Chapter Text
“What are you doing up there?”
Ed was eight years old the first time he met Ling Yao.
“Looking at the view of course,” Mystery boy replied, in heavily accented Amestrian. And wasn’t that just so funny? There wasn’t much to see in Resembool but the sunsets were absolutely gorgeous and Ed had no doubt that they looked even better from up there.
“Well what’s your name? I think you should give me that much if you’re sleeping on my roof.” Mystery boy looked amused, not offended. Which was a good sign because Ed couldn’t keep someone that weak around.
“I’m Ling. I came over from Xing and-” Ed cut him off before he could finish.
“You traveled from Xing?” Ed couldn’t help but yell, “How the hell did you get across the desert all by yourself?” Seriously, this guy couldn’t be that much older than Ed! It was super hard to get across that desert even when you were completely prepared and had a group of experienced travelers.
“I’m not alone. I brought Fu with me.” Ed quickly scanned their surroundings and caught sight of someone sitting in a tree a couple hundred feet away. Ed pointed to him wordlessly and Ling nodded.
He quickly made up his mind and said, “Well you shouldn’t just stay out here. I’m actually training to be an alchemist and transmuted a whole treehouse a little over that way. But don’t tell Al or Granny cause then they’ll get all worried and try to make me feel guilty for practicing when they’re not there.” Ed turned on his heel before Ling could get out a response and started heading over to the treehouse that he was very proud of.
Ed didn’t see who he assumed was Fu for the rest of the night but Ling did end up staying with him in the treehouse. Ed knew Al, Winry, and Granny wouldn’t worry too much if he didn’t come home tonight. He’s done that a lot since mom died. Ling was a welcome distraction.
They stayed up the whole night talking. Ed had never met anyone outside of Resembool who were all born and raised in Amestris. Well, Dublith too since they had been training with Teacher.
Ed crossed his legs as they sat down. “Do you know alchemy?” he asked.
Ling tilted his head to the side like a fucking puppy and slowly said, “I know the theory behind alkahestry more than Amestrian alchemy. But Fu has been teaching me martial arts and I’m gonna get a cool sword soon!”
“Hmm not as cool as alchemy but it will have to do for now. You’ve gotta tell me what you know about alkahestry, I can’t find anything on it. And you better teach me Xingese! Amestrian isn’t your first language is it?” Ed didn’t notice he had leaned forward in anticipation until Ling caught him around the shoulders when he tilted a bit too far.
Ling smiled at him. “I think we could do that, you gotta tell me more about Amestris though. This is my first time visiting, mostly came for the food, happen to have any out here?”
Ed choked on a laugh. “Right behind you,” he pointed to the box in the corner.
That night, Ling carved some basic phrases of Xingese into the wood wall of their treehouse. They talked about their lives, Ed growing up in Resembool and about his mom and dad, and Ling growing up as someone important in Xing. Ed didn’t know who exactly Ling was but didn’t really care enough to push.
They fell asleep leaning against each other and they woke up the same way.
Ling led Ed a little farther away to where Fu had been hiding out after spending the night god knows where.
“Young lord,” Fu began, “When do we leave for Xing?”
A flash of apprehension washed over Ling’s face. “Two weeks time,” he said carefully. He looked to Ed who was at his side, keeping his expression neutral. “Could we all practice together when you teach me the fighting stuff?” Ed practically started vibrating in excitement at the idea of learning to fight.
He knew lots of stuff cause of Teacher but he’s heard lots of Xingese martial arts and it’s nothing like what people do in Amestris.
Fu looked between the two of them for a minute before bowing his head. “Of course.”
“As long as he can keep up, that is.” Ling smirked.
“Yah! Who do you think you’re talking to, bastard!” At Ed’s outburst, Fu looked towards him sharply and looked close to taking a step towards him. He didn’t get the chance though since Ling threw an arm out in front of Ed and shook his head at Fu.
The small interaction almost went over Ed’s head but it was nice to know Ling wasn’t planning to stick his bodyguard(?) on Ed.
Fu agreed after Ling asked again and Ed got introduced to the basic principles of Xingese martial arts. They liked multitasking like Teacher. Fu was yelling out phrases for Ed to translate to Amestrian and explaining as he went, and the other half of the time was yelling out in Amestrian to Ling for him to translate to Xingese.
