Two Colonels - Chapter 11
Title: Two Colonels
Rating: NC17 (for subject matter; overall)
Rating this chapter: R
Pairing: Roy/Ed; previous OC/Ed
Warnings: Rape, Yaoi, AU (no Homunculi and BXB)
Spell-checked but unbeta'd
Summary: One Colonel was gentle the other was not.
Disclaimer: Sure... if I would own FMA... there would have been a second season starting with the Elrics back in Central and more R/E action ;)
Last time on Two Colonels:
“Are you hurt?”
Again all Ed could do was shake his head.
“Sir, I think Ed is in shock.”
Chapter 11 / ??
He opened the door slowly to the small room. It was an office of one of the doctors in the hospital. Knox had brought Ed here to protect him from all the people running and shouting in- and outside the hospital. They had gotten more soldiers to shield everything from view and nobody was allowed to get inside - even ambulances had to drive to different hospitals. There was still press waiting outside with their cameras in position to get the first photograph of the injured soldier or Ed.
Roy sighed and closed the door behind himself. The teen was lying on his side on a small sofa with a blanket over his shoulders. His breathing was even and slow - he was deeply asleep. The older man sat next to the small alchemist resting a hand on the teen's forehead. His hair was a little wet from washing the blood out of it and his jacket was hanging over the back of the office chair with brown spots on one shoulder.
The door opened again and the grim-looking doctor stepped in.
“Colonel.”
“Doctor Knox.”
The raven-haired doctor sat on the chair watching Ed sleeping on the sofa. He got a chart from the table and looked over it.
“Believe it or not, Ed and your friend have been lucky.”
Roy gave a small laugh and looked at the older man raising an eyebrow.
“Lucky? Well if you want to tell me that they could have been dead then I presume they are lucky for not dying but being seriously injured.”
“You know what I mean, Mustang. If that guy would have been a better shot and if Lieutenant Colonel Hughes hadn't been that fast I wouldn't be sedating Ed but you.”
“Sedating?”
The doctor nodded and threw the chart at the younger man.
“When I got him here he was nearly hysterical. He screamed and tried to get away. I had to give him something to examine him and afterwards I wanted him to rest.”
Roy nodded while reading over the file in his hands.
“What does 'tinnitus' mean?”
“The bullet wounding the Lieutenant Colonel left his body through his shoulder in a way that it got very close to Ed's ear. After getting him calm enough he showed to his ear shaking his head and cringing as if he was hurt. I examined it and run a test - the result was that Ed had lost his hearing through the whizzing sound of the bullet and all that is left is a buzzing sound. That's what we call 'tinnitus'. It will go away in some time. He just has to calm down and stay in bed for a while.”
“And what about his speaking?”
“That is due to the shock he has suffered. It will go away as well.”
Roy nodded and stroked through the blond hair.
“Colonel, do you still have the address of the psychiatrist I have given to you in East City?”
“Yes I have. Why...?”
“Edward really needs somebody to talk to who isn't personally involved. I can't force him to go but I think it would be best for him. Please try to consider it.”
“We already considered it. But he doesn't want to. There is also something he doesn't want to talk about to anybody and I'm lucky that I already know what it is.”
“Does it have to do with the condition of his brother and his arm and leg?”
“That's classified. I'm sorry, Doctor Knox.”
The older man watched Roy a little longer before he turned and stood up.
“I'll try to get new information on your friend. Call me when Ed wakes up. I want to run a test again.”
“I do and thank you.”
The older man just nodded and left them behind.
*
Golden eyes slowly opened. There was still a faint buzzing noise but at least he could he other sounds again - cars outside, people in the hallway and a soft breathing person next to him. He looked up to Roy who was looking out of the window with his hand on Ed's shoulder. His eyes were distant - like Maes' had been hours ago. At the thought of Hughes the teen sat up abruptly getting Roy to look at him with wide eyes. Ed wanted to ask the older man if everything was alright with Maes and if they could go and see him but no sound escaped his throat. Immediately there were hands in his hair and on his cheeks stroking softly, calming him down.
“Calm down, Ed. It's alright.” Roy made calming noises kissing the teens forehead getting him closer until Ed was sitting right next to him with his head resting on the older man's shoulder.
“It's okay. It's okay.” He took a deep breath. “Can you hear me, Ed?”
The teen looked up at the older man and nodded.
“Do your ears still hurt?”
He thought a bit over the question trying to listen harder to any sounds he could hear. The buzzing sound was faint and it didn't hurt as much as before. So he wobbled his hand to show Roy what he meant - why wasn't his voice working?
“Still the buzzing in your ears?” That was easy to answer - he nodded. “Still as loud as before?” No, not really - he shook his head. “That's good.” Roy kissed the crown of Ed's head and leaned his head back against the backrest of the sofa.
