Fic Update - Petals Fall Like Tears
May. 25th, 2007 11:08 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
cornerofmadnessPetals Fall like Tears
A Color_i_fic story - Color - Cherry Blossom
D M Evans
Rating - R
Pairings - Roy/Riza, Maes/Gracia (and ANY combination of the four of them you can think of), Ed/Winry, Izumi/Sig, Heck even Al, Havoc and Armstrong get a girl
Time Line - Post Anime, ignoring the movie with a few key anime points changed like, Ed’s not in Europe, Al’s not a kid, all of Rush Valley is Manga centered and oh, a few people didn’t actually die.
Summary - With friends and family all around and a Cherry Blossom Festival to go to with new loves, what could possibly go wrong?
Author’s Note - Thanks to evil_little_dog for the beta. This was written for Mjules for her birthday. Happy birthday; sorry it’s not finished. This is the sequel to If Happiness Forgets You Part One If Happiness Forgets You Part Two , If Happiness Forgets You Part Three and a prequel to Curosity Killed the Teenager and was written as part of the color_i_fic Garden of Eden challenge
previous chapters
Author's Note #2 - the hyperlinks just take you to visuals of the fashions (culled from our history that would be comparable to them timewise). Feel free to skip if you'd like. And Ed's outfit is based on the one in the icon...
Chapter Six
“I look like an idiot,” Ed moaned, surveying his reflection.
Al muscled into the mirror’s purvey so he could fix his tie. “You look fine.” He put a hand on Ed’s shoulder, turning him. “I mean it. You look good, Ed.”
Ed’s shoulders slumped. “There’s too much color.”
Al grinned. “For you, probably, but trust me, Mr. Garfiel made it all work and it will look good next to Winry.”
Ed sighed, tightening his ponytail. He shot Al a look of disbelief. “You think?”
“I know it.”
Ed’s eyes scanned Al’s suit, his nose wrinkling. “Why do you get to wear black?”
“For one, I’m not always in black. Secondly, I didn’t scoff at Roy when he offered to help.” Al shook his brother’s shoulder. “You really do look good, Brother. When you see the pictures of you and Winry, you’ll be amazed.”
“Pictures?” Ed whined, palming his face. “Guess Hughes can’t possibly resist.”
“If he could, Winry couldn’t,” Al said, forcing Ed away from the mirror. “Let’s go. I want to see how lovely our dates are.”
Ed mustered up a grin. “They’ll be more beautiful than we imagined.”
Al delighted in seeing Ed finally showing some enthusiasm. “I’m sure.”
The brothers went downstairs but only found waiting men; Maes, in deep blue, sprawled on a chair, Roy, in black, lounged on the couch, looking so good Ed hated him for it. Sig stood at the window, appearing so different in his grey suit that the brothers had to look twice.
“No one’s ready?” Ed asked, his lips falling into a sulky pout.
“Rule one of dating, Fullmetal, be prepared to wait on your woman and always give yourself an hour before you actually have to be someplace,” Roy said.
“And it doesn’t get much better once you’re married,” Maes put in and Sig grunted his agreement with that statement. “So in the meantime, relax and smile.” The camera blinded the brothers before they even knew what was happening.
“Thanks, Hughes.” Ed grumbled, dropping into a chair as he rubbed his eyes.
“Hey, Fullmetal,” Roy said and Ed gave him a sulky look as if to say ‘what do you want, bastard?’ “You look surprisingly good in that.”
Ed simply gaped for a moment then snorted. “What do you want from me, Mustang?”
Roy’s almond eyes slotted. “Can’t a man pay a compliment without wanting something?”
Ed shook his head, his pony tail whipping. “Not you.”
“You are a very suspicious boy, Edward,” Sig observed.
“You don’t know him.” Narrowing his eyes, Ed stabbed a finger at Roy. “He’s only nice when he wants something or there’s a girl involved.”
“You wound me, Edward,” Roy said, managing a masterful pout.
Ed’s lips pulled into a feral grin. “Is that an invitation?”
“Don’t answer.” Al chastised Roy. “If you two get messed up, I dread to think of what Riza and Winry will do.”
“I want to be three cities away personally,” Maes added in as someone knocked on a door. The men all exchanged puzzled glances.
“Maybe it’s Havoc or Armstrong,” Roy said, levering himself up.
“They said they’d meet us at the dance hall,” Maes replied, a seriousness touching his tone.
“Armstrong has a date?” Ed asked incredulously.
“He’s a romantic man,” Sig said and Ed eyed him as if he had flown down from the moon.
Roy opened the door and, in spite of the confused look on his face, ushered an older man in.
Al’s eyes widened. “Dominic?”
“Don’t tell me you’re taking Granny to the dance?” Ed bellowed, his gold eyes popping. “You’re afraid of the pantheress of Resembol,” he added as if that fact was necessary for his survival.
“Then I remembered the other reasons we called her that.” The old automail mechanic grinned.
Ed shuddered and Al muttered, “Oh, that’s going to haunt me.”
“Pull up a chair. Apparently women get no faster no matter how many times they do this.” Roy gestured at a chair and Dominic took his place, waiting.
“Where are the kids?” Al asked, realizing neither Selim nor Elicia were underfoot.
“Took them to the dance’s nursery as soon as it opened,” Sig replied.
“They’re having fun and Mom and Dad can have ‘grown up time’ all night,” Maes added, his eyes twinkling behind his lenses.
The men settled into a bored silence that lasted until the unmistakable sound of high heels on wooden steps echoed in the hall. The men popped up as if kicked, bright, expectant eyes shining. Al thought maybe he had said ‘wow’ or perhaps it was Ed. Either way, it was warranted. The femininity that strolled down the stairs proved so heady a mix that none of the men were able to move or speak. Unsurprisingly, Roy recovered first and he moved to Riza’s side, smiling.
His eye roamed over her daring dress. The back was still high enough to hide her tattoo and the hem fell in scallops just above the knee. What caught the eye was the pattern of beadwork covering the dress; blues, purples and golds, radiating like peacock feathers . Riza glittered as she moved. “So beautiful,” he whispered and she kissed him affectionately. Roy pulled her close, returning the kiss greedily.
Gracia put a hand on Riza’s shoulder, holding the other out to Maes. He pulled her to him, her demure ankle-length gown like a cloud of palest dawn covered with a gold net split skirt. The flirty gold balls and the spray of flowers across the bodice tickled Maes’ delight. “You are lovelier every time I see you,” he assured her.
Al screwed up his courage and crossed over to Paninya. In his imagination, he thought she would be so cute. Never had he thought she could manage elegant and yet she had. Her dress was less flashy than the older women’s, just a simple sheath of green silk with a crocheted lace top dress that went from palest green at the neck to dark green just above her jade slippers. “I don’t know how I got to be so lucky,” he said softly, taking in the curls that had been forced into her dark, usually straight hair. “to get to go with someone so pretty.”
Paninya blushed brightly. “I think I’m the lucky one, Al. You are handsome. All the girls will be jealous.”
Al ducked his head, his pony tail swinging. “Thanks, well, except maybe Winry.” He nodded at Winry who had finally managed to lure Ed over.
Ed touched his icy blue tie unconsciously, finally realizing what Garfiel had been talking about. His tie was a color match to Winry’s beautiful dress, the simplest yet, a mere sheath of lush silk and gold geometric embroidery over the sleeves, hem and bodice. The irregular hem dripped with a lavish swatch of lace and Winry’s hair had been piled up into a spill of curls. She looked like a princess out of those stories their mothers would tell them at bed time. He wanted very much to kiss her but everyone was looking. “I’m glad I listened to Garfiel. He had to have known how pretty you are.”
