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Full Metal Alchemist: Stories of Central

Edward: 15

Alphonse: 14

"Talking"

Thought

One shot #8: Would you?

You said you wouldn't.

Mustang sat leaning back in his seat with interlaced fingers. His charcoal black eyes were staring at the small boy with hidden worry. It was not his job to be concerned for the boy. As a military man he could not show that he cared for anyone. By doing so he would put that person in a lot of trouble. Hiding that one cared about someone in the military was their way to protect them.

The fact that Mustang did care and wanted to help the boy in front of him was really hidden. He and the boy always argued and yelled at each other. They constantly fought about everything from milk to missions to his height. Even the most pointless subjects sent them into a fight. No one could possibly guess that they respected each other and that Mustang did, in fact, care for the kid. Only those really close to them could realize that. But as an unofficial, unspoken rule, none of them spoke of it.

"Fullmetal, I have a question for you." Mustang said.

The boy looked at his commander in irritation. "Well, what is it? I just want to leave already."

"Your patience is as short as your height I see." Mustang replied nonchalantly.

Ed's eye twitched. "I'M NOT SHORT, YOU BASTARD!"

"I never said you were, Fullmetal." Mustang said blandly.

Huffing, Ed crossed his arms and glared at the wall. "So?"

"It is the duty of a lower rank officer to protect his or her superior officer no matter what. Some would even say that it is their duty to die for their superior." Mustang explained, calmly looking at Edward.

Edward raised an annoyed brow at him.

"Would you die for me?" Mustang asked seriously.

"Die for you?" Edward asked angrily. He stood up, stomped over to Mustang's desk, and slammed his hands on them, making two different loud sounds. "Die for you? What the hell would I gain from that? What the hell have you ever done for me that would make me want to die for you? I have no reason to give my life up for a bastard like you. Never in a million years would I die for a manipulative bastard with a god complex. I will never die for anyone in the military. The higher ups should protect those below them, not the other way around. Never will I die for my superiors or anyone. I would only die for Al." With that said Ed spun on his heels and stormed out of the office.

Since he was so mad, Edward didn't notice the relief shining in Mustang's eyes before he stormed out.

Relief that his subordinate was not going to do anything stupid for him. He would live. He wouldn't sacrifice anything for his superior. That was all Mustang wanted. Mustang wanted the reassurance that Edward would live. That he would continue on in life and not risk anything for those he didn't think deserved it. He agreed completely with Ed. Higher ups should be protecting those below them, not the other way around.

What were you thinking?

"Remembrance Day?" Ed looked up at Mustang in confusion. "What's that?"

"It's a day to remember all our comrades that were lost in Ishval. It is celebrated on May twenty-eighth." Mustang said.

Ed blinked and tilted his head. "I don't understand. Why do you want to remember everyone that you lost in Ishval? It just seems painful to want to remember then. Remembering all your fallen friends."

Mustang frowned thoughtfully. He got up from his chair and moved over to the couch. Sitting down from across Ed, Mustang leaned forward and looked his subordinate in the eyes. "Ful…no, Edward, we remember because we want to honor our fallen friends. Honor them for what they died for."

"What did they die for?" Ed asked curiously.

"For their friends, family, their country." Mustang replied.

"I don't understand." Ed replied, looking at the ground. "I understand about sacrificing for people you care about. I did that for Al, for Winry, for all that I really care about. I don't understand why you want to remember it, even if it is to honor them….Mustang….what was war like? Maybe…..maybe that might help me understand."

Mustang looked at Ed with calculating eyes, as if trying to see into his soul to see why he wanted to know this. Did he want to know just to know what war was like? Did he want to know so he could understand Remembrance Day better? Or was he just humoring him to mock him about it? When Ed raised his head to look at Mustang all those questions left him. Ed's eyes showed that he wanted to know, to truly understand the lost and hopelessness of war. He needed to know how bad it was.

"War….it is a terrible place. I hope I never have to send you there, Ed." Mustang said slowly, as if unsure of whether or not he should be saying this to him. "We were ordered to exterminate every Ishvalan we saw, whether they were kids or adults, fighters or not. Every single one had to go. Most of us didn't understand why. We had sleepless nights. We had to teach our bodies to be able to run on only a few hours a sleep a week. All our food was rationed and we only ate two meals a day. We grew extremely paranoid and watchful. We were scared. We didn't want to die."

"Every day we had to go out and fight. Sometimes the fights would last just an hour or two. Other times the battles last well into the night. We were so paranoid. At night some of our comrades would stay up a few hours to protect us while we rested. We took turns in playing guard. We had to last the day of fighting on those few hours of sleep we got. Battle after battle in the trenches. Death after death. In war it is either kill or be killed. If you want to make it out of war you have to fire. There is no time to stop and think about what we are doing. If you paused to think, you died! That lesson was learned quickly by the soldiers new to war."

