Equivalent exchange

Chapter 2

A rooster crowed somewhere nearby greeting the sun which was just starting to shine over the eastern horizon. Most people got up to start their day in the village around this time especially the farmers. The shopkeepers could sleep a while longer and the students and teachers of the Elric Alchameic Academy were just starting to rise. Most of them started their day with a run around the building under Armstrong's watchful eye after an hour of this they were allowed to have breakfast lovingly prepared by Trisha Elric. Since their were only ten to fifteen people in the house at one time, it wasn't a problem for her to prepare every meal especially since she had a lot of help from Winry and a few of the students themselves, it was Izumi-sensei's favorite punishment to let Trisha handle the students, delegating them to such jobs as cooking or cleaning.
Ed woke up confused about his surroundings at first. Then he remembered and frowned. This would be hard. He wondered if they would get upset if he got up and went down to the kitchen. He got up slowly, taking care not to overcompensate for the weight of the missing automail. Bare feet slapped against the wooden floor as he slowly moved towards the wardrobe. He looked through it, finding clothes in light blues and browns with some whites nary a stich of black anywhere. He finally grabbed a pair of light brown pants and a gray shirt. He pulled off his nightshirt, he began tugging on the new clothes, wishing he could take a shower or something. He would probably be sent to one as soon as they smelled him in the kitchen. He wondered briefly if they'd bathed him, then realized they had to have but who would have done it he was sure it had been his mother, mostly, maybe Will or Al or both as well. He shook his head at the thought and slowly headed for his door. He managed to get to the door and out into the hall. The hallway bisected the second floor. Four doors were on the same side of the hall as Ed's room and four were on the other side the stairwell was at the far end of the hall and at the other end was another door possibly to the bathroom. Ed's room was the second one from the stairs. He slowly moved for the stairs trying to be quiet, he limping slightly as he went moved. Either from the long time confiened to the bed, or the "accident" he wasn't sure but he was sore. The stairs were harder to manage then the hall had been. He nearly tripped on Mittens who had apparently chosen to nap on the landing and barely caught himself.
"Maybe this was a bad idea." He muttered to himself before continuing down the steps.
The stairs ended in another hallway. A door led into the kitchen directly in front of the stairs. He guessed it was because of the heavenly smell of food wafting out the cracked doorway. Around the corner of the stairs was another hall this one led he guessed led to the classrooms and probably a common room. He went to the entrance to the kitchen and stood there for a moment. In the kitchen his mother and Winry cooked breakfast. They were laughing about something as Trisha pulled biscuits out of the oven. She saw Ed as she placed them on the counter and gasped.
"Edward Jeremiah Elric Just what are you doing out of bed?" she chided walking over to hug him and drag him over to a chair to sit.
"I woke up and was restless, Mom, I've spent forever in that bed." he told her as she bustled to make him something.
"I suppose you would be." She sighed and brought him a cup of tea and a plate of toast. "Eat."

He took a couple sips and nibbled on the toast while his mother returned to cooking. Winry watched him for a moment then turned back to her work.
"Hello Ed."
"Hey Winry."
"Are you feeling better?"
"Yeah."
"That's great." she smiled.
"Now if they let me go back to my daily routine." This was said with a pleading look towards his mother. Trisha wasn't looking to him but was busy with a pan of bacon,but knew her son.
"It depends on the class. No, you are not training with Izumi this afternoon."
"Yes mother."

There were noises as the others returned. Russell came in apparently still on kitchen detail. He smirked when he saw Ed.
"Hey Ed didn't see you there for a moment, need a high chair?" The look in his eyes was one of mischief but Ed missed it as he stood up quickly and nearly collapsed into the chair again.
"Who are you calling so short he could trip over an ant!" he demanded, Russell laughed and Trisha shook her head.
"Good morning Russell." Winry greeted as she mixed a large bowl of eggs.
"Morning Winry, Mrs. Elric." He greeted the two smoothly smiling warmly at Winry, "Now Ed, you know I was talking about you, but if you would just drink milk you might be at least as tall as Will."
"You..." Ed began but was silenced by his mother.
"Russell behave or I'll put you on laundry detail, I'm sure Lyra could use the help." the knowing look in her eyes was too much for the younger blond who simply went to prepare whatever she wanted him to.

