Chapter Two: In A Cage

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Al had watched helplessly as his brother had fought. "Brother! Please stop!" he had cried, but he knew his brother couldn't hear him. And even if he could, he doubted Ed would have listened. That was just the way he was - fight right to the end. He was a survivor. But when they finally brought Edward down, Al felt his own fighting spirit crumple. They spent almost 10 minutes keeping Ed pinned against the alley floor in the snow before someone finally picked him up and carried him to the car. By which time he was soaked from sweat and melted snow, and shivering violently. So violently, in fact, that an officer got out the blanket from her survival kit and wrapped it around the boy before he was put in the police car next to Al.

"Brother!" Al cried, putting his arms around Edward's neck. He was still breathing heavily, which Al found disconcerting. Suddenly a cough overcame the older of the two, and he leaned forward, doubling over and resting his forehead against the plastic divider in front of him. That fight had completely drained him of what little precious energy he had left. Al was still crying, but silently, and Ed offered him a small smile to reassure him that he was okay.

Two officers got in the front seats - a blonde woman in the drivers seat and the raven-haired man Al had seen earlier. Neither of them said anything, but the man glanced at Ed over his shoulder, and the woman glanced in the rearview mirror as she started the engine. Edward sighed quietly and fell back against the seat. It was over... for now.

Al sat quietly, stealing glances at his brother, who still had blood on his face from the scrape above his eye. Ed's gaze was fixed on the window, watching through half-lidded eyes as the scenery passed slowly by. He might have appeared to be half-asleep, but Al knew better. He would be taking in the streets, the turns, the landmarks. Memorizing the route in case they needed to escape by the same way. Al sighed and leaned into his older brother, wiping away his tears. He needed to toughen up a bit... after all, they were alive, weren't they?

By the time the car stopped, Edward's shivering had almost entirely stopped as well, probably due to the fact that the female officer had turned the rear heater on full. "I'll meet you guys inside," said the black-haired man. "I want to talk to Hughes for a minute, so bring them to my office." He opened the door and stepped out. He was about to close it behind himself when he paused. "And take the cuffs off his ankles so the kid can walk," he added as an afterthought. The door closed, and Al and Ed both watched him disappear into the large brick building that was the police station. After killing the engine, the woman got out as well. She conversed for a moment with a few officers before someone finally opened the back door.

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Hughes parked his car in a guest spot and stepped out. He caught sight of Hawkeye standing outside her cruiser talking to a couple of officers and made his way over to her. "Ah Hughes," she said when she saw him. "Mustang's waiting for you in his office. He said he wanted to talk to you for a minute."

"Alright," replied the man with a sigh. As he made his way up the stairs and into the building he heard the laughter and excited mutterings of the officers. They were all pumped over having finally caught the illusive kid, it seemed.

"Well?" he jumped as Mustang's voice cut into his thoughts. "I told you I'd get him," he said smugly. Maes just laughed and closed the office door behind them.

"So you did," he replied. "And now you want me to take him off your hands, right?"

Mustang nodded. "They'll need some medical attention, as well."

"Yeah... and what about the younger one. You barely mentioned anything, except at the last minute." He lowered his voice to mimic Mustang in a mocking tone, "by the way, I think that his younger brother is with him as well." Maes leaned against the wall. "I don't like the idea of splitting them up, but I'm not sure if I'll be able to handle the older brother. After what I saw today..."

"I'm sure he'll settle down," replied Mustang, crossing his arms and sitting on his desk. There was a look of concern on his face. "Although... I've had several people suggest sending him to a Juvenile hall instead of bothering with a placement..."

"We can't send him to a place like this. The kid is 12," said Hughes sharply.

"I know," Mustang agreed, putting his hands up defensively. "And besides; I didn't pull him off the streets just to lock him away. I want to help him." Hughes sighed. "That's why I asked you to handle it instead of someone else. You're the only one I can count on actually helping him and not sending him off to take the easiest way out."

"Alright. I'll take them both for now," said hughes. "We'll see how things go." Soon there was a knock on the door that put a halt to their conversation.

"Enter," Mustang called, and the door creaked open to reveal Hawkeye. Behind her stood the two boys, as well as an officer 'guiding' a very exhausted (and moody) looking Edward. "Welcome," said Mustang, moving behind the desk. "Please, boys, have a seat," he added, motioning to the chairs in front of the desk.

Al stepped forward willingly, but Edward stood rooted stubbornly to the spot until the officer Havok pushed him forward gently, keeping a gently hand on each shoulder. He ended up having to push the 12-year-old the rest of the way into the room and to the chair. Although he wasn't resisting them, he certainly wasn't being very agreeable.

