Fic- When Sorrows Comes (chapter five and six)

[cornerofmadness]

Title -- When Sorrow Comes
Author-- cornerofmadness
Disclaimer -- Arakawa owns all, I’m just having lots of fun.
Rating -- R for violence and sexual situations
Characters/Pairing -- Roy/Riza, Ed/Winry, Maes/Gracia, Alex Louis/OC, lots of Ishbalan OC’s
Timeline/Spoilers -- Technically it’s a few years post CoS with manga elements
Word Count -- 34,777
genre mystery/suspense
Warning -- violence and descriptions of murder.
Summary -- As Ed, Al and Alt!Maes settle into life in Amestris, they have to help Roy in his role as ambassador whose main duties are to speed along the Ishbalan homeland restoration. In the middle of this, a series killer seems desperate to get Mustang’s attention while Riza is no longer always at his side, guarding, instead, the new Fuhrer.


Chapter Five

“You are such a brat!” Sinking to his knees, Roy gave a good tug on the sash he had wrapped around Dev’s neck. The young priest flailed on his desk, howling obscenities at him.

Roy didn’t realize anyone had come in until he heard Kennan say, “I’m sure, if he’s here the general will make time to see you…as soon as he’s done killing one of our priests.” Glancing at the doorway, Roy saw Kennan and Uzziel and a few stone-faced priests behind them. Their faces quickly darkened.

Hala pushed into the room, pausing to raise her eyes and shake her head. “You paying for the funeral?”

“Absolutely,” he agreed affably, tugging on the sash.

“I want a full Ishbalan one, could be expensive.” Hala wagged her finger.

“Worth it!” Roy let go and Dev nearly fell off the desk.

“Asshole!” He pulled his sash back into position. “And Mom, what the hell was that?”

She pointed to the crumpled paper surrounding the desk Mustang had been using. “You were hitting him on his blind side again, weren’t you? I am not protecting you when you do dumb stuff.”

Dev huffed at her.

“Uzziel, Kennan, you wanted me to meet with someone?” Roy stood up, trying to make himself look presentable even though he knew it was a lost cause.

“You look like hell,” Kennan replied.

“Didn’t sleep.” Roy waved a hand at Dev. “Either of us.”

“Somehow, that doesn’t surprise me.” Kennan shook his head.

“It doesn’t? It surprises me,” one of the priests said.

“I’ve gotten to know him a little, Peleg,” Kennan replied, turning to the thin man. “I’ve learned he was not one of the alchemists who enjoyed their role in the war, and I’m not shocked that he wouldn’t sleep.”

“We stayed up talking,” Dev said. “You know he had to be rattled if he passed up going to bed with Riza just to get bleary-eyed talking to me.”

“Exactly. So, I’m guessing this is more than just about the interview yesterday about the bombing,” Roy said.

“It’s about the bombing.” Uzziel beckoned someone in. Several kids, one old lady, and a young mother cradling a baby walked into the offices. “They’re staying here at the centre since the apartment was a loss. They had something they wanted to say to you.”

Roy blinked a couple of times, trying to dredge up a professional smile. He had the feeling it failed. “Oh. I’m just glad everyone seems to be all right.”

The old woman stepped forward. Roy recognized her as the woman he’d carried kicking and screaming out of the fire. Wrinkles – heavy and deep from a lifetime in unforgiving sunlight – framed her still-sharp red eyes. “I’m Basya. Yesterday, I thought you were responsible for the fire.”

“I do understand why,” Roy replied softly. “You don’t owe me.”

Her eyes remained hard. “You saved my life and I’m not sure how I feel about owing you anything.”

“I understand that, too.” He averted his eye from her as she stepped backward, his gaze landing on the young woman.

“I’m Elah and my baby is Zosa,” the young woman said, stepping forward. “You jumped out a window with her and I can’t imagine how terrifying…” She broke off, her red eyes gleaming. “You saved my baby and I know you don’t remember me. I was just a kid when I saw you last. You let me and my mother go. You and that big, bald alchemist. You saved my life twice, then and now, because I don’t know how I would have lived if Zosa had died.” Elah brought the baby closer and put her in Roy’s hands. “I know exactly how I feel. Grateful.” She leaned in and kissed his cheek.

Roy turned his gaze to the baby, unable to meet the mother’s eyes. His throat felt thick, constricted, as he tried to thank her. He took a deep breath and said, “You might want to keep the part about meeting me as a child to yourself.”

“I don’t understand,” Elah said, a blank look passing over her face.

“He means that it was treasonous, at least as far as the military is concerned,” Uzziel explained, laying a hand on Elah’s shoulder.

“Are you still on that?”

Olivia’s voice startled Roy, jerking his attention away from the baby. The Fuhrer stood in the doorway, with Miles and Riza right behind her. “Would it help if I just wrote a pardon?”

“Are you serious?” Roy stared at her.

“Talk to me later.” Olivia waved a hand at him and turned to Uzziel and Kennan. “I hope my coming unannounced isn’t a problem.”

Roy didn’t think her tone suggested she cared one way or the other, but the priests assured her it was fine. Roy noticed Olivia staring at the newcomer priests then asked what he had been wondering: their names.

“They are all high priests from various factions,” Uzziel said. “Peleg, Baruk and Shelar.”

She glanced over at Roy, an eyebrow rising smoothly in silent question.

“They’re not here for me. I think,” he muttered, then gestured to the Ishbalans he had rescued. “These are the ones who made it out of the fire yesterday.”

“Everyone looks unharmed. Good,” Olivia said, after giving them a perfunctory look. “Though that doesn’t replace what you’ve lost.”

“We didn’t have much to lose in the first place,” Basya replied.

Olivia ignored the old woman’s less than subtle taunt. “Mustang, you look beat. You’re no good to anyone like this. Go the hell home.”

He nodded, rubbing under his eye patch. “I will, gladly. Uzziel, what about Dev? I’m used to staying up all night.”

“Because you’re a crazed alchemist, locked up in your lab doing something wrong,” Dev interrupted.

Roy didn’t bat an eye. “Never mind, let him stay here and suffer. I’m waiting on a call. When it comes in, I’ll go.”

