Notes: So you know how I said this update would take longer than normal? I guess I lied, but when inspiration hits, you just have to roll with it. I really happy with how this turned out because this part didn't focus on Al until Scar was about to kill Ed. Then it almost ignored him until after Scar left. Hope you like it!
Brother was upset. I was upset too, but when he didn't bounce up and promise to get my body back when I mentioned it I could tell soothing more was going on. I didn't press him, though. He would tell me when he was ready. Still, I needed a distraction from my gloomy thoughts that played out what had happened in Mr. Tucker's basement over and over in my head.
Did it hurt Nina when she was fussed with Alexander? Was it like how it felt when I was pulled into our human transmutation circle? Could she have saved if we had had the Stone then?
A distraction presented itself in the form of a tall man that came walking towards us. Something was off about him and I couldn't decide if it was his x-shaped scar or the tiny sunglasses he wore in the rain. He strode confidently over towards us and stood diagonally to brother, farther away from me. I couldn't blame him, I was probably intimidating even for a guy with his air of confidence and powerful build.
"You boy, you're the Fullmetal Alchemist, Edward Elric, correct," He asked in a deep, harsh sounding voice. Brother looked up and I could tell he wasn't living in the moment right then. The man raised this hand and flexed. Alarm bells seemed to course through my soul.
"Brother," I warned, reaching for his shoulders to pull him out of the man's reach. Thankfully I got there before our attacker's hand struck Ed's head. I heard brother clap while still in flight and when he landed, he placed his hands on the ground causing a wall to shoot up and surround the man.
"What the hell is going on here," Brother called out, shortly before the wall he had created crumbled. I was almost frozen to the spot, I had no idea what to do. It was like my mind shut down in sheer shock. My vision could tunnel and my ears would ring if I had a real form, but as it was, everything was in slow motion as the man raise his and flexed again, getting ready to grab brother's head.
Why go for the head, though? And why does he seem only interested in Ed?
"Let's go, Al! Run for it," Brother shouted, got up and ran for the stairs. My mind was still in panic mode, but I trusted Edward's judgment so I ran too. The movement when unfelt, but it seemed to speed time back up to its regular pace. I followed Brother down the stairs, but our pursuer destroyed the wall above and jumps to the landing below blocking our path.
Maybe we should turn around and go down the other stairs…
"Oh no, you don't," the man hissed and flexed his right arm again. Blue sparks danced through the air as the ground under our feet turned to road mix. I started to fall but caught the edge at the last instant. Ed's lighter weight made him fall slower and I was able to grab his ankle as he passed.
"Got you," I cheered.
Ha! Good try Mr. Sunglasses, but no falling to death today!
I might have thought that a bit too soon…
I watch as the stranger placed his hand on the wall and the step I was clinging to crumbled beneath my glove. We finished our fall to the steps below. I landed with a solid clang right behind Brother.
Phew! Thank goodness, I didn't fall on you.
The man was making his way towards us again. He moved slowly like he didn't think we were going anywhere.
"Al, grab on," called Ed. Of course, he had a plan. Brother always had a plan. I grabbed the earth as it shot out in the like a lopsided pillar.
Just maybe not a good plan.
The man destroyed it easily. We rode the ever-crumbling spike until we had to bail. I landed pretty gracefully for a suit of armor. Brother did an undignified tumble, and for a moment I thought he had hurt himself. But he rose unfazed and we continued running.
"Damn it what the hell is this guy's problem! Making enemies isn't something that I- "
Yes, it is.
"Well, I never really avoided it. But there is no reason someone should be trying to kill me!"
This was true. Brother was rash and got into trouble a lot, but none of our former enemies had any reason to be coming after us now. And I didn't remember ever meeting anyone like this scarred man before.
I followed Brother blindly through the streets. Finally, we darted down an alley. Blue lightning traveled the walls and destroyed part of the buildings ahead of us, causing a rock fall. Fortunately, none of the big or sharp pieces hit brother. I had been busy looking over Brother for injuries that I didn't notice the long shadow at the other end of the alley until Ed spoke.
"Who are you, anyway? Why are you after us?!"
"As long as there are creators like you in the world then there must also be destroyers," the man declared.
What? What sort of answer is that?
"Ugh, looks like we're going to have to fight," growled Ed, clapping his hands, the transmuted a knife out of a piece of pipe on the ground. I stood and braced myself mentally for combat, looking for the best way to strike.
"Gutsy one, aren't you," grinned the man sinisterly. We charged him, brother in the lead and I following. "But..."
But? But what?
"Too slow," I heard him say as he dodged our attacks with frightening ease. As he passed he placed a hand on my side and half of my armored shell exploded. The vibration of the alchemic explosion and the surprise of it had me on the ground.
I…I can't get up!
"Al," Brother called, voice going high.
I was acutely aware of the man staring down at my ruined body. It was odd that while I didn't have a body, his harsh gaze made me want to shrivel up. It was like getting caught without your pants on. I felt embarrassed and imposed on.
Look away. Please stop staring. Please, it's not like I want to be like this.
I didn't feel this way when brother was with me, I was comfortable with him because he always knew I was like this and treated me the same. I didn't even feel this embarrassed when Rose had seen my helmet knocked off. Even though she was afraid, she was kind and wouldn't treat me different. But with this man, who viewed alchemy in such ill light, I could only think that he saw me as a monster, a science project, or a circus anomaly, not as a living thing. He was looking at me like I was inhuman.
