Orphaned

"You're meeting him again?" Winry asked, looking to Kanone, "What for now?"

The brunette stared at her for a moment, "Well, I know you think he's alright, but I've certainly got my doubts. He's a smart man, and I want to know if he's figured anything out quite yet."

"But, you haven't told him anything, right?" the older one asked, "How would he know if you haven't told him?"

"Certain people are able to put two and two together." Kanone informed her, sarcastically, "I have a feeling Roy is one of those people."

The blond sighed, "I just think you're coming on a little strong. If you seem too needy for his help..."

"Then I'll put him in his place when he gets too cocky." he finished for her, sternly, "Simply because I am requesting his assistance does not mean I will do whatever he asks of me."

"You're too stubborn." she informed him, but dropped the subject when he gave her a look that told her it was best to leave it. She quickly changed topics, "So, what all are you planning on telling him?"

The olive-eyed boy cocked his head to the side, "What do you mean? I don't plan on telling him anything until I'm sure of him. Even then, it's best if he's in the dark about most of what I have planned."

Winry nodded, a bit sadly, "And...the Elrics?" she asked, almost hesitantly, "Will you tell him the truth about what happened to them?"

A glare was sent at her, "No, and neither shall you. Understand?" A slow nod answered the order, "I'll not have such a foolish thing keep me from my goal."

'What goal?' Winry wondered, but never voiced the question. She had asked Kanone on several occasions what his overall goal was, but he had avoided the question almost entirely every time. He always told her that it wasn't for her to know, or that if he told her, he'd have to kill her. He had said it jokingly, but she almost felt that he was being serious; she could never tell with him. She knew that regaining control of the Underground was on his agenda, but he had to be using Roy for a greater purpose than just that. Hell, he could accomplish that himself if he really put his mind to it. No, there had to be something more that he was planning with all of this.

The southern accent broke her out of her thoughts, "Well, I should get going, it's getting late."

The older woman nodded, still slightly lost with her pondering, 'Maybe it has something to do with them.' she thought, suddenly, 'He can't take them down by himself, and they certainly are a threat. But to do all of this for that goal...' She shook her head; it wasn't unrealistic to think Kanone was that selfish. He knew how to survive, regardless of who was hurt along the way. She sighed once again and pushed these thoughts to the back of her head. Until she was certain of his motives, she wouldn't say anything. If she was right, though, he would need to be stopped.

Roy arrived at the meeting place a few minutes early, grabbing a booth in the back of the restaurant and ordering a glass of water. He sighed as he stared into the clear liquid, 'What am I getting myself into?' he wondered, not for the first time. Ever since he had come to know Kanone's identity, he had been questioning much about his life. He was so lost in his thoughts that he didn't even notice a figure approach him and stand before him.

After a second, the other boy slipped in the other side of the booth, smiling, "I don't want to interrupt you," he began, earning himself a considerable jump from the concentrating man, "but perhaps we should get this over and done with."

Roy stared at him for a moment longer until he spoke, "Why exactly did you bring me out here?"

"I told you already." Kanone informed him, a tad bit annoyed, "I want to discuss my proposal a bit further. I trust you've had time to think it over?"

"Yeah." Roy confirmed. Kanone hadn't given him a lot of time to think it over, but he was already comfortable with his decision the moment it was made.

"And? What is your choice?"

Black met gold as the two males locked eyes, "I'll help you."

As soon as the words left the older one's mouth, a smile crossed the other boy's, "Wonderful." he said, "Now, then. I only need to make sure you're trustworthy. But, I'm certain we won't have a problem with that, now will we?"

"What do you mean trustworthy?" Roy demanded, slightly angered, "Haven't I been obeying your orders for the past 10 years?"

"No, you've been obeying Wright's orders for the past 10 years." Kanone corrected him, "Do you think I would have turned on you for keeping a child at your house? One that, I'm sure, knows little to no alchemy in the first place?"

"How would I have known?" Roy demanded, "Besides, it's company policy."

Kanone snickered, "Perhaps, but there are exceptions. Rules are meant to be broken, are they not?"

An eyebrow quirked at the hypothetical question, "That's not a great attitude for someone like the leader of the Underground, you know."

The brunette laughed at this, "Well, I never said I was a great leader. Obviously, or else things wouldn't have ended up this way." he frowned a little at this realization.

Roy shook his head, "That's not true, you had no idea that Wright would do something like that."

"No, but I could have figured it out." the olive-eyed boy said, lowering his head, "I should have figured that they would sink to such a thing."

"They?" the older one echoed, "Who are 'they'?"

Kanone suddenly broke out in a smile, "Let's not talk about this now." he suggested, "I'm hungry, what about you?"

Roy quickly adjusted to the change in topic, giving the previous one only one, last lingering thought, "Yeah, sure." he agreed, now suspicious of the already-mysterious Kanone.

An hour later, the two males were standing outside the restaurant, "Well, I must thank you for a lovely dinner." the younger boy said, smiling.

"You paid." Roy reminded him.

"Well, I suppose that is true. Still, you were enjoyable company."

One last lingering thought kept Roy from turning and leaving, "Kanone?"

Said boy looked up, "Yes?"

"Before when you mentioned 'them', who were you speaking of?"

The brown head simply shook, "I'll tell you in good time. For now, relax, and enjoy your life while it's still somewhat peaceful."

Roy thought to object but was cut off by Kanone raising a hand and saying 'goodbye', "Bye..." a sigh escaped his lips and he turned to head home, 'He's still hiding a lot from me.' he realized, 'I suppose that's only normal, though.' He shook his head and cleared it of those thoughts, he didn't need another headache again already.