Part nine: Diplomatic Relations

It wasn't that Roy looked down upon such preferences. He didn't have any prejudice against them. It wasn't a problem that some men liked men.

...It was when a grown man had been looking like he wanted to strip in front of Roy's fifteen-year-old son that Roy had wanted to punch him and still did.

And Ed definitely hadn't appreciated the extra attention.

And Roy had a feeling that Garfiel would have been very interested in Al too...

...If it hadn't been for the fact that the one that Garfiel definitely had liked the most was Roy himself. He supposed that it was at least better than if Ed and Al had had Garfiel's undivided attention.

Not that Roy himself felt comfortable with the attention that he had been receiving... Because it had been very clear last time they were here that Garfiel hadn't been taking the hint that Roy didn't swing that way.

...In fact, he had seemed like he had made it his mission to get Roy to change his mind.

Which was why Roy wasn't completely relaxed as they made their way towards Atelier Garfiel. Al was carrying the Fracturer, while Roy was pushing Ed's wheelchair.

...It took them a total of seven seconds before twenty engineers descended upon them. Havoc had been sent back to Central to get his week's leave as Roy was capable of guarding his sons by himself now that he wasn't suffering from the injuries that had nearly killed him. Once they got back to Central, then the three of them were going to look at the house that Roy had bought. He had discussed it in detail with Ed and Al over the phone and he had shown them a lot of pictures during their stay in Dublith. The boys had trusted Roy's judgement and they were very excited to see what it was like. Hawkeye, Gracia and Elicia had taken upon themselves to unpack all the boxes sent from as to make sure that things were in order for when they returned to Central.

Roy looked about himself and did something very, very effective to get the masses to disperse.

Because he pulled off his coat, leaving him in just his shirt without the usual waistcoat, revealing his shoulder holster complete with loaded gun.

He actually heard someone go "EEP!" as they ran away.

"Always nice to be recognised, don't you think?" Roy told his sons conversationally as he began pushing the wheelchair forwards again.

Ed began snickering slightly while Al chuckled.

"Here, Dad, I can take that for you," Ed said, reaching up his right hand. "I could use it to make a pillow for my back, if you don't mind me transmuting it."

Roy gave it to him, knowing that Ed would tell him off for thanking him, so instead he just tousled his hair, sighing fondly.

Ed had already transmuted the wheelchair so that there was enough space underneath it for their suitcases. And so Ed made his pillow, and Roy grabbed it so as to put it behind Ed's back so that he got the least amount of pain from his cuts. "Thanks, Dad."

"No worries."

They made their way through the town until they reached their destination, looking at Winry as she carried a box outside the shop and then lit up when she saw them, waving, before walking up to them.

Roy was a bit surprised that the first thing she did was to hug him.

But then again, he was actually the only one who wouldn't turn all teenager on her and it wouldn't be awkward. And Roy got that sad feeling in his chest as he thought about the fact that Winry didn't exactly have many to hug her here either. Satera probably did, but that was all. And so he hugged her back tightly, resting his chin on top of her head. He supposed it also had something to do with how Roy may or may not have phoned her three times a week since she began working here.

...And the fact that before she left Central, he had sort of sat her down and talked with her about how to handle boys, what to avoid, all the small red flags...

Basically: Roy was getting pretty protective of the young Miss Rockbell.

...And the hug was quickly explained as she suddenly spoke without thinking. "Hi, Uncle Roy!"

Then she froze, blushed, and pulled away, her eyes widening. "Oh! Sorry! I-I was speaking to Elicia on the phone a few minutes ago and I wasn't thinking and-"

Roy smiled and put a hand on her shoulder. "It's fine, Winry, completely fine. If that's what you want to call me, then you're more than free to do so... I'd only see it as an honour."

Her cheeks reddened further, her eyes widening even more.

Then she looked down, whispering. "Thank you... I... I'd like that."

"Then that's settled. So how are things going here?"

