It's been two months since the wedding now, and there's only one thing in the forefront of your mind; The Promised Day is only a month away.
One month from now, you could be dead, widowed, or both. Failure feels like a real possibility, even if Scar does have that second tattoo now. In fact, the majority of the plan seems to be in place; the only thing left now is for you all to travel to Liore to regroup. You hope Alphonse and the Chimeras have been keeping well… and that they've been keeping Yoki out of trouble.
From there, it'll be on to meet with the Ishvalans gathering near Central for a rundown of the plan. If all goes well, this final assault shall go down in history as the day that Ishval put aside its differences with Amestris to save millions of lives. That, or it'll be the day Amestris became the next Xerxes; either way, it shall be a day for the history books.
For now, life goes on much as it always does. Scar's gone off to look for kindling before it gets too dark, so Marcoh has taken the chance to give you a quick examination. Nothing too invasive; all he's really done is asked you a few questions, and prodded the bump that's quickly become hard to ignore. It's a miracle Scar is still totally oblivious…
Speaking of questions, Marcoh's voice calls you out of your thoughts. 'Have you been feeling movement yet?' Ah, now isn't that a question you have an answer to!
You nod. 'Quite a lot actually. Someone can't get comfortable, I suppose. Better make that two of us, actually. It seems to happen more at night, is that normal?' You almost feel like a bad mother, lacking knowledge on so many basic things…
Marcoh smiles comfortingly. 'Yes, that's quite normal. It's not so much that the baby's more active at night, it more a case of you being able to feel it better lying down. Besides, hearing that someone likes to pester you at all hours of the night is far more reassuring than hearing they're not. You're doing fine. You have my word on that as a doctor.' You'd rather have his word as a midwife or something, but you'll take it. He knows what he's doing…
No sooner than your conversation ends do you notice Scar walking back into view; you also notice that he's not alone. A strangely familiar figure seems to be with him…
'Well now, this is a cosy sight. Glad to see you both looking so well. I was worried you'd be half-dead from exhaustion at this point.' It can't… Cheng?!
Sure enough, the moment he and Scar come closer, you recognise the Xingese traveller, though he doesn't seem to have shaved for a while; he has quite the moustache forming!
Certain it's now him, you meet him the rest of the way, pulling him into a hug; you didn't think you'd ever see him again!
Cheng hesitates for a moment, before he hugs back, pulling you in close. 'Oh, but it's good to see being married to misery guys hasn't damped your good spirts. I must say though, you seem to have put on some weight since we last met. Someone been feeding you a little too well, or am I going to have to start calling myself Uncle Cheng?' He winks, surely joking, but you panic anyway. How are supposed to brush that off?
Thankfully, Scar steps in for you. 'Would you rather I starved my wife? If she's managed to put on weight thanks to the food that I've provided, it means I'm more than fulfilling my role as her husband. That is all.' So Scar has noticed your weight gain? Why hasn't he mentioned it? Does he… he just thinks you're getting fat, doesn't he?! Great. Now his final memories of you are going to be how you seemed to double in size unexpectedly fast…
To your surprise, Cheng seems disappointed. 'Oh. Fair enough. My bad for making assumptions. You're going to start having babies soon though, aren't you? Or is that going to be the first job once you've saved Amestris?' He's looking at you with such hope in his eyes, like all he wants is for you to say yes…
Once again, Scar answers for you. 'I'll be a dead man one way or another when this is over, and there's no time to focus on starting a family now when there's so much at stake.' His reasoning has changed now? He'd told you it's because he didn't want to leave you alone with a child to look after…
Cheng looks genuinely crushed. 'I see. A pity. To think that in such a small amount of time, the last of my lost love's family will be gone. I'll be the only one left who really knew him, or who speaks of him…' For a moment, you find yourself wondering if you'll be like Cheng when Scar… the only difference being that you'll have someone to pass your memories on to…
You place a consoling hand on Cheng's shoulder. 'I may not have met him, but he's still my family. I'll help you keep his memory alive, if you…' a lump forms in your throat, stoping you from speaking your next words.
After all, it's hard to accept that the man currently watching this exchange won't be alive for much longer.
This time, it's Marcoh that pipes up. 'This conversion seems to be getting a little too maudlin. We should be celebrating our reunion tonight! Cheng, do you plan on staying with us this evening?'
Suddenly snapping out of his depressed stupor, Cheng grins at Marcoh. 'I most certainly am. Scar has agreed to let me accompany you from here. Well, he actually suggested I'd be better off running back to Xing now, but where's the fun in that? I want to help the heroes!' You're not sure what more Cheng can do to help, but as you rather like him and his eccentric ways, you're not about to protest his presence here.
With that decided, Marcoh claps his hands. 'In that case, help me get a fire going. The four of us are going to eat well tonight. Do you have a tent? We can set it up now.' At last, something you can help with.
Cheng rubs the back of his head. 'Actually, all I have is a sleeping bag. I don't mind sleeping underneath the stars.' Really? But it's cold at night! He's leaving himself so exposed…
Marcoh hums thoughtfully. 'Well, it doesn't seem right to let you sleep out in the cold like that. Why don't you share with me tonight? There's plenty of room for you.' What a nice gesture! Marcoh seems to have taken as much of a liking to him as you.
