Chapter Two: Sickening

IIIII

Molesters do not wear an ugly mask. They wear a shield of trust – Patty Rase Hopson

IIIII

Edward tossed and turned in bed that night. Numerous things were going through his head, most of them concerning Alphonse and how he was coping with this. How was he going to get his brother to admit to what Mustang had done? There seemed to be a sick bond between Al and Mustang that Edward didn't understand. Was this per usual for those who were abused? Edward didn't think it was. Most victims he had heard of hated their abusers and wanted to turn them in but didn't out of fright. It appeared, in this case, that Al genuinely cared for Mustang and didn't want to see his 'friend' turned in. His 'friend Mr. Mustang' would never hurt him, he had said. Did he even realize the inappropriateness of what was going on?

Maybe Ed would have to educate him on that. Show him what the difference is between good touch and bad touch. Then, perhaps, Al would grasp the concept that Mustang had crossed the line a long time ago.

How long the abuse has gone on is another question Edward wanted an answer to. If it has gotten to the point where Al has associated abuse with compassion it must have started soon after Al got his body back. Edward remembers all of the times he's left Al in Roy's care, thinking nothing of it, and it makes Ed's blood boil. If Al was abused even half of the times he left him with Roy it was many, many times. Mustang would even call out of the blue and say he had a day off, so he would take Al off of Ed's hands and take him to the park or something equally nice.

All lies. Every word of it.

Then there was the fact that he still worked under Mustang. There was no question to it; he was quitting, and then he was going to find out a way to put that man in jail for a very, very long time. He would eventually get the truth out of Alphonse. It was only a matter of time before the poor child buckled underneath the pressure.

"Brother?"

Edward propped himself up on his elbows and saw Alphonse standing in his doorway, an unsure look in his grey eyes. Light from the hallway poured in shadowing half of his face, but from the red rim around the eye Ed could see made it look like he'd been crying again.

"What are you crying about, Al?" sensitively asked Ed.

"Ummm . . ." He bit his lower lip in thought. "Can I sleep with you tonight?"

"Another nightmare?"

Al nodded. "I just can't shake this one off . . . "

"Come on, then." Edward lifted up the sheets allowing his younger brother access. "You know my bed always has an open spot for you."

Al smiled slightly and climbed in. He cuddled up against his brother, feeling much safer that way. He knows his brother would protect him from the bad men in his dreams if they were to ever come alive.

"Can you tell me what this one was about?" inquired Edward sensitively.

Al buried his face into the extra pillow for comfort. The last thing he wanted to do was discuss the nightmare. It would make it all too real. He shook his head and muttered, "I'm still scared."

"You're safe here, Al. You can tell me anything," reminded Ed, using a soothing tone to relax his brother.

"I know I can," shyly acknowledged Alphonse, "but I'm still scared. I don't . . . I keep having nightmares and I don't want to bother you with them."

"Bother me? You think you're bothering me?" Edward let out a humorless chuckle. "You could never bother me Al! You know that, don't you?"

"Sometimes . . . " Al stopped himself. "I really don't bother you?"

"Of course not!" scoffed the elder Elric. He put a comforting hand on Al's shoulder and with a gentle smile he added, "If anything I'm the one always bothering you. 'Hey Al, can you do this for me?', 'Hey Al, can you fix this for me?'"

"Yeah right," snickered Al. "I don't fix anything for you, brother. You're the one who always fixes things."

Edward smiled outwardly and laughed, but inside he couldn't have been more torn up.

But apparently I can't fix you, thought Edward. Not yet, anyway. Not until you let me.

"Do you think we can go out and do something fun tomorrow? After you're done working, that is?" asked Al excitedly. "I really want to go to the park and feed the birds."

"Sure thing." He ruffled his little brother's hair. "And . . . I guess you should know this. I'm going to be out of work for a while."

"Why, brother?" curiousity rang in Al's voice.

"Well I'm certainly not going to work underneath that--that--" Words couldn't describe how angered Edward felt. His hands fell to his sides and balled up into fists. "I refuse to work with that bastard. So I'm quitting the military and I'm going to find a different job. We might have to go without some things for a little while, like eating out every week or our many trips to see Winry, but we'll get by."

"Yeah, we'll get by. I know we will brother," said Al. And him saying that only made it all the more true.

"Now lets get some sleep." Edward laid back down, his back towards Al.

"'Kay. Brother?" Alphonse couldn't help it, he had to face his brother, just for confirmation that there was someone here to protect him.

