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Alphonse Elric held the tiny hands in his own as he supported the small child on his feet, laughing along and smiling wide as his young son tried desperately to walk on his own. It was his fifth attempt, and Al was sure he was going to get it this time. He had the Elric stubborn-streak, and if at first you don't succeed, you might as well die trying. Young Hohenheim definitely got that gene of the family, making sure that he always got his way and nothing would stop him from achieving his goals. Blue eyes, adapted from Winry, were always stark and determined, always showed Hohenheim's emotions and glowed wherever he went. They were soft eyes, like Al's mothers, and he was always happy whenever he saw them.
But the stark blonde hair, glowing brighter than Winry's and Al's, never failed to remind them that Hohenheim was, in fact, and Elric. No golden blonde could ever out-glow Edward's, but they always wished Hohenheim's was Trisha Elric's brown instead of Van Hohenheim's gold.
"Alphonse."
He glanced up minutely at the sound of his grandmother-in-law, smiling softly at Pinako, before turning back to his son, laughing when he tried to take another step.
Pinako smiled happily at the two, pausing for only a moment before she continued. With her mind like it was, it was a miracle she hadn't forgotten what she'd come in here for int he first place. She chuckled to herself again morbidly, "I've been hearing on the radio that there are possible insurgents in Central."
"Yeah, I've heard about that at work." Alphonse answered, swooping down to grab Hohenheim around the waist, pulling him up and swinging him around, "They say that the most shocking part about it is the uproar the military is causing."
"I was shocked about that, too." Pinako answered, strutting in slowly, having advanced to using a cane in the last few months. The slam of the cane against the hardwood made Hohenheim jump, before he wiggled out of his father's grasp at the sight of his great-grandmother.
She smiled softly, watching as the boy ran past them both to get to the kitchen where his mother was, "But I was just thinking that maybe you should call down there, ask if there's any possibility that these people could be as dangerous as they say they are."
"Pinako, I don't think there's any need for that." Alphonse laughed lightly as he finally turned to face her, his brows drawn in fatigue. His life had shifted to that of one that was relatively normal, and he didn't want anything such as border-jumpers or possible military-infiltrators to ruin that. After a life of wandering and troubles, he just wanted a normal life, and he had that now.
The woman wouldn't let down, though, as her lips pursed in annoyance and she strutted toward him with a particular slam of her cane, "Now, Alphonse, your wife is four months pregnant."
"Yes, yes, I know." Alphonse sighed, rolling his eyes at the argument Pinako never failed to bring up.
She continued though, "And your son is barely walking, not having spoken a word. What would you do if someone came to threaten that?"
"Pinako, I don't have time for this." Al sighed, running a tired hand through his hair, already shrugging out of his outer jacket he'd worn while out playing with Hohenheim, "You do realize that not everything is connected with us?"
"And you realize that I've sat here for years expecting everything to be! When you and Edward were out getting your bodies back, I worried about every little thing." She started, knowing that just the mention of Edward would send Al into greater hysterics, "You need to do the same. You have a family now!"
"I know, Pinako!" Alphonse finally let out, his shoulders slumping afterwards as he turned away, "I know."
He was already headed to the phone before she could say another word, wether it be to appease her for the time being, or to settle his own curiosity. They had been talking about the invaders at work for a while now, and while he himself was curious, he didn't want to run head-long into something that was none of his business. They were in close enough connection with the military that they would have gotten a call by now if they were in any sort of trouble, but Pinako still worried.
He dialed the number he knew by heart, hearing her thumping steps as she came to stand next to him.
"Hello, Brigadier General Armstrong's desk." The woman answered, sounding perky and cheery. Alphonse smiled, letting out a soft chuckle.
He sent a glance toward Pinako just to double check she was still there. If she wasn't witness to this call, it was possible she'd doubt it ever happened, "Hello, this is Alphonse Elric. Is Armstrong in?"
"Oh, yes, he just walked into his office. Nice to hear from you again, Al! How have you guys been?" Her voice picked up a few octaves.
Alphonse didn't quite want to admit that he didn't know who the speaker was, but he smiled regardless, "We've been very good. Winry's pregnant with our second, and it's shocking how fast Hohenheim is growing."
"It seems like only yesterday that Brigadier General Armstrong was going on about how tiny Hohenheim was!" She exclaimed happily, before announcing that she was patching him through to Armstrong, much to his relief. He didn't want to get to the part of the conversation where he would have to remember her name.
