From the Dark: Fullmetal Alchemist: 106 - That's all I ask of you.
Title: From The Dark
Rating: G
Fandom: Fullmetal Alchemist
Pairing/s: No Pairings (Lan Fan, Gracia, Elicia, Riza, mentions of Roy's team)
Theme: 106 - That's all I ask of you.
Genre/s: gen, hurt/comfort
Warnings: spoilers~
Words: 2369
Summary: Gracia was finally settling back into everyday life. Until Riza had something for her to watch.
Disclaimer/Claimer: Hagaren is the property of Hiromu Arakawa. No copyright infringement is intended and I'll put it back when I'm done.
Note: Written for genarti for fma_ladyfest with the prompt: Gracia: so, after Hughes died, did Gracia keep in touch with Team Mustang and play any kind of role in the Promised Day set-up?
At first it was difficult, sleeping in the same bed. For the longest time Gracia Hughes would sleep on the couch, unable to bear the empty space in her bed. Elicia noticed, of course, and she looked so sad and worried for such a little girl. Gracia then made more of an effort to not sleep in her living room. As time went on, it became less and less of a burden, but there was still a hole in her life, and over six months later there were still nights when she could not sleep. On such a night, she received a call.
"Hello?" She answered, a bit weary of a call coming so late at night.
"Hello, Gracia, it's Riza."
Gracia relaxed a bit. "Oh my, Riza, what are you doing calling this late at night?" She teased.
Riza laughed, "I work under the fuehrer now, and his work ethic is certainly more dedicated than a certain colonel's, to say the least. I usually don't get home until late."
"You were transferred? Well, things have just been all over the place this year, haven't they"
"Indeed, and I'm not the only one. Fuery was sent south, Falman to the north, and Breda to the west." Riza went on, somewhat solemnly.
Gracia's brow furrowed. It seemed a bit odd that all of Roy’s team would be transferred. "What about Jean?" She asked.
Riza paused. It was not a natural pause, like the ones taken in normal conversation, but rather a heavy pause. A silence that was almost always followed with less then pleasant news. She took a deep breath before continuing,
"Jean is paralyzed from the waist down as the result of an injury. He has retired."
Gracia gasped. "I, I'm sorry to hear that."
"Yes, it was hard on all of us."
In no way did Gracia think that Riza was being insincere, but it seemed she was holding something back, side-stepping something. However, she did not get her chance to ask, for Riza shifted the conversation to why she had called.
"I have some furniture that a relative sent me, but it's too large to fit in the living room of my apartment," She said "Could you keep it in your basement until I figure out what to do with it?"
"Um, sure, Riza." Gracia answered, baffled.
"Alright, I'll be over tomorrow, since I have the day off. It was nice talking to you, Gracia!"
"You too."
Riza hung up first, leaving Gracia staring at her telephone.
True to her word, Riza showed up the next day; without any sign of furniture.
"Where's the furniture?" Gracia asked.
"My neighbor's going to help move it, but he's working until six, so I thought that is I came over now, I'd be able to plan the most efficient route to the basement."
"Well, you certainly have given this a lot of thought."
Riza laughed "Perhaps too much." she said.
Without saying much more, Gracia led Riza to the basement. She still had the feeling that Riza was holding something back. There was an odd air about her, almost paranoid; she kept looking behind her, checking her shadow. Gracia decided that it would be better to not say anything then. She would have to bring it up in a conversation later.
"Where's Elicia?" Riza asked, looking around for the perky girl that loved company.
"She has a play date today. It's sort of nice to have the house to myself for awhile." Gracia answered as she opened the basement door. She tugged the light switch that hung a few inches in front of the door.
"I don't use the basement very much except for storing some old things, so it's a little musty." Gracia explained, descending. She heard Riza shut the door behind them. "If we move some things around, I'm sure that we can fit-"
The lights went out. Gracia reached out instinctively for the railing.
"Riza?" She asked into the dark. "Riza, did you pull the light switch?"
"Yes." She answered, quite bluntly.
Even though Riza could not see her, Gracia frowned. "Why on earth would you-"
"I cannot share all the details, but this is merely a security measure." Riza interrupted. "What I can tell you though, is that there is no furniture. However, I do need you to watch something for me."
"Well, you really could have just told me that over the phone."
