・┈➣ ﹕┆fathers °˖➴

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⤷ .𖥔 ݁ ˖ ┆𝘾𝙃𝘼𝙋𝙏𝙀𝙍 [ 006 ] ᯓ

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐄𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐀𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐓𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐒𝐔𝐈𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝐀𝐑𝐌𝐎𝐑 𝐈𝐍 𝐒𝐇𝐎𝐂𝐊 𝐁𝐘 𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐐𝐔𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍. Al looked down at his clammy hands.

"I doubt that my body's getting any nutrients or any sleep either. So even if we get it back from over there..." Winry gasps at the vision. "Is he right, Ed?"

The blonde leans back with a sigh.

"It's just a hypothesis but I was thinking about transmutation and trying to retrace our process. You remember how we mixed our blood to create a blueprint for mom's soul?"

"Yeah." Al replied, recalling the event.

"Well, right after that you passed through the portal and we were both deconstructed. It's a slim chance but I think it's possible our spirits might've gotten tangled up in the process."

All of you raised a brow at his observation. "What are you saying?" Al asked.

"I'm trying to explain that our bodies might be connected somehow even though I'm here and your body is over there. See, that might actually explain why i'm so sho-"

Ed cuts himself off before looking down, depressed, mushrooms growing on his head.

"Short." He meekly claimed. "He admitted it." You said in shock. "He's finally facing reality."

Falling back onto the couch you think more into his hypothesis. "So you think you've been supplying the nutrients for Al's body too?" Ed slams his hand onto the table.

"You don't grow because from what I've seen, you don't drink your milk!"

"Not you too! Don't start with that!"

"Brook is like eight feet tall and he drinks his milk!"

Al zones out in though as you and the blonde continue to argue. "Fine, stay a runt." You shrug. "I'm not a runt!"

୧ ‧₊˚ 🍊 ⋅

You, Ed, and Al walk down the hall of the hospital. "Are you here to visit the colonel?" Master Sergeant Kain asked, coming up beside Ed.

"Mister havoc is recovering too, we figured we should pay our respects. I definitely owe it to the colonel. He saved me right at the last second." Al said.

"Are you also dropping by for a visit?" Ed asked kain. "And bringing a little present." He smirked, holding up a rolled up paper.

—

After making it to their room, Al thanking Roy for what happened while you and Ed were gone, you dismissing Havoc's filtering attempts and thanking Roy for not capturing you and turning you in, and Ed hiding his jealous glare directed to havoc.

Kain handed Riza the rolled up document which was unrolled to reveal a map of central.

"I counted the number of steps it took to get to the basement under the third laboratory and I was able to calculate the approximate location of that doorway." She affirmed.

"It's not exact as the hallway curved but I was able to do a radius with the lab at the center." Placing her finger on the black box labeling the lab.

You took note of the map before noticing something.

All of the lab's created a circular formation throughout the entire city, and connected in the middle as well, but it wasn't your place to inform them, it wasn't your place.

"That's central command." Ed pointed out, seeing the radius she made crossed through central command. "But this is even more alarming."

"It's the presidential estate, right above where we found the homunculi." Al added onto his brother's statement.

"Which means there's a very real possibility the Fuhrer is connected to them." Roy observed. "But that doesn't make sense. Why did he kill greed and his group if he's connected to them?"

Al's question made you and Ed raise a finger to your chin. "Strange, he killed them anyway. Why would he slaughter them before interrogating them?"

"It's strange alright. Damn. One thing for sure the enemies infiltrated high of the command so extreme caution is necessary at all times. And fullmetal, watch yourself."

The blonde grunts and steps back at the weighted words.

—

Exiting the third laboratory you and Ed came out. "How'd it go?" Al asked. "Easy, I told them I was a state alchemist and they let me in with no questions asked."

Ed stated. "How did they let [y/n] in?"

"Have you seen me? They couldn't possibly say no." Crossing your arms over your chest with a grin.

The blonde looking up at you with a small glare. "Did you find the basement?" Al inquired, breaking the tension that was coming from his brother.

You hold up your paper, a small map lay out on it. "There wasn't one." The armor pulled back with a gasp.

"But I did find a trace of some hasty alchemy. It was stupid of us to think that they wouldn't seal up the entrance." Ed claimed. "I guess so. Where else are we gonna find a homunculus if we can't get down there?"

Following Ed as he began to walk away. "I'm not sure. Remember how they told me I was their sacrifice and they needed me alive?"

"They told me the same thing. Lust told me that when she found out I opened the portal."

"They what?! If I'm gonna be helping you two while I'm here I need to know these things!"

You exclaimed with gritted teeth, punching the short blonde. "Ow! Stop hitting me!" Rubbing his head as he stood up. "Well I guess we found one piece of the puzzle." you sighed.

