Big Bang Fic - Haunted by Water Chapter 10
Mar. 9th, 2010 06:31 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
cornerofmadnessHaunted by Water
Author –![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
cornerofmadness
Disclaimer- not mine, all rights belong to Ms. Arakawa
Beta –evil_little_dog & bob_fish
Artist – all the wonderful illos belong tobob_fish
Rating – overall NC-17 but mostly it’s R or less.
Genre- mystery, action
Pairings – Roy/Riza, Maes/Gracia, Roy/Maes, Roy/Maes/Riza/Gracia
Timeline/Spoilers – manga based, no direct spoilers except for Roy’s parentage and things that happened in Ishbal. So hmmm, spoilers for anything past chapter 50
Summary – crimes of today resurrect ghosts of the past. When Maes asks for Roy’s help investigating arson and murder, Roy never expected to have to face his past or that they would have to find a killer before Edward is targeted.
Warning – spoilers as noted above, all sorts of sex (Het, m/m, threesome), violence, off screen rape and murder of young teens, arson, Roy & Ed’s potty mouths.
Word Count -48,088
Author’s notes – this was very hard to finish in time. The plot was expansive. Thanks to everyone who helped me knuckle down and finish. Thanks especially toevil_little_dog, bob_fish and to enemytosleep for the encouragement.
Chapter Ten
“Hmm, that’s not the usual type of woman Mustang usually has breakfast with,” Breda said, spotting Madam Christmas as he and Riza walked into the diner that had become their defacto meeting place in the morning.
“If you’ll notice, it’s actually not Mustang’s usual time to be up and functioning either. You and I are usually on a second cup of coffee before he straggles in, eyes still shut,” Riza shot back, wondering what Roy’s mother had got him out of bed so earlier for.
“Good point,” Breda nodded, heading over to the table. He gave the middle-aged woman a curious look.
Christmas smiled at him over the rim of her lipstick-stained coffee cup. “Good morning. Roy’s coworkers, I presume.”
“That’s Lieutenant Breda and she’s Lieutenant Hawkeye,” Roy said. “Madam Christmas. We were just talking about…our special assignment. Have a seat and get something quick for breakfast. I get the idea we’re not going to be here long.”
“Has something happened?” Riza sat next to Roy.
“Armstrong called me early,” Roy said, stifling a yawn. “He thought that piece of metal last night might be a melted version of a Breckenridge jacket button.”
“Why would they take a rich child?” Breda’s brow wrinkled, his eyebrows meeting like two ginger caterpillars. “It doesn’t make sense.”
“It does if that nurse we talked to has something to do with it…or someone else at that school who might have seen us and got frightened,” Roy said. “He might have decided to have one last party before leaving.”
“These people covet the children closest to them,” Christmas said and when Breda turned his gaze on her, she added, “I’ve had experience in putting their kind in jail before.”
Breda glanced at his boss but Roy didn’t enlighten him as to who this woman was. Riza almost felt bad about keeping the man in the dark. She wondered if Breda was sharp enough to figure out some of it on his own.
Roy toyed with his coffee. “Hughes and Armstrong went back out to the Academy this morning.”
“And I was telling Roy that there is a known group buying and selling kids…well, known to those who aren’t going to have anything to do with lawmen,” Christmas said, her eyes narrowing. “The informants said the group is packing up. They’re set to run.”
“Do you know when and where?” Roy seemed calmer than Riza knew he had to be.
She shook her head. “It sounds like maybe they’re trying to pool a little more money and take the kids with them when they go.”
“Did the informants give you a name?” Breda asked.
“Hograth, Nick and Lauren, siblings,” she replied. “Nick’s the brawn and it seems like Lauren is the brains.”
“Lauren? I wouldn’t have expected a woman to do something like this,” Riza said. She tried to remember what Roy had told her about that woman. Riza knew it was nothing good but she still wasn’t expecting this.
“Some women don’t care about kids in the least,” Christmas replied. They were raised by a pedophile, probably learned early the money they could make selling kids and never did learn to value them.”
His face twisting, Breda said, “That’s horrible.”
“Their father was arrested for doing this same thing a couple decades ago.” Roy’s hand shook as he sipped his coffee. “Any idea where they are, ma’am?”
“Not yet but we’re looking. I’ll let you know.” Christmas got up and put a few sens down on the table. “Glad I was a help.”
Riza watched the older woman go then tried to assess Roy’s face. He was so shut down she couldn’t detect a single emotion. That was more frightening than him rip-roaring drunk. “Sir, what do we do now?”
“Eat,” Roy muttered. “We still have to keep alive.” He managed a faint smile. “Then we tell Hughes what we just learned and it might be the end of the investigation for us. We were just here to deal with reading the fires.”
“And hopefully we’re done with that,” Riza finished his thought for him, signaling for the waitress to come over.
“Of course, they’ll be working with the new information all day,” Roy said. “This isn’t going to happen overnight. There goes the relaxation for tonight.”
“Sir?” Breda cocked an eyebrow at him.
“Gran ordered me to give everyone a break at that dance you were looking at but I’m not sure if there’ll be time.” Roy shrugged. “Could we get so lucky to have a few hours off?”
“We need those as much as we need food,” Riza reasoned.
Roy shrugged. Riza hoped Maes simply said that they had done enough and sent Roy away as forcefully as the alchemist had sent away the brothers. Just like them, it would be for the best, even if Roy couldn’t see it.
* * *
“I don’t see why it was necessary to have me come down here with an escort,” Beckert sniffed at Maes.
“There have been some strange circumstances at your school,” Hughes lied. No one was sure yet if there was a missing boy at the Academy. Armstrong had taken some men and gone to investigate and to talk to Beckert’s coworkers.
“What does that have to do with me?” The man’s eyes weren’t on Maes. He was taking in the dinghy grey cinder block walls and the utter lack of a window in the interrogation room.
“Maybe nothing but I wouldn’t be doing my due diligence if I didn’t ask you a few more questions,” Maes replied.
“I can’t imagine I have anything to tell you,” Beckert said sourly.
“You might not but I have to ask. Were you aware there was another fire last night?”
Beckert shrugged. “It’s a big city. I’d imagine there are fires every night.”
“Not like this one. Luckily, this one went out faster than the arsonist intended.”
At that, Beckert’s eyes snapped up to meet Maes’s, something lurking in them. “Oh?”
Maes waved him off. “We have a suspicion that a young man from your academy was killed in that fire. You can see, with two fires tangentially around you, we have to ask some questions.”
“I am not an arsonist. I have no interest in burning down buildings. That soldier who came to the school yesterday, I remembered who he was,” Beckert said. “The Flame Alchemist. If you’re looking for an arsonist, how much further do you have to look than him?”
“I’m not too worried about him. Flame is helping me with this. It always helps to have an expert on fire to help catch an arsonist.” Maes tapped his fingers against the table. Poor Roy, every time someone thought about fires, they brought the Flame Alchemist up. It would hurt Roy to know that but Maes suspected his friend already figured that’s all anyone thought of him. “We’re going to talk to your coworkers and neighbors, Mr. Beckert, just to assure ourselves that you were where you said you were.”
“This is absurd. Why would I be running around town, setting fires?”
“To hide the bodies of children you’ve raped and killed,” Maes replied, watching his bluntness hit home. He knew he wouldn’t get too many more chances to talk to this man. Beckert lounged back on his chair, an oddly superior look on his face. The man didn’t think Maes had any evidence, which was true. He didn’t have much more than his suspicions and Maes realized he might have just overplayed his hand.
“Now why would I do something horrible like that?” Beckert’s smug tone made Maes think they were definitely on the right track. “I’m a school nurse. Yes, I do love children but not in that way. I’m there to help them, not hurt them.”
“So if I were to send a team out to your house, they’d find nothing incriminating?”
Beckert’s eyes flicked away at that question then he stared down at the table. “Nothing at all.” He lifted his chin. “Go ahead.”
Maes schooled all expression off his face. He didn’t want to let this guy know he was close to beating the interview. “It’s already in the works.”
“If you want to waste your time, be my guest,” Beckert said and something told Maes he was missing something. If Beckert had something to hide, maybe it wasn’t in the man’s house.
Before Maes could formulate another question to try and cow this man, someone knocked on the door. Lieutenant Barclay poked her head in, giving him a nervous look. Then again, when didn’t Barclay look nervous? “Yes, Lieutenant.”
“Urgent phone call on the line for you, sir, from Major Armstrong,” Barclay said.
