Author's Note: Thanks for all of the reviews, everyone. *Swallows* I said darker-and-edgier, here's darker-and-edgier.
Chapter Seven: Havoc Mails His Mother
Back, back in Central, the Prince's other guard was trapped in a futile battle.
Fu combined every part of his training, soaring from building to building in what would be such a magnificent manner, if he hadn't been spraying blood with every jump. But, perhaps, that made it all the more awe-inspiring.
He clapped a hand to his arm, wincing from under his snowy mustache. He almost felt sorry for slapping his granddaughter for being caught in the same position he was currently. He silently apologized, continuing on.
Running past Central lines, he set off a smoke bomb, disorienting the sentries. All he needed was time.
He could practically sense Wrath's footsteps as he mildly strolled through the forest, swords in both hands.
A small stream winded through the dense wood, its sparkle almost giving him hope. But he was past hope. Running down the stream for a while, he turned around and walked against the flow of the current, finding a sunken rock shelter.
Ripping a swatch of fabric from his light grey underclothes, he uncapped the pen he kept along with his kunai and grenades, chuckling a bit. He knew the pen would come in handy someday. Breaking the pen in half, he stuck a finger in the oozing ink, beginning to write.
Finishing, and rather proud of the way his calligraphy had come out, he used more fabric to tie up his wound. He could probably last longer.
Donning a different mask, one made to disguise his already prominent Yin-Yang masquerade, he ran around the forest, sneaking his way back into Central.
Mustang and Havoc, who had just gotten off work early to go on a reluctant double-date with Hawkeye and Sciezka, froze at the sight of the Xingese man in the alley. Fu quickly whispered instructions to Mustang, a pleading look in his eye. Tucking the swatch in the colonel's back pocket, Fu was gone before anyone could notice his presence.
"So," Mustang said, urging Havoc to play it cool. "How's that mother of yours?"
Havoc shook his head, receiving the cloth from Mustang. He dabbed it at his eyes a bit, making sure not to get ash from his cigarette on the important note. "I just don't know. Maybe I should send her a letter. I do have something at home I've been meaning to ship."
Mustang nodded. "Mail systems in your town are shoddy. I know a better address that can forward it." Mustang could feel the eyes of Bradley's men scrutinizing the two. He quickly passed on Fu's words to the second lieutenant. "Well, I have to go. Riza wants me to dress nice tonight and my tie is filthy." Just like Fu, he'd left in a flash.
Havoc stared at the fabric, unsure of what to make of the Xingese characters. Instead, he returned home, carefully copying the lettering onto a piece of paper and mailing it, not to his mother, but to Xing via Mustang's private mailing line.
Meanwhile, Fu had run out of time.
While Ed and the others though Fu was a rather bitter character, he had been reckless in his youth, getting into far too many exciting and dangerous, but mostly dangerous, adventures. It was only when he married that he changed. He became more responsible, having less dangerous, but still pretty exciting, adventures with his wife at his side. But after all of this, he had never thought of what his last words would be.
"Actions speak louder than words, right?" he croaked, the blood-loss making him feel light-headed.
So backed against a wall in an alley in Central in Amestris, the old man charged at Wrath, bringing up his kunai with lightning speed and stabbing him right in the eye.
Fu lightly smiled, surprised at the sword that stuck through his own chest. "Goodbye, Young Master. Protect my granddaughter, like I was never able to." He'd accomplished something. He'd hit the homunculus in a vital area, so it would take a little longer for him to regenerate. And afterwards, his sight might not be what it used to. Bradley was old, and the Philosopher's Stone in him was tarnished and broken.
And so, the prince's guard died, with nobody but his worst enemy to keep him company.
Author's Note: Nuuuuuuuu! I'm sorry, I had to do it so it would keep up with canon. But don't worry, 'cause a fluffier chapter's coming your way. And stay tuned, because Fu's role in the story isn't over yet!