"They're looking for alchemists who open the portal and make it back out alive. But the real question is why they wanna sacrifice us. So we'll have to beat an answer out of them."

Clenching his fists. "I can see if I can contact Robin again. If this thing is as big as you make it out to be, she might've read about it somewhere, like a poneglyph or something."

"You'd do that for us?" Ed asked in surprise, coming to a stop.

You've heard about and seen what happened to the people who help them with trying to get their bodies back and you of all people would risk your life to help?

"Yeah, we're friends, right?" Narrowing your eyes slightly and poking at his forehead. "Yeah. Friends."

"Edward, wait!" Looking ahead you all see a dirty blonde rushing over. "Is that sergeant brosh?" Ed asked. "I'm glad I found you." He said.

"Yeah, why don't you tell me what's wrong." Stepping up to the panting man. "You should go back to your hotel right now, I could escort you if you want."

Handing a piece of paper to the blonde. Catching sight of what was written on it Al stepped in front of you. "Hey! I want to see!" You complained.

୧ ‧₊˚ 🍊 ⋅

Back at the hotel Ed had asked you to go check on Winry which you begrudgingly agreed to.

It's not like you didn't like the blonde girl, you had just thought since you were now dragged into their problems you would be able to know about what was going on.

—

"So you're saying that scar was the one who killed Winry's parents?" Al said, trying to process what his brother had told him.

"I don't know for certain but that's the way it looks. And by how [y/n] described it he was also the one who killed her mom." Recalling everything that happened at the Xerxes ruins.

"Poor Winry, and [y/n]. It's so sad. Brother you weren't planning on telling them were you?"

Worried about his friends, and how'd they react. "Of course not Al. I couldn't stand to be the one to make them cry again." He claimed.

"Neither could I."

"It's the last thing I wanna do but we have to confront Scar." Ed deemed. "To find out if he did it?" Al clarified in question.

"Well, that's one reason, but there is another. We're gonna lure out the homunculi." His plan made Al gasp.

"They need us alive for their sacrifice don't they? So I doubt they'd be willing to just stand by while scar kills us."

"You think so? Sounds like a pretty big gamble to me." Al claimed.

Ed stood up straight, his hands against his hips. "Well it's much better than doing nothing." Al turned to the blonde. "Oh really? Because scar literally tore us apart the last time."

Reminding Ed about their last encounter with him.

Ed sweat dropped. "Well we've gotten stronger in these past few months." Rearing back as Al towered over him menacingly.

"What happens if the homunculi do show up? How are you gonna catch one? They're super strong and they pretty much can't die."

"Can't die, was that hyperbole?" The red curtains blew open as Ling and Lan Fan sat on the open window sills. "Or are they actually immortal?"

"Why don't we lock the windows?"

Climbing in the two sat on one of the couches.

"Count us in! We'd love to help you guys!" Ling said ecstatically. "Why's that?"

"I can't say I care about the military stuff but it sounds like these homunculi are just what we've been looking for."

His expression fell, noticing the raised brow look on Ed's face. "What's wrong? You look kind of skeptical." He pointed out.

"Don't get me wrong I am grateful for the help you've already given but this-" Ling cut him off. "You've got better odds with more help." He deemed.

"I'm serious about this. This could be what recuses my clan." Silence filled the room before Ed smirked. "Alright then just remember we're in this together."

Ling leaned back with a grin. "I promise not to run off with them, I owe you that much."

"What for?" Pulling out a long slip of paper from his jacket and handing it to the blonde.

Ed stared in shock at the long bill of room service. "Is this for room service?!" Ling chuckled.

"You're damn right you owe me! [y/n's] gonna kill me!" Sending Ling and Lan Fan flying through the now broken window.

Their hotel door slammed open, you and Winry standing there angrily. "Will you guys shut up?! Do you know how early I have to wake up tomorrow?!" The blonde exclaimed.

"Oh right I forgot you're taking an early train to rush va-" His nervous smile falling at the thought of facing scar and getting his automail broken.

"You know what? You should cancel that? Why don't you stick around and relax?" Winry raised a brow in confusion.

"I mean it's just that.. You know, well There's always a chance my arm could get broken, you know, even destroyed."

Al sat on his knees beside Ed's body. His soul floating away and blood coming from his head.

"Are you planning on destroying it?!" Winry exclaimed. "I've got your soul brother!" Pushing his soul back into his body and hugging the comically scared boy close.

"And waste the money... you're crazy I can push it back a day or two though." You said with a sigh, shaking your head and looking down.

Scoffing, you glare at them. "I can't believe you, just promise you won't do anything too dangerous."

Placing a hand on Winry's shoulder you both walk away. "Now that you're staying a little longer I can teach you how to read a map."

"And I'll show you the basics of building automail!" The joyous sound of the blonde rambling about mechanics echoed through the hall until the sound of a door closing stopped it.

"They really get along, don't they."