Summary; Edward does a little too much investigation into Shou Tucker's first chimera. Tucker sees an opportunity to pass his assessment… and keep the boy quiet.

A/N; Okay, another chapter looked through and edited… I've decided to give myself a time limit of a week per chapter in order to try and get these done quicker. So, let's say, by Friday every week I'll have – or will try to have – a new chapter up. I've been so busy with uni that I haven't had much time for writing, but I've decided that I really need to make time for it, and I've started working on the sequel to this again. But we can talk about the sequel when it's time for the sequel :)

By the way, sorry again to those who were disappointed that this series doesn't feature Edward becoming a chimera… I have much better plans for it *cue evil cackle* Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter!

Chapter Three;

Edward lay on the soft bed the hotel had given him for the night, looking out through the window, which was only partially covered by the thin curtain. He could hear the soft clanking of his brother's armour nearby and wondered if Alphonse knew he was awake.

He doubted it; Edward had turned his face away and let his eyes droop half-shut. The silver moonlight fell on his stomach and made his mechanical arm gleam brightly, casting shadows on his face.

Truthfully Edward was a little glad that Al didn't know he was awake and was doing everything possible – by keeping his body still but relaxed and his breaths deep and even – to make sure the farce continued. Al would only keep asking questions Edward didn't really want to answer if he knew his older brother wasn't asleep.

Tucker and Falman ('and, by now, likely Mustang and his entire entourage,' Edward thought, rolling his eyes) weren't the only ones who had become suspicious of Edward's motives. The moment they had reached their room Alphonse had turned on the alchemist and demanded to know what he was up to.

Edward's protestations of innocence had fallen on deaf ears.

If it had just been Al then Edward might have simply passed it off as his little brother knowing him far too well. But since both Falman, who knew him mostly through work, and Tucker, who barely knew him at all, had also picked him out, then Edward knew he was being just a little too obvious.

Alphonse moved slightly, armour clanking. Damn it, what was he supposed to do now, then? Mustang would hound him if he was suspicious and god only knew what Tucker would do if his suspicions got confirmed somehow.

Edward sighed and shifted, rolling onto his side to face the window, an action he knew could be mistaken as having been done in his sleep. He heard Al freeze for a moment, knew his eyes were boring into the back of his head… and then his brother relaxed.

After a moment Edward frowned at the wall as a thought suddenly struck him. When Tucker had stared at him it had thoroughly creeped him out, a feeling that he had not felt like that before. Of course, it was always creepy when a stranger (or even an almost stranger, like Tucker) stared… but Edward couldn't quite describe the feeling he had gotten yesterday and today.

Perhaps it was just because he had known Tucker was there, watching his every movement in the library today.

Still, Edward just knew that he had wanted to get away from the man as soon as possible and that he was finding that he would like to be around Tucker less and less. Tucker had spent the entire day in the library watching him, after all, and Edward doubted that anyone would be too thrilled about that.

It was a little confusing too; there was nothing that Edward had against Tucker (apart from, now, the library incident). The man was nice, a little absent-minded and scattered, and he spent a lot of time in the lab. There was absolutely nothing wrong with him, nothing that warranted Edward's suspicions.

Except the blonde alchemist could not forget the look that had crossed Tucker's face yesterday when he had called the man out on the discrepancy in the story he had told them. It had only been there for a few moments before the kindness was back.

But those few moments had been enough to send chills down Edward's spine.

'What could have possibly made him look like that?' Edward wondered.

A sudden chill went through him that he wasn't sure had anything to do with the cool breeze coming through the window. He shivered and was about to pull his blankets, which he had kicked off at some point and were down near his feet, up when Alphonse suddenly moved, armour clanking as he stood up.

Hastily Edward closed his eyes fully.

Alphonse walked to Edward's side and, for a moment, the entire room was silent. Had Al figured out that he was only pretending to sleep? Edward inwardly cringed as he thought about what his brother would say if that was the case.

Then he almost jumped out of his skin as Al's cold, metal hands grasped the blanket and pulled it up gently and carefully until it was covering Edward up to his neck. Instantly Edward felt warmer; Al must have seen him shiver and decided to cover him.

"Stupid, nii-san," Al said softly. Edward felt a little indignant; he was most definitely not stupid! "What are you up to? Why won't you tell me?"

Edward felt a little guilty at that, enough that he almost opened his eyes and told his little brother everything that was on his mind. Perhaps Al would have some ideas…

'No!'

