Disclaimer: I do not own FMA or any of the characters. They belong to Arakawa-Senpai~ I only own my OC's, my made up towns/cities/countries/other misc characters and this fanfiction.

Author's Note: Trigger Warning: Now, although this chapter doesn't contain very much of it, there is soft violence/gore (FMA standard), and suggestion of past (heavily) unwanted but consented sex (I guess it's not quite rape, but I just want to note that I would never actually write any rape scenario!) so just in case that isn't your thing, the warning is written here, black and white. I should also mention that it gets a bit dark in this chapter, but I've not forgotten the fluff n/n; *is an absolute hopeless and incurable romantic*

Oh, and I apologize in advance for Alphonse's mouth (Nowhere near as bad as his brother) and the bad guys :D

I welcome CONSTRUCTIVE criticism, so please review somewhat kindly. Also feel free to PM me for any questions/queries about this story, or even just to say hello :3

Chapter: Darkness

Summary: Our impulses can sometimes be our greatest downfall...

The cold rain showed no signs of letting up anytime soon as the thunder continuously rumbled in the skies above. Each flash of lightning illuminated the three figures that stood menacingly in front of the doors of the burning bank as smoke billowed from its rooftop.

"We know you're identities, don't think you're going to be getting away tonight!" Mustang sneered as he shouted above the rain.

The three criminals chuckled as if he had just told them a bad joke. Jagger slipped his hands into his pockets casually before speaking in a somewhat soft yet confidant tone. "Does it look like we were trying to hide who we are, Mustang?"

Their arrogance pissed him off, but before he could respond, he heard Alphonse making a point out to him. "General, they're not carrying any bags or loot. It looks like they've taken nothing at all."

Roy noticed this and was somewhat confused. His brow furrowed further. "There is only one reason why a bunch of idiots like yourselves would break into the Central bank, so why haven't you taken anything?"

"Is that your assumption? Well you're certainly stupider than you look." Ironforce spat his words from Jagger's left flank.

"We've had our men robbing this place for hours now. Underground. Right under your oblivious, little noses. We merely waited for this storm to come so we could make our escape." Shadowfrost muttered humorously from his right.

"We'll even show you the tunnel before we go if you like!" The Crimson Blade alchemist let out an amused snort, the semi-polite façade he had been using amused him thoroughly.

"You won't be leaving this place unless you're in cuffs or a body bag." Mustang growled as he was beginning to grow impatient.

"Right well I guess we'll all just stand here chatting in the rain until the place burns to the ground and you can watch me piss on the ashes instead then? It's not like you could stop us Mustang. It's raining and you're useless as ever." His harsh words sliced through the rain.

Alphonse heard a low growl emit from Roy, the man looking like he was struggling to hold his temper in check after the snide comment. But then, so was Alphonse. Just knowing that these three men were highly likely to have been involved in the Rush Valley Pub Massacre incident, possibly responsible for so much senseless killing had him clenching his jaw and glaring at these men. But he was reasonably good at keeping his emotions in check when it really mattered. Though the same couldn't be said for how he was feeling about Juniper's unknown whereabouts.

Roy, Alphonse and those who shared an office with them knew that after what they had learned of these men, they were three incredibly dangerous former state alchemists. Handling one alone would be easier, but three in a city of this size? Getting any civilians moved in the middle of the night in such weather just simply was going to be impossible at this stage. Not Even Roy or Alphonse could think of a quick plan in that moment, and time was beginning to run itself thin.

With a sudden shift in the current weather, a large gust of forceful wind along with the howling sound it produced came rushing over their heads from all directions, heading straight towards the burning building. It had occurred so suddenly that it had unsettled some of the soldiers and even the criminals somewhat. Then another, repeating the same as the last, rolled in, followed by another and another until a pattern formed. More of the men began looking about with worry, some looking to their superiors for guidance, others trying to stand their ground as they had been. Hawkeye and Havoc began barking orders for the soldiers to remain calm.

