AARG! Alright, writing this for the SECOND time...I've been getting rather ticked off at fanfiction recently because they won't let me copy and paste stories into my natural reader so I can actually listen to/read stories (because I do not have ANY time to really read lately), so I went over to AO3 (archive of our own, google it) and am posting a bunch of my stories there. It's gotten me to pick up a bunch of my old stories, this one being one of them.
As for why I dropped it to begin with, well...my computer crashed and I lost everything after the last chapter that was posted here. It was hard enough to write the first time and really did not want to come a second time. Plus, due to this, I developed a rather nasty fear of the dark. It's completely irrational, but I would wake up screaming because I couldn't see anything and I blame this story. In other words, I really needed a break.
But the break is over. I'm picking this back up and hoping to finish it soon. :)
Now because it's been so long, here's a short summary:
Selim Baker is kidnapped after being accused of being a monster/homunculus by an organization that is little better than a rebellion. After being rescued by an alchemist named Mandy, he traipses about the country side trying to find answers to his questions about Homunculi and whether he can be one or be related to one. He finds his answers after a rash decision, spurred by the development of a creepy voice in his head that wants him to kill everyone around him, takes him to Xing where he meets the emperor, who recognizes him immediately. Selim gets sent back to Amestris, but on the way regains his memories of Pride, which battles to take president over his current life as Selim. He still has not resolved his conflict.
After a narrow escape, he finds himself confronting the Elrics, and as severely wounded as he is, he gives himself up. As he meets up with Mustang again (he was on the train back from Xing as an escort), he learns of a hostage situation which seems to have taken his old friend, Johan. Because he has yet more questions that need answering, he decides to save Johan...
Chapter 18
Bonnie stared blankly at the disappearing, government cars' tail pipes, only her eyes showing the anger she felt.
"We can't do anything if he doesn't want to be helped," Marlin said from beside her. He knew she could hear the frustration in his voice no matter how well he tried to hide it. He also knew she wouldn't call him out for it.
"I know," she replied. "Doesn't stop me from hating them."
Marlin shrugged. "So we stick around for a few days, see if he changes his mind. If not, we head down to Rush Valley and find a hole to hide in."
"I hate hiding."
The larger man sighed. "Me too, but it's the best option we have now. If we're enemies of both sides now, what else can we do?"
The false blond sighed, suddenly looking much older and far wearier then her 38 years. "Nothing. We just sit by and let a corrupt government continue to lead this country through war after war. We just allow people to die over and over again…because there's nothing we can do."
Marlin shook his head. "We'll figure something out."
They stood for a few more minutes before turning to leave the station, only to stop short. A woman in her early twenties stood before them, dressed in an old coat that practically drowned her and a page-boy style hat to cover her short, brown hair. Her large, gray eyes stared sadly up at them.
Bonnie and Marlin both found themselves frozen.
"Janet," Marlin said.
The girl looked down. "You were right," she said softly. "The new leader convinced us to attack too early. There was no way we could win. I see that now."
The couple exchanged glances, then looked around for a more private place to talk. Janet and her younger brother had joined the FFO only a few months before. They originally came from Liore and had come to the rebellion to avenge the deaths and mutilation of several close family members and friends. It hadn't taken them long to befriend the two bounty hunters-turned mercenaries.
They didn't know the previous leader and didn't care what the FFO stood for as long as they got their revenge, so they didn't see how the new leader had begun to subtly usurp all leadership in the rebellion.
Bonnie had been the one to point out the leader directing the group to a premature attack, but for speaking out against him, she had gained the animosity of almost the entire faction (and by proxy Marlin had as well). Any missions they were given after that had been joint assignments with various people, all seemingly completely (almost blindly) loyal to either the new group or the new leader.
The assignment with Falk had been more or less the straw that broke the camel's back. They hadn't been able to convince many of the new members of the danger, and most of the older members had either left or been killed, so once Falk started giving them orders on pain of death, they'd decided to cut their losses and run.
When they'd left, Janet and her brother Barton hadn't been on speaking terms with Bonnie or Marlin.
That and the fact that she was alone set off warning bells in both of their heads.
"Where's Barton?" Bonnie asked, perhaps a bit sharply as Janet flinched.
