The Assignment

Chapter Ten

July 18th,1912

Eastern Command

Colonel Mustang's Office

11:00 am

Vato Falman was finally cleared to return to work, after several weeks of recovery for his legs. Everyone in the office celebrated his return. They even managed to keep the Elrics in the city long enough to join in the celebration. Heymans Breda had returned to the office four weeks before, and they had celebrated his return however this time they were also celebrating the team being completely reunited as well.

Hawkeye had even set aside the paperwork to wait for afternoon when Vato arrived, helped by Heymans Breda and Jean Havoc. Mustang sat at his desk in the front office, with Edward and Alphonse sitting beside him and discussing the boys' plans for their next assignment. When the men arrived, Edward and Alphonse jumped up to greet them. Mustang was slower to join them in difference to his image.

Falman thanked them all before taking a seat at his desk, embarrassed at the attention. "So, the trial ended yesterday." Fuery said with a frown.

"I heard." Falman said with a glance a Breda. Breda had spent the better part of two hours ranting about it last night. He felt that the men were let off light, two years to be served in Briggs.

"Breda, I think you have been fortunate enough not to be familiar with Briggs. I hear that they begged for a longer sentence in exchange for a different location." Hawkeye said.

"Why were they sent up there anyway?" Breda grumbled. He had heard it was run by Major Armstrong's sister, but he had met the Major and was not convinced that it would be a real punishment for everything they had been through.

"Brother, isn't the Briggs mountains where Teacher did her alchemy training?" Alphonse asked, and Ed nodded with a shudder.

"Oh, Teacher said the mountain range is very difficult. Especially in the winter." Al said.

"Al's being nice. Teacher said that we should be grateful she was kinder than her Teacher and at least she stuck us on a deserted island for training instead of a frozen wasteland of hell." Ed said casually.

"Every time they mention their teacher, I worry about what kind of childhood led to them having such a cruel person involved." Fuery whispered to Havoc.

"Teacher wasn't cruel. It is a harsh lesson and one that is necessary." Al defended.

Alchemy training takes dedication." Mustang added. "I will not describe my own training however it sounds as if their Teacher was fairly standard."

All of the others nodded. Then Havoc was quick to change the subject. "So, are we celebrating that those bas-men were finally convicted as well as the whole team reuniting?"

"I suppose. Still think they got of easy." Breda said. "Did you see the damage Falman suffered? They broke both of his legs! He had to spend weeks in a wheelchair, and he still has more healing to do."

"I am recovered enough to return to desk duties. Fortunately, that is the majority of my duties therefore I will not be a burden." Falman replied, attempting to sooth Breda.

Breda returned to grumbling under his breath until Mustang produced lunch from the inner office where it had been waiting. Soon enough everyone was eating before Al excused himself, after reminding Mustang that he was 'allergic to onions'.

Havoc shook his head at this, since Al had reminded Mustang of this before excusing himself the last four times the boys had been invited to join them. Mustang really needed to be less careless because it seemed the kid never managed to eat with them. He leaned over to mention this to Breda, before Falman seemed a little uncomfortable in his seat.

Breda jumped up to assist the other man to the restroom, and the others waived them away. The two of them disappeared out of the office then, and the others finished clearing up the mess made by the meal before Hawkeye started pulling out the files of paperwork that needed to be finished by the end of the day.

Edward then jumped to his feet. "Well, I think I'll go find Al and then head over to the library. I wouldn't want to interrupt the work."

"He's just afraid you have something in that pile for him." Havoc said with a chuckle.

Edward rushed from the room, intent on finding his brother and heading out as he said. As he rounded a corner, he overheard what sounded like Breda and Falman talking quietly. Ed froze, not to intentionally eavesdrop, but because it sounded like they were upset about something, and he didn't interrupt.

Ed had just turned around to head in the other direction and leave the men in peace when he overheard Breda say. "I know it's risky and we can't say anything, or we may be transferred. It just doesn't feel right to keep secrets from Mustang after everything he does for the team."

Ed stayed because Mustang may be annoying and arrogant but if people were plotting anything he had to warn Mustang because, well he didn't really know but it just seemed like the right thing to do. He listened for another minute, waiting for Falman's reply, if it was Falman he had been talking to since that was who Breda left with it made sense to assume it was Falman.

It was, but Ed couldn't make out his response. Breda sighed heavily before he said in a voice so quiet Ed could barely hear him "I love you too. I know eventually we'll be able to tell them. After we finish helping Mustang."

Huh. Okay then. Edward thinks as he wandered off the other way. Since they weren't plotting anything, he felt weird about continuing to listen in on it. He kind of understood what they were talking about. He vaguely remembered reading something about how it was against the rules to be romantically involved with anyone else on your team unless you transferred to a different team. Ed decided then that the best thing he could do then was say nothing and forget the whole conversation because it was none of his business.