First Love

Thank you for the reviews! I tried to make Ed's dialogue a bit more mature to match his character, put in some new plot twists that deal with death, religion, science etc...


Chapter 6

“I’ll protect you.” Smiling gently, a soft glow illuminated Roy’s eyes, brightening his face.

“Taisa.” Limp in Roy’s arms, Edward sank deeper. He blushed, feeling his cheek brush Roy’s. Eyebrows lifting, his amber eyes trembled, opened to light that played in his pools. The black pupils in the center of each iris dilated from a feeling deep inside his body. His lips parted, pursed. What’s going on? My heart, it’s beating so fast…

Blinking, Roy felt his heart flutter too, body quivering around Edward’s. Biting his lower lip, Roy swallowed letting his chin fall on Edward’s shoulder. “Hagane,” he sighed regretfully. “We’ll have to stop.”

“But Sir…” Whimpering, Fullmetal tugged at the colonel’s jacket.

“Sit up,” Flame demanded, releasing him. “Lieutenant Hawkeye is here.”

Just as the doorknob twisted Roy fastened his military jacket distanced from Edward. His head angled up, posture locked throughout with boot heels fixed together, he posed a striking façade.

Entering, Hawkeye stiffened, saluting. “Colonel Sir, I’ve reported the change of Edward’s assessment to His Excellency.”

Towering over Edward, Roy nodded toward Hawkeye.

She dropped her salute and gaze at once. “I also regret to inform you of rumors that Scar has appeared here in Eastern.”

“What!?” Roy hissed, breaking his former composure. “It seems he followed the Fuhrer here along with that damn Hakuro too.”

“Sir, might I warn you, what if the General’s near?” Hawkeye cautioned sternly.

“Ah, right, that little chirping bird.” Roy sneered, pacing to and fro. “Maybe he’ll sing me a song.” It was Roy’s affectionate way of referring to the higher ups he despised.

“I was also told you are to report to him now regarding the Scar case,” she added.

“Thank you, Lieutenant. Then I’ll report.” Staring coldly, Roy departed in silence.

“Hey, Taisa! Wait up.” Fullmetal trailed hastily in tow.

In the hall the Flame one marched onward. When Edward approached he continued without a word or even a gesture acknowledging his presence. Hands in his pants pockets, Edward glared abruptly at Roy.

“What!?” The colonel’s sharp tone bit in quickly. His black eyes narrowed, fixated down the hall.

“Nothing.” Fullmetal’s gaze tore away.

“Hagane, I expect that report today. I’ll have Lieutenant Havoc escort you to Eastern’s military library for research,” Flame ordered, preoccupied by Hakuro’s visit.

“I’m going by myself.” Indifferent to Roy’s reaction Edward left his side.

I’m not surprised. Standing rooted to his spot, Roy watched as the blonde’s figure vanished. I’ll have to make sure arrives at the library when this meeting is finally ends.

Near Eastern Headquarters’ front entrance puddles wet the tile floor. The boots of personnel squeaked under their gait and janitors hurried after with dry mops in hand. As the doors swung open a cold chill basted in. Shivering, Edward burrowed through.

“Oww!” He hit a taller dark haired man passing.

“Well, if it ain’t, Ed. Sorry bout that,” Hughes chuckled, grinning. “You heading out?”

“Yeah, Lieutenant Major, to the library.” Fullmetal nodded, closing his coat.

“It’s pretty bad out there.” Hughes heard the rain pound outside.

Pushing open the doors, they peeked at the weather. Heavy gray storm clouds rumbled casting the city in twilight. Occasional thunderclaps rolled over as lightning lit the sky. Sheet after sheet of torrents hammered down.

“I told Al not to leave, but he didn’t listen.” Hughes shrugged, glancing helplessly at the blonde.

Edward froze.

“Apparently he had a cat he found the other day and set free it this morning. Then the weather went bad so he headed out again to find it,” the lieutenant major explained.
“Dammit, Al!” Edward hissed, stomping ahead. So that’s what he hid in his armor! What if the rain-washes away his blood seal? No, Al is too smart to do that, but if he finds that cat is dead.

The scenario of Al crying over the cat flashed through his mind, breaking Edward’s heart. Al would…he contemplated. Cry, just like the time when Mom died. I have to find that cat before he does!

“I’ll be back.” Saying that, Fullmetal bolted out.

The howling wind and torrential rain swallowed his form from Hughes. Shivering hard, Edward pulled over his hood coat over his head. Still, within minutes every inch of clothing soaked through.

“How stupid I am.” Smiling sadly, he paused in the downpour in front of Headquarters’ barred gate. “But what else can I do?”

