"Um, Granny Pinako?"

"What is it, child? Are you on your way back already?"

"That's... That's the thing. I don't know when I'll be back."

Pinako Rockbell frowned at the news Anna had just delivered. "What are you talking about? Did you get into trouble? I swear those kids are rubbing off on you, Julliana." There was a sigh on the other side of the phone. "More or less like that..? I've been directly ordered to aid in the war." The old woman felt as if a cold bucket of water rinsed her from head to toe.

"What?! Who gave that order?" The mechanic rarely loses her temper and when it did, the outcome would be disastrous. And the only other one who looked after the Elric brats being ordered to aid in that nonsense war? It served as fuel to Pinako's growing hatred against that stupid war with the Ishvalans. "Funny enough, it was the Führer-" the mechanic choked on air at that. "- so I can't exactly decline, granny."

Silence ensued on both sides. Pinako wanted Julliana to decline a tall cost because she was the only anchor keeping the kids stay as they are. "Granny," Julliana started on the other end of the line. "I have no choice. Things would become complicated if I ignored the Führer's words. For some reason, he knew what I am; what I dabble in aside from alchemy."

She took a deep breath. "I have to do this. I'll mail the money I earned back to you guys, the military was kind enough to send a police in my stead. In addition to that, they gave me an early salary so I'm giving those to you guys, too. The position the Führer gave me is... well, it's complicated but that will last for a while. Just send a letter if you guys need more, I'll give you guys some as soon as I'm able."

Pinako wanted to protest. The boys needed her. Winry needed her. How on earth did thing come to this? "Granny, please tell the brats that I'll try to come home as soon as I can. That I'll definitely come back safe and sound. Please-" Pinako heard Julliana choke back a sob. "- Please tell them I love them and that they should watch each other's back while I'm gone. I'll come home, I swear."

The old mechanic let out a sigh in the end, a bit defeated by this outcome. Pinako knew they stand no choice against the words for Bradley. "Alright," Pinako finally said. "But come home soon. A hot warm stew would be waiting for you at the dinner table." The scientist chuckled a little from the other side of the phone. "I'm looking forward for that, then, Granny." It sounded like she wanted to say more but someome talked to her.

"I... I have to go. Stay safe."

"Take care, child."

As Pinako hung up, she wondered how she was going to break the news to the midgets.

oooOooo

Roy Mustang flinched a little in surprise when his friend, Julliana Hong, slammed the door open to the Führer's office. Inside were several higher ups aside from the King Bradley himself who looked on in amusement at Ana's actions. This woman is crazy, he thought to himself in nervousness. The steelness of her nerves awed Roy, much to his chagrin. "Miss Hong, nice of you to join us."

The pair of friends entered, Roy saluting while Ana took a seat without a care in the world; probably annoying the men in this room aside from a few. "Please cut to the chase, Führer. You know as much as I do how I would prefer my time on more important things." If it weren't an act of insolence, Roy would have gawked at Ana's bluntness with no shame. However, he remained neutral as a few old men in the room glowered at his friend.

Honestly, Roy didn't know what to do with his friend sometimes.

Führer King Bradley bursted into laughter, catching a few of them off guard by his informal treatment with one of their newest soldier. "Gladly, Miss Hong. From now on, you're a part of Doctor Tim Marcoh's research group, the Crystal Alchemist. Any orders from the Doctor would be followed with no complaints, am I understood? Aside from that, you have your own project to work on." There was silence before one of the higher ups raised hand.

"What exactly have you seen in this woman, Führer? From her papers, I have seen no notable achievements in her life so far." Roy gave Ana a look when he noticed how her finger twitched at that. It wouldn't be a good idea if she went on a rampage with so many people here who could and would make her life miserable. King Bradley chuckled with no hint of humor whatsoever, his one visible eye sending shivers down Ana's spine.

"Why not say about a few of your 'achievements', Miss Hong?" The scientist felt as if she was challenged. In actuality, she would rather back out of this and go back to her minions in Resembool. However, the look in the Führer's eyes made her doubt that she could get away from this. He knew what buttons to push to make her move like a marionette, after all.

