Those Days After

Special thanks to: shooting2stars: It's supposed to :D And you know, you'll just have to read on... I don't know if I'll mention it anymore or not, or even if that cloth will be important... Yes, it is :D Thanks!

Fanged Alchemist: Yes you were :D DO IT! Yeah, I agree... poor Al... :'(

St. Iggy: Well it's awesome :D And yeah. I understood the whole "love in Japanese" thing but I didn't hear about the other one until I read some stuff on the characters online ;D Thanks for reviewing!

Raven of the Willows: That's fine, again, I don't review much either... :S

FlamingFireWolf: Thank you much :D

FullmetalFan: may~be... I can't seem to remember... .

_: Now I feel awesome. 'Cause I have no idea who they are :D I just thought that those were awesome names. You have no idea what being unable to sleep and needing names for certain stories can do... :D

bronze andromeda shun: That's okay, it happens :D I thought that that's what you meant but it didn't make much sense soI wanted to make sure. And you can't win all of the time... but don't worry! XD

Obsessive-Fan Number 1: Good call :D ...yes :) ... Pssh, I wasn't... it was all Ricochet... I just thought that he could use any insult he could get his hands on .

Take a guess: Met? 0.o jk. Thanks for the review!

A/N: Guess who is sooo uber happy right now 'cause I met my goal? THIS GIRL! That's right, I officially have 5 reviews per chapter! Thanks for reviewing everyone! If I could get 6 per chapter, that'd be awesome, but that'd be uber difficult... I think, at least. But 5 per chapter sent me an entire two hour bus ride just a-smiling away... ^-^

Disclaimer: Sorry about the author's note, just figured that everyone should know how happy I am... :D Anyway, I still don't own FMA.


Edward's golden eyes followed Rico suspiciously, frowning in apprehension. Deep distrust burst in his chest- as it had since he'd appeared there with the transfer papers.

The man was spending way too much time getting close-physically to the General, and way too little time actually working. Edward didn't know why it affected him so much. After all, the General knew how to take care of himself. So why was he suddenly becoming so worried?

Rico's hand suddenly twitched toward Mustang's pocket, and Ed would have leapt forward to stop him, but the older auto-mail wielder pulled away, shaking his head.

"Whatcha staring at?"

Ed's eyes widened and he spun around, his anxiety-riddled mind only expecting the worst. He saw Breda behind him. The man stepped closer to him with a tray. "Hey kid." he said.

Edward respectfully acknowledged him with a nod of the head. "H-hey."

"What were you staring at? You looked kind of angry." Breda asked again, taking a seat at the table next to him.

Edward slid into the seat next to him with a deep sigh. "That bastard Nagy. He may have everyone else fooled, but not me."

"Why?"

"...I don't know. But there's something screwed up about him. I told Mustang the day that he came, and I still hold true to that." Ed glanced back at the man, who had taken a seat a few spots away from the General. "And he's recently been getting a really creepy obsession with the General."

"I've noticed that." Breda laughed. He breathed deeply, and glanced back over to the Lieutenant Colonel. "I just think that it's cause he's new."

"A year and a half is not new, Breda. He's been here long enough that he should have my trust by now."

"And how long did it take you to trust the General?"

"...Shut up. That's cause he was my higher-up and commanding officer. Nagy's neither; he's way beneath me." Edward snarled.

Breda nodded. He knew that Ed wasn't good with authority. "So why were you watching the Private anyway?"

"You won't believe me."

"Try me." Breda raised his eyebrows at the blond.

"...I think that... Okay, I think he was trying to pickpocket Mustang. I mean, I know that Mustang wouldn't let him, but he keeps doing it." Ed explained.

"..."

"..."

"Pickpocket?"

"It could happen!"

"Yes, it could. But what's the likelihood? And what would he go after, his watch?"

"No, he keeps going for the other pocket. Thieving bastard." Ed ran his hands together, gloveless, feeling the touch of skin as he did so often. It'd become a habit in the last few months. He stood and stretched. "I've no idea what it is about him, but every time he looks at me, it's like he's taunting me. Mocking me almost. Why?"

Breda sighed, but shrugged respectfully. "Who knows? No one may ever. Where are you going?" he asked the boy as he turned to leave the cafeteria.

"For a walk. It's getting way too close; I need to clear my mind."

He found his way to the front room of the main building. It wasn't that hard, whether he was paying attention or not. He glanced up when someone called his alias, "Fullmetal?" "...Yeah?" "There's someone on the phone for you... Um, Wendy, I think she said?" the receptionist was holding out a phone to him.

'Wendy? I don't know a Wendy... Unless...' he went to the woman and took the phone. "Hello?"

"Ed?"

'Just as I thought.' "Winry? Is something wrong?"

"No... Not particularly anyway. Um... I found something. I don't even know if it's important or not, but... It's kinda been bothering me..." Winry breathed. Ed heard her move the phone from one ear to the other.

