Disclaimer: I do not own FMA. I wish I did.
Author's Note: This is based largely off the Manga, up to Chapter 51. Therefore, obviously, it will have some spoilers for the Manga if you have not read that far. The Homunculus' names and powers, though, are based off the Anime, so it may have some Anime spoilers concerning the Sins.
Reviews are greatly appreciated!
Now on to the story!
"Thats a good one, Mustang!" The man cried, slapping Roy on the back. Roy gave a harsh, forced laugh, his anxiety building as Bradley laughed along with the other men, but his cold, appraising gaze never left Mustang's face.
"That is a very interesting rumor, Colonel." Bradley said finally, after the laughter had died down. "I wonder, where did you hear it?"
Roy hesitated, thinking fast. "Oh, just around headquarters, sir." He answered smoothly. "You know how these rumors spread."
"Really." No doubt about it, there was a dangerous glint in the Fuher's single eye now. "Mustang, I wonder if you would mind stepping into my office?" It was stated like a question, but Roy could tell it was a commandment. The rest of the room had become deathly silent, all watching the Fuher and the Colonel.
"Of.. of course sir." Roy saw he had no choice but to accept.
"Good man." Bradley stepped out into the hallway, waiting for Roy to follow. As soon as the door shut the Fuher set off, Mustang following at a safe, though not conspicuous, distance. They reached the Fuher's office, and Roy stepped in, Bradley shutting the door behind them. Roy frowned as he thought he caught the faint sound of a key scraping a lock, but then Bradley had turned back around, smiling.
"Sir?" A feminine voice issued from a corner, where the secretary, Mrs. Douglas, was sitting. Her brown hair was tied up in a loose side ponytail, and she was busy scribbling away on a notepad. "I thought you had a meeting."
"Yes, yes, nevermind that." Bradley said, waving a hand, still smiling. "But the Colonel has come up with a very interesting piece of gossip." He said. "Mustang, would you care to share?"
Roy swallowed, feeling more and more uneasy. He was silent, looking at the Fuher, who continued smiling. "Well, if he won't say, I'll tell you, Mrs. Douglas. Apparently there is a rumor spreading that I am a Homunculi!"
Was it a trick of the light , or was there a slightly triumphant look in the secretary's eyes? "Well, we can't have that." She said slowly, looking Roy over. She looked down at her papers, scribbling something in the margin.
"Now Mustang." Bradley said suddenly, and the change in his voice was shocking. "I'll ask one last time. Who did you hear this from?"
Roy blinked, but glared back at the Fuher. "No one told me. I figured it out myself."
Bradley growled, his hand inching towards his katana. "A shame, really. Now you've gone and told all the higher-ups, though as you can see they think its all a joke. Still, explaining away the sudden deaths of six officers in one night will be an annoying task." He looked over at Douglas, who nodded slightly.
"What do you mean six?" Mustang demanded. "I'm the only one you should be worried about!"
"I don't think so, Colonel." Douglas answered coolly. She shuffled her papers. "I think it would be safe to say you have confided in your underlings, a Miss... Hawkeye, I believe?" She smiled at the sudden look of horror in Mustang's eyes. "Yes, I think that will do nicely. As a matter of fact, if I remember correctly, you requested several officers to be moved with you to Central. Misters Jean Havoc, Kain Fuery, Vato Falman, and Heymans Breda. I think we'll just have to silence them as well." She nodded to Bradley, standing.
Roy pulled his hand out of his pocket. "You bastards. I killed one of your kind, and I'll kill you too!" But before he had the chance to snap, Bradley had pulled the katana out and had lunged forward. Roy just barely evaded the blade, leaping back. Out of the corner of his eyes he saw Douglas slip out the door quietly. She must have unlocked it...
The Fuher laughed. "Don't try it, Mustang." He spat. "I can predict your every move. With any luck, you'll be dead long before Sloth and Wrath are finished with your subordinates."
Riza looked up at the tall building, checking her watch for the fifteenth time in ten minutes. "Come on Roy, hurry up." She said, biting her lip. Something was wrong, something had happened... he should have been out by now... She looked up as she heard the door opening, but was dissapointed as she saw a brown-haired woman exiting the building. Only half watching the woman as she got into a car, smirking, she suddenly recognized her. It was Mrs. Douglas, the Fuher's secretary. As if this was some sort of sign, Riza abandoned her post at the doors, heading into the building, making sure her gun was loaded at her side.
Meeting very few people in the hallways, finally Hawkeye could stand it no longer and asked a man if he had seen the Colonel anywhere. To her surprise the man chuckled a bit, nodding.
"Yeah, I saw him a few minutes ago. Telling some pretty strange tales, he was, why, he'd even heard the Fuher was a Homunculi, can you believe it? Well anyway, Bradley overheard it. Pretty amused, he was. Took Mustang for a little chat in his office, I think. Aye, you alright, miss? Miss?" And the man was left standing bewildered as the woman rushed off around the corner.
Roy, you idiot! Riza pounded off down the hallway, making her way to the large office claimed by Fuher King Bradley.
A cry of pain. The heavy thud of something hitting the ground. Fuher King Bradley chuckled a bit, blood dripping from his long sword. "Pathetic human." He spat. "You're all too sure of yourselves."
Roy picked himself up off the ground, blood dripping down his arm from a long gash in his left shoulder. The glove on his right hand was in shreds and the white had stained deep crimson; everytime he had attempted to snap the Fuher had slashed out with amazing accuracy, as if he knew exactly when and where to strike. Bradley, holding his sword out, waltzed towards the Colonel. He gave one wild grin, ready to slash, but suddenly turned as the door was kicked open. Roy, not waiting to see whom had caused the commotion, seized his chance while the Homunculi was distracted. Pulling one of his spare glove from a pocket he snapped, sending a jet of flame hurtling towards the Fuher.
The Homunculi couldn't react in time, and the jet of flame hit him full on, sending him flying backwards and into a large bookshelf, which crashed down on top of him.
Roy sighed, and only then did he realize the person whom had opened the door was Hawkeye.
"Sir!" She rushed to him, her eyes on his shoulder.
"No time Lieutenant!" He saw the Fuher stirring underneath the broken wood. "Come on!"
Riza hurried after him, putting her gun back in its holster. "But Roy, your arm-"
"No time!" He repeated, quickening his pace. "Dammit, we have to go! Now!" He broke into a run, Riza following, confused and anxious, in his wake. The pair made their way don the hallways to the front doors, through which Roy sped. Riza, bringing up the rear, saw him head straight to the car, and she rushed around to the driver's side.
"Sir, where-"
"Hospital." Roy answered immediately. "Hurry!"
She started the car, pulling out and into the parking lot. Once out onto the road she glanced at him. "What happened sir?"
"He overheard me talking, had me come to the office with him. He- his secretary, Miss. Douglas, she's one of them as well. He.. gave her orders to wipe out everyone I had transferred to Central earlier this year. Dammit!" He yelled suddenly, hitting the dashboard angrily. "We left him alone! He can't move his legs and we left him alone, unguarded, in that hospital! He can't do anything, if he dies its my fault..."
Suddenly Riza realized the full extent of the situation, and she floored the engine, her knuckles white as she gripped the steering wheel angrily.
"They're going after Havoc!"