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cornerofmadnessSorrow’s Dark Array
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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 - 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
chapter eighteen
chapter nineteen
“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 Twenty
There's nothing half so pleasant as coming home again.” _Margret Elizabeth Sangster
Rose shrank into her chair in the tight, stuffy place where she had been left to wait under the watchful eyes of the Investigations personal. It had been hard enough, sitting and waiting, but when the door opened and Mr. Armstrong led Dev out, Rose felt her belly go squirmy. The Ishbalan’s eyes were so tired and worried, she felt sorry for him.
“You know I didn’t do this,” Dev said, glancing back at the investigators. Squaring his shoulders, he walked off, trying to show they hadn’t beaten him. “No matter what it looks like.”
“Don’t leave Central,” Armstrong said, sounding so cold that Rose could barely believe it was him.
“If I wanted the bastard dead, would I have tried to help him at the house? Wouldn’t I have stopped Ed from eating it, too?” Dev shouted, slashing the air with his metal hand.
“So you’ve said.” Armstrong looked at Rose. “Please follow me, Rose.”
Rose walked into the interrogation room on shaking legs. Mr. Hughes sat already there, waiting on the side of the table with two chairs. He indicated for her to sit opposite him. “What did Dev do? Did he try to hurt the ambassador?” She huddled in on herself.
“We can’t talk about other parts of the investigation, Rose.” Hughes folded his hands on the table in front of him. “Tell us, how did the whole idea of a welcome back party for Edward and Alphonse get started?”
Rose looked at her fingers. She hated this room. She didn’t like being around soldiers this way. It was okay to be with Lieutenant Colonel Armstrong; and the soldiers who had come to rebuild Lior had been nice enough for the most part. Being here, with the hard looks in their eyes, it just reminded her of the time they tried to break her. They had won. She remembered the months of silence and fear as Kane grew inside her. She trusted Lieutenant Colonel Armstrong but she didn’t want to be here. “I was talking about it. At first, it was just a rumor about them being back. You remember me asking, Lieutenant Colonel Armstrong.” Rose nodded at him briefly before going on. “You didn’t really answer me. Like you said, the truth will come out and when I realized they were back, I wanted to do something to welcome them. I’m working for Mr. Attaway, he’s the president’s man.” Rose paused, trying to stem the tide of words coming out of her. “He thought it would be nice publicity for President Armstrong to welcome back the Fullmetal Alchemist.”
“My sister apparently liked the idea,” Armstrong interjected, exchanging glances with Hughes.
Rose shrugged. “I don’t know. I didn’t even know she was going to be there until she showed up when we and the caterers got to Mr. Mustang’s. I guess I thought she was just going to pay for all the food.” She turned huge eyes on her interrogators. “I didn’t touch the food. The caterers did all of that.”
“Who planned the menu?” Hughes twirled a pencil over and under his fingers, distracting her.
Rose thought for a moment. “I don’t know. Really, I didn’t do much to plan this. I just wanted to be there. Mr. Attaway’s people did all the work to set it up. It wasn’t really a secret, except for Ed and Al, of course. Lots of people in the president’s office knew.”
“Did they know about the special treat for the ambassador?” Armstrong asked.
“I think so. I mean, I knew before today that the President wanted to give the ambassador something extra.” Rose tugged on the dyed sections of her hair. “I’m not saying the President had anything to do with this!” she added hurriedly. From the look that passed between the two men, she had to wonder if they thought the president might. “Couldn’t it have been an accident? Something bad got into the cream?”
“We’re thinking it’s more likely that someone meant to hurt the ambassador,” Hughes said. “Did you see anyone around the food?”
“Other than the caterers? No. I just saw them unloading it at the house. I got to ride with them but I never saw the food at their kitchens and, at Mr. Mustang’s, I was with everyone else. I never went back into the dining room. But I wouldn’t know if someone bad was in with the caterers since I don’t know them,” Rose reasoned, thinking she knew where they were going with their line of questions. She sucked in a deep breath. “Do you think I put that in there? Why? I don’t even know the Ambassador and I would never hurt Ed.” Rose’s fingers knotted with each other. “Never.”
“I see,” Hughes said.
They kept asking her the same questions, in all sorts of different ways, watching her as if they were hoping she’d change her story. She pleaded with them that she had to go get her son from the babysitter and they said it was taken care of. Question after question came until Rose wondered if she could ever trust anyone again. Rose left the interrogation room, hours later, weeping.
X X X
Dev kicked the heavy old apothecary chest, swearing the polish off it, adding in some curses in ancient Ishbalan plus the Xing ones he had learned from Mustang and his sister. He kicked it again, nearly losing his balance on his bad foot. “Fuck.”
“What’s wrong?”
The voice startled Dev. He hadn’t though anyone would be at the center this early. Instead he saw Rotem, Vashti and Anah standing in the doorway. Didn’t they ever work? “Someone robbed me and Aris.”
“What?” Rotem and Vashti asked in one voice.
“What was stolen?” Anah went over and put a hand on Dev’s arm. “You look awful.”
“I was detained all night for questioning by the Military.” Dev slumped against the tall chest. “Someone used moonflower extract to poison Mustang.”
“They killed him?” Anah’s ruby eyes widened.
“No, he’s fine. Having the high of a life time.” Dev snorted. “Elric stole half the impregnated pastry. His high wasn’t as fun.” He tried not to sound pleased at that. It was a very wrong thing to feel. “But they’re both alive and idiot me says, ‘I have some of that in my medical kit’.” Dev rapped his hand on the chest. “We came back here and every drop of extract is gone. Now, I have to convince them I didn’t try to kill Roy.”
“But he’s…alive.” Anah paled under her tan.
“Yeah. I made sure we got them cooled off. What a way to end the evening, a half naked Mustang in a tub of ice water.” Dev dragged his hand through his hair. “Which was great fun in comparison to the reaming I got from Armstrong and Hughes.”
“Why would you kill Mustang now?” he asked. “I mean, you almost seem to get along with him.” Rotem’s lip curled in distaste.
“I thought you actually liked him,” Vashti added, shooting her sister a hot look when Anah took a step closer to Dev, sliding an arm around him.
“I wouldn’t go that far but I don’t want to see Mustang dead.” Dev leaned into Anah’s touch, figuring he deserved some comfort. “And that is such a coward’s way. Poison? That’s as bad as the bomb. If I were going to kill him, it would be face to face.”
Rotem poked Dev’s scarred arm. “Guess you’ve forgotten he can do this to you with a snap. Face to face isn’t smart with a man like that.”
“Yeah but he trusts me now. I could kill him if I wanted to.” Dev winced at the idiotic admission. “But I don’t want to. Worse, we’re all going to get blamed for this. A stranger coming in here and picking the lock would have been noticed.”
“Not if they came after the Center closed,” Vashti reminded him.
“But who would know he had this here?” Anah sighed. “He’s right. They’ll blame us all.”
“But it wasn’t us…was it?” Vashti looked from Rotem to Dev to Anah, her brow knitting.
