The Heist

AN: Oh my, last chapter, guys!

HappyAnt21: Thank you so much! I'm so sorry the wait between chapters is killing you! I know the monthly updates aren't that frequent, but unfortunately so many other things require my attention. How I wish I can escape from real life sometimes!

Loveneverchanger: Oh my gosh, yes Yuna would have been crushed if Ling really died. But fortunately he didn't! I hope the OTP moment was up to your expectations!

When Ling opened his eyes, he did not know where he was nor what day it was. All he knew was that the heaviness in his head was finally absent, replaced by a clarity matching the sweet, golden stream of sunlight coming from the window. He smelled fresh air with undertones of anesthetic. He was in a hospital then.

The memories came back in a clear, steady flow. His confrontation with the vigilantes. The quarantine in the Liu hospital, and his painstaking wait for the Red Stone. Then the cop chase between Liu province and Yīnyún city. The short trip in the sewer.

The kiss.

Involuntarily, he raised his hand to his lips.

A sudden movement caught the edge of his vision, and he looked to the side to find his mother standing up from a chair.

"You're finally awake," she said with a smile. She went around the bed to sit on the edge by his right arm. She cupped his cheek with her warm hand, then ran her fingers through his hair in that motherly way that made him feel safe and comforted.

"I missed you, Ma," he whispered, his throat feeling fuzzy.

She laughed softly. "You had quite an adventure, didn't you? How are you feeling now?"

"Better," he answered honestly. "Much better."

"I'm glad to hear that," she returned. "Look, I've got some big news to tell you, but I better call the doctor first to inspect you."

Ling nodded. "I'm glad to see you though."

She gave him a kind smile, before leaving him and calling for the doctor.

Shortly afterwards, a doctor and a couple of nurses came into the room. The doctor was a kindly, middle-aged woman who checked his pulse, heartbeat, blood pressure and other parts of his body. They took some blood samples and checked his reflexes. The feeling in his legs had already come back, and he could move them around. He was so elated to be able to do that again – who knew how much he'd taken his legs for granted until he couldn't use them anymore?

During the check-up, Ling also learned that he'd been asleep and under treatment for three and a half days. His mother had flown in from Amestris just the previous night. The majority of the patients were also recovering very well, and were entering a stable state. The flow of patients being checked into the hospitals who were suspected of carrying the contagion trickled to a stop a couple of days before. Overall, the situation looked optimistic.

The doctor wrote a few things down on a pad of paper attached to a clipboard. "You just need a little bit more rest to regain your strength. We'll do a final checkup some time within the next few days to ensure that you're no longer carrying the plague, and then we can release you."

"Thank you," Ling nodded.

When they left, his mother came back in, sitting down at his bedside again. From her handbag, she pulled out some papers, which she handed to him. It took a while for Ling to realize that he was staring at some legal document. Still, it wasn't quite clear what it was for.

"I forced your father to transfer the ownership of XYZ Ltd. to you," she explained.

Shocked, Ling almost dropped the papers.

He looked back at his mother with wide, unbelieving eyes, unable to comprehend fully what that entailed. He was suddenly very grateful that he was still lying in bed, for had he been standing, he was certain his knees would have buckled.

"XYZ Ltd.?" he exclaimed. "What... how... hold on, I don't..." He gulped, trying to get his mind in order. Finally, one question slipped out. "Wait, you forced my father?"

His mother gave him one of her trademark coy smiles, shrugging a shoulder. "Eh, when it comes down to it, your father would trade anything for his life."

"You threatened to kill him?" Ling asked. "Heh, why didn't I try that in the first place?"

"Hey, don't devalue all the work that you did," his mother responded sternly. "I would never have been in a position to threaten his life if it wasn't for everything you and your friends have done to put him in that interrogation cell. It was the perfect place and time to corner him, when he has very little left to lose but his life. It made him more desperate."

Ling's eyes grazed over the small font of the document. He didn't quite know what to make of this turn of events. His mother laid a hand on his shoulder.

"You know, it's easier to dismantle a company if you own it," she explained to him.

Oh. When put in that angle, it was so startlingly clear.

He could finally put an end to this monstrous business.

"Ling," his Ma continued. "You did it. You finally did."

He blinked, the gears of his mind working sluggishly as they tried to process this overwhelming news – good news – after he'd just woken up from a three-day consciousness break.

"Can I really?" he asked. "Nobody will fight me?"

"You have full rights. We can hire a top-notch lawyer and the law will favour you anyway. The process will be messy, but so is the liquidation of any other business. Other than that, I don't see why you would have any other trouble."

Ling put the documents down on the sheets, sighing with an astounding sense of relief he never dreamed could possibly come out of him. Dissolving the company would be a headache, but at least there was a framework already in place for that. No more plotting, no more strategizing, no more walking on eggshells. Liquidation, by comparison to all the versions of Operation Greed, seemed almost like a walk in the park.

A park he'd willingly visit once his head was a little less stuffy and his limbs didn't feel like noodles.

"Thanks Ma," he said, feeling the whispers of sleep trying to lull him back to rest some more.

"No, thank you, my baby boy." She leaned down and kissed his forehead. "I'm so glad you're alright."

He closed his eyes then, and fell into a deep slumber even before he felt his mother move away.

The next time he woke up, someone was again sitting by the side of his bed, except it was no longer his mother.

When she noticed that he'd woken up, Lan Fan moved closer. "Hey there," she said softly. She took his hand in her only one. "How is the CEO of 7-11 doing?"

Ling chuckled. "Not quite CEO," he said, clearing his throat after hearing that his voice was a little husky. "The 'demise' would be a better word, hehe."

Lan Fan smiled. "What are you planning to do, Super Hero?"

"Honestly? I have no idea. It's kind of hard to think and sleep at the same time," he teased.

She broke out into a grin. "Fair enough."

"How about you? What happened to you and Paninya? Last time I saw you two, you were up in the arms of half a dozen cops."

Lan Fan drew a slow breath between her teeth. "Well... I have to say, it was a close call. If it wasn't for Colonel Mustang's swift thinking, I'd say we would be behind bars now. But he managed to convince the Xingese officials to pardon us, mostly by leveraging the fact that we were the ones who retrieved the Red Stones from Creta. Still, they were not happy that you were out and about, even with the suit on. I think they were more relieved when nobody else was diagnosed with the plague these last few days."

