If you are sensitive to child abuse and rape, then please do not read this. I do not wish to offend anyone.
Edward woke in the middle of the night covered with cold sweat and a sense of shame. His heart was racing, and his blonde hair was matted onto his forehead and the back of his neck. After mentally calming himself, his panting had decreased and his heart had calmed slightly.
"Brother, are you alright?" Alphonse asked. He had a cold hand on the teen's flesh shoulder, and was close to the bed for comfort.
"I'm fine, Al," Edward reassured. He hated having Alphonse see him like this, since it meant that the younger knew that he was distressed. "Just a bad dream.."
"What about this time, brother?" Alphonse asked. He always asked this after Edward admitted to having a nightmare. Edward always seemed to make up some lie, and even though Al could tell it was a lie, he never pried, knowing that Ed always had a good reason for lying to him.
"I don't remember," Ed lied smoothly. He did it all the time, he should at least know how to do it properly. "I guess it wasn't that bad if I didn't even remember it." he let out a false laugh.
"Do you think you could go back to sleep?" Al asked as he looked to the time, knowing Edward would ask.
"What time is it?" Edward asked, as if on cue.
"It's two in the morning," Alphonse told him. "Do you think you could?"
"Maybe.." Ed said, stretching a bit. Stretching after waking up always made his automail joints feel better, since they were stiff from sleeping, as well as his flesh joints.
"I could run you a warm bath if that will make you feel better," Alphonse suggested. "Or maybe I could try to find a place open at this time of night that sells hot cocoa." he added.
"No," Edward said quickly. He had tensed up at the thought of Al leaving him alone, which caused his brother to place his blanket around his shoulders. "I think I can get to sleep.." he trailed.
"Alright, you just lay down and rest yourself," Alphonse told. "I can leave the light on for you if you'd like?" he asked. Ed nodded, and laid back down on the bed. He was exhausted from the nightmare, even just after waking up. He wanted to get to sleep so that morning would come quickly.
The light was left on and Edward slept peacefully for the rest of the night.
Edward woke once more in the morning, though it was around eleven. That's not right, Edward thought. I went to bed pretty early, why am I sleeping so late? Maybe it had something to do with Alphonse waking him up every hour from his mild concussion. He shrugged off the thought and awoke anyway. Alphonse was nowhere to be found.
At this thought, Ed nearly started panicking. Where was his brother? Why did he leave him? Why didn't he wake him up! The blonde jumped out of bed and began looking around the small dorm. Though, there wasn't many places for a seven foot suit of armor to hide.
When Edward was in the process of looking, the door opened revealing Alphonse. The younger carried a small paper bag that looked as if it were filled with something. It wasn't food, since Ed couldn't smell it, but the blonde knew his armored brother would definitely make him do something with it.
"Al! Where were you?" Edward asked quickly. He didn't even care if Alphonse answered the question, all that mattered was that he was here now. The teen quickly latched onto Al's metal arm and seemed like he were trying to fuse himself with the other in order to stay together.
"You weren't waking up, so I went to get some medicine. I thought that your head might hurt today." Alphonse said. He reached into the bag and pulled out a small bottle that looked like it had pills in it.
"My head doesn't hurt too bad," Ed admitted. "Nothing an ice pack can't cure. Thanks, though."
"Alright, brother," Al said, placing the bottle back inside the bag. This proved to be difficult since the other teenager wouldn't release his arm. "Just in case, though, I'll put it in your suitcase," he informed, slowly prying Ed's fingers off of him before he moved to the suitcase. "Don't you have a meeting with the Colonel today?" Alphonse asked.
"Oh crap!" Ed exclaimed. He quickly reached to the floor and grabbed the clothing he was wearing before. Smelling them, and deeming them wearable, he put them back on. He was in the process of putting his boots on when Alphonse sighed.
"Brother, those clothes are dirty. I know you have casual clothes in here, why don't you just wear those?" Alphonse asked.
"Come on, Al, casual clothes in the military?" Ed asked as he placed his watch on his pocket, attached to his belt.
"It's not like you wear a uniform anyway," Alphonse laughed. He looked at the clock for a moment before turning back to his brother. "You're late by three hours. Again." Al sighed. Edward made it out the door just have Alphonse's statement, and the younger knew he was alone to read once more.
"I'm telling you, Roy, I'm worried about him," Hughes spilled his guts and feelings out to his best friend. "The doctor said that his habits aren't the same for a normal sixteen–year old."
"We all know that Fullmetal is not a normal sixteen–year old, Hughes. I mean, he's been in the military since he was twelve, and has two prosthetic limbs. I doubt you'll find another teenager with the same predicament." Roy said with a sigh. Hughes stood in front of his desk, pacing slightly as he tried to figure out what was wrong.
"We all know Ed's not a normal teenager, Roy. But what if his predicament isn't the only reason that he's not a normal teenager," Hughes told. "What if there's something else going on with him?"
"Well, why don't you stick around for his report and take notes on him," Roy smirked. He was only half joking. If something was wrong with the oldest Elric, the raven haired man saw it as his responsibility to take care of it. Or at least to make sure it was taken care of. "He should have been here three hours ago."
