Fullmetal Alchemist Fan Fiction ❯ Guilt ridden ❯ Ed's decision, House of death ( Chapter 9 )

Disclaimer: I do NOT own Full Metal Alchemist, just a fan here folks.

 

Warning: LEMON scene's, Language, violence & other stuff.

 

Summary: Did you read the first chapter? `Cause it says it there.

 

Chapter 9: Ed's decision, House of death.

 

Ed stood in the hallway staring at the statue.

It was the female homunculus he had transmuted, his hands were folded behind his back and to the outside world he simply seemed to be admiring his handy work. That however was the farthest thing from what he was really thinking about, he was mentally kicking himself over many things.

He knew that he had put himself and everyone else in a tremendous amount of danger by getting plastered in the middle of such an intense mission as this one. But he had needed an escape from his despair; the images of how he had `dispatched' the male homunculus had been haunting him.

And now he had other images, he had dispatched the homunculus on the boat in a way scar would have. And he had `dispatched' what, 10? Homunculus in a way Kimbly would have. Both instances clawed at his sanity; he had so much more blood on his hands now then he could ever be comfortable with.

Not that he had been comfortable with it before but now it was five times worse and he couldn't stand it! And unlike Roy or Al he wasn't the kind of person who could bury these thoughts wily nily. Oh he often seemed fine to the outside world, but Ed had always been a terrific actor and the only person who probably really knew how torn about all this was Al.

Rose knew nothing of this; he kept her and his life as an alchemist separated as much as possible. So Al was the only one that he could openly discuss these thoughts with, Al he knew had his own inner turmoils about the bloody events that often occurred around them.

But Al was able to justify his battles with the homunculus with the idea that they weren't natural creatures. Ed knew this was true, but they had heart beats, human forms, thoughts and as he now knew emotions so they were so closely human that Ed felt that every time he killed one he was killing a human.

He sighed as he resisted the temptation to run his hand across the statues face. Why did he constantly beat himself up over this? It was his mission his job to go and yet he continually tried to mentally resist this fact. He didn't want this emotional torture every day, all he wanted was to sleep peacefully.

No more nightmares, no more long agonising hours of mental self scarring and self defeatist attitude. He tried to avoid drinking to soothe this problem, he had seen to many drunkards whose alcoholic problems stemmed from these sorts of self attacking issues.

He had enough sense to know that alcohol wasn't the cure to his problems so he tried to hold back on his drinking, he only did it every now and again. But that was yet another layer of guilt within him, by drinking to forget his trouble Ed felt as if he wasn't good enough or man enough to handle his problems sober.

But that was a part of his conflicted nature he guessed. He was a state alchemist and a humanitarian at the same time and normally the two shouldn't go together. It frustrated him that he was so torn and conflicted, why couldn't he accept these facts and move on? Why did he feel the need to resist his nature with all the stubborn defiance he could muster?

Ed stared into the statues eyes; he needed a way to resolve these issues. He was tired of his conflicted nature, tired of being separated from Rose for weeks on and really tired of having to bloody his hands for the state.

An idea flickered through his mind and he almost discounted it. He wanted to guarantee Rose's safety and he knew that he could no longer leave the military as a whole because they needed his knowledge of the homunculi. So why not become a tutor for new alchemists?

It was after all a logical way to guarantee Rose's safety and still earn a decant living given how much even the lowest ranking officer earned. A smug `Edward' grin slowly grew across his lips. Yes he could suddenly see a solution to his problems, maybe not all his problems but most of them.

Spinning on his heels Ed started marching down the hallway with a cockiness and purposeful swagger that only he could muster. His feet quickly led him to the doorway that led to the office space Mustang had sequestered for them. Grabbing the door handles he threw the door open and strolled in.

Eight pairs of eyes snapped up towards him as Ed marched to stand in front of Mustangs desk at the far end of the office space. Mustang was on the phone, as usual, which didn't surprise Ed. Suddenly everyone's mouths fell open as he stood at attention, Ed had never once saluted in his entire career!

“I'll have to call you back” Roy said shakily putting the phone down. “Ah……. At ease Major” Roy said as Ed stood at ease at his command “what can I do for you?” a ghost of a smile flickered across Ed's lips. “Sir, permission to request a transfer at the end of the mission sir!” Ed barked suddenly the perfect image of a highly disciplined solider.

“Transfer?” Roy said stunned “transfer to where?” Roy asked him just as stunned as everyone else in the room. “Not where General, What. I'm requesting to become a tutor to new state alchemists” Ed smiled smugly; he really enjoyed messing with people's images of him.

