Sorry for the wait! I didn't know which direction to go with and I've re-written this chapter twice. Also, sorry for the grammatical errors, this is unbeta-ed!
"Your w-wife?" stammered Ed. He blinked at the pair. The word not fully sinking in, nor seeming to be compatible with Mustang's player attitude and habits. In actuality, Ed couldn't even imagine the Bastard in a domesticated lifestyle that marriage brought. "As in married? Married meaning wife?" rambled the younger.
Roy looked up in pure satisfaction as he saw Ed's eyes widened. Hell, he took the satisfaction that he could boast about his wife to someone other than Mases, Gracia, or Hawkeye. Yes, this was something he couldn't wait to do in the future. Hearing Fullmetal stutter and trying to connect the dots was probably Mustang's favorite part of this whole conversation, which made him wonder about what it would be like to tell more people about his relationship status. "That is usually what the term married applies to."
"But you two don't even have rings or the same last name!" The blonde emphasized his claim by pointing to the pairs naked - at least in Mustang's case – left ring finger. His brain was working overtime to figure this out like a chemical or mathematical equation because Mustang being married was more foreign than the Xingese visitors that would be present in Central in a year or so. "And you!" Ed pointed at his commanding officer, "You have dates all the time and the Lt. Colonel is always badgering you on settling down!"
"For the love that is Truth please keep your voice down," hushed Mackenzie. She rolled her eyes in annoyance at the younger's boisterous voice. "As for the different surnames, Foxtrot and Mustang, we opted to keep them that way in public, but on paper I did take on Roy's surname. So, my real name is Mackenzie J. Mustang by law, and once we turn in the official certificate my name will change."
"And that day will be a very auspicious," Roy breathed into Mackenzie's ear. Mustang smiled against her hair before returning his attention to Ed. "I may not wear your typical ring – yet – but I do have this," Roy held up his right wrist for his subordinate to see, "This is my 'ring,' or what you and everyone else would view as a wedding ring."
Gold looked at the silver object being shown to him. The bracelet was most linked chain, but he did see a small plate that had something etched into it. Ed wondered why he hadn't noticed it before now, but it was so simple that it didn't really bring in a lot of attention to it and with military uniform that Mustang always pristinely wore hid it well. The more he looked, the more Ed noticed other things that appeared to be etched into it: things that looked like transmutation circles. Ed looked up at the owner of the wrist. "It's on your right wrist. Traditional rings go one the left hand. So, in your case it should have went on the left wrist."
"Good observation, Fullmetal. However, do you know how my alchemy works?"
In the few years that Ed had been Mustang's subordinate, he had only seen the Flame Alchemist use his specific type of alchemy a handful of times. The basics of the alchemy he knew due to pure observation. So, the flame was created by sparks through ignition cloth. The salamander that rested on the bottom was the sign for flame in alchemic symbols. "No," admitted Ed, "I know a little, but not on the full mechanics of flame alchemy."
"That's comforting, seeing that you're a supposed genius at alchemy and you haven't cracked it yet, which means that other alchemists are still years behind," Roy sighed gratefully. He tightened his hold on his wife and gave her a quick kiss to her temple because that meant that only of the two of them could perform this deadly art of alchemy, while only three people knew of the knowledge behind flame alchemy. "My alchemy needs to have complete and utter control or else it will consume everything without a second thought. However, the dexterity of my hands allots for specific types of flames: my left is for pinpoint and is generally weaker than my right, which is more explosive based flames and stronger. Being right handed I naturally lead with my right hand in battles, which also means that my right glove gets destroyed faster than my left."
"Thus," Mackenzie added from her own reasoning, "I placed the bracelet on Roy's right wrist because I etched the flick cognition into the plate, so that he can always perform flame alchemy even if the transmutation on the glove was destroyed the clothe is usually still intact. Safety and survival tactic in one."
"That makes sense," concluded Ed, "But, then why hide your marriage? It doesn't make sense to marry some keep it hidden."
The exact thing that Maes had pointed out a year ago on their wedding day coming back into play. The couple sighed at the point because it reality it didn't make sense to be married, but the reasoning behind it and symbolism of it meant more to them. "That's because of our ambitions and ranks," spoke M.J, "How would it look if a high-ranking officer married a low-ranking officer? Or, how would look if two of the military's skilled alchemists were married?"
"Also, let's include the fact that both military officers and alchemists hold high ranks for their age. What would that make you think, Fullmetal?"
"A coup," concluded Ed, "A coup to overtake the military and overthrow the Fuehrer."
