Demons and Redemption

Chapter 11

It was snowing again. From his position on the bed, Roy could just see over the curve of the automail shoulder to watch as the delicate flakes began to slip from the night sky. Ed was softly snoring, his back pressed against the older one's rhythmically rising chest. Roy's hand was hanging over the boy's straight hip, reaching over his stomach to the thigh pressing into the malleable mattress. His fingertips were idly tracing a pattern along the hardened skin, where metal and flesh were forged into one. He was unknowingly mimicking the pattern that the ice was leaving against the softly glowing widow. Every now and then Ed would stir, as if uncomfortable with the intimate touch along his scarred hip, but then he would quietly sigh and nestle further back against the warmth of his lover's chest.

Roy closed his eyes and bent his head a little, feeling the softness of the unbraided blond locks brush against his face. He was still mulling over what exactly he was going to tell Ed in the morning. The older alchemist knew that whatever lie he did finally decide on, he would have to act as indifferent about it as possible. If Ed even remotely suspected that Roy was heading somewhere that might be connected to Al, the blond would lose any self-restraint he had left and jeopardize everything. Roy stirred a little as he contemplated his choices, causing the blanket to slip down Ed's arm. The boy grumbled in his sleep, turning his body over so that he was now facing his lover.

"…..always….hogging….covers, Al." He groggily mumbled, fumbling for the edge of the blanket. A sorrowful smile escaped Roy's lips as he mused that Ed's dreaming mind was trapped in a childhood memory. He pressed a tender kiss to the cool forehead, amazed at how the simple touch instantly stilled the restless form. His smile fell as he wished the boy's defiance could be so easily conquered.

At least enough for the older alchemist to protect him.

Roy's arms suddenly tightened, drawing the smaller frame closer against him. A quiet, grumbled protest escaped the boy before he decided somewhere in the back of his sleeping mind that he liked this sudden contact. It brought a sorrowful revelation to the awake one's mind. Here, now, in this desolate mining town, in this cramped apartment, in this tattered, worn bed, Roy could keep the boy safe.

But only here.

It was out there that the Flame Alchemist feared. It was out there that had taken Hughes, that threatened to take Ed. No matter how hard he tried, the boy was determined to hurl himself headlong into danger to achieve his ultimate goal. Ed's recklessness was the water to Roy's flame: it made him useless.

Roy wasn't sure if he was ready to accept that.

The man suddenly pushed the figure curled against him away and slowly sat up. He drew in a deep breath, his dark eyes narrowing as they studied the shadows moving along the wall.

"What am I doing….?"

The answers began to swirl around his tormented mind, darkening it like the shadows he was watching.

You're putting him in danger by encouraging him on this desperate quest.

You're putting yourself in danger by covering for him.

You're losing sight of your own goal by helping him with his.

Roy reached up and rubbed his face, realizing that sleep would elude him that night. He slid out of the bed, careful of the snoring warmth next to him. Ed shifted a little, his automail hand reaching for the now empty space next to him. Roy leaned over and tucked the blankets around the small figure before grabbing his robe. As he struggled to slip his arms through the heavy flannel, he quietly made his way to the den.

The sleeping blond would find his way back to wakefulness almost an hour later. The first thing he realized as a sudden shudder overtook him was that he was cold. The second, that Roy was gone. A quiet rustling from the den revealed where the boy's lover was, and with a deep sigh, Ed threw off the thin blankets and headed for the bedroom door.

Roy was in the same spot the younger alchemist had found him the other night. Again he was sitting at that tattered desk. Again, he was hunched over something that was being held with utter care. Ed could tell by the way the shadow was moving against the far wall that Roy was shivering despite the heavy robe. Shivering or shaking…he wasn't sure just which. The boy shifted his weight from his flesh leg to his automail one as he studied the man, trying like he did before to see just what held Roy's undivided attention. But soon enough, the object was suddenly locked back in the drawer, and Roy was on his feet. Ed quickly ducked back to the bed, pulling the soft covers up enough to nearly cover his head.

Then he waited.

