Chapter 33 –
"That was far more exhausting than any interrogation by Armstrong or Mustang," Ed said, sighing as he slumped onto the closest empty train station bench as the whistle from the train heading to Resembool pierced the air while its wheels squealed as it pulled away from the station with the Rockbell women and Ishvalan elders on board.
"For us as well and we weren't even the ones being lectured and interrogated by Winry," Red said dryly as she and Green joined Ed on the bench he'd collapsed on. Ed huffed a little as he sat up straighter so he wasn't taking up quite as much room as he had been, allowing the two Lions to fit a little more comfortably. "I didn't even realise someone could do both at once, although both Shiro and Lance have come exceptionally close," she told him.
"As true as that may have been, it is very rude of you to say that out loud," Lance said, Blue having obviously informed her pilot of what her sister had said.
Since Red looked thoroughly unapologetic, Ed decided to shift the conversation slightly. "I will openly admit that I got off lucky," he said. "I got lucky that the Ishvalans were heading home on the same train and that Winry had to let up when Darren announced that boarding was starting or risk being stuck in Central for another eight hours," he told them.
"I would've pegged her as the type to do just that to make sure she got everything off her chest," Keith said casually.
"Normally you wouldn't be wrong," Ed told him, "but Granny would've dragged her onto that train by her ear if she'd tried and Winry knew it as well as I did," he said. "She just saved herself the humiliation of being treated like an unruly child by a woman nearly four times her age and half her size," Ed added with a shrug.
Ed had managed to avoid the impending discussion with Winry and Pinako for nearly twenty extra minutes when he'd spotted the Ishvalan elders standing near the train bound for Resembool. It was obvious that even after a year, many Amestrian citizens still weren't entirely comfortable with Ishvalans in public since they were so used to only seeing them in slums or at night, when it had been far safer for the Ishvalan refugees to move through Central since it lowered their chances of being assaulted or arrested. Though he would deny it if asked directly, Ed knew that part of the reason he had gone over to Scar, Teman and the others was so he could avoid Winry for a little longer. Alphonse hadn't joined him, choosing to stay with Winry and Pinako – who were pretending they couldn't see Scar standing only a couple of train cars away – so Ed had approached them on his own and ended up speaking with mainly Scar and Teman until he knew he couldn't put off facing Winry and Pinako any longer. After saying goodbye to the group and promising Scar and Teman that he would visit Ishval as soon as he could and would write to Scar in a couple of weeks, Ed had headed back towards where the Rockbells, Alphonse and Voltron were standing, trying to pretend he wasn't walking towards certain death.
The discussion between Ed and the Rockbell women – or, more specifically, Winry – had been quiet but heated. Winry had apparently taken on board what Shiro and Lance had said the previous afternoon, as well as what Izumi, Hawkeye and Pinako had added on top of the Blue and Black Paladins' words, because she wasn't quite as pissed off as she had been the previous day however that didn't mean she'd forgiven him completely for hiding what he'd done in Baschool. She'd been nice enough to wait for the group to find as quiet a spot as they could in Central Station before she'd laid into Ed, who – much to most of Voltron's surprise – had kept his temper under control remarkably well.
Ed knew he'd both gotten off easier and worse than he would've under any other situation and the reasons for that been because of the train's departure time and because Al hadn't stuck around after saying goodbye to Pinako and Winry, telling the two women he had made plans the previous day with Izumi and Sig to spend the day with them. Ed hadn't been surprised by Al's departure but he had been hurt by it, nonetheless. Without Al there, it meant no one was there to run interference between Ed and Winry. Pinako had merely allowed her granddaughter and adopted grandson to talk and insult it out, knowing it was better that way from experience while Voltron had stayed out of it at Ed's request, which he had given via the Lions when Winry had started into her rant.
"So what's the plan now?" Shiro asked after a few moments of silence when it was obvious no one else was going to break it.
Ed sighed as he scratched Red and Green behind the ears before he sat up a little more. "Well, I know Teacher and Sig want to explore Central for a bit; get some things for their shop and home, you know?" Ed said. "That's what I'm assuming Al is doing now," he added, a hint of unsurety in his voice, making it obvious to even those who weren't bonded with him that he was uncomfortable with the idea that he had no clue what his brother was up to because they weren't talking. "Then Teacher wants our spar to happen at some point but it depends on Teacher when that happens. Hohenheim may have healed her enough that she doesn't spit up blood if she pushes herself too hard now but she still tires easily. Years of stress on her body have weakened it enough that she's taking even longer than Al to heal fully, according to her," Ed told them, tone edged with sadness. "Doesn't slow her down though," he huffed before anyone could try and say anything sympathetic, "so I know that spar will happen either this afternoon or before lunch tomorrow," Ed told them.
"Darius and Heinkel left this morning to drive back out west to where they've been living for the last year," Ed continued before anyone could interrupt. The two chimeras hadn't wanted to make a big deal out of their departure. Ed had been the only one who'd known about it and that was solely because they'd told him the previous afternoon before they'd left the Promised Day memorial service and lunch. He'd left Gracia's early that morning to see them off before joining Voltron and Al at the train station to see Winry and Pinako. "I have no clue what Ling and his guards' plans are so no clue when they're gonna up and leave but probably not until after they finish whatever diplomatic crap they need to do with Grumman," he told them, causing the three youngest Paladins to try and smother their laughter. "Gracia and Elysia have work and school and I'd really rather not go onto the base if I don't have to," he said, getting understanding nods from most everyone, "which means that I am open to suggestions," Ed said, gesturing at all of them.
However, before anyone could even think of something to suggest, a vaguely familiar voice to Voltron and an all-too familiar voice to Ed called out from across the train station. "Edward!"
Ed visibly sagged as he groaned. "Motherfuc-" he cut himself off as Ling, Lan Fan and Li Jun appeared in front of him. "Hi, guys," Ed said, giving them the warmest smile he could muster, ignoring the snickers he could hear from Voltron.