The phone was picked up and he already had the receiver a few inches from his ear for the possible blow out, "Alphonse! How long has it been since I've gotten a call from you! Much too long!"
"Yeah, it has been a while." He chuckled nervously, quickly trying to get to the subject before Armstrong pulled him into a conversation, "I'm sorry to say, but there is a reason I called -."
"Ahh, I was wondering when you'd call. I'm surprised, actually." Armstrong started, his voice much more somber as he nodded his head on his end of the conversation, his voice drawing out in a long sigh, "Though I'm glad you did call, Alphonse. Let me guess, Pinako talked you into it?"
Alphonse's eyes widened at the other's words. Was it really that big of a deal, the border-breach, that Armstrong was expecting him to call? Maybe Pinako was right, maybe the military had blown this out of proportion for a reason. There were dangerous people out there, and they were now in Central.
"Yes..." Alphonse answered slowly, glancing down at Pinako for only a moment before returning to his conversation, "She practically insisted. I have a family to worry about, she says."
"I'm so glad to hear you say that." Armstrong sounded almost teary-eyed, his voice constricting, making Al's worry increase even more, along with his confusion. Alex sniffled a bit as he continued, "I'd heard that you two were at odds with each other, I'm so glad that you still worry."
"Pinako and I?" Alphonse's confusion was slowly outgrowing his worry, speaking as he looked down at the elderly woman, wondering what on earth could have made Armstrong think that he and Pinako were at odds with each other. Better yet, why would Armstrong particularly care?
"But, let's get to the point." Armstrong made Alphonse come back to their conversation, "He's still in the hospital. The doctors are holding him for a few more days because his surgery hasn't healed completely, and they're worried that the extra stress could cause another infection in his lungs. The last one was hard enough to deal with."
"Wait, wait, wait!" Alphonse nearly had to yell to get Armstrong's attention, his brows drawing together in worry at the thought of who could possibly be in the hospital. Al chuckled morbidly to himself, "who are you talking about, Armstrong? I called to ask about the border breach!"
He saw Pinako glance up.
There was silence. Stark silence, a silence to make Alphonse turn toward Pinako and take a deep breath. He knew in the back of his mind who Armstrong was talking about, and as much as he hated to admit it, the worry in his chest magnified by a thousand. Hospital. Surgery. Infection. He didn't want to admit that his chest constricted. He wanted to tell Armstrong that he didn't care and hang up the phone, but he pressed the receiver harder against his ear.
"You didn't call about Edward?" Armstrong's voice didn't hold confusion but rather empty realization, his drawl coming out sad and morbid, but for a completely different reason than before. His voice was short.
Alphonse's lips drew into a thin line, his brows coming together angrily, his hand clenching hard enough to turn his knuckles white, "Edward's in the hospital?"
"What!" Pinako immediately screamed, her eyes wide as her cane dropped to the ground, clattering against the hardwood.
Armstrong nodded though Al couldn't see it. He more did it to pacify himself, trying to rationalize that Al and Ed were still at odds, and they weren't the close brother's they'd been before. Even now, years afterwards, it sounded odd and strange. He closed his eyes slowly, "Edward was in Ishval, helping rebuild. He was caught under falling debris. It broke a rib, cracked two, and his lung was punctured. It infected once, but they got it under control."
"What?" Alphonse groaned, trying to not imagine the event in his mind, "When did this happen?"
"Just about two and a half weeks ago, give or take."
Pinako listened silently as Al's conversation went on like this, Alphonse's shoulders slumping, his lips still pressed tightly. She knew that the news on the other side of the conversation weren't good, and the moment that Alphonse questioned about Edward being in the hospital, her heart nearly stopped in her chest. It was a miracle that Alphonse didn't hang up the phone the second his brother's name was mentioned, but he listened, only speaking up every once in a while. Pinako's worry grew with every second, her hand tightening on the wall where she stood. It was hard to take in, unbelievable that Edward would be in a hospital of his own will.
What could have happened? She closed her eyes and dipped her head, sighing sadly and mournfully. She missed Edward terribly, and writing was enough for her, just hearing how Edward was doing from time to time. The boy had become painfully distant, and she never truly knew the details of what had happened between him and Alphonse, but she didn't know if things could be patched. Edward could be brash and stubborn, being an Elric it came with the bloodline, but she knew that it came from both ends of the brothers to cause this horrible rift in their family.
