![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
cornerofmadnessSorrow’s Dark Array
Author -![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
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 byevil_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 Gold star if you guess the movie shout out in this chapter(in fact first person can get a drabble written for them, characters of their choice). And You can really tell I’m watching too much Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmerman. I’ve incorporated a lot of that into this chapter and chapters to come. (keep me away from this show. it just bunnies me)
Author's Note #3- 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
chapter sixteen
chapter seventeen
“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 Eighteen
Home is where one starts from.
T. S. Eliot
Roy sat down at his kitchen table, staring at his plate as if expecting food to materialize. A big smile crossed his face when Al set down a platter of scrambled eggs. “Thank you, Alphonse.” He started to heap eggs onto the pale white and blue chrysanthemum porcelain plate.
“Riza had to leave early and she made me and Mr. Hughes promise to feed you because she says you’re too skinny,” Al replied as Hughes added a plate piled high with bacon to the table.
“We’re going to meet her at the Ishbalan Center, I know, I know.” Roy held up his hands. “It should be okay. They’re hosting a luncheon to welcome everyone to the new center, though I did notice mostly Xingese names on the invites. There’s a little Xingese section of town here. And I’m not skinny.”
“Your pants almost fell off when you sat down,” Hughes said, snaring the last of the toast out of the toaster.
Roy snorted, glancing up at the stove hoping for coffee. Seeing the battered metal percolator, he got up and poured himself some. “The invites are for special guests but anyone is welcome. Riza is helping Aris with security. And leave my pants out of this.”
Hughes shrugged. “Doesn’t bother me if you end up naked in public.”
“I will have on boxers.” Roy glanced into his lap. “Maybe.”
“It’s too early for this to start, sir.” Al glanced up at the ceiling, obviously determined to change the subject. “Not like Winry to be late to breakfast. It is, however, like Edward.”
“I’m not waiting,” Roy snared some bacon and dug in. He was halfway through it when Ed tromped down the stairs, poured himself coffee and threw himself into a kitchen chair. The boy’s hair hadn’t been pulled into a tail yet. His mellow smile broke only to allow the ceramic lip of his mug to touch his lips. Roy’s eye widened. “Hell, you slept with her!”
Ed’s face went red up past his messy hair line as he almost slipped under the table. “What?”
Al stared at his brother. “You did!”
“I did nah….” Ed’s jaw clamped shut. “What business is it of yours? And how would you know?”
“Because you’ve never been this mellow in your life.” Roy waved his fork at Ed. “A man can only be this mellow if he’s just gotten laid.”
“That must have been one hell of a talk.” Hughes beamed before shoveling in some eggs. Ed buried his face between his arms and the table.
“Get your head off the table, Edward, before your blush sets it on fire,” Roy laughed.
Ed didn’t sit up but he did untangle one arm so he could give Roy an obscene gesture.
“Well, it wasn’t what I was expecting you to do but at least you’ve finally done it,” Al said, getting up to get more coffee.
“Al,” Ed whined piteously.
“Hmmm, where to start the teasing.” Roy couldn’t keep the devilish look off his face then suddenly a sober look flashed over his features and he concentrated on his bacon.
Curious about the emotional whiplash, Hughes glanced up and saw Winry in the doorway. He smiled and lost himself in buttering another slab of toast.
Winry strolled in, poured coffee then suddenly realized it was too quiet. She turned her gaze on the men. “What?”
“Nothing,” Al said, roses creeping up into his cheeks.
Winry whirled on Ed and slapped his shoulder hard. “You told!”
Ed lifted his head. “I did not. The bastard guessed.”
“Next time don’t come down here with ‘I’m not a virgin any more tattooed’ to your head.” Roy snickered and Ed kicked him. Metal rang out against metal. “Got to do better than that, Shortmetal.”
Winry clamped down on Ed’s shoulder. “Don’t you start and you, Roy, if I have to call your sister down here…”
Roy pouted, slumping in his chair. “That’s not fair.”
“And I don’t want to hear another word about it in my presence.” Winry tapped Roy’s nose. “What you do when I’m gone, is another story.”
“Winry!” Ed stared at her in disbelief.
“As if I could actually stop him teasing you.” Winry ruffled Ed’s hair. “Besides you enjoy sparring with Roy.”
“Do not,” Ed grumbled before deciding to just lose himself in breakfast.
Hughes pointed at Al with his fork. “This is going to be a long day.”
Al sighed. “Don’t I know it.”
“I’m going to my shop then I promised Riza I would show up at the center. Aris wants me to talk about automail,” Winry said. “I know Dev is coming here for a session with Li-Ying before that. You could go with them to the luncheon.”
“I have things to do first. Hughes is coming with me. Ed and Al can come with Li-Ying,” Roy said. “And yes, you need to be there. Al, you have a calming effect on people and Ed…you can be a demonstration dummy for Winry.”
“Go to hell.”
“Not before you,” Roy replied cheerily then looked at Winry. “My sister is being slow to get up today, too.”
“Actually she went out earlier,” Al said. “I’m not sure where.”
Roy shrugged. “Probably to meet her boyfriend, Breda.”
“Armstrong,” Hughes argued.
“Havoc,” Ed put in.
Al glanced up at Winry. “Don’t ask.”
She just shook her head. “Don’t worry, I wasn’t.”
X X X
“I’m very glad you’re here, Mustang,” Aris said, ushering him over to the potluck buffet tables. Hala was helping a motley crew of Amestrians, Ishbalans and Xingese navigate through the lines while Riza lounged near the courtyard doors, her gun barely visible under her tapestried woodland scene jacket. “Can you explain these dishes? We don’t want to insult our Xingese visitors but we’re not sure what everything is.”
“Be adventuresome. It’s mostly just pork, beef or chicken.” Roy grinned, seeing Ed eying the feast like he hadn’t eaten in months. Al was visibly restraining him. “Mostly.”
Aris eyed him sourly. “There was a priest who wanted to speak to you, something about wanting to do a little private meal for you, me, Kennan and Uzziel and our guests.”
“Where’s Dev?” Roy glanced around the center. “The Elrics made it so my sister has to be here with them and Winry.”
“We gave Dev some time off,” Aris said, as Hala came over as if psychically sensing they were talking about her son, or as Roy suspected, she just wanted to keep him in her sights. “He’s been having a hard week.”
“True.”
“He went to a movie,” Al offered, letting Ed go. The blond snatched up two kabobs before anyone in line knew what was going on, then jammed a third into his mouth. Al just shook his head in disgust. “With a really pretty Xing girl who came with Li-Ying. I guess that’s where she went this morning, to meet up with her apprentice.”
“Wait? My son is on a date with a Xing girl?” Hala blinked.
Al nodded. “I’m sort of jealous. She didn’t introduce herself by name though.”
Roy’s nose wrinkled and he called to his sister in Xingese. Hearing her response, his expression darkened.
“What?” Hughes asked, scooting away from Ed as the boy came over somehow managing to masticate the kabob off the skewer with just his teeth and lips in play.
“Dev can not date that girl,” Roy grumbled.
“Oh, it’s all right if he dates a pretty blue eyed blonde but not if he dates a Xing girl?” Hala huffed as Winry came up with a plate of food. The mechanic’s expression fell just a bit at those words then Winry spied Ed. She stared at her new lover with a mix of awe and revulsion.
“Not this girl,” Roy replied.
“Uh-oh, she’s not Li-Ying’s apprentice. Is she a daughter?” Hughes asked.
“Li-Ying has no kids but the girl is my niece,” Roy said. “Daughter of my oldest, scariest sister.”
“Ishbala!” Aris’ eyes widened. “You mean Yi-Lan? She is one of the scariest women I’ve ever met, barring the president.”
