AN: Okay, welcome back to Puppet in our heroes' POV! About last chapter... yeah I lied. I think that chapter is pretty much mandatory. Sorry ahead of time if you get confused during parts of this chapter because of that. 9_9
I'm just so tired... the college... it has taken me...
Anyway, I tried something new in this chapter by making the POV switches a lot more subtle.
Thank you as always to all my wonderful reviewers and those who favorite/follow this story! I try to PM every reviewer I can but sometimes my mind tells me that I've PM'd you when I haven't. But don't worry, I'll PM you eventually! xD
Back to the story!
Puppet Chapter Sixteen
"Your name is Edward Elric, with the title of Major and known as the Fullmetal Alchemist of the Amestrian military. You are twenty years old and it is currently September 25th, in the year 1919. You are currently located in West City Hospital and are being treated for memory loss and flashbacks. At approximately 0900 hours you will be woken by the staff, and at noon you will hold counsel with General Roy Mustang. In the afternoon you will see Doctor Isaac Nelson. If you are at any time feeling threatened or concerned about something, your brother Alphonse Elric will be present."
Ed lowered the paper into his lap with shaking hands, staring blankly down at the scrawling black script he would recognize anywhere as Mustang's unique penmanship. It took him back to his teenage years, when he used to stare down at the papers covering the man's desk to avoid the exasperated or amused gaze. At the time he didn't realize that all that writing had been from Mustang's very own hand, and when he finally figured it out he'd gained a bit more respect for his commanding officer. Most people liked to think of Mustang as a lazy, chauvinistic megalomaniac, but over the many years that Ed served under the man, it became obvious that the exact opposite was true.
Now the blonde could only stare down at the handwriting, his fingertips brushing over the words as his throat tightened and tears burned his vision. How long had it been since he'd seen those scratched, score-like letters?
Over a year… gods help me.
Heart wrenching painfully in his chest, Ed placed the page back on the nightstand where it had been lying when he'd awoken and scanned the room with his eyes. A hospital room that was vaguely familiar. The window to the outside world revealed a steely dawn creeping over the cityscape, coldly brushing past the sharp edges that made up the boundaries of the houses. It was far different from the barren, grayish landscape that he'd gotten a mere glimpse of every now and again at the bunker. It was so much better- more alive and real, somehow.
Is Artabanus out there, right now, waiting for the right moment to get me back?
Something oddly mixed swelled in his gut at the thought, tearing him between disgust and anticipation. The latter of which made him even more frustrated with himself.
What the fuck am I thinking? I hate that fucker for what he did to me… for taking me away from Al and my students… and Mustang. I should kill him the next time I see him, for all he's done to me and those children.
The Amestrian slaves…
Ed's face quickly drained of color and he was frozen, staring out the window. It had already a week since he'd escaped Artabanus in that market, apparently. If he were to go by the letter on the nightstand. That was more than enough time for the Ukreytans to change locations. Had he told anyone about those children? Had they already been rescued? He couldn't remember, damn it!
The cavities filling his memory were large, and rotting even further by the second, he was sure. But today, at least, he remembered everything. Those nine or so months were still a giant blank in his mind, but everything else was there. Ed was smart enough to realize that he couldn't say with absolute certainty the previous days had been the same.
This is what I was afraid of… damn it…
And suddenly he remembered the previous day. Yesterday. Artabanus had been there. He's somehow gotten into the hospital and to Ed's room, Ed was sure of it. There was no way that was a dream or a hallucination- the total panic and how he was torn in those agonizing minutes was all too real.
He almost killed Mustang.
A tight, hard ball of iron formed in Ed's throat as the realization sank in. But obviously Mustang was alright if he'd written the note that lay on the nightstand.
With tears of fear and anger burning his sinuses, he untangled himself from the thin hospital sheets and bound to the door, grasping the handle and turning it only to find it locked. Scowling, he raised a fist and banged on the glossy wood, 'Hey! Let me out of here! I need to talk to Mustang! Hello?'
Several seconds passed and Ed took a step back, fully prepared to transmute the door into splinters if he had to. But then a click sounded and the door was swung open.
Al stood there, concern in his eyes when Ed immediately reached out and grabbed his hands, 'Al! Thank goodness you're alright… I need to ask you something!'
