A.N. We're nearing the end...exciting isn't it. I'm not sure what quality the writing is though, and feedback is always accpeting. So please. Think of it as a small admission fee to read the story- a donation of sorts to the feedback deprived writers of the world!
Disclaimer: For the last time, FMA does not belong to me!
A sudden flash of light, a bang of retort, and an exploding pillar from the floor, and Envy's tongue fell from his mouth, severing his hold on the Lieutenant. Envy shrieked in agony and frustration as Hawkeye collapsed to the ground.
Mustang sprinted to her side, disregarding the danger and knelt beside her. He rolled her over to feel her faint pulse, struggling to breath evenly. Feeling her neck, he relaxed. She'd survived, albeit with a weak pulse. Abruptly filled with joy (more than would have been justifiable between a commanding officer and his subordinate, he later realized) he hugged her to his chest, pulling her to her feet. She groaned as she shifted, then awoke with a flutter of her eyes.
Only momentarily disoriented, Hawkeye recovered and quickly analyzed the situation around them, pushing away from Mustang, then scanned the uneven floor for her gun. Stumbling and unsuccessful, she retuned her gaze to Mustang and berated him in a breathless and pained voice "There was no need Sir, your more useful away from the danger." And stumbled again.
Mustang caught and righted her (he seemed to be doing a lot of that these days. Not that he minded having his Lt. in his arms). He paused in helping her stand, to instead reach around his back and grab his gun from its holster, passing it over to her, secure in the knowledge that she would make far better use of it than he would. The only thing he could aim worth a damn was his flames, and it was a fair trade- new gloves for him for a replacement firearm for her. With a nod of thanks, she accepted it, immediately raising it to fire at her Colonel's head.
The bullet whizzed over Mustang's shoulder and hit Gluttony squarely in the eye. "Thank you" he said with a smirk, trying to disguise his shakiness. She nodded, rolling her eyes at his inattention (actually, it was not that he wasn't paying attention, it was just that his focus was focused on…other things. Like her safety.) Starting to walk over to Gluttony, she was hauled back by her arm to Mustang, an exasperated expression on his face.
He continued to haul her away from the fray and over to the slab where Maes was sheltered, still bleeding from his wound. "See what you can do for him, and cover this position." Mustang ordered. Hawkeye's face was mulish; she refused babysitter duty for anyone aside her Colonel. Particularly when he clearly planned to return to the fight. Mustang was too concerned for her safety to play around though, and he practically shoved her down next to Hughes. "He's bleeding too much. He needs help." He pointed out. With a sigh, Hawkeye began ripping strips of cloth to bandage what little they could. Falsely reassured, Mustang hurried back to the fight.
Hawkeye sat back after she tied off the bandage, and assessed the situation impartially. Al and Havoc were having more luck against the chimeras than Mustang and Ed were against the Homunculi. The two weren't likely to last much longer, and even Havoc, who was fresher than the others, was running out of ammo. With a grunt, she hauled Hughes up, wrapping his arm around her shoulders, and staggered toward the door, ignoring her own lightheadedness and blood loss. She reached Havoc and passed him a handful of magazines. "See if you can make a momentary break in their ranks" she commanded, referring to the chimeras. Havoc nodded and Hawkeye readjusted Hughes so she could grab Mustang's gun from her belt. Resettling Hughes, she began firing alongside Havoc, keeping their backs to the wall as they inched toward the door.
Mustang turned to check on Hughes and Hawkeye. Shit. They were gone. Scrutinizing the room swiftly, he found them positioned next to Havoc, back in the midst of the battle. He was about to charge over there to haul her back when he noticed what she was planning. Ed flipped over this head and landed next to him. "Are you going to fight or not Colonel?" he demanded wearily.
"Yes kid, but we've got to strategize. Hawkeye is trying to make a break for the tunnel with Hughes. She probably intends for us to cover them since they're likely to run out of ammo soon."
"So we have to drive the chimeras out of the way while holding off the Homunculi too? Well why didn't you say so before? Good thing you have us along" he quipped from over his shoulder as he dashed towards his brother with new energy.
"Al, wall" he shouted as he reached his brother and, "clap!". A huge concrete wall shot out of the ground between Havoc, Hawkeye, and Hughes, and the chimeras.
The military officers sprinted out of the room, making it safely to the hallway despite their wounds and burden. Ed and Al, however, were left stuck in the middle of the mass. Rolling his eyes, Mustang vaulted into the center and spun in a circle, sending bolts of flame on every direction. "Come on kid. This isn't time to lag behind." Ed scowled, but followed Al out into the tunnel. Havoc and Ed were gasping from breath when Mustang turned back from sealing the door with Al. Al's armor was dinged, but he was ready to fight as always. Hawkeye was bowed under the strain of simultaneously supporting Hughes, covering Havoc, and attempting to protect her errant Colonel. He face showed little emotion, as it normally did, but every line of her body screamed her exhaustion. Mustang offered to relieve her of Hughes, but she refused. "It is probably more prudent for you to have your hands free than for me." she pointed out. Mustang was about to retort with her blood loss and head wound when Hughes regained consciousness. They would have undoubtedly spent more time arguing had the door not shook with the force of something (probably Envy) ramming into it, so instead they began retreating back to the entrance, Hawkeye still partially supporting the bleary Hughes.
Havoc, at the front of the group, suddenly halted and swore. They were so close to the entrance that he could feel the draft of clean air, but he'd noticed the chimeras lurking between then and their freedom. Damnit! Did their opponents have an unlimited supply of these things or something? Ed's voice rang out from somewhere behind him.
"Hey! What's the hold up?"
"We have some…company…waiting for us up here"
There was a pause and then Mustang replied. "Damn. We're going to have some back here too, soon." Pause. "How far ahead?"
"Right in front of the exit" Havoc reported back instantly. "No way to avoid them." Mustang shut his eyes in concentration for a moment, then reopened them. "Alright. Don't fire until their close enough. Don't waste rounds. Wait for them to come to us." The team settled for a minute- Hawkeye, Maes, and Havoc facing the exit, Mustang and the Elrics back down the tunnel, both waiting for their targets to close in the range.
A sudden burst of fire startled all of them with its unexpectedness. Mustang, blamed Havoc for it. "I thought I told you to hold your fire"
"That wasn't me, Sir" Havoc shouted back, just as irritably. "I don't know who-" he was cut off by a crescendo of gunfire which drew the attention of the chimeras away from the team, refocusing it instead of some new invader behind them. Then they began to fall as heavier fire filled the tunnel. Everyone but Al was quick to drop to the ground and clear the line of fire. Al just stood, letting the bullets that had missed their first target richotte off his armor to fly back to the chimeras. Not that the extra bullets were needed, in the end. In a few seconds, the hallway was clear of any standing chimeras. They lay strewn around the tunnel, howling their ways towards death. The carnage was followed by the materialization of several recognizable figures from the other end of the tunnel, and a voice called out "Glad you had us along, huh?"
I'm happy that I actually made my updates somewhat regular! Onwards!