[fic] MTTMG
Part two of the WIP.
Title: Meek Through The Mirror Glass
Author: automailvariant
Genre: drama/semi-angst/wtf-ery
Rating: PG-13 at most
Summary: Edward meets up with something (and someone) he never expected.
Author Notes: WIP; combo of BBI (Semi-manga) and Anime
There were times that Ed really would have liked for Alphonse to have come with him.
This was not one of those times.
Sure, for a brief moment, he'd considered having his brother there to help him- two human alchemists against one immortal, it would work... right?- but that was just it... Al was human, and could get hurt, and Ed would never allow that to happen.
So he stared at the homunculus and really, really hoped it- Pride- didn't particularly want to kill him.
But Pride just stood. Just stared. Those dead eyes made Ed want to shiver all over again, but he held his ground with a glare that felt more like a scared child's look.
"What do you want from me?" He wanted it to sound dangerous, but it came out weak and rather quiet. "I'm not making any Stones for you an' whoever your buddies are."
It seemed to take a moment for Pride to register that Ed had asked him something. His head tilted in a haunting look of consideration and confusion, though the face of the copy didn't change.
"Edward," he said again, and Ed found he had the nerve to snort and roll his eyes briefly, even if his bladed arm didn't waver.
"Yeah. That's me," Ed said slowly, unable to meet the eyes of his clone. "We know that already. Answer my question."
The silence was still unnerving, like Pride could lash out at any time and drive Ed to the ground, and Ed didn't understand why the homunculus wasn't doing anything. But then Pride did something.
His hands came from behind his back, where Ed realized too late they'd been, and booted feet back tracked before he could get control of them, but he didn't flee. He'd almost been tempted to just run and leave the homunculus behind, but there was no attack, no pounce, not even a threatening gesture. Just two hands holding out something a wrinkly, dull white. Ed, finally surprised into letting his arm drop, licked his lips and bit his lower one before he recognized the papers he'd dropped in front of the gate.
"The report," he explained shortly, and snorted. "I don't need that anymore."
The homunculus' eyes narrowed, and Ed realized it was in thought, not in anger, that they did so. Behind dull gold, he could almost feel gears turning, before Pride's hands lowered, still holding the ruined report.
"Hey, kids! What are you doing out? It's getting late." The MP's voice had Ed's head whipping around, braid swinging nearly hard enough to hit him in the face.
"What?" he asked stupidly, then replayed it back in his mind. "Oh, uh. Right. I'll just go."
Without thinking further, he grabbed Pride's wrist, tugging him along and leaving the MP to stare after them briefly before returning to his round.
As they walked, Ed found himself thinking, and wondering why the hell the homunculus he was now dragging along- against better judgment, afterthought told him- didn't... do something. He just followed like a well-trained puppy, waiting for instruction. That, Ed figured, was meant to unnerve him- make him drop his guard so Pride could get in a hit. But Ed was smarter than that.
At least, that was what he thought, before he realized he'd strayed so far in his mind that his feet were on auto-pilot, and had taken him back to HQ. And that Pride was in plain sight, ouroboros tattoo blatantly clear and red on his shoulder. So he did what he figured was easiest, slinging off his red duster and shoving it at Pride. "Here. Put this on."
Pride took it, running his fingers over the thick, heavy material. Ed watched, then said, "well?" impatiently, prompting him to shrug it over his shoulders, hood up over his head, and Ed swallowed hard. The appearance, save the dead gold of the eyes, was uncanny, especially shadowed by the hood.
"Come on," he said, and led the way. Pride followed almost automatically, and suddenly, Ed jumped when he felt a tug on his sleeve.
"What?!" he yelped, grabbing his arm away. Pride only watched a moment, then reached and placed his fingers on Ed's black sleeve again, curling them in the cuff.
Edward stared. Pride did nothing but stare back. Ed snorted. "Fine. Now will you come?"
He suddenly had the notion of being a babysitter for a potentially deadly homunculus, and grumped to himself as they passed through the main gate of Headquarters.
