The Waters of Lethe
Author's note: AU, post series. My attempt at writing a drabble series about Edward's life in our world, and his attempt to outrun painful memories by simply forgetting them. Rated for possible violence and maybe sex. You get 2 chapters this week because the system somehow failed to accept the submission of chapter five!
Disclaimer: I don't own Fullmetal Alchemist, I just like to play in it's world torture Ed for awhile.
Beta: Kittygirl109
6. Goodbye, father (Auf Wiedersehen, vater)
Edward awoke with a start sometime next morning and he knew at once something was off kilter. He had fallen asleep while sitting up in bed, an open book in his right hand and his reading lamp still on. But now the lamp was off, and the book was next to it on the bedside table. Plus he was laying almost flat on his back with the blankets pulled up to his neck.
The window shades were down, but bright sunlight poured around the sides and pooled on the floor in thin bands of yellow. Edward looked over at his alarm clock and his heart sank when he saw the time: nine a.m. I've forgotten to set my alarm and overslept! Wait. He cast his mind back and clearly recalled setting the alarm last night. Had it run down? No, he had wound it yesterday morning. Then the only explanation was his father had turned the alarm off. But why?
Edward had set out his clothes the night before so he dressed quickly and clattered down the steps calling "Father?! Why did you switch my alarm off?" There was no answer so Edward started towards the study, the door of which was closed. But a sound from the sofa behind him stopped him in his tracks.
"Edward." It was a weak croak, barely above a whisper. Edward whipped around and saw Hohenheim half laying - half sitting upon the sofa, was still wearing his coat from the night before. His face was very pale, so pale even his golden eyes looked washed out and a fine sheen of sweat reflected off his cheeks. After Edward drew closer, he could smell the accustomed scent of his father's decaying body, but it had never smelt so strongly before, and the scent was mixed with those of sweat, fear, and a coppery tang which Edward also recognized: blood.
"Edward, I switched if off, but don't worry, I've already called the university office. I told them you had fallen ill during the night, and I've taken a sick day to stay home and care for you." Hohenheim heaved a large sigh for he seemed to be struggling for breath. "The meeting went badly Edward, very badly indeed. Neither Hitler nor Eckart believed my explanations and when I refused to work for them, Hitler picked up a large wooden cudgel and he rammed it into my stomach with all his strength."
Hohenheim coughed just then, bringing up a large amount of dark blood. Edward gasped in horror as his entrie body had gone cold after he knelt on the floor next to the sofa. "Something inside is broken." Hohenheim continued. "I'm sorry, Edward but you will have to go alone, I am going to die very soon." He coughed again, each spasm bringing up another gout of dark red blood. Edward made a choking sound and scuttled back a few inches, but a few drops landed on his pants.
"After he hit me, Hitler said I was too old, like a toothless lion, and they would rather have you instead, So get your coat on and grab your suitcase, I put most of the money into the inside pockets. Then come back and say goodbye to your father before you go. Stop shaking your head like that, you will have to run alone. I hope to see your mother on the other side, but I will likely go to Hell for my sins. I can only hope those whose bodies I've stolen will eventually forgive me."