Virtues

Innocence

This is rated M for a reason, so please be mindful. TT;

Disclaimer: (Why haven't I done this in the past?) I don't own FMA. Never will. Wouldn't be putting my writing up on this site if I did. I /DO/ however own the virtues. No steals. Well. The idea. Justice, Charity, and Judgment belong to xxdarknessxfallsxx. Thanks love.

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Last Time…

Fortitude tried opening his mouth to speak. Nothing but the faintest whisper came from him. He couldn't get up. His mind swirled in a sickening fashion, and finally he passed from consciousness.

Now…

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A figure flew around loftily in the sky. Bright white wings speckled in brown pumped heavily to keep the figure afloat. The Hawk of the North; Justice.

He been flying back and forth in this general area, eyes kept firmly to the ground. He'd been hearing screams. At first he'd assumed it'd been from the military camp below. They made a shit load of noise sometimes. He'd focused in on it on a whim and figured out that it was coming from just out of the military camp…and it wasn't military. It was Fortitude.

He'd never heard the virtue in so much pain, and had been looking ever since. He landed softly on the ground, just outside the camp. He'd seen something in a bush. He pushed the bushy leaves aside, digging into the plant. In the center lay Fortitude. Justice gingerly stepped forward, to get a better look. Fortitude's clothing lay in shreds around him, no use to him anymore. Blood leaked from his sides, thighs, chest, and a couple of other places. Evidence showed what may have happened. Whoever had done it was long gone. Justice bent over, and picked the virtue's limp body up. And with that, they'd both disappeared.

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Fortitude lay in a cot, now fully dressed and cleaned up. His eyes were closed, the gentle rise and fall of his chest the only thing saying he was actually alive. Justice sat down next to the cot, pondering what had really happened. From the liquids covering the man, he could guess, but he wanted to know for certain…and who. He looked at Fortitude's face for a moment, a warm and fluttering feeling working its way up his chest. He tore his eyes away.

A girl slipped into the room, with an armful of towels. Blond hair fell to her back, glistening red eyes darting around the room. She sat down on her knees next to the cot, across from Justice. She smoothed the skirt of her maid's dress out over her lap.

"He doing okay?" she asked, motioning to Fortitude.

"He hasn't woken yet. Don't know till he does…" Justice said softly, his eyes on the floor. Charity sighed. Fortitude and Justice had been friends for near forever.

"Call me when he does." Charity said softly, and left the room. Justice's attention had snapped up, just as she left. She didn't need to go…He looked at Fortitude again. Just…let him sleep now…

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Fortitude's eyes flickered open, his mind reeling slightly. Where was he? His surroundings were a dull, stony color. His body quickly caught up with him, causing him to moan in pain. Justice shifted in his sleep, falling onto his side. Fortitude winced. Pain. Extreme amounts. Something wet pressed against his forehead suddenly, causing him to look to his side. Charity sat there, pressing a wet rag to his head, smiling lightly.

"Hello." She said cheerfully. Fortitude groaned, shifting.

"Hurts…" he muttered. Charity's face fell slightly.

"I know." She said softly. Fortitude frowned.

"You know I do not like you looking at my emotions."

"I'm sorry. I really wanted to know. To know if I could help."

"Well, do not." Fortitude pulled himself up, the rag slipping off his head. "I am fine."

"What happened? Who hurt you?" Charity asked, obvious worry showing in her voice.

"It is none of your bui-"

"I'd like to know that myself." came Justice's voice. Fortitude's voice caught in his throat.

"I-I…Um..."

"Do you not trust your own friends?" Charity asked, a frown etched into her face. Fortitude looked down at his lap, closing his eyes. Justice took one of Fortitude's hands, squeezing it lightly. A warm fluttering feeling went through Fortitude's body, numbing the pain. Until he realized he needed to tell them.

"Envy raped me." He said softly, eyes focused on his lap, where his hand was, still being securely held by Justice's. Charity gasped, and Justice's hold limped slightly. He pulled his hand away, standing up, and leaving the room. Fortitude let out a sort of choked sob, pulling his knees up towards his chest, resting his forehead on his knees. Charity looked at the floor for a moment, then up at Fortitude. She placed her hand on his shoulder.

