"COLONEL!"
"Yes, Fullmetal?" Roy answered, not looking up from his mountain of paperwork. He knew it was Ed. Only Ed called him Colonel now. Everybody else respected him, and called him Brigadier General, unlike the Fullmetal Alchemist.
"Edward? Are you alright?" Riza asked from beside him, worry in her voice. This made Roy look up, right at his subordinate. What he saw shocked him. Ed was standing there, looking lost and hopeless. His eyes had fear in them as he stared at Roy. Roy's eyes took in his appearance. A brown and white calico was resting on one of his arms, and Ed's knees and shins were soaked in blood.
"Fullmetal?" Roy said, standing up.
"Colonel... HELP ME!" Ed yelled, running towards him. Roy looked startled, then regained his composure again, looking down at the young man.
"Why? What's the matter?" Roy replied urgently, placing his hands on Ed's shoulders.
"Blood... Coat... Cat... Al... Gone..." Ed said, his mouth forming words that Roy couldn't understand.
"Pardon?"
"AL'S GONE! BLOOD WAS EVERYWHERE! HIS COAT WAS BLOODY!" Ed shouted, his eyes wide with anguish and despair. Roy, Riza, and the other occupants of the room looked sternly at the shivering man. "And... I wasn't there... to protect him." He looked at Roy imploringly. "You've got to help me. He can't be dead. He can't be. You've got to help me find him." Ed implored, grabbing Hurricane harder. Roy stared at him for a moment, unable to take it all in. Alphonse's... Missing? He let go of Ed's shoulders, then looked towards his men determinedly.
"You heard Fullmetal. Alphonse Elric has gone missing, presumably forcibly. He could be suffering serious injury. Fullmetal, do you know where he could be?" Roy said, turning back to Ed, who shook his head.
"I didn't think to check for clues or anything... I just came straight here..." Ed mumbled, hanging his head in shame.
"Don't worry about it." Roy smiled softly at Ed, tilting his chin up. "You had just witnessed a horrible scene."
"Still..."
"Right. I want you to go investigate Fullmetal's apartment, for anything that could give us an idea as to where Alphonse is being held. I want a detailed report, and I want pictures to be taken. Even if you can see the slightest thing that seems off, or gives us an advantage, record it down and take a picture of it."
"I've got the key to my apartment. I took it out of the door. You'll need it." Ed said, handing the key to Roy, who, in turn, handed it to Riza. Roy then went back to his desk and retrieved five cameras, and handed one to each officer.
"What about you, sir?" Havoc asked, pocketing the camera. Roy shot Ed a look, then looked back at Havoc.
"I'll stay here with Fullmetal." Roy said. "Lieutenant, you're in charge. Take care of everyone whilst you're investigating. The culprit may still be back in the vicinity." Roy ordered, and Riza nodded. "You are all dismissed." The soldiers left the office, leaving Ed and Roy by themselves. Roy turned to face the blonde, who turned his head abruptly.
"Edward, it's going to be alright." Roy said softly, standing before him awkwardly. In truth, Roy didn't know what to do. He had never seen Edward looking so... vulnerable. Edward was always a hot-headed little spitfire, who refused to cry at the best of times. But this... An Edward who looked lost and beaten... His golden eyes looking as if the life had been sucked out of them...
"This cat. It's Al's cat. Hurricane." Ed croaked, holding up the little cat to show Roy. Roy looked at it, biting back the retort he would've given Ed under any other circumstance- 'And?'. Instead, he replied with, "He's cute. Your brother has good taste in cats." Lame, but it's better than nothing. He just looks so... Helpless. Like he did nine years ago, when I suggested he join the military...
"No. You don't understand." Ed shook his head repeatedly. "Hurricane is Al's cat. Al's cat. Al's missing. I have to look after Hurricane, for Al!" Ed explained, his voice cracking. Roy looked at Ed, finally understanding Ed's situation. He's broken. Alphonse means everything to him. Those two have an extremely strong bond. One feels incomplete without the other. Roy gently took hold of Ed's shoulders, setting him down on the sofa, and sitting on it himself.
"Edward, look at me." Roy said gently, and Ed did. "It's okay to cry."
"B-But I've got to be strong. For Al. I'm the older brother. I should be a shoulder to cry on. A shoulder to lean on. I shouldn't need one." Ed objected, but Roy shook his head, and looked at him with dark onyx eyes, stern.
