A/N: Hello, happy Thursday everyone! How has your week been thus far? Interesting I hope! I would like to, once again, thank everyone who has reviewed thus far! You know exactly who you are! It's greatly appreciated, and honestly, it's what helped me get the energy to even try writing this chapter! I hope you enjoy it!
Chapter Length: 2,134
Chapter 4
Today's Breakfast
It was certainly different, the following morning, when Edward awoke to the alluring aroma of bacon frying in a nice heated pan. At first, the blonde thought he was still dreaming as the delightful smell filtered in through his nostrils. But as his senses began to come too, he remembered his guest; his brother. So, it was with a happy grin that the alchemist jumped from him warm comforts and rushed to dress himself. A task that proved far more difficult than any science he had studied.
"God damnit," He muttered excitedly as he struggled with the buttons on his uniform shirt. In fact, if he never had to wear the stupid shirt, no one would hear him complain. It was far too tight for comfort, and it restricted the movement of his shoulders.
"Brother!" Alphonse's voice floated up through the hallways. It filled the man upstairs with a sense of nostalgia. It wasn't too long ago that the brothers had lived together and depended so heavily on each other. "It's time to get up!"
"I'm already up!" Edward chuckled as he rushed down the stairs doing his best to keep his grip on the steps as he slipped down.
"Good, don't forget to feed the cat next door, and bring your umbrella with you today!" Alphonse chided happily as he placed warm bacon and eggs onto dual plates for Edward and himself. "And I probably won't be home early tonight. So dinner is up to you," He turned and held up a finger at his brother's sulky grumbles. "And I don't want any of those damned microwavable dinners that you seem to have aplenty."
"What else do you want me to cook?" Edward huffed as he scarfed down his breakfast. The more he ate, the more he regretted never making himself a proper breakfast. It was as if the day was just getting off to a great start. He could even stand to take care of the cat and spoil her with a pat or two.
"Something not frozen at least. A meat, and at least a salad." Alphonse chuckled crossing his arms as he dared his brother to argue. "Now, go take care of Mr. Tucker's cat." He slipped the plate away from the walking disposal system. "Then maybe I'll try to see you for lunch."
Edward shook his head downing his juice and placing the glass in the sink. "Doubt it. I'm sure Mustang has something for Havoc and I to do. Whether it's actually working on the jets, or training a few of the new guys. He's still pretty pissed about yesterday."
Ignoring his brother's eye roll, he darted out the front door tugging up the furry hood of his jacket and trudged over to the home next door. Fumbling with the key, he allowed himself to slip inside and call out to the small feline.
"Tilly," He hummed as he strolled into the kitchen as if it were his own house. He had to admit, that if the house hadn't belonged to a man as creepy as Tucker, Edward would have found the inside charming and inviting—minus the alchemy arrays that littered the shelves and tables. "Tilly, you stupid cat!" The blonde tried again with a heavy sigh. This time, when the cat didn't show, Edward decided that he didn't have enough time to just sit around and wait for the cat to show up, and with a hefty sigh, he let himself out. Surely the cat would find the food without a problem.
Central Headquarters: Committee Meeting
"Gentlemen," the Fuhrer's royal voice bellowed around the room and seemed to echo off the wall. Everyone instantly straightened up, giving the man that ruled their country the entirety of their attention. "It seems that Amestris has a new problem."
Roy could have groaned verbally, if it had not been for the fact that he was still in the presence of his boss. Just what the country needed; another problem that he was sure the military would cover. The only issue is that they were spread thin as it was, between the boarder skirmishes and the hoity about town.
"It seems that our alchemists have gotten just a little too creative in their freedom to study their new science." The comment was dangerous with an overlay of easy tone. If Roy hadn't been present for every board meeting, he would have assumed the Fuhrer was proud of his little minions discovery of something new. He had, after all, been thoroughly excited about the new science coming about. It had never been done. Theorized, yes, but never had anyone been able to perform such a feat, and now he had schools being created to train its students such a thing. "They've taken on the part of God, and have started to combine, what I can only assume are two different types of animals. I'm having some tests run later today by an outstanding vet. For now, anyone who is caught creating such a creature is to be handled as a criminal, and taken in for questioning."
Edward grinned happily as he sauntered into the new hanger. There, sitting before him in all of his glory was a beautiful Curtis P-40 Warhawk. The sharp beak gleamed a bright red in the light of the morning sun.
"Good morning, Edward." That voice grated his nerves and set his senses scrambling. Roy stalked out from behind the wing of the beautiful piece of machinery standing before him. "Might want to close your mouth. You're almost drooling." The smug comment caused the alchemist to do just that.
"What do you have planned?" Havoc questioned sneaking up behind the duo. Had his reflexes not been trained so strongly, Edward would have let his fist nail his teammate.
"Simple. We're sending out another platoon in a few days and I want you two gentlemen to have them experts in the care of these sky beasts," Roy leveled a glare at Edward and arched his eyebrow mischievously. "Or, at least, Havoc will. Edward, I've got a completely different plan for you. In fact, if you will, please follow me to the mess hall."