“Keep Mr. Beckert company, Barclay,” Maes said getting up. He had no fear the young lady would reveal anything important. She knew nothing about this case. Her job was more administrative. She looked at him like he had just asked her to single-handedly detain a mass murderer. Well, maybe he had.
Maes’s feet could have carried him to the phone banks without him even looking. He spent that much time on the lines, mostly to Mustang passing along coded messages and most recently, making sure Roy didn’t miss out on a moment’s of his ‘niece’s’ life. The operator handed him a receiver. “Hughes here.”
“Lieutenant Colonel, something developed at the Academy,” Armstrong said. “Once we started asking around about Beckert, the school librarian tried to make a run for it. Not exactly made of stern stuff, this Mr. Mudica. He confessed to making photographs while Beckert performed with his ‘dolls’ as Mudica put it.”
“Dolls?” Maes hissed.
“Yes, sir.” Armstrong’s disgust was evident. “It appears Mudica was the one who killed the two girls, said Beckert talked him into it. We’re taking down his full confession now. I only had to flex once and he started talking and hasn’t shut up yet.”
Hughes tried not to laugh at the idea of Armstrong torturing a weak-willed man with his muscles. There was nothing funny about this. “Just bring him in and Armstrong, look in both the library and the nurse’s station for those photos. Beckert is too sure we’re not going to find anything in his home. If they’re taking photographic souvenirs, then they have to be keeping them somewhere.”
“I’ll be sure we take apart every part of this school that could hide such things. And, sir, he said they were buying the children from the Hograths. Mudica said they still have a large number of children with them and are planning to take the children with them when they leave.”
“We need to find them, too,” Maes said, hanging up. He hadn’t been able to find anything for Shanti to relay but at least he would be able to put two killers of children in a deep hole where no one would find them. Maes worked with a killer. He usually hated working under Gran but he would love to put the general in the same room with Mudica and Beckert and let the alchemist show off for them.
Maes went back into the interrogation, waving Barclay out. “Mr. Beckert, I’m sure you know Mr. Mudica. Would you like to know what he’s telling us?” With that question, Maes knew he had the bastard.
* * *
“To success.” Maes raised his glass, his arm around Gracia’s shoulder. Roy had to admit, motherhood seemed to be agreeing with her. She looked radiant, even if tired. The devore plum velvet gown, patterned in chrysanthemums, made her look so cute, Roy regretted she wouldn’t be able to come play with them later in the evening.
Roy raised his glass. “I’m almost disappointed I didn’t get to help bring them in.”
“You might not have,” Maes replied darkly and Gracia tapped his hand, her lips pursing. “But there are still the Hograths.”
“I’d rather Roy not help with them,” Riza said too quickly for Roy’s tastes. “Too many bad memories.”
Roy frowned at her. Breda was with Kavita elsewhere in the dance club and the band so loud, they all felt free to talk. He didn’t like that his friends didn’t trust his control. “I’m fine, Riza. I’m in control of myself. I’m not going to do anything stupid. Just don’t tell Fullmetal about this. Let me send him away for a couple of weeks until we find the Hograths. The two people Maes arrested weren’t finding their own kids.”
“Until that last boy from the school itself,” Maes corrected him.
“True.” Roy scowled. “I don’t want to talk about this. We’re here to have fun. You and Gracia have only a few hours before you’re taking her home. I want to dance.”
“Do you think it will be safe for you to dance with Riza here? Soldiers do come here,” Gracia said. “One of your men is here.”
“I think it will be okay if Riza dances with Maes, too.” Roy shrugged. “I’d say Riza could cut in into Breda’s dancing but I think he only has eyes for my sister.”
“Poor fellow. None of your sisters are…well, let’s just say they’re usually tricky to deal with.” Gracia smiled.
Roy laughed then shot back his whiskey. As the band started a new song with a driving beat, he held out his hand to Riza. “May I have this dance?”
“If you trust me in heels?” Riza glanced down at her black, steel-rhinestoned heels. “It’s been so long since I’ve worn any.”
“I always trust you. Besides,” He smirked. “You’re dancing with me and how could you possibly look bad doing that?”
Riza huffed at him and Gracia laughed. “Oh, Riza, how do you get his ego into a room with him? Is it part of your job to run ahead and butter the doorways?” the young mother asked.
“Back east, they come pre-buttered,” Riza replied and Gracia howled.
Roy pouted at them. “Very funny, you two. I could always go find other lovely ladies to dance with.”
“But could you find one lovelier than the one standing in front of you?” Maes asked.
Roy’s eyes swept over Riza. She was the most lovely thing he had ever seen. Her hair had been let long and loose to cover any hints of ink along her neckline. Maroon panels of silk chiffon dashed down to her waistline and thin strips of it added flare to her skirt. Most of the skirt and the side panels of her dress were matching maroon flowery lace. Roy couldn’t think too hard on what lay just under that lace or he’d be in trouble. “I could never find anyone who would be her match.”
Riza’s soft smile almost undid him. Roy hated this life that kept him from a woman he loved so much. One day, he promised himself, one day they could be together. “Occasionally, Roy, you do say the best things.”
“Shall we dance?”
“Oh, yes.”
Roy spun Riza out not the dance floor and, if she were having troubles with her heels, he didn’t notice. She matched the fast paced music, her lacy skirt swirling around her legs, giving him brief glimpses of her garters. It was enough to drive him insane. The dance was prelude to what would come later and in the back of his mind, Roy realized anyone looking at them dance would think they were lovers. He wished he cared more.
Roy traded with Maes, dancing to a slightly slower paced song with Gracia. It made him happy to see her having a good time. Eventually, he did find a few other ladies to dance with and Riza danced with a guy or two but when the music slowed down to a waltz, Riza was back in his arms. Feeling her against him, Roy allowed himself to feel good about what had happened today and just relaxed. What bad could possibly happen now?
* * *
Al wasn’t happy with him, but it was worth it. Ed had heard, when he surfaced from the museum for lunch, that Hughes had caught the two guys raping and killing kids. He still didn’t really see what it had to do with him or why Mustang was so freaked out about the off chance Ed might get captured. No one could lure him into something he didn’t want to do. Ed wasn’t twelve, no matter what the calendar said. He was far more mature.
Al hadn’t wanted him to go alone, but the truth was, they weren’t entirely sure where Mustang was. Ed had heard a rumor that Mustang was going to a dance club so in an attempt to talk the bastard out of sending them away, Ed sent Al to Mustang’s housing while he went to the club alone. Al would only bring unwanted attention.
It hadn’t been difficult to find the club. Ed could feel the vibrations of the music from outside. Smoke billowed out the open door. Ed realized a miscalculation in his plan. There was a bouncer at the door and he was twelve and, damn it, looked younger. Squaring his shoulders, he pulled out his pocket watch and strode over to the big man like he belonged inside. The man put a hand out.
“What do you think you’re doing, kid?”
Ed wagged the watched. “I’m the Fullmetal Alchemist. I need to speak to the Flame Alchemist. He’s inside.”
“Doesn’t mean you get to be,” the man said.
“I have to speak to him. It’s urgent,” Ed protested, taking another step forward. He swung his pocket watch back and forth. “Seriously.”
The big man sighed and turned inside. “Jeff, go get Mustang. Tell him there’s someone at the door for him.”
“It would be easier if I just went in,” Ed stuffed his watch away.
“Look kid, I have a job to do. That includes keeping the underaged out. No fancy silver watch changes that. This isn’t a military establishment,” the bouncer replied.
Ed huffed. “At least he’s in there.”
The bouncer snorted. “Mustang knows the owner, he’s always here, girlfriend stealing son of a …” The man stared down at Ed, letting the insult go.
“Yeah, he is,” Ed agreed cheerily, deciding it didn’t matter if he got inside or not. Telling Mustang he was staying now that the bad guys were caught was all that mattered. What he didn’t bank on was Mustang appearing with Hughes in tow. What was he doing here? Shouldn’t he be home with his baby, not out having fun?
“Edward, what in the hell are you doing here?” Roy demanded to know.
“Let’s not talk about this in front of the door.” Hughes pointed across the street which was relatively deserted.
“You and I need to talk!” Ed stomped his way across the road. “And what you are doing here, Hughes?”
“Taking my wife out for a few hours of fun, which you are now impeding,” Hughes replied, crossly.
Ed scowled. He hadn’t meant to do that. “Sorry.”
“You didn’t answer my question. I told you go straight home and pack,” Roy said. “Not go wandering around at night completely alone. Is Alphonse the only one listening?”
“No, he’s looking….um, forget about Al.” Ed slashed his hand across, chest high. “I know you caught the men hurting the kids. I’m not leaving.”
