Chapter 10-
When Ed awoke, courtesy of the Nala alarm, he felt better than he had in a long time. He hadn't had any dreams or nightmares and there was no sudden noise to wake him. That didn't mean he appreciated the lioness basically screaming inside his head to get him up. Muttering dark threats he had no inclination of fulfilling back to the lioness, he heard her chuckle before she disconnected now she was sure he was up. Ayala, the evil wolf, was rubbing in the fact that she didn't have to get ready by lying in the middle of the bed, watching him. Finally ready and willing to eat any cafe out of food, he and Ayala headed out to meet up with Mustang and Evil Incarnated, aka Nala. Judging by Mustangs smirk, Nala had told him a slightly altered version of how he'd been woken up. Thankfully Mustang seemed to read the subtle 'one word and I'll tear you apart' expression Ed was sporting because he never mentioned the wake up call.
"Good morning. You prepared for the final part?" Was his greeting instead. Ed gave him the credit he was due. Alchemy was one of, like, three topics Ed could be distracted with.
"If by 'prepared' you mean 'am I ready to perform alchemy' and not 'do you know what array you'll use' than yes. If not, than nope." Ed answered as the four of them walked the route they'd taken the day before. Ed assumed they'd be dining at the same cafe as well. He was alright with that. Food was food and they served good food. Ayala mentally rolled her eyes at her human. Mustang raised a brow at him.
"You don't know what transmutation you'll perform?" Mustang asked disbelievingly. Ed shrugged a shoulder at him. What could he say?
"I don't plan things ahead of time. I usually just go with the flow. It'll be fine." He added when he realised Mustang was looking like his whole future was about to go up in flames. Ed wasn't stupid. He'd had a year to think about the offer and he realised that Mustang was looking to climb the military ladder. He was a Colonel already and wasn't even 30 yet. Ed also knew that if he managed to become a State Alchemist, Mustang's reputation and military standing would be better than it is now. Ed was simply a tool for him to use to reach his goal. Any and all of his successes would reflect on Mustang. Granted, so would his failures and mistakes. Ed wasn't planning on making mistakes or failing and they both knew it. Ed knew Mustang was using him and he knew Mustang knew that Ed was planning on using him. They both had goals to reach and both needed the other in order to reach them. Mustang didn't look reassured by Ed's words. Ed almost laughed at the pained expression on his face. Ayala and Nala just shook their heads at their humans and continued to forge ahead for the cafe, eager for their own breakfasts.
The cafe was finally reached and none of them were upset about that. The waitress seemed happy to see them again and happily served them, not even blinking an eye at Ed's massive order. Mustang still couldn't believe Ed could eat that much but he didn't question it a second time. Once their bellies were full and brains working again, thanks to the coffee, they paid their bill and headed towards Central Command once again. They headed through the gates and Ed defaulted to following Mustang since he was the only one who actually knew where he was going. They stopped outside a door and Mustang turned to him.
"When we head in, Nala and I will be heading up some stairs to the viewing platform. You and Ayala will be expected to follow the four soldiers and follow their instructions. It'll just be me and a couple other high-ranking officials. Ayala will need to stay a few feet behind you when you perform the transmutation. Just do your best." Ed smirked at him.
"I always do." Mustang just pushed the door open rather than respond. Four soldiers greeted them. Ed and Ayala noted these soldiers had their Animals with them. There was a German Shepard, a duck, a deer of some sort and a Tasmanian Devil, if Ed remembered correctly. Introductions were made, not that Ed was really listening, but after a couple minutes, Mustang and Nala were heading for the viewing platform and Ed and Ayala were being lead to the middle of the room. The room was well lit and massive. Ed saw it wasn't really a viewing platform but a separate level that looked down onto this floor. Two soldiers, the ones with the German Shepard and Tasmanian Devil, positioned themselves next to Ed while the other two stood behind him. Ed wasn't sure if he was meant to start and was waiting for one of the soldiers to speak up when someone said something.
"We're just waiting for one more person. He insisted on being here and was informed when you arrived. He shouldn't be much longer." The soldier with the Shepard announced. Ed chanced a glance at Mustang who appeared quizzical. Obviously, Mustang didn't know who it was. A door opened on the other side of the room and Ed saw three men enter the room. One of them was obviously important because the other two were constantly on guard. The man was tall, wore an eye-patch, had a mustache and black hair. He was equipped with one sword on his left hip. But what really grabbed Ed's attention was the fact that he didn't seem to have an Animal. Ayala seemed to realise the oddity and was just as confused. Ed was going to ask her opinion when the man spoke.
"Is that a steel prosthetic?" Ed looked down at his hands and realised that he'd forgotten to put his gloves on while he was getting ready. To be fair, he was hungry. He grabbed his metal wrist and looked at it while answering.
"Yeah. I got it during the Eastern conflict." The man made a small noise. Understanding? Pity? Ed wasn't sure.
"Yeah, we sure had a lot of trouble with Ishval." The man said. Ed looked at him before turning to the man on his right and whispered.
"Who is this guy?" The soldier looked shocked.
"Idiot! That's Fuhrer King Bradley!" Ed looked back at the man. He wasn't overly impressed with the man in front of him. Maybe it was just that he didn't look how Ed imagined the Fuhrer would look.
"Alright. Let the examination begin!" King Bradley announced. Mustang looked eager to see what Ed would do. It wasn't until that moment that Ed actually knew which transmutation he was going to perform. Ayala knew as well. She wasn't impressed with that last part.
"Don't you dare. Don't argue either. I'm not risking you going to jail for showing off. I will stop you if you do." She warned him. He knew she wasn't bluffing either. He internally sighed.
"But it'd be so good! Knock him down a peg or two." He felt Ayala get ready to lecture. He didn't want to endure that. "Okay! Okay! Geez, if you're that against it, I won't do it!" The soldier who'd told him Bradley's name distracted them from their silent argument.
"Do you need something to draw a transmutation circle with?" Ed scoffed at him.
"I don't need anything." He informed him. A look behind him ensured him that Ayala was a safe distance away as he raised his hands. A clap resonated around the room as Ed completed his circle. He dropped into a crouch and placed his hands on the floor in front of him. A blue light encircled him and energy crackled around him as he focused on forming his transmutation. He wished he could see Mustangs face as he slowly stood, drawing the ground material with him as he moulded the material. He settled for the surprised sounding 'without a circle' he heard from Mustang. As he finished straightening up, his end result was made clear. The spear balanced on its tip before Ed snatched it out of the air and moved into a fighting stance. The spear was artfully created, if he did say so himself. Its head was sharp and deadly and the whole thing was beautifully balanced. Ayala was preparing herself to tackle Ed to the ground if he went through with the second part of this show but he thankfully heeded her warning and simply slammed the spear butt first into the ground. A slow clap sounded from in front of him and he focused his attention on Bradley.
