Hey guys, thanks for the two people who did review. So, here's the second chapter, sorry for taking so long, I was suffering from abit of writer's block.
Before you start reading this chapter, I'd like you to please reread chapter 1, the part where Flynn is introducing Luka to the audience, I made some changes over there, so you won't get confused in this chapter. For those of you wondering which anime this follows, it follows Brotherhood and Scar has recently started his rampage incase some of you are confused by the timeline.
Anyway, Thanks again to my beta, Thanatos, for helping me with this chapter.
Don't forget to rate and review, it helps a lot!
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters except for Luka and Flynn (well not technically but their personas, I do own that) and anything that doesn't belong to the FMAB plot.
Roy Mustang was less than thrilled when he received a call in the middle of the night, completely ruining his beauty sleep. He'd attended a music show of The Famous Duo, Lenore Skyswift and Marcus Mistfire, with his best friend, Maes Hughes. After another stunning show they had settled into a local bar to catch up whilst Roy kept an eye on the mood of the city. Painfully extracting hints of the situation from his friends unending torrent of information about his wife and daughter. Somewhere in between learning his wife's favourite coffee shop was closing and how long his daughter had taken to eat breakfast, 7 minutes 32 seconds, he considered that a bar was a good place to get wasted. Better not he decided working hungover he could manage, Hawkeye seeing him hungover he could not. Worse, if she found he had gone to the show and a drink after finding the paperwork he'd left on his desk … Definitely better not.
Thus when Roy picked up the phone, facing the prospect of Hakweye's less than gentle scolding and Hughes' gushing on less than a full night's sleep, he felt immolation might be a suitable start to the conversation. Recognising the voice on the other end as his subordinate, Captain Vato Falman he prepared to give the man a roasting worthy of the name Flame Alchemist when his mind caught up with the request. He was required to appear at the Investigation Centre in East City, a quick question confirmed that this had to be related to the Scar case.
Although irritated, the mention of Scars name had Roy up in less than a second. With military efficiency he put on his military uniform, brushed his teeth while combing his hair with his hands, trying to tame the wildness his hair had become from his lamentably short slumber.
When he reached the Investigation Centre he was cheerfully greeted by a delighted Maes Hughes, asking him if he had a good night's sleep. Roy gave him a black look wondering where the man got his energy from and why it was always in the wrong time.
A few seconds later, Lieutenant Riza Hawkeye appeared with a clipboard greeting him with a respectful salute. Roy nodded at her and then asked "What's going on, Hawkeye? Why must I work so late at night when I should be sleeping peacefully?" he'd asked the last question just to tease her a little.
Lieutenant Hawkeye simply rolled her eyes at the last question before bringing the clipboard up and answering "According to the report, the Military Police had come across a murder scene and the victim was yet another State Alchemist."
Roy raised his eyebrow "How did they find the murder scene?" he asked
"The Military Surveillance team saw Brigadier General Basque Grand engaging in a battle with someone in the alley. The camera mysteriously lost connection before we could get an image of the murderer. Apparently, the murderer or the murderers shattered the camera and the investigations team believe that it was done via alchemy. The Grand's skull was cracked wide open." she explained, pausing to take a breath before continuing "Naturally, Surveillance sent a team of officers along with Major Armstrong to see what was going on. Upon arrival they found two people, a woman and a man in their late twenties. The woman refers to herself as Luka Harley Hansen while the man refers to himself as Flynn Hansen, they're married."
Roy frowned slightly "Why would some couple be involved of the murder of someone like Brigadier General Grand? From the way he was killed, it's obvious this was Scars doing" he stated.
Riza nodded "Yes, he obviously committed the actual murder. However, Intelligence suspects them as accomplices because the Ironblood wasn't some normal State Alchemist that could be taken down easily. In addition to that, they found the couple carrying two bags. One full of priceless trinkets and jewellery while the other bag contained fancy costumes and wigs along with some contact lenses."
This was something Roy hadn't expected, more than unexpected since nothing seemed to add up. A couple suspected of helping Scar with his murders? Who had left no evidence at his previous crime scenes? Bags of priceless valuables and jewellery? Not disguises to blend in but costumes? Why would anyone be carrying costumes when helping someone murder someone else? It was obvious the couple must've been thieves otherwise where did all those valuable things come from? and maybe Scar was helping them? Or maybe the couple wanted revenge on the State Alchemists because of the Ishvalan Civil War?
