Chapter Text
The day of his arrest wasn't supposed to be anything special. It was a sitting around kind of day. If anything, it should have happened two weeks before when Ed and Al had finally worked up the courage to travel to Dublith and meet their teacher. Ed had bought the tickets by himself the day before, so Al hadn't yet had the experience of the train station. He rarely went outside at all, in fact, saying that he couldn't bear the stares of all his neighbors that would surely recognize his voice. That comment had made Ed real sad, and although he tried to hide it, Alphonse was way too smart to not see behind his fake smiles.
Al never brought it up again, but the same trepidation was evident in the way he religiously avoided going outside (or any social interaction in general). It was sad to see the most sociable of the Elric brothers become a shell of his former self - both figuratively and literally.
That was why, when Ed made the decision to go to Dublith, the elder was shocked at Al's insistence to come along. The trip there wasn't so bad, the only obstacles being a few curious glances at the odd party before they boarded the train. Once they got into their booth, even that was just a distant memory. (Ed always liked to get a private car so he could sleep. Cultivating his skills into a homegrown title had its perks; the money sure proved that.)
The visit with Teacher wasn't so bad either. She did scare them half to death and gave them a lecture so long it made their ears fall off, but she wrapped both of them in a big, warm hug. Even without the ability to feel, the tension in Alphonse melted with that act, and Ed found himself almost content for the first time in four years.
By the day they left, Ed and Al were given the invite to come back any time - albeit not as students anymore - and the knowledge that Teacher would give them a call if she heard anything. In hindsight, Ed could have probably just called her and gotten the same information, but some part of him had secretly missed her, and wanted to thank the Curtis's for taking care of him while others could not. Alphonse's acceptance was just a bonus of circumstance, but he treasured it all the same.
All in all, he was immensely grateful that they went on the trip. That is, until they had to go home. Having not known how long the visit would last, Ed hadn't gotten the tickets home in advance. They headed off towards the train station remaining naive to the fact that purchasing two train tickets to a place so plagued by murders with a giant suit of armor would raise suspicions of the wrong kinds, even if he was only a fifteen year old kid.
The pair had gotten stuck with a middle class seat, which wouldn't be so bad if not for that fact that it wasn't private. Given the fact that many of the passengers in that particular class were families with young kids, they wouldn't be so trusting of Alphonse without knowing how gentle he was. Unfortunately, they had to figure it out the hard way. Stares were common enough, even when Ed went out alone (though it was because he was a pretty popular alchemist around Resembool), that they learned to ignore them. When a child marches up to pick up a toy they lost and then starts crying at the sight of them, however, that's hard to ignore.
Alphonse, sweet, sensitive Alphonse, immediately rushed to the child's aid. Hands waving in the air with a nervous gesture of peace. With a voice far too kind to fit inside his metal prison, Alphonse asked what was wrong. Ed and Winry and Pinako and anyone who knew the young boy would immediately smile up at Alphonse, thankful for his concern. This girl, however, did not know him in the slightest. Alphonse's panicked movements scared her even more, and her crying picked up into wailing shrieks.
Ed was about ready to throttle the kid, not caring about the age, because, really, this was Alphonse they were talking about, Alphonse couldn't hurt a fly, how dare she make him feel bad, when a pair of military officers hiding somewhere on the train caught onto the dilemma. One of them, a female with long black hair and wearing an outfit way too tight to fit military protocol, stepped in to soothe the child, while the other, an plain looking man with a few Cretan features, asked the brothers to calmly step aside so he could ask a few questions.
Immediately stepping to the point, the man had asked if Alphonse could take off the armor, saying it in a way that meant it really wasn't a question. The brothers had looked at eachother with crawling dread on their faces - Ed's face, but the stiffening of Al's armor was evidence enough. If the military found out that performed human transmutation - the ultimate taboo of alchemy - there's no telling what would happen to them. Would Al be locked up in some lab like a miserable testing animal. Would Ed be executed for his crimes? Or would the same fate befall him, once they realized that he too survived the forbidden act?
In the kind brilliance that only two desperate children can come up with every single one of their brain cells fried from shock, one of them had the idea to argue that the suit was a type of life support system, and that exposing the younger to such a germ-filled environment without preparation would end up killing the boy within minutes.
The Cretan-looking man had such an air of distrust around him that Ed was sure they'd end up outed for sure, but the man had only ended up nodding slowly before apologizing for his behavior, and leaving to speak with his female companion.
