Each individual chapter will have a different rating, different pairings, different spoilers, and a different setting and timeline. Multiple people were involved in writing this fic, I do not claim to have written anything other than my own characters. I do however claim to have come up with the plot, story idea, and organizing it all. The others who write characters in this fic are well aware that I am posting it, and contribute willingly. This fic is an ongoing project with an unknown number of parts, with alternate storyline as of the fifth laboratory incident. Enjoy!
Hell Hath No Fury
Rating: PG13-R (For language, etc)
Pairings: None
Disclaimer: I don't own FMA.
Spoilers: None really, but there is character death, so be warned.
Setting: Dublith/Devil's Nest/Liegenstadt, a town in the North.
Timeline: A few days after Deceit first shows his face in Dublith.
"The dump's same as we left it," Martel sighed, ducking through the low doorway. Glancing at the walls around, she ran her hand along the bar, once smooth and glossed, but now something less than that. "Kimbley didn't blow up too much, I suppose. Good thing the bastard's sleeping. I'm in too good of a mood to be spoiled by him." She couldn't help but smile delicately at the remembrance of the night before. But then her dull green eyes caught sight of the paper on the bar. The chimera raised a thin blonde eyebrow and said with a slight quizzical tone, "At least... I think he's sleeping."
Violet eyes glanced around, grin instantly fading at the feeling he got from this place now, his arm moving from where he'd rested it around Dorochet's waist. "I smell a rat..."
Dorochet frowned, turning his nose in the air. It twitched at the scent it picked up, and his eyes narrowed, glancing at Greed. "Actually, its a cat boss..."
The hint of a snarl curled Greed's lip slightly, just enough to show the jagged line of his teeth. However, he didn't say a word, instead looking to Martel and holding out his hand.
Martel lifted the paper and scanned over it before blinking and handing it to Greed. "Damn... someone had a serious inferiority complex temper tantrum..."
Scanning the note, Greed shook his head. "I can't claim to have known him that long, but I doubt Kimbley wrote that..." The frown turned into a smirk for a minute. "If he really did, I'll have to rub this in his face and laugh at how incredibly sappy it is. Here, get a scent." The Homunculus handed the paper to Dorochet. "My bet is Kimbley's isn't even on that."
Taking the note in his hands, he took a whiff. He made a rather canine snort, handing the paper back to Greed. "He's not on there, though I think I might have preferred if he was." He shifted his eyes around the room, determining how recent the smells were. "I hate cats."
Greed sneered lightly. "So the liar of a feline made off with Kimbley? How he got the man out of here with this place in tact is beyond me if he was sober..." Violet eyes scanned the bar, up and down, settling upon the small group of tipped over empty bottles. "That explains that..."
He shrugged lightly. "We'll just have to go teach the punk a lesson, mm?" Greed's lips curled in a grin that could only mean one thing.
A small grin tugged at Dorochet's lips, revealing brief flashes of smaller fangs. "Sounds good to me..." His hand was instinctively hovering over the hilt of his sword, and he glanced at Martel, grinning a little more at the snake woman. "Could be fun."
She was already wiping her dagger with a stray cloth. She snapped it into its sheath, glancing up and smirking a bit. "Could be. But if Kimbley bitches, I swear to god, I'll 'mistake' him for an enemy."
"Follow your nose then, and let's get after those punks before they get too far, mm?" Greed smirked, gently rubbing Dorochet's head.
He shivered pleasantly at the touch, smirking. Dorochet let his nose do its job, picking up the traces of the distasteful scent, following it out of the building with Greed and Martel in tow.
Dorochet narrowed his eyes at the buildings around them, looking back at Greed. "They're heading north," He said briefly before looking around them again. They were indeed going north, but not directly. The middle of the city was not the best place to be running straight through. Dorochet shrugged, turning to nod at the two of them before dashing off after the scent on its roundabout route while it was still relatively fresh.
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Liegenstadt---------------------------
Sitting perched atop a fallen slab of concrete, the red-haired chimera, Deceit, leader of the seven Abominations, cast an emerald green gaze at those before him.
"We will depart for Ishbar in three days' time if they have not come for their little alchemist...Falsehood will take leave shortly after arriving in order to infiltrate the military stationed in Central. The Homunculus known as Greed has denied association, which will make this quicker for us... Slaughter... Sabotage... Falsehood... I trust you will make quick work of those pathetic excuses for chimeras he calls pets, while I take care of the so called 'Ultimate Shield'..." Deceit gave a fanged grin of approval to the three.
"Soooo...the fuzzball is going to act then?" A singsong voice flitted over Deceit's shoulder. "You can't take him on by yourself even if you do know the sealing technique...you'll need me..." Envy practically purred as he landed next to Deceit.