“So you’re telling me my idiot son is out with your niece?” Hala sighed.
“Don’t tell him.” Roy grinned wickedly. “Let me.”
Hala held up her hands. “Fine. If I say anything, he’ll just say he’s too old to be nagged by his mother.”
“He’s over there, so I guess the movie is over,” Aris nodded toward the end of the food line.
“Wave him over here,” Roy requested then looked at Ed, “Edward, there’s plenty of food. You can eat more slowly.”
“He’s always like that,” Al said and Ed growled around his kabob.
Roy glanced at Winry and shook his head. “Your tastes…”
“Don’t say it,” she warned.
“Here,” Ed shoved a kabob onto her plate. “One of them was for you.”
Roy just shook his head again then turned to the other irate young man headed his way. He draped an arm around Dev’s shoulder, nearly propelling himself off his feet in order to do so. “You can’t go back out with that girl.”
Dev shook him off then glared at the brothers. “Which one of you told? And what business is it of yours?”
“Because if you keep dating her, you might fall in love and then you’ll want to marry her and you’ll have to learn new words,” Roy said.
“Huh?” Dev wrinkled his nose and Roy gave him the words in Xing. “I don’t know those phrases.”
“I said ‘yes, anything you want, Uncle Roy. You’re the best uncle ever’.”
Dev’s face fell as Ed snickered. “You have to be kidding me!”
“She’s Yi-Lan’s daughter,” Roy said and Dev went pale.
“Yi-Lan? That is so unfair.” Dev huffed. “I liked Miao-Yin.”
“Go eat, you’ll feel better,” Roy said, his shoulders trembling from the laugh he was holding in.
“No I won’t,” Dev grumbled, glancing at his mother who rolled her eyes at him.
“We need to find that priest again,” Aris said, trying to get back to the reason he’d joined Roy in the first place. “And see about the private luncheon.”
“He’s over there,” Uzziel said, coming over to them. “Sorry, I caught the tail end of the conversation. Did you at least escort the ambassador’s niece to the Center, Dev?”
“She’s right over there.” Dev pointed to the drinks table. “I’ll go get her. I’ll try not to fall in love,” he added bitterly to Mustang.
Uzziel stared, his jaw dropping. “He thought he could go out with a girl like that?”
“He apparently managed it,” Hughes replied wryly. “Roy, you never mentioned your niece was absolutely beautiful.”
“One, she’s Winry’s age, two, you’re married. Quit looking.” Roy nudged him.
“She is very pretty,” Hala admitted. “My son’s tastes are…” She glanced at Winry and settled on, “Eclectic.”
“Well, you see, you’re looking up here, Mrs. Jasso.” Roy framed his eyes with his fingers, hoping his glass eye was looking where it was supposed to be. “Dev is looking here.” Roy used his arms to outline his chest. Winry slapped his arm.
Hala curled her lip at him. “I was hoping my son wasn’t so…”
“A man?” Uzziel supplied.
“And as a man, I just want to point out I’m not dead,” Hughes said then. “But should you be staring holes, Edward?”
“Huh?” Ed blinked, looking at Hughes. “Did you see that glazed chicken?”
“The scary part is, he probably is looking at chicken.” Al sighed and Winry rolled her eyes.
“I refuse to believe my son is like that.”
“I can prove it,” Roy waved his arm. “Dev, come back here a second.”
Dev stomped back over. “What?”
“Tell me what color are my niece’s eyes. Your mother wants to know.”
Dev shrugged. “Dark brown. Do the Xing have any other color?”
“See, Mrs. Jasso, told you.” Roy smirked. “My niece inherited her grandmother’s eyes. They’re green, like creamy jade!”
“You think he noticed she has a head?” Hughes laughed.
“Green-eyed Xingese girls are rare and he didn’t even notice,” Roy huffed and Dev went red.
“I hate you.” Dev hunched up as Miao-Yin came up to them and Roy made introductions.
Roy stopped when he saw Riza peel away from her station, heading his way. “Trouble?”
“President!” Riza said, pointing to the doorway.
Major Miles and three other burly military men came into the room first, followed by Olivia in her dress blues. A smaller man with an officious look on his face brought up the rear. The man wore civilian clothing. Roy looked at Uzziel but the old Ishbalan seemed just as confused. Striding over to her, Roy saluted. “President Armstrong, we weren’t expecting you.”
“I thought it better this way. I can meet with a more intimate group and not have the newspapers all over me.” Her blue eyes flicked to a cluster of Ishbalan youths as if to say, ‘I’m not afraid of them anyhow.’
“We are very pleased to have you here, Madame President,” Uzziel said, trying to decide what to make of Miles. “We were just about to partake of a private luncheon the Xing guests made for the Ambassador, myself and our friends. Would you like to join us or would you like a tour of the facilities first?”
“A tour would be nice,” Olivia said, looking around. “My brother is supposed to be here.”
“I saw him earlier,” Roy said. “It’s not like he’s hard to spot.”
“He’s over there with Aunt Li-Ying,” Miao-Yin offered, pointing to a far corner where Armstrong had an arm around the petite healer’s waist. Li-Ying stood on tip-toe and kissed him.
Roy’s jaw could practically be heard hitting the floor right before Edward’s and Olivia’s. “Oh, no….no!”
“Pay up.” Hughes shoved a big hand under Roy’s nose and the alchemist swatted him.
“Mustang, did I just see what I think I saw?” Olivia growled, grabbing Roy’s collar.
“That’s not right,” Ed yelped.
“That’s her new boyfriend?” Roy asked Riza as if she knew, ignoring the fact the president nearly had him dangling off his feet. The blonde just shrugged, looking as stunned as anyone.
Olivia let him go, disgusted. “Mustang, what do you plan on doing about your sister?” She stabbed a finger into his breast bone.
“Me? Go get your behemoth of a brother off my sister!” Roy poked her back, noticing the fussy man with Olivia bristling at his daring. “I can’t believe this. That one’s trying to date my niece and now your brother is all over my sister. I’m going to have the worst in-laws ever.”
“ You ?” Olivia curled her lip at him. “I can just imagine what the Armstrongs would have to say about this.”
“Hey, I’m from a very important family, two of them, I’ll have you know.” Roy’s chin jutted out, fire in his eye. “Just not in this country. Well, if you’re not going to do something, I guess we’re stuck. I want my sister to be happy…even if her choice is scary. Damn, she must be braver than I knew.”
“I think it’s sweet,” Winry said.
“I think you mean terrifying,” Ed hissed.
“I agree with Winry.” Al’s little smile was bittersweet. “Everyone deserves some happiness.”
Olivia snorted. “Whatever. Let’s start that tour so I won’t have to look at that.”
“Uzziel and I will take the President around. Mustang should probably come with us. Dev, you and the rest can see about that luncheon,” Aris said and Roy nodded.
“Riza, you’re with me. Hughes, you can help out Dev right? Ed, Al, you, help him. Winry, Miao-Yin, go round up my sister, please. Tell her about the special lunch.” Roy said then left them to it.
X X X
When Roy and the others came to the private room, they found lunch hadn’t waited. The priest gave them an apologetic look then gestured to the covered plates. “They were hungry but we kept your meals warm. I hope you don’t mind.”
“Not a problem, Mr. Wei,” Roy said. “You weren’t expecting Madame President.”
“I didn’t need anything fancy,” Olivia said, sitting down. “I’m used to military grub.”
“We mostly wanted to give the General a small gift for his upcoming nuptials,” Wei said, nodding to Roy. “and a thank you to the priests here at the center for inviting us. We didn’t plan anything special for you, Madame President.”
She waved him off. “I’m fine.”