Dev shrugged. “I think it has to be. We have that sketch from Resembool and the bombing there. It was an Ishbalan woman who knew enough to know my name.”
Anah swore under her breath.
“What?” Dev gazed into her face. She was pretty, he decided. How had he not noticed before when she was flirting with him?
“Sanaa.”
“The radical?” Rotem asked.
Anah nodded. “That could have been her in Resembool. The sketch sort of looks like her.”
“Sort of looks like you and Vashti, too, and I’m pretty sure Vashti isn’t running around planting bombs,” Dev said. He shot the sisters a look as if he were considering it.
“I can prove I was here when that happened,” Vashti assured him, giving her sister a curious look.
“I’ve seen Sanaa here in the Center. I know we promised Uzziel and the others to report her but you know how some of us feel about that. She might have been here to meet Eyal or one of the others. She would know that you and Aris were forced to move your stuff here temporarily after that last bombing.” Anah took his flesh hand. “Should stay here, if you ask me. We need the healers more here than anywhere else. Anyone growing up in the desert knows that Moonflower can heal and kill.”
“Lots of medicines can,” Dev agreed.
“We should go tell these investigators,” Anah said with surprising decisiveness.
“Are you sure, sis?” Surprise colored Vashti’s face.
“I hate the idea,” Anah admitted, giving Dev’s hand a squeeze and he returned it reassuringly. “But I hate the idea of all of us being blamed. Can’t you just see what they might do if they think we tried to kill the ambassador-general-state alchemist?” She grimaced. “Just listen to all those titles. He’s important to them.”
“They could take away this center, raid our homes,” Rotem fretted. “We’ve come too far for that.”
“We know Dev didn’t do it.” Vashti squared her shoulders. “I agree, Anah, you have to at least tell them your suspicions. If she didn’t do it, then nothing will happen to Sanaa.”
“As if they could catch her,” Rotem sniffed.
“We’ll tell them. I’m not sure I want to face Armstrong and Hughes again but I should go to the hospital, see that Mustang and Elric really are all right. I can tell Riza. She’ll know what to do,” Dev said.
Anah didn’t let go of his hand. “ We’ll go. I’m the one who saw her, I’ll tell them. People blame you for enough as it is.”
Dev grinned at her. “Thanks.”
X X X
“Should you be up?” Gracia peered into Roy’s hospital room. Riza was watching him finish dressing, neither helping nor hindering his shaky progress.
“I’m fine.” Roy looked at her, his bloodshot eye ringed with dark, puffy flesh. “I’ve done worse things to myself back in my misspent youth.” He tried a smile but Riza could see the pain lurking there and suspected Gracia could, too.
“Fine? You and Edward nearly died. Someone did try to kill you,” Gracia’s voice was shrill enough to catch the attention of a passing nurse but Riza waved the woman off.
“And I’d rather not sit around here like a target,” Roy said, trying to get his belt buckled. “And how did you find out about all this?”
“Do you think I wouldn’t be furious if Riza hadn’t told me both you and Edward spent the night in the hospital?” Gracia’s eyes turned to pits of green fire.
Roy sighed, sitting back down on his bed to catch his breath. He gave Riza a puppy dog look and she got up to hand him his shirt. She was not about to help him much in his escape from the hospital. As much as she hated him being here, she wanted him to get a good rest but conceded he’d probably do better in his own bed. “Tell me what’s happening, Riza.”
“Armstrong and Hughes have been questioning Dev and Rose for most the night. I don’t know much more than that.” Riza briefly considered keeping the next bit of news to herself. While she was mulling over her options, Gracia broke in.
“They put him to work already?” Gracia cupped her fingers over her mouth. “I thought they’d wait a little, until we worked things out, before announcing Maes was back from the dead.”
Riza went over and put a hand on the other woman’s arm. “Sorry, Gracia. I don’t think it’s really announced but the president wanted him to help her brother and Hughes seemed determined to do it, like he had a purpose again.”
Gracia nodded, distress and happiness warring in her eyes. “That’s good. I want that for him,” she murmured.
“Roy, they might have arrested Dev,” Riza said, startling both him and Gracia.
“Why?”
“Armstrong didn’t have much time to fill me in but the poison was taken from his and Aris’ medical supplies. There’s a chance it was broken in to but just as good a chance that it was taken out by Dev,” Riza said, not believing it but in the back of her mind she had to wonder if they had sorely underestimated the young Ishbalan. Somehow, she doubted it.
“I don’t see him doing that,” Roy said and Gracia seemed to relax a bit at that. He got to his feet then clamped a hand to his head. “Do I look as hung over as I feel?”
“Yes,” Gracia said, trying and failing to get him to sit again. “Or should I say, if you feel as hung over as you look, I pity you.”
Roy snorted. “I’ll be in fine looking shape compared to Hughes who’s been up all night. Just one thing I need to know before I go argue with the staff, did I try to molest Winry last night? I remember something young, blond and pretty that I wanted to join us in the tub, Riza.”
Riza snickered. “That was Edward.”
Roy’s eyebrows arched and Gracia clapped her hand over her mouth to smother the laugh. “Well, that’s okay. Him we can tease about it. Actually, it’s more fun this way. I was worried I might have offended Winry. Did he like it?”
“You’re kidding, right? He thought the wall was eating certain body parts.” Riza shook her head. “It was better that Ed thought it was the wall. If he knew it was you, there would have been no calming him.”
Roy snickered, enduring the glares from the ladies as he went down the hall to the nurse’s station, striding steadily as if he wasn’t massively hung over. He started to patiently explain he was discharging himself, gesturing several times at Riza. She assumed he was using her to mollify any concerns he’d be alone and helpless. Riza didn’t think Roy was in any danger. He had abused his body worse in her experience. A loud, ‘Brother,’ caught her attention and she turned, seeing Alphonse down the hallway, trying to push a ragged-looking Ed back into his room. Hair unbound and straggling all over his face, Ed looked both irritated and unsteady on his feet.
“Alphonse,” Riza called softly. “Let him go. We can all go home together.” She knew Ed didn’t like to do the sensible thing any more than Roy did. It would be easier to take both stubborn idiots home and let them collapse in their own beds with a book beside them like they were being productive. That alone would make them feel better.
Ed cruised past Al, a weary and worried Winry moving in his wake. As he got nearer, Riza could see the bruised look around his eyes and he smelled faintly of vomit. “I heal fast,” Ed grumbled to no one in particular.
Riza couldn’t help notice Roy standing even straighter as if he had been utterly unfazed by the poisoning. “Looks like you fell under a train, Fullmetal.”
“Don’t make me puke on you.” Ed slumped against the counter, even his antenna drooping.
“Such a lightweight,” Roy sniffed. “Have you learned a lesson about stealing?”
“Yeah.” One bloodshot golden eye rolled in Roy’s direction. “If it’s poisoned, let you eat it.”
“Obviously they’re both going to live.” Winry shook her head. Riza and Gracia both just smiled.
“Brother really should stay the day.” Al gave Ed a critical look. “He’s not really recovered.”
