FicWad

The night seemed long and endless. Riza walked quietly, head hung and hands tied behind her back. The blonde was pale and covered with bruises and lacerations. She looked as if she would just drop dead at any given moment. Riza dressed in an over-sized T-shirt that went down to her knees. She looked at her protruding belly, as she could feel the baby’s movements.
Two Officers dressed in faded camouflage uniforms, their faces hidden by gas masks opened the door to Riza’s cell and shoved her inside, before slamming and locking the door. Riza walked over to a pile of straw turned and sank down into the pile. She lay on her back, her hands still tied behind her.




Riza breathed deeply, she remembered it was five months ago when she was abducted by Bald’s faction in broad daylight, sometime during the chaos of the Ishbalan war, and was taken to Shinra, the phantom sistering lab to lab 5. And now, she was six months pregnant with a rapist’s child. She wondered if Roy knew if she were dead or alive.
A sharp pain tore across the low of her belly. Riza winced, trying to free her hands, but to no avail. The cords were to strong. Riza groaned, as she felt the baby drop and water gushed out of her. She tried to switch to a more comfortable position. Riza sat in the birthing position, as the contractions grew closer together. She spread apart her legs and started to push, once her instincts kicked in.
Riza pushed and pushed as hard as she could. Blood lined the insides of her legs and had collected in a puddle on the ground, staining the straw an angry shade of red. She had pushed for hours, and nothing was happening. Riza then rolled onto her side, crying out in pain. She grunted and cursed aloud. Riza scooted on her side towards a small jagged rock.

She rubbed the cord against it several times, finally severing her wrist bindings. Riza sat on her knees and continued to push. More blood came out and stained the floor beneath her. Riza let out a cry, as the baby’s head started to crown. She reached down in between her legs and started to guide the baby out as she continued to push.
Bald walked in and stood before Riza. He smirked and took the lifeless child. Riza hunched forward. She raised a worn gaze and looked at Bald, before falling to the ground. She lay in a pool of her own blood.
Bald severed the umbilical cord. He looked at the dead infant. The child had black fur, feline ears and a tail. Bald picked up Riza by the back of her shirt, dragged her down the hall, and tossed her into a sewer. He slammed the gate closed and looked at the exhausted Riza. “We’ll try again in a couple of months…”
That afternoon, Edward Elric had finished his paperwork and decided to bring home papers for Riza, since she had been out of work for two days due to headaches and nausea. It was good to be back, after a three-week leave.

He felt as light as a feather with his new Automail limbs, but his heart still felt that heavy weight of sorrow. It had been only three weeks, since Al’s death. He had taken his brother’s human body back home and buried Al next to their Mother. Ed opened the door and walked into the kitchen, smelling fresh coffee.
“Riza!” Edward dropped the stack of papers and hurried over to Riza, who lay collapsed on the floor. He shook her. “Riza! Can you hear me?” After no response, Ed grabbed the phone and called for an ambulance.
Roy stood behind his desk, his palms pressed down on the wood surface. He looked hard at the hooded figure before him.
The figure stood only inches shorter then Edward. She stood boot camp rigid, as if she were a militant. She dressed in a black, dilapidated hood and cloak. She smelled of the desert. The young stranger slowly extended her arm, turning her gloved palm upward. Within minutes, the moister in the air appeared as visible beads of water.
Roy blinked, slipping his hand into his pocket. He slipped on his ignition glove.

The beads of water drew in around the girl’s palm and swirled about, slowly creating a 3D figure of Riza. “I will ask but once more, Sir. Have you seen Neaveh?” She asked.
Roy stood quiet. “Neaveh?” He asked.
The 3D image vanished and with the same hand, the girl pulled back her large hood.
Roy’s eyes widened. “You’re alive…” He breathed.
The girl nodded subtly. She possessed an emaciated face, covered with copper brown fur. The girl’s large black cat ears twitched. Long black hair framed her face. She possessed a submissive green gaze. She unbuttoned her cloak, allowing it to slip down her thin figure. She dressed in the faded blue Military trousers, scuffed combat boots and a grey tank top.
The girl’s left arm was Automail, and through the scraps of her pants, her legs were too. She also possessed a long tail.
Roy took in a deep breath. “How did you escape?” He asked, still in disbelief.