It seemed like an hour passed before the creak of the bedroom door let Ed know that Roy was finally coming back to bed. He laid as still as he could, fighting to even out his breaths as the mattress suddenly jolted with the weight of another person. Ed could feel an arm hesitantly fall on his waist before he was pulled against a strong chest. He could feel a chin settle on the top of his head and ragged breaths brush through his hair.

He could also smell the faintest hint of scotch.

It took the younger one a while before he found his dreams again. Long after Roy's breaths finally evened out, and just before the muted moon gave way to a chilly sunrise. When he woke up, he found that void next to him once again and the sound of clattering coming from the small kitchen.

"I made breakfast."

Ed was running a towel back and forth over his damp hair. His bangs clung to his forehead, still warm from the steam of the shower.

"You cook?"

Roy smirked. "I have a lot of hidden talents."

That earned the older alchemist a roll of the golden eyes. Ed brushed the wet hair out of his face and turned to toss the towel onto the bed.

"I wouldn't call what—"

But the taunt was stopped mid-thought by the sudden discovery next to the now abandoned towel.

A half-packed suitcase.

"I've been ordered by the Fuhrer to head up north for a couple of days." Roy quietly explained. "It's just a routine inspection of a few small towns."

The golden eyes narrowed, fiercely inspecting the dark ones to determine if Roy was telling the truth. Ed suddenly turned his back to the older alchemist and lowered his head.

"Must be pretty important if Bradley gave you the orders himself."

Roy stared down at the starched shirt in his hand. "It's routine, Ed." He carefully reiterated.

"Besides….he probably just wants me out of here for a little while to search for you." Roy walked over to the bed, standing against the boy's back, and tossed the shirt into his open suitcase. He reached up and wrapped his hands around Ed's shoulders, feeling the warmth of flesh under one and the chill of metal under the other. "Which is why you need to stay right here until I get back. If they find you…..then you won't be able to keep looking for Al."

Ed sighed, grinding his teeth a little as he contemplated the older one's words. "You should send someone else." He finally said.

"I'm a 'dog of the military', Ed." Roy said, trying his best to keep his tone light. "You know that means I have to be ready to do their bidding at a moment's notice."

Ed's lips curved into a slight frown as he crossed his arms over his chest. Roy watched with a raised eyebrow as the younger alchemist stared at his half-packed suitcase.

"I should go with you." The boy suddenly asserted. "I'm not finding out anything here, and if those prisoners are being transferred anywhere near you, Al could—"

"They're not."

"But I might find out—"

"It would be too risky, Ed." Roy firmly interrupted. "I know you're small enough to fit into my suitcase, but—"

That did it. A bright red burst across the boy's face as he flailed his arms in the air. "Who are you calling so small that he could—"

Roy stopped the tirade with a firm hand clamped over the open mouth and a well-placed bite on the flushed neck. "You." He whispered so softly against the out shell of Ed's ear that a noticeable shudder slithered down the smaller one's spine. He then placed a light kiss on the darkening red mark a couple of inches below the boy's ear. "Besides, you'd be bored. I'm just there to oversee the inspection of a few of the border towns."

"In other words, you'll be napping."

Roy smiled as he pressed a kiss to the younger one's temple. "Something like that."

A sudden smirk passed over the blond's lips. "I could make that nap more interesting." He informed, reveling in the arms that were suddenly around him.

"Hm…..don't see how, Fullmetal."

The boy broke free of his captor's embrace and turned around. The sudden grip of an automail hand on the blue jacket nearly tore the clasp completely off of the heavy fabric.

"Well, then let me show you, bastard."

Roy was half-tempted to let the younger alchemist continue—more than half-tempted—but he had a train to catch. He gripped the cold metal wrist and pulled it loose, freeing the now wrinkled fabric.

"I'll be late, Ed."

The boy scoffed. "And….?"

"And if we want any access to research, one of us needs to stay in the Fuhrer's good graces." Roy smirked as he shook his head. "Even if it is just by a thread."

"Hmff."

Roy shook his head before he reached around the shorter alchemist for his suitcase. Ed watched with a quiet disappointment as Roy headed for the closet.