"It was horrible. We were fighting in the trenches. One moment your friend was next to you, firing round after round at the enemy. The next he had a bullet in his head. He's gone and there is nothing you can do about. Do you have any idea of what it is like to watch one of your comrades, someone that you sat around the fire with sharing whisky and watching over while he slept, was shot and you weren't? Why should you get to continue living while your friend has to die? You are running through trenches, trying to escape the enemy, and the comrade next to you is shot."

"War is horrible."

"Watching your friends die and you still live, the guilt eats at you each and every day. It hurts so much to see your friends get killed, one after another. You feel so lost and confused. But you can't let yourself fall to those feelings because you know if you do you will die next. War is not a place to feel guilty."

Edward looked up from the floor at Mustang, whose eyes were distant and filled with pain, with hollow eyes. "So….because you couldn't feel the pain then….you feel it now on Remembrance Day as you honor how they gave up their lives to protect their friends, family, comrades, and this country…..It is this time that you remember all who died,…died for all of us."

Mustang solemnly nodded his head. "Every year the military has a ceremony in Central for them. You are usually off on a mission so you missed it the last three years."

"So, we are going to Central for it?" Ed asked.

Mustang nodded his head.

Ed looked at his commander for a few minutes in silence before looking out the window. "Colonel."

In those few moments of silence the Colonel had gotten control of his emotions so with his usual calm, commanding tone said, "Yes Fullmetal?"

"Can…Can I have a uniform?" Ed asked.

Mustang felt himself stare in shock at his subordinate. "I thought you refused to wear it."

"Don't get me wrong. I hate the military and the uniforms, but…..I want to honor the ones who died in the war so I will wear the uniform for the ceremony, but only then." Edward replied hesitantly as if he wasn't sure he wanted to do this.

Mustang smiled in pride of his young reckless subordinate's reply. Maybe he was finally growing up.

Why do I always have to watch my comrades…my friends get hurt? I'm supposed to protect him, not the other way around.

Al finished helping his brother with the stars on his uniform and stepped back to examine his brother. He had never seen his brother in a uniform. He never actually expected to see his brother in the uniform.

"I feel like an idiot." Ed said as he tugged at his collar.

"You shouldn't. You actually look good in the uniform." Al commented, knocking his brother's hand away from the collar so he could straighten it. "Stop messing it up."

"I can't help it. It's so stiff. No wonder soldiers stand straight all the time. There is no room to be moving around. I wonder how they get in the position to fire a gun in these things." Ed growled, trying to pull at his collar again but Al knocked his hand away again.

"Where did the Colonel get your uniform anyway?" Al asked.

"He got me the…." Ed twitched. "Smallest size possible then we went to a tailor."

If he had a body, Al would have smiled at his brother obvious internal rant he was having about the word small. It was obvious he was ranting to himself because of the anger on his face.

"Here's your sash." Al handed the black sash to his brother. Mustang had said that they were to wear a black sash in the honor of the lost soldiers. It was customary to wear black to a funeral and that is what this ceremony was like.

It should have been me. It was supposed to be me! Fullmetal, you idiot!

As he walked down the hallway of the military headquarters Ed felt many shocked faces turn to him. Was it really that strange that he was wearing a uniform?

Most likely it was since it was no secret that he hated the military.

As soon as he entered the mess hall a hand landed on Ed's shoulder and spun him around before the boy could even think.

"Ed? Is that really you?" Hughes said shocked, but with a big smile. "You're wearing a uniform. I never thought I would see the day."

Ed slapped Hughes's hand away. "It really is strange then."

Hughes looked at Ed's sash. "It's because it is Remembrance Day. Honestly Ed, I didn't think you would wear it even for this day."

Ed shrugged. "I talked to Mustang. I asked him about the war and felt that I should wear it."

The smile slid off Hughes's face. "War. He really shouldn't have told you about that."

"It's not like I had to live through it." Ed pointed out. "I just wanted to know what war was like so I could understand the point of this day."

"You know, a uniform changes a person in more than one way." Hughes said.

Ed looked back at him confused. "How so?"

"For one, you look more like an adult when dressed in it, Ed. With your normal clothes you just look like the hot-tempered brat that you are." Hughes said, stepping to the side to avoid the punch aimed at him. "Secondly, a uniform also makes one act differently."

"I'm not any different." Ed retorted.

"You think that now." Hughes replied sadly. "But everyone changes when they put the military uniform on."

You said you wouldn't die for me or anyone, except Alphonse. I'm not Alphonse, you stupid kid!