He couldn't bring Al into this. It wouldn't be fair on his brother to do that, particularly when Edward didn't even know where his thoughts were going to take him.

A moment later Al sighed gustily and started to move away.

"Well, I hope you tell me eventually," he said, moving back to his own bed. "Especially before you get into trouble."

Edward frowned, indignation rising for a second time. What was there to get into trouble with? All he was doing was a little bit of research and then everything could go back to normal. Nothing to worry about!

Obviously, though, Al was worrying quite a bit. Edward didn't know why; Al couldn't know for sure that his brother was doing something, let alone that it could potentially be dangerous.

And why did they all have to assume he was doing something dangerous anyway?! Why couldn't he be planning a secret trip into town to do some shopping or something mundane like that? The moment they decided that he was "up to something" they seemed to have also decided that Edward was going to get himself in trouble.

Edward thought about Tucker and almost laughed. It was highly amusing to think that he might be in danger from that man. Suspicious or not Tucker was still nice; he had let them into his home to use his vast library, after all.

More than likely the secret was as equally mundane as the task of researching it would be, something that would make Edward laugh when he found it.

That was another reason he didn't want to tell anyone. If he went through all that effort to discover what Tucker was hiding and found out instead that it was nothing to worry about then everyone (i.e. Colonel Mustang) would laugh at him.

Edward hated being laughed at.

No, far better to pretend that nothing was wrong and do the research when no one was looking. Smiling into his pillow Edward snuggled down and let out a soundless yawn, deciding now to try and get some sleep.

'You'll see, there's nothing wrong,' he thought sleepily to himself. 'It'll be easy…'

FMAFMAFMAFMA

The research might end up being very easy, but avoiding Alphonse the next morning was most definitely not. That was a downside to the boy not being able to sleep; he was still wide awake early in the morning which made it extremely easy to corner the half-asleep Edward.

"Al?" Edward yawned, looking up blearily at his brother when Alphonse blocked his way to the bathroom. "I'm running late, could you move?"

"No," Al said stubbornly.

Edward blinked as he processed the one word response, his mind working a little sluggishly. Why did Al refuse to move? If he didn't then Edward would be late to report into Colonel Mustang which would make them even later to Tucker's house considering Mustang would likely keep him back to lecture him.

And then Edward's mind hit upon the only possible conclusion for his brother's odd behavior. Feeling more awake now he groaned and rubbed the bridge of his nose with his flesh hand.

"Al, please?" he tried.

"Not until you tell me what you're doing, Nii-san," Al said stubbornly.

"I'm standing here waiting for you to move!"

"You know what I mean!"

The two brother's glared at each other. At least, Edward assumed that Al was glaring – the tone of his voice had been harsh enough.

"Nii-san, I know you're up to something," Al said, crossing his arms. "Something to do with Mr Tucker. Why are you so curious about him anyway?"

"I'm not!" Edward protested. "There's absolutely nothing interesting about Tucker at all!"

"Well, that's not nice."

Edward almost growled. Alphonse had obviously been spending way too much time in his brother's company if that smart-ass response was anything to go by.

"Al, just move," he said. "I'm going to be late!"

"Serves you right, then. I hope you do get lectured by Colonel Mustang."

"I don't want to get lectured!" Edward exclaimed.

"If you won't answer me then you'll have to answer to him," Al pointed out smugly. "I know Falman was suspicious too, and he would have told the colonel by now."

"There's nothing to be suspicious about! I haven't done anything!"

'Yet.'

"Then why were you so interested in Mr Tucker's chimera and his wife?"

"Is it a crime to wonder a little about the person who's hosting us?" Edward asked sulkily.

"When it's you… yes."

"Hey!"

Alright, this was getting him nowhere. At this rate Alphonse was never going to let him leave the hotel room. However, Al might be stubborn but Edward knew he was ten times worse.

"Do we have to stand here all day?" Al asked.

"If that's what it takes to convince you I'm not up to something."

Al went quiet. He was quiet for so long that Edward began to think that he had won the argument so he started to move forwards. Then…

"Nii-san, I'm just worried about you."

Edward froze. 'Oh no, don't play that card…'

"You never look out for yourself and how do you think I'd feel if you got hurt?"

Edward tried not to listen. This just wasn't fair! Al was trying to guilt trip him! Well, there was no way it was going to work, Edward was far too set in his decision.

Then Al put the icing on the cake.

"Don't you trust me to help, Nii-san?"

'Damn it!'

