Mustang's eyes were on me, surprised, and before he could compose himself to answer me, the sound of the door launching open interrupted him.

"ROY!" A bright, enthusiastic voice exclaimed, making me jump while Mustang merely released an exasperated sigh. A man marched through the door, his glasses gleaming in the light from the office bulbs, continuing, "Oh! I didn't know you had company!"

Hughes! Before I realized it I was smiling, and I quickly tried to control my expression. Wait, damnit, I'm not supposed to know him! Thankfully, it seemed as if his attention was trained on Mustang, so he didn't notice my reaction.

"I was meaning to introduce you anyway," Mustang said, looking at Hughes. "This is Lynette La'va, she's involved in the case you should've gotten the file for today. Miss La'va, this is Lieutenant Colonel Maes Hughes, he's the lead of the Investigations Division and will be the primary investigator for this case."

"A pleasure, Miss La'va!" Hughes extended his hand toward me, and I shook it firmly.

"Please, call me Lynette," I said, smiling lightly and casting a glance at Mustang, "Both of you, I don't mind." Mustang gave Hughes a look, probably wondering what was different about Hughes that put me at ease so quickly. Hughes padded over and clapped his sulking friend on the back, laughing.

"Please don't mind him, he can be a little intense," Hughes joked to me, and I visibly relaxed, watching them banter a bit.

Don't let your guard down, I reminded myself, he may be twice as friendly, but he's also twice as observant - he's not the head of Investigations in Central for no reason. I wonder if his ability to put people at ease is something he uses to get information…

Mustang handed Hughes a notepad that I hadn't noticed him writing on, explaining briefly that it was a recount of my witness testimony. Hughes thanked him, and his eyes caught briefly on the suitcase resting by my feet before darting back up to me.

The sickening feeling bubbled up in my chest so quick it gave me whiplash, and I forced a smile. Damn, just as I forgot it was there, too. He must've caught my tensing up, because shortly after he grinned at Mustang and whipped out a photo from his jacket, his glasses glinting sharply as he proudly showed it off to the both of us.

After excitedly introducing me to his adorable daughter who grinned through the picture, he gushed about her to the both of us. As he passionately described how she had recently scribbled a drawing of their family that he now had framed in his office, Mustang looked ready to throw his hands up and walk away while I interjected with the occasional she is absolutely adorable, I bet you're proud of her and she sounds like such an angel.

When Hughes finally bid us adieu with Mustang's notepad in hand, I waved as an impatient sigh left Mustang's lips.

"Sorry about that," Mustang spoke once the door shut behind Hughes, "he can be a little much, especially when it comes to his daughter." I laughed lightheartedly, visibly brighter after the visit.

"Not at all," I commented amiably, relaxing back into the couch, "I think it's surprisingly refreshing how someone so perceptive can be so lighthearted and doting." Mustang's eyebrow raised at me.

"It seems like he's not the only one who's perceptive," he commented, and I let a small grin rest on my face.

"You're really trying to recruit me, huh?" I teased, and he leased a breath.

"Orders are orders," he replied, scanning me as he continued, "I didn't take you for an alchemist, though." I shrugged.

"Alchemy is interesting, and if I'm correct, an automatic bump to a rank where I'm less likely to get stepped on," I said, watching Mustang carefully for a reaction. The corner of his lip curved up slightly, and yep there goes my heart racing again, guess his alchemy isn't the only thing hot about him.

"Looks like this isn't the first time you've considered it," Mustang commented, "but, a fair warning, you'll probably end up stepped on regardless of rank at some point or another."

"Wow, you're really good at persuading people, you know that Colonel?" Mustang cracked a smile at my dry sarcasm.

"The state alchemist exam happens to be just around the corner, in about two weeks if I'm right," he redirected the conversation, eyes still on me, "I can talk to those organizing it to waive the age restriction so you can apply for it. Come back tomorrow afternoon and I'll see if I can have the application paperwork by then." My eyebrows shot up.

"Really? You'll help me apply?" My eyes glittered, and he nodded nonchalantly.

"It wouldn't be the worst to get another," he coughed into his gloved hand, "more reasonable state alchemist in my staff if you happen to succeed." I withheld a chuckle at the shot, undoubtedly toward the infamous older Elric brother.

Speaking of the Elrics, the clink of metal met my ears as the door shot open once more.