"Have there been any more deaths?" Ling asked, feeling almost afraid to bring up the question.

"Not related to the plague, no. At least not yet. There have been a couple of deaths due to panic accidents. I have heard however that some of the patients with the plague are not doing so well. I have a feeling they are the ones who are like my grandfather. Either old or unhealthy. The Red Stone is not refined enough to work well on everyone. It has probably killed off the pathogens but caused some other issue."

Ling nodded, knowing that that was probably the best-case scenario he could hope for anyway.

"Speaking of your grandfather," Ling digressed. "Have you talked with him recently? Does he know you're back here in Xing?" The last time they had visited Fu was a day before they flew back to Amestris. The old man had responded a lot better to Xing's more focused treatment; the doctors targeted each and every ailment that was the plaguing the poor man, and worked to rid him of each of them. It was overall a more effective strategy for someone like Fu, than the blanket technique the Red Stone was programmed to do. Fu and Lan Fan didn't have this choice back when they were still in Amestris, because they didn't have the funds to pay for that kind of very specific treatment. But Ling's grandfather was kind enough to goad his insurance company to cover the costs for Fu's recovery.

"I called him after I was pardoned," Lan Fan answered, her thumb brushing his skin softly. "He called me an idiot, but well... my grandfather never dwells long in the past. He doesn't waste time regretting, and especially now that he's better and I'm okay and you're okay, things are actually starting to look up, you know?"

Ling nodded. "When do you think he'll be released? I'll be happy if we can all go back to Amestris together."

Lan Fan, who'd been playing with his hand, looked up abruptly. Then she turned away.

"Right... about that. Colonel Mustang talked to me and..."

"And?"

"He said it would be for the best if Grandfather and I return to Tong Hua."

Ling froze, heart skipping a beat in an odd mixture of disappointment and dread. "Why?" For the second time, he woke up with some news he didn't know quite what to do with.

Lan Fan looked back at him sadly. "It's just time. The fake marriage certificate will not hold up forever. Henry Chu has finally been dealt with. Grandpa and I can really make a fresh start after years and years of misfortune piling up in our lives. And the first thing we have to do is officially sort out our documentation. That means starting from the source, starting from our homeland."

"Can't you sort things out while you're in Amestris?"

"It's not a good idea to keep breaking the law, Ling," she chuckled a little. "I know that sounds a little strange after we've broken several dozen in the past few months. But this is my opportunity to have a fresh start, and I want everything that comes with that. I want things to feel right. If nothing else, I just want to come back to you feeling like I'm finally home."

Ling was speechless for a moment, unable to come up with a single thought to address his feelings. Then he asked, "How long is that process going to take?"

Lan Fan shrugged. "It's hard to tell. We lost our official papers escaping to Amestris. We'd have to apply for pretty much every type of identification required of a person. And only after that can we apply to immigrate to Amestris, and that can take anywhere from several months to years."

"Years..." he repeated softly, trying to see if tasting the word would make him comprehend it a little more. "Well, we can talk to Ma. She's a liaison for Xingese entrepreneurs who hope to set up business in Amestris. I'm sure she's got experience with ironing out immigration and citizenship issues and the like. She'll probably know exactly the right kind of people to help you out."

"Perhaps," Lan Fan conceded. "But Tong Hua might be a little different, and there are some things that just can't be rushed. I don't like to think about the time I'll be spending in Tong Hua either, but I know it's the right thing Grandpa and I have to do."

"Do you still have family there?"

"That's one of the questions we're hoping to answer when we go back. It would be nice, I guess, to find out more about my family. But it's a little nerve-wrecking as well, to be honest. I don't have any memories of Tong Hua. I didn't have an easy life in Amestris but at least it was familiar."

"When are you leaving?"

"It might be a good idea to start the process as soon as possible. We're just waiting until Grandpa is cleared from the hospital in Yao province. He would continue his treatment in Tong Hua if needed."

They were enveloped by a glum silence that neither of them broke for a few minutes. Ling's hand was still intertwined with hers, and it felt warm, felt concrete. He didn't know why he felt so affected by this news. It wasn't even like they weren't going to see each other again. There was the internet – webcam, instant messaging. Even the good old telephone call. He could even visit from time to time.

Still. It just wouldn't be the same. It had been difficult to think of a period of time beyond the dissolution of his father's business, so he'd never really tried to imagine what he and Lan Fan were going to do afterwards. But maybe some part of him was naive enough to expect her to stay with him and his mother. A very silly part, because she'd only stayed for the job. And he knew that Lan Fan, though now a good friend of his and perhaps even more, was still too much of a pragmatist to insist on playing house.

"So," he said, breaking the silence. "I guess this is the part where we get a divorce? I'm only eighteen! I'm not ready for this!" He hid his face with his free arm, and only heard her soft laugh.

She took out the marriage certificate from her pocket. "This will be the first decoration in whatever house my Grandpa and I will have in Tong Hua. I will put it in a frame and hang it on a wall!"

Ling couldn't help but laugh at that, despite the heavy feeling in his chest. "Careful or your house might start smelling like the sewers."

"My memories as Lan Fan Yao span more than just the sewer trip," she told him. "Honestly? I'd be hard-pressed to say they were the best memories of my life since, you know, near-death experiences and all that. But my time as Lan Fan Yao was one of the few parts of my life when I felt like it was okay to be me. When I didn't have to lie. When I didn't have to be lonely."

"Stop or my head's going to get big," Ling said, and he meant it. He wanted her to stop, because he wasn't sure if he could handle the way she was talking, as if her temporary stay in Tong Hua meant anything more than exactly that: temporary.

She looked at him with a knowing smile, before leaning closer and embracing him. She laid her head on his shoulder, her arm around his waist.

Ling took a moment to savour her warmth, knowing it might be a while before he could feel it again. It reminded him of that night she confessed everything, when she exhausted herself sobbing and fell asleep on his shoulder, and for hours he'd just held her. When he carried her to her room and arranged her on the bed, he remembered feeling so overwrought with emotions. He'd been angry at his father, horrified by Lan Fan's experience, and yet so so relieved that Lan Fan had never meant to betray him. It was similar now. There was relief at having gained control of XYZ Ltd. But there was also a sense of loss.

"I'm going to miss you," he said into her hair. "I will visit you in Tong Hua when I can."

