⬩ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐀𝐥𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐭 ⬩ (Roy Mustang/Fullmetal Alchemist)

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐍𝐢𝐧𝐞

Colonel Mustang walked the halls of Central Command calmly while some soldiers gossiped about him. Some were wondering whether he had any connections with someone of the senior staff. Others just commented he would fall just as fast as he rose.

However, none of those comments made the black-haired alchemist feel sad or upset. They all made him feel good, important, noticed and somehow invincible. Hughes had told him it was General Brewster who made the decision of transferring him and she was the most powerful woman in Central. There was nothing those gossips could do to change that.

Finally, he arrived at the Fuhrer's office. He knocked at the door and then heard the voice of the secretary telling him to enter the room. He did as he was told and opened the door.

'Good morning,' he greeted the lady as he walked in the spacious room where the secretary was.

There were some sofas inside as well, so those who wanted to talk to the Fuhrer didn't have to wait on their feet.

'Colonel Roy Mustang,' the man introduced himself.

'Oh yes, Colonel Mustang,' the lady said as she remembered who he was and why he was there. 'I'm terribly sorry, but your transfer was poorly timed. The Fuhrer is conducting an inspection in the south. However, General Scarlett Brewster will show you your new office and help you settle in. She is waiting for you in her office.'

After hearing that, Mustang thought his transfer wasn't so poorly timed after all. Having the General as his guide was far more pleasant than having an old man with a patch in his eye.

The Flame Alchemist returned to the busy halls and headed to Brewster's office. He knocked at the door and then walked in once the General told him he could do so. There was something different in it. There was something new: a bonsai on the chest of drawers to his left.

'Good morning, General,' he greeted.

'Good morning, Colonel,' Brewster replied in the same tone and then gestured for him to sit at her desk. 'Welcome to Central. You just walked into the Devil's nest. And you brought your friends with you.'

The male didn't understand why the General emphasized those two words she spoke, but he didn't let that bother him.

'As they say, keep your friends close and your enemies closer.'

'Oh, Colonel,' the Dark Alchemist's voice became more velvety and sultrier, 'this game isn't about enemies; it's about pawns.'

The way her dark red lips moved while she talked was tempting. And her icy blue eyes staring right into his dark ones made it hard for him to concentrate.

'Does that mean I'm one of your pawns?' he asked with a husky voice and in a flirty tone.

'That doesn't seem to bother you,' Brewster spoke, and her voice became more provocative as she leaned forward.

'It doesn't.'

'Good,' the small word left her lips and she leaned back in her chair.

Then, she placed a key on the table and put it in front of the Colonel. He looked at it with confused eyes. What was that key for?

'This is the key to your new office,' the General explained. 'Shall we?'

The two soldiers got up and Mustang followed the lady as she led him to his new workplace. It was near Brewster's office. He wondered if that was on purpose or not.

'Here it is,' the alchemist said opening the office's door. 'It is spacious, and it has enough room for you and your precious unit.'

The office was spacious indeed and it was bigger than the General's. The Colonel wasn't expecting that. He couldn't deny that the female's office had a more exquisite décor. Black and elegant furniture with a lightly hint of a gothic inspiration gave her workplace a sophisticated look. But his office was clearly better than hers.