New Recruit

by mc-squishy

Higher-ups are always scheming to find a way to get Edward under their command. Edward has become used to the constant offers of promotion and pay raise, but always turns them down. What happens when a newcomer in Central takes the convincing a little too far? What if it's all much bigger than it seems? How far will Team Mustang go to protect their youngest comrade? parental!roy

1. Chapter 1

"I just don't see what the big deal is!" Said Edward, throwing his hands in the air in exasperation. Mustang pinched the bridge of his nose.

"The big deal, Fullmetal, is that when I give you a date to hand in your report, it is your responsibility to hand it in, complete, up to standards, and on time." Edward glared straight into Mustang's eyes. He sighed. "I know your reasons for being in the military, and I will continue to give you leads and missions pertaining to that reason. However, being in the military comes with responsibilities that you are expected to follow, Fullmetal." Mustang spoke with a clenched jaw. Edward said nothing as he stood there, arms crossed, seething. Mustang swore he could see steam pouring from the kids ears. He let his eyes slip closed in attempts to null the mind-melting frustration he felt. "Just hand in the report on time next time, Fullmetal. I mean it this time." He waved a hand towards Ed in dismissal. He kept his eyes closed even through the loud stomping of a metal foot on hardwood and the door slamming hard enough he swore that this would be the day it finally swung off of it's hinges. He massaged his temples. He didn't understand why the kid had to make everything so difficult. From the day he joined the military, they had not one meeting without stress or incident. He was as lenient as he could be with the kid, and received 0 appreciation. Yet he knew he wouldn't have it any other way. Though he would never admit it, the kid's daily outbursts and tantrums gave a little spice to daily office life, and he knew that he held no real venom behind his insults. He shook his head and thought of the many officers who had tried to recruit Fullmetal to their own teams, and smiled as he remembered the colourful ways that the kid had denied them. With this he knew that even if Ed tried desperately to hide it, he enjoyed being on the team as well. He couldn't help but chuckle at the lengths he had seen some soldiers go to try and get Fullmetal under their wing, and he wondered if they knew what they were trying to get themselves into. After all, he was pretty sure he was the only one capable of handling the kid, and that aside, he'd never give the kid up. Especially considering how violent some commanding officers could be toward their subordinates, he shuddered to think of the mess the rambunctious kid could get himself into with his insubordinate actions, and was silently thankful that he was the one to find the kid. He shook his thoughts away and began thumbing through paperwork. After all, he wouldn't have a brain to think with if Hawkeye caught him slacking off again. He sighed and returned to scribbling signatures on dotted lines.