"How the hell did you always get lost like this?" Chris asked as she followed Elyza through the tunnel under Central.
"Shut up, Chris! I ain't lost. I thought I heard something from this direction." Elyza replied as she ran forward with two guns drawn.
"You seem lost to me. I thought that Mustang guy said to stay with him. As soon as we all got here, you ran off again." he said.
"Put a damn sock in it and stay close. I don't need you hurt. I already had to shoot five of those chimera back there. Even though they aren't as human as you, it still hurt me. " she said.
Suddenly, she heard a scream from nearby.
"That was my brother!" Chris yelled. "I'd know that voice anywhere!"
"Fuck! Come on then!" she shouted heading that way.
She ran into a room and found the others were being swarmed by white and red, skeletal thin, hairless humanoids with one eye in their foreheads. Her eyes widened as Chris came in behind her.
"W-what are those things?" Chris asked.
"Close that door now!" Scar yelled.
"On it." Elyza said, shoving it shut and sealing it with alchemy.
"Elyza, watch out!" Ed yelled.
Elyza looked over to see one of the creatures was about to bite down on her shoulder. She shot it repeatedly with both guns and it fell but got back up.
"Don't tell me." Elyza sighed.
"Yeah, they seem to be immortal." Darius said.
"Well, I'm useless, but I have eight guns, six knives, and a lot on my mind. Needless to say, I'm game for this." she said, shooting it again.
"Elyza! Thank God that you're okay!" Batty said.
"We can save the reunion for later, Batt, okay?" she said, tossing him a gun.
"Thanks, babe. You're right. Let's handle this first. Go for their knees. That's how we slowed the other ones down." he replied as he shot one of the monsters in the knee twice.
"Got it." she said, doing the same.
She and Batty got back to back and shot any of them that came close. Batty reached back and grabbed her hand. She looked back at him and smiled before continuing to fire her weapon.
"After this shit's over, you wanna go on a date with me?" Batty said.
"This is literally the worst time to do this, Batt." she laughed.
"That's not an answer."
"Of course I will." she replied.
Chris's gun clicked but didn't fire and he looked at the monster that was headed for him. Elyza's eyes widened and she gasped in shock. She didn't want to waste any more ammo so she ran to Chris. She punched the pale creature in the jaw as hard as she could and as it fell, she kicked it into a wall.
"You okay, Chris?" she said, looking at Chris.
He was shaking but unharmed as he nodded weakly. Batty's gun was clearly out of bullets too as he began to attack with his fist as well. Elyza transmuted two knives together to make a chain with a knife at the end. She slung it at some of the monsters and stabbed through three of them in the shoulder before yanking it back and pulling them to Batty who kicked them all into walls. She looked at Batty and smiled.
"Nice kick." she laughed.
"Thanks. That knife thingy is awesome." he said.
Jerso and Zampano suddenly stopped. They were in their chimera forms which didn't scare Elyza whatsoever since she knew that chimeras could do that so she just assumed.
"My saliva is drying up." Jerso said.
"I'm running out of a quills." Zampano added.
"Shit. You guys fall back a little. I'll watch your back." Elyza said.
"Don't be ridicoulus. You can't save everyone. You have your limits just like everyone else. You can't hold them all off." Scar said, punching one of the monsters.
Elyza looked at him and frowned. He was right. What would they do now? If she couldn't be the hero, who could?
The door suddenly burst open with a fiery hit and Elyza screamed. Batty wrapped her in a tight embrace and she buried her face in his shoulder. Mustang and Hawkeye came into the room with their weapons ready.
"Maybe I could lend you a hand, Fullmetal." Mustang said.
"Colonel?" Ed said.
"Matches?" Elyza said joyfully as she looked up.
"You two just seem to make new friends everywhere you go." Mustang laughed.
He looked at the others fighting and his eyes widened as he focused in on an certain Ishavalan.
"Is that Scar?" he asked.
"That guy's on our side, right?" Batty said.
"Of course he is. Guy's basically like a father to me even though he's not a lot older than me. I'd trust him with my life." Elyza said.
She noticed a little bit of something similar to a smile on Hawkeye's face as the blonde miltary girl overheard that. Elyza smiled as well. She was glad that Riza didn't hate her for leaving the miltary. She didn't want to lose any more friends.
"I can't help but remember the last time we were here, Lieutenant." Mustang said with a smirk. "As I recall, you were crying over me. Shame that I don't get to see that softer side of you more often."
