Okay! ONCE AGAIN, I am back from hiatus, and this time I have backed up my chapter plan to make sure that any future laptop problems won't affect my updates.
This time, I'm back for good... provided nothing ELSE goes wrong, anyway. Fingers crossed!
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN: The Rockbell Secret?
Pinako raised an eyebrow at them as she opened her front door. "Mr Mustang and crew. What brings you here?"
Roy smiled. "Good morning, Mrs Rockbell. Is this a good time? We've got a few more questions."
She took a puff on her pipe. "Of course you do." she said. "Too many, if you ask me. Well, come in. Tea, coffee?"
"No thank you. Are you sure we're not bothering you?"
She gave a wry chuckle. "Oh, come in already. I suppose you'd like to speak to Winry as well?"
They exchanged looks. "I think so."
"Winry!" she called up the stairs. "We've got guests!"
There was a muffled thump from upstairs, and then Winry descended with a box of various bits and pieces, none of which Roy could identify. She put them aside and turned to the visitors.
"Oh, it's you guys," she said, looking mildly surprised. "Are you here about the Elrics again?"
Roy nodded. "We have a theory that we thought you might be able to help us with."
Pinako lead them through to the kitchen and they seated themselves around the table. "You think that the Elric boys are alive, don't you?"
Riza nodded. "We think that after surviving the attack, they might have gone to somebody Rizembul for protection. A family friend, perhaps somebody their parents knew." she gave Granny Pinako a meaningful look.
Pinako was unmoved.
"Really now? That's an interesting theory, but I'm not sure I can help you. Sorry."
"Oh, you can't?" said Roy, affecting disappointment. "That's an awful shame… we just thought that since you and your family have been so helpful with our investigation so far, you might know something."
Pinako did not seem impressed by Roy's plea. "I'm afraid neither me nor Winry know a thing about those boys other than what we've already told you." she said. "Of course, we'll do our best to help, but there's not much we can do."
Roy felt a flash of irritation.
She does know something, he thought, I'm sure of it.
"Well, how about if we tell you what we've found so far? Maybe we can jog your memories." he offered.
Pinako shrugged. "Go ahead. No harm in trying, after all."
Maes rattled off their findings. "Seven years ago, a gang known as the sins targeted the Elric family. The motive behind the attack was somehow related to alchemy; and alchemy was also the reason the Professor and his wife kept their children a secret... we know that the Elric brothers survived the attack on their family, and afterwards, we believe that they went to somebody in the village for help; a friend of their parents, who hid them for several years before sending them somewhere else." He glanced at his listeners. "Unfortunately, we don't know who that family friend was."
Pinako's expression barely flickered throughout- but Winry was another story.
"Winry?" Riza prompted. "Do you think you might remember something?"
"Oh- oh no." she said quickly. "It's just… those poor boys, it must've been terrible for them."
"Which is why it's all the more necessary that we find them." said Roy seriously. "They could still be in danger. They need protection."
Pinako frowned. "Really, now…"
"So it's of vital importance that we find them." Roy pressed, holding Pinako's gaze.
I know you know, he thought. And you're going to tell me… because you wanted to protect them all those years ago, and you want to protect them now.
"If anybody knew, and was concealing something… I hate to think how they'd feel if we couldn't find them in time to warn them." he said, quietly.
There was a long silence, thick with tension. Roy found himself holding his breath.
"That's just dirty tactics, Mr Mustang." said Pinako, eventually. Winry turned to her in shock.
"Grandma!"
"It's alright, Winry." she sighed. "Ed and Al will understand."
Roy felt his heart leap.
We found them. We actually FOUND them!
"Yes, I took those boys in. I'll admit that to you, because I know you just want to help them… but if you think you're getting their whereabouts out of me, you're sorely mistaken."
Roy's heart fell again, and he frowned.
Pinako took a deep breath.
"I know where they are, and I can tell you this: they're safe. Isn't a safer place on earth, I'd wager. Even if somebody could find them, there's no way anyone's getting past their… guardians." she smirked. "They'd kill anybody who tried. They love those boys like they were their own, and they're more than capable of protecting them from anything that comes their way."
"But the Elrics were killed! These people could be in danger!"
"Hah!" Pinako snorted. "I'd be more worried about the gang members, if I were you."
Roy opened his mouth to object again- but decided it would be best, for now at least, to change the subject. "Alright. They're safe, I'll accept that, but…"
"I'm not telling you where they are. If they want to talk to you, they'll find you."
"Please, Mrs Rockbell," said Riza. "We just want to solve this mystery… don't they want justice for their parents' deaths?"
"If they do, it's their business, and they'll sort it out. You listen to me- if you find them on your own, then that's fine and dandy, but Winry and I aren't helping you. Those boys came to me that night and they made me promise I'd never let anybody find them. I won't break that promise."
"Mrs Rockbell-" began Roy, but he was cut off by Maes.
"No, Roy. We're not gong to get anything out of her." he said, softly, and turned to Pinako. "I understand. Thank you for your time, Mrs Rockbell, Winry. We won't intrude any further."
"Maes!"
"She made a promise, Roy." said Maes. "We'll find them on our own."