Chimera

Hi!! Wave wave, I'm so glad you guys like it! Thank you for reviewing, I'm writing as fast as I can, promise.

Doctor

Al dutifully woke them two hours before Roy was due in the office, two and a half hours before he normally got up. Ed's morning after routine left something to be desired, with a sturdy kick to Roy's side sending him off the bed and a few choice words about perverts and bastard Colonels. After flailing around and making some choice comments himself about shrimps and short tempers, Roy dragged himself out to the kitchen to be fed.

“Hey, that's mine! You stay away from my eggs!” The blond had followed him out and was stealing 'his' eggs back, right off Roy's plate.

“Now listen here, I stayed here all night, in a bloody uncomfortable bed with a cuddly runt on me and I damn well deserve a decent breakfast.” The older man ignored the squawking and defended his plate with a fork while he ate.

Al tried to interfere, “Now Brother, the Colonel was really helpful and you should be nicer. Colonel, I'm sorry, he's just tired and a bit grumpy after. I'm sure he'll be in a better mood once we get to work. Did you find any leads while he was away?” He ignored his brother's frothing and pushed him into a chair, providing him with a plate of his own. His food reflex kicked in and he inhaled three platefuls while Roy watched, fascinated. It was a rare opportunity to watch Edward eat; amazing how he relaxed his throat.

When the plate was held out for more, he broke away enough to answer. “Ah, no, not lately, but I do have a mission for you. I wanted to send you a few days ago, but it's still there. Short, but I need that information. Come by the office later and we'll discuss it.” He finished and stood. “Thank you, Alphonse. I'll be heading home if you no longer need me.”

“Oh, it was my pleasure, sir. It was awfully nice of you to help. Please let me know if there is anything I can do for you sometime.” Al walked him to the door and waved as he took off. “Brother. We need to discuss your manners again.” Ed shrunk, that tone never boded well for him or his stomach. Al tended to 'forget' to feed him when he was annoyed.

The legendary Flame Alchemist was on time. For the first time in almost two years, he wandered into the office, looking exhausted and mussed, but on time. Havoc choked on his cigarette and came over to push at his shoulder to see if he was real. Fuery was walking behind him and apparently didn't think he was real either because he didn't stop when Roy did, knocking himself on his butt. He stared up before groveling for forgiveness from his hero. While the hero worship was a true ego stroker, Roy just wasn't up to it today. He waved him up and even offered a hand that Cain didn't dare take. Falman lifted him up and brushed him off while smiling slightly at his commander. “I'm so glad you came in today, sir. It's so nice to run an orderly office, don't you agree?” Roy shook his head and hid in his office until he heard Hawkeye stalking around looking for him. Hiding still seemed like a good thing, so he slunk onto the couch and pretended not to be in. Three hours later, he heard her yelling at the phone for him to pick up and it occurred to him that she was calling his house. He poked his head out the door and waved at Havoc, who waved for him to come out. Not that brave, he slipped back in and sat behind his desk and pretended he'd been there the whole time. Several enormous stacks of reports migrated to his desk and he started signing to the rhythm of his lieutenant snapping the clip of her holster.

An hour after that, just when he was feeling he deserved a break, preferably one he didn't have to come back from, the door slammed open. He sighed in relief, 'Break time! Maybe he'll break something so I can go.' Wait. Not a sound was heard, no hands slammed against his desk, no yelling, no throwing things. It's not him. He looked up slowly to see who was there and took in the silent blond looking at the floor and his metal shadow standing behind him. The shadow pushed at the smaller form's shoulder. “Come on.”

A heated flush rose in the tanned cheeks. “I was rude this morning.” It sounded like his teeth were gritted, and they probably were. Roy raised an eyebrow and waited. This had to be going somewhere. Silence. Al pushed again. “I shouldn't have been.” Ah, an apology, or as close as he was likely to get.

“Alright.” He smirked, “With as short a temper as you have, I was expecting it. Can't expect someone with as little control as you to behave properly in the morning.” The boy's face was almost purple but he held it in, taking his punishment like a man. The brunette had mercy, it had been a stressful few days. “The mission I have for you is simple. Take these reports to West Headquarters, get them signed, and bring back copies as well as responses.” He nudged a bundle across the desk.

