OH HEY GUYS
bc I've been gone for so long here's your Ides of March present! A NEW CHAPTER!
Which, by the way, is a much nicer present than Ceaser got for the Ides of March.
E tu BRUTAL
Edward continued on to explain that since Alphonse and Winry both remembered the same thing, he knew it was Al in the suit of armor. Furthermore, he thought Al's body still existed at the gate, separate from Al's soul, waiting for Al to come back to it. Johanna faintly heard him say that he was certain that he could pull his body back to their plane of existence, but Johanna was far, far away.
She breezed through the day, watching quietly as the boys left for a phone call to their teacher, Winry left for the market. Ling and his body guard tried to sneak back in only to be subdued by Edward and thrown out again.
"Jo?" Came a soft voice. Johanna blinked, startled, she hadn't expected her name. Alphonse stood quietly over her, Edward not too far behind, frowning at her. She tried to ignore him.
"Oh, hey Al..." She trailed off. Alphonse would've given her a weak smile if he'd had a body. He knew something was wrong, ever since their return from Resembool she'd been a completely different person. He tried to ask his brother, but Edward merely shrugged. Something was wrong with him too.
"We were going to visit the Colonel and Mr. Havok... Would you like to come?" Johanna gave a small nod, standing up from where she'd settled on the couch. She followed the suit of armor to the door, which Edward held for them quietly.
Johanna fell to the back of the group and as they entered the hospital they were met by Cain Fuery.
"Oh! Hey Elrics, Johanna." The man smiled at them, one that Johanna returned. "Are you here to visit the colonel?"
"Mister Havok is recovering too. We figured we should pay our respects." Alphonse told him. "I definitely owe it to the colonel. He saved my life."
"Are you also dropping by for a visit?" Edward asked, stealing a glance back at Johanna. Their eyes met, briefly, before she looked away again.
"And bringing a little present." Fuery said mischievously, holding up a roll of paper as they entered the room. "Knock, knock." Fuery said, rapping his knuckles on the door jam. Two beds sat in the room, both of them occupied, one by Colonel Mustang and one by Jean Havok.
"Ah, Edward, I trust you had an interesting trip." The Colonel asked with a smirk. Edward scoffed at him, shoving his hands in his pocket. "Fuery, did you bring what I asked?"
"Yes sir." Fuery told him happily, handing the rolled peice of paper off to him. Johanna gave The Colonel a tight smile, and a nod for Hawkeye, before shifting to the space between Havok and Mustang's beds, where Edward unfortunately followed her. She was surprised to find the Colonel holding a map of Central City.
"Wow Colonel, you just had a brush with death and here you are, up to no good again." Edward remarked with a smirk.
"No rest for the wicked, Edward." The Colonel returned, an equally dangerous smirk on his face.
"I counted the number of steps it took to get to the basement under the Third Laboratory." Hawkeye informed them, staring down at the map that Mustang held. "I was able to calculate the approximate location of that doorway. It's not exact, because the hallway curved," Hawkeye continued, taking the map from Mustang. She turned, placing it on a nearby table and began drawing something on it with a red pen. "But I was able to deduce a radius, with the lab at its center."
Johanna watched in horror as Hawkeye handed the map back to her superior. Edward gasped from next to her and she glanced over at him, his face equally as horrified.
"That's Central Command." He breathed, pointing to a building just inside the perimeter. Johanna's brow furrowed, confused, and she looked at Al for clarification.
"It's the Presidential Estate." He told her. "Right above where we found the Homunculi."
"Which mean's there's a very real possibility the Fuhrer is connected to them." Mustang speculated.
"But that doesn't make sense. Why did he kill Greed and his group if he's connected to them?" Alphonse asked, reminiscing on their time in the Devil's Nest.
"Now that you mention it... It's strange he killed them anyways..." Johanna hummed to herself. She'd always felt weird about that story, something seemed off about that encounter but she never knew what. She always figured it was because she wasn't there, but now...
