Fullmetal Alchemist Fan Fiction ❯ Descent ❯ The Organization ( Chapter 3 )

A/N: Since quite a few people commented on this I thought I'd explain. At the beginning of Chapter one, the warning for “heterosexuality” is a joke. Unfortunately it is sometimes difficult to convey jokes in writing. I apologized to anyone who didn't get it and was confused.

 

 

 

Descent

 

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Chapter Three:

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The Organization

 

 

 

In a conference room at the military headquarters in Central, Colonel Roy Mustang sat at the head of a long table, one hand on a folder and looking at the steel rimmed clock hanging on the far wall.

 

1:14

 

He began drumming his fingers. The meeting had been set to begin at 1:00. Roy supposed he could have started, but he didn't want to have to repeat himself. He looked, one by one, at those already seated, going intently through the folders he had given them, at the sturdy, oak table.

 

On his left, tall, graying and serious as stone sat Warrant Officer(1) Vato Falman; a good man and a good soldier, but one with little imagination and a sense of humor that was dry but well meaning.

 

Next to Falman sat Master Sergeant Kain Fuery. Short, with short dark hair and large, round frame glasses, Fuery looked more like a target for bullies on a playground than a soldier, let alone an officer. Fuery had been assigned to Roy when he had been moved to East Headquarters. It had been a lucky strike to find such an intelligent, loyal soldier to add to his core group.

 

At the far end of the table, red haired Second Lieutenant Heymans Breda sat with his elbows on the table and his hands up, supporting his head as he read the contents of the papers before him. One of the best strategists Roy had ever met, Breda had a fearless nature about him… except when it came to small furry animals.

 

On Roy's right sat First Lieutenant Riza Hawkeye, as beautiful as she was loyal. Despite her tendency to be sober(2) minded, he couldn't have asked for a better right hand lady. She had a commanding nature and remarkable marksmanship with just about any gun that was placed in her hands. Finally his eyes rested on the chair that sat between Hawkeye and Breda.

 

It was empty.

 

Roy was about to tell someone to go find Jean Havoc, when the door opened and his other Second Lieutenant walked in the room, quickly closing the door behind him. Havoc stalked moodily to the empty chair and gave Roy a baleful look as he took his seat.

 

Roy kept his face neutral and acted as though he was oblivious to the other man's look, but truthfully he was fully aware of it and why he was receiving it. Jean Havoc didn't know how to stay away from the ladies, and, in turn, the ladies didn't seem to know how to stay away from Roy Mustang. For some reason he couldn't explain, Roy derived a sadistic pleasure from going out with anyone that Havoc was interested in.

 

He had a feeling that if Havoc had any idea that Roy did it on purpose… well… He didn't though and that made all the difference. A stray thought entered his head and he wondered, not for the first time since meeting the man, if his chain smoking Second Lieutenant was any good in bed. He pushed the thought out of his mind immediately. Roy had no doubt that making a move on Havoc would probably be the biggest mistake of his career, or his life for that matter… Roy couldn't decide which was more important to him.

 

Besides… if he were going to take a chance and make a move on someone it wouldn't be Havoc.

 

He sighed.

 

How long had Fullmetal been gone? One week? Yes, it had been about one week. He supposed he'd better get used to it. Roy had no doubts that the young, golden eyed alchemist meant to turn in his resignation papers as soon as his vacation leave was completely used. Well, at least he had gotten an agreement from the annoying cuss to submit his resignation in person. At least he could see him one last time…

 

“Colonel?”

 

Hawkeye's voice broke him out of his thoughts and he straightened in his chair. “Nice of you to finally join us.” Roy said, giving the new arrival a stare that spoke volumes of his displeasure at having to wait.

 

Havoc shrugged as he flipped open the folder that had been lying in front of the previously vacant chair, and Roy got the impression the man had been late on purpose.

 

Well, I guess I deserve it. He thought to himself.

 

Roy let his eyes sweep across those at the table again and this time they were all looking in his direction. He cleared his throat and opened the folder in front of him. There really was no need for him to do it, he had read through the documents and seen the pictures so many times he knew them by heart.

 

“You all know the situation with those who are calling themselves The Organization. It's common knowledge that …” Roy gave the summery, almost on auto pilot.

 

Unbeknownst to the public and most in the military, at least until six months ago, a secret group was working to usurp the authority of the military and thus the government, given that the current government was controlled by the military itself.