"What are you all doing here?" Ling asked, seemingly oblivious to Ed's barely chipper attitude. "Leaving to head off somewhere?" Ling asked, though he didn't seem to believe Ed would confirm that that was why they were at the train station.
"No, making sure Winry and Granny got on the train to Resembool," Ed told him. "What about you lot? I thought you guys would've been tied up with Grumman all morning, at the very least," he said, eyes glancing between Ling and Lan Fan.
Ling eyed the spots of the bench where Red and Green were laying as though he was considering either asking them to move or risking his life and wedging himself in there anyway. Thankfully, Ling wisely decided against either option, saving himself from injury and Lan Fan from either being killed coming to his defence or the Lions being hurt when both guards attacked in retaliation. "Actually, we're all done speaking with Fuhrer Grumman," Ling told Ed, pretending like he hadn't been one decision away from near certain death.
"You know we wouldn't have killed him, right?" Black asked as Ed raised a surprised brow at Ling.
"That was faster than I thought," Ed said to the emperor. "You would've maimed him but then killed Lan Fan and Li Jun in self-defence and we can't have that," Ed said to Black through their bond, barely managing to hide his amused smile at Black's lack of argument as Ling spoke.
"Your Fuhrer is very efficient and his secretary more so," Ling told him, unhidden amusement in his voice. "Miss Samantha had set our meeting up this morning so that it ran smoothly and with no interruptions. We were able to discuss everything we needed to about opening up trade routes between Xing and Amestris, as well as other important matters in far less time than even I had hoped," he explained.
Ed grinned in amusement at the comment about Samantha. "Yeah, Miss Samantha is brilliant at making sure Grumman stays on track so he doesn't mess up her schedule," Ed said with a small chuckle. "So now that your talks are all done, what are the three of you doing now?" he asked curiously.
"We're planning to head back to Xing," Ling told him. "We're actually catching a train north in an hour since it'll be easier for us to make the trip from your northern-eastern border than crossing the Great Eastern Desert and skirting Ishval," Ling explained.
Ed frowned slightly as he sat forward. "It is?" he asked and Ling nodded, backed up by both Lan Fan and Li Jun. "So that's the way you crossed to come over here?" Ed asked and again, Ling and his guards nodded.
"Compared to Lan Fan and mine's first trip over here to your beautiful country, it's far more manageable and comfortable," Ling said with a small chuckle.
"You certainly showed up in better condition this time than how we found you in Rush Valley," Ed commented dryly, earning himself some boisterous laughter from Ling.
"That is certainly true!" the emperor said cheerfully before gasping slightly. Ed was 80% certain Ling had done so for dramatic effect. "Which also reminds me," Ling said before he turned to Lan Fan and gestured to her. To Ed's confusion, the female guard produced a medium sized wooden chest Ed hadn't noticed amongst the gear they had bundled together and handed it over to Ling. The emperor accepted it with a small nod and turned back to Ed, whose brows were raised higher in confusion. "Please accept my apologies on how long it has taken me to do this, Edward," Ling said, speaking far more seriously than Ed had heard outside of a fight or in situations like when Lan Fan was being treated in the run-down, abandoned shack on the outskirts of Central by Doctor Knox.
Ed stood up from the bench, jostling Red and Green slightly as he did so. Accepting the chest, Ed's eyes widened slightly from the sheer weight of it. "What's in this?" he asked before he could stop himself. Even as he spoke, he took in the details of the chest and noted that the dark wood was beautifully carved with images and scenery from Xing. It was obvious that whoever had created this chest was exceptionally talented and Ed knew Ling likely had paid a hefty price for this item, even if he was emperor now.
"It's not locked," Ling chuckled.
It was very apparent that Ed was not amused by Ling's non-answer but he didn't comment on it. Instead, he shifted the chest so he was holding it more firmly in his right arm than his left so he could use that hand to open the chest. Flicking the silver latch open, Ed lifted the lid of the chest high enough for him to see the contents. What he saw in there made a grin spread across his face before he could stop it and he didn't bother holding back his laughter. "I cannot believe you actually decided to pay me back," Ed laughed.
Ling's grin had grown wider with Ed's amusement. "Do you want to count it? Make sure I've paid you completely back?" he asked, voice bubbly with humour.
"I think I'll trust you on that," Ed told him. "Though did you really have to pay me back in Xingese currency?" Ed asked, brow raised as Ling laughed.
"Of course!" the emperor exclaimed cheerily. "What use do we have for Amestrian money when there aren't any trading routes open yet?" he asked, earning himself a flat look from the alchemist.
"And now I conveniently have Xingese currency for when those trading routes are open," Ed deadpanned, his flat expression deepening when Ling's grin grew even further.
"I hadn't thought about it like that! How amazing!" Ling cheered, earning himself a headshake from Ed as the blonde shifted the chest under his right arm.
"You're not as smooth as you think you are," Ed informed him, pointing a warning finger at the emperor. "Maybe I'll ask the banks here to convert it into Amestrian money," Ed told him, earning himself an exaggeratingly betrayed look.
"That's just cruel, Edward. I thought we were friends," Ling gasped, getting a trademark Elric eyeroll for his troubles.
"Yeah, yeah," Ed muttered, a smirk on his face. "When do you leave again?" he asked, faux eagerly and earning himself another dramatic gasp that had him laughing.
Ling gave up on his betrayed act a moment later and joined Ed in laughing. Voltron realised quite quickly how much more relaxed Ed seemed now that Ling had lightened the atmosphere and it didn't take them long to figure out that Ling had actually noticed Ed's behaviour before he'd greeted the blonde and had been determined to make Ed feel better. Shiro was a little amazed at the fact that Ling had not only noticed Ed's mood – especially considering how well Ed hid his negative emotions from everyone – but had been able to cheer Ed up without making it obvious that that was what he was doing. He couldn't help but feel some gratefulness towards the emperor of Xing in that moment but he didn't comment on it, if only because he didn't want to embarrass Ed.