Alphonse's brow furrowed as he tried to work out what was causing the odd weather while the wind whipped his wet, darkened hair over his citrine eyes, the rain lashing harshly against his skin. The hope that it wasn't signifying the arrival of The Typhoon Alchemist was present in Mustang's team. Alphonse looked at Roy, who still had his cold, hard obsidian gaze fixed on the criminals. It was becoming harder for him to see the three men now as the fire, which had been giving them clear silhouettes of their figures, began to flicker and darken from the harsh wind and rain. If the fire was subdued, both parties would have somewhat difficulty in seeing in the darkness of the night. It also meant the criminals might attempt to escape while the going was good.

Apparently, they had this in mind, and were looking about for an outing. They spotted a dark alleyway just beyond a group of startled soldiers and swiftly turned and to run for it.

As they ran, Roy and Alphonse where about to give chase when a sharp whipping sound shot through the air from many angles. The three criminals stopped momentarily, looking from where the incoming danger was to avoid it only for Shadowfrost and Ironforce to be sent flying backwards, slamming against the concrete wall of the building behind them. They grunted and cried out in pain, and as Roy and Alphonse got a little closer, they could see that their hands had become impaled and pinned into wall behind them… by arrows.

Alphonse immediately started looking around for the person he knew was responsible for this, but movement from the dark alleyway caught his eye as a figure surged forward, dashing straight for Jagger, who had remain unharmed thus far. Though that was to be short-lived when the mysterious figure surged towards him. Juniper, now out of the darkness, slammed the hardened wood of her bow against his throat with one hand, forcing him back against the wall, now pinned. Her other hand came up fast and firmly pressed a reasonably sharp dagger looking arrowhead against his jugular. She was soaked from head to toe, bare foot and still clad in her sleepwear; black mini shorts and a dark grey tank shirt. Her long brown hair, which was usually flowing, was now wet and clung to the back of her body as her eyes seared with much anger and loathing for the man she held captive.

Alphonse and Roy were only a few feet away from them now, standing stunned at her sudden appearance. Alphonse could feel the strong, raw emotions emitting from Juniper now thanks to his Xingese training of understanding chi energy, and it was such a strong feeling of anger that he'd only seen in Edward before. She wanted to kill him as unpleasantly as she could. Juniper was suffering, that much was clear to him. The situation at hand was becoming dire.

Alphonse was about to move when Roy's arm was held out in front of him, earning him a confused glare from the young Elric. "No. His hands are still free. If we move now it may still put her in danger, and the use of alchemy would be too obvious at this point."

Alphonse nodded stiffly as his rational sense came back to him. He didn't like it, but he wasn't prepared to let anyone come to harm.

'Oh Juniper… Damn it!'

Jagger had yet to respond to the sudden change of circumstance, but when he did, it was not what anyone could have predicted.

His steel grey eyes hooded over and darkened as a slow smirk began to creep upon his lips. He exhaled slowly, as if relaxing.

"Aaahh Juju… So you hunted me down because you wanted more fun from me, huh? All you had to do was come with us to Rush Valley that morning baby. You could have been getting it all this time." Jagger remarked smugly, with purr of seduction on his voice as he peered down at Juniper whose gaze had only darkened with anger.

"She probably came to tell you that you knocked her up and she had your kid." Ironforce huffed with amusement despite the pain in his hands from the arrows that pinned him currently.

A sadistic chuckle came from Shadowfrost. "That's what you get for fucking a 17 year old virgin, Jagger. Maybe she wants another." The two laughed as Jagger's gaze held Juniper's burning one.

It was now both Alphonse and Roy that needed to be held back as they surged forward in anger, managing to be held back by Riza's firm grip just in time. She had re-joined her superiors just in time to hear what was said, and also expressed a dangerous fury in her darkened brown eyes.

