The storage closets in eastern command were dark, musky and cold. I knew this for a fact because I was standing in one, holding my breath and hiding from two of Grumman's men. They were having a merry good old chat about the new alchemist killer, supposedly he had been spotted going in the direction of east Amestris. I put my ear to the door listening intently. Usually, I preferred the air vents but brother dearest had ruined that method for me today, so storage closets it was.

"They say he's as fast as lightning and causing destruction where ever he goes," one soldier said.

"Did you hear how he murdered the brigade general?" The other said. Their voices slowly moved further down the corridor. I felt my way to the door, tripping over something that clattered to the ground. I grumbled in displeasure still trying to find the handle. The door swung open and a tall figure stood in the doorway. I scrambled back, thinking the worst possibility that it was one of Grumman's men until my eyes adjusted to the handsome view in front of me.

"You gave me a fright Havoc" I said joining him out in the corridor and rubbing my eyes until they fully adjusted to the light.

"Resorted to skulking in closets?" He asked me. Out of all of Roy's subordinates, I had to admit Havoc was my favourite, not that my little girly crush has anything to do with it. He had been my best friend since I've been under strict Roy Mustang supervision.

"Danny broke the air vent earlier so I must resort to my old tactics" he glanced down at me with a smile.

"So I heard, you made quite the impression on the Elric's" he had a file in his hand and I tried to look at it but he tilted the name away from me.

"First impressions are everything," I said still trying to peak at the file in his hands, "is that the file on the new alchemist killer?" Havoc used his elbow to push my face away. I was being nosey as usual.

"Thanks by the way for pushing Mustang's buttons" Havoc changed the subject, "he's taking it out on all of us" I smiled proudly at him walking the corridors. I had to walk faster than usual to keep with Havoc's long strides.

"Did I overstep my boundaries?" I asked, Havoc didn't even bother answering me. I got my answer from the look on his face, "it's his fault thinking I was going to stay at home all day and twiddle my thumbs" I protested. Havoc gave me a sidelong glance. "Don't look at me like that" I grumbled at him.

"He does it for your own wellbeing Lex," Havoc said, "it wasn't that long ago that you were found on the streets of Central nearly dead" that was so last years news.

"Besides the point," I said holding my hand up at him and not wanting to talk about it. "Anyways I hear you've been dumped again" Havoc stopped making me come to a stop.

"You've been eavesdropping in the air vents again" the smile on my face gave me away, "why must you do that?" he asked.

"If I didn't I wouldn't have known that Cassandra just dumped her boyfriend" Havoc's face lit up, "she's a very pretty blonde" I added.

"Very pretty" he muttered. I was Havoc's wingman. He needed love in his life and I needed a friend. So we both worked well for each other, we helped each other out.

"That snooping in the air vents isn't actually too bad" he said walking again, I followed him.

"And for a little cash, I can eavesdrop on anyone" I never miss an opportunity for a quick buck. Havoc chuckled.

"Not a chance my friend, the Colonel would kill me if he ever caught me paying you money..." his voice trailed off making both of us come to a stop. "Run" he muttered down at me and I frowned. I followed his gaze to see two of Grumman's men.

"Ah shit" I whispered taking a few steps backwards.

"Old people duty?" Havoc asked me as the soldiers stared at me.

"Not today" I said spinning on my heels.

"Alexis Mustang!" The soldiers shouted coming after me. Havoc walked off pretending he had nothing to do with me. I took off down the hall sprinting in the opposite direction.

"Stop!" The soldiers called out, "I have orders to take you to Grumman!" Yeah, not today. I'll be long gone before Grumman hears anything about me in his command centre. I skidded around a corner nearly running into two more of Grumman's men.

"Aww man" I moaned, they recognised me and shot into action trying to grab me. I ducked their hands and shot past them gaining speed.

"Not today boys!" I called out over my shoulder watching them fumble around each other.

"You'll be in big trouble if you don't stop Alexis Mustang!" One of them shouted out. I laughed at them over my shoulder. Not if I could reach Roy's office or the front doors first, I had a chance to get away if I was able to get somewhere where they couldn't reach me. I had slipped their escape many times and was about to do it again.

