Beyond Fullmetal

Chapter 6: Past as it Guides the Present

A Fullmetal Alchemist/Batman Beyond Crossover

By: Legato Deathscythe

They had only been underway a short time before the silence felt stifling to them. It wasn't just the tedium of the trip, but the weight of what they were heading into. Terry had gone into dangerous situations before. However, there had always been the given expectation he'd come back alive. Even going up against the Joker, Terry had no doubt he'd make it through. There wasn't that certainty this time. His death was a very real, very tangible possibility. He didn't like the idea that the parting with his friends and family could very well be the last time he saw them.

Edward was having similar thoughts, but had more experience dealing with it. Unlike other times though he was filling his thoughts with memories of the past. Looking at the best parts of his life on both sides of the Gate. Chief among those had been the day Al and Winry had gotten married. He had been so happy for his brother and his best friend. He had been Al's best man, and was more then happy to see Roy Mustang act as Father of the Bride. Elysia had been old enough to join the ceremony as a bridesmaid.

Neither man could handle the silence much more. Terry asked, "So how did you get mixed up with a super villain?"

Edward welcomed the distraction, "Learned the hard way that you don't tell people you're looking for a way to an alternate world and trying to get home. Never mind when you show them the fully functional metal arm and leg, that just gets you locked away with the most dangerous inmates."

Terry smirked, "So you got to meet all the Old Man's old friends."

Edward chuckled, "That wasn't the bad part of being locked away in Arkham. The bad part was the fact my cell was right across from the Joker's."

"Ouch."

"Then add on six months straight of hearing your life is a lie by psychotherapists who treat everything you say as if your nuts. You stop really caring about other peoples criminal record and just want someone to not treat you like your delusional," Edward said.

Terry spoke, "Still doesn't explain the star crossed lovers deal."

Edward chuckled, "That didn't come around for a long time after. Even after we started sleeping together."

Terry didn't know how to respond to that. Edward leaned back, getting nostalgic, "See, thing is that she had her cause. Her crimes not withstanding, she was a determined and dedicated woman with a just cause."

Terry shook his head, "You actually agreed with her?"

Edward smirked, "Just because the ends don't justify the means, doesn't mean the ends aren't honorable."

--

Arkham Asylum – Forty-Four Years ago...

Edward had been pulled into Group Therapy with the present members of the so called Rouges Gallery. He kept shaking his head when he thought of how incompetent the doctors seemed sometimes. The doctor running the circus today was Dr. Bartholomew, though Edward really didn't care. He just settled in his seat for a moment, and took a mental head count. He noticed the clown pair had not made an appearance yet, Joker and Harley must have busted out.

He was flanked on either side today by Jarvis Tetch and Jonathan Crane. He hadn't had a chance to speak with many of the others. Ivy had been the only one that had bothered to even say hello really. Edward had to admit, she was a brilliant scientist. That was something though that got him wondering. Harley he had found out had a degree in psychology. He himself was already considered a prodigy and genius by Amestrian standards. Since he had no educational records in this world one of the things they had done had been to evaluate him intellectually. The doctors had not acted stunned or anything of that nature when the tests showed him to be at genius level. He had found it odd that the doctors hadn't been interested in that.

He had a theory after he had spoken with Ivy for a while. He turned his head to Crane and asked, "So what's your area of expertise?"

He had not spoken to Crane before now. The man just looked at him sideways for a moment before saying, "Psychology focusing mainly on phobias."

Edward nodded for a moment before turning his attention to Tetch, "You?"

Tetch seemed rather jumpy, but all together pleasant, "Advanced Mind Control."

Edward nodded, though Tetch decided to ask, "And to what do we owe the pleasure of your company lad?"

The man spoke strangely, but then it wasn't too out of the ordinary for here. "They think I can't tell fantasy from reality."

Crane just humphed at him, "Fear of Reality, not exactly a phobia."

Tetch shook his head, "Seems rather harsh to be locked away in this dark place just for that."