Jagger saw this motion from the military over Juniper's shoulder, and it gave him the advantage.

"Perhaps you're right." He said to the two before leaning in a little closer to Juniper, slowly so he wouldn't startle her yet. He spoke loud enough for Alphonse, Roy and Riza to hear. "Or perhaps you just miss making all those erotic noises for me? Oh don't look at me like that Juju... Mmmff... You know what that hard glare of your does to me."

Juniper snarled. She was so close to cleaving his arteries right from his neck, pressing the blade of the arrowhead a little harder against his throat causing a stream of blood to lightly trickle across its surface and onto her hand, mixing with rainwater. She was so focused on this that she didn't notice his hands begin to move from his sides to her rear. While his hands lingered mid-air above her body, he muttered out softly "You loved every minute of it." His hands then coming down to grip firmly at her rear while he eyed the military behind her in a smug fashion.

The contact caused Juniper's body to visibly stiffen, and she froze completely. Her eyes quickly turned from rage to fear. Her body began to tremble softly as his hands fondled her roughly, the motion sending flashbacks of that horrible night flashing through her mind. Her mouth ran dry and her throat felt like it was closing in on her, feeling as though it might chock the life from her as her stomach threatened to cause her to vomit. She was disgusted in herself that night, and many nights after it, all because she had allowed this man to do it. He had given her little options not to do so. Her mind reminded her how pathetic she really was.

'Why did I let that happen. I am disgusting… pathetic… filth… I am nothing…' She mentally reminded herself.

In her moment of lost weakness, her hands had slackened their hold on her bow and arrow, and Jagger took the chance he had been working at gaining. His hands, lighting fast, moved quickly to grab both of the weapons held against him and pushed them towards her. The motion had caused the blade to rip along the side of his throat, creating a larger gash. Before Juniper stumbled backwards however, Jagger reached out and grabbed her shoulder. He forcibly spun her body around so that her back was against his chest, becoming his shield from the military. He threw the bow across the ground, the wood clanking against the hard ground as it tumbled to stop at Roy's feet. He brought the arrow he still held up to Juniper's neck, effectively halting any movements from the soldiers. Jagger wasn't stupid though, he knew that snipers would be around and getting into position, and he needed to make his break soon. He didn't care about the other two that had remained trapped, only himself.

As he stood there holding Juniper against his body for the protection of himself, he noticed just how vexed the blonde Colonel appeared, and he clued in. He deviated the perfect plan for his escape.

He leaned down and muttered loudly against Juniper's cheek. "My… You've certainly filled out with age Juju, your body has amazing curves and… features now." His hand that held her shoulder now snaked its way over her collarbone and to her breast which he grabbed hard, causing her to wince in pain. Though it was raining, tears began to form and flow from her lost, hazel eyes that now appeared to have no spark of willpower in them at all.

It was taking every ounce of energy Alphonse had to restrain himself. He had not been so enraged in a long time. His golden eyes wanting to burn holes in Jagger for even touching Juniper, let alone everything he was doing to her now. It was when he heard the sound of pain fall from Juniper's lips that he had had enough.

"Get your hands off her.." He spoke darkly, his tone barely audible over the pouring rain.

"Hmm? Did you say something kid?" Jagger replied, smirking with mirth as he began to slide his hand down the front of her shirt to her bare chest, her whimper, soft and pleading for this to stop reached Alphonse's ears.

"I said get your fucking hands off her!" He shouted above the rain in rage. Alphonse hated senseless killing, but he had never been so close to throwing that morale he held right out the window in this instance.

His reaction pleased Jagger. "Hmph… you want her? Even after I fucked her senseless to the point she is rendered like this at my touch?"

Alphonse gritted his teeth and snarled with hostility.

"Very well. Have her!" Jagger shouted as he thrust Juniper's almost motionless body towards Alphonse, but in the process, ran the blade of the arrow across her throat before turning and making a dash for the darkness of the alleyway to make his escape.

