Sacrifice [Edward Elric x Reader]

chapter 12

[November 20, 1917]

You wake up to the sound of a loud thump. You sit up abruptly, noticing the birds chirping and the sunlight streaming through the window. Wind rushes through your room and you pull your blanket closer around you, shivering. After a while, you reluctantly let go of your sheets, and swing your legs over the side of the bed. You quickly go to the window and close it.

After the small discussion the three of you had yesterday, Ed decided to go out and practice fighting. Where? You didn't know. How? You didn't either. He came back late in the night, and went immediately to bed, and so did you.

You pick out a t-shirt and shorts and do your hair (your choice). Stepping outside of your room and into the hallway, you stumble your way to the kitchen. After opening every cabinet and drawer, you sigh, as there was no food anywhere in sight.

A door behind you creaks open, and you see Ed yawning, scratching his head. He was wearing, finally, a normal attire, with a white, long-sleeved button-up shirt with a brown vest over it. He had brown pants and was wearing white gloves to hide his automail. His hair was in a casual ponytail.

"Hey," you greet. "Is there anything to eat?"

Ed closes his mouth and looks at you dully. You chuckle. "I see you're not fully awake yet."

Ed doesn't reply, and you sigh. "Are you just gonna stare at me all day?"

You pause for a second and look away, scratching the back of your neck. "Wait, that sounds weird. Let me reword that." you mutter to yourself. You look back up at Ed, who was still standing there, reaction-less. His hands were in his pocket now. "Are you just gonna stand there all day and not move? Do you take an interest in getting something to eat instead?"

He still doesn't say anything. You frown. Something was off. You forget about your hunger and hesitantly limp your way across the kitchen island and towards Ed. His dull and spiritless eyes trail you. You press your lips together. Now that you look at it, Ed's gaze was awfully creepy and different than his usual self.

You stop when you are five feet in front of Ed. Slowly, you raise your left arm and wave your hand in front of his face. His stare doesn't leave your face. You start to get creeped out. What the heck!?

You circle around him, and he turns around rigidly, following your face. You cock your head and decide to try something. You step back slowly and skirt the furniture of the living room, running as fast as your injured leg would allow you to. You step into your room and fall onto the bed. Loud, thumping footsteps and metal creaking follows you, and you see Ed at the doorway to your room, staring at you with the same, empty gaze. You inhale sharply, fear starting to take ahold of you. You sit up and crawl across your bed, never turning your back to Ed.

"Wh-what are you doing Ed? What-"

Ed takes a robotic step into your room, and you throat closes up. You get off your bed and start backing up. For every three steps you took, Ed took one, loud, thunking step, and soon, you hit the wall. You swallow, trying to calm your racing heart. Your eyes dart across the room, regretting that you ran here. It was a dead end, and Ed was still advancing at you. When Ed rounds the bed, you kick off the wall and jump across your bed, darting out the door and past the hallway, towards Al's room. You throw the door open to Al's bedroom and slam it closed behind you, fumbling with the lock. You hear the dreadful, thunking footsteps and turn your back against the door, sliding down as your knees buckle beneath you.

Al stares at you oddly from his bed, and when you catch his gaze, you clench your jaw, panting from your panic run. "Oh, go(sh/d), don't tell me you're-"