Each individual chapter will have a different rating, different pairings, different spoilers, and a different setting and timeline. Multiple people were involved in writing this fic, I do not claim to have written anything other than my own characters. I do however claim to have come up with the plot, story idea, and organizing it all. The others who write characters in this fic are well aware that I am posting it, and contribute willingly. This fic is an ongoing project with an unknown number of parts, with alternate storyline as of the fifth laboratory incident. Enjoy!


Cold Welcome Home
Rating: PG
Pairings: Implied HavocxEd
Disclaimer: I don't own FMA.
Spoilers: Noooooone!
Setting: Central HQ.
Timeline: Havoc's return to Central.
"We're at Headquarters," Lisa said softly to him.

Havoc didn't even bother looking out the window. "Yes, I know, ma'am." He smiled ruefully at her. "This won't be easy."

"No, it won't," she agreed soberly, handing him his military cap. "Neither for you or those you care about."

Swallowing convulsively, Edward Elric walked down to the main lobby and outside, spotting immediately the car in question.

God...he's alive...thank god...I was so worried...

Something didn't feel quite right, though...and Ed slowed as he approached the car.

Lisa opened the door, hopping out and holding it for the lieutenant. He slid out with fluid grace, more feline than human.

Havoc lifted his face up to the sunny sky, enchanted by how he didn't have to squint anymore – his pupils contracted into tiny, paper-thin slits.

After a moment enjoying the sunshine, he settled his cap firmly over his ears and forehead. The shade dilated his pupils back to something close to a human's and the cap itself hid the pointed tips of his ears. He would pull off being a human...

Oh, damn... unless Ed told him to remove his cap... which probably would happen...

He smiled bitterly. He was a human for now.

Edward grimaced slightly as the memory of the other side surfaced.

"Am...am I dying?"

He quickly shut off the memory upon seeing the bright blue of a military uniform and, for just a short moment, a flash of dirty blond before it was covered with the same blue.

Fullmetal's face broke into its old grin, one he'd left behind three years ago. Three long years...turning the touchy National Alchemist into a more somber, and believe it or not, taller, boy of nineteen.

He still wore the familiar red coat, still the same clothes, just a bit bigger, a bit more matured.

"Hey! Jean!" Edward broke into a run, slowing only as he neared, to skid to a stop in front of the Lieutenant. He straightened to attention and gave a mock salute. "Welcome back..." The words sounded funny coming from his mouth, or maybe it was only because he himself had received the same treatment just days before.

Military parade-ground rituals came back in an instant as Second Lieutenant Havoc straightened and snapped off a salute proper of the rank of the young man in front of him. "Major Elric. It's good to be back, sir. And to see you again, if I may be so bold to say." He kept his head at a slight angle so the black brim of his cap mostly obscured his eyes.

Please, god, don't let him tell me to take off my cap... please...

He heard Lisa run her left hand nervously through her hair behind him.

Edward grinned at the instinctual behavior and relaxed. "At ease, Lieutenant..."

The alchemist tilted his head a bit, taking a few more steps forward. "Three years...has it really only been that long? I missed you..." Ed rubbed the back of his head a bit absently, looking down slightly.

Havoc relaxed into the at-ease position, still a little tense. "Thank you sir." His ears picked up the sound of Lisa and the other military men backing off to give them a little privacy. He smiled a little, not showing his teeth... which would have been a dead giveaway to something wrong.

"It's been a rather boring three years without you underfoot all the time."

At Ed's approach he lowered his head a bit and tugged the brim down unobtrusively.

Edward blinked, noticing the uneasiness in the air. "Jean? Hey, what's the deal huh? It might've been three years but I can still tell when something's up...you never wear that damn hat..."

The braided alchemist leaned down, trying to get a good look at Havoc's face. "Come on, and quit calling me sir...it makes me feel old..." He made a face.

"Sorry, Ed. I'm just feeling..." He shoved his hands in his pockets, averting his gaze away from the young man. "Hey, you got a cigarette? Dr. Delgardie back there wouldn't let me smoke back in Rehab."

Please, don't ask about the hat...

"Rehab? You get hit on the head or something? 's that why you're actually wearing the hat this time? And why you're asking me for a cigarette, when you know damn well I don't smoke and have no reason to keep any on me unless I'm hiding them from you?" Ed frowned, a bit frustrated and confused at the weird vibes he was getting.

Havoc lifted his head to look at the young man, at a complete loss for words. He couldn't tell what happened, not until he reported back to Colonel Mustang... even then, he knew what would happen.

He puffed a miserable little sigh.

Ed's eyes softened and he took a step closer, reaching out to put his hand on Havoc's shoulder. "Jean...what's wrong...whatever it is you know you can tell me...I've seen a lot of things, you know...it's not like I'm going to be scared or anything..."

The boy managed a smile. "And for god's sake take that stupid hat off, it doesn't suit you at all!"

Oh, god, no, I don't want to show you... but I have to trust you, otherwise what else is there...?

Havoc managed a weak smile. "I'll take you at your word, kiddo." He reached up, slipping his cap off, feeling his eyes contract in the bright sunlight.

What...the...

Ed detachedly noticed that he'd jerked his hand back from Havoc's shoulder, some distant part of his mind registering that the look on his face must have been something just short of sheer horror.

Oh god...no...no... "No...nonono..." He was shaking his head now in disbelief, taking a step back.

The arrays he'd seen suddenly flashed vividly in his mind...

Oh god...why...no...! "Y-you...y-y-you're..." Ed choked on the words for a second. "You're not human!" He stumbled back another few steps, shock and hurt and horror painstakingly obvious on his face. "You're not Jean...I...I don't know you!"

Catching himself as he tripped and fell over the hem of his coat, the blond alchemist scrambled to his feet, squeezing his eyes shut as hot tears escaped them and he turned away and ran. Blindly running to wherever this nightmare wouldn't be...this couldn't be...but it was...

Numb. No thought but a tiny despairing wail crying, "Why didn't you let me explain!"

Brilliant blue-green eyes filled with tears and he could only distantly register a young lieutenant saying,

"Sir, we have to restrain you now and get you up to the Medical Ward."

He didn't even notice the cold metal cuffs being put on his wrists.
Please review, constructive criticism and questions appreciated, flames will be deflected back at you by Roy. n.n;