I do not own the Fullmetal Alchemist

Mustang's eyes were wide and his mouth was agape at the sight of Nina. Beside him, Hawkeye was also staring at her. Her usual composure was slightly dented with the faint falter of her normally-stiff features.

The two adults walked inside quickly. 'What's going on here?' Mustang demanded. 'Why is Nina Tucker here?'

Ed lifted his face to look at the two people. He flinched as Nina licked the remaining tears off his face but stared up at Mustang with fire in his eyes that surprised even the Colonel.

'Fullmetal? What's going on?' he repeated.

'I'll tell you what's going on,' Ed growled angrily and stood up. Nina stared at him with a confused but sad look in her eyes. 'Wasn't Tucker guarded? Why was Nina forced to run away? Someone tried to kill her!'

Hawkeye spoke up. 'There has been an incident in which Shou Tucker has been murdered. By the time we arrived the intruder had vanished from the scene and Nina was nowhere to be found.'

'What will you do to Nina if I let you take her away? Because no one's going to do that,' Ed insisted.

'Fullmetal. That's not for you to decide-'

'Sir. Judging by the circumstances,' Hawkeye interrupted, 'We should keep Nina Tucker in hiding for a little while, just until we figure out what to do. There's a killer on the loose and we don't know for sure he won't come after her like he did earlier to Tucker.'

Mustang was silent as he considered that. He sighed and looked at Ed before addressing him quietly. 'Very well, then. Fullmetal, you and your brother will hide Nina from everyone. Do not let her out of your sights.'

Ed nodded firmly. 'You better not let that guy or anyone else get to her.'

Mustang nodded at Hawkeye. She went and stood by the door, guarding the room in case of people listening in. Mustang kneeled down to talk to the Elric brothers, Nina between them.

'We need to know who's the one behind Tucker's murder, until then we can't risk Nina getting hurt,' Mustang said. 'So where do you suggest we put her? I can't see you two staying here all day.'

'Not here,' Al agreed.

Nina edged forwards hesitantly to sniff at Mustang before backing off and growling. 'Smell bad,' she hissed to the Elric brothers. 'Smell bad.'

Ed stroked her head. 'Don't worry, Nina. He's a friend.' Normally Ed wouldn't have called Mustang a friend, but, well, it wasn't like he was going to swear at the Colonel in front of Nina, especially considering the traumatic situation.

Nina lowered her growl and leaned against Ed, exhausted after what she'd been through. In a few moments of silence from her, the three males realized she had fallen asleep with her head in Ed's lap. Mustang couldn't help but smirk slightly at the sight.

'Shut up,' Ed snapped instantly.

Mustang smirked wider. 'I didn't say anything.'

'You were thinking it. I saw your weakness for cuteness on your face.'

'Oh, so you admit it's cute?'

'No! I was just-just shut up already!' Ed stammered angrily. 'She's asleep.'

'If only Hughes's camera could see you now.'

Al made a coughing noise, bringing them back to the topic at hand. 'Uh, what about Mr Hughes's house? Would he and his family take her in for the time being?'

Ed considered it. 'We don't know if the murderer would go after them. She might be too exposed there. It's not too far from here.'

'This murderer only targets state alchemists as far as we know, but he could still go after her there since they have connections to the military,' Mustang mused. He looked over his shoulder. 'Hey, Lieutenant. Do you think you can handle looking after a kid who's currently hunted by the military and some murderer on the loose?'

'With all due respect sir, I would not have the time to watch over a child. So no,' Hawkeye said.

Mustang turned back to the boys, humming tonelessly with a frown on his face. 'We can't leave her to the other officials' hands. They would either kill her or lock her up for experiments. If Basque Grand or Fuhrer Bradley found out about this, I suspect I will be punished severely.'

Ed's eyes widened. 'You're defying the military...? Why?'

Mustang scoffed. 'What makes you think I'm going to put her in the hands of the wrong people? As fun as watching you squirm like a little shrimp is, Fullmetal, it isn't my style to make you struggle under unjust situations alone.'

Ed glared at the floor beside Mustang, only choosing to not scream in his face for being called a shrimp because Nina was still sleeping on him.

Mustang glanced at her starting to drool on Ed's knee and snickered before becoming serious again. 'I doubt there's anyone outside our team who's willing to take her in. And we can't send her out to survive on her own.'

There was a frustrating silence until Al perked up with an idea. 'Oh! I know. What about Winry and Granny? They live miles away from here, and why would someone want to kill them? They're not state alchemists.'

Ed pondered that. 'Hmm, they do have connections to me, but they're known for being automail mechanics. People might expect them to be too busy to take care of Nina. We could sneak her out there without anyone knowing. Great idea, Al!'

'That's a suitable plan,' Mustang agreed. 'Let's do it now.' He pushed himself off the ground. 'Okay, boys. Get whatever she needs, pretend that you're busy or something, and-'

'But we're really going to send Nina to Resembowl,' Ed finished with a grin.

Mustang nodded. He turned to Hawkeye. 'Make sure the Elric brothers are said to be busy in their room. They are not to be disturbed.'

Hawkeye saluted. 'Yes sir!'

The adults walked out the door, Mustang paused before leaving. 'And make sure you clean up this blood, we don't need anyone suspecting anything. Also, you might want to change your pants, Fullmetal. You don't seem like a napkin to me.'

Ed looked down to see Nina's saliva soaking the knee of his pant leg. Before he could scowl at the Colonel, the man had already closed the door. He sighed and stroked Nina's short fur, staying on the floor for a moment longer. 'Nina, come on. We're going to make sure you're safe. Can you wake up?'

Nina didn't move, sleeping like a rock. Al giggled quietly and lifted her body off Ed's. 'Come on, brother. We need to go now.'

Thanks for reading!