"The last thing I'm gonna do is cry for you now. Water makes you useless." Hawkeye replied.
"Damn, Hawkeye, cut the man some slack." Elyza laughed as she punched a monster into the floor and then did a backflip away from it. "He can't be a badass all the time or he'd make us all look bad."
"Save the jokes for later! Just kill these things!" Scar yelled.
"Hey, don't you dare give me orders!" Mustang yelled back.
"He's right." Hawkeye said, much to Mustang's annoyance. "Just start shooting at these freaks."
"No, don't waste your ammo. I tried that and it didn't do shit. Save your bullets." Elyza yelled as she used her knive and chain combination to pull off a monster's head.
It didn't do much as the beast walked toward her still.
"Oh, for fuck's sake, not even decaptiation will slow them down. That's bullshit!" she yelled as she slammed her palm into her face in annoyance.
"How do we kill them?" Hawkeye asked in panic.
Ed attacked them with a spear and Elyza tried to use her chain but there was just too many. Suddenly, Mustang snapped and rings of fire surrounded them. The flames burned the monsters but didn't touch anyone else. Still, Elyza screamed at the top of her lungs until she finally fainted. As she hit the floor, Chris grabbed her. The monsters screamed as well as their pale and skinny bodies were burned and destoried. The others were silent, but Ed seemed upset.
"They were the enemy. It had to be done." Mustang said.
Ed looked back but stayed silent.
"Elyza! Elyza, come on. Wake up." Chris said, as Batty cradled Elyza in his arms.
"You couldn't have given her some warning, jerk!?" Batty yelled.
"I wasn't thinking. I forgot that she was scared of flames." Mustang said soberly.
"You forgot? Some friend you are, huh? Jeez, you put that Greed bastard to shame on the shitty boss list." Batty said, bitterly.
Mustang looked away and Batty scoffed before looking at Elyza. She looked so peaceful like this. Batty teared up and pet her cheek gently with one finger.
"It's okay, Ely. I'll have you home soon, okay?" he whispered softly.
The others looked at him until a loud creaking from the ceiling got their attentions. Suddenly, the little Xingese girl and Envy fell from above and hit the ground.
"Chris, get behind me now." Batty hissed as he held Elyza closer.
Chris did and Batty's eyes narrowed at he looked at Envy. He didn't know why but he really wanted to attack him and kill him. If he wasn't holding Elyza, he honestly might have. This feeling was overwhelming him.
"Envy?" Ed asked.
"Not you guys." Envy hissed.
Mae ran over to Scar who looked down at her and scowled.
"You damn fool! Why didn't you go back to Xing?" he demanded.
"I just thought -. I just wanted to -. " Mae said as she teared up and her voice began to crack.
"Forget it. Don't cry." Scar said.
"I'm sorry. Please forgive me." Mae said.
"Ugh, typical whiny humans. You're making my stomach turn. I got admit you guys make a serious mess down here. So we have the Fullmetal Alchemist, the Flame Alchemist, and the Silver Petal Alchemist. We're even got Scar and I have a serious grunge with you filthy chimeras. So who should I take care of first? How about the little pink haired disaster? Doesn't look like she put up much of a fight this round." Envy said.
"You're not laying one hand on Elyza." Batty hissed as his musucles got slightly more detailed, his eyes turned red, and his teeth got sharp.
Chris started at him. He'd only seen Batty use his chimera form once before on Lilith's foster dad when he heard that the man wasn't taking care of his daughter properly. To be honest, he was scared of Batty when he was like this. He had no self control like this.
"Oh, and you plan to stop me? How's about you hand her over and we'll see what she thinks about what I have to say to her?" Envy laughed.
"That's enough. You're not touching her. You're Envy, correct? The homunculus who can take the form of other people?" Mustang said.
"Oh, you've heard of me? Nice to meet you, Colonel! Wait, Scar, are you okay with working with him? You do know that Mustang is the one who turned Ishval into a hell on Earth?" Envy said, pointing at Mustang.
"That's right." Scar said softly.
"What, you're all buddy-buddy now? That's so boring. Show me something more disgusting and violent. I find enjoyment in watching you pieces of trash shrieking like animals!" Envy said.
"I don't have time to entertain your vulgar hobbies." Mustang sighed.
"Vulgar?" Envy said in amusement. "Well then, let me ask. Don't you humans also love watching people's unhappiness and watching fools dance? Isn't that why you're always fighting wars?"
