Bits of ice and snow sailed through the freezing air, stinging Edward's cheeks as he slowly tromped through the deepening snow. The sun was almost completely set and he felt that he was no closer to Central City than he had been a few hours ago; then again, it had been snowing for hours, so it felt almost likely that he'd only moved a few feet since then. He took one slow step, and then another, and gave out a frustrated cry as his left knee buckled under him, bringing him to his knees in the deep snow. Edward was soaked from head to toe and the temperature was dropping rapidly as the last rays of the sun faded to deep purple, casting odd reflections off of the growing mounds of white. City limits have to be around here somewhere, Ed thought as he slowly stood, wincing as his automail joints creaked and ground together in the cold. He trudged forward and looked around. All he could see was a never-ending whiteness in any direction, and still a far ways from the suburbs of Central City.
He passed an old dilapidated building frame that was missing its long-since rotted walls. There were more buildings up ahead, he was certain, but when he'd passed through here before he'd noted that this whole neighborhood was ghost town and had been so for several years. All that was left were frames and crumbling plaster and scattered bricks, half-buried by mud and snow like a silent monument to something that nobody remembered. I've got to find some kind of shelter, he thought as he lifted his right arm in front of his face to shield it from some of the blasting ice. Or make a lean-to, or something! I can't get dry out here, and if I spend the night in this weather I'll be an Ed-sicle by dawn! He turned his face away from another forceful gust of wind, small crystalline shards embedding themselves in his matted hair as he was blinded by the wall of white. Edward carefully turned forward again, squinting. Was that a light up ahead? It hadn't been there before. He took a few more labored steps forward, his left knee no longer wanting to bend. His eyes opened wider with relief – there was a light! Ed picked up the pace, hoping that the soft golden glow was really a light and not just his tired mind playing tricks on him.
Edward paused briefly at the oak door with the carved granite rose on the front, glancing up at the hanging sign with gold lettering, reading STONE ROSE TAVERN. There was light coming from behind the windows and smoke from the chimney, so somebody must have been home. It pegged him as a little odd that he didn't remember any of these old businesses being open, but shrugged off of confusion as he pushed the heavy door open just enough to slide through and shut it immediately behind him. He stood there for a long moment, huffing and dripping in the doorway before taking off his soaked red coat to disengage the snow and ice from it. The sudden change in temperature stung against his flesh as he hung his coat on low-hanging peg in the doorway. "Hello," he called out cautiously. "Is anybody here?" Edward paused as he walked forward into the tavern, looking around as he passed a harpsichord. Along the low-rising wall next to the door were several booths with high, privacy-ensuring backs and were made of the same dark wood as the front door. Straight ahead was a long, granite-covered bar with more booths to its right along the wall. Edward walked toward the bar and saw a light coming from a door behind the bar that he could only assume went to the kitchen, but still saw nobody. "Hello?" He called a little louder and waited, but there was still no answer. The wind outside let out a shrill howl, catching the boy off guard as he made his way through the small round tables and taking a seat on a plush, over-stuffed ottoman in front of the fireplace in the far right corner.
He clapped his hands together and pressed them against his chest, drying his clothes and hair. Ed slumped into the cushions, periodically glancing at the raging blizzard outside, the wind screaming and the ice coming down in sheets like small, frozen daggers. I'm so late, he thought glumly, looking out at the storm. Colonel Bastard's going to have a shit-fit when I finally get into the office. I was supposed to be there this afternoon! Stupid snow… He blinked his eyes rapidly, trying to fight off the drowsy feeling that the warm fire was wrapping him in.
"Adrian? Is that you?" Edward's eyes snapped open as he whirled around in his seat, staring up to meet deep green eyes hiding behind auburn curls. The woman looked the teenager up and down slowly then shook her head softly. "I'm sorry; I mistook you for someone else. Welcome to the Stone Rose. What can I do for you tonight?" Edward blinked at the tall and very pale woman who was apparently the hostess.