"Nicely done. I don't think I've ever seen an alchemist manage alchemy without drawing the array first. I think you'll make a fine State Alchemist. Colonel Mustang did well finding you." Mustang barely stopped himself from startling at the praise. Ed didn't say anything. He was too busy trying to figure out why he was suspicious of a man he didn't even know. Ayala was too busy thanking whoever had Ed listen to her. Ed was still put out that he never got to do what he wanted to do but he wasn't willing to risk his Animals wrath over something that trivial. Bradley and his escort walked out of the room and Mustang and Nala found their way back to Ed. The soldiers around him were talking about his unique ability. Ed chuckled. If this is how they reacted to him doing alchemy with no circle, how would they react if they ever found out about his other abilities? Mustang didn't say anything about his unique transmutation style. All he said was that they were leaving. Ed figured interrogating him in with witnesses around was a bad idea considering he was pretty sure Mustang knew what his answer would be and having him mention that night in front of everyone would earn him a one way trip to prison. Ayala and Nala trailed behind their respective humans, watching the soldiers as they stole glances at Ed. Nala knew and Ayala had a sneaking suspicion that everyone on base would know about Ed within a day. Mustang waited until they were back in the hallway before he spoke.
"So how long have you been able to do that little trick?" If Ed knew him better, he'd have been able to pick up the hint of annoyance at not being told about it. But Ed didn't now him that well so all he heard was the suspicion and curiousity.
"I've probably been able to do it for over a year but thanks to how long I took to recover, I only discovered the ability about a month ago." Ed said carefully after mulling his answer over in his head first. Mustang looked like his theory had been proven correct. After a couple moments of silence, Mustang answered.
"Okay. Let's head over to Hughes. I need him to book us our tickets back to East City." He headed off in the direction of Investigations. Ed figured this conversation wasn't over. Ayala agreed with him. A short while later, Mustang was knocking on Hughes's door before entering. Ed followed him with no hesitation. Maes greeting was just as enthusiastic as it was the day before. Ed wondered if his greeting would change if he saw Mustang all the time. He doubted it. Leo looked up in interest before deciding he'd rather sleep. Ed suddenly grinned. He hadn't tried talking to Leo yet. Reaching out like he'd done with Nala, he ignored the two adults and focused on the small grey fox.
"Hello, Leo. How are you?" The effect was instantaneous. Leo sat up like he'd zapped and stared at Ed.
"How the hell did you do that?" Leo's gaze didn't lose any of its intensity as he waited for Ed's response. Ed shrugged.
"I'm a person of many talents." Was his reply. The answer did nothing to lessen Leo's curiousity and shock. Their conversation was interrupted by Maes.
"Can you really?" Ed's brows furrowed in confusion. He'd obviously missed the important part of that conversation. Whoops. Maes realised and elaborated. "Transmute without a circle?" A small ding went off in Ed's head as realised what Maes was on about.
"Well, that's not technically correct. I can transmute without having to draw the array out or have an array like Mustang's. No one can transmute without a circle. Mine's just internal." He couldn't help correcting. It was a habit he had.
"So you just think of the array and put your hands on whatever you want to transmute and that's it?" Maes tried to simplify. He almost got it.
"No, I need to clap. By doing that, I'm creating the circle with my body. But other than that, you're correct. I just think of the array, clap and transmute." Ed explained. If Maes had asked how placing his hands together completed the circle, Ed probably wouldn't have been able to answer. It was just something that he knew but he'd never be able to put it into words. Thankfully, Maes didn't seem to care about the technicalities of it. Instead, he seemed to realise something and asked about that.
"So if you can do that, why'd you draw out the array you used for Elysia?" Mustang looked interested in the answer as well. He hadn't made that connection.
"I didn't want anyone to know until I was ready. I wasn't even sure I was going to reveal that trick today until I was outside the room." Ed lied smoothly. In reality, he didn't want to be interrogated by Mustang last night when he could've been sleeping. Maes seemed to accept that as an answer. Mustang seemed satisfied by it as well. Maes and Mustang turned back to their own conversation. Ed listened long enough to hear 'train station' and 'East City' before turning back to the fox he'd so rudely ignored. Leo was not impressed.
"So how is it you can talk to me like you're my human?" Clearly, Leo was not one to let go of a subject when given a dissatisfying answer. Ed sighed.
"I can't tell you without telling you the whole story and I'm not telling you the whole story. No offense, but I can't risk it. All I'll say is I discovered this talent about a year ago and it came about after my accident." Ayala wasn't privy to the silent conversation but she could sense Ed's emotions and that was enough for her to get the basic picture. She really hoped the fox would listen to her Ed. She didn't want to start a fight with another Animal.
"Fine. I get it. What else can you do?" Leo was obviously not content with the answer but he knew better than most people what sort of horrors could lay in someones past and he respected Ed's honesty about why he wouldn't tell him. There were things in his own humans past he'd never tell anyone, no matter who they were. But he had to admit he was dying with curiousity. Maybe the boy would tell him when he trusted him more. He also had a feeling that the array-less transmuting and hearing Animals weren't the only abilities of his. His eyes shone in victory when he saw Ed's face go slightly slack from surpise.
"Sight-share. How'd you know?" Leo startled at that. Of all the things Ed could've said, sight-sharing with an Animal that wasn't his wasn't one of the ones he expected. Granted, he never expected to hear any human except Maes in his head either. He gave a mental shrug.
"Dunno. Had a feeling. So you can hear us and sight-share with us. Is there anything else I should be aware of?" Ed shook his head. Leo was rather grateful for that. The idea of him and Maes no longer being the only ones in their bond was a little more than a lot unnerving. Apparantly, Ed sensed this.
"Don't worry. Unless it's an emergency or I need to know something right away, I'm leaving it to the Animals who know about my abilities to establish the connection. So far, Nala, my brother's Animal and my Granny's Animal are the only ones who know, aside from you." Ed reassured him. He'd made that decision based on two things; he didn't want Ayala to feel like he didn't care about her and he didn't want to potentially interrupt something important of private with the other Animals. Leo was very happy to hear that. But that did lead him to another question.
"Why'd you tell me?" The kid hadn't even known him for two days and Leo could tell this kid wasn't one to blindly trust other people.
