A/N- Sorry about the wait. About the relationship between Ed and Roy, it shall be taken slowly. One does not go from hate [Point A - which they are in now] to love [Point B - where they shall hopefully get to.] Most people, in my opinion, don't understand love completely; it's not all kisses and hugs, there has to be a smooth communication [or something akin to that] and some sort of connection between two characters and understanding of each other. Not only must they have to be in love, they have to be friends and they have to be complementing each other. Most people believe the concept of love is only 'tragedy', [-cough-Twilight-cough] and they don't understand - it's not love, simply infatuation. Twilight, as I have said, doesn't really expand on that. It's one look and they fall in love. It's almost like Stephanie Meyer doesn't understand how to fall in love. [Well, that sure is a disconcerting thought. Tell me if you get the double message. ;)]
[ ATTENTION! THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT: Please go back and read the rest of chapter one. I have added more to it, but you probably didn't get the email alert for it. SO, BEFORE YOU READ THIS, READ ALL OF CHAPTER ONE. IT HAS NEW MATERIAL ADDED TO IT. This chapter is essentially chapterthree (although the beginning is changed) and chapter four (which you guys didn't read), so you really don't need to read the first part, only the second - the one where no one got to read. :) ]
::.. deux ex machina ..::
.c h a p t e r two.
"There is a fine line between love and hate."
"...okay, so what's the line inbetween called?"
Gracia opened the door, facing Edward with a smile and a glowing look in her eyes. Edward greeted her as she usually did, which was a "Hello, Mrs. Hughes." She and Alphonse entered calmly, her little brother being polite and shaking her hand. From behind Gracia, came a little cute girl now at the age of five; Elysia Hughes looked up at her with wide, green eyes the same shade as her fathers and grinned largely.
"Little Big Sister! Big Big Brother!"
Edward stood there in surprise for a second, but looked at Gracia and then hugged Elysia, who squeezed her and gave her a bright smile before running toward Alphonse, who was talking to a few of their colleagues.
"You knew?" wondered Ed, looking at Gracia with a newfound respect. The motherly woman nodded.
"Oh, I got it after a few years. A woman's intuition, you could say," Gracia had a glinting look in her eye. Then she motioned Edward to come in. "You're just on the dot. Dinner starts in five minutes."
Gracia walked past Edward, and the blonde couldn't help but think there was something wrong. Usually, the Hughes household was loud and rambunctious, due to Elysia and her little playmates, running around in the apartment while Gracia watched them. Walking into the sitting room, there was a heavy sense of melancholy in the air which caused Edward to wince. The lights, usually bright, were dimmed to a lounge-ish sort of setting. The lamps were lit, but they were faint. The guests all sat, and some got up once in a while to get something - they spoke in under their breath whispers.
Edward noticed that not a lot of people came; the dinner was mostly composed of Riza, who was talking to Jean and Alphonse on the sofa, across from them was an unknown woman carrying a little pink bundle in her arms; and beside her was a dirty-blonde man talking with a dark haired person she soon identified as Roy.
Her eyes roamed around, and she caught sight of two little children by the dead fireplace; One had short, blonde hair sideswept over her face, and another, older, had darker hair yet still kept the resemblance between them. Edward supposed that they were sisters. They looked around ten or so, but it was hard to tell.
Then, above the fireplace, she caught the glinting photo of Maes Hughes, glasses being adjusted while he smiled genuinely, not one of his over-the-top grins. The force of the night came flooding back into her memory and hit her like a truck; The Death Anniversary of Maes Hughes. Of course. How could she forget?
And such a day to reveal her gender. It was fate laughing at her, surely.
But she said nothing, deciding that before Alphonse could reach her and beat her into sense that it wasn't her fault that he died, Edward refused to reach those thoughts at all. Maes wouldn't want her to think of it, even if she couldn't stop thinking about it. So she resolved to read her book silently, which was done in a dark corner of the room.
"Edward?"
Ed looked up at Gracia, blinked, then looked around her. "We're all in the dining room. I wonder if you could get Elysia for me? I think she's in the bathroom and I have to take care of something quickly." Then, Gracia's eyes widened. "It's not a problem, is it?"
"Of course not," Ed replied looking like she'd be insulted if it were a problem. "I'll get her there straightaway, Mrs. Hughes."
Gracia let out a sigh of relief, and Ed closed her book and stood up, stretching slightly. She noticed that some bones in her back cracked, going back into place, and she smirked.
Walking toward the hallway that was supposed to be where Elysia was, she noticed the girl was actually in the bedroom; a door before the bathroom. Walking inside cautiously, she frowned. "Elysia? It's dinnertime."
