Paon: Well be expecting it to happen more often. This is around the only time I have anymore to upload these, unless I did so in the late afternoon. But to me that seems cruel to make you wait so long.
Ethereal: Good luck clue hunting. I think I promised cookies to those who could figure it out.
J Plash: Meanwhile on the road to Central... Kang runs away... the end. Nah, I'm kidding. It's 3 in the morning, I'm allowed to be strange this early.
dontwaitup: Yes, Al is flesh, blood, and bone. And I'm glad you are happy with the daily updates.
GreedxEd: Roy would enjoy punishing Ed... hmm... -thinks on that scenario for plotline purposes-
Rose: I shall forgive you.
STF: Well welcome back from vacation! Did you enjoy yourself?
oruchuban: Oh he is, he's huggable because he's whiny.. you just want to shut him up and what funner way? I am glad you are a goo puddle again.
So again, this will probably end up being the new normal time for chapters to be put up. It's really the only time I have without making you all wait forever. And I like you all better than that. At any rate I think I finally got all the issues solved at the college. -sigh- And yes, even I am back in classes now. I figure I have a year and a half left, so I'm going to be pushing myself even harder. Classes by day, homework and writing by night, posting by morning. Somewhere in there I'm supposed to sleep, right? I'll figure it out. My whole life is one big multitask project.
Chapter Thirty Eight
Edward adjusted his slightly rumpled clothes, and fixed his hair absently before going out into the hallway again. Much was on his mind, yet he managed to keep from looking distracted as he made his way towards the more heavily guarded wing where the emperor kept his quarters.
Again he passed by the guards, and as usual, they made no move to stop him.
Sometimes he had to wonder if that was really a convenience at all.
But he continued on past with the swishing of his jacket which was still transmuted to look more like a serial killers attire, and the light clunking of his boots.
"Major Elric!"
Edward stopped in his tracks, groaning inwardly at the voice. Steeling himself he cleared his face of emotion before turning to look back the way he'd come. "Actually according to a few sources it's General Elric, now." He replied without missing a beat.
"That was a quick jump up the ranks for you." General Orthis said as he walked closer.
"I have rather unconventional ways it seems to create stirs of various nature." Edward waved it off nonchalantly.
"What are you up to this time? I was hoping I might be able to-"
"Sorry, General, you've not been granted clearance again upon your return arrival." One of the guards posted at the hallway said, extending a hand to stop the man's progress.
Edward barely managed to hide his glee and delight. "Sorry, Orthis, I'll have to take a conversation rain check."
"You can't talk now?" The man almost whined.
"No." Edward said, not deigning to reveal anything further. "Orthis." He inclined his head politely, turned on his heel, and strode off again.
Inwardly he was jumping up and down like a twelve year old again with a successful grin and shouting "yes, yes, yes!" at the top of his lungs. However no one who looked at the composed alchemist would have guessed it of him as he strode down the hallways.
Meanwhile General Orthis was left standing looking rather downcast. "He better not forget." He grumped, and then turned to head away.
Once both men were gone, one guard turned to the others. "How much do you guys want to wager that Master Elric chooses to forget?"
Instantly the hushed mumbling began between them.
In the meantime Edward had ended up at the proper door, knocked, and entered.
"Oh so you did decide to join me, lovely."
Edward inclined his head to the man with a smile. "Of course. I can think of no better company I'd rather spend my dinner with."
"If I didn't know that to actually be true, I'd tell you to stop trying to flatter me." The emperor remarked with a wry smile, waving him to a seat.
"Flatter you?" Edward winked at him, taking the offered seat. "Please, I don't even flatter my own leader. Priorities, you know."
He chuckled, knowing all of that to be true. "Yes, indeed. It's one of the reasons I like you so much. You don't give a damn about propriety at the best of times."
Edward made a low hum in his throat, almost akin to a growl. "Or the worst it would seem. I know there to be a time and place for everything, even so."
The food appeared before them, and the cups of steaming green tea and the bottle of sake placed down before the two men were left back to their chatter.
"I heard that there was an incident in the woods this morning?" The emperor prompted and took a mouthful of rice.
A nod, "you heard correctly. I took care of it though." Edward looked about to lay his fork down, but managed to keep hold of it as he continued. "She survived based on an anomaly I've only seen once before in my life of fighting. She would have been dead by now had I left her, but I am not so bitter that I cannot show mercy."
"What is this anomaly you speak of?" The emperor inquired, truly looking curious.
Edward had never said much, if anything, to this man of his time in the other world opposite this. So he decided to keep it basic. "Where the blast is deflected enough by something that even at close range survival for a few hours more is possible. But it's no survival I'd wish on anyone. It knocks you away, and it did her. I only had to look at the blast angle and the layout of the terrain to figure out where she would be. I'd like to think more that I went in after her to give her a mercy stroke, than I went after her to finish her off. At that point she was hardly an enemy."
The first time he'd seen this happen, the man had not been any sort of enemy. And it had been heart wrenching to see. Both he and Alphonse had witnessed it, and they both considered the event one of those they shoved down into that mental box. The first time, the man had triggered a land mine. After that… everyone knew it was only a matter of time. However cruel those last minutes following the triggering of the trap had been.
"Now see, this is a reason I'd be glad to have you with Amestris as friend, not foe like you are to all the others aside from Ishbal." The emperor said quite seriously, but still with that kind smile as he looked upon the blonde man sitting with him. He knew this man was strong, and capable of doing much with that strength. And yet he could also see this man was tired, his eyes at times sparkled with the light of a soul decades older than the bearer.
