Disclaimer: I do NOT own FMA

Hey guys! Here's your lovely update, as much as I love this story I think it's almost time to wrap things up. I believe three or four chapter will do the job ^^

Chapter 19: A Pawn In the Game That Is Reality

"It's rare for you to come and visit me…what's the occasion?" He's at his desk scribbling away, his eyes shifting back and forth from his study book to his hand.

Linuette taps her foot impatiently. She doesn't like the fact that his eyes aren't on her when she's trying to bring the world crashing down upon him. "Rare? I don't ever remember coming to visit you."

"Details Linuette," He waves her off. Mistake number two naturally. "I'm busy but I can see to you after my studying. Wait for me in the-"

Blaze.

It was already a hot day that day but the added heat from her fingertips alighting the room wasn't making it any better. The fire whips around her like a snake waiting to be strike.

Andromira is grateful for the tile floor he had installed. "You want my attention? Fine. What?"

"How? How did you even think for a split second that this could ever work? This thing that you've created?" The way that he treats her now is the exact opposite of how she wants to be treated, and he's done this the entire time she's known him. Being treated as number two instead of someone worthy of his time, for him she wasn't willing to play along. "You made me hate you."

"Made you? Linuette I gave you a future! I gave you that push that would set everything in motion!" His tone raises just enough for her to take his words and actually think about them.

"Yes. You gave me something to pass my time with. I've never loved you and I never will. You couldn't have done this normally? I mean think about it! You could have come to see me and talk to me instead of talking to my father. It takes time, these things do-"

"Not with you. Do you even realize who you are? You're our King's daughter! That alone makes people flock to you, just your social standing. I couldn't wait or else someone else would have done the exact same thing as I did. It's about your standing and it's about us. I highly doubt that your Prince Charming would have been able to get this close to you if it wasn't for me and for your father."

In a way he was making some sense to her. Not that she was going to let him know that. "If we would have met, somehow, someway I'm sure that he would have said something to keep me going back. You messed up and you kept messing up-"

"And if Zackary would have done what I did?"

"Then he would be the one sitting in that desk having this conversation with me. Listen up and listen good. I am Linuette Mustang and there is no one in this world who is going to make me do something I don't want to do. You can arrange it, you can tell me what to do, and you can jerk me around but that will never stop me from smashing it to total pieces!"

She wants him to know. To know that from now on the world will remain split into two with them each on a different side of it. There will be no more of this dancing around each other, no more meetings filled with soulless glares. She was done with all of it, now she wants to start her life with Zack. To get her plan rolling.

He would be the very first domino and she was about ready to kick him down.

"I think I'm done here. Even you should have gotten the point after all that," Linuette turns on her flats. "And even if you don't I'll be waiting with my bat."

There really wasn't else he could do except watch her walk out with her boy short hair ruffling at her shoulders. It was almost saddening watching her leave and yet a part of him always figured that she would leave him. He had poured what he could into her in high hopes of coming out on top and yet he lost to some stranger who swooped in with everything he doesn't have.

Chaos and a sense of mystery.

Zackary Elric walks to his own beat. He chooses where to go and how to do so.

Andromira walks to the beat that everyone wants to hear. The one that everyone else is walking to. He's predictable and completely on the charts.

Linuette creates the beats. She uses her beautiful hands to string together notes that no one has ever heard of before. Stringing up hearts as she does so.

And then leaving them out to hang.

"Ah Zackary. It's good to see you…I expect that you've been keeping my little girl in check? After all you haven't been reporting to me as often as you used to. Perhaps she's finally ready," Mustang chuckles in disbelief. He knew his daughter well. "I was surprised when she came to see me the other day claiming to want to join the military. She threw Andromira to the side waving her hands around…it was quite a sight!"

"I'm sure it was sir," Zack straightens his posture. "If I may sir…I have a few things to report."

"Please go right ahead! By all means, things are finally looking up." Mustang actually leans back in his seat, kicking his feet up onto the desk like he used to.

