Coco: Sorry for all the typos. I was in a rush when I was proof reading. DX I promise to read it more carefully next time. I got this new job, and the hours kind are of weird since they don't know what shift to put me on. So I'll have less time to work on my stories, but I'll try not to let breaks between chapters to be too long.
Roy was sitting with Maes the next morning eating some breakfast when a voice was cleared. The two men turned their heads to see Alarice standing there.
"I'm sorry to disturb your meal." Alarice said. "I just wanted to thank you for yesterday. And apologize for any trouble I caused you."
Alarice dipped her head in an apologetic manner to Roy who set down the spoon he had bringing to his lips.
"I'm just glad you're alright, doctor." Roy said as Alarice lifted her head. "Though what you did was more than a bit dangerous."
Alarice scratched the head in an almost sheepish manner as her lips twitched up the barest amount.
"I seem to make it a bad habit to put myself in danger to help others." Alarice confessed then gave a sigh. "I can't seem to help myself. My body just acted when I saw that wounded soldier. He obviously couldn't help himself, so I hurried to help anyway I could."
Roy grinned partially when hearing her words before he stood to hold out his hand to her.
"I don't think we were properly introduced." He said. "I'm Major Roy Mustang."
Alarice reached out to shake Roy's hand with her smaller hand in a firm handshake.
"Dr. Alarice Rockbell. It's a pleasure to meet you, Major Mustang." Alarice said.
She then turned to offer her hand to Maes, and he grinned in a friendly manner as he shook her hand in turn.
"I'm Captain Maes Hughes, Dr. Rockbell." Maes said. "I've heard a lot about you. Mostly from Dr. Knox. Would you like to join us for breakfast?"
"Thank-you for the offer, Captain Hughes." Alarice said. "I would like too, but honestly I'm craving coffee more than actual food."
"One cup of bad coffee coming up!" Maes said as he stood. "Please, just have a seat and I'll be right back."
Alarice opened her mouth to tell him that he didn't have to go get her a cup of coffee, but he was already gone. She blinked at how fast he moved as Roy, who retook his seat, chuckled.
"Hughes will be back soon." Roy said. "You should probably sit down to rest while you can, right?"
Alarice sighed though had to agree with him. She was feeling exhausted from her lack of sleep last night, and felt like she was running on fumes. She sat down on the third unoccupied crate while rolling her shoulders.
"You look tired, doc." Roy said. "When's the last time you had a decent amount of sleep?"
"I could ask you the same thing." Alarice retorted.
"Fair enough." Roy said as he chuckled.
The two sat in a comfortable silence for a few seconds before Hughes returned with a hot cup of coffee.
"Thank-you, Captain." Alarice said as she took the cup from him.
"You're welcome, Dr. Rockbell." Maes said as he sat down beside her. "And you can call me Maes or just Hughes if you want."
"Maes, huh?" Alarice asked. "Well, if we're going to drop formalities then feel free to call me Alarice."
She then took a sip from her cup, and the horrible taste of cheap coffee touched her tongue. However, she was quite used to the taste, so she barely bat an eyelash at it. As the three were trying to feel some sort of normalcy by enjoying breakfast with company, Alarice felt a pair of eyes glaring a hole into the back of her head. She turned her head partially to see that colonel from yesterday was glaring right at her as he enjoyed "finer" food in the higher up's tent.
"He still seems upset." Maes said as he noticed the man glaring as well.
Roy frowned at the man to see he obviously was holding a grudge against Alarice. That could be a danger to her if he wanted to get back at her for humiliating him the other day in front of all those soldiers.
"I'm used to the higher ups hating me." Alarice said with an indifferent shrug as she looked away from the colonel. "And if I cared about how they felt about me, I never would have treated both Amestrian soldiers and Ishvalan people. I knew the moment I took my first Ishvalan patient that it would rub someone the wrong way."
She and Yuriy had even discussed it once. It was a weeks after they got here, and an officer had freaked out when seeing injured Ishvalans in the same medical tent as him. They knew if one foot soldier could react in such a way that the higher ups must really be hating them since they're treating the people they're trying to kill.
"Aren't you worried about how the high brass might react?" Roy asked. "Even if you are a civilian they might try to punish you."
