Disclaimer: Well, it wasn't mine last week and today… guess what? Still not mine!
I want to say thank you to The Great Butler, Oedipus Tex and Sonar for your reviews!
I also want to say thank you to my awesome beta-reader, Ssadropout!
Chapter 8 – Invisible Wounds
It was late at night, and very few people were in the street. Kain was having a pleasant time stretching his legs until the light rain that had been falling down started to get a lot heavier. Fuery didn't want to go back so soon, but as the water soaked his clothes, he decided he shouldn't add a cold to all the problems he already had. Maybe he could make a habit of the late night stroll he thought, looking at Hawkeye's apartment building, on the other side of the street. Two old men were walking towards him and talking to one another, protected from the rain by their umbrellas. For a second, Fuery thought of avoiding them and crossing the street right there.
But what kind of life was that?
Kain had heard all about Andrew, and he knew the boy's strange and anti-social behavior was caused by his mind reading abilities. What if breaking the mind connection turned out to be impossible? Fuery didn't want to live in fear or to become weird and anti-social like Andrew. He had to find a way to cope with his newly-acquired abilities and to lead a normal life somehow. Hence, he walked towards the two men, like he would have done a few weeks before.
The voices he could hear increased in volume, but he ignored them and kept on walking. The two men hadn't even noticed him. When Fuery stopped to cross the street and go back to Hawkeye's apartment, the guys walked by him and stopped as well.
Screaming voices immediately echoed inside Fuery's head and then a big yard with children running around and playing appeared. It wasn't a bad memory. Not everything had to be a terrible moment. But Kain's relief didn't last long, as a house in flames replaced the yard. Kain suddenly saw, as if through the man's own eyes, when he was there in the middle of the fire, trying to pull somebody out.
It wasn't real, the sergeant tried to tell himself, as panic took over.
"Excuse me, do you know what time it is?" one of the men asked Kain.
Fuery heard the question and turned to look at the man. As his eyes met the stranger's eyes, the blazing house became more real, and the heat of the fire finally reached Fuery's nervous system. Desperate to get away and interrupt the hallucination, Kain stepped on the asphalt to cross the street, not saying a word. Simply trying to ignore the hallucinations had been a bad idea.
Edward and Alphonse had just left the building when they saw Sergeant Fuery on the street, trying to get away from two people who wanted to talk to him. Edward was tired and not very attentive to what was going on around him, but when Alphonse yelled by his side and started running, the older Elric realized that a truck was coming down the street and speeding. Fuery apparently hadn't seen it, otherwise he would have waited for it to go by.
It all happened in a matter of seconds. The truck driver honked and tried to brake, but the slippery asphalt made the wheels skid, and the truck kept on pretty much the same direction, not slowing down fast enough. It came to a full stop meters ahead, with the driver startled and holding his breath, but relieved that he hadn't hit anyone. He hadn't felt anything like a bump, at least. He looked out of his window, and saw some people on the sidewalk.
"Watch where you're going, you moron!" he shouted, before accelerating again and leaving.
Alphonse had been just fast enough to cross the street, avoiding the truck and pushing the sergeant back, causing both of them to fall on the sidewalk.
"Are you okay?" Edward asked, joining them in a hurry.
"What the heck, boy? Are you all right?" the man who had tried to talk to Fuery asked, holding him by the arm to help him get back on his feet.
Edward quickly understood the problem as Fuery winced and tried to free himself from the man's grasp. The young alchemist managed to get rid of the concerned strangers by telling them that Fuery was ill but they could take care of him alone. Luckily, that was enough to make the men go away.
"Where did that truck come from?" Kain asked terrified, finally standing up.
Feeling a sharp pain he hadn't even noticed two seconds ago, the sergeant wiped some blood off of his forehead with the back of his hand. The red thick smudge on his hand looked meaningless, considering the sort of damage he might have sustained had Alphonse not pushed him off the street.