"Um, hi," Ed started as he pointed out toward the window. "The snowstorm was too thick for me to keep walking home, so I thought I'd come in here and wait it out if that's okay." Deep rouge lips smiled warmly as the woman took a seat next to her only guest.
"And you're welcome to stay as long as you like! I haven't had patrons in quite a while, so I'd love the company." She pushed her thick bangs behind her ears, showing the very fine crows' feet developing in the corner of her eyes. She held out her hand to shake with Edward. "Anouk Cully, at your service." Anouk took another look at the boy's face and stood up. "Well, you can't have been in here too long – your lips are almost blue from the cold! Let me get you something hot to take the chill off." Anouk quickly rose and walked behind the bar into the kitchen, leaving Edward once again alone. Save for the crackle of the fire, the tavern was silent. He peered around the room, relaxing and growing comfortable in the sleepy light of the fireplace. The gas light fixtures along the walls cast odd shadows on the framed photographs and portraits that hung all over the room
His eyes moved to the painting above the mantle and the small framed plaque with bar ribbons and a medal that hung to its side. The oil portrait boasted a much younger Anouk Cully, armed but smiling as though she were hiding something. A dangerous smile to have in the Military, Ed thought, recalling all the many dangerous secrets that he himself had learned over the years. The plaque and ribbons were also Cully's, promoting her to the rank of captain for her bravery and leadership skills.
"That was almost seventeen years ago." Edward jumped slightly, startled that he didn't hear Anouk come up behind him at all. "I retired from the Military a few years after that and opened the Stone Rose." Anouk smiled kindly and held out a large ceramic mug to Ed, who thanked her as he took a long, slow drink of the steaming brew. He swished the contents around, trying to shift a cinnamon stick and small bobbing cloves out of his way. Hot brandy, oranges, apples and spices came together, thawing every part of his body on the way down. "I've got some duck that should be done soon, if you're hungry." Anouk looked toward the door and Ed's hanging coat, and then back to the boy.
"You haven't got any companions out looking for you, do you? Surely you're a bit young to be traveling alone!" Ed blew on his mulled cider and looked up at his hostess, shaking his head.
"No, I'm alone. I was coming back from a mission for the Military when I got caught up in the snowstorm." He took another small sip. "Normally I take my younger brother along with me, but since this wasn't a hard task my boss told me to just go by myself." Edward frowned, straightening his posture, his voice taking on a mocking tone. "'This'll be a snap! You don't need to take your little brother with you everywhere, Ed – you're not twelve anymore! Oh, it's just a few hours walk past City limits, be back by Wednesday afternoon!'" He crossed his eyes and stuck out his tongue, making a 'duuur' sound as he smacked a limp wrist against his chest before huffing. "Stupid Colonel Bastard."
Anouk snickered lightly. "Glad to see that high-ranking officers are still as intelligent as ever!"
"Eh, he's not too bad, really. I've been working for him since I was twelve, so we've gotten pretty used to each other." Anouk blinked at her guest.
"…Twelve? Since when does the Military sign children? Surely Amestris can't be THAT hard up for soldiers!" Edward reached into his pocket, briefly showing her his pocket watch.
"I'm kind of the exception to that. My name's Edward Elric." Anouk shook her head, marveling at the boy. He was small for a boy, and certainly didn't look old enough to be a soldier, let alone State Alchemist. Edward was also a little surprised; most people in Central City had at least heard of him, so even if they hadn't seen him, once a name was put to the face they could put two and two together. But his hostess just seemed puzzled as she looked the boy over again, admitting that she'd indeed never heard of the child prodigy and lamenting that she hardly kept up with current affairs in town.
"Will wonders never cease," she asked at last, turning and walking back toward the kitchen and returning some minutes later carrying a tray with several broad plates over-filled with steaming food. Edward moved from his pile of cushions to the nearest table as the plates were set in front of him, dazzling his eyes with a small feast. He awed at the largest platter of glistening roast duck and vegetables and the small basket of rolls. Ed sheepishly looked up at Anouk.