'Brother, let's get you back to your bed at least, don't stress yourself out,' his brother replied in concern, attempting to drag Ed back into the room.
But Ed held his ground, anchoring Al in place with the strength of his automail, 'Al, listen to me. This is important. Did Mustang find James? Did they find the compound in Helltem?'
The younger Elric froze and Ed felt his heart sink even lower at the obvious confusion and curiosity in his brother's eyes.
So he hadn't told anyone.
Fuck! It's been a fucking week already! The Ukreytans are probably long-gone by now. I can't let them get away.
'I need to see Mustang,' Ed said, abruptly letting go of Al and stepping through the door, barely hearing Al's protests and questions following him.
'Ed, you're not well enough yet! Stay in bed and I'll go get the General, okay?'
'Where is he?'
'Right now he's probably asleep… he's staying at the Western Command Center, though… Winry's there, too.'
'Let's go then, Al,' Ed threw back over his shoulder, not slowing his pace until Al finally caught up with him and grabbed his shoulder.
Finally Ed let himself be stopped and gave an exasperated look at the taller blonde. Al simply gave a defeated smile before raising an eyebrow, 'Don't you want to at least change out of your hospital clothes?'
Ten minutes later Ed was stepping out of one of the hospital's bathrooms, tugging at the sleeves of an Amestrian uniform jacket with irritation, fighting to roll down the stiff material so that it covered his wrists. The ugly marks there were blatant against his tan skin- silvery white scars that were like thick barbed circlets around his wrists. There wasn't much he could do about the same mark- although thinner and a bit less noticeable- around his neck, but still he had the urge to cover it all. All these marks… they were of shame. Weakness.
Humiliation, Ed reflected darkly, mind spinning back through the few things he'd remembered that occurred in that time lapse. Not to mention the gut-wrenching embarrassment of the bite mark on the side of his throat from Artabanus' most recent attack. That shame, that humiliation, it felt like a dark, sickening fog in his heart every time he saw those scars.
Why hadn't I been strong enough? Fuck I'm so weak… can I even face Mustang after everything that happened?
Standing outside the bathroom door and staring blankly through Alphonse, who was rambling excitedly about something to do with Winry, Ed suddenly felt something inside him crash. When he'd woken and until just then, he'd almost felt… normal. Like himself again. But now, now something had completely turned in him, and although he was aware of the change he was helpless to prevent it.
'I… Al, maybe you should go talk to him,' his voice was quiet, tentative, and immediately caught Al's attention.
'…Ed? Are you alright?'
No.
Images began circling through his mind's eye, causing him to shrink further and further into himself even as his body remained frozen in place.
Blood covering his automail arm while shock reigned his very being into stillness as he looked down at James' mutilated body. The silent, broken expression on dozens of children's faces as he was forced to walk stiffly by them without a word- unable to even try and comfort them or assure them that everything would be alright. His body being torn and half and a smooth voice murmuring in his ear as the bed creaked and groaned while his throat hummed with screams and curses that could not escape. White-hot fury, agony like lightning, fear like the entrapping darkness of a coffin, shock like an all-encompassing aura that surrounded him like its own world- wrapping him like a security blanket and blocking out the overbearing emotions.
The glass was cracking.
Nothing would be alright.
What was the point?
Ed didn't realize he'd slid to the ground, back against the wall and hands gripping his knees as his eyes stared wide and blankly forward until Al's hands on his shoulders and concerned face close to his slowly brought him back.
His brother's lips were moving but Ed couldn't hear his voice. For some reason that was comforting. With a faint feeling of irony, Ed remembered all those years that he could only hear Al's voice and could never see his body. Now it was opposite, and for some reason that amused him in a morbid sort of way.
'It's not real… it's not real…' Ed mumbled softly to himself mindlessly, not even paying attention to his own words as his mind spun through the last year of memories.
Maybe this all really is just a dream. Or a test. Maybe Artabanus adapted his alchemy to create a false world and is making me live in it. That is definitely something he would do. He cares about me and if he thought I was unhappy, maybe he put me in this place so that I could think I was with Al.
But even as he thought it, another side of him reared up in denial.
