(A/N) Tomorrow is Galentine's Day! And I bought all my friends stuffed animals (and maybe one for myself but no one can prove that)! I love giving gifts. Leslie Knope definitely inspired my gift giving trait. And I had friends over for dinner and we made balloon animals and shrinky dinks! Definitely the most fun this group of 20 year old has had in a while haha. Anyways, this chapter is my gift to you all. I don't intend to keep dragging out the exciting part but I'll just get to a good stopping place and think, well better to give them something now then potentially force everyone to wait a while if I hit a wall. This is like one of three chill weeks I have this semester so, no promises, but I'm hoping to start working on the next chapter soon. Anyways, I hope you all like it!
Chapter 5: An Array Among Disarray
It had been a long night.
Roy signed his fifth paper of the day and shuffled his slowly growing stack. He hadn't slept much the night before and god he was tired. There hadn't been any good reason for the restlessness, but it had persisted. He'd tossed and turned for hours before falling into a fitful sleep, only to be awakened a few short hours later by his damn alarm. Roy imagined he'd had nightmares, but he couldn't remember them.
Some worrying thought just niggled at the back of his mind since the day before. He couldn't even form a coherent thought about it, and didn't understand where it was coming from. Sure, the meeting with Mrs. Walsh had been rough, to say the least. But it hadn't been his first meeting like that and it certainly wouldn't be the last. Seeing Fullmetal get reprimanded by her was something he hadn't expected but the kid said he was fine, so that wasn't anything to worry about. So, he couldn't quite place his anxiety.
Roy closed his eyes and rested his face in his hand. It was going to be a long day.
"Sir."
The colonel looked up to see Riza standing in front of his desk, casting a knowing glance down on him. "If you're not able to do your work, perhaps you should bump up your meeting with Edward. He informed me yesterday that he intended to meet up with Alphonse in Resembool after your meeting. I bet he'd appreciate it if he could leave sooner."
"I didn't realize Alphonse wasn't here." Why did that information bother Roy? Ed and Al weren't always together, but it was rare to see them apart. "I suppose you're right, Lieutenant. Call his dorm for me, please."
A sudden, slight sense of urgency filled him. His anxiety increased tenfold, for no apparent reason. There wasn't anything wrong, there was nothing to be worried about. It was just Ed all alone. Roy suddenly remembered the encounter yesterday.
"My son is dead because of you!"
No.
No, Ed had reassured him that he knew he wasn't to blame. Surely the kid wasn't thinking it was his fault. Yeah, the boy had the worst guilt complex of anyone he'd ever met, but surely common sense would dictate otherwise.
A few moments later, Riza set the phone back on its hook and shook her head. "He doesn't appear to be in."
Havoc clicked his pen and chimed in. "Aw c'mon, you know the chief. He's probably at the library surrounded by a mountain of books." Havoc gave a toothy grin, but you could detect the underlying itch for a smoke in his eyes.
Riza nodded, agreeing with Havoc's statement. "I can call the library and check there if you'd like."
Roy stood up, grabbing his coat as he headed for the door. He needed to see for himself that Ed was fine. He knew the anxiety was irrational, but this wasn't going to just fade out on its own. "That's alright, Lieutenant. I'll go check it out myself. As you said, I'm not much going to be much use today anyways."
"Understood, sir." She saluted as he walked by. "Do try to hurry back though."
Roy understood the underlying meaning. Hurry up and let us know he's okay.
…
The Colonel took up a casual pace towards the Eastern Branch Library. Though it was only a building over, Roy was grateful it was a pleasant day. Even the thought of rain made a shiver run down his spine.
"I'm worrying for nothing. Absolutely nothing. I'm sending that brat on the worst assignment for this." He knew it wasn't the kid's fault for not answering the phone if he wasn't in his room, but that didn't stop him from thinking it. Only that beansprout could make him like this.
The East City library was vast, nowhere near as vast as the Central library but still quite extensive. And Roy really didn't have any intentions of searching the entire place. He quickly scoped out a few of the alchemy sections and took a brief walk through the cultural aisle. With no sign of a golden-haired boy in sight, Roy headed for the front desk.
"Excuse me," He greeted, putting on a charming smile, hoping to schmooze the receptionist into giving out information. "I'm looking for the Fullmetal Alchemist. You wouldn't happen to know if he stopped by earlier." Everyone in East City knew the Fullmetal Alchemist, so Roy knew there was no need to describe him.
