Of course, this change in behavior didn't go unnoticed. Especially by a parent with a child of their own. In a way, he felt as if he had adopted Edward and Alphonse. With their mother dead and a long missing father, it must've been hard. And to be entangled with something as monstrous as the Philosopher's Stone. But those boys were tough. Though all they had was each other, it was all they needed to get by. But he couldn't help but worry how this responsibility they they've taken upon themselves would wear on their bodies, minds, and hearts. So, it was the least he could do. To look after the boys.
Maes' electric yellow eyes trailed down the contents of a Doctor Tim Marcoh's state alchemist file, his eyes never missing a word. Every letter, every punctuation, every speck of black ink was seen. It didn't do Maes' too much comfort to know of Ed and Al's situation knowing that there was someone who could help. Knowing full-well the consequences of pulling a stunt like this didn't bother him at all. After all, it wasn't as if he was releasing this information to civilians.
And after all, what else was he to do? A parent always wishes for the happiness of their children. A parent always wants to help their children in any way they could. Whether those children were "adopted" or not.
Hughes stopped and tapped his finger on a single section of the late alchemist's file. Quickly, he read it over; making sure this was what he searched for.
Name: Reika Marcoh
Age: 28
Relation: Daughter
And in dark, bold type was a five-letter word that made the lieutenant colonel crack a small grin.
"Alive"
Awhile ago, Ed had managed to fall into a light, fretful sleep. Incoherently mumbling and grunting when he shifted around on the sofa. Al, too, had grown tired from boredom and stress. He lifted his head when a light knock interrupted his wallowing between the world of reality and dreams. The metal gears in is suit clanked dully as he moved to get to his feet.
"Ed," Al said, testing his brother's consciousness. Edward's eyelids had slid open at the first knock, though he made no motion to answer it. He waited momentarily, staring with a slight frown at the pale ceiling, debating whether or not if he should even give this person the time of day. Al waited for his brother, not wanting to allow someone he didn't want to see in the room.
Giving an airy, distraught sigh, he hefted himself up and sauntered over to the door. He drooped his hand lazily over the knob. Al watched his Ed's sluggish movements to the door. The slightest hint of light came to Ed's dull eyes as he saw who awaited them on the other side of the door. His eyebrows shot up a little.
"Lieutenant Colonel." Ed greeted simply, sidestepping to let Hughes in. Edward wondered exactly what he was doing here. He had told the colonel to stop with the morale talks awhile ago. Ed warily eyed the folder tucked securely under Hughes' arm.
"Edward." Hughes said right back, walking into the room, poorly hiding his grin. This didn't go unseen by Alphonse, who took primly took a seat across from his superior.
"Do you have some new for us, Lieutenant Colonel?" he asked. Hughes let go of a small chuckle. Al wasn't one to really beat around the bush when it came to important matters. This was no doubt a trait picked up from Ed, who never beat around the bush in any situation. Though Al did now how to hold his tongue. Hopefully, this manner of subtlety would rub off on Edward, who had no comprehension of the word "inconspicuous", or "silence" for that matter.
"As a matter of fact, Al, I do." Hughes raised the file for the brothers to see before letting it fall lightly to the low table. Ed immediately reached for it the second it hit the table, the overhead lamp light glinting across his deft metal fingers. He had taken off his white gloves awhile ago, with nothing better to do with trace over the circuitry of his fingers with his eyes.
"'Reika Marcoh,'" Ed read aloud carefully. Flipping the file open he asked, "Who is this?" Memories of a certain Tim Marcoh flooding back to mind. Edward bit his bottom lip, not daring to tear his eyes away from the name "Marcoh", even when Hughes answered his inquiry.
"She's Doctor Tim Marcoh's daughter." Maes leaned back, putting his elbows up on the top of the couch and crossing one leg over the other.
"His daughter?" Al asked. Ed's eyes glanced up once before returning back to the contents of the file. Something within Ed grew. It traveled up from his heart and into his throat. A feeling that he couldn't put into words. Probably because he had lost that emotion awhile ago. Why Hughes would be telling them this, he didn't know, but his mind hinted at a possible answer. His heart began to thunder in his small chest.
"Yeah," Hughes said, moving his hand in an upward motion, as if this information, most contrary to the truth, was no big deal. "She may be able to help you with the Philosopher's
Stone-"Right there, Ed slammed the file down on the table, keeping his hand over it.
"Where does she live?" he demanded, eyes burning with urgency. Maes shifted his narrow eyes to meet Ed's. He wanted to say, "Did you read the whole file, Ed?" But he bit his tongue and decided to make it easy for them. They had been through enough already.
"A small town just outside of the city of Marron." Maes leaned forward, head slightly tilted down, the light reflected in his glasses hid his eyes, but his deep frown was clearly evident on his face. Neither Ed nor Al saw this.
"Should we go there, brother?" Al asked, hands clasped hopefully in front of his metal chassis. Ed grinned at him.
"Are you kidding? Of course we are." He said, turning to grin triumphantly at Al, fingers curled into a victorious fist. Maes leaned forward, now resting his elbows on his knees. He weaved his long fingers together and looked at the tile on the floor. Maes thought over what he was going to say to the boys, lips locked in a grim frown. As much as he wanted to help the boys, he did still work for the military. And so, what he said next, was required by his work contract.
"Ed, Al." he started to get their attention. Immediately, Al and Ed snapped their heads to look at Hughes, both of them sensing the serious tone of his voice. "This experiment is still undergoing development. You two are not to interfere in any way that can compromise the intended success of this project. Do you understand?"
Ed looked at Maes with a frown. Why would he tell them this? It took Ed awhile to get the gist of Maes' statement. When he did, his frown grew deep. "Because the states' already got their claims on the experiment and they don't want anybody messing with their property, I take it. Especially property that isn't completed." He bit out, annoyed, glaring dully at Maes. Maes stared back at him with a frown of his own. Edward let out a barely audible breath and turned his glare to the wall, worried that Maes would take his anger for the state personally.
Ed's glare lessened as he realized the position the Lieutenant Colonel was in. Giving them this information of his own personal will, just to help them, probably knowing that Ed and Al would undoubtedly do something with that experiment. But at the same time, he had to remain true to the army he worked for, so he made sure to say "leave it alone." Edward was grateful and something reminiscent of a formed on his lips.
"Um," Alphonse started sheepishly. "What exactly is the experiment?" He asked, hands demurely folded together in his hard lap.
Maes looked at him, eyebrows up and a surprised frown etched across his face. When did ever just flat out answer someone's question? And Al expected different this time? Ed and Al waited anxiously for his answer.
There's a difference in knowing something from being told and discovering the answer for yourself.
This in mind, Maes answered, with a grin, "Well, Al, you'll just have to find out the truth for yourself."
