So... I'm not really an EdWin fan, but now i sorta am. It's defnitely a surprise, but I love writing it, so there will now be a little bit of it here. Let me know what you think!

"Wake up, Ed!"

"Huh- wha?" Ed's eyes fluttered open to the familiar popcorn ceiling of the military dorms.

"Winry? It's... quarter to six in the morning..." Ed blinked, eyes still glazed over with sleep.

"I know. But I need to get to the shop, like I said- it's gonna be two days of non-stop work to get your arm finished. And didn't want to head over there without saying goodbye..."

"Whaazat? You're not going alone!" Ed said seriously, sluggishly sitting up. "I... I'll walk you there, just give me a minute..."

He stumbled into some pants.

"Where's Al?"

"He went to go let all his cats go in the park. He didn't want to test your patience with them any longer."

"Oh. Okay." Ed was tugging on a shirt, hunting around for his coat hurriedly...

"I'll be outside whenever you're ready." Winry had her duffel bag of tools in hand, and she stepped out onto the second floor landing, taking the stairs down to the sidewalk and reveling in the cool morning air. she leaned back against the railing.

Only for someone to lean back beside her, a large, rough hand grabbing hold of her ass and squeezing. Her breath was stolen from her throat, and she stumbled forward out of the gasp instinctively before she froze, unsure what to do.

"Well well well. I get off guard duty and just so happen to stumble on this hot piece of ass waiting right by my dorm room. C'mon, honey- don't you want a good time?" the man stepped towards her, a sticky sweet smile on his face.

He was a soldier- in a soldier's uniform, the blue that Mustang and the others so clearly wore.

"Hey Jeremy- check out what I found." the man called over his shoulder. His friend materialized a moment later, looking tired. "I don't care, dude. I just want to sleep."

"C'mon, man- look at her- we can't pass this up." the man stepped forward, grabbing hold of her breast and squeezing- she squealed and stepped back, trying to get out of reach but finding herself backed against the wall, face beet red and trembling.

"Dude. She's too young to be a hooker, and she's obviously not into you, let's just go." the man's friend looked at them both with disinterest.

"You're just not man enough!" the man snapped, stepping forward, reaching towards her again.

Her bag. Her wrench was in her bag, it was unzipped- she just needed to reach in a grab it and she could fight. But she was frozen, she couldn't move, hands shaking, feet glued to the pavement. She could hardly breathe.

"...e...Ed..."

There was the sound of feet hitting the pavement. Ed had vaulted the second floor railing and landed, and even with one arm, he threw a devastating elbow that knocked out the man furthest from her before he was lunging forward, grabbing the man in front of her by the shoulder and spinning him around to face him.

"What the hell?"

The man swung at Ed, surprised, but Ed ducked, landing a kick to the soldier's midsection that doubled the man over and bearing down, socking the man hard in the chin with his casted arm.

The man lunged forward, he and Ed were scrapping on the pavement, now, Ed was a blur of motion, hammering at the man's head with his cast and scrabbling out from under him, getting behind the man and holding him in a headlock until he was still.

He got to his feet, looking over at her, golden eyes wide with concern.

"Winry? Are you okay?" his eyes trailed lower, and Winry realized with some horror she was slightly falling out of her shirt from the man's grabbing. She eeped, hurrying to right her clothing, and Ed frowned, giving the man on the ground a kick for good measure and shrugging off his red coat, placing it over her shoulders.

He slung her bag of tools over his back and took her hand, leading her from the alley. "Did they do anything to you?"

"N-no. Just... grabbing. Then you showed up." she said, relieved.

"I'm sorry. Those guys were asses, I've never had any trouble like that at the dorms before. Then again... I don't really look... like you..." Ed blushed slightly as they strode off towards the automail shop.

"Are you saying I'm pretty?" Winry asked quietly.

"Huh!? Of course not!" Ed thundered, trying but failing to hide his blush.

