The Morning After

The first thing I saw as I opened my eyes was the blurry face of a clock that read 7:45 in the morning. What a horrible, horrible hour. Who the hell gets up this early? Oh, yeah I already knew that answer.

I dug myself deeper into my covers seeking out your warmth – pressing my back against you. Trying to keep your arm in place, which was draped over my left side and holding us together, was proving difficult as I felt you make small sounds that indicated you were waking.

I couldn't help but wonder if you really had to go to work today. Can't you skip it like I usually do?

I felt your arm tighten around my waist as you nuzzled against the back of my head. You murmured through my hair, "Good morning, Ed."

That said, your arm left its place at my side and you rolled over onto your back. The sudden shift caused the bed to dip and forced me onto my back as well. Now that you seemed settled again, I replied back, "Morning, Roy." Well, I had tried to keep my voice neutral, but its tone was far too soft once I had said your name.

Here was the part I was afraid of. You said last night that this wasn't short term, but people can change their minds by morning. But you won't, right?

I sensed a slight depression on the mattress as I looked up to see that you had propped yourself on your right arm to look down at me. Using your free hand, you played with the longer strands of hair that framed my face – your fingertips brushing my cheek.

Softly, you asked, "How are you?"

My first thought about this was what a strange question to ask. Then, once it had dawned on me what you had meant, I blushed deeply and gave a muted fine.

Your eyes strayed from me to the clock and you mumbled something about work. I knew I couldn't keep you here, but I didn't want it to be so soon.

I watched you leave my side as you stated that you would be borrowing my shower. Not asking but rather informing me. You picked up your uniform which was neatly folded on the floor of my room. When you had the time to do this last night was beyond me.

The sound of the showerhead sputtering once before resuming its normal, constant flow signaled that you had in fact commandeered my bathroom. I lay in our combined warmth for a moment before hearing yet another sound. The sound of soft whimpering and small claws scratching at a wooden door. Oh damn. The dogs had been locked up all night.

I resigned myself to waking early and located some comfortable clothing to thrown on. In my quick search for clothing of my own, a small metal clink directed my attention to the floor. It was the spare key to my apartment – the one I had refused to give to Kain. Picking up the small object, I allowed a small smile to form of my face.

Opening the door to the dogs' room, I quickly moved out of the way as two balls of fur flew from the room, down the hallway, and out the doggy door into the backyard. I must admit, Kain had done an excellent job in training them. As I looked around the room, there was no sign of an accident anywhere.

I walked back to my room just in time to hear the shower cut off. Either you were really quick in the morning or you were in a hurry. I stood outside the door of my own bathroom wondering what I should do. Should I say something to you?

New questions began to form themselves in my mind and I cursed myself. Last night, I had finally gotten the answers I sought from you. And now I wanted more?

I'm rather demanding aren't I?

I could feel your smirk as I left my thoughts. Looking up, I confirmed that a smug smirk was lining your face.

"What?"

"Really Ed, what are you doing?"

"Nothing," I pouted in return.

You walked out the bathroom wearing the day old uniform that looked perfectly pressed. The only sign of imperfection was the feint wrinkles on your white, button-up shirt. An imperfection that would be completely covered all day long. There wouldn't be any sign that you had spent the night away from home.

I frowned at this revelation, but I wasn't sure what I was more upset about. The fact that you knew how to fix your uniform so perfectly after spending the night at a different place or that your uniform was perfect. A few sloppy wrinkles here and there would be some kind of indication that you slept over.

Then again, that would ruin our secret relationship, so I suppose that this would be for the better.

Your deep voice reached into my musing, " . . . overanalyzing this."

"Huh?"

"I said you're overanalyzing this."

I had taken residence on the end of the bed after you scared me away from the bathroom door. I watched as you went down onto your knees to look me in the eyes. Brushing some errant strand of hair from my face, you continued, "Don't think too much about this. It's easier for me if you don't take things seriously too quickly." You pressed a soft kiss against my mouth and then whispered in an amused voice, "I scare easily."

I gave a soft smile back knowing how difficult it is for you to admit any weakness. You're right. I can't change who you are and I don't want to. All you are asking me is to move slowly – emotionally. I can do that. That's all you are asking of me. "Okay. For now."

