The Mansion On Drachmian Border

Parents

Edward didn't really know what possessed him to come here. In every big city in Amestris there was a poorer district, better than slums, but still, a bad place to live in. He stood out in his pressed suit and leather shoes and some people were openly staring at him. It was fine. Even if someone would try to mug him he would win easily.

On his way he passed a butcher, that looked nothing like the one belonging to Sig. It looked cramped and dirty with bloody stains on the walls. Edward wondered how they passed any health inspection ever.

He finally reached his destination, an old building with mismatched windows and dirty walls. He briefly hesitated, before going inside. Building's layout was very confusing since it was on top of two other buildings half destroyed by an explosion. He passed stairs that went up and down without a reason, doors blocked by wooden planks and an old toilet that lay on its side on a corridor.

The door he looked for used to be light brown, but it seemed like it hasn't been cleaned in years. Maes's parents' apartment.

Edward had the displeasure of meeting Maes's parents once. It was back when he was thirteen and took Maes's offer to stay at his place for a few days while visiting Central. Maes was at work and Gracia needed to go to a store, so Ed and Al were babysitting Elicia. Then the doorbell rung. Half-expecting to see Mustang Edward opened the door only to find people he has never met standing outside. The man was tall with unkempt blonde hair, his face had a reddish hue and he smelled like a distillery. The woman has black hair and xingese features. They forced their way inside and Edward didn't know how to react as he held Elicia. He tried to explain, that Maes was at work, which led them to ask if he left an envelope for them. Edward hadn't seen any envelopes. That led them to decide, that they would just take their money in objects. In a normal situation, Edward would have started to yell, but instead, he hugged Elicia closer and observed the two adults. That was before they noticed Al. To his credit, Al tried to explain to them, that he wasn't a usual armor, but they didn't seem to care as they lifted him up and left the apartment claiming they would get a lot of money for all that metal. Edward had no idea what to do as he followed them out trying to get them to drop Al. That's when they run into Maes. In all the years Edward knew him he never again heard Maes curse like that. He got his parents to give Al back and they reluctantly left.

He really wasn't too sure why exactly he came here. Maybe it was that conversation from years ago, when Edward admitted to missing some of the stuff he burned down together with his family home, and Maes mentioned few things he regretted leaving at his parents's apartment.

So maybe he really came here for the teddy bear and a few books.

Or he just wanted to get in a screaming match with someone. It was hard to tell.

Edward knocked at the door and heard movement accompanied by the clinking of the glass on the other side.

The man that opened the door was a tall blonde with a beer belly and reddish hew to his skin. The clothes he wore were dirty and he smelled of alcohol and sweat. He was in his late sixties but the wrinkles on his face made him look older.

Edward almost took a step back at that sight.

„What do ya want?” he slurred.

Edward straightened his back „I came here to get a few things for your son.”

„My son is dead,” the man tried to slam the door, but Edward blocked it with his right arm.

„The most recent evidence states otherwise. I don't mean to inconvenience you, but he's in hospital and I thought he might like to look through his childhood stuff.”