Hellbound || Fᴜʟʟᴍᴇᴛᴀʟ Aʟᴄʜᴇᴍɪsᴛ Bʀᴏᴛʜᴇʀʜᴏᴏᴅ

Chapter 4 : Plans and Preparation

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"The other one . . . Other brother. Stranger. Has a philosopher . . . Golden hair. He's brother."

Al didn't know how. Or why. But he did know that it was important that Hughes knew. Hughes was nice, he'd be able to help.

"Alphonse . . . What do you mean, what are you saying?"

Alphonse sank into darkness, and didn't even mind the faint buzzing from afar. It said his name, but surely it could wait.

". . . him. Shouldn't disturb his rest."

"Get me a line to the Colonel, just in case. Alphonse may be in shock but we never know. The suspect's fighting style was uncannily similar."

"...es....sir."

Nothingness.

—
—

The 'other brother', eh?

Hm.

Philosopher Stones. A fighting style like no other. Incredible alchemic ability. And a possible accomplice of Scar.

Maes pressed two fingers to the bridge of his nose and sighed, slowly, adjusting his glasses up so he could see better. He observed the still-unconscious golden haired male in the interrogation room they'd pulled together in the short time frame that they had, and let a frown twitch at his lips.

If Alphonse Elric was correct, then they needed to be careful. From what little Maes understood, these philosopher stones were no good. Giving unimaginable power to the user that bypassed the law of equal exchange or something.

(Liore. The Riots. Maes' lips thinned.)

. . . Maes didn't know much about alchemy, but he knew enough to get the gist of it anyway. Besides, the great Flame Alchemist would step in to explain the confusing superhuman magic stuff if he got lost. Haha, sorted.

The point was that it was a powerful stone. Alphonse and his brother were apparently looking for it, according to the Colonel.

The suspect was apparently in possession of one, though they came up empty when they searched him.

Somewhat like Kimblee.

An actual grimace flashed across his face, and Maes banished all thoughts of that maniac, opting to sip his tea and focus.

He placed his cup down. Nevermind. Lukewarm water and grainy leaves — drat, he'd left it too long.

Focus.

With all the evidence piling up so far, the likelihood of a possible escape attempt was high — though Alphonse had insisted that the suspect been requesting to talk.

But what accomplice of Scar would talk? All Scar did was murder then hightail it out of wherever he was. Today had been the first time they had heard him talk.

And why. Why would the suspect request to talk?

To explain Scar's reasoning? To distract them while Scar continues his hunt?

To plea his innocence?

There was a chance they weren't working together after all, this was the first time the blond had been seen. And it hadn't been hard either, certainly not a spy job — the suspect had been flashy and bright and right in the middle of the battle.

And Scar had destroyed his arm for it. Automail. But still.

What accomplice turns on another?