cornerofmadness | Fic Update - Sorrow's Dark Array Chapter Sixteen

Sorrow’s Dark Array
Author -

cornerofmadness
Disclaimer - not mine, all characters belong to Hiromu Arakawa et al, Square Enix and funimition.
Pairing – Roy/Riza, Ed/Win (eventually) Winry/OC, mentions of Maes/Gracia and Al/OC
Rating – will vary from chapter to chapter, mostly Pg-13 but will eventually contain well marked adult chapters.
Time Line – anime based, spoilers all the way through the anime and the movie and does have strong manga elements such as Armstrong’s older sister and the land of Xing
Summary – As Roy and Riza prepare for their wedding, while dodging assassins, Ed and Al try to find their way back home.
Author’s Note #1– This was written after much prodding by

evil_little_dog as a sequel to the source of sorrow and is now her holiday gift even if she has beta’ed part of it. So thanks to her and

lyricnonsense for the beta. You do not have to read the first story to understand this. You’ll quickly pick up that Riza has retired from the military to be Roy’s wife and bodyguard. Olivia Armstrong is now president and she’s assigned Roy as the ambassador to Ishbal; oh and that Roy was severely injured in the destruction of the Gate, requiring some of Winry’s automail.
Author's Note #2 - This is a longer work and like real relationships, the ones listed in the pairings, take time to mend and come together. They have to work at it. Hope you enjoy the ride.
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter eight
Chapter nine
chapter ten
chapter eleven
chapter twelve
chapter thirteen
chapter fourteen
chapter fifteen

“Days of absence, sad and dreary, Clothed in sorrow's dark array, Days of absence, I am weary; She I love is far away.” – Shakespeare

Chapter sixteen

There’s nothing half so pleasant as coming home again.” _Margret Elizabeth Sangster

Winry rested a hand on Dev’s thigh, feeling him trembling. She resisted the urge to keep her eyes on the delicate roses of her very feminine guest room. She couldn’t duck this responsibility. “Dev, are you okay?”

He nodded, his larynx bobbing. Dev cupped his warm hand over hers. “Yeah, I’m…I don’t even know, Winry. I think this is for the best but maybe part of me was excited to be a father, you know?”

She leaned against him. “I do.” Winry tried to ignore that tears collecting in his eyes. If he lost control, she might, too.

“I wish I knew how to do this.” Dev squeezed her hand. “I know what I have to do and part of me doesn’t want to.”

“I understand, Dev. You made a choice and I think it’s the right one for you,” Winry said, her voice quavering “What you’re doing, it’s a noble thing.”

His tears let loose and Winry found them to be contagious. “I have to help my people. But I have to sit back and think, am I fighting harder to stay now because Edward is back or because I never wanted to leave in the first place? It’s all very unfair.”

Winry sniffled, tightening her grip on his hand. “It is. I want you to listen to me, Dev. I do care about you, very much, and not because you reminded me of Ed. I know you think I’m in love with him and I can’t even tell you I’m not because I just don’t know how I feel any more.” Winry rested her head against his shoulder. “But the reason I’m not fighting harder to make you stay has nothing to do with Edward and everything to do with letting you be free because I believe in what you’re trying to do.”

Dev smiled, wiping his face on the back of his metal hand. “Thank you, Winry.” He leaned over and kissed her cheek. “I think…I need to go for a walk.”

Winry followed Dev out of her room to watch him hobble down the stairs, nearly bowling Ed over on his way out the door. The stained glass rattled as the door bounced back after Dev went through. Barely giving the door a glance, Ed tried to get up the steps quickly, reminding Winry she still needed to fix his automail.

“Winry, are you all right? Did he do something?” As he drew close enough to, Ed searched her face.

Winry took Ed’s hand. “I’m fine, Ed. Dev’s just…well, conflicted. We both are.” She led him down the stairs and tried to make him sit on the couch. Ed seemed more inclined to be a road block, standing in her way or maybe his leg was locked up on him. Luckily, no one else seemed to be around. She knew Al, Roy and Hughes were in the library.

“Did you hear from the doctor when we were home?” Ed asked suspiciously. “Are you marrying him?”

Winry made a face. “Edward, you’re being so dramatic and no, I’m not. That was the final break up you just saw.” She leaned back against the couch, wiping away tear drops dewed on her eyelashes. “And yes, I heard from the doctor.”

“You’re not pregnant?” Hope gleamed in his eyes and Winry realized that Dev was right when he told her back in Resembool that Ed still loved her. Of course, Ed’s actions in Resembool already confirmed that but it still surprised her somehow.

“I’m not.” Winry ran a hand over her face. “Still sorting out how I feel about that.”

Joy lit up Ed’s face brighter almost than the sun but just as suddenly darkened, as he seemed to consider this. “I guess I don’t know whether to say, ‘I’m sorry’ or ‘I’m glad.’ Did you want a baby?”