"I'm afraid I could not. I've been under," She paused as she had before. "under surveillance." She said at length.
Gracia decided she did not want to know why turning of the lights disabled whatever surveillance Riza was being watched by.
"Alright then, what is this thing you need to watch?"
"A girl, about Winry's age I believe. She was attacked by," Another pause, another bit of information withheld. "a man, who we believe had ties to Brigadier Hughes’s murder."
Gracia's chest still tightened when Maes or his murder was mentioned. Riza went on.
"He and his allies have an incredibly watchful eye over the entire city. Her grandfather is alright since they don't know what she looks like, but she needs somewhere safe to stay until she can re-unite with her comrades."
Gracia sighed "Riza, I'll do this," She heard Riza sigh with relief. "But only if I get to know everything when things calm down."
"Equivalent exchange, huh?" Riza chuckled "Alright, I agree to that."
Gracia relaxed considerably "So, what's the girl's name?"
"For such a large piece of furniture, this is a pretty light box!" Remarked Riza's neighbor, as they set the wooden box down on the basement. "So," he went on "need anything else?"
"No, that's it." Riza smiled.
"Alright, see you!" He walked back up the stairs, hands in his pockets and whistling. Making his way to the foyer, he stopped to tip his hat at Gracia. "Nice meeting you, ma'm!"
"It was nice meeting you as well." She said amiably.
As he went out the door, up the yard, and into his car, Gracia walked quickly to the basement door.
"Has he left?" Riza called up. Gracia answered that he had.
"The lights, please." Riza called. Gracia switched the lights off and shut the door. She stood there, waiting. Although muffled, she heard the crowbar she had left in the basement pulling the lid off the box, then some coughing, and a short exchange that she could not make out. The stairs creaked as Riza slowly made her way up the stairs in the darkness. The door opened and Riza stepped out.
"Well, thanks for everything, Gracia." She said, leaving the door open behind her.
"Oh, it's nothing." Said Gracia, smiling.
"No, really, you're been very helpful!" Riza enthused. "I should be going now; I have an early day tomorrow. I'll see myself out."
"Don't overwork yourself!" Gracia said.
"Right now, It's impossible not to." Riza replied with a soft chuckle.
As Riza walked to the door, Gracia stayed where she was fearing whatever surveillance Riza was under. She waited for the sound if the front door opening in closing. Then the sound of the Riza’s car humming away down the street. She waited just a moment more, and then turned to the open door. She pulled the light cord. Almost all the basement was immediately illuminated, pulling a Xingese teenager, who wore a knee-length grey coat, a slightly longer purple dress, gloves,boots, and carried a small bag, out of the darkness.
"Lan Fan? You can come upstairs now."
She obliged, coming up the stairs swiftly. She seemed to be quite used to moving quickly.
"Thank you for allowing me into your home." She said humbly, giving a slight bow.
Gracia told her to think nothing of it. She offered Lan Fan some tea, which she gratefully accepted. “But first," Lan Fan said, reaching into her pocket "The lieutenant asked me to give these to you."
She handed Gracia for different envelopes, each with a different chess piece and letter on them: A pawn with the letter K, a rook with the letter H, a bishop with the letter V, and a king with the letter R. She opened an envelope, the one decorated with the pawn. Inside was another envelope, blank except for Riza's address and that of the southern command center.
"Alright, I know what to do with these." Gracia said, replacing the contents and sealing them. "Come into the kitchen, I'll make our tea."
After the tea had been prepared and served, as they were settling down in the living room for a nice, get-to-know-you chat, the doorbell rang.
"Ah, that must be my daughter, Elicia!"
Gracia left the room briefly, returning with a rather tired looking three year old girl in her arms. "Wake up, Elicia, we have a guest."
Elicia blinked sleepily, twisting in her mothers arms to look. Lan Fan smiled. "Hello, I'm Lan Fan."
Elicia blinked again, "Ran Fun?"
"No, honey, Lan Fan,"
Elicia nodded, seemingly understanding. "Mm, Ran Fun."
Lan Fan chuckled. "It’s alright. My friend had the same habit when we were little." She stood wand walked over to them. She ruffled Elicia's hair. "It’s kind of cute."
Elicia stared at her for a bit, and then smiled. "You're nice!" She declared.
"Well, now that we all know each other, how about dinner?"
