Usual disclaimer about not owning FMA.

"Just be careful, you don't have alchemy anymore." Mustang reminded. Edward just rolled his eyes.

"And you're pretty worthless in the rain." Edward replied with a smirk. He popped open his umbrella and left the safety of the overhang.

"I'm serious. Don't take any unnecessary risks." Mustang reprimanded.

"Do you still think I'm fifteen, Colonel, I mean General." Edward said with a grin as he made his way down the streets. Mustang just rolled his eyes.

"He's still Edward." Riza said with a small smile. Mustang just groaned as he turned to return into the building. "I know your worried, but he can handle himself without alchemy. He's smart." Riza said, but still didn't get an answer from Mustang.

Edward wasn't part of the military anymore, but that didn't seem to stop them from asking his help. It had only been a few times so far, this was actually the first time he had seen Riza since he'd been back. For some reason every time Edward was here to help Mustang was unusually standoffish.

This time there was word of a cult operating in central. A cult specializing in human transmutation. That was a thehuge amount of information Edward had been given. He was told they would be located in a bar. He just needed to tell the bar tender a certain phrase. This was found out by their spy, who was found out after giving the information and was disposed of by the cult.

It a was a run down looking building. Mismatched boards made up the outer walls. A small orange glow came out of the thick distorted windows. By the time he reached it the rain was now pouring down in heavy droplets. The door creaked open when he pushed on it. Around the bar pots and pans were set up to catch the water dripping in through the roof. The bar tender was a huge hairy man with a long black beard. He was wearing a skin tight shirt that exposed he heavily tattooed arms. Edward closed his umbrella and approached the bar. The man looked over him. "The snake in the grass." Edward said simply. The bar tender just nodded without any emotion. He waved for Edward to follow as he lead him behind the bar. Back in the unused kitchen was a doorway that lead to some grimy looking stairs. The bar tender stood unmoving, and Edward got the hint. He descended into the darkness alone.

In the pitch black Edward blinked to try and get his eyes use to the lack of light. His footsteps echoed as he carefully made his way down the stairs. "This isn't how people get murder or anything." He whispered to himself as he started taking the stairs by two at a time. He could tell he was getting close from the faint light ahead. He tightened his grip on his umbrella as the light started getting brighter. Suddenly the stairs opened up into a large ballroom. It was only lit by a large amount of candles. Tables stood with the soul purpose of holding candles. The light was still faint, the corners of the room left a black mystery. In the middle was standing a woman.

"I see you made it, Edward." she cooed. Her musical voice echoed through the large room. That's when Edward's eyes were use to the light enough to see the woman was standing in the middle of a transmutation circle written in a dark red liquid. It was so obviously a trap. Edward wanted to kick himself but it wasn't anything he couldn't get out of. He approached the woman, getting a better look at her. She stayed put in the middle of the large circle. She was tall, slender, with brown hair and deep blue eyes.

"Why are you doing this?" Edward asked as he narrowed his golden eyes. The woman just smirked.

"I just follow orders."

"No, I mean what is this cult for?" Edward asked as he rolled his eyes. The woman crossed her arms.

"To sacrifice the unworthy of course." she said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. Edward crept closer still. "To our gracious god!" she screeched, startling Edward. He took a few cautious steps back.

"God? The door? That's not exactly-" Edward was quickly cut off.

"Who are you to judge? Do you even know what it is?" The woman yelled quickly. It came out so naturally, like an automated response. Quickly her eyes widened and a smirk came across her red lips. "But of course you do, that's why you are here." she said softly. Edward glanced around, it seemed it was only her and him in this large room. "Now I will extract all secrets of alchemy from you." she hissed.

"I can't do alchemy anymore, you caught the wrong person." Edward said with a smirk as he gripped the handle of his umbrella in his right hand.

"Lies!" The woman screeched. Her eyes widened unnaturally.

"Is this true?" a disembodied voice echoed through the ballroom. The woman swallowed hard. Edward glanced around the room to spot the voice. He couldn't pinpoint a location.

"No! There is no way that is true!" The woman yelled frantically.

"Why would I make that up? No one knows the story? How I got Al's body back?" Edward asked with a raised eyebrow. The woman's eyes glistened with forming tears. Edward stared back, completely confused.

"No, I'll make you use alchemy." The woman growled as she ran towards Edward. Edward backed up, but this woman was fast, abnormally fast. As she got close Edward's only choice was to swing his umbrella. Clink. Was the sound of the umbrella being grabbed mid swing. The woman stood there grinning with Edward's umbrella in hand. "Now you will suffer!" She yelled triumphantly. Edward just gave a toothy grin as he clicked a button on the handle. The woman kept her grip on the umbrella but Edward pulled the handle downwards. Out from the umbrella unsheathed a sword.

Edward didn't waste anytime. Quickly he sliced horizontally. The woman held up the umbrella-sheath. Edward's sword easily cut through it. She jumped backwards holding two pieces of umbrella. The woman eyed the umbrella turned sword. "You transmuted!" she screamed.

"No you fool. The sword was already in the umbrella." The disembodied voice called. The woman looked around nervously.

"I can make him transmute!" she yelled. The woman started crying hysterically. "Please I can make him." she groaned miserably.

Suddenly the candles all went out. The woman started wailing, but it was abruptly cut short. "What is going on-" Edward started to say. Then he noticed a faint sound of air rushing, and an odd scent filling the air. "here?" Edward weakly finished the sentence before dropping to the ground. The blond was completely out within seconds.


