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!
Finality
Rating: PG-13 (Language mostly.)
Pairings: Do I need to keep saying this over and over?
Disclaimer: I don't own FMA. Don't sue meeeee!
Spoilers: Hell if I know anymore :D
Setting: Warehouse 6.
Timeline: The day of the mission.
"Bad news, guys," Havoc hissed, crawling back from his quick recon. "The snake isn't out there. It's something else; a cat or something by the smell. Female, probably feral."
Roy neglected asking just how Jean could tell it was a female. He reasoned it was probably because it was a cat, they must let off some kind of distinct smell. "What then? Do you think you could take her out relatively easily?"
"Hell, yeah." Havoc was gone again in the blink of an eye.
Ed took the chance to say what had been on his mind. "Roy..." he paused long enough for the man to turn his head back towards him, "If by any chance... Jean dies... I'm not going to be myself for much longer... You have to burn the whole place down, okay? Don't wait for me... If he's gone, I won't be coming back to myself..." He avoided Roy's gaze entirely, staring off into the half-darkness for any sign of Havoc.
Mischief's ears twitched slightly, head whipping around to spot the blond nearing her position. "So you're the one Master was harping on for the longest time... I'm jealous..." A purely feral grin spread across her lips, sharp canines glinting as claws were extracted from their sheaths and ears lay back on her head.
Havoc's own grin mirrored hers, his claws unsheathing. Not even bothering to answer, he attacked, slitting her throat with the bayonet in his boot. "Good riddance, cat."
------
"They're here, boss..."
Deceit looked up from his claws. "I know...how many of them?"
Sabotage sniffed the air, left ear twitching. "Three... no wait... six..."
"So they decided to bring more... this is going to be fun..."
------
"Let's just hope it doesn't come to that..." Roy spoke up finally. I'm still going to hold you to your word, Jean... Don't fucking die on me...
Just as Havoc was about to return, he heard the fluttering of overlarge batwings and frantic meeping. A soft, manic chuckle and an explosion later, Havoc was up and running towards Roy and Ed, caution be damned.
Roy and Ed met Havoc halfway, heading for the explosion site. "What the hell is going on!"
"Insane laughter and an explosion, with a dog and snake in tow to boot. What does it sound like?" Havoc said grimly. He stopped short of the debris cloud, coughing at the acrid smell.
As the smoke cleared, their suspicions were confirmed. Kimbley stood next to a large hole in the warehouse wall, Martel and Dorochet just behind him. "Oh? Well look who we have here..." His grin faded into a frown at the sight of Edward. "Hm... I thought I killed you..."
Golden eyes narrowed, but Ed knew there was no time for quarrels. Apparently, that bastard Bradley had sent those three anyway... "You fucking IDIOT you blew our cover completely!"
"Ed, it's a moot point," Havoc snapped. "Since they're here now, it's no use arguing. Let's move it."
Ed nodded, sticking close to Havoc and Roy. "Doesn't mean I like this one bit..."
"You don't have to," Havoc said, his temper still short. "It's not like it'll matter."
Ed gritted his teeth to avoid commenting further. "Let's get going then.."
Roy spared a brief glance at the Crimson Alchemist, turning then to look at Ed and Havoc. Things were starting to get ugly already.
Dorochet cracked his knuckles. "Right, we've been standing out here too long. Let's get moving, people."
Kimbley shrugged. "Whatever, this wasn't my idea in the first place.."
Havoc motioned to the other male chimera. "Hey. Dog boy. You up to being on point with me?"
Dorochet's lips peeled back in annoyance. "My name's Dorochet, cat. And I'll keep up with you no matter what." Apparently, species wars extended even to chimerae.
Martel shook her head. "This is no time for cat and dog quarrels you two.."
"We're not fighting," both men chorused.
"Jean..." Roy sighed. "Come on, they no doubt know we're here, do you want to get picked off like sitting ducks in the middle of an argument?"