With his hands still bound, Ed couldn't really do much in the way of retaliating anyways. Nor did he have the energy to. He flumped down into the chair next to his brother once he'd been pushed over to it, and then stared at the floor.

"Thanks for your help Havok," said Mustang. "You may go." With a nod, the officer left, closing the door behind himself. Only the two men and the female officer remained. Al glanced around warily. She stood by the door behind them.

"My name is Roy Mustang," said the black-haired man politely, bringing his attention once more to the man in front of them. "This is officer Hawkeye," he motioned to the woman, "and Maes Hughes. Hughes will be responsible for your care until more permanent arrangements can be made." For the first time Edward lifted his gaze and looked over to the man called Hughes. He had a friendly face. They all did at first.

Hughes felt slightly uncomfortable under the untrusting, cat-like gaze of the older brother, but he masked it well. His calm, easy-going nature made this quite easy for him.

"I'm Alphonse," said the younger boy quietly. He stole a glance at his brother. "Alphonse Elric. And this is Edward." Edward shifted uncomfortably at the sound of his name, but remained silent.

"I see. Well it's nice to meet you both," said Hughes with a warm smile, and Al couldn't help but smile back. "And how old are you, Alphonse?"

"I'm eleven," replied Al.

"I see. And Edward is... 12 then, right?" The question was directed toward Edward, but after a short silence, Al answered for him.

"Yes sir."

"Well," said Hughes suddenly. "It's getting pretty late, and I'm sure you two are tired."

Mustang stood and walked around the desk to stand before Edward. The 12-year-old lifted his gaze slowly from the floor, climbing up the tall man's body and eventually coming to rest on his face. They studied each other for a moment until finally Mustang sighed and leaned down to remove the hand-cuffs. He could see it in his eyes; Ed was done fighting for now.

He stepped back and Ed rubbed his left wrist, returning his gaze to the floor. "I'll be in touch," said Mustang. It was clear that this meeting was over.

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Edward climbed willingly into the car, and Alphonse climbed in after him. Hughes kept a light conversation going with Al, but despite his best efforts, Ed just couldn't keep his eyes open. His chest hurt, he was shivering again (no thanks to his clothes still being damp), and his vision was starting to get a big hazy. Eventually he gave in to the exhaustion and closed his eyes.

"Hey," said Hughes a while later. "We're here." He killed the engine, and at the lack of sound and motion of the vehicle, Edward opened his eyes wearily. The door was pulled open, and he climbed out after all, back into the cold air. He looked up at the enormous house as they stepped up to and through the door. "I'm home!" Hughes called, pulling the wooden door closed once both boys had stepped inside.

"Oh, Maes," said a pretty brunette woman, stepping into the entrance as she dried her hands on her apron. "I wasn't expecting you back so soon." She smiled warmly at the two boys.

"This is my wife, Glacia," Hughes introduced the woman. "Glacia, meet Alphonse and Edward Elric."

"It's a pleasure to meet you boys. Welcome," she replied warmly. She extended her hand, which Al shook politely. Ed took a step back pointedly, and though she smiled at him, she too his hint and didn't reach toward him.

"Well," said Hughes, kicking off his shoes. The boys did the same, Al gawking at the interior of the house the whole time. It was enormous!

"Maes," another female voice entered the room, and all eyes turned to the woman, whose face was partially hidden by the pile of folders she was carrying. From what they COULD see, however, she had short black hair and kind eyes. "I finished filing all of your appointments and records, and - oh!" She stopped when she caught sight of the two boys, and smiled warmly at them. "Hello there."

"This is Alphonse and Edward," Hughes introduced them. "And this," he added, motioning toward the woman, "is Maria Ross."

"Your lackey?" The words escaped Ed's lips before Al could stop them.

"Brother!" he said scoldingly.

"Hardly," replied Maria with a laugh, obviously unfazed by his comment. "If anything, I keep him organized. I also stay in the house, so if you guys need anything, feel free to ask me."

"Alright," said Glacia. "I'm sure you boys must be hungry, but lets get you cleaned up and into some dry clothes first, shall we?"

"I'll show them up," said Maria. She headed toward the stairs. "Your room is this way." Al followed, and with a sigh, Ed did the same, sticking close to his younger brother. He might have been weak and exhausted, not to mention injured, but Ed was still on his guard.

"What happened to Edward?" asked Glacia once they were out of earshot. She was referring to the blood and wet clothes.

"Well..." said Maes, smiling guiltily. "He and the officers had a little, shall we say, 'disagreement?'" Glacia lifted an eyebrow. "They went through quite the ordeal, trying to bring him in, and he did NOT come easily. I'll tell you about it later."

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Maria showed the boys to a large bedroom with an attached bathroom. "We don't really have many clothes your size," she said, "but these pajamas should be alright." She motioned to a pair of neatly folded clothes lying on each of the beds. "The showers pretty streight-foreward to work. You just pull the dial out once it's at the right temperature."