Edward stood off the side on the parade ground, watching the ceremony. He was fidgeting slightly. The ceremony had been going on for hours with speeches from the Fuhrer and generals. Mustang was going to give a speech so he told Ed. He was the hero of Ishval and wanted to talk, talk about the comrades he lost and honor them. All the higher ups got to sit at chairs in front of the stage. The lower rank soldiers got to stand to the side of the parade ground. The civilians who got into the ceremony stood in the back, watching it. The civilians were mostly people who lost someone in the war.

General Grumman finished his speech and announced that Mustang was coming up next to give a speech. Grumman got off the stage as Mustang stood up from one of the chairs and marched up to the stage with head held high.

The young state alchemist looked out into the crowd of civilians and soldiers as Mustang began his speech. He spotted Al standing in the crowd and let a small smile spread over his lips. Al noticed him looking and waved. Ed grinned at him. Standing next to Al was Gracia and little Elysia, who was tugging at Al's other hand.

"The war in Ishval was horrible. All of us there saw so many horrible things. It's nothing that we want to relive. I was there as you all know. I watched my comrades fall all around me…."

You're just a kid. I don't want a kid dying for me.

"There were many great soldiers in the war. They all knew what they were there for. All of them were ready to give up their lives for this country and so many did…"

Movement in the crowd caught Ed's eyes. Someone wearing a military uniform was moving through the crowd. Tensely, Ed uncrossed his arms and stood up straight. His eyes followed each step the man took. He was slowly making his way through the crowd. As the man disappeared behind some people in the crowd Ed felt his jaw clench.

"In war your comrades become your friends, the only ones you can trust. They are the ones that are true heroes. The ones that die for this country are the true heroes….."

Sometimes I wonder, what kills a dog?

Something wasn't right here.

The man reappeared at the edge of the crowd of civilians. He reached the group of soldiers on the other side of the field and started weaving between them. The man stopped at the edge of the crowd. No one paid him any mind. Was he just late to the ceremony? He could be, but that didn't feel right to Ed.

"I regret not being able to save my comrades in the war. Each of them deserved to live…."

What do you think, Fullmetal?

Nervously, Ed licked his dry lips as he watched the man next to the stage move again to behind the stage. Suspicious of what was going on with him, Ed moved closer to the stage. He felt Hughes and Hawkeye shift when he moved. Their eyes were on his back, probably holding the question of what he was doing, but he didn't notice those eyes. He only had eyes for that man.

Clicking shoes were behind Ed. Someone was following him, but still he did not turn around. He was afraid that if he did the man would move and he would miss it. He couldn't lose track of him.

Is it loyalty?

Ed stopped next to the stage. The man was standing behind the stage, looking at Mustang with hate filled eyes. If he hated Mustang why did he move so close to the stage?

The young alchemist took a sharp intake of breath when he saw the man pull his gun out of his holster. He wasn't going to…

Foolishness?

No one else noticed. They were all still watching Mustang.

There was no time. No time for a warning. No time to think.

"In war it is either kill or be killed. There is no time to think about what we are doing."

Ed's legs felt like they were moving of their own accord. He jumped onto the stage. As he jumped he felt fingers brush his back as if trying to grab him to stop him. The fingers couldn't grab him though. The stiff uniform didn't give them anything to grab. He ignored the harsh whisper of, "Edward." It was Hawkeye. She had followed him.

Ed didn't stop. There was no time.

Devotion?

The young alchemist ran over to his commander, who looked at him in surprise and anger. He opened his mouth to scold him for interrupting but before he could a shot rang out through the ground. Just as the shot sounded Ed tackled Mustang around the waist.

Both fell to the ground.

Blood splattered the ground next to them.

Cries of shock. Cries of fear. Cries of anger. All of them sounded.

Feet slammed on the ground as the higher ups stood up. Metal clinking followed.

Hawkeye immediately moved into the action at the sound of the gun. She pulled her gun out and jumped onto the stage.

Mustang sat up, rolling the young alchemist off him. He brought a hand to his face. When he removed it his glove was covered in blood. He looked down at his subordinate. Blood pooled around him. It soaked his hair and clothes.

Edward pushed Mustang's hand off of him and sat up.

"What the hell are you doing?" Mustang growled, grabbing Ed's shoulder. "You were just shot. You can't be…."

Ed slapped Mustang's hand away. He pushed himself to his feet, stumbling forward slightly as he did. Once he got his balance back, he put a hand on his side where he got hurt, and jumped off the stage.

"Damn it." Mustang growled, climbing to his feet as well.

"What is going on?" Hawkeye asked.

Ignorance?

Ed stumbled down the stage and looked around for the man. He saw the man moving through the soldiers, using all the chaos to escape. No, he couldn't let him escape. The young alchemist only made it a few steps before black dots flashed in front of his eyes. His legs buckled under him. He collapsed on his side. He watched the man who shot him weave through the soldiers as his eyes slowly slid shut.

Gullibility?

"Sir?" Hawkeye asked as Mustang jumped off the stage and ran to the fallen Ed.

