Summary: Roy is captured and tortured and Edward willingly offers to help Mustang to recover from his injuries but he never expected how close they'd grow in that time or the risk that Roy's captors were to his own life and to the lives of everyone he cares for.
Rating: M - Check each chapter for the individual warnings about what it contains.
Warning:
AN: So while I reread this chapter I picked up on some inconsistencies so I have edited Chapter 13 and uploaded it so its should all run better now. And I am sorry for the delay in updates. Life has been chaotic lately. I hope you all enjoy this chapter and as always reviews are always welcome and appreciated. Thanks.
Chapter 14
For the past two weeks Alphonse had been going out of his mind with worry. Winry had been by his side throughout it, also worried for Edward and Mustang who were still missing, but she had also been worried about Al himself. She was making him food and making sure that he got some sleep. Al's sleep was restless and broken and he'd wake up still exhausted. He was doing everything he could to try and help Roy's team find the general and his brother, but none of it was working and Alphonse had since turned his attention to alchemy to see if he could find some way to track them. The last anyone had seen of either they were in an alley with one of Ed's attackers. The man's body was found in the alley and the official death certificate stated that he'd had a heart attack. Maes had explained that the man had taken an arsenic pill which had caused the heart attack.
Al knelt in the alley with his head in his hands, Winry was by his side watching him with concern. The younger Elric brother was feeling lost. He wanted his brother to be found safe and brought home, he couldn't stand the thought that something had happened to Edward or that his brother wouldn't come home to him.
Al tried to picture what would have happened here from what he was told, but he couldn't get the words to take shape in his mind. He couldn't understand why Mustang and his brother hadn't thought back or been seen getting taken. Al sighed and ran his hands through his short blonde hair just as Winry crouched beside him and placed a gentle hand on his arm.
"Where the hell is he?" Al muttered, looking up at Winry. His hopeless was written all over his face and the expression that he gave Winry broke her heart. She took his hand but she struggled for words that would comfort him because she knew that without his brother there were no words with the power of comforting him. She was just as lost as he was, but she had to believe that Edward would be okay, because if he wasn't okay, then she'd lose them both.
Hawkeye paced the office, she'd stayed late in the hopes of finding some piece of information, a tiny shred of something that would help her find Roy and Edward. It was her duty to keep Roy safe, she'd vowed to keep him safe, even if that had meant following him into hell and then one smoke grenade later and he was gone, along with Edward.
Riza looked up when she heard the door open and sighed slightly when she saw Jean step into the office with two mugs of coffee. She'd sent the team home a few hours ago and ordered them to get some rest, but she should have known that Jean wouldn't pay that any heed. "You should be at home." She said simply, but she couldn't be angry at him. They were all anxious and scared.
"So should you." Havoc replied with a shrug as he moved to her and handed her a coffee. "But I knew you'd still be here beating yourself up about it and I thought I could sit with you to keep you company." He told her, kissing her forehead. "Its not your fault, Riza. You need to rest as well. We need you to be at your best."
Riza was about to reply when the office phone rang out and her hope bloomed in her gut. She rushed to the phone and answered it but she got no response. Listening into what was happening she was able to hear a girl's voice sounding worried about the state a male was in and the hope in Hawkeye's gut rapidly began to die. Who was hurt? Was it Roy or Ed? Without warning or anyone speaking into the phone, the line went dead.
"Roy! Edward!" Riza called out to the dead line. She took a moment to compose herself and then turned to Havoc. "Get Fuery in here. Get him to track the number that just called." She instructed while Jean moved to grab his car keys from the desk on his way out of the door to get the communications expert into the office. Riza then started to call the rest of the team to let them know what happened. Riza tried to phone the number back, but it couldn't connect. Within half an hour the team were back in the office trying to track the number to a house.
"How did you get away?" Edward asked Roy as he leant heavily against the door frame. Roy stayed near him and hesitated. He then took Edward's arm and encouraged him towards the table. "They didn't keep me as guarded as they'd kept you." Roy explained, pulling a chair out for Ed. "They left me with one of their men, but they underestimated me. I managed to knock him out and take his knife to cut the ropes off my wrists and to make the array in my hand." Roy explained. He stopped there, hoping Ed didn't ask more. He'd killed the man, and had searched his body for the key to his room and the one to Edward's, but the man hadn't had anything else on him.
