Disclaimer: Uh, still not mine.

Chapter 1

"Hughes," Roy called. "I know you're here—Ah!" He found himself standing directly in front of the picture taking officer.

"You called."

"Yes. Hughes, you remember my sister?"

The man grinned, leaning forward. "Of course! She just got back Ishbal, right?"

Mustang nodded. "Look, Maes, I'm bringing her around the office today… Just—"

"Make her feel welcome."

"Yeah."

X—X—X

Ed was fuming. Mustang, that bastard, got another girl, and now the next day, he was going to bother him in the middle of research. He clenched his teeth, and picked up his papers, tapping them on the desk to straighten them.

"Roy Mustang. If you're even thinking of bothering me right now, I'm going to hurt you."

"Roy?" A feminine voice sounded surprised. The woman started to laugh, and Ed whipped his head aground. It was Mustang… well not exactly. "Last time I checked, my name was Adrian."

"B—but," he blinked.

She took in his coat, and gloves. "Hey! You're one of the Elric boys I was told about, aren't you? Alphonse, the younger brother!"

That blew it.

"Who are you calling so small that they obviously can't be any older than seventeen?"

"Huh?"

He grated his teeth together, and forced out a reply. "I'm Edward Elric."

"Oh?" She looked genuinely surprised. "You're the older brother."

"Yes." He'd been surprised out of his anger at her face, but he was just going back into that endless pit of anger.

"I'm sorry Edward. Forgive me?"

"No, I don't think I will." He was steaming.

"But why not?" This Adrian Mustang was nosy.

"Because you look like him."

She seemed to understand that bit. "Like Roy Mustang?" She grinned goofily. Clearly, she was different from him. "He's my big brother."

Ed halted all movements.

He then dropped his papers, standing up. Ed's chair scraped loudly as he pushed it backwards. "I'm leaving. Now."

Adrian followed him out. He was vaguely reminded up a duckling he once saw, who chose to follow another bird rather than its family, who was going in the other direction.

Edward stopped short as he happened to catch the man he wanted to see in Hughes' office. He pushed the door open, taking no time to knock. It banged loudly against the opposite wall.

"Roy Must—"

The woman, who had been standing behind him, suddenly squealed. "Maes!"

Ed found himself being trampled over as she tried to get to the man. He turned his head, finding Scieska staring in terror at the frantic woman."

There was a slight cough nearby. "Forgive my sister. She's been away from home for five years."

He looked in the direction of the voice, and found Mustang crouched with a hand out to help him. The youngest state alchemist frowned. Was Roy offering him a hand? He couldn't take that. Edward pushed himself to his feet with a scowl.

"Nice to see you Ed."

He waved over at Scieska, who was already back to her work copying something or other. The blonde turned his gaze to the woman who'd followed him here. Her arms were wrapped tightly around Hughes' waist. The man was blushing and trying to push her off.

"Adrian! I'm a married man now!" She stopped, and pulled back to watch as he pulled the photographs out of his pocket. "Want to see a picture… or two, of my adorable daughter?" His wallet looked ready to explode. Adrian nodded excitedly. Roy motioned for Ed to follow him out of the office, and he silently did so.

The Flame Alchemist shut the door then turned to Ed, clearly waiting for the questions to start.

"So… who is she, exactly?"

"Edward, you've just met Adrian Mustang. Also known as the Night Alchemist."

He nodded. "And she's your younger sister? You're a big brother too?"

A ghost of a smile flickered on his face. "Yeah. Just like you."

Ed stared at the older man for a moment, then asked his next question. "She's got a bit of a haunted look. Where's she been?"

His superior sighed. "Adrian has spent the last five years on a covert operation for the military in Ishbal."

"And she knows Hughes."

He was my friend as soon as I met him. She's seen him around, of course."

Ed made a smug face. "She wants you to show her around, doesn't she?"

"How'd you know?"

He grinned. "A lucky guess, perhaps."

"She's very excitable. This should be interesting. Basically I'm only introducing her to my group."

"Hawkeye, Havoc, Fuery and the others…?"

Mustang nodded. "She'll meet anyone else she needs to know by herself."

The blonde alchemist felt suddenly calm. Looks like he and the colonel bastard had something in common other than alchemy. He watched as Roy turned to look back into the office. He chuckled at the sight. "She's the only person excited by his photos. He's going to get a fat head."

"Was she in love with him?" Ed blushed. The question had flown out of his mouth before he could stop it.

Mustang tilted his head back and laughed. "No. Gods, no."

Ed blinked.

"Long story. Some other time, perhaps."

Ed gave him a genuine smile. "I may just take you up on that offer." Was he flirting? With the Colonel?

Roy reflected the action. "Sounds great Fullmetal." And was Mustang flirting back?

But their moment was quickly haled as the door they'd just slipped out of opened. Hughes and Adrian walked out, both wearing looks that seemed entirely too smug. They shared a wink when the alchemist in front of them blinked in confusion.

"I'm so sorry for the mix-up Ed. Can I call you that?" He nodded, and watched as she stretched an arm out for him to shake. "I haven't properly introduced myself. My name is Adrian Mustang. The younger sister of Brigadier General Roy Mustang." She paused, and gave him and over exaggerated wink. "An' I'm also better known 'round here as the Night Alchemist."

Ed nodded and looked down as they released each other's hands. A pair of black gloves without fingers. The thing that caught his attention though, was the empty circle that usually held a pre-made alchemy symbol for easy transmutations. "Why are you called the Night Alchemist?"

She laughed. A rather musical action, not much like her brother, as far as Ed could tell. "You're curious, aren't you Ed? Though I'm not going to tell you. Either try and figure it out yourself, or wait around a bit. I'm sure I'll be forced to show off my skills soon enough. I haven't had a yearly examination in three years."

"My sister's favorite type of examination is the alchemy battle," Roy supplied at Ed's look.

"Yap," she agreed. "So careful. You don't know who I'll choose to fight." The black haired woman tilted her head back and laughed. He was finally able to get a look at her. Adrian—like himself—did not wear the required uniform. She wore men's breeches tucked into a pair of combat boots that reached her knees. Her shirt was white, the sleeves stopping somewhere between her elbows and her wrists—the cuffs were rolled slightly. The design also looked like a man's shirt, though the brown vest she wore was definitely made for a woman. Her eyes were nearly the same as Mustang's—though a softer shade, and a quality that seemed saddened by what she'd seen.

"… show you around now?" The colonel bastard had been talking. Oops.

"I'll only come, if Edward comes with us."

"Er," Ed really didn't want to. "My books and papers are in the library."

Mustang looked particularly dangerous at that moment. "Then no one will touch your work. It will be left alone."

"Of course," he replied nervously. This was one battle he would not win.

"Yay," Adrian cried, throwing her hands up. "Let's go!"

Wooh. That was longer than I expected. Please review!