If you are sensitive to child abuse and rape, then please do not read this. I do not wish to offend anyone.
Previously on Rebellion:
"Well, don't let it happen again." Mustang shook it off. He walked out of the hospital with Riza and that was the end.
Dammit, you could have said something. You could have told them. Why didn't you just tell them? Maybe Tucker was right. You won't tell anyone because it's your fault. You like it too much.
Over the week, Tucker had become more gentle with Edward. It was a reward for being so good during their time in the basement, and so they continued their time in Tucker's bedroom whenever Alphonse and Nina would leave the house, which was quite often. Alphonse had almost become the sole caretaker of the little girl.
Ed didn't like it, no matter how much Tucker said that it was him that was causing it. It was being said so much that Edward had actually begun to believe it.
"Maybe if I was repulsive I couldn't do this.." Edward told himself, locking himself in the bathroom. A razor was located there, it was Tucker's for whenever he would shave his face. "Maybe if he thinks I'm ugly he wouldn't.."
Lifting the small razor, Ed decided to slice himself somewhere no one but Tucker would see. His upper thighs, where only someone who would see him in his boxers would see – and lately he had been sleeping in night pants instead of just his boxers.
When he was finished, Edward cleaned up with some water and toilet paper, carefully tending to the wounds. He didn't care if they got infected or not, he just didn't want anyone to find out he had been doing this. Then the dreaded word came up.
"Physical?!" Edward shouted, shocked that this hadn't come up before.
"Yes, Edward, you need a physical if you're going to stay in the military. Everyone gets one; the only reason you're getting yours so late is because you're so young that we didn't want you to stand in front of everyone else naked." Mustang explained, seeming bored and not very into the conversation. He was reading some report while he spoke.
"I don't need a physical, I was just at the doctor. I was there twice, I'm sure I'm perfectly healthy now." Ed argued. If he couldn't use this as an excuse, than he had nothing left.
Mustang let out a dreary sigh. "It doesn't matter, Ed, you still need the physical for the military documents."
"The military documents go along with the non–military documents, you know. Whatever my documents from the hospital says, it copies them down onto my military file." Edward retorted.
"Stop being a baby and go get your physical. A doctor is waiting for you in the medical wing.Go." Mustang ordered.
"Son of a bitch.." Ed grumbled as he walked out the door.
I could make a run for it. Instead of going to that stupid medical wing, I could run. But then Mustang would just make me go back...Ugh, what do I do?! I guess I could go and just stop being a baby about it...
Walking into the medical wing and seeing the doctor, he began his decent to being found out. The cuts on his legs would be found, and he would probably be sent to some stupid therapist that would make him spill his guts. Well it wasn't happening. He wouldn't let it.
"Fullmetal, I've been expecting you," the male doctor said. "My name is Dr. Johnson, I'll be conducting your physical today. Come with me," he lead Edward to a room that's only separation from everywhere else was a thin curtain. "If you could get undressed." the doctor told.
Ed looked in the room to see if there was any way that anyone else could see. He never liked his Automail to be exposed, but for everything to be exposed like this. Tucker must have known that he would be needing a physical soon, and so that must have been why he was so gentle lately.
He shrugged his red coat off, laying it on the bed that was covered with paper sheets and began to remove his black jacket next. Once he had removed everything on his torso, he kicked his boots off and worked on his pants.
The doctor had turned around to give a false sense of privacy, but Ed knew as well as the doctor did that Johnson would just see everything anyway. Finishing stripping down to his boxers, Edward was content that he was not going to remove any more clothing. The doctor then turned around.
"Alright, Edward, please sit on the bed and we'll give you your physical. It should only take a few minutes," Johnson said. He grabbed a stethoscope and pressed it to Ed's chest, telling him the proper times to breath in and out.
Once that was over, he worked on examining Ed for any cuts or bruises, which was not a part of the physical at all. It was a personal request that was sent out by the boy's landlord, Shou Tucker. Noticing the cuts on Ed's legs, he marked it down on the file.
"You're free to get dressed and you can leave any time." the doctor said. He then walked out of the room, giving Ed the rest of his privacy back, and the pre–teen then dressed.
Edward didn't waste any time leaving; stopping by Mustang's office of course. He made sure that the Colonel knew that he had done the physical, just as ordered, before being allowed to go home. Even though Ed didn't want to go back home to see Tucker, he did so anyway, knowing that he would just be worse off if he procrastinated.