Ana's eyes zoned in on the puzzle on one of those old farts' hands. "That wooden item in your hold is made by yours truly. I can see you haven't progressed and reached the halfway point of solving it. Aside from that, I developed a few things that helped with the agriculture in Resembool." There were whispers amongst them, a few useless comments that urged her fury to show itself in front of them.

The scientist knew to hold herself back, however, even though she wanted nothing else more than to be by her family's side. "And why's that important?" One of them asked. If they couldn't see her implications, then what was the point of being assigned such a high rank. "Permission to speak." Roy uttered after growing tired of them degrading his friend. Bradley gave him permission.

"Simply put, what Miss Hong was trying to say was that if she was capable of making a puzzle that tried the mind of such high ranking officer and the fact that she was able to improve the state of Resembool's agriculture; it is safe to assume that the Führer wants her to create a biological weapon that no other could retaliate with." Ana grimaced at Roy's analysis but every word he said held a certain truth.

That was the Führer's aim; for Julliana Hong to make a biological weapon to use against the Ishvalans. Silence ensued in the room. King Bradley aimed for a biological warfare in which Ishvalans have no hope of winning; a weapon capable of killing every single one of them without causing too much destruction in Amestris' lands. Just the thought of it made Ana sick but she had no choice. The man right in front of her threatened her family with no remorse.

"Excellent deduction, Major Mustang."

Right after that, Ana didn't really know what happened. She got her identification, signed a few paperworks, and was handed with her new uniform. Roy escorted her out in silence, not knowing what to say at all. "Ana," the soldier called out after dropping her off at the military apartment she was assigned with.

"Are you sure about this?"

"I don't have much of a choice in all honesty. I don't know what has gotten in the Führer's mind when he decided to recruit me when the military have enough scientist to work on this personal project he just gave me. For now, at least, I don't have to worry about being killed when I'll be spending most of my time in the lab." The scientist sighed in exasperation, adjusting the uniform in her arms before it slipped out of her hold.

"When I got here in Central to sell those puzzles, I didn't expect to be pulled into the military." Ana opened the door of her new apartment. "Thanks, by the way, for being here. I don't know if I'd gone insane the second this... stuff process in my head. At least I've got you to keep me grounded, Roy." The soldier rolled his eyes and poked her forehead with his index finger. "Yeah, yeah, go get some rest."

As the two part ways, Roy was deep inside his head, thinking. Julliana Hong was just a civilian who got dragged into war with no choice but to cooperate when the Führer used her family as leverage against her. The soldier frowned at this unfairness but they were, after all, at war in the present. Maybe after this, he could think more about the darkness of what he himself found himself in.

Meanwhile, Ana found herself drowning in exasperation. All this just because she caught the Führer's attention that one time his own soldiers failed to capture someone. She wasn't saying that Roy was one of those incompetent soldiers— but really, at this point without him using alchemy, he was pretty useless. "For fuck's sake, what did I do in my past life to deserve this?" The scientist laid down on her bed rather haphazardly, her new accomodation a tad greater than the motel she'd been staying at this past few weeks.

Her luggage stood still beside her bed, she wasn't really in the mood to unpack at all. She believed that this wouldn't take long but who was she kidding? Biological weapon? Who in their right shitty mind would think that making such a thing would be easy? No one, really. Ana was just denying this whole thing even happened with all her might. "Although," she had a sudden epiphany of sorts after a few moments of silence. "I would be having access on files not readily accessible to civilians. I could also work on that separation thing on the side while I'm at it."

Because first and foremost, that goal remained first in her list of priorities aside from her bratty little munchkins. The chimera man had been fused with a handful of animals and, for some disgusting reason, he had explained to her the step-by-step process of making something like himself. "Equivalent Exchange," Ana muttered under her breath. "Nothing about that process explained the process of Equivalent Exchange. It didn't show that at all so what gives?"

The scientist ruffled her hair in her frustration before she noticed how long her wavy ginger locks had gotten ever since she got here in Central. She trapped a bundle of them between her fingers as she eyed the ends of her hair. "I need a haircut," she announced even though no one was there with her. Ana stood up and began looking for a pair of scissors, successfully finding one in the kitchen drawers. "Time to cut, I guess."