"He has a point." A new voice cut in.
Alarice frowned then turned her head back around to see her "bodyguard" standing behind her. Roy and Maes both glared at the newcomer when seeing it was Kimblee.
"And there goes any hope of my morning being anywhere close to good." Alarice said then ignored Kimblee to look back at Roy. "And to answer your question: No, I'm not worried about how the high brass might react. I am a doctor, and I took an oath to save human lives and to never take a human life. If I completely ignored a fallen Ishvalan, and left him injured on the ground, it'd be like putting a bullet in his head with my own two hands."
Alarice moved her cup of coffee into one hand to look down at the other silently for a moment.
"I refuse to do such a thing with these hands." Alarice said. "I won't leave another human being to die if I can somehow prevent that from happening."
Roy looked closely at Alarice while remembering what Knox had said yesterday.
"…continue the work of a doctor, which is to heal people and also to protect them from death if in her power."
Alarice didn't fight like he, the other state alchemist, or the soldiers did. Her battle was against death itself in a manner of speaking, and she fought that battle whenever she's brought in a patient close to the very death she wishes to protect people from.
"And I respect you for sticking to your beliefs and your vows as a doctor, Dr. Rockbell." Kimblee said with a slight grin on his face that almost looked less than pleasant. "But…wasn't it one of your Ishvalan patients that slaughtered your brother and his wife?"
Alarice stiffened with her eyes widening when Yuriy and Sarah's deaths were brought up so bluntly. Roy and Maes glared at Kimblee as the man continued to grin.
"…Yes, he was…" Alarice said. "The man who killed Yuriy and Sarah was indeed Ishvalan."
And she would never forget his face for as long as she lived. Yes, it had at first been covered by blood, but in between treating him and bandaging him, she had gotten a clear view of his face. And she knew that after his wounds healed that he would have a scar shaped like an "x" on his face, which was caused by the explosion he had been in.
"And wasn't it you who brought him to the small medical base you and your brother set up?" Kimblee continued to ask as he leaned down to place his lips near her ear. "More specifically, you found the poor man injured, and as you said as a doctor, you could never leave a man for dead, so you dragged him all the way back to where you set up base. You treated him, and when he woke up, he attacked your brother and his wife to kill them right in front of you, isn't that what happened exactly?"
Alarice's body shook a bit as her hand clenched into a tight fist. She couldn't deny anything this man said. It was all true.
"That's enough, Kimblee!" Roy snapped as he stood up onto his feet with Maes beside him. "Leave her alone. Now."
Kimblee chuckled while standing up and leaning back away from Alarice, which had her relaxing her stiff composer a bit.
"I'm only pointing out the facts." Kimblee said innocently. "As I said, I respect Dr. Rockbell for sticking to her believes. However, one must wonder if her brother and his wife would still be alive if she had just left that Ishvalan to die on the battlefield. But I suppose lesson learned. I'm sure she won't make that mistake again."
Roy growled while ready to shut this guy right up, but just as he was stepping forward, Alarice reached out to grab his sleeve tightly. Roy and Maes looked down at Alarice as she kept her head bowed.
"Don't get yourself in trouble on my account." Alarice spoke with her voice surprisingly even. "Let the dog bark if he wishes."
Kimblee's brow quirked curiously while not seeming to care that Alarice insulted him. Alarice then stood up while turning to face Kimblee completely.
"There are a few things you have absolutely right." Alarice said. "However, when you said, I 'learned my lesson' and that I 'won't make the same mistake' again you're wrong."
Kimblee tilted his head curiously as Roy and Maes looked at Alarice with wide eyes.
"Wrong?" Kimblee asked. "Are you saying you'd still help a wounded Ishvalan after what happened? Don't you hate them for what happened to your brother and his wife?"
"Why should I hate an entire race for what one man had done?" Alarice asked. "That would be like hating all Amestrians for the sin that one soldier committed that got this whole war started in the first place. I will not pass blame onto the innocent, or hate them for what that man had done. Especially when I am trying not to hate that man to begin with."
She spoke in a clear and strong tone that showed how serious she was being as Kimblee lightly frowned. Roy and Maes couldn't believe what they were hearing. She didn't hate that Ishvalan for killing her brother and his wife?
