A/N: I personally want to thank Blue Teller for giving me the idea for this chapter. You can find Teller's page long essays in the review section AND I appreciate every word.
The Richards Ch.10
Meet the Hullers
The presence of the Elric Brothers and Mustang drastically changed the carefree and open atmosphere of Tempus. Now, Lysa Huller is more hesitant to leave the security of the employee's lounge and wonder around the lobby to hand out leftovers from catering, instead of dumping it. Or she could have weeded out any talent agents that who came to Tempus to try to steal the performers away. Sara would appreciate that.
But being out in the open, today, would put her at risk of running to her uncle or aunt or her father. It was her choice to stay away from them. It will be too hard for her to look at them in the eye and pretend that everything will be okay.
"Lys!" She heard Sara's voice calling for her.
Lysa grunted as she trailed towards the front. Everything is done and ready for tomorrow. What could she want this late? Everyone in the theater should have left after the play. But she could hear a heated debate coming from the arena. Every feet that she crept closer to the noise, she could hear the debate was about her little brother.
"If you don't know what happened, then how he's safe?"
"I would know if anything happened to Raymond."
"She would tell me."
Lys jerked back when she emerged from the dark stage. The second Lysa revealed herself; she was thrown into the middle of it. Lys stood there dumbfounded while several frustrated people turn to her. "Lys, where's Raymond?" Eddie's voice calmed her down.
"He's probably asleep right now," Lys answered calmly
"There he's fine," Sara retorted towards the anxious crowd. Lys could see Mustang's and Hawkeye's unconvinced faces.
"And who are you?" Hawkeye examined Lysa for the first time. She didn't mean to sound to be vulgar, but she was becoming anxious that Raymond is out of her sight.
Lysa stopped when she looked at her Aunt Riza. She looked extremely different with her long blonde hair. Her demeanor hasn't changed at all. Lys explained herself, "I'm Raymond's older sister and I can assure you he's fine."
"What about him being pulled into a van?" Havoc voice caught her off guard. She did not see him standing next Mustang.
"No one said that," Eddie, no Eric, tried to smooth out the tension in the arena.
"But there was a van," Havoc retorted back.
Lysa used the extra tree seconds to examine her surroundings. Sara and Eric were standing on the stage in front of the velvet curtains while Mustang, Hawkeye and Havoc where standing in front. With the little clues Lys had, the three soldiers think something must have happened to Raymond. That's sweet to worry, but it's also completely unnecessary.
"Look, Raymond left with an acapella group to work on project together. He left right before the play started." Lys saw their faces twist with shock and disappointment. The new information wasn't enough to satisfy them.
"Is he okay? You let him go by himself?" Mustang added in. That wasn't true.
"Actually, he took a friend with him. Also, he called about forty minutes ago to tell me that they're back home and he had fun. Oh and they're ready to perform at any time," Lys turned to Sara address that.
"That's great; they could play all this weekend," Sara was scheduling things in her head. She's a perfectionist.
"Can we focus on Raymond?" One of the soldiers tried to redirect the conversation, but that wasn't a good idea.
"Why?" Sara retorted. The faster she gets this point across, the faster they can all go home, and "Lys said that he is at home sleeping like a baby."
"So you'll take her word for it," Havoc's eyes dashed to Lys and Sara.
"Of course we can," Eric spoke up for her.
Sara gestured a hand towards Lys and said, "She's his legal guardian."
Lys couldn't believe the situation that she is in. Sure, Mustang is obviously curious about Raymond, but she thought that he would have gave up and left by now, or at least for the night. Before, he wouldn't have stepped foot in a theater. Now, he's closing one down to see Raymond again.
The two Richards somehow couldn't convince Mustang and Hawkeye that their son is okay, so they dragged her into the uncomfortable situation. Lysa could tell by the way they are analyzing her that they don't trust her enough to take care of Raymond and the only thing keeping him away from them. The irony is mounting.
"It's late; I should go. I have to take Mike home; he must be exhausted" that was the first excuse that she could think of.
"Alright, see you tomorrow," Eric just gave her the permission to leave. It was all that she needed to hear.
"Hold on a second," Mustang didn't want anyone to leave.
"You three should go too. Don't you have to work tomorrow?" Sara added in.