The little brunette was sitting on the foot of her mother's bed, looking at a frame on the dresser opposite of her. Elysia's little knees were pulled up against her chest, and her green eyes that matched her father's looked sad. Walking closer, Edward realized that the picture was of Maes Hughes, Gracia, and Elysia together in a family hug, looking warm and happy.
Questionably, Edward sat down next to Elysia, the bed sinking down to her weight. "Elysia?" she said softly, like a reassurance.
"Big sis, is good to hate daddy?"
Edward, blinking, looked appalled. "What? Why would you hate your father?" Edward had a faint feeling of where this was going, but didn't want to acknowledge it now. How long has this girl holding this kind of emotions in?
"He promised me. He said that he would come back." If Edward payed attention closely, she could hear the faint whine in Elysia's voice. Her eyes looked moist. She recalled another little girl saying the same thing about her father back in the past. "Why didn't he come back?"
A pause. "I'm sure you'll see him someday, Elysia." she knew that this wasn't a lie. Everyone would die one day, and she just couldn't say that her daddy would come back to life; Edward hated lying to Elysia. So this was as close as she could get the truth. "Don't hate your father. He didn't want to leave you, Elysia. He loved you and your mother very much; trust me, I was here even before you were born. I could tell." Edward saw that the little girl's lower lip was trembling. She spoke next with an alarmed tone. "If you just hate him, it will just cause you to be sadder, Elysia. All you can do is wait to see him. And you will see him. Trust me, okay?"
There was nothing for a moment. Then, "Big sis, my teacher explained to me what the meaning of the word 'dead' means a year ago."
Edward sucked her breath in sharply as large, fat tears started rolling down the face of the younger girl and she threw herself at Edward, sobbing loudly into her chest. There was nothing that she could do now, Ed thought miserably, as Elysia finished what neither wanted to hear out loud.
"An-and...that means daddy's not coming back, is he?"
She was silent, then, almost regretfully, she said: "No, he isn't."
.
.
It was when Roy Mustang stood there, frozen, did he realize that it was all too quiet.
Havoc had spilled his drink on him - thank god it was only water - but he needed a few tissues, for which he was led to the bathroom. From there, he heard his name from the room a little farther down. It sounded suspiciously like Elysia's, so he had gone to see if she would come to dinner; after all, he didn't see her there.
"...daddy's not coming back, is he?"
"...No, he isn't."
He didn't know what happened after; everything seemed like a blur. He saw the tears of the little girl, and he saw the tears of the older, blonde girl. When she spoke, her voice was soft and soothing; and Roy watched with wide eyes and felt a pang in his chest. Maybe it was because he was the reason why Maes died, why Elysia was fatherless, why she was being comforted by a random woman.
But she wasn't really random at all. He had noticed it, when she was telling of her own experience, that she had golden eyes. Sad, sad golden eyes. Like Edward. Maybe because it was Edward. Maybe because he felt so out-of-place, he had cleared his throat to get their attention. Maybe.
She had looked at him, yet not really looked at him. Her eyes were clouded, probably in the memory of something else; they were glistening, and surely they couldn't be tears. Edward didn't cry. Just because she was a girl, didn't mean she was automatically weak as people usually assumed the female species to be. And Edward wasn't crying. She was reminiscing.
But then she did seem to look at him, and sat there stunned, before looking away from his face. Roy felt his throat oddly dry, with no particular reason. He caught the glint of his best friend's face as it reflected off the glossy surface of the picture laid at the table.
"You will speak of this to no one," Edward murmured as she held Elysia close to her chest and got up on her feet, wobbly. Her long hair, previously in a ponytail, had gotten so low; she retied it at the base of her neck with the best of her ability with only one hand. Roy nodded, and she walked past him, gently shifting the five-year-old's weight to her automail arm. She turned to Mustang, before rolling her eyes in exasperation. Roy couldn't help but think that she looked uncharacteristically tired.
"Well, are you coming?"
He said nothing, simply followed her.
Everyone was already eating when she arrived. Gracia stared at her, then at the girl in her arms, and Edward smiled apologetically. Roy was right behind her, towering over her, not sure what to do. He was about more than six feet, and Edward only reached up to his chest; it made sense now, actually, to tower over him - her.
"She fell asleep crying." Ed informed softly, feeling the weight of the girl being removed as Gracia had a horribly sad look on her face; Edward barely heard the small 'thank you' before the woman walked out of the room. Roy walked around her to sit down across from Riza, her eyes questioning him. Roy shook his head subtly - whatever happened, he didn't want to talk about it.
Alphonse looked worriedly at his sister. "Nee-san, are you - ?"
Edward shook her head, not letting Alphonse finish. "Tell Gracia that...I'm sorry, but I have to go. I'm not that really hungry anyway." she lied, and she was sure that Alphonse could see through it. Remembering her manners - and the fact she wasn't a guy anymore, so it wasn't 'excusable' anymore (how sexist) - she bowed slightly and hurried out of the room with uneven, long strides.
