Fic - Sorrow's Dark Array Ch 29
Feb. 9th, 2009 09:57 pm![[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 - 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
Chapter twenty
Chapter twenty-one
Chapter twenty-two
Chapter twenty-three
Chapter twenty-four
Chapter twenty-five
Chapter twenty-six
Chapter Twenty-seven
Chapter Twenty-eight
“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-Nine
Be it granted to me to behold you again in dying, hills of home – Robert Louis Stevenson
“I’m glad we got this done but at the same time…” Winry looked at the dress that had been carefully wrapped by the clerk.
“I should have been in the meeting,” Riza finished for her. She didn’t know who she was more furious with, Roy or herself for listening to him. “I know Roy just wants some normalcy in his life but if he’s not going to let me do my job…”
“You’re not a soldier any more,” Gracia said quietly. “You’re his guard. Maybe he sees it differently.”
Riza scowled, knowing Gracia had a point. “I think he needs to find other ways to get our lives back to normal.” She hefted the dress she held. “I should take this upstairs before I wrinkle it. At least everything is ready for the wedding. Now we just have to make sure no one blows us up before then.” Her grim expression told them all she wasn’t joking in the least.
“That would be a plan,” Li-Ying said.
“Put your dress in my room,” Winry said. “That’ll keep Roy away from it. You know he won’t be able to resist peeking.”
“Naturally not,” Riza said.
“Riza, do you think that this revelation will lead to them finding the bomber or is this just going to be another unending horror?” Li-Ying asked.
“I wish I knew. I wish I could think like a soldier right now.” Riza sat on the steps, her packages thumping down. “I should be with Roy. It’s not like he was at Lior. From what Al told us, Scar and Kimbley did most of the destruction and they’re dead. If this is about Lior, someone is trying to find targets already buried.”
“Sounds like you’re thinking like a soldier to me,” Winry said, picking up Riza’s packages.
Riza waved her off. “Not enough. All I can think about is the wedding. This is insane. How did one event that isn’t changing anything, not really, take over my life?”
“It changes things. I suppose I wasn’t living with Maes before we got married but we had been together for a good long while,” Gracia said. “But making agreeing to make it permanent, it was somehow terrifying.”
“Tell me about it,” Riza whispered.
“You’ve known my brother all your life. Just because Huo and a crazed Ishbalan pronounce you married isn’t going make that much difference. Roy couldn’t get more impossible to live with.” Li-Ying grinned, banishing much of Riza’s dark mood.
Riza snorted and the others laughed. “I’m telling him you said that.”
“What did you get him?” Winry shook the package, giving it a quizzical look. “You sent me and Gracia off to get fitted for our dresses.”
“Something for the wedding night.” Riza’s eyes danced.
“I can’t even imagine what that would be.” Handing the other packages off to Gracia, Winry dug into the one Riza had gotten for Roy.
“Remember what happens to curious cats,” Li-Ying said.
Winry shrugged and opened the box. Her eyes widened. “A feather?”
“Look under it,” Riza said.
Winry did so. Her puzzled expression didn’t fade. “Oil?”
“It’s not the oil you use in your shop, Winry,” Riza laughed. “It smells like rose and jasmine. Use your imagination for the feather.”
Winry went so red, Riza thought she’d set her bangs on fire. Riza tried not to snicker but failed. Winry favored her with a sour look.
“You should try it with Edward, Winry.” Gracia tried to look innocent, failing badly.
Winry shut the box, stuffing it back in the bag. She took the dresses from Li-Ying. “I’ll just go put this away,” she mumbled, running up the steps.
“Poor kid,” Li-Ying said, turning as the doorbell rang.
Riza reached into her purse, not quite pulling her gun but she got a good grip on it. She wasn’t honestly terribly surprised to see Dev there with more than the usual troop of Ishbalans. Uzziel stepped forward as she let go of the gun butt. “Oh, I wasn’t expecting you.”
“Sorry to drop by unannounced.” Uzziel shuffled his sandaled feet, his expression somewhat abashed. “I know we should have called first. I didn’t think anyone would be home. Nava and Shira wanted to see what the house looked like and we wanted to offer some help to Mustang in finding out if there is a connection between us and Lior.”
“My father and I aren’t aware of any,” Kennan said. “But Sanaa was from a younger generation. Dev would know better.”
Dev looked at the older priest very unhappily. “I don’t. Then again ever since I started working on this project, everyone has stopped talking to me.”
“I don’t doubt that,” Riza said, stepping back. “Come on in. Winry just went upstairs to put away my wedding dress and we were going to have some tea and sit around planning the best way to kick Roy for treating me like a woman first instead of a soldier, which I think is backwards from the way I’m supposed to see these things.”
“Not really. I never did like it when Uzziel always left me out of things as if I couldn’t reason them out,” Nava said, glaring at her husband.
“That wasn’t it,” Uzziel protested.
“I’m sure that’s what Roy will tell me,” Riza said, waving them in.
“Oh, we didn’t think to come in, not really,” Shira said. “We know you’re busy. We just wanted to see the outside and the gardens since Dad said they were so pretty.”
“It’s all right. This is what the President gave us this big house for.” She played the role of hostess the best she could, knowing that her statement was factual. Armstrong wanted them to entertain people so she might as well get used to it. Still, Olivia would be best served to hire them a major domo to handle official parties. Cleaning and organizing parties weren’t really Riza’s interests. She could cook but had no desire to do it for crowds.
She was chivvying them into Roy’s Xingese study when he arrived back with everyone who had attended the meeting. Granted most of them lived with her but Riza wasn’t expecting the Armstrongs. She mustered up a smile. “We have guests.”
Roy raised an eyebrow. “So I see. I’m sorry I wasn’t here to greet you.”
