"What do you think, Ed?"
"No."
"But she healed your entire skeleton!"
"So? That doesn't mean she's mature enough to be a State Alchemist."
"Ed. Now think about it. Just because someone hasn't gone through traumatic experiences doesn't mean they don't have the maturity to be a State Alchemist. Major Armstrong didn't have a traumatic childhood."
"I doubt that."
Mustang glared at the Fullmetal before getting up from his seat and walking over to the large window in his new, fancy, pristine office. He watched as a few of the students lingered, opting to look around Central before they went home to tell of their disappointments. There was silence between the two men, until Edward reached up and took his gloves off. He slowly raised his hand to his face and looked at the palm. The left hand was slightly rougher than the right, but they looked a lot more even now. He said absently, "I called Alphonse and told him about my alchemy. I told him to rush over. He'll be here for the State Alchemist Dinner."
Mustang made a noise that told Ed he had heard, but he wasn't registering. Edward glanced up at him when Mustang said, "Do you think Flora has a young man promised to her?"
"No." Edward said while wiggling his fingers absently, "She's a proper, spoiled brat."
Mustang laughed and then asked, "I think you've just met your match, Edward Elric."
"Father was my match." Edward countered, "The homunculi, Truth, they were my matches. They were strong and I fought them for my brother. And you think the flower is my match."
Mustang made a face while he watched Central below him, but it turned in to a smile and he said to Edward sternly, "Not that kind of match, Edward. Or quite possibly I've found my own. Fate works in weird ways, you know."
Edward ignored his mumbling and continued to look at his hands, another enigma to him. He had given up alchemy for his brother, and now it was back. Everything was back to how it was—but why?
Mustang smiled and he looked around the courtyard before turning around and looking at Edward, "I've decided, Ed. I want Flora to be a State Alchemist." He said defiantly.
Edward gave him a dirty look between his fingers.
"I'm serious, Ed. She'll be a good asset to the military. She's smart, she's noble, she's kind…"
"She's young, she's naïve, she's foolish."
"She's beautiful."
"That's not even-! Mustang, can't you ever just think about other people for once?!"
But Mustang shook his head and started to head to the door, "I had Hawkeye go get the paperwork for Flora an hour ago." And with a slight hop in his step, Mustang smiled at Edward before closing the door behind him. Edward could only roll his eyes and get up from the chair, pulling his white gloves back on. After the State Alchemist Dinner, which was to present Flora with her title and pocket watch, Edward would be able to go back home and continue living his simple life. He was still in the military, a favor to Mustang after all the General had done for him, but Flora and Central were under his command, not Ed's. Edward could leave it all behind tomorrow and go out looking for the answers he needed.
Hawkeye had gone to Flora's hotel room personally and knocked gently on the door. It opened slowly to reveal Flora, standing in an oversized tee-shirt and shorts, looking haggard. Hawkeye gave her an astonished look.
"Oh..Lieutenant." Flora said, "I'm so sorry…I must have fallen asleep…"
"You've been crying, Miss Flora?" Hawkeye asked gently, though in a firm way that told Flora that the Lieutenant wasn't one for much pity if she could stand it.
"Just stress. Sorry, come in. I'll make a cup of tea."
"No need for that, Miss Flora." Hawkeye said as she handed Flora the invitation to the State Alchemist Dinner, "Your presence is requested."
"It is…?" Flora asked as she took the envelope and opened it. She started to read, and when she was finished, she covered her mouth with her hand and gasped before looking at Hawkeye, who was smiling. "I got in?! I'm a State Alchemist?"
"Not yet." Hawkeye stated, "When you get your name tonight, you will be. I look forward to working with you." And Hawkeye made a sharp salute before she turned around to leave while Flora reread the letter. Upon turning around, in which Flora couldn't see her, Hawkeye's smile dropped and she walked away stonily.
