You Boys Are Going to Give Me an Ulcer Chapter 8: Part 8: So THAT'S Why It's a Deadly Sin, a fullmetal alchemist fanfic

So, just as a bit of a heads up: I'm operating from the manga course of events, so there are some details that are only manga-compliant and not Brotherhood-compliant when it comes to the fight with Greed.

Part eight: So THAT'S Why It's a Deadly Sin

Roy stood waiting at the bottom of the stairs outside Southern Command as Ed came zooming around the corner to his right.

...Basically: Ed had decided to race the two soldiers that Roy had sent to Dublith to escort him here. They had agreed that Havoc was to stay in Dublith, guarding Al, as there was a very real possibility that someone might decide to try to make him into some kind of hostage.

Plus, they had figured that Izumi Curtis would be a lot happier if she had something that would insure the fact that Roy would come to meet them.

And so Ed made a controlled and elegant skid as he came to a stop right in front of Roy, grinning as he looked about himself. "They haven't shown up yet, then?" he asked smugly. "Told them I'd win even if I didn't know the route."

Roy scoffed fondly. "It's good to see you, Son."

Ed smiled. "Yeah... It's been a while, huh?"

Roy chuckled. "So you're not in the mood to hug your dad right outside Southern HQ?" He wasn't saying it to make Ed feel bad. In fact it was to show him that he understood and that it was okay. Ed was fifteen and people often didn't take him seriously because of his size and age. Roy even found it amusing to some degree that Ed was just being a teenager right now.

Said teenager was looking up at him awkwardly, scratching the back of his head. "It's not that I don't wanna hug you, Dad... It's just that I've never been to Southern HQ and they don't know yet that I'm a bad ass kid who can kick their butts anytime and in my sleep. People kinda underestimate me when they learn that I'm your son because they assume that I was recruited just 'cause you took a liking to me. I mean, some people are even saying that I cheated my way through the exam because you told me what to do..."

Roy sighed heavily. "Sorry, Ed... You deserve more credit than that..."

Ed shook his head. "Dad, it's okay. It's not your fault... Besides, if you hadn't recruited me, then I wouldn't exactly have a Dad right now..." he said with a raised eyebrow. "So what's the assessment gonna be like? You only said it was going to be a practical one where the nature of it would be specified once I got here."

Roy sighed. "I'm sorry that I couldn't really tell you much, but the reason is that it's going to be overseen by the Führer too... I couldn't exactly tell you over the phone because of security reasons. After all, you were staying together with a couple of unknown civilians."

Ed's eyebrows shot up in alarm. "Seriously?! But why's he here?"

"He's conducting an inspection of Southern Headquarters. He was very interested in seeing how your alchemy can be used while you're in the Fracturer. Basically, Major Armstrong and me have transmuted an obstacle course on the grounds behind the building."

Understandably enough, Ed froze. "He's here too?! I've already been coddled enough as it was on the train... Those second lieutenants you sent took you literally when you told them to look after me. And I couldn't tell them to give me a break when they had been ordered by someone who outranks me by three whole ranks. Also, they kinda heard how protective you are, so they decided to do everything they could so that they could show you that they took the task of taking care of me really seriously."

Roy sighed. "Sorry about that... I guess having the Führer visiting makes everyone very edgy and eager to please "one of the Führer's most trusted men," because that's what I've become apparently... He says it himself, which is why people are getting a bit less hostile towards my promotion."

"That's good at least... I guess you're not allowed to say anything about the obstacle course?"

"Nothing other than tell you that reacting quickly is a good idea and you are to use your alchemy the way you see fit."

...Which was mostly because the Major would come out of nowhere and make craters and pillars that he needed to dodge, while Roy was tasked with shooting flames and making small explosions. Of course, should Ed be in danger at any point, then Roy could instantly cut the flames off by manipulating the air, so Ed wasn't really in danger. Because Ed was damned good at using that Fracturer of his.

...Still, Roy could think of nothing worse than accidentally burning or hurting Ed. But it had all been specifically designed so that Ed could show off, not find himself in highly dangerous situations.

Ed suddenly looked at him with worry. "Your injuries are healed, right?"

Roy smiled and nodded. "Yes... Although I've got some very attractive scars..."

His son looked both amused and sad. "I'm sorry you got hurt, Dad... I'm the one who dug up that information and it almost got you killed..."

Roy sighed heavily. "Ed, I chose to do it, and I wouldn't have let you go in alone even if your leg hadn't been broken."

Ed was quiet for a few seconds before he spoke in a barely audible whisper as he bowed his head. "Thank you for caring, Dad... And I'd like that hug once we find an empty office."

Roy smiled at him. "Sounds like a plan..." He looked at the corner that Ed had come from and recognised a military car and chuckled. "...And I'd say that you very much won that race..."

They were soon enough met by the two flustered lieutenants by the name of Paulson and Robson, plus the driver, First Lieutenant Winthrop.

All three of them were saluting Roy and Ed as they came out of the car. "Brigadier General Mustang, sir! We apologise deeply for failing in our mission to escort your eldest son!"

Roy held up his hand to tell them to calm down as they were all trembling. "It's all right. The train was the most important part and to be honest, when Ed decided to not be escorted here, but to race you, then you didn't stand a chance."

Wrath watched as the young Mustang zoomed around in the obstacle course, deftly avoiding whatever pillars and other obstacles he faced, courtesy of the two older alchemists.

There was no way that Wrath wouldn't have approved Fullmetal's assessment, but he had decided that this was an excellent excuse to find out something that could be very useful: exactly how well the boy could handle himself despite his broken leg. It wouldn't do to have their only confirmed sacrifice that they knew the location of killed.

However, he had to say that they need not worry too much. His ability to fight had been vastly compromised, understandably enough, but the boy was able to move around at high speed and thereby perform transmutations as surprise attacks.

And it also showed how much of a sentimental fool that Roy Mustang was. Which served to make him a very strong candidate for human sacrifice as he could easily be pushed into opening the Portal. If they were to take someone like Winry Rockbell or Riza Hawkeye hostage, then he had gone far too soft to choose not to save someone so dear to him. All because of his fear of letting his sons down as he would be unable to face them after letting someone die just so as to save himself. The screaming girl from Hughes's funeral would also be very suitable, judging by how she had been screaming at her "Uncle Roy". However, the young girl would also most likely die too quickly for Mustang to make up his mind because of her small body. Taking her mother would quite possibly end in the girl alerting her "Uncle" too soon. Winry Rockbell could quite possibly pose the same problem and her grandmother lived too far away for it to be practical. Which meant that Lieutenant Hawkeye was their best option at the moment. She was living alone except for her dog, and the one that seemed to be the most important to her was Roy Mustang himself.

Wrath watched the Flame Alchemist where he stood. The man had a slight smile on his lips, his face revealing just how proud he was of his son as the boy transmuted his way around a wall of flames.

However, the thing that he found most interesting of all was the fact that the Elric Mustangs were visiting their old alchemy teacher. If she had taught them, then she was probably skilled enough to become yet another candidate for human sacrifice.

Which meant that Wrath had a train to sneak onto.

Ed had to say that he'd been through worse train rides than this. He was lying on another transmuted mattress with his leg supported by the way that he had transmuted the bench. There was an odd shelf of sorts that was sticking out of the seat back, perfectly designed to make it as comfortable as possible for him.

Especially as he had a pillow under his head on top of Dad's lap. He had missed hugging Dad, because it had been about five weeks since he had last done so without Dad being in pain from doing it. Which was why private compartments with locked doors was key.

...Seeing as how he didn't exactly want people to watch him with Dad sitting there with his right arm resting on his chest, his hand on Ed's flesh bicep.

...Plus Ed was lying with his cheek pressed into Dad's chest. Dad had discarded his uniform jacket because of the heat and had rolled his shirt sleeves up to his elbows.

...And Ed wasn't wearing anything but his boxers and his shorts because of the heat and the way that said heat was a lot more stifling when his remaining flesh leg was mostly covered by a tight cast and he was resting against someone who was wearing woollen trousers.

However, having a Dad who could manipulate air was pretty awesome at times, because he had chilled down the little amount there was between his leg and and his cast, meaning that he could at least prevent sweat rash. And so Dad had kept doing that at regular intervals for the entire trip. He'd also done it for the rest of the compartment too.

And a small, childish part of Ed had been missing Dad a hell of a lot and liked the feeling of a hug that wasn't covered up by layers of clothes and wool.

...Because it kind of reminded Ed of when Mom had still been alive and had helped wash him in the bath and then Ed had hugged her once he was dry. And Dad had said that he didn't mind Ed being a bit childish so that they could both catch up on what they had missed out on, as Dad hadn't been there for most of his childhood. And when Ed closed his eyes, he could imagine what it would have been like had Dad been there when he grew up. And Ed enjoyed that. He liked imagining that Dad was filling in the blanks. Because Ed was too old for a lot of it, he knew that. Which was why imagination was great. Because it was great to feel like a kid again, even if he didn't really want people to know that.