She grabbed her coat and book, making sure her boots were tightly fastened. She didn't wait to go outside to the icy coldness of the coming winter. the wind bit her cheeks and painted them red; she tugged the collar of her coat higher, aware of her long hair thumping against her back and her shoes clicking on the pavement every once or so.
Outside, it wasn't all that busy; in fact, it looked like people were starting to go in for the night. Odd, because Central was never empty of residents. Well, it wasn't completely empty now, but there were few people than usual. Must've been that Christmas was nearing. It was what? Two weeks away? She had seen how people got hyped up and ready a month before things actually started.
The chilly winter breeze was rather out of place, the smallest of snowflakes starting to fall. When she breathed, there was a little puff of visible air that came out. Dark. The sky was getting dark. Dammit, she needed to move - even being the most agile and well-seasoned fighter in their little group, it didn't mean she was always looking for a fight. She would remember when Alphonse would keep beating her at all the hand-to-hand combats during their stay at Teacher's; that made sense, Alphonse was a boy, and that generally made the 'stronger' type. If anyone knew her or her Teacher though, their minds would be horribly changed; she may not be able to defeat her brother, and that was expected, but she sure could take down any man ten times her own size and weight mixed together.
"Hey, pretty," a slurred speech came from her left. Edward fingered the book in her pocket, it's rough spine and lettering indents across her dainty flesh fingertips. A shadow fell across her face as she felt a large, gruff hand grab her shoulder roughly and spin her around. "Wanna have some fun with me tonight?" he flashed what was supposed to be a charming grin, if it wasn't for the half-lidded eyes and strong smell of whiskey coming from his mouth. He stumbled while walking in his drunken stupor.
"No thanks, bastard," and to support her statement, she shoved off his hand with her flesh one, clutching it so tightly that it emitted a slight 'crunch' sound. How she hated perverts. Never did she get this attention as a guy (not much, anyway, because Alphonse in his towering suit of armor was always there) and having a wasted man think he could control her made her want to punch the stuffing out of a bag. With her automail arm, she clipped him in the jaw and he fell with satisfying thud at her feet. She smirked and turned to walk back on the street, but stopped as another guy - leaner, not as buff, probably sober - staring jaw-slacked, a cup with liquid that looked suspiciously like beer spilled on the sidewalk.
"What?" she snapped, feeling irritated with his staring. What the hell was he looking at? If he was checking her out, another loser with no life...
The guy probably noticed what she was thinking, and flushed a deep red. He shook his head, and Ed noticed he had a rather bad...acne problem, that helped on his curly brown hair that fell over his face limply. "N-nothing. It's just...I've never seen such an awesome right hook before."
"Uh...okay..." Edward stared at him weirdly. "My friend could do a lot better one than that, though." The thought of Winry and her furious wrench throwing abilities sent a glimmer of respect in her eyes.
"U-u-um..." the boy - well, technically, a man if he could drink, but the guy was so skinny - stuttered, face flushing again as he stole a look at her. Edward found herself fingering the book in her pocket again, which sent a jolt through her reminding her that she had to get back home. If not to finish her book and forget about Elysia's tears, then at least feed herself. She was lying immensely when she said that she wasn't hungry.
Edward sighed, saving the other of the anxiety and awkwardness. "I'm done here. I have places to go." Without so much as a goodbye - why should she? Barely even knew the guy - she maneuvered around him and continued walking.
"Wait!" his hurried, garbled voice behind her caused her to pause, turning her head slightly. What does he want now, dammit? It was cold and she was hungry. There was never more a lethal combination. "I-I-I'm Herald Lenny. Um. If you'd like, we could...hang out...sometime...?" Edward heard him finish reluctantly. She had to almost grin - was he really trying to hit on her? She had to respect his courage, though. It was sort of stupid, however, to ask something something like that so spontaneously.
A flash of Alphonse filtered in her mind. Then her father. Havoc. Breda. Falman. Maes. Elysia. Gracia. Riza. Scheiska. Winry. Faces of the people she cared about - and at the end, even Mustang - wait a second why the hell was he there - and she cleared her head. Her grin faded to a rather sad one, mirroring the smile Gracia wore earlier that day.
"I'm too young for you. It would never work out, so please don't try."
She walked away from a broken-hearted (read: rejected) guy in the street, did a favor to women everywhere by getting rid of another perverted bastard, and left with a slight taste of bitterness in the air to mingle with the snow.
.
.
"Nee-san..." Al groaned as his sister unwrapped a chocolate from it's covering and plopping it in her mouth. There was the sound of a blissful moan. Alphonse was unperturbed. "You knocked out a man in the middle of the street!"