Elicia brightened up, her fatigue apparently forgotten. "Dinner, Dinner!" She cheered.
So they all settled in the dining room. The meal was quite enjoyable, with pasta and quiche being the main dish, a salad as the side dish, and small, colorful pastries being the dessert. The conversation was pleasant, as both the hostess and her guest were considerably well-mannered. Eventually, as often happens when there is a guest, the conversation eventually turned to Lan Fan.
"So, what does you family do?" Gracia asked.
"My mother runs a tea shop, and my grandfather and I serve as guards to the twelfth prince."
"Guards of a prince?" Gracia asked, surprised. "That certainly sounds stressful!"
"It would be much easier if said prince did not try to run off every time we turned our backs." Lan Fan joked.
Gracia laughed "I'm sure he'll grow out of it." She said. "What about your father?" she asked.
Lan Fan's polite smile faded; she gripped her for a little tighter. "My father was a guard. He was killed when I was little."
“Oh, I’m so sor-“
“Did they bury him?” Elicia spoke up, looking down at her food “Some mean people hurt my daddy, then they buried him.”
Gracia and LanFan stared at Elica. The latter nodded, "Yes, some mean people hurt him." she smiled softly. "But we don't have to be sad."
Elicia looked up at her "Why?"
"Because daddies don't stay in the ground." LanFan pointed upwards "They go to heaven, and watch over everyone they love."
Elicia blinked at her. She looked up at the ceiling. "Daddy's up there?"
LanFan fan nodded.
Elicia smiled her broadest smile and waved at the ceiling. "Hi, daddy! I love you!"
LanFan and Elicia smiled.
Although Gracia did not understand the chess pieces on the envelopes, addressing the interior envelopes was easy. Riza had told her where Roy's team had all been transferred to, and each piece had a corresponding letter on it. The pawn was Fuery, the rook Breda, , the bishop Falman, and the king Roy. She mailed them out as soon as she could. A few weeks later she had not received any replies, but figured they had probably sent them to Riza. The way the whole affair was so shadowed made Gracia nervous. She started to lose sleep again. Atleast she was not alone at night anymore, for LanFan was quite the nightowl. Although LanFan's habit of sitting on the roof was quite unsettling.
"Are you sure your fine up there?" Gracia asked, leaning out a window.
"Miss Gracia, I rode atop a moving train from Rush Valley to here, I think I can handle a stationary roof." LanFan said lightheartedly.
Gracia could not tell if she was serious about the train. "There aren't any stars out tonight."
"It really isn't very clear, is it?" LanFan agreed. "In the desert it's much clearer."
"That must have been breathtaking."
"It was, but don't go there for just the stars. I'd question your sanity."
Gracia chuckled "Don't worry, I don't plan to."
They sat in silence for awhile, enjoying the night. It was a quite night, with no cars driving by and the only sound being the songs of crickets.
Then LanFan shifted suddenly, looking east. "Miss Gracia, what's outside the city, to the east?" She asked.
"The east?" Gracia asked "I think that's just the Kanama slums, why?"
LanFan stood up. "Something's not right." She sat down again, sliding to the edge where the window was. "I'm sorry, I have to go."
Gracia backed away from the window so LanFan could climb back in. "Right now?"
"Yes." LanFan said without hesitating. "I'm not sure what's going on, and I need to see. This is my duty."
Gracia nodded "I understand."
LanFan smiled another soft smile "Tell Elicia I'm sorry for having to leave so suddenly."
"She'll miss you, but I think she'll understand as well."
LanFan went back to the guest room. When she returned, her trendy outfit had been replaced by a completely black one with armor and spiked boots and gloves. He hair was pulled back into a bun and a mask and hood hung at her back. The left sleeve had been ripped off the shirt, reveling her combat-automail in it's entirety. It was a complete turnaround of appearance.
Gracia walked her to the door. LanFan paused and turned to Gracia. Her right hand over her left fist, held by her waist, LanFan bowed humbly. "Thank you for housing me." she said.
"Think nothing of it, really." Gracia assured her.
LanFan smiled as She opened the door "I'll visit if I can." She said, stepping outside.
"I'll have a bed ready." Gracia replied.
LanFan moved the mask to her face, tightening the rope so it fit her face snuggly. Pulling up her hood, she ran off, disappearing back into the darkness she had come from.