Pinako's gaze quickly shot up when she heard the soft click of Al hanging up the phone, her worry increasing. Taking a hesitant step forward, she reached out to him shakily, "What happened...?"
"He says the insurgents are nothing to worry about. There was a meeting held with the Aerugian prime minister, and what they want is in Central. It has nothing to do with us." Alphonse quickly answered, his voice distant and his eyes not meeting hers as he reached down swiftly, picking up her dropped cane and handing it to her quickly. He was ready to turn around and go to his wife and child in the kitchen, but her stern voice stopped him.
"Alphonse Elric, so help me, if you walk away, you'll be leaving this house!" She yelled, her voice louder than it had been in years, her eyes on fire with worry and pure, unrivaled anger at Alphonse, "You tell me exactly what happened to Edward."
"They said he was helping in Ishval with the rebuild of the city." He started coldly, glancing over his shoulder at her for only a moment, "He was caught under some debris and he was hurt. He's been in the hospital for two weeks."
Her breath caught in her chest. No matter how many times she had to hear about what kind of trouble Edward got himself into, she always felt like she couldn't breathe when she did. Edward was always the one she felt the most worry about. Winry and Alphonse had enough common sense to take care of themselves, but Edward's common sense was replaced with brute passion and bullheaded strength. It always got him into trouble, so she always worried about him more than the other two.
She took a deep breath, and let it out slowly, her gaze determined as she stared into Al's deep brown eyes, "You're taking me to see him."
Al's eyes widened and his cheeks immediately flared in anger, "What! You can't be serious, Pinako!"
"I am serious, Alphonse!" Her voice overdrew his and echoed down the hall, her anger and determination apparent, "You are going to take me to see him. I'm tired of you and your damned actions. You are taking me to see Edward, is that clear?"
The seething glare sent towards here was no match for hers, her anger seeping out in waves. He scoffed, turning back down the hallway, his shoulders square, but the dip in his head was enough to make Pinako know that he was merely going to tell his wife of the news before heading up to pack some clothing. He might not speak to her for a while, and Winry would most definitely be angry with her as well, but she was more than willing to deal with the consequences.
Roy Mustang's hands were clenched into fists as he regarded the man in front of him with obvious distain. The feeling was mutual, as the deep green eyes common to Aerugian bore back at him. This was his second meeting with the Minister of Aerugo, and he couldn't say that he liked the man any more than he did before. It was this man's fault that the ten or so insurgents to breach the Amestris border had caused the ruckus they had, and it was this man's fault that Central was int he uproar it was. By word of mouth alone, this man had sent a proverbial time bomb into Central, waiting for it to explode. One word to a lower private sent a grape vine of worry through the lower ranks, and then the upper ranks, and then the towns people.
"It looks like you've gotten your point across." Roy started, folding his hands together over his knees, "Now every citizen in Central knows that what you want is within their city walls. Congratulations."
"You humble me, Major General Mustang." The Aerugian leader spoke, a evil and sinister sneer on his face. His name was Irving Wellmire, a sinister man that had worked his way to the top with money and fear, "I merely wanted your people to be...on their toes, so to speak."
"Since they're already under duress, you might as well tell us what it is you want." Roy started, his voice tight in restraint not to yell. It was under his watch that this breach happened, and while Armstrong was still telling others that Roy had been pulled out of his duty and sent to patrol streets, under direct orders of the Fuhrer, he was still heading this investigation. It was news to him why the Fuhrer felt it necessary to let people assume he was put off his post, but he chose not to question just yet.
"Hmm, I might, seeing as my men are closing in. It's only a matter of time before they take what we need." Irving chuckled, reaching up to rub at his chin, "but really, Major General, I feel as though we should have a nice chat. All this worry is really unsettling."
"How about we start the conversation by you telling me what you want." Roy started again, noting with slight jubilance that there was a twitch of annoyance in Minister Wellmire's eyes at his words.
Wellmire shook it off quickly, tilting his head in the other direction, "wouldn't that be a short conversation, though? I was so looking forward to a talk."
"We both have work we need to get back to, right? You tell me what I need to know and we can both get back to our lives." Roy let his hands rest in his lap as he shifted around unnoticeably on his uncomfortable chair.
Irving chuckled, "I have all the time in the world, Mustang. All the time in the world."