"Juniper!" Alphonse, Roy and Riza cried out as everything they witnessed seemed to slow time. The garbled sound of her painful cry struck Alphonse hard. She stumbled a few steps before finally collapsing to the pavement, but not before he had rushed out in time to catch her upper body, preventing it from hitting the hard, wet ground.

Her skin was cold from the rain and lack of clothing, but her blood was burning up with an oncoming fever. Alphonse quickly pressed his hand against her slit throat to stop the bleeding, but it became apparent that his effort was fruitless. She was going to bleed out if she didn't get help soon.

To Alphonse, everything around him became blurred as he focused on Juniper. He could hear Roy barking orders angrily, and a large amount of footfalls of soldiers passing him to chase Jagger while a few remained to apprehend the two that Juniper had trapped against the wall. He ignored everything around him and focused on Juniper's eyes as they slowly fought to stay open, even Riza, who was now trying to help him with her.

"Alphonse! We need to get her to the hospital now. We've got almost no time left. Come on!" She cried above the rain as she tried to help him stand with Juniper now in his arms. She grabbed his sleeve and directed him to one of the military cars that were parked up at the bank before letting go to open the door for him. Alphonse felt like he subconsciously climbed into the back of the vehicle while still holding on to Juniper's fading body.

"Shit! Juniper? Keep your eyes open. Don't you dare close them. Look at me!" He murmured to her as he gently shook her body, trying to stop her from slipping into unconsciousness.

Her hazel eyes, hooded and lifeless, looked up into his golden ones that was a storm of pain and worry. They began to drift close, only to weakly open when he shook her body and called her name again. She couldn't feel her body anymore, nothing but the slit in her throat and the pain in her heart. Juniper felt like this was what she deserved for letting rage control her actions. She should have known her impulsive actions would have led her on this path. What really tore at her was that it all happened in front of him.

'Alphonse… I'm sorry… I'm so sorry… Alphonse... please forgive me..' She wanted to say, but the words struggled to come.

"Al-..phonse…" she croaked softly, her voice cracking from the emotion before she coughed lightly, the blood that had pooled at the back of her throat splattered a few droplets from her mouth to land on her lips and cheek. She felt his hand come up and gently rub his thumb over her bottom lip, trying to clear the blood as he tried to sooth her with a hushed, comforting voice.

"Sshh… Don't speak... Please." He knew she wanted to apologize, but he wasn't having any of it.

Being as gentle as he could manage in the back of the moving car as Riza drove in urgent haste, he lifted Juniper up closer to his chest, clinging to her to try and warm her cold body with his own. He watched as her eyes began to close once more, and he tried to shake her.

She didn't move.

She didn't make a noise.

She didn't open her eyes.

Alphonse lowered his head to rest his forehead against hers. Hot tears that he couldn't contain began to stream down his cheeks and land on her own, sobbing quietly as he held onto the hope that she was simply sleeping. Unbeknownst to him, a soft glow began to emit from his palm that was still pressed against her neck.

He had never met anyone that could make him feel as happy and alive as she had whenever they were together, and although they were nothing more than friends and colleagues, to him she was so much more. He felt like she was the light that his soul needed, what he was missing. His realization, though he knew it deep within himself from the beginning, crashed onto him in a flood of incomprehensible emotion.

His heart was breaking at the very thought of losing her now when he had only just found her. His tears continued to flow as he stared down at her lifeless, beautiful face.

'Juniper… you can't go now. I just found you. My life won't be as bright without you in it... Just don't go... I... I...

'…..I love you'

Author's Notes: Jeez I hate this chapter so much, writing it was hell and I'm still not happy with it even after the redo I did to it -_-

Anyway, I did this for a reason! Dramatic plot thickening commences! I'm trying to stick to the spirit of FMA's classic plot twists. I will try not to over do it of course. Don't hate me, just bear with me and read the next chapter! :D