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FMA Big Bang Fic - Fracture Critical - Part Two
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++++++++
Maria Ross didn’t know a lot of things but she knew trouble when it came knocking.
She’s taught advanced English and technical writing at Xerxes high school for six years and she knew her students well. That being said, the empty desk one of her prized pupils couldn’t keep his eye off of spelled bad news. It was a seat that was empty far too often and the lone dark eye looking at it almost broke her heart.
Roy Mustang was sharp, witty and charismatic in ways people paid big money to learn. She was certain that he would take the world by storm one day as soon as he realized it was still his oyster to claim.
The empty seat he was staring at was usually occupied by Edward Elric. Ed was a young man that was a true gem among gems, and probably too bright and gifted for his own damn good. Maria has been a teacher all of her adult life and she’d never come across a young mind that craved and latched onto knowledge the way Ed’s did. He seemed to grasp and retain information in a way that could not be described with mere words. Your only hope to understand it was to see it firsthand.
The only problem was the increasingly obvious disaster that was his home life.
Both Ed and Roy have been through hell and back for people so young. In Maria’s opinion they have lived a couple of lifetimes and the age of their soul could be seen through their eyes. Both of them are juniors but by all rights neither should be. Ed should be a sophomore but that almost ruthless intelligence of his had earned him a skipped grade. Roy should be a senior but an ill twist of fate cost him a year.
Both boys were damaged by society’s standards and considering the hand fate has dealt them it didn’t surprise Maria in the least that they were drawn to each other. Like has always drawn to like and no matter who did or didn’t like it some things wouldn’t be denied. Each young man was extraordinary in his own right but when put together working toward the same end they managed the truly wondrous. They had managed to put Xeres High School on the map by not only making it to the alchemy and science regional’s, something that was previously only done by much larger institutions, they placed first in the finals.
Maria was jolted out of that line of thought when she caught Roy looking at Ed’s seat for what had to be the hundredth time. Roy had easily been the most popular child in the school before his accident. He probably still is even though he seldom lets lose that winning charm that earned him that title. His story was almost as sad as Ed’s.
Ed lost an arm and a leg in the automobile accident that took his mother’s life. Roy lost his best friend and an eye when the stadium they were in collapsed.
There wasn’t many people in their little city that didn’t know their story.
Edward and Alphonse Elric were both gifted in many ways but that was to be expected when both parents were as well. Trisha was a dancer and gymnast in her youth and Van Hohenheim was a first rate engineer and alchemist.
The world may not ever know it but the loss of Al’s upcoming genius was a great one so was that of Maes Hughes. Ed was still able to let his academic wings fly but he was forced to quit competing in any school sports as well as martial arts. While most viewed his artificial limbs as a handicap the schools that were closest to overtaking Xeres in rank pushed the fact the limbs also gave Ed added strength… regardless of the fact the poor boy had to work around carrying, pushing and moving nearly fifty pounds of metal. So as to not rock the boat the powers that be decided Ed could no longer compete. Then Roy’s loss of his depth of perception as well as his confidence sat him on the sidelines as well.
Between the loss of Ed, Al, Maes and Roy from the Xeres School system sports, several teams faltered for a long time. Ed and Roy made it back into the academic arena but Al and Maes were lost to all arenas forever.
As she tried to shake those thoughts Maria reminded herself that she shouldn’t get involved, but as her eyes tracked to the empty seat before moving up to the worried face of Roy she knew she would anyway.
++++
Roy hated the game he had to play when Ed was absent and when he took the work he missed over to him after school. For the first two years after Ed’s accident he hadn’t known Ed’s frequent absences from school were anything more than what he claimed them to be. Then one day that he’d never forget that all changed and like most change that came Roy’s way it wasn’t a good one.
Ed had been over at his house one Saturday and after Roy’s aunt had stuffed them with pie Ed had fallen asleep on the couch. Wanting to prank him Roy pulled up Ed’s shirt with every intention of blowing air on his stomach until it made a nice loud farting sound, however what he saw once he lifted Ed’s shirt stopped him in his tracks.
Ed’s stomach and side was covered in bruises.
Not pegging it for what it was right away Roy had quietly asked his aunt to come into the room and when he showed her the woman sighed and said, “So it’s as I expected then.”