The boy in question just growled, clawed finger pointing across his ranks. "Make yourselves scarce! All but you three..." Deceit's eyes met with Sabotage, Slaughter, and Falsehood's. He glanced over at Envy calmly. "I trust you know how to get him where he needs to be and to draw the correct array...I'll leave it up to you..."
"Indeed...this will be interesting..." The green-haired homunculus practically skipped off in the opposite direction, grinning to himself. "I did need a good fight after all!"
Slaughter lifted an eyebrow. "Fuzzball? He needs to think up some new insults, the cocky little bugger."
Falsehood elbowed him in the hip. "Hush. We're here for orders, not a name-calling session."
Deceit snickered slightly, hopping down from the stone and standing before the three, nudging Sabotage with his toe. "I know you aren't a day person, but scruff it up and quit sleeping during my announcements..."
The wolf chimera started, sitting up and listening intently, a bit apologetically as though expecting to be reprimanded. "So...what's the plan if they do come?" Sabotage piped up, just to prove he had been listening. Really. He had.
The alternately feline chimera grinned at that, leaning back against the stone with a bit of an amused look. "Envy will lure Greed away from the other three...they have a snake... a dog.. and an ox... I believe it should be clear as to who takes which target from there...and why I chose you three..." The grin turned into a wicked smirk. "It will startle them at first...but knowing their reactions, I don't think it would be difficult to fool them into trusting you at first...I'm reluctant to slay one of our own but kill them if they persist to the point of interfering with the sealing process...be sure to wear them out either way..."
"Oh, phooey," Slaughter muttered at Deceit's declaration that conversion was preferable to death. "This isn't going to be fun at all." He rubbed a massive hand through his dark, wiry fetlock. "Killing people's what life's all about, for pity's sake!"
Falsehood giggled. "Poor bunny," she said. "Well, if they're as truly devoted to this Greed person as I'm guessing, you'll have your fill, dearheart."
"Due to the oxen's size I believe he merits a good beating if not death, myself...and personally I'd like that little mongrel skinned alive...it's higher orders, remember that..." Deceit turned to walk off. "Keep a lookout...Falsehood, you're first watch..."
"Got it, boss." Falsehood somehow managed to slide up on top of the rock despite her missing arm. "Slaughter, I'll wake you up after midnight, all right?"
"Sure thing." He waved. "Don't fall asleep on us, now."
"Snakes don't sleep," she said after he had left. "We bask."
After Deceit was gone, Sabotage stood to follow behind him. "I know you can take care of yourself, but be careful..."
She waved a casual hand. "Yeah, yeah. I know. If you hurry up, I think Discrimination's got some human that Slaughter nabbed. You know he doesn't like flesh, just the organs, so you might be able to snag a leg or something."
Sabotage grinned toothily. "Thanks, I'll be sure and check that out!" And then he trotted off, a bit of a happy skip in his steps.
Falsehood watched the kid disappear into one of the ramshackle buildings that had once been a tavern.
She curled up into a watchful ball, hoping they saved something for her.
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Later…
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Falsehood perked up when she heard heavy footsteps stomping towards her position. Clumsy brute, even Slaughter could move more quietly than that. She slid off to warn the rest of her team.
The brute in question was walking in what he thought was a relatively quiet manner behind Dorochet, surveying the location around them.
Dorochet was in front of them, following his nose along Kimbley's trail when something else wafted through his nose. Sharp and metallic and very familiar.. Dorochet frowned. "Someone's been bleeding," He said.
Martel flicked out her tongue shortly. "Is it Kimbley?" Her hand rested cautiously at her shoulder where her knife was kept.
"Some of it.." Dorochet sniffed at the air again, narrowing his eyes and moving his hand close to his sword hilt. "..There are some pests nearby."
Greed put his hands on the two smaller chimeras' shoulders, grinning. "Then let's go show them why it's a bad idea to fuck around with us."
The dog grinned a bit before he shot a sharp glance around them, ears attuned to footsteps in the distance. "I think they're saving us the trouble of looking," he said flatly, giving the three others warning looks.
"Sooo...finally came, huh? Is the splodey alchemist really so important to you? How sweet!" It could only have been Envy, as Greed's assumptions were confirmed with a glance. He grinned, shrugging slightly. "At least I take care of my own. My bet is you're not here to chat though, so I'll just get down to business..." He let his shield creep up his arms, breaking off from the small group to tackle Envy himself. It wasn't long before both Homunculi were out of sight.
"Splodey alchemist?" Falsehood asked Slaughter.
