Chapter 6
"Alphonse?" A soft and gentle feminine voice broke the armored boy from his deep concentration, startling him for a moment. Al turned his head, looking up from the small stack of papers he had been reading to see Hawkeye gazing kindly down at him. "It's getting late and everyone is heading home now, and that includes you too."
Al stifled the small and worn sigh he had wanted to let out, instead lowering his head and marking his place in his papers by folding over a top corner slightly. He had once again gotten so absorbed in what he was doing that he had failed to notice that the sun had set, a gloom now seeming to seep into the office. He looked out the window behind the colonel's vacant desk to see small stars glimmering in the clear night sky, shining against the city's lights that had long since turned on.
From around the room Alphonse could hear the rest of the crew finishing up their own work, some of them working on completely separate documents in the wake of Colonel Mustang's disappearance. While the man himself was nowhere to be found, seemingly vanishing into thin air, his payload unfortunately hadn't.
Havoc, Falman, and himself had been the ones looking into the name of "Mark Kramer" for the past few days with nothing much to show of it. While there was a record of a man by that name applying for a job in an East City lab a few years back, there was nothing else to be found. Armstrong himself was at the location now, talking with both former and current staff of the lab to see if they held any useful information.
While Alphonse could barely remember much from his strange and frightening vision now, he was almost completely positive that he had remembered the name right. He could still recall the desperation that had gleamed in Edward's golden eyes, glowing against his pale and haunted visage so clearly that it nearly broke his heart. He just missed his big brother so much…
"Alphonse?" Al was once again dragged from his brooding thoughts by Hawkeye, her voice now taking on a worried tone. "Are you okay? You're still here with me, right?"
"Yes, sorry lieutenant." He responded quickly as he stood up, now noticing that he and Hawkeye were the only ones left in the gradually darkening office. While the lieutenant had told him days ago that it was perfectly fine to call her by only her last name, Alphonse still fell into the natural and respectful habit that he had long ago formed.
"A lot on your mind I guess?" She asked sympathetically as they turned to leave the office, Hawkeye turning off the room's lights as they entered the hallway.
"Yeah…" Al said in a quiet voice as the two walked down the halls of Central Command, passing by a few lingering soldiers as they made their way through the building. "It still just doesn't seem real, no matter how much time passes…I feel like I'll look up one day and see Ed standing in the doorway, telling me to hurry up before the colonel can chew him out again."
"I understand. This has taken a lot out of everyone. It still seems hard to believe." Hawkeye said as they finally made it to the outside of the building, pulling her black jacket over her uniform closer against the chill in the air that Al could no longer feel for himself. "But we'll carry on until we get both of them back, nothing will stop us."
They fell into an amiable silence as they walked down the long steps to the lieutenant's car, Alphonse once again too lost in his thoughts to continue on in the conversation anyway.
In the few days he had been staying with Hawkeye in her small apartment, Al had found various ways to forget about his troubles, if only for the night. Hayate was definitely enjoying the overnight attention that he now got from Alphonse as the lieutenant slept, and the small dog was a grateful distraction when his thoughts began to wander in the late hours of the night. But even with Hawkeye and Hayate he still missed Edward with a passion so intense that he felt like he'd shatter into millions of pieces, never able to be whole again.
While his brother had never been too much of a night owl as of late, what with all the early travel and missions the colonel had assigned him to, he still found the time to talk with Alphonse even late into the night. It had always been soothing for him to listen to Ed's voice as he talked about nothing in particular, his brother's words turning into soft mutterings as sleep finally claimed him. Edward's light breaths as he slept were also calming to Al, even when he'd let out the occasional snore or wake from a particularly unpleasant dream.
"I wonder if you have the colonel to comfort you when you have a nightmare, brother…" Al thought silently to himself as sadness threatened to overwhelm him. "I really hope you do…I know how bad they can get…"
With his brother gone the nights seemed to last so much longer and were almost deafening in their silence. While Hayate helped to fill the void, it was still just a painful reminder that Edward was gone, and who knew when…or if, they would ever get him or the colonel back…
The sound of a car door closing brought him back to the present once more. Al had been so lost in thought that he hadn't even noticed he was now in the backseat of the lieutenant's car; his body had just seemed to move for him on its own. He had been so lost in his depressing thoughts that he had even failed to notice that Hawkeye was casting the occasional worried glance at him from the rearview mirror, but eventually she seemed to notice that he was no longer on auto pilot now.
"Alphonse, are you sure you're alright?" Her voice held so much sympathy and concern that Al had to take in a useless breath in an attempt to remain calm. "You know that you can talk to me about whatever is troubling you. I'm always here to listen."
Hawkeye's gentle voice made Alphonse instantly think of his mother, someone else who he had loved with all his heart that had also left him much too soon. Back then he had had Ed to comfort him, to promise that he'd never leave him like their mother, or even their half-forgotten father, had. But now his older brother was gone too, lost somewhere that Al had no idea if he'd ever find. How had everything gone so wrong? How could the world be so unbearably cruel to them?