Flora ran in to her hotel room and slammed the door in excitement before stopping. In order to go to this dinner, she needed a dress. The men of the military were to wear their blue uniforms, freshly pressed, but the woman could wear what they pleased. So Flora rummaged around her luggage and found one of her summer dresses and decided she'd dye it and re-sew it with alchemy, and so she spent the rest of the afternoon making it.
As the afternoon turned to dusk and the sun that shone over Central started to go under the horizon, accredited alchemists from all around Amestris gathered in suits and ties, waxes shoes, thin white scarves, with their best cars and plus ones. This particular event was initiated by Mustang when he became General, because, in his words, why not?
That night, Riza Hawkeye and Roy Mustang both stood in front of the mirror that Mustang had in his office, both still getting ready.
"You're cruel, you know that." Riza stated as she ran her fingers through her long blond hair. She was frowning.
"I'm innovative." Mustang stated as he went to put his military pins in his coat, "Intelligent, a good father figure…"
"You'll hurt someone, Sir." Riza stated again, before glancing at him through the mirror. She watched as his gloved hands fumbled with the sharp pins, and she turned around to do it for him. She had decided in wearing a red, long-sleeved dress that ended right before her knees and some black heels that made her slightly taller. Simple, for as complicated her life could be.
Mustang stared down at her, letting his hands fall limp as he watched her intently, "We have plenty of military personal. I'm allowed to be flexible."
"Manipulative." Riza corrected as she gently pricked his skin with one of his pins. Mustang hissed, and then he hissed again with a grin. Unamused, Riza turned to leave him to finish his preparations as she went to find Flora's paperwork.
Mustang yelled after her while still looking in the mirror, "You'll see, Lieutenant! I'm a great judge of character! Strategic!" He finished, but as he looked to the door, he watched it close.
When Roy finally got the chance to leave his office and travel through the building, he found Riza standing beside the door that would go in to the Dinner, waiting for him. She stared at him as she always did, an envelope and small parcel in her hand, and he nodded before opening the door for her and walking through.
Everyone who was anyone in the military was present. People were already standing around and drinking wine, but Mustang scanned the crowed for someone specific.
"Sir." Hawkeye stated, and Mustang glanced at her and followed her eyesight. Flora was standing in the middle of a group of young men, looking uncomfortable. Mustang started strutting towards her after brushing Hawkeye off, and he scanned the room for Edward. Fullmetal was in the corner, a glass of wine forgotten in his hand, talking fervently to his brother in hush tones. Alphonse was immersed in whatever Edward was saying, and the two brothers were ignoring everything, and everyone, around them.
Annoyed, Mustang approached the group. Most of the men were young officers, vying for her attention. "Miss Flora." Mustang said strongly, causing whomever hadn't noticed his presence to jump away.
"General." Flora said, surprised and just as taken aback as the young men, "Good evening.."
Mustang gave her a shining smile before offering his hand, his sharp eyes bearing in to her, "May I have this dance?"
Flora recoiled gently, but she caught herself. Her new commanding officer wanted to dance with her, and his eyes softened as he watched her blush. "Of course…" She said softly, before excusing herself from the flock of men and letting Mustang take her hand and pull her to the dance floor. The men watched intently but dared not move. They would be moving no longer; once Mustang claimed her, they would be dead men to try to win her favor now. Sighing and cursing Mustang and his influence, they took more swigs of their alcohol and disbursed in search of other young women to harass.
Mustang spun with Flora quickly; it took all her concentration not to trip up. Despite his stony façade, Mustang was an excellent dancer. Smooth, controlled, and when Flora did miss a step, all he hand to do was lift her; he was strong. Mustang watched her face as it flushed even more as she watched her feet, but he said, "So how are you liking Central?"
"It's nice." Flora said as she glanced at him politely, "The people here are very friendly."
"I'll say." Mustang said as he glanced at a few of the men watching Flora, but he diverted his gaze to what she was wearing. He twirled her so he could watch her green dress fluff up around her. It had ruffles at the top so that it could be off the shoulder, baring her collarbone and neck, and it cinched her waist; modest, Mustang supposed. Certainly not firehot like Hawkeye, but it'll do. "You look stunning."
