusiastic fashion. Not this time. Instead, the Major looked at the destruction surrounding him, and then to the grinning criminal who stumbled on a segment of brick. He narrowed his eyes at the mocking pair of blue ones looking back.
"Why don't I show you why they call me the Strong Armed alchemist?"
Frank displayed an irritating grin that far surpassed Roy's.
"Where are you going?" After taking a step forward, the Colonel felt someone tug at the back of his -collar, bringing him several steps back with a sharp yank. "We need to-"
There was another crash, the military dogs found themselves sprayed with dust.
"I need to-" Roy was interrupted by the flash of alchemy, and the loud rumble of the earth shifting beneath his feet.
"I think the Major has it covered," Jean frowned, observing the state of his uniform. The hideous, vibrant navy had been stained to the last stitch, smeared with dust, dirt, blood, and had the occasional tare.
It was embarrassing. Embarrassing that he felt so drained, and yet he'd barely lifted a finger.
Edward wasn't a quitter, everyone knew that. He appreciated concern, he really did. The blond knew Alex meant well, but it still irritated him hugely, irritated him because he hadn't finished, and wouldn't be until Frank could barely move a muscle.
The thought of killing the man had briefly crossed his mind. It had disappeared as soon as the thought had occurred. Edward refused to lower himself to the man's level; surely killing him would make Ed just as bad?
He watched Roy talking to Breda. He wondered, how did the Colonel cope after Ishbal? Roy was a man who rarely showed weakness, he valued his reputation far too much. It wasn't healthy. Then there was Ed. The young alchemist knew how death could affect people. He'd come dangerously close to killing his brother when they were both younger. The experience had chilled him to the core, lingered in his dreams, and would forever remain with him in memory and as a scar.
Then there had been the incident in Liore, and the death of Edward in London. Although he had been told he wasn't responsible for the incidents, the guilt still clung to his conscience.
The blond watched.
Alex remained as confident as ever, flexing his muscles and showing Archer exactly what he was made of. The raven was ecstatic, clapping his hands and transmuting anything he could, sending it flying in the Majors direction.
It didn't take long for the teen to notice. Frank wasn't aiming. He had no intentions of fighting them. He was waiting, but for what? /
"The sleeve."
Roy raised a brow curiously at his subordinate, questioning his sanity. Breda was a smart man; the Colonel didn't doubt that for a second.
"Sleeve?" Roy asked, confused.
"The left one."
The raven stared blankly.
"Just look would you?"
Look was exactly was Roy did. For a moment, he wasn't entirely sure what he was looking for. Then, he saw it, a circle on the cuff of the man's shirt, a thin white one, almost entirely invisible. If Breda hadn't mentioned it, he doubted his onyx eyes would have. Breda was a genius, but Roy didn't have to tell him that. He was smart enough to figure it out himself of course.
"Maj-" the Colonel called to Alex, but found a hand quickly clamped over his mouth. Breda. Intelligent or not Roy was beginning to lose his temper with his subordinate, very quickly.
"Are you insane? We can use him as a distraction!"
The raven could have snapped back, but he didn't. He merely nodded silently and waited for the perfect opportunity, eyes darting back and forth as he followed the two fighting figures. The Majors strength was no exaggeration. The Flame found his mind boggling.
"This is ridiculous," he muttered, "There are five of us."
"Losing your touch old man?" Edward smiled cockily, knowing he'd hit a nerve. He may have been out of his mind, but he still had the time to casually insult the man. Always.
"He's not even trying," the blond said confidently, "He can't feel a thing, no wonder it's taking so long."
Roy found himself worrying. There was so much he didn't understand, confused him. He'd known Ed for a long time, and knew that look. Knew exactly what he was thinking.
"Edward, don't-"
A finger silenced him.
"You worry too much. Anyone ever tell you that?"
/ The phone rang loudly; an irritated looking Colonel glared at the shrieking object and pulled the wire from the wall with a yank. His onyx gaze shifted from the object to the figure relaxing on the black couch. A warm smile beamed back, just like always.
Adjusting his glasses, Maes Hughes gave his friend a look of concern, eyes narrowing.
"Something bothering you Roy?"
'Yes,' Roy thought, 'Were do I start?'
"Nothing." He wondered how Maes could always remain so... enthusiastic. Everything about the man was cheerful and welcoming, from his warm green eyes to the permanent grin etched into his features.
"Don't lie to me buddy." Maes was now stood in front of Roy's desk, studying the man curiously. "I can see the look in your eyes."
'Is there anything you don't know?' Mustang thought. The man belonged to investigations, without a single doubt. The Colonel often wondered if Maes knew his mind often liked to work outside the office.
"Is this about Edward?"
"It's been five weeks now!" Roy sighed in frustration, "Five weeks and we haven't heard a thing!"
"Awww, are you worried? Who knew the Flame alchemist had a soft spot after all!"
Roy glared.
"Come on Roy! You know Ed; he's like... a dog. When he's bored he'll come back."
"And what if he doesn't?"
"He will, just wait and see. You worry too much..." /
Ed looked his superior in the eye, gold flaring like a fire with determination, like always.
"Don't interfere, you'll only get in the way. I know what he wants."