"And we can call each other. Chat online or something," Lan Fan added. "Let's not get too caught up in the farewells. We went up against your mastermind of a father and his multi-billion sens business, stolen precious stones from the land of the plague, stopped a war from starting, and prevented hundreds of people from dying. I think if there's anyone who can endure some months or years of separation, it would be us."

"Of course," Ling said, trying to sound optimistic. "But it will be a lesson in patience, that's for sure. Especially since I'm still counting on that do-over."

Lan Fan rose from her position and smirked playfully at him. She made a move as if to lean closer to his lips, but he stopped her with a finger to her mouth.

"Nuh-uh! I'm not sexy yet," he said.

She rolled her eyes. "I was just playing. I know you haven't brushed your teeth in over three days."

"Okay, now you're just making me feel bad."

They joked around some more, but after a few minutes, a nurse came in and told Lan Fan that visitor hours were over. It was time for him to rest again.

The next time Ling woke up, he was feeling much better, and the only remnants of sluggishness he felt was due to having spent too much time in bed. He was allowed to freshen up a bit, and then food was delivered to his room where he ate with much gusto. The meal hadn't been anything spectacular, and judging by how many people were in the care of the hospital, Ling wouldn't be surprised if it was more meager than usual. Still, it was a joy to finally get to eat after days of being hooked up to a machine for nourishment.

He was hardly finished when a soft knock came through the door. It opened with a nurse shyly leading a tall, Xingese man into the room. She bowed slightly before backing out of the door as quietly and modestly as she came.

Ling stared at the man who came in. He had straight long hair plaited into a braid down his back. He looked only slightly younger than Ling's own father. The embroidered silken vest depicting the revered dragon of Xing all but gave the man's identity away.

"King Xiao?" Ling managed to croak out, unbelieving that the leader of Xing himself was in his own hospital room.

The king gave a curt, not unkind nod that affirmed Ling's question. His face was an impenetrably polite facade, not stern but also not weak. Ling gulped, wondering what kind of world he'd awoken in when every time he regained consciousness, some kind of surprising news awaited him.

"And you are Ling Yao," the king said, his tone more of a statement than a question. Ling nodded anyway. Xiao grabbed the chair near the door and set it by the foot of the bed. He settled down on the seat, facing Ling directly. Ling set his chopsticks down on the small ceramic plate beside his bowl. "The son of the infamous Henry Chu."

"Well, one of them anyway," Ling added, and Xiao smirked. Henry's reputation as a tomcat was almost as widely known as his reputation for being a cutthroat businessman.

"I'm not going to take much time. I don't have the flair for dramatics like many of my siblings do. I just came to tell you, thank you," Xiao stated.

Ling was surprised.

"Between the few of us who know exactly what went down and what your father is capable of, I understand the great lengths you and your friends have gone through to prevent the disaster he was brewing. I remember my own battle of wits with that man decades ago, and as individuals, he stood more of a chance at acquiring the throne. The reason I'm the one sitting in it is because I asked for help from the other clans. Know that I am very grateful for your efforts."

"Oh, uhm, you're welcome, I guess," Ling stammered.

"But that's between the few us, like I said." Xiao leaned back against the chair and rubbed his temple. "To the rest of the nation, however, we're going to need something more than gratitude."

"What do you mean?"

"I don't know if the Ambassador of Amestris has already mentioned to you, but we're going to have to demand some compensation for the damages. I cannot be seen as a leader who allows violent attacks on my people. Even now, the peace in Xing rests on a balance so vulnerable that any external factor may tip it one way or another. And as far as I know, Amestris is in the same boat, having just survived a civil war and a war with Aerugo."

"All right, but why are you telling me this? Aren't you going to have to meet with President Grumman to iron out the details?"

"I'm telling you, because what I'm going to ask for might involve you or your friends. At the very least, it involves your knowledge. I want the Red Stones."

Ling sighed. "At this point, I'm guessing everybody does," he muttered under his breath. "You don't know the monstrosity behind how those Stones were created."

"No, I do not," Xiao admitted. "And that's exactly what I want to know. How would one go about creating a Red Stone? Or better yet, improve upon the ones we already have?"

Ling narrowed his eyes. "By torturing and experimenting on people! That's the only way the synthetic cells can learn how to cure!"

Xiao stared back at him, face impassive but thoughtful. He didn't speak for a long time, but stood up and walked over to the window. After a few moments of silence, he actually chuckled.

"I can see now why it was my brother who was able to develop it then, the sly bastard."

"I wouldn't call him sly," Ling said. "I'd call him heartless."

Xiao spun around, an air of decisiveness surrounding him. "It might be true that Amestrian researchers cannot find a way to develop the Red Stones without experimenting on people. But the bioengineering field in Xing is booming and flourishing. Just because Amestris cannot do it, doesn't mean the Xingese won't be able to do it either. I will ask Grumman for the rights to all the documents regarding the development of the Red Stone, including the ones pilfered from your father's laboratories. There's a chance Xing might be able to improve the process, and I'm not going to let an opportunity like this pass by. This is the price I ask."

"And how about the people of Creta?" Ling asked. "President Grumman had meant for the project to help them."

"We will not neglect them," Xiao promised. "All I want is for Xing to have some stake in this groundbreaking medical development. The results of the project, on the other hand, can be distributed internationally."

"You mean you just want the credit?"

"Some of it, yes," Xiao admitted. "And I'm sure that Amestris will appreciate the help we can provide, so I believe this is a win-win situation all around."

It was hard to argue with that. Putting it that way, it didn't even sound as if handing the secret of the Red Stone over to King Xiao was the kind of crippling payment that Ling thought he'd demand to save face from the recent catastrophe. If anything, it sounded like the Xingese were the ones doing Amestris a favour. After all, the project was rotting away in some secret office in Amestris. This could be a better alternative.

"I understand," Ling finally said. "But really, you might be able to find people more knowledgeable about the subject when you meet President Grumman and talk about it. I hope you two come to a quick agreement. If anyone else finds out about this, many people would vie to discover the secret, and I'd hate to see illegal experimentation cropping up."

"Then we hope for the same thing," Xiao said. "I'm glad we've agreed on that."

Ling could only shrug, unsure of why the king himself would need his approval. It really was a matter between him and Grumman, not Ling.