"You're trying not to hate him?" Kimblee asked. "Why? He killed your brother and his wife. The parents of your niece who's an orphan now. And your mother lost a son because of that man."
"Yes, my family suffered a great lost when Yuriy and Sarah were killed." Alarice said. "And I can't deny that a part of me wants to hate and curse that man. In fact, I do hate him to some extent...but I am trying to look past my hate to think about how that man must have felt. That man…he had went through such a traumatic event. He was caught in a huge explosion…he lost his family in a single instant. When he woke up, he was in a place he didn't recognize with three doctors of Amestrian around him, and the last thing he remembers is being severely injured due to an explosion caused by an Amestrian. To his frazzled mind that was trying to cope with everything that happened…he was surrounded by the enemy, so he attacked."
Alarice knew it was common in patients that survived a traumatic event to react violent when first waking. That's why it's always good for a doctor to have a sedative at the ready. However, they had no more to calm the man, and they didn't realize how much he could move when that injured…or how strong he was.
"Anyone would have reacted the way he had even an Amestrian soldier if they thought they were in danger, or thought the people directly the cause of his pain was in front of him." Alarice continued. "In fact, a few days before I brought that Ishvalan in for treatment, an Amestrian soldier reacted violently when first awaking after treatment. He attacked me, and before he could be pried off of me, he left me with this."
She lifted her shirt partially to reveal a scar running along the left side of her torso. It seemed to start right under her chest before going all the way down to her hip. The scar was pretty jagged as well as if a broken bottle or some type of other jagged edge was used to cut her.
"And you know who got that man off of me?" Alarice said. "An Ishvalan man that my brother and sister-in-law had treated earlier that day."
She then lowered her shirt back down to put the scar out of view once more. Alarice smoothed down her shirt than stuck Kimblee with an even look.
"This might sound cold, but this is war, isn't it?" Alarice asked. "People are going to die whether it be people I know or complete strangers. All I can do is try to save as many as I can, and not hold grudges against those who sent them into my care in the first place or put them into graves. Yuriy, Sarah, and I all knew what we were getting into the moment we agreed to come here to help. And I know for a fact, that my brother would help me save that Ishvalan all over again even if he knew what the outcome would be because that's the type of man my brother was."
Roy and Maes looked at Alarice with a new found respect as she continued to stare at Kimblee without waver.
"Besides, I'd like to point out that it was your explosion that severely wounded that man to begin with, Crimson Alchemist." Alarice said. "And as you were killing his people with your explosions, you were supposed to have already arrived to give your protection to us. So if you truly think I should blame someone, maybe I should blame you."
It was silent for a moment as Kimblee narrowed his eyes at Alarice who stood her ground. The tense silence was broken when someone shouted that more wounded were coming in.
"And that is my cue to get to work." Alarice said with a sigh. "Thank-you, Maes, Major Mustang for the coffee and company."
She dipped their head to them then went to get back to work while having no parting words for Kimblee.
"That's one strong woman." Maes said.
"Yeah." Roy agreed.
He watched Alarice start barking out orders to soldiers on where to move the injured and for someone to get her tools ready for surgery.
"That woman needs to be careful." Kimblee said as he started walking away as well. "She already managed to escape death twice, but there's no guarantee fate will be so kind the next time if she continues to act so defiant."
Roy glared after Kimblee while wondering what he meant by that. One thing he knew for certain was that he needed to make sure that Alarice was careful around that man.
Alarice worked quickly and efficiently as she performed surgery on a man that had shrapnel lodged in his spine. If she isn't careful, she could kill him with one wrong move. That or she could leave this man paralyzed for life. She kept her sole focus on this man while ignoring the battling she could hear in the distance. She pulled out another piece of shrapnel to put into the small glass dish to her side that had alcohol in it. She went back to trying to get out all the rest, but digging into this man's body much more could be fatal.
"Dr. Rockbell, we have another critically injured!" A soldier shouted as he poked his head into the tent. "He'll need immediate surgery."
"Dammit." Alarice said. "I could really use Dr. Knox right now."
However, the high brass had called him back to perform pathologic work instead of help save the very soldiers they're sending out to battle.