Dad made Ed feel a lot more at peace. He felt safe. And Dad made things a bit more right, because Ed had talked with him about burning down their old home. After all, when Dad came with them to visit Resembool after the adoption, telling him that they had to stay with the Rockbells because their old house was gone, was kind of a given. But now they actually had a new home with a new parent, and it made something broken feel whole again. It had all come up because there had been some confusion at some point as to which pocket watch belonged to who, when they had been too dented to tell without opening them up.

...Ed didn't really want a parent, per se. But he did want Dad... But that was because Dad was Dad and it made him someone completely different than those that just pitied the "poor orphaned boy".

Because Dad had never pitied them. And it reminded him of Mom. Because Dad had offered them everything without expecting anything in return. He was being a parent without meaning to. There weren't any ulterior motives. Everything was just unconditional. And there was so much safety in the way that Dad wasn't being an alchemist about it all. He wasn't following the principles of equivalent exchange.

...He was just Dad in the same way that Mom had just been Mom.

Ed looked up at him. They were alone and Ed had missed him like hell, while also being worried sick about Dad getting himself into trouble so that Lieutenant Hawkeye would suddenly turn up in Dublith just like Dad had done in Rush Valley. And so Ed gave him that look.

And Dad recognised that look and turned sideways in his seat so as to be a bit more opposite Ed to get a better angle. Then he leant down over him, just as Ed reached up so that he could hug him.

And so he found his upper body being lifted up slightly as Dad put his arms under his back, hugging him tightly.

That was another reason that having a private compartment was pretty essential. He wasn't really too interested in people seeing the scars covering his back. If there was anything that inspired pity, it would be a minor with a hell of a lot of scars across his back because a sadistic general had flogged him with a cat o'nine tails when Ed had been fourteen.

And it was great not to have all those bodyguards following him everywhere. Because Scar wasn't considered a threat anymore, Dad was the Flame Alchemist, and Hawkeye was back in Central, shepherding the rest of the team while Dad had a week off.

Basically, things would get back to normal soon enough.

If Roy had thought South City was hot, then Dublith was damn well sweltering.

Which was also why Roy had decided to change on the train so that he was now wearing a grey set of trousers and a white shirt with the sleeves rolled up.

...Plus a waistcoat in the same colour as his trousers because he figured that it was best to try for a good first impression. Which was why they had decided that changing into civilian clothes was for the best, because Izumi Curtis wasn't going to anything but murderous if Roy strolled up to her front door, practically rubbing it in her face that every single piece of misgivings were highly justified. Not that Roy blamed her. But being Ed and Al's father was the one thing that he actually felt highly protective of. That title that they had given him weighed a hell of a lot more than his rank. Fulfilling his goals was something completely separate from being a dad.

...Because his goals had given him a reason to die. His sons had brought him a reason to live.

However, the waistcoat wasn't exactly comfortable because it made the heat a lot worse. Still, he was walking next to Ed whom he had helped back into the Fracturer even if Ed was fully capable of doing it himself. Meaning that Roy was now carrying both their suitcases as they made their way out of the station.

Then Roy froze as he spotted Führer Bradley looking happy and dressed in civilian clothes.

...Meaning a pair of regular trousers and a short-sleeved shirt with a ghastly flower pattern plus a fedora.

Roy's first thought was that the Führer must have been drugged. But Major Armstrong didn't exactly seem particularly bothered by it.

Roy just stared, putting down the suitcase in his right hand so as to salute.

Ed's jaw had simply dropped and he didn't seem like he was capable of doing anything but sitting there like that.

"Lovely place, don't you think so, my dear Mustangs?" Führer Bradley said cheerfully. "And there's no need to salute me, General."

"Sir, might I inquire what you are doing here?" Roy asked, trying to keep himself calm and collected as he lowered his hand, the suitcase standing forgotten on the ground next to him.

"What do you mean, "what"? I came here to meet your sons' teacher, of course!" Then he held out a watermelon. "Here, have this. Do you like melons?"

Roy took it, his alarm growing. This was going to end bad as it appeared that Führer Bradley had decided that it was a good idea to try to recruit Izumi Curtis as a State Alchemist. "Thank you, sir... However, I think I should warn you that your visit is rather ill-timed. Mrs. Curtis asked me to come here as she is highly sceptical of me raising my sons due to my reputation and general history with them before the adoption. She isn't likely to want to become a State Alchemist and she'll probably be even less in the mood for such matters when she's only expecting me."

The Führer looked completely undeterred by his words. "Thank you for your warning, General Mustang, but I still think I should give her the option, and tell her that she is more than welcome to come to Central to take the State Alchemist exam at any time. If she is as suspicious of you as you tell me, then you conveying my offer might be counterproductive. Especially as you are in charge of the Central Command State Alchemist office and she is already inclined to dislike you. Should she not be interested, then I think it would be better for me to take the responsibility. I suppose I was luckier than you when I adopted my own son as he didn't have any family to speak of when we brought him into our own. I wouldn't want to compromise your relationship to your sons, after all."

The argument was valid, but also suicidal. However, turning the Führer down after something like that wasn't an option. And Roy was beginning to understand why Führer Bradley had taken such a liking to him after the adoption. He had forgotten about how Selim Bradley was adopted too and apparently the Führer seemed to relate to Roy's fatherhood. "Thank you for your consideration, sir, that is most generous of you."

The Führer only smiled. "There's no reason to thank me, Mustang. Now how about you two go ahead so that you can speak with Mrs. Curtis alone before I talk to her?"

Roy nodded. "Yes, thank you, sir."

Fifteen minutes later, Roy was standing in front of the front door to the house, feeling edgy. Ed had taken the watermelon on his lap so that Roy had been able to carry both their suitcases. And so Roy put the one in his right hand down once Ed had decided to clean Roy's clothes with a clap of his hands, so that there were no traces of sweat in his attire. Then he knocked on the door in front of him.

Roy had to admit that he was getting nervous.

Very nervous.

It was ten seconds later that the door was opened and he was met by a frowning and surprisingly attractive woman with dreadlocks and her arms crossed over her chest. Roy reached out his right hand to shake. "Hello, Mrs. Curtis, it's very nice to meet you."

"I think we should talk inside, it has to do with Alphonse."

Roy froze. Her face revealed cold fury that told him that Al was in no way safe. "What do you mean?! What's wrong with Al?!" he asked at the exact same time as Ed.

"Both Al and Second Lieutenant Havoc have been kidnapped. I'll explain the details back inside."

Roy felt his stomach clench violently as he dropped the remaining suitcase on the ground, and strode inside the house as she stepped back to let them pass her. Roy briefly noticed that her right hand was bandaged. However, he knew that if his son and his subordinate were at risk and had been successfully kidnapped despite the odds, then they were obviously dealing with some very dangerous people and they definitely needed a strategy. He stopped inside the hallway, looking at her expectantly. "Now tell me just what the hell has happened to my son and my subordinate! Do they want a ransom?!"

She shook her head. "No. They want information about Al's soul... And since they heard that you were heading here too, they also wanted to know about how your alchemy works as it appears to be unique. They want me to bring you to them."

Roy felt his stomach twist itself even harder. "I hope that you can understand that we can't tell them about either of those things. My branch of alchemy is far too dangerous, and if criminals are trying to force me into teaching them, then that could be catastrophic."

"I know that!" she barked.

She was about to open her mouth again, but Roy cut her off. "Who are they? How many are we dealing with?"

"Their leader is a man who goes by the name of Greed with an ouroboros tattoo on his hand. Their numbers are fairly large."

Roy froze. "Ed, you're not going anywhere near them, is that understood?!"

Ed looked at him in defiant and stressed anger. "Like hell I'm not! They've taken my little brother hostage!"

Roy looked down at him. "Ed, he's obviously a part of the group that are planning to use you as a human sacrifice!"

"WELL, THEY CALLED YOU A STRONG CANDIDATE FOR IT TOO! MAYBE THEY'RE TRYING TO LURE YOU THERE SO THAT THEY CAN MAKE YOU A SACRIFICE FOR REAL!"

Mrs. Curtis's eyes widened. "He said he was a homunculus... I know it sounds impossible, but he definitely wasn't human..."

Roy paused just before he was about to give Ed a rant of his own. "What do you mean by him being..." Then he froze, fear gripping his chest. "...I suppose that explains Lust's extendable spear fingers..."

They didn't really have time to be horrified by the existence of actual homuculi right now.

"Teacher, did they do that to your hand?" Ed suddenly asked.

She shook it in the air, obviously trying to tell them that it was inconsequential. "Oh, this is nothing. He just caught me off guard is all."

Ed however, looked at it in disgust and something like guilt. "Dad, we're going to talk with this guy together. Remember, he has two hostages. And he only has use for Al... I'm not letting Lieutenant Havoc get turned into another Uncle Maes."

Roy paused, knowing that he was right. "Ed, remember that I'm your commanding officer and I'm the one who's seen war and I'm a lot more experienced with extraction missions and hostage situations. You're to follow my instructions, and that's an order, do you understand me?!"

Ed looked up at him fiercely, before saluting him. "Let's get them back, Dad."

Roy looked to Mrs. Curtis. "My apologies, Ma'am, but proper introductions will have to wait."