A couple minutes later, Ed and Al found themselves in their own private booth - the official reasoning being as a sorry for their questioning, but Ed guessed it was really due to what an imposing figure his brother made. He could tell that Alphonse thought so too. The boy was silent and withdrawn the rest of the ride back. Resting his head on his hand in an attempt to get comfortable for the inevitable wait, Ed realized just how truly terrified he'd been on that train ride. His hand was still shaking even as he went to pick up their luggage leaving the train. If the man had been just a little bit more suspicious, there was no telling if the both of them would still be around for a taste of Granny Pinako's delicious stew.
That was why the day he was arrested came as such a big shock.
It was maybe three in the afternoon when Alphonse sent him out to pick up a book he wanted from the local post office. It wasn't a library of any sorts, but occasionally a member of their small town would drop off a book they got from a bigger town on one of their travels. The book wasn't on chemistry or biology or anything alchemy related, but rather one on fantasy knights from distant kingdoms. Ed happily indulged his brother because he knew it was so rare that he got to enjoy things like a child.
It deeply saddened Ed that his little brother still hadn't recovered the confidence to go out into town again, but Ed was willing to do anything to cheer Alphonse up. And, secretly, he was glad that if the infamous Resembool murderer struck that it wouldn't be him in danger. Ed knew that his brother had a suit of armor to protect him, but his compassionate heart would never suspect anyone of homicide unless he had concrete evidence. What if by then it was too late? No. If only one of them was to be going into town square, it was better that Ed did the errands anyways.
Going into the post office was a little strange, because there seemed to be more eyes on him than usual, but he chalked that up to him wearing a blue jacket instead of his iconic red coat. He picked that item out to stand out in case anyone needed him; not wearing it was basically the equivalent to pigs flying. So yeah, there were more people staring at him than usual, but there was a perfectly reasonable explanation. There is always a perfectly reasonable explanation for everything.
He picked up the book, got to the counter and told the current hire about his findings, and took a few short steps out the door when, "Fullmetal."
Ed had let out a small grin at that nickname, turning his head towards the rough but warm voice. The name originally came from his younger brother Alphonse, who said that with his newfound abilities, he could rival a state alchemist. Ed had said that he'd need a nickname fitting for such a position and Al had offered 'Fullmetal'.
Ed had liked it immediately. It was strong and powerful and matched his metal arm and-
"It fits you perfectly because you're so stubborn and unyielding, brother."
Ed wanted to give Alphonse a dent on his chest plate for that.
Bad reasoning aside, Ed loved the name, and sure enough it became a signature part of their gimmick around town. The people even bought into it, calling him the hero of the people behind his back, asking for the Fullmetal Alchemist whenever they needed help.
It was all just another knife wound in his heart when he realized that they all believed he murdered their friends and family members - people he grew up knowing.
But, as that was the future, and this happened in the past, Ed didn't know the drastic consequences of answering that call. People called him "Fullmetal" when he needed help. Why wouldn't he take a few short minutes out of his day to fix a minor problem?
"Yeah? What do you need?"
The man, Issac Scott, his name was, smiled at him friendly. "I heard Barnes complaining about his gas stove when he came in to pick up his mail this morning. Don't know if he's fixed it already, but maybe you can stop by? You know better than me that if his oven suffers, then all of us suffer." More to himself, he muttered, "I swear, that man bakes bread like it was made from god himself…"
Ed's smile dropped a little at that last comment. He met Truth, who he would not acknowledge as god, but that guy really was a bastard. Religious talk always made him pissed off ever since the event.
Slightly annoyed, Ed turned and raised his free hand in a dismissive gesture. "Yeah, whatever. I'll see what I can do." Maybe he'd get a free loaf of bread in thanks.
When he got close to Barnes's bakery shop in the middle of town, the smell he was met with was neither bread nor gas leakage. Instead it was a strong, foul scent that he had only had the pleasure of meeting his nose with such strength once before.
"Mr. Barnes? Mr. Barnes!" Panicked echoed throughout his voice, searching for signs of life in the dimly lit shop. The smell of blood was stronger now, and for a second he was brought back to horrible flashbacks of the worst mistake of his life.
"Mr. Barnes!"
He made his way to the only known entrance into the man's actual house, a locked wooden door just beyond the counter. Not even bothering pushing on it to see if it was open, he clapped his hands and a brilliant show of light glowed in the ominous shop.
