Fic - Sorrow's Dark Array Ch 31

[cornerofmadness]

Sorrow’s Dark Array
Author - cornerofmadness
Disclaimer - not mine, all characters belong to Hiromu Arakawa et al, Square Enix and funimition.
Pairing – Roy/Riza, Ed/Win (eventually) Winry/OC, mentions of Maes/Gracia and Al/OC
Rating – will vary from chapter to chapter, mostly Pg-13 but will eventually contain well marked adult chapters.
Time Line – anime based, spoilers all the way through the anime and the movie and does have strong manga elements such as Armstrong’s older sister and the land of Xing
Summary – As Roy and Riza prepare for their wedding, while dodging assassins, Ed and Al try to find their way back home.
Author’s Note #1– This was written after much prodding by evil_little_dog as a sequel to the source of sorrow and is now her holiday gift even if she has beta’ed part of it. So thanks to her and lyricnonsense for the beta. You do not have to read the first story to understand this. You’ll quickly pick up that Riza has retired from the military to be Roy’s wife and bodyguard. Olivia Armstrong is now president and she’s assigned Roy as the ambassador to Ishbal; oh and that Roy was severely injured in the destruction of the Gate, requiring some of Winry’s automail.
Author's Note #2 - This is a longer work and like real relationships, the ones listed in the pairings, take time to mend and come together. They have to work at it. Hope you enjoy the ride.
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter eight
Chapter nine
chapter ten
chapter eleven
chapter twelve
chapter thirteen
chapter fourteen
chapter fifteen
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
Chapter Twenty-nine
Chapter thirty


“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 Thirty-One

Does anyone know how it feels? To find something that’s real and make it your own? That’s when you know you found home. – Katherine McPhee

Roy winced, his concentration nearly destroyed when Ed roared, “you shot my brother!” He didn’t hear any clapping but suspected Edward’s automail was nonfunctional. He would have to draw arrays in the dust or, more likely, blaze like a shooting star across the lab and rip out someone’s throat with his bare hand. Roy couldn’t help him. He would only have one shot at this, a single snap that he would have to control to get three armed attackers without burning his companions.

A gunshot rang out and the other female assailant went down screaming.

“We’ve got your back, Roy!” Riza’s voice did more to convince Roy of the possibility of god than anything Dev had ever told him.

He smirked at Anah, seeing her stricken look. His fingers proved faster than hers. The fire lashed out, engulfing her. Flames raced across the lab toward the last ambusher but Roy pulled them back seeing a shot fired. His men could handle that attacker without him causing a huge blaze. Kicking away her gun, Roy scowled down at Anah where she squirmed on the dirt ground, moaning loudly. His flames had only singed her badly, the stench of burnt hair and clothing assailing his nostrils. She would be fine, and ironically, had Dev to thank. It was that mistake so many years ago that made Roy learn how to control the fire better.

“Edward, how is Alphonse?” he asked, not turning his back on Anah until Breda and Falman had her under control. Hughes and Armstrong were heading for the woman Riza had shot while Havoc and several other soldiers dealt with the man.

“He’s bleeding,” Ed said, his voice tight. He knelt next to his brother, ignoring the fact his automail was still arcing. Out of the corner of his eye, Roy saw Edward frantically checking his brother’s head wound. “He’s breathing.”

Roy gestured to Riza who went over to Edward and yanked the offending wire free from his automail. The sparking died. “Sorry, Edward,” she said but if it hurt him, he didn’t react. Riza knelt and tried to help him stem the flow of blood from his unconscious brother’s head.

Roy jogged over to Dev who looked up at him but Roy wasn’t entirely sure the young man saw him. Dead white, Dev still had his hand clamped over his thigh. Blood sprayed from between his fingers. Roy grimaced, knowing the main vessel to the leg had to be hit. Dev would bleed to death quickly unless he did something. Kneeling, Roy demanded, “Let me see.”

Dev didn’t comply but Hughes was suddenly there as well, gently peeling the young man’s hands away. Blood splattered his glasses for his troubles. Roy knew there wasn’t time to wait.

“I’m sorry about this, Dev. Hughes, hold him down,” Roy said then he snapped. Dev shrieked, bucking against Hughes as Roy cauterized the wound. Luckily, he passed out within seconds.

“Boss, we brought an ambulance and a prison transport just in case but it won’t be enough for everyone,” Havoc called from across the room as he tried to bind up the male attacker. Roy suddenly realized the man was Olivia’s adjutant.