"You're so mean to me," Ling complained, even as he grinned and Ed rolled his eyes once more.
"Completely cruel, I know," Ed laughed before his eyes widened slightly, as though he'd just noticed something. "Hey, where's everyone's favourite princess and panda duo?" he asked even as he looked around Ling, Lan Fan and Li Jun as best he could, as though searching for Mei and Xao-Mei.
"We saw Alphonse on our way to the train station. I gave her permission to stay with him so long as she was here at least fifteen minutes before the time we were told we could start boarding our train. She knows that if I have to send Li Jun after her, I won't be impressed," Ling told him, causing Ed to snort.
"I can only imagine what your face looked like when Ling told Mei that, Lan Fan," Ed said, getting a barely-there nod from Lan Fan while Ling acted like he had no idea what Ed was referring to. "I lost count of the amount of times you decided not to listen to your guards and had to be dragged away from whatever stupid ass situation you were in by them when Lan Fan and Fu did catch up to you," Ed informed him flatly.
"I can't remember any such situation. Maybe all of that fighting has created some memory problems for you," Ling said flippantly.
Ed wasn't the only one to notice the flat look Lan Fan managed to pull off through her mask where only her eyes could be seen and Ed admired her ability to do that. "You just keep thinking that," Ed said as he shifted the chest slightly so it sat more comfortably against his side. "Well, since you guys have to wait for Mei to say goodbye to Al, how about we all get some lunch from the café here?" Ed suggested, nodding in the direction of the one café in Central he'd probably spent far too much time in.
Ling looked at Shiro for his opinion and Shiro shrugged a shoulder. "I don't think any of us have any arguments against that," he said, looking at the nine other members of Voltron and got no sign that someone didn't want to head to the café.
"Excellent!" Ling exclaimed, looking thoroughly excited by the prospect of having lunch with Ed and Voltron. "I've been rather intrigued by your group and this will give me the perfect opportunity to ask you some questions!" Ling told them.
Shiro wasn't entirely sure if he should be worried about that, especially considering how enthusiastic Ling sounded but Ed and Black didn't seem worried so Shiro decided he wouldn't be either. "I wouldn't mind learning some more about your country and culture either, Emperor Ling," Shiro said politely before flinching minutely with surprise when Ling flapped a hand at him.
"Please," Ling said. "Any friend of Ed's is a friend of mine, which means that none of you have to address me by my title. Just call me Ling," he told them, giving them all a wide smile before he turned his attention onto Ed. "Your shout?" Ling asked cheekily before laughing as he moved out of Ed's striking range when the blonde glared at him.
"You're an arse," Ed informed him, flipping the Xingese emperor off as the man laughed at him. "But I'm feeling generous at the moment so why not?" Ed said as he took a couple of steps in the general direction of the café.
"Further proof of your endless generosity!" Ling cried as he glomped onto Ed's left side – the only side he could if he didn't want to be clinging to both Ed and the chest he'd given him.
Ed immediately yelped when Ling started clinging to him and tried – unsuccessfully – to shove the emperor off of him. "We'll see how endless that generosity is if you keep hugging me!" Ed snarled. The whole situation earned them some curious and amused glances from the strangers milling around the train station that Ed didn't notice since he was too busy trying to get Ling to stop acting like a barnacle or Elysia after he'd been away for days on a mission.
Lance was almost red in the face from his efforts in keeping his laughter in but those efforts failed when he saw exactly how unphased and unhelpful Lan Fan and Li Jun were with Ed's plight. The glare he earned from the blonde alchemist was almost worth seeing Ed doing so with his left hand smooshed against Ling's face, pushing him away while the emperor clung tighter and grinned happily under Ed's palm as they continued their trek to the café. Lance noted that Lan Fan had to place a hand on Li Jun's arm quickly when Ed started swearing at Ling, silently telling him that their emperor was in no danger and, much to Lance's relief, Li Jun relaxed enough that it wasn't immediately obvious he was still a little on edge.
"It's nice that Ling is distracting him so that Ed isn't stressing over what happened yesterday afternoon and the fact that Alphonse still isn't talking to him," Blue commented in Lance's mind as she watched the scene in front of them with amusement. It truly was enviable how good Ed was at glaring at people effectively enough that they moved out of the way quickly while he had Ling acting as he was next to him. "Hopefully this lunch helps him figure out how to work things out with those who he holds most dear and are still upset with him," she added optimistically.
"I hope so too, beautiful," Lance said, speaking through their bond as he scratched Blue's ears and continued following the Xingese and Ed to the train station's café.
"Lieutenant-Colonel Elric!" The soldier that had called out to Ed froze when he saw the flicker of annoyance in Ed's eyes but didn't flinch or otherwise react to it when Ed had sighed and gestured for him to get to the reason he'd stopped Ed and Voltron in the middle of a street. "Fuhrer Grumman has asked that you pay him a visit within the hour, if possible," the soldier informed him.
Ed sighed but nodded. "Okay. Thanks for passing along the message, Corporal," Ed said, dismissing the man out of his salute and turning to the group with him once the soldier started heading on to his next task. "Do you guys want to join me or do you want to see if we can find Al and you hang with him?" he asked.
The humans exchanged glances before Shiro answered Ed. "We don't mind going with you," he told the blonde, who looked thoroughly unsurprised by the answer.
"Okay, well, we'll head that way before we go to the training area," Ed said, now even more glad that they'd dropped by Gracia's home so he could leave the chest of Xingese money Ling had given him there rather than carrying it around all day. "Sorry we have to push our spar back a little for this but if Grumman sent someone to come find me rather than wait for me to be back on base, it's probably important," Ed told Keith, who nodded understandingly at it.
