Disclaimer: I do not own any copyright to plots and characters from Fullmetal Alchemist anime/manga/games, so pls don't sue me!
WARNING: FMA anime, manga & game spoilers! Implied rape
Rating: PG-13 because of the earlier part of this chapter
Character: Ed, Al, Envy, Roy, Riza, Armstrong, Archer, Yao Ling, 'Father', Manga!Sloth, Hughes
AU: There is no made-up character in this fic though there's a lot of characters crossover for FMA manga/anime/games. I'm getting tired of doing multi-chap fanfic. Hope my interest won't extinguish before I complete this fic. Sigh...
Refer to image of FMA Manga/game casts at: http:(slash slash)i14(dot)photobucket(dot)com(slash)albums(slash)a333(slash)lysergkun(slash)othercast(dot)jpg
Hi Renneh: I'm going to be cruel to Al… kukukuku…. Arigato, hope u'll like my coming chaps… Have to increase the rating of my fanfic because of Archer x Al matter….
Hi Stripe: Erm.. I'm flattered… Frankly, my writing is not really fantastic, especially when I know I can do better, but I am tired, instead of leaving it incomplete, my priority right now is to end it asap before I lose my interest in continuing the fic. Sigh… Glad u like my fanfic ideas. I have been watching FMA anime and reading its manga. I feel it'll be interesting if the 2 verses merge together, so this fic is created. If only there's more fanfics with such combined verses.
Hi Goldencave: I'll try to update as fast as possible, coz I do not want to stop before I lose my interest… arigato, glad u like my plot (smile)
Chapter 08: Man with Two Souls
In an unknown dark basement, Al struggled fruitlessly from the webs of confinement that pulled his limbs in spread eagle manner. Blood tricked down his forehead where he had been accidentally scratched during the fight. He could still taste the copper in his blood as it seeped through his lips and onto his tongue. He glared at the man who was standing before him. With the recently changed red eyes and long black lances tracing down his hand, the man did not look human anymore. Al had lost his red coat, most likely removed by his captive while Al was still unconscious. Before him, his captive smiled and kept flicking his lance-like weapon in and out of his fingers like what Lust used to do in the past.
"You... you are the replaced Lust." Al said, almost exhaustedly. He knew the man had been eyeing him for a long time and his newly instilled power only made Al's situation worse.
"I'm glad you get the point, it'll save me efforts to explain." Frank Archer grinned darkly. He walked towards Al and pulled off the boy's hair band, letting the boy's long blond hair fell gracefully over his shoulder so that the gentle alchemist looked more feminine than usual.
Al suddenly felt coolness on his flesh as Archer abruptly pulled the front of his shirt and torn it down with his blade-like fingers. Archer kissed Al on the side of his neck almost lovingly, taking in the sweet essence in Al's long blond hair. Withdrawing his lances, Archer ran his cold fingers up and down Al's smooth bare skin and finally settled himself on the boy's belt. Al felt himself trembling despite himself. He did not like the way the man was eyeing him greedily as though he was a lamb waiting to be eaten by a wolf. He could feel Archer closing the distance between them and whispered softly into his ears: "Has anyone told you how beautiful you are? I think not. Until you are handed to 'Father', Alphonse Elric, you are mine."
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Roy almost jumped on his sofa to open the door before Ed could tear down his door with his automail arm in the middle of the night.
"We've received information that Xing emperor could be a homunculus!" Ed informed Roy before his foot stepped into the living room.
"Where did you get the news from?" asked Roy suspiciously.
"Chang Mei and Ran Fan from Xing. Chang Mei had overheard her emperor's conversation with the creator of Homunculus and we were attacked the moment we reached here a few hours ago." Ed suddenly jumped: "I almost forgot about Al!" He ran to use Roy's phone.
"Hey!" protested Roy. Ed's face turned pale as he talked over the phone, probably with Wrath or Izumi.
"Al has not returned home yet. Damnit, I should have stopped him from walking out with Chang Mei!" Ed growled.