I looked over my shoulder.

"Don't you guys have better things to do than chase-" BANG! My head hit something and I hit the ground with a big thud. The world spun around me and my vision blurred for a split second, I moaned rubbing my head furiously.

"Oh, I'm so sorry!" A familiar young voice said, "I tried to dodge you but you were going really fast!" I opened my eyes and a suit of armour was looming over me, Al held his hand out for me. Ed stood next to him with his arms crossed over his chest looking down at me, I took Al's hand and stood up still rubbing my head.

"You should watch where you're going" Ed spoke up, "Al's quite sturdy and will give you a concussion if you go running into him like that" he said hitting Al's chest plate with his fist.

"No kidding" I muttered still rubbing my head, I could feel a headache coming on, that is going to bruise later. A hand landed on my shoulder behind me and I froze, eyes widening. Dammit, they caught me.

"Please come with us Miss Mustang" the soldier behind me said trying to drag me away, I went to pull away and make another run for it but Ed grabbed my arm pulling me away from the solider.

"Mustang wants to see her" I looked at him oddly. He's saving my butt but why? The soldier was hesitant to let me go but knew not to go against a state alchemists requests.

"Yes sir!" He said saluting Ed, they turned away eyeing me. It was a warning to me if they saw me again, they were going to drag me to Grumman's office. I sighed in relief.

"Oh man, thanks for that" I said to Ed as he released my arm, "I owe you big time" he crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes at me.

"No this makes us even, the secret stays a secret and you don't have to look after old people" Ed stated firmly. Oh, so he had another motive. I liked this kid, he was full of surprises. I grinned at him.

"Even it is" I said holding my hand out for him and he shook it. Al crossed his arms standing over us.

"Brother" he said unimpressed to Ed, "that's manipulation" Ed rolled his eyes and looked up at Al.

"Is not" he spat up at Al, "it was a deal that's why we shook hands" he looked at me to back him up. I held my hands up.

"I'm not gonna leave Roy waiting for me any longer" I told him pushing past them, "but that was a bit of manipulation" I called out.

"Brother" Al moaned at Ed.

"Oh good one!" Ed snapped at me, "could have at least backed up the guy who saved your ass" I smiled waving him off.

I tuned out Roy as he rambled on about what I had done earlier was unacceptable, I was not allowed to come wondering into Eastern command without reason and being bored was not an acceptable reason. To prove him wrong I shot back that I didn't come wandering in, I was actually climbing through the vents which didn't improve his mood. So here I am, slouched in the chair opposite his desk, with my arms crossed, my eyes narrowed at him and wishing I was anywhere else but here.

"You're not even listening to me" he said throwing his hands in the air, "I'm trying to help you" he said leaning forward.

"Locking me up in the house isn't helping" I mumbled at him.

He laughed mockingly at me.

"Oh, so you've got the selective Alexis hearing on today" in other words I heard what I wanted to hear. Now he was just being mean.

"Locking me up in the house isn't helping" I repeated myself. He leaned on his desk and put his head in his hands making groaning noises.

"I don't know what to do Alexis" he said looking up at me, "not even a year ago we all thought you weren't going to wake up" of course he goes there.

About a year ago I was found on central streets hardly breathing. I had got on the wrong side of some bad people and got taught a lesson, one that resulted in me being put in the hospital. I had a fractured sternum, three broken ribs and plenty of nightmares to join them. I was a mess but I never asked Roy to take me back and yet he still felt the need to look after me after I had run away at the age of twelve, went and came as I pleased until it resulted in me in the hospital.

If it hadn't of been Roy notifying his friends in Central to look out for me and Maes Hughes determination to find me and make sure I was safe, I most likely would have died on that street. So yes I should be grateful but being locked up was not the way to get me to behave.

"What do you want me to say?" I asked Roy who was staring at me, "I'm sorry?"

"I want the lying, the stealing and the fighting to stop" he told me, "and for god's sake don't run away again" he leant back and crossed his arms.

"You're not my father" I spat at him distastefully.