"Why is everyone coming in all at once today?" I caught Mustang grumbling under his breath, seemingly exasperated despite his pleasant demeanor with me moments before.

Now that's the Mustang I know from the anime, I couldn't stop the grin overtaking my features at yet another sigh from the Colonel. Acting like he hates being bothered but secretly enjoying the company.

My eyes caught on the frame of the older Elric who strode in first, rolling his shoulder delicately and fighting back a yawn. A blush coated my cheeks as my eyes combed a little too thoroughly over his frame as he moved. His blonde hair seemed lighter in the daytime light, seeming like it would so soft to the touch-

"Oh, Lynette!" Al was the first one to regard me, breaking me out of my trance to look at him with a reflexive, polite smile.

"Lynette?" My name tumbled from the mouth of the elder Elric and I met his golden gaze, his eyebrows furrowed in surprise. "What are you doing here?"

"She just gave me her statement from yesterday," Mustang replied for me as I scrambled to regain my composure. He continued, "How's the shoulder, Fullmetal?"

Edward gently touched the shoulder he had rolled as he walked in, casually regarding his superior as he strolled over to the couch opposite of me, "Hurts, but I'll live." Alphonse followed behind him, ducking into the room and squeaking his greetings before finding a comfortable place standing behind his brother.

"You were injured last night?" I exclaimed, eyes returning to Ed's shoulder, guilt hitting me like a brick, "And you still walked me home…"

Ed's eyebrow quirked up and he dismissed it, saying, "Don't worry about it, you were pretty shaken up yourself." I looked down and away, my face burning.

God, or Truth, or whoever the presiding power is, please don't let him believe that I actually killed McDougal, I prayed silently, and while you're at it, it wouldn't suck if he also thought I was cute.

"Oh, speaking of the state alchemy exam," Mustang caught my attention, gesturing at the elder Elric, "you're looking at the youngest person to have ever passed the exam." I feigned shock, looking back and forth between the two of them.

"Why're you bringing that up?" Ed asked, confused, and I bit my lip.

"The Fuhrer thought it appropriate to recruit Lynette after witnessing her in action yesterday, and she just inquired about becoming a state alchemist," Mustang explained, and Ed looked at me in surprise.

"You're an alchemist?" He asked, and I shrugged.

"I dabble in it, but I'm still learning for sure," I answered, the sparkle that lit in Ed's eyes giving me a whole new thing to stress about. Wait, I forgot he's a total alchemy nerd… Damnit, I should've taken more chemistry in school! I'm gonna look like a total fool when I know nothing about it!

"Oh yeah?" He leaned back against the couch, resting one of his arms over the back of the couch as he observed me in interest. But past the glint of excitement he displayed, there was also a part of his expression that overcame that, something like…

Caution.

Anxiety immediately tightened my chest, and I did my best to shove it down as I remarked, "Mhm! It'd be awesome to hear about the exam from you sometime, but for the meantime it seems like you all have business to attend to."

I cleared my throat lightly and I looked away from Ed's golden eyes in favor of Mustang's softer dark ones.

"Well, I don't want to take up too much of your time, Colonel Mustang," I made an effort to sound light yet firm in my attempt to weasel out of Ed's intent gaze that seemed to almost pin me to my seat. "What time will you be expecting me tomorrow?"

"The paperwork should be in my hands at about three," Mustang surmised, a dark eyebrow quirked at my sudden keenness to leave. "I can send someone to escort you if you'd like, Lynette." The last word rolled off his tongue smoothly, in a slightly deeper tone than his offer.

Ugh, I don't normally simp but damn the way he says my name in that sinful voice of his has me feeling some sorta way-

"I'll be fine to get here on my own, but thank you for the offer, Colonel," the words came out a bit rushed as I felt the tips of my ears redden as I smothered my unhelpfully licentious thoughts. Reluctantly reaching down to grasp the handle of the suitcase by my feet, I rose to my feet, regarding the Elrics slightly quicker than necessary, "Edward, Alphonse, thanks again for last night, see you around!"

With that, I was out the door, slipping quietly through the group office as I headed toward the hall.

With the literal briefcase of cash clutched in my grasp and the vastness of Central City before me, there was only a single thought in my mind as I stepped out of Central Command.

Food.