Roy’s arms crossed and he gave Ed that superior look he hated so much. It was then Ed realized the bastard wasn’t in uniform. It seemed strange seeing him in a deep grey suit with a hat on his head. Was Hughes’s suit blue and purple pinstripe? Where would one find such a thing? “You are going and that’s final. You have a new job to do and if you don’t care to do it, you can sit in the stockade for a while. It’s all the same to me.”
Somehow Ed doubted that. “But you caught the guys.”
“We caught the killers but not the team rounding up kids for sale,” Maes said. “Edward, just do as we ask, please. It shouldn’t take us long to find the flesh peddlers and then you come back. You’ll notice the assignment Roy gave you is only for two weeks. That’s barely any time at all.”
“But I can take care of myself. There’s no need to go now. You know who it is, right?” Ed was not about to back down now. Mustang really wouldn’t put him in the stockade.
“And they might flee. My men are looking for them right now, it’s true, but this is a big city,” Maes replied.
“Just go home and pack, Edward. I promise you nothing is going to be lost in those two weeks away. You might even find a new lead,” Roy said, making Ed wondered about the purpose of the proposed mission.
“I just don’t see why I can’t stay here and finish then go do that.”
“Edward, go home. Behind me is a building full of beautiful young women, ready to dance with me. Do you know what that means? Of course not, you’re twelve and clueless as to the fun said beautiful young women can be. Go home and quit bothering me,” Roy whined.
Hughes glanced at him sourly. “Remind me not to set you down with the boys for that big talk, Roy. You’ll warp them.”
“Granny already did that talk and it was terrifying enough then.” Ed shuddered. He’d never look at squash and socks the same way again.
“Fine, so you know what you’re costing us standing here.” Roy tapped his chest, his tie jiggling. “Or at least me. Hughes has a squalling baby to go home to.”
“And I’m happy about that,” Hughes replied. “Edward, I’d go pack before he decides you do need a long lecture on the subtleties of sex.”
Ed grunted. “I still don’t…”
“You don’t have to understand my reasons, Edward. I’m your commanding officer. You will stop arguing with my commands,” Roy said and Ed could hear it in the man’s tone. This was final.
“Fine, but I hate it,” Ed said. “Hope you go home alone, Colonel.”
Mustang sputtered, but allowed Hughes to wheel him around and take him back inside. Ed started back for home. Al would be disappointed, but there was only so far he could push Mustang without openly defying him. Ed knew enough about the military to know that Mustang couldn’t allow that, even if he did sympathize with Ed’s desires to help his brother.
As Ed walked, the smells wafting from the food vendors strategically parked outside the clubs and bars made his belly rumble. Al wasn’t expecting him back at any certain time. It wouldn’t hurt to stop for something to eat. Ed found a stand that was at the end of the row, next to a couple of convenient benches. Spicy smells lured him closer to the stand. “What is this?”
“A type of stew they like in the desert.” The man jerked his chin at the park nearby. Ed knew that beyond that was the Ishbalan slum. “It’s spicy and good. A lot of the soldiers got a taste for it. Would you like a bowl, kiddo?”
“Yeah, sure.” Ed traded the sens for a big bowl of the stew. The spices tickled his nose as he took a tentative sniff. The stew was hot both in temperature and spice level, delicious, too. Ed paid for a refill. By the time he got halfway through that, he felt so tired. He had worked hard all day and it was getting really late. Ed’s eyes felt as heavy as Al’s armor. Yawning broadly, he tried to polish off more of his stew.
Giving it up as a lost cause, Ed thought about getting a cab. Around here it should be easy. Yawning again, he got up and the world spun then tilted. Vaguely aware he was falling, Ed crashed into the bench then onto the ground. His moan of pain died as the night got very dark.
* * *
Roy sucked against the salty skin of Riza’s neck as her short nails raked down his back. Shifting his weight as he slowly thrust up into her, Roy trailed his lips down over a delicate collarbone then sucked one of her nipples into the warmth of his mouth.
“He does look so sweet when he’s like this, doesn’t he, Riza? Innocent yet wicked at the same time,” Maes said, his hand taking languid sweeps along the length of his erection.
One of Riza’s hands played through Roy’s damp hair. “He’s never completely innocent but we don’t need him to be.”
Roy chuckled against her heated skin. “You just going to stand there, chattering like usual, Maes, or are you going to come over here and fuck me?”
“You’ve been bossy all night. I would have thought Riza would have tired you out while I took Gracia home and got her settled. If she hadn’t insisted I come back here I might have abandoned you, Mr. Cranky.” Maes wagged a lubricant-slicked finger at Roy.
“He’s not going to be easy to tire,” Riza said, her hands smoothing down Roy’s back to massage his buttocks.
“You two have been wanting me here like this since the day I got off the train.” Roy flicked his tongue over her nipple. “You don’t want me tired.”
“We’re just happy you went to the pharmacy.” Maes got onto the bed with the couple. “Though there wasn’t much doubt you wouldn’t.”
“One of these days, I’ll surprise you.” Roy said, sinking deeper into Riza who braced herself against the mattress.
“Not about wanting us, you won’t,” Maes assured him, trailing his oiled finger around Roy’s opening.
“No,” Roy panted. “Probably not.” He sealed his mouth over Riza’s, his tongue probing into her as his hips slowed. She gently parted the well-muscled half moons of his butt for Maes.
Roy’s other lover slipped one finger deep into him, swishing over the bundle of nerve concealed inside him. Roy moaned into Riza’s mouth and her fingers dug into his muscles. Maes quickly followed it with a second finger, scissoring him open. Roy bucked back against the man’s hand.
Maes chuckled low, rasping. “You are so eager tonight. It has been awhile, hasn’t it? I’m not sure how you made it through a night of dancing first.”
“Chattering again. Do I have to beg?” Roy whimpered.
With his unoiled hand, Maes caught a handful of Roy’s hair. “I like it when you beg.” He leaned over Roy’s back, kissing Riza hard and hungry.
Roy fisted his fingers in the bedding. “I need you both,” he pleaded. “Need you inside me, Maes.”
Maes’s lips brushed against Roy’s cheek then lipped his earlobe. They continued their travels down Roy’s neck and over his shoulder before Maes finally pushed into the smaller man. Roy groaned as the stab of pain and pleasure shot through him like electricity. For a few luxuriously slow strokes, Roy stayed still inside of Riza, judging Maes’s rhythm then started moving with him.
None of them were in a hurry, each thrust and rock of the hip slow, like honey dripping from a spoon. The belabored bed squeaked out the symphony of their movements, sharp and loud as the three of them ground together. Riza soft little moans peppered a chorus to the springs. She shuddered under Roy. Feeling her getting slicker, Roy picked up his pace, trying to rub more of himself along her tenderest places. He couldn’t get a hand up to tease her clitoris, needing to support himself and Maes.
As if sensing the reason for Roy’s change in speed, Maes let go of Roy’s hips, wedging one hand between Roy and Riza. The effect was immediate as she arched under the men, crying out. Maes drove into Roy harder, faster, the motion taking the alchemist deeper into Riza. She clung tight to him, her hips meeting his sharply. Roy couldn’t hold on any longer, spilling as well. Maes gripped Roy tight when Riza pushed the dark-haired man up off her. Roy thrust back with wild abandon against Maes until he heard the man groan loudly as he came.
Maes let Roy down on the mattress gently then crashed down next to him and Riza. Roy kissed Riza’s belly then rolled over to kiss Maes, too. “You can stay with us a little longer, can’t you?” Roy asked.
Maes grinned. “I’m not done with you yet. How many neckties did you bring or will I need a belt?”
Roy laughed, burrowing into the bedding. “Just let me catch my breath a little.”
* * *
Al was officially frightened. Ed hadn’t come home and it was getting late, far too late. It was well past midnight and there had been no signs of his brother. Al had checked with the desk clerk but not only hadn’t he not seen Ed, he hadn’t seen Breda come in either. Al called the desk clerk of the women officers’ quarters but she refused to tell him anything. Al checked Breda’s room but there was no answer. He didn’t know which room was Riza’s and he didn’t want to call the Hugheses yet and wake up the baby. That meant he had to go back to Mustang’s cottage. Ed had been going to see the man. Maybe he had found him and forgotten to call the hotel.
Al knocked on the door, hating to disturb the colonel at such a late hour. Ed would be so mad at him for this but better a mad Ed than a dead one. Al knocked again, wondering if the colonel could be frightened awake and come out swinging, or in his case, flinging fire. Ed sometimes woke up screaming, attacking things in his dreams, especially if Al accidentally startled him.
