The Consequences of Meddling

Part 2

When the phone rang he picked it up in his regular languid manner, waiting two rings before lifting up the receiver. It showed his commanding officers he was busy. That, and sometimes it just took that long for him to snap out of the drifting thoughts he entertained when he was avoiding work.

"Roy?"

It was a female voice, one he did not recognize, but there was a frayed edge to it that caused him to sit up straight.

"Yes?"

"It's Susan, I'm sorry to call you at work but -"

"Susan? What's wrong, are you okay?"

Roy saw Hawkeye's head rise from her desk. Susan was not one of their code words, nor was she one of Madam Christmas's girls. Hawkeye was bound to curious about who Susan was, the only real girl to have called Roy at the office.

"I'm…I'm really confused right now. Could I talk to you, meet you for lunch in half an hour?

"Of course," Roy heard a relieved expulsion of air through the receiver. She had always emitted a feeling of confidence, what had her shaken so bad?

"Thanks, see you soon. I'll be at Diane's."

The line clicked and Roy was left frowning at the speaker.

"Sir?"

Roy looked up to see Hawkeye looking at him, the tiniest frown of concern on her face.

"I have a lunch date, please clear up my schedule."

"Yes sir," she gave him a calculating look before settling back to work. Hawkeye was smart, she would figure out this was not frivolous outing.

"You have a lunch date?!" Havoc threw up his hands in agitation before his head fell to thump on his desk. The dark cloud above his head was almost visible.

Roy decided to not grace his 2nd lieutenant's actions with a reply and instead just smirked to himself as he set his pen to paper. He had a feeling this lunch might go over, and he did not want to make up the paperwork in overtime unless he really had no choice. Twenty minutes later he walked out the door, leaving a pile of signed work on his desk and two blondes disrespecting him under their breath.

~*~

Susan was sitting at a table in a poorly lit corner of the café, an empty kettle of tea before her. She looked…haunted. The braid she usually wore was not as tight as normal, large chunks of her hair hung free. There were dark circles under her eyes, her skin was pale with a tinge of yellow, and she kept tracing patterns with her finger on the table cloth. Roy had a feeling he would not be eating anything.

"Susan?" he called softly as he approached the table. She did not respond so he called out her name a second time, a little louder.

"Colonel! Thank you so much for coming."

Roy froze before stiffly pulling out the chair to take a seat. He had never told Susan his rank, she had never asked. And he had not been a colonel now for ten months. He let it slide for the moment, for Susan had not stopped rambling while he took a seat and motioned for the waiter to bring him a large coffee. He caught snippets, something about being sorry for calling him out but she could not go to anyone else.

"Mu-Roy," Susan's voice hardened with seriousness, drawing his full attention. "I know things, or I think I know them, and I want to tell me if they are true or not."

"Alright."

Susan took a deep breath, as if preparing herself for something, angled her head down, and then rushed on. "Alphonse Elric was a suit of armor. Homunculi are real; they've been following— following Ed since before he passed the test. In fact, Trisha Elric became one. Ed lost his limbs, Al his body, trying to bring her back. Wrath has Ed's limbs. Ed can do transmutations without a circle because he paid the toll. Al can too now that he remembers. Al got his body back because he used a philosopher's stone. Oh, and Pride's the Fürher."

Roy was, to say with absolute honesty, speechless. How she knew what she did seemed to escape him, and half of what he had just heard was news to him. The Fürher a homunculus? (Though that would explain why the police station did not have a missing person's file on Fullmetal) Plus Trisha Elric, with another one in possession of Fullmetal's limbs? Not to mention Roy had never even given much thought to the Elric's transmutation skills, he had always thought it was natural ability.

And yet, now that she was finished Susan was sitting tall and proper. He gaze was hard and dared him to disagree, warning that she would prove him wrong. All of a sudden her shoulders slumped and her forearms slid onto the table, eyes on her interlaced fingers.

"Tell me I'm wrong, Roy." She whispered. "Please tell me I'm wrong."

"I…I can't. Half of what you told me," his hands curled around his mug, "I have never heard of. But, Alphonse did use to be a soul attached to a suit of armor and I have seen homunculi with my own eyes. Everything else you told me, how do you know?"