With only the contents of a single beat up can of expired vegetables I'd scrounged from the empty apartment to grace my stomach for the past day and a half, coupled with the anxiety I'd had starting to dissipate, I realized I was absolutely famished.

And so I set off on my journey, pleasantly surprised to stumble on an adorable family-run bakery only a few blocks down from whence I had come.

After fueling up on several delectable pastries matched with a couple heavenly cups of hot coffee, I walked out with a bag of bread and other assorted baked goods, humming to myself cheerfully.

As I continued to peruse through various shops that caught my eye, it began to strike me exactly how much money was stuffed in that suitcase.

And also how strangely different this world was to mine.

It felt like stepping into an old movie: telephone booths and landlines replaced the smartphones I had become so accustomed to, paying entirely in cash and change, even the clothing was so dated and mundane...

And for the first time in my life I found myself in need of an actual, plain watch.

I really do take so much for granted, I mused, relinquishing a carefully counted stack of bills in exchange for the simple black leather-banded wristwatch. I stared at the white face through the glass for a moment, watching the small bronze hands tick slowly past the time markings.

With a sigh, I refused the box the cashier offered me as I pulled it onto my left wrist, struggling a bit until the cashier kindly offered to help. Lips pursed and eyes down in embarrassment, I thanked her as she deftly fastened the bronze clasp.

With several sets of new clothes, two pairs of actual shoes (one being an old-fashioned set of running shoes that I currently donned and the other a pair of steel-toed leather boots), assorted toiletries, two basic books on alchemy and the food I had gotten previously stuffed into a large canvas rucksack, I asked for directions back to my self-appointed apartment from a passerby.

The sun was beginning to set, alighting the horizon of the large city in beautiful shades of candyfloss pink, tangerine and crimson. The wide, thin clouds stood out against the rich color of the sky, reflecting the bright, glimmering yellow of the sun as it sank behind the towering buildings.

Marveling at the beautiful sight before me, I almost passed right by the type of shop I had been keeping a close eye out for, doing a double take as I shot a glance over at it.

Bingo! A small bell sounded through the air as I pushed the door open, peering inside at the lit-up shop as I stepped through the doorway.

Before me was a small shop, shallow shelves lining the wall behind the counter glass display cases. And every inch of the shop, from the shelves to cases to even hooks on what little of the wall was uncovered, was covered in weapons.

I could hardly stop myself from gasping ecstatically at the massive collection, head whipping from one side to another with no idea where to start.

A low chuckle met my ears, and my gaze snapped to a tall gentleman leaning against the counter off to my side, observing my wonder with an amused upturn of his lips nearly hidden by his graying mustache.

"See something you like?" He asked, his warm brown eyes twinkling with delight at the unadulterated glee on my face.

"Uh, only everything," I breathed in amazement, and he loosed a laugh.

"I only see that kind of look on enthusiasts, normally; you collect knives, Miss?"

"Used to collect all sorts of things," I approached the counter where he stood, leaning down to look earnestly through the glass at the various types of brass knuckles and knives lining the internal shelves, "haven't indulged myself in a while, but I've found myself in need of some, uh, protection if you will."

"Oh, well if you're looking for protection," the man stepped back, moving to pull out a long, thin drawer out from the bottom of a stout cabinet off to the side, "then these may be more of interest to a lady such as yourself." Setting the drawer down on the counter in front of me, I peered down into it only to meet the sight of several small pistols and revolvers resting on deep red velvet that lined the bottom.

My stomach dropped, and for a moment the red of the velvet took up my vision, wrapping around the guns like a pool of blood-

"N-no! N-no guns, please," I made out past my closed-up throat, trying to stuff down the pure heart-stopping dread that flooded my system. I must've gone sheet white, because the man apologized softly, unable to mask his surprise at my reaction as he returned them to their proper place.

With his back turned to me, I swallowed thickly, jaw tense as I desperately tried to flood my thoughts with anything but the traumatic memories threatening to take over my mind and body again after I had finally managed to escape them this morning.

Oh no, no, nono nononono nope we are not going down that road again, uh, think stupid thoughts! Embarrassing ones work the best! That's it - fanfiction! Fanfiction, stupid tropes, why couldn't I just be in the Elric's apartment right now, forced to share a bed with a shirtless Ed? Ugh I would actually kill for that - wait, no I wouldn't, I don't think he likes me right now? But he seemed nice, if not sympathetic to me yesterday, Al seems fine with me too…

Ruminating on my memories with the brothers, I worked with the man, who I found out to be the owner of the small shop, to narrow my choices to a few weapons. I purchased them quickly, not bothering to wait for change as I steered out of the shop.

