Topazia: this chapter is for Hagane Pride. Thank you so much for the review, it really made my day. :D

Disclaimer: Do I really need one at this point?

Chapter two: Reminisce of Ishbal.

Elric. He said his name was Edward Elric. For some reason that name had stayed with me. It continued to repeat itself at the back of my head ever since my adventure at the whorehouse four days ago. God knows it wasn't because of the boy. Jeez, Even I'm not that perverted. It was probably something else. The name sounded little bells at the back of my head but nothing else. Ironic, seeing as my memory was one of the things I took pride in. You know that feeling where you forget something somewhat important? You know, the one where you can vaguely remember pieces but nothing overly helpful to put together the mystery? It's the best way I could describe it. Oh well, I'm sure it will come to me eventually

The name seemed to come with its own warning, along with a sinking feeling that settled within my chest. That just made things even more interesting. Did I know a member of the Elric family? Being in the military made that a possibility, but central is full of uniformed faces; remembering them all isn't that easy. I could honestly say that the name wouldn't fall under a friend category. In this line of work it was best not to keep too many close to the heart, in the end it would only make you miserable. It was like a never ending cycle of heartache. You made friends and then later war would make you buddies. Unfortunately it was those same wars that ended those friendships and then before you knew it you were saluting a decorated grave as it was lowered into the ground. I was tired of that happening. Elric could have been a comrade that had passed away during a prewar mission. That would certainly explain the sour taste in my mouth.

On a lighter note, since my return home I had been given a week off to rest. After that it was back into the office. God knows I would have returned sooner if they had let me. I needed to get back to my office and companions; the idiots were probably worried sick. A soft smile tugged at the corner of my lips. I'd scorch them all straight to hell if they even so much as though about giving me that pitiful I'm-so-glad-you-came-back-in-one-piece speech. Colonel Roy Mustang always returns Victorious.

The sun peaked from behind the clouds, bathing everything it could reach in a ray of warm light. Overall, it was a beautiful day. The same probably could have been said for Ishbal if the war had never started. The sky would have been just as bright and clear as it is here; just another pleasant day. The wind picked up a bit, a casual gust that ruffled the clothes on my body. It was a day for casual dress so my attire consisted of a pastel blue button up shirt, black slacks, and shoes. The color was unusually bright for my usual tastes but I grabbed for convince today. The shirt was bright enough to actually make me appear a bit paler and my hair and eyes darker. It had been a trip looking in the mirror after dressing. With one hand resting comfortably in the pocket of my black slacks and the other wrapped around a bag of groceries, I started the long walk back home.

The sidewalks were fairly empty. The only occasional stranger passed you by along the way. The same could be said for the streets. Cars were rare these days. Only the rich and the important had them and I was neither. Just another dog. I made a right at the intersection and continued down the street lined with apartments of assorted color. My home would be at the end. Just up ahead I caught a glimpse of golden blond hair, tied back into a familiar braid. I paused for a moment. He was there just up ahead; the boy from Angelic Perfection. His attire remained the same. Everything on him was black from his short sleeved shirt, to his leather pants, all the way down to his matching boots. The only difference this time was the vibrant red jacket he held carelessly draped over one shoulder. He walked towards be silently, eyes downcast. His hands were shoved deep in his pockets.

He seemed lost in thought. His eyes were vacant, as if there was no one home and the person walking towards me was just a empty shell. With a pitiful face like that, one had to wonder where the hell his mind goes. Oh well. It's not my business right? I didn't join the military to play the role of a child services worker. National Alchemists don't get paid to babysit. Besides, who cared what the kid did during the daytime? Even as the thought crossed my mind I stood ruffling my hair in frustration. Goddammit, I cared. Although, I couldn't exactly explain why. There was only one thing to do; "well if it isn't the little whore." use my lack of conversation skills to insult him in broad daylight. The words dripped from my lips like acid, and the voice in the back of my head mocked me. 'No take backs.' It said. The kid probably heard those exact words on a daily; he didn't need me to add to the score.

Edward continued his walk, stopping only when he had reached my side. "That'll do Dog." He had a certain intellectual air about him, one that spoke volumes. His sarcasm could easily be backed up by facts or sheer confidence. If you had to go on voice alone, I'd say you were speaking to someone my age. His appearance was not only a distraction but a downfall.

"What the hell does that mean?" I spat back. Calling an officer a dog wasn't something you did lightly, especially a State Alchemist. No one outside the military had dared utter the word insultingly to my face. It would be a cold day in hell before I let a kid get away with such disrespect, especially one that sold himself.