"I could take a later train and meet you." He ventured, watching as the dark locks shook back and forth.

"I'll be back soon, Ed." The older one firmly argued as he headed for the den. "Then I can help you look for Al."

"But you might find out something about the prisoners. Maybe they—"

"No." He was at the front door now, listening to the boy's echoing breaths grow more shallow with frustration. Roy's onyx eyes suddenly softened as he stared at the boy, arms crossed over a puffed chest, lips turned down in an offended frown. He sighed before setting his suitcase on the scuffed floor and walking over to Ed. He stood close enough to feel the younger one's warm, heavy breaths against his neck. For a while, it seemed as if he wasn't going to move, as if his own breaths depended on the ones he felt against him. But then he shifted. He leaned down and pressed his lips against the boy's slightly parted ones, capturing them with his own. Ed immediately sought the warmth of his lover's tongue, groaning in frustration when his aggression was met with tender strokes instead.

When Roy finally pulled back, breaking the kiss, two wide, fiery eyes greeted him. He cupped the boy's face and leaned back down, but this time the target of his lips was the small ear hidden by the damp blond locks.

"Don't do anything stupid." Roy whispered, his voice a strange mixture of pleading and commanding.

"When have I ever—"

Another quick press of lips to his own ended the younger one's question. Roy drew back and dropped his hand.

"Just be careful, Ed, alright?"

Ed huffed. "I'll be fine."

Roy's dark brows lowered as he studied the boy, searching his face. He finally nodded and turned towards the door. "I'm sure the Fuhrer has asked my subordinates to look for you. It's important you stay here, Ed." The older alchemist reached down for the worn handles of his suitcase, his back to the younger one. "Besides….I wouldn't mind having you here when I get back."

The golden eyes immediately brightened. A quick but noticeable blush also found its way to the boy's cheeks. He understood the meaning of the proclamation well enough. Ed watched as Roy reached for

the door.

"Hey, bastard."

The gloved hand paused, hovering over the brass handle. Roy turned his head just slightly, his dark hair falling into his eyes.

"Yeah?"

Ed grinned even though the man couldn't see him.

"Be careful, too."

Roy couldn't stop the smirk of satisfaction that briefly teased his lips.

XXXXX

Ed put his hands on his hips and narrowed his eyes, staring at the cramped apartment around him. He was bored. Very, very bored. But he was also determined to show the older alchemist that he could be trusted.

That he could do what he was told.

Sometimes.

Roy's breakfast consisted of some now cold over-scrambled eggs and nearly burnt toast. Ed snickered as he thought to himself how the Flame Alchemist felt the need to use too much fire in everything he did. But he had tried. Ed forced himself to eat a few bites of the rubbery breakfast before he decided a little investigating might help his boredom.

And he knew exactly where to start.

The desk. The one place that had a somber hold on the older alchemist, drawing him every night to its hidden solace like a siren's song. Ed still didn't know just what those onyx eyes stared at hour after hour as the moon made its journey through the stark Youswell sky. But after finding the sleeping Colonel in his office that night in Central, a near empty bottle of scotch and a picture of his slain friend nearby, Ed had some idea.

Or so he thought.

"Damn it."

The top drawer was locked. Ed propped his elbows on the scarred top of the oak desk, letting his chin rest on his palms. Roy had locked it for a reason. This was private. Something that the man obviously wanted to keep that way.

Ed wasn't really going to break into the man's private sanctuary, as tattered as it was….was he?

The sudden swish of metal slicing through the thick air answered the boy's question. His automail had transmuted into a sharp blade, its point slim enough to easily slide through the most complicated locking mechanism. One click later, and the drawer was open, its contents finally revealed to the prying blond. Its very familiar contents.

At first Ed thought the frozen image of Hughes was the only thing in the small drawer. But then as Ed gingerly shifted the frame to the side, lifting it a little in the process. That's when he saw the small deep blue box that was hidden beneath it. The golden eyes narrowed as flesh fingers very carefully urged the box from its hiding space, pulling it free of the heavy silver frame. On the top was the insignia of the State, embossed in a rich gold. Underneath that, in curved, calligraphied letters, the words Lt. Colonel Roy Mustang.

