The next morning found the two Elrics, Nina, Anna, and Jean, crammed uncomfortably into a car and on their way to Eastern Headquarters. Or at least that was what they all believed. It wasn't until Ed looked out the window and realized they were headed in the wrong direction for that. He called out from the back seat with irritation. "Hey, Havoc, what the hell? I thought you were taking us to see Colonel Bastard."
Jean let out a sigh as he glanced at Anna in the passenger seat before looking in the rearview mirror. "We are. He gave me an address where he wants us to meet him."
Ed huffed but didn't say anything as he crossed his arms and looked back out the window. The rest of the ride was silent, other than Nina asking questions as they passed through the city.
It was nearly a half-hour later before they pulled up to a large house surrounded by a wall with a gate. It almost looked imposing until they pulled into the drive and saw a group of children of various ages chasing an oddly familiar shaggy white dog. Nina practically jumped into Al's arms when she heard the dog bark. They were all glad to see the girl smile as she pointed out the window. "Alexander!"
Jean looked into the rearview mirror and chuckled. "Yeah, the Colonel had someone come get him this morning. I guess he wouldn't have really fit into the car with us."
As soon as the car stopped, Nina was out and ran to where the other children were playing. All the adults chuckled when Alexander got to her before her tiny legs could reach the rest of them. Nina was nearly knocked off her feet as the dog started licking her cheek. It wasn't until the rest of the children gathered around with curiosity that Nina finally looked up at them with wide eyes.
The oldest looking girl stepped forward with a smile and dropped to her knees next to the two of them. "We were told that this guy had a friend that would be joining us today. Is that you?"
Nina looked slightly confused, but they were all interrupted when a woman walked over with Colonel Mustang. Havoc jumped to attention, but Ed ignored him as the woman started talking. "That's right, Heather. Nina will be staying with us for a while."
Nina frowned at her words, but Al knelt down to reassure her as Anna looked over to Roy. He shot her a grin before he spoke up. "This place has taken in several children that have been displaced over the last few years. I heard about it through someone I know and felt it would be the best fit."
They all turned to Nina when she started crying. "But what about my Daddy? Can I not stay with him?"
The girl, Heather, wrapped her arms around Nina as she tried to help her. "I don't know about your daddy, but I can tell you all of us have parents we miss. But we have each other now too. It may not be the same, but I am sure you can find a place with us."
Anna was glad to see the children at least seemed to be well adjusted. She wasn't ignorant of how looks can be deceiving, but the older girl looked like she was ready to cry as well. Hopefully, this would be just what Nina needed.
Even with that hope in mind, she was not surprised when Nina ran out of the girl's arms and over to Al. His head jerked up, and he looked at Ed first and then Anna before he knelt and awkwardly tried to soothe the crying child.
Anna took pity on him and walked over to kneel beside them both. She rubbed soothing circles on Nina's back while she spoke. "Nina, honey, I can't tell you how things will go from here, but I can already see that these people understand how you feel. It might be hard at first, but I bet you can find people here that would love to get to know you and help you." She paused and looked up at the woman that was with Roy before she continued. "I bet, if you ask nicely, someone would be willing to read to you too. And don't forget that you have Alexander here with you."
Anna had expected the older woman to say something, but she was shocked when Heather jumped forward. "I would love to read to you! We have a whole library here, and I'm sure it won't be long until you can read to me too."
Nina sniffled a little as she turned to face Anna and Heather. She looked like she wasn't sure what to think, but before anything else could be said, Alexander pushed his way into the middle of the group and started licking Nina's face. Despite her sorrow, she giggled as she threw her arms around his neck. A few moments later, she looked over at Heather. "What kind of books do you have?"
Heather looked up at the matron. When the woman gave her a quick nod, the girl held out her hand with a smile. "Why don't I show you? Then we can look at the rooms. All of us girls share one, so you won't ever be alone!"