"Don't worry about it," Keith told him as they started following Ed towards Central Command. "I doubt leaving it for a couple more hours will ensure your win against me," he added with a smirk that had Ed's eyes sparking with a challenging glint.
"As if your knife-fighting skills are better than mine," Ed scoffed good-naturedly at him. "Need I remind you that I'm one of the best fighters in all of Amestris?" he asked, nudging Keith's shoulder in a friendly manner.
Keith returned the scoff with one of his own. "Considering how much you constantly complain about the intelligence and capabilities of the criminals you go up against, is that really something you can say with certainty?" Keith shot back.
"Damned straight I can," Ed said with a laugh. "Just because the criminals I fight are stupid, it doesn't mean they didn't know how to put up a good fight. I just think they're stupid for thinking they could win against me," Ed told him cockily.
"Okay, as nice as this banter is, save it for your spar," Shiro said, interrupting Keith before he could make any sort of retort, which resulted in Shiro being on the receiving end of a glare from the Red Paladin. "What do you think this meeting is about? You said it was likely to be important," Shiro asked Ed, pretending not to see the glare from Keith.
Ed shrugged as he turned his attention from Keith to Shiro. "Dunno," he said simply. "I can't think of anything that's happened recently that Grumman might wanna talk about. Unless he's found out about Baschool or it's got something to do with Lotor – which I really don't think is likely since he's dead and everyone who'd decided to join him has been caught and arrested – then there's nothing else I can think of that would require a meeting now," he told Shiro.
"Maybe it has something to do with Ling?" Pidge suggested. "Didn't he say that the trade agreements had gone through and both he and Fuhrer Grumman were starting to talk about sending diplomats from Amestris to Xing and vice versa?" she asked and though Ed nodded, they could tell he didn't think it would have anything to do with that.
"That's true but I don't know what it would have to do with me," Ed told her. "As friendly as Ling and I are, there's no way Grumman would send me to Xing as a diplomat," he said.
"Why not?" Hunk asked, looking a little confused. "Wouldn't the fact that you're friends with the emperor make you a prime candidate for a diplomatic position?"
Ed nodded but it was still obvious that he didn't think it was about the diplomatic position. "Grumman knows that I wouldn't be suitable for the position, despite the fact I'm friends with that idiot," Ed told them, scowling at thought of Ling, causing several Voltron members to laugh. "I'm not exactly the role model of diplomacy and from how Ling and Mei spoke about Ling's advisors, they and I would clash a lot. Plus, being a diplomat would mean I'd have to move to Xing and I have no intention of moving out of Central, let alone Amestris and Grumman knows that as well. I wouldn't mind missions to Xing or perhaps even Creta to learn alkahestry or their alchemy but I wouldn't go for more than a couple of months at a time," he explained as they continued walking.
"Ling didn't exactly hint at you being considered for the diplomatic position during lunch either," Lance said in support of Ed's argument and earned himself several nods. Ling had spoken in more detail about his and Grumman's meeting during their lunch but there hadn't been any hint as to who they were considering – if they were considering anyone at all at this point – for the diplomatic positions for either country, let alone hints it was Ed they were considering for Amestris. In fact, the only time Ling had mentioned anything about Ed visiting Xing was when he tried to weasel out an agreement from the alchemist that he would pay Ling's country a visit soon.
"We'll find out soon enough," Green pointed out to both Pidge and Ed, with the former repeating her words to the rest of them.
"Green's right," Shiro said, earning himself a smug purr from the Lion in question.
"That she is," Ed said in agreement before Shiro could say anything further. "Which means there's no point in trying to figure it out now and that means we can get back to more important things. Like how I'm going to kick Keith's arse in our spar later," Ed said, grinning at both Shiro's groan and Keith's growled protest.
"Like hell you will," Keith immediately and predictably protested, Red growling in agreement with her pilot.
Ed's grin only grew wider at the verbal response and Shiro sighed once more as the two fell into a trade of good-natured barbs as they continued towards Central Command. Black made a comforting and empathetic noise as Shiro listened to the pair's retorts, unashamedly egged on by Lance, Hunk, and Pidge, before he decided to stay out of it, heartened by the fact that at least they didn't mean the things they were saying to each other.
"Hey, Miss Samantha," Ed greeted as he stepped to the side of the door, holding it open for Voltron to walk through.
"Hi, Ed," Samantha said with a warm smile. "Hello, everyone else. How's your day been going?" she asked as Ed closed the outer office door and led the way to her desk.
"Alright," Ed said with a shrugged shoulder. "Headed to the train station and saw off the Ishvalans, Winry, Granny and the Xingese," Ed told her, lips curling into a smirk. "Did you realise that you've earned the fear and respect of the Xingese because of how efficient you are?" Ed asked curiously.
Samantha looked pleasantly surprised at the news. "Well, I'm glad someone appreciates my work around here," Samantha said, obviously trying to downplay how chuffed she was by the news.
"We all appreciate you and your work, Miss Samantha," Ed told her honestly. "You're just as scary and efficient as Captain Hawkeye is and you don't even have a gun!" Ed exclaimed, causing Samantha to laugh and blush as Ed's comment.
"Incoming," Black warned only moments before another voice said, "he's correct, Samantha. Fuhrer Grumman is lucky to have someone as efficient as you as his secretary."
Ed turned to look at the person belonging to the familiar voice and, sure enough, Hawkeye had been the one speaking. To his lack of surprise, mild irritation, confusion and minute worry, Mustang walked through the door Hawkeye was opening for them. Unlike Ed, neither soldier looked surprised to see him or Voltron in the room. Ed flicked his eyes to Black, who looked a touch apologetic from the lack of warning but Ed decided against commenting on it. She had to have had a good reason to not warn Ed much earlier about their approach and he was willing to leave it for the moment and find out later.