"You killed him, didn't you?" Ed asked, and Roy met his eyes. After a moment, Roy just nodded with a sigh. Edward nodded back. "Good. These bastards deserve it." He muttered as Roy offered him a small smile and then glanced around the room, looking for a phone, spotting one within moments.
Edward sunk into the kitchen chair just as Roy picked up the phone and dialled the office number. He didn't doubt that his men would be there desperately looking for them or anything that would help guide the way and fill in the blanks. The phone had just rung once when the sound of footsteps made him tense and glance at Ed. The alchemist had placed his head on his arms on the table and was resting his head on them, his ill and bleached out looking face was framed by a golden halo and his eyes were shut.
Just as the phone was answered by a harassed sounding Hawkeye, a young woman appeared in the doorway. She had strawberry blonde hair that fell in loose waves around her shoulders and down to her waist. She was slim and petite but with large brown innocent eyes. She wore a white dress that hugged her small frame, but it was splattered with a deep, dark red that was quite clearly blood. She gasped when she saw Edward and ran towards him, making Roy tense and move to stop her. She froze by Edward's side, her hand outstretched as if to brush the alchemist's hair back, and stared at him in shock.
A male appeared at the door then, a male that was a little older looking but the double of the girl by Edward. His strawberry blonde hair was shaggy and a little longer than Roy's own hair. He was taller than his sister, but as slim as her. Despite his slim stature though, it was clear that beneath his black jeans and white shirt that he was lean and strong, very much like Edward was himself.
Roy moved closer, ignoring the phone now that there was a risk to Fullmetal. The brother moved in front of the girl who had turned her attention back from her brother to Edward – completely ignoring Roy - and brushed his hair back with a sad whimper. Edward whined softly, but he didn't stir from his slumber. "Oh god, what have they done to him?" She mumbled, kneeling at his side and shaking her head. Roy was almost certain that he saw tears in her eyes, but he didn't understand her gentle compassion for Ed. Did she know him? The male moved past Roy and hung up the phone before disconnecting it as he then moved back to his sister's side.
The girl stood up again, turning to face her brother with tear filled eyes and shook her head in confusion. "How could they do this? Look at him, Raul!" She exclaimed, covering her face with her hands.
"Who the hell are you?" Roy snapped, taking a step closer. He glanced at Edward and his concern grew more. Just how bad was he right now? Fullmetal wouldn't just fall asleep when they were in danger like this. Roy slowly made his way to Edward, but Raul moved in front of him, silent still and cast a glance at his sister. It was only then, up close that Roy was able to focus on the blood that stained the girl's arms. It was fresh.
The girl saw him look at her arms and grinned at him. "We came here looking for Mr Elric. I knew he was here. They were hurting him, starving him. They couldn't get away with how they were treating him." The girl said so sweetly that Roy just stared at her, his hand clenching slightly. He didn't want to kill more people, especially two young adults that must have been about Edward's age, but he would if he had to. He would to keep Ed safe.
Edward groaned slightly and Roy watched as his eyelids fluttered open. Golden eyes searched the room as Ed came to and when the alchemist noticed the two strangers he flinched away, stumbling back from the table and almost tripping over the chair he'd been sitting on. His panic was clear and only settled when his gaze rested on Roy and saw that he wasn't hurt. Hesitantly, Edward moved to the flame alchemist and the two siblings took a step back as he past them. Edward then stood by Roy's side, wanting nothing more than to collapse against him. Instead he kept a wary eye on the two redheads.
"We're not here to hurt you, Edward." Raul said, speaking for the first time in a voice that was deeper than Roy expected it to be. He glanced at his sister with a fond smile. "Cassidy found you. She has the vision and knew you were here. She knew that you needed help." He explained, wrapping a protective arm around his sister's waist.
"The vision? What the hell are you lunatics on about? How do you know my name?" Ed snapped, only managing to stay calm as Roy put a hand on the small of his back. It was a simple gesture that spoke volumes. Roy was here with him, he'd be here through it all. He cared, hell Mustang loved him and one simple touch was enough to sooth all his tension.
"I see things. Its a gift from Seraphina, to help us on our mission. It led us to you, Edward." Cassidy explained, taking a step closer and frowning when Edward fell into a defensive stance. "The last thing we want is to hurt you. Please, let us help. Come with us, you can both shower and get your wounds looked at and Raul is a great cook. We can explain everything then."