Roy lifted the lid off his plate and found an empty soup bowl. “Um…”
“Edward and Dev ate it,” Winry said, frost in her voice. “We told them not to but they just had to have your special soup.”
“We do have a little more, General. I’ll get it,” Wei said then added something in Xingese.
“Ah, understood,” Roy said and the man swept out of the room. “Did you two enjoy my soup?”
“Not really,” Dev said, wrinkling his nose. “Our food was better.”
“Yeah, the meat was kinda chewy,” Ed added, sucking down a river mussel, having forgone manners still wearing his gloves.
“But not so much so that they didn’t fight over it.” Al shot them both a look.
“I can not believe you ate my bachelor soup,” Roy huffed, a hint of mischief in his eye.
“Yes, whatever will you do for virility now, brother?” Li-Ying giggled.
“That’s what that was? Something for virility?” Al shot his brother and Dev a look. “Just what we needed.” Ed scowled at him.
“I hope you enjoyed the snake penis soup, boys,” Roy said with a smirk. “Dev, you keep away from my niece until this wears off and Ed…oh the hell with it, you’ll mess up anyhow.”
“Uncle Roy, be nice.” Miao-Yin glared down the table at him.
“Um, did you say snake penis?” Ed asked, his coloring going fish belly grey.
“That’s a joke right.” Dev swallowed hard.
“No joke, boys,” Li-Ying said. “I did say ‘that’s Roy’s don’t eat it’.”
“All you had to say was penis soup!” Ed howled, getting up so fast his chair tipped. Dev was already on his way out of the room at a dead run. Ed followed him swiftly.
“Well there goes a lot of good food into the toilet,” Hughes said wryly. “Really? Is that soup honestly made of penises?”
“Yes, it actually is.” Roy shrugged. “It’s tradition. I’m not really an immense fan of it but it’s not as bad as it sounds.”
“It couldn’t be as bad as it sounds,” Winry said and Roy just chuckled, turning to other items on his plate. “I am going to be hearing about this all night.”
“All night?” Al snorted. “Try all month. Ed will never let this go…unless we get lucky enough and he wants to forget the entire incident. Then that just leaves Dev.”
“Who will hopefully also want to suppress this,” Aris said, “Or I’ll be tempted to let you deal with him, Mustang.”
“He’s the only child I have, please don’t get him murdered.” Hala’s shoulders slumped. “Even if he seems to be bound and determined to get himself killed.”
Uzziel wagged his head, “If anyone should know the meaning of the saying ‘don’t play with fire,’ it’s Dev and yet…”
“Don’t worry, I won’t kill him. If he and Edward were gone, I’d be bored.” Roy laughed.
“Thank you for confirming that suspicion,” Winry said wryly.
“Was there any doubt?” Riza asked then glanced over at Olivia. “Is the food all right, Madame President? Miles is more than welcome to join us,” she said, seeing the soldier was still standing at the door. She suspected the other two were on the other side of the door and noticed Olivia’s attaché had no qualms about setting himself down to a plate.
“It’s good,” Olivia said, waving Miles to take an empty seat. If she cared anything about stolen soup, it didn’t show.
“Here you are, General,” Mr. Wei brought in another bowl of soup.
“Thank you.” Roy accepted it with a polite nod of his head. As he picked up his spoon, all eyes turned to him to see if he would eat the soup.
“You didn’t have to go through so much trouble,” Uzziel said to Mr. Wei. “Technically you’re the guests.”
“We wished to,” Wei said. “We’re dedicating a temple next month. You could repay us then.”
“Make them that spicy veggie stew,” Roy suggested. “That stuff is good.”
“He means the one with curry and cardamom. Dev makes it. I think it’s your recipe, Hala,” Aris translated as Dev and Ed came back in, looking wasted.
“It’s delicious. I could eat the whole pot,” Roy said, dipping a spoon into his soup. Hala seemed pleased at the praise.
“Which is saying something. He rarely eats,” Aris said critically.
“I’ve noticed,” Hughes said. “Riza, he told me he’d tell you but I know he won’t. He needs a tailor.”
“Did his pants fall off today?” Riza glared over at him. “I told him he lost too much weight to wear his uniform.”
“I was in a coma.” Roy whined, putting on a piteous face.
“You’re always too thin,” Winry said, sparing a sour look for her new and ex lovers. “Eat before they try to steal something else off your plate.”
“Not a chance.” Ed tossed himself down.
“Mustang, report to the commissary and get new uniforms, take Elric with you,” Olivia said, popping a piece of sticky glazed chicken into her mouth.
Seeing Ed opening his mouth to protest, Roy kicked his ankle. “We will.” He glared at the younger alchemist who took the hint with ill grace.
“I can’t believe you’re eating that soup,” Dev huffed.
“It’s a blessing on the wedding,” Roy said.
“And Jun is offering up her son to bounce on the bed for you,” Li-Ying said, leaning on Alex Louis’ shoulder. “It’s for fertility for the newlyweds,” she added for the sake of the others.
“No way!” Ed threw up his hands.
“God, no!” Dev said at the same time.
“I’m siding with them.” Olivia laughed, jerking a finger at Ed and Dev.
“Riza.” Roy’s gaze promised lush delights for her.
“I’m not going with you to a back room right now,” Riza replied, picking up her fork.
“Do not defile our center,” Dev grumbled. “Great, now I’m stuck with that image in my head all day.”
“Along with the taste of penis soup,” Hughes reminded him and the young man flushed.
“Hughes, forget you ever saw that,” Ed growled. “You, too, Bastard.”
“My silence costs,” Roy said.
“Our best bet is to kill him, Elric,” Dev said.
“I like how you think.” Ed’s wide, scary grin spread over his face.
“But you would also have to kill me, Winry, Riza, Hughes,” Al laughed. “Get the picture?”
“Damn.” Ed slumped down at the table and Winry slapped him upright. “I still can’t believe Riza went insane enough to marry you.”
“Live with it.” Roy showed his own teeth in a very good approximation of Ed’s smile while Riza continued eating, ignoring the conversation buzzing around her.
“Did we have to have that soup inflicted on us? It’s not like you’re having much of a wedding,” Dev said, ignoring Aris and Uzziel’s stricken looks at his rudeness. Even his mother seemed embarrassed.
“It’s still a wedding,” Winry said gently, “even if it is small.”
“I know the jerk doesn’t believe in anything, but didn’t you want at least something better, Riza?” Dev asked.
“Winry asked the same thing.” Riza smiled softly.
“You deserve a nice big wedding with your friends and family and all that stuff,” Dev said, “not some hurried thing that barely no one knows about.”
“Dev, this isn’t your concern,” Aris hissed, shooting him a warning look.
“Is everyone always this informal?” Attaway asked, patting his lips with his napkin.
“Always,” Roy said, sounding as if he wouldn’t have it any other way.
“I agree with the young priest, you both are far too important to get married hurriedly like pregnant teens desperate to get on the family register,” Olivia said, obviously delighting in the distress on Roy’s face.
“That would make our sister happy,” Li-Ying said. “She’s a priestess.”
“A big state wedding would be a good show of the country healing,” Olivia said, her expression a little distant then sharpening on Roy and Uzziel, seated next to him. “A Xingese-Amestrian priestess is good. Would this be an appropriate time to show strides in our relationship with the Ishbalans?”
“We could have a priest be there to bless the wedding,” Uzziel consented and Roy wondered if it was all just to make him squirm.
“But, a nice quiet wedding is…” Roy started, desperately trying to salvage his plans.
“Off the table. We need to find you a place to hold the big wedding,” Olivia said decisively, brushing off Roy’s half-hearted objection “Maybe something with a garden.”
“My garden is nice but not so big as to…” Roy tried again.