"Honestly? I trust you and Hughes." Leo looked surprised. "Trust me, I'm as surprised as you but you guys let me into your home with your family and never pushed me to answer questions I clearly didn't want too. Also, Hughes seems to really bug Mustang and that is a massive bonus in my books." Leo snorted in amusement. His human was certainly, well 'enthusiastic' seemed a bit weak but it did cover his personality well enough. Maes's attention was grabbed by his chuckling Animal when he saw a glint and took a second look.
"Ed?" He called, catching the young boys attention. "Is that automail?" He gestured to his right hand and Ed looked down. He cursed in his head. He'd totally forgotten, again, that he didn't have his gloves on. Sighing, he met the older mans gaze.
"Yeah. The whole right arm and most of my left leg. Lost them in the accident last year." Mustang was wearing a good poker face. He didn't betray that he knew Ed was lying in the slightest. Ed was also proud of the fact that Maes wouldn't be able to see past his mask either. If Ed was being honest, he was the single worst liar on the planet. He'd always get caught and it wasn't until he was six that he'd learned to tell half-truths when he wanted to get away with something. So he wasn't technically lying when he said he was in an accident last year. That transmutation shouldn't have failed therefore: accident. Maes facial expression changed from pity to confusion rather quickly.
"Wait, you got the automail installed last year?" Ed nodded, realising where this was gonna go. "I thought it took at least three years to heal completely from the surgery?" Victory was Ed's. The answer to Maes's question wasn't.
"Apparently you just need an extraordinary amount of stubbornness to speed up recovery time." Mustang deadpanned. Ed glared. Maes's eyes twinkled with laughter.
"I'm not the one who sulked because a kid refused to answer your questions on the train so you could skip out on the paperwork Miss Riza gave you." Ed retaliated. Maes couldn't keep his laughter in and he was knowingly joined by both Leo and unknowingly by Nala, each Animal having various experience with Roy trying to avoid paperwork. Mustang looked like he couldn't believe Ed would go there. Ed: 1. Roy: 0.
"Did you book our tickets yet?" He asked Maes in a not so subtle attempt to change the subject. Hughes's eyes shone with amusement. Ed smirked at his victory.
"Yes. You two are booked on the 12pm train to East City. You've got copies of the paperwork Ed will need to fill out if he's accepted, right?" He asked his best friend, knowing his aversion to paperwork meant he sometimes 'forgot' ones that needed to be filled out, not just signed. Mustang recognised the question for what it was; a subtle jab.
"I'm sure Hawkeye has already organised it for him." He decided against taking the bait. His best friend could be an arse and he didn't need the kid to learn anything he could use as ammo from Maes. Unbeknownst to Mustang, Ed was no longer paying attention to their conversation.
"So does any other humans know about your abilities?" Leo asked.
"My brother, childhood best friend and my granny are the only ones. Mustang doesn't even know. Nala wants to wait for the perfect moment to tell him." Ed told him honestly. Leo thought for a moment.
"Okay. I'm willing to leave it up to you to tell Maes." Ed was slightly taken aback. He knew Nala wanted to keep that secret because she wanted to use it to prank Mustang but he hadn't expected Leo to keep it to himself too. Leo must've realised his shock. "It's not my place to tell him. I think you're a trustworthy kid who won't use these abilities without a reason. I also believe you should be the one to decide when you're willing to trust Maes enough with this information. I could tell you for hours on end about how he's one of the most loyal people in this country but it needs to be your decision." Ed mulled Leo's words over. It wasn't a matter of trust when it came to Maes. Ed just didn't want to burden him with his secrets. Honestly, he was grateful Leo had offered to keep this information to himself. He smiled at the fox.
"Thanks, Leo." He said. Leo grinned back. Ed and all three Animals lulled into small talk before Mustang stood, catching the blondes attention.
"Come on, kid. We better get to the hotel and grab our gear. We'll need to be at the train station soon anyway." Ed had a feeling that there would be a lengthy chat somewhere in between packing their stuff and heading to the station. Maes stood up just as Ed did and walked them to his office door, Ed barely managing to say goodbye to Leo before they were out the door.
"See ya, Roy. I'll make sure you get more pictures of my darling Elysia and wonderful Gracia as soon as possible." Completely ignoring Mustang's mutterings of 'don't bother' and 'I'll just burn them', he faced Ed. "When you're next in town, make sure you drop by to say hello and have dinner with us. Bring your brother and his Animal with you. We'd love to meet them." He smiled warmly at Edward.
"Thanks, Hughes. I'll tell Al. I'm sure we'll be passing through Central sooner or later." Ed grinned back at him. With a final wave, the two alchemists headed for their hotel. Ed hoped he'd have some time in East City to do a bit of shopping. He still wanted to find that fabric for his jacket and he knew Granny and Winry would probably want some things. He'd have to ask Den to ask them. He internally grimaced at the thought of Winry's potential shopping list and decided he'd have to remind Den to remind the wrench maniac that he had limited spending money. Much to Ed's stomachs happiness, Mustang decided they should stop for lunch on the way since they wouldn't have the time otherwise.
Once fed, they made their way back to the hotel and Ed escaped into his room so he could gather all of his crap. He wasn't sure how he'd managed to spread his stuff so far since he'd only spent a few hours in the room awake. Ayala helped where she while also complimenting him on his ability to get his socks in the cabinet beneath the bathroom sink. Edward kindly asked her to shut it. A knock sounded just as he managed to smoosh the last of his stuff in the suitcase and alchemically sealed it shut. Ed headed for the door, leaving Ayala to do the last last-minute dash around the room for any overlooked items. Mustang and Nala greeted him. Granted he wasn't expecting anyone else but you never know. Before he could spin around and get his things, Mustang spoke.
"Can we come in? There's some things I'd like to discuss." Mustang looked and sounded very serious. Ed internally groaned. He'd forgotten that he'd predicated that Mustang would interrogate him about his alchemy technique.
"You're not in trouble, Ed. He's just curious." Nala misinterpreted his hesitation as 'oh fuck I'm in trouble', not 'oh fuck I don't want to spend the next hour being questioned'. Ayala had glued herself to Eds side as soon as she felt his emotions, something Nala and Mustang didn't fail to miss. Ed gestured for them to come inside. As much as he didn't want to have this conversation, he wanted to have it in an open hallway even less. Mustang and Nala headed inside and stood near the bed, waiting while Ed shut the door and rejoined them. Crossing him arms as a defensive habit, Ed glared at Mustang, waiting for him to speak. Mustang was debating how to make this conversation as quick as possible whilst getting the most information out of Ed as possible. He knew the kid was only 12 but that didn't mean he wasn't going to spill his guts. Getting through automail rehab in only a year was definitive proof of his stubbornness. A realisation sparked. Mustang followed his instincts.