She took a step back, looking a bit awkward. "Mister Garfiel says I've improved a lot and that I should have a look at Ed's automail too... It will be full price, in that case, but you're getting a discount on the Fracturer because Mister Garfiel agrees that as long as Ed tells people who it was that made it, it will be a very good advertisement because it's the Fullmetal Alchemist himself who is driving it... If you want to wait with the automail, then that's okay, seeing as how Ed will still be in either the Fracturer or a wheelchair for over another two months... It's just that it'll probably make it a bit easier when he isn't in the Fracturer, because it's a bit lighter and more flexible."

Roy smiled and nodded. "That's perfectly all right. Thank you, Winry, that sounds very good. If you could start by having a look at the automail, then that would be best, I think. Because of his injuries, fixing the automail as soon as possible would be a very good help. We could work out an estimate and then I'll go to the bank down the street."

She smiled at him. "If you want to do it in instalments, then that's okay... You did just buy a house and there's the added costs of having your things sent from East City and-"

Roy cut her off again. "Winry, I've recently been promoted to brigadier general and I've sold the old house because there was suddenly a State Alchemist fan with a lot of money... And the pay for the last few years hasn't exactly been bad. It's not a problem."

"Oh, okay... I'm glad to hear that you sold the house so soon."

Ed chimed in at that, more than a little smugness in his voice. "Yeah, 'cos people like living in the same house that the Hero of the People lived in... I'm doing Dad a huge favour. I'm really popular."

Winry glared at him. "Ed, stop being such an idiot. Now come on, we should have a look at your automail."

The second she turned her back to them, Roy smirked. Because there had been just a tiny hint of fear in her eyes.

...Because she was just a bit afraid that Ed would be so popular that he'd be taken.

And yet none of the two kids knew it, but Roy could sense that Al's soul was smiling knowingly where he walked next to them.

They reached the shop and Roy was immediately getting Garfiel's unwanted attention. "Oh, there you are, boys! And how are your injuries, Mister General? Are you all healed?"

Roy nodded. "Yes, I'm doing very good. Now, if you'd excuse me, Mister Garfiel, I have something I'd like to discuss with you concerning Winry's stay here."

He smiled broadly, a faint blush on his cheeks. "Oh, of course! Why don't we just let the kids catch up and we'll take it outside?"

Roy nodded as Winry took over Ed's wheelchair. And so Roy soon found himself in the alley behind the shop with a very excited Garfiel. "So, what did you want to discuss, Mister General?"

"I'd like your help with something."

He smiled widely at Roy. "Oh, anything! I'd love to help Winry out, she's been working like a busy little bee ever since she came here!"

Roy gave him a nod, setting his plan in motion. "I don't know if you've noticed, but Ed and Winry are having a crush on each other... However, it's the kind that they're not aware of because they've been friends for as long as they can remember..."

Garfiel's eyes widened. "Oh, I see!"

Roy gave him another nod and a bit of a conspiratorial look. "So I'd really appreciate it if you could help me sort of open their eyes a bit to each other... Meaning that if we could give them some alone time while they're together here, then it would work quite well... Once Ed actually gets his epiphany concerning the matter, then I'll be able to give him plenty of guidance as I'm the probably the most notorious womaniser in the entire Amestrian military..."

Garfiel paused, looking a bit disappointed at that last piece of information. But he also cared about Winry, and so he smiled and nodded. "Of course I'll help you, Mister General! I've been wondering about Winry myself, and when you know your son as well as you do, then we really should help those poor kids out."

Roy smiled and nodded. "Thank you, Mister Garfiel. So would you be okay with you, me and Winry working out an estimate for the repairs, and then you go check out all the parts in the storage a few times just in case, while Al and me go to the bank and then grab a bite? That gives the two of them about an hour and a half to hopefully get a bit less clueless about it all. Then we'll come back with dinner for them, and we could find something for you too because you're so "busy right now". How does that sound?"

Garfiel blushed and smiled conspiratorially. "Oh, you certainly are a devious one, Mister General..."

Perhaps, but mostly I'm just pretending that you're an opponent's chess piece.

