Hey. Guess what?

Last chapter. Now. I know what you're thinking. "?" Well I just did. I wasn't sure where I was going with this at the end of the last chapter. I finally figured it out, and this is where I was going so it's the end. Maybe, if you're nice and possibly maybe ask for it, I possibly may write an epilogue. Maybe. Don't hold me to that- or anything else. xD

So. If you keep up with more stories than this, I want your opinion. If you don't keep up with more stories than this or just don't want to share your opinion, whatevs; I didn't want yours anyways. After this, I will be working on one of my in-progress stories. It's up to you to decide which gets a new chapter first, and it's between two of my other stories: Down the Rabbit Hole or Everywhere? So, click that fancy new review button and let me know... or don't. But preferably the former, because I'm really not good with decisions.

On wiff da storeh!

Disclaimer: Do. Not. Own. I will not say it again!

Warnings: ... You still need this shit? Fine. Shounen-ai. Violence. Bloody-gorey stuff. Maybe a teensy little bit of... character death... possibly... Just read, dammit!

Enjoy~

More dreams; ones he didn't even wish to think about. This time, Edward woke quietly, curled up on his side on the cold floor. Even without opening his eyes, he was sure of two things: One, there was blood slick on both of his hands; Two, long strands of hair were clumped together in his flesh hand. Slowly, his eyes fluttered open, as he knew he'd have to face this day eventually. His head didn't ache quite as much; neither did the rest of him. He flexed and curled his fingers as he sat up, golden eyes shifting around. It looked like he and Roy were the only two in the grimy room. Though he'd slept, he still felt absolutely exhausted.

After blinking what little sleep he could from his eyes, Edward cleared his throat and held both of his hands up. Might as well see what was going on there. He'd been right about the blood; it was smeared all over both hands. Long strands of blond hair were caught between his fingers and in the joints of his automail hand. Finally, he'd been able to lay hands on his duplicate, if only in his dreams. But now the proof was here, in the real world. It took him a moment to remember how this had happened. He remembered his automail blade tearing through the flesh of his duplicate's stomach, even as his free hand gripped the other's blond hair and yanked. The Other Edward had been caught so off-guard that he only weakly pushed at his original. A small tussle on the bleeding floor had ensued and then… he woke up.

In that case, there was probably blood all over him. The blond frowned and began to look himself over. Sure enough, there was blood smeared over his shirt and even parts of his arms and legs. He wouldn't be surprised if there was some on his face, as well. The shirt was already ruined. Because of this, Ed felt no remorse for wiping his hands off on it. Roy appeared to be asleep, even snoring very quietly. With a smile, he leaned over to lightly press his lips to the man's cheek, nuzzling his nose to the spot he'd just kissed.

Then, without warning… the young alchemist stood up on the spot. His legs were much stronger than they had been the previous day. Hell, he as a whole felt stronger now. Maybe it was the determination to put an end to all of this that gave him this new strength. Maybe it was that he'd finally stood up to his duplicate. Whatever the reason, all that mattered was that he was finally strong enough to take that bastard on. At least, he believed he was. Wouldn't that be enough? Damn, he hoped so.

With another glance to his lover, he traced his hand along the length of one of the shackles, all the way from where it was bolted on the wall to the cuff that dangled against the wall. Hm, what could he do with this? Even though he hadn't eaten in at least twenty-four hours, transmuting shouldn't be too much of a problem, so long as he wasn't trying to transmute anything too big. Pale fingers lifted the cuff away from the wall and held it up as golden eyes skimmed over it. A different shape… a sharper shape… popped into his mind as he ran his fingers over it. That wasn't such a bad idea, actually…

"What're you doing?"

The voice to his right had his attention in an instant, the cuff clanging against the hard, rough wall when he suddenly let it go. His eyes slid over to the other man… and he smiled despite the situation. "Oh, nothing," he answered quietly, kneeling back down in front of the man.

"Alright, ya damn liar." The tone of Roy's voice was just slightly teasing. "Would you at least explain what the hell is going on?"

Edward frowned slightly and lifted a barely-clean hand to rest against his lover's cheek. "Honestly… I don't even know myself. We have a theory… that he's a part of me that had been trapped with Truth and was released when I opened the Gate again to pull Alphonse's body back. Maybe that he's… mostly made of parts of me that I wouldn't accept; the harsher, evil parts of my personality." His thumb brushed lightly along the other's cheekbone.

"I knew I was asking for trouble when I got involved with an Elric."