When they ended up sparring Ed would slip in techniques he had picked up from Teacher. Both of them adapted quickly and worked them into his new fighting style.
It was the most fun Ed had had since mom had been around to play with him and Al.
They kept up that routine for the promised two weeks. Fu gave him stuff to practice and promised to bring books on Xingese and fighting next time they visited. Ed learned more about Ling as he gradually came out of his shell over the course of the time they spent together. They were with each other pretty much 24/7 for those weeks, learning about their habits and lives and hopes and dreams.
They even got around to playing some games! Ed brought up how fun hide and seek would be in the forest and Ling didn’t know what it was. After a quick explanation, they were off. Fu even encouraged it since running through the trees would help their mobility.
But alas, Ling needed to return to Xing and Ed needed to stop freaking his family out by being absent for two weeks besides coming to collect food and the like.
He told Ling so much about his family, they didn’t really get into his mom and dad which he was thankful for but he did get to gush about Al and Winry. Al was pretty shy so Ed decided not to introduce them and Winry and Granny would try to talk Ling and Fu out of teaching Ed all the stuff they’ve started to.
He knows they know something is up but Ed is hoping they think he just wants to be independent or is like, having delayed grief or something.
He was actually sad to see Ling go, standing on the tree line. “I’ll come back,” Ling said with a somber smile. “Like, three to six months, whenever I can.”
Ed made a split second decision and reached into his pocket for the spare piece of chalk he always kept on him. He ignored Ling’s questioning hum and drew out an array he’d learned recently on the tree next to him. Ed clapped his hands together and placed them on a branch.
He felt his alchemic energy moving inside of him and focused it on his hands and flowing out. After a brief flash of blue light, he was left with a slightly wonky most undetailed replica of the sword Ling had told him so much about. It was small, a little bigger than his hand.
He handed it to Ling who watched him with wide eyes. “To keep you safe.” Ed looked off to the side. He wasn’t soft or anything like that. He just had a new acquaintance who he needed to come back to teach him stuff.
He brought his eyes back up when he felt a hand on his wrist. He was met with the sight of Ling unclipping the bracelet Ed hadn’t seen him take off once during his whole stay. It was a good band with a brilliant ruby stone in the center. Ling secured it onto Ed’s wrist and reasoned it with, “So it’ll be easier to find you.”
“Goodbye for now, bastard.” Ling waved as he walked away. He paused a few steps later.
“And your name?” Ed blanked out for a second. Had he never introduced himself? Their first meeting was on the roof and then Ed had dragged him to the treehouse but they spent two weeks together! Shouldn’t Ed have mentioned his name at some point? And shouldn’t Ling have asked already?
“Ed. Edward Elric.”
“I’ll see you again, Edward Elric.” Ling turned and started walking away again, content. Fu bowed once to Ed and followed.
Ed waited until he couldn’t see them anymore then started walking to Granny’s. Ed didn’t know how to feel. He’s always had Al and Winry but they were basically forced to be around him. He’s never clicked with any other kids his age before Ling. Well, Ed can figure it out later. All he knows is that he wants to learn more about Xing and bro no around Ling and Fu was so good. It was fun. It was new.
Ed fiddled with the new bracelet and walked through the door to the house, having been lost in thought longer than he was aware of.
He spent the night at home for the first time in weeks. He spoke with Al and Winry and made a plan to go see Teacher next week. On the third night of coming home at a reasonable hour, Granny finally brought it up.
“Where have you been, boy?” Ed threw on an empty smile to appease her.
“Out and about, exploring and stuff y'know.” She studied him for another minute before letting out a sigh.
“As long as you’re safe. Al’s been missing you though,” she said knowingly. Ed did feel a bit guilty for leaving his younger brother alone more in these past two weeks than ever before. “He’s got Winry and I. And you do too, don’t forget that Ed.”
“Of course Granny,” he muttered shakily. He darted back to his room and pulled out his alchemy textbooks. Right beside them were the worksheets Fu had someone made, though a lot of his Xingese practice was during martial arts training or carved into the treehouse by Ling.
Ed cracked the book open and got to work.