"I-I'm fine…" He managed to choke out, but as soon as Alphonse was able to hear the sound of his own broken voice aloud, he completely lost his composure. Al bent his head, not wanting to see the pity that was surely glowing in the lieutenant's eyes as he began to cry.
"No…No I'm not alright, I miss brother so much!" Alphonse was sobbing now as his inner turmoil was released into the cold air of the car. "He said he'd never leave me…He said he'd always be here, but he's not! Everything has just gone so wrong, and I don't know if I can ever fix it!"
The lieutenant remained silent as Al continued on, needing to tell someone just how completely broken he felt. "Ed was all I had left…he was the only one who could understand me, the only one I could truly rely on…and now he's gone! What if we never find him? Brother could be dead right now…he could even be a chimera that's beyond my help. I'll have failed him like I failed Nina…if something that terrible has truly happened to him I don't think I could ever forgive myself!"
Alphonse was shaking violently now that his anguish has finally been given a voice, and while he had lacked a body that could actually produce tears, Al cried much like he had the day of his mother's funeral. While he wept in the back of the car, Hawkeye remained silent, allowing him to release his burdened feelings while providing a comforting aura. Once he had finally gotten nearly everything out, his crying and trembling easing in the wake of such raw emotion, the lieutenant finally spoke.
"Alphonse, I know that you want me to tell you that everything will be alright, but I won't lie to you." Before he could say anything in response, Al caught the stern yet gentle gleam in her eye and remained silent; giving her the same courtesy she had just given him. "Yes, the odds are stacked against us. Yes, we have no promising leads, but do you know what we do have? Hope. And while it can be a frail and fragile thing, it is near impossible to kill."
"Hope gives us the strength to go on, even if the world around us seems bleak and hostile. Even when we think we've reached our lowest and can no longer continue on, hope will always remain." Hawkeye's gaze occasionally left his own as she drove, but she continued on, her words slowly lifting him from the darkness that held sway over his heart and mind.
"Sometimes I think to myself that we'll never find your brother or the colonel…And while it is still a possiblilty, I will never lose hope. I will continue on until I can no longer move forward, and even then I will never truly give up. There is nothing that can stop me from finding those two, so as long as I can stay strong in the face of such hardship, you'll be able to as well, Alphonse."
While Hawkeye's eyes glittered sadly for a few moments, her breath catching in her throat once or twice, the resolve in her words never wavered. She looked at Al now with a fierce and fiery gaze, reminding him so much of Ed that for a single fleeting moment he felt as though his brother was gazing back at him through her eyes.
They grew silent for a few moments, Alphonse taking in all the lieutenant had told him before he found his voice once more. "Thank you," His voice sounded small in the wake of her impassioned speech, but it held all the strength it needed. "I have no clue how you can stay so calm and collected with all that is going on. I envy your strength."
"You've been handling all this as well as I have. You're giving yourself too little credit, Alphonse." Hawkeye's voice was once again soft and compassionate, a small smile on her face as she went on. "I envy how you handle it all at such a young age. Do you know how long it took me to find my feet in this harsh world?"
If Al had possessed his true body he would have smiled, truly smiled as the lieutenant gazed warmly back at him, seeming to sense his hopeful mood. "So no more doubting yourself, no more thinking of what ifs, all you need to do is keep your head held high and keep moving forward."
"You sound just like Ed," Alphonse said, this time with no hint of sadness in his voice as he brought up his brother. "He was always able to lift me up when I needed it, always ready to bring hope to a hopeless situation."
"And now I'm here to do the same." Hawkeye's voice was determined as she cast him a glance holding so much affection and kindness that he'd only ever seen reflected in the eyes of his mother and brother. "I'm here for you, and I always will be. Don't ever think that you're on your own, Al."
Just the simple use of his nickname made Alphonse feel a little lighter, almost as though he was seeing a faint shimmer at the end of a long and dreary tunnel. He could tell that the lieutenant was able to pick up on his happiness as her smile grew a little broader, her eyes full of fondness.
"Thank you so much, Hawkeye." Al said as he bowed his head in gratitude, feeling the darkness that had once held a firm grasp on his heart begin to ease away. "Everything you've done for me has helped so much. I don't know how I'd manage all this without you."
Instead of speaking, the look that was reflected back at him from the rearview mirror expressed more words than could be spoken aloud. Alphonse was truly grateful for the lieutenant's support, relieved that though he had lost his brother for the time being, there was still one person out there who understood and would help him in Edward's absence.
Al reflected on his first encounter with Hawkeye, and in turn the colonel. He had only seen her for a moment as she and Mustang had forced their way into Granny Pinako's home to confront them about the grisly scene they had found in the wake of his and Ed's failed transmutation. He hadn't gotten the chance to truly talk to her; since he was busy staying at Edward's side as the colonel had talked to them, hoping no trouble would befall his brother. Alphonse remembered that Winry had spoken only nice things of the mysterious woman, and he had secretly hoped that they'd have the chance to meet once more, and on happier terms than before.
