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Roy huffed as he trekked forward, trying not to snap at Edward.
They had been pursuing a rogue alchemist who was developing some particularly nasty airborne toxins. It was serious enough that they had demanded Roy be on the case. Not that he minded field work however he questioned the demand that he work with Fullmetal. For some unknown reason, the higher ups at central command had insisted on them working together for the case. So they had been stuck together. For better or for worse.
Upon arrival at the alchemist’s last known location, Edward had immediately thrown caution to the wind and busted down the door to the warehouse. A shoot out ensued and Roy had scolded Edward for his brazen mistake. Edward had brushed him off and Roy had let him. Instead of arguing they both set off after the rogue alchemist.
Except, Fullmetal kept screwing around!
Roy didn't bother to look at Edward as he stalked forward, “Fullmetal, I know your legs are too little to keep up but at least try.”
Edward blew up as he came up to Roy's side, “Who are you calling so small that he's smaller than an ant!”
It lacked Edward's usual fire but Roy paid no mind to it. They continued tracking their target, intel said that the alchemist had another hideout somewhere around the area. Despite his previous scolding, Fullmetal fell behind again.
Roy sighed, “Fullmetal! Keep up! We're never Going to find this guy if you keep lagging behind.”
Edward grumbled but moved a little faster to catch up with Roy.
Roy felt his gut twist in warning. In the back of his brain he knew something was off but he couldn't tell what it was. He brushed it off in favor of completing the stupid mission. They were close, he could feel it. One of the nearby warehouses had to have the rogue alchemist within its walls.
Once again Fullmetal fell behind. Roy kept walking, hoping that Edward would realize his mistake and catch up. But after a couple steps Roy groaned in complete and utter frustration. He spun on his heel and began to chew Fullmetal out.
“Fullmetal! Do you even-”
Roy froze. Edward was not behind him. Instead, Fullmetal was on the ground several feet behind him. He wasn't moving. Roy felt his heart drop to his stomach. What had happened? They had been fine! What-
As Roy dropped to Edward's side he noted the blood and cursed.
Back in the initial meeting, when Fullmetal had burst into the warehouse and the rogue shot at them, it had taken Edward a few crucial seconds to get a barrier up. In those few seconds, the alchemist they were trying to detain had fired off a few rounds. Ed must've gotten hit. Why hadn't he said anything! Was their mission so important that Edward felt like he couldn't tell Roy?
But… Roy had been the one pushing Edward. It was him who had pressed Fullmetal to move faster, to keep up. Guilt hit Roy like a train and suddenly he wished he was the one with a bullet wound in him. Looking past Fullmetal's body, he noted the little spatter of blood that left a trail from their previous steps. Roy needed to get Edward to a hospital and fast. He'd seen enough soldiers lose blood to know what happens when you lose too much.
He tugged Edward onto his back, “Dammit kid why didn't you tell me?”
Fullmetal slurred his words, “Needed t’ catch the target…”
Roy felt his heart sink farther down, “Dammit Fullmetal! It's not- You're more important!”
Edward shifted on Roy's back and he cursed as he tried to adjust before dropping the kid, “Not that ‘portent…”
Roy glared though he knew Edward couldn't see it, “Yes you are. Don't say that.”
Fullmetal made a noise that Roy suspected was a scoff, “Who cares?”
Suddenly words were caught in Roy's throat as he tried to respond, “Alphonse does. So does the team.”
Edward's next words were too quiet to hear and Roy struggled to make them out, “Say that again? I couldn't hear you..”
Fullmetal repeated himself, “I asked ‘f you cared.”
And Roy verbally froze. Because of course he did. Didn't… didn't Edward know that? Then again what had he done to show it. He'd never once said it. They argued constantly and while he was never truly serious did Edward know that? He certainly hadn't been as transparent as he thought it had. The guilt he had got much worse. Or maybe it was the way the weight on his back suddenly got heavier.
Roy strained to see Edward, “Fullmetal?”
Edward said nothing and his blood felt like ice in his veins. Adrenaline filled his system as he clumsily ran toward the nearest telephone booth. They had made it so far he couldn't let Edward die on him now! Especially not without making sure he knew that Roy cared. The kid still had so much to do and a life to live and Roy would be damned if he let the kid die now!
Roy laid the kid on the ground and made the call as fast as he could and then returned to an unconscious Edward's side. At some point the kid's neat braid had become messy and pulled apart. Roy brushed loose strands of hair out of his face and he felt nauseous seeing Edward look so… frail. Fullmetal was paler than he should've been, and his breathing was too shallow. Roy kept a firm pair of fingers to Edward's pulse both to make sure he was still alive and to keep himself from losing it. It had been a while since he'd lost this much composure.
Paramedics arrived on scene and they pushed Roy out the way unintentionally. They surrounded Edward's too small body and began working on him, all while getting him loaded up into the ambulance. Roy just stood there as the adrenaline drained from his system, having run its course. His knees buckled and his head felt light. A medic appeared in front of him and was helping up and into the ambulance.
When had he fallen?
A paramedic stayed with Edward while Roy stayed to the side in the cramped space. Edward was still pale and lifeless. Roy still felt lightheaded and broken. Edward hadn't told him. He hadn't trusted Roy enough. Roy had failed as a- as a what? Superior Officer? Yeah right. But Ed wasn't his to parent. Did he have a right to even make that kind of statement? The ride to the hospital was as eventful as expected. Roy watched as the medic did everything in their power to keep his subordinate alive. The second the ambulance stopped they had Edward off to emergency surgery, internal bleeding confirmed.
Roy was left in the waiting area outside the operating room. He sat in the chair and felt himself stare at nothing. It was his fault. His fault that Edward was in that room fighting for his life. He should've paid more attention to the situation, to Ed. But no, he'd been so focused on finishing the mission that he'd overlooked his subordinate's wellbeing. He should've known something was wrong! Roy was supposed to be better than this! Why wasn't he better?
He needed to call Alphonse… and Riza, but despite the thought he didn't move to find a telephone. It was like he was frozen to his cold, hard hospital chair.
Eventually a nurse checking on him startled him out of his stupor and he was able to give Riza a call. She took the information in stride and offered to call Alphonse which Roy was grateful for. After that time passed without notice as Roy waited for permission to go see Edward. Once he was given the okay, he beelined straight for the kid's room.
The doctor said Edward would be fine, but that he had definitely pressed his luck.
When Roy made it to his subordinate's hospital room, he paused to take it all in. The room was dim, lights down for when Edward eventually woke up. Machines beeped and were connecting to the small form in the bed. Roy pulled a chair to the bedside and sat down in it. He felt weighed down by the events of the day. Edward's hair was loose, cleaned up by a nurse likely. His eyes were closed and he was still way too pale. The automail limbs had also been removed and it made the Fullmetal Alchemist look young. Too young. Too little. Too fragile. Roy felt sick as his eyes roamed his subordinate's frame. Regret was such a worthless feeling when it didn't allow him to turn back time.