"Lieutenant Colonel?" Ed quietly asked, realizing this must have been something the older alchemist had received a few years before. When he finally opened the pristine box and saw just what was nestled against the velvet lining, he knew exactly when Roy had received it.

The Eastern Rebellion.

These were his medals.

These were what he had been looking at.

I saw my share of really terrible things.

The solemn sentiment that had been uttered while the two were cleaning the damage after Ed's assessment in the East suddenly slipped through the boy's mind. He very lightly ran his fingers over the densely woven ribbons before tracing the curve of the round medals themselves. The insignia from the outside of the box was echoed on the two medals, one in bronze, the other silver. They were in pristine condition, their surfaces gleaming in the soft morning light. Ed was about to gingerly remove them from their velvet prison when a sudden banging against the front door startled him. The creaking of a metal crowbar against the wooden doorframe told the boy that someone wanted in, and it wasn't Roy. He quickly slammed the drawer shut and ducked under the desk, curling his small frame into the corner against the rough wall. As the door finally flung open, the boy realized the medals were still in his hand, and he slid the small box into his jacket pocket.

"Where should we look first?"

Ed lowered his eyebrows, straining to hear the answer to the raspy voice.

"Check the bedroom." The answer was terse. Ed could hear heavy footsteps approaching him before the heavy black boots of a soldier came into view. "I'll look here. The Colonel's bound to have something on where the kid is. Word from Central is that he has Fullmetal on a leash."

Ed bit his tongue hard enough to draw blood to keep from kicking the man in his shin.

"We're sure he'll be gone for a couple of days?"

The sound of papers shuffling briefly swirled above Ed. "Yeah—getting those prisoners settled up north will take some time. The Fuhrer and the Brigadier General both made sure that the Colonel would be occupied with that so we could get a lead on Fullmetal."

The familiar coppery taste of blood trailed along Ed's tongue again as he bit down with a brutal force. This time, though, it wasn't to keep from betraying his hiding place.

This time, it was from the realization that Roy had lied to him.

He had gone up north without telling him.

He had gone to get back Al.

XXXXX

The bleak landscape that passed by the small window of the train was monotonous. To Roy, it seemed as if the same three trees and parched fields passed by over and over again. He was used to these tedious train rides by now, having been shuffled from one dreary town to the next at the Fuhrer's whim. With Hughes gone, it seemed his ambitious odyssey to the top was finding more and more impediments.

As if someone was deliberately blocking his efforts.

Lately, he seemed resigned to this fate. The hope of avenging his closest friend and atoning for all he had been forced to do had been replaced by fear. A fear of failure. A fear of losing what little he had left.

A fear of losing what he could never protect.

Roy sighed as he shifted his back, trying to find a more comfortable position against the hard leather seat. He wished for a moment that he was back in the comfort of his own bed, as tattered as it was, his aching frame curved against the softness of his mattress. An unrealized smirk flashed across his lips as he also wished for something else to be in that bed with him. Someone else.

Then the smile faded.

Thin, dark brows furrowed as Roy recalled Ed's face that morning. In his mind, he tried desperately to study every detail, trying to convince himself that the boy had been telling the truth when he promised Roy he'd stay there. It's not that he didn't think that Ed was capable of protecting himself—after all, the boy was an alchemic prodigy. It was just that where Al was involved, Ed's fuse grew even shorter, and his actions far more reckless.

Roy chuckled sadly, remembering the now ironic words that Riza had somberly uttered to him as he stood by Maes' grave.

When those two boys are in harm's way, sir, sometimes your decisions aren't exactly rational.

He and Ed really were quite alike. Maybe too much.

That fact began to chip away at the fragile belief that the younger alchemist was sitting in the small apartment dutifully waiting for him. After all, if he knew Ed had been taken captive, he'd use everything in his power to find him. Which meant the odds of the boy actually fulfilling his promise were growing slimmer by the second. All Roy could do now was hope that he could get back to Youswell before Ed found a plan. And if all went well, Roy would be accompanied by a rather large piece of armor that housed a very gentle soul.