"I'm merely looking after my boys and Winry. Thank you for your help, though," Roy said calmly, holding out his hand to shake. "And thank you for taking such good care of Winry, I appreciate it."

"Who would you say is gonna make the first move, Dad?" Al asked Roy as they strolled leisurely through the town.

Roy sighed. "That's the problem right there... Winry's probably the one who's going to realise it first, but she's not going to act on it because Ed's going to be too awkward about it to work... Basically, it will take some time... But with you and me together, we'll get there one day."

They both chuckled at the same time.

And then paused at the same time as well, before Roy began striding over to the lump in between two of the shops that looked suspiciously human.

He crouched down and pulled the stranger out by grabbing him under the armpits so as to examine him. He looked uninjured and Roy began checking his pulse while Al stood hovering over them. "Hey, Mister, what's wrong?"

"...Food..." came a weak voice.

Roy looked up at Al, pulling out his wallet and handing it to him. "He needs something to drink first of all, go buy a water bottle... We'll find him some food afterwards."

Al jogged off, and Roy focused his attention back to the stranger in front of him as he knelt so as to support him against his leg, getting him into a position that would allow him to drink once Al came back. "Hey, we're getting you something to drink and then we'll find you some food... Now do you have any medical conditions that we should know about?"

"...Hungry... Need food..."

Roy looked at his features, frowning with realisation. "Are you from Xing by any chance?"

"...Food..."

Roy sighed. "We're getting you something to drink, and then we'll see about the food."

"...Food..."

It was ten minutes later that they were sitting outside the café with the stranger as he ate alarming amounts of food while Roy just sat there, eating chicken breast with mashed potatoes and a salad.

"Are you going to tell me your name now?" Roy asked with a raised eyebrow now that the stranger seemed to possess a reliable amount of coherency.

"Ling..." He tipped an entire bowl of noodle soup into his mouth before continuing. "...Yao."

"Xingese, then?"

"Yes."

"How much of a bottomless pit is your stomach?"

"I could still eat half a pig... Size-wise." He had eaten half a pizza since the noodle soup.

Roy looked towards the café proprietor. "Could you please prepare that much food, sir? Put it on my tab, it's Brigadier General Roy Mustang, so should I need to leave quickly because of unforeseen events as my son has a broken leg and is getting his automail fixed, then please send the bill directly to my office if worst comes to worst." He held up his pocket watch for identification.

The man's eyebrows shot up and he nodded. "Yes, sir! I'll bring the food right away."

Roy nodded and thanked him.

Then he remembered that the thing that probably weighed most was the shoulder holster. It was most likely why they had been prioritised like that.

Roy sighed.

Well, at least they know now that I'm not some criminal...

And so he ate with his usual speed, using his knife and fork in a much more dignified manner than the stranger, as Yao was eating like a garden trowel would have served him a lot better than normal cutlery.

It was fifteen minutes later that the stranger finally found his astonishing hunger sated, and he smiled cheerfully at them, his hand held up in a gesture of thanks. "You guys saved my life! Thanks for the meal, I was starving!"

Roy just frowned at him. "I think you should get an appointment with your doctor concerning your metabolism, Mister Yao."

The stranger pulled out a handkerchief, wiping away a tear that Roy wasn't exactly sure about the sincerity of. He seemed very much like he wanted to make absolutely sure that he wouldn't have to pay for the food. "I never expected to find kindness like this so far from home. I am humbled by your generosity, sir."

"Still, make an appointment with a doctors office... With that amount of food for such a thin body could mean that something is very wrong. If it's an issue with the scheduling because your GP is back in your own country and you don't trust our Amestrian physicians, then go to the A and E at least. There could be an unknown and serious medical condition that caused your collapse." Then Roy rolled his eyes, realising why this Ling Yao character was so reluctant to answer him. And so he leant forwards across the table, whispering. "You don't have an entry visa, do you?"

The nervous laughter that met him told him everything that he needed to know.

