Title: Training
Author: Kristen Sharpe
Date: December 7, 2009
Rating: K
Warnings: None.
Disclaimer: "Fullmetal Alchemist" belongs to Hiromu Arakawa, Square ENIX, Studio BONES and various other parties.
Author's Note: Yes, this was written before "Stuck", but I felt like it needed to be read after.
1st Lieutenant Riza Hawkeye was waiting for the other shoe to drop. She had taken Edward Elric to the shooting range to make sure the State's youngest alchemist at least knew some basics. The exercise was less to assess his abilities and more to insure that he had a proper respect for firearms.
She had expected a certain level of immaturity. She passed enough little boys in the streets and parks, playing soldier with their ever-present stick "rifles", to know that guns were only toys in the eyes of many children. At the least, she expected some bragging and attempts at showing off.
But, Edward had taken the handgun she offered with a grave, stricken expression that was far too old for his young face. And, when he mishandled the weapon, it was all out of ignorance rather than carelessness. He listened attentively to her safety lectures and never had to be corrected more than once.
Where was the demonic terror whose exploits had the Colonel's other subordinates in an uproar?
Quite frankly, Edward had been a model of respectful ever since he had met her in the office as she was disciplining General Grumman's dog for soiling the carpet.
Notes: Yeah, if I saw Hawkeye's version of discipline, I'd be a model of polite in her presence too ;)