The Waters of Lethe
Disclaimer: I don't own FMA, only the OC's I've created. I just like to play around in it's world and torture Ed for awhile.
Author's note: post series and very AU. Some movie events will happen, but differently
Summary: After Hohenheim's sudden death, Edward flees Munich to escape the Thule Society, who want him to open a portal to his world. He's settled in Egypt as tutor to the children of a wealthy amateur archealogist. But his routine life there has been blown to smithereens after a he was recognized by a Society member, and then fell seriously ill with malaria.
Warning: May contain movie spoilers. Contains violence, bad language, death, and maybe sex
Beta: Kittygirl109
33. Denouement (Denouement)
Edward's fever finally broke just before dawn of the fourth day. With the fever went all the symptoms which made him so miserable and he fell into a deep sleep. He slumbered until mid-afternoon and woke to find the faithful Daoud feeling his forehead.
"Your temperature is almost back to normal, sahib. Are you hungry? The cook has simmered a nice beef broth for you. But first, take your quinine."
Daoud helped Edward to sit up in his bed, and gave him the familiar white pill and a glass of water to wash it down with. He was feeding Edward the broth when Major Howard stormed in and informed him he had been sacked.
Edward choked on a mouthful of broth. After a few moments of coughing and sputtering while his eyes watered, he managed to gasp out, "Since when? And WHY?!"
"Since yesterday afternoon!" thundered the Major, his face gone an unhealthy shade of puce. "Because I've been told you're a ruddy nut job! My wife went into hysterics when she found out a mental case had been tutoring our children. If you so much as touched April, I'll..."
"Calm down before you burst a blood vessel, Major," Dr. Forbes said abruptly as he walked in. He'd heard Howard shouting as he got out of his car and seen the scullery and chamber maids weeping, terrified of the Major's temper. "That young man from the German embassy was very smooth, but something isn't setting right because his story doesn't add up. I think you should give Mr. Elric a chance to explain why he used a false name."
Edward had turned so pale at the sound of his true surname, a suddenly alarmed Dr. Forbes feared his patient would faint right there. Spots had indeed formed before Edward's eyes and the room tilted. He closed his eyes and swallowed hard until the uncomfortable feeling of vertigo had eased.
"Major," his voice came out in a stress-induced croak. "I can assure you I am not crazy and I have a good reason for using a false name."
"HMPH!" growled Major Howard, but he crossed his arms and waited with an expectant glare.
"Yes, my real name is Edward Elric. Until a few months ago, I lived with my father, who was a professor of physics and chemistry at the University of Munich. Then, my father did something to annoy the Nazis, specifically an organization called the Thule Society, Edward decided not to mention he and Hohenheim had also been members. "They had gotten it into their heads my father and I were from a parallel world they call 'Shambala'. Then they demanded father help them reach this world, and naturally, he told them it was impossible."
"They kept pressing and he kept on refusing until there was a confrontation," Edward paused and swallowed hard again, this memory was still so painful to the touch. "During this confrontation, he received an injury which caused his death."
So far, so good, Edward hadn't been interrupted by either man. Dr. Forbes had sat down in the bedside chair recently vacated by Daoud, who had backed up against the far wall and pretended to be invisible. Major Howard hadn't moved, and his arms were still crossed, and his expression still malevolent. Edward took a deep breath and finished his story. "My father lived long enough to return home and tell me what happened. He begged me to flee because he felt I was in danger. After he died, I threw some clothes into a suitcase and ran. But, the Thule Society doesn't give up easily, and that is why they have come after me, using this lie about my mental stability."
Howard opened his mouth to speak, but Edward cut him off. "You are free to call me a liar, Major. But all I ask is a few more days to recover, and my back wages. Then I'll leave and you will never hear from me again. Is that a deal?"