AN:/ Okay, I figured I can just add a new chagroundclown groundpter and have the next part as well as continue.
Basically, it'll be half of last chapter with a full chapter.
More.. For... You?
IF I HAVE TIME, WHICH I HOPE I DO. Do not want to start cutting chap's in half too much. Prepare for maybe some fluuufff? Depends on how I'm feeling, but expect something nonetheless. Oh, there is also more thought stuff by OC-Chan. :3
Also, I'd like to add...
Yes. There was indeed a one-sided fluff bit last chapter. -evil laughter-
Enjoy?...
It has been about four hours.
Four. Hours.
Okay, I understand that all in all, it's not that long. When you're seemingly alone in a lab used to kill off humans for Philosopher Stone's.
I was sitting in the middle of the transmutation circle, though it wouldn't just be 'sitting'.
More like chained.
I was told to act like an innocent, then shift back and wound Ed if need be. The idea made my chest constrict, and I hated the horrible feeling of deceiving someone. Even if I shift back, it's absolutely necessary for me to not show the face I give when with the two Elric's.
My thoughts wandered all over the place where I haven't dared to go physically. Like that corner, that seemed to reek of something unnameable. From why they didn't decide to tell me I'd be waiting for a long time, to why Envy killed himself in the end.
They say it was out of Jealousy, but now that I think about it, in some cases they're right. Since I am "Jealousy" I know what it's like to feel afraid of losing something- It overwhelms you. I guess he was afraid of losing his authority, something he has known all of his existence.
To be looked down upon, and lose his power as a higher-being. For me, I thought differently.
If I am being brutally honest, I am a very envious and jealous person. I know, from past experience, that it's something that is in everything. Everywhere you go, there is always something that triggers it. Rips out your heart and puts it back together in a careless way- And it's always there. For everything you do, it doesn't go away, nor does it shrink in size. It keeps growing, and it get's worse.
For him to suddenly have what he had wanted for so long, be thrust upon him, it would surprise him. In this case, Compassion, yet by none other than Edward Elric.
He would be so overwhelmed, so stunned. Even so, he thought it was the "Ultimate insult".
What would you do if what you have desired for as long as you've been born, be handed to you on a silver platter when you are at your very worst?
It hurt's just to think about, and that was all the more reason why he was my favorite villain. He's so under-rated, and I could go on and on about him, but right now I need to focus!
Which is difficult considering I'm in my head all the time.
Time seems to pass even more slowly considering I was by my lonesome. Reminded me of back when I was in that room.
I stare blankly at the blood covered floor, and sigh.
Trying to press a hand under my chin, I forget I was chained and couldn't prop my head up like I wanted. "How much longer do I have to wait?" I ask aloud, hearing a quiet echo after my words.
The faint sound of metal bending and warping lifted my eyes to the vent in front of me.
Eyes widening, I barely had the chance to focus again before Edward came tumbling out of said vent.
Uncrossing my legs, I clench my fists.
Hearing a gasp, I briefly wished to have been given the abilities of a chameleon. "Wha-.. who're you? What are you doing here?!" I hear the question I'd been asking myself ever since I got here. Curling up, I brace myself for what I'm about to do.
Raising my hands in surrender, I hope my acting was good enough.
"I-..I don't know.." I whisper, faking a hoarse brokenness.
As much as I hated it, this is where I stand.
I will evade as much violence and the "Destroying of human lives" as much as possible. Lust told me that the reason why they hadn't left me with them, was because it'd be good practice.
"I-..I'm scared..." I say again, voice cracking.
Edward frowned, and immediately came to help me, lifting the chains. They weren't so tight as to leave marks, since the Stone would heal them, and practically scream "HEY! I'M DIFFERENT!"
"Hey, don't worry, I'll get you out of here.- Look, don't struggle, you'll be free in a sec." He assured, and I faked a gasp, before gulping with a nod.
"A-..Alright.." I lowered my gaze to the ground, before turning it away and to the left. He clapped his hands before slicing the chain in half, therefore letting me free but I had a new set of bracelets. I had to hold back a comment on the new accessories.
A moment of silence, before he raised his gaze to my own avoiding one.
"I know this is a hard question to answer, but.. I want to make sure.- And I think you can answer it, if it's not to painful... " He dragged on, and I almost hunched over with a sigh at the suspense. Is this how it actually was in the show?
