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oneisallallisone · 3 years
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All I Know, All I Know Greedling x Reader fic Chapter 3
In a land ruled by alchemy, there are some who would call you a sorcerer. You intend to understand what this means. Along your journey you end up getting mixed up with two strange brothers, a military conspiracy, a potentially world-ending event, and the avarice of something more than human.
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Chapter 1
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All I Know, All I Know
Chapter 3: What Is and What Isn’t
You, Edward, and Alphonse made your way to the Fifth Laboratory under the blanket of night. Standing in the shadows of a nearby alleyway, you surveyed the scene; a few street lamps were on, illuminating a quiet road and a ‘Keep Out’ sign that was posted in front of the laboratory. Also posted in front of the facility was an armed Central soldier. 
“A guard stationed outside of a supposedly abandoned building,” Ed observed, low enough for only you and Al to hear. 
You frowned. “Definitely strange.” 
“So, how do we get in?” Al asked. 
The three of you snuck closer to the wall that surrounded the laboratory, hugging one of the sides that was in the guard’s blindspot. 
“We could use alchemy?” Ed suggested. 
Al shook his head. “The light from the transmutic reaction would give us away.” 
“Is there a way we could go over?” you wondered. 
Ed studied the height of the wall. “Hey Al, give me a boost.” 
Al cupped his hands together and flung his brother up to the top of the wall. Once there, Ed grabbed the barbed wire with his automail hand and cut a line to send back down to you and Al. 
“You can hold onto me if you want to, so the wire doesn’t hurt you,” Al offered. 
“That’s very kind of you,” you said, taking his hand. 
Ed pulled the two of you up to the top of the wall and wasted no time jumping down to the lawn surrounding the Fifth Laboratory. Al leapt after him, somehow landing just as quietly as his brother. You doubted you could land as gracefully, having never been trained in any sort of martial art and not knowing the correct way to fall. 
From the grass below, Ed looked back up at you. He raised an eyebrow. 
Your power wanted to fly through your fingertips again. You could feel it; rising up to meet you as you were rising up to meet a challenge. With a calm exhale you jumped, and, right before you hit the ground, soft purple waves rippled from your hands and slowed your fall. 
Ed almost had a smile on his face. “Nicely done.” 
You nodded in thanks. 
Al led the way to what appeared to be the front door, but the three of you found it was boarded up and blocked off by more rows of barbed wire. 
“Man, they must be hiding something big in there,” Ed said. 
Your stomach sank a little. The closer you got to the lab, the more it felt like you were sticking your nose in a place it didn’t certainly belong. Al pointed over to a grate embedded in the side of the building. 
“There!” 
On Al’s shoulders, the young state alchemist was able to pry the grate off the wall and toss it aside. “Al, you need to wait out here. (Y/n) and I can continue on.” 
“You two will be fine?” Al asked. 
“Whether we will or won’t isn’t really the question,” Ed said, already climbing into the duct. “You’re too big to fit in here.” 
“Well I didn’t ask to get this big,” Al said, dejected, as he helped you into the crawl-space after Ed. 
You and Ed crawled in silence for a while, nothing but the dark and a few cobwebs surrounding you. You’d never experienced a particular moment of claustrophobia before, but it was unnerving being pressed in on all sides like this. 
“Damn it’s an even tighter squeeze than I thought,” Ed said. “If I was regular sized I probably wouldn’t even be able to get through.” 
A tense beat of silence struck the air. 
“DAMMIT I JUST CALLED MYSELF SHORT—” 
“Ed!” you hissed. “Shut up! What happened to us ‘not getting caught’?” 
“Right, oh, right. Sorry.” 
A few moments passed before you and Ed came upon another grate, this one bolted to the floor of the duct. The alchemist kicked through it, and you and he jumped down into the hallway below. The corridor was almost as dim as the crawl space, save for some faint yellow lights along the ground. 
“‘Abandoned building’ my ass,” Ed said. 
“Do you think anyone’s here right now?” 
“No way to tell for sure. Just stay on your guard.” 
The energy you carried surged beneath your skin on instinct. “Right.” 
The symbol on the ground was composed of circles and pentagons all nestled within each other. In the center was a cylindrical altar that bore more alchemic iconography. Blood, dark and crusted with age, was splattered in many areas around the large outer circle. 
