Disclaimer: No, I don't own Fullmetal Alchemist, but if anyone was willing to sell it to me I do have a couple of dollars in my pocket..

Summary: Slow and steady wins the race, but only when you're incredibly lucky. When Ed discovers the secret to Human Transmutation, Roy and his team's mission of reaching the top is thrown off track. But when the higher ups, and even the Fuhrer get involved, the situation is quickly thrown into disorder and turned into a struggle for power.

Author's Note: First of all, understand that while I'll try to get the facts as close to possible, that isn't going to guarantee I'm right all (or even close to all) of the time. So if I get some Alchemy fact wrong in this, there's no need to get all upset about it.

CHECKMATE
chapter one: human transmutation

ROY MUSTANG did not enjoy paperwork.

In all honesty, that phrase didn't even come close to conveying just how much he despised the daily chore. Yes, it was a mandatory part of his rank. Yes, it really was just skimming a couple of phrases and signing or initialing a page. Yes, he did had hardworking subordinates (though really it was just 'subordinate') that helped him more than really necessary. But really, couldn't these people do anything on their own?

You didn't see any smart paperwork like permission to issue military miniskirts for women, but you did see useless stuff like permission to change the recipe in the kitchen from bean soup to tomato soup. Really, he doubted the soldiers would notice any difference, even if it were pinapple and plum soup it'd still be bland and milky.

Riza'd told him to suck it up and get to it or she'd shoot him. Damn. The only woman he really wanted had to be a trigger-happy sharp shooter with eyes so sharp they could probably track down whether his eye'd twitched or not.

Still, her advice didn't do much good, but Havoc's did, at least.

Leave to Havoc to find the one good thing about paperwork. Yes, paperwork was an excuse to call his favourite blonde female lieutenant to stride over to his desk, peer over his shoulder and explain to him what this clause or that phrase had meant. Or to ask her whether he was supposed to signature or initial the form. He did so love it when she rolled her eyes, hands propping on her hips, pointing to some tiny font in masses of more tiny phrases that told him to, yes indeed, sign the page.

Sometimes he wondered how, even with her incredibly accurate eyes, she managed to catch even the smallest mistakes or flaw in his work. Fuery had boldly announced (while she was absent from the room, of course) that maybe she was from another planet, causing all men in the department to cackle slightly when she returned. Of course, she'd quickly glared around the room, silencing immediately all the little smirks, except for his, of course.

Despite her threats, he knew she never really would hurt him. Obviously, since her mission was to protect him, hurting him would be counter-productive, and the day Riza Hawkeye did anything counter-productive by choice, he would dye his hair pink.

Indeed, that was how obscure the idea was to him.

Anyhow, back to the paperwork. Roy was working undiligently on his paperwork when the door to the apartment crashed open in a wave of short blond alchemist, distantly, he could hear Al's attempt, "Brother! Wait! You can't just storm in there like-"

"Shut up, Al!" Fullmetal glowered, striding to the front of Roy's desk, Roy himself, leaning back into his chair, rather relieved to have an excuse to take a break from the horrid stuff cluttering his desk, "What's up, Shortmetal? Still short as ever, I see-"

"I found the secret to human transmutation." Ed seethed, voice laced with disdain.

Roy's smile vanished in an instant. No, this was not the kind of interruption from paperwork that he desired. From one bad thing to something worse. Clearly from the teenagers contours the secret wasn't one that would solve all their problems. He almost gaped at the Alchemist before him, "Wh-what?"

"I said I found the damn secret to human transmutation!" Ed growled.

--

Author's Note: Rather short filler chapter, but in any case, I hope you enjoyed it. :).
Reviews, as always, are much appreciated.