But the Flame Alchemist was the first to admit that when things involved both Ed and him, things very rarely went well.

"Colonel Mustang, I presume? This is indeed an honor. I've heard many things about you from your days in the Eastern Rebellion."

Roy stiffened his arms and bowed slightly. "Warden Lohn."

"Please, there is no need for such formality." The Warden replied, gesturing towards an empty leather chair. "Would you like something warm to drink?"

The young man inwardly groaned. He didn't have time for this. He needed to be at the station when the prisoners arrived.

"I appreciate the gesture, but I really need to meet the train to help unload the prisoners."

"The prisoners are already here, Colonel. They came last night."

An audible gasp of surprise escaped Roy's lips. "But—"

"They arrived early." The Warden's clear, sharp eyes surveyed the young man, studying him as he stood there, avoiding the offered chair. "I'm sure we tried to notify you, but we don't exactly have the best communications in this part of the country."

The onyx eyes slowly narrowed at that comment. Then why are they putting over three hundred supposedly dangerous criminals here? Roy suddenly nodded and headed for the door.

"Well, part of my job is to ensure that they are in their cells and that the prison is up to par." He informed, a fierce authority taking root in his voice. He headed for the door before nodding towards the gray-haired man. "I'll find you once I've completed the inspection."

Roy expected the man to follow him, to protest letting him loose in the prison. But the Warden simply smiled and gestured towards two guards.

"Would you like any help, Colonel?"

The State Alchemist slowly shook his head, wondering just what exactly he was about to find. He slid his hands into his pockets, trying to appear more relaxed, but his senses remained fiercely acute. It was what one of his senses didn't pick up that struck the young man first. Sound. It was quiet. Too quiet. Only the echo of his dark boots making contact with the cement floor resonated against the silence. Roy's dark eyebrows lowered as he peered into the claustrophobic cells, each with two cots shoved against the crumbling walls. The prisoners were sitting very still, hands clasped in their laps, staring at the floor. They were all very….complacent. Roy had seen a lot of prisoners in his time—some soldiers in the Rebellion, others in the outposts where he was stationed—and one thing was for certain:

The young colonel had never seen any like this.

Their faces were a sickly gray in the dim light, their cheeks sunken in from an obviously far too restrictive diet. Not a single prisoner acknowledged him, nor did they betray that they even realized he was there. Every one kept his hollow eyes focused on the ground as he walked by. Roy walked down a few dusty corridors before finally approaching one of the guards and demanding to inspect the prison's provisions. The guard seemed less than thrilled, but obliged without a word of protest. Roy drew his eyes to the side as they walked down to the cellar, watching the man with a quiet distrust.

"These are your food supplies?" Roy asked, eyeing the stacks of crates.

"Yes, sir."

"There seems to be more than an ample stockpile here." He commented, his onyx eyes suddenly drawn to a large crate in the corner. "Why are the prisoners so emaciated?"

"They refuse to eat." The guard answered matter-of-factly. "Religious protest or something."

Roy lowered his eyebrows, causing a furrow between his brows. "Religious protest?"

"That's all I know. Are you finished in here, sir?"

But the sudden gleam of metal from behind the slats of the large crate told Roy he wasn't. The State Alchemist shook his head as he turned back to the young guard. "I need a final count of the prisoners before I leave." He ordered. "I'll do a quick inventory here while you take care of that. After all, you know the prison better than I do."

The guard did not look pleased. "Yes, sir."

Roy waited for a few minutes until after the heavy footsteps receded before he shifted the heavy cloth that was partially draped over the large wooden box. That's when a glimpse of two bright orbs greeted him.

"Alphonse."

The white eyes grew very bright. "Colonel!"

Roy nodded as he examined the large crate. "Your brother's been worried about you, kiddo."

Al straightened up, knocking the top of his armored head against the rough wood of his cramped prison. "Ed is here, sir? But I thought…."

The older one shook his head. "He's in Youswell."

"B-But they told me they had him….at the Inn…when he didn't come back…."

A look of guilt briefly washed over the Colonel's striking face. "They told you he was in custody?"