“Dev has to go before the prisoners and Alphonse,” Roy said. “Toss the prisoners in the transport and get them to the hospital under guard. I want the medics with our people. Edward, you’re going to the hospital, too.”

Ed nodded. “I need to be with Al.”

“No, I mean, you’re going as a patient. You can go in the same ambulance if there’s room. If not, then we’ll get you there as soon as we can. You need checked out,” Roy turned to Riza. “We’ll need to put a call into Winry. Try not to panic her.”

“She already knows we were concerned about you walking into a trap. It was all I could do to make her stay behind.” Riza’s eyes narrowed. “Why didn’t you think to tell me you were coming here?”

“Later, Riza. Kill me later,” Roy said wearily. “Let me get these boys out of here first.”

She snorted, stalking out the door, returning with several men and a couple of gurneys. “They heard the shots and called in more ambulances. One can take Alphonse and Edward and the other can transport you and Dev.”

Roy waved her off. “I’m fine. I’ll help you all with the prisoners.”

She pointed to his bleeding neck. “You’ve been nicked at the very least. Go get checked out. Brigadier General Hughes, Lieutenant Colonel Armstrong and I will deal with this. All these people have to be transported to the hospital anyhow.”

Roy took one look at her expression and realized if he didn’t listen, what he had just been through would look like a walk in the park once Riza was through with him. He went with his wounded companions without a fuss, trusting Riza and his men to handle things.

XXX

Now that he was at loose ends waiting to hear from so many different doctors and soldiers, Roy had nothing to do but think about the throbbing in his neck. They had just cleaned him up and slapped a bandage over it. It was a mere scratch but it annoyed him expertly. Hopefully, Riza or Hughes would be by soon to take his mind off it. His arm thrummed, too, deep within his elbow and he felt a little light headed. What Roy really wanted was to just lock himself away in his room for about a year and just rest.

“Where is my son?”

Hearing the panicked tone, Roy spun on his seat, gripping it as the hospital waiting room seemed to take flight around his head. He blinked, concentrating on Mrs. Jasso’s ghostly white face. “They found you,” he said, relieved.

Her eyes went to his stained clothing. His jacket cuffs were drenched in blood. “Is that blood?” A tremor raced through her. “Is that Dev’s blood?”

Roy stood up slowly. “I’m afraid so.” He steeled himself, knowing this woman deserved the truth.

“What happened? Where is he?” She caught his arm with a surprisingly tight grip.

“Anah was the traitor,” he replied bluntly. “She used your son to lure us to an abandoned building and into an ambush. She shot him and they have him in surgery now.”

Hala trembled, looking as if she might collapse. Roy slipped an arm around her. “How…is it bad?”

Roy nodded. “Bad enough. I’m sorry.”

Her lip quivered. “You didn’t do this.” Hala stiffened in his grasp, looking over his shoulder.

Roy turned and saw a doctor heading his way. Keeping a grip on Hala, he met the man. “Are you looking for me?”

The doctor nodded. “Yes, General, I was. We’ve moved the Ishbalan victim to the recovery room. Your other men are already in rooms. They should be fine but this last young man…”

Roy gestured to Hala. “This is Dev’s mother, Hala Jasso. She’s a nurse. I’m sure she’ll better understand what you had to do for him than I will.”

Hala gave him a shocked and appreciative look. “How is he, doctor?”

“Your son was hit in the femoral artery but the General cauterized the wound. We had to clean up the burn and reanastamose the artery but we have him stabilized. He needs at least another unit of blood.” The doctor shot her a sympathetic look. “He should recover but I don’t have to tell you burns can be tricky and get infected easily. We’ll be sure to try and get him on his feet as soon as we can so he doesn’t form large clots inside that artery.”

“I want to see him. Will I be able to stay with him?” Hala asked, her voice tight.

The doctor glanced at Roy who nodded. “We’ll put him in a room with an empty bed. You may stay.”

Hala sagged against Roy. “Thank you very much. Can I see him now?”

The doctor nodded and led the way. Hala didn’t let go of Roy, dragging him along. No one barred his way so he followed her into the recovery room. Lying against the egg-white sheets, Dev looked dead. The shallow movement of his chest was the only sign he was alive. Roy grabbed a nearby chair and set it next to the bed for Hala.

Sitting, she took her son’s hand. “You saved his life.”