"That was a pretty neat trick in that exam. How'd you learn it?" Mustang praised the boy. Ed narrowed his eyes. It wasn't the praise that he was wary of but how he would answer. Teacher had always hinted at Truth whenever he or Al had asked her but he didn't get what she meant until after the failed transmutation. So he decided to answer Mustang with something Teacher always said before they gave up. If he could figure it out, Ed might answer him more truthfully.
"It's surprising; the things you learn from Truth." Ed said cryptically. Mustangs eyes were the ones to narrow. He knew the kid had answered him truthfully since he also knew the kid couldn't lie for shit. There was an itch in the back of his mind telling him he knew what the boy meant but he just couldn't figure it out. He knew it would drive him mental until he did though. He knew it obviously had something to do with the night Ed activated that array. So that array plus something equaled Ed's alchemic genius and no circle trick. When Mustang didn't respond after a couple of minutes, Ed felt relief run through him. If Mustang knew about Truth it would mean he did a lot of research on human transmutation at some stage, more research than the Elric brothers did, and Ed didn't want to know why.
"Okay, so how is it done? I've never seen anyone do alchemy that way before." Mustang now wanted to know the mechanics behind it instead of how he knew it. Ed could work with that. He wouldn't pass an opportunity to one up any adult, especially Mustang.
"It's simple. I still use an array, it's just internal. I think about the array I want to use, visualise it and form the circle by connecting my hands." Ed explained as though it was simple as breathing. Which, granted, it was for him now. Mustang looked lost in his thoughts. That itch was still there but he still couldn't figure out what it meant.
"So anyone can do it?" Mustang asked. His alchemy was easy enough to activate. All he had to do was snap, so long as he was wearing his gloves. Ed mulled over his answer.
"I suppose so. You've just got to be willing to pay the price." Ed said after a moment. Ayala whined at him and Ed gave her a small smile. He glanced at the clock. "We should go. Our train will leave soon." This provided the perfect excuse to stop talking about his abilities. Ayala sympathised with Ed. He always hated talking about his private life to strangers. There were even subjects that people like Granny and Winry knew better than to bring up. If Mustang kept prying into his life, he was going to cope an Edward explosion and that was never pretty to witness. Thankfully, Mustang seemed to get the underlying 'shut your face before I shut it for you' message Ed was passing along and simply gestured for Ed to grab his suitcase and follow him. Edward and Ayala both knew the questions would more than likely start again once they were in the privacy of the cabin Hughes had almost definitely booked for them but for now they relished the silence as they headed for the station.
All too quickly for Ed's liking, they had their tickets and were seated in one of the cabins and were steadily moving towards East City. Mustang and Nala were mostly silent for the trip however once their tickets had been collected Ed knew the silence would soon come to an end. Mustang and Nala were sitting on their bench, the former staring out the window at the scenery while the latter was lazily watching Ed and Ayala. Said pair were sprawled on their bench, Ed using Ayala as a pillow while Ed was slowly dying of boredom. Mustang hadn't asked anything which Ed hoped was a sign he wouldn't. With a sudden burst of energy, Ed dived almost completely off the bench to try and grab his suitcase from underneath it. Ayala panicked slightly, thinking her human was about to fall off the bench, grabbed him by the back of his jacket to steady him before she realised what he was doing. Mustang and Nala had both comically started at Eds sudden movement. Both of them looked at Ed with confusion once they realised Ayala had him by the jacket. Ed's small cry of triumph preceded him dragging his suitcase into view. A clap later had said suitcase alchemically unsealed and Ed rummaging through it for something.
"What are you doing?" Mustang asked exasperatedly. Ed didn't even look up at him when he answered.
"Getting a book." The rummaging quickly ceased as Ed brought the book up to check the title. Mustang was amazed the kid hadn't suffocated himself yet. He was balanced on the edge of his bench, braced on his gut. Ayala was the only thing between him staying balanced and introducing his face to the floor. Ed sighed as he read the title and put it aside before diving back into his hunt. Mustang assumed Ed had already that book. A few seconds later, Ed resurfaced with a thicker book in tow and a satisfied look. By now Mustang was stunned the kid didn't have all his blood rushing to his face. Ed moved to put the discarded book back in his suitcase before he hesitated and looked at Mustang.
"Do you wanna read it? It's basically just a broad overview of earth alchemy and what you can do with it." Ed offered him the book. Mustang was surprised. He never pegged Ed to be the type to loan his books out.
"Thanks but I'll pass. It's not about my specialty." Mustang declined. Ed looked confused. He'd seen Mustangs small collection in his office and had noted they were about fire alchemy but he'd figured that was simply to show his superiors how dedicated he was to his craft or whatever.
"So?" Mustang rolled his eyes. Here he was thinking the kid was bright.
"Why would I waste my time reading books about alchemy I don't perform?" Ed looked at him like he'd grown an extra head. By this time, Ayala had helped pull him up so he was sitting on the bench like a normal human. Suddenly, Ed started laughing. Mustang was perplexed. That was not the reaction he was expecting.
"Seriously?! That's so stupid!" Ed managed to get out. Mustang was not happy being ridiculed by a 12 year old.
"I don't see what's so funny about it. If it doesn't pertain to my alchemic specialty than I don't read it." Mustang was annoyed. Ed calmed down a little bit so he could talk properly.
"That's a stupid reason. Even if you can't or won't perform the alchemy, you should still study it." Mustang was about to open his mouth when Ed continued. "If you don't know how it works, how do you expect to counter it effectively?" Well, fuck. Mustang was stunned. He'd never thought about it like that. Like all alchemists, Mustang knew the basics of most alchemy. Also like most alchemists, once he'd discovered his specialty that's all he focused on. He noticed Ed wearing a smug expression and refused to let the kid get the upper hand.
"I've never had a problem before. Not much can beat fire." Ed raised a brow at that then understanding flashed across his face.
"So you're the type who throws his most powerful attack first before the opponent has a chance to strike so you either win straight out or you scare the poor bugger enough that they give up?" Mustang refused to squirm beneath that too-intelligent gaze.
"Yes. But even if they do fight back, I still win. Like I said, not much can beat fire." Mustang never let his confidence waver. Edward may be a genius but Mustang had years of experience on him and he refused to back down to a 12 year old. Childish? Yes. Did he care? No.
"What about water? That's effective against fire. Or air? If you can manipulate the oxygen, you can starve a fire. Plus, I bet using your most powerful attack uses a lot of energy." Ed pointed out. Obviously the kid wasn't going to let this go anytime soon.
"That's true but no one's mastered water or air alchemy to the degree where my alchemy would be threatened. And while you may be right, like I pointed out before, most of my fights are over before they really begin." Ed scoffed.
