Disclaimer: I do not own Full Metal Alchemist or any of the related titles.

A/N: Hey guys, here's chapter 2! In short, I hope you like it!

Chapter 2: The Word Is Spread

"What's this all about?" Ed asked brusquely, looking up at Riza as she closed the door behind her. He had been on his way to lunch when she captured him and his brother without warning, pulling them into the nearest room. "I'm starving. Let's make it quick."

"Brother!" Al yelped, glancing at his older brother quickly when Riza turned to glare at him.

"You do not care for what I have to tell you, Edward?" she asked.

Ed stared back at her, unable to bring himself to voice his honest opinion, although his stomach was doing a pretty good job of it on its own.

"Of course he does, Miss Riza," Al answered for him, realizing Ed wasn't about to say anything. "We're free today. You're not interrupting anything…"

Ed harrumphed loudly, but still kept his silence, secretly praying whatever it was Riza had to tell them was short and quick. Al was tempted to elbow him in the ribs, if the act wouldn't have been so overly obvious.

"I've got something important to discuss with you boys," she continued, ignoring Ed's annoyance. She leaned against the nearest desk and sighed, looking down at the floor. "Boys, I'm afraid you're going to be on your own for a little while…"

Unsure of what she meant, the boys stared back at her, expecting her to continue. It looked as though Riza was trying to gather up the courage to finish her story, which only caused Al to worry. Ed, however, hardly seemed to notice. The long list of ingredients he intended to include in his lunch was rapidly forming in his mind.

"Well boys," she finally spoke. "Colonel Mustang was called into the Führer's office this morning…"

"He being fired?" Ed asked suddenly, picking at the fraying fabric of his chair. He sounded a little to hopeful for Riza's liking.

"No," she said sternly. "No, he's not being fired, I'm sorry to disappoint you Edward. It is something a bit more serious at the moment."

"Does it have to do with the Homunculi?" Al finally spoke up, voicing his own fears.

Riza sighed. She was never going to be able to tell them if they kept interrupting her like this. "I'm not sure, Alphonse," she replied. "If it has to do with the Homunculi, the Führer failed to mention it." She took a deep breath and eyed them, waiting for another interruption. "I'm afraid we're being split up…"

"Split up?" Al's eyes shimmered as though they were getting teary,how ever he could manage such a task.

"They found out you guys were meeting secretly in the storage closets?" Ed still looked unbothered by the news. "I told you you'd need a better hiding spot. Someone was going to need a mop one of these days…"

Riza was never known to lose her temper when it came to the boys, but this was a special occasion. If Ed didn't start taking things seriously, she was going to genuinely blow a gasket.

"Edward Elric!" She hissed. "Listen to me! That has absolutely nothing to do with what I'm telling you. The Colonel is being transferred somewhere out West, and the other officers, scattered across Amestris. As far as I'm concerned, I'm to stay here close to the Führer, but what he has in store for the two of you has not be revealed. That's why I'm here…"

Al gulped loudly, glancing at Ed. If the Führer hadn't given them instructions yet, it was obvious he was waiting for the Colonel to be too far away to interfere, and in that case, if was most likely something they weren't going to enjoy.

"I agree, Alphonse," Riza said, recognizing the concerned glow of his eyes. "When the Colonel leaves, and you're given your mission, I need you to keep me involved as much as possible. If either of you witness anything strange, or learn new information regarding anything, you need to come straight to me."

"Do you think the Führer is up to something?" Ed asked, finally looking interested in what Riza was saying. "Or he knows about something we don't? Why else would he send Mustang away?"

"I'm not sure," Riza answered honestly. "But we're not going to let our new locations sever all ties with the rest of the crew, alright? We're going to keep in touch, and you're going to tell me everything, right?" She arched an eyebrow as if daring Ed to go against her word.

"Absolutely, ma'am…" Alphonse answered.

"Edward?" Riza continued to focus on the older boy.

Ed crossed his arms. "If he's sending Mustang out West, he must know that something's going to happen out there. Why can't I go out there with him? I can't handle mys-"

"Edward Elric," Riza rose to full height. "You are not to leave Central, do you hear me?"

The small boy didn't respond. He was still muttering furiously to himself, plotting whatever plan he could to get to the West without anyone noticing. Perhaps he could find a double in town and have him pose as the Full Metal Alchemist for a week or so. Then he could travel without worrying about Riza noticing.

"Don't you even dare," Riza threatened, towering over him. "For now you're to stay here. I want you to promise me that, Edward. Promise me right now."

Ed looked up at her hesitantly, but still refused to promise her anything. Nobody could make him stay there. He had no strings. He'd go wherever he wanted to and she couldn't do anything about it.

"With all of us all over the place, there's no chance we could come to your rescue if you ever got yourself into trouble," Riza explained. "And with your record, Edward, you have this nasty habit of attracting the most devious of characters. What if something happened to you? I'd never forgive myself."