No, that couldn't be it. Scar only targeted State Alchemists. If he wanted to help some random couple with thievery then Military officers would have been murdered too. Also if the couple wanted revenge on the State Alchemists then why would they waste their time stealing? And why, when the previous bodies were discovered, was nothing reported to have been stolen? Also, where did all those valuables come from? It's not like any State Alchemist owned all of the gold, trinkets and other priceless things that were discovered in the bag. No, they were definitely not accomplices.
His thoughts were interrupted by Maes's voice "Listen to this, after a thorough investigation, they found that the couple stayed at a hotel. When they searched their hotel apartment they found ID cards, which Forensics found to be fake." Hughes voice turned grim "And the names on the fake ID? Lenore Skyswift and Marcus Mistfire"
Roy looked up at Maes, startled, "You mean to say, it's The Famous Duo?" Roy asked stupidly. No shit, Sherlock, he thought to himself, what else did you think he said? Maes nodded "and the costumes they were carrying? They were identical to the ones we saw them wearing at the show?" Maes nodded once again
Roy caught Lieutenant Hawkeye giving him a disapproving look. Oh great, she's going to have a lot to say to me later on. He noted idly before, before sighing and turning to the matter at hand. None of this made one tiny bit of sense. How did they have that jewellery bag? Roy had been there when they were entering the theatre but saw no big bag. And when did they have the chance to rob that many people after the show? Without being recognised.
"It doesn't make sense" he mumbled as he looked down, trying to assess everything. He looked at Maes, voicing his thoughts "How did they rob anyone? It was 9:30 their show started and 10:00 when it was over. We saw them head home still wearing their costumes and it was obvious they were pretty tired."
Maes shook his head "They found a book on advanced hypnosis in their hotel apartment."
Roy widened his eyes as he buried his face in his gloved right hand, he looked back up at Maes. An explanation for the other impossibilities, and the thieves' method just left where they could find it? What were the odds of that? "How do we know this wasn't just some trick to get them framed?"
Maes looked at Roy sombrely before holding up the silver chain Gracia had given him prior to their marriage "Remember, I told you I'd lost this after we left the show? I thought maybe I accidentally dropped it somewhere at home but I couldn't find it there... It was in the bag full of valuables that The Duo was carrying."
Roy smiled slightly, glad his friend had the chain back. Pretty confident little thieves if they didn't bother hiding their valuables somewhere safe. It was good to be confident but not too confident.
"Now, why am I needed here?" he asked surely he could've been informed of this tomorrow.
This time Hawkeye answered "The woman, Luka Harley, won't cooperate whatsoever." He raised his eyebrows in confusion
"What do you mean she won't cooperate?"
Riza simply sighed "I mean she won't talk, she doesn't answer any of the questions, doesn't react to anything, it's as if she's completely unfazed by the entire situations and when she does respond, she only asks about her husband and two pets."
"'Pets'?" he asked, she nodded in response.
"When they found the Hansen's, one was holding a cat with a missing limb while the other was with a dog that missed an eye"
Roy chuckled slightly. Another example of the geniuses in Military Intelligence, intelligent but completely lacking in sense or reasoning. Roy saw Maes and Riza's questioning looks and answered "I just don't think murder accomplices would have pets with them. Especially when both are missing a part of their body. Besides who would have time to carry out murder when they're holding a heavy bag full of valuables?" Both of them nodded in agreement, it was a reasonable assessment. "What about her husband?" he asked
"Her husband, Flynn Hansen, claimed that they had no part in the murder however regarding thievery. He said that he was the guilty one and that he'd pressured his wife into it, so it really wasn't her fault. If the man is really guilty of everything then he's also guilty of at least coercion and possibly domestic abuse. It seems unlikely anyone who commits domestic abuse and thievery would confess so easily, even if the original charge was murder you don't volunteer that kind of information."
Roy smiled again. Love truly makes one stupid and blind. He had to give credit to the man for trying to save his wife.
"Colonel, the reason you were needed is because, as I've said Luka Harley isn't cooperating and General Grumman thought perhaps you could get her to talk, considering you already know the details of the Scar case and your … Reputation" Riza explained causing Roy to smirk knowing how his subordinate andclose friend disapproved of his lifestyle.
"Very well then, lead me to her" he said in an authoritative manner before he was stopped by Maes.