“We weren’t really expecting to come in,” Uzziel said. “But we did think we might have some thing to offer the discussion about Lior, though at the moment we’re not sure what.”
“As it turns out, we didn’t have much either,” Roy said, gesturing for Olivia to have a seat.
“It occurred to me that the two people most responsible for the destruction of Lior, outside of the priest that got it all started, are gone,” Riza said.
Olivia nodded. “We discussed that, Scar and Kimbley are both long dead. The whole timing of this seems odd. We can’t even blame it on the arrival of the Elrics who originally got blamed.” She paused when Ed shot her a look. “Not with Mustang getting blown up before that happened.”
“Scar? You mean the Ishbalan priest,” Dev said, an unhappy expression on his face.
“That’s the one,” Ed replied.
“He used alchemy to do it,” Al added quietly. “I know you don’t really want to hear that but I was there. Kimbley tried to kill me. I guess I owed Scar my life, in a way. He stopped him.” He folded his hands over his stomach, his expression troubled. Ed thumped his shoulder lightly.
“None of this makes a lot of sense,” Dev said. “I never really looked into what happened in Lior but surely the real story is known now.”
“If it is, it’s being ignored. Or someone has suddenly decided to punish alchemists who poked a toe into Lior, though really, I hadn’t. I’m just Edward’s boss,” Roy said and Ed snorted.
“Maybe it does make sense,” Winry said. “You’re looking at it too closely. It’s not you that’s changed, it’s Lior. You’re done repairing it. It’s independent again, right?”
Riza nodded. “You’re right. I hadn’t thought of that. That’s not a pleasant thought at all.”
“We considered that more a possibility for the Ishbalans, sorry,” Roy said to his guests. “You suffered a lot more thanks to Bradley. I wouldn’t have been surprised to see you break away from us once you got more of your home rebuilt.”
“You had good reason to think that,” Uzziel admitted. “There are many who still want that. Right now I’m impressed enough with what your team is accomplishing that I have convinced the elders that a wait and see attitude might benefit us more.”
“And I appreciate that,” Olivia said. “If you’re right and this is a cowardly attack now that Lior is whole again, how do we figure out who it is? We don’t have a lot of people in that area.”
“I spent time there. I do have friends,” her brother said. “I’ll call them. Sadly, Rose was among the best of them and now she’s gone.”
“I’m tired of losing people,” Al muttered. “How many people do I have to see die? I was even there when Kimbley and Scar died. I didn’t even want to see Kimbley die.”
“I did,” Roy muttered and Al looked at him sharply. “What? I did. He was insane.”
“Kimbley?” Kennan asked.
“The Crimson Alchemist, the one with tattoos on his hands and blew things up,” Roy elaborated.
“We know who you mean,” Kennan assured him.
“I had to share a tent with that psychopath in the war. Dying was the best thing he ever did.” One of the most vicious looks Riza had ever seen on Roy’s face slashed across it with those words.
“I didn’t think I’d hear you say that about another alchemist,” Dev said. “Then again I never thought I’d hear about Ishbalan alchemists. I can’t believe you were raised by Ishbalans.”
“Well, for part of my life at any rate. Disappointed you weren’t the first Ishbalan to dedicate himself to making me insane?” Roy flashed one of his infamous smirks.
“I already knew that. You dated Mera and she can make anyone nuts, no offense to her kin,” Dev said and she reached over, slapping his chest hard.
“Jackass.” She rolled her eyes. “Look who’s talking. Grandfather, can’t you find him something to keep him busy? Dev has too much time on his hands.”
“I’m sure Mustang keeps him busy enough,” Uzziel replied.
“Oh, feel free to bury him under work,” Roy waved his hand.
“I think you have it backwards. You were probably the one making those poor Ishbalan alchemists insane, not the other way around,” Dev said. “Their only solace would have been if they could speak the old language and hide from you.” His eyes narrowed. ‘You can’t speak it, can you?”
Roy just looked at him, a neutral expression on his face, and Dev gaped.
“Son of bitch!”
“He can,” Ed said, almost sounding impressed.
“So all those times…” Dev floundered.
“That you said very unkind things about my parentage, yes, I understood you,” Roy said quietly. “You have such a potty mouth. For obvious reasons, it was to my advantage to not to mention I knew the old language. It wasn’t like you all were being completely up front with us.”
“You probably should have just kept your mouth shut now, too,” Olivia chided. “Sometimes you make the most foolish moves.”
Roy shrugged. “I get tired of pretending. Sometimes I get too tired of everything.”
She snorted. “You and my brother.”
Armstrong looked abashed.
“How did you and Hawkeye even end up in the war at all with your history?” Nava asked.
“I followed Roy and the other side of my family has a long military tradition,” Riza said.
“And my family have been warriors for centuries,” Roy said.
“At least three that we can track back directly,” Li-Ying said. “Our family is one of the well-known guards for the Emperor, until Grandfather.”
“What did he do?” Ed asked.
“He was assigned to guard Princess Xue-Fang, one of the emperors many, many children,” Roy said.
“He didn’t let the princess get killed did he?” Ed asked bluntly and Winry elbowed him.
“No, you have to understand being a silver tongued ladies man runs in the family.” Li-Ying rolled her eyes. “Granddad Huang managed to get his charge to fall in love with him.”
“It’s like a fairy tale,” Winry grinned happily and Ed rolled his eyes.
“Grandma managed to talk her father into letting her go and, having like a hundred kids or so, the Emperor didn’t really care. The only caveats were they had to live outside of the country and if their offspring tried to put in a claim to the Jade Throne, we’d all be put to death,” Roy said. “So not so romantic.”
“Wrong,” Winry replied. “That is so exceptionally romantic, giving up all that and moving to a strange country for love.”