Edward just placed his automail hand on his head and leaned back, "It's the hand, they think it makes me a threat."

Crane didn't seem too interested aside from the novelty. Tetch clucked a little before asking, "Where did you find something like that?"

"In my world it's completely normal. Lots of people have replacement limbs like this one," Edward explained.

Tetch seemed slightly interested, "Another world? So you've come through the looking glass have you?"

Edward just sighed and dropped his head, "Yea, you could say that."

Ivy walked in and settled in a seat across from Two-Face. She shot Edward a look that was almost sympathetic to his placement in things. He waved back and tossed a small smile her way. He started to conceder changing seats but was beaten to the punch as Croc and Arnold Welsker sat on either side of her. She looked decidedly uncomfortable sandwiched between the two. About as uncomfortable as he was with his companions.

Dr. Bartholomew sat down in his chair while Edward was looking at the other people in there with him. He was trying to get a feel for the land he was on. One big guy was glaring at everyone in the room, as if he wanted to beat them senseless. Edward leaned over to Jarvis and asked, "Whose the guy over there? Looks like he wants to start a fight."

Jarvis eeped a little, indicating to Edward at least he was scared of the big man, "Lyle Bolton, used to be one of our keepers. Kept abusing us because he felt our crimes were never truly punished."

"Sounds more like just a big bully to me. Just using the authority he used to have as an excuse to hurt people," Edward said, fixing a hard stare on Bolton.

"Hmmm, you sound more like Batman or his little minions then one of us," Crane pointed out with a hint of disgust.

"Can't say I know about this Batman. Never met him," Edward said.

Jarvis seemed to be getting a little nervous, especially when Bolton turned his glare on him. Edward leaned over and said, "Don't let him see you scared. Stand up to someone like that and they'll back down every time."

Jarvis nodded and tried to calm down. Edward turned his gaze back to Ivy and softened his gaze for a moment before the doctor cleared his throat, "Well everyone, I'd like to welcome a new addition to our little group. Edward, would you introduce yourself please."

Edward sighed and waved his right hand in greeting, "Names Edward Elric, back home people call me Fullmetal."

The response was less then warm. The Doctor seemed to write it off. He just settled in for what felt like it was going to be a long and boring waste of his time. He didn't care really. The doctor just kept trying to have everyone talk about why and what drove them to do the things that landed them in Arkham. Edward just shook his head. How was listening to the troubles of others like this supposed to pull him out of what they thought was his fantasy world?

Probably by forcing him to become a depressed suicidal teenager. As if everything else in his life hadn't tried already. The other members of the group didn't seem too interested in this idea anyways. They begrudgingly went along with it, just as against it as he was. Still, he had to wonder if it was just him, or if the doctor was purposefully belittling some of the others motives. He narrowed his eyes a little when the snickers and comments kept coming.

When things broke up he just walked over to Ivy before they escorted them back to his cell. He asked her, "And this is supposed to 'help' us how?"

Ivy chuckled, "Get everyone talking about their problems and tell us we're all over reacting to things?"

"Doesn't seem to do someone whose problems are all make believe a lot of good," Edward said, making it clear he didn't see the point.

"They may be fake to everyone else, but they are still your problems," she said.

Edward threw a look at Bolton as he "accidentally" slammed Jarvis into a wall. Edward glared at him and excused himself from Ivy for a moment. He walked over towards the large man, and "accidentally" stepped on his foot with his left leg of steel. Hearing Bolton cry out in agony as he walked back over to Ivy put a grin on his face.

"Oops," Edward said.

Ivy just chuckled at the small amount of justice Edward had decided to win for the Mad Hatter. She couldn't help it, he seemed so pleased with himself. Bolton limped out of the room as Edward smirked, "And the hero of the people strikes again."

Ivy just shook her head. He asked her, "So if this is supposed to help us assimilate back into normal society, has it helped you at all?"