“What are you talking about Aunt Chris?”
“When you’ve lived as long as I have and seen some of the things I’ve seen it’s easy to read between the lines and see what people are trying so hard to hide.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Ed often gives the excuse that he fell due to his automail making him clumsy yet I have seen him scale a tree with the grace of a cat. He’s often sick but there is no evidence of a cough, fever, or anything, nothing but him being absent from school then back only to be absent again.”
“What are you saying?”
“I’m saying the bruises aren’t from falls and he isn’t sick all the time. Someone’s hurting him and that’s the excuse given to cover it up.”
At those words various scenes involving Ed played back in Roy’s mind and he didn’t like what he found once he looked at it with ‘open’ eyes.
Roy asked Ed about the bruises when he woke up and it took him a long time to admit his dad had caused them. Even once he had he tried to downplay the severity of the situation.
That’s how the game began. The game of Roy pretending he didn’t know Ed was being abused, pretending Van Hohenheim wasn’t a violent bastard, and pretending this wasn’t killing him on some level to watch Ed suffer.
When he knocked on the Elric home front door Ed answered it. He smiled the instant he saw it was Roy but it looked painful with the bruise covering part of his face. He invited Roy in and as soon as Al heard his voice he all but tackled the older boy asking him if he brought him anything.
“I don’t think I did,” Roy began but before Al’s face could finish falling he whipped out a green lollipop and all was right in Al’s world.
As they entered the living room Roy said hello to Ed’s father but the man didn’t do more than grunt in response. When Ed said they were going into the kitchen to study Hohenheim put his newspaper down and gave Ed a look that had both boys feeling nervous.
“I’ll start dinner while I’m in there, it… it won’t be late.”
Another gruff snort and he went back to reading his newspaper.
Once in the kitchen Ed was true to his word. As Roy sat there explaining what Ed had missed in Mrs. Curtis’s class the blond was pulling items out of the refrigerator and pantry. After he started chicken boiling in a large pot with onions, carrots and celery, he dusted a counter with flour and began mixing ingredients in a bowl.
Roy wasn’t one to squawk at a nice meal but it looked a little involved for someone who had three days of work to catch up on.
“Are you making biscuits?”
“Yeah, why?”
“No reason really I just thought everything you were doing looked a little time consuming since you had so much work to catch up on. Why didn’t you go with something quicker? You know chicken nuggets and macaroni and cheese.”
Ed never looked up from what he was doing, “Dad likes them so I make them, it’s no big deal really.”
It looked like one from where Roy sat but he didn’t like the tension in Ed’s tone so he let it go and continued reading his notes aloud. He said something that made Ed’s brows knit together.
“What?”
“Are you saying that Rogan’s theory on structured space doesn’t apply here?”
“That’s right.”
“No actually that’s wrong,” Ed said matter-of-factly.
“Are you calling Mrs. Curtis a liar?”
“No I’m just saying if anything this is a glaring example of why his theory is the basis for so many things.”
“Because his theory states that even if you have all the materials for something it is still subject to the environment. Meaning, that it still may not come together, especially in the desired manner, if the space is limited or not conducive.”
“Do you think we could prove this?”
“I know we can, and if we do I think we’ve just found our end of semester project!”
“Sounds good to me. Do you think she’ll let us work together again?” Roy asked somberly as the thought of having to work with anyone other than Ed danced through his mind.
“I don’t see why not especially since we are the only person that can keep up with the other.”
As Roy watched Ed diligently working on dinner he felt like an inconsiderate moron, “Would you like some help with that?”
“No I’m fine you’re being helpful by reading those notes while I do this. What did I miss in Brosh’s class?”
“Nothing much,” Roy stated as he flipped to the next section in his notebook he called the Ed-book since it was the one he always copied his notes into and left with Ed when he was out for more than a day. It unsettled him to realize he’s nearly run out of paper in book three for this year.
It made him realize his aunt was right and these instances were becoming more frequent and increasing in severity.
“He went into our countries last revolution and what started our current form of government.” Roy answered before he whispered, “Are you ok Ed? Your face looks like…”
“I’m fine, I truly am, it doesn’t even hurt anymore.”
“Are you sure? It still looks painful to me.”
