A/N: Um, hello. :waves sheepishly: Yah, well this has been ignored by me for a while, but here it finally is! Chapter two of yet another fic of Forgetful's with no plot line. Let's just say that I'm waiting for inspiration to strike, and until it does, you'll just have to make do with all the RoyxEd action I use to fill the empty, plot-less void. Even though fluff and I aren't on good terms at the moment...
Oh, and a few people asked me about Roy and Al's ages. Um.
Well, I thought I'd make Roy younger than in the series, but he still has to be old enough to be a respected cop. Ed and Al are older too...I don't think I'm going to give specific ages. Lets just say they're all legit and...I dunno', over sixteen if you want them to be. I guess Ed will be, Roy has to be. (He was married. --;) Meh, whatever YOU want them to be. It's for your enjoyment after all. I know it's vague, but I thought I'd give answering people's questions a go at least.
Yeah, one more thing, this won't be AlxWinry. I can't be bothered, it's enough work trying to get one couple together as it is...--;
BTW, uh huh. It's been even longer than when I wrote the first AN sentence! AH! But now there IS a plot, I did some research and it's all coming together nicely. It's hard to believe the beginning of this chapter was written almost a year ago, right after the first one! Yipes...
Disclaimer:checks label: Nope, not mine.
Don't Slip on The Spliters
Chapter 2-Where It All Begins
A Random Sports fic, by the incredibly un-sporty, unhealthy Forgetful.
Åt the shout, all chaos broke out. People ducking and screaming, running for the doors, dragging bags and children. A little girl cried for her mother, alone on the floor, before a man lifed her up into his shoulders to carry her above the crushing crowd.
And that's when the shot rang out.
As quickly as it had started, the pandemonium stopped and people stared in horror at the hole politely leaking plaster dust in flurries onto the nylon floor. The bullet had buried itself in the white of the ceiling, and the man who'd fired it's hands were shaking uncontrolably as he cocked the gun once more.
" Anyone moves and the next one'll be buried in her skull!" He threatened, looking round with wide, freightened eyes a his captured audience, tightening his grip on the girl in his grasp. "Right." He signalled to the other, whose gun, although aimed at Roy's head, seemed much more lax in his grip. In fact, the whole posture of the 'accomplice' was far too relaxed, as though he'd been doing this sort of thing his whole life. Roy glared at the two of them, knowing something just wasn't right and that he wouldn't figure out why without evidence. And a lot more evidence than he already had at that.
" Grab the bags and get to the...vehical." The jumpy one ordered, pausing to make sure he gave away nothing about the car or van they drove, or the people that Roy suspected they worked for. No, this was planned in far too much detail to just be these two on their own. "Get Jimbo too, I don't trust these cops." He spat at Roy's feet, and Roy narrowed his eyes over the barrel of his gun. There were three as far as he could tell, although one was outside somewhere, he still couldn't hope to take two armed men on alone. He looked toward Hughes who had used a stray coat to pillow the wounded officer's head, ready to send his own signal. They had more men at the moment, if they could only time it right...It was then that he realised the third officer was restraining a boy. The blond in fact, from the skating rink.
" Let me go, for God's sake take your hands off me! Winry, Winry!" He cried out random nothings as he fought ferociously against his captor, and Roy noticed the gun on the floor between them.
With movements like a cat he slid in a blur across the marble bank floor and kicked the gun towards Hughes. Bullets smashed into the wall and floor behind him, missing his torso narrowly but not having time to be backed up by more. The 'accomplice', the slimy one, he'd fired the gun. However he was now tied up with a very disgruntled Hughes who had scooped up the gun and fired back almost instantly, moving away from the squirming, thriving crowd that had begun to move again.
Slimy spun back, a bullet fired by Hughes finding its mark. He fell, clutching his shoulder, and writhed on the floor behind a service desk he'd been using for cover.
Ignoring them, Roy drop kicked the man restraining the blond, his name evading Roy's adrenalin-high-mind. The guy was big, like The Hulk, and dropped like a boulder to the floor. A very ugly boulder. The boy, although free, was dragged down with him, and pushed himself up quickly. He began towards the only guy left, Jumpy, but Roy caught his arm.
" Let us handle this, kid." He advised sternly as the boy sqirmed.
" That's my partner out there! You can't expect me to just stand here!" The boy retorted, twisting around in Roy's grip to face him.
" I can, I do and you will. She's in more danger if you get in the way." With that he started forward to Jumpy, leaving the kid seething in his wake. Signalling to Hughes, who nodded back, they advanced on the guy. When they were both about three paces from him, Roy felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end and he spun around.
The Hulk smashed into the ground with a horrendous crash, and the blond kid was behind his bulky form with a grin on his face. A vase was strewn across the floor in a million shards, and it was apparent that the boy had smashed it over Hulk's head. Turning just in time, Roy saw Jumpy as he threw 'Winry' at Hughes and they tumbled to the ground in a tangled heap, Jumpy sped past him towards the open back exit.