“Armstrong Manor,” Alex Louis offered, showing an interest in the conversation at last. “We have huge gardens and a house big enough to accommodate guests in case of rain. Mother and Father would be honored.”
Olivia sighed a little but nodded. “That would work.” She stood up. “I have to cut this short. Thank you all for the hospitality. Elrics, Mustang, be at home tonight. Don’t fuss, don’t bitch, just be there. You’ll see why later.” Olivia gestured for her men to follow her out.
“What the hell is that about?” Ed asked after she was gone.
“I have no idea. I can not believe this. Thanks for nothing, Dev. Now I need to plan a whole big wedding.” Roy let out a long sigh like a balloon with a slow leak. He took Riza’s hand. “Are you mad or is this a good thing?”
Riza smiled. “It doesn’t matter so long as we actually manage to get married. My girlfriends will be thrilled. Now they can pick out all sorts of flowers and cakes.”
“Don’t forget a proper wedding dress,” Li-Ying added brightly.
“Uzziel, do I get to pick a priest?” Roy’s dark eye gleamed.
“If you want, I suppose,” he said, looking a bit baffled.
“Good, enjoy your new job, Dev, you little bastard.” Roy smirked.
“Wait, no!” Dev held up his hands.
“Oh, yes, you screwed me up, now you get to suffer. I have to find groomsmen for however many women Riza comes up with.” Roy grumbled.
“Like you have any friends to do it,” Ed laughed.
“That’s it, you’re one!” Roy stabbed a finger at him.
“Roy, wedding positions are not a punishment,” Riza said softly. “This is at least the sixth time I’ve told you and I know Winry has, too.”
“And I’m not doing it,” Ed growled.
“Edward, behave,” Winry said. “Riza and Roy will talk it out and I’m sure you might actually want to be in the wedding.” She gave him a meaningful look, seeing Dev’s lips tightening when he twigged onto it faster than Ed did.
“Maybe we ought to go home and let those two plan,” Al suggested. “Unless we can be of help here at the Center.”
“No, go ahead home.” Uzziel stood. “We should get back to our guests and you will probably want to prepare for whatever the president has planned for this evening.” He raised his eyebrows at Roy and the Elric brothers. “Since it’s obviously something.”
Roy snorted. “Yeah, that’s what I’m afraid of.”
X X X
Dev started cleaning up empty bottles from the courtyard where many townspeople had gathered for food and fun. He wondered if he should do what Riza had asked of him; go to Mustang’s house. He had started the ball rolling on the big wedding so he owed it to them but on the other hand, Olivia hadn’t asked for his presence. Also, he didn’t want to be around Elric. Dev wasn’t an idiot. He smashed a bottle down into the garbage can with a satisfying crash. It was half the reason he had agreed to go with Miao-Yin to the movies, well, maybe just a quarter. The rest was based on her sheer beauty, not just on the outside but inside as well. Why else ask someone who looked as horrific as he did out to the movies?
“Oh, I didn’t expect to see you here.”
Dev spun around, nearly toppling over as his contracted ankle wobbled. “Vashti.” He scowled. “Where else would I be?”
“From what I heard, out with a Xing girl,” Vashti set down her garbage bag. “Do you really hate your own kind so much?”
“I don’t!” Dev felt his gut clench. “How can you say that? It wasn’t a date. We just went to see a movie. She’s working with my healer. She’s Mustang’s niece.” He stumbled over his excuses, wishing he didn’t feel like he had to make them.
“Yes, I heard that, too,” Vashti said bitterly.
“What do you care, Vashti?” Dev sank wearily onto a bench. “You think I’m ugly. I’m good enough to hang around with but that’s it. Why does who I date matter?”
Vashti stumbled just a bit, tossing her bag down. She sat down under a tree. “I never meant to make you feel that way. I know I said it and it was stupid. I…I do think of the war when I see your scars and I hate that. I hate that something that awful happened to you. But I didn’t mean you were too ugly to be with.”
“It seemed like it,” Dev whispered. “When you said it after I asked you out. I think your intentions were pretty clear.”
Vashti turned to him, her garnet eyes glistening. “I’m sorry then. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
“You did, very badly,” he said, looked at his scarred foot. “But I forgive you. I’ve learned not to be defined by those words any more. Winry taught me that. That bastard taught it to me first, but I didn’t want to hear him, even when I saw women looking past his scars.”
Vashti trembled at his words. “I guess I should thank her then.”
“Or at least be a little kinder to her. It hurt having to let go,” Dev said, wondering why now that he had, did all his friends lighten up on their hard stance against Amestrians.
“But you have let go,” Anah’s voice startled them both. They glanced over to see her in the doorway. She stepped out into the courtyard “But have you picked up that Xing girl?”
“She’s Amestrian, too,” Dev said. “And no, she’s just someone I went to the movies with, a new friend, nothing more.”
“Oh, that’s good.” Anah sauntered over and sat next to Dev. “Because I’d hate to think someone is in my way.”
“Anah?” Vashti’s mouth dropped.
“Yes?” Anah asked sweetly. “You clearly didn’t see Dev for who he is.”
Dev couldn’t help the confused look he gave Anah. She’d never paid him any attention before. “Thanks. Um, I’d better get back to cleaning up. They expect me to come to whatever is happening at Mustang’s tonight.” Dev snorted. “Which is going to just be uncomfortable.”
“Because she’s already with someone else?” Anah touched his metal hand.
“No,” Dev said, because he wasn’t sure but could it be anything else?
“Do you want company?” Anah’s lips curled, shooting her sister a look when Vashti started to say something.
Dev shook his head. “Thanks but no. It’s all a little too raw yet,” he said, thinking it would also be very rude. He wondered if Elric would think of that when he showed up at Mustang’s. “But I appreciate the offer.” Dev lurched up to his feet.
“Well, if you’re sure.” Anah couldn’t disguise the disappointment in her voice.
“I am but maybe we could do something else tomorrow,” Dev offered, liking that idea better.
Anah smiled, “I’d like that.”
Dev mirrored her smile. “Think about what you’d like to do.”
Anah stroked her fingertips along his cheek. “I’ll be thinking that over.”
“Great,” Dev hurried inside before she saw the doubt in his eyes. It felt so strange. No woman had ever wanted him and now suddenly he was surrounded. It didn’t feel right and yet so very alluring at the same time. He decided not to argue with the gift Ishbala had given him.
chapter nineteen
Author -
cornerofmadnessDisclaimer - 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 Gold star if you guess the movie shout out in this chapter(in fact first person can get a drabble written for them, characters of their choice). And You can really tell I’m watching too much Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmerman. I’ve incorporated a lot of that into this chapter and chapters to come. (keep me away from this show. it just bunnies me)
Author's Note #3- 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
chapter sixteen
chapter seventeen
“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 Eighteen
Home is where one starts from.
T. S. Eliot
Roy sat down at his kitchen table, staring at his plate as if expecting food to materialize. A big smile crossed his face when Al set down a platter of scrambled eggs. “Thank you, Alphonse.” He started to heap eggs onto the pale white and blue chrysanthemum porcelain plate.
“Riza had to leave early and she made me and Mr. Hughes promise to feed you because she says you’re too skinny,” Al replied as Hughes added a plate piled high with bacon to the table.
“We’re going to meet her at the Ishbalan Center, I know, I know.” Roy held up his hands. “It should be okay. They’re hosting a luncheon to welcome everyone to the new center, though I did notice mostly Xingese names on the invites. There’s a little Xingese section of town here. And I’m not skinny.”
“Your pants almost fell off when you sat down,” Hughes said, snaring the last of the toast out of the toaster.
Roy snorted, glancing up at the stove hoping for coffee. Seeing the battered metal percolator, he got up and poured himself some. “The invites are for special guests but anyone is welcome. Riza is helping Aris with security. And leave my pants out of this.”