"Erm, Mrs. Cully-"
"Just Anouk, love, please."
"Well, Anouk, this all looks fantastic, but I didn't bring much money with me since I wasn't anticipating being gone for so long." She gave Ed a warm, motherly smile.
"Oh, that's nothing to worry about, Edward. I don't worry about money any more, and you're the first company I've had in ages. I wouldn't dream of charging you anything! Now, you eat your dinner and I'll go make a bed for you. This place wasn't meant as an inn, but I do have a guest room you can use for the night and we'll see about getting you home tomorrow once the ice lets up." Edward smiled and thanked the woman as she walked across the room through a little door to the side of the entryway and vanishing up the stairs. He ate in the dim light, occasionally glancing up the creaks and moans of the house under the duress from the still-raging storm outside and casually noted that there didn't seem to be a telephone anywhere in the tavern.
I guess I'll just be late and Mustang will have to deal with it, Ed thought as he picked around a small patch of squishy pickled capers. Sometime later Ed pushed away his empty platter, noting contentedly that once they got his body back he'd have to bring Al here to eat. He yawned happily and stretched, the warmth of cider and a full belly making him feel incredibly relaxed and sleepy. He looked up to suddenly see Anouk standing next to the table, still finding it slightly off-putting that he didn't hear her come downstairs let alone approach him.
"There's a bed ready for you at the top of the stairs whenever you're ready," Anouk said gently as she began to stack the empty plates. "Is there anything else you need?" Edward shook his head.
"No thank you, but I was wondering what I could do for you. You've been a very kind hostess. Is there anything around here that needs fixing or something that needs doing?" Anouk chuckled lightly.
"I already told you, love; having company for a little while is all I need. It gets pretty lonely being the only one out here, you know. I've been alone in this area and in the Stone Rose for the last four years." She smiled faintly and shrugged a little. "But I guess somebody had to stay behind." Edward stood and took the load of plates from Anouk, walking with her back to the kitchen.
"I was meaning to ask you about that; what happened here? This whole neighborhood looks like it's been abandoned for years!"
Anouk nodded. "It has been. Four years ago there was a break-in, and then they accidentally set this whole neighborhood on fire. It took forever for help to come, and by dawn there was nothing left. Homes and businesses gone, our wares ruined, and I lost the most precious thing this tavern boasted; my little son." Edward looked up as Anouk averted her eyes as they glistened distantly. He set the dishes in the large basin and they walked back out of the kitchen with fresh flagons of cider.
"Was it the fire?" Anouk shook her head.
"I don't know why, but the men who came were after Adrian for some reason. I fought to stop them, but in the end, I was overpowered, my restaurant was set on fire, and then my son was gone. One minute we're opening presents by the fire, and the next? I'm left with nothing but my own broken self amidst ashes and snow." They sat down in the cushioned chairs by the fire, both quiet and taking slow sips of their drinks.
Edward finally spoke up. "What happened after that? Did you ever find out who took your son?" Anouk stared sadly into her drink, her reflection blurry.
"I tried so hard to find him, but whoever they were they covered their tracks too well and knew all the places I'd look and all the tricks I would try. None of my old unit members have talked to me since then, and my old contacts seem to all have vanished. But Adrian's alive and in Central City somewhere; that much I am sure of, so all I can do is wait for him to come home."
Ed's heart went out to the poor mother. "But why stay here? Why not reopen in city limits, where you can look for him better?" Anouk sighed softly.
