The Flowing Alchemist [FMAB Fanfic]

22} Bad News

"We are going to have some fun."

"Ugh I doubt it." I groan, dragging myself out of my 'bed' and quickly wrapping myself in a coat lying on the frozen ground.

" Quickly now, we don't have all morning." He sighs and taps his foot as I roll my eyes and begin following him.

"I am certain by now that you are a soldier. A Briggs soldier." He smirks as we walk and all I can do is yawn, much too tired for anything else.

"...so what if I am? You going to kill me?" I relent finally.

If he wants to try it let him.

"God no, you're much too valuable to waste like that!" A dry, deep chuckle resonates from deep inside him.

We come to a halt at a small tent pitched on the fringes of the camp.

"We are going to be sending your friends a gift. A very special gift." With a flick of a wrist, I've got hands gripping my shoulders and two more men at my sides.

"What the hell is this?" I growl, violently jerking away from the hands only to be grabbed again and held more firmly.

"I have learnt from experience that most leaders will only respond to hostage threats if they believe that their soldier is in grave danger," he traces his cold, pale hand over my cheek and along my jaw, " and I think it's definitely time to let your boss know just who he's dealing with."

-----------

Roy Mustang's pov

"A phone call from Olivier? What on earth about?" I ask my secretary whilst taking the phone from her hand and placing it against my ear.

"You are listed as lieutenant colonel (y/n)(l/n)'s emergency contact, is this correct?" A deep and rough female voice barks without my prompting.

"Am I?"

Why did she put me? Our relationship is professional and even then it's rocky at best.

"Quiet. I've received news of her condition." My chest tightens and I think of Maes, still mourning.

"She is being held by a Drachman regiment a few dozen miles from Briggs." The voice continues, monotonous and emotionless.

"How do we know that they actually have her?" I ask, thinking it would be easy to lie in order to gain an advantage.

"They sent a note...attached to an automail arm and a picture. Her mehanic has verified that it's hers."

"How do we know she's alive? We can't be sure."

"The picture. I've had it sent to you."

And right on time, a frantic runner reaches my office, panting like a dog and carrying a photograph.

My stomach twists as soon as I see it. The purple splotched flesh of a woman's back; one automail limb attached at one shoulder and the base of another at the other shoulder, wiring poking out of it haphazardly; and most strikingly, the callous knife marks across the bruised skin, sitting just under the preexisting scabs of her permanent transmutation circle. Rough markings telling the date and a single word.

Hostage.

----
Your pov

"Why the hell won't they respond already? It's been a week. Do they think I won't kill you??"

A cold breeze dances across my stinging back and I hug the thin blanket closer to my body, suddenly remembering having one of my steel limbs ripped of by these Drachman savages.

My eyes flutter open to land on the pacing form of my favourite psychopath, eyes filled with fury.

I can't help but chuckle.

"What the fuck do you find so funny?" He crouches next to my crude makeshift bed on the floor and glares at me.

"If you think that anyone will roll over and give you anything you want just because you have me then you're wrong. Olivier wouldn't allow it. That's how things are run at Briggs." I spit, staring right back at him, clenching my jaw so tightly it begins to ache.

"We shall see, after all the demand was reasonable was it not? One of my associates for one of theirs, fair is fair." He stands and saunters back over to his desk.

"You seem to think I have some worth, what makes you think anyone would care about a stupid kid like me?" I sit myself up, covering my chest with the blanket as I look around for a shirt.

"You're a kid. If I don't get a reply I'll be dumping your useless body right back in central, for the public to find and be enraged at. How could the military hire a poor child and then neglect them like that?" A glint of madness shines in his eyes. I want to gouge them out. "Imagine the uproar! A few more strategic killings and a riot or two, we could start a coup without ever incriminating ourselves. Once the military is weak and defenceless we can strike, it will all be ours."

"Wow. I love a man with ambition."

"And I love a woman with a sealed mouth."

"Ah good, I'll make sure I never seal mine then. I'd rather die than have you fall in love with me." I hiss, standing up to defiantly face him before turning to a pile of clothes much too big for me laid on a wooden table behind me.

I pull it on, my back turned towards resident idiot. As the silence grows deafening I try to revive the conversation, the feeling of his eyes boring holes into my back beginning to make me uncomfortable.

"So what are you going to do now that your little ransom ploy didn't work out? I'm sure-"

"Sir!" A panting soldier barges into the tent, completely forgetting to salute. Amateur.

"What?" Captain crazy barks, whipping around to face the disturbance.

"There is someone here for you, someone from central. He says he is willing to trade." The young man continues to pant heavily.

Who the hell is here? I know it's not Olivier on account of the intense speeches she always gives about every man being for himself and whatnot.

"Is he alone?" The captain asks, grinning wildly at me.

"Yes he appears that way."

"I will be out in a minute, tell him to wait."

------
Sorry it has taken so long, I'm pretty stressed and a few of my close family members are in hospital currently so I don't have a lot of time to write anymore. Thanks for your patience!

Love you all and I'll see you next chapter