"Nope, I'm incorrigible," Ivy said.

Edward didn't say anything about it. He was curious, "Why?"

Ivy looked at him and said, "Because people are always destroying every little blade of grass, every flower, every tree that gets in the way. No one even bothers to take care of those helpless plants. I go after those responsible for their murder and I'm labeled insane. What about those monsters who are destroying the plant life of this planet?"

Edward nodded, "Just cause."

Ivy was stunned for a moment, "You... you really think so?"

"Well, I don't agree with killing people if it's not about survival. I've taken three lives in my life, and each time it was literally kill or be killed. I never killed someone for my cause, my brother would never have forgiven me. But I can see the cause itself. I'm not blind to something that is for the good of the people. Kill off all the plants, and we follow behind them very shortly. The first thing my Alchemy Teacher made my brother and I learn, One is All, All is One," Edward said.

The guards came and took them back to their cells. The whole way back Ivy had to wonder why someone would actually say she was fighting for something that was right. No one had ever told her that before. She'd heard herself called crazy for it, told she should think about people more. Even Harley, her one real friend, didn't get it. So why did this kid, this man child get it? No man had ever thought about it before, or said such things to her face.

She just sat herself in her cell and wondered.

--

Terry chuckled, "You actually agreed with her?"

"Agree, present tense. I didn't get too good a look at Gotham before our breakout, but when I did I could see how right she was. Didn't condone her actions, but after seeing Toxic Acres for the first time you couldn't get me to disagree with her on the subject. Hell, seeing what Gotham's grown into makes me very uneasy," Edward said.

"Explains the clean up and and you building the gardens there. Still, not exactly the stuff of legend," Terry said.

"Not every romance and love story has to be that dramatic. Sometimes the girl you grew up with is just a friend, and the woman you saved from some nightmare is just grateful. More often then not for the majority of people you just end up loving who you are with," Edward said.

"I get the point," Terry said back.

"You aren't the first to wonder. The two of us are as far from normal as can be. Hell, Barb and Dick bothered me about it more then once. For a few months it seemed they were tag teaming me. Tim called her my own personal Catwoman," Edward chuckled.

Terry could see Drake saying something like that, "Did she ever actually go out when you were running with the Old Man?"

"No, she kept away from it. Didn't want to risk friendly fire. Still, that didn't stop her from running around in that skimpy outfit on occasion. But those aren't stories for your ears."

Terry was very happy the mask was a full face mask. Bruce chimed in over the radio, "Edward, please try not to give him ideas."

--

Amestrian Botanical Gardens – Forty-Two years ago...

Edward had just gotten home after stopping three muggings and one rape. He smiled as he thought about the good he had done that night. He may not have been licensed by this state but that wasn't going to stop him. Not that he ever let anything stop him from doing what he thought was the right thing. Still, this combined with running the company he and Ivy had started left him feeling weary some nights.

This night however he did not feel that tired as he walked into one of the gardens and saw Ivy laying along one of the flower beds in her outfit. The seductive look she was throwing him made any thoughts of sleep or fatigue disappear. She just lifted a lithe arm and motioned for him to join her. Edward smiled and walked towards her, when he got close enough she reached up and grabbed the collar of his shirt. She pulled him down into a passionate kiss as he wrapped his arms around her.

"Welcome home," Ivy said.

"It's always good to be home," Edward said then went to kissing along her neck. Ivy just slid her hands along his back, pulling his cloak off him. Edward let the over garment fall away as he worked his way along her collarbone.

"Mmmm, so did my favorite Champion of Justice do well tonight?" she asked, enjoying the attention.

"The bullies of the world trembled at the sound of my name. But I still have one more evil-doer to subdue tonight," he said playfully.

She smiled as Edward slid a hand along the zipper in the back of her outfit and started pulling it down. She purred slightly as she said, "Yes, I've been such a bad girl after all."

Edward kissed her lips softly then said, "Good thing I borrowed some handcuffs from the bat then."

