A/N: Some light smuttiness in the beginning of the chapter. Once the italic bit comes in, you can read those and skim the rest if you want to skip that stuff.
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The sounds of the bar below them could still be heard as they moved to the room. The madame always kept one open for Riza, should they ever find their way back to this place they once called home. Every nerve in their body was reaching for him, but they did their best to remain in control, no matter how badly their fingers wanted to travel through his hair, or how much their tongue craved to taste his milky skin.
Roy locked the door as they blew out the light from the candles, and once the blinds were pulled, they grasped on to one another. Their hands moved in a frenzy of dire need, their mouths formed to one another in a physical attempt to create a language all their own.
Riza was not a creature of desire. Those born in the ways of their people were not a slave to emotions or wants, for those things weakened the senses; dulled the mind. Riza was bred to be a cold and calculated weapon of destruction; to follow orders faithfully and without question, and they proved to be exceptional. They never thought of a life outside of their people and their creed. That was until they met Roy.
He undid the binding that hid their curves as Riza thought of the young boy left in the wreckage of their people's wrath...
He clung so tightly to his elder's body, crying tears of pain and fury as their leader brought his sword up high. Never had they faltered in the face of death, but they grasped their own elder's hand and looked to him with pleading eyes, right before the fatal blow was struck to the weeping child.
His lips traveled down their navel and gasps escaped their mouth rapidly and fervently, like a bird's wings as it burst free from its cage.
The boy was safe—somehow, that was all that mattered. They spent the coming years traveling the southern edges of the country, pillaging towns and claiming land in the name of their king. It was an honor in their people's eyes to further their ruler's claim, but not to the orphan boy that lost everything. He hated them for not letting him be with his mother and father, and they found themself hating him for hating them.
Riza's nails ripped at his shoulders, and Roy growled into their skin.
They caught him leaving camp one night, and followed closely behind, with their bow in hand. No one could ever leave once they had joined their people's cause, no matter how they found their way in. They called his name, and rose their weapon to him when he turned.
His body swept over theirs, moving fluidly as his hands wrapped around their middle, causing Riza to moan.
He moved close to them, his eyes daring them to shoot. They took aim. They had a perfect shot, but couldn't let go of the arrow. Never had they hesitated before, never had their heart raced at such a debilitating speed. They closed their eyes tightly, willing themself to let go, but in their moment of weakness, he brought them to the ground. They struggled, but he was stronger than them.
"Why do you listen?" he yelled, and Riza was silent. "Do you want to be a killer?"
His breath felt like hot steam against their ear, and they kissed the edge of his jaw softly.
He tightened his grip on their wrists, and they whimpered.
"Don't you care cry," he said through teeth. "This is nothing compared to what you and those people have done."
Riza's rage boiled, and they struck him in the mouth with their head, knocking him off. They grabbed their bow, grabbed an arrow, and pointed it at him once more.
"Do it," he demanded. "Do it now! I don't want to live if it means I have to be one of you."
Their breathing was quickening, turning more and more into pants as they took in each inhale.
They slowly stood, their bow still pointed as they moved over to him. He stood as well, his eyes boring into theirs. Their senses had never felt so on fire as when they looked at him. The moment Riza was in arms reach of him, they dropped their bow and grabbed a hold of him.
"Riza," he whispered, and the sound trickled through their being, growing from ripples to waves; crashing down on their mind and pulling them down into the depths of pure, exhilarated bliss.
It was unexpected, completely unplanned. They hated this boy, yet they found themself unable to keep their mouth from meeting his, and when he kissed back with a deep and aggressive intensity, they bruised their lips from refusal to pull away.
"Come with me," he breathed, and Riza knew, in that very moment, that they had found the command they could never deny. Their clan's word was no longer master, it was the whisper of the boy who held them in his arms.
He gasped, his muscles tightened, and he gripped their hips so tightly they knew they'd be bruised.
From then on, their lives were one adventure after the other; from finding the madame, to the years of bliss spent together, and even to the day that he left for nobility and honor found in a country to whom he did not belong. Their anger led them back down a bloody path, but they learned to be their own commander; taking jobs that only paid a proper remuneration for the lives they took.
With a moan, a growl, and a sigh, Roy's weight fell on top of them. His nose tickled the nape of their neck as he left well-placed kisses across their skin, sending more shivers down their spine.
Riza was on a mission the day they found him again, only that time it was really him that found them. It was a simple bounty: military officer, no trophy needed, only word of death. Riza learned his schedule, tracked his patrols, eventually followed him and his soldiers into the forest. The shot was perfect, but right as Riza was ready to release the arrow, something pulled them from their hiding space. With practiced swiftness, they pulled a dagger from their robes and raised it to the attacker, but froze at the sight of familiar dark eyes and fair skin.
