FIC: Eclipsed By The Sun 2/10 - Another Road Traveled: Promise Filled Sky - R (original) (raw)

Eclipsed by the Sun 2/10

Summary: After facing Lust under the Third Laboratory, Roy and Ed have teamed up to learn more about the homunculi while waiting for the other shoe to drop. In the process they find themselves learning more about each other and seeing past differences that have divided them for years. Will these welcome distractions tear them apart or bring new and unexpected possibilities for them both?

AUTHOR: catw00man and zippitgood
RATING: R
UNIVERSE: Another Road Traveled
SERIES: Promise Filled Sky
CHARACTERS: Roy Mustang/Edward Elric, Heymans Breda, Jean Havoc, Alphonse Elric, Ling Yao, Lan Fan, Winry Rockbell, Riza Hawkeye, Kain Fuery, Vato Falman, Gracia Hughes
CHALLENGE: Written for the 2012 round of big_bigbang
COMPLETED: Dec 11, 2012
WORD COUNT: 4,887 (Chapter), 76,515 (Overall)
DISCLAIMER: The characters portrayed within are not ours. This is merely a loving response to the original work.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: This story is part of a larger Universe called Another Road Traveled. Promise Filled Sky falls within this universe and chronicles the beginning of the saga. This story immediately follows A New Dawn. Other stories within this universe may be found HERE.
ARTIST: The beautiful art for this story was provided by the very talented aquerna as part of the 2012 big_bigbang challenge.
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AO3 |

“Brother! Where have you been? Do you know how late it is? Did something happen? What’s going on?” Al moves away from the window with a speed that belies his huge form and hurries over to Ed. He reaches out with both gloved hands to touch him but Ed bats him away.

“I’m fine, Al. Can’t you see that. Stop mother henning me, will ya?” Ed bats at his hands again then pulls off his coat as he moves around him. He walks over to one of the two couches facing each other and slings his coat over the back of it. He drops down onto the couch and puts his feet up on the low coffee table in front of him. “I told you I was going to a private library. You know how that goes. I got wrapped up in research.”

Ed looks back when Al doesn’t come to join him immediately and even in a suit of armor he can tell he’s disappointed. He wasn’t happy about being left behind in the first place. Now he’ll be even more disappointed when he finds out Ed’s not supposed to tell him everything, though Mustang has to know that’s not going to happen, right? It’s one thing for him to want to keep his library private and not have Al clanking around inside, but there’s no way he can ask him not to talk to his brother!

“It’s not just that.” Al’s armor creaks as he shifts on his feet and Ed turns completely around on the couch to see what’s got him on edge. “Brother, someone came by while you were gone with a message.” His armor rattles again and Ed gets a feeling of foreboding at the way he stalls. “They came to tell you, Ed, Scar’s alive and back in town. You could’ve been hurt out walking alone.”

“Ahhhhh, you heard about that, did you?” Ed rubs the back of his neck and deliberately looks away. Sergeant Brosh found him shortly after he left Mustang’s and warned him. He doesn’t know for sure how he found him, but he wouldn’t be too surprised if a certain Colonel was responsible. “Yeeeeeah, I heard that too. But I was careful. You don’t need to worry so much, Al.”

“Not worry?!” Footsteps, louder than usual, pound from the doorway to the couch across from him. Ed attempts to keep his eyes averted, but it’s a little hard to miss Al when he doesn’t want to be missed. “Did you forget what he did to us last time? You were ready to give up!”

Ed slouches down on the couch and crosses his arms defiantly. That was a completely different situation. Besides, it’s not like he can’t take care of himself. Bad enough adults look at him like he’s still a child. He doesn’t need Al doing the same thing. “That was different,” he mutters under his breath. “You were in danger.”

“Oh, so it’s okay for you to sacrifice yourself if I’m there to watch you die, but not if you’re alone?!” Al’s voice echoes louder and Ed winces at the implication. “How do I know you wouldn’t try something stupid like that again?”