--

Edward smirked as he said, "You still want those handcuffs back?"

Bruce just said, "That's quite alright, Old Man."

"I'm not asking," Terry said to the two. Even with the usual deepening of his voice Terry used when in the suit Edward could hear a slight hint of embarrassment.

Edward laughed, "Just hope for your sake your girlfriend doesn't ask Pam for ideas."

Bruce was very glad he wasn't in the car with the pair. He wouldn't have been able to look Terry in the eye with the smirk that crossed his wrinkled face as the young man sputtered at that. Edward enjoyed the show some.

"You sure she didn't turn you evil over that four years?" Terry asked.

Edward smirked, "You kidding? I was like this before Arkham. I just got a lot more comfortable with certain subjects as I got older."

Terry shook his head a moment, "Great. I don't suppose you had such a friendly relationship with any of the other criminals of Arkham?"

Edward thought about it, "Well, we did have Harley Quinn over for dinner several times. She and Pam were best friends after all."

"You harbored Joker's girlfriend?" Terry asked, the sting of the recent past still bristling.

"Every few months she'd leave Joker and swear she was through with him. It never lasted, but that didn't stop Pam and I from trying to get her to stay away from the clown for good. That night at Arkham was our worst fears come true. You've heard that story of course," Edward said.

Terry just replied with, "Yeah, I have."

"Didn't you and Joker get into a prank war?" Pamela's voice came over the radio.

Edward smiled, "Oh yes, started as retaliation for him gassing me at Oswald's."

--

Gotham City – Forty-Three Years Ago...

Joker and Harley were on the run, again. Batman and his little bird boy had busted up their heist and now they were trying to escape. Joker was not happy that they had lost the cash they had been going for. They needed that money, but right now they had to keep Batsy from catching up. He and Harley didn't expect to run into a red clad figure as they ran.

They pulled them selves up out of the pile. Joker wondered if Batman was that far behind him when Harley screamed, "EDDIE!"

"Hey Harley, Joker," Edward said, not really trying to take them in.

"You working with Bat-Quano, Tin Man?" Joker asked, readying an explosive marble or three.

"Nah, I stay out of his business. We have an understanding. I leave him to his major work, he leaves me to do what I want. But that also means I can't help you escape either," Fullmetal said.

Joker was a little on guard when the Tin Man walked up to him. He didn't notice the kid put his hands together, and was a little angered when he patted him on the shoulder. When his clothing started to glow he shrieked, "I thought you weren't helping Batman!"

When the glow subsided, Joker found his lovely purple suit changed into a bland and depressingly boring business suit. It wasn't even a nice black and white, just a gray pinstriped thing with a button up white shirt and tie. Edward walked away chuckling, "Who said this was about the Bat? I still owe you for that trick with the laughing gas."

Harley starred at Joker wide eyed at the trick Edward had pulled. Out of nowhere Edward popped a plain brown fedora on Joker's head and then walked way. He called over his shoulder, "I hope you like the plain dull suit of a boring office worker. Harley, Red says hello. She's wondering when you'll be coming over for dinner again. Should I tell her it may be a while?"

The pair started running, Harley yelled over her shoulder, "I'll come by when I can. Tell Red I'll see her later!"

Edward just leaned against a wall as Batman and Robin ran by. He tossed Robin a wave in greeting and kept on his way as they chased the pair. That night Harley managed to escape, but Joker was hauled back to Arkham. It was one of the few times Harley got away and Joker didn't. But Edward had heard from Robin about the laugh they had gotten from seeing the Joker in a normal business suit.

When Joker escaped again Edward found his automail arm doused in napalm, that burned purple.

His revenge was discovered by Nightwing, when he transmuted Joker into the middle of a statue with a sigh that said, "The Failed Joke."

Ivy had to keep herself from laughing when Edward came home itching from Joker hitting him with a special itching powder. She however wasn't too happy as it kept their more enjoyable activities to a minimum for a few days. Though she did make his recovery less difficult.

