AN: Another chappie to test the waters, cheers mates! :)
Overall, it was a pleasant morning. Roy had gotten up early, the sun filtering in through his window provided a far more subtle awakening than he would expect from an alarm clock.
He had taken the day to finish his work and decided to meet up Maes for a drink at the local bar. His scruffy, protective and over-loving friend had helped him out, and had insisted that Roy fill him in completely. This he did, mentioning everything, including his theory on how much of an idiot Fullmetal was.
Maes got quiet when Roy mentioned the letter, looking into his glass and whirling the drink within it. Roy waited patiently for him to speak. There were rare occasions when his childhood friend got very serious about a subject. This provided the needed break from him showing off a mini album of the pictures of his beloved wife, Gracia, and their daughter, Elicia.
"Do you have the paper with you?" He asked finally, looking at Roy with a look that told him Maes thought something was up. "For God's sakes, man! You too?" Roy clapped a hand over his forehead, letting out an exasperated sigh. "What could a small slip of paper possibly mean? I'd suspect a prank by one of the neighbor scoundrels."
"How many scoundrels do you know that make indirect remarks about alchemical secrets?" Maes pointed out and shut Roy right up. "And since when was there anything that happened to those two brothers by sheer accident?"
Roy thought through this. It was true, shit happened to them often, and almost always as a plan. There wasn't a single time, in fact, that he could remember Ed or Al being involved in something, directly or not, that wasn't somehow connected to some dangerous alchemical idea or experiment. And therein, he supposed, lay the crux of the matter. It was hard to admit to himself that he was worried that it might have indeed been a clue. A clue that most likely would land the brothers in another life-threatening situation.
"You kill everything, you know that?" He poked at the arm that Maes had rested on the bar. "I hate that about you."
Maes smiled sadly and glanced at his friend. They had both had a bit to drink, and although Roy could take an excessive amount of alcohol without much fan flair, he, Maes wasn't as impermeable to its effects. "Not that I blame you for your worrying for them, but don't you think that it's a bit obsessive?"
Roy huffed and ruffled around hi his friends jacked breast pocket, pulling out a small, pink flat wallet. He let it open and fall, to reveal a snakelike succession of shots taken of a small girl, riding a bike, a pony, with a ball, on Maes' back, and a lovely women with short, chocolate hair. "You have no right," he added, smacking his friend with the pictures across the nose; "to speak on the subject."
"So you want kids?" Maes pressed, laughing outright at the scared expression on Roy's face. "Or a wife?" He prompted, gently.
Roy got quiet, not wanting to say anything stupid. "I'm not built for a family lifestyle Maes, I'm not like you besides, I have not met a woman that would interest me like that."
Maes nodded. "A man perhaps?" Roy looked to him sharply, smiling when he realized Maes wasn't judging, just honestly curious. "I've dabbled, I suppose" He sighed again, for what seemed like the hundredth time that night, and rested his chin on his arm. "You know me too well, and lying to my best friend would be an affront… I, I don't know what I want."
Maes nodded solemnly at that in understanding. "You have not even the slightest hint?"
Roy looked ahead of him and out a window. Night had fallen hours ago, but it looked peaceful outside. A half swollen moon played against the window panes. "I have no idea."
"I think you just might, but don't know it yet." Maes smiled to himself, ignoring Roy's suddenly piercing gaze.
"Whom do you have in mind?"
"You'll know when the time is right."
"Now you sound like a priest, frankly Maes, I think you've had a few too many." Roy was getting up, a bit too quickly perhaps, but his mind was distraught. Maes knew something he himself didn't, that he was sure about. The more disturbing element in the prophecy was that Maes usually turned out to be correct. And Roy didn't want to know who his overly perceptive friend had seen as Roy's pick.
"I need to sleep, Im completely drained." He made his excuses quickly, averting looking into his friends amused eyes. He hadn't moved an inch, just smirking slightly. Roy nipped his head on his way to the door. "Cut that out," was his last night goodbye.
Outside, the air was warm, but the breeze provided a perfect ventilation to make up his mind to walk home. Despite the element he controlled, Roy preferred cool spaces, and couldn't stand hot days or sunshine. His skin therefore was paler than most, which provided a stark contrast to his raven hair and onyx eyes. Women liked that, he knew, and some men too. He tried to recollect all his one night stands as he walked and had to admit to himself with shame that he could not.