Then Edward had joined the military, and their lives had surprisingly changed for the better. Al knew that every one of Mustang's men cared for them in their own way, even the colonel himself as much as he and Ed insisted that they disliked each other. Hawkeye seemed more like a surrogate mother of sorts, she kept a close eye on the whole crew and kept them all in line and focused on their own tasks at hand.
While Alphonse and his brother had had many different women take center stage in their lives, the lieutenant had always stood out from them all. Al cared deeply for his teacher and adopted grandmother, but Hawkeye just seemed to give off a different aura than the both of them.
As the car slowed to a halt and the gentle roar of the engine faded away, Alphonse knew that of all the important women in his and his brother's lives, he wouldn't have been able to pick a better motherly figure to stand by his side during this trying time than the lieutenant.
The two of them got out of the car, Hawkeye moving from around the other side of the vehicle until she stood at Al's side. As the armored boy looked down at her, the lieutenant suddenly held him as best as she could with one arm. Shock coursed through Alphonse for only a moment before he returned the gesture, being careful not to hold her too tightly in his unfeeling metal arms.
"Let's get inside, I bet Hayate is waiting for us at the door. He loves having you at home, but just a little more than I do." Al let out a soft laugh as they broke apart and he followed Hawkeye up a small flight of stairs and to the door. He could see the gentle happiness glowing in the lieutenant's tawny eyes as he himself felt the same when she had referred to a home, something he and Ed had lacked for so long.
The front door slowly swung open and, true to Hawkeye's word, Hayate was waiting eagerly for them. As the small dog jumped and let out joyful barks, Alphonse couldn't think of a better place to call home for the time being. And until the glorious day when they would find his brother and the colonel, Al took in every moment of that feeling of contentment that he could get.
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Sunlight slowly streamed in through the skylight, its warm glow slicing through the cold gloom of the basement. As Ed closed his eyes for a moment, wincing as a jolt of pain ran through his body, the light danced and shimmered like water from behind his eyelids. The sun must have moved in the pale blue sky above if its light was able to shine onto him.
A full day had passed since Ed and Roy's life changing transmutation, and the pain that had settled deep into his very being had barely faded. He could clearly remember the agony that had come along with his transformation, and Ed felt his ears turn back and press tightly against his skull at the memory.
Most of what he was able to remember after the transmutation was a painful blur. And while someone had cleaned the blood from his and Roy's fur…probably Vance, who was always so helpful…The heavy metallic scent still filled his nose. Maybe it would never fade away…maybe it, and the constant pain, was just part of being a chimera…or maybe the scent of blood was just a part of the basement that he hadn't truly noticed until now. Those two thoughts alone made the fur along his spine bristle with unease, his lip curling as a low growl rumbled deep in his chest to escape from his aching throat.
Ed could barely remember the first few hours after the horrific event, his memory clouded and hazy like mist after a summer rain. The only thing he could clearly recall was that he and Roy had squirmed painfully in their cages, both suffering separately as they tried to adjust to their new bodies. Roy had whimpered and moaned blindly by Ed's side, their tails occasionally twining together as they unconsciously sought out any sort of comfort in an attempt to ease their agony.
But now that the worst of the pain had faded, leaving behind a harsh and near constant ache, it gave them both time to reflect on their new lives. Ed was already missing his old body with a pang of sadness; he was still quite uncomfortable and confused by the differences between the two. While he was much warmer now that fur covered his entire body, the sensation of it still felt very odd. Having paws instead of hands…the feeling of his tail sometimes twitching and flicking on its own…how he could see his long muzzle jutting out from his face…Everything was just so strange and surreal.
All of Ed's senses had been heightened as well; the sounds and smells of the dank basement were now being experienced as though he had only just arrived into this hell. The scent of cold stone and the metal cages…the feeling of his ears swiveling against his will to pick up any strange noise…And Ed could now fully understand what the captive chimeras were saying, their words still meshing together into one noisy cacophony in his mind. While the other chimeras had only been kind and supportive as they reached out to him and Roy, neither was quite ready to answer back just yet.
Then there were his thoughts and emotions, something Ed didn't care to dwell upon. The dog half of himself now hazed over his once normal human thinking, turning it into something more simple and primal. Ed knew that he had to balance both halves of the whole, or else he would truly lose himself to the beast within. But as of now both minds were in harmony, neither trying to completely overpower the other. And while the dog half was a now constant presence, Ed's thoughts and feelings were stronger and more in control than his canine companions.
Still, having it so close to his once normal and singular mind left him feeling uncomfortable if he thought about it for too long. So, for now at least, Ed ignored the strange sensation as much as he could, knowing he had plenty of time to adjust.
But now that two opposing minds shared one twisted body, Ed's memories were in shambles. He could clearly remember that he was once human…he even remembered what he had looked like…he longed for it so strongly even now…but some of his memories were far too hazy to understand. Memories of Ed's past were the foggiest of all…his family, friends, and home now seemingly lost…all precious memories that he had once held so close…they were now lost to the darkness of his troubled mind.
