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Chapter 5; Chain's Embrace

Bane; "OKAY… EdxWin wins, I guess… But I've decided only to do a slight hinting of the pairing, 'kay? Sorry, but a lot of you agreed that it was fine without romance… so… yeah. Hinting is good." :-twitch-:

A; "o.0 yeah…"

"Is something bothering you, Edward?" Hawkeye prompted gently. He shook his head, forcing a smile even she couldn't bring herself to return.

"Nah. I'm fine."

And she left it at that. Both finished their beverage in silence, and left with a 'thanks', and 'goodbye'. And yet, his stomach being a bit heavier, his heart felt as empty as it had been. Not letting himself linger on this, he continued down the street in the frigid of January.

Large clusters of snowflakes fell sparingly, covering his tank-topped form. (Riza had, at some point, thought to mention his unfitting attire, but had thought better of it.) Not that it particularly mattered; he couldn't feel the cold anymore. The guilt had begun to turn him numb, and not even the chill of the wintry breezes against his small frame could deter his separation from reality.

Again having his mind any other place besides the path home, Edward crashed solidly with something (though, most likely someone) for the second time that day.

He didn't fall backwards, but simply ricochetted slightly. Ed assumed he must have gone around, and run into Hawkeye once more. Fleetingly, he wondered if she'd shoot him the second time… But as he tilted his face upwards, saddened eyes groping to see what he had run into, he found that it was not the trigger-happy fgure he had earlier shared a collision with.

As amber explored the smirk and sunken face of the man before him briefly, he couldn't make himself turn around—run screaming 'bloody murder'. He knew the intent long before the man reached over, grabbed his wrist, and pulled him across the street.

But he couldn't make himself move.

Strong arms pinned him to a sleek, blac surface; the face of a parked car Edward hadn't before noticed. His mind blared desperately, wondering how such brutal happenings could occur outside—on a busy street. Such questions were answered as an aged woman neared.

"Excuse me, Sir, but may I ask…?"

Her voice was frail, but it was obvious that she was attempting to be firm. With an edge of panick, however, the man who pinned him responded fiercely, "Get back! I'm with the Federal State Corporation!"

He flashed something that looked liked a badge before her, snapping it back into his pocket after only a moment—with only one hand.

"Oh, dear. He can't have done anything wrong in these parts—"

"He's being arrested for high assault. I suggest you go about with your business."

She left wordlessly, shaking her head in a right worried state. There were tyrants everywhere in this new age, and she couldn't grasp why it wasn't like back in her day…

The prodigy could only utter an audible "Whaaa…?" Abruptly, a steel ring closed around one wrist, and incidentally pushed to the other. (Which was enclosed as well.) Reacting violently, Edward pushed off, desperate to break free. He was caught and thrown back against the surface of the car, winded but still concious.

The car door opened, and Ed was vaguely aware of being pulled inside, the bonds on his wrists clanking together twice with the movement. The 'Sunken Figure' sat beside him, the snicker ever apparent on his face. When he was sure he could speak without rasping, Ed reasoned rapidly, "Listen, I don't know who you expected me to be, but I swear I'm not your guy! I haven't… assaulted anyone… I'm with the military—you can check with headquarters for the documentatio—"

A fist collided with his cheekbone, forcing him to slump heavily into the corner of the seat. Shocked eyes of gold looked up sluggishly, asking for a reason; a culprit.

"Just shut it, kid. I've done worse than you."

The vehicle began inching along, moving into a broadly illegal pace. Guess the Federals can get away with that, Edward thought as they sped forward. Unsure of what to make of this new development, Ed simply sat back into the seat. Submission wasn't particularly easy for him, but he reasoned that he would work it out once they reached the Federal Base.

Still, and unsettling feeling ached within him. At last, he realized what it was; Al. Again he spoke, this time squirming warily out of reach.

"M-my brther—he's…" Ed paused over whether to give them any further information, but resolved that Federal cops couldn't do much. "…he's at the apartment… by himself…"

The driver, (of whom he had only just noticed), the figure in the passenger occupation, and 'Sunken' fixed the boy with amused glances. 'Sunken' was the only of the three who chuckled.

"Yeah? How old is 'e?"

"Erm… 16."

Laughter errupted about him, the cocophany rouch and ill appreciated.

"Listen, Kid, I'd worry more about yourself at this point."

Bane; "Umm…cliffie, anyone?"

Drumstick; :-pop-: "You shouldn't be so mean to your—"

A & Bane; :-chorus together-: "Where have you been?"

Drumstick; "Me? Oh… um, you know…" :-anxious shuffling-:

Bane; "You've been making your own plans to take over the world, haven't you?"

Drumstick; :-voice in high-pitched squeak-: "NO! Ahem, no, if course not."

A; "Then what's that?" :-points to blue prints in Drumstick's pocket-:

Bane; :-snatches-: "'Ey… these aren't plans for domination!"

A; "Then what are they?"

Bane; :-creepy background music-: "It's…(dundundun DUUN!)… the plans to take over FMA head quarters!"

A; :-rolls eyes, and leaves room-:

Drumstick & Bane; :-maniacal laughter-:

(To Be Continued…?)