Hello! I come bringing another chapter to this little tale! Thank you all so much for your feedback. It really means the world to me! I do apologize for the delay on this chapter, but I hope the content makes up for it!
I do not own Fullmetal Alchemist.
Riza Hawkeye
She slowly sat up in the bed and eased herself off it, careful not to wake Roy sleeping soundly beside her. She tip-toed across the floor and descended the stairs. Feeling along the wall, she made her way down the hall until she felt the light switch. She cringed when light flooded the kitchen. She searched the cabinets until she found a kettle and tea bags within them. She grinned, filled the kettle, and set it on the stove. She leaned back against the counter and rubbed her eyes.
It was kind of Breda to do our grocery shopping for us. We should be good at least for this week. Between Roy and I catching up on our lesson plans, I can't imagine trying to—
A soft thud came just over her head. Mere seconds later, uneven footsteps grew louder as they came down the stairs. She took the kettle off the stove and filled it with more water. The footsteps stopped.
"What are you doing up, Lieutenant?"
It didn't surprise her in the slightest that there wasn't an ounce of sleep in Ed's voice, confirming her thoughts on the constant creaking she'd heard over the last couple hours.
"Couldn't sleep," she said, turning around and leaning against the counter to find Ed lingering in the entryway to the kitchen, "and I'm guessing you couldn't either?"
Ed shook his head. She motioned for him to sit at the table. He sat down and slouched forward, leaning on his arms. She opened another cabinet and took out two mugs before joining him.
"Are you nervous about tomorrow?" she asked.
Ed nodded before lying his head down on his folded arms.
"I know I shouldn't be. The girl who showed me around seemed nice enough. I'm sure the other students will be, too. I just…."
Ed trailed off, saved by the shrill whistle of the tea kettle. Riza got up and moved the kettle off the burner. She only waited a minute before pouring its contents into the mugs. She didn't speak until she set the steaming mugs down on the table. Ed perked up, and she couldn't help but grin.
"It's chamomile tea. It helps me when I have trouble sleeping. Breda got plenty of it for us, so feel free to make it whenever you want." Ed muttered a quick "thanks" before taking a sip. Riza did the same before setting her mug down and clasping her hands together on the table. "It's understandable that you'd be nervous, Ed. This is your first time going undercover. You're going to a prestigious academy and must keep up the charade of a student while trying to get as much information as you can to help the military track down a serial killer. It won't be easy."
Ed rubbed the back of his neck. He opened his mouth only to shut it and take another drink from his mug. Riza narrowed her eyes.
That must not be the only thing bothering him.
However, she didn't say another word. She drank her tea in silence.
Trying to drag it out of him won't help anything. He might not even be comfortable—
"I saw her staring at my automail." Riza blinked. Ed shifted his gaze down at the mug in his hands. "The girl that showed me around campus. She was nice, but I caught her staring at my automail hand. She didn't ask me any questions or anything…."
"But she still noticed?"
Ed nodded.
"I'm…I'm just not used to people staring. What if someone asks me about it?"
Riza set her mug down again.
"If you feel comfortable with sharing the story we came up with in the file, you're free to tell it; however, no one is entitled to an explanation if you don't want to give one. Don't let anyone pressure you into telling them, all right? If they try just let the Colonel or me know and we'll put a stop to it."
It took a minute for Ed to finally meet her gaze. A small grin tugged at the corners of his lips.
"All right."
Riza quickly drank the rest of her tea before getting up and setting the mug down in the sink.
"Try to go to bed soon. We need to be up in a few hours."
Ed nodded and muttered an almost silent "good night" before he started drinking his own tea again. She glanced over her shoulder one last time as she left the kitchen.
Get some sleep, Ed. Tomorrow will be a long day for all of us.
Roy Mustang
The first rays of sunlight filtered into the kitchen the second he opened the curtain. He squinted at the sudden brightness and turned away from the window. Rubbing his eyes, he headed toward the stove but stopped at the ringing that cut through the house's silence. He quickly picked up the phone.
"Mason residence."
"Glad to know you're already up and around, Colonel!" Jean's voice came from the other end. "Can't have our favorite chemistry teacher be late for his first day of school!"
His brow furrowed at the strain in Jean's voice.
"I know you wouldn't ring us this early just for a wakeup call."
He was met with a moment of silence before Jean spoke again.