“I keep telling him that,” Riza said, patting Roy’s shoulder. “But it doesn’t sink in.”
“Romantic? It gave us him !” Ed flung a hand toward Roy.
“And he’s royalty. No wonder he thinks we should all be doing his work and kissing his ass,” Dev groaned.
“They have a point,” Olivia said, sitting forward on her chair. “You never once mentioned your family was related to the emperor. Why not?”
“Because while we were promised to be treated as honored guests so long as we don’t have ambitions, you can tell they really didn’t want us back.” Roy shrugged. “I told you many times my family was just as important as the Armstrongs. Actually both parts of it, the guardian and the royal blood.”
“I can see why with that history you would want to join the military here,” Uzziel said. “Sadly, it wasn’t your best choice.”
“No, it really wasn’t.” Roy sighed, the corners of his mouth turning down.
“Men make their choices,” Kennan said.
“He wasn’t exactly a man, Dad,” Mera replied quickly.
“I was about the same age as he had to be,” he returned.
Roy snorted. “How old do you think I am?”
“To be an alchemist and an officer of your rank? You look young but you can’t be much younger than fifty,” Kennan said.
Mera laughed. “That explains why you were also so upset because you thought he was too old for me. Roy is exactly three weeks and a day younger than Mattan.”
“How can that be? I’ve always understood that to be a state alchemist took time,” Kennan said, confusion dulling his red eyes.
“Child prodigy,” Roy replied wryly. “Lucky me. I was in the war by the time I was seventeen.”
“My father was still trying to keep me out of the war at that age,” Mattan said, giving Roy an appraising look.
“So was Riza’s father, well until he died and I wanted to do what I wanted. I was the youngest State Alchemist on record until Fullmetal.” Roy gestured at Ed. “Which brings us right back to where we started. I’m only on the books for being in Lior because I’m Edward’s boss. He was far too young to handle some of what was going on so I arranged for it to fall on me.”
“I did just fine back then,” Ed huffed, glaring at Roy.
“You aren’t a killer,” Roy replied. “They had already ruined me. I wasn’t going to let the same happen to you if I could help it. What was another slaughter laid at my door? It eventually got straightened out, that neither of us had anything to do with it.”
“No, you were very busy with your military coup,” Olivia said, almost appreciatively. Her cool eyes studied him. “You look exhausted, Mustang.”
“I can’t seem to get my strength back,” he admitted begrudgingly.
“You were badly injured Roy,” Winry said. “Maybe you ought to just go and rest a little. You shouldn’t even be back working yet.”
He smiled faintly. “Now you sound like Riza.”
“And I’m saying go lie down,” Riza put in, giving him a meaningful look.
“Listen to her, young man,” Nava said. “You’ve all been more than gracious to put up with us since we came unannounced. If your president is done with you,” she waved a wrinkled hand at Olivia. “then go listen to what your body is telling you.”
“Don’t tell him that. It’ll have unexpected and undesirable results,” Dev groaned.
“Not for everyone,” Roy shot back, patting Riza’s knee.
“Yes, we all know about your insane mental control over an otherwise intelligent woman,” Ed said and Winry slapped him.
Riza sighed. “It’s not as bad as you boys seem to think. Dev, every time you think something is going on, it might not be. When you two share a wall in a hotel, Roy likes to slam the headboard against it and act like an ass.” She glared at her lover who just grinned mischievously.
“Why?” Dev whined.
“To make you nuts,” Roy replied.
“Mission accomplished,” Winry mumbled.
“I’m sure Aris would agree. I’m beginning to feel sorry for the man,” Uzziel said, getting up.
“I think Aris probably prefers them this way. It’s when everyone is quiet that we worry,” Mera said. “Roy needs Dev to keep him from getting too depressed.”
“I wouldn’t have thought Dev would have that effect given their history,” Kennan said.
“You’d think that but really we’re so good at winding each other up that doesn’t happen,” Roy said. “Usually it’s Hughes’ responsibility to keep me from the edge but he was.” Roy paused, glancing over at the man who had been watching this all with intelligent eyes, keeping his silence. “Undercover for a few years. Things got a little mashed up in my head.”
“My granddaughter said you tried to hurt yourself. I didn’t believe it,” Uzziel said.
Roy glanced down at his hands, wishing he hadn’t been so tired as to blurt that out. He didn’t want to talk about it and he could feel all the questioning eyes on him. “It wouldn’t be the first time. I am sorry that I frightened Mera.”
“You really did.” She wrapped her arms around herself.
“Why didn’t you ever tell me?” Riza asked, each word colder than the next.
Roy couldn’t look at her. He willed the Elrics and Winry to keep their mouths shut. He expected Hughes to chew him out later. “I had messed us up and you were hundreds of kilometers away. It wouldn’t have been fair,” he said softly. “I’d rather not talk about it.” Riza’s look said they would talk about it when they were alone.
“I’m sorry I brought it up,” Uzziel said, sounding like he meant it.
“It’s all right. Sometimes I wonder why I was ever so insistent on learning this brand of alchemy,” Roy sighed.
“Being that young, I can understand it. That much power would be very enticing to a teen,” Kennan said.
“No, he went to study way before that,” Dev said.
“Mostly I guess it was because of how my parents died,” Roy said, rolling his shoulders.
Winry scrunched up her nose. “I thought they died in a train wreck.”
“Is that what you told them?” Li-Ying asked, her eyes wide.
“They didn’t die in a train wreck?” Dev asked.
“Well, technically I suppose. Mom probably died instantly but they got Dad out of the wreck. He had burns over most of his body. It took nearly a month for him to die,” Li-Ying said and all eyes moved to Roy who squirmed.