"Thank you." Flora said, nervous, "I made it today."
Mustang's eyebrows rose in the same mock interest he showed her the day before, "Made? You can make dresses too?"
"I learned how to sew in school…" Flora explained, but then she cursed herself at Mustang's condescending smirk. It seemed that everything she knew was from her etiquette classes. She knew the medical practice inside and out, alchemy enough to apply it, but Mustang was good at asking her the questions that received amusing answers. To him, at least.
"I see." Mustang said as he let his arm slid down her back so that it was on her hip, "Another one of your proper classes. How interesting." His large, gloved hand stroked the smaller hand that it was holding while her other hand seemed to shiver on his shoulder, "They must come in handy."
"Not anymore." Flora stated as Mustang slowly pulled her closer to him. Her face became bright red by this point, and she couldn't look him in the eye. They swayed like this for a few moments in silence, Flora being too scared to say anything and Mustang too comfortable.
But then he said huskily, his chin pressed against her temple, "I'll tell you now, Miss Flora Winters, you've picked quite the fight."
Flora's eyes widened as she continued to sway with him, but she didn't look him in the eye, "I'm sorry?"
"Joining the military." Mustang clarified, "Quite the strange step for an 18-year-old that plays piano and sews." He pulled her even closer and smelled her fluffy, curly brown hair, pinned up in a lose bun at the nape of her neck, "Don't lie to me. You're not the military type."
Flora's nose had been stuffed into the shoulder of Mustang, her being so petit, but with her eyes she could see the other officers watching her. This dinner was in her honor, after all. She was the new State Alchemist, the new generation of military, led by a new government in a new country. Everything was afresh and bright, everything was still clean and tidy. Everything was still pure after all the dirt had been washed away, except for General Mustang, it seemed. She whispered desperately, "I just want to help people…"
"And that's fine." Mustang said softly as he swayed, his eyes becoming in contact with Edward's confused and somewhat steel gaze, "But I know you're lying about something, Miss Winters, and I intend to find out."
Flora could have, would have, stopped her dancing at that moment. When her father had caught her in a lie, when anyone of authority had caught her in a lie, she immediately told them the truth. It hurt a lot less to tell the truth quickly, than to drag it out with a rusty knife. But Flora didn't tell the truth, in fact, she didn't say anything. Only absently swayed, pressed against her new commanding officer, stiff with fear.
Mustang, however, was at ease, and he watched as Edward pushed himself off the wall and away from Alphonse to start walking over to him. At that moment, Mustang also watched as a few of the lower officers started to approach him as well. So he suddenly pushed Flora away but held on to her by her upper arms and looked at Edward, "Fullmetal, what a pleasant surprise."
"Mustang, we need to talk. Alphonse and I have to leave Central for a while—"
"None of that. It's Flora's special night." Mustang argued back playfully, still holding the flushed girl at arm's length, and then he turned to look at the officers, "Men?"
They saluted dutifully, and one said, "Sir, a conference is requested by Major Armstrong. He said it wouldn't interfere with tonight's events."
"Very well." Mustang said, and he pushed Flora to Edward, "Dance with her. I'll come talk to you when you're finished." And without any other word to Flora, he turned around and walked away with the officers.
Edward, angry and now nervous, looked down at the girl in his arms. Flora stared back at him just as terrified, but Edward knew that it wouldn't do to not dance with her. Everyone was watching, and he'd get quite the earful from Mustang, Hawkeye, Alphonse, Winry, and the lady who sold apples outside the Central building if he didn't dance with her. So reluctantly, he took his position by taking her hand and putting his other hand on her side; she complied with her own position, though it should be noted that they stayed at arm's length.
They danced in silence, mechanically, before Flora broke it, "How are your bones?"
"Fine." Edward said absently, "They were sore for a while but I don't feel the pain in my collarbone."
