Roy carefully opened the door, gloved hand ready to attack, he found the hideout. Edward was in the basement below. He slowly crept through each room, searching for a ladder or staircase down to rescue his love. The house itself was empty, he came at the right time as much as he wanted to badly injure the people responsible for putting him and Ed in this situation. It ,at least, lessened the collateral damage and the chance of someone hearing something and coming to investigate.
He found it, the trap door to the basement. Quickly lifting it out of his way he proceeded down the creaking wooden steps into a dimly lit corridor. His eyes took a time to adjust before he continued into a more open planned room. There tied against one of the central pillars was Winry Rockbell, he rushed over to her, releasing the restraints.
"Winry, where's Ed?"
Her gaunt eyes looked to him "You shouldn't have come.. we're done for..." She looked over to the corner.
Roy followed suit to see a just conscious Ed being held up by some scum bag with a knife to his throat. Mustang fully turned towards the perpetrator, his fingers ready to snap at a moments notice. "Let him go and I'll let you live.."
The man laughed hysterically. "We told you! If you did anything they'd be killed! And it's time to get the party started!"
Roy quickly raised his hand to attack to reveal pink skin, he stared at his digits shaking, there was no ignition glove. He looked back to the crazed lunatic holding Ed hostage as the blonde's neck was sliced in a matter of seconds. The man smirked as he laughed harder before throwing the dying body at Roy before making his escape.
Roy caught him and instantly knelt with the dying man in his arms.
"I TOLD YOU! YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE COME! NOW LOOK WHAT YOU'VE DONE!" Winry shrieked with terror as she saw her ex husband bleeding profusely from the wound across his neck.
Tears fell down Roy's cheeks as he applied pressure to the wound in vain to try and stem the bleeding. Ed's eyes were wide, looking deep into the Flame Alchemists. He tried to speak but all that came out was a gargling sound. The blonde shivered as his entire body went into shock before coming to a halt. Roy watched helplessly as his younger love's life ended, the golden orbs were still looking at him, but lifeless.
"Ed?" He tried to shake him dearly hoping that the blonde had just fallen asleep. He didn't want to believe even when he looked to his blood covered hand to their clothing.
"ED!"
Roy suddenly jerked up from his bed, panting heavily and drenched in sweat. One of many dreams that haunted his mind every time he closed his eyes. Ever since he found out what had happened to the younger man his sleep has been filled with nightmares. Always the same, scenarios that would show Roy rescuing him, only to find the blonde dead by means of starvation, hanging, execution or explosion. It left him screaming awake, covered in sweat and tears, the images haunted him to his core. He sat up slowly wiping his eyes of any remaining unreleased tears before letting them drift round the bedroom. Everything felt so empty without Fullmetal. He loved him, no one had ever made him feel the way Edward has done, he just hoped he'd be able to let him know that... the sooner the better. He laid back down holding Ed's pillow close, he couldn't close his eyes again, he was afraid his mind would think of another cruel way to kill the man he had fallen deeply for.
xXx
Hours had passed before he hesitantly dragged himself out of bed and into the kitchen. He didn't even know why he was in there. He wasn't hungry, yet he still checked the cupboards. He looked to the clock, the temptation to skip work was strong, but staying in an empty house full of Ed's belongings wasn't going to help him, he wouldn't be able to work with the blonde deep in every thought. He left the kitchen to the hallway looking at the reflection of the person staring back at him. His eyes were red from the tears produced by his own nightmares, dark bags under them to show his lack of sleep. He couldn't face work looking like this, questions would be raised left, right and center. Turning round to go back upstairs he placed a foot on the first step when he, out of the corner of his eye, noticed a white envelope attached to the inside of his front door. He stared at the item before making his way to it, ripping it off where it was attached to the woodwork by a small clothing pin. Scanning the front and back there was no indication where or who it was from and whom it was addressed to. He carefully ripped along the flap with his thumb before pulling out a small peice of paper.
Care for a drink?
The handwriting was exactly the same as the note signaling that Ed and Winry had been captured. He looked back to the clock before looking back to the paper in his hand. It may be eleven o'clock in the morning, but he'd stay at that bar all day if he had to, any means to get Ed back home. Scrunching the paper in his hand he tossed it to the side, grabbing his coat and a flat cap off the rack he set off on the long walk, hoping it'll clear his head better then a short drive. If or when he did meet this person he had to remain calm and not risk mouthing off in case it put Ed and Winry in even more danger.