“Thank you, Edward,” Winry toyed with his pony tail. “He did a good job with us. You really do look good.”
“Thanks,” Ed said, his eyes widening a bit. He nodded to Al then canted his eyes towards the last two women.
Granny greeted Dominic, almost unrecognizable in a simple dark blue dress and her long grey hair down. More astonishing was Izumi, who wore a dress so feminine the brothers had to wonder if she had been tricked into it. A delicate overdress of lace and netting over a white sheath cinched at her slender waist with a pink silk belt was the last thing either Elric brother could have imagined her in.
“I didn’t forget,” Ed said proudly, going to the ice chest and withdrew a delicate corsage of tiny white flowers.
“They’re beautiful, Ed.” Winry held perfectly still for him as he guided a pearl-studded pin through floral tape and cloth.
None of the other men were to be outdone in the floral arena. Once everyone was adorned, they headed to the dance in the cars Mustang had waiting for them. By the time they arrived, music had already started and the outside courtyard of the dance hall had been transformed with greenery that led into the building. The outdoor dance ‘floor’ in the courtyard was ringed with flowers and peeking inside the open doors, the couples could see that the inside had been transformed into a greenhouse as well. The perfume from the flowers hung sweet and near to overwhelming in the cool evening air.
“They spent a lot of money to do this,” Ed said, obviously impressed.
“Always do,” Paninya replied.
“This is so pretty,” Winry said as Ed watched her tackle the steps to go inside, wondering how she accomplished it in heels.
“Looks like it’ll be fun,” Ed conceded, putting his arm around her.
Winry leaned into him. “I know I’ve said it already but it bears repeating. You look incredibly handsome. Color looks good on you.”
Ed’s pink face clashed with his plum jacket. “I needed to match you.” He glanced behind him at Al and Paninya then smiled.
“Al looks handsome, doesn’t he?” Winry asked, nodding towards him.
“He really does. He’s getting so much better now,” Ed said, almost wishing he hadn’t thought of Al as he was fresh from the gate. He didn’t want to put a damper on things.
Winry squeezed his hand. “I’m so glad he came with Paninya. She was nervous.”
“I can understand that.” Ed looked at his metal hand. He knew all too well what it felt like to be half a man.
“I know.” She kissed his check, letting Ed lead her inside.
Ed could have sworn half of Rush Valley, if not more, was crammed inside and they had all just seen her kiss him. He blushed at the very thought. He winced at the loud ‘Woo-hoo’ and tried to run before big beefy arms looped around him, squeezing. Through bulging eyes, Ed saw his traitorous brother beating a hasty retreat while Ed was being crushed to Garfiel’s beaded chest. “You look so handsome, Edward.”
“Thanks,” Ed gurgled, trying to breathe.
“Introduce me, Atelier,” someone demanded jovially.
Ed glanced up at a man of Armstrong and Sig’s stature and somewhere between them in hairiness. The man slipped an arm around Garfiel’s waist and all he could think was, ‘how did the bed hold them?’
Letting Ed go so he could primp, Garfiel said, “Victor, this is Winry’s young man, Edward.”
“Oh, he’s as cute as you said.” Victor smiled at Edward, his moustache twitching.
“Isn’t he? Edward, this is my man, Victor. Where did that delicious brother of yours go?” Garfiel asked.
“Oh, he’s right over there.” Ed pointed the way, showing Al the loyalty he himself had been shown. Ed’s grin gleamed with the evil of legends.
“Ah yes. Thank you.” Garfiel turned to Winry. “You look so beautiful, Winry.”
She smiled broadly, touching the curls Paninya had helped put into her hair. “Thank you, you, too.”
Garfield ticked his fingers over the large beaded flowers that decorated his sleeveless dress. “I just love the chance to be pretty,” he said then sashayed off with Victor in tow as Winry pinched Ed’s side lest he say something rude.
“Pretty?” he hissed when she let go of his abused side.
She tapped his nose. “Hush.”
“And I thought my boss was insane. Yours makes Mustang look normal,” Ed said.
“Thank you, Edward,” Roy said, coming up behind him and the boy jumped.
“Don’t do that!”
“If I didn’t have a reputation to maintain, I’d give it a shot just to see how scared I could make you.” Roy smiled.
“No more than you’d scare me,” Riza said, swatting his arm. “Come along, it’s time to dance.”
“Any time to show you off is a good time.” Roy gave her his hand and he whisked her off.
Ed looked at Winry. “I will dance but…”
“You need to work up your nerve.” Winry smiled and he pouted.
“I would have put it in other words.”
“I’m sure. Here comes Al.” Winry hid her smile. “Ooo, he looks miffed.”
Ed laughed. “I call it his ‘fussy face.’ Do you remember Al as being this fussy before…it all happened?” he asked hesitantly.
“No, mostly I remember him as roly poly but he never did like to get dirty or wrinkled. Bet Garfiel wrinkled him.” Winry beamed.
“You sold me out.” Al wagged a finger at his brother.
Ed refused to look repentant. “And you abandoned me to him.”
“Well, we’ve established that you’re both brats. Now what?” Paninya laughed.
”First things first, tell me I’m imagining things,” Ed said, pointing to Armstrong in a black suite with a tiny blonde in pink on his arm.
“I wish I could,” Al said, sighing. The blonde was very pretty and Al couldn’t help but sneak a little peek.
“Wow, he’ll crush her,” Paninya added earthily.
“Paninya!” Al laughed. “Okay, you have a point.”
“And there’s Havoc,” Winry said, pointing him out.
“That’s a very pretty woman he’s with,” Ed observed, his eyes traveling over the short black silk dress that hugged the woman’s well-formed body. The generous beaded hem captured the light as she moved. Her golden hair spilled down over her back.
“It looks like Havoc’s luck’s changed,” Al said and Paninya turned questioning eyes on him. “Havoc has the worst luck with women,” Al elucidated.
“Poor thing,” Paninya said.
“I, on the other hand, seem to be very lucky indeed.” Al ran a finger along the curve of her jaw, watching roses bloom on her cheeks.
She twined her finger in Al’s pony tail. “I think that’s my line.” Paninya drew Al out into the swirl of bodies.
“Where did Al learn to sweet talk like that?” Ed asked, shock gleaming in his gold eyes.
“I think Al just says what he’s feeling instead of hiding it,” Winry offered somewhat defeatedly.
“Is that what I’m doing?” Ed sounded weary. His teeth snagged his bottom lip as he fiddled with his tie. “I think maybe I do. I’ve been so focused on helping Al all these years that I never had time to indulge my feelings. Now that I have the time, I’ve forgotten how.”
Winry squeezed his hand. “I think we can fix that with a little work.”
Ed smiled tentatively, feeling a swell of emotion that seemed almost overwhelming. “I like the sounds of that.”
Winry leaned in, kissing him lightly. Ed wrapped his arms around her, his tongue slipping between Winry’s lips hesitantly at first then far more boldly. When he finally let her go, Ed felt a little breathless.
She smiled. “That was nice. I’m going to come to expect a little more of that.”
Ed’s tongue flicked over his lips. “I think I can do that.” He held out his hand. “Dance?”
“I’d love to.”
As if fates had complied for once, the band started a slow waltz. Ed tucked her tight against his body as they moved. It felt better than he ever imagined and it took a lot of will power to keep his young body under control. His brother’s wide grin at seeing him on the dance floor helped to stem some of the lust because Ed could just imagine how amused Al would be at that. After he had danced a few rounds, Ed felt a tap on his shoulder. He looked back, seeing Roy behind him.
“May I cut in?” Roy said and Ed noticed for the first time that Roy had switched out his usual eye patch for one that had a faint grey stitching on it; dog wood or maybe cherry blossoms, the boy couldn’t tell.