"The Fuhrer has arrived at the crime scene where Grand's body was discovered." He whispered. What? Why would the Fuhrer bother to come all the way from Central to East? His thoughts were interrupted when Maes added cheerfully "Good luck, Roy!" his visage betraying none of the alertness his warning had possessed.
Roy smirked, the man looked cheerful, jovial and idiotic but he was pretty clever and had helped Roy through so many tough times in his life. He then turned his attention to the blonde woman leading him to the interrogation room, the woman who had promised to follow him back into hell if he'd asked her to. He didn't know why he was thinking about it now of all times but he really appreciated both of them and was very grateful. How would his life turn out to be without Riza and Maes? He really didn't want to know.
"Colonel?"
His thoughts were interrupted once again but this time it was by Riza, who was gesturing the door with a one way mirror beside it that showed the grey, dull room on the other side. There was a wooden desk in the middle of the room and two wooden chairs, one of them being occupied by a woman. Her back was turned to the window, showcasing long, thick, obsidian hair. Roy smiled slightly. So this is what her real hair looks like. Her hands, when he glimpsed at them, were pale. Their contrast with her hair suiting her as well as they had complemented her wig.
"Good luck" Riza said before he opened the door and stepped into the room.
The woman, Luka Harley, didn't even turn to see who'd entered. Pretty apathetic considering the situation she's in.
"There were so many scenarios in my head about how we would meet again but this certainly wasn't one of them, 'Lenore Skyswift'" Roy said in mock sadness. It seemed his voice had a magical effect because she soon completely turned her entire body to his direction.
She was wearing a white spaghetti top that revealed ample cleavage with black denim shorts that showcased her pale but shapely legs, along with black ankle-high boots. If Roy had been anyone else her stunning figure would have had him passed out from blood loss on the floor.
Instead he found himself trapped by her eyes, no longer concealed by contact lenses… There was no hint of bluish hue he was used to seeing. Gone were the eyes of the clearly Amestrian Lenore he had enjoyed flirting with before her performances, replacing them was an emotionless Ishvalan red. It was unnerving to see the face he flirted with suddenly a blank mask staring at him with the eyes of the Ishvalans he'd burnt alive, the fury of the dead staring into his soul. This woman could've sliced his throat while he was in a trance as easily as Roy could snap his fingers. That thought alone sent shivers down his spine.
Although he was greatly unsettled by her unexpected heritage, he did not dare to show it. He maintained his poker face. Luka Harley smiled, a mocking smile that never reached those nightmarish eyes, sending shivers down his spine but he did well to hide it.
"Roy Mustang, another dog of the Military." she finally spoke, her voice no longer retaining its elegance rather it was full of mockery, as if being Roy Mustang was the greatest shame. "The Hero of the Ishavalan Civil War." he slightly flinched at the way she addressed him, it brought back memories he really didn't want to remember, "I must say I didn't expect to meet you again under such circumstances myself."
Roy tried to counter by answering "Luka Harley, suspected-"
She cut him off "My name is Luka Harley Hansen." she said in a tone that left no room for argument.
A smile began to form on Roy's handsome face. I guess Flynn Hansen's loyalty isn't one-sided.
"One would think you had bigger problems to worry about than your proper name, given the circumstances." he said in an amused tone.
It seemed she decided Roy wasn't worth her attention and turned away from him to him, Roy sighed and took a seat opposite hers "I have better things to worry about than the situation I'm in, now tell me. Where are my husband and pets?" she asked more like ordered him to answer
"As I've said, Mrs. Hansen, considering your circumstances, you have no right to ask any questions." he answered.
A flicker of rage crossed her blood red eyes but it disappeared as soon as it came "Well then, it's a good thing I do have the right to remain silent. Don't expect me to cooperate if you won't." she answered
She's got some nerve, I'll give her that. Roy Mustang laughed "That's fine with me as long as you're fine spending your time in a prison cell, never to see your beloved husband or pets, ever again. It's a serious crime to murder a military officer after all." Again a glimpse of fury from those eyes, out of place in her otherwise emotionless face she schooled her face back into its blank mask but that slip was all he needed to know he'd won. "If you won't cooperate I can only assume you are guilty." That was lie because he knew she wasn't guilty but he needed to get her talking.
"Very well" she said, even though it felt dead, her tone sounded defeated. "What do you want to know?"
Roy wanted to sigh in relief but that would cost him the small victory he had just won. This wasn't what he expected at all.
AN: that's the end of it for now, let me know what you guys think. Thank you for reading and have a nice day/night/afternoon