“I’m fine, Roy you get use to it after a while when you are as clumsy as I am,” Ed replied as he stared cutting circles out of the dough.
The lie left a bitter taste in both boys mouth but they knew the danger of slipping out of the routine so it was best if they kept it up, especially within hearing range of Hohenheim.
For Ed life had become this weird awkward dance where getting off beat or humming out of tune had dire consequences. One step in the wrong direction or one note out of place could earn him a beating that would take days to recover from. He felt like the phrase walking on eggshells didn’t even begin to describe his situation. There wasn’t a word or phrase that really could unless you wanted to go with the base emotion behind it all and that was fear.
All consuming, never ending, paralyzing fear.
It wound its cold unyielding fingers around his heart and mind from the moment he opened his eyes in the morning until he finally fell into a fitful sleep at night. It was so all consuming Ed felt as if he couldn’t breathe at times. He could feel it lurking in every shadow and it was almost enough to be his undoing.
When Roy noticed the robotic way his boyfriend was moving about the kitchen he stood up, walked around the counter and gave Ed a hug. Instead of it being the comfort Roy meant it to be the unspoken acknowledgement of the horror he lived everyday almost caused him to crack.
It wasn’t often that Ed felt the abuse to be more than he could handle but the last two days had been so full of horrific surprises he felt overwhelmed, out of his league and closer to his own personal edge than he ever remembers being in his short life.
He was just about to back away from Roy when, “Doesn’t look like studying to me,” was heard from the doorway.
As they separated, they were too afraid to do anything but stare at the man that was talking as they waited for the fallout. Cold golden eyes narrowed and fixed themselves on Ed even as the owner of those eyes addressed Roy.
“I think it’s time for you to leave.”
Despite the fact he was angry Roy wouldn’t have dared to do anything that would make things worse on Ed.
“Yes Sir,” was Roy’s curt response, “The notebook is on the table Ed call me if…”
“You can take that with you when you go.”
“But Dad I need…”
“You need nothing from him. You already know more than half the teachers there and I’m sure his watered down version of their so called lesson’s aren’t going to help you any.”
Roy gritted his teeth and bit his tongue to keep from reacting. It took more willpower than he thought he possessed not to hurl his own snide remarks at the man. Grabbing the notebook off the table Roy told Ed goodnight and left.
The whole time Hohenheim never took his eyes off his son.
Even when Roy passed between them to exit the kitchen he never blinked. Finally, not being able to take the pressure anymore, Ed looked away and tried to resume cooking. However, it was difficult to do anything with the weight of a stare that intense burrowing into your back.
Ed was so focused on cooking and not making eye contact with his father the older Elric was able to move within arm’s reach of him without him noticing. The moment Ed opened up the oven to check on the biscuits it was slammed shut hard enough to throw him off balance and set his heart to hammering inside his chest.
Eyes now fixed on his father’s icy gaze Ed swallowed hard and tried his best to hide the fact he was shaking.
“I can’t turn my back on you for a minute can I?”
When Ed didn’t answer two angry fists slammed down on the table as the question was repeated at a volume that could have awakened the dead.
The dead stayed buried but Al raced into the kitchen and asked what was going on. Hohenheim’s eyes never moved from their focus on Ed as he tried to get Al to leave the room before that changed.
“It’s nothing little buddy. Dinner will… will be done soon so why don’t you go wash up for me okay?”
“Why do you sound funny?”
“I’m just a little tired that’s all.”
“Then why was Dad yelling? Yelling doesn’t help tired people,” Al mused aloud looking genuinely confused as to why someone would yell at a tired person. “Dad you shouldn’t yell at Brother if he’s tired.”
All of Ed’s hoping and praying had fallen on deaf ears as their father turned his attention to Al.
“The last thing I need is someone like you telling me what to do!”
The raised voice startles Al but he regains his composure and holds his ground, “It’s like Ed tells me when I am in a bad mood or when something goes wrong I shouldn’t yell, throw or break things.”
Hohenheim was furious and Ed knew it. So when he took an angry step toward Al, Ed threw himself in between him and his Brother. Knowing that this action had just made whatever punishment that was coming ten times worse Ed gave Al his most pleading and imploring look before asking him once again to go wash up for dinner.
