Orphaned

"So.. Mustang." Ed muttered, poking at his breakfast the next morning.

"Yeah?" the elder replied, a bit more solemn than usual. His eye didn't have that glint that it usually did; the one of cocky reassurance that told the world he knew everything there was to know. Then again, neither of them did.

"Heard from Kanone lately?"

Roy had half expected him to bring last night up, and ask a million and one questions about the people that had attacked him and Al. He was surprised that Ed had let it sit as long as it had. Though, he wondered why the blond wanted to know about Kanone. Roy just shrugged it off, "No, why?"

"Well, he seems to be connected to everything somehow, right?" Ed accused, "So I thought maybe you should tell him about those people that attacked you and Al last night."

There it was: predictable Ed. The darker-haired one had to hide his smirk, though when he registered the other one's words, it wasn't hard. He'd been considering doing just that since they arrived home. A soft sigh escaped his lips, "I would, but..." he trailed off.

"But what?" the short one demanded, "But you don't trust him? Are you having doubts about him? You sound like you are, I don't trust him. Maybe you shouldn't talk to him anymore."

An eyebrow quirked at the mini-rant. Until this point, the elder alchemist had had his back facing the rest of the kitchen, but now he turned the stove off and turned to face the boy. His breath caught in his throat at the sight of his semi-boyfriend. Once golden eyes, full of life and emotion, were now dulled and glowing a crimson red. His whole body, in fact, seem to be illuminated with the color as the amulet around his neck was shining rather brightly, casting a deathly glow on the young one.

"Ed..." Roy whispered, trying to take in the scene and understand what was happening. Whatever it was, he knew the boy standing in front of him wasn't Ed. It might have his body, but the cold gaze wasn't the lively alchemist he knew.

The red-tinted head turned its attention toward Roy, "Something wrong, Roy?" he wondered, as if nothing were out of the ordinary.

'Is it possible it's still Ed? That he doesn't know what's happening to him?' That thought diminished as soon as said man fully registered the words spoken. Ed rarely ever called him by his first name; it was always 'bastard' or 'Mustang' or some other insult that the boy could think up. Ed called Roy by his birth name about as often as he called Ed by his full first name. As if that weren't enough to put the black-haired man on edge, the normally-blond one's posture had changed considerably. He wasn't slouched over the table he would normally be, but instead was standing straight up, his weight shifted to one side and his hand firmly planted on his hip. He looked like he had a serious attitude problem-- a different kind than the usual. A quickly muttered 'no' and the elder started moving into action. He stepped carefully toward his target as his hand slipped its way into his pants pocket.

Crimson-filled eyes watched every motion warily, as if just waiting for the predator to strike its prey. A sickly, twisted grin covered the once-smiling mouth in anticipation. Little did Roy know he was the prey. It all happened in an instant, and still, the boy formally known as Edward Elric saw it all. Roy's hand flew from his pocket, no longer naked. It was now covered in a pristine white glove with a complex design in red that made up an alchemic circle used for altering the air around its wearer. The glove itself was made from a type of material that if rubbed against a rough surface (or itself) would create a spark. All that was needed then was an alchemist to use the circle to change the air molecules and boom, sparks would fly and flames would erupt with a simple snap.

Said flames were heading Ed's way right now-- arching erratically and striking toward him like flaming bolts of lightning. The small boy was quick on his feet, though, and dodged out of the pyro's path an instant before the searing streams of heat struck the chair he had been sitting in not ten minutes ago. The grin turned into a smirk, taunting the elder alchemist into a game. Before Roy knew what was happening, a red blur raced past him and out the front door. Intrigued and worried, he followed outside.

As soon as Roy made it outside, he saw why the possessor chose outdoors-- outside there was plenty of room to evade the flames. The former Underground-employee sighed to himself, 'If I attack him here... then I'll be sure to be found out.' He had to keep Wright's threat of treating Roy and Ed both as Renegades in mind. Any alchemy could be seen by an employee and that would mean even more trouble, especially with Ed as unstable as he currently was.

"Well, what's wrong, love?" the pseudo-Ed taunted.

A low growl sounded through the still air. Whatever this thing was, it was Ed; his Ed. "Ed, snap out of it!" When shouting did no good, the pyro raised his hand. It might be risky, but nothing else was going to snap Ed out of his daze. Whatever was taking him over, it was strong.

--

Olive eyes stared out a small window, 'Soon.' He thought, 'This is all going to end very soon.' A surge of anticipation raced through his body and couldn't help the shiver that was sent flying down his spine. He'd always gotten a rush from big things like this, and this was going to be one of the biggest.

"Sir?" Winry asked, knowing it was never good when her superior got that look.

"Hm?" Kanone glanced up to see the young woman watching him warily.

"Is everything okay?"

"Of course." The brunette assured her, "Why would you think something was amiss?"

"Well... you have that look on your face." She turned her gaze out the same window that held his attention, "Is it Edward?"

"Hm..." A small smile crossed his face, deliciously twisted and full of bloodlust, "Something like that, yes." A frown of worry spread over her lips. Kanone glanced to her, "Oh, don't worry,dear." The soft southern accent assured her.

"How can I not worry after what you've told me?" she demanded, frowning more, "From what you said, Edward could-"

"Until things are decided, don't get upset." He advised. At her nod, he turned his gaze back to the outdoor world. He would never tell her, but Ed's fate had been decided long ago.

--

Seven figures watched one palm-tree-headed boy in the center of the room. The center of attention was glowing with the same crimson red that was flowing through Ed's eyes at that exact moment. Lust looked to her side where their leader was seated, his eyes fixated on Envy.

"You're sure this will work?" she asked, glancing back to the shapeshifter.

"Of course I'm sure." The eldest said, his voice as confident as his words.

"And we'll get all the loot we could ever want, right?" another questioned.

"All the money, women, and beer your heart could desire." A skeptical look was shot at him, "Yes, even you, Greed."

Said man let out a low chuckle, "If you say so." He wasn't quite convinced, as his desires had never been fully met as of yet. But if their leader said so, then he'd just have to see.

"What's in it for the rest of us?" the voluptuous woman asked, not finding an interest in any of the aforementioned treasures.

Wright chuckled at the inquiry,"Unlimited possibilities."