Nina took her hand but paused as she looked back at the rest of them. She dropped the hand and ran back to give both Al and Anna a quick hug before she ran back and took the girl's hand again. Anna gave her a soft smile as she watched them both walk into what she could now tell was an old mansion converted into an orphanage.
When the two of them were gone, the other children immediately started to chase Alexander around while the rest turned to Roy and the woman. With their attention back on her, the matron held out her hand to the rest of them. "Hello, my name is Heather Martin. Welcome to my home."
Anna raised a brow. "Heather?"
The older woman chuckled as she nodded. "Yes, my granddaughter was named after me. She was the first I welcomed to my home after her parents were killed in the Ishvalan war. Obviously, she was not the last. I am sure Nina will find her place here before long."
After that, the adults spoke for a little longer about the house and what options were available to the children. The brothers were both glad to hear that Nina would be well cared for. They both made a point of going to find the girl with Anna before they left. They all promised they would be back to visit whenever they could.
When they made their way back outside, they found the matron herding the rest of the children inside to clean up for lunch while Mustang talked to Havoc by the cars. The two of them parted when the three others joined them. Roy then turned a smirk to Anna before he looked at the two boys. Before he could say anything, Ed spoke up.
"We are going to go take a walk. You can contact me if you need anything."
Roy's smirk faltered as he realized they both needed the time to process everything. They both understood what it was like to be an orphan. He then nodded at them. "Understood. Why don't you let Havoc take you back into the city, at least? I'll send your new orders as soon as I deal with this debacle."
Ed's only response was to turn to the car with a wave over his shoulder. Anna looked after them for a moment and almost headed to follow before she was stopped by Roy calling out to her. "Wait a moment."
She turned back to him with a question on her lips. Before she could ask it, Jean stepped forward with his hand out and a grin. "It was a pleasure to meet you. I hope we can talk again."
Anna's smile was warm when she shook the hand he held out. "I hope so too. Thank you for everything."
He stepped back and scratched the back of his head. It looked like he was about to say something else, but he caught sight of Mustang's frown and swallowed it. He waved as he turned around and left to take the Elrics back into the city. Al called out a goodbye for both of them as they drove off.
Once they were gone, Anna turned back to Roy. "What did you need to talk to me about?"
His smirk was firmly back in place as he gestured to the other car. "Why don't you come back with me to headquarters, and we can talk on the way."
Anna felt her worry about the situation come back tenfold at his suggestion. Still, she had to admit that there wasn't really a better option. She answered by going to the far side and opening the door. Mustang's eyes flashed for just a moment before he slid in behind the wheel.
It wasn't until they had been on the road for a few minutes before he finally spoke. "Now that we have Nina relocated, I felt it would be a good time to try and figure out what we should do with you."
Anna's eyes narrowed. "Do with me?"
Roy must have heard something in her voice since he chanced a glance in her direction. When he saw her frowning at him, he chuckled before he turned back to face the road. "I apologize. I didn't mean for that to sound so ominous. We have already figured out that it would be best for you to stay somewhere close by while we try to apprehend whoever brought you here. We need to figure out the best way to do that and keep you safe. Until we know more, we have to assume there is the possibility that they could attack again."
He then turned back to her for a second again as his brows drew down. "Plus, you are the only witness we have to two separate murders. I don't want to see anything happen to you."
Anna sighed and leaned her head back against the headrest. He was right, but that didn't make her feel better. She remembered enough about Scar to know that he wasn't one to be stopped easily. She hadn't realized she hadn't said anything yet until Roy spoke up once more. "It'll be alright. I give you my word that I won't let anything happen to you."
Anna sat up and looked over to him with a smirk. Despite her worries, the look he gave her had her feeling better. "Well, I suppose I should be glad for your thoughtfulness then."
He quirked a brow at the sarcasm in her tone but grinned back anyway. "I'm sure there will be some way you can make it up to me later."
Anna burst into laughter at the obvious suggestion in his words. She knew he was a ladies' man and still found him charming. At least she knew better than to take him too seriously.
