Quick blurb! I know I haven't been back in a while I'm sorry I've been working on "you got me a dog?" aswell but been busy with a new job. I have wanted to do this fanfiction for a while now, I'd love to know what people think, it's probably gonna be short. But also if you think it's worth while to continue?
WARNINGS FOR ANGST/FLUFF AND MAJOR CHARACTER DEATH. Serious tho there's a hell of a lot of fluff:P
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General Mustang took a grateful, deep breath of fresh, clean air as soon as he stepped onto the quiet platform and off the train. He had been stuck on that warm, musty train for three days since leaving Central and was eager to disembark, if only to stretch his sore legs and spine. It was early morning, so hardly anyone else was around. Not like their would be many at the Resembool station at any time of day. It had just been raining, and even though Roy disliked the rain, it was refreshing compared to where he had been for the last three years. 'This really is paradise compared to Ishval' he thought, a bitter smile forming on the old war dog's face.
After becoming General of the Amestrian army, (and to the grief of his higher ups, which he greatly enjoyed) Roy took it on himself to do some hands on humanitarian work in Ishval.
It was about time he made some penance for the sins he had committed. Though Roy knew nothing would ever truly make up for the lives he had taken. That said, it wasn't easy gaining their trust to even let him pick up a shovel. But the Ishvalans where a peaceful people, and eventually let him help.
Among the volunteers, Roy's old, faithful team had joined him whilst he labored. Pride brimmed through his very being when his team announced definitively that they would follow their General wherever they needed him. Three years later, and he felt they had made a significant difference, in a good way for once, for the people of Ishbal. Now it was time to return, and make a difference from behind a desk once again. Though Roy wasn't sure if he preferred paperwork, or back breaking labor.
Breaking him out of his day dream and stepping down off the train gracefully behind him and not nearly as sore and hunched over as Roy had been, his second in command, Colonel Hawkeye, joined him on the platform.
"Sir, you need to move, you're blocking other passengers getting off."
"Huh?" Registering what she said and stepping aside, he gave Riza a small, embarrassed grin. "Sorry, was just in my own world, tired from the journey" He went to take his bag, bending down and letting out a small, unintentional whine when his back made an audible cracking sound and his spine shot with a hot flame of pain. Old, deep, painful scars from his battle with Bradley that never truly healed. They made him feel oh so very old. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Riza about to put out her hands to offer to take his bag, but then back away again, taking her own instead. Probably trying to save what little face her General had recently.
He hated the thought of Riza's pitying gaze, increasingly annoyed at how gentle she was being with him lately.
Embarrassed at his veteran whine he stood up straight, another loud crack ensuing, causing him to grimace. Fighting back from hissing in pain, he began to walk with a fake prowess, though the limp didn't help it look convincing. "God I'm only 36, making those kind of noises should only reserved for people 60 plus! " He thought to himself frustratedly. Ishval had been tough on Roy with his injuries, and he felt the toll especially in the last few months. His body had grown weaker.
Following loyally beside Roy, matching his slower speed, Riza smiled at him with warm concern, a small knowing look in her eyes. She wanted to do everything to make him comfortable, but knowing how proud a man her superior was, sometimes it was better to ignore his pain.
"You're nervous arn't you, to see Ed?" She said bluntly but with a fond and teasing tone.
She saw Roy stiffen slightly, but then relax just as quickly, he nodded slowly, yes he was nervous to see Ed again. It had been three years, the boy had quit the army as soon as Roy had gone to Ishval, never really explaining why. He was concerned for the boy, well young man now. Ed suffered greatly from depression after the war. It was as if he'd been running on adrenaline for his entire youth, and when all was said and done, it had caught up to the him like a slam in the chest. When Roy had heard Ed had quit and gone back home, he had only been in Ishval three days. Contacting him had been pretty difficult, given the only phone was miles from base camp, but the only explanation Ed had given at the time was a numb sounding 'I have more important things to focus on now Mustang'. That was when Roy decided, that as soon as he got back to Central and sorted out his office, he was to take the train straight to Resembool. The kid didn't know he was coming, but how could he be angry? Roy smirked 'That's a stupid thing to ask...Ed got angry at everything' But really, his motifs were slightly selfish.
Roy wanted Ed back on his team.