Edward, not even bothering to ask how her little brother knew, chewed before swallowing and picking up another candy from the table. "He deserved it." she said defensively. "Pervert was tryin' to cop a feel." Alphonse sobered slightly at the mention of harassment. He sighed, then sat next to his older sister on the couch. She had still not changed out of the clothes she wore earlier, only boots off and legs crossed comfortably on the couch. Al took a chocolate from the table, following Ed's example.
After a small silence, he decided to speak up again. "...So, who was the guy that you rejected?"
Edward's automail hand suddenly crushed the candy she was holding, and a dark shadow fell over her face, much like the one she usually had when about to be pissed off. "Alphonse Elric, did you follow me home?" her voice slowed down to an eerily calm tone, and a reprimanding one. Alphonse chuckled nervously, remembering how much his older sister sounded like his mother when she wanted to. And his father when she wanted to. Hell, she sounded like any authority figure in his life when she wanted to - even Teacher.
"...eheh. Well, I wanted t-to see if you were safe...?" he squeaked, suddenly deciding it was a bad choice. If it was anything, Edward hating being treated as weak. But to his surprise, she winced and a flush spread across her face. Her hair was out, wild, and she rather resembled a honey-topped strawberry. He opened his mouth to comment, but the shrill ringing of the doorbell stopped him. Edward shot him a dirty look, still blushing - for who knows what reason - and stood up to get the door.
He silently thanked Riza when she entered through the door. It would save him another night full of punishment in the form of wrestling for his little slip-up; shamefully, he always lost.
"Hawkeye," Ed was surprised, she forgot to use Riza's first name. Before the she could invite her in, Riza allowed herself in. "Okay...come in." she murmured a beat later. Damn blush was still on her face. She rubbed her flesh hand on her cheek to get rid of it while she walked to the sofa with no avail. Of course that wasn't the way to get rid of a blush. But remembering - what was his name? - Henry or Herald or something - with such hopeful eyes, looking at her, in such a way that she was sure no one ever looked at her before. But she didn't regret what she said; it was true. And yet, still the possibility, the want that was in his eyes made her flush. No-one ever looked at her that way before.
"Hello, Edward." Riza gave a charming smile. "Well, for now I should say Colonel. Here's the things you need for tomorrow to be filled out." Riza took out a bundle of papers about centimeter thick, with medium-small print from a tote bag she just noticed. Alphonse stared at her, stunned.
"You got promoted?" he asked. Ed nodded, distracted, wide eyes focused only on the paperwork. Damn, Bastard wasn't complainin' for nothing. She thought with a slight grimace. "You carry that along with you?" she turned to Riza incredulously. Riza nodded professionally.
"It's necessary. Always alert, Ed. Plus, I've done it before." The insinuating hint in her voice did not go by unnoticed by either Elric sibling. Alphonse cracked a grin and Edward chuckled. Well, it sounded more of a light-hearted giggled now.
"I should be leaving; Black Hayate is at home, and he needs dinner." Riza's voice was kind, but short, as usual. Edward gave her a mock salute and smiled, the familiar Edward Elric shining through.
As Riza Hawkeye left the building, understanding struck her as she realized that the boy she had worked with for six years was actually part of the real Edward Elric all along.
.
.
Edward had the passing thought of visiting Elysia and Gracia, then decided against it. The wound from being there still stung a little; not that it was their fault, but it hurt. A lot. She would visit the later.
The blonde alchemist had spent most of her night working on the paperwork. Thank god for coffee and how she would always stay up late for days with no sleep. It sure gave her enough practice, and she was able to go by with only a few yawns.
Thankfully, now that she didn't have to pretend to be a guy anymore, she didn't have to weak the dreaded makeup anymore. Obviously, if she hadn't cover the more feminine features of her face, she would've been figured out much quicker. In her time, she was just a really pretty guy. Without the makeup, her lips were more fuller, her eyebrows less bushy and instead dainty and arching over wide eyes she didn't have time to hide. The color on her face was back to her fair ivory-rose, instead of the tan she had blended in.
So much easier, and it felt so much better. She hated having her face feel like there was a cake squashed on it. The wind caressing her bare cheeks was oddly comforting.
Still refusing to wear the uniform, she searched for her usual attire; but was gritting her teeth when she figured out that Alphonse had put them in the wash for her and they still weren't dry. She sighed and went to her suitcase that was still unpacked; surely, Winry would give her something to wear, seeing as the blonde girl was simply waiting for the day Edward would dress to her own gender.