Uzziel snorted. “Go home, Dev.”

“Still no heat,” Dev said, shrugging. “It’s warmer here.”

“I’m technically off,” his mother replied. “You can come home with me, though I do have to go in for my shift at the hospital in the afternoon.”

“We were having a dinner for Winry tonight. You can come, Dev, join Ed in taking pot shots at a weary alchemist,” Roy said. “I’m jealous, though. You get to go home for some mothering. I get to go home to an empty house. Trade?”

“My mother would not pamper you and your house is never empty,” Dev snapped, flipping a hand at him. “So no.”

Roy snorted. “Uzziel, was I wrong about you and your fellow priests being here for me? I assumed you just brought the survivors to see me.”

“We don’t want anything to do with you,” Peleg assured him.

“I’m not exactly surprised.” Roy turned his gaze back down to the baby he still held. “Wish there was more I could do for you. Well, there might be. I’m still waiting on the call.” The baby reached up and caught him by the eye patch, yanking it and giggling.

“Zosa, no!” Elah tried to free her baby’s death grip.

Laughing, Roy undid the patch and let the baby have it. “It’s all right. That’s one heck of a grip she has.”

“Babies usually do,” Basya said grudgingly.

“I’m surprised you even know how to hold one, Mustang,” Olivia said, eyeing him critically.

“I have four sisters. Three of them have kids.” Roy shrugged and let Elah take her child back. She returned the patch.

“Mr. Fermi, if you have some time now, I’d like to talk to you,” Olivia said, ignoring that piece of information.

“Of course. We can go into my office,” Uzziel said.

“Forgive me, Fuhrer. I didn’t know you had any Ishbalan adjutants,” Peleg shot Miles – and his military uniform – a hostile look.

“Only a quarter Ishbalan,” she replied, then gestured to Miles and Riza. “Both of them.”

Peleg’s eyes widened as he stared at Riza.

Roy’s phone rang, breaking into the tension. He answered it. “Great. Really? So how soon could they move in? You can do better than that. Maybe if I came down there….by the end of next week? That’s wonderful. I’ll let them know. Thank you and yes, we’re still considering building another set of apartments. I’ll get back to you on that as soon as I can. This isn’t the weather for breaking ground, but we should be ready to go once spring gets here. Thanks again. Keep me apprised.”

Olivia barely waited for him to hang up the receiver. “What was that about?”

“I hope I haven’t overstepped any bounds, but that was Stedman Construction. I knew they had finished most of the new apartments we had designed down the street from this centre. I called Stedman last night to see if we could get the insides finished and ready for move in as soon as possible. They should ready by next week. I know that all of you will need new homes, and I thought this was would be the best way to get that problem solved.”

“Can we afford these places?” Elah asked.

“They are going to be priced low with the idea of providing inexpensive housing so the renters can concentrate on getting back on their feet or going to school. And, given the tragedy you all just went through, the first two months will be free,” Roy said. “Kennan, you and Aris can probably tell that to the kids’ parents.” He nodded to the unaccompanied kids who had been hanging back, overly silent.

“Yes but free? Really? Or are you paying for it?” Kennan eyed Roy.

“Me or Alex Louis. Trust me, I have plenty and I know no one wants to owe me a damn thing. Consider it piss poor repayment on what I owe you,” Roy said, eyeing Olivia. Her face was a glacial as ever. He wasn’t sure if she felt the same, having been in the war as well, or if she felt him weak for even thinking about it.

“I have no problem taking your money,” Basya said. “I don’t even want to thank you for it, but I will. You didn’t have to do this.”

“I know not everyone believes or even cares, but I do want to help. I’m trying,” Roy said. “I don’t expect or want thank yous, but I appreciate that you said it, so you’re welcome.”

Olivia gestured to Riza, whispering something while the Ishbalans mulled over that statement. Riza came over to Roy and said, “Call Havoc to pick us up. I’ll go with you once I present something to the Fermis.”

“Thanks, Hawkeye,” Roy muttered then went red. “Sorry!”

She huffed at him, shaking her head as she followed Olivia into Uzziel’s office.

“Married recently?” Basya asked.

“Yes, and her new surname is ever so hard for him.” Dev snorted.

“Oh?”

“She’s my wife,” Roy glared at Dev who smirked. “But she’s been Hawkeye to me since I was eight.”

“And sometimes you’re a little slow.” Dev patted Roy’s shoulder. “I think I will trade you places now.”

“Like hell you’ll trade,” Roy replied, shoving him lightly.

“Do I even want to know what you two are starting up about?” Hala asked.

“Remember, I wanted to trade your son going home with you to be mothered,” Roy said and she gave him a look. “But he said no until he realized my wife would be home. Now he wants to trade.”

Hala went over and lightly slapped her son on the back of the head. “Behave. There’s company.”

“Before you go,” the boy in the back of the group of Ishbalans said suddenly. “I have to say something.”

“I’m listening,” Roy said.

“You pushed me out of a window!” the boy said, his face pale.

“You wouldn’t jump.” Roy smirked. “Believe me, that floor was seconds away from collapsing and killing us and the baby.”

“I know. Thanks.” The boy frowned. “Still, you pushed me out a window. I’m scared of heights.”

“Probably aren’t any less scared now,” Roy replied. “But you’re unsinged.”

“I’d rather chance hitting the ground than getting burned,” Dev said.

“It would really hurt,” the boy said.

Dev lifted his shirt and the kid’s eyes went wide. “Probably not as much as the fire.”

“Point taken. Anyhow, thanks,” the boy said to Roy.

“Glad I was there to help,” Roy replied, reaching for the phone to make the call to Havoc. A rescue from the tension in the room would be very welcome.

XXX

“I wanted more time alone with you.” Ed sulked, sprawled on Winry’s bed in her guest bedroom in Mustang’s home.

She tapped his nose. “You know they mean well. Besides, it’ll be nice to have dinner with everyone. And we’re not exactly alone in your cottage.”

“Yeah, but Al’s upstairs and my bedroom’s down,” Ed protested.

Winry rolled her eyes. “And you’re a noisy little guy in bed.” He raised an eyebrow at the adjective but didn’t fuss. “Trust me, while you were busy sleeping in this morning, poor Al was trying to make me breakfast without actually looking at me because he kept grinning like an idiot. I might just take Roy up on his offer of a gag for you.”

