"I'm the babysitter of the military?!" (Closed for My_Secret_Life! ^^)

[XiaolinLilith]

"Some birthday morning. My cactus died, no cards, no hugs...oh well. I really gotta stop complainin'..." Mana, Riza Hawkeye's 16-year-old assistant, strolled into the military building in her blue State Alchemist's coat and found the office where she worked.

Her superior was not there, however, but Black Hayate had a note stuck to his collar. She unpinned it and read it to herself.

Mana-chan! I hope I can trust you with this--I'm on business (sorry, classified information!) and I need you to look after Hayate, Ed and Al and make sure they don't do anything stupid...-_-; Good luck, kiddo--you'll need it! Ha! And PS--if you mess this up, it'll be your butt on the line!
Signed, Riza-san.

The note was adorned with a smiling chibi Hawkeye flashing the peace sign. "What have I gotten myself into...the babysitter of the military?!" Mana groaned, petting Hayate and stuffing the piece of paper in her pocket.

[My_Secret_Life]

"This is going to be paradise!" Ed said, stretching as he walked outside of the military office.

"What do you mean, brother?" Al asked, catching up to Ed.

"What do you mean, 'what do you mean'?" he asked. "Mustang's gone off on business with Hawkeye. With Mr. Jackass gone, we can both rest of a bit!"

Al sighed. "I wish you would get over that silly rivialry you have with him..."

[XiaolinLilith]

"Aack!" Mana was already having a hard time on the job.

"Wanna see some pictures of my daughter?" Hughes was smiling brightly and holding up a jam-packed photo album.

"Are you sure you don't need your communications radio fixed? I mean, you don't want to get yourself killed today, kiddo..." Havoc grinned, Master Sgt. Fuery at the ready with a wrench beside him.

Armstrong was flexing his muscles and explaining that chivalry and babysitting had been in the family for generations!

Mana groaned and put her head down on the desk again. "I think I'd prefer if Ed and Al were making this whole building crumble around my ears..." She pulled her floppy coat around her and shooed all the military personnel out. "I think I can handle them myself, thank you...I'll be glad to see your photos another time, Hughes-sama..."

[My_Secret_Life]

Al followed his brother as they just walked around town. "Shouldn't we be at the military building?" he asked.

"Relax," Ed said. "If Mustang's not that to chew me a new ass, I don't care who's in charge." He smiled his goofy grin. "We're gonna be free pups for a while!"

Al sighed again, giving up.

[XiaolinLilith]

Unfortunately, their little trail led them straight to the building. Mana stood outside, drinking tea and patting Riza's dog. "You're late! Riza said you had to be here twenty minutes ago!" A frown crossed her face.

"I suppose I'll forgive you for now...now get in here! And by the way, you do have to listen to me. I'm the assistant..."

[My_Secret_Life]

"Uh-huh," Ed said, walking by her casually.

Al sighed at Ed, then turned to Mana. "Please forgive us," he said. "We're sorry we kept you waiting."

[XiaolinLilith]

"Thank you--WILL YOU GET BACK IN HERE, ED?!" Mana grabbed the hood of the other state alchemist's coat and pulled him back.

"Riza left me in charge of this whole mess and I can't blow it, alright?" She looked frazzled. "And please try to help me a little with this?"

[My_Secret_Life]

"Yeah, yeah." Ed said, waving his hand as if to tell her 'shoo!'. "Just relax Mana-babe, the whole army's gonna chill-lax with Mustang gone too."

Al sighed; none of this was gonna end well...he just knew it.

[XiaolinLilith]

"They've already been telling me I might get myself killed on this job! Ugh, just come in already...Hawkeye says we have to scrub all the floors..." Mana shook her head. "Seems like we'll be doing all Riza's stacked-up grunt work this weekend, guys..."

[My_Secret_Life]

Ed made a face. "I'm a state alchemist, when the hell do I get stuck with soldier chores?!"

Al sighed. "Ed..."