As promised...here's part 2!


It had taken Roy five hours to finally get out of the office. He had to try drawing several transmutation circles until he finally designed one to undo Ed's handy work. Part of him wanted to throttle the blond brat for that stunt but he knew he deserved it for the hurtful things he said to the kid.

As the hours past, Roy was about ready to give up on looking for Ed in Central Command; as he continued searching outside, he caught the sight of familiar golden hair being played by a dark-haired youth.

All that Roy saw was red. "You stinkin' little hormonal dog! Back off!" He started snapping his fingers, aiming raging flames at the youth near Ed, being careful not to hurt the young alchemist. While blinded in his fury to protect Ed, Roy did not realise that Ed had countered his alchemic attacks by transmuting the ground into a shield. When the flames finally destroyed the make-shift cover, all that was left was a furious blond alchemist.

"What the hell is your damage?" Ed yelled at his commanding officer. "You bastard colonel! First you have the nerve to say those awful hurtful words to me and now you try to kill one of my best friends?"

"There's no such thing as best friends when it comes to horny disgusting teenage boys!" Roy retorted.

"You're one to talk you pervert!" Ed screamed back. "Plus, you could've started an international incident by attacking the crowned prince of Xing!"

Roy allowed himself a moment to calm down as the words Ed just spoke processed in his brain. "That was Ling, wasn't it?"

Ed sighed, highly annoyed. "Yes."

"Why was he playing with your hair?"

"He was helping me re-braid it." Ed snorted. "The elastic that was holding it snapped."

"Back up a minute," Roy frowned. "What was he doing in Central Command in the first place?"

Ed narrowed his eyes. "We had plans to meet here and go to lunch..."

"As in...a date?" Roy glared at the blond.

"Simply because I sometimes date boys doesn't mean I'm automatically dating every boy I meet!" The blond alchemist was furious. "And what business is it of yours about who I want to date?"

"YOU'RE MY KID AND I NEED TO LOOK OUT FOR YOU!" Roy yelled; after realising what he said, he stood in shock waiting for Ed's response.

Ed's eyes widened. 'He thinks of me as his kid?' As Ed started to process past experiences with the few suitors he had and the way Roy reacted, it began to make sense. Roy was doing the same things that Hughes used to do; constantly checking on him and Alphonse, the way he would monitor their movements (more parental than superior officer), there was even the time when he fell asleep while researching documents in the library and his coat was draped around his shoulders – he always thought it was Al who did that, but he would have waken Ed to return to their dorm room – it must have been the colonel.

The two alchemists stared at each other; neither knowing what to say to break the awkward silence.

"Look, Ed..." Roy decided to speak up. "I'm sorry for what I said earlier, but I just...I don't know...panicked...over the fact that you were growing up so fast."

"Colonel..." Ed sighed. "I haven't been a kid since my mother died. I had to grow up long before I wanted to, especially since I had to look after Al."

"More like Al was looking after you..." Roy muttered about the younger Elric brother, wincing from the mild pain he received after being punched by Ed's automail arm. "Listen, Ed. I've known you from the time you were what, eleven years old?" He rested a hand on Ed's head. To think, the teen was almost seventeen years old and still maintained his petite stature. "I've seen you perform some extraordinary feats Fullmetal, but part of me still sees the broken kid in need of a father figure..."

"But I'm not a kid anymore..."

"I know that." Roy resigned. "I guess I'll have to learn that you're growing up and you don't need me anymore..."

"Look, Colonel..." Ed started. "As much as I would love to deny this, but you did a lot for me and Al – and even though it seems like I didn't appreciated it, I do." Roy smiled slightly, knowing this is as close to a thank you he's going to get from Ed. "But..." And like that, Roy saw the sentimental 'father-son' moment gone. "A father would help his son get his driving license by allowing him some time to learn to drive in his car..."

Roy could only sigh. 'Teenagers and their one-track minds...'


That's it for now with the pseudo-parental fluff...what do you think? Should I stop here or make one more chapter?