No. If that was the case, Artabanus wouldn't put me in a hospital. He knows how I hate hospitals. And he wouldn't put himself in this constructed world, either.
'…Ed? Ed! Brother.'
Al's face hovered in front of his and the older Elric finally swallowed tightly, raising his flesh hand to one of Al's, 'I'm alright… I'm okay… I need to see Mustang… the Ukreytans… we need to get James…'
Cautiously, Al helped Ed to his feet and kept hold of his older brother's arm while he directed their steps toward the reception area. A small group of men in military uniforms that matched Ed's were waiting. Al gave them a smile while Ed continued to stare off into space.
'We need a ride to Western Command. Do any of you have a car here?'
The Sergeant that Al recognized as being the one to retrieve Ed in Albupow nodded silently, eyes analyzing the glazed quality of Ed's expression. Three of the soldiers led the Elric brothers from the hospital, leaving two other soldiers behind to guard the hospital. After the last infiltration by Artabanus, nobody was taking any further chances.
Al had to help Ed into the backseat of the military vehicle, concern clouding his thoughts when Ed's blank golden eyes passed over him without recognition. It was like Ed was trapped in some kind of waking coma. A moment of indecision hit the younger alchemist as he hovered between the car and the steps leading up to the hospital.
What if this is some kind of seizure, like the doctor warned us about…? Ed really shouldn't leave the hospital…
Al bit his lip, but finally shook his head at himself and slid in beside his brother. Whatever Ed needed to talk to Mustang about was obviously important, and Al's curiosity was peaked. At least Ed seemed to remember everything today. Despite Al's concern for his brother, he knew that any information he had about his abduction would need to be taken directly to the General, and as soon as possible.
Ed murmured something quietly under his breath, making Al instinctually reach over his body so that he could clutch that flesh left hand in his own.
It's not right, Al thought, eyes beginning to burn as he clenched his fingers around his brother's hand, none of this is right. Ed shouldn't be able to be hurt like this. He's too strong and with the stubbornness of a mule to match. My brother. This isn't right, Ed.
'I'm so sorry,' Al whispered, his voice almost drowned out by the roar of the engine starting up, 'Brother, this is my fault. I should have been here.'
'Al… how was Xing and Aerugo? You kept your research notes, right?'
The echo-like, distant quality of Ed's voice was the final straw. That vice-like pressure in Al's chest constricted tight enough to make a sob slip out past his tenuous control, and just like that he couldn't hold back anymore. The tears spilled down his cheeks and he covered his face with the hand that wasn't gripping Ed's tightly.
'I'll be alright, Al,' Ed's voice sounded stronger this time and the older Elric's squeezed Al's in an attempt at comfort, 'I promise.'
'No, Ed, there's something wrong! And I don't know how to help you!' Al had to practically shout to get the words past his sobs, and felt a moment of shame at falling apart in front of the Lieutenant that was driving the car.
Ed fell silent and Al let his hand drop away from his face so that he could look at his brother. Swallowing back a new flood of tears, Al gave a wavering smile in return to Ed's shallow grin. Al knew his brother way too well to be fooled by that false confidence in his expression.
'Stop worrying about me, okay? It's my job to worry about you, not the other way around.'
Al gave a trembling laugh at the words, comforted despite knowing that Ed's words were weak and forced. He just sounded so much like himself right then. And even if the tone wasn't right, it was progress nonetheless.
The rest of the ride to Western Command was in silence, with the brothers hanging onto one another as if they would never see each other again if they let go. The Lieutenant gained access to the military dormitories and led them through the silent halls. Dawn had come but apparently it was still too early for most of the officers to rise, other than the drill sergeants whose voices echoed from the parade grounds of the base. After a minute of making their way into the heart of the dormitories, the Lieutenant stopped outside one door and gave a quick, efficient series of knocks to the wood before stepping back to a respectful distance.
Al, still having Ed's left hand trapped in his right, moved beside the Lieutenant and couldn't help the small smile when they heard grouchy murmuring from inside the room. It hadn't taken very many nights spent at the General's house for Al to realize that he was most definitely not a morning person. The temporary stay in one of these cramped military dorms probably didn't help Mustang's situation much.
