AN: Wrote this in one day again, there's possibly some mistakes that I missed!
Chapter 7
Rachel slowly brought both her hands up to her chest, clasping them together. She took a moment to gather her words. "Please..." She started, lifting her head. Her dead eyes stared into the man's, this killer, and her next words caused Ed's heart to stop. "...Kill me."
Silence.
"Rachel..." Ed spoke up, grabbing a hold of Rachel's shoulder. He tugged her back, and when she turned her to look at him, she flinched back at the look on his face. His face was red, and he looked as if he was going to blow.
"...Yeah?" She asked tentatively.
"What the fuck do you think you're doing?!" He shouted, gripping her shoulder, glaring her down. She lowered her gaze.
"...Asking for him to kill me?" Ed groaned, slapping his palm over his face.
"Rachel... I told you, if you're troubled by something, you can talk to me! And really, this isn't how you solve anything." He said, sliding his hand off his face and frowning down at her. "You have to stay alive to fix any wrongs."
Rachel stared down at the floor, not giving any indication that she's listened to him. "Yeah... sure." She said absentmindedly.
Ed furrowed his brows, before a violent retch startled him. Both he and Rachel turned their attentions back to the man, the killer, only to see him leaning against the wall, using the back of his sweater sleeve to wipe the back of his mouth. A puddle of bile spread across the floor by his feet, and Ed stepped back, repulsed. Rachel didn't react, turning her gaze on the man as he returned his attention to the two blondes, his own disgust clear in his eyes.
"Don't say gross shit like that to me, you fuckin' freak!" He snapped, mildly surprising both Ed and Rachel. "I don't take requests, either. If you wanna die, then go kill yourself!"
"Oh shut up, asshole! You're not helping!" Ed retorted, glaring at the man.
The killer lifted his fist, raising his middle finger and vehemently spat. "Fuck you, shorty!"
"Stop." Rachel spoke up, holding her hand out to stop Ed from lunging at the man. "Just stop." She seemed a bit disheartened as she watched Ed, waiting for him to step back, before she turned back to the killer, staring up at him. "...You really won't kill me?" She asked quietly.
His face scrunched up as he scowled at her, turning his nose up into the air. "Well, I fucking might if you don't leave me the fuck alone." He glanced back at the elevator, and an idea seemed to pop into his head as his eyes lit up. He looked at Rachel, and then at Ed, and grinned a bit, looking grim in the low light of the hallway. "Maybe I'll be more willing to listen if you open this God damn elevator."
Ed didn't like that, and made to protest, when Rachel decided for him. "Okay." She said, and went on her way back through the hall.
Ed gaped, staring after her, before turning to look at the killer. He appeared surprised as well, but when his eyes met Ed's, he sneered, gripping his scythe. Ed bristled, glaring daggers, and he rushed to catch up with Rachel. He made it to her side as she crossed the threshold of broken glass.
"Rachel, wait a second." He said, and she paused to stare at him. She stayed silent, which prompted him to continue. "We gotta talk about this-"
"About what?" She asked. "That I'm complying with a serial killer?"
"Yes- well, no, but that too." Ed shook his head, frowning as he gathered his thoughts. "About you wanting to die."
"Then I don't have much to say." She said, brushing him off, and she turned down the hallway leading to the operation room.
Ed persisted. "Well, you may not, but I sure as hell do!" He snapped. "Where on earth did this suicidal bullshit come from?"
He supposed he should have been treading this more carefully, she was just a child after all, but he knew what she had to have been feeling. He didn't know what it was that caused her to feel this way, what she remembered, to feel like death was her only option, but he could relate at least. He knew he's felt that feeling before.
Rachel averted her gaze. "You... You don't understand-" She starts, and Ed interrupted her with a snap.
"Of course I don't understand! I don't know what's happened in your life to make you feel this way, and I never said I did." He continued when she only rubbed her arm, albeit with a softer tone. "If you think your own death is going to solve all of your problems, then I'm sorry, but that's not how it works. You're just pushing those problems onto the people around you. If you really want to fix things, then stay alive and work towards it."
He had no idea if what he was saying was helping her in anyway, but he did see some sort of spark in her eyes. After being silent for a long time, she spoke. "...I don't know if that will help..." She said as she resumed her walk. Ed made to reply, when she continued. "...But thank you, Ed."