“Not really, not yet any how. I never want to feel like my marriage was an obligation.” Winry sighed, shaking slightly as the reality of her near miss truly set in. “This was for the best but…he’s still going to be my friend, Ed. He’ll be around.”

Ed mulled it over and Winry could almost see him weighing his options, realizing there was only one answer that would please her. He offered up a hint of a sly grin. “Well, Dev does love to torture Mustang. I could get along with a guy like that. We could have fun.”

Winry winced in response. “Try not to torture Roy too much?”

Ed shook his head, his grin getting insanely big. “I can’t promise that. Do you know how much I’ve missed it? Not as much as I missed you but it was close to the top of reasons to come back. I still owe him a punch to his smug face.”

“Edward Elric.” Winry couldn’t keep a wry grin off her face. “I thought you told me you'd matured?”

“Hey, Dev’s older than me, right? And he gets away with it so…” Ed laughed. “Don’t deny me this. I have so few pleasures.” His smile faltered a bit and he put his hand over hers. “But seriously, Winry. I’m glad you aren’t pregnant but only because it seemed to be making you so unhappy. If you wanted it, if it made you smile, I was completely ready to be…I don’t know? Uncle Ed?” He wrinkled his nose. “That has no ring to it at all, does it?”

“Oh, god, no. That’s horrible.” Winry shuddered exaggeratedly.

“I guess Al can never have children then.” Ed’s nose wrinkled then he poked her shoulder. You tell him.”

Winry slapped Ed’s chest lightly. “I will not but what I will do, Ed is fix you. I almost had the limbs done. It won’t take any time to finish them. Let’s see if Riza’s already gone for the day. If she is, I’ll call for a cab.” Winry helped Ed to his feet and headed for the library. Hughes was talking animatedly about something but stopped, seeing her and Ed. “Sorry to interrupt. I just wanted to see if Riza was around to give us a ride to the shop.”

“Gone,” Roy said. “Is Dev still around?’

“No, Winry made him run away, crying,” Ed said, unable to keep the smugness out of his tone until Winry elbowed him hard.

“Is one day without drama too much to ask for?” Roy sighed. “I really need him to look at the picture Al drew. I’ll hunt him down later, I guess.”

“Sorry but you knew I was telling Dev today,” Winry said and Ed stared at her, startled that Mustang knew before he did.

“Yes, but I was hoping he’d take it better.” Roy shrugged. “I’ll call for two cabs. Al, Hughes and I are going to see what kind of headway we can make in helping Armstrong find the bomber. I mean it’s been months since I was attacked and the one that took out their mother’s grave might be related. New eyes on the matter might be helpful. Al says Hughes is every bit as smart as our Maes.” Roy turned to Meinhard. “Which is what got him killed.”

“Oh, good,” Hughes replied wryly.

“Where do you want to start looking?” Al shot Hughes a frightened look as if wondering if they were opening the wrong can of worms.

“I think we ought to start with what Armstrong has,” Hughes replied. “He probably has the clearest picture. The only person even remotely familiar with the case would be Roy and Riza.”

“And Roy was unconscious for part of it,” Winry interjected. “And Riza, I wouldn’t make her go through it again. In fact, maybe once I’m done with Ed, Li-Ying and I should go round up Gracia and Riza and make her do wedding stuff.”

“Like pack her bags and run?” Ed smirked.

“That’s it.” Roy stabbed a finger at Ed. “You’re a groomsman.”

“Roy, we’ve been over this. Stop using wedding positions as punishment.” Winry tapped his head. “Besides you’re not even having much of a wedding, just a military judge and a few family members, and your sisters are very upset by this.”

“My sisters need to mind their own business.” Roy folded his arms, every centimeter of a sulk.

“Can Al take my place? He’d probably like being a groomsman,” Ed snorted then flushed remembering Al should have been a groom. His brother patted Ed’s shoulder to let him know it was okay.

“No, he can not. Hughes and Al can be their own groomsmen but you’re getting stuck on Granny duty, catering to their every need. Warning, I don’t know any old people who aren’t insane,” Roy replied.

“I’m telling Granny you said that,” Ed huffed.

“Go get fixed.” Roy waved him off. “Let’s go find Armstrong and Dev. Al, get that picture of yours.”

“Sir, should you be traipsing all over town?” Al gave him a curious look.

“Neither of you can just go waltzing into a military compound looking for Armstrong and believe me, you do not want to go to the Ishbalan center alone. If you’re lucky, Dev is at the center since that’s where the temporary office is after ours went boom. Sometimes, it’s mostly empty and that’s okay but if it’s not, it gets very tense. You’ll need me.” Roy didn’t sound the least bit unhappy about being needed. “I’ll just leave Riza a note in case she comes home for some reason.”