He hadn't been here since he and Ed were undercover all those months ago. Just like the time he and Ed had stepped through that door as a fictional item the bartender flagged him down. Roy was grateful that James was on shift, it was good to see a friendly face. Usually he'd happily talk to man, but all that was on his mind were the two blondes that were currently being held prisoner somewhere nearby. It pissed him off knowing that they were be close by and there was nothing he could do. If anything the people who kidnapped him would be laughing at him being so near yet so far.
When he reached the bar he shook James' hand and took a seat on the stool beside him.
"I'm sorry, I know it's old news now but I ain't seen yer since." James grabbed a glass from under the bar and a bottle of scotch from the counter behind him and started to pour Mustang a drink.
Mustang nodded in thanks to the glass that was placed in front of him. The barman didn't mention anymore of his past fiancée, probably to refrain from bringing up bad memories, not that Roy had any about Edward, but he didn't need to know that.
The Flame turned around with his back to the bar, watching anyone who came in or walked out of the building, any clue he could get as to who was behind the capture of the Fullmetal Alchemist and the Automail Mechanic.
Eleven in the morning slowly past to six in the evening. Roy had taken a seat in the darkened corner of the room with full view of the entire bar. No one had approached him, he got a few looks but that was because of his status. If he had to he would stay until closing time. He wasn't going to leave until he found out more about Edward.
Nine hours since he had arrived the barman that had replaced James came up to his table seemingly to take a glass before talking in a hushed tone.
"I do beg yer pardon sir, but there is a gentleman in the private area that wishes to speak to you."
He was finally going to get some answers as he said his thanks and made his way through to the private area. As soon as he opened the door he was greeted by a scruffily dressed man with unkempt hair.
"General Mustang, thank you for coming by. Please, take a seat." Holding his arm out to the opposite end of the half moon seating.
Mustang glared before slowly taking the seat opposite. He was a young man, could easily put him in his early twenties, quite distinctive green eyes. But the scar down the side of his face was the one thing that caught his full attention. What had happened for him to receive such a mark?
"I've been told you've been sitting out there for quite some time.." He linked his hands together on top of the wooden table.
"I don't take kindly to people making me wait... or breaking into my house instead of just using the letter box."
"Ah yes my apologies for that, but it had to be done, it got your attention didn't it?"
"Cut to the chase, you going to tell me what this is all about?" He didn't like the fact that the man opposite him was so... polite.
"Obviously you know what we want, and we feel you're the one who knows where she is. She helped you capture, trial and execute my people, it's only fair I take someone close to you as a trade agreement. Edward and Winry Elric for Elizabeth Lornel."
Nothing irritated Roy more than when he called Winry an Elric. Sure they were married at one point, but got divorced over two years ago. Ed was a bargaining tool... his Ed, the one person that made him feel whole. He already had 'Lornel' just... not in the form they would be expecting.
"What makes you think I know where she is? She used my rank against me to claim classified documents, she used me, went against the people of Amestris, left me for dust - taking a very large sum from my bank account. As much as I care, she's dead to me."
"If you find her and hand her to us we will make sure she pays for what she has done on both sides, and you'll get your precious State Alchemist back."
"I'm not exactly pleased as to how you have treated Fullmetal, you're treading on a very thin ice already."
"I would like to point out that if you attack me, kill me, follow me, attempt to raid any house in Amestris, or do anything that we feel is a threat, Edward Elric will be killed. His death and blood will be on your hands, not ours."
Images from his most recent nightmare came to life. Roy clenched his teeth, any plan he had was suddenly thrown out of the window. As much as he wanted to beat, torture and burn the younger man for even laying a finger on Edward, he was helpless.
"So all I need to do is give you Elizabeth. How do I know you will keep your end of the bargain?"
"If Edward Elric dies before the trade is complete I will personally hand myself in to you. I am a man of my word General."
"When you said 'your people' what did you mean exactly... the military put an end to that factions crimes.."
"I only inherited the name, the original leader was my own sister, who kept me safe from the thugs of your precious military. She was going to rid this city of the wrong doers when she gained power and give the city back to the people."
"By blowing it up... some plan."
"It was a last resort, I am truly sorry that she did this to you General Mustang, but it's all up to you. I think we are finished here..." He stood up and turned to leave not before Roy grabbed his arm.
"..You were in my house that day, yet you took Edward. It was me you were really after.."
"Actually... we just wanted to find information, we didn't want a hostage situation, but he interrupted and we had no other choice. I'm sorry Mustang that it turned out like this, but you can make it better again. Give us Lornel and we shall return our hostages." Shaking off the hand he calmly walked out the back way.
As much as he wanted to follow the man Roy didn't want to risk the life of the one most precious to him. Now the problem was how they were going to go from here. Downing his scotch in one gulp he left the bar deep in thought as to how he was going to sort this whole problem.