After assuring Al yet again that everything was fine the young man finally did as he was asked. Ed watched him leave the room and stared at the doorway for a while after he left. He knew what was coming he was just in no hurry to get the ball rolling.
The instant Ed started to turn he felt his head forcibly yanked backwards by his hair. As much as he wanted to he couldn’t stop the startled yelp that escaped him.
“You might have felt like a hero just now but you can and will regret doing that before this day is done,” Hohenheim growled out as he shoved Ed forward so hard he fell into the refrigerator. “Now finish dinner before I decide you’re not worth keeping around even for that.”
Ed struggled to regain his composure and do as he was told before things got any worse. His father seldom got violent in front of Al but at the rate things were changing Ed wouldn’t put much stock in that remaining that way. As it was, he rarely got violent with Al but Ed was certain he would have done so if he hadn’t intervened. That thought terrified him. If he had to worry about Al being hurt while he was away at school he didn’t know what he’d do.
His dad stood in the corner of the kitchen and watched him like a hawk as he finished dinner. When he pulled three plates out of the cabinet his father stopped him by saying, “Two will do just fine.”
A shaky hand put one plate back in the cupboard before fixing one for his dad and the other for Al. When Al asked him why he wasn’t eating Ed said he wasn’t hungry and had too much homework to do anyway. Not knowing what to do with himself, as they ate a meal he wasn’t welcome to take part in, Ed went upstairs to gather laundry.
As he moved from room to room the thought of what was coming had his empty stomach in knots. He didn’t know why his Dad seemed so easy to anger the past few days and the fact that he now seemed willing to take his anger out on Al was terrifying. Once downstairs in the basement he dumped a load of shirts in the washer, added some detergent turned the machine on and waited. He wanted to get them in the dryer and another load going in the washer before he went upstairs.
He spent the time trying to think of what he was going to do if his dad started lashing out at his little brother. In Ed’s world him being mistreated was one thing but Al was another. As much as he hated his existence he knew there wasn’t much hope of anything better for him or his sibling. They were too young to live on their own and no one in their right mind would want a handicapped kid his age along with his mentally challenged brother. Miracles like that only happened in fairy tales and movies and if his life resembled anything it wasn’t a fairy tale, no Ed’s life read more like a Shakespearian tragedy.
When the washer finally stopped he tossed the shirts in the dryer and climbed the steps to face the music.
…and what a horrible song it was.
The instant he set foot in the kitchen he was shoved into the kitchen table. When he tried to right himself a heavy hand pushed down on the back of his neck keeping him pinned to the table. His face had just started to heal from the previous assault. The pain had numbed down to the dullest of aches but with it being pressed into table now Ed became hyper aware of the fact it was still a tender area.
“You were down there hiding so long I had almost forgotten about you.”
Ed was so terrified his heart was already racing.
“I don’t know why you thought it would be a good idea to get in my way earlier but it wasn’t.”
Ed had known it was a bad idea. His dad wasn’t telling him anything he wasn’t already aware of.
“You were in enough hot water when I found you in here doing everything but cooking.”
The exaggerations were getting worse, Ed thought as he fought to control his breathing. He didn’t understand his father at all anymore. One moment he was sullen and withdrawn then suddenly he was ready to rip Ed’s head off for some insignificant happening his deranged mind has blown out of proportion.
Ed kept waiting for something to happen but it never did. Hohenheim just held him there face down on the table until his back and knees ached from being bent over in such a way. After nearly half an hour of this pointless display the hand on his neck moves away. When he pushes himself off the table it happens.
The harshness Ed had been prepared for that entire time didn’t happen until he was no longer expecting it.
As he was rising from his spot on the table his father grabbed him by the hair and yanked him to his feet. Ed was trying not to shake but he knew he was failing miserably at it. He had seen his dad in various fits and stages of anger but this was worse than anything before it. He looked absolutely livid and Ed had no idea why. Surely seeing Roy hug him couldn’t have merited this level of anger could it?
Hohenheim stood there staring at Ed until he thought he was going to crack.
“Get this room clean and go to bed.”
Voice trapped in his throat Ed nodded but that wasn’t good enough. When he moved to do as he was told Hohenheim shoved him with enough force that when the back of his head hit the wall his vision swam.
