cornerofmadness (cornerofmadness) wrote in royai, @ 2008-05-29 14:11:00 |
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Fic Update - Sorrow's Dark Array Chapter Twelve
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
“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 Twelve
A house is not a home unless it contains food and fire for the mind as well as the body. - Benjamin Franklin
“Scheisse!” Ed stared up at Mustang’s house.
“What?” Roy asked, a curious gleam in his eye.
“Brother’s learned to swear in at least three Earth languages,” Al supplied ruefully, eyeing the sharp roof and the delicate gingerbreading. “That was German.”
“That is one big house,” Hughes said, giving the wraparound porch a longing look then glanced over at Roy. “You were best friends with my doppelganger, yes?”
Roy nodded. “But I lived out east and he never got to see a house like this, which comes with my office. I don’t own the thing. It’s a bit ostentatious for my tastes.”
Riza rolled her eyes as if not buying Roy didn’t like the large, ornate home.
“I have a rich friend…that’ll take some adjusting,” Hughes mused, stroking his chin.
“You already do. Edward has quite a bit of State money as well,” Roy replied, waving for them to follow. “You, on the other hand, can expect a good salary but nothing like an alchemist.”
“At this point, if I have a purpose in this world and I’m not in jail, I think I’ll be fine,” Hughes replied, shrugging as he trailed behind Roy.
“Until then, you and brothers will be staying here,” Roy stepped toward the staircase with its intricate dogwood scroll work, giving them time to gawk at the black and white marble foyer. “Winry stays with me when she’s here. Aris and Dev already went back to their place so I need to get a few more rooms ready. Al, Ed, are you sharing or do you want your own rooms? I can do either.”
“We’ve gotten used to having our own rooms,” Al said as Ed eyed Winry’s back, oblivious to the question.
“All right then, let’s get you three settled,” Roy said. “Li-Ying has a room already. Oh, and before anyone says a word, I did not decorate this place nor do I have free rein to change things. Olivia made that clear. I had to grovel to be allowed to peel the hideous enormous rose wallpaper off my bedroom.”
Riza giggled, patting his shoulder. “Sorry, actually she gave me permission. She was just making you suffer.”
Roy made a disgusted sound. “There are only two bedrooms on the ground floor and I’m saving one for my grandparents, or both if Grandfather’s arthritis is hurting too much to share the bed.”
“You have grandparents, too?” Ed asked, sounding surprised.
“You’ll get to meet them,” Roy said then gave Ed a critical look long enough to get Ed puffing up his chest in irritation. “Can you climb the stairs, Ed?’
“I can!” he huffed, taking two steps up to prove his point. It wasn’t as if he had luggage to bring. Only Winry actually had a change of clothing since the brothers and Hughes had nothing but the clothes on their back.
“I’m taking him in to the shop later, Roy. I’m not tired and I want that leg fixed as fast as I can manage it,” Winry said, smiling a bit at Ed’s grateful look.
“All right then, I’ll show you a few on the second floor. There’re just three of us on that floor now. I think we can all survive there but we do have a third floor if we want to wall Edward away from the rest of the civilized folk.”
“I can work alchemy again, you bastard. I’ll break out of any prison you put me in,” Ed snarled.
“Yes, yes.” Roy waved him off. He pointed to a door with an ornate glass knob. “The master room. Knock on that door at night at your own risk. Winry asked for the room way at the other end for reasons we can all guess at.”
She blushed and slugged him between the shoulder blades making Roy stumble. Ed snickered.
“Ow!” Roy walked a bit further, keeping to himself that Winry definitely did not hit like a girl. Probably the brothers’ influence. “This is Li-Yang’s. Hughes, I think you’d like the one across the hall from her.” He opened the door to reveal a large room with a marble fireplace near the windows. The floor was a honey-brown wood and climbed halfway up the walls, as well. The rest of the walls finished in a dusky rose with a faint floral pattern. The dresser was tucked into an archway. The whole room looked warm and inviting.
“Yes, this is fine, amazing really.” Hughes tossed himself on the bed, claiming his room then rolled back onto his feet, too curious not to see who ended up where.
“Good, okay, now for you boys,” Riza said, nudging Roy into motion.
“How about down nearer to Winry?” Al said then flushed a bit. “In case Brother falls apart before she can fix him.”
Ed shot Alphonse an indescribable look. “I'll be fine anywhere,” he said, close to mumbling. “Just point me out a bed I can sleep in.”
