~Author's Note~
The chapters now, get long. I will start posting them in two, maybe three parts, if need be. And the second part of this chapter is where things get heavy. The rating will be changing. Soon. Also, to alert you in advance, my story changes a few details from the original. Just a few, and not major ones so fear not! Now, without further ado:
Alee sat in the passenger's seat of the sleek, black, unmarked military car with Edward and Alphonse Elric sitting in the back seat behind her.
Much to her annoyance, just as Roy had predicted, Fullmetal had taken care of the terrorists with all his typical gusto: he wrecked the train. The remnants of Blue Squad was now in custody, to be dropped off at Headquarters and moved to holding cells to await their trials. General Hakuro was being escorted to the hospital with his family, while all the other passengers were deferred and redirected to a new train at a new time. It was inconvenient, but no one had died. So all in all, everything worked out rather nicely.
After the mayhem, Roy had announced to everyone to take the rest of the day off before scampering away himself. On their way back to their cars, Jean requested with flushing cheeks to spend the rest of the evening in Alee's company. Happily, she accepted his invitation to dinner, excited butterflies swirling in her stomach. She began to feel as if she was sixteen again, worrying about trivial things like hair and outfits, wondering if there would be enough time to get ready before Jean swung by her apartment. It had been so long since she'd been on a date (a year, at least! Not since breaking up with Alex) and she could hardly control her wild heart. There was still one order of business, however. She and Warrant Officer Vato Falman had to escort Ed and Al to their hotel. It wouldn't take long, but the excitement clashing with the silence in the car made her anxious.
Alee sighed and cast a sidelong glance at Falman's slim profile. Nothing. He'd never spoken more than a few words to her since she'd arrived in East City despite everyone's assurances that most of the time, they could never keep his mouth shut. At first, she'd thought that the highly intelligent soldier didn't like her, but when she admitted this to Jean one day, he had laughed at her.
"Oh, no! It's not like that at all," he assured her as he, Alee, and Breda slid into their normal table in the back corner of the noisy, crowded mess hall. Sunlight streamed into the room from a tall, nearby window, bathing them in pleasant warmth, the last rays of summer.
"Well then, what?" Alee exclaimed, picking croutons out of her salad.
"Well, see, Falman..." he began delicately, exchanging an uncomfortable glance with Breda.
Breda rolled his eyes at Jean and grunted, "He thinks you're beautiful! He can't talk to you. He gets tongue-tied." He then took a huge bite of one of his hotdogs.
"Just throw it out there, why don't you?" Jean snapped irritably, biting into his sandwich.
Breda just shrugged and devoured the rest of the hotdog in one bite.
Alee sat for a moment in stunned silence. "So he can't even talk to me?"Jean and Breda shook their heads. "Nope."
"That's ridiculous! I don't believe it. You guys are messing with me."
"Believe it," Breda said, digging into his next hotdog.
A month later, Alee had still hardly heard a peep from the silver haired man. She tried to deal with him either indirectly or as little as possible because she always felt bad about it, like it was somehow her fault he wouldn't speak. Somehow though, he'd ended up as their driver.
Desperate to break the silence, she turned back to Ed and Al and smiled. "What brings you guys here to the lovely East City?" she chimed.
"Lovely? You're kidding, right AJ?" Ed said flatly.
"I was trying to be positive about my situation," Alee protested.
"Riiiiiight," the little blonde boy drawled. "You were transferred from Central recently, right?"
"Yep. A month ago."
"Why?" Al interjected in his high pitched voice.
"I'm not sure," Alee admitted to the large suit of angular armor that served as Al's temporary body. Like Alee, these boys had committed the sin of human transmutation and paid a heavy price: Al with his body and Ed with his arm and leg. No one was supposed to know, but Alee was wiser. That earned them a soft spot in her heart. She had tried to look out for them as best as she could while she was in Central, serving the Feürer.
"That sucks. I feel bad for you, being stuck here with the Colonel and his cronies. Why don't you ever just leave?" Ed asked casually, blowing his golden bangs out of his eyes.
