Chapter 3: Sleeping

For the first time in forever Ed remembered what it felt like to have all his limbs intact. It was too real to be a dream, and yet at the same time it couldn't be real.

"If what my dad said about the gate is true, Al's old body and mine should still be there. And now his soul is there too. Maybe life has no equal trade. Maybe you can give up all you've got and get nothing back... but still, even if I can't prove its true I have to try, for your sake, Al," Ed said before the clapping of his flesh hands echoed in the giant room and he touched them to the arrays on his body.

A blinding white light appeared and he had to shield his eyes. He felt something tugging at him, urging him to move forward. When he opened his eyes he was back at the gate, but something was different about it this time. There was a strong authoritative presence baring down on him. Someone was angry at him for coming here. There was a conversation between him and a greater being, but he couldn't remember the words. He remembered the emotions though, panic and fear lurched through his body, he wasn't sure if he would make it out of this alive.

The next thing he knew was blood. Blood everywhere. Just blood. All his blood. A repulsive iron smell lodged itself deep within his nostrils and he felt nauseas. He'd failed again, he just knew it. His clothes felt sticky and wet as they were weighed down with the thick liquid. Soft hands encased his head and he felt someone cradle his head on their lap. This person smelled sweet like honey and had a gentle embrace. He was briefly reminded of his mother, and then he felt sick again. She wasn't here because he'd failed. His whole life seemed to be one big fail. The hands on his faced brushed his hair back and an accompanying voice tried to soothe him with sweet little nothings. The sweet mumbles begging him to wake up filled his ears. He croaked out a muffled sound, "where's Al?".

He tried to sit up, but the pain wouldn't allow him too, where the metal met his skin ached like it had been torn off. There was dried blood around the metal, some of it was still wet.

"Edward, Edward are you okay?" came the voice the soft hands belonged to.

He looked back. Rose…

"Al?" he called out.

Everything started getting fuzzy… his memories were fading… and then without warning it was over. Ed tried not to wake up, he didn't want to leave yet. There were still answers there that he needed, if he left now he may never know.

"Well thanks for joining the living Ed," Mustang mused as they approached his home.

"Hmmm," Ed mumbled as the car came to a complete stop.

That wasn't just an ordinary dream, it was so real, so lifelike. It held answers and he needed to think back. Ed looked out the window to see Mustangs house. It wasn't what he had expected. Actually he didn't know what he had expected. A strew of naked women waiting to greet him. A top secret military base house hidden by a secret entrance. Something besides this single family home that looked like it belonged in the middle of the country. The house was a pale green color and had a small front yard. There was a beaten up old mailbox located in the front which simply said Mustang. Glancing away from the house he focused on the window of the car. His head was plastered to it and when he moved it away a sweaty residue was left. He noticed the fogged up breath on the glass where his mouth had been as he moved his head back. He drew a picture of himself with his finger. He made sure his portrait in the window had its tongue sticking out and a piece of hair sticking straight up.

"How artistic, why don't we just change your name to the Fullmetal Artist," Roy said blandly as he got out of the car.

Roy knew Ed didn't want to be here. At this point he wasn't even sure if he wanted Ed to be here. He could already picture what was in store from him. Why did he have to care so much? Hell, why did he even care at all about this little runt. But at the same time he knew he had to do this. He was the one who told Ed to become a State Alchemist after all. Ed was his responsibility. And no matter how hard he tried to ignore it they had this bond. Ed would never acknowledge it and Roy would never say a word, but they had this dysfunctional sort of chemistry.

He walked around the car to the other side and waited for Ed to let himself out. Ed begrudgingly got out and rolled his eyes to which Mustang had to smile.

"What the hell are you so happy about asshole?" Ed asked as they walked up the stairs to Roy's house with a small suitcase of his personal belongings in hand.

Okay so Ed may be his responsibility, and yes they had a weird fucking relationship no one would ever understand, but he was still a pain in Roy's ass.

"Just thinking of all the torture I can put you through of course," he answered as his key clicked in the lock and he opened the door.

Okay so the outside of the house was not what he expected and the inside was the same way. Everything was supposed to be neat and orderly. A butler waiting by the door to greet Mustang and take his coat while offering a beverage. Where were the dozens of women waiting for him to return home? This was just weird. The Colonel lived like a slob. Military uniforms were strewn about the living room. Some were on the couches, others on chairs. Shoes were scattered beside the door. Some jeans were folded on top of a coffee table. Clearly Mustang didn't go out much. The price tags were still on them. Newspapers and other paperwork were spread out on a desk beside the staircase. Coffee mugs were tipped over near the newspaper and on top of them with some dried coffee puddles. Ed continued scanning the room until something caught his eye. Was that a lacey black thong hanging off the doorframe? Ed walked over to it and pointed.

"Have a nice time the other night?" he asked cheekily.

To Ed's surprise Roy blushed, but didn't say a word. With a quick snap of his fingers the sexy little piece of lingerie burst into a quick flame before turning into ash. Ed watched as the ash fell from the doorframe and hit the floor like falling black glitter.

"If you ever hear noises at night just stay in your room. I promise I'll sneak them out before you wake up," Roy responded coyly as he walked by Ed and into the kitchen.

Damn it, he really didn't want Ed to see that. And how the hell did those get up there. He glanced back and remembered when he took them off a girl he brought home and had tossed them away. He knew there was no way they could have reached that height. Oh well.