"All right, all right." The two males slid through the hole. Havoc's voice came back. "You guys get into loose formation. We're taking point. Dorochet'll act as the runner between us, all right?"
The other four gave an affirmative reply, doing as directed.
"Why are you here?" Havoc asked quietly as they snuck quickly through the warehouse.
"Bradley told Kimbley to go, so we went with him. It's a revenge thing."
Without so much as a sideways glance, Roy spoke up. "I take it Bradley sent you, Kimbley? Why the two tag-alongs?"
Kimbley scoffed at that. "Shut up and move, Mustang, it's not like I want to be here helping you people.." He got a cuff upside the head from Martel for that, as the snake woman hissed at him, "This is for Greed and Law, remember!"
A sharp yelp from down the corridor alerted the quartet that something had gone wrong. A few seconds later, Dorochet came scrambling back, panicking. "It's the guy that got Law!"
Ed looked to the dog chimera. "Which one got who now?"
Martel sped up, though Kimbley just kept his pace. Lazy sonofabitch.
"Never mind that, your pet cat's getting the shit kicked outta him..." Dorochet's tongue lolled as he tried to catch his breath.
Roy's brow furrowed, and both he and Ed also picked up the pace. "Dammit..."
Kimbley sighed. "I thought we were over all of this shit by now..."
"Boss..." The word came out as a low, warning growl.
Havoc wasn't feeling too good right now. He was currently lying in a sorry-ass heap against the wall, trying to figure out which way was up. Damn.
Roy managed to get there just behind Ed, eye widening at the sight.
Ed ran hurriedly to Havoc's side. "Jean, you okay!"
Havoc rubbed the back of his head, trying to get his eyes to focus properly. "Where's Roy?" he asked, speech slightly slurred, though rapidly clearing.
"Right over there... uh..." Ed tried to help him get up.
Roy stared. This certainly did resemble his old professor, but this creature was definitely no longer that man. "You... why..."
"Roy, get back!"
Slaughter swung his weapon, nearly taking off Mustang's head. Eyes stained red from bloodlust, the huge chimera slowly stalked the poleaxed alchemist.
"You don't even remember a damn thing, do you..." Roy moved back a bit sluggishly, trying to stay out of range of that weapon. "Jean, take Ed and the others, go on ahead.. This one's my job, remember?"
Kimbley, having finally showed up, scoffed at the notion. "Are you fucking suicidal, Mustang? One man against that?"
Havoc finaly managed to stand up. "You think he's bad, wait till you meet his boss. Come on, you loser, we're leaving."
Ed shot a glare at Kimbley, supporting Havoc as long as he needed it.
Kimbley shook his head. "Fine, and for your information, I have met his boss. Didn't find him that fucking badass anyway.. It's your funeral, Mustang, I got nothin' to do with it."
Havoc straightened up, grinning. "Oh, it's not his funeral..." He shook his head one more time and spared a glance at Ed. "Come on." He turned on his heel and loped off, sticking close to the walls just in case.
Ed followed closely, but not too closely, eyes keeping a lookout for any signs of movement other than their own.
Irritated with the fact that he was here, but still worried(though he was damned if he'd show it), Kimbley tagged along as well, followed by Martel and Dorochet still.
Slaughter enjoyed killing for the simple reason that it was ordered chaos, like a dance. To his once-educated mind (it had fallen close to insanity since his transformation), killing and death was simplicity itself.
And with a talented opponent, it was pure bliss.
Roy slid behind a row of old crates to catch his breath. Bradley had said he was called Slaughter, hadn't he? Dammit Mustang, just snap and get it over with already!
Silent, Slaughter padded over to the boxes. "Stop running," he said quietly. "It won't do anyone any good."
Cringing at the sound of Slaughter's voice, Roy pulled on his right hand glove. "If you insist.."
With a speed unnatural to his size, Slaughter lunged.
Roy managed to roll out of the way just before the stack of crates was completely demolished. "Don't waste any time, do you!" He snapped, the explosion of the flame shaking the ground he stood on.
