Chapter 12:
The next few weeks passed slowly.
Near the end of week 3, Edward and al ran a bit low on money.
Roy felt really guilty (duh, kinda his fault) and helped them pay their rent.
"Roy," Edward said, looking down at the money "no."
Edward, if you don't take the money, then you're going to get kicked out."
"I'll find a way!"
Roy shook his head, stepping out into the street. "You're too prideful."
Ed bit his lip "I have enough pride to cross-dress!"
And slammed the door.
'Thank god alphonse isn't home." Ed thought "He would have heard, and he would have pushed that money right back at Roy.'
It was too early for this crap. Ed stumbled over to the kitten, were he stood and stared at the coffee machine.
"What the hell?" he hit the thing, it wouldn't open.
"I guess I'm going out for coffee."
Edward Really didn't want to go out as 'ed' everyone knew about him and Roy, and he got Dirty looks when he went to the super market earlier this week.
He shuffled through the backpack in his closet. After he got what he needed, He threw the backpack back into the closet. "I can't always be skie."
He sighed
"I need to own up."
He walked into the coffee shop with his clunky heels. The only looks he was getting were "who's The new girl?' Edward still felt uncomfortable Going out or dressing as skie. It was worse now as Roy wasn't here to calm him down.
'She' walked up to the counter, and ordered.
The guy behind the counter was around his age, and looked like 'freggin nick Jonas.
"Hey, I haven't seen you in here before, are you new to these parts?"
Edward nodded. 'fuck I've been in here a million times as Ed, and you've hated me. Now that I have boobs you decide to hit on me? What a low-life.' He thought
"yes, I maybe new to these parts, But I already have a boyfriend." He blushed "a colonel in the military."
James (that's his name) shook his head, "That's sad, Roy's a little fuck-face, he already moved on from Edward?"
'She' gritted her teeth "Roy is an Amazing man, and would never do that!"
The words stung as he spoke them, even if he was trying to be girly, he had to try harder when he yelled.
James shrugged, "He's an ass" and as he turned around, He felt a hard yank on his hair.
He screeched from the pain, Edward dragged James out from behind the counter.
'What a fuck.' Skie thought. 'All I wanted to do was get some coffee, and this ass has to talk like that about Roy.'
James stared kicking at Ed.
Ed threw him to the floor.
James looked up at Ed, still flirting,-what an idiot "Playing hard to get? Look, I don't fight with girls."
Edward grinned "just because I'm a girl doesn't mean I have to fight like one!"
Skie kicked the floor, not wanting to make a bigger scene; He already knew Roy was going to kill him for this alone.
James pulled out a knife and sliced Ed's leg, deep enough for stitches. "What a little ass, Roy bought these for me!" 'She' gasped. She fell to the floor in pain, 'why couldn't you have cut my prosthetic?' Ed thought
'she' clapped her hands, and chained James's hands behind his back.
Edward grabbed the wound. "YOU DON'T CUT GIRLS!"
Just then, two police men walked in, and took James. Someone at the coffee shop had called. Edward had started it, kind of, but he didn't cause any permeate harm to James.
James had just sliced him open! The paramedics bandaged Ed's cut. They said it wasn't deep enough for stitches, and that the bleeding had stopped, but she should still get it checked by a doctor.
A bigger police man, looked more like he was from the military, helped skie up, and led him outside. "There's someone we want you to meet." He said.
A car waited outside. Edward knew that car. It was the same one that drove away the day of Roy's meeting. It was the Fuher.
The man stepped out of the car, and shook skie's hand, Ed made sure Bradley shook his flesh hand, so he wouldn't get suspicious.
Edward's heart started to race. 'Shit' he thought
He led Edward to a table, so he could get off the wounded leg.
"Hello, I'm king Bradley, leader of the military."
He said politely.
Edward smiled, "I'm skie Thompson."
Fuher returned his smile. "You're fighting today was very skillful, Even after you were cut."
Skie's eyes widened.
"Are you an alchemist?" Bradley Asked
Skie nodded.
"How would you like to join the military?"
'She' tilted her head slightly "that'd be great."
"I'd like you to take an exam; your chances are very high."
The fuher handed Skie a slip of paper with the time, date, and location, and then walked out the door.
