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Chapter Four – Conspiracy

Edward Elric wasn't the most respected alchemist in the world but he got along well. It was widely known he was looking for the legendary Philosopher's Stone with his brother. The reason was unknown to most people. One of the people who knew of the reasons was Roy Mustang. It was also a universal fact that Roy Mustang and Edward Elric didn't exactly get along. Ed was sat tapping his foot on the floor impatiently with his arms crossed over his chest. He had been instructed to go to Mustang's office by General Grumman but the Colonel had not arrived yet.

"Where is he?" Ed asked in a whisper. Ed's younger brother, Al, shook his head.

"Brother, be patient," Al said, "The Colonel must have a good reason why he's late."

The door opened.

"Finally Mustang, where the hell have you been?" Ed snapped jumping up off the sofa shouting at the person closing the door behind them. The guy frowned at Ed. Ed froze on the spot. That wasn't Mustang.

"Sorry I thought you were the Colonel," Ed said rubbing his head.

"So you too?" the boy said, "Grumman decided to send you to the Colonel too?"

"Yeah," Ed said. The boy walked towards Ed holding out his hand.

"Leon Mustang," he greeted. Ed stared at Leo with his mouth open. If Al hadn't been a suit of armour then he would've been pulling the same expression.

"Mustang?" Ed and Al asked at the same time. Leo grinned.

"Yeah," he said with a slight blush, "I'm his younger brother."

"I didn't know the Colonel had any family," Al said.

"There's quite a few of us," Leo replied, "But Roy is the eldest."

The door opened a second time. This time it was the Colonel. He was reading a folder while drinking a mug filled with hot liquid. He didn't seem to mind the heat. He walked to his desk, sitting on his chair casually. He was flicking through the folder with keen interest. He looked up at the three teens in front on him.

"I think this is a bad idea," the Colonel said simply.

"What's a bad idea?" Ed asked.

"Grumman wants you three to go on a special mission for him," the Colonel explained, "But I have no idea why."

"What's the mission, sir?" Leo asked. Ed and Al gave him a weird glance as they realised what Leo had called his brother.

"Recon," Mustang explained, "Some big earthquake has led to some people being trapped in a mine not far from here. Grumman wants you to go and help the villages out."

"Sounds easy enough," Ed said. Mustang went back to reading the information in the folder like the three teens weren't there.

"Leo," he said slowly, "Why has Grumman called you back here?"

"I don't know, sir," Leo replied. This was an honest answer. Mustang could tell this by Leo's tone.

"Why do I get the idea that Grumman is conspiring against me when ever you are called back here?" Mustang mused, "I'm sure you three can work together well. Leo has been a State Alchemist for ten months now. So Fullmetal, try not to get him in too much trouble."

"I'm surprised you haven't got him in trouble yet," Ed muttered.

"By the way, Leo," Mustang went on, "They are big on roses in the city so beware of your allergies."

"Sir!" Leo said. He glanced towards the door as it opened a third time. Lieutenant Hawkeye walked across the room, placing a small pile of paper work on Mustang's desk. She glanced at Leo with a warm smile on her face.

"Good afternoon, major," she said, "I hope you're well."

"Yes, miss," Leo said with a blush.

"This has to be done by four, sir," she told Mustang.

"Sure, sure," Mustang replied airily.

She turned walking out of the room, closing the door behind her gently. Leo watched her move. Mustang shot him a look.

"I would prefer that you don't ogle my Lieutenant, Leo," Mustang said in an amused way.

"Sorry, sir," Leo said growing a deeper shade of scarlet. Mustang smirked.

"You are dismissed," Mustang ordered. As Ed, Al and Leo left the room, Mustang shook his head. What was it with Mustang men? He picked up a piece of paperwork and started to sign it.

"So you like Lieutenant Hawkeye then?" Al asked as soon as the door was closed. Leo groaned.

"Yeah," Leo admitted, "I have no chance though."

"Why not?" Ed asked, "She seems to like you."

"Well it's not that but my sister would kill me if she found out," Leo said unhappily. Al and Ed glanced at each other.

"Why?" they asked at the same time.

"Because my sister wants Roy to marry Lieutenant Hawkeye," Leo moaned.

"What?" the two brothers yelled.

"Does Lieutenant Hawkeye know about this plan?" Ed asked.

"What plan would that be, Edward?" asked Hawkeye from behind Al. The three boys turned slowly to look the blonde Lieutenant in the eyes. She looked amused after obviously hearing their conversation. The boys all went a funny red colour. She smiled at them in good humour. "What sort of crazy mission has my Grandfather decided to send you on then?"

"Simple recon," Leo replied. Hawkeye nodded.

"Please be careful," she said, "My grandfather likes putting people he likes in strange situations."

"Strange?" Al asked, growing more and more worried, "What are we talking about here? Is something like ghosts?"

"Ghosts?" Ed yelled, "There's no such things as Ghosts!"

"I'm sure we'll be fine, miss," Leo said trying to ignore the two brothers. Hawkeye grinned.

"Edward? Alphonse?" she said to the others. Ed and Al turned to her min sentence. Ed still had his mouth open. "Please don't try to join the conspiracy."

"What conspiracy would that be?" Al said raising his hands up.

"It's hard enough trying to get the Colonel to do work as it is without having more people to complain at," she muttered, before entering Mustang's office, leaving the three boys speechless.

"You know the Lieutenant can be quite different can't she?" Ed asked.

Hawkeye closed the door behind her with a sigh. Mustang glanced up at her, smirking.

"Are they OK?" he asked. She nodded as she leant against the door.

"Yes, sir," she replied, "They seem to be eager to work with each other."

"Hmm," Mustang said unconvinced by what she said, "I'm going to be harassed by Fullmetal when he returns, aren't I?"

"Probably, sir," Hawkeye admitted. Mustang turned back to his work. He scribbled his name on the bottom of a piece of paper.

"I'm glad they respect you too much to harass you," he said.

"Respect or are they too scared to harass me?" she asked. Mustang glanced up at her again.

"Both," he replied with a warm smile, "But at least they'll never hold power over you."

"Is that important?" Hawkeye asked, standing up straight. She frowned at her commanding officer like he had said something wrong.

"Yes it is, lieutenant," he said, "For a woman like yourself, no man should have power over you. It would be immoral for someone like you to be controlled like that."

"If you say so, sir," she replied.

"I hope I do not control you," he said.

"On the contrary, sir," she said, "I think I'm the one with the power in this relationship."

"And why's that?" Mustang asked.

"Because your sister is on my side," she replied making Mustang laughed heartily before casting his eyes back onto his paper work.