"What do you mean?" Edward asked her. Johanna looked up at him, still thinking.
"I mean, maybe I'm out of line because I don't know the Fuhrer, but it never sat well with me that he'd killed them before interogating them..." Johanna mused. Mustang nodded.
"It's strange alright." The colonel agreed with her. "Damn inscrutable. One thing's for sure, the enemy has infiltrated high up the command. Extreme caution is necessary at all times." Mustang turned to Edward. "And Fullmetal, watch yourself." Mustang glanced at Johanna before returning his attention to the oldest Elric.
It didn't need saying, Edward knew what that sideways glance meant. He was concerned about Johanna's safety. They didn't know much about the enemy, nor their plans, but both men knew, deep down inside, that Johanna was at it's core. She was too big of a coincidence not to be, and Edward knew that finding her tattoo on that altar in Xerxes did not bode well for her involvement.
Edward, Alphonse and Johanna left shortly after, their first stop being Laboratory Three. Edward and Johanna learned the full extent of what had happened while they were gone, and now he wanted to check out the Third Laboratory even more. Edward wished that Johanna would just go back to the hotel, but he didn't push it. This was an active Laboratory, only state certified personal could enter, plus there'd be too many innocent witnesses to cause a scene like Laboratory Five.
The trio stopped outside of the main entrance, and Edward cracked his neck.
"Alright, time to do some grade A snooping." He chuckled, taking the first two steps.
"Just be careful, okay?" Johanna's voice stopped him in his place and he turned, shocked. This was the first time in two days she'd willingly said anything to him. "The Colonel said extreme caution and I feel like this not what he had in mind." Johanna tried to appear indifferent but Edward saw through that in a heart beat. She wore her emotions in her eyes and those eyes were nervous for him.
"You know me, Caution is my middle name." Edward smiled, giving Alphonse a grave look. Keep her safe. It said, and Alphonse seemed to understand, giving his brother a curt Without another word he turned, disappearing through the door.
An awkward silence fell over Johanna and Alphonse as the pair walked casually down the side walk to wait at the corner. Alphonse watched Johanna walk, her head hung low. He couldn't take it anymore.
"Jo, you know you can talk to me right?" Johanna stopped, turning to look at him.
"I don't know what you..." Johanna trailed off, finding the suit of armor's stare to be more piercing than she remembered. She sighed. "I'm fine, Al, it's really nothing."
"You and brother have been acting so strangely since you got back from Resembool," Alphonse started, his voice harsh. "You're always frowning and you never talk to each other anymore. Edward keeps sighing, he-" Alphonse stopped. "Oh... OH..."
"No. whatever you are thinking stop it." Johanna demanded, but it was too late for that. Alphonse tilted his head, if he'd had a body she was certain he would look utterly confused. "Al, I mean it!" Johanna warned him.
"This whole time I didn't see it..." Alphonse muttered to himself. "You like each other." Alphonse pointed at her. Johanna's cheeks flushed.
"NO!" She sputtered, childishly. "No I do not!"
"Oh yes you do!" Alphonse began to chuckle, a chuckle that grew into all out belly laughter.
"We had an argument because your brother is a jerk." Johanna spat. But she did not sway him. Alphonse continued to laugh, grabbing his sides as he did. Johanna fumed, crossing her arms in front of her chest.
"Aha... aha ha. And these past few days I was afraid you hated each other." He managed through chuckles. After several minutes he quieted down, all the while Johanna stewed in her annoyance. Alphonse, seeing her posture, continued, hesitantly. "Well, what's so wrong with that?" Johanna gave him an incredulous look. Alphonse's shoulders dropped considerably. "What did he do?" Johanna remained silent, and Alphonse nodded. "Perhaps the question is what didn't he do." Johanna's eyes grew sad, and she leaned against the fence next to her. Alphonse sighed. "I'm sure that whatever it was, he's just as upset with himself as you are." Alphonse joined her on the fence. "If you hadn't noticed, brother has a tendency to beat himself up about everything."