“I’m fine.” Ed half-heartedly waved off the concern.
“You were talking to your water glass and thought it was talking back less than an hour ago,” Al said sourly.
“Doc said I was good to go.” Ed looked anything but, still slumped against the counter.
“Liar,” Roy said. “The doctor already said we need to stay but I’m getting us sprung. I mean, I’ve had this much fun and more when I was your age.”
That bloodshot eye made a reappearance. “Fun?” Ed shuddered and pointed at Roy. “He needs to stay here. He’s still sick.”
“No, Roy’s always like this,” Riza said ruefully. “I’ve sent for Havoc. He’s bringing something big to get us all back home.”
“I didn’t expect everyone to be up already,” Dev’s appearance around a corner surprised Riza. Even more unexpected was the girl he had with them. “Damn, Elric, you look awful.” He ignored the obscene gesture Ed gave him as he turned to Mustang. “So do you but who cares so long as you’re alive and I didn’t get shot on sight for murdering you.”
“You aren’t a fresh daisy yourself, Dev,” Roy replied. “What are you doing here?”
“I was in interrogation until just an hour ago. I’m still not sure Hughes and Armstrong think I’m innocent,” Dev grumbled.
“Hold that thought,” Riza said, motioning for the nurse to give her the phone. “This is not the place to hold this conversation. Come to our house, please.” Riza called to be sure Havoc was in route after the Ishbalans consented and the doctors finally lost the battle to keep Ed and Roy. Riza was grateful that both men nodded off in the troop carrier they had diverted for the general’s personal use. She was curious about the girl with Dev. Riza had seen her around and she had never seem particularly friendly but now she was giving Dev sly looks like she wanted to get him alone.
Ed and Roy both woke up by the time they arrived home. Predictably, neither man wanted to go upstairs to bed. Li-Ying had stayed home, prepared for this. She had a pot of water on simmer to make tea and she had big bowls of rice porridge ladled out even before the men were collapsed on the couch together, each so tired, they didn’t even have the energy to fuss at each other.
“Can we tell you what we had to say now?” Anah’s eyes darted around the room, as if she expected to be caged.
“Please, have a seat,” Riza said. “Roy, are you up to listening?”
“If I’m not, I know you are.” He sighed wearily. “Hughes and Armstrong let you go, Dev. You must have convinced them you didn’t take the poison from your own supplies.”
“I’m not a complete idiot,” Dev huffed, sitting on the arm of Anah’s chair. “If I wanted to poison you, I wouldn’t use something that would be traced back to me.”
“But it was your supplies that were used,” Riza said, watching him flinch. Dev was unused to her being stern with him.
“We have an idea about that,” Anah said, putting a hand on Dev’s arm. “I saw Sanaa around the center. She would know what moonflower does and that priests like Dev and Aris would have a supply in their medical bags. She would have taken it.”
“I’ve heard that name,” Roy muttered, blowing across his spoon.
“She’s an extremist,” Riza reminded him.
“Is there milk in this?” Ed eyed his milky white bowl of soup warily.
“No, eat it,” Roy replied. “That’s right. We’ve been looking for her. I suppose she’d want to take me out if she could but I would have thought I was small potatoes.”
“Important enough for a lot of people to want you dead,” Dev said then sighed, glancing over at Edward. “But I have no idea why she’d blow up their mother’s grave. That still makes no sense. They have nothing to do with the war. Yeah, Elric’s a state alchemist but not during the war. I can’t see Sanaa caring about that. I guess that drawing of Al’s did resemble her but it could have been just about anyone.”
“I’m not inconsequential,” Ed grumbled.
“Brother, that’s not what he’s saying. He’s just saying we don’t fit a pattern,” Al said.
“Could there be two different people out to get us?” Winry waved a hand between the Elrics and Roy, even though she included herself and Riza in the ‘us.’
“I guess.” Dev shrugged. “But I can’t think of an Ishbalan with reason to bomb that grave unless that’s just coincidence and it really was a friend looking for me who decided to just not mention it so not to get blamed.”
“We wouldn’t have blamed just anyone,” Al said.
“It would be hard to convince us of that. We know better.” Anah narrowed her eyes at Al, who gave her a bland look in response before propping Ed up to keep him from falling into his porridge.
“The brothers wouldn’t have,” Roy replied. “But I understand why you would think that. I’m not in the habit of asking you to tell me this sort of stuff, Dev, but do you know where to find Sanaa?”
Dev shook his head. “No, and I would tell you this. Radicals like her set us all back. But I don’t know where she is or if she’s the one who did this.”
“Even I don’t know that. If I had seen her in Dev’s supplies, I would have said something,” Anah said. “She was just around the center but I’m not sure who she was looking for. She didn’t stay long. She wouldn’t risk the elders seeing her.”
“I’m sure you’re right. I do appreciate you coming her, Miss…I’m sorry. I know I’ve seen you at the center but I’ve never spoken with you.” Roy shrugged helpless.
“Anah Roth,” she replied. “And I’d appreciate it if no one but us knew I was here, really. I’m mostly doing it for Dev’s sake. I don’t want him going to jail for this.”
“I understand. Maybe Alphonse should draw a picture of Sanaa to distribute,” Roy said, though it was obvious he wasn’t sure if that was the right idea. “It would be good if we could find and question her, if only to verify she didn’t do it.” He leaned his cheek on his fist, looking exhausted.
Anah glanced at Dev as if looking for support. She obviously didn’t like the idea. “I’m not sure I feel right about it.”
“I can do it,” Dev said, stifling a yawn. “Let me take the blame. They’ll assume I gave her up to save my own ass anyhow.”
She squared her jaw. “No, I said I’d help you so I will. Which one of you is Al?”
Al waved. “I’ll go get a pad. Roy, Ed, you two are about to fall off the couch. Go upstairs and get some sleep.”
“Listen to him. Wish I could,” Dev said. “They kept me up all night in Investigations. I want my bed.”
“You could go upstairs to your room,” Winry said. “We’ll make sure Anah gets home. A city cab, not military transport again.” She offered up a wary smile to the older girl.
Anah snorted. “That would be appreciated. If you want to go sleep, Dev, go. I can do this for you. You don’t have to escort me home,” she said, almost a little too quickly.
Dev frowned, putting a hand on her knee. “Are you sure? That would be rude.”
“Dev, you haven’t slept in over a day. You being interrogated was rude. You have a room here, right?” Anah asked, only a hit of distaste in her voice. “Go on, go to sleep. I’ll talk to you,” she gestured to Al. “then get a cab home. They could probably call it now. This won’t take me long.”
“It might take a little time,” Al replied. “But we’ll see. I could drive you back myself or maybe Riza could. We’re both a little tired from being at the hospital most of the night but it wouldn’t take long to get you back.”
“That’s all right. I can take a cab or walk. A walk would do me good,” Anah said, her shoulders twitching. She tried hard not to look at Al. “Let’s just get this over with.”
“Anah,” Dev said in warning. “They’re trying to help. Remember that, even if turning in someone doesn’t really sit well.”