“Uh….I guess.” Ed let Winry go reluctantly.
“Partner Riza. Try not to put your eyes out, bean.” Roy smirked, his eyes flickering to Riza’s beaded chest.
Grinding his teeth against his usual customary explosion, knowing Winry would kill him, Ed elbowed Mustang in the kidney as he traded places.
“Ignore him, Edward,” Riza said as he nervously took her in hand. “He’s a brat. If you don’t let it bother you, he’ll stop.”
Ed puffed at his wayward bangs. “Is that why he doesn’t pick on Al?” He tried to make sure not to bury his face in her cleavage. Why did she have to wear heels?
“Exactly.”
“I’ll try,” he said and they both knew he would fail. It wasn’t in his nature and that’s why he and Mustang conflicted.
Ed enjoyed dancing with Riza then found himself passed to Gracia then Paninya, Izumi and even Pinako. He felt guilty for fussing so much the last few days. This was fun, just so long as no one thought he was going to partner Mr. Garfiel.
X X X
Coda tapped Havoc’s shoulder and nodded towards the fringe of the dance hall. Havoc danced her over to the edge. “Tired?” he asked.
“Not even close. I’m having a wonderful time.” She kissed him. “I just need to head for the ladies room.”
“Ah. Shall I get us something to drink?” Havoc inquired, smiling and thinking about taking a cigarette break.
“That would be lovely,” Coda said and headed for the lavatory. She thought she’d never escape the idiot. Kimbley was probably wondering where the hell she was. She peered out the windows to see if he was still out in the outside dance ground and checked at the buffet table as well, to no avail. When she found him, Kimbley didn’t seem put out about the wait. She didn’t even want to know how he had been entertaining himself. “Ready?” she asked.
“Always,” he assured her, rubbing his hands against the fine black cloth of his suit while he winked at a passing woman. “Pendergrass is out in the courtyard with his men waiting for us to get started.” His dark eyes danced. “Where to start blowing things up.”
“How about my date?” Coda suggested sourly.
Kimbley waved her off. “Impale him with a flower or whatever it is you do with plants.”
Before Coda could form the proper smart-assed response, someone grumbled Kimbley’s name. Startled, both alchemists glanced frantically around the dance hall. Kimbley swore, spotting Armstrong lumbering their way.
“Why the hell did it have to be him?” Kimbley groaned.
Armstrong’s features darkened and his bass voice boomed out over the music. “Flame, we have unexpected guests.”
Kimbley knew better than to gamble that Mustang hadn’t been alerted and figured he wasn’t lucky enough that the other alchemist was too inebriated at this point to do anything about him and Coda. He exchanged glances with his fellow alchemist and said, “Run for it.”
“Outrun…that?” She pointed to Armstrong who was picking up speed through a crowd in a hurry to get out of his way.
“He’s too honorable to try his destructive alchemy in a crowd,” A wicked smile fluttered over Kimbley’s face. “Luckily, I’m not.” Kimbley grabbed a flower arrangement, charged it and sent it flying. The explosion was small but the effect wasn’t. People shrieked and ran for the doors. He laughed loudly. “This is gonna be fun,” he assured Coda then pulled her into the crowd.
X X X
“What was that?” Winry cried, her hands convulsing against Ed’s body.
“An explosion.” His ponytail nearly whipped her in the face as Ed craned around, looking for the source. The stampede off the dance floor nearly knocked them both over.
“There!” Al pointed through the fleeing festival-goer’s to Kimbley.
“Son of a bitch, what the hell is he doing here?” Roy dug in his pocket, jostled on both sides by the panicked crowd.
“You got your gloves?” Ed asked, surprised.
“Yes, but it’s too crowded in here. I could kill everyone.” Roy scanned about, looking for his men as gray-suited intruders poured into the room. “Havoc!” he called, spotting the man still holding two drinks in his hand as he tried to take in what was happening. “Call for reinforcements.”
“Right, Boss. Hey, he’s got Coda hostage,” Havoc cried, seeing Kimbley pulling the woman along. “We have to save her.”
Coda hauled Kimbley to a halt near a large flower arrangement. She touched the array she wore around her neck and the arrangement lashed out with large vines and spikes, stabbing into the nearest victims.
“Or she’s working with him,” Ed said sourly, seeing the dance hall had nearly emptied but a few stragglers seemed bloodied and hurt by stabbing plant life and shrapnel.
“Havoc, your taste in women is absolutely abysmal.” Roy sighed and the man wilted for a moment then his eyes hardened.
“Then I’ll fix it, Boss,” Havoc replied grimly.
“Be careful, Havoc. Alchemists are not easy to deal with. I need you to get reinforcements. Leave the alchemists to me, Armstrong and the Elrics,” Roy said then whirled around, hearing gun fire from outside. “Hughes?”
Maes peered out a window. “Loyalist troops. Havoc, we need to get those reinforcements fast.”
Havoc nodded and loped off.
“Almost everyone here is a civilian,” Ed said, his eyes huge as he pulled Winry close protectively.
“I know that, Edward. All right, Armstrong, leave Kimbley and his companion to me and the boys. You’re better off outside, knocking down the troops,” Roy said, knowing where Armstrong’s strengths were.
Armstrong’s arms tensed as he nodded. Paninya stepped close to him. “I’m going with him.”
“Paninya!” Al bleated, catching her hand.
“Remember, I do have weapons in my legs, Al. A well placed round might make a difference,” Paninya said with grim determination and Al just smiled proudly as he let her go.
“I’ll make sure she’s safe, Alphonse,” Armstrong rumbled and led the girl outside.
“Is there anything I can do to help?” Winry asked.
“Stay safe. Gracia, you and Winry try to get somewhere safe,” Roy said, glancing back at Hawkeye. “Do you have your gun?”
“In my purse.” Riza moved to retrieve her weapon.
“Am I going to have to wait all day for your attack, Flame?” Kimbley taunted from the doorway. “Or do you think you can stop me before Coda and I level…oh, how about the nursery.” With that, Kimbley disappeared out the door then collapsed that wall behind him.
“Roy! Elicia is in there!” Gracia cried, her face pale as paste.
“I know!” Roy shot back as a few armed men swarmed into the hall.
Ed and Al tossed up a wall between them and the gunmen. One had slipped past, going for Riza before she could get to her gun. She stepped out of her heels, picking one up. Using the heel as a punch-dagger, she took out his throat, taking his gun then got her own out of her purse. She handed the smaller purse pistol to Winry. “You and Gracia might need it.”
Ed started to protest but without it his Winry would be defenseless and that was worse than her possibly having to use that weapon. It was so unfair.
“Edward, Alphonse, what’s happening?” Izumi asked, peering in a broken window. “Are you all right?”
“No! Two bastard alchemists are heading for the nursery,” Ed said. “And someone needs to look out for Winry and Granny and Gracia.”
“We can look out for ourselves,” Pinako said, holding a table knife. Al’s eyes widened at the sight. “You boys get to the nursery.”
“I’ll stay with them, make sure they’re safe,” Sig said. “Honey, you go make sure Selim is all right,” he added to Izumi’s retreating back. She was already on her way.
Ed and Al tumbled through the window with Roy, Riza and Maes on their heels. No one was going to kill children on their watch.
X X X
“That was brazen, telling Flame where we’re going,” Coda said as she and Kimbley ran.