While they waited for the man to wake up enough to get on his feet, Al's eyes strayed to the right. Roy had made sure that Winry and Al's rooms were directly beside his in case they needed him for anything when they weren't all at the hospital, so he knew that the room to the right was Winry's since his own was on the left. He had the urge to go and knock on her door as well and let her know what was going on, but he didn't want to interrupt her resting.
Both of them had had a lot of trouble sleeping over the past week.
His decision was made when her door swung open and the pretty- even with her hair ruffled and clothed in ridiculously baggy pajamas- mechanic peered out at them with tired, puffy eyes.
'Al?' She murmured, her blue eyes straying to Ed. At first there wasn't any sign of comprehension in her gaze, until a few moments later when her eyes widened and mouth fell open slightly, 'ED!'
In two large steps the girl reached them and threw her arms around Ed, apparently jolting the older Elric from whatever world his mind had drifted off to again.
He gave a startled yelp and the three of them struggled to keep their footing when Ed stumbled from the force of the embrace.
Warmth flowed through Al at the expression of shock on Ed's face as he looked down at the sun-bleached wheat hair of the girl that was practically strangling his chest.
'Winry?'
Finally a smile began to grow on Ed's face and he let go of Al's hand to wrap both arms around their friend.
'It's so good to see you out of bed I'm so happy you're alright and how dare you leave us like that and I know your automail's screwed up so we're going to have to get that fixed soon but we didn't want to do anything until you were comfortable enough and how are you feeling Ed?'
Both of the Elric's blinked at the long string of words that were garbled into Ed's chest at a rapid-fire pace and there were a few moments of silence before the words finally sank in completely.
They both laughed lightly as Ed replied, 'I'm alright, Winry. I definitely need a tune-up though. Maybe later today since I'm sure you brought all your tools here with you.'
Another swell of happiness and relief rose in Al when he noted the clearness of Ed's eyes. Those attention lapses were beginning to really scare the younger Elric and he couldn't help wondering where Ed went in his head when they happened. The expressions he had on his face were sometimes downright haunting.
What did they do to you all that time, Brother?
Swallowing down the grim thoughts, Al refocused just in time for Mustang's door to finally swing open, revealing the rumpled General that was already pulling his uniform jacket over his shoulders- the rest of his ensemble already in place.
'What hell am I waking up to this time… Ed,' Mustang's graveling voice turned blank at the end when the General caught sight of the blonde in question.
The emotions that played out on the General's face were obvious to Al and he smiled with both understanding and sorrow. Sometimes Al wondered if Ed would ever realize how much Roy cared about him. There was a pungent silence as Ed and Roy regarded each other, Ed's expression clearer than ever and his golden eyes lit with something achingly familiar and intense.
Winry silently retreated to Al's side, giving him a confused look. Shaking his head with a small smile, Al wordlessly informed her that he would tell her later. Winry hadn't seen many of Ed and Roy's interactions, so this quiet, intense moment would no doubt puzzle her. The Lieutenant was ever expressionless.
What surprised them all, however, was when Roy stepped forward and pulled Ed into his arms.
'Damn brat, I was worried about you,' the General admonished fondly before moving back to analyze Ed at arm's length. Those dark, coal-like eyes ran over the blonde's body from head to toe and Al didn't miss the slightest shift that Ed gave at the attention.
Apparently Ed wasn't back to himself enough to respond with one of his typical witty comebacks, and so another hush began to stretch out before the older Elric shook himself suddenly and grabbed Mustang's arms, making the General startle.
'The compound. I was kept at an underground compound in Helltem- the ruins south of here. You know where that is?'
Roy nodded wordlessly, expression already darkening.
'There's this whole group of Ukreytans that live down there. They use it for human trafficking. We have to get there as soon as possible, Mustang. There are dozens of kids that they're planning on selling.'
A chill passed through Al at the revelation and he inhaled sharply. Of course he'd heard about things like people selling drugs and people on these mysterious black markets, but for Ed to have seen it first hand…
Roy's eyes locked onto the Lieutenant behind them all for a moment, 'Go wake General Tulson immediately. Inform him what is going on. We need a team of thirty men at least. Grab Lieutenant Havoc on your way back.'
