Chapter 13

November 5th – November 7th

November 5th – Military Headquarters, Central

Roy picked up the phone, flicking through his notebook to find Clara's number. Once locating it, he dialed, and was swiftly answered.

"Hello? This is Clara Stanton speaking."

"Hey, Clara, it's Roy."

"Hey, it's good to hear from you, how's things on your end?"

"I need a favour."

"What kind?"

"There's a girl who has some repressed memories, and we were wondering if you could give us a hand with recovering them."

"Hypnosis, huh?"

"Exactly."

"I can be there by the seventh, how's that?"

"Perfect."

"See you then – I'll rock up to your office about ten."

Roy sighed as he hung up the phone. He and Clara were old friends, and had often enjoyed playful flirting in the past, but he wasn't sure he could keep that up when she was here. Nowadays, he had to picture Riza standing in front of him to summon even a half-hearted urge to flirt with a woman, not matter how appealing.

Another sigh. Roy was self-aware enough to realise that he was so far gone over Riza that it bordered on pathetic. But what could he do about it? Every iota of logic in his brain told him that people like Riza simply didn't fall for people like him.

It didn't stop him from having his fantasies, though.

oooooooo

November 6th – Kline Street Sewer, Central

"You think this is it?" Ed asked Al.

The crack in the bricks was obvious, but Ed just didn't see how they were going to squeeze through...especially Al.

"Well, there's really only one way to find out," Al pointed out.

"Right."

Ed turned sideways, trying to shimmy through the crack. His progress was a lot easier than he would have thought, and even Al didn't seem to be having too much trouble.

oooooooo

November 6th – Hidden Cellar, Central

The sudden explosion of space was a shock. There had been no gradual opening of the tight passage, just suddenly open air around him as though he had crawled through the neck of a champagne bottle.

And he couldn't help gaping.

A white fire burning in the middle of the cellar filled it with flickering light, and dozens of people moved through the alcoves, laughing and talking, some sitting by the fire and eating.

Upon their entry, everyone fell silent, tense and ready to fight.

"Take it easy," Jade said, pushing through their ranks. "These are the guys I was telling you about – the ones who might be able to help Angel regain her memories."

Ed was surprised by how accepting of this the people were, simply shrugging and going back to what they were doing, with only the occasional suspicious eye turned in their direction.

"Angel's up there," Jade grinned, pointing upwards.

Ed and Al both gaped. Winry was perched on one of the rafters, about fifty feet above their heads, and doing a handstand on it!

"That's dangerous!" Al yelped.

At almost the same time, Ed asked indignantly, "You guys let her go up there?"

Jade turned a harsh stare on both of them. "We don't 'let' Angel do anything."

"But she's-"

"You must understand one thing," Jade continued, overriding Ed's protests, "To you, she may be Winry Rockbell, teenaged mechanic and childhood friend..."

She shook her head. "But down here, with us...she is Angel. And to us, she is saviour and crusader, leader, guardian and protector. She does not look to us, we look to her."

"My ears are burning..." a voice sang out from above.

Ed looked up. Winry was sitting on the narrow beam, her legs dangling from the edge and her wings hanging lazily off the other side.

Jade mock-frowned at her. "It's rude to eavesdrop!"

Winry shrugged, "But how else am I ever going to learn what people really think of me."

"Are you going to come down and greet your guests, oh exalted leader?"

Ed's heart almost stopped in his chest when Winry simply slid off the beam and allowed gravity to take her plummeting to the floor. But her wings spread open, slowing her fall like a parachute, and she landed on the ground as gracefully as a ballerina.

Angel grinned at the astonishment on Ed and Al's faces. It was strange – you wouldn't think a suit of armour could make expressions, and yet...

"Hey guys, what's up?"

"You know that hypnosis thing we were discussing? Well, they've set a date."

"Really, when?"

"Tomorrow," Al cut in, "About ten o'clock."

"I'll be there."

oooooooo

November 7th – Military Headquarters, Central

Roy couldn't stop fidgeting.

