THREE WISE MONKEYS

Hey! pale-blue11 here

39's close to 40 reviews :) and i'd feel bad leaving on such a short chapter, so here it is! Next chapter should be on Friday, but if this doesn't get many reviews I think i'll just leave this as this week's chapter. After that, next update's 1st of May :)

Thanks to all those who are reviewing—and to the guest who reviews every chapter! I'm sorry I've been forgetting to thank you D:

WARNINGS: Character death, blood, and language.

DISCLAIMER: I don't own Fullmetal Alchemist or its characters.

CHAPTER TEN • The Third Sunday

Al wasn't sure why he had been allowed in. Maybe Mustang was feeling guilty, having forbade him from doing anything to help his brother. Edward was still asleep, much to everyone's surprise, and didn't appear to be waking for quite a while. For that reason, Al agreed to watch Jeremy Colt's interrogation.

Well, second interrogation. The first played out sometime the previous afternoon, but no one was satisfied with the answers. Alphonse wasn't sure he was ready to see the man who stole his brother. Even standing outside the room, awaiting permission, it felt surreal. Behind that door was a person who managed to overpower the Fullmetal alchemist. Behind that door was the type of monster that caused Edward Elric to fall into a coma-like state.

Al didn't know what to do. Maybe it would have been easier to stay with Ed, and read the report later. It would be impersonal, detached, and he could pretend it was just another psychopath and just another victim.

"Alphonse."

The suit of armour jolted towards Riza, eyes flaring bright with anxiety. "Yes?"

Riza's expression was grave. He knew she didn't approve of him being there. He barely did. "You can come in."

"No—you don't understand!" Jeremy was protesting. His wrists were cuffed to the table, and Al couldn't see his face. Only the back of his balding head. "That boy's not normal! Not at all! Just kill him, and you'll see what I mean! Just—"

"Jeremy," Mustang said menacingly. He dipped his head slightly to the new arrivals, acknowledging their presence. "That's not what we asked—"

"But it's what you need to know!"

"And we're not…" his face screwed up in distaste, "killing anyone to prove your insane point. Is that understood?"

Jeremy slumped in his chair, arms pulled taunt before him. "Yes," he grumbled.

"Good." Roy redirected his attention. "Alphonse, come over here, please."

Riza stayed by the door, closing it with a click as Alphonse left her side. The cell was small, but it seemed to stretch on forever, as if the entire area was captured in slow motion. Though he tried not to, Alphonse couldn't help his gaze straying to Colt's face, taking in the plain—if not ugly—features and bitter, downturned mouth. He looked so… average.

Mustang got to his feet, as close as possible to Al. "Anything on Fullmetal?" he asked quietly. Maybe he didn't want their 'guest' to hear.

Alphonse shook his head, directing his glare at the floor.

"Ah." Roy retook his seat.

Startled by the sudden interruption, Al flinched Jeremy spoke. "Are you Fullmetal's brother?"

Al didn't show any indication of having heard him.

"I've seen you two in the papers. You certainly look like—"

"That's enough." Roy's voice turned their culprit to stone. Alphonse watched with something akin to curiosity as furious colour crept into the colonel's face. He'd rarely seen the man so worked up. Even in battle, when Roy's smirk abandoned him, he never lost so much composure. His hands seemed to shake, and Al thanked many false deities that Riza had taken his gloves.

It was only after a long pause that Alphonse gathered enough courage to speak. "Uh, Colonel? Is it okay if I ask some questions?"

"That's what you're here for," Roy grunted, finally looking away from Colt. "You knew that."

"Yeah, r-right—I mean, I did… know that… sir."

Roy sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "You don't need to be so nervous, Alphonse. We're only after this bastard, not you or anyone else."

That assurance didn't alleviate his worries in the slightest. "So… I can start asking?"

"Go ahead."

Surprising everyone—not least himself—Al's first question wasn't about his brother. He was sure that had already been covered to death, and there was something else that bothered him.

"The latest… kill," he began, relieved when Jeremy's gaze didn't rise from his handcuffs. "Why was it different to all the others?"

"I don't know what you mean."

Al had researched almost everything in the past week—he knew exactly what he wanted to know. "All the others had eleven wounds: ten in various places and one in their neck. And… and they were left there."

"So the last one doesn't fit the pattern." Chains clinked as Colt tapped the table. "What makes you think it was me?"

Alphonse tried his hardest to keep the waver out of his voice. Talking about death so calmly was not a regular hobby of his. "We found the murder weapon in the bathroom. It matches all the others."