The door banged open and the colonel stood there, his mouth dropping open as he saw Al. If the colonel had been in bed, he must have been having a rough night. His hair and face were sweaty and his hair stood up unevenly. While Al didn’t have a real sense of smell any more, he’d bet the man would smell funny. Confusion and irritation drained out of the alchemist’s eyes, replaced by concern.
“Alphonse, where’s Edward? Why are you here so late?”
“Ed never came home, sir. I was hoping maybe he was here but…” Al’s armor rattled. “But he’s not, is he?”
“Son of a bitch.” Mustang spun on one hell, heading inside. “Hughes, Hawkeye, Ed’s gone missing.”
Al stepped in after him, surprised to see the other two officers in the living room. All of them had the same somewhat haggard, exhausted look Mustang did.
“We were having … a conference on what to do about the child kidnapping ring,” Hughes said. Al didn’t really believe him for some reason, but he wasn’t sure what else it could be.
“When did you see your brother last?” Mustang asked.
“When he went to find you,” Al replied. “He was going to the club.”
Mustang’s dark eyes hardened. “He found me but that was hours ago.”
“He never came back.” Al’s gauntlets curled into fists. “I got worried.”
“You have us worried now, too,” Hughes assured him.
“We’ll help you look,” Riza said, pushing the phone toward Hughes. “You’d better call out your men.”
Hughes nodded. “At least we know where Ed was last seen.”
“Harassing me at the club.” Mustang put his hand on Al’s gauntlet. Al knew the older alchemist was well aware he couldn’t feel the comfort of that action but Al appreciated it anyhow. “We will find him, Alphonse.”
“How could they have gotten hold of Edward, if that is what happened?” Riza asked.
“I’m not sure,” Mustang said.
“Ed is so quick and cunning, like a fox,” Al said. “That’s why I’m so worried.”
“I’m sending for a car so we can get back there quickly,” Hughes said.
“Thank you,” Al said, hating that those words seemed to inadequate to cover what he was feeling right now. He wished Ed treated Mustang better since the man was so willing to help.
Hughes got the car there quickly. None of them took the time to change back into their uniforms, going out in the outfits they must have worn to the club since Al decided that was where they all had to have been in their suits and Hawkeye’s lovely dress. He just wasn’t sure why Hughes hadn’t said that. The street wasn’t quiet yet around the club since the bars weren’t closed yet. A quick conversation with the bouncer gave them a path to follow.
“Why would Edward come down this way?” Mustang asked. “It would have been easier to get a cab at the corner.”
“Ed doesn’t seem like the take a cab sort of kid to me,” Hughes replied.
“Food,” Al put in. “The food vendors are down there. Ed is always hungry.”
“Boys are walking stomachs,” Riza said, clicking down the street. Al didn’t know how women wore shoes like that. Her feet had to hurt.
Al felt a tightness inside him that he couldn’t quite explain. It was as if he still had a stomach to knot up. There were several open slots where some vendors had gone home early. What if no one had seen his brother? He should have made a drawing of Ed to show people.
“Yeah, I saw a little kid matching that description,” a woman – or Al thought she might be a woman. It was hard to tell – told Hughes. “He was down there at the end.”
Al glanced where she pointed. There was nothing there but an empty spot for a vendor.
“Downard packed up early. He usually stays until…” the woman trailed off.
“Until?” Hughes prompted.
“Nothing.”
“Look, we don’t care if you guys sell to the Ishbalans after hours,” Mustang said. “We just need to find that boy. He’s a state alchemist. If anything happens to him, there could be trouble for all the vendors.”
She sighed heavily. “The kid took sick. Downard said he was closing up early to take the kid to the hospital. You might want to look there for him.”
“Does this man close early often?” Hawkeye asked.
“Sometimes, yes. He shares the stand with Miller. They make this Ishbalan stew. It’s popular with the kids who cut through the park to the slums.” She met Mustang’s gaze as if knowing he was the one in charge even though he didn’t have on his uniform. “Are we in trouble for selling to the Ishbalans?”
“No, they need to eat, too,” Mustang replied. “Alphonse.” Mustang beckoned him into the shadows then asked if Al had a tablet on him. Grateful the man gave him shadows to work with – maybe he thought Al carried things inside him - Al pulled it out of leg pouch. “Ma’am, could you describe those two men for us?”
Al drew quickly as the woman obeyed. Mustang thanked her, giving her a generous tip while Hughes went to the phone booth at the end of the street. Al figured he was getting men over to the hospitals.
“Ed’s not at the hospital, is he?” Al asked mournfully.
“Probably not,” Hughes said.
“But I think we have an answer,” Mustang put in. “We know these two were serving Ishbalan children. It would probably be easy to cart them out in a trunk that they carted the food in. The stew was probably drugged whenever a good prospect came up to the stand. Ed is small and I guess he might be considered cute when he’s not scowling. They might have decided for one last grab, if our information about them getting out of town is correct.”
“How are we going to find Ed before something bad happens?” Al couldn’t keep his voice from shaking.
Mustang gazed at him evenly. “Trust me, Alphonse, I know some of the most resourceful people in this town. We will find your brother.”
Al had no choice but to believe him.
* * *
“Do you really think it was smart to send those two fools out tonight?” Lauren followed her brother through the warehouse. “We’re about to leave.”
“No sense in not grabbing a few more kids to take with us.” Nick shrugged. “They won’t have any connection to the place we’re going.”
Lauren couldn’t argue that. When they got into the main part of the warehouse where they stored the food items that made up their cover, Miller had another young Ishbalan boy he was undressing so he could put him in the white outfit Lauren had chosen for their merchandise. It made the kids look more innocent. Next to Miller, Downward was busy doing the same to a young girl. He had a second young teen tossed onto the floor like a broken doll.
“Looks like you guys did well,” Nick said.
“It’s almost too easy,” Miller replied, chuckling.
“Nick, give Downard a hand with that boy. I don’t want to dawdle. I’d like to be gone by this time tomorrow.” Lauren stabbed a finger at the little blond lying on the floor.
Nick favored his sister with a sour look. “You don’t have to be so bitchy about it.” He rifled the boy’s pockets then stood up, grinning, a silver watch dangling between his fingers. “This will bring in a nice handful of sens.”
Lauren gasped, running over to her brother. She grabbed the watch. “You idiots, don’t you know what this is?”
“A pocket watch,” Nick replied sarcastically.
“It’s a state alchemist watch. You just brought the military here,” Lauren hissed, kicking the boy’s ankle, hearing it clank.
“He’s just a kid. How could he be a state alchemist?” Nick asked.
“Probably stole the watch,” Downard said as Lauren knelt down.
“He’s got an automail leg,” she said, running her hand up the captive boy’s leg.
“Arm, too. I was thinking we could sell him to Martin. You know how he loves his amputees.” Nick chuckled. “Of course, he probably wants the kid without his metal limbs. Know how to get the limbs off?”
“It’s not exactly easy,” Lauren said. “You should just take him and drop him in a gutter somewhere. It’s too dangerous to keep him.”
“If anyone cared about this kid, would he have been wandering around alone at night?” Nick pocketed the watch. “How would the military know to come looking for him here?”
“They might,” Lauren argued. “Toss him.”
“No way. Martin will pay way too much.”
Lauren sighed. “Fine, keep him for sale. I’m leaving on the train tonight. You guys follow tomorrow. But word of warning, brother, alchemists need to be able to draw or have their array on their body some place. You’d better be sure to get that array off of him and disable one of his arms.”
“Hmmm, Martin won’t like it if I break the real arm.” Nick rubbed his chin.
“No, he would not,” Lauren said. “Just dump the brat. Hell, dump him in the damn river for all I care. Money isn’t everything.”
“Just go ahead, sis. I’ll handle this and make the money,” Nick said, disgusted with her. He stripped the boy’s pants off then his shirt. “Damn, all this damage, it’ll get Martin so hard, he’ll pay us a fortune. Downard, get me a sledgehammer. I’ll get this arm off the old-fashioned way.”
“You do that then. I’ll see you soon,” Lauren said, deciding she would take the first train anywhere then slowly go to the prearranged meeting place, just in case her moron brother didn’t get himself caught. “I’d leave the leg and let Martin decide what he wants. The arm though, has to go.”
“This will be fun.” Nick bounced like a kid with candy.