Roy scoffed, turning to look around the room distractedly, squinting in the darkness. The room was poorly lit, the only source of light coming from the solitary window to their side, showing a room with a large table, of which they were sitting. Surrounding the edges of the room were various guards, both of Roy and Wellmire's. He glanced at Wellmire again, his fingers jittering against his palms, "What else is there to talk about, Wellmire? We could be talking about negotiations to get what you want, to not cause any more trouble."
"Oh, I assure you, it wouldn't be that easy for either of us." Irving chuckled deep in his throat, resting his chin in his palm, glee lighting up his face, "I highly doubt you'd give me what I want. Why do you think I resorted to infiltration, Mustang?"
"Because your society is one of brash outlandish hooligans that follow your every order to the last word without a thought of your own. You can't make whatever you want, you don't have it already, so you must take it." Roy smirked as he saw Irving's smile disappear, his hand tightening in anger, "Whatever it is you want, we have it, and we're not giving it to you."
"It is one thing to insult me, Mustang, but you don't insult my people. I didn't know you were low enough to stoop to that." Irving calmed, but there was still a tick to his brow that had Mustang realizing that he could break through, "Yes, you have who we want."
"Who?" Mustang leaned forward, his eyes widening in shock as he heard the words fall from Irving's lips, "You want someone? Who on earth could you want?"
Irving smirked, trying to play like he let the mistake slide. He hadn't planned on letting his plan slide so easily, but his men already had the time to get into position, and they were completely surrounded. He'd merely wanted to keep Mustang at bay for a while, and that while was up.
"Have you heard of eternal life, Mustang? I've heard that people in your country know how to make a mythical red stone that can cure any illness, bring back the dead, heal the weak." Irving's smirk widened when he saw Mustang's eyes widen in fright, his hands tightening on the arm rests of his chair.
That couldn't possibly be what Irving wanted, could it? Roy scowled. Was it Marco they were looking for? As far as Roy knew, Marco was the only one with a working and solid philosophers stone, but he wasn't in central. How had the Aerugians even heard that they'd created a philosophers stone? This wasn't possible.
"Not to worry, Mustang." Irving chuckled eerily to himself as he smirked, leaning further on his hand and tilting his head so that he could cheekily grin, "The philosophers stone, so you call it, isn't what we want. We already agreed that it's a person, did we not?"
"Who could you possibly want?" Mustang sneered.
Irving shrugged, "You must be aware that us Aerugians were never that avid in the art of alchemy. The Xing people have Alkahestry, Amestris has Alchemy, and I'm under the impression that Drachma has something along those lines, but us Aerugians? We've never been so lucky."
Was it an alchemist that Irving wanted? Mustang mused as he tried to calm himself down, but there was so much riding on this conversation. Central was starting to freak out, and it wasn't like it hadn't happened before, but the people needed to be calmed with some good news, and whoever the Aerugians were after, they needed to get them protected.
"I've heard that Alchemy is nothing short of magic. Turning grass into bread, water into wine, stone into gold." Irving's voice showed awe and amazement, his eyes glowing as he spoke of what the possibilities of Alchemy could be, "But there are some lacking skills, but those are made up for by brute strength."
Mustang didn't answer, regarding the man with curiosity as we went on, his ears perking to attention when the man started listing details and information about a person in general.
"This man, he's a hero of the people. We've heard much of him here in Aerugo. Amazing, the words we've heard of him over the country. He can bring people back from the dead, we've heard. He is a man of determination and strength, glowing like the sun itself as his power seethes through the ground." Irving smirked, his excitement growing as he saw Roy shift in his seat at the details. The man couldn't quite grasp who they were talking about, and that pleased Irving to no end, "That's just rumors, you see."
"Wellmire." Roy sat up in his seat, his brows drawing together and his fingers just twitching to snap and get this whole thing over with.
"He must be amazing." Irving sighed, ignoring Roy's words and dipping his head back, smiling to the sky, elated at the thought of the person they were soon going to have in their grasp, "An alchemical genius. We will soon have him, use his power for our own, his strength. Our land with flourish. His power is unrivaled."
Roy gaped, his eyes growing wide as he stood straight up in front of his chair, his hands tightening at his sides as he turned toward his guards, his eyes widening even more as he saw them slumped against the walls, already unconscious. He shot back toward Irving, his teeth tight together.
"His metal limbs stretch toward the sky and rival God himself."
Irving reached upward, stretching out his arms toward the ceiling, smiling jubilantly.
Roy sneered, his chest constricting painfully, his blood running cold in his veins, "You can't be after him! He can't use alchemy anymore, surely you heard of that!"