“Is Li-Ying around to talk sense into you?” Winry asked.

“No, she’s out.” Roy smirked triumphantly. “I know she’s dating someone. Dev said it and I thought he was kidding then the more I thought about it, he’s probably right. I don’t see why she would still be in town just for me,” Roy said. “But I don’t know who it is.”

“Hopefully Havoc because that would be funny,” Ed beamed.

Roy winced. “Winry, aren’t you overdue to take him in?”

“You were going to call the cabs,” she reminded pointedly.

“So I was. And don’t worry so much, Winry. I’m just going to be sitting and talking, nothing strenuous. If Riza gets mad at me, you have witnesses that you and Al tried to stop me,” Roy grinned then went to make the call.

“I don’t like it.” Winry scowled at the doorway Roy had gone through.

“You’re not his babysitter.” Ed shrugged, supremely disinterested. “Al and Hughes will keep him from dying unless they’re fed up, too. You’ve got other things to worry about, like those last minute things you’re bound to do to that automail before you attach it to me.”

“Don’t worry, Brother, you have a way of commanding full attention.” Al rolled his eyes.

Ed bit back his foul remark and settled on, “Enjoy your day with the bastard. Come on, Winry. It’s a nice day. Let’s wait for the cab on the porch.”

Winry sighed softly, knowing she was losing battles on all fronts and deciding it was easier to capitulate.

X X X

“What are you doing here?” Anah hissed, drawing Attaway into one of the reading rooms in the ridiculously splashy, ‘we killed most of you off, here’s a recreation center to make it up’ building that the new government had provided. “We shouldn’t be seen together.”

The president’s adjutant yanked free of her broken-nailed grasp. “Relax. I’m here on official business. I just finished talking to Aris about some of the supplies Mustang had requested. No one is going to think I’m here for you. At worst, they might think you’ve got your eye on me.”

Anah gagged. “That’s the last thing I need.” She sat on a desk, picking up a book, just in case someone did peek in. “What did you want?”

“We need to move a bit faster. It’ll improve everyone’s mood,” Attaway said. “Bombs don’t seem to be the way to go at the moment. They keep missing their targets. I’ve an idea for something that could take out several of our targets but not at once. It’ll look too suspicious.”

“You’re talking poison.” Anah grinned at the idea. She could imagine the monsters who had killed her people writhing in agony, taking a long time to die. “I like the idea. The problem is, how would I get close enough to deliver it?” She didn’t see Attaway getting his hands dirty.

“You don’t. That’s why Judith sent us the perfect dupe. Rose is very eager to help her people and she’s friends with the Elrics and Strongarm. We get her to deliver the poison to Mustang first. We’ll find other ways to the Elrics and Armstrong.”

“Wouldn’t this Rose be better at helping to take out the Elrics or the president’s brother?” Anah wrinkled her nose. “She could easily get close to them but to Mustang?”

“They’ll surely invite her to any parties that will be held. President Armstrong is about to go public with the Elrics’ return, welcoming them as returning heroes.” Attaway spat that out distastefully. “If I didn’t think there would be a very full investigation, I’d say let her poison them all at once but I think we need to find something that will take out just one. Mustang is the biggest threat and his injuries were severe. His death could be a sudden relapse related to the bombing.”

Anah smiled widely. “I have just the plant. It grows in our homeland, Moonflower. I can easily get some and set someone up at the same time if need be.”

“Perfect. We do need a back up plan, however,” Attaway said.

“Sound reasonable,” Anah agreed. “Do you have one?”

He shot a look at the door then the windows as if he expected someone to suddenly be listening in. “What’s wrong with that friend of yours? The wrecked priest who works with Mustang? I saw him moping around in the lobby.”

“Dev? He’s my sister’s friend, really, and what does it matter?” Anah shrugged.

“Think about it. He has the look of a man who got dumped.”

Anah made a face. “Are you suggesting I date that ugly thing just to keep tabs on Mustang if we fail to kill the man? Find someone else.”

“I’d use your sister since you said they were friends but you don’t want her involved.”

“Leave Vashti out of this,” Anah growled. “And shouldn’t you have had the spy on Mustang idea long ago, you know, before the let’s kill him plan? Dev went traitor nearly a year ago now.”

“And he was very firmly attached to that automail mechanic. I’ll bet he no longer is. You should at least consider it.”

Anah stomped toward the door. “I’ll consider it but if you think I’m sleeping with him, you’re sadly mistaken. I do have limits.”

X X X

“Rotem said you were holed up in here,” Hala entered the small temple in the recreation center. “Shouldn’t you be out there with your friends? I can’t believe how many young Ishbalans are here today.”

“It’s the pool tournament.” Dev shook his automail hand for emphasis. “I don’t play well.”

