Unlikely Bond

Chapter One

"YOU!"

Rated M for strong and offensive language

Disclaimer: I do not own Full Metal Alchemist….and I bet there are a lot of people who are glad about that.

"It's your turn, Breda," said Akume, her tone tired and bored. Her head rested on the table as she watched the lieutenant, waiting for him to move. She'd been waited for almost fifteen minutes and was not happy about the long wait. Surely he could move faster!

"All right…there," He moved his knight and sat back, looking pleased with himself. Akume sat up and looked at the board. She raised her right arm and looked over the board for almost ten seconds before she placed her king's rook down two spaces away from Breda's king. She smiled sweetly and leaned back, a cocky smile on her face.

"Mate," she said sweetly as Breda looked at the board in astonishment.

"But…but…I didn't see that!"

Akume sighed and rolled her eyes, "Is it my fault you missed it?"

Breda glanced at the sixteen-year-old State Alchemist and frowned, narrowing his eyes, saying as threateningly as he could, "Who the hell taught you to play like that?"

Akume rolled her eyes again and snorted, not the least bit intimidated. She'd known Breda for too long and knew he was as harmless as Armstrong, especially if she had a dog handy. "You did, moron. So blame yourself and stop whining or I'll go find a dog."

As if to fulfill her threat, there was a scraping of nails and a loud bark coming from a big, wolf-like creature. Akume turned in her chair while Breda sought refuge atop the nearest filing cabinet.

"Blackie! How you doing? Who's a good boy? Who's the good boy?" Akume crooned, getting down, petting and scratching the dog. Black Hayate braked in joy and rolled over, giving Akume better access to his stomach. The young woman laughed and scratched, giggling as his leg started to twitch like mad.

"You shouldn't so that, Akume, you'll undo everything I've done by spoiling him," Riza said, walking into the room, a small smile on her face.

Akume looked up and grinned. She knew Riza really didn't mind. She knew Riza as well as she knew Breda; she knew all of the military personnel at Headquarters in the East. They were all her family in some form or another, even if it was just having been labeled 'Aunt' or 'Uncle'. Smirking, Akume stood, procuring a disappointed whine from Black Hayate. The dog sat up and Akume scratched behind his ears. Behind her, she could hear Breda let out a whimper as Black Hayate turned his head and looked at the lieutenant. Fighting back a chuckle, Akume looked at Riza, "Aw, but if I didn't, then you couldn't have any fun with him. Besides, all you really have to do is pull out your gun and he freezes."

Riza chuckled, "True, he still does that, but you'll change that if I give you time."

"Not that you ever will," Akume sighed playfully.

"In any case, Black Hayate and I were just leaving, but the Colonel wanted me to tell you to come to his office; he'd like to speak to you."

Akume's eyes narrowed and she stopped scratching, her grin fading. She curled her lip and threw herself into the chair she'd been sitting in moments before, her arms folded. "Like hell I will," she said darkly, "I know exactly what he wants to talk about, and if he thinks I'm going to listen to that shit again, he's got another thing coming."

"Akume, your uncle is only looking out for your best interests."

"Like hell the bastard is. I like to work alone; he knows that. The last thing I need is to get stuck with someone else." She turned around, "What if I get stuck with Colonel Clean? I love Armstrong to death, but I'd kill him."

Riza wanted to chuckle, but knew she had to keep a straight and set face. "I know you aren't happy, Akume, but it is for your own good. Besides, the person you should be talking to is your uncle. Now, come Black Hayate! I will see you later, Akume, lieutenant."

Riza left, her dog following her. Akume snorted, her arms still crossed and a dark look on her face. Breda slowly got down from his perch now that Riza and her companion were gone and went to Akume. He smiled at her, "Well, it could be worse."

Akume sighed and stood up, "Yeah…I could be you."

"That's the spirit!" Breda said, patting her head, ignoring the jibe. Akume sighed again and walked out of the room.

"See you later Breda…I gotta go talk Uncle Roy outta this."

"I doubt he'll cave, Akume."