Mustang smiled. He knew his youngest subordinate was intelligent and would get it. "That's exactly why we hide our marriage. If the military knew of this then they would most likely attempt to assassinate one, or, the both of us. Hell, they would most likely even attempt to experiment on one or both of us to get our alchemy secrets."
"I guess that make sense. But the affairs back in East City-!"
"Were and are nothing more than my husband gathering and passing around intel," chimed M.J, "Also, if you ever get a close up of Roy's dates than you will notice that it's the same few girls in different wigs. Besides, Elizabeth and Jaqueline are more jealous that I have Roy."
"Wha-!?"
"It's nothing, Fullmetal," cutoff Ed and his wife, "Now, I order you not to speak about this to anyone besides myself or Major General Foxtrot."
Silver looked up into dark blue eyes. "He could talk to Maes, Gracia, or Riza if he wanted to." That statement earned her a thoughtful hum from Mustang. "Good, now," Foxtrot withdrew her leg from the water and rolled the pant leg back down.
"You should have taken your boot off," noted Ed. He couldn't help but noticed the faint scars or the silver necklace around her throat. "Is that your wedding ring equivalent? The necklace?"
Foxtrot just shook her foot. Water droplets glistened in the late afternoon light and landed in a small array around the couple. "The boot will remain cool and help numb the nerves for awhile. As for my necklace, yes, it is my wedding ring." Ring laden fingers caressed the metal gently.
"Equivalent exchange," Ed stated, "I caught you and you told me about your marriage, however, you are telling me to keep quiet, but I want to know what happened with your leg. Your eating habits. That's equivalent.
"Fullme-"
A tanned hand pressed itself gently into Mustang's shoulder before giving a strong squeeze. "It's alright. The kid's got a point. We want him to keep quiet then we have to give him something. Equivalent exchange." As Ed watched the scene he was amazed at how quickly Mustang began to relax with her touch and explanation. "However, before I tell you, Edward, are you sure? It's gruesome, not even Roy knows the full extent." Roy turned to face her, his face showed how hurt he was by what Mackenzie had just said. "You weren't ready to hear it then, as I was not able to tell you the truth of it all because I still try to deny it."
"Then I think it's a good idea we just sit and listen to you then," Ed spoke lowly, "The other alchemists detest you, but you're not all that bad – at least not from what've noticed. And, you need more people on your side anyways because this government is corrupt and should return to being more democratic than militaristic."
Both, obsidian and silver, eyes widened at Ed's words. Mustang knew that he never told Fullmetal about his ambitions on becoming fuehrer of Amestris, nor his plans to make the nation a democratic one again. "You know, Fullmetal, I'd say that you were wise for your age if you didn't destroy everything while on missions and come up short on your missions."
"Hey! I'm trying to su- Wait a minute! Did you just call me small?!"
"You're optimistic that's for sure," smiled Quicksilver as she tried to switch gears, "Childishly so! However, you're certain you want to hear this? The reasoning for my rank, my diet, and my leg?" Ed nodded slowly. "Equivalent exchange at its finest. Be prepared kid because this isn't a fairytale-happy story, but it does end in a somewhat happy ending. Sit."
Listening like a child would, Ed sat down on the smooth and rounded stone beneath him, as the Colonel and Major General mimicked him. "No matter what, I will always stand by your side," whispered Mustang. His hand interlocked with his wife's – something Ed still thought weird for the man, but it made him wonder if he would ever experience something like that in the future. Maybe with someone with long blonde hair.
"So, everything that you want to know about all ties into the fact that I went M.I.A during the Border War with Creta, which was about two years after we returned from the Eastern Campaign."
"Ishval War of Extermination," substituted Mustang, whose fingers gripped M. J's tightly because he knew of all the evils that they committed.
With a nod, Foxtrot continued. "Fuehrer King Bradley thought it was best that a person of Cretan blood went to try to soothe relations, but my people turned against me for what I had done in Ishval." Silver eyes glazed over and looked hard at the rocks they sat on. "My men and I were captured close to the end of 1911 due to miscommunication, but I guess that was something I deserved with what I had done in Ishval." Ed watched as Quicksilver leaned on his commanding officer, resting there, and just needing the physical contact for comfort. He hadn't expected Mustang to wrap his muscular arm around her waist to pull her closer. "I was held there for months. My men watching me as I suffered differently than them, but I also watched as they suffered and died. Out of my regimen, only I survived."