Lys slipped away from the stage before Mustang could think of a response to that. She was right about that; they shouldn't be preoccupied with them. They have other things to be worried about at this time or probably don't know about it yet.
Finally, Lysa was back in her home that's hidden from society. It's hard to think about what happened today and sighed heavily. The rest of this "vacation" will not be as carefree and fun anymore. Now, everything she does is being monitored by Mustang and the Elric Brothers. She's used to that kind of attention before, but not like this.
O well, there is nothing she could do about it now. Lysa drove down a narrow remote street and turned into her very strange home. The house had a large circular brick wall built around it and it was too dark to see the garden. She didn't have any energy to admire it anyway.
"It's good to be home," Mike yawned from passenger seat. It's weird that he considers this place his home.
"I know it's been a long day; try to get some sleep, okay?" that comment was directed to herself.
"Okay Mom," Mike responded playfully as he jumped out of the car.
It wasn't a good joke. "I'm not your mom!" she yelled back at him. The teen were already on the porch and letting himself in, before Lys opened her door. Who is she kidding? Those kids have been her responsibility for the past few months.
What about Raymond? She has no idea how he's dealing with all of this. That motivated her to get out of the car, go up the porch stairs and up the next stairway to the second floor. There always feels like there are more every time she climbs them.
This house is so strange. The interior is just white. It's like walking through an asylum. Well, the second cell to the right was the boy's room. There she found Raymond in bed just like she thought. As his big sister, she decided to sit on the side of his bed and gently nudge him awake. "Hi sleepyhead," she greeted the tired boy.
"Hey," Raymond responded in a wary voice. His eyes were only one an inch.
"Are you okay?" Lys asked in a gentle voice.
"Yeah,"
"Do you want to talk about what happened today?"
"No,"
"Do you want to go back to sleep?"
"Please," Raymond begged.
"Fine," Lys didn't want to disturb his sleep. She did lean in to kiss his forehead. Raymond shifted and groaned uncomfortably, but he did grin back at her.
"Thanks Sister," Well, her effort wasn't completely ignored.
Feeling better, Lysa got out of the room and heard snickering from down the hallway. She turned to the direction to find Mike laughing in the doorway of Vin's room. She was curious. What could be so funny? Before Lys could ask, she spotted what he was laughing at. Apparently, someone craved a message in Xingese over Vin's bed.
Uh okay, `so many questions and Vin was nowhere to be found. The first question went to Mike, "What does that mean?"
"It's just his nickname," Mike answered trying not to holding back a grin.
Waking up in Main has always been extremely awkward for Michael Huller. The Half-Ishvalan sat up and looked around his unfurnished, bland white bedroom; it's too dull and boring. In a subconscious state, he is expecting to wake up in his childhood bedroom. Every morning, he is slightly disappointed when he realizes that he is in fact thirty years in the past and it wasn't a very detailed dream.
Mike's not homesick. To be honest, he needed a little break from his mom. It feels like he's at a summer camp, sort of. This ordeal wouldn't be so bad if he still had his family name and status. Now, he is no different than any other unnamed, broke teenager.
He couldn't say the same thing about his experience. He met and befriended a lot of interesting people and one of those people is his roommate. Raymond was laying the bed next to him; immobilized with wide brown eyes peering through his long bangs. He looked like his just woke up from a nightmare, "What's wrong with you?"
"I was thinking…" Raymond quietly admitted.
He's really not good with words. "About?" Mike pressed for him to continue.
"My parents; they're coming again. Aren't they?"
"Yup, definitely," There was no doubt about that, but there was one thing that he never explained, "Why are you avoiding them?"
Several seconds pasted without an answer. Mike darted his eyes at the teenager who was ignoring him. He appeared to be sleeping peacefully. He was fully conscious a minute ago, he couldn't have fallen asleep that fast.
Then Mike noticed an unwanted figure in the bedroom doorway that explained his behavior. It was Ava in oversized pajamas. Sometimes, she forgets she is only down the hall.
"Idiot," she greeted him in a monotone. It's not very effective with her voice.
"Mini Princess," Mike grinned when Ava made a face to that. Ava likes being called, Miss Daggers, but she hates being compared to her big sister.
Usually, she would have retaliated in two seconds. Both of them know that an argument would interfere with her current objective. Ava glanced at Raymond's sleeping face to remind herself that she needs to wake him or he'll miss breakfast again.