His mother sat next to him. “And the real reason you’re hiding here has nothing to do with that.” She put her arm around his shoulders. “What’s wrong? Are you frightened by what’s going on between you and tha…Winry.”

Dev shook his head. “Not frightened. Just a little sad and I know I shouldn’t be. I should be thrilled.” He looked at his mother. “Winry’s not pregnant and that’s good news for us. I know neither of us were ready for that. And…I let her go.” His head dropped, his chin brushing his chest. “I know it’s what I had to do. It’s better for all of us.” His voice trembled and he tried to dash away a tear before his mother saw it.

Hala kissed her son’s cheek. “I’m sorry, son. I know you care about her.”

“Why does everything have to be so hard?”

Pulling him against her gently, Hala sighed. “Son, I wish I knew.”

X X X

“I really thought they would have more by now,” Roy huffed as Hughes drove up to the Ishbalan rec center. To Roy’s surprise, Riza must have taken a cab and left the car or had walked to work. “Someone did blow up an ambassador’s office, after all.”

“Armstrong’s people don’t seem to have much to go on,” Hughes replied placatingly. “Which means I’m not sure how much of a help I’ll be when there’s this little information.”

“Well, maybe Dev will recognize the person in the drawing.” Al squinted at the rendering he had made. “But I doubt this is anyone. I’m pretty sure that old woman was blind.”

Roy opened the courtyard gate and walked in. The jeers went up almost immediately.

“Get out of here, alchemist!” someone called.

“You’re not welcome!”

“I’m here on business. I need to see Uzziel, Aris and Dev,” Roy said evenly. He knew to expect this greeting. It was his usual.

“Go away,” someone shouted clearly over the catcalls.

“When my business is done.” Roy waved a nervous looking Al to follow him. Hughes had already moved to Roy’s side. Roy pressed on toward the building then suddenly he was on the ground, his head feeling like a cracked egg. “Owww.” Blood ran into his eyes.

“What is going on here?” Uzziel’s voice boomed and the jeering and laughing died instantly. “Ambassador!”

In a defensive position over Roy while Hughes scanned the ugly crowd, Al replied. “Someone threw something. It hit the General.”

“Aris! Dev! Get out to the courtyard!” Uzziel bellowed. “Bring your medical kits.”

“I’m fine,” Roy waved the old priest off as he tried to sit up. He failed. “Ow.”

“You’re not fine,” Al said. “You’re bleeding badly. Here.” Al scooped something off the ground and held it out to the priest. “Someone hit him with a rock.”

“Great shot!” Someone in the crowed laughed.

“Quiet!” Uzziel snarled. “This type of behavior is the last thing we need. I’m sorry, General.”

“Not you, too, Uzziel,” one of the older men growled. “You’re not going soft on his kind. You know what that man did.”

“I know flinging rocks isn’t going to help matters,” Uzziel said, stepping aside as Aris and Dev pushed through a crowd that wasn’t of a mind to let them pass. Dev’s mother had the medical kit and Dev used his automail to smack a few people out of the way.

Roy grabbed Hughes’ ankle, seeing the man about to enter the fray. He shook his head then moaned. That had been a stupid thing to do. “Don’t get involved,” he hissed to Al and Hughes. He didn’t know what all the ruckus was about but it was scary.

“Let’s have a look,” Aris said as Hala opened the kit. “Okay, what do you think, Hala?”

“I’m fine,” Roy protested again.

Hala pressed some gauze to his head, making him hiss. “This is going to require stitches.”

“You’re nice. Do I know you?” Roy asked and her face darkened.

“Roy, this is my mother,” Dev snapped.

He looked up at Dev. “Do you know who I am? Cause I have no clue.”

“Oh boy, someone has a concussion.” Dev wagged his head. “He’s going to have to go to the hospital.”

“Hughes,” Al said, his eyes narrowing. “You have the keys.”

“I’ll bring the car around,” Hughes agreed.

“No, if I get it all bloody…I know someone scary will be mad at me but I don’t know who.” Roy’s lower lip trembled as Hala added another wad of gauze to the bleeding injury. When several of the youths protested her helping Mustang, Uzziel tried to chivvy them out of the room. Aris helped Hala.

“She’s going to be your wife,” Al told Roy.

“I’m marrying a scary person?” His eyes widened. “Why? It should be someone nice like this lady.” Roy smiled at Hala and Dev snorted.

“This is not funny, son,” she grumbled.

“If you say so,” Dev swallowed a laugh.

“Al, Dev, just remember whatever he babbles for later, I’m going to bring the car over,” Hughes said, heading for the gate.

“This is also embarrassing. Who the hell threw a rock?” Dev whirled on his friends. “You don’t even have the guts to confront him one on one?”

Rotem pushed out of the crowd. “Why are you defending him, Dev? He deserved it.”

