Chapter Two - Of Life and Death
Roy paused, momentarily weighing up his options, before turning towards the door to leave again.
"Didn't you hear what Fuery said, Sir?" Riza asked, astounded that, even though he was sleep-deprived and closely tied in with the victim, her superior officer would even think of taking them out with such a risk, "It's most likely a trap. We're assuming now that the string of other military kidnappings are attributed to these people, do you want to make that number higher?"
"Lieutenant, you obviously don't realise how important this is," Roy replied with a sigh, "The quicker we get there, the more chance of us stopping these people and rescuing the others."
"Stop and think about this for a minute, Roy," Riza now took on a pleading tone, "None of us are fully alert, we need sleep. We're only human, we can't keep doing this."
"So, Riza, you expect me to go home and sleep while the person I love is out there. He could be dying, he could be in serious trouble, and I'm trying to take a nap?" His voice was dangerously low and laced with venom. How could he be expected to sleep in such a situation? The rest of the rooms' occupants watched in an awed silence. It was a battle of the stubborn-ness, and they were awaiting a victor. Havoc was mentally cursing himself for not being able to open a betting ring on it, but he'd get shot and burnt, considering both victims were in the room. Still, the men were up for whatever that was planned, adrenaline starting as their hearts beat faster. They could be heroes, or they could be killed. Each side had their strong points, and many of the crew were undecided on the issue.
"… As long as I go first," Hawkeye gave in, sighing, and checking her gun to make sure it was loaded and ready.
"Alright, Lieutenant," Roy gave her a slight smile, pulling on gloves and turning to the other men. It wasn't too far to walk, as Central Headquarters stood in the middle of the city, flanked by the industrial, commercial and residential sectors, "I want Fuery on communications," Mustang had left the room, expecting the others to follow, "I want Hawkeye in front, and the rest of you can either surround the area or come with us."
Roy was not in the mood for playing strategist, and only assigned positions to those who excelled there, or demanded them, in the case of Lieutenant Hawkeye. The motley crew left the Headquarters in record time, considering how exhausted they were. After taking a turn down onto Corriane Street itself, being the main street in the industrialized part of town, the group were well beyond fatigue. They'd crossed that border from being deathly tired to, with a little help from stale coffee, hyped up and ready to go. Still, the effect would wear off soon, and would just leave the exhausted men drained. Mustang was, by far, the most eager and nervous, leading the pack, followed shortly by Hawkeye and Havoc, who would occasionally make a dry comment on their predicament. The rest were a jumble behind them, Fuery fiddling around occasionally with his communications equipment.
"Number seven," Roy pointed out the building with a finger, even though they all knew it was there.
"Okay. I want you all in positions, whatever they may be. We need someone to come with us, someone to check the outside and keep surveillance, and another with Fuery for protection reasons, should they go for him," Hawkeye had fallen into strict professional mode and had already approached the door, gun at the ready. Mustang stood slightly behind her, eyes flicking around the exterior of the warehouse, Havoc trailing sorrily behind them, weaponry in hand. The door was prodded open by the business end of Riza's gun, as the woman walked in. She swung around, checking the small entrance meticulously. When she deemed it clear she entered further.
The room they had entered was the reception type area and it wasn't too large. Through the door in the back was the massive bulk of the warehouse, an empty space, with no walls save the exterior ones. Much of the warehouse itself was cast in shadow, early morning sunlight brightening it up steadily. Now all three were inside, flame dancing slightly above Roy's hand, casting a helpful light in the room.
His dark eyes caught the door, and he immediately headed for it, unaware of the pair behind him still checking the room out. There was a reception desk, and a few chairs rotted through, Riza and Jean poking around carefully.
It was Hawkeye who found him first, the dead Lieutenant. His body lay crumpled in a shadowed corner of the room, either hidden badly in their haste to escape, or intended for discovery. She motioned for her companion to look, and Jean sidled up beside her, craning to get a better view. The head was placed above the stiff body, and the arm was replaced, though obviously unattached. Of course, neither had noticed the missing limbs for a small while. There was a sharp intake of breath, and Riza stepped back, right into Jean who grabbed her cautiously, still clueless about the dead mans injuries.
"What is it?" Havoc asked, looking over her shoulder once more as his eyes adjusted to the darkness.
"Look," Was all Riza managed, pointing to the body. Sure, she'd seen more horrific things, but this was just… brutal. Someone had ripped; literally torn the arm from its place, and had done the same to the neck, which was now a bloody stub.
