Hey all! as always i don't own FMA or anything! promise ;) please enjoy this chapter! Also, what do you guys think of the story? i would really like some opinions, even if they aren't positive! it lets me know people are still reading this : D
"My Bomber; My Peacemaker"
"Is the sky bleeding?"
When I was young, I always thought the sky was bleeding when it was close to bedtime. When I told other children they laughed in my face and said I was weird. When I told adults they worried and whispered to each other. When I told him…he smiled and said 'Do you think so too?'
I never imagined-someone who wouldn't laugh at my ideas or go behind my back and whisper cruel things that others wouldn't dare talk about in public places. That was around the moment I fell for him.
It was a hard fall.
Every little move he made was interesting. Everything he said was harsh; although he was speaking the truth, he still had a cruel demeanor about those things- Death. War. The harsh reality that everyone else was afraid to say.
'Nobody forced that uniform on you.'
That's most defiantly true…but as your fellow man you could have at least said the right thing to comfort her…even just a bit. You knew the words to say to help her feel better.
No. that's too much for you isn't it, Solf Kimbley?
That you could show one shred of human loyalty is far beyond your comprehension, isn't it?
Of course, what was a fool like me thinking?
When you came in that day and kissed my forehead…
Were you playing with me? Toying with my 'fragile human emotions'? Don't be so high headed! You're human too! What makes you any different from me? Because you have that red trinket you can do what you want?
You act like everything is so much more beneath you.
Did you lie that day? Did you?
I wish you were standing beside me. To tell me the lie that's going to make this little girl feel better.
'Nothing will change. He'll still be dead.'
Damn you…Why do you always have to be right you damned alchemist.
"Winry?"
She managed to tilt her head up, almost choking on sobs. Looking at her now, you could barely see her blue eyes…now surrounded by red, like the sky before bedtime.
This wouldn't be the last time he was forced to wait in a hospital…let alone for an autopsy result. The night was very long for Winry and Christina. It had become even longer for Edward, already running on 3 hours of sleep, getting punched in the face by that bastard colonel and now all of this confrontation about Hughes.
Mister Hughes…
The young boy winced. "I…I pulled him into this…"
"It's not your fault! Don't think of it like that!" Armstrong said, attempting to comfort them.
He looked at his shoes. "Winry was…Looking forward to meeting Lt. Colonel Hughes…How am I going to explain this to her?"
Armstrong looked at Edward sadly…for his big stature he was a very sweet man, he always showed how much he cared.
Suddenly a man entered the room through a pair of white doors. He was the coroner.
"Everyone's here?" The man said, toothpick hanging from his mouth and clipboard in his hands, "Since the injury was too severe, we can't even tell if she was alive or dead before being burnt."
"So it's possible it wasn't her…" Edward said, hopeful.
"No. It's confirmed that it was Maria Ross from the dental tests on the teeth that were found. How cruel. Scorching a woman like her into a pile of cinder. You sure had a grudge against her, huh? Ain't that right, Mr. Mustang?" he said as he looked over to Mustang; he was quiet.
"Couldn't you have done it a bit better? Makes us doctors lives easier you know."
"It's been awhile since I've used my Flame last. I overdid it."
He scoffed at him. "An Ishbal war hero shouldn't go so far as to do this to a young lady. Disgusting." he said as he walked away.
Major Armstrong then stood up and bowed to his superior.
"Regarding the awful things that my subordinate had done…"
"You do not need to apologize." Roy said dryly.
"I did not imagine that 2nd Lt. Ross would commit murder. She was honest and earnest…and considerate…" He said as he shook with frustration. "Considerate…" He barley made out the words as he sat back down on the bench behind him.
"You seem to be quiet stressed out, major. Why don't you take a vacation? Hm?"
"That's right…The eastern region where I was at…that place is nice. It's not as noisy as the cities, and best of all, there are many beautiful women."
With that, our Colonel walked away. Not saying anything else or making eye contact with any of them.
Edward was so enraged he kicked the nearest trashcan.
Morning. Early morning.
The two ladies had barely gotten a nights sleep. First thing Winry did as she sat up from bed was put on her shoes and walk outside. Christina didn't know what to think of Mr. Hughes death; should she cry? She barely knew him…suddenly, walking down the stairs behind Winry, she thought of her other family…Greed and Roa and Martel and…and…and…
They were gone too. Like Mr. Hughes, they would never be in this world again. She was certain they had families before they had been chimera. Their families had to live without them too, like she was doing now…Although Bido, her little 'brother', was still alive…he was in Dublith. There wasn't any way he would come to Central. He wasn't safe there…
But Winry didn't really know Hughes that well, did she?