"So, effectively, you're just lazy?" Mustang's offended look made him want to laugh. "Why would you use the most energy draining move, rendering you more vulnerable against a follow up attack when you could take a few hours and study up on different alchemy so you can find a small, less-energy-draining attack that would give you the same result minus the exhaustion? You don't even have to be an expert in the other alchemy's. All you need is the solid understanding of how they work and a clever way to use your alchemy against it." Ed was making some seriously good points, in Nala's opinion. While they didn't happen often, there have been times when Roy used too much energy too quickly and was only saved from a surprise attack because of Nala and/or Hawkeye. Something she passed on to Mustang. Mustang silently told her to shut it.
"Okay. If that's true than how would you render my attack against you useless, were I to attack you right now?" Ayala growled a warning. She did not like people threatening her human, even hypothetically. Edward made a soothing gesture and studied Mustang for a moment.
"Simple. I'd get your gloves wet. Then you'd be forced to either get your spare pair, resort to your gun or fight hand-to-hand." Mustang was impressed. The kid was a lot more observant than he let on. Not many people knew that he couldn't perform his alchemy his normal way if his gloves were wet, even fewer knew he always carried a spare for that reason. While it wasn't mandatory for State Alchemists to carry a weapon like it was for normal soldiers, quite a few including Mustang opted too. Mustang felt the need to point out an apparent flaw in Ed's hypothetical plan.
"But there's no water in here. How would you get my gloves wet?" He was not expecting the small smirk on Ed's face. He and Ayala looked at each other and seen to come to an agreement. Ayala looked like she was going to enjoy this.
"Wanna see?" Ed's smirk had an underlying challenge to it. Mustang didn't hesitate. He was extremely curious now, if a bit wary, something he'd never admit to. Nala was beside him, switching between Ed and Mustang curiously.
"Let's see what you got." Mustangs trademark smirk was on his face. Ed was starting to hate that smirk. Shifting so he was comfortable, he visualised the array he used the first night they got back to his and Al's home after returning from Dublith. He shut his eyes in concentration since this would be the first time he'd used it without drawing the array. Mustang watched intently as Ed focused before a clap resonated through the little cabin. Ed sat for a moment with his hands together before he slowly pulled them apart, alchemic energy dancing between his fingertips. Mustang wasn't sure what he was doing but refused to break the boy's concentration. Of course if this was a real fight, Mustang more than likely would've taken advantage of his intense concentration. Having said that, Ayala probably wouldn't let him within striking range. After a few moments, Mustang finally saw what Ed was trying to achieve. It was small to start with but rapidly grew and soon enough, Ed had a sphere of water hovering above his hand and a slightly tired but pleased expression on his face. He was panting slightly but that was really the only sign Mustang had that indicated how tough that piece of alchemy was. Ed and Ayala glanced at each other before Ed got a gleam in his eyes that reminded Mustang too much of Maes when he was about to blackmail him. Quicker than Mustang thought possible, Ed had launched his weapon right at his face. Mustang reflexively threw his hands up to block the projectile, realising too late that that was exactly what Ed had hoped for. He lowered his now soaking gloves and glared at Edward who was cackling with laughter at his expression. Nala and Ayala had both joined in with his laughter and Nala laughed even harder at the expression of betrayal he threw her way.
"I guess I kind of asked for that." He relented. He changed gloves while Ed composed himself. He placed the wet ones next to him so they'd hopefully be dry before they pulled into East City. When Ed finally pulled himself together, Mustang spoke. "Although, if that were a real fight, I could've taken you down while you were transmuting." He pointed out.
"Yeah I'm not that great with water alchemy yet. I only started teaching myself a few months before," he paused for a moment before continuing. "then I had to wait a year for Granny to clear me so I could start practicing again. That was the first time in nearly 18 months that I've actually tried water alchemy again." Ed admitted, scratching the back of his head sheepishly. Mustang was impressed. For 18 months between attempts, that was a good result. "I'll master it with a bit more practice." He shrugged but looked excited at the prospect. Ayala made a noise of encouragement and he grinned at her. Ed eyed his discarded gloves and sighed. Motioning to them, he spoke up. "Here, toss them over. I'll dry them for you." He added the last part when he spotted Mustangs 'why the fuck would I do that?' face. Reluctantly but seeing an opportunity to get Ed's trust, he threw his wet gloves to the blonde. Setting one glove on each leg, Ed clapped and placed a hand on each glove. A flare of alchemic energy from each hand and Mustang was thrown back a pair of steaming yet dry gloves.
"Nice work." He praised as he tucked them where the pair he was now wearing was hidden. Ed shrugged like it wasn't a big deal.
"It was nothing. Al and I used to get in trouble by mum every time we came home wet or muddy so I made up arrays that got rid of the mud and dried our clothes." He said dismissively. Mustangs brow quirked at that. He made up two arrays?
"How old were you when you made them?" Ed thought for a moment.
"Six. Al had just turned five and he was wearing his new clothes he'd gotten for his birthday when we fell into the creek playing. He was really upset and freaking out so I just came up with it." He explained. Mustang wondered if there was anything the kid couldn't think or fight his way out of. Ed gestured to the book that started this whole talk. "So do you want to read it?" Mustang thought through the pros and cons. It came down to him choosing between boredom and Eds possible smugness. He decided against boredom and took the offered book. Ed simply sealed his suitcase back up and resumed laying on Ayala like he had been at the start of the trip. The only change was Ayala was now resting her head on his shoulder so she could read alongside him. The cabin was silent aside from the occasional page being turned and their breathing. It was during this peace that Ed realised he hadn't contacted Al since yesterday and mentally face-palmed before opening a line between him and Chester.
"Hey, tell Al I'm heading back to East City. I had my final exam this morning and I think I did good. Ayala wouldn't let me attack the Fuhrer though."
"Damn right I didn't. You could've been thrown in jail!" Ayala reminded him. Chester saved Ed from having to argue against that.
"Your brother says that it's great you did good and he's never been more grateful for Ayala than he is now and he hopes you know that the only reason he isn't lecturing you right now is because he knows Ayala would've already. He'd also like you to let me know when you've arrived in East City and where you're going to stay." Chester dutifully passed on. Both Animals smirked at Ed's less than flattering mumbles about his brother and Animal. However, something Chester said made Ed realise something. He had no clue where he was staying while he was in East City. Telling the leopard to wait a moment, he turned to Mustang.
"Hey, Mustang?" A grunt was all he got in response. "Where am I staying once we're in East City?" Mustang finally looked up from the book to answer him.