"Why don't we see if he returns to work tomorrow morning?" suggested Roy, alarmed by Ed's anxiety: "Was anyone after him?"
"Ah, that homunculus head had attempted to abduct him earlier. I hope I'm just been over-sensitive, but I have a bad feeling about this." Ed said, resting his forehead against his fist.
In the darkness of the subway, 'Father' frowned severely as Archer carried the injured and unconscious Al to him. Apart from the tattered shirt, there were bruises, slashes and bites all over his body. Al's hair band was missing and his long blond hair was streaked with blood.
"I did not ask you to hurt him." said 'Father' disapprovingly.
"He was resisting me, Father." said Archer with mocked seriousness: "I had difficulty restraining him."
"Raping the kid more likely." muttered Envy, observing the locations of the slashes and bruises on Al.
"I need 2 days to take this boy where no one can distract me. Envy, I want you to take over his place for a couple of days." commanded 'Father'. His frown deepened as he searched Al's pockets. The Philosopher's Stone was not there.
Archer quickly explained: "I did not see anything when I searched the kid, Father."
'Father' searched Archer in his eyes and turned to the approaching King Bradley and added: "I want you to assist Sloth finding the stone. I don't have enough time to search now."
"Yes, Father." Envy and King Bradley said. Envy was smiling and frowning at the same time.
"What is it, Envy?" asked King Bradley.
"Just thinking that I'm going to get some fun out of this task." grinned Envy.
Time crawled like a snail as dawn finally came. Without a wink of sleep, Roy and Ed made their way back to the office.
"You look terrible, Ed, where have you been? And why are you coming with Colonel Roy? Armony and Winry were worried for you!" Sophie called as Ed rushed past her to check Archer's department. Al was not there.
"Did you see Al?" Ed asked her.
"Are you looking for me?" The bored voice of Al called behind him.
"Do you have a nice break, Al?" Cony asked as she passed him and glanced at Ed questioning.
"Ah? Oh, yeah." Al nodded and walked hastily to his department.
"Al!" Ed pulled him back: "Where have you been last night? We were all worried sick!"
"Hm, I was having a walk with Chang Mei and had a long talk." Al said uneasily.
"Oh, alright. Let me know if Archer disturbs you, I heard he's back to office." Ed said, petting Al lightly on his shoulder.
"Ok." Al hurried off. Behind, Ed looked at him suspiciously. Sophie and Cony looked from him to Al and back again in confusion. Ed shook his head and walked off.
Cony looked at Sophie and shrugged: "Let's get back to work."
"Stop distracting me with that grins, Envy!" snarled Archer under his breath as Al!Envy attempted to fall onto his lap the seventh times: "You'll arouse suspicion in the office!"
"Hah! I bet you'll never say that if the real brat is pestering you like what I'm doing right now." grinned Envy!Al.
Archer growled and grabbed Envy!Al by his shoulder.
"What are you doing, Colonel?" Armstrong who suddenly appeared from a corner, asked.
"Hm, just giving him a friendly pet, that's all." laughed Archer uneasily, letting go Envy!Al instantly.
"Alright. Do let me know if you have any problem, Alphonse." Armstrong said.
"Will do." Envy!Al said, suppressing his laughter.
Behind the door, Ed was leaning against the wall in deep concentration.
Strong desert wind blew as a tall man in white robe held a 13-year-old alchemist close to his chest in a truck. Al rocked uneasily and opened his eyes weakly. For a moment, he thought he was lying in his father's arms just like the time many years ago back in his hometown with his mother and elder brother. He leant closer to the warm, ignoring the puzzling uneasiness gnawing inside him. His head was almost as heavy as lead and the hot air made him feel dull.
"Where are we going?" Al asked dryly.
"To Xing." said 'Father' shortly.
Al nodded numbly and slipped into unconsciousness.
An urgent telegraph reached the Fuhrer. Informers reported Creata and Areugo were declaring war on Amestris on the recent annihilation of Drachma. The two armies would attack in two days' time unless Amestris opened up all its military research labs for their inspection.
