There's a pimple right above mah lip DX plus, chapped lips burn like hell for the lose…it hurts…so bad. Remember in FMA B when Envy got set on fire like, 50000000 times? Well. It burns more than that. but I cast my pain aside to write this chapter…for you….all the….100 or so people who are actually following my stories XD thank you! Sooooo much! It blows my mind to know that over 100 people have read this…
"My Bomber; My Peacemaker."
"Money! Sex! Power! Fame! I want everything in the world!"
"…And most of all, eternal life!"
Greed's voice echoed through the empty hallway. People in the bar upstairs could probably hear him. He told Alphonse the same things that he told the woman. He was a homunculus; an immortal being. He also told him about the chimeras in the Nest. Alphonse was in disbelief as the truth was laid before his eyes, her eyes as well. After all she never knew the secret of the armor he was always wearing. Having it right before the small womans eyes was so mind boggling; literally before her, the top half of his face was gone-Roa had smashed it off with his big hammer.
"Why did you do that!" Alphonse screamed, "He was your…"
Shocked, not to mention scared, part of her wanted to run and scream and cry…but the fear was pushed back as Greed stood up-
"Friend?"
-his face regenerating itself like a little starfish, or gecko when he looses his tail…but Greed lost his brain, yet he could still regenerate like that? How? How could someone like him exist? That man had always said that nothing was impossible. But was that true? The answers to those questions were cruelly laid out on the concrete floor. His blood still wet from his head, yet he was standing tall like always as if nothing had happened.
He chastised Roa for being so messy, then as Alphonse promptly argued that Greed couldn't have been immortal, Greed agreed that he wasn't.
Not by his definition anyway.
He was in fact, something called a 'Homunculus'; an artificial human. Alphonse was full of questions, but Greed wanted his answers. As he told Alphonse to tell him the secrets of his empty body, the small boy in the armor lamented that he could not tell him, as he himself didn't even know, or remember, how he got that way…he said his brother was gone.
Greed and a few other chimera around him looked surprised and apologetic.
Hand behind his head, Greed sincerely apologized, "Sorry about your loss kid, We cool?"
Roa bent down as he kindly added. "It'll be alright, ok?"
After Greed got up, he began to walk towards Christina, still looking apologetic.
"You better go with Bido, doll." he said, rubbing her head. "Come back in a few hours okay?"
"Alright I guess…" she sighed as she and Bido were walking out the door, but not before Alphonse spotted her.
Oh boy, did he give her an earful.
"I'm sorry Bido…But I HAVE to tell Edward about Alphonse!"
"Well…Um…" he said, twiddling his fingers as they walked through the bar area to the outside world.
"I know it looks like I'm betraying Greed but…Edward and Alphonse are all each other have! I can't let him not know where his brother is!"
"I understand but…Greed might not take it so well-" he said reassuringly.
"If Al isn't telling Greed anything Edward's bound to come anyway to find him-" and that could mean some big trouble.
"-But how? He doesn't even know where he is!"
"I guess I'll have to-" she paused to think about what Alphonse had said to her…
"Miss Madeline what are you doing here! ?" he yelled out, "Are you…Have you been with them this whole time? Am I here because of you?"
"No…No Alphonse, I'm just-"
Greed jumped in just in time, "Baby doll has nothing to do with why you're here, kid."
"But then how did you even know about me?"
"I have my sources…" he lied. Obviously protecting my friendship with these boys… "Besides, kid, everyone is talking about you two."
He looked at her, eying her suspiciously, hoping she would say something to defend herself.
"I'm here, Alphonse…not because I was betraying you, or selling you out…but because…I have no where else to go. I love it here. These people are like my family…they're my friends. Their choices aren't so great sometimes," she stopped to look at Greed…he looked away. "But, isn't everyone like that?"
"That man and these people aren't human, Miss Madeline. They're chimera…"
"True we are chimera, but we were human once, Alphonse Elric." Martel spoke from inside Alphonse.
"That's true, Alphonse…even though I didn't know these things myself, I still…"
"Right. I get it." he said, sounding like he had heard enough.
"I'm sorry, Alphonse…"
Greed interrupted, "Okay, that's enough Doll, I'll come get you when " as he pushed Bido and out the door, he began to say something else, but…
Her thoughts were interrupted when she was outside and saw Mason walk past the opening of the alleyway …she followed him, leaving Bido behind and confused. He was talking to some shady people. Not that the people she knew weren't shady.
"Mason…What's he doing around here?"
"Be right back, Bido!"
"Wait! Where are you going?" he called out, hand stretched out to her.
"To see Mason for a second! I'll be right back I promise!" she touched his shoulder as she ran towards him. Mason saw her first and yelled out before she could say anything-
"Christina have you seen Alphonse anywhere near a place called Devil's Nest?"
"Maybe…I thought I saw him with a group of people earlier today…"
Maybe it's best if I feign my ignorance. I wouldn't want to seem like a bad person- even though I was lying about NOT knowing where Alphonse was…it would be best not to be suspicious around Mason.
