Fullmetal Alchemist Fan Fiction ❯ Eye of the Beholder ❯ Chapter Eight ( Chapter 8 )

Eye of the Beholder

 

LadyMad

 

Eight

 

“Brother.” Al's voice echoed in Ed's head. He opened his eyes and looked around. Al stood about thirty feet before him, large grey eyes filled with innocence. He was just as Edward remembered him. A child forever. Secretly, as Ed walked toward his brother, he was afraid Al would begin backing away from him. However, Al stood still awaiting his brother. “Brother.” Al said again. A smile filled his face, just as one filled Ed's. Ed stopped before his younger brother and looked at him. He quickly took Al in his arms and hugged him, tears streaming down his face. “Brother!” Ed quickly backed up and looked at Al. His hands and feet began turning to ash.

 

“Al, wha—what's happening?” Al suddenly stared deeply into Ed's eyes, hating filling his own.

 

“You killed me, Brother. You killed me and Mom and you made Dad leave.” Al whispered. Ed shook his head, slowly backing away. “You killed me, Brother. You!” Ed shook his head harder and faster, more tears rolling heavily down his face.

 

“No, I didn't mean…I didn't want it…Al!” Alphonse suddenly turned completely to dust and was swept away. “ALPHONSE!!”

 

“AL!” Ed shot up in the bed, his heart racing. He hadn't had that dream in eight years. Why had it come back after so long? The door opened and she walked in, a tray full of food in her small hands. A smile rested on her face.

 

“Well, good to see you up.” Xandyr said. Ed's face stayed emotionless. Xandyr noticed it at once and put the tray down on the table next to the bed. He bowed his head, his loose, golden hair falling around his face.

 

“I couldn't save him.” Her brows came together for a moment and then rose when she realized what he was talking about.

 

“Ed--” He shook his head, a few tears falling on his hands. He suddenly screamed and thrashed around on the bed. His hands flew up and tore at his hair and face and arms and hit her but her hands flew up, protecting herself. “Edward! Calm down!” Xandyr thrust her hands out and made a grasp for his wrists. A nurse came in and made a jump for the two but a pair of arms drew her back and Roy Mustang looked with curious eyes at Edward and his `friend.'

 

 

“NOO!!!” He screamed at the top of his lungs, thrashing his head back and forth, his golden hair flying around him and Xandyr. Tears fell violently down his face. He broke from her grasp and tore the blankets away, tearing and digging at his leg below his knee. Xandyr's eyes grew wide when he tried taking a chunk from his right arm. She drew her fist back and threw it in his jaw. Tears still streaming down his face, he calmed down and looked into her green eyes. She breathed heavily, pinning his arms at his sides. Roy looked at the scene. Not even Armstrong had been able to contain the boy's rage eight years ago. He broke free of her grasp again and pulled her into a tight hug, his warm tears soaking her neck and shirt.

 

A warmth she'd never felt filled her being at that moment, finally being able to hold and comfort him. She held back her own tears of joy for the sake of his pain. It wracked his body, the vibrations shaking her own. She dismissed the smile from her face and sat down on the edge of the bed, pulling him closer as he cried silently. After eight years of holding the pain and guilt, she felt his waves of relief and release. It didn't help subside his overall guilt, however. He finally calmed and pulled away from her. By then the nurse had left and Mustang waited in the hall.

 

Xandyr wiped his tears from his now dampened face and smiled gingerly at him. He sniffled and attempted a smile as reply but failed, only emitting more silent tears.

 

“I haven't cried like this in-”

 

“Eight years. I know. I've been watching you the past eight years.”

 

“Did you see how my brother died?” Xandyr only nodded, lowering her head to avoid facing his penetrating gaze. “Well, since they're not exactly joyous memories, let leave it at that.” She nodded again, still not meeting his eyes.

 

“I think there's someone here to see you. I'll leave you alone and go get him.” She stood up and wrapped the sheet around his leg before leaving the room. After a few moments, Roy walked in.

 

“I heard about your suicide attempt. I'm sorry you felt that was the only way out.”

 

“If you were in my position you'd think so, too.”

 

“Edward, I won't lie to you. I care about you but in that subject I'm stronger than you.”

 

“Roy, you'd say that until you lose everyone close to you and feel like you have nothing left.”

 

“For a while...I didn't. I then joined the military and--”

 

“I'm not listening to anything regarding the military. I've left that behind me and that's where it's staying.”

 

“Just like your family? Just like Winry?” Ed's eyes darkened as he glared at Roy.

 

 

“They aren't open for discussion. Tell me what you came to say or get out.” Roy put his hands up in surrender and looked down.

 

“How do you know I came here to say anything different than what I already have?”

 

“You're not the kind of man to just stop by and visit and check up. You have a reason. What is it?”

 

“I'm going home soon. I was wondering if you'd like to join me. It's been too long since you've seen everyone.” He paused and took a breath, held it for a moment, and released it. “Well, you up for it?”

 

“When?”

 

“About two days.”

 

“I'd like to go home.” Roy nodded and smiled.

 

“Good.” He turned and headed for the door but stopped, turning and facing Ed. “You can bring your friend, too.” Xandyr flashed in Ed's mind. Something about her struck him with a...longing but it didn't really feel like he was longing for anything. She was an angel; how was he supposed to take that? How was it supposed to make him feel?