"Edward. You are a man who had five years of his childhood taken from him. You were forced to become an adult at such an early age. You've held back your tears for many years. You are a shoulder to cry on. You are a shoulder to lean on. But at the same time, you need a shoulder." Roy put his arm around Ed's shoulders, bringing him closer. "I'll be that shoulder." Roy felt Ed stiffen beside him, and Roy knew that he was having a battle with himself, wondering if he should cry.
"..."
Roy tightened his grip on Ed, letting him know that he was there. Finally, he felt Ed relax, and Ed's head lay against his shoulder. The two were silent, the only sound being Ed's muffled sobs into Roy's shoulder.
"Feeling better now?" Roy asked.
"No..." Ed replied.
"At least you cried." Roy said. There was a brief pause, then Ed spoke, his voice barely audible.
"Do... Do you think Al's... Alive?" Ed asked, gripping Hurricane tighter, as if Hurricane was Al. Roy looked away, thinking his answer through. What do I say? I can't outright lie to him, however devastated he may be.
"I do think Alphonse is alive, yes..." Roy assured, averting his gaze, though he still felt Ed's on him.
"There's a but, isn't there?" He asked. Roy turned back to him, and noticed how red and puffy his eyes were. His cheeks were tear-stained, and at that moment, Roy couldn't bear to lie to him, and tell him no.
"Yes, Edward. I... Don't think that Alphonse will be in a stable condition once he returns. I would think a few days in the hospital would cure him, however. I know you're his older brother, and are extremely protective of him, but Alphonse is strong." Roy answered. Ed opened his mouth to speak, but he was interrupted by Hurricane.
"Meow meow meow!" Hurricane mewled, his head turning this way and that.
"What's the matter with him?" Roy asked curiously. Roy was more of a dog person, but he had to admit, the cat was cute. Ed stared at Hurricane, his mouth forming a small 'o'.
"He recognized Al's name. He's trying to find Al. But Al's not here." Ed explained. "Al's not here, Hurricane." Ed stroked the calico absent-mindedly, staring into space.
"Alphonse will come back, Edward. I'll make sure he does." Roy promised, smiling softly. Ed nodded, but kept staring into space.
"How did you acquire Hurricane?" Roy asked, trying to divert Ed's attention to something happier, even if the topic was still Al-centered.
"Al had gotten his body back. After the celebrations, we got an apartment, and he asked for a cat. I said no. He persisted. I said yes, fine, have a damn cat. He deserves one. He's able to feel a cat again. So we went to the pet shop. Al couldn't decide, then a cat bumped into his leg. That was Hurricane, and he was running about everywhere. Al immediately said that he wanted Hurricane, so we bought him." Ed answered, a small smile playing on his lips as he remembered the scene. "Al looked so happy." He paused for a moment before continuing. "That's why I have to take care of Hurricane. Al would save Hurricane before saving himself. I have to take care of Hurricane. He's Al's cherished cat." Ed ducked his head, and Roy noticed that he was fighting back tears. Even after crying already, he still won't cry willingly. Roy tilted Ed's head up to face him, and wiped away the single tear that had strayed onto his face.
"We'll find Alphonse." Roy stated, and Ed nodded.
"I know that. I just don't want him hurt." Ed replied. Roy smiled at Ed's utter devotion and protective nature towards his brother, feeling another rush of sympathy towards the older Elric, and an even more powerful sense of determination to find Al.
"Sir, here's the detailed analysis of the apartment." Riza said, handing Roy the manila envelope. Roy took it, thanking her, then stood up and made his way towards his team, excluding Riza. He beckoned for the men to come closer.
"Take Edward to the canteen." Roy whispered. "I don't want him in the room whilst I read the report."
"Will do, sir." Havoc replied, then they all stood up. Havoc beckoned to Ed, who looked up, a spark in his golden eyes.
"Can I see the report? You found some clue as to where Al is, right? You must have done. You must have done!" Ed said, looking hopeful and desperate at the same time.
"Come on, Edward. Let's go down to the canteen. You need a bite to eat." Fuery said, his kind dark eyes surveying Ed.
"But what about the report?"
"Brig. Gen. Mustang will read it." Falman said.
"But- But- AL!" Ed stammered, looking pleadingly at Roy, who shook his head.
"I'll read the report, Edward, and I'll tell you about any clues my team has found. There's no need to worry, Edward. As I said, we'll find Alphonse." Roy said, and Ed's shoulders drooped, giving him a look of fatigue.
