Disclaimer: I do not own Full Metal Alchemist, nor do I intend to earn any income by posting this story. (Nor do I own or expect income from any other references or character uses in this story)
Characters:
Edward Elric
Alphonse Elric
Roy Mustang (Colonel)
Sergeant Hughes
Chapter 1: The Mission.
As Edward and Alphonse walked steadily down the long hallway, they thought to themselves about their decision to re-join the alchemists. They were headed to see their new Fuhrer, the ex. Colonel Mustang, or Roy. He is their mentor, and brought them to where they are today. They are considered two of the best alchemists of their time. He cared for them and although they fight, there is a special bond between them.
-Knock knock knock-
"Come on in you two" Roy said impatiently knowing of their tardiness. They proceeded to enter his office and shut the door behind themselves. "What took you so long?" he asked.
-FLASHBACK"Come on Ed we don't have time to watch 'Pokemon'! We have a meeting with Roy! You know how he gets when we're late!"
-END FLASHBACK"Oh nothing, we're just slow walkers I guess." Ed said nervously, while he gave a 'zip it' glare in Al's direction.
"Well I'm glad you're here now, we can finally get to buisness" Roy said, not even lifting his face from the mass pile of papers on his desk that he was rushing to scribble on. He was still as lazy as before they restored Al's body. "Oh but first I have something to show you, you'll both find this quite humorous." He then proceeded to press the button on the small black box on his desk. A voice replied to this, a familiar voice.
"Is that who I think it is?" Edward asked excitedly.
"If you think it's Hughes then yes… you're right!" Roy chuckled. Hughes was hired as the personal secretary to the Fuhrer. This was just a temp job for him because he's not fully recovered from the incident. "Anyways, I brought you both here to discuss a mission, this is a mission for Al only to test his skills as an alchemist." Roy said in a quite serious tone, he also began to blush as he said, "Ed you are not to accompany him."
"WHAT!?!" The two boys yelled in unison. "You can't separate us! We're in this together!" Ed said.
"Yeah!" screamed Al, too stunned to come up with an argument. At the same time Al was very excited to go on his first solo mission since he'd lost his armour. "On second thought… Ed if you don't mind I'd really like to go!" he exclaimed.
"Oh… yeah I understand" Ed said in a quite regretful tone. "I guess you haven't really had a chance to perform any special alchemy until now…" he said straining himself to look onto the bright side of things. "Yeah…it's a good idea for you, I think you should go!"
"ED THANK YOU SO MUCH!" Al was very pleased with his brother's acceptance of this. He knows Ed is going to worry for him, but he's old enough isn't he?
"Now that that's settled" Roy retorted as he rolled his eyes, "Let's discuss your mission in detail. Ed could you wait outside please?"
"Sure…" Ed said with a complete lack of enthusiasm. He the stumbled slowly out of the office like a drunken zombie. He sat down outside on a nice red silk draped bench. He noticed it had gold carvings, he though to himself it's probably pocket change for someone like Roy. He then lost himself in his thoughts and realised that he was mainly thinking of Roy and his qualities. Roy is so smart, Roy is so strong, his hair, his face… it's all so…perfect…wait a second? Am I even saying these things? Ugh… I thought I hated him… but right now all I can think about is how perfect he is, in fact I've been thinking of him a lot recently…hmmm…
"Ok Al, now that your brother is out of hearing range, let us discuss things." Roy said as he began to blush again. "I have… something to ask of you… It's a secret and you cannot tell anyone…" Roy said slowly out of nervousness. "I've been thinking of your brother a lot lately. It's so confusing to me, I don't know what to do! How am I supposed to do my job like this!" Roy said as a small tear rolled down his face. "Not that I like this job" he muttered angrily. "It's just I don't even know what to do with myself recently. I need some… What's the word… CLOSURE! Yeah that's it. Your mission is to find out if Ed likes me the way I like him…. Wait, did I just say that?!?" He gasped and all the blood in him went ice cold, he couldn't believe what he had just told Al.
"It's ok Roy" Al chuckled, "I had already guessed this was happening, I know you two fight a lot but I think my brother likes you too, he gets all weird when I bring up that we're going to see you. It'll be no problem finding out. I thought my mission was going to be better than this… I was expecting something a little more… exciting…"
"Well… Your real mission is a good one, in fact I'll have you leave for it as soon as you find out from Ed. There's a family in…" Roy said. Their discussion continued for a long time as Roy briefed the more mature Al on his soon to be first solo mission.