The concussion from the burst hit the forward group, causing all of them to nearly lose their footing. "That was quick," Havoc commented, before moving on even more quickly than before.
Roy had to cover his mouth with his hand at the smell and the sight, having to get pretty close to the steaming carcass just to get back to the path the others had taken. Once he was past it, though, he wasted nearly no time in getting away from the scene. How many years had it been since he'd killed with his alchemy? Too many, he'd hoped it would never have had to come to this again...
Havoc kept running, his face grim but otherwise completely blank. Another roadblock was coming up.
A sleek shadow darted across their path, beady eyes glinting for a split second before a yelp sounded from the end of the line.
Martel spun around just in time to see Dorochet fall, holding his neck where two slash marks were present.
Havoc turned his head at a yelp, seeing Dorochet limp on the ground. He decided impulsively to let the snake-girl take care of whatever and kept moving. He had other things to do.
Ed just kept moving, following Havoc's lead. Knowing Kimbley, he'd take care of it, and besides, they still hadn't seen Fawkes.
Havoc smiled grimly over at the young man. "You ready for this?"
"Would it make any difference if I said no?" Ed clapped and transmuted a blade on his automail. "It's not like I have a whole lot of choice.."
Havoc shrugged, still moving. "You could always back out of it."
"No, Jean. I can't. We're in too deep to back out now." In the next second Ed found himself back against the wall, automail holding back the blade of a sword with a rather angry looking dog chimera on the other end of it.
Sabotage growled lowly. "You don't have time for idle chatting here, boy..."
Havoc skidded to a halt, backtracking quickly. He grabbed the mutt by the scruff of his neck and hauled him across the corridor. "Ed, I hope you have a trick up your sleeve!"
Ed noticed the grin on the canine's face and the twisting of his wrist. Without so much as thinking he was across the corridor, automail blade buried in Sabotage's chest. Golden eyes flickered violet for a split second before he pulled the blade out, blood dripping from the tip.
Havoc knocked the scruffy chimera over, grabbing his trench knife. "Ed, when you try to kill these things, kill them. Don't just wound them. They'll just keep coming back." He stepped on the hand holding the sword and leaned over. "Does Fawkes know we're here?"
Sabotage yelped, teeth bared and hackles raised. "How could he not, you're not exactly being subtle you know!" he snapped, spitting blood in Havoc's direction. Animosity shone in his eyes as he glared, despite the pain and difficulty to breathe.
Havoc shrugged. "Fair enough. All right, question number two. Where exactly is he?"
"Find him yourself if you want to know!" Sabotage shot back, yellow-brown eyes not once looking away.
"Loyal little critter aren't you. I wonder what the shit did to deserve it..."
"You should leave while you've still got the chance, if you find him, you'll never get out of here alive.."
"You think I don't know that? But I'm not going to die before he does." Havoc frowned down at the half-dead chimera. He stepped back. "Ed, finish him."
Ed looked between the two chimeras, from the fallen, to the standing, in half-shock silence.
Patiently, Havoc repeated the order.
"Looks like your little alchemist is too much of a chicken shit to do it..." Sabotage grinned weakly, coughing up a bit of blood. "You're never going to make it with a kid like that as luggage... you should've just left him behind... heh..."
Ed clenched his fists tightly.
Havoc's jaw tightened as he leaned over to cut Sabotage's throat. He wiped the blade on the thing's chest and began walking. He passed Ed without a word.
"I really am useless here, aren't I..."
"With that attitude, yeah, you are."
"I couldn't do it... I couldn't even move..."
"Then just stay out of the way." Havoc didn't mean to sound so cold, but they were going to be fighting for their lives. If the kid had developed qualms about killing, then he really was going to be useless.
"Sorry..." It was all Ed could think to say. He hated himself right now, hated the child inside of him who wanted to go curl up in the corner crying and hide. Hated the tears that even still threatened to come, stinging his eyes. Mostly hated how pathetic he felt, that he couldn't even do what he knew had to be done.