"Again, I thank you for your valiant efforts these past three days," Xiao continued, as he made his way to the door. "I've been led to believe that you have a connection with the President, so if you can make my intention clear to President Grumman, I'll be even more grateful."

As Xiao turned the knob of the door, Ling suddenly remembered a pressing issue that had recessed to the back of his mind.

"Hold on, sir!" he called out. "I have a request, if I may."

"A request?" Xiao lifted an eyebrow. "Requests to kings usually go through a different channel."

"Well then, as a nephew to his uncle."

Xiao paused to listen.

"The Chu clan... what happens to them? If you're thinking of punishing them for what my father did, may I request that you rethink your decision? The clan relies on funds received from my father, that's true, but I don't think they should be blamed for his actions. My father does incredibly cruel things, but those are decisions he makes by himself."

Xiao's face clouded with confusion. "Punish? Now where did you get that idea?"

Ling was taken aback. "From the ambassador! I mean, at least when he related his conversation with you, I got the impression that you were going to retaliate against the Chu clan because Dad endangered hundreds of people to pressure the President to reject the fair trade agreement."

"Is that so?" Xiao rubbed his chin. "Quite frankly, I don't remember mentioning anything like that. It didn't even cross my mind to punish the Chu clan. Henry Chu himself is a pain in the butt, but the Chu clan itself hardly ever makes it into the political radar."

Ling scratched his head, clearly confused. "Oh well... that's good news, I guess. It's just that – well, I don't want to blame the Ambassador or anything because I'm sure he's quite reliable – he mentioned that you were planning to take care of the Chu clan after this entire fiasco is over."

"Yes," Xiao agreed. "Like I said, the clan itself is overlooked by the government. I believe it is time to stop neglecting them and see to their needs. Something has been preventing them from getting the appropriate resources to live a decent life – proper education, food and housing, all these things. Ever since the Empire fell and the 50 Families System was disestablished, the clan has trickled out of the government's notice. If it's true that they have to rely on outside sources like that snake Henry Chu to make ends meet, then I'm not doing a very good job as a king, am I? I need to take better care of my people."

Then it clicked in Ling's head. Take care. It was never meant to be an ominous phrase. It was literal.

Embarrassed, he ran a hand through his loose, messy hair. "Ah, I see. I apologize. I misunderstood."

"Is that not how you say it in Amestris? 'Take care'?" Xiao asked with a genuinely amused expression on his face.

"Well, yeah, but it does have some negative connotation as well," Ling admitted. "I apologize. I assumed the worst. Must have been the paranoia at that time."

Xiao nodded his head. "No worries. No harm done. Now, rest up. I heard the hospital might release you soon. I barely managed to catch you here, so long was the process of clearing out people from the quarantine in Liu!" He exited the room and closed the door softly.

Ling fell back to his bed, clutching his face with embarrassment. All that time he spent worrying! It was all for nothing! It was all just a misunderstanding, a turn of a phrase, and it caused him to descend into the pits of self-pity, worrying that he'd become just like his own father. He probably annoyed Lan Fan sick with his attitude.

He rolled around the bed, trying to get rid of the shameful feeling until his hip knocked against the wooden support for the meal, and he almost spilled his soup on the sheets. He stopped and he laid back on the bed for a few moments, trying to focus on the feeling that at least an entire clan would not have to suffer because of the way his operation turned out.

After he'd gotten over the wave of embarrassment, he finally laid still to assess the situation.

His father was in jail. XYZ Ltd. was Ling's. He and his mother already had plans on how they could put an end to the company. The people affected by the plague were all slowly recovering. The Red Stone project might finally get resurrected after years of abandonment. The Chu clan was safe, at least as safe as they could hope to be. Lan Fan was going to try and get her life back together, and she would – he hoped very much – return to him eventually.

Overall, things seemed like they were going to be okay. The situation appeared positive, hopeful.

This strange, newly found freedom from imminent problems made Ling realize that he had no idea what he was going to do with his life from here on out. Only now that all his plans were over that he realized exactly the gravity of the time and effort he'd dedicated just to accomplish this one thing. It was almost like he'd paid his own kind of collateral. Did things really work that way? Sacrifice one thing just to obtain another?

Ling sighed, and pushed such philosophical thoughts from his head. Now was the beginning of a new phase in his life, and he intended to start it by trying not to drive himself crazy.

-o-

10 Months Later

Winry marveled at the sleek metal containers of Auto-Mail's brand new servers. Running her fingertips against the sheen of the chrome, she squealed in delight. Even in the dim light of the garage where the boxes had been deposited, the new servers looked so appealing.

"Do you like it?" Ridel LeCoult asked, pulling the bubble wrap from the other servers that hadn't been unpacked yet. They just received the shipment that morning, but the order had gone out months before, asking for the latest technological specs to be included in their hardware. Each server had a computing power sixteen times Auto-Mai's previous top-notch servers.

"Like it? I love it so much I want someone to make an air freshener with the scent of Brand New Servers, so I can spray it everywhere!"

Winry heard Edward gag a bit from somewhere behind her, and she gave him a flat look.

"Why are you making that face for?" she reprimanded. "With these babies, you won't be complaining about the slowness of the online network anymore! Honestly, I'd have thought you would show a little bit more gratitude."

"You know we could have gotten the platinum containers instead of the chrome!" Edward responded. "The platinum also came with free engravings, which we could have used to design the servers with this!" He held up a piece of paper with a pattern of a skeleton that managed to look debonair and bland at the same time.

"We don't have time to waste engraving these things!" Winry exclaimed. "Nobody will see them anyway. All we're going to do is keep them in our storehouses."

"I will see them," Edward pouted, tucking the pattern away. "Fine! Whatever, I guess I shouldn't complain when we basically got them for free."

Well, that was not entirely true. The new servers, as well as the new databases they bought the previous month, were all funded by the money that Auto-Mail received from the liquidation of XYZ Ltd. Ridel LeCoult even managed to hire a partner to help upgrade the Auto-Mail software that sustained the online network. He had mostly recovered unscathed from Henry Chu's attack of his home; the only permanent damage he'd suffered was a broken bone in his leg that didn't quite heal straight, and so he walked with a slight limp. Still, after hearing that Henry Chu had finally and rightfully been jailed, he was determined to continue his work with Auto-Mail, and hired another engineer to help him keep up with the constant upgrades that Auto-Mail required.