"You are a dog; an obedient one at that." He held up a hand for silence. "You bark on command regularly for different reasons. The first being when master calls and the second reason comes at the end of each month whenever that government check comes in." He raised his eyes to meet mines in a slight glare that screamed defiance. "I bark on command whenever I'm given an order or presented with cash. Not so different now are we, whore?" My fists clenched and unclenched at my sides. The urge to knock him into the pavement was strong. He stood his ground and never flinched once, staring at me like a dare. Let's see who'd move first.

Silence. My mouth opened and closed a few times as I tried to think of a witty comeback. But what could be said to a kid that could speak deeply on my intellectual level? It was creepy in a sort of way how easily he could contradict me. I've never met a runt so damn perplexing and overall infuriating. God I was waaaay off my game. "Where are you going?" I said after another minuet.

"I'm off today." Came the reply.

"I didn't ask you that."

"Then I'm going nowhere. I'm just out for a walk." He shrugged, tapping his feet. "The exercise keeps my automail from feeling stiff around the joints."

"Alright, my place is just up ahead." I nodded down the road. "Come sit for a while." I left him there, staring after me. It was nice to know he shut up when confused. It took a minuet but soon I could hear his soft foot falls not too far behind me. He followed cautiously at first. Then after a moment or too he picked up speed to match my strides. The tiny two-bedroom apartment loomed ahead just down the street. I sighed at the thought of going back home again. Every day that I left I always came back this way. War makes you cherish the simple things you have waiting for your return. Even though I didn't have much, it was still nice to be able to say that I owned something. Fishing through my pockets I produced a small golden key. Ed peered curiously behind my back.

The door unlocked with a soft click. I shuffled inside with the boy behind me. "I don't normally do house calls you know." He said suddenly, stalking about the place like a curious kitten. Still air greeted us and the sweet smell of oatmeal scented soap lingered in the air from my shower earlier this morning.

"I'm going to ignore that." The thought of him doing house calls was just a bit disturbing. Just wait, one day Angelic Perfection will be listed in the yellow pages right next to the take out. You can order food and sex too!

He snickered, pretending to find interests in my lack of decorating skills. The place was plain. It was simple. There were limited decorations. The front door opened up to the spacious living room. My couches were tan and bare. They were good for sitting, or sleeping depending on the day. There was a small coffee table covered with paperwork and beneath that a medium sized rug. Along the wall opposite of the front door there was a bookcase with all the classics. A few of my own personal journals were there as well. Behind this area was a cozy kitchen and bar that I rarely used. It was clean, not a hair out of place.

I sat the bag on the table and begin putting the contents in their proper place. Edward grabbed one of the bar stools and sat down. Resting his chin in his hands he watched me. "Not a bad place you got here." A welcome home plant sat to his right. Every now and then he'd pluck at the leaves. It was from Hughes; a gag gift. There were other plants around the house as well. It was nice to know the ladies missed me as much as I missed them.

"Thanks." I replied. When I was done I paused, leaning forward on the counter. A soft silence had settled between us. It was nice to know that I wasn't the only one uncomfortable. "I've been meaning to ask you, where are your parents?"

That one simple question had opened the floodgates. Several emotions swam across his face in that moment, each battling for dominance. Ed smiled, lowering his head for a second. When he rose to meet my gaze again his face was pleasantly blank. "My mother she," he paused and licked his lips before continuing, "she died when I was young."A mother was one of the most precious gifts God could have blessed someone with. They are the first things you see upon entering this world. Mothers are beautiful creations; artists that try their best to mold their children into what they should be. To lose that gift at so young of an age was like losing a piece of yourself.

There was one more question that needed to be answered. My next actions would depend on what he said next. "And your father?" I asked carefully, leaning forwards to rest my chin on intertwined fingers.

"That bastard abandoned us long ago." The sorrowful expression quickly melted away into harsh resentment as his eyes narrowed into a glare. The kid seemed to sink beneath a veil of sorrowful despair. It seemed as if an old wound had opened and from it spilled innocent blood.

"Was he in the military?"

"No he just left one day and then mom got sick. She never recovered."

Now we were getting somewhere. "Alright, last question; why work at a brothel?"

He had the grace to look surprised for a second, but even that was quickly covered. "It pays the most money." Of course it does. His confidence was admirable.