"True, it is indeed entertaining to watch fools dance like madmen. " Mustang said, closing his eyes.
Envy whistled as if impressed as he put his hands on his hips. Mustang opened his eyes and shot the homunculus a cold, but amazed look.
"It's especailly amusing to watch fools like you homunculi dance." Mustang replied.
The amused look on Envy's face melted away and was replaced by one of annoyance.
"Well, I answered your question. Now it's time for you to answer mine. Who killed Maes Hughes?" Mustang said.
Ed looked back at him in shock but Mustang didn't look at him. The Flame Alchemist's eyes were digging into Envy like knives.
"Answer me, Homunculus." Mustang hissed.
"Maria Ross did. That's why you burnt her to a crisp, right?" Envy said.
"Wrong." Mustang barked. "It wasn't her."
"Huh?" Envy laughed as his eyes widened. "So you basically burned an innocent woman alive?! Nice one! You're terrible! So, how did you explain it to her family? Did you cry and beg for mercy? Or did you just refrain from saying anything becuase you were afraid fo how furious they would be?"
"Were you never taught when to shut your mouth, moron!?" Mustang hissed.
Envy looked at him in anger but stayed silent for a moment.
"I'm starting to get tired of asking you homunculi the same question. Simply state the truth, you moron!"
Envy's anger seemed to deepen as he growled.
"Who killed Hughes?" Mustang repeated.
Envy smirked and began to laugh as the others started at him.
"Congratulations, Colonel Mustang. You finally found the real culprit." Envy said, pointing at himself.
Mustang's eyes widened and Hawkeye pointed her gun at him.
"I can't imagine Hughes getting killed by a moron like you." Mustang said.
Envy finally finished his laughing fit and looked at the colonel.
"I'm the moron?" Envy said as he began to shapeshift. "Morons are what you'd call idiots like Hughes who'd fall for dumb shit like this!"
Mustang, Hawkeye, and Ed all felt their stomachs turn as they looked at what looked like Gracia Hughes before them. Envy was even copied her voice. Mustang stared at the fake in horror and Envy busted into laughter.
"Your face changed! I love that expression! Hughes had a great look on his face when I killed him too. It was that face! The despair of being killed by someone who looks just like his beloved wife. It was just the best!" Envy chuckled hysterically.
Ed grit his teeth and Hawkeye looked away as Mustang's fists clenched.
"It's decided. You're the one who killed Hughes. That's all I needed to know. You don't need to say anything else, Envy. Now, let's start by reducing your tongue to ashes!" Mustang yelled in anger.
He stepped forward and Envy smirked. The tension between them was almost thick enough to see.
"Scar, Fullmetal,you two leave this place to me. He's my prey!" Mustang said.
"Gotcha. Well, if you got it then we'd better move onward." Jerso said, taking a step forward.
Envy strenched his arm out and it morphed into the large, green arm of his true form to stop him.
"Who gave you permission to pass? You still need to repay the debt that you gave me up north."
A fireball suddenly hit Envy in the face and stopped him midsentence. He hit his knees as smoke poured off of his mouth.
"Do you really have the time to be speaking with others while facing me?"
Envy returned to his normal form as he regenrated.
"Seems like there's quite a lot of fat on that blabbering tongue of yours. It burns quite well actually, Envy." Mustang said.
"Lieutenant, will it really be okay-?" Ed asked.
"Go, Edward. We'll figure something out." Hawkeye said.
"But..."
"Go, Fullmetal." Mustang said. "Don't you have something to take care of?"
"Come on, let's go, Ed." Darius said as he drug Ed off.
"Hey, kid. Keep her alive." Mustang said to Batty as he walked by with Elyza in his arms.
"You don't have to ask me. That's my only reason for exisiting right now." Batty growled before following the others.
As they walked, Darius looked at Ed.
"The colonel will be fine. Finishing off a homunculus should be a piece of cake for him." he said.
"That's not the issue I'm worried about." Ed said.
"Huh? Then what is?" Darius said.
The others stayed silent. Elyza groaned slowly and Batty smiled.
"It's okay, Ely. It's okay." he said gently.
"M-matches. D-don't..." she whimpered softly.
"He's fine. It's okay." Chris said.
"Batty? Chris?" she said.
"Yeah, it's us. You're safe." Batty said.