“They wouldn’t let me see Dad, not until the very end. I guess he knew he wasn’t going to make it,” Roy said very quietly. “I talked most of the day with him and then he just went to sleep and never woke back up. I was eight and that’s when I decided I would control fire.”
“Because you wanted to make sure no one died in a fire again,” Al said, his hazel eyes veiled.
“I’ve seen you do that, put out fires here in town. Hell, you did it when I was inside one of the buildings,” Dev said. “I think you messed up somewhere along the way.”
“That would have been that State alchemy exam my teacher told me not to take,” Roy said, trying to stifle a yawn.
“I think this qualifies for the secrets I’m not sure how you live with them and am not sure how I’m supposed to handle knowing them,” Kennan said wryly. “We really should let you rest now.” He rounded up his compatriots.
The Armstrongs left with the Ishbalans. Roy braced himself for the Elrics or Riza or Hughes. Instead he inadvertently listened to his body as instructed and fell asleep on the couch.
XXX
“Why here?” Judith studied the compound in the gathering gloom.
“Attaway gave me a list of abandoned structures,” Anah said, staring at the damaged wall, wondering appreciatively at what sort of bomb had been used. “While he had a point that it would be easy to explain the presence of Roy and the Elric brothers at the destroyed Ishbalan temple, I don’t want more blame falling on my people. You Liorans had a good thought, let them rebuild for you then slice the head off the snake.” Anah grinned wickedly.
“It had its advantages.” Judith gestured back to the building. Something skittered in the darkness heard but unseen. “So, why here?”
“Lab Five has a history, not one I could find out much about but it had something to do with alchemy. I know it’s set to be torn to the ground. Knowing them, they’ll make this Ishbalan housing,” Anah said bitterly. “I thought it would be believable that three alchemists visit it right before that to retrieve something.”
“I like it.”
“Then I’ll set it in motion tomorrow evening,” Anah said then turned her gaze to Judith. “Dev was babbling something to me earlier that made me curious. The Elrics, Mustang and Armstrong didn’t have anything to do with Lior. It was someone called Kimbley.” She wisely kept the Ishbalan priest’s involvement to herself. “And he’s dead.”
Judith waved her off. “They want to blame the dead because it’s easy and clean. We can’t let them get away with that.”
Anah nodded her head. That made perfect sense. “Then we’re in agreement? Tomorrow night?”
“Are you sure we can do this right so quickly?” Judith jumped back as a scrawny cat ran out from the ruins, a rat nearly as big as it was clutched in its mouth.
“Time is crucial. I had to kiss Dev once. Any longer and he’ll want more.” Anah made a face. “The irony is, he actually has a pretty face, poor bastard. We’ll wipe out three alchemists at once, four if we can convince them to bring along Armstrong. You go back to Lior completely in charge.”
“And you can be my second. There is always room for a bright, innovative person like yourself,” Judith smiled.
Anah grinned back. She couldn’t wait.
XXX
Roy tried to fall asleep before Riza joined him in the bed but no such luck. She turned out the light on the night stand and snuggled down. He could feel her looking at him in the dark and he had to say something. “I’m sorry I never told you about what happened with Mera.”
Riza stroked his bangs back. “It’s all right, Roy. I understand why you didn’t but do you understand why I’m upset?”
“You have to be wondering what sort of man you’re marrying,” Roy mumbled, shifting on the bed so he wouldn’t have to face her.
Riza leaned over and kissed him. “I know what sort. I just need you to know what would happen to us if you were to kill yourself. I’m prepared for the horror of losing you to the enemy but not if that enemy is your own hand.”
Roy shifted uncomfortably. “I’m trying my best to hold it all together. I have every reason in the world to do that now.”
Her arms tightened around him. “You always have, Roy. You’re just starting to realize it.”
Roy twisted so he could put his arms around her, too. “Yes, I am.”
“How are you feeling?” Her hand trailed down his chest, telling him she didn’t mean emotionally.
“My headache is finally gone,” he said, nudging her with his hips.
“Perfect.” Riza’s hand went down further, burrowing under his only piece of clothing.
“Ooooh,” Roy nipped at her chin. “See, you let Dev and Ed think I’m the bad one all the time.”
“I could go to sleep, you know.”
Roy knew there was no danger of that, not with the way her hand was working him. He shifted up onto one elbow, reaching for the night stand. Riza pushed him back down.
“We don’t need those,” she said and his eyes widened. “We’re going to be married before you know it.”
“When I hear that out loud, it makes me nervous,” Roy said, thinking married didn’t necessarily mean married with children.
“Tell me about it,” Riza said, her hand trailing up his belly. “You’re all right with this, right?
Roy rolled on top of her, kissing her hard. Sucking at her lower lip for a moment, he finally let go long enough to say, “What could be more wonderful and sexy than you wanting to have my babies?”
Chapter thirty
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
Chapter twenty
Chapter twenty-one
Chapter twenty-two
Chapter twenty-three
Chapter twenty-four
Chapter twenty-five
Chapter twenty-six
Chapter Twenty-seven
Chapter Twenty-eight
“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-Nine
Be it granted to me to behold you again in dying, hills of home – Robert Louis Stevenson
“I’m glad we got this done but at the same time…” Winry looked at the dress that had been carefully wrapped by the clerk.
“I should have been in the meeting,” Riza finished for her. She didn’t know who she was more furious with, Roy or herself for listening to him. “I know Roy just wants some normalcy in his life but if he’s not going to let me do my job…”
“You’re not a soldier any more,” Gracia said quietly. “You’re his guard. Maybe he sees it differently.”