Skie flowed as quickly as she could, and thanked the man.
After fuher had left, Edward took a cab home to call Roy.
"Roy! Roy Roy Roy Roy Roy!" Ed giggled as Roy answered the phone.
"Holly shit, Ed, take it Easy, jeeze. What?"
Edward explained the day's events.
"Edward, don't go and get into trouble as skie, try to keep a clean record. I'm not quite sure what Bradley's up to. Take the Exam, but tread lightly."
Ed laughed "Come over! We can celebrate!"
Roy paused. "I'm really sorry Edward, I Can't, I have a shit load of work."
"What the fuck ever, but your ass is mine when I'm back in the military." Ed laughed as he slammed the phone.
Chapter 13 : into the flames
Side note: I am sorry for all the spelling mistakes, but these are all mostly written at night, or when I am bout to pass out, so please don't flame for spelling, I will get around to fixing and what not later after I have adequate rest. Thanks!
Edward spun the tips of his thumbs around each other. He was shaking in his skin. If he moved anymore, his auto mail would hit against itself and clank, giving him away. '
'How the hell is Roy able to stay so calm all the time?' Ed worried
'It's probably not natural; no human could hold that stone-face for so long…'
It was obvious Edward was trying to distract himself, hell, he needed it.
Roy looked down at Edward with a frown, "Stand up, skie, a young lady shouldn't sit like that. Also, imagine what the military would think of you sitting down when you should be honored to be here, stand up and pay respect."
Ed pouted, "These shoes are a pain…" he said, standing up, and nearly stumbling.
Roy glanced away, out the window. "I will buy you new shoes if you pass the exam. Hell, they'll be custom made if this shit plan works."
Edward felt a pain in his chest; Roy's words were laced in doubt. 'If this shit plan works.'
-ouch.
Edward's heart beat even faster, 'the written test would be easy, but he'd have to put on a show to impress the fuher during the other part.' Ed thought, the near idea was drowning him inside.
If you passed the written part, you would move on to the physical one. There was a break between the two, were the alchemist could rest and prepare, and the one's who failed the written section were asked to leave. Edward got a 97% on the written part when he'd taken it 5 years ago, so he already knew the answers, and in this time, he had learned the correct answers for the one he missed. He had the written exam in the bag. What was he going to do for the physical? – Crap, he hadn't even planned that out. Last time, it was sheer luck. Ed hoped there would be enough luck to cover his ass this time as well.
Roy jabbed Edward in the rib with his elbow. "Fuck, skie, get it together, you're never going pass if you keep zoning out.
Edward cringed, his rib was going to be bruised, -but it got his attention at least. "Thanks colonel fuck-face, like that's going to help." Skie whispered
Some of the other new alchemist stared at Roy, "what a jerk' you could hear one of them whisper. That or they would say "what kind of ass would hit a girl like that?"
Ed grinned; it was kind of funny seeing Roy was being put down. After all of those short jokes, he deserved it. Now, with him putting up with this little charade, Edward wouldn't mind a few more comments about his commanding officer.
"tcht, what comes around goes around." She said, pulling at the back of Roy's hair.
"ouch." Roy jumped, and then rubbed the back of his hair.
Ed looked at Roy with an angry grin "if you don't want any more of that, I suggest you shut up."
A younger alchemist down the way hid a grin, he really liked this new girl, she had a very do-what-I-want attitude. Edward could see he was getting attention from the others, and he didn't mind, - some one was going to have to put Roy in his place. Ed shrugged. 'Whatever' he thought.
The giant door opened, "would numbers applicants number's 1-20 please come into this room, and pick a seat?" a young man announced. It was Jean havoc.
'Hohohoho, this is what that guy has to do all day when he's not helping Roy with his shenanigans? That SUCKS for him.' Ski thought.
As Ed walked in, havoc gave him a wink, "good luck, buddy." He said, As Ed passed him, and walked over to the seat in front. (Edward liked sitting in the front, you could hear the instructions and you don't get as distracted. Edward just wanted to get this over with.)
A lot of Roy's closer friends were in on the scheme, and were in full support of it.
There was Riza Hawkeye, Maes huhes, and jean Havoc.
