Reflex

Well, this is an interesting position we find ourselves in. The first chapter was never intended to be anything more than a little bitlet I wrote while I was crabby. But, you guys liked it! So, I finished it. Because we all know I'm a sucker for praise and fold under demands. I’m not sure I like the second chapter as well, personally, but it’s not bad. Still sad and depressing. Oh well. I hope you enjoy it as much as the first. Many thanks to Danielle, Candy K, and Daniela for reviewing and their kind words.

Float

Long red hair broke free of the tie and tossed over a pillow. Ed rubbed his scalp to sooth the ache from tying it up for so long, but the wig had been necessary. He almost giggled to himself, but stopped in time. ‘Don’t get cocky. Remember what happened to Envy.” The slight homunculus had counted on being able to disappear in a crowd too much and Ed had caught him easily, simply by letting his senses guide him to the alchemy signature. He’d only missed once, and did feel bad for the woman he’d hit, but sacrifices had to be made.

A giggle escaped then; he sounded just like all those stuffy generals! ‘Wonder how Roy’s doing.’ He’d been monitoring the channels but nothing had come through. Not after he’d heard the call for any and all alchemists to return to Central. Silly Roy; of course they hadn’t come, assuming something that broad ranging was a trap. Though, he grinned to himself, him intercepting those letters and opening them before letting them be delivered had helped that impression along rather handily.

He rolled to his stomach and pressed his face into the smooth pillow. It was like all the other pillows he’d slept on in recent years; worn, mostly clean, a pillow for someone who wouldn’t stay. His eyes strayed to the second bed, empty now. A shiver ran down his back.

The water still pressed around him, a sudden shock from the freefall of clear air. It was different this time, so different from the times he’d swum as a child, from the fight with Psiren. That had been a jumble of desperate flailing for air and fighting vainly to reach the surface. Only once he hit the bottom had it occurred to him to use the ground as material. When he was small, his mother had been there, holding his hand and helping him paddle around; later, he’d helped Al stay afloat and they’d played tag for hours.

But when he dove in after the armor, even knowing it was futile, it had been a race to the bottom, screams wasting the little air he managed to gasp. They’d been on the surface in seconds, the earth lending him strength to carry his brother up, but it was already too late. The seal faded before his eyes, water dissolving the blood even as he tried to replace it, strengthen it. In a final act of pain, he’d even tried to remove the water altogether. Nothing worked, the blood ran as if it were fresh and the bright glow, the one he depended on to keep him steady, faded. Al, patient, accepting, stubborn Al, had just sighed his name and squeezed his hand gently before letting go.

And now, there was nothing. No goal, no future, nothing to work for or against. He was glad it didn’t hurt, grateful really. It was nice to be empty for once; no guilt, no fear, no pain. Teacher said he was a monster and that she was ashamed he knew her. Which was fair; he felt like a monster on occasion. At least she’d taken the piece of armor he carried back to her. He didn’t stay, only long enough to hand over the last bits of his brother and to tell her what he was doing. She tried to stop him, really she did, but not even she was a match for him, her sickness catching her easily. She’d told him to leave between coughing and he’d gone. He knew she called Mustang, but he’d already started, so it didn't make a difference.

Poor Roy. He tried so hard to stop him, then to protect others from him. No matter, he was almost done. The homunculi were gone, a stone from each around his neck, and the military was broken, their alchemists gone. Almost. The last were here, somewhere in this town. Perhaps because he’d never been without, Ed had never truly appreciated the effect money had on people; they would tell you anything, no matter who you were, for gold.

Of course he knew he was crazy! It still made him smile when he thought of those last words, flung at him like knives by an alchemist from the North. If nothing else, the fact that his thoughts were so disorganized was proof enough for him. On occasion, he missed being sane, because it meant he’d had Al, but Al was gone and could never be retrieved. Al had kept him sane, given him a goal. His greatest strength and weakness, this desire, NEED, for a goal. Their Teacher taught them to know their own weaknesses and compensate; Roy taught him to never to pounce based on an apparent weakness. A smile at the thought of Roy. ‘Don’t worry, it’ll all be over soon.’

Selfish, selfish, he was being selfish. ‘Sleep, one more night and I’ll be free.’ Red flowed as he rolled to his side, facing the door. ‘Soon, Al, I’ll see you soon. I promise.” Memories of a darker blond and ringing laughter mixed with a tall brunette and a catty smirk trailed him under.

**************

Roy knew he was being a coward. His hands were long healed but he remained in the hospital bed, refusing to budge. Riza still brought him news he refused to read after the first week. No one had come; no one had answered his letters. Alex had been through but only to express his disappointment before going after the elder Elric. He hadn’t been back and the brunette had no idea what had happened to him.

