I don't own Fullmetal Alchemist.
She laughed at him, tackling him into the dirt. He giggled too, rolling so he was crushing her. "I win!"
The girl pouted, being grinning devilishly as she pushed him off her sideways and popping back to her feet.
"Oh, you're both so muddy." They heard behind them.
The little boy looked to see his mother smiling warmly at him. "Mama!"
"Hey my little man. Where's your brother?" She picked him up with little difficulty.
He looked down gulity. "We were playing and he got mad cause me and Win beat him."
"Oh, Ed." she kissed his cheek. "Come on let's go get him. Winry you want to come?"
She thought for a moment, before staring down at her muddy attire. She grinned sheepishly. "I'll go home, Granny'll probably need my help with the automail.."
"Hm yes you're right." Trisha gave her head a little pet. "Be careful and say hi to your grandmother for me."
"Will do! Bye Ed!" She gave him a poke before she merrily skipped away.
"Goodness she's such a sweet girl.." She mumbled, carrying her son up a dirt road that cut evenly between grassy hills and fields of fresh green crops.
"Afternoon, Miss Elric." Some old, yet beaming women greeted her as she tended to some crops. A heavy sun hat on her head of greying hair.
"Oh good afternoon, Mrs White." She gave a slight bow.
"I just saw some fancy, city-grade hover car heading down your street. Anything for you?" She raised her eyebrows in question, a small smile on her withering face.
"Oh." Trisha's breath suddenly bunched in her throat as her eyes felt slick with tears as she broke, from her conversation, into a run, her son still cradled in her arms. "Hohenheim.."
"Dad?" He mumbled, eyes widening. "He's back?"
"Yes my baby." Trisha whispered, pressing her head to his. "Yes."
Finally they made it too the simple, beautiful cream house they lived in. They both regarded the dark brown, almost rectangular, vehicle sitting just on the street.
Trisha didn't waste a moment throwing herself inside.
Then the shrill scream of Alphonse pierced the air.
"Stay away from my brother!" He yelled, left hand gripping his exposed middle in pain.
Riza stood up as Roy ordered Fuery to take control of the ship.
"Hey now." He raised his hands, moving to Riza's side as she gripped a pistol in her deep pant pocket.
"Shut up!" He yelled, looking to his brother desperately. "Al let's go!"
"Brother don't-" he tried, only to get shushed by his sibling.
"No!" He moved to lunge for Riza and Roy.
Upon seeing his slight movement towards them, Riza whipped her gun out and aimed it confidently at the boy who was now frozen, looking between her and Al in distress.
"Calm down." She ordered condescendingly. "Calm down and let your brother explain."
Al gave a gentle nod before looking to the boy. "Brother, these people are Amestris soldiers."
"Dogs of the military." He snapped, but didn't move as he eyed the still drawn gun.
"They won't hurt us, Ed." Al assured, standing before carefully approaching him.
"Ed." Riza's voice dropped as she looked to him sympathetically. "That's your name."
He growled at her, making Roy step forward in defence. "Call me Edward."
"Edward." She corrected, lowering her firearm. "I'm Riza Hawkeye of the Amestris Space Military. You're aboard the starship 'Inferno.'"
"Sir." Fuery cut in, Roy glared his way in annoyance. "A ship from Xing is entering our airspace."
"Xing.." He thought for a moment, eyes turning back to Edward. "Avoid confrontation, I hear Bradley's been pissing them off recently."
"Yes sir."
"Tell me how we got here." Edward abruptly demanded, stepping forward again. Al took a hold of his upper arm.
"We found you in the Drachman Redlands. Care to explain why that is?" Roy raised his eyebrow.
Edward gave a grunt. "I don't want to talk about it."
"Then we cannot help you." Riza decided coldly.
"Fine, leave us in the nearest system." He stubbornly growled, making Al hit him across the head. "Ow!"
"Brother! They can take us to the Philosophers Star!" He suddenly covered his mouth in horror. "Oops!"
"Al!" Ed made a noise of irritation, crossing his arms guilty. "You know what! Fine! We where hitchhiking through space! Our last ride left us there, beaten up, when we didn't pay their fee."
"Philosophers Star?" Roy almost laughed. "That's a children's fable."
"No it isn't!" Al looked fearful, as if that could be the truth. "Ed?"
"It's real." Ed assured him. "We need it to restore Al to his Amestrian form.."
"What." Roy did laugh that time, before putting on a high pitched voice. "With its 'oh so amazing rays of pure healing?' Bullshit."
"Captain." Riza spat. "Not helping."
"It is real, you jerk." Ed snapped. "Our.. Father... Used to study it. It spoke of it in nearly all his stupid books."
"Maybe he was a fan of make believe." Roy shook his head, smirking. "So, you want us to dump you in any system?"
"Roy!" She yelled, exhausted. "We are not abandoning them! They're kids!"
"Who're you calling a kid! I'm fifteen! I bet too you I'm just a miniature, pathetic flee! Right!" The eldest of the pair suddenly screamed.
"Don't talk to her like that!" The captain ordered.
