Chapter Thirteen
Author's Note: Alrighty how did y'all like that almighty fighty? I gave the bad guy a name because I couldn't keep calling him "that Chimera" or "the shady figure" so blah. Ok, in this chappy and probably the next I am going to build up for the climax. Wee! Look at all the ellipses: D
Lieutenant Riza Hawkeye sat in the corner of a small ward in the military hospital wing. She had her eyes closed and arms folded. Across the room, Colonel Roy Mustang was having his wounds dressed by a young nurse. He stared down at the tiled floor, barely noticing that the woman had begun to cleanse his right arm with disinfectants. All sense of touch had left him since he came in from the rain…
"Ok, Colonel Mustang, you are ready to go." The nurse said cheerfully, but her voice didn't seem to fit in the present atmosphere of the little room. Roy glanced up at her from his seat. He had his jacket and shirt off, revealing a well toned body, yet his frame was etched with scars and bruises. He gave her a smile, it was his trademark smirk, but enough to turn her cheeks red, and she left the two in the room. Once the door shut, Hawkeye opened her eyes, though Mustang beat her and spoke first.
"I am not blaming you for anything. I should have been there to help out… I don't know why I took a day off when--
"Edward needed you more than us at the time… Alphonse… knew the risks, yet he…" Riza paused and wiped her face. "…It just seems like nothing, but ill fortune fall into the pathway of these two boys…"
"I know… Though we have a job to do and cannot neglect it… I am just waiting for conformation from my commanding officer on my request, then we can conduct a search for Alphonse…" Mustang said, flexing his bandaged arm.
"But… Edward… How are we going to tell him?" Hawkeye asked.
flashback
The first of the summer rains streamed from the sky. The sun's face had failed to succeed the morning and the day began with a dismal gloom. Along the side walk, two figures staggered under the might of the downpour, a small hooded one supporting the bigger. Edward had tucked his automail arm under Mustang's right. Since he was considerably shorter, the older had to slouch on his personal crutch. They had reached the grand stairs to Central and Roy removed himself from the shoulder of his subordinate. Looking down at the young alchemist in front of him, Mustang attempted to capture Edward's gaze, but, once again, was unsuccessful. Fullmetal turned and headed down a soaked road, not toward Roy's house or anything specific, just walked on, head bowed…
end
Mustang sighed. "We can't tell Edward…"
Hawkeye looked up at him, an expression of surprise on her delicate face.
"He is not in a state where he can handle anymore… I hate keeping things from him, but… he can't fall deeper into the hands of despair…"
There was a sudden knock on the door that snapped both officers from their thoughts.
"Enter." Mustang said.
Lieutenant Colonel Maes Hughes burst into the room. "I leave you alone for one day and you get yourself beat up by some dog monkey things…" He sighed and strode over to the Colonel. "So are my assumptions correct in believing that you were involved with the destruction of Central Park?" Hughes asked as he sat down on the check up bench. "…And Ed was involved too, right?"
Mustang turned to look at his best friend. "Yes… We fought and killed the Chimera that had attacked Fullmetal, along with a few dozen other creatures…"
"And I've heard about what happened to Alphonse… But what would a bunch of Chimeras want with a hollow suit of armor?" Hughes said scratching his scruffy beard.
"I'm sure it's their master who ordered them to take Alphonse. I believe he's being used as collateral. Just to keep Fullmetal from seeking revenge…" Mustang replied
"Yeah, that sounds about right… So how long do you think until he finds out?" Hughes began to reach into his jacket pocket and pull out a couple of small glossy papers when another knock startled everyone.
"Come in." Hughes spoke.
In came Second Lieutenant Jean Havoc. He glanced around the room from Hawkeye to Hughes to Mustang. Havoc's eyes focused on the little photographs the Lieutenant Colonel was holding and decided it was best to get straight to the point.
"Colonel, I have a letter from Brigadier General Halcrow for you." Havoc handed a large gold, open-end envelope to Mustang.
The room became silent as Roy unfastened the metal clasp and pulled out a single sheet of professional paper. He read it to himself then looked up at his subordinates. "We're going underground." A small smile appeared on his tired face. "At least now we can take a step in the right--"
He was cut off as the phone on a coffee table next to Hawkeye, rang. "Lieutenant Hawkeye speaking…" She looked over at Mustang. He read her expression and answered her with his own.
"Sorry Ed, he's with Lieutenant Colonel Hughes assisting him with paperwork." There was a pause. "Don't worry he's keeping himself occupied… Alright, be careful… bye." Hawkeye hung up the phone and wiped her eyes. "He called from your house, Colonel, and said at night fall he's heading out…"
Mustang nodded. "I figured as much… Well, Havoc inform the rest of tonight's party about our change of plans." He looked at Hughes. "Are you joining the fun?"
"I might as well, to keep you from getting pulverized again."
The rain had let up for the evening leaving the air clammy and uncomfortable. A group of six stood outside the stairs of Central. Mustang, Hawkeye and the Colonel's "henchmen" Havoc, Falman, Breda and Furey, were the party members on this patrol. Major Armstrong was assigned to their replacement squadron.
"This humidity is really frizzing out my hair." Havoc complained while patting his blonde mat.
"Oh, now none of those cute Chimera chicks will want to go on a date with you." Breda said placing both of his hands on his face in a worried fashion. Furey giggled behind his back.
"Have any of you seen Hughes?" Mustang said glancing at his pocket watch. "It's about time to--"
"Roy!" At that moment Hughes came flying from the building entrance. "We've got to stop…" He paused to catch his breath. "Edward… Winry came and asked me if I could put Alphonse on the phone and… I told her I hadn't seen him all day."
"Maes!" Mustang shouted.
"Yeah, I know I messed up and when I had realized what I said, she had already relayed the information to Ed." Hughes said as he wiped his forehead with a sleeve. "This was about ten minutes ago…"
"Alright, we have to cut him off before he enters Central…" Mustang turned to face his men. "Havoc, Breda take the southwest corner, Falman, Furey the southeast. Me and Hawkeye will watch the northeast and Hughes--
Someone appeared on the top of the stairs, it was Winry. "Where is Ed?" she asked holding her elbows.
"and Ms. Rockbell watch the northwest… Bring him to me if you spot him… Ok, fall out!" Mustang turned and headed down the steps. He was positioned in the direction leading to his house. "Hawkeye, I left the extra flashlight on my desk, can you retrieve it for me?"
"Yes sir." The Lieutenant walked briskly back up the stairs.
Mustang glanced over at Hughes and Winry. They flashed there lights around the street corner and he decided to pull out his own. Before he could even click on his own, he felt a presence near him. Turning to the sidewalk he could barely make out the silhouette of a hooded figure. There was aura of loathe and dread emanating from the small body that caught Mustang's tongue.
"Where is my brother?"