 

When The Organization decided to go public it did so by destroying a major train station used extensively by the military, killing thirteen solders and injuring many more. The Organization also officially laid claim to several unsolved assassinations and terrorist cases that had been haunting the archives for some time.

 

Unfortunately, the lines of communication being used between the military and The Organization unveiled no real information on exactly who was in The Organization.

 

Over the last few months, knowledge of the group became common knowledge both among the military and the public, but what Roy was about to tell his subordinates was not common knowledge.

 

“… and it is believed that some of The Organization's leaders are also key figures in the military. We have been ordered to investigate this further; however we are advised to be circumspect in this matter, and to maintain secrecy in fulfilling the orders, we are to continue our normal duties as have been previously assigned.”

 

“With all respect, colonel, why are we being giving this task?” Master Sergeant Fuery asked. “Why not the Investigations Bureau?”

 

“I'll bet they did.” Said Second Lieutenant Breda. “It makes sense if you think about it. Those terrorist guys would be expecting the Investigations Bureau to be looking into it, but not someone who is outside of that, right? It's like chess; you gotta place your pieces just right to get the king.”

 

Roy wasn't sure he liked being referred to as a pawn on a chess board, but he supposed that was what he was.

 

“Breda's right.” Roy said, and they all looked back to him. “That's why we're not on this thing full time. We need to watch and gather information quietly. As far as I'm aware, there are very few people who know that The Organization has a hold inside the military. We need to be careful.”

 

Roy paused and took a moment to meet each of his subordinates' eyes, then said, “Trust no one.”

 

;-;-;-;-;-;-;

 

Winry looked up at the sun and wiped her forehead. It was a hot, sunny day and she was feeling every bit of it. She frowned at the large truck engine she had agreed to fix. The truck was older than dirt and she didn't see why the guy didn't just buy a new one. She seemed to be always fixing the stupid thing and the amount the guy had paid her over the last year would be plenty to get himself a new one.

 

She heard the sound of pebbles crunching as someone approached her from behind. The footsteps stopped and for a moment there was silence.

 

“You look hot.”

 

Winry turned around and her face lit into a smile. Just seeing Al was enough to make her smile, but he just happened to be carrying a glass of lemonade which was just what she needed right now. She flipped her long, blonde hair back and said brightly, “Why, Alphonse, it's not like you to be so forward, but that's okay, I like compliments.”

 

For a moment, confusion filled his large, brown eyes, but then he seemed to understand Winry's meaning and flushed a dark red. He opened his mouth, shut it, then opened it again before stammering, “I… I brought… you some… uh…” He looked at the drink in his hands as though he had forgotten what exactly he had brought. “um… some lemonade. yeah…” He thrust the drink out to her, the force causing the liquid to slosh over the top of the glass and onto his hand.

 

Grinning widely now, Winry stepped off the stool she had been using and took the glass. The pale, yellow liquid seemed to call out to her and she drained half the glass before thanking him. “Let's go sit over there for a bit.” She suggested, pointing to a large tree.

 

;-;-;-;-;-;-;

 

Ed stalked out of the back door of the Rockbell house and sat heavily on the bottom of the wooden steps that lead from the veranda to the spacious expanse of inch tall grass he remembered so vividly from his child hood. For a moment, he saw a ghost of Al, Winry and himself, younger and carefree, playing tag on the rich green lawn.

 

Reaching down, he picked up a rock from the small patch of dirt that lay between the grass and the steps. For a moment he continued to stare at the vision his mind had created, then hurled the stone angrily at the mental apparitions. Not surprisingly, the illusions disappeared and the rock landed harmlessly in the vegetation.

 

He felt a brief feeling of grim satisfaction, but then it faded and a wave of depression washed over him. He supposed he had once been that happy. Truthfully, it was hard to remember. He wished he could be that happy again. He did try, but not for himself. Not really. He tried for Al. Everything was always for Al…

 

Ed knew he had been behaving in an erratic fashion since he woke in the hospital, but he didn't know how to change it. He hated himself for being angry at Al all the time. It wasn't just Al, though… He was angry at everyone. Al just happened to be the most accessible outlet for Ed. Him, and Winry. But Winry… she deserved it… sometimes… sometimes he hated her… why did she always have to hang around Al? Why did Al always seem to want to hang around her?