“He’s another one who’s too noble for his own damn good. He won’t risk hitting civilians so we have an advantage,” Kimbley said, wincing as one of Pendergrass’ troop trucks blew up. Who knew a little girl could have a carbine in her knee? It suddenly hit Kimbley that Pendergrass’ plan had a fatal flaw. They were in the land of broken down soldiers, a city where those broken men and women were fixed with metal parts, more often than not doubled as a weapon. Why hadn’t they taken that into account? Honestly, the stupidest people rose to the rank of general, he thought, considering Pendergrass. “Why don’t you take the nursery? I’m going to go cut off escape routes. We don’t want them getting reinforcements in,” he said and she shot him a strange look.
She shot him a suspicious look. “Then how do we get out?”
“I blow up whatever obstacles I lay over the path in first place,” Kimbley replied with a shrug.
“All right then.” Coda headed for the nursery, calling for some of Pendergrass’ men to follow.
Kimbley watched the idiot go. Maybe he should have warned her but the bitch had only ever had snide words for him so, too bad if she couldn’t see their miscalculation. She’d find out fast that Flame, Strongarm and Fullmetal weren’t easy targets. Not liking his chances, Kimbley got into a car and nonchalantly drove off.
X X X
“What kind of person could purposely hurt kids?” Al huffed as they raced for the nursery.
“A kind that don’t need to exist,” Roy replied grimly.
Ed could see his brother was about to ask what Mustang had planned then didn’t. Ed didn’t know what he’d do once they cornered Kimbley and Coda. He didn’t want to kill but he didn’t want them hurting the kids. Still, from the looks on the faces of Maes and Izumi, he and Al were all but superfluous. They were going to protect their kids and that’s all that was needed. He should have stayed with Winry. Ed felt his heart fall when he heard screams from the nursery and everyone picked up their pace.
Izumi clapped her hands and the door folded outward, vines billowing out behind it. Ed clapped and reduced them to their dusty carbon components. The team nearly hurt itself trying to get through the door at once. Ed noticed Riza and Maes peeling off, going around the building. They must be going for the back door, he realized, and wished he, Al and Izumi had just a little more of the military discipline so the team could actually work like one, instead of nearly trampling Mustang.
Coda stood next to one of the babysitters – quite dead with vines around her neck – carefully keeping the kids between her with what used to be a harmless houseplant and the furious alchemists who had just boiled through the door. She smirked at them, the vines lashing like the tail of an angry cat. Two armed guards were with her. Al was the first to clap and touch the floor, which promptly grew fists, knocking out the gunmen.
“Where’s Kimbley?” Ed snarled, not liking that he couldn’t see the other alchemist.
“Out causing more trouble,” she said, the vines snaking around several children, one of them Elicia.
“Too bad for you,” Roy said, his fingers tensing. “You are sorely outnumbered.”
“What are you going to do, Flame? Roast some kids?” Coda laughed. “You have nothing but two kids and some woman to try and stop me. I’ll snap the sweet brats’ little necks before you can move.” She gestured at the squalling children.
“I wouldn’t bet on it,” Izumi grumbled, eyeing the situation.
Ed glanced over at his brother, wondering if together they could kill all the vines before the green alchemist could use them to murder the kids.
“I woul-” Coda’s eyes bulged then she slumped to the floor. Ed saw Maes and Riza behind her before he noticed the hilt end of one of Maes’ knives sticking out from the base of the woman’s skull. The vines stopped their snake-like movement and nothing remained but the cried of terrified children.
Maes stepped over the dead woman and scooped his daughter out of the vines, crushing her to him, cooing her name. Izumi went to Selim, dragging him into an embrace.
Roy turned to the brothers. “I’ll need you two to help with the rest of the Loyalists,” he said as Riza joined him.
Al shook his head. “Someone should stay and make sure no one else tries to take the kids hostage. I’ll do that.”
“No, I’ll stay,” Izumi said, her voice rough. “As much as I don’t want you boys messed up in this, it’s too late for that. You go make sure they don’t kill anyone else. I’ll get the bodies out of here and make sure the kids are safe.”
Al nodded and said to Ed, “We need to be sure Winry, Paninya and Granny are safe.” A brisk nod was Ed’s only answer.
“Guard my little girl, Izumi,” Maes said, reluctantly turning the girl over to the alchemist and following Roy and Riza out of the nursery.
X X X
“I’m exhausted,” Winry said, slumping down on a bench outside the dance hall, looking lost in Armstrong’s big jacket.
Paninya handed her something to drink. “You were pretty amazing. You, your grandmother and Dominic. I wish.” Her dark faced went red. “Well, that I was more helpful. Blood makes me faint.”
“We had plenty of nurses,” the young automail mechanic cum medic replied. “You were busy enough helping the soldiers. I wish Ed would let me put missile weapons in his automail but no.”
“Winry, with Ed’s temper giving him missiles is probably a bad idea,” Paninya said with a wry grin, flopping down next to the girl.
Winry laughed brittlely. “No doubt of that.” She ran a bloodied hand through her lank hair. “I’ve never seen a battle before, not like this, Paninya.”
The girl put her arm around Winry’s shoulders. “I’ve seen the aftermaths a lot, living here, but nothing like this.”
“My parents died in the war in Ishbal. They did all the triage work I just performed, every day, did the surgeries, too. I never knew how hard it had to have been on them,” Winry said, tears coming to her eyes.
“We’re young, Winry. We’re not supposed to know,” Paninya said. “Of course, we are the right age to have been recruited by the military.” She made a face.
“Winry!”
Both girls turned at that barked out name and saw Ed and Al running full out to reach them. The boys nearly tripped each other, trying to stop in time. Ed’s eyes dilated and Al went pale.
“You’re covered in blood,” Ed said, panic making him hit deafening decibels.
“Not mine,” Winry quickly assured him. “I was helping with the wounded. Surgeons are here now and…it’s going to be a busy time for me at Mr. Garfiel’s after this. It was awful.”
Ed bent down and hugged her tight while Paninya flung herself into Al’s arms. “I’m so sorry, Winry.”
“It’s not your fault, Ed.” Winry squeezed until his ribs creaked.
“Why do you have on this huge jacket?”
“Mr. Armstrong didn’t want my dress to get all bloody,” Winry said, still surprised by the older man’s gallantry. “Beside I think it might have been at risk with all those muscles rippling.”
Ed’s shoulders twitched. Armstrong’s bare muscles shouldn’t be inflicted on Winry. Would she prefer that to him? He felt so small. “Oh. Sorry we couldn’t get you out of here sooner, either of you,” he said, glancing over at Paninya as she rested against Alphonse.
Winry took Ed’s hands. “It’s all right. The wounded needed me here.”
“And I was doing what I could to make sure there were no more wounded,” Paninya said, “We had jobs to do.”
Winry sighed. “I still say Ed should have some missiles, too.”
“Oh, hell no!” Al cried, ignoring his brother’s inferno of a look.
“If you’re all through, Winry, I’m taking you home,” Ed said, casting about to find Mustang. “Hey, bastard!” he screamed over the din. “Al and I are going to-”
“Take the girls, home. We don’t need you here,” Mustang shouted back.
“Are you up for a walk?” Al asked “Or should we try to find a car.”
“We can walk. It’s not that terribly far and we have our protectors,” Paninya smiled at him.
“So says the girl with a knife in her leg.” Winry slipped an arm around Ed as she got up. “How about a knife, Ed?”
“I…uh…shape my own,” he admitted.
“We’ll discuss that later.” She rested her head against his shoulder.
Ed, content with that, pulled her close and headed her away from the ruins of the festival. His plans for the evening were as destroyed as the dance hall and a quick look at Al told him his brother felt the same. There would be other nights. Right now all he wanted was to see Winry home safe and scrub the sounds of battle from his mind.
