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A/N - I have edited this chapter.
Edward and Alphonse were on their way back to Central after completing their latest mission. Alphonse looked over at his sleeping brother with no small amount of worry. Their mission had gone wrong the moment that they had arrived at the small town. They had been sent to investigate a man named Orochi. The mission file did not say exactly why Orochi needed to be investigated; it only said that Edward was supposed to find out all that he could about the man, then report back to Central. If only things could have been that easy.
Somehow Orochi knew that they were coming, and set the town against the brothers. The little town was somewhat isolated, being surrounded by forest on one side, and mountains on the other. As a result, it gets very little business outside of its own borders, rendering it a poor town falling behind on its taxes. Orochi had convinced the town's people that the military was sending a State Alchemist along with some reinforcement to force the taxes out of them. Naturally, they believed this lie. After all, it wasn't like it would be the first time that the military had done something similar.
The town's officials thought that their worst fears were being confirmed when they spied the chain on Edward's pocket watch, and even more so when they took in the sight of Alphonse standing next to him. They had immediately gone on the offensive.
Even though they had been caught off guard with the amount of hostility coming their way, the brothers were careful to defend themselves without hurting anybody. It had taken a good four hours to convince the townspeople why they were there. Unfortunately by then, extensive damage had already been dealt to the town's buildings and roads. Also, several people had been seriously wounded and had to be hospitalized. Edward was also one of those wounded, having earned himself a nasty gash on his chest. He had stubbornly refused to go to the hospital, forcing Alphonse to bandage it up as best he could. It had then taken another two days to repair the damage, even with the aid of their alchemy. To top it all off, Orochi had managed to disappear sometime during the fight, and his house was irreversibly destroyed.
Alphonse gave what could have passed for a sigh as he watched his brother's breathing hitch for a moment and his face scrunched up in pain.
'That is it.' Alphonse thought. 'After he gives his report to Colonel Mustang tomorrow, I am going to make Brother go to the hospital, weather he likes it or not.' He reached over and placed a soothing hand on Edward's brow. If he could have, Alphonse would have smiled fondly as his brother mumbled and nuzzled his face into the palm of his hand. 'I hope that the Colonel won't be upset. After all, it wasn't Brother's fault that the mission failed this time!'
* * * * * Meanwhile back at Central * * * * *
Colonel Mustang sat behind his desk, and he was actually doing his work. Though the three bullet holes in the wall behind his head and Hawkeye's stern glare may have had something to do with it.
He sighed as he looked up at the clock. 'Damn.' He thought with dismay. 'It isn't even lunch time yet, and I am already developing a migraine.' Mustang let his head thunk down onto the desktop. Only a moment later, there was a polite yet sharp knock at the door.
"There is only one person capable of knocking like that." Mustang grumbled to himself as he sat up and let out an irritated, "Come in Lt. Hawkeye."
Hawkeye walked in and shut the door behind her. She snapped off a salute before saying. "Sir, I have just received a message that Major Elric is on his way back to Central. He should arrive around ten o'clock tonight Sir."
Mustang let out a frustrated sigh. "There is no possible way that Fullmetal would have been able to confirm our suspicions that Orochi had been experimenting with chimeras in just three days without screwing things up. I am just dying to head his report on this one." He ran his fingers through his hair before going back to work.
Hawkeye watched with amusement for a few minutes before breaking the silence. "Sir?"
"Hmm?" Mustang answered without bothering to look up.
"Who will be picking the Major and his brother up from the train station tonight?"
Mustang looked up in confusion. "Pick them up? Lieutenant, it is only a twenty minute walk from the station to the dorms. I am sure that they can manage."
"Forgive me for disagreeing with you Sir, but I don't think that they should have to. Edward is a very well known Alchemist here in Central. His unique way of transmutating without a circle makes him valuable to the military. You know as well as I that if you pink his hands down, Edward would be helpless to any thug wanting some ransom money. Also, remember that Edward is only thirteen years old, and as much as he hates to be reminded, do not forget how very small the Major is."
"Alright fine. Have Havoc be at the train station by nine o'clock just in case the boys arrive early." Mustang conceded as he pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Thank you Sir." Hawkeye saluted again as she started toward the door. At the threshold, she turned back to her superior, glaring harshly. "Oh, and Colonel?"
"Yes?" Mustang asked, wary of her tone.
"You will not be going to lunch until at least half of those reports are done. You will not like the consequences if I find anymore of them hidden under the rug, or stuffed behind the hanging photographs." Then she was gone.
Mustang's head thunked back to the desk with a loud thud. "Ugh, this is going to be a long day." He groaned as he reluctantly retrieved several reports that he thought had been cleverly hidden before going back to work.
A/N - What did you think?