Deliver Me

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Chapter Two: Life

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Edward groaned and rolled over carefully. Sleeping on wood was so freaking uncomfortable. Heaving a sigh, he sat up.

The boat he had borrowed was small, and he swore it was giving him splinters. Floating down the river was not nearly as fun as everyone made it out to be. Then again, anyone who had ever told him about it hadn't been alone.

Picking up the large pole, he stood carefully and slipped the bottom into the water. It hit the bottom, and he gave a shove, urging the boat faster. If he couldn't sleep, he might as well make this entire thing faster. He shoved again, pushing until everything around him became a blur. It wasn't that he was going that fast, he'd simply stopped paying attention to it.

There was an Ishbalan camp down the river. He knew that. It wouldn't be long until he found it, and Scar. The stone. The only thing in the world that could put Al back into his body. He knew Scar would help, he had to. There was no other way.

Whether it was hours or minutes, Ed didn't know. The sun high above him, shedding light where he didn't want it. Grumbling, he pulled the pole out of the water.

Now what?

He glanced around him and stopped the boat with a jerk. There! The camp was some way back from the bank, but he saw the unmistakable shapes of tents, and people moving. That was it.

Turning the boat carefully, he pushed it toward land. When the boat hit the soft earth, he jumped out, barely taking the time to secure it away from the water. He was jogging for the camp before knew it, ignoring his fatigue to get there as fast as he could.

The first to see Edward was an old man, crushing a plant into a powder. He gasped, calling out something to his family. Word spread and quickly a group of men met the boy just outside the camp.

Most were holding weapons, looking cautious. These were the Ishbalans that hadn't met Edward Elric, the other camp that the group he'd met were joining.

One spoke. "Who are you? What do you want?"

"I'm Edward Elric!" He skidded to a halt, glancing through the group to see if there was anyone he recognized. Finding none, Ed muffled a curse.

His hands landed on his hips, and he hoped that this wouldn't come down to a fight. If Scar had moved on, he would be outnumbered, without a chance of winning.

"I'm looking for Scar." Dammit, did that guy even have a real name?

"Scar?" The name echoed throughout the group, Edward's name as well. Then, they parted as a tall man walked through them. Eventually they dissipated and left them alone.

"It's been some time, Edward Elric." Scar said, staring at him through a pair of cracked sunglasses. He'd found a new pair.

"Yeah." Edward had never been more glad to see the tattooed man. "You have a few minutes?"

This was it. This was really it. If he could get Scar to go back with him, they could get back to the city and find Al.

A woman appeared beside one of the tents. "Scar...?" Her voice was questioning.

Turning to her, Scar's usual frown-non emotional expression changed slightly. "One moment."

The woman nodded, red gaze falling on Edward for a moment before walking away.

"What is it, Edward?" He asked, turning back to the boy as he removed his glasses.

"I've been doing some research..." Edward glanced around at the tent. "Are you sure it's safe to talk here? This is important."

He didn't want anyone to over hear. The last thing anyone needed was for word of the Philosopher's Stone getting out. He didn't think Scar wanted that either, but he couldn't explain until he knew everything was secure.

Scar would have told Edward that Ishbalans didn't gossip, but he wasn't sure if it was true. He started walking until he was shoulder-to-shoulder with the younger man. "Follow me." He said gruffly, walking forward into a deep grove of trees.

He didn't stop until he got to a log they could sit on. He was nervous about leaving Rosa alone for a long time...Hopefully she'd gone to see her sister or someone.

Edward sat immediately, legs sore. The automail always got stiff when he stayed still for too long, and it was good to move it and sit. He rested his elbows on his knees, gloved hands fisted as he leaned forward.

"I've been researching the Philosopher's Stone." He didn't wait for Scar's reaction, just plowed on. "I found a few books," Alright, so he was bending the truth, but only a little. "on a guy named Hilton. He was working on how to make the Stone, not find it."

