Paon: Oh he has plenty of injuries -cackle- And Ed needs his friends right now.
anmb: ...I disclaim all responsibility for what happened to your car XD.
Bar-Ohki: Never fear, they will. I consider myself a complete person, I just purposely left stuff like this unanswered up till the last chapters. And there are men, do not worry. I actually like writing men better... no idea why, but it's probably due to the fact I write so much Roy and Ed stuff lately.
Ethereal: Yes, poor Ed. But at least Hawkeye came to his rescue in all her rifle-bearing glory. Never mess with a woman who knows how to shoot a gun.
Nini: That was fairly strange, but I feel honored I could bring out that side of you.
Shawn: Wow, that is excitement.
dontwaitup: I am so glad I can provide then.
Fifty four chapters you all have been through... that's a decent amount. I'm even surprised myself that I have written so much for this, and I actually wanted to write more. Heck, when I first began this, I even had an alternate storyline to what you all have read. I never finished writing it as more than ideas, but still. I've grown attached to this. I grow attached to all my stories. But I think that's true for any of us.
Anyway, to the chapter. Have fun!
Chapter Fifty Four
He was trying to get back to Headquarters, really, he was. But when the populous kept getting in his way every three point eight seconds and trying to ask him what all the explosions earlier had been about, it was difficult to gain any ground. Apparently these people were clueless to the fact that they should get the hell away from him.
Not only did he have somewhere he felt he needed to be, but he was fairly sure he was being followed.
Right now, he was letting his restraints on his alchemy slip to give him enough power to wipe out the dangers to him in one hit, and in a matter of seconds. He didn't want to give a retaliation too much time to launch and possibly force back his flames even for an instant. He could not do that however if civilians were around. He would have to resort to his usual methods of what he now considered, minor fiery explosions. And that was hardly enough to satisfy him.
"I wouldn't be running if I wasn't in a hurry!" Roy pointed out as he weaved in and out, and away as best he could. "Coming through!"
He kept running.
"Move your damn dog!"
"Excuse me!"
"Ow! Sorry!"
"Someone call off that dog!"
"Emergency, move!"
Roy continued to call out as he made his way towards Headquarters.
At least he was gaining ground against the overweight Labrador that had been chasing after him and barking. But it was one of the few upsides right now.
Even as he continued to steadily, even if slowly, make his way back to Headquarters, he couldn't help but think painfully on Ed with every step. He felt nearly certain that Edward would go back there after he'd dealt with that chimera. But he worried on the kind of reception the alchemist would get.
And he was hating himself for the reception he'd given Edward.
Edward had never done anything wrong, he knew that. And he'd been a scared enough fool to once again believe that Edward could possibly betray him in some way or another. How many times must he repeat the same lesson? He loved Edward, and he knew Edward in ways that the alchemist barely allowed himself to know. Edward wasn't the one capable of betrayal.
He had to be better, he would be better. He could not expect to possibly be worthy of Edward otherwise. He only hoped that Edward might be able to accept his apology.
Yet, when Edward had stood there, saying those words that had broken through the confused haze Roy had found himself in, he hadn't heard blame in Ed's voice. Just resolute sadness. And when Edward had looked at him, he had not seen blame then either.
Edward had not fought him, merely defended himself. And when Roy's life had been in danger, he'd wasted no time in protecting him. He could not see how in any way, Edward blamed him for what had happened.
But he still blamed himself.
He'd apologize to Ed, and he would confess his love for the man. But right now it seemed hard to hope that Edward could possibly return his feelings after what he'd done.
Roy made it to only three blocks away from Headquarters when he was forced to stop.
The crowds had finally vanished, along with the traffic. This road was less used just for the mere fact that it was more of a back road than anything else. It bordered the river which ran under the bridge that would need to be crossed to get to his destination. It was vacant here, aside from two men who were leaning on opposite ends of the bridge railing.
But he knew they were not civilians, beyond the fact that he recognized them from so long ago.
"He finally decided to join us." One of them remarked as their eyes landed on Roy.
"Yes, shame he killed Bradley before we could. I'd rather like some revenge, but he'll have to do." The other agreed.
"He was one of those who testified against us."
"Ah, yes good point."
Roy stood perfectly still, a hard glint entering his black eyes. "I see you two are still unfortunately alive." He remarked in turn, "though I should have suspected that Kimblee was not the only sadist who managed somehow to survive and make a reappearance."
"Kimblee was a fool to let himself get involved with that group." One man said, and shed his outer coat while pulling the hood back all the way to reveal a head of red hair and bright blue eyes.
"Doesn't appear that you two did much better for yourselves." Roy remarked, and watched as the other man also removed his coat.
The two were twins, the only difference being the fact that one of them had dyed their naturally white hair red.
Roy had thought he'd seen the last of them after the war in Ishbal. But it seemed that some things were too good to hope for. True, he had testified against them. They'd been sent to a secure prison not long after the trial. It seemed that they'd either broken out, or been broken out. Either way he'd had other things on his mind, and had not ever thought about keeping tabs on such people as these two before him now.
He'd just have to finish the job that should have been done over a decade ago, on his own.
"You've certainly done well, becoming Fuhrer." The white haired twin remarked.
"And unfortunately for you, the height of your power has gotten to the level where we feel it is time to act." The redhead continued.
"By killing Edward." Roy filled in, already knowing what this faction of disgraced individuals played at. "It's certainly the most logical idea you lot have had, he is more powerful than you can even imagine. You should have realized that he cannot be killed so easily. And neither can I."