"Don't go there Alexis" he sighed at me, "this fight is getting old" I was never going to drop it. The fact that he came back from the civil war in one piece where both of my parents didn't, that was something I was never going to forget.

"Then stop looking for me when I leave" I told him.

"You're my niece, I can't just forget about you" I could hear the frustration in his voice. "I get you do it to spite me but did you ever think about how this effects Danny?" Roy asked. I crossed my arms and looked away from him not wanting to discuss that.

"He's your little brother Lexie and worries needlessly when you disappear then reappear all bloodied and bruised, he's fed up having to stitch you up and nurse you back to health" I still didn't look at him.

I was selfish for what I did but I couldn't take it back and I was too stubborn to realise what I had done had any effect on Danny, all I ever wanted was the best for my little brother. That's why I left. I was the bad influence but instead, I had destroyed the relationship between us trying to do that. I got dragged back and humiliated in front of everyone who knew me and they saw how much I changed from living on the streets, the streets of Central had destroyed me. I needed to change but I don't know how to, I'm stuck in my ways and no one is giving me any help to turn me back into that girl I was supposed to be.

Losing my parents turned me into a rebelling kid and Roy wasn't old enough to know how to deal with that, he had his own problems to deal with like getting over the Civil War but I had no empathy for him. I saw the repercussions of that war and he had a huge part in it. I knew the real enemy was the military, King Bradley. He was the reason, he destroyed my family, he sent my parents out into that war that got them killed, he sent those alchemists out there and massacred all those Ishbalan's.

But what could I do? Nothing but stir in my own anger and pity myself. Losing my parents took a big tole on me, I lost the most important people in my life when I needed them the most. I blamed Roy, he was supposed to convince them to stay home and look after their children but instead he joined them on that battlefield. Then he comes home without them, how could he do that to me?

How could he do that to Danny? I was determined to destroy the one thing that destroyed and pulled apart what little family I had and that was the military. But how can one girl do that? I can't and I know it.

I don't understand how Roy can still be a part of it with everything they forced him to do. He says I wouldn't understand, I'm too young, too naive but I'm not. I just want a reason, his reason but to him, I'm still that little girl that ran away from everything and everyone, he doesn't trust me now and neither does Danny. They roll their eyes every time I get into a fight, look the other way when I'm stuck doing community service and I know the moment I come of age they will wait for me to be put in prison. And they're probably right, I don't know any better. so I stick to what I know, causing trouble and trying to amuse myself.

"Alexis" Roy said softly. I looked at him not saying anything.

"I don't know what to do with you anymore, I've tried everything possible and yet it doesn't work" I clenched my fists.

"So you've resulted to locking me in the house?!" I spat at him, he had not tried everything. I was just that one thing he had no clue what to do with.

"We're going in circles" he muttered under his breath.

"Next thing you know ill be in a jail cell because if you don't have eyes on me you instantly think I'm doing something illegal-" he slammed his hands against the desk shutting me up.

"I've had enough of you for one afternoon!" He snapped back, "I want you home now and be sure as hell you'll be in trouble if you're not home when I get there" I stood up staring down at him over his desk.

"I'm so scared" I growled at him.

"Clear?" he asked, I turned on my heels.

"Crystal!" I slammed his door behind me and stormed out of Eastern command in a foul mood with my hood over my head. I didn't want to think about the argument we just had, I was just going to avoid it like everything else.

It was dusk outside so the sky had oranges, pinks and purples in it followed by very dark stormy clouds. I could just make out a few stars here and there, the sun was setting behind the buildings around me casting long shadows.

I turned into the alley grumbling how my uncle was a complete asshole. I kicked my foot into a small rock and it bounced across the ground, I heard a loud THUD! I froze in my spot and frowned. That certainly wasn't from the rock I had just kicked. The ground shook under my feet like an earthquake and I lost my balance nearly stumbling to the ground. The wall beside me started to crack, I took a step backwards staring up at it and it came crumbling down to the ground, a wave of dust engulfed me. I shielded my eyes from the dust in the air.

