Demons Only One
Chapter 2: Robotica
He wished they would leave him alone. Seriously, if they weren't going to remove the Innocence, then they should just leave so he could deal with the transformation in blessed silence. As it was, he had a splitting headache where the stigmata were slowly forming, and he couldn't control his body at all, let alone his vision, which showed multiple blobs that Ed could only assume were furniture and people.
The blond gritted his teeth against the pain and felt a small trickle of blood slowly travel down his forehead. The pain doubled two-fold and he nearly screamed; only the thought that this is what he deserved and that this was nothing compared to the pain he made Al and his friends go though back in Amsteris made him bite his screams back, only allowing a silent scream to escape his lips. He couldn't decide what was worse: his automail surgery or this transformation. Somehow, it felt the transformation was much, much worse, but logic told him that time made his memory of the pain fuzzy.
Somewhere beyond the haze of pain, someone yelled for Komui and the Inspector.
"No, go away," Fullmetal growled through gritted teeth; he an inexplicable repulsion at the thought of Inspector, but his warning sounded so weak compared to his pounding head that he wondered if they had heard him at all. He felt more blood stream down his face and it slowly turned into a small stream of crimson. The air felt saturated with the scent of iron, and he heard someone gag and hold back a cry. The blond suddenly felt a deep sense of regret and sin; he took someone else from their family, didn't he? He made someone else cry because he could not let himself die.
He slumped forward in physical and mental pain, clutching his head with his right hand (his left hand refused to obey him). Soon, the pain abated slightly, but his head still throbbed. Then a new wave of pain shot through his body. He felt his back arch, and his head cracked against the stone wall behind him. He gave a small cry of pain, but quickly cut it off, nearly biting his tongue off the in process.
For a moment, the world came into sharp focus, and he saw a woman sobbing on the floor, two - no - four men, as two just appeared at the door with shallow breathes, and then the world faded in darkness.
Thank...God....
Lavi watched the Noah slip into unconsciousness and felt a mild sense of relief; though the boy did not cry out, his unfocused eyes spoke of agonizing pain. Just watching him made Lavi want to clutch his own head and scream, but if he felt like that then Lenalee... His eyes snapped to the female exorcist. Almost immediately, he looked away. If observing the Noah who looked like Allen was painful, then watching Lenalee was like a living hell because at least 'Allen' no longer really looked like 'Allen,' but Lenalee was still Lenalee, a precious friend. It was also worse because he knew what was going through her head; she was watching her world shatter and shrink.
She had slumped to the floor in disbelief and was crying. However, as the air was saturated with the stench of blood, she began to gag. Lavi had to admit, the stink was lethally strong; he could taste the iron in his mouth.
"So it's begun." Inspector Levrier had arrived and Lavi could only assume that Link had somehow contacted him.
"Yes, sir."
Lavi turned to look as the Inspector and Link talked in hush voices. In his peripheral vision, he saw Komui go comfort his sister.
"This will be a good opportunity to learn about the Noah. Monitor him."
"Sir."
"And get me when he fully awakens. I want to question him."
"Yes, sir," Link repeated, bowing the Inspector out.
Lavi nearly growled at them. Of course, they would be the only ones who would think about that at a time like this! Sometimes, he wondered if the individual pieces of the chess board ever mattered to them; it can't be called a victory if you only have one pawn left! Miffed, he turned back to study the Noah, but he - Fullmetal? - remained unmoving with blood streaming in rivulets down his head and dripping onto his clothes, almost as if he were dead. The only indication that he was still living were the shallow rickety breathes that seemed to echo off the walls.
Komui helped Lenalee to her feet, looked at Lavi and grimly said, "I'm going to take Lenalee to her room. Please take care of... Him..."
"I will." Komui nodded and left the room supporting a sobbing Lenalee.
Lavi leaned against the wall, preparing for a long wait, he felt Link do something similar, and thought about what he had seen. He would need to report to Gramps later.
Lavi cursed softly under his breathe and glared at Fullmetal. Dammit! It wasn't fair! Why did the 14th have to choose Allen?! Why couldn't he choose someone who didn't deserve to live? It just wasn't fair! Not after he had finally found people he was willing to give his life for! To give up becoming the Bookman...
The blond head seemed to move, but suddenly stopped, making Lavi wonder if he could feel Lavi's hate directed at him. However, he lifted his head to look at Link and then at Lavi. Well, to look in the general direction would be more appropriate since it still seemed like the bastard couldn't see.