"There's been another victim." He clenched the phone so tight his knuckles turned white. "His name's Micah Belden. He was only fifteen…his dad found him on the kitchen table about an hour ago. A detective just notified me, so I called you right away. I'm about to head to the crime scene."
Roy rubbed a hand down his face.
"All right. What's the address? I'll meet you there."
"Sir, you have to go to the academy—"
"And I'll still be on time for classes. What's the address?" he asked again, stretching the phone cord as far as he could so he could search for some pen and paper.
After some persuasion and scribbling of directions, he hung up the phone and headed upstairs to his and Riza's room. He quietly rummaged through the drawers and closet and threw on his white shirt and black slacks. He went into the bathroom, shut the door, and turned on the lights. His mouth went dry while he buttoned up his shirt.
It's only been a few days since the last victim. The killer had been waiting at least two weeks. What the hell changed?
He tucked his shirt into his pants and fastened the belt around his waist. He smoothed out his hair. When he left the bathroom, Riza was already sitting up in bed. She yawned and stretched.
"Have you eaten yet?"
Roy shook his head and shifted his gaze down to his feet.
"There's been another victim," he said softly. When he looked back up, Riza was tightly clutching their comforter. "Havoc just called and let me know. The crime scene's only a couple blocks away. I'm heading there and I'll meet you two at the school."
He sat down on their bed and shoved his feet into the required black shoes.
"Should I tell Ed?" Riza asked next.
Roy stiffened. He ran a hand through his hair and shook his head again.
"It's still early. The other students probably won't know yet, but I can't imagine it'll be long before they find out. The more genuine his reaction is, the better for our cover."
Riza put a hand on his back.
"Are you sure about this?"
No….
He nodded anyway. He walked into the closet and grabbed his gray tie and black suit jacket. Riza got out of bed as he threw the jacket on and helped him straighten his tie.
"I'll make breakfast then. Do you want me to bring you anything?"
The blood drained from his face. His stomach churned at the thought of food.
"I'll be all right," he muttered. "Thank you, though. I'll see you soon."
He left their bedroom and rushed down the stairs. He grabbed his briefcase from their nearly bare living room. After a quick peek inside, he snatched his keys and headed out the door.
He turned east, having to cover his eyes to shield them from rising sun. The chilly air whipped around him while he walked down the street. It took him almost no time at all to pass the diner he'd stopped at just a couple nights ago. Once he reached the next intersection, he veered to the right. He could see the cars congregated around the house the second he turned down the street. He quickened his pace and stalked down the street. He was only a block away when Jean emerged from the cars, jogging to meet him.
"Lieutenant Havoc—"
"Sorry, sir, but we can't risk the parents seeing you. They'll probably be going to the academy later this week to collect Micah's things." Roy slowed to a stop and set his briefcase down. Jean's face was whiter than a ghost. "Besides, you don't need to go in there. You already have a rough day ahead of you."
Roy crossed his arms.
"I understand. What have you all found out?"
"Not much," Jean admitted, his shoulders sagging. "Eston Beldon woke up to find the front door of their house wide open. He walked into the kitchen and found Micah…anyways, he called for help and has been trying to keep his wife and daughter away from the kitchen ever since. We're trying to hurry and get all the evidence we can. The coroner should be here soon to take the body.
"Like the other victims, his body was dissected, and his organs were fanned out on the table. Despite all the blood, there aren't any footprints inside the house. We've checked for fingerprints—hell, we've checked for anything that could help us find this killer—and we haven't found anything. We searched Micah's room. His window was open, but it doesn't look like the lock was tampered with. Micah probably forgot to close it. Eston thinks if he'd checked it again before he went to bed…."
Roy winced and his chest tightened.
I can't even begin to imagine how any of these parents feel….
"We're interviewing the neighbors in case anyone saw something, but we haven't had any luck so far," Jean finished.
The two were silent until a van pulled up to the house a minute later.
"What do you need me to do?"
"You and Lieutenant Hawkeye need to listen to anything the staff say. Listen to every conversation you can among the students. Write everything down and don't leave any details out. We need to see if there's anything connecting these students aside from just going to the same academy."
A man stepped out of the van, walked around to the back, and opened it. He rubbed a hand down his face before unloading a gurney.
Even though he's a coroner, it can't easy performing an autopsy on someone so young…that died so brutally….
"We will, Havoc."