She was surprised to see that it wasn't anything like a dress or skirt; in fact, it looked like more of Winry's old jumpsuits when she was working on automail. Ed didn't know if she packed the wrong thing or something, but this was definitely better than anything else. The baggy black pants hung to her hips, which was just fine. Winry had packed her a red sweatshirt, and Ed looked around before taking a black sock, clapping her hands and transmuting it to the sweatshirt so there was her signature flamel on it. She didn't really like the fact it hugged her frame when she put it on slightly, but didn't comment. It was seriously warm.
Edward mused if she could wear her boots with these, but Winry had set up for that too; did Al tell her to do this when they last visited or something? There were those new sneakers that every teenager was starting to wear; con-something? Converse, or the like, maybe.(1)Whatever; they were red, her favorite color, and she had no more of a reason to put them on. Her hair was in it's usual long braid that laid to her waist.
She was let in immediately, when she reached headquarters with the papers in neat manila folders, but the secretary did look at her a little weirdly. Edward ignored it and made her way to Colonel - sorry, Major General now, - office. They were all surprised to see her, strutting in as usual, before dropping the papers in front of Riza's face - and Mustang's, because they were in his office talking about something she really wanted no details of.
"I'm done with 'em!" she announced cheerfully, and Mustang raised an eyebrow as Riza critically eyed them.
"That's not much for a Colonel..." Mustang muttered under his breath, and Edward smirked. "You must have others."
"Colonel Elric already dropped those off to me last night after she finished them, sir," Riza cut in emotionlessly. Edward held back a grin at Mustang's twitching eye, and remembered how she had gone off to Riza's place while going shopping for more coffee. Riza eyed Roy pointedly. "Unlike another Colonel I used to know."
Edward burst out into chuckles, smothering them behind her hand. Roy muttered darkly and leaned back in his chair. Riza turned her critical eye to Edward.
"And Colonel Elric, sir, with all due respect - you must wear uniform." Now it was Roy's turn to chuckle as Edward's face became slightly ashen.
"But, but..." Edward looked around for a new excuse. Her brain came up with one very quickly. "...I can't! Because I need a new one - the one you got for me is...too...big." Against her will, Edward muttered the last part, clenching her teeth with every word. In any way you look at it, she was calling herself small. Admitting it made it worse.
Riza looked at her dubiously. "Alright, sir." She turned on her heel and grabbed Edward's flesh wrist, making the girl stumble after her. "Then we'll get you a new one now."
"But, but...Riza!"
.
.
Actually, the uniform was actually very comfortable. Edward was surprised at how much space she got; she awed at how it gave her the same flexibility as her old outfit. Plus, she didn't have to wear a military skirt unless it was for functions and civil dinners and the like. Plus, the flat, army-issued boots were a reassuring feeling. She was given a locker to put all her things in, and she was damn sure that it was going to be used to it's fullest.
Riza had this 'told-you-so' look in her eyes after she got out. It faintly reminded her Mustang's, but hers was more friendly - and less irritating. Mostly because it disappeared a second after.
Riza had, however, led her to a new office, next to the Major General's. She could, if she wanted to listen closely, hear the laughs and little squabbles of her colleagues. When she had questioned Riza on this - why would she ever want to work next to that bastard? - but the blonde woman's only answer was a smile and a 'just in case you need us close by.'
Edward didn't question. She had seen the paperwork on Mustang's desk.
The sherry-eyed Lieutenant Colonel told Edward that she would be getting her own secretary that would be coming in today. Edward had asked why he - Riza let it slip - wasn't coming earlier, and Hawkeye replied that it wasn't his time to clock in yet. Edward frowned and thought that she would need to change that. Despite loving to sleep, she knew that she was also a deep-sleeper and could get by with one or two hours - plus, she would have to get up earlier to go to work. Her secretary needed to be there too. Maybe she could get Alphonse to be her secretary...
While she mused over the thought, another stack of paperwork was set on the oak table of her spartan office by a random officer and she groaned.
About an hour and a half later, Edward yawned and stretched, feeling her bones pop in satisfaction. A rousing smile touched her lips, and she rubbed her eyes with a gloved fist. Thank God for her speed reading and skimming skills. She was able to sign all the papers that were needed, and make sure silly things like a new radio for the office that had a new one two months ago weren't wasting her time.
When she checked the time, it was still around 10 o'clock. She decided it was a palpable time to have her break, and she surely had her work done more efficiently than her superior when he was a Colonel.
Edward grabbed a file from her desk, content on giving it to Hawkeye. She tied her military jacket around her waist, worker-style, and was thankful Riza gave her the long-sleeved turtle neck instead of the other short-sleeved shirt. It covered up her automail nicely, though hugged her stomach in an uncomfortable (to her, at least) way.
In the Mess, she spotted Havoc sitting at a long table with Falman and Breda, and looking around, she decided it would be best to sit with them. After all, it wasn't like she knew anybody else in this godforsaken place.