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"I think you should let him go," A man's voice said from within the darkened office. Anyone with a keen sense of hearing and a taste for eavesdropping may have hear what he said, but both the man and his female companion doubted anyone would be stupid enough to risk it.
"And why is that?" Latona asked, voice dripping with boredom - her whole body was practically oozing it.
"I doubt Mustang will be impressed if his pet is blind," The man reasoned shortly, waving his hand, "And besides, they'll know something's wrong if you keep talking to him. Play with one of the others."
"Fine," It didn't take long for her minor control of Edward to die, leaving the boy with his sight back, though still drugged and lying on the warehouse floor, "But I get to choose the next one."
"Knock yourself out. Just don't give too much away."
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Edward rolled over onto his side, barely aware of the damp, yet drying, puddle of blood he lay in. Granted, barely any was his own; only the stuff from where he'd cut himself trying to escape. The rest was from the other man, who was currently being inspected by a slightly disturbed Lieutenant and her male cohort. The drug had left him feeling even more exhausted and even more annoyed, which wasn't good. The blonde grumbled and threw a hand over his eyes, protecting them from the sunlight he didn't know if he could see or not. It was a habit, almost.
There were footsteps. Loud, fast and annoying. Couldn't people just leave him alone for ten minutes? At that time his mind began slowly kicking in, informing him that the hard surface he lay on was not his bed. And the dead weight on his neck? The collar was still there. It seemed his wolf form left slowly, as now instinct was kicking in, telling him to run. Logic insisted otherwise, informing him that a blind, drugged man could not outrun someone with intent to hurt them.
"Edward?" Ed flinched. He knew that voice. The blonde shuffled, causing the footsteps to grow hastier, piercing his half-asleep mind as they echoed on the grey floor, "Ed?" It repeated.
Roy knelt beside the body, heart racing and panting from the running. Whoever thought it was amusing to put Edward at the other side of the large shelter was not funny. The chest was moving, Roy could feel a pulse. He immediately rocked back on his heels, sighing in sheer relief. Then, of course, was the messy business - internal bleeding, brain damage and the rest. That could wait, though, as the elder wrapped his arms around Edward, dragging the awakening boy into his lap.
"Never do that again," Mustang warned, almost squeezing the air out of a shocked blonde.
"I'll tell any future kidnappers that you don't agree with them," Edward returned, slightly breathlessly, but carrying the same attitude.
"You do that," Roy smiled, letting go of Edward slightly, "Would you like me to help with the dog collar?"
"Would you?" Ed winced when he felt hands touch the bruised, tender skin, pulling on the collar to un-do it. The leather was heavy, and the metal was even worse. Poor dogs. There was a feeling of bliss as the restrain was removed, thrown to the ground some distance away. The younger could feel some gloved hands lightly trace the bruises, and he hissed at a particularly sore point where the metal had dug at his skin.
"Come on. We're taking you outside and getting an ambulance out here," Roy dragged the boy to his feet, and pulled him along, digging out a two-way radio and commanding everyone through that. In a matter of seconds he'd gotten a set of men from investigations, led by Alphonse Elric himself, and an ambulance, all reported to be in the area within minutes.
"I'm fine," Ed said stubbornly, pouting. He hated the hospital. His eyes were still lidded against the brightness, which he hadn't experienced for a good day or two.
"I'm sure you are."
"Don't give me that attitude. You should be sympathetic," Ed looked up at Roy, mentally relieved that he'd been rescued.
"You should be thanking me for saving you," Roy retorted, slowing down to allow the teen to walk at an easier pace. Exhaustion was finally setting in, and he covered his mouth with his elbow as he yawned.
"You should go home and not play hero," Ed added with a concerned frown, realising that he himself probably looked worse. He lifted his hands, which were still covered in blood; his whole side for that matter was.
"I will, once I stick you safely in hospital."
"I'll just leave."
"No you won't."
"I will. Watch me."
"I'll be sleeping. I won't have time to watch you."
"Sir?" Riza broke the argument, which had trailed off into a meaningless bickering, "The reinforcements are here, we're awaiting you for commands. The ambulance has been delayed, but will arrive soon. Good to see you're alright, Edward."
"Thankyou Lieutenant," Roy replied loudly, covering Edward's mutter of 'Atleast someone thinks I'm alright.'
