Chapter Twenty Four-Elric Vs. Elric
Riza was finally able to have visitors once they got her shoulder bandaged properly. She stared down at her trigger hand that was snuggly placed in a sling. This was definitely going to be a draw back for her job. They had given her something for the pain although it was against her better judgment. Even so she quietly laid back on the pillow and closed her eyes. When she heard the door squeak open, she glanced over tiredly to see the General standing there.
He was no longer in his uniform, he must have gone home and changed at some point. To be honest he looked like a mess to her. Not his normal, neat, put together self. His button down white shirt was wrinkled along with his black slacks and his dark trench seemed unkept. She had only been here a few hours but he looked like he had spent the whole night up, worrying and it was now showing in his very presence. He even seemed out of breath despite how he tried to seem more casual walking over to the bed. As he came to a stop, the worry seemed to melt from his face.
"So how are you feeling?" He swallowed hard, after stating his question and she noticed the faint blush that was now growing slightly deeper.
"Much better. They said that I need to rest my arm for at least two weeks. That's going to make things difficult."
"Oh, yeah I guess it is." He glanced away, mentally kicking himself. In reality, he had thought a lot about the last time they were in a hospital together. That sweet moment where he held her in the hallway. Now he knew what had bothered her at the time but he just couldn't stop thinking about it. And when Pride attacked her, it had brought feelings to the surface that he didn't realize were there. This hadn't been the first time she'd been injured and this wasn't nearly as bad as before. But for some reason the thought of loosing her now seemed unbearable to him.
"So is everything okay?"
"Huh, yeah, I mean, I got these for you." His confidence bounced back slightly as he held out some flowers. Still, she had never seen him like this before. Well she had seen him act like a total imbecile over other women but never her. As though he wasn't sure how to act around her. And even if this wasn't the first time he'd offered her flowers, it was the first time he'd gotten them specifically for her.
"That was nice of you, thanks." She took them from him.
"Well I just figured that when someones' in the hospital it's nice to get them flowers." Riza couldn't help but smile.
"But you didn't get any for Alphonse." Roy smiled back and let out a short laugh.
"I'd never get them for another guy. That's just weird."
"Has there been any word on Pride?" Mustang placed his hands in his pockets and took on a more serious tone now. At least talking about their homunculus problem would help ease his nerves. He could always talk business.
"Alphonse chased after him as fast as possible. I don't know if he got to May quickly enough." The bouquet he'd just handed her was thrown back in his face.
"And you're not helping him with this! General, you've got more important things to do other then pampering me!" He cleaned the flower petals off of himself before placing what was left of the bouquet on the side table.
"There's not much I can do unless you want half the city destroyed. Don't you think that's what Pride wants us to do?"
"But Alphonse needs you, if for nothing else then support." Her voice dropped down as she lowered her gaze. "Technically he's going up against his brother. That can't be easy for him."
"I know. But if Ed is still in there, Al's the only one who can break through to him. If I'm there I don't think it'll be so easy." She sighed back, glancing at her arm again.
"Sir, I think you have more important things to do then being here with me." He stubbornly took a seat next to the bed and placed his hand over hers. She brought her deep brown eyes up to meet his dark serious gaze.
"No, I'm right where I need to be. I can't keep avoiding this just because I'm worried about what might happen." She blushed slightly back and looked away quickly.
"I'm not really sure what you talking about, Sir." Despite everything that normally held him back, he pushed forward. He didn't want to be afraid of ruining their relationship or damaging his reputation. None of it mattered anymore. It certainly hadn't to Ed. The former State alchemist had no idea what kind of dangers awaited him and he still was determined to have a somewhat normal life. A normal life sounded so appealing right now to the Flame alchemist. Having someone always there for him and being there for her. Being able to bring someone flowers and not having them thrown back at him or even having it be something so out of character. To sum it up in his mind, he was sick of being alone, even though he was so popular with the women of Central. And if Maes and Ed had managed to have some resemblance of normalcy, why couldn't he?
"I think you know. I think you've always known." She refused to look in his direction now, feeling her face heating up more.
"Please, Alphonse really does need your help. You don't need to worry about me." He let out a sigh and brought his hand away from hers.
"Alright, alright. I'm going. You know you'll feel horrible though if something happens to me." His statement brought her gaze up and worry took over her features. As he stood though, he moved closer, trying not to think too much of what he was doing or who with. "But before I go..." Riza's eyes widen in surprise at the sudden gesture. He cupped her face and leaned in, brushing his lips lightly against hers. There was nothing perverted or overbearing about the kiss which shocked her. Their mouths parted and he lingered there a second longer as though trying to remember everything about this moment.
"Roy..."Riza caught herself and cleared her throat. "I mean General, you'd better hurry." He straightened up reluctantly and let out a sigh.
"Well, it was worth a shot anyway. Who knows maybe we'll pick up where we left off later. If I survive." His last statement cause her to frown.
"Sir, stop saying stuff like that! Of course you'll come back and I'll be here." There was nothing else to be said and he took his leave quickly down the hall. Riza brought her fingers up, touching her lips. She felt so overwhelmed but at the same time happy.