"I know... But that doesn't make me feel any better." Johanna spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. Alphonse remained quiet, watching Johanna sadly. "I want him to return the feelings because he wants to. Not because I guilted him into it."
"Because you... guilted... him...?" Alphonse said in disbelief. Again he started to laugh and Johanna growled at him.
"You are the worst shoulder to cry on ever!" She yelled, shoving him and standing up. "I'm trying to open up to you and you keep laughing at me. Is this situation really that silly?"
"No, no no no. I think you're misunderstanding my brother entirely." Alphonse chuckled, waving his hands in front of him. "Johanna, he doesn't feel guilty. He-"
"Hey!" Alphonse stopped suddenly, growing sheepish. Edward had exited the Laboratory and bounded over to them, excited for his findings. Johanna's face paled and she glared up at Alphonse.
"Not a word." She whispered as Edward joined them at the corner. Alphonse nodded.
"How'd it go?" The suit of armor asked. Edward shrugged.
"Easy. I told them I was a State Alchemist and they let me right in, no questions asked."
"Did you find the basement?" Johanna jumped in, maybe too fast. Edward gave her a strange look before shaking his head.
"There wasn't one." Edward told them. Alphonse gasped. Impossible, he'd been down there. "But I did find a trace of some hasty alchemy. It was stupid of us to think that they wouldn't seal up the entrance."
"I guess so..." Al said sadly. "Where else are we gonna find a homunculus if we can't get down there?"
"I'm not sure," Edward finally said, walking off down the street. Johanna and Alphonse followed him quietly. Johanna watched Edward, his brow furrowed; he had an idea. "Remember how they said I was their sacrifice and they needed me alive?"
"They told me the same thing." Alphonse nodded. "Lust told me that when she found out I'd opened the portal."
"Well, there's one piece of the puzzle. They're looking for alchemists that managed to make it back from the gate."
"So, then I guess that means me, too." Johanna whispered. Edward's heart skipped a beat, he'd forgotten about Johanna for the moment. The fact that she'd been at the gate for years made her a target as well. "The real question is why do they want to sacrifice us?"
"We'll just have to beat an answer out of them." Edward finished for her.
"Edward! Wait!" A voice came suddenly. A figure was running down the street for them and the three froze, on high alert.
"Wait a minute, is that Sergeant Brosh?" Edward didn't have to wait long as the sergeant stopped in front of them, struggling to catch his breath.
"I'm glad I found you!" Brosh panted, his voice urgent.
"Why don't you tell me what's wrong?"
"Just read this." Denny Brosh handed the young blonde a piece of paper. Edward took it hastily, reading it over and over. "You need to get back to your hotel right now. I'll escort you if you want me too."
Edward gasped.
"Edward, what is it?" Johanna asked, trying to peek over his shoulder.
"Scar," Edward turned to her, his voice grave. "He's back in Central."
Scar's reappearance left a bad taste in Edward's mouth. He remembered what they'd learned in Xerxes about the Rockbell's deaths, at the hands of that monster, and he filled Alphonse in accordingly. The Elric's felt it was for the best to leave her in the dark.
Johanna frowned as she listened to the brother's newest foolhardy plan; They were going to lure out the homunculus using themselves and Scar as bait. Edward figured if they needed him alive so badly, they'd come and save him. Johanna just thought him an idiot.
"Do you hear how absolutely insane you sound?!" Johanna grumbled, rubbing her temples. The Elric's were giving her a headache. "Who's to say Scar wont kill you first?"
"Geeze, have some faith in us, why don't you." Edward scowled. She finally starts talking to him again and it's basically to tell him he's an idiot.
"Not sure if you remember, Ed, but last time he was in town I save your butt." Johanna told him smugly.
"She's right, brother. He literally tore us apart." Johanna's smug grin only widened at Alphonse's affirmation.
