Chapter Eleven
Somehow, Ed hadn't the slightest notion how, the four of them made it inside the first floor of the building and into the stairwell before anyone on that floor noticed something seemed different in Mustang and Havoc's entourage. Mustang had just finished locking the door that led to the stairwell with a smirk when a sudden burst of excited talking and yanking on the door commenced.
"It'll take them a few minutes to go get the spare key." He said as he strolled up the stairs, hands in pockets, a pleased smile on his face.
Edward cast him a sideways glance, "it'll only make them that much harder to handle once they do corner us."
"Well, if worst comes to worst we can always conceal you inside a trash bin until they've given up." Roy suggested.
"It's not even eight in the morning and already you're trying to subject me to wisecracks about my height?" Ed asked loftily, somehow managing to only glare at the man. "I'm only a few inches shorter than you now, and I've not peaked my growing years."
"What do you mean, I've peaked."
"I'll give you a medical dictionary for your fortieth birthday."
"Honestly, brother." Al sighed. "It's not even eight in the morning."
Somehow the four of them made it to Mustang's wing of the building they were in. However that did not mean that there was a crowd behind them all whispering excitedly or pointing fingers as they followed, intent on trying to discover what has going on.
Havoc shoved Al and Ed in before them, and quickly dashed for the safety of the office as Roy closed the door and locked it.
"That won't help." Ed pointed out as someone from the other side yelled for someone to fetch the spare keys.
"It will help for now." Mustang argued.
The next thing Roy knew, was that he had been knocked aside as the door flung open. Between the graceful art of he losing his balance and the force of the door Roy ended up crashing into a small potted plant.
The next thing Edward and Alphonse knew, Major Armstrong had them both in chokehold hugs and was streaming tears of joy. "I didn't want to believe it but it is you!" He choked out through his crocodile sized tears.
Suddenly all sorts of other alchemists or office staff were gathered around to marvel at the sudden appearance of Edward and Alphonse.
Mustang had managed to regain his balance, upright the tipped plant, and pull on his gloves before gunshots suddenly rang through the air.
"Those who are not part of General Mustang's staff are to leave immediately." Hawkeye said as she stepped forward, her gun leveled at the crowd. "That includes you as well, Major Amstrong." She said in a no-nonsense tone.
For the first time ever, people paused when threatened by a fully loaded weapon wielded by Riza Hawkeye.
Mustang raised one hand, his fingers dancing dangerously close.
The other alchemists and employees of the building made a mad dash for the exit. Major Armstrong left after a moments hesitation and a few more tears.
"Did General Trip-and-Fall nearly fall again? Did he have to hang on to a poor innocent plant for balance?" Edward goaded with a smirk.
"I'll have you know it's your fault for being so damn popular." Roy replied as he lowered his hand but did not pull off his gloves.
"So sue me."
"Edward." Riza suddenly said.
Ed immediately looked over at her. "Yes ma'am?"
"Welcome back, sir." She said as her face broke into a smile, gun now holstered once more. "You too, Alphonse."
"Thank you." Both echoed and returned her smile.
Suddenly Hawkeye strode across the room to pull them both into a short hug before releasing the blushing twosome. "I do hope you two plan on staying for good?"
Al exchanged a smile with his brother, and they both nodded. "Yeah… yeah we do." Al answered.
"Good." Riza accepted and looked over at her commanding officer. "I'm glad to see you came out of it looking fine as well."
Mustang was staring at her critically though as if trying to discover what was out of place. "Hawkeye, what are you wearing?" He asked as she frowned at him.
"My uniform, sir." Riza answered in confusion.
"I believe the new policy starting today is for female officers under my command to wear miniskirts." Mustang decided, and quickly dove for cover as a bullet hole appeared in the wall he'd just been standing in front of.
"What was that, sir?" Riza asked sweetly.
"Nothing, I merely sneezed." Came Roy's voice from behind a couch which he'd dove behind.
"He's back." Breda whispered to the others, and they all smiled. Mustang was back, and none of them doubted the reason for his sudden return to his sometimes… lewd personality and air of arrogance.
Ed and Al stared in blank shock. They were not allowed to stay shocked for long though as Fuery, Breda, and Falman suddenly began their overjoyed assault on their persons. There was much friendly back slapping, man hugs, and congratulations.
Mustang had deemed it finally safe to make another appearance, and Hawkeye walked over to stand beside him as they watched over the reunion of everyone. "Good job, sir." Riza said at last.
Once the excitement had died down, even Riza had been pulled into the festivities, Havoc finally couldn't take it anymore. "So are you going to tell us how you managed to bring them back or aren't you, Mustang?"
They were currently all sitting in Mustang's office, taking up every available inch of couch space as Roy perched importantly in his chair from behind his desk, looking every inch of a pleased male peacock strutting around and flashing his feathers once more. "I attached a part of my soul to a vessel that could bring them both back. And here we are now." Roy summarized. There was a reason he'd wanted the research destroyed.
"Do tell them about how graceful you are." Edward suggested with a much too innocent smile and the crossing of his legs.
Mustang shot the younger alchemist a glare.
"It was… really something." Edward continued undaunted.