"Yes, sir." Al whispered, his voice drowning in worry. "They said that once I helped them transport boxes from the mine, I'd be taken to him. B-But….h-he was never in their custody?"

"He…..Well, Alphonse, he…." Roy swallowed hard and lowered his head, an uncharacteristic sheepishness creeping into his dark eyes.

"He was with you, sir?" Al finished.

The older one felt his face flush slightly at the question. "He….I found him outside my apartment that night." He quietly explained. "He was soaked from the snow. I didn't want him going back to the inn in the storm."

"Brother is safe, then, Colonel?"

A twinge of panic grabbed a hold of the older one for a few seconds before he finally forced a smile to his lips. "Yes." He promised, hoping he had sounded much more certain than he actually felt. "Besides, you know Ed is more than capable of taking care of himself."

The armored head lowered a little in agreement. "Yes, sir." Al quietly replied. "But usually when I'm there to keep his temper in check."

Roy's smile widened for a moment before he nodded. His onyx eyes narrowed as he searched for a crowbar among the scattered tools in the corner.

"Or you, sir."

The hunt for the metal tool paused for a moment as Roy processed those three small words. He turned his head just slightly to the side, catching a glimpse of those trapped glowing eyes. His own softened as he finally turned back to the dull metal bar propped against a battered crate.

"You try to protect us."

The older one shrugged, leaning down to procure the tool. "Not very well, I'm afraid."

"But you do, sir." Al protested, wriggling a little in his wooden prison. "Ed knows that, but he wants you to think he doesn't need it. He wants you to think that he's able to do things by himself. That's important to him, Colonel."

Roy sighed as he took the cold tool into his gloved hand. "Here, we need to hurry." He somberly replied, changing the subject. "They'll be looking for me soon enough. I don't think they're too happy to have me looking around their supply room."

The older alchemist slid the metal in between the slats of the crate near its edge, working to pry the corner open. The nails, now free from being wedged deep within the splintering wood, clattered to the floor below. "Al…." Roy started, finally popping open one side of the tall frame. The hesitation in his voice betrayed that he wasn't quite sure he wanted the answer to the question he was about to ask. "Do you know who took you? Were they soldiers?"

Al was able to move his arms enough to push against the wall of the crate. It creaked loudly before snapping off from the tremendous weight. "No, they weren't soldiers, sir." He answered, stepping out onto the concrete floor. "But they had weapons. Lots of them."

Roy's eyes narrowed in thought as he nodded towards the now splintered box. Al understood. He clapped his hands together and placed them on the broken slats, transmuting them back into place.

"What did they have you and the other prisoners take out of that mine?"

Al's white eyes narrowed as he inspected the now undamaged crate. "There were no others, sir." He answered, confused. "Just me."

"Just…..Alphonse, didn't you see the blood in the mines? It was all over….."

The white eyes had gone very still. "B-Blood?"

The older alchemist realized then that whatever had happened in the mines occurred after the gentle soul had been there. He forced a smile to his lips trying to comfort the distraught younger Elric.

"I'm not sure what it was, Alphonse." He tried to convince. "Do you know what they had you move?"

"No, sir." The slight hitch in the trapped voice betrayed that Al was not convinced by the Colonel's words. "They just had me move a lot of heavy crates from the mines to some large trucks. I couldn't tell what was in them, but I don't think it was anything they mined."

"Well, whoever—"

A sudden rattling at the top of the stairs jarred them both. Roy motioned for the boy to hide his bulky body of metal behind the crates, draping part of the cloth over him. Then he leaned down, feigning inspection of a few boxes of canned food.

"All of the prisoners are account for, Colonel Mustang."

Roy slowly nodded, heading towards the door. "I'll just sign that and be on my way." The officer indicated, gesturing towards the clipboard in the guard's hands. He intended on creating a small pyro-generated diversion once he was outside the prison walls so that he could slip back in and free Al. He intended. But as the Colonel had very quickly learned, when it came to the Elric brothers, nothing seemed to go as planned.