"Prolly that fire-happy loser we nabbed," Slaughter grunted, trying to loosen his blade. "Some nickname, I guess..."
Sabotage stretched slightly and let out a howl, long and low. "Let's get this party started, I smell a mutt pushing on my territory..." He sniffed, hand on the hilt of his sword.
Slaughter grinned, his dark brown eyes taking on an eerie tinge of red. "I couldn't agree more, wolf."
Law hefted his mallet as he noticed the other three, Dorochet already prepared to unsheath his blade and have at it.
The mutt glanced at the snake woman at his side. "Looks like we're invited. That's lovely."
Slaughter deftly screwed together the three seperate parts of his polearm. "I'm glad you appriciate the party, mutt."
Martel nodded, knife already out of its sheath. "That's really not a nice way to treat your guests now..."
Sabotage snorted, moving forward to single out Dorochet, hackles raised and fangs bared. "Puppy in a wolf's territory, not very smart little mutt, the alpha's not happy about it..."
Falsehood sighed. "Men. You're always insulting each other. Learn a little class, will you?"
Dorochet smirked, deftly pulling his sword from its sheath and eyeing Sabotage. "He's not offering any doggy treats, I'm afraid I can't offer him much class."
Falsehood snorted. "Grow up. Acting like that isn't horribly endearing, you know." She winked at the other viper. "What do you think, sweetheart?"
Martel narrowed her eyes slightly. "I think that Dorochet's personality is charming, and that you should give up Kimbley before we have to get serious."
"Kimbley? Oh. Him." Falsehood giggled. "Don't worry, we have him safe. Our boss wouldn't let me kiss him, which was such a disappointment."
"Falsehood..." Slaughter growled warningly.
Martel eyed the other snake woman. "Falsehood, is it? Who named you anyway?"
The snake so addressed shrugged. "My maker. I'd be the first to admit that His creative streak is rather limited, but our names are better than those idiotic Sins. Who'd want to be called something like 'Greed' anyway?"
Law had to hold Martel back at that comment. She seethed in silence after settling down, content to glare daggers at Falsehood.
Falsehood grinned, tiny fangs bared. "Oho! Hit a soft spot did I? Tell me, is it interesting to get romantically involved with your boss?" It was a wild stab in the dark, but she guessed it was close to the truth from her opposite's rather silly reaction.
"It's not like that!" Martel spouted, having to be held back once again.
"Not like what?" Falsehood said innocently.
Slaughter covered a chuckle with a rather overdone sigh. "Stop teasing the poor thing, will you?"
Martel growled, struggling in Law's grip. "I don't need your help you overgrown throwrug!"
"Oy, oy," Slaughter protested. "We are NOT throwrugs, you understand that? Repeat after me: bulls are not throwrugs."
Now it was Falsehood's turn to choke back a laugh.
"What the hell is so goddamn funny to you! Bah, just hand over Kimbley and we're out of here!" Martel snapped at the two.
Slaughter tapped his foot. "I said, repeat after me: bulls are not throwrugs -- overgrown or otherwise."
Martel snorted. "Why would I take orders from something that looks like it got its hair rubbed between the cheeks of a hog's ass?"
Before anyone could blink, Slaughter leveled his weapon at Martel, the point drawing out a scant bead of blood from her throat. "Because, little vermin, it would be so very, very easy to kill you."
Martel's eyes narrowed as she slid back, poising to strike. She didn't like where this was going one bit, so that's what it came down to then...
Slaughter eyed her, his eyes completely red. "So now you run away, little pest?"
"I don't run!" Martel was about to lunge when Law reached his hand to the side, signalling her to stay put.
"I'm sure," Slaughter and Falsehood chorused sarcastically.
Law growled, a steadfast glare focused on Slaughter as he moved between him and Martel, giving the snake woman the briefest of glances to keep her where she was. "Shouldn't instigate things with people smaller than you," He muttered.
"Oh, please," Slaughter retorted. "War is war, no matter who is involved. I wasn't instigating anything. She insulted me and you, but I suppose you're too much of a pushover to care."
"Being called a throwrug isn't enough to insult me," Law said flatly. "Though it seemes to have gotten to you rather easily."
Slaughter shrugged. "It's the thought that counts," he said with a disarming grin.
Law allowed an unnatural smirk to tug at his mouth a bit. "I suppose that's why it was your hair that got the hog's ass treatment, and not mine."
"Very cute, very cute." Slaughter chuckled. "I love how people with lower-than-normal intelligence can ram an original insult into the ground."
If it was meant to be bait, it wasn't that good. Law stood unphased by the apparant insult, shrugging.