Seeing Teacher in Dublith was a nice change in environment. Ed decided to keep what he’d picked up from Ling and Fu out of their sparing. Ed had noticed over these past few days that he seemed to unconsciously copy some of their habits and mannerisms. Things like walking silently and swinging across trees and roofs. He guesses it can’t be helped, it’s not like they aren’t useful skills.
He and Al spend the week in Dublith, getting up to all sorts of things. They leave for home when Teacher and Sig promise to ride the train up to Resembool sometime soon.
It didn’t take long for Ed to get readjusted, back to his normal schedule with Ling not taking most of his focus. He did pick up a book on the Xingese language and culture while in Dublith though. It’s just interesting stuff! And having multiple languages in your skill set is valuable anyway. He eyed the bracelet hanging off his wrist once more before refocusing.
He kept himself occupied over the next few months. About four months out, Ed caught sight of movement along the trees and grinned widely. He grabbed onto the tree and climbed up. He moved fast and steadily, though not as fast as he would have liked (shut up it’s not because he’s short, his legs are long enough).
Finally, finally he caught up but only after the two figures in front of him had already reached the clearing and stopped moving. “Not bad, Edward.”
“Ew, Ling, just call me Ed.” Edward was only what old people called him, like Granny and his school teachers. “If you don’t I’ll hit you.”
“If you’re fast enough, Edward.” Ed’s face flushed in anger, the bastard was doing this on purpose. Sometimes Ling would pretend to ‘incorrectly translate’ something Ed said just to mess with him. It’s about half the reason why Ed has taken up Xingese in the first place.
He grunted and dashed forward. Ling met him halfway and they began one of their usual spars with Fu supervising. At the moment, Ling had to slow down his moves so Ed could keep up since Ed hadn’t been trained in martial arts every day for years. It was still fun though, and good practice for both of them especially when Ed incorporated things from Teacher.
“I missed this Ed, let’s take a break now shall we?” Ling nodded towards the treehouse.
“You both have done well. Rest while you can,” Fu said cryptically as he turned and walked further into the clearing. Ed nodded and he and Ling went the opposite way to where their treehouse is.
“There should still be some food there after the last time I brought more but I can run over to Granny’s tomorrow anyway.” Ling hummed.
“Thanks Ed.”
They spent the night catching up and with Ling writing into the walls for Ed to practice his Xingese. Time went by fast, though they only realized it after light started spilling in through the window Ed had transmuted last time they were up there.
Ling was literally giggling at the ‘oh shit’ look on Ed’s face.
They slept in the treehouse and Ed woke up alone with new Xingese lettering right beside his face. His tired brain took a few moments to piece it together but finally got the message. ‘Come find me’, it said.
This is how most of their impromptu hide and seek games started. Fu had told them it was good to practice running and jumping in new terrain and that they were kids, they were allowed a bit of fun. It had been four months since they last saw each other, Ed was still only eight with Ling being a few months older.
They kept up their games and teaching and learning and talking and everything for three weeks this time before Ling had to leave.
Ed was reminded of their last goodbye as he was waving Ling off and remembered the small wooden sword from last time. He had no idea what came of it, but it was the only time he had been able to catch Ling off guard which Ed had enjoyed. Going off that, he called for Ling to wait and transmuted a small wooden cat out of the same tree as last time.
Ling was so much like a cat it secretly was really funny.
Ling got that same wide eyed look as last time. Ha Ed wins. “I actually brought you something this time,” Ling stated as he reached his hand into the pack on his back. It was a small case and when Ed opened it, he was met with the sight of a collection of hair ties and clips. The clips were long and smooth gold decorated with the same ruby stones dawning the bracelet from last time. The hair bands were of the same color scheme but made of silky fabric instead. The long ribbon lining the small box had two Xingese words Ed hadn’t yet learned.
“And I’m sure you’ve already found this out but the bracelet is pretty hardy so don’t worry about breaking it. Same with the hair pins.” Ed had been growing his hair out. Last time Ling was there, Ed had been shoving his hair out of his face every other second so Ed could see where the idea for these came from.
“Thank you, Ling.” Ling smiled his closed eyed smile and Ed nearly squinted at how bright it was.