She just grunted and began walking away. "Just make sure that you're back in time for dinner, we've got a lot to discuss."

"Yes, Ma'am," Roy told her as she slammed a note in his hand, which turned out to be a small map.

And so they made their way towards the door, the wheelchair ramp letting Ed leave the house with ease. "I know we need to do this at the same time, Dad, so I'm not driving off."

Roy paused. "Ed, wait a sec, I need to go get an extra pair of gloves or two."

"I'll provide the distraction, Dad," Ed told him as they reached the staircase down to the bar. He clapped his hands and brought them to the ground, creating a slide from half of it. The distraction in question was Ed ranting while Dad got a scope of the situation and the room itself in time to make a plan.

He shot down the slide with the Fracturer, only to have a couple of goons stand before him as he turned around the corner of a hallway. One of them was so covered with bandages that he looked like a mummy. The other looked a bit like someone who ran a business providing black market organs. Basically: a very cheerful and endearing duo. "You coming here alone wasn't part of the deal, kid." It was the organ-stealer.

"Oh, trust me, he's not alone... It's just that being on four wheels instead of two legs brings him a speed advantage," came Dad's stern voice behind him. "So my question for you is this: Just where the hell is my son and my subordinate?" he asked coldly. Ed noticed that he was using the trick where he would be walking with his left hand in his trouser pocket so as to hide the fact that his gloves came in pairs.

"Just follow us, Mister Greed is right through here."

And so they were brought to a room where Ed's eyes immediately fell upon his little brother and Lieutenant Havoc. They were both restrained, although Havoc appeared to have been handcuffed to his own ankles, forcing him to sit with his knees bent with his arms around them. He was looking both embarrassed and apologetic.

"I'm assuming that this makes you Greed," Dad asked coldly. "Word is that you're a homunculus... It seems fairly impossible, but I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt."

"I make it a matter of principle never to tell a lie... I could prove it to you..." A giant of a man suddenly swung back his weapon, but then Greed held up his hand. "On second thought, I'd rather not, it's too messy."

Al suddenly spoke up. "Brother, he says he'll tell us how to make a homunculus if you tell him how to transmute a soul... And that he'll let all four of us leave if you share with him how to use your flame alchemy, Dad."

"An equivalent exchange, in other words?" Ed asked, feeling his anger boiling.

Greed smirked. "I hear that you three are interested in creating bodies... It's a fair trade, right?"

Ed decided instinctively that it was distraction time. "DON'T MAKE ME LAUGH! ARE YOU REALLY THAT STUPID?! YOU KIDNAP MY BROTHER AND OUR COMRADE, AND YOU HURT MY TEACHER AND YOU THINK IT'S JUSTIFIED FOR YOU TO DEMAND ANYTHING?! I'LL CRUSH YOU CREEPS! I'LL SMASH YOU! I'LL FUCKING BREAK YOUR BONES BY DRIVING OVER YOU! IF I WANT YOUR INFORMATION AND THOSE I CARE ABOUT, THEN I'M GONNA FORCE IT OUT OF YOU, BECAUSE I'M NOT GIVING YOU ANYTHING! IN OTHER WORDS, I'M TAKING IT ALL AND I'LL NEVER MAKE AN EQUIVALENT EXCHANGE WITH YOU, SCUM!"

Greed began clapping lamely.

Ed had purposely made sure to only include himself so as not to draw attention to Dad.

The guy with the sword looked at him with a bored look. "This guy's an idiot." He began unsheathing his weapon. "I guess we'll have to use force again."

"Don't kill them," Greed said, before looking at Dad. "And before you think you're going to be smart, remember that there's a guard inside your son's armour... If you want to use your explosions and flames on the ones guarding him, then keep it in mind that you could risk hurting someone while they're inside your son's steel body... Imagine what a blast can do, seeing as how it can't hurt your kid, but if he falls, then the person inside could get their skull cracked right open... And the heat of the flames would be very uncomfortable too..."

Greed obviously didn't know about Dad's pinpoint aiming, but he did have a point about larger explosions and needing to restrain himself. "Damn you..." Dad said threateningly, just as the sword-guy charged at him.

...At the same time as the huge guy slammed his spiked-club-hammer-thingy straight into the water pipe above them, soaking Dad through completely, most likely including his spare gloves. Although Dad had already snapped his fingers and managed to singe the sword-guy at least partially.

And so Ed clapped his hands and sent a stone fist into sword-guy's face, knocking him out cold.

Ed didn't look up at Dad because they needed to work together and that meant keeping their focus on their opponent. Dad kept his voice steady however, speaking as if he was commenting on the weather. "You said you wanted an "equivalent exchange"? Well, I think you'll find that you're the one who owes me... More specifically, you owe me for three deep sword wounds, cauterisation included, plus three smaller cuts, all courtesy of your ouroboros comrades."

Greed snorted. "So you're a tough guy too?... Nice to know..." He walked over to Havoc, grabbing his hair, forcing his head backwards as Greed somehow turned his fingers into claws. "But you shouldn't forget about our little hostage here..." He pressed one of the claws to Havoc's throat, drawing a bit of blood. "So I suggest you empty out your pockets and remove that waistcoat of yours just so as to make sure that you're not hiding any surprises."

"Don't you dare, General!" Havoc said, his voice a bit strained by the angle of his head. "You have a duty to your sons, remember?"

Dad, however, began unbuttoning his waistcoat. "Which is exactly why I can't let you become another Maes Hughes. Now stop talking nonsense and that's an order, Lieutenant."

Ed wanted to stop them both, but Greed was too close to Havoc's throat.

And Dad seemed to have a plan despite everything.

And so Ed sat there with his stomach clenching as Dad removed three extra sets of ignition gloves as he pulled out his trouser pockets to show how empty they were. "There you go, Greed... Now, as you said, you'd let us go if I told you the secrets of my flame alchemy... So how about we get down to business?"

Ed froze at the same time as Al gasped. "Dad, you can't do that!" they both exclaimed.

Greed suddenly smirked. "Roa, take the armour boy, we're gonna rip him apart for analysis."

"LIKE HELL YOU WILL!" Ed shouted.

"So that's how this works? You say you never tell a lie, but you're not opposed to finding loopholes?" Dad asked coldly. "And as you never specified that we'd get to leave together and alive, you're being a petulant brat... Well, if you are, then I think you'll find that we're not opposed to fighting dirty too... So you owe us at least to let go of Havoc right now."

Which was when Roa picked Al up and lifted him onto his shoulder.

And so Greed began laughing. "So the brat with the broken leg and the Flame Alchemist with wet gloves want to fight for their family's life? That actually sounds kinda fun. Roa, take the Lieutenant with you, it should work to make the armour boy behave while I take care of these two... And take Dolchetto with you too, he could use some patching up."

Ed suddenly understood Dad's plan. By getting Havoc out of here, then they both had a lot more free range of beating Greed to a pulp once he didn't have any hostages. And Al would be clever as hell, especially with the added motivation that Havoc being hostage would bring. Because it gave Al an opportunity to be sneaky while they thought he was docile because of their hostage.

And Dad would probably be able to bring this fight to an end quickly, judging by his manner.

"Also, General, I'd like you to pick up that sword and rip your gloves to shreds as word is that you can manipulate the air with that transmutation circle of yours... That would hardly be fair, now would it?"

Havoc didn't say a word, while Al just lifted his head slightly. "Dad, I trust you, so don't get yourself landed in the hospital again, okay?"

"Of course, Al... I'll see you soon."

Ed hated this. He was tense as hell and he was terrified.

But Dad always had a plan. And Ed trusted him. Especially as Al's safety was at stake, plus his subordinate's.

And so Dad crouched down and began ripping his gloves apart with the sword as Al and Havoc were carried away, leaving Dad, Ed and Greed alone in the room.

Then Greed began laughing and Ed got a bad feeling. "You know, you really shouldn't underestimate me... But go ahead, give me your worst."

Then Ed saw what was going on as Dad swiftly pulled up his left trouser leg and grabbed the small gun in the holster a few inches up his shin. Ed clapped his hands just as Dad fired a shot that went straight into Greed's forehead. And yet the guy was somehow still standing, but Ed trapped the homunculus inside a stone fist for good measure.

Dad straightened up next to him, still holding onto the gun. "I have to admit, I didn't expect him t-"

The stone fist suddenly burst apart and Ed paused.

...Because Greed's body was suddenly covered by some sort of shield as he stood there laughing. "I guess that was why you were so compliant... But you see, you're not the only one with a trick up their sleeve..."

"What can I say? It's a bit insulting, but it does have its uses... People tend to forget that the Flame Alchemist is also a normal soldier and knows how to shoot..." Dad said calmly. But Ed could hear how nervous he was getting because he knew him. "...And I'll have to admit that your body is certainly a bit unusual, seeing as how being shot in the brain like that has a tendency to kill people."

Greed laughed. "Well, I wouldn't say I'm normal, even if my body and its biological components are the same as any humans... But I regenerate instantly and I have an impenetrable shield, so I guess "unusual" sums it up pretty well."