"Why did you follow me home today?" It was a simple question and apparently a much-needed change of pace because he quickly lifted his head a soft, dry smile creeping across his delicate features. He sat up straight and brushed a few stray hairs from his eyes.

"Now it's my turn." He said. "You're Colonel Roy Mustang right? The Flame Alchemist?" I nodded. "Thought so." He smiled for a moment. "Why are you so interested in me Colonel?"

"Not sure myself; I guess you just struck a chord with me, if that makes sense."

"You felt sorry for me."

"Do you blame me? I know damned well you're underage. I just couldn't sit there and-"

"Alchemists thou art for the people." He interrupted.

"Yeah."

"You need help more than I do." He shrugged, standing up in a long stretch. "Psychically you're sitting here in front of me, preaching about your humanitarian ideals. It doesn't suit you at all. So don't go pushing your believes on me because you're feeling guilty. You've been home all this time, but they left your mind dying on the battlefield didn't they?"

My body tensed at those words, it was like a switch had been thrown and suddenly I was shutting down. There were a lot of words used to describe me. The majority of them evolved around the word arrogant. I was not this outwardly concerned about the well being of others. Subtle was my middle name. Ishbal was just too fresh I guess. After all, what normal person walks away smiling from a massacre like that? My eyes lowered first. God even my hands were shaking. No amount of Soap seemed to be able to wash away what I did or what I seen. I would be forever stained in blood, the very though sickened me. You never really think about some things until someone points them out. I hated it when that happened.

Rubbing my temples, I drew in a deep breath. The living room was suddenly filled with sounds of phantom bullets. In the hallway, I swear there was a thud, a hard sound like a body hitting the ground. Laughter seemed to float down the hall, just beyond my cozy bathroom. There was a blood curdling shriek in my bedroom. The sounds were everywhere and suddenly they seemed so loud.

My vision became blurred as smoke slowly filled the room, making it harder and harder to breathe. A chilling feeling of detachment took over and soon I felt myself moving; no running. Voices escalated into frantic shouts and screams until the squad in front of me stopped at a wooden door. The General in charge was a large man. He walked forward carefully. His men parted like the sea. He stared at the barrier before him, a door, with expression that could only be described as amused. "Break it down!" he had said.

Bang! The door and bits of wood flew from the hinges. It fell to the floor with a crunching thud that seemed so loud I thought I had gone death. A thud. It was a sound that seemed almost constant. Something was always hitting the ground here. As a group we advanced. The house was fairly large. The lights were long gone; all was dark. The flames from outside were our lights. The infantrymen fanned out, covering various corners of the house.

I was armed; a standard issue pistil, two extra clips, and a hunting knife were my backup weapons. My main weapon was my flame. "Mustang! Smoke out the rats!"

"Sir!" I walked towards the stairs and ascended to the second floor. My hands flexed uneasily at my sides. If this house was anything like the other's they'd be in the back. The layout of the upstairs was simple; one hallway took you to everything. Careful steps made my footfalls silent. When I finally found a room I paused. There was a sound; the sound of frightened whimper. A woman whispered softly to her small child. It was too late. My hand rose slowly, but reluctance made it tremble. This was not what I had signed up for! "I'm sorry." I muttered to the room. Either I did this now or the others would come in and fill them full of holes. The human body could survive for a while with a gunshot wound if you aimed right. Well, you'd survive until the wound bled you to death or it got infected. You saw a lot of that happening to innocents too. A least this was they deaths would be quick. Not so much painless, but quick I could do. "I'm so sorry." A quick snap from my fingers and time seemed to slow. A small arch of red flame leaped from the tips of my fingers; the closet combusted into roaring flames. In the midst of it all a woman ran out. Her screams alerted the men from below. Her skin had begun to burn to her flesh, and yet she still moved. She clutched a wailing child to her chest. Damn! I missed.

The everything started spinning. I quickly backed out the room and walked down the hall following the scent of burning flesh. Men rushed past me on either side. By the time I reached the door, two gunshots sounded. At least the screaming stopped. I walked into the night air and sought refuge behind the house. The adrenaline was slowly wearing off like the affects of a bad hang over. When it was over I was left shaking until finally my body gave up what little contents I had consumed.

"Two medics down! Two medics down!" The shout came from around the corner. Something had that this was news.