Julliana Hong was a scientist; she was not cut out to be a hairdresser.

By the time she was done and ginger hair strands littered the bathroom floor, her wavy locks came down to her chin instead of by her shoulder blades. A pair of cowlicked strands on each side of her face tickled her cheeks as they brushed pass by them. "I look like shit," Ana deadpanned with a blank look while looking at her stupid reflection. What on earth has gotten into her to think she could be a pseudo hairdresser even for a moment? Now, she just looked stupid.

"I miss my hair..." The scientist gave her cut off strands on the bathroom floor a longing look. Ana placed down the scissors in the sink and began cleaning up the mess she made. Tomorrow, she would be heading to Laboratory Three, was it? For her assignment. Even though she had a side project for a weapon, her first assignment with this Doctor Marcoh was an exclusive study about something she would be briefed on the next day. It sounded important, to her at least, when the Führer emphasized on its creation.

"I wonder," she mused out loud. "Nah, I'll focus on what needs to be done so I could go home." Ana searched for a clock inside her room and found that it was already eight in the evening. Her munchkins would be eating at the Rockbells by now. The thought of how they would have reacted at the news made her wince in grimace. The scientist was definitely not looking forward to it when she phones a call in a few moments. She patted the pockets of her lab coat, hearing the familiar clinks of coins.

To be honest, their reaction terrified her. She loves those two kids like her own and Winry was that one niece who always gets into fight with ome of the brats, specifically Edward. Finally in front of a phone in the military dorm's lobby, she pushed in a few coins and called for the Rockbells home. It took not a few seconds when she heard Granny Pinako on the other line. "About time." There was a huff and it made Ana chuckle a bit. "Sorry, Granny Pinako. I had to move rooms." She paused, a little terrified.

"How did Alphonse and Edward take it?" The pause that followed right after filled her with dread. "Alphonse's sulking but he's taking it in pretty well. Winry wants to say that you should be careful, too." Ana was a about to sigh in relief when she realized something. "What about Edward?" She asked, uncertainty and a slight touch of fear lacing her voice. Granny Pinako sighed on the other line. "He's not talking, at all." The scientist felt a slight prick in her heart then and there.

"Can you give him the phone? I want to say something even if he won't talk."

"Alright."

Ana leaned forehead and lightly smacked her head on the wall, muttering how stupid she was and all that. That garnered a few curious look from her fellow soldiers in the lobby but they promptly ignored her anyway. A slight noise from the other line caught her attention. "What?" Ana blanched upon hearing short and clipped tone of Edward's voice. Instantly, she knew that he wouldn't forgive her so easily. He was that kind of kid, after all. "Edward," he said nothing on the other line.

"I'm sorry, munchkin." Still nothing. "I know I said it would be just a few weeks." Still nothing. "But it would be a while before I can come home to you guys." Still nothing, dammit. "I'll come back, I promise." Still nothing. "I swore that I wouldn't leave, remember? I'll definitely come back no matter what it takes, alright, munchkin?" Still no nothing from him. "Watch after Alphonse, he'll need you right now more so than ever before. I'm sure he'll do the same eve if I don't tell him."

He still gave no response whatsoever. "I love you, Edward," she said. "I love you and Alphonse and Winry and Granny." There was still no fucking reaction. "That's why I'll come back." When there was no reply, Ana leaned her forehead against the wall yet again, waiting for Edward to say something but as she realized the dead noise coming from the phone, her heart sank. Edward had ended the call without saying anything. Ana wanted to hear him curse at her.

She wanted to hear him yell at her ahout how she broke her promise and how he hates her now for that. She wanted to hear him scream and take his anger out on her but— but he didn't. He was silent throughout the call, never uttering a single word, never giving her any kind of reaction. That— that broke her heart. "Ana." Said scientist blinked and found Roy standing across from her, looking at her with wide surprised eyes. "Ah... you're here, Roy." The flame alchemist gave her a weirded and awkward look, not knowing what to do.