Hughes shrugged. “Doesn’t bother me if you end up naked in public.”
“I will have on boxers.” Roy glanced into his lap. “Maybe.”
“It’s too early for this to start, sir.” Al glanced up at the ceiling, obviously determined to change the subject. “Not like Winry to be late to breakfast. It is, however, like Edward.”
“I’m not waiting,” Roy snared some bacon and dug in. He was halfway through it when Ed tromped down the stairs, poured himself coffee and threw himself into a kitchen chair. The boy’s hair hadn’t been pulled into a tail yet. His mellow smile broke only to allow the ceramic lip of his mug to touch his lips. Roy’s eye widened. “Hell, you slept with her!”
Ed’s face went red up past his messy hair line as he almost slipped under the table. “What?”
Al stared at his brother. “You did!”
“I did nah….” Ed’s jaw clamped shut. “What business is it of yours? And how would you know?”
“Because you’ve never been this mellow in your life.” Roy waved his fork at Ed. “A man can only be this mellow if he’s just gotten laid.”
“That must have been one hell of a talk.” Hughes beamed before shoveling in some eggs. Ed buried his face between his arms and the table.
“Get your head off the table, Edward, before your blush sets it on fire,” Roy laughed.
Ed didn’t sit up but he did untangle one arm so he could give Roy an obscene gesture.
“Well, it wasn’t what I was expecting you to do but at least you’ve finally done it,” Al said, getting up to get more coffee.
“Al,” Ed whined piteously.
“Hmmm, where to start the teasing.” Roy couldn’t keep the devilish look off his face then suddenly a sober look flashed over his features and he concentrated on his bacon.
Curious about the emotional whiplash, Hughes glanced up and saw Winry in the doorway. He smiled and lost himself in buttering another slab of toast.
Winry strolled in, poured coffee then suddenly realized it was too quiet. She turned her gaze on the men. “What?”
“Nothing,” Al said, roses creeping up into his cheeks.
Winry whirled on Ed and slapped his shoulder hard. “You told!”
Ed lifted his head. “I did not. The bastard guessed.”
“Next time don’t come down here with ‘I’m not a virgin any more tattooed’ to your head.” Roy snickered and Ed kicked him. Metal rang out against metal. “Got to do better than that, Shortmetal.”
Winry clamped down on Ed’s shoulder. “Don’t you start and you, Roy, if I have to call your sister down here…”
Roy pouted, slumping in his chair. “That’s not fair.”
“And I don’t want to hear another word about it in my presence.” Winry tapped Roy’s nose. “What you do when I’m gone, is another story.”
“Winry!” Ed stared at her in disbelief.
“As if I could actually stop him teasing you.” Winry ruffled Ed’s hair. “Besides you enjoy sparring with Roy.”
“Do not,” Ed grumbled before deciding to just lose himself in breakfast.
Hughes pointed at Al with his fork. “This is going to be a long day.”
Al sighed. “Don’t I know it.”
“I’m going to my shop then I promised Riza I would show up at the center. Aris wants me to talk about automail,” Winry said. “I know Dev is coming here for a session with Li-Ying before that. You could go with them to the luncheon.”
“I have things to do first. Hughes is coming with me. Ed and Al can come with Li-Ying,” Roy said. “And yes, you need to be there. Al, you have a calming effect on people and Ed…you can be a demonstration dummy for Winry.”
“Go to hell.”
“Not before you,” Roy replied cheerily then looked at Winry. “My sister is being slow to get up today, too.”
“Actually she went out earlier,” Al said. “I’m not sure where.”
Roy shrugged. “Probably to meet her boyfriend, Breda.”
“Armstrong,” Hughes argued.
“Havoc,” Ed put in.
Al glanced up at Winry. “Don’t ask.”
She just shook her head. “Don’t worry, I wasn’t.”
X X X
“I’m very glad you’re here, Mustang,” Aris said, ushering him over to the potluck buffet tables. Hala was helping a motley crew of Amestrians, Ishbalans and Xingese navigate through the lines while Riza lounged near the courtyard doors, her gun barely visible under her tapestried woodland scene jacket. “Can you explain these dishes? We don’t want to insult our Xingese visitors but we’re not sure what everything is.”
“Be adventuresome. It’s mostly just pork, beef or chicken.” Roy grinned, seeing Ed eying the feast like he hadn’t eaten in months. Al was visibly restraining him. “Mostly.”
Aris eyed him sourly. “There was a priest who wanted to speak to you, something about wanting to do a little private meal for you, me, Kennan and Uzziel and our guests.”
“Where’s Dev?” Roy glanced around the center. “The Elrics made it so my sister has to be here with them and Winry.”
“We gave Dev some time off,” Aris said, as Hala came over as if psychically sensing they were talking about her son, or as Roy suspected, she just wanted to keep him in her sights. “He’s been having a hard week.”
“True.”
“He went to a movie,” Al offered, letting Ed go. The blond snatched up two kabobs before anyone in line knew what was going on, then jammed a third into his mouth. Al just shook his head in disgust. “With a really pretty Xing girl who came with Li-Ying. I guess that’s where she went this morning, to meet up with her apprentice.”
“Wait? My son is on a date with a Xing girl?” Hala blinked.
Al nodded. “I’m sort of jealous. She didn’t introduce herself by name though.”
Roy’s nose wrinkled and he called to his sister in Xingese. Hearing her response, his expression darkened.
“What?” Hughes asked, scooting away from Ed as the boy came over somehow managing to masticate the kabob off the skewer with just his teeth and lips in play.
“Dev can not date that girl,” Roy grumbled.
“Oh, it’s all right if he dates a pretty blue eyed blonde but not if he dates a Xing girl?” Hala huffed as Winry came up with a plate of food. The mechanic’s expression fell just a bit at those words then Winry spied Ed. She stared at her new lover with a mix of awe and revulsion.
“Not this girl,” Roy replied.
“Uh-oh, she’s not Li-Ying’s apprentice. Is she a daughter?” Hughes asked.
“Li-Ying has no kids but the girl is my niece,” Roy said. “Daughter of my oldest, scariest sister.”
“Ishbala!” Aris’ eyes widened. “You mean Yi-Lan? She is one of the scariest women I’ve ever met, barring the president.”
“So you’re telling me my idiot son is out with your niece?” Hala sighed.
“Don’t tell him.” Roy grinned wickedly. “Let me.”
Hala held up her hands. “Fine. If I say anything, he’ll just say he’s too old to be nagged by his mother.”
“He’s over there, so I guess the movie is over,” Aris nodded toward the end of the food line.
“Wave him over here,” Roy requested then looked at Ed, “Edward, there’s plenty of food. You can eat more slowly.”
“He’s always like that,” Al said and Ed growled around his kabob.
Roy glanced at Winry and shook his head. “Your tastes…”
“Don’t say it,” she warned.
“Here,” Ed shoved a kabob onto her plate. “One of them was for you.”
Roy just shook his head again then turned to the other irate young man headed his way. He draped an arm around Dev’s shoulder, nearly propelling himself off his feet in order to do so. “You can’t go back out with that girl.”
Dev shook him off then glared at the brothers. “Which one of you told? And what business is it of yours?”
“Because if you keep dating her, you might fall in love and then you’ll want to marry her and you’ll have to learn new words,” Roy said.
“Huh?” Dev wrinkled his nose and Roy gave him the words in Xing. “I don’t know those phrases.”
“I said ‘yes, anything you want, Uncle Roy. You’re the best uncle ever’.”
Dev’s face fell as Ed snickered. “You have to be kidding me!”