Riza scowled, knowing Gracia had a point. “I think he needs to find other ways to get our lives back to normal.” She hefted the dress she held. “I should take this upstairs before I wrinkle it. At least everything is ready for the wedding. Now we just have to make sure no one blows us up before then.” Her grim expression told them all she wasn’t joking in the least.
“That would be a plan,” Li-Ying said.
“Put your dress in my room,” Winry said. “That’ll keep Roy away from it. You know he won’t be able to resist peeking.”
“Naturally not,” Riza said.
“Riza, do you think that this revelation will lead to them finding the bomber or is this just going to be another unending horror?” Li-Ying asked.
“I wish I knew. I wish I could think like a soldier right now.” Riza sat on the steps, her packages thumping down. “I should be with Roy. It’s not like he was at Lior. From what Al told us, Scar and Kimbley did most of the destruction and they’re dead. If this is about Lior, someone is trying to find targets already buried.”
“Sounds like you’re thinking like a soldier to me,” Winry said, picking up Riza’s packages.
Riza waved her off. “Not enough. All I can think about is the wedding. This is insane. How did one event that isn’t changing anything, not really, take over my life?”
“It changes things. I suppose I wasn’t living with Maes before we got married but we had been together for a good long while,” Gracia said. “But making agreeing to make it permanent, it was somehow terrifying.”
“Tell me about it,” Riza whispered.
“You’ve known my brother all your life. Just because Huo and a crazed Ishbalan pronounce you married isn’t going make that much difference. Roy couldn’t get more impossible to live with.” Li-Ying grinned, banishing much of Riza’s dark mood.
Riza snorted and the others laughed. “I’m telling him you said that.”
“What did you get him?” Winry shook the package, giving it a quizzical look. “You sent me and Gracia off to get fitted for our dresses.”
“Something for the wedding night.” Riza’s eyes danced.
“I can’t even imagine what that would be.” Handing the other packages off to Gracia, Winry dug into the one Riza had gotten for Roy.
“Remember what happens to curious cats,” Li-Ying said.
Winry shrugged and opened the box. Her eyes widened. “A feather?”
“Look under it,” Riza said.
Winry did so. Her puzzled expression didn’t fade. “Oil?”
“It’s not the oil you use in your shop, Winry,” Riza laughed. “It smells like rose and jasmine. Use your imagination for the feather.”
Winry went so red, Riza thought she’d set her bangs on fire. Riza tried not to snicker but failed. Winry favored her with a sour look.
“You should try it with Edward, Winry.” Gracia tried to look innocent, failing badly.
Winry shut the box, stuffing it back in the bag. She took the dresses from Li-Ying. “I’ll just go put this away,” she mumbled, running up the steps.
“Poor kid,” Li-Ying said, turning as the doorbell rang.
Riza reached into her purse, not quite pulling her gun but she got a good grip on it. She wasn’t honestly terribly surprised to see Dev there with more than the usual troop of Ishbalans. Uzziel stepped forward as she let go of the gun butt. “Oh, I wasn’t expecting you.”
“Sorry to drop by unannounced.” Uzziel shuffled his sandaled feet, his expression somewhat abashed. “I know we should have called first. I didn’t think anyone would be home. Nava and Shira wanted to see what the house looked like and we wanted to offer some help to Mustang in finding out if there is a connection between us and Lior.”
“My father and I aren’t aware of any,” Kennan said. “But Sanaa was from a younger generation. Dev would know better.”
Dev looked at the older priest very unhappily. “I don’t. Then again ever since I started working on this project, everyone has stopped talking to me.”
“I don’t doubt that,” Riza said, stepping back. “Come on in. Winry just went upstairs to put away my wedding dress and we were going to have some tea and sit around planning the best way to kick Roy for treating me like a woman first instead of a soldier, which I think is backwards from the way I’m supposed to see these things.”
“Not really. I never did like it when Uzziel always left me out of things as if I couldn’t reason them out,” Nava said, glaring at her husband.
“That wasn’t it,” Uzziel protested.
“I’m sure that’s what Roy will tell me,” Riza said, waving them in.
“Oh, we didn’t think to come in, not really,” Shira said. “We know you’re busy. We just wanted to see the outside and the gardens since Dad said they were so pretty.”
“It’s all right. This is what the President gave us this big house for.” She played the role of hostess the best she could, knowing that her statement was factual. Armstrong wanted them to entertain people so she might as well get used to it. Still, Olivia would be best served to hire them a major domo to handle official parties. Cleaning and organizing parties weren’t really Riza’s interests. She could cook but had no desire to do it for crowds.
She was chivvying them into Roy’s Xingese study when he arrived back with everyone who had attended the meeting. Granted most of them lived with her but Riza wasn’t expecting the Armstrongs. She mustered up a smile. “We have guests.”
Roy raised an eyebrow. “So I see. I’m sorry I wasn’t here to greet you.”
“We weren’t really expecting to come in,” Uzziel said. “But we did think we might have some thing to offer the discussion about Lior, though at the moment we’re not sure what.”
“As it turns out, we didn’t have much either,” Roy said, gesturing for Olivia to have a seat.
“It occurred to me that the two people most responsible for the destruction of Lior, outside of the priest that got it all started, are gone,” Riza said.
Olivia nodded. “We discussed that, Scar and Kimbley are both long dead. The whole timing of this seems odd. We can’t even blame it on the arrival of the Elrics who originally got blamed.” She paused when Ed shot her a look. “Not with Mustang getting blown up before that happened.”
“Scar? You mean the Ishbalan priest,” Dev said, an unhappy expression on his face.
“That’s the one,” Ed replied.
“He used alchemy to do it,” Al added quietly. “I know you don’t really want to hear that but I was there. Kimbley tried to kill me. I guess I owed Scar my life, in a way. He stopped him.” He folded his hands over his stomach, his expression troubled. Ed thumped his shoulder lightly.