"And you'd never second-guess that decision…?" There was a hopeful tone to his voice.

"Of course I wouldn't, idiot." Roy leaned forward to press a kiss to the blond's lips. "Now. How about why you're covered in blood?"

As if he'd forgotten that he had blood on his shirt and skin, Ed looked down at himself and frowned. "Oh… Well, that's… kind of a long story, actually. And I'm not really sure if you'd believe me."

Roy snorted a laugh, winced, and shifted his position carefully. "After all that's happened? I highly doubt that anything you could tell me would be unbelievable."

Sighing, the shorter man fell backwards to sit on his ass, propping his bloody legs up in the other's lap. "You know those dreams I had. They all involved him. I had another one and I sort of… attacked him in it. Even though it was in a dream world, I woke up with his blood smeared on my hands and his hair caught in my fingers." And then he shrugged as if it were no big deal.

"… Oh, he's going to be pissed."

"Tell me something I don't know."

A small smirk found its way to the dark-haired man's pale lips. "I love you~"

For the first time in a while, Edward laughed, and it was a genuine laugh, full of actual humor. "I said something I don't know, silly." Regardless, he leaned forward and kissed the other on the mouth, hand cupping his warm cheek. After all, he knew that this very well might be the last time he was able to do this. "I love you, too, bastard."

As if sensing something was wrong, that something was bothering his young lover- at least, more than the predicament that they were in- Roy wrapped strong arms about the boy's middle and pulled him up against his chest, resting his chin atop the blond head. "You seem oddly good-natured for someone who's been trapped in a cold room, where we've both been tortured in varying ways."

"What? I can't be happy to be here in your arms?"

"Not when there's an escape to be made and a riddle to unravel." There was a knowing smirk on those cocky lips.

"Stop knowing me so well," Ed muttered, burying his face into the other's chest. "I really am happy just because I'm here in your arms. I promise it." The look of complete honesty in his bright golden eyes as they lifted to Roy left no room for doubt that it was the truth.

Still, the military man thought there was something else to it. In the end, he decided to leave the matter be for the moment and simply cradled the smaller boy against his chest. "Then I believe you." He nuzzled his nose into the gorgeous blond hair.

"Good. Now let me go."

"Wh-what?"

"No offense intended, but I was in the middle of something when you interrupted me."

"… You were staring at shackles."

"Tch. Exactly. I think I can transmute those into something else. Something we can use as a weapon against him." Edward explained, his voice even below a whisper. No way was he willing to risk his plan by talking about it too loudly. He really didn't want his clone to overhear.

"You still have the strength to transmute?" The look on Roy's face was skeptical.

The blond hesitated slightly, then shrugged. "I figure I've got enough strength for a small transmutation, so long as I don't do anything fancy."

Every little voice in the dark-haired man's mind screamed at him not to allow Edward to do this; that there was a possibility it wouldn't turn out well and they needn't risk it. Of course, he knew that nothing he said would change the blond's mind. He'd known the Fullmetal Alchemist far long enough to know that he'd do whatever he wanted without listening to what anyone else had to say. "Yeah, alright. Just… don't push yourself, alright?"

"You know better than to think I would." Carefully, Ed shifted out of his lover's arms to get back on his feet, pulling the shirt down to at least cover his ass, grateful he was wearing boxers. Maybe he should start wearing pants to bed… "Now. I'm thinking something… sharp. No design at all. Just something that comes to a point," he mused very quietly, as if to himself, as he lifted the cuff once more.

As he dropped it back against the wall once more, he clapped his hands together, picturing what he wanted in his head as he moved his hands to press against the freezing metal. The following blue flash was so bright that it almost blinded him and he squinted, concentrating hard on what he was doing. He could feel the energy draining from his body, but he quickly pushed the thought away. Thinking about that wouldn't help him right now. After what seemed like an eternity, the light faded and he stood, panting, with a fairly lengthy, thin, crude version of a dagger clasped firmly in his hand. Crude, because there was no hilt at all. The sides were completely dull and rectangular where he would be gripping it, coming up to a long, sharp point at the opposite end.

Looking up at his lover, Edward spun it around in his hand and tucked it into the waist band of his boxers. The last thing he wanted was for his clone to waltz in and see that in his hands. A surprise attack would be much better. And then he grinned. Tired as he looked now, he was elated that it had work, his heart pounding both from the exertion and nervousness. Could he really pull this off? Normally, the answer would be a flat, stern yes. But this was himself that he was fighting. Their fighting styles would be exactly the same and they'd know each other's special moves.