"That's nice." Flora nodded, "I'm glad it worked. Have you been drinking milk to make them strong?"
"I hate milk." Edward stated automatically as he glanced around for Alphonse. His younger brother had been asked to dance by one of the lower female officers and was jubilantly talking about his trip from home to Central. The younger official was laughing and smiling, Alphonse was so comfortable in social situations.
Flora was silent for a while after being shot down. Edward danced, as he should, but he never looked down at her. He always looked away, trying to make eye contact with Alphonse, who would hopefully come over and introduce himself and save Edward from the awkward situation. However, no matter how hard he tried to not look at the flushing girl before him, he couldn't help but glance down at her when she said, "I'm sorry for not giving you pain reliever yesterday…"
Edward watched her guilt-ridden face, and he said, "No. That's fine. I've felt worse." He swayed her to the side to get closer to Alphonse, but said, "I've never felt that much pain in that part of my body before, not all at the same time, but I have nothing to complain about."
"I was upset." Flora explained, "Upset because you didn't think I could be a State Alchemist."
By this point, Flora must have assumed that they were going to have a real conversation, so she had looked up at him. Edward was watching her intently with his sharp eyes, and though he was still dancing, he said, "Don't think that just because you get a name and a watch tonight that I'll think you can be a State Alchemist." Edward stated.
Flora flared, "Well General Mustang thinks I can be."
"General Mustang also likes how you look, not what you can do." Edward countered.
He was expecting Flora to start yelling at him. He was used to it after all. Second Lieutenant Maria, Winry, even Hawkeye a few times. All the women in his life seemed to enjoy giving him an earful, so he waited. But Flora smiled sadly and said, "I know…"
Edward stopped dancing, confused, "What?"
"I know." Flora said, "I know that I was only asked to be a State Alchemist so Mustang could…admire me. He's made it very obvious."
"And you're just going to accept that?" Edward asked, "He's your commanding officer, sure, but it's harassment. If you feel uncomfortable—"
But Flora simply shook her head at him. Edward became even more confused. Why hadn't she blown up at him yet? But she replied, "He's very intelligent, your General. He knows just as much as I do that I can't back out now. No matter what."
Edward recognized the determined gleam in her eye; the same gleam he had seen in the mirror many times before. He said gently, "Then I hope it's worth it."
Flora smiled and said, "Me too, Major Elric."
"You can call me by my first name." Edward stated, "We're of same rank now, anyway."
Flora smiled and held out her hand as though to shake, and Edward took it, "I'm Flora. Nice to meet you, Edward. I look forward in proving you wrong."
"And you, Flora." Edward said with a smile of approval, "And I look forward to being proven wrong." but they didn't continue their conversation; they were interrupted by Alphonse.
"Brother." Alphonse said, "Sorry, I got caught up. Did you talk to General Mustang?"
"Not yet. Alphonse, this is Flora. She's the new State Alchemist. Flora, this is my younger brother, Alphonse Elric." He did introduce them, but it was still forced.
"Oh, hello." Flora said pleasantly, "You two look so much alike…"
"Wow." Alphonse chuckled, "That'll never get old, will it, Brother?"
"No way!" Edward agreed, laughing. Flora smiled at the two of them, though it was obvious that she didn't know the story of the Elric brothers. And why would she? Being from a small village in Green Valley, isolated from everyone, with only Tim Marcoh's notes to teach her alchemy, it was no wonder that the brothers' inside joke was beyond her.
"So where are you from?" Alphonse asked, smiling. His hair was cut short and his bright, blue eyes shone. He looked happy.
"Green Valley. In the North." Flora explained, "It's cut out of a mountain."
"We most likely passed it while going North, don't you think, Brother?" Alphonse asked, "I bet it's beautiful. Do you miss it?"
"Not at the moment." Flora explained, "This is my home now." She glanced between them, Edward slightly taller than Alphonse, but not by much, but the two towered over her nevertheless. She enquired, "You two get along very well for brothers…I often see brothers fight."