“I almost cost him his life,” Roy corrected her. “I should have known it was a trap. Edward did, or at least he suspected.” He sighed. “I guess we all suspected but we wanted to believe it was a good tip. We never expected Anah to be the one with the gun.”

Hala twisted on the chair, looking up at him. “It was all a ruse, wasn’t it? Her sudden romantic interest in my son.”

“I’m afraid so. Odd thing is, I didn’t like her. Neither did Riza or Winry. I dismissed it as none of my business. Maybe I should have listened to my gut.”

“Did you kill her?” Hala’s eyes said she sincerely hoped so.

“I’m not sure how the prisoners are faring,” Roy admitted. “She should be fine. I just scorched her. The other two got shot.”

Hala’s face hardened. “I wish you killed her. He’s my only son and she tried to murder him for what? Because his vision of our future doesn’t mesh with hers?”

“That pretty much sums it up, if I had to guess. I won’t be the one questioning her. We have others who are better suited to that,” Roy said, wiping his forehead. He was beginning to feel a little clammy. “I should go see if Riza or Armstrong have showed up yet.”

Hala’s brow beetled. “Are you feeling all right? You’re pale.”

“I’m fine,” he assured her.

“I suppose I’d look pale, too, if someone just tried to kill me,” Hala said then looked toward the door.

Roy turned as well, hearing someone in the hall. He went outside to see Aris, Uzziel and Kennan talking to Hughes, Armstrong and Riza. He assumed they were trying to find him and Dev so he started up the hallway, surprised that Hala followed. Then again, he reasoned, she might want to talk to her priests at a time like this. Dev could probably use the prayers.

“How is he?” Uzziel asked.

“Not good,” Hala replied before Roy could. “But he’s alive. He might not keep his leg but he’ll get through that if it happens. He already knows someone who would help him.” She touched Roy’s arm. “The General saved Dev’s life, kept him from bleeding to death.”

“And captured everyone without killing anyone,” Kennan said. “We heard.”

“I owe that more to Hawkeye, Hughes and Armstrong. I walked blindly into a trap and got three out of four of us shot. It’s not one of my shining moments,” Roy rebutted him.

“Four.” Riza gestured to his bullet-creased neck.

“It happens during investigations,” Hughes said.

Roy winced, not wanting to think about that. If he did, he’d have to remember who Hughes really wasn’t. “At least Edward and Alphonse weren’t hurt too bad…” Roy stumbled over the words. Something didn’t feel right. Just before the darkness swallowed him, he realized the ‘not right’ was that the ugly hospital tile floor was rushing up to slap him.

X X X

“Winry, don’t fuss. Go take care of Al.” Ed waved his hand at her.

Winry scowled at him. “Al is sleeping.” She stabbed a finger at the hospital bed nearer to the window. “I need to see how bad the damage is here, Edward. Do you know how lucky you are that the bullet didn’t get under your shoulder plate? It would have bounced around inside you.” Winry’s voice hitched. She couldn’t even think about it. Just getting to the hospital, knowing there had been injuries, she had barely been able to breathe. Even now, knowing Ed and Al would be all right, Winry couldn’t relax. She wanted to know how Dev was doing and she needed Ed to understand that he really was hurt seriously.

“Pieces of my shoulder embedded itself in Al’s head,” Ed grumbled in a tone that made Winry wonder if he was implying it was somehow her fault that she hadn’t made his shoulder strong enough.

“Scalp,” Al corrected blearily. So he hadn’t been sleeping, Winry thought, irritation running through her. Of course, he probably had been until Ed started snapping. His bandaged head tilted toward them, a happy vacant look on his face. Whatever drugs they had given him for pain obviously had done their job and then some. “Just dug a rut in my scalp. I’ll be fine.”

“And chipped bone and gave you a concussion,” Ed replied sternly. “I thought you were dead, lying there with blood all around you.”

“You both could’ve died.” Winry slapped Ed’s mattress, trying to get his attention. “Why did you idiots go off without telling anyone?”

“Blame the bastard. It was all his idea, him and Dev,” Ed protested.

“You went along with it,” Winry said and Ed huffed at her.

He turned his face away. “Does it matter? We went and now Al’s hurt.”

“It matters because you could have died.” Winry wanted to slap him instead of the mattress.

“I could have handled them,” Ed assured her then scowled. “If Mustang hadn’t showed off…he’s really good.” He tacked that on reluctantly.