“Yes… yes Sir, I… I will.”
When his father left the room Ed allowed himself to lean on the counter and catch his breath. His back hurt, his head hurt and he was scared. His dad had been prone to these fits of violence for years but never had it been so much, so close together. Shaking his head Ed went to work cleaning the kitchen and convinced himself that it was just fluke.
He had to, because if he started thinking on every day going like the last two had he wouldn’t be able to hold himself together.
As he packed up the leftover dinner his stomach growled and his resolve waivered. He knew what no dinner meant for him in the morning and he was dreading it already. The artificial limbs taxed his system quite a bit so a constant and decent intake of food was a must. So toast for a day meant the next was going be full of headaches, dizzy spells and a whole host of other unpleasant side effects anyone that was nearly half metal had to deal with.
Ed made quick work of the dishes, wiped down the table turned out the lights and headed to bed. With any luck he’d get to leave this hellhole soon and go to school.
++++
When Ed was absent for the rest of the week Roy tried visiting him only to have Van Hohenheim slam the door in his face. When he trudged home and into his room looking defeated his aunt came upstairs.
“So no luck huh?”
“No his father’s an asshole.”
“Normally I’d chastise you for saying that but in this case I can’t think of a title more fitting for that man.”
“Why can’t we do something? Why do we have to just sit and watch Ed suffer like this?”
“Anything that I could do you have begged me not to because it may end up separating him from his brother.”
“Al’s the only thing that matters to him.”
“Oh I think I know someone else that matters to him,” she said as she gave Roy a look that made him blush.
“Don’t say stuff like that.”
“Why not? It’s the truth, the two of you have been inseparable for years now and I was beginning to wonder if you’d ever figure out why.”
“Ed’s always been my friend.”
“Yes and now he’s something more and the fact that he’s hurting is hurting you which is yet another reason why this needs to end.”
Roy sighed and let his head drop. For the life of him he couldn’t figure out a way to help Ed that didn’t risk causing the one thing he knew Ed would never forgive him for if it happened.
“I’m telling you now Roy if this gets any worse I think it’s going to be out of any of our hands. If Hohenheim keeps this up even the blind will be able to see what’s happening to Ed regardless of the charade he puts on.”
Roy didn’t reply because like it or not he knew his aunt was right.
++++
Edward finally got his wish and was able to return to school on Monday. When he walked into class, the fading bruise taking up nearly half his face was painful for Maria Ross to look at and even harder for her to ignore. The hastily scribbled note from his father and the usual story of him having fallen off of something turns her stomach in a way that makes her jaw clench. She takes the note and watches him as he makes his way back to the seat Roy’s been watching like a hawk in his absence.
With Ed back in place her class was whole once more and she resumes teaching.
Even with his frequent absences he still kept up and it never ceased to amaze her. When the bell rang Ed was more than a little slow moving. When he hadn’t left by the time the classroom was clear she asked him if he was ok.
“I… I’m fine Mrs. Ross,” he replied but his pale face and shaky voice wasn’t convincing at all.
“You don’t look it. Do you need to see the school nurse?”
“No I’m fine, I really am just a little…”
His lie was interrupted by his stomach growling loudly. His face flushed scarlet causing Maria to smile. She would have made a joke if her mind hadn’t gone on a whirlwind game of fill in the blanks. She was no special needs guru but she had read up on a few things once she realized Ed was going to be in at least one of her classes every term until he graduated. Automail was biologically powered so people with it had to be very mindful of certain things and eating enough was one of them.
Edward was too bright to decide to skip meals but the thought of someone not feeding him was just too preposterous to think on.
“I know it’s not lunchtime yet but would you like an apple?”
Marigold eyes lit up and it broke her heart. She pulled two apples out of her desk and when she handed them to him he bit into one immediately and she thought he was going to choke he was eating it so fast. She moved to clean the blackboard so he wouldn’t feel like he was under scrutiny. When the chewing stopped a contented sigh escaped him and he thanked her for them.
“You’re welcome, Edward. I’ll see you in a few hours ok?”
“Yup,” he replied as he shoved his belongings in his book bag.
