"speaking"

thoughts

"Have you seen the Full Metal runt lately?" Envy asked grinning at Lust.

"No, he was here a few days ago, but I couldn't get anything on where he would be going once leaving Central." Lust sighed with annoyance.

"I could find out for you." Envy offered.

"No." Lust said looking over at Gluttony as he devoured some birds, "we need to remain focused on getting rid of Scar for now."

"I don't smell him Lust!" Gluttony said his voice coming out garbled.
"What did I tell you about talking with your mouth full?" Lust scolded wiping his meal off of her dress.

"Hey Al," Ed said when his brother entered their hotel room later that evening, " did you get what you had wanted to buy?"

"Yep. I found a lot of useful material." Al replied.
"Good, I got you a backpack." Ed said lying back on the bed with a book.
"What for?" Al asked confused though he did appreciate the gesture.

"To carry your stuff so you wont have a bunch of loose objects rattling around inside of you." Ed explained and Al nodded. "Its over in the corner with some other stuff I thought you might like." Ed said.

XxXxXxXxXxXx

Rayna sat in her room unable to focus on any of her research; she would tell the Elric brothers information it would've taken them years to find out (if they figured it out at all) when they left in the morning, and she was nervous about the payment she was going to request.

Ever since Al had asked her about love that morning, her stomach had been doing flip-flops.

What if his questions had something to do with Ed? Then her request wouldn't be taken too lightly...

Unless he was referring to Ed and some other girl...

Colonel Mustang rushed over to the payphone not even waiting for the Lieutenant to completely stop the car before he'd jumped out.

Riasa was confused as to why the man was in such a hurry to use the phone, but was sure she was about to find out.

"Yes, I need to speak with Edward Elric," he said into the receiver.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXx

"Hello?" Ed said who would be calling him at such a late hour.

'Ed, its Mustang.'

"Is something wrong Colonel?" Ed said completely alert.

'I just remembered why Rayna eats so much.'

Ed was even more alert because now he was certain that the call was urgent. "I'm listening."

'Alice died while she was seven months pregnant, and as a result of not getting her out quick enough Rayna was born with a rare disease that rapidly depletes her energy.'

"I see..." Ed said he and Rayna could talk about what had actually happened to her mom in the future.

'The only way she can keep up her energy is by eating and allowing her body to absorb it through the food...she's building up her reserves so to speak.'

"What happens if she doesn't?" Ed asked making a mental note to get more travel safe food since it was going to be a while before they made it to another town.

'The one and only time it happened was when she was two...she fell asleep and didn't wake up again until a few days after he fourth birthday.'

Ed didn't miss the agony and the regret in his tone.

"Don't worry Colonel I'll get some extra food that she can take on the road with us, and do everything in my power to make sure that it doesn't happen again." Ed vowed.

'Good, tell her I said to be safe and to call me should she need anything.'

"I will." Ed answered hanging up.

Rayna was just like her mother, sure she looked like him and was excellent at manipulating people like he was; but Roy couldn't deny that his daughter was just like her mother in every way.

"Alice didn't like asking for help or telling me when something was wrong either..." He chuckled humorlessly.

"Sir?" The Lieutenant asked not sure if was actually talking to her.

"She didn't want to be a burden is what she would say, and wanted to prove that she could take care of herself." He continued.

"Most women often feel that they only cause problems for the people that they care about." Riasa explained as she drove, "Rayna may behave the same way with Ed." She added.

"Why do you say that?" Roy asked arching an eyebrow.
"Because they are very strongly attracted to each other, so strong that Ed is actually being polite to you." She chuckled.

"Oh no!" He chuckled as well, "poor Full Metal doesn't stand a chance! When Rayna wants something she gets it."

"Really?" Riasa asked.

"She's just like her mother and though I loved her...Alice was often too much for me to handle." He replied. "Now that I think about it...you're a bit like that too Lieutenant."

"I am?" She asked.
"Very strong willed." He nodded.

R&R Please. Who can guess what Rayna's payment request will be?