“What is all this…?” you asked, dull horror filling your core. 
“I’m not sure,” Ed said. “But if I had to guess, I’d say it’s what they used to transmute a Philosopher’s Stone.” 
“That is correct.” A third voice. From the shadows. 
You and Ed turned quickly to see a figure emerging from a hall on the other side of the room. He wore heavy plate armor and a helmet covered his face. “I don’t know who you fools are,” he continued, “But you’ve figured out a lot just by looking at a transmutation circle.” 
“Yeah, I’m just good like that. Who are you, pal?” Ed snarked back. 
The man’s armor clanked as he spoke. “The one in charge of guarding this place from curious brats like you. Let’s just say my name is Number 48. And believe me, I am not your ‘pal.’ My orders are to dispose of anyone who ventures in. Try not to take it personally.” 
“Alright, I won’t,” Ed said. He clapped his hands together and the blue light of an alchemic reaction flashed through the air. His automail arm extended into a large blade. “As long as you don’t take it personally when this ‘fool’ kicks your ass!” 
“You’re an alchemist, are you?” Number 48 said. With speed you didn’t think possible, the armored man lunged towards Ed. It was like he crossed the span of twenty feet in the blink of an eye. “Let’s see what you’ve got, then.” He swung his massive two-haded sword high over his head. 
In one motion, Ed pushed you out of the way and leapt backwards from the guard. He blocked the tip of the sword with his automail arm, and the knight stumbled back. 
“It seems your automail just saved your life,” Number 48 said. “No matter, my sword can pierce steel as well as flesh.” He rushed at Ed again. 
“Wait!” you screamed. Extending your hand forward, partially reaching for Ed and partially focusing your vitality, a violet blast of energy sprung from your hand towards the man in the armor. It struck him in the shoulder and he spun from the impact. 
“Another alchemist?” he pondered, turning towards you. 
Wide-eyed, chest heaving from the outburst of power, you shrugged. “Sure?” 
Number 48 changed direction and charged you next. It was instinctive, what you did. Raising both hands in front of you like a shield, only to watch your energy take shape and mold an actual shield in front of you. The barrier was small, just barely enough to stop the guard’s sword from piercing your heart, but it held strong. 
“No…” Number 48 said. “This is not alchemy. What a strange opponent you make, but how excited I am to fight someone like you.”
To your dismay, the sturdiness of your shield began to diminish as Number 48 dug his blade in harder. Nothing about the position of your hands and body had changed, so you weren’t sure why it was shrinking. But you clenched your jaw in the vain effort to keep it intact. 
Ed landed a swift kick to the guard’s torso, knocking him away from you. You allowed your shield to fall. Gave yourself a brief moment to heave more air into your lungs. And then stood tall next to the fullmetal alchemist again. 
“Have you seen something like this before?” you called to Number 48, despite your better judgement. 
To your surprise, he remained where he was. “No. But I’ve fought enough alchemists to know what is alchemy and what isn’t.” 
“Well, speaking of what people are and aren’t,” Ed interjected, “I’m gonna go out on a limb and guess that you’re hollow inside?” 
“Very perceptive.” 
“I could tell by the sound,” Ed said. “I spar against someone like you all the time.” 
You turned towards Ed. “Wait, so you’re saying he’s—” 
“Just like Al,” Ed nodded. 
“So there are people like me on the outside?” Number 48 asked, a strange earnestness in his voice. 
“Unfortunately.” Ed said. “It makes me sick to think there was another idiot out there who came up with the idea of bonding a disembodied soul to a suit of armor.” 
“Perhaps I need to re-introduce myself, then,” the guard said. “48 was the number I was assigned when I was a prisoner on death row. Back when I had a living body, I was known as Slicer the mass murderer.” 
“Tell me something, then,” Ed started. “Does this laboratory use condemned prisoners to make Philosopher Stones?” 
“That I cannot tell you. I was simply recognized for my skills and appointed to be a guard dog of this place. Now then,” he shifted back into a battle-ready stance. “Which one of you would like the pleasure of being killed first?”
