Hello again! I am back with another one-shot! :) I hope you like it!

This is inspired by the song, 'Breathe' by 'Superchick'! It's an amazing song that you should definitely check out! :D

Disclaimer: ...

Roy: *sigh* The SoulEater Alchemist refuses to admit that she DOES NOT OWN FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST!

Me: *glares* You're so cruel!...

Updated: I have gone through and edited this, so hopefully there are no more mistakes! Also, it was brought to my attention that you might want to read my one-shot, 'I Don't Hate You' before this one. It might give you more insight to Breathe. Now without further ado...

Ed grimaced as a sharp pain ran up his leg when he walked. He glared up at the cloudy sky as rain continued to pour down on them, soaking them to the bone.

"Fullmetal, are you okay?" Ed looked ahead to where his superior, Roy Mustang was walking with his shoulders hunched against the merciless rain and wind. Ed gave a sharp nod.

"I'm fine," he said between clenched teeth. Roy raised an eyebrow, but said nothing more on the subject.

"We're here," he said as they neared a large, fancy-looking house. They stopped just outside the front gate. Roy turned to fix Ed with a stern gaze.

"As you already know, we're here to just investigate undercover. The man who lives here is a suspected drug dealer by the name of Sam Heckel. Be on your guard. He's also been said to kill those who get in the way, so don't be reckless," he warned. Ed nodded impatiently. "Yeah, yeah. I'll be careful," he promised. Roy eyed him warily before nodding.

"Good," he said.

Roy knocked loudly on the front door. Not long after, a tall man opened the door. He had a thick beard and short, white hair. He was very tall and muscular. Upon seeing them, his red eyes narrowed. Roy's heart thundered in his chest. Red eyes!

"What do you want," the man asked. Roy cleared his throat.

"My son and I heard you could sell us some drugs. You see, it's been hard for us to cope ever since my wife died," he replied, gesturing to himself and Ed. The man's expression softened.

"I know how it feels," he said. He held out his hand to Roy.

"My name is Sam Heckel," he introduced. Roy shook his large hand and smiled.

"I'm Roy Aeron. And this is Ed," he said, using their fake last names. Sam nodded his acknowledgement and stepped outside, closing the door behind him. He gestured for the two to follow him as he made his way around the back of the house. He led them to a small lake where a boat sat waiting in the water.

"I do it on the lake to avoid suspicion," he explained to them as he helped them both onto the boat. Ed's eyes flickered nervously to the wild, churning waters below, before carefully stepping on.

Sam directed them to the front of the boat where a small table sat unsteadily. Roy had to squint his eyes to see through the heavy rain. They walked over to the table. Ed adjusted his sopping wet gloves slightly, briefly revealing a section of his automail. He was about to drop his arm to his side when a large hand wrapped around his metal wrist. Ed looked up to see Sam glaring down at him, his gaze so full of hate.

"Golden eyes, golden hair, automail limbs. Do you really think I'm that stupid, Fullmetal Alchemist," he growled as he pointed a small pistol at Roy.

"And you, the infamous Flame Alchemist, Hero of Ishval," he spat venomously.

"If either of you move, I'll shoot," he threatened. Then he turned to glare at Roy.

"My people were a proud race, and then you and the rest of the military came and killed them. I fought alongside a young man. His name was Frenzel Turner. Perhaps you remeber him? He was a good kid. He was like a son to me, and you killed him with your blasted flames," he shouted furiously. He moved his gun and pressed it to Ed's temple.

"Perhaps I'll do the same for you," he said. Roy's eyes widened. He raised his fingers and poised to snap. Sam laughed.

"Ha! You can't make a spark in this rain," he cackled hysterically. Roy glared at him.

"Let. Him. Go! It's me you want," he growled furiously. He reached slowly to his belt, where a gun was strapped beneath his coat. He hoped and prayed to anyone who would listen, that Sam didn't notice. Sam was oblivious. But he was grinning like a mad man, making Roy's heart flutter nervously.

"Fine, I'll let the kid go," he said, and before anyone could react, he shoved Ed over the side of the boat into the churning waves.

"EDWARD!" Roy shouted as he whipped out his gun. Sam was to busy staring at the water, grinning widely, to notice as Roy pointed it at him.

BANG!

Sam's eyes widened to the size of saucers as he looked down at his chest. His shirt was slowly staining crimson. He looked back up at Roy.