"This is outrageous!" stormed one senior council member at the meeting.
"I suggest giving in to their request, for we have nothing to hide." Hughes proposed: "It's better than dragging innocent people into wars."
"I disagree," Archer said: "Who knows what they'll do the moment their representatives enter our labs? We'll be showing cowardly if we give in!"
"Let the council vote to decide." Armstrong Fuhrer said, rubbing his temple exhaustedly. The recent chaos were testing his endurance limit as he had spent sleepless nights, holding meetings and negotiations with presidents of the other two states over the investigation for the sudden destruction of Drachma.
Roy could not suppress his satisfactory when Hughes' suggestion was approved. Archer glared: 'We'll see about that."
Archer's life back to office was not smooth either as unexpected people kept running in without warning whenever Envy!Al was trying to discuss things with him. Firstly, It was Armstrong, the sequence was followed by Roy, Hughes, Riza, Falman, Danny, Maria, Ed, Sophie and Cony.
"Can't you leave us in peace so that I can discuss work matters with him?" demanded Archer as Riza popped into his office the 4th times.
"Sorry, Colonel Archer, I need to pass something to him." said Riza as she closed the door behind her.
"Aren't you being a bit too sensitive? No one is watching us!" Envy!Al said cheekily.
Behind him, Cony stepped into the office and apologised for entering the wrong department for the fourth time on the same day.
Al suddenly woke up to find himself on a large soft bed in an unfamiliar room with Xingness decoration. His head ached as he struggled up the bed. In a spilt of a second, he wondered why the surrounding did not seem right for him. Instead of his usual red coat and black attire, he was dressed in Xingness silk robe and his long hair had been washed and combed. He clapped his hands. His alchemy was not working again.
Running his hand over his hair, Al tried to recall the last thing he had went through before he lost his consciousness. Then, he remembered. Burying his head against his lap, flashes of Archer's assaults returned to his mind.
'That man, I'll get even with him sooner or later.' Al grinded his teeth, he had never felt so contaminated in his life before.
'No, I must stay calm, if I don't pick myself up, I'll never be able to see nii-san again!' He grabbed his hair and tried to recap events that had happened before he had slipped into unconsciousness.
"Do you have a nice rest, Alphonse?" came 'Father's voice. Al glared silently. The man looked cleaner, though he was still dressed in the same white robe. After waiting for Al's reply without success, he sighed and reached to pet him. Al edged away from his touch. Since Archer was now a homunculus, he had probably attacked Al under 'Father's command.
"I won't forget how you abduct me here, Mister." Al said coldly.
The rest of the day passed meaninglessly as Al was left alone with his alchemy ability still withdrawn. He started observing the patterns of the guards entering the room to give him his meals and clearing the utensils. The soldiers let their guard down when Al appeared weak and small in the large bed. While they were not looking, Al hit them unconscious and ran out of the room.
"How big can this place be?" thought Al in awe and frustration as he passed endless corridors and rooms secretly and hid whenever a group soldiers marched by. Just then, a general appeared by his side. Al quickly ducked into a room and found himself face to face with a young man with black ponytail and narrow eyes in his bathing pool.
"I..I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to bang in like that." Al apologised quickly.
"Who are you?" The man blinked in surprise.
"I'm a representative from Amestris and I kind of lost my way when I went to a restroom." Al lied: "Do you know the way to the main entrance? I'm meeting my guide there."
"Alright, I'll draw you a map." sighed the young man who put a towel round his waist as he stepped out of the pool: "You know, I've never seen such a pretty maiden from Amestris before." He added as he looked at Al's large eyes, fair complexion, long blond flowing hair and his small frame within the silky light colour Xingness attire, while he took note of Al's high-pitch tone.
"That's rude! I'm a boy!" exclaimed Al: "By the way, how do I address you?"
"Call me Yao Ling or Ling if you like." The man said while he scribbled directions on a piece of paper.