Irving only faltered for a second, smirking and raising his brows in amusement, "Surely you can't think I believe that rumor?"
"You believed everything else, didn't you?" Mustang didn't waste a second, his eyes snapping to the guards that had their swords trained on him, ready to strike. With a simply flutter of cloth, he raised his arm, snapping swiftly. The only thing the guards managed to do before the explosion was hear a soft snap, and the room was engulfed in flames.
There was a burst of commotion, and Roy didn't have to turn his back to look a the door to know that Hawkeye had already burst in. Roy knew that Irving was planning on taking out all his men and keeping them here, trapping them while his people got to Central.
"Mustang, calm down." Irving laughed boisterously, the flames encircling his chair as he smirked eerily, fingers playing on his chin again, "My men are already at the hospital."
"Hawkeye." Roy's hands tightened painfully, and the worry in his chest was so constricting that it nearly made him stagger and weave, "Get me a train to Central, right now. Have a car waiting there for me to take me to Central Hospital. Tell Armstrong and his men to get to Central hospital as soon as possible."
"Sir?" She glanced at him for only a second, her eyes widening at the look on her boss's face. She had only seen that look on his face once before, and she never wanted to see it again. His face was twisted and ugly, brows drawn together, his eyes wide and his hands shaking in barely restrained rage.
She nodded, before taking a single step backward, her curiosity almost making her speak again, but when she heard Mustang's quivering voice, full of bone-chilling anger.
"They're going after Edward."
"Giovanni, go home." Edward stated, his eyes trained on the military personnel surrounding the door to the room. Armstrong was at the head, his arms folded tightly behind his back as he entered, his normally light and jubilant face hard and tight with stress, making the nerves in Ed's back tighten. Something was up, and that something definitely had something to do with him. The hospital had been in a complete uproar since yesterday, and Edward wasn't the only one who noticed. The nurses had gone on strike three days ago, and it was by this time that most of the doctors and patients had been transferred to a nearby facility.
Edward hadn't been told a word, not a thing had been spoken.
Giovanni gaped at his teacher, nervously glancing from the military to his teacher, his hands shifting on the hem of his shirt. Even though he'd heard Ed perfectly clear, his feet shifted closer towards his teacher, his eyes forming into a hard glare. He'd met Armstrong before, it was hard not to, but he didn't like the air of the room around him.
Edward repeated himself, no louder, no more stern, "Giovanni. Go home."
"No." GIo answered, stepping even closer to the other, now pressed against the edge of the bed, mere inches from the blonde, "I'm not going anywhere."
The only sound that could be heard was the soft exhale from Edward, only a slight bit of relief sifting through his veins at Giovanni's stubbornness. It wasn't like he couldn't hold out against these people by himself, but it made it easier to have someone on his side in this room.
Armstrong was a subjective friend, seeing as he was friendly one on one, but when the military got involved, he had no qualms about siding with his job. It was understandable, but it never failed to leave Edward feeling suspicious about their friendship.
"Edward, we're here to put you under protective custody. You are not to exit this hospital room for any reason." Armstrong's voice wasn't as harsh as Edward thought it was going to be, but that didn't ease his worry any more.
Snorting cynically, Edward let his lips form into a sneer, his obvious dislike for the situation at hand showing clear as day, "I'm not to leave? Where do you think I am, Armstrong? Why don't you start by telling me what the hell is going on."
Armstrong's men shifted nervously, glancing at their superior, wondering what he was going to do at this lack of respect. Armstrong knew better than to assume that this was a blatant show of insubordination, but he still straightened his back and resumed his glare at Edward, "We are under orders not to let any information go. We are merely staying here and keeping you under surveillance for your own safety."
"That'd help if we knew what's going on!" Giovanni started to take a step forward, but a soft hand on his arm kept him back. He glanced at Edward for a second, before huffing, looking back toward the others.
"Have you been talking to Mika?" Edward questioned, his hand tightening over his port. It was three days ago that his leg was supposed to be done, and every time he questioned Mika about it, the man came up with an excuse about it. Now the man was nowhere to be seen, and it had Edward on edge.
Armstrong didn't even flinch, "Mika is still finishing your automail, Edward."
"Yeah, and it should have been done a while ago." Giovanni jumped in again, his lips pursing together in the face of authority.