Jeremy did an exaggerated shrug. "I dunno what to tell you."

"The truth would be nice," Roy muttered.

"I did leave the body there. Do you want what I think?"

Alphonse nodded, hiding his nerves.

Jeremy smiled warmly, as if remembering a pleasant memory. Al shuddered to think of it.

"I think—no, I know—that the corpse stood up, dusted itself off, and walked out the door. And do you know why I know this?" Colt met Al's eye with a challenge. "Because—"

"We're not in the mood to hear your stories," Mustang cut in forcefully.

Al turned towards his brother's superior. "What stories?"

"Idiotic ones. People that come back from the dead."

"And heal," Colt added, eager to play his part, "with flashes of red light."

A homunculus? Surely, that couldn't be what he meant. A simple man such as Jeremy Colt couldn't possibly catch a homunculus—it was just too ridiculous! But he had captured Edward, so maybe… maybe his story had some merit. And that would mean that there was a vengeful immortal waiting for his chance to get even.

"If you don't cooperate," Mustang growled. He was seated again, both palms flat on the table, "we'll have to take extreme measures to get our answers."

"Colonel," Riza warned.

"This is a very serious matter, Lieutenant," he argued. "A soldier's lying in the hospital because of this bastard, and he has the… has the audacity to treat this like a game!"

"Colonel. Edward will be—"

"I know, I know." Roy waved his hand dismissively. "He's strong. But you didn't see…" he trailed off, evidently remembering that he and Riza had two more in their company.

'Oh, and Alphonse? If he wakes, I don't recommend being there.'

Roy wasn't telling him something. Something big. Something important. Something that he really ought to know. Perhaps it was hard to say, or hard to hear, but Alphonse was burning with curiosity.

"What do you mean?" he asked, but Roy didn't reply. Instead he nodded toward the door.

"I think that's all for now," he said, though he showed no signs of moving. "Alphonse, why don't you see if Fullmetal's awake?"

"What do you mean?" Al persisted. "Is there something wrong with Brother? Is that why he won't wake up?"

"He will wake up," Roy said firmly, and Al could almost believe that he thought that, too. "We just need to be patient."

Al made a small whining sound. He was nervous. It was Brother, and he didn't want to wait around. He wanted Ed awake soon. Within the minute, if possible.

Colt remained silent throughout the whole ordeal. There was no guilt in his manner, no regret for the suffering he had cause for so many people. But no happiness or satisfaction, either. A quiet curiosity shone from behind his eyes, as if he was wondering if he could do it again, or if the family and friends of all his victims had acted the same way. Thinking that, Alphonse had another question.

"Can I ask him something else?" he requested softly, aware that Roy had already told him to leave. He received a nod, and continued, speaking to Jeremy instead. "How did you do it?"

"Excuse me?"

"How did you..." Al hesitated. Did he really want to know? "How did you take my brother? It doesn't make sense."

Colt's mouth stretched up in a grin that sent shudders running through Al's soul. "It was easy, really. No one ever expects someone like me to be… well, me."

"Fullmetal did," Roy insisted. "He was in my office last Monday, trying to tell me. But there was just no evidence."

Colt's grin widened until it seemed impossible that he could still speak. "And why do you think he was so certain? I've always thought that my best weapon was surprise. It's not cowardly to kill a person from behind. It's just practical."

"It's cowardly." The sound of squeaking leather was heard as Al's gloves made fists. "Hiding that behind other words doesn't make it less true."

"I'm doing the right thing," Jeremy protested, his hands outstretched in an appeal. "Edward Elric is a sinner, that's why he lost his arm and leg! And you!" He pointed at Alphonse. "He gave you and his arm and his leg up just for some petty benefits, did he not? Well, it's my job to make sure he's punished for that."

The way he declared Edward's guilt—even if it wasn't entirely true—filled Al with rage. And the punishment? He had to leave before he punched the bastard's face.

"You know what, Colonel?" Al said with a tight voice. "I think I will see if Brother's awake."

"That's a good idea." Mustang's balled fists were shaking with anger and his eyes were narrowed to dangerous slits. Perhaps Jeremy did have some sense, seeing how he was shrinking as far back as was possible.

Riza shifted out of Alphonse's path and he stepped out into the passage, hearing Colt regain some of his measly courage in time to say, "I'm telling you—that boy's not normal!" before Al slammed the door with a definitive bang! He didn't want to listen to any more.

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