“The room across from Winry’s is one of the nicest but Dev’s claimed that one for the nights he and Aris are here working far too late in the evening.” Roy hid his surprise that Edward didn’t make a remark about that. Opening another door, he said, “Here, for you, Al. This overlooks the garden, which is a nice view but I warn you, it’s a bit overpowering. I’m quite sure the decorator Armstrong hired was given instructions to drive me mad.”
“I’m sure it’ll be fine,” Al said quickly, obviously more worried that his brother might open his mouth about Dev’s room’s proximity to Winry’s. “I just need…wow!” His jaw dropped looking into the room. The vicious deep orange paint seared his retinas but it was the blue trim that boggled him. Hearing Ed’s snicker, Al elbowed him. “This should be criminal. A blue velvet padded headboard? Can I alchemize it?”
“No, you can write letters of complaint to the President who paid for all this. You don’t want to know what she threatened to do if I tried to alchemize the rooms,” Roy replied. “I’ll get you a sleep mask.” He crossed the hall and put a hand on the cobalt blue fluted glass doorknob. “This will be yours, Shortmetal, and like I tell everyone with automail hands, chip the knob and die.”
“Roy.” Winry slapped him hard enough to echo in the hall.
“Winry,” Al scolded.
“You can’t bait me any more,” Ed replied loftily then went into the room, not that he had any luggage to put in it. His jaw dropped at the site of the florid dark blue wallpaper, crammed beyond all reason with bouquets of red, yellow and pink roses. The bedspread matched the paper and frilly lace curtains finished off the room. “I want Al’s room.”
“No way in hell. I’m good with the orange.” Al grimaced, effectively blocking his brother’s way into the room he’d been given. “Was the decorator drunk?”
“I was assured this is the height of fashion,” Roy replied with a fake lofty air that slipped into dismay as he waved his hand at Edward’s room. “I fear that it may be true.”
“I can’t sleep in here. The flowers will eat me,” Ed grumbled, not venturing further into the room.
Winry rolled her eyes. “The flowers will not eat you, Ed. Other people have slept in this room and gone on to live perfectly normal lives.”
“Really? How do you know the flowers didn't eat and replace them?" Ed narrowed his eyes back at Winry.
“Oh, for the love of...the flowers didn’t eat anyone.” Roy considered that maybe if he shoved Ed and Winry in the room together, maybe the flowers would eat them and he wouldn’t have to listen to all this. No, it wouldn’t be that easy. “It’s this or the third floor Edward, and at this point, I doubt you want to be struggling up all those steps.”
Ed let out a disgruntled sigh. “All right, I’ll take the room with the carnivorous flowers.”
“All right, that’s settled then. Edward, Winry wanted to go tinker with you so why don’t you go do that,” Roy suggested. “It’s a little too late to go shopping today but first thing tomorrow, I’m taking all three of you to get some clothes.” He gave the brothers and Hughes a look.
“That would be nice, sir,” Alphonse said gratefully. He obviously didn’t share his brother's ability to wear the same outfit continuously, Roy thought.
“It might be awhile before I’m able to pay you back,” Hughes replied, glancing down at the floral patterned runner in the hallway.
“I’m not worried about that. Believe me, the State Alchemist pay won’t even notice the dent,” Roy waved him off. “I’ll have to find time to go talk to Gracia, the sooner the better I suppose. I think we’ll be fairly safe in the men’s stores. We’re not likely to accidentally bump into her there.”
Coming out of his room, Ed rested his hands on the door frame. “I...we’d kind of like to see her.” He exchanged a look with Al. “Since...we’re gonna be a shock, too, might as well get that over with first, huh?”
“True, but the question is how many shocks do we give her,” Riza said. “You two won’t be as hard to explain as her husband back from the grave.” Hughes’ face fell at that.
“It might be easier if we're there to explain everything.” Alphonse folded his arms, leaning against the wall next to his brother's doorway. “We are the reason it happened.” Ed nodded in agreement as Hughes looked at the runner, scuffing his foot over one of the oversized roses.
“You might be right. I’ll talk to her first, find a place to meet with her and make sure she has a sitter for Elicia,” Roy replied wearily, heading for the stairs. “I’ll try to go over to her home later.”
“Come on, Ed, before all the traveling catches up with me.” Winry went to the end of the hall and tossed her luggage on her bed. “Just let me get Granny’s measurements. It might take me a day or two to get the leg done or do you want me to do the arm first?”
Ed's eyes widened briefly then lowered, a faint smile hovering around his mouth. “Whatever you want to work on first. I’ve got a loaner leg so I can get around.”
“The leg, I think. Who knows what Olivia might want you to do and she’ll not be in a mood to wait,” Winry replied grimly, as she came out of her room, a notepad in hand.