Ed still didn't know why he couldn't say a word. He knew he could - his throat was unhurt - but why wouldn't it work? That was frustrating. He pocked his finger to Roy's arm making the older man look down again. The teen showed with his finger to his throat and raised an eyebrow.
“Oh, your voice?”
Ed nodded.
“Didn't Doctor Knox tell you anything about it?”
The teen shook his head looking somewhat worried.
“Don't be afraid. The Doc said that you are under shock and that's why you can't speak for now. It will go away as will the buzzing in your ears. You just have to stay calm for now, okay?”
Ed just nodded again and leaned his head against Roy's shoulder again. He didn't feel very shocked. There have been other times when he really had felt shocked - his mother dying, Nina's death, the last 3rd October,... - but now? Maybe a little. He would be concerned if he wasn't after getting Hughes's blood into his face. Okay maybe he was a lot shocked. He gulped. If he was honest he was a lot more than shocked. There it had happened again right after he had felt safe and secure again, right after someone had told him he loved him. His eyes flew open and he looked up at Roy again. Maybe the colonel would be the next one? He could feel sweat running down his back. He couldn't do that to the man. Roy couldn't be hurt any worse than he already had been. He scooted to the other side of the sofa. The older man watched him with concerned eyes not knowing what was going on.
“Ed? What's...?”
The teen shook his head frenetically. Don't come close to me. Don't come near me. I will hurt you worse than you can imagine. I'm bad for you. I can't be with you. You deserve better than me.
Roy reached his hand out to touch Ed but what happened then he hadn't imagined. There was a clap blue light and then an Automail blade on Ed's right arm.
“Ed...”
The teen shook his head again. Tears now streaming down his face as he looked at the man he loved so much but would be hurt if Ed ever touched him again.
“Ed calm down. Your safe. I'm here. I'll protect you. You don't have to fear anything.”
Nothing what the man said could calm Ed down now. Didn't he get it? Couldn't he see that Ed wanted to protect Roy? This stupid, stupid bastard. He was sobbing hard now and the tears were fogging his vision. The Automail was trembling while he fought so hard to not let Roy come close to him. If he would let the man take him into his arms he would never want him to let go again.
The door to the small office opened again. Knox starred at the the persons occupying the room. Ed had his knees drawn to his chest the Automail blade in position to hurt anyone who would dare to come closer. The colonel was looking utterly bewildered at the young teen. What had happened during those minutes that Knox had gone? The doctor cleared his throat to get their attention. There were still tears glistening on the young alchemist's cheeks. The doctor raised an eyebrow at the teen and took a look at the raven-haired man. His dark eyes were a little wide and for the first time in years there was no mask in place.
“Edward, I would appreciate it if you wouldn't threaten us with your blade there.”
Ed looked down at his arm then clapped his hands and transmuted the blade back into his arm. He whipped his face with his glove-clad hand and sniffed hard.
“Colonel? Would you mind to move to the chair there? I have to take a good look at Ed.”
Roy just nodded and moved without another glance at Ed to the chair. The doctor took a seat on the sofa close to Ed. The teen's eyes were red and there were still tears streaming down his face.
“Mustang, get me some tissues. He needs some.”
A small box of tissues was given to him. He blew his nose and whipped the tears from his face. It took some minutes until the doctor took the box from him again. The older man made him turn his head so he could take a look at Ed's ears. He examined them for a while before he let them go and motioned Ed to open his mouth. With a small spatula the teen's tongue was pressed down and Doctor Knox took a good look down his throat.
“Does you throat hurt, Edward?”
The young alchemist shook his head slowly.
“Hm. It's a little red.”
The older man touched the teen's throat feeling for anything that was off. He frowned deeply as he let go of him.
“His throat is a little bit swollen and as I said before it's red. If I wouldn't have seen him crying and screaming earlier I would say his tonsils are inflamed.”
The doctor frowned down at Edward who was touching his throat and looking guilty down at the sofa cushions.
“What is your favourite ice-cream, Edward?”
Blinking the young man looked up. He looked from the doctor to Roy who was looking back as surprised as Ed. The older man laughed and clapped a hand on Ed's back.
“If your speechlessness doesn't come from your shock but from your tonsils I can't do anything but giving you ice-cream to cool them. There is no medicine that would do any good and ice-cream is an old household remedy.” He sighed and cleaned his glasses. “If it comes from the shock I can't do anything. Then even ice-cream wouldn't help.” He gave Ed a measuring glance. “I don't have to sedate you again, do I?”
Ed shook his head quickly. Being put to sleep by sedatives wasn't very pleasurable when waking up.
“Good to know. I take it that you will go with Colonel Mustang to get some ice-cream for your throat?”