"Oh, we fight." Alphonse laughed, "I usually win, too."
"You do not." Edward countered, "I'm older. So I win by default."
"That's not strategic at all, Brother." Alphonse scolded, "You're always so bad at being strategic. That's why I always win."
They continued in a playful argument, most likely to amuse Flora, who laughed with them. But they were quickly interrupted. "Miss Winters." Came Hawkeye's strong voice, and Flora turned around. "We need you for your presentation."
"Yes, Ma'am." Flora said as she started to follow Hawkeye. She turned around to glance at Edward, whose carefree smile had turned sour as he sternly watched her walk away. Alphonse, however, waved her good luck. So she smiled, in a tense way.
She was presented to General Roy Mustang herself, wearing her little green dress that made her suddenly feel like she was in grade school instead of standing in front of the entire military. Mustang smiled at her and waited as Hawkeye gestured for Flora to stand next to Mustang so they could both face the military. Everyone had stopped to watch.
Fuhrer Grumman stood next to Mustang and announced in a loud voice, "As commanding State Alchemist, and a trustworthy General, Roy Mustang, I have given you the responsibility of picking the new State Alchemist. You have made your choice, so I leave you with the responsibly of taking her under your command, and presenting her with her name and pocket watch. Please proceed."
"Thank you, Sir." Mustang said as he saluted, and he turned to Flora. He was serious, no winks or smiles or coy looks, just professional. It took Flora slightly aback.
"Miss Flora Winters." Mustang started, and he held up the documentation, "In order to work as a State Alchemist under the military and the government of Amestris, you have three invaluable duties to always fulfill. You must obey the military, you must not create gold, and most importantly, you must not create humans." At this, he glanced at Edward before looking at Flora again, "Do you accept these terms?"
"Yes, Sir."
Mustang nodded and reached to Hawkeye beside him, who gave him the certificate, and he read it out loud:
"This official document certifies that the nation of Amestris, prefecture of the Generalissimo appoints the name The Flower Alchemist to Flora Winters in the name of Fuhrer Grumman.
The State Alchemist shall follow all orders and policies of the military.
A research assessment examination shall be held once every year. In the case that the State Alchemist does not show signs of progress as a result of the examination, [s]he shall be discharged from the services of State Alchemist.
The State Alchemist is entitled to the use of ample research funds, unrestricted access to classified documentation, access to various governmental facilities, and a military rank equal to that of "Major". Do you accept, Flora?"
"Yes, Sir." Flora stated back, stiff and unsure. She glanced at Edward, who looked as steel as ever.
"Then take this." Mustang stated, giving her the certificate, "And please accept this." He reached to grab the small parcel from Hawkeye, and opened it to reveal the coveted pocket watch, lying in a bed of red velvet. "This is yours to use as identification as a State Alchemist. When you put this on, you will be Major Flora Winters, the Flower Alchemist." He held it out to her.
Flora's entire body was shaking, in fear, in hesitation, and in absolute excitement, as she reached forward and took a delicate hold of the watch. Smooth and cold, it fit perfectly in her hand, and she went to tie the end of it to her waistband on her dress. She had especially made a pocket to place the watch, so after sliding her thumb across the Amestrian Dragon in admiration, she gently placed it in her pocket, looked at Mustang, and saluted.
Mustang smiled and saluted back, and the crowd around them clapped at the newcomer. Mustang stated to her gently while their words could be drowned out, "We thought your name was so clever, we couldn't resist. You are quite the flower in the middle of a winter's storm, after all."
"I love it, General. Thank you." Flora replied, and she greeted Fuhrer Grumman who had approached her with a large smile before taking one of her small hands in both of his and shaking it vigorously, laughing.
And thus, Clara Harris became the Flower Alchemist, the 9th State Alchemist to serve the Amestrian Military.
_
Hello all! Thanks for reading and let me know what you think! :)