“I wouldn’t! I was trying to protect you.” Ed fists his hands and slams them against his knees as he glares at Al. “It’s not like I just wanted to die.”

“It sure didn’t look that way! If you EVER do something like that again I’ll NEVER forgi—”

“Al, would you STOP!” Ed jumps to his feet, but still he’s left looking up into the lights of Al’s eyes. Times like this he really hates Al’s height advantage. “I didn’t even see Scar. Besides, I promised you we’re in this together, remember?”

“Yeah, and I also know just how far you’d go if you thought you had a chance to make things ‘right.’” Al crosses his arms and doesn’t budge an inch, which after another long moment has Ed dropping back down on the couch and conceding the point. If he could restore Al immediately he would regardless of the cost. But that’s not the point right now.

“Fine. Maybe so. But that’s not happening right now.” Ed motions to the couch across from him when Al still doesn’t move and gives him a pleading look. “Would you just sit down? I brought something to show you.” That seems to get his attention and after another hard look Al finally sits down across from him, his forearms resting across his thighs.

“Is it from the secret library?” There’s no missing the pointed nature of his remark but Ed ignores it and nods as he pulls out his folded and crumpled notes from earlier.

“Yeah, it is.” Ed unfolds some of the pages and spreads them out on the table between them. He stares down at the barely legible scrawl written with his left hand. It’s a good thing Al’s used to reading it because he’s in no mood to translate. “So, do you remember Gruene’s Anthology?”

“What? Of course I do!” Al sits up straight and leans forward to snatch several of the pages. “Brother, are you serious? You said that was the book that explained how to bind my soul to armor! I thought all the copies were lost!” He grabs for more pages and scans them in rapid succession before turning his gaze back to Ed. “Where did you get this?!”

Ed shifts uncomfortably and looks away as he rubs at a spot on the cushion next to him. “I told you. I’m not supposed to say.” Maybe Al will drop it then he won’t have to worry about breaking Mustang’s stupid confidence. Though, if it comes down to it, there’s no question who will win out in the end. He busies himself with pulling off his gloves and tossing them onto his coat beside him. “Does it really matter?”

Al doesn’t answer, but he doesn’t have to. The clanking of his armor with every exaggerated movement is more than enough to show his displeasure. Ed sighs and throws his head back against the couch and stares at the ceiling. Damn Mustang for putting him in this position. He didn’t ask for this. Why does that man have to make things so damn difficult? Ed remembers some of those books referencing areas of the country Mustang sent him to investigate and it infuriates him even more because he saw firsthand how much the bastard Colonel has been trying to help him. Asshole. He wasn’t supposed to be involved.

“Umm, Brother….” Ed lifts his head to see Al’s spread the notes all over the table. He has several pages in his hands and Ed feels like an ass before he even speaks. “Thank you for copying all this down but….”

“Yeah, I’m sorry. I forgot.” Ed leans forward and fishes out several crumpled pages from the bottom of the pile. “This is the part you’re looking for, at least, the part I understand.” He hands over the pages before slouching back against the couch again. “This section’s written like a carpenter’s handbook.” He stretches his arms over his head then rubs the back of his neck. “He wrote it under the guise of alchemy for the home but if you read between the lines when he talks about constructing a perfect home you’ll see he’s not just talking about a happy household.”

Al smooths the pages Ed handed him on the table and arranges them in neat little piles. He’s always been much more organized than Ed ever was. His large hands follow the figures before he looks up at Ed again. “Ed, this is pretty heavy code. Did you really understand all this when we were kids?”

Ed leans forward to look at the pages again and rests his hands on his knees. Did he never tell Al about this? Probably not. They never have talked much about that time or what they saw. “Don’t give me too much credit, Al. When I first skimmed through the book I didn’t understand the deeper meanings either.” He pulls a page closer and turns it around to look over what he copied down earlier. “I still haven’t figured it all out even now.” And he should. There’s a good chance there’s something else here on the soul binding that might help them stabilize Al’s bond to the armor. If not that, maybe there’s something that can give them an idea about how much time they have.

“But….”