"Is Al ok? We should tell Edward right away!" she said, genuinely worried.
God I feel so horrible for lying to him…I knew Greed wouldn't hurt Alphonse…he just wanted to ask him some things…but…tying him up on the floor like that…
"Ah, he's not here…he's in the Southern Headquarters renewing his license."
"Wha…really?" she couldn't believe it…who was going to make sure Alphonse would be okay?
Christina told Mason she would try to wait for Edward by the trains, and then bid him goodbye. She walked over to Bido, who was hiding behind a wall…They agreed and waited beside the wall of the Bar Cob Web for a few minutes. Looking around to see anything out of the ordinary, Christina saw someone familiar…Her boss; Miss Curtis-
Surrounded by at least four of the men from the Nest.
Christina knew she didn't have to worry about Izumi fighting against more than one person…Then she heard the words 'Old Lady' and knew that Izumi would be okay…looking over to confirm that two men were slammed against a wall with an alchemical hand coming out of the wall. Good. Izumi was fine…
Watching intently, she observed Mrs. Curtis and her fighting skills…especially against Ulchi, the tall man with the animal-like nose. Then again, Mr. Curtis came out of nowhere and took care of him. Bido, being pretty subservient, pulled on the cuffs of Christina's small black jacket. It was obvious he wanted to make sure Greed was okay. With both Curtis's down there…who knows what would happen. They waited about ten minutes…then she saw the two of them coming out of the alley…looking alright, maybe except for Izumi's hand…
For the next few hours, She and Bido wandered around Dublith, convinced that someone would come and get them when Greed wanted them back. Her face was filled with confusion and worry. As Bido wondered who that woman was, Christina wondered what was happening down in the basement of the bar. The streets were full of military cars…it had the both of them worried…then something caught their eyes…From the shadows, they watched as soldiers, left and right, marched through the streets. They were walking toward the alley where the Nest was. A few of them stopped at the opening and placed rope around it. When the rope was up, a tall man held the bottom up so several of them could walked under; they were all carrying guns. The tall man stayed behind to guard the alleyway entrance.
"What the…?" a bystander could be heard a few steps away, next to Bar Cob Web.
A man in a bandana looked around the corner as well, "Why are all the soldiers here?"
"This area is closed. Go Around." a tall man holding a gun ordered.
A man in an open shirt complained, "Huh? Are you serious?"
"I really hope Greed and the chimera are okay…"
"Don't worry Bido…I'm sure they'll be fine…Maybe we should wait somewhere safe, huh?"
Who was she trying to convince…Him? Or herself?
Safe.
Right.
Bido was sulking in the corner, "I can't believe their all gone…even Greed-sama…"
"We don't really know that!"
"They dragged bodies out of the Nest Christina! They're gone!" now he was crying out.
"That could've been anyone!" she yelled, tears beginning to form at her eyes.
All left to do was to wait..for something.
Anything.
More hours had gone by since the Fuhrer came out of the alley with Edward and Alphonse; Edward was bloodied up from head to toe, his automail was completely trashed. Alphonse was bloody everywhere as well, his loincloth was especially bloodied up…the two boys managed to not see her.
"Hey!"
A soldier spotted Bido…and Bido's tail. As the soldier waved to his fellow men, Bido quickly ran off. Christina watched Bido climb over the wall and run off across the roofs, before he was out of site, he looked behind him…at her. Several military men followed him on the ground. One soldier walked up to her and held his hand out.
"Are you alright, little girl?"
She took his hand, "Peachy…" she said with annoyance, now wasn't the time to be called little…the soldier helped her up and turned to a group of his comrades, cupping a hand beside his mouth, he yelled out to them with a commanding voice.
"There seems to be more of them in the area. Search for remaining Chimera and eliminate them."
With that, he walked off…leaving the young woman to care for herself…all she could do now was watch as the people she had lived with were dragged out…bloody and dead. The tears wouldn't come just yet…the few they had brought out were only familiar faces. It wasn't until she saw Dorochet's arm, wet and covered in a small cloth, that things really settled with her: They were all dead.
It's true…everyone is gone…Roa…Dorochet…Martel...and…and…Greed? No, not Greed. He said he was immortal. He wouldn't die so easily! He wouldn't! Bido…Please be careful…you're all that's left of Greed's gang…come to think of it, so am I. I'll live on for them…Bido, I hope you will too."
She was almost 30. There wasn't a need to be so…depressed. She wiped the small tears forming on the side of her face and walked back to Mrs. Curtis's shop.
Back at the shop, Edward had changed clothes, now wearing some cargo pants and a black long sleeve shirt, he began gathering some cleaning supplies. His master, Izumi, forbid him from doing menial work with alchemy…she called them lazy. 'Anything you can fix with your hands shouldn't fix with alchemy.' it looked lazy…Edward looked a bit troubled and somewhat annoyed at his Master's request, but he took it anyway. It was always best to do as Izumi said. Christina help him gather some things, to take her mind off everything that happened that day. Since Greed and everyone else was gone she didn't have anywhere else to go… The shop in central, 'Lucky Star Lunch' was being taken care of by a good employee of hers…and she only really lived at the shop. The way things had gone down…not knowing whether Greed was alive or not left a horrible knot in her stomach, she didn't need to go back to her home just yet.