'Strange, I think I've heard this name before.' Al thought as he left the room, making his way according to the drawing. There were many crisscross and smudges all over the paper, making identifying the lines almost impossible. Al strained his eyes as he climbed countless staircases and crossed several corridors and reached a large door. The paper indicated it as the main entrance. Al opened it.
To his surprise, 'Father' was talking to a man in royal robe within the room. They gave him a surprise look. Al's jaws fell.
Within minutes, Al was escorted back to his own room by several tall soldiers who were almost twice his height. Al was fuming and wondering if he had misunderstood the paper till he recalled Lust's words about a person named Yao Ling who had took over 'Greed's identity.
"To think I've been dumb enough to ask a homunculus for help!" Al cried in the room, outraged.
In the other room, Greed!Yao Ling was laughing his head off over Al's stupidity. Just then, there was a knock on the door.
"Come in." said Greed!Yao Ling.
Ran Fan entered the room. "Young Master, is it true that Alphonse Elric from Amestris is here?"
"Yes." replied Greed!Yao Ling: "Don't worry, he is safe for time being as long as the stone is not obtained."
"Is Young Master still communicating with you?" asked Ran Fan suddenly.
Greed!Yao Ling chose to remain silence. Ran Fan remained expressionless as she bowed and left the room, closing the door behind her. The moment she left the room, Yao Ling suddenly clumped his head.
"No, this body is still mine, you can't win me." Yao Ling growled almost to himself.
"I need to talk to you." Ed put his arm on Envy!Al's shoulder.
'What is it, Sh-I mean, nii-san?" Envy!Al asked, nervously. He had been trying to avoid Ed as time passed, fearing he might give himself away. Already within the confine of Winry's apartment, Ed was staring at him more than usual.
'Damn, when is Father allowing me to get out of this position? It's so irritating!' thought Envy as Ed pulled him into a room. Envy's heart skipped a beat as he saw the door automatically sealed itself after it was closed. Inside the room, Roy was sitting, deep in thoughts.
"Let me get this straight, Envy." Roy said coldly: "Where are you people hiding Alphonse?"
Envy's mouth went dry: "W..what are you talking about? I..I don't get it."
"Spit it out! We already suspect it the first day you've stepped into the office, Envy." snapped Ed angrily: "That's why we have been taking turns monitoring you. The real Al will never get close to Archer if he could help it!"
"Oh, well, if that's the case.." Envy said as he revealed his true form: "I don't think you all can catch me!" He grinned.
Ed roared and transmuted his automailed arm into a blade, attacking him: "Return Al to me NOW!"
"That kid's probably far far away from here now, shorty!" Envy laughed, turned into a rat and tried to scamper away.
Roy sent fire blocking his path: "You are not going anywhere else unless you tell us, Homunculus!"
"How dare... how dare you call me SHORTY???!!!!" roared Ed and he transmuted a large fist banging onto rat!Envy.
"Creata and Areugo have called back their attempts to attack Amestris, Father." King Bradley said over the telephone in an office: "Sloth does not have any news of the stone at this moment. I can ask some soldiers to transmute the people of either Creata or Areugo if you like, but they are highly alert of any alchemy activity recently, unlike Drachma. Yes, hm, I understand."
Outside the room, an outline of a person was listening to his conversation.
In AmestrisWithin the privacy of his office, Archer took a red translucent stone from his drawer and started playing with it absent-mindedly, deep in thoughts about the failed attempt to rouse wars on Creata and Areugo. He had taken it from Al when the boy was unconscious.
An officer who was strolling along the corridor was struck unconscious and dragged into a dark corner. His uniform was seized and his captive stepped out into the open, pulling down his military cap. He smiled mysteriously as he marched confidently towards Frank Archer's office.
Deep in the underground tunnel, a large figure was prowling around, listening to the information from various departments. He tapped a wire and listened lazily.
"Father, Sloth here… Hmmm, work? Oh… Ok……."
TBC
AU: I'm not too sure about Sloth's reaction whenever he receives a mission as manga!Sloth has not made his complete appearance when I first wrote this chapter. He might be a little out of character.