With a sharp salute the Lieutenant departed, sprinting down the halls after understanding the urgency in the General's tone.
Roy then turned his attention back to Ed, 'I want you to go back to the hospital and rest. We'll take it from here.'
In a comforting show of his old self, Ed immediately began to heatedly argue, his golden eyes flashing brilliantly, 'Absolutely not, Mustang. I'm coming with you. I know exactly where each entrance into the compound is- it would take you guys hours to find one. They're not exactly in plain sight.'
'You are not putting yourself in danger,' dark eyes narrowed at Ed before shifting to Al, making the youngest alchemist in the group straighten just the slightest bit, 'Alphonse, take him back to the hospital and don't let him leave. Understand?'
His words were followed by a quick scoff from Winry, who smiled innocently when Mustang's look turned on her. Al knew all the Resembool natives were thinking the same thing.
Oh, General. After all this time I thought you knew us better than that.
With a small smile Al shrugged, 'If Ed wants to go with you I can't stop him. With all due respect, sir.'
Maybe a few years ago Al would have tried to stop Ed from going anywhere, especially with the current circumstances, but this was just too important. Ed would doubtlessly find some way out of that hospital, with Al watching over him or not.
Or, and the more likely occurrence, would be that Ed would eventually convince Al to go to Helltem together.
'I'll go with both of you,' Al asserted strongly, giving Ed a stern look as soon as the older brother's mouth opened to protest, 'and I'll make sure Ed is alright, General.'
With a sharp look at the brothers, Mustang shook his head with something like fond irritation, 'Well I guess I can't very well tie both of you down. Just stick close to me and don't get separated, no matter what. Understand?'
They both nodded obediently.
A beat passed and Ed's shoulders slumped all of a sudden, his voice coming out with such a quiet brokenness that it made the small group all fall into its grimness, 'The compound's probably empty by now anyway…'
Al watched as Roy reached into his trouser pocket and retrieved a pair of red-branded white gloves. The General dragged one onto his hand and a fierce light sparked in his dark eyes, 'Then we'll track the bastards. They won't get away with this.'
The dark, powerful authority of his words had Al's own heart igniting with confidence and a course of gratefulness towards the General choked him up. The hope that was beginning to glimmer in Ed's eyes made Al want to hug the man.
I knew you wouldn't give up on us.
The group looked to one another with renewed purpose, even Winry smiling hopefully at the three men and all of their eyes glinting with the promise of retribution.
Al gave a glance over his shoulder at the sound of thundering, booted steps, greeted with the sight of the Lieutenant, Havoc, and General Tulson all hastening toward them.
Ed's voice echoed all of their thoughts, 'Let's get moving, then.'
As much as all of them wanted to head out immediately, over an hour was spent bustling around Western Command; gathering enough men, preparing equipment and getting enough vehicles ready for the two hour drive to Helltem, alerting Central Headquarters. Voices of protest, encouragement, and caution came from all directions, all mixing into some kind of jumble of concerned enthusiasm.
By the time Roy was grasping Ed's elbow and helping him into the back of one of the dozen armored cars lined up in front of the base, much to the blonde's weak protest, the General was thoroughly exhausted with talking to people. A feeling was bristling along his every nerve like fire ants on top of that irritation, spreading anticipation and unease through him. So many things were vying for his attention that his mind was in a constant state of overwhelming vigilance, fraying his nerves faster than actual combat would.
'Sir, the Fuhrer is requesting you contact him as soon as possible,' Hawkeye's voice intoned over the static of the weak connection.
'General Mustang, I really must protest in Edward leaving the hospital! He's still both mentally and physically in danger! You need to bring him back IMMEDIATELY,' the doctor's handwritten message was obviously frantic.
'I heard that you found Ed. Is that true?' Came the many voices of several people Mustang had gotten calls from over the past few days- Gracia, Prince Ling Yao, students of Ed's classes… his colleagues… they came in every day in such a great number that he'd had to forward them to be dealt with at Hawkeye's discretion.
'I got your message. I'm on the next train out. I should reach Central by the end of the week,' Doctor Marcoh could barely be heard over the wailing of patients and their families in the background. Even after the heavy rebuilding efforts in Ishval, there was still rampant illness running through its population.