Returning back to the Tucker residence, Ed knew that he was in for it when Tucker found him. He had spent longer at Central headquarters than he was supposed to, or at least longer than usual. Unfortunately, Edward was not aware that Tucker had asked the doctor that was giving him his physical to look out for cuts or bruises.
Edward walked into the house and soon fell to the floor with a sharp stinging sensation on his cheek. It nearly brought him to tears. Ed didn't even know what had just happened, though when he looked up and saw Tucker standing over him, he knew that he had been hit, though was unaware of why.
"Let me see your legs!" Tucker shouted. He began to move for Ed's pants, the pre–teen struggling to get away. He didn't even know if Alphonse or Nina was home. "Let me see them!"
Tucker held Edward down onto the ground and worked his pants off. He had a lot of experience of doing this with Ed, and eventually managed to get them down. Immediately he noticed the cuts on his legs.
"You little whore!" Tucker yelled. He slapped Edward on the face again. "I can't believe you would do this to yourself! You idiot! Don't you know that this could be pinned on me!"
"I'm sorry..I'm sorry.." Ed recited with tears escaping from his eyes. He hated being reduced to tears, but it seemed to happen often whenever he was with Tucker. "Please...I'm sorry.."
"You better be sorry you little slut," Tucker said. He kicked Edward in the side, causing the boy to curl into himself. "Go to your room.Now." Tucker said. Ed didn't waste any time, lifting himself off the ground and retreating to his bedroom where he dressed in his pajama pants.
Edward rested on his bed, curled in a ball with tears escaping his eyes. He sobbed into his pillow, not wanting to be heard by anyone. When he heard the door being opened, he stiffened and forced himself to stop sobbing immediately.
"Brother? I didn't know you were back from the Colonel's office," Alphonse's voice rang through the room. "Are you alright? Are you sick?" he asked, coming closer. Ed didn't say anything. He just wanted to be left alone. "Brother?"
"I'm fine." Ed said, his voice muffled from the pillow. Knowing his face would be red and puffy from crying, he refused to look at his brother.
"Are you sure?" Alphonse asked, obviously not believing a thing that Edward was saying.
"Yeah, I'm fine." Edward repeated. No I'm not, Al. Please, see that.
"Did something happen at the Colonel's office?" Alphonse placed a hand on Ed's back, causing him to stiffen even more–if possible.
"No." Ed answered truthfully.No, Al, something happened here. You have to get us out of here!
"Alright...I'll be in the library if you need me. Maybe tomorrow we could go to the Central library instead of using Mr. Tucker's?" Alphonse suggested.
"Sounds great, Al, we'll do that." Edward said. Anything to get him out of the house and away from Tucker.
Alphonse left Ed alone, believing that his brother was tired and wanted to be alone. In truth, Edward nearly called out for Alphonse, to tell him to stay. He nearly hugged him and poured his guts to him, telling him everything that Tucker did. Nearly.
The next day, just like Al promised, the two of them went to the Central library. Edward had been happier than he had been since his first time with Tucker in the basement.
It wasn't too much longer that Edward had begun to dig into Tucker's past, finding a way to get Tucker in trouble without having to tell anyone what Tucker was doing to him. Of course, the Brigadier General Grand had found out what he was doing, having Edward and Alphonse removed from the home.
The only thing Ed was upset about was that they were leaving Nina. She would be left there, in that house, with that man, and Edward would be away. If he wasn't there, Tucker could do what he did to Edward to Nina. No one would be able to help her, and if no one put together the injuries during hospital trips and military visits, no one would ever do it for her.
"Promise you'll come and play with me." Nina said as she clung to Alphonse's armor.
"Promise." the brothers said simultaneously. Edward couldn't stay away from that house. Not only did he need to look after Nina and make sure she was alright; that house had become a huge part of his life. The darkest part, yes, but still a large part.
"Bye, Nina." Alphonse waved as the two began to walk away after the little girl had let go of Al. Edward looked back to see Tucker glaring at him.
That glare would haunt his nightmares forever.
Ed's battle is nearly through, the next chapter will be the last. I may or may not add an Epilogue to the story, but the way I ended it in the next chapter, it only seems logical that I do add an Epilogue. I hope you are all ready for it, it's nearly the end.
Next Update: August 13th