That Was Alchemy, Sir

by acceptmyusernamealready

Riza Hawkeye learned alchemy from her father. However, she kept it concealed in order to be able to assist Roy Mustang in his dream of becoming Fuhrer. But now she, the Colonel, and the Elric brothers have been swept up in a plot to bring down Amestris. When you have no weapons left, you use what you have available. Even if it destroys everything you have worked for. AU-ish. Royai

1. Chapter 1

A/N: This is my first attempt at writing a fanfic, so constructive criticism is appreciated!

Central City

HQ

1400 Hours

Sunshine streamed in through the windows, warming the room. It was a day meant for relaxing on a grassy hillside with a good book and a cold drink. Inside the room, six diligent and skilled officers of the Amestrian military toiled in order to complete the work that kept the military running. Or, at least, one of them did.

The officer looked up from her papers, surveying the room. Master Sergeant Kain Fuery was tinkering with a radio. 2nd Lieutenants Heymans Breda and Jean Havoc were playing cards. Warrant Officer Vato Falman murmured to himself as he did the crossword. And as for the last occupant of the room, Colonel Roy Mustang...

*Sigh*

Brown eyes glanced over from the papers in front of them for moment, then looked back down again.

*Sigh*

The hand holding the pen quivered, a barely perceptible tremble.

*Sigh*

"Sir, if you don't start signing this instant, you will not be leaving this room with all limbs intact."

Colonel Roy Mustang, Hero of Ishval, Flame Alchemist, and self-proclaimed Friend of All Women, jumped, spun, and nearly fell out of his chair at the sound of The Voice. The bird he was watching outside the window chittered its song, oblivious to the deadly aura now filling the room.

"Yes, Lieutenant?"

"Sir, that bird will be just fine on its own if you don't watch it. Now, start signing."

"Yes, ma'am…." Mustang turned back to the pile of paperwork in front of him, knowing it was futile to fight back when First Lieutenant Riza Hawkeye used that voice. It spoke of the loss of several body parts, slaying of all one's kin, and burning of one's favorite ignition glove if one did not comply. Hawkeye, now satisfied, turned back to the forms in front of her. Across the office, 2nd Lieutenant Jean Havoc laughed at Mustang.

"She got you good there, sir."

Mustang glared at Havoc over the paperwork still layered high on his desk. "Maybe, instead of watching your superiors, you could get to work on your paperwork!"

Havoc shot back "Aw, but where's the fun in that, sir?"

"You won't be having any fun tonight by the time I get through with y-"

BANG BANG

Everyone in the office jumped and looked over at Hawkeye's desk with fear-filled eyes. She placed the pistol, still smoking, on her desk where everyone could see it. Two smoking holes, one above Mustang's head and one above Havoc's, decorated the walls.

"Back to work. NOW."

Furiously nodding in agreement, all those present in the office found a sudden interest in their paperwork and began signing with enthusiasm and vigor. Hawkeye sighed, she was going to have to empty some magazines at the shooting range if her co-workers childish behavior kept up. The stress of the job was getting to her, she was shooting more often now. Her body was almost running purely on caffeine. Just another day at the office.

1600 Hours

The office was quiet, only the sound of pens scratching paper breaking the silence. The one thing in the minds of all the male officers present was the overriding wish to keep Hawkeye happy. As the saying went, a happy Hawkeye is a another day with your children intact. Still, it was one of the better days Mustang's office had seen lately. The only thing that could have ruined it was…

"HEY, COLONEL BASTARD! I GOT YOUR REPORT FOR YOU RIGHT HERE!"

...Edward Elric, also known as the Fullmetal Alchemist and in private, Pipsqueak. He was just back from investigating a series of thefts that used alchemy. Having caught the criminals a week ago, Edward was just now handing in his report. Hawkeye mentally started tallying up the price of reconstruction this time around.

"I hear a voice, but I can't see anything. Did you rig up a hidden speaker, Fuery?"

"WHO ARE YOU CALLING A MICROSCOPIC FLEA?!"

"Brother, calm down!"

Ah, Alphonse. Maybe he could help calm everyone down.

"Hawkeye, get me my microscope. I'm going to do a study of the new species Fumetallus microscopicus."

Then again, maybe not.

Hawkeye sighed, and went up with Alphonse to separate the two before they could damage the office with their alchemy. Her hand twitched toward the holster she kept on her thigh, but she caught it. No sense in paying for any more damage than was necessary. She pulled Mustang into his office while Alphonse pulled his brother out, apologizing the entire time. The amount of paperwork still on Mustang's desk was enough to make Hawkeye cringe, and once again she considered pulling out her gun.

"Sir, you have to stop teasing Edward like that. It only distracts you and everyone else from doing work. Now, I'm going down to the range to practice. Think you and the rest of the men can keep working until I get back, sir?"

Mustang sighed and nodded in surrender, knowing it was pointless to argue with his lieutenant. Satisfied, Hawkeye turned around and left.

Mustang watched her go out of the corner of his eye. As soon as the door shut, he put down his pen and got up from the desk. He walked out into the main office and snapped to catch the attention of the rest of the officers. "So, now that Hawkeye's gone, I'm thinking we can all go out to the bar and get a few drinks. All this paperwork can wait until tomorrow, don't you think?"