"He went with them," she said softly as a pained expression slid over her face. "He…he called me a traitor! He said he didn't want to talk to me ever again!" With that, she burst into tears.
Marlin went forward, slipping his arm around the girl's shoulders to offer what comfort he could.
"Do you know where he is now?" the older man asked.
Janet sniffed and nodded. "H-he's at th-the hotel…with the hostages."
Bonnie pinched the bridge of her nose. "Alright," she said after a moment's pause. "Let's go see if we can find your brother."
Janet sniffed loudly. "Y-you'd still do th-that for him?"
"No," Bonnie replied smoothly, staring off into the distance as if remembering something. "We'll do it for both of you."
xXx
"I am such an idiot!" Ed yelled punching the wall again.
"Brother, stop that. You'll hurt yourself again."
Roy looked on at the familiar sight of the brother's actions, torn between annoyance and amusement. "Some things never change," he commented with a shake of his head. Truthfully, he felt about the same as Ed did. He'd just taken his eyes off of their prisoner for a minute—but then again, they should have known. Actually, all of them did know better.
"Sir," Hawkeye said from her temporary desk where she'd been standing and speaking into a phone, "I got a hold of Major Sondheim. He confirmed that his team will be able to begin searching the evacuated area. I've redirected Major Kvetch's team to cover the perimeter in their place. They are in the process of making the necessary adjustments."
Roy nodded, yet again thankful for his most efficient (and still good looking) lieutenant. "You've informed them of the danger involved?"
"Yes, sir. They have three combat alchemists on hand, two of which have almost a decade of experience."
It wasn't enough, but it would have to do. He knew it was the best they could hope for under the circumstances.
"Has the FFO called back with an answer to the terms we sent?"
"No, sir."
He bit back a sigh. "And they still haven't confirmed that their leader is in there?"
"No, sir."
"Has to be Clemin."
"Wait," Ed suddenly glanced up at Roy. "Who?"
xXx
It had taken him more than a half an hour to get back to where he'd started out…well, more or less. In the distance he could see a large group of military troops surrounding an impressive hotel. They had created several blockades and sat crouched behind the barriers with their guns at ready. The scene gave off a sense of tense anticipation and boredom all at once. Typical military.
Now Selim had to find a way past several trigger-happy, bored soldiers.
He sat behind a dumpster (oh the levels he'd been reduced to yet again) in an alley way just south of the hotel, eyes closed as he had his shadows scout the area.
He'd already begun to feel the strain of using his shadows earlier, and was making every effort he could to ensure that he used as little energy as possible. His pathetic human-like body just didn't have the reserves required to maintain the shadows for any serious length of time.
Still, he felt confident that he had enough energy to—
His thought cut off as one of his shadows came across a group of people…non-military people. There shouldn't be anyone here, so what were they doing?
It took him a moment to realize that at least two of them looked surprisingly familiar.
Retracting his shadows quickly, he sat for several seconds, wondering if he should just ignore them. Why had they come here anyway? They couldn't be following him, could they? And who was that third person? He'd looked like a young boy, but Selim didn't have any remotely valid guesses. But they'd looked like they had been planning something…something with the Hotel?
Selim grit his teeth. He couldn't have them barging in and ruining everything. It seemed that he would have to confront them after all.
Wonderful.
xXx
"You're sure he's in there?" Marlin asked Janet quietly. None of them took their eyes off of the hotel.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Janet nod.
"He's not going to be happy to see us, is he," she said after a moment.
Marlin sighed. "Probably not." He exchanged silent glances with Bonnie, asking a silent question: Should we risk our lives to 'save' someone who most likely will not cooperate? Someone who either doesn't know he's in danger or who knows very well but has been brainwashed enough into dying for the cause?
Her eyes held no answers. Well, at least she seemed as unsure as he felt. After a moment, her gaze returned to the hotel.
"How do we get in?" Marlin asked.
"I don't know," Janet said quietly. Of course.
"Then how do you suggest we go about this?" Bonnie asked sweetly, her voice just barely hiding her frustration.
"I don't know!" Janet hissed, her own frustration coming to bare as tears filled her eyes. "I have no idea how we're going to get in there at all, let alone convincing Barton to come back out with us without announcing to everyone in the building and the military at the same time! I…I don't know! I…"
She broke down, sobbing and slumped against the wall as she wrapped her arms around her knees.