"Mustang! On your feet!" The general again. Wiping my mouth I rose on shaky feet. The others had already begun to head towards the call. God I was tired. We made it to a tiny small building a few blocks away. Once it had been a corner store. After we came, all the items on the shelves were confiscated for our use. The rows had been cleared away. The store had been converted into a medical ward. Now it looked like hell. The room was silent. The makeshift beds were covered in blood. Everybody looked the same; like they had been blown apart from the inside. In the far corner there was a couple; a man and wife…

"Mustang?" I shook myself, feeling a little dizzy. There were no fires; the smell of blood was nowhere to be found. The screaming was gone and so were the sound of bullets. I was at home in the kitchen. "There you are." Edward said in a sing song voice. "You had me worried there for a second." He patted the side of my face.

"You call me a child and yet here you are breaking to pieces on me." He muttered with a grim smile "It's alright; don't run from what's bothering you. Stare it in the face; the fact that you're beating yourself up means that you're a good man." A good man, huh? His leg made a soft clink against my bar stool chair as he moved. My eyes slowly fell onto the auto mail leg hidden securely beneath the fabric of his pants. For a moment I wondered about the story that would go along with it. But as we all know, some things are best left unknown.

Call it a hunch, but something told me we would have been good friends under different circumstances. "You can't cling to sorrow if you plan on continuing to live." That sounded like something Maes would say.

War scars never healed completely. They always left their ugly mark. But the voice that spoke to me now was one of sweet promise. It was the ultimate form of irony. I was taking comfort in the one thing I disliked the most. He was a whore, a person that took money for favors. Then again, was I that much different in the long run? If the opportunity arose for a favorable position with good pay, I'd probably jump at the chance. "Why are you being so nice to me all of a sudden?" he was right and I hated it.

"Because," he had the nerve to look embarrassed, "you're the first to treat me like a person." Sliding from the bar stool, Edward walked towards me carefully. He approached me like a person would approach a bomb; something dangerous and explosive. Strangely enough, I had no desire to push him away. Any witty comment that I might have used was lost way in the back of my mind. For once, my head was clear and it felt damned good.

"So what, now you're my therapist?" I asked.

"It does come with the job description." I fought to keep my face neutral and failed. Whatever he saw amused him because he laughed. "I'm joking, I'm joking!"

"When I saw you earlier, where were you going?"

"I thought about trying to go into work early.. I didn't have anything else to do. But then I ran into you." He replied softly.

"You sure do work a lot."

"Back at you Colonel."

"Why?"

The boy again, brushing his bangs away with metal fingers. "I work for the same reason anyone works." He answered with a shrug. "The longer I work. The more money I receive. I do have bills to pay." I child with actual bills; blasphemy!

I met his gaze with a skeptical stare of my own. He ignored me, taking the time to undo the braid at the back of his head. He ruffled his locks for a moment, taking the time to run fingers along his scalp. "What's the matter, like what you see?" The kid smirked and I rolled my eyes.

"Don't pet your own ego kid, you're shedding on my floor." I answered. Looks like I wasn't completely out of witty banter. Point for me. "I was just curious about your automail, that's all. Another moment of silence stood between us. Looks, like that was another sore spot for him. "Do you have any other family?" I asked, quickly changing the subject.

Ed paused for a moment. Perhaps the question caught him off guard. "I have a brother if it makes you feel any better." He answered. Now he busied himself with braiding his hair again. When he was done he stood there. "You're not very good at this."

"Good at what?" I asked.

"Casual conversation with a stranger."

"No, I'm very good at that. It's only with you that I'm having this problem." It was an honest answer. Just ask the ladies, they love me. It was my job to deal with people in general. Hell, any job makes you deal with people. Sadly this kid left me blank and speechless. It was a rare occurrence indeed. "I guess in the end I feel like I should do something, but I don't know what to do with you."

"Curiosity killed the cat and it can do the same for a dog." He grabbed his jacket and swung it over his shoulder again. "Like I said, you're a good man Colonel. Everything's fresh now but in the end, you'll be fine." He headed towards the door and I followed him. "You can't save them all though." On that note he opened the door and left. I stood there in the doorway, watching him walk back down the street. Did I make him uncomfortable? Maybe.

"Wait!" I called.

He stopped and after a moment turned back to stare at me. "I have to go to work."

"I know that; just let me walk you there.

"What are you my mom?"

"It's just a request."

He stood there for a moment and then continued his walk. Smiling to myself I closed and locked the door behind me. Perhaps along the way, I'd figure out what I needed to say. The gap between us slowly closed until I caught up to his slow steps. He reminded me of a cat in some ways. He just had a lazy air too him, like he had all the time in the world. However, he also reminded me that like most cats that wondered the city, he probably didn't have a decent home. We walked together side by side and neither of us said a word.