Please, stop. I am human, I am!
"You bastard," screamed Ed, calling the man's gaze from me. I was both relieved and suddenly frightened. Relieved that his staring had stopped, but frightened for my brother, who now had all his attention and was fighting alone.
"You're too slow," the man stated again.
I heard a metallic ring and pushed myself up to get a better view. Brother was taking off his red coat, his knife missing.
"Damn it," brother growled as he cast it aside, clapped his hands, and started to form the now familiar blade.
"An automail arm," the man mused, moving towards Brother. "That explains why my attacks didn't do the damage I expected. Most unusual."
He must only be after brother, or else he would have killed me by now. He needs to run, not fight!
"Brother, don't! Just run away," I called out.
"You idiot! I'm not going to leave you behind, Al," He called back.
"You press your hands together to form a ring and then you perform transmutations," The man thought out loud. "Now I see."
Brother rushed at Mr. Sunglasses again. He grabbed the mechanical arm and held it in such a way that Ed couldn't bend it.
"Then I will have to start by destroying this right arm of yours," Our attacker said before blue flashes shot over Ed's arm and shattered it. Time slowed down, even more so than before. Brother's face held a surprised and mildly frightened look. I didn't need a body to feel chilled to the core.
"Brother!"
Somehow, he was still in a sitting position, eyes locked on the man who had practically ripped us to shreds.
"Now you will not be able to use your heretics alchemy," announced the man grimly. He started to move towards Brother. He tried to back away from this mad man, but without his right arm, he collapsed onto the street. He didn't move to get up again.
No. No this can't be happening.
"I will give you a moment to pray to God," coming to stand over Ed.
He has to move!
"Brother, run away! Brother," I called, my voice ringing with emotion.
"Unfortunately, there isn't any god I'd like to pray to," Ed replied, his voice sickeningly light.
What are you thinking!? Are you trying to get killed faster!
"Am I the only one you're trying to kill today or are you going after my brother, Al, too."
Wait, what? Where are you going with this?
"If he interferes I will eliminate him. But Fullmetal Alchemist, you are the only one receiving judgment today. You alone," the man replied.
"Okay. Then I want your word. Promise me you won't hurt my brother!"
No. Oh god, no! You idiot, don't! Please!
"Brother…" I breathed pure terror allowing my soul to feel ice again.
"I will keep that promise," the bleached haired man promised.
No. No. No. No. No! I can't lose you, Ed!
"Brother, what are you trying to do," I asked the rhetorical question in hope it would do something to make him man started to bend over my brothers perfectly still body. It almost looked like Ed was asleep. "What are you thinking, Run!"
We can still both get out of this! Please, you can't choose this path!
"Get up and run!"
You can't choose to die! You still have so much you can do! So much you promised! I'm not sure I can forgive you if you forsake that now!
The man's hand was closed brother's head now, but my vision was blocked by my poor angle. Edward was clearly not going to listen to me, so I switched tactics.
"Stop. Don't touch him. No, no you can't!" I hadn't been able to see for a frighteningly long time. If the hand wasn't on my brother's head, then it would be so. One touch and he would be gone. One solid hold and I'd be alone. Despite my want to deny that this was happening, my sight kept checking for a red puddle oozing from my brother and onto the cobblestone.
I-It won't be long now, any second and everything won't matter.
"Brother!"
A gun shot cut over my screams. However, the sound didn't quite make sense to me at the moment and my mind froze, staring at the ground for the telling red river.
Brother…You promised… how could you…
"That's enough," came a voice that sounded like it was about to lose its cool in a much more dangerous manner than I'd ever seen.
Coronal! Oh, thank god!
Relief course through me like a warm spring breeze. The man stood straighter, clean palms by his sides.
Clean. No blood. Brother is still alive!
"You won't be killing anyone else today Scar. I'm taking you into custody where you will answer for the murders of at least ten state alchemists."
So, he targets State Alchemist. That's why he was after Brother. And he's a skilled killer, that's why he beat us so easily.
"Alchemist alter things from their natural forms perverting them into something else, something grecques. They profane God, the true creator of all things, claiming they have a better design. If you interfere I will eliminate you as well," Scar warned.
"Oh, is that right," said Roy Mustang with a cocky tone. "You guy's stay out of this."
"Coronal Mustang, sir," called what sounded like Lt. Hawkeye.
"Coronal Mustang? So, this is the Flame Alchemist," Scar said, stepping over Brother, who was still motionless at his feet. "Volunteering yourself to receive judgment, this is truly and auspicious day!"
"So you know who I am, and you still want to challenge me. Bad decision."
I could no longer see Scar, and I most of the following battle was out of my line of vision, but that didn't matter.
Brother is alive! The idiot.
While I was extremely pleased and thankful that my brother had survived, I was also furious with him.
How dare he! Is he completely insane, or does he have a death with?
While the battle ensued, dodging in and out of my sight, I brooded in the alley, trying to think of what to say to make sure Ed never tried this sort of thing again.
Notes: About as long as the last one, yay! Depending on reviews for this chapter I might do one of my specials next. Or I might just move on. Let me know what you think! :)