I had bought two small, sheathed spearpoint knives, strapping one to each of my calves before hiding them under my pants. I also had a new bo staff, the thin-yet-sturdy collapsible steel tubes currently folded in and hidden in the inner pocket of the dark jacket I had purchased earlier. A larger hunting knife and a can of mace were stuffed in my bag, along with a new heavy metal flashlight shoved in the water bottle pocket on the side.

In my left hand I held the suitcase - which I was shocked to find at the end of my shopping spree was basically still as full as it seemed when I received it - close to my side, the other stuffed in my jacket pocket. Upon looking up into the now-darkened sky, my right hand nervously thumbed over several of the new steel finger rings I had purchased from the shop as I started back on foot.

"And STAY OUT!"

The door violently slammed close behind me and I leapt forward, narrowly avoiding an unceremonious faceplant on the broken sidewalk of the apartment building I had just gotten kicked out of.

My feet moved quickly, too terrified of the six-foot-three bodyguard that had popped out of nowhere and chased me out of the lobby to even think about sticking around.

Fuck, fuck, fuckfuck fuckfUCKFUCKFUCK-

My breathing was ragged with adrenaline and eyes wide in panic as I ran from the building, plastic soles hitting the pavement as I raced down the street.

How in the everloving fuck did they figure out I was squatting so damn quick? I thought I at least had a couple days to sort out this whole damn fucking CLUSTERFUCK OF A SITUATION!

My eyes stung as I kept running, darting in and out of empty allies to avoid the few people still strolling down the dimly-lit sidewalks of the city streets.

Eventually, I couldn't run anymore, gasping for air as I pulled myself into another empty alley, dropping my things and slinking down a brick wall so that I was mostly out of the sight of the street.

Tears spilled freely down my cheeks and onto my pants, and I couldn't tell if the heaving in my chest was from running or from crying; my legs nearly to my chest, I curled in on myself, hands desperately pressed to my hot face as it contorted to match my gross, panicked bawling. My whole body trembled like a leaf caught in a violent storm and choked, quiet sobs escaped the bruising bite of my teeth on my lower lip, echoing slightly down the otherwise silent, narrow passageway sandwiched between two towering brick buildings.

I was supposed to be in the home stretch of high school, complaining about exams and opening college acceptance letters, not homeless and alone in an entirely different fucking universe with no leads on how I got here and fuck I didn't do anything wrong but after last night my hands feel like they're always covered in blood and I don't know what to do-

Through the blood pounding in my ears, I thought I caught the faintest sound of footsteps in the background.

"G-great, now I'm even hearing things," my breath hitched as I barked a bitter, humorless laugh into the emptiness.

"... Lynette, is that you?"

HELLO YET AGAIN, AND YES I DIDN'T WAIT TWO YEARS TO UPDATE AGAIN HAHAHA

For those of you that have read the original TGHB, what do you think? I'm particularly enjoying myself, bouncing between the seriousness of FMA and the semi-ridiculousness of the original TGHB but still attempting to adhere to the original plotline. For now, I want to keep all of the important moments and aspects of TGHB, my biggest changes mostly around how to make it slightly more believable and the protagonist hopefully more human! But same weapon-loving warrior nonetheless.

As for Colonel Mustang, ikkkkk he's based in East City, this and the previous chapter were set in the temp. office our lovely pyromaniac took over to revel in his brief moment of glory before he gets booted (again) back East.

Do the Elrics believe that Lynette killed McDougal?

Will Mustang's voice always be unbearably sexy? [a/n in an a/n: actually yes I'd die happy to Travis Willingham doing ASMR]

Will Lynette go through with taking the state exam?

Who called out to her, and what will she do now?

You'll just have to find out in the next update, probably sometime this week~! I'm on a roll, I've been binge reading some BNHA fanfiction and can I just say I am fired up!

Drop a comment on your thoughts/reactions and let me know what you think of this chapter! Your comments always keep me fired up!

Don't forget to follow/favorite this story and me as an author for updates if you're interested!

My lovely readers, thank you and until the next chapter!