A surprisingly deep growl came from the bedroom doorway. Scruffy stood there growling so deeply that his body shook when he took another breath. While I was sure he was trying to be menacing, being slightly under a foot tall didn't help.

I was suddenly hit with a realization regarding my own stature.

Scruffy barked and continued to growl.

You blinked at the miniature dog and asked, "What's wrong with him?"

"I don't know. Maybe he's mad we left him locked in that room all night long." I walked towards Scruffy to move him. However, Scruffy had other plans. He darted passed me and leveled himself against you. Scruffy began to hop on his hind legs while rotating between barking, growling, and breathing. Well, that made things rather clear. "Or maybe he doesn't like you."

I quickly grabbed the jumping dog and held him to my chest. "He's never done this before."

You quickly dismissed the dog. "He looks young. I'm sure he just needs a little more discipline."

At this Scruffy, barked once more.

I laughed, "Or maybe you need to watch out."

I walked out into the main living area and dumped Scruffy in the backyard. I dropped a fitted piece of wood over the doggy door to lock them both outside. Even as I did so, Scruffy stood on his hind legs placing his black paws against the door that led into the backyard. He shook as he let out muffled growls.

Disregarding Scruffy's odd behavior for a moment, I took the spare key I kept for you and clutched my fist around it. When I met you at the door, I abruptly and without any explanation whatsoever held the key out to you. It took a moment for you to figure out what I was doing before you took the small metal offering.

All you said in reply was "Thank you."

Thereafter, a few quick good-byes were exchanged before you left for Central Command. You, also, made sure I was coming in today and I agreed I would. Then I watched you walk away to work.

It was close to 11 o'clock in the morning before I showed myself in your office. Hawkeye looked up briefly and smiled back at me as I took the paperwork from her desk.

It's true, I had to accept paperwork as a part of my life now. Somehow I don't remember the clause where I agreed to fill out mindless forms when I signed up as a State Alchemist.

Then, again there was a chance that the clause really did exist since I have never read the contract.

I borrowed Kain's desk to work from since he wasn't here. There was a good chance he was fixing something somewhere and even if he did return he wouldn't ask me to leave. I stared at the forms before me. Unlike you, I actually had to read these things. I couldn't just sign and stack, sign and stack. It was more like read, read, read a little more, curse, scratch down an answer, sign, and stack.

I must have found a rhythm to this horrible task because before I knew it I could hear you arguing with Hawkeye that you required a lunch break. I looked up and watched your door close with a sharp click with Hawkeye's hand resting lightly on the rounded, brass knob.

She walked over to her desk, quietly stacked more papers and then turned on the others. "Falman. Havoc. Since you are back from your lunch break please ensure that the General completes the work I have given him." She took the stack of papers she had in hand and walked over to the boys. Separating the stack of papers perfectly in half, she handed one half to each man. "Then, once he has finished that, he can begin on these." She smiled at them, but the sweet almost motherly smile contained a deadly promise of injury by bullet if either of them gave into your demands for a break.

She turned sharply away from Falman and Havoc leaving them in a state of fear. Hawkeye then walked over to me. My first instinct was terror based on the performance I had just witnessed. However, once I heard her tone of voice my fear vanished. "Why don't we take a break, Ed?"

"Sure."

At one o'clock the military cafeteria was still crowded. This was fine for me because a quieter atmosphere would have allowed eavesdropping to occur.

We settled at a mostly deserted table with other military personnel quite far from us. Riza arranged her items just so as I began to eat my sandwich. She calmly took a sip of her tea before stating, "What happened between you two?"

I felt my eyes widen as I swallowed my food. Damn, she is perceptive. "W-what do you mean?"

"Don't make me drag it out of you. He was flipping rapidly between pouting, being pissed off, and depressed last night. I figured that I would find him in the morning asleep on his couch. The bottle of bourbon not far."

Yeah, that's just about where I found you. "Oh."

Riza raised an eyebrow as if to say 'Oh? You better to give me something.'

I really didn't want to blurt out that I had sex with you last night. So I did the only thing I could, I continued eating.

Riza frowned and seemed to recalculate her approach. "So . . . did you finally talk to him regarding your questions?"

Mimicking her calm demeanor, I drank from my tea before answering, "Yes."

Immediately Riza gave me a look that stated 'And!'

I couldn't stop the mischievous grin from spreading on my face. "Let's just say, I learned that I'm working towards something long term – hopefully. But the thought still makes him nervous." I paused, "And I know the truth behind the miniskirts."