"Yeah?"

"Is . . . is it my fault that you're quitting?"

"Never think that it's your fault, Al. Never," said Edward severely. "Now let's get to sleep. I don't know about you but I don't have the energy of a certain twelve year old I happen to know."

Alphonse fell to sleep with a smile on his face.

IIIII

Edward wasn't sure what he was to expect the next day at the military building. Was Mustang going to completely ignore what happened yesterday, or was he going to provoke Ed into doing something he shouldn't? He knew he was this close to snapping and if there was a window of opportunity for him for him to snatch the bastard by his hair and make him eat the ground, then yes, he would definitely do that.

There was one thing Ed was sure of; he wasn't going to let Al out of his sight for quite some time. So he took him along for the ride. They got into Edward's vehicle and drove in silence on their way to Ed's workplace.

It wasn't until they reached the building that Edward said, "I want you to stay with Havoc until I'm done talking to Mustang. You're by no means to go anywhere near Mustang, understand?"

"Yes, brother," flatly agreed Al.

"We'll go the park after this. I promise." This put a smile on Alphonse's face, so naturally he smiled too.

The two Elrics walked into the compound. Edward nodded at some of the personel he passed, a fair amount of them whispering. He knew that part of the story must have gotten around by now. Hopefully some of these guys would give Mustang hell for what he's done to Al, since Al is so loved by many who work with him.

Usually the younger brother was gabbing away about something but this day he was as quiet as a mouse. Timid, too. He practically hid behind his brother. Al seemed all too aware of what was going on; that people were talking about him, and what happened the other day.

"Brother, they're talking about us, aren't they?" whispered Al.

"Just ignore them. Ignorant gossipers are what they are," replied Edward calmly.

Edward had come in around noon so he knew where Havoc would be; in the cafeteria, stuffing his face, maybe trying to hit on a few girls without great success. Although the man could be sufficiently annoying at times he could look after Al for atleast a half an hour without much ruckus. He would have Hawkeye do it but . . .

"Ed, I need to talk to you for a moment," said Hawkeye. Something in her tone added 'alone'.

"Why don't you go inside Al?" suggested Ed. Al nodded, taking his leave and going towards their home.

"I'm taking tomorrow off," said Hawkeye as Ed exited the car, going over to the drivers side window.

Edward blinked in confusion. "What's going on tomorrow that you have to leave?"

"I have some off days stocked up and I'm going to use one of them. Today really disturbed me and I don't trust myself around the General right now. I need some time to mull things over."

Edward nodded. "I understand. I'm . . . really sorry you saw what you saw."

"I don't think I am," bravely she confessed.

"What? Why?"

"Because if I didn't witness the abuse, the silence would have gone on. And that's something I'm not willing to let happen."

Before Edward could head into his house Riza added, "And I know what you're thinking Ed. You're going to quit."

"I--"

"I don't blame you one bit. You go ahead and do that. It's for the best." She kindly smiled at him. "I would quit too but I have nothing to fall back on. And besides, if I'm close to the General, I can still keep an eye on him."

So he was left with Havoc, which wasn't a bad choice, but he wasn't Ed's first choice neither.

"Hey Major Havoc!" called out Edward, waving his hand high above his head in the crowd. Three tables down from him a man with darkish blonde hair with a tuft of light blonde in the front looked up from the card game he was currently playing. He waved them over with a goofy grin on his face.

"Could you look after Al for me for about a half an hour or so?"

"Sure thing, chief," muttered Havoc through his cigarette. "Have a sit down kid. Maybe you'll be my good luck charm and I'll win this round."

"Okay!" chirped Al, sitting down next to the Major.

Satisfied that Alphonse was safe for now, Edward said his goodbyes and took off towards the office where Mustang was.

IIIII

"What do you mean he's gone?" growled Edward.

Breda put his hands up in surrender. "I don't know where he went, Ed, all I know is that he said he would be right back."

Edward took a seat at the couch, crossing his arms and legs, a brooding look about him. He didn't appear to be in the mood for light chatter but this didn't stop Breda or Fuery from asking their questions or making statements.

"So, Ed, um . . . I heard some pretty nasty things went down yesterday," said Breda in what he hoped came across as a nonchalant voice.

"Yeah. Can you comfirm what we heard or . . . ?" Fuery seemed reluctant to talk about it but a morbid sense of curiosity kept him going.

"It depends on what you heard," said Ed, more than a little vexed.