"Can you give me the man's status?" She asked as she continued to work while trying not to rush.
"There's a large whole in his torso, and it is believed that several of his organs were damaged, ma'am." The soldier said. "He's barely hanging onto life, Doctor."
Alarice mentally cursed once more before knowing she couldn't continue trying to dig the shrapnel out of this man any longer. She might have to come back later to cut him back open, but for now he'd live.
"Bring that man in, and set him on the other table." Alarice ordered as she put down her tweezers and scalpel. "And have two people come and get this man to place him in the recovery tent."
She quickly went to sew this man up as the soldier nodded before rushing to do as she ordered. As soon as she finished sewing up the man, she quickly went to clean his blood off of her. Her next patient was already waiting for her, but she couldn't see to him until she disinfected herself again. If she didn't, she could pass some kind of disease to her newest patient. It didn't matter that she had gloves on when working since she couldn't take the chance. She walked over to her newest patient seeing it was some alchemist.
"This man is more than just half dead." She said to herself as she looked at the gaping hole in this man's torso.
Whatever wounded him really did a number on him. She checked the man over while noticing knowing she was going to have to cut him open even more to see the exact damage to his organs. She prepared to slice him open more when the entire ground shook as the sound of an explosion sounded way to close for comfort. Alarice was quick to grab onto her patient before the entire table toppled over with him on it. Once she shaking stopped, Alarice frowned having a feeling that Kimblee was the cause to that explosion.
"That man only cares for destruction." Alarice said. "And that very love for destruction will be his undoing someday."
Alarice then went back to work while wishing she had some kind of assistance, but she didn't have that kind of luxury. And she's become better at working on her own during the last week. She had to get used to working solo on surgery.
"Don't worry." Alarice said to the unconscious soldier. "I will make sure you live to at least see another day."
She opened his wound then checked to see what organs had been damaged. She hoped none were too damaged to the point that he couldn't be saved. Alarice worked as quickly as she could without being sloppy. She had to work fast since more injured were pouring in, but if she was sloppy in her work then she'd do more harm than good. She kept slowly focused on task while continuing to ignore the sounds of battle outside. Even as she was soaked in the blood of her patient she continued to work.
"Alright." She said once she finished patching him up the best she could. "Next patient."
And this continued for hours. She would patch up one man to the best of her ability before receiving a new one to treat. It took six whole hours before she finished with all the critically injured. She stepped out of the surgical tent with a tired look on her face and blood covering her white coat and the front of her clothes. She didn't even blink anymore at being covered in blood. It was something she's grown used to.
"Dr. Rockbell." Captain Denmark, who was one of the men assigned to look after her, said softly as he looked at the tired woman. "Perhaps you should rest now. Take this moment to take a nap."
"I can't just yet." Alarice said. "There are still so many people to look after. I have to treat the soldiers with even minor injuries because even the smallest of cuts can get infected and turn into something worse. Especially on a battle field like this where so much blood soaks the ground."
Denmark frowned since he could see the woman looked ready to fall over at any seconds. However, he didn't argue with her. He just followed her to the tent that housed the soldiers with minor injuries. As Alarice stepped in, she saw that some soldiers who weren't injured were giving first aid treatment. Well, that meant less work for her, but if they did a botch job, she'd just have to fix things later. She decided to leave them be though as she walked over to the soldier closest to her who happened to be a woman.
"Alright," Alarice said. "What seems to be the problem?"
The woman lifted her head with a dead look in her eyes, which is something else that Alarice has grown used to.
"An Ishvalan managed to sneak up behind me in my perch." The woman said. "Stabbed me in the back, but I managed to get him off of me."
"I see." Alarice said. "Would you be comfortable if I treated you here? Or would you prefer some privacy? I will have to at least partially remove your shirt to give treatment."
The woman didn't answer, but Alarice guessed the answer by the frown on her face. Alarice turned to Denmark.
"Captain Denmark, it seems these men can handle these minor injuries of the other soldiers." Alarice said. "I will treat this woman in the privacy of my tent. Afterwards I probably will take that nap you suggested."
Denmark smiled while glad to hear that Alarice would finally take that break like he suggested.