Winry laughed and squeezed his hand in her own. "It's alright. I know what you mean." they were approaching the automail shop now.

"Want to meet up for lunch?" Ed asked hopefully.

Winry sighed. "I wish. I doubt I'll have the time- I have to finish this order for a reckless idiot who destroys his arms constantly." she said with a smile.

Ed sighed. "I'll bring you something?"

"That'd be nice." Winry agreed. She pulled out a key to the shop, unlocking the door and ducking in. "See you then.".

Ed was left standing alone on the sidewalk. It was half past six, and he wasn't going to be able to get back to sleep- so he reached into his pocket, grabbing a cigarette and smoking it on the way to the office. It helped him put aside his utter rage at those assholes from this morning.

Ed was seriously starting to regret coming into work early. He cursed himself for not using his better judgement, walking back to the dorms, and going back to bed.

He hadn't realized how long he'd been gone- nor how much paperwork being promoted required. He was fucking buried in it. Even though he was at the office two hours before anyone else, he was still behind when the others showed up at nine.

And at ten thirty, the brass staged an unwelcome surprise, deciding they wanted to audit the office two weeks ahead of schedule. Everyone was on edge and frantic to put together information they hadn't thought they'd need to have ready for weeks. Even Mustang was working frantically for a change.

Ed stared down at a sheet of paper like it'd personally wronged him. He had no idea how to fill this out, he'd never had to do this crap as a Major. And he couldn't even ask for help, because everyone else was flustered and slammed as it was.

All he could do was sit there and stew over this shit, realizing how tired he was and how frayed his nerves were getting. To top it all off, he couldn't get the image of those creeps and Winry in the alley- Winry had looked so frightened, he'd never seen her so afraid before... He clenched and unclenched his fist, trying to bite back his growing rage and only succeeding in fanning the flames.

He'd never realized how annoying everyday office sounds were. The rustling of paper was like swishing grass and weeds- people sprinting through the forest. Falman, Breda and Furey called back and forth as they tried to work through the backlog of paperwork and be heard over the noise, and it was like shouting commands over the confusion of gunfire...

Every click of Hawkeye's fingers on the typewriter made him grind his teeth. The ding at the end of each row made him want to jam his pencil through his own eye.

"... we need to get this done before we can finish that section-"

"Has anyone seen the records on the supply expenditure?"

"Does anyone have whiteout?"

"Colonel, this needs to be done by noon-"

Furey came jogging into the room with a stack of books far too tall, and the book on top of the stack- a tome nearly as thick as Ed's head- fell off the top of the stack and hit the floor with a force that rattled the desks and a boom to match.

The noise was startling, and everyone looked up, but Ed reacted-

He'd sprung to his feet so quickly he knocked the chair over behind him, and he had his back to the wall, casted arm up in front of him. He would've been clapping if he'd had his other arm.

"Are you alright, Edward?" Hawkeye looked over at him carefully.

Someone walked down the hallway whistling.

Whistling mortar shells, any moment now his desk would be destroyed and his papers would burst into flames...

Winry's face- so close to tears- pinned against the wall...

"Edward?"

Hawkeye said his name, and he snapped back to reality.

"I'm tired of all this shit. I'm getting some coffee." Ed snarled, turning and stalking out of the room, the empty sleeve of his blue military coat fluttering behind him.

Slowly, the office resumed normal activity, everyone trying to be a bit quieter than before. Ed had left his chair toppled over on the ground, and Hawkeye looked towards Mustang's desk, coffee eyes bright with concern.

"Sir-"

"Give him time. He'll come back when he's ready. Besides- we're swamped as it is. When Fullmetal wants to talk, he will." Roy said, though he frowned. He still couldn't stop signing papers- this audit had really come at the wrong time and screwed them all.

"Maybe Alphonse will come back from the library soon. That always seems to even him out."

Ed stalked down the hall. His glare radiated hatred and exhaustion, and everyone gave him a wide berth.