Ed snorted. “The bastard probably has a ton of them. He’s a pervert.”

“I didn’t hear a no on the gag.” Winry grinned and Ed curled his lip at her.

“Maybe we can leave Alphonse here, then we wouldn’t have to worry about being quiet.” Ed ran a hand up her arm.

“You’re bad.”

“Mmmm, how much time do we have before dinner?”

“Not enough for what you’re planning.” Winry leaned over, kissing him. “Why don’t we go quiz Al on anatomy until dinner.”

“It’s your anatomy I’m interested in,” Ed protested.

“Hold that thought. There are plenty of hours in the night.” Winry slapped his thigh.

Ed sighed and followed her downstairs to where Al was studying. His brother wasn’t readily apparent, but Dev sat on the couch talking to Miao-Yin. That surprised Winry. She had expected Roy’s niece to be helping Alphonse. The red of Dev’s eyes bled into the whites. She wondered if he had slept at all since the fire.

“Where’s Al?” Ed asked.

“Talking to Aunt Li-Ying.” Miao-Yin jerked a hand toward the study. “She knows more about the cardiovascular system than I do.”

Winry wasn’t sure Al or Dev would agree about her and the cardio system. His red face suggested Dev’s was revving. “We were going to quiz him.”

“He was getting surly earlier, something about not sleeping well,” Dev said, rubbing his eyes. “I know what he means.”

Ed grunted, and Winry could see a tinge of pink on his cheeks. “Where’s the bastard?”

“On the phone to Hughes. I think he talks to that man more than he does his wife,” Dev replied.

“You have no idea.” Ed shuddered, and Winry sighed, knowing there was likely a torment-Roy session brewing.

“I think he called about the case you were investigating,” Miao-Yin said. “The dead woman.”

“Hmm, wonder if there is anything I need to know. I’m supposed to be helping Hughes with that,” Ed said.

“He’s probably just chatting with Roy,” Winry said. “You’d know if something had happened, right?”

“Unless I was busy doing something else. I’m not sure Hughes likes me working the case,” Ed mused. “I think he thinks I’m too young or soft or something.”

“He does,” Roy said, coming into the room. “I had to encourage him to have you help with this. By the way, you were right. The lab called. That was automail oil on the woman’s clothing. Good catch.”

“Thanks.”

“Dinner is about ready. I’m going to help Riza put it on the table,” Roy said.

“We’ll help,” Winry replied.

Dev got up to help then paused, looking out the window. “It’s snowing.”

“The radio said it wasn’t supposed to,” Roy frowned.

“Is that ever right?” Ed asked, following Winry into the kitchen.

“Not really.”

To Winry’s relief, dinner was less like a debriefing than she feared. Roy had, by necessity, asked about her trip east to help round up mechanics willing to go into the desert with the Ishbalans, but most of the conversation was more personal, spanning everything from the crappy electricity in Dev’s apartment, Al’s excitement over his last test scores to the revelation that Roy’s sister Jun would be staying in Central for several more months shooting a movie that would need Ishbalan actors. Roy wanted Mera to try out. Dessert was taken in the living room and met with the fact that it wasn’t just snowing, it was a full on white-out raged beyond the walls of Roy’s large home.

“We’re not going to find a cab in that.” Ed pouted.

“Hell, I’m not even sure we have power yet. I’ll be freezing if I have to go home in this,” Dev said.

“Roy, turn up the radio,” Riza said and he went over to the radio cabinet, increasing the volume.
“I repeat, all roads are now closed. Emergency and military personnel only are allowed out,” the announcer said.

“Oh hell, now we’re stuck here,” Ed groaned and Winry nudged him with an elbow.

“Ed, it’s fine. It’s not like we don’t have rooms here,” she said.

“Yeah but…” Ed reddened, glancing sideways at Roy.

“Edward, just sleep in her room. It’s not like there’s anyone here who doesn’t know or cares,” Roy said and Ed’s cheeks darkened further. “I’ll go get Winry a gag for you.”

“Bastard!”

“Roy!” Riza shot him a look, but he refused to look repentant.

“Can I make a call?” Dev seemed oddly sad. Winry didn’t want to think about his sudden change in demeanor. “I want to see if Mom made it home okay. She had to work.”

“Go call. Tell Aris you’re staying over, too.”

“I want to call and let Mrs. Hamilton know I’m stuck here. She has the spare key. She can go feed Ragazza,” Al said, and Winry smiled at his worry about his cat.

“You don’t have to ask. Go make your calls. I’ll go make sure all the rooms have wood in the fireplaces, just in case,” Roy said, heading for the stairs.

Ed shrugged. “Can we help clean up, Riza? Winry and I don’t have any calls to make.”

“Thanks.”

By the time everything was cleaned and dishes done, Al and Dev were sitting in the living room. Roy headed back down the stairs.

“Fireplaces are at the ready if need be and I bumped the radiators up a little,” Roy said.

“Mom’s stuck at the hospital. I guess she’ll be sleeping in an empty room or something.” Dev shrugged. “Aris said our power did come back on at home, so he’ll stay warm at least.”

“Well, that’s something,” Roy said. “Guess we could play a game or something to pass the time.”

“Give us a blindfold and Dev and I can play pin the tail on the jackass,” Ed smirked.

“Ed!” Winry cuffed him on the back of the head. There were moments she wondered why she loved him. “Be nice.”

“I think that is nice for him, Winry.” Roy shrugged. “I’ll get a deck of cards. Miao-Yin, maybe you should call and see if your aunt is at Armstrong’s. I hope she’s not stuck out there somewhere.”

“Already done. She’s fine,” Miao-Yin replied.

“Sounds good. So? Poker?” Roy asked.

“Why not? Any chance to cream you,” Ed replied.

Winry wasn’t entirely surprised to see that neither Ed nor Dev were able to cream anyone. They weren’t as skilled as they thought they were at hiding their emotions. Riza and Al, on the other hand, were inscrutable. Winry felt sure though, that she had Al this hand. That’s when the lights chose to go out.