As much as Christina wanted to help, she dreaded the thought of visiting grieving families. So much sadness surrounded her, could she have one single day where she didn't have to witness crying?
"Winry? Are you sure you want to see little Elicia and Mrs. Hughes? Now, I mean."
She stopped a moment, clutching the newspaper in her hand. "Yes…I have to see them. I know what she's going through…well more or less."
"What do you mean?"
She took a deep breath and turned around, continuing to walk forward. "My parents were killed in Ishbal."
"I'm sorry…um…my uh…Dad died a few years ago. I still remember the pain." Well…a few years ago in the future…technically none of her siblings, parents or grandparents are living. Just people she'd never met; those who died before she could meet them. The oldest relative she had met was born in 1928. For her, it was far more easy knowing they weren't alive yet- she would have to worry about them dieing any time soon.
It's odd. Knowing someone you once knew is dead. Nobody will ever see their face again, not unless you count photographs.
Winry stopped walking and turned to a busty woman for directions.
"Excuse me ma'am? Could you help me find Mayflower Street?"
"Of course…that paper…are you looking for Mrs. Hughes?"
She looked at the paper for a second, as if she was trying to avoid the words printed on its pages.
"Yes ma'am…"
"It's the house with the iron white gate. With the steps." The woman said this automatically. As if she had been repeating it all day.
"Thank you. I've been there before I just couldn't see the streets because I was holding so many presents…"
"Winry?"
"I'm fine. Let's just go ok?"
"If you give up now, then the death of my husband would have been in vain. If you can't use the Philosopher's Stone or whatever, why not try some new method. Walk forward down the path according to your beliefs."
Stern and wavering. This must be the kind of woman Mr. Hughes fell in love with…when we left the house she was crying. We could see her from the window.
Mrs. Gracia was crying and her little girl was trying to console her mother. It must be difficult for a child to watch their parents cry…
"Edward?"
Back at the hotel, inside the dining room, Edward was trying vaguely to finish his food. He just sat there with a fork in his mouth, staring at it.
"Huh…? Oh. Yes ma'am?" he sounded almost apologetically.
"Ma'am? Come on you can call me Christina ok?"
She laughed. Why do people always have to be sad?
He nodded slowly and looked at his plate. "Right…"
"I know you guys are troubled right now…You can talk about it, you know?"
Talking in these situations is always best right?
"I don't know what to believe as I walk forward anymore."
"Ed…"
He laid his head on the table, letting the fork drop from his mouth.
He mumbled, "I don't know anymore…"
"Hey, come on now…Edward?"
She scooted over the table and rubbed his head but it wasn't any use. Although he seemed to enjoy it, she couldn't get over this feeling he needed an extra push…
"Geez. You're hopeless huh? Not a single smidge of hope left! Right?"
He sighed and chuckled under his breath. "Thanks…I think I'll go see if Winry's eaten yet.."
"Oh…realllllllllly?"
"Wha-You…SHUT UP!"
There he is…that's the boy I know.
Ed, Winry and Alphonse talk about what they are going to do…I can hear them from me and Winry's room. She's polishing Al's armor, commenting on the various nicks and cuts it's gotten…You'd think if you spent all of your days and nights in a big thing like that you'd take better care of it.
Ha. Funny.
I hear Winry saying the same thing. Poor girl can't sleep at night because her friends aren't in the beds beside her room. They mean allot to you, huh Winry?
I take one last look on my folder of deliveries. I missed one store because it was out of the way. I put on my blue pants and green hoodie I…ahem…'asked' Edward to make me and go outside in some walking shoes. I look like a little kid; as always.
Before I close the door I write a little note on my bed, telling them I'll be back shortly.
Miss Izumi gave these papers to me. I'm supposed to check them and then mail them to her. They are deposits for expanding her business…you could call it punishment for letting Alphonse get kidnapped…even though I had nothing to do with Greed's' actions, I still let it happen. I know if would have protested and offered to ask them about it myself he would have let me! After all he hates fighting with women. But he just didn't want me involved…thinking about Greed is making me nauseous.
