Wow, two whole reviews overnight…? It really works! Rejoice! And as a little worthless bonus, I'd like to show you where I'll be working on the drafts and ideas for every single chapter except for the first.

for boredom. Anyways, a huge thank you to everyone who's read this fic! It makes me so happy, I just wanna… wanna… bawl. Okay, I'm over it now. On with chapter two!

Disclaimer: I don't own FMA, nor will I ever. It is a sad, sad world.

"Sit down, Fullmetal." Colonel Roy Mustang had his gloved hands cradling his chin. There was a look on his face that convinced Ed that his assumption was true. He was going to be burned to a crisp.

Edward shakily took his coat off and handed it to his younger brother, revealing a white shirt with a unique design covering its front. There was an orange and white bull's-eye with a large deep red "X" over it. The legs of his jeans rubbed against each other as he tried to walk steadily over to Mustang's desk and await his doom. The bottoms were cuffed and transmuted; they didn't have any his size when he got his clothes from a store several blocks from HQ. He had transmuted his boots because nothing anywhere had caught his attention. They were black with white stripes from his heel and arch; the laces went all the way down to a steel plate covering the toes which looked like it was bolted on. There were three small spikes from the front, not particularly dangerous unless he gave something a good, strong kick. And, as Ed's tradition, they had tall red soles.

"Well?" Roy's eyes narrowed. He was clearly awaiting the bad news. It felt as if there was something stuck in Edward's throat preventing him from saying anything, only letting out a small whimper. "Dammit, Fullmetal! What the hell do you do with these people!?"

"Colonel, I-"

"It's not as if I couldn't have guessed the outcome, what with your astounding losing streak!"

"Colonel!" Alphonse stepped forwards, the sound from his foot hitting the floor getting Roy's attention more than his voice. Al continued to walk forward to behind his brother who was now frantically trying to choke down a sob, but failing miserably. Mustang looked at the pathetic scene and slammed his hands on his desk. Ed's eyes shot back up at his superior, tears flooding his face. "Colonel, please! Just one more chance…!"

"That was the last straw, boys. If I could, I'd give you 'one more chance' until the end of the world. Unfortunately, that isn't my choice." Roy strode past his desk and stood in front of Edward. He raised his arm and placed his thumb and index finger together and tensed them. Ed screamed.

"You're a very lucky boy, Edward." Roy placed his other hand on his glove and slid it off, then did the same with his second. He held both gloves, now empty, in front of Ed's face. "Here. You'll need these. You have one last chance. You'll be in a team with other bodyguards. The others will be undercover; you are going to be the only obvious guards. The man you are to protect is the Sewing-Life Alchemist, Shou Tucker. He is bringing some very important research to the labs in Central, and I expect him to get there alive."

Ed flinched. He wasn't dead? The colonel was giving him his gloves? What's going on here!? He decided it was best not to argue with the person that could end his career or life in an instant if he so desired, and took the gloves. He put them on over his others so they would fit better and looked at them. They were perfectly white; not a speck of dust or dirt anywhere. "T-thank you…" He grabbed his coat back from Al and put it on, being extra careful with his new gloves.

"Now, I trust you to take good care of them. I need them, if you hadn't noticed." Mustang started to walk back to his chair.

"Wait, sir!" Roy spun on his heels. Sir!? Since when did Ed call anyone "sir"!?

"Yes, Fullmetal?"

"I don't know how to use them." Roy looked the boy up and down then gave him a smirk.

"You'll figure it out." He sat in his chair and watched the boys leave. Ed wasn't nearly as careful as he was with his walk when he came in. Alphonse had to hold him up almost all the way out the door.

Hah. I betcha didn't expect that, didja? If you did, I award you a cyber-cookie. If you didn't, I award you a half-eaten, stale-by-three-weeks cyber-cookie to do with whatever you want. If you have a mind like mine, I suppose the second one would be the better prize… Hmmm…