Ed escaped into the courtyard, finding shade from the morning sun in an alley and digging around in his pocket, grabbing his pack of cigarettes and a lighter, tucking it between his lips and lighting up.

Every inhale served to slow down his racing heart. The dizziness of a nicotine buzz helped drown out the static running through his veins and the chaos in his head. He let it burn down to the tips of his fingers, sinking down so he was sitting on the concrete and idly playing with his lighter when he was done, flicking it on and off.

He was more level-headed than before- he must've been gone for at least twenty minutes now- but he still didn't want to go back to that noisy office.

He looked down at the pack of cigarettes in his other hand. One more couldn't hurt, right? He'd enjoy one more slow cigarette, and then head back into work.

As if the morning couldn't get any worse, a Major walked into the room with a crisp folder in hand and a stern look on his face, striding over to Mustang's desk with purpose.

"Major Poole. Can this wait?" Roy asked, giving a wane smile despite the obvious disarray his office was in.

"You tell me, Colonel." the man threw down the folder on his desk. Two injured soldiers- young men, both hardly looking twenty. One of the men was lying in an infirmary bed, and the other sported a black eye and a split lip.

"What's this?"

"You tell me. They got off guard duty this morning and were attacked by your little state alchemist at the dorms. Morgan got off lucky, but Henry has a broken jaw- that kid has to answer for this, dammit!"

"You're sure Fullmetal did this?"

"Yeah I'm sure. My boys both said the kid only had one arm and was in a red coat. I knew the kid was a weapon after I read the Cretan information, but this is too much! He's supposed to be on our side, brutalizing our soldiers isn't right!"

"I understand you're upset about this, Major, I would be too."

"The only thing stopping me from bringing this up to the brass for a court martial is the fact the kid just got back from active duty. But I expect this to be resolved within two days, or I will escalate this."

"I understand."

"I hope you do." the Major turned, stalking out of the room.

Roy sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.

Havoc strode back into the room, looking concerned about something. "Hey boss- we got a problem."

"No shit we do." Roy muttered, before he realized Havoc hadn't been in the room to hear the ealier conversation. "Wait a minute- what's your issue?"

"Well, it's the Chief, Sir."

"What the hell else could the kid do to mess this day up worse?" Roy's eyes snapped up, gaze intense.

"Well, um... I was going downstairs for my morning smoke at my favorite spot in the alley. But the Cheif is already there lighting up."

"He's what?" Roy blinked.

"He's camped out there smoking, Boss." Havoc confirmed.

"Why the hell would you give him cigarettes?" Roy looked at Havoc in confusion.

"I didn't! I wouldn't, he's just a kid- I have no idea where I got them, but the kid is down there smoking like a chimney. He's not even coughing- I didn't teach him anything, but someone sure did, because it's definitely not his first time."

Roy got to his feet, groaning. "Why the hell does the kid have to pull all these stunts today of all days!?"

"Where are you going, Sir?" Hawkeye looked up at him tranquilly like she always did.

"I'm going down there to handle the Fullmetal situation, Lieutenant." Roy growled.

"Don't say anything you'll regret, Sir."

"I won't. I'll just say what needs to be said." Roy turned, heading down the hallway with righteous anger filling him.

He knew Ed was having a hard time after the Cretan incident- but what the hell had gotten into him? Attacking other soldiers for no reason? Smoking cigarettes? The kid was only fourteen, for crying out loud!

And the other half of him- the half he kept behind lock and key- was equal parts disbelief and fear. Because really- this wasn't at all like Edward. How badly was the kid hurting, to be acting out in such a way? He almost didn't want to believe it.

But he had no choice but to acknowledge it when he ducked into the mouth of the alley to find the kid sitting against the wall, taking a drag from a nearly finished cigarette, eyes closed, looking tranquil.