Cheng grins exuberantly. 'That sounds wonderful! It'll be just like a sleepover! We can stay up all night at talk about boys if you want.' He winks at Marcoh, before laughing. 'I'm joking, of course. We're going to need a good night's sleep if we ever want to reach Liore in good time.
'Now then, you mentioned a fire?' Cheng takes the wood you've only just noticed Scar has been carrying, matching over to Marcoh still smiling.
With him gone, Scar comes over, kissing your forehead gently. 'I hope you don't mind my inviting Cheng to join us. He is… infuriatingly persistent.' You're convinced there's more to it than that, but if that's how Scar wants to play it…
You smirk. 'I knew there was a reason I liked him. I guess the men in your family must attract persistent lovers…'
Scar smiles slightly. 'I suppose we do.'
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'… and so I said to him 'why would I sleep with your wife when you're so handsome?' And that's how accidentally trespassing turned into my first and only threesome.' Cheng finishes his story with a smug grin on his face, and for what feels like the hundredth time tonight, you erupt with laughter, tears flowing freely as you desperately try to compose yourself. Honestly, the stories Cheng has told you tonight… the man had quite the adventurous time of things in his late teens!
Even Scar is chuckling, shaking his head as he does. 'There's no way that happened. That man would have killed you on site. Besides, how do you accidentally trespass into a woman's bedroom?' Scar on the other hand spent his late teens in the monastery, so it's hardly surprising he's been the first to cast doubt on all of Cheng's stories.
Cheng sighs. 'If you'd been listening, you'd know! It all started when a blind man asked me to find his pet chicken…' You ready yourself to listen again, when an unexpected wave of fatigue hits you, causing you to snuggle sleepily into Scar's arm.
Scar stops the Xingese man talking. 'It appears my wife is overtired. We should retire for the evening.' He doesn't wait for an answer, standing up and scooping you into his arms. How he can still carry you with all the extra weight is beyond you, but he's managing well.
You sleepily wave to the others. 'Goodnight. I'll see you both in the morning.' The two men wave back, and that's all you see before the interior of the tent is the only scenery, and the only person you can see is Scar.
Carefully, Scar sets you down onto your side, pressing his chest again your back before pulling the blanket up to cover you both.
Scar rests his hand on your hip, and you hold your breath. A little more movement and he might finally clock that your weight gain is far too specific to be down to food…
He doesn't move it though. Instead, his breath tickles your ear as he whispers to you. 'I love you. I worry that I haven't said it enough, but I do. Everything we've been through together, every challenge that we've faced… throughout all of that, I fell in love you so deeply and so completely that it has marked my very soul. There is not a second that goes by where my love for you isn't in my heart and on my mind. You took a broken man, and made him feel more complete than he's ever been. I love you.' Where is all of this coming from? He's never been quite so… raw.
You're about to turn around and ask him, but his hand becomes firmer on your hip. 'Don't look at me. Just listen. After the Promised Day, wait for me in the camp where I'm meeting with our countrymen. Wait three months. If I do not come for you in that time, assume I am dead, and move on. Do not spend your life grieving me. Find whatever happiness you can, because I love you far too much to see you miserable. Life a full life. Marry another man who loves you as I do. Have as many children as you can. Remind Cheng that he promised to build us a house, because even if my body is gone, my soul shall forever remain by your side. I shall love you long past my death, and long past your own. I love you. I just needed you to know…' you can feel yourself beginning to cry, but you try and keep it together for his sake; the last thing he needs is to think he's made you upset.
Despite the fact that he can't see your face, you smile. 'I do know. I promise. My own love for you is just as strong. You are the only man I've ever truly loved, and I think I could live until the end of time itself and never love anyone as desperately as I love you. But we don't need to tell each other all of this yet. We still have a full month before… we should save all of this for our final goodbye. Saying it now seems too premature. When that finally day comes, then we can declare our undying love for each other. As if either of us need to hear it to think that it's real.' You can feel the love radiating from him right now as it happens. This is a conversation best saved until you say your goodbyes; at least that gives you time to figure out how to put your love into words.
Scar's fingers twitch, and he exhales heavily, like… he's not crying, is he? 'You're right. These words better suit a goodbye. For now then, just know that I love you. I hope you sleep well tonight. You've quite a journey ahead of you.' All this walking is really taking its tole. You'll be glad when it's all over.
You snuggle back into Scar as far as you can. 'We both do. Goodnight. I love you too.' You fall asleep so quickly in his arms like this. You're unconscious before you can even register it. You're hoping there will be more nights like you, with you curled up so contentedly in Scar's arm.
If only you'd known what he was thinking a moment ago, you may never have drifted off at all.
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Scar seldom ever cries. It's not because he finds it weak or unmanly. Rather, it's because years of training have given him control over his emotions, at least to a certain extent. A lot of things that would make other men cry barely affect Scar.
Yet right now he's fighting back the sobs as he holds his wife for the last time.