The smile that Riza gave me showed how happy she was for me. "That's good. I was hoping I wouldn't have to shoot him." She took a brief moment, "But miniskirts?"

"A lie."

"Really?"

"Yup."

"Huh."

She let me resume my lunch before she dropped the next question, "When did you talk?"

I started, "La-a-later on after we talked."

"Who talked?"

"You and me."

"What day was that again?"

"How should I know if you don't even remember?"

We locked eyes in a small battle of wills. Fortunately for Riza, hers was greater than mine. I looked down at the table and surrendered with an "Okay."

Riza let me continue, "I saw him last night. And heading towards the condition you described. We first talked about those damned booklets and I told him what was in them. Then, somehow, we got to talking about . . ."

Riza gestured to me that she was following.

"And that's what happened."

"That's it."

I looked away toward the large window that overlooked the barren cement docking area. "Yeah."

"Hmm," I could feel her eyes boring into me – fraying my nerves. "You 'just talked'. That's all it took to . . . "

That's when the most wonderful idea struck me – escape and now. "Well, gotta go. Lunch is almost over." I stood up to make a quick escape leaving behind a rather suspicious Riza.

I had thought that was going to be the worst part of today. Wow, was I wrong. Around 3:30 in the afternoon, around the time when personnel begin to stop working and begin counting down the minutes by playing, two serious looking officers arrived at the office. The first of the two was a rather tall, bulky man with dark short cropped hair and a stiff posture. The second one was shorter than the first which I estimated to be about 5 foot 8 or 9 inches. His messy pale brown hair and frighteningly cheery disposition made him a stark contradiction to the first officer.

The stiff officer spoke, "The Council requests the presence of First Lieutenant Riza Hawkeye and Major Edward Elric at conference room four in 15 minutes."

The other followed up, "Attendance is mandatory."

Then they sharply turned and walked away. It was almost as if they hadn't really existed at all.

The office, however, was completely floored. Hawkeye just sat at her desk holding a stack of papers and staring at the now empty doorframe. Breda was still cowering in his chair while Havoc was frozen kneeling on Breda's desk holding a stuffed dog over Breda's head. Beside Havoc, Kain had been halted mid-plea for the return of his precious toy. Falman stood in the middle of the room holding files with his head turned to face the door.

And I sat at Kain's desk, pen in hand, glancing between the sight the two officers had walked in on and staring at the doorframe myself.

Finally, you broke the eerie scene with, "What the hell was that?"

Everyone moved freely into more relaxed positions. Hawkeye simply stated, "I don't know, but, Edward, we have to go."

I nodded back and followed her with my mind blank all the way to conference room four.

When we arrived at the meeting room, I saw other personnel from other General's offices. There was anywhere from one to two people from each office. Each of us looked confused and anxious at this abrupt gathering.

The two officers returned.

The same tall, stiff officer spoke, "The Council has reviewed the results the booklets have provided. Each of you selected will be called in individually to interview room two. You cannot leave this room under any condition until you have gone to interview room two."

The happy-creepy officer completed these instructions with, "Overtime will be paid in the event that these meetings go beyond your scheduled shift."

The first spoke again, "Will First Lieutenant Jillian Gould please follow me?"

A tall dark haired woman rose a few seats down from Hawkeye and myself to follow the stiff officer. The other one remained to watch over us.

I guess talking is prohibited too.

One by one different officers were selected to leave while the remaining group stared longingly at the clock as time ticked by. It was almost five o'clock when I heard my own name called. The happy-creepy officer led me out of the room and separated me from a still anxious Hawkeye.

The hallway was strangely quiet with only the painfully sharp clack of his boots breaking the silence. When we reached the interview room, he simply gestured at the door and opened it quietly for me. A single chair had a light hanging over it plunging the rest of the room into darkness. Even though I could not see other people, I could feel their presence.

After I had sat down in the chair, I heard the familiar voice of the old Council member speak, "Major Elric, you will answer quickly, honestly, and succinctly to the following."

I felt my eyes widen as the heat from the light began to make me uncomfortable. I felt the need to fidget more desperately than any other time – the toe of my boot eager to grind against the floor boards.

"Major Elric," a different aging voice asked, "Did you or did you not speak to your superior regarding the booklets distributed to you and your fellow officers?"

