I do not own the Fullmetal Alchemist

'Hawkeye!' Ed called frantically as he ran up the stairs. His heart was beating through his chest. His terrified thoughts were racing though his head as the words don't be dead, don't be dead, spun in his mind. It's my fault if you're dead.

As soon as he opened the door, a hand grabbed him and yanked him inside. The door slammed behind him as someone slammed their palm over his mouth, shutting him up.

'Are you out of your mind?' Hawkeye hissed. Her eyes were wide and furious. Something Ed had never seen before. 'We're undercover!'

Ed was shocked at the sight of her. He was so sure she was dead. Like his mother, like Nina-

'I-I thought you were-'

'I know.' Her voice was softer now, as if she knew exactly what he was thinking.

The thought made Ed embarrassed at his panicking. He should've kept his mouth shut until he confirmed who was d-

He shuddered. No, he didn't want to think about anyone else he knew dying.

'I'm sorry, mom,' he mumbled.

Hawkeye looked at him. There was a flash of gentleness in her eyes that was quickly replaced by her usual stoic look. 'It's okay, Charlie. Let's hope your uncle doesn't-'

Boom!

The door practically flew out of its hinges as Mustang burst through to the apartment. 'You're alive,' he gasped, staring at Hawkeye.

Hawkeye closed her eyes. Ed allowed a tiny grin to appear on his face.

'Uh, Rhiley, I was just-'

'Inside. Both of you.' Hawkeye grabbed the door and shoved it back in place with strength like Armstrong's, making the two males stiffen, waiting for her to kill them.

Hawkeye exhaled. 'Let's make dinner.'

They all knew that meant a conversation later.

Hawkeye was a decent cook. Mustang's, however, made Ed wonder how he wasn't fired from the restaurant already.

Ed wrinkled his nose up at Mustang's half-burnt duck, poking at the black bits. 'Tell me you don't cook for your work,' he commented.

Mustang scowled as he was about to eat Hawkeye's broccoli. 'Stop picking at your food, Charlie.'

'You're not even eating your own cooking,' Ed pointed out.

'So.' Hawkeye's voice shut up their conversation. 'I've checked the audio. There's nothing until the end. That was just a few hours ago today.'

In her palm was the device disguised as a red earring. 'I heard a woman's screams and a man's voice. It was clear they were fighting and he had the upper hand.'

'What happened?' Ed's voice was low.

Hawkeye's face was blank. 'She was murdered. That's when the audio stops. I presume Dahlia ran off.'

The three were silent for a moment. Mustang took a bite, watching the window cautiously. 'That woman...she was the one on the newspaper, yes?'

Hawkeye unfolded the paper and set it on the table. Ed leaded forwards to read the rest of the article.

The woman is confirmed to be Marceline Evannahs. The infamous murderer who stalks South Pebble now strikes again. His signature, the clean faces and hair of his victims is undeniable...

The atmosphere was tense and dark. Ed could still feel his fear that Hawkeye had been the victim. Judging by the look on Mustang's face, he was thinking of the same thing.

Hawkeye closed the newspaper. 'We need to get Dahlia back. Then once we do-'

'We get the footage and hopefully find the murderer or the suspect, at least,' Mustang finished.

'This is a small town,' Ed volunteered, 'But lots of people live here, so maybe whoever the killer is is working with someone.'

'The town's sheriff hasn't been able to do anything,' Mustang said. 'As a matter of fact, all the police are being led all over the street, but nothing was found.'

Ed thought about this for a second. He asked Hawkeye, 'How does the audio work anyway? I mean, is it a tracker or something?'

'Yes.' Hawkeye took the other earring out of her ear. 'At the last second before we left I managed to ask for a tracker. This other earring isn't just a decoy, when you do this-' She tapped the two earrings together- 'The location shows up here-' She pulled out a small wristwatch from her pocket. Hawkeye gave Mustang a stoic look, he looked around nervously. 'Did you forget to get the tracker before we left?'

'I-uh, maybe?'

Ed smirked at Mustang being pinned down by Hawkeye's calculating stare. As soon as the Lieutenant broke eye contact to look at the newspaper, Mustang relaxed and glared at Ed.

Hawkeye clapped her hands. 'Alright.' She turned to Mustang. 'We need that footage. So you'll have to retrieve Dahlia tonight. We'll be watching you to make sure nothing happens.'

'Yeah, okay.' Ed got up to put his plate in the sink. Mustang followed suit.

Ed laid on his stomach. The midnight breeze smelt stale and cool at the same time.

'Can you hear me?' Hawkeye's voice asked from Ed's earpiece.

Ed turned the volume down slightly so it didn't blow out his eardrums. 'Yeah. I can hear you,' he muttered.

'I have eyes on him,' Hawkeye informed. 'He's coming your way.'

'Noted.' Ed paused. Mustang's shadow rounded the corner. He couldn't help a smirk as he heard a yelp and a hiss. 'He's here. Dahlia doesn't like him.'

Ed was expecting Mustang to scoop Dahlia up, regardless of her unwelcome claws. Instead, a car suddenly turned the corner, startling Dahlia. Mustang grunted as Dahlia used his face as a launching pad and bolted away.

Before Ed even had time to make a snarky remark, a bag dropped over his head.

Ed pushed himself off his stomach and kicked at whoever had tried to cut out his vision. Unfortunately, he misjudged the momentum and tumbled over the edge of the room.

As his head hit the ground, he blacked out before his lips could form a swear word.

Thanks for reading!