Tucking the file under her arm, she hurriedly got a coffee - wonderful thing she discovered when she was fifteen and pulling all-nighters - black, strong, little sugar, and dropped down next to Havoc.
"Hey," she greeted a little breathlessly, letting the files fall to the table and taking a sip of her drink before setting it down and tucking a stray strand of long blonde hair behind her ear.
Havoc stared at her, before shaking his head. "I'll never get used to it."
"What?" Ed looked amused.
"You lookin' like...a girl."
"I am. A girl. Havoc."
She sighed inwardly and a muscle above her eyebrow twitched at the man's ignorance. It was starting to get annoying. Breda, across them with Falman, chuckled deeply, looking like he was extremely pleased with something.
"Still same old Ed, though." Breda grinned. "Ain't that right, shorty?"
"WHO'RE YOU CALLING SMALLER THAN AN ATOM, BASTARD?" Edward snapped on cue, eyes flashing, teeth baring in a bare growl before they receded. She kept a ferocious frown on her face and the hand that held her drink tightened; thank god it wasn't the automail hand. Breda sweated a little before holding up his hands in surrender. Edward's voice was pitched higher than before, and Breda wondered how long she was covering it up. Grumbling, Edward took one look at her coffee before a light popped in her head.
Inwardly, she rejoiced. Finally, she could do stuff like this and no one would dare to lift a hand to hurt her. (Well, it wasn't like they did even before. She was scary in both boy and girl forms.) The coffee in her hand was now dripping over Breda, the warm drink dripping down his head and onto his clothes as Ed grinned maliciously and retreated with the cup in her hands, sitting back down on her spot.
Breda spluttered. Havoc was already trying to contain his chuckles. "C-chief!"
"You deserved that, for calling me short." Ed snapped. Then, she placed a finger to her lips and continued. "And for Riza. I heard you burned her building down."
Falman let out a snicker, and Havoc burst out in maniacal laughter, almost falling to the floor. Edward punched him in the arm with her normal fist, but it only caused the second lieutenant to choke slightly and continued laughing at Breda's misfortune. "Don't think you're off the hook that easily either!" Edward yelled in his ear. Havoc coughed and tried to control himself.
"...What exactly happened?" Ed glared at the newcomer, and glared harder when it was proven to be Roy Mustang. The man was just standing there, looking all smug and collected while Edward's cheeks were still flushed from anger and her hair was falling out of place.
"None of your fucking business." she said nastily, snatching her file before stomping away from the Mess with no coffee and an even sourer attitude. Roy looked at her retreating back bewildered, then turned to Falman, the only one who seemed to be composed. He ignored the fact that everyone only took one look at them before realizing who it was and returning to their meal; it was that bad in headquarters.
Roy raised an eyebrow. "Falman?"
Warrant Officer Falman cleared his throat. "Second Lieutenant Breda called the Colonel short, sir. I believe she reacted as usual."
"By spilling coffee all over my subordinate?" he asked in disbelief. Falman nodded. "Correct."
"And it's hot!" Breda complained from where he was over at the table. He was mopping up the beverage with napkins and a recruit brought him a towel to wipe his face. Havoc snickered. "Well, I think she's using restraints now."
Roy snorted, taking a long drink of his own coffee. "If that was restraint, I wonder how she managed to keep it all locked up disguised as a guy."
.
.
Grumbling under her breath, Edward practically stomped through the halls, the dark aura emitting around her and effectively clearing the hallways. Most of the soldiers knew that the Fullmetal Alchemist was really a girl, but it was still scary seeing her or getting her mad. In fact, everyone was still scared of getting her mad. An angry Elric was very, very terrifying.
Ed's destination was actually Major General Mustang's office. She was half-sure Riza was there, and this was her last part of paperwork today - thank god for her automail hand that didn't tire. She could go three hours without stopping, which is exactly what she did. That'll show that bastard General...
"Hey, Riza!" Ed called, looking at her papers to make sure they were the right ones, "I have the last bunch - "
Her eyes looked up to see Riza's sherry ones, and the eyes of another familiar person she had met a few days ago. Edward's eyebrows raised, and she stared at the officer - a Private, she noticed - with curly brown hair, lanky stature, and a bad acne problem. She blinked, then sighed irritably under her breath, brows furrowing. "Oh, it's you - that Henry guy."
'Henry', as Edward so called him, gulped and flushed profusely. Riza almost looked like she was pitying the new soldier. "Colonel, sir, this is Herald Lenny, you're new secretary."
"Reporting for d-duty, ma'am!" Herald saluted sharply, small stuttering slip-up going faithfully unnoticed. Edward's face twisted in a displeasured way. She handed the files to Hawkeye, who nodded and walked out, and turned to Herald.