"Them? Does Hawkeye know about all your lady friends?" Ed pestered on as Roy took off the jacket of his military uniform and placed it onto a nearby chair.

Okay now the tiny alchemist was annoying him, was it too late to rethink this assignment, "Hawkeye and I have a professional relationship only Fullmetal."

"Yeah sure," Ed said as he walked by him, "I bet she denied your ass."

"At least I get some ass, pipsqueak," Roy retorted, but barely had enough time to duck out of the way as Ed's suitcase flew past his face and crashed into the cupboard before hitting the ground.

Roy looked back astounded as he examined the damage, now his cabinet had a hairline crack running straight down it, eh it was worth it

"I'm not some puny little midget!" Ed yelled as he turned around and headed for the front door, "forget this living arrangement, there's no way we're living together. This whole think is a joke."

"If you walk out that door you better drop your pocket watch," Roy said as he held his ground, "I meant what I said before Fullmetal. You're to live here under my supervision. I'm the one paying for your research to find your brother. We're doing things my way this time, no more running off, no more disappearing. You're going to follow orders for once so things get done properly. We're not going to lose you again," Roy finished with more emotion in his voice than he intended.

Ed paused with his hand on the doorknob. This sucked. This whole, entire, horrible fucking situation completely just sucked. What if he did walk out right now? Without any military backup how would he find his brother? It wounldn't be impossible, but it wouldn't be easy either. Being a state alchemist was great for a lot of things, but right now it was the only thing making him stay here. He held his breath as he slowly let go of the doorknob. This was probably one of the hardest things he would ever do. Fighting Scar, all the Homunculi… that was nothing compared to this. To save his brother he had to live with Colonel Bastard, "Al, this better not all be for nothing," he mumbled to himself before he turned around.

"Where's my room?" he asked through gritted teeth.

Roy smiled smugly to himself as grabbed Ed's thrown suitcase, "upstairs, I'll lead the way."

Ed's room was small and kind of cramped. There was a twin size bed with a cheap comforter underneath the window. Beside the door was a desk and in the opposite corner of the room stood a four drawer dresser. The carpeting was old and stained. Ed doubted that Roy had ever remodeled this place. Cheap, lazy bastard… how did he get stuck in this shithole again? Oh yeah thanks for disappearing Al.

Ed unpacked some of his clothes and sat down on the worn out bed. Not the most comfortable mattress in the world, but it was better than that hospital bed. He took off his shirt before kicking off his boots and then laid back. He was still exhausted and he had no idea why. He had been passed out cold for quite awhile, one would think he'd be more awake than he was. But like always Ed fell asleep.

Downstairs in the kitchen Mustang was sitting at his desk and sorting through the paperwork that Hawkeye had sent home with him. He usually never brought actual work home, but there had been issues in the North lately. He had received a notice that at Fort Briggs that there had been an invasion earlier in the week. A Drachman invasion in which two soldiers were badly injured and three lost their lives. The only strange coincidence was that all five soldiers were snipers and the only ones that Briggs had. If the Drachman's had targeted the snipers at Briggs something had to be up. Roy just knew it. When Roy finally looked up at the clock he noticed how late it was. And Ed hadn't come downstairs since he showed him to his new room. Roy got up and stretched before glancing back down at the paper work for a final time that night. He was too tired to think about Briggs. The higher ups were the ones who sent him this paper work. Hell, if Olivier needed help, which she most likely didn't, then she would have gotten in contact with Roy, which she most likely wouldn't.

"Screw it," Roy mumbled as he headed for the staircase, "too tired."

As he reached the top of the stairs he noticed that Ed's bedroom door was cracked open. Roy edged the door open a little more and peered inside. Ed was sound asleep. His left arm was under his head and his right leg was dangling off the bed with the blanket following. Ed's bare chest was completely exposed. This would be the perfect time to get another good look. Roy pushed the door open and walked inside the room being extremely quiet as he did so. The last thing he wanted was being yelled at for barging into a room in his own house, which he owned. The moonlight came in through the window above Ed's bed, illuminating his body in the process.

Roy wanted another look at the massive bruise in Ed's chest so he leaned in closer. It seemed almost like someone had punched Ed straight through the front of his chest. Some damn good alchemy had fixed Ed. What the hell had this kid been doing exactly? Roy knew he was always going and getting himself into dangerous situations, but this was just plain irresponsible. Ed should be dead right now from the visual damage, how the fuck was he alive. And then a scarier thought occurred to him… what kind of shape was Alphonse in.

Roy was concerned, more than he should be. If it was anyone else, anyone else, he wouldn't care so much… but there was just something about Ed. Not only was Ed his subordinate, but Roy had seen Ed as a child and persuaded him join the military. No matter what Ed did in his life Roy always felt responsible. Roy looked on as Ed still laid there asleep. He was so peaceful and at ease. Roy was leaning so close over Ed that if he moved any closer he would be practically laying on top of him. At this angle with the way the moonlight was shining in, Ed's flesh arm was highlighted. Mustang could see his muscles and he smiled to himself as he ran his hand down Ed's arm.

Ed picked a lovely time to wake up.

"What the fuck are you doing asshole?" Ed wailed as he shot up out of bed.

-LunaMaye