Ch 7: Restrained

Rating: K+ for language

Characters: Roy, Truth

Timeline: BH/manga

Notes: most of this is being borrowed from a scrapped fic, when I wanted to do a 100 prompt challenge and quickly realized it was way too much of a commitment (lol). One of the prompts was "dark", and I thought it was perfect for some blind!Roy angst. This one is also perfect, because of the situation that led to his blindness. So I just used stuff from that prompt and made it better here. Maybe someday the 100 prompt thing will see the light of day but I've only done 10 so far so it'll be quite a while if that's the case haha

It starts out all white.

The last thing he remembers is struggling against the blades pinning him to the floor, and suddenly, it's all white. He barely even remembers why he was restrained to the floor…something about homunculi and…and—Riza! That's right, Riza is dying! He needs to get back to her! But…the circle…and the swords…and "sacrifices"...Shit, something really bad happened, didn't it?

Roy looks around, but it's still all white. Where the hell is he?

"Welcome, alchemist."

Roy startles, looking for the source of the voice. Or…voices? It sounded like more than one person…Finally, he sees something. Something that's also white, but with almost a haze of static around it. It resembles a man, but with no features anywhere on its body.

"W-who are you?" Roy asks warily, unsure if he's even expecting a response.

"Who am I?" the figure replies, a cheshire grin spreading across its otherwise featureless face. "I am known as the universe, or the world, or God, or all, or one… and I am you. I am the one who brings judgment on those who dare tread where they don't belong… Ones such as you…"

Roy's eyes widen, a memory popping into his mind. He'd been talking to Fullmetal once, shortly after the kid had joined the military, and they got onto the subject of God. Edward said he wasn't always opposed to the idea, until he'd met something that called itself "God". Roy asked what he meant, and Edward made him promise to never tell another soul what he said, before explaining what he'd seen when he attempted to bring his mother back to life. "It was a white being with a creepy smile, and it said its job was to bring arrogant humans back down to earth. And then next thing I know, I wake up with no leg." A stab of fear strikes Roy's heart; if this is the thing Edward was talking about…that means he committed human transmutation. But how? He promised Riza he wouldn't! Those bastards, Pride and Bradley…they forced him into it!

"You're… but… But I didn't even do anything! I didn't choose this!" Roy yells. He didn't do it! He was freaking pinned by his hands! Surely this thing can understand that!

"I am aware of that. But that doesn't change the fact that you are here. I will show you what I have to offer…for a price."

"I don't care about what you have to offer! Just let me leave! I give nothing, you give nothing; that's still equivalent." Roy is really beginning to panic. He can not afford to lose any body parts. Edward lost two whole limbs to this thing, and Alphonse lost his entire body. How can Roy save Riza if he's bleeding to death?

"I am afraid you don't understand. There is only one way to leave this place. The door is open, alchemist. And the only way out is through it."

…Only one way out?

"There's…nothing else I can do?"

"There is nothing, understood?" The being says, sounding annoyed briefly before its grin returns. "But if you are unwilling to pay the price yourself, you can always pawn it off onto others…"

Others…like the people in the philosopher's stone. Roy would use them without a second thought to save Riza, or any of his mens' lives. But he doesn't have the stone; that sadistic doctor had it. Roy has nothing to offer but himself.

"Isn't this unfair?" Roy asks.

The being's grin disappears. "You humans ask too many questions. It does not matter what is fair or unfair. It just is. Now go, before you overstay your welcome."

"But…I didn't do it…" Roy continues. He's never been one to beg; he's always thought it was a show of weakness. But this just isn't right. He doesn't care if there's "no other way". He'll find a way, dammit!

"Perhaps you are less intelligent than I originally thought. There is one exit, alchemist. Unless you wish your soul to be lost forever, you must use it."

Roy stares at the being, but it doesn't move. He's entirely helpless, and he hates it.

"That's right…there's nothing you can do. The door is open. Now see the Truth for yourself."

An overpowering creaking noise sounds behind Roy, and he turns to see a pair of massive black doors opening. He can't see what's inside, but he knows it's bad. Small, shadowy tendrils snake their way from the blackness, latching onto Roy's limbs with tiny claw-like fingers. He struggles, trying to break from their grasp, but he's restrained once again. He steals one last look at the white being, with its too-wide smile and eerie presence, as the hands pull him into the void. "Nooooooooo!" Roy yells, helpless to the forces around him.

And it ends up all black.

i think it's made pretty clear that you have to sacrifice something to get out of the portal of truth, but what i don't get is why roy couldn't have lost, like, a kidney or something. something that he didn't need since he literally did nothing wrong. stupid truth...

see you next prompt!