“I’ll come back again. Hopefully in a few months.”
“You better, bastard. Look out for him, old man.” Fu inclined his head to Ed and then they were gone. Again.
Ed could tell that Winry was getting antsy and he would be lying if he didn’t know what she was thinking about. They’d excused his disappearance last time but this once was longer and there wasn’t exactly a logical explanation they could use to make themselves feel better. What it really boiled down to though, is that Winry is nosy. She likes to know what’s going on.
Ed hadn’t really meant to keep Ling a secret. Ling had never asked to meet his family and Ed only saw more problems coming from introducing them, it was simple to keep them separate. Plus, it was kind of nice to have something of his own. Ling is his friend and he’s never had that before, he just wants to bask in it for a little while longer.
So when Winry cornered him, Ed had only answered ‘training’ when she asked when he’d been. And it’s not like that’s a lie. He had spent most of the time with Ling training with him and Fu, and learning the language but it’s not like Winry would randomly find out that he could speak some Xingese.
Ed’s days have actually been pretty busy lately. He’s been studying alchemy with Al, doing his normal school work, practicing all the crazy stuff Ling and Fu can do like jumping from trees, running, and the fighting of course. On top of all that, he’s been practicing Xingese every day! He had some stuff he could work on in those four months Ling was gone but this time Fu had left him some study books from Xing so he could make his self-made lessons more structured.
The three of them ended up switching to Xingese some days so that Ed could be more immersed and hopefully learn faster. They were both pretty much fluent in Amestrian (the occasional wacky proverb threw them off), so they didn’t have any problem making a few changes for Ed.
Either way, most days ended with Ed falling asleep as soon as he laid down instead of staying up for the majority of the night thinking. Thinking about Mom, Dad, how he should be better for Al, ect.
Ed did miss Ling sometimes. When he did, he just looked more into Xingese culture to distract himself and hopefully be able to connect more with Ling the next time he visited. He never really took the bracelet off. His hair was long enough to tie up now and Ed loved the pretty colors of the bands he could now use all the time. They reminded him of Ling, gave him some kind of motivation.
Maybe he was just lonely? Maybe this is just how friends work. Do friends miss each other after only knowing each other for a little while and going long periods of time in between visits? Ed wouldn’t even know who to ask about that so he’ll keep it to himself until it becomes an issue.
All in all, Ed kept himself busy and happy with his training, with Al and Winry, with Teacher.
The next time Ling came, he started the conversation by introducing himself. “I’m Ling Yao. Twelfth crown prince to the empire of Xing and head of the Yao clan.” Ed studied him for a few moments. It didn’t exactly surprise him. Normal people from Xing couldn’t cross the desert whenever they pleased, had bodyguards, were referred to as ‘young lord’ by said bodyguards, had as much inside information on Xing as he did, or had the array of mannerisms Ling had that screamed ‘rich kid’.
It always took Ling a few days to drop the act that he seemed to put on when he was doing whatever he usually did in Xing. Ed understood.
Because he understood, he responded by saying, “And I’m Edward Elric, oldest child born to my beautiful late mother and bastard father. I don’t care who the heck you are, you’re just Ling to me.” Ed caught sight of Ling’s watery eyes and sighed. He was just like Winry, goddammit with the waterworks.
Ed wordlessly opened his arms which Ling took as his rightful invitation to tackle Ed onto the floor right there. Ling was more cat-like than you’d expect. Ed wasn’t a very tactile person but Ling very much was. Ed didn’t really like people in his space, hugs, holding hands, any of that sappy stuff. But things were a bit different with Ling.
They’ve slept side by side since they met and have gotten progressively closer as time goes on. Ed doesn’t know how things work with the imperial family, but he’s guessing they are not super close with what Ling’s said and with the information he’s gathered from the few books he’s read on the topic.
There are many princes and princesses, as the emperor takes a partner from each of the fifty clans and has another heir. It’s a fight to become emperor that’s ongoing for when they’re born to the day they die. Assassination attempts are very common. Ling probably wouldn’t be close with his parents or siblings. Those random scars he carries around are starting to make more sense now too. How does one acquire a scar that makes it look like their throat has been slit unless it has been attempted before?