Ed stared. "You're not gonna tell us something crazy like you're immortal, are you?"

"I wish! But for simplicity's sake, let's say that I am for now... But other than that, I have to say that keeping you two talking is pretty boring because you're both trying to be clever. It's no fun when we only get to see action for half a minute before we talk for another five. So how about we get this started for real?"

Predictably enough, Dad fired another shot to put the claims of Greed's "impenetrable shield" to the test.

The result left Ed with one thought.

Shit, we're screwed.

Ed made a split-second decision and transmuted the windscreen so that it was removed completely. He didn't doubt that Greed could rip through it with his claws and Ed had a feeling that he'd need all the range of movement he could get right now. "Dad, I think you should stay behind..." he said cautiously, getting a desperate idea that could work, but that would require Dad being in pain. Basically because Ed transmuted the ground again to send spikes at Greed while also transmuting Dad a lighter right next to his left leg, hoping that he'd catch onto Ed's very vague plan.

Predictably, Greed slammed his right hand at the spikes and charged at them, meaning that Ed twisted the steering wheel sharply and pushed Dad out of the way so as to let him pick the lighter up while only looking like Ed was only trying to save him.

...Especially as Ed clapped his hands again and made Dad fall into a hole in the floor while covering most of it up, all the while driving around in a circle with his right hand pressed to the ground to continue the transmutation. And so he completed it with a window so as to see down there, as well as a knife for Dad to use. Dad played along and shouted as he was left unable to get out because of the way his temporary ceiling was made of stone. "ED! GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE, DAMMIT!"

Of course, though, there was always a bit of self-sacrifice involved when getting people out of harm's way like this, seeing as how Greed swung his claws at Ed, which he sort of dodged.

..."Sort of" being that he dodged getting his flesh arm ripped off, and instead just got five medium deep cuts across the top of his shoulder, causing him to grunt loudly as he swerved again and zoomed a few metres away. Thankfully, Greed had decided that Ed was a bigger and more annoying threat at the moment than Dad was.

"WHAT'S WRONG, ED?! YOU GET THE HELL AWAY FROM HIM, GREED, YOU HEAR ME?!" Dad shouted, and even if Ed knew that he was acting, he wasn't just acting.

Greed just laughed as Ed reversed while turning the steering wheel back and forth, doing his best so as to dodge the onslaught of claws, getting a larger cut on both sides of his forehead, as well as another one on his left cheek.

...However, that only worked for about eight seconds before Greed slammed his claws into the lid above Ed's legs and ripped one of the front wheels off at the same time. "This car of yours is really getting on my nerves, you know."

Ed was screwed. Completely screwed and Greed was quick to snatch him up by his throat, making him panic as the added pain of instinctively flailing his legs that was slamming into him was mixed with the threat of death by strangulation.

Dammit, Dad! Hurry up!

"Not so tough now, are you? I told you you didn't stand a chance..." Greed said. "So question is how I'm gonna kill you... Should it be quick, or should I drag it out? I mean, throwing you around would take the fun out of things as that leg of yours could cause you so much pain that you'd throw up... And I don't really want to clean up all that mess afterwards..."

Ed decided to talk to give Dad some more time. Dad was still shouting, and Ed was getting scared that he might just be a bit too late. But Ed was also a bad ass kid. And those didn't go out without a fight or a few good lines to make them seem unafraid. "...You know my mechanic's gonna kill you for wrecking the Fracturer..." he said just a bit too wheezily. Greed was still holding him in a way that restricted his breathing, but didn't cut off his air completely.

Greed began laughing. "That's what you called it?"

"Yeah, 'cause I'm gonna ram it into the legs of the guy who caused me to break mine once I get out of here," Ed told him hoarsely.

Greed laughed at him again. "The only way you'll leave here alive is if you tell me the secrets of soul transmutation and Dad over there shares some information as well..."

Ed suddenly had a thought strike him as he instinctively began trying to figure out how he should repair the Fracturer, and ran through the different metals it contained.

...Because the Fracturer contained carbon. And carbon made up one-third of the human body... And carbon could be hardened to a substance that could resist bullets. And when Greed's body was supposedly made from the same biological material as humans...

"No deal..." Ed croaked wheezily as the hand around his throat tightened its grip slightly, making his panic flare even more. Then he clapped his hands and brought them to the arm and wrist that were holding him, lifting his flesh leg as best he could before Greed dropped him in confusion.

If Ed hadn't been as much of a martial artist, then he'd have been in a world of pain. But instead he had ended up keeping his broken leg elevated while letting his three other limbs break the fall, leaving him breathing heavily as he sat down, getting some of that much-needed and essential air back into his lungs. Then he transmuted his automail fist to make spikes come out from the knuckles, before wiggling his flesh index finger at Greed, telling him to come at him, coughing. It didn't exactly sell his act in full that he was still gasping for air.

"You're seriously going to fight me when you can't even walk?"

"Hell yeah! Now are you gonna be too cowardly to fight back against such an easy target?!" Ed really wished that his voice wasn't as hoarse right then and that he began coughing even more.

Greed didn't exactly like his taunt and Ed slammed his automail fist into his right hand as the bastard moved to punch him.

...And thankfully saw that his theory had been correct as Greed pulled back with a confused hiss of pain, his arm bleeding heavily. Then he healed it over again, charging at him once more, and Ed rolled sideways just in time to avoid getting killed... But also just in time to have the claws slash across his back. He gasped loudly with the searing pain as he clapped his hands again and brought them to Greed's chest, right before getting pushed across the floor by Greed's hand as he grunted in annoyance at Ed's stubbornness. "NOW, DAD!" Ed shouted through the considerable amounts of pain from his leg, back and shoulder, while still breathing heavily.

The familiar sight of Dad's flames finding their target, namely Greed's now very weakened shield, was a relief. Because their opponent was suddenly getting slammed backwards into the wall by the small explosion. And so Ed clapped his hands again and got Dad out of the hole at the same time as he sent attack after attack at Greed while his shield was still open, making him scream.

"YOU WANTED ME TO SHOW YOU MY ALCHEMY?! THEN I'LL DAMN WELL GIVE YOU THE FULL EXPERIENCE, YOU BASTARD!" Dad shouted furiously.

Ed suddenly felt his stomach clench. Dad's eyes were burning with that cold fury that he had seen only a few times before.

And it was the one that scared Ed shitless because that wasn't his Dad attacking Greed anymore.

It wasn't Dad being protective.

...It was just pure hatred in human form. And Ed couldn't let it consume him.

Because this was the one thing that Dad did that made Ed not feel safe around him.

Dad was shouting, Greed was yelling...

...And Ed was clapping his hands and sending a stone fist at Dad's stomach to knock him to the ground and pin him down. Ed had needed to snap him out of it and make him lose the lighter at the same time. Because the transmutation circle that he had carved into his hand was useless for creating flames without something that served as ignition. "DAMMIT, DAD! YOU CAN'T KILL HIM WHEN WE NEED HIM TO TELL US WHERE AL AND HAVOC ARE!" Ed shouted, before coughing again.

Greed began laughing while panting as he got back to his feet, healing up the considerable amount of damage. "You two are tougher than I gave you credit for, but I think I'll leave this family drama to you. It was nice meeting you, Mustangs!"

"YOU COWARD! ED, LET ME LOOSE RIGHT NOW, I'M GOING TO BURN HIM TO A CRISP!"

Ed didn't know if he was more relieved than scared as the door was slammed open by a group of soldiers. "WE'VE FOUND THE BOY!"

Then a lot of bullets were being fired at Greed as the homunculus took off running, laughing. "See you later!"

"NO, WAIT!" Ed didn't even bother transmuting anything as Greed would be gone before it could reach him and his shield had been completely restored now. Instead he just lay there in pain and panic and with his stomach clenching from what he had done to Dad.

Then Ed paused as realisation hit him as Dad wasn't shouting. Because they had said that they had "found the boy", not "General Mustang and his son".

...And Dad was lying pinned to the floor by a transmuted hand that was obviously made by Ed ...Who was lying bleeding on the ground after having been forcibly removed from his Fracturer. And Dad was wearing dirty and casual clothing that wouldn't be associated with "Flame Alchemist Brigadier General Roy Mustang" in a million years.

...No, the only thing that would suggest that Dad was Dad, was the transmutation circle he had carved into his own hand.

And so Ed whipped his head around and yelled at the soldiers currently surrounding Dad. "HE'S NOT A THREAT! THAT'S MY DAD, DAMMIT! LOOK AT THE TRANSMUTATION CIRCLE IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE ME!"

The soldiers stood back, paling and saluting Dad, as Ed clapped his hands and released him, letting him get to his feet. "Take care of Ed, I have a missing son and subordinate!" Dad said urgently, moving to pick up the lighter, only to have a couple of soldiers restrain him.

"Führer's orders, sir! You and the Fullmetal Alchemist are being kept here under our protection! Führer Bradley and Major Armstrong are looking for your youngest son and your subordinate as we speak."

Dad froze, paling, knowing that he couldn't refuse the Führer's direct orders if he wanted not to lose the things he had gained that got him a lot closer to achieving his goals. And so instead he sighed angrily. "Fine! But at least let me help my other son who is currently lying on the floor, bleeding, and with a broken leg!"