He could feel the funny looks of people as they passed, aware that he looked slightly ridiculous towing a red-coated, barefoot boy behind him by how own sleeve. But no one stopped him. Maybe they thought it was Alphonse.
Through the halls, and he didn't bother knocking as he pushed open the door to the outer office. Only Hawkeye was there, he saw as he peeked, then stepped in.
"Hey. Colonel in?" he asked. Hawkeye looked up.
"He's in his office, Edward," she answered, motioning to the door. "Try not to distract him too much," she added, a small smile curving her lips.
"Uh-huh." The response was hurried as he went by, Pride still following as he went to the Colonel for the second time that day.
Roy looked up as he entered this time, and a smirk played across his lips. "Ah, good timing, Fullmetal. Did you finish your report?"
"Noshutup," came the returned growl, and he kicked the door closed.
"Well, I suppose you should finish the one you started-... who is that?" Roy seemed genuinely surprised to see someone behind Ed, wearing his coat, face shadowed.
But then dead eyes looked back at him, and he scraped the tips of his fingers together. "Or should I ask if it's even a 'who'?"
Ed's eyes narrowed. But instead of going on a tirade, his free hand rose, pushing back the hood of his coat. His twin stared back, head canted in confusion. "Yeah," Ed said. "It's a who."
***
Pride recognized this person. Edward and this person were talking before. Edward had called him 'Mustang,' and Brother had called him 'Flame Bastard.' Mustang Flame Bastard seemed like a strange name for a person like this.
He looked nice. His voice was not as soft as Edward's, but it was not as scary as Brother's. He looked like light and shadow and evening-sky all mixed together.
Brother didn't like his gloves, though. Mustang Flame Bastard had hurt-causing gloves. Pride didn't understand it, until he smelled the faint tang of smoke and sparks around the man. Brother's hands hurt, too, but they didn't smell of fire.
They were talking again. The smell of sparks tanged the air, and Pride tightened his grip on Ed's sleeve.
"What is this, Fullmetal?" The dark man called Edward 'Fullmetal,' like Brother did, sometimes.
"What's it look like?" Edward's voice was sharp, now, like Brother's, but Mustang Flame Bastard just watched, like Pride had been instructed to when he and Brother played. "Don't answer that. I don't know where he came from."
"Well, then, what are you going to do about it?" The man behind the desk seemed angry, now. His voice was soft, and dangerous.
"I don't know! Listen to me when I tell you, dammit! It-" Edward's arm broke from Pride's grasp and flailed, and Pride now felt... scared. Again, he took refuge in hanging on, this time to the hem of Ed's black overshirt. "It's like no one's gotten to him, yet. I think it- he's like a freakin' puppet! He did everything I told him to do. He can't even talk!"
"Did you even think, Fullmetal?" More danger in Mustang Flame Bastard's voice. "You have just allowed it to infiltrate Central Headquarters. It cannot be allowed to leave, or to further exist."
"They can't be killed!" Edward was angry, too. His anger wasn't as scary as the other man's. His anger was violent, like Brother in a bad mood. Mustang Flame Bastard's anger was like Brother in a good mood.
"Wrath was destroyed."
"I don't even know how to-"
"Drain him of the Stone."
"I can't!"
Silence. It made Pride duck farther behind Edward. He felt shaking beneath his fingertips. Edward's voice again, quiet, and not angry. "I don't even know if he-"
Pride touched his back, where he could feel the jut of Edward's shoulder blade, and the ridge of his shiny, metal arm. Maybe that was why Edward's breathing did a funny, halting hitch, and his voice stopped.
Carefully, he watched Mustang Flame Bastard, and Edward didn't move. He could smell more sparks, and see the tense of the man's arm beneath evening-sky blue.
"Fullmetal?"
Edward shook again. His breathing did a strange jump. "Nothing. I'll watch him. Just-..."
Mustang Flame Bastard didn't look nice anymore. Pride didn't like him.
"I'm being more accommodating than necessary, Fullmetal. If I hear anything, I will take care of this thing myself."
