Tooth, Claw and Automail
Chapter 1: The New Assignment
It was raining outside Central Headquarters and Edward and Alphonse Elric looked up at the front gates.
"What are we going to do now Brother?" asked Alphonse.
"Well, we're gonna catch cold if we stay out here. If only we can get someone to let us inside. I need to talk to Mustang and see if there is any new news on the Philosopher's Stone," explained Edward.
"Brother! Look, there's someone there!"
Ed looked to over and saw that there was a lone soldier walking up to the gate, probably about to start a unhappy shift standing guard.
"HEY! Over here, can you let us in?" Ed shouted to the approaching guard, arms waving in the air.
The guard looked over to see where the yelling was coming from and saw Al standing by the gates. Al looked a little intimidating, a seven-foot suit of armour standing by the gate. He speed up his pace and approached the brothers.
"Was that you calling me?" the guard asked.
"Um no, that was my brother"
"Where? I thought you were alone…oh, wow, I didn't see you there. You're kinda small from a distance"
Ed glared at the guard, face burning and a demonic look in his eyes as the impending doom threatened to burst from the tiny alchemist.
"WHO DID YOU CALL A SHORTY WHO'S SO SMALL THAT HE'S BARELY VISIBLE AND HARD TO TARGET?"
Al sighed, holding his brother's flailing arms and legs as he's was about to jump the guard, who now had a look of terror on his face.
"He didn't say anything like that Brother"
"Wow, sorry. I didn't mean anything by it."
"That's alright, he'll calm down in a minute. Um, actually, we're here to see Colonel Mustang; I'm Alphonse Elric and this is my brother Edward."
"Edward Elric? You mean the Fullmetal Alchemist?"
Edward, having finally calmed down, reached into his pants pocket and withdrew the silver watch. He held it towards the guard.
The guard looked down at the rain falling down on the intricate design of the watch and raised his eyes to see a glimmer of automail.
"Yes Sir! I'll open the gate right away and sorry again about my comment"
"Yeah yeah. Whatever"
The gates were opened and the two brothers proceeded to their destination.
"The next time someone calls me 'small' is gonna get it right between the eyes!"
"Oh, Brother"
Ed hoped it would be Mustang.
Colonel Mustang was at his desk, dreading the paperwork sitting on top. He was wondering if he should start doing it, for the twentieth time in an hour, when there was a knock at the door.
"Yes, what is it?"
Edward and Alphonse peaked their heads in as a response.
"Hey Col. Finally back from that 'complete-waste-of-time-assignment' you sent us on. Please tell me you have some better leads for us this time"
"Oh, hey Ed. Didn't see you from behind these papers, it's just that you're sooooo…"
Ed pleaded that Mustang would finish that comment, but the smirk on his face gave Mustang the incentive to hold his tongue.
"Well, the bad news for today is that, unfortunately, I don't have any new leads on the Philosopher's Stone for you. The good news is that I do actually have an assignment that you can help me on"
"What's that? Bring you coffee? Do your laundry?"
Mustang looked up at Ed's obvious sarcasm.
"No, that's not it. It's a good idea though, I'll add it to the list of things for the future"
Ed blushed red, making fists and really wished he could rearrange Mustang's teeth.
"Now now Ed. I really do need your help on this case. It seems that there have been a string of robberies and disappearances around Central and some of the eyewitnesses have said that they have seen some strange creatures wandering around the crime scenes.
One soldier saw a small group of them around the old warehouses by the lake, we are going out tomorrow to investigate and I would like your help."
Ed thought about it. He looked up at his brother.
"Al, what do you think? Up for a little investigating since we have nothing else to do?"
"Yeah, I'd like to help out"
"All right fine Col. You got our help with your little goose chase"
Mustang leaned back in his chair and placed his folded hands on his desk. He was pleased to have the Elric brothers help on this case.
If they weren't attracting trouble, they usually could find it anyway.
"Good, the others will be back in half an hour. I'll debrief them on your participation. Get some sleep and we head out to the lake tomorrow after a short meeting"