Our journey took us into the more crowded part of the city after a while he said: "I'm going to walk a few steps in front of you now. Just ignore it." I said nothing but watched him pick up his pace. I didn't understand. After a moment he had increased the distance between us. In the sea of people his vibrant red coat and golden hair made him easy to spot. He kept his head down and walked forward, not making eye contact with anyone around him. After a moment the occasional cat call started. When stopped by a random passerby, he'd give them a smile and certain a certain amount of respect that I recognized. It was one you commonly used towards people you didn't like. It was an I-think-you're-a-bastard-but-I'll-smile-like-we're-friends-anyway look.

Any rude comment directed towards him was promptly ignored. He wouldn't allow anyone to touch him. When someone would try, he'd politely step away and say a few words. What was said couldn't be heard because of the distance, but it did say something. Based on his body language and manner in general it was obvious. Edward Elric didn't like his job, nor the annoyances that came with it. The buildings of the city slowly peeled away, their numbers becoming fewer and fewer. The outskirts of the city was dotted with small homes and farmland for miles. Amongst all of this Angelic Perfection loomed just ahead. During the day, it looked like some fancy home. Something normal where you'd expect to find a loving couple and children playing in the yard. At night however it seemed to transform. The music, incense, and decorated workers made it obvious of the buildings true intentions.

By this time he had slowed for me to catch up again. Without all of the people around the surrounds seemed peaceful. That's when it dawned on me. "You didn't want to be seen walking with me." It wasn't a question. Just a neutral statement. My voice held no resentment or anger, although there was a hint of curiosity.

"You're a man of the military. A person that's supposed to represent everything good about their country: hope, security, strength, and probably so much more." he shrugged. "What would people think if they saw you with a-" his voice faded.

"A whore?"

"Exactly."

There's a possibility I could loose my job if we were seen together too often. While the military understands that men will be men, they will not tolerate personnel publicly displaying their habits. If sex is what you're looking for, do it inside the closed walls of the brothel or designated place. The same thing applies for drinking as well. Don't do it on the streets basically. "I understand. Thank you."

Edward smiled again. The first thing we noticed was the sweet smell of incense, wafting on the soft breeze. There was also music. He took one look up at the closed windows and pulled me across the yard towards the back of the house. "Where are we going." I hissed.

During the day, everything is usually open. The curtains, the windows, everything. We use the time to clean and prepare the house for our guests." Every now and then he'd stop to look around before continuing. "The house is closed off like we're fully operational. That more than likely means we have VIP party in today. I can almost guarantee that it's military."

"So you're hiding me now?"

"It's either that or we go through front door." the blond responded. "You don't belong here, so I don't want you seen here either. You're a good man remember?" Well ain't that the pot calling the kettle black? But his words did make me smile a bit. He took me around to the back. He said it was the entrance for the workers and rarely used by other people. Ed stopped and slowly knocked three times before taking a step back.

After a moment the door slowly swung open and a brunette peeked her head out. I quickly recognized her as the woman Hughes picked during our first visit here. "Gracia," Ed grinned. "how's it going?" He waved, a friendly smile on his face. Ironically it was the brightest I'd ever seen on him. It was a nice look; made him look years younger and brought new life to his features.

She stepped to the side and allowed him entrance. He looked back at me, nodded the okay to follow. Once inside the one chuckled, look back and forth between the both of us. "Edward Elric, what are you up to now? Who's your friend?" She carefully brushed her bangs away from her face and straightened her clothes. The black skirt she wore fanned out about her knees gracefully. The red wine shirt she wore had white stains on it.

"This is Roy." He answered quickly with a nod in my direction. "Don't worry, he's a nice guy. He followed me home. can I keep him?" I tried my best to look annoyed but it only seemed to amuse him more.

The woman hid a soft chuckle behind delicate, flour covered fingers. " I remember you now." she turned and started moving around the kitchen again. Her hands moved quickly as she worked over pastries and various snacks. "Mr. Hughes talks about you all the time." she chirped. "Your friend seems to think you need a wife."

"That sounds like him." I muttered, annoyed but amused at the same time. Only Hughes seemed to be able to accomplish that. "How many times has he been here exactly?"

"Oh he comes to see me all the time." Gracia smiled softly, and again it reminded me of a teachers smile, or maybe even a nurse. She quickly began placing all of her dishes on a moving cart. "He's here now."