Lauren left to the sounds of metal hitting metal.
on to the final chapter
Author –
cornerofmadnessDisclaimer- not mine, all rights belong to Ms. Arakawa
Beta –
evil_little_dog & bob_fishArtist – all the wonderful illos belong to
bob_fishRating – overall NC-17 but mostly it’s R or less.
Genre- mystery, action
Pairings – Roy/Riza, Maes/Gracia, Roy/Maes, Roy/Maes/Riza/Gracia
Timeline/Spoilers – manga based, no direct spoilers except for Roy’s parentage and things that happened in Ishbal. So hmmm, spoilers for anything past chapter 50
Summary – crimes of today resurrect ghosts of the past. When Maes asks for Roy’s help investigating arson and murder, Roy never expected to have to face his past or that they would have to find a killer before Edward is targeted.
Warning – spoilers as noted above, all sorts of sex (Het, m/m, threesome), violence, off screen rape and murder of young teens, arson, Roy & Ed’s potty mouths.
Word Count -48,088
Author’s notes – this was very hard to finish in time. The plot was expansive. Thanks to everyone who helped me knuckle down and finish. Thanks especially to
evil_little_dog, bob_fish and to enemytosleep for the encouragement.Chapter Ten
“Hmm, that’s not the usual type of woman Mustang usually has breakfast with,” Breda said, spotting Madam Christmas as he and Riza walked into the diner that had become their defacto meeting place in the morning.
“If you’ll notice, it’s actually not Mustang’s usual time to be up and functioning either. You and I are usually on a second cup of coffee before he straggles in, eyes still shut,” Riza shot back, wondering what Roy’s mother had got him out of bed so earlier for.
“Good point,” Breda nodded, heading over to the table. He gave the middle-aged woman a curious look.
Christmas smiled at him over the rim of her lipstick-stained coffee cup. “Good morning. Roy’s coworkers, I presume.”
“That’s Lieutenant Breda and she’s Lieutenant Hawkeye,” Roy said. “Madam Christmas. We were just talking about…our special assignment. Have a seat and get something quick for breakfast. I get the idea we’re not going to be here long.”
“Has something happened?” Riza sat next to Roy.
“Armstrong called me early,” Roy said, stifling a yawn. “He thought that piece of metal last night might be a melted version of a Breckenridge jacket button.”
“Why would they take a rich child?” Breda’s brow wrinkled, his eyebrows meeting like two ginger caterpillars. “It doesn’t make sense.”
“It does if that nurse we talked to has something to do with it…or someone else at that school who might have seen us and got frightened,” Roy said. “He might have decided to have one last party before leaving.”
“These people covet the children closest to them,” Christmas said and when Breda turned his gaze on her, she added, “I’ve had experience in putting their kind in jail before.”
Breda glanced at his boss but Roy didn’t enlighten him as to who this woman was. Riza almost felt bad about keeping the man in the dark. She wondered if Breda was sharp enough to figure out some of it on his own.
Roy toyed with his coffee. “Hughes and Armstrong went back out to the Academy this morning.”
“And I was telling Roy that there is a known group buying and selling kids…well, known to those who aren’t going to have anything to do with lawmen,” Christmas said, her eyes narrowing. “The informants said the group is packing up. They’re set to run.”
“Do you know when and where?” Roy seemed calmer than Riza knew he had to be.
She shook her head. “It sounds like maybe they’re trying to pool a little more money and take the kids with them when they go.”
“Did the informants give you a name?” Breda asked.
“Hograth, Nick and Lauren, siblings,” she replied. “Nick’s the brawn and it seems like Lauren is the brains.”
“Lauren? I wouldn’t have expected a woman to do something like this,” Riza said. She tried to remember what Roy had told her about that woman. Riza knew it was nothing good but she still wasn’t expecting this.
“Some women don’t care about kids in the least,” Christmas replied. They were raised by a pedophile, probably learned early the money they could make selling kids and never did learn to value them.”
His face twisting, Breda said, “That’s horrible.”
“Their father was arrested for doing this same thing a couple decades ago.” Roy’s hand shook as he sipped his coffee. “Any idea where they are, ma’am?”
“Not yet but we’re looking. I’ll let you know.” Christmas got up and put a few sens down on the table. “Glad I was a help.”
Riza watched the older woman go then tried to assess Roy’s face. He was so shut down she couldn’t detect a single emotion. That was more frightening than him rip-roaring drunk. “Sir, what do we do now?”
“Eat,” Roy muttered. “We still have to keep alive.” He managed a faint smile. “Then we tell Hughes what we just learned and it might be the end of the investigation for us. We were just here to deal with reading the fires.”
“And hopefully we’re done with that,” Riza finished his thought for him, signaling for the waitress to come over.
“Of course, they’ll be working with the new information all day,” Roy said. “This isn’t going to happen overnight. There goes the relaxation for tonight.”
“Sir?” Breda cocked an eyebrow at him.
“Gran ordered me to give everyone a break at that dance you were looking at but I’m not sure if there’ll be time.” Roy shrugged. “Could we get so lucky to have a few hours off?”
“We need those as much as we need food,” Riza reasoned.
Roy shrugged. Riza hoped Maes simply said that they had done enough and sent Roy away as forcefully as the alchemist had sent away the brothers. Just like them, it would be for the best, even if Roy couldn’t see it.
* * *
“I don’t see why it was necessary to have me come down here with an escort,” Beckert sniffed at Maes.
“There have been some strange circumstances at your school,” Hughes lied. No one was sure yet if there was a missing boy at the Academy. Armstrong had taken some men and gone to investigate and to talk to Beckert’s coworkers.
“What does that have to do with me?” The man’s eyes weren’t on Maes. He was taking in the dinghy grey cinder block walls and the utter lack of a window in the interrogation room.
“Maybe nothing but I wouldn’t be doing my due diligence if I didn’t ask you a few more questions,” Maes replied.
“I can’t imagine I have anything to tell you,” Beckert said sourly.
“You might not but I have to ask. Were you aware there was another fire last night?”
Beckert shrugged. “It’s a big city. I’d imagine there are fires every night.”
“Not like this one. Luckily, this one went out faster than the arsonist intended.”
At that, Beckert’s eyes snapped up to meet Maes’s, something lurking in them. “Oh?”
Maes waved him off. “We have a suspicion that a young man from your academy was killed in that fire. You can see, with two fires tangentially around you, we have to ask some questions.”
“I am not an arsonist. I have no interest in burning down buildings. That soldier who came to the school yesterday, I remembered who he was,” Beckert said. “The Flame Alchemist. If you’re looking for an arsonist, how much further do you have to look than him?”
“I’m not too worried about him. Flame is helping me with this. It always helps to have an expert on fire to help catch an arsonist.” Maes tapped his fingers against the table. Poor Roy, every time someone thought about fires, they brought the Flame Alchemist up. It would hurt Roy to know that but Maes suspected his friend already figured that’s all anyone thought of him. “We’re going to talk to your coworkers and neighbors, Mr. Beckert, just to assure ourselves that you were where you said you were.”
“This is absurd. Why would I be running around town, setting fires?”
“To hide the bodies of children you’ve raped and killed,” Maes replied, watching his bluntness hit home. He knew he wouldn’t get too many more chances to talk to this man. Beckert lounged back on his chair, an oddly superior look on his face. The man didn’t think Maes had any evidence, which was true. He didn’t have much more than his suspicions and Maes realized he might have just overplayed his hand.
“Now why would I do something horrible like that?” Beckert’s smug tone made Maes think they were definitely on the right track. “I’m a school nurse. Yes, I do love children but not in that way. I’m there to help them, not hurt them.”
“So if I were to send a team out to your house, they’d find nothing incriminating?”
Beckert’s eyes flicked away at that question then he stared down at the table. “Nothing at all.” He lifted his chin. “Go ahead.”
Maes schooled all expression off his face. He didn’t want to let this guy know he was close to beating the interview. “It’s already in the works.”
“If you want to waste your time, be my guest,” Beckert said and something told Maes he was missing something. If Beckert had something to hide, maybe it wasn’t in the man’s house.
Before Maes could formulate another question to try and cow this man, someone knocked on the door. Lieutenant Barclay poked her head in, giving him a nervous look. Then again, when didn’t Barclay look nervous? “Yes, Lieutenant.”
“Urgent phone call on the line for you, sir, from Major Armstrong,” Barclay said.
“Keep Mr. Beckert company, Barclay,” Maes said getting up. He had no fear the young lady would reveal anything important. She knew nothing about this case. Her job was more administrative. She looked at him like he had just asked her to single-handedly detain a mass murderer. Well, maybe he had.