Rating: G
Fandom: Fullmetal Alchemist
Pairing/s: No Pairings (Lan Fan, Gracia, Elicia, Riza, mentions of Roy's team)
Theme: 106 - That's all I ask of you.
Genre/s: gen, hurt/comfort
Warnings: spoilers~
Words: 2369
Summary: Gracia was finally settling back into everyday life. Until Riza had something for her to watch.
Disclaimer/Claimer: Hagaren is the property of Hiromu Arakawa. No copyright infringement is intended and I'll put it back when I'm done.
Note: Written for genarti for fma_ladyfest with the prompt: Gracia: so, after Hughes died, did Gracia keep in touch with Team Mustang and play any kind of role in the Promised Day set-up?
At first it was difficult, sleeping in the same bed. For the longest time Gracia Hughes would sleep on the couch, unable to bear the empty space in her bed. Elicia noticed, of course, and she looked so sad and worried for such a little girl. Gracia then made more of an effort to not sleep in her living room. As time went on, it became less and less of a burden, but there was still a hole in her life, and over six months later there were still nights when she could not sleep. On such a night, she received a call.
"Hello?" She answered, a bit weary of a call coming so late at night.
"Hello, Gracia, it's Riza."
Gracia relaxed a bit. "Oh my, Riza, what are you doing calling this late at night?" She teased.
Riza laughed, "I work under the fuehrer now, and his work ethic is certainly more dedicated than a certain colonel's, to say the least. I usually don't get home until late."
"You were transferred? Well, things have just been all over the place this year, haven't they"
"Indeed, and I'm not the only one. Fuery was sent south, Falman to the north, and Breda to the west." Riza went on, somewhat solemnly.
Gracia's brow furrowed. It seemed a bit odd that all of Roy’s team would be transferred. "What about Jean?" She asked.
Riza paused. It was not a natural pause, like the ones taken in normal conversation, but rather a heavy pause. A silence that was almost always followed with less then pleasant news. She took a deep breath before continuing,
"Jean is paralyzed from the waist down as the result of an injury. He has retired."
Gracia gasped. "I, I'm sorry to hear that."
"Yes, it was hard on all of us."
In no way did Gracia think that Riza was being insincere, but it seemed she was holding something back, side-stepping something. However, she did not get her chance to ask, for Riza shifted the conversation to why she had called.
"I have some furniture that a relative sent me, but it's too large to fit in the living room of my apartment," She said "Could you keep it in your basement until I figure out what to do with it?"
"Um, sure, Riza." Gracia answered, baffled.
"Alright, I'll be over tomorrow, since I have the day off. It was nice talking to you, Gracia!"
"You too."
Riza hung up first, leaving Gracia staring at her telephone.
True to her word, Riza showed up the next day; without any sign of furniture.
"Where's the furniture?" Gracia asked.
"My neighbor's going to help move it, but he's working until six, so I thought that is I came over now, I'd be able to plan the most efficient route to the basement."
"Well, you certainly have given this a lot of thought."
Riza laughed "Perhaps too much." she said.
Without saying much more, Gracia led Riza to the basement. She still had the feeling that Riza was holding something back. There was an odd air about her, almost paranoid; she kept looking behind her, checking her shadow. Gracia decided that it would be better to not say anything then. She would have to bring it up in a conversation later.
"Where's Elicia?" Riza asked, looking around for the perky girl that loved company.
"She has a play date today. It's sort of nice to have the house to myself for awhile." Gracia answered as she opened the basement door. She tugged the light switch that hung a few inches in front of the door.
"I don't use the basement very much except for storing some old things, so it's a little musty." Gracia explained, descending. She heard Riza shut the door behind them. "If we move some things around, I'm sure that we can fit-"
The lights went out. Gracia reached out instinctively for the railing.
"Riza?" She asked into the dark. "Riza, did you pull the light switch?"
"Yes." She answered, quite bluntly.
Even though Riza could not see her, Gracia frowned. "Why on earth would you-"
"I cannot share all the details, but this is merely a security measure." Riza interrupted. "What I can tell you though, is that there is no furniture. However, I do need you to watch something for me."
"Well, you really could have just told me that over the phone."
"I'm afraid I could not. I've been under," She paused as she had before. "under surveillance." She said at length.