'No leads on that Artabanus character thus far,' General Tulson grimaced.
'Ukreyt? It definitely sounds familiar! A country? Okay, I'll look into it, sir…'the sound of rustling papers already began to sound before Sheska disconnected the line.
Roy sighed, idly rubbing at the side of his head and massaging his ear where he was sure there would be a red imprint from the phone. So many resources taken advantage of, so many things to keep track of… His head pulsed as a reminder of the consistent migraine he'd been suffering since yesterday. A vision of that redhead in the Amestrian uniform flashed before his eyes for the hundredth time and his fists clenched painfully, a swell of red and black rising in him. Such a hot fury came to him every time he relived those few minutes that he surprised himself. The feel of the man's icy fingers digging into his throat was still lingering on his skin, chasing chills down his spine and blinding anger that rose. The embarrassment and humiliation of waking up in a hospital bed and a teary-eyed Alphonse and Winry gazing down at him was worse than the actually biting, searing pain that had exploded in his lungs and rendered him unconscious from lack of oxygen.
Just the thought of that man holding Ed captive for over a year…
Roy swallowed thickly and glanced to his left, where Ed was sitting. The blonde was a lot paler from when Roy had last seen him, but had actually put on some weight. Instead of being rail-thin like he was before, there was actually a softness in his jaw line for the first time since he'd stripped off his baby fat. Mustang wasn't sure whether to take that as a good or a bad sign. It wasn't the obvious signs of captivity in the pale skin, weight gain, or dark shadow scars above his cheekbones that bothered or worried Roy the most. It was the blank, inattentive look in those usually sharp golden eyes.
It was happening a lot less frequently from when they'd first found him a week ago, but still Roy felt something dark and furious rise in him every time those intelligent golden pools dimmed and that brilliant mind obviously receded somewhere dark and haunting.
Roy wanted to make that man pay.
He didn't know how to fix Ed- knew that he couldn't- but the frustration built higher and higher, until he was brimming with a jittering, murderous urge to inflict vengeance on those who had taken Ed from them all.
But even with that crimson tint to his thoughts and soul, he finally felt… alive… again.
Just being able to see Ed was like a punch to his chest and he found himself catching his breath every time he saw the younger alchemist. That weak, awkward smile that was just a shadow of its former glory was like something otherworldly to Mustang- like a man seeing sunlight for the first time in a decade. The flash in Ed's eyes and the timbre of his voice… it was like Roy had been missing an imperative part of himself for the past year and finally found it.
He actually felt like he had a soul again.
Startling when a hand waved in front of his face, Roy shook himself back into reality, realizing that he'd been staring vacantly at Edward for gods knew how long. He cleared his throat and shifted in his seat, staring out his own window and ignoring the soft chuckles that came from the Elrics.
Alphonse, sitting on Ed's other side was smiling idly at the both of them. Not that Roy could blame him for his joy. Even if they were about to go to a place that would surely be like torture for Ed- reliving everything that had happened there- they were all together again. And Roy would be damned if he'd let anything change that.
Remember; he consciously noted to himself, even if I see one of the scumbags that were holding Ed hostage, I need to stay with the boys at all times.
He wouldn't put it past that pathetic excuse for a human being Artabanus to snatch both of the brothers if he had to. Just what his relationship and feelings for Edward were was still questionable at the moment, but the look of utter obsession in those blue eyes had been obvious to Roy. But the bite on Edward's neck that he caused…
The General glanced over at Ed once again, looking at the giant, ugly bruise that wasn't quite hidden by the collar of the blue uniform, and felt that wrath rise up again.
That is more than obsession. It's like he was trying to mark Ed. Twisted fuck. Just what did he do to Ed…? It was an entire year…
Suddenly golden eyes swung to meet his, surprise sharpening Ed's expression at being stared at once again. Roy had the abrupt urge to ask Ed exactly what had been done to him- every single thing that had happened, that he could remember, during his captivity. But even as he opened his mouth, his throat closed in acute objection.
That isn't going to help the situation right now. The only thing that will do is make matters worse. Ed could outright deny and refuse to talk about it, or if he did, what the fuck am I going to do? I have no idea how to help him, and this kind of issue should wait until AFTER we raid where he was held captive.