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wheremytwinwatches · 4 years
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[Where My Twin Watches]: Full Metal Alchemist Brotherhood Episode 29
Quick moment to check out last episode for a post-credits scene, seems Gluttony’s just a bit worn out from the fight. Uncle- [Uncle]: “There’s no need to worry. You’re not my son.” Proceeds to rip out Gluttony’s Stone
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Leto! Ok, so Gluttony’s out of the picture. Uncle says he’ll bring him back later with all his memories (including getting Kali Ma’d?). Last time: We had a semi-family reunion, the Protagonists faced the Dragon just a little too early in the story, and Ling got a personality change. Onwards!
Envy’s gone back to his humanoid form, and is walking the Elrics to an elevator. So after everything that’s happened, Uncle is just letting them go? I mean sure, they can’t really do anything against him right now, but talk about a blow to your pride. “I am so far above you that even after you invade my inner sanctum, I’ll have a minion walk you to the door.” Oh yeah, Uncle DNGAF about any “threat” from the Elrics; they got shown to an elevator that goes directly to Central Command, and the first thing that Envy says is that they look filthy and takes them to the showers. The brothers take the time to update each other, including the good news that Al’s body is (more or less) ok. Now they’re even closer to getting it back! Aha! Called it, Shao May is hanging out on Al’s shoulder, which means that May Chang is there too! Close your eyes little ones, Al’s not decent! Wait, just May? Then how did Scar get away? Pffft! Ok, no sympathy for Envy. That’s what happens when you barge into the bathroom, dude. Episode 29 - “Struggle of the Fool” Freshened up, Envy shows the Elrics to their new babysitter Wrath. You may know him better as King Bradley, your Fuhrer? The Goth’s having tea with a very annoyed Colonel Mustang, who breaks the news that the rest of the Conspiracy have been shuffled all across Amestris. No “practically” about it, Wrath is holding them hostage. So we’ve got the two Protagonists and their strongest ally in a room with only one Goth who’s not even fully armed. But if any Goth can be confident they can handle those odds, it’s Wrath. Oh crap, be quiet May! Play it cool, Elrics! While the Soul Armor fakes a cough Ed confronts Wrath, demands answers. Wrath just calmly tells him to sit down and shut up, stop digging any deeper. He’s “important”, after all. Ed’s not having any of it, throws aside his watch and resigns as a State Alchemist. Swears he’ll warn the others- [Wrath]: “What was that lovely young girl’s name again? Ah yes. It’s Winry Rockbell.”
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Now really Ed, how did you think that Wrath was going to respond? He already did the subtle “look at me having tea with your friend” method, since that didn’t seem to work he’s putting it plainly: shut up or Winry pays the price. What else can Ed do, but take the watch back? Oh well, at least Wrath oh so graciously agrees to let them keep searching for a way to restore their bodies, and tolerates Roy’s ambition to climb the ranks. Not like it matters to him, anyway. They’re free to g SWEET LETO WHAT THE FUCK NO NO NO NO what Wrath just shanked Al went right through his armor but no blood how no blood tried to kill little girl how he miss did May dodge or what how Whew! Ok, while the Elrics have a little freakout we see that the Mays were hiding in Al’s legs. Way too close! The brothers just bummed some spare change from Roy (phone call?) and ran off, he’s off to find Riza. Hey, The Mighty Armstrong! And Riza’s still around, good. She’ll be tied up working for Wrath now, but at least they’re all still around. Winry! She gets a call from Ed and immediately assumes that he’s broken his automail again. To be fair, that does seem to be the precedent. He’s calling- ...well, he’s calling from that DAMNED PHONEBOOTH WHY DID YOU HAVE TO SHOW THAT LETO-FORSAKEN PLACE AGAIN AAAAARGH anyways Ed’s calling Winry to make sure she’s safe, no creeps hanging around the shop. Dawww, she’s speaking softly and twirling the cord and it’s sweet and cute and she has no freaking idea what’s going on aaargh. AAARGH it’s Greed! Dude’s just leaning against the Booth, chides them for their desperate worry that makes them so easy to manipulate. Shock and terror! But he’s not here to fight, just pass on a piece of cloth. “Your pal” asked him to pass it on? Hmmm, now why would Greed agree to pass on a memento for his host? He doesn’t get anything out of it, after all. He just claims that he has more class than using this as a trap and that he doesn’t fight women. And he never tells a lie? Man, Greed is really playing up the Noble Demon personality here, following his own code. And he’s off, with his new catchphrase of “It’s still Ling!” Very dramatic mid-episode pictures of Colonel Mustang and Doc Marcoh. So is he showing up this episode? Hey, Scar! So while May hid in Al’s armor I guess Scar just booked it out of there under the cover of steam. He’s still in the sewers killing monsters, when he runs into a familiar voice. Hey Doc! Gonna patch up the Ishvalan? Yes yes, he’s the serial killer Scar, but right now he’s your best chance at- [Marcoh]: *Mad laughter* “My God! This must be fate! I’m the Alchemist responsible for the extermination of your people!” Um. A) Probably not the best thing to say to your potential rescuer, and B) I remember there being quite a few more Alchemists involved in the Civil War. Back on the surface it seems the other Doctor (sorry I can never remember your name dude) is diagnosing May with a mild concussion, she just needs a bit of bed rest. Speaking off, dude is ticked that our heroes are treating his place as a hospital. Seriously, where’s he supposed to sleep?!
