Chapter Thirteen: Closer to Ideal/ Redemption

A/N: "Closer to Ideal" by: D'espairs Ray...."Redemption" by: Gackt

The snow blew and twisted outside the multiple front windows of the abandon lab. Cold seeped through every crack, chilling the failed alchemists to their already icy cores. Each of Edo's men sat in a dinning room like area at a wooden table, sipping hot coffee while wearing thick winter coats. None of the men looked the least bit amused. Edo sat at the head of the table, his eyes skimming over the front of a newspaper that Kimbly had picked up when he was going to get mother.

"It's...It's cold in here," Darik muttered, and as if to prove his point, he blew outwards into the air to see his own breath.

"Do duh dip shit," Marik growled angrily. He was wearing a heavy duty winter coat, and most of his mouth and lower face was hidden behind a scarf.

Edo, to everyone's horror, was wearing a sleeveless shirt, sipping his hot chocolate contently as if it were seventy degrees and sunny. "Don't complain so much. It just takes a little bit for Kimbly to get this place heated. It is an old system after all."

"Don't see why we hafta stay up here," Marik muttered again.

"You may leave if you wish," Edo said, then chuckled flatly. "That is, if you can survive the trek back to civilization and the night time temperatures."

"I never said I was gonna leave!" Marik hissed. He folded his arms stubbornly. "I've come this far, haven't I?"

Edo smiled, although it was a rather chilly one. "You have. And I'm not about to deny that I would miss you if you were gone."

"Y'kno, you don't hafta lie about it," Marik grumbled, at which Edo smiled toothily at him.

Zarik came in, holding a metal cookie sheet with a towel draped across its contents. The room soon filled with the scent of cinnamon, as opposed to the smell of an old once dilapidated building.

"I made cinnamon buns for breakfast," Zarik announced, removing the towel as he spoke. He then glanced over at Edo, who was staring at the sticky pastries curiously. "I hope you don't mind."

Edo shook his head, much to the other's relief. "No. I rather like cinnamon buns."

You mean I like cinnamon buns.

"Shut up. You'll get a taste, so don't complain."

The men who were about to devour the cinnamon buns each looked up. "Sir?"

"It's nothing. Eat your cinnamon things."

Heh. Now you're talking to yourself. Smooth. Real smooth.

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After a breakfast of cinnamon buns and hot chocolate, Edo escaped the company of his cronies and made his way to inspect the ballroom. He had a specific want-need rather- for this room. He liked plotting and scheming. He would be damned if he didn't use this room for something fantastic.

The ballroom itself was massive; it was probably ten times bigger than the master bedroom that he slept in upstairs. The floor was made of marble the color of coffee with a lot of creme, decorated with and intricate dark red and gold weave in a square in the middle of the room. Pillars supported marble beams that reached and upper platform that had boxes of beautiful red flowers coming into bloom. The walls were also a dark red with an occasional gold embellishment to add a sparkle. Hanging above the dance floor was a grand crystal chandelier that sparkled like no diamond could. The ceiling was dome shaped, and inside the dome was bright with a mural of angels and demons as many ancient churches had back in Germany. That was one of the things that Edward actually had liked about the other world. Their religious art was gorgeous and very fancy at times, and Edo had subconsciously added the interest into his plans for the ballroom. Although the entire opposing wall consisted of only windows that overlooked the valley of evergreens, the ballroom was still rather warm.

"Perfect," the blonde whispered to himself, although his words echoed a bit louder.

He couldn't help but lick his pale lips in anticipation. It was only a matter of time before Roy and the others came to stop him and reclaim Edward and his mother.

But he would be waiting. And so would his pets. And when he gets them all separated, the fun would begin.

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Roy stood, watching his subordinates load up boxes of supplies into the backs of the multiple trucks that they would be taking up north. However, due to the extremely cold whether, and the rocky and snowy terrain, the cars could only be taken up to where the Barracks were, and most likely no further. They would have to continue the rest of the way up to the abandon lab on foot or sled. The boxes included surplus food, matches incase they got separated or his gloves got wet, extra clothes, and snow shoes, and several other things the Armstrong- who had contacted his militant sister- suggested might come in handy.

Lab 099. One of the most remote of Central's military controlled laboratories. Shut down nearly twenty years ago due to mysterious deaths on the property. Roy could only fathom why Edo would choose that place. With it being so cold, his auto-mail wouldn't hold up so well. The colonel figured it was chosen due to it's location solely to deter rescue parties. Or so Roy guessed.

