I was surprised at the number of story alerts I received last week, thank you!
"Like...me?" the blonde could feel his spine shiver in response. For a moment, everything went quiet, much too quiet in Ed's opinion. The wheezing breaths of two chimeras were the only sounds to pass through his ear drums, a cool breeze escaped from the shattered door and windows, gold whips of loose hair clung to the teens sleep deprived features.
Roy winced at the sight of his youngest subordinate. The blonde that was usually hyped and full of life truly looked as if he'd just risen from the dead. Roy was no expert but he'd seen enough bodies in his life time to compare. Limp hair clung to his pale porcelain cheeks; a pair of sunken golden eyes looked deeply embedded in their sockets. Despite Edwards dishevelled appearance, he certainly was on the ball that night. His pupils were focused, darting at each nose or movement that echoed out in the dark hall.
"Who's... like me?" he managed to find the energy to speak, forcing the words to roll off of his tongue. The large chimera snarled, curling its black lips into a smile, revealing a dangerous looking set of white teeth.
"Him..." it growled menacingly, getting to its feet. Red orbs fixed on the young alchemist. It began to walk closer, heaving its injured body across the laminate flooring, leaving a bloody smear trailing behind it.
"HIM!" a snap left the chimera howling in pain, fresh burns scorched its tough skin. Peering through a thick mop of brunette hair, the red orbs trailed to Roy, who held his fingers in a clicking position, a trademark smirk plastered across his features. When both pairs of eyes locked and narrowed at the sight of the other, Roy prepared to douse the second chimera in flames, finding someone locking his fingers in a tight grip before the fabric could spark.
"Wait" Ed was looking at the whimpering creature beside its companion. When gold met red, it hid behind its long hair, cowering from the two alchemists. The blonde released Roy's hand dropping his metal fist to his side; the man cradled his sore fingers to his chest, glaring at Ed angrily.
"FullMetal, what is the meaning of this?"
Unfortunately for Roy, Edward wasn't listening. He was crouched beside the chimera, running a gloved hand soothingly through its hair. It tensed at the touch, looking up at the blonde pleadingly. As he began to run his flesh hand though the soft streaks of brown the creature began to relax, muscles loosing there stiffness, it leaned into the touch. Ed sighed at his sudden display of affection. If wasn't often he allowed his inner Al to take over, the stubborn look had always seemed more appealing, but right now, he couldn't help himself. Those watering eyes, the shaking shoulders.... he couldn't find the heart to hurt it. Jean and Risa smiled. This wasn't the Edward they saw on a regular basis. The teen that had always looked as hard as nails had a soft side after all. If only he used it more often...
It was a shame his superior had forgotten the fact that this creature was once a normal human, just like himself. He smiled; he was far from perfect, barley human at all in fact. Despite its inhuman appearance, Ed could feel a pang of sadness gnaw at his heart. This innocent collaboration of beings had been used as a delay to distract him. Whoever had made the thing... had certainly succeeded.
"Can you remember who did this to you?" he asked softly. The chimera shook its head, lowering it sadly. When the blonde stopped threading his fingers through its hair, a pair of wide crimson eyes looked up into his own, pleadingly.
"Fix... me...? Please...?" It was then, that Edward Elric, hero of the people began to feel his heart begin to break. The concrete wall of pride was crumbling, and all it took was one look into those innocent eyes.
"Fix..." there was a tug at his sleeve, a limp paw clawed at the fabric. The chimera began to quiver, its eyes lowered to the floor.
"I promise I'll fix you..." as the teen's voice began to break, he bit his lip in attempt to regain control of his emotions, looking away from the sobbing creature shaking under his touch.
"Stand back FullMetal"
"No"
"I'd hate for you to get caught in the blast. Now move aside-"
"I said no. Getting deaf in your old age old man?" Ed got to his feet, restraining himself from injuring his superior. Risa and Jean grit their teeth and prepared themselves for another verbal battle between the great Flame and FullMetal. They were big egos in the public's eyes, if only they knew what they were truly like, nothing like the rumours at all. As Risa thought hard, the word 'childish' came to mind. Not that the two alchemists would ever admit to it of course.
Roy was met with an angry looking teenager. He could almost see the steam flowing from his ears. Ed's golden orbs narrowed instantly.
"Move FullMetal"
"You'll have to kill me first"
"You forget your place" the man said bravely, despite the blonde's temper already being revved into overdrive. "We can't just pretend we never found it Edward, it tried to kill you"
"And I gave it a bullet. Equivalent exchange"
"I thought you didn't believe in that anymore?" the Colonel replied smoothly, raising his fingers to click. Ed looked from his superior to the shivering creature.