"No problem, Sir," Riza saluted sharply and left. Edward sighed heavily, walking so he stood side-by-side with Roy. The younger looked thoroughly exhausted, and his body seemed to be giving up on him. The relaxing thought of safety wove it's way through his mind, and he sighed once more, leaning against the older mans shoulder, still holding hands from when Roy had pulled Ed to his feet and dragged him off.
"Alphonse is probably waiting for you," The silence was broken by Roy, who was looking down at Edward in concern, "If you want to see him."
"I suppose I should," Ed replied with a yawn. Sirens began to chime, heralding the arrival of the emergency services. Another yawn and the blonde began walking, now leading his partner rather than following. They reached the door leading outside, fresh air blowing in and the room illuminated by the morning sunlight. Roy let go of Edward and walked outside. The waiting boy stood just out of sight of all the people, waiting for Roy to return. Before we get to that, though, we should go back in time and check up on everybody's other favourite Elric.
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Alphonse was returned to Amestris, aged eighteen, a correct year behind his brother. Now the blonde is twenty, engaged and considerably taller than his older brother. After the Gate incident, Al was left with a brief memory of what had occurred of his time in the large suit of armour. The memories slowly trickling back, an almost dried-up stream of patchy thought. Edward had taken Alphonse back to Risembool, for them both to recover and to reintroduce Alphonse to a now older and much more attractive Winry. Needless to say they got on extremely well, so that when Edward returned to duty his brother didn't.
It took another year for Alphonse to drag his new love back with him to Central, where he enlisted as both a State Alchemist and a member of the Investigations Department. To Al it was the only thing he would enjoy, and he had to get the money flowing again somehow. The position didn't work out too well, and the trips back and forth from Risembool got more and more tiring until Winry agreed to move into an apartment in Cental. After much arguing and throwing of heavy metal objects, of course. Time doesn't change every aspect of a person.
Alphonse, who had only minutes prior been in bed worrying, was on his feet and dressed in a flash. A tired, yawning Winry followed him downstairs, holding her dressing gown close in the frigid indoor air. The younger Elric had been sitting awake all night, even though he'd been sent home to sleep following the disappearance of his brother. And then he'd received a call informing him he was needed. Well, there was no way he'd waste a second getting down there. His uniform was slightly crinkled, and his hair dishevelled, kept down by a hand forcing it into place. Winry wrapped an arm around him, kissing his cheek goodbye as he left the building and ran out into the street.
He knew the perfect shortcut to get him there in the quickest time.
---
Instead of Roy returning to get Edward, it was a blur of military blue that got to him first. Edward gasped in shock, but wrapped his arms around his brother all the same. Alphonse eventually let go, letting his brother breathe. Roy stood behind them for a minute, before turning back to the men standing around like lost sheep and began directing them. That was where the older man really shined, bossing others around to do his bidding.
"You can never do that again," Alphonse warned, "Me and Winry were so worried about you."
"What is it with you people?" Edward whined pathetically, "It's not like I walk around with 'Kidnap me' written on my back, is it?" Both boys were now making their way out past the scurrying collection of men. They skirted the group rather nicely, though Alphonse got many questions from his men and eventually broke away from his brother, as much as he wanted to stay. Roy took over happily, dragging the poor blonde over to the awaiting ambulance, whose men were currently inspecting the dead body of the murdered Lieutenant. Edward felt a short pang of remembrance as he looked at the limp, cold person, paling as he realised his fate could've been just that, unaware that he had carried out the cruel deed. Then forensics waltzed on over, dragging the stretchered body away, sheet over his lifeless form. Then the ambulance nurses' went to attend to a very cranky Edward, who kept insisting he was fine, and a stubborn Roy correcting the blonde.
"Mister Elric?" A tentative man asked, wearing his white outfit and setting him out of the sea of blue.
"Don't bother, I'm fine," Golden eyes narrowed, watching the man warily.
"We need to take you to hospital to confirm that. Your neck looks awfully bruised for being fine, and you've got a nice layer of blood on you," So the man had an attitude. Roy smiled as someone took his side, pushing Ed forward.
"See? Just go down there, and I'll meet you later," Roy prodded further, wrapping an arm over Edward's shoulder in an overly-loving way.
"I hate you," Edward responded with a frown, watching the face appear out of the corner of his eye but doing nothing about it.
"I love you too, Edo. Now shut up and get in the stupid ambulance," Roy smirked as he walked off, leaving a tired, annoyed and shocked blonde to be tended to by an extremely confused nurse.
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A/N; Sorry it took me so long, everybody! But here it is. Hope it makes up for my late chapter. I think I stretched it out a tad too far, but oh well.