The scent of musty wood and hot coffee filled the train, and though the sun was setting in the winter sky the outside world remained illuminated by the snow that continued to fall. Thankfully the train was remarkably quiet for how many people were aboard, no doubt due to the cold weather and most everyone's desire to simply rest and enjoy the warmth the train had to offer. Ellie hadn't spoken a word since she'd said her goodbye's to Wyn and Pinako. Needless to say, they weren't happy with her, but they weren't necessarily angry, just hurt and concerned. They didn't understand why she constantly hid the truth, and ultimately chose to keep her distance. To be fair, El didn't even know the answer to that. She just couldn't bear staying there in that house, on that land, there were too many memories. The rumbling of the train on the tracks did little to soothe her mind as she leaned back against the seat and gazed at the passing white landscapes outside her window.

A few moments later a gentleman came by with a trolly and knocked on the thin door, Roy acknowledged him and the serviceman opened it up, offering them a small dish of mixed nuts to snack on as well as some freshly brewed coffee.

"Thanks." The Colonel said quietly and watched the man close the door and leave them in peace.

"Kid, you really should eat something..." Roy encouraged as he plucked a few almonds from the bowl for himself.

Fullmetal glanced over at the bowl, it wasn't that she wasn't hungry, but rather that she felt if she ate she would throw up. Her nerves and emotions had been running wild all day and she felt that food wouldn't fit well into the scheme.

"At least drink something." He pressed and moved her cup closer to her along with the sugar and cream that had been left for them.

Sighing, the girl leaned forward, her mouth was dry so perhaps a few sips wouldn't hurt. Even though she didn't much like the flavor of coffee.

"Roy.."

The man looked up as he sipped on his coffee and set the mug back down to the wooden table. To her surprise, he didn't correct her on her informal addressing.

"Why don't you just give up on me, why do you keep me around? I'm just a hassle for you right?"

The man across from her chuckled lightly, catching her attention and bringing her to look up at him in confusion.

"I won't lie, you are a pain in the ass..."

Taking it as a sort of confirmation she lowered her eyes again, choosing instead to watch lazily as she mixed the sugar in with the hot liquid of her cup, taking note of the increasingly hot handle of her spoon.

"but..." The man continued. "I think you deserve a chance. Despite your sticky fingers and major attitude, you're a good person, and everyone I come into contact with who knows you only prove that to me more."

Scarlet could feel the warmth rising to her cheeks, and something inside burned with an emotion she couldn't understand.

"You shouldn't spend time on me...I'm not worth the trouble. I won't change, because I can't. This is who I am."

The man just smiled gently. "Well, then I guess you should start getting used to this."

His statement caught her off guard and so she again looked up to meet his gaze.

"I have no intention of giving up on you or sending you off to rot in a cell. " His tone was sincere but also serious. " I spent six years tracking you, studying your tactics and tendencies."

So that's what it was, she was just a prize. A trophy to commemorate his efforts in the hunt for the famous Scarlet Thief. A bit disappointed she looked away and out the window. Why was she so upset about this? What was she expecting to hear? What was she...wanting to hear? Her heart pounded in her chest as if angrily trying to escape, and her mind raced to quiet it.

"Tch" She muttered to herself in frustration. "Well if I'm just some trinket that you've picked up on your journey then I'd prefer prison, so you can just take me there when we get to Central." she said hotly.

Blindsided by the sudden change in her demeanor, Roy sat in silence for a time. What was her problem? She was so hard to read at times, but he could tell she was hurting somehow. Thinking back on their more recent encounter at the train yard, he thought perhaps...maybe he understood.

"Ellie" He began.

"Save it..." She snapped, keeping her hard stare focused out the frosted window.

"Eloise..." He tried again, this time more sincere. Just as before he was ignored, figuring she needed time to organize her own thoughts, he chose to leave her be.

An hour or so of continued silence passed by between them before they began to sense the train slowing down. From the train, to the car where Hawkeye was waiting patiently, Eloise said nothing and seemed as aloof as she'd been the day she'd met Roy. It made the Colonel uneasy with how suddenly different she was, had he done something wrong? No, couldn't start thinking like that, after all, she was a young woman with a difficult past, it made sense if now and then she was a bit temperamental.

Once at headquarters, the three exited the car and began up the steps, though it took a moment before Mustang noticed that his subordinate wasn't following.

"Sir?" Hawkeye paused at the top near the doors, she was a little more concerned than usual. Mustang had been damn near silent the entire trip from the train station, he normally at least always explained a few things or shared how his travels were.

"I'll be right there, you go on ahead."

"You sure?" She asked, some worry in her eyes as she looked on at the Fullmetal Alchemist who stood at the bottom of the steps, ankle deep in the snow that had accumulated on the pathway.

The man gave her a reaffirming grin and nodded, with that the woman accepted the request of her superior and went inside the building. Sensing he was needed for one reason or another, he walked back down the icy steps and stopped near the girl.