"I think that one likes you Grace." Edward teased and she giggled, straightening and dusting off her clothes. "So what's the occasion today? They have you in here cooking." Ed watched her like a cat, following her every movement until she plucked a extra pastry and placed it in his hands.

She sighed and shook her head, glancing over her shoulders to make sure no one was listening. After a moment she leaned in close. Instinctual Ed an I did the the same. "There's a new girl here. A few men in uniform brought her in a few minuets ago. She's a real feisty one." she whispered.

"What the hell do they do, kiddnap you people?" I asked.

"No, no, of course not." Gracia responded quickly with a shake of her head. "They say this one is a prisoner of war, a Ishbalan. The heartless idiots want to sell her to this place as a rare and exotic entertainer."

"For money? Now way?" Ed mumbled between mouthfuls of his pastry.

"It's true, instead of killing her, they figured they'd do the girl a favor by putting her to work here." The look on her face was cold enough to pass for borderline hatred. "Hughes told me about it when he came. He's against it but says his hands are tied because he's only here because of his superiors." After a moment she released a breath and straightened her shoulders. The frown was quickly replaced with a soft smile. Damn, working here appearances really must be everything. After a moment she quickly started pushing the cart toward another door, one that most likely led to the house. Edward quickly rushed to hold it open for her.

After she was gone the room was quiet again. "That woman; I mean Gracia," he said slowly. "does not belong here any more than I do. She's too kind for this type of work." He shook his his head and put the rest of his snack into his mouth. "She's supposed to be someone's loving mother or caring wife, not this."

"Why is she here then?" I asked.

"Her father ran into some big time debt with someone from the military. To pay it off she ended up here. She says she'd rather be a teacher. or a baker though."

"So that's it huh?"

Ed smiled. "Makes us look a little different now, right? The majority of women here has similar stories. We're not here because we love having sex with random people and to make matters worse there's that thing running loose."

"What thing?"

"Don't worry about it, it's nothing."

Maybe I had been a little too hasty to judge him or anybody. But when you're on the outside looking it, the only thing you can do is jump to conclusions. I still disapproved of this business though. I wanted to ask him about his own reasons for being here again, but just like before I doubted he'd tell me. Earlier the woman said that Hughes was here. I had to see for myself. My feet moved as if controlled by some unseen force. I found myself following in Garcia's footsteps. Quietly I pushed the door open and looked around. There was a small room that looked like the workers dinning room. from there you could hear voices coming from just a bit up ahead. Creeping along the walls I pressed myself along the entrance and risked a peek.

Gracia had been right, Hughes was there, but the thing that surprised me the most was the number of uniforms that filled the room. Gracia moved between them, handing out snacks when she stopped in front of Hughes, he politely declined. He looked like just being there left a bad taste in his mouth. From the looks of their uniforms we were both outranked by just about all of rooms inhabitants. I lifted my wristwatch and moved it around to catch the light of the chandelier. After a few moments of careful trying I catch Hughes in the eye.

The first time he took his glasses off and rubbed. The second attempt he looked my way astounded. He was rewarded with a smirk. He quickly made a reason to excuse himself from the room and carefully made his way over. One we were alone he took a spot on the wall besides me and lit a cigarette. "You look happy." I said.

He snorted, pushing the glasses up onto his face. "This is awful. They'll selling her off to the highest bidder like a piece of property." He nodded over to the group of men and I had to lean a bit to follow his gaze. They were all crowded around a young woman, circling her like vultures. The she had been tied to a chair, her head hung limply against her chest. "She came in fighting but now…"

Beautiful blond hair graced the top of this woman's head. The tan pants and sandy colored sleeveless shirt she wore had several holes in it. "Did they hit her?" I asked softly and Maes shook his head.

"No, she just put her head down." He answered. "But that's not the good part. Wait till you see her." Out of the corner of my eye I could see Ed move to the bar, his eyes watched the woman curiously as he took his place. He began busying himself behind the counter.

"Settle down now!" My attention was drawn to the center of the circle. A man stood besides the young woman. He was tall and thick, with skin the color of chocolate. The top of his head was completely bald and reflected the warm lights from above. The oddly shaped mustache on his face twitched with the movement of his lips as a thunderous voice erupted from it. "This delicate Ishbalan flower was shipped in a few days ago." He called out to the men, motioning with his hands to the girl besides him.