"There's a hotel in between the base and station that you'll be in. If you get accepted, the military will pay for your room. If, for some reason you don't, you have to pay for it." Ed nodded and went back to his reading and silent conversation while Mustang went back to his book. He'd never admit it to Ed but there were things in this book that he didn't know and could use against an Earth alchemist in the future. The kid did end up having a good point. Meanwhile, Ed had passed on what Mustang had told him to Chester.
"Okay. Just let us know when you get there, please? In the meantime, what have you been up too? And Al wants to know how you are?" Chester queried. Ed, Chester, Al and Ayala chatted for nearly an hour about random things and Al lecturing Ed when he revealed exactly what he wanted to do to the Fuhrer had Ayala not been a joykill. Ayala and Chester were thoroughly amused by the lecture. Ed was decidedly less. Eventually, Chester and Al needed to stop the conversation. Al had apparently promised to help Winry with her orders. Ed was impressed not just by the fact that Al was willingly learning about automail but more the fact that Winry was letting him anywhere near her precious work station and tools. Once they disconnected, Ed resumed his reading with Ayala.
Half an hour later saw Mustang and Nala snap their attention to Ed when he let out a small hiss of pain. They watched him shake his hand before sticking a finger in his mouth for a few moments then wipe his saliva off on his pants and inspect the wound.
"You okay?" Mustang obligatorily asked. Ed rolled his eyes.
"Papercut. I'll probably live." Ayala rolled her eyes before making Ed show her the cut. Sighing and mumbling about overprotective wolves, he showed her. Ayala snuffled and seemed to give him a clean bill of health. Mustang and Nala watched this exchange, highly amused. Ed watched his finger for a few moments before realising his audience was still watching him. "What? I swear, I won't bleed out from a papercut." He asked, amused at the attention.
"So why are you watching it if you won't bleed out?" Mustang asked, pointedly.
"I was seeing if it was still bleeding and if I needed to wrap it." Ed admitted. Mustang raised a brow.
"Why? It's just a papercut." He repeated Ed's words.
"Yeah but if it's gonna keep bleeding than I'll get blood on my book." Edward said like it was the most obvious reason.
"Seriously? You're worried about getting blood on the book?" Mustang asked incredulously. Ed looked at him like he didn't understand why that was so odd.
"Yeah. It's a good book. Plus it's my brothers." Ed didn't know why he was defending his response. If the book doesn't belong to you or if it's full of useful information, you do your best to keep it in as good condition as you can. Mustang didn't press the issue. He just shook his head and went back to his borrowed book. Ed looked at his finger and happily found it to be no longer bleeding so he also resumed his reading. The rest of the train ride passed in relatively comfortable quiet. Ed and Ayala were both happy with the lack of questions that they were so sure Mustang wanted to ask back in Central. Neither bothered to question Mustang about the lack of questions. Soon enough, they were pulling into East City Station, Mustang passing Ed his book back a quick thank-you. Ed stuffed both books back in his suitcase and followed the black-haired alchemist and his lioness off the train and out of the station. After experiencing Central, East City seemed a lot quieter, much more to Ed's liking than the bustle of Central. It still wasn't as good as Resembool or Dublith though, something Ayala wholeheartedly agreed with. It was fairly early when they arrived, nearly 6:30 at night so Mustang decided they'd grab some dinner before he helped Ed find the hotel. Not getting any arguments from the blonde or the wolf, not that he expected any, they ate at a nice restaurant and soon Ed was following him back out onto the busy street. Ed spotted a few shops that looked like they'd have the stuff he needed to buy before heading back to Resembool and mentally noted their names and where they were so he could find them later. Ayala was happily trotting next to him, taking in the different scents so she could help him find them later. Mustang was the first one to break the silence between them.
"Tomorrow morning, I'll be by at 8am to collect and escort you to the base. That way, you know how to get there from the hotel and you can reacquaint yourself with the team. I don't care what you do for the rest of the day so long as you stay in between the station and the base. That way, you'll be easier to find should your results come in tomorrow. Understood?" Ed rolled his eyes at Mustangs 'orders' but agreed.
"You realise you'll have to get used to that tone?" Nala pointed out to him. Ed shot her a questioning look. "That's the tone he'll use when he's giving you missions and orders." Edward got what she was talking about. "It's part of what you signed up for. You'll have to take orders, be respectful to your superiors and do all of it without grumbling." She helpfully reminded him. Edward internally snorted.
"I wish Mustang luck trying to make me show him or anyone more respect than they deserve." Nala and Ayala weren't even slightly surprised by his answer. You didn't have to know Ed for long before you realised that he didn't conform to rules he didn't agree with and he treated people the way they treat him. Ayala and Nala also silently wished Mustang luck but more for dealing with Ed than having him give more respect than he thought was due. Finally arriving at the motel, Ed followed Mustang to the front counter so he could arrange a room. Getting his key, he and Mustang said goodnight and Mustang reminded him he'd be by to get him in the morning. Ed rolled his eyes but he nodded and he watched Mustang and Nala leave before following the front desk lady's instructions. It wasn't overly late, barely 8:30 but Ed was tired. Apparently travelling by train exhausted him. Ayala was in the same boat and both wolf and human were grateful to find their room and collapse on the bed. Ed barely remembered to kick his boots off and shoot Chester a message and get the response before he fell asleep.
Edward was thankfully woken by Ayala with barely an hour to get himself ready before Mustang turned up to collect him. He showered, braided his hair and was dressed in record time. He even remembered his gloves this time. He contacted Chester to apologise for the lack of conversation and Chester assured him neither he nor Al were mad about it. Chester also send him some shopping requests from Winry and Ed told Chester to kindly tell Winry that unless she had a way to get him more money right away, she wasn't getting shit. Chester laughed and promised to pass the message along. Ed knew Chester would just word it nicer and he knew he'd be grateful for that later. There was a good reason most people don't get him up in the morning unless there was an emergency. He headed for the inclusive breakfast the lady had mentioned when he checked in and was elated to find an excellent coffee machine waiting for him. Caffeinated and fed, he headed for the lobby so Mustang could find him. He was alerted to their arrival by Nala helpfully giving him a heads up. Ed and Ayala were sprawled comfortably on the waiting lounge in the lobby when Mustang found them. Torn between amusement at their lack of fucks to give and annoyance at how they treated things that didn't belong to them, he tapped Ed on his shoulder, dragging his attention away from the newspaper he was reading. Looking up and seeing Mustang, he nudged Ayala and both hopped off the couch.
"Are you ready to go?" Mustang asked while Ed stretched and Ayala shook herself to get themselves ready for the day.
"Yup. We've already eaten and whatnot. Lead the way." He said, pointedly looking between the door and Mustang. Mustang got the hint fairly quickly. Nala shared her amusement with Ed and Ayala.