And like, Ling is only a bit older than Ed. Sure Ed’s birthday is right around the corner but he’ll only be nine. Ling is going through hell over there at the same age and probably before that too.
What he's getting at, is that there aren’t a lot of people Ling can be close with emotionally or physically for safety reasons. Him and Ling latched onto each other pretty good. Ling likes being close with him and also doesn’t know how normal friendships work, just like Ed.
So they’re just taking things as they come and he had come to like Ling’s presence around him more than tolerate it. Even the hugs. And, ugh, what could be considered cuddling at night. Just their legs touching didn’t count right?
So this is okay. This is good. His arms are wrapped around Ling’s back before he knows what he’s doing and he quickly draws back. “Alright. That’s enough of that for tonight. I’m glad we got that sorted, now to our treehouse we go.”
Before Ling had left last time, they had carved ‘Ed and Ling’s House’ in a mix of Xingese and Amestrian on the entrance. It was funny.
They talked more about their personal lives that night than they ever had previously. Ed spoke of how he still kinda blames himself for his mom's death. How his father leaving makes him feel inadequate and like there’s something fundamentally wrong with him. He spoke of things he has a hard time admitting to himself on a good day.
Ling talked of a grand palace that was a death trap, siblings out for his blood, parents he’d met once or twice, and wanting things to change. He said how Fu was like a parent to him, taught him everything he knew. He said Fu had a granddaughter he’d like to bring to Amestris sometime. Ling cried. He cried a lot.
Ed wasn’t really good at comforting people, but he knew Ling. He dabbed at his tears and wrapped him up tight in a blanket and spoke gently. They hugged. They ate. They slept.
Rinse and repeat for a few weeks and there were no more secrets between them. Ling was still there when his birthday came around. He gave him textbooks and cards with sweet words and Fu did something similar, just with less emotions. They trained like usual, hide and seek was a lot more entertaining now that Ling had a better grasp on the area and knew where to go.
When it was time for him to leave and Ed told Ling to wait as he grabbed his chalk to draw a transmutation circle, Ling didn’t look so much surprised as fond. A wooden sun this time. For Ling’s stupid smile, not like he’d even tell Ling. Ed also wasn’t too surprised when Ling reached into his pack and pulled out a case, much like the one that had the hair clips in it.
Ed clicked open the little box and stared at the small pin in front of him. He knew that each clan in Xing was associated with a different animal, mostly depending on how far they were from the kingdom. The Yao clan was very well off, one of the closest to the empire. Their symbol is a dragon. On the pin is a golden dragon, almost popping out of the black background. It was gorgeous.
Ed’s hand got knocked to the side gently when Ling picked up the pin and stepped up to him to attach it to Ed’s old t-shirt. It looked very out of place with Ed’s mud ridden clothes and the pin having a nice shine and looking distinctly Xingese. It was perfect.
“Looks like it’s just right, huh?” Ling echoed his thoughts. Ed nodded absentmindedly as he fiddled with it.
“Thank you, Ling. You know you don’t have to keep getting me all these things.” Ed was pretty sure he couldn’t tell Ling Yao what to do if he tried but he also didn’t want Ling to feel obligated.
“I can do whatever I want. I’m a prince right?” He smirked.
“Idiot prince.”
Ling reached out to him and Ed took a step forward. It seemed like after they cleared everything up and talked for hours and hours, they didn’t even need words to communicate. On top of that, Ed had gotten used to Ling’s constant physical affection over the past few weeks. It’s not horrible. Ling is warm at least. Except for his hands, his hands are always stupid cold.
“Goodbye Ed.” There didn’t need to be a promise of a next time. They’ve fallen into a routine at this point. Fu had been more helpful than ever this trip with all types of new information on Ed’s interests.
“Seeya Ling. Take care old man.”
His family didn’t really question his extended disappearance this time. It’s become a pattern so it’s been added onto the ‘weird things Ed does that we only put up with because we love him’ list.
Al and Winry don’t even ask. They stick close to him the following weeks after his return but that doesn’t bother Ed, he’s usually around them 24/7 anyway when Ling isn’t there. It’s almost like he happily uproots his life every time Ling appears. Hopefully that can stop happening soon. Ed thinks they’d like Ling.
