Shattered Lives

Chapter 3: So far, so long

At first, Edward felt it could be another cruel figment of his imagination. Another attempt of his mind to give him some hope and that it would come crashing down with reality any moment… but, he had never hallucinated Roy with an eye patch before. He’d never seen the man with one. The features, while the same, were different. Roy looked older, not by much, but older and there was a worn down look to the man Ed never remembered seeing.

Ed felt like his brain shut down for a few seconds and his body forgot how to work. His legs gave out and he started falling but a strong grip grabbed onto him beneath his arms and eased him carefully into a kneeling position on the floor.

The uniform beneath his fingers was rough but real and no matter how long he looked at the material, it stayed the same, oddly comforting, royal blue. It stayed solid… it was actually there.

“Whao!” Roy managed to catch Ed as the blond collapsed and held the battered body close to his chest as he lowered them to the floor. “Easy now…”

There was a choke from the body in his arms and suddenly Ed was clutching his arms with nearly bruising strength. As his golden eyes sought out onyx, Roy noticed tears beginning to gather in those depths, a small glimmer of hope shinning behind the desperation. The blonde’s mouth was working frantically but it was a long moment before he was finally able to speak.

“R-R-Roy…R-real…”

It took Roy a moment to realize the choked sound was meant as a question and he felt a single tear escape his eye. He gently gathered the young man close and buried his face in that slim neck. He wanted to apologize to the blonde until there was no breath left in his lungs, but he knew even then it wouldn’t be enough to make up for all that the young man had gone through. Right now, Edward didn’t need pointless apologies, he needed reassurance and comfort.

“Yes Edward,” he whispered hoarsely, somehow managing to get his voice working. “It’s me, it’s Roy, I’m really here… You’re safe now. You’re safe.”

The softly whispered words carried such conviction and promise of comfort that Edward wanted to wrap himself up in them and never come out. That feeling combined with the silent support and strength of those surrounding arms holding him up pushed him past his breaking point.

The first choked sob tore itself from his chest and Edward buried himself deeper into the warm body supporting him, and for the first time in three years, the blonde allowed himself to cry.

And Roy just held him, his arms tightening about him and his sheltering presence keeping the blonde from loosing himself completely to the despair that had been building for so long.

The blonde continued to whimper and cling limply to Roy’s jacket, muttering all the while.

“Roy’s real… here… real… he’s here… Roy’s here… you’re here… you’re real…”

“Shhhh, Edward, shhhh.” Roy soothed, holding his own tears in check and running a hand through filthy blonde locks. “It’s all right, Ed. I’m here… no one’s ever going to take you away again. I promise, Ed. You’re safe… shhhh, I’m here.”

Soon enough, an emotionally and physically drained Ed Elric passed out against his ex-commander’s chest, still whimpering slightly but no longer sobbing. Roy sighed heavily, feeling himself reaching his limit as well, and lifted the poor boy into his arms. It had been a trying day. He and Edward could both use a good rest.

Well, he’d settle the blonde into bed as soon as he’d seen his charge cleaned up and properly changed. He had brought a change of Ed’s old clothes with him, like he always had… just in case, always just in case.

It took quiet a bit of wrangling but Roy finally managed to get Edward washed and into actual clothes. The blonde woke a few times but was soon comforted by Roy’s hushed words of reassurance and drifted off again.

Once he was certain that he had Ed cleaned, clothed, bandaged, and as comfortable as he could make him, Roy flopped down in the nearest chair and watched the boy sleep for a while.

He had found him. He still could hardly believe it. He was tired and emotionally worn, but he almost feared falling asleep. If he woke to find that this was a dream he wasn’t sure he’d survive it. But no matter how long he stared at the sleeping, murmuring blonde in his hotel bed, nothing changed. Ed was here.

Roy choked on an ironic laugh as he realized his thoughts sounded a lot like Ed’s frantic mumblings. He chuckled even as he felt his eyes stinging anew.

Roy shook himself, knowing he couldn’t quiet break down in relief just yet. If he allowed himself to loose it, he would be so worn out afterwards that he would drop straight to sleep, whether he was in the chair or laying on the small couch.

He couldn’t rest just yet. There was someone who needed to receive a call… someone who had been waiting for this call for the past three years.

Yes, he had kept Alphonse Elric waiting long enough.


Kuragari: OK! Once again thanks for your patience and I hope it was a good chapter!