“Aw, hell,” Ed groaned.

“Do we have candles?” Al asked. “I want to play out this hand.”

“I think you just gave yours away,” Roy said. “Riza, where did we put the candles?”

“I’ll get them,” she said.

While candles were found, the game didn’t go on much longer. Everyone retired en masse upstairs with Roy preceding them, candle in hand, so he could start the firewood he had meticulously laid out in the bedroom fireplaces. With a blush that was dark enough to be noticed, even in the candlelight, Ed followed Winry into her room.

Winry watched the flames dance as she snuggled down in the bed. Ed grumbled under his breath about something. She rubbed his chest. “What’s wrong?”

“We have the perfect setting,” he replied. “We have a nice bed, a romantic fire, snow falling down outside and I didn’t think to bring a condom.”

She pursed her lips. “That was dumb of us. With this weather, we should have anticipated being stuck.”

“And I’m not going to steal one from the bastard.”

“No.” Winry frowned, remembering the last time she’d been in that situation. Dev’s and her pregnancy scare had been particularly sobering, but it wasn’t something she was going to bring up now. Ed rolled out of bed. “What? Ed, you can’t exactly go steal one. He and Riza are in the master bedroom.”

Ed waved his hand. “No, but he was teasing me about sleeping with you. There’s the off chance he put a tin in my guest room.”

Winry waited for Ed to go sneaking down the hall before she checked the drawers in her room. No such luck. Ed’s scowl when he returned empty-handed almost made her laugh. She flipped the covers back. “We’ll survive.”

“Yeah, but I won’t be happy about it.”

Winry cuddled against him once he settled back into bed. “Probably just as well. If you kept Roy up, tomorrow would be miserable.”

Ed sighed, kissing her forehead. “True. Still, would have been worth it.”

XXX

Dev tried facing away from the fireplace, but it didn’t help. He could hear the crackle of the wood being consumed. He couldn’t force himself not to look, no matter how much he wanted to. How was he expected to sleep with a fire merrily mocking him? It didn’t help that the temperature in the room had started down the slippery slope into cold. The fireplace was a saving grace and he knew it. It didn’t mean he had to like it. Thinking about the fact that Roy was just down the hall didn’t help, either. The fireplace was technically between him and the door. If something went wrong, how could he get to help?

To his surprise, someone knocked on the door then let themself in. Shocked to see Miao-Yin standing there, Dev started to say something but she held up a finger.

“Shh, I just wanted to be sure you’re all right.” She carried a blanket in her other arm. “I know you’re afraid of fire.”

Dev sucked in a deep breath, somehow slightly embarrassed by this. He nodded. “Yeah but that’s not your problem, Miao-Yin.”

“It’s not about that.” She waved a hand. “Move over. I brought my own blanket in case you’re shy as usual.”

Dev’s mouth flopped open and didn’t move until she started pushing him. “What are you doing?”

“No one should be lying alone filled with fear in a happy household,” Miao-Yin replied, flipping back all the covers but the sheet, leaving it between their bodies. She wrapped the blanket around herself like armor before getting into bed. “I’m staying with you. Winry said you didn’t snore much. It’ll be fine.”

Dev wasn’t entirely sure of that. “You don’t have to do this.”

“Obviously, but I want to unless it makes you very uncomfortable.” Miao-Yin pulled the rest of the covers back up, tucking some between them before burrowing an arm amongst the various blankets and over his waist. “Better?”

“Yes, much. Thank you. You are the sweetest person, Miao-Yin,” Dev whispered through a constricted throat. Why did she have to be so sweet? Not to mention beautiful?

“You’re kind to say so. Good night, Dev.” She rested her head against his shoulder.

“Good night.”

Having her next to him definitely gave him something else to concentrate on other than the fire. He had dreamed about moments like this with her, and that was the problem. Miao-Yin was forbidden. As if being the bastard’s niece wasn’t bad enough, Miao-Yin was an alchemist. He had to keep reminding himself of that. Fear of fire faded as fear of embarrassing himself grew. It was going to be a long night.

XXX

Riza fumbled her way out of the master bath. Firelight bathed the bedroom. She hoped it wouldn’t keep her up. Roy flipped the covers back for her. Riza shook her head, seeing he was totally naked.

“Just what do you have planned with a house full of guests?”

“They’re all in their rooms, a couple of them probably planning something similar.” Roy slid a hand down his torso.

He knew damn well what that did to her. She tried not to look but failed. “You better be quiet.”

“Me?” Roy licked his lips, his hand drifting lower. “You’re the noisy one.”

“In your lurid imagination.” Riza slid into bed, her hand skimming over his chest.

“That, too.” Roy put his arms around her. “Can you think of a better way to spend a cold wintry night in front of fire?”

Riza kissed him, her hand straying to his awakening erection. “No, I can’t. Guess it’s a good thing I have a very naughty husband.”

Roy rolled her onto the mattress. “Let me show you how good a thing it is.”

XXX

“John, can you give me a hand?”

The former state alchemist glanced back, seeing that new Ishbalan nurse standing in the hall. It wasn’t that long ago he’d have been tasked to kill her, not help her. John had never really had much ill will toward the Ishbalans, but he hadn’t been on the front lines like Flame or Red Lotus. His alchemy should probably have been more in tune with what he was doing now: medicine. His mother had been from Xing – something else he shared with Mustang outside of their mutual interests – and had taught him alkahestry. John had reasoned that if it could make tissues knit, reversing it could tear tissues asunder. Only his ability to use what his mother had shown him had kept him alive when the Ishbalans captured him and cut off one of his hands to keep him from using his alchemy. He’d been rescued before they could torture him further.

Like it or not, the trauma had ended his desire to be a state alchemist, but also had taught him to take whatever he wanted. The powerful were the only ones who got to realize their dreams. “Sure,” he told her. Getting closer, he saw her name was Hala. She led him into a bed room that reeked of melanotic shit. It only took one time smelling stool filled with blood for the nose to remember the rank stench.

“They took Mr. Currie down to surgery, but not before his bowels let loose all over,” she said.

“That is one powerful smell. I’ll go get a mop and bucket.”

“Thanks.” Hala got out some masks and gloves for them.

