A\N: Gosh... this took FOREVER. I am SO SORRY guys! In all honesty, I just don't like the show anymore... I don't watch it... But I don't want to discontinue a fanfiction-that's always been a pet peeve of mine. So I HAVE to finish it... sorry if the writing is bad... I tried!
Someone asked me how Roy knew Ed preformed human transmutation just from looking at his automail, and I was shocked and horrified to find... I DON'T KNOW. I feel awful saying this, but I really don't know. It totally slipped me, and that's bad writing on my part. I tried to throw a bit of an explanation together in this chapter... I'm so sorry guys... this is embarrassing... gosh...
Ed woke up to the sound of a horn blaring outside, and he sat up, yawning loudly and looking around for his brother. He wasn't too surprised to see he was gone—Al had always been a morning person—and he slowly got up and headed for the door.
He stopped suddenly when he felt the breeze blowing against his bare skin.
"Ah! Where are my clothes?"
He looked around but didn't see them. Glancing around, he stepped towards the closet across from his bed, opening it up slowly. It was empty, and he shut the door, getting down on his hands and knees and crawling under his bed. There were a few pieces of cloth down there along with a cardboard box split open on the side, but other than that, nothing.
Hmm… I wonder what's inside…
Ed crawled under a little further, reaching his hand out towards the box, taking hold of one of the flaps and pulling it open.
"Edward? Are you in here?"
Ed jumped up, banging his head on the box spring. "Yeah," he grumbled, crawling out from under the bed while still keeping his lower half hidden. He looked up at Roy, who was holding a bundle in his hands and giving him an odd look.
"What are you doing under the bed?"
"Where are my clothes?" Ed countered question with question, smirking slightly.
Roy let out a soft chuckle and got down on one knee, holding out the clothing in his hand. "Here ya' go. Your other clothes were filthy, so I went to get you some new ones. Didn't think you'd wake up…"
"Oh…"
Ed pulled the shirt on over his head, and Roy continued to hold out the rest of the clothing for him.
"So, why were you under the bed?"
"Oh, that? I was looking for my clothes. I shove them under the bed a lot."
"Do you now?" Roy released the last article of clothing as Ed finished dressing himself, and he pointed to the bathroom. "Go brush your teeth and comb your hair, and then come downstairs for breakfast. I'm taking you and your brother to the park today."
Ed nodded, walking towards the bathroom before stopping suddenly, an odd thought occurring to him. "Mustang…" Roy glanced at him, hand on the doorknob to the exit. "How did you know I preformed human transmutation?"
Roy stiffened for just a moment. "Oh, that? Well, I have access to all the medical records in Amestris, and I knew I hadn't seen your name before. The automail was quite obviously new, and since there was no record… I took a guess. That's all."
Ed scowled. "But I know an automail mechanic. Lots of people do."
"But it still goes on the record."
"Well, I live in a small town."
"Doesn't matter."
"But—"
"Edward!" Roy scolded, giving him a hard stare. "This discussion is closed. Am I understood?"
Ed grumbled, rolling his eyes. "Yes, sir."
"Don't roll your eyes at me."
Ed fought the desperate urge to repeat the forbidden action, but he simply nodded and said, "Yes, sir."
Roy gave a sharp nod, opening the door and stepping out. "Good."
Ed turned and walked into the bathroom, making faces as he went. "Good," he mocked, stepping up to the sink and grabbing his toothbrush.
Mustang sure acted funny when I asked him how he knew… I thought it was a pretty simple question.
Ed let that thought swim around in his mind for a little while, and then shrugged it off.
It's probably nothing. I'll just have to keep it in my subconscious for later.
Roy locked the front door before following the two young boys down the stairs to the car. He shifted the keys in his hand, hanging onto the car key as he opened the door and got inside. He moved to put his seatbelt on, glancing up at the rearview mirror, and he stopped instantly.
"Ed… are you tall enough to legally ride without a booster seat?"
Smoke flew from the blonde's ears, and Roy sighed, plugging his ears as the inevitable tirade came flying from the backseat.
"Okay, Ed, okay. No booster seat."
Ed continued to grumble under his breath, but Roy said nothing. He pulled out of the driveway and started down the road, quickly getting lost in thought.
He had completely blanked when Ed had asked him how he knew. What was he supposed to tell him? He didn't honestly know.
Maybe it had been a long day at the office going through human transmutation files… maybe it was the anniversary of the war that had nearly driven him insane. Maybe it was… something about the brother. He looked so terribly guilty that night in the rain, and he certainly hadn't tried to pretend the transmutation happened.
Then there was that report from Risembool. He was supposed to go investigate it, but then he got pulled suddenly, and Basque Grand went in his place.
He grimaced slightly, shaking his head. I never liked that man.
Then again... when he thought about it, there were other signs. The boy didn't look healthy, even besides the injuries. He had looked like he had lost his appetite for several weeks on end, and his ribs were showing. Even now after a week of hearty meals, he was still a little on the thin, pale side. It was true what he said about the medical records, and how new the automail looked. And when the automail had been removed, Roy saw the cut was clean. Perfect. Of course, the doctor could have shaped it that way, but still… perhaps it was a far throw, but it had been the right far throw, and he knew the boy's secret now.
Glancing in the mirror again, he gripped the wheel a little tighter.
I have to protect them. Somehow, someway… I have to keep them safe.
"Now, if you both behave today, we'll stop for ice cream on the way back. How does that sound?"
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