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Disclaimer: I don't own FMA!

++NOTE:++ This is an AU fic. This is set in our time, and there is no alchemy. Ed still has automail though.

Chapter Two:

They Noticed

Roy Mustang sighed. He was forced to go to work early today, to prepare for a new employee.

Sure, he was glad he got this promotion of manager (he loves to be in control) and everything, but this was so early...

But he was also sure that if he didn't come in on time today, his assistant manager, a blonde woman named Riza Hawkeye would shoot him... Yeah, Roy and Riza had been friends for years, they were practically siblings. But that didn't make her any less threatening.

"Oh come on, Roy-boy. It's not that bad." His best friend Maes said cheerfully.

Maes was always cheerful. A very... eccentric man. With endless photos of his wife and daughter. Maes also happened to be his employee, 'just for fun' Maes had said when he applied. Of course, Roy hired him. God only knows how short staffed they were.

But now, there was Edward. He had applied for the job a few days ago, and had easily passed the expectations.

Roy was rather... curious of this new employee.

Ding. Ding. The bell over the door rang, signaling the entrance of someone.

Roy looked at the new possible costumer.

He automatically started saying "Hello, welcome to-." but cut himself off when he saw it was the new employee, Edward.

"Oh- its you, welcome Edward."

"Glad to be here." Edward kept his face turned to the side, trying to hide the now purple bruise on his cheek.

"Is something wrong?" Roy asked.

Edward's golden eyes opened wide. He couldn't let Roy now. No one could know. "Uh, nothing at all... Why do you ask?"

Roy studied the teen for a second, before disregarding his thoughts.

"Well, time for you to meet the crew."

Three people came and stood in a line in front of Edward and Roy.

"This is Maes Hughes." The manager said pointing to a black haired man with greenish eyes and glasses.

"Riza Hawkeye." He pointed to a blonde woman with brown eyes, who had a rather strict, commanding air around her.

"And, Jean Havoc." Roy pointed to a blonde man with blue eyes, who had a cigarette dangling from his mouth.

Roy continued. "Well, there are three other employees, Kain Fuery, Vato Falman and Heymans Breda, but they only work occasionally..."

The raven haired man snapped his fingers. "Edward, you ready to work?"

Edward nodded eagerly.

"Okay, go to the back to get some fruit to put on the racks."

Edward nodded once more, walking forward, he attempted to walk past the other employees, but the woman, Riza, stopped him.

"Edward..."

"Uh, yes?"

She threw a pointed look in his direction. "Why are you hiding your cheek?"

'So I'm not the only one who noticed... something's not right here...' Roy thought to himself.

Edward's golden eyes grew large with panic. He couldn't let them know. Al would get... killed... if he let someone know...

'Dammit. They noticed...'

"N-no I'm not..."

"Yes you are. Now turn and show me."

Riza glared at him, and he turned to face her, sighing in defeat. He lifted his gloved hand from his cheek, exposing the purple bruise.

'Why does a kid like him have that?' Roy thought with worry. Something really wasn't right about that...

"Where did you get that?" Riza asked, a hint of concern lacing her tone.

Once more, the golden eyes widened. "N-no... no w-where..."

Her brown eyes narrowed in suspicion. "You're lying." She said plainly.

"I-I j-just t-tripped a-and f-fell..." He stuttered, this was making him very nervous. He couldn't let them know. Alphonse meant everything to him.

"You're still lying. But, I'll let it slide... For now..."

He released a large sigh of relief, before quickly running away towards the storage room.

"Riza... somethings not right... you know that don't you?" Roy whispered, not wanting the new employee to hear.

"Yes, I know sir, I want to find out... He's hiding something... and he's scared..."

Jean piped in. "I wanna find out too..."

Maes added his own input. "Yeah, there's something he's not saying..."

Roy snapped his fingers, a habit he picked up somewhere. "Okay, fine, starting tomorrow, we'll try to dig up some dirt on the kid."

The three employees nodded in agreement.

'Edward... what do you have to hide?'

Much more than you would ever know, Roy...

TO BE CONTINUED!

Review.

Sorry it's short, but its like 3 am and I need sleep, I have school tomorrow, but I promised my BSFF, SSPTLFF, Payton Pride that I would post a chapter tonight.

I'll update soon.

Xoxo,

HDA.