John hurried back. He liked his job and didn’t want anyone to think he was lazy. He pulled a glove over his automail hand. It was having enough problems currently. He didn’t want to add ‘clean out stinking shit of the joints’ to the list. He glanced at Hala’s feet. Nurse’s shoes, as predicted. Even they were better than what Ishbalans usually wore. If John held anything against the Ishbalans – besides the whole lopping off his hand with a giant knife thing – it was their crap sandals. Those things barely qualified as shoes. John thought he had heard some of the other medics thought the middle aged woman was pretty. He wondered if her feet would be nice, or calloused from living in sandals over rocky ground. “Guess you got stuck here, too. You look tired,” he said.

“Yes. I’m technically off shift, but it’s too early to just go to bed, so I might as well be useful,” Hala replied, scrubbing the plastic mattress liner. “If you don’t mind me saying, you have very good use of your hand. My son just got his less than a year ago.”

“It takes a while. I’ve had mine since the war,” John replied, then winced. That probably was a dumb thing to bring up in mixed company. Oh well, it wasn’t like he coveted her. They were merely coworkers.

She nodded. “That’s where he lost his hand, too. Senseless, all of it.”

“Can’t argue that.” John put the mop in the bucket, staring out the window. “Look at it snow.”

Hala looked up from her scrubbing. “I’ve never seen anything like it. We could be here for days, from the look of it.”

“And be very busy if anyone risks going out there,” he said, turning to wheel the bucket out.

“Exactly. Thanks for doing the floor, John,” Hala said.

“Not a problem.”

John watched her go back to her scrubbing. Her legs were lean and strong going down to thin ankles. Yucky nursing shoes aside, maybe she did have what it took to interest him. As he wheeled the bucket back to the closet, John wondered what her feet would look like in heels.




Chapter Six

“Never thought I’d be happy to be back in the office,” Roy sighed, sitting on the edge of Havoc’s desk, waiting on the coffee pot percolating on the break area’s stove.

“Would have thought you would have enjoyed being snowed into your house with Riza.” Havoc’s eyebrows waggled.

“Havoc!” Fuery said, a blush rising up his face.

“I was stuck in the house with the Elrics and Dev.” Roy sighed heavily. “Thank god they were able to go home before dinner yesterday. A day and a half with them was plenty. At least Riza enjoyed having Winry around.”

Ed looked up from the stack of paperwork on his small work station. “Don’t let him fool you. There were hours and hours where we didn’t see either of them.”

“You could have been having fun of your own,” Roy replied. “But I’m betting someone forgot his best friends at home.”

Ed went red to his ears. “Shut up! Do I really have to finish all of this now? Can’t I just go help Hughes now? His work is about a hundred times more interesting than yours.”

“That I don’t doubt.” Hearing the coffee pot finish its bumping around on the stove, Roy slid off Havoc’s desk. “And I’ll gladly kick you out the door once you get that work done. It can’t possibly take you long.”

“Says the man who never signs his own paperwork,” Breda put in sotto voce.

“Or you could give it to Breda to finish,” Roy said, pouring himself the pungent dark brew. The redhead gave him a hairy eye for the suggestion.

“Oh, hey Hughes, we were just talking about you,” Ed said, dragging Roy’s attention back to the door. “Hughes?” the young man added uncertainly.

Seeing the somber look on Hughes’s face, Roy felt a chill run up his spine. This may not have been the Hughes he’d been best friends with, but they were well on the way to establishing a similar relationship. Their mannerisms were closely matched. Something was deadly wrong. “What happened?” Roy asked.

“I need to borrow Edward,” Hughes said.

“Another crime?” Ed blinked. “Someone went out in that weather?”


“Late last night, another woman, a military hospital secretary,” Hughes said. “The local police are looking into it as well, at least until I get the Fuhrer to sign off on paperwork saying this is our case. I don’t need the interference, but I do have to have you come with me, Edward, and answer some questions.” Roy wondered if Edward had realized yet that Hughes was using his full name, and what ‘answering some questions’ entailed.

Ed’s brow furrowed. “I don’t understand.”

“You were right about the stain being automail oil.”

“I know. Mustang told me. So what? I’m not surprised. I do know what it looks like.” Ed flexed his metal fingers in emphasis.

“There were more stains on this woman’s clothing. And then there was this.” Hughes crossed the room, handing some photos to Roy.

They still had a damp feel to them. Roy figured they were fresh from the dark room. He didn’t pay much mind to the dead woman in the photo. Graffiti on the wall behind her captured his attention. Roy’s mouth went dry, the coffee already in his stomach souring.

“What the hell is it?” Ed demanded to know.

“Someone scrawled ‘Mustang will understand’ on the wall,” Roy replied. “I’m supposed to understand this?” He slapped the photographs with the back of his fingers.

“And what does this have to do with me?” Ed asked, trying to catch a glimpse of the picture.

“You and Dev,” Hughes said. “I’ve already had him brought down for interrogation. Don’t think for a minute I believe either of them had anything to do with it, but the civilian police saw the message, and you’re not exactly an unknown, Roy. If I did nothing, it would look like favoritism. And the police had a witness saying they thought they saw one of your subordinates in the area. You have two with automail that could have leaked all over the crime scene.”

“Yes, but Dev and Edward are about as different as you can get.” Roy couldn’t help himself, describing someone tall, then someone short with his hand sweep. “Outside of the automail hands and dating Miss Rockbell, they have nothing in common.”

“We both think you’re as annoying as hell,” Ed snarled, pointing at Roy. “And did you have to bring Winry into this?” He turned to Hughes and added, “Do I have to do this?”

“We don’t want any journalist getting wind of it if we don’t talk to you. It’s not as if you have anything to hide, right?” Hughes said.
“No.” Ed slammed his hand down on the break area’s counter. “I can’t believe I’m wishing I had spent another night at your place, Mustang. At least it would have been an alibi.”

“Al and Winry aren’t?” Roy asked.

Ed shook his head. “Winry got called into the hospital again and Al could be, I guess, but I didn’t see him once we got home. Saw his damn cat, naturally. Guess we should go talk about this, Hughes.”

