"I'm leaving the military." Rachel's words rang in Tobias's ears.

He stared at her stupidly. "You're what?"

"I'm leaving-."

"No, I heard you the first time," he interrupted. "No sense in repeating it."

Rachel rolled her eyes. "Then why'd you ask?" she said putting her hands on her hips. She sighed and let her arms go slack. "I'm sorry, Colonel."

After a moment of silence passed between them, Tobias spoke. "How soon?" he asked.

She shrugged. "Here in the next couple of weeks or so. May take up to a month to sort out all the paperwork and move out of the dorms."

"You would still be working though right?" he asked eagerly.

"For the time being," she said with a nod. "I wouldn't be working under you though."

Tobias frowned. "Fine. Maybe it's better that way."

"Huh?" she said confused. "First you don't want me to leave and now you're okay with it?"

He shook his head. "No, it's not that." He took her hand and began walking down the street. "I have other ideas."

"H-hey!" Rachel yelped as Tobias dragged her down the sidewalk. "What do you think you're doing? What other ideas?"

He continued to pull her by the hand, only more gently now. "You're going to be working as the Fuhrer's assistant, yes?" he asked as he turned a corner.

"Yes," she said slowly. She jogged a little to keep up with him. "What does that have to do with anything?"

Tobias glanced around the street. "I'll tell you in a moment. In the mean time, think about some answers to that question. Why would I ask such a thing?"

As they walked for several more blocks, Rachel pondered several different answers. Eventually they came upon an apartment building that was near to her own dorm building.

"I wanted to talk in private," Tobias told her as they made their way up the stairs. "My apartment would be the safest."

"You're paranoid, Tobias," Rachel said with a small laugh.

He shook his head as he stopped in front of a door. "Nah, just cautious," he replied digging his keys out of his pants pocket.

They entered the flat, one after the other. Rachel went into the familiar living room while Tobias went into the kitchen. "You want something to drink?" he called to her.

"Bring me whatever," she called back while sitting on the tan couch.

She had been in his apartment many times before. She took in the painted yellow walls and the pictures that hung on them as a poor attempt to decorate. The smiling pictures of his family and his team looked down at her, frozen in past moments. Underneath all the pictures was a small bookshelf, packed full of mainly alchemic books. The wooden side tables on the either of the couch each held a lamp. A glass coffee table centered the room. It was littered with more books and various papers. Across from where Rachel sat was high standing table with a radio on the top of it. Beside the radio were the white alchemic gloves.

"I hope you're okay with an already opened bottle of wine," Tobias said entering the room. He cleared a space on the coffee table and set down the two glasses. He sat down beside her. "Had a bit of this myself last night," he explained pouring her some of the wine.

"That's fine," she replied taking a sip and swishing it around in her mouth. "It's still good," she told him before taking another sip.

"Good," Tobias said pouring himself a glass of the wine. "Now," he said before drinking, "about working for the Fuhrer."

"You want me to spy on him, correct?" Rachel asked.

He nodded. "Yes, but it won't be too difficult I don't think." He set his glass down. "All I want you to do is report to me if he does anything different."
"Different, how?" she asked finishing her first glass of wine.

He shrugged. "Well, think back to the Elric brothers, specifically Alphonse. When his armored body began to reject his soul, it would seem to leave the armor, leaving an empty shell. I would suspect that after thirty some years Kimblee's soul would do the same-I have said this before. Just let me know if he ever seems to pass out or something like that. When he wakes up ask the usual questions, 'What happened?' or 'Are you alright?' Let me know how often it happens."

Rachel hummed as she thought. "Is that it? No subtle ways to get him to tell me anything else?"

"If you can think of something, you are welcome to it."

"I'll see what I can do," she told him.

Tobias smiled. "Excellent."

Several moments of silence passed between them. Rachel spoke first. "Tobias, I don't know if one month is long enough to do that. It may take several more. I don't have the time," Rachel replied. "I see what you're trying to accomplish, but you don't know if his soul will ever be rejected by that body."

"I'm aware, but it's not likely that a body would fully accept a different soul other than its original." He refilled both of the glasses. "However, I have not asked you why you're wanting to leave the military. Can't you extend your stay for a bit longer if one month isn't enough?"

Rachel shook her head. "No, I can't." She sighed. "Tobias, the military doesn't make me happy." She sighed again and turned red. "But, being with you does make me happy."

Tobias smiled. "Rachel, how long have we known each other?"

Rachel was irritated. "I basically just confessed my love to you, and you ask me that?"

He shook his head. "No, it's not that! Okay, listen, hear me out-!"

"Is there someone else-?"

"What? No! Why would I-?"

"I mean you're-."

He grabbed her by the shoulders. "Stop." He pulled her close and kissed her on the lips.

After several minutes they broke apart.

Rachel grinned. "That's the second time you've kissed me without asking."