Ignoring the pair for the moment – though he did give Hawkeye a smile when their eyes met before he managed to turn away completely – Ed focused back on Samantha, who had noticed the very obvious change in the air and seemed to be debating whether to comment on it. "Do you know why Grumman sent a soldier after me?" Ed asked, taking the decision on whether to ask out of Samantha's hands.
"He didn't give me many details but I understand it has something to do with Lotor and former Generals Widdon and Combes," Samantha told him, a hint of apology in her eyes and Ed knew that she'd realised he'd figured out she'd been thinking of questioning the tension.
"I take it that Mustang was asked to attend the same meeting?" Ed asked but it wasn't Samantha who answered him.
"The guards at the front entrance were ordered by Fuhrer Grumman to call my office when they spotted you heading onto base after the soldier Fuhrer Grumman had sent to find you had left so that Captain Hawkeye and I could make our way over to join you for this meeting," Mustang told him.
Ed nodded to show he'd heard his commanding officer but didn't look over at him. "Can we go in now or do we gotta wait?" Ed asked Samantha before Hawkeye or Mustang could say anything to anyone.
Samantha smiled at him as she reached for her phone. "I'll give him a quick call to make sure that he's not in the middle of paperwork but you should be fine to go in shortly," she assured him.
Ed gave her a nod and moved the couple of metres to where Voltron had been standing to give Samantha the privacy to make the phone call. He saw Mustang and Hawkeye join them and engage Shiro in a conversation but the blonde was pretty willing to ignore Mustang for the time being. Only at the threat of death – and, honestly, probably not even then – would Ed admit it was because he wasn't entirely sure what Mustang would say to him. Even though his commanding officer had told him the previous evening that he was proud of him for what he'd done in Baschool and that he was even grateful that Ed had made that decision, Ed couldn't help but think that Mustang was either lying to him or not being entirely truthful. There was no way – in Ed's opinion – that Mustang, Pinako, Izumi, Hawkeye, and Voltron all stood behind his decision 15 months ago without there being some sort of hidden trap and he was just trying to avoid that shoe dropping right now.
The soft clunk that indicated that Samantha had hung up her phone caught Ed's attention once more and he realised he'd zoned out momentarily. "Fuhrer Grumman has asked that you be shown into his conference room now. He's aware Voltron is here and decided it was the best choice considering the amount of people who'd need seats," Samantha explained when she caught sight of the slightly confused looks on some of their faces. She stood from her seat and made her way around her desk and towards the conference room doors as she continued. "He'll join you shortly. He just needs to finish signing a couple of things before he can."
Ed nodded as Samantha held the door open for them. "Thanks, Miss Samantha," Ed said, giving her a smile as he walked past her.
"It was no problem, Edward," Samantha told him as she watched the others walk in. "I'll see you in a few minutes," she told him, giving him an encouraging smile that Ed appreciated far more than he thought Samantha would know before she shut the door, leaving Ed alone with Mustang and Hawkeye with Voltron for back up.
Ed was quick to grab a seat between Shiro and Lance, ensuring that he wouldn't have to sit next to Mustang. The Lions seemed amused with his attempts at hiding how quick he had been to pick a seat but Ed elected to ignore them as the others sat down. Grumman's seat had been left empty, leaving his side of the table practically empty as everyone else chose seats at the ends of the table or on Ed's side. The Lions settled themselves at their pilot's feet, with Blue and Black sitting between their human and Ed, while Mustang and Hawkeye sat next to Hunk and at the end of the table opposite Keith, respectively.
As Shiro reengaged Mustang in the conversation they'd been having in Grumman's outer office, Ed decided he'd waited long enough to confront Black about the lack of warning she'd given him earlier about Mustang and Hawkeye's approach. "What gives on the minimal warning?" he asked the Lion through their bond.
"You had to face them at some stage," Black told him, her voice laced with apology but no regret. "I figured it would've been a good idea for it to happen sooner rather than later," she explained.
Ed managed not to scowl at her words but only just. "Yeah, I know it is but that doesn't mean I want it to happen sooner," Ed grumbled at her. "I'd honestly be fine if no one ever mentioned anything about what happened in Baschool again," he muttered and could feel the resulting look Black was giving him.
"No you wouldn't," Black said confidently. "You'd rather it have never been revealed in the first place but since it has, you know you want to get these discussions over with and resolved as soon as possible. The only problem is that you're worried about the remaining conversations you need to have so you're unwilling to get started on those talks," she said, hitting the nail in the head with every sentence she said.
"Have I ever mentioned how inconvenient it is sometimes that you five are tapped into my emotions and thoughts?" Ed asked rhetorically but Black decided to answer him anyway.
"You may have mentioned it once or twice," she said sweetly, earning herself a flick to the ear from the blonde alchemist.
Shiro quirked a brow at Ed's smirk and Black's annoyed growl but before he could ask, the doors opened once more to permit Grumman, though Samantha did linger for a moment to return Ed's half-wave before she disappeared once again. "I apologise that you had to wait but I had some paperwork that I needed to complete," Grumman said as he took his seat, nodding or smiling to everyone, dismissing the salutes from Mustang, Hawkeye and Edward as he did so. He looked as unsurprised to see Voltron as Mustang and Hawkeye had been.
"Mustang can't relate," Ed said, unable to let the opportunity to poke fun at Mustang's hatred of paperwork when it was so nicely presented to him.
Grumman's lips twitched upwards while Mustang glowered at Ed, who was smirking as he returned Lance's fist bump. "I'm sure you're all curious as to why I requested your presence, General Mustang, Captain Hawkeye, and Edward," Grumman said, letting Ed's comment slide. "There are three things I need to either inquire about or inform you of," he told them, causing everyone to sit up a little straighter. "I'm rather grateful that Voltron decided to join you, Edward, since one of the things I need to bring up pertains to them," Grumman said, causing Ed to glance at Voltron with confusion.