And so Roy sighed, lifting his hand and snapping his ungloved fingers to get the proprietor's attention. The man instantly came over, holding up a notepad. "Yes, General?"

"I would like the bill now, thank you for your help, sir."

The man nodded with a smile, and Roy tipped him handsomely, knowing that their unplanned guest had also cost the man a lot of customers getting their food at the regular speed. The man bowed deeply as Roy put down his money on top of the alarming bill, and Roy spotted movement out of the corner of his eye. "Mister Yao, I recommend that you do not try to leave at the present time."

Roy stood up and gave the stranger a stern look, before nodding towards the gun in the shoulder holster. "I would like to have a private word with you, sir."

The stranger laughed nervously, scratching the back of his head. "It's the least I owe you for the meal, General."

"Glad to hear that we agree. Now how about you just follow us over to the alley over there so that we can talk in private?"

"Sounds very good, sir."

And so the three of them made their way into the alley, Roy leading the illegal immigrant towards the wall at the end of the alley so that escaping wouldn't exactly be an option, especially as he led him to a corner. Roy then leant his back against the wall to Yao's left, Al cutting off his route from the right. Roy was using intimidation tactics to his advantage by just crossing his arms over his chest, looking down slightly. "So, give me one good reason that I shouldn't arrest you?"

"Uh... I... Diplomatic relations?"

"One foreigner who crosses the border uninvited wouldn't have anything to do with our relationship with Xing."

"...Well, I'm the twelfth child of the Emperor."

Roy froze, eyes widening. "You know, freeloading for food in the streets when claiming to be royalty doesn't really help you when you have already proved that you are an illegal immigrant... Which means that either you're a liar, or, in case it should be that you're not lying about being a prince, then you are obviously trying to avoid drawing attention to your visit here." Roy looked at him with a raised and expectant eyebrow. "However, judging by the way that you don't look like you're lying, I'd say that there are a few options concerning the matter. Either you're here in relation to some sort of witness protection, or you're planning to unseat your father, or you're here to get something that you can't find in Xing and that you don't want the Emperor to know about... Am I wrong?"

The stranger began sweating. "Option three sounds pretty accurate... I'm here to research your country's alchemy... Back in Xing, our alkahestry is descended from medicine... I wanted to look into it because yours is obviously different from ours."

"I didn't know it was treasonous to research alchemy, so keep going," Roy commented drily. "And please elaborate on this alkahestry part of yours... That could be highly useful..." Roy was feeling his hopes rising slightly concerning healing Ed up every time he got hurt. For all Roy knew, it might be another lead for getting his sons' bodies back. If it was based in medicine, then that could include a humane way that didn't involve the Stone, conspiracies and human sacrifices, which was always a plus.

"Oh, are you an alchemist, General?" Yao asked hopefully.

"I'm a State Alchemist, now elaborate on your alkahestry, and I might just let you not be arrested."

Yao grinned, and Roy knew instantly that he was trying with another diversion, most likely in the fashion of flattery.

He was right. "Oh, how lucky I am to have met such a talented man as yourself, General!"

"Tell us about your alkahestry right now or you'll find yourself handcuffed."

Once again, Yao was sweating nervously. "Well, that's a bit hard, because I don't know how to do it."

Roy glared at him. "Then what exactly is there that is so important about our alchemy that you'd enter the country as an illegal immigrant when you don't even know how to perform your own alkahestry?!"

"Well, I'm looking for something really important to save my clan... Perhaps you've heard of it, being such a talented alchemist..."

Roy sighed. This was yet another case of desperately trying to save those they care about, meaning that this idiot prince was actually being noble.

...Meaning that arresting him would in many ways be hypocritical. "And exactly what is it that you're looking for?"

He looked hopeful at Roy's patience. "Have you ever heard of the Philosopher's Stone?"

Roy froze. "Take it from someone who's been in the military for a long time, it's pointless. I've never heard anything about it ever being made. You've wasted your time on a fairytale... Just go back to your clan. I'll be lenient enough to let you go because you've been unfortunate enough to nearly kill yourself on a fanciful rumour. Now leave. If your country is so skilled with medicine, then just find your GP to check out your obviously faulty metabolism before it can kill you."