Title: Meek Through The Mirror Glass
Author: automailvariant
Genre: drama/semi-angst/wtf-ery
Rating: PG-13 at most
Summary: Edward meets up with something (and someone) he never expected.
Author Notes: WIP; combo of BBI (Semi-manga) and Anime
There were times that Ed really would have liked for Alphonse to have come with him.
This was not one of those times.
Sure, for a brief moment, he'd considered having his brother there to help him- two human alchemists against one immortal, it would work... right?- but that was just it... Al was human, and could get hurt, and Ed would never allow that to happen.
So he stared at the homunculus and really, really hoped it- Pride- didn't particularly want to kill him.
But Pride just stood. Just stared. Those dead eyes made Ed want to shiver all over again, but he held his ground with a glare that felt more like a scared child's look.
"What do you want from me?" He wanted it to sound dangerous, but it came out weak and rather quiet. "I'm not making any Stones for you an' whoever your buddies are."
It seemed to take a moment for Pride to register that Ed had asked him something. His head tilted in a haunting look of consideration and confusion, though the face of the copy didn't change.
"Edward," he said again, and Ed found he had the nerve to snort and roll his eyes briefly, even if his bladed arm didn't waver.
"Yeah. That's me," Ed said slowly, unable to meet the eyes of his clone. "We know that already. Answer my question."
The silence was still unnerving, like Pride could lash out at any time and drive Ed to the ground, and Ed didn't understand why the homunculus wasn't doing anything. But then Pride did something.
His hands came from behind his back, where Ed realized too late they'd been, and booted feet back tracked before he could get control of them, but he didn't flee. He'd almost been tempted to just run and leave the homunculus behind, but there was no attack, no pounce, not even a threatening gesture. Just two hands holding out something a wrinkly, dull white. Ed, finally surprised into letting his arm drop, licked his lips and bit his lower one before he recognized the papers he'd dropped in front of the gate.
"The report," he explained shortly, and snorted. "I don't need that anymore."
The homunculus' eyes narrowed, and Ed realized it was in thought, not in anger, that they did so. Behind dull gold, he could almost feel gears turning, before Pride's hands lowered, still holding the ruined report.
"Hey, kids! What are you doing out? It's getting late." The MP's voice had Ed's head whipping around, braid swinging nearly hard enough to hit him in the face.
"What?" he asked stupidly, then replayed it back in his mind. "Oh, uh. Right. I'll just go."
Without thinking further, he grabbed Pride's wrist, tugging him along and leaving the MP to stare after them briefly before returning to his round.
As they walked, Ed found himself thinking, and wondering why the hell the homunculus he was now dragging along- against better judgment, afterthought told him- didn't... do something. He just followed like a well-trained puppy, waiting for instruction. That, Ed figured, was meant to unnerve him- make him drop his guard so Pride could get in a hit. But Ed was smarter than that.
At least, that was what he thought, before he realized he'd strayed so far in his mind that his feet were on auto-pilot, and had taken him back to HQ. And that Pride was in plain sight, ouroboros tattoo blatantly clear and red on his shoulder. So he did what he figured was easiest, slinging off his red duster and shoving it at Pride. "Here. Put this on."
Pride took it, running his fingers over the thick, heavy material. Ed watched, then said, "well?" impatiently, prompting him to shrug it over his shoulders, hood up over his head, and Ed swallowed hard. The appearance, save the dead gold of the eyes, was uncanny, especially shadowed by the hood.
"Come on," he said, and led the way. Pride followed almost automatically, and suddenly, Ed jumped when he felt a tug on his sleeve.
"What?!" he yelped, grabbing his arm away. Pride only watched a moment, then reached and placed his fingers on Ed's black sleeve again, curling them in the cuff.
Edward stared. Pride did nothing but stare back. Ed snorted. "Fine. Now will you come?"
He suddenly had the notion of being a babysitter for a potentially deadly homunculus, and grumped to himself as they passed through the main gate of Headquarters.
