Those with Sparks in Their Eyes: A FMA(B) FanFic

Chapter Eighteen: Car Ride

We decided to go to Winry's house back in Resembool. Ed's automail needs maintenance, and mine could use a touch up, too. I quickly grab my bow and arrows from inside Dr. Knox's house without him noticing, and we head out.

"So how are we getting to Resembool?", I ask, "On foot it'll take too long."

"I know", says Ed, "But we should avoid the trains. I'm a fugitive, and since your helping me, it technically makes you an enemy of the State."

"Oh. Yay." I say sarcastically.

We look around the block, searching for anything we can use to save us time on our trip. Then, I see a car parked on the road. No one is around. It's big enough for all four of us plus. I feel a lightbulb over my head and an evil grin pull at the corners of my mouth. I rush to the car and pop the hood open.

"Leah?!" Ed yells "What are you doing?!"

"I'm getting us to Resembool!" I say with a mouth full of wires.

"Are you crazy?" Ed asks.

"Yeah." I say, "Pretty much. But if crazy works, I'm fine with that. Just be on look out, ok?".

I place one here, the other there, this one across, forward, and under. I repeat the process for about five minutes, until I shut the hood and wipe my grease stained hands on my thighs.

"Ed" I say, "Your Alchemic genius is required."

He understands. Ed places his hands on the door and unlocks it. I start re-wiring some things inside the car and voila.

"Anyone have anything metal?" I ask.

"I do." Say Darius, handing me a small piece of a metal bar.

"Ed, you're up again." I say.

Ed transmutes the metal bar into a key that's shaped for the car. He also changes the apparance of the car, making the windows tinted, so no one can see inside, and the exterior to the ugliest, most tacky thing I've ever seen. It's purple, with horns protruding forwards from the grill and roof. Ick. It's clear Darius and Heinkel think the same thing.

"What is that?" I ask him.

"What?", he asks, "You have a problem with my sense of style?"

"You don't have any!" Darius and Heinkel say at the same time.

We all get in, Heinkel in the front with me, and Ed and Darius in the back.

"Why does he get the front?" Ed says in a childish voice.

"Because you're a wanted fugitive, so a big transparent windshield isn't the best place for you, even if it's tinted. Plus with Heinkel here, I look like I'm learning to drive with a guardian or something." I explain. "On top of that, you wouldn't be able to drive, either. You're too short to reach the petals."

I hear a choking noise from behind me. Good old Ed.

"Who elected you driver!?" He asks

"I did. I'm the one who hijacked the car, remember? I drive. Speaking of, we should go before anyone notices us.", I say, turning the key. The car starts like it's brand new. Winry taught me well, and I can't help but give a slightly psychotic laugh.

"You only were able to hijack it because of my Alchemy." Ed mumbles.

Look at me. Stealing a car. Almost everything Matthew taught me not to do has been done in these past few weeks. We start down the road.

Everyone is on the edge of their seats, and on the lookout for any soldiers, especially Bradley. The person who once had my respect and admiration, now has my hatred and fear. If he catches us, it's all over. No one can take him, not even the best of us. Lan Fan and Ling proved that.

Once I get off the main road of down town and get in the outskirts of the city, I step on the gas hard, and the engine roars. Ed grabs his seat, and Heinkel and Darius grab their handles that are attached to the car's roof.

"Leah!" Ed screams, "Slow down! Are you trying to kill us?!"

"Quit being a wuss! This is fun! Plus we'll get there faster. You just have to pay attention and-"

Thud!

I press the brake, pulling the car to a halt. Looking up, I can see a huge concave in the car's roof.

"What was that?" Darius inquires.

"Oh great, Leah. You hit something." Ed says.

"I did not!" I argue.

"Shh! Quiet!" Heinkel silences us.

The noise came from the roof of the car on the outside. Slowly, more 'thuds' came down the roof, to the back of the car, then on the ground. The 'thuds' turned to footsteps, and I heard a knock on my window. They were tainted, so I couldn't see the hand if the person knocking, just their silhouette.

I look at the others, and they nod back at me, getting ready to fight if they had to. I pray it isn't Bradley, but to land on the roof of a car, and make that big of a dent, you need to be almost indestructible. Another dangerous point on the Führer's checklist. I almost have my kunai pulled from my leg. I open the door, and swiftly pull my kunai out of its hidden sheath, and place it near the stranger's throat. Only, it isn't a stranger. Just a nuisance.

"Careful there, sweetheart.", He says as he moves my kunai away from his neck, "You shouldn't play with knives. Someone could get hurt."

"Call me sweetheart again and next time I'll slit your throat. How's that for getting hurt?"

"Ouch. Aren't you a feisty little thing?"

I narrow my eyes and debate going though what I just threatened. It's exactly what he wants. A reaction. And I'm not letting my enemies get the better of me. Even if it makes my head explode from having to put up with them.

"Ling?" Ed asks.

He sighs, "How many times do I have to tell you, it's Greed, not Ling!"

"Whatever, I can't keep track anymore. I'll just call you Greeling from now on."

"No! You will not!"

"What are you doing here anyway!?" I ask him "You left!".

"No." He looks at me "You thought I left. But I didn't."

"How did you land on the roof of the car?" Heinkel asks.

"Lucky jump." Greeling shrugs. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I'd like to re-join the group I'm leading."

"Not a chance!" I say, tempted to put the car into gear and run over his foot.

"Come on." He says "You're the one who signed up to work for me, and
you'll be better off with more help."

"But-" I start.

"Let him, Leah." Ed says "He's right."

As much as I don't want to say it, there isn't much of an argument I can make here.

"Where can I get in?" He asks.

"The back." I spit.

"Oh no. If he gets in the back, so do you.", Heinkel says, "I'll drive."

"Hey!" I say "What about my plan!?"

"It'll still work with two adults in the front. Besides, Heinkel drives like he wants us to live." Says Darius.

"Fine." I say.

We all trade places, and somehow I end up in between Ed and Greeling in the back. It's tightly packed as is, but with him, it's downright uncomfortable. We hit a bump, and jerk upwards. When we come back down, Greeling's hand lands just above my chest. Awkward or not awkward (which that was definitely awkward), physical contact sets me on an edge (if it's a hug, that's different, as it's my choice, and I know what to expect).

I tense up and wince. I don't like anyone touching me, especially people I don't like. Right now, Greeling tops that list. I elbow him in his side with all my strength.

"Ow!" He says, gripping his rib cage. "What was that for!?"

"Too close!" I tell him.