"I'll make sure to watch after them, ma'am." Denmark promised. "Make sure they don't mess up, so you don't have to waste your time fixing their mistakes later."
Some of the men, who heard his words, cried out "hey!" indignantly, which had Alarice chuckling in amusement. She then helped the injured woman off the cot to help her towards her tent. As they left the main medical tent, Alarice glanced at the woman she was helping.
"So what's your name?" Alarice asked.
"Riza Hawkeye, ma'am." She replied.
Alarice made a face at being called ma'am by a woman who had to be her own age, but said nothing. She didn't like being called ma'am by anyone, but she had grown used to the term along with many of the other things she's grown accustomed to since she came here to offer aid for the war.
"Well, Riza, my name is Alarice Rockbell." Alarice said. "You can call me Dr. Rockbell, or just Rockbell if you prefer. Or even Alarice. Whatever you're comfortable with."
Riza nodded her head as the two women made it to Alarice's tent. Alarice helped Riza inside then had the woman sit down on her bed.
"Don't worry about getting blood on it." Alarice said. "Just remove your shirt then lay stomach down on the bed, so I can get to your wound."
"Yes, ma'am." Riza said nodding.
She started removing her cloak first as Alarice went to get some of the supplies she'd need to disinfect and stich Riza's wound. Alarice always kept some medical supplies in her tent just in case while most of her medical equipment was kept in the surgical tent. When she turned around with her equipment, Riza was laying down like she asked. Alarice blinked when seeing the large tattoo on Riza's back.
"Are you an alchemist, Riza?" Alarice asked. "I only ask because this seems like some really complicated alchemic formulas on your back."
Riza stiffened with her eyes widening. She hadn't thought about the tattoo earlier. She was supposed to protect its secrets for her late father, but now everything was exposed to this doctor.
"Or at least it looks complicated to me." Alarice continued to say. "I'm not an alchemist, so I don't really know the difference between the basics to something complicated."
Riza relaxed when hearing that since she had been really worried there for a second.
"No, I'm not an alchemist, ma'am." Riza replied as she felt Alarice place disinfectant on her wound to prevent infection and to clean it. "I'm just a simple sniper. My father was an alchemist though. The tattoo on my back is his final work. It's all I have left of him now."
Alarice didn't have to ask if Riza's father was deceased. It was already evident by the somber tone in Riza's voice, and how she said the tattoo on his back that was his final work was all she had left from him.
"I see." Alarice said as she got the needle and thread ready. "So you never had no interest in following in his footsteps?"
Alarice didn't want to pry, but she wanted to keep Riza talking, so to distract her from the needle about to go into her back.
"None." Riza said. "Alchemy didn't interest me, and he already had a young man who was already interested in learning from him….Did you always want to follow in your parents' footsteps, Doctor?"
Alarice blinked not expecting Riza to ask her own questions, but honestly the young doctor didn't mind Riza asking.
"Yes." Alarice said. "For as long as I can remember I've wanted to be a good surgeon and an automail engineer. My mother had really made a name for herself as a very talented young automail surgeon, and my brother was very close to making himself a name by the time I could start to comprehend the medical books and automail engineering guides I was reading."
Alarice had been able to read since she was really young. She had actually got a head start on those her age, but just because she could read better than the other kids it didn't mean she could completely understand what she was reading. Like all those medical text might have well been written in another language since she hadn't understood them at first. Same thing for the automail engineering guides.
"Your brother was that far ahead of you?" Riza asked.
"Well, there is a bit gap between when Yuriy was born and when I was born." Alarice said. "Twelve years in fact, so he had quite the lead by the time I was even born. But I was stubborn and vowed to catch up to him, so I spent most of my childhood studying thick medical and automail engineering texts."
Alarice spent many days holed up in her room just reading and taking notes. She even used to quiz herself on the things she learned.
"Did your brother or mother help you learn?" Riza asked.
"Sometimes." Alarice said. "But my mother was always busy since she had a lot of work to do. My father died not long after I was born, so she had to take on more responsibility to take care of Yuriy and me. Then Yuriy was usually busy studying himself, and by the time I was starting to understand more and more of what I was trying to teach myself, he was heading off to the university."