"Oh? And what is it?"

"Um... You know that place where the three of us used to play when we were trying to get away from our parents? You know, at the river? Um... I was thinking and sitting in the river, for no reason, and something floated by..."

Edward cocked his head to the side. He knew just as well as Winry did how nothing synthetic found it's way down the river because there was no way that it could.

"It was May so this was a while ago but I didn't wanna bother you when you're looking for Al and-"

"Win? You'll never be a bother to me." Ed heaved himself up onto the counter and leaned back a little. If the receptionist hadn't known that she'd be yelled at, she would have commented that he was acting very much like one other Lieutenant Colonel, Maes Hughes.

Winry ignored him. "I didn't think that it was that important. But now I'm... Less sure. It was a tan piece of cloth and it had the Flamel on it and-"

It had the Flamel on it? No clothes had the Flamel produced into them, not that he knew of. And why would a piece of cloth be floating in the river, above which no one can go? He blinked, realizing that Winry had continued on without him. "Uh... Could you repeat that? I missed it..."

"Ed... It was just a patch of cloth- like from a shirt or something. And it had bloodstains. I tried to get Den to track the owner, but he couldn't."

"Great, so now you're calling me because I'm a dog of the military? Very funny Winry."

"No, that's not... I'm not trying to be mean! Rrr... If you were here now I'd hit you with my wrench." Winry snarled.

"Good thing that I'm not there. Can I tell you something?"

"...Sure Ed. Of course you can." Winry sighed.

"...Kay... Um... There's this guy that I work with. He's a little screwed up and no one believes me I don't know why but... I don't even know why I'm telling you this!"

Winry giggled a little. She sighed. "That's fine."

"You don't trust the mountains much, do you?"

"Do you?" Winry replied. She heaved into a seat.

"...You're right. Oh, um, I gotta go. Unless you want to deal with the over-pompous ass, Mustang."

Winry laughed again. "Oh be nice. You know that he's been helping you out a lot. The least you could do is watch yourself around him."

"Actually, the least I can do is nothing. See you later Winry."

Winry rolled her eyes. "So that's what all of that genius and studying went to? Bye-bye Ed. Oh, and I'm so sorry that I can't be there. I've had so many customers. I'll call every night, okay?"

"There's no need, but thanks. I understand." Ed bit his lip, hung up, and gave the phone back to the receptionist. The woman took it and set it back on his cradle.

Sure enough, Roy appeared next to him, peering at the receptionist and then Ed himself. Fighting to bite back a short joke, he said, "You'll have to leave in a few days."

"Leave where?" Ed actually did know that Roy was doing this to help him. Send him on a random, easy mission with the allotted time of a month or so, giving him time to look for Al.

"To the West. There's been some fighting in a town bordering Creta, and we think that they need a leader to quell them. The Führer thought that you'd be best." Roy explained softly. He sighed and leaned back.

Ed frowned. "Wait, like a legit mission?" he demanded.

"Führer's orders! If I had to send you to the West I'd send you to a more crowded place; where your brother has a higher chance of being held." Roy breathed softly. He frowned as well, rather deeply. "I'm sorry; I tried to get him to let someone else go, but he insisted on you."

Ed's golden eyes widened in pain. "But why... I mean... I, I have to find Al! Do you know what it is in 5 days? Two years! Two years since Al's disappearance! So isn't it fair to just let me search? THATS NOT FAIR!"

A pained expression crossed almost everyone's faces: Roy's, the receptionist's, Riza's, and almost anyone under Roy's supervision. Ed didn't even seem to realize that he'd provided the perfect distraction.

Rico slipped behind Mustang and grinned. His hand trailed into the man's left pocket. He silently pulled something out and turned to leave the room.

Mustang sighed. "I'm sorry Ed. I tried to convince him." he turned, not seeing Rico slide a little away from them. "But you know the Führer; once he has an idea, it won't likely change."

Ed was speechless, staring past the General. Was he the only one that saw the crime? A door closed silently as Rico left it. What had that bastard stolen? "That... That bastard!" snarling, Edward launched himself forward, past Mustang, and to where the hallway behind that door ended.

"No... Edward!" Roy pitched forward just in time to grab Edward. "I know that you're upset but I doubt that getting a court marshal and possibly getting arrested will help you find Al any sooner!"

"Get back here you coward! Face me like a man! Face up to your goddamn crimes! I will make you pay!"

Edward and Roy sank to the ground, and Roy pulled the boy up into his lap. Respectfully, the team turned away and surrounded them, to not let anyone else see. Roy softly started petting Ed's soft, golden hair, holding the child tightly against his chest. "Shh... Maybe this is the break that you need... It'll turn out all right, I promise. Just... Shh..."