And definitely not when one wayward Fullmetal Alchemist managed to slide in the small windows at the top of the basement wall, dropping next to the bulky figure covered with a dark sheet.

"Brother!"

Ed turned around, his braid swinging up and against his cheek. "Al?" His golden eyes widened at the sight of the two glowing ones behind dusty sheet. He jumped over the smaller boxes, the tips his black boots catching the edges. He stumbled forward, nearly smashing through the wooden container that had housed his younger brother. "Al!"

Roy's brows furrowed at the sudden commotion from behind the doors of the supply room. He signed the last of the paperwork before handing it to the younger officer.

"Should I check, sir? Make sure everything is alright in there?"

The Colonel shook his head. "I'll do it." He stated, his tone taking a sudden almost deadly firmness to it. "It's most likely a rat or two drawn in by the ample supply of uneaten food you have." He quietly answered. "A very small rat…."

"Yes, sir."

Roy waited until the man was out of earshot before he heavily sighed. "That better have been my imagination."

But as the Colonel reached for the handle of the door, he knew better. He knew his imagination was going to be a short, blond haired alchemist with blazing eyes and a temper to match.

Roy was right.

"Damn it, Edward."

The younger alchemist swung around, his eyes pure fire. "Damn it?" He repeated incredulously. "Damn it? That's all you have to say to me? You son of a bitch! You aren't here to inspect the border towns—you're transferring prisoners! You knew Al might be here, and you kept it from me! How can you—"

A firm hand pressed against his lips stopped the boy's feral rage. He felt himself being shoved against a wooden crate, its splinters scraping against his back.

"Edward!" Roy warned, his dark eyes narrowed. "Calm down. Half the prison can hear you!"

"So what!" The boy lashed back. "You goddamn hypocrite! You lecture me about trust, and you lie to me every chance you get. I sat in your apartment while my brother was out here alone, thinking that you would actually stay true to your word. Thinking that you would actually help me like you promised. But it was all bullshit, wasn't it? All you really do is pull the strings and make damn sure that I know it. Well, I get it now, Roy. I get it. As long as you're in my life, you'll always try to run it."

The gloved hand slowly dropped, releasing its grasp from the collar of the black jacket. Roy drew back and closed his eyes for a few seconds, trying to gather his thoughts. When he finally opened his mouth, piecing together his answer for the seething boy, it wasn't his voice that broke the unbearable silence.

"He's just trying to help us, Brother." Al sorrowfully asserted.

"Well, not anymore!" Ed shouted, his eyes blazing. "You can go back to that shit-hole apartment of yours and drink yourself to death staring at your goddamn medals every night! Al and I have more important things to do, and we don't need your help! You're out of our lives, Roy. Get it? From this moment on, you're out of our lives."

Roy breathed out a very defeated sigh. His passive demeanor was a stark contrast from the blazing fury that was seething just inches from him. He reached up and ran his gloved fingers through his raven locks, brushing them out of his stern face.

"Don't be foolish, Edward." He quietly replied. "If you're transferred to another officer's command, you risk exposing your secret."

"That won't work with me anymore, bastard." Ed quickly shot back. "Al and I are on our own now. I'm breaking free of your leash. I'm not the military's dog anymore. We're finding that stone on our own."

"Brother—"

The sudden sound of quickly approaching footsteps cut through the oppressive silence. Roy straightened his jacket before taking a step back.

"You do what you have to, Edward." He hollowly said. Then he headed towards the stairs to meet whoever was waiting on the other side of the door for him.

"Ah, Colonel." Warden Lohn greeted, a wooden smile plastered across his thin lips. "I trust your inspection is almost complete?"

"Almost." Roy replied, giving a curt nod.

"I'm a little surprised that an officer as esteemed as yourself would be doing such a simple duty out here."

Roy's eyes narrowed edgily. "I do what my country and the Fuhrer ask of me."

The Warden nodded, his face expressionless. "Well, as I said before, I heard many things about the famed Flame Alchemist during the uprising in Ishbal." He continued, paying no heed that the tone in the younger man's voice had warned him not to. "You very expertly took out many of their strongholds…..even carried out a few executions, as I understand it."

