It Wasn't Anything

Chapter 8

Deception

Roy saw the distant lights of Ishbal as he stood next to his car with his driver. He glared at the broken road in front of them. The impending evening was quiet, not even a bird sang a lonely song. “Damn-it,” he muttered, under his breath. They’d been fighting enormous potholes and washed out sections of road for the last two hours and now the sun was setting.

The car slumped. A tire had fallen into a deep crevice and only spun out of control when they’d tried to move it. Roy was unsure how to proceed. He figured he could use alchemy, but what good were flames when his car was stuck like this? He had to think. Gazing back off in the distance, he wondered where Ed was and if he’d found Sloth yet. He winced, hoping it wasn’t too late. Anger welling in his chest, he pounded a fist on the hood of his car. Then and idea came to him. “I’ll just melt the son of a bitch.”

“Sir?” the driver asked, not quite hearing the remark.

“Stand back.” Roy snapped his fingers and flames resembling a blowtorch spewed out of his gloved fingers. It took him a minute, but with a bit of practice he was able to precisely direct the flow to the dirt underneath the stuck tire. Once the sand turned to rough glass, Roy turned his attention to the road ahead of them. He stood in front of the car and snapped his fingers again. A large fireball in the shape of a dragon appeared, spitting fireballs onto the road in gusts. Roy gestured wildly with his hands, directing the movement of the creature as it flew down the road in front of them. He smiled, reviewing his handy work. As the smoke cleared, a much smoother road appeared in front of them, albeit shiny as well.

-O-

The man behind the bar silently nodded to Sloth before leaving for the kitchen.

The homunculus still cradled the now silent young man. She wondered how long she had to keep up this charade. Having to hold the ingrate that created and abandoned her when she had no idea who or what she was repulsed her. Envy was right. Edward Elric deserved to die. Envy was the one to find her and help her accept who she was now. That stupid woman who gave birth to two boys was no more. She was tired of those old, painful memories. Killing the Elric brothers would help her forget. Their plan had been perfect, set up shop, let their whereabouts be known, and wait. They knew he would come. And if they played their cards right, they’d have him right where they wanted him, here in her arms.

Ed felt his mother’s arms tighten around him. At first he thought she was trying to soothe her own emotions. But, her grip started to hurt and his lungs became unable to expand completely. Eyes flying open, he tried to push away and look her in the face, unable to comprehend her intentions. But her embrace only tightened.

“Edward, where are you going? Not leaving me again, I hope. No, I won’t let you do that again. You and your pathetic brother, thinking you could just bring me to life and leave me to die.” Her voice was sharp and menacing.

Ed gasped. What was she saying? Did she remember what he did? Of course she did. But he’d only been a kid. He was injured. He had to get to Winry’s or he’d have bled to death. “Mother, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know.” Fresh tears rolled down his cheeks.

“Get this sniveling brat off me.” Suddenly, she shoved him brutally into a young man who’d emerged from the kitchen.

Ed felt himself crash into a hard body with his back. Someone was pulling his braid, almost yanking his hair out. He looked in horror as he saw the long black hair belonging to Envy wrap itself around him as he fell back.

“Hello, Ed, do you want your mommy? Huh?” Envy asked, snarling.

Ed struggled to figure out what was happening to him. Glancing up at Sloth, he implored her, with only his eyes, to do something to help him. Envy pinned his flesh arm behind his back, holding him firm, before he had a chance to struggle.

“You cry baby. What’s the matter? Not happy with the family reunion?” Envy said, bringing Ed’s arm up painfully high, causing Ed to bend forward.

“M-Mother?” Ed was still unable to process the events. His thought patterns became random as devastation made a home in his head.

“Don’t call me that. I am not your mother. If I was, I’d have drown you the day you were born,” Sloth shouted.

“N-no, d-don’t say that. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” Ed began to sob. He was defeated, plain and simple. He could handle physical battles, but psychological warfare was just too much for his already fragile disposition to handle. Ready to accept his punishment, he grew slack in Envy’s arms.

A loud explosion erupted behind the metal doors of the kitchen, causing the doors to swing wildly and heat to penetrate the room. When the dust settled, Ed peered up from under his long bangs to see Colonel Roy Mustang glaring at them with dark eyes.

The Colonels arm was raised and his gloved fingers pressed together, ready to ignite them at will.

Mustang had surveyed the situation before entering the building through the now smoldering back door. He’d assumed their plan was to lure Ed here with Sloth all along, which is why he’d ordered Ed to remain in his room. He should have known the stubborn alchemist wouldn’t obey. Judging by the wretched look on his lovers face and the tear soaked cheeks, he was right. Roy momentarily lapsed as he gazed at Ed. He felt tears sting his eyes. “Edward,” he whispered. He was unable to hide the feelings that flooded his heart.

Ed averted his eyes from the Colonel, choosing to believe in the homunculus he believed was his mother. A raw ached filled his heart when he saw Roy, but he had to believe Sloth would feel something for him and save him.

Envy watched the whole display with amusement. What was it he saw on Mustang’s face? A little more than concern for a comrade, way more than that, and why was the Colonel alone? Envy decided to put his theory to the test. “Oh, Colonel…” Bringing Ed's head back up, he stuck out his tongue, flicking at Ed’s ear.

Roy’s face turned red with rage.

Envy grinned and put his mouth over Ed’s earlobe, sucking seductively.

Ed checked out. Whatever was happening to his ear was not his concern anymore. He just stared blankly ahead, waiting for darkness to comfort him.

Roy lunged at Envy. “You mother fucker!”