Edward shuddered against him, trying to fight the grip. He finally sighed and relaxed. 'You can face him about it later. For now... Just relax... Re...lax...' he nodded then, relaxing enough for Roy to release him. He slumped out of the older man's lap.

Roy ruffled his hair. "Better?"

Ed nodded. "Yeah. Barely though.


Around 5 that afternoon, Edward approached his own office from Roy's, holding a few case files so he knew what to research tomorrow when he went to the library. He grabbed the handle of his office door and was about to open it when he heard, "Hell yes I've got it. What do you take me for, a fool? I'm hurt, partner. Yeah, the dumbass didn't even expect it. None of the idiots did. They were too busy fumbling over poor Edward's fit. Gah, idiots. I thought that they were trained well enough in the military, but apparently not. Pssh, no. The kid won't be. He's going out anyway then." The voice paused, apparently hearing something. "Listen, I've got to go. I'll see you this weekend. No, I think someone's outside the office. See ya, bye." The phone was hung up.

Edward was certain that he knew that voice. Ricochet! So what, Ricochet had snuck into his office with his permission and was using his phone under the same circumstances? He grabbed the door handle and ripped the door open. "Stay out of my-" there was no one to yell at. No one was in there. He took several steps into the room, finally just sinking onto the couch. He sighed deeply.

The door to his office was torn open. When he looked, no one was there. He leapt to his feet and rushed to the door, opening it wider to see who was out there. Looking down both sides of the hallway, he saw still no one. He stepped out and looked around. Still seeing not a soul, he stumbled back into his office, closing the door swiftly.

He turned to lean his back against the door and slid down it. His head hit the door. "I'm crazy…" he breathed. He gathered his knees to his chest, gently wrapping his arms around them. He put his forehead against his knees, and found he couldn't explain what happened next. Tears started falling. For no reason, they gathered and then fell. Oh, he knew that he was stressed. He knew that everything was choosing now to get to him. It was just… once he started, he didn't think that he'd stop. He didn't want to stop. He wanted someone to notice him and come in and comfort him. He knew that it was a long shot, though, because he'd specifically asked for no one to bother him.

It was with a start that he realized whom he wanted to come and comfort him. Tears fell faster.

'I… I want… I want Roy…'


"Do you want to go check on him? It's been a while."

"…Sure, I can. He's probably just busy working or in the library or something."

Riza sighed and stood from her place on the couch. "Alright. It's about time to go, so I guess that I'll go with you, sir." She straightened her uniform and followed her superior as he left the office.

Fullmetal's office was down a floor and over several doors. The door had, unsurprisingly, been designed with a gothic in mind, with skulls on the handles, though on the insides it looked like any old office.

Roy took hold of the door handle and was about to tug on it, when it was pushed open gently. Edward stumbled out of the office, holding his head. He closed the door and leaned against it, finally glancing up at the astounded man and woman. "Hullo Captain, Brigadier General." He said, in an almost drunken stupor.

"Hello, Lieutenant Colonel…" Roy raised his eyebrows at the boy, who heaved a deep sigh. "Are you feeling alright?"

"More or less. Could be better. When am I getting all of the details of my stupid mission?" Edward lashed out with a weak kick, not at anyone in particular, just to vent.

"The day before you leave? We're giving you time to prepare, Ed." Came Roy's nonchalant reply.

Edward glanced back up at him. "…Okay… hey, can I go home now? I don't wanna be here anymore today. I'm getting a headache…"

The innocence in that statement would have broken Riza's heart if she hadn't hardened it years ago. "Of course you can. It's nearly eight at night. Don't you think that you've been here long enough?"

"I was in there for three hours? Sorry… 'kay, I'm going to head home. See ya tomorrow." Edward stumbled past them, waving.

Roy's eyes narrowed a little at him, worried. "Edward, why are your eyes all red?"

Edward stopped. He turned halfway so he wasn't facing them, but the wall. "Are they? I didn't notice…"

"Edward…"

"…Everything's just starting to catch up, I guess. I don't know. Listen, can't I just go home now? You said I could…"

Roy sighed, rubbing his forehead. He glanced over at Riza, who was watching Edward worriedly. Almost as one, "Edward, why don't you come stay with one of us?"

Edward turned the rest of the way to look at them both. Furrowing his eyebrows, he shook his head. "Thanks but no thanks. I think, for tonight, I need to be alone. I need some time to think to myself." He waved again, turning.

Both adults followed him closely. Riza crossed her arms. "Well you, young man, are way too tired to be driving yourself home. I'll drive you back and then come pick you up in the morning; my apartment it just past yours." She said.

Ed looked at Roy, who shrugged meaningfully. "May as well. You'll get yourself hurt if you don't."

"…Er… thanks?"


Bad ending to a meh chapter. Sorry about that~ I just wanted to update. ;D So how was it? Was it any good? :D I hope so!

Thanks for reading! Please review!

~YAJJ