Speed Bumps
Disclaimer: I Don't Own FMA In Any Way.
Rating: PG—PG-13 Due To Bad Language.
A/N: Thanks to many of the kind readers on here, I've realized a small mistake; Ed isn't a lieutenant but a major .-. Please excuse my mishap; as I've said to a few of you, I'm an idiot when it comes to military ranks DX I liked the lieutenant though XD BUT, from now on, Ed will be appointed as major :P And Breda is SECOND lieutenant to Havoc; Fuery is first. Anyway, thank you all who helped and I hope you enjoy the rest of the read! ;)
F----------------M----------------A
Everyone in Central, and possibly some neighboring towns, heard Ed's incredulous scream.
Mustang was still slightly cringing at the major's whiny voice. "What's wrong Edward? It's not that bad" he said, a slight playfulness to his voice.
"Not that bad!? Not that bad!? Being Führer has gone to your head, Mustang! You honestly expect me to go all the way to fucking Lerisk!? Just to help salvage the damn town!? You're nuts!" he screamed at his commanding officer.
Mustang wasn't really surprised; a trip to Lerisk usually took over half a day by car. And, by car was the only way; sadly, the funding on building a railroad there had stopped sometime ago due to the town being nothing more that a 'village in the middle of nowhere' Not to mention, recent events have left the town in slight ruins, exactly what led to Ed's 'assignment'
"You also have to drop off a package to the military base there" Mustang pointed out.
Ed's right eye twitched. "Oh, God forbid I forget the damn package I have to take there!" he said, angrily and sarcastically at once. "I won't do it! I won't do it! I refuse! Get yourself another State Alchemist to be your lackey, Mustang!" the blonde turned down immediately.
"Can't do" the Führer explained plainly as he brought his hands under his chin.
"What!?" Ed demanded unbelieving.
"I already talked to the colonel in control of the military base over there; I said I'd send the only State Alchemist I have available in Central" Mustang explained coolly.
"What!?" Ed demanded once more.
"Many State Alchemist have already gone as volunteers; truth be told, your main goal is to just to get that package there" the highest ranking officer stated.
The blonde major's eyes widened curiously and then lowered. "Well, what about mailing the thing?" he asked, hopefully.
"Impossible" Mustang replied. "All postal service to Lerisk was cut off, especially since there's no railroad system; all government mailings have been done through State Alchemist's, majors and lieutenants"
The blonde in front of the desk sighed. "Fine" he muttered an agreement. "When will I be heading over there?"
"Tomorrow, early in the morning, if you wish" the Führer replied calmly.
"Of course sir; after my shift today I will get ready for the departure tomorrow morning" was Ed's forced response. "I'm taking one of the military cars, I presume"
Mustang nodded slightly. "Of course; we'd hate to make you walk all the way over there; we may never see you again" he teased playfully.
"Are you suggesting I'm short in anyway!?" Ed beamed heatedly.
The high-ranking officer chuckled quietly. "Just get back to work, soldier"
The blonde major sighed. "Yes sir" he said as he bowed respectfully, saluted and, abruptly after, turned on a heel and walked to the doors of the office and left.
Once Riza was positive the young man had left, she looked up to Mustang from the paperwork from her desk. "You could've sent another, you know?" she asked him.
Mustang looked over to her in that charming way in which only his eyes moved. "I know" he stated. "But I have a little surprise for him"
Riza raised a brow curiously. "How so, sir?" she asked intriguingly.
Mustang smiled playfully. "You'll see" he replied and signed a couple more papers. "Besides" he perked up once more.
"He may learn something"
F----------------M----------------A
Ed walked down the hallway of the military base, slightly aggravated.
A couple of the staff were looking at him, obviously shocked by his earlier outburst.
He paid no mind to them and soon made it to his office; seeing as he did field missions but mostly stayed in Central, the Führer said he should have a station to be able to go to instead of wondering the halls of the base aimlessly.
He sat down in his chair and turned it around, facing the window he had behind him; the Sun was shining brightly with few clouds in the distance and the sky as blue as the ocean. The major sighed and turned back towards his desk, bringing the chair closer to his desk so he could work properly.
The blonde looked over to his inbox; there were a few files and documents in the small wooden box, he noted. Reaching over, he picked up the first file of the pile and laid it down on the desk in front of him. Opening it, he skimmed over it.
As he reached for a pen, he realized something; he had no photos over his desk. He sighed. It would be nice to have some photos he thought. To have a few memories to look back on
He suddenly laughed quietly in spite of himself; he suddenly remembered Maes Hughes, the one who always managed to have a photo of his family on him somewhere and obsessed over his daughter.
The blonde suddenly widened his eyes slightly. Oh no he thought. Maes has me doing it now, too of course referring to him wanting pictures of his family; his small family but they were all he needed.
Of course, he had Al; his younger, loyal brother who'd been with him his entire life through thick and thin.
And, who couldn't forget the lovely Winry Rockbell? His best friend and mechanic. She herself had suffered a lot through Ed and Al's tribulations and yet she still offered her work and, more importantly, her friendship to the Elric's.