Edward groaned as he opened his eyes. His body felt exhausted. The bright light was stinging his eyes as he fought to keep them open. The bright white room came into full focus. A machine beeped next to him. An IV was uncomfortably stuck in his arm. To his right was a large window, and a table with flowers on it. The window was covered with white curtains, but the sunshine was still fighting through.

It all came crashing back so quickly Edward thought he was going to be sick. What happened? How did he end up at the hospital? Edward tried to sit up but felt nauseated. He steadied his breathing and slowly pushed himself up.

Then the sound of a sink running startled Edward. He snapped his head to the left where two wooden doors stood. One to exit the room, and the other, presumably, to the bathroom. Emerging from the latter door was Mustang. Edward's eyes widened as he saw the General.

Mustang was in nice black dress pants, and a white shirt. His hair was messy, and his eyes had large purple bags underneath them. Edward blinked slowly, "General?" he asked with a rough and hoarse voice.

"Edward, you're awake." Mustang with with a genuine smile as he approached Edward.
"How long was I out?" Edward asked as he rubbed his face. He suddenly felt embarrassed with Mustang seeing him like this.

"Three days."

"Three days? Edward yelled in shock. "What happened? How did I get here?" Edward asked frantically.

Mustang pursed his lips and glanced away. "I was hoping you could answer these questions for me."

"W-What?" Edward struggled to speak.

"We found you three days ago laying in front of central command unconscious. This is the first time you have woken up." Mustang said as he avoided eye contact with the blond.

Edward didn't answer. He put his legs off the side of the hospital bed. "Getting up isn't a good idea, Edward." Mustang said as he approached the blond man. Edward glanced up wide eyed as Mustang grabbed his legs and dropped them back onto the bed. The automail one making a considerably louder thud.

Edward felt his face heat up with the closeness of Mustang. Mustang furthered this uncomfortable situation by sitting on the edge of the bed beside Edward.

"I told you to be careful! You don't have alchemy anymore!" Mustang yelled angrily. Edward just groaned and rolled his eyes.

"How was I supposed to know they were going to drug me?" Edward groaned as he arched his back and stretched. Mustang raised an eyebrow. More of the night was starting to come back to Edward and he explained what he remembered. The raven haired man put his hand to his chin thoughtfully.

"Why didn't they kill you? And if they needed you to be able to do alchemy, can they not do it themselves?" Mustang wondered out loud to himself.

"That makes them like a homunculus." Edward stated. Mustang nodded. "You look awful." Edward added as he stared into Mustang's onxy eyes.

"Oh I'm sorry! I had to be here to make sure no one drugged you midget ass again!" Mustang snapped back. Edward gritted his teeth.

"You know damn well I'm not short anymore!" Edward yelled as he kicked Mustang with his automail leg. This kick forced Mustang off the bed. The raven haired man rubbed his back angrily.

"We investigated that bar, but all we found we a regular bar." Mustang said as he seated himself in one of the chairs by the window. Edward rubbed his fingers to his temples.

"The door was in the back of the kitchen, but I don't remember how he opened it." Edward said with a groan.

"They probably abandoned it." Mustang said. The conversation died away. A heavy silence filled the air. Mustang got up and walked towards the doors, still facing them he begun to speak.

"You know, you talk in your sleep." Mustang said almost sheepishly.

Edward was intrigued. Slowly Edward realized the implication of what Mustang had said. Edward's face grew red as he looked down at his lap. "What did I say?" Edward as nervously. He was afraid to hear the answer.

"Nothing useful. Mostly incoherent mumblings and names." Mustang said the last party quickly.

"Names? Whose names?" Edward asked.

"Mostly mine." Mustang said as he glanced at the wall opposite Edward.

Edward's whole body heated up. His face, ears and chest were flushed red with embarrassment. For some damn reason he was slightly attracted to the General, but like hell he was going to tell that bastard. Even if everything is different now, he couldn't.

"So who left the flowers?" Edward motioned over to the multiple vases of flowers. Mustang racked his brain.

"The um, the white ones were from Havoc. Apparently those are the kind you use at a funeral, Hawkeye gave him hell for that.

Edward snickered quietly, "That sounds like Havoc."

"The orange ones are from Hawkeye." Mustang said. He tried to say something else, but was interrupted.

"Who are the pink ones from?" Edward asked as he learned in close to the large pink lilies.

"Well-uh." Mustang stuttered as he glanced away. Edward looked over to see that Mustang had a small blush on his face. A large smile crept across the blond's face.

"No way." Edward said with a toothy grin. Mustang's onyx eyes opened wide for a split second before he gained his usual composure.

"I was being nice, Fullmetal." Mustang said formally. Edward's eyes widened.

"That isn't my name anymore." Edward said softly. Mustang's harsh eyes softened. Edward has really grown up, but deep down he was still the same Ed.

Sudden hurried footsteps alerted the two to the door. Hawkeye stood in the doorway, "We have an urgent matter that requires you, General." Hawkeye said without even looking at Edward.

Mustang looked back at Edward with a nod, "I hope you make a full recovery." he said once again equipping his familiar formal voice. Edward returned the nod.

"Of course I will." the blond said confidently with a large grin.

"Get better, Edward." Hawkeye said with a quick nod before dragging Mustang out the door. Edward could hear one last thing from Hawkeye.

"If you didn't spend the last three nights at the hospital we wouldn't have this problem." Hawkeye said as her voice sounded more distant. Edward would never hear Mustang's reply. The blond laid back in the bed with a giant grin as he pushed the red button for the nurse.