Oh, well, yeah, sort of. "I did so, sir, after myself and everyone else had filled out the booklets."

"How can you be sure?"

"It was Wednesday night." Ha, so there!

"Why did you do this?"

"I felt he should know." That was true enough.

"Do you know if anyone else spoke to your superior?"

"No member of General Mustang's unit, other than myself at the specified time, spoke to General Mustang." What a weird sentence, but that's formal military speech for you. "I did, however, hear a rumor that General Ebner did speak to General Mustang regarding the booklets prior to Wednesday evening."

"When did you hand in your booklet?"

"Tuesday."

"The answers contained in your unknown booklet. Are they truthful?"

"To the best of my abilities."

"Can you locate your booklet in this stack?"

Another overhead light switched on forcing me to squint. Each of the gathered booklets were piled into stacks that were in danger of toppling. I moved from my seat to the booklets and began to leaf through them. After some time, I located my booklet. "This is it."

The rest of the overhead lights flickered on blinding me further. "Please hand that over to me."

I walked over to the elderly man and placed the booklet in his hands. He casually flipped the pages and looked up at me. "Reiterate what is contained in these pages."

I let out a quick breath before I began to review my overall opinion of each General. Once again, Ebner was far too easy and you were far too difficult.

"Why would General Mustang fail as Fuhrer?"

My eyes widened in surprise. They wanted your faults. "He lacks focus for administrative duties and has difficulty addressing administrative issues."

"That's all?"

"All that I can think of at this moment." I knew I was slipping into my sarcastic ways, but really!

"Who do you want to see succeed as Fuhrer? Think carefully Major Elric, the Fullmetal Alchemist."

An interesting way of addressing me. What did that mean? Well, who would I want? Let's see . . . hmm . . . nope it's still obvious. "Mustang."

I heard a few sighs from the old men. "Because he is your superior."

Another, "Mustang really does garner loyalty."

Another, "What could we expect?"

And still another, "Asking this is a waste of time."

I felt my own anger rising at these comments. How dare they! "No!" My voice rang out loudly above theirs. "That's not it at all. Mustang truly cares about the military, about this country and its people. He has already seen Bradley's mistakes and actually learned from them." For their benefit I placed a strong emphasis on 'learned'. "In all my years here, I have seen no one else who aspires to help this place more. The others simply want power. Ask yourselves this, do you want another King Bradley?" My body trembled and my nerves were beyond shot. But the short rant felt good.

Still, what was going on here?

The elderly Council member I recognized spoke, "Thank you for your time Major Elric." He glanced at the clock behind him. "You may go home."

The hell you say!

"That's it! You drag me and everyone else out of our jobs to waste our time and that's all we get! Who the fuck do you people think you are? We have lives you know. We didn't wait until the last possible moment to call some mysterious fucked up interview session that lasts until who knows when. The least you can do is tell me what the hell is going on!" If I wasn't drained physically and emotionally from my respective outburst before, I was now. That's it. That's all I have left.

The room grew quiet. The aged men glanced back and forth at each other. Finally, my familiar old codger spoke, "You may go home now."

Fucking old man!

The look of complete exasperation spread across my face while a look of complete satisfaction grew on his. In all honesty, I didn't want to back down. I was right and damn it all I should get an answer.

"Please Major Elric, we have others to interview still."

I was at a complete loss of words. That old man had the balls to turn my argument against me. I opened and closed my mouth searching for something to say – anything to wipe that self-satisfied look off his face.

But in the end, there was absolutely nothing I could do.

Fuck it all, I tried.

As I left the interview room, I saw the quickly disappearing figure of the happy-creepy officer going down the hallway. Back to get another one.

I was directed through a series of winding hallways that ultimately led to outside of the conference room hall corridor. For a brief moment I stood there in the dingy, white hallway attempting to regulate my breathing.

I was frustrated and irritated beyond belief.

I want to . . . no need to vent this aggravation out on someone. Those old fools have managed to push me to a point of irritation that I haven't felt in . . . in, gah! I don't know how long! I felt ready to level the entire hall. The reason I didn't is because I am quite fond of Riza and, even buried under rubble, she would find and kill me for it.

A/N: Okay this ends all of my old-er material. Starting next chapter is my return to writing. Yay! As always please review. I live for it.