Ed looks up to see Al staring at him, waiting for him to continue. He pushes the papers towards him and sucks in a breath. This really doesn’t get easier to talk about. He presses his lips together in a hard line as he stares down at his mismatched hands. “It was when I was in the Gate. So much flashed before my eyes but then I saw this book and, for the first time, I understood it.” He shrugs and fists his hands, ignoring how loud the creak and whirls of his automail is in the quiet room. “It was clear as day, the part I needed anyway. I’d still need to take some time with it to understand the rest.”

“Huh,” Al’s voice echoes softly and he straightens the piles of papers on the table between them. His large hands run along the edges of the pages and Ed watches every movement. It’s much better than thinking right now. “Maybe, that’s the key.”

“Wha?” Ed pulls his eyes away from the growing pile of pages and stares at him. Al doesn’t answer right away and Ed drags the sleeve of his coat into his lap and folds and unfolds the cuff. “What was the key, Al?”

Al raises his head and shifts in the way he does when he’s unsure of himself, the soft shushing of his leather joints underscoring his mood. “Maybe that’s why you could understand it. I mean, I’d never looked at the book before. Maybe the Truth…only shows you the truth of things you’ve seen. Maybe that’s why you have to be such a strong alchemist to try….”

“Ahhh,” he breathes out as Al’s words trail off. He never thought along those lines before, but it’s possible. He still swears all the answers were on the other side of that door, but maybe he could only see the ones he could use. Maybe that’s why no one’s ever mastered human transmutation. Could this be part of the reason the homunculi are calling them sacrifices? Is it because of their knowledge base? Can only strong alchemists make it back through the Gate? He tilts his head back in thought. “Hmmmm, I should probably get Mustang’s take on—”

Crap.

“Mustang? Why would you tell the Colonel about this?” Al’s hands slam flat on the table and he leans toward Ed ominously. “Is that where you were tonight, Brother? Did the Colonel give you this book? We promised we weren’t going to get anyone else involved! After General Hughes—”

“It’s not like that, Al. You don’t understand.” Ed looks to the side and picks at the crease of his coat’s hood. “He’s part of this whether we want him to be or not.”

“No he’s NOT! We promised, Ed. No one else is to be in danger!” Al looms over him suddenly and Ed knows he’s doing it on purpose. “I don’t even want my body back if—”

“You’re not listening, Alphonse!” Ed tosses the coat aside and clutches his knees as he tries to remember the way the bastard laid it all out. He considers telling Al about how long Mustang’s been “influencing” them, but he wouldn’t like the thought of being controlled any more than Ed does. “The homunculi are already calling him a sacrifice! He’s in this just as much as we are!”

“NO HE’S N—”

“Would you two SHUT UP?!” Ed jumps when the hotel room door slams open and he looks back to see Winry in her pajamas clutching a pillow and scowling at them both. “I have to catch an early train to Rush Valley tomorrow.” She locks her eyes on Ed and purses her lips. “Unlike you, I’d like to be awake for the trip!”

“Hey, what’s that supposed to mean?” Ed jumps to his feet and tries to figure out if the insult was in any way directed at his height.

“You do sleep a lot, Brother.”

Ed whips his head around to glare at Al who suddenly looks less angry than moments before. “We went over this. I’m sleeping for two. _Remember?_”

“Or you’re just lazy and looking for an excuse no one can argue with. I still think it’s all just a reason to get out of drinking your milk.”

Ed spins around to confront his other attacker and stamps his foot. “That’s not true! And I could be right. Since when do you know so much about alchemy? Why don’t you just—” Pain shoots through his head as the wrench Winry was apparently hiding behind her pillow deflects off his head. “Ow! What was that for?” He holds his hand to his head and she better not have drawn blood. She doesn’t usually, but he can never be too sure.

“It’s the only way I can get you to be quiet.” She looks between Ed and Al menacingly. “Now, keep in mind I have plenty more where that came from.” She locks her eyes on Ed and in that moment he sees the exhaustion and concern in her eyes.