Havoc heard the utter misery and softened. He turned. "I've never asked you to kill before. I shouldn't have asked you then."
"I've seen it so many times now... Why is it so much harder to do with my own hands?" Ed looked at Havoc, still trying to fight back the tears. "Why? Even though I know it has to be done?"
"You've never had to before."
"But still..." Ed absently tried to wipe the blood off of his automail onto his shirt. "I should have... It had to be done, right?"
"Yeah." Briefly, Havoc felt sick. "Don't... don't worry about it."
"Sorry.." Ed's wiping had become a bit more frantic. The thought hadn't even struck him to use alchemy to remove the blood.
Havoc grabbed his wrist, below the blade. "Ed. Leave it."
"But..."
"Ed. Stop." He gently tugged the arm away. "You're no use to me if you fall apart. Pull yourself together."
"Sorry..." Ed just held his right shoulder. "I'm sorry..."
"I told you, don't worry about it."
Ed sighed. "How many more of them are left... it won't be long now, will it..."
"No. It won't."
Ed leaned against Havoc. "You asked if I was ready for this... Well I'm not... I don't think I ever will be, even if you gave me another ten years I don't think I'd ever be ready for this..."
Havoc slipped an arm around Ed's shoulders, giving him a brief hug. "You can always leave."
"I told you before, I can't do that... Besides, if I did that now, I'd have lost you without even being there..." The ponytailed blond smiled grimly. "I'm not going to let you die alone..."
"I don't think you have any idea how comforting that is."
"At least I'm good for that, right?" Ed leaned a bit more heavily. "How much longer can we stay just like this..."
"A little longer would be nice," Havoc admitted, tightening his arm.
"My what a touching scene, now's the part where you start devouring each other's mouths like there's no taste better in the world and eventually you end up naked and fucking like dogs on the floor, right?" The tone of amusement was all too obvious in that eerily calm voice.
Havoc refused to let himself get riled up. "I'm not a dog, therefore I can't fuck like one."
"I was wondering how long you were going to take here, you made me come all the way out here just to see what was taking so long..." Deceit ran his tongue over his teeth. "But do go on, entertain me a while, the night was extremely lacking..."
Havoc gently pushed Ed behind him. "Are you seriously that bored?"
"Yes, quite so. And now that you've done away with my favorite playmates, I've got even less to do. I can't decide whether to be horribly upset about it or to shiver at the wonderful creature you've become because of me..."
Havoc took a step back. "You're... royally fucked up, you know that?"
Deceit just smirked. "I'll take that as a compliment... So will you entertain me for a while? Can I test you myself?" He motioned slightly with his right hand. "Falsehood, be a dear and take that boy off my hands, I don't want him getting in the way..."
Ed shivered at the thought of that woman as he turned to stand back to back with Havoc, eyes darting every which way to see where she was coming from.
His over-protective nature rearing up, Havoc said, "Don't touch him. Ed, go back and find Mustang." His eyes narrowed focusing on Deceit. "Leave the kid alone. He can't and won't do anything."
That earned a laugh. "I thought you knew me better than that, Jean Havoc... I don't care if he can do anything, he's still in the way to me... Once she's done with him, I'll have her finish that raven-haired lover of yours too, and then you'll be mine to break... It was sweet of you to think of him, though..."
"Who says that I'll let us live long enough for that to happen?"
"It's talk like that which can seriously make me addicted to you..."
"Jean... I'm not going to leave you, remember?" Ed still stood, nearly frozen, at Havoc's back.
Falsehood slid out of the shadows while the men were arguing, stealthily creeping towards the brat.
Havoc's jaw clenched so hard that the muscles stood out in stark relief. Ed's words just made things that much worse. "Take me on, here and now. Forget about your stupid fantasies. I refuse to be your plaything."