The only thing that stood out above everything was a large and intimidating suit of armor that spoke with a young and gentle voice. They were related somehow…right? That armor was his brother..? But the name escaped him now…Had it started with an "A"… or maybe an "L"?
Ed shook his head in an attempt to clear his jumbled thoughts, burying his muzzle under one aching paw as he let out a frustrated and pained growl. Why was it so hard to remember these things now? Was it just from the agony that still coursed through him? Why did everything just feel so complicated?
"Ed?" He felt warm breath brush softly against his side and Ed slowly raised his head to look at who had spoken his name.
A large black dog with folded over ears was staring back at him through a thick mane of darker hair, his onyx eyes wide with concern. One trembling white paw was hesitantly placed through the cage's bars, gently nudging his flank. "Ed is okay?"
Roy…The chimera's name was Roy, and the sight of him alone made the panicked fluttering in his mind ease. Roy had always been there by his side, through all the torture and experiments…remaining close to him even now. They were very close…were the two of them, kin? Father and son maybe…They must have been for such a bond to remain completely unchanged and so deeply ingrained into both of their beings.
"Yes," Ed lied, his voice sounding warped and tired. Speaking was such a struggle at the moment; he only hoped that it would become easier as time passed. His human mind knew what he wanted to say, but the dog's mind clouded it over and chanced it into something different…something simpler… "Ed is fine. Is Roy okay?"
Roy said nothing, his worried gaze wandered to look at the collar around Ed's neck. Both of them had had their collars replaced since their transformation, the electric shock that used to be activated by alchemy no longer needed. He was glad to be rid of it, the thought of his body experiencing that type of searing pain again scared him to his core.
"Yes…Roy is okay…Why Ed growl though?" Roy's slightly quivering paw moved from Ed's side to brush lightly against his collar, the silver dog tag letting out a small tinkling noise as it was jostled. "Is collar too tight? Vance might be able to help that."
"No…is not collar…just…" Ed trailed off as he looked at Roy, who had cocked his head slightly to one side in curiosity. His paw remained resting against Ed's neck, the warmth radiating from the furry appendage slowly seeping into his sore muscles and giving him the strength to go on. "Ed just misses being human…"
"So does Roy…" The other chimera let out a sad sigh, his eyes clouding over with pain for a moment as he gazed sympathetically at Ed. A sad glimmer seemed to push the pain away as concern took over Roy's features. "Ed not in pain though?"
Ed hesitated, knowing the answer instantly but not wanting to cause Roy to worry more about him over himself. While he remained silent, Roy leaned his body against his cage, threading his neck through both sets of bars as fluidly as a snake sliding through grass. Roy then pressed his muzzle to Ed's right shoulder, giving it a gentle lick as though encouraging him to tell the truth.
While both Ed's right arm and most of his left leg were covered in the same flesh and fur, looking exactly like his other limbs, he could feel nothing with them. No nerves seemed to be connected to the metal appendages, and Ed didn't think there was any blood flowing through them either. But they moved as well as his real arm and leg, feeling only a little harder than them if he pressed his muzzle against them a little too hard.
Ed wished with all his heart that he could have felt Roy's comforting lick, but even after the agony that had turned him into this twisted creature, his right arm and left leg remained as numb as they had been when he was human.
Ed lowered his head, not wanting to meet Roy's keen eye as he let out a sad sigh. Even though he felt none of the loving contact, he had been encouraged into finally answering his question honestly. "Yes…Ed hurts…Always hurts now…wish it'd go away…"
"Roy hurts too…" The other chimera said in a sad tone, closing his eyes as he pressed his nose deeply into Ed's shoulder. He still couldn't feel the contact but Roy's gesture alone brought him comfort as Roy's eyes opened once more and he fixed Ed with a compelling gaze. "But pain will soon fade…won't last forever…"
"How does Roy know though?" He drew away slightly so he could look Roy clearly in the eye. Even as Ed spoke he felt another painful jolt rush through him and he winced, jaw clenching in the wake of such agony. His bones ached horribly and every muscle felt torn and strained when he moved. Ed could even swear that his fur hurt. The only thing that proved he still existed was this terrible agony…it felt like it was just a part of him now…that it would always stay with him as closely as Roy… "What if pain never goes away? What if pain stays forever?"
"Pain will go away." Roy said firmly, even though Ed could see that the other chimera was feeling the exact same agony. Roy then reclined his head, casting his concerned black gaze to something over Ed's shoulder. "Sammy knows this…Right Sammy?"
Ed heard Sammy jump in surprise and as he turned his head to look at his fellow chimera he saw that Sammy's blue eyes were wide and full of absolute anguish. Since the transmutation the once friendly and happy chimera seemed withdrawn and sad, his gaze clouding with sorrow now when he gazed at his two friends. Ed hoped that Sammy would feel better soon; he missed talking and laughing with his friend.
