Chapter Text
Ed shouldered his backpack and looked outside the window, a frown forming on his face. The previously overcast sky had now darkened considerable and the sky rumbled. Of course, the weather forecaster was wrong—again. He wasn’t a suspicious man, but it couldn’t be a coincidence that his return to school would be marked by terrible weather.
“Are you ok, Ed?” Ed glanced up, meeting brown eyes wide with worry. Al’s gaze flickered from Ed to the window.
“I don’t think they’d mind if you decided to come back to school tomorrow,” said Al, “instead of today.”
“Ehh, I’ve already missed a month of my senior year, I’m starting to feel a little bad,” Ed replied, “Besides, I’m getting bored of sitting at home and I’m sure Pinako is probably sick of me slouching around, whining all day.” He added, grinning. Al’s eyes shifted quickly to Ed’s right arm then back outside
“Doesn’t the weather make it… hurt?” Al asked quietly. Ed shrugged again. “Nothing a couple of Ibuprofens couldn’t fix, so let’s go.” Ed really didn’t want Al to worry anymore. Al pressed his lips into a thin line but gave Ed a defeated smile.
“If you say so.”
“I’m really glad you’re ok and finally able to join us, Ed.” Miss Hawkeye said warmly as he entered her classroom. Ed gave her a small smile. No one else was in her classroom since Mr. Armstrong let him out from class 10 minutes before the bell rang and she had a planning period before his class.
“Glad to be back in your class, Ms. Hawkeye.” He replied as he settled into the front seat closest by the door. She smiled at him and placed a small pile of graded papers on his desk. Ed had been able to keep up with his English homework, thanks to Al bringing all the missed work to Ed during hospital visits.
“Good job, these are some of the finer papers I’ve read in a while,” Ed felt a small surge of pride at the compliment. “Oh and if you need anything, don’t hesitate to let me know.” She added.
“Gotcha, Ms. Hawkeye.” Ms. Hawkeye had always been one of his more patient and understanding teachers, always going out of her way to help her students succeed. Ed always made sure to give his best in her classes; he couldn’t bear to disappoint her with half-assed work.
“Finer papers, my ass. I’ve seen better. You’re honestly being way too nice.” Someone snorted. Ed’s head shot up and he narrowed his eyes at the figure seated precariously on the edge of Ms. Hawkeye’s desk. He had a pale countenance that contrasted starkly with unkempt jet-black hair that hung over onyx eyes. He wore a bright red Holiday sweater with a bunch of drunk elves on it that said ‘let’s get elfed up’—which was extremely inappropriate for a school environment.
“Who the fuck are you and why are you on Ms. Hawkeye’s desk?” Ed snarled. Dark eyes met golden ones and widened slightly. Ms. Hawkeye turned to face Ed, disapproval on her face.
“Excuse me, Ed?” she asked. Ed pointed to the man behind her. “Sorry about the language but there’s some dude just sitting on your desk ma’am.” Ms. Hawkeye tilted her head slightly, confused.
“I’m sorry, what? Are you feeling alright, Ed? There’s no one there.” She asked worriedly. “Do you need to go to the nurse’s office?”
Ed’s mouth gaped slightly. He was literally 2 feet away from her. But judging from the way Ms. Hawkeye looked at him like he had just sprouted 2 heads, maybe the exhaustion was catching up to him? It was 8th period and maybe he’d taken too much Ibuprofen. An awkward silence filled the air as Ed struggled to make sense of the stranger sitting on Ms. Hawkeye's desk and poking through her things. Finally, the bell rang and he could hear the other students leaving their classes and rushing into her class, breaking the silence.
“Sorry about that, miss. Maybe the exhaustion and stuff got to me,” Ed said, laughing awkwardly. "But I'm totally fine!" He added quickly. Ms. Hawkeye’s brow still creased and she pressed her lips together, doubt and worry filled her eyes.
“Ok, but if you feel unwell, you can just step out and I’ll understand.” She replied slowly, the worry never leaving her eyes. Ed smiled again at her. She really was a gem of a human.
“You probably popped too many pills.” Ling said as he slid into his seat as the second bell rang. Ed frowned. “Shut up. I did not.” Ed pressed his fingers together. The figure on Ms. Hawkeye’s desk regarded him with an amused expression before slipping off the desk and heading to the bookshelf to examine his teacher’s little library.
“Ok but seriously, Ling…” Ed whispered. “You’re saying you don’t see a guy, over there by the bookshelf? He looks like he either just rolled out of bed or doesn’t know what a comb is. A-and, he’s wearing a stupid Christmas sweater and it's September, for fuck’s sake!”
Ling looked at the shelf and then back at Ed. “I have no idea what you’re smoking or taking, but whatever it is, I’d like some,” Ling grinned, “because that’s some high def hallucination you’re having there.”