" Damn!" He cursed, running after the crook. He could hear footsteps thunking behind him, echoing through the bank's back corridoors now that they were away from the main reception. A doorway of outside light shone from the end as they turned a bend, and Jumpy found a new spurt of energy that widened the gap between him and Roy.
The wail of sirens cut through the rhythmic stomping of feet, and Jumpy skidded to a halt as the lights found their way to the door once seen as freedom. Dark shapes of policemen blocked the doorway, and Jumpy turned. He was cornered.
In a last ditch attempt at freedom, he ran towards Roy, pushing him out of the way. Roy clutched at the man and held him back as he fought with nail and tooth. It was with surprise that Roy noticed the boy there again, taking hold of the guy's other arm that was flailing about and just being a general nuisance. A kick in the stomach caught him off guard, and he found himself winded and doubled over. With the butt of his gun, Jumpy smacked the boy around the face, sending him flying. Every swear word he knew ran through Roy's head as his back up raced up the hallway towards them.
" That way." He told them, throat straining against the pain that was slowly ebbing away. He crawled over to the boy, body recovering, and saw at once that he had lost consciousness thanks to the blow. He shook him, calling.
" Wake up. Come on, wake up, it's not gonna' be good if you go and get concussion on me!" He said, more to himself than to anyone else. He didn't think for a minute it was what a professional would do in his position, but it worked and the boy opened half lidded eyes.
" What happened?" He asked groggilly.
" You got thunked by a thug. Need some help walking?" Roy offered his hand, but it was smacked away and he shrugged. Using the wall, the blond heaved himself up and moved slowly back towards the reception area. " I guess I was wrong, huh? Thanks for taking out that guy back there." Said Roy. The boy grunted, holding a hand to his head.
" Looks like it was a good thing I didn't just 'stand there.'" He replied. Suddenly, he slipped down quickly towards the floor. Roy rushed forward and caught him, helping him back up.
" There'll be ambulances with the back up crew." Roy promised, pulling the boy's arm around his shoulders and bracing his hand around the slender waist. The blond shook his head, looking rather dizzy for a moment.
" No, I don't need that kind of medical attention. I'll wake up in a minute." He explained, desperately trying not to blush at their close proximity.
" Alright then, but don't blame me if you collapse." Roy grinned, and they limped into the reception. The scene that greeted them was one of confusion; customers previously panicked stood around gabbling in huddles, police took statements and cashieres began to make their shaky way back home early. A few officers helped a girl off the top of Jumpy, who was looking uncomfortable beneath her crushed into the floor. The girl was beaming, and her, her friend and Winry all turned in unison as Roy and Ed came into view.
" Ed, you should have seen them! That guy came charging in, his eyes practically bulging out of his head, and Lui pushed over that post there-" She paused briefly to point at a toppled post used for holding up ropes to seperate waiting lines, then continued. " And he fell right over it. Then Ez-chi sat on him to stop him from getting away!" The boy, now identified to Roy as Edward for the second time, raised an eyebrow at Winry as the adrenalin from the danger earlier eagerly rushed to the aid of her chattering skills.
" Are you alright Niisan?" Alphonse popped out of the crowd looking concerned for his brother's wellfare. Ed looked up at his human crutch.
" You can let go of me now." He ordered. Roy smirked and tipped his hat.
" As you wish." He released the blond just as Alphonse reached them.
" Really, brother I can't take you anywhere." Alphonse chided, hands and eyes checking for any sign of injury.
" I'm fine Al, stop fussing. For God's sake, he's worse off than I am." Ed nodded in Roy's direction. Al's face lit up when he recognised him from the rink.
" Mr. Mustang! You never mentioned you worked as part of the police." He smiled, Ed just knotted his brows in confusion.
" You never asked. I take it this is your brother then?"
" Yes, Edward."
" And me." Winry popped up.
" And Winry." Winry stuck out her hand and Roy shook it heartilly.
" It's a pleasure to meet you Miss Winry, but I'm afraid..."
" Hang on, how do you know him?" Ed finally put in his worth, cutting Roy off midway.
" I met him at the rink yesterday, we watched you skate." Ed went red.
" AL! You know I hate people watching practices!" He protested, resisting the urge to clip his brother's ear.
" Well, he was only curious, and you were doing so well..."
" I'm very sorry." Roy interjected. "But I'm still on duty. Perhaps we'll meet again at the Ice Academy sometime. You should just check with a paramedic about that shoulder though, Edward." With a wave, he disappeared into the crowd. He was sure Hughes needed help getting some witness statements, and he could hear Al mothering behind him.
xXxXxXxXxXx
The bank had caught the lot on camera, and Jumpy and Hulk, identified as Ahmed Tiaz and Johnathon Hope, were indefinitely going to be convicted. Unfortunately, due to the number of officers being outmatched by the number of criminals, Slimy had managed to sneak out in the confusion when Roy had chased after Ahmed. He was still unidentified.
At that point in time, Roy sat at his desk with a phone to his ear and the buzz of the police office going on around him.