 

Not like he was jealous or anything…

 

Ed felt tears prick at his eyes and he brushed them away in frustration. He wasn't going to think about that. He wasn't. Besides… It would all be better when they left Rizembool. It would be just him and Al, traveling around, hanging out together… they'd have fun and they wouldn't fight like they have been. Sure, they might fight a little, but that was normal…

 

He rubbed his face roughly and sighed.

 

If he could, he'd leave now. He felt so… so… impatient. He wanted to be doing something! But, he would stay. It was good for Al; the peace and quiet. He wanted his younger brother to get a chance to relax.

 

The all too familiar feeling of guilt started gnawing at him and pushed himself off the step. He thought he should find Al and make things right with him again.

 

;-;-;-;-;-;-;

 

The shade under the tree was blessedly cool and when they were both seated, backs against the trunk, Winry took another drink from the glass; this time a sip, enjoying the sweet, coolness against her tongue.

 

For a time, the two sat quietly under the shade of the large tree; Winry sipping the lemonade, Al surveying the country side in his view. Two weeks. For better or for worse they had been back in Rizembool for two weeks.

 

There had been some great times, like when Izumi and her husband had come to visit. For those five days there had been almost nothing but fun and laughter.

 

And, there had been bad times, like when Ed and Al had gotten into a shouting match and Ed had ended up spending the night at his mother's grave.

 

Winry looked up at Al. Even when they were sitting, he was still taller than she. “So… What have you been up to today?”

 

Without looking at her he said, “Oh… well… Brother and I were training earlier…”

 

Winry kept silent, waiting for more. The mock fights were something the two brothers did every day. This was nothing new. Besides, they usually did that in the mornings. It was now well into the afternoon.

 

When Al continued to stay silent, Winry ventured a guess, “Did you and Ed get into an argument again?”

 

The tall, sandy haired teen's eyes flicked toward her and his mouth tightened, but that was all. And that was all that needed to be said. Ed's mood swings were becoming worse every day. One minute everything would be fine, the next…

 

“What happened?”

 

Al just shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. Winry sighed. This too, was not so unusual. Most of the time even she had no idea why Ed got angry with her either.

 

“It's such a nice day.” Al said with a grin that looked forced.

 

Winry shook her head and took another drink. That was like Al. Change the subject when it becomes too painful. Of course…that was like Ed too. One thing the two had in common.

 

“Yeah, but it's a bit too hot. We could use more of that rain we had a couple weeks back.”

 

Al nodded his head in agreement. “I could just stay here forever, you know…”

 

Winry turned her head to look at him fully. “Why can't you? Why can't you just stay here? Where would you go?” This was the first she had heard of them not staying in Rizembool.

 

Turning his head to meet her gaze, he said, “He wants to travel… see the world...”

 

“But, you've already been doing that.”

 

“It's not like it was a sight seeing trip, Winry. Half of the time we went places because brother was ordered there, and the other half it was because we were looking for the Philosopher's Stone. Brother thinks we should travel around to see the sights and relax, you know, and when we need money, we'll just fix stuff with alchemy.” Al explained with a shrug.

 

“You don't sound much like that's what you want to do though…”

 

Al looked off into the distance without answering, and Winry pressed her lips together in an irritated gesture. “Don't ignore me, Alphonse Elric!” She demanded suddenly. “I can tell you don't really like Ed's idea, and you know what? That's okay! You don't have to always do what Ed wants. And I don't just mean when you're feeling stubborn because Ed is being a jerk. If you want to stay here, you should. You could fix things here with alchemy to earn money…” She trailed off when Al pulled his knees up, and laid his head, face away from her, on them.

 

She stared at him for a moment, let out her breath in frustration, downed the rest of the lemonade and set the glass on the grass before getting to her feet. “Thanks again for the lemonade.” She said, not looking down at him, “I've got to get back to work,” before walking away.

 

;-;-;-;-;-;-;

 

It didn't take Ed long to find Al, although he was a bit surprised at where he found him. Ed had thought he'd find his brother sitting by the pond, a place Al often frequented when they got into arguments, and in fact that was where Ed had been headed before he saw his brother sitting under the tree.

 

When he stepped into the shade of the tree Ed noticed his brother's body stiffen and it was obvious that Al was trying to ignore him as he stared straight ahead. Ed looked in the direction his brother was staring and saw Winry, small in the distance, working on some old piece of shit truck that should probably be in a junk yard.