Edward grumbled something under his breath, something probably along the lines of teenagers and their nosy and immature tendencies. Flopping back on the bed tiredly, Ed ran a hand through his hair, a nervous habit he was growing accustomed to ever since he entered the hospital. He was sure he was going to go bald if he kept it up, but something about it was calming. Letting out a large breath, he closed his eyes, just barely hearing Armstrong's answer.
"Yes, and due to unforeseen circumstances, his progress has been delayed." The answer was short and calculated, much like their entire conversation, "He should be finishing up today. I had one of my men go and check up on his progress."
"Today?" Edward continued laying, twisting around so he could get a good look at Armstrong, just a thin tendril of hope rising in his chest. He never got excited about things anymore, at least while he was in this hospital. This place was a permanent buzz-kill, and while the news that he was soon to get his leg was particularly good, he couldn't bring himself to do more than just smile.
Armstrong smiled softly at the boy, breaking their routine by showing just a small ounce of emotion at the man lying on the hospital bed, "Yes. Mika said that as soon as he's finished he'd head up here, but we informed him to stay at his house until further notice."
Yet again, the hospital seemed to find everything that was good and nice and burn it to the ground. He wasn't even going to be getting his leg today, and that was the only thing he had to look forward to. He couldn't even teach Gio today, seeing as the boy still needed practice on many things before they progressed much further.
"What?" Giovanni intervened once more, throwing his arms out in exasperation. He hated seeing his teacher this defeated, and while Edward was a long shot from being truly depressed, he still wanted this onslaught of bad news to stop, "Why can't Edward have his leg today? It's going to be finished, what's the harm?"
"Precaution." Even Armstrong was growing annoyed with this kid, but Giovanni didn't back down, his back straight, and for a thirteen-year-old, he looked almost intimidating.
"Precaution my ass!" Gio was held back by Edward again, the man swiftly sitting up, snatching the boy by the back of the shirt and tugging violently. A small squeak escaped Gio's throat, and as he fell back against the bed, lying next to Ed with only a few inches, he growled. Throwing a glare at Edward before turning it to the ceiling, he shrugged and crossed his arms, the intimidating image practically useless, "just saying. What's with all the 'precautions'?"
"They're the military." Edward answered, listening to the soft clomp of shoes as the military personnel entered the room, the harshest footfalls stopping at the foot of their bed, no doubt belonging to Armstrong himself, "They have precaution and protocol for everything."
"Seems like a bunch of bull to me." Giovanni turned his head to glance at his teacher, his lips pursing together when he saw Edward's eyes close and yet another sigh, "Aren't you going to do something? You've been here for too long and now they're forcing you to stay even longer."
"Believe you me, if I had my leg, I would have jumped ship ages ago." Edward's palms were flat against his stomach, his leg hanging almost to the floor, his stump shifting with anxiousness, "but if I want to learn more about what happened with Mustang at the border, I have to shut up and do what they say."
"Didn't they say that Mustang was patrolling the streets now?" Gio questioned softly, unconsciously bringing his voice down to a whisper, leaning forward.
Edward scoffed, not bothering to whisper, his voice just as loud and boisterous as ever, "You believe that? Roy Mustang would never leave his post as easily as that."
Giovanni sighed, smiling a bit to himself, "I guess you're right. Mustang's a good guy. If he were here, he woulda' told you what was going on."
"Maybe." Edward smirked to himself, not realizing a soft sheen of red went over his nose, "I'm not so sure. It seems like everyone's keeping things from me."
"Well." Gio frowned deeply, his brows furrowing together, even as he looked around at the men in the room again. He shifted around on the bed, trying to get comfortable and hide his blush every time his arm brushed against Edwards. Gulping again, he kicked his legs for a moment, before bringing his hands up to rest on his stomach. This was weird, he couldn't help thinking. He'd never been this close to someone before, lying on a bed like this, the warmth was radiating off Edward, and it was comforting in a way. Despite the fact they were surrounded by potentially dangerous men from the military, Gio was happy. It was nice, just sitting and not having to think about anything in particular, lying on a semi-comfortable bed with someone you care about.
That thought alone made Giovanni's blush brighten, and he couldn't look at his teacher. When had his awe for Edward turned to affection? He'd always felt a certain connection with Ed, from the moment they'd met, and Gio had never felt something like this before. Gulping and blushing, he turned toward Edward with confidence, his lips pursed together, "I tell you everything, don't I?"