They stared at one another for only seconds, but it felt like a lifetime had passed as they gazed in horror at one another. His mouth moved to speak, but nothing came out. Soldiers had surrounded them, and Riza was terrified; afraid that the one they loved would kill them.
"Run," he whispered, and feigned pain in his hand, letting them go as they did exactly what he commanded. They ran as fast and as far as they could go, hiding away in a familiar town of criminals and outcasts that they had once called home… with him.
He found them there, and in the darkness of the night, they bid their last farewell. It was then that they decided that he did not own their loyalty, but their heart, and only when the two found each other, would they allow themself to ever feel again.
Riza ran their fingers lightly through his hair. It had been years since their last reunion, yet it felt like only moments ago that they were running off into the night together, hand in hand.
Only in the dark could their love shine. They had come to terms with that long ago. Yet they still found themself cursing the sun, hating that soon they would have to step back into the light, and out of each other's reach.
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"Edward?"
"What."
"I'm hungry."
He let out an exasperated gasp. It was remarkable how fast she could jump back to being a pain in his ass. Of course, his feelings towards Winry had drastically changed since he first met her, but the fact that she was rather insufferable at times didn't.
Edward opened his mouth to chastise her but was surprised by the loud rumbling within his own stomach. "Guess it has been a while since we've eaten something, huh?"
Winry let out a small whine, her bottom lip pouted out as her shoulders dropped. "It's been forever since we've had anything."
Ed rolled his eyes but inwardly agreed. He hoped that they would be able to make it to town near dinner time, so they wouldn't have to hunt for something, but with the sun already heading west, he began to doubt that they would.
"If we stop, we'll have to sleep on the ground again," he told her.
"I don't care!" she cried. "I just want food!"
"Okay, okay!" he said quickly, waving his hands towards her as if to shoo away the whining. "Let's start looking for something."
They spotted a small clearing in the forest, and Edward decided it would be the best spot to capture their dinner. Using the bit of rope he had tied to his belt, he made a small noose, covered it in leaves, and flung it over a low branch on the closet tree. He fiddled with the simple trap to ensure himself it would work, and, once he was confident that it would, found a hiding place inside one of the many surrounding bushes. Winry, oblivious to his haste, stayed standing in the middle of the clearing, blinking awkwardly at him.
"Hurry up and hide!" he hissed, and she quickly joined him in the foliage.
She stumbled on a root and fell headfirst into Ed's side with a loud, "Ouch!". Edward grumbled obscenities as she readjusted herself and she muttered a soft apology.
"Just stay quiet, and don't move," he whispered, and she nodded her head.
From then on time seemed at a standstill. The setting sun was hardly noticeable within the darkness of the brush. Only through the small opening of leaves, could Edward see the clearing slowly dim. Not a single creature crept through the area while they waited, and Edward's hunger was growing fast and turning fierce. He had half a mind to just give up, get up and keep walking, until he felt something on his shoulder. He looked to his left to see Winry leaning against him, sleeping.
Son of a bitch, he thought. What the hell should he do? A small panic began to brew inside of him, but the sound of her even breathing calmed him before the panic could really start. Her mouth hung slightly open, soft sighs escaped her with every other breath. She looked so calm, and Edward found it not quite strange, but intriguing to see her like that. He continued to watch her as she slept, analyzing her the same way he analyzed anything he found interesting. It was as if she were a secret knowledge that he strived to learn. After all, how could someone not find a girl that lived in the ground and had strange powers worth a good study? At least, that's what he told himself.
He almost didn't notice the rabbit that hopped towards the noose. A single crackle of leaves pulled him away from the sleeping girl and back to his trap, and with a swift pull, the rabbit was hanging upside down with the rope tied around it's large back feet. It wiggled and screamed an unearthly sound, but Edward was too awestruck to be bothered by it.
"YES!" he shouted and shook the sleeping girl beside him. "WINRY, WAKE UP! WE CAUGHT SOMETHING!"
He jumped to his feet and ran to the prize of his patience, practically drooling as he stared at the squirming rabbit, and stomped down on the rope that bound him. He had it on the ground and defenseless when Winry came up behind him, hovering over his shoulder to look at the creature.
"It's so cute," she yawned.
"Yeah, real cute," he mocked and dug his foot deeper into the ground. He then pulled a flat, circular piece of metal from a pocket in his vest and transmuted it into a blade. "Now let's kill it."
He raised the weapon above the creature, and-
"YOU WANNA KILL IT?"
