Unfiltered (Edward Elric x Reader)

9 - Masked Man (Part 1)

When you walked to the door and slid your shoes on, Elicia begged to come with you, but being a target meant anyone around you would also become a target. "Maybe next time okay? Besides, shouldn't you help mom get dinner ready?" You were able to sooth her tears when convincing her she'd be useful to her mother. "I'll be back!"

"Be careful!" Gracia called out to you before you shut the door.

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You hummed to yourself quietly as you looked for the sugar, picking up a couple things you noticed the Hughes' were out of along the way and placed them in a hand basket.

Out of nowhere, you felt a tingling on the back of your neck, the feeling of being watched. You casually checked your surroundings, keeping a sharp eye out as you shopped. You didn't see anyone, so you decided you were just being paranoid.

"(Y/n) is that you?" The cashier, a dear friend of Gracia's smiled big as she spotted you. You set your basket down on the checkout counter and kindly smiled.

"Miss Lia, it's good to see you," you chatted with her for a moment. But you couldn't focus, you kept your senses sharp in the case you were being followed. "Take care," you walked off immediately after handing her your money.

"Wait- your change!" She called out to you, waving it in the air desperately.

As soon as you stepped out the building you put your free hand to your gun, the other one holding a big brown paper bag. Your senses heightened and you quickly walked down the road, ready to draw. You couldn't shake the feeling you were being followed.

You slowed your steps and eventually came to a complete stop. It all happened in a split second. You turned around, drawing and aiming your gun which was instantly knocked out of your hand. Your bag of groceries fell and you were harshly pinned to the ground. With your adrenaline pumping, you didn't even notice you were stabbed in the shoulder with a large knife.

You fought back with the masked perpetrator, an unknown body with only one identifying mark. A small neck tattoo you commonly saw amongst your brother and his friends. "Who are you?!" You struggled out your sentence, holding back his whaling arm that threatened your life with a bloody knife. He was tall and lanky, and surprisingly strong for his build.

You desperately wrestled, trying to get close enough to your gun to at least knock him down. He freed his arm from your grasp, swinging it back down with your throat in mind. You blocked him with your arm just in time, and as the knife went all the way through you sucked in a sharp breath.

With his moment of hesitation, you kicked him off and crawled to your gun. Once it was in your hand, you turned quickly and aimed it at him, but he moved too fast. He hid in the shadows, spying on you quietly.

Your hair was in disarray, your were clothes tattered, and blood dripped from your wounds. Out of breath and trembling, you slowly got to your feet. "Come on out asshole! Don't be shy now, let's finish what you started," you invited with an angry glare. You turned in a slow circle, attempting to find him in the poorly lit street.

You grunted at the impact of a heavy foot against your back, you were kicked down hard and you didn't see it coming. The collision with the ground knocked the wind out of you and sent your gun flying again. You looked up to see him standing over you, breathing heavily. He wore a dark hoodie to cover his hair, white gloves and a very simple white mask over his face, an absolutely frightening figure straight out of a horror story.

"Any last words, (Y/n)?" His raspy voice gave you chills. You breathed a chuckle and pushed yourself into a sitting position.

"I'm gonna kick your ass," you spat, and as he charged, you pressed your hands against a transmutation circle you'd secretly drawn out of blood, shooting pillars of rock at him from all angels.

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"Al, did you hear that?" Edward looked in the direction of a loud bang. They were headed to the Hughes residence to meet back up with you, but before they could enter the building, they heard the very familiar sound of alchemy followed by explosions. "You don't think that's..."

"No way, it couldn't be," Al responded confidently but shared a nervous look with his brother before they both took off. They ran in the direction of the sound. It was close, way too close to be a coincidence.

As they came to turn a corner, they passed a masked man running in the opposite direction. Ahead, they saw multiple pillars of rock and as they feared, you were behind it. You were running to catch up to your attacker, but your injuries slowed you down.

"(Y/n)?! What the hell happened?!" Edward wore a horrified expression.

"Edward, Alphonse-" you winced in pain. Edward caught you as you fell to your knees. "Don't let him get away."

"Him?" Edward remembered the suspicious man they passed on the way here. "Alphonse!"

"I'm on it!" The younger Elric immediately took off in the direction he went.

Edward turned his eyes back to you, covered in blood and dirt. "Holy shit," he whispered, unable to tell where your wounds were from the amount of blood. "Alright you stay here, we'll go after him-" he instructed, but you cut him off.

"No way, I'm coming too," you insisted, grabbing his coat to keep him from running off.

"What are you insane? Look at yourself!" Edward exclaimed.

"I'm fine," you struggled to stand, starting to feel dizzy. He rolled his eyes and dropped to his knees beside you. He took his coat off, throwing it over your arms and looked into your eyes. He clapped his hands together and slammed them on the ground before running off. You gasped when a slab of rock pinned you down against the pillar. You were unable to stand and unable to move your arms. "Edward!"

"Don't be an idiot! You stay there," his words and actions were harsh, but he intended to keep you safe. You desperately tried to get out, you couldn't budge, he barely left any breathing room.

"Edward- come back here!" You shouted and thrashed around in attempt to set yourself free. "Dammit!!"