“She’s Yi-Lan’s daughter,” Roy said and Dev went pale.
“Yi-Lan? That is so unfair.” Dev huffed. “I liked Miao-Yin.”
“Go eat, you’ll feel better,” Roy said, his shoulders trembling from the laugh he was holding in.
“No I won’t,” Dev grumbled, glancing at his mother who rolled her eyes at him.
“We need to find that priest again,” Aris said, trying to get back to the reason he’d joined Roy in the first place. “And see about the private luncheon.”
“He’s over there,” Uzziel said, coming over to them. “Sorry, I caught the tail end of the conversation. Did you at least escort the ambassador’s niece to the Center, Dev?”
“She’s right over there.” Dev pointed to the drinks table. “I’ll go get her. I’ll try not to fall in love,” he added bitterly to Mustang.
Uzziel stared, his jaw dropping. “He thought he could go out with a girl like that?”
“He apparently managed it,” Hughes replied wryly. “Roy, you never mentioned your niece was absolutely beautiful.”
“One, she’s Winry’s age, two, you’re married. Quit looking.” Roy nudged him.
“She is very pretty,” Hala admitted. “My son’s tastes are…” She glanced at Winry and settled on, “Eclectic.”
“Well, you see, you’re looking up here, Mrs. Jasso.” Roy framed his eyes with his fingers, hoping his glass eye was looking where it was supposed to be. “Dev is looking here.” Roy used his arms to outline his chest. Winry slapped his arm.
Hala curled her lip at him. “I was hoping my son wasn’t so…”
“A man?” Uzziel supplied.
“And as a man, I just want to point out I’m not dead,” Hughes said then. “But should you be staring holes, Edward?”
“Huh?” Ed blinked, looking at Hughes. “Did you see that glazed chicken?”
“The scary part is, he probably is looking at chicken.” Al sighed and Winry rolled her eyes.
“I refuse to believe my son is like that.”
“I can prove it,” Roy waved his arm. “Dev, come back here a second.”
Dev stomped back over. “What?”
“Tell me what color are my niece’s eyes. Your mother wants to know.”
Dev shrugged. “Dark brown. Do the Xing have any other color?”
“See, Mrs. Jasso, told you.” Roy smirked. “My niece inherited her grandmother’s eyes. They’re green, like creamy jade!”
“You think he noticed she has a head?” Hughes laughed.
“Green-eyed Xingese girls are rare and he didn’t even notice,” Roy huffed and Dev went red.
“I hate you.” Dev hunched up as Miao-Yin came up to them and Roy made introductions.
Roy stopped when he saw Riza peel away from her station, heading his way. “Trouble?”
“President!” Riza said, pointing to the doorway.
Major Miles and three other burly military men came into the room first, followed by Olivia in her dress blues. A smaller man with an officious look on his face brought up the rear. The man wore civilian clothing. Roy looked at Uzziel but the old Ishbalan seemed just as confused. Striding over to her, Roy saluted. “President Armstrong, we weren’t expecting you.”
“I thought it better this way. I can meet with a more intimate group and not have the newspapers all over me.” Her blue eyes flicked to a cluster of Ishbalan youths as if to say, ‘I’m not afraid of them anyhow.’
“We are very pleased to have you here, Madame President,” Uzziel said, trying to decide what to make of Miles. “We were just about to partake of a private luncheon the Xing guests made for the Ambassador, myself and our friends. Would you like to join us or would you like a tour of the facilities first?”
“A tour would be nice,” Olivia said, looking around. “My brother is supposed to be here.”
“I saw him earlier,” Roy said. “It’s not like he’s hard to spot.”
“He’s over there with Aunt Li-Ying,” Miao-Yin offered, pointing to a far corner where Armstrong had an arm around the petite healer’s waist. Li-Ying stood on tip-toe and kissed him.
Roy’s jaw could practically be heard hitting the floor right before Edward’s and Olivia’s. “Oh, no….no!”
“Pay up.” Hughes shoved a big hand under Roy’s nose and the alchemist swatted him.
“Mustang, did I just see what I think I saw?” Olivia growled, grabbing Roy’s collar.
“That’s not right,” Ed yelped.
“That’s her new boyfriend?” Roy asked Riza as if she knew, ignoring the fact the president nearly had him dangling off his feet. The blonde just shrugged, looking as stunned as anyone.
Olivia let him go, disgusted. “Mustang, what do you plan on doing about your sister?” She stabbed a finger into his breast bone.
“Me? Go get your behemoth of a brother off my sister!” Roy poked her back, noticing the fussy man with Olivia bristling at his daring. “I can’t believe this. That one’s trying to date my niece and now your brother is all over my sister. I’m going to have the worst in-laws ever.”
“ You ?” Olivia curled her lip at him. “I can just imagine what the Armstrongs would have to say about this.”
“Hey, I’m from a very important family, two of them, I’ll have you know.” Roy’s chin jutted out, fire in his eye. “Just not in this country. Well, if you’re not going to do something, I guess we’re stuck. I want my sister to be happy…even if her choice is scary. Damn, she must be braver than I knew.”
“I think it’s sweet,” Winry said.
“I think you mean terrifying,” Ed hissed.
“I agree with Winry.” Al’s little smile was bittersweet. “Everyone deserves some happiness.”
Olivia snorted. “Whatever. Let’s start that tour so I won’t have to look at that.”
“Uzziel and I will take the President around. Mustang should probably come with us. Dev, you and the rest can see about that luncheon,” Aris said and Roy nodded.
“Riza, you’re with me. Hughes, you can help out Dev right? Ed, Al, you, help him. Winry, Miao-Yin, go round up my sister, please. Tell her about the special lunch.” Roy said then left them to it.
X X X
When Roy and the others came to the private room, they found lunch hadn’t waited. The priest gave them an apologetic look then gestured to the covered plates. “They were hungry but we kept your meals warm. I hope you don’t mind.”
“Not a problem, Mr. Wei,” Roy said. “You weren’t expecting Madame President.”
“I didn’t need anything fancy,” Olivia said, sitting down. “I’m used to military grub.”
“We mostly wanted to give the General a small gift for his upcoming nuptials,” Wei said, nodding to Roy. “and a thank you to the priests here at the center for inviting us. We didn’t plan anything special for you, Madame President.”
She waved him off. “I’m fine.”
Roy lifted the lid off his plate and found an empty soup bowl. “Um…”
“Edward and Dev ate it,” Winry said, frost in her voice. “We told them not to but they just had to have your special soup.”
“We do have a little more, General. I’ll get it,” Wei said then added something in Xingese.
“Ah, understood,” Roy said and the man swept out of the room. “Did you two enjoy my soup?”
“Not really,” Dev said, wrinkling his nose. “Our food was better.”
“Yeah, the meat was kinda chewy,” Ed added, sucking down a river mussel, having forgone manners still wearing his gloves.
“But not so much so that they didn’t fight over it.” Al shot them both a look.
“I can not believe you ate my bachelor soup,” Roy huffed, a hint of mischief in his eye.
“Yes, whatever will you do for virility now, brother?” Li-Ying giggled.
“That’s what that was? Something for virility?” Al shot his brother and Dev a look. “Just what we needed.” Ed scowled at him.
“I hope you enjoyed the snake penis soup, boys,” Roy said with a smirk. “Dev, you keep away from my niece until this wears off and Ed…oh the hell with it, you’ll mess up anyhow.”
“Uncle Roy, be nice.” Miao-Yin glared down the table at him.
“Um, did you say snake penis?” Ed asked, his coloring going fish belly grey.
“That’s a joke right.” Dev swallowed hard.
“No joke, boys,” Li-Ying said. “I did say ‘that’s Roy’s don’t eat it’.”