"What the hell?" I whispered to myself. I spun around to see a figure knocking straight into me. We both hit the ground groaning. I opened my eyes to see gold eyes staring at me in shock, I raised my eyebrows in slight confusion.

"I know you might be having fun on top of me but would you mind getting off me" I said squirming under Ed's weight. He jumped off me shocked, he fell back on top of me as Al ran into him. I gasped in pain. Ed was a lot heavier than he looked.

"Brother" Al yelled in concern, he gripped both of us with his brown leather hands and a hand missed both of us by inches. It slammed into the ground, the earth around it exploded where Ed's head would have been. My eyes widened, I looked at the person who made the ground explode.

"Scar" I whispered as he quickly got to his feet. He was the alchemist killer, my eyes shifted to Ed and I saw the slightest glimpse of fear in his golden eyes. Scar was going to kill Ed, my uncle's alchemist. One of my hands shot into Ed's chest, forcing him against Al, my other hand scooped up a handful of dust and threw it up at Scar. It flew up into his glasses and he inhaled it, scrambling back trying to regain his vision.

I was not going to let this man take my uncle's new alchemist, my uncle would have to bow at my feet in gratitude if I saved the alchemists life, right? My impulsive behaviour kicked in.

"Run!" I spat at Ed, Scar was still recovering from my cheap dust shot. But I watched Ed's face turn into a scowl, I saw that look in his eyes. He wasn't going anywhere and I think Al knew this as well. I felt the presence of scar loom over me and Ed shot forward but Al was quicker. His large arms scooped both me and Ed backwards into him and creating space between Scar and us.

"Stay out of this girl" Scar said to me, "or I will have to kill you" he threatened

"Al let go of me!" Ed snapped up at his brother as my blood boiled from Scar's threat. The only person who was allowed to threaten me was my uncle, anyone else was testing a boundary and I didn't take lightly to male intimidation. Ed was struggling in Al's arms as he tried to talk Ed into running away.

I twisted my body out of Al's grip and Ed continued to fight his brother, Scar's hand was held open, his fingers curled like he was already holding my head between them. He shot towards me and I kicked my foot at him, the blade in the bottom of my boot flung forward and was aiming straight for Scars neck but he retreated in time. He was extremely fast.

"Don't let him touch you!" Al shouted out to me, Ed shot past me but his left foot hit my heel and the both of us tumbled to the ground. Thunder rumbled in the sky and water streamed down from above us. I scrambled up, shooting a glare at Ed as he shot one back as if that was my fault. Scar reached down for the both of us but I dropped to my knees and spun out from under him and Ed was fast to follow my tracks. Scar stood between us and Al, he watched his targets surround him, figuring out who was the biggest threat.

"Watch it" I heard Ed grumble at me. I looked at him in disbelief, did he really blame me for that stupid stunt he had done. Obviously, his auto-mail leg was slow at catching up with the rest of his body.

"That was your fault stupid" I insulted him, that got his attention straight away. It was as if Scar was no longer in front of us.

"Did you just call me stupid?" Ed snapped at me, "you got in my way and obviously trying to get yourself killed" he was pointing an auto-mail finger at me.

"I'm trying to help you!" I scoffed in disbelief, what happened to thanks Alexis for not letting my head get blown off?

"I don't need your help- ah shit!" Ed spat leaping out of the way from Scar's outstretched hand, Scar had chosen him while he had been distracted. Now that was a cheap shot. Ed scrambled away falling back, Scar's hand was following his head, reaching out for it to crack it like an egg. I swung my leg over Ed's head and nicked Scar's jacket with my boots blade but missing his arm. He retreated again.

"Oh yeah clearly not" I mocked Ed, he glared at me and quickly got to his feet shaking off his bright red coat facing me.

"Really?!" He snapped at me, "this is the time to be sarcastic?!" Scar walked towards us while Ed had his back to him shouting at me. "I would really like to punch you in the face-" I leapt at him, curling my arms around him. We rolled onto the ground, shocking Scar as he leapt of us before we both went straight in his shins.

"Brother!" Al snapped.