I need to get him back.

However, it was more than just getting him back. It was also an act of redemption. How could he have been so blind? Ed had been suffering for years over his mother- among other things- and Roy had probably been the least helpful out of everyone. How could he? He refused to think that he saw the warning signs, but perhaps he did. He couldn't tell. Regardless, he needed to atone for his ignorance. For Ed. For himself. If he didn't... He didn't think that he could live with himself.

He was so lost in his own thoughts, he didn't hear when Hughes had asked him a question.

"Come again?" he asked.

Hughes offered a small smile, hoping to rid his friend of worry. "I was asking if you were ready. We'll be all packed up for the trip in a minute."

"Of course I'm ready," the colonel said, adjusting the collar of his blue military uniform. "There was never a time I wasn't ready."

Hughes chuckled. "Of course, Mustang. I was wrong to doubt you."

There was a momentary silence before Roy felt a need to ask: "Hughes, do you think I was...blind?"

"Blind? Blind to what Roy?" his friend asked. He figured it had something to do with Ed, but he wasn't sure what.

Roy's eyes dropped to the cement sidewalk outside of the picket fence that formed a perimeter around his house. Roxas and Roxanne were circling around Al, smiling pleasantly in a way that lifted everyone's spirits. Roy felt a flush of guilt surge through him. He had adopted those two with the thought of seeing them every day in his mind, but since adopting them, he had hardly been with them at all. Scieszka had been the one spending time with them. It was a wonder they even recognized Roy at all. And yet they did. They were both kind spirits that brightened the soul of everyone around them. Glancing up, he caught Havoc looking over at them, wearing a faint smile, probably wondering about his own boy which neither he nor Hawkeye had much interaction with. Which was why Roy had ordered Hawkeye to stay behind. That baby needed her. That, and Scieszka could use a reprieve.

"Roy?"

"Blind to his...pain. Could you call it pain if he never showed it?" Roy wondered. "There was never any grimacing, no grunts to say he was-"

Hughes cut him off. "It was emotional pain Roy. And you know as well as the rest of us that Ed wouldn't have told anyone about how he was feeling, especially about such a sensitive topic. You know that!"

"But I-" Roy struggled to find some justification as to why Ed should have told him. "But, I..."

Hughes sighed. The man put a firm hand on Roy's shoulder, causing Roy to look up. "You love him, don't you? More than anyone else?"

More than anyone else...

More than any of those women he brought home over the years?

"Yes."

"Then it's natural to lie to those you love," Hughes stated.

Roy made a puzzled face. "Lie? To those you're supposed to love? That doesn't make much sense."

"When does love ever make any sense, Roy?" Hughes asked. He glanced upward at the midday sky and sighed, almost lamenting the pass of his young love with his gorgeous Gracia. "We lie to those we love because...we don't want to see them hurt."

"Won't the lies hurt more?" Roy pressed.

"Some times. But other times it's better to let them be ignorant to our problems. To spare them the pain of knowing."

Roy stared at Hughes for a minute before casting a quick glance over at Roxas and Roxanne. He had been guilty of lying more than once to his kids. About various things. Some trite, like stealing some of Ed's cooking before he was allowed. But he had yet to inform them about their other father's personality split. As far as the twins were concerned, Ed was getting transferred a lot, and with not being able to call, Roy often got worried. Now they thought that their dad was going up to visit him and maybe going playing out in the snow.

"How much do you think he's lied about Hughes?" Roy asked, turning his full attention back on his friend.

Hughes rubbed the stubble on his chin. "Judging from what Alphonse revealed back to us in Xing and the fact that none of us were aware of any of it, I would regretfully say a lot."

Roy frowned. "I was afraid of that."

"Don't worry. I'm sure he'll tell you a lot when we return him home," Hughes told him with a reassuring smile. "Have a little faith in the runt."

Faith...

What did he believe in now?

Roy closed his eyes. "You're right."

"Sir," came Breda's voice from beside one of the military trucks, "we're all packed."

"Now why the hell did you two run away without asking for my help first?!"

Hadn't they been his words once? He knew the answer now. Ed didn't want to burden him. That was the problem. Roy would have listened. He would have helped. Why couldn't Ed...

"Some times. But other times it's better to let them be ignorant to our problems. To spare them the pain of knowing."

"Alright," Roy replied to Breda, a bit to himself. "Gather around. I have a word or two of my own to say."

Redemption. He would have it. And he would be able to finally apologize.