Ed paused, watching her. He honestly didn't think his words would have any kind of effect, and while she didn't outwardly show any difference in demeanor, he supposed his words hit something in her. He smiled. "No problem."
The duo walked into the operation room, and Ed grimaced at the sight of Daniel's corpse. The pool of blood seemed even bigger now, and he just noticed that his blood had splattered onto the walls as well. Ed watched as Rachel knelt down without a problem, immediately going through his pockets. He was a bit surprised by how brazen the move was.
"You're not... unnerved by this?" He asked, uneasy.
"Not really." She replied, pulling out what looked to be a remote from the doctor's pocket.
"How?"
Rachel remained silent, turning to look at Ed, and when he thought back, he knew the reason why.
"I… I saw someone die… murdered, right in front of me... So I was brought in for counseling."
She had said that back on B7, before they knew what they were getting themselves into. Ed felt a pang of guilt in his chest.
"Ah, right... sorry. It was a dumb question." He said, waving his hand, and he looked at the remote in her hand. "Think that'll work?"
"Let's find out." She pushed the button and stood once they heard the sound of something heavy moving nearby, and together, the two left the bloody operation room.
"COME ONNNNN! OPEN UP ALREADY!"
Kicking at the door with all his might, the man cursed God and whatever powerful being there was that got him into this mess.
He just had to accept that stupid offer, didn't he? The offer that seemed so worthwhile at first, allowing him to kill without consequence, had now become his death sentence, and he was completely and utterly pissed.
"When I get my hands on that damn-"
The stupid elevator opened, finally, causing the man to blink as he was bathed in warm light. He felt confusion well up inside his head. "Huh?"
"Hey!" The annoying blond boy called out to him, and he suppressed the groan that threatened to leave him as he turned to look at them.
The two brats had returned, much to his annoyance, but they did what he asked, so he couldn't complain. He knew he wouldn't have been able to figure it out.
A thought occurred to him then. They're smart if they opened it, then. Could be useful.
"So you guys opened it, huh?" He asked, resting his scythe on his shoulder. The gears in his head were already turning as he thought up a plan.
The blond boy with the gold eyes scowled at him. "What do you think, moron? Of course we did." He retorted, crossing his arms.
The Man ignored Gold Eyes for now, allowing a grin to spread across his face. "Well, then listen here, brats." He started, sticking his free hand in his pocket as he leaned forward. His taller frame cast a shadow on the two from the light of the elevator. "I'm dumb as shit, so I know I wouldn't be able to get out just by myself. But, if I had two smart kids like you helping me..." He trailed off, seeing both of their eyes spark as they realize what he's getting at.
Good kids.
"You want us to help you." The girl spoke, her dead eyes trained on him.
"Exactly! And, if you both behave, maybe I'll do what you want." He said, lifting his scythe and bringing the blade so it was an inch or so away from the Dead Eyes' neck. She did want to die, didn't she? She wouldn't get that until she made herself useful, he decided. At least then, when they're out and she's smiling, he could look forward to cutting her up.
Just as he imagined the blade sinking into her flesh, a tanned hand grabbed the handle of his scythe and pushed it back, and he snapped his gaze to stare into blazing golden eyes. Gold Eyes was glaring at him, and he stumbled back a step when he shoved the weapon back to him.
"You're not laying a hand on her." Gold Eyes seethed, clenching his fists, and he thought the boy would punch him again. "She doesn't need her death secured, she needs help. I'll be fucking damned if I let her die."
He felt his annoyance start to rise but he had to cool it. This kid wasn't gonna make it easy, it seemed, and he readjusted his plan mentally. It could still work- it's just now he had to take him into consideration as well. He held his stare, his grin fading into a bit of a frown as he regarded him. This kid had fire in his eyes, and he didn't know if he hated it or respected it.
The man snorted, Respected? He didn't respect anyone, let along a little brat.
"What?" Gold Eyes asked, shoulders raising as his anger at him seemed to grow. He must have thought he was laughing at him.
"Okay, then how about this for a deal;" The man began again, walking up to the two. He saw the boy's body tense, and he moved to stand in front of the girl as if he was going to hurt her. Is he her guardian or some shit? Has to be.
He stared the two down, grinning, as he stood right in front of them. "You help me escape this damn building, and you get out alive." He glanced at the Dead Eyes. "And, if she still wants to die by the time we get out of here..." He swung his scythe around the two, and Gold Eyes jolted as he and Dead Eyes were suddenly caged in by the blade. "...I get to slaughter her."