Maes’s feet could have carried him to the phone banks without him even looking. He spent that much time on the lines, mostly to Mustang passing along coded messages and most recently, making sure Roy didn’t miss out on a moment’s of his ‘niece’s’ life. The operator handed him a receiver. “Hughes here.”
“Lieutenant Colonel, something developed at the Academy,” Armstrong said. “Once we started asking around about Beckert, the school librarian tried to make a run for it. Not exactly made of stern stuff, this Mr. Mudica. He confessed to making photographs while Beckert performed with his ‘dolls’ as Mudica put it.”
“Dolls?” Maes hissed.
“Yes, sir.” Armstrong’s disgust was evident. “It appears Mudica was the one who killed the two girls, said Beckert talked him into it. We’re taking down his full confession now. I only had to flex once and he started talking and hasn’t shut up yet.”
Hughes tried not to laugh at the idea of Armstrong torturing a weak-willed man with his muscles. There was nothing funny about this. “Just bring him in and Armstrong, look in both the library and the nurse’s station for those photos. Beckert is too sure we’re not going to find anything in his home. If they’re taking photographic souvenirs, then they have to be keeping them somewhere.”
“I’ll be sure we take apart every part of this school that could hide such things. And, sir, he said they were buying the children from the Hograths. Mudica said they still have a large number of children with them and are planning to take the children with them when they leave.”
“We need to find them, too,” Maes said, hanging up. He hadn’t been able to find anything for Shanti to relay but at least he would be able to put two killers of children in a deep hole where no one would find them. Maes worked with a killer. He usually hated working under Gran but he would love to put the general in the same room with Mudica and Beckert and let the alchemist show off for them.
Maes went back into the interrogation, waving Barclay out. “Mr. Beckert, I’m sure you know Mr. Mudica. Would you like to know what he’s telling us?” With that question, Maes knew he had the bastard.
* * *
“To success.” Maes raised his glass, his arm around Gracia’s shoulder. Roy had to admit, motherhood seemed to be agreeing with her. She looked radiant, even if tired. The devore plum velvet gown, patterned in chrysanthemums, made her look so cute, Roy regretted she wouldn’t be able to come play with them later in the evening.
Roy raised his glass. “I’m almost disappointed I didn’t get to help bring them in.”
“You might not have,” Maes replied darkly and Gracia tapped his hand, her lips pursing. “But there are still the Hograths.”
“I’d rather Roy not help with them,” Riza said too quickly for Roy’s tastes. “Too many bad memories.”
Roy frowned at her. Breda was with Kavita elsewhere in the dance club and the band so loud, they all felt free to talk. He didn’t like that his friends didn’t trust his control. “I’m fine, Riza. I’m in control of myself. I’m not going to do anything stupid. Just don’t tell Fullmetal about this. Let me send him away for a couple of weeks until we find the Hograths. The two people Maes arrested weren’t finding their own kids.”
“Until that last boy from the school itself,” Maes corrected him.
“True.” Roy scowled. “I don’t want to talk about this. We’re here to have fun. You and Gracia have only a few hours before you’re taking her home. I want to dance.”
“Do you think it will be safe for you to dance with Riza here? Soldiers do come here,” Gracia said. “One of your men is here.”
“I think it will be okay if Riza dances with Maes, too.” Roy shrugged. “I’d say Riza could cut in into Breda’s dancing but I think he only has eyes for my sister.”
“Poor fellow. None of your sisters are…well, let’s just say they’re usually tricky to deal with.” Gracia smiled.
Roy laughed then shot back his whiskey. As the band started a new song with a driving beat, he held out his hand to Riza. “May I have this dance?”
“If you trust me in heels?” Riza glanced down at her black, steel-rhinestoned heels. “It’s been so long since I’ve worn any.”
“I always trust you. Besides,” He smirked. “You’re dancing with me and how could you possibly look bad doing that?”
Riza huffed at him and Gracia laughed. “Oh, Riza, how do you get his ego into a room with him? Is it part of your job to run ahead and butter the doorways?” the young mother asked.
“Back east, they come pre-buttered,” Riza replied and Gracia howled.
Roy pouted at them. “Very funny, you two. I could always go find other lovely ladies to dance with.”
“But could you find one lovelier than the one standing in front of you?” Maes asked.
Roy’s eyes swept over Riza. She was the most lovely thing he had ever seen. Her hair had been let long and loose to cover any hints of ink along her neckline. Maroon panels of silk chiffon dashed down to her waistline and thin strips of it added flare to her skirt. Most of the skirt and the side panels of her dress were matching maroon flowery lace. Roy couldn’t think too hard on what lay just under that lace or he’d be in trouble. “I could never find anyone who would be her match.”
Riza’s soft smile almost undid him. Roy hated this life that kept him from a woman he loved so much. One day, he promised himself, one day they could be together. “Occasionally, Roy, you do say the best things.”
“Shall we dance?”
“Oh, yes.”
Roy spun Riza out not the dance floor and, if she were having troubles with her heels, he didn’t notice. She matched the fast paced music, her lacy skirt swirling around her legs, giving him brief glimpses of her garters. It was enough to drive him insane. The dance was prelude to what would come later and in the back of his mind, Roy realized anyone looking at them dance would think they were lovers. He wished he cared more.
Roy traded with Maes, dancing to a slightly slower paced song with Gracia. It made him happy to see her having a good time. Eventually, he did find a few other ladies to dance with and Riza danced with a guy or two but when the music slowed down to a waltz, Riza was back in his arms. Feeling her against him, Roy allowed himself to feel good about what had happened today and just relaxed. What bad could possibly happen now?
* * *
Al wasn’t happy with him, but it was worth it. Ed had heard, when he surfaced from the museum for lunch, that Hughes had caught the two guys raping and killing kids. He still didn’t really see what it had to do with him or why Mustang was so freaked out about the off chance Ed might get captured. No one could lure him into something he didn’t want to do. Ed wasn’t twelve, no matter what the calendar said. He was far more mature.
Al hadn’t wanted him to go alone, but the truth was, they weren’t entirely sure where Mustang was. Ed had heard a rumor that Mustang was going to a dance club so in an attempt to talk the bastard out of sending them away, Ed sent Al to Mustang’s housing while he went to the club alone. Al would only bring unwanted attention.
It hadn’t been difficult to find the club. Ed could feel the vibrations of the music from outside. Smoke billowed out the open door. Ed realized a miscalculation in his plan. There was a bouncer at the door and he was twelve and, damn it, looked younger. Squaring his shoulders, he pulled out his pocket watch and strode over to the big man like he belonged inside. The man put a hand out.
“What do you think you’re doing, kid?”
Ed wagged the watched. “I’m the Fullmetal Alchemist. I need to speak to the Flame Alchemist. He’s inside.”
“Doesn’t mean you get to be,” the man said.
“I have to speak to him. It’s urgent,” Ed protested, taking another step forward. He swung his pocket watch back and forth. “Seriously.”
The big man sighed and turned inside. “Jeff, go get Mustang. Tell him there’s someone at the door for him.”
“It would be easier if I just went in,” Ed stuffed his watch away.
“Look kid, I have a job to do. That includes keeping the underaged out. No fancy silver watch changes that. This isn’t a military establishment,” the bouncer replied.
Ed huffed. “At least he’s in there.”
The bouncer snorted. “Mustang knows the owner, he’s always here, girlfriend stealing son of a …” The man stared down at Ed, letting the insult go.
“Yeah, he is,” Ed agreed cheerily, deciding it didn’t matter if he got inside or not. Telling Mustang he was staying now that the bad guys were caught was all that mattered. What he didn’t bank on was Mustang appearing with Hughes in tow. What was he doing here? Shouldn’t he be home with his baby, not out having fun?
“Edward, what in the hell are you doing here?” Roy demanded to know.
“Let’s not talk about this in front of the door.” Hughes pointed across the street which was relatively deserted.
“You and I need to talk!” Ed stomped his way across the road. “And what you are doing here, Hughes?”
“Taking my wife out for a few hours of fun, which you are now impeding,” Hughes replied, crossly.
Ed scowled. He hadn’t meant to do that. “Sorry.”
“You didn’t answer my question. I told you go straight home and pack,” Roy said. “Not go wandering around at night completely alone. Is Alphonse the only one listening?”
“No, he’s looking….um, forget about Al.” Ed slashed his hand across, chest high. “I know you caught the men hurting the kids. I’m not leaving.”