And with that, Roy turned around, getting a bad feeling, putting his hands in his pockets so as to have his ignition gloves easily available.

There was the sound of Yao snapping his fingers at the same time as Roy had his ominous feeling confirmed by the blade pressed to his neck. His shoulder holster had also been cut through, making his visible weapon fall to the ground. He looked to his right, seeing Al with a sword shoved up under his left arm by a masked man. "Not so fast, General."

"Do you have any idea how idiotic you're being right now, Yao?" Roy asked him sternly.

"You believe in your equivalent exchange, right? Well, you obviously know more than you're letting on... And if you tell me, then we'll let you and your friend leave unharmed, and then you'll never see us again."

Roy growled. "You're a selfish bastard... You care so much about your clan, and yet you have no qualms about killing my fourteen-year-old son for a bit of information... I was giving you a warning because you're better off without it. It's a fruitless endeavour that is likely to get you killed just like my best friend." Roy had been able to tell that Yao possessed a soft heart, which was what he was appealing to. Actually, he seemed to be similar to Roy himself when it came to protecting those that he cared about. "What do you want the Philosopher's Stone for in the first place?"

"So that I can become immortal in order to save my clan by succeeding the current Emperor as he is dying... You see why I need it?"

Roy sighed. "How old are you anyways? ...You're acting like a stubborn child."

"Do not insult the Prince!" came the one with the sword sharply.

"You're currently attacking a high-ranking State Alchemist whom the Führer himself is calling one of his most trusted men... While threatening my son with a sword. You have no grounds to claim that stating the truth is an insult. You need to understand that I am merely trying to protect you."

"I don't really see how this should put me in such danger when I do not even exist in this country."

"There are plenty of people who have seen you and heard that I asked for a private word. One sketch artist and there will be a nation-wide manhunt within the week. Your invisibility will only be a fact if you don't harm us."

Roy wanted to be angry and burn them for threatening to leave Ed without his brother and father.

But he kept himself calm and collected while not seeking a fight, because his mind was filled with the picture of Ed as he lay in the bed, injured and crying.

...Begging Roy to keep being his Dad.

Roy was beginning to wonder if there was some sort of telepathy going on, because that was the moment where Ed decided to come rolling down the street outside the alley in his wheelchair, his automail leg gone. When his eyes fell upon them, he froze, paling. "Dad? ...Should I like not move now or they'll slit your throat?"

"What do you say, Yao? Are you gonna kill their father right in front of their eyes and prove that you're a selfish bastard who should never rule a country? Because if you do, then you'll be nothing more than a monster... Or, seeing as how you want my information, are you going to torture us? Will you slaughter and torture just so that you can save your clan because some lives are worth far less than others? Are you going to play God?"

Ed's eyes were widening. They were widening with understanding and just a bit of gratitude.

...And pride.

There was silence for about a minute. "How about we make a deal, then? I get to follow you for a little while to see that you aren't lying to me... And if things are as wrong as they seem from your words, I'll be your ally?"

Roy paused. "Allying with me won't have anything to say for your country, other than the very real risk of you dying before you can succeed your father."

"...Because you're trying to become the leader of this country, just like I am with mine. We could learn things from each other... And build a very good diplomatic relation between our two nations when we achieve our goals... I'm not giving up on my search for immortality, but you seem like one of the best people to follow when I want to achieve it."

Roy thought for a few seconds, before sighing inwardly, but his voice was stern. "One condition: You do not get to hurt my sons and my subordinates to make me do your bidding. Because you shouldn't underestimate me. You assume that you have the upper hand, and that is one of the most foolish things you can do. And that is how you'll get yourself killed."

Roy activated the transmutation circle on his left hand, the wound still a complete transmutation circle. And so he cut off the air supply to both their attackers to prove his point as they dropped their weapons and instinctively began grasping at their throats.