"Yes…of course pain will go away…" Sammy raised his head as he tried to speak in a lighter tone, but his voice cracked and he looked away. His body trembled with grief as he went on. "Pain doesn't last so long…Vance might help with it later…"
Ed felt a pang of sadness flow through him as he watched Sammy turn in his cage, lying down so his back was facing them. He knew that his friend felt guilty about Ed and Roy becoming chimeras…but he was not to blame…and what was done had been done, there was no going back…He just wished that Sammy would be able to push through his own grief and realize that none of what had happened was his fault.
While Ed was fretting over Sammy, he nearly missed the smug gleam in Roy's eyes, a look he hadn't seen in such a long time. "See? Roy is right. Just give it time, Ed."
Ed let out a small huff of amusement that was cut off by another painful wince as a particularly agonizing jolt passed through his body. Ed curled against the bars of his cage, wanting to get as close as he could to the gentle warmth that radiated from Roy's body nearby. "Okay…R-Roy will stay with Ed…right?"
Roy's dark eyes grew wide with sadness and shock. Before Ed could respond the other chimera leaned against his own cage, pressing himself as close as he possibly could get to Ed. Roy's tongue rasped slowly and gently over his ears for a few moments, the pain that was held deep within his tortured body lessening slightly as Ed relaxed in the wake of the comforting gesture. Roy then drew away for a moment, gazing at Ed with so much love in his eyes that warmth seemed to creep through his body, seeping into his heart.
"Roy will always stay with Ed." Roy said as he nuzzled Ed's cheek fondly, his warm breath tickling through his fur as Ed pressed his own muzzle closer. "Roy will keep Ed safe no matter what…Ed is always safe with Roy…will never let anything hurt Ed."
Ed soaked up the loving contact, letting Roy gently lick and nuzzle away the lingering pain that held onto his twisted body like a vise. Ed let out a small and happy whine as he kept his own muzzle pressed firmly against Roy's neck, letting his tongue rasp softly through the black fur. "Thank you, Roy…Ed would be lost without Roy…"
"Roy would be lost without Ed…" Roy said as he nuzzled him, placing his white paw onto Ed's unfeeling right one as he drew closer. Ed felt their tails begin to twine together, the only true physical contact that the basement allowed without bars completely blocking the way.
And as the sun began to set in the sky above, Ed felt better than he had earlier. Yes, the pain still remained…The occasional jolt of agony causing him to cry out…but Roy was there to help ease the worst of it. The warmth of his body was close enough to bring some heat to Ed's fur, causing his aching muscles to relax as his eyes slowly began to slide closed.
Even as Ed fell into the peaceful ignorance of slumber, he could still feel Roy's loving contact reach even through the darkness of sleep, and he was forever grateful to have Roy by his side.
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Night hung heavy over the basement, the moon once again forming in the dark sky above, bringing with it a pale and watery white light that gently flooded the world below. Roy gazed up longingly at the star speckled heavens, hoping with all his heart that one day he'd be able to see it for himself, and not just through the dirty skylight. He imagined the wonderful feeling of a fresh breeze rushing through his fur…the sweet scents of the wild night coursing through his body with every breath…feeling the grass and dirt shifting below his paws…If only he could experience it all just once…to get away from this cold stone hell that surrounded him…
Roy was brought out of his wistful musing by the quiet and slightly distressed whimper that sounded by his left side. He turned his attention completely now onto the sleeping form in the cage beside his, a protective jolt rushing through Roy's body alongside the lingering pain yesterday's transmutation had gifted him.
The moon's light from above gave everything under it a gray hue, turning Ed's already pale pelt to silver, despite the warm glow that came from the flickering bulbs that ran along the basement's walls. Roy could tell that the young chimera was still asleep, but his faint cries and twitching limbs betrayed the nightmares that ran through Ed's slumbering mind. Roy carefully stuck his neck through the bars of both cages, pressing his muzzle to Ed's cheek as he gave his pup a gentle and reassuring lick. The young chimera leaned into the contact, unconsciously seeking comfort while Ed's body relaxed slightly as Roy held his tail a little tighter than before.
The only other sounds that echoed through the basement, alongside Ed's occasional whimpers of pain, were the soft sounds made by the other caged chimeras. Their talking had gradually quieted down throughout the evening, easing away almost completely as the sun had fully set and night blanketed the world below. Occasionally Roy was able to pick out a few stray words, the murmuring voices that echoed throughout their stone hell sounding soft and soothing compared to the noisy cacophony that had lasted as long as the daylight. With the now familiar sounds that reverberated throughout the basement sounding like quiet lullabies to his new ears, he relaxed into the blankets below him.
The relief was short lived as Roy grit his teeth, clenching his jaw to prevent himself from crying his pain aloud as an agonizing pang raced through his battered body. The pain rushed up through his spine, slowly spreading throughout his whole body before it began to fade away into a blessed memory. Both Ed and himself had been experiencing this agony off and on since the transmutation, their new bodies still settling in the wake of such a traumatic experience. But now the pain seemed stronger and more intense than it had been when the sun had graced the sky above.