Edward laughed, nodding and rubbing at his forehead, "Yeah, you do." Looking over at Giovanni, he shrugged, smirking to himself at the small blush over the boy's face, "Thanks."
"Yeah." Gio looked away quickly, blushing deeper.
There was a calm silence, a warm silence. That is, until Edward grunted deep in his throat, his eyes forming into a glare, "Hey! Isn't there transmutations you should be practicing?"
Giovanni was up and off the bed before Edward's swinging limbs could manage to hit him.
Edward sighed as he leaned against the back of the bed, the blanket thrown over his legs and his head tipped back as he took a deep breath. Stretching the fingers of the hand that was still in the cast, he grumbled again, trying to twist his wrist around within the confinements. He'd broken multiple bones in his life, it wasn't a mystery to him the feel of his arm being wrapped in this concrete-like fabric, but it was never comfortable, and he'd never get used to it.
Jerking his head to the side, Edward's ears perked up as he heard a small commotion in the hallway, his heart quickening at the sound of it. If his own worries were escalated when the men around the room tensed, and Armstrong raised a single hand to keep them at bay for the time being, even though his own eyes were trained on the door.
"Giovanni, come here." Edward stated instantly, drawing the boy back from where he'd walked across the room to start on his transmutations. He was at Edward's side instantly, standing defensively in front of the bed. He'd heard the commotion, and he knew that something dangerous was up in this hospital. The only thing he was certain of at this point, though, was that he'd protect his teacher with his life.
Edward's ears strained to listen, to catch a sound or a voice, or even a word as the voices grew louder.
"Just let me in there, goddamn it! I'm here to see Edward, I travelled a whole day just to see him! I'm not going to stand here and let you block my path, you ruffian!"
He smiled wider than he had in a while, his shoulders slumping from relief like water through his fingers. It was almost painful how tight his nerves had been, and now all he wanted to do was roll his eyes and hug the person on the other side of the door. One glance at Armstrong and the man knew who it was, his own fond smile coming to his face as he walked toward the door.
"Let her in." Armstrong murmured as he opened the door to the guard that was standing out in the hall, "But only for a moment."
"For a moment my ass!" The elderly woman wielding a cane as a weapon barged past Armstrong, stamping headlong into the room with a determination that only a Rockbell could possess. Edward figured it was only a matter of time before Pinako figured out about Edward's predicament, but for his own sanity, he really wished she'd learned of it sooner.
Pinako only paused for a moment, her mouth gaping wide at the blonde in the hospital bed. The other's had been seeing him for a time, so they were used to his battered appearance by now, but her eyes widened when she took in his form. Arm still in a cast laid across his stomach, dip in the fabric where his leg used to be, multiple healing bruises and scratches littering his form, obviously bad ones if they were still there after two weeks, and a single still purple and yellow bruise running the course of Edward's forehead. He looked terrible and it made her almost lonely.
"Edward." She strutted forward, her cane thumping against the ground as she forcefully pushed the strange and gawky boy standing in front of Edward's bed aside, reaching forward and taking Ed's hand, "I'm sorry it took me so long."
"It's okay." Edward smiled sadly, pushing the blankets off his lap and scooting forward, leaning down carefully and enveloping the woman in a tight hug, his lips quivering at the oh so familiar face, "It's okay. Just...thank you for coming."
"You look like shit." Pinako sighed into Edward's shoulder, not allowing the boy to relinquish his hold just let, her tiny arms holding onto him with impressive strength, "If I ever hear that you've been put in a hospital and haven't called me, so help me..."
Edward shook his head and his chest rumbled with a laugh.
"What happened to your leg?" Pinako asked as she slowly withdrew, not having missed the significant dip in the fabric where Ed's automail should have been, "What kind of trouble did you get yourself into this time?"
"It broke, I'm sorry." Edward smirked, his brows lifting mischievously, "Maybe your work just isn't good enough. It broke so easily..."
The loud whap that resounded the room made everyone wince, but the boisterous laughter coming from Edward afterwards made them roll their eyes. Edward rubbed at his head where Pinako's cane made a nasty dent, "Geez, granny, you never could take a joke."
"Not only do you insult me, but you sit here without a leg for two weeks?" She sighed, crossing her arms and shaking her head, internally wondering why she was placed with such a reckless boy to worry over, "But maybe I can talk Winry into making you another one, I don't know if I'll be able to make the whole thing myself."