The woman tapped her chin and scrunched her face in thought. "I'm sorry, Sir, but I don't believe he's been by." She turned around and called out to a girl stacking books back on a shelf. "Annie! Have Ed and Al been by today?"
Roy smiled at the familiarity of it. Of course these girls knew Ed and Al. If those boys weren't out on a mission, they were in here studying.
The other girl popped her gum and shoved another book on the shelf. "Not today, but those books they asked for came in!"
"What books?" Roy asked.
The receptionist pulled a box out from under the counter. "Ed was looking for some alchemy books, but the only copies were out at the Western branch. He was a bit bummed since he said he couldn't head that far west for a while, so we had them shipped in. The other branch said they didn't mind since nobody had checked these out in years.
"Were the boys planning on stopping by today? I'm sure they'd love to get reading these."
Roy stared down at the box. "So, Ed isn't here then. Maybe he already left for Resembool. It wouldn't be the first time he's bailed on a meeting." Roy grabbed the box and put it under his arm, "I'll drop them off at his dorm. Thank you for your help." He waved over his shoulder as he walked away.
"He usually at least calls if he can't make our meeting." He'd check the dorms, though it was unlikely Ed would be there. At least he could drop off these books though. And then he'd give the mechanic a call in Resembool, where he knew Ed would be.
Roy stopped by the front office and grabbed the maintenance key. He was having things dropped off at the boy's dorm all the time, and nobody really argued when a Colonel wanted to check on his subordinate.
The Colonel reached Ed's door and took a deep breath. He knocked, waiting for a second to see if someone would answer. As expected, no one came to the door, so Roy slid the key in the lock.
…
Roy wasn't quite sure what he expected when he opened the door, but it certainly wasn't this.
There were papers and books everywhere. Notes upon notes were scattered, covering nearly every inch of the floor. Multiple pens had been strewn across the ground, likely out of ink and left in a disappointing heap.
The only light in the room came from the sun streaming through the blind slats, and a desk lamp that had been haphazardly knocked over. Looming shadows were cast at odd, oppressive angles.
All at once, the breath was swept out of Roy, and then relief swept back over him. Despite the abhorrent state of the room, a lone figure stood in the only uncovered section of floorboard, lending a calming effect.
Roy made a move to speak, but then paused, taking in the state of the boy. His hair lacked its normal braid, instead it was thrown into a loose ponytail. And the signature red coat was also missing, with a casual button down replacing it. It also surprised Roy to see him barefoot, though he wasn't sure why.
Edward stood there, unmoving, even at the obvious new occupant in the room. Roy could tell Ed had noticed him come in, but he hadn't made an effort to acknowledge it. It was as if he thought being as still as possible would make him invisible.
Aside from that, he hadn't adjusted his stand at all either. His hands were held up mid clap, poised for performing a transmutation but also not quite connecting. And then there was the clearing at his feet. It was obviously a transmutation circle drawn in chalk, but Roy couldn't tell what it was for.
Roy swallowed hard, an uneasy feeling washing over him. He loudly cleared his throat and walked further into the room. "Fullmetal, I didn't realize you were here. The Lieutenant called earlier and no one answered." Ed made no move to answer. "I stopped by the library and they had some books for you from the western branch. I figured I could drop them off on my way by."
Roy watched Ed cautiously, looking for any movement, anything to give away the boy's condition. "It appears you already have your hands full with books though." Roy set the box down on the desk and started for the kid. He didn't want to startle him, but the silence was very unsettling. "Just stay calm and casual. He's just annoyed you barged in here."
Sure, the thought made sense. But when Ed was annoyed, he was anything but quiet.
"I don't think I've ever seen you use chalk, Fullmetal. Working on a new transmutation?" Roy was almost close enough to make out some of the symbols. "Maybe I can help- "
"Just go."
There wasn't any bite or authority behind the order, but it held the resemblance of a quiet, resigned, plead.
And it set alarm bells off in Roy's head. "What are you- "
He stopped in his tracks, frozen in place. Roy was finally close enough to examine the circle, standing right in front of the alchemist positioned in the dead center of it. And, oh god, he knew those symbols. He knew that circle. That transmutation circle had made passing haunting appearances in his dreams for four years. He didn't understand the construction or the symbols, but he didn't have to understand them to know that nothing good came from this circle. Nothing good could ever come from it. He'd only seen it once before, smeared in blood and regret, but once was more than enough. He had never wanted to see this circle again.
And Edward was standing in the middle of it, poised to clap and activate it at any moment.