He planned on dropping a few take outs to Ana's room since he was sure she would be tired from the moving and all that. Roy didn't expect to see her in the lobby, looking like her whole world just shattered and— and she was crying. From the looks of it, she wasn't even aware of the tears that leaked from her eyes. Roy huffed a little before he threw his coat over her head to hide her crying face. "W-What the fuck are you doing—?" she paused. She must have realized the fact that she was, indeed, crying out in the open. "T-There's just dust in my eyes."

Her lame excuse made Roy roll his eyes but he didn't comment. Instead, he grabbed her wrist and led her back to her room. He could hear her sniffle a bit behind him; those choked sobs of hers made him feel bad. Roy didn't know what happened but from the looks of it, she had called her home again and someone must have done something to make her cry. The entire thing made him feel awkward because Roy did not know what to do when a girl cries like that. In fact, he has no idea how to comfort a girl without... you know, leading to that. But Ana was his friend.

A friend he treasures.

He wasn't about to leave her all depressed tonight when she was needed tomorrow at the lab. When he reached her room, he made sure to make her sit on the couch, leaving his coat with her. He prepared the dinner he brought; just rice and spiced fish. Roy sat opposite hers as he waited for her tears to dry. At first, Ana did not seem like the kind of person to cry easily but now, Roy knew better. The way she acted was a lot different from who she really was. Ana was sensitive despite her tough facade and filthy mouth.

It was... unexpected, actually. A few sniffles came from her and not long after, she removed the coat from her head and looked at him. Ana's eyes were a bit swollen and reddish from crying, her eyes still a bit watery from unshed tears. Her nose as well was pinkish alongside her cheeks. "Wha're you doin' here, Roy?" He showed her the plate in his hand, causing her to look at him in surprise. The flame alchemist noticed how her unshed tears went away, a hint of delight flickered in her eyes instead of the sadness he saw a few moments ago.

"I've come bearing a sacrifice." He grinned at her in a rather cheeky way that made his eyes squint, the almost unnoticeable dimples on his cheeks became noticeable due to the lighting in the room, the shadows obvious on his skin. It was a wonder why Roy stopped by her place again when he had been with her all day. Maybe he just really enjoyed Ana's company. Maybe he liked how blunt she was or how he could talk to her about alchemy because he knew no one who could keep up. The other alchemists were busy with their own work, after all.

Roy just... couldn't help himself. "Sacrifice? Is that all?" Ana asked him with a slight curve up on her lips, amusement shining in her eyes. "That's too little to be one, idiot." Roy rolled his eyes at her ungratefulness. She had been in his presence all day, all she could do was say thank you... yet, Roy was contented with what they have. Seeing that she was out of the walls she built, he finally pointed out the one thing that's been bugging him since he saw her downstairs. "What happened to your hair?" The way her eyes widened and cheeks flush made him laugh.

"Stop laughing, Roy!" she shouted in embarrassment while he couldn't help himself. She looked a bit ridiculous with that mess on her head. Of course, he calmed down a few seconds later but he couldn't stop himself from saying, "You cut it yourself, didn't you?" and when he got his answer, he tried to smother in his laughter.

Roy, taking noticed how her eyes seemed a lot brighter than they had been earlier, smiled softly at her.

oooOooo

Ana grumbled in dissatisfaction when her alarm rang loudly at five in the morning. It took all that she's got to remove the blanket off her. She even stayed on bed for one whole hour; just looking at the ceiling and thinking of nothing. She just stared at it like a weirdo when someone knocked on her door. "I know you're awake, open the door, Ana." The scientist rolled her eyes and finally got out of bed while a scowl marred her lips. She threw the door open and found Roy glaring down at her in annoyance. "Really? You're still not ready yet?"

When she yawned instead of answering, Roy facepalmed and pushed her back inside. "Get ready, Ana. I'm responsible for you until you get to the lab."

"Can I just get five more minutes to sleep?"

"No."

"What about four?"

"Still no."

"Three?"

"I'm not changing my answer any time soon, stupid."

"Two?"

"Just go take a shower already!"

