Sorry it took longer this time. I really like this chapter, I feel it's the best yet. I am also practicing my writing every day on a sight called 750 words . com. It has helped me a lot I think. Anyways, onto the chapter and away from my endless babble.
Edward followed Roy obediently, looking wide eyed at the massive windows that over looked the city. He shifted his golden gaze ahead, where people swarmed past them in the hallways with stacks of papers in their hands, all in a hurry to get to where they were going.
Roy all but ignored the endless rush of people and walked briskly in a straight line. Ed assumed that they were going to meet his team in some inner room, hidden from most eyes.
Ed looked ahead of Roy, trying to catch a glimpse of where they were going. Roy glanced back at him and gave a sly smile. "What, are you getting nervous?" He asked they rounded a corner.
Ed shook his head. He wasn't nervous as much as he was just unsure what to expect. He'd never really met anyone that was a part of the military other than Riza and Roy. He wasn't sure if he was supposed to act a certain way or just be himself.
"We're almost there. Just through here." Roy informed him as they approached a big oak door. He paused and looked back at Ed with a reassuring smile. "Ready?"
Ed gave a curt nod, bracing himself for whatever secrets the door held behind its giant stature.
Roy pushed the door open and stepped in. What greeted them both surprised and shocked Ed. There in the middle of the room, were two men having an arm wrestling competition.
"What's going on here?" Roy spoke loudly, halting all excitement in the room. All eyes went to Roy and the room fell into a hushed silence.
"Well?" Roy said with crossed arms. He raised a brow, waiting for some brave heart to speak up.
A blond man with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth dropped the hand he was battling with and gave a squeamish smile. "Well Boss, Me and Breda kinda thought we'd figure out who was the strongest." He briefly explained.
"Uh huh. And who said you could just stop working and have an arm wrestling competition?" Roy narrowed his onyx eyes at the blond man.
The blond mans steely eyes fell onto Ed who was standing slightly behind Roy, wondering if he should make his presents known or just be quiet.
"Hey Boss, who's that?" The man lazily pointed to Ed.
All eyes went to the small boy who shifted uncomfortably under their gaze.
"This is Edward. He's staying with me until the murder investigations are solved. I figured I'd bring him to work and introduce him to all of you." Roy turned to Ed. "Edward, this fool here is Havoc." He gustured to the blond man with the cigarette hanging from his mouth. Havoc smiled warmly and waved.
"And over here is Breda." He pointed to the man Havoc was arm wrestling with. Breda saluted quickly.
"That's Falman." Roy pointed to a man sitting at a desk. Falman gave a curt nod before going back to shifting through papers. "He actually does his job." He gave a pointed look at Breda and Havoc.
"That's Fuery, he's pretty outgoing but don't let that fool you. He's hard working and loyal." Roy continued.
"And of course you know Riza. She's out right now, clearly, otherwise Havoc and Breda would have a bullet for their foolishness." He finished.
"Hi everyone." Ed gave a small smile and a wave. He wasn't sure exactly what they were expecting him to do as they all stared.
Havoc walked up to him and looked down at him. "Kinda short, aren't you?" He teased with a bright grin as he towered above Ed.
Ed felt the blood rushing to his face as he balled his fists. He could feel his automail clicking beneath his white gloves. "I am not short!" He hissed with heated golden eyes.
"Woah woah, I didn't mean to hit a nerve." Havoc chuckled while jokingly holding his hands up in surrender.
"Whatever." Ed huffed and folded his arms, looking away in embarrassment when the rest of the team giggled at their exchange.
Havoc sniffed the air. "Ah man, what's that smell?" He asked loudly, waving the air in front of him. "Is that you?" He asked Ed.
Ed didn't know what to say. It wasn't like he'd bathed any too recently and he'd been out in the streets for a long time. He didn't know the last time he smelled somewhat good.
"Don't you let the kid use your shower, Boss?" Havoc exclaimed, looking at Roy. "What kind of a man takes a kid in only to not let him use anything in the house?" He asked incredulously.
"He had the option. I never noticed the smell." Roy said before walking closer to Ed and sniffing. "Yeah, I think you need a shower and a clean change of clothes." He turned to Havoc. "Do you have any spare clothes for him?"
Havoc thought for a moment then nodded. "Yeah I have some old clothes I keep around in case I need them." He grinned, "You know me, always messing up my clean clothes."
"Alright good," Roy looked to Ed, "You can use the showers here and can borrow Havoc's clothes. Okay?" He said.
Ed shook his head quickly at the thought of someone finding out he had automail. He knew how people always assaulted him with questions.
"Don't worry, no one should be in there right now. You'll be alone." Roy reassured him gently. "Now, go with Havoc and he'll show you where everything is." He said.
Ed reluctantly agreed and followed Havoc out of the office and into the hallway. Their foot steps falling onto the hard floors, sending echoes through the strangely empty halls. "Where are all the people?" Ed asked after a moment.
