Ch. 6 - Pillar.
"Ed"
"Yeah"
"Come in my office for a second, please."
"Why?"
"Just Come in, Now."
"Fine."
It'd been a slow day at work, nothing exciting or worthwhile happening.
So Ed figured Roy was calling him into his office for...different reasons other than work.
"Ed, close the door." Yeah definitely something other than work.
"Look Roy, Don't you think this isn't a good time for this?"
"I'n not bringing you in here for that, not now anyway, There is a reason I was trying to get to work this morning, well before the interesting distraction that presented itself" Roy cupped his chin within his hand and rested his elbow on his desk.
"We have to talk about something serious" Roy looked a bit concerned and Ed didn't liked the way he was talking.
"Alright. Roy" He sat on the couch and looked at Roy, hoping that this was just some stupid ploy and that he'd see Roy's sexy smirk appear on his lovely face. It Didn't
Roy stared at Ed for a little while, just trying to sort out what he was going to say first.
Ed saw he was staring and got a bit nervous.
He blushed, faintly. 'Oh what the hell, now is soo not the time for me to get all mushy'
Trying to hide his flushed face he turned his head slightly towards the window, and looked of into the distance.
Roy finally spoke.
"Ed, your still searching for the stone right?"
"Of course, I need to return Al to his body, not to mention..." Ed glanced at his right arm with a sad gaze.
Roy felt bad, he hated to have to make either of the Elrics think about what happened to them.
But he had to have this conversation with. No matter how much it hurts his heart.
"Well, as you know the homunculus are after it too." The colonel new these questions were pointless to ask, but...
"Yes Colonel, now please get on with what you really need to tell me."
"Well we've continued our efforts to track them, as planned, but as of yet, our attempts at capturing them, and even our leads to there locations, have all failed, and well ..."
"I figured that they wouldn't be that easy to find, especially the one that can transform."
"Envy."
"Yeah, him."
"Anyway..."
"...mhm?"
"Well...Many of the higher officials believe that someone else may be controlling their movements..."
"Like who?"
"We don't have a clue, but we do know that they are far more dangerous than any of the homunculi."
"Why's that."
"If they can control those monsters, they must be quite..." Roy tried thinking of the write word"
"Terrifying..." Ed finished the colonel's statement.
"Yes. basically, so back to what I was saying...Everyone here, myself included, knows that you will end up getting seriously hurt, or worse if you keep."
"Stop right there, Roy, I am not giving up my search, just because I may be in danger, Al has..."
"Ed, we know you'd never give up, but we have a proposal for you and Al"
"..." Ed was silent.
"Al's already agreed to it, because he knows it'll be safer for you too this way."
"..."
"We want to separate you two and have you look for the Philosophers Stone with someone other than Alphonse at your side, that way Al can stay safe, here with Winry."
"WHAT! You want to split Me and Al up! We promised we'd help each other and stick together so we can fix our mistake and get our bodies back, I can't...No I WON'T, work with anyone else! No other mother fucking person could possibly take Al's place."
"But you both get way to emotional around each other, leading one of you to doing something reckless in order to save the other, and without both of you, finding the philosophers stone will be that much harder, not to mention the fact that the Homunculi are after you AND Alphonse, so splitting you up makes the situation safer!"
"I...do understand that part, Alphonse will be safe?..."
"Yes,I have sent both Armstrong and Riza along with him."
"Fine. I don't need anyone to babysit me. I will go alone."
Roy could see that disappointment and sadness at the thought of Him having to go on their journey separated from Al.
"Besides, no one is worth having around, no one can replace Al." Ed got up, and turned towards the door.
"No-one, no-one..huh Ed?" Roy asked softly, sadly.
"No-."
"Ed...I."
"I can't go without Al. "
"I can't go, without him! He's the one thing that keeps me from breaking, he keeps me going,"
Ed fell to his Knees. Cupped his hands over his face to hide his tears.
"I-I-I...Jus-s-t Ca-n-t, Im N-o-t st-rong eno-ugh" Ed couldn't talk through his sobs.
Its these rare moments that Roy remember's just how fragile Ed is, no matter how tough or happy he acted on the outside.
"Ed."
Roy walked up behind him. Lifted him up into his arms, and sat on the couch, resting Ed on his lap. He let him cry...
After a while, Ed settled down.
He rubbed his eyes removing any left over tears from them. He looked up at Roy and felt his finger softly stroking his cheek. Lovingly
"Ed I know your hurting, and I know your journey's are difficult, and they won't be any easier without your brother but..."
He looked at Ed with a fierce, strong, loving stare.
"Roy..."
"Ed."
Roy squeezed Ed's hand firmly.
"Allow me to be your replacement strength."
"Roy...I.."
"Please, Allow me to be the pillar you can count count on, I'll protect you at all costs, I'll die for you."
Ed didn't know how to respond.
"Please...I wouldn't be able to stand loosing you"
"Colonel Roy Mustang" Ed looked up into Roy's eyes, smiling.
Ed knew now that what he said about not being able to go with anyone but Al was wrong.
He could go with him, His colonel, His Roy. If he was with him, he'd be safe, he'd be with the one...
"Colonel Roy Mustang..."
"Yes Edward?"
"I would never let you die for me, I'd never let that happen. Ever."
"No Matter, I'll be there beside you, we, together, will get you and Al's bodys back."
"I don't think I'd want it any other way. Roy...I .L..."
"Yes Ed?"
"Oh...umm.. Thank you."
"Anything for you, my little alchemist."