She turned her face, abashed. “I’m sorry. I’m used to being treated hostilely and it’s more or less a reflex to give it right back. Please, let’s give this a try, Al. I do want to help. I don’t want Dev to be blamed for something he didn’t do.”
“Not a problem. I’ll fetch an art pad. Roy has a few,” Al said, getting up.
“And on that note, Edward, Roy, upstairs,” Riza said in a tone that suggested any argument might land them in the hospital again. She and Winry herded the drowsy, sick men up the stairs.
Once they were on the second floor, out of earshot of the Ishbalans, Winry poked Ed between the shoulder blades, hitting the flesh close to his shoulder aperture. “You know Edward, this is twice you’ve stolen Roy’s food and gotten yourself in big trouble”
“He’s slow to learn a lesson,” Roy muttered. “But this time I’m grateful for it. I would have died if I eat that whole pastry.”
“I’m not slow to learn,” Ed grumbled, eyeing him hotly.
“Two words for you,” Winry said. “Penis soup.” Ed went green.
“Hopefully, there have been lessons learned this time,” Riza said, “but thank you, Edward, for being the stubborn brat you are. You saved Roy’s life.” She leaned in and kissed Ed’s cheek.
Ed flushed, gaping at her. Winry just rolled her eyes and pulled Ed down the hall, stuffing him into his room, ignoring his complaints about the carnivorous flowers. Exchanging amused looks at that, Riza propelled Roy into their room. He kicked off his shoes and promptly stripped to his boxers without any threats necessary. It was all she needed to see to know how bad he really felt.
Roy slipped between the covers. “Riza, I’m sorry.”
She gazed at him, trying to puzzle out what he might be sorry for. She sat on the bed with him, wanting to run a comforting hand over his head but he still had stitches there. She settled for taking his hand. “For what, Roy?”
“For making you cry.”
“I’m not crying,” she replied.
Roy squeezed her hand. “Not on the outside. I’m sorry I’m always a target.”
“That isn’t your fault and I knew that you would be.” Riza leaned in and kissed him. “I love you anyhow. Sleep now, Roy. I’m going back downstairs. I don’t trust Dev’s new friend.”
“Funny, neither do I.”
Riza knew there was nothing funny about it. She paused just for a few moments, watching Roy’s eye close. His breathing took a deep drop off into a slow even pattern within seconds. Satisfied, she shut the door behind her.
X X X
Rose tried not to cry. It was upsetting Kane and she didn’t want her son sucking up her anxieties and making them his own. Kane sat on her lap, eyeing her worriedly as she dialed the phone, so grateful that they had given her one with free access to Lior so she could keep Judith apprised. “Hello, Judith?”
“What’s wrong?” Judith asked. “I can hear it in your voice.”
“Someone tried to poison General Mustang last night,” Rose said then swallowed down a deep breath of air to hold onto her control.
“Is he dead?”
Rose thought the distance must be distorting Judith’s voice. She sounded almost happy. “No, he’s okay. Edward ate some of the poisoned food.” Rose hugged Kane tighter. “They might think I did it.”
“Why would they think that, dear?” Judith’s tone was very calming and Rose clung to that measure of peace.
“I helped to organize the party and I’m the one who made sure Mr. Mustang got that particular dessert. I was very adamant about it but that’s what I was told to do. Mr. Attaway said to be sure the general got his special treat. He said the president wanted to give the general something extra because of all he’s been through. That’s why the party was private, no reporters, so people could actually enjoy themselves,” Rose said. “Nothing is going right, Judith. I’m not sure I’m helping Lior at all and now they might think I’m a criminal.”
“Rose, if they thought that, you’d be in the stockade.” Judith replied. “Now would your friend, Edward, think you’d do anything to hurt him?”
“No.” Rose rested her cheek against Kane’s head. “The poison was meant for the general, not Ed, but I have no reason to hurt the general, either.”
“And I’m sure that they’ll figure that out. I’d have you come home to Lior, if you’re feeling this bad, Rose, but it would only make you look guilty,” Judith said.
“Yes, I guess so. I just wish it didn’t make me so afraid,” Rose said, rocking Kane.
“There’s nothing to be afraid of, Rose. You didn’t do anything wrong.”
Rose let Judith off the line, unconvinced of her words. Rose hadn’t done anything wrong when those soldiers came for her in Lior and she had suffered so much then. How could she know this would be different?
onto Chapter twenty-one
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 - 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
chapter eighteen
chapter nineteen
“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 Twenty
There's nothing half so pleasant as coming home again.” _Margret Elizabeth Sangster
Rose shrank into her chair in the tight, stuffy place where she had been left to wait under the watchful eyes of the Investigations personal. It had been hard enough, sitting and waiting, but when the door opened and Mr. Armstrong led Dev out, Rose felt her belly go squirmy. The Ishbalan’s eyes were so tired and worried, she felt sorry for him.
“You know I didn’t do this,” Dev said, glancing back at the investigators. Squaring his shoulders, he walked off, trying to show they hadn’t beaten him. “No matter what it looks like.”
“Don’t leave Central,” Armstrong said, sounding so cold that Rose could barely believe it was him.
“If I wanted the bastard dead, would I have tried to help him at the house? Wouldn’t I have stopped Ed from eating it, too?” Dev shouted, slashing the air with his metal hand.
“So you’ve said.” Armstrong looked at Rose. “Please follow me, Rose.”
Rose walked into the interrogation room on shaking legs. Mr. Hughes sat already there, waiting on the side of the table with two chairs. He indicated for her to sit opposite him. “What did Dev do? Did he try to hurt the ambassador?” She huddled in on herself.
“We can’t talk about other parts of the investigation, Rose.” Hughes folded his hands on the table in front of him. “Tell us, how did the whole idea of a welcome back party for Edward and Alphonse get started?”
Rose looked at her fingers. She hated this room. She didn’t like being around soldiers this way. It was okay to be with Lieutenant Colonel Armstrong; and the soldiers who had come to rebuild Lior had been nice enough for the most part. Being here, with the hard looks in their eyes, it just reminded her of the time they tried to break her. They had won. She remembered the months of silence and fear as Kane grew inside her. She trusted Lieutenant Colonel Armstrong but she didn’t want to be here. “I was talking about it. At first, it was just a rumor about them being back. You remember me asking, Lieutenant Colonel Armstrong.” Rose nodded at him briefly before going on. “You didn’t really answer me. Like you said, the truth will come out and when I realized they were back, I wanted to do something to welcome them. I’m working for Mr. Attaway, he’s the president’s man.” Rose paused, trying to stem the tide of words coming out of her. “He thought it would be nice publicity for President Armstrong to welcome back the Fullmetal Alchemist.”
“My sister apparently liked the idea,” Armstrong interjected, exchanging glances with Hughes.
Rose shrugged. “I don’t know. I didn’t even know she was going to be there until she showed up when we and the caterers got to Mr. Mustang’s. I guess I thought she was just going to pay for all the food.” She turned huge eyes on her interrogators. “I didn’t touch the food. The caterers did all of that.”
