I've been out of the fanfic scene for a while, figured I'd start with something new and relatively short before going back to the older fics. I will defintely be continuing Got Your Back, but I'm still very low on ideas - if anyone has any, they would be much appreciated. Anywho, this one is set a few years after the end of the series, when Ed is about 20. It's a little short, but I didn't want to go too far along in the first chapter.

Disclaimer - I'm not Japanese, and my self-portrait is not a really awesome cow. So no, I'm not Arakawa-sensei, but I do borrow her characters for abuse in non-profit products of boredom such as this.

Roy watched Edward stare off into space, a light frown covering the blonde's features as he chewed on his lower lip and gazed somewhere towards the right leg of the desk. His fingers were tapping against his legs, and Roy could see him bouncing slightly on his toes.

"Huh?" Edward looked up. "Did you say something?"

"Not for the last five minutes."

The blond frowned and looked down again. "Do I need to stay?"

"Is there something you need to get back to?"

"Sort of."

"Go on, then."

Once Edward left, Havoc strolled into the inner office and settled on the couch, followed by the others at varying paces. Hawkeye was the last in and perched on the arm of the sofa next to Fuery, the black leather squeaking as she shuffled into a comfortable position. No-one said anything for a while; instead, they all just stared at Roy and waited for him to speak.

"So did you work out what's eating him?" Havoc asked eventually, swinging one leg over the other and sliding into a slouch.

Roy shook his head. "I think Gracia knows something, though. I spoke to her yesterday and she said to go easy on him for a little while."

"Is that why you didn't bust his ass for not listening?"

"Yeah."

There was another moment of quiet as they all sat and thought. The sofa squeaked a few times as the soldiers shifted, and the sole of Hawkeye's boot scuffed along the floor as she swung her leg back and forth.

"Could it be something to do with Al?" Fuery asked. The others all looked at him. "He does get way too concerned if Al gets hurt."

"No, Al usually calls me if there's been anything serious," Roy said. "And if he'd been hurt enough to prevent him from calling, Ed would be with him."

"So you think it's something in Central?"

"We've ruled Al out, and if anything was wrong with Pinako then Ed, Winry and Al would all be out there with her. And Al would have called."

"Could it be something to do with Winry, then?" Riza shifted on the sofa, tucking one leg up beneath her and leaning on Fuery to do it. The younger soldier shot her a peeved look, but didn't dare say anything. "We've all seen what his worried-because-of-actual-danger-face is, and that certainly wasn't it."

"I agree," Havoc said. "Whatever's eating him is close to him. Not actually dangerous, though…"

There was a long pause before Roy cracked his knuckles and leant back in his seat. "So, are we placing bets now or later?"

(-)

"Good morning, Miss Gracia." Roy approached the front door of the apartment building as Gracia and Elysia emerged. Elysia slipped her hand out of her mothers' and came bounding over to Roy, stretching her arms up and grinning at him until he leant down, scooped her up and carried her back over.

"I'm not telling you anything," Gracia said as Roy put the girl down.

"I'm offended you would think that's what I wanted. I just called out a friendly greeting on my way to work, and you assume the worst."

"That's because this apartment block is at least a mile out of your way."

"Details, details." He looked at Elysia. "You know, you're almost too big to pick up now."

"I'm eight, you silly! I'm almost a grown-up." She twirled around and her floral dress flared out into a circle around her.

"Indeed you are." He looked back up to Gracia. "Where are you heading off to? I can walk you."

"I'm taking Elysia over to Edward so he can look after her while I run some errands – there's a teacher training day at her school."

"I could always-"

"There's no point, she doesn't know."

"I was just going to-"

"Good day, Roy."

"Bye-bye, Uncle Roy!" Elysia wrapped her arms around Roy's middle and squeezed hard.

Roy sighed, hugged her back and waved them off before continuing on his way. When he rounded the corner, he walked up to the waiting black car and got in the passenger side. "She's not talking."

"Damn it," Havoc sighed, flicking his cigarette out the window and starting the engine.

(-)

The office was quiet, apart from the sounds of pens, paper and the occasional heavy sigh. Roy had decided that the inner office was too stuffy and oppressive, and had moved out into the main room with his subordinates. They had cracked open all the windows, but there was no breeze to move the air around or put them in the mood for conversation. Even Riza had taken off her jacket and hung it over the back of her chair, and was fanning herself with a folder in her left hand while she signed off documents with her right. When the phone rang, nobody moved.

"Hawkeye…"

"You're closer, Sir."

"Havoc…"

"It's probably not for me."

"Breda."

"Make me."

"Falman."

"I'm the furthest away."

"…Fuery?"

"If you don't pick up, you'll miss it."

"Insubordinate assholes," Roy muttered as he shifted his position and reached for the phone. "General Mustang speaking… Put it through. Afternoon, Gracia."

The soldiers perked up immediately, all of them sitting up straight and putting down their pens to watch their commanding officer take a phone call.

"Uh-huh… What time? Of course. See you then. Take care. Bye."

"What was that about?" Havoc asked.

"No idea, she just told me to be at the apartment for eight-thirty tonight. I think it's to do with what's been bothering Ed."

"I want a full report by ten o'clock tomorrow morning, understood?" Havoc said, imitating Roy's command-voice almost perfectly.

Roy smirked. "I'll see what I can do."

Owing to me actually having some semblance of free time now, the next chapter should be up by the end of the week.