"It was during those months," included Roy, "That you, Fullmetal, became a state alchemist." Ed nodded and remembered getting his certification that year. "It was about two months or so before that, in which M.J had been held a P.O.W for about four months by then, was pronounced K.I.A. She was given a full military burial due to her position at the time and her achievements throughout her career, which started at the age of fifteen. M.J, being a colonel at the time, was promoted to Major General for dying in the line of duty." There was a lot of emphasis placed on the word dying.
"That's why that alchemists this morning wa-"
"Yes, that's why a lot of them resent my wife: she was declared dead and given two ranks. When she was found alive and resumed work after healing the Fuehrer let her keep her promotions due to assuming K.I.A and ending all . . ."
"Most," inferred M.J.
With a nod of agreement Roy continued. "Most rescue attempts."
Foxtrot licked her lips slightly. "That's why you were promoted to Colonel," reminded M.J. Roy's face scrunched up in irritation because he didn't like the reason for his promotion. "Back during my time in captivity, they kept moving us, which made it very hard for the Amestrian army to find us. I remember they covered my hands in thick cloth to separate them and kept them bound above my head at all times to ensure that I couldn't transmute. My captors were smart because they realized what the rings that grace my fingers were and removed them promptly after incapacitating me and my men." There was a dark light to Foxtrot's eyes that sent shivers down his spine. "My men and I were starved the majority of the time; they rarely gave us food. They wanted my men to fight like dogs for the scraps of raw meat they would occasionally fed us. But it wasn't until something happened that I was truly mortified by human cruelty. With being a human weapon during the Isvhalan War that says lot about my capture." Heavy lashed lids closed hard over silver, as a dark head bowed at the invisible weight that M.J was carrying. "Ed, Roy, what do you know what human flesh tastes like?"
"What?" they both asked, granted Ed being louder than Mustang, at the same time.
"What do you mean by that Majo – I mean Foxtrot?" Ed pressed more.
Bowing her head low, Mackenzie hid her face with her hair. "Yeah, I was informed that the raw meat they were throwing out for my men to fight and eat was actual the flesh of their fallen comrades." Mustang felt his stomach churn at the knew knowledge, while Ed felt the contents of his lunch starting to come up. "Being tied up at all times meant that I was force fed, so after the last of my men died and I was brutally informed the truth. I remember thinking how much worse that moment was compared to Ishval." Silver peered up, looking for rejection from the two that surrounded her.
"It wasn't your fault," gritted Mustang. He would always support her. "Those men would have supported you until after death and that is what they did. The circumstances were atrocious, yes, but it's because of them fueling you that you are here today. And," Mustang turned his dark head to face into wide silver eyes, "All your men did it and if you had died they would have eaten you."
Ed swallowed hard. His stomach threatened to force out lunch. "What they did was the sin and what you did was all you could. I – I understand why you don't speak of this and why you're tight lipped. I'm sorry for pushing it."
"No," interjected Foxtrot, "Thank you because I finally can come clean about that incident. So, thank you, Edward." She nuzzled gently into Mustang's side, just seeking the comfort and the relief of finally getting rid of truth regarding her imprisonment. "
The trio sat there in silence, processing the information that was just given. Mustang adding the new knowledge to his plethora of knowledge about the whole incident. The sudden rustling of something moving quickly towards them had Ed witnessing the Colonel and Major General separating faster than oil and water. Mustang's right hand ready to snap, while Foxtrot pushed her left foot forward to spring when the target emerged. A few seconds later, a blonde haired military clade soldier appeared – according to his stripes he was only a sergeant.
"Sergeant, what's the rush?" inquired the female alchemist.
He looked up at the trio, clearly out of breath. "The Fuehrer has ordered that all alchemists leave the area at once and report via phone their safety by twenty-hundred (20:00): Scar is in the area."
"Report back Sergeant," ordered Foxtrot. She turned to face Mustang and Elric. "My house isn't far from here by foot, about-"
"Hughes' house is closer by at least ten minutes and with your leg that the most optimal choice."
"Right," sighed Quicksilver.
To say that Maes Hughes was surprised when three alchemists showed up on his doorstep was a complete lie. He had heard the transmission and knew exactly which facility the state alchemists used for this training. To him, it made logical sense that the trio would appear at his house. However, Maes was surprised to see his two friends seek comfort with each other when Ed was standing right there. The most surprising event that occurred within the first five minutes of the three alchemists showing up was the way that Alphonse Elric expressed himself when the suit of armor saw Colonel Mustang passionately embracing and kissing a woman he had seen in a photograph.
Please fav or follow and comment/review!