A Color_i_fic story - Color - Cherry Blossom
D M Evans
Rating - R
Pairings - Roy/Riza, Maes/Gracia (and ANY combination of the four of them you can think of), Ed/Winry, Izumi/Sig, Heck even Al, Havoc and Armstrong get a girl
Time Line - Post Anime, ignoring the movie with a few key anime points changed like, Ed’s not in Europe, Al’s not a kid, all of Rush Valley is Manga centered and oh, a few people didn’t actually die.
Summary - With friends and family all around and a Cherry Blossom Festival to go to with new loves, what could possibly go wrong?
Author’s Note - Thanks to evil_little_dog for the beta. This was written for Mjules for her birthday. Happy birthday; sorry it’s not finished. This is the sequel to If Happiness Forgets You Part One If Happiness Forgets You Part Two , If Happiness Forgets You Part Three and a prequel to Curosity Killed the Teenager and was written as part of the color_i_fic Garden of Eden challenge
previous chapters
Author's Note #2 - the hyperlinks just take you to visuals of the fashions (culled from our history that would be comparable to them timewise). Feel free to skip if you'd like. And Ed's outfit is based on the one in the icon...
Chapter Six
“I look like an idiot,” Ed moaned, surveying his reflection.
Al muscled into the mirror’s purvey so he could fix his tie. “You look fine.” He put a hand on Ed’s shoulder, turning him. “I mean it. You look good, Ed.”
Ed’s shoulders slumped. “There’s too much color.”
Al grinned. “For you, probably, but trust me, Mr. Garfiel made it all work and it will look good next to Winry.”
Ed sighed, tightening his ponytail. He shot Al a look of disbelief. “You think?”
“I know it.”
Ed’s eyes scanned Al’s suit, his nose wrinkling. “Why do you get to wear black?”
“For one, I’m not always in black. Secondly, I didn’t scoff at Roy when he offered to help.” Al shook his brother’s shoulder. “You really do look good, Brother. When you see the pictures of you and Winry, you’ll be amazed.”
“Pictures?” Ed whined, palming his face. “Guess Hughes can’t possibly resist.”
“If he could, Winry couldn’t,” Al said, forcing Ed away from the mirror. “Let’s go. I want to see how lovely our dates are.”
Ed mustered up a grin. “They’ll be more beautiful than we imagined.”
Al delighted in seeing Ed finally showing some enthusiasm. “I’m sure.”
The brothers went downstairs but only found waiting men; Maes, in deep blue, sprawled on a chair, Roy, in black, lounged on the couch, looking so good Ed hated him for it. Sig stood at the window, appearing so different in his grey suit that the brothers had to look twice.
“No one’s ready?” Ed asked, his lips falling into a sulky pout.
“Rule one of dating, Fullmetal, be prepared to wait on your woman and always give yourself an hour before you actually have to be someplace,” Roy said.
“And it doesn’t get much better once you’re married,” Maes put in and Sig grunted his agreement with that statement. “So in the meantime, relax and smile.” The camera blinded the brothers before they even knew what was happening.
“Thanks, Hughes.” Ed grumbled, dropping into a chair as he rubbed his eyes.
“Hey, Fullmetal,” Roy said and Ed gave him a sulky look as if to say ‘what do you want, bastard?’ “You look surprisingly good in that.”
Ed simply gaped for a moment then snorted. “What do you want from me, Mustang?”
Roy’s almond eyes slotted. “Can’t a man pay a compliment without wanting something?”
Ed shook his head, his pony tail whipping. “Not you.”
“You are a very suspicious boy, Edward,” Sig observed.
“You don’t know him.” Narrowing his eyes, Ed stabbed a finger at Roy. “He’s only nice when he wants something or there’s a girl involved.”
“You wound me, Edward,” Roy said, managing a masterful pout.
Ed’s lips pulled into a feral grin. “Is that an invitation?”
“Don’t answer.” Al chastised Roy. “If you two get messed up, I dread to think of what Riza and Winry will do.”
“I want to be three cities away personally,” Maes added in as someone knocked on a door. The men all exchanged puzzled glances.
“Maybe it’s Havoc or Armstrong,” Roy said, levering himself up.
“They said they’d meet us at the dance hall,” Maes replied, a seriousness touching his tone.
“Armstrong has a date?” Ed asked incredulously.
“He’s a romantic man,” Sig said and Ed eyed him as if he had flown down from the moon.
Roy opened the door and, in spite of the confused look on his face, ushered an older man in.
Al’s eyes widened. “Dominic?”
“Don’t tell me you’re taking Granny to the dance?” Ed bellowed, his gold eyes popping. “You’re afraid of the pantheress of Resembol,” he added as if that fact was necessary for his survival.
“Then I remembered the other reasons we called her that.” The old automail mechanic grinned.
Ed shuddered and Al muttered, “Oh, that’s going to haunt me.”
“Pull up a chair. Apparently women get no faster no matter how many times they do this.” Roy gestured at a chair and Dominic took his place, waiting.
“Where are the kids?” Al asked, realizing neither Selim nor Elicia were underfoot.
“Took them to the dance’s nursery as soon as it opened,” Sig replied.
“They’re having fun and Mom and Dad can have ‘grown up time’ all night,” Maes added, his eyes twinkling behind his lenses.
The men settled into a bored silence that lasted until the unmistakable sound of high heels on wooden steps echoed in the hall. The men popped up as if kicked, bright, expectant eyes shining. Al thought maybe he had said ‘wow’ or perhaps it was Ed. Either way, it was warranted. The femininity that strolled down the stairs proved so heady a mix that none of the men were able to move or speak. Unsurprisingly, Roy recovered first and he moved to Riza’s side, smiling.
His eye roamed over her daring dress. The back was still high enough to hide her tattoo and the hem fell in scallops just above the knee. What caught the eye was the pattern of beadwork covering the dress; blues, purples and golds, radiating like peacock feathers . Riza glittered as she moved. “So beautiful,” he whispered and she kissed him affectionately. Roy pulled her close, returning the kiss greedily.
Gracia put a hand on Riza’s shoulder, holding the other out to Maes. He pulled her to him, her demure ankle-length gown like a cloud of palest dawn covered with a gold net split skirt. The flirty gold balls and the spray of flowers across the bodice tickled Maes’ delight. “You are lovelier every time I see you,” he assured her.
Al screwed up his courage and crossed over to Paninya. In his imagination, he thought she would be so cute. Never had he thought she could manage elegant and yet she had. Her dress was less flashy than the older women’s, just a simple sheath of green silk with a crocheted lace top dress that went from palest green at the neck to dark green just above her jade slippers. “I don’t know how I got to be so lucky,” he said softly, taking in the curls that had been forced into her dark, usually straight hair. “to get to go with someone so pretty.”
Paninya blushed brightly. “I think I’m the lucky one, Al. You are handsome. All the girls will be jealous.”
Al ducked his head, his pony tail swinging. “Thanks, well, except maybe Winry.” He nodded at Winry who had finally managed to lure Ed over.
Ed touched his icy blue tie unconsciously, finally realizing what Garfiel had been talking about. His tie was a color match to Winry’s beautiful dress, the simplest yet, a mere sheath of lush silk and gold geometric embroidery over the sleeves, hem and bodice. The irregular hem dripped with a lavish swatch of lace and Winry’s hair had been piled up into a spill of curls. She looked like a princess out of those stories their mothers would tell them at bed time. He wanted very much to kiss her but everyone was looking. “I’m glad I listened to Garfiel. He had to have known how pretty you are.”
“Thank you, Edward,” Winry toyed with his pony tail. “He did a good job with us. You really do look good.”
“Thanks,” Ed said, his eyes widening a bit. He nodded to Al then canted his eyes towards the last two women.