Did Al tell her about Scar? He wouldn’t. But if she was here when Al got the news she might’ve overheard. Ed ignores the throbbing in his head and picks up the wrench. How many of these has she brained him with over the years? Was she always trying to hide her real feelings those times too? Knowing her he’ll probably never know. He crosses over to her and presses the metal tool into her hands.

“We’ll be quieter. I promise.” Winry takes the wrench and gives him a suspicious look. She knows him too well. She knows he’s up to something, but he doesn’t have the time to explain now. It’ll be better for all of them if she goes back to Rush Valley, especially if what he suspects about Scar killing her parents is true. She doesn’t need to deal with that now and if this stuff he’s been researching about the homunculi gets more complicated he doesn’t want her involved. “We’ll be okay, Winry.”

She stares at him for a long moment then he has to catch his breath when she launches at him and squeezes him so tight he can’t breathe. She holds him tight then he stumbles back a step when she pulls back and gives him a light shove. “You better be. If not….” She brandishes the wrench again and Ed puts his hands up in mock defense. He hates to see her scared like this, but at least she should be safe in Rush Valley if not in Resembool.

“Don’t worry, Winry.” Al clatters over to stand beside him, his voice sounding strong and reassuring despite the tinny quality to it. “I’ll make sure to look after him.”

Ed snorts at the comment as Winry gets on her toes to give Al a hug as well. “You be sure to look after yourself too.” She pulls back and gives Al a knowing look. “Don’t let me hear anything about you having to be carted around in a box again, okay?” Al laughs and nods as Winry takes a step back into the hall. “Good night you two.”

The door closes with a soft click and Ed can already feel Al’s gaze on him. They still have more to discuss tonight. He needs to get Al to realize that bastard Mustang might actually be able to help them. Then there’s the suspicions he had about Scar earlier tonight. He really should tell him. He turns away from the door, deliberately ignoring Al’s stare, and heads back to the couches. He hears Al following him as he drops down beside his red coat again.

“What was that about, Brother?” Ed looks across the low table as Al sits down and he can already tell the less serious tone he had with Winry is gone. He thought he’d want to argue some more about Mustang, but now he’s not so sure.

“What was what about?” There’s so much to say he’s not even sure where to start. As soon as he saw the report about Scar and his tattoo, things started coming together. He can’t be sure, but how many murderous Ishvalans with full tattooed right arms can there be? Surely it’s not a coincidence. The old Ishvalan lady said his face was covered in bandages and Scar does have that scar on his forehead….

“With Winry.” Al breaks his train of thought and he looks over to see him resting his forearms on his thighs. He could almost be an empty suit of armor like that except for the glow of his eyes. The soft sound of metal against metal fills the silent room more than it should. “You were nice. You’re never that nice, especially when she throws something at your head.”

Ed smiles because he knows it’s true. In another situation, he’d probably argue over the implication that he’s not always nice, but now isn’t the time. He sighs and runs his hand over his face as he leans back on the couch and looks up at the ceiling. “When I saw the report on Scar tonight, it got me thinking.” He takes another breath then blows it out forcefully. “I think he might be the one who killed Winry’s parents.”

“WHAT!” Ed sits up straight, his eyes widening at the loudness of Al’s voice and they both look toward the hotel room door. No sound is heard other than Ed’s breathing and the soft little metal creaks Al makes when he’s consciously trying to be still. Al looks back at him when she doesn’t come running and speaks barely above a whisper. “What? Are you serious? How do you know that?”

“Remember those Ishvalans I ran into in Xerxes?” Al nods and Ed’s shoulders sag as he looks down at his hands. “Well, when they told me about the Ishvalan who killed the Rockbells, they said he had a tattoo covering his right arm. Between that and the scar on his face, I think it’s definitely possible.”

“Oh.” Al looks down at the floor and Ed knows exactly how he feels. It almost feels like they should be doing something about it, but even if he’s right, what can they do? Al slowly opens and closes his hands, the only sound in the room, then says softly, “Poor Winry.”