“Who planned the menu?” Hughes twirled a pencil over and under his fingers, distracting her.
Rose thought for a moment. “I don’t know. Really, I didn’t do much to plan this. I just wanted to be there. Mr. Attaway’s people did all the work to set it up. It wasn’t really a secret, except for Ed and Al, of course. Lots of people in the president’s office knew.”
“Did they know about the special treat for the ambassador?” Armstrong asked.
“I think so. I mean, I knew before today that the President wanted to give the ambassador something extra.” Rose tugged on the dyed sections of her hair. “I’m not saying the President had anything to do with this!” she added hurriedly. From the look that passed between the two men, she had to wonder if they thought the president might. “Couldn’t it have been an accident? Something bad got into the cream?”
“We’re thinking it’s more likely that someone meant to hurt the ambassador,” Hughes said. “Did you see anyone around the food?”
“Other than the caterers? No. I just saw them unloading it at the house. I got to ride with them but I never saw the food at their kitchens and, at Mr. Mustang’s, I was with everyone else. I never went back into the dining room. But I wouldn’t know if someone bad was in with the caterers since I don’t know them,” Rose reasoned, thinking she knew where they were going with their line of questions. She sucked in a deep breath. “Do you think I put that in there? Why? I don’t even know the Ambassador and I would never hurt Ed.” Rose’s fingers knotted with each other. “Never.”
“I see,” Hughes said.
They kept asking her the same questions, in all sorts of different ways, watching her as if they were hoping she’d change her story. She pleaded with them that she had to go get her son from the babysitter and they said it was taken care of. Question after question came until Rose wondered if she could ever trust anyone again. Rose left the interrogation room, hours later, weeping.
X X X
Dev kicked the heavy old apothecary chest, swearing the polish off it, adding in some curses in ancient Ishbalan plus the Xing ones he had learned from Mustang and his sister. He kicked it again, nearly losing his balance on his bad foot. “Fuck.”
“What’s wrong?”
The voice startled Dev. He hadn’t though anyone would be at the center this early. Instead he saw Rotem, Vashti and Anah standing in the doorway. Didn’t they ever work? “Someone robbed me and Aris.”
“What?” Rotem and Vashti asked in one voice.
“What was stolen?” Anah went over and put a hand on Dev’s arm. “You look awful.”
“I was detained all night for questioning by the Military.” Dev slumped against the tall chest. “Someone used moonflower extract to poison Mustang.”
“They killed him?” Anah’s ruby eyes widened.
“No, he’s fine. Having the high of a life time.” Dev snorted. “Elric stole half the impregnated pastry. His high wasn’t as fun.” He tried not to sound pleased at that. It was a very wrong thing to feel. “But they’re both alive and idiot me says, ‘I have some of that in my medical kit’.” Dev rapped his hand on the chest. “We came back here and every drop of extract is gone. Now, I have to convince them I didn’t try to kill Roy.”
“But he’s…alive.” Anah paled under her tan.
“Yeah. I made sure we got them cooled off. What a way to end the evening, a half naked Mustang in a tub of ice water.” Dev dragged his hand through his hair. “Which was great fun in comparison to the reaming I got from Armstrong and Hughes.”
“Why would you kill Mustang now?” he asked. “I mean, you almost seem to get along with him.” Rotem’s lip curled in distaste.
“I thought you actually liked him,” Vashti added, shooting her sister a hot look when Anah took a step closer to Dev, sliding an arm around him.
“I wouldn’t go that far but I don’t want to see Mustang dead.” Dev leaned into Anah’s touch, figuring he deserved some comfort. “And that is such a coward’s way. Poison? That’s as bad as the bomb. If I were going to kill him, it would be face to face.”
Rotem poked Dev’s scarred arm. “Guess you’ve forgotten he can do this to you with a snap. Face to face isn’t smart with a man like that.”
“Yeah but he trusts me now. I could kill him if I wanted to.” Dev winced at the idiotic admission. “But I don’t want to. Worse, we’re all going to get blamed for this. A stranger coming in here and picking the lock would have been noticed.”
“Not if they came after the Center closed,” Vashti reminded him.
“But who would know he had this here?” Anah sighed. “He’s right. They’ll blame us all.”
“But it wasn’t us…was it?” Vashti looked from Rotem to Dev to Anah, her brow knitting.
Dev shrugged. “I think it has to be. We have that sketch from Resembool and the bombing there. It was an Ishbalan woman who knew enough to know my name.”
Anah swore under her breath.
“What?” Dev gazed into her face. She was pretty, he decided. How had he not noticed before when she was flirting with him?
“Sanaa.”
“The radical?” Rotem asked.
Anah nodded. “That could have been her in Resembool. The sketch sort of looks like her.”
“Sort of looks like you and Vashti, too, and I’m pretty sure Vashti isn’t running around planting bombs,” Dev said. He shot the sisters a look as if he were considering it.
“I can prove I was here when that happened,” Vashti assured him, giving her sister a curious look.
“I’ve seen Sanaa here in the Center. I know we promised Uzziel and the others to report her but you know how some of us feel about that. She might have been here to meet Eyal or one of the others. She would know that you and Aris were forced to move your stuff here temporarily after that last bombing.” Anah took his flesh hand. “Should stay here, if you ask me. We need the healers more here than anywhere else. Anyone growing up in the desert knows that Moonflower can heal and kill.”
“Lots of medicines can,” Dev agreed.
“We should go tell these investigators,” Anah said with surprising decisiveness.
“Are you sure, sis?” Surprise colored Vashti’s face.
“I hate the idea,” Anah admitted, giving Dev’s hand a squeeze and he returned it reassuringly. “But I hate the idea of all of us being blamed. Can’t you just see what they might do if they think we tried to kill the ambassador-general-state alchemist?” She grimaced. “Just listen to all those titles. He’s important to them.”
“They could take away this center, raid our homes,” Rotem fretted. “We’ve come too far for that.”
“We know Dev didn’t do it.” Vashti squared her shoulders. “I agree, Anah, you have to at least tell them your suspicions. If she didn’t do it, then nothing will happen to Sanaa.”
“As if they could catch her,” Rotem sniffed.
“We’ll tell them. I’m not sure I want to face Armstrong and Hughes again but I should go to the hospital, see that Mustang and Elric really are all right. I can tell Riza. She’ll know what to do,” Dev said.
Anah didn’t let go of his hand. “ We’ll go. I’m the one who saw her, I’ll tell them. People blame you for enough as it is.”
Dev grinned at her. “Thanks.”
X X X
“Should you be up?” Gracia peered into Roy’s hospital room. Riza was watching him finish dressing, neither helping nor hindering his shaky progress.
“I’m fine.” Roy looked at her, his bloodshot eye ringed with dark, puffy flesh. “I’ve done worse things to myself back in my misspent youth.” He tried a smile but Riza could see the pain lurking there and suspected Gracia could, too.
“Fine? You and Edward nearly died. Someone did try to kill you,” Gracia’s voice was shrill enough to catch the attention of a passing nurse but Riza waved the woman off.
