To Be A Child

Chapter 1

Edward came back to consciousness with a groan. His entire body was aching, all his muscles throbbing in unison. Damn that crazy bitch. He tried to open his eyes, but found that he was unable to. Either his eyelids were too heavy or he was blindfolded.

Possibly both.

"Al?" he croaked. He waited for a reassuring response, but none came.

It was then that Ed started to panic.

He willed his automail arm to move, but for some reason, it refused to comply with the signals being sent out by his brain. Maybe it wasn't even attached to him anymore. It wasn't like he could tell.

His flesh arm wasn't much help either. He struggled weakly against the bonds that held him. To his surprise, they didn't cut into him or cause him any (additional) pain. And, come to think of it, the chair he was in was pretty damn comfy.

He was exhausted; a nap would be nice.

If it wasn't for him being blindfolded, restrained against his will, and without Alphonse, Ed would've been perfectly content to drift back into oblivion. But alas, such was not the case.

"Comfy?" A feminine voice drifted to him from somewhere in front of him.

Edward snarled in response. "Where am I? What have you done to my brother?" He renewed his efforts to free himself, but his energy was sapped and his body wasn't cooperating. Damn, now wasn't the time to be imitating a noodle!

Soft footsteps padded towards him and came to stand behind him. Edward tensed. He didn't know what to expect from this female captor. A hand placed itself on his head, and he froze. It started to stroke his hair, the way a loving mother would caress their child.

A soft, motherly voice spoke, "Do not fear. Your brother is safe, and so are you. I have no wish to harm you."

Ed squirmed to get away from her touch. If only he wasn't blindfolded, then he might be able to tell if this woman was a sadistic bitch, dangerously insane, or simply a bit mentally ill. Strangely, he could sense no ill intent behind her touch, and that worried him.

"What do you want with me?"

The woman didn't reply, but moved instead to take out his hair tie and undo his braid.

"Poor child," she murmured sadly, running her fingers through his hair. "In the military at the age of twelve . . . what is this world coming to?"

Ed felt gentle tugs at his hair as the woman began to re-braid it. He was so sleepy. Surely it would be alright to rest for a bit longer. The woman said Al was safe anyways . . .

Hell! What drug was he on? Edward forced himself to stay alert. Sure, this woman didn't sound dangerous, but who knew she wasn't just playing around with him before slitting his throat?

Done with his hair, the woman rested her hands on his shoulders. She gave them a light squeeze. Or, she gave his left shoulder a light squeeze. Ed knew one hand only felt cold, hard metal; the symbol of his sin.

"Such hardships and trials, forced upon one so young," the woman continued, her voice a soft whisper. "Where has your childhood gone?"

What the hell! What was this woman trying to get across? He wasn't some sort of pitiable kid! He chose to join the military, damn it! And that decision was given to him in the first place because he chose to try and play God!