Slaughter had always been credited with slightly-above-average-slightly-below-genius intelligence when he had been a human. His eyebrows quirked. "Well, well... you may be smarter than I had originally credited you for--"
"Hey, where's the wolf-boy?" Falsehood asked, interrupting him.
There was a yelp off from the side and Sabotage stepped out from behind a decrepit building, just as an alchemical flare lit the sky to the east. "That was boring..."
Falsehood swallowed a giggle. "Finished so soon? How disappointing. I thought he'd give you more of a run for your money, dear."
Sabotage shrugged. "Looks like the boss is finishing up with that Greed guy, means we can go back now, right?"
"I suppose." She prodded Slaughter in the hip. "Time to go, sweetheart. Looks like we'll have to save your fun for another day."
"I have my orders, Falsehood!" Slaughter snarled.
"Well the meat's gettin' cold..." Sabotage sniffed the air. "And the damn bat's gonna start without us!"
"He's not that rude," Slaughter remarked. "And we may just end up with a bigger main course, kiddo."
Martel's eyes widened. "What the hell is he doing to Greed!" Once more she had to be held back from running off recklessly.
"Nothing permanant," Falsehood said sweetly. "Just making sure he stays out of our hair for a while." She turned flat eyes on Slaughter. "Slaughter, do your thing. Time's running out."
"Gladly," the bison chimera said, moving forward menacingly.
Law's grip tightened on his mallet, anticipating the other chimera's movements. "Martel," He said sharply, telling her to get away with his tone.
Martel growled, squirming out of Law's grasp and lunging at Falsehood. Before she could even get halfway she was met with Sabotage, who brought the hilt of his blade down at the base of her neck.
She fell to the ground, eyes glazing and limp. Out cold, Sabotage noted with a huff. "Not even worth the time..."
"Slaughter, we're heading back to the others," Falsehood said crisply. "I want to see you there in UNDER half an hour. Got that?"
"Of course," Slaughter said, grinning sadistically. "If I take longer, Deceit will have my hide, such as it is." He lunged for Law, polearm out and ready.
Law snarled, sidestepping the lunge and countering with a swing of his own weapon.
Sabotage stretched a bit, offering his arm to Falsehood with a toothy grin. "It worries me that the boss left that nervous wreck of a chimera to watch that damn alchemist...she could get careless, it's not like she understands..."
She took it with a smile. "I honestly don't think it matters to him. What do you say we split a leg with one another?"
"Sounds positively splendid! Right or left?" And so the chatter continued in this odd fashion as the two wandered off.
Slaughter dodged the slow swing, tapping Law smartly beneath the chin. "Too slow," he said reprovingly, gouging a deep furrow in the other's chest.
The other large chimera growled out in pain, managing to only lunge forward and ram the mallet bluntsided against Slaughter's torso, though there wasn't time to do much else besides.
Slaughter began to hiccup. "Oh -hic!- damn you!" he snarled, before ramming the blade into Law's gut. "That -hic!- wasn't nice!"
Sudden piercing pain, and Law choked, coughing out splatter of dark blood. "Of.. course not.." He grunted, knowing that his death was inevitable now. Thus he pushed forward, wincing and repeating the previous action, consequently pushing the blade back out of him, letting Law sink to the ground.
"Bravo," Slaughter murmured, looking down at the dying chimera. "I like you, so I'll just slit your throat and be done with it. I'll leave you here to be buried." He gently exposed Law's throat and cut it swiftly and professionally. Then he ambled off, still hiccuping.
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Deceit looked over his shoulder, rolling his eyes a bit at the dancing Homunculus behind him. "You'd better get back to Irrtum if you're planning on meeting the others, Envy…we'll be close behind after we finish up here…" With that, the cat chimera left the eldest homunculus to his fun, walking away from the new seal created to hold Greed.
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Somewhere off in the distance, there was a small explosion. Kimbley managed to finally get his hands on that dumbass chimera that one guy called Decay all the time, about damn time!
The disoriented alchemist tore off his blindfold, staggering out of the small crater that was left of the building he was held in, and off away from the light of campfires.
It wasn't long before he'd accidentally tripped over Dorochet's unconscious form, only to land sprawled across the sand with a perfect view of Martel's prone form and the bloody carcass of Law. "Fuck..."
Kimbley grunted slightly, and despite his fatigue and hunger, and inhumanity for that matter, managed to drag Dorochet and Martel off for a while to regain consciousness. He managed to stay conscious himself long enough to get them well out of sight, before lightheadedness took over and sent him crashing to the ground.
Please review, constructive criticism and questions appreciated, flames will be deflected back at you by Roy. n.n;