Roy’s arms crossed and he gave Ed that superior look he hated so much. It was then Ed realized the bastard wasn’t in uniform. It seemed strange seeing him in a deep grey suit with a hat on his head. Was Hughes’s suit blue and purple pinstripe? Where would one find such a thing? “You are going and that’s final. You have a new job to do and if you don’t care to do it, you can sit in the stockade for a while. It’s all the same to me.”
Somehow Ed doubted that. “But you caught the guys.”
“We caught the killers but not the team rounding up kids for sale,” Maes said. “Edward, just do as we ask, please. It shouldn’t take us long to find the flesh peddlers and then you come back. You’ll notice the assignment Roy gave you is only for two weeks. That’s barely any time at all.”
“But I can take care of myself. There’s no need to go now. You know who it is, right?” Ed was not about to back down now. Mustang really wouldn’t put him in the stockade.
“And they might flee. My men are looking for them right now, it’s true, but this is a big city,” Maes replied.
“Just go home and pack, Edward. I promise you nothing is going to be lost in those two weeks away. You might even find a new lead,” Roy said, making Ed wondered about the purpose of the proposed mission.
“I just don’t see why I can’t stay here and finish then go do that.”
“Edward, go home. Behind me is a building full of beautiful young women, ready to dance with me. Do you know what that means? Of course not, you’re twelve and clueless as to the fun said beautiful young women can be. Go home and quit bothering me,” Roy whined.
Hughes glanced at him sourly. “Remind me not to set you down with the boys for that big talk, Roy. You’ll warp them.”
“Granny already did that talk and it was terrifying enough then.” Ed shuddered. He’d never look at squash and socks the same way again.
“Fine, so you know what you’re costing us standing here.” Roy tapped his chest, his tie jiggling. “Or at least me. Hughes has a squalling baby to go home to.”
“And I’m happy about that,” Hughes replied. “Edward, I’d go pack before he decides you do need a long lecture on the subtleties of sex.”
Ed grunted. “I still don’t…”
“You don’t have to understand my reasons, Edward. I’m your commanding officer. You will stop arguing with my commands,” Roy said and Ed could hear it in the man’s tone. This was final.
“Fine, but I hate it,” Ed said. “Hope you go home alone, Colonel.”
Mustang sputtered, but allowed Hughes to wheel him around and take him back inside. Ed started back for home. Al would be disappointed, but there was only so far he could push Mustang without openly defying him. Ed knew enough about the military to know that Mustang couldn’t allow that, even if he did sympathize with Ed’s desires to help his brother.
As Ed walked, the smells wafting from the food vendors strategically parked outside the clubs and bars made his belly rumble. Al wasn’t expecting him back at any certain time. It wouldn’t hurt to stop for something to eat. Ed found a stand that was at the end of the row, next to a couple of convenient benches. Spicy smells lured him closer to the stand. “What is this?”
“A type of stew they like in the desert.” The man jerked his chin at the park nearby. Ed knew that beyond that was the Ishbalan slum. “It’s spicy and good. A lot of the soldiers got a taste for it. Would you like a bowl, kiddo?”
“Yeah, sure.” Ed traded the sens for a big bowl of the stew. The spices tickled his nose as he took a tentative sniff. The stew was hot both in temperature and spice level, delicious, too. Ed paid for a refill. By the time he got halfway through that, he felt so tired. He had worked hard all day and it was getting really late. Ed’s eyes felt as heavy as Al’s armor. Yawning broadly, he tried to polish off more of his stew.
Giving it up as a lost cause, Ed thought about getting a cab. Around here it should be easy. Yawning again, he got up and the world spun then tilted. Vaguely aware he was falling, Ed crashed into the bench then onto the ground. His moan of pain died as the night got very dark.
* * *
Roy sucked against the salty skin of Riza’s neck as her short nails raked down his back. Shifting his weight as he slowly thrust up into her, Roy trailed his lips down over a delicate collarbone then sucked one of her nipples into the warmth of his mouth.
“He does look so sweet when he’s like this, doesn’t he, Riza? Innocent yet wicked at the same time,” Maes said, his hand taking languid sweeps along the length of his erection.
One of Riza’s hands played through Roy’s damp hair. “He’s never completely innocent but we don’t need him to be.”
Roy chuckled against her heated skin. “You just going to stand there, chattering like usual, Maes, or are you going to come over here and fuck me?”
“You’ve been bossy all night. I would have thought Riza would have tired you out while I took Gracia home and got her settled. If she hadn’t insisted I come back here I might have abandoned you, Mr. Cranky.” Maes wagged a lubricant-slicked finger at Roy.
“He’s not going to be easy to tire,” Riza said, her hands smoothing down Roy’s back to massage his buttocks.
“You two have been wanting me here like this since the day I got off the train.” Roy flicked his tongue over her nipple. “You don’t want me tired.”
“We’re just happy you went to the pharmacy.” Maes got onto the bed with the couple. “Though there wasn’t much doubt you wouldn’t.”
“One of these days, I’ll surprise you.” Roy said, sinking deeper into Riza who braced herself against the mattress.
“Not about wanting us, you won’t,” Maes assured him, trailing his oiled finger around Roy’s opening.
“No,” Roy panted. “Probably not.” He sealed his mouth over Riza’s, his tongue probing into her as his hips slowed. She gently parted the well-muscled half moons of his butt for Maes.
Roy’s other lover slipped one finger deep into him, swishing over the bundle of nerve concealed inside him. Roy moaned into Riza’s mouth and her fingers dug into his muscles. Maes quickly followed it with a second finger, scissoring him open. Roy bucked back against the man’s hand.
Maes chuckled low, rasping. “You are so eager tonight. It has been awhile, hasn’t it? I’m not sure how you made it through a night of dancing first.”
“Chattering again. Do I have to beg?” Roy whimpered.
With his unoiled hand, Maes caught a handful of Roy’s hair. “I like it when you beg.” He leaned over Roy’s back, kissing Riza hard and hungry.
Roy fisted his fingers in the bedding. “I need you both,” he pleaded. “Need you inside me, Maes.”
Maes’s lips brushed against Roy’s cheek then lipped his earlobe. They continued their travels down Roy’s neck and over his shoulder before Maes finally pushed into the smaller man. Roy groaned as the stab of pain and pleasure shot through him like electricity. For a few luxuriously slow strokes, Roy stayed still inside of Riza, judging Maes’s rhythm then started moving with him.
None of them were in a hurry, each thrust and rock of the hip slow, like honey dripping from a spoon. The belabored bed squeaked out the symphony of their movements, sharp and loud as the three of them ground together. Riza soft little moans peppered a chorus to the springs. She shuddered under Roy. Feeling her getting slicker, Roy picked up his pace, trying to rub more of himself along her tenderest places. He couldn’t get a hand up to tease her clitoris, needing to support himself and Maes.
As if sensing the reason for Roy’s change in speed, Maes let go of Roy’s hips, wedging one hand between Roy and Riza. The effect was immediate as she arched under the men, crying out. Maes drove into Roy harder, faster, the motion taking the alchemist deeper into Riza. She clung tight to him, her hips meeting his sharply. Roy couldn’t hold on any longer, spilling as well. Maes gripped Roy tight when Riza pushed the dark-haired man up off her. Roy thrust back with wild abandon against Maes until he heard the man groan loudly as he came.
Maes let Roy down on the mattress gently then crashed down next to him and Riza. Roy kissed Riza’s belly then rolled over to kiss Maes, too. “You can stay with us a little longer, can’t you?” Roy asked.
Maes grinned. “I’m not done with you yet. How many neckties did you bring or will I need a belt?”
Roy laughed, burrowing into the bedding. “Just let me catch my breath a little.”
* * *
Al was officially frightened. Ed hadn’t come home and it was getting late, far too late. It was well past midnight and there had been no signs of his brother. Al had checked with the desk clerk but not only hadn’t he not seen Ed, he hadn’t seen Breda come in either. Al called the desk clerk of the women officers’ quarters but she refused to tell him anything. Al checked Breda’s room but there was no answer. He didn’t know which room was Riza’s and he didn’t want to call the Hugheses yet and wake up the baby. That meant he had to go back to Mustang’s cottage. Ed had been going to see the man. Maybe he had found him and forgotten to call the hotel.
Al knocked on the door, hating to disturb the colonel at such a late hour. Ed would be so mad at him for this but better a mad Ed than a dead one. Al knocked again, wondering if the colonel could be frightened awake and come out swinging, or in his case, flinging fire. Ed sometimes woke up screaming, attacking things in his dreams, especially if Al accidentally startled him.