“He was coming here to help. Maybe you all are happier with petty acts of revenge but I’d rather have some way of getting back what is ours. What if you cracked his skull? Think the president is going to rush to send any more aid to the desert when someone tried to kill her ambassador?” Dev ranted.

“What’s happened to you, Dev?” Rotem’s shoulders slumped. “You can’t have forgotten what he’s done.”

Seeing Dev’s face go red and the young priest shaking with rage, Al stepped up to Dev’s side. “I’m sure he hasn’t,” Al said. “I know that none of this is my business. I don’t pretend to know how any of you feel but violence is only going to cause more violence and nothing will ever change.”

“You had best not have been the one to throw that rock,” a teenaged girl caught hold of Rotem’s wrist. “Mother would be furious.”

“That’s because she likes him somehow, Nessa,” Rotem told his sister.

“You damn well know why.” Nessa shoved her brother. “He let Mom and you go. He let a bunch of women run off with their kids. Mom was pregnant with me and he and the really big alchemist gave them food and water and let them escape. He can’t have been all bad.”

“What did I do to make everyone so mad?” Roy whispered in a shaky voice, eyeing the crowd.

Hala exchanged a look with Aris then sighed. “It would take too long to explain.”

“I want you all to go back inside,” Uzziel said, stepping next to Dev. “Go in and finish your tournament. These two young men are right.” He waved a hand to Dev and Al. “This is an embarrassment to us. We’re supposed to be better and the violence will get us nowhere. You all know I was not originally in favor of the alliance that Aris is head of but I cannot argue with the results. We gain nothing by being too rigid and clinging to the past. If you want to argue with me, wait until I come inside, where prying eyes aren’t on us.” He pointed to the neighboring buildings to remind them that they were inside a city, a city that wasn’t sure it really wanted them. Uzziel stood firm while the younger Ishbalans filtered back inside.

“Alphonse, is Mr. Hughes close?” Aris asked. “Mustang is losing consciousness.”

Al peered back at the gate. “I hear the car. Do you think we can make him walk or are we going to have to carry him?”

“I’d carry him,” Hala said. She gave her bloody hand a moment’s thought. “I’ll hold the dressing on for you. You should get in the back seat with him, young man, and do your best to keep this in place.”

“I’m not going to be much help carrying,” Dev said, glancing at his automail hand.

“I’m sure Mr. Hughes, Aris and I can handle it,” Al said. “But should we wake him up?”

“We can try,” Aris said. “It’s common for people with concussions to fade in and out; it’s not really dangerous to let them sleep.” He tapped Roy’s cheek. “Roy, can you open your eyes?”

Roy’s eyes fluttered open. “I can only see out of one eye!” His hand clamped over his glass eye. “What’s wrong with me? Am I dying?”

“You are such a crybaby,” Dev sniffed. “You’re blind in that eye.”

“Blind? How did that happen? That scary woman? Why am I marrying her?” Roy whimpered.

“Oddly enough she…” Dev started.

“Dev!” Al broke in with a hot look. “You’re a soldier, Roy. You were hurt in battle. And you’re marrying Riza because you love her very much.”

Roy pursed his lips, thinking for a moment, then asked, “Does she have great legs?”

Hala rolled her eyes. “Could we please just get him in the car before I have to hear more?”

“Yes, ma’am.” Al glanced back to the gate, waving at Hughes. “Come help us.”

“And to answer your question, she has great everything,” Dev said, ignoring his mother’s look.

They manhandled Roy into the car, pausing once to let him puke in the bushes. He then tried to walk himself and nearly pitched into a hedge before they caught him. Roy lost consciousness almost immediately after they got him situated in the car with his bloody head pillowed on Al’s legs.

X X X

“Come on in,” Al said, opening the door to Roy’s home to Uzziel, Aris, Hala and Dev.

“We went to check on the Ambassador at the hospital, but they said he hadn’t been admitted,” Uzziel said and Al thought Mrs. Jasso didn’t look like she wanted to be checking up on anyone. “I just wanted to apologize again, if, of course, he can understand.”

“Well, he remembers who he is now. Ed will be so disappointed to have missed that.” Al’s lips curved up as he led the way into the living room. “He’s sleeping on the couch. He can’t stay awake for long.”

“But he won’t go upstairs to bed nor would he stay in the hospital like a sane person.” Hughes said, getting up to offer the soft, padded wingback to either Uzziel or Hala. She let the old man sit in the luxurious chair. “I think I’m friends with a jackass.”

“I could have told you that,” Dev said, flopping onto the ottoman in front of the chair his mother claimed.

Hughes snorted then glanced in the direction of the kitchen. “Li-Ying, we have some guests!” he bellowed.

“I’ve made plenty,” she shouted back.

“His sister is making some tea to settle Roy’s stomach and a few light things to eat,” Al said, with a little wince at all the yelling. “I guess we’re all eating.”