"That was unexpected," she tried to act like she didn't approve of his forwardness but couldn't stop smiling to herself.
oOoOo
Alphonse moved first, swinging his one arm as he went. He came within inches of his brother's face when a dark shadow blocked him. Swinging his other arm around, he was blocked as well. Even though he'd fought Ed as well as Pride that was when he was much bigger. He had to take the fact that he wasn't as huge as he was back then into account. When he was in Xing with May he had initially had a difficult time training and was beaten quite a lot. Of course she had been there to cheer him but it took several hard lessons before he was able to fight in the body he had now. As convenient as the armor had been back then, he had to face his opponent before him now. For Ed, and May. Even for Winry and his future niece or nephew. His mind worked quickly and he took a step back before clapping his hands together again. The metal around his arms vanished changing into a long staff. Since Pride could easily block any close range attacks, he'd have to try something from far away. As he stood up, he turned side ways just in time to avoid getting hit in the face. Bringing the staff around he was blocked again. Pride really did have all the advantage. If one attack wasn't doing it, then Alphonse would have to attack him from every angle. Turning away from the homunculus, he ran for the opening he'd made earlier and headed for the streets. As he disappeared from view, Pride heard another clap and a rope came up and wrapped around Ed's body. He was yanked outside with no resistance. If Alphonse wanted to die on the street then the homunculi would be more then willing to help with that. He landed hard, breaking the concrete where he landed. The black extensions of himself cut the rope from around his midsection. As he stood up, he was greeted by an arsenal of sharp projectile. Each sharpened cement blade had to weigh several pounds and he was unable to block all of them. Two or three made contact, knocking him off his feet. One in particular had hit him in the chest, ripping his black shirt. As he tried to get back up, he noticed something pretty large coming at him from above. The heavy item landed hard on top of him, pounding him even further into the ground.
"Got him." Al was relieved he was starting to remember how to fight this particular homunculus. He was also glad that no one seemed to be out on the street although he was sure that had to do with the dark clouds moving in. Pride seethed as he glanced up at what was sitting on him to see a rather large panda bear constructed from cement.
"Gee a giant panda, that's kind of tacky, Al,' Ed thought despite how effective the attack had been since he was hurting from it. Shadows wrapped around the cement being overhead and Pride destroyed it quickly, trying to get back up quickly. Alphonse had to move fast and just as an opening presented itself, he jabbed a knife very similar to the ones May used into Pride's chest. The homunculus stared in shock. Removing the knife quickly, Al forced his hand in and grabbed Pride's core.
"Noo...how can you...this is...he's you..." Pride couldn't grasp the fact that he was loosing again. Angrily he tossed shadows around himself, knocking Alphonse back. Unable to right himself, Al knew he was going to hurt when he made contact with the ground but instead of hitting the ground, he slammed into something else.
"General!" Al sat up when he heard Mustang let out a groan.
"What made me think I could catch a nineteen year old? Al, get off." They both got back to their feet and Roy wearily got his gloves out. "So tell me you have a plan on how we're gonna beat him."
"Um, well. I had a couple of ideas." The Flame alchemist sulked some at the response before glancing up.
"I don't know how long I'll be able to help you, so we need to make this quick." It was obvious that the sky was about to open up and when that happened he'd most likely be useless as always in the rain.
"If we can drain his philosopher stone, then he'd have no option but to leave Ed's body,...right?"
"If you recall, when I toasted Lust, it didn't go down like that and she just died. I don't think we want the same thing to happen to Ed."
"What if we drain it as much as possible before that happens."
"Do you know how to tell the difference?" Alphonse let out an annoyed sound.
"Well there has to be some way, you've killed more homunculi then me, don't you know?" Roy thought for a second." "Hurry General, he's getting closer!" Not even thinking about it, Mustang snapped, engulfing Pride in flames.
"That oughta keep him occupied for a while."
"General, can we not torch my brother?" Al sighed heavily. Pride writhed in pain, his skin feeling like it was almost melting around him. Regeneration took him a little longer without the hosts cooperation.
'Do you want to die, Elric?' Pride was desperate at this point. He knew he couldn't win this and that Alphonse was correct when he said he could never attain his full strength.
'It doesn't matter at this point, you can't be allowed to live.'
'They're willing to kill you, your own flesh and blood.' The thought made Edward sad but he wouldn't let Pride play off his emotions.
'I trust Al. I know he'll think of a way to get me out of this.'
"Alphonse I think I've got it now. What about that place." Mustang glanced over at the younger Elric. "You and Ed have both been there. The gate?"
"Oh yeah, what about it?" Before the General could answer, Pride had managed to pull himself together. He moved his shadows along the ground, shaking the entire block. Alphonse created three more cement pandas to keep him busy. By this point he'd figured out what Mustang was saying. It could work, it might be the only thing that would. They had to try it. One of Al's creations was tossed in their direction and Roy was quick to pull Al out of the way before it landed hard.
"This is becoming more difficult then I expected." He was quick to snap again, and this time Pride couldn't keep from screaming out in agony. Ed's body went limp and sagged to the demolished ground.
"Nooo m...mmore...sstopp." Pride would never expect himself to be this beaten down, this humiliated by these humans. He struggled to his hands and knees as the flames died down. Light drops of rain hit the ground and brought the smallest amount of comfort to his scorched form.
"Well I knew it wouldn't last long," Roy sighed.
Alphonse and the Flame alchemist walked over cautiously. A singed hand reached out for Al's foot. "Al...sssttooppp...himm..." There was the sound of something hitting the ground and Al leaned down some. Pride's core was laying underneath him, it must have fallen out of his chest. The homunculus wheezed in, breathing hard as though trying to stay alive. Picking it up, Alphonse tried to keep it together. The realization that Ed was still in there and it was solely up to him to get him back scared him. He could feel himself starting to tremble at the thought of it. Pushing his emotions aside, he clapped his hands and touched the almost completely restored body in front of him. The ground moved slightly and as though it were alive, an eye opened up directly below Edward's heaving frame. Roy took a step back. He still didn't like seeing the entrance. He had bad memories of it even if it was helpful in this situation. Within seconds, Ed disappeared as did the nightmare that was Pride. As if on cue, the rain seemed to come down even harder, drenching the two alchemists who remained in the street.