Edward sobered slightly, his lips only twitching, wether at the mention of another leg, the possible disappointment he'd cause by telling Pinako that he was already being made another one, or the mention of how old Pinako was getting. It was probably a horrible mixture of all three. He laughed only a little, almost silently, "Sorry, granny, not this time."
"Hm?" Pinako ceased her internal calculations on Edward's new leg, looking at him quizzically, "What do you mean?"
"I mean..." He paused, shifting in his seat and glancing away for a second, "I already have another leg coming. He's a really good automail mechanic from Rush Valley, he's an alchemist, too."
They both glanced up at the soft squeak of the door as it slid open slowly, revealing the figure on the other side listening to their conversation. Edward's eyes widened, shocked at the very thought that the man would even consider coming to visit him. Gaping, Edward was almost too astonished to speak, "...Alphonse..."
Giovanni, sitting on the other side of the room, let the blue light fade from his most recent transmutation. The single word hit his ears and made him whip around, an unexplained anger sifting through him at the mention of the name. Turning to see the form standing in the doorway, Giovanni was pleased to no end that Edward and Alphonse only remotely looked alike. This was the brother that caused Edward so much grief? The anger surged within him, and he stood up slowly, not stepping forward but glaring with so much hatred that he was surprised Alphonse couldn't feel it on the other side of the room.
"Edward." Alphonse leaned against the frame of the doorway, crossing his arms and leaving the door open.
Edward grunted something under his breath before turning back to Pinako, smiling sadly, "Sorry, Granny. I didn't want to bother you with my troubles, so I just had Armstrong find a guy to make another leg. He's supposed to be one of the best in Rush Valley."
"What's his name?" Pinako asked slowly, not perturbed in the slightest that Edward would choose to go with another automail mechanic. She wasn't blind to the obvious tension between her granddaughter and Edward, and recently, she had been siding with Edward. Winry deep down had good intentions under her thick skin, but she could be sort of a pill sometimes.
Edward's brows rose curiously, "Mika Orken."
And when Pinako smiled, that devious glint in her eyes, hands twitching along her cane, Edward instantly knew that he'd made the right choice. Pinako didn't get that look in her eye for just anyone.
"Ah, Mika." She crossed her arms and nodded, smirking to herself as she remembered the young man she had met all those years ago during one of her trips to visit friends and family down in Rush Valley. He wasn't as old as her, probably a good thirty years younger than her, but he was already so gifted, "I met him when I was apprenticing a class in Rush Valley. He was only twenty years old, but he was already creating automail better than half the men I'd met. He's a very good choice, I'd dare say his automail is better than my own."
"Pinako!" Alphonse growled angrily at the bash to Pinako's automail, because in a roundabout way, it bashed his wife's.
Pinako rolled her eyes and glanced back at her grandson-in-law, giving him a pointed look, "You wouldn't know, Alphonse. Winry's automail is phenomenal, but she's the mere age of twenty. That's nothing compared to a mechanic that has forty years under his belt, and not to mention alchemical talents. Winry's automail is scrap metal compared to Mika's."
Alphonse growled a bit, raising up from his lean against the wall and turning away, walking out of the room. Edward sighed sadly as the door was slammed shut by his brother, realizing that no matter how close they got or how hurt Edward was, Alphonse would never do anything about their failed relationship. Edward hadn't even said a word and Alphonse had barged out of the room in a fury.
"Teacher." Giovanni walked forward uneasily, setting the intricately designed overcoat he'd transmuted near Edward, pursing his lips together, "This is for you, it's getting colder outside. I'm going to use the restroom."
Without a word, Giovanni walked to the door of the room, throwing it open and walking out before anyone could think of stopping him.
"This is very good, did he do it?" Pinako asked almost in a whisper, knowing that boy to be someone special to Edward. An apprentice maybe, she thought to herself, but Edward was never one who would take on an apprentice.
"Yeah. I'm teaching him." She didn't mind that her assumptions were wrong. Edward sighed and took the jacket, noting the fine details and the woven stitches. Giovanni had made this out of books, yet again, but he couldn't bring himself to be mad at the boy for using books as fodder. This was amazing work, Edward thought. It was getting to the point where Giovanni would be good enough to apply for the alchemy exam, almost. He was nowhere near it yet, but if they continued at this pace for a few more months, he'd reach it.
Edward laughed. Giovanni would need a better teacher then him. The boy would never advance if he didn't have solid examples, a good look at alchemy, a strong source. Edward couldn't provide that.
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