Edward Elric is 15. He is an independent young man, he's seen more horrors then someone of his age should. He is not a child. That's what he tells himself anyway. But in some respects he still is. And as he walks down the familiar dirt path to the graveyard where his mother and his friend's parents lay he is suddenly a little boy again. His mind thinking of the day they walked down this path without their mother. The day they sat and looked at the marble stone that was now her mark in this world. he frowns, trying to push the memory away. The fragile remains of his childhood buried back in his mind. Then once more they thrust themselves forward. Ed's throat burns and he starts to shake a little. A man stands in front of his mother's grave.
He is broad shouldered, tall and has golden hair. Ed knows him. He remembers as a little boy these same broad shoulders going out the door, the man's features had been so indifferent, untouched by the children's confused faces. This man is his father; the man who had left him. He remembers those moments in excruciating detail. The picking up of the briefcase, the callous way he walked away from his wife and children and out into the world. (He doesn't remember the man picking him up and affectionately treating his scraped knee, or when he gave him boxes of chalk to draw with )and before he knows what he's doing he's running at that man. He's screaming his name. The unclosed wound is still raw.
Van Hohenhiem is ageless. He is a tired man. He's seen more horrors and miracles in his lifespan then anyone. But when his 15 year-old son runs up, an impetuous fiery boy, he is suddenly no longer wise, understanding, he is lost and terrified. This is his son. He has grown up to be capable. He has grown to deal with pain. He is not fit to be his father. So he stares in awe at this child. He has taken after his father, Trisha could get angry but she had to build up her anger before she would explode. He is aggressive, almost feral, in his anger. He doenst know what to say. What he wants to say is I'm sorry you have such a horrible father. But that won't calm him. It'll simply fan the flames. So he follows his son, who has now stalked off, To Pinako's house.
He is still in awe hours later. His son is sleeping. He remembers watching his son sleep as a toddler. The difference scares him. He reaches out again, like he did all those years ago, but he can't bring himself to touch his child. He doesn't deserve this life of hardship. He doesn't. If he had been there…he wouldn't have been. He just would have made it worse. So The man who is a father, but doesn't feel fit to be one, leaves his son without saying goodbye. Just like Those years ago.
The next time Ed sees his father at the graveyard it's a quieter affair. He stands in front of the grave and says words to his father he would have never said the first time. He apologizes. He tells his father how much he means to him. How he understands why he did it, but why he can't forgive him all the way. And how he glad he is that his dad proved him wrong. How he did deserve to be called his father. His father smiles from the afterlife and wishes he could tell his son how he was just happy to be called Father…But hearing his son admit this aloud makes him prouder and happier than his son could imagine.
A Happy father's Day To any Father's out there. I got to say I was thinking about Ed and Hohenhiem today a lot, as evident by this little ficlet. I like to picture Ed being like this, he may not have the best relationship with his dad but he does care for his father deep down. So While I'm not overly proud of this I like it. And I at least hope you enjoyed it at least a bit too. Thank You For reading :)
As always if you catch grammar mistakes or typos please point them out ^^
Hiromu Arakwawa owns Fullmetal Alchemist.