Roy-Fan-33 - Yikes, hope you're okay!

Shadow Dancing

At the center of intense scrutiny was not a place Edward Elric enjoyed finding himself. Shifting uncomfortably on the leather upholstery, his unflinching gaze remained firmly fixed on the black rectangular pattern in the large rug that covered the floor between the two seats in Roy Mustang's office.

The still air of the room left him feeling cold even though a warm blanket had earlier been draped over his shoulders. It was not a physical feeling, but rather a fear deep inside that he could not so easily shake. Though he was grateful for the brown covering, it his torn sleeves that exposed his automail arm and the bandages that covered wounds on his left. Lt. Col. Hughes had insisted he get the cuts checked and treated.

Above his right brow, a gash and a bandaged made it feel as if something was pressing into his brain. He reached up with his left hand, wincing slightly as he touched the gauze. The rest of his facial wounds were razor thin lines left to heal in the air. Most were shallow and would be gone in a day or two but every time a muscle twitched it made his face hurt.

It took a while before he worked the courage up to raise his eyes to those who silently watched him. Al was sitting next to him and across the way on the other chair was Fury and Breda with Falman leaning on an arm and Havoc standing behind.

He hated that they all looked concerned, but no one said anything.

Lt. Hawkeye approached and handed him a glass of water. At first he wanted to decline the offer, but then took it, grateful for something to focus on. "Thanks."

"Just relax," she said kindly before straightening. She offered Al a smile and then took her place to Mustang's right.

The youth shifted his gaze to the other corner of the desk that crowned the office. Hughes was leaning against the edge, his arms folded across his chest, his head down, but it was clear he was carefully watching. Nor did he try to hide any of his concern. He was clearly worried.

Ed was decidedly starting to feel uneasy. Sure, he had stepped in it, running after someone with no real authority or better yet, no real idea why. He had just reacted. "She attacked us first," he announced.

Feeling the gleam of his old self, he turned his attention to the Colonel who was sitting behind the desk in fierce silence. His white gloves—fingers entwined—were stark against the blue backdrop of his uniform. His obsidian gaze revealed little emotion.

The look stung Ed like shards of glass.

And it only made him angrier.

After a sip of the cool water, Ed set the glass down on the table between the two settees. "Her palms and the pads of her fingers were covered in tattooed arrays. She seemed more interested in her tea than anything else."

"I thought she was sad," Al quietly added.

Ed nodded slightly. "She talked about losing loved ones but nothing seemed too far out of the ordinary until the officer arrived searching for me." That was what had set her off, he silently thought. Everything was fine until he was addressed as Major Elric.

"What were you doing blindly chasing after her like that?" Mustang demanded.

"She attacked us!" Ed barked back just in case the Colonel did not hear him the first time.

Hughes sighed and massaged the bridge of his nose, pushing his glasses up slightly as he did so. "For someone in her position, she's quite fearless."

"Or insane," Mustang said.

"That too."

Out of the silence that seemed to sweep through the room, Havoc spoke up. "Shouldn't we be out searching for this crazy glass alchemist? Especially if she's the one who killed that patrolman in the Savon District last night."

Fury perked up slightly. "She attacked Ed and Al for no reason. We can't just let her get away."

"She won't be escaping," the Colonel replied. "That's not her intent."

"How do you know this, sir?" Hawkeye asked.

Maes Hughes twisted and looked over his shoulder at the Lieutenant. He could see it in her dark amber eyes the concern. Actually, he could feel it all around. Everyone knew something was up, something bad. And Roy was being his thickheaded self.

A few more moments passed and still Roy said nothing. Sighing, Maes stood up and met Ed's steady gaze. Ed's pride had been wounded, but more than that, he could see the lingering fear. He had come close to losing Al.

Say something!

Taking the burden upon himself, Maes began. "She is not a glass alchemist. Well, no, that's not right. She's obviously skilled but she was not previously known for that."

Al shifted in his seat. "She knew Dr. Marcoh, did she run away too?"

"She betrayed the State and the military to the enemy."

Hawkeye let out an uncharacteristic gasp.

Laughter, shaky and uncertain came from behind the settee where Havoc stood. He smiled but it did not reach his eyes. "You all had me scared for a moment. Great joke. I thought for sure you were going to say Odessa Rhodes has come back from hell dragging an army of dead Ishbalan Hareti with her." He looked to Hughes and then to Roy. "Right?"