"What're you thinking about?" That look was unmistakable. The young alchemist was attempting to figure something out and was having a lot of trouble with it, possibly even doubting himself.

"We're the same. If we wind up fighting, it could go on for hours. It would only end if one of us got too tired to fight anymore!" The blond slapped himself in the face, shaking his head. And it had seemed like such a good idea…

Roy, on the other hand, still thought it would work. That, and he had every confidence in his lover. He simply shrugged and pushed himself up so he was sitting straight, back pressed against the wall behind him. "Just… do it before he has time to fight back."

"… I'd hate you for being a smartass." His shoulders rose and fell with a heavy sigh. "But I can't hate you." He knelt on one knee, putting his hand on Roy's cheek again. "I love you. I don't think I've told you that enough, don't think you realize just how much. I never was much for saying it, was I…?" A softer sigh left his lips this time and he leaned forward, pressing his forehead to the other's as he brushed his nose against his lover's. "Whatever happens, I want you to remember me saying that. Always."

"Ed… You're talking and acting like you're going to die," the dark-haired man observed quietly, a frown tugging his lips down.

Good-naturedly, as if he was unbothered and nothing was wrong, Edward smiled at the other man and shook his head, their foreheads and noses rubbing together. "I know, I know. I'm sorry. I guess I just caught up in the mood." The lie rolled off of his tongue easily- far too easily, in his own opinion. Maybe he hadn't given up as many of his undesirable aspects as he thought.

Sighing, Roy shook his head, smiling fondly. "Well damn, Ed. You startled me for a moment there."

"Well, you know me~ I love messing with you~"

"In more ways than one~" That was most certainly Edward's voice, but the blond kneeling in front of Roy was still painfully silent. "And you know I'm right." The clone sat down in the chair in the middle of the room, facing backwards. He folded his arms over the curve of the back and grinned.

That grin fell when his original stood up and started to stride towards him. If one looked very closely, it would be obvious that there was a single clump of hair missing from the right side of his scalp. That would explain the clump of hair in the original Edward's hand when he'd awoken earlier. Blood also stained the front of the duplicate's shirt. That would be where he'd been stabbed by the automail blade.

"You think it's funny?" Edward growled. And there was that fire. Right where it should be: Giving light to those burning twin suns that the young man called eyes.

"That you're trapped here and I can do to you anything I want to? Morbidly hilarious~" And, for emphasis, it seemed, the clone barked a laugh, rocking the chair slightly from the force of it.

The real Ed gritted his teeth, finding it hard to quell the urge to rip out the crude dagger and stab him right there. He had to get him distracted, comfortable with the situation, and then strike when he was least expecting it. This was rather unlike him, as he rarely formed plans and usually went right in, guns blazing. Hopefully, this would catch the clone very off-guard, since it was a younger version of himself and wasn't used to formulating plans. "You get off of it, don't you? You know how sick that makes you?"

"Oh, Daddy~ We all have our own sick fascinations. This is just one of yours~"

"That is not one of mine."

"It is. One so deeply suppressed that it was passed on to me. Meaning you don't have it anymore, but you used to have it. Don't those words just send shivers up your spine~?" the younger blond purred, eyes following the other as best he could. He didn't find it odd at all that his 'father' was circling him, and he didn't even notice that with every circle… the distance between them was closed… little by little.

"They don't. Because I know if I still had those feelings you speak of that I could never act upon them. I, unlike you, have a sense of morality."

"Ouch, Daddy. Were those words supposed to wound me?" The tone of his voice was teasing, unsuspecting.

The older blond snorted a laugh, resting a hand on his hip over the crude dagger. He wanted his hand as close to it as possible without giving himself away. "Of course not. I've figured you out enough to know that mere words will have absolutely no effect on you." Just a bit closer.

"Ah. Figured that out all on your own, did ya?"

"It's not like you kept it a secret." By this point, his heart was hammering because he was so nervous, and he was worried that his clone would be able to hear. Especially considering that he himself could barely hear the exchanged words over the drumming in his ears. Was he breathing harder? He couldn't even answer that question now, for he wasn't sure of the answer.

"True. And I'm very good at keeping secrets, aren't I?"

"Hardly. You gave yourself away to me."

"Ah, but if I hadn't have given you the answer, you'd still be sitting on your hands, wondering just what curse had befallen your family and infected them like the plague. Isn't that right?"