Roy's mind was also suffering in its own way now that human and canine had been forcibly combined into one. The dog half of his brain felt like a constant and incessant humming, distracting his once clear and normal thoughts. While both minds had seemed to finally reach a stalemate of sorts, Roy's thoughts taking a little more control over the dog's, he worried that one day the other half of his new mind would fully take over. He knew that he would just have to get used to it and the entity that he shared his consciousness with for now. And while they were slowly becoming one and the same, Roy also knew that he could keep fighting the good fight for as long as he had to…He'd do anything if it meant that he'd be there for his pup the whole time…there was no way Roy would ever leave him to suffer their shared fate alone…
As he pushed those troubling thoughts away for now, Roy instead returned his attention to Ed, his eyes wandering along the outline of his body. He noted with a worried jolt that his pup was much too thin, his ribs showing clearly through his thick fur in the moonlight. While the agony that had seemed to dominate their lives during their time in this hell still kept its stubborn and brutal hold over them both, Roy knew that he needed to get Ed to eat something despite the discomfort.
Roy knew that he also had ignored his own hunger pangs that had steadily been gnawing away at him as well…the stomach pain had just naturally been mixing in with the rest of the agony coursing throughout his body…but maybe he and his pup could reach a compromise of sorts and promise to eat, if not only for themselves, but for the benefit of the other.
Another wave of agony gripped Roy's body fiercely at the same time Ed let out his own distressed cry. He pushed through his own discomfort and leaned in close to give his pup another reassuring lick, Roy's body trembling violently as he tried desperately to keep his pain at bay. He continued to lap at Ed's cheek, eventually moving to lick at his laid back ears in hopes of easing both of their pain. Slowly the agony subsided, easing away into the background as both of them relaxed in the wake of such a painful experience.
As Roy held back his own relieved whimper, he nearly missed the distinct sound of someone descending the metal stairs from the ground floor, more than likely heading for the basement. The footsteps echoed throughout the stone prison and Roy tensed, trying his best to get as close to his pup as he could, almost out of pure instinct at this point, as a figure appeared at the bottom of the spiral staircase.
While he couldn't necessarily see his surroundings better, his new senses were now able to pick up sounds and certain sights easier than they had before. And now those senses began to put him at ease, Roy's body relaxing out of reflex when he saw who had ventured down into this cold hell.
It was Vance, who even from a distance and through the dim light gave off wave after wave of pure sadness and guilt. His hands were buried deep in his lab coat pockets, his green gaze cast downward towards the floor as he approached Roy and Ed.
"Hello Vance, it is nice to see you." Roy said in his new, warped voice as the young scientist reached their cages, blinking warmly up at Vance. While speech was suddenly much harder, his dog mind still trying to fully comprehend it, he still found a way to communicate through the mental obstacle. And while Roy could talk to and understand his fellow chimeras, he also knew that the way they spoke was near impossible for an actual human to figure out. If he wanted to converse with any human he had to will himself to talk like one, and not in this strange new language that only his dog half could understand.
Roy watched on in confusion as Vance winced, like he had been physically struck, his eyes closing for a moment as he bit his lip and took in a quick breath. "You should hate me for what I've allowed to happen to you two…"
"How could Roy hate Vance?" He asked, genuinely confused as to why the young scientist would even think he was to blame. Roy cocked his head to one side, stretching his neck towards Vance as he continued on, fixing him with a soft and reassuring gaze. "Vance has been so helpful towards Roy and Ed…Vance has never been an enemy."
But Vance remained silent, painfully chewing his lip as he gazed down at Roy with so much pity in his green eyes that he felt it cut through his heart like a dagger. Tears glittered in those wide eyes and Roy wished he could lick them away, just as he would do for his pup.
"It is very nice of Vance to visit Roy and Ed…" He continued on in a light and friendly tone, hoping to put the young scientist at ease. "Though Ed is asleep right now…So why Vance come to visit?"
At last Vance seemed to regain control of his emotions, blinking away the tears that had gathered in his green gaze as a small smile parted his lips. "Well I brought you two that special mixture you both liked so much, though I had to alter it a bit because of…"
Vance's voice trailed away as he leaned down towards the cages until he was sitting on his knees before them, pulling a set of syringes carefully from both pockets. "It should work all the same though. And I've also brought something for your pain. I know you both have both been suffering since…since the…the transmutation…"
Roy's ears perked up and his tail began to wag slightly at the thought of blessed relief for the agony that coursed through him. He couldn't even remember the last time he had truly been free of any pain, but as Vance leaned toward him with a needle in one hand Roy shook his head, receiving a confused look from the young scientist.
"Thank you Vance…Roy knows he can always trust Vance…But Ed should get help first…" He turned his head to gaze sadly at his poor abused pup, a pang of despair piercing his heart and twisting it painfully in his chest. Ed was so young and had suffered so much, and as his guardian Roy knew he would do anything if it meant his pup was safe…he would die to protect him if it came down to it…Roy would never stop fighting to keep his pup safe… "Ed is more important than Roy. Help Ed first."
Vance's initial confusion gave way to a sad and understanding smile while his eyes gleamed sympathetically. The young scientist nodded as he pulled away from Roy, focusing his attention now to Ed's sleeping form. "I understand, and don't worry; I'll get to you as soon as I've finished with Edward."