“WHAT! You're wasting our time and talents to get papers signed? You lazy asshole, do it yourself. Damn bastard Colonel, can't do anything.” There, the gloved hands on his desk, blond head leaned forward to rage at him, slim body so tense it was a miracle he hadn't pulled something.

“Now, Fullmetal, I wouldn't send you if it wasn't important. The train leaves in two hours, tickets are at the front for you.” He returned to his work, ignoring the pair.

“Brother, go ahead. I'll wait for you outside.” The protests were cut off by the door closing and Roy looked up to watch the fifteen year old shuffle around.

“What is it? Is something wrong?” He stood and walked around the desk, stopping when Ed moved away from him, blushing. Black eyebrows moved together. Odd, Fullmetal didn't back down from anything.

Ed's voice was quiet, lacking it's usual fire, “Thank you. For helping yesterday. I, ah, know I'm a pain when I'm like that. And, the ears thing,” His face was burning up, “thank you for not getting upset about it. I”

Roy interrupted, “It's fine, Edward. It happens, not a big deal.”

The boy was shaking his head, “It is! I” he stopped, looking away, “I like you.” White teeth bit the full lip and he stared at the ground. When Roy just stared, he started out of the room.

“Wait, hold on. Come over here.” Roy sat on the couch and patted beside him. The blond sat gingerly on the edge, watching him from the corner of his eye. “You have a crush, Edward. It's pretty common and” Ed tried to interrupt, but Roy waved him off. “Have you actually thought about it? What would happen, what it would mean? I'm not adverse to the idea, but there are a lot of risks involved. Have you thought about them?” The blond head nodded. “Think again. Take this mission and stay away for two weeks. Think it through completely and talk to me when you get back. If I see you before the entire two weeks is up, the answer is no, got it?” A slow nod was his answer. “Alright, get going, Al is waiting. And the train won't wait as patiently. You'll need both hours to get there with your little legs. Maybe Al should carry you?”

The younger alchemist convulsed with rage, leaping to his feet. He screamed with fury, babbling something about mice and termites but he was yelling too fast for Roy to keep up. “That would be you, Fullmetal.” It never hurt to just agree with him, the facial contortions were worth the effort.

One last shriek of “Bastard!” and he was gone, racing out of the room. Roy could hear Al's heavy footsteps following his brother's uneven ones and the laughter from the office. He allowed himself a small smirk before the door opened and Havoc stuck his head in. “Good job, sir. Haven't seen him that worked up for months.” They grinned at each other before a distinct click sent them scrambling for their respective desks.

Al sat patiently, riding out the storm. The entire train ride, two days now, had been one long rant about lazy assholes and bastard Colonels. Mostly, if he sat and nodded a few times an hour, his participation was not required and he had plenty of time to think He thought about his brother and what they would do if he continued to be more aggressive. What would happen if Al could no longer control him. The missions, the leads they'd followed, when they would get a new one. What would happen when Al was back to flesh, would he have any chance of controlling Ed when he changed? His attention turned to his silent brother, the first time other than sleep. Even then, he muttered a bit during the night. It was a bit worrying, this obsession he had with the Colonel, but the younger brother figured it would pass. Ed was simply too focused on the stone for anything else.

Ed had worn himself down, finally. He sat with his feet on Al's knee, leaning against the seat. He couldn't believe he was wasting his time with this kind of stupid mission when the stone was out there, just waiting for him to find it and use it. He knew it, absolutely knew it. Maybe they could take a few days at the library, something might come up. And that bastard, telling him to think about it and then mocking him like that! How dare he? That asshole, see if he went back there again. Hmmph. The blond settled himself more deeply in the seat and wrapped his coat around him to sleep.

When they arrived a day later, Al went straight to the library. Ed got the forms signed, copies made, and followed him. The librarian recognized them, very few didn't, and handed over a book that had just arrived. A recently published manuscript of modern myths, it was full of fables from the area, one of which mentioned healings in a town just under an hour away. The brothers took off after calling the local detachment to inform them of their arrival. Al insisted; he hated not having anywhere to sleep, because then Ed wanted to sleep in him. Once off the train, Ed grabbed the first person he saw and intimidated them into telling him everything and anything. Nothing useful was gained from the gibberish and Al dragged him off to the local office, where they gathered something of use. A local doctor performed miracles on seemingly lost cases, specializing in children. The officer provided a map and detailed instructions on how to get to the doctor, as well as a place to stay.

