Ed's Cloak

Chapter 3

Disclaimer: FullMetal Alchemist and its characters are not mine they belong toHiromu Arakawa and everyone else involved.

Update to this chapter. Since Chapter 54 of the Manga turned out the way it did, it changes a few things in this story. I don't feel like rehashing the incidents in 54, you can read the chapter. This chapter (my story) starts in the home of "Father". We are assuming here Greed/Ling, Envy, and Gluttony have left the room and we are left with Ed, Al, Father, and Bradley. Ed is very upset and confused both about Winry and her grandmother and Ling.

Sorry about the continuity problems. Just use your willing suspension of disbelief. :)

Warning: I wrote this tired. Short chapter but next will be better. Not my best writing.

"Let's get out of here" said Ed desperately. He was terribly distraught about what happened to Ling and the revelation that Granny Pinako was gone. All he could think about now was getting far away from this evil. He was no longer pinned by Envy and has his chance to escape.

"RUN!" Ed shouted and he ran as fast as he could out into the air but Al was pulled backward by Father. Ed went back for him.

"No, you go!" shouted Al "There's nothing we can do if we are both prisoners." Bradley pulled Al back with him and disappeared.

"Bu…." Ed started but was forcibly pulled into a car as it sped off. They were about a mile down the road before Ed could react to the driver. She was dressed in a tan trench coat with a white scarf covering her face and sunglasses on her eyes. Her hair was tucked up into her hat.

"Who the hell are you and where are you taking me! I need to rescue my little brother!" He shouted.

"Sorry, wait till we are further out. I'll explain then. I am taking a real risk to do this." She replied.

"I don't care about your risks! I just want my brother safe." He stated more quietly.

"I heard you say 'run'; I am helping you run." She said. "Besides, considering he is a 'precious sacrifice' they will not harm him."

"What do you know about 'precious sacrifices'?" He questioned scowling at her.

"Only about as much as you know, Ed" she replied. Ed's eyes widened 'How does she know my name?' he thought.

Then, the woman took off her hat, sunglasses and scarf. It was Riza Hawkeye.

"Lui…" he started but she interrupted.

"Just call me Riza for now ok? This is not official military business. This is personal."

"Uh, ok." He blushed a little. She looked pretty with her hair down and it was weird to think of her as a woman and not just as an officer. "Can you tell me where we are going now?" he asked plainly. They were out of Central and on a farm road in the countryside, halfway to their destination.

"Rush Valley" She began to explain. "I got a call from Winry's boss. He says she is very distressed. Gracia Hughes is with her but she needs to get back to Central. I think it would be best if she were with someone she is close with. You and Al are all she has left."

Ed sighed. How was he going to comfort her? He thought. He hated seeing her cry. He did vow that he would make her cry tears of joy, but now her grandmother was gone and she would be crying in sadness again. He envisioned that she would be happy when they next met. "How did you find me?" he asked.

"I followed Bradley and was waiting outside hoping you'd come out." She hesitated in her speaking. He saw a sad look in her eyes.

"Everything's falling apart…" She trailed off quietly. She banged on the steering wheel hard. Then she pulled over and put her head down and began to cry.

Ed was shocked at this. Riza was never like this. She was usually quite stoic when it came to the military and bad news. This was different though. The revelation that Bradley was a homunculus and Roy was held prisoner was really weighing down on her. For some reason she felt secure enough to cry in front of Ed. He didn't quite know how to react. It certainly felt different than when Winry cried. He felt sad but it didn't hurt him as much.

"Ar…Are you ok?" He hesitated to ask gently touching her shoulder.

Suddenly Riza put her head back up and with tears in her eyes wrapped her arms around Ed for comfort and cried into her shoulder for less than a minute. Then, she sat up, wiped her tears with a tissue, and spoke like her old self again:

"Sometimes you've just got to cry to remind yourself that you are still human, Ed." Ed understood what she was saying and frowned.

To be continued…