When it finally ended, Edward was in the lead on prank wins.

--

"What can I say, I was still sort of a kid," Edward said.

"Oh I wouldn't say you were too much of a kid," Pamela said over the radio.

"Could you two not flirt over the radio?" Terry asked.

Edward smirked, "You should be taking notes kid."

Terry just shook his head and checked the time. They still had two hours until they reached their destination. He still had questions though, some that he had been holding on to since this had all started. He didn't get a chance to ask when Edward said, "Hey Pam, you still got that outfit of yours?"

Pamela's voice came over the radio, a seductive tone to it, "I might have it somewhere. Considering how bad I've been lately I might have to pull it out."

Terry groaned while Edward just laughed at the kids reaction. Terry asked, "Have you two always been like this?"

"Not always, there was that period of time before we left Arkham," Edward said.

"Kind of difficult to do more then flirt in high security," Pamela said.

"But when you end up spending almost five months getting to know someone, what drives them, and what you and them have in common, it takes a lot less for things to turn hot and heavy on the outside," Edward said.

--

Arkham Asylum – Forty-Four years ago...

It was a normal day, one of the few days where neither Edward nor Ivy had any therapy scheduled. Edward had been allowed into the asylum library, Ivy having decided to join him. He was focusing on geography and history at the moment, trying to get himself up to speed on the world he was in. Ivy watched him in his research, even seeing him taking notes in a notebook the asylum had provided him.

When she looked over his shoulder she found she couldn't make sense of them. She mentioned, "I can't make heads or tails of that."

Edward looked at her and said, "I write in code, so that no one can figure out the context of my work without my say so. Alchemists regularly write in code like this. I like to make it all into a travel log. My commanding officer used to write his using the names of women. A man we met named Dr. Marcoh wrote his out as a cookbook."

Ivy nodded, being a scientist herself she understood the importance of keeping your research secure. In a world without digital technology or data encryption, a unique coding was the only way. Still she had to ask, "You keep talking about Alchemy. All I know are the fairy tales."

Edward sat back and closed his eyes. He smiled as he said, "Alchemy is the science of the world. Understanding what something is made up of, breaking it down, then rebuilding it into the form you want. No chemicals or toxic processes like what I've read about. It's a lot easier to make an alloy of metal, or to influence plants to grow healthy."

"You have a healthy respect for the green," Ivy said.

"I try to respect all life. I made the grave mistake of trying to go against the natural order a long time ago. It cost me," Edward said. Ivy ran a hand along his right arm, the metal hard against her fingers.

"Is this the cost?" Ivy asked, meaning his arm.

Edward shook his head. He pushed his seat back and pulled the left leg of his pants up exposing the steel, "No, my left leg was the cost of my hubris. My right arm is what I paid to save my brothers soul from that same hubris. I used it in exchange to bind his soul to a suit of armor in our father's study. I was eleven."

Ivy was curious, "What did the two of you do to deserve this?"

"We thought we could play God and bring our mother back from the dead," he said, his head bowing slightly in remorse.

"You wanted what every child wants, and for that..." Ivy started.

Edward cut her off, "For trying to reclaim something for which there is nothing equivalent for we were punished. I stopped believing in any form of benevolent god that day. There is no higher power watching for us, only a selfish gatekeeper who takes more then the pittance asked of it. I'm punished for it even now. I don't even know if Al... if it worked."

He felt her lift his chin up in her lithe hand. Neither said anything as she bent forward and kissed him on the forehead. She said, "You're more like the rest of us then you know, even if you try to deny it. The only thing that separates you from the other inmates is that you won't kill for what you desire. Only if it's absolutely necessary. That and the fact you like to do the right thing more often then not."

Edward chuckled, "Why is it that every criminal of any kind I meet tells me I'm just like them?"

Ivy smiled and answered, "Because the line between hero and villain is much thinner then most people think."