"You could have gotten yourself killed!" Edward snapped as soon as no one else was around.
"What the hell happened?" Roy shouted from the other side of the street. There was no sign of the truck now.
Hawkeye heard a hurried knock on the door of her apartment and went to open it, thinking that maybe Ed and Al had left a book behind. She knew something was wrong when she heard Ed's loud voice yelling at Roy.
"Stop complaining, Colonel Jackass!"
"What on earth happened?" Riza asked, as the group - now soaked to the bone except for Mustang - entered the room.
"Fuery almost got hit by a truck," Roy explained. "Alphonse pushed him out of the way, but I think he hit his head."
"I'll get some ice," Riza said, already heading to the kitchen.
"I didn't hit my head, Alphonse's armor scratched me," Fuery finally managed to explain, still feeling his heart flutter inside his chest.
"Erhm, sorry," Alphonse peeped embarrassedly.
"It's okay. If you hadn't pushed me, I'd probably be dead now… Thank you," Fuery said, his face taking on a painful expression.
"Are you hurt or hallucinating?" Roy asked.
"Hallucinating…"
They all stepped away from him, frustrated. They wanted to help him, but didn't really know how. Hawkeye came back with a towel instead of ice, and Fuery pressed it against his forehead, trying to stop the bleeding.
"I'm sorry for all this trouble," he said after a while, as the color came back to his cheeks.
"Man, we have to find a way to reverse this damn alchemy reaction. He can't live like this!" Edward shouted again.
"Seriously? Now you noticed?" Mustang said sarcastically, ignoring a rude gesture Edward made and asking Fuery to see the cut on his forehead.
It was a shallow cut and no blood vessels of bigger caliber had been nicked, but it was bleeding quite a bit. The water had washed the blood down, and Kain's face and shirt were covered in faint red.
"You'll need stitches. It's a clean cut, at least. I can drive you to the hospital," Roy offered.
Fuery sighed, pressing the towel against the cut. That meant a lot of people around him, starting more vivid hallucinations.
"Would you rather me sew it up for you?" Riza asked, as they all knew the hospital environment wasn't Fuery's favorite.
"Do you know how to?" the sergeant asked hopefully.
"More or less. I've done it before. I can't guarantee the scar will look so good, though."
"It's fine. I think it's not a big cut anyway."
"I'll do that," Roy said. "I had to sew some cuts for other guys in Ishbal. Even Hughes once. He tripped in barbed wire and got a big cut on his shin." Mustang smiled briefly at this specific memory. Hughes had nagged him for hours saying that the scar would look terrible, but in the end, covered by leg hair, it had healed to be almost imperceptible.
"It would be better if you changed into some dry clothes first, Fuery," Riza suggested, as Kain was completely wet and dripping water everywhere.
Edward and Alphonse decided that Roy and Riza could take care of it alone and left, while the sergeant went to get some clean clothes from a bag he had brought to Hawkeye's apartment. At least the cut wasn't bleeding so much anymore, or he would have had a hard time trying to put on another T-shirt without staining it.
Hawkeye boiled a needle and some sewing thread, and Fuery and Mustang sat down in the kitchen, where the light was brighter. Mustang suggested getting Fuery whisky or something else to drink, but Hawkeye was quick to remember the sergeant was taking medication that couldn't be mixed with alcohol. Still, Kain preferred to have the stitches with no anesthesia than going to the hospital.
"Hold still, I have a needle within an inch of your eye," Roy warned the sergeant.
Fuery agreed, making his best effort not to move. He didn't know exactly how much pain to expect from it, but he felt almost numb at the moment. Stress had tired him out, and all he wanted was to call it a day and go to sleep.
"Seriously. Don't jump or anything," Mustang insisted.
"Okay."
Roy used some gauze to clean the wound then stuck the needle on the skin above the cut.
"Ow…"
"Do you see anything now?" Roy asked.
"I think it's a bar. Your mother's bar," Kain said. "Ouch!" he groused, making a face.