"About Linuette. Right now she's out she's visiting Andromira-"

"That boy! He works so hard and he makes me proud. Truly…"

His eyes…why do I feel like he's trying to intimidate me? Like he wants me to get angry with him…it doesn't make much sense. "Sir, your daughter. I l-"

"I've heard a lot about you; before you took the exam that is. It wasn't just your parents who spoke highly of you, so I took it upon myself to see for myself. What I saw back then was the very shadow of his father, that's why I choose you."

"I don't understand sir…"

"I knew from the way you hold yourself that you'd be able to withstand Linuette's barrage of…whatever you want to call it. You're devoted, well studied, and live up to your name. She'd be captivated by you," Mustang has his little half smile on now as he peers at Zack. "Compared to Andromira your perfect. She'd strive to get away from Andromira all the while trying to get closer to you."

"But then again Linuette is highly unpredictable. I had to keep pressuring her to make her realize how much you mean to her. She's a wild card thrown into play."

"I know that she hates him. I've known that since day one but I haven't really cared. Whether she's successful or not is of no concern to me but I knew that even back then that she's stubborn. Besides you were off studying and I hadn't had the time nor the resources to introduce the two of you. So I needed time but before that…"

"I needed a backup plan. Something that would guarantee her a future. Andromira was as good of a choice as any. He's smart, handsome, and has an excellent head on his shoulders. The people loved him and as soon as he laid eyes on Linuette I knew that he wanted her. A father couldn't ask for a better partner," Mustang laces his fingers together his eyes still starring deeply into Zack's. Zack didn't have a clue as to what Mustang wants from him, he didn't know what to do except continue to stare. "Except there's Linuette…"

"Everyone who's met her knows that she's completely unpredictable. I figured that she wouldn't play the part that she was intended to. I just never figured that she would rebel as much as she has. Honestly she set fires off in the house! I knew that she would grow to hate me, that she would despise me for forcing this upon her," Finally, Mustang gets up. He doesn't do anything except stand and lean forward his hands resting on the desk as he assesses Zack. "I wanted her to. I wanted her to rebel against me to do anything to get her way…and then you came along and everything fell into place."

"…"

"Granted it didn't fall as smoothly as I thought it would. I knew that it would take time, as all great plans do. She would learn to like you…this personality that is so different from the one she's stuck with. Someone who seems as free as the wind and yet is willing to stay trapped inside a little bottle with her. She grew to love you and yet there were consequences."

"When you gave me that report…I wanted to stop. I didn't want her to leave ever again, I wanted her where she'll be safe and yet it was you who protected her. It couldn't have worked out better! Yet I was already regretting my plan…until I saw the way she reacts around you. It was clear as day that she couldn't be happier. You're someone willing to spend time with her. Someone willing to protect her and I'm willing to bet that you would do it even if I hadn't hired you."

It was odd, understanding it. With each and every word that passed from Mustang's lips, Zack didn't know if he wanted to leap at him or just stand there and look stupid. He wasn't sure if he was supposed to be grateful to his leader or commit treason.

Here he was telling Zack that this entire charade had been his idea all along. That Zack was here because Mustang had wanted him to be. He had wanted Zack to be the one to pull Linuette out of this abyss, this house.

"Take care of my little girl…you will do that won't you?"

"Of course I will."

"I'm asking you as her father," Mustang's eyes narrow. It's his final test. "Not as the Fuhrer."

"I wouldn't have it any other way." Deciding that it was best to leave things be, Zack plays along. He didn't care if this was all planned because it didn't feel planned. It felt raw and it felt real, just being with Linuette everyday felt like something they were creating together. Not some role they were playing in Mustang's game.

As if Linuette would ever let herself be considered a 'pawn'.

So for now, Zack would allow Mustang to think whatever he wants.

I love how spell check says that ZACK and LINUETTE are not words, they aren't. They're name. Zack is a fairly common name though...

Anyways! Read and review guys!