The liquidation of XYZ Ltd. brought many changes to Auto-Mail. Contrary to its name, XYZ Ltd. wasn't actually a limited corporation, and all the ownership belonged to Henry Chu – the misleading name only served to make it appear as if he didn't have a chokehold on every move the company made. So it wasn't that difficult for Ling to just hire a liquidator and tell him that he no longer wanted the company to exist. The most difficult part of the process was trying to collect the assets – many people still had debts owing to 7-11, and not all of them were able to pay it back immediately. Ling, with the help of some of their friends in the State Military, decided to fully convert these remaining debts to government loans; those owing money to XYZ Ltd. would continue instead to pay their debt to the government but under much more comfortable terms – and to everyone's relief, no burdensome collaterals. As for the company itself, accumulating all the assets together still greatly eclipsed any other outstanding balances.

It meant that Ling Yao was very, very rich.

But like the charitable man he always was, he didn't keep the majority of the money; almost none of it really. A large part, he gave to Auto-Mail. He said it was payment for all the trouble they'd gone through to help him achieve his goals. Winry felt a little overwhelmed by the amount – a hundred million sens was really quite a lot, and so she and Edward, along with her grandmother Pinako and the other admins, budgeted the money and decided how they were going to use it.

A portion went to network upgrades. That included the new databases and servers they ordered. Each admin received a package containing new equipment to help them do their jobs.

The other fraction went to new projects. Winry realized that people's heavy reliance on the black markets sometimes did not help their clients get back on their feet – for quite a few, they became stuck in the cycle of underground activities. To help put a stop to this, they produced a subgroup of Auto-Mail that was actually above ground. Fully legalized, they would provide grants and subsidies to anyone who wanted to go back to school, receive skills improvement and training, start their own business, and the like. Rosé, for example, received a bursary for her nursing degree. Even Paninya managed to get licensed as a freelancer for high-rise projects.

Winry sometimes still found it a little funny that although Auto-Mail had become very much acquainted with a group of State Militants, and to a certain extent, even the President himself, they didn't seem very strict about forcing Auto-Mail to disband. The last time she and Colonel Mustang got in touch, he told her that their investigation of the black-markets was postponed, ever since the whole Henry Chu scandal blew up. Many of those in the government who had in one way or another used some of XYZ Ltd.'s services were hit particularly hard.

The Colonel, however, gave her a little tip. If she could slowly pull Auto-Mail out of the underground entirely within the next few years, the government's eventual crackdown of the black markets should affect them very little.

"Oy, what time is it?" Ed asked, snapping out of his sulkiness with a startle. "I have to drive Alphonse and the shrimp to the airport!"

"Does that mean you're not going to be helping set all these up?" Winry gestured to the dozens of boxes containing new servers.

"Well, it wasn't my fault the delivery man had to give them today! Alphonse has been looking forward to this trip for months!" Ed said defensively. He pushed himself off the desk he'd been leaning against. Ridel's garage doors were still open, and Ed walked through it, but before he approached his car parked by the curb, he turned around and waved back at Winry. "You're taking a cab home?"

"Yes, or maybe I'll ask Mr. Garfiel to pick me up," she answered. "Be careful, okay? Say goodbye to Al for me."

Ed gave her a quick salute, before entering the car and driving away.

Back in the garage, Winry began to help Ridel unpack the other servers, savouring the feel of their smooth, shiny cases.

-o-

"And what do I say if I want to haggle in the market?" Al asked, toying with his passport. Mei was sitting beside him in Izumi's parlour, and in front of them was Dr. Marcoh who was enjoying a cup of tea.

"It depends," Mei answered. "There are many types of market in Xing. If you just go to a supermarket, there's no haggling involved obviously. But if you're in one of those local, shanty markets, I'm going to have to say you're a little at a disadvantage when it comes to bargaining."

"Why's that?" Al said.

"Well, because they'll think you're clearly a tourist! Everybody will think you have more money than you actually do. How about this? Any time you want to visit a market, just let me know and I'll tag along! I'm the best bargainer you can ask for!"

Al returned her grin, and looked at Dr. Marcoh. He was watching them with amusement.

"How about you, Dr. Marcoh?" Al asked. "Will you be exploring Xing's day life while we're doing our research?"

"Ah, I'm not exactly a social butterfly, I'm afraid," Dr. Marcoh admitted. "If there's time in between my work, I might drop by some of the scenic places or the historical monuments, but I expect to do some serious heads down work with little breaks in between."

Three months ago, they received an invitation to participate in a joint program between Amestrian and Xingese researchers. After President Grumman had agreed to King Xiao's terms, the Red Stone project was immediately reopened. All of the existing documents were copied and sent to Xing; all the researchers and doctors who had participated and who did not perish during the civil war were required to attend an interview. When Dr. Marcoh went to Xing, he happened to mention that he was already working with two youngsters who were interested in finding a different way to manufacture the medicine. Al and Mei then found a formal invitation in their mailboxes from Xing's very own Minister of National Health to partake in the project.

It was an opportunity that Al was more than willing to grasp. He was going to be starting his University career this year anyway, and what better way to kick it off than doing a co-op in one of Xing's best schools, working with top-notch faculty and industry leaders?

He turned back to Mei. "How about you? Are you sure you don't mind transferring in the middle of your high-school career?"

"Oh psh!" she waved a hand dismissively. "I'm going to be getting advanced credits from that project! How can I mind? I'll basically guarantee myself a place in any college I want to apply to once I have those credits. I'm more worried about you, to be honest. Won't you get homesick? What about your brother?"

"I'm sure I'll be a little homesick at first," Al admitted. "But I'd be a fool if I don't take advantage of this. And Brother would be all right, I'm sure of it."

"He does not want to come along?" Dr. Knox asked. "I hear he's studying neuroscience, isn't that right? He might benefit from the environment and activities there."

"Nah, my brother would like to stay here and keep an eye on Auto-Mail," Al answered. "Winry is also going to school after all, so she might need back-up from time to time. Hehe, I think he's more suited to the dynamic, high-pressured world of trying to juggle an education and underground networking."

Mei gave him a doubting glance. "And what we're going to do in Xing is not dynamic and high-pressured enough for him? Give me a break! Dr. Marcoh is going to test out his hypothesis of using simulated data to train the Red Stones! Only Xing has the proper equipment with the capacity for that kind of heavy-load training! If that's not dynamic enough for your brother, then I don't know what is!"

