Fullmetal Alchemist Fan Fiction ❯ Grey ❯ Silence ( Chapter 3 )

 

~I do not own our favorite pint sized alchemist. If I did, I wouldn't have to put these disclaimers up. 

~ You know, feedback helps feed the starving writer…even someone who is pretending to be a writer ;-)

 

 

~WARNING: language content

 

 

 

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Chapter 3

Silence

 

 

 

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Central Hospital

3 weeks post-return

 

 

“Fuck off.”

“Now Major, I know you're still adjusting to being back in Central, but honestly; that kind of language will hardly permit me to release you from my care any earlier.”

Satisfied by his lack of response, Dr. Montero went back to studying Edward Elric's chart.

“Though I must admit, we ARE making some progress, considering that's the first sentence you've uttered these past 2 and a half weeks we've been meeting. Bravo.”

The silence only confirmed that Ed was still sitting across from his desk, lazily reclining in the brown leather armchair he had plunked into 45 minuets earlier, arms folded across his chest.

“It says here Major that you've tried to make some unauthorized calls to the wife of a former officer of the Military. I hardly doubt you're taken with Mrs. Hughes…must be the visitor that she has staying with her that you've been trying to get in touch with. A Miss Rockbell, if I'm reading this chart right.”

No response.

“If you want, I can make those unauthorized calls AUTHORIZED calls…maybe even get you outpatient status, would that make talking with me a bit more tolerable? We simply aren't making any progress, and since you've been doing well on the medication I'm willing to take a chance and let you leave the hospital on a conditional basis.”

The glare he had been receiving softened a tad, and Ed looked away, his heavy fringe of bangs shielding his eyes from the Psychiatrist.

“Yeah, Doc, I guess it would.”

Dr. Montero set the chart on his desk, and picked up his phone.

“And stop calling me Major.”

A small half smile was all the response he got.

“Yes, Amelia, I need to put through a call to the General. Yes, General Mustang; I need to speak to him about Maj…Edward Elric's supervised release.”

 

 

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Later that same day, on the streets of Central

9:59 pm

 

“Oh Brother it feels so good to be out of that hospital! It feels so good to be back in my body again! Well granted this is an older version of my body, but still, it's mine all the same! Flesh and blood!”

Al took a deep breath, turned his face to the sky, and kept rattling on. The military hadn't let them leave the hospital once since they were both admitted on the day of their return, and Al felt like a five year old in a toy store.

“Can you just imagine how DARK BLUE the sky is? The air smells so GREAT! I just love the feel of this breeze on my face!”

Grinning ear to ear, Alphonse Elric turned back to his older brother, who had been silently following him since they left the HQ military hospital over 20 minuets ago. Planting his feet, he threw his arms to the heavens in a dramatic gesture.

“Just LOOK at those stars, Brother!”

Ed's left shoulder brushed against Al's right as he continued on his way, seemingly unaware that his little brother had even been talking to him.

`Brother…can't you just share in my happiness? Just for a little bit?'

Al felt the pinpricks at his eyes that he'd felt all too often the past three weeks since they had found their way back to their side of the gate.

`I just, I don't…I don't…'

His arms fell to his sides as he choked back the sob that threatened to escape him.

`I don't know what happened to you, in the gate…you were fine and then…this…'

Instead of a cry, a tear sprung from its hiding place and fell quickly down his cheek.

`I want to be happy, but all I feel is this guilt because of your pain…it's just not fair!'

Swiping at the offending tear, Al picked up the pace to catch up to his older brother, who was already half way down the block.

 

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Gracia and Elecia Hughe's Home

10:13 pm

 

“Edward?! Oh my, it's so GOOD to see you! And I see you've brought a friend.”

Ed's response was a gentle smile as he leaned against the door frame. Off to his right, Al was nearly bursting at the seams with excitement.

`I bet she won't even recognize me!'

Stepping in front of Ed, Al nervously fidgeted with his shirt buttons as he squeaked out his introduction.

“Hi Mrs. Hughes, you might not remember me, but I'm….I'm Alphonse. Alphonse Elric.”

Gracia Hughes dropped the glass she had in her hand when she had opened the door, and immediately flushed.

“I'm so sorry Al, I've just gotten so used to seeing you in that armor I didn't even realize. I should've known; who else would show up on my doorstep with Edward in tow at this time of night?”