The door opened and a curvaceous young woman with deep black hair stepped in, her white skirt swaying with her hips. He didn't even look up; they’d tried to capture his attention with pretty nurses before. This one settled on the edge of his bed and his eyes cracked open to see her removing her cap and clapping her hands. The long hair crackled and black shimmered in the air before falling in small droplets to the floor. Another clap and curves straightened out, the nurse’s uniform changing to an old outfit, black on black with a wide belt and heavy boots.

His throat worked but he couldn’t speak; his eyes felt like they would pop at any second. “Hi, Roy.” A gentle hand patted his thigh; he distantly noticed it was a right, flesh hand. “Can I sit with you for a while?” Roy felt his head nod slowly. A tiny smile tilted full lips. “Ok, yeah, I’d like that too.”

They sat in silence, Ed’s hand smoothing the covers and Roy breathing shallowly. “Ed.” His voice croaked uncomfortably and he cleared his throat. A glass of water appeared and he drank it gratefully. “Edward, what are you doing here? I thought, I thought you weren’t coming back.”

That same soft smile again; it was more frightening than the last ones he’d been graced with. “I’m finished, Roy. All done. I came home.” No. No, no, no, he can’t mean that, that would mean…

“Tell me you didn’t kill them.” He stared into expressionless gold eyes.

“I didn’t kill them.” The smile didn’t budge and he sounded sincere but his superior knew better.

“Tell me the truth.”

Blond hair shifted over his shoulder. “I can’t do both, Roy.” Dark eyes closed briefly and he took a deep breath.

“You killed them all. Everyone.” The bed shifted and weight distributed itself along his side, an arm reaching across his chest.

“No; that wouldn’t be fair. You’re still here, and Alex will probably be ok. It was an accident; he got in the way. I didn’t chase any of the new alchemists, none accepted since Al died. Only the guilty, Roy, only they must be punished.” His chest was tight, the sturdy arm across it seeming to crush him.

It was a struggle but he opened his mouth again. “What happened to your arm?”

The blond leaned up and flexed his fingers. “I finished their stone for them; had to use it for something.” Long lashes blinked slowly. “There was even enough left over to bind them. See?” He tugged a thick chain out from under his shirt and showed it happily; there were seven stones, brilliant red, glowing from within, dangling from silver clasps.

“Why, Ed? Why this? You were never capable of this before.” Amber eyes were scanned for a hint, a clue as to why this had happened.

A little giggle made him flinch. “Of course I was, Roy. When we were little, I had such a hard time killing things, even bugs. It was so, powerful, and frightening. I didn't want Al to see me like that. He always thought I was great, you know? Someone worth following. The first time I killed a rabbit, on Teacher’s island, I made him look away so he wouldn’t see. Do you remember Laboratory 5? I could have, would have, if he hadn’t been there. It would have been so easy, and our goal would have been reached, but he wouldn’t have loved me anymore.” A small nose nuzzled the side of the older man’s neck. “And now he doesn’t love me anyway. Ironic, no?” Warm breaths tickled the hairs along Roy’s neck with the giggles.

“Ed, why are you here? Not to brag.”

The offended tone lent truth to the words. “Of course not. I just wanted to see you first, and give you a present. I hope you’ll use it.” The chain unsnapped and settled around Roy’s neck, choking him with its weight. Gold peered down at him as he ran his fingers over silver and red.

Dark eyes stared back at him as it dawned on him exactly what the blond wanted of him. “Edward, I, how can I?” Metal clinked and a small knife settled in Ed’s hand, slicing through the pad of his index finger. Blood welled and he drew an array on Roy’s hand, simple yet unfamiliar.

“Just press, Roy. Save me, free me.” Soft lips pressed to his cheek before the blond stood and moved to stand in the middle of the room. His hands spread at his sides and he smiled, a true smile, happy and free. “Please.”

Slim hands trembled as they were raised, fingertips pressed to the array. Ed’s head rolled back on his shoulders and he relaxed, eyes closed, his mouth falling a bit open; he looked like an angel, with blood covered hands. Tears trailed over his cheeks when the brunette reached low in his body and PUSHED, using as much power as he could find and forcing it into a tight ball. The stones flared around his neck, augmenting his desire.

It was over in a second; a flash and ash floated in the room, swirling in the aftermath. The usual scent was even absent, everything combusting too quickly to leave a trace, for which he was grateful. Red melted over his chest and ran down his arms. It was watched absently and he wondered how many souls he’d set free.

His fingers lifted from his hand and he noticed the array was no longer red; it was etched into his skin in a series of thin white lines. A quick smirk; Edward Elric, Fullmetal Alchemist, just had to have the last word. He stood on weaving legs and forced himself out to the hall to find a nurse.

Move forward or die, but no standing in place or going back; Ed’s motto and he would live by it too.