"Running around yelling at people, I think, is more his style," a voice came from the doorway to the kitchen. Izumi entered the visitor's parlour, carrying a bowl of mixed fruits. "Which I bet is exactly why he's not here yet. Make sure you call your brother to remind him you have to be at the airport an hour from now," she told Al.

Dr. Knox gave her a grateful smile for the snack.

"And how are you, ma'am?" he asked. "How has the woman who brought Henry Chu down to the ground – literally – been doing?"

"Same old, same old," Izumi answered, sitting on one of the plush chairs in the room. "Though I'd appreciate if people would keep a lid on the Henry Chu stuff. I find that customers are now even more scared to come into the shop, more so than when it was just my burly husband they thought they had to look out for."

Al chuckled a little. Despite Sig being tall and husky and having the look of a ruthless hunter, the man actually had a gentle soul and even gentler temperament towards those around him. Because they'd grown up with the Curtises, Al and Edward could only find amusement in the wary ways of younger kids who tried to buy some meat from their shop.

Al's phone beeped with his brother's ringtone, and he fetched it from the counter beside him. Pressing the main button, the screen woke to the flashing sign of a new message. When he opened it, he read Edward's text that he'd be home in thirty-minutes.

"All right, brother is coming!" Al announced. "We better start getting ready for our ride to the airport."

Mei downed several slices of the fresh fruit, before jumping out of her seat to check on their bags.

-o-

There were three forced resignations in the Ministry of Defense and another four in the Department of Education. Overall, Riza Hawkeye wouldn't consider it bad. It was just that one of those who'd been forced to resign was in a very important senior position who was actually good at his job. It was unfortunate really that they'd discovered he made some risky negotiations with XYZ Ltd. He'd traded information on his fellow workers in exchange for five hundred thousand sens.

All but one of the State Militants who'd been removed from their positions had bartered confidential government information.

Riza knew that from the perspective of a State Militant who had the welfare of her country and fellow citizens in her best interests, these men deserved what they got. However, a part of her also felt pity. The civil war that had dethroned Bradley from the presidency had crippled many people financially. State Militants hadn't been exempt from the effects. She could understand in some way the desperation that had driven these otherwise loyal men to seek help from Henry Chu and did not have a choice but to pay the price he asked.

As soon as Ling was well enough to come back to Amestris, he didn't waste any time taking care of XYZ Ltd. In the process of collecting assets, Ling had hauled all of the company's contracts to light; while there were some rather benign deals, many head dealt with illegal matters. It was here that they found out about the ones involved in the government. There had always been an unspoken understanding that at least some of the State Militants might be siphoning money off from the loan shark, but they hadn't been able to put names to them until now. And for a long time, President Grumman had applied some leniency when it came to financial deals with Chu – after all, he himself had made use of the man's business.

"Are you sure this is the best time to leave?" Riza asked as she sorted through the pile of late paperwork that the Colonel had managed to finish only that day. "There are holes in the ranks."

"We won't be leaving for several weeks yet," the Colonel answered. "We still need a detailed plan for how we can start alleviating the nation-wide blockade on Creta. I think by that time, we'd have filled out the positions."

Colonel Mustang rubbed his head for a moment, before reaching out to take the next stack of paperwork from her.

"Besides," he added. "I want to ensure we've done all we can here in Amestris. We've lost the trust of many people when Chu managed to almost instigate a war. And I don't blame them – it's only been several years since the Sanitary Movement and we've just drafted the treaty with Aerugo when this all happened. The civilians must think we're trying to run a circus with their corpses."

Riza nodded, understanding the Colonel's sentiments. The truth was that as hard as they were working in the office and out, the majority of Amestrians had suffered from conditions much worse than they had. Every time they made progress, something had forced them to take a step back. It was time for things to really change.

Ten months ago, when Xing notified them that many of the patients have begun to recover, President Grumman had arranged a team to provide a narrative that would quell the national panic that had erupted in both Amestris and Xing. When people had heard of the Cretan plague spreading, many people had attempted to move away, up north to Drachma or to a totally different continent. Even when they said that the outbreak had been contained, many stayed away until months later when they've observed that nobody else was falling ill.

Fortunately, nobody in their team felt any qualms about outing Henry Chu's machinations. Pointing fingers at one man was something the Colonel considered unclassy, since he knew that a host of different things had caused the situation to happen. But Chu was the catalyst and chessmaster who used the rules of the game to his advantage. And at a time of great stress, it was much easier for people to accept an uncomplicated story of good versus evil.

Still, the government received some flack for having allowed Henry Chu to operate 7-11 for so many years. The most ironic thing was that Riza was sure many of those who were criticizing them the heaviest had at one point or another made use of the company's money lending service as well. Another thing that happens during a time of great stress was that curtains drew back to reveal hypocrites. She could only shake her head.

The door opened and Falman came in, followed by Havoc. Both gave quick salutes to the Colonel, before taking a seat in front of his desk.

"You got reports for me?" the Colonel asked.

"Yes sir! Our intelligence network has found out that the plague has receded from the majority of urban places in Creta. There are only a few sites that are suspected to still be rife with it, including forests and the rural villages in the mountainous areas in the south. These are currently sanctioned off."

"Perfect," the Colonel replied as he readily accepted a written document with more details about the topic. "President Grumman wants us to brainstorm some ideas for how we can begin helping the Cretans recover from the devastation of the plague. We no longer have the Red Stones that Henry Chu managed to create, but Xing has begun to make copies of them by cloning the synthetic cells. We know these Red Stones are not yet perfect, but they're the best we have. At least until the collaborating researchers find a way to improve the cells without... you know, sacrificing other people."

Havoc snickered. "Remind me to thank the President. Pulling us out of the black market investigation to focus more on Creta saved our hides."

Very few other State Militants had been aware of their involvement with Auto-Mail and, specifically, Ling's endeavour to end XYZ Ltd. To the majority of those in the government, Colonel Mustang and his team had accidentally stumbled upon the insidious plans of a multi-billionaire, and ended up helping save the country for it. Little did they know.

The investigation into the underground scene would be deferred for now, seeing that there were a lot more urgent things to take care of. But yes, Riza agreed that it had been lucky for them that her wise grandfather decided to re-assign their team to a different project, and hence, distanced them from their connection to the black markets. For now, they would focus on relations with Creta.

