Title: Ricochet
Fandom: Fullmetal Alchemist
Rating: T
Warnings/spoilers: set post Brotherhood.
Disclaimer: Same old, I don't own anything.
The sharp jangle of the bedside telephone roused 25 year old Edward Elric from a restless slumber. He groaned in protest but the stupid machine wouldn't shut up. Kind of like his wife Winry. As much as he adored the buttery-haired mechanic, (who was a loving compassionate soul underneath all that tomboyish nature not to mention totally devoted to him and their two small kids) it was good for his health to get away from her legendary rages and almighty wrench from time to time.
But damn this stupid phone! Bleary-eyed he fumbled for his silver pocket-watch-NOT his old State license but this one had a demon skull engraved on the front-and clicked it open.
Who the hell could be calling me at 3:30 in the morning?! The golden-haired man swung his legs over the side of his motel room bed, instantly missing the comforting warmth of the cotton sheets and fluffy pillow, both feet-one flesh the other automail-clonking on the hard wooden floor.
Bring! Briiiiiiing!
"ALRIGHT I'M COMING JUST SHUT UP YOU LITTLE COCKSUCKER!" Ed screamed at the antique phone giving it his famous death glare with eyes that matched his hair. Stumbling over he snatched it off its hook half-awake and grouchy. "WHAT?! DO YOU LIKE HAVE A DEATH WISH, CAUSE YOU'VE GOT AN ASS-KICKING AND A HALF COMING-!"
"Um, Brother?"
Ed's anger subsided at the sound of his baby brother's gentle voice. "Al?" He rubbed his sleep-crusted eyes. "It's early man."
"I'm sorry. Did I wake you?"
Yes. "Nah, nah it's ok. Sleep's overrated."
"Nightmare?" Al asked his low tones adopting a more soothing melody that had the power to comfort and reassure both man and beast. No matter how terrified they were.
Ed felt his chest warm at his brother's love and concern. No matter how many miles separated them their deep bond was one of the few constants in his life. "Al seriously. I'm fine."
His younger brother hummed into the other end of the line. Alphonse Elric who'd traveled to Xing to study alkahestry on top of his impressive alchemy...whose fame and reputation spread further than his ever would, who won the heart of a honest-to-God princess-a Xingese firecracker named May Chang and in doing so became even MORE famous and respected-
Ed blinked. Where was this coming from? He had no right to be jealous but as time went by he felt like he was losing the ability to think even though he'd spent several years traveling around, learning how alchemy worked in different ways. It was never good when an alchemist stopped thinking but when he finally tied the knot with Winry and the kids were born he settled into a routine that resembled living. To anyone who even bothered to care and pay attention to what was going on with him-mostly Al and Pinako and on rare occasions Winry when she wasn't elbow-deep in grease-the fire in his eyes was slowly dying. He loved his family more than his life but after a while the wanderlust tugged at his soul and he couldn't take it anymore. So he packed a bag and one warm early summer morning, informed his wife he was headed West to study more alchemy. The screaming match that ensued was one of the ugliest to date and he stormed out, angry enough to hit someone. She always does this! Why?! I NEVER complain when she goes to Rush Valley, so what's her problem? By the time Ed boarded the train to Youswell he swore he heard his soul sigh in relief.
"I'm back in Resembool. Winry got lonely so she called me up and asked when we could throw a little party. Invite the gang over, yanno for old times sake and-"
Ed braced his arm against the wall attempting to stave off a major headache. What Al really meant was this was yet another attempt from Winry to tame him. Again. "Whoa, whoa, whoa wait just a minute man. First of all, I thought you and May were still in Xing."
"Well yeah we were-"
"So that's it?" His voice went dangerously calm, strangling the slim handle of the phone. "That's the reason I'm standing here...at some unholy hour...having this stupid little chat...missing my warm bed...SO YOU COULD INFORM ME OF SOME LAME-ASS PARTY?!"
"Ed please!" Al pleaded. "Lower your voice-"
"I AIN'T GONNA LOWER NOTHIN'! MY BRAIN'S NOT ON!"
"Heyyyyyy Ed!"
A vein throbbed on his temple at that high girly voice.
"Hi. May." He ground out.
"ED! What've you been up to bean-"
"WHO ARE YOU CALLING SO SMALL HE COULD HITCH A RIDE ON THE BACK OF AN AMEBA?!" Ed bellowed sending a nasty pulse of feedback through the speaker. His whole body shook with rage at that hated childhood nickname. Never mind the fact he was well over six feet. Had been for years. "I'M TALLER THAN MOST OF YOU ANYWAY, AND I WASN'T TALKING TO YOU TO BEGIN WITH SO PUT AL BACK ON THE LINE RIGHT NOW!"