Edward relaxed a little. He picked another book and said, "Tell me about these rain forests."

–

"Thing is kid, you start picking up on the little things more and more. How her hair falls along her face, how her eyes light up at certain subjects. What pisses her off enough to sick a batch of vines on you," Edward said.

"I said I was sorry, I was having a bad day!" Pamela said over the radio.

Edward chuckled, "So what is everyone doing back there?"

Bruce came over the radio, "Pamela and I are monitoring you two. Everyone else is upstairs, trying to get some rest."

"You two get some rest as well. It's going to be a long night, Bruce," Edward said.

"It always is."

The radio clicked off for a moment, giving the two some time on their own. Edward took the moment to tell Terry something important, "Do yourself a favor. Make sure that girl Dana understands what she's getting into. You are just like me and Bruce, you'll always answer the call when it comes in, no matter what. It's who you are. You've not one to let anyone suffer if you can stop it. Not everyone can handle that level of dedication in their significant other. If you love her, really and truly love her, make sure she knows that."

"It almost sounds like your saying I should let her go," Terry said.

"No, I don't think you should. But I've seen marriages fail over the last forty years because one person or the other refused to accept their loved ones dedication to their calling. I've seen seemingly loving relationships fall apart because a persons husband or wife demanded that they give up their career for whatever reason. You have to handle it early, otherwise when you really need them they won't understand, or they won't want to try," Edward explained.

As Edward leaned back in his seat he said, "I came to that realization while I was here. I had a girl I thought I was in love with. But over my time here, and looking back, I discovered she'd never accept what I had to do. She was in love with the boy she had grown up with. That she would expect me to go back to a quiet life in a small town as if nothing had changed. Living with Pamela for those four years opened my eyes to a lot of things, kid.

"You're relationship with Dana has been strained so far mostly because she didn't know what was going on. That secret you had, it got in the way. The real test though is going to be how the two of you handle it with everything out on the table. You're both going to have to make adjustments, and try to understand where the other is coming from. Personally, so far I like your chances."

"When did you know?" Terry asked.

"When did I know what? That I was hopelessly in love with a formerly homicidal eco-terrorist? Or that I wasn't really in love with my mechanic?" Edward asked.

"I get the feeling the answer to one will take care of the other."

Edward smiled, "You're right. Fact is, I always new I'd have to sacrifice something to get back to Amestris. I sacrificed everything to save my brother, body mind and soul. That I ended up here and not dead was something of a shock, but I accepted it and started trying to figure out a way back. When we broke out, after four years I knew I'd have to give up everything I had here to get home. This time though it wasn't a willing sacrifice. Months before it actually happened I knew I didn't want to.

"That's how I knew. I didn't want to do it, but I had no choice in the matter. That's how you will know too kid. When you can't bring yourself to ever give up what you have with her."

Terry wondered, "Were you two ever separated?"

Edward thought for a moment, "There was about a month where she had escaped Arkham. We had been talking, but neither of us had gotten to a point where we really trusted each other too well. It had taken me about a month to start talking about home with her. This was, maybe three months before I broke out with her."

–

Arkham Asylum – Forty-four years ago...

He was bored. That was all there was to it. Ivy had decided she couldn't stand being isolated from daylight anymore and had made a break for it. Edward hadn't heard about it till the next morning over course. He wasn't shocked, after all she was a criminal and this was her prison. It was only natural for a criminal to try to get out. Considering her identifying with plants so readily the lack of natural light did nothing to aide her rehabilitation.

So he just wrote some things out in his notebook while Crane seemed to be going over some article in a Psychology Journal. Tetch was also nearby, his prized copy of "Through the Looking Glass" exchanged for a technology magazine. It was something that had been nagging at Edward's mind for a while. He actually looked over to Crane and asked, "How many of you guys actually have degrees in here?"

