"You really, really shouldn't do this, Roy…" Edward whimpered behind him, pulling his coat.
Roy shook his head, walking on despite the boy's efforts to stop him. "Yes, I should." His voice was tense, rage controlled—but just barely. He walked through the halls of Central Headquarters, peaking into doorways, searching for Ed's brother.
"But, Roy—"
Finally losing his patience, Roy spun around, grabbing the blonde by his arms. Edward let out a terrified squeak, eyes wide. Guilt washed over Roy—Edward might be acting absurdly about this, but he had been through a lot and Roy didn't need to be so rough. His words were much gentler. "Ed, I'm not going to let him get away with what he did to you, nor will I let him hurt you again. Please, just let me take care of this."
"I was afraid this would happen."
At this new voice, Roy raised his eyes from Edward's, and looked directly at Alphonse. He wasted no time with speech, but snapped his fingers automatically, sending a jet of spiraling flame rushing towards the younger Elric brother.
Al flattened himself against the wall, narrowly avoiding being burnt. "You just couldn't keep your mouth shut, could you, Brother?"
Edward backed into Roy, eyes wide and unseeing. He didn't seem to be breathing.
"It's alright, Ed!" Roy shouted, snapping his fingers again, only to have the fire blocked by a quick transmutation on Al's part. "Breathe! I've got you!"
Alphonse laughed, the cruel sound echoing in the hall. "What can you do, Colonel?"
Roy didn't answer, merely snapped his fingers a third time, not holding back. He bent over, shielding his face as well as Ed's from the heat. When it subsided, he glanced up, to see Alphonse walking towards them. He looked like something out of a nightmare, with his face blackened and his hands (which h must have held up in a vain effort to protect himself) stripped down to muscle and bone.
"Ohhh," he moaned. Immediately, Roy noticed the change—it was no longer Al's voice that spoke, but two voices, overlapping each other oddly. "That hurt. I didn't know I'd feel that. And it seems to be rather difficult to heal a body that's not my own…"
As the voice spoke, red sparks erupted over Alphonse's injuries, lazily reforming his skin. Edward was silent in his arms, and even Roy's mouth was agape with horror.
"Roy," Ed choked out. "He's—he's—"
"A homunculus," Roy breathed. He pulled Edward up and began running down the hall, away from Alphonse and out of the Military Headquarters. Al laughed behind them, taunting Roy for his retreat.
"How's that possible?" Ed wailed as they sprinted away, sounds of pursuit echoing behind them.
"There's only one place I know of where homunculi hide out," Roy answered, turning down a side street and pulling the blonde along with him. "Maybe we can find some answers there."
Down a tunnel, into darkness. The pair traveled downward, just barely avoiding running into the damp walls at each bend. And then a sudden light ahead of them.
Roy and Ed entered the chamber, slowing their pace until they stopped in front of the only being in sight: a homunculus, judging from the red lines on his limbs, though not one Roy had seen before. It had short, dark hair, and was even shorter than Edward, clothed neck to mid-thigh in leather.
The homunculus didn't move from its splayed position on the floor.
Ed, less afraid of this unknown threat than his brother (or whatever his brother had become), ventured to nudge the being with his boot. Still, there was no response.
"Well, it's not dead," Roy mused. "They dissolve when they die. So…"
"I suggest you step away." Alphonse spoke, in his own voice once more, from the entryway.
Edward turned to face his brother, while Roy merely glanced over his shoulder, preferring to watch the homunculus on the ground in case it should wake. "And why would I do that?" he asked.
"I'm warning you," Al growled, taking a step forward.
Why Alphonse was so desperate to protect this unknown homunculus, Roy had no idea, but he wasn't about to do what Al asked. A quick snap, and the homunculus before him was burning.
Again in that double timbre voice, Alphonse screamed, clutching at his body before falling to the ground, oddly mirroring the burning homunculus.
Then the being in front of Roy burst into life, shrieking with pain. Red sparks erupted from its body, trying to quench the flames.
Ed stood stock still beside him as Roy egged the fire on, refused to let up, burning the homunculus away. He stared, uncomprehending, at his brother's body.
After a short time, silence descended upon the chamber, shaking Edward out of his reverie. He turned to Roy, spotting a pile of ashes on the ground before they could disappear.
"How odd," Roy murmured. "Two Stones."
Indeed, rather than the one Philosopher's Stone found in most homunculi, lying on the floor were two. Not wanting to take any risks, Roy crushed them with his boot.
Both Ed and Roy took a moment to breathe, when suddenly a thought occurred to Roy.
"Edward," he whispered, slowly walking in a circle. "Where do you suppose that 'Father' character is?"
Apparently without an answer, Ed began t look around as well, peering into the shadows. A cough sounded behind the pair.
Wary and just about spent, Roy looked at Alphonse, who was struggling to get to his feet. "W-where am I?" he asked, innocent as he was before.
Roy waited until Al had risen completely and looked at him before raising his hand, poised to snap. Alphonse stared at him, uncomprehending and cautious. "I won't be buying that one," Roy said, voice dangerously low.
"Wait!" Al cried. "I don't understand!" As he held up his hands, a new concern took over Alphonse. "I…I have a body? What the hell?"
Edward moved slightly beside him. "A—Al?" he whispered.
"Brother!" Alphonse shouted, rushing to hug Ed. Roy didn't have to intervene; the blonde stumbled back of his own accord, arms pin wheeling to keep his balance.
"Brother…" Al's voice trailed off, eyes beginning to tear up. "What's wrong? Why…are you afraid of me? Why is Roy threatening me!? What's happening?"
Roy finally lowered his fingers, a certain softness in Al's eyes that had been conspicuously absent the past few months making him curious. "You're Alphonse Elric?" he asked.
Al nodded desperately.
Roy felt Edward slump into his side as he spoke. "You have some explaining to do."