"Okay." "Absolutely not!"
The two had spoken in unison, and the man watched as the two turned on each other, but it was entirely Gold Eyes who was angry. The man felt his eye twitch as Gold Eyes berated Dead Eyes, his voice getting on his nerves. Maybe he should just kill Gold Eyes and leave with Dead Eyes...
No. If he wanted a better chance of survival, he knew he should take them both. He may have been dumb as a rock, but he at least knew he'd have better odds getting out with their help.
His patience with Gold Eyes, however, was already starting to wear thin.
Grabbing the ponytail Gold Eyes had his hair in, he yanked roughly, pulling the boy to him, and ignored his yelp of pain and the hands the flew up to hit his arm. "Listen here, you little fuck." The man started, his voice low and threatening. Gold Eyes stilled. "If you keep yelling like that, then I'm gonna fucking gut you and leave you here, got it?"
He expected Gold Eyes to be scared, to stutter out something to show he complied, but instead he received an angry huff and a shove. "Okay, I got it! Just let me go!"
Tsking, the man released him, and Gold Eyes stepped away with a scowl.
"Do we have a deal, or what?" The man asked loudly. He was starting to get impatient, placing his hand on his hip. He wanted to get moving already.
Gold Eyes glanced at Dead Eyes, who answered for the duo. "Yeah. It sounds like a good deal."
The man watched Gold Eyes frown and look away, but he didn't protest.
"Good." The man said shortly. "My only rule for you two is to not get happy. When people get all happy around me..." He let a sick grin spread across his face, and he relished the look of disgust on Gold Eyes face as he breathed out, "I can't help but kill 'em."
"Remind me to never smile around you, ever." Gold Eyes deadpanned, and he must have been impatient too, for he pushed past the man to walk into the elevator behind him.
The man looked back at him with a scowl, and then looked at Dead Eyes, resting the scythe on his shoulder. "The rule shouldn't be a problem with you, anyways. You're like a doll." He turned to the elevator, walking inside with Dead Eyes trailing behind him. Once the trio were inside, Gold Eyes pressed the button.
"Hey, what's your names?" The man asked as the doors slid shut.
"Rachel Gardner." Dead Eyes answered, staring straight ahead at the doors. She stood in the middle, with Gold Eyes to her left, and the man to her right.
"Edward Elric." Gold Eyes said, albeit reluctantly, and he looked at the man expectantly. The elevator began to move.
The man flashed a smirk at him, taking amusement in the little scowl Gold Eyes sent back. "Call me Zack."
The operation room floor was cold. The air was cold. Everything was cold.
Daniel's body was cold.
A light flashed from under the door leading to the back room, and after a brief moment of the silence, slowly the door was pushed open with a low creak.
Footsteps echoed across the room, approaching Daniel, and stopped.
Lifeless eyes stared up. Dead. Dull.
"Hm..." A voice hummed, discontent, echoing through the small room.
"This won't do."
AN: Zack was a lot of fun to write as skjdhssa I'm so glad he's apart of the gang now. I had fun writing this as it's a change of pace from the other chapters, and I think the next one will be similar to this before we get back into the action. I hope me switching to Zack's POV wasn't too confusing? I'll be doing that more between the three of them as this fic goes on.
Oh, and who was that person at the end? ;)
What did you think? Thoughts? Predictions? Did I keep everyone in character? I like hearing back to know what I'm doing right and what I'm doing wrong.
As a side note, I did decide that there wasn't going to be romance in this, but I see there's still interest for Ed/Zack, and I have two little side fic ideas that I can definitely explore that in!
One idea is a high school AU- I'd have to play around with ages if I want the main cast to fit into high school years, but it would most definitely be Ed/Zack with possibly Ray/Al? I dunno I think Al and Ray would be really cute. Would switch between Zack and Ed as they get through school and figure out their feelings.
The second idea is an AU where Zack and Ray get adopted by the one and only badass housewife, Izumi Curtis. It would almost entirely be centered around Zack and his experiences if he were rescued by Izumi before he could snap and go on the path of murder. This would be a slow burn, childhood friends!Ed/Zack.
I'm also putting together a sequel to this fic that will explore Ed/Zack, but that's not gonna be until I finish this one anyways- just thought I'd put it out there.
Anyways, I think I rambled on enough! I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and I'll see you all again with the next chapter soon!