Crane looked up, not caring for the conversation, "I don't think Croc has one, but he doesn't have much education in general. I'm not sure about Bolton, but I could care less about him. I'd say pretty much everyone that at least has been brought in by Batman to this place has some advanced degree. Except for Joker, but then who knows what he's got in way of advanced knowledge."

Edward rolled his eyes and leaned back, "It's like a job interview. Wanted: New member of the Rouges Gallery. Much have a PH.D in his or her chosen specialty and an acceptable obsessive theme. Accepting only one applicant, please be prompt and with your full portfolio."

Tetch chuckled, "Do you meet those qualifications my boy?"

Edward shook his head, "If I was going to be like you guys not really. I don't have a degree or anything, at least not in this world."

Crane shook his head, "You may not be a criminal, but if you insist on pursuing your dementia they won't allow you free."

Edward glared at Crane, "I've done some research. Inter-dimensional travel between different universes is theoretically possible, even by this worlds science."

Crane humphed, "Maybe, but something like that requires proof. All you have are mathematical equations that say it can be done."

"Alright Dr. Crane. How do you explain my arm then? This world does NOT have this level of prosthetic technology," Edward said, annoyed. His fake arm and leg were proof he wasn't of this world, at least to him.

"Advanced prototype. You wouldn't be the first human experimented on for a scientific advancement. The physical strain would be more then enough to explain your break with reality. Assuming the most logical explanation, and not that you have crossed dimensions and universes," Crane said.

Tetch chimed in, "Now Jonathan, we shouldn't throw stones. After all, we are also considered mad for our own actions and beliefs."

Crane scoffed at that, "Only because these cretins do not understand the nature and importance of my work." He walked off leaving Ed and Tetch to speak amongst themselves.

"Hmmm, seems we who see beyond the mirror of the world are but the minority," Jarvis said.

"Seems that way, Jarvis. What's your specialty anyways?"

"Mind control. I have developed and actually deployed chips that can override the human mind and force them to act in accordance to my will. There is a proximity issue with complex minds, but I have had remarkable amounts of success," Jarvis said.

Edward shivered, "Can't say I like the idea of not being in control of my own body."

"No one does. Still it is fascinating," Jarvis said.

Edward sat there for a moment. Ivy he could understand. She had a cause, a desire to make the world better in her own way. Though her means left much to be desired, he respected her determination. People like Crane and Tetch did what they did for no better reason then to see if they could, or if they could fill their own pockets. He thought more about it, then made a horrible realization.

He could understand these men. He had been no different that night. Attempting the forbidden because he thought he could do it. That had after all been what landed him in this Hell. His certainty that he was better and more capable then those who had made the rules. He was no better then the mad men in these walls. The only thing separating him from them is that he called himself a hero. This realization hit him hard, so very hard. For the first time since he had been locked away here he thought he might actually be where he belonged. Locked away.

He leaned back in his chair and said, "I miss Ivy."

"She is a breath of fresh air in comparison to our other companions. Much more pleasant to gaze upon then say myself or Mr. Dent," Jarvis said.

Edward couldn't help but nod. About three days later Ivy was dragged back to Arkham by Batman. She saw that the light had gone out of his eyes a little since she had been gone. It struck her as odd that she felt sad at seeing that occur to the brilliant man-child whom she had left behind not three weeks earlier. She wondered if she should have mentioned his case to Batman while she had the chance.

–

"Must have hurt having to put your duty before everything else," Terry said.

"You have no idea. I know you're still kind of new to all of this. If you work on it now you'll be able to find a balance. Otherwise you'll end up an old man like me or Bruce. Either locking yourself away with your ghosts, or putting on a happy face so no one worries about you. I don't recommend either path," Edward said.

"Thanks," Terry said. He looked at the systems computer display. They had about one hour left before arrival. Time to get ready, to prepare themselves for the onslaught that awaited them. The pair reestablished contact with Elysia and Bruce. Everything seemed to be going as planned, but neither was willing to say otherwise.

–

Amestris – Thirty-five years ago...