Oh, she's going to play that card…Edward couldn't help but feel guilty. He would have to promise her, just to ease her obviously tense nerves. Even if he didn't follow through with his promise, he needed to calm her down. She was going to get physical if he stalled any longer.

"I promise," he sighed.

"Good," she nodded shortly and started back toward the door. "Now, go back to your day as if you know nothing. I do believe the Führer wished to keep this from you as long as possible. And remember your promise, Edward," she turned back to stare at him. "You're to stay out of trouble. And don't you even dare attempt to hop onto that train with the Colonel."

"Yes ma'am…" the two replied as the door shut with a snap behind her.

"They took it well?" Roy asked as Riza entered the office again.

Riza shook her head. "Speaking to that boy is like trying to keep an overly hyper puppy on a chain. And I would know…" she smiled weakly. "Black Hayate can be pretty stubborn…"

"Ha!" Roy laughed, leaning back in his chair. "Welcome to my world. Now you know how I feel when I try talking to him…"

"Who, Edward or Black Hayate?" Riza flopped down into the nearest chair.

Roy stared at her, hardly cracking a smile at her pathetic attempt at a joke. She looked exhausted and the day had hardly even started. It was obvious she was taking this harder than anyone else was, but why, he wasn't entirely sure.

"Are you okay, Hawkeye?" he finally asked.

Riza lifted her head suddenly, remembering herself. "Yes, yes of course. I'm fine. Why do you ask?"

"Don't lie to me, Hawkeye," he stood and moved toward her. "What's going on? Are you worried about something?"

"Are you kidding me?" she stared at him, her forehead crinkling as her eyebrows furrowed. "Am I worried about something? Where have you been this morning, Roy?"

"Oh," Roy backed off a little. "That. You're still talking about that." He rubbed the back of his neck, trying to pretend that he hadn't been thinking about that all morning too. How could he not think about something like that?

"Yes I'm still talking about that!" Riza was getting distraught again. "Sir, those boys are going to have nobody to watch over them. And you're going to be halfway across the country! And me, I'm going to be here all alone…"

"I know, I know…" he responded, leaning against his desk. "Look, Riza, we'll get through this. It's only going to be temporary, I promise."

Riza's mouth hung open for a moment before it moved enough to make words. "He…he said that? He said it's temporary?"

"Well," Roy turned to avoid her gaze. "Not…exactly…"

"Roy Mustang!" she roared.

"But!" he stopped her suddenly, raising his hand to silence her. "But, I'm going to refuse to stay over there. If they do make it permanent, then I'm going to leave altogether."

Riza fell silent. Roy smiled, finally believing he'd gotten through to her and eased some of her fears. That was, until she spoke once again, her voice still retaining the loud volume that she had before.

"But that doesn't solve the problem at all!" she cried. "You'll still be gone, and I'll be here all by myself. You know I never wanted to do this. You know I'm only here, because…because I have to…"

She stopped suddenly when Roy grabbed her arms and held her still. He stared at her for a moment, finally smirking and tilting his head to the side in a playful manner.

"Then I'm just going to have to take you with me, aren't I?" he said quietly.

Riza's eyes widened, staring back at him in shock and curiosity. What was he trying to say? Where was he going to take her? Did this mean he was -

"Sir?"

Riza whirled around suddenly, as Roy looked up to see who had spoken. Havoc stood in the doorway, looking a bit baffled by what he'd just walked in on. As Riza cleared her throat, Roy moved around her and she was allowed to move back toward the desk to pretend to busy herself with a book.

"Yes, Havoc?" he asked, sounding a tad annoyed with his friend. "And how many times have I told you to knock before entering?"

"Several, chief," he replied honestly. "But this was an emergency. I'm sorry to interrupt anything. I promise to stand guard outside the office after if you'd like a little alone time…"

Roy turned pink and hesitantly looked back at Riza, who seemed to be entirely oblivious to the conversation going on between the two men in the doorway.

"Is it true, chief?" Havoc asked. "I just heard rumor that they're splitting up the team. Is it true?"

Roy didn't answer immediately. The word was bound to get out eventually, and it was best to deal with it now rather than later. "Yes, Havoc…" he told him. "We're being split up. I'm not sure where you're being sent, but I'm going out West for a little while."

"Tell me you're not going," Havoc said. "Tell me you told him to piss off."

Roy looked back at his friend and sighed heavily. "I'm sorry, Havoc. You know the rules…an order is an order. Next Friday we all go our separate ways."

A/N: So, things will definitely start to get moving in the next chapter, since obviously, it will be taking place when everyone leaves. And hey, we had a little hint of Royai in this chapter, so there's only more to come. I do hope you'll all stay interested, and tell me what you think! Thank you so very much.