Winry wanted to throttle him. Why couldn’t Edward get that she was worried? No, he probably did but he wouldn’t let her see that he was frightened because she was afraid. “Do you understand this isn’t a simple ‘give me a new arm, Winry?’ This is going to be a surgery, Edward. I’m going to have to remove your shoulder port and install a new one.” His face twisted up at that news. He understood all too well the pain he’d have to endure.

“I understand that, Winry. I’ll survive. I’ll survive that better than I would have knowing my automail killed my brother,” Ed whispered.

“But it didn’t so stop thinking about that,” she replied.

Al suddenly giggled, sitting bolt upright. “I just realized what I need right now, Brother. A kitten to sit on me and purr. I would feel a whole lot better then.”

Getting up, Winry gently pressed Al back down. “When we get you home, Al, you can have a kitten.”

“Don’t tell him that, Winry! That’ll be what he actually remembers out of this,” Ed groaned.

“Good, I want him to. I will remind him.”

“Winry,” Ed whined.

“Your brother wants a cat,” Winry kissed Al’s cheek before coming back over to Edward. “He’s getting one. You have no excuse now.”

“I do. We have no home.” He sounded so self-satisfied the urge to slap him returned.

“I found you one, a two story cottage. It’s perfect. One of you upstairs, one of you down, space for me to visit.” She grinned at him. “Al could have a herd of cats.”

“Yay!” Al cried.

“A herd?” Ed blanched. “Winry, you do remember cats hate me?”

“You’re imagining things, Edward.” Winry bent closer, peering into his empty shoulder. “I’ll get started on making a new port right away. I suppose you really needed it anyhow. You have gotten bigger. I’m not sure how this one wasn’t bothering you all these years.”

“It did…a little but I adapted.” Ed sighed.

“He whined a lot and used a sponge on a stick to clean places he couldn’t make the short arm reach,” Al offered up with a giggle.

“Ignore my brother. He’s obviously enjoying his pain medicine.” Ed glared at Al.

Winry snorted. “We can probably do your surgery in two days, Edward. It’ll take me a day to build the parts and I’m too drained to do it today.”

Ed reached over, tracing a dark circle under Winry’s eye gently. “Rest first. We’ll be all right.”

Winry stretched then rubbed her belly. “I know it’s supper time but I can’t believe I’m actually hungry.” She sighed. “But I’ll be okay. I’ll go eat after Al’s asleep and once I find out if they’re sending you home tonight, Edward.”

“I’d rather stay with Al.”

“Mein Gott!” Al swore in a language Winry didn’t know but had heard coming from Hughes’ lips. The tone suggested the swear. “I’m fine. I have nurses! Don’t need you here messing that up. Besides, you have a girl to go home to bed with. Get out of here when they let you.”

Ed just gaped at his brother.

“I think your decision is made for you, Ed.” Winry reached over and pushed his jaw up to close his mouth. “Don’t worry, Al, I’ll make sure he comes home with me.”

“Crazy woman,” Al muttered, snuggling down in the bed.

Winry just laughed.

XXX

Roy blinked against the too-bright lights glaring right down into his eye. He slowly got the sensation that he was lying down. He could feel eyes on him. Shifting uncomfortable, he tried to sit up. His stomach surged toward freedom and he barely kept everything down.

“You really should just stay still, Mustang. You look more like hell than usual.”

He snorted at Olivia’s comment. Where had she come from? “I passed out, didn’t I?”

“Embarrassingly,” Olivia assured him. “Right into my brother’s arms. Too bad Hughes didn’t have his usual ubiquitous camera.”

“You’ve heard about the camera?” Roy asked, rubbing his head then winced, realizing he had an IV in his arm and he was on a gurney in the hallway.

“Is there anyone who hasn’t?”

Hala edged closer to the gurney. “And you tried to lie to me about being fine. The doctor told me what you did for Dev. You gave him a little too much blood.”

Roy shrugged. “I was in the ambulance. They said they didn’t think he’d make it here since he had lost so much of his own. Soldiers always know their type and I knew we matched. I had them hook me into him.”

Hala patted his hand. “I will never forget what you did for my son.”

“Just don’t tell him about this,” Roy smirked. “Let me.”

“You’re going to tease him, aren’t you?” Uzziel asked.

“Until he’s screaming. That’s how we’ll know he’s okay and recovering.” Roy’s smirk grew.

Hala shook her head. “You are an impossible man. The sad thing is, Dev seems to enjoy the teasing so I’m not going to stop you. You listen to whatever your doctor says, General, and don’t make her insane tonight.” She gestured to Riza then headed toward her son’s room.