Al bent down, and after quickly drawing a transmutation circle around the broken glass, placed his hands on the array.

“It's all right Mrs. Hughes, I'll take shock at seeing me now over that metal shell of a body any day! Here you go, good as new!”

“But Alphonse, the glass is still broken.”

Al looked down at the array, and sure enough, the glass still lay shattered in the center of it. Looking up at Mrs. Hughes with wide eyes, his features became more determined, and he slammed his hands onto the array again.

And still there was no soft blue light of a transmutation.

“It's alright sweetheart. I'll just go grab a broom. Why don't you two come in and make yourselves comfortable; there are two guest rooms upstairs. Elecia's already asleep but I know she'll be thrilled to see you in the morning. Oh, have you had anything to eat yet? While you set your things down and after I clean this mess up, I'll make you something to eat.”

As Gracia moved away from the door, Ed slid past Al into the house. Al, however, was now crumpled on the doorstep, trying desperately to get his transmutation circle to work; tears streaming down his face.

`No…it can't be…'

He slammed his hands down against the circle again and again.

`No…could it have been…'

His eyes opened wide.

`…equivalency?'

 

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From upstairs, Winry heard some visitors arrived, but wasn't quite ready to tear herself away from the new automail arm she was constructing from the designs she had made earlier that week. After adjusting the lamp on her work table, she focused again on the right upper arm in front of her, and a pink tongue tip worked its way out of the right side of her mouth in her concentration.

`This is my best design yet; Ed will be so happy!'

Winry was so lost in her work, she didn't hear the door creak open. She didn't hear the suitcase drop, or the small gasp that followed. But she did freeze mid screw-turn when she heard that voice…

“Winry.”

Big blue eyes shimmered with disbelieve, then with resolution she humphed and went back to work.

`I'm hearing things. That almost sounded like Ed.''

But the sound of an automail right leg hitting the wood floor as he crossed the room to her was unmistakable. In what seemed like an instant, Winry had flung the stool she had been sitting on away and had tackled Ed with a force that should've knocked him over, save for the fact that his automail was the only thing helping him balance the addition of Winry's weight half smeared, half hanging from his body.

“Oh my god, EDWARD! I've been so worried! They wouldn't let me go see you and they wouldn't even give me a number to call!”

Sniffling, she clung to him, but sobs tore through her as she felt two strong arms encircle her and pull her farther into his embrace.

“You're back…I just can't :::hiccup::: believe you're back!”

She felt a small smile against her neck, which just made her sob even more.

“Wait :::sniffle::: is Al here? Where's Al?”

Pulling back, she followed his gaze as he looked out the door and gestured downstairs. Giving him one last squeeze, she pulled away and gave Ed a small kiss on the cheek. Blushing profoundly, she started walking towards the door.

“I'll be right back Ed, I need to go see Al! Al? Al! You there? Alphonse?!”

Darting down the stairs to greet the now flesh and blood Alphonse Elric, Winry hadn't even noticed that the only thing Ed had said was her name.

 

 

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After staying up late into the night catching up, and after Gracia had excused herself to bed, the brother's and Winry decided to call it a night. And after the house was dark, and everyone else was asleep, Winry was still wide awake.

`I can't believe they're back!'

Not bothering to hide the smile that crept across her face, she sighed and slid an arm behind her head.

`I'll probably need to adjust Ed's automail later today. It looks like he's grown an inch…'

Suddenly it hit her.

`Wait a second…he's been back for three weeks, and there's not a scratch on him…I remember that day when they got back. Why did they keep him at the hospital for so long then? And Ed was awfully quiet this evening. Come to think of it, I don't know if he said more than 5 words all night; it was mainly Al and I that did the talking.'

Sitting up, she adjusted her green sleeping T-Shirt before she climbed out of bed and headed for the kitchen.

`Gah, all this worrying has my stomach in knots. Maybe a cup of tea will help me settle back down so I can get at least a few hours of sleep tonight.'

But as she made her way past the boy's room, she paused, noticing the slightly ajar door.

Guess it wouldn't hurt to check on them, since I'm already up and all.'

Gently sliding the door further open, only one dark lump was visible on the set of twin beds in the room. And from the light brown hair, she knew she was just checking in on a sleeping Al. Worry furrowed her brows, as she softly closed the door and kept on her way to the kitchen. But half way down the stairs, she could hear Ed's muffled voice.