It's so cruel of him to do this. Taking off like a thief in the night, abandoning her, leaving her in the care of a man she hardly knows (if Cheng will even agree to his plan). He has no choice though. Risking her life is one thing, but risking…
Now that he's certain she's asleep, the hand on her hips moves over to the pronounced curve that is his child. How does he know that for sure?
He feels movement under his palm; the baby is restless at night.
He'd noticed the movements completely by accident at first. The odd twitch here, a shift there. It wasn't until he placed his hand in a specific place that he realised the movements weren't random; they were all being made by the tiny human he helped create.
It kills Scar that this is the way it has to be. In another life, him and his wife would excitedly speak of nothing but their child and it's movements. He'd show off her bump to everyone he knew, and he'd get on his knees every night and thank her for bringing new life into the world. A pure, untainted soul, one that can only flourish with such a woman to guide it.
Scar wishes he could be around to see it, but he knows he can't risk having her in Amestris at all now. To lose his wife and child after already losing everyone else he's ever loved… there would be no salvation for him. In a way, it's a blessing that she's not told him about the baby; at least this way, she'll only believe he's abandoning her, not both of them. His harsh words when she'd once asked about children may protected them both from heartache in the end. If only she knew how much he wants this, wants to be a family…
He can't stay like this any longer. Having already said his goodbyes to his wife, he leans down, placing his lips over the sight where he had felt movement mere seconds ago.
Scar is careful not to speak above a faint whisperer. 'My child… I love you dearly too. I'm sorry that I'll never get the chance to watch you grow up, but know that my love won't leave you either. The three of us shall always be connected by love. As much as I'd give anything to stay with you both, there is something I must do. I only hope that you understand my actions when you're older. Farewell, my little one. May you and your mother find peace without me someday.' He kisses the spot his been whispering to, a few stray tears falling too.
After a moment, he gets up, and focuses on hiding his tears from view: there are few people who he is willing to show any vulnerability to, and Cheng and Marcoh are not those people.
Exiting the tent carefully at cautiously, Scar marches straight over to the other one, letting himself in without warning.
Thankfully, Marcoh and Cheng seem to both still be wide awake; this makes things easier.
Scar addresses Marcoh first, the doctor clearly confused by Scar's sudden intrusion. 'Pack your things quickly and quietly. You and I are leaving right now.' He tries to keep quiet just in case; he hopes the other two men do the same.
Cheng looks just as confused as Marcoh. 'Just the two of you? What about myself and your wife?' He would start asking question before Scar can explain, wouldn't he?
The stair Scar gives Cheng is firm. 'You are taking her to Xing, or any other country you can think of that's far away from this one.' If the two men previously alone in the tent already looked confused, now they look utterly bewildered.
Cheng scoffs. 'Am I fuck! I'm helping you, remember?! Besides, if you think she'll agree to come then you're…'
Scar cuts him off. 'She's pregnant.'
The tent falls into an uneasy silence.
Marcoh is the one who eventually breaks the silence. 'So, she finally told you? I must say, this isn't the reaction I expected. Abandoning your pregnant wife in the middle of the night is just about the most horrible thing I can imagine.' This coming from a murderer? What right does he have to say such things?
No, he's right. This is horrible. Evil, even. But it's the only way.
Scar takes a deep breath. 'She didn't tell me. I figured it out. As far as she knows, I am oblivious to her condition. But I can't let her follow me to my death knowing that I'm risking more than just her life. I want them both to be safe. They're the only thing in my life worth anything to me. Even if she resents me for doing this, as long as I know that she and the child are both far away and safe…' He exhales again, sadness once again threatening to overwhelm him.
After listening carefully to his confession, Cheng smiles softly at Marcoh. 'Time to pack up, I think. If the two of you make haste, it won't take you too long to reach Liore.' He turns to face Scar. 'Crossing the desert to reach Xing is a difficult journey, but I'll make sure they're both safe. You can count on me. I'll protect them both with my life.' He'll truly do this?
Scar bows his head in gratitude. 'Thank you, Cheng. I wish there was something I could do to thank you.' He would give the man all of his worldly possessions for agreeing to protect the only thing of his that truly matters to him; his family.
Cheng smirks. 'As it happens, there is something you can do; survive. Reunite with your wife, welcome your child into the world. Settle down somewhere, have more children. Maybe even name one after me. I'm not the strongest man in the world, so I can't protect them forever; I'll just keep them safe until you come back.' He's never coming back, but he appreciated the sentiment.
Marcoh packs quickly, given that he has little to pack in the first place. Both men agree to leave the tents and all of the bedrolls; nights in the desert are cold, and they'd hate to take away any kind of warmth from the two soon-to-be-travelling companions.
So it is with a heavy heart that Scar leaves the tent with Marcoh, sparing a final glance towards his wife. After everything that's happened, this feels like such a cheap farewell. Yet he knows deep down that this truly is the only way.
As Scar and Marcoh walk further and further away from the tents, Scar's emotions take over unbidden, his tears flowing silently down his face.
If Marcoh notices, he doesn't say a word.