Ana laughed at his expense when he realized she goaded on him on purpose. Maybe tease was a better term. Roy made himself comfortable on the couch as he waited for his friend to finish getting ready for the day. She was still probably stressed by what happened last night when she called her home. He tried his best to improve her mood yet it wasn't enough. He saw the dark circles marring her eyes, the redness of them causing him to wince. It looked as if she had only gotten an hour's of sleep... at most.

Roy began pondering on the woman called Ana, his friend, while waitimg for her to finish because she was such a brat and everything. The ginger-haired girl, from what he gathered, has a good inclination towards science. Her actions to apprehend a criminal further the Führer's interest in her. It didn't take a genius to know that Ana was a genius in her own right. Roy wasn't sure but he has this feeling that his friend knew alchemy; even though she had never said anything about it at all nor did he even ask in the first place.

Ana was... well, she was weird. He used that word to describe her in the beginning and as he got to know her, Roy dubbed her as eccentric. There was just something about the way she carried herself that made her different from everyone else. The way she took everything in stride without batting an eyelash. Then, there was that one time they walked by the park because she wanted to explore for whatever reason. Roy took note of how she looked at two kids playing with each other and only then he remembered that she herself was looking after a pair of children.

A sudden epiphany hit him. One of those kids must have done something to make her cry because of the situation she found herself in. She loves them with everything she has and would do anything for them yet they failed to see the sacrifice she was making. Roy suddenly felt a bit bitter towards those kids even if he hadn't met them at all. Roy loves his friend just as much as she loves him. He cares for her because she made it easy to be so. He couldn't leave her alone, no matter how much he thought about it.

The click of a doorknob twisting kicked him out of his thoughts. Ana came out of her bedroom, wearing the military uniform. However, instead of the coat, she wore her usual white lab coat over the blue pants and white t-shirt. The military coat was hanging by her arm. "You were so quiet I thought you died of boredom." She commented dryly. Roy snorted at that. "I don't plan on dying any time soon so you're stuck with me for who-knows-how-long."

"Hurray." The dry way she cheered made Roy chuckle as he stood up. "Let's head out."

As the two of them head out, Ana mentioned that there was no way in hell she was taking a car to their destination and that made him look at her exasperation. "It'll take us at least an hour to get there!"

"Then, we better get going, idiot."

Roy guffawed at her in disbelief. What was up with her and cars anyway?

The walk to Laboratory Three was silent... because Roy was busy cursing at Ana and her dislike for cars while the scientist was busy making hypothesis about the main research going on and why it was so importamt that the Führer emphasized on it. "Ana," Roy started with a curious tone. "Can you use alchemy?" Because he knew that she knows about what and how alchemy is used, he was curious if she could perform it herself. "Well, yeah, the munchkins—" she stopped for a second before resuming. "— taught me the basics. They're pretty talented themselves."

"And this munchkins?"

"I meant the kids I'm looking after. I, uh, call them munchkins because they're cute."

Roy chuckled. "So they're a natural at it, huh?"

"That's right. Those brats are pretty talented in the arts of Alchemy. I'm not sure if they plan on being State Alchemist— which I hope not for obvious reasons— but if they do plan on it, I'll be proud of them no matter what. They were five and four when they started self-teaching themselves about it, after all." Roy blinked in surprise at this. Talented was an understatement. "It would be great if they could be your subordinates though."

"And not yours?" He raised an inwuisitive eyebrow at her. She simply chuckled at that. "Not mine. I don't plan on associating myself with the military any further. I wouldn't mind staying friends with you, though, Roy." Said flame alchemist gave her quite the cheeky grin. "You love me, just admit it." She rolled her eyes in a palyful manner in response. "Do not push it, moron." He threw his hands up in surrender. "Just kidding." he told her.

Soon enough, they reached the Third Laboratory and parted ways but not before they insulted each other first. Ana eyed the building in front of her with an obvious frown, the ominous feeling she got from the establishment sent shivers down her spine. For now, she was aware how things were about to take a drastic turn and how the world would test her morals. She knew being a part of the military was a bad idea but she needed to, to keep her little brats safe from harm.

"Let's just get this over with..." she mutters under her breath.