Here you go! More Sloane and Edward goodness! :) Please review!
I gasped awake, breathing heavily. This isn't the first time I've had this dream. It has been coming up for the past two weeks and every time I had to kill a different person that was special to me. My hands were shaking, I was scared. Scared that my mother would show up with her whip and start hitting me again. Scared that she would make me kill someone dear to me. In a panic, I got up and walked over to Edward's bed. The moon's light shined over his bed, making his blonde hair shine.
"E-Edward?" I shook him.
He groaned. "Not now, Al."
I shook him again. "Please, Edward."
He finally, but slowly opened his eyes. When he caught a glimpse of my face he shot up, eyes wide. "Sloane! What's wrong?"
"I... Had a nightmare." I cried. "I- Nina... My mother kept hitting me... S-she- and Nina-"
Edward grabbed my hand and pulled me down, and into his arms. He smoothed my hair down, as his other arm wrapped protectively around my waist. "It was only a dream..."
"She makes me kill..." I cried into his shoulder. "Every night I kill someone I love..."
"Your mother?" Edward whispered.
I nodded. "She scares me, Edward. She is always hitting me, always saying I need to be punished."
He was silent for a moment, then pulled away to look at me. The blonde cupped my face with his non-metal hand. "You mother hit you when you were younger?"
"Yes..." I cried, then leaned my head against his chest. "Until you came... You took me away, you saved me."
Edward stiffened. "Me? But how?"
I shook my head. "I don't know, but you did..."
"Is that why you care for me?" He asked me. "And why you want to protect me?"
I looked up at him and nodded. "Please don't hate me..."
Edward looked shocked at me question. He had a pained expression then hugged me tightly. "I could never hate you, Sloane."
And we sat there... Arms around each other. When my tears finally stopped I said, "Edward? I'm scared to go back to sleep."
"It'll be okay..." He said strongly. "I'll protect you this time."
When we woke up the next morning, we didn't really talk about what happened that night. We acted normally and went back to the library to research even more every day. And when we got back, I would climb into my bed and try to fall asleep. If I did I would find Edward sitting on the floor, holding my hand. But, If I didn't, Edward would walk over and comfort me until I fell asleep again. I never knew he could be this nice... He always looked strong, and protected with walls. Now, every time we studied and our hands touched by accidented, we would freak out and try to find something else to do, with our faces bright red. I knew AI was getting curious, but he didn't push the subject.
It was the tenth day we were in the library and Edward was studying hard. It was around three-thirty that Lieutenant Maria Ross, one of the two people guarding the Erlics, told me that Hughes called and asked me for some help with a case. I looked to Edward.
"You going to be okay here if I go?"
He blushed a little, then nodded. "Go do what you have to do."
"I will..." I started to walk out, but looked over my shoulder and smiled. "Oh and Edward. Make sure you eat, I don't need you dying on me from starvation!"
"You can't get rid of me that fast!" He grinned.
Laughing I waved to Al and started towards Hughes' office. When I got there, I saw the girl, who I learned her name was Sheska, was working hard on the burned case records.
"Hughes!" I smiled and waved to the Lieutenant Colonel. "What do I owe the pleasure?"
Hughes was talking on the phone, talking about his kid again. When he saw me he grinned back. "Oh, guess who just walked in? Your very own daughter!"
On the other end I heard my dad yelled, "Give her the phone right now, you annoying pest!"
Hughes rubbed his ear and passed my the phone saying, "Stupid uptight Colonel."
"Hey, Dad." I said nervously.
"What is the meaning of this?!" He yelled. "You up and leave?! And You didn't even call me when you got there!"
I sighed, as I heard all the dangers I could have gotten myself into. "Okay, okay... I'm sorry that I didn't call. I was busy helping Fullmetal."
"Why are you doing that?" Dad asked.
"He said he would let me stay with him if I did."
"What!?" Dad screamed. "You're staying in the same house as him!? I thought you would have found an apartment already!"
I sighed. "Dad, I'm only doing it so I can save a few bucks, and plus... They need someone to back them up if they get themselves into trouble."
"What do you mean?"
"What I mean is that, I have a feeling they are looking for danger..." I shifted the phone on my ear.
Hughes was giving me a look, but I brushed it off. "Anyway,Dad, I have to go."
I hung up the phone.
"So..." Hughes leaned back in his chair, grinning. "How's Ed?"
I felt my face turn red. Glaring at the man I growled. "He's fine!"
Hughes laughed, but his face grew serious. "On the more serious not, your office has been readied for you, along with some new officers. I chose them out myself."
"Oh, really?" I laughed. "So they must be hard workers, since you seem to always have time to bother my dad with stupid phone calls."
Hughes laughed. "Anyway... We also found you an apartment and already moved your stuff in."