"Ever since I met you, I've been getting these dreams, flashes," One of Susan's hands moved up to cover her face, "I see faces, learn names, hear voices. There's this one that I have every once in a while, ever since we met, what is it? Four months ago now?" She gave a hollow laugh. "There's not much to it, at first there's a lot of pain and then just a lot of white. I know I'm talking to someone, but all I ever remember is being asked a question and answering 'I want my brother to have what he wants most.' Roy, I don't even have a brother."

Something shivered down his spine. "Susan, maybe you're finally remembering things. You should be happy."

She lowered her hand, once again tracing shapes on the tablecloth, while shaking her head. Roy noticed they were all circles. "I'm just really confused. I can remember flashes of blue light and when I bring my hands together," she brought them up as if to clap in front of her chest, but her palms never touched. "They start to tingle, and I never get the courage to have them touch."

"Susan-"

"I see you sometimes." He blinked stupidly at her.

"You're younger, and you're usually with a blonde woman solider. You use those to create flames." She nodded her head toward Roy's arrayed gloves.

"How did you-"

"I don't know!" She sounded frightened and slightly panicked. Her hands went to the side of her head, pulling more strands from her braid. "I…" She pulled the band loose and began rebraiding her black locks. Roy figured it was more to keep her hands and mind busy than any real concern about her appearance.

"After we talked in the park awhile ago I had a strong desire to visit Resembool." She finished her plait and returned her right hand to tracing circles. Roy watched it, not willing to look at her face and the raw emotions displayed there. "I saved my money, worked a couple more hours a week. We just got back a couple of days ago. I…I have never felt like one place has ever called to me like that town. As soon as I got off the train I thought, this is home. This is where I would like Dean to grow up, someplace like this. I felt as if I knew every hill and farm. Hah! I even knew where to go, though where we ended up was just a burnt down house. I spent three hours there, just looking at ashes and holding Dean's hands, as if the house should mean something but it didn't."

Her finger hesitated in it tracings, before picking up its normal tempo as she continued, voice dropping to a low tone. "The weirdest past was that both to that burnt house and back to town to the inn, I knew people. I'd call to them by name, I actually hugged this one blonde girl saying 'I'm home', but they always asked who I was. That girl in particular looked quite scared of me. If I were remembering time spent there, wouldn't they have known me? I doubt I have changed that much. And if they really don't know me, how do I know them?"

It was a frightened hiss that escaped her mouth, one that demanded answers. Maybe it was because Susan did not think Roy had them or she just could not stop herself now that she was talking, but she continued on without letting him get past opening his mouth.

"They all knew Dean though, or at least thought they did. They all called him Edward. I guess he must really look like that alchemist. Dean never really answered any of them though, just kinda looked at them and gave a lot of people the creeps.

"I cut our visit short, I was so on edge. But all this knowing things, that's not the worst part."

"What do you mean?"

She continued her tracings and Roy finally noticed it was a transmutation circle, the same one over and over again being formed invisibly under her fingertip. There was a twisted design in the center.

When she finally answered, Susan's voice was low and cracked in places. "There have been times…it used to be once in a blue moon but ever since Resembool it's been almost every morning. I wake up, go to bathroom, and just stare at my reflection because I'm absolutely certain it's wrong. My hair is not black and my eyes are not purple. And I don't have these," she gestured to her chest with her hand and then brought it up to her face to wipe away a few stray tears. And suddenly it struck Roy how scared she was.

"And then…then there are times when I look at Dean and think that's me."

Susan brought both her elbows to stand next to each other on the table, placed her head in her hands, and started outwardly crying. Roy took a glance around to see if anyone noticed, but she was doing her best to stay quiet.

"I don't know what's going on Roy. Sometimes I feel as if I'm a guy and don't realize I'm not until I get in the shower. I feel like I used to be another person, and not just someone who can't remember. I don't know what to do. I don't know who I am. I feel like I'm going insane."

Her sobs became slightly louder and Roy could see the salt water slipping between her fingers. He had never seen a woman cry so uncontrollably before and now found himself frozen in mind and body, unable to help even if he wanted to.

Edward Elric's soul was trapped in Lust's body. It was the only explanation. And Dean truly was Fullmetal's body. I want my brother to have what he wants most. Susan had said she heard that phrase in her dreams, so it was bound to be one of Fullmetal's memories. And what else had Al wanted more then his brother's body back the way it was before they tried to bring their mother back? Dean was the physical result, a child's body that was - Roy flinched at the thought - soulless.