"I think we'll just have to see about that, won't we? Nathan?" The redhead spoke as a slender stick of white chalk appeared between his fingers.
Nathan, who was already making for the nearby bridge railing with his own stick of chalk, smirked. "Love to."
"Chalk, I'm so scared." Roy growled, and his fingers came together with a snap that rang so loudly it echoed off the water of the river nearby.
The ground erupted, flames materialized from thin air as the air was manipulated. The barricade of cement, steel support beams for the bridge, and the general hard packed earth that had been thrust up to block the fires consuming path were charred black by the fire. The steel melted into silver streams that flowed out over the debris, and took on an orange-red glow as the flames subsided.
Roy quickly changed his methods. The fire itself had been blocked, he'd need to explode his way through it seemed. And he was more than happy to do just that. He was not about to be held back by two washed out and disgraced alchemists who dared to think that they could stand against him with chalk and a lousy attitude.
He had to get to Edward, and these two were not going to stand in his way.
"Even together, you two are not enough to stand against me." Roy growled out as he raised his hand again, blinking against the smoke and dust that clouded the air. "Only Edward could ever stop me, and somehow I don't think he'll be coming to your rescue."
And he snapped again.
The boom of the explosion shook more than the air around it. The ground underneath Roy's feet wavered, and he was forced to spread his stance wider to avoid being sent to the ground ungracefully by the shock waves.
The bridge vibrated, and fissures ran along the entirety of the structure. Several chunks of the bottom foundation had been blasted loose, and now fell into the river with tidal wave splashes. The barrier that had been erected to block the fire was blown harshly to mere dust, and melted steel flung through the air like molten rain. A cloud of thick, acrid black smoke began to plume its way towards the sky that had been gradually getting smokier as Roy wreaked his own brand of alchemy about the city.
Roy covered his mouth and nose with his non-dominant hand, in an attempt to try and block some of the smoke from entering his lungs. And his eyes squinted against the clearing dust of debris as he sought out his opponents for remaining signs of life.
When he saw no movement for nearly a minute, he began to walk forward.
Cautiously.
He was not in any mood to be ambushed by a bunch of clever idiots who had managed to survive enough so that they believed they could make one last desperate ditch effort to exterminate his life.
He suddenly wished that Kang were with him right now. The panda would be able to know if there was any remaining danger. But he'd left the panda safely in his office, not wanting to risk having the animal hurt.
Roy rounded the last of the crater of destruction he'd caused, still blinking away the dust and smoke. And he approached the prone bodies lying on what had once been the road just before the bridge. It, like much of this city, would probably need to be repaired after all of this was said and done. Stopping next to them, his eyes went to the redhead, whose eyes were not yet glazed over.
"So tell me, Timothy, is this the end you and the rest of this absurd faction you belong to wanted? Did you foresee yourselves finally meeting the end you should have long ago?" Roy asked as he brought his hand away from his mouth so he could speak. "Yes, I am powerful. Yes, I may not have gotten to be as powerful as I am without Edward. But not everyone lets power go to their heads."
"Fuck you." Timothy managed to snap out as he lay there bleeding profusely from what remained of his body.
"You never were my type." Roy said, and raised his hands again. "How fortunate for you, that even I have some measure of mercy. Because oh how I'd love to let you suffer. As I have suffered because of you and yours."
"Do it." Timothy hissed out with a wince of blinding pain. "You'll both die soon enough."
"Not if we have anything to say about it." Roy replied, and snapped.
Roy watched, but not seeing, as Timothy was consumed by the scorching flames he procured from the air at his disposal. Once it was done, and he had made sure that Nathan too, was dead, he turned from the scene of destruction.
Now his steps once again turned towards Headquarters.
He paused as he reached the edge of the bridge, his black eyes scanning over it critically. He had damaged it, yes, but he was fairly sure that it was stable enough still to bear his slight weight across it. He would just have to take it slowly and not resume his running until he was across.
It would take too much time to go around, even at a run. This was the fastest way back to Headquarters, and Edward.
Roy took a deep breath, and began walking again, closing his ears to the slight groan the damaged structure gave. As well as the splashes in the river below.
He could not think about the bridge giving way on him. It would be bad for more than the physical injuries he would most likely gain. If his gloves got wet, he would be relatively useless. Wet chalk would do him no good, and yes, he did carry some with him for emergencies. He didn't carry a gun, and his sword was in his office. So no matter what, he had to get across before the bridge gave way. If it did.
A groaning creak split the air as the steel support beams protested the weight of the heavy bridge. The alchemist's transmutations had compromised the integrity of the steel frame, and much of it at one end was now missing. It would probably not stand for much longer. Perhaps an hour at most considering no cars were on the bridge, but it was weighty enough as is. An hour might be pushing it.
Several large splashes sounded from the river below, and the water seemed to surge in sound, bubbling and slapping harshly against its banks. Much of the bottom of the bridge was continuing to break off and away. Far too incomplete now to be repaired through simple alchemy.
Still somehow Roy managed to tune it out.
It may have been the determination behind him, and the assurance in his own decision to attempt to cross the damaged bridge. Or it may have been that the thought of getting to Edward as soon as he could was helping drive him across without panicking as to his position. Then, it might have been all of that.
He wasn't about to be stopped now, and come hell, or literal high water, he was going to get back to Edward and make things right. And those who stood against him had better start praying to whomever they will. He'd had enough of this weeks ago, and it was time for this madness to end.
"I'm coming, Ed." Roy muttered to himself as he continued to walk, and the bridge continued to protest its damage. "So please stay safe."