The young alchemist's shoulders straightened and he lifted his chin a little, staring icily at the man across from him. This was one conversation he did not want the Elric brothers to hear. As he studied the older man, it occurred to him that he wasn't the only one pulling the strings. His finding Al seemed a bit too…..easy. A bit too contrived. Roy's onyx eyes slowly narrowed as this revelation began to churn in his mind. "As I said, Warden, I do what is asked of me." Roy reached down and buttoned his wool coat, his eyes remaining in a severe lock with the older one's. "Now—if you'll excuse me, as this assignment is complete, I have a train to catch."

Roy headed down the narrow corridor towards the gated entrance of the prison.

He didn't turn back.

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"Brother, are you sure it's a good idea to be back here?"

Ed had his head lowered, trying to avoid the bitter winds coming from the dusk-cloaked sky. They had taken the train back to Youswell, deciding that despite the argument Ed had with the Colonel, the near-desolate mining town was still the best lead they had. The older Elric shoved his numb hands in his pockets and shrugged.

"I need my clothes back." He sounded as if he was trying to convince himself more than his younger brother. "And this is the best place to find out what's going on with the prisoners. Something happened in that mine, Al. Something the Fuhrer doesn't want us to know. We need to find out what."

"But they'll be looking for you." The armored Elric carefully countered. "They'll probably send the Colonel to find us."

The blond scoffed before rolling his eyes. They were inside the town now, just a few blocks from Roy's apartment. The hazy storm clouds that filled the sunless sky were beginning to dissipate, leaving something else in their wake. Something the boys would soon notice. "He'll be too busy finding his next glass of scotch to worry about a couple of strays." He icily retorted. "Besides, we—"

A sudden gasp from the usually quite giant beside him stopped Ed's thought from completing. When he turned towards the metal shell that housed his brother, he found the white eyes glowing widely, staring up at the sky. That's when he saw what had caused the reaction in his brother. That's when he saw the thick, black smoke that began to choke the muted sky above them.

"Brother…."

Ed's heart clenched in his chest. The ominous, billowing sign was too close to Roy's apartment. But it was probably just an abandoned building, the boy tried to convince himself. And even if it wasn't, Roy was most likely already drowning his guilt in his usual amnesiac of choice. Ed's jaw tensed as he picked up the speed of his steps.

"Bastard probably overdid it showing off to some waitress." He mumbled, not realizing just how quickly he was walking, or how much Al was struggling with his bulky armor to keep up. When they finally turned the corner to the decaying building that was Roy's home, Ed discovered just how wrong he was.

"What….."

The apartment where Ed had been just that morning was now just a pile of charred beams and crumbling ashes. The kitchen where he had painstakingly prepared dinner as a surprise for Roy was now just a burned skeleton with a warped shell of an oven and refrigerator. The bedroom where he had fumbled through losing his virginity as he clung to the powerful frame moving deeper and deeper inside him was now completely obliterated. There was a crowd of onlookers gathered around, murmuring to each other as they watched the soldiers picking through the still steaming ruins. The sound of the water that had finally extinguished the blaze dripping from the smoking rubble and fragmented wood echoed loudly against them.

But Ed noticed none of that. His wide, disbelieving eyes were focused solely on one horrific image.

Two soldiers were carrying a stretcher from the ruins, a thin white cloth covering the outline of a charred corpse lying on its dark green fabric. From under the softly rippling sheet, a hand jostled by the movement of the two men as they struggled with the stretcher slipped free. A hand that was covered in the mired remains of a white glove. Its red alchemic circle was one that the two Elric boys knew very well.

A low, agonized moan made its way from deep inside Ed as he slowly sank to his knees.

"Roy….."

Al just stared in utter shock, his brother's shallow breaths echoing around him. "Colonel….." He sorrowfully whispered. "No…."

Ed reached up and grabbed his bangs, yanking on them masochistically. "ROY!"

TBC…..

A/N: Thanks again to everyone reading, and especially those reviewing! It's encouraging to hear feedback from readers. :) And thanks to everyone who's favorite the story—that makes me feel awesome!