Suddenly Roy realized Edward wasn't looking to embarrass him, he was just looking to see how far he could go before he'd force him into retaliating through violence. It made a flicker of a smirk tug at his mouth. Since when did Ed play mind games with him? Wasn't it normally he who would play the head games? Edward had grown up, and Roy had the feeling he hadn't yet seen the full extent of Edward's new maturity. The challenge of discovering it was something that interested him. "I'm glad you thought so. Now then, if everyone could excuse us for a few minutes, I have something that I wish to discuss alone with Edward."
With murmured assents and the shifting of bodies rising from the couches one by one the others began to file out of Mustang's office. Alphonse looked back once before he exited last and shut the door behind him firmly.
"What do you want?" Edward asked suspiciously as he draped himself over the couch now that he had more room. Uncrossing his legs Edward extended them out before him as he stared over at Mustang with unblinking gold eyes.
"When are you planning to head to Risembool?"
"You needed to make everyone leave to ask me something like that?" Edward asked in amazement. "Jeez, I knew you were a jerk but-"
"That's not why." Mustang interrupted.
Edward stared at him for a moment longer before casting his gaze forward again. "Tomorrow morning."
"How long do you expect your repairs will take?"
"Up to a week."
"Report back here once it's done."
"Am I to assume you're sending me out on a mission again so soon?" Edward asked as he leaned his head back against the couch. "May I remind you that although everyone still seems to treat me as a State Alchemist, and I've not denied it yet, I have not had an assessment in nearly four years."
"True." Mustang agreed as he watched the other man as Edward brought his braid around to examine it closely. "I'll speak to the Fuhrer about it this afternoon. I need to inform him you and your brother are back, after all."
"Like he doesn't know already." Edward replied, still fiddling with the golden braid. "Who's Fuhrer now? If it's not you?"
"I thought you found it surprising I'm a General now." Mustang reminded him.
"So I did."
Roy waited until it became clear Ed was not about to say anything else. "His name is Karveston."
"Mmm." Edward let his braid free of his hands and continued to stare at the ceiling.
"He's heard of you and Al of course, mostly you." Mustang continued. "Just promise that you'll come back and report right away after your repairs are finished. I'll have news about the assessment and the mission when you return."
Edward blinked and suddenly looked over at Mustang. That tone… it was almost… protective. But why? What was he trying to protect? "Yeah, sure. Is that all?"
Roy opened his mouth to say something, then closed it quickly with a frown marring his brow. His own thoughts were confusing him, confusing the very basis of who he knew himself to be. Was it that he had changed, that Edward had changed him? He cast a dark look towards the picture on his desk and suddenly closed his eyes in frustration. To what extent had he changed?
Edward watched Roy feeling somehow that his General was bothered by something. He was curious, concerned, even a bit anxious. It wasn't everyday that Roy Mustang ever showed more feelings than his usual arrogance and air of extreme self-confidence. He almost looked human again… struggling with something unsaid. It made him feel strange inside, almost as if something were putting pressure on his heart. Ed looked away quickly to get the flustered feeling that had settled over him under control before he stood. "Mustang."
Roy looked up at him now.
Ed hesitated only a second before walking forward to Roy's desk. Frowning, he slowly reached down towards the picture that seemed to have some significance behind Roy's sudden change of mood.
Roy, seeing what Ed was about to grab suddenly reached out to snatch it away before the other man had the opportunity to lay even one white gloved finger upon it. Holding it in his own gloved hand he leveled a stern look at Edward. "You may go out and join the others now. Ask Hawkeye to secure lodgings for you and your brother if she has not already."
Edward withdrew his hand with a frown. What exactly was that photo of? Roy had definitely not wanted him to look at it. Feeling very confused, and just a bit affronted that he had been dismissed so abruptly and without a trace of warmness, Edward turned with a swish of his red jacket and strode to the door. Ed knew he was probably reading too much into this, but he felt as if Roy had suddenly thrown a wall into his face, and it didn't feel good. Opening the door Edward cast one last look over his shoulder to where Roy sat staring at the picture. He was glad Roy hadn't been looking his way, else the man would have seen the hurt look in Edward's gold eyes.
As the door closed after Edward, Roy set the picture back where it belonged and hung his head with a heavy sigh. He hadn't felt like trying to explain things to Ed if he had seen that picture, and, he wasn't sure that he himself knew the reason behind it. His subconscious tried once more to help him understand, but he quickly shut it down. Now that Edward was back, there was work to be done, he could allow himself no time to dwell on such follies.
"Brother? What'd he have to say?" Al asked as Edward made his appearance.
"We were just talking business." Edward replied honestly.
"Really?" Breda asked looking amazed.
"Damn." Falman grumbled as he shoved monetary notes into Havoc's hands.
"Oh well." Hawkeye sighed, turning back to her work. "Some things take a bit of time."
Al half smiled and ran a hand through his dark blonde bangs, shaking them out. "Yes, but how long should this take?"
Edward frowned and looked around at them all. "Do I even want to know?"
"It's better if you figure it out on your own, sir." Riza replied as she scribbled a signature on a paper before her.
"Right." Ed replied, not sounding convinced. "Lieutenant," she looked up inquiringly, "I've been told you will secure lodgings for us."
Riza nodded and set down her pen to pick up the phone at her desk. "I'll get right on that. In the meantime, why don't you boys head around the building and say hello. Otherwise they'll be banging down the doors again soon enough, and I'd rather not waste more bullets today."
So Ed and Al obeyed that request and set off around Central under the guard of Fuery and Breda.