For a moment, he thought she might have destroyed the hearing in his left ear.
"Yeah, I'm gonna kill it!" he spat and rubbed at his ear in frustration. "Ya wanna eat, don't ya?"
Her mouth contorted into a deep frown as she looked back forth between Edward and the rabbit. She pointed at the tiny creature, still fighting to escape, and exclaimed. "I'm not eating that!"
"Fine, then!" he yelled and raised the knife once more. "More for me!"
He brought the blade down, but not before Winry pushed his hand, causing him to cut the noose open and freeing the rabbit. Edward watched with wide eyes as his dinner hopped away, too distraught to notice Winry's squealing as she bid it an endearing farewell.
No.
No, she didn't.
This isn't happening.
"AAAAARRGH!"
He fell onto his knees and pulled his hair as he screamed to the evening sky.
"YOU IDIOT! YOU LET IT GO!"
Winry gasped as she turned to face him. Her eyes were large with shock and her nostrils flared. "YOU WANTED TO EAT IT! AND YOU'RE THE IDIOT, IDIOT!"
Edward was fuming. His fists clenched and unclenched quickly and tightly as he took sharp inhales through his nose. He forcefully got to his feet, glaring at Winry with such ferocity that he didn't care if it scared her. It didn't seem to, however, as she was staring at him with an equivalent intensity.
"BAH!" he shouted and began to stomp away.
"Where are you going?!" hollered after him.
"I'M GOING FISHING!" he bellowed. "UNLESS YOU WANNA STOP ME FROM DOING THAT, TOO!"
And with that, he went deeper into the forest.
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That boy was just damn irritating!
Winry huffed and puffed as she paced back and forth over the expanse of the small clearing. Just what was his problem, anyway? She didn't want to hurt the poor little thing! Was that such a crime? She plopped onto her bottom and crossed her arms as she pouted. He was such an ass. A complete and utter son of a…
"Oh no," Winry said out loud. "I'm thinking like him now!"
She grabbed her head and shook it vigorously as if she were trying to remove the profane language she heard from nonother than Edward from her mind. As she lowered her hands down to her lap, a frustrating and sad feeling grew within the center of her chest. She was so hungry, perhaps letting that little thing go wasn't the greatest of ideas.
Oh well, Winry thought, and slowly got back to her feet. No time to dwell on that now. She mindlessly looked about the clearing. She skimmed over the dead leaves and surrounding plant life. Edward did say that if they stopped, they'd have to sleep in the forest again. Perhaps, she could make their night more comfortable by making a nice place to sleep. She nodded as she thought, reassuring herself that it would be a good idea, and began to construct a small shelter in her mind. With sticks she found or pulled free from trees, Winry made a small covering over two piles of leaves, meant for beds, and set a place for a fire.
It was when she was contemplating how to properly light the wood that Edward came back, carrying fish on a line and holding his vest awkwardly to his chest. For the first few minutes that he walked onto their little campsite, they exchanged no words. Edward simply stood and watched as Winry fiddled with two rocks, trying to make a spark by hitting them together.
"You're doing it wrong," he finally said, and that was not what Winry wanted to hear come from his mouth after all the hard work she did. She dropped the rocks and turned her gaze to the opposite direction that he was standing, getting to her feet and moving towards the wooden covering.
"Wait!" he called, and Winry paused her walking. "I'll show you how to do it."
She turned slightly, looking at him from the corner of her eye, and said, "Okay."
He picked up the dropped stones, and moved to a tree, examining the growth on the bark. He picked a bit of fungus near the trunk and sat down near the makeshift pit.
"You picked good rocks," he told her. "You're just using the wrong side. The rougher edges spark easier." He placed the fungus onto the rugged edge of the stone and pulled out his knife.
"It's easier to catch fire using something like this," Edward explained and began to strike it. Sparks illuminated the area around his hands, and the strange fungus caught fire. He then placed the lit growth in the pit and threw dried leaves around it to help the fire grow. Winry watched as the fire grew, and her frustration lessened as the flame lit up the darkened clearing. Edward pulled the food over to him and shoved the vest into Winry's hands.
"There's berries and non-living things to eat in there," he commented, refusing to make eye contact with her. "So don't whine about not wanting to eat what I got for us."
Winry smiled at the abundance of different fruits and nuts in the fabric. "Thank you."
She heard him clear his throat and mutter, "Yeah, no problem."
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It was quiet between them. He knew it would be that way, yet it stung him still.
Riza dressed slowly, as if they were so numb they had to reteach their hands how to put on each garment. He watched them with distant eyes, hating the barrier that stood between them. He wanted so badly to tear it down; to burn every force that kept them apart with the snap of his fingers, but he knew it could never be done.