Suddenly, his skin turned gray, the stigmata grew more apparent on his forehead, and his hair turned a pitch black making the child cringe in pain. Then, just as fast as it appeared, it disappeared. Slowly, some clarity seemed to return to his golden eyes, and it appeared as though the bleeding stopped. If there was any lingering pain, he gave no indication that it was there.
"Well, that was unnaturally quick." The whisper was quiet and carried across the room easily. "Or maybe..." He looked down at Allen's left arm and frowned, hmming to himself. He idly swiped at the blood that was now drying and looked over at Link. "Were you going to get that bastard or do I get time to relax before being interrogated to hell?"
Link looked at a pocket watch before answering, "I think we'll wait. He'll be up soon enough anyway."
Lavi blinked and looked out the sole window in the room. He hadn't realized that so much time had passed. It had been nearly 10 hours since Lenalee had opened the door. He had been up all night. Anger flared up within Lavi with the thought of Lenalee's suffering.
"I have a question for you, before they come," Lavi nearly growled, turning his attention back to the Noah. "Why Allen? Why couldn't it be someone else?!" Uneasy golden eyes flicked to his hammer and Lavi realized that he had been gripping it to the point where his knuckles were white. Nevertheless, he didn't loosen his grip on his Innocence.
"That's because... He's the closest to me, and I don't mean physically. For all I know, he could have been on the opposite side of the world at the time of my… death. What I mean is that we are similar in terms of our... I guess you would call it spirit."
"What is that supposed to mean?!"
"In other words, had I been born... here, I would be this person known as 'Allen.' He and I are the same and yet, we are not. It's kind of hard to explain. I think it would be better for everyone to be here. If I start with the origin of the Noah, it might make more sense."
"The origin of the Noah..." Link breathed in sharply. This could be what they needed to win the never-ending war.
"You bas-" Link grabbed Lavi before he could pummel the Noah.
"Calm down."
"Shut up." Lavi ripped out of Link's grip but didn't attempt to go any closer to Fullmetal.
"Well, it's about time that the Inspector is up anyway. Lavi, go get him."
"Why –"
"Because you can't be trusted to be alone with Him can you?" Lavi shot him a glare and stomped out of the room.
Link sighed a little in relief. He hoped that Lavi would use this time to cool his head before approaching the Noah again or they might lose a valuable resource… Or resources, depending on the outcome of such an encounter...
"Hey. Do you think I could wash my face? This blood is getting sticky and disgusting."
"Huh? Oh. If you make it quick. The Inspector will be here soon." Link motioned for the Noah to follow him, and without looking behind, though Link stayed firmly aware of the blond's movements, he quickly led him to the bathroom.
"Thanks," Fullmetal muttered, scrutinizing his face with a small scowl before turning on the faucet and splashing water on it with only his right hand. Link noticed that the child seemed unable to move the Innocence-bearing arm. Once cleaned, he looked at his reflection again and froze. His hand slowly went up to lightly touch Allen's scar. "I-it can't be..." he muttered softly, eyes widening. He traced the lines with a finger, and his shock turned into a gentle smile, much to Link's surprise. "I see. It seems entirely possible.
"Well, don't you think it's time to go back?" Fullmetal grinned at Link, and they made their way back to Allen's room. Link couldn't help but stare at the Noah wondering what the hell had just taken place and why he seemed so happy, but before he could present a question, they arrived back at the room.
"Why, good morning, Inspector." Fullmetal mockingly saluted the man to which said man responded with a glare and a frown. The Noah grinned at his response and settled down on the bed, noting that Komui and several other exorcists now crowded the room. He glanced at them and grew serious.
"First, before you start," – he held up a finger – "I run on equivalent exchange. For every question you ask, I'll ask for something in return. If you agree to these terms, you may begin." The blond settled back into the bed.
"Very well." Levrier leaned forward. "What are the Earl's goals and/or plans?"
"I don't know." He frowned. "I was untrustworthy within his ranks, being the 'youngest,' and then I went and turned on him so quickly."
"Then why did you turn against the Earl?"
"He got in the way of my goal." Fullmetal scowled. "I was so close too... My turn. I want to confirm the origin of this." He pointed to Allen's scar. Levrier looked at Komui to explain.
"When Allen lost Mana, the Earl offered to bring him back. Allen agreed, turning Mana into a demon. He cursed Allen," Komui briefly explained.
"Mana?" Fullmetal frowned and looked off to the side thinking.