"Is my dad blackmailing you or something?" I raised an eyebrow as he gave me a paper with all the information on it. "You never would have done this willingly."
Hughes sighed. "I rather do it, then have to get burned to a crisp."
I laughed. "So you're doing to save your own butt?"
"And Edward's." He grinned evilly.
I sent him a glare. "I'll start work tomorrow... I'm going to finish up today with the Elrics."
Hughes nodded and sent me off with a smile.
When I got close to the door I heard something crash and Edward scream, "The heck with it!"
Ross and Brosh slowly opened the door, then gasped. Books were everywhere, and paper's scattered along the floors. Edward was sitting on the floor, not looking at us.
I ran over to Al and got to my knees. He looked down at me.
"Sloane..."
"What did you guys do to this place?" Brosh said behind me. Ross following behind him, saying, "Don't get angry because you can't crack it. Throwing thing's won't help."
Al spoke up, his eyes looking depressed and angry at the same time. "We did crack it, we cracked the code and decrypted the notes."
I gasped, as Brosh said, "Really? You did? But that's a good thing, isn't it?"
"There's nothing good about this, dang it...!" Edward punched the ground. "This is the devil's research... It should have been destroyed." He covered his face with his right hand. "Doctor Marcoh was right. It's evil."
"What's so evil about it?" Brosh asked.
I listened very carefully for the next words that would come out of Edward's mouth. "The main ingredient for a Philosopher's Stone... Is human life!" I covered my mouth and gasped, horrified of the thought. "In order to manufacture even a single stone, you have to make multiple human sacrifices."
Brosh took a step forward. "How could the military authorize research into something so horrible?!"
"I can't believe it..." Ross said, shocked. "How awful."
Edward groaned, still not looking up. "Do us a favor... Don't speak to anyone about this."
Brosh knelt down next to Edward. "But, sir..."
"Please!" Edward sounded like he was in pain. "Just pretend you never heard any of it."
The room was silent, and Brosh looked like he was about to something else, but I cut him off. "I think it's time for us to go back to the apartment."
The two of them looked at me and nodded, leaving to get a car ready.
I walked over to Edward and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Edward?" He didn't answer me. "Edward?" Still no answer. "Ed?"
The blonde finally looked up at me, with a sad smile. "That's the first time you called me that..."
"Didn't think we were close enough to call each other nicknames." I returned the smile.
"No, I like it when you call me that." He lifted his hand and brushed a piece of black hair out of my face. "Makes me feel like we are the same age..."
I chuckled a little, then helped him up. "Come on, let's get you home... You too, Al."
With both brothers standing, I grabbed each of their hands with my own and started downstairs to the car.
When we got to the door, Al went in first, but I made Edward stay behind with me in the hall, letting the door close. He looked so depressed.
"Ed..." I sighed, and wrapped my arms around his waist. "I wish I could make this all go away. I hate seeing you like this."
He was silent as he wrapped his arms around my waist and rest his head on my shoulder. "Me too..."
I let him rest his head until he decided to go into the apartment with his brother. When I did make a move to enter also, he raised an eyebrow. "Aren't you coming?"
"I have my own apartment, now... It's only a few doors down if you need me." I explained. "I think you two need to be alone for a moment."
Edward looked towards the ground and nodded. He closed the door behind him. I walked the few feet down the hall and into my room. It was unlocked. It was the same layout as the Elrics, but it was more... Girlish. I went to the couch and sat down. I had no idea that the Philosopher's stone main ingredient would be... My stomach turned at the very thought of it. As I was thinking about it more, I felt my eyes close.
I woke up to a crashing sound from down the hallway. I heard Armstrong yelling and the Elrics screaming. I quickly got up to see what was happening. What i saw was... Bizarre. Major Armstrong was dramatically crying, as the Elrics were in the corner scared for their life. with Ross and Brosh looking a little scared too.
"How tragic!" Armstrong cried. "To think the legend of the Philosopher's stone is built on such a terrible secret!"
Edward and I turned to the two, ticked off.
"You told him?" I growled. "And Armstrong of all people?!"
"We're... We're really sorry" Ross apologized.
Brosh was crying as he said. "It's hard to stay quiet when someone like him asks you..."
"Imagine the military," Armstrong placed a hand on his chin, sparkling and crying still. "Being behind something like that... Often the truth is more cruel than we'd bargained for."
Edward suddenly gasped, eyes wide. "The truth!"
"What is it, Brother?" Al asked him.
I walked over to Edward and tugged at his hand. "Ed...?"
"Do you remember what Dr, Marcoh said at the station?" He asked his little brother.
"Huh?" Al said confused. "'Look closely, maybe you'll find the truth hidden within the truth'"
Edward mouth turned into a half smile. "I didn't have a clue what he was talking about then, but now... It's the same as the alchemical notes...What you can see... on the surface is only a portion of the truth." Edward looked up. "There's still more to find here, there has to be."