Ed got back into his normal stuff. Teacher had come a few times in the months Ling was absent and now it was his and Al’s turn to go to Dublith. Her intense style and energy was always fun and a bit terrifying to be around. They always came out of their sessions so much better than before, whether that be in alchemy, street smarts, or other life lessons.
He’s nine years old now Granny gives him more freedom with the promise to take care of Al.
Ling and Fu come four times when he’s nine and three times when he’s ten. Roughly every three months. They catch each other up on any news. He tells Ling about Al and Teacher and all the new things he’s been learning. Ed tells Ling how he’s going to be even better than his father was at alchemy. He has more and more conversations with Ling in Xingese as it’s been quite easy for him to pick up with the amount of concentration and practice he’s been putting in.
Ling tells him about how he keeps getting attacked in his home and has had a few close calls with assassins. Tells him that nothing is changing in Xing, the rich are getting richer and poor are getting poorer and how much it bothers him. He tells Ed how most nine year olds like Ling don’t even know what politics are but Ling was thrown into the deep end on that front. He speaks fondly of Fu’s granddaughter and how she’s his new bodyguard.
They’re weeks and nights together are some of the best of Ed’s life, almost topping his midnight dance parties with Al. They never run out of things to talk about but sometimes they do their activities in silence for hours. Ed can read Ling like a book, and he knows it’s the same for Ling when he voices Ed’s thoughts before Ed gets the chance to open his mouth.
By the end of the year when Ed is ten, he can have full conversations in Xingese. Fu said he’s ambitious and a hard worker! Even smiled once which almost made Ed jump. Ling said he’s gonna start training with a real sword soon. Dao something or other. They even kept up with their games and still find ways to make training fun. Hide and seek never gets old.
They saw each other seven times altogether from when Ed was nine and ten. They continue their tradition of giving each other gifts as they say goodbye. The most memorable things were when Ed gave him a star on their first meeting that year, a puzzle piece another time, mini eating utensils after that, and an intricate dragon on their last meeting of the year when he’s ten. All are incredibly meaningful to them both, made out of the wood Ed transmutes and small enough for Ling to carry back with him.
Memorable things given to Ed include the time Ed gained a pocket watch one time, an ear cuff another, a headpiece too, and a sun and moon necklace their last meeting when Ed’s ten, the same time Ed gave him the dragon. The pocket watch is simple gold with Xingese numbers around the clock, the ear cuff also gold but bedazzled with the familiar red stones and the headpiece is much the same way. The sun and moon pendants are the real outliers.
“I heard about friendship necklaces on my way here, they’re cute. The sun and moon are very important in Xingese culture, as I’m sure you're aware. Births, weddings, and other important events are celebrated at breaking dawn and midnight where they can be blessed by both the god of the sun and lunar goddess,” Ling finished.
“You’ve told me princes in Xing are celebrated as people sent by the lunar goddess, with the opposite being true for the princesses.” Ling nodded when Ed paused.
“I think I get what they mean. You’ve got the dark hair and eyes and all but I’ve always seen you as something more bright rather than the glow the moon offers. The sun is in your smile, your personality. People tell me the same too, y’know. Golden hair and eyes aren’t exactly normal around these parts, I’ve had my fair share of gawkers say something or other about me being connected to the sun. Nothing about personality though,” Ed snorted and Ling smiled.
“What I’m saying is I think you should take the sun. The moon might be better for me after all, looks aside.” Ed’s face was definitely burning and he couldn’t quite place why, not like it mattered anyway.
“That’s a wonderful idea.” Ling continued their little tradition and grabbed both necklaces to put the moon pendant on Ed. He turned his back to Ed after handing him the sun pendant. Ed carefully clicked it into place and Ling turned back around. They hugged goodbye, as had become very frequent in their meetings.
“Goodbye, Ed.” Fu popped back into existence at the start of the clearing, having left to give them a moment to say goodbye.
“Goodbye for now, Ling.” Ling would be back in a few months, like he had been doing consistently for over two and half years. This was good. Ed felt warm.
Ling didn’t come back after three months. Or four. Or six. Or eight. Ed turns eleven. It’s been about a year now.