It's best to just wait…
His jaw began grinding as soon as he closed his mouth and turned his face away, glaring out at the passing scenery darkly.
One more hour… one and a half maybe…?
Gritting his teeth and folding his arms stiffly, Roy tried to focus on the events lying ahead before he was trapped in the worries and stress of the past.
Something told him that, without a doubt, Ed was going through the same struggle.
'Roy… I'll be okay,' Ed's soft, sincere voice was like a dagger to his heart.
No, you're not. And I can't do a fucking thing about it. The one thing I can do is to kill the bastard that hurt you.
Forgive me, Ed. I'm so useless…
Roy's face hardened and he kept his eyes locked on the horizon, forcing him not to look at the blonde even when Ed gave an exhausted, upset sigh.
No. If I look at him I'm just going to start thinking about the past again. I need to focus.
An hour passed and no matter what Roy did, his mind kept looping back right to Edward and the mystery of what had happened to him, and what was still wrong with him. So far he'd had two seizures and his memory just… came and went. The doctor's best guess was the stress had broken him. Or something so horrible happened nine months ago that he lost all the time since then. A strange, amnesia-like dissociation of the events had occurred. It supposedly explained why Ed was slowly getting better- his mind was healing itself after realizing the trauma had passed.
But who's to say that Ed isn't going to wake up twenty years from now and forget his entire life?
A chill spread through his guts, making him feel slightly ill at the thought. But still, the thought that something so horrible that it caused severe memory loss and trauma had happened to Ed was just as distressing.
Somehow, Roy had foolishly thought that once they finally had Ed back everything would be instantly better.
And it kind of was, to him at least.
At least now they knew, and at least Ed was alive and safe. Well, a part of him anyway.
We still have a long way to go to retrieve him completely.
Ed and Al began to speak in hushed tones to one another, making Roy respectfully tune out of it as much as possible. He thought he heard something about odd arrays and Empaths, but didn't think much about it. The shrill, soft roar of dirt crunching under the vehicle's tires also helped to drown out their words sufficiently.
And so Roy was left with his thoughts for the rest of the ride, sometimes glancing forward at Havoc, who was driving their armored car. The Lieutenant had seemed decidedly furious and resistant as soon as he'd realized Ed and Al were going with them, and wasn't afraid to voice his opinion, which pleased Roy, but had to accept it after a quick, firm order from the General. Havoc was under the same orders that Roy had set for himself;
They were not going to allow the Elric brothers out of their sight.
'We're nearly there, Boss. I can see the top of one of the ruins,' Havoc called from the front seat, casting him a momentary look of warning.
At the words, Ed immediately fell silent and Mustang could feel the blonde's body stiffen beside him.
With any luck, they'll be gone completely and we won't have to deal with any gangsters. General Tulson can deal with tracking them down and I can bring Ed back to Central.
Those hopes were dashed the moment light began to flare in the distance; spurts of flashing yellow, almost too fast to glimpse.
'Well, Boss. It looks like somebody's home. Enough to start firing warning shots. Should we try and head them off or barrel straight into the ruins?'
Roy leaned forward between the front seats, aware of Ed's hand on his arm for whatever reason. Eyes narrowed, the General surveyed the ruins carefully. They were still several miles off but closing that distance as Havoc pressed his foot harder and harder down on the gas pedal- the engines of the cars behind them roared in response, screaming to keep up.
One muzzle flare lit the grayish red landscape, then another, both less than a few hundred feet between them. No other flashes appeared after those. Thinking quickly, Roy pointed,
'You saw where they were shooting from? Get as close to those positions as you can- between them if possible.'
The General then fell back into the backseat, fingers gripping at the edge of his window and straining to wrench it open. The glass slid with a high-pitched screech and he braced himself before leaning out, barely hearing Ed and Al's shouts but definitely feeling their hands grabbing his legs. Ignoring them for now, he pulled himself out as far as he could and faced behind them to the long line of vehicles, fighting against the buffeting force of the freezing wind.
Giving a hurried series of hand gestures, Roy then pointed to the left and then to the right.