Bonnie sighed in exasperation and glanced imploringly at Marlin, who shook his head wryly. He leaned forward and placed a hand on the girl's shoulder.
"We just need all the information we can get. We're not suggesting that we give up, alright?"
Janet shook a little harder before calming down somewhat and looking up with a tear-streaked, very red face. "I-I just can't leave him! He's my little brother…"
"We're not going to give up," Marlin said again, his voice firm and unyielding. "We just need to figure out a way."
"So I guess there's no chance of me talking you out of it," a new, annoyed voice said from the mouth of the alley way behind them. A very familiar voice…
All three of them whipped their heads around to stare at the figure walking calmly towards them.
If it had been under different circumstances, Marlin might have laughed at the open expression of shock on Bonnie's face. Well, maybe if he hadn't been mirroring it himself. Janet just watched the teenager approach uncertainly.
"Do you guys know him?" she asked quietly.
"Selim?" Marlin managed to ask. "Is that you?"
The boy rolled his eyes. "Who else would I be?"
"How did you escape?" Bonnie asked incredulously.
Now his expression seemed downright condescending. "Did you really think I couldn't escape if I didn't wish to?"
"Then why didn't you?" the Ishvalan shot back.
Selim shrugged. "Originally because I wasn't strong enough to. I am still healing, you know."
Come to think of it, he was still holding his hands and shoulders rather stiffly.
"Who is he?" Janet asked Marlin quietly. Selim heard her and turned his rather intimidating gaze on her.
"Selim Bradley. And you are?"
"Wait, what?" Bonnie asked.
The boy raised an eyebrow as he glanced out of the corner of his eye at her. "You cannot tell me you didn't put it together."
That left Bonnie both rather stunned. Yes they'd heard Selim say he'd been around for three centuries, but him being the son of the previous Fuhrer? And whose side did that put him on now anyway? He certainly hadn't seemed to be on the military's side, but…
Marlin and Bonnie exchanged glances. They would have to discuss this later.
"Selim, this is Janet," Marlin said slowly, still trying to keep himself calm after the one/two punch they'd figuratively received.
"Wait," Janet spoke up, confused. "How can you be Selim Bradley? He was what, 12 when he died? That was 15 years ago!"
Selim rolled his eyes impatiently. Funny, his actions seemed to have a dangerous edge to them that they hadn't had before. "It's a long story. More importantly, what are you doing here?"
He'd gestured to all three of them when he'd said 'you'.
"None of your business!" Janet said defensively.
Selim raised an eyebrow at her, making him seem amused and smug. "So you do have some brains in you."
"What's that supposed to mean?!"
"Shh!" Bonnie hissed, ducking down and turning to look back out at the hotel. Everyone else took their hint from her and hid themselves as best they could. After a few moments she looked back at Janet with a disapproving scowl.
"No one's coming our way…this time."
"Sorry," Janet muttered.
"So why exactly are you here?" Bonnie asked, rounding on Selim, who didn't look intimidated in the least.
"I have my reasons."
"Are you here to rescue someone too?" Janet asked.
Selim's face went blank at that as he considered each of them in turn.
"Yes," he finally said.
"Who?" Janet asked at the same time that Marlin and Bonny said "Why?" All three of the former rebellion members exchanged glances with each other before turning back to Selim, who had taken on a closed off and rather wary expression.
"I have my reasons."
"That's not an answer!" Janet argued.
"Well it's all I'm willing to give you," Selim snapped back. He glanced around Bonnie and scrutinized the blockade in front of them. "So you are here to 'rescue' a member of the FFO...against his will."
The brunette girl bristled. "Yes."
So he'd overheard their conversation. How long had he been standing at the mouth of that alley?
Selim studied the scene in front of him with a coldness that reminded Marlin of a scientist. It struck him as to just how different he really was now that he wasn't even pretending to act like the boy they'd kidnapped. As much as he didn't want to admit it, he could see the monster that had been originally described to him now. This was the strange threat they had been sent to eliminate.
And yet, he could still see the old Selim there too, and it wasn't just the looks. The kid was dangerous. Marlin and Bonnie knew it, and Janet suspected. If he'd escaped custody, then he could undoubtedly kill all three of them with his strange shadow-things with minimal effort. And yet, he hadn't shown even the slightest hint of wanting to kill them.