Ava sat on the edge of Raymond's best to gently nudge him from his deep slumber. "He's a heavy sleeper," she uttered to herself. She's already forgotten that she's mad at Mike.
Yeah, sure he is. Mike rolled his eyes and turned his back to the scene. It's been months and she still hasn't realized that he's faking. "Michael?"
Mike swiftly turned around when Ava called him. He was surprised to see Ava sitting on Raymond's back with her legs crossed. And he's still pretending to be sleep. "Have you seen my brother? I didn't see him walk in yesterday."
Mike thought back to last night in a few seconds. He didn't see Vin either and he is hard to miss. Mike shook his head, no. "I didn't see him and if you can't locate him, he's not in this house."
Ava nodded at the thought. It's not the first time that he Vin didn't come home. But it is the first time that he didn't tell anyone where he is. He's not stupid enough to get himself into trouble.
"I'm sure he's fine," Raymond finally spoke up.
"You're up!" Ava cheered up. "We're leaving for Tempus in an hour."
Mike groaned at the odd couple. They set themselves up for these jokes, "Raymond, you're not being crushed right now, are you?"
"I'm fine," Raymond said very nonchalant; almost like he doesn't have a girl sitting on his back. Mike couldn't imagine his level of self-control.
"I know. Will you let me get up, Ava?" He flashed a coy smile over his shoulder.
Ava knows he's playing with her. She stood up on his back and stated, "Hurry up. I don't want to keep everyone waiting."
"It's going to be a long day," Raymond moped while he climbed out of the car.
No one else in the car can deny that. Raymond's cover is already blown and Lysa could be next.
"It'll be alright," Lys pinched Raymond's cheek, trying to cheer him up.
He shrugged away from her gesture and headed towards the door. Lysa wouldn't admit to him that she is hesitant about going in there too, but she has to be the adult.
The second the four people entered the theater, they went separated ways. Lysa headed directly to the kitchen to get started baking several quiches for the catering table; then she has to get ready for her own premiere.
The oven had to preheat for fifteen minutes. Preparing the crust las night save a lot of time. Over a dozen eggs, a gallon of cream, and exactly forty-five minutes in the oven, the quiches are ready. They smelled and looked amazing. Lys took one out one at a time with huge floral oven mittens.
On the last one, Lys noticed a huge suit of armor standing in the kitchen's doorway. She froze and nearly dropped a quiche. She had to remind herself that that is a fourteen-year-old boy. "Hi," she greeted the armor.
"Hi, I didn't mean to scare you," his sweet voice was another good reminder.
"It's okay," Lysa warmly smiled at him and found the place for her pastry, "Did you need something, Al?"
"Um," Al tried to summarize his concern in a few sentences, "there's something wrong with Amaya."
"Huh?" that immediately caught her attention. "What makes you say that?"
"She's been acting strange lately and last night someone destroyed the flowers that were sent for her. Do you think that she is in danger?" Alphonse explained worrisome.
Lysa gasped at those words. She's never caused any trouble to anyone. Who would be after Amaya? Wait, she remembered the note over Vin's bed. Oh, that makes sense, but she still has to explain it to Alphonse.
"Uh, Al," She tried to explain without mentioning a certain Richard, "Someone is trying to get her attention and whatever they did, it's working."
"Do you know who it could be?" Lys could see the anger boiling in his voice. This must be a hard for the boy. He has no idea how to respond to this situation.
"I have no idea," she lied to his face. "I'm sorry if that wasn't helpful."
"No, you've helped a lot, thank you," he's so polite. It's easy to look past his appearance. "And, uh…"
"Yes?"
"Do you know Gracia Hughes?" Alphonse suddenly asked.
Lysa is prepared for this; learning how to act these past few months helped. Her heart dropped and she acted like she never heard that name before in her life. "No, I don't. Is she a friend of yours?"
Alphonse seemed to struggle with his next words. "Yes, it's just that you remind me of her."
"Really; how?" Why did she say that?
"Well, she loves to cook and everyone loves her cooking and she's really nice," Al tried his best to describe her in one dense sentence.
Lysa took it as a compliment, "Thank you, Al."