"Sounds good."

"I'm up for it. Maybe I can finally get a date while I'm at it."

"I-I don't know, we have a lot of work to do…"

"Oh, lighten up Kain! You don't know what you're missing!"

"I guess, but…"

"Alright, that's settled. Come on men, we have date with the bar!" Mustang's subordinates, minus Fuery, cheered in unison before getting up and running to the exit. Mustang was about to follow them, but paused right as he was about to leave. He picked up a pen, scribbled a hasty note, and left it on Hawkeye's desk. He really did regret making her work so late, and planned to make it up to her by buying her something this evening.

2000 Hours

Another empty magazine fell to the floor at Hawkeye's feet. The unfortunate target down range wobbled and fell to the floor as the bullet passed through its head and embedded itself in the wall. With a frown on her face, Hawkeye reloaded and safed the pistol. The stress was getting to her, a few of the rounds had gone wide. The past few days she had been forced to work past midnight to catch up with the backlog of paperwork. She didn't want to worry the Colonel or her coworkers, so she had used some makeup to cover up the bags under her eyes. It didn't cover up that she had become more irritable than usual. Signing out of the shooting range, Riza walked back to the office, intent on getting her work done and then getting some sleep. However, as soon as she walked in the office, she noticed several things. One, everyone was gone. Two, they all still had paperwork to do. Three, there was a note on her desk. She picked it up, mood worsening with every second that she stood there.

Hey Hawkeye! The guys and I all went out for drinks because paperwork merits it. Don't worry about the paperwork, I'm sure it'll work out. Have a good night!

-Roy Mustang

Growling, Hawkeye tossed the note to the floor and fired a bullet through the offending words. She turned to the paperwork, resigning herself to another sleepless night. The work was too important to neglect, despite what Colonel Mustang might think. As she sat down though, a little voice in the back of her head spoke to her.

You know, you could make this all go away in an instant. Then you could go home and rest.

"No, this work is too important. I can't leave it."

You're hearing voices, Hawkeye. You're too tired to do anything productive.

"Shut up, dammit! I have to take up the slack, or we'll all be disciplined for not finishing this work!"

Banishing the voice in her head, Hawkeye put pen to paper and began signing the documents in front of her. The scratch of the pen once again filled the office as Hawkeye worked through the backlog of work. Her eyes slid shut, then blinked open again. She shook her head to clear it, then frowned. The words on the document swam in front of her eyes and concentrating on them was becoming difficult.

If you're too tired though, you won't be able to protect the Colonel. You might get sick and be forced to take leave, then where would you be? Not by his side, that's where.

As much as she hated to admit it, the voice in her head had a point. She was barely able to read the document in front of her, and she was seeing two pens instead of one.

You know how to make this all go away, what's holding you back?

"I can't though, I haven't done that since I was 15."

You still know how to though, and your body retains the ability. Come on, you know you want to do this.

"...Fine." Deep down, she knew her mind was correct. She needed to get rest and get rid of all this work at the same time, and there was only one way to do that. Hawkeye got up and locked the door.

Recalling the lessons of her younger days, she cleared her mind and the the floor in the middle of the office. Hours spent with her father going over ancient runes and equations flashed through her head, and the tattoo on her back tingled.

"You know, the last time I did this it was to repair the table after my dad scorched it in a flame alchemy experiment. Now I'm cleaning up the Colonel's paperwork. It's funny. I'm always cleaning up after the flame alchemist."

She walked to the center of the office, and took out a small piece of chalk from her back pocket. Hawkeye gazed at the chalk with a sad smile, remembering the last time she had performed a transmutation. She blew dust off the chalk, and drew a circle on the floor. Several lines were then drawn, along with a few runes. Hawkeye then carried all the paperwork to the middle of the circle and left it there in a pile. She inhaled deeply, looked around once last time, then pressed her palms to the edge of the circle. An observer passing by who just happened to look through the thick curtains at just the right angle would have seen a bright light shining through the office window.

Hawkeye left Central HQ as she normally did, saluting the guard at the front gates and taking a left to her apartment. A keen observer would have noticed she glanced behind and around herself more often and her steps carried more tension than they normally did. Six blocks later, she walked up the stairs and unlocked the door to her apartment. Black Hayate bounded up to her with his tail wagging, begging to go outside. Hawkeye smiled, bringing Black Hayate to the sidewalk outside where he did his business. She brought him back in and gave him dinner, heating up a simple meal for herself. Afterwards, she shed her uniform and stumbled into the shower. Water poured over her, washing away the tension in her muscles. Shrugging on a nightgown, Hawkeye collapsed into her bed, completely drained by her transmutation.

"It's been some time since I've performed any alchemy… It's no wonder I'm so tired. Still, rest will be good for me…"

With that, her eyes slid shut, and the peace of sleep consumed her.

A/N: I tried to write all the characters with the personalities they show in FMA:B and the manga. This is my first time writing, so all reviews are appreciated!

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...Please don't kill me…:)