As they worked Ed finished his toast and tea. After a few minutes there was the sound of someone running up then back down the stairs.
"Mom I can't find....Ed. What are you doing down here?" Al asked seeing his elder brother.
"I was bored in my room Al, I like reading but I need to move around."
"You could have waited a little while I would've helped you come down." He pouted and Ed as usual could not stand up to the power of Al's pout.
"Al, I'm sorry it's just I've been in that bed for weeks and I feel better I got down here myself didn't I I didn't even trip over Mittens when she was in the middle of the stairs. "
"All right, but you'd better not go anywhere without someone okay."
"Yes Al." He murmured knowing the other three people in the kitchen were smiling at this. They seemed to know to stay out of it at least.

"Good." Al hugged him and sat at the small table, their mother gave him some food and they chatted a little with everyone. Russell and Ed got in another fight and this time Winry hit Russell in the back of the head with a spatula.
Once the cooking was done they were shooed into the dinning room. Hoenhiem sat at the head of the table with Trisha to his right, and Will on his left. The teachers sat on the left side of the table, Izumi Curtis, her husband Seig and beside him was their son Michael. A young man named Mason also sat with them, on Mason's on other side was Alex Louis Armstrong. Next to him was Roy Mustang. Dr Marcoh and Clara sat next to him. On the right side of the table were Ed, Al, Russell, Fletcher, Lyra, and Winry. All of them looked surprised to see Ed.
"Hey little brother you look better today."
"Thanks Will." he took his seat.
"Good morning Edward."
"Good morning father, everyone and yes I feel good enough to be out of bed." he said knowing that everyone was thinking it.
Dr. Marcoh looked worried. "I'm not sure you should be out of bed yet, Edward you've only been conscious for a day and you spent most of yesterday asleep."
"I feel fine Doctor." he said grabbing his plate.
"Let the boy do what he wants." Izumi said eating.
"Thanks." Ed began.
"If he falls over it's his own fault." She finished, Ed nearly fell out of his chair and everyone laughed at him.
"We are all glad you're back up and about Ed the property damage has been low since you were sick." Roy commented.
"Hey I don't cause that much damage." Ed growled.
"My study," Hoenhiem murmered over his cup of coffee
"I did apologize," Ed shouted "You should label your arrays more carefully!"
"I did not create them for my middle child to play with."
"There was also the chicken coop." Lyra said taking a sip of tea.
"I was not alone in that one." Ed demanded
"True but I'm sure that most of it was you." Roy told him.
"At least he fixed it." His mother said calmly.
"Yeah, too bad the chickens can't use it anymore." Will smirked.
Ed scowled.

As they all ate and messed around Ed watched them all, these people were a lot like the ones he knew. But at the same time they were different. Will was trying to remove any serving dish from in front of Ed who simple grabbed another when this happened. Al, Fletcher and Michael were trying to foist things off on one another, vegetables mostly. Every time they did Trisha or Izumi would put more on one of their plates. Hoenhiem was paying very little attention to the conversation he was working in his note book every once in a while he turned to one of the other adults to say something. A few times he and his wife would exchange a glance or a smile, a few times he looked at his sons and smiled proudly. Roy, for the most part watched Ed covertly, making sure no one else saw him do so. Winry watched all the boys wishing she knew more about alchemy so they would pay more attention to her, but she did smile if one looked at her for more than a second. Izumi mostly ignored them all and ate her breakfast holding hands with her husband. Clara ate sedately speaking quietly with Dr. Marcoh. Lyra watched them all as she ate obviously not used to all of this either.