“None of this makes a lot of sense,” Dev said. “I never really looked into what happened in Lior but surely the real story is known now.”
“If it is, it’s being ignored. Or someone has suddenly decided to punish alchemists who poked a toe into Lior, though really, I hadn’t. I’m just Edward’s boss,” Roy said and Ed snorted.
“Maybe it does make sense,” Winry said. “You’re looking at it too closely. It’s not you that’s changed, it’s Lior. You’re done repairing it. It’s independent again, right?”
Riza nodded. “You’re right. I hadn’t thought of that. That’s not a pleasant thought at all.”
“We considered that more a possibility for the Ishbalans, sorry,” Roy said to his guests. “You suffered a lot more thanks to Bradley. I wouldn’t have been surprised to see you break away from us once you got more of your home rebuilt.”
“You had good reason to think that,” Uzziel admitted. “There are many who still want that. Right now I’m impressed enough with what your team is accomplishing that I have convinced the elders that a wait and see attitude might benefit us more.”
“And I appreciate that,” Olivia said. “If you’re right and this is a cowardly attack now that Lior is whole again, how do we figure out who it is? We don’t have a lot of people in that area.”
“I spent time there. I do have friends,” her brother said. “I’ll call them. Sadly, Rose was among the best of them and now she’s gone.”
“I’m tired of losing people,” Al muttered. “How many people do I have to see die? I was even there when Kimbley and Scar died. I didn’t even want to see Kimbley die.”
“I did,” Roy muttered and Al looked at him sharply. “What? I did. He was insane.”
“Kimbley?” Kennan asked.
“The Crimson Alchemist, the one with tattoos on his hands and blew things up,” Roy elaborated.
“We know who you mean,” Kennan assured him.
“I had to share a tent with that psychopath in the war. Dying was the best thing he ever did.” One of the most vicious looks Riza had ever seen on Roy’s face slashed across it with those words.
“I didn’t think I’d hear you say that about another alchemist,” Dev said. “Then again I never thought I’d hear about Ishbalan alchemists. I can’t believe you were raised by Ishbalans.”
“Well, for part of my life at any rate. Disappointed you weren’t the first Ishbalan to dedicate himself to making me insane?” Roy flashed one of his infamous smirks.
“I already knew that. You dated Mera and she can make anyone nuts, no offense to her kin,” Dev said and she reached over, slapping his chest hard.
“Jackass.” She rolled her eyes. “Look who’s talking. Grandfather, can’t you find him something to keep him busy? Dev has too much time on his hands.”
“I’m sure Mustang keeps him busy enough,” Uzziel replied.
“Oh, feel free to bury him under work,” Roy waved his hand.
“I think you have it backwards. You were probably the one making those poor Ishbalan alchemists insane, not the other way around,” Dev said. “Their only solace would have been if they could speak the old language and hide from you.” His eyes narrowed. ‘You can’t speak it, can you?”
Roy just looked at him, a neutral expression on his face, and Dev gaped.
“Son of bitch!”
“He can,” Ed said, almost sounding impressed.
“So all those times…” Dev floundered.
“That you said very unkind things about my parentage, yes, I understood you,” Roy said quietly. “You have such a potty mouth. For obvious reasons, it was to my advantage to not to mention I knew the old language. It wasn’t like you all were being completely up front with us.”
“You probably should have just kept your mouth shut now, too,” Olivia chided. “Sometimes you make the most foolish moves.”
Roy shrugged. “I get tired of pretending. Sometimes I get too tired of everything.”
She snorted. “You and my brother.”
Armstrong looked abashed.
“How did you and Hawkeye even end up in the war at all with your history?” Nava asked.
“I followed Roy and the other side of my family has a long military tradition,” Riza said.
“And my family have been warriors for centuries,” Roy said.
“At least three that we can track back directly,” Li-Ying said. “Our family is one of the well-known guards for the Emperor, until Grandfather.”
“What did he do?” Ed asked.
“He was assigned to guard Princess Xue-Fang, one of the emperors many, many children,” Roy said.
“He didn’t let the princess get killed did he?” Ed asked bluntly and Winry elbowed him.
“No, you have to understand being a silver tongued ladies man runs in the family.” Li-Ying rolled her eyes. “Granddad Huang managed to get his charge to fall in love with him.”
“It’s like a fairy tale,” Winry grinned happily and Ed rolled his eyes.
“Grandma managed to talk her father into letting her go and, having like a hundred kids or so, the Emperor didn’t really care. The only caveats were they had to live outside of the country and if their offspring tried to put in a claim to the Jade Throne, we’d all be put to death,” Roy said. “So not so romantic.”
“Wrong,” Winry replied. “That is so exceptionally romantic, giving up all that and moving to a strange country for love.”
“I keep telling him that,” Riza said, patting Roy’s shoulder. “But it doesn’t sink in.”
“Romantic? It gave us him !” Ed flung a hand toward Roy.
“And he’s royalty. No wonder he thinks we should all be doing his work and kissing his ass,” Dev groaned.
“They have a point,” Olivia said, sitting forward on her chair. “You never once mentioned your family was related to the emperor. Why not?”
“Because while we were promised to be treated as honored guests so long as we don’t have ambitions, you can tell they really didn’t want us back.” Roy shrugged. “I told you many times my family was just as important as the Armstrongs. Actually both parts of it, the guardian and the royal blood.”
“I can see why with that history you would want to join the military here,” Uzziel said. “Sadly, it wasn’t your best choice.”
“No, it really wasn’t.” Roy sighed, the corners of his mouth turning down.
“Men make their choices,” Kennan said.
“He wasn’t exactly a man, Dad,” Mera replied quickly.
“I was about the same age as he had to be,” he returned.