"You love him, don't you?" she asked.

"I said stop messing with my emotions." Fortitude snapped.

"I couldn't help it. Any empathic would be able to. It kind of radiates from you." Charity said. Fortitude's body slumped slightly.

"Is it really that obvious?"

"It always is, dear." Charity sighed. "Justice is just frustrated."

"Why should he be? I was the one raped."

"He's your best friend, Fortitude. He doesn't want you hurt." She smiled lightly. "You're the eldest, Fortitude. Yet you know so little of emotions and others." Fortitude sighed.

"I will go speak with him, then." He said, trying to pull himself up.

"Fortitude, NO. You're still hurt. And getting up will just make the injuries worse." Charity said, pressing him back down.

"I am FINE. I am immortal. Moving is not going to kill me." He said, standing up totally. Charity sighed.

"Fine, Mr. Big Shot." She said. She picked up some rags she had with her, and left the room. Fortitude opened the door to the other room, slipping in silently. The room was half complete, having the mouth of the cave instead of a wall. Justice was sitting at the edge, his legs dangling off the side of the cave. His eyes were fixed out onto the landscape below. Fortitude carefully crept up next to him, placing his head right next to Justice's ear.

"Pretty, is it not?" he said, looking forward as Justice was. Justice jumped, attention snapping to Fortitude.

"Oh. Fortitude. You scared me." Justice said, trying to calm himself down. Fortitude smiled lightly. He sat down next to Justice, nestling himself in one of the wings that were drooped slightly. The wing sort of froze for a second, then curled around Fortitude.

"You feeling better?" Justice asked. Fortitude nodded.

"A bit, I guess." He said softly. The tips of Justice's wings brushed across his skin lightly, sending the warm fluttering feeling through him again. Justice looked over at Fortitude, who looking slightly dazed.

"You alright?" he said, frowning a bit. Fortitude's eyes widened a bit, having gone into his own world for a moment.

"Err. Y-yeah." He said, blushing a bit. Justice smiled in a slightly confused way. Charity's words echoed through his mind, just as she had said them a few days ago.

"When Fortitude was here…I picked up a rather interesting feeling whenever you touched him. Even if you simply brushed against him. I think he loves you, Justice."

Was she right? It sort of seemed like it. He decided to test the idea. He moved his wing slightly, so it pressed against Fortitude, pushing the virtue closer to him. Their sides touched lightly, Fortitude being pulled towards Justice's chest more than anything. Fortitude's hand pressed against Justice's chest, his face bright red.

"J-justice." He said, surprised.

"Mm?" Justice replied, cocking a brow, giving Fortitude a questioning look. Inside he was smiling pretty well, the same warm fluttering feeling running through his chest. Before he quite knew what was happening, Fortitude had locked his lips with Justice's. Justice gasped slightly, being pressed backwards a bit, before closing his eyes and kissing back with full gusto. After a few lengthy seconds, Fortitude broke off, slumping down into Justice's lap, looking down.

"Sorry." He muttered.

"Don't be…" Justice said softly, smoothing down Fortitude's ruffled hair.

"I do not mean to press my emotions on you. Sorry." Fortitude said again, obviously not hearing Justice.

"No. Don't be sorry." Justice said sharply. "Holding in emotions is hardly good for you."

"I…I love you Justice…" Fortitude said softly. He still looked downwards. Justice smiled, nudging Fortitude's face up with his finger.

"I love you too." He replied. Fortitude smiled up at him. His eyes glazed a bit, and he passed out. Justice sighed, looking at the man. Stubborn as a mule.

Charity slipped in.

"Is he okay?" she asked, eying Fortitude in Justice's lap.

"He's fine. He just needs rest." He said. Charity scuttled over, helping Justice pick Fortitude up, and cart him back to his cot in the other room.

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A/N: I'm debating if I'm going to be doing another chapter to this one or not. ;; So. If another chapter never shows up, you now know why. xD I might though. I have a feeling I can add to this a bit.