Raymond Huller was trying to gather his composure before the play tonight. It is okay. The play is pretty old and he has done it over ten times in the past few months. He has all of the lines and the fight scenes memorized. Today shouldn't have been a big deal, if his parents were not lurking around. The thought of seeing their faces made him nervous.
"Are you done changing yet?" Raymond didn't want to risk turning around to see Mike undressed. It sucked sharing a room.
"I've been done," Mike answered back a little annoyed. He's not used to sharing a private space either. "Are you done yet?"
Raymond faced his roommate to show him his current costume. Mike looked examines it for several seconds and snickered at him. He had to pause to say through gasps, "You look like you belong on a farm."
Raymond picked at his brown overalls he was forced to wear. He didn't know how to respond to that comment, "I'm supposed to be a repair man that lives in a snow globe. I don't know. It doesn't make any sense."
Mike shrugged it off his retort, "Better than the princess costumes."
Raymond shrugged at that memory. He's really grateful that the colonel missed that play. Hold on, this costume had accessories; gloves and googles. Again, this outfit doesn't make any sense, but he had to find them. Raymond's concentration was interrupted by the sound of their dressing room door being slammed open.
"Ava?" Mike was shocked to see her rush through the room.
"Ava," Raymond's head popped up to search his for his female friend.
He found her opening the window and proceeding to leap out of it. "Go away!" she screeched down into the hallway.
"Ava," Raymond scrambled to her and pulled her back into his room. He didn't want her to jump out of a three-story window. Ava struggled in his grip as he made her sit down in his lap. He wanted to know what's wrong with her.
Michael suddenly looked serious as he crouched down next to them and hushed them. "But…" Raymond wanted to say something, but Michael covered his mouth before he could say another word. He also put his index finger up to his mouth to emphasize his point.
The three of them sat in awkward silence on the floor when another voice filled the dense air, "Raymond… I know you're up there. I just saw you."
The alluring voice didn't belong to anyone in the military. The violinist uneasily sighed when he recognized the forced invitation. One drawback of being a celebrated musician is there could be a few fans who are tremendously obsessed with him. The unnamed stalker said in a melody, "Raymond, don't make me come up there."
The last thing he needs is someone threatening him. Raymond couldn't take his threat seriously, but it's too risky to take that chance. Ava and Michael were watching the window as if he would crawl through it at any moment. Ava already had one of her pink daggers ready to strike anything that moves. Michael's strength was all he needed in a fight.
The three teenagers were in a tough spot and didn't know what to do. "Hi there, what are you doing out here all by yourself?" another voice echoed from the alley.
"I was just…" the stalker was completely caught off guard.
Michael instantly turned to the window and crawled towards it, out of view. He instantly recognized the voice. It wasn't Colonel Mustang, but one of his friends. Raymond couldn't remember which one; he didn't know them that well. "You were what?" the second voice pressed on.
"Leaving…" the first voice was outmatched with words alone. The teens could hear the footsteps storming away defeated.
But after that, another equally eerily silence followed. The three of them were under the window sill eager to check on the alley. Raymond held up his hand and signed the number three. He used his hand to count down. At his signal, they peeked into the alley at the same time.
Mike, Raymond, and Ava found at least a handful of military personnel watching the window already. Raymond didn't scan they're faces before he ducked his head again. The other two followed suit. "Hey, you guys can come out now, it's safe now." the voice said in warm, friendly tone.
"Raymond," the boy cringed when he heard his name. He couldn't mistake that voice. It's his dad. His dad is calling him. But, that is not his father, at least not yet.
After a few seconds of waiting, another voice from the alley asked, "Is Little Roy still up there?"
That was the first time that either of them heard that nickname. His friends could tell by Raymond's grunt that he didn't like it. Raymond swiftly turned around and grimaced, "That's not my name."
"Pin him," Mike whispered to Ava.
Without hesitation, Mike revealed himself and blankly said through the window, "Sorry, have to use the restroom."
He firmly closed the window and the shades. That was the lamest he ever thought of.
"The restroom?" Raymond asked sarcastically.
"Shut up,"
"FIVE MINUTES!" the teenagers jumped when their manager called for them from the main floor. It was their ticket out of the room.