"Still a murdering dog," he hissed, before his eyes rolled back into his head. He fell back into the water, his blood turning the waves red. Roy looked over the side of the boat, hoping to see Ed swimming to the surface. Then realization hit him. His automail! His automail would weigh him down, until...

Quickly Roy stripped himself of his heavy coat. Without another moments pause, he jumped into the cold water. He nearly cried out in shock at the frigid cold that sunk into his bones. He shivered and looked around the water frantically. It was so dark! Red filled his vision from the blood. Then he saw a dark form sinking to the bottom of the lake. 'Ed!' Roy pumped his legs and arms hard, propelling him towards the small boy. From here, he could see Ed thrashing frantically, trying to get back to the surface, but it was useless. His automail continued to drag him down to the bottom.

Panic rose in his chest as he saw the boy go limp. He pushed harder through the water. Finally he reached him. Ed had just hit the bottom. Roy reached out and wrapped an arm around Ed's waist. He pulled, but he couldn't move him.

'Just leave him, he's as good as dead.' Roy shook his head furiously. He couldn't! He wouldn't! He reached out and ripped the sleeve of Ed's jacket, revealing the steel underneath it. He vaguely remembered Ed telling him how to take it off. His numb fingers fumbled for the metal catch. Finally he managed to pull it. The arm popped out of the port. Roy shuddered. He knew it wasn't real, but it felt weird pulling off Ed's arm. He shook it off.

He pulled again. He strained hard and managed to swim to the surface. He gasped as his head broke through the water. He pulled Ed up, being sure to keep his head above the water as he paddled to the boat, and hefted Ed's limp body up over the side. Roy leaned over him. His face was pale and his lips were tinted blue. Roy put his ear to Ed's chest. There wasn't any movement. He wasn't breathing, his heart wasn't beating...

Without wasting any time, Roy put his hands on the boy's small chest and pushed five times. Then he leaned over his partially open mouth and forced air into his frail lungs. He frantically repeated this process over and over again.

"C'mon Ed! Wake up! You can't die here! What about Al? What about Winry? And the team! What will they do if you die here. What about me? You can't die! I wouldn't ever forgive you," Roy shouted, hoping to get the boy to open his eyes. He could feel tears streaming down his face, but he didn't care. He didn't care that he was being weak. All he cared about right now was Ed.

Five minutes had passed, and still his golden eyes hadn't opened. Roy cried out. His voice was filled with the sadness, the agony of losing yet another person close to him. He wrapped his arms around Ed and drew his cold body to his chest. More tears spilled from his eyes as he buried his face into Ed's wet hair.

"Ed, I'm sorry. I'm sorry I couldn't s-save you. I-I..." He drew in a deep breath.

"You h-had been l-l-like a s-son... to me, and I failed y-you," he said quietly. He closed his eyes, knowing it was ridiculous that he was talking to a dead body. But he just couldn't accept it.

Ed had always been an annoying brat, but Roy had seen the strength and determination in his eyes. The commitment to his brother. His compassion to those who needed help. Roy had never liked to see him hurt on his missions. He had always felt worried for him, concerned for his well-being. He'd felt some sort of connection. And it wasn't till now that he realized what that connection was. He had seen Ed and Al as his "sons". He'd been trying to give them something they'd lost long ago. A father. And now, he felt the overwelming sense of grief having lost a child. His child.

"Geez Mustang. Y-you sound s-s-so heartfelt..." Roy nearly jumped. He looked down at Ed with wide eyes. Two familiar gold orbs stared back at him. His breath caught in his throat.

"E-Ed," he exclaimed. Ed's eyes began to droop as his exhaustion and fatigue caught up with him. Roy wrapped his arms tighter around Ed. Almost protectively.

"Th-thanks, for not giving u-u-up on me." Ed murmured quietly.

"I-I owe you... one... Dad," he said as his eyes finally closed, a small smile on his face. Roy sat there for a while, just watching as Ed's small chest rose and fell. It was a comforting sight. Roy smiled softly as he slipped a hand under Ed's back and knees. He lifted him up carefully.

"Breathe. Just keep breathing and I'll call it even."

Ok, so I'm not overly fond with how this one turned out, but oh well! I hope you liked it! :)

Anyway, I do plan on some sort of continuation. I need help deciding though. Should it be just a collection of one-shots centered around the ParentalRoy/Ed- where Roy's more emotional side is shown? Or should I just continue with this story and maybe add some plot twists or something? Any suggestions are greatly appreciated! So PM or review if you have any ideas or requests! :D And have a Fantastic Day!