Akume turned the corner and stalked toward her uncle's office. "Oh, he'll cave…I'll make him cave."

/------------------------/

Colonel Roy Mustang was waiting in his office for his niece. While Akume had christened others she saw as parental figures 'aunt' or 'uncle', Roy was the only one who could claim actual ownership of the title. Akume was his eldest sister's eldest child. Roy's sister, Lisa, had died when the girl was five along with Akume's little brother. Almost a year later, her father had passed on in what Roy called 'The Accident'. Only Roy, Akume, and a few others knew what had occurred and Roy intended for it to stay that way.

Roy had adopted Akume, being the only family she had. Akume had taken on the name of Mustang, but when she turned 13, had asked her uncle to change it back to Hunter. Roy had complied, but there had been some major paperwork to go through before it was done. Roy hadn't minded. While he enjoyed making life difficult for his niece, he had never felt so much love for another. He secretly wished she'd call him 'Father', but he was always 'Uncle Roy'.

He doubted she'd ever call him 'Father' now. He had to pair her up with someone. He wasn't sure which she'd ultimately be upset about; having a partner, or who her partner would be. Roy sighed, rubbing his temples. They were the best match, after all. Despite that they shared the quality of explosive tempers; they got mad over different things. Their skills would work well together, and, though he'd never say it aloud, there wasn't another alchemist he'd trust to be there to look after Akume other than himself. Well, maybe Armstrong, but Roy knew Akume would end up killing the Strong Arm Alchemist.

His door banged open and closed. Roy looked up at familiar furious emerald eyes. Akume looked close to killing something, and he knew why. She looked at him, expecting him to speak first, but Roy didn't. Instead, he looked her over, taking in how much his niece had grown up. 10 years, that's how long he'd been looking after her, 10 long wonderful years.

She was short for sixteen, another reason he'd chosen her partner as he had. Akume wasn't really sensitive about her height, but she did hate working with people she had to constantly look up at. Her skin was fair, like his own, and she shared his black hair, a trait of the Mustang Family. She did not have black eyes, but rather emerald ones like her father. She was in good shape, and Mustang reflected that if she wasn't his niece and a few years older (And taller) he just might look at her in a way that wasn't at all Uncley. He knew that others noticed her well built form because he'd threatened Havoc's life when the man had mentioned that Akume was a 'good-looking young woman'.

Like everyone else in the military, she wore white gloves. The silver watch of a State Alchemist hung on her belt. Her pants were navy blue and her shirt black. She wore a long coat of purple and a green bandanna. She wore black boots. Her short black hair was tired back so that her bangs fell above and to the sides of her face and a little bit of her hair was left out of the ponytail, so that she had a small ponytail in the center of her head and some hair hanging over her neck. Roy noted that Akume tended to wear the same colors; always navy blue, black, purple, green, and red. It wasn't until she raised her left arm that there was a glint of silver between where her glove ended and her coat began.

"You better start telling me you've changed your mind, or I swear I'll beat you to a bloody pulp and send you to hell."

Roy blinked and folded his hand, looking at his niece, "Is that anyway to speak to your uncle, Akume?"

"I'll speak to you any damn way I feel like it when you talk shit like this."

Roy frowned, "Well, I am sorry to inform you, but this 'shit' isn't going to change. You are going to have a partner whether you like it or not."

"Bastard," Akume snarled, her hands clenched.

Roy motioned to the couch, "Sit down, Akume. Your partner has not yet arrived."

"You make it sound like I'm getting married," the girl fumed, plopping down and putting her feet on the table before her, something she knew her uncle hated.

"In a way you are, I would suppose. Now get those feet off my table."

"Whatever you say, your royal assness."

"If I knew it would do you some good, I'd tan your hide."

"And if I knew it would help things, I'd wring your neck."

There was a moment of silence before Akume's tone changed. It was softer and resigned, but curious. "You know," she began, "You haven't told me who she is."

Roy raised an eyebrow, "She who?"

"My partner."

"What makes you think its woman?"