Tonight's premiere should be starting soon. Edward Elric had a long day. First, he had to listen to Mustang ramble about Tempus and Raymond, then he spent a few hours trying to find any information about Vin around the theater. The only thing he could find was a couple of discontinued plays that has his name on it. It's enough proof that he exists and Little Roy didn't make him up.
Edward needed to stretch his legs and clear his head. He doesn't know how he is going to find the last Richard. When he stumbled into the connecting room to see a brunette toddler girl floating on a cloud, she reached towards him and called out, "Big brother!"
Fullmetal double blinked to check his eyesight. He realized that the toddler was Lysa wearing a frilly white dress and in full make-up. She smiled at him and said, "Hey Edward, do you like my dress?"
"You look like a three-year-old," Edward grinned back at her.
"Thank you," Lys smiled at the young state alchemist. She could tell that there something on his mind.
"Lys," Edward took an awkward pause, "you used to babysit the Richards?"
"I still do," Lys responded very cheerfully.
Fullmetal let out a hesitant sigh. Her playfulness made it easier for him to ask his next question, "What were they like when they were little?"
Lys was shocked at the request, but she could understand. He's naturally curious. Lys thought back to all of her babysitting sessions and when the Elric kids were still kids. Fullmetal sat down in the chair next to her while she gathered her thoughts.
"They were the cutest kids ever. I wish I had some pictures to prove it," Lys spontaneously went into a gleeful broadcast.
For the first time, Fullmetal wanted to see baby pictures. Lys saw his engrossed face and decided to continue, "Well, Nick used to be extremely shy and quiet. His face would turn red whenever some try to talk."
"Nick?" Edward asked shocked.
"Yeah, I miss that kid." Lys added in. "Eric was the most polite kid you'll ever meet, but he became more assertive when he grew older. Then Sara has been the same way since she was born."
"What do you mean?" Fullmetal wanted her to explain farther.
Lys stared directly into Fullmetal's face. She wanted see his reaction to her next sentence, "Sara always has been a daddy's girl."
Edward didn't know how to respond to that. His face was kept alternating between different expressions until he finally asked, "How so?"
"Well, she admired her father so much that she became him," Lys teased the young alchemist. There's no way of telling what's going through his head right now.
Fullmetal took a few seconds to think about what Lys's statement and responded, "I don't see it."
"You don't?" Lys had to hold back a chuckle, but her goofy grin wasn't discrete enough.
Fullmetal held his stance, "Sara doesn't act like…" He stopped himself from completing that sentence. He forgot that he wasn't talking in a confidential setting.
"I don't see it," Edward repeated it his words again to finish his thought.
"FIVE MINUTES!" The two jumped at the sudden outburst. Coincidences are very funny.
Lys didn't stop her from laughing this time, "You keep telling yourself that, Edward."
The state alchemist didn't respond to that. He just stared at the mysterious woman who treated him like an old friend. Edward was trying to figure out if he knows anyone named Huller or Lysa before, but nothing came to mind. He never forgets a name or a face and it was frustrating that he couldn't figure this out, "Have we met before?"
Ed's frustration was all over his face. Lysa is surprised that he still doesn't know her name yet, "I think you know the answer to that and I have to go." She turned away from the state alchemist and rose from her seat.
Edward already forgot about the fluffy white tutu was wearing; now he could see all of the details and gems that sparkled in the stage light. Edward had to ask, "Why are you wearing that?"
Now, Lys's eyes started to sparkle too and she started to ramble, "Because, I'm a ballerina and Raymond's going to play in the background. It will be your first time seeing me dance and I'm extremely nervous. I haven't danced since college. You have to be in the audience; you and Alphonse."
Lys said all of that in under a minute without taking a breath. She grabbed Edward's wrist and pulled him to his feet. She dragged him to the across the stage and pushed him through the curtain. Edward moaned when he saw all of the unnamed people that flooded the arena. "Why did you send me out here?" Ed looked over his shoulder as he asked.
"Because I want you to find Mustang and his friends and make them watch my performance; hurry! There's less than five minutes!" Lys shooed him off the stage, "Go, Edward!"
The young alchemist slumped and jumped off the stage. So pushy, he thought to himself as he scanned the arena for any sign of Mustang.
Lysa slipped back through the curtain and took a deep breathe to calm herself down. Getting jittery would not help her performance. She was in dances most of her childhood, but this is probably the most important one in her life. The possibly that her father could be in the audience is nerve wrecking.
