Edward looked around the rather boring office. Colonel Mustang sat at his desk and was as usually completely dedicated to his work… or not. It was quiet and since the Colonel didn´t say anything Ed sat down in the chair opposite his superior.

"Ahum." Edward broke the silence and Roy looked up.

"Ah, Fullmetal," he said. "What are you doing here?" Edward frowned.

"You sent for me, Colonel. Remember?"

"Ah, yes," Roy said and put down his pen. He looked at his staff. "Leave us," he said and Hawkeye, Breda, Falman, Fuery and Havoc left the room without arguing. Edward hastily looked around.

"What´s going on?" he asked. The Colonel had never before sent out his most trusted men just because they had to talk. And if, they would never leave without asking why. Roy Mustang looked at Ed with a stern face.

"Do you know why you are here, Fullmetal?"

"Not really."

"You don´t have a clue?"

"No."

Roy sighed and rubbed his eyes with his right hand.

"I´ve read your report," he said. "And I´m not sure if I like what I see."

"What do you mean, Colonel?"

Roy looked up again.

"You," he said. "Traveling the whole country."

Ed looked at Roy with growing anger.

"You know I´m looking for something," Ed said resolute.

"What? The Philosopher´s Stone?"

"It´s important to me."

"So important that you end up in hospital in every single town?"

Their voices were getting louder.

"I have to do this!" Edward almost shouted. Mustang flew up, his hands curled to fists.

"DAMMIT, Fullmetal! You have to be more careful!"

"And WHY should I?" Edward stood up and shouted back. And so they were standing, both of them shivering with anger and frustration. Almost a minute went by before Roy let go of Ed´s eyes and sat down, looking away.

"You´re all too valuable," he muttered.

"What, to the Military?" Edward burst out. "They can find a much older and more experienced alchemist in a week if they want to."

Roy turned back.

"Not to the Military, Edward. To me!"

Again silence, but this time Mustang looked away long before it broke. Edward kept looking at him.

"What?" he whispered after a few moments, eyes round and mouth open. Roy didn´t look back.

"You heard me," was all he said.

"Yes, but… what do you mean?"

Mustang finally looked at him.

"I mean what I said. You´re all too valuable to me. Because I think of you as more than just a State Alchemist. "

"What do you think of me?" Ed sat down again.

"… As someone I care about. More than a friend" His voice was low and tender, but Roy still didn´t look directly at the boy in front of him. Edward stood up again.

"I´ll be more careful in the future," was all he said before walking out of the room, leaving Roy Mustang alone in his boring office.

AN: Hello everyone. Thank you for reading my story. The time is currently 0.56 am. Which means it´s late, which means the story has the right to suck (since I´m tired). Feel free to Review, even if you hate it^^

/Faara

The stand-alone sequel "Lies" is now posted. Feel free to check it out :)