Akume snorted, "Considering how you beat on Havoc, I can't imagine you buddying me up with a guy." A heartbeat of silence before something clicked in her mind. Akume's eyes went wide and she jumped up, pointing at her uncle. "Oh no…you better not have…I swear…If…I'll kill you…tell me you didn't…"

The door opened and a short, blonde-haired boy stepped in, looking at Roy, "Hawkeye said you wanted to-" Then he caught sight of Akume and the two teens glared at each other, saying at the same time so loudly Roy winced, wanting to put his hands over his ears:

"YOU!"

Akume whirled on her uncle, her green eyes blazing, and her voice thick with anger, "How the hell could you do this? I swear I'm going to kill you."

Edward slammed the door and stormed forward until he and Akume were almost side-by-side, though she was on one side of the couch and he on the other, "Colonel! I said I wouldn't complain because Al made me promise, but her? You have to be joking."

"I am not joking, Full Metal. You and Akume will be partners, end of discussion."

But it wasn't the end.

"I'd rather die than be stuck with that thing," Akume said, pointing at Edward.

Ed whirled, glaring at Akume, "And what the hell is wrong with me? You're the dipshit!"

Akume turned to glare at Edward, "Who you calling a dipshit, shrimp?"

Edward clenched his hands, "Who you calling smaller than a microbe you can't see him even with a microscope?"

"I think I'm talking to the dumb blond in front of my face!" Akume screamed.

"Bitch!"

"Bastard!"

"Asshole!"

"Jackass!"

The insults flew fast and thick, the two teens rising in volume with each word. However, when Edward yelled 'slut' Roy stood up, slamming his hands onto his desk, making such a loud bang the two teens jumped in surprise. They looked over at Roy and Akume paled slightly. Ed swallowed despite himself.

"THAT IS ENOUGH!" Roy yelled. He glared at the two then sat back down. Akume folded her arms and turned her back on Ed, who did the same exact thing. Fuming, glaring at opposite walls, Roy spoke to them both in a stern, but calm tone.

"You two are going to work together on all of your cases until further notice. Neither of you are to go anywhere without the other knowing. Like it or not, you two are a good match and I will not change my mind. I want the two of you to spend the next two days coming to terms then you are to set out for Central and meet Hughes and Alphonse."

"Why do I have to work with him?" Akume asked, not turning around.

"Because I said so. Now, I don't want to hear another word out of either of you. Dismissed."

Akume and Ed turned at the same time, but the boy stopped, not wanting to walk out of the room anywhere near the girl. Akume reached the door and flung it open, about to storm into the hallway when her uncle spoke again.

"Oh, I almost forgot. Your quarters have changed. You two will be in adjoining rooms to ensure you can reach each other if there is trouble. You will be in-"

"WHAT!" The two screamed in unison and Roy winced. After repeating himself and informing them where they were to be in the building and that they should go check them out now, together, Akume and Edward stormed out, grudgingly walking to their new quarters together. Roy sighed and leaned back. Oh, this was going to be fun.

Then the phone rang.

Roy leaned forward and picked it up, "Hello?"

"So, how'd it go?" a familiar voice asked and Roy chuckled.

"Just perfect Hughes."

"Ask him what brother said," a voice said in the background.

"Alphonse wants to know what Ed said."

Roy chuckled again, "I'd rather not repeat what either of them said."

Hughes related his to Al, and Roy heard the younger Elric say in an indignant tone, "Brother really needs to learn to control himself."

"Al says Ed needs to learn to calm down," Hughes said.

"I heard him," Roy replied.

"How did…how did Akume take things?" Hughes asked.

Roy rubbed his temple with his free hand, "Better than I expected; she didn't try to kill me."

"She loves you too much to do that."

Roy snorted into the phone. There was a pause, and then Hughes spoke again.

"Are you really that down about it, Roy?"

"I don't know."