Thinking of that let the blonde smile slightly. Now I see why Hughes was so obsessed with his family he chuckled at the thought and looked down at the file before him. I guess I'll have to wait for pictures to place on my desk he figured and continued his work; signing a few papers and putting others in his outbox to be sent out to the colonel or Führer.
The rest of the day dragged on; Ed had to go pull files by noon and then had to find a few books for Havoc and Mustang in the base's built-in library. By lunch, he said he would go to his home and be back at around one to one-thirty.
F----------------M----------------A
The blonde major walked to his home; he had already contacted Winry before leaving his office that he would be coming. He told her nothing of the 'trip' he had to take, feeling it would be better to tell both Al and her at the same time and in person.
Soon, he arrived at the two-story, light-yellow home. It was built from cement but the color was decided by Winry, undoubtedly caused by her own home in Resembol. The officer sighed and walked up to the door. After pulling out his keys, he opened the door and stepped in, closing and locking the door as he entered completely.
"Al, Winry! I'm home for lunch!" Ed called out as he stepped out of the small cove of the entrance and walked into the living room. He stripped away his blue coat, revealing the tight, black, long-sleeved shirt he had underneath.
Shortly after, he heard steps; from the kitchen, which was to the back of the living room, concealed by a wall, Winry, 18, popped her head out of the swinging door at the left of the wall.
"Ed, you're here!" Winry said as she smiled cheerfully. "Your lunch is almost ready so make you self comfy somewhere"
Ed smiled slightly and nodded. Winry disappeared into the kitchen once more as the blonde Alchemist walked over to the black leather sofa in the middle of the living room and sat down. He let out a breath as his body practically melted into the cushy couch.
The blonde looked ahead to the black coffee table in from of the couch with a glass overlay and then to the fireplace that was a few more feet ahead, against the wall that was there. Blinking, he carefully tilted his head to his left side and closed his eyes; if he has waiting, he might as well rest a bit.
Five minutes later, he heard a female clear her throat loudly. His eyes quickly opened and he snapped his head up. "Winry?"
The blonde mechanic smiled at him slightly. "C'mon, silly, lunch's ready"
Ed forced himself to stand up and follow Winry to the kitchen.
The mechanic looked over her shoulder and smiled sweetly; the smile made Ed's gut churn, especially since he had to tell Winry of his 'assignment' he knew it'd probably break her heart. But, then again, maybe not; they weren't doing anything special tomorrow anyway.
The two walked through the swinging door and into the kitchen, decorated with simple tiles and marble on the table and countertops. Ed immediately sat on a chair in front of the countertop, awaiting his meal. Winry walked over to the food she had made, picked it up and walked back to Ed.
"I made you a chicken sandwich today" she said as she placed the plate with the food in front of the Alchemist. "With a side of rice"
Ed smiled at Winry thankfully. "Looks good, Win"
"Oh, what would you like to drink?" the mechanic asked as she walked over and opened the refrigerator door.
The blonde Alchemist thought for a moment and replied. "A soda will be fine" he said.
The mechanic obliged and pulled out a can of pop from the fridge, closing the door and giving Ed his drink. "If you need anything, I'll be in the backroom" she stated as she turned to head to the backroom, where she had her Automail supplies and had opened up shop.
"Winry, wait" Ed perked before she could leave.
Winry stopped and turned to face him. "What is it, Ed?" she asked.
"Where's Al?" Ed asked the blonde.
The Rockbell looked at him anxiously. "Upstairs, why?"
"Call him down; I need to tell you and him something" the Alchemist explained.
Winry nodded and walked out to the living room. She stepped to the stairs at the right of the room and looked up. "Alphonse, come down; your brother has something to tell us" she called out. Soon, after hearing a few steps, Al, 16, appeared and he stepped down.
"What is it?" Al asked worriedly.
"I don't know; he didn't say" Winry replied and the two walked back into the kitchen.
"Al, Winry…I got a new assignment today" Ed told them quietly.
The younger Elric and Rockbell mechanic looked at the teen nervously.
"I…" Ed began once more. "I have to head to Lerisk tomorrow morning; I have to take a package to the military base there and possibly help out in salvaging the town" he explained finally.
Al's eyes immediately widened, as did Winry's.
"Lerisk!?" Winry asked incredulously.
"Brother, are you sure it's Lerisk? That's…pretty far" Al asked in a more calm voice.
Ed nodded. "According to Mustang, there're no railroad systems to Lerisk and, because of that, no postal service either" he explained to them.
Winry's eyes drooped and Al looked to his elder understandingly.
"I'm leaving early tomorrow and may not be back until the day after that" the Alchemist clarified.
Al shrugged. "OK brother; when will you be getting ready to go?" he asked.
"When my shift ends today" Ed replied.
With that, Al nodded and Winry sighed sadly, walking back to the backroom to force herself to work.