The cars immediately began splitting up, barreling off the road without hesitation, four going left and four going right, rapidly growing distant. The remaining three vehicles stayed behind theirs, keeping pace easily.
Now if they try to run, at least we'll have teams right on their asses.
Roy pulled himself back inside the vehicle, shivering violently for a long few seconds, and gave a small laugh at the two pairs of wide golden eyes gaping at him.
'You're fucking insane, you stupid bastard,' Ed scowled at Roy's smile.
'Not quite yet, Fullmetal.'
'Boss,' Havoc's apprehensive voice called his attention back to the front. The blonde Lieutenant pointed at the horizon that was broken with the tattered ruins and…
Mustang's eyes danced across the distant figures.
'About twenty men out there so far, I figure, and I'll bet there are more coming,' Havoc sounded thoroughly discouraged, but Roy simply remained leaning forward between the seats, squinting at the group of silhouettes that was growing larger by the second, the noon sun casting them in odd shadow.
'Is there a problem, Lieutenant?'
'That's a lot of men for just four cars of us. They're bound to be armed, too.'
Coal eyes regarded his subordinate for a beat before Mustang sank back into his seat, ignoring the tickling of gold on his peripherals on his left, 'Inform me when we're about half a mile out, Lieutenant.'
After a moment, Havoc's shoulders stiffened in understanding.
A warm hand laid itself on the General's arm, those warm fingers causing the tiniest sparks of warmth to flare under his skin. Roy let his eyes drift shut and tilted his chin downward.
The feel of Ed's hand heavy and burning against his skin and the sound of Havoc's countdown filled him.
'Two miles out,' the feel of Ed's skin against mine again after so long is still incredible… 'One point five miles out,' after this, I'm going to make sure a day doesn't pass that I don't touch or see or hear Ed. I can't live without him, without knowing he's alright, not again…
'One mile out,' the car began grinding to a halt.
'Roy,' Ed's voice was quiet, so full of so many emotions that the General felt his heart clench tightly in response, 'Please don't do this.'
I have to.
These are the people that hurt him. The people that held him captive. The people that didn't do a single thing to help him.
These are the monsters that traffic children like cheap objects.
An image of Elicia flashed in his mind- a faded photograph that was still trapped in the clasp of a watch Roy held as closely as his own, even if the watch wasn't emblazoned with the proud beast of Amestris.
'Isn't she just gorgeous?'
Fire burned in him and reflected in his eyes as he opened them, flaring like burning coals.
Monsters, all of them. Thieves of the most brutal and sick sort. Their deaths will mean nothing.
A gloved hand shoved open the car door and he climbed out, feeling a sudden, intense loss deep inside him as soon as Ed's hand fell away from his arm.
The steps forward that he took seemed to last an eternity, but finally he was far in front of the car, heart settling to a calm and succinct rhythm, his face completely void of emotion as he faced the group of thirty or so men that were gathered in the near distance. He couldn't make out expressions or features, but the shapes of rifles clutched in arms were all he needed to see.
Mustang stood, and he waited, lifting his hand into position and stilling his body.
Waiting.
He needn't wait long. After just a minute, the silence was broken by the crack of gunfire and the light of muzzle flash.
Snap.
The screams rose quicker than the vindictive flames that swelled and consumed everybody in the far-off area.
Mustang turned his back on the shrieks of agony and the snarl of his fire, meeting blank golden eyes not a foot away from his face.
He reached out and placed his hands on Ed's shoulders, turning the blonde around and taking a step or two back towards the car.
The body under his hands trembled slightly and Roy froze.
'What if… what if…'
'Ed?'
'James… I need to find James…'
Grief coiled in Mustang's chest and he gave a comforting squeeze to Ed's shoulders as they walked together back to Havoc and Al, who were waiting by the car with matching grim stares.
'We'll find him, Ed.'
Just please stop crying.
AN: End of Puppet Chapter Sixteen! Things are really heating up a bit now, aren't they? :)
;~; I am an evil writer.
I would really love a review to let me know what you think so far! I should have Chapter Seventeen up in two weeks. I have a lot of projects currently going on and barely any time to breathe, so I'm really going to work for that two week update this time!
Again, thank you guys and I'll see you in the next chapter!
Warmest Regards, Generation Alchemist.