Pawns Chapter 15
DELAY
It always happens this way, thought Midnight. You let something slide so you can get something else done, and what do you know that one thing blows up in your face the moment your back is turned.
They were just one baby step away from the final goal and going full steam. Then Midnight neglected the lab for two days. That's all it took for his project to grind to a complete halt.
Now Mustang was pulled off the project, Edward had up and quit, and Al was spending his time doodling and reading, claiming he needed some inspiration to go further. So instead of getting caught up with his paperwork and other duties, as Midnight had hoped, he had to spend most of the day wracking his brains trying to fine tune an original array.
This was SO not his forte. Damn it, he knew all about the principals of light and wavelengths, how they bent through different media, but when it came to brain structures and chemistry, he knew about as much as any man with an anatomy book did. He was an idea person, not a nuts and bolts kind of guy. This was why he HAD a staff.
If Ashfell were there, he would have said "This was predictable," and have hinted with his eyes that Midnight was an idiot to have not dealt with it.
Damn right it was predictable. Which is why he didn't want Mustang pulled off. Or if he was pulled off, he wanted it to be for something related to the project, not security. Honestly, just how much could Mustang do from behind bars? His only contacts were his jailors who wouldn't help him, his cellmate, who couldn't, and Al who was kept on a very short leash.
Ashfell was so full of himself right now, so sure he'd caught the man in the act of some grand conspiracy, that he failed to account for one serious logical inconsistency. If Mustang used hand signals to communicate, why the hell did he disable the microphones?
Rather than making a scene about it, it would have been better to observe them, and learn the signals himself. Then he could have gotten an unguarded look into that scheming bastards mind. Too late for that now.
Oh, Gods, the Fuhrer already timed his return to Central based on how the project had been progressing when there were three intelligent motivated alchemists working on it. Midnight REALLY didn't want to report in that he'd hit a delay. There was something about the way the Fuhrer emphasized his expectations that made Midnight worry that delay might be really inadvisable. Really, really inadvisable.
He had to get Al back to work. Which meant he had to get Ed to work. Which meant he had to motivate the kid to want to work. And right now the only motivation he could come up with was to offer the kid's lover back.
Ashfall was going to be very upset.
VISITOR
Roy was surprised when the door opened again. It was too soon for lunch, and far too soon for a visitor, but a visitor was precisely what it turned out to be. He fully expected to be forced to wait at least a week, if not several before hearing another voice. By then the torture of boredom would have had a chance to work on his mind, dulling his IQ, making him more amenable. As it was, he was still plenty sharp, and pissed off to boot.
It was the Weasel. Roy was surprised. He hadn't seen the Weasel for a couple of months - not since before he'd started working on the project.
The Weasel gave him a toothy grin. "Hey, Roy, babe. So you got yourself in a little trouble I heard. Had to come down and see for myself. Lo and behold, here you are in solitary again."
"Here I am," said Roy guardedly. Ah, yes, this was why he hated this man.
"What, you didn't like that job we lined up for you?"
"I liked it."
"Had a little fight with your roomie? You could have just asked to be separated you know."
"I get along fine with Edward."
"Then why did you take out the microphones? You had to know that would get you into trouble. You don't seem the self-destructive type."
"I have no idea what you are talking about, what microphones?"
The Weasel sat down on Roy's bed a foot away from him. "Oh, man, don't play dumb. We want to get you back on board, but you gotta play along."
Roy allowed a small smile to form. Something wasn't going as planned. Probably Edward acting up again. Hope made his heart hammer. "What would you like me to do?"
"That's the way, babe." The Weasel slapped his back jovially. "Tell us why you knocked out the microphones and I'll see what I can do to get you back on track."
"I did it to have a private conversation with Ed."
"What would you need to talk privately with him about."
"Nothing that concerns you. "
The Weasel bent his head forward. "Roy, Roy, this isn't forthcoming. I need something I can work with, convince the man that you weren't conspiring to take over the world or something."
Roy chuckled. "Fullmetal is a formidable alchemist, but I doubt anything I could have said to him in one night would get me that. Very well, but this is rather damaging to my reputation. I was seducing Edward and I didn't feel like giving Midnight lessons in manipulation - he's rather too into that for my taste anyway."
The Weasel looked surprised. "Why would you want to seduce Edward?"