"Calm yourself brother."
"WELL KEEP YOUR GIRLFRIEND ON A LEASH!"
"Edward. Stop." He blinked, completely taken aback. Al rarely lost his temper unless someone he loved was in danger. And he usually reserved that stern tone for bad guys. It was almost unheard of he'd turn it on his older sibling. "May's very special to me, not to mention an honored guest while she's visiting with us. Plus she's right. We miss you. I miss you. Come home."
Ed pinched the bridge of his nose. Screw all this inane chattering. It's way too EARLY.
"I'm going back to bed-"
A hail of gunshots shattered the tranquil night outside causing Ed to drop the phone in shock. He ducked behind the nightstand ignoring his brother's frantic shouts spewing out of the dangling receiver.
"Brother what's going on?! Are you alright!? Answer me!"
Ed grabbed two handguns he traveled with at all times and checked the mags. This is bad, this is bad, this is- He lunged for the phone and yelled into the mouthpiece.
"I'll call you back!" He shouted and rushed out the door toward the growing ruckus leaving Al freaking out on the other end of the line.
"Brother? Brother?! BROTHER!"
...
Moonlight flooded the streets bathing the slumbering buildings in a comforting glow. Ed ran barefoot down the sidewalk under the dependable yellow light of the wrought-iron gas lamps only wearing a thin shirt and a worn pair of grey shorts. Dammit what the hell is going on? Is it terrorists? He prayed that wasn't the case. The coal mining town of Youswell-tucked on the easternmost border of Amestris and the desert-was peaceful and friendly. Innocent to most forms of violence but unfortunately not to corruption.
Until tonight.
As he ran past the main tavern where earlier he'd enjoyed a delicious dinner on the house, a voice hailed him from the doorway. "Edward is that gunfire? What's going on?! Are we being invaded?!" It was Halling, Youswell's Mine Foreman and Mayor.
"Halling stay inside! It's too dangerous out here!" Ed shouted. Much to his dismay the burly man charged out the door rifle in hand, clad only in his mining pants and hard hat.
"No! This is MY town and I'm gonna protect it!"
A massive explosion rocked the entire street rattling the buildings. Ed lost his balance and went sprawling into the middle of the road. Halling was blown back several feet, landing heavily on his shoulder and neck. His rifle clattered out of his limp hand and went skidding across the dirt.
Golden eyes widened in horror. "Halling! Halling are you ok?!" The miner lay still, knocked out cold. There was nothing Ed could do but hope the man wasn't dead.
Five massive troop transports came barreling at top speed down the street spraying dirt and gravel everywhere. Soldiers poured out of the vehicles weapons at the ready. They formed tight lines as they broke off into smaller parties. Scowling Lt. Colonels barked orders to their respective squadrons. "Lock down the street! The first man who finds that bitch gets a promotion and a raise!"
Ed had just seen an unconscious Halling being carried to safety by a knot of miners when he heard the callous command issued. Fury rose stiffening his back hardening his eyes. Oh HELL no. He despised man who treated women like objects instead of people. An image of a mute Rose holding a tiny infant, the result of a brutal rape by a nameless soldier caused his mouth to tighten. Terrified villagers stood gaping at the destruction huddled behind windows and doors. Others put their safety on the line. They went from door to door trying to urge people to flee and take refuge in the mines. Hah. Good luck with that.
"Stupid dicks."
He gasped at the sight of a young woman emerging from the inferno of what used to be a hardware store. Willing strength into his slack limbs he managed to gain his feet albeit a tad unsteady. She spoke again, hard ringing tones cutting clearly through the chaos. "My power ain't yours to take!"
A tall hard-bitten man wearing the standard uniform of a Lt. Colonel stepped forward, bullhorn in hand. "Shut up freak! This is the end of the line for you. Your abilities blaspheme God himself!"
Ed glanced from the girl to the military who were poised to spray the area with automatic fire. She wore black knee-high combat boots, and a pair of dark-wash denim shorts that stopped mid-thigh and a purple tank top with a leather jacket. The fire's orange-red glow reflected off a set of earrings, two in her right and three in her left. From his angle Ed couldn't see her face. A perfect oval with a thin scar bisecting her right eye. Or the thick rope-like scar running from the top of her shoulder, making a sharp curve from the base of her neck, It stopped right in the middle of her chest, leaving behind an angry red burn on her light tan skin, copper hair gleaming in the fire's light. Helplessness tightened his gut. The tall blond gritted his teeth, clenching his fists. Anger darkened his gold irises. Over four hundred safeties clicked off in unison and without stopping to think rushed toward the forest of guns. Like hell they're gonna kill her!