"Oh really?" I asked sitting on top of Ed, "go on then, punch me" I urged him. He tried to wrestle me off, "go on, punch me short stack!" Instantly Ed's face when bright red. His fist went straight towards me, I leant out the way but he clipped my ear and I felt it grow hot from the pain.

"Guys!" Al exclaimed pulling us to our feet, "the guy trying to kill us is the problem not each other!" Scar shot towards us and Al threw both of us aside. The fight between Scar and Al looked like they were dancing, dodging flying hands.

"We'll finish this later" I said pointing at Ed and rubbing my bleeding ear.

"You're on" Ed sneered back at me, his face still bright red from my short comment. It suddenly went pale as a ghost as metal showered both Ed and I, the loud explosion drew my attention to broken Al on the ground. He was silent and still, his armour broken in pieces but his upper half still intact. I froze but I felt the anger and fear build up in Ed, his hands curling into fists. I didn't know if Al was still alive, had Scar killed him?

"Al!" Ed shouted his human hand latched onto my arm, I looked at him and I had never seen so much desperation in someones face, "don't let the blood seal be broken or I lose him, now I need your help" he let go of me and turned towards Scar. "You son of a bitch" Ed screamed swinging at Scar missing again, I was still leaning against the wall staring at Al.

Blood seal?

That made me frown in confusion.

For some reason, something clicked, that symbol inside Al is a blood seal, that made sense and I now knew what he was talking about. I leapt over Al getting a view of the unharmed blood seal and rushed head first knocking Scar's hand away from Ed's head. That desperation in Ed's eyes, my stomach twisted in a way I had never felt, I had to help. I joined Ed but Scar was quick to get me out of the fight, the two of us were making it harder for him to dodge. Scar's elbow swung back at me, catching my windpipe and my back slam into the brick wall behind me, my head hit the wall and pain exploded through me as I gasped for air. I tried to blink the dark spots away in my field of vision but it only made it worse, this couldn't be good. Id already hit my head today running into Al, the last thing I need is for me to actually get a concussion.

Still trying to blink myself from passing out and clawing at my neck to take in a breath but my body went limp and I slid down the wall trying to focus again. This is not what I needed right now, I need that adrenaline to kick in. I inhaled, expanding my lungs and my vision came back, I glanced up and watched Scar grab Ed's arm, curling his fist but there was no explosion like usual. My body was tingling, my heart pumping and my breathing rapid.

"You have an auto-mail arm and the armour is empty, you two are an odd pair" Scar said standing over Ed. But Ed was standing his ground, his back to Al and I, in a protective stance.

"Edward you have to run!" Al shouted trying to lift himself up but more of the armour crumbled away. Come on Lexie wheres your adrenaline rush?! I could feel it coming on, just a few more seconds!

"Don't be stupid I'm not leaving you here or Alexis, no one is dying tonight while I'm still around!" Ed snapped at his brother. Why is he worried about me? I thought staring at the boy, his red coat drenched in rain and his hair plastered to his face. Only stupid hero's try and save everyone.

Ed clapped his hands together, his hand glided over his auto-mail and a blade appeared. Ed swung the point of the blade at Scar but he lashed out, placing his palm against it and Ed's arm exploded. More metal raining down on us and thunder rumbled in the sky again. The rain was falling in large raindrops, creating puddles in the path.

"I'll give you a moment to pray" Scar said towering over Ed. I could see Ed's reflection in the puddle, he still had that look of determination. He chuckled lightly at Scar, his amusement of the thought of God caught my attention.

"Sorry to disappoint you but there's no god I feel like praying to" he said softly, he glanced at me and Al. "If I'm the only one you're after, kill me but promise me you won't hurt the other two" I reached around into the back of my pants, gripping my gun. Here he was again, acting the hero when he was defeated, armless and ready to die. I slid up the wall, it really pissed me off that he could be this defenceless and still be the hero. I curled my toes in my boots and held the gun in my hand firmly flicking the safety off.

"I promise" Scar growled.

"Ed! What are you doing?! Run!" Al screamed. I gritted my teeth, the blood from my ear running down my neck. This kid had punched me and I still wanted to save his ass, now I needed to know why he made me feel like this.