“And I’d rather not sit around here like a target,” Roy said, trying to get his belt buckled. “And how did you find out about all this?”
“Do you think I wouldn’t be furious if Riza hadn’t told me both you and Edward spent the night in the hospital?” Gracia’s eyes turned to pits of green fire.
Roy sighed, sitting back down on his bed to catch his breath. He gave Riza a puppy dog look and she got up to hand him his shirt. She was not about to help him much in his escape from the hospital. As much as she hated him being here, she wanted him to get a good rest but conceded he’d probably do better in his own bed. “Tell me what’s happening, Riza.”
“Armstrong and Hughes have been questioning Dev and Rose for most the night. I don’t know much more than that.” Riza briefly considered keeping the next bit of news to herself. While she was mulling over her options, Gracia broke in.
“They put him to work already?” Gracia cupped her fingers over her mouth. “I thought they’d wait a little, until we worked things out, before announcing Maes was back from the dead.”
Riza went over and put a hand on the other woman’s arm. “Sorry, Gracia. I don’t think it’s really announced but the president wanted him to help her brother and Hughes seemed determined to do it, like he had a purpose again.”
Gracia nodded, distress and happiness warring in her eyes. “That’s good. I want that for him,” she murmured.
“Roy, they might have arrested Dev,” Riza said, startling both him and Gracia.
“Why?”
“Armstrong didn’t have much time to fill me in but the poison was taken from his and Aris’ medical supplies. There’s a chance it was broken in to but just as good a chance that it was taken out by Dev,” Riza said, not believing it but in the back of her mind she had to wonder if they had sorely underestimated the young Ishbalan. Somehow, she doubted it.
“I don’t see him doing that,” Roy said and Gracia seemed to relax a bit at that. He got to his feet then clamped a hand to his head. “Do I look as hung over as I feel?”
“Yes,” Gracia said, trying and failing to get him to sit again. “Or should I say, if you feel as hung over as you look, I pity you.”
Roy snorted. “I’ll be in fine looking shape compared to Hughes who’s been up all night. Just one thing I need to know before I go argue with the staff, did I try to molest Winry last night? I remember something young, blond and pretty that I wanted to join us in the tub, Riza.”
Riza snickered. “That was Edward.”
Roy’s eyebrows arched and Gracia clapped her hand over her mouth to smother the laugh. “Well, that’s okay. Him we can tease about it. Actually, it’s more fun this way. I was worried I might have offended Winry. Did he like it?”
“You’re kidding, right? He thought the wall was eating certain body parts.” Riza shook her head. “It was better that Ed thought it was the wall. If he knew it was you, there would have been no calming him.”
Roy snickered, enduring the glares from the ladies as he went down the hall to the nurse’s station, striding steadily as if he wasn’t massively hung over. He started to patiently explain he was discharging himself, gesturing several times at Riza. She assumed he was using her to mollify any concerns he’d be alone and helpless. Riza didn’t think Roy was in any danger. He had abused his body worse in her experience. A loud, ‘Brother,’ caught her attention and she turned, seeing Alphonse down the hallway, trying to push a ragged-looking Ed back into his room. Hair unbound and straggling all over his face, Ed looked both irritated and unsteady on his feet.
“Alphonse,” Riza called softly. “Let him go. We can all go home together.” She knew Ed didn’t like to do the sensible thing any more than Roy did. It would be easier to take both stubborn idiots home and let them collapse in their own beds with a book beside them like they were being productive. That alone would make them feel better.
Ed cruised past Al, a weary and worried Winry moving in his wake. As he got nearer, Riza could see the bruised look around his eyes and he smelled faintly of vomit. “I heal fast,” Ed grumbled to no one in particular.
Riza couldn’t help notice Roy standing even straighter as if he had been utterly unfazed by the poisoning. “Looks like you fell under a train, Fullmetal.”
“Don’t make me puke on you.” Ed slumped against the counter, even his antenna drooping.
“Such a lightweight,” Roy sniffed. “Have you learned a lesson about stealing?”
“Yeah.” One bloodshot golden eye rolled in Roy’s direction. “If it’s poisoned, let you eat it.”
“Obviously they’re both going to live.” Winry shook her head. Riza and Gracia both just smiled.
“Brother really should stay the day.” Al gave Ed a critical look. “He’s not really recovered.”
“I’m fine.” Ed half-heartedly waved off the concern.
“You were talking to your water glass and thought it was talking back less than an hour ago,” Al said sourly.
“Doc said I was good to go.” Ed looked anything but, still slumped against the counter.
“Liar,” Roy said. “The doctor already said we need to stay but I’m getting us sprung. I mean, I’ve had this much fun and more when I was your age.”
That bloodshot eye made a reappearance. “Fun?” Ed shuddered and pointed at Roy. “He needs to stay here. He’s still sick.”
“No, Roy’s always like this,” Riza said ruefully. “I’ve sent for Havoc. He’s bringing something big to get us all back home.”
“I didn’t expect everyone to be up already,” Dev’s appearance around a corner surprised Riza. Even more unexpected was the girl he had with them. “Damn, Elric, you look awful.” He ignored the obscene gesture Ed gave him as he turned to Mustang. “So do you but who cares so long as you’re alive and I didn’t get shot on sight for murdering you.”
“You aren’t a fresh daisy yourself, Dev,” Roy replied. “What are you doing here?”
“I was in interrogation until just an hour ago. I’m still not sure Hughes and Armstrong think I’m innocent,” Dev grumbled.
“Hold that thought,” Riza said, motioning for the nurse to give her the phone. “This is not the place to hold this conversation. Come to our house, please.” Riza called to be sure Havoc was in route after the Ishbalans consented and the doctors finally lost the battle to keep Ed and Roy. Riza was grateful that both men nodded off in the troop carrier they had diverted for the general’s personal use. She was curious about the girl with Dev. Riza had seen her around and she had never seem particularly friendly but now she was giving Dev sly looks like she wanted to get him alone.
Ed and Roy both woke up by the time they arrived home. Predictably, neither man wanted to go upstairs to bed. Li-Ying had stayed home, prepared for this. She had a pot of water on simmer to make tea and she had big bowls of rice porridge ladled out even before the men were collapsed on the couch together, each so tired, they didn’t even have the energy to fuss at each other.
“Can we tell you what we had to say now?” Anah’s eyes darted around the room, as if she expected to be caged.
“Please, have a seat,” Riza said. “Roy, are you up to listening?”
“If I’m not, I know you are.” He sighed wearily. “Hughes and Armstrong let you go, Dev. You must have convinced them you didn’t take the poison from your own supplies.”
“I’m not a complete idiot,” Dev huffed, sitting on the arm of Anah’s chair. “If I wanted to poison you, I wouldn’t use something that would be traced back to me.”
“But it was your supplies that were used,” Riza said, watching him flinch. Dev was unused to her being stern with him.
“We have an idea about that,” Anah said, putting a hand on Dev’s arm. “I saw Sanaa around the center. She would know what moonflower does and that priests like Dev and Aris would have a supply in their medical bags. She would have taken it.”