"That's not fair!" Edward protested. "I trust you with my life, Al!'

"Then why won't you tell me what you're doing?" Al shot back. "If you trust me with your life why can't you trust me with your secret?"

Well, he had walked right into that one. He waited a few beats and then realized that Al had implied that he had a secret… which he wasn't supposed to have.

"What secret?' he asked quickly, too late.

"Nii-san…" Al said slowly.

Edward cringed. Now what? Al was not going to let him get away without telling him something, but Edward didn't want to say what he was thinking. Then something occurred to him.

He could tell Al something. Just not everything.

"Alright," he said, holding his hands up. "Will you at least let me get dressed before I tell you?"

"Fine," said Al, moving away. Then, as an afterthought as Edward passed him, he added, "I locked the window, by the way."

"What do you take me for?" Edward asked, outraged. "I wouldn't escape out the window!" He paused. "I'd probably put a hole in the wall."

Alphonse made an exasperated sound and shoved him into the bathroom.

Barely five minutes later Edward finished dressing, doing his teeth and tackling his hair, and exited cautiously to find Alphonse sitting on the lounge, staring at him. A glance at the clock told him he only had half an hour before he had to be in Colonel Mustang's office.

"Well?" Al asked.

"Look, Al, it's just… I'm curious about Nina's mum, alright?" Edward said a little nervously, not sure if Alphonse would buy it. "Nina didn't know her but other people would have, so I thought I'd do a little bit of research into what she was like when she was here. And maybe I could tell Nina something about her."

It was entirely the truth, but not all of the truth. Would Al pick up on that? For a moment Edward thought he might have done. And then Al nodded.

"Nii-san, you're getting soft!" Al teased.

"Shut up!" Edward said, blushing slightly. "Now, I have to stop in at headquarters to report to Mustang. Are you coming?"

"I might make my way to the Tucker's and start on the books," Alphonse said. "I'll meet you there?"

"Al-right…" Edward said, taken-aback. Al generally really liked going to see Mustang and the rest of the people in the office. But he supposed that Al wanted to go see Nina. "Hopefully I won't be long."

He strolled out of the hotel room. The moment the door was closed he breathed a huge sigh of relief. He was safe for now.

With that thought in mind he pushed aside all concerns about the members of the Tucker's family and walked downstairs, half his mind on wondering if the bus would arrive soon and the other half grouching about having to go see Mustang.

FMAFMAFMAFMA

Al waited until he heard that Edward was well and truly gone. Then he practically dove for the telephone, dialing a certain number.

He felt a little bad about going behind his brother's back like this, but it couldn't be helped. What Edward didn't know was that, while he had had a shower last night, Al had called Mustang. The very same person he was calling now.

"Colonel Mustang's office," came Riza Hawkeye's strict voice.

"Lieutenant, it's Alphonse," said Al. "Could I speak to Colonel Mustang."

"Of course," said Hawkeye, her voice a little warmer now. "Hold on two seconds while I get him for you."

Moments later the phone was picked up again.

"Alphonse, what can I do for you?" Mustang greeted.

"I asked nii-san this morning," Al said, not wanting to beat around the bush.

A pause.

"What did he say?" asked Mustang.

"He told me he was just curious about Nina's mum," said Alphonse. "He wasn't lying to me."

"That's all?" Mustang asked, astonished.

"No."

"No?"

"I don't think he told me everything. If that was it why was it so hard to get it out of him before? Oh, and he's on his way now."

"Joy," Mustang muttered. "Alright, Al, just keep an eye on him in case he does something stupid."

"Yes, Colonel."

That ended the conversation. Al put the phone down and sighed. It was such a difficult job sometimes, looking after his older brother.

Next Chapter: Chapter Four; Edward realizes that Mustang might be able to help him, though for a price. Meanwhile Tucker knows that he has to do something about Edward… and he knows just what that is.

Thank you to the reviews I got… getting reviews is so absolutely awesome, even if they're just ones that say they like the story. They really give a writer inspiration and makes them feel in their down days that writing is very worthwhile. Despite this being a new account I'm definitely not new to fanfiction and writing in general, so I say that from experience. The amount of reviews never matter either… it's enough to know that someone out there is reading it and likes my story!

So sincere thanks to;

jazflower, manga-animelove, sathreal, rotten little rat, and WainGuy

who reviewed the previous chapter. And thank you to everyone who is reading this story and have put it on alerts, even if you haven't reviewed :) Now I'll stop being mushy and get to the next chapter!