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Speaking of injured, Lan Fan should probably not be out of bed right now, but she’s worried about Ling. Yeah, about that… Al passes on the message. He’s written that he found a Philosopher’s Stone? Well, he’s not lying. Greed’s up on top of Central, looking out over the city when Wrath comes up to have a word. Greed crows about having a royal body, how Ling just let him take over his body. Wrath derides the boy for his political ideals, all “caring for the people” as if they mattered- [LING]: ”Shut the hell up! Don’t underestimate humans!” HA! Called it again! And oh my Leto that wide-eyed look of delicious surprise on Wrath’s face! Oooooh, this is so satisfying. Ling’s still there, surviving in his body and capable of taking even the slightest bit of control. And this is being revealed to Wrath, the guy who was made a Goth like Ling was and doesn’t even know if his surviving soul is the original. The strength of will to exist alongside a Goth? That’s something that he may very well have not have. In your face! Roy, Riza and The Mighty Armstrong are crammed into a car as Roy breaks the news about the Fuhrer. The Mighty Armstrong is shaking with fury at the reveal, how he’s only wanted to protect his fellow people but now knows that he serves a monster. Roy remarks that he could resign, that he would suffer knowingly serving with his disposition. The Mighty Armstrong- Ah. It’s a flashback to Ishval, Mustacheless-Armstrong cradling the corpse of an Ishvalan child in his arms and crying out about how wrong the war is. His CO just dismisses him for disobeying an order and moves on. Armstrong is left kneeling in the dust with the body, we get the intro image of him crying at the wrongness of the war. In the present Armstrong grits out how he’s been haunted by his decision ever since, how he hates himself for giving up his beliefs to follow orders back then. Now? The Mighty Armstrong faces the choice once again, and refuses to run away again. Roy? Well, he calmly remarks about how he straight up told the Fuhrer that he wasn’t going to give up his ambitions, and that Wrath was apparently eager to reveal his true nature. To clue Roy into knowing even he has a commander? Wrath really is treating this as a test for Roy, isn’t he? Roy’s just happy to have another fight like with Lust, to live fighting monsters. Back to Lan Fan, who’s been updated about Ling. And of course she just blames herself for failing to be the perfect bodyguard. Welp, time for a new arm! You know an engineer, right? Al knows That Look all too well from the past, agrees to introduce Lan Fan when she’s got her strength back. Time to get some food oh hi May! Shouldn’t you be resting? Wait why did Lan Fan react in shock to that name? Gah, kunai! May, why are you trying to kill Lan Fan? Unless… Ha! For the third time this episode, called it! May Chang is actually the Chang heiress, 17th daughter of the Emperor, Princess May Chang. Oh yeah, they are totally going to throw down. May wants to stop her competition for the secret of immortality, Lan Fan wants to protect her Lord, and even Al can’t calm them down from their duel. This is gonna [PISSED OFF DOCTOR]: ”WHAT THE HELL DO YOU TWO THINK YOU’RE DOING?!” *Slams bowls onto their heads* [POD]: “You’re supposed to be resting in bed!” [May]: “Quit trying to interfere with the affairs of our-” [POD]: “I DON’T CARE ABOUT THE AFFAIRS OF YOUR COUNTRY, DUMBASS!!!”