-Time skip-
Armstrong rolled up the map and got up, heading towards the door. "This has the potential of becoming a political nightmare before long... I'll look into what we've talked about tonight."
I stood up, and walked over to stand by Armstrong. "I'll go to, just so he has a second pair of eyes."
Armstrong nodded and looked to Ross and Brosh. "In the meantime, officers, speak of this to no one."
"Sir!" They saluted.
"And you Elric brother's!" He turned his attention to the two brothers now, scaring them. "Behave yourselves!" They jumped, and Armstrong growled, glaring at them. "I know you two boys... You were thinking about sneaking into this building and taking a look around, weren't you? Admit it!"
The two brothers raised shook their heads. "We weren't We promise!"
Armstrong nodded, and we both walked out.
"Hold on, Armstrong." I told him, pointing towards my room. "Let me change into my uniform."
He nodded and we walked to my apartment, after I change we walked downstairs and towards the car.
"General?" Armstrong looked over his shoulder and at me.
"Yes, Major?"
He climbed into the car and waited for me to sit down to ask. "Are you worried about them?"
I looked out the window, staring at the moon. "I'm always worrying about them, Armstrong."
"But how much, is the question."
"I care for them very deeply, Armstrong." I looked toward him, with fierceness in my eyes. "And if anyone tries to hurt them, I'll make sure they won't see another day!"
An hour in I got a very bad feeling about something... I thought back to the Elrics. Then curse myself. Why!? Why didn't I realize that they were lying! "Armstrong!, I'm leaving!"
Before he could answer I ran out the door, and towards the Fifth Laboratory. I didn't stop, I wouldn't stop. I had to get there to make sure those idiots didn't get themselves killed. When I got there I saw Al fighting another suit of armor. I knew Al could handle himself, so i just ignored him to find- the vent. I quickly jumped and crawled through it as fast as I could. Finally out of it, I looked right and left.
"Which way?" I asked myself. I looked to the right, and my heart pounded. "Guess I'm going this way!"
I ran and ran until I came into a room with a huge transmutation circle. There was blood on the floor and I guess this is what they used to make the Philosopher's Stones. There I saw Edward holding a armor head.
"Yes." Edward nodded. "Tell me everything you know about it."
"Sorry, can't" the head replied.
Edward stared the head down. "Hey now... Tell. I did beat you at your own game."
"That's where you're wrong." In the corner of my eye I saw the other half getting up. "I'm not beaten yet!"
The body rushed towards Edward, as Edward looked over his shoulder in shock.
"Edward!" I jumped in front of him before the empty armor could hurt him, causing the empty amor's sword piercing my stomach.
Edward jumped away. "Sloane!"
"I forgot to mention something, about this mass murder, Slicer." Said the head, the empty armor not removing it's sword yet.
"His crimes, were really done by a pair of brothers!" Said the empty armor.
I coughed, blood coming out. "That's a lovely story, why don't you tell it again!" I snapped my fingers, making the empty armor pull out the sword and step away.
I fell to my knees, but not to the ground because Edward ran over to catch me. He looked up and glared at the two brothers. "An independent head and body...? That's a dirty trick!"
"Now, now, weren't you the one who said there's no such thing as 'dirt' in a fight?" The head said, amused.
The younger one, the empty armor, got into a fighting stance. "Are you ready...? Round two's about to begin, short stuff."
"Don't call me short." Edward growled, laying me down onto the ground. "Stay here... And don't die."
I nodded, "Go and defeat him, Ed."
"I don't think so!" Said the younger brother, rushing forward with his sword ready. "I'm not gonna give you time to transmute!"
Edward dodge his attacks, over and over. My vision started to go blurry. Why didn't I see this sooner? Why didn't I stay behind to make sure they didn't leave? Why? I saw Edward being thrown to a wall, as the empty armor rushed towards him. Edward clapped his hands and removed the top from the legs. I couldn't hear anything anymore... So, I couldn't decipher what they were saying. But, I did see the lusty woman walk in and speared the head. Then another one walked over to the chest and stabbed it with a sword. They surrounded Edward. There was some words, then Edward kicked him. I blinked then the next thing I know Edward was unconscious.
I gasped, and slowly got up and snapped my fingers, Blue flames bursted through the room. "Lay another finger on him and I'll burn you alive!"
"What do we have here?" The lusty woman studied me. "Ah, it's General Mustang... Another precious sacrifice."
"What... Do you mean?" I growled.
The lusty woman laughed. "Envy make she you take her too."
"Wait!" I yelled/gasped. Snapping my fingers again, pretty sure making the building fall apart, I screamed. "Wait!"
"Shut it!" the one called Envy kicked me in the head, and like that I was out.
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