Beckoner of Your Heart

Chapter 1: Confrontation and Returning

Roy sat in silence as the time drifted by slowly. He smiled to himself as he idly glanced at the picture in his hand. A chuckle escaped his lips as he laid the picture back on the table beside him. “Edward,” he mused slightly.

He tucked his head to his chest and stared at the liquor glass that sat in his hands. He swiveled the contents around the glass a couple of times then brought it to his lips. He then set the glass on the table before he stood and guided himself to the porch to look at the many stars that shown their beauty tonight. Roy leaned against the door frame as he sighed and put his hands in his pockets.

Something then caught his attention and he turned his head slightly to see what it was. The thing was see through and was waving at him. Shaking his head thinking he was seeing things then turned back to find it was still there. The thing was slowly stepping towards him but in a friendly manner. Roy’s eyes widened when he finally realized what it was exactly. “Maes?”

The ghostly seeming Hughes stepped closer with a bright smile plastered on his graceful face. “Roy what has gotten you down?”

Roy reached out and proved his point. This Hughes was definitely ghostly but much real to him. Roy smirked as he stared into those emerald eyes once more. “Hello old friend, it’s been a while hasn’t it?”

Hughes only chuckled, “My My Roy. You look a wreck.”

Roy scoffed and rolled his eyes. “Just worried I guess.”

This caught Hughes’ attention and he cocked his head to the side. “Worried about what? Edward?”

Roy nodded at the sound of that name and that earned him a sigh. “He’ll be fine Roy. They sent him to that war for a reason. The Fullmetal Alchemist never gives up easily.”

“That may be true, but Ed is Ed. My Ed.” Roy turned to face Hughes. “You really think he’ll be fine?”

“I should know, I see everything now. I have no choice but to watch Elysia and Gracia from the skies.” Maes smiled a bit and waved off the idea. “Don’t worry, Edward is fine. He should be home soon.”

Roy nodded as his heart started to lighten up. He felt better hearing that and closed his eyes for a brief moment. When he looked back up, Hughes was gone. Roy stumbled back a bit. “W-was that a dream? I guess a message at the most.” Roy shrugged.

He stepped back inside the house and returned to his seat by the table. He took another sip from the glass then glanced back at the picture. Edward was waving and smiling as Roy had an arm around Edward’s shoulders. Alphonse was smiling and leaning against the building they took the picture at. “Come back home safe Ed. I am waiting for you.”

The ivory curtains shifted as the breeze blew into the house. A peaceful effect for such a nice night. Roy smirked to himself as the breeze played across his gentle features. All of his hair still intact and jet black, not one single grey hair. He bent his head down once more, his bangs covering his eyes, giving them a darker look. The breeze died down shortly, leaving the room in eerie silence. Nothing made a sound, except for the glass he put to and from his soft lips. The calloused hands gripped tight to the glass as the contents nearly vanquished from the partaker’s glass. Thoughts set heavy on the “conversation” he just had. ‘If you could even call it a conversation,’ he thought. More over, was it a conversation or was he just hallucinating? He shrugged it off, not noticing as a figure moved outside. Slowly advancing towards the house.

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Movement would have made it easier if he wasn’t so damn injured. ‘Just a few more steps, just a few more,’ he had to drag on. He simply refused to take medical help, knowing that someone waited back home for him. Yet he had been stupid. The one wound on his arm was covered, but that didn’t stop blood from flowing. His foot made contact with the first stair. Damn automail felt so heavy, but he lifted it anyway. Clunk. He then moved his flesh foot before finally realizing, he had no more energy. His body then made contact with the stairs themselves. His head hitting one of the pieces of board awfully hard, knocking him into unconsciousness.

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Roy heard a noise and got up from his place at the chair. Figuring it was some animal or child he checked through the curtains. Noticing that it wasn’t neither, he walked to the door and unlocked it. The final click was heard and he stuck his head out. Seeing a figure laying on the stairs, seemingly unconscious, was all he needed before he advanced on the body. A gasp escaped his lips when he noticed who it was, “Ed,” he murmured. Picking up Edward bridal style, he carried him into the house. Roy moved a strand of blonde hair from the young man's face and smiled. Edward always seemed so peaceful at sleep. He plopped back into his chair and held Edward’s face gently in his hands.

“Ed wake up,” he implored as Edward stirred slightly. Roy then noticed a streak of blood coming from the teen’s head. Roy took his thumb and rubbed lightly, careful not to cause Edward anymore pain. “What happened to you?”

Edward’s eyes quickly fluttered open as a quick gasp of air escaped. The movement from Roy startled the younger man. The blonde looked up quizzically at his captor then smiled. He settled back into the arms and relaxed once more. Roy sighed and repeated his previous question. “What happened to you Ed?”

The young man opened one eye and responded “I got shot is all,” and shrugged. “It was nothing big.”

Roy grimaced at that and slowly rose from his seat. He gently laid Edward down and fetched the first-aid kit. Edward watched as Roy disappeared into the kitchen and come back out with a box shaped thing. He sat up slightly as Roy kneeled next to him. “Be more careful shrimp.” Edward’s eyes darkened at the word but let it pass. Roy noticed this as he started opening the box and smirked. Edward extended his arm with a huff as Roy lifted himself off the floor to patch the arm properly. “Did the bullet actually go in or graze you?”

Edward looked at his arm then to Roy’s face. “Hell if I know. All I know is that it doesn’t hurt.” Roy shook his head and unwrapped the wound. He took notice that it still was bleeding, meaning the bullet was possibly lodged into the arm. Roy started poking around the arm and found his answer as a bit of metal appeared. Roy pulled out a small scalpel and started digging into the wound. Edward winced but withstood the pain. The bullet finally popped out and Roy reached for gauze and ointment. He placed a small dab of ointment on the gauze and put it on the wound. He then placed tape around the patch and sealed the wound. Edward nodded his thanks and got up.

Roy placed his right arm around Edward’s waist as they slowly made it up the stairs. They passed several doors until the master bedroom came into view and they slipped inside. Edward stripped from his shirt and pants as Roy did the same then slipped under the cold, crisp sheets. Their bodies melded together as sleep overtook Edward. Roy placed a gentle kiss on top of the blonde hair and sighed contentedly. Edward was safe, back here in his arms. He looked out the window at the darkened sky and silently thanked Hughes. He was the true one who brought Ed back to him safely. With that last thought, he let sleep take over him as he held Edward close.