The woman's head snapped up once she was mentioned, her face set into a firm glare. "Murderous scum!" she hissed, fighting against the ropes that bound her in place. My eyes widened as I studied her features. I couldn't really see how they'd pass a blond off as a Ishvarite. That hair color didn't naturally occur in that area. Her skin probably had a healthy pink tinge to it, although now it was pale. She had a nice round face with stern features, but that wasn't what stopped me. It was her eyes.

"Hughes?" I mumbled softly and he nodded.

"Remember her now?" he asked grimly. I shook my head yes, running a hand through my hair. Those eyes, she had eyes that burned like a scorching fire. Not only because of her personality but because of their color. How could I forget her of all people? "She was our sniper from Ishbal, that woman is." I stopped the though process. Part of me was glad to see her alive, the other part needed to make sure she was safe. That's what he would have wanted.

He nodded. "Yep, that was her; pretty good wasn't she? They barely caught her, if they hadn't, your pretty little head would have been splattered against the ground." Maes took a drag from his cig and let it out nice and slow. "Now what in the world could a guy like you do to such a pretty little thing? What would make one of ours want to blow your head off?" He always had nice eyes. Ever since I met him, I've always thought this way. They were perhaps his best weapon. When he wanted to a single glare could freeze you in your tracks. That same cold stare is what he gave me now.

I looked away. "It's a long story. I don't want to go into it, but I believe I understand her feelings."

He sighed. "So basically, you're a womanizing bastard and she decided to-"

"It's not like that!"

Hughes chuckled but only for a moment, then it was back to business. "Basque Gran, the iron blood alchemist." He stated. "There were always sick rumors about him but it seems after Ishbal his story just gets worse. This one included." My hand instinctively dove into my pants pocket. Wrapping fingers around familiar cloth, I pulled one of my white gloves free and put it on.

The soft fabric slid onto my hand and I flexed it. There was a comforting feeling in the power I commanded. As if the ability itself had a voice that said: trust me and I'll make all the bad go away. The red alchemy symbol the back of the glove seemed to burn new life into my fingers. "Heh, hell yeah, never leave home without them. A good old Barbecue does sound good." The woman had done no wrong; therefore it was my job as an active member of the army to liberate her. "Alchemists, be thou for the people." With a light flick of my wrist and a snap of my fingers a tiny spark was sent.

The woman apparently felt the raise in temperature because she jumped, fighting at her bindings until the burning material finally gave way and snapped. She jumped to her feet, causing uproar in the men around her. Maes frowned and pulled me out of view as the girl began her attack, kicking and punching anything that came into range before taking off down the hall and through the house.

Gran fumed, his dark face red with rage. "Find her! Don't let the Ishbalan escape!" The crowd dispersed as the men began a search of the house. Female workers slowly backed away to avoid confrontation as they tried to continue on with their jobs. They weren't paid to get involved, so it was obvious they wouldn't.

Ed quickly came from behind the bar and made his way over. Before I could speak he stood up tall and ruffled my hair, messing it as much as possible. He then snacked his arms around my waits and pulled me close. "Sorry it took me so long to answer. With so many guests around we're kinda busy."

Out of the corner of my eyes I could spot Gracia waving to Maes. "Come, come this way." I heard her say. It probably would be best for him to rejoin the others. Hughes stared at me quizzically for a moment. Whatever he wanted to say would have to wait. He smiled, gave a mock solute and quickly followed the brunette into the house.

"What are you-" he grabbed the front of my shirt and pulled me down towards his lips. My thought process stopped but instinct screamed for me to push him away. Edward clung to me frantically and the message was clear: please stay still. Voices from the search party could be heard nearing. My heart began to race. At this point I'd be caught. God know's what they'd do to me. The tiny blond fumbled around the wall until he hit a light switch. The dinning room well into a comfortable darkness, broken only by the light from the kitchen. That same hand turned my face a bit. Edward stepped back to smile. "Relax or you'll make me think I suck at my job. I'll get you out of here."

"Alright." I nodded.

Edward smiled kissed me again. As promised I tried my best to relax. The whole time my mind kept saying soft. His lips were soft. He didn't rush me, if anything he hesitated for a moment. When those same voices entered the dinning room doorway we both tensed. "Nothing's here but a whore and her man." A voice said after a moment. We didn't move until their footsteps faded down the hallway.

He backed away from me, a finger lingering on his lips. He seemed lost in thought but his eyes were on the doorway. "Do you always get mistaken for a woman?" I asked.