Havoc made sure he worked this panel for the new alchemist today, so he could help Edward along if something came up.
Ed popped his neck on both sides, and cracked his knuckles. Let's get this the hell over with." Ed grinned
He took the pencil in his hand, but havoc interrupted. 'ahhahah, Please don't start." He whispered.
Havoc walked to the front of the white room where a blackboard waits as his backdrop.
"Good morning gentlemen, and," He coughed. "Lady.'
Ed was the only female. Skie made a quick little gesture to tell havoc to knock it off. He took the sharpened end of his pencil, and slid it across his neck quickly. Havoc got the hint.
"Today, we are examining you to see if you are suitable for our military,
You will be answering 50 questions. Most of them are fill- in –the bubble, but there a few short constructed response questions at the end. The short constructed responses need to be answered with complete sentences. Please answer the questions to your full ability; we need to see your knowledge as an alchemist, fighter or a file-man.
When you signed into today, you should have got a card; this card will tell you what category you are. I will need to see that card as I go around passing out the exams. Please get that card out, and have it ready when I get to you." Havoc took a deep breath; he had to give the same speech 7 other times today. "This test will asses you on many things, the knowledge you already have, your skills, your decisions in a hostile situation, reasons you're joining the military and so on. If you stuck on a question, skip it, and come back to it later. I you need to leave the room, please raise your hand. I will come to you and collect your test book before you may leave. There must be no interruptions; any talking will result in an invalid test, and having to leave immediately. Let me also remind you that you can only take this exam once yearly. You have 30 minutes to complete the exam, anyone who is not complete in the given time, will also be required to stop, and hand in their test booklet. If you have any questions during the test, please raise your hand, I will do my best to answer it. I wish you all good luck, you may begin." Havoc gave a sigh of relief. He was glad he was done.
Sure, havoc was done, but for Edward, this had only begun. Edward took a deep breath, nodded, and picked up the #2 pencil. 'Let's do this.' He thought.
Chapter 14
Skie was done within 15 minutes. To Ed, it was a piece of cake. 'hm, cake sounds great, I think I'll get Roy to buy me some after this is over…."
Edward looked down at his hands; the auto mail was getting kind of annoying; he always had to wear these gloves.
His mind wondered and hopped from one thing to the next.
Havoc walked over to Edward with his hand in his pockets.
"skie, if you are finished, you may turn in your test book, and wait outside."
He said, he knew Ed was dying in there.
Edward smiled, "thank you, sir." Havoc was really helping out today, Edward was about to poke his eyes out with the pencil.
Skie put her hands in her pockets, and walked out of the room, every step she took had a little bounce to it.
Skie closed the door quietly behind her.
Roy looked up. "Why are you out so early? What'd you do wrong?"
Edward's face got a bit red. 'I didn't do anything wrong. I was FINISHED so havoc let me out early."
Skie sat down against the wall next to Roy. She yawned and rubbed her eye. 'This is getting kind of cute.' Roy thought silently
Ed looked up at Roy, his eyes still damp from yawning, "Roy, I didn't sleep well, do you mind if I take a nap?"
Roy nodded "Sure, but I don't see why you're asking me."
Skie buried her head into Roy's navy blue sleeve,
"nyan." Edward said softly before drifting off to sleep.
Roy played with skie's hair; 'she' had left it all down today.
It was soft and wavy. It was like gold streams in Roy's palms as he ran his fingers through it. Roy let skie sleep until the rest of the alchemists were let out of the exam room. Roy put a cold hand under skie's shirt, and up her back.
She woke up frightened and upset. Then she gave a evil glare to Roy.
"Don't ever do that again!" she said, angry, but quiet enough so only Roy could hear.
Colonel shrugged, "whoops."
Edward gave out a deep sigh.
Roy looked skie in the eyes
"What are you doing for the physical exam?"
Edward shook his head 'I don't know, I'm screwed…. I was thinking about alchemic sparring, but I have no one to fight."
Roy grinned a bit. "There's always me."
Skie's face lit up in a smile, "an opportunity to get to kick your ass without getting arrested, hell, let's do it."
Roy was going to take it easy, making all the attention go to skie, he wanted Edward to look good in front of the fuher.