Everyone in the room shifted and looked at each other confusedly. "Your older brother," Komui added, watching the young Noah perplexedly.
"Ah, I see. So that's what he called himse – WHAT?! OLDER?" Fullmetal was suddenly standing on the bed, his right hand in a fist. "WHO'S SO SMALL THAT HE COULD BE A HUNDRED YEARS OLDER AND NEVER BE CONSIDERED THE OLDER BROTHER?!!?!"
The room stared at Fullmetal, and several of the exorcists pulled out their weapons and had them pointed at him (namely Kanda and Lavi). Noticing the weapons, the youth plopped down with a huff, and grumbled, "Just because he's taller doesn't mean that he's older."
After a long silence, the questioning resumed. "What about your goal?"
"Save some friends and go home. I want a box of chalk."
The people looked at each other questioningly before turning their attention back to the interrogation. "Are you saying the Earl has hostages to make the Noah work for him?"
"No, not at all. They work for him willingly, I guess." He shrugged. "I won't pretend to know what goes through their minds; I didn't even understand it myself. I need lots of metal. It can be scraps, I don't care."
"You mentioned the origin of the Noah to Link and Lavi?"
"Ah. Of course. Well, I can't say that I know all of their origins..." His eyes got a distant look to them. "Let's say this. Noah aren't demons, but they aren't really human either, according to what you've witnessed, correct? Well, that's because they aren't from this world. When people from another world come here, they become Noah. Don't ask me for the reason; I'm not sure I quite understand it myself even though I have theories...
"I'm afraid it's for this reason that I'm this child's body." He looked at Lavi and the other exorcists. "If I were to be born into this world, I would've been Allen Walker. He and I share the same…spiritual wavelengths, I guess you can call it. When I was dying, my soul searched for an equivalent container, and it found Allen Walker.
"I want the use of a large room. It needs a ceiling... and four walls, in case." He grimaced. "How much longer is this going to take? I'm getting bored and hungry."
"Then just one more thing for today – are you willing to work with the Dark Order?"
"As long as you don't get in the way of my goals. If you do, I'll have to destroy you."
"Where…?" Allen lifted an arm to his head to try and still the pulsing headache.
"So you're alive." Allen swiftly looked over to see a boy – he seemed older than himself somehow even though Allen was sure that he was shorter – lounging on a white fence. He was wearing a red coat and all black clothes underneath; his blond hair was attempting to escape his braid in the soft breeze. It was then that Allen noticed that he was lying in a field of grass. Further inspection showed that he was in what looked like the countryside with small houses dotting the horizon. "I'm actually relieved. I didn't want another body on my conscience. Al would kill me, but I guess you knew him as Mana Walker. What a strange name to choose."
Allen sat up abruptly and froze; the world was spinning around him. "You – you're the 14th?! Where did you take me?! And why am I alive?" Allen quickly calmed down as confusion marred his features.
"Yes," the blonde rolled his eyes. "I'm the detestable 14th, and this is my memory of a place I remember well." He looked wistfully around, and Allen took another look at the scenery; he had to admit, it was very peaceful: Behind the fence were fields and fields of plowed land, and in the distance, cows could be seen grazing; the breeze carried the sounds of their bells to the two boys. Behind Allen was a small path that winded up to a house.
"As for why you're alive, I believe that your Innocence saved you." Gray eyes met gold ones. "I'm still debating whether I should try to remove your arm or not. For one, it would protect you from me ever gaining full control and destroying your mind, and I would be freer to move about; somehow Innocence is messing with my motor functions. On the other hand, your arm could prove quite useful in the battle against the Earl and the other Noah, but then there's the whole other matter of what the hell Innocence is even made of and should I mess with that?" He shrugged, watching Allen who was gaping back at him. "I'll let you think about it."
The blond hopped off the fence and began to walk towards the house, the scenery around him fading into Allen's room in the Dark Order. "Wait!" Allen called. "What is your name?"
"What? 14th isn't good enough?" He gave a wry grin. "You can call me Fullmetal." With that, he opened the door and shut it behind him, leaving Allen in his room looking at his mirror where the countryside could still be seen.
Notes: When I think about it, this and the first chapter should be combined, among some other things... I wish I were a better writer..
And why won't this plot leave me alone?! I have an exam in a ddaaayyyyyyyy!! Leave me alone you demonic plot bunnies!
Chapter title is Clazziquai's Robotica.
Please review? And I can't decide if Ed should keep the arm or not... Uughhh...