3: What it means to be Lieutenant.
I don't own FMA and it belongs to its rightful owners anything else belongs to AENR13 and R&R maybe?
Mustang, Hawkeye, and I along some other Soldiers we board on a train towards where the Alchemist Killer has murdered our subordinates in Central.
"Al and Ed are already there, they left this morning with Armstrong behind them. There's nothing for you to worry about Lieutenant Colonel Fang." Hawkeye informs me. I nod so I scan my eyes over what the State has managed to dig up. "I'm not worried that they'll be danger, I know that they'll be fine and they're both smart not to engage him directly. But the fact is, if this Alchemist Killer can kill even the strongest of Alchemists is what worries me. Hey Mustang, you haven't heard word from my Colonel have you?" I ask because my Colonel, Alex Stone; I haven't heard word him since I got stationed here with Mustang and taking on the Elric Brothers as my project.
"No I haven't. Colonel Stone was stationed somewhere else and asked me to have you here on the investigation. I have not heard word from him ever since you came here." he replies. I nod so I sleep because from last night, I've had problems sleeping from recovering from the Illusions.
"Laura, Laura. C'mon time to wake up. We have work to do." someone wakes me up so I follow Hawkeye and Mustang along with Hughes. I scan the area for any trances of the Killer. "*Sigh* We're just wasting our time. At this rate we're still going to be at the same square from the start. Let's go and ask the locals around and wait for any opportunity for the Killer to show up." Hawkeye sighs so we all go over to the inn we're staying at in Central. I'm in my room messing with a ball when I start remembering how this all happened.
"Hey Laura! C'mon there's people from Central recruiting! Let's go and check it out!" Roy finds me outside of my parents' shop. He pulls me up and drags me behind him towards the Town Square. "Look Laura! He's a Colonel and I want to be his Lieutenant some day." he points to a man in the blue State Alchemist uniform.
"I don't know Roy, things are really sticky from what I heard. That the State only take the top of the best. And besides I can't do a lot of Alchemy. The most I can do is summon water. Unlike you though, you're like awesome at everything!" I smile making him too.
"Oh whatever. Anyways we should probably get back, there's a long line." we start going back when an Alchemist pulls on my hair.
"Hey you're a pretty girl; maybe some Biochemical Alchemist can work up on you." he has a perverted gaze on his face so Roy grabs my arm pulling me behind him and draws a hasty Transmutation Circle and summons fire to attack the Alchemist. He hisses as the flames die, Roy's about to summon more when someone taps our shoulders.
"Hey little feisty one. That was some pretty intense Alchemy. Not even some newbies can do this. What's your names?" the Colonel asks, Roy and I just stare at him. Roy snaps out of it and introduces us.
"I'm Roy Mustang, and this is my friend Laura Fang." He smiles at us.
"Well I think the State would be honored if you both attended. You have a natural spark and she's from the Fang family. What do you two say?" he asks so we both shake our heads. We're barely like 12 and 15, apparently we still have lives to make out. The Colonel nods and reaches into his pockets. "If you ever change your minds; come to Central and show them this. They'll immediately take you over to me." I study the amulet and it's ever spiraling design.
"Lieutenant Fang! The Alchemist Killer has struck!" a soldier yells so I get up and we all head over to the recent crime scene. After Scar (the Alchemist Killer) leaves from nearly killing Roy (idiot hello! It's raining!), we flock over to the scene where Mustang, Hawkeye and some others are taking the first glance. I'm at the jeep trying to keep the rain out of the inside of my clothes when I hear
"Don't let Lieutenant Fang to come here." Mustang orders to his people. I smirk
"C'mon Mustang you make it sound like if I can't take a bit of blood." I tease as I push by his men. Everyone's silent studying the recent fallen Alchemist that was killed by Scar. I turn my attention to the body and I give out a shocked cry.
"COLONEL STONE!" I cry as I throw myself to where my Colonel's dead body lays. Everyone gasps at my sudden act of hysteria. Before I can cry on my dead Colonel's body Mustang grabs me and orders
"Fang get a grip on yourself! Don't touch him!" he wraps his arms around me to restrain me against him. I sob but you can't tell I am because of the rain, the only hint are the sounds escaping my throat despite my best efforts to contain them. He then speaks to me "Fang, you knew what it means to be a Lieutenant; you always risk the chance that your leader can die but you'll take his spot if you don't get promoted to a higher rank. Calm down, you can't act irrationally now Colonel." I hang my head and continue to sob quietly in front of his company. He still restrains me but then tells to them, "Go back to your rooms, I'll contact them to retreat Colonel Stone's body." they nod so there's the sound of the jeeps starting and fading as they leave us. He turns me and just hugs me while I sob into his shoulder. The price of being a Lieutenant; you'll pass through your processor when they die. I hear footsteps and when they take Stone's body away. Mustang gets me inside one of the jeeps. I stare outside of the window while him and the others are building up a criminal record for the Alchemist Killer. I watch the rain roll down the window leaving the world to have a cold feeling to it. Hawkeye, who must have stayed behind enters the jeep and turns in her seat to look at me.
"Colonel Fang, I'm sorry for your loss." she tries to make me feel better but it doesn't. She doesn't talk to me after that; eventually the jeep fills up with other Alchemists, one of them hands me Colonel's Stone's hat. I grab it and it sends another wave of tears down my face but I don't make any noise. I squeeze it in my hand and study it. The jeep shows up at where we're all staying at. I go to my room and slam my door behind me. I struggle to take off my uniform because honestly I feel numb to everything. I rip it off and lay down on the floor trying to process it all.
This has to be an Illusion; some powerful Physical and Mental Alchemy. It has too. I try to convince myself and pull up the blanket on me.
"Laura, Laura!" someone calls from the other side of my door banging against it. I don't speak because I don't trust my voice. I'm Laura Fang, the Illusion Alchemist. I'm a Colonel now, I can't let my subordinates to see me cry. Emotions are weaknesses, crying's a weakness. I'm supposed to show that despite whatever happens. "Laura! I'm coming in whether you like it or not!" the man enters my room, I don't bother to peel my eyes off of the window. Mustang sits in front of me on the floor. "C'mon Laura, I never liked seeing you sad. Let me see a smile," he tries to cheer me up, I cover my face with the blanket and turn on my side facing away from him.
"No. If you don't like it don't be in here." I mumble and he starts poking my back to get my attention.
"I'm going to keep poking you until you decide to talk to me." he ensures me. I ignore it at first but then it starts pissing me off. I whip my head at him and give angry eyes at him.
"You're really annoying Roy. Even since where were kids." I mutter. He smirks,
"That's my job, and look, we're both Colonels and I hate to admit it but we're both supposed to be able to handle these kind of situations. Let's go downstairs where the rest are. We're all exhausted but they'll be able to cheer you up." he tries to reach out for me but I still glare at him.
"No. You can, but they're your regiments. You can control whatever happens to them. I'm not part of your regiment. If Stone was still alive he would have wanted me fight with him..." that's when it hits me. Why he didn't want to find out about the real reason why they needed me to come on the investigation, and me to see the body. "ROY!" I shoot up and accuse "You knew! hat he was going up against the Alchemist Killer! Why didn't you let me go?!" I demand as I punch him on the jaw. His jaw hangs, he unlocks it and closes his mouth.
"Laura, he asked me to keep you unaware of this. He didn't want you to die with him. Stone knew what he was against Laura I-" I get up and round house kick him.
"How dare you! You knew how close my Colonel and I were! I thought you weren't the type to not tell people things! Maybe I should have let you killed yourself in Ishbal!" I scream then run from the room. Fine, I'll make sure he'll be sorry for not telling me.