And why was he here? Rescuing someone? That had 'Selim Baker' written all over it.
"I'm guessing you're here for a hostage," Marlin commented off-handedly. Selim glanced amusedly at him before returning his scrutiny to the blockade. "How were you planning on getting in?"
Selim scoffed. "Please. I have infiltrated areas far more secure than this. Although, at those times I was at full power…"
He glanced rather pointedly at Bonnie and Marlin. The older man felt his insides grow cold. Had he just hinted…had he actually been considering killing them the whole time? When Marlin shot a look at Bonnie this time, he saw the same worry in her eyes.
"You haven't forgotten then," Selim muttered. "Good."
"Forgotten what?" Janet asked, on the verge of tears again.
"Why are you here, really?" Bonnie asked, her voice low but angry. "Not here at the hotel, but here talking to us. You sought us out. Why?"
Selim turned and started at her for a few moments then shrugged. "Truthfully, I came to warn you off of going in there. The last thing I need is you humans screwing up my plans…again." That last part he muttered under his breath bitterly, as if in after thought.
"H-humans?" Janet squeaked. "B-but what—"
"However, I am beginning to think that perhaps a distraction is in order."
"No," Marlin said, folding his arms and glaring down at the boy.
Selim's expression grew cold. "What?" he asked.
"We are not acting as a distraction. We came here to rescue her brother and that's what we're going to do."
Selim frowned as he studied Marlin for a moment before waving his hand in exasperation. "Fine," he said. "I'll just have to find another way." He stood and scanned the area before stalking over to a corner, regarding it with a fair amount of disgust, and then turning and sitting in it. Then he took a deep breath and closed his eyes.
"I would recommend you don't approach me until I move."
"Why not?" Janet asked, her voice edgy and defiant.
Selim opened his eyes and regarded her coolly. "If you do, then I will not claim responsibility for your deaths."
With that he closed his eyes again and went perfectly still.
"He really meant that, didn't he," Janet whispered.
Marlin glanced at Bonnie again before nodding solemnly.
"What is he?"
"That would take longer to explain than we have right now," Bonnie muttered.
"Are we just going to wait for him to…finish doing whatever the heck he's doing?" the younger girl asked angrily.
"Yes," Bonnie answered without hesitation.
"Why? And doesn't that give you enough time to tell me?!"
"Because he's our best chance at getting in and out successfully," Marlin said quietly.
"And no, it doesn't give us enough time," Bonnie added on.
Janet looked like she wanted to scream. "I really think I deserve to know what's going on," she said angrily. "That's my brother in there! If I'm going in to save him with some creepy stranger then I should know what I'm getting into!"
"Shh!" Bonnie said in warning. The other girl's voice hadn't risen to a point of the officers hearing, but it was getting there.
"Well?" Janet asked, still angry and expectant.
Marlin sighed and nodded at Bonnie.
Bonnie shot him a glare. "No he's not completely human. Yes, he's dangerous and you should be careful around him. Yes he has his own agenda and everything else is his secret to tell, not ours."
Janet glanced at the still figure again before turning back to Marlin and Bonnie. "Do you trust him?"
This time Marlin and Bonnie didn't need to look at each other. He nodded again, firmly.
"Yes," Bonnie said. "We do."
"Why?"
Bonnie looked at Janet thoughtfully. "Because he's never given us a reason not to."
"He's never lied to you?"
It was Marlin that answered this time. "Everyone has their secrets. Thing is, he had a chance to…well, do something that would not have been good for us, but it would have benefited him and we had no idea. He didn't. Instead, he played the martyr and tried to save us."
"That's what benefited me most at that moment," Selim spoke up. He still hadn't moved. "Don't flatter yourselves," he continued.
Marlin couldn't help but smile. The kid was trying pretty hard to convince himself. Maybe it was just Marlin wanting it to be true, but he could have sworn he'd heard affection in the kid's voice.
"Now will you all please be quiet and let me concentrate?" Selim spoke again.
"Whatever you say, kid," Marlin said, nodding at Janet. She still looked frustrated, but she also deflated and shook her head.
"Fine. If you guys trust him, than I will too."
No one said anything for a long time after that.