"You might be right about that, but only because you are an impossible thing… in more ways than one." So close they could touch. That was when the original Edward carefully slipped the crude dagger out of the waistband of his boxers, staring at the back of the clone's head, as he was currently standing behind the other. Thankfully, the transmuted weapon was on his right side, the side away from the duplicate, and so it could still remain hidden even as he walked around to the front of his copy. "And impossible things… should not exist."

This was far from the first time Edward had stabbed anybody, but it was certainly different. For many reasons, in fact. Even though the dagger was in his automail hand, he could feel the flesh and muscle give way under the blade, feel it slide right into the heart. In addition, he could feel blood spill over the numb steel, which was very odd indeed. Most importantly, there was a sharp pain in his chest that he couldn't quite explain. Where was it coming from…? Could he feel what his copy was feeling?

The answer to that was no; he couldn't feel that. What he could feel was an automail hand ripping its way to the center of his chest, through his back. Fortunately, it had missed his heart. Unfortunately, it was now very hard to breathe; it hadn't missed his lung.

As if from some faraway place, Edward heard Roy scream his name, but the voice at his ear was far louder. "If I die, then you die with me, Daddy."

He yanked the dagger from his duplicate's chest, but his slick fingers couldn't keep a hold on it and it clattered to the floor. The automail hand slid from his own ribcage as he took a step backwards and fell. Someone caught him and kept his head from banging into the floor though. He couldn't see what had become of his other self. All he could see was a pair of worried eyes as dark as a starry night, a pale face with many a wound and bruised. It was slowly starting to blur and fade into blackness. Trying to frown, he blinked as if to get rid of that annoyance.

"Ed, come on. Don't do this to me," a soft, deep, soothing voice pleaded. It was easily recognizable as Roy's.

The half-frown on the blond's face was slowly replaced with a small smile, but when he opened his mouth, all that came out was a soft, gurgled hacking sound and a fountain of blood. It spilled over the front of his shirt, running down and starting to soak into Roy's anyways. He took a deep breath, but the left side of his chest protested painfully and it didn't seem like he'd gotten any air in at all.

"Hold on until I get you some help. Please, Ed!"

Oh. Now he realized… he wasn't going to make it. His chest was filling up with blood and he couldn't breathe for choking on it.

And suddenly he was up in the air, being jostled about. Edward knew Roy didn't have the strength for this. There was no point, anyways. Coughing up another lungful of blood, he placed a hand on the other man's cheek and shook his head, a sad smile tugging at his bloody lips. By now, both of them had blood all over their clothes and skin. "Roy…" It was the hardest thing in the world right now to even get the name out. But there was something he had to say, and he had to say it now.

"Sh. Save your breath. You can tell me when I get you some help!" Roy insisted desperately, even though he knew that he wasn't going to make it to any kind of help in time. Desperation made you stupid; it made you do things you normally wouldn't do and say things that you normally wouldn't say. Desperation is a silly thing. It is also something that we all feel from time to time; that we all can't help but feel from time to time. Roy Mustang was certainly no exception to this rule.

Edward shook his head, knowing his lover wasn't going to give up on him until he was pronounced dead and six feet under. He might as well just come right out and say it, despite the protests he was receiving. "I have… always loved you… and I always… will, Roy…" Even now, the words were gurgled and hardly noticeable as such. Blood spilled over his lips with every word, pouring down his chin and over his neck. His head bounced, already-labored breathing shaking with even the smallest of movements.

"Ed. Don't talk. Please." Hearing the blond speak like that… it just confirmed that these were their last moments together. "You've got so much left to do! He's gone now. We can all be free of him and get on with our lives, and you have to be there!" Again, that desperation colored the military man's voice. Twigs cracked under his shoes and low branches attempted to smack him right in the face, but they meant absolutely nothing to him. The only thing that mattered was the dying blond in his arms, who his eyes constantly kept flickering down to. Every time they did, a little life would be gone from those once-bright eyes, now dulling. The boy's breathing became shallower, more labored. He was constantly coughing up new blood, as if there was no end to it. And finally… those shallow breaths turned to gasps. Gasps that found no oxygen.

Roy saw no end to these woods- not yet, anyways- but he did see an end right here, in his arms. Finally, he stopped, able to make out faint traces of blue under the blood covering his lover's lips, and knelt down on the forest path to settle the shorter boy in his lap.