Granny greeted Dominic, almost unrecognizable in a simple dark blue dress and her long grey hair down. More astonishing was Izumi, who wore a dress so feminine the brothers had to wonder if she had been tricked into it. A delicate overdress of lace and netting over a white sheath cinched at her slender waist with a pink silk belt was the last thing either Elric brother could have imagined her in.
“I didn’t forget,” Ed said proudly, going to the ice chest and withdrew a delicate corsage of tiny white flowers.
“They’re beautiful, Ed.” Winry held perfectly still for him as he guided a pearl-studded pin through floral tape and cloth.
None of the other men were to be outdone in the floral arena. Once everyone was adorned, they headed to the dance in the cars Mustang had waiting for them. By the time they arrived, music had already started and the outside courtyard of the dance hall had been transformed with greenery that led into the building. The outdoor dance ‘floor’ in the courtyard was ringed with flowers and peeking inside the open doors, the couples could see that the inside had been transformed into a greenhouse as well. The perfume from the flowers hung sweet and near to overwhelming in the cool evening air.
“They spent a lot of money to do this,” Ed said, obviously impressed.
“Always do,” Paninya replied.
“This is so pretty,” Winry said as Ed watched her tackle the steps to go inside, wondering how she accomplished it in heels.
“Looks like it’ll be fun,” Ed conceded, putting his arm around her.
Winry leaned into him. “I know I’ve said it already but it bears repeating. You look incredibly handsome. Color looks good on you.”
Ed’s pink face clashed with his plum jacket. “I needed to match you.” He glanced behind him at Al and Paninya then smiled.
“Al looks handsome, doesn’t he?” Winry asked, nodding towards him.
“He really does. He’s getting so much better now,” Ed said, almost wishing he hadn’t thought of Al as he was fresh from the gate. He didn’t want to put a damper on things.
Winry squeezed his hand. “I’m so glad he came with Paninya. She was nervous.”
“I can understand that.” Ed looked at his metal hand. He knew all too well what it felt like to be half a man.
“I know.” She kissed his check, letting Ed lead her inside.
Ed could have sworn half of Rush Valley, if not more, was crammed inside and they had all just seen her kiss him. He blushed at the very thought. He winced at the loud ‘Woo-hoo’ and tried to run before big beefy arms looped around him, squeezing. Through bulging eyes, Ed saw his traitorous brother beating a hasty retreat while Ed was being crushed to Garfiel’s beaded chest. “You look so handsome, Edward.”
“Thanks,” Ed gurgled, trying to breathe.
“Introduce me, Atelier,” someone demanded jovially.
Ed glanced up at a man of Armstrong and Sig’s stature and somewhere between them in hairiness. The man slipped an arm around Garfiel’s waist and all he could think was, ‘how did the bed hold them?’
Letting Ed go so he could primp, Garfiel said, “Victor, this is Winry’s young man, Edward.”
“Oh, he’s as cute as you said.” Victor smiled at Edward, his moustache twitching.
“Isn’t he? Edward, this is my man, Victor. Where did that delicious brother of yours go?” Garfiel asked.
“Oh, he’s right over there.” Ed pointed the way, showing Al the loyalty he himself had been shown. Ed’s grin gleamed with the evil of legends.
“Ah yes. Thank you.” Garfiel turned to Winry. “You look so beautiful, Winry.”
She smiled broadly, touching the curls Paninya had helped put into her hair. “Thank you, you, too.”
Garfield ticked his fingers over the large beaded flowers that decorated his sleeveless dress. “I just love the chance to be pretty,” he said then sashayed off with Victor in tow as Winry pinched Ed’s side lest he say something rude.
“Pretty?” he hissed when she let go of his abused side.
She tapped his nose. “Hush.”
“And I thought my boss was insane. Yours makes Mustang look normal,” Ed said.
“Thank you, Edward,” Roy said, coming up behind him and the boy jumped.
“Don’t do that!”
“If I didn’t have a reputation to maintain, I’d give it a shot just to see how scared I could make you.” Roy smiled.
“No more than you’d scare me,” Riza said, swatting his arm. “Come along, it’s time to dance.”
“Any time to show you off is a good time.” Roy gave her his hand and he whisked her off.
Ed looked at Winry. “I will dance but…”
“You need to work up your nerve.” Winry smiled and he pouted.
“I would have put it in other words.”
“I’m sure. Here comes Al.” Winry hid her smile. “Ooo, he looks miffed.”
Ed laughed. “I call it his ‘fussy face.’ Do you remember Al as being this fussy before…it all happened?” he asked hesitantly.
“No, mostly I remember him as roly poly but he never did like to get dirty or wrinkled. Bet Garfiel wrinkled him.” Winry beamed.
“You sold me out.” Al wagged a finger at his brother.
Ed refused to look repentant. “And you abandoned me to him.”
“Well, we’ve established that you’re both brats. Now what?” Paninya laughed.
”First things first, tell me I’m imagining things,” Ed said, pointing to Armstrong in a black suite with a tiny blonde in pink on his arm.
“I wish I could,” Al said, sighing. The blonde was very pretty and Al couldn’t help but sneak a little peek.
“Wow, he’ll crush her,” Paninya added earthily.
“Paninya!” Al laughed. “Okay, you have a point.”
“And there’s Havoc,” Winry said, pointing him out.
“That’s a very pretty woman he’s with,” Ed observed, his eyes traveling over the short black silk dress that hugged the woman’s well-formed body. The generous beaded hem captured the light as she moved. Her golden hair spilled down over her back.
“It looks like Havoc’s luck’s changed,” Al said and Paninya turned questioning eyes on him. “Havoc has the worst luck with women,” Al elucidated.
“Poor thing,” Paninya said.
“I, on the other hand, seem to be very lucky indeed.” Al ran a finger along the curve of her jaw, watching roses bloom on her cheeks.
She twined her finger in Al’s pony tail. “I think that’s my line.” Paninya drew Al out into the swirl of bodies.
“Where did Al learn to sweet talk like that?” Ed asked, shock gleaming in his gold eyes.
“I think Al just says what he’s feeling instead of hiding it,” Winry offered somewhat defeatedly.
“Is that what I’m doing?” Ed sounded weary. His teeth snagged his bottom lip as he fiddled with his tie. “I think maybe I do. I’ve been so focused on helping Al all these years that I never had time to indulge my feelings. Now that I have the time, I’ve forgotten how.”
Winry squeezed his hand. “I think we can fix that with a little work.”
Ed smiled tentatively, feeling a swell of emotion that seemed almost overwhelming. “I like the sounds of that.”
Winry leaned in, kissing him lightly. Ed wrapped his arms around her, his tongue slipping between Winry’s lips hesitantly at first then far more boldly. When he finally let her go, Ed felt a little breathless.
She smiled. “That was nice. I’m going to come to expect a little more of that.”
Ed’s tongue flicked over his lips. “I think I can do that.” He held out his hand. “Dance?”
“I’d love to.”
As if fates had complied for once, the band started a slow waltz. Ed tucked her tight against his body as they moved. It felt better than he ever imagined and it took a lot of will power to keep his young body under control. His brother’s wide grin at seeing him on the dance floor helped to stem some of the lust because Ed could just imagine how amused Al would be at that. After he had danced a few rounds, Ed felt a tap on his shoulder. He looked back, seeing Roy behind him.
“May I cut in?” Roy said and Ed noticed for the first time that Roy had switched out his usual eye patch for one that had a faint grey stitching on it; dog wood or maybe cherry blossoms, the boy couldn’t tell.
“Uh….I guess.” Ed let Winry go reluctantly.
“Partner Riza. Try not to put your eyes out, bean.” Roy smirked, his eyes flickering to Riza’s beaded chest.
Grinding his teeth against his usual customary explosion, knowing Winry would kill him, Ed elbowed Mustang in the kidney as he traded places.