Roy snorted. “How old do you think I am?”
“To be an alchemist and an officer of your rank? You look young but you can’t be much younger than fifty,” Kennan said.
Mera laughed. “That explains why you were also so upset because you thought he was too old for me. Roy is exactly three weeks and a day younger than Mattan.”
“How can that be? I’ve always understood that to be a state alchemist took time,” Kennan said, confusion dulling his red eyes.
“Child prodigy,” Roy replied wryly. “Lucky me. I was in the war by the time I was seventeen.”
“My father was still trying to keep me out of the war at that age,” Mattan said, giving Roy an appraising look.
“So was Riza’s father, well until he died and I wanted to do what I wanted. I was the youngest State Alchemist on record until Fullmetal.” Roy gestured at Ed. “Which brings us right back to where we started. I’m only on the books for being in Lior because I’m Edward’s boss. He was far too young to handle some of what was going on so I arranged for it to fall on me.”
“I did just fine back then,” Ed huffed, glaring at Roy.
“You aren’t a killer,” Roy replied. “They had already ruined me. I wasn’t going to let the same happen to you if I could help it. What was another slaughter laid at my door? It eventually got straightened out, that neither of us had anything to do with it.”
“No, you were very busy with your military coup,” Olivia said, almost appreciatively. Her cool eyes studied him. “You look exhausted, Mustang.”
“I can’t seem to get my strength back,” he admitted begrudgingly.
“You were badly injured Roy,” Winry said. “Maybe you ought to just go and rest a little. You shouldn’t even be back working yet.”
He smiled faintly. “Now you sound like Riza.”
“And I’m saying go lie down,” Riza put in, giving him a meaningful look.
“Listen to her, young man,” Nava said. “You’ve all been more than gracious to put up with us since we came unannounced. If your president is done with you,” she waved a wrinkled hand at Olivia. “then go listen to what your body is telling you.”
“Don’t tell him that. It’ll have unexpected and undesirable results,” Dev groaned.
“Not for everyone,” Roy shot back, patting Riza’s knee.
“Yes, we all know about your insane mental control over an otherwise intelligent woman,” Ed said and Winry slapped him.
Riza sighed. “It’s not as bad as you boys seem to think. Dev, every time you think something is going on, it might not be. When you two share a wall in a hotel, Roy likes to slam the headboard against it and act like an ass.” She glared at her lover who just grinned mischievously.
“Why?” Dev whined.
“To make you nuts,” Roy replied.
“Mission accomplished,” Winry mumbled.
“I’m sure Aris would agree. I’m beginning to feel sorry for the man,” Uzziel said, getting up.
“I think Aris probably prefers them this way. It’s when everyone is quiet that we worry,” Mera said. “Roy needs Dev to keep him from getting too depressed.”
“I wouldn’t have thought Dev would have that effect given their history,” Kennan said.
“You’d think that but really we’re so good at winding each other up that doesn’t happen,” Roy said. “Usually it’s Hughes’ responsibility to keep me from the edge but he was.” Roy paused, glancing over at the man who had been watching this all with intelligent eyes, keeping his silence. “Undercover for a few years. Things got a little mashed up in my head.”
“My granddaughter said you tried to hurt yourself. I didn’t believe it,” Uzziel said.
Roy glanced down at his hands, wishing he hadn’t been so tired as to blurt that out. He didn’t want to talk about it and he could feel all the questioning eyes on him. “It wouldn’t be the first time. I am sorry that I frightened Mera.”
“You really did.” She wrapped her arms around herself.
“Why didn’t you ever tell me?” Riza asked, each word colder than the next.
Roy couldn’t look at her. He willed the Elrics and Winry to keep their mouths shut. He expected Hughes to chew him out later. “I had messed us up and you were hundreds of kilometers away. It wouldn’t have been fair,” he said softly. “I’d rather not talk about it.” Riza’s look said they would talk about it when they were alone.
“I’m sorry I brought it up,” Uzziel said, sounding like he meant it.
“It’s all right. Sometimes I wonder why I was ever so insistent on learning this brand of alchemy,” Roy sighed.
“Being that young, I can understand it. That much power would be very enticing to a teen,” Kennan said.
“No, he went to study way before that,” Dev said.
“Mostly I guess it was because of how my parents died,” Roy said, rolling his shoulders.
Winry scrunched up her nose. “I thought they died in a train wreck.”
“Is that what you told them?” Li-Ying asked, her eyes wide.
“They didn’t die in a train wreck?” Dev asked.
“Well, technically I suppose. Mom probably died instantly but they got Dad out of the wreck. He had burns over most of his body. It took nearly a month for him to die,” Li-Ying said and all eyes moved to Roy who squirmed.
“They wouldn’t let me see Dad, not until the very end. I guess he knew he wasn’t going to make it,” Roy said very quietly. “I talked most of the day with him and then he just went to sleep and never woke back up. I was eight and that’s when I decided I would control fire.”
“Because you wanted to make sure no one died in a fire again,” Al said, his hazel eyes veiled.
“I’ve seen you do that, put out fires here in town. Hell, you did it when I was inside one of the buildings,” Dev said. “I think you messed up somewhere along the way.”
“That would have been that State alchemy exam my teacher told me not to take,” Roy said, trying to stifle a yawn.
“I think this qualifies for the secrets I’m not sure how you live with them and am not sure how I’m supposed to handle knowing them,” Kennan said wryly. “We really should let you rest now.” He rounded up his compatriots.
The Armstrongs left with the Ishbalans. Roy braced himself for the Elrics or Riza or Hughes. Instead he inadvertently listened to his body as instructed and fell asleep on the couch.
XXX
“Why here?” Judith studied the compound in the gathering gloom.