Alee laughed shortly. "It's my job, Ed. I, unlike you, have duties. I'm an adult. I can't just travel the world of my own free will," she said uneasily. Ed's words had reminded her of Isaac's advice to leave the military and the country. She couldn't find it in herself to leave it all behind.
"Uhhhhh... I'm pretty sure you can ask for the leave like we did," he pointed out haughtily.
"Here," Falman interjected, pulling over in front of a tall, grand hotel with the Amestrian Military seal, a roaring red dragon, emblazoned on either side of the polished gold lettering reading: Hotel of Amestris.
As they got out of the car, Alee observed the bustling street before the intricately furnished, marble building. Not many people outside the military used these hotels—they were far too expensive— but that didn't stop the civilians from greedily looking in at the grandeur beyond the glass. Past the revolving frosted glass doors was a high luxury lobby, complete with a grand fireplace large enough for several people to stand in and several plush lounge chairs and couches.
The four of them strode straight to the oak front desk and Edward placed his silver State Alchemist pocket watch on the counter, demanding, "One room, please." With amusement, Alee noticed that his head was the only part that cleared the countertop.
The official gave him a room and a dubious look, then Falman and Alee helped take their things up.
On the fifth floor, they walked into a room that was just as impressive as the lobby, with perfectly plastered and frescoed walls, a large four poster bed, a couch and a carved coffee table. Falman let out a low whistle; she didn't even blink at it. Alee had stayed in these hotels a few times in her life before, but she now preferred more modest places. This place stirred memories of a home she hated; she didn't like the reminder.
"Quaint," Alee commented begrudgingly, dumping their suitcase on a chair. "But where is Alphonse supposed to sleep?"
"Oh, I don't," Al chirped, ducking through the doorframe. His gigantic body made the room look even smaller. "This body doesn't need sleep."
"Convenient."
Edward trudged into the room and lay down on the bed with a huge sigh.
Addressing Falman, Alee said, "Listen, I'll meet you back at the car in a bit. Just give us a minute, okay?"
He nodded mutely and left, closing the door behind him.
"Have you guys found out anything about your bodies?" Alee asked quietly after Falman left.
"Nothing," Alphonse sighed.
"That's why we came here," Edward said, sitting up. "We were hoping Colonel Mustang knew where we could learn more about bio-alchemy. Do you know anything?"
Alee considered admitting to them that she, in fact, researched bio-alchemy, but lost her nerve and shook her head instead. "The only one who might know something about what you're looking for is Shou Tucker, you know, the Sewing-Life Alchemist?"
Edward shook his head, amber eyes glinting, round, childish face alight with interest. Sometimes, when looking at his record and seeing everything he's done, Alee forgot he was only fourteen.
"He's pretty new. He was only just initiated two years ago. Falman is waiting for me, so Roy can fill you in better in the morning," she said hurriedly. She didn't like Shou Tucker. Something about him just didn't sit right for her. "One thing before I go. You haven't heard anything about the Freezing Alchemist have you?"
"No. Why?" Ed piqued.
Alee chewed her lip thoughtfully, considering telling them. She really didn't want to upset anybody or make anyone else worry, but the fact that Issac has completely fallen off everyone's radar was making her especially uneasy. "I just haven't heard from him in a while," she said casually.
"I'm sure he's okay," Alphonse said, gently laying a giant, gauntleted hand on her shoulder.
She looked up at the seven foot tall suit of armor that was a thirteen-year-old boy and smiled. These boys never gave up, not on themselves and not on anyone else. It didn't matter what subject they were discussing. Alee was rather fond of them, especially at times like these. Alphonse, particularly, reminded her of her own brother, which is why she so desperately hoped they would find a way to get their original bodies back. To her, it seemed unlikely, but she couldn't help but hope and wish, for their sakes.
"I shouldn't keep Falman waiting any longer. I guess I'll catch you two tomorrow," Alee said, turning to go.
"Sure thing," Ed called.
Alee waved over her shoulder and left the room.
So no one knew anything about Isaac. She thought that, maybe, since they travelled so much, they might have heard something. Figured. The fact that he had dropped inexplicably off the map was worrisome. It was more than likely nothing. Isaac was fine, doing whatever shady thing deranged-Isaac was up to nowadays. Everything would be fine.