Deceit dropped down from the boxes he had been standing on, landing almost less than a foot from Havoc. "Let me savor this moment just a bit longer before we begin, hm?" His hair wasn't covering his left eye at the time, and so it was emerald and white that looked Havoc from top to bottom. "You really have become quite a fine specimen... I'll enjoy this quite a bit..."
"What is there to savor?" Havoc spat. "One or both of us is going to be dead by the time this is finished."
Taking a step closer, the red-haired chimera simply grinned again. "Let me take just one more minute to see if you're really worth my time..." He motioned again for Falsehood to move.
Falsehood lunged for the boy, reaching out with her hands. But a punch and shove later, Ed was flat against the wall with an angry lion chimera there protecting him.
"Commendable, really..." Deceit stepped up to Havoc again, though out of arm's reach this time. "So much for that one minute then..."
"I can fight, Jean..." Ed felt a bit sore from being shoved back against the wall.
Instinctively, Havoc's claws came out. "Get the fuck away from Ed," he hissed.
"I have no interest in him, Jean... My only interest is in you..."
"Then get that goddamned snake out of here."
"I want him out of the way... I have no interest in him but if he's going to be in my way I will not hesitate to have him dealt with... In other words, that would be a no." The grin faded from Deceit's face as he stepped back a bit. "If he interferes, I will not hesitate to kill him, easy as it would be to do so..."
"If he doesn't?"
"I'm not going to guarantee anything..."
Havoc was in one hell of a delimma. He didn't want to leave Ed by himself, but every single instinct he had ordered that he kill the smirking monster a few feet away.
"Come at me then. Isn't that what you came here for?" Deceit turned his back on Havoc, walking off towards a more open area. "Falsehood, come with me."
Havoc moved away from the wall. "Coming or staying, Ed?" He began to follow Deceit.
Ed moved as well, staying close to Havoc. "What the hell do you think..."
"Just do me a favor and stay away from that snake, all right?"
"I'll take care of her if she comes at me... other than that, I'll gladly stay away from her..."
"Are you sure you can?" Havoc arrived at the edge of the wider corridor; it was almost like a room, though bare.
"Don't worry about me... I can take care of myself..." Ed knew it was going to end up sounding like he was just trying to make Jean feel better.
Havoc sighed, blue eyes watching the other chimerae cautiously. "I hope you're not just trying to make me feel better."
"No, I mean it!" Ed pouted, realized it made him look childish, then just settled for looking a bit miffed.
In the meantime, Deceit had lit up a cigarette, waiting rather patiently for the two to come to their decision. If they weren't done by the time he was, he would simply start whether they were ready or not.
"Ed... just... do me a favor and stay within running distance of the exit." He scraped together a wry smile. "It's my turn to get mauled." He moved out closer to Deceit, leaving Ed behind.
"As soon as I have him occupied, go ahead and take the boy..." Deceit murmured to Falsehood after blowing the last bit of smoke out of his lungs and discarding the cigarette.
Falsehood eyed the other two. "Are you sure that's a good idea? The big one might actually be able to get to me."
"He... may be planning that."
"I'll take care of him, dear, just take out the boy..." Deceit's patience was running thin.
"Yessir." She knew when it was dangerous to argue.
Ed watched both of the abominations and Havoc, keeping an eye especially on Falsehood. It won't be long now then... I wonder where Roy is...?
Havoc's hand strayed to his trench knife. "When are we going to start?"
"Whenever you please, come at me..." Deceit purred, tail waving back and forth slowly.
"No," Havoc said flatly. "You come here."
"My, my, we're never going to get anywhere if you keep that up... I wasn't here to kill you, you're here to kill me, remember?"
"I'm. Not. Moving."
Deceit shrugged, as he drew one of his guns from its holster. "I don't want to have to end this so quickly, but if you're just going to stand there all day I have no reason to keep you alive..."
In the interests of self preservation (though he knew it was a stupid move for Ed's health) Havoc went flying towards the sneering beast.
"That's a good boy..."
Havoc's hand shot out, grabbing the gun and tossing it away. "I am NOT your goddamn TOY," he hissed, sweeping Deceit's legs out from underneath him.