Ed knows Ling like the back of his hand. He wasn’t upset when he left, besides the usual stuff going on at home, but nothing Ed said would make him not want to show up. They’ve been meeting for over two and half years and he knows how closely Ling holds the short interactions they can manage.
Ed is not angry, which makes him kind of disappointed in himself. Anger has always been Ed’s shield. Defense about his mom, angry at his dad, angry when people talk to him. It hides all the broken little messed up pieces inside him. But Ed is not angry at Ling, whatever is stopping him from coming must be out of his control. Right? And Fu wouldn’t let something petty keep his charge away from his only friend.
Ed is worried, that's what he is. They’ve had the whole, ‘people try to kill me on the daily, including my blood family’ talk multiple times and it still scares the shit out of Ed. Did they finally get the best of Ling? But Ed doesn’t think that would happen. Ed knows Fu, he’s like an estranged grandparent, and he would never let any harm come to Ling. There’s also his granddaughter that they’ve both been talking more about recently, Lan Fan. Almost as dedicated and stubborn as Ed himself, is how they describe her. She doesn’t seem like she’d let anything happen to Ling either.
And Ed isn’t just going to live his life assuming his best friend is dead. So he studies. He trains. He never ever took off the golden bracelet with the ruby stone from their first meeting. He’s kept the moon pendant on since Ling put it on him as well. The hair ties and pins are also on his person a lot but he keeps the more elegant stuff in a small loxbox under his bed, along with birthday cards from Ling and Fu.
It takes less time for him to readjust to not having Ling crash his life than he thought it would. He finds that it is because he trusts Ling. Ling is good and strong, he’s got a few good people looking out for him. Ed will trust that Ling will come back. He promised.
Ed found something in a bet up journal when he’s eleven and Al was ten. Human transmutation. Ed loved Al, Winry, Granny, Teacher, Sig. But he missed Mom. He missed Mom more now that he didn’t have Ling. Yeesh maybe it was affecting him more than he was admitting to himself.
Ed studied alchemy everyday with all. He was pretty much fluent in Xingese. Last time he was with Ling and Fu, he posed a bit of a challenge to Ling in the martial arts department. He kept up whatever training he could on his own.
All in all, Ed was a good enough alchemist to do this and had the smarts to figure it out and back it up. Al took a bit of convincing but he wanted to see Mom again too. They had everything set up, what could go wrong?
Famous last words, Ed thought, lying on the couch at Granny’s with two limbs missing and his brother sitting in the corner, now forced to live his life as only a suit of armor with his soul delicately tied to it. Seeing Truth was the scariest thing Ed has ever lived through, and he’s seen Winry’s bedhead.
Ed falls into a bit of a daze. They killed mom again. He kind of killed Al. Winry is crying all the time. Granny sighs whenever she looks at him. Teacher doesn’t know but would literally murder them if she found out. And Ling still hasn’t come back.
Over the year he hasn’t returned, Ed still goes to their treehouse every three months. He doesn’t know why exactly. It’s calming, sure, but maybe he’s also holding out on the idea that one day he’ll see Ling or Fu from the window he transmuted. That Ling will be next to the walls he used to carve Ed’s Xingese lessons into. But there’s no sign that anybody but Ed has been up there.
So Ed goes through the next few days in a clouded state of mind, not really seeing or hearing or living. He knows Al wants to talk to him again. Ed apologized for pushing him into it and for hurting him and Al claimed that it wasn’t Ed’s fault, it was their shared mistake. Ed didn’t really accept that but he didn’t want to continue the conversation either.
Luckily, he didn’t have to get himself together to talk to Al because someone else came and gave him a reality check. Lieutenant Colonel Roy Mustang and his right hand Second Lieutenant Riza Hawkeye had knocked furiously at the door in search of who committed the human transmutation attempt they found next door at the Elric’s.
Ed could tell they were surprised at him and Al. After all, it’s unheard of to survive the rebound of a human transmutation attempt, let alone bind your brother's disembodied soul to a suit of armor at the cost of his arm and leg. Ed feels himself being lifted and remembers that he’s been using a wheelchair lately. He thinks Mustang is yelling at him but only really catches the last few sentences and Hawkeye’s concerned stare.