Suddenly the door was kicked open by an automail foot from inside a platform boot. The adults looked to see a blonde teenager, who didn't seem all too happy. Mustang also noticed there was a bruise on Edward's forehead, though Hughes had already seen it when he took Ed to the medic, so he didn't question it.
"Fullmetal, late once again I see.." Mustang sighed. He pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration. The teen rolled his sun colored eyes.
"A bastard once again I see." Ed smirked, proud of his remark, though quickly found himself sitting down on the sofa in the office, throwing his feet onto the coffee table as if it were a foot rest.
"That's the difference between you and I, Edward," Roy smirked Ed's way, making the teen feel miniscule against it. "I'm an adult, and you're a child."
"Really? I'm sensing you're also an asshole. You left that out," a laugh was brought to the teen's lips before Mustang began to glare him down. At this, Edward stopped their conversation and he leaned his head back on the sofa. "So, what did you want to have a meeting with me about? I thought I already gave you my stupid report."
"You did, Edward, but I've been having a hard time choosing missions for you," Mustang admitted as he shuffled through papers on his desk, lacking interest. "You see, there are no missions for the philosophers stone right now. So, for a while, you're sort of on break."
"Gives Al and I more time to finally get some studying done." Edward shrugged. Less missions meant he didn't have to move around so much. While he never liked to stay in one place for too long, that didn't mean he wanted to constantly travel. Besides, the library was where all the information was at.
"Yes, yes," Mustang said in a bored tone. In truth he wasn't paying as much attention to the teenager as he should have been. Hughes had come to him believing something was wrong with the teen and his behavior, though he didn't have the motivation to actually pay attention to him. "Since your dorm was only rented out for a week and we need them for other soldiers, so why don't you spend your time here in Central with Hughes and his family." Roy gave an opportunity for Hughes to investigate more on Edward's behavior.
"What?!" Edward shouted in disbelief. Hughes caught onto Mustang's idea and definitely took the opportunity gratefully.
"You know, Elysia's been asking about her big brothers lately. Besides, the other soldiers could use the dorm, you have a place to stay with Gracia and I." Hughes smiled brightly. Before Ed had a chance to react, he took the teen by the shoulder and began to drag him by his automail wrist.
"Little big brother!" Elysia squealed as she caught a glance of her favorite alchemist. She ran toward him and jumped. Luckily Ed caught her, as Elysia hadn't thought of any sort of danger in the matter. He gave a half smile as she nuzzled into him. "Where's bigger brother?" she asked as she realized Alphonse was not in sight.
"He's on his way here, pumpkin," Hughes told her, as Edward had no clue where Alphonse was, and had asked at least twice on the way there, only to have the subject changed. "Uncle Havoc is going to drive him here."
"Yay! Uncle Havoc!" Elysia laughed and squealed. She made her way out of Ed's arms and worked toward her Father. She took Hughes by the hand and dragged him to the kitchen, leaving Edward in an awkward alone moment still in the doorway of the house. Gracia was quick to rescue him.
"Edward, it's good to have you here. You remember where the guest room is, right?" when Ed gave her a nod, she smiled. "Good, that's where you and Alphonse will be staying while you're here. Alphonse has all of your things, so you can go upstairs and relax if you'd like."
At hearing this, Edward thanked her and quickly darted for the guest room. He just wanted some time alone, it had been so long since he was able to have that time. Though, he feared being alone. It wasn't as if he were a small child, he just couldn't be alone for very long.
He knew after a few minutes of sitting in the guest room he would come out, longing to be around someone else. It was better when he was around other people. He had less time to think.
Like clockwork, he made it out of the guest room after a few minutes and found Gracia cooking dinner in the kitchen. It was late, now that Ed thought about it. The blonde also noticed that Elysia and Hughes were beginning to set the table.
"Do you need any help, Mrs. Hughes?" Edward asked as he moved toward the kitchen. Gracia turned her gaze to him and flashed a motherly smile.
"Edward, you don't need to call me Mrs. Hughes. We've known each other for years. Just Gracia, please," Gracia said with a slight laugh. "And, yes, help would be wonderful. Could you mix the mashed potatoes a little bit more?" she asked and he quickly gave a nod.
After Hughes and Elysia got the table set up, Edward and Gracia had finished with the dinner. By the time everything was ready, Alphonse had arrived. They talked for a while before Al put Ed's things away in the guest room. After everyone had dinner, they socialized. Elysia went to bed at nine, and around that time, Edward decided he should go to bed as well. Alphonse said he would join them, and the three children went up to their rooms to sleep.
"Brother, do you want me to ask the Hughes' if we could keep some light on?" Alphonse asked. He knew Edward didn't like being in the dark.
"No," Ed said quickly. He didn't want anyone else but Alphonse to know of this little tidbit of himself. It would be humiliating. "I'll go to sleep without it.." he trailed.
"Alright, brother. Just let me know if you want me to ask." that was the last of what Edward Elric heard from Alphonse that night.
"You disgust me. You're putrid. All you'll ever be is a worthless dog."
So, one of my best friend's actually titled this for me. She came up with the name Rebellion. I hope everyone will review! :)
Next Chapter: May 7th