"And what's going on?" Mustang asked again, just to keep a conversation. Maybe if he could hold Fuery's attention, the sergeant would be less likely to mistake hallucinations for reality and move all of a sudden.
"There are some drunken guys fighting."
"It was pretty common, I remember that. Keep talking."
Fuery continued describing a sequence of images that popped into his head, his description being interrupted by an occasional wince. He started describing some memories of Ishbal, but Roy soon noticed a change in the way he spoke. Two stitches down and one to go, Fuery now seemed to be thinking of something to say. Roy wondered if he had picked something he didn't want to describe to him and was simply mentioning an event he had seen previously.
"Done," Mustang said as he finished the third stitch and decided he didn't want to know what it was that Kain had seen but didn't want to talk about. It was probably some Ishbal bloodshed memory.
"Thank you," Kain said with a sigh of relief, taking a pack of ice Hawkeye had gotten for him and pressing it against the cut to ease the pain.
"All right, I should get going," Mustang announced. "We'll find a way to fix all that mind reading problem, but for now, try to avoid going out on your own."
Fuery nodded in an embarrassed fashion and then remembered there was something else he needed to talk to Mustang about.
"I was thinking…"
"Yeah?"
"Did Andrew tell us everything he knew? Because I thought that some things were still unclear."
"Lots of things were unclear," Mustang observed.
"Maybe if I talk to him, I can get something new from him," Fuery said.
"You mean reading his mind?" Riza asked, finding the suggestion pretty interesting. However, that meant taking Fuery down to the headquarters, and asking him to deliberately read the mind of somebody who probably had lots of bad memories to be picked up by him.
"That's possible, but it's late now. Let's do that tomorrow then," Mustang decided, and then headed to the door, saying good-bye.
Hawkeye couldn't help but notice he had avoided her gaze again before leaving. Something had to be wrong.
"Are you all right?" Kain asked her as she closed the door after Roy, looking rather worried about something.
"I am. It's just that I'm under the impression he's angry at me for some reason," Riza said, quickly adding, "It must be my imagination."
"I… I think he actually is," Kain said.
When Mustang was stitching up his forehead injury, Kain had picked from him a recent memory that involved Hawkeye. He only hadn't described it to the colonel because Riza was there and he didn't want to create an awkward situation.
"When you interrogated Andrew Wright in the hospital, he told you things from your past, right?"
"Yes, why?"
"The colonel overheard part of your conversation. I think he was going to walk into the room, but stopped by the door and heard some things Andrew said. About how you regretted showing some alchemy symbol to him. That you had no way of knowing he'd become a murderer."
Fuery shifted uncomfortably under Hawkeye's surprised gaze. Ishbal was a painful wound for both Mustang and Hawkeye, and the sergeant could now understand why better than ever.
"He told you that or did you pick that memory from him?" Riza asked worriedly.
"I picked it up just now. I guess it has to mean something to him or I wouldn't see it."
"Do you think he believed it?" Riza asked and noticed, by the slightly doubtful look on Fuery's face, that he had believed it too. "It wasn't like that," she added.
Kain thought the symbol was probably connected to Mustang's fire alchemy, but couldn't imagine why Hawkeye would have it tattooed on her back. He had picked random memories and it was like trying to put together a puzzle without having all the pieces. He didn't really want to ask for the missing pieces, but there was one thing that really bugged him.
"Do you mind if I ask you something?"
"No, go ahead," Riza said, already feeling that whatever the sergeant wanted to ask about, it would probably be hard to answer.
"Why did the colonel burn your back?"
Both Mustang and Hawkeye, especially Hawkeye, didn't talk much about their lives before joining the military or about the war. Fuery had been slightly afraid of asking Hawkeye anything about her past and when she stood up from her chair, Kain thought he had crossed the line. However, the lieutenant just went to the stove and poured some coffee in two cups for them, before sitting down again.