"Mr-" Ed found his voice trailing off as he looked at the sight below him. Ruby red rivlets, still steadily flowing out of an open hole in the baker's wide chest. It reminded him too much of that night. A broken and bleeding body lying flat on the floor. Lifeless eyes staring up at him, questioning 'why' over and over again. A raspy voice, broken from pain and misery, barely managing to get out one syllable: "Ed."
Edward screamed.
Naturally, people heard him and came to his aid, carrying things as mundane as brooms to beat off whatever attacker was still lurking in the shadows. Ed was quickly helped up and ushered away from the scene of the crime, too shocked to even cry.
It wasn't until an hour later when a group of military personnel showed up and started asking questions. "Do you know what happened? Were you there at the time of the attack? Was anyone with you that could have seen the attack? Did you take part in the murder? Do you have any idea who was responsible for the murder?" A lot of the questions were the same, just phrased differently, and Ed wondered if they were asked that way on purpose to try and catch the culprit in a lie.
Ed said no to all of them.
Eventually, he was left alone in a small room that would service as his cell until everyone could be questioned. Ed was informed that Alphonse, Winry, and Pinako tried to visit but wasn't allowed in until the questioning was done.
The next part, Ed thought about a lot. He thought that maybe if he had done something, he wouldn't be where he was now, locked in some shitty isolation room inside a shitty prison with its shitty interrogators and wardens and inmates. Because, when they came for him, grim faced and impeccably dressed in their military blues, Ed remained compliant as they silently grabbed his arms, tugging him gently to their sides. He remained compliant as another one came up from behind, uncomfortably close and breathing down his neck. Ed didn't even process what was going on until he felt the cool metal of handcuffs being placed around his wrists, but by then it was too late.
For a second, his heart was gripped by cold, hard fear as he came to the conclusion that the officers from the train had found out. They had found out and told everyone his and Alphonse's secret. The feeling in his heart only worsened as logic caught up to him and he realized that it wasn't that at all. They weren't arresting him because of human transmutation. They were arresting him because they thought he murdered Mr. Barnes.
"Edward Elric, you are under arrest for the murder of 64 men and women in East State. Any and all kind of resistance will be futile. Please come quietly."
Please come quietly. It sounded like a fucking kidnapping. It was a fucking kidnapping. His useless cries of "I'm innocent" fell on deaf ears as he was dragged crying and pleading away from his town. Away from his town and into the little beat up cell that he thought he would spend the rest of his life.
Later he would be informed that the witnesses had reported him covered in blood. Ed didn't remember getting anywhere near enough to the body to be covered in blood, but he supposed in his shocked state he wouldn't have remembered anything. That theory, of course, was thrown as soon as they mentioned that it had been hours earlier. They saw him walk out of the bakery hours earlier covered in a thick brown substance that they thought was mud, but it must have been blood. He must have gone to clean up and then check on the body.
That was impossible. Ed had been at the Rockbells' the entire morning before going out to get that book. He never did bring it to Alphonse. A thought came up to him though, and it made Ed want to throw up.
Hours. They'd said hours. Mr. Barnes had been bleeding out for hours before anyone saw him. It was already probably too late.
A second thought came to him and he did throw up. The murderer was getting bolder. He struck in the middle of town in the middle of the day. If he could get away with that, then what could he get away with on the outskirts of Resembool, where Alphonse and Winry and Pinako stayed. An icy feeling even more chilling than the false accusations washed over him.
Preferring to not dwell in the past, Ed began to wonder. Ed wondered what everyone was doing now. If Winry was already back home and working on her next batch of automail. If everyone at town still agreed with their earlier thoughts. Finally, Ed wondered if he would rather die than spend the rest of his life locked up in a cell, innocent and alone. But he knew he had to. If not for his sake, then for Al's. He couldn't leave Al alone. Not ever. If all he could do was silently support his brother from the sides while Al found a way to get his body back, then Ed would be there the whole time.
He rested his head on his knees, wishing that for even just a little he could see natural light once again. The blackness of isolation didn't bother him so much in comparison to the artificial light that just seemed to shout out the fact that he was a prisoner here. At least in the darkness he could pretend he was somewhere else. Still, he wanted to see sunlight once again.
As if mocking his thoughts, a crackling sounded out and metal doors began to shift open. Artificial light seeped in and Ed flinched away from the change of brightness. Useless though he knew it was, Ed mumbled a few broken, "I'm innocent"s, as if they were mantras he was using to convince himself.
An unexpected response, a short, terse laugh, echoed throughout the room. "I'm not so sure about that, but as of now, at least, you're not guilty. C'mon kid, we're getting you out of here."