"Is this the place where they transmute Philosopher Stone's? " He asks, and I jump at the word, grasping at my throat, and shaking my head. "N..No- No. NO! No, no no! The told me not to tell, I can't, I won't! I'm so-sorry, no!" I start with a whisper, before full on shout, tears pouring from my eyes as I sprint away in supposed fear and dread.
"H-Hey, wait!" I hear him call after me, but before I could run any farther, I crash into something cold and hard.
Falling down from the sudden collision, I groan in pain. Hoping I hadn't accidentally stabbed myself, I scoot away from the suit of armor I had a nice chat with before I seated myself to wait. He was a rather polite -man-, but that was considering I was a part of the team he worked for.
"I'm on no higher ground than you, you know.."
"To you, if that's how you think. Which I will admit surprises me."
"I know the.. Other's are boastful, in a.. Dark sense. I still think I'm.. Me. I don't want to lose that part of me, is all I feel."
He hummed, looking off into the distance, as if a memory plagued him. "Yes.. That I understand too well. So, you are to act as a civilian in simple terms?"
Nodding, I hop off the stand where I sat, before patting it. "Yupo. Chained here, but not too tight. You are to act as my, well.. Captor? Okay- You keep the short blondie, Edward Elric, from "saving me". In the end, well-" Pausing, I tap my foot. "It is what it is."
He hadn't said anything to that, and merely awaited Edward's visit. After all the hours of waiting, he had stayed silent.
Probably protocol for him.
"Yes. That's right. I don't know who you are kid, but you sure figured out a lot just by looking at a Transmutation Circle." Walking closer, he easily made his until he stood beside me. I froze in fear.
"I'm just good like that, who're you pal? And what is she doing here.." He flicked his gaze to me, though his eyes were set on the third member of this tea party.
Scooting away even further, I feel a sharp grasp at the collar of my shirt as well as some of my hair. Wincing, I am lifted off the ground.
"The one in charge of guarding this place from curious brats like you." He shook me, and Edward seemed ready to charge at him, in a defensive stance. "Like you." That rose some mental eyebrows.
As much as he cares for people, and their safety, he hardly shown as much pure worry. Like with Winry, he openly shows his weakness as she is a close friend- and soon to be girlfriend and wife-
OFF TRACK, DANG IT, FOCUS! "Like her."
"For the moment let's just say my name is number 48." He shook me again, and Edward's frowned deepened into an almost unnoticeable scowl. "And believe me, I am not your pal."
"My orders are to dispose of anyone who wanders in here." He loosened his grasp on my collar and hair to drop me. I landed with a grunt, and I hear a scuffle of footsteps. "Poking their nose where it doesn't belong." He dragged me forward, as he continued to walk closer to Ed.
"Try not to take it personally, boy."
"So why didn't you "dispose" of her?" Edward asks, and nodded to me, still dangling from Slicer's grip. "And trust me, I won't."
"Simple:" I feel a sharp blade press against the side of my thigh, and my mind seemed to come to the conclusion that an artery is located there. "She came in just minutes before you- She is your companion, am I wrong?" I feel a spasm of pain travel up the length of my leg, and I gasp, trying to clutch at the wound, but only meet the sword. Holding my hands as they were bleeding from my feverish need to cover my new leg wound, I was too busy to hear a sudden clap and the air was knocked out of my lungs.
There was a wisp of the sound barrier breaking.
Eyes dilating, to focus on a streak of red and gold. Some silver, too.
"Don't touch her!"
There was a sudden warmth, and a tightening around my body. The same red from earlier was all I could see, and taking in a silent surprised gasp of air breathed in something akin to a library and freshly mowed grass.
Then it was gone, and my hair was covering my eyes.
I felt myself slide along the floor, and crash into a pillar. "Achk!" I cough, hardly able to catch my breath. Not just from the pain, but from the lack of healing going on.
What was happening?
Laying down, my vision was blurring, and I barely was able to understand Slicer had readied to stab me through, and Edward reacted, to save me.
Though by chucking me across the room so the suit of armor would have some trouble getting to me.
"Ergh.."
"You try not to take it personally when this boy kicks your ass!"
Moving to put pressure on my wound, since this was literally all I knew about taking care of bleeding from bullets, or knives. Stop the flow of blood as much as possible before medical help arrives.
"Hm.. You're an alchemist are you?" Another whoosh of air, "Alright then, let's see what you got."
A grunt, faint dodging, I curl myself up.
The pain wasn't all physical, as the familiar feeling made my heart ache. As I moved my tired eyes to close in on the short blonde, fighting number 48, the pain grew.
I knew it had something to do with Ed, but right now I could care less what.