She cuddled up to Batty's chest and he smiled. As they walked on, Scar looked back at Ed who had stopped walking. Batty and Chris stopped as well a little bit ahead to see what they were doing.
"Scar, do you mind if I ask you soemthing?" he said.
"Is it about the Flame Alchemist?" Scar replied.
Ed nodded softly. Elyza began to wake up a little and groaned again.
"Because I once lost my soul after engulfing myself in flames of revenge, I can understand well. If he goes on, he'll end up reducing even his own heart with the flames of wrath." Scar said.
Ed's eyes narrowed at the thought of Mustang being turned into a monster that easily. Suddenly, an explosion occured nearby and Ed and Scar looked back at it. Elyza's eyes opened and she looked at the source of the sound. She started to try and get down.
"Ely, stop! What are you doing?" Batty said.
"Matches! I have to do something. Matches needs me!" she yelled as her feet hit the ground.
As she touched the floor, she ran in the direction that she knew the fight was.
"Stay with Fullmetal, you two!" she yelled.
"Damn it. Why do you have to the hero for everyone, Elyza? Just leave me save you." Batty said softly.
Elyza ran as hard as she could until ran into Hawkeye. Hawkeye pointed her gun at her and Elyza put her hands up.
"What are you doing, idiot? Don't point that thing at me!" Elyza hissed.
"How do I know you're not Envy?" Hawkeye said calmly.
"That's a stupid question!" Elyza shouted.
Hawkeye studied her then shot her in the shoulder. Elyza screamed and red alchemy lightening popped off of her shoulder. Elyza's face disappeared into Envy's and he growled as he regenerated.
"Forte is far too trigger happy to put her hands up when a gun is pointed at her. If you were really Elyza, you would have shot me first." Hawkeye said, shooting him several more times.
"You are really annoying with that thing!" Envy screamed, using a long, green arm to grab her and slam her on the ground.
The clip in her hair broke and she gasped from the pain of it. Suddenly a metal spear went through Envy's chest. He screamed but didn't release Hawkeye. Instead, he regenerated and turned around to see the real Elyza was pointing a gun at him. She shot him between the eyes and he screamed as the lightening irupted from his wound but refused to let his victim go.
"You're just as annoying as the other one!" Envy yelled before grabbing Elyza with his other arm and slamming him into a wall.
She coughed up blood and closed her eyes. He slung the pink haired alchemist to the ground and she landed next to Hawkeye.
"Riza..." Elyza wheezed.
"I'll drop you two at his feet like rag dolls!" Envy yelled.
Suddenly, flames ripped down Envy's arms and burned them to a crisp, but didn't touch the girls. Elyza screamed loudly in fear and covered her face as Hawkeye went over to her.
"Colonel!?" Hawkeye yelled.
Another ball of fire swarmed Envy and Elyza started to sob. Hawkeye held her close as Envy sat up and looked up into the hate filled eyes of the Flame Alchemist.
"What the hell were you doing to my two valuable subordinates?" Mustang hissed.
Envy trembled as he stared back at him. Mustang looked over at the girls.
"You two stay out of this. I said that I would handle this." he said.
He and Envy locked eyes and Envy seemed horrified. Suddenly, Envy seemed to find a little courage.
"How dare a lowly human like you look down on -!" he said.
More flames surrounded Envy who screamed in agony. Elyza shrieked in horror as Hawkeye lowered down at her. Her eyes were covered but she could hear the crackling of the flames and it was worse than anything. Hawkeye could feel her shaking with fear in her arms. The only thing worse than that cold look in Mustang's eyes right now was seeing the normally fearless Elyza reduced to a crying mess like this. Both of those truths were heartbreaking.
More fiery explocenes happened back to back until finally Envy's body turned to dust and his true, small form fell to the floor. Elyza was trembling as hard as she could as she hyperventailed. Mustang's boot stomped down on Envy's tiny body and he stared at him in hatred.
"So this your real form? You look disgusting. Your name means jealousy, right? That's what you're name means?" Mustang said. "I get it."
"No! Please don't!" Envy screamed.
"Jealousy is an ugly thing."
"No! I don't want to die!" Envy cried.
"You don't have a choice." Mustang screamed as he prepared to snap and set him on fire again.
Envy squirmed to try and get free. Hawkeye got up and Elyza looked up, still breathing heavily in fear as she looked at Mustang. Hawkeye pointed her gun at him and Mustang stopped.