If he was ever going to rise to the top and make true changes, he had to have Fullmetal. Roy's team was hand picked, trustworthy, and loyal. Losing one of them was something he wanted to make absolutely sure was allowed to happen. If Ed was just moping around, well then it was time to slap some sense into the kid. And Roy was the one to do it. He grinned, suddenly feeling a little more encouraged by his self pep talk and sped up, down the road to the nearest, and only taxi with Riza catching up, giving him an odd disapproving look at how fast he was suddenly trotting. "Sir, don't hurt your leg…"
"Yeah yeah" Roy flapped his hand in a shooing motion rudely, Riza's only response being an eye roll. Roy gave her a cheeky grin, only to turn back around and see an old couple getting into the only taxi."Wait! No! That's our Taxi dammit!" Roy shouted, limping ungraciously faster. The old couple did not hear the cries and the taxi sped off. Leaving the two soldiers in it's dusty cloud of exhaust fumes.
"Ah shit…."
"Well just wait for it to come back Sir, it's a small town, it shouldn't be long." Though Riza highly doubted her superior would just sit down and rest for an hour.
"I've been waiting for three days on that train, I'm tired, I'm sore..." Riza blinked at that, it was rare Roy admitted he was in pain. "...and I just want to get this over with, let's find a shop and ask them would anyone give us a lift" Riza nodded, not wanting to bother with arguing, she was also tired, even if she didn't show it. They trodded along a rough, country road, never meeting anyone until they reached a small village. The entire place was quiet except for the occasional cyclist or horse and cart. Nothing about it seemed even in this century. Suddenly, Roy craved the bustling streets of Central, where he could get his pick of ten different bars on one street. This place was so...boring.
They walked until they found a small newsagents that sold all sorts of groceries, tid bits and tools. Stepping into it, the bell above the door chimed a pleasant introduction for the two weary soldiers. The shop itself was bigger on the inside. Several isles stacked up to the top with all sorts of wares. The large, burly woman behind the desk was flipping through a magazine, hand boredly placed on her cheek, lifting only her eyes to greet the two suspicious looking soldiers who just entered her shop.
"G'mornin…how can I help you?" She asked, with a small air of caution to her voice.
But before Roy could explain their situation, a loud crash verberated from the corner of the shop. A small squeal followed the crash with a small, delicate gasp from behind the aisle as a few tin cans rolled towards Roy's feet.
"FINN!" The burly woman shouted sharply at the aisle. "You know you arn't supposed to wander in here without your Daddy!" She sighed and rubbed her eyes, turning to her two customers. Roy didn't say anything, taking a small unconscious step back. "That boy, I swear he is so damn accident prone and clumsy. Always wandering off from his parents! And he always ends up in here! Staring at the metal tools no less! The kids facinated, like mother like son I guess. A constant daydreamer!...Well?!" Turning again to the pile of tin cans. "Come out now here boy and wait for your Daddy, he's probably having a stroke trying to look for you again!". Both Roy and Riza fixed their eyes on the small little figure peeking out from behind the shelving. Slowly the little boy came out, eyeing the two strangers warily.
That's when Roy's eyes widened as he took in what he saw.
The little child couldn't of been more than three. His eyes were a beautifully, glistening shade of gold, twinkling in the low light of the shop. His hair, a golden mop, flowed down to his shoulders. He was so cherub like, a little angel, but what really caught Roy's attention was the look he was getting off the golden boy. His eyes were smart, intense and looked far wiser than beyond his years. Roy could feel the scrutinizing glare of the child, and would not admit, he shifted unconsciously on his feet as if being interrogated.
Before Roy could even say it, Riza had beat him to it.
"He looks just like Edward…" she said quietly.
Roy nodded, only able to make a small grunt as the boy watched him, fascinated but not moving from his gaze.
"Come're Finn! You can sit on the counter while we wait." She slapped the counter top with a smile, gesturing for Finn to come over.
Warily deciding he wasn't in any trouble, Finn smiled and ran out from behind the aisle, taking a wide berth of Roy and Riza, scanning them with a small confused look. He scrambled onto the woman's leg and she hoisted him strongly up onto the counter. He sat there, now level with Roy's torso, staring at all his badges adorning the generals chest.
"Now!" The woman exclaimed. "What can I get for ya two soldiers?"
Riza began explaining that they needed to hire a car, or hitch hike there way to a friends house. Chatting away in a pleasant manner that she had reserved for normal folk.
Roy on the other hand was still staring at the mini Edward. 'He's like an extra pip squeeked, Pip squeek!' Roy thought humorously. The boy staring intensely at Roy's chest again, fascinated by his medals.
"They're pretty cool, arnt they?" Roy smirked, raising an eyebrow, trying to seem less intimidating to the kid. The kid looked up at him, not saying a word, but began to smile and nodded enthusiastically in agreement.