The door banged open and the colonel stood there, his mouth dropping open as he saw Al. If the colonel had been in bed, he must have been having a rough night. His hair and face were sweaty and his hair stood up unevenly. While Al didn’t have a real sense of smell any more, he’d bet the man would smell funny. Confusion and irritation drained out of the alchemist’s eyes, replaced by concern.
“Alphonse, where’s Edward? Why are you here so late?”
“Ed never came home, sir. I was hoping maybe he was here but…” Al’s armor rattled. “But he’s not, is he?”
“Son of a bitch.” Mustang spun on one hell, heading inside. “Hughes, Hawkeye, Ed’s gone missing.”
Al stepped in after him, surprised to see the other two officers in the living room. All of them had the same somewhat haggard, exhausted look Mustang did.
“We were having … a conference on what to do about the child kidnapping ring,” Hughes said. Al didn’t really believe him for some reason, but he wasn’t sure what else it could be.
“When did you see your brother last?” Mustang asked.
“When he went to find you,” Al replied. “He was going to the club.”
Mustang’s dark eyes hardened. “He found me but that was hours ago.”
“He never came back.” Al’s gauntlets curled into fists. “I got worried.”
“You have us worried now, too,” Hughes assured him.
“We’ll help you look,” Riza said, pushing the phone toward Hughes. “You’d better call out your men.”
Hughes nodded. “At least we know where Ed was last seen.”
“Harassing me at the club.” Mustang put his hand on Al’s gauntlet. Al knew the older alchemist was well aware he couldn’t feel the comfort of that action but Al appreciated it anyhow. “We will find him, Alphonse.”
“How could they have gotten hold of Edward, if that is what happened?” Riza asked.
“I’m not sure,” Mustang said.
“Ed is so quick and cunning, like a fox,” Al said. “That’s why I’m so worried.”
“I’m sending for a car so we can get back there quickly,” Hughes said.
“Thank you,” Al said, hating that those words seemed to inadequate to cover what he was feeling right now. He wished Ed treated Mustang better since the man was so willing to help.
Hughes got the car there quickly. None of them took the time to change back into their uniforms, going out in the outfits they must have worn to the club since Al decided that was where they all had to have been in their suits and Hawkeye’s lovely dress. He just wasn’t sure why Hughes hadn’t said that. The street wasn’t quiet yet around the club since the bars weren’t closed yet. A quick conversation with the bouncer gave them a path to follow.
“Why would Edward come down this way?” Mustang asked. “It would have been easier to get a cab at the corner.”
“Ed doesn’t seem like the take a cab sort of kid to me,” Hughes replied.
“Food,” Al put in. “The food vendors are down there. Ed is always hungry.”
“Boys are walking stomachs,” Riza said, clicking down the street. Al didn’t know how women wore shoes like that. Her feet had to hurt.
Al felt a tightness inside him that he couldn’t quite explain. It was as if he still had a stomach to knot up. There were several open slots where some vendors had gone home early. What if no one had seen his brother? He should have made a drawing of Ed to show people.
“Yeah, I saw a little kid matching that description,” a woman – or Al thought she might be a woman. It was hard to tell – told Hughes. “He was down there at the end.”
Al glanced where she pointed. There was nothing there but an empty spot for a vendor.
“Downard packed up early. He usually stays until…” the woman trailed off.
“Until?” Hughes prompted.
“Nothing.”
“Look, we don’t care if you guys sell to the Ishbalans after hours,” Mustang said. “We just need to find that boy. He’s a state alchemist. If anything happens to him, there could be trouble for all the vendors.”
She sighed heavily. “The kid took sick. Downard said he was closing up early to take the kid to the hospital. You might want to look there for him.”
“Does this man close early often?” Hawkeye asked.
“Sometimes, yes. He shares the stand with Miller. They make this Ishbalan stew. It’s popular with the kids who cut through the park to the slums.” She met Mustang’s gaze as if knowing he was the one in charge even though he didn’t have on his uniform. “Are we in trouble for selling to the Ishbalans?”
“No, they need to eat, too,” Mustang replied. “Alphonse.” Mustang beckoned him into the shadows then asked if Al had a tablet on him. Grateful the man gave him shadows to work with – maybe he thought Al carried things inside him - Al pulled it out of leg pouch. “Ma’am, could you describe those two men for us?”
Al drew quickly as the woman obeyed. Mustang thanked her, giving her a generous tip while Hughes went to the phone booth at the end of the street. Al figured he was getting men over to the hospitals.
“Ed’s not at the hospital, is he?” Al asked mournfully.
“Probably not,” Hughes said.
“But I think we have an answer,” Mustang put in. “We know these two were serving Ishbalan children. It would probably be easy to cart them out in a trunk that they carted the food in. The stew was probably drugged whenever a good prospect came up to the stand. Ed is small and I guess he might be considered cute when he’s not scowling. They might have decided for one last grab, if our information about them getting out of town is correct.”
“How are we going to find Ed before something bad happens?” Al couldn’t keep his voice from shaking.
Mustang gazed at him evenly. “Trust me, Alphonse, I know some of the most resourceful people in this town. We will find your brother.”
Al had no choice but to believe him.
* * *
“Do you really think it was smart to send those two fools out tonight?” Lauren followed her brother through the warehouse. “We’re about to leave.”
“No sense in not grabbing a few more kids to take with us.” Nick shrugged. “They won’t have any connection to the place we’re going.”
Lauren couldn’t argue that. When they got into the main part of the warehouse where they stored the food items that made up their cover, Miller had another young Ishbalan boy he was undressing so he could put him in the white outfit Lauren had chosen for their merchandise. It made the kids look more innocent. Next to Miller, Downward was busy doing the same to a young girl. He had a second young teen tossed onto the floor like a broken doll.
“Looks like you guys did well,” Nick said.
“It’s almost too easy,” Miller replied, chuckling.
“Nick, give Downard a hand with that boy. I don’t want to dawdle. I’d like to be gone by this time tomorrow.” Lauren stabbed a finger at the little blond lying on the floor.
Nick favored his sister with a sour look. “You don’t have to be so bitchy about it.” He rifled the boy’s pockets then stood up, grinning, a silver watch dangling between his fingers. “This will bring in a nice handful of sens.”
Lauren gasped, running over to her brother. She grabbed the watch. “You idiots, don’t you know what this is?”
“A pocket watch,” Nick replied sarcastically.
“It’s a state alchemist watch. You just brought the military here,” Lauren hissed, kicking the boy’s ankle, hearing it clank.
“He’s just a kid. How could he be a state alchemist?” Nick asked.
“Probably stole the watch,” Downard said as Lauren knelt down.
“He’s got an automail leg,” she said, running her hand up the captive boy’s leg.
“Arm, too. I was thinking we could sell him to Martin. You know how he loves his amputees.” Nick chuckled. “Of course, he probably wants the kid without his metal limbs. Know how to get the limbs off?”
“It’s not exactly easy,” Lauren said. “You should just take him and drop him in a gutter somewhere. It’s too dangerous to keep him.”
“If anyone cared about this kid, would he have been wandering around alone at night?” Nick pocketed the watch. “How would the military know to come looking for him here?”
“They might,” Lauren argued. “Toss him.”
“No way. Martin will pay way too much.”
Lauren sighed. “Fine, keep him for sale. I’m leaving on the train tonight. You guys follow tomorrow. But word of warning, brother, alchemists need to be able to draw or have their array on their body some place. You’d better be sure to get that array off of him and disable one of his arms.”
“Hmmm, Martin won’t like it if I break the real arm.” Nick rubbed his chin.
“No, he would not,” Lauren said. “Just dump the brat. Hell, dump him in the damn river for all I care. Money isn’t everything.”
“Just go ahead, sis. I’ll handle this and make the money,” Nick said, disgusted with her. He stripped the boy’s pants off then his shirt. “Damn, all this damage, it’ll get Martin so hard, he’ll pay us a fortune. Downard, get me a sledgehammer. I’ll get this arm off the old-fashioned way.”
“You do that then. I’ll see you soon,” Lauren said, deciding she would take the first train anywhere then slowly go to the prearranged meeting place, just in case her moron brother didn’t get himself caught. “I’d leave the leg and let Martin decide what he wants. The arm though, has to go.”
“This will be fun.” Nick bounced like a kid with candy.
Lauren left to the sounds of metal hitting metal.
on to the final chapter
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Date: 2010-03-23 03:23 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-03-23 03:35 am (UTC)Thanks. I'm glad you're enjoying it. Armstrong flexing would scare even the hardest criminal
Maes is a frightening specimen when it comes to clothing - Roy/Gracia
Ed and Roy are brats, completely