Colonel Mustang chuckled. "Well, don't let anyone see your enthusiasm. Going to a country rumoured to still be riddled with illness isn't something that any other State Militant would view as a positive turn in their career. Try to at least pull a straight face."

"Say instead that you're proud to have been reassigned to a more noble pursuit," Falman suggested to Havoc. "I'm sure you'd be thrilled once we're knee deep in the forest swamps of Creta."

Seeing Havoc's grimace made them all snicker.

-o-

To Ling, the problem with missing out on an entire semester was that he had to make up for it through summer school. And so while his friends spent the summer attending internships, vacationing, visiting beaches and tourist spots, he'd spent it heads down in his books. And as the summer drew to a close, the pressure of finals came looming on the horizon.

Sitting in one of the outside cafeterias in his campus, Ling pushed at a clump of overcooked rice noodles that he'd bought from one of the nearby food trucks. His commerce textbooks lay in front of him on the table, a pad of paper sat by his hand for notes, and his laptop was replaying a video tutorial that their TA for the course had recorded.

Overall, it was what Ling would usually consider a perfect study setup.

Except he kept getting distracted trying to book a ticket for a five-day trip to Tong Hua right after his last exam. He and his Ma already agreed that he could take the week off between the end of his summer semester and the onset of his next year. He'd been so busy these past few months that the only communication he'd had with Lan Fan was through webchat and short emails. Although they did so almost on a daily basis, it was still different from getting to hang out with her physically.

It was not like he didn't appreciate their alternative methods of trying to keep each other updated. Even though their messages and conversations were usually short, they were frequent enough that he rarely ever missed anything of importance in Lan Fan's life there in Tong Hua. He'd known when she suffered from home-sickness, which she confessed as ironic, since Tong Hua was supposed to be her homeland. He'd known when her grandfather finally managed to find a job as a highly sought-after instructor of martial arts. Fu rarely fell ill anymore; he still succumbed to the common cold and the pains of old age, but no longer was he bedridden or constantly under the duress of an unknown ailment. Ling had even known of their attempts to search for relatives. So far, they've only found one of Lan Fan's aunts from her mother's side, whose family was happy enough to be reconnected with them.

He browsed through the list of deals presented to him by the online agency he was using. He didn't need to book a hotel – Lan Fan and Fu would arrange a guestroom for him in their house. He just wanted a flight that didn't leave too soon after his exam that he might not be able to catch it if something happened, but at the same time, he didn't want it too late in the night either.

Flipping between the tabs of his browser to watch the commerce video while trying to decide which flight deal he should take, Ling didn't notice the person approaching him, until they had settled a plastic cup, filled with an orange drink and tapioca pearls at the bottom, on the opposite side of his table.

Surprised that someone would try to claim a seat without politely asking first, Ling looked up with a frown, then froze.

"I hope this seat isn't taken?"

Ling opened his mouth to speak, but couldn't form the words to even begin answering. When the person slid gracefully into the seat across him without waiting for his response, his mouth also gave up trying to voice an answer, and instead curled into a small, disbelieving smile.

"So how should we do this?" the girl asked. Her hair was slightly shorter than Ling remembered last seeing it, and she wore shades against the bright glare of the late summer sun. Still, even though he hadn't seen her physically for ten months, he would be a complete idiot if he would let sunglasses and trimmed hair fool him into failing to recognize her.

Ling grinned, his brain finally catching up. "Well," he said, putting down his pen, his face suddenly warm. "I vaguely remember having a penchant for doing things backwards. Near-death experience, moving in together, marriage, then a first kiss. So I don't know about you, but I think it's time for proper introductions."

She laughed. "Fine. Hello, I'm Lan Fan Tseng. Nice to meet you."

Ling stretched out his hand to take the one she offered. "And I'm Ling Yao." After they'd shaken hands, Ling could no longer control his laugh, and he let it out in merry abandon. He felt all jelly-like inside with glee, and he had to put his head down on the table for a moment to catch his breath. When he'd collected himself, he looked back up to find Lan Fan looking back at him with a soft smile.

"What are you doing here?" Ling finally asked. "I was just going to book a ticket to visit you in Tong Hua! Why didn't you tell me you were coming? I could have prepared for this! I could have picked you up from the airport. Oh man! Like... this is so weird!"

"I wanted to surprise you, of course!" Lan Fan said. "And I didn't want to bother you too much. After all, you're studying for exams."

Ling rolled his eyes. "Really? That's your excuse? No way! I'll ditch back cramps and eye strain anytime to meet up with you."

Lan Fan grinned and took a sip of her Tealicious bubble tea.

"So, how long are you staying?" Ling asked excitedly, moving some of his stuff away so she has more space. "And more importantly, where? You know you're more than welcome to stay at my house with Ma. And Grandpa Fu? Is he with you? Are you two vacationing together?"

"Actually," Lan Fan began. "I'm staying."

Ling blinked. "Wait, what?"

"I'm staying," she repeated.

"But, only a month ago you told me that the immigration process might take longer than you hoped!" Ling exclaimed. The process of getting everything sorted out had been a headache-inducing web, at least as far as Lan Fan had described it during their conversations. A couple of times, Ling's mother had flown out to Tong Hua to help sort out some things. Starting over wasn't easy. Lan Fan even admitted that had not Colonel Mustang arranged for accommodations before they went back, they would have nowhere to live. Most superintendents required official identification documents and proof of income, things that they were still weeks or months from acquiring.

And only after months of struggling and waiting for the bureaucracy to deliver results did they manage to finally receive all the documents they needed: birth certificates, passports, health cards, social insurance and other various licenses. It was only then that they started to apply to immigrate back to Amestris.

"Yes, that's right," Lan Fan agreed. "And grandfather and I decided we didn't want to put our life on hold for much longer than we needed to. So, we tried to find ways we could come here despite not having residential permits yet."

"And? Did you find any?"

"I applied to Amestris University as an international student for the winter session. I barely made the deadline! But I managed to get accepted."

"You mean here? At this school?" Ling asked excitedly. "Congratulations!"

Lan Fan nodded. "Thank you! You don't know how long I've wanted to go to school, but I couldn't afford it. I start next January. As for Grandfather, he's here as an expat. The dojo where he found a job in Tong Hua is expanding their business to western Xing and Amestris. Since he's one of the most gifted teachers, they agreed to send him to their new location here."