-MEANWHILE-Ed still outside thought to himself solemnly about Roy and what exactly was going wrong with him. Why on earth am I thinking this, I must be crazy. I'm probably wrong I don't like him, I do don't I? I do like him? But that's impossible. I hate him… but if I hate him why am I arguing with myself… sigh Roy… Roy… Why Roy…? The thoughts were consuming him.
"Ed? ED!" Al went from calmly addressing him to yelling for him in what seemed like seconds, he had been calling Ed who had fallen asleep on the bench sucking his thumb, to try and tell him that he was finished and that Roy wanted to speak with Ed alone for a minute. Ed woke up and screamed Roy's name down the hall as if he were calling to him. gasp DID I JUST DO THAT!? Ed thought to himself as he quickly covered it up with a small retort saying that he was having a small nightmare about 'Colonel Mustard-stain' when Al woke him up.
"So 'HE' want's to see me? Fine then…" He said sarcastically trying to cover up the recent events. He then rushed into the office and quietly shut the door behind him.
"I hope you don't mind me asking you to come back in here, I know it must be hard letting your brother go on his own mission when I don't have a mission for you." Roy said as he blushed, he realised he was blushing and quickly shoved his face back into the papers.
"Oh it's fine" Ed looked down as he began to blush too. "Is there anything else you need me for?" he asked quietly. Roy then thought to himself, hmmm he really is something…
"Ummm… Well not really I just wanted to say sorry." He smiled and scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "Thanks Ed… For everything… You're dismissed."
"Okay… By the way Roy, your grammar really has improved since you became Fuhrer, Trying to impress anyone?" HAHA I got him. Ed thought he was being smart, he was trying to make Roy lose his whole 'professionalism' that he gained when he was elected Fuhrer.
"WHAT'S THAT SHRIMP!?" Roy exclaimed. Al heard this and busted in the door quickly holding Ed back from hitting Roy.
"Wow, You both haven't changed one bit." Al chuckled as he dragged Ed and himself out of the office. They then ventured home. The night was slow, and they both didn't say much. Al was thinking of a way to get it out of Ed so that he could go on his exciting mission.
"So… Al, that's your new mission about?"
"Ed you know I can't share that, we're not partner's this time." He grinned in a very sinister way.
"Haha, damn you Al." Ed said playfully. "Look I'm tired, I think I'm gonna hit they hay." Ed quickly shot out.
"Agreed." Al said. They both then wandered off to their dorm bedroom got into their pyjamas and hopped into their bed's. "Ed?" Al asked calmly.
"Yes Al?"
"You've been acting weird recently… is there anything or… anyone on your mind?" He asked awkwardly. Ed shifted around in bed and repositioned himself towards the window. The moon was exceptionally bright.
"Have you ever looked at the moon?" Ed said quietly. "Al… I think… I'm not happy with it, but I think… I like Roy… you know… as more than a mentor…" Ed said as he began to cry softly and sat up facing the window. "I've never felt this way about anyone, except you and mom, but this time it's even different than that. I love him, but not the same way…" Ed continued to cry and Al rushed over and sat next to him, hugging him as Ed began to bawl his eyes out and hid his face into Al's shoulder. Al had never seen Ed cry like this for a long time. Al had completed his mission, but at what cost? He didn't ever want to see his brother this upset ever again.
"I'm sorry Ed, don't take this the wrong way, but I think you should shut up right now. There's nothing to be ashamed of, and I have something good to tell you anyways." Al whispered into his heartbroken brother's ear. Ed wiped his eyes and lifted his face up to look into Al's as he waited for this 'secret'. "Roy told me something today, and he told me not to tell you so wait till after I leave on my mission to do anything but Roy feels the same way, he doesn't even know how to d his job anymore he's been thinking of you so much!" Al laughed, then Ed giggled and they both burst out into laughter. They both thought of how Ed was going to be the demise of Central because the Fuhrer couldn't even concentrate on his work.
THE NEXT DAYAl quickly ran into central with his bags packed wearing his alchemist's jacket and stopped by Hughes who still had some bandages on. Al was sweating and obviously excited.
"TELL ROY MY MISSION IS COMPLETE!" Al said as he began to run off.
"HEY! Hold you horses kid, haha." Hughes laughed like usual. "I have a package for you." He handed all a small pocket watch, it had a picture of a human with light erupting from it. "Your new name is 'The Body Alchemist' It's not to show any basis on your alchemy, it was given because you've been through two body's by now, haha." Al opened the pocket watch as he blushed out of excitement; there was a picture of Hughes daughter in it. "ISN'T SHE A CUTIE!!!" he exclaimed as he snatched the picture and coochie-coo'ed the picture to death. Al then ran off, his first mission over and him and his brother had new things to tackle. This time, for once they had separate problems, and neither of them disagreed with it.
To be continued…