After breakfast the students were led out to the lab, which was situated in a small stone building a few feet from the house. It was one room with a dirt floor and a couple of heavy wooden tables. Around the room were shelves and desks filled with Alchemaictools and instruments. They all had sheaves of paper with pencils to mark down the arrays they were learning. Ed listened carefully realizing he had heard nothing of equivalent exchange in anything yet Hoenhiem nor Izimi ever mentioned it. They were apparently working on elemental arrays at the moment they had to make arrays, which worked for a certain element. He quickly glanced around at the others, Will sat near their father. He and Al were at a table with Russell and Fletcher, Michael and Lyra. Interestingly Roy, Armstrong , Izumi and Clara sat at another table. Apparently being teachers did not stop them from learning as well. They were all paying attention except for Michael who kept drawing arrays on Fletcher's arm even when the older boy batted him away. Lyra was furiously taking notes ignoring the guys, but being one of the few females alchemists Ed had ever met and the Lyra he'd known had not been very good once she had lost the necklace he'd shattered.
After two hours they took an hour break then headed for lunch.
Lunch was like breakfast everyone sat around the table except for Hoenhiem who had vanished into his study for research, and after wards they headed outside for Izumi's class . Lyra went to see if Trisha needed her to do anything.
As soon as they were outside Ed was banished to the stone wall.
"But.."
"No buts, Edward, you are not doing the normal exercise until we know you are better, you can stretch but no sparring." Izumi ordered.
"Yes ma'am." He sighed and joined the stretches feeling tired as he went to sit on the wall while everyone else got their buts kicked by Izumi.
He saw Mason working on the garden as the others sparred. He apparently did some of the chores not much of a change for him. Ed yawned and sat back on the wall. Up close the others were certainly good at this trained body trained mind thing Izumi still believed he wondered if she ever got Hoenhiem to let her send the kids to a place like the island for a month. Though knowing her she probably did and had the other adults do it too.
After about half an hour Roy dropped out he walked around for a moment to cool off and joined Ed on the wall.
"Tired?" he asked.
"Just from watching."
"Well just wait, I'm sure in a week you'll be out there getting beat up by Izumi as well." He smiled and sat next to Ed on the wall.
"Oh joy. A week?"
the man smiled softly an odd look on his face but not a bad one. "If you're bored we could take a walk."
"Aren't you supposed to be out there?" Ed gestured at the brawl that was supposed to be a class.
"I'm sure Izumi wouldn't mind if I made sure one of our prize students got a little exercise that wouldn't count as strenuous." he smirked more like Ed remembered but there was still that smoldering warmth in his eyes.
"With you it would turn out strenuous."
"Ed you wound me."
"I should." he muttered. Then louder. "Sensei can I go for a walk?"
"Fine, but take Roy with you."
"Yes sensei."

They wandered off towards the lake once they were at the shore. Ed looked around loving the view of the water and the forest beyond. Roy sighed and wrapped his arms around him from behind. Ed stiffened for a moment then relaxed, it wasn't so bad, Roy was only a foot taller then him and leaned down slightly as he hugged him. They stood like that for awhile in silence, Roy was completly oblivious to Ed's mild discomfort. As far as he knew his Ed was used to this maybe more.
Edward for his part soon relaxed enough to lean back into Roy's warmth and enjoy it. He hated to admit it but it wasn't so bad, Roy wasn't being a jerk for once. It was actually kind of nice. Warm breath tickled his neck and and he shivered a little. The Flame Alchemist nuzzled his neck gently and he tipped his head back to allow him a bit more access. Slowly he found himself face to with his gentle assaliant. A sensous smile spread across the colonel's face and he leaned down. With warm lips on his and a hand in his hair, Ecward's mind conviently forgot this was not something that should be happening, not in his world at least. Mustang's lips trail lower as his fingers toyed with the fastenings of Edward's pants. He opened his mouth to protest,but moaned intead. The sound was effectively silenced by Roy's lips again and not a moment too soon.

"Roy Ed!" a voice called and they broke apart quickly as Michael crashed from the underbrush.
"Hey Michael." Ed greeted not sure whether to jump for joy of curse his interuption.
"Hello."
"Aunt Trisha wants you Ed." The boy said nearly out of breath from running all the way from the house. his wild black hair fallign in his face.
"Thanks I'll go now," He headed off and the other two followed him. Edward staunchly avoided looking at Roy, still embarressed. On the other hand Roy was forcing himself to calm down.

Trisha was waiting at the back door and the others were nowhere to be seen, she waved at her son.
"Ed-dear I need your help with something." She said once he had arrived.
"Yes mom?"
Ed prayed she didn't notice how hot he was
"Come in here." She led him to the kitchen and he saw a few broken dishes, including her favorite pot broken. Quckly he got to work, remembering barely to grab some paper and draw out an array to fix the broken things.
"Why didn't you ask Al or Father?"
"Oh Ed you know I love it when you fix things, besides I hate interrupting your father's work and Al's not as good as you he's better with smaller things." she smiled and kissed his forehead.
"Where's everyone?"
"In the shower, probably Izumi's class is over and everyone's free for the afternoon, go rest before you fall over."
"I feel fine mom." He told her as she shooed him out of the kitchen and up to his room.
He entered and shooed out Mittens who was camped out on his window sill. He then closed the door and pulled out the journal intent on finding out more about himself and his family. he found one from about three years prior.