The teen swallowed and nodded. He looked at the raven-haired man who smiled back at him.
“Very good.”
The doctor stood up and walked to the door.
“Take a walk, eat some ice and then come back to visit Lieutenant Colonel Hughes. He should be awake by then.”
With those words the older man left the two alone again.
*
Ed was licking his ice-cream - chocolate - while they walked through the nearly empty streets. Most people were at work. Those few walking around were no threat to them - mostly house wives doing their grocery shopping and chatting with friends on their way home. Two soldiers were accompanying them a little way back. As Ed's jacket was ruined with Maes' blood they had borrowed a scarf and a small jacket from a nurse. The teen was glad that the woman didn't wear anything too girlly. A plain brown jacket and a light red scarf - something Ed would wear as well if he wasn't so accustomed to his own bright red coat.
From time to time the young blond would look up at Roy who was walking silently beside him. They hadn't yet talked about what Ed had done in the small office due to Ed's being unable to speak and Roy avoiding the topic somehow. Ed was sorry for behaving like that but too much happening in such a short time made him feel vulnerable and he really didn't want Roy to be hurt because of him. Fate's bitch, huh? Grumbling he licked his ice-cream trying very much not to think about that.
Suddenly the raven-haired man beside him stopped. The teen looked up confused and immediately searched the streets for any threats. He couldn't find any and looked up at Roy even more confused. The older man just smiled sadly down at him.
“We should go back to the hospital, don't you think so?”
Ed nodded and took a bit of his ice-waffle. The Colonel looked up at the sky watching birds pass by.
“You need help, Ed.”
The teen looked up frowning at the older man. He took another bite before he pointed silently at the raven-haired man standing right next to him.
“Yes you have me and Maes and of course Gracia but...” He dragged a hand through his short black hair. “Don't you want somebody to talk to who isn't as involved as we are?”
Ed shook his head. No! Why the hell would he want anyone else? When... If he got 'professional' help he would have to tell them what had happened and never again he wanted to talk about that! It was disgusting - he was disgusting for letting the man do what he had done. His heart began to race in his chest. Sweat was forming on his forehead. Maybe it was too much for Roy. Yes, of course. After all what had happened and now his best friend had been injured because of Ed.
The teen let his hands fall to his sides taking deep breaths to calm himself. He was a burden to them. He should have denied everything. He should have told them that he had wanted it - because he had wanted it, didn't he? Or why would he have gone through six months of severe abuse if he hadn't liked it? He clapped a hand over his mouth and swallowed the vile taste back. Tears were burning in his eyes and he tried to blink them away so Roy wouldn't see. Wouldn't see that he can't go on any longer. That all he can hold onto stood inches away from him.
The warm embrace was all it took to break him. He had known that all it would take to break him was the warmth that was holding him upright right now. Roy was hugging him and rubbing his back. He couldn't held the tears back.
“It's alright, Ed. I didn't mean it like that. Of course you don't have to go if it is too much for you. We can make it work without anyone else. Okay?”
The teen just nodded into the older man's shoulder not caring who might see them standing there in the middle of the street in Central hugging.
They stood there for a little while longer until Roy got a tissue from his breast pocket giving it to Ed.
“Enough crying for today.”
The smile was genuine and somewhat happy. Ed just nodded blowing his nose again.
“Now we really should go back. We don't want your 'father' to worry.”
“...don't call him that.”
His voice was still low and horse from crying and screaming earlier today. Roy looked back to the teen.
“Why not? He is kind of...”
“Just... don't say that. It's bad luck...”
Roy blinked several times trying to take in what the blonde had just said.
“Bad luck?”
Ed just nodded whipping his nose on the tissue again.
“Now I know what this all is about.”
The older man rubbed his forehead and gave a small laugh.
“It is not your fault. Nothing of what today had happened is your fault, Ed.”
The teen just scowled up at the older man.
“You have an amazing guilt-machine running in your chest, Edward.”
He glared at the older man crossed his arms over his chest and turned around.
“Oh now don't sulk. You know that I'm right. I know you think you're fate's bitch but please, Ed, please try to be reasonable here. The soldiers have been hand-picked by Hughes. He hadn't known that one of them was on Ryans' side or better on the man's side who is behind all this.”
That made Ed turn around again.
“A man behind?”
Roy nodded.
“There is somebody behind all this. There has to be somebody behind all this. Ryans is a normal - well as normal as he can be - soldier who has no connection to politicians or the top-brass or at least we don't know of any connections, yet.” He looked into Ed's stunned golden eyes. “Being shot is the best thing that could have happened to Maes because now he has evidence he can investigate.” Roy looked back to the soldiers who were watching them. He knew he could trust them. “And Maes will say so, too.”