Alphonse sat on the balcony overlooking the meadow the long standing yellow house had been built on. How many times had Winry waited for them on this very spot to come home? He shuddered to think, and was also thankful his brother had always been the target of her wrath. When he thought back on it, it shouldn't really have surprised him that Edward and Winry never shared more then familial interests. Edward was never going to be content just staying in Resembool for the res of his days. He knew his brother too well for that. Winry of course, aside from time spent studying the more advanced aspects automail, would never be able to handle the life Edward wished to lead. In a way Alphonse was grateful, as his own interest in their long time friend was allowed to grow and blossom, ending in them marrying seven months ago. Which had been fortunate as his wife was now six months along with their child.

Still, there was much on Al's mind this night. Edward had brought Elysia up for maintenance on her left arm, and to have his own limbs checked. That had of course been the excuse, both wanting to come visit their family here. Al never had much issue with his brother and adopted niece coming to visit, he just wished the two would stay. Alphonse just did not understand why Edward refused to leave the military and return home. That had of course been what Al felt would have been best. Edward however seemed to feel different, saying that he could do the most good from the position he was at.

Al just shook his head. What he wanted was for his brother to find a decent woman to settle down with, retire from the military, and find someway to serve the people that didn't involve him being in uniform. Then there was that watch he carried everywhere. Not his state issued watch, but the one with the ivy curtain on the front casing. Al didn't know what was so special about it. Ed never let it out of his grasp, even when Winry was working on Elysia's arm. Edward's automail however was always a lot harder to deal with due to the advanced design. The little computer thing in the arm was always helpful for running things through. It still creeped them all out though.

Warm arms wrapped around him as he brooded over his brother's life. He turned his head and saw Winry just standing there, watching him. She smiled and said, "Brotherly concern keeping you up tonight?"

"I just don't see why he can't be happy here like we all used to be," Al admitted.

"I know what you mean. He doesn't even like leaving Central unless it's to come here for a visit or to go out on one of his missions. I'm still shocked he's getting along with Mustang so well," Winry said.

"That is another thing. It's like he's more comfortable with them then he is with us. I don't get it," Al said somberly.

"I know, and I know you want him to be the Ed we knew growing up," Winry said. They fell into a moment of silence, just thinking.

Al broke the silence, "What do you think is so special about the watch he carries?"

Winry thought about it, "I don't know. His first State Watch had 'Don't Forget 3-Oct-11' in it as a reminder to keep going. I don't know what that one he brought back from the other world means to him though. I learned my lesson the first time I tried to break into his watch."

Al knew what she meant, that she might force her way through a door and find something she didn't want to see. Al still thought out loud, "You don't think that he left more behind then he's told us do you?"

Winry sighed, "Al, you know how Ed is. He won't let anyone think anything is wrong with him. He doesn't want people worrying about him. I doubt he's revealed everything of those four years to anyone. I mean, he could have gotten married for all we know and he wouldn't tell us cause we'd worry about him."

Al nodded, forcing himself to accept that after all of that he simply didn't know who his brother was anymore. That realization hurt, it hurt so very much. Him with that four year gap in his memory, combined with the four years Ed was gone was equivalent to being separated for eight years. He just had one thing on his mind, "Do you think he'll ever be really happy again, Winry?"

Winry just tightened her hold on Al, "One day, he'll find what he's really looking for. Then he'll be done trying to atone for whatever sins he still thinks he carries. He'll be able to finally live happily, even if he's still in the military."

Al smiled and pulled Winry into a soft kiss. He let her lead him to their bed, his mind finally quiet enough to find sleep. Elsewhere in the house Edward sat watching the stars, the ivy watch in his hand as he looked inside the cover. He closed his eyes and thought of a green house in the middle of a vast garden, and the woman who called it home now. He was alone in this crowd of family, and he didn't know if he would ever really find anything like that again.

To Be Continued...

Thanks to Ryan and datdude as usual.