A/N: Hello again people! *everyone boos and throws things* I know, I'm really sorry! I didn't mean to leave for that long (cough-nearly-an-entire-month-cough) without warning. I'm sure you don't want to hear my excuses, but here they are anyway!
1. It was Christmas. (Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, by the way! Woo for 2012!)
2. I went on a fantastic two-week long cruise to New Zealand for my holidays! XD And apparently internet was too expensive. And there was no reception. :/
3. My motivation was really low. You see, reviews really motivate me- they tell me people are waiting to read the next chapter, so I will make the effort to write it much sooner. But I'm barely getting any, so the last few chapters have been hard to write. This one took me days to finish. Literally. So, you should all review so I can write the next chapter really quickly! (Hint, hint :D )
So, yeah. Anyway, here is Chapter 13 of Night Eyes! Finally! ;)
Chapter 13-
This time Hawkeye drove, much to everyone's relief. Ed sat nearest to her, frequently giving her directions since no-one else had even the slightest idea where they were going.
"So Chief, what's happening?" Havoc asked Edward as they pulled out of the Military parking space and out onto the nearly empty roads. Very few cars were travelling at such a late time of night. Ed was silent for a moment.
"Yes Fullmetal, brief us on the situation," Mustang enforced, when he didn't speak.
Edward looked slightly annoyed, but his eyes held a distant, dead look. It was creeping Fuery out, to tell the truth.
"My people want to discuss with you what you know about vampires, and the Homunculi and their plans," Edward said vaguely. "Turn at the next left."
"Their plans?" asked Falman. "Surely, they don't think we're involved?" Edward gave him a sharp look, and momentarily all they could hear was the rushing of wind against the hood of the army vehicle.
"You're telling me that a bunch of homicidal, psychotic vampires think we're planning to kill them? God, this is bad!" Fuery panicked. Ed scowled, wondering if he was allowed to kill the guy. Fuery, along with everyone else, immediately noticed Ed's sudden urge to strangle someone.
"Ah, no offense, of course! Not all vampires are psychotic murderers!" Fuery hurriedly corrected, but he only made things worse. "I mean, there are really good vampires too, but most of them are… yeah. You can't deny that a lot of them are creepy, soulless- I mean-!"
"Fuery, be quiet before Fullmetal strangles you." Mustang ordered sternly, and Fuery shut up nervously.
"Will they?" Hawkeye suddenly spoke, glancing at Edward, before turning back to the road. "Try and kill us," she added.
Edward closed his eyes, leaning back in his seat. "Definitely." Fuery gulped, unnerved.
"Not you, dumbass. You won't even be there," the teen scowled crossly in Fuery direction.
Fuery wondered why every move he made angered Edward, especially when he was trying to be nice. After all, no one ever particularly wants to have a hot-headed vampire on their bad side.
"What do you mean, 'won't even be there?" Falman asked Edward.
Ed turned to him. "Exactly what it sounds like. He absolutely can't come- and neither can you. The Clan only wants to see Mustang, Havoc, and Hawkeye."
"No." Mustang flat-out rejected. "I absolutely refuse to leave any of my team members behind again. The Homunculi tunnels were bad enough. We work as one unit, is that clear?" he glared at Fullmetal.
The officers literally felt the temperature drop as Ed stared coldly back.
"You obviously don't understand the immense situation you're in. The people you're dealing with- the people that I live with- they are ruthless. They have no emotion, mercy, or patience. If those two go with you, they will be viewed as worthless, unnecessary tag-a-longs and will be killed instantly as they hold no value to the Clan. I was under the impression you were against having your fellow mortals die." Edward hissed, his own patience running thin.
An uneasy silence fell again. Occasionally Ed turned around to give Hawkeye directions as he waited for the Colonel to make the logical choice- to leave the two behind.
Eventually Mustang sighed. "Alright… Fuery, Falman, you two need to return to base."
Falman frowned and Fuery's heart dropped in disappointment. He instantly opened his mouth to protest, but Mustang cut him off.
"Make sure to follow the main road, in the opposite direction of us- there are currently road works on the side roads. Don't get caught behind them, it's a pain. Alright?" Mustang gave his two subordinates a meaningful look.
Fuery felt his spirits rise again. Mustang was using code to tell them their true orders without letting Edward know. Falman's and Fuery's real orders were to follow the group discreetly without getting caught and provide back-up support when it was needed. Fuery glanced at Edward, but fortunately he didn't seem suspicious of the slightly odd things Mustang had just said.
"Yes sir," they dutifully replied, and Hawkeye momentarily stopped to drop them off. Being military officers, walking around in the dark didn't really bother them, and they could definitely handle anyone who attempted an attack. Fuery stood next to Falman and watched as the group of four drove off to all sorts of horrid dangers.
"That car does have a standard military-issue tracker on it, right?" Fuery double checked with Falman.
The oldest of the team gazed at him. "Yes. Tracking them will be easy enough." He pulled out a device about the size and shape of a phone and opened it. A continuous beeping noise sliced through the chill air as it showed the location of the vehicle Hawkeye was driving.