He glanced over at Scar for the first time. "He did it, and the military killed him. Thing is, the Stone... it wasn't a rock. It was a man, and he ran before the military could take him. The way I figure it... when he ran away, he found somewhere to hide. He laid the base for the Ishbalans, and the secret of the Stone was lost."

Did Scar know what he was? He had to, by now. How couldn't he?

"Until you. I need your help."

Scar's eyes were sad, he stared back at Edward. "You speak of my grandfather." He said quietly. "The first living sin we'd known. Ishbala had forsaken him."

His hands gripped together. "We never speak of him anymore. My father was born just after my grandfather and grandmother were married." He stared up at the sky. "You want me to help you create a body for your brother, Edward."

He wasn't asking. He was telling, knowing.

"Please." Edward hated asking for things. Especially when he knew those were things he could repay. "I've tried, and I can't." It was even worse when they were things he couldn't do at all. "I need you to. I promised Al, and he's depending on me."

He grit his teeth. He had never been able to tell with Scar, whether the man was going to do something or walk away. He needed the help, and Scar was the only man who could do it. There was no other way. No way that Ed was willing to do. He'd tried creating a stone, and he'd failed. He couldn't sacrifice the lives of others. Not when... not...

Scar was silent, eyes shut in deep thought. "Edward..." He said finally, crimson eyes rising to meet his. "I cannot."

Before the boy could protest, beg, whatever...he continued. "I was not born with the complete Philosopher's Stone as my body. My brother was, but he used it terribly. With my ability, it would kill me to bring your brother's body back."

There was no shout from Edward, no demand to know why. He looked down, brow furrowing over dulled golden eyes. "That's it, then." All of it, done. It was settled. Al was stuck in that body for the rest of his life, and Edward wouldn't blame him one bit if he hated him. He had promised, again and again, and he couldn't do it.

Edward stood, hands loose at his side, head down. "I've got to get back. Sorry to have wasted your time." He started out of the clearing, hoping Scar would burst out with something, something he'd missed, something that could be done... But he knew it wouldn't come.

Everything was over. His goal... it was just one big dead end. He should have expected it from the beginning. This was God's way of rubbing it in his face one last time.

He was finished. He was going to go back to Mustang and turn in his watch. If he couldn't help Al, there was no point in anything anymore. And after he gave Mustang that stupid watch, he was going to visit his brother, and tell him that everything was done.

Scar stared after Edward, usual frown on his face with his brow furrowed slightly.

Then, he turned. "Are you sure he won't be mad?"

A dark form came from the trees. "Of course he'll be mad. He's always mad." The amused voice of Roy Mustang came forward as his figure did. A dark jacket was pulled over his shoulders.

"I think," Scar said, staring at him with a neutral expression. "That you're in love with him."

Roy shrugged.

Standing, Scar slipped his hands into his pockets. "You might not be as bad as I thought, Mustang."

Simply giving a slight wave, Roy was gone. Back to Central.

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Ed was tempted. Tempted to just get in the boat and let it carry him downstream. He regarded it flatly for a full minute before stepping in, picking up the pole, and giving a hard shove away from the bank. The boat immediately tried to go with the flow of the water, but Edward sunk the pole into the wet earth under the river and shoved.

The boat moved forward. He did it again. And again, and again until it all became mechanical to him. Like breathing. He didn't have to think about it.

He didn't have to think at all.

He lost himself in the movements for hours. Splash, thunk, shove. Again and again, until he stopped hearing, stopped feeling. That was what he wanted the most. To stop feeling.

It was hard to believe that after years of searching, years of struggle, he'd finally found the answer, and it was once again unreachable. Someone up there hated him, and Ed had a good idea who.

Well, God had gotten his way. Edward was through. He wanted nothing to do with the military anymore. He had no purpose... nothing. Mustang was right. He was just a child.

He almost missed the dock at Central, and would have proceeded right past it if the owner of the boat hadn't shouted to him. Ed blinked, looked up, and sighed. Right. He had to pay...