“An option I’m giving you is to join the State Alchemist program. You would be placed under my command and would have access to resources that could help you restore you and your brother’s body, if that is your goal. Funds and access to private libraries come with the title. Think about it, Edward.”
They came in like a storm and left just as fast. That short interaction made him feel something though, which he hadn’t since burying Mom for the second time.
Yes, Ed could do that. He didn’t fancy being a dog of the military but it would get them what they needed. He turned to Al who had been watching him carefully. Ed nodded and Al gained a determined expression on his....face? Ed didn’t really know but he knows his brother better than anyone, he can still make out his expressions.
Al is undoubtedly the most important person in Ed’s life and Ed will protect him with every bit of his being.
He knows Ling will understand when he returns and Ed isn’t here. But that’s still a ways away. Ed still has to convince Granny to give him automail, get through the surgery, and complete rehab as soon as possible. Maybe Ling will show up sometime in the next year or so? Sounds like wishful thinking but Ed is just really missing his best friend right now.
The surgery and rehab is the worst pain Ed has ever felt. It is extremely painful getting his nerves connected to the automail but he’s lucky he still has the necessary parts left in his arm and leg to be a candidate for automail. Rehab takes him almost a whole year and it sucks ass.
He keeps up with his studies. Practices his alchemy more than ever now that he can transmute without a circle, how cool is that? Now he get rid of that stupid chalk that always gets everywhere. He also learned a lot from going through the Gate and Truth. Random knowledge was shoved into his head and it makes his head spin sometimes. He keeps up on his Xingese.
The first thing Ed does when he can start moving around on his own again is to get back into the martial arts basics he knows. Well, by now he knows more than just the basics but he can’t push himself too hard. When he works himself up to his old routines and starts improving on those, he knows it’s time to leave Resembool.
He debates it for a while but does decide to leave a note for Ling. He climbs up into the house and carves into floor ‘come find me’ right next to where Ling did a few years ago. They always loved hide and seek. Now it's going to be up to Ling to come find Ed since he was the one not showing up. He scribbles the date in Xingese after that so Ling knows when he left and then he runs back home without looking back.
They burn down their old house. Ed grabbed his box with all the presents from Ling. The birthday cards, pocket watch, headpiece, ear cuff, dragon pin, ribbon with Xingese lettering, and hair ties and pins not currently in use. Ed never took the bracelet or the moon pendant off, they were usually hidden under his clothes. He had kept growing out his hair and now used the silky red and gold hair ties to hold his braid together. The jeweled pins he rarely wore outside of his room but they held a special place in his heart.
He had reread the book about the different clans, focusing completely on the Yao clan. As Ling had talked about, the dragon was the symbol for them. What he had failed to mention was how different clans were also associated with colors. Gold was for the Yao clan, meaning eternal luck, happiness, and health. It made sense now why Ling always either wore obnoxiously bright colors or plain black, like a fucking honey bee. Red was strictly for the imperial family. Royals and spouses and friends of royals would wear their clan's color with the imperial red mixed in.
All the pieces Ling had given him were visibly recognizable as Xingese. When Ling had first said to him ‘it will keep you safe’ as he fastened his own bracelet on Ed’s wrist, Ed didn’t think this is what he meant! Now, any Xingese people living in Amestris would recognize Ed as a friend/spouse of a royal. They’d recognize the gold for the esteemed Yao clan as well if they were smart. That’d let them know not to hurt Ed or risk the wrath of a prince/princess, and also that if they helped him they would be getting on the good side of a prince/princess.
Ed didn’t quite know how to feel about that yet so he put away the more eye-catching jewelry and wore the ones with the most meaning that were easily explainable. It sounded like a lot of work and more people that he would have to deal with which Ed didn’t have time for. He needed to find a way to get his and Al’s bodys back as soon as possible.
When he got on the train to East City, he transmuted his coat to a brilliant red with an alchemic design on the back. No one from Xing would think it was from a royal because of the bad craftsmanship and the alchemy symbol so Ed was okay to flaunt it. It gave him comfort. It reminded him of Ling and their promises.
He was confident that Ling would find him.
But he isn’t important right now because Ed was on his way to Mustang’s office and would hopefully be taking the State Alchemist exam within the next thirty-six hours.