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So after the Doc shuts down ‪the clash‬ of the clans, he gets Al to help him clean up around the place. And geez, I may not have the tidiest room but that has got to be a health hazard. Al comes across a picture of the Doc’s family, and given this show’s focus on that subject obviously doesn’t like hearing that Doc doesn’t talk to his wife and son. He’s seen the other side of that. Back outside, it seems Ed’s back to patching up damage around town with his restored Alchemy. Some MPs remark that they had some other Alchemists were called in earlier that day, but their Alchemy just so happened to not work. Looks like Uncle’s Anti-Transmutation Field reached a bit further than just that room. Ed’s walking along later, thinking about that poor soul he had to sacrifice to get them out of the Stomach. But along with that, even when they were depowered by Uncle Scar and May were still able to fight. A weakness in Alchemy that’s not in Alkahestry, that if he can learn may help him get Al’s body back, and “take down that bearded bastard.” But first, he needs to give Roy his gun back. Credits! Post credits: Oh hello, the song’s been cutting off at Winry greeting the sunrise, but now it continued to Central at night and faded as it went down to Uncle’s Mancave. Uncle’s sitting in his as Doc Marcoh explains how the Goths made him make a Stone using the lives of the Ishvalans OK THAT’S GROSS did not need to see a little baby Gluttony crawling out of Uncle’s robe. Meanwhile Marcoh’s telling Scar he’s being used in another plan that may cause genocide, begs for the murderer to kill him. Guh. I mean, Scar’s whole deal is that he’s been an avenging killer striking down those who murdered his people, but after seeing Winry and learning that the instigator was Envy he has a chance to stop, to change. To go from that to Marcoh kneeling and begging for death, saying that his appearance is like a god? Scar is not happy.
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fullmetalscullyy · 5 years
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Do you mind doing 23 for me from the prompt list? I need a good laugh after writing my own depressive crap. :)
slowly starting to make my way through these :’) this one i actually struggled with for an idea for a while but i hope this has satisfied the humour quota and is ok ahaha
rated: t | words: 1189
“i want your pretty little psycho”
Roy tugged his wrists against the restraints, testing whether theywould break free from the rope binding them or not. No such luck. He’d expectedless, if Roy was being perfectly honest.
This entire situation was a farce, but it was entertaining. The only downsidewas being stuck here with Edward Elric and having to listen to his incessant rambling.Roy had rolled his eyes more times in this last hour than he had in his entirelife.
The boy was a nightmare.
However, it kept their kidnapper busy. Well, “kidnapper”. The man was atwo-bit criminal and completely hopeless. Their bonds were tight – the onlyprofessional part of this operation – but he hadn’t removed Roy’s ignition gloves.One brush of his fingers and he’d be free. This was entertaining though,listening to Edward antagonise the man. Their kidnapper had no idea how toreact, being only able to stutter in disbelief.
It was like they’d been kidnapped by a bumbling teenager.
How embarrassing.
But Edward couldn’t make fun of Roy for this one because it was Edward’sfault they were in this mess in the first place. Tell him that though, and Roywould have to face a third rant – in which their kidnapper just lookedbetween them both, totally lost as to why this teenager was screaming indignantlyat an adult – so he opted to keep his mouth shut.
Chloroform was a bitch, even a weak dose like the one they’d beengiven. Not unexpected after watching this hopeless and terrible excuse for akidnapper for the last hour.
“Why are we even here?” Edward growled in anger, struggling against hisrestraints. The stranger’s attention was off Roy for the moment, so he brushedhis fingers together, turning his rope to ash.
“Why don’t you ask him,” the man stated, jerking his head towardsRoy.
“That dumbass doesn’t know a thing,” Edward snorted.
Roy turned his head and frowned at his subordinate. “Fullmetal,” hestated disapprovingly. Edward just shrugged, that shit-eating grin on his faceas a response.
“You guys are weird,” the man stated after a moment of silence, gaze switchingthe two of them.
“Coming from the man who’s kidnapped two people,” Roy stated, barking alaugh. He couldn’t help it. The amusement bubbled up in his chest and the laughwas inevitable. This day was becoming more surreal but the minute.