Havoc glanced back at him. "Probably all back in their offices by now." He said with a smile before they walked through a steel door and into a large bathroom with showers. "My spare clothes are over here." Havoc said as they walked over to the storage compartments and he unlocked one of them, pulling out a set of military clothes. "Here you go." Havoc held out the clothes with a kind smile.
Ed stared at the ugly dark blue pile in Havoc's hand before grudgingly taking it into his own hands. The coarse fabric brushed against Ed's hands as he gripped the clothes tighter, making sure not to drop them onto the floor.
"You can use any of the showers here. I don't think anyone cares." Havoc grinned at the vast empty state of the bathroom. "I'll be back in here pretty soon to get you. Okay?" He asked.
Ed nodded, ready to just get the shower done with so he could go back to the office with Roy.
"Aright, great!" Havoc said before giving a quick wave then he walked out, leaving Ed alone to bathe.
Ed sighed as he walked to the nearest shower and set the clothes down onto a table. He looked into the mirror hanging crookedly above the table. He sighed at what greeted him. "Well Al, I never thought I'd get looking this bad." He sadly chuckled, "You always made sure I kept myself clean."
He dropped his eyes from the mirror and distracted his mind from wandering thoughts as he undid his hair, letting his blond hair drape over his shoulder in a thick veil. He took off his favorite red cloak and gently set it onto the table, noticing all the little rips it contained.
He took his gloves off and glared at the shiny metal that greeted him. It was both his friend and enemy. Cold and unfeeling, it didn't care what was once in its place.
"Damn it! Stop thinking." Ed cursed himself as his thoughts almost went back to the fateful day he lost his arm and leg.
He knelt down and untied his shoes, uncovering his gleaming automail foot. He glared down at it before stripping his shirt off and tossing it onto the table beside him.
He took off all of his clothes and jumped into the shower. He quickly bathed himself then got out, grabbing a towel and dried himself off before stepping into his new clothes. He slipped on the pants and stood in front of the mirror.
All at once, a sound he didn't want to hear echoed into the room.
"Hey Ed. Forgot to give you socks." Havoc's voice flowed into the room as he rounded a corner and saw Ed standing there. His eyes instantly fell onto the glimmering automail and the scars that marred his body.
Havoc's mouth dropped open at the horrific sight before shutting it and hurrying over to Ed. "What the hell happened to you?" He asked, eyeing him over.
Ed looked away, grabbing up his shirt and quickly slipped it on. "Nothing." He muttered. He didn't want to talk about it but he knew that wasn't an option anymore.
"Bullshit. Those scars weren't just nothing." Havoc said rather harshly. He'd never seen such horrible marks on a child. He couldn't imagine the pain the kid went through for that to happen to him.
"I said it was nothing. Let it go." Ed hissed as he laced up his boots and patted his hair dry before throwing the towel onto the table. He grabbed up his dirty clothes and stormed past Havoc. He went out into the hallway, not waiting for the man to catch up.
"Damn it." Havoc mumbled before hurrying after the boy. He shoved through the door and ran down the hallway after him. "Wait Ed, I just want to know who did that to you?" He called after him.
"Just let it go." Ed said as Havoc caught up to him. "I don't want to talk about it." He snarled at him, stomping towards the office.
"You know I have to report this, right?" Havoc said after a moment.
Ed rolled his eyes. "Yeah I know." He let out a held breath. "I just don't want to talk about it, okay?" He looked at Havoc with pleading eyes.
Havoc frowned. "Look, I'm sorry, but I have to report this to the Boss." He said.
Edward felt dread come over him at the thought of Roy questioning him. He'd have to either tell him the truth or make something up. He wasn't sure what to do.
Ed pushed through the office door and quietly walked over to the couch in the room and sat down, staring out the window at a passing bird.
Roy glanced up from his desk at the silent boy before looking at Havoc in question.
Havoc motioned him over. Roy stood and walked over to him. They went out of the office and into the empty hallway.
"What's wrong?" Roy asked after a minute. "Is it the Shadow?" He asked urgently, onyx eyes searching Havoc's steely eyes for answers.
"I need to tell you something, Boss. I don't think you'll like it though." Havoc said after a minute.
"Okay," Roy sighed, "Tell me what you did this time." He said, palming his face.
Havoc shook his head. "It's not about me this time. It's about Edward."
Roy lifted his head and frowned. "Ed? What about him?" He asked.
"He has automail." Havoc said. A serious expression crossed his face, covering his normal carefree nature.
Roy's eyes widened in horror. "How?" He said quickly.
Havoc shook his head and started pacing the halls like a caged tiger. "He wouldn't tell me," He paused in his pacing and met Roy's eyes, "But you should have seen the scars that boy has." He shuddered.
Roy's eyes narrowed. "Well, whoever did it to him will be sorry. They'll understand why I am known as The Flame Alchemist." He clenched his fists, feeling the coarse fabric of his ignition gloves. "They will soon know the searing blaze I will set upon them." He snarled.
"We need to get Ed to tell us who did it to him." Havoc said. "I don't think that will be easy."
"I'll get Ed to talk." Roy said with absolute confidence. "And I'll make the Bastard pay for hurting him."
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