Deceit chuckled, landing easily and turning quickly to drive his heel into Havoc's stomach. "If it's fun for me, how is that not being a toy..."
Havoc managed to twist so the kick glanced somewhat less painfully off his hip. "You don't own me."
Rebounding from the kick, Deceit slid back. "As much as I'd love to, I already know that, Jean.."
"Why me?" Havoc stood there, proud. "Why me of all people?"
"Because your looks, your attitude is alluring to me... Everything about you makes me want to taste the blood in your mouth, revel in your screams, bask in the heat in your eyes when you look like you're ready to rip my throat out..." Deceit's grin was back, though it seemed more twisted than before. Perhaps the tinge of psychotic in his voice added to the effect.
Hate welled up, sharp and bitter and entirely welcome. Havoc pounced again, hooking his claws into solid flesh.
Deceit hissed sharply, licking his lips. "How long has it been since I've felt this kind of pain... The hatred you bear towards me makes me feel so much more alive.." His own claws tore Havoc's side as he used his foot to push the other chimera away despite the tear on his own flesh.
Havoc bit into Deceit's shoulder, hanging on for dear life. He refused to satisfy the perverted freak digging his claws into his side. He refused to cry out.
Grinning again, Deceit tilted his head, finding himself at the perfect angle to run his tongue along Havoc's neck. And if the other chimera didn't let go after that, well, he could always enjoy this until he did let go.
Revolted, Havoc scrambled back, breathing heavily. Loathing shone clear in his eyes.
Deceit simply purred, licking his lips again. In the next second he'd closed the distance between them again, claws against Havoc's cheek. "Don't suppose you'd let me have a taste, would you..." Despite his words, the redhead managed to lick a bit of the blood away from the corner of Havoc's mouth, lips just barely brushing his in the split second he had before Havoc returned to his senses and he had to retreat back to a safer distance.
Falsehood took the moment of the lion chimera being completely and totally poleaxed and the short blond fuming at the complete audacity of Deceit to slide around. She did something wrong, though, alerting Havoc and making him whirl to shout a warning.
In that moment, Deceit drew another weapon, firing a single shot through Havoc's right lung, barely missing the blond's spine. "Do not turn your back to me in this fight, Jean..."
The warning turned to a wet, choked cry. Havoc managed to turn back around, Laying four deep cuts across the vein in Deceit's neck. Having spent the last of his energy, he collapsed.
Ed's eyes widened, and he moved quickly to Havoc's side. He heard the crackle of an alchemical flare and felt the heat of the explosion at his back, turning his head to see Roy standing back where he'd just come from, Falsehood's body lying within three feet of him. He immediately looked back to Havoc. "Jean..."
The dying man managed a grin. "It was a... fun ride kid..."
Hearing Roy step closer, Ed shook his head. "Stay back, Roy!" Once he was sure the man had done as requested, he pulled Havoc's upper body into his lap, cradling him there. "It's over now... We don't have to worry anymore..." By now, the tears were flowing, and he made no attempt to stop them.
Havoc smiled peacefully. His eyes closed, his face ashen. "We... won... finally."
Violet flickered briefly in his eyes, and Ed tried to ignore the sharp pain in his chest. "I know..."
The smile faded slightly. "Don't forget..." Without fuss, Jean Havoc peacefully died.
Clutching the man tightly to his chest, Ed whispered, "I know..." Without so much as turning his head, he called to Roy. "Do it now, Roy! I told you, you're going to, right!?"
The tear in Edward's voice nearly made Roy sick, but he nodded. "Take care of each other... I'll be alright here..." It seemed he hadn't even needed the tattoos after all, gloves still on, he snapped once, then turned and wandered back the way he'd come. Surprising himself, he didn't even cry until he got back to Jean's apartment, feeling the emptiness of it all.
Please review, constructive criticism and questions appreciated, flames will be deflected back at you by Roy. n.n;
