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It was a gloomy November day in Eastern Command and Roy Mustang was meticulously filing papers as he sat at his office desk. Lieutenant Riza Hawkeye had just poked her head in to check on the colonel and offer him some coffee.

"Coffee sir?" asked Hawkeye with a small tray in her hands.

"Thank you, two creams please."

"Yes sir. By the way, Edward Elric is here to see you sir."

"Fullmetal's here? What for?"

"I'm not sure sir, his brother is not with him and he said it was very urgent."

"Very well. Send him in."

Mustang couldn't think of a single reason as to why Ed would visit him during the middle of a work day, unless to say he blew up a small city or something of the sort. But to not have Alphonse with him, that was strange. They were always together.

Interrupting Mustang's thoughts, Ed burst through the door and instantly made himself at home in one of the two chairs placed in front of Mustang's desk.

"So Shrimp, what brings you in?"

"Don't be coy with me Colonel. You know why I'm here."

Mustang shifted in his leather chair. "During the day Fullmetal? You couldn't possibly have waited until the night time so no one would see?"

"Well, like I told Lieutenant Hawkeye, it's urgent."

Mustang had been meeting with the boy quite frequently lately, and Mustang's team had begun to whisper about it. Mustang knew that it would have to stop eventually, but he simply couldn't resist the boy's brilliant and pleading brownish gold eyes, and what he offered Mustang in return for the favor he did for Ed.

"Fine. Come over here Fullmetal."

Excitedly, Ed sprung from his chair and strode over to Mustang's chair. Ed then promptly got on his knees and waited patiently.

"It's been so long Colonel," said Ed as he rubbed his hands together.

"Indeed it has Ed. But don't get too used to it. This has to stop soon, there's been whispers floating about."

Ed just smiled and waited patiently. Mustang sighed heavily and began to braid the boy's hair.

"No one does it like you Mustang," Ed said with a big grin.