"..." Ed silently followed the men out of the door, leaving Roy alone with his lieutenant.
"Let's see then..." Roy opened the envelope and took out the papers. Putting the written report to one side, he inspected the pictures that had been taken. The first was of broken door hinges, suggesting a break-in. The second was of the blood-splattered wall. Roy's eyes widened at this. Oh God! That's... Horrible. Alphonse must have suffered serious injuries. And for Edward to have seen such a sight, knowing that it was caused by the spillage of his brother's blood... Roy put the picture face-down, but was greeted by the horrible sight of the next picture- Al's cloak, drenched in blood.
"Who... Who would do such a thing? To an innocent boy, no less!" Roy exclaimed in shock, looking at the picture in horror. Then his eyes rested on a large rip in the back of the cloak, where Al's abdomen would have been.
"This... This rip. Was it made by a weapon?" Roy asked shakily, turning towards Riza, who nodded sadly.
"The blood appeared to have soaked the material the most in that area, so I assume so." She answered, her voice wavering. Roy looked at her sadly. Everyone had been shaken by this event. Al was such a kind boy, and to have been brutally attacked... Roy could only imagine the emotional pain Ed was in, if he and his team were in quite a lot. Roy felt for the man, as he put the picture away, and started on the written report.
"Edward?" Roy said, opening the door to the canteen. There he saw Ed sitting at a table, and his team circled around him in silence, occasionally patting Ed's back comfortingly. Ed's ears pricked up at the mention of his name, and he got up shakily, making his way towards Roy.
"Any clues? Anything?" Ed asked hopefully, looking into Roy's obsidian eyes, searching them.
"The team did find one thing that may be of use to us."
"What? What is it?"
"They found an emblem of sorts, hidden underneath Alphonse's coat. I'll show you." Roy answered, then presented a picture of a piece of black cloth with an emblem on it. Ed stared at it. A serpent was coiled around around a cross, and it was a symbol that Ed knew all too well.
"It's the Flamel Cross..." Ed murmured, and Roy nodded.
"It's made of blood though..."
"The blood was proven to be simply an embroidery, nothing more." Roy assured, before Ed became too frantic.
"But why..." Ed continued staring at it, as if it would somehow make more sense. "Why it their emblem the Flamel Cross?"
"We haven't been able to figure that out yet." Roy replied. Ed suddenly started quivering, his hands shaking uncontrollably.
"Edward? What's the matter?" Roy asked, his eyebrows furrowed with worry.
"They captured Al. Obviously it's because they want Al." He said, his voice wavering with sadness.
"What do you mean?" Roy asked.
"The Flamel's Cross! In blood! Al and I wear the Flamel's Cross on the back of our cloaks! They obviously want Al for some sick reason!" Ed explained, his eyes widening in horror at his discovery. He clutched the picture and looked desperately at Roy. Roy looked back at him, noticing that Ed's eyes were filled with unshed tears.
"Al's in danger! He could be dead for all we know! Please..." His knees buckled, and he fell on the floor, the tears finally spilling over. He couldn't go on anymore. Al was the main reason he kept on living.
"Edward..." Roy murmured, staring in horror at the crying man on the floor, wanting to console him but not knowing how.
"Please... Save Al... Save me." Ed looked up at Roy, his expression that of hopelessness. Roy knelt down until he was eye level with Ed, then pulled him into a comforting hug.
"Of course I will."
A/N- I... Was actually going to stop this chapter at 'The two were silent, the only sound being Ed's muffled sobs into Roy's shoulder'. But then I saw that it only had 900 and something words. So then the rest of this was born.
Oh yeah, the other day in PE I was doing a reenactment of FMA with my fellow FMA fanatic (crazygalxx) for the benefit of the sorely uneducated people in my class. She was playing Trisha, gave the dying speech, and then I was Ed at Trisha's funeral. I just said all darkly 'Al... Let's bring Mom back to life.' IT WAS SO EPICALLY FUN! So what if everyone was staring at us? FMA WILL NEVER MAKE US EMBARRASSED.
And we had to make words out of the periodic table abbreviations, the longest word you could make. I found Al for aluminum, and then I was on the hunt for Alphonse, which I FOUND!
AlPHONSe! It was the longest word anyone had found! And then I drew a picture of Al to accompany it. I now like chemistry.
Well, thank you for the reviews! And don't forget to leave another! :D
And I didn't keep my promise to stop reading RoyxEd stories.