Sooooo this will be my last chapter for this story. I'm rereading Finding Redemption I think I can do better- the pace is far too fast, and as much as you guys seem to like Linor, I don't feel as if I'm portraying her as my mind completely envisioned. I've been working on updating and rewriting FR all week and I'm liking the new version quite a bit! I'll be making the new FR a new story and leave this up until the FR: Update (FR: Brotherhood, lmao) is caught up to this point in the story. After that, I'll be deleting this one. Next Friday, I'll begin posting chapters to FR: Brotherhood and start my regular Friday update schedule on that one. Please bare with me and I'm so sorry! I really hope you all will be willing to reread the new version! I've changed quite a bit and I think it could be considered a new story while still holding what you all like about this one. Thank you so much for your support! Until next Friday!

Linor wasn't sure how long she had stood in Roy's office thinking about what he had said, but by the time she felt the need to leave, the Colonel and his subordinates had left. If matters could get worse, she now made her way to Archer's office to report back. She couldn't get Roy's words out of her skull and it even outweighed her dread of seeing Archer. Linor was a grown woman of twenty-two- still young compared to many of the military's personnel but grown nonetheless- however upon hearing what Roy had to say, he made her feel like a child. Everything he had said was right, of course, but to have someone she trusted so undoubtedly say it to her… she was mortified. Every interaction, every meeting, every small detail of her life started with 'what will they think?'. All her thoughts, her actions, her decisions were based off her past and her race- her being Ishvalan. Her fear and anxiety ran her life and affected her work- she never joined her friends at social events, she never attended work parties, she buried her nose in her work, but lacked the backbone and confidence to go above and beyond. While every other officer with an ambition stood out and tried to get ahead whenever they could, Linor stayed back behind the scenes, hoping to be noticed. When the gnawing thoughts began to settle down, she noticed she had stopped and couldn't recall how long she had actually been standing outside of Archer's office.

"Come in," The sickening voice called out when she finally knocked. "Major," Archer greeted through a disconcerting smile. "Welcome back," The words held no care in them as it did with her friends, they were empty, simply for formality.

"Thank you, sir," but so were her's, "I wanted to check in with you, let you know that I'm back and ready to return to work tomorrow." She informed, placing her suitcase on the carpet next to her.

"And not a moment too soon, you're my most reliable subordinate, no one is quite as efficient as you, Major." Linor swallowed the lump in her throat- Archer's words the complete opposite of what Roy had told her. "That's a lovely scarf." He suddenly said, his cold eyes focused on the fabric around her neck. Instinctively moving to touch the scarf as if she forgot she had it on, Linor awkwardly shifted her weight.

"Oh, thank you, sir. Lieutenant Colonel Hughes got it for me." She made sure not to slip up titles this time.

"For what occasion?" Archer questioned, Linor licking her lips and hesitant to respond.

"My birthday," A bit surprised by her answer, Archer quirked a brow.

"Well, I should get you something then, though it might be hard to top that." Linor was baffled by the thought of receiving a gift from her commanding officer.

"N-no need, sir!" She sputtered, "I couldn't possibly accept it!"

"Of course, you could," Archer countered, standing from his seat and circling around to the front of his desk. "If not for your birthday, then as a thank you for being such a dependable subordinate." There he went again, contradicting everything Roy had just said- Her? Dependable? How could she be dependable if she had to depend on others for every aspect of her life? She wasn't sure if Archer was mocking her.

"With all due respect, sir, I think your praise for me is misjudged," Linor mumbled, shifting her shaded gaze to the navy carpet.

"I think my praise for you is highly warranted," Archer said bluntly, Linor shocked at his adamant faith in her. "You're hard-working, diligent, and your loyalty is commendable. You're my most trustworthy subordinate." Hearing his thoughts on her, Linor wasn't sure whether to feel appreciative or guilty. To hear he trusted her after she went out of her way to talk poorly of him and went behind his back to help Roy with the Scar case, it made her stomach churn remorsefully.