Some military men came by tonight, we were all worried about it until the leader of the group tured out to be an old friend of Roy's. He wanted to show Roy some pictuires of his wife and new born daughter. Her birth was a few months ago, on my birthday..
Ed looked up from the page and wiped a tear away, willling himself to calm down then returned to the page.
He also apprently wanted to talk to father they were in the study for hours. Will wanted to check it out so we listend in from the fireplace in the library like we alsways do and they were talking about something that happend in the capitol. Something about a rogue alchemist, we didn't catch it all but it sounded bad. We decided not to tell anyone.

Ed put the book on his chest and frowned. "A rogue alchemist? Could it have been Tucker or even...Kimbley?"
He turned back to the journal.

The military men left and Roy and Alex went with them to visit people in the capitol, Alex is finally meeting his betrothed and Roy wanted to see Huge's wife and daughter who is apprently his god-daughter. I hope they get back soon it will be boring wihtout them. and Will's being obnoixous about it since Roy's his friend and he couln't go with them.

Ed smiled to himself at his otherself's oblivousness. He had been cute when he was younger and very naive.
While he was thinking about it he heard a soft sound outside his door and a giggle that sounded like Al's.
"Will, stop it." Al gasped.
"Come on baby brother how often do we get private time in the afternoon?" Will was most likely smirking.
All gigled again and the door to the room next to his closed. He forwned. Will and Al were... together? He flipped through the journal looking for an entry to answer his question he found one dated a few weeks ago.

It's impossible to belive, but my brothers are together ...in the having sex kind of way. It's weird but Will swears he loves Al and would never hurt him and al's happy and that's important. I found out of course by runing into them by the shed out in the cattle field making out. They asked me not to tell any one of course i won;t after all they haven't spilled about me and Roy. as long as my brothers are happy and that makes me happy.

there was a knock at his door and he quickly stashed the journal and pulled the blanket up to his chin.
"Hello?"
"It's Roy, can I come in?"
He fell silent,unsure if he should let him in or not.
In the end however hormones won our over self preservation.
"Sure." He felt the blush returning, as Roy opened the door and let himself in closing the door behind him.
"I'm supposed to be napping," he admitted shyly.
"Do you really want to be alone?"
"I guess I'm not really that tired." he admitted trying and failing to hide his embaressment.
Roy sauntered over to the bed and smiled, warm lovingly at his lover, Ed was always so cute about them. Always shy about it, unless William teased him, then he was like a cat all bristly and hissing. He sat on the edge of the bed and leaned down to kiss Ed again. This time Ed accepted the kiss quicker knowing they were supposed to be together. It was still disconcerning at first, but his hormones were acting up again. Roy slid over so he was next to Ed and pulled him closer as they kissed . Arms wrapped around one another as the kiss deepened. Roy's hands roamed over his body gently. As he played with the edge of Ed's shirt the boy pulled away.
"Roy no." he muttered.
"Ed?"
"We can't, no strenous activites remember." He gasped.
"All right." He was disappointed but didn't push it, Ed had been out for a while. he smiled. "We can wait till you're ready again."
"Thank you Roy, I knew you'd understand." he hugged him again.
"Of course." the older man smiled and kissed his forhead before settling down.
"You're still going to stay?"
"Of course, i'll nap with you if you don't mind."
"Sure, just sleep though."
"Of course Ed." he smiled.


It hurt to breathe, the vision of the young child who had only a day before been a sweet little girl and was now a monster merged as a chimera with her large dog. the look on the man's face was insane as he explained it all. now he saw only a smear of blood the shape of a dog....

Ed sat up suddenly the image still burned in his vision. he took a deep breath and frowned he hadn't had that nightmare in along time. he looked around the room noticing it was late and Roy had left at some point. he smiled slightly this Roy was really nice and distracting. he wasn't sure what to do about him, he shook his head.
this was no time to think about Roy he had to stop these nightmares. He got out of bed and left his room intent on finding some distraction.

It was late obviously past dinner and everyone seemed to be in bed. Even the kitchen was empty, which was odd since the only time Ed had ever seen it empty was when his mother had died, her at least it simply meant she had gone to bed. the fire was nothing but coals and he had to dig around to find the things for a sandwich, which was quickly consumed as he made a second one. once he had eaten Ed felt much better. he headed back up to his room feeling along the walls he made his way safely back to his room stopping for a second to listen to the rooms next to his. one was empty but the one closest to the stairs had two people breathing softly in sleep. he looked in seeing his brothers curled together in sleep he smiled. it was a sweet tableau the gold and bronze hair mingling and their limbs tangled together in the bed sheets. He smiled and closed the door slipping back into his room and back to his bed.

TBC......