Gracia decided she did not want to know why turning of the lights disabled whatever surveillance Riza was being watched by.
"Alright then, what is this thing you need to watch?"
"A girl, about Winry's age I believe. She was attacked by," Another pause, another bit of information withheld. "a man, who we believe had ties to Brigadier Hughes’s murder."
Gracia's chest still tightened when Maes or his murder was mentioned. Riza went on.
"He and his allies have an incredibly watchful eye over the entire city. Her grandfather is alright since they don't know what she looks like, but she needs somewhere safe to stay until she can re-unite with her comrades."
Gracia sighed "Riza, I'll do this," She heard Riza sigh with relief. "But only if I get to know everything when things calm down."
"Equivalent exchange, huh?" Riza chuckled "Alright, I agree to that."
Gracia relaxed considerably "So, what's the girl's name?"
"For such a large piece of furniture, this is a pretty light box!" Remarked Riza's neighbor, as they set the wooden box down on the basement. "So," he went on "need anything else?"
"No, that's it." Riza smiled.
"Alright, see you!" He walked back up the stairs, hands in his pockets and whistling. Making his way to the foyer, he stopped to tip his hat at Gracia. "Nice meeting you, ma'm!"
"It was nice meeting you as well." She said amiably.
As he went out the door, up the yard, and into his car, Gracia walked quickly to the basement door.
"Has he left?" Riza called up. Gracia answered that he had.
"The lights, please." Riza called. Gracia switched the lights off and shut the door. She stood there, waiting. Although muffled, she heard the crowbar she had left in the basement pulling the lid off the box, then some coughing, and a short exchange that she could not make out. The stairs creaked as Riza slowly made her way up the stairs in the darkness. The door opened and Riza stepped out.
"Well, thanks for everything, Gracia." She said, leaving the door open behind her.
"Oh, it's nothing." Said Gracia, smiling.
"No, really, you're been very helpful!" Riza enthused. "I should be going now; I have an early day tomorrow. I'll see myself out."
"Don't overwork yourself!" Gracia said.
"Right now, It's impossible not to." Riza replied with a soft chuckle.
As Riza walked to the door, Gracia stayed where she was fearing whatever surveillance Riza was under. She waited for the sound if the front door opening in closing. Then the sound of the Riza’s car humming away down the street. She waited just a moment more, and then turned to the open door. She pulled the light cord. Almost all the basement was immediately illuminated, pulling a Xingese teenager, who wore a knee-length grey coat, a slightly longer purple dress, gloves,boots, and carried a small bag, out of the darkness.
"Lan Fan? You can come upstairs now."
She obliged, coming up the stairs swiftly. She seemed to be quite used to moving quickly.
"Thank you for allowing me into your home." She said humbly, giving a slight bow.
Gracia told her to think nothing of it. She offered Lan Fan some tea, which she gratefully accepted. “But first," Lan Fan said, reaching into her pocket "The lieutenant asked me to give these to you."
She handed Gracia for different envelopes, each with a different chess piece and letter on them: A pawn with the letter K, a rook with the letter H, a bishop with the letter V, and a king with the letter R. She opened an envelope, the one decorated with the pawn. Inside was another envelope, blank except for Riza's address and that of the southern command center.
"Alright, I know what to do with these." Gracia said, replacing the contents and sealing them. "Come into the kitchen, I'll make our tea."
After the tea had been prepared and served, as they were settling down in the living room for a nice, get-to-know-you chat, the doorbell rang.
"Ah, that must be my daughter, Elicia!"
Gracia left the room briefly, returning with a rather tired looking three year old girl in her arms. "Wake up, Elicia, we have a guest."
Elicia blinked sleepily, twisting in her mothers arms to look. Lan Fan smiled. "Hello, I'm Lan Fan."
Elicia blinked again, "Ran Fun?"
"No, honey, Lan Fan,"
Elicia nodded, seemingly understanding. "Mm, Ran Fun."
Lan Fan chuckled. "It’s alright. My friend had the same habit when we were little." She stood wand walked over to them. She ruffled Elicia's hair. "It’s kind of cute."
Elicia stared at her for a bit, and then smiled. "You're nice!" She declared.
"Well, now that we all know each other, how about dinner?"