“Yeah. I know.” Silence stretches between them and nothing else needs to be said. They can’t tell her, not now. It wouldn’t help anything and would only worry her more. Ed picks at the edge of the couch and he vows to himself that if he ever has the opportunity to confront him, or better yet make him pay for what he did…. But that won’t get them anywhere right now. He takes a breath and turns to Al again. “About the Colonel….”

“How could you make that decision without me, Brother? After we promised….” It’s his tone of voice that says so much more than his words and Ed hears it clear as day. He feels left out and if he didn’t know better he’d swear that armor could pout ‘cause this one very nearly does.

“It wasn’t like that, Al.” Ed grunts with irritation and reaches back to untie his hair. He threads his fingers through it, frustrated with the whole situation. Stupid, meddling, bastard Colonel. “You said yourself they called him a sacrifice.” He shakes his head and can’t believe he’s repeating Mustang’s words from earlier. “The homunculi are obviously working for someone high up in the military, if not the Fuhrer himself. With his plans, Mustang was going to run into them sooner or later. Not to mention, when you said they called him a sacrifice, I had to know if he’d ever tried—”

“Has he?” Al sits up straighter on the couch, his armor scraping together as he clenches his hands on his thighs. “The Colonel is the one who found us. Did he ever…?”

“No.” Al tilts his head, obviously unconvinced and Ed shrugs. “I asked him point blank. He didn’t even know about the Gate or the Truth guy.” He lets out a long sigh and slouches down on the couch. He scowls as he stares at a point over Al’s head. “That means he meets some other qualification. Maybe they just think he can open the Gate.” Ed rubs the back of his neck in annoyance. “If only we could find one of those homunculi bastards and beat the crap out of them until they talk!” Ed tugs at his hair then slams his fist into his automail hand and grits his teeth. “If only I’d made a deal with Greed! Then we would know—”

“Then the Fuhrer would’ve killed us.” Ed scowls at the matter of fact tone to Al’s voice. “You saw how he was. Greed might have told us something but then the Fuhrer would’ve used it as a reason to kill us.”

“Would he?” Ed sits up straighter and tries to examine things from all perspectives. “Would he have killed us _both?_” He reaches back to retie his hair and his mind spins. “They could have killed me in the Fifth Laboratory, but they didn’t. They needed me. Would the Fuhrer really have taken the chance to kill us both?”

“What are you saying, Brother? One, both, does it matter?” Al’s armor clanks as he crosses his arms and fixes his gaze on him. “Do you think that’s why Lust tried to kill me? Because I was alone?”

“I think it’s possible.” A slow grin spreads across Ed’s face. “Which could mean if we were both in danger, we might be able to draw them out…to protect us.”

“And just how do you plan on—”

“Scar.” Ed slaps his hands on his thighs and leans forward in excitement. This could work. “We could draw him out by doing alchemy then wait for the homunculi to show up.” He nods to himself because this way no one else would have to get hurt other than them and if Mustang wants to help….

“Are you _crazy?_” Al slams his hands on his thighs much like Ed just did and leans toward him. “You know what happened the last time with Scar. But what if it works? What then? The homunculi pretty much can’t die. What do you plan to—”

“We’re in!”

Ed’s thankful for the distraction from Al’s glowering figure, until he sees the source. Ling and that over protective girl are sitting on the window sill. He’s grinning like the fool he is and she’s wearing her mask and radiating her usual disdain and disapproval. Great. Just what they needed. Ed scowls deeply and crosses his arms. “What are you talking about? How long were you out there?”

“Long enough to hear all about your magnificent plan.” Ling hops lightly off the window sill and walks over to the couches as if he actually belongs here. He lounges beside Al while the girl, Lan Fan, sits beside Ed after giving him a sideward glance. His eyes narrow. What the fuck was that for? If they’re that far beneath them then maybe her stupid prince should go find his answers elsewhere. “We’ve dealt with these creatures before and they sound exactly like what we’re looking for. We’ll be happy to help.”