"Ma'am? Call me sir - that's what you use for Lieutenant Colonel Hawkeye, am I correct?" Herald nodded. "Good. Then I'm not gonna be any different. And another thing, Private - you have to come in earlier, say 'bout...sevenish? I'm punctual; well, when I want to be, really - and I need you here first thing in the morning. No shit shall be taken. Is that understood?"
Herald nodded again, standing stock still. "Yes, sir!" Edward was pleased to hear his voice was clear and steady. Maybe the guy wasn't so bad; he just didn't seem like the one to think for himself. Ah well. She would fix that later - tactics picked up from Riza Hawkeye and Olivia Armstrong made her think she was quite the commanding officer. Hopefully, she wouldn't turn out like her own bastardy superior.
"Dismissed." she waved her hand, and Herald stepped out of the room in quick, hurried steps. Edward, at a loss to do in her own office (no paperwork, no work, no people) frowned. She had done all her work in advance - a total surprise, even to her, and decided just to go to see her colleagues. After all, what else was there to do? And besides, she did have four hours left.
Outside the hallway was devoid of people, save a few secretaries clicking away at their computers and phones and forms. Edward slipped on her military issued jacket and slipped into the hallway, braid thumping against her back and boots making quiet, clicking and clacking sounds against the tile.
Unfortunately for her, there was no one at Mustang's office either. Where the hell was everyone? She looked around, miserable, until a voice interrupted.
"Fullmetal?"
Edward turned to see Roy Mustang, the bastard General himself, with an eyebrow raised and an amused smile-turning-smirk on his face. Edward's eyebrow twitched at the sight of that hated expression.
"What?" she said.
If he wanted, Ed was sure Roy looked like he wished to roll his eyes. "What are you doing here?"
"It's boring in my office." she replied back simply, not believing her ears; a minute and a half so far, and no screaming had taken place. She hated the fact that there was a little whine in her voice.
"So you come to this one." The dark haired man pointed out the obvious slowly. Edward really did roll her eyes. "No duh."
For some reason, Mustang looked affronted. "What, do you think that this office is some sort of entertainment?"
"With the stuff that goes around here, I would definitely say so, hell yeah," Edward snickered, hand covering her mouth. Roy looked like he was thinking it over, and then nodded, apparently agreeing. Edward was lost in the incredibleness of it all; was she and Mustang actually agreeing? The bastard had been uncharacteristically soft ever since they found out she was a girl...but he didn't seem any out of the ordinary other than that, either.
Now that she thought about it, she and Mustang would have made good allies and friends, if it wasn't for that bastard-ness of his and her stubborn head. She wondered why they didn't try it now - but their ongrowing animosity was a great obstacle in the way. Should she try to get rid of it...? An easy relationship with the bastard might benefit her; no drama and no misconceptions if the need ever arises. A good ally - because even if she didn't want to admit it, Mustang was a person that you would want on your good side. Perhaps she should. A small, indignant part of her told her that the quarrels, however fun and stress-releasing, were also tiring in their own way.
Hesitant, but never one to back down from a challenge, Edward stuck out her flesh hand. Mustang stared at it uncomprehendingly, face slipping from it's mask and showing him being temporarily bewildered. She didn't look at his face. "Another reason I came here. Truce, bastard?"
She didn't use words to explain why. She didn't say anything that would help him understand. She didn't say that she lied and made it up right now, didn't really elaborate. But she didn't feel Mustang's curious gaze on the top of her head, before the shuffling of fabric was heard, and a warm hand encompassed hers and they shook on it.
She knew he understood.
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It was like a load was removed from her back. Edward had left immediately afterwards with the truce, Mustang informing her that all the other officers were probably at the main floor for the announcement that the Fuhrer was giving. Edward frowned and questioned why Mustang wasn't there; Roy informed her with a tight face that Hawkeye had 'suggested' that he stay up here to finish the important paperwork while she go and get the intel from the Fuhrer. Edward figured she didn't get the memo due to the new office movement.
Roy had given her a smirk upon her leaving, which caused her to rethink; was she really doing the right thing, making peace with that bastard? But mulling over it a few minutes later, she decided that his smirk was somehow different; more tired than anything.
She had made it down to the main floor in under a minute. She was on the second floor, anyways, and it didn't seem like much of a hassle. She had learned that whatever other people had to say - whether they were willing to or not - helped in the long run.
" - and the Cretan, Drachman, and Arbecian embassies shall come within the month(2). I expect the Amestris Military to give them their best, proper, Amestrian welcome." The Fuhrer, President Grumman, nodded and gave a mysterious smile. "That is all. Dismissed."