He didn't say anything until her laughter finally died down. He also pointedly ignored her response. "Actually, I was hoping I might have the opportunity to see your alchemy. You said you were not much of a fighter, yet you were able to transmute the wall fast enough to at least give yourself a fighting chance. That isn't something most people can do."
Anna had to fight not to grimace. She hadn't thought about that while she had done it but couldn't regret her actions. At least they had saved her life. She was frowning when she finally answered. "I still don't think it's much to brag about, but I don't see a problem with it either. Just be prepared for disappointment. It isn't that impressive."
He chuckled at her response, but by that time, they had already arrived. He pulled into a parking spot and gestured for her to follow him into the building. She hurried after him as it had started to sprinkle. When they got inside, he first had her follow him to his office, where he grabbed Lieutenant Hawkeye.
When Riza saw Anna was with the Colonel, she smiled and held out her hand. "Good to see you again. I hope the last couple of days haven't made you hate Amestris. It isn't all this bad."
Anna chuckled. "Not at all. I can't hold everyone accountable for the actions of a few."
Riza smiled at her answer, but Roy picked that time to interrupt. "Lieutenant, Miss Stephenson, and I were about to go test her alchemical skills. Would you come with us? There is also something I need to speak with you about."
Riza saluted him before she gestured to the door. "After you."
Roy opened the door for them both, and Anna followed the other two out to a walled courtyard with a dirt floor. She was looking around with curiosity when Riza spoke up. "Colonel, I hope you had not planned on using a spar to evaluate her skills."
Both Anna and Roy turned to Riza with confused looks. Though Anna's was partially anxious. She hoped that wasn't the case too. She didn't get to ask before Roy spoke up. "I had not planned on taking the offensive, but depending on what I see, it could happen."
Riza smirked at him and looked up at the saturated sky. "Pardon my reminder, but it is raining."
Roy frowned, and Anna had to clamp her jaws shut to keep from laughing. She had forgotten about that issue for the Colonel. Hard on the heels of that thought, she had another one. She wasn't sure if she could pull it off, but she was too amused not to try. She quickly clapped her hands together, garnering the attention of the other two. She ignored them as she then knelt and put both hands on the ground. She was gratified when only a moment later, something started forming from the stone beneath her.
When it was finally all the way out, Anna grinned and lifted the domed object. It was a little misshapen, but it was clear that it was supposed to be an umbrella. A heavy stone one, but still. She grinned as she handed it over to the Colonel. "Here, it isn't the prettiest, but surely if you decide to use your alchemy, this would help."
Anna had to fight not to laugh at Roy's expression as he took the umbrella from her with wide eyes. Her attention was drawn by a noise. She turned to see Riza trying to hide a grin behind her hand as she faked a cough. Anna gave her a smirk but didn't get to say anything. Her attention was drawn back to a frowning Roy as he looked at the item he had been handed.
"That was an impressive show of skill. I think I have only seen that style with one other person." He lowered the umbrella and gave her an unreadable look. "As far as I know, FullMetal is the only one that can use that technique. Where did you learn it?"
Anna's heart stuttered under his sharp gaze, but she knew hesitation would spell trouble. She quickly spouted the first thing that came to mind. "I imagine it was the same way he did. I guess our families weren't that different from each other after all."
Roy's eyes narrowed, but he didn't say anything further about it. Instead, he gestured back to the door inside. "I suppose I don't need much more of a demonstration. We can possibly discuss your getting trained in self-defense as well, but for now, why don't we figure out where you are going to stay."
Anna had no doubt that he was not done with that line of questioning at all, but she was grateful that he wasn't pushing for the moment. At least it allowed her to figure out a better reason before he came in full-force. Despite her worry, she still grinned as she watched him take the misshapen umbrella back inside with them. It took all she had not to laugh out loud as he continued to look at it as they made their way back to the offices.
A/N: I don't know about you all, but I already love their interactions. Even if actual romance is a loooong way away, it's still cute. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Thanks for reading!