"Ni-Ni… -kki." With no oxygen, it was a miracle that was able to be formed, broken and gurgled and disgusting as it was.

"Don't worry about him. I'll take care of him for you. I promise," the dark-haired man murmured, leaning forward to kiss the other one last time. He didn't even care about all the blood; it was their last.

All the response he was given- and he didn't even expect this much- was a weak bob of the blond head and golden eyes that were fighting not to close. A bloody thumb touched his cheek. Crimson lips mouthed 'I love you' for a final time.

Roy could actually see the life leave Edward Elric, as he looked into the young man's eyes. There had been so much there. To see it suddenly drop away… it was enough to break the heart of even the strongest of men- even a god that neither of them believed in. It was most certainly enough to tear the heart of Roy Mustang straight from his chest, rip it to shreds, and toss it carelessly through the dirt.

Not a sound left his mouth. Not a sound could leave his mouth, for he was completely incapable of making one. Silent tears of agony traipsed their way along his pale, bruise cheeks, collecting at his chin and dripping down to splash onto the bloody chest of the late Elric brother.

How long he knelt on that forest path, the soldier didn't know. In the end, he didn't even have to move to find the help he had wanted so desperately earlier. It came to him in the form of an auburn-haired investigator named Tai Sarith. Fortunately, this Tai Sarith was no dummy and had brought along backup- including paramedics.

Too late, though.

Regardless, the EMTs pried Edward's cooling body from Roy's reluctant arms as Tai knelt beside him and rested a hand on his shoulder. "You know there will be questions for you," she whispered, knowing that her superior must feel as if the world had ended. And maybe it had, losing someone as brilliant as the Fullmetal Alchemist.

A jerky nod was her reply.

"And you might get blamed for his murder…?"

Another jerky nod.

"Good. I'll get my guys to help you into the ambulance. You're going to need to be looked at, as well. The rest of us will follow this path back to that run-down shack." A pat on his shoulder and she stood up. Honestly, she was barely holding it together herself. She hadn't known Ed for very long, but she'd honestly liked the poor guy and had been hoping they would become close friends.

Sighing, Tai walked over to a couple over her men, giving them instructions to escort the brigadier general to the hospital; to go straight there and not let him leave no matter what. They gave her a salute, then helped Mustang to his feet and walked- well, more liked dragged, as he couldn't get his feet to work properly- him all the way out of the forest, to where many cars were parked and waiting for them. It seemed that the whole time, Roy didn't so much as blink, staring off into space without saying a word, barely breathing.

-xXx-

In the end, it was ruled that the 'Elric twins' had murdered each other. One had snapped and lost his mind, going insane and trying to take over his brother's life, as one where he was known by everyone was far preferable to one where he was known by no one. The other had been trying to protect the ones that he loved. In the end, Edward still came out the same person he had always been, the hero people had always seen him to be.

For Edward, a funeral was held four days after the incident. It would have been less, but an investigation had to be done; this investigation was rushed. Everyone left that Edward loved, the people closest to him in the military, the remainder of the Hughes family, even some people he didn't really know but had somehow helped in his travels attended. Roy didn't leave the casket's side. And when it was put under the ground? He stayed at the grave site until well into the night, when the air chilled his fingers and toes so that they were numb. Alphonse and Nicholas finally managed to pull him away and get him back home to where it was warm.

With his 'twin…' well, that was a very different, very odd story. His body had been in the morgue, right next to Edward's. On the fourth day, though, after the funeral, an investigator had come into the cold, sterile room to find nothing but a pile of ashes in its place. Nobody was able to explain how it happened, and so it simply went unexplained.

True to his word, Roy officially adopted Nicholas Elric Mustang and began to raise him as his own, even if for months after the death of his lover… he was a broken, broken man. Even after that, he was still broken. He just got better at putting on a strong face for the growing boy, even if he was something asked the tear-jerking question, "When's Daddy coming home…?"

Time for the healing to begin.

Lulz. I was listening to possibly the happiest song ever- PONPONPON, the cover by Kagamine Len and maybe a bit of Rin- while I was writing the death scene, and the stabbing and... pretty much everything after "'In more ways than one~' That was most certainly Edward's voice, but the blond kneeling in front of Roy was still painfully silent." I'm such a good person and now a BAU5 at saying, "Pon Pon Way Way Way Pon Pon Way Pon Way Pon Pon. Way Way Pon Pon Pon Way Way Pon Way Pon Way Way." quickly. :D

Blessed Be~ Madarao