“Tutor, but why Full Metal?” Roy asked genuinely intrigued. “Because emotional issues have led me to conclude that I can no longer perform at the standards required of me in the field, sir” Ed stated simply. He heard the mutterings of disbelief from around the office.

“Brother, are you sure?” Al asked him standing. “Yes Al, I'm totally sure” he looked at Al to show him that he was indeed serious before turning his gaze to the point just above where Mustang sat. “Well if it's what you believe it's best Full Metal, but I must say I'm surprised and shocked that we'll be losing you” Roy stated allowing himself to show that small amount of emotion.

“All due respect sir you won't be losing me I'll simply be working with people who will start working for you” Ed said still standing at ease not flinching a muscle. Roy studied him in slight disbelief before sighing “well, it's your decision Full Metal” he stated.

Ed grinned ear-to-ear “now then…..” he said looking around the office at everyone “what leads have you come up with?”.

 

Why did Homunculus always have nightclubs as hideouts?

Ed didn't know, and nor did he care he just wanted to find them and finish the mission already. He wanted to get home already and just be with Rose. As he watched the street whizzing past the car window he begun to realise that he had made the biggest and best decision of his life.

He felt a contentness at the idea of never having to go trekking across the country on a seek and destroy mission like this one ever again. As the car rolled to a stop Ed swung the door open and standing stretched with the grace of a cat. He wasn't really tired but it was sort of warming up before a fight.

The club was called `les innocents' and a small smirk flicked at the corner of his lips. “How appropriate” he thought at the sight of the clearly ancient graveyard beside the nightclub. It was stupid, yet entirely cinematic, of them to assume that no one would expect the wiser of a nightclub being situated beside a graveyard that had, more then likely, a hundred rumours of black witchcraft attached to it.

“Are you sure this is the place?” Ed asked glancing across the car as Roy stood up in the street. “Well, it is if Fury and Havocs leads are correct” Roy stated looking up at nightclub with his steely battle ready glare. Ed almost made a smug, all too familiar comment about Roy's personal investigators.

As they both stepped onto the side walk side by side Ed flicked the collar of his coat up and rubbed his hands together, there was a stiff sea breeze coming in off the ocean and Ed just knew it was going to be a freezing cold yet clear skyed night. He looked left and right along the empty street behind him and growled in annoyance “Where the hell are they?” he `asked' himself aloud.

Roy was about to answer when they both heard the approach of a van bearing a heavy load. As the plain, beat up looking `removalists' van pulled up behind the sleek, clean brand new officer car they had arrived in a small smirk tugged at the corners of Ed's lips “couldn't you have at least been clever in your idea of a disguised vehicle Mustang, that's so….. Stereotypical”.

Roy simply shrugged his shoulders as the rest of their team piled out of the van, each bearing a large, clearly full sack on their backs. “Sue me Full Metal, it works and that's all that matters” Ed rolled his eyes as the team peeled off into the cemetery. “I knew you'd say that”.

Ed's smirk broadened into a mischievous Cheshire catesque grin as he ran his eyes over the Nightclub. He walked over to the side alley and looked down it “we've got one front entrance and one side entrance” his eyes fell on the old, rusted switchboard on the side of the square building. “And one power grid for the whole place” his grin turned dangerous as Roy spoke up “Right, I'll take the front entrance and you take the side”.

Ed looked back over his shoulder “You want a grand, theatrical royel Mustang entrance or should we just walk in and just start busting heads?” he already knew the answer as Roy shot him a smirk. “You should know that one by now Ed” Ed nodded and disappeared down the alleyway.

Roy stood there his hands on the doors handles as he saw a blue-white flash from the alleyway. He grinned excitedly as he heard the muffled cries of surprise as the lights from the nightclub suddenly died. Taking three deep breathes he twisted the door handles and threw the doors open……

 

A/U: Oh yeah, everybody freak out freak out! The name for the club came from the same book as the idea for `Filth'. Okay so I like the idea of vampires, that's cheesy I know but I can't help it their pretty dam cool! Seriously though the Anna Rice books are really good and a great source of inspiration. As for the story behind you I know I'm not a great writer merely, adequate. And I know Ed's problems are not as major as I promised in the summary, so maybe I need to do another angst fic? Nah! I reckon I need to write something without angst, maybe a fluffy piece of EdxRose/Winry waff? Well, maybe. Let me know what you thought of this chapter anyway, or the whole fic so far. Later…..