Alphonse's mouth turned down at that. “She’s really that bad, huh, Winry?” He glanced at his brother. “You’d better behave yourself, Ed. I’d hate for her to throw you in the stockade for those three years.”
“She does have the country’s best interest at heart and it’s not an easy task,” Roy interjected from the top of the stair. “That said, she is ruthless and smart.”
“And she will throw you in the stockade as soon as look at you, if not assign you to the northern range or the desert if you piss her off," Winry added, giving Ed a sharp look.
Hughes let out a low whistle. “Guess we’d both better be on our best behavior, huh, Edward?”
“Fine, fine, I’ll be good for the dragon lady,” Ed muttered, waving off the concern with something like his old carelessness.
“Hawkeye, find out from Strongarm what bribes work best so Alphonse can get his brother sprung from the stockade,” Roy said with his customary smirk. “But not too fast. The stockade would do Ed good.”
“Yes, sir,” Riza said, characteristically crisp. “Even though it isn’t a joke, Edward. You know the adage about pulling a tiger’s tail. In this case, it’s perfectly true.”
“I get it. I can behave, you know,” Ed huffed, favoring everyone with a hot glare.
Winry raked her eyes over him. “I hope so, for your sake.”
“I’m not a little kid any more,” Ed said glumly.
Alphonse lowered his head. “No, you’re not. But you still act first and think second a lot of the time, Brother.”
Ed shot his brother a wounded look, grumbling under his breath.
Winry, notebook in hand, caught Ed’s wrist, spinning him around. “Let’s go.” Ed let her hustle him down the steps.
“I’ll drive you,” Riza said, following in their wake. “You can get a cab home, Winry. I’ll go into town and get some groceries. No one’s been in this house in weeks.”
“Do you need help?” Roy asked.
“I’m not turning you loose in a grocery store. Every time I do, the bill is triple what it is normally,” Riza said over her shoulder. “You stay and entertain our guests.”
Roy shrugged his shoulders. “I have expensive tastes,” he confided in the two remaining men.
“I’m not surprised, sir,” Al smiled, heading for the stairs.
“I can’t offer much in the way of refreshments. The maids cleaned but as Riza said, there was no need to keep food in here. We’ve been in Resembol for months,” Roy replied, going down the stairs. “I have alcohol and I could make tea. I suppose it’s a little early for the one. I’ll go put the kettle on.”
Roy deposited them in his library and left to go boil water. Alphonse immediately started perusing the bookshelves with obvious interest. Hughes took the time to snoop about, trying to get more clues to the man he was supposed to be best friends with. He quickly found a picture of the two of them together, obviously fresh out of the academy. His doppelganger wore a huge effortless grin while Mustang, predictably as Hughes was coming to find out, looked so serious and grim it hurt.
He set the picture back on the desk and picked up another. His hands shook as he gazed at the people looking up at him; Gracia, his doppelganger and a beautiful little girl held in his arms. They looked so happy. What was he going to do to them by being here? What was he doing to himself? Hughes clamped a hand over his mouth but couldn’t hold in a long, low moan of pain.
“Mr. Hughes?” Al’s voice was flush with worry.
Hughes couldn’t answer him, shaking so hard that he didn’t know how he managed to stay on his feet. He felt hands on him, bearing him back. The edge of chair rapped against his knees and Hughes sat down hard. Through watery eyes, he looked up to see Mustang standing over him, the picture now in his hands. “I can’t take this man’s life.”
“I’m not sure there’s too much choice,” Roy replied, regret evident in his voice.
“Maybe he could really just go somewhere else, sir, somewhere far away,” Al said, his hand coming to rest of Hughes’ shoulder.
“It’s a little late for that now, Alphonse,” Roy argued. “And it’s barely less cruel to send him out in a world he doesn’t know all alone. There isn’t a great solution for this.”
“Can you really look at me and accept the lie that I’m your friend? How can you expect that beautiful woman to be able to do that?” Hughes asked roughly.
Roy set the picture back. “How can I ask you to accept her in the place of your own lost Gracia? I’m a bastard, that’s how.”
“No, you’re not,” Al grumbled, an unaccustomed fire in his eyes. “You keep getting stuck with cleaning up messes, especially the ones my brother and I make with precious little thanks.”
Roy flopped down on the couch. He flipped his bang out of his eyes. “Thank you, Alphonse.”
“She’ll hold me over your head, this president of yours, won’t she? You finagled a way for me and the brothers to step back into our lives and now you owe her,” Hughes said, wiping his face.