"We should go inside, you're still quite sick." He insisted in a hushed voice as to not seem authoritative. She glanced away and kept her amber eyes downcast, frustration all too visible.

"Mustang..." she paused. "I can't stay here. Alchemy or not, I have to go."

A bit more serious, the man sighed and adjusted his cap on his head.

"How long are you gonna do this for Eloise?" It was his turn to be irritated now. The girl sensed his tone and lifted her eyes to meet his and there was more than a challenge there.

"Do what exactly? Bow down to your orders? To their orders? I'm like a rat caught in a cage here. I have nothing here." She snarled, glancing back at the car which still had the keys in the ignition as the valet hadn't yet arrived, likely due to the weather. Large snowflakes fell from the sky and landed on her golden head.

"You really don't get it do you, are you really so clueless?"

This only seemed to upset the girl more.

"Get what?! I want nothing more right now than to end my suffering and you only want to prolong it! I'd take a bullet to the head in a heartbeat!"

Suddenly Roy glared and in an instant jerked his hand into the fold of his inner coat, pulled out a pistol and cocked it back, placing the barrel firmly to the young woman's forehead. The action jolted her from her ranting and froze her solid, the cool steel seemed to burn her skin. As she looked beyond the metal she caught sight of the most intense set of obsidian eyes she'd ever seen. The eyes of a man who had killed before, he was obviously angry, but there was something else in those eyes...was that..sorrow?

"C-Colonel..?" She stuttered, her breaths came out in ragged form as her body trembled beneath the weight of what was happening.

"You think you're so alone in this world but that's only because you won't let anyone in. You literally run from the people who care about you. Your suffering is your own, it's nothing that I've done." He paused for a few moments. "You scared?" He threatened, retaining the same severe tone.

She didn't answer. It was true, she was all but petrified. Resolving herself to the fact that she didn't know if he was serious or not, she placed an unsteady hand to the barrel of the gun and wrapped her fingers around it, pressing it harder into her skull. Her gaze a fiery bronze, but as she glared tears began to stream down her chilled cheeks.

"Fucking do it. I dare you." She growled, the fierceness in her voice left Mustang rattled to his core. She was this ready to accept it, she hadn't been bluffing and he'd only given her exactly what she didn't need at that moment, and that was a chance to get comfortable with the idea of dying right there on the steps of Central Command.

"Damn it all..." He cursed under his breath as he took the gun away from her forehead which was now clammy with sweat. Disturbed by how easily she'd given into the concept of death, he fired the loaded shot into the air, then tossed the gun aside. He looked down at the woman who did her damnedest to keep her emotions in check but he could see her bottom lip quivering. Though she commanded it, her tears refused to stop flowing. After a few seconds of them watching each other for any other sudden moves, Roy moved in slowly and wrapped his arms around the girl. In the midst of her chaotic mind, she was in no condition to deny him. His warmth comforted her on a deeper level and she tucked her head beneath his chin easily, forbidding herself to let out even a single whimper as she hid her face in the cool fabric of his heavy coat. As Mustang held her tightly, he felt her body tremble and shake.

"What kind of woman looks down the barrel of a pistol and makes a face like that?" He scolded, though his own voice shook a little at the memory. What kind of a person was he dealing with here? She definitely needed some extensive therapy. Never had he seen a person look so fierce into the face of death. He wasn't actually going to kill her, but she didn't know that, and she didn't know him well enough to call his bluff. So as far as she was concerned, he was serious.

As he released the girl she looked up at him with a cocky as ever smile. "Keh, d-don't you know? I'm the notorious Scarlet...that was nothing." She lied, even he could tell she was still shaken. Sighing, the smile faded and she wiped her eyes with the sleeve of her red jacket and as she did her best to clear the blur of tears from her vision, she was shocked to feel the soft lips of Roy Mustang press against her forehead. Blinking in surprise, Eloise peered up into the eyes of the man who stood before her as he took a step back. Though it had only been a brief moment, she could still feel the linger of the kiss he'd left on her skin. He shook his head as he huffed out a tired laugh.

"Come on..." He said calmly. " If you don't come inside I will personally throw you over my shoulder and take you in myself." Gracing her with a smile he turned and began his ascent up the steps.

"Hey Mustang..." She called after him.

"How many times must I tell you, It's Colonel Mustang or Sir-" He began as he turned around but stopped just in time to see the state alchemist watch that came flying toward him, catching it with a slight lack in grace.

"Damn it kid!" He cursed as he pocketed the item with a huff. He shook his head as she ran past him toward the doors. The girl let out a heavy breath of relief at having some space between them. Still, something bubbled up inside her as she thought about the kiss he'd planted on her forehead. Somehow, in that instant, everything was better. In that one insignificant moment in the universe, he'd fixed everything, and with just one small act confirmed that he was a man she was sure she couldn't stand...but was sure she couldn't stand to be away from.

Sorry it's taken so long! I've had a ton going on. I will do my best to get another (hopefully longer) update in sometime soon. Feel free to leave reviews!