"Those idiots are going to get themselves killed." Pride said indifferently.
"I say let them!" Envy exclaimed. His utter disdain for them evident.
"No." All heads turned to face the man speaking. "They are invaluable to me."
"Aw come on. We can find someone else. Besides Mustang hasn't even seen the truth, yet."
"That fact is irrelevant at this point. I said no, and my word on this is final. Do you understand?"
Huffing in irritation Envy relented. "Yes, father."
Attention was drawn to the sound of footsteps emerging from the shadows.
Envy was the first to speak. "Well look who decided to show up."
"Shut up you imbecile." Wrath said as he approached father.
"Tell me, child, what is the situation?"
"Scar seems rather relentless in his pursuit to kill Mustang and Fullmetal. He's been spotted in Central according to the rumors."
The worn man sighed deeply. "This is proving to be rather problematic."
"Perhaps he will move on soon." Lust said with her suggestive voice.
Envy laughed. "Ha, doubtful. The man's crazy!"
"No, she's right. He's had several close calls. I believe if he didn't feel he was so close to closing in on those two, he might back off for a bit until the searches cool down."
"Hmm." Father clasped his hands together as his brow furrowed. "Envy, Lust, I want you two to go and secure them for me."
"Secure them?" Envy questioned.
"Yes, I want you to bring them here for a while. We will keep them until Scar appears to have moved on."
"Wouldn't it just be easier to kill the guy?"
"No! He will play an important role when the time comes. I need them all alive."
"Come on, let's get this over with. Ha, if we're lucky we'll get to throw the pipsqueak around a bit."
Lust and Envy began to walk out whilst the latter grabbed his arms to stretch.
"You two must not allow anyone to discover you yet. It is not the time. Go, keep up your appearances." Father said dismissing the supposed father son duo.
*Knock knock knock!*
"I wonder who that could be, brother. Especially at this time of night. " Al said.
"Probably some drunk idiot." Edward lazily replied.
*Wham wham wham!*
Ed violently pushed his chair back. "Arrggh, will you shut the heck up!"
He was seething with irritation as he flung the door open. "What the h..."
"Colonel?" Confusion struck but was quickly overtaken as his anger morphed into a different form.
"Ugh, what do you want?"
Roy replied in a serious tone. "I got a tip about some suspicious activities going on near 43rd street. Uh, Miss Curtis, pleasure to see you." He said seeing Izumi Curtis approaching the door.
"Colonel Mustang. I can't say the feeling is mutual."
"Right. Anyway, what do you say Fullmetal?"
"I assume since you felt the need to come here in the middle of the night it must be a heck of a tip. Sure, why not."
"Okay meet me around midnight. Here's the address." He said slipping him a small piece of paper.
Closing the door Ed examined the paper. "Well that was weird. Usually he's total jerk, but he didn't even try to make a crack at my size."
"Maybe he's changing." Al offered.
"Ha, yeah maybe that's it."
"Brother, I thought we were going to leave tonight. If we don't we won't make it to the festival of lights down south."
"I know. I was thinking that you could go on ahead."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah, I know how bad you wanna go. Besides, after I get done here I'll catch up."
"Alright!"
"Be safe Alphonse." Izumi said resting a hand on his armor body.
"I will be! No need to worry, teacher!"
Ed nodded towards him. "See you there."
"Right." He said grabbing a bag which sat beside the door.
They sat at the table littered papers and scattered with books. Breaking away from their research efforts Ed tossed his book down and flung himself back in his chair. "Ughhhh, my brain hurts!"
Izumi closed her book much more carefully. "It has gotten late."
"Uh." He looked up at the clock. "I better get going if I'm gonna meet the colonel."
He stood to go out the door when Izumi grabbed ahold of Ed's red coat covering his automail arm. "I'm coming too."
"Listen, I don't need..."
*Wham!*
"Ahhh!" Ed yelled recoiling from a punch to the nose.
"I didn't ask for permission!"
The car ride was filled with silence as the colonel and his lieutenant made their way down the street. Suddenly, a flash of red light flicked from inside an old struck down building catching their eyes.
"What the... Lieutenant, stop the car!"
The tires squealed as she slammed the breaks.
They parked a block down from the building. As they approached Mustang pulled his gloves on and Hawkeye cocked her gun. They took place on either side of the door. Hawkeye placed her hand on the door handle preparing to pull it open. Roy caught her eyes, a moment of silence passed while they held a conversation with their eyes. The emotions exchanged between them were deeper than any words could covey.
"I've got your back, sir." They both knew that phrase was laden with far more meaning than an outsider would understand.
Roy nodded, determined to protect her's, as well.
She deftly pulled the handle until the door swung towards her. Roy swiftly rushed inside his eyes scanning the dim interior. Boxes and crates littered the area making it difficult to see. Machinery was scattered throughout what appeared to once be a factory. They crept around the corners with Mustang in the lead and Hawkeye following a few paces behind looking for anything suspicious.
A rustling was heard behind them and Hawkeye moved faster than the Colonel could process. She pivoted on heel pointing her gun at the source.
"Ahhh! Wait!" Ed exclaimed as he raised his hands in defense.
"Edward?" She questioned as she put down her gun.
"Fullmetal! What the heck are you doing here? You could have gotten yourself killed!" Mustang said.
"You're the one who told us, well me, to meet you here." He said glaring at Izumi behind him.
Mustang's brow furrowed. "What are you talking about? We were headed home from the office and saw some strange light coming from here and decided to investigate this place."
Confusion filled Ed's face. "Well..."
"Look out!" Hawkeye exclaimed as she tackled her superior to the ground.
A fist collided with Ed's face sending him smashing into a nearby piece of machinery.
"Ha ha! I've waited way too long to do that."
"Envy." Ed snarled as he lifted his head that dripped with blood. His vision swam as his consciousness faded in and out.
"I take that it's no coincidence the colonel doesn't remember telling us to come here."
The homunculus changed form and was replaced by a likeness of said colonel.
Taking on Mustang's deep voice the homunculus spoke. "Why whatever do you mean, Fullmetal?" Changing back he continued in his normal high pitched voice. "Ha ha, you idiot!"
*Snap*
"Enough of your games."
Envy screamed as fire consumed him.
"Ah!" Mustang yelled as he jerked his bleeding hand back and cradled it to his chest.
"Colonel!"
"I'm fine, Lieutenant. Just a scratch." He said after examining his hand to find a long tear through the transmutation circle on the back of his glove. 'Darn it. I'm useless now.'
"Let's just get this over with." Lust in a bored manner.
Red sizzled around Envy restoring him. "You're gonna pay for that, Mustang!"
"Make him pay after we get them back." Lust said.
"Hmph. Fine."
Izumi clapped her hands together but before her hands could touch the ground Envy grabbed her arm and flung her at Hawkeye. Knocking them both unconscious.
"You..." Mustang was cut off as a steel pipe collided with his head. He immediately fell to the ground.
Meanwhile, Ed was clinging to consciousness trying to regain his footing to stand upright.
"Not so fast pipsqueak."
"Darn you." He said as he clapped his hands together. Once they made contact with the ground spikes shot up towards the homunculus.
A sharp black claw suddenly embedded itself into his automail arm and preceded to rip it off.
"Really, just quit struggling. It would be far less painful."
As Ed passed out he could see the colonel's eyes flicker closed and back open slowly. 'He's not dead atleast.' Was his last thought.
Mustang's body felt as heavy as the concrete beneath him. He watched the homunculi through half lidded eyes as they collected the others. The last thing he saw was Hawkeye being thrown over Envy's shoulder. 'Riza.' He thought.