“Believe me, she already owns me,” Roy replied grimly. “One more thing isn’t going to hurt.”
“Why would she?” Alphonse frowned sharply. “You were candidate material to become the Fuhrer and with everything that happened during the invasion, sir, even though you did take that demotion,” his voice trailed off. “I don’t understand.”
“For one, I think she knows I helped to cover up what you and Edward did, Alphonse,” Roy replied. “And she knows the things her brother and I did in Ishbal. We could have been executed as traitors for helping the women and children escape. They did make me execute Winry’s parents for rendering aid so I could hardly expect better. I let you and Edward go when I was tasked to bring you in. One of my sisters has ties to a group of war protestors from back in the days of the Ishbalan war and she got me into a few things before I joined the military. I thought all of that was hidden until Olivia brought it up when we were trying to sort out who was to be president.”
“You killed that poor girl’s parents?” Hughes asked sounded as stunned as Al looked. Roy assumed Al was shocked by the additions to the story since he knew of Roy’s past.
“During the war. They were giving aid to the enemy. I had a choice, follow orders or accept the punishment for disobeying. I’d still be in a cell, if I was lucky. I’m pretty sure I would have been shot as a traitor,” Roy said with a shrug that didn’t begin to convey how he felt about it all. “Olivia knows I’m a threat to her so she keeps me where she can see me. Helping you three, that’s pretty much the final nail in my coffin. She’s in a position to keep me from ever becoming president.”
“But that’s all you ever wanted, sir,” Al said, his hazel eyes watery. “If helping us…”
Roy held up a hand. “I’d do it regardless, Alphonse. I wanted to become president because I wanted to prevent something like Ishbal from happening again. I believe Olivia does have the best interests of Amestris at heart and she knows I could kill her with a snap of my fingers if she didn’t. Right now, where I’m at, as ambassador, I’m doing a lot of good work to help restore a place I helped to decimate. I’m happy enough.”
Alphonse didn't quite look convinced, his expression troubled. “But,” he began.
Shaking his head, Roy said, “Alphonse, concentrate on being home, all right? Keeping your brother out of hot water and getting to know Winry again. She’s missed you both, more than she’ll probably ever tell you.”
“I know, sir.”
“And this way, I’m free for the very first time, Alphonse. I can marry the woman I have loved for years. If I was president, they would expect me to make some kind of political marriage. As it was, I came this close to being Olivia’s husband.” Roy held out his fingers, almost touching. “It’s what all the generals wanted, since we were both popular candidates.”
Hughes made a face, shuddering. “She would have probably eaten you alive.”
“I'm sure there would've been an unexpected, unexplained death.” The mocking expression didn't quite reach Roy's eyes.
“Very possibly hers,” Al said softly.
“Well, if Riza had had her way.” Roy gave the younger man a sardonic grin. “I think I hear the tea kettle.” He levered himself up. “I think we could all use some just about now.”
X X X
“Which finish?” Winry held up two pieces of metal, one burnished and the other shiny.
Ed sprawled carelessly on her exam table. “Shiny.”
“All right but keep in mind I now know just how mirror-like this finish can be kept in,” Winry cautioned him. “Have you seen the care Roy takes of his leg?”
Rolling his eyes in response, Ed muttered, “Yeah, I know. It’s blinding.” A wicked grin flickered on his face. “That might give me an advantage in fights, though.”
“Speaking of which, do you want any weapons in the leg or just your standard?” Winry picked up her sketchbook to share designs with him.
“No weapons. I don’t like you making weapons,” Ed said softly, his brow creasing a little.
Winry just shrugged and let it slide. “Which design do you like better?” She let him view his options.
Ed gazed at the sketchbook without really seeing it. As far as he was concerned, Winry’s choices suited him just fine. He gave her a cautious look, knowing he shouldn’t ask but he needed to know. “Do you love him, Winry? I…” Ed glanced down at his metal hand. “I know it’s not my business. I just want to know that you’re happy.”
“I'm happy, Ed.” Winry didn’t think she particularly sounded happy but Ed often didn’t pay attention, or at least close attention, so maybe she could get away with that.
“That didn’t really answer the question,” Ed said, dashing that hope. “I need to know, Winry. I need…I don’t want to be pushing in where I don’t belong. If us being...friends causes problems, I don’t want to do that.”