"I wouldn't start making promises so soon" I snarled, I took two-step. Ed's back against my shins and the point of my gun inches from scar, his hand stretched out, inches from Ed's head. I smiled knowing I had Scar in a tight situation.

"You can kill him but you will have a bullet in your head and this quest of yours will be finished e" I spat at Scar. He hesitated and looked down at Ed. Was he willing to risk this? Killing The Fullmetal Alchemist with calling my shot a bluff or pulling away knowing there was more of a fifty-fifty chance I could make him bleed. I could see him thinking what his next move would be very wisely, I had my finger on the trigger ready to pull it at any moments notice.

"What are you doing?" Ed spat leaning against my legs and away from Scar's hand, I didn't move, staying still not taking my eyes off Scar.

"Saving your pretty ass " I told him, I squeezed the gun in my hands, my knuckles were white. A loud echo of a gun rang out around us.

"That's enough!" Roy ordered. I didn't think id been so happy to hear his voice, "didn't I warn you that you were going to be in a lot of trouble if you weren't home Alexis?" he asked me in a cocky tone. I take that back, it could have been anyone else but no, it was Roy who showed up. On a rainy night. What on earth did he think he could accomplish in the rain?

"Maybe you should focus on the guy who is inches from blowing our brains out" I spat back. I didn't take my eyes off Scar but he wasn't looking at me anymore, he was eyeing the back up that was surrounding him. Soldiers lined the street, guns in hand pointed at Scar and I felt Ed relax against me.

"Don't tell me how to do my job Alexis, ill do it when it suits me, not when you bark orders at me!" He really wanted to start a fight with me, so I took things into my own hands while Scar was focusing on the other soldiers. I kicked my foot out slamming it into Scar, snarling like a dog. My boot dagger had sliced his thigh but it made no difference to his quick movements.

"The Flame Alchemist" Scar muttered no longer interested in me with my gun pointed at him or Ed who was trying to keep himself up with one arm, I still didn't move, feeling protective of Ed.

"All this killing stops now!" Roy ordered stepping forward and taking his attention off me and putting it onto Scar, "surrender now or I will burn you to a crisp-" Scar darted forward reaching out for Roy's head. Ever so slightly my heart skipped a beat thinking Scar was actually going to get him. Roy held his hand up and went to click his fingers but Hawkeye stepped forward.

"Watch out sir!" She kicked Roy's feet out from under him making Scar's hand miss, Scar was fast retreating and dodging the wave of bullets fired in his direction. I sighed in relief. A large figure burst out onto the road, swinging at Scar.

"I am Alex Louis Armstrong!" Armstrong roared slamming his fists into the ground, his alchemy disturbed the road towards Scar trying to knock him off his feet but Scar retreated back, dodging Armstrong's attacks.

"Major! Don't tear up the whole street!" Havoc exclaimed from behind Roy.

I gripped Ed's arm and helped him to his feet, he glared at me as if I had just punched him in the face and not risked my own life to save his, it wasn't my usual type of thing but I got caught in the moment and his whole thing of caring and being a hero made me want to fall in line with him. Which I was going to have to scrub my brain for even thinking that.

"What?!" I snapped at Ed, he rolled his eyes like I should have known why he was glaring at me.

"You realise how stupid you are getting involved, you could have killed yourself" I just looked at him in astonishment. Is this how he thanks people for saving him when he clearly was going to die?

"And I hope you realise I just saved your ass" he said nothing in return bending down next to his brother, picking up the parts of him so gently like Al felt his touch. The gun in my hand was snatched out from under my grip, I spun around and came face to face with my uncle.

"So this is where my gun had wandered off to" he said as I tried to pry it from his grip.

"Give it back" I snarled defensively but he wrapped his arms around me making me lose this fight. "Let go off me" I said squirming in his grip but my head hit his shoulder and the dark circles appeared in my vision, my sore head flared up again. This time I was going to pass out.

"You have done enough for today" he said softly, he held onto my body as I sagged forward and the darkness took over my vision letting myself fall away from reality.