"What's going on?" Ed asked, refusing to allow the worry he felt to be seen in any way.
"The first thing is something I believe General Mustang will be able to clear up quickly enough," Grumman said, turning his gaze from Ed to Mustang. "What happened with Lotor's body?" he asked.
"Doctor Knox performed the autopsy on the war criminal, Lotor, before sending his body to be cremated. There had apparently been a mix up with the paperwork for Lotor and for another deceased's body that day. The error wasn't caught in time to prevent Lotor's remains being cremated, along with the uniform he was wearing at the time," Mustang told Grumman, face carefully blank.
Grumman nodded. "And the real story?" Grumman asked pointedly and Ed was certain he saw a tiny flicker of amusement break through Mustang's mask.
"I ensured Lotor received the same funeral rites as his parents," Mustang told Grumman.
The small handful of words weren't detailed but Grumman obviously deemed them good enough since he let the subject drop. "I trust that kind of mix up won't happen again," Grumman commented casually and Mustang gave a nod.
"I believe Doctor Knox made certain that the person behind the error was made aware of their unfortunate mix up," Mustang told him. "I believe the ashes were collected and Doctor Knox has agreed to leave the decision of their fate up to Voltron," he added, glancing at Shiro.
Shiro didn't look awfully happy about the revelation that he had to decide what to do with the ashes of his enemy but he knew there really was only one choice. "We will take the ashes back home with us and deal with them there," Shiro told them.
Grumman nodded at both Shiro and Mustang. "I'm sure General Mustang will inform Doctor Knox of you decision," Grumman said and Mustang gave a short nod to show he would. "The rest of this meeting has to do with that of former Generals Widdon and Combes," Grumman told them, lips curling further upwards at Ed's immediate groan.
"What have those two morons done now?" Ed asked, looking thoroughly unimpressed at the fact that Widdon and Combes were still causing trouble with him.
"Well, they have been rather vocal about the unfairness of their arrest, which I'm sure surprises absolutely no one at this table," Grumman said, a hint of amusement in his voice. "They noticed your weapons," Grumman said, nodding to Voltron, "and have tried claiming that the fact that no one was made aware of the fact you were armed was the reason they ultimately decided to join Lotor in his attack. In fact, they're claiming that their suspicion of your team and story and the coincidental run-in with Lotor a couple of days previous to the battle made them come up with a plan to pretend to join Lotor's side in order to take him and you all down, as they believed the eleven of you were here to do Amestris and her people harm. That's what they're claiming," Grumman explained.
Ed felt his jaw slacken with each word out of the Fuhrer's mouth and he was positive that the only reason Mustang and Hawkeye weren't mimicking him was because of how much experience they had with these sorts of situations. "I will give them points for creativity but somehow, they have once again managed to surprise me with just how stupid they actually are," Ed said, certainly sounding shocked at what Grumman had just told them.
"Yes, well, so far no one is buying what they're claiming," Grumman told them bluntly. "Their credibility took a big dive after the Belmont incident was resolved and they haven't managed to build it up enough for them to try pulling something like this with any sort of positive outcome for them," Grumman said. "However, they do have somewhat of a leg to stand on, at least when it comes to the fact that no one – aside from, I'm assuming, Edward and General Mustang – knew that the five of you were armed," Grumman explained, nodding to the humans of Voltron.
"Technically, only four of us are armed with our weapons – or bayards, as we call them," Shiro told him. "If I'm being honest, it didn't even occur to me to declare our weapons during our first meeting," Shiro admitted, noting the four other Paladins were nodding in agreement with his words. "I think it was an unconscious decision to keep our bayards a secret since they're so much more advanced than any sort of weapon you have in Amestris and we didn't have a story for them," he explained and Grumman gave an understanding nod.
"I can appreciate why it wouldn't have crossed your minds to declare them. I'm sure it's a rare occasion when you have to do so back in your home world," Grumman said and Shiro nodded, not even realising he was doing so until Grumman continued speaking, "and that even if you had, it would've been difficult to come up with a believable story as to why your weapons are so much more advanced than our own but this does put me in something of a bind that I'm hoping all of you will be able to help me out of," Grumman admitted. "With former Generals Widdon and Combes saying that they'd seen evidence of your weapons before they joined Lotor and realising that no one else seemed aware of them and no other generals – Mustang excluded – or even myself to truthfully contradict them by saying we knew of them beforehand, they may be able to create some reasonable doubt in their favour," Grumman said.
"I don't think it would be a good idea for you and I to take the stand and say that we knew of them beforehand since you would then be asked why you didn't inform any other general with high-standing in the military of Voltron's weapons," Mustang said, leaning back in his seat slightly as he thought this through.
"That was my thinking as well," Grumman said with a nod. "As much as I trust most of the generals within the military, I don't believe I could ask any of them to lie for me and claim they knew of Voltron's weapons without having to reveal something we don't want to," he told them, making sure no one would suggest that idea.
"Lieutenant Clarke and Sergeant Valentine both saw me use my bayard when we confronted Lotor before he got to Central, if that helps?" Hunk said, a touch of nervousness in the bigger teen's voice.
Grumman gave him a grateful smile. "That could certainly aide us in proving that your team and Voltron weren't on the same side – as Widdon and Combes are claiming – but it doesn't help us with why the military didn't know about your weapons in the first place but thank you for trying to help," Grumman said kindly.