They may have helped pave the way for him to be an honorable man, and he may have saved them from certain death, but those things meant nothing once reality found its way back into their minds. Riza was a wanted criminal, and he was a man of the law. All they could ever do for one another is offer their loyalty in times of dire need. They could never give each other more than that.
Roy didn't look away when they turned to face him. Instead, he let a numbness take hold of him, and thought of the task at hand.
"Where do you think he'd be heading?" he asked.
Riza's stare hardened, but he wasn't sure if they were staring at him or through him.
"I'm uncertain," they stated. "In my time of knowing Fullmetal, he traveled through the areas east of here often."
"Towards Xerxes…" he muttered to himself and cursed.
"Yes."
A flicker in their eyes told him they felt sorrowful, but he did his best to ignore it.
"Are you familiar with any of those areas?" he questioned, and they nodded.
He stood, ready to play the facade of a noble soldier, despite feeling like a dirty fool.
"Then let's begin, shall we?"
They slipped out into the black of night and started east, towards enemy land.
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A ray of sunlight shot through the cracks between the twigs and sticks. It shot right into Edward's eye and stirred him awake. He grumbled as he rubbed his forehead, and groggily turned onto his right side, not wanting to wake just yet. The sound of a sigh prompted him to open his eyes once more, and he found himself facing Winry. She was still sound asleep, nestled closely to him. He could feel his skin flush, but instead of having a panic attack over their close proximity, he slid a small distance away. She looked as she had the day before, only the sides of her mouth seemed twisted upward, almost into a smile. Edward thought she must be dreaming of something good, and began to wonder what that might be to her.
A sound whisked by his ear, and he suddenly became very alert. Edward sat up quickly, trying to focus on the quiet so the sound could echo louder, should it repeat.
It was the sound of footsteps and rattling branches.
"Winry," he whispered and shook the girl's shoulders. "Winry, wake up."
"Nng," she whimpered and tried to bat his hand away.
"Wake up!" he urged, and she sat up slowly, attempting to rub away the sleep from her eyes.
"Why?" she mumbled.
An arrow shot past the space between them, slipping through a small opening in the wooden covering.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!"
In a flash, they were on their feet. Edward grabbed Winry's hand, fearful of possibly losing her as they weaved and bobbed through the forest.
"What was that?" Winry shouted to him.
"Hell if I know!" Edward shouted back.
Edward heard no footsteps or hooves following behind, but he knew they were being chased. He looked behind him, past Winry's terrified expression, but saw no one. What the hell was chasing them?
An arrow swooped by his arm, and in a panic, he looked up. A hooded figure had its bow raised, pointed right at him.
"SHIT!"
He pulled Winry into a sharp right turn, out of the hooded archer's range. It couldn't be-but he was certain it was-
"Winry, watch out for someone in the trees!"
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Riza ran and jumped across the branches of the high trees. Shooting arrows into the ground, they hoped Roy would follow the trail being left behind. Edward and the girl were weaving in and out of the trees, moving sporadically to throw them off, and, damn it, it was working. They should have known Fullmetal would spot them, he had become cautious of their attack style ever since they had worked together years ago. He was a smart boy, they should have remembered to keep a better distance.
They were a ways ahead, but Riza could still see them. They lunged from tree to tree, their bow tight in hand, and shot another arrow. The girl he was leading screamed, and they ducked. They only stopped for a second, but it was enough to shorten the distance between them. Edward spotted them again, and Riza could see the anger in his eyes.
Another clearing was ahead, only this time it was met by a steep drop into water. They could see Edward glancing over the edge, holding onto the girl as he searched for a sign of hope.
Riza dropped from the tree and began to move towards the pair. The girl spotted them first and clung to Edward tightly, but it was when Edward turned and pulled the girl behind him that they paused. The sight stirred something in them, but they chose to ignore it and raised their bow.
"I don't want to hurt you," Riza stated calmly. "Do not resist, otherwise I'll be forced to shoot you."
"Go ahead and shoot then," Edward spat. "Just tell me one thing, how much money did it take for you to turn on me?"
That stung, but not enough to back down. "That's none of your concern."
"The hell it isn't!" he shouted, his hand wrapping tightly around the girl. "I want to know why you're stopping me from finally going home!"
Their grip on the bow nearly dropped. Riza scanned him closely, looking for a trigger sign of deceit, but saw none. His eyes were wide and wild, and they knew he was telling the truth.