Roy could hear the smile that formed on Hughes face, "Well, then let me tell you something to cheer you up. You should see little Elysia! She is so adorable! She's started kindergarten and she's just the cutest thing in her uniform! I'll be sure to-"

Roy hung up the phone, cutting Maes off. He knew what the end of the sentence was and didn't need to hear it. Besides, truth be told, he really didn't care at the moment about Elysia. He was having his own troubles with teenagers

/------------------------/

Edward stood next to Akume in the hallway. The two were looking at the two doors they had opened, looking at the two conjoined rooms. They were both relieved to see that there was a door that separated them, but there was no lock. Still, a door was better than nothing, but neither was very happy.

With folded arms, Akume looked up at the ceiling. Edward, hands shoved into his pockets looked down the hall. Neither had spoken and neither was very happy at being in such close proximity of the other. They both knew that having a partner was the safest thing to have considering the situation, but why did it have to be them together? Mustang had done this to annoy them both.

"Which room do you want?" Edward asked quietly, looking down at the floor now.

Akume sighed, lowering her gaze to look between the two rooms, "Dunno…the left one."

"Fine," Edward mumbled and walked forward into the right room. Akume followed suit, slipping into the room on the left side and closing her door. She stood there for a moment, looking at the door with no lock that, if she were to push it open, she'd be face to face with Edward. She gave the door a heated glare before punching the stone wall with her left hand. There was a resounding crunch and a dent appeared in the stone.

On the other side of the door, Ed was looking out his window. He had taken off his cloak and gloves and was running his flesh hand along his automail arm. He sat on the window ledge and leaned his head forward against the pane. He saw Mustang down below, talking to Armstrong and Havoc.

"Setting up the baby-sitters again," Ed muttered darkly, watching Armstrong and Havoc salute. Mustang walked off and Edward watched him go, only to glanced back down at the 'baby-sitters' and fall off the window sill. He stood up and slammed the curtains closed. Had they seen him? He gritted his teeth. He bet they had…no doubt they'd show up to try and 'make things better', get him and Akume to get along. Well, fat fucking chance of that ever happening on this earth or in hell.

He let go of the curtains and glaring around the room, looking for something to break and then not regret breaking. He didn't see anything except a chair, but it was the only chair…he could sit on the bed or the floor. He clenched his fists into his hair, pulling at it with his eyes closed. Damn! How could Mustang do this! He knew he and Akume loathed each other.

"Damn it, Colonel! Always gotta make my life hell, don't you?"

Then a sound caught his ears and he lowered his hands, looking toward the door that separated him from Akume. Curiosity took hold and he creped forward, placing his ear against the door and listening hard. He heard the sounds of ragged breathing and what could have been gasping sobs. Then he heard a crash as something glass broke.

"Goddamn him," Ed heard Akume snarl, "Goddamn him to hell!" He heard the sound of more glass breaking and a thud of something hitting stone hard, no doubt her left fist. "He knows I like to work alone, he knows it! I can take care of myself; I don't need him looking after me. Damn it…"

There was the sound of more glass breaking and silence. Ed strained to, but could only make out a muffled sound. It sounded like someone talking into a pillow. Sighing, Edward walked over to his bed and lay down, looking up at the ceiling. He closed his eyes, remembering the first time he ever saw Akume. That had been a good day…but what had gone wrong? He hated her now, but he'd liked her then, he'd thought she was-

There was a loud knock on his door. He sat up, trying to decide which door the knock was coming from. It came again, this time followed by his name and the familiar voice of Armstrong.

"Edward Elric, it's time for dinner. Come on!"

Pulling himself up, Ed pulled on his gloves and coat, hearing similar words being said to Akume.

Edward and Akume exited their rooms at the same time. The two paused, looking at each other and glaring. Havoc looked unsure of what to do, but he stepped back, holding his gut as Armstrong whisked the two teens into his arms, squeezing them tightly. Akume and Edward kicked and squirmed, but Armstrong only held tighter as he spoke in an inspired tone, walking down the hall to the mess.

"Ah! The bond between partners, truly amazing! The faith and love shared, the trust you put into each other, truly wonderful most inspiring!"

"Love has nothing to do with it!" Edward yelled.

"Put me down!" Akume screamed.

Havoc snickered, following in the rear. It was going to be a long two days.