The bell rang and Ed jolted upwards. He looked down and a small puddle of drool had formed on his desk. Ling stared at Ed in amusement.
“How was the nap sleeping beauty?” he joked and ruffled Ed’s hair. Ed swatted his hand away, face flushed with embarrassment. He can’t believe he fucking fell asleep in Hawkeye’s class. Guilt gnawed uncomfortably at his stomach. He looked up and met her amber gaze which regarded him with an expression he couldn’t quite decipher. The hallucination stood next to her and clucked his tongue, displeasure evident on his face.
Ed got out of his feet slowly, reached for his bag, and approached her desk, ignoring the figure behind his teacher.
“I am so sorry, Ms. Hawkeye.” He mumbled as he shifted awkwardly on his feet, his hand twisting and untwisting the strap of his bag. She'd been so kind and accommodating, not just to him, but to Al as well. She had offered to extend deadlines for Al and consistently asked Winry or Al if she could do anything for them at all. In no way did Ed ever want Ms. Hawkeye to feel like he was taking advantage of her kindness.
She gave him a sympathetic smile.
“Just get some rest, Ed.” She replied softly. Standing in closer proximity to his teacher, Ed finally noticed how tired she appeared. Slight purple shadows existed beneath amber eyes. The poor lady looked like she needed to sleep for a week. “You should probably get some rest too, Ms. Hawkeye.” He added. A slight look of surprise crossed her features before she let out a small smile.
“Yes, I suppose I should. Thank you, Ed.” Ed nodded and let go of the strap of his bag. “See you tomorrow, miss.” He waved, heading towards the door.
“Yo, gran. Can you uh- hallucinate on like, Ibuprofen or something?” Pinako looked up from the vegetables she was cutting, an eyebrow raised questioningly.
“No,” she said slowly, wiping her hands on her apron. “Is everything ok, Ed?”
Ed shook his head quickly. He couldn’t worry the old lady even more and make her think he had brain damage on top of his prosthetic limbs.
“Ah- Someone had uh asked me that earlier and it just made me curious,” lied Ed, looking intently at the physics homework sitting in front of him, refusing to meet her eyes. Pinako clucked her tongue in disapproval. Pinako knew he was lying, Ed was sure of it. She always knew when something was wrong with him or his brother. Instead of prying any further, however, Pinako just sighed and resumed dinner preparation. The kitchen was quiet save for the sounds of her knife against the chopping board and the pot of boiling water on the stove.
“Don’t get into that prescription drug nonsense,” Pinako finally said as she added the vegetables to the pot. She paused before continuing, “and don’t hesitate to come to me if there’s anything wrong.”
“Oh you’ve got to be fucking kidding me.” Ed cursed under his breath. Ms. Hawkeye had left the room briefly to make copies of today's work but had allowed Ed in anyways, instead of making him sit out in the hallway to wait for her. Ed was glad for the opportunity to sit and relax for a second. Except the hallucination was back and sitting in his seat. Wearing the same stupid Christmas sweater. Wearing a shit eating grin on his face.
“I think I have to go back to Dr. Knox and make sure all my screws are in place,” Ed muttered as he shut his eyes tightly then opened them. The hallucination remained. The Cheshire like grin grew wider as the man stared at him.
“You can see me!” he said cheerfully. “And here I am thinking, you’re just a useless pipsqueak that’s been taking advantage of my darling Riza’s good graces.”
“Yo, first of all, I’m not a pipsqueak! I’m average height and still growing,” Ed snarled, “second of all, who the fuck are you and why are you calling Ms. Hawkeye, Riza.”
“And third, get the fuck out of my seat. I don’t know who or, even, what you are but my leg hurts and I need to sit.” Ed added irritably. The stranger slid out of his seat.
“Here you go, princess. Made it all warm and toasty for you.” The stranger stated, earning a dirty look from Ed. Ed swung his arm at the man and his hand slipped through the man's torso.
“Oh.”
“Oh indeed,” the stranger remarked. Ed swallowed thickly. Blood drained from his face and he felt lightheaded, like he had stood up too fast. He slumped weakly into his seat and blinked rapidly before swinging his prosthetic arm upwards, smacking himself right on the nose.
“Fuck,” he whined, as he rubbed his nose. That hurt like hell and he was still in Ms. Hawkeye’s class so clearly, he wasn’t at home having a nightmare. He grimaced and glanced at the stranger who was doubled over in laughter. The stranger straightened up and wiped at his eyes.
“You done?” Ed asked, irritated. The figure let out one last ‘hah’ before nodding. Ed let out a deep sigh and pinched the bridge of his nose.
“So, what are you, like a ghost or something?”