I do not own the Fullmetal Alchemist

Ed slammed the door behind him. He kicked off his shoes and headed straight for the bathroom, waking up Dahlia with all the noise.

His reflection stared back at him as he ripped off the bloodied jacket and rolled up his sleeves. His shirt was the least bloodstained as the rest of his uniform, his pants and shoes were dotted with red. His first day and he already got caught in trouble, and not even during or in the school. What was that kid's deal? Couldn't Bobby just leave everyone alone?

Ed wasn't just frustrated at Bobby for acting like he owned the school, he was also mad at himself for being caught off guard by the jerk and furthermore getting overpowered by the surly kid.

Ed hunted through the cupboards in the bathroom for supplies. Surely Hawkeye and Mustang would've stored some first-aid there. Ed dug around until- ah ha! A little plastic green box was hidden away in a lonely corner with only a few dusty cobwebs for company.

Ripping out the contents, Ed washed the blood off the scrapes on his elbows where they'd hit the rough concrete and the multiple cuts on his face from when he was knocked down and beaten like he was nothing more than a beanbag. After that he hissed as the disinfectant he used stung the fresh wounds, after finishing on the new injuries, he spread a layer of the strong-smelling stuff over the thin lines on his arms, sharp stings gnawed at the open skin as he did.

Ed peeled and stuck the band-aids over his face and elbows. The blue and purple bruises were already beginning to erupt gently under his skin like flower buds. He could still smell the blood that had dripped down from his nose to the front of his jacket.

As he was busy ripping off the rest of his bloodstained clothes, he was not expecting Mustang's footsteps to halt in front of the ajar door.

'What in the world happened to you?' The Colonel had a look of boredom and annoyance on his face as he stared at Ed's bruised and band-aided one. 'Really, Charlie. Your first day and you got in a fight?'

Ed's eyes narrowed in anger. 'I didn't get into a fight in school, Co- Uncle. It was after school.'

Mustang rolled his eyes. 'Same thing.'

'I wasn't asking for it!' Ed defended.

'Oh, really?'

Ed growled at the challenging smirk on Mustang's face. 'Why do you assume everyone who wants to bite me does so because I started it? Hey- what're you doing?' He exclaimed as Mustang walked inside and tried to grab a towel before Ed pushed him out quickly with his automail arm. 'Get out, you pervert!'

The man rolled his eyes. 'There's blood in your hair. I thought you might need help cleaning it out.'

Ed scoffed and grabbed the door with his flesh hand, hiding the exposed arm behind it so Mustang couldn't see the cuts. 'I did see it,' he lied fiercely. 'And I'm taking a shower now which is why- for your information, I'm half naked. So get out.'

The Colonel looked amused as the angry teenager slammed the door in his face.

Ed breathed a sigh of annoyance and relief that Mustang didn't see the fading red marks on his remaining flesh arm. Realizing then that he had to take a shower instead of heading straight out to work on whatever else, he grudgingly turned on the water in the shower. He combed his fingers through his hair, brushing out the blood that had somehow clumped together on his scalp.

Wincing as the hot liquid burned his new wounds, the cuts on his arms hurt more as the water leaked around the pink lines.

When the short shower was finally over, Ed gathered his bloodied clothes and made his way down to wash them. In the small living room, Mustang and Hawkeye were sitting on the couch together with Dahlia who was eating up a whole can of cat food.

Hawkeye was already out of her work clothes whereas Mustang was in his with a not-so-amused look on his face. Hawkeye smiled as Ed walked in, her face quickly melting into a look of concern and curiosity at his face and the soiled clump of clothes in his arms. 'What happened, Charlie?' She got up from the couch and walked over to Ed, reaching out to take the uniform from him.

Ed dodged her hands, determined to not need anyone's help. 'It's nothing,' he said hastily. 'I just ran into some jerk from school. I'm fine.'

Hawkeye pursed her lips like a worried mother. Ed was painfully reminded of his own mum whenever he or Al had gotten hurt or sick. 'What happened to your face?'

Ed avoided the question. 'Do you know where the washing machine is? I still need these clothes for tomorrow.'

'Over there.' Mustang stuck a thumb over his shoulder at the last room in the apartment.

The clothes smeared blood on the clean sides of the washing machine as Ed dumped them in. The crimson had dried to a dark reddish brown. Ed stared as the water flowed through his uniform, watching the blood seep and swirl in the clear water.

Subconsciously, his automail hand reached over to rub his left wrist. How long was it going to take until he could get back from this mission? Al was still waiting for him to get back, and Ed was determined to get their bodies back as soon as possible. Ed sighed as his thoughts wandered to his first day at an actual school for kids his age, for the first time in years.

Bobby was a jerk, sure. Ed knew he could take that. He had faced worse people than him. Guilt twisted in his chest as he remembered the reason he'd decided to become friends with Miles. What was he thinking? Pretending to be a friend for the sake of the mission?

Ed didn't realize he was walking back to his room, or when he closed the door behind him and Mustang walking out for his shift at the restaurant. What happens when I leave? I can't tell them this was all for nothing. What was it like with Nina? But that was different, she only wanted to play. I wasn't trying to hurt her or anything.

Guilt of feeling unworthy of being a companion churned in his stomach like the clothes in the washing machine. I can't let this murderer get to Miles or Angelika like Tucker and Scar got to Nina. His thoughts focused unwillingly on Nina. What if I was just a second earlier before... what if I stopped it before it happened to her?

His fingers dug out a razor from one of the pockets of his wacky clothes. He didn't flinch as the sharp blade sliced the pale skin. Blood spread from the new cut on his left forearm.

Ed stared at the blood. Forcing the memories of Nina away, he sighed heavily through his nose and shoved his sleeve down, concealing the cut. Suddenly he was anxious whether someone would find out. Mustang, or Hawkeye, or Al. He dreaded the idea of Al discovering his secret.

'Charlie!' Hawkeye's voice called. 'Can you come here?'

'Uh, yeah.' Ed quickly shoved the razor back in his spare clothes. 'Coming!'

Thanks for reading!