Roy took one of the fancier medals in his hands and took it off, handing it to the boy who's eyes only widened even more, taking an inward breathe he slowly took the medal and began examining it furiously. Taking a tooth to it lightly, then rubbing it with his hands.
Roy smiled, genuinely enjoying seeing how this simple thing could make this kid so happy. The passion he showed reminding him far too much of how Fullmetal would look when explaining anything about metals and minerals.
Suddenly, there was a small flash of light coming from the boys hands, all parties in the room faced him, wide eyed. When the flash subsided, Roy saw, that now in the boys hands, his medal has transformed into a small, golden wrench.
Everyone stood there, motionless, while Finn didn't even seem to care about his dumbfounded audience and continued to fiddle with the once medal.
Roy shook himself out of his surprise, it wasn't that odd for someone so young to use alchemy…..without a transmutation circle….so easily…."H...how did you" Roy began to say, but then was interrupted by the door of the shop slamming open, hitting the wall, the bell falling off and someone panting breathlessly. The shopkeeper leaned back and grinned, not really trying to hide her laughter. Roy noticed Finns smile broaden when he saw the man at the door.
"You need to start checking here first Mr. Elric!" The woman chided. Roy couldn't believe his eyes. There stood the twenty two year old Edward Elric, panting and looking crazily worried. He was about to call out for the young man but then Edward began to stomp forward angrily.
Ed ignored her and the two other patrons, only having eyes for the little golden haired boy on the counter. Panting and incredibly out of breath, looking like he was about to be sick from terror alone.
"Oh my god Finn! I have been looking everywhere for you! I told you to not wander off anymore! Your mother is gonna kill me if she finds out I lost you again this week. Goddammit! You've had me so sick with worry."
Stomping by the two other occupants of the room, looking like a bull in a china shop, ready to charge, he stepped in front of the small boy. Finn looked up at his father's scowl, not believing a word of the anger and then reached his arms in a demanding 'pick me up' fashion. Ignoring all of Edwards words as if this parade of anger bored him.
Immediately Roy saw Edwards eyes soften and his tight lipped face now soften into a loving sulk.
In a more quiet tone Ed sighed and continued "Just because I'm a push over doesn't mean mom is gonna be." He hiked the small boy up in his arms, Finn letting out a small giggle as Ed smiled softly, the kindness in his eyes that had only ever been seen reserved for Alphonse, now full of love for the little kid he held so delicately.
Riza finally took the initiative and cleared her throat loudly enough for Edward and his son to look over. "Hello Edward, it's good to see you again." she said warmly, smiling at Finn as he clinged to his father's chest. It was hard not to at the site she just beheld. Something primal in her looked at them and she was instantly feeling homely.
Immediately Ed's eyes widened, his body stiffened as Finn turned to him, wondering at his daddy's sudden change of mood. He didn't say anything for a bit but then
"...Riza?..." Then suddenly noticing the dark haired man in the corner. "M-Mustang!? What are you doing here?!"
The whole experience was just so...other worldly to Roy. 'Fullmetal had a son. A son! He was atleast three? So that means'… he remembered back "'I have more important things to focus on now Mustang….'" Was this the reason he quit?'
Riza elbowed her superior in the side, knocking some sense into him to respond. "Oh uh, yes….Hey Fullmetal, it's been a while" trying to sound light but failing miserably. It was pretty obvious both men were awkward as hell right now. Riza rolled her eyes and stepped forward towards Ed. "Ed is this your son? He's gorgeous! I cannot believe this!" Ed took his wide eyes off of Mustang for the moment as Riza approached Finn. His expression softened as he faced her, "Y-yeah, he is. This is Finn." As Riza bent down to say hello to Finn properly, Ed began to blush faintly, glancing at Mustang to see any response, but getting nothing but a glazed over stare. He held Finn instinctively firmer, feeling protective as he was stared down by the older man.
Realizing he was not prepared for this at all, Ed started. Turning to leave. "Uh s-sorry Riza, I'm late, I have to go back to Winry, she's not feeling too well at the moment and I promised I'd be back by noon." He babbled and began walking briskly towards the door, Finn in arms still looking confused over the sudden change of mood, clasping onto the small gold wrench.
"Alright…" Riza obviously saw the panic in his face so was not going to pressure him to stay. "Ed, can we meet up tomorrow?"
He stood at the door. "Sorry Fran, about the bell, I'll fix it when I come back." And with that, he was gone.
Riza stood there, half tempted to go after him, but then realized her annoyance laid elsewhere. She swiftly turned around to face her silent superior and squared up to his chest. Only now did Roy take notice of her, and she was not happy.
A small shiver of cold sweat slithered down his neck. Oh, she was not happy.