“Right. And I’ll be back to talk to you, General,” Hughes said. “To discuss what it is you should understand about these pictures.”

“I am not looking forward to that, but I’ll think on it,” Roy said. He took an absentminded sip of coffee, watching Edward follow Hughes out of the room.

“That is some shit,” Havoc said. “How could they think that the Chief has anything to do with this? He’s still just a kid.”

“No, he’s really not,” Falman said. “He has not been a child since he enrolled in the military, not legally. And he does have automail. Not that I’m suggesting any guilt on the major’s part, just that Brigadier General Hughes isn’t out of line.”

“I know, but it doesn’t mean I have to like it,” Havoc said, digging his cigarettes out of his desk drawer.

“No, we don’t.” Roy coughed a few times to remind Havoc about the pneumonia he’d recently had. His captain went outside to smoke. He was still slower to train than Hayate. Snickering, Roy looked into his coffee mug, but it held no answers. A sixth sense made him look up at the door just as Uzziel and Kennan came through. “Let me guess, you know about Dev.”

“And apparently you do as well,” Uzziel said, his red eyes blazing.

“Just heard.” Roy waved them toward his office. “Let’s talk about it. Fuery, could you make our guests some tea?”

“Of course, sir.”

Roy shut his office door, dreading this conversation almost as much as the others he knew awaited him as the day wore on.

XXX

“I’d avoid him right now,” Al whispered to Winry, knowing it was a moot point.

“What happened?” Winry peered down the hall toward the den of their cottage. Ed was still busy grumbling to himself and slamming things around.

“There was another murder.”

“I don’t like this,” Winry frowned. “If Ed is going to be this upset by investigating things like that, maybe he should be working more with Roy and the Ishbalans.”

Al’s eyes beetled. His brother working as an ambassador? Winry must have been inhaling some kind of fumes in her workshop. “No, that’s not it. Apparently, the killer has leaking automail, and wrote a note saying ‘Mustang would understand’ or it was ‘for Mustang’, something like that. Ed and Dev both were interrogated all day as suspects.”

“My automail doesn’t leak.” Winry’s scowl deepened. “Though Ed does damage his a lot. Not that I think your brother did anything like that. He was here all night with you, right?”

“I guess. Honestly, I was so involved in reading for class since I didn’t bring the books to Roy’s, that a party could have been going on down here and I wouldn’t have noticed it.”
He thought it probably would’ve been the perfect time for Winry to be over, but decided not to say that out loud.

“Perfect. Why don’t you tell that to Hughes and Armstrong?” Ed griped, heading their way, his face patchy red with fury.

“Why don’t you just calm down, brother? What good is beating up the house going to do you?” Al sighed.

“You’re not the one they think killed two women. What if it gets into the paper that I’m being questioned? How humiliating will that be? I can’t even work with Hughes now until he can prove there’s no chance of me being a killer.” Ed stomped into the living room and threw himself on the couch. “That means I’m stuck in the bastard’s office, and I should be lucky to have that. They could suspend me entirely until this is over. Dev’s probably even less well off. It’s not like the Ishbalans are that trusted yet.”

“Do you think that Mr. Hughes would let the papers know you’re being questioned?” Winry asked.

Ed dragged a hand over his eyes. “No, but someone told the local police one of Mustang’s men was in the area.” He peered out from under his hand, the lines around his mouth deepening. “And you know how much Dev and I look alike.”

Al snorted. “Ed, I think you’re reading far too much into this. You said it yourself, the locals know something is up. It would look bad on Hughes if he didn’t at least talk to you and Dev. It’s not like you were arrested. Hell, you weren’t even in the interrogation room for more than an hour. You told me that yourself.”

“I can’t help those ladies, not if I’m not allowed to work the case,” Ed replied in a whisper.

Winry put her arms around his neck. “Once Mr. Hughes clears your name, you’ll be able to help him find whoever did this. Right now, you just need to relax a little. Want to go to the restaurant down the street for dinner and take your mind off of it?”

“No. I don’t want to be out in public tonight.” Ed sighed. “I’ll help get dinner started.”

Winry shot Al a worried look then agreed with Ed, following him into the kitchen. Al felt no less worried as he went after them.

XXX

John sprawled on his bed, his chest heaving. Miss Penny’s shoe had been even more stimulating than he dreamed. The image of her legs as she walked by in her delicious spiked heels had made him hard at the mere thought. Sadly, she had the spikes in her hands when he found her on her way to work in the pale light of dawn. Even she wasn’t so foolish as to have on heels in the mountains of snow that had fallen. A disappointment for sure, but it didn’t stop him.

A few licks of his alchemy against her well-loved face, splitting skin, spilling blood, convinced Penny to pull off the boots and put her heels back on. She imagined he might let her live if she complied. Where would the fun be in that? Her blood made the ground around her look like cherry snow cones. How delicious!

Rolling over onto his side, his headboard rattling off the wall, John ran his living fingers along the hard shiny black leather of the shoe, then breathed in her scent clinging to the inside. He wondered if Flame had gotten his message. Well, how could he miss it unless someone had erased it? There weren’t many with the surname of Mustang surely, and even less who would understand. John missed those nights in Ishbal, talking to Flame about this. Far too many men were all about the breasts. What did he care about some bulbous lumps of fat bobbling around? Legs and feet did hard work and still managed to be so alluring. The feel of someone’s big toe in his mouth could make him insane. Flame knew. He liked a good thigh, to run his tongue along the sole of someone’s foot. He would understand what John was trying to do.

Next time he’d put Flame in the message instead of Mustang, just to be sure. John gazed longingly at the shoe, wondering if there was time before he had to report to work.

XXX

“Riza didn’t look too happy to see me,” Maes said, sitting down in Roy’s study.

“Did you show her another picture of Elicia?” Roy made a lame attempt to lighten the mood, instantly regretting it. He waved his hand. “She’s not thrilled someone is slicing up women and signing notes to me. And before you ask, I have no idea what I’m supposed to understand.”

“Don’t be so sure. You don’t have all the details yet,” Maes replied as Roy went over to the decanter, pouring them both some dark amber whiskey.

“Then fill me in.” Roy handed him a glass. “I saw the picture, but I didn’t study it. You didn’t leave it.”