The soldiers released him, and Dad strode over as one of the soldiers shouted about getting a medic. Ed was relieved. Al and Havoc would definitely be okay when those two were looking for them. "Ed, how are you doing?" Dad asked nervously, swiftly scooping him up in his arms, making Ed grunt with the pain from his cuts and his leg.

Ed found it slightly embarrassing that he was being carried like this in front of everyone. Also, he didn't really have an idea of where Dad was taking him. "Fine enough... The cuts aren't too bad..." He sighed. "I guess you're gonna take me to the hospital for another X-ray..."

"Yes, Ed, I am," he said in his Dad voice. He carried him over to the wall and slid down, placing Ed in his lap, and Ed understood that it was to remove the weight from his leg and be able to treat his cuts. Especially as Dad began pulling off his own shirt and ripped it in half so as to put pressure on his two biggest groups of cuts.

The soldiers seemed a bit unnerved by Dad's scars. His right shoulder after the explosion last year was bad enough. With the new scars from his cauterised sword cuts, Dad looked pretty horrifying.

And he also looked frustrated, hurt and confused, and Ed looked up at him. "We'll talk about it in private, Dad..." Then he looked down. "I'm sorry about your hand, that's gotta hurt a lot..."

"Ed, seriously. Because you were thinking so quickly, you saved both our lives, and I don't even know what you did to break his shield... If anybody should apologise, it's me... I... I had completed the transmutation circle while he was still holding you by the throat... But if I had attacked, then you would have been at risk of getting burnt because I needed to get him away from you, and that means explosions because of the force of the blast... Doing it while he was still holding you would have been too dangerous because of your leg and your too close proximity to that bastard. I could have ended up killing you because I'm not exactly capable of controlling the explosion precisely enough for blasting you to a safe position... Because it requires a lot of compensation for your automail and your broken leg... One wrong move, and I could have sent you at an angle that could have ended with you breaking your neck..."

Ed was more than a little embarrassed that everyone watched them as Dad kissed the top if his head. But he couldn't exactly blame him, because Ed must have scared him like hell. "It's okay, Dad, really. I'm just glad you caught onto my plan."

Dad sighed heavily. "Still, you shouldn't have been the one to draw the fire..."

Ed raised an eyebrow at him. "Well, you're the one who could create it!"

Dad sighed again. "I'm proud of you, Son... Really proud of you."

It was Ed's turn to sigh. "You need to patch up your hand..." He nodded towards the left one that was currently pressing against the cuts across Ed's shoulder.

"You know you have nothing to complain about, seeing as how your entire face is covered in blood."

Ed paused. "Oh, yeah... I guess..." He was only now becoming aware of the taste of blood in his mouth from one of the cuts on his forehead.

There suddenly came a couple of medics inside the room, instantly walking over and kneeling next to them. "Take care of Ed first, I'm good for a few minutes with a compress on my own hand."

And so the medics took over for Dad, and Ed wasn't exactly comfortable with the fact that they needed to remove the tank top to access his wounds.

...Meaning that everyone were free to see all the scars covering his back. The medic working on the cuts on his back paled slightly. "Have you been whipped, sir?" he asked in horror.

"Yeah, got flogged last year for punching a bastard general."

"I...I see. Well, this will require stitches, so we should get some local anaesthetics."

Ed glared. "No syringes. I've gone through automail surgery, I definitely don't need something as stupid as that for something as stupid as those."

Both medics looked down sadly at that. "I suppose so, sir."

The other medic looked at him with a frown. "I think we should bring the stretcher and get you to the hospital in an ambulance as soon as possible in case something should have happened to your leg. It may require surgery, sir."

Ed paused. "No. It feels just like it did before and my little brother is missing. I'm not going to a hospital before I know that Al is safe."

Understandably enough, Dad looked torn, but then he sighed. "Ed, there are a few conditions in that case. First of all, you're not allowed to complain about the hospital and we are going to use the stretcher, still no complaining. And you don't get to dismiss the doctors' orders, okay?"

Ed looked up at him, slightly surprised. "You gave in pretty quickly..."

"Yes, because Al and Havoc are very likely still being kept hostage, and these people probably won't be too happy if you just leave. I'm not letting you be targeted and I don't want to choose between my sons... Besides, the Führer will probably want to question us."

When they got back to the house, they were met by a glaring and furious Izumi Curtis.

Roy was pushing Ed in the wheelchair. He had talked to Winry on the phone and she had thought for a bit before deciding that she wanted them to bring the Fracturer to Rush Valley so that she could assess the damage, just in case. After all, there could be unknown damages to the vehicle that they didn't know about and therefore failed to repair through alchemy. Because it moved at such a high speed, that could become catastrophic. She was also reluctant to let Ed drive because it would result in the cuts across his shoulder to heal slower.

Which meant that they would be heading out for Rush Valley in three days so that Roy had time to talk with the Curtises in full. Although that would come next morning.

...Because Roy needed to be with his sons tonight.

Roy still felt sick that Führer Bradley had actually killed Martel while she was inside Al's armour. Part of him was glad that Al didn't have the physical sensation of emotions when it happened. And he felt guilty that he had failed to protect Al so that it didn't happen in the first place.

And while Al was constantly seeking comfort and for Roy to be his Dad, Ed seemed like he was afraid of something concerning Roy. He knew that it had to do with when Ed had gone as far as to attack Roy with his alchemy to stop him in his attack on Greed. And judging by Ed's look, part of him didn't want to know what it was about. But Roy was still uncomfortable about the fact that Ed could have got himself killed by what he did.

So now Al was emotionally scarred for life, Ed was injured and afraid to talk to Roy, and Roy was cursing himself for not heading out to Dublith sooner so that this would never have happened. But he also knew that whatever was eating at Ed had been a problem before now.

They had cleaned Al up before the three of them had headed for the hospital in a very cramped ambulance. Ed's leg had thankfully not been hurt further than it already had been, and so surgery had been unnecessary.

...But his eldest son was sitting in a wheelchair with his chest and back and left shoulder wrapped in bandages so that they could cover all the injured areas. Ed also had bandages wrapped around his head to cover the two cuts on his forehead, and he had a large, square bandaid covering the cut on his left cheek. And he was already beginning to get faint bruising around his neck that would get worse and more distinct during the next few days.

And Roy only had a bandage covering his left hand, as he had decided to carve the transmutation circle into the hand that he used for his pinpoint aiming. As it wasn't a very big room, he had figured that it was safer to do it that way.

...Plus he wasn't really interested in having his dominant hand stinging like hell every time he used it until it was healed.

No, this had been a long day and it would continue to be so because they were far from done. Al had asked that they were dropped off by the military car taking them back from the hospital about a five minutes' walk from the house they were staying at. Meaning that Al had told them the shock of having Martel murdered inside him had triggered him getting his memories back. And they were all getting a bad feeling about how Führer Bradley had acted today.

...No, something wasn't right.

"I thought I told you to be back in time for dinner!" Mrs. Curtis barked. "And instead Lieutenant Havoc comes here with Ed's broken Fracturer and an explanation involving the fact that the three of you were headed for the hospital because Ed's leg might have needed surgery!"

Roy knew full well that it was seven in the evening and that dinner was two and a half hours ago.

Which was why he held up a grocery bag that he had placed on a transmuted shelf at the back of Ed's wheelchair. He had figured that him carrying it would give a better impression than making Al carry it for him so that everything was on the boys. "My apologies, Mrs. Curtis... I didn't want you to need to cook again as Havoc told you you didn't need to make dinner for us when we came back so late. So I'm making stew." He then found the second thing he had placed on the shelf in front of him, namely a bouquet of tulips. "And these are for you and your husband."

Her eyebrows rose as she walked forwards, accepting the flowers. "I have to admit, Mustang, that your manners are very different than those of Ed and Al's. Maybe you'll be a good influence on them after all. These are very nice, thank you."

Roy gave her a smile and nodded. "You're letting me stay with you despite me being a stranger that you don't really trust. I figured that flowers and making supper myself were the least I could do."

He supposed that the woman was being a bit kinder than she would have been because Havoc had told her what had happened to Al. Because she too cared about the boys and being angry with their father when they obviously needed him the most wouldn't be fair to his sons.

"I'll find a vase for these, Ed and Al can guide you through the contents of the kitchen." She turned around and left.

"One more thing, Mrs. Curtis."

She turned back to look at him. "What, Mustang?"

"I'm sorry about how rude I was being earlier."

She scoffed good-naturedly. "That actually works in your favour. Had you been unfazed by it and only acted like a soldier, then I would have beaten you to a pulp by now."

Roy would have smiled, had it not been for the way that her cheerful manner had turn into a stern threat. And so instead he sighed. "I know you don't like the fact that I'm a soldier, so you don't need to call me by my surname. I'm definitely off-duty for this visit, so you're more than welcome to just call me Roy if you want. After all, I'm only here as their father."

