To Thine Own Self Be True
Summary: You know of Edward and Alphonse Elric's travels across Amestris to find the Philosopher's Stone. But, do you know the Military side of the story?
Chapter 1 - First Impressions Not Always The Best Impressions
"Knock, knock!"
A tall man with spiky messy black hair and rectangular glasses walked into the small office. He was wearing the typical blue military uniform and a large smile on his face. The room he walked into was small and had five desks. One large was centered in the back of the room and the other four were in front of the larger, two-by-two facing each other.
"Good morning Major Hughes."
A man was sitting behind a the large paperwork covered desk, looked up at the visitor. Short black hair framed his young looking face as he looked up and smiled a playboy thin smile at his best friend. His friend smiled as the light from the ceiling lamp reflected into his glasses.
"So, 'Lieutenant Colonel' Mustang, how does it feel?"
The man known as Hughes, asked as he walked into the room and sat at the edge of the paperwork covered desk, raising his hand up to a mock salute to the two other men in the office. They were sitting at the four smaller desks sighing papers. One was chubby and had very short orange hair. The second man was smaller and held a cigarette in his mouth, with dusty blonde hair covering his head.
"Morning Major."
They said, then went back to work.
"How does what feel? Oh, the promotion. Well, it's just one more step closer to the top."
The 'playboy' known at Mustang smiled again and sat back in his chair. He watched as his friend reached into his pocket.
"So, are you hear to brag about your wife again?"
Hughes cleared his that and lost the smile as he pulled his hand out from his pocket and adjusted his glasses, the reflection disappearing.
"Actually Roy, I'm hear because I just found something out you might want to know."
"Oh..."
"Yeah, being in the investigations Department, I've found out since your promotion, the Fuhrer as assigned you a new recruitment."
Mustang leaned forward, resting one elbow on the desk and then his head on that gloved hand. Mustang's gloves were white and on the back of each held a red Alchemy circle for fire. He stared straight up at Hughes.
"Oh, and who might this new person be?"
"Well, Not all sure, All I know is the name is Hawkeye. And supposedly really good with guns. And is arriving either late this afternoon or early tomorrow morning."
Mustang made a strange childish pouting face and looked up at the white ceiling, the light reflection off his black orbs.
"Good with guns, huh? But we've already got gunmen in the Military. How many more do we need. I mean, we've got Brigadier General Chaplain, he's a gunman, and an excellent sharpshooter."
Mustang closed his eyes and sighed. Hughes stood up of the desk and faced the desk once more.
"Well, I'm guessing the Fuhrer wants more. And he wants this recruit under you. Well, good day then."
Hughes saluted once more, nodded to the others then left. Mustang moved his elbow and just left his head fall onto the desk.
"Great, another subordinate."
The other men looked at each other then at their commanding officer.
"Sir..."
"Never mind, just... get back to work."
And Mustang lifted his head and picked up a pen.
"This Hawkeye guy better know a thing or two about how this military is run. I don't want to have to be the trainer."
"Sir, do we know what rank Hawkeye is?"
The blonde haired man asked, turning to face Mustang.
"Nope, all Hughes said was he is coming to work under me."
"Oh..."
"Just, lets get back to work. My luck he'll come today and I'll 'have' to show him the ropes."
Mustang sighed and began working on his paperwork. Seconds soon flew by and turned into minutes. Then minutes to hours. And hours into... well... no paperwork really getting down. Lunch time rolled around 1200 and Mustang began to feel, hungry
"Well boys, I say we go grab lunch."
Mustang smiled and stretched. He stood and began to walk to the door.
"Yes, Sir."
The two boys said, saluted and followed Mustang from the office and downstairs to the mess hall. One inside, they grabbed a tray, got some food, or what was suppose to be food, and found an empty blue bench table in the middle of the room. The began to eat their so-called food when Hughes walked up and joined them, coffee cup in hand.
"So, the new guy show up yet?"
"Nope."
"Well, thats okay. I've found out some more about him."
"Oh..."
Mustang took a bite of a so-called turkey sandwich and made a face. He put it down and took a swig of his water bottle. After a breath of relief, he pushed his tray away and turned to face Hughes.
"Well, this guy's not only a sharpshooter but he's from Central. Born and raised. He's also a Second Lieutenant."
Maes smiled as his glasses reflected the ceiling lights. The blonde haired man took a bite of his so-called bologna sandwich and spit it back out.
"You would think after all these year, we would be used to this...stuff, be dead from food poisoning, or they would have learned how to cook."
He made a face and pushed his tray away.
"Maybe you should brown bag is Havoc."
Hughes looked at the boy with a smile as he took a sip of his coffee.
"Can't, not like I have a wife to cook me food."
"Hughes here is the only one."
The orange haired boy smiled as he didn't bother to eat his lunch. After watching the other two boys, he just pushed his tray away and sat back.
"Lieutenant Breda, you can brown bag, you live with your 'mommy' still."
The man known as Havoc smiled.
"She's my sister, and she wont dare cook for me. Says 'if a man wants to eat, he cooks for himself'."
The boys laughed.
"So, Hughes..."
Mustang began again as he took another swig of his water.
"This Second Lieutenant from Central. Did he work in Central?"
"No, just lived there. Probably got his rank through western."
Hughes finished his coffee and stood up.
"Well, I've got work to do, let me known when this new guy arrives, I want to meet him."
Hughes made another mock salute and left. Mustang, Havoc and Breda watched him leave.
"You mean scare him with pictures."
Mustang mumbles as the other two chuckled.
"Well, we better head back upstairs, maybe we can fine 'food' in the break room closet."
Mustang stood up and left, followed by his subordinates. As he walked to the door, they tossed their trays in the dish bin and continued to the door. Mustang turned to say something to Havoc after they left the mess hall and he bumped into someone.
"Hey. Watch where your going."
Mustang turned around angry, but froze when he saw the person he was yelling at.
"Sorry, sir."
The person was none other then a young officer. They raised their hand to a salute once it noticed his rank was higher then their own. Just then, a female officer with short black hair walked by. She saluted and continued walking. She turned around just in time to avoid bumping into another officer.
"Sorry."
She said and continued on.
"Woman. and in the military."
Mustang mumbles and watched..
"What's wrong with woman... in the military?"
This officer asked.
"Nothing, it's just unusual to see a woman doing a man's job."
"Actually... sir... woman tend to do the job better then men."
They stared straight at Mustang, as his brow twitched.
"Says who...?
"Says me...a woman."
And with that, she stormed off past him, making sure to purposely bump into him. Mustang watched her leave.
"A woman...but I thought...Arg...woman. Who needs them in the military."
He mumbled as he continued to his office.
A/N - I know, Mustang doing work? Mustang not drooling at a girl? The space time continuum had been destroyed! Run for the hills! Please review. Constructive criticism accepted. No FLAMES (Thats Roy's job only). Please look in my profile oo0AnimeChild0oo for all my other stories. And again, thanks for reading.
"Write a wise saying and your name will live forever"
Anonymous