Maria smiled at that but the smile on her face faded when he attempted to sling the bag over his shoulder. The pained grunt he tried to stifle wiped it away.
“Are you sure you don’t…”
“I’m fine, just moved to quickly,” he said just a little too fast and in a voice that was just a little too chipper to be believed. As he all but ran out of the room after thanking her again she noticed the bag hung at his side.
+++
Peace was never a thing to be had for long, was something Maria’s mother used to say. It was exactly what she was thinking as nearly two weeks went by with Ed in class each day. Something that was highly unusual for someone who was generally absent at least once a week. When that peace shattered like glass one afternoon she wasn’t surprised.
Especially once she considered how the day began.
The moment Ed hobbled into class late she knew that tranquility was a thing of the past. Roy watched him like a hawk all through the lesson and so did she because his somber expression was impossible to overlook.
She was on her way back in from lunch when she saw the boys at the edge of the schoolyard. Roy was pleading with Ed not to go home and Ed was saying he couldn’t abandon Al. She didn’t overhear much more but it was enough to set her nerves on edge.
At the end of the day she was ten seconds away from relaxing when it all went to hell.
She had just stepped out of the building when a hulking blond man nearly bowled her over. Her eyes tracked his angry march and when he literally yanked Ed away from Roy’s side she cringed.
He shouted about how he’d told Ed he needed to come home early and how he shouldn’t have to waste his time tracking him down.
Roy tried to smooth things over by saying it was his fault for distracting Ed but Hohenheim wasn’t having it.
“I’m sure he’d like you to convince me of that but I know he’s more than capable of fucking up on his own.”
Ed was trying to gather up his books and notes with trembling hands when Hohenheim grew impatient and jerked him away by the arm once and again and told him to get a move on, he was tired of waiting.
+++++
Surprisingly Ed returned to school the next day and despite being quiet he didn’t look any worse for wear. All of her classes sailed along and before she knew it half the ay was gone and she was on her way to eat lunch with her fiancée and fellow teacher Denny. Seeing the ring on her finger still made her stomach flutter as it brought a smile to her face when she looked at it. However, her smile faded when her eyes fell upon Roy and Ed. Roy still looked worried as they sat close enough so they could discretely hold hands under the table. She thought it was adorable even though some of her colleagues would disagree.
She had no idea what they talked about during lunch but most of the time it had them smiling, sadly that was not the case today. Roy was doing most of the talking as Ed stuffed his face with the same enthusiasm she’d seen him use when eating the apple. When he did stop and look at Roy he didn’t say much before he turned away. Looking a more somber each time.
Roy ran his hand down Ed’s cheek and she thought it was a romantic gesture until she realized Ed must have been crying because soon he is wiping at his own face. His voice grows a little louder and he jumps up from the table only to have Roy grab his wrist.
Maria could see the pleading look on Roy’s face from three tables away and that just tugged on her heart. Whatever Roy said must have worked because Ed slid back down into his seat. He let his head rest on Roy’s shoulder for a moment before he sat up and started poking at the food in front of him again.
She hated feeling helpless. It was a feeling she wouldn’t stand for. She couldn’t prove Ed’s home life was the disaster she thought it was but maybe she could get someone with the proper authority to look into it.
When she got back to her desk she penned a letter outlining her concerns and dropped in principle Grumman’s mail box.
It wasn’t much but it beat sitting around doing nothing.
++++++
The rest of the day passed by in a blur before long, Ed and Roy were walking home in a weird silence that seldom fell over the two. Two blocks in Roy sighed loudly causing Ed to stop and look at him.
“Are you ok, Edo?”
“Of course I am why would you…”
“How did things go after he picked you up from school?”
Ed looked down at his feet as his shoulders slumped forward. He hated discussing his fucked up home life with Roy.
“They were fine Roy he actually calmed down, ate dinner then went to bed,” Ed knew that was stretching the truth quite a bit but he didn’t want Roy worrying about him.
Roy on the other hand wasn’t buying it and gave Ed a look. It took a lot for Ed to reassure him so they could continue walking. Usually Roy walked Ed to his front porch but after his last two run ins with Van Hohenheim he thought it best not to push his luck. So once Ed’s house was in sight they parted ways but not before Roy planted a quick kiss on the blonds bruise free cheek. Ed flushed crimson but he smiled just the same.