Roy nodded gratefully, watching closely as Vance leaned towards Ed, a syringe carefully clasped in his hand has he reached out and gently held Ed's left paw steady. Once the young scientist had inserted the needle and injected its contents, all hell broke loose.
Ed's eyes snapped open, wide golden orbs gleaming with fear in the dim light, as he let out a howl of terror. He looked at Vance for a second, but didn't seem to get a clear glance of the young scientist as Ed snatched his paw away like he had been physically burned. As his pup's breaths turned into quick and shallow gasps, Ed looked over at Roy, the absolute panic and horror that gleamed in his round eyes nearly shattering his heart.
"Roy! N-Needle! Needle bad!" Ed wailed, his body now trembling violently as he drew farther back in his cage, trying to escape from Vance's reach. He held his left paw close to his chest, terrified whimpers escaping him as Ed looked at Roy with wide and pleading gold eyes that seemed to glow through the darkness. "Roy! Help Ed…P-Please!"
"Ed, all is okay, be calm." Roy said in a gentle voice, trying to soothe his pup as he heard a few confused noises come from their fellow chimeras in the gloom. Ed drew closer to Roy, his fearful gaze darting from him to Vance as though unsure of whom his main focus should rest upon. "It is just Vance. Vance is here to help."
But Edward was still shaking in terror, his long golden tail tucked between his legs as he continued to whimper through his erratic breaths. Roy leaned in his cage, trying to get as close to his pup as the cold metal bars would allow. "Ed, all is fine. Vance gave something to help the pain. Vance means no harm."
Ed leaned heavily against the bars of his cage, panting hard as he gazed at Roy with wide and distressed eyes. His pup was swaying on his paws, most likely making himself feel faint as he continued to gasp erratically. "N-Needle, Roy…Needles mean b-bad things…Roy knows t-that…Ed a-already hurts so much…"
Roy put his paw to Ed's chest, feeling his pup's heart pounding against his ribs like a trapped animal as air rushed from his straining lungs. As he gently pressed his muzzle to the soft fur of Ed's neck, Roy began to lap soothingly through the golden mane that was spread over his honey colored pelt. Ed leaned into his touch, letting out a few terrified whimpers as he began to lie back down in his cage. Roy could sense that his pup's fear was slowly fading, his breaths becoming steadier as he pressed against the bars.
"It's okay, Ed." Roy whispered softly as he moved his muzzle so he was now licking softly at his pup's ears. He let his tongue rasp over the slightly laid back points for a few moments before speaking again. "Not all needles are bad. Vance gave Ed a shot to stop the pain…This needle good."
Ed's wide golden eyes turned towards Vance, who had watched on in his own devastated horror throughout the whole ordeal. The young scientist leaned a little closer towards Ed's cage, placing a hand through the bars as his pup sniffed cautiously at the offered appendage. Once he finally understood that the hand belonged to Vance, Ed edged a little closer to him in his cage, fear and hesitation still glittering in his gold gaze.
"V-Vance?" Ed's question came out as a whimper while he continued to look closely at the young scientist. Despite the horror and guilt that was written on his face, Vance was able to give the terrified chimera a small and reassuring smile.
"See, Ed? It is just Vance. Ed knows Vance would never hurt Roy or Ed." Roy said as his pup finally relaxed, sagging heavily against the bars that separated them. Ed let out a small and happy noise as Roy continued to lap gently at his ears, his long tail slowly twining with Roy's once more.
"Roy…" His pup's voice was thick and slurred slightly as the painkillers finally took hold of him. Ed's body went completely limp at his side, pressed so close to the bars that Roy could feel the warmth radiating from his pup's pelt. "R-Roy will stay with Ed…r-right?"
He nuzzled Ed's cheek with such a gentle fondness that he heard a low and happy whine escape from his pup. "Of course…Always."
"Ed's pain…is leaving now…Roy was right…" Ed's eyes slowly closed, the tension in his stressed body finally fading for good. There was a small smile on his pup's face as Roy continued to lick and nuzzle him until he was sure that Ed had fallen deeply asleep.
While both Ed and Roy had completely calmed down, Vance still looked absolutely broken by what had just happened. His green eyes were wide and full of anguish as he looked sadly at the two chimeras. "I'm so sorry that I scared him so badly…He…he's okay now, right?"
Roy had the sudden realization that, through the entire time he had been trying to calm Ed, he had only spoken the way he would to his fellow chimeras. It just seemed so natural now…it was his true language…right? Roy just shook his head and shot Vance an apologetic look as he made sure he was talking like a human this time.
"Yes, Ed is fine now. Was just caught off guard, Ed has always had bad dreams." Vance nodded sympathetically as he looked over Ed's unconscious form, hesitantly reaching down to grab a second syringe from the floor. At first Roy worried that his pup would awaken once more into a living nightmare, but he noticed that this syringe had no needle. Roy let out a small sigh of relief as the young scientist focused on Ed once more.