Havoc chortled watching as all of the blood drained from the young man's face.
Edward Elric's Home
"The stupid bastard had me peeling potatoes all day!" Edward harrumphed as his brother guffawed across the table. His day, which had started off so well, ended in shambles. About midday the weather took a downhill turn and began storming cats and dogs. That morning, he had disregarded Alphonse's recommendation to bring an umbrella, and so by the time he got home, he was soaked. "What kind of sick…"
"He must have a vendetta against everyone who eats in the mess hall brother," Alphonse chuckled trying to control the bolts of joy that were brought on by the tale. "At least he didn't have you cook though. What you made was simply inedible!"
Heat rose to Edward's cheeks when he recalled the burnt chicken that he had tried to pass off as a gourmet dish. Alphonse had quickly swooped in with take away, and claimed that Edward would have to start taking lessons.
"I've got to go take care of Tilly," Edward stated with a heavy sigh as he pushed away from the table. "I'll be back. I'm sure the poor thing needs at least a little bit of socialization."
"Let me grab my coat and I'll come with you!" Al chirped excited to see the cat. Edward shook his head chuckling softly as his blonde counterpart dashed off to grab the ever so familiar coat. Slinging it on his arms, the two brothers set out into the storm of the afternoon. "The poor thing is probably terrified in this weather!" Alphonse almost had to yell in order to be heard over the sound of the rain pounding down.
"Maybe we should just bring her to my place then," Edward sighed worriedly. He was sure that Tucker wouldn't be happy about the cat leaving his own home, but hell, if Edward had to take care of her for another five days, then he would much rather do it in the comfort of his own home.
"Probably a good idea," Alphonse nodded heavily as Edward fumbled for the key under the mat. When his brother rose without the glint of gold in his hand, a look of confusion dawned his face. "What's wrong?"
"I can't find the key," Edward growled as he started feeling along the ledge of the doorframe. Perhaps, he had unintentionally moved it, or left it somewhere without thinking about it.
"Maybe inside? Are you sure you locked it this morning?" Alphonse questioned curiously twisting the knob. He knew that sometimes, when his brother was in a rush, he could be absentminded. It didn't surprise him in the least when the door swung open silently.
"No, I was sure to lock it Alphonse. This isn't my home, I can't just frivolously leave the door unlocked." Edward grunted stepping in carefully. "Tilly?"
He was greeted by a seemingly silent home. It was funny, how in the bright warm rays of the sun, the living room seemed friendly, but in this off and on flashes of light, it was unnerving. Especially, when a distressed howl surged up from the basement.
"Of course," Edward sighed heavily. "She's in the basement."
He had wondered, at some point in his life, why Tucker deemed the basement off limits. Especially since the door had never properly locked since he began to baby-sit the cat. But he couldn't just abandon the animal in the middle of a thunderstorm.
"I'll be back," Ed stated as he stormed into the basement. Maybe if he had gotten in and out as quick as possible, there would be no need for Tucker to ever find out.
Al simply nodded and began to gather the things the poor feline would need.
The steps into the basement were rickety and probably breaking in some areas. They were definitely in need of repair. There was no railing to be felt, since the light at the top of the stairs refused to even flicker with the flips of its switch.
"Tilly?" He called once more as he stumbled forward. Doing his best to feel for the steps as he descended. Another howl met his ears and set his nerves on edge. Tilly had never sounded like that, even after a week and a half of looking for his missing owner.
Edward simply could not shake the feeling that something bad was going to happen. Just as his foot hit the bottom of the steps, a loud explosion resounded above his head, sending light tremors into the ground below him.
"Alphonse!" Edward yelped as Tilly screeched and darted around his legs nearly clawing him in her escape. "She's coming your way!"
He hadn't even heard the scratch of something moving behind him, nor did he see the shadows squirm in the light that did manage to creep down into the darkness from the door.
"I've got her! The transformer up the street blew because of the water!" Alphonse called down the stairs taking his place in the doorway. It was the look of utter shock and terror on his baby brother's face that gave Edward proper cause to turn around. "Step back slowly," Alphonse whispered gripping the trembling tabby in his arms.
"What the hell are these things?" Edward snarled facing what he could only describe as a mixture of two beings that were never meant to be combined. It was like watching someone trying to mix together oil and water in a bottle. The oil would try to over take the water, but would ultimately only float to the top. The only difference was that there was no separation. No seam that Edward could see that forced the goat to intermingle with the alligator tail and front clawed feet. He could feel the color leaving his face as it inched closer to him.
"That," Alphonse whimpered regrettably staring down at the monstrosity before him. It wasn't the scariest one he had seen as far as looks. But it was the combinations. He had seen a mix of a single species of animal, and then the intermixing of two species. But to see someone transmuting the poor things three times and probably on its way to a forth was sickening. He knew from studying the ones in the lab, that it took an immense amount of energy and power to bind a hawk's head to a chicken's body. It had been a pathetic, if not amusing, attempt at the transmutation. "That is a Chimera." He cleared his throat as if he was trying not to vomit from the view standing before him.