"My father was an alchemist," she started saying.
Fuery sipped his coffee in silence while she told him all about the tattoo she had on her back and the colonel and even things about the war. It was hard to listen to all these sad things and know that they had really happened, but Fuery was somewhat relieved to know that at least Hawkeye didn't hate the colonel for what he had done. After seeing the war through Mustang's eyes, Kain had been desperate to hear someone say something that helped him to restore his recently shaken faith in the man.
"Andrew got it all wrong then," Kain said with a nod when Hawkeye finished her story.
Riza just rubbed her forehead tiredly, thinking about how much upset or angry Roy was. It had been days now and still no change, so she guessed he was quite hurt by that comment. Being late at night, she would have to wait until at least the next day to talk to him about it. It would probably be better this way though, as she wanted to think about how she was going to bring the matter up in the first place. Riza took a shower and went back to the living room, only to find the sergeant already asleep on the couch, and Hayate comfortably lying on the soldier's belly, sound asleep as well.
Maybe letting Kain pick up memories from Andrew would provide some new information. Riza was certain that if they couldn't reverse the alchemical reaction that had done that to Fuery, the sergeant wouldn't ever be able to live a normal life again. As worried as she was, Riza knew Fuery was itching to do something to help in the investigation.
The next morning when Hawkeye and Fuery got to the headquarters, even though it was still early, another soldier whose name they couldn't even remember came to the office with a message.
"Yes?" Lieutenant Hawkeye asked as she stepped out of the office to talk to the man alone.
"General Grumman wishes to see you in his office. Now, if possible," the man said, with a serious expression.
Hawkeye told the others she'd be back soon and left to meet Grumman, wondering why the old man would want to talk to her. If he wanted to know about the investigation, he should talk to Colonel Mustang, not to her.
About three or four seconds after Riza knocked on the door of Grumman's office, the general opened it with a smile.
"You wanted to see me, sir?" she asked.
"Yes, yes. Please, come in," Grumman motioned her to a chair in front of his desk, closed the door and sat down as well. "I received a report regarding the situation of Sergeant Kain Fuery. He works with you, right?"
"Yes, sir."
"He's your boyfriend?" the general asked like he merely expected a confirmation.
Riza swallowed her surprise worriedly. This might get both her and Fuery in trouble, especially if other people apart from the general had heard.
"We are not involved," she said, to which Grumman shook his head and laughed. "He could only be released from the hospital if someone close could take care of him. It was my idea only. I lied to the doctor. I recognize my mistake and I am ready to assume the consequences," Hawkeye continued.
"Consequences?" Grumman asked, no criticism visible in his expression. In fact, Hawkeye thought he almost seemed to think the situation was funny.
"I'm not talking about consequences," the old man continued with a broad smile, but suddenly became serious. "Wait, what consequences are you talking about? You're not pregnant, are you?"
"No," Riza said quickly, disturbed at Grumman's straightforwardness. "I am not involved with Sergeant Fuery. We work together, that is all."
"Oh," Grumman said, interlocking his fingers and resting his elbows on his desk. "Because if you two are together, I can help you dodge reprimands."
Hawkeye could barely believe how insistent Grumman could be.
"Riza, honestly. You're my granddaughter, you can tell me the truth. Are you involved with this Kain Fuery? Formalities apart, just tell me."
"No, I'm not. Honestly, I'm not lying to you," Hawkeye spoke, a hint of impatience in her voice.
"Huh. So I spent the last hour reading this for nothing," Grumman moaned, getting a file from the desk drawer and dropping it carelessly on the desk in front of Hawkeye.
Riza immediately recognized the personnel file and the picture of Sergeant Fuery on the first page.
"Were you reading about him?" she asked incredulously.
"Of course I was! I thought he was your boyfriend!"
"You actually seem disappointed that we're not together," Riza observed, slightly suspicious.