Mustang ignored her and put a hand to Ed's neck. A small beat met his hand, but it was very weak. "Get a car now!"

Hughes and Al ran up to him as Hawkeye left.

"Is my brother okay?" Al asked.

Mustang refused to look at Al. He couldn't say when he himself didn't know. "What happened?"

"We don't know. I think Ed saw something because he was moving towards the stage, then out of the blue he jumped onto it. Hawkeye and I tried to stop him." Hughes replied, voice deathly quiet.

"Damn it." Mustang swore. He looked over at the soldiers and civilians. The civilians were staring in horror at what happened. Their hero, the hero of the people, was shot. He wasn't moving. The soldiers were moving around. Some were ushering the shocked civilians off the premises. Others had their guns out and were looking around for where the shot came from. Others were guarding the Fuhrer. It was pure chaos.

Mustang looked back at Ed. He brushed the boy's bangs out of his face. His eyes were shut. His breathing was labored and uneven. Sweat covered his face.

Recklessness?

Mustang pushed his hands on Ed's side where the bullet had hit him. As soon as he put pressure on Ed's wound the boy took a sharp intake of breath.

"Here," Hughes handed his military jacket to Mustang.

Mustang took the jacket and pressed it onto Ed's wound. "Hughes, your daughter is here. She just saw someone she loves get shot. Go to her. I'll take care of this."

Hughes looked out into the crowd. His wife was carrying a crying Elysia off the premises. He nodded his head. "I'll be back soon." He yelled over his shoulder.

"My brother!" Al cried sorrowfully. Both he and Mustang knew that even though he didn't have a body, Al's soul was crying. "My brother."

Stupidty?

Mustang paced around the waiting room. His uniform was unkempt and covered in blood. Ever since Ed was shot and they arrived at the hospital he has stayed here. He was not leaving this place until he knew for sure that his subordinate, his comrade,…..his friend was safe.

What does kill a dog, Fullmetal?

"Who is here for Edward Elric?" A doctor asked when he came into the waiting room.

Al, Mustang, Hawkeye, Havoc, and Hughes all turned to the doctor. "We are." Mustang said.

The doctor nodded his head. "The bullet hit the side of his liver. We were able to remove it and fix his liver. He is stable at the moment."

Each member of the group let out the breaths they didn't realize they were holding.

"Can I visit him?" Mustang asked or more like demanded.

"Right now he is still asleep." The doctor replied, not at all bothered by Mustang's tone. "You may go into his room, but be quiet."

Mustang nodded his head. "Thank you, doctor."

The Colonel looked at the tall suit of armor. "Al, you don't mind if I go in alone, do you?"

If he could have, Al would have looked shock. He'll just have to settle for putting shock in his voice. "Not at all, Colonel. It's completely understandable that you would want to see him."

Nodding his head in thanks, Mustang left and followed the doctor to Ed's room. The doctor left as soon as Mustang pushed the door opened, knowing that the man wanted to be alone with his subordinate for a while.

Lying on the bed was Edward. His white blanket was lying over his legs. His chest, which was empty of a shirt, was covered in bandages. Tubes, needles, and wires from all types of machines were connected to the young boy. Ed's eyes were scrunched shut, most likely from the pain he was in. The morphine probably wasn't helping much. His flesh hand was clutching the bed sheets in his hand.

Walking over to the bed, Mustang grabbed the blanket and pulled it up to Ed's shoulders. He looked cold with goose bumps covering his arm. After making sure that Ed was comfortable, Mustang pulled a chair over and sat next to the bed. He rested his elbows on his legs and folded his hands over each other.

"Stupid kid, what were you thinking? Why did you do that? You hate me so why did you risk your life to save me? Why, you stupid brat? It's my job to watch out for you, not the opposite way. You stupid, stupid kid." Mustang said loudly. He lowered his voice. "You were the only one to see this man. How did you know that he was no good? No one else saw anyone out of place. You were the only one. Why didn't you just yell a warning or attack the man? Why did you have to protect me? You're not supposed to die."

A hand came up and grabbed the sleeve of Mustang's jacket. Mustang looked up at Ed's face in surprise to see the boy glaring at him with a frown. "I told you before, bastard. I'm won't die for you."

The Colonel stared in shock at Edward for a moment before he laughed. Of course, now he understood. The kid was too stubborn to die for him. His stubbornness wouldn't let him die for him. By that stubbornness, Edward knew that he wouldn't die when he jumped in front of that bullet for him. This kid was something else...

In the end, Fullmetal, I think it is all those that will kill a dog one day, loyalty, foolishness, devotion, ignorance, gullibility, recklessness, and stupidity. It is up to the dog's owner though to make sure that his pup doesn't die on him. It is the dog's owner's job to make sure his pup lives a long life.

A/N: Please Review!