He skidded to a stop when about a quarter of them made him their next target. Ed raised his guns in a defensive X trying to cover his upper body.
"Oi! What the hell are you guys doing?!" He kept both weapons trained forward sweat beading on his face. Trying to ignore the fact he might have to break his no killing policy and that the casualties would be soldiers. "Has the military gone down the drain THAT FAST?! What's wrong with you people?!"
A particularly shifty looking second Lt. with a bald head and pencil mustache leered at Ed's coiled form. "Well, well boys, looks like we got us a real gentleman on our hands."
One of the men had a cigarette dangling over his lip. For a split second an image of Jean Havoc clicked through Ed's mind.
"What? Ya mean the ones that throw cold water on everything?"
"We hate meddling fools like you," someone else said. "Go back to your sandbox kid."
Ed felt his quick temper rise and he didn't stop it boiling over. "LIKE HELL IT DOES! 400 guns against a single woman? Have you LOST YOUR DAMN MINDS?! I won't let you massacre her you monsters-!"
His mouth snapped closed as did everyone else as the cold raspy voice of the tall dark-skinned Lt. Colonel slashed through their argument. "SHUT UP!" Icy blue eyes raked over Ed's frame, taking in his automail leg. I know this loser. "If yer gonna go out in a blaze of glory Scrapmetal, then at least give me the courtesy of a good show." A wolfish grin split his craggy face. "Oh but wait...you can't transmute anymore. Just like ya don't have the balls to pull the triggers. Still the perpetual hero I see." He raised his arm and the soldiers facing Ed tightened their fingers on their triggers. "We shoot that prosthetic off you're nothing more than a damn cripple. And there's not a skilled mechanic around for miles. You're both toast."
Ed hissed through his teeth willing his hands to remain steady on the triggers. No. NO. This is bad. I can't die yet! Why did I hope to accomplish? That they'd lay down their arms? Listen to reason? As long as their eyes are on me that girl can-
A crackle of energy sliced through the bodies of every man who'd trained their guns on him. Blood sprayed in a crimson curtain. Weapons turned to dust.
Ed gasped and whipped his head around. The young woman stood tall, palm raised in a stopping motion. Huh? Why hasn't she run?!
"Oi dickheads. Eyes on me."
A single beam of maroon-red energy crackled from her middle finger. Before the soldiers could fire she stomped her foot. The ground split, throwing up lethal chunks of rock. Without missing a step a series of orange transmutation circles appeared, glowing piercingly bright, bearing strange designs Ed couldn't recognize. She snapped her fingers and they exploded with extreme force sending trucks, bodies and debris skyward. The force of one blast sent tossed Ed into the air. His body did some weirdly graceful loop-de-loop but he was too stunned to react, mouth hanging open. The very atmosphere was charged with ungodly supernatural energy and he was having trouble breathing.
YOU GOTTA BE KIDDING ME! Th-there's no way...I've gotta be SEEING THINGS-
Without moving her position she kept up her rhythmic snaps. This time dark red fireballs erupted casting a hellish glow over the sleepy town that was now in utter chaos. One circle materialized under the girl's feet, catapulting her into the burning sky.
Ed sat there in the dust golden eyes unable to look away from the awesome spectacle. An alchemist who can transmute without forming a circle! His hands trembled. Sweat broke out on his face. Only a handful of people in the world possessed this unnatural skill. Izumi Curtis. Hohenheim. Roy Mustang the Flame Alchemist. That power-hungry 'Father'. And of course himself and Al. Scratch that. Just Al. He couldn't do it anymore but now...This-this just can't be! Did she actually...commit taboo?! Or is there something else going on? His palms itched, longing to execute a ringing clap. Dammit...without the ability to transmute, JUST when I need it the most...
She drew her right arm back, a beam of maroon light manifested and quickly lengthened to a wicked looking black sword. At her apogee yet another circle appeared and to Ed's amazement, she used it as a platform and pushed off.
A howling wind propelled her forward and the agonized shrieks dying men sliced through the streets and over the rooftops. The backlash struck Ed in the chest and punched him back. Something struck him painfully in the ribs and the side of his head hit the unyielding surface of the apothecary shop he'd been kneeling in front of.
Screams, pounding feet, and general noises faded as his vision grayed. His head pounded furiously and his side hurt like hell. Glad that...psycho Kimblee is dead...woulda been in ecstasy...missing out on some INSANE booms...
Then he blacked out.
A/N: Well peeps here's another plot bunny that wouldn't stop gnawing on my brain. So here goes. And as always reviews are fuel! :)