Title: Flint and Ashes
Author: Spirix

Genre: Hot War fic

Rating: M for Mut + s
Pairing: EdwardxRoy

Summary: Roy is a young state alchemist in a new war to "unite" Amestris under one banner. But is that what's actually happening, and who is the newest alchemist?

Disclaimer: I hate this part; it just reminds me of my lack of owning such a great story.

New Meetings

"So you're the new alchemist? Aren't you a little—"

"Say one more word and I'll break off your legs and put them on your head!"

Maes raised his eyebrows at the outburst before laughing very loudly. He slapped the table a couple of times, making his tray dance across its worn down surface. Other Mess hall occupants chose to give the three a wide berth. Roy smirked and helped himself to some of Maes's peas while the man tired to collect himself. A hostile blonde glared at both of them before plunging into his mashed potatoes. Roy was amazed at how much the short man could eat. The tray emptied and those golden eyes peered intently at Roy's own half touched potatoes. Roy hated them, their texture always succeeding in reminding him of moist soil. The taste didn't help to prove otherwise. He quickly shoved the tray towards the blonde and retracted his fingers in fear that he might loose them.

"So, you actually going to tell us your name?" Maes inquired. He pointed his fork forward with a casual jab and then placed the prongs between his teeth. He closed his lips around the end and used his tongue to make it flop up and down. It was an odd display of boredom, but Roy just shook his head with a small laugh. This man really was a freak who did whatever he liked on a whim.

Fullmetal… it was an oddly hard and cold name for such a young, bright individual. Roy couldn't help but be fascinated by him. What a story must be behind him, it was practically screaming through his silence that there was so much more to the short alchemist than pretty coloured short hair and a steely name. He watched Fullmetal look up at Maes with his natural glare; did he have any other facial expression?

"Of course I have a name, but if I handed it out like candy, it would mean nothing." He said simply and retuned to licking his spoon. It was almost hypnotic to watch. The blonde placed the spoon on the table and Roy let out a breath. He mentally slapped himself. He had definitely been in the encampment for too long. There was no way he could see this juvenile boy as anything other than entertaining in a strictly humourous sense. Nothing else, not even remotely something other than nothing else. Nothing. Not a single thing. Oh, he was picking the picking the spoon back up. Roy wanted to just die, but instead he watched the spoon again make its way to those pale lips. Dammit!

Maes broke his thoughts and said, "But if no one knows your name, what are we to call ya? And what's with this meaning?" he made air quotations, "A name is just a way to identify, right Roy?" Maes elbowed him with a smile. Roy moved his chair away slightly in play fear. Maes just laughed and turned his attention back to Fullmetal. He was watching them without expression but Roy could feel his calculating mind at work somehow. The younger alchemist's face may be blank, but his eyes spoke volumes. He was accessing them for some purpose only he knew.

The blonde tilted his head to the side and then started to play with his tray. His voice was quiet. "Names are special, given to us by people who loved us more than we deserved. I cherish my name because it is all I have." He sat still; staring at his tray then stood up abruptly and left, his face remaining blank. Roy wished he could have caught a glimpse of those eyes.. Tension filled the air where the two remaining soldiers sat. Well, obviously a nerve was stomped on and then stabbed with a fork.

Roy wondered what he should do but that decision was quickly made for him.

"Major Mustang! Your shadow is heading into a hot zone. You better fetch him before the snipers do!" came the cheery, almost singing voice of his tentmate. Zolf Kimblee was enjoying the war entirely too much. He was constantly smiling in a very unnerving way.

"I'll go find him. Talk to you later, Maes…. Ummm… tomorrow for lunch… here. Does that sound good?" Roy said over his shoulder, distractedly, as he headed toward the Mess tent exit. Maes gave him two thumbs up. Now, all he had to do was find a certain blonde. He headed to the far side of the camp where the ruins of what was once buildings were scattered after asking Kimblee. Roy knew it was dangerous to walk around alone when there were so many ambush sites possible, but he was too tired to really care. He slipped on his gloves and undid the snap on his sidearm sling. Roy foolishly felt ready for anything.