She looked him up and down for a few seconds, frowning. Then her look softened as she made eye contact with Ed, and even if Roy couldn't see his face, he could only guess that Ed was giving her a silent plea. And so she sighed slightly disapprovingly. "Then it's Sig and Izumi."

Ed was lying on his back.

Which sucked.

And the reason?

"My back's covered in wounds, but I have to keep this stupid leg elevated and my shoulder's injured so that I can't even tilt just slightly to my side to get a bit more comfortable. All because I can't lie on my right side with my stupid broken leg... And I need to pee, but I don't wanna get back into that stupid wheelchair because that makes my stupid wounds hurt and I don't wanna take more painkillers because my leg had me taking them for a few weeks, so taking any more helps with the stupid pain, but gives me stupid headaches... And everything's so stupid that I'm even talking to myself."

Ed turned his head towards the empty bed two metres to his left. Dad would be sharing with him while he stayed here. And that made Ed nervous because Dad was smart enough to sense that something was wrong. And Ed knew that it would hurt Dad to hear the truth. But Ed was worried. He was worried because if someone didn't talk to Dad about it, then it could go too far. And Ed was afraid that if it did, then once they snapped Dad out of it, then it was a very real possibility that Dad wouldn't be able to face them again.

And so Ed was both annoyed and happy that Dad needed to talk with Al before he came to bed. Because Ed wanted to talk with him about it as soon as possible, but also not at all.

It was strange how much things had changed. Less than two years ago, Roy Mustang had been nothing more than "Colonel Bastard". He had been Ed's verbal sparring partner who made short jokes and was the most annoying person in the world with all his smug bastard-y way of being and talking. He had been the womanising bastard who was an egotistical jerk that pushed Ed around.

...And now he's Dad and I love him.

Ed grunted. "Damn it, I want a hug. A normal, uninjured hug... A normal, uninjured hug where I can just use Dad's shoulder as a pillow as he puts his arms around me... And I pretend that I'm seven so that it's okay that I actually wake up early on a Saturday morning, make Dad a cup of coffee and bring it to him, making him smile, thank me, and then I tell him to scoot over so that I can snuggle up to him."

Because Ed had been damned happy to see him and be able to hug him without hurting him, and now Ed was the one who was hurt.

Which sucked.

And in turn made everything stupid.

Not that Ed was angry or displeased that Dad wasn't here right now. Al definitely needed some time alone with Dad after Führer Bradley did something like that.

Ed seriously wanted to punch the leader of the country.

And he had decided that he wanted some time alone because it had been a long day and he needed to think. And even if he hadn't told the others, he had also wanted some time to sort of prepare himself for talking with Dad. And now everything was stupid because he felt like shit. He just wanted to sleep and for everything to stop being so damned complicated.

And he was even grumpier now because his stupid bladder was being stupid because he really, really needed to pee.

And so he sat up gingerly and got into the wheelchair, grunting as his wounds bumped into the back of the contraption. Ed was only wearing his boxers because it was so warm and clammy bandages meant changing them more than he wanted to.

...Which meant that Sig had looked like he wanted to cry when he saw all the scars covering the exposed areas of his back. And Teacher had frowned, but Ed had told her about the circumstances and how that had actually been one of the major factors for how the adoption actually happened, so Ed didn't really mind it now that they were healed over.

So now he had five new scars to add to the collection of pity-provokers that was his back.

But the good thing was that they would be staying with Dad for a while now as his wounds healed, meaning that Dad would be the one to redress his cuts.

...And give him a sponge bath. That last part wasn't exactly very comfortable, but at least it was Dad... And it wasn't like it was the first time he had needed it. Ed had been injured plenty of times. And he had needed it the first few days after Nina until they headed for Resembool.

Which meant that Ed would always praise wet wipes as they had given him the opportunity to clean himself up whilst sitting down on the toilet on the train. Winry had helped him wash his hair, but the important part was that Major Armstrong had NOT assisted Ed at any point when it came to personal hygiene.

...Although the others weren't happy when Ed was forced to use the wheelchair by himself right now because of his shoulder.

So it was a good thing that there was a couple of knocks on the door, with Dad speaking softly. "Hey, Ed, is it okay that I come in?"

"Yeah, I need to pee, so it's good timing."

Dad opened the door and came over, instantly grabbing the handles of his wheelchair. Dad was currently wearing his pyjama bottoms and a singlet. He was also barefoot.

Basically, he just looked like Dad and not a brigadier general.

And another good thing about it being Dad was that no matter how awkward it was, it was actually a relief to get some assistance when using the toilet. There was something slightly embarrassing about the way that there was a large pack of antibacterial wipes right next to the toilet because getting back into the wheelchair and rolling over to the sink was really unsanitary. So now Dad could just grab one of the wipes, clean his hand, and then lift him back into the wheelchair.

However, Dad suddenly paused before they could even reach the bedroom door on their way to the bathroom. Then he walked around to Ed's side and put his arms under Ed's thighs because of the cast, and across his shoulder blades so as to avoid the cuts. "This really is simpler, isn't it?" he asked, sounding like he'd had a minor epiphany.

Ed smiled and leant into him, using his chest as a pillow as Dad carried him into the bathroom. "Yeah, Dad."

Getting help with the bathroom and then having Dad help him brush his teeth while sitting on the toilet lid with Ed on his lap was easy, even if awkward. Ed didn't really mind the help with the toothbrush either. He had a nasty habit of breaking his toothbrushes with his automail hand, and with his shoulder the way it was...

...Being a kid instead was just easier and felt a whole lot better.

Then came the moment of truth.

Dad gently laid Ed down on the bed, before sitting down on the edge of it himself and then reached out and cupped his right cheek, looking at Ed with worry.

It made it a lot harder to tell him what he needed to. "...Dad... About earlier today..." Ed began quietly.

"Stopping me from burning him was partially suicidal... I see why you wanted to get information from him, but he was very likely to kill you and I couldn't let that happen, Ed... I needed to use the opportunity that you had given me, and interrogating him wasn't an option when you're the only one who could transmute his shield... I had to strike and I had to do so fast."

Ed shook his head, feeling his stomach clench. "That's not it, Dad... I understand your reasoning, but that... That's not what happened."

Dad looked at him in confusion, the thumb stroking his cheek stopping its movement. "What do you mean, Ed?"

"I mean that I had to stop you from what you were doing because you scared the hell out of me." Ed couldn't look him in the eyes any more. "Like really, really frightened me..."

"Ed?" Dad asked, sounding slightly alarmed. "If I scared you, I'm sorry, I know you don't want to kill anyone..."

Ed shook his head again. "Dad, I'm talking about the way that whoever it was that was trying to kill Greed... That wasn't my Dad... There was nothing in your eyes that looked remotely like Dad... It was like you were possessed... And I've seen it before, and it scares me... But today... Today it almost went too far..." Ed shook his head yet again. "No, it did go too far."

Dad just sat there, frozen. "Ed... You're afraid of me when I get angry?"

"No, Dad. You being angry is okay... But you can't deny that you weren't trying to kill Greed... You were trying to slaughter him... And you... You didn't even register the fact that you were doing it in front of the teenage son you're trying to keep from seeing the horrors of war..." Ed swallowed hard, feeling tears building. "...Dad, you tell me that you're a monster because of what you did in Ishbal... But you aren't..." His lips began trembling, his voice growing quieter. "But when you let hatred consume you like that earlier today... Then... Then you were being one..."

Dad had frozen completely. "You... You saw me as a monster?" he asked, and Ed could hear how pale he'd gone.

"Y-yes... I... I'm sorry, Dad, but..." Ed felt the first tear make its way down his cheek. "...But when you get that angry... When you're like that... I had to stop you, Dad, because if I had waited, then I... I'm not sure if... If I had had both legs working and had walked up to you to stop you..." Ed barely repressed a sob, taking a deep breath as he braced himself to say the most important thing about it. The one that could potentially ruin everything and lose them their Dad because he'd go from being consumed by hatred, to being consumed by guilt. Ed didn't even know if Dad would get angry about it. Dad and Hawkeye had told them about Ishbal, told them about how there couldn't be any more Flame Alchemists. And Ed knew that it was a touchy subject. And he could end up breaking Dad's heart because it could be interpreted as Ed losing his faith in him. Or that he was telling Dad that he had let them down. But this was also Ed's duty as his son. Because if the day came when Dad wouldn't be snapped out of it before it was far too late, then it would leave Dad devastated because Ed had been too scared to talk to him before it happened. And so he swallowed hard, not able to get himself to speak in more than a loud whisper, still not looking at him. "...If I had walked up to stop you, I think you'd have been more likely to punch me to get me out of your way, than to stop what you were doing because all you were being was fury. You weren't trying to protect me, you were just... You were just punishing him... And I needed to stop you, Dad... I-I'm sorry."

The hand on his cheek was removed and Ed felt like his stomach was bursting with guilt and fear that he had broken something between them. He was crying silently with only wheezes betraying what he was doing. He felt Dad move so that he turned ninety degrees away from him. Ed bit his lip and forced himself to look up at Dad.

...Only to find him leaning his elbows on his thighs. His head was bowed while he gripped his hair so hard that it was bound to hurt. And his face was hidden by the angle of his nearest arm.