I closed my eyes for a moment, the few seconds were actually a lot longer.
"-.. with bodies like these.. are we really even people?.."
Yes.. You are.. Of course you are..
"-treated like humans for the first time. Don't you see the irony?"
The feeling was slowly coming back to me, first my legs which seemed like they had been burned off.
"For that boy, I'll give you a parting gift..."
Then my hands felt like gripping onto the ground, so I let them.
"I'll tell you everything."
"I'll tell you who made the Philosopher Stone's, and ordered us to guard this place." The dark behind my lids kept me from opening them, and a gut instinct told me to not open them for awhile.
A sudden grunt, and a gasp.
"My... That was a close one."
The blood in my veins ran cold, and I felt my body shake.
Don't wake up..
Don't wake up... Don't wake up.
"Number 48 you should know better than to talk about things that don't concern you." As sultry as her voice was, it was laced with mockery and teasing sternness. Something I was used to.
"Well, well. Would you look at that. What's the Fullmetal pipsqueak doing here?"
Oh, him. I forgot.
Hearing a few hums, the padding of feet altered me to stay completely still. It felt like the floor was collapsing, how close they were walking towards me.
"Such a troublesome boy..How did you find out about this place?" There was a disgruntled noise, before a crack. Clunks of scattered metal crashed to the floor.
"Brother... Brother!"
My stomach twists. As much as I could feel, and touch. I couldn't make myself get up. Couldn't make myself watch.
Another grunt of shock, and pain.
"Quit your pathetic blubbering you idiot." Stab. Stab. Stab. "You were trying to kill one of our most important Sacrifices."
Stab. Stab. Stab.
The noise rung in my ears, and the noises the brother was making made me think that armor could feel pain. Such pain.
"Do you understand me?" Stab. Stab. Stab. "You could've messed up the entire plan! What would we have done then."
He never stopped. Even after he was dead.
"Huh?!" Stab.
There was a shift in the air.
Before I could brace myself, heels were clacking in closer, and so was him.
Edward seemed to be right beside me, and that's when I realized there was a tight grip surrounding me like earlier.
How had I not noticed?
"...Tell me who you people are.." I felt him stand up, not loosening his grip. "What plan are you talking about?" He ordered rather than asked, he sounded exhausted.
"What do you mean when you say "Important Sacrifice"?!" He sounded irritated, and fed up.
"You know, I just can't take you seriously with that toy in your arms." There was an iron grip on my arm, and Edward growled at whom I knew was Envy. It just wouldn't register that I was half-conscious.
"Don't you dare touch her!" I felt tilted a certain way, and a warm breath fanned over my face. The embrace made me feel comfortable, but as if I was betraying something.
"Oh my, the pipsqueak is raring to go, I think I made it angry.." Another grip, this time it was a strong tug.
"Why don't you just give me your little plaything and then you can fight all you want."
A pause, and heavy breathing from Edward.
"Don't call me pipsqueak again.. And never! She's not a plaything, so shut up!" He hissed. One more tug.
"I don't think you understand... She was never yours to begin with..."
Suddenly I was forced backward, and landed in a heap against someone else.
I felt them tense immediately, before a grunt of surprise, then I slid to the ground.
"Don't act like she belongs to you!" When did this turn into a fight about me!? The hell?! I was pulled back forward, and there was a growl.
Before a loud snap, and I almost fell to the floor. Arms wrapped around my waist, and there was a muffled "Dammit, why..." Ten I was thrown yet again. Landing to what I assumed was the side, I stayed still.
"Hunh... Technical difficulties?.." I heard Lust ask, and Envy chuckled.
"Lucky me!" Edward coughed and gasped in pain, and I my leg suddenly flares up in agony, and my mind draws a blank. A few seconds more, were also too long.
It was like my body was in the middle of the ocean. Swaying side to side, uncontrollable. My eyelids felt like they were weighed down by ten pounds. "Hnn..." I feel myself mumble out, and the ocean adjusted, then a boney pressure aches my abdomen. Before it 's gone, and there is a small flick on my nose. It makes my mouth twitch, and rough dirt rubbed at my skin. I layed there, still now.
It felt like forever, before the ocean-feel came back again. It wasn't as soothing.
"Oh! You're finally awake."
My eyes snap open immediately at the familiar voice.
"Morning, Suzanne!" A childish voice exclaims, as I finally wake up in Alphonse Elric's arms. His white orbs happily squinting down at me.
While I just lay there confused.
How did I get here?