Dragging on, he squinted at his surroundings. Eventually, every stone paved street in Eastern looked the same misted over in gray. No one bothered to light any of the streetlamps leaving the city a stark and desolate wasteland. Meanwhile, Al retreated to shelter nearby. Roy drove out as soon as his meeting ended.

Under the eaves of a shop, Edward clung its wall. Just then he spotted a cardboard box across the sheet with something white inside. “Isn’t that the blanket Al wrapped his cat in?” he wondered aloud.

With the rain lightening up, Fullmetal trudged tiredly over. He saw the military’s dragon insignia blazoned on the box. It was clear Al had gotten it from Headquarters. He found no cat inside, so assumed it wandered off not far.

Drenched, he ignored his quivering body and nerves long gone numb. Even car headlights evaded his visual field. Only that cat truly mattered. To Al it symbolized a joy transcending this world. He simply played like a child, oblivious to his life bound in armor. It was as if Al possessed his original fleshly body.

Driven by the deep-seated grief of Al loosing his body, Fullmetal searched desperately amongst rubble and trash. “Al, I’ve let you down so much. I swear it’ll never happen again!”

A car sped by catching the boy in its headlights. The driver slammed its breaks skidding in the gutter. Lost within, Edward lunged aside. His landing knocked over a trashcan. Behind its previous spot, a stationary form lay curled up in place.

“Al’s cat!” Edward cried, diving at it.

Sweeping it up, he cradled its lifeless body, still supple from recent death. “NOO!!” he screamed. “I can’t just let Al’s happiness die!”

Dropping it, Fullmetal clapped his hands.

“YOU FOOL!” someone hissed, tackling him down before the light of a transmutation flared.

“Bastard, get off me!” Edward retorted, punching back.

An angry hand seized his automail fist. Strong, it tightened so hard he cried. This was the grasp of a man who killed in battle. Unlike Scar, emotion softened this touch, although his mind suppressed feeling. Pushing beneath, Edward felt his squeeze turn possessive. At the same time, his deep caring held back. Only one man wielded such power invading Edward’s soul.

“Taisa…” he uttered, weary from mounting fatigue. “You came.”

“Shut up, Hagane!” Pain and shock contorted Roy’s twisted face. He threw down Fullmetal’s hand down on the wet cement grating firmly beneath. “You almost transmuted a life!”

“…I…I…” Choked sobs escaped Edward, his tone shrill and high. “Almost revived it…sinned against God. As alchemists, we’re closest to God yet aren’t…

“Just get in the car, you’ll catch cold.” Roy took off his trench coat, placing it on Edward.

“The cat.” Shivering, Fulmetal rose to his feet.

Bending over, Roy picked it up, its body still limp from its recent life. “We’ll give it a proper burial later.”

Roy drove slowly through the rain back to HQ. At the next intersection a cross across blinked its headlights three times.

“It’s either Lieutenant Hawkeye or Hughes. They’ve got Al,” Flame murmured, hands steady on the steering wheel and sight fixated ahead.

“I can’t believe you guys did all this.” Hugging his knees to his chest, the blond bent forward.

Staring ahead, the colonial said nothing following the vehicle with Al and his subordinates in front. Edward recalled emotion in his face when he first cradled the cat. Now, he simple drove as if nothing happened, or at least appeared to Edward that way. Glancing at its stiff body curled in the space between, he shot a glare at Roy.

His eyes darted at Edward then back to the road.

“How can you just accept it?” Fullmetal asked. His irises shifted at Roy.

“Death, eh?” Roy smiled grimly. “On the battlefield the enemy becomes inhuman so it’s easy to accept.” The carnage of Ishbal flashed through his mind. “If it’s someone you happen to care for, the more you do, it hurts…”

Edward remained silent, struck by his honesty. Only Roy’s name lingered. “Taisa…”

“It hurts so bad it makes one hate God.” Roy’s sharp voice cut any thoughts Edward had that moment. “Or stop believing. Yet the Ishbalites continued in a God that never saved them.”

“How unscientific and…sad, just like Lior,” Edward sighed, trailing off.

“As Alchemists, we are scientists, believing in the tangible results of our work,” the colonel continued. “As long as we live we search.”

“For the Truth?” Running his human hand down his metal arm, Edward contemplated his sin.

“Our self. Or another.” Roy’s voice penetrated deep in Edward’s conscious.

Just what did Roy mean? Edward wanted to ask but they already reached Headquarters. Determined to know he’d cross all boundaries to the bottom of Roy’s inner heart.

TBC