Al went over to the farther of the two beds and sat down, bouncing slightly. A smile spread across his face and the soft mattress and the smooth fabric of the blankets. "I'm going to bed," said Edward quietly, his eyes glued stubbornly to the floor. She could tell from his face and eyes that he had had a very long day, and was tired and moody.

"Take a shower first and change," said Maria, but Edward ignored her and moved toward the unoccupied bed. She frowned thoughtfully.

"Brother..." said Al. He stood up and gently turned Ed toward the bathroom.

"Alright!" Ed growled moodily, casting a glare first at Al, and then at Maria. "But then I'm GOING to BED." He grabbed the pajamas from where they were folded at the foot of his bed and stumbled over to the bathroom. Maria smiled and looked to Al.

"Do you want me to show you to another bathroom, or would you rather shower once he's done?" she asked kindly.

"It's okay," replied Alphonse. "I can wait."

"Alright. When you're done, just come on downstairs. Glacia has some hot soup on the stove." Al's eyes lit up at the mention of a meal. Maria closed the bedroom door behind herself, and paused in the hall, thinking. Both boys looked much more worn-down than she had expected. And Ed was pale and seemed to be slightly dizzy, too.

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Ed shivered as he peeled away his damp shirt and pants and glanced at himself in the mirrors. He was filthy, and although his hair was pulled back in a short braid, it was dry and dirty as well. He sighed when he saw how the metal limbs contrasted with his pale skin. They were heavy and cold when he was this week, and where they touched his skin was very sensitive and sometimes it ached. He touched his left hand to the metal arm. Yes... it was very cold.

"Brother?" Al's voice came through the door. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," he said sharply, pulling off the remainder of his clothes and turning on the shower. Al worried too much, and Ed hated to be worried over more than anything. ESPECIALLY by his little brother, who looked to him to strength.

As Ed stepped into the hot water he felt shivers run throughout his body, but for once they weren't from the cold. It had been so long since he'd felt hot water against his skin, and he relished it. He stood for a few minutes, letting the hot water heat up the cold metal of his arm and leg. In turn, he felt the rest of his body starting to warm. It tingled - like the feeling in your foot after its been asleep - simply because he was so used to being cold.

After a few minutes he actually picked up the soap and began to scrub the dirt from his skin, careful to avoid a large raw scrape on his left wrist. He hadn't really noticed it before. There were so many aches and pains, how could he keep track of where they came from? But at any rate, once he saw it he could feel it worse. It was fresh, even though it wasn't bleeding, and he knew he must have gotten in from the concrete in his struggle earlier.

When he finally turned off the water, it had been almost ten minutes. He also found, as he dried himself off and began to dress in the clothes he'd been given, that it the steamed bathroom he could breathe much easier than he had been able to before. He noticed his reflection in the mirror and hesitated. Clad only in the pajama bottoms, he stared at his upper body. There were scars, and some fresher scrapes and bruises from earlier, but what really caught his attention (apart from his very visible ribcage) was where the metal of his arm connected to his skin. It was very red and sore, and...

"Brother?" he jumped as the door opened slightly and Al poked his head in. Edward sighed. Kicking his dirty clothes into a corner, he grabbed the pajama shirt and stepped past him. The rush of cold air sent him immediately into a fit of coughs, and he doubled over again. "Brother!" Al cried, holding his brothers shoulders.

"I'm sorry," said Ed weakly once they had subsided, offering Al a weak smile. "Don't worry about me. I'm fine."

"But you're sick," Al protested. "And I don't think you've ever been this sick before..." he trailed off at the look that crossed his brothers eyes. Ed smiled weakly.

"Have a shower and then go and eat," he said, stumbling over to the bed. "I'll be fine." Al wanted to argue, but the finality in his brother eyes and voice stopped him. He sighed in defeat and turned back to the bathroom. That's how it always was with them; when Ed decided on something, he would do it no questions asked - and Al would follow. Because Ed was stronger, braver, wiser. If not for him, Al knew he wouldn't have survived long. But as Al took another glance toward his older brother, who had collapsed onto the bed, he realized that he might need to step forward for a while. With Ed sick, and getting weaker, Al would have to be the one for Ed to lean on for a while.

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END

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Author's Note: Okay... that took me forever to type out. I've already got the first 8 chapters written out on paper, and typing out something I've already written is just so... tedious. But I'll try to get the rest of the chapters up quickly. Maybe if I move my laptop it'll help... this position is killing my back, but it's the only place in my room that I have wireless internet, so I'm stuck here. Hehe, please review with any comments you've got. Thanks for reading!

Mistress of Darkness