"That General Mustang was almost arrested because he hurt Al," Breda said.

"Yeah," verified Ed. "That monster got away with hurting Al. That's all there is to know."

"But what happened?" Breda inquired. "But why would the General hurt Al? I've worked with that man for years and he wouldn't hurt children, he loves them."

"That's exactly my point!" Ed was losing his cool at this point. "He's a fucking pedophile and no one's realized it until now. My little brother is probably just one of his many victims. I came in here today to quit so you'll never see me again, and it's all thanks to him. I won't be able to work around someone who does that to children. If you have any guts you'll quit working underneath him too."

"We don't know if it's true though. I mean, maybe it's a misunderstanding," Fuery said, clinging to the last shred of hope he had. He didn't want to see Mustang in that light.

"Hawkeye herself caught him in the act. Why would she lie about something like this?"

"Like I said maybe it's all a misunderstanding--"

"There's no way it is, Fuery! I trust Hawkeye, and if she says she saw Mustang abusing Al, then Mustang abused Al," aruged the blonde with fevor. "If you guys want to believe Mustang is innocent, go ahead, let him fool you with his act. But I'm going to put him in jail for what he's done, no matter how long it takes."

"If he really did what you said he did then why wasn't he arrested?" disputed Breda.

"Because Al refuses to turn him in. Don't ask me why because I don't know. I'm still trying to figure that part out," said Ed derisively.

"Maybe he's too scared," Fuery proposed.

"That or Mustang has talked him out of telling. Al can be gullible, he'll believe what adults tell him simply because they're adults," said Ed, tapping his chin in thought.

"So where is Al? I would think he would be glued to your side," said Fuery.

"I left him with Havoc in the cafeteria."

"If this really happened--" Breda started, but Edward interrupted angrily.

"Would you stop doubting it? Everything I told you is true! Al's gone through hell and you can't even summon up the decency to ask if he's okay!" shouted Edward, shooting up from the couch, enraged at these two 'friends' of his.

"Calm down Ed, geesh. I didn't mean for it to sound like that. I'm sorry you took it that way. What I was going to say was that I hope Al will come through this all right. He's a good kid, he doesn't deserve any of that. No kid does, really, but for it to happen to Al . . . " Breda shook his head in utter disappointment. "I'm sorry, Ed."

"Me too," added Fuery. "But you have to understand that it's hard for us to comprehend that the General did something that horrible. We've worked with him for a long time and we thought we knew him."

Edward plopped back down on the couch apparently satisfied with their reactions. "Yeah, yeah."

The conversation died down after that. Fuery and Breda went to their paperwork and Edward sat there waiting for Mustang. It was taking much longer than he originaly anticipated. If there was one thing Edward hated it was waiting. It required sitting in one spot for a long period of time, which he can't stand. He needed to be up and moving. Besides, he reached the half an hour mark about fifteen minutes ago. Plus he promised Al he would take him to the park and he knows how anxious his little brother gets when he's promised something and doesn't get to do it until later in the day.

Edward contemplated skipping working and calling in to quit, but he had to return his State-issued pocket watch. He wanted to confront Mustang too, without the police standing in his way. He wanted an excuse to punch the guy in the mouth or kick him in the family jewels. In truth Ed was looking for trouble and he was likely to find it. He wished he could get just ten minutes alone with Mustang. Only ten minutes, that's all he asks! And without those gloves because that would make beating his ass all the more easier. Then again, ten minutes of physical pain wouldn't be enough. He needed to realize the impact he's had on Al. If only he could experience the nightmares himself, sustain the the same psychological damage Alphonse has that only a sexual abuse victim can suffer. Of course there's no way he could inflict this pain so that idea flew out the window.

Falman came into the office with a half-eaten sandwhich in hand. He chewed absent-mindedly and when he saw Ed he said, "Hello Ed."

"Hi Falman. Do you know where I could find Mustang?"

"Oh I just talked to him and Al," he said. "They were out in the court yard."

"What? And you didn't separate them?"

"What? What's wrong?" Falman was taken aback by Edward's severe tone.

"There are some people who haven't heard it yet, Ed," Fuery spoke up.

"Heard what? What am I missing?"

Edward swore underneath his breath and ran out of the room. He was then face to face with Havoc, who was just lighting up a cigarette.

"You idiot!" snapped Ed, grabbing Havoc by the front of his shirt. "Didn't I say for you to watch over him? That meant protect him too! How'd he get near that bastard?"