Five minutes slowly turned into a half-hour. Roy was walking quickly, looking with frantic eyes. He lost him. Roy lost his charge. He was half crippled with worry. No gun shots or explosions sounded but he was well away from camp now. Was this a trick or was Fullmetal in trouble. Question after question was pelting through his brain. A stick snapped to his left. Fingers poised, he snapped a warning flare that was slightly larger than he intended. A crow sprang to life and took off into the murky grey sky. Roy jumped a clear foot off the ground before scowling. This was ridiculous.

He turned in a full circle, in hopes to see anything besides the ruin and wreckage, but even the smoke from earlier that day was absent. He had nothing to follow to make his way back to camp. Roy tried to calm down but knew he was extremely fucked. He was alone, in a hot zone, and no one actually knew he was there. Roy sat down with a defeated flop. He would have to wait until nightfall, then he could see lights… or at least, he hoped so.

"So you're only fifteen? Wow, and I thought I was young. At least I'm here legally," said the soft female voice across the small fire in front of him. Edward shot her a dirty look before taking a sip from his beer. It tasted horrible but was better than the water in his canteen, so he didn't complain. He stretched out his legs and smiled at how good it felt to get the kinks out of his muscles. The blonde girl poked the small fire with her stick and added another log. He addressed her earlier comment.

"What do you mean legal? I'm not pulling any tricks. I have a special pardon. Besides, seventeen isn't that much older than fifteen." Edward stated and handed her another beer. She placed her stick aside and looked at him with deep amber eyes. They were framed with pretty lashes but she was not some fluff. She had a hard stare. Edward could see why, snipers had to be that way, a hard stare to go with a hard life. They were forced to witness everything from above, unable to leave there post for anything. Edward was almost glad his specialty was hand-to-hand combat, almost.

"Well seventeen is the youngest to be accepted into the academy. I also have a special pardon, to be on leave from my training to serve. I guess we have that in common," she said with a small smile, "What's your name anyways?"

Edward raised his eyebrow and took another sip. He liked this small, second story area. Sure, they were surrounded by a lot of what looked like what could have once been functional buildings, but it was still cosy. He was walking earlier, to calm himself down, and bumped into the encampment's sentry post who happened to be this girl not much older than him. They got to talking and next thing he knew, they were sharing a couple of warm drinks and a small fire. It was much better than lunch with the riddler. Did that Maes guy ever keep anything to himself? And that Roy, he was such a bastard. Edward could tell just by his slanty eyes. He was a big bastard, end of story.

He realized he hadn't responded to her earlier remark. "Oh, I'm the Fullmetal Alchemist. You can just call me Fullmetal."

She laughed behind her dirt smudged hand. Her poor attempt to hide her amusement amused him indirectly. Edward caught himself snickering uncontrollably, without really knowing why. It wasn't that funny.

"You want me to call a little guy like you Fullmetal?" she laughed out. Edward glared at her and huffed to the side. She saw it and backtracked. "Hey, don't get like that. You're the first person I've met in this hell so far who might actually be worth the effort I put into keeping the camp safe. What's your normal name, or at least your last name? I'll tell you mine if you tell me yours."

Edward watched her lips turn into a comfortable grin. He sighed and made his choice. This war may be longer than everyone seems to think. He almost wanted to bet money it would not been done by the next season, like the papers went on about. He could use a friend if he was going to be around that long.

"Elric… Major Elric if you care. I know I don't. I'm used to field work, out on my own. Rank doesn't really matter to me." He was thanked with a bigger smile. She looked as if she needed a friend as much as he did.

"My name is—"

A small flare lit outside their slit sized window, casting the room in a bright light momentarily. Edward cursed himself for not having his weapon, but his new fried was already in motion. Her sniper rifle was assembled and ready to go before he could even blink. She was looking down her sight and gesture for him to duck down. He watched her pull back a device on the complex weapon. It clicked and she angled the end downwards. She eyed him momentarily without moving her head and then looked back down the sight.

"I'm Hawkeye," she whispered then turned off the safety and squeezed the trigger with practised ease.

End

Hey all! After being bugged by the most annoying author I've ever met, even if shes talented throws a rabbit at her I have for you the next chapter. Enjoy and don't complain about OOCness, this is a origins fic, that tends to happen. BYE BYE!