Tying the boat up, he dug through his pockets and paid with everything he found. It was more then enough, and he ignored the gleeful thanks of the boat owner, just shrugged his shoulders, hunched down, and began the slow walk back to Headquarters.

It was late when he reached the steps. Nearly dark. He started up them blindly, nearly running face first into the door before he remembered it was there. Pushing it open, Edward sighed. The building was being shut down, but he knew Mustang would still be around. He had to be, or Ed would find him at home. No matter what, he was finishing this - now.

It'd been somewhat of a challenge to get back to Central before Edward, but somehow Roy managed. He pushed the door to his office open, pulled his jacket off and tossed it in the closet on one side. Then, he messed up the papers on his desk before sitting down in his chair and grabbing a pen.

Last, he messed up his hair a little. Because it was wet from the river splashing him and he'd rather it look messy like he'd just woken up. Yawning softly, he leaned back to wait.

If he was right, Scar had already done what he'd promised.

Before the office door was all the way open, Edward had his watch off. He stood just inside, tossing the silver trinket onto Roy's desk. His throat was tight, and his eyes stung, but he didn't let on, glaring weakly at Roy from across the room.

He couldn't speak, couldn't even manage a 'I'm finished.' All he could do was stare at Roy, sure he'd gotten the point.

He wanted to cry, and scream, and hide in a corner. He wanted to shout his anger out at everyone who had ever gotten in his way. He wanted to know why, why nothing could work out, why he couldn't help Al...

But Roy had already made it clear that what he wanted couldn't govern the actions of others.

Roy said nothing, watching him. His hand went up, curling around the silver pocket watch and his thumb ran over the symbol on top.

Opening a drawer, he dropped it inside.

And leaned back again, watching the boy with an uninterested expression. That was the hardest thing to do. What he really wanted to do was take the watch and throw it hard enough to bruise.

But, that wasn't possible. It would ruin everything.

Oh, God...

Edward clenched his jaw, eyes stinging angrily. He blinked, and he could feel the tears coming up.

Hell no. He wasn't going to cry.

Fingers curling into fists, he gave Roy a jerky bow - the first in years. Then he turned, leaving the office door open as he escaped. He didn't want to do this anymore... All he wanted now was to be left alone.

Only a moment after Edward had left, Roy opened the drawer again and picked out the only watch in there. Standing, he pocketed it and went to get his jacket again.

After waiting a good minute, just in case, he summoned Havoc from the break room and told him he needed to drive.

Edward was well away from Roy's office before he felt his resolve breaking. He was struggling for breath, leaning heavily against the wall. He was only a few steps away from the door that would lead him into his and Al's room.

He would have to face his brother, something he didn't want to do. He would tell Al it was over, and that they were going to have to go home, because the military wasn't going to continue to support them. Edward didn't want to. He really didn't, but it was time to stop running away from the truth.

He didn't want to do it, but he had to.

Scrubbing his face with both gloved hands, pulling in deep, steadying breaths. He wasn't going to let himself cry. He couldn't do that to Al, so he would have to keep it in.

Edward calmed slowly, enough to steel himself and take the short steps to the door. He pulled it open, reluctance in his every movement and stepped inside.

The room was dark, like Al had been so worried he couldn't even turn on the lights. Ed wouldn't blame him... He'd been gone for two days, without word... Al was probably frantic. It wouldn't surprise him if his brother was out looking for him now, instead of in the room.

There was silence in the room, except for the faint whisper of wind from outside. The shades were drawn at the windows, the room completely black. There was nothing, a soft noise. Then, a pair of strong arms grabbed Edward from behind.

"Don't move." A ragged voice from behind him said, "If you want your brother to live."

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TBC

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Suqua: Yes, a bit of a cliffhanger. Mmm-hmm. So, what's Roy up to? And who's this dude threatening Al? Who knows, eh?

Oh…yeaaaaah. Chapters will be shorter than the first one. :-P Just so you know. That one we forgot to end right away so it remained long. Whoo!