"Here, where?" Ling asked. "Nearby? Near my house? Next to it, maybe?"

Lan Fan laughed. "Ah no, we won't be neighbours, I'm afraid. But it's close enough to Dublith. We've secured an apartment in Awbeziz."

"Whoa, but that's only one train station south of Dublith!"

"I told you it's close!"

Ling pumped his fists in the air. "I cannot believe this! Does Ma know about this? It's so hard to wrap my head around the fact you managed to surprise me."

"Well, I don't want to out Ms. Yuna directly, but let's just say I took a hint or two from her on how we can live here while our immigration application is still being processed."

Ling groaned. "Ugh, I'm so going to get her back for this!" He tipped his head back, watching the cerulean shade of the mid-afternoon sky, the pressures of studying for his exam having long slipped from his mind. Lan Fan was back...

"Ah, I'm so rude!" Ling straightened himself and started gathering his things. "Look, I still have lots of time to study, but you just got back. Where are my manners? Let's go eat!"

Lan Fan pointedly stared at the container that held his sticky rice noodles.

"What?" he asked her. "You don't think I can eat more even after I just ate? It's like you don't even know me!" He placed a hand on his heart in mock display of hurt.

He stuffed his things into his bag, and began to lead her out of the campus where they could find his favourite creperie.

"So, when did you actually get back?" Ling asked.

"Two nights ago," Lan Fan answered.

"Ah, so that's why you didn't return my messages until this morning," he slung an arm around her shoulders. "You sneak. I would sulk if I didn't miss you so much."

He saw the dusting of pink that emerged across her cheeks in a shy blush.

"That's true," she answered. "We have a lot to catch up on."

"We sure do."

They walked along the small park that bordered the campus on the way to the dessert place. Ling noticed there was a bounce to his gait as they walked, and he almost laughed again. Lan Fan must have felt him stifling it too, because she looked up at him with a questioning gaze.

"What?"

Ling grinned playfully. "How's the sun hitting me?"

She peered beyond him, to the trees and to the way the rays of the sun were streaming through the gaps in the leaves and branches. They created a pattern of shadows that danced across Ling's right side.

"I guess it hits the way it naturally would? Nothing unusual? Should I be concerned?"

Ling rolled his eyes. "Fine, if you don't want to take the bait I'm throwing to fish for compliments, I'll just spell it out for you." He pulled his arm away from her shoulders to let loose his hair that was tied up in a pony-tail. He shook it out a bit, so that it fell gently around his shoulders, framing his face. "I think I'm really hot right now." He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively, causing Lan Fan to burst into laughter.

"You're impossible!" she said.

"What? I really meant it when I saw I wanted a redo," Ling said. "Please?"

"You know that it doesn't count as a first kiss anymore, right?"

"It counts as the first kiss I had while I'm lucid and can actually stand on my own two feet," he said defensively. "I think that's very important."

Lan Fan rolled her eyes but relented with a shy smile, and stepped closer to him. The last time this had happened, she had taken him by surprise and he had no time to prepare. But this time, he watched as she started to rise on her tiptoes, watched as her face got closer, and his heart beat so quickly with adrenaline that he was sure Lan Fan would feel it. When their lips finally met, he felt her smile against him. She tasted like peach bubble tea.

She pulled back quickly, however. "Short one for now," she said, linking her arm around his to pull him along. "We're not going to make out in public."

That was fine by Ling – and it probably showed too, knowing how wide his smile was. There would be many more opportunities now that she was back home.

Talking and laughing excitedly, they made their way to the creperie.

AN: THE END! Ling and Lan Fan are now college students, haha; we all know how that's gonna go down!

Now, maybe I should call this section Chicken Soup for the Soul, hehe, because this is going to be a little mushy.

So, so, so. We've finally arrived. At the end. For the first time in 12 years, I have managed to finish a story. I cannot thank you guys enough for accompanying me throughout my journey in completing this project. Though it's been frustrating at times, I believe this is one of my best fanfiction, if only for the reason that I enjoyed writing it immensely. Every chapter there was something for me to look forward to writing.

Before I go on any further, I really want to thank each and every person who read my story and those who reviewed and encouraged me. To those who reviewed each chapter and stuck with me from beginning to end (you know who you are ^^), thank you. To those who were intrigued by the first few chapters but lost interest afterwards, thank you to you too, because you gave me the momentum to really get the ball rolling. And to those who hopped on the bandwagon near the end, thank you for encouraging me to get to the finish line.

TL;DR (You can probably stop reading at this point. Haha, the rest is pretty much self-indulgence.)

The Heist was an important project for me as a writer, because it was the one that I made myself promise to finish. I have always had trouble finishing stories I start. But I know that if I wanted to be a writer in the future, I have to prove to myself that I can finish something. No matter what happens, regardless of how much feedback I get. And now, finally, I have my proof. I might have a long way to being an amazing writer, but at least now I've shown myself that at least I'm capable of accomplishing an important prerequisite: completing a story!

The Heist is also very important to me for another reason. Last year, I really struggled with my home life. There were a lot of changes and stress and sadness. There was a point when I didn't update for a long time, and I thought maybe I should just focus on more important things going on in my life. But I tried not to listen to that, because I knew it would be just another excuse to not finishing what I started. So I worked on The Heist in the little bits of time I could catch between all the crazy stuff going on. Actually, looking back, it's probably one of the things that helped me through that rough time, because at least I could distract myself for a while and immerse myself in something that I loved.

And thank you for helping me along!

So what's next? Well, my love for LingFan knows no bounds. I have another story I can now focus on: Sincerely Yours. It's going to be shorter, and so I would probably space out my updates accordingly. In between those, you can expect some fanarts on my art blog on Tumblr, mander-draws, where I also post fanarts from other fandoms (but mostly it's LingFan).

Other than that, I've been itching to start on my own original project. I will be posting more info on that on my blog as well, so if you're interested, just check my blog out for updates once in a while. Personally, I know that I get somewhat distraught when a fanfiction writer I like abandons fandom to concentrate on personal projects. I'll let you know though that I will always be a fangirl at heart. Even though I have original projects in mind, I get my natural highs from fandoms, and so you can always find me around!