“I didn’t have copies yet. I do now.” Hughes reached into his jacket pocket, handing an envelope to him. “There are cuts all over the bodies. Knox isn’t sure what made them, but it was probably something very sharp, like a scalpel.”

“Hmmm, I don’t know a lot of killers who use a knife. Most the killers I know learned it in an alchemy book, and had other ideas for the knowledge.” Roy took a drink before opening the envelope. “Except maybe Kimblee. He enjoyed it but he’s definitely dead this time.”


Art by yuukihikari


“Knox thinks there is something familiar about it, but he can’t put his finger on it.”

Roy shrugged, then rubbed under his eye patch. His glass eye had been bothering him so he had taken it out. “He and I were in very different parts of the war. I have no idea how I would understand something that he might. If these women had been set on fire, maybe. And I don’t really know that many people with automail, and those I do know aren’t too likely to cut up women.”

“Neither Ed nor Dev were particularly helpful.” Maes whirled the whiskey around his glass. “Ed isn’t sure Al can vouch for him and pretty much the same for Dev and Aris. They weren’t thrilled with the idea of a search of their places to look for blood-stained clothing, and as Ed pointed out, he could have transmuted out those stains.”

Roy wagged his head. “Ed needs to learn to shut up. I wouldn’t have pointed that out.”

“You’re a devious bastard and Ed has miraculously held onto this air of innocence.” Maes shrugged one shoulder. “Dev had no clue about one key detail and Ed had seen it on the first woman but didn’t realize that it had been repeated on the second woman. Granted, he could fake that.”

“You don’t believe that.”

“No, I’m quite sure neither of them have a damn thing to do with this and today was a waste of time and energy, but it’ll make the higher ups happy.” Maes sighed and took a big gulp of his whiskey.

“Time you don’t really have since, you just know this isn’t the end to it. This guy has something to say.”

“Something you understand. I probably shouldn’t tell you this, but you’re probably key to figuring this out. The thing we are holding back is that the shoes are missing in both cases. It’s the middle of winter, so you know the women weren’t walking around barefoot.”

“Shoes?” Roy’s brow furrowed.

“Does that mean anything to you?”

“No.” Roy made a face. “What the hell do I care about shoes?”

Maes cocked up an eyebrow. “Are you sure?”

“I would know if I had a shoe fetish.”

“I’ve heard rumors.”

“Please, you’ll hear rumors about all kinds of things about me, including all the great sex you and I have.” Roy drained his glass.

“I’ve heard those and wondered about you and my predecessor.” Maes leaned against the table.

Roy waved him off. “You have nothing to worry about.”

Maes smirked. “I wasn’t worried. Sounds like I’m not the woman in this arrangement.”

Roy snorted. “I don’t have a shoe fetish.”

“Why am I not believing you?”

“Because you and the killer heard the same rumor? How the hell I should I know?” Roy grumbled, studying Maes’s, no Meinhard’s face. He wasn’t confident he could read it as well as he could Maes’s. The man didn’t believe him, unless Roy missed his guess. “Do you really need to hear all about this?”

“It is an investigation,” Maes replied somberly.

Roy’s lips thinned. “I guess Maes really would know these things. Okay, in no particularly order, my fetishes are collars, whips, paddles, strong women, thighs and feet.”

“Ed’s right, you are a little pervert, aren’t you?” Maes grinned.

Pointing at him, Roy said, “Do not tell him any of that, or I’ll never hear the end of it. I think Dev thinks the collars are for Hayate because he couldn’t have missed them. They were in the same drawer as the condoms he stole.”

Maes laughed then polished off his drink. “Shoes and feet are sort of close.”

“I’ll give that some thought. It’s not like I talk to many people about it. Maes knew. Riza and my sisters, but I don’t see them roaming around killing women, either.”

“True.” Maes got up and poured them both more whiskey. “So what is this crap about you running into burning buildings and finding me even more work to do?”

Roy took the whiskey glass. “I’d tell you to take it up with the terrorists, but they blew themselves up. Did anything come out of looking for any co-conspirators?”

“I have barely had time between the storm and the killings. The Fermis have promised to help.”

“Could you put Edward on that?” Roy sipped his whiskey. “I am not looking forward to him stomping around the office. ‘I’m innocent! How the hell can anyone believe I’d kill a woman? Fuck that’!” He stomped his metal foot with every invective.

“Roy!” Riza called down the hall. “What are you doing?”

He looked over his shoulder. “Pretending to be Edward!”

“Don’t be an ass.”

“How can I pretend to be Edward otherwise?” Roy hollered back.



Art by yuukihikari

“You better behave before she takes a page from Winry’s book,” Hughes said.

“Winry and I share oh so many things,” Riza replied.

“If you’re just going to stand there listening in, why don’t you join us?” Roy asked.

“I’m not listening in. I’m trying to read, but you’re stomping around.”

“I’ll be quiet.” Roy sighed. “See how annoying it is? You have to put Edward to work.”

“I’ll see if I can get it okayed before you manage to get yourself shot.”

“I should put you out in the snow.” Roy’s eyes narrowed. “So, if you’re done interrogating me, how’s Gracia?”

“Good. No morning sickness so far. I was going to invite you and Riza over for dinner, but I’m not sure I want a perv like you around my beautiful wife and child.” Hughes beamed.

“And here I was going to get my sister to teach you how to massage a pregnant woman’s feet to keep you in Gracia’s good graces. The hell with you.” Roy waved him off.

“I’m sure I can figure it out.”

“Famous last words.” Roy sobered up. “How are you doing?”

Maes looked away, as if thinking. “Nervous,” he finally admitted.

Roy could hardly blame him. Meinhard’s Gracia and unborn child had died. This second chance had to be very bittersweet sometimes. “You know I’d do anything for Gracia and you.”

“Yes, but you can’t fix this. I’ll be okay but I get jumpy.”

“Well, a good way to combat nerves is some excellent liquor.” And Roy poured him another glass.

XXX

“My leg hurts,” Dev grumbled sitting down in the cafeteria across from his mother. “And I hate coming here.”

“I know. What did the doctor say?” Hala bit into her sandwich with gusto. Dev wondered if she knew she had a strange stain on her uniform. He decided he didn’t even want to know what caused it.