“Sounds good. Where’s Riza?” Dev asked.

“Not here. Roy wouldn’t let us call her. He got so agitated at the hospital when we went to call her that I gave up on the idea,” Hughes replied.

Roy lifted his head, his eye patch back on in lieu of his glass eye. “When did everyone get here?”

“Just a moment ago. We didn’t mean to wake you,” Uzziel said in a comforting voice.

Roy tried to pull himself up into a sitting position then gave up. “That’s okay. I come and go…they probably like me gone. They said I’m being cranky.”

“The doctor said it’s very common for people to be cranky, tearful and emotionally inappropriate. So far you’re progressing just fine.” Al rolled his eyes.

“He’s not going to cry is he?” Dev whined and Roy glared.

“Dev,” Uzziel chided. “Ambassador, we came to apologize. There was no call for such an attack and we didn’t find out who did it. To be honest, I didn’t press the matter hard. I didn’t want there to be further repercussions. We could do a more thorough investigation but it will cause even more problems.”

Roy waved him off. “I accept that I deserve whatever they throw at me.” He touched his head ruefully. “Literally.”

“We know how you feel about that, Mustang, but we don’t want to let them think they can get away with such attacks,” Aris said. “Hopefully after Uzziel’s talk, it won’t happen again.”

“A rock is the least of things thrown at me lately,” Roy sighed then tried to make eye contact with Hala. “I don’t remember anything after leaving here this morning but I’ve been told you helped me, Mrs. Jasso, and I know that probably was not an easy choice on your part. Thank you, very much. And they told me I said inappropriate things to you. I’m sorry about that.”

Hala shook her head. “You hardly knew what you were saying. It wasn’t bad.” She studied him for a moment then added, “My son was right, it was embarrassing to have our youth acting like belligerent idiots. Choosing to help wasn’t difficult though I do think Dev has made himself somewhat unpopular today.”

“I’ve been pretty unpopular ever since I took this job.” Dev shrugged. “And then had a blue-eyed girlfriend. I’m not sure I can get much more unpopular unless I tattooed ‘I love Mustang’ on my ass and that’s not going to happen.”

Roy snorted out a laugh then put a hand to his forehead ruefully. “I’d have to worry if it did.”

Hala turned to Uzziel. “I did not teach my boy to talk like that.”

“We figured,” Aris put in. “Yi-Lan, Mustang’s eldest sister, says Dev is channeling her brother’s younger self…or her son, Jian.”

“Yeah, I hate when she says that but she’s too scary to contradict.” Dev shuddered. “But I’m nothing like that dick.”

Mustang shot him an obscene gesture.

“I’m not sure what that one means but I can guess.” Hughes grinned. “And I’m betting that wasn’t a concussion-born inappropriate emotional outburst.”

“I can show you one that you’d know,” Roy grumbled.

“I was thinking since that was a particularly Ishbalan gesture, I know who taught it to him.” Hala gave her son a hard look.

“Yes, Aris did.” Dev jumped to his feet. “Come on, Al. Let’s help Li-Ying in the kitchen.”

“You mean before your mother kills you?” Al smiled sweetly, following the priest.

“Exactly.”

Hala tracked her son’s progress out of the room. “In some ways, I have to concede you are a good influence on him, no matter how bizarre that is but in others, like his mouth, you bring out the worst,” she told Roy.

He smiled. “Guilty. I don’t mean to. Much like Edward, it seems to be a natural reaction to me.”

“You actually like my son, don’t you?” Hala’s voice held wonderment.

“He’s an insufferable brat,” Roy replied. “So, yes, I do.” Hearing the front door bang open, Roy winced. “Speak of insufferable brats, and they show up on your door step.” He burrowed deeper into the plush couch.

Ed and Winry came into the living room, Winry scowling at the closed drapes. “It’s a beautiful day. You should let the light in.” She started for the curtains.

Maes stood up. “Leave them, Winry.” He pointed to the couch. “Roy has a concussion and the light is hurting his eye.”

Winry’s eyes widened and she beelined for the couch. She stopped short of touching Roy’s head. “What happened?”

“Finally piss off Hawkeye enough and she clobbered you?” Ed snorted.

“Edward,” Winry chided and he refused to look repentant. “Roy, you look awful.”

“He got hit in the head with a rock, probably by one of my pissed-off friends,” Dev said. “You missed it, Elric, he had no idea who he was but for a while there, he was in love with us all.”

“Ewww,” Ed made a face at that. “I wouldn’t want him in love with me.” His scowl deepened. “I can imagine how many more rumors there'd be about us if anyone heard him say something like that.”

“I slept my way to the top,” Roy muttered. “Hughes and I have been lovers for years.”

“Really?” Hughes broke in, his eyes wide, and Roy waved him off.