“All you had to say was penis soup!” Ed howled, getting up so fast his chair tipped. Dev was already on his way out of the room at a dead run. Ed followed him swiftly.
“Well there goes a lot of good food into the toilet,” Hughes said wryly. “Really? Is that soup honestly made of penises?”
“Yes, it actually is.” Roy shrugged. “It’s tradition. I’m not really an immense fan of it but it’s not as bad as it sounds.”
“It couldn’t be as bad as it sounds,” Winry said and Roy just chuckled, turning to other items on his plate. “I am going to be hearing about this all night.”
“All night?” Al snorted. “Try all month. Ed will never let this go…unless we get lucky enough and he wants to forget the entire incident. Then that just leaves Dev.”
“Who will hopefully also want to suppress this,” Aris said, “Or I’ll be tempted to let you deal with him, Mustang.”
“He’s the only child I have, please don’t get him murdered.” Hala’s shoulders slumped. “Even if he seems to be bound and determined to get himself killed.”
Uzziel wagged his head, “If anyone should know the meaning of the saying ‘don’t play with fire,’ it’s Dev and yet…”
“Don’t worry, I won’t kill him. If he and Edward were gone, I’d be bored.” Roy laughed.
“Thank you for confirming that suspicion,” Winry said wryly.
“Was there any doubt?” Riza asked then glanced over at Olivia. “Is the food all right, Madame President? Miles is more than welcome to join us,” she said, seeing the soldier was still standing at the door. She suspected the other two were on the other side of the door and noticed Olivia’s attaché had no qualms about setting himself down to a plate.
“It’s good,” Olivia said, waving Miles to take an empty seat. If she cared anything about stolen soup, it didn’t show.
“Here you are, General,” Mr. Wei brought in another bowl of soup.
“Thank you.” Roy accepted it with a polite nod of his head. As he picked up his spoon, all eyes turned to him to see if he would eat the soup.
“You didn’t have to go through so much trouble,” Uzziel said to Mr. Wei. “Technically you’re the guests.”
“We wished to,” Wei said. “We’re dedicating a temple next month. You could repay us then.”
“Make them that spicy veggie stew,” Roy suggested. “That stuff is good.”
“He means the one with curry and cardamom. Dev makes it. I think it’s your recipe, Hala,” Aris translated as Dev and Ed came back in, looking wasted.
“It’s delicious. I could eat the whole pot,” Roy said, dipping a spoon into his soup. Hala seemed pleased at the praise.
“Which is saying something. He rarely eats,” Aris said critically.
“I’ve noticed,” Hughes said. “Riza, he told me he’d tell you but I know he won’t. He needs a tailor.”
“Did his pants fall off today?” Riza glared over at him. “I told him he lost too much weight to wear his uniform.”
“I was in a coma.” Roy whined, putting on a piteous face.
“You’re always too thin,” Winry said, sparing a sour look for her new and ex lovers. “Eat before they try to steal something else off your plate.”
“Not a chance.” Ed tossed himself down.
“Mustang, report to the commissary and get new uniforms, take Elric with you,” Olivia said, popping a piece of sticky glazed chicken into her mouth.
Seeing Ed opening his mouth to protest, Roy kicked his ankle. “We will.” He glared at the younger alchemist who took the hint with ill grace.
“I can’t believe you’re eating that soup,” Dev huffed.
“It’s a blessing on the wedding,” Roy said.
“And Jun is offering up her son to bounce on the bed for you,” Li-Ying said, leaning on Alex Louis’ shoulder. “It’s for fertility for the newlyweds,” she added for the sake of the others.
“No way!” Ed threw up his hands.
“God, no!” Dev said at the same time.
“I’m siding with them.” Olivia laughed, jerking a finger at Ed and Dev.
“Riza.” Roy’s gaze promised lush delights for her.
“I’m not going with you to a back room right now,” Riza replied, picking up her fork.
“Do not defile our center,” Dev grumbled. “Great, now I’m stuck with that image in my head all day.”
“Along with the taste of penis soup,” Hughes reminded him and the young man flushed.
“Hughes, forget you ever saw that,” Ed growled. “You, too, Bastard.”
“My silence costs,” Roy said.
“Our best bet is to kill him, Elric,” Dev said.
“I like how you think.” Ed’s wide, scary grin spread over his face.
“But you would also have to kill me, Winry, Riza, Hughes,” Al laughed. “Get the picture?”
“Damn.” Ed slumped down at the table and Winry slapped him upright. “I still can’t believe Riza went insane enough to marry you.”
“Live with it.” Roy showed his own teeth in a very good approximation of Ed’s smile while Riza continued eating, ignoring the conversation buzzing around her.
“Did we have to have that soup inflicted on us? It’s not like you’re having much of a wedding,” Dev said, ignoring Aris and Uzziel’s stricken looks at his rudeness. Even his mother seemed embarrassed.
“It’s still a wedding,” Winry said gently, “even if it is small.”
“I know the jerk doesn’t believe in anything, but didn’t you want at least something better, Riza?” Dev asked.
“Winry asked the same thing.” Riza smiled softly.
“You deserve a nice big wedding with your friends and family and all that stuff,” Dev said, “not some hurried thing that barely no one knows about.”
“Dev, this isn’t your concern,” Aris hissed, shooting him a warning look.
“Is everyone always this informal?” Attaway asked, patting his lips with his napkin.
“Always,” Roy said, sounding as if he wouldn’t have it any other way.
“I agree with the young priest, you both are far too important to get married hurriedly like pregnant teens desperate to get on the family register,” Olivia said, obviously delighting in the distress on Roy’s face.
“That would make our sister happy,” Li-Ying said. “She’s a priestess.”
“A big state wedding would be a good show of the country healing,” Olivia said, her expression a little distant then sharpening on Roy and Uzziel, seated next to him. “A Xingese-Amestrian priestess is good. Would this be an appropriate time to show strides in our relationship with the Ishbalans?”
“We could have a priest be there to bless the wedding,” Uzziel consented and Roy wondered if it was all just to make him squirm.
“But, a nice quiet wedding is…” Roy started, desperately trying to salvage his plans.
“Off the table. We need to find you a place to hold the big wedding,” Olivia said decisively, brushing off Roy’s half-hearted objection “Maybe something with a garden.”
“My garden is nice but not so big as to…” Roy tried again.
“Armstrong Manor,” Alex Louis offered, showing an interest in the conversation at last. “We have huge gardens and a house big enough to accommodate guests in case of rain. Mother and Father would be honored.”
Olivia sighed a little but nodded. “That would work.” She stood up. “I have to cut this short. Thank you all for the hospitality. Elrics, Mustang, be at home tonight. Don’t fuss, don’t bitch, just be there. You’ll see why later.” Olivia gestured for her men to follow her out.
“What the hell is that about?” Ed asked after she was gone.
“I have no idea. I can not believe this. Thanks for nothing, Dev. Now I need to plan a whole big wedding.” Roy let out a long sigh like a balloon with a slow leak. He took Riza’s hand. “Are you mad or is this a good thing?”
Riza smiled. “It doesn’t matter so long as we actually manage to get married. My girlfriends will be thrilled. Now they can pick out all sorts of flowers and cakes.”
“Don’t forget a proper wedding dress,” Li-Ying added brightly.
“Uzziel, do I get to pick a priest?” Roy’s dark eye gleamed.
“If you want, I suppose,” he said, looking a bit baffled.
“Good, enjoy your new job, Dev, you little bastard.” Roy smirked.
“Wait, no!” Dev held up his hands.
“Oh, yes, you screwed me up, now you get to suffer. I have to find groomsmen for however many women Riza comes up with.” Roy grumbled.
“Like you have any friends to do it,” Ed laughed.