“The same as always. It’s getting better but therapy and recovery are slow, as if I don’t already know that.” He reached under the table and massaged his thigh. The scars were tingling now, thanks to all the prodding and poking.

“You know that’s true.” His mother’s ruby eyes pinned him. “You also know the options.”

Dev glanced away, nodding. He knew them all too well. He’d lived half his life with this scarred, aching leg, but the fresh gunshot wound had put him in even more pain. He could work through it, heal more just like he had as a child, or he could let them try experimental surgery, which he was considering. The other option was having the leg therapeutically amputated and getting automail. He hated that idea. Ed was very mobile with his, but that didn’t mean the young man liked it. That was a last resort, but it might have to be considered one day when he was older, less able to get around than he was now. Li-Ying and Miao-Yin seemed to be of the mind he wasn’t out of hope yet. With their help, he had gotten away from needing a cane so much. Frowning, Dev thought he wanted to find Anah and shoot her to see how she liked it.

“I know it’s not very fair,” Hala said.

“No. Sorry, I’m out of sorts.” He waved his hands. “I’m sure someone told you what happened.”

“Yes, but I was waiting for you to get to it.” She tapped her plate with a spoon. “How did you manage to get hauled into interrogation again?”

“It’s nothing.” Dev took a sip of the soup and instantly pitied his mother having to eat here daily. “They seem to think that whoever killed those two women has a connection to General Jackass, and that this is sort of a homage to him. Also, whoever it is has automail.” He flexed his fingers, three of them obeyed. He scowled at them. “I know they don’t really think I have anything to do with it. It’s not like I’m a Mustang fan. I think Elric has more to fear than I do, not that he’d present the jerk with a gift, either. Figures, it stops snowing just enough that I could go home that night. Aris couldn’t swear that I didn’t leave in the pre-dawn hours. The day before that, I would have been snug in bed with Miao-Yin as an alibi but no, I just had to be home.”

At his mother’s raised eyebrow, Dev went red to his hairline. “You were where?”

“It’s not what you’re thinking, Mom!” He developed a sudden interesting his soup.

“What am I thinking?”

Dev wrinkled his nose. “You know what. The power went out and the heat with it, so Mustang built fires. She knew I’d be afraid to go to sleep by myself with an open fire in the room so she slept in my room. You know Miao-Yin is an alchemist.”

“And I know that I’m very likely to have grandkids with some very exotic looks the way you’re going.” Hala gave him a lingering look before biting into her sandwich with more vehemence than Dev liked.

Dev sighed. “I can’t even imagine what Xingese-Ishbalan would look like. And it’s not like that. Miao-Yin and I are just friends.” Who he’d sleep with if it weren’t for all the damn obstacles in his way. No, friends was the best option here. Besides, he thought Al might like Miao-Yin and he was a better match for her. “Anyhow, they had to ask me where I was and could I prove it because someone said they saw one of Mustang’s men in that area. I told them…” he trailed off, realizing someone was staring at them.

“What is it?”

“Some guy is looking at us.”

Hala turned in her seat. “Oh, that’s John. Something I can do for you, John?”

“No, sorry, didn’t mean to intrude. I was going to see if you wanted company for lunch but I see you have it,” the man replied.

“This is my son, Dev,” Hala replied. “Dev, this is one of my coworkers, John.”

“Nice to meet you. Have a seat,” Dev said. “I’m almost done talking about this anyhow.”

“This is about those women? I read about it in the papers.” John set his tray down and held out an automail hand to Dev. “It must have been hell to be accused about any of it.”

Dev shook it, metal scraping on metal. “Yeah.”

“That had to be a frightening experience,” John said.

“Not as much as the last time I had to go talk to the military police. The investigators know me, pretty much know I couldn’t have done it, but I have automail and I work with Mustang, so they wanted to be sure that no one could accuse them of favoritism.” Dev shrugged. He looked at his soup bowl and ate a few listless bites.

“So you’re not afraid they think you did it?” John took a bite of his sandwich.

“Not really. I’m missing more than an arm. My leg is messed up. Hughes knows I couldn’t physically chase these women down. I suppose I could have charmed them into following me,” Dev said and his mother choked on her soup. He glared at her. “One of them was in the military. She probably could have kicked my ass for me. I’m not too steady on my feet.” He shook his head. “I’m not a good candidate for an up-close killing. Last time, it was planting bombs. I was much more worried about what they thought then. And I didn’t do that either.”

“You haven’t had much luck,” John shot him a sympathetic look.

“I’m the most luckless man you’re ever going to meet,” Dev laughed self-deprecatingly.

“Maybe but it looks like you have a good mechanic,” John replied, peering at Dev’s hand.

“Winry? She’s the best. Everyone says so. I can give her your name if you want,” Dev said.

“Winry?”

“Winry Rockbell, she consults here,” Dev said.

John smiled. “I’ll look her up.”

Dev nodded. “Okay, Mom, I need to get going. I have to meet Uzziel shortly.”

“All right. My break’s over shortly, too,” she replied. “Thanks for staying for lunch.”

“No problem. Nice meeting you, John.” Dev waved and headed out. He hoped his mother believed him that he wasn’t overly rattled by the interrogation. He hadn’t been, but still it was frustrating having to go through something like that again. Dev hoped that this was the last time he ever would.

XXX

John laid out the tools in trays to be sent to a sterilizer. It was easy, mindless work which is what he needed at the moment. What if it had been a mistake to write the note to Mustang? He wanted the man to know, to get that feedback from a fellow fan, but he didn’t want to get caught.

While he wasn’t thrilled someone else might get credit for his art, John saw the practical advantage in it. Hala’s son might make a poor choice. No one would take him seriously based on his own admissions. What was that name he had overheard before he joined them? Elric? That sounded vaguely familiar. He’d have to do some research, but it would be very nice to have someone take the fall, at least especially since his collection wasn’t complete yet. He would stop them. John smiled, his mind floating to the next shoe he wanted to add to the collection. He’d have to go out dancing. The thought of those trim calves dressed with silk stockings, and those lovely shoes! It would be such fun.



To chapter seven