The Silent Screaming in Your Wake

by Dashita Tichou

Sequel to: The Silent Screaming in Your Nightmare Edward Elric is worse off than he will allow others to let on, even in the hospital. With his brother trapped at the Gate and Truth in his form, the Fullmetal Alchemist will do whatever he has to in order to find the Truth. However, the illness that killed his mother has found its next victim. Edward himself.

4. Chapter 4

AUTHOR'S RAMBLINGS

Erm... Don't kill me? Life is hectic but amusing when you get hit with paint. Not saying I got to do that, but I'd love to. Anyways, excuses at the bottom. This is dedicated to 199 for being the first to review the last chappy. Enjoy~! X3

Nothing truly happened as they waited there, in the silent hospital room. It was only a few minutes before the nurse arrived though, and she checked over Edward's vitals without finding a single thing wrong. She left and so did Marcoh. The only explanation he gave was that he had someone waiting on him at home. (He'd adopted Mei Chang due to her failure to retrieve immortality. No one in her clan wished for her to return.) Izumi remained though, passively faced as she sat next to the comatose Edward. After the last rays of light left the hospital room, she spoke.

"This is all your fault, you Bastard." Her words weren't heated, but instead only contained resignation. "All your fault Mustang." The Fuhrer merely nodded in response to her accusation. It really was his fault and he felt no need to attempt to reclaim fallen honor.
"If he doesn't… wake," Mustang managed, having difficulties with the unwanted sentiment, "Then you'll be the legal guardian of Alphonse." Izumi looked at him cooly for a moment before turning back to Edward.

"He'll wake Mustang, when he's ready." The Flame Alchemist nodded again and walked from the hospital, leaving instructions with the staff to allow the mourning alchemist to stay by her student's side for as long as she wished. As he expected, Hawkeye sat in her car in the lot of the building, eyes trained on his weary face as he emerged. He walked up to the window and she pushed the door to the passenger side open, inviting him to sit down with her. The two sat in silence for a moment as Mustang struggled to work out what to say.

"He… He's fallen into a comma Col." He finally pushed out through solemn lips, "And we don't have any clue what caused it. I walked in and he was just facing the window, like nothing was wrong, nothing at all…" Hawkeye placed one hand on her CO's.
"It's not your fault Sir. And you know how Edward would respond if he saw you like this?"

"He'd call me a Bastard and hit below the belt?" Mustang guessed. To his surprise, the Col. shook her head.

"No Sir, he'd be worried about you and get into another argument to get your mind off of the matter Sir." She smiled briefly at him and started her car. "I'll drive you home now Sir, the security detail will take care of your car." Mustang just buckled in as a reply and Hawkeye pulled out of the lot.

The drive was in silence, but not an uncomfortable one. Mustang felt that Hawkeye was the person who would never stab him in the back and he cared for her a great deal. He just had absolutely no clue as to how to express it to her. Is life was just one complicated matter after another and he didn't want to pull her any farther into his complicated affairs then he had to. Unfortunately, he reflected, the only complications he had yet to pull her into weren't all that bad. Things like getting knocked over at the grocery store, or having his dinner catch on fire when his hand slipped.

"What am I waiting for…?" he murmured out loud. He waited until Hawkeye pulled the car to a stop in his driveway and turned to her.

"Riza," he started, making sure to use her first name so as to not startle her into thinking his topic was business related, "I… Um… I've noticed that… For a very long time now, you've…" he started to ramble a bit and despite his firm statement on not being so naieve, he was blushing crimson. "And I know it's not a good time right now because of Fullmetal, but-"

"Yes."

"What?" he managed to say eloquently.

"I said yes Roy. I may have certain… Feelings like yours." His blush deepened and Riza Hawkeye smiled at him, her wine colored eyes warm and, at that moment, for his sight only.

"Would you like to come in?" he asked gesturing towards his house.

"Not tonight Sir, maybe we should go to dinner first." Mustang caught what she was implying and rapidly shook his head.

"No, I meant would you like to have dinner and a movie Col., I wasn't suggesting we move quite that fast!" Riza smiled at him again and took her keys out of the ignition.

"If that's the case, then I accept your offer Fuhrer Mustang." Mustang chuckled at the use of his title and stepped briskly out of the car and around the vehicle to open her car door. "Such a gentleman." She stepped out, purse in hand and allowed Mustang to lead her to the door. He unlocked it and she walked in first.

"May I take your coat Ma'am?" he asked her quietly.

"Of course Sir." She slipped off her outer coat as well as her military jacket and handed them over before walking to the couch where a rumpled blanket lay. Mustang walked towards the kitchen and she folded the material, draping it over the back of the furniture as she was unsure of where else to put the item. The clanging of pots and pans came from the kitchen and she stepped into the room to assist Mustang in cooking.

He briefly told her what he had in mind and the two cooked quickly and efficiently, almost more smoothly than the way that the two fought together. It was astounding with the amount of fluidity that the two possessed when together. The casserole went into the oven and Mustang escorted Hawkeye back to the living room, where he revealed a hidden TV set in a cabinet on the side. He pulled it out and, together, the two settled down to wait until the dinner was finished. Riza closed her eyes and leaned her head on Mustang's shoulder, glad that they had finally discussed their hidden feelings. After all, not every soldier cared enough about life after tragedy. But her soldier was special. He cared even more during the event.

AUTHOR'S EXCUSES

Um... I don't really have one. I just stopped writing for a while. When's the last time I updated this, a month ago? At the very least, I promise another chapter in a week if not sooner. I'm sorry! Anyways, what do you think of my Royai? Terrible? Liked it? Let me know whether I need more romance in this thing or if I should beat it to death with a bloody hammer!

AUTHOR'S RAMBLING REPLIES

199: Okay, it might've been a blue button, but it brought up a new window. And yeah, Mustang's Fuhrer, I'm just an idiot who can't keep her stories straight. And it's always fun to have Truth hate you! You definitely know that life is gonna be interesting! XD

TigerRates: Thanks! I will keep writing, albeit at a slower rate than before. It's fourth quarter here and I have to practice for talent show ad all that jazz. (It's punny 'cause I'm in jazz band! XD)

lotrprincess: Yep! That's what I was aiming for! Kinda, but it's more like Edo-kun's close to dying rather than his soul is incompatible with his body.

Okay guys, thanks to 199, TigerRates, lotrprincess, a Tale with Ears, The Corrupted Hobo Ninja, Dragonfire Alchemist, Ren0Zia, XsuicideXkittyX, FireAnne47, valeriaclou, xx-MIA in eden-xx, alyssaaa225, StrykerCar, Dinos Rawrs,