“Ed only passed his State Alchemy exam because he’s my boy toy. Hell, I think I’m even sleeping with him.” Roy swept a hand at Dev.

“As if I wouldn’t kill you for trying,” Dev huffed over Ed’s ‘drop dead.’

"All right," Winry said, rolling her eyes. "We all know you like women far too much to be interested in any of these guys, Roy."

“I could do better than any of them,” Roy said, hugging his pillow.

“I’ll chalk that up to the concussion,” Hughes said then eyed Edward. “You look like you’re walking fine.”

Ed flexed his metal arm. “New arm, new leg and it only cost me missing out on Mustang not knowing who he was. Damn. Because I know Al wouldn’t take advantage of that.” Ed jerked a thumb at Dev. “Did you?”

“I had to stay at the center, damn it.” Dev pouted.

“You’re both awful. I’m glad you were there, Al, to take care of him. You, too, Mr. Hughes,” Winry said as Li-Ying came out with a tray of buns.

“Here you go. Could one of you give me a hand bringing out soup? Who’d like a bowl?” Li-Ying put the buns on the table.

“You didn’t have to cook for all of us,” Hughes said, getting to his feet.

“Oh, I really didn’t. I made the soup yesterday. I just reheated it and threw some buns into the steamer. There’s plenty for everyone. I just wanted to get something down my brother since he’s been throwing up all day and these are some of his favorite things. I thought Cricket might like a treat.”

“If I can handle it,” Roy gazed at the buns then made eyes at Winry as if to say ‘grab me one’. He turned back to his sister. “Why don’t you just bring out the whole pot, sis and some bowls and we all can serve ourselves.”

Li-Ying shrugged and went back to the kitchen. Hughes and Al went with her and Dev moved in their wake. Ed sighed and went after them just in case he was needed.

“He’s not going to let Jasso outdo him anywhere is he?” Roy struggled to sit up. “Since when is Ed the house maid?”

Winry hauled Roy into a sitting position. “They’re being quiet about it so leave them be.” She popped a bun into his hands. “What are these things?”

“I was wondering that myself.” Uzziel eyed them.

Roy gestured then winced. “Help yourselves, please. They’re just buns filled with some kind of soft center. The yellow ones are custard and the white ones are either lotus or red bean.” Roy took a bite and showed them the red-brown center. “See, bean? It’s sweet.”

As the Ishbalans and Winry selected buns, Li-Ying came back with her male helpers. “I made two kinds of tea. Cricket, you need to take the ginger tea. It should settle your stomach a little.”

“I will.” He smiled thinly. “Pour me soup, please.”

“Here he goes, milking his injury,” Ed snorted, setting down a tray of sugar bowls and creamers.

“Hey, I was going to say that,” Dev grumbled, putting down the cups.

“Winry, don’t let the twins pick on me.” Roy pouted as Li-Ying ladled him out some soup.

“And you think they’ll listen to me, why?” Winry snorted, sampling a bun. “Mmm, these are good. Li-Ying, want me to help you serve?”

“Sure.” Li-Ying put the bowl in Roy’s hands. “Do you need help, Cricket?”

Roy studied his bowl. “Don’t know.”

“Why is that soup gunmetal grey?” Ed made a face. “And we are not twins.”

“Again, I was going to say that,” Dev said, picking up a large envelope from the table so it wouldn’t get slopped on.

“I’m having trouble believing that,” Li-Ying said. “And it’s black sesame soup. Try it. There’s plenty more where this came from. And oh, that envelope is for Riza but you might want to look, too, Winry.”

“Oh, okay.” Winry settled down and tried to open it while balance the bun on her knee.

“This soup is very interesting,” Uzziel said. “Sweet.”

“Is it hard to make?” Hala asked, sipping it.

“It’s easy,” Li-Ying replied.

Winry slid a picture out from the envelope, her eyes widening. “Why does Riza want these, Li-Ying?” She displayed the picture of a young Xing man, bangs in his eyes, his tongue curling up, seductively playing to the camera. “He’s awfully cute.”

“He’s me,” Roy snorted. “About fifteen years ago.”

Winry blushed and dropped the picture.

“It’s official, Winry, you have the worst taste in men, ever.” Al laughed.

“Oh, now I’m not even safe from you, Alphonse.” Roy’s glare fixed the younger man who shrugged in response.

“Give me that!” Ed snatched the picture off the floor, scowling at it. “Winry, this isn’t ‘cute.’ It’s...”

“Sexy,” Winry asserted and Ed’s face darkened. “Sorry, but it is.”

“If I wasn’t included in part of his statement, I’d agree with Alphonse,” Dev said, peering over Ed’s shoulder. “You always thought you were Ishbala’s gift, didn’t you?”

“Didn’t think, knew.” Roy smirked.

“Are there more?” Hughes asked. “Just so Ed can pace his apoplectic fit.”