"What are you doing?" he demanded.
"That's enough, Colonel. I'll take care of the rest." Hawkeye said.
"One more blow will do it. Lower your gun." Mustang said.
"I can't obey that. Please put your hand down."
"Stop joking! I am ordering you to put that gun down!" Mustang shouted.
Suddenly, the ground under Mustang's foot popped up and he lost his balance. Envy fell into the air and Edward caught him. Elyza stood up and looked at him as she blinked a few times to get her thoughts together.
"Fullmetal," Mustang hissed. "I'll be taking that."
There was a murderous coldness in his voice and Ed stared at him as he held Envy in his hand.
"I'll say it once more. Hand him over!" Mustang said.
"I refuse." Ed replied.
Alchemy lightening popped over Mustang's fingers as he stared at Edward. Elyza started to walk to them. Batty, Chris, and Scar were behind Ed.
"He deserves the worst death possible." Mustang hissed.
"I refuse." Ed repeated.
"Hand him over or I'll burn up your entire arm!" Mustang yelled.
"Fine then! I'll fight you head-on! But first, why don't you take a good look at your face!? Is that the face you plan to wear when you're ruling this country!?" Ed yelled.
"That's enough." Elyza said softly as she pointed her gun at them.
Mustang looked at over his shoulder at her.
"You too? You will stop me as well?" Mustang hissed.
"I'm not sure whose side I'm on. Tell me what the hell is going on or I'll shoot you both." she said.
"That thing killed Hughes!" Mustang shouted.
Elyza's eyes widened then she growled loudly.
"Stop bullshitting me! Hughes isn't dead! He's just missing!" Elyza screamed furiously.
Ed and Mustang both looked at her. She knew that Hughes was both knew that they'd told her. She'd mentioned Hughes being gone before. Suddenly, it dawned on them both. In those deep blue eyes, there was confusation and fear. She was in denial. Hughes was the final straw and she couldn't accept it. She had to trick herself in believing that Hughes was just missing or risk losing her sanity again. They both had lumps in their throats as they looked back at each other.
"There. Is that proof enough for you? That thing has hurt too many people. Give him to me." Mustang said.
"No! He won't want a monster getting payback for him!" Ed screamed.
Mustang's eyes widened as he began to remember Hughes. He was so determined to help and be a friend. Why him? Why not someone else?
"So you're going to let your emotions take over and descend to the path of a savage? I guess that's fine. If you're going to insist on living for revenge, I won't stop you." Scar said, crossing.
"Hey!" Ed yelled as he looked at him.
"What right to have to stop someone's revenge?" he said.
Ed looked down.
"I just interested to see what kind of world will be created by someone held prisoner by their own hate." Scar said.
Mustang's eyes got even wider as his heart sank. Elyza put her gun back in its place and looked down.
"Matches," she said, softly. "They're right. This is wrong. You can't do this. You're a hero, remember?"
Mustang's heart sank deeper. Elyza sounded so crushed and destoryed by seeing her mentor like this. It was so unlike her. Had he forced her into depression again? Was this like Ishval for her?
"I won't let you kill Envy, Colonel." Hawkeye said. "But still, I have no plan of letting him live either. I'll take care of him."
"I..I finally tracked him down!" Mustang yelled.
"I know that. But what you're about to do isn't for the sake of the country or for the sake of helping your comrades either. You're only trying to dispel your hatred. I won't let it take you. You're better than that." Hawkeye said.
Mustang remembered his best friend and all of the memories that they shared. His heart wasn't sinking now. It was cracking.
"Shoot me if you want." he said.
Hawkeye's eyes widened.
"But what will you do after you kill me?" he asked.
"I don't plan on living free and easy. After this is over, I'm going to end my life and remove my secrets of flame alchemy from the world." Hawkeye replied.
Elyza's crying got louder and Mustang shuttered before snapping and sending the flames that he was planning on using on Envy down the tunnel away from others. Elyza bit back a scream and ran to Batty, who received her with loving arms.
"That can't happen. I can't lose you." Mustang said, softly.
Mustang looked down and Elyza watched him in wonderment.
"What madness is this? Being scolded by a child, being cautioned by a man who was once my enemy, and you two girls," Mustang said. "I've hurt you both again. How foolish can one man be?"
He walked over and grabbed Hawkeye's gun. He pointed it down and looked at her.
"I'm so sorry." he said before sitting on the floor.