Roy huffed. “I’m not staying in the hospital.”

Riza tapped his nose. “You heard Hala. You do as you’re told. The doctor said as soon as you finish this IV you can go. A nurse is going to be around in a moment. We decided you can share a room with the Elrics until then.”

“Are you going to let them boss me around, President? Hughes?” Roy asked.

“Don’t be a baby,” Olivia said.

“I’m not arguing with a bunch of women,” Hughes said. “I want to live. I’ve got some happiness in my life again, a family! I’m gonna enjoy it.”

“Some help you are,” Roy pouted. “And I know you’ll listen to your sister, Armstrong.”

“When she makes sense.” Alex Louis nodded.

“General Mustang,” a nurse said, walking up the hall with a younger nurse. “We’re going to put you in a room for a little while. It’ll be more comfortable than the gurney and it’ll get you out of the hall.”

“I’m in no condition to argue.” He smiled for her.

“No, you’re just smart enough not to argue with someone who can stick you full of needles,” Riza said.

“That, too.” Roy just rested letting the nurses wheel him into a room. He sighed loudly for Edward’s sake. It would never do to have the young man think Roy was happy to be locked in a room with him. Roy was very relieved to see Edward and Alphonse were more or less all right, or would be. “Alphonse, I’m glad you’re awake. How are you?”

“I’m getting a kitten!”

“High as the clouds, I see.” Roy snorted.

“At least the walls aren’t eating him,” Hughes said and Ed glowered at him.

“He could have died!” Ed reminded them. “A piece of my automail could have killed my brother!”

“I didn’t know it would break off like that,” Hughes said.

“Oh yeah. That’s what took my eye. Riza’s bullet hit some automail,” Roy said, trying to sit up as the nurses helped him. All he managed was to turn green. He missed Winry and Riza’s stricken looks.

“Just lean on us, General,” the older of the two offered, trying to help him up.

Armstrong gently brushed past them and bodily scooped Roy up. He bit back a startled yelp as the bulky alchemist deposited him on one of the two remaining beds in the ward room.

“Thank you, Alex Louis,” Riza said, patting his arm. “Roy, you just lie there and don’t torment Ed.”

“But…” He silenced at her look.

“My automail isn’t a deadly weapon,” Winry whispered. “It’s just not meant to take a bullet.”

“Neither are bodies, dear,” the nurse said, fussing with Roy’s IV. “But I suppose they don’t break apart too often and become flying projectiles.”

“My leg did…well, piece of it. The part that didn’t…” Roy stopped, shaking his head. “Sorry, a little dizzy.”

“I’ll see if the doctor wants a second bag of saline.” The older nurse beckoned the younger one to follow her out.

“Piece of it?” Hughes asked.

“Tell you later,” Roy said and Ed’s eyes narrowed.

“You saw it…the gate,” the young man said simply and Roy nodded, his gaze sliding toward Olivia.

“I’m tired Edward. Later. Right now, I want to concentrate on making this IV run faster so I can go home.”

“Roy, not until the doctor says so, so make yourself comfortable,” Riza said.

“Don’t be tedious, Mustang,” Olivia said. “Just rest and be ready to report on this in the morning.”

“You should kiss her, Roy. She’s nice,” Al blurted out suddenly.

Grinning, Roy cocked up his eyebrows. “Which one, Alphonse?”

“All of them! They’re all so pretty.” Al grinned, digging at his bandage with a finger.

Roy laughed. “Alphonse, I love how you think. You’re my new right hand man.”

“That makes me what?” Hughes folded his arms, shooting Roy a mock look of dismay.

“You’re on my other side, keeping me safe and making me laugh.” Roy yawned, trying to move his arm into a comfortable spot and failing.

“You can have Hughes but you don’t get my brother,” Ed said protectively. Winry rolled her eyes and went to stop Al from playing with his bandages.

“I’m not sure how to feel about that.” Hughes glowered at the young man.

“You can fend for yourself. Al’s innocent,” Ed replied.

“I know way more stuff than you. I was engaged!” Al protested at the top of his lungs.

“Al!” Ed blushed then turned back to Hughes. “And if you run now, Hughes, you’ll make it out of here before the jackass comes to again because I think he just passed out.”

Riza trailed her finger through Roy’s hair then shooed everyone out, fully intending to leave Roy there all night if possible.


onto Chapter Thirty-Two