Pills and Buttons

The Heart...

Ed's heart nearly stopped when Riza's footsteps sounded on the stairs. He had just finished wrapping his arm in bandages and he pulled his sleeve down, grabbing a book to randomly open. It was a sketch book, pencil marking the spot. His brain flooded with the sound of Roy's voice, smooth and crisp with each word from when he was re--

"They found him." Riza was not happy, more in an extreme panic. "He was hit." She took a gulp of air, the blonde braid of his hair smacking his shoulder as he turned towards her.

"Is he...?" He had shut the book, his fingers clutching it like life itself depended on his not letting go. "Oh god, he is isn't he?!"

"No, no no no." She stepped in, rushing over to hug Edward and pat his hair. "He is very much alive, broken and bruised but alive." Her hands framed his face. "The nurse said that in his sleep he was saying your name." Her thumb drove away a tear on his cheek. Thunder broke the sound barrier, rattling the house and causing Ed to yelp. He had always been afraid of storms like this. The rain pelleted down on everything, threatening to ruin flowers and trees.

"Come on, we have to go before we won't be able to get out." Fia said as she climbed upstairs. "The road will flood out soon in this weather." Ed's skin was pale, all the blood drained from his face in fear. The tall brunette appeared in the doorway, her hair pinned up in a ponytail that hung low on her head. "Want me to carry you?" She asked Edward, leaning casually in the doorway.

"Yeah..." he stuck his book in his pocket, climbing onto Sophie's back to be carried downstairs. Riza followed, holding the umbrella over both of them and unlocking the car. He was sat down in the back seat, his legs moved so they stretched across the long seat. The door was shut before the front two opened, the girls getting into their places. Fia shoved the key into the slot and started it up, heat seeping into all the spaces and fighting off the cold chill.

"He's in the Rush Valley hospital, so it's a good hour to two hour drive." The car pulled away from the house, turning towards the highway and being careful to look through the water that blinded the driver. Riza was messing on her phone, getting directions and speaking with the doctor that called her.

"Is it serious?" Edward could hear the doc speak but he couldn't make out what he was saying. He knew it was serious without having to hear that part. "We're heading down where you are right now. We should be there within the next two hours." Edward pressed his head to the cold glass of the window, heat washing over his pale skin. It was all in vain to try and bring color to his skin. It would never work. His fingers trailed the soft pages of the book, the raised text of the cover traced with his thumb. He could see Roy, bloody and bandaged, asleep or comatosed on a starchy white hospital bed. He could hear the heart monitor beeping slowly and quietly. He could feel the cold, clamminess to his skin, chilled yet broke out in a sweat.

He could see his coal black eyes dull to a fine grey, to a white unhealthy color, and it scared him. He didn't want Roy to be like him, unable to walk or see. He didn't want him to be trapped. Mustang was like a horse, wild on the Moor. He needed to be free.

"Ed? Wake up." Riza's voice sounded like that of an angel's. "We're here." He wiggled closer to the open door, his legs hitting the runner on the bottom of the car. Fia lifted him into a wheelchair, offering to push him. He said he would do it himself.

He used his arms to force the wheels to move, steering smoothly around the other people. Riza was ahead of him, a figure of blue to watch and guide himself by. She already knew what room he was in, so she lead him down an empty hall and into a single bed room.

Ed had been right about one thing. A heart monitor beeped occasionally, Roy sitting quite dazed in the center of pale yellow sheets. He didn't notice them, looking out the window at the stars that now peeked from behind disappearing storm clouds. Riza and Fia left, shutting the door behind Ed. That caught Roy's attention.

"F-fullmetal?" His voice was hoarse, with his sight Ed couldn't tell though. "Oh god, I fucked up." Roy sniffled loudly, wincing as he clutched his ribs and side. "I fucked up so bad." He went on as Edward rolled himself closer to the bed. "Why are you here?" He rubbed at the tears. "I'm a bastard, like you always said."

Fullmetal swallowed thickly, holding out his hands. Roy took them, bringing them to his lips to kiss. Ed could feel the stitches in his bottom lip and he pressed his hands to his cheeks. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry Roy. I shouldn't have let you leave, I shouldn't have-." Edward stopped when his weak lips brushed his own.

"Don't worry." Roy coughed, gagging softly. "It was my fault."

Tears were in his eyes now, reflecting gold and making it shimmer. "If I hadn't asked you that stupid question you wouldn't have been out there --" Roy's lips caressed Ed's, silencing his useless words with chapped and broken lips.

They melted into each other, hands in hair and emotions coming out. Roy pulled away to breath, coughing into his elbow. He wiped at his mouth, something Ed couldn't see. "If I had answered, then we wouldn't be here. We would be back at the house cuddling on the couch." His thumb traced over his... love's lip, watching his expression change. "The heart wants what it wants, and this is what it needs.

"I love you so much, Edward." Roy gave him a second kiss to his lips. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you before."

"Don't do it again," Ed smiled softly, "and we're good."