He'd had a nightmare last night – a particularly bad one. He'd been back in the Fuhrer's office, only this time, Wrath had followed through on his threat. He'd been forced to watch as Riza shot herself, her blood painting the walls and floor.

Even when he'd awoken, Roy had run to the bathroom, to wash away the feeling of her blood splattered across his cheek.

Where the hell was she? It was almost fifteen minutes after Riza should have been in.

'Calm down!' Roy told himself firmly. 'You're worrying, calm down. You've been on your best behaviour with the Fuhrer, he has no reason to...to hurt her...'

But...what if he did? What if Roy had done something to antagonise him, even something he was unaware of?

The panic rose again, and this time Roy leapt from his seat and began pacing.

'Calm down, calm down...she's probably just run into some kind of delay or something, just calm down.'

But what if she hadn't? What if the reason she hadn't turned up yet was because...?

"No!" Roy yelled, as though the sound of his voice would drown out the image of Riza lying dead on the floor of her apartment.

That was it. Roy was going to check on her.

But he'd hardly made it to the door before it opened, and Riza strode in.

"Sir, I apologise for my-"

Riza never finished her sentence. She found herself engulfed in Roy's arms as he pulled her into his chest. For a moment, she stiffened with utter surprise, and considered pulling away. But she couldn't – it felt too good.

But however exhilarating it was to have his arms around her, it didn't stop her wondering what had brought this on.

"Sir?"

"Don't...don't scare me like that, Hawkeye," Roy rasped out, feeling a little foolish that he had gotten so worked up for nothing.

"Sir?"

He took a deep breath to summon the will to release her. The open air hit his body where hers had rested, and he tried ignore the profound sense of loss as he settled back at his desk.

oooooooo

November 7th – Military Headquarters, Central

Angel had been sure to arrive right as the clock struck ten. As before, Earnest and Jade had tagged along for the ride, and Angel was glad they were here. Of all of the people in their little group, she felt the closest to these two.

She'd been introduced to Clara, a pretty brunette with blue eyes and a nice smile. Angel guessed she'd be in her late twenties. Or early thirties, if she'd aged well.

Clara had flirted with the Colonel, but every time Roy replied with even a hint of flirtatiousness, Angel had felt that jangling, creeping sensation that signaled a lie. He was forcing himself to flirt with her. Angel wasn't sure why, but she was certain she wasn't just imagining the way Riza Hawkeye's lips thinned every time he flirted with Clara.

'Is something going on between the Colonel and his Lieutenant?' she wondered, 'They do seem to be giving out those vibes that scream sexual tension...'

Angel gave a mental shrug. It really wasn't any of her business.

"So, what do I have to do?"

"Just lie down," Clara said, "The couch will do."

Angel did so. "Next?"

"Just relax."

"Uh..." Angel was stuck. She could never relax while her wings were retracted, it was an effort to keep them hidden. But could she let this woman know what she really was?

Angel paused for a moment and examined that thought. What harm would it do? When it came down to it, few people would believe that Clara had seen a girl with wings on her back. And if it ever reached Mangeli's ears...

'Just let him try something,' Angel thought viciously. 'Just let him!'

"Don't be shocked, okay?" Angel told Clara, beginning to reach behind her.

"Why would I be...Oh my..."

In one swift movement, Angel had let her shirt fall open and released her wings. Clara stared, gaping at the enormous white feathers.

There was a tense silence, until Clara spoke again. "Well...they don't call you Angel for nothing, do they?"

Angel laughed. "I like to think my name is at least partly deserved."

"Well, uh...can you lay on your back with those things?"

Angel proceeded to do just that, sprawling on the couch, smiling at the slightly bemused expressions on the faces around her.

"No matter how many times I see that," Jade said, shaking her head, "It never fails to amaze me that you don't tangle your wings."

"They're just like limbs," Angel defended. "I mean, you guys don't tangle your legs up when you lie down, do you?"

"Okay," Clara said, "Now I want you focus on my hands first..."

Angel tried to follow the woman's instructions as she prepared to be sent into a hypnotic trance.