“Attaway gave me a list of abandoned structures,” Anah said, staring at the damaged wall, wondering appreciatively at what sort of bomb had been used. “While he had a point that it would be easy to explain the presence of Roy and the Elric brothers at the destroyed Ishbalan temple, I don’t want more blame falling on my people. You Liorans had a good thought, let them rebuild for you then slice the head off the snake.” Anah grinned wickedly.
“It had its advantages.” Judith gestured back to the building. Something skittered in the darkness heard but unseen. “So, why here?”
“Lab Five has a history, not one I could find out much about but it had something to do with alchemy. I know it’s set to be torn to the ground. Knowing them, they’ll make this Ishbalan housing,” Anah said bitterly. “I thought it would be believable that three alchemists visit it right before that to retrieve something.”
“I like it.”
“Then I’ll set it in motion tomorrow evening,” Anah said then turned her gaze to Judith. “Dev was babbling something to me earlier that made me curious. The Elrics, Mustang and Armstrong didn’t have anything to do with Lior. It was someone called Kimbley.” She wisely kept the Ishbalan priest’s involvement to herself. “And he’s dead.”
Judith waved her off. “They want to blame the dead because it’s easy and clean. We can’t let them get away with that.”
Anah nodded her head. That made perfect sense. “Then we’re in agreement? Tomorrow night?”
“Are you sure we can do this right so quickly?” Judith jumped back as a scrawny cat ran out from the ruins, a rat nearly as big as it was clutched in its mouth.
“Time is crucial. I had to kiss Dev once. Any longer and he’ll want more.” Anah made a face. “The irony is, he actually has a pretty face, poor bastard. We’ll wipe out three alchemists at once, four if we can convince them to bring along Armstrong. You go back to Lior completely in charge.”
“And you can be my second. There is always room for a bright, innovative person like yourself,” Judith smiled.
Anah grinned back. She couldn’t wait.
XXX
Roy tried to fall asleep before Riza joined him in the bed but no such luck. She turned out the light on the night stand and snuggled down. He could feel her looking at him in the dark and he had to say something. “I’m sorry I never told you about what happened with Mera.”
Riza stroked his bangs back. “It’s all right, Roy. I understand why you didn’t but do you understand why I’m upset?”
“You have to be wondering what sort of man you’re marrying,” Roy mumbled, shifting on the bed so he wouldn’t have to face her.
Riza leaned over and kissed him. “I know what sort. I just need you to know what would happen to us if you were to kill yourself. I’m prepared for the horror of losing you to the enemy but not if that enemy is your own hand.”
Roy shifted uncomfortably. “I’m trying my best to hold it all together. I have every reason in the world to do that now.”
Her arms tightened around him. “You always have, Roy. You’re just starting to realize it.”
Roy twisted so he could put his arms around her, too. “Yes, I am.”
“How are you feeling?” Her hand trailed down his chest, telling him she didn’t mean emotionally.
“My headache is finally gone,” he said, nudging her with his hips.
“Perfect.” Riza’s hand went down further, burrowing under his only piece of clothing.
“Ooooh,” Roy nipped at her chin. “See, you let Dev and Ed think I’m the bad one all the time.”
“I could go to sleep, you know.”
Roy knew there was no danger of that, not with the way her hand was working him. He shifted up onto one elbow, reaching for the night stand. Riza pushed him back down.
“We don’t need those,” she said and his eyes widened. “We’re going to be married before you know it.”
“When I hear that out loud, it makes me nervous,” Roy said, thinking married didn’t necessarily mean married with children.
“Tell me about it,” Riza said, her hand trailing up his belly. “You’re all right with this, right?
Roy rolled on top of her, kissing her hard. Sucking at her lower lip for a moment, he finally let go long enough to say, “What could be more wonderful and sexy than you wanting to have my babies?”
Chapter thirty
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no subject
Date: 2009-02-10 03:43 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-02-10 03:47 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-02-10 12:42 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-02-10 03:51 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-02-10 04:10 am (UTC)And can Ed please find Roy and Riza's collection of whips? PLEASE?
no subject
Date: 2009-02-10 04:17 am (UTC)hahaha next story prehaps
thanks
no subject
Date: 2009-02-10 02:45 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-02-10 03:28 pm (UTC)thanks
no subject
Date: 2009-02-10 09:11 pm (UTC)“What could be more wonderful and sexy than you wanting to have my babies?”
Ahaha, awesome. That sentence is made of win. ;)
Loved this chapter. :) I can't wait to read the next one!
no subject
Date: 2009-02-11 02:34 am (UTC)Yes everyone is worried Riza won't live long enough to see her wedding (or Roy, take your pick)
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Date: 2009-02-11 02:29 am (UTC)“Don’t tell him that. It’ll have unexpected and undesirable results,” Dev groaned.
“Not for everyone,” Roy shot back, patting Riza’s knee.
*grins* Something tells me Judith's confidence will be her undoing.
no subject
Date: 2009-02-11 03:04 am (UTC)you might be on to something
no subject
Date: 2009-02-11 03:53 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-02-11 07:12 pm (UTC)You...
Date: 2009-02-11 04:23 am (UTC)Re: You...
Date: 2009-02-11 04:31 am (UTC)I'm glad you're enjoying this
(and yes Roy is always a touch arrogant, I'm sure Ed would say more than a touch)
Re: You...
Date: 2009-02-11 03:11 pm (UTC)*runs far far away*
Re: You...
Date: 2009-02-11 07:22 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-02-11 03:20 pm (UTC)Cant wait to see how this continues but I fear it wont be a pleasant ride for Roy and the others.
no subject
Date: 2009-02-11 07:19 pm (UTC)yeah there's still a tad more pain for the crew to go thru
thanks