Roy raised an eyebrow "He was there. It was a personal challenge. It was fun." This was about the most disgusting thing he'd said in a long time. It took something that had felt very good and special and turned it into something tawdry, cheap and borderline abusive. He dearly hoped this wouldn't get back to Ed. On the other hand, he didn't want Midnight thinking that he really cared about Edward, and could use Ed's welfare as a means of manipulating him. If anyone had to suffer torture, Roy wanted it to be himself.
"Did it work?"
"Of course." Roy let his voice convey mild hurt that anyone could possibly question his skill in that area.
The Weasel pursed his lips in distaste. That was fine. Roy didn't care what the Weasel thought of him. But the Weasel had an act to put on. Although it was so phony it was almost corny, he had to pretend to be on Roy's side. So after a pause he perked up his grin and slapped Roy's back again.
"You should have left the recorders on. Midnight could use a lesson in how to get laid."
BIRTHDAY PRESENT
It was with extreme mixed emotions that Midnight made his way down to the cells in the fourth basement level of Lab 5. He hesitated at the one that held Ed. It was Edwards 18th birthday and how ironic, Midnight was bringing him a "gift."
The jailer opened the door and Midnight walked in. Ed was lying on his bunk, head towards the door, one leg propped on the other knee. He didn't even bother to look around when Midnight walked in. He just casually raised his only arm and offered up his middle finger to whoever happened to be there.
"Happy birthday, Fullmetal."
"Screw you, Midnight. I'm not working on your project anymore."
"What does Roy Mustang mean to you."
"He's an asshole and I hope he rots in whatever hole you put him." Ed was a lousy liar. "If you are going to torture him again because I'm not working, go ahead. It's not like I will know if you really did or didn't. Hell you can kill him, too. Or just say you did and not. All the same to me. Out of sight, out of mind."
Midnight snorted. "You are one of the worst manipulators I've ever met. I've a deal for you, If you come back to work, I will bring him back on the project again."
"Mmm." It was a definitely positive noise, but he seemed to be hesitating, holding out for something more.
"And he will be roomed with you again, if you really want that. I can understand if you don't." Midnight hoped the kid would say no to the rooming. It made him a little sick putting that pervert back in the cell with Ed. Fullmetal didn't deserve that. Still, telling the kid just what a cad his lover was wasn't going to make Ed want to go back to work.
"Mmmm. Ok. When will I see him?"
"We can bring him by in a few minutes - but Ed."
Ed rolled over and arched up, resting on his forearm. His hair was loose and tousled and his eyes looked strangely sunken, as though he was very tired. "Yes."
"If you don't make some real progress in the next week, I'm pulling that bastard off the project again. We are seriously behind schedule. And if I catch ANY of you using hand signals, Mustang is gone. I will not tolerate scheming and conspiracy."
EMBRACE
Ed stood up when the door opened again. He watched Roy step in looking, well frankly, great. Smiling, standing tall. Wherever they had taken him they hadn't been too bad. He held himself in check until the door shut again and they were as alone as they would ever be in that place. Then he launched himself at the other.
Roy opened his arms and grabbed the younger man in a tight possessive hug. Ed melted into the embrace. It felt so damn good. So damn good. Roy released him after a few moments, held him at arms length and quietly took him in.
"You look great," said Ed, breaking the silence because he felt he had to. "Where'd they put you, the spa?"
"I wish, but no. You look terrible. Neglecting yourself in my absence again, I see."
Ed frowned. "They took the goddamn brush when you left."
"Ah, I wondered about that. But here I thought you were pining for me." Roy chuckled and pulled him close again. "You made a total nuisance of yourself didn't you."
"Absolutely," grinned Ed.
"Perfect. I've trained you well," Roy whispered in his ear.
"Oh no, no, no, you don't get the credit on this one," whispered Ed back. "I pulled your ass out of the fire. You owe me."
"Well it worked out very nicely. Thank you. Now they think that only I can keep you in check. I must say that is very good to my ego. Tell me, is it true?"
"You are teasing me again," said Ed warningly.
"It's what I do." He kissed Ed. Damn. It was worth the teasing for that. "I missed you."
"Me, too," said Ed.
"Happy birthday, Ed." And that was the last thing either said for quite a while.
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