Elicia brightened up, her fatigue apparently forgotten. "Dinner, Dinner!" She cheered.
So they all settled in the dining room. The meal was quite enjoyable, with pasta and quiche being the main dish, a salad as the side dish, and small, colorful pastries being the dessert. The conversation was pleasant, as both the hostess and her guest were considerably well-mannered. Eventually, as often happens when there is a guest, the conversation eventually turned to Lan Fan.
"So, what does you family do?" Gracia asked.
"My mother runs a tea shop, and my grandfather and I serve as guards to the twelfth prince."
"Guards of a prince?" Gracia asked, surprised. "That certainly sounds stressful!"
"It would be much easier if said prince did not try to run off every time we turned our backs." Lan Fan joked.
Gracia laughed "I'm sure he'll grow out of it." She said. "What about your father?" she asked.
Lan Fan's polite smile faded; she gripped her for a little tighter. "My father was a guard. He was killed when I was little."
“Oh, I’m so sor-“
“Did they bury him?” Elicia spoke up, looking down at her food “Some mean people hurt my daddy, then they buried him.”
Gracia and LanFan stared at Elica. The latter nodded, "Yes, some mean people hurt him." she smiled softly. "But we don't have to be sad."
Elicia looked up at her "Why?"
"Because daddies don't stay in the ground." LanFan pointed upwards "They go to heaven, and watch over everyone they love."
Elicia blinked at her. She looked up at the ceiling. "Daddy's up there?"
LanFan fan nodded.
Elicia smiled her broadest smile and waved at the ceiling. "Hi, daddy! I love you!"
LanFan and Elicia smiled.
Although Gracia did not understand the chess pieces on the envelopes, addressing the interior envelopes was easy. Riza had told her where Roy's team had all been transferred to, and each piece had a corresponding letter on it. The pawn was Fuery, the rook Breda, , the bishop Falman, and the king Roy. She mailed them out as soon as she could. A few weeks later she had not received any replies, but figured they had probably sent them to Riza. The way the whole affair was so shadowed made Gracia nervous. She started to lose sleep again. Atleast she was not alone at night anymore, for LanFan was quite the nightowl. Although LanFan's habit of sitting on the roof was quite unsettling.
"Are you sure your fine up there?" Gracia asked, leaning out a window.
"Miss Gracia, I rode atop a moving train from Rush Valley to here, I think I can handle a stationary roof." LanFan said lightheartedly.
Gracia could not tell if she was serious about the train. "There aren't any stars out tonight."
"It really isn't very clear, is it?" LanFan agreed. "In the desert it's much clearer."
"That must have been breathtaking."
"It was, but don't go there for just the stars. I'd question your sanity."
Gracia chuckled "Don't worry, I don't plan to."
They sat in silence for awhile, enjoying the night. It was a quite night, with no cars driving by and the only sound being the songs of crickets.
Then LanFan shifted suddenly, looking east. "Miss Gracia, what's outside the city, to the east?" She asked.
"The east?" Gracia asked "I think that's just the Kanama slums, why?"
LanFan stood up. "Something's not right." She sat down again, sliding to the edge where the window was. "I'm sorry, I have to go."
Gracia backed away from the window so LanFan could climb back in. "Right now?"
"Yes." LanFan said without hesitating. "I'm not sure what's going on, and I need to see. This is my duty."
Gracia nodded "I understand."
LanFan smiled another soft smile "Tell Elicia I'm sorry for having to leave so suddenly."
"She'll miss you, but I think she'll understand as well."
LanFan went back to the guest room. When she returned, her trendy outfit had been replaced by a completely black one with armor and spiked boots and gloves. He hair was pulled back into a bun and a mask and hood hung at her back. The left sleeve had been ripped off the shirt, reveling her combat-automail in it's entirety. It was a complete turnaround of appearance.
Gracia walked her to the door. LanFan paused and turned to Gracia. Her right hand over her left fist, held by her waist, LanFan bowed humbly. "Thank you for housing me." she said.
"Think nothing of it, really." Gracia assured her.
LanFan smiled as She opened the door "I'll visit if I can." She said, stepping outside.
"I'll have a bed ready." Gracia replied.
LanFan moved the mask to her face, tightening the rope so it fit her face snuggly. Pulling up her hood, she ran off, disappearing back into the darkness she had come from.