Curious, and hating the silence, besides various cans clanking against one another, Christina asked, "So, where are you guys headed after this?"
"To Rush Valley." He said with a scared face, "I have to see my mechanic…"
"I bet…can't go find that philosophers stone with broken automail." she said, hitting his right arm playfully with her elbow.
"You…" he stopped to think for a moment "You know about that?"
"Alex told me; he also explained Alphonse's body-" Technically, Alex told her a while ago when both he and the Elric's were in the shop. He waited until they left when the two of them had a long talk about them. He brought it up because she had been questioning Alphonse's body…he must have thought, since it was an alchemy thing and she had no clue what alchemy really was…she wouldn't be able to put two and two together. He was right.
"He told you about Al?…" Edward looked as if he was going to say something but she stopped him before he could finish, she knew what he was thinking, "You don't need to tell me why Edward, I understood from his tone that it's something serious, right?"
"Well yeah…" he said, the brothers looking at each other…
Christina smiled and placed both her hands on Edwards shoulders, "Then tell me your story when you're ready."
"Thanks Miss Madeline. Sorry you got caught up in all this." he smiled gently.
"Oh…"
How could she say that she was with those people for the past two years?
She grabbed some extra cans out of his arms, "Well it's not a problem…but now I need a place to live."
"Why is that? Weren't you living with Sensei?" Edward curiously asked. Alphonse didn't say anything, hoping she would tell the truth. That boy never lied.
Well…me and my big mouth…
"Well, see,-" she began to explain, but Izumi walked in and intervened.
"Madeline, I need to speak with you. Edward, clean his armor outside, ok?"
"Um…Okay master…" he looked confused for a minute, but grabbed a bucket with a rag and walked outside with his various cleaning products. Christina handed Alphonse the things she was holding and the boys walked outside as ordered.
"If you ever betray their trust I'll be the one you have to deal with."
"Yes ma'am…" not even surprised, Alphonse must have told her. "I would never do anything to hurt them-"
"-You know nothing about those boys. How do I know you aren't going to pull something like that again? I thought I could trust you… How long were you with them?"
"The past two years ma'am…before I found the shop I got lost in an alleyway…that was when I was found by one of the chimera. She took me to Devil's Nest…and Greed…
"And the hotel you were living at for the past 2 years?"
"A lie ma'am…I was living with the chimera and Greed…"
She was shocked. Her eyes closed tightly as if she were debating on whether to hit her or not.
"Ma'am…"she said slowly, her body shaking.
"Enough." She sighed heavily and placed a hand on her face, rubbing the skin between her eyes. "Tell you what, since I'm having trouble trusting you, why don't you travel with them as a business expense."
"Ma'am?" confused, she scratched her head.
"If Alphonse find you suspicious in ANY way. Then he'll take care of you himself." she said matter-of-factly.
"Ah…"
"Of course he told me. He told me while I had that spat with the Homunculus."
So…she fought with him?
"What IS a homunculus exactly? I know they must be immortal…but…"
"You want to be involved?"
"I guess it's for the best I don't know, huh?"
Quickly changing the subject, "Right. Well! Let's make dinner!" she said as she pulled some refrigerated beef from the cooler, setting it on the long kitchen-like table she clapped her hands together.
"Ma'am aren't you always saying it's better to work with your hands?"
She smiled as if all were forgiven, "Today is a good exception, don't you think?"
Suddenly the doors opened and Edward voice could be heard, "Sensei, We're hungry!"
Izumi turned around quickly and threw a huge metal pot at his head.
"SHUT UP! If you want to eat then roll up your sleeves and get to work!"
Christina stared at the poor boy, rolling around on the dirt in his nice clean pants, then looked at Izumi who just contradicted her own words.
Izumi winked at her, "Sometimes it's good to work with your hands, right?"
Sorry if there was a sudden change of POV, I thought it would be more interesting if I incorporated other characters from a narrators POV. Besides, reading a story from first person is boring isn't it? I thought It would be better this way : ). But, if I do accidentally stray from the current POV, let me know so I can fix it!
So how are you guys liking the story so far? Ah yes and, it's pronounced Mada lyn. With a long 'e' sound…just thought I'd put that out there since somebody asked if it was Madaline, like the French girl with the yellow hat, or Madeline. It's the latter. As for the 'Doll' nickname, in the 1912 era, that was a common pet name to give a young girl you were close to. I could always imagine him calling someone 'Doll'. ah yes, and if the suffixs are annoying then I can change them, like, I put 'Greed-sama' instead of Boss Greed…actually that would have sounded awesome, huh? Crap. I can go back and edit it later I guess. Oh, Ulchi was the alligator chimera that called Izumi sexy…then she vomited blood all over him. BTW, I laughed to myself when I realized I had just compared Greed to a starfish. What would you guys have compared him to? Lol, Review please?