Roy only paused for a second, before he was stalking forward, crouching in front of the kid and snatching the cigarette from his lips, tossing it aside.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" he thundered.

Golden eyes flew open, and Ed tensed for a brief moment, before he saw who it was confronting him and scowled.

"What the hell is your problem!?" He demanded angrily.

"I don't know, Fullmetal- you tell me! Because I have no idea, but aside from getting a surprise audit this morning, I've also received word that my subordinate attacked two other soldiers and broke one of their jaws, and I find him in the courtyard smoking. So you tell me, Fullmetal- what the hell is your problem?" Roy growled.

"I didn't attack anyone." Ed snarled.

"Really. Because last time I checked, you're the only kid around here in a red coat with one arm capable of doing that type of damage. You mean to tell me you didn't break someone's jaw this morning?" Roy looked unamused.

"This morning?" Ed blinked, looking surprised, before he jumped to his feet. "This morning... I... yeah, I did it! But It was only in defense- they had Winry backed against the wall, she was almost crying! That Bastard had his hands all over her, she even fell out of her shirt! So of course I jumped the railing and kicked their teeth in, they were fucking pervs!" Ed's eyes were aflame, his entire posture screaming righteous anger.

Roy blinked, surprised. "Winry? Where did this happen?"

"At the dorms. She wanted to get to the shop early, I was getting dressed and she was waiting for me outside when those creeps got ahold of her. They got what was coming to them." Ed's eyes were still blazing, but his posture no longer screamed outright hostility, though it did show how defensive he was.

"I... Winry was in the dorms with you? Overnight?" Roy was suddenly at a loss for words.

"Yeah, of course she was. Why bother making her get a hotel when we have plenty of room." Ed said simply, not finding anything wrong with the statement.

Roy snapped his mouth shut, otherwise he was sure it would hit the floor. Now he not only had to deal with a smoking, angry Fullmetal, but he had to assess the possibility that the boy might in fact be sexually active.

He looked over at the kid- blond, still not even as tall as his shoulders- Ed was only fourteen, dammit... When had he gotten so... jaded?

Roy sighed. "Fullmetal. It's not safe for her at those dorms."

"I kinda figured that out myself. She's not going to be alone, me and Al will have to walk her places now." Ed admitted sourly, crossing his arms. "So is that why you came out here and ruined my smoke break, or was there something else?"

"As a matter of fact, there was. Give me your cigarettes and lighter." Roy held out a waiting hand. "Now."

"No fucking way. They're mine."

"That wasn't a question, Fullmetal- it was an order." Mustang took another step forward, glaring down at the kid.

"Havoc can smoke! Why can't I!?"

"Because Havoc is a fullgrown idiot, and you're only fourteen! Havoc's old enough that if he wants to ruin his lungs it's his own choice, but you're not. Now hand. Them. Over."

"Fine." Ed fairly snarled, reaching into his pocket and tossing his pack and lighter at Mustang, who deftly caught both.

"How come I'm old enough to get shot at and lead soldiers twice my age into a damn war but I can't even have a fucking smoke?! This is fucked up." Ed continued to protest.

"I know, it's horribly unfair that people care about your well being. A real tragedy." Roy muttered, equal parts frustrated and sarcastic as they headed back towards the main building.

"I never asked for any of this, you know! So far all I've managed to do is fuck everything up worse. Al isn't one step closer to getting fixed."

"And tearing yourself apart won't change that one bit. Besides-smoking stunts your growth. I just saved you from being a midget forever."

"Oh fuck you, asshole!" Ed howled, turning and dashing off down a different hallway.

Roy was left standing alone, wondering how a joke that normally would've had them engaging in their usual back and forth left the kid so damn upset.

Where the hell was the kid Roy had sent on his last mission? Roy had a sinking feeling in his chest- looking down at the pack of cigarettes and lighter that he held in his hand- as he briefly worried if the old Edward would ever come back.

Let me know what you favorite part was?