 

Ed's eyes shifted to Al. Is that why he's sitting here? Ed wondered silently and a sneer touched his lips as anger, and, even though he tried to deny it, jealously filled him. Yep, I'm sure it is... Can't help looking at that whore in her short jean shorts and slutty tank top, can ya little brother? Are you thinking about how you'd like to take her around the side of the house and...

 

;-;-;-;-;-;-;

 

Al kept his eyes from Ed as long as he could muster, but it was difficult. He wanted to put this morning behind them and start getting along again, and Al was sure that was why Ed had come over to him. Except Ed hadn't sat down immediately; instead his brother had stared at him for a few minutes. Al knew this because he could feel his brother's eyes on him, then looked away.

 

Al knew Ed had caught sight of Winry when a low growl came from his brother. Most likely Ed was unaware he was making the sound.

 

Although Al was determined not to look at Ed until his brother spoke, he felt compelled to look up anyway, to see if he could figure out why Ed was still standing. When his eyes fell on Ed's face, Al wished he had resisted looking.

 

The vulgarity of Ed's thoughts were clearly written on his face. It was a fairly new expression; one Al had never seen on Ed before his coma. Since his brother's awakening, however, such looks were becoming more common every day. At first Al hadn't known what the looks meant, but learned quickly enough when Ed began saying what was on his mind in such cases.

 

When Ed saw that Al was looking at him, he opened his mouth to speak. Al got up quickly, grabbing the empty glass as he did so, and began walking away. He had no desire to know what indecent thoughts were on his brother's mind.

 

Before he could get very far he felt a grip on his arm holding him back. The grip wasn't strong, however, and Al shook it off and walked away without looking back.

 

;-;-;-;-;-;-;

 

Ed watched Al walk away from him with a mixture of anger, hurt and frustration. He hadn't even said anything! Jeez… He thought. What a fucking, pisser of a day this is turning out to be…

 

He stepped back, leaned against the tree and looked up at the leafy, green, overhanging branches. Ed wasn't oblivious to why his brother had left and he felt irritated at not having kept his thoughts from his face. He knew Al didn't appreciate some of Ed's dirtier thoughts, and he wondered how his brother could be so damn… good.

 

But then, Ed couldn't really remember having much in the way of sexual thoughts before they had gotten Al's body back. That's not to say Ed hadn't had his share of wet dreams, or to say he'd never milked the lizard before he'd woken from his long `nap' in the hospital, but he had never really… indulged… in it.

 

Most of the time he had been unable to remember the dreams he had dreamt before waking with the need for a clean pair of underwear, and when he had danced the wango tango, those times he'd been alone; which probably hadn't been often enough, Ed now mused, but Al had usually been around and that just wasn't something you did in front of your younger brother… Well at those times, he hadn't really fantasized about anyone or anything, only felt the pleasure of the moment.

 

Ed supposed it must have been because he had been too obsessed with finding the Philosopher's Stone; obsessed with getting Al's body back. Not only that, but they had always seemed to be on the move, going from place to place with danger all around them…

 

Now though… now Ed couldn't seem to go an hour without… and the things he thought of when he… Ed's cheeks flushed a dark red and he felt a stirring in his pants. The things he thought about… were things he would never, could never tell anyone. Even he was unsure of why he found them so fucking arousing… In a way it was all so… confusing… he should be having fantasies of hot chicks... not… well…

 

He tried to push the thought away, tried to deny his thoughts, but instead they became clearer in his mind and Ed felt glad he was alone when his cheeks flushed an even deeper red than before.

 

It had all started with a dream.

 

He had dreamt the same dream several times now, but the first time was what started it…

 

He had dreamt that he was lying on a bed… The room had been lit only by a dim light that was somewhere behind him… and standing above him, lightly rubbing the skin on his left arm had been…

 

At first he had been strangely comforted by the dream, but now he seemed to find himself thinking more and more about… Ed put his hands over his eyes and a soft groan escaped him. His dreams and fantasies had long since gone past that one innocent dream, but that first dream… that first one had seemed so… real.

 

He pushed away from the tree and walked away from it, away from the direction Al had gone, away from Winry and the broken down truck. For the time being he wanted to be alone.

 

Alone.

 

Except for his thoughts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 Officer ranks in the series differ from the manga. In this story I will be using ranks from the series for these officers. Refer to episode 27 for officer ranks.

 

2 Sober as in serious, not sober as in not drunk

 

Thanks to:

MasamuneReforged for being my beta.

 

 

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