The worst part? Susan was going mad. How long until she crossed a bridge and gave into the temptation of the water underneath? And then what would happen to Dean? They had been happy together, living their lives without care or worry. Fullmetal deserved a calm life after all he had been through, even in his current state.

A waiter bumped his arm setting down a plate of biscuits. There was a note on top, Fix it.

He looked up into a green eyed, familiar stubble covered face that made his heart ache doubly at the sight of the malice held in those eyes and the knowledge that his friend had been six feet under for some time now.

Envy had warned him, don't meddle. He was worried about Lust, about how her humanity was a fragile thing. The homunculi had known that Fullmetal's soul resided in his fellow sin's body, had known that it would be easy to disrupt that careful balance that made Susan oblivious to things and kept her happy. But Roy had not listened; he had gone and gotten involved in Susan's life, effectively destroying her.

"I don't know how," he whispered.

In a flash he was knocked from his chair, lying sprawled on his back on the cold floor. Looking up he saw Envy had transformed from Maes into himself. It was unsettling to see himself in such detail without a mirror. Was his hair really that long, his ears really that large?

Roy was jerked from his observations by Envys' actions, something he would have not been able to carry out even if he had thought of it.

"Susan," Envy reached across the table and gently encased her wrists, bringing her hands down. "You are Susan Stanton, a wonderful mother and smart woman who is full of determination. That's what matters, and if you focus on that all this other stuff will go away. Be yourself, the person you know you are and have been since you and Dean have been together."

Envy reached out a hand to caress her check, wiping away the tears on face. Susan gave a slight hiccup and smiled at him with red rimmed eyes, tears still falling.

"Thank you Roy, but I don't know if I could do that." She shook her head, effectively removing Envy's hand from her cheek.

"Why not?" the sin asked. "It's obvious that you're not happy now, but you were before you started hearing things bout the pi- about Fullmetal. Forget about him, forget about what you see and hear and remember."

"It's not that easy," the woman sobbed. "Everything seems to be a trigger, even the town itself."

"Then leave Central."

Susan gave a hoarse laugh. "This is my home Roy, the only thing I and Dean have solid memories of, I can't leave." She broke down crying even harder, putting her head down on the table to cry in dark space created by her crossed arms.

Envy scooted his chair around closer to Susan, no Fullmetal, Roy thought. The homunculus draped an arm around sobbing shoulders. "Susan, let's go somewhere else. My place isn't that far from here."

Roy did not wait around to see how Susan –Fullmetal – responded. When Envy had moved his chair the military man had quietly gotten up, entered the kitchen, and left the restaurant through the back door. It was too private a moment to witness, and watching had made Roy feel as if Fullmetal himself had his right hand around heart and was squeezing.

It was obvious Susan was in anguish, but was more painfully obvious was that it was Roy's fault. And on top of that, him, the master of plans and women had not been able to even think of a way to set things straight. After Ishbal he had made it goal to protect those that he could, always starting with those under his command and having them do the same. But in the end, he had not been able to save Fullmetal close to two years ago now and now he had disrupted any happiness the alchemist had, even if it was due to circumstances that Roy had trouble guessing at.

As Fullmetal had once said during a rainstorm on the steps of Central Headquarters, they were just tiny insignificant humans who could not save a child. Granted Fullmetal was, had been, well on the way to adult hood earlier than anyone else Roy had known but still he had looked out for blonde. It was hard not too when he remembered how Fullmetal had looked pale and sickly, covered in bandages where two limbs had been the day before.

It was a monster, and alchemical abnormality that would help Fullmetal – Susan – now. If Roy knew anything about Envy is was that he was as determined as Fullmetal could be and always finished what he wanted to. Envy was not going to allow this whole…confusion… to disrupt Lust's human happiness. Roy could not guess why, but it did not matter if it meant Fullmetal found a sort of peace as well. It was the least he could do, to avoid Susan to allow the other alchemist to have undisrupted peace.