"Dad, I'm sorry... But please... I... I l-love you, which is why I had to stop it..." Ed told him weakly, feeling like he had just destroyed one of the most important things in his life.

"How the hell can you even say something like that, Ed?" Dad growled.

Ed froze, feeling his fears grow. "I don't mean that you're a monster in general, Dad! I don't fear you!" Ed said, panicking because he was about to lose Dad.

"Ed, that's not what I'm talking about... How the hell can you say you love me when I did something like that to you?" His voice was filled with harsh bitterness. "Don't... Don't apologise... I'm not angry with you... Only myself."

Ed didn't know what to say or do, and his broken words were laced with tears. "Dad... I... Please..." He reached out his left hand and placed it on Dad's arm, earning one of the most heartbreaking things he had ever been given.

...Because Dad shook his hand away. "Ed, I... How can you even stand to be around me when I did that to you? ...You trust me to be your father, and part of you fears that I'll hit you for trying to stop me? ...Ed, please, you're smarter than that... You shouldn't feel obliged to trust me after something like that... I'm sorry... I don't ..." His voice suddenly filled with self-loathing and frustration. "Dammit!... How the hell were you even okay with me looking after you afterwards? I scare you like that... And then I... I act like everything is normal... And you let me care for you and... And you trust me to help you... You even let me brush your teeth, for fuck's sake! I should disgust you!" It was one of those very, very few times where Dad's voice was slightly shaky from repressed tears.

"Dad... Don't... You don't disgust me... Just... All I ask is that you don't let rage consume you like that, because I wanna keep my Dad... I just wanna keep my Dad... Because I mean it... I love you, so just... Just... Can I use you as a pillow?"

Dad was silent for at least ten seconds, having frozen completely.

Then he began shaking, and Ed was afraid that he had made him cry for real.

...Only that Dad began chuckling instead. "That's one hell of a summary, Ed." Then he sighed heavily before he began speaking quietly, his voice still shaky. "I'm so sorry... You were right to stop me... Thank you for that... And for telling me afterwards... And I love you too, Ed..." He released his hair, letting his arms fall to his sides, his eyes trained on the wall in front of him. "And I suppose that me leaving now would be a shitty thing to do when all you want is a human pillow... Especially when you want to keep me despite what I did, and I promised you that I wouldn't give up on you..."

Dad then turned towards him, reaching out his hands to dry away Ed's tears, careful to avoid the cut on his cheek. "Ed... I'm so sorry... So sorry..." His eyes were filled with pain as he spoke.

Ed just felt relief sink into him. Tearful, loving relief.

Which meant that Ed had been enough sentimental and feelings-y for now. "Just... Just pillow. Like shoulder under my head and then an arm under my shoulder blades so that you can lift my stupid back from the bed... So just be my damned pillow."

Dad smiled and nodded, his eyes filled both with humour, sadness and guilt at the same time.

...But also love.

No, this was Dad. Pure Dad. Just Dad.

And Ed was safe with him.

And the tear building in the corner of Dad's left eye was proving that. But there was also fear. "Ed... Could you promise me something?" he asked quietly.

"What, Dad?"

"I'm not ordering you to do this... But please... Please promise me that should it happen again, that you'll do what you did today... Because you're right... You needed to stop me... And I trust you to know it when you need to do it again... Please, Ed."

Ed felt his stomach clench at the look in Dad's eyes. Because Dad was terrified.

And so he nodded at him once. "I-I promise, Dad."

Dad closed his eyes, his face filled with gratitude and relief. "Thank you, Ed."

Ed reached up and placed his flesh hand gently on Dad's right wrist where it was still cupping Ed's cheek. "...Can I ask you something?"

Dad opened his eyes again and looked at him. "Of course."

"...I'm just surprised that you'd choose to ask me over Hawkeye... After all, she spends a lot more time around you and you're already trusting her with your back... She'd be more than capable of recognising it too, wouldn't she?"

At that, Dad actually smiled weakly. "Because bullet wounds make hugs far too uncomfortable for my liking."

Ed couldn't help it as he began snickering a bit.

...It took them five seconds before they were laughing in full.

Roy woke up next morning, finding himself with Ed using his left shoulder as a pillow, sleeping heavily. He was using Roy's left leg to support his broken one, and Roy was tilted slightly towards him, his right hand holding Ed's left. His own left arm had understandably fallen asleep.

Looking at Ed lying there, his face turned towards Roy, his features so peaceful, made Roy's stomach twist. He had done something unforgivable yesterday. And he was proud of Ed for what he had done. Proud and grateful.

And unequivocally certain that he didn't deserve his sons. He would never even come remotely close to deserving them.

And yet Ed was currently using him as a pillow and was obviously very content with it. There was no sign of the fear and the pain and the hurt from last night. Ed felt safe with Roy despite everything.

...Damn it, I really am an idiot.

And so Roy sighed and kissed the top of his head.

The first time Ed had straight forwards told Roy that he loved him, had been when he thought he had hurt Roy to the point that he'd lose him. He had kept apologising to Roy as if Ed was doing something wrong. Like he had to prove that he still wanted Roy.

...But the two things that really made Roy feel sick were the fact that Ed had seen him as a monster that he didn't recognise as his Dad. And that it made Ed scared of doing anything other than use alchemy to stop him because Roy could be so far gone that he would intentionally hurt his son.

And Ed knew him well. Roy wanted to believe that he would never let it go that far, but Ed had been telling him the truth. Ed had been scared that Roy would hurt him. And it wasn't like Ed was afraid of a bit of pain... He was afraid of Roy losing his soul. Because he too knew that if Roy hurt him like that, then Roy would lose a part of himself that could never be replaced.

...Because it meant that Roy would choose his own fury over everything that his sons had given him.

And that could never be allowed to happen.

Which meant that it was time that Roy told them about what he had kept hidden from them. Because he owed them that. And they deserved to know.

...Because how could he set a good example by being more cowardly than Ed when he had trusted Roy enough to tell him what he had done to him?

Which was why Roy found himself sitting in the bedroom ninety minutes later with Ed sitting on his lap, while Roy was sitting on Al's... Because that was what the boys had decided that they'd do because Roy had that I'm a bit scared and I have something important to talk to you about that shouldn't be said during a hug because it's not particularly cheerful-look.

But his sons had added a second thing: "Which means that this is one of those things that definitely means that you need a hug."

And so Roy was sandwiched between them in what Ed had so eloquently named a "hugwich." The term may sound childish, but it had also been created at a time when Ed had been drugged by a criminal about six months ago. They had joked a bit about it afterwards because Ed had said some very funny and ridiculous things.

...But that had also quickly been brought to an end as Ed reminded Roy about the hallucinogen he had been injected with after last year's explosion.

More specifically: reminded him about how Roy had been pulling rank on his IV stand.

...Al had chuckled at them both as he rubbed their heads and called them cute.

That was one of the things that had surprised Roy once he got to know Al for real. Because the kid was sweet as hell, but he had a dark side.

...And it was a very effective one as he only acted on it occasionally, meaning that whenever he did, it had a lot more impact and caught everyone off guard.

"Okay, Dad, what were you gonna tell us?" Ed asked, looking up at Roy from where he was resting his right cheek against Roy's left shoulder.

Roy sighed heavily. "You know when I first told you about my goals?"

Al held up his right hand in front of them, counting on his fingers. "Become Führer, restore Ishbal and give their holy land back to the Ishbalan survivors, restore power to the Parliament and make the country a democracy."

Roy looked at the four fingers that were held up in front of him and sighed again, his stomach clenching slightly. "That's what I wanted to talk to you about... Because there used to be a fifth one before the adoption."

Both of his boys froze. "What do you mean, Dad?" they asked simultaneously. Ed's eyes betrayed his fear from where he was looking up at him in something akin to horror.

"What did you give up, Dad?" Ed asked. "Your goals aren't something you'd... What did we change?"

Roy sighed, closing his eyes. "...Once the country was a stable democracy, I was going to put those that were praised as heroes during the Ishbalan War of Extermination on trial as war criminals."

Both his sons gasped. "...You... You were intentionally gonna get yourself killed?"

"...Well, being the "Hero of Ishbal" would make that a given..." Roy told them heavily.

"But that includes Lieutenant Hawkeye... And she... You must have told her, and if she approved of it, then... Dad, did you steal away from her something that she wanted badly? ...You two told us about how destroying the array was to set her free... So, so... Dad, did you break her trust in you? ...Does... Are we causing her pain every time she looks at us?"

Roy shook his head. "I gave her the option to shoot me... Turned my back to her so that she could choose because I did stray from the path that I had chosen... I'd say she cares a hell of a lot about you two as she chose to walk up to me, press her gun to my back and hiss at me that if I break my promise to you two-"

"She'll shoot you?" Ed asked in surprise.

"No... She'll dismember me."

The boys went quiet for a few seconds, before Ed spoke up. "Wow... That's... Uh..."

"...Touching in a terrifying way?" Al offered in a slightly higher pitch than usual.