"Adrian was... special. A little off. He's a brilliant boy, and some would say that at least musically he was truly gifted! But around strangers he's quiet and awkward; a little slow. It was almost his third birthday before he started talking." She leaned forward, peering deeply into the fire. "Adrian liked set patterns to things; breakfast always at seven thirty, pain pills at ten, lunch at half past noon... You know once when he was little I moved the furniture around in his bedroom to give him a bigger bed and he threw a fit! I was worried he'd never come out from his wardrobe." Anouk chuckled a little and took another long sip. "This is the only place Adrian's ever known as home, Edward. So if he ever finds his way out of wherever they've been keeping him, he'll be looking for this neighborhood, for this house. If I'm not here when that happens, he won't know where else to go." There was a long pause, soundless save for the crackle of the fire and sipping of their drinks.
"How can you stay here, though? You said you don't get any business anymore."
"Sheer force of will! It's amazing what a person's soul can do with enough determination. After Adrian was stolen from me, I stopped worrying about money, and pretty much anything else in life. Believing that Adrian's alive and out there somewhere is the only way I've made it this far, and I'll be waiting here until the day he returns." Anouk lifted her mug high, draining the last of her cider and snuggling back into the recesses of the chair.
Ed distantly gazed into his own cider, recalling how heartbroken he and Alphonse had been when they lost their mother, and wondered how if must feel to exist not knowing whether the person they lost is really dead or alive. He took another sip and stood slowly, the brandy reminding him of how tired he was. "You know, I've got the best resources at my disposal. I may not be able to find him, but maybe I can find out who took him, or at least keep an eye out for him. The Military always has me chasing my tail all over the place, so maybe I've run into him somewhere in the city." Anouk's face lit up at the boy's offer. "Can you give me a picture tomorrow before I leave?" Anouk nodded, wiping the brimming tears from her eyes as she rose to put out the lights behind them. Edward began to walk toward the stairs across the room and paused, looking behind him at Anouk as she lit a candle in a jar and placed it on the windowsill.
Anouk caught the curious glance as she put out the last light on the wall.
"It's an old tradition," she explained. "You light a candle in the windowsill so that somebody who's lost can find their way home. My mother did it for me every time I went into battle or off on some mission, and I always came back safely. So I leave candles in the window for Adrian." They walked up the stairs quietly and, just as promised, across from the stairs was a little door leading to a guest room.
The room was dark and quiet, colored all in soft cadet blue and highlights of pale gold and cream. There was a chest of drawers by the door, a fireplace along the outer wall, a bookcase full of books, and a little nightstand next to the very large bed; verily, everything a guest could want for comforts during their visit. Edward undressed quietly as he walked into the bathroom across from his bed. He quickly combed through his hair and re-braided it, finding it odd that there was another door on the other side of the bathroom. Curiosity got the better of him for the moment as he silently grasped the knob and turned, sticking his head through the door. The darkness made it hard to distinguish shapes at first, but as his eyes adjusted things began to clarify and he took a step in. Along the wall was a bookshelf and a wicker trunk and... a toy bear. A stuffed lion. A striped sailboat. Wooden soldiers. These were children's toys. Edward sadly looked around Adrian's room, cluttered with scattered toys that hadn't been put away presumably since he'd been kidnapped. He held his breath and listened closely; it was muffled but unmistakable. Alone in the dark, he could hear Anouk sobbing in her bedroom. Just as silently as he entered he shut the door behind him and slipped into his bed.
I may not be able to find him, he thought sadly. He's been missing for four years... But maybe I can find... something. Some closure for her.
Edward rolled and shifted in his sleep, his eyebrows knitting tightly. He could hear a crackling noise, faint at first but growing slowly. He half moaned and rolled over, inhaling deeply and nearly choking on the smell. The smell of smoke and burning plaster filled his nostrils as every sense in his body tingled with shock, sending his body to bolt upright as his senses screamed that the house was on fire.
A/N: If you've made it this far, tell me what you think, please! I love to know how people are liking the story - it helps motivate me to write more! :3 And don't worry, he'll be leaving Anouk and back to the office with people we all know tomorrow. By the by, please don't razz me about Ed drinking the mulled cider. Where I come from, 14 is a legal drinking age with an adult (because we're taught to drink responsibly from a young age and the water is shit lol), and 16 without one.