A/N: Thank you to the Guest Reviewer and Couple of Luck for the reviews! Thanks also to my lovely beta, SilverPedals1402. :3
Happy New Year to all!
003: Battlefield
Inspired by Chapters 59 & 60 of Fullmetal Alchemist
Why is alchemy, which ought to bring happiness to the people, being used for murder?
– Riza Hawkeye, Chapter 59
He would have recognized her anywhere, but he had never thought he would see her here. He knew her as his master's daughter, knew her as the quiet girl who would watch sometimes as he learned from her father. He knew her as the girl he had promised to support, yet he had disappeared from. He knew her as the holder of all the secrets, as the one who had entrusted him her back.
He had never known her to be a killer, with eyes like his.
"He is right," she says in a quiet voice, as Hughes and Kimbley walked away. "Major Kimbley is right," her voice trembled only slightly now. "We chose this, and we must not forget," she pulled her gun and stood straighter, her eyes back to those of a killer.
He turned to her with weariness, and again, he clenched his fists together. What he would do to remove all this away from her. He remembered what she had confessed to him earlier.
He wanted to tell her that the very questions she had asked was what he kept within him as well. He had so many dreams about the military, and it did nothing but crush down on him. He could see it happening to her as well. He would apologize, but he knows apologies would do nothing now. Guilt killed him, for he was using this power to kill millions, but guilt killed her more, because of the deaths she caused with her gun, and also for birthing to the power he had now. He would apologize, but it would be empty words that had no meaning.
And so instead, he walks back to her, and fills a cup of water. She is quiet, though she follows him with her eyes. He takes a sip of water, and it cools his dry throat.
"Here," he hands it gently to her.
She stares at the cup for a moment, takes it, and then tips it to her lips. When she finishes, she stares at him, and for a very brief moment, the killer disappears. "Thank you," she says quietly, and her words seem to take a bit off the weight he seemed to carry.
He nodded, and gestures to the battlefield. "Let's return," he said, as he leads the way. She quietly follows him.
He would apologize, but it would not bring back the lives killed with both their hands.
END OF CHAPTER