Suddenly, the phone rang. Roy picked it up and answered in his usual bored manner. It was Edward, telling him that his wife was in the hospital. “I’ll be right there!” Roy slammed down the receiver and looked at the girl. “Let’s go!” He said and rushed outside.
Within twenty minutes, Roy arrived at the hospital. He exploded out of the elevator, practically slid across the floor, zipped passed Edward and slammed into the wall. He jumped to his feet and ran back to Edward. “Where’s my wife?”
Edward looked at Roy. “She’s with Skulli.” He explained, then looked at the girl. “Who are you?”
The girl looked at Edward, her ears drew back. She purred.
“Mr. Mustang?” An elderly man called from behind them.
Roy turned quickly, seeing Skulli Berriault. “My wife, how is she?”
Skulli adjusted his rounded bifocals. “You’re wife had a high fever and she was dehydrated.”
Roy crossed his arms, looked down, and then back to Skulli. “For a few days, Riza hasn’t been feeling well-she’s had a lot of headaches and nausea.”
“Can I see her?” Roy asked.
The doctor nodded. “I did a blood test-I’ll call you with the results.”
Roy nodded and followed Skulli down the hall. Roy walked into the dimly lit room and made his way over to Riza. He sat on the edge of the bed and kissed his wife on the forehead.
She moaned and stirred awake. “Roy?” She asked groggily.
“Shh…” Roy breathed and kissed Riza on the lips. “Sleep now.”
Riza closed her eyes.
“So…what did you say you’re name was?” Edward asked.
The girl looked at Edward. She turned and peeked into the room.
Roy stood and walked across the floor. He stopped directly in front of the girl and looked at her. “Not too long, OK?” He whispered, and then left.
The girl entered the room and walked up to Riza. She purred. “Neaveh.” She whispered.
Riza opened her eyes. “S-Saya?” She breathed, drifting in and out of sleep.
“Saya?” Edward whispered, as he peeked inside.

“Neaveh…” The girl breathed, kissing Riza on the forehead. “Be well, good Mother.” She whispered, her hand patting the woman on the belly. After a moment, the girl left the room and met with Roy. “She’s with kitten.” She said.
Ed spun around. “You mean, with child, right?” He asked.
Roy looked at the girl and then sank back into a chair. He looked like a deer caught in headlights. “P-Pregnant? Riza’s pregnant?”
“About three weeks, Sir.” Skulli walked up, clipboard in hand. “We did additional testing and yes, you’re wife is pregnant.” He looked at the girl and smiled. “I’m not at all surprised that you would have sensed it.”
Edward blinked, he looked at Roy, then to Skulli and then to the girl. “How’d she know?”
Roy looked at Edward. He sighed.
“That’s an easy one, she’s a Chimera…they can sense many things more acute.” Skulli said.
That night, Riza was allowed to go home. She sat at the kitchen table, with a cup of milk, rather then coffee. She rubbed her eyes.
Edward looked at Riza. He wanted to tell her that a girl was looking for her, but Roy demanded him to keep quiet. “Who is S-Saya?”
Riza looked up. “What?” She asked.
“You called out to a Saya in you’re sleep.” Edward said.
Riza looked down at the white liquid that was milk in her coffee mug. “I’m tired.” She breathed sadly, stood and headed for her bedroom.
Edward scratched his head. He sighed and headed back to Roy’s Office, where he saw the Chimeric girl leaving. Ed knocked.
“Come in.” Roy breathed.
Edward entered and stood in the doorway, his figure silhouetted by the light from the hall. He stood quiet, watching Roy stand at the window, deep in thought.
“They’re coming…” Roy breathed.
“Who, Sir?” Edward asked.
“Ghosts of my past…” Roy breathed, turning his wedding band, chafing the skin.
“What happened, Sir?” Edward asked. “During the war, why did Riza disappear for five years and why did the Military not look for her? Who was that girl, and what aren’t you telling me, what are you hiding?”
“Nothing that concerns you.” Roy sighed.
Edward looked at Roy, even though the man’s back was turned to him. “This from the man, who told me never to keep secrets, no matter how painful and sorrowful-because in the end, all they do is eat you alive…”
Roy sighed. “This is different, Ed…”
“How different can it be?” Edward breathed, somewhat annoyed.
Roy spun around. “You are not telling a little girl a little white lie to protect her from knowing the truth of who killed her Father, Ed!” Roy barked. “This concerns me, and me alone!” Roy sank to his knees. “To tell the truth…I didn’t think she was still alive…”
Edward walked up to Roy and knelt down. “Who? That girl?” He asked.
“I have to tell someone…so it might as well be you.” Roy breathed and looked at Edward.