Roy stopped walking and looked up at Central HQ rising before him. His other subordinate's faces and Al's flashed through his mind, full of worry for Fullmetal. One day he might tell them, when Susan was gone and he had no idea where to find her and Dean. He did not want to the consequences of Susan meeting people Fullmetal had known to occur again, not while Envy was going to do his best to rid her of Roy's taint.

Dean. What a horrible fate for Fullmetal, or at least his body. But Roy was consoled a little because it did not seem as if Susan or Dean knew what was really wrong with the child, for which he was grateful.

He made to walk up the steps, but then stopped and turned, heading for his flat. He did not feel prepared to see the soldiers waiting for his return to the office, and he would not miss any important meetings. Hawkeye would understand, while he may be lazy (which was just a gentle front he liked to put up) he always showed up to work.

Roy just couldn't stop thinking that he had failed someone who had trusted him. He did not want to look into their faces and wonder whom he would fail next.

~*~

Eight months. He had not seen Susan for eight months. But every so often, when he saw a women with long black hair or a small child with golden blonde hair his mind would drift to them. Only after he had quickly gotten out of their line of sight of course, he did not want to see the pain of confusion in Susan's eyes.

He had come to terms that Susan was Susan. She shared characteristics with Fullmetal, but after going over each of their encounters over and over in his head he also realized that she, and well as Dean, where their own persons, as unique as anyone in his own command. Fullmetal, at least the one he knew and remembered, had already passed from this world and it did on one any good to superimpose his image onto Susan.

He hoped she was happy.

For eight months he had wished only that for the pair so that when he got a chance to see if it had been achieved Roy jumped at it.

It had come in with the rest of his mail, catching his eye because it was not the common white but rather a mid hue green.

Platform 3, the 8th at 1:13. Stay out of sight. ~Maes

Envy had succeeded after all, helping Susan heal. Roy vaguely recalled the sin at the cafe trying to get Susan to leave, and he silently agreed it was a good move. Susan should not be haunted by Fullmetal's soul, it was not good for either of them. And now, finally, Envy had Susan taking that advice and heading south. He felt that barb of pain again at knowing that the homunculus had succeed where he had not and was now adult enough to conceded that part of it was jealously and let it slide. It was for the common good, or at least the good of a good person after all.

~*~

He dressed in his civvies, knowing that his uniform would attract attention he did not want. Envy had said to stay out of sight, so Roy assumed the sin was escorting the pair as his doppelganger.

The spot he chose was next to the main entrance. Yes, not a very well hidden spot, but Roy's low cap hid his face and normally people did not look to their right and left as soon as they entered the stations. This way he could see when the group entered and silently follow them.

Once Susan, Dean and Envy, wearing his face, walked though he did not have to follow them for long. It was obvious Susan was doing much better, her face was quick to break out into a smile and her eyes sparkled with life like they had when Roy first met her. Dean too seemed better, if that was possible. From what he could tell the boy's eyes did not seem as empty.

She still had a thing for black; that jacket over her green turtleneck was the same dark hue. Roy did not know if it was a fondness that she got from Lust or Fullmetal. Either way, it looked good on her. He was sad to see though that the braid she had kept her hair in was gone. In fact, most of her hair was gone, it hung instead in loose tresses that ended just below her ears.

The change both saddened and pleased him. It meant that she had gotten over things, was quite content with just being Susan Stanton and not having issues due to being the container of Fullmetal's soul. Not that Roy was sure she was aware that was the case. But it also seemed to be the second death of Fullmetal, cutting off all ties to alchemist.

It was not quite true though. The two defiantly shared personality traits: protectiveness, a willingness to take on responsibility, determination. There was also a healthy glow around Susan, a physical result of her strong, bright life force that made her more attractive than Lust ever had and had drawn people to Fullmetal since he was child. Seeing Fullmetal, even in this bizarre situation of just being a soul in a homunculus's body who answered to the name of Susan Stanton, happy and living a life like any normal person made Roy smile. No one else he could think of deserved such a life more.

He turned around on the trio, once again not wanting to intrude, but this time he left with light heart.

A/N: I had someone tell me they doubted that I would finish this, but here it is! I do tend to do things if I set a deadline for myself. Thing is I usually don't do that .

What did you think? Anyone see that ending coming?

Once again, sorry to my Breed a Better Mousetrap readers becuase this took time away from getting the 6th chapter out sooner. Hope you found this enjoyable anyway.