Edward Elric
He grabbed the strap slipping down his shoulder and shifted the backpack higher up on his back. He looked around the street. A few people were opening their stores. Several kids wearing Henthorn Academy's uniform ran out of their houses and gathered on the sidewalks before heading toward the school. He and Riza had only walked a couple blocks west of their house, but the academy was already in sight.
"Your dad should be meeting us any second now." He tripped over his own two feet at the words but managed to right himself before he could completely fall. "He'll probably be waiting at the…."
She trailed off when a pair of footsteps rapidly approached them from behind. He glanced back to find Roy running to catch up to them. He shook his head.
That's right. Outside of our house, it's not "Lieutenant" and "Colonel" anymore. I can't forget that, especially today.
"It's about time you showed up," Ed grumbled, rubbing his eyes.
Roy slowed down to their pace. He reached out to ruffle his hair and laughed at the indignant squawk that followed as Ed batted his hands away. He pulled out the small band and quickly smoothed his hair out before pulling it back into a ponytail. He turned around and glared at Roy.
"What the he—"
Riza shot him a look that caused him to snap his mouth shut.
I guess most kids attending a school like this probably wouldn't yell at their parents like that.
He rubbed the back of his neck.
That damn Colonel's probably enjoying this.
His eyebrows rose when Roy grabbed Riza's hand. Neither one of them missed a beat and kept walking. Ed's mouth hung open, but he shook his head and caught up to them. The three were quiet the rest of the short walk to the academy. Ed paused at the bottom of the stairs, staring beyond the fountain at the massive double doors. He didn't pay any mind to the students passing them and ascending the steps. Roy and Riza had only climbed five of them when they realized he wasn't with them. Roy turned around.
"Is everything okay?" he asked.
Ed swallowed and nodded. He joined them a heartbeat later. Roy put a hand on his shoulder and kept it there as they walked up the stairs. He gave it a squeeze just before the three entered the academy. Unlike the tour on Friday, the lobby was filled with chattering students. Dozens of conversations echoed throughout the halls, making it nearly impossible to think over the dull roar around them.
"We'll see you later," Riza whispered before she and Roy entered the administrative offices.
Roy flashed him a grin and a quick wave before the door shut. He waved back before reaching into his pocket and unfolding the piece of paper he'd nearly forgotten that morning.
It looks like my first class is geometry. If I'm remembering correctly, that should be to the left….
There was no possible way to ignore the stares of the other students while he walked down the hall. The bits and pieces of conversations he heard didn't help the matter.
"That must be the new kid."
"His parents are the new teachers, right?"
"I've never seen a boy with such long hair…."
His jaw clenched, but he kept walking. Suddenly, a girl just a couple centimeters shorter than him stepped right in his path. He blinked, finally noticing the black curls. Her smile nearly blinded him. The corners of his lips quirked up into a grin. Before he could open his mouth, she was already speaking.
"It's good to see you again, Ed! I've been keeping an eye out for you. I'm in your geometry class, so I thought we could walk there together. It can be a bit harder to find your classes with so many students in the halls."
Ed rubbed the back of his neck, but his grin didn't falter.
"Thanks, Anya."
She led him down the hall with ease, weaving between the students without missing a step. He tried to keep up with her. He bumped into other students and mumbled apologies over his shoulder as they went. Someone hit his right shoulder, and the force stopped him in his tracks. A boy towered over him and rubbed his arm. Ed nearly winced.
Sounds like he bumped into my automail pretty hard….
The kid opened his mouth but quickly shut it when he got a good look at Ed.
"Damn new kid," he muttered under his breath.
He adjusted his backpack before continuing down the hall in the opposite direction. A gentle tug at his wrist caught his attention a second later.
"Sorry, guess I got a little ahead of myself and lost you for a minute!" Anya apologized. He glanced back over his shoulder, and she tugged on his wrist again. "Don't worry about him. We need to hurry. I'm sure Mrs. Wendell has some books and work you'll need to catch up."
The two made their way further down the hall and around a corner. They slowed down when they reached the right door. Ed was greeted by the sight of two dozen empty desks. A bigger desk sat in the front corner of the room next to the chalk boards. The woman sitting at it turned around when she heard them enter the classroom and grinned from ear to ear.
"You must be Edward Mason!" she said, instantly standing and approaching the two. "I'm Mrs. Wendell. I was so excited to hear we were getting a new student!"
Anya nodded.