Edward frowned at him, tilting his head somewhat to one side. "Why would I be anything else? You've shown me nothing but kindness."
"I'd not like to face you in battle." The emperor said quite blandly. "And I think those who choose to are idiots."
"In some ways, yes they are." Edward gave in, and took another bite of his smoked salmon.
"Have you heard anything more from home?"
"Some, yes. Things are still on edge, but they finally have enough information that they're getting closer. I'll need to access the library tomorrow. Once I have that, I'll be able to start forming ideas to shoot back at them. If I make a correct guess, I'll be heading off immediately to go rectify some matters."
"You know the offer still stands that you can stay here permanently. It has for years."
"I know." Edward spared him a grateful smile. "And I do love it here. But it's not the ideal future I want for myself."
"I can understand why. But only so you know that you always have a place to go. Like you said, I won't throw you out on your collective ear."
"I know." He repeated.
"What is this ideal future you want? I've never heard you mention it before."
Ed cast a somewhat dejected look down at his plate of nearly gone food. "There's someone I love back home. If I make it through this alive I'm going to tell them my feelings. Ideally, it would end with us being together. Whatever comes afterwards does, but I at least want to be with them."
"And if your feelings are not returned?"
"I'll be moving back to my hometown. I've borne enough already."
"That sounds like less fun." The emperor noted, "well, Edward. I can't see how the person lucky enough to have you love them would be able to turn you away."
Edward barely managed to withhold his snort of laughter. There were two main scenarios. One, he was attacked with fire. Two, he was attacked in another and certainly more desirable way. "I suppose I'll see."
"Well just know that the knowledge that you love someone will probably break a lot of hearts." The emperor smirked at him. Knowing a few of his daughters would be among them.
"And you can keep all of this to yourself until you hear word one way or the other how it turned out." Edward told him, knowing if he didn't ask for this information to be kept discreet it would soon be blabbed everywhere via the nobility here.
Their dinner continued on similar threads of conversation, most of it idle chatter as the two men caught up with one another. However Edward turned down the offer for another game of chess once the meal was over.
"I've had a long day," he explained with a regretful look, "I think I will be turning in for the night."
"Of course, no need to worry about it. You go and sleep."
And Edward planned to do just that.
He bade the emperor goodnight, and started back to his own quarters. He had nearly reached them, when suddenly General Orthis was present once more.
"I don't have time right now either, I need to get some sleep." Edward sighed as he kneaded his temples with one hand. He really didn't have the energy for this.
"Even one quick something?" The general prodded undeterred.
"No." Edward said firmly. "Look, I'll speak with you at length about whatever subject you wish to, but at a later date. I've had a long day, and wish to rest."
Orthis frowned, "doing what? I heard you were up in your room almost all afternoon. Don't tell me you suddenly decided to keep the women who sneak into your bed?"
"Some of us actually manage to do other things in ones room besides take advantage of misled girls." Ed sighed and walked away again. "Goodnight, general."
"Wait!" Orthis called after him, and hurried in his wake. "Then what were you doing? Is it something I can help with?"
"No."
"Please?"
"Absolutely not." Edward turned sharply to the man now. "Look, Orthis. I'm tired, and I don't get any more agreeable when that happens. So take the hint, leave me alone." And then for good measure, added. "With all due respect, of course." He then swept off again.
Orthis was left feeling rather put out. But he immediately brightened at the thought that Edward would talk with him once he'd slept. He'd have to locate the alchemist in the morning.
Edward meanwhile let himself into his room and locked the door for good measure, and immediately began to peel off his clothes and boots. He pulled on a clean fresh robe and undid the tie in his hair so he could finger comb the locks out. Feeling finally able to go and get some sleep, he went to the bed and climbed in under the covers.
He wondered how Kang was doing now. The panda didn't exactly have a bed to sleep in tonight, and certainly not one to share with him. Briefly he courted the thought of warning Roy about the panda's preferred sleeping habits, but then decided against it with a wicked smile. He was sure Roy would break Kang of the habit quite effectively. He himself had not had the time nor the energy in the few nights he was in possession of the animal. And Kang could not sleep in Roy's bed if they did end up getting together, he would want that bed solely for just he and Roy.
He rested back against the comfort of the bed, closing his eyes with a weary sigh. And it did not take long for sleep to claim him.
Central
"How are things going?" Mustang asked as he walked over to Hawkeye's desk, passing her a cup of coffee.
The two had stayed late after work, after all, they had a mission to orchestrate and oversee until it was completed.
"So far so good. They're in position, and Doctor White is causing quite the distraction."
"Oh?"
"No clue what he's doing, but it seems to be working effectively." Hawkeye noted.
"As long as he isn't dancing naked on a table, it's all good."
"Sir, please don't ever say such disgusting things again." She groaned, "the mental images are not pretty."
"Hey, I'm not the one who just decided to visually undress him and make him do the cha-cha." Roy replied with an amused smirk on his face as he took a seat on the corner of her desk and sipped his own coffee.
"You're hilarious, sir." Hawkeye grumbled as she continued to listen on the phone.
Roy toasted her. "I try, Riza dearest, I try."
She shook her head with a roll of her eyes. "I've no doubt of that. Now do us both a favor for a minute and hush." She grabbed her pen and began filling in a report file as things were said to her over the line.
Roy craned over to watch, and then decided it was fruitless. He couldn't understand her shorthand, even after so many years of knowing her. So he waited patiently for her to be done for the moment.