Anything in [these things] is struck through cos fanfiction(dot)net doesn't allow the strikethrough font. I don't own anything.
Edward Elric is a military [man] [boy] [teenager]
No –
Edward Elric is military.
Just military. Nothing more. Nothing less.
[In the way he]
No.
Edward Elric?
Military?
NO. Of course not.
Edward Elric is hardened.
In the way he holds himself. Straight-backed, purposeful, vigilant, confident, deceptively relaxed. On constant guard.
In the way he speaks. Rude, yes, there's no denying that. But he is honest, logical, decisive, analytical, when he speaks. Searching for lies undoubtedly being spoken.
In the way he observes. Eyes always searching. Over there is the ring leader of the criminals, the one smirking to himself. Over there is the murderer, going about his day with no remorse. Over there is the accomplice, guilt plain as day on his face. Over there is the police, in disguise but clearly failing at being inconspicuous.
He is hardened.
He is scientific.
He is not military.
Yes, he is in the military. Yes, he is capable of a perfect salute. Yes, he owns an actual uniform. Yes, he follows orders and does not object to citizens calling him a dog.
He knows when to behave as military, but he is not.
He is not because his definition of when to behave as military is different than the military's definition.
[If war were to break out again, he would]
That's not the right thing.
No...
He is military.
Not military in the definition of the citizens. He doesn't enjoy the violence he is told to inflict. He does not enjoy war.
He has killed, but he is not a killer.
He disagrees with his orders. The orders telling him to kill in the name of his country. But he has a brother. A brother who needs him to keep their meager family afloat. He provides for his brother with the money given to him for dirtying his [conscience] hands with the blood of criminals. So he follows the dreaded orders.
He follows orders because he needs to, not because he wants to.
That's what makes him like all the others, you could say. Well, not all of them. [Not the crazed ones who enjoy murder and destruction.]
He is a soldier. Proud, confident, moral. He is a moral soldier.
He is military, but at the same time he is not.
This is a definite AU setting. I'll lay out the details later on, but I didn't want to put in the first one.