" Yeah, you'll get the DNA profile report tomorrow. Or hey, you could come round and get it now. There should be something at the station that I need, a brown parcel. It's my new equipment."
" I suppose I could. Briefing's in a while anyway, and other than chasing up that DNA report, I've got nothing else to do." Roy said into his crappy black police phone. Underfunded forces left him with bad office equipment and mediocre guns, but they all made do.
" Great. How soon can you come? I've got some work to do, a new one's just come in."
" I'll be there in twenty. See you Russell."
" Later." The phone went dead, and Roy hung it back on the hook. Pulling his jacket off the back of his chair, he walked down the corridor and stuck his head into Hughes' office, picking up a parcel labelled 'Autopsy Room 303, T. Russell' on his way.
" I'm going to the autopsy centre."
" Right-o." Hughes answered, nimble fingers pausing on the keyboard buttons, halting the flow of his report. "I'll need your report for the Cheif Inspector by today."
" It's on my desk, the brown folder. Be back in about an hour." Ducking back out and dodging a hurrying secretary with a stack of papers, Roy slipped his armless black jacket on and jogged down the steps, leaving the stone lions guarding the police station doors behind.
The autopsy centre was a boringly grey building, with a flat roof and a depressing air. It was a building right out of the seventies, built with less funds, it seemed, than the police had in the 20th century. A blonde secretary was behind the desk, her nails being meticulously attended to by her and her file. Roy cleared his throat.
" Take a seat and I'll get to you in a moment." She told him, not looking up even for a second.
" I'm sorry, but I really need to speak to Russell." She looked up, took one look at Roy and changed her entire attitude. A fake smile plastered on her face, she leant forward giving Roy ample view of her cleavage.
" Of course sir, may I take a name?" She batted some eyelashes. Roy smirked.
" Mustang."
" Right Mr Mustang, go right on in. Be quick though, he's about to begin." Blonde hair was swept over one shoulder and she leant on her elbow.
" Thank you."
Pushing through the doors behind the desk, he found himself in a large, cement floored room. White surfaces gleamed, knives shone menacingly beside scalples in silver trays and beakers sparkled in transparent glory. A medical door opened the other end of the room to reveal Russell in a spotless lab coat, pushing a trolley with an ominous sheet-covered lump on it.
" Roy! Thanks for coming." The trolley was pushed to the middle of the room, and Russell took two corners of the sheet with glove-covered hands.
" You're welcome, but I think your secretary has taken a bit too much of a shine to me." Roy grinned and Russell let out a sigh.
" Not another one."
" Yup."
" Can't be helped I suppose, God bestowed us all with odd gifts. Now, take a pair of disposable gloves and help me lift this one onto the table." Roy did as he was bid and took the two corners. Counting down, and heaving the mass of sheets and heavy lump up, they let it back down as gently as they could onto the table.
" Who is it this time?" Roy asked, pulling his gloves off with a 'twang!' of disposable elastic.
" A chinese girl, Ling Ye. Her wallet was still on her. Odd, it didn't seem like a random attack, planned I'd say. But if that was the case then the plan should have included keeping the victim's name unknown for as long as possible, right?"
" You're thinking too much Russell."
" I know, but it's always fun to think beyond forensics once in a while. I've got to get this done, so either play dress up or get behind the screen." (NOTE: I have NO idea what a forensics autopsy room is like. Nor do I know the procedures, so I just guessed, I mean you're not allowed to let anything contaminate the victim of a murder until the autopsy is done. I just assumed that would mean Roy had to don some ugly lab coat or go somewhere where he couldn't disrupt anything. I haven't a clue as to whether or not a room such as the one below exists either.)
Deciding the scientist look was never a good one, Roy opted to leave the autopsy chamber and go to the room next door. It was plain, boring, and only held a chair, but there was a window that let him watch Russell work and an intercom system that they could talk over.
" Age twenty-seven, female, 5'4 foot. Short, dark hair. Daughter of a middle class businessman, he works in the car business. No mother. She was a skater." Russell's voice came, tinny, through the speakers.
" A skater?" Roy asked.
" Yeah, danced on ice. The daughter did too, but I suppose her career's over now. Killed approximately 48 hours and 50 minutes ago. No clear motive at the scene, just a gun shot wound to her chest. She bled to death trying to find some help." Roy winced as the sheet was pulled back and a naked woman, blue in death with glassy eyes, lay cold on the silver table.
Ling Ye, Asian ice-dancing championships runner-up. And Roy's next case.
(A/N: I know in the last capter I put 'dollar bills', but...I know I'll forget and put pounds in somewhere, so if I do pretend you never read that. Thank you, you're such sweeties, this isn't actually set anywhere that exists anyway...--;. Oh, and Lui and Ez-chi would be me and a friend. I promised her that I'd give us minor, minor parts in this chapter after she said that being saved by Roy and Hughes as police officers would be a fun experience. (: )
I made up the name Ling Ye, and I hope you liked the chapter. YAY done. Be happy, and review!