“Ignore him, Edward,” Riza said as he nervously took her in hand. “He’s a brat. If you don’t let it bother you, he’ll stop.”
Ed puffed at his wayward bangs. “Is that why he doesn’t pick on Al?” He tried to make sure not to bury his face in her cleavage. Why did she have to wear heels?
“Exactly.”
“I’ll try,” he said and they both knew he would fail. It wasn’t in his nature and that’s why he and Mustang conflicted.
Ed enjoyed dancing with Riza then found himself passed to Gracia then Paninya, Izumi and even Pinako. He felt guilty for fussing so much the last few days. This was fun, just so long as no one thought he was going to partner Mr. Garfiel.
X X X
Coda tapped Havoc’s shoulder and nodded towards the fringe of the dance hall. Havoc danced her over to the edge. “Tired?” he asked.
“Not even close. I’m having a wonderful time.” She kissed him. “I just need to head for the ladies room.”
“Ah. Shall I get us something to drink?” Havoc inquired, smiling and thinking about taking a cigarette break.
“That would be lovely,” Coda said and headed for the lavatory. She thought she’d never escape the idiot. Kimbley was probably wondering where the hell she was. She peered out the windows to see if he was still out in the outside dance ground and checked at the buffet table as well, to no avail. When she found him, Kimbley didn’t seem put out about the wait. She didn’t even want to know how he had been entertaining himself. “Ready?” she asked.
“Always,” he assured her, rubbing his hands against the fine black cloth of his suit while he winked at a passing woman. “Pendergrass is out in the courtyard with his men waiting for us to get started.” His dark eyes danced. “Where to start blowing things up.”
“How about my date?” Coda suggested sourly.
Kimbley waved her off. “Impale him with a flower or whatever it is you do with plants.”
Before Coda could form the proper smart-assed response, someone grumbled Kimbley’s name. Startled, both alchemists glanced frantically around the dance hall. Kimbley swore, spotting Armstrong lumbering their way.
“Why the hell did it have to be him?” Kimbley groaned.
Armstrong’s features darkened and his bass voice boomed out over the music. “Flame, we have unexpected guests.”
Kimbley knew better than to gamble that Mustang hadn’t been alerted and figured he wasn’t lucky enough that the other alchemist was too inebriated at this point to do anything about him and Coda. He exchanged glances with his fellow alchemist and said, “Run for it.”
“Outrun…that?” She pointed to Armstrong who was picking up speed through a crowd in a hurry to get out of his way.
“He’s too honorable to try his destructive alchemy in a crowd,” A wicked smile fluttered over Kimbley’s face. “Luckily, I’m not.” Kimbley grabbed a flower arrangement, charged it and sent it flying. The explosion was small but the effect wasn’t. People shrieked and ran for the doors. He laughed loudly. “This is gonna be fun,” he assured Coda then pulled her into the crowd.
X X X
“What was that?” Winry cried, her hands convulsing against Ed’s body.
“An explosion.” His ponytail nearly whipped her in the face as Ed craned around, looking for the source. The stampede off the dance floor nearly knocked them both over.
“There!” Al pointed through the fleeing festival-goer’s to Kimbley.
“Son of a bitch, what the hell is he doing here?” Roy dug in his pocket, jostled on both sides by the panicked crowd.
“You got your gloves?” Ed asked, surprised.
“Yes, but it’s too crowded in here. I could kill everyone.” Roy scanned about, looking for his men as gray-suited intruders poured into the room. “Havoc!” he called, spotting the man still holding two drinks in his hand as he tried to take in what was happening. “Call for reinforcements.”
“Right, Boss. Hey, he’s got Coda hostage,” Havoc cried, seeing Kimbley pulling the woman along. “We have to save her.”
Coda hauled Kimbley to a halt near a large flower arrangement. She touched the array she wore around her neck and the arrangement lashed out with large vines and spikes, stabbing into the nearest victims.
“Or she’s working with him,” Ed said sourly, seeing the dance hall had nearly emptied but a few stragglers seemed bloodied and hurt by stabbing plant life and shrapnel.
“Havoc, your taste in women is absolutely abysmal.” Roy sighed and the man wilted for a moment then his eyes hardened.
“Then I’ll fix it, Boss,” Havoc replied grimly.
“Be careful, Havoc. Alchemists are not easy to deal with. I need you to get reinforcements. Leave the alchemists to me, Armstrong and the Elrics,” Roy said then whirled around, hearing gun fire from outside. “Hughes?”
Maes peered out a window. “Loyalist troops. Havoc, we need to get those reinforcements fast.”
Havoc nodded and loped off.
“Almost everyone here is a civilian,” Ed said, his eyes huge as he pulled Winry close protectively.
“I know that, Edward. All right, Armstrong, leave Kimbley and his companion to me and the boys. You’re better off outside, knocking down the troops,” Roy said, knowing where Armstrong’s strengths were.
Armstrong’s arms tensed as he nodded. Paninya stepped close to him. “I’m going with him.”
“Paninya!” Al bleated, catching her hand.
“Remember, I do have weapons in my legs, Al. A well placed round might make a difference,” Paninya said with grim determination and Al just smiled proudly as he let her go.
“I’ll make sure she’s safe, Alphonse,” Armstrong rumbled and led the girl outside.
“Is there anything I can do to help?” Winry asked.
“Stay safe. Gracia, you and Winry try to get somewhere safe,” Roy said, glancing back at Hawkeye. “Do you have your gun?”
“In my purse.” Riza moved to retrieve her weapon.
“Am I going to have to wait all day for your attack, Flame?” Kimbley taunted from the doorway. “Or do you think you can stop me before Coda and I level…oh, how about the nursery.” With that, Kimbley disappeared out the door then collapsed that wall behind him.
“Roy! Elicia is in there!” Gracia cried, her face pale as paste.
“I know!” Roy shot back as a few armed men swarmed into the hall.
Ed and Al tossed up a wall between them and the gunmen. One had slipped past, going for Riza before she could get to her gun. She stepped out of her heels, picking one up. Using the heel as a punch-dagger, she took out his throat, taking his gun then got her own out of her purse. She handed the smaller purse pistol to Winry. “You and Gracia might need it.”
Ed started to protest but without it his Winry would be defenseless and that was worse than her possibly having to use that weapon. It was so unfair.
“Edward, Alphonse, what’s happening?” Izumi asked, peering in a broken window. “Are you all right?”
“No! Two bastard alchemists are heading for the nursery,” Ed said. “And someone needs to look out for Winry and Granny and Gracia.”
“We can look out for ourselves,” Pinako said, holding a table knife. Al’s eyes widened at the sight. “You boys get to the nursery.”
“I’ll stay with them, make sure they’re safe,” Sig said. “Honey, you go make sure Selim is all right,” he added to Izumi’s retreating back. She was already on her way.
Ed and Al tumbled through the window with Roy, Riza and Maes on their heels. No one was going to kill children on their watch.
X X X
“That was brazen, telling Flame where we’re going,” Coda said as she and Kimbley ran.
“He’s another one who’s too noble for his own damn good. He won’t risk hitting civilians so we have an advantage,” Kimbley said, wincing as one of Pendergrass’ troop trucks blew up. Who knew a little girl could have a carbine in her knee? It suddenly hit Kimbley that Pendergrass’ plan had a fatal flaw. They were in the land of broken down soldiers, a city where those broken men and women were fixed with metal parts, more often than not doubled as a weapon. Why hadn’t they taken that into account? Honestly, the stupidest people rose to the rank of general, he thought, considering Pendergrass. “Why don’t you take the nursery? I’m going to go cut off escape routes. We don’t want them getting reinforcements in,” he said and she shot him a strange look.
