CHAPTER 9

Blood began to seep down Roys arm and plopped to the floor in gentle droplets, splattering outward once they reached their destination. Roy was glaring at the woman who stood before him. Her grip was impressively tight on Roy's wrist. He felt she could snap it if she squeezed just a little harder. Roy's nose was about three inches from Lust's face. Her lips painted in a sickly grin.

"What do you want, you bitch." Roy said in a low, husky voice. Lust began to chuckle slightly.

"I know it was you who sent the little brat after me." She said in a cool tone. Roy's blood went cold. Lust did this to Ed. Lust was the one behind the rogue alchemist group? Lust was the one who hurt Ed that badly? The cold soon turned to fiery rage. He tried to remain calm.

"Oh, yeah. That. So you are the one conspiring against the military." Roy said, trying to sound more in control than he felt.

"Well. I can't have you or that little pest foil my plans." She hissed, tightening her grip slightly. Roy let out another pained wince. Even when he tried to suppress it. "I hear the boy lived." She finished.

"You can't kill us. You need us for your sacrifice." Roy spat.

"True. Father forbade that I kill either of you. I must say I am happy the brat lived. I was just about to stab right through his tiny little heart before the cave started to collapse. Wouldn't that have been unfortunate." She said,

"So, what are you going to do?" Roy asked, trying to rack his brain with a plan of escape.

"Boss just said I couldn't kill you. He never said anything about taking you prisoner." She laughed.

"What makes you think you can just waltz into my house and take me prisoner?" Roy spat. He was preparing himself for a fight. He didn't have his gloves and Lust's nails still clung to his wrist, but he wouldn't go down without a fight. He quickly ripped his arm back, letting Lusts' nails tear through his skin. She lets go abruptly and stumbles back. Roy knew he had strength over her. He knew a full on fight would be bad in the middle of an apartment complex. Innocents would be hurt… or worse… Roy had to rely on his brute strength to overpower the woman. He readied his fists in an upward position, blocking his chest. Blood continued to drip from his wound. He ignored the throbbing.

"Let's tango." Roy said, running up to the woman. Lust quickly readjusted herself and sprung into action. She had backed away and maintained her distance from Roy. Her claws lashing out to make up the distance. Roy dodged the nails flying towards him with ease, only letting one graze his cheek slightly. Lust quickly maneuvered herself as Roy grew closer to her. She began to go on the defensive. Ducking and dodging Roys swings, while also trying to get a few jabs in as well. His towel had well fallen off by now. His body was still dripping with water, but he didn't have time to care about that right now. Roy slipped on a small puddle of water that accumulated around his feet and fell backwards. Lust stood over him and pinned him down with her claws. Digging them through his shoulder, into the hardwood floor. Roy struggled, but could not stand the pain.

"Are you done?" She said, licking her lips. She looked him up and down. "Shame I had to mutilate this pretty body." She laughed. Roy flushed with embarrassment.

Bang.

Lust fell backwards, blood spewing from her shoulder. Her nails making their way out of Roy's wound. He tried to get up, but could only manage to turn his head. Hawkeye was standing at his doorway, gun in hand. Smoke is still pouring from the freshly fired weapon. Lust growled in anguish.

"Damn you!" She began to lunge towards Hawkeye.

Bang. Bang. Bang.

Hawkeye quickly fired three more shots into the woman. She cried out again. She quickly turned and exited out the small window. Hawkeye brushed past Roy and peered out the fifth floor window. The woman was nowhere in sight. She quickly then turned her attention to Roy. She flung off her jacket and placed it over Roy to shield his body. She tried to ignore the flare of blush that struck her cheeks.

"Th-thanks…" Roy said, out of breath.

"Just doing my job, sir." She said,

"How did you know to come here?" Roy asked.

"I didn't. I was just coming to check on you. You haven't really been taking good care of yourself since the incident."

Roy pouted, but also felt slightly hot as well. He knew Riza cared for him and he cared for her. She quickly went to his bathroom and grabbed his underwear and pants for him to put on. She turned away while he painfully slipped on the articles of clothing. She then got busy on first aid. She cleaned his wounds gently and wrapped them up. The punctures were small. She didn't feel that he needed a hospital.

"Thanks." He said, slipping his shirt back on after Riza bandaged him up.

"No problem. What was that all about?" She asked.

"That bitch is the one who did that to Ed." Roy said, feeling flames bubble in his stomach. "She's behind this entire mess."

Riza's eyes grew wider. "I see…" She said slowly. Her eyes cascading down. He could tell she was fuming.

"Send an APB out. I want all officers searching for Lust." Roy ordered.

"Sir!" Riza saluted. "What will you do?"

"I'm going to go check on Edward. If that bitch even thinks about getting to him…" Roy didn't hesitate to get up and sling on his uniform. He ignored the pain from his freshly bandaged injuries and hurried out along with Riza.

Roys hair didn't even have time to dry. This was going to be a long night…