"I brought it just in case," Falman added thoughtfully. Fuery sweatdropped- he was far too organised to be human.
The two began walking down the road, but were quickly distracted by the rumble of an engine coming up the street. Normally someone driving at night wouldn't be unusual, except the car that pulled up beside them was another military vehicle. The door swung open to reveal Al sitting in the passenger seat, with Winry behind the wheel. Fuery was stunned to see them.
"Mr Falman, Mr Fuery! What are you doing walking around on the street so late?" Al asked, surprised to run into them.
"I think the real question is, why is an under-aged teenager driving?" Falman replied, raising an eyebrow at Winry. "And where might you two be going?"
Winry went slightly red at being caught driving underage, but confidently said, "I've driven before, and I know what I'm doing! Besides, it's something of an emergency. You guys are driving into a dangerous situation, right? Al and I wanted to help, so we were following you."
Falman thought for a moment. "Normally we would never allow such a thing, but in this case… I believe it would be wise to bring you two for a while. Under two conditions," Falman told Al and Winry. They were both grinning, but tried to look mature and capable of the responsibility being given to them.
"Number one- you two will not enter the Clan's territory under any circumstance. No matter what you see or hear, do not enter into the vampires' territory. Preferably, wait in or near the car. Am I understood?" Falman said sternly, and the teens both nodded. "Condition number two-" he paused, and gazed at them. "Either myself or Fuery will drive." He gave a small smile, and the teens grinned again. They climbed out of the car and into the back seats, while Falman situated himself in the driver's seat and Fuery took the passenger seat.
The odd group of four commenced driving again. After a moment, Falman asked the teens a question that was annoying him.
"How were you following us before? We were completely out of sight- you two were too far behind to tail us. The streets are pretty much empty; we would have seen you immediately." Falman scrutinized their expressions through the rear-view mirror.
Winry looked slightly sheepish and Al seemed nervous. "The same way you're following them now, sir," Winry replied. "Al knows the military inside out because of Ed, and I'm good with mechanical devices and technology- getting a tracker and hacking it was kind of easy between us both…"
Al burst out with, "We're sorry about taking your device, but we're tired of being left behind! We really just want to help. Please don't send us back!"
There was a short pause before Fuery began to laugh. After another moment, Falman began to chuckle as well. Al and Winry glanced at each other, confused. Did that mean they could stay, or…
"Of course you can both still come. Just don't do that again, alright?" Falman eventually said.
Fuery was still laughing. "We're a huge establishment of powerful soldiers dedicated to protecting people, that have the best security in the country, and we were hacked by two teenagers! Ah, that's hilarious!" He looked back at them. "You two really are intelligent for your age. Edward must have rubbed off on you, that sounds like something he would do!"
Winry and Al smiled, relived. However Fuery, still leaning towards them, suddenly pulled a face.
"Ack, what the heck is that awful smell?" he covered his nose and mouth with one hand. Now that he mentioned it, Falman could smell it too.
"Is that… garlic?" Falman inquired slowly.
Al smiled pleasantly back at him. "Yes, it is. Brother told me about a way that humans could go undetected by vampires! It was really complicated, especially since vampires can detect the life forms around them and all, but garlic can cover your scent and life energies and other ways vampires can use to locate you. As a result, unless we make a noise or are in direct sight, the vampires won't even know we're there!"
"It doesn't hurt them or anything, though," Winry added helpfully.
"So that's how you planned to break in," mused Falman thoughtfully. He glanced at the inventive teens in the back seat. "Do you just have to have it with you, or…"
Winry shook her head. "Just rub a bit of the garlic on your skin. Because the smell's really strong, it will last for a couple of hours at least." Suddenly she blinked, remembering. "Oh Al, didn't we bring some extra, just in case?"
The golden-brunette beside her shifted, hauling up a backpack from where it lay on the floor behind Falman's seat. He unzipped it and peered inside.
"Definitely," he made a face a bit like Fuery's earlier one and held the smelly backpack further away.
"Good. Fuery, we'll need some of that too, to go undetected in the Clan," Falman said, pulling over temporarily. Within a couple of minutes they smelled like fresh garlic as well, and Falman opened the tracker again, beginning to drive.
"They're all the way out of Central," Falman spoke, surprised. "Right in the surrounding rural areas."
Fuery leaned over and examined the tracker as well. "Wow… they must be going at a million miles an hour… they've got to be breaking the speed limit! Why the hell are they going so fast? Hawkeye would never drive like that, unless…" he paused.
"Unless they're in trouble," Fuery finished, gulping. Winry gasped and Al held an expression of worry. Falman suddenly looked determined, and to everyone's shock he floored the accelerator, intent on catching up.
Al gazed out the window, watching his surroundings fly by as Falman drove. He hoped the trouble was nothing serious, but for them to be travelling at such a speed… Please hold on, he thought to his friends and his brother. We're on our way to help, so please don't get injured while we're gone…
A/N: Aw, Al's so cute. xD Well, Ed and the others are in danger! Remember to review. Go on, you know you want to! Don't you want to know what happens? ;)