“There was a reason for this,” he glared.
“What is it then?” Edward asked in exasperation. “Come on, you’vebeaten around the bush for the last hour and if I’m being taken against mywill, I want to know what for!”
The man straightened his spine. “You have something I want.”
“I highly doubt that,” Roy interjected, but he ignored him.
“And by bringing you two here, that person will come.”
“Who?” Edward asked, still lost, but from the way he was looking at Roy andfrom that awful gleam in his eye, Roy felt his stomach sink. He had an inklingas to who this person was referring to.
“I want your pretty little psycho,” the man stated, eyes sharp as hebent at the waist, coming face-to-face with Roy. It was the most self-assuredhe’d looked since they’d been tied up an hour ago.
Well, it was an accurate description of Hawkeye. She’d gone apeshitwhen she saw them being dragged away, unconscious (after another of Edward’sbright ideas, Roy might add), and bundled into a van to be kidnapped. The lastthing Roy saw before that door closed was Hawkeye running at full speed towardsthem, a face like thunder, as she pursued this man.
“WHO ARE YOU CALLING A PSYCHOPATH?” Edward suddenly shrieked in anger,launching himself at the man, ripping his wrists through the rope with his angeralone.
Ah well, not so professional after all. Well, one can’t win them all.
“Fullmetal, he wasn’t talking about you – never mind,” Roy mutteredbefore he sighed, facepalming and shaking his head as Edward laid into the guy,his automail arm packing more of a punch than he thought it would.
Just then, the door behind them opened and Hawkeye entered through it, weaponraised, with Havoc and Breda behind her. The “psycho” in question watchedEdward for a moment, bewildered at the sudden anger, then lowered her weaponand approached her superior. “That was… an unexpected greeting.”
“I honestly don’t know how to react to it.” Roy stopped hiding hisother not-bound hand and stood from his chair. “I’ve been dealing with it forthe last hour.”
“Wait… Your hands weren’t bound?” she asked, confused.
Roy shook his head. “I got myself out of them about ten minutes ago.”
“If you could get yourself out of this, why didn’t you do it sooner?”she frowned disapprovingly.
Roy shrugged. “It was too entertaining.”
“You were kidnapped,” she stressed.
“Oh boy, this wasn’t a kidnapping. If there had been food, it wouldhave been dinner and a show.”
“Should we stop him?” Hawkeye asked quietly, leaning in towards Roy. Thescent of her perfume was light but when it hit him, he faltered, savouring it.It made his stomach flip in response and he couldn’t help but grin.
“Nah. Let him have at it. The poor kid needs to let off a little steamafter that last hour. Plus, he called you a “pretty little psycho”.” Roy shudderedat that look he’d seen in their kidnapper’s eyes. It made his skin crawl. “I’dsay he deserves it.”
Hawkeye raised an eyebrow but moved to stop Edward regardless. She levelledher weapon at the criminal – joining Havoc and Breda – as the man whimperedfeebly on the floor. When he spied Hawkeye, he stopped, and his mouth fell openin shock.
“Oh my god,” he whispered reverently. Roy felt his fingers twitch,wanting to curl up into a fist.
“Let’s go,” Hawkeye stated, placing cuffs on his wrists before he couldmove. She hauled him to his feet, keeping an arm on the crook of his elbow asshe guided him towards the door. “You and I need to have a little chat.”
“It will just be me and you?” the man asked in wonder.
Roy clenched his fists by his side and counted to ten.
“Oh yeah,” she replied, sarcasm dripping from her tone. Roy smirked asshe caught his eye in passing and rolled her eyes. “I’ll escort you all the way to yourdestination.”
The poor guy was too smitten to realise she meant jail.
Roy was half tempted to turn him to ash right there but restrainedhimself. He had handcuffs on, after all. What more could the guy do to her?
“Really?” the man asked, face brightening up.
“Uh hu. It will just be you and me, pal. It’s too bad there’s no tableservice on the way to jail. I feel like I should pay you back for the “psycho”comment.” Their kidnapper stiffened and Roy chuckled from behind them. Hawkeyeshrugged. “No matter. We’ll still have plenty to discuss in the interrogationroom.”
Roy chuckled once more.
That’s my girl.
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