Aw, Raymond looked so adorable in that . He was staring down when he slowly approached her. "Are you ready?" she asked the troubled teen.
The teen nodded, still dazed.
The woman in white didn't believe that. She tugged on the sides of teen's overalls and bumped her forehead on Raymond's. She smiled warmly at him and hummed, "So handsome."
Raymond did his best not to melt into a big pile of mush, like he did first time she did that, eight years ago. He does go back to the moment every time she does that. He remembers beginning an eight year old, scared half to death performing for the first time. The teenager shifted and groaned awkwardly under her embrace.
"You'll be okay," she reassured him one more time, before she let him go.
"Lys, Ray, positions!" that command was a lot closer this time.
The two separated and marched off to other sides of the stage. There is no way to predict what's going to happen next.
"Armstrong? What are you doing here?" The Fullmetal Alchemist ran into the Strong Arm Alchemist in one of the most unlikely places.
Armstrong didn't know how to answer that question himself. Everything happened so fast that he barely had time to comprehend it. So he tried to explain to the teenager, "Hughes and Mustang barged into my office and asked for my assistance to find a missing child."
Edward scoffed at the large man in front of him. Armstrong has no idea what he was just dragged into, "Did he describe the missing kid?"
"Uh," Strong Arm hesitated, but continued, "Havoc only described him as a 'Little Roy.' Did you know that Mustang had a younger brother? I had no idea."
A week ago, Mustang didn't know either. Speaking of Mustang, "Mustang always kept him secret for his own protection. It would make a lot more sense if he was here to explain. Where did he ago?"
Armstrong glanced around to try spot him. He stopped at an angle and answered, "He's right there."
Fullmetal turned in that direction immediately found Hughes and Mustang looking extremely disoriented. When Mustang spotted his coat, he stormed towards him and asked, "Fullmetal, did you talk to Raymond?"
"No, I didn't get a chance to" Edward answered slowly, finally remembering the suspicious teen that slipped his mind.
The Flame Alchemist didn't have to vent his frustration. The arena quit down, people were finding their seats, and the arena dimmed. "I've found Little Roy. He's on the stage," Strong Arm turned to face the Flame Alchemist, "and he was staring at you. "
The soldiers stopped to look at the stage to find a teenager slowly walking over to the wall that was decorated with gears. He grabbed one of the gears to the twist a few times. The gears started to chime a song and on the other side of the stage a set of light revealed a giant snow globe. -1-
Fullmetal turned his attention to the snow globe. He uttered to himself, "Its Lys."
Lys, that's someone Hughes wanted to meet. He turned his attention from Raymond to the globe. He saw a ballerina inside slowly turning on a pedestal. She slowly positioned a violin and started to play the melody. In the music, Raymond and the ballerina started to form a story.
For the first thirty seconds of the song, Hughes didn't know who to concentrate on. Eventually he caught a glimpse of the ballerina's green eyes and jolted. Something came over him; he was spellbound. Hughes barely paid any attention to the song.
The second was over, the spell broke and the ballerina walked to Raymond. She balanced herself on the teen's shoulder, lifted one leg high in the air, and kissed the violinist's cheek in front of a cheering audience.
Raw emotion surrounded the small crowd of soldiers during the standing ovation. From Edward's peripheral view, he saw Hawkeye charge out of the audience towards them. She guestured her hand to the closed velvet curtain and asked, "Who was that?"
"I'm going to found out," Hughes promised her.
Nicholas and Sara waited for the curtains to be completely closed to run on stage to congratulate the performers. The stage was already full of people tearing down the scene and setting up for the actual play. She yelled out to them, "You two were amazing, but you have to get off the stage, now."
The two turned to them still daze from the performance. Nick had to explain for them, "Guys, you didn't see the way they stared at you and the only thing between you and them is that curtain."
The red velvet curtain was disturbed it made new ripples across the stage. After that one of the extra's shouted out, "Hey, you can't be back here!"
Another voice yelled out, "I need to talk to the two were just here. Where are they?"
Sara shooed them away, "See, go change for the show. We'll handle this."
"Okay," Lys's voice was very hesitant. Raymond didn't respond to either of them. The two took off into the crowd of moving background scenes and fake furniture.