Roy stopped the reaction once they fell to their knees, turning back towards Yao calmly who was looking at Roy in horror. The two guards were still kneeling, taking deep breaths of air. "If you are to be my ally, then you're not allowed to make simple mistakes like you just did. You act on someone's weakness, and it becomes their greatest strength."

Yao suddenly smiled. "I suppose I have found myself a mentor."

"So far, it's more like a saviour because of your childish naïveté."

"Are you going to tell me what you just did to my servants?"

"That's simple. I cut off their air supply."

Yao smirked. "Well, you certainly are an interesting man... So it's Roy?"

"No, it's still General. I'm definitely your elder and you just threatened to torture and kill me and my sons. I showed you mercy, Ling." He picked up the broken shoulder holster, planning to give it to Ed to fix.

He turned his back to him, walking a couple of metres, before pausing. "Oh, and, Ling," he told him conversationally, his hands back in his pockets as he began walking leisurely again. "If you should go back on your word, just remember that I can in a split second make bombs on demand."

"So that Ling guy's an idiot? Why did you let him off the hook like that?" Ed asked Roy in surprised confusion after Roy and Al's explanation of the events that had just unfurled. Roy had taken over the wheelchair, telling Ed off a bit for going off on his own like that with his injuries and no legs to use. But Roy didn't really blame him as soon as Ed said that it was because he needed to pee and Winry had stolen his leg.

Which meant that Roy had taken Ed to the café and helped him in the toilet while the proprietor had made them coffee.

Roy sighed. "Because said idiot needs guidance because if not, then I'll basically be letting him get killed. And there was something about the look in his eyes that I recognised in myself. I actually think that he's going to become Emperor... Which means that he needs someone to keep him from going astray. And he could prove to be an ally that we could definitely have use for once I become Führer." Then Roy chuckled. "Also, it doesn't hurt to have a couple of ninjas on our team, does it?"

Ed and Al chuckled too.

Then Roy sighed again. "Besides, I talked with Izumi back in Dublith and she revealed part of the reason that she took you on... Because she could tell that you two had another reason hidden underneath your desire to learn alchemy, one that you couldn't tell anyone about... Which was why she felt that it was her job as your teacher to put you on the correct path." He looked up at Al and then down at Ed. Both boys had frozen at Roy's words. "Please don't get me wrong... I hate that you suffered like you did... But if you hadn't... Well, I guess I'm a selfish bastard, but I wouldn't have had you two if it hadn't happened..."

"Basically, everything's damned complicated and we're being nice enough not to get ourselves killed by telling on each other," Ed said. "...And it's okay, Dad... That's like the best thing to be selfish about, I guess... Sometimes it's a good thing to not only be like self sacrifice is the best thing there is."

"You know I love you two, right?"

"I'm not going senile, Dad... But yeah, you too."

Al, however, went with the much less bad ass kid approach, and instead put his hand on Roy's shoulder. "Love you too, Dad."

And so Roy smiled the entire way. Ling and his gang were lurking about somewhere. Roy wasn't particularly bothered about it as they reached Atelier Garfiel, only to be met by Winry looking a bit awkward. "Roy, Miss Riza called... Apparently there's someone you should talk to about the house insurance. She recommended that you three went back to Central with the morning train."

Roy paused. He knew for a fact that there was nothing wrong with the house insurance.

...Which meant that this was connected to his previous "house-hunting", and most likely the ones guarding the lab.

Which meant that Hawkeye had obviously captured someone that he'd very much like to talk to. "Thank you, Winry... Do you think you'll have Ed's automail ready by then?"

She nodded. "I'll have them reattached by midnight... You told me I could join you to Central to stay with Gracia and Elicia, but I need another couple of days to prepare the Fracturer..."

"How would it be if you came with the train when it's ready? I'll pick you up at the station when you arrive."

She smiled at him. "Okay, thanks, Uncle Roy!"

...It was when she hugged him again as they left for the hotel that night that realisation hit him.

Because Winry most likely hadn't been hugged by a grownup male figure ever since her father died.

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