"I thought I'd bring him by early since you probably have—"
The girl hadn't even finished the sentence before their teacher rushed back to her desk and rummaged through the drawers. She pulled out a folder and book and held them out for him, which he instantly accepted.
"I'm not sure what you covered at your last school, but that folder has notes for everything we've gone over so far this year. There's a few exercises in there as well to help you practice." Mrs. Wendell guided him to desk at the back of the room. She looked to the door as students starting filing into the classroom. "This will be your seat. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask! I'll be more than happy to help!" Her smile widened. "Welcome to Henthorn Academy, Edward!"
He barely muttered a "thank you" before she was heading back to the front and greeted more students. A pit in Ed's stomach grew as more students entered and settled into their seats. Every one of them stared at him just a little longer than necessary when they noticed him at the back of the room, and he fought the urge to squirm under all the attention.
I guess they really don't get new students that often.
A bell rang, and everyone sat down, and Mrs. Wendell stood at the chalkboard.
"I'm sure you all have noticed, but we have a new student that just transferred from East City! Edward, why don't you stand up and tell us a little bit about yourself?"
He inwardly sighed but planted his hands firmly on the desk and stood up.
Please tell me I won't have to do this all day.
Roy Mustang
The bell rang, and not a single student hesitated to swiftly throw their notebooks in their backpacks and rush out of the classroom.
"Did you understand any of that?"
"Of course not. Did you?"
"Does anyone remember the last time we had a decent chemistry teacher?"
Roy shook his head, casting all thoughts of the horrendous lesson plans he'd been given out of his mind.
If I had to guess from those lesson plans, this school never had a decent chemistry teacher. My first class is set to graduate this year and they're practically starting from scratch. I would've thought an academy like this would invest in a better chemistry teacher….
Just as quick as his last class left, his next one started entering the room and settling into their seats. He glanced at the sheet of paper the last teacher had left for him.
It looks like I have first years for the next class…and honestly this lesson won't be much different from my last. But if I'm not mistaken….
Ed walked through the door, following a boy with curly black hair that hung down to his shoulders. He seemed to be talking Ed's ear off. His subordinate didn't have a chance to utter a word, so he merely settled for offering a nod and a grin whenever it seemed appropriate. Roy stood when the two approached his desk. The boy stopped talking, but only for a moment. He flashed a blinding smile and held out his hand which he shook instantly.
"It's an honor to meet you, Mr. Mason! I'm Kenneth Lewis. I sit in front of Edward in geometry. What did he learn at his last school? He picked up our lesson faster than anyone in the class!"
Roy met Ed's eyes and raised his eyebrows. Ed crossed his arms and shifted his weight, his gaze falling to his feet.
"He's always been a fast learner, but I'm glad to hear your first class went so well! Let's see…." He trailed off to look at the sheet of paper and gestured to the desk in front of them. "…it looks like you'll be sitting front in center for my class."
In any other circumstance, he would've laughed at the way Ed's body tensed. His mouth opened only to shut again a second later. He could only imagine the thoughts running through the kid's mind. Ed took a deep breath and met his gaze again with a smile that had to take every bit of strength he had to muster.
"All right. Thanks, dad!"
Kenneth snickered as the two turned toward the desks.
"It has to be weird having your dad as your teacher."
Roy chuckled and shook his head. More students settled down at their desks and pulled out their notebooks.
"Did you hear about Micah?" the student sitting just right of Ed whispered.
His blood froze in his veins.
Dammit, not now! How can rumors be spreading this fast already? We're only in the second class of the day.
"Yeah, Wyatt said he walked by his house on his way to school and saw it swarmed with police."
"Do you think he got gutted like the others?"
How can a kid so casually ask that? Do they even truly understand what's been happening?
He risked a glance to Ed who was staring right back at him. His face had paled considerably. His mouth was moving, and Roy's chest tightened.
Did you know?
His lips quirked into a grim line, and Ed practically slammed his notebook onto his desk. The room was still buzzing with chattering students, so no one paid the sound any mind. He leaned back in the chair. He never once took his furious eyes off Roy. Finally, the bell rang.
"All right, everyone take your seats," he ordered, standing up in front of the chalk board.
He scanned the classroom as the talking died down, making sure he didn't linger on Ed for too long.
Maybe not telling him wasn't the best decision.
Well, there's part one of everyone's first day of school! I guess a murder puts a slight damper on the occasion…oh well. We'll see how the rest of the day goes next chapter! Until then!