Nick leaned closer to his older sister. He just realized something that might be a problem for the show, "Um, Sara, if they are going to jump on stage after a ballet; how are they going to react to see Raymond draw blood?"
"Shit," Sara thought of three scenarios in under ten seconds. She had to think of something fast.
"Richards!" the two turned they're attention to a very determined stare, "Where's Lys and Raymond?"
"Changing for the show; they're extremely busy," Nick blurted out.
Sara was thinking of what to do next. Kicking Hughes out would take too long and he could come back with a search warrant. All he wants to do is meet Raymond and Elysia, but he can't disturb the show. "I'm sorry Hughes, but it has to wait after the play?"
"It will only take a minute," Hughes asked for a compromise.
"Trust me, it wouldn't," Sara retorted. "I'll put you in VIP while you wait, you and your party would be in the balcony." She needed everyone in one place to keep an eye on them.
He sighed heavily, that is not what Hughes wanted to hear.
"And you can help yourself to the catering table. Lys made baked four different quiches today." Nick added to the deal.
Hughes's mouth started to water. That sounded it really good. "Fine, I'll get the others."
Raymond rushed off the stage to avoid any kind of confrontation. He reached his dressing room, but hesitated to go in there after what happened. Instead, Raymond leaned on the bedroom door and let out a deep sigh. He couldn't believe that Mustang is here with reinforcements. Is he trying to corner him?
"Is this about the colonel? Pretty sure he just wants to talk to you," Raymond heard Mike's voice, but he didn't look at him.
"And what am I supposed to say to him?" Raymond retorted. "You've should have seen the way all of them stared at me."
"Isn't that a good thing?" Mike naively asked.
"No, it's not." Raymond took another breathe and stated, "Why should I tell him about his biggest mistake?"
"Mustang probably excited to meet his only son," Mike answered optimistically.
"I can't act like that we are going to be a happy family either," Raymond shot back at him. He really didn't have time to over react to this. He does have an obligation to the theater. Also, he doesn't want to make anyone else mad at him.
Raymond dashed into the room and grabbed his costume out of the armoire without looking at the window. He ran to down the hall to find another private place. "Where are you going?"
Raymond explained over his shoulder, "I'm going to change in Ava's room."
Mike made a face at the teen. How crazy is he? He called after him, "Vin doesn't like it when you're in her room."
"Vin's not here," and neither is Ava. He quickly scanned around the room and shut the door behind him. It was a safe, because this room doesn't have a window. "I'll be quick."
Mike stood guard outside of the door. "If Vin is not here, what's his cat doing here?"
"You didn't see that cat," Raymond didn't believe him.
"I did, it's in the back." Mike said. "Hurry up."
Raymond opened the door to reveal that he was already dressed. "See, I'm done. I'll just wait at the balcony until the play starts."
"That's not a good idea."
"Why?"
"Just look at the stage," Mike vaguely answered.
Raymond took the hint and walked to the railing. "Shit," he muttered to himself when he saw all of the soldiers pacing around the stage looking for him.
A/N: I wanted to this chapter for Elysia (Lys). I realized that she was barely in the story. She is a huge part of Raymond's life and he adores her. And this is the first chapter that they're together in the same room. She watched the Richards and Raymond grew up. She has a reason to be in the past and she's not there because I said so
I wouldn't call these three "normal" teenagers. I really don't know how to explain without spoiling everything I have planned, but I'll do my best to explain my characters. Raymond was the only one with a broken childhood. Ava's childhood pretty standard. And besides from not knowing his father and Olivier, Mike turned out okay. He has tough skin.
But, Raymond doesn't. He's childhood is going to take a while to explain. (If you haven't pieced together all the clues already) I don't know how much time I should devote to these characters. I may have to do another chapter like this one. I really don't know. I'll have to see.
I know I kind of brushed Vin to the side. That tends to happen in POV chapters, but he'll pop up next chapter. Promise. Also, a lot of other things happened at the same time. I'll have to rewind a little next chapter.
1.) This scene was inspired by Lindsey Stirling-Shatter Me music video.
Hey, Fun Fact - In an OVA, Hughes said that spinach quiche is his favorite.
Anyways, I hope you like this story. Tell me what you want to know or see happen next. I could probably work it into the story.
A. Leaf
Thank you