Hunk gave him a smile before he fell quiet once more and received a comforting pat on the shoulder from Lance. Ed watched the scene for a moment before a thought occurred to him. "No one aside from Clarke, Valentine, Al and Lotor saw you using your bayard, right?" he asked Hunk, who nodded. "If we ask Clarke and Valentine to keep it a secret that Hunk used his bayard, could Voltron claim they didn't even know if their weapons would work in our country?" Ed suggested. "They could claim that the lack of technological advances in Amestris made them think that the energy source they use in their "country" wasn't available here so they decided against declaring their weapons since they believed them to be useless," Ed explained. "We could say that they only discovered their weapons worked here when they reflexively used them during the confrontation or that they realised they worked when they saw Lotor's weapon worked," he added.
"That could work but I believe you mentioned that both Hunk and Pidge witnessed Lotor using his weapons against you, Green, Yellow, and Den in Resembool," Grumman pointed out.
Ed scowled for a moment before brightening suddenly. "No, they only arrived just before Lotor activated that stun grenade. They didn't see him use his rifle," Ed said. "We can claim that the stun grenade could've run off a different energy source to their other weapons."
Grumman didn't look convinced that the cover story would hold as much water as they would need it to. "You and General Mustang both mentioned the rifle in your report to us," Grumman reminded him. "Even if neither of you had said anything of the rifle to Voltron while you were still in Resembool and during the drive to Central, they would've heard you mention it in that report and know that their weapons would work here, if we went with that story," Grumman pointed out.
Ed slumped in his seat at the logic of Grumman's words. Mustang, however, seemed to have come up with an idea. "What if we claim that Voltron initially thought their weapons wouldn't work over here until they heard Fullmetal talk about Lotor's rifle however, they didn't declare them because – as you suggested earlier, Fuhrer Grumman – the thought never crossed their mind as they had no intention of using their weapons in Amestris?" Mustang suggested.
Grumman mulled over the proposed story for a few moments before he nodded, though it was obvious he wasn't completely satisfied with the cover story. "It could work," Grumman said. "We could also say that the shock of literally being in their country one moment then a completely foreign and previously unheard-of country the next played a role in their forgetfulness," he suggested. It was obvious that Grumman was worried about keeping the fact that inter-dimensional travel hidden from the entirety of Amestris, minus the handful of citizens who already knew of it, and that this small obstacle could undo all of that hard work.
"What if we also say that Voltron wasn't sure they could trust us if they revealed that they were in possession of four highly advanced weapons, ones completely beyond the imagination of any Amestrian scientist or inventor?" Ed proposed. "After all, according to their cover story, they didn't know any of us before that night in the Ishvalan desert. If I were them and I didn't see any evidence of the foreigners belonging to the country I'd just wound up in knowing alchemy, I wouldn't reveal that I knew it until I absolutely had to, if at all," Ed said. "And if someone asks why they didn't tell us later on, we can just ask them how well they would know someone after only a handful of days and whether they would trust that person with something like their bayards," he added.
"That could definitely bolster the cover story," Grumman said, a twinkle of relief in his eyes. "No one could say that Voltron should've felt like they could trust any of us so completely that they would reveal what would've ultimately been their checkmate if we turned on them," he rationalised, getting nods of agreement from everyone at the table. "Now the only other thing we have to deal with is the investigation regarding former Generals Widdon and Combes," Grumman said with a small sigh. "Obviously with their arrest and the charges they're facing, if found guilty of their crimes, it would be very unlikely that they'll see freedom again which would mean that an investigation into their past wouldn't necessarily have to happen. However," Grumman said before anyone could say anything, "I did promise you that you and your team could be involved in the investigation into their past and that invitation is still there, if you wish to," Grumman said.
Mustang didn't even need to look at Ed to know exactly what answer the blonde was hoping for and he didn't need to look at Hawkeye to know that she would be on board with whichever decision he made. "Lieutenant-Colonel Brookes has already extended an invitation to Fullmetal to assist him with investigating Widdon and Combes and since I believe it would be a good idea for the public to see us thoroughly investigate any disgraced soldier to ensure that they would face the consequences of every illegal decision they made, especially if those soldiers were high-ranking generals, I will accept your invitation for me and my teams to assist with the investigation into former Generals Widdon and Combes," Mustang said. He wasn't sure how he managed it but he did manage to keep the grin that threatened to break through his impassive expression when he saw the malicious excitement in Ed's eyes at his response from showing.
Grumman's eyes twinkled – a sure sign he'd also noticed Ed's expression – as he nodded, completely unsurprised at Mustang's answer. "Very well," Grumman said. "You may offer your assistance to Lieutenant-Colonel Brookes and start that investigation whenever you and he see fit. There is no time limit on this mission but I expect reports to land on my desk at least once a week, even if nothing of significance has been found since the last report and I trust that you'll inform Lieutenant-Colonel Brookes of this," Grumman instructed and Mustang, Hawkeye and Ed all nodded in tandem.
"Are you gonna push for their trial to be started ASAP?" Ed asked curiously, wondering if the time frame Grumman would give them if the Fuhrer did decide to do just that would be enough time for them to do a thorough investigation into the disgraced generals so that the pair could be dealt with during one trial rather than multiple ones.
Grumman thought about for a moment before he shook his head. "No, I don't believe there's any reason for me to do so," Grumman told him and Ed grinned. That meant they would have at least six months, maybe even a year, to gather all the evidence they could against Widdon and Combes and make sure they really wouldn't see a day out of their cells again. Brookes would be very happy to hear that.
"I'm sure we'll be able to start that investigation shortly, Fuhrer Grumman," Mustang said and Grumman nodded at his words.
"I trust you'll let me know when you do," Grumman said and, once again, the three soldiers in the room nodded to show they would. "Excellent," he said as he leaned back in his chair. "Unless there are any questions or enquiries of your own, I'll let you get back to whatever you had been doing before this impromptu meeting," Grumman said.
"I got nothing," Ed said immediately. Now that the mystery behind why he'd been summoned to Grumman's office and the resulting meeting was over, his primary focus was now on the spar he and Keith had been planning to have when that corporal had found the group. From the look he got from Keith, the Red Paladin was thinking the exact same thing as him.