“You’ve—” Ed leans his foot hard against the bottom of a table leg in annoyance. He didn’t ask for their help. This was their plan. Besides, no one else was supposed to be involved, except maybe the bastard. Granted, these two fools will probably get in the way regardless now that they know the plan. They’re gonna need to start remembering to seal the windows. He’d like to throw them out anyway, but then he actually processes what the grinning idiot said. “Wait, you said you’ve dealt with them before? How? Which ones?”

“Yes. Lan Fan and I ran into two of those creatures here in Central.” Ling crosses his arms and legs and the infuriatingly smug look on his face has Ed ready to strangle him, but somehow he holds himself in check. At least he’s not running up an enormous food tab and he won’t be giving him a chance after this either. “I believe their names were Envy and Gluttony. Very strange creatures especially the one that could change shape.”

“What?” Al turns slightly to face Ling while Ed wonders if “Envy” might be one of the ones he saw in the Fifth Lab. “Did you say one of them could change shape?”

“That’s what the young lord said.” Lan Fan’s voice drips condescension and it grates against Ed’s nerves. Ed doesn’t give a fuck if Ling’s royalty. It doesn’t matter here and neither of them can read minds. The way they speak is odd. It’s not their fault they need to make sure what they think he means is what Ling really means. “We were able to track them by the feel of their presence. I’m certain we would be of value to your operation.”

Ed has no idea what she’s going on about with presence and all that. But whatever, if he can use them to help further his own ends then he’s all for it. At least this way, they won’t be trailing after him like some demented puppies and getting in the way of everything. He’ll also be less prone to cause large scale destruction that way, something he’d really like to avoid while he’s in Central.

“As long as we get some time with the homunculus of course,” Ling adds with a much too cheery smile. There’s a slight movement beside him like Lan Fan moved her head but no words follow. If they want to get involved, then fine. Besides, they seemed to have held their own against the homunculi from the sounds of it. He doesn’t remember hearing any reports of major damage in the city from their encounter.

“Yeah, sure, as long as you don’t run off with it,” Ed counters and turns the plan over in his head. It’s not bad. He and Al can draw them out and Ling and Lan Fan can chase them down. It’ll work. Now he just has to get Mustang to go along with it. “I like it,” Ed says then shifts uncomfortably on the couch. “But…I need to talk to Mustang tomorrow about it. He’s…working with us right now and….”

“Colonel Mustang?” Ling tilts his head curiously then nods. “I’ve not met him personally but I have worked with his people before. That’s acceptable.”

“Acceptable?” Ling’s superior tone is taking things one step too far. Who does he think he is? Ed jumps to his feet angrily and hardly notices Lan Fan doing the same beside him. “No one asked your opinion! Who do you think you are anyway?!”

Ling places a hand against his chest and sits up straighter. “Why I’m the twelfth son of the Emperor of X—”

“Brother.” Ed’s about ready to jump across the table at the grinning fool until Al moves to his feet and puts a hand on his arm. Al tugs on his sleeve and only then does he notice Lan Fan has her blade half drawn, not that he cares. Stupid idiot can’t even fight his own fights. He has to have servants to keep his hands clean. Ed rolls his eyes and he’s about to tell Lan Fan just where she and her “lord” can shove their lineages. “Brother, maybe we should consider asking Winry to stay….”

At first Ed’s confused as to why Al’s changing the subject, but then he remembers the way Scar shattered his automail like it was nothing. That’s a bit more important of a concern than strangling an idiot from Xing and his arrogant babysitter. Ed plops back down on the couch and brushes his bangs out of his face. Lan Fan settles back down a few moments later accompanied by the slight rasp of her sword sliding back into place. “There’s no point in waking her now. I’ll talk to Mustang first thing in the morning. Once I get him on board, I’ll head over to the train station to tell her…something.”

He’s not really looking forward to that conversation. But now he needs to get these idiots out of their room so he can get a few hours of sleep. Maybe they can get Mustang to run interference for them while they fight Scar. Either way it’s good to know that soon they’ll finally have some damn answers!