"Mm? All the time."

That must piss you off?"

"You get used to it. Just don't call me short."

"Sho-"

He covered my mouth. "I said DON'T say it!" After a moment he peeked out into the hall and motioned for me to follow. "Keep your head down and try not to draw too much attention. I just messed up your hair, so you still look like yourself." I didn't ask questions, just followed him with my head down. He led me back through the house, taking careful measures to avoid contact with the officers. We made our way to the back where the rooms where. He went about knocking. As expected the first room was empty.

"What the hell are you doing at a time like this?"

The blond smiled and tugged me inside. "It's a shame to let a opportunity like this go to waste, right?" He grinned and closed the door quietly. "They'll search these room next, isn't it exciting?" Exciting my ass, I circled the room like a caged animal. I did not want to get caught all because the kid wanted to play. Edward crouched down and took a running start. He collided with me midsection and we both tumbled to the bed. I lay there groaning for a moment. You never really appreciate the size of a kid until one randomly slams into you.

He straddled my waist, shifting until he found a comfortable spot. My hands moved to brush him off, but he deflected them, swatting them off to the side so he could claim my lips again. This time he meant it. Ed leaned into my mouth, pinning me down at the shoulders with his upper body. His teeth grazed my bottom lip and a surprised gasp escaped my lips. That was probably the start of my downfall. His tongue explored my mouth like he had found some strange candy and he was testing it out.

I wanted no part in this. It was wrong, but this didn't change the fact that it feel good. He pulled back with a lazy smirk. It was nice to know my discomfort amused him; always glad to be of service. I sat up hallway, rearing back to shove him to the floor when the door opened. Edward threw himself against me against me again. As if the entire situation wasn't weird enough, he took that moment to moan into my ear. "Sorry to interrupt." the voice of a officer wafted into the room for a split second before the door was closed again. The man on the outside announced that the Ishbalan woman wasn't hasn't been found yet. The group progressed down the hall, opening various doors along the way until they could barely be heard.

Edward lay there against me, his face by my ear. My eyes found the ceiling. We lay there for a while, neither of us spoke. What the hell do you say in that type of situation? "You knew they'd check the rooms all along didn't you?" I muttered after a moment."

"Mm-hm."

"Then why lead me hear of all places?"

The boy slowly got up and stretched before making his way to the window of the room. "Part of me wanted to play." he shrugged sheepishly. "The other part brought you here for this." He pulled back the dark colored curtains and let daylight in.

"An escape route?" I smiled and sat up.

"Well it would be a shame for you to take the time to play hero and then turn around and get caught." he replied with a shrug. "It's the second floor, so to be safe use a bed sheet." He helped me to my feet and then together we took apart the bed and tied the sheet securely to the headboard.

"I guess Hughes will be fine." I said, glancing out the window.

"If it's that guy, sure."

I chuckled. He was right, Hughes could make it through all layers of hell and come back with a smile and plans for a second vacation trip. I opened the window and swung the sheet over the edge. Of Course it wouldn't stretch all the way to the ground, it was just enough to help me escape without fracturing any bones. "This is goodbye then. Later Elric, thanks for the help."

The blond crossed his arms over his chest and smirked. "Likewise, Flame Alchemist." he held the end of the makeshift ladder while I began scaling down the side of the building. Halfway down, I jumped to safety just as planned. My only injury came in the form of stiff legs. From the window Ed begin retrieving the sheets. Everything seemed to be going as planned. The woman got loose and if I new Maes and the others, she'd be free by the end of the day. My flame would not be traced back to me. All in all it seemed like a pretty good day.

I turned back to the window to say my thanks when a shadow caught my eye. To my left, the rustle of cloth alerted me to my attacker. My hand flexed again and the glove that covered it seemed to grow warm yet again. A cloak covered figure rushed towards me and about a second later the silver of a knife glinting caught my eye. I stepped back and did the only thing I could think of at the time. The world seemed to slow again. Edward's voice seemed distant to my ears. He was screaming something, but I couldn't make it out. The hole time my mind kept screaming: its them or me. It's them or me!

The alchemy symbol on the glove gave off a soft glow as the heat rushed through my fingers. Ed steadied himself at the window before taking a leap down to the ground but it was too late. My fingers snapped and the friction between them delivered the final blow. He recovered in time to shout one last word: "Wait, No!"

The attacker disappeared behind a ball of flame."

Topazia: o_o I totally thought I posted this...