“That’s it, you’re one!” Roy stabbed a finger at him.
“Roy, wedding positions are not a punishment,” Riza said softly. “This is at least the sixth time I’ve told you and I know Winry has, too.”
“And I’m not doing it,” Ed growled.
“Edward, behave,” Winry said. “Riza and Roy will talk it out and I’m sure you might actually want to be in the wedding.” She gave him a meaningful look, seeing Dev’s lips tightening when he twigged onto it faster than Ed did.
“Maybe we ought to go home and let those two plan,” Al suggested. “Unless we can be of help here at the Center.”
“No, go ahead home.” Uzziel stood. “We should get back to our guests and you will probably want to prepare for whatever the president has planned for this evening.” He raised his eyebrows at Roy and the Elric brothers. “Since it’s obviously something.”
Roy snorted. “Yeah, that’s what I’m afraid of.”
X X X
Dev started cleaning up empty bottles from the courtyard where many townspeople had gathered for food and fun. He wondered if he should do what Riza had asked of him; go to Mustang’s house. He had started the ball rolling on the big wedding so he owed it to them but on the other hand, Olivia hadn’t asked for his presence. Also, he didn’t want to be around Elric. Dev wasn’t an idiot. He smashed a bottle down into the garbage can with a satisfying crash. It was half the reason he had agreed to go with Miao-Yin to the movies, well, maybe just a quarter. The rest was based on her sheer beauty, not just on the outside but inside as well. Why else ask someone who looked as horrific as he did out to the movies?
“Oh, I didn’t expect to see you here.”
Dev spun around, nearly toppling over as his contracted ankle wobbled. “Vashti.” He scowled. “Where else would I be?”
“From what I heard, out with a Xing girl,” Vashti set down her garbage bag. “Do you really hate your own kind so much?”
“I don’t!” Dev felt his gut clench. “How can you say that? It wasn’t a date. We just went to see a movie. She’s working with my healer. She’s Mustang’s niece.” He stumbled over his excuses, wishing he didn’t feel like he had to make them.
“Yes, I heard that, too,” Vashti said bitterly.
“What do you care, Vashti?” Dev sank wearily onto a bench. “You think I’m ugly. I’m good enough to hang around with but that’s it. Why does who I date matter?”
Vashti stumbled just a bit, tossing her bag down. She sat down under a tree. “I never meant to make you feel that way. I know I said it and it was stupid. I…I do think of the war when I see your scars and I hate that. I hate that something that awful happened to you. But I didn’t mean you were too ugly to be with.”
“It seemed like it,” Dev whispered. “When you said it after I asked you out. I think your intentions were pretty clear.”
Vashti turned to him, her garnet eyes glistening. “I’m sorry then. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
“You did, very badly,” he said, looked at his scarred foot. “But I forgive you. I’ve learned not to be defined by those words any more. Winry taught me that. That bastard taught it to me first, but I didn’t want to hear him, even when I saw women looking past his scars.”
Vashti trembled at his words. “I guess I should thank her then.”
“Or at least be a little kinder to her. It hurt having to let go,” Dev said, wondering why now that he had, did all his friends lighten up on their hard stance against Amestrians.
“But you have let go,” Anah’s voice startled them both. They glanced over to see her in the doorway. She stepped out into the courtyard “But have you picked up that Xing girl?”
“She’s Amestrian, too,” Dev said. “And no, she’s just someone I went to the movies with, a new friend, nothing more.”
“Oh, that’s good.” Anah sauntered over and sat next to Dev. “Because I’d hate to think someone is in my way.”
“Anah?” Vashti’s mouth dropped.
“Yes?” Anah asked sweetly. “You clearly didn’t see Dev for who he is.”
Dev couldn’t help the confused look he gave Anah. She’d never paid him any attention before. “Thanks. Um, I’d better get back to cleaning up. They expect me to come to whatever is happening at Mustang’s tonight.” Dev snorted. “Which is going to just be uncomfortable.”
“Because she’s already with someone else?” Anah touched his metal hand.
“No,” Dev said, because he wasn’t sure but could it be anything else?
“Do you want company?” Anah’s lips curled, shooting her sister a look when Vashti started to say something.
Dev shook his head. “Thanks but no. It’s all a little too raw yet,” he said, thinking it would also be very rude. He wondered if Elric would think of that when he showed up at Mustang’s. “But I appreciate the offer.” Dev lurched up to his feet.
“Well, if you’re sure.” Anah couldn’t disguise the disappointment in her voice.
“I am but maybe we could do something else tomorrow,” Dev offered, liking that idea better.
Anah smiled, “I’d like that.”
Dev mirrored her smile. “Think about what you’d like to do.”
Anah stroked her fingertips along his cheek. “I’ll be thinking that over.”
“Great,” Dev hurried inside before she saw the doubt in his eyes. It felt so strange. No woman had ever wanted him and now suddenly he was surrounded. It didn’t feel right and yet so very alluring at the same time. He decided not to argue with the gift Ishbala had given him.
chapter nineteen
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2008-07-30 02:21 am (UTC)More please!
no subject
Date: 2008-07-30 02:56 am (UTC)Do snake's even have penii?
Best line: Ed didn’t sit up but he did untangle one arm so he could give Roy an obscene gesture.
Oh, and I think you mean her instead of here in this bit:
“Because if you keep dating here, you might fall in love and then you’ll want to marry her and you’ll have to learn new words,” Roy said.<i?
no subject
Date: 2008-07-30 03:01 am (UTC)“Next time don’t come down here with ‘I’m not a virgin any more tattooed’ to your head." That line had me dying!!!
Same with "Huh?” Ed blinked, looking at Hughes. “Did you see that glazed chicken?” omg.. I LUV YOU ED
and of course..the penis soup!! This chapter was so hilarious I loved it!!
no subject
Date: 2008-07-30 03:20 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-07-30 03:25 am (UTC)Dev just wants love.
Snake do have penises, often two. (the soup is real too, thank you ANdrew Zimmerman)
no subject
Date: 2008-07-30 03:26 am (UTC)thanks for the feedback
no subject
Date: 2008-07-30 03:32 am (UTC)Cant wait what the president plans with Roy - cant be good .....
no subject
Date: 2008-07-30 03:37 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-07-30 04:18 am (UTC)Roy's sisters have no mercy for him
no subject
Date: 2008-07-30 04:21 am (UTC)Actually what Olivia plans isn't so bad...for her
no subject
Date: 2008-07-30 05:10 am (UTC)Really good fic, from what I've read. Haha... I'll read the rest of it piece by piece when I have time.
I don't even know Dev's whole story, but I like him. He reminds me of my own Ishbalan OC who will probably never make it online lol. XD Except, he's... well... he lives in Central, plays soccer, and wants to be a stand up comdian.
no subject
Date: 2008-07-30 02:06 pm (UTC)I'm glad you like it.
Dev's eyebrows raised at that description and thanks. It's always good to hear someone likes your OC's
no subject
Date: 2008-07-30 03:04 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-07-30 03:21 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-07-30 03:40 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-07-30 04:14 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-07-30 04:46 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-07-30 08:39 pm (UTC)Yeah... Steve the Random Ishbalan Kid evolved into my favorite Fullmetal OC EVA. If only I could find a reason to shove him into the fanfic I'm actually posting. :P
I'll read the rest when I have a little more time. *has two jobs and is about to leave for work part 2*
no subject
Date: 2008-07-30 11:32 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-07-31 01:45 am (UTC)will be on the look out for Steve slipping into a plot
ugh done two jobs before. my sympathies
no subject
Date: 2008-07-31 01:51 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-07-31 02:21 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-07-31 02:38 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-07-31 03:30 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-07-31 03:35 am (UTC)