Edward stood still, bewildered, as the military chorused a 'Yes, your Excellency!' and dispersed, leaving her standing forward in a crowd that moved back. Some created a clear path for her, with salutes and sharp parade rests and 'Colonel, sir!'. The Fuhrer was nowhere in sight.
From what she had heard, she deducted that Amestris was trying to finally create peace between it's neighboring countries - depending on the damage they did for all these years, the relationship was going to be pretty strange.
"Lenny," she called when the aforementioned man looked like he was just about to pass her by. Herald turned, surprised, at the usage of his last name but flushed light pink when he saw that it was his blonde CO. Edward frowned unnoticeably when she caught this; it wouldn't do her good to have her subordinate (wow it felt weird to say that) to have a crush on her (especially since it wouldn't be returned, despite being flattering.) "You listened to the Fuhrer's announcement, right?" Herald nodded, walking over. "Write me a full reported account on it. Every detail. If you forget, as Warrant Officer Falman to help you - he's that stiff guy over there." Edward made a hand motion toward the gray haired man. She nodded, deciding that was it, and walked past him. "That's all."
The guy, Lenny, was left staring after her, feeling very useless and a pushover. (Well, he kinda was.)
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Those other three and a half hours passed fast. Edward did some more work, stopped the Information Department from exploding, joked around with Havoc and Breda, ignored her secretary for the rest of the evening so he could do his work, and was told that she had a meeting with the Fuhrer at three o'clock tomorrow morning.
While walking back to her apartment for her shift - the sky was turning dark blue and gray, even if it was only five the days were shorter - and she sighed and snuggled into her sweatshirt tighter. She had changed out of the military uniform which was now in a plastic bag to take home, wearing her outfit that she came in. To her immediate relief, there were no stares to her persona.
Edward was actually walking down a brightly lit street, filled with christmas lights and glowing faces. Edward stopped short when she saw a small bundle bump into her legs, causing her to stop and look down in surprise.
Sitting on the pavement was a little girl, no more than five or perhaps six. She was shivering, looking terribly frightened with cuts on her cheek and rags on her little frame. She looked up at Ed with wide hazel eyes, dark brown hair matted with dirt and long enough to tangle. Edward was about to open her mouth, before another person interrupted.
"Oi! You li'le brat!" the speaker was a gruff man, with unfocused eyes and a stagger in his walk. "How many time do I 'ave tah say tha' yer not allo'ed tah go..." his speech was slurred, and Edward's eyes widened as she realized that she had to deal with another drunk. But depending on the little girl's reaction (she had scrambled up at the sight of the man and scurried around Edward, clutching the fabric of her baggy pants tightly) and the wounds on her face, this was clear abuse.
"Oh, no more," Ed replied coolly, eyes flashing dangerously and voice lowering an octave. "You won't have to worry about her any more, don't worry."
The man showed confusion, then rage. "Wha'? No! She's not even mah daughter! You can take 'er!" he growled and spit at their feet, turning around wobbily and entering an ally before a loud thump was heard. Edward stared at what happened, running it through her mind; did the guy think she was saying something else? He wasn't the father, so...
She shook her head, thinking that this would be resolved at home. She also needed to put the little girl in a foster home, so that she could have a better family. Speaking of the little girl, Edward looked at the little girl, smiling slightly. The girl was looking at her with doe eyes.
Removing tiny fingers and crouching down, she asked gently, "Are you okay...sweetie?" Ed saw how shaken the girl was, so added - with difficulty - the last part. But what she didn't - well, maybe she did - expect was the little girl's eyes fill up with tears.
But for sure, she didn't expect what happened next. The little girl started to cry, throwing willowy arms around her neck and sobbing into her shoulder. "Mommy!"
"Mommy?" Edward repeated, stunned.
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A/N- Geez, I make things go too fast. Should I change that? I think I make things go to fast. But I hate filler chapters. Like, hate them.
A/N- Poor, poor Ed. Well, you have to! I hope the personalities are in order. Or else, there really is no point of this story.
(1)- About this, Amestris is an advanced country; at least is was in the 1920's, more so than our time. So I figured if they have cars then [1920's - no cars] and if they have such advanced science, they must be advancing in other areas too, up to almost 2005 in our world. And yes, converse did exist back then, so I shall put it here. No cellphones, however. Sorry, maybe in the next generation. :)
(2)- Y'know how Germany is Amestris's parallel universe? Here, Creta [KREE-tah] is Greece, Arbecia [Ar-BEK-eeyah] is Arabia, Drachma [Drakh-ma] is Russia, Xing [Don't-know-how-to-pronounce-this-one figure-it-out-on-your-own-sorry] is China, and there will be some more countries that I shall make up soon. [/nods] oh, and Aerugo [Ah-EE-ru-go] is England. Wow, the geography here is so messed up. Haha.
:3
-Summer
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