"If you do anything, I swear I'll never forgive you"
Ignoring Ed's words, Roy was seconds from igniting a flame. The blonde reached out to lock his fingers in a tight grip before the cloth could touch. As the teen clasped the gloved hand tightly in his metal palm, a loud series of shots pierced the silence, followed by a painful howl. The chimera suck to its knees, scared by several thick bullets.
"Him..." its beady eyes looked beyond the team and into the black doorway of the lab. The unmistakable shine of silver lowered steadily, a tall man stood amongst the shattered wood and glass, half of his face shadowed in darkness. His right eye gazed lifelessly at the scene before him, a deep scar etched across it, and a long trail of black hair pooled at his shoulders. A large prosthetic was clamped to his left shoulder, leaving the long sleeved shirt torn recklessly on one side. The remaining sleeve rolled to his elbow, revealing a muscular, scared arm.
His movement were sluggish and bold. The tall man dragged himself and his large arm through what was once a doorway, eye focused on the shaking chimera.
"Stupid animal" he snarled, "Can't even follow a simple order, you-"
"Don't move a muscle" a pistol clicked behind his ear, the cool metal pressed to the back of his neck.
"I don't think you want to do that" he smirked. Before Risa could flinch, the man spun sharply on his heel bending the metal upwards, a bullet sunk into the ceiling, white ash catching in his long raven hair. Releasing the gun from the grip, his functioning eye scanned the room slowly, stopping on at the very man who gave him that killer scar across his chest. The one that hurt most of all, etched deep into his skin.
"If you know what's good for you, you'll do as I say" Roy commanded, "Or perhaps I should refresh your memory and show you what I'm capable of... Bald"
"I'm flattered you remember me, Colonel. I assure you I won't be making the same mistake again, this will be the last time we meet" his gaze wondered to the blonde teenager beside the Colonel, the familiar prosthetic clearly visible through his frail white shirt. "Well well, if it isn't the runt" Bald growled, "I lost six years of my life because of you" he curled his flesh fingers into a tight fist, knuckles becoming a searing white. "This really is a trip down memory lane..." he spat, walking closer, despite Roy's raised hand, ready to spark.
The Colonel glared warningly. Bald simply laughed, raising his gun level with the man's temple.
"This time" he grinned confidently, "I'll make sure I blow your brains out"
"I look forward to it" Roy smirked, ignoring the large chunk of metal inching closer to his head. He'd taken this man down before. A second time would be no trouble at all.
Edward glanced from Bald to his cocky superior. He cursed the man's stupidity. His confidence was blinding him from the real battle; it was all too obvious he wasn't concentrating. It seemed Roy didn't notice Bald pull a knife from his pocket. The Colonels orbs were focused on the huge bulk of metal bolted to the man's shoulder.
Bald's lips curled into a smile, as he lunged for the Roy he said, "The time is now you bastard!" As Roy braced himself for the fatal blow, the blonde beside him caught the man's fist with his own, clamping the metal fingers tightly around the blunt blade.
"Looks like you and I agree on something" Ed smirked, "But unfortunately for you, kicking his ass is a privilege reserved for me only"
"I'll hold you to that" his superior called back, reminding the blonde he wasn't invisible.
"I have some questions for you" Ed said, looking up into Bald's dark eyes that loomed over him.
"And what makes you think I'll tell you anything?" he spat. The teen tightened his grip in response, making the man wince under the pressure.
"You're not in the position to argue. Why?"
"Why?" Bald laughed, "You think I'm capable of this? I'm a mere pawn. I have no reason to refuse orders from someone who introduced me to freedom. My life's purpose ended when you dogs slung me in a cell all those years ago"
"Who controls you?" the blonde cut straight to the chase. His body demanded sleep, and he was already getting sick of the site of work, despite only returning a few days ago. Bald remained silent, a smug smile on his lips. Ed tightened his grip angrily.
"I'll ask you one last time before I beat the living crap out of you. Who is it?"
The man narrowed his eyes and listened to the loud shouts and bangs coming from beyond the building, flashes of light lit the dark corridor as explosions crumbled the other offices around the campus.
"I'd check the cells if I were you" Bald smirked, "You might find them all unusually empty"
Any guesses on who's causing the chaos? You're getting better at guessing :D
See you next chapter :)