He could feel the funny looks of people as they passed, aware that he looked slightly ridiculous towing a red-coated, barefoot boy behind him by how own sleeve. But no one stopped him. Maybe they thought it was Alphonse.
Through the halls, and he didn't bother knocking as he pushed open the door to the outer office. Only Hawkeye was there, he saw as he peeked, then stepped in.
"Hey. Colonel in?" he asked. Hawkeye looked up.
"He's in his office, Edward," she answered, motioning to the door. "Try not to distract him too much," she added, a small smile curving her lips.
"Uh-huh." The response was hurried as he went by, Pride still following as he went to the Colonel for the second time that day.
Roy looked up as he entered this time, and a smirk played across his lips. "Ah, good timing, Fullmetal. Did you finish your report?"
"Noshutup," came the returned growl, and he kicked the door closed.
"Well, I suppose you should finish the one you started-... who is that?" Roy seemed genuinely surprised to see someone behind Ed, wearing his coat, face shadowed.
But then dead eyes looked back at him, and he scraped the tips of his fingers together. "Or should I ask if it's even a 'who'?"
Ed's eyes narrowed. But instead of going on a tirade, his free hand rose, pushing back the hood of his coat. His twin stared back, head canted in confusion. "Yeah," Ed said. "It's a who."
***
Pride recognized this person. Edward and this person were talking before. Edward had called him 'Mustang,' and Brother had called him 'Flame Bastard.' Mustang Flame Bastard seemed like a strange name for a person like this.
He looked nice. His voice was not as soft as Edward's, but it was not as scary as Brother's. He looked like light and shadow and evening-sky all mixed together.
Brother didn't like his gloves, though. Mustang Flame Bastard had hurt-causing gloves. Pride didn't understand it, until he smelled the faint tang of smoke and sparks around the man. Brother's hands hurt, too, but they didn't smell of fire.
They were talking again. The smell of sparks tanged the air, and Pride tightened his grip on Ed's sleeve.
"What is this, Fullmetal?" The dark man called Edward 'Fullmetal,' like Brother did, sometimes.
"What's it look like?" Edward's voice was sharp, now, like Brother's, but Mustang Flame Bastard just watched, like Pride had been instructed to when he and Brother played. "Don't answer that. I don't know where he came from."
"Well, then, what are you going to do about it?" The man behind the desk seemed angry, now. His voice was soft, and dangerous.
"I don't know! Listen to me when I tell you, dammit! It-" Edward's arm broke from Pride's grasp and flailed, and Pride now felt... scared. Again, he took refuge in hanging on, this time to the hem of Ed's black overshirt. "It's like no one's gotten to him, yet. I think it- he's like a freakin' puppet! He did everything I told him to do. He can't even talk!"
"Did you even think, Fullmetal?" More danger in Mustang Flame Bastard's voice. "You have just allowed it to infiltrate Central Headquarters. It cannot be allowed to leave, or to further exist."
"They can't be killed!" Edward was angry, too. His anger wasn't as scary as the other man's. His anger was violent, like Brother in a bad mood. Mustang Flame Bastard's anger was like Brother in a good mood.
"Wrath was destroyed."
"I don't even know how to-"
"Drain him of the Stone."
"I can't!"
Silence. It made Pride duck farther behind Edward. He felt shaking beneath his fingertips. Edward's voice again, quiet, and not angry. "I don't even know if he-"
Pride touched his back, where he could feel the jut of Edward's shoulder blade, and the ridge of his shiny, metal arm. Maybe that was why Edward's breathing did a funny, halting hitch, and his voice stopped.
Carefully, he watched Mustang Flame Bastard, and Edward didn't move. He could smell more sparks, and see the tense of the man's arm beneath evening-sky blue.
"Fullmetal?"
Edward shook again. His breathing did a strange jump. "Nothing. I'll watch him. Just-..."
Mustang Flame Bastard didn't look nice anymore. Pride didn't like him.
"I'm being more accommodating than necessary, Fullmetal. If I hear anything, I will take care of this thing myself."