The sun slowly rose as the moon descended, it's bright rays illuminating the previously dark street and large buildings, finding its way in between the curtains of a certain alchemist. Edward groaned and his eyes fluttered open, the light bearing down on his face causing him to blink his eyes until he had adjusted.

He sat up in bed and yawned softly, the blankets falling down from his chest to his waist. Ed turned to look out the window in time to see the sun duck behind a collage of clouds. He smiled softly and put his arms up as he stretched, groaning softly.

Alphonse, who had been downstairs attempting to cook for his older brother, made sure the food was properly prepared before he went up to check on Edward.

"Brother, are you awake?" His squeaky, echoed voice sounded through the door moments after he ascended the stairs. He opened it and his red eyes found his brother sitting up.

"Yeah. Looks like it's going to rain today. We'd better finish this report up so we can get back."

Alphonse nodded and walked over slightly. "I made you breakfast, brother. You should eat first."

Ed smiled and pulled the covers off of his legs, exposing his one human leg and his other automail one. "Alright, I'll write up the report and you can go buy our train tickets."

Al nodded again as Edward sauntered past him, slowly moving downstairs where a simple plate of pancakes were waiting for him. "Oh I love pancakes!"

Al chuckled softly and moved to door. "I'll go get the tickets now, finish eating, brother." Al left the room they were staying in and Ed moved to watch him leave, stepping outside. "Make sure you get the right tickets! We're going to central command!"

Al laughed and shook his head slightly. "Okay!" Droplets of water began to fall and soon it became a downpour, making loud noises as the water struck Al's armor. Ed didn't mind though. He looked up at the sky and grinned softly, the water bearing down on him. "Looks like I was right."

He walked back inside after seeing Al off and dried himself off with towel. Ed sat down at the table and slowly began eating as he read through his report.

After about a half hour, Al returned with their tickets to central and Ed had finished his report. The elder alchemist grabbed his red robe and pulled it on, Al waiting at the door for him.

"Let's go see the bastard." Ed mumbled and walked out of the room, his younger brother following behind him.

-Hours later-

When the two brothers finally got to central command, the sun was already setting, ducking behind the horizon. Ed groaned and sniffled, wiping his nose with his sleeve.

"We'll have to turn it in tomorrow. I'm sure the bastard went home already. Let's go in." Both Elrics walked towards the gate and were greeted by the guards out front. After a misunderstanding about them entering, Ed simply flashed his State Alchemist's pocket watch and he was let inside with multiple apologies.

Ed grinned and walked into the building where him and his brother were led into the livings quarters and shown into the room they'd be staying in.

After performing his nightly routine of showering, brushing his teeth, and oiling his automail, Ed crawled into one of the beds and closed his eyes, soon falling asleep.

The next morning, he woke up again and realized how awful he felt. His head was throbbing, his nose was both running and stopped up at the same time, and his skin was a sickly pale. Alphonse took one look at his brother and gasped.

"Brother! Are you alright? Are you sick?" Placing his hand on his forehead, he realized he couldn't feel his temperature with his current body and quickly called in the nearest officer outside, who just so happened to be Maria Ross. Ed covered his mouth and coughed into his sleeve, shaking his head.

"I'm fine, I'm fine. It's no big deal." Maria placed the back of her hand to his forehead and gasped herself. "You're burning up, Edward!"

Ed sighed softly and grabbed his report, pushing past them. "I need to work. I have a report to turn in." Maria immediately grabbed his hand and pulled him back, taking the report from his grasp.

"I'll turn this in to Colonel Mustang for you. You just rest." She walked out of the room and Alphonse followed after her to tell Mustang himself about Edward's condition.

Ed just groaned again and decided not to use his weak limbs. He fell back onto the bed with an 'oof' and pulled the blankets over himself, falling back asleep.

Meanwhile, Alphonse and Maria made their way to Colonel Mustang's office and walked inside. Roy stood up, a slight glare aimed at them.

"Can't you knock?"

"I'm sorry, Colonel. We just came to turn in Ed's report." Maria handed it to him and decided she'd let Al tell him about Ed.

"And why couldn't he deliver it to me himself?" Roy narrowed his eyes towards them.

"He's really sick. He can barely stand, and even then he sways. I'm sorry, Colonel but I don't think we can do anymore investigations until brother is better."

"No, Alphonse. I already had the next investigation I was going to give you two ready. I was planning on giving it to FullMetal when he returned but if he's as sick as you say, I have no choice. You'll have to go alone."

"W-what!?" Alphonse shook his head furiously. "No, I have to look after brother!"

Roy sighed and sat down, rubbing his temples softly. These brothers were getting to be such a pain. He closed his eyes and let Alphonse rant to him.

"Look, you won't have to leave central. There is someone here in central who has apparently been harming random civilians. No pattern, no similarities in the victims, just completely random in who he chooses. Some survivors say they see a bright light just before everything goes to hell."

Alphonse froze slightly, faced with moral dilemma. If he didn't accept it, more people would get hurt, if he did, his brother might get worse.

"I'll look after FullMetal. Go do your job. You may not be directly involved with the military, but I'm sure you don't want other people to get hurt."

Alphonse hesitated for a moment before finally accepting. "Fine..just take care of Ed." Maria and Al left the room and Roy grabbed his coat to follow them towards Ed's room.

At least I have an excuse to not do any paperwork for a few days.