“I’ve heard that name,” Roy muttered, blowing across his spoon.
“She’s an extremist,” Riza reminded him.
“Is there milk in this?” Ed eyed his milky white bowl of soup warily.
“No, eat it,” Roy replied. “That’s right. We’ve been looking for her. I suppose she’d want to take me out if she could but I would have thought I was small potatoes.”
“Important enough for a lot of people to want you dead,” Dev said then sighed, glancing over at Edward. “But I have no idea why she’d blow up their mother’s grave. That still makes no sense. They have nothing to do with the war. Yeah, Elric’s a state alchemist but not during the war. I can’t see Sanaa caring about that. I guess that drawing of Al’s did resemble her but it could have been just about anyone.”
“I’m not inconsequential,” Ed grumbled.
“Brother, that’s not what he’s saying. He’s just saying we don’t fit a pattern,” Al said.
“Could there be two different people out to get us?” Winry waved a hand between the Elrics and Roy, even though she included herself and Riza in the ‘us.’
“I guess.” Dev shrugged. “But I can’t think of an Ishbalan with reason to bomb that grave unless that’s just coincidence and it really was a friend looking for me who decided to just not mention it so not to get blamed.”
“We wouldn’t have blamed just anyone,” Al said.
“It would be hard to convince us of that. We know better.” Anah narrowed her eyes at Al, who gave her a bland look in response before propping Ed up to keep him from falling into his porridge.
“The brothers wouldn’t have,” Roy replied. “But I understand why you would think that. I’m not in the habit of asking you to tell me this sort of stuff, Dev, but do you know where to find Sanaa?”
Dev shook his head. “No, and I would tell you this. Radicals like her set us all back. But I don’t know where she is or if she’s the one who did this.”
“Even I don’t know that. If I had seen her in Dev’s supplies, I would have said something,” Anah said. “She was just around the center but I’m not sure who she was looking for. She didn’t stay long. She wouldn’t risk the elders seeing her.”
“I’m sure you’re right. I do appreciate you coming her, Miss…I’m sorry. I know I’ve seen you at the center but I’ve never spoken with you.” Roy shrugged helpless.
“Anah Roth,” she replied. “And I’d appreciate it if no one but us knew I was here, really. I’m mostly doing it for Dev’s sake. I don’t want him going to jail for this.”
“I understand. Maybe Alphonse should draw a picture of Sanaa to distribute,” Roy said, though it was obvious he wasn’t sure if that was the right idea. “It would be good if we could find and question her, if only to verify she didn’t do it.” He leaned his cheek on his fist, looking exhausted.
Anah glanced at Dev as if looking for support. She obviously didn’t like the idea. “I’m not sure I feel right about it.”
“I can do it,” Dev said, stifling a yawn. “Let me take the blame. They’ll assume I gave her up to save my own ass anyhow.”
She squared her jaw. “No, I said I’d help you so I will. Which one of you is Al?”
Al waved. “I’ll go get a pad. Roy, Ed, you two are about to fall off the couch. Go upstairs and get some sleep.”
“Listen to him. Wish I could,” Dev said. “They kept me up all night in Investigations. I want my bed.”
“You could go upstairs to your room,” Winry said. “We’ll make sure Anah gets home. A city cab, not military transport again.” She offered up a wary smile to the older girl.
Anah snorted. “That would be appreciated. If you want to go sleep, Dev, go. I can do this for you. You don’t have to escort me home,” she said, almost a little too quickly.
Dev frowned, putting a hand on her knee. “Are you sure? That would be rude.”
“Dev, you haven’t slept in over a day. You being interrogated was rude. You have a room here, right?” Anah asked, only a hit of distaste in her voice. “Go on, go to sleep. I’ll talk to you,” she gestured to Al. “then get a cab home. They could probably call it now. This won’t take me long.”
“It might take a little time,” Al replied. “But we’ll see. I could drive you back myself or maybe Riza could. We’re both a little tired from being at the hospital most of the night but it wouldn’t take long to get you back.”
“That’s all right. I can take a cab or walk. A walk would do me good,” Anah said, her shoulders twitching. She tried hard not to look at Al. “Let’s just get this over with.”
“Anah,” Dev said in warning. “They’re trying to help. Remember that, even if turning in someone doesn’t really sit well.”
She turned her face, abashed. “I’m sorry. I’m used to being treated hostilely and it’s more or less a reflex to give it right back. Please, let’s give this a try, Al. I do want to help. I don’t want Dev to be blamed for something he didn’t do.”
“Not a problem. I’ll fetch an art pad. Roy has a few,” Al said, getting up.
“And on that note, Edward, Roy, upstairs,” Riza said in a tone that suggested any argument might land them in the hospital again. She and Winry herded the drowsy, sick men up the stairs.
Once they were on the second floor, out of earshot of the Ishbalans, Winry poked Ed between the shoulder blades, hitting the flesh close to his shoulder aperture. “You know Edward, this is twice you’ve stolen Roy’s food and gotten yourself in big trouble”
“He’s slow to learn a lesson,” Roy muttered. “But this time I’m grateful for it. I would have died if I eat that whole pastry.”
“I’m not slow to learn,” Ed grumbled, eyeing him hotly.
“Two words for you,” Winry said. “Penis soup.” Ed went green.
“Hopefully, there have been lessons learned this time,” Riza said, “but thank you, Edward, for being the stubborn brat you are. You saved Roy’s life.” She leaned in and kissed Ed’s cheek.
Ed flushed, gaping at her. Winry just rolled her eyes and pulled Ed down the hall, stuffing him into his room, ignoring his complaints about the carnivorous flowers. Exchanging amused looks at that, Riza propelled Roy into their room. He kicked off his shoes and promptly stripped to his boxers without any threats necessary. It was all she needed to see to know how bad he really felt.
Roy slipped between the covers. “Riza, I’m sorry.”
She gazed at him, trying to puzzle out what he might be sorry for. She sat on the bed with him, wanting to run a comforting hand over his head but he still had stitches there. She settled for taking his hand. “For what, Roy?”
“For making you cry.”
“I’m not crying,” she replied.
Roy squeezed her hand. “Not on the outside. I’m sorry I’m always a target.”
“That isn’t your fault and I knew that you would be.” Riza leaned in and kissed him. “I love you anyhow. Sleep now, Roy. I’m going back downstairs. I don’t trust Dev’s new friend.”
“Funny, neither do I.”
Riza knew there was nothing funny about it. She paused just for a few moments, watching Roy’s eye close. His breathing took a deep drop off into a slow even pattern within seconds. Satisfied, she shut the door behind her.
X X X
Rose tried not to cry. It was upsetting Kane and she didn’t want her son sucking up her anxieties and making them his own. Kane sat on her lap, eyeing her worriedly as she dialed the phone, so grateful that they had given her one with free access to Lior so she could keep Judith apprised. “Hello, Judith?”
“What’s wrong?” Judith asked. “I can hear it in your voice.”