"Well, yes and no," Grumman admitted. "For a moment I did think I might finally have the great grandchildren I have been waiting for." Riza rolled her eyes at that. Grumman ignored her expression and continued, "But actually I'm happy to know Mustang's still in the game."
The man started laughing loudly, making Hawkeye uncertain whether she felt embarrassed or just irritated. However, the mention of Mustang's name called her attention.
"Why Colonel Mustang?" she asked with curiosity.
"Oh, please. He's a smart man, elegant, rank escalating quickly over the last few years, and you know him well, don't you?"
"I do," she admitted.
"Have you told him we are related?"
"I think he heard once my mother's maiden name was Grumman. He asked me about it, and I told him Grumman is a fairly common name."
"Well, you didn't lie. Many people coming from the same area our ancestors lived in took this surname."
Riza herself had asked General Grumman not to tell anyone that she was his granddaughter. Back when her father was alive, Grumman had kept this information a secret because he knew Riza's father was an alchemist, and he didn't want the army to recruit the man to go to war. When she had joined the army, she didn't want to call attention to herself. Being just another unknown soldier was better for her. And now, as she worked under Mustang, being known only for her reputation as a sharp shooter was enough. She had become first lieutenant on her own merit, and she took pride in that.
"Okay, so Sergeant Fuery's not your guy…" Grumman said in a sad tone.
"Does anyone else think we are involved?" Hawkeye asked, truly hoping damage control would be simple.
"Just another two people. I have already told them to be quiet about it. I'll fix the misunderstanding."
"How exactly were you planning to help me, if I was involved with somebody from work?"
"Oh, please… Do you know how many people in the army get romantically involved?" Grumman asked with a mischievous smile. "It would go in your files; you and this man would probably have to work in different offices, but it's not like you'd be arrested. And that's only if somebody could prove that you were in a relationship. My advice to you, if you get involved with someone from work, keep it a secret for as long as possible. If you decide to marry the guy, then you come forward. Once you're married, the fuss calms down."
"Why do you assume I will get involved with somebody from work?"
"Riza, what do you do apart from working? Don't take your life so seriously. I'm getting old and I'd like to see you get married before I bite it, you know?"
The lieutenant shook her head hopelessly with a quick smile. Her grandfather was a real piece of work. At least he had taken the situation under control and hadn't let the rumor spread. She apologized again for the misunderstanding and went back to the interrogation room.
Falman had just brought Andrew from the hospital, and Hawkeye arrived just in time to see Colonel Mustang and Sergeant Fuery walk into the room with Wright. That would be the first time the young alchemist met Fuery since the sergeant had stepped on the trap.
There was a table in the middle of the room and two chairs on opposite sides of the table, facing one another. Fuery sat in one, and the colonel indicated the other, asking Andrew to sit down.
"What is this?" Andrew asked, already very suspicious of them. "You are the guy who stepped on my trap," he said to Fuery, looking right into his eyes, however uncomfortable that was for both of them.
"I am," Fuery replied, maintaining the eye contact.
"Why are we here?" Andrew turned to Mustang. "You don't expect him to read my memories, do you?"
"You can read everybody's memories. Why can't he read yours?" Mustang said with a shrug, taking a third chair in the corner of the room and sitting down far from the two mind readers.
Andrew shook his head and a mean smile broke out on his face as he finally took his place on the empty chair. What could they expect to get out of him by doing this? Andrew had already told them everything they needed to know, but they still thought he was crazy, or not trustworthy?
"You go inside my mind, I'll go into yours," he warned the sergeant.
"Fine with me," Kain said, although Mustang could see there was something about the idea that made him queasy.
This was probably going to be the weirdest interrogatory Mustang would ever see.
A/N: Just a little bit of weirdness sprinkled with more weirdness and a weird cherry on top. I hope you enjoyed. I also hope you'll leave a review because you are all greeeat readers, right? (LOL) Thanks a lot for reading, reviewing and alerting! Have a nice weekend and see you next Friday!