Ed didn’t have a lot to look forward to but when something came his way he relished in it. In fact he was all smiles when he walked through his front door. As per usual Al nearly bowled him over and immediately started asking him how his day was and what he’d learned. Ed was in the middle of trying to explain to Al what an essay was when his dad walked in.
The look he gave Ed and his excited sibling had Ed trying to get Al to settle down. When that didn’t work Ed started moving toward his room and thankfully Al followed him. Two hours later Al was off playing and Ed was nose deep in his homework. Finally when his bladder couldn’t take it anymore he left his room to go to the bathroom.
He didn’t make it far.
As soon as he stepped out into the hall so did his father. He tried to make a quick dash for the bathroom but fate was not on his side. Hohenheim stepped in his path and harsh eyes held him where he stood.
“Where the hell have you been?”
Ed opened his mouth to reply but the unwarranted punch to his midsection stole the air he would have used to give his words voice. Ed was bent in half trying to catch his breath when his dad wrapped his hand around his neck. He slammed Ed’s back into the wall as he lectured him about his place but Ed didn’t hear any of it. Between the punch to his stomach, the fear and the hand around his neck Ed felt himself do something he hadn’t done in twelve years.
Edward Elric wet his pants.
When Hohenheim realized this he tossed his son in the floor like he was nothing more than garbage and walked away.
Ed scrambled into the bathroom and trembling hands turned the shower on. When Ed tried to pull his shirt off his sore stomach and back protested and his composure shattered. He hadn’t cried over his situation since the first time his Father out and out struck him three years ago. But how could he not as the large mirror reflected the horror that his life had become right back at him.
As he stood there looking at a metal arm connected to a torso covered in bruises in various stages of bloom after peeling off pants soaked with his own urine Ed thought he would lose his mind. Every time he thought it couldn’t get worse it did and if this kept up he’d end up either hospitalized or institutionalized if not a mix of both.
He showered, dressed and made dinner as quickly as he could. He didn’t bother attempting to eat himself choosing instead to err on the side of caution and flee the room as soon as possible.
He sat in living room trying to read the chapters he had missed in history but between the ache in his stomach and the thoughts rolling through his mind focusing was damn near impossible.
Once his father came into the living room he gave the man a few moments to speak and when he didn’t Ed left to go clean up the kitchen. Al was still seated at the table and soon as he saw Ed he asked him why he wasn’t at dinner.
“I’ve got a ton of homework to do Aru. I’ll eat later.”
“Ok Brother can I go play now?”
“Sure you can but it’ll be bath time soon so don’t make too much of a mess ok?”
Al nodded and skipped off up the stairs. Ed smiled after him but his heart was so heavy it didn’t linger long after Al was out of sight. Ed had promised himself he wouldn’t fall apart.
That promise was getting harder and harder to keep.
Ed was cleaning the kitchen and trying not to think about how hungry he was. There was something about doing the dishes that always reminded him of his mother. Ed had fond memories of standing on a step stool and leaning on the counter as he chatted her ear off about whatever was on his little mind. The sound of the door that lead to the living room swinging open, snapped him out of his reverie and his heart lodged in his throat.
“Why are you humming that song?”
Ed stopped; he hadn’t even realized he was humming. He had no idea how to answer his father’s question but he knew not answering wasn’t an option.
“I… I didn’t realize I was humming,” Ed replied deciding the truth was the best he could come up with.
“Your mother use to hum that all the time. It’s the tune of the song that we danced to at our wedding.”
Once Ed replayed the tune in his head he realized it was the song his mother used to hum as she cooked, cleaned or whatever she was doing. Thinking he’d made the man mad Ed apologized.
Hohenheim snorted, “Don’t make it a habit. Eat something and go take care of your brother.”
“Yes Sir,” was all Ed said because he didn’t want to risk making the man angry.
His father left the room then and Ed finally let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. He ate a plate of cold chicken, green beans and macaroni and cheese but he didn’t care. He was so happy to eat it could have been frozen. After stuffing his face he made short work of the dishes and went upstairs to get Al into the tub. With any luck he figured he’d still have time to read his history book before he had to shower and get to bed himself.
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Part Three
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