“Someone tried to poison General Mustang last night,” Rose said then swallowed down a deep breath of air to hold onto her control.
“Is he dead?”
Rose thought the distance must be distorting Judith’s voice. She sounded almost happy. “No, he’s okay. Edward ate some of the poisoned food.” Rose hugged Kane tighter. “They might think I did it.”
“Why would they think that, dear?” Judith’s tone was very calming and Rose clung to that measure of peace.
“I helped to organize the party and I’m the one who made sure Mr. Mustang got that particular dessert. I was very adamant about it but that’s what I was told to do. Mr. Attaway said to be sure the general got his special treat. He said the president wanted to give the general something extra because of all he’s been through. That’s why the party was private, no reporters, so people could actually enjoy themselves,” Rose said. “Nothing is going right, Judith. I’m not sure I’m helping Lior at all and now they might think I’m a criminal.”
“Rose, if they thought that, you’d be in the stockade.” Judith replied. “Now would your friend, Edward, think you’d do anything to hurt him?”
“No.” Rose rested her cheek against Kane’s head. “The poison was meant for the general, not Ed, but I have no reason to hurt the general, either.”
“And I’m sure that they’ll figure that out. I’d have you come home to Lior, if you’re feeling this bad, Rose, but it would only make you look guilty,” Judith said.
“Yes, I guess so. I just wish it didn’t make me so afraid,” Rose said, rocking Kane.
“There’s nothing to be afraid of, Rose. You didn’t do anything wrong.”
Rose let Judith off the line, unconvinced of her words. Rose hadn’t done anything wrong when those soldiers came for her in Lior and she had suffered so much then. How could she know this would be different?
onto Chapter twenty-one
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Date: 2008-09-02 03:26 am (UTC)Needs more Hughes. Just sayin'. *grins*
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Date: 2008-09-02 04:33 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-09-02 11:25 am (UTC)And Ed's necklace.
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Date: 2008-09-02 10:59 pm (UTC)no subject
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Date: 2008-09-03 01:37 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-09-03 03:51 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-09-03 03:57 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-09-02 03:39 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-09-02 04:27 am (UTC)Roy is just vaguely amused
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Date: 2008-09-02 02:21 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-09-02 04:38 am (UTC)Loved Roy's lucidity here, his sorrow for always being targeted and his awareness of it to the point where he apologizes to Riza. It's this kind of thing, these moments of just... emotion really hits home how deeply Roy and Riza care about each other.
It also makes me smile, feeling like I can see Ed and Winry's future in them.
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Date: 2008-09-02 04:47 am (UTC)Thanks. I think ROy/Riza would be a lot like Ed/WInry when they get another decade on them.
If there is anything in the world ROy cares about, it's RIza if you ask me
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Date: 2008-09-02 02:09 pm (UTC)no subject
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Date: 2008-09-02 06:50 pm (UTC)thanks
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Date: 2008-09-03 04:18 am (UTC)Chapter is love love love. The mystery-ness has me all fuzzy inside, and I can't wait to see what happens.
LOVE LOVE LOVE. And school starts on Thursday. This is good for all the muses, but for the life of me I can't figure out why. I think it's the steady, organized, buzzing chaos of school life that's always around the before-and-during holiday months. Just what I need, Ap classes, homework and muses that don't shut up. I love the world. :3
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Date: 2008-09-03 03:51 pm (UTC)Glad you liked the chapter
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Date: 2008-09-03 07:25 pm (UTC)Welcome! Honestly, I can say I want to see Rose get into a little more trouble because I just can't stand her, at least in the anime. Manga-wise, she's less whiny, but she still irks me either way. She's so stupid though, it cracks me up every time. Luckily, for both my sanity and everyone else's, she will have no major role in NaNo Epic!Fic. I can't write stupid. :3
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Date: 2008-09-03 09:15 pm (UTC)Gah, Rose is dumb. (manga Rose is only slightly more intelligent) Never understood the Rose/Ed ship but Ijust ignore it. As for Rose, just keep reading
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Date: 2008-09-03 09:27 pm (UTC)Yeah, I never had much like for Rose at all, no matter which version. She has too much of an 'OMG ED' complex in the anime and in the manga even, she's still a little too hyperactive about a lot of annoying things. I can't stand the Ed/Rose (WTF Winry and her wrenches will eat you HELLO), but as you said, I try and ignore it. I DO like reading it though in situations where Rose is all lovey-dovey and Ed's like 'EWW' and Winry's around to be all like 'MINE' and Rose is all like 'D:'. LOSER. :3
And I'll definetely keep reading! :D
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Date: 2008-09-04 01:56 am (UTC)Yeah definitely not a Rose fan
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Date: 2008-09-04 02:03 am (UTC)I don't like her either. I think Arakawa-sensei created her so people could poke fun at her, I really do, cause she doesn't seem to treat her very nice in the manga either. :3
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Date: 2008-09-04 03:46 am (UTC)I'm sure Rose is nothing more than a cast off character to her
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Date: 2008-09-04 06:25 pm (UTC)I think so too. There's one in every series, methinks. The fandom needs something to poke fun at, if nothing else :3
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Date: 2008-09-04 08:23 pm (UTC)Hurray
Date: 2008-09-08 04:34 pm (UTC)Anyway I've actually been following this story for some time now, I just can't comment because I read it all on my mobile phone...but it definitely deserves at least one comment. This is an amazing story, I love how your OC's blend into the FMA world. Sometimes I find myself forgetting that Dev isn't in the anime, and usually I find myself wishing he was which I think is due to the amazing character creation on your part. I like pretty much all the characters even Mr. Attaway, he is so sneaky. The only thing I notice is that your Ed's characterization is leaning towards the manga than in the anime, so I'm guessing you're mixing both worlds?
I can't wait to see what happens next as always. I love all your stories in general basically you and some other authors on this site are the ones who gave me inspiration to write in the first place. Thanks for proving that there is very such thing as good (even proffesional) fanfiction.
So on an ending note carnivorous flowers are love. I will be eagerly awaiting the next chapter!
Love and Peace
~KageSakura
Re: Hurray
Date: 2008-09-08 04:53 pm (UTC)I suppose there is a bias in this story. I don't think Anime Rose is smart so...
I'll confess I much prefer manga to anime and while the premise of this story dictates I need to use the anime I have absolutely no doubts that the manga influences are there, especially for ed and Winry.
And it's also such a thrill to hear that my OC's are interesting. That really makes me feel like I've done my job right.
Re: Hurray
Date: 2008-09-08 05:06 pm (UTC)Yes you have definitely done your job right. As for the mobile phone fanfiction it's not as bad as it sounds. I was cursed this summer to be without home internet and that meant no fanfiction which made me sad. I found this wonderful mobile site called skweezer.net that can make any internet site into a mobile site. Despite the massive amount of scrolling it's pretty convenient, and it is especially worth it considering I have access to the EdxWin community and this story!
*goes back into the shadows*
Re: Hurray
Date: 2008-09-09 02:17 am (UTC)and thanks again