Roy smiled, only now daring to open his eyes, finding Ed staring straight ahead, completely pale. Then Roy sighed again. "I didn't tell you before because I was afraid that you'd feel guilty."

Ed looked down, bowing his head as he stopped leaning against Roy's chest. "...Dad, it was obviously important to you, and you... You chose your promise to us over the one to Hawkeye... Did you tell her about it? What that promise was?"

"Yes. I did. I didn't actually need to say anything else as I turned my back to her. Ten seconds later came the dismemberment threat... Because she too chose you over something that we had decided years before... And do you know why?"

"Why, Dad?" came Al's voice.

"Because we only used to have something worth dying for... Now we have something worth living for instead... You have no idea how much that means to someone like us..."

"Were you ever disappointed that you chose this?" Al asked quietly. Roy knew he had given his sons something that was very hard to quickly make up their minds about.

"Honestly, Al? ...Realisation only hit me after the adoption... I didn't even think about it when I adopted you. But when I did..." Roy sighed, but not in an unfriendly or annoyed way. The best word he had for it was a contemplative sigh. A fond, contemplative sigh. "When I did, I found that I wouldn't have chosen any differently. And that is the same conclusion that the Lieutenant reached... I guess it shows how trying to plan out your life is fairly pointless."

"...Because you can't predict the future?"

"Well, think about it... This all started with a 3 instead of a 1."

"...You're talking about the mistake someone made when they wrote that the promising and talented alchemist way out in the countryside was thirty-one instead of eleven," Ed said. "...And if you hadn't been curious, then you would have left before you met us... Basically, it was all just dumb luck."

"...But it was also one of the luckiest things that ever happened to us, Brother," Al said quietly, his usual cheerfulness replaced by sincere solemnity.

Roy didn't dare interrupt them, and right now he was reduced to speechlessness at the meaning of those words.

"Yeah, you're right about that... Otherwise we'd be orphans stuck in Resembool with a lot of missing body parts... Now we've trapped Dad in a hugwich and we're saving him from his noble idiocy just by our very presence and Hawkeye's to boot." Ed suddenly lifted his automail hand above his head so as to bump his fist into his little brother's. "In short, we're awesome."

Al chuckled. "Totally." Then he began tousling Roy's hair. "But what's Dad then?"

"He's an idiot, but a lovable one."

Roy was a bit nervous as he sat down at the table in front of Izumi and Sig. Havoc had been engaged in a sparring match with Al, per Izumi's orders. It was a bit funny to see his subordinate now, because he had grown more muscle and his speed had increased some too.

Havoc had been apologising profusely yesterday for letting Al and himself be kidnapped like that. Roy had to say that that was fairly stupid as they had been attacked by three human chimeras that they didn't know were chimeras and when they could capture Al, then Havoc hadn't really stood a chance... Especially as they had started the attack with Martel walking up to them, telling Havoc that it was really lucky that she ran into an officer because there was a bar brawl that was about to turn very violent.

...Meaning that when Havoc had been "breaking it up", they had been attacked by a lot of chimeras at the same time.

...Which had ended badly.

"So, Roy... We've heard that you're a very good tactician..." Izumi began slowly, her arms crossed over her chest. "...And very good at manipulation... Which is why we wanted to meet you in person."

Roy paused, feeling his stomach churn as he understood what that meant. "You wanted to make sure that I wasn't taking advantage of their need for a parent." Then he sighed. "I understand your scepticism though, so I'm not holding it against you. Although it could partially be seen as an insult to my sons because it questions their judgement." He looked at them, smiling slightly. "...But it's easy to want to make sure for yourself when your kids are involved, no matter how much you trust them. Otherwise, you'd spend your days worrying." He looked at the slightly raised eyebrows of the two in front of him, before his smile faded. "I'm sorry about your child," he told them solemnly.

They both frowned slightly at that. "They told you?"

Roy shook his head. "No, but I expect that the boys have told you about where I grew up?"

"Yes." Their eyes weren't exactly portraying deep trust and approval.

...Not too happy about the hostess bar, in other words.

"There was one of the waitresses, back when I was twelve, who quit her job because she became pregnant. However, she had taken a liking to me while she was working there, so she would come visiting twice a month with a tin of freshly baked cookies... One time, she didn't come for five weeks, and when she did, her stomach was a lot flatter than it ought to have been and her eyes contained that same pain as yours hold... And every time she came visiting me afterwards, her eyes were like yours every time you look at the boys."

Izumi gave a small nod as she placed a hand on her stomach and Sig put his arm around her. "I see."

"And please don't misunderstand me and think that I'm blaming you or thinking that you're trying to replace your child, because I know you're not. It's just Ed and Al making things a bit easier. They're filling some sort of emptiness brought on by the way that you wanted a child that you didn't get. It's the same with the boys, only in reverse. They didn't have a father to speak of and their mother died when they were so young... And I would like to thank you for what you did for the boys when you trained them. Because you filled some of the emptiness that they felt... If it hadn't been for what they had been planning and the results it brought, then I am fairly certain that you two would have been seeing a lot more of the boys than you have for the past few years... And you still give them something that I can't because I'm single and I don't exactly have much experience in the domestic department... Or training in being a parent. The boys have honestly been training me and we've been figuring things out as we go along."

"You know, about two years ago, we were visiting Central, and we overheard a couple of soldiers talking about you," Izumi began sternly. "We didn't think much about it, until they mentioned Ed's name and that you were his commanding officer. And that you were an "annoying excuse for an officer who would do anything for a promotion and the only reason you had reached the rank of colonel was because you were such a powerful human weapon that the military couldn't afford to lose," and that you "kept stealing everyone's girlfriends and if it hadn't been for your assistant being your nanny, then you wouldn't have been able to find your way through your own office." You see why we were a bit sceptical?"

Roy sighed. "Sometimes hiding behind a façade so that people assume wrong about you can be a very useful skill when you're trying to become Führer... Otherwise I would very easily be branded as a traitor and that would be very counterproductive. When people assume that you're an idiot, then it's a lot easier to hide that you're actually not one... Although I haven't actually been on a date since the adoption. One thing is being assumed to be a flirtatious, egomaniacal bastard, that I can live with... But I won't have people believe that my sons are clueless, foolish kids... So no, no dating and no alcohol ever since then. I go to a few bars with pretty waitresses so as to not look too suspicious while the boys are travelling... As it also allows me to go to my aunt's bar as she's a brilliant intelligence operative and quite a few of my dates have been informants."

They both looked at him with slightly wider eyes. "I thought Ed was joking about that part."

Roy snorted slightly with laughter. "Like I said: feigned stupidity is very easy to get away with when you know how to do it well. Currently I'm known as the "Yokel General" despite the fact that I was born and raised in Central and spent over the first twenty years of my life there."

She paused for a few seconds, before her voice turned stern and soft at the same time. "I saw that there was something wrong between you and Ed when you came back yesterday. I hope you don't blame me for checking in on you while you were asleep. And it seems that you two certainly worked things out. I won't ask about what it was, because I can tell that that was something very personal... But I suppose that our misgivings are being reduced. Because I can tell now that you haven't been lying to the boys. And you haven't been fooling them for your own gain."

Roy nodded at her. "Thank you... I'm not exactly the easiest man to trust..."

She suddenly smiled slightly. "I guess you could be called a "horse of the military" instead... Because you're not exactly behaving like a dog and neither is Ed... Because you're Mustangs."

Roy chuckled. "I'll definitely remember that one."

She smiled for a few seconds, before sighing. "Why haven't you mentioned what I did?"

Roy knew immediately what she was talking about. "I don't see why it should have anything to do with your worth as a person... We're alchemists and I've discovered how desperate losing a family member can make you... During these last one and a half years, I have gained something invaluable, and I'm terrified of losing it."

Sig suddenly spoke up. "Which is why you chased a serial killer with a car."

Roy felt a bit of heat rise to his cheeks as he kept his face as stony as possible. "Yes. Yes, I did."

Izumi looked at him, her face filled with emotions that were obviously conflicting so that she couldn't really be read. "They told us about Nina... That took a lot of bravery. But it also shows that in the end, you're not just a soldier and a human weapon... I hope you'll reach your goal, Roy. If you need some help at some point, then you're welcome to call us."

Roy smiled and nodded. "Thank you." He looked at the clock on the wall. "I'll help you with the lunch."

She smiled slightly and shook her head. "There's no need. I hear you and your sons have some reading to catch up on after three weeks..."

Roy paused, eyes widening. "They told you about that too?"

Izumi got to her feet at the same time as her husband, smirking slightly at him. "It will probably be a lot less awkward for you to do the voices when I can't hear you over the kitchen fan and Sig is busy in the shop. Tell Lieutenant Havoc to take a bath in the meantime, otherwise lunch will get rather awkward because of his smell... Have fun with Princess Philippa, I hear you do a very enjoyable job."

Roy blushed, eyes widening as the Curtises left.

He was fairly certain that both of them began laughing as soon as they closed the living room door.

So, there you are! I hope you people enjoyed the chapter and thank you so much for the reviews! Hearing that you people like the story inspires me greatly, which is also the reason that I managed to write 16 500 words in three days! :D