"Do you remember everyone on the team?" Mustang asked Ed. He thought for a moment.
"Pretty sure I do. There's Hawkeye and Soren, Havoc and Mark, Fuery and Kara, Breda and Dubuffet and Falman and Rachel." He rattled off names and Mustang had to admit he wished he had the kids memory when it came to people and their Animals. He sometimes had to rely on Nala's memory.
"Yup, that's all of them. Have you figured out what you're gonna do today?" Mustang wanted to know purely so he knew where the kid was.
"Yeah, there's some shops I saw that I wanna check out. Might look through some bookstores to see what they've got." He said offhandedly while he focused on where they were going so he could find his way back. Mustang nodded his approval, not that Ed really cared, and they continued in silence, arriving at the base quicker than Ed thought they would. Passing through the gates and the guards, Mustang led the way to his office. Ed was proud to say he almost remembered the way himself. All of Mustangs team was there and judging by their lack of surprise at the late-ish hour, this was a regular occurrence. Judging by Mustangs reaction, having the male team members surround someone they'd met once was not. Havoc, Breda and Fuery all came over and started chatting to Ed enthusiastically while Falman seemed happier to just for an opportunity to speak. Ed couldn't understand any of them, all of their voices were melding together. Ayala and Hawkeye appeared to have reached their limit at the same time. Ayala snapped and snarled loudly while Hawkeye cocked her gun. Both were noises that humans had evolved to be wary of. Ed laid a calming hand on Ayala's head while sending her a silent thank you and let Hawkeye talk.
"I'm sure you boys have plenty of work to be doing." Mustang barely hid an amused smile. Not good enough to avoid Hawkeye's gaze though. "I know for a fact there's plenty of paperwork waiting on your desk, Sir." Mustang's expression fell. Edward snickered. Mustang shot him a dirty look before Hawkeye's gun and stare made him head for the relative safety of his inner office, Nala trailing behind. Another pointed look at the remaining members of her team had the men moving back to their work. Ed headed for the spare seat he'd claimed in his previous visit and felt everyone stare at him. After a few minutes of this, Hawkeye sighed loudly and put her pen down. Soren ruffled his feathers, sensing her annoyance at the lack of work. Everyone looked at her in surprise, including the Animals.
"Edward, if you would be so kind as to tell us how you went, I'd appreciate it. It seems no work will be done until that happens." Edward obliged her request. He was just killing time until he was sure the shops would be open and he figured that they wouldn't get to work even if he left. He started with the first exam, Havoc hi-fiving him for beating Mustangs record and Hawkeye giving Havoc a death glare for disrupting. He was met with looks of disbelief when he described his fighting and told them they were welcome to watch him and Al spar sometime. All the men immediately accepted the invite. It was Hawkeye and Falman who had the biggest reactions to him describing his alchemy test.
"You can perform alchemy without a physical circle?" Hawkeye asked disbelievingly. Havoc, Breda and Fuery who, up until that point didn't realise why Ed's talent was so unique, finally figured it out and looked gobsmacked.
"Yeah. I use an array still. It's just it's in my head. Gives me the edge in a fight. Takes less time and you don't know what I'm going to do." Ed explained, not liking the attention on his abilities. Fuery was the first to speak.
"That is so cool! Can you do any array like that or is it just a particular one, like the Colonel?" He asked, enthusiastically. Ed grinned at him.
"I can do all sorts of alchemy. I don't have a specialty like Mustang. If they're really complicated and I haven't used them before, I'll draw them out like normal alchemists though. The rebound would be less severe if something goes wrong that way." Ed divulged. All of them looked impressed, Hawkeye looked glad to hear that last part.
"Can you show us? Colonel Mustang and Major Armstrong are the only alchemists we've seen in action on a regular basis. If you're gonna be a member of our team, we should know your style." Havoc sounded like a child who was trying to rationalise being shown a trick. Ed looked at Hawkeye, who gave her silent permission, then looked around for something he could transmute. Spotting some metal pipes that were sitting the corner, he turned back to group.
"Whose pipes?" He gestured to said pipes. Fuery claimed them, saying they were for an experiment he was trying. "Can I borrow one?" Fuery gave his blessing. Nudging Ayala away from him, he grabbed one and brought it back to the desk where everyone could see it. Once he had their attention, he clapped his hands. The sound resonated and he placed his hands on the pipe. Alchemic energy danced across the pipe before it melted and moulded itself into the shape Ed wanted. A blade as long as his forearm appeared. Gripping the handle, he held it so the blunt edge of the weapon ran parallel to his forearm and raised it to show everyone. Once everyone had seen it, it laid it back on the table and transmuted it back to original shape for Fuery.
"Holy crap." Surprisingly, this came from Falman. "If the military don't admit you into the program than they're beyond stupid." Everyone nodded their agreement, still shocked by what they saw. Hawkeye was the first one to recover. Ed couldn't say he was surprised by that.
"Thank you for showing us, Edward." She graced him with a small but honest smile. Ed returned it.
"No problems. Hey, Miss Riza? Do you know what time most of the shops and bookstores open around here?" He asked. Hawkeye thought for a moment.
"I believe the vast majority are open by 8:30 or 9." Ed flashed her a grin. It was already past 9.
"Thanks, Miss Riza. I'll see you guys later!" Ed called as he and Ayala headed for the door. Hawkeye's voice brought him to a halt.
"Are you okay finding your way out?" She asked, slightly concerned with him getting lost. The base was pretty big after all. Ed gave her a reassuring look.
"I'll be fine. I'm pretty good at remembering paths I've taken and Ayala can always follow familiar scents if we do get lost. See ya!" With that, he and his wolf were gone and the door was shut. Everyone looked sad at him leaving. He was a good reason to escape work for a while and everyone liked him already. A familiar click was heard and everyone got back to their work. Hawkeye smiled gratefully for the day getting back to normal before reengaging the safety on her gun and holstering it once more.
Ed, true to his word, had successfully made it out of the building and off the base. They went slower so Ayala could get a proper sense of their surroundings. Neither boy nor wold noticed Mustang looking out his window, watching them leave. Mustang would vehemently deny to anyone who asked but he was worried about a 12 year old being let loose in a major city he's never been too without someone familiar with area with him. Once the pair were out of his sight, he went straight back to his desk and wondered how many papers he'd get away with burning or hiding. Nala was quick to remind what happened the last time he tried either method. Mustang was quick to tell her to keep it to herself. Hawkeye then had the audacity to bring even more work in and remind him he needed to get all of it done by the end of the week. Mustang wondered if he could still use Ed as a means to escape the paperwork. Nala informed him that while that would work until Ed went home, Mustang would still have all of this work plus even more waiting for him. This time Mustang simply pretended not to hear her, opting to start the torture so he could finish as soon as possible. Nala chuckled at him before curling up in her favourite spot on one of his couches.