"You're welcome to return the favor whenever you like," Tobias replied.

"I'll have to do it now," she said covering his mouth with her own.

…

The next morning, Tobias leaned over his side of the bed and kissed Rachel lightly on her forehead. She stirred lightly in her sleep and snuggled the blanket around her pale skin. "Leaving so soon?" she slurred sleepily.

"I have to go somewhere before work," he whispered. "I'll see you at work."

She rolled over and looked at him. "See you shortly then," she replied closing her eyes and drifting back to sleep.

Tobias smiled and got off the bed. He adjusted his uniform and made his way around the clothes on the floor. Quietly, he shut the bedroom door and made his way out of the apartment, being sure to grab the white gloves on the shelf before he left.

After making his way out of the apartment building and into his car, Tobias sat in the driver's seat for several minutes before putting the key in the ignition. He continued to think about last night and words that were exchanged as he drove. He didn't mind the pillow talk, but now he wondered what was to happen between them. Was it just a one-night stand? He didn't think it was, and was sure Rachel didn't think so either. It was more intimate than anything he had ever done with a woman and he was glad it was with her.

He hardly remembered when he had arrived at the cemetery, or when he had bought the flowers, he was so wrapped up in his own thoughts. He sighed and shut off the engine. He got out of the car and made his way among the headstones. Tobias had gone through this way so often it was almost like a second nature now.

As he approached the grave, he found someone already standing there. "Oh, Second Lieutenant. What are you doing here?" Tobias asked.

Max turned to look at him through his glasses with red colored eyes. "Hey, Colonel. I thought I might find you here."

"You alright?" he asked.

"Perfectly fine," Max replied shoving his hands into his pockets. "I'm not the only Ishvalen that comes to pay respects to your father."

Tobias nodded and set the flowers down in front of the headstones. "I'm not surprised by that, but I have never seen anybody else come out here."

"Haven't you ever seen other flowers and such here?" Max asked.

"To be honest, I haven't been out here much lately. I used to come at least every week, but I've been busy the past couple months," he replied.

"I see."

They stood in silence for a while. "How long has it been?" asked Max.

"Since what?"

"Since they went on trial and all that."

Tobias thought for a while. "Almost 3 years I believe."

"You and the Major seem to have gotten closer."

"That's none of your business," Tobias snapped.

Max chuckled. "No, I suppose it's not. Did you hear about her?"

Tobias sighed. "Yeah, she told me last night."

"Over dinner?"

He looked at him. "If you must know, yes. It was over dinner."

Max nodded. "Alright, alright." Another few minutes passed by. "You know, since you've become a State Alchemist, I'm surprised they haven't called on you for anything. I thought State Alchemists were always off doing something."

Tobias shook his head. "Nah, it's usually during times of war when they'd need my kind of alchemy. At the moment, we're at peace with pretty much everybody but Drachma. I don't think it'll ever be peaceful with them."

Max pushed his glasses up. "Unless somebody does some clever negotiations or something."

He shrugged. "I suppose." He pulled his watch out of his pocket to check the time. "We should probably start heading out. Need a lift?"

Max nodded and began to follow after Tobias. "Oh, there was something else I was going to ask you, Colonel."

"What's that?"

"Have you found anything new about the Fuhrer?" he asked getting into opposite side of the car.

Tobias entered the car and put the keys into the ignition and started it. "Yeah. A friend of mine filled me in on some things." He briefly explained to Max what was going on.

"So the Major is going to spy on the Fuhrer and report back to you," Max repeated back.

Tobias nodded. "Exactly. She may not be on our team anymore, but that doesn't mean we won't be able to contact her."

"Hm… Aren't you afraid the Fuhrer will find out?" Max asked.

Tobias chuckled and smiled. "You people are always wondering that. You make it seem like I'm not aware of anything that I'm doing."

Max shrugged. "You're smart, but you never know. You might not think of something that the enemy has thought of." He took off his glasses and cleaned them on his shirt.

"Hm. True enough." Tobias glanced over at him. "By the way, why aren't you in uniform? Something happen to it?"

"I'll change when we get to work," Max replied.

Tobias pulled up to the entrance of the work building. "I'll see you in the office then," he said.

As soon as he exited the vehicle, a brown haired woman walked up to him. It was the same woman from the archive library, Sophie. "Colonel Mustang," she said, "the Fuhrer would like you speak to you in his office."

And that is where I will end it for now. I think I've decided to update at least once a month. Also, I apologize if this was a somewhat boring chapter. I feel like I'm repeating a lot of the things I've mentioned a billion times before (which I am), but don't worry! The plot will pick up soon enough!

And sorry for not warning you about the implied lemon with Rachel and Tobias. That just seemed to happen. ._. I usually have my helper write those parts because I'm kinda bad at writing fluff, but she's been out so I tried it myself this time.

Please R&R! Thanks for reading!