Envy stopped what he was doing. “Uh ah, Colonel, come any closer and I’ll kill your little boy toy here.” A sinful look appeared in Envy’s eyes as he positioned his free hand around Ed’s waist and slipped under Ed’s belt, into the front of his pants. Envy kept his eyes focused on the Colonel’s while he fondled Ed, stroking harsh and quick. “Huh, I think he likes it. Does he get this hard with you, Colonel?”

“Get your God-damned hands off him, you fucking mutant!” Roy felt helpless.

Something flooded Ed's senses. He let out a soft moan while images of Roy in the restroom hallway on his birthday flickered in his mind. He lost himself in Roy’s embrace and expert hands. He pushed his hips into the pleasant sensation. It helped him block out the agony over being rejected by his mother and his lover. Voices jumbled his head.

Care deeply…freak…banging Fullmetal…never love anyone else …fresh blood…fucking subordinates…you’re really into that …I miss you…always be here for you…drown you.

Envy was surprised. Was Ed actually enjoying this? He heard Ed’s moans and felt his hips moving. What the hell was going on? Envy wasn’t sure how he felt about it. He was either repulsed or strangely excited. He shuddered as a wave of foreign pleasure pulsed through his system when his own erection pressed against Ed’s back.

Envy, the sick fuck, Roy thought, watching in horror while Ed’s eyes glazed over and tears escaped down his cheeks. Roy’s gaze shifted to Sloth. She appeared to be in shock at Envy’s blatant disregard for anything sacred. When Roy looked back at Envy, he realized his chance had come. The homunculus seemed caught up in his interlude with Ed.

Roy rushed forward and shoved Ed hard, making both males fall backwards onto the floor, separating the two. Roy quickly snapped his fingers setting Envy on fire. “Getting a little hot, Envy?” he shouted. He heard a scream behind him and saw Sloth racing passed in the corner of his eye.

Envy screeched. His flesh was on fire, literally. On all fours, on his back, he struggled to remove himself from Mustang’s reach. He could faintly discern a body running towards him. He flinched as cool soothing water drenched him for a moment, putting an end to the flames. He was still badly wounded. It would take a few minutes to heal. Lying on the ground, he waited for his inhuman body to recover.

Sloth solidified her body in mid-run after putting out the flames enveloping Envy’s body. She ran to the bar and grabbed the only thing she could think of, the knife they used for cutting lemons and limes.

Roy ran to Ed and crouched beside him. He looked him over. Ed was trembling and incoherent, but there seemed to be no physical wounds on him. He glanced up just in time to see Sloth running at them with a knife in her hand. Smiling, Roy raised his hand to set fire to the female homunculus. Suddenly, his arm was struck and he was propelled onto his back. He watched, stunned and horrified, as Ed stood up with his arms stretched out, realizing Ed had been the one to throw him.

“Edward!” Roy screamed. He could only watch the scene in slow motion as Sloth’s silhouette lunged, thrusting the gleaming blade into Ed's body.

Ed fell forward to his knees, gripping his heart.

“No!” Roy’s anger knew no boundaries as he rose up, snapping his fingers over and over, scorching everything in sight. Flames flew out all around him, licking at the bar, the tables, enveloping Envy and Sloth in its wake. Roy heard their shrill cries of pain. He smiled.

Roy rushed to Ed’s side.

Ed now lay on his chest. Blood soaked his clothes and poured out of his lifeless body.

“Ed . . . ” Roy's tears fell freely. How could he let this happen? Why didn’t he see it coming? He had to get them out of the burning inferno. Roy lifted Ed's limp body, putting an arm under his shoulders and one under his knees, and strode through flames, out the building, into the alley. He gently set Ed down on the pavement and wept, clutching Ed’s torso tight. When his tears slowed, he began to make an assessment of Ed's wounds, lowering him a little. There was still some shallow breathing from his lover, but there was so much blood. He felt movement.

“M-mother? Wh-where is she? D-did you kill her?” Ed words got louder and more panicked as he spoke.

Roy peered down at him, not knowing what to say.

Suddenly, Ed started to thrash, punching and shoving blindly at Roy. “You killed her didn’t you? You bastard! You wanted to keep her from me! You used me!”

Pinning Ed’s arms to the pavement by the wrist, Roy straddled him to stop the assault. He was briefly pleased Ed had the strength to attack him. It meant maybe his wound appeared worse than it actually was.

Ed struggled through the pain in his chest. It was nothing compared to having automail installed. He remembered hearing someone crying over him. He remembered his heart ached so much it ripped him from his near coma. But here was the bastard that took his mother from him and used him for sex. “Why did you do it? Why did you take her from me? Why can’t you love me, like you loved Maes? I’m all alone . . . all alone.” Ed's tears came to the surface once again.

“Goddamn-it, Ed, stop it. You’ll hurt yourself even worse.” Roy kept him still. “She’s a homunculus, Ed. She is not your mother, understand? She, is, not, your, mother.” His tears fell onto Ed’s face and mingled with his lover's before they rolled down to the street. He felt Ed’s body relax under his grip. Ed's eyes began to close. “You are not alone! I told you I’d always be there for you! Nothing can change that! I do love you, goddamn-it!” Releasing his hold on Ed's wrists, he grabbed the front of his black jacket and shook him briefly with no response. “Ed, hold on. I’ll get you help. I promise. I love you, I love you, I love you.” He hoped against hope that somehow Ed could hear him.

He saw movement in the corner of his eye. When he looked up, there were two figures, a blonde woman with her gun drawn and a large suit of armor. Suddenly, a piercing pain dashed through the back of his skull and everything went black.

Roy's body fell, limp, over his lover's.