After exploring every shop that caught his eye and going for lunch when his stomach threatened to eat itself and Ayala threatened to eat him, Ed found a fabric shop that looked promising. He needed material that was thick but not too thick. Something that was flashy so he could be easily spotted if he and Al got separated or something he could use to signal Al but not too flashy. It also had to be easily to transmute so he could fix it if it got torn and it had to be made out of a material that was strong enough for everyday wear and tear but would tear if it got caught on something if he was attacked. After searching for ages, he finally found something he approved of. Once Ayala gave him her blessing, he bought enough to make two. He also bought a small roll of fabric to put his Teachers symbol on the back of it. That would make it stand out more and also hopefully lessen her wrath when she found out he'd joined the military. He still held onto the slim hope that he could find the Stone and discharge from the military before Teacher ever found out he joined in the first place. Happy with his purchase, he thanked the checkout lady and decided to head back to his room so he could make the final piece of his outfit. He could check out bookstores afterwards. Lots of shop assistants had given him instructions to ones that were supposedly good. He smiled at the lady manning the check in desk and made his way up to his level. Fishing his key out, he let himself and Ayala into the room and shut the door behind him. Laying out his newly purchased material, he considered how he wanted it to look and clapped his hands once he made his decision. The energy flared and disappeared before he completed the second part of the design. Once that second lot of light dissipated, Ed stood back to admire his handiwork. The blood red jacket same to his knees and covered his arms so that only his gloves showed. It didn't have a zip or buttons but he didn't want them in case he had to get out of it quickly. The fabric would keep him warm but was breathable so he wouldn't overheat in summer. The flamel Teacher wore was on the back and was big enough to take up the whole of his back. Ayala was pleased with design as well, even if the colour was very bright. Ed quickly made his spare one and left it on his bed. Pulling the final part of his outfit on, he headed out with Ayala to find the bookstores he'd been directed too.
Mustang, like always, was ecstatic when 6pm rolled around. He pulled his black military coat on and headed for the door with Nala on his heels. He was thankful to see his outer office empty. Everyone else cleared out by 5:30. Lucky bastards. Making his way out to the grounds and then freedom, he contemplated what he should do with Ed tomorrow. Should he have the boy accompany him in like this morning or leave him to his own devices until he hears from the higher ups? If Ed went in with him, he'd have a good reason for sleeping in like he did this morning. However, according to Hawkeye, nobody except her and Falman had been able to get their work completely done. Everyone else was too busy chatting about Edward. He still hadn't quite decided when he reached the hotel the eldest Elric was staying at. Unperturbed, he made his way to the front desk so he could get Ed's room number. He didn't memerise it the night before. Nala shook her head at him.
"Excuse me, Miss? Would you mind telling me what room number Edward Elric is staying?" He asked the lovely lady who was seated behind the desk. She smiled at him and checked the guest book.
"Mister Elric is staying in room 305. I'm not sure if he's in yet or not. He left after lunch today and I haven't noticed him come back yet." The clerk, Mandy, warned him. He thanked her and headed for Ed's assigned room. Knocking on the door and receiving no answer after a couple of minutes, he concluded that the lovely Mandy was correct in her assumption that the blonde hadn't gotten back. Heading back down, he was ready to leave a message for Ed with Mandy and possibly get her number when the aforementioned alchemist walked through the front doors, a take out bag in one hand and some books under the other. He was chatting to Ayala when he noticed Mustang standing there.
"Nice jacket." Nala grinned at him. He grinned back and sent a silent thanks.
"Oh hey, Mustang. We weren't supposed to meet up tonight, right?" He couldn't remember them discussing a meet up but that didn't mean much.
"No, I was just wanting to tell you that you don't need to come into the office tomorrow. Do whatever you want around town but stick to the same area as today. And what are you wearing?" The red coat had caught Mustangs eye (honestly, how could it not?) and he couldn't ignore it anymore.
"I needed a jacket so I found the right material and made one. It's cool, huh?" Ed grinned and Mustang caught the design on the back reflected in the glass doors of the hotel.
"What is that on the back?" Ed didn't miss the fact he never answered his question.
"Teacher's symbol. As her student, it's my right to wear it. Also I'm hoping that it will soothe her anger enough that she'll only hurt me instead of outright killing me when she finds out I've enlisted." Mustang was kinda concerned with Ed's attitude towards the whole prospect.
"You realise that colour is going to make you stick out?" He wanted to make that clear and to know the reason behind the choice. Ed looked at him like he was an idiot.
"Duh. That's the whole point." He said it like it was obvious. Mustang must've looked confused because he put him out of misery. "If Al and I get separated, I want him to be able to find me as easily as I can find him. What? You didn't realise a giant suit of armour would stick out as well?" He pointed out. It finally clicked for Mustang. Al was going to stick out no matter what so Edward wore the red so Al wouldn't be as out of place. Mustang also realised the red jacket would come in handy when he needed to find Edward for any reason. Not that he pointed this out to Ed.
"Fair enough. Hopefully, we'll have your results by tomorrow or the next morning at the latest. All we're really waiting for is your blood results to come in." Ed nodded. Hopefully he'd be home within the next couple of days. He couldn't wait to get back to his brother. He didn't like being separated from him for so long. Being able to talk directly to Chester helped but not enough. "Good night, Edward. Ayala." He bade them as he headed for the door.
"See ya, Mustang. Bye, Nala!" Edward said before he and Ayala headed back to their room and devouring their dinner before diving into the new books Ed had bought.
A/N - Once again, I sincerely apologise for how long it took to get this chapter out! I also apologise for its length and the kinda rushed ending. I know it's no excuse but I've been so busy with weddings and moving house that I really only got the opportunity to sit and write over the past few days while I'm house-sitting. I'm not sure if I made it clear or not but Hughes knows nothing about the human transmutation Ed attempted and the knife Ed creates for the team is similar to the one he forms when Scar first attacks him in Brotherhood. I think it's ep 5? Anyway, I'm hoping the next chapter will be posted quicker but don't hold your breath. I'll be working for four days and finishing moving after that and then I have another wedding straight after the move. I also want to apologise for last chapter. I had it pointed out to me that Elysia was born when Ed was 12, not four. Aside from her age, no one else will really change that much. I apologise for any confusion that might've caused! As always, thank you to everyone who is still reading this story and please drop me a review of what you think so far!