“Stop…I said….no…wait…”

Winry's pace hastened down the stairs into the front room, where Ed was curled up in a ball on the couch, blankets strewn on the floor. One leg of his black pajama pants had ridden up his automail leg, and even at a distance in the dim light of the very early morning Winry could still see his quickened respiratory rate. Rushing to his side, she could now see the beads of sweat on his forehead, and every muscle in his jaw as he clenched his teeth tightly together.

“No, I can't choose…wait…not like this…please, Winry I..I…”

She knelt at his side, and timidly placed her hands on his left arm, which he had slung over his face.

“Ed, please, just wake up.”

“I…..blood…..no…”

“Ed, come on, wake up. It's just a dream.”

 

~Ed's dream~

Blood.

 

It was everywhere.

His metal arm and leg were slick with it, as the open gashes on his torso and legs continue to ooze with every pulse of his heart…

…he made a mental note as to how yellow her hair looks against the bloodstained dress that used to be white…

He felt the panic start to overwhelm himself…

`I have to get out of here.'

 

He felt a surge of energy as the panic engulfed him…

Desperately clawing at his own throat to relieve the pressure, he left long, crimson smears against his skin as he tried to physically relieve the building pressure around his windpipe.

“NOOOOOOOO!!!!!”

 

Sitting bolt upright, Ed struggled as Winry tried to calm him down. In his efforts, he heaved himself off the couch, and half fell onto, half tackled Winry to the floor as she landed flat on her back on the cold wood floor. Though he knocked the wind out of her a bit, she reached for this arms in a vain attempt to stop his struggling.

“Ed stop! It's ok you're awake! Everything's ok! It was a dream!”

Ed continued to fight her in his half asleep state, but Winry soon realized that she was starting to gain the upper hand, and not because of her strength. Ed's breath came in huge, gasping breaths, his bare chest heaving with each intake, and they just kept increasing as he finally he slide off of her and curled into the fetal position on the floor. Winry quickly sat up and hauled him up upright, and taking a seat directly in front of him, she lightly grasped both side of his face in her hands.

“Edward, look at me.”

His panicked eyes darted around the room, and this time she said it a bit more forcefully.

“EDWARD, look at ME.”

His breaths still coming in ever smaller gasps, golden eyes suddenly met hers.

“Just breathe, that's it, just breathe…..deep breath in…good, let it out slowly….breathe…”

His eyes began to brim over with tears that were just about to fall. Brushing his tousled hair out of his eyes, she exhaled the breath she hadn't realized she had been holding in.

“I've got you…just breathe…”

Suddenly he leaned forward, and letting his head rest against her shoulder, the tears that hadn't flowed since Nina died came silently rushing out. And for the second time that day, Winry had the Full Metal Alchemist in her embrace.

“Just breathe…”

As his breathing began to slow, Ed leaned back on his heels and rubbed the remaining wetness from his face.

“Let's go back to bed.”

Standing up, she extended a hand to help him up. Taking it, Ed stood up on shaky legs, and continued to blink back the tears that were threatening to start anew again.

“Come on, Edward.”

`Mr. Hughes said you two were men that spoke more with their actions. I'll just have to trust his advice that you'll talk to me sometime…but until then I'll give you the only comfort I can…'

Winry had already made her way to the base of the stairs, and was waiting for him, one hand extended as a gesture for him to follow.

`Winry I just can't…'

His feet, seemingly on their own, followed her up the stairs, into her room, and into her bed. Pulling the blankets back, her pale blond hair glistened in the moonlight as she scooted over to make room for him in her bed.

`I don't know what's happening to me…'

Slowly lowering himself onto the mattress, he laid down on his back , tucking his human arm under his head. His exhalation was noisy as he felt her snuggle up to his right side, one arm tossed across his chest as if to hug him to sleep. Feeling the blush lightly dance across his cheeks, he swallowed, and he placed his automail hand on his forehead, savoring the coolness of the metal against his heated skin.

`I just can't do this; I'm too weak….shit…'

His golden eyes slid shut, and one resolute tear slipped past his lashes and left a wet dot on his pillow.

`…what the fuck is wrong with me…'

 

 

 

 

Much Love,

The Cerulean Alchemist