Outside. It's so dark. The only thing giving me comfort are the streetlights on every block of pavement. They are beautiful and give off the most amazing color.
"OK. This LAST stop and I can go to bed!" I say this triumphantly with my hands in the air.
Although it's my fault to begin with…not checking the list carefully enough.
I check the map of meat shops I 'obtained' from Central library. It's four blocks away…ah, if I take this route…it'll only be two blocks! Great! I can only hope they are still open. Well, it's only six o clock, they should be. Hopefully…if not I can always…
Hmm…this giant building looks familiar.
I check the sign on the concrete walls, the gold colored plate is very pretty. It must be the home of someone very rich…
"3rd Laboratory huh? Cool."
A laboratory…the military must be doing some great things here…I wonder…what could they possibly be discovering in there?
Suddenly.
Clank. Clank. Clank. Clank.
There's a rapid clanking sound coming from behind me. It sounds like Alphonse when he runs very fast. I turn around to see what could be making the sound and…
"What the fu-….Suit of armor…what?"
It's a suit of armor…with some fur from that blur I saw just now. It's not Alphonse…unless Edward modified his body…
Four figures are coming toward me in a hurry. I know them all by name…maybe except for the one in black…no wait. I smell tobacco…That's gotta be Jean. Miss Riza runs swiftly past me but looks at my face, like she's trying to send me a message.
"Colonel Mustang!" He doesn't talk. Just runs right past me. Figures. He probably didn't even see me…
"Miss Madeline! ? Lovely to see you, no time to talk!" Alphonse passes me as I make angry hand waves in his direction.
"Hey wait a minute! Alphonse what's going on? Where's Edward?" I demand to know why I was left out of this!
"Um. Explain later?"
"Fine…Be careful with whatever you're doing!" I shout at him. It's none of my business but dammit I don't want that girl staying up all night again! It's bad for your health!
I stay there for a few moments…and try not to worry.
But I'm too worried. As I was waiting dozens of cars pull up…a tall man in a blue uniform comes in my direction.
"Young lady please clear the area!"
No way!
"But I'm waiting for someone! Please?"
"I'm sorry but no civilians are allowed near the area."
He roughly grabs my arm…it hurts. I could pull the 'helpless heroine' card and start crying but…I'll try to reason with him first.
"Ah Come on guy!"
I can hear a loud man yelling out-
"YOUR EXCELLENCY!"
He's a big man in this country. Someone I've seen before from a distance but never up close. His presence is intimidating.
"You're worried about your friend right?"
"Yes…sir."
It's like he knows who I am…why? Why does he know me? He looked at me just now like he knew me! Why?
"Then as long as you are out of the way, feel free to wait for him."
'Him'? why just 'him'? who else could I be waiting for? Why only does he say 'him'? this man…he's so…I should avoid him. Yes. That's the best way…
The walk to the hotel wasn't an easy journey.
She constintley questioned him on the car ride there, not even able to make her last stop because she was too worried about him. A Soldier was sitting in the front seat and Christina in the back with Alphonse. She recognized the man in front...he was in the Furher's car. She ignored the soldier in the front seat and talked to Alphonse like he broke the cookie jar on the counter.
"So…How did this happen again?"
"I fell."
"Yea…you fell and your jaw just…popped off?"
"Yep! That's right!"
"…"
He brushed off her silence and tapped the man up front. "Ah! Could you just drop us off at the street corner?"
The Soldier grunted a little but listened to him; who wouldn't? The two got out of the car and Alphonse began running towards the hotel...as if he could run away from her.
She chased after him, yelling in the distance. "Alphonse! You aren't being honest with me! If you are going to be irresponsible you could at least not be a liar too!"
"Wh-What do you mean? I...I..."
He clearly doesn't know how to respond to woman getting angry at him. Poor fellow.
Good grief. When will the lies end and the truth begin?
And why…why does Alphonse have that body…I know that armor is empty inside. But why? Why does it have to be empty…?
We see Winry at the hotel steps...She stands up and sees the two of us-
"Idiot! Welcome back!"
Hope you enjoyed this chapter! Next will most likely either be the fight with scar…or the whole Winry and her parents deal. please review! i'd like to hear thoughts from all of you who read this! would keep me going.
EDIT: i left a sentence half finsihed XD sorry about that. again! please review! i need to know how i'm doing, if it still seems canon etcetc