"Yeah well we've gotten a lot stronger in these past few months." Edward stammered.
"Fine." Johanna told him, arms crossed. "But how are you going to catch one of the homunculi if they even crawl out of their slimy hole to save us?" Her question caught Edward off guard.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, us?" He gestured between the brother's and her wildly. "There is no us. It's too dangerous."
"Don't even start with that crap! You'll need all the help you can get to catch one of them!" Johanna yelled, her voice shrill. "You're forgetting that they're super strong and they literally can't die!"
"Can't die? Was that a hyperbole?" A sudden voice came from the window. Johanna jumped, startled and the brother's turned, ready to fight. Ling, the Prince of Xing, and his Bodyguard, sat crouched in the window, and oblivious smile on his face. "Or is he really immortal?"
"Why don't we lock the windows?" Alphonse asked Edward, who was still trying to find his words.
"At any rate," Ling continued, letting himself in. "Count us in. We'd love to help you guys."
"Yeah? And why is that?" Edward asked suspiciously. As much as he'd hate to admit it, Johanna was right; it would help to have more hands.
"Can't say that I care too much about the military stuff, but the homunculi are just what we've been looking for." Ling smiled at them. Johanna's jaw dropped.
"Exactly how long were you snooping in on our conversation?" She asked.
"We've been following you since you kicked us out this morning." Ling told her matter of factly, his attention returned to Edward. "What's the matter? You seem skeptical." Edward sighed.
"While I am grateful for the help you've already given, but this-?"
"You've got better options?" Ling interrupted him, much to Edward's annoyance. "Your odds are better with more help. I'm serious about this, this could be what rescues my clan."
"What do you mean?" Johanna blurted out, her cheeks burning red as every looked at her. While Edward explained who Ling was, he was fuzzy on the rest of the details, mostly because Johanna was sure that Ed hated him. Ling cleared his throat.
"As a Prince of Xing, it is my duty to serve the Emperor. However, there are... obstacles." Ling told her. "My father has many children, all of which want the throne. The one who brings him immortality, brings his clan favor and takes the throne." Ling smirked at Johanna. "As well as the secret of immortality." Johanna's mouth formed an "o" of understanding. Edward cleared his throat, leaning forward in his seat.
"Alright then..." The oldest Elric said, smugly. "Just remember, we're in this together." His eyes glinted knowingly in the light. Johanna found it odd that he would have to remind the Prince of such a thing. Ling merely chuckled.
"I promise not to run off with it." The Prince said, sitting on the couch. "I owe you that much."
"What for?" Edward asked, curious. Edward would remember if the Prince of Xing owed him a debt, and he'd never let him forget it either. Ling smiled sweetly, producing a long list from him robe and handing it to Edward. The Elric nearly fainted. "I-is this for room service?" Alphonse sighed, grabbing his brother's shoulders securely. Edward looked up at the Prince, his hatred palpable. "YOU'RE DAMN RIGHT YOU OWE ME!" He screeched, fighting against his brother. "I'M GONNA KILL YOU!"
Suddenly the door burst open, revealing a rather angry Winry.
"WOULD YOU GUYS SHUT UP ALREADY? DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW EARLY I HAVE TO GET UP TOMORROW?!"
"Oh, uh. I forgot you're catching the train to Rush Va-" Edward stopped, his face growing pale. Johanna watched him, confused. "You know what? You should cancel that. Why don't you stick around and relax?"
"Huh?" Winry blinked, looking up at Johanna and Alphonse for clarification. Johanna snorted, crossing her arms in front of her chest, earning a glare from Edward.
I guess he's afraid of returning from this adventure in pieces.
"You know, well... there's always a chance that my arm could get broken..." Edward trailed of sheepishly. "Or you know... destroyed."
"Are you planning on destroying it?!" Winry snapped. Edward cowered. "I can't believe you." The blonde sighed. "Just promise me you wont do anything to dangerous."
stay beautiful