Chapter Title: An Uneasy Truce
Characters: Scar, Al, Ed, Winry, Pinako
Pairings: None! I can't write romance for the life of me!
Spoilers: Nope
Warnings: None
Disclaimer: I don't own it! Waaaaah!
A/N: Yay for truces! Three guesses who it's with, and the first two don't count.
Scar: You really like making me truce with Ed, don't you?
Yes, because antagonist-protagonist truce plots are my very favorite kind. They make me squeal like a broken dolphin. Anyway, on with the chapter!

Ed was sulking upstairs. Everyone else was downstairs in the living room, and he rightly assumed that they were fussing over Scar. He had flatly refused to have any part in it, and wanted more than anything to completely ignore the fact that the Ishbalan was even there, and simply avoid the living room at all costs until he'd left. He didn't trust Scar one bit not to try and kill them all once he'd recovered. Golden eyes hardened as he reflected on what had happened the afternoon before.

"CATS MAYBE! SCAR NO!" Ed shouted, his surprise already wearing off to be replaced by anger. Not directed at his brother, but at the person who was currently inside his brother. The person who had killed almost a dozen people, who had nearly killed both himself and Alphonse, who had killed Nina…with a clap and a flash of blue light, his right arm transformed into a sharp blade, which he pressed against Scar's throat, drawing a thin line of blood.

"Niisan, stop!" Al grabbed his wrist, preventing him from completing the swing of the blade.

"He's a murderer, Al. Don't try to defend him," Ed's voice was hard, his eyes narrowed.

"But you aren't, niisan! Look at him! He can't defend himself; he can't even move!"

Ed looked down at Scar, and saw that Al was right. Slowly, the anger receded, and he stepped back, the look on his face was one of horror at what he had almost done. He spoke slowly, looking down at the ground, "Take him out of your armor Al. Winry and Pinako will know what to do better than we would."

He was currently torn on whether sparing Scar was a good decision or not. And also whether he ought to get a phone and call up the military; he basically had Scar captured, and by law should turn him in. Not that he ever really cared about the law, but it made a pretty good reason to do it. But he doubted that Al would ever forgive him if he did. Even so, it was a tempting prospect, never having to deal with the issue of Scar again. After about another hour of pondering, he made his decision, and he intended to go through with it.

Scar was not used to being fussed over. After about ten minutes, he decided that he did not like it. Although it was sort of nice for the first five minutes, the constant stream of chatter and questions about his well-being were really beginning to grate on his nerves. It was Alphonse and Winry that were doing the fussing; Pinako had gone off to do…something. He didn't really care what it was that she was doing, only that it was one less person in the room; two people was more than enough.

"Winry, could you come in here for a moment?" Pinako's voice drifted through the kitchen door.

"Coming, grandma!" much to Scar's relief, Winry got up and left. He had been really starting to get uncomfortable being focused upon by two people at once. Now he was alone with Alphonse.

After a few moments of awkward silence, Al spoke, "Scar-san…I'm sorry for putting you in my armor without your permission…I didn't know what else to do…"

Scar was silent for a moment, before replying simply with, "Beh."

But Al, being Al and therefore very good at reading into things, could tell that this was an acceptance of his apology. Which it was. If Al had been in possession of a moveable face, he would have smiled as he thought, 'Thank you, Scar-san.' He didn't voice this, as he rightly assumed that Scar would really prefer that he didn't. There was a more comfortable silence for a while, until both Pinako and Winry came into the room.

"Al, we're going into town to get some stuff, and you need to come with us."

"But what about…?" Al gestured at Scar.

"Ed can watch him."

"Are you sure that's a good idea?"

"Oh, I'm sure it'll be fine. Besides, if either of them tries anything funny…" Winry let the sentence hang threateningly, and her hand strayed to the wrench hanging from her belt. Nobody in the room doubted that she would hold true to the implied threat. She said more brightly, "Now, I'll go upstairs and get him," she walked up the stairs calmly.

10 Minutes Later…

After a good deal of shouting, Winry came downstairs. Ed came tromping after her, looking incredibly sulky and sporting several large bumps on his head.

"How long are your going to be gone again?" Ed muttered grumpily as Al, Winry, and Pinako started heading out the door.

"Not sure. Maybe a few hours. Now, remember, no injuring each other or fighting or destroying the house!" Winry's eyes flashed threateningly, "Or else."

Ed visibly gulped as the door closed. Winry could certainly be scary when she wanted to be. He wouldn't have tried anything even if he had been planning to in the first place. And now…here he was. Alone with Scar. Oh, joy. He sighed, and walked over to one of the chairs along the wall that the couch faced, sitting in it and boredly staring to the side. Scar gave him a brief glare before turning away and focusing intently on the pattern of one of the quilts he was wrapped in. The tension could have been cut with a knife. Until, finally, Ed broke the silence.

"I'm off duty right now, y'know," he didn't move his head from its previous position as he spoke, continuing to stare at the wall, "So technically, I'm not currently a State Alchemist."

"Hnn."

He continued, "And as such, I don't particularly feel that I'm obligated to turn you in to the military. Provided of course, you give your word not to kill or hurt anybody while you're here."

There was silence for a few moments before Scar answered, "Very well, Edward Elric. You have my word."

Ed grinned, "Good."

And thus, there was a truce, and both of them had several less things to worry about.

A/N: Wh00t-ness! Another chapter, and a little longer than the last couple. Oh, this is so much fun to write. And so cute to imagine, too!
Scar: Why do you insist on calling me cute?
Because you are!
Scar: -sigh- Just answer the reviewers…

no one's friend: Hahaha! That is funny!
LadyRiona: Yay! Thanks for complimenting my writing style. :)
Anasazi Darkmoon: Your review nearly made me fall out of my chair I was laughing so hard. Yes, I am far too easily amused. Glad you like it!
Darkness Shadow of Hatred: Thanks much! My poor Envy figurine...hehehe.