"If it's alright with Doctor Knox and Ed, we'll pick up Lotor's remains in the morning," Shiro said.
Ed simply gave him a nod – knowing the reason Shiro had included him was because he'd have to lead them to the morgue since they didn't know where it was – but Mustang spoke. "I'll inform Doctor Knox this afternoon. I'll let you know if he wants it done by a specific time," Mustang told him.
"Thank you," Shiro said before falling silent, letting Grumman and the others know he had nothing further to say.
"I don't think there's anything we need to discuss either," Mustang said, glancing briefly at Hawkeye, who'd obviously shaken her head to indicate she didn't need to say anything.
"Very well," Grumman said as he stood from his chair, causing the others to mimic him. "Thank you once more for attending this meeting so quickly. I hope you all enjoy the rest of your day," he said as they stepped around their chairs and pushed them back into the table, returning the room to the state it had been in when they'd entered.
"You as well, Grumman," Ed said as he joined Mustang and Hawkeye in saluting the Fuhrer once more.
Grumman waved them out of the salutes as he led the way to the doors. "Thank you, Edward," Grumman said, giving Ed a rare, warm smile as they left the room, Shiro having beaten them to the door to hold it open for them. "Thank you, Shiro," Grumman then said, nodding to the Black Paladin, who nodded back as he waited for everyone to make their way back into the outer office where Samantha sat behind her desk. "I imagine I'll see most of you at some stage within the next few days," Grumman said as he came to a stop at Samantha's desk and accepted the small handful of message cards she handed him.
"You'll probably be proven right," Ed said with a nod that had most the others making some sign of agreement.
"I'm sure I will be as well," Grumman chuckled. "Have a good day," he bade them once more before he disappeared back into his office once everyone had wished him one back.
"See ya, Miss Samantha," Ed said as the group made their way towards the outer office doors, Ed bringing up the rear.
"Have a good day, Ed," Samantha said, giving the blonde a friendly smile before he closed the door behind himself.
Once the door was firmly closed, Ed joined back up with the others and ended up joining Mustang and Hawkeye in part of their trek away from Grumman's office. At first, they did so in silence, with Voltron trailing behind them but then Hawkeye elected to break it. "What are your plans now, Lieutenant-Colonel?" she asked, using his title as she always did when they were outside Mustang's office but on base.
"Keith and I are gonna throw knives at each other," Ed told her casually.
It was testament to how used to Ed's antics they were when neither Mustang nor Hawkeye reacted to that statement with anything more than a, "where do you plan on doing that?" from Hawkeye.
"The training grounds on base, assuming no one else is using them right now," Ed told her.
Hawkeye and Mustang both nodded as they approached the corridor Ed and Voltron would need to turn down to get to the training grounds as quickly as they could. "Try not to injure each other too badly. I'm sure Havoc and Lance don't want to be spending their time patching people up this afternoon," Mustang drawled as he and Hawkeye took a few more steps down the corridor they needed while Ed led Voltron down the one they had to turn into.
"You're hilarious, Mustang. A real riot," Ed said flatly.
"I'll make sure neither of them hurts the other or anyone else nearby," Shiro promised, earning himself a matching glare from the two in question.
"We'd appreciate that," Hawkeye said honestly, nodding her thanks.
"We'll call Gracia's once we have an answer from Doctor Knox, if we don't see you beforehand," Mustang said, changing the subject slightly in a subtle way of reminding Shiro what he'd promised Grumman only minutes earlier.
"That would be great," Shiro said gratefully.
"What he means is Miss Riza will call Miss Gracia and let someone know what Knox says because Mustang will either forget or be too busy with paperwork to do it himself," Ed stage-whispered to those near him.
"Brat," Mustang growled, glaring at Ed.
"Bastard," Ed responded cheerily, acting as though he hadn't said anything wrong.
"Boys," Hawkeye said warningly, hand flitting towards her holstered weapon while the Lions cackled at Ed and Mustang's reactions.
Deciding it was probably a good idea to end this conversation here, while it was still on a friendly note, Shiro spoke up. "We should get going before someone else snags the training grounds. I don't think I want to put up with either of you if that happens," he said teasingly to both Keith and Ed.
"That is probably a fair call but I would like to point out that I would simply find a second training ground for us," Ed told him. Shiro gave him a one-shouldered, innocent shrug that had Ed's eyes narrowing slightly before he turned back to Mustang and Hawkeye. "We'll see you around," he told them, unknowingly thinking along the same lines Shiro had been.
"Enjoy yourselves," Hawkeye said, though her silent warning to stay safe or suffer her wrath was clear in her eyes.
"Try not to destroy the training area again, Fullmetal," Mustang said, sounding like he was resigning himself to the fact that Ed would do exactly that.
"You're not my opponent this time. I have no reason to," Ed said flippantly as he started walking away from the pair, throwing a wave over his shoulder that had Mustang shaking his head before he and Hawkeye continued to the office.
"You went up against Mustang?" Lance asked the moment he was certain the raven-haired alchemist was gone.
Ed nodded. "Yeah, for one of my yearly recertifications to prove I was still worthy of being a State Alchemist. As a field and research alchemist, I had to either prove I was still capable of kicking arse or had made significant advances in my research. One year, Mustang and I were pitted against each other for our recertifications," Ed told him, not noticing the looks he was getting from the four youngest Paladins until one of the Lions clued him in. "What?" he asked, looking confused.
"Details. Now," Pidge ordered, seemingly stealing the words right out of the others' mouths.
Ed didn't stop his chuckle as he led them down the next corridor. "So, I'm in the training grounds…"
A/N- Here's 33 for you all! A bit of a break from the angst for Ed, which I think he probably deserves XD Anywho, thanks to the couple of you still leaving reviews on this story and I'll see you all next week