Hawkeye sat in front of him and Elyza closed her eyes before burning her face in Batty's chest. Batty pet her hair gently and kissed the top of her head.
"You guys are stupid!" Envy yelled. "Now you're just sugarcoating your words? Being all kind and nice? You're making my skin crawl! Are you humans really that extravagant? Just do what your instincts tell you! Go with your gut!"
He looked at Elyza.
"What about you, Silver Petal? Did you forget that your "friend" Mustang let soldiers go after you and try to kill you? He didnt even try to call off the attacks! You could have been killed! He didn't even look for you! He adbodmened you like you were trash!" Envy yelled.
He looked at Mustang.
"Have you forgotten, Mustang, Scar tried to kill you! He tried to kill Elyza as well and he killed the runt's little girlfriend's parents too! Oh yeah, and the little chimera in East city that was made from that girl and the dog? Scar killed them too, right?" Envy said.
He turned his attention at Scar who clearly wasn't bunging either.
"And, Scar, what about your people!? Your brethren were murdered by these damned State Alchemists! You don't care anymore!? That woman over there had the nerve to call herself the 'Hawk's Eye! She slaugthered your buddies left and right! This is the perfect chance to get revenge!"
The others merely stood their ground and looked at the little creature.
"Get on with it! Kill or be killed! Writhe in agony! Attack each other! You pieces of shit can't just hold hands and be jolly!" Envy yelled.
The others didn't move.
"Come on, Runt! Come on, Hawkeye! Mustang! Scar! Forte!" Envy shouted.
Still, no one moved or attacked.
"W-what? How? Why? Why is this happening!? Why the hell!?" Envy screamed.
"You pitiful creature." Elyza said softly.
Envy looked back at her.
"Envy, you're jealous of humans, aren't you?" Ed said.
Envy merely stared at him in shock.
"Humans are supposed to be a lot weaker than you homunculi, but even if they get discouraged after being beaten down, and they don't think they can take anymore, they can still up to their feet and fight. Those around them help them get on their feet. And you're envious of those humans." Ed said.
Envy's eyes widened and he suddenly began to try to get free.
"Hey! Stop, idiot! Hold on!" Ed said.
Envy bit his hand and Ed dropped him. He hit the floor and Hawkeye pointed her gun at him.
"Riza, no! He wouldn't last long. T-there's no point." Elyza said.
Envy crawled along the ground sadly.
"This is a disgrace. Being turned into this again. Being beaten up by you humans... you pieces of shit...and to make it worse, you just had to be the one, didn't you, pipsqueak?" Envy said.
Envy's eyes filled with tears as he cried out loudly. Elyza couldn't help but feel a little pity for him. He fell over onto his side.
"Dammit! Dammit! This is a disgrace! I, Envy, am jealous of humans? I, Envy!? It's the greatest disgrace to be understood by a brat like you."
He sat back like a person on his butt and looked at Ed before laughing.
"I don't know how much longer you can get by with sugarcoating your words, but do try your best."
He reached into his mouth and pulled out his Philospher's Stone. Elyza's stomach turned.
"No, don't!" she screamed, trying to get away from Batty to reach the little green creature.
Envy crushed the stone anyway and she covered her mouth. He began to turn to dust and Ed stared at him in shock. Elyza burned her face in Batty's chest again.
"Good bye, Edward Elric." Envy said as he disappeared.
"So he took his own life? What a coward." Mustang said, softly.
"Damn that little bastard. I wanted to be happy that he was dead, but here I am, teary eyed for him. What a sad life he had." Elyza said.
Ed looked back at her. That was the last thing he expected for her. She looked at Mustang then walked over to him before kneeling down and hugging him. Mustang looked at her.
"Thank you for not letting yourself became a monster. Hawkeye is right. You're better than that." she said.
After a moment, she stood up.
"Alright. That's enough mushy crap for now. Let's go. We have a country to save, remember?" she said.
"Good to see that you're still Elyza." Ed laughed.
"Duh, who the hell would I be?" she giggled.
They began to walk deeper into the tunnels toward their future. Batty grabbed Elyza's hand and she looked at him with a smirk.
"Thanks for looking for me, Batts." she said.
"No problem, honey." he said.
"Honey?" she laughed. "That's going to take some giving used to."
She held his hand a little tighter and smiled. No matter what happened next, she knew she'd be okay with Batty and Chris by her side. That was true beyond all doubt.