"Mustang, chief? I left him with him because I had some work to do. He was fine with it--"

"Of course he was fine with it! He's a child molester!"

"W-What?" Havoc nervously laughed. "You've got to be kidding me."

"If you haven't heard the news already he was almost arrested for molesting my brother!" shouted Edward, not caring if it echoed down the hallway, or if the Fuhrer himself heard his cries.

Then, without waiting for a reply, he dashed off towards the court yard. It was a public area for the officers to relax but most of the men and women in the military would be going back to work by now and it would be vacant; the perfect place to corner a child and scare him some more.

It was sickening, this obsession Roy had for Al. Edward had looked back on all the times Roy had visited them, Al specifically since he had no next to no interest in Ed, all of the times he made special days just for him, intentionally leaving Edward out of it. It was like Roy was an infatuated teenager. He couldn't leave his crush alone even if it meant the wrath of the older brother. And oh no, Edward wasn't going to let him get away with this. Especially if he caught Mustang hurting Al again.

I'll be damned before I let that happen again, thought Edward.

He reached the court yard muttering, "Where are they? Where are they?" desperately. He scoured the land for them and at the far corner, almost wholy concealed by a pillar, were the figures of an older man and a young boy.

Edward raced towards them and skidded to a stop when he got a foot away. The scene before him was this; Roy was towering and leaning over Alphonse, his arm propped up against the wall, their bodies very close. Al was looking up at Roy with a heavy amount of apprehension and timidity. He was scrunched up, his arms hugging his body as though trying to protect himself, or make himself smaller so the predator wouldn't take notice of the prey.

"Step away from Al. Now," Edward said in a dangerously low tone. His hands balled up into fists and he took a step forward, ready to pounce on Mustang if he made even the slightest move towards his brother.

"I'm not hurting him. See? Completely unharmed," said Mustang, standing up fully. "We were just having a little chat. There's no wrong doing in that now is there?"

"Chatting my ass! You probably have worse things on your mind right now, you pervert!" Edward shifted his focus towards Al. "Didn't I tell you not to go near him?!"

"Sorry brother," said Al ashamedly. "But Mr. Havoc said to go with Mr. Mustang and I didn't want to be rude--"

"That's right Al. You didn't want to be rude, like your brother here."

"I'm not rude, I just hate your guts!"

"I'm not particularly fond of you either, Fullmetal. Atleast not anymore."

"Well I'm not twelve years old anymore now am I? I can fight back too if you were to try anything, which I'm sure you would hate," Ed shot back. "You're a damn coward. Cornering kids. Are you proud of what you are?"

"I don't have any clue what you're talking about."

Edward shot forward in an attempt to strike Mustang, but Alphonse stepped forward first and blocked his path. "Brother, no!"

"Al get out of the way!"

"I said no!" said Al thickly. "No fighting! Let's just go to the park like you promised, okay? Please?"

"Al you're protecting someone who seriously hurt you," Edward tried to persuade him into clear thinking. "Do you want him to get away with it unhurt?"

"We only fight when it's in self-defense, remember?" reminded Al. "Please don't make a scene, brother, it'll only make things worse."

"Listen to him," advised Mustang, "he's much more mature than you."

Al opened his mouth for a rebuttal but snapped it shut. Edward wondered what he was going to say, but found it unlikely that he would talk back to his abuser, even if it meant not sticking up for his brother.

"You know what? You're not even worth it," Edward said, spitting at Mustang's feet. He took out his pocket watch and threw it on the ground adding, "Oh, and by the way, I quit."

"Your reason for doing so?" Roy quirked a brow as though merely amused by Ed's actions.

"Because you're a prick, that's why. Put that in your paperwork and see what the reaction is. And I've spread the word that you're a child molester, Mustang, so if you get your ass beat it's all thanks to me."

This seemed to strike a cord with the previously unflappable man. He sneered, "You little--"

"Ah, ah. Don't make a scene. It'll only make things worse, isn't that right Al?" Edward grabbed his younger brother by his shoulder and said, "Let's get going. I'm already tired of this idiot."

"Remember what we talked about Alphonse," said Mustang with a sweet tone in his voice. It was as if he were trying to provoke Edward into another attack.

"Let's go to the park and forget about all of this nonsense," said Edward.

This time, Al didn't smile.

IIIII

I hope this is up to par. At the very least, it's not the worst I've ever written. Also sorry about the shortness, I wanted to get this up before the weekend.

REVIEWS? They would be nice. Don't be TOO harsh. -hides-