They took three separate cars to get to the Armstrong residence, so that anyone who saw them wouldn't think it odd. Edward settled back against the seat, frowning at the back of Havoc's head. He had never met Armstrong's family, and couldn't decide if this prospect was terrifying or not. However, Mustang had a point. They all couldn't stay at the barracks, and they needed to plan what they were doing and how they were doing it. It was hard to bounce ideas off the others if they had to do it by telephone … and there was no way of telling how secure said lines were.
"Did you find anything useful, 'niisan?" Alphonse finally asked him. Edward glanced at him, then shook his head.
"No, not yet," he said, frustrated. "What about you? Find anything at all?"
Alphonse shook his head, as well. "I talked with the other 'niisan …" he said slowly. Edward cocked an eyebrow, inviting Alphonse to go on. The suit of armor shifted slightly, then settled. "Their world is very different than ours," he decided at last.
Edward nodded. "We figured that out on the basis that the bastard colonel looks like that guy." He hiked his thumb at Havoc, who wasn't paying attention.
"That would be really weird," Alphonse said.
"Yah."
They both fell into silence, watching the dusk-swept streets fly by. The other Edward and Alphonse got to go the most direct route, since Alphonse didn't really look that much like Edward. Edana and Alanza rode with Hawkeye as their driver, and were taking a leisurely, roundabout route.
Soon enough, they pulled up to a …mansion. Edward looked up, and up …. Alphonse let out a low whistle, as they all slid out of the car. Havoc pushed his cap back up on his head, scratching his hair. "This is as far as I go," he said sheepishly.
Edward looked at him. "Why?"
Before he could answer, Armstrong flung open the front door. "GREETINGS, EDWARD ELRIC! AND GREETINGS, ALPHONSE ELRIC!"
It took effort not to roll his eyes. Edward nodded to Havoc, who was in the car before Armstrong could identify him. As he drove off, Hawkeye drove up.
"Timing," Edana said, leaning out the window "Is everything."
Edward waved a hand idly. "You call THAT timing?" he snorted. "You're late!"
"Late?" Edana repeated, kicking the door open. "We followed you in, buster."
Edward shrugged as Armstrong paraded himself down the steps. "NOW!" the tall man boomed, starting to flex under his dress shirt. Edward noticed that and paled. "Neither of you are late! The food has yet to be served!"
"Well, that's good," Edana said, her voice sounding dry. "Wouldn't want to miss dinner…"
"This way, this way!" Armstrong boomed, grabbing both Edward and Edana by the shoulders and steering them towards the house. Edward glanced over his shoulder at Alphonse. The armor exchanged a glance with Alanza, who was still climbing out of Hawkeye's vehicle, then shook his head.
Hawkeye smiled, shaking her head as well. "Don't let the Major drive you insane," she told Alanza, nodding at Alphonse as they followed Armstrong into the manor.
There was a petite young woman standing inside the foyer, hands clasped against her anything-but-petite chest. She was already sparkling. "You're here!" she said enthusiastically.
Edana had nowhere to go when the girl grabbed her arm. "Come on, we'll get you cleaned up!" she said happily, dragging a panicked-looking Edana after her.
Alanza came through the door behind Armstrong and saw her older sister being drug off. "Ah, 'neesan!" she said, edging around Armstrong to give chase.
"Uhh…" Edward said. "Who was that?"
"That was my little sister," Armstrong said proudly, and Edward was afraid to glance back at him in case the sparkles blinded him. "Katherine Elle Armstrong!"
"She's quite pretty," Alphonse said, closing the door behind him. "Uhh, Major, thanks for taking us all in like this…"
"Not a problem!" Armstrong boomed, throwing an arm over Alphonse's shoulders and clasping a hand on Edward's own shoulder. "The Armstrong Family has a STRONG tradition of sheltering those in need of housing!"
"That's… great…" Edward said, glancing around. "Did the … others … make it here all right?"
Armstrong nodded enthusiastically. "Yes. They are currently sitting with my father in his study. I'll take you there!"
----
Alphonse and Edward were indeed in the study. Alphonse was seated towards the middle of a long couch, his Edward between him and the armrest. He looked absolutely relieved that Edward and Alphonse had arrived.
A hugely corpulent man sat behind a desk. From what Edward could see of him, he resembled Armstrong if Armstrong let himself go to seed. The man had a full head of hair and a beard that touched his enormous belly.
"My father," Armstrong said proudly.
Edward was going to thank the man for allowing them to stay in his house, but he didn't seem inclined to stop talking. In fact, Armstrong simply talked over him while his father continued recounting the Armstrong family's stellar legacy.
Instead, Edward took a seat beside Alphonse, and his own Alphonse sat beside him. Edward glanced over at the other Alphonse, who was making a face. "I was beginning to think you got lost," he said, not even bothering to whisper.
Edward glanced up at Armstrong's father, who hadn't paused yet, then to Armstrong, who was listening to his father with rapt attention, tears and sparkles going full swing. Then he shook his head and rolled his eyes. "You can blame Havoc for that, he took the scenic route." He inclined his head at Armstrong's father. "Has he been doing this the entire time?"
"And then some," Alphonse muttered.
The armor Edward leaned forward a little so Edward could hear him. "I don't think he's stopped to breathe."
"Have Edana and Alanza arrived?" Alphonse asked.
Edward's Alphonse answered that. "They followed us in," he said. "But Armstrong's sister grabbed Edana. Said something about cleaning up."
"Cleaning up! An excellent idea!" Armstrong's father actually reacted to what they were saying, which caused all four Elrics to jump. "Dinner should be ready. Our guests will probably want to use the facilities to freshen up before we eat!"
That was a dismissal if there ever was one. "Facilities?" Edward asked as they all stood up.
A petite older woman in a maid's outfit appeared at the door. "Ah, Koko!" Armstrong said, then turned to the boys. "Koko will show you to your rooms … dinner will likely be ready in a half-hour."
Koko curtsied. "If the young masters will follow me," she said.
Edward, Alphonse and their respective brothers all exchanged Looks, then they filed towards the door.
"Edward, Alphonse," Armstrong boomed. "I could use some assistance with-"
All four of them stopped and looked at Armstrong as if he'd grown a second head. "Which…" the flesh Alphonse started in confusion.
"The Edward and Alphonse who won't be freshening up, of course!" Armstrong said, completely nonplussed at their confusion. "Follow me, please!"
The suits of armor exchanged shrugs. "I guess we'll see you at dinner, 'niisan," Alphonse said. They turned to follow Armstrong, with the Edward armor snorting to himself.
"Won't be freshening up… what if I wanted to change my apron?"
"'Niichan…" Alphonse was placating as they exited the study from a different door.
Edward shook his head, then turned his attention back to Koko. "I, uh … guess we're ready now."