Edward glanced up at Roy with a frown. He didn't trust these two, but he didn't have the energy to fight them off. Roy kept his hand on Edward's back and that was enough comfort for him to feel safe. The thought of a hot shower was almost enough to make him wilt and give into their demands but he still didn't trust them. The promise of food and hot water was enough for him to lower his guard. These two, despite sounding insane, seemed to be fans of Edward. How much damage could these two actually do?
"Fine. But if any of you so much as lays a hand on Edward I'll kill you myself." Roy demanded, giving the girl a hard look. "And we've not to be separated. Understand?" Raul looked as though he was about to argue, but Cassidy placed a hand on her brothers arm and stopped him in his tracks. It was clear that her brother would do anything that she asked, but Edward also had a brother and he knew that Raul wouldn't just stand back if he truly felt that his sister was wrong. Cassidy nodded in reply to Roy.
"Of course." She said, giving Roy a smile. "We have a double room free, with its own bathroom. I can arrange for two single beds if you're uncomfortable with the double that's in the room." She told them, glancing back at Edward with a knowing smile that would have made him blush if he had the energy.
"How far away in this place?" Roy asked, ignoring the girl's comment about a double bed, but his heart did race slightly. He knew that he should demand that single beds be brought in, but the thought of lying wrapped around Edward under those sheets was far too tempting for him to give up on the chance of having it.
"The old converted church on the far end of town." Raul answered for his sister. "We have a car parked outside, we can take you there."
The car ride didn't take too long, but the moment Roy and Ed were in the back seats the young blonde had curled up against Roy and was instantly asleep. Roy envied him and his ease for a moment before scolding himself. Edward wasn't at ease nor was he relaxed, the case was simply that his body had been beaten and starved and now that the immediate threat was gone, his body was taking what it needed from the young alchemist if he wanted it to or not.
Roy ran his fingers through Edward's knotted bangs and wrapped an arm around him. How long had they been missing? A week? More? How long would it take for Edward to have gotten so weak and small beneath his arm? Roy watched the two redheads in front of him. They were silent and overly calm but the sister still had blood staining her arm and clothes. It had just been them, and Roy was curious about how she was able to silently kill at least two men. She glanced at him and offered him a smile, turning in her seat as her brother continued to drive. "He's so precious looking, isn't he?" She mumbled softly, reaching her hand out until Roy flinched. She offered him an apologetic smile and took her hand away again. "I understand your fear, General. I don't know fully what those men did to you and Edward, or what they planned to do, but you've been mistreated for three weeks, so naturally..."
"Three weeks?" Roy interrupted, shaking his head slightly. "How? Are you sure it was three weeks?" He asked, glancing down at Edward. Now wonder he was so broken looking. He'd been beaten and starved and tormented for three weeks. Roy curled his hand into a fist as the anger took hold of him. He'd kill the bastards for touching Ed. How dare they do this to him all because of some sick twisted seed of want that was placed by a dead man.
"I understand that you probably won't trust us to make you food. Would you want to watch them make it?" Cassidy asked softly, pointedly ignoring her brother's raised eyebrows. Roy just nodded in reply to her. He didn't trust her. She seemed sweet and harmless, but she was clearly far from it and the fact that she wasn't taking them straight back to the military or the police meant that Roy wouldn't let his guard down fully around them.
"How did you kill those men? Have you killed others." He heard himself asking as the car turned into a new street and the old converted church came into view. The church had caught fire some years back and was left damaged for a couple of years before a wealthy noble bought it, fixed it up and apparently created a beautiful, elegant home for his family – except that he died with no heir and the church was then put up for sale.
"That's a long story, General." Cassidy said as the car pulled up outside of the building. The redheaded twins got out and the door to Edward's side opened and Raul reached out to take Edward but Cassidy took her brother's hand and shook her head. She moved around the car and opened Roy's door, stepping to the side to let him out. Roy scooped Ed up into his arms, surprised briefly by the boy's weight before he remembered the automail. Other than a brief whine of annoyance, Edward didn't stir or wake.