Winry stared at him for a moment, realizing this was probably as close as Ed would get to telling her that he loved her. She wiped her hands on her coveralls, trying to hide their sudden sweatiness. She had to be very careful about what she said next since it would have deep repercussions. “I care about him, Edward, a lot. But it’s not that easy and that’s why Dev broke it off with me. He knew some of my friends had stopped coming around because I was dating an Ishbalan. His friends were making him miserable over me to the point it was greatly interfering in his job. Strangers would make nasty comments to us here in Central. I’m not sure either of us want to spend a life time like that. No, I know we don’t. I guess that means we didn’t love each other enough to endure that.”
“You shouldn’t have to endure it. It’s unfair,” Ed grumbled and Winry knew he meant that. “He doesn’t seem like he’s that bad of a guy. I’m all for his opinions on the Bastard.” Ed managed a smile, raising his eyes to meet hers.
Winry laughed lightly, shaking her head. “That’s all poor Roy needs, a Jasso-Elric alliance. He’ll never survive.”
“When you put it that way, I’m so tempted.” This time the smile was real, that familiar, cocky smile that had haunted Winry’s dreams for so long.
Winry picked her sketch book up again. “I’ll have the leg done as soon as I can. Let’s talk arm,” she shifted the conversation back away from the painful subjects, grateful that Ed let her get away with it.
X X X
“It’s so nice to see you back, Alex Louis,” Rose said, her hand feeling empty. Usually, she brought Kane everywhere with her but ever since coming to Central and having sitters, she felt the distance between herself and her son keenly. She tried not to look disappointed because she had wanted to spend time with Alex Louis but he wasn’t alone. He had introduced the woman he was taking tea with as Li-Ying. “Mr. Attaway has kept me busy.”
“I’m glad though I was surprised to see you’re still here, Rose. I thought you were working to rebuild Lior.” Armstrong blew across his tea cup, obviously surprised to see Rose in his office, waiting for him.
“I was sent here to help Mr. Attaway help Lior,” Rose replied. “They thought I could do some good here. I’ve been doing a lot of little jobs for him but I’m not sure how much of a help it’ll be for back home.” She shrugged, picking up her own cup. The fragrant liquid made her mouth water.
“I’m not all that familiar with what Mr. Attaway does,” Armstrong said, “other than he’s one of my sister’s many subordinates. I no longer have much to do with Lior’s rebuilding, not since I’ve been needed back in Investigations.”
“Oh, I didn’t know that,” Rose pouted a little. She had liked working with Armstrong. He had been such a nice man. “I heard a rumor that someone who looked a lot like Edward was seen at the train station. Is it true? Have he and his brother come back?” She was eager to know the truth.
Armstrong’s suddenly guarded look shocked her. He glanced at his companion but she remained as quiet as she had been ever since she said hello to Rose. He took a sip of tea before answering her. “Where did you hear that?”
Rose’s shoulders fell when he didn’t confirm the rumor. “Just around town. Everyone is saying it. I just wanted to see him if it was true.”
“Everyone doesn’t always have the truth of the matter, Rose.” Alex Louis’ large hand touched her shoulder, surprisingly gentle. “All the truth will be revealed, eventually.”
Rose sighed. “Everyone is always so mysterious.” Her disappointment almost drove the other questions Judith told her to ask Armstrong from her mind. She didn’t want to leave empty handed.
“The military must have its secrets.” His blue eyes warmed.
“There’s a saying among my people that goes ‘if you tell your secrets to the wind, you cannot blame the wind for whispering those secrets to the birds’,” Li-Ying said. “I’m sure that if you’re this Edward person’s friend, he’ll seek you out if there is any truth to the rumors.”
Rose smiled at that thought and Alex Louis nodded his bald head before changing the subject, “Tell me, Rose, how does Kane like the city?”
Rose brightened at the question and launched into a long story about how much Kane loved the grassy park and how happy she was to have a safe place for him to play, promptly forgetting Judith’s questions as she talked about her son.
X X X
Li-Ying watched Rose go then got up and locked the office door. Armstrong gave her a curious look. “She seemed awfully interested in Edward.”
“They were friends,” Armstrong replied, “Though Rose was more full of questions than usual.”
“Hmm, well, I’m sure you know how to handle that.” Li-Ying spun Armstrong’s chair around and swung into his lap. Her lips met his, her finger twirling in his forelock. She coquettishly slithered back out of his lap. “Just a precursor for toni….well, maybe tomorrow night. I’m tired from that long train ride. Better get back before my brother thinks I died. See you tomorrow, lover.” Li-Ying patted the ruby-blush curve of his head before letting herself out.
“I shall endeavor to restrain myself until our next meeting,” he replied, delighting in her answering laugh.
* author’s note - much like Roy quotes Sun Tzu and The Art of War, Li-Ying is paraphrasing Kahlil Gibran in her quote about secrets.