To Maes' growing frustration, Roy remained quiet.

"Right?" The smile faded.

"You knew all about her?" Ed asked as he pushed off the blanket and stood up. His natural arm was bandaged in a few places, the white bright against his black clothing. "You knew?" An aura of anger surrounded him as he glared at Mustang.

The unlit cigarette fell from Havoc's mouth as he paled. "But they all died at Medes." He reached up and rubbed his shoulder. "No one could have survived that hell." He turned, looking pleadingly at Roy.

Ed clenched his hands into fists. "She knew what we were. She knew what we had done. She said she knew about the Philosopher's Stone. She mentioned Marcoh. That has to mean something."

A smile, casual but not entirely sincere, Maes thought, lit Roy's face. He had seen it often in the past, during the days of the rebellion. He had seen the change before and knew what few others did. He saw the devil that hid under the brash, arrogant façade, the thing that took the place of the man when duty demanded it.

"Is it so hard to believe that she heard that name before?" Roy asked calmly. "She did serve during the rebellion at Ishbal, the same time Marcoh did. They probably crossed paths." Then, matter-of-factly, "She was once known as the Healing Touch Alchemist and working in the hospital treating soldiers wounded in action."

"No," Ed said firmly. "She knows something and I'm going to find out what it is."

Roy drew a gloved finger over the dark, lacquered surface of his desk, and then slowly raised his hand, pressing his fingers together as if to snap. "No."

"If she has information—"

Instantly, Roy was on his feet. His chair toppled over behind him as he slammed his hands down on the desk. He spoke with a sharp air of authority, "Stay away from her. Do you understand?"

Ed narrowed his gaze.

"Brother?" Al whispered softly.

"Who are you to stop me?" the youth challenged.

"I am your commanding officer. If you cannot obey orders, you will be confined until further notice."

Maes fought the urge to slap his friend upside the head and yell at him for acting stupid again. He knew Roy meant well and all, but this was not how to tame Ed when he was equally determined.

They're just alike, stubborn to a fault.

Ed reached to his side and pulled the silver pocket watch, the symbol of his rank as a State Alchemist from his pocket and held it up for all to see. "Then I quit."

"Brother," Al whispered, reaching out to Ed. "Please don't—"

"I'm tired of secrets being kept from me. She knows something and I'm going to find out what. Come on Al." He threw the watch down on the table between the two chairs and then turned and started for the door.

"So that's how it is?" Roy asked. "You don't like the rules so you're just going to quit until you get what you want and then come crawling back when you need the military's resources again?"

Ed stopped at the door and looked at Al who remained sitting. "Al?"

Slowly, the younger got up and moved toward the door.

"Not this time," came the Colonel's dark tone. "Chief Warrant Officer Falman. Take the Elric brothers into custody."

"Sir?" Falman asked as he jumped to his feet. All around, the others stirred uneasily.

"Arrest them for interfering with a State investigation."

"I haven't done anything yet!" Ed roared.

Maes raised his hand slightly, and was pleased to see Ed glance his way. He prayed the youth would hear him out and remain calm. "Settle down, Ed."

A soft crack drew everyone's attention. Havoc was leaning against the wall and it seemed only to be barely supporting him as he gripped his shoulder. He looked to Roy. "She wants revenge, right, Chief?"

"She has shown no interest in the soldiers who survived Medes," Maes said. "She has either herself or with the help of Hirada and his men—"

"Wait a minute," Hawkeye interrupted. "Hirada is alive?"

Maes adjusted his glasses. "Eye witness accounts leave us to believe he is." For the first time in memory, he thought he saw fear in the woman's eyes. He sighed. "Anyone who interferes with her quest seems to have been killed. Soham's patrol. The information office they raided. They were only interested in the files of Lt. Col. Soham and—"

"All of his men were killed at Medes," Havoc interrupted.

"What about that patrol last night?" Fury asked. "They were just security officers."

"Probably happened upon their hiding place," Roy answered.

Al turned and looked back. "She said she would not let us interfere. There was one more death, but I don't know what she meant by that."

"I think you two were very lucky," Breda said. He nodded toward Al. "She knew Ed would rescue you. She probably could have killed you both, or at least done a lot more damage. She was pulling her punches."

"Exactly," Roy said as he pressed his hands to the desk and leaned heavily against it. "Everyone, stay out of her way. Don't interfere with her. Take no unnecessary risks. I will not have my people harmed in the course of her revenge."