Winry's sad sigh didn't go unnoticed. I knew it the blonde Elric thought sadly and strained himself to eat; he couldn't possibly go the rest of the day without food for energy, even if he had no appetite at the moment.
F----------------M----------------A
When Ed finished, he pulled on his blue coat once more, said his goodbyes to Al and Winry, and left back to the Military Base.
Saluting a few of the officers, he walked back to his office, only to see that his inbox had grown slightly. His brow furrowed in annoyance but he walked over and sat down, nonetheless. He grabbed his favorite pen, a black-ink one that was mainly black with gold accents, fancy and a gift from Winry a while back, and began signing and checking off some things on the documents he had received.
The major placed completed files in this outbox and moved on to the next document; these were requests to pull out some more files. His right eye twitched slightly; he barely had the patience to pull files the first time and he was almost certain he didn't have the patience to do it now.
"Have a good lunch, Major Elric?" Mustang's voice caused Ed to jump and scream a little, throwing the papers he had been holding all around him on the floor.
With his breath heaving somewhat, Edward glared at the Führer who had apparently walked in without Ed realizing it.
"You scare easier than before Fullmetal" Mustang teased.
"You caught me off-guard, that's all" Ed pointed out angrily but quietly as he looked away, annoyed.
"Of course" the Führer said playfully and sarcastically as he stepped into the office further.
Ed stood up and saluted.
"Cut the formalities, Fullmetal" Mustang insisted. "I just want to talk"
Ed's lip lifted in slight disgust and he rolled his eyes. Pulling away his hand, he began picking up the papers he had so graciously dropped, no thanks to Mustang. "What do you want, col"—he stopped and re-thought what he was about to say. "Führer; what do you want Führer?"
"Old habits die hard, I see" Roy teased further.
"Shut up!" Ed demanded as he continued picking up the scattered papers.
"You know, I could've sent you to court martial earlier; for harassment of the Führer" Mustang said playfully.
"That would've been much better than going all the way to Lerisk" Ed declared, sounding, convincingly, serious.
"Now, Ed; that's not true; by helping that town, you're doing some good. Besides, I'm sure the people there will look up to the legendary Fullmetal Alchemist" Mustang encouraged.
Ed's eyes drooped slightly as he picked up the last paper. "No one looks up to me" he muttered.
"I seem to recall many military officers who looked up to you; as well as many civilians who thought they had no chance and you came along and helped them" Mustang said suggestively as he walked up to Ed's desk and picked up the major's favorite pen and examined it.
Ed placed his documents on his desk and walked up to Mustang, snatching the pen away. "No touchy the pen!" he scolded, pointing and wagging the pen towards the high-ranking officer.
Mustang knew very well who had given Ed the pen; which was exactly why that, every time he walked in the young man's office, he inspected it on purpose, just to get a minor scolding from Ed and see how protective he was of his precious pen.
"Anyway" Mustang said. "Many people look up to you; considering you saved half of them and the rest heard about your bravery"
"It wasn't bravery" Ed stated. "It was the right thing to do" he turned his head towards Mustang who had said the saying along with Ed, word-for-word.
"Edward, being brave and doing the right thing are often seen as the same thing" the Führer said to the blonde. "This is why going on this trip may cheer up a few spirits"
Ed let the man's words sink in and his eyes drooped. "You're right, sir…I'm sorry; it was selfish of me" he said sadly.
"Hmm" Mustang hummed. "You're not the selfish type, Ed" he told him. "What's the real reason you didn't want to go?"
Ed raised a brow, obviously unimpressed. "What's it to you?" he asked plainly.
The Führer chuckled. "A special girl, perhaps?" he suggested.
The major's eyes widened and he blushed nervously. "Excuse me!?" he demanded anxiously.
"The Rockbell girl, Edward; you were probably planning something weren't you?" Mustang teased, keeping a cool and collected tone.
Ed's blush deepened and he turned around trying to not give Roy the chance to see him so red.
The onyx-haired man chuckled and then walked up behind the Alchemist, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Invite her" Ed's eyes widened again at what he told him.
Invite…Winry? The blonde asked himself. He felt Roy's hand slip off his shoulder before walking off. Quickly turning his head towards the exit of his office, he panicked slightly and ran after him. "Führer, wait!" he called out.
Mustang stopped and faced the Fullmetal Alchemist.
"Sir...are...are you…" Ed faltered nervously.
Mustang grinned. "It's not a suggestion, soldier; it's an order" he stated sternly.
The blonde's eyes widened curiously, before smiling confidently at his commanding officer. "Yes sir" he said with a salute, before turning on a heel and heading back to his office.
Mustang's smile never left his lips and he walked back to his own office.
F----------------M--------------A
A/N: O.o Whoa…long chappie .-. Anyway, as you can see, the romance is building ;D By the way, that little file pulling thing from earlier; that's no joke T.T I've pulled files before…it's not pleasant DX which is why I thought it would be funny to put it in ;)
Anyway, please do me a favor and R&R, constructive criticism, no flames, thanks:)