"I'm sorry if I caused any unnecessary stress…" Vance said as he carefully opened Ed's mouth, placing the needle free syringe onto his pup's tongue as he slowly emptied the vial. Ed lapped up the liquid eagerly, much like he had the first time he had been given the mixture only days before the transmutation. It seemed so long ago…yet was still so recent that the memory of it stood out clearly in his mind. "This concoction should help in the wake of it."
"It was kind of Vance to help, even Ed is grateful." Roy said as he watched the mixture disappear down Ed's throat, Vance drawing back with the now empty vial as he gazed at Roy. As the young scientist placed the spent syringe onto the ground, another twinge of pain rushed through Roy's body. He grit his teeth against the agony once more, body tensing as he held back a whimper. Once the lingering pain had eased once more, Roy glanced up at Vance to see a compassionate gleam in his green eyes.
"I'm glad to have helped," The young scientist said as he leaned closer to Roy, a new syringe with a needle in his hand. "Now it's your turn to be helped, I can clearly see that you're still in a lot of pain."
"Thank you…" Roy sighed as he offered up his right paw to Vance, preparing himself for the quick sting of the needle. He only flinched slightly out of reflex as the contents entered his body, now eagerly waiting for the blessed relief Vance had promised.
The young scientist drew back slightly, swapping vials as he grabbed the other needle free syringe. Roy opened his mouth obediently, feeling the contents slowly wash over his tongue as he now savored the mixture's strange taste. He felt some energy beginning to creep through his abused body as the vial was emptied, licking his lips to make sure he had gotten every last drop.
Vance drew back for the final time, his eyes slowly wandering down Roy's body as though looking for any visible injuries. He could feel the painkillers start to kick in, drowsiness making his head feel heavy and blurring his vision. Roy could still see the young scientist before him though, his green eyes glittering with guilt and pity as his gaze darted from side to side.
"Vance is okay?" Roy's question ended with a yawn as he settled deeply into his nest of blankets, letting his head fall onto his front paws as he fought back sleep for just a moment longer.
"B-Before the…Before the transmutation…" Vance spoke in a low voice as he watched Roy carefully, seeming to prepare for his reaction. Dread formed a small pit in his stomach as the young scientist went on. "Y-You asked me why you and Edward were being changed…I couldn't tell you then, but I am allowed to tell you now…"
For a moment Roy's ears perked up and his dread was replaced with curiosity, his heavy eyelids opening wider as he stared back at Vance. He had once wanted to know the answer, no matter the cost…but everything had changed since then and knowing it seemed pointless. What could Roy do now with the truth? What had been done could seemingly not be undone…and what use was knowing why his and Ed's lives had been changed? Been destroyed…
Roy shook his head slowly, exhaustion now reaching into every aching muscle as he watched Vance's eyes widen in shock at his reaction. "Roy doesn't need the answer anymore…Too late…too late…"
The young scientist bit his lip, nodding stiffly as he placed the empty syringes back into his pockets before standing up. That had clearly not been the answer he expected, but he seemed to realize there was no point in pressing the matter as Roy struggled to remain conscious. "Well I'm glad to have been able to help at least. I'll come back tomorrow to do the same."
As Vance turned to leave, Roy let out a small whine that caught the young scientist's attention once more. He wanted to reassure Vance…to repay at least a fraction of the kindness he had just been shown. Hadn't he said something once that had given the young scientist comfort? What had it been?
"V-Vance…" The words finally came back to Roy as he gazed deeply into Vance's confused green eyes. When had speaking become so hard? "E-Everything will b-be alright…Vance…"
Instead of bringing the comfort Roy had intended, the young scientist's eyes filled with tears as he choked back a devastated sob. He looked back at Roy for a moment before he hurried towards the staircase, keeping his head low and his gaze to the ground as Vance vanished from sight.
Why had the young scientist reacted that way? Roy had said it once before…what had changed to warrant such a reaction? The last thing that went through Roy's mind before he let the soothing oblivion of slumber finally claim him was Vance's face. Why had it looked like someone had ripped out his heart and then torn it to shreds before his own eyes?
And here is where I sneak in a little parental Riza and Al, because I love the thought of Hawkeye taking on a motherly role with him and Ed. And now Ed and Mustang are learning what it means to be a chimera, and it doesn't seem too fun...
So this will be the final chapter uploaded in 2021, and I really hope that you all are enjoying the story so far. There will be quite a few more chapters after this one, and I'm still not too sure on how many there will be in total yet. But we're getting closer and this story has been so much fun to work on.
I've also (finally) uploaded all of the main scientist's references to my Reddit, so feel free to check them out! I also give a few little facts about them there for anyone interested.
I have no clue when the next chapter will be up, but I try to update my profile here every week or so with how it is going. Chapter 7 is in the works, but not even close to being done as of right now.
Well anyway I want to wish you all Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year! I really hope you're liking the story so far and I'm excited for what will be uploaded in 2022!
But until then I'll see you all in the next chapter! And thank you all so much for the favorites, follows, and reviews, they truly make my day.
:3