 

“Alright. I'll see you in a couple of days.” Roy nodded and left the room.

 

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

 

“So, are you just an angel? What kind? How many kinds of angels are there?” Ed asked, sitting up as he drank from his cup of orange juice. Xandyr smiled at his curiosity.

 

“I'm a class A-B guardian angel in charge of mortality care...and suicide attempts.” She added the last part with a smile. Ed smiled back. He was actually capable of that now. “There are several kinds of angels. There's guardian angels, cherubs, `drone' angels, lord angels, and on and on and the list continues. There's tons of different kinds.”

 

“Do wing colors show orders?”

 

 

“No. All our wings are white. We aren't born with a certain order or class. We are put into the class that best suits us. My mother is...was...a lord angel. She allowed me my position.” Ed nodded and put his glass back on the tray on the table next to him. Hospital food wasn't the greatest food but he dealt with it. He only had one more day in here and then he was on his way back home. Home. Did he even have a home anymore? Xandyr saw the faraway look in his eyes and lowered her head, folding her hands together in her lap. She was about to rise to her feet to leave the room but Edward's warm hand covered hers. Their eyes met for an instant, butterflies fluttering in her heart and stomach, but Ed broke it by looking down and taking his hand from atop hers.

 

“Thank you for everything.” Xandyr nodded, rising and leaving the room. She wanted so much more than to just feel his hand blanketing hers but if she did...she didn't want to think of the consequences of actions she had yet to commit. She'd rather not have to face any punishments so she shoved all feelings for him to the back of her mind only to have them make home and spread throughout her entire mind rendering her helpless to a mortal man the angels had sneered upon since his very conception. She, Xandyr, an angel, was in love with Edward Elric, abomination to angels and some mortals. She held her emotions in check as she walked down the corridors.

 

Not being able to take it anymore, she stopped and leaned her back against the nearest wall, biting her bottom lip in frustration, digging her nails helplessly into the palm of her hand. She break through skin but the feeling of finally letting out her inward pain felt good. Normally, she would never resort to hurting herself but she couldn't exactly go around stealing Zaine's job. It was against the laws to steal a demon's job. He wasn't exactly a demon but he wasn't an angel either and that was enough for the angels. She closed her eyes and felt several tears slide warmly down her cheeks. She'd held it for eight years and event thinking of a union with him was forbidden. Xandyr had loved him since she had first seen him eight years ago and she had just realized that...he never would.

 

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

 

Roy and Edward both smiled at how Xandyr acted. She'd never been allowed in the first-class car because she'd never had the money for it. The food and drink carts rolling down the hall surprised her. So did the individual rooms in the cars. She looked out the window and watched the desert pass by along with the occasional cactus and bush. Ed sat right next to her and he had to contain himself when her bottom or hip brushed up against him. Roy only smiled. Xandyr's long trench coat rested in her lap, her corset-looking top and peasant's blouse underneath with her flared-calf but thigh tight pants and black boots set his loins on fire like no other woman. Lucky for him she didn't notice...but Roy did and he held great pleasure in teasing Edward about it.

 

Xandyr's thick silver belt rested gently on her hips and up to where her belly-button was under the layers of shirts. She looked more like royalty or even a soldier than an angel, dressed from head to toe in black. What really caught Ed was that her top took a low dive and squared, revealing the top of both breasts, the corset pushing them up just lightly. His body grew hot from longing and soon he rose to his feet, walking out of the small room for air. Xandyr didn't even notice for she was too caught up in watching the scenery pass by. Roy also found himself entranced in the girl but not nearly as badly as Edward. The poor man was near meltdown because of the girl. She was the most innocent being Roy had met and she lit Edward like gasoline did a fire.

 

 

“Get a hold over yourself, Ed. She's an angel. She doesn't need...me after her. I'm not nearly good enough for someone like her. Just calm down.” He ran both hands through his loose hair blinked, letting out a long, deep breath. After forcing himself to calm down, he went back into the small car room and sat next to Xandyr again. He'd sat next to her in the beginning to talk, facing, to Roy. Mustang did more laughing at Edward's position than talking, however, leaving Ed alone at Xandyr's `mercy.'

 

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

 

It hadn't changed much since he had last seen it. Chances were that no one would recognize him and, Edward decided, that wasn't necessarily a bad thing. Some of the military personnel walking around noticed him but shrugged it away. After all, Edward had been several inches shorter and hadn't been shaving last time they all saw him. His hair had also been shorter and in a constant braid or pony-tail. It now hung freely around his shoulders and swayed at his waist. He hadn't shaved in several days nor had he really slept...peacefully.

 

Xandyr put a caring hand on his shoulder. He looked down at her and she smiled giving him the courage to finally face his past. After taking a deep breath, he followed Mustang into a portal back in time.

 

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

 

A/N: So, here's the eighth chapter. Oh, for those of you who didn't get it, the last sentence in that last paragraph here was meant to be taken figuratively. Just thought you should know. Well, the relationship between Xandyr and Edward is slowly, very, very, slowly developing but it will get there. I promise. Anyway, I'm off to write the next chapter so don't forget to review me and tell me how you think it's going so far.