“Plenty more. Cricket likes the camera.” Li-Ying said then pointed a finger. “You put food in your mouth, Roy. I see you slowing down already.”

“These have to go,” Ed said, looking like he was going to rip the photo. He was surprised at how fast Li-Ying moved. Her fingers closed over a nerve point in his arm and Ed yelped loudly.

“Do you want to lose that beautiful new automail the day you got it?” she asked sweetly and Ed handed over the picture.

He rubbed his arm, pouting. “My arm’s numb. How did you do that?”

“Practice.” Li-Ying picked up a bun and shoved it at him. “Eat and behave.”

“Why is Li-Ying threatening Edward?” Riza asked, coming into the room.

“Winry was panting over some old pictures of Cricket,” Li-Ying said. “Back when he was fifteen.”

“He was cute then,” Riza agreed.

“Was?” Roy pouted at her and her eyes widened.

Riza pointed to his head. “Roy, what happened?”

Roy shrugged then tried to hide his wince. “It’s nothing.”

“He has thirty stitches and a bad concussion,” Hughes offered. “If you call that nothing.”

“Why didn’t you call me?” Riza put her arms around him. “Roy, how did this happen?”

“It’s nothing, really,” Roy insisted.

“We were going to call you, Miss Hawkeye, but Roy got to upset at the hospital when we tried and the doctor asked us not to,” Al said quickly.

“Roy, that’s just…” Riza sighed.

“He didn’t even know who he was for a while,” Hughes said. “Don’t be too rough on him.”

“In fact, we’ve been here long enough. We should let you rest,” Uzziel said, getting to his feet.

“Not until I eat enough to make Li-Ying happy.” Roy smiled slightly. “But thank you for coming to check on me and thank you, Mrs. Jasso, for helping me. I know that wasn’t your first instinct. I don’t blame you for that but you did help and I appreciate it.”

She frowned a little. “I couldn’t let you bleed.”

“No, you could have but you didn’t so thank you,” Roy’s eye shut momentarily before it opened to fix on the youngest of the Ishbalans. “Dev, take some more buns. Go home. You look like you fell under a train.”

“Thanks,” Dev grumbled, his gaze slipping sideways toward Winry. “I feel like it, too.”

“Dev, are you okay?” Winry asked quietly. Her blue eyes clouded.

He shook his head then smiled wanly. “Not really but I’ll recover.” He glanced at Ed. “Glad she fixed you up. That automail looks really neat.”

Ed looked at him as if surprised the other young man would notice let alone care. Dev simply headed for the front door followed by his fellow Ishbalans. “Why did he say that?”

“Maybe because he’s nice and polite…when he wants to be,” Al said, noticing Winry had sneaked out another photo with a determination to forget all the ugliness all around her.

“Very much when he wants to be,” Winry replied, studying the photo. Al could see over her shoulder a young Roy leaning against a tree in clinging swim trunks that left nothing to the imagination. He seemed to be doing rude things to an ice cream cone with his tongue. “He, Ed and Roy are three peas in a pod.”

“We are not,” Ed growled. “And quit looking at those pictures. No good can come of it.”

Winry scowled at him. “Why don’t you and Al help Li-Ying clean up? I’ll help, too. Mr. Hughes, you should probably take Roy upstairs. Riza’s here now so Roy there’s no reason to stay down here. You should go get some rest.”

“Listen to Winry,” Riza cut in before Roy could protest.

Roy held out a hand to Hughes who helped haul him up. Hughes steadied him and Roy felt his stomach roil. “We’d better put a trash can by the bed, just in case.”

“We’ll handle it,” Hughes assured him.

“In fact, why don’t you just sleep in a downstairs bedroom tonight, Roy,” Riza said.

“Please, I want my own bed,” Roy protested, desperation flitting over his face.

Sighing, Riza slid an arm around him to steady him from the other side until Al set down a tray. “Here, I’ll help him upstairs, then come down and help clean up,” Al said.

“Thank you, Alphonse,” Riza said, running up ahead of them to turn down the covers.

Al and Hughes helped Roy to lie down before descending the stairs. Riza put the trashcan where Roy could just lean over and vomit if he had to. “I’m sorry I didn’t let them call.”

Riza lay down next to him. “It’s all right. You sleep, Roy. I’ll stay until you do.”

Roy managed a smile then felt a warm blackness embrace him like a mother’s arms as he faded into sleep.

chapter seventeen

Current Mood: exhausted
Current Music: Cloud Trees- Midori

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

annepackrat.livejournal.com

I do love your dialogue.

“That’s it.” Roy tabbed a finger at Ed. “You’re a groomsman.”

So is Roy drinking a "Tab" soda or is he using his finger to push the tab key?

From:

Fic Update - Sorrow's Dark Array Chapter Sixteen

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