A piece of paper found its way between his fingers, which were embedded in his military coat pocket. He pulled it out to inspect against a dimming street light. It was the copy he made of the letter Fullmetal had brought him. He shuddered to think what would happen if the boys managed to sneak out of central and follow the clue, especially if it was indeed not false. Comforted only by Maes' solemn oath that no one and nothing could sneak past without authorized permission which passed directly through him, he stepped onto the steps that lead to the front door of his apartments and made his way inside. He fell asleep almost immediately, but awakened reenergized and moderately happy. It was only upon entering the office and being almost assaulted by Full metal himself that his mood deflated like a pierced balloon.
He watched the retreating mans back and rubbed his temples. "So much for a pleasant morning." He mumbled, shooting Riza an apologetic smile. "How far do you think the noise of that one reached?"
Riza looked to the open office windows and cocked an eyebrow. Roy went to one, and poked his head out. There were offices all around the indoor park and sadly, most of the windows were opened, not a single person could be seen in them. "I bet they're plastered all around the sides, listening."
Riza took aim behind his shoulder and aimed neatly at one of the open window panes. It shattered loudly, and hissing squeals and whispers could be heard. "I'd say so as well sir." She turned right back to her work, leaving a slightly alarmed Roy to move out of the window. "I'll have to pay for that you know." He murmured, retreating back to his office.
His phone rang and he answered. It was Maes.
His eyes widened as he reviewed the message. A curse spilled forth and he was out of his office that fast, pulling on his gloves, Riza right behind him. The rest sat in stunned silence. Roy had thought enough to turn back at the door. "Keep the fort up guys, ill be reviewing any information that came through Huges' office when I return, I want not a detail left out!
He was gone that quick, trying not to run the halls and looking like he could keep himself together. "I leave the kid alone for twenty fucking minutes and he does this." He hissed, Riza deciding to stay quiet.
Maes was already waiting for them at the front steps of central offices, two cabs at the ready. "There's backup in that one." He pointed to the one behind the one he was standing at, "And Major Armstrong has kindly accepted my offer to come with, get in!"
They filed in, Roy and Maes in the back while Riza took the front.
"They slipped out through the sewage system. The only reason we know they're gone is because the staff at a restaurant they were dining at realized that they left without paying but no one actually had seen them leave. My men searched the place and found traces of alchemy beside one of the dumps that leads down into the system, looks like they covered up pretty well; it was only by accident that they spotted the slight residue."
"They must have been in a hurry, Fullmetal doesn't usually leave any residue after his transmutations." Roy noted, remembering the last time he had seen Elric actually transmute. "Just look at Al's suit, do you see any signs?"
Maes nodded. "You sure do keep details in check." Roy huffed out, "I always make it my responsibility to know every detail!"
Riza coughed from the front seat and Armstrong chuckled. "What?" He was defending his ego. "I do!"
"Of course you do sir." Riza nodded with a voice that let everyone know the opposite.
They had arrived at the restaurant and Roy had the door open before the car even stopped, hoping out, he dashed across and into the kitchens behind. The staff skidded out of the way for him, and he was met by two of Maes' men waiting by the garbage dump. He transmuted it quickly, noting the transmuted stumps that would aid the brothers in climbing down instead of falling. "A quiet escape then" he muttered. The tunnel was definitely large enough for Al's amour to fit through.
He had one leg in the opening when Maes grabbed him. "Don't you think it's unwise?" His friend's eyes showed that he was worried. "To just drop in there alone?"
"I think I can take care of myself here." He whispered. Besides, Riza is going with me, I have a hunch these boys are headed for "There are some ruins of an old Xerxes city in the desert. I believe they will be heading out for that. I'm going this way, but it would be helpful if you have some provisions waiting for me when I get out of this hell hole." He added, scrunching his nose at the awful scent wafting towards them and up. "Perhaps a change of clothes as well?" He added hopefully, looking at Maes from below. The man smiled and nodded "Anything you want mate."
With that they were gone.