Though Alarice did have help. An old friend of her mother's used to help her study, and he taught her many things with his vast knowledge. In a way, he had become like a father to Alarice since she did not know her own, and even if he acted distant that man did help Pinako look after Alarice.
"A close friend of my mother's helped me catch up to my brother at least in medical wise while my mother taught me about automail when she had the time." Alarice said allowed. "He'd tutor me every day for at least three hours or so until he left Resembool. I was sixteen…about to turn seventeen, and I barely got to tell him that I had received an early acceptance to the medical university that Yuriy had attended before he was gone."
Alarice owes a lot to Van Hohenheim. She could probably never fully repay him for what he's done for her.
"Do you know where he went?" Riza asked curiously while not even knowing that Alarice was almost finished stitching her up.
"No, I don't." Alarice said. "He said he had something very important to do, and that someday he will come back."
Alarice hoped it was soon since she knows that the longer he stays away that the more Edward grows to resent him. Edward and Alphonse need Hohenheim more than ever now, but there was still no sign of him. Alarice wonders if the man even knew about Trisha's passing.
"Well, Riza, you are all taken care of now." Alarice said as she cut the excess thread. "You can put your shirt back on now."
Riza blinked since she hadn't even realized Alarice put the needle in in the first place. She hadn't felt a thing. Alarice turned to put away her supplies as Riza pulled back on her shirt.
"Thank-you, Dr. Rockbell." Riza said as she stood up from the bed.
"I'm just doing my job." Alarice said as she turned to face Riza. "Maybe sure to get as much rest as you can before you're sent back out because there's no telling when any of us will get a break again."
"Right." Riza said.
Riza dipped her head in farewell then left Alarice's tent. Alarice gave a sigh while really feeling the need to sleep for the rest of eternity. However, she doubted she'd be getting rest for an hour at the most.
"Well, time to hit the sack while I can." She murmured to herself.
She climbed into the cot then laid back with her hands behind her head. She let out a soft breath as she closed her eyes. She didn't think it was possible, but she soon found herself falling into the darkness as her exhaustion took its toll.
Late that night Alarice let out a yawn as she exited her surgical tent. She had barely been asleep an hour before she was being woken by Denmark who said a large wave of wounded was coming in. She just finished with seven hours' worth of surgery.
"I thought bringing in the alchemists was supposed to lessen the amount of wounded." She said to herself then frowned.
Well, lessen the amount of injured for the Amestrian forces. The wounded and the dead piled up even more on the Ishvalans' side. And she hasn't been able to see to any of the injured Ishvalans. She wanted to help them, but she knew if she brought any of the Ishvalans to this camp to treat they'd only be killed since all soldiers were ordered to exterminate any Ishvalans in their sight.
"Even the innocent are being slaughtered." She said quietly. "Women and their children…the elderly and the sickly. Those who can't even protect themselves."
Her hands clenched into fists as a bit of anger welled up in her chest. She didn't understand the need to kill those who weren't a threat. As a doctor, it made her sick that there were so many people dying around her that she couldn't help.
"You look exhausted, Dr. Rockbell." An unpleasantly familiar voice said to her left.
She turned her head seeing Kimblee walking up to her. What did he want with her? She knew he was in charge of her safety, but she highly doubted she was in that much danger in the middle of this military camp filled with soldiers. Besides, Kimblee always worsened her mood.
"I suppose I am." Alarice replied. "But I'm not the one who spent the day fighting, so I bet you're more exhausted than I am. Why don't you go rest that way I don't have to deal with you?"
Kimblee chuckled at how bluntly she shows her distaste for him without batting an eyelash. He honestly found her amusing.
"Perhaps I'll get some sleep after escorting you to your tent." Kimblee said. "After all, I am meant to protect you."
Alarice narrowed her eyes at Kimblee with her gut churning almost as if it was warning her. She didn't trust this man to begin with. It didn't make sense to her for the military to send one of their strongest assets to guard three civilian doctors to begin with. Then when Kimblee and his man had arrived finally to the medical base Alarice had been in with Yuriy and Sarah, one of his men said something that even Alarice's despairing mind picked up.