“See, Brother? If you ask politely, people tell you all kinds of things.” They were walking down the dirt road outside of town, Al timing his steps to Ed's. He'd made sure to feed him before they left so he would have lots of energy for the hike. He'd been crawled on enough for the month already, no need to carry him anymore.

“That idiot at the station could have told us all that. He was just stupid.” Ed walked briskly along. “You should carry me, it's faster that way.”

“You're just being lazy. I carried you all around for three days, no more. Look, there it is.” A small house came into sight, surrounded by a green fence. There were several children playing in the yard and a young man was watching them from the porch.

Ed walked up to the gate and the man came to greet them. “Are you Dr. Hames?” He nodded and opened the gate, inviting them in. “I'm Edward and this is Al. We hear you can perform miracles.”

The man's smile disappeared. “No, I can't. I'll help you if I can, but I can not perform miracles.” The boys followed him inside after he placed a young girl in charge of the rest of the children. “Would you like some tea?”

“No thank you. We just heard a rumor and wanted to check it out. We aren't sick, but we wanted to know if you knew anything about the Philosopher's Stone?” The man frowned at them a bit and shook his head.

“No, I don't know anything about it. Is that why you came all the way out here? To chase a rumor of a legend?” They nodded. “Well, I'm sorry I can't help you. If it's medicine you're interested in, there are some old texts you can look at in the basement.” The boys looked at each other and nodded. That might help. They followed the doctor down the stairs and stopped in the doorway. The basement was full of boxes, stacked to the ceiling. “Sorry it's a bit of a mess, I don't come down here very often. The children keep me pretty busy, and my patients. Help yourselves.” He handed them some candles and left, closing the door behind him.

Ed sighed and started, opening the first box he could reach. Hours later, after the candles had almost burnt out, he stood and went to the door. It was locked, padlocked from the other side. “Damn it. Al, we're locked in. Want to go this way or through one of the walls?”

Al looked up, unconcerned. It wasn't a good thing, but not the worst either. “We should go that way, we don't know what's on the other side of these walls.” He indicated the other three. He stood and brushed himself off. “I wonder what his problem is?”

The older brother shrugged and clapped, opening a new door for them beside the old one. They stepped out and walked upstairs. The children were sprawled on the floor, napping but the doctor was nowhere to be found. Al went over to check them and called to his brother. “Ed, come here.” his voice was quiet, to avoid waking the child in his arms. Ed wandered over, stepping carefully over the others. “Look.” The child appeared normal until her eyes opened. They were slitted, like a cat's, and Ed looked more carefully, noting the tiny tufts on the tips of her ears.

“Fuck, he's making chimeras. That's how he gets miracles, they heal more, faster. Fuck fuck fuck. What are we supposed to do with them? Shit, we gotta call Mus” His body straightened and arched backwards in pain. The doctor stood behind him with a knife pressed into his back.

“I expected more than one State Alchemist to come. Oh well. I'm sorry boys, but you can't have them. They belong with me, I love them you see.” He smiled and drove the knife in deeper. Al dropped the girl and leapt to his feet, trying to reach around his brother, but the doctor pushed him forward and Al caught him by reflex.

“If you loved them, you wouldn't have done this to them. You're just some idiot who thinks he's a god.” Ed's voice was racked with pain but he forced his hands together and formed a spear from the floor. Al grabbed it and pushed the young man back, away from his brother. Ed dragged himself to his knees and made a cage to hold the man. The doctor started drawing an array but Ed used the floor to cover his hands and keep them still. “Al, there's a phone in the living room, use it to call the local officers, they can handle him for now. We need to find somewhere for these kids.” He directed his next command to the captured doctor. “Where did they come from?”

“They're mine, I saved them, they're mine.” The older man cackled with glee. “You'll never take them from me, they need me.”

Ed snorted at him, “No one needs a psycho. We'll have to talk to the officers when they get here, maybe they'll have an idea.” His head spun and he weaved a bit. “Al, I'm gonna lie down, go make that call, ok?” Thunk. His head hit the floor and he didn't even hear Al calling him.