With a deep sinking feeling in his gut, Roy followed the twins inside the building. In better circumstances, Roy would have been in awe of the building with its high ceilings and painted glass windows, but he wasn't in better circumstances and instead instinctively searched for escape routes. Roy followed Cassidy up the staircase and into the second room on the left. The room was large with a four poster bed sitting with its drapes tied up neatly. There was also a dresser and two bookcases and a self standing mirror, but other than that the room was empty. There was a door in the right wall that Roy assumed led to the bathroom. He moved into the room and gently placed Ed down on the bed and then glanced at Cassidy. She pointed to the dresser. "Top drawer has some spare clothes and towels in it. I don't know how well they'd fit, but what you're wearing is ruined. We'll be making dinner in an hour. I'll get you before then so you can ensure that we're not poisoning you." She said before giving him a kind smile and heading out of the room and locking the door.
Roy sighed and ran a hand through his hair before moving to the mirror and taking in his appearance for the first time in a while. He was as pale as ever, but his face was gaunt looking and the dark, tired circles beneath his eyes stood out shockingly. His hair was really needing washed and his skin was dirty but he didn't look half as bad as Edward. At least he wasn't covered in thees weeks worth of old blood – except his clothes of course.
"Should have knew the first thing you'd do would be check yourself out." Edward groaned from behind Roy, his voice still sounding tired. The raven haired alchemist glanced over his shoulder at Ed and let a smile spread across his lips at the small playful smirk that Ed was giving him. The blonde was sitting on the end of the bed and gripping the sides as he watched him.
Roy moved to him and brushed dirty blonde hair away from the alchemist's face. Edward's right eye was blackened and swollen and there was a still healing cut across the youth's lip and another just above his eyebrow. His flesh arm was littered with bruises and Roy had no doubt that Edward had broken ribs. He'd seen the way Envy had beaten him and threw him into the metal of the cot. Roy reached out and took Edward's hands as he knelt in front of him. He ran his thumbs over Edward's knuckles and watched him closely, saddened by the fact that it didn't take long for the playfulness that Edward had summoned to vanish again.
"If they so much as lay a finger on you, I'll kill them." Roy muttered, dropping his gaze as Edward shook his head with a mumble about how that was too extreme, but Roy would have none of it. "They know that I will Edward. If what she says is true and that she doesn't want to hurt you, then she won't touch you. I can't bare it if someone else hurts you."
Edward cupped Roy's face in his hands and scoffed. "Idiot." He mumbled, tugging Roy to sit on the bed. "I'm not the only one at risk here. What if they hurt you? What if its you that these two are after?" He asked. It was something that the General hadn't considered. Everything had related to Edward recently that he didn't even consider that he was the goal, and he didn't think that these two were any different.
"The brother, Raul, I don't think he cares either way, at least not as much as his sister. Cassidy on the other, she almost seems to worship you." Roy said, letting his gaze wandering across Edward's face and take in all his features. He could understand why, Edward was gorgeous, he was ethereal. "She is definitely after you and I just hope that its not to hurt you because I've never like killing, especially someone so young. But I cannot let any more harm come to you Edward. I could never live with myself."
"I'm sorry." Edward mumbled, offering a sad smile at Roy's confusion. "They made you watch as they beat me. As they... Its the only why you could have known about Envy's mistake with what you said to me, so I'm sorry. You shouldn't have had to see that."
Roy found himself laughing. Edward was so ridiculous sometimes. Here he was, this brilliant young genius, beaten and half broken apologising because his superior officer had to watch him get hurt. "Edward, don't. You don't need to be sorry that I saw. You need to be pissed that they did this to you. It was about you, I was just along for the ride."
"Because I love you." Edward mumbled, watching Roy for a reaction. "They took you because I love you and they want to hurt you to hurt me. Promise me that you'll look after yourself, Roy." Ed demanded. Ed turned to face him with the slightest winch of pain and wrapped an arm around himself, hugging his injured ribs. Roy watched him and then gently took his hand.
"Neither of us are going to get more hurt. Now go get a shower and freshen up." Roy said gently, leaning in and placing a loving kiss on Edward's forehead. Roy then stood up and moved to the dresser to try and find them both some clean clothes that would fit them. He listened as Edward moved into the bathroom and waited until he heard the shower start until he looked back at the bed. They'd be sharing that bed later tonight. He wasn't sure how he'd cope having Edward so close to him.