-FLASHBACK-
Alarice sat off to the side with a soldier putting a blanket over her shoulders as Kimblee and one of his most trusted subordinate, whose name was Christopher Ragger, at his side. Not far from them was Yuriy and Sarah's bodies, which were covered up. Alarice stared blankly ahead not really caring about anything at the moment. However, as she sat there she picked up the conversation Kimblee and Captain Ragger was having.
"And what about the plan, sir?" Ragger spoke in a hushed tone to Kimblee. "Two out of three are already taken care of. Do we continued as planned?"
Alarice's eyes widened a bit as she turned her blue orbs onto the two men who didn't seem to notice they caught her attention.
"No." Kimblee said. "For now we'll leave her be. There's no reason to do anything since I'm sure she'd rather die than help any Ishvalans after this."
Alarice frowned wondering what exactly they were talking about. Her mind quickly leaned towards one theory, but she wasn't one to jump to conclusions even if what's leading towards the conclusion pretty much paves a road there.
-END OF FLASHBACK-
Alarice had already known that military officers high up on the chain of command would get angry with her, Yuriy, and Sarah for treating the wounded Ishvalans. She and Yuriy had once even said that the military might find a way to try and stop them. However, neither of them ever thought their own country's military would try to kill them.
But after hearing that little snippet of conversation, Alarice started to think she's way more expendable to the military than she's comfortable with. However, she wasn't going to start acting on her best behavior to appease those bastards in the high brass. To her that would be cowardly, and suddenly behaving and not doing her job as a doctor would also be an insult to Yuriy and Sarah.
"I don't need you to hold my hand and walk me around." Alarice said. "I'm fine on my own when you're out fighting, aren't I?"
Kimblee grinned know this woman didn't trust him as far as she could throw him, and she was wise not to.
"Yes, you are, but the fighting has gotten close to this area." Kimblee said. "Now we can't be too careful with your safety, so please allow me to escort you back to your tent. It would give me peace of mind to know you arrived safely."
Alarice frowned openly while ready to tell him to take a hike, but in a more crash manner. However, before she could a voice was cleared that had Alarice and Kimblee turning their heads to see Roy standing there.
"I'm sorry, Kimblee, but Alarice promised to have dinner with me." Roy said. "And I'd hate to miss out on her company after we made our plans."
Alarice blinked before grinning at Roy's impeccable timing. It looked as if he was helping her out another time. And while she doesn't like owing people, she'll worry about it later. Kimblee frowned this time as he narrowed his eyes at Roy.
"Don't worry." Roy said as he grinned. "I won't keep her out past her curfew…much. And I'll be sure to protect her to the best of my ability, so you can retire for the night."
Kimblee grit his teeth together, and before he could say anything, Alarice walked past him to stand beside Roy.
"You heard the man." Alarice said. "Later, Kimblee."
Roy smirked at the Crimson Alchemist just to piss him off, which he succeeded in doing before he walked away with Alarice. Once they were far enough away from Kimble, Alarice sighed while sticking her hands into her pockets.
"I guess that's another one I owe you." Alarice said. "I don't like owing people."
Roy chuckled while not all surprised to hear that. Alarice didn't seem like the type to like being indebted to anyone.
"You can repay me by letting me enjoy your lovely company at dinner." Roy said.
Alarice frowned at him and his flirtatious tone, and his grin grew a bit in amusement when seeing her annoyed look. She then looked away while groaning in annoyance.
"Great, I'm indebted to a womanizer." She said not so quietly. "Just my luck."
She continued her grumbling as she and Roy headed towards where dinner was being served. He continued to grin down at her while thinking she was providing a nice distraction from the hellish reality of this war.
"I'm sure I'll grow on you, Dr. Rockbell." Roy said.
"Like fungus on the side of a tree?" She asked. "I think I'll pass."
The two continued their banter, but Roy did glance back at one of the buildings surrounding the camp to look at the sniper posted there. From the sniper's positioning, he could easily see Alarice's tent, which meant he would have a clean shot if he fired at her. It seemed as if Alarice really did piss off a lot of people in the high brass.
He'd have to stay on his guard to look after her whenever he could until the end of this war. He looked back to Alarice while mentally swearing to protect with all his power. If he couldn't protect one woman then he had no right saying he would someday protect the entire country by becoming Führer.