"Lieutenant Colonel… I'm not…" Linor trailed off, battling with her thoughts on whether or not to continue. "I'm not as trustworthy as you might think. Scar's case files…"

"I know, you brought them to Colonel Mustang," Stunned by his knowledge, Linor looked up at him. "I don't fault you," Archer admitted, crossing his arms over his chest as he leaned on the edge of his desk. "You were helping a friend, I understand that." Somehow Linor sensed a 'but' coming up. "Just be careful around Colonel Mustang," Not quite the 'but' she was expecting, it threw her off guard. "He's an ambitious man, Major. He may be your friend, but his desires may outweigh that. I wouldn't want you to get dragged down in his path." If he thought Roy would throw his friends under the bus for his ambitions, he didn't know Roy… but here Linor thought Roy would always be there for her and he was leaving for Central without telling her. "You had a long trip, Major. Perhaps you should get home and unpack, get some rest." Normally Linor would have brushed off his concern as fake, and maybe it was because this was the most personal the two had ever gotten, but he almost sounded as if he cared for her well-being for a moment. "You're dismissed, Major." Bowing deeply, Linor held the position for a moment longer than normal.

"Thank you, Lieutenant Colonel," She muttered, more genuinely than she ever had, before she left.

POV SHIFT (ARCHER)

When the door to his office clicked shut, a devious smile slithered its way onto Archer's face. He wasn't sure what Mustang had said to the young woman, but he had to silently thank him for it. Returning to the back of his desk, Archer continued on his paperwork. The sun was just setting over East City- late for a man that had gotten into the office right as the sun rose- but he was expecting a call and couldn't leave, despite how much he wanted to. The clock on the wall ticked quietly in his office, just hitting five minutes past when the phone finally rang.

"Hello, Lieutenant Colonel," A sultry voice lulled on the other side of the line.

"Later than I would have liked," Archer replied, ceasing his scribbling and gently tapping his pen on the desk.

"So sorry," The feminine voice drawled sweetly, but sarcastically. "Didn't want to interrupt your conversation." Realizing that the woman must have had one of her lackies watching either him or Linor, Archer's eyes scanned the room instinctively. "Any luck with your Ishvalan girl?" The woman finally asked. The corners of Archer's mouth tugged up at the use of the possessive term.

"I have a plan," Archer admitted, swerving lightly in his chair to look out the window behind him. "She still trusts Mustang too much, but I'll fix that." The thought of the Flame Alchemist made Archer's eyes narrow and blood boil. "His transfer to Central is making things easier- she's scared and vulnerable."

"Hmmm, yes about that," Her voice hummed, "You'll be transferring to Central here soon as well." Immediately feeling a wave of irritation at her words, Archer turned back around to face his desk.

"What do you mean?" He hissed, almost breaking his cold and calm demeanor.

"Lieutenant Colonel Hughes is learning a bit too much for the Furher's liking," She explained, using Hughes' titles as a joke. "Envy will be taking care of it soon, but he'll need a replacement."

"The whole point of sending Mustang to Central was to keep her away from him," Archer growled.

"No, the whole point of sending Mustang to Central was to keep an eye on him," The woman retaliated, losing her seductive tone and becoming cross. "He's a loose cannon and the Furher wants to keep him under control." At his acquaintance's words, Archer narrowed his eyes and pursed his thin lips. When he didn't respond, the woman continued, dropping the snappy attitude and sounding indifferent. "Keeping Mustang under collar and leash will help you, but your Ishvalan isn't integral to our plan and if she goes down with Mustang, so be it. The Furher may have agreed to let you try and convince her, but I couldn't care less. She's of no use to me- if you want her, you'd better do it fast." Seething, Archer glared at the papers on his desk, fingers tapping angrily on the wood. "Finish up all you need to in East City, you'll be transferring within the week. Have a nice night, Lieutenant Colonel." She said spitefully before the line went dead.