She shot him a suspicious look. “Then how do we get out?”
“I blow up whatever obstacles I lay over the path in first place,” Kimbley replied with a shrug.
“All right then.” Coda headed for the nursery, calling for some of Pendergrass’ men to follow.
Kimbley watched the idiot go. Maybe he should have warned her but the bitch had only ever had snide words for him so, too bad if she couldn’t see their miscalculation. She’d find out fast that Flame, Strongarm and Fullmetal weren’t easy targets. Not liking his chances, Kimbley got into a car and nonchalantly drove off.
X X X
“What kind of person could purposely hurt kids?” Al huffed as they raced for the nursery.
“A kind that don’t need to exist,” Roy replied grimly.
Ed could see his brother was about to ask what Mustang had planned then didn’t. Ed didn’t know what he’d do once they cornered Kimbley and Coda. He didn’t want to kill but he didn’t want them hurting the kids. Still, from the looks on the faces of Maes and Izumi, he and Al were all but superfluous. They were going to protect their kids and that’s all that was needed. He should have stayed with Winry. Ed felt his heart fall when he heard screams from the nursery and everyone picked up their pace.
Izumi clapped her hands and the door folded outward, vines billowing out behind it. Ed clapped and reduced them to their dusty carbon components. The team nearly hurt itself trying to get through the door at once. Ed noticed Riza and Maes peeling off, going around the building. They must be going for the back door, he realized, and wished he, Al and Izumi had just a little more of the military discipline so the team could actually work like one, instead of nearly trampling Mustang.
Coda stood next to one of the babysitters – quite dead with vines around her neck – carefully keeping the kids between her with what used to be a harmless houseplant and the furious alchemists who had just boiled through the door. She smirked at them, the vines lashing like the tail of an angry cat. Two armed guards were with her. Al was the first to clap and touch the floor, which promptly grew fists, knocking out the gunmen.
“Where’s Kimbley?” Ed snarled, not liking that he couldn’t see the other alchemist.
“Out causing more trouble,” she said, the vines snaking around several children, one of them Elicia.
“Too bad for you,” Roy said, his fingers tensing. “You are sorely outnumbered.”
“What are you going to do, Flame? Roast some kids?” Coda laughed. “You have nothing but two kids and some woman to try and stop me. I’ll snap the sweet brats’ little necks before you can move.” She gestured at the squalling children.
“I wouldn’t bet on it,” Izumi grumbled, eyeing the situation.
Ed glanced over at his brother, wondering if together they could kill all the vines before the green alchemist could use them to murder the kids.
“I woul-” Coda’s eyes bulged then she slumped to the floor. Ed saw Maes and Riza behind her before he noticed the hilt end of one of Maes’ knives sticking out from the base of the woman’s skull. The vines stopped their snake-like movement and nothing remained but the cried of terrified children.
Maes stepped over the dead woman and scooped his daughter out of the vines, crushing her to him, cooing her name. Izumi went to Selim, dragging him into an embrace.
Roy turned to the brothers. “I’ll need you two to help with the rest of the Loyalists,” he said as Riza joined him.
Al shook his head. “Someone should stay and make sure no one else tries to take the kids hostage. I’ll do that.”
“No, I’ll stay,” Izumi said, her voice rough. “As much as I don’t want you boys messed up in this, it’s too late for that. You go make sure they don’t kill anyone else. I’ll get the bodies out of here and make sure the kids are safe.”
Al nodded and said to Ed, “We need to be sure Winry, Paninya and Granny are safe.” A brisk nod was Ed’s only answer.
“Guard my little girl, Izumi,” Maes said, reluctantly turning the girl over to the alchemist and following Roy and Riza out of the nursery.
X X X
“I’m exhausted,” Winry said, slumping down on a bench outside the dance hall, looking lost in Armstrong’s big jacket.
Paninya handed her something to drink. “You were pretty amazing. You, your grandmother and Dominic. I wish.” Her dark faced went red. “Well, that I was more helpful. Blood makes me faint.”
“We had plenty of nurses,” the young automail mechanic cum medic replied. “You were busy enough helping the soldiers. I wish Ed would let me put missile weapons in his automail but no.”
“Winry, with Ed’s temper giving him missiles is probably a bad idea,” Paninya said with a wry grin, flopping down next to the girl.
Winry laughed brittlely. “No doubt of that.” She ran a bloodied hand through her lank hair. “I’ve never seen a battle before, not like this, Paninya.”
The girl put her arm around Winry’s shoulders. “I’ve seen the aftermaths a lot, living here, but nothing like this.”
“My parents died in the war in Ishbal. They did all the triage work I just performed, every day, did the surgeries, too. I never knew how hard it had to have been on them,” Winry said, tears coming to her eyes.
“We’re young, Winry. We’re not supposed to know,” Paninya said. “Of course, we are the right age to have been recruited by the military.” She made a face.
“Winry!”
Both girls turned at that barked out name and saw Ed and Al running full out to reach them. The boys nearly tripped each other, trying to stop in time. Ed’s eyes dilated and Al went pale.
“You’re covered in blood,” Ed said, panic making him hit deafening decibels.
“Not mine,” Winry quickly assured him. “I was helping with the wounded. Surgeons are here now and…it’s going to be a busy time for me at Mr. Garfiel’s after this. It was awful.”
Ed bent down and hugged her tight while Paninya flung herself into Al’s arms. “I’m so sorry, Winry.”
“It’s not your fault, Ed.” Winry squeezed until his ribs creaked.
“Why do you have on this huge jacket?”
“Mr. Armstrong didn’t want my dress to get all bloody,” Winry said, still surprised by the older man’s gallantry. “Beside I think it might have been at risk with all those muscles rippling.”
Ed’s shoulders twitched. Armstrong’s bare muscles shouldn’t be inflicted on Winry. Would she prefer that to him? He felt so small. “Oh. Sorry we couldn’t get you out of here sooner, either of you,” he said, glancing over at Paninya as she rested against Alphonse.
Winry took Ed’s hands. “It’s all right. The wounded needed me here.”
“And I was doing what I could to make sure there were no more wounded,” Paninya said, “We had jobs to do.”
Winry sighed. “I still say Ed should have some missiles, too.”
“Oh, hell no!” Al cried, ignoring his brother’s inferno of a look.
“If you’re all through, Winry, I’m taking you home,” Ed said, casting about to find Mustang. “Hey, bastard!” he screamed over the din. “Al and I are going to-”
“Take the girls, home. We don’t need you here,” Mustang shouted back.
“Are you up for a walk?” Al asked “Or should we try to find a car.”
“We can walk. It’s not that terribly far and we have our protectors,” Paninya smiled at him.
“So says the girl with a knife in her leg.” Winry slipped an arm around Ed as she got up. “How about a knife, Ed?”
“I…uh…shape my own,” he admitted.
“We’ll discuss that later.” She rested her head against his shoulder.
Ed, content with that, pulled her close and headed her away from the ruins of the festival. His plans for the evening were as destroyed as the dance hall and a quick look at Al told him his brother felt the same. There would be other nights. Right now all he wanted was to see Winry home safe and scrub the sounds of battle from his mind.
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Date: 2007-05-26 12:46 pm (UTC)Winry sighed. “I still say Ed should have some missiles, too.”
“Oh, hell no!” Al cried, ignoring his brother’s inferno of a look.
*snuggles Al*
*giggle*
*is late and doesn't have time to be reading this*
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Date: 2007-05-26 01:35 pm (UTC)Enjoy the con!
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Date: 2007-06-01 02:23 am (UTC)Very good chapter! :D
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Date: 2007-06-01 02:33 am (UTC)