Edward entrusted them with the secret of his brother years ago, hoping for a lead to help him in exchange. Riza told him of the pocket watch in Resembool, hoping that maybe the fable held some form of truth, for his sake. They promised to help him on his journey, for they understood the longing to be with a person they loved, though his longing was much different from theirs.
Going home. Going home meant he found what he needed, that he succeeded in his quest. Riza couldn't let him fail, could sie?
The sound of someone running began to crescendo from within the woods. Roy was on his way. Riza remembered his words about an heir and looked at the girl hiding behind Fullmetal.
"Let her go, then," they ordered. Edward looked ready to retaliate, but the girl shouted back before he could open his mouth.
"NO!" she shouted. "He needs my help! I won't leave him!"
Something in her voice pulled at Riza, bringing them back to the memory of a bloodstained boy, and a desperate need to help him.
Roy was getting closer, and they felt their heartbeat start to quicken. Ed's eyes were still hardened, but held a look of pleading in them. They couldn't stop him, not now.
"Go," Riza told them, and they jumped from the edge. The archer ran to it, looking over to see the wakes left from their descent into the steep river below. They reached shore by the time Roy's panting could be heard.
"No! No!" he exclaimed. "They're getting away!"
He raised his hand to snap his fingers, but Riza slapped his hand out of place, sending fire into the sky. They spotted Edward and the girl run off, out of their reach, and sighed. Roy, however, was infuriated. His dark eyes glistened with rage as he grabbed their cloak.
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?"
Riza shoved him off and took a defensive stance. "I said I wouldn't kill him, and I won't stand by and watch you do it!"
"I gave you a direct order to capture him!" he bellowed, and Riza's blood began to boil.
"I'm not a mindless soldier, Roy," they snapped. "I have a duty to myself and those who have shown me true loyalty."
They hoped those words would hurt him, and it was immediately apparent that they did.
"Fullmetal has unfinished business to attend to, and I promised him a long time ago that I would help him achieve it." They took a step closer to him, their stare sharp and venomous. "I don't make promises I don't intend to keep."
The memory of him leaving for Resembool came back to their mind in full force. He tried leaving late at night, under the illusion that it would make things easier. He didn't count on them being wide awake, nor did he think they'd shoot a hole in his travel sack. When the initial anger had settled, and the pain of their parting really set in, they whispered sweet nothings to another in the blackness of the early morning. They recalled all the things that were said and the empty promises that he made. Even at the time, they both knew his words weren't plausible, but they held onto them like dreams, hoping they'd come true.
They knew he was thinking about it, too. His expression gave it away. His mouth turned to a thin line, and his eyes were filled with guilt and regret. Both stared at the other intensely, their gazes saying the things they knew they could never muster the courage to say. Eventually, the regret in his stare faded, as did the anger in theirs.
"His plan won't hurt others, will it?" he finally asked.
Riza wanted to scoff, to act like an immature child, but they stayed stoic and stone-faced. "No."
"Then I apologize," Roy said. "I know how important loyalty is to you."
A quiet moment passed between them as he thought of what to say next.
"He still has the possible heir in his possession," he commented.
"She wanted to be with him," Riza quickly replied. "I offered her pardon, but she wouldn't leave his side."
"Wouldn't leave?" he repeated, and rested a fist against his chin.
"No," Riza reiterated. "She said she needed to help him, as I am doing now."
Roy went quiet for a moment, thinking deeply.
"We'll let him finish whatever it is he's doing," he finally said. "But once that is over, he and the girl are coming with me."
"You plan to follow them?" they asked. "What will you do then, order them to comply? You have no authority in Xerxes".
"If my plan works, I won't have to rely on my title as General," he replied, and began to walk back towards the trees.
Riza was uncertain what it was that he had planned, but grateful. At least for the time being, Fullmetal was safe. They looked to the horizon and bid the runaway pair a temporary farewell, then followed Roy into the darkening forest.
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He let the gem roll around his tongue as he watched the men flock to the fire. From the random collection of gold and weapons, he thought them to be wandering thieves. He licked his lips as they drank and laughed, completely unaware of the monster lurking in the dark. Their mirth was intoxicating, he couldn't wait to rip it away.
He struck fast, the first man had no time to scream. The others tried to cry out, but with a quick touch of his hands, they convulsed, spat blood, and fell to the dirt.
Kimblee didn't sift through their belongings, nor did he steal their food or brandy. For the time being, he was sated by taking their lives. He snapped his neck from side to side, now feeling pained that there wasn't a woman in the group to keep him company. Just another thing to add to his list of things to do once he found his precious lotus.
He lightly picked up the solidified drop of Winry's blood from the tip of his tongue and stared at it, mystified. She tasted like eternity, and he couldn't wait to eat her up.
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