Yeah...I realize it's been three years since I updated this story. I just can't leave things undone though...(And watching FMA instead of working on my last semester's papers spurred this further procrastination) I can't promise regular updates, but I will promise that this story will reach some kind of end.
Kat
The three teens sat huddled together in the rain, still in shock over the events at the Tucker home. Jessi wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. "I-I'm going to go get some coffee or something. It's cold."
"Ok Jessi." Al's usually soft voice was almost inaudible; Ed just stared into the distance nodding once to show he heard. She trembled as she walked off, arms wrapped around herself not only for warmth but as if to hold herself together. It took awhile to find a coffee vendor that was open, then the person working at the café looked at her disdainfully, almost rejecting the wet sens she pulled from her pocket. She knew she must look a sight, soaked to the skin, red eyes, limp hair, runny nose….holding the two drinks tightly she made her way back to her friends in the rain. Still some ways away she saw a soldier run up to Ed.
"I wonder what's going on?" She bit back a scream, dropping both coffees as another man walked up behind the soldier…the spray of blood was awful. A macabre flash of red on gray stone before the rain spread it and washed it away. She froze horrified as Ed just stood there. The man was making his way to him….
"EDWARD RUN!"
She saw the two dodge the man and pavers get destroyed in the process. Just who was this man? She longed to run after them, to make sure Ed and Al were safe…..She saw Al lead Ed down an alley. She could join them….She could get in the way.
"Running could save your life. If we ever get in trouble I want you to run. Go get help." Whispering what Ed made her promise she fought every instinct she had and ran away from her friends. Gritting her teeth she ran as fast as she could to Central HQ.
"Fuck the consequences, if you die Edward I will bring you back and kill you myself."
Her heart was pounding as she made it to the compound, she was out of breath, and her legs gave the second she got to the gate.
"Please! You have to let me in! There is a man, h-he's after Edward!"
She was fortunate enough that Riza was walking by. "Jessi?"
"Hawkeye! Please, this man he's after Ed and Al. H-he killed the soldier…."
"Where are they?"
Things were a flurry of motion after that. At some point she was wrapped in a blanket and shoved in a car. Surprised, but grateful, she was allowed to come she sat quietly looking out the window as they sped to where she last saw the brothers. The cars pulled into a semi-circle around where Ed was on the ground, the man had his arm out….Jessi flinched hearing a gunshot, instinctively looking towards the sound.
"That's as far as you go." Mustang could be imposing when he wished to be.
She could only stare at "Scar" as she heard how he killed state alchemists, how he killed Nina…
"I am God's messenger. I will punish those who corrupt his creation!"
As he and Mustang began to fight she darted past everyone to the brothers. Al was in pieces, and Ed's arm was destroyed.
"Jessi…"
She sobbed into Ed's shoulder hitting his port. "I can't even leave you alone for one second. You asshole! You gave up! What would have happened to Al?! …..to me?!"
More fighting broke out and they were ushered by soldiers to the cars, Ed never unwrapping his arm from her shoulder.
"It's alchemy." Everyone just looked at Ed.
"What do you mean?" Ed looked at Jessi, still chagrined from before.
"If you break down a transmutation, it's three steps. The first is analyzing, then deconstruction, and lastly reconstruction."
"And he's stopping at the second stage. He's using the very thing he is judging us for." Mustang watched Armstrong fight Scar, arms crossed. "What I don't understand is why only alchemist with a state license?"
A shot rang out, and his glasses fell.
"I only grazed him." Hawkeye warned.
"He's Ishvalan."
"We have you surrounded. Surrender."
Scar just looked around. "I see I'm at a disadvantage with so many opponents." He slammed his hand to the ground, and with a rumble and cloud of dust he disappeared into the sewers.
"Al!" Ed raced over to where Al sat in the back corner of the alley, Jessi on his heels.
"Brother you idiot what did you think you were doing!?"
"Trying to protect you Al."
"You could have ran! You had the choice to keep living and you didn't! You're an idiot!"
Al grabbed Ed by the shirt as the lecture continued. "You have to live! We're going to get our bodies back, and we're going to learn so we can save little girls like Nina!"
With a loud "clunk" Al's arm broke off the already in-pieces armor. "Great. Now my arm fell off! This is all your fault brother!"
"We're really beat up aren't we Al? How do we suck this much?"
"But we're alive."
Jessi carefully touched Al's broken shoulder, taking Ed's hand in hers. "You're alive."
Al was patched up, and a blanket was wrapped around Ed's shoulders. Jessi followed quietly as they were led back to HQ and into Roy's office. She wasn't allowed in for the debriefing, they were breaking enough rules just allowing her in, so she sat on a bench staring into her coffee, waiting. She stood as the door opened and Ed and Al came out.
"We're going to Risembool."
Jessi thought she was going to faint.