Riza shook her head of now disheveled hair. "All of you shut up! Fuery, call Havoc in."
"Yes Captain."
"Riza." Roy gave her exasperated look. "What are we doing?"
"We're helping them get back to Amestris in one piece." She informed him, feeling safe enough to place her already lowed gun back into her belt. "Edward and Alphonse Elric, we're not coming on your-er-search for the Star, but we will transport you back to Amestris with little to no problem, understood?"
Ed gave her a weary glance. "Fine, but can you drop us in a particular sector?"
She thought for a moment of the different sectors Amestris was divided into.
The Centre Sector, built around the military.
The East Sector, built for farming and livestock.
The South Sector, built for mechanical production.
The West Sector, built for mining.
The North Sector, built for producing supplies.
Each with a capital city and then a military command not far away.
Such an organised planet, she jested to herself internally.
"Which one?" She eyed him curiously.
"East. There are people there we have to see." He informed her vaguely. "In the capital Risembool."
She gave a single nod of agreement before noticing Havoc standing in attention beside Roy. "Havoc I'm charging you with these two."
"Don't I get a say!" Roy asked, annoyed.
She shook her head. "No you gave up that right when you acted like a child."
He grumbled but didn't question it further. Knowing to trust Riza's judgment over his own.
"I want a say too." Havoc raised his hand slowly, striking blue eyes locked on the dark, gold ones of Ed who looked at him challengingly.
Al, sensing the tension, abruptly shook Havoc's hand. "Hi! Havoc was it? I'm Alphonse, call me Al!"
"Hey, yeah.." He rubbed the back of his head. "Come on then, I'm sure we can sit in the cabin or something."
"Yes that would be best." Riza looked to the boys in concern. "Seeing as you're here, you might as well get comfortable. You both must be famished."
Ed gave her an elated look, that lasted only a moment before it reverted back. "Food sounds good.."
"Al?" Riza looked to him next, he shifted uncomfortably.
"No thank you, Miss Riza. I-uh-ate before we got beaten up?" It sounded more like a question as he looked to his brother, frightened.
"Oh, okay.." She eyed him skeptically. "Get them something to eat first Havoc, then find Edward some clean clothes. Dismissed."
He gave a nod, saluting her. "Captain." Before ushering the boys out. Ed kept his cold eyes on Roy until he disappeared out the door.
"Right." The captain shook his head. "Let's get moving. I want to get rid of them as quick as possible. Hawkeye, I need you back on pilot, you move the fasted. Fuery get Falman up here, I need you both keeping an eye on those monitors for that trade station and that Xing ship. Get Breda to hurry up fixing those shitty booster cores too, I want to jump space not cruise like I'm on a fucking holiday! Clear?" His voice rose as he spoke, making Fuery unintentionally shiver in fear.
"Y-yes sir!" Quickly pushing his glasses back up his nose, he moved aside for Riza to take control before proceeding to relay the Captains commands into the intercom.
"Great, I need a drink." He murmured, clearly stressed as he rubbed his eyes lazily. "Christ."
Meanwhile Ed sat uncomfortably on a cold metallic chair in a small, windowless room coloured grey, as he ravenously ate some strange stew from a little bowl. A glass of water sitting untouched beside it. "Hell, I haven't eaten like this in ages.."
Al laughed at him. "Should I add it too my list?"
"It's not that good." Ed gave him a half smile. "Then again after this nightmare ends you'll want to try everything, won't you?"
He grinned. "Naturally."
Havoc couldn't help but smirk lightly as he watched the previously serious boys laugh in each other's company.
"So, we're heading back to Resembool straight away?" Al asked curiously.
"Yes." Ed cringed to himself. "Not looking forward to Winry's reaction though."
"She'll want to kill you." Al giggled.
"Hah hah." Ed gave him an unamused look before diving back into his meal.
"Or." Al mock thought, coming to his feet. "She may want to kiss you instead."
Stew suddenly coated the table as Ed spat it out in horror. "Huh! What the fu- hell, Al!"
Al laughed heartily. "It's only true! And you'd gladly accept."
"Yeah right!" Ed growled again, returning to his food defensively. "Winry is like our sister!"
"No, my sister more or less. But you two were never on that level." Al informed him cockily.
"Oh so sorry." Ed gave him a searing look before speaking mocking. "Oh great social scientist Alphonse."
"Pfft." Al fell into a fit of laughter, through the tears of amusement he mumbled something. "Just don't take too long to give her a big old kiss!"
"Oh shut it." Ed rolled his eyes. "What do you know, you're like ten."
"Brother I'm Fourteen!" He corrected indignantly.
Suddenly the sturdy speaker in the back corner buzzed to life as someone spoke into it. "Captain, I need assistance in the engine room."
"Falman will be with you shorty." Came the tired response of Roy.
"Hey Havoc or whatever your name was!" Ed raised his hand, catching the bored mans attention.
He raised his brows. "Yeah, what?"
"can I get another serving!" He raised his plate.
Havoc groaned. How'd he, a top notch solider, end up a babysitter for two extremely childish teenagers?