Hello! This isn't very long and I'm sorry it took so long for the update. This whole chapter is basically from Roy's pov. This is just a story that kinda developed on it's own without me actually planning to write it. The first chapter was started on a Monday morning before I left for school. I wasn't I a particularly good mood that day…
Anyway, here you go wonderful reviewers!
Crystal Remnant – thanks for the review, there's no need to hunt me down or anything :
Roy-Fan-33 – yay! Thank you for the wonderful review! It is indeed my first attempt at writing angst, I'm not usually a person to be all depressed but I found that when I am writing helps, thus the creation of this story!
Prozacfairy – I'm not really into sad endings ;) hint hint and thanks for the review!
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"That paper work is due in by the end of the day. I suggest you start before Edward arrives for your meeting." Hawkeye said with an underlying hint of menace to the innocent words.
"As indeed I will lieutenant." Roy replied dully. Satisfied she turned away and exited the office.
Roy held his breath listening as her echoing footsteps became more distant in the corridor outside.
Once certain it was safe he leant back in his chair and closed his eyes. There really was too much paper work and he really didn't think he could stand to sit and read all of it.
Maybe if I rest for a while I'll gather the energy to get through it in one go…
Mentally he ran through his schedule for the rest of the day.
Paper work. Meeting with Fullmetal. More paper work. Lunch. Paper work. Coffee break. Paper work. Home time.
It wasn't really different from any other. The meeting with Ed would liven his day up, news of what he destroyed this time as well as the boys insane anger broke up the monotone quite nicely.
Unconsciously a frown creased Roy's forehead as his thoughts settled upon the angry blond.
There was something different about Ed, but he didn't know what. Whenever he saw the alchemist this niggling idea would return to him that something was different about him but he could never tell what, even when he sat studying the blond as he'd sat before him.
Ed had achieved the impossible and had returned Al into his body without the price of his own life or any other limbs. Ed had refused his brothers attempt to return his right arm and left leg. Roy thought he understood his reasons: it was too good to be true. Al was finally ok and Ed wasn't prepared to put Al in any situation that would threaten him. It had been almost comical the way Ed had guarded his brother. He'd completely spazed out when he saw Al holding a shape kitchen knife whilst making himself some food and – oh my god – that time a bee had tried to land on Al – hilarious!
Or so they had seemed at the time, now Roy wasn't so sure. It had been then he had noticed this mysterious 'something different' about Ed that he couldn't pinpoint.
He just couldn't figure out what was going through his mind.
Opening his eyes Roy took his gloves from his pocket before slipping them onto his hands. You never could be too careful when Fullmetal was concerned.
Operating on auto pilot Roy sifted through the work stacked on his desk sifting out the papers to be signed.
I hate Mondays
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Silently Ed walked through the corridors, his arms hanging limply at his side, a glazed look in his eyes. Not exactly different from the majority of people's expressions – it was a Monday after all – but there was something in the way Ed held himself, a defeated droop to his shoulders, a slowness to his steps, a rapid quality to his breathing.
All very un-Fullmetal-ish.
Arriving at his destination he didn't knock, instead he walked silently in, shutting the door after himself before taking up his usual slouching position on the couch.
Flicking his gaze upwards he watched the black haired man behind the desk as he scribbled lazily on a sheet of paper.
He either hadn't noticed him come in or he was doing is usual, but very good, show of pretending he hadn't seen Ed.
With almost not effort he lifted a scowl onto his face as he watched his Colonel.
"What do you want bastard?"
Ed watched as his superior jumped before fixing him with a slightly startled expression.
Huh. He really hadn't noticed me come in then, that must be a first.
"Is that anyway to address your superior Fullmetal?" Roy said calmly as he shuffled his paper work into a semi organised mass.
"Just tell me what the mission is colonel." Ed said casually.
Arching an eyebrow Roy watched the boy as he examined his gloved hand as though it were far more interesting then anything Mustang could say or do. That feeling was back, there was something different about Ed.
His clothes? No, same clothes, same hair. The way he sat? Not really, he was still slouching in his disrespectful teenaged manner. Was he skinnier? Maybe, but he'd been pretty thin to start off with though.
On closer inspection Roy noted the shadows under the boy's eyes that he'd never noticed before but that was the only difference he could see.
"What's the matter with you Fullmetal?" Roy said putting his pen down.
If he hadn't been studying the blond he wouldn't have seen it, the slightest movement, a flicker of his eye lids.
For a moment the sense of wrongness from him seemed so strong. What was Ed hiding?
Then the boy lifted his confident gold amber eyes to his colonel's before saying grumpily: "It's a Monday. Need I say more?"
Roy had to agree with him there. They truly were the most evil day of the week.
Roy was slightly mollified but he had by no means forgotten his gut feeling. Gut feelings, he found, were never wrong. They'd proved to be better then logic on numerous occasions.
"All right Fullmetal, you want a mission. Your mission is to go into town and collect my dry cleaning. I know you can't help your shortness so make sure you hold the trousers up or they'll be dragged along the floor.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN I'M SO SHORT I COULD USE YOUR TROUSERS AS A CAPE?" Ed cried angrily.
Well, that at least was the same…
Sitting forward Roy handed Ed a piece of paper.
That's the address; they're expecting someone from the military to collect them today. Once you've got them return here and give them to lieutenant Hawkeye.
"Fine. All the missions you give me are a load of crap; at least this one won't take more then half an hour." Ed snapped back before rising and turning to the door.
Roy resisted from asking Ed what was wrong for a second time, he got the feeling that the blonds would appreciate the concern.
Just as Ed opened the door to leave Roy called out again.
"And don't crease them."
Ed left without responding.
Roy was once again left in the silence of his office to contemplate the boy's behaviour.
That was not typical Fullmetal. True, he'd responded to the crack at his height but he would expect nothing short of Ed being mortally wounded before he ignored a taunt like that.
It had almost been like he just…didn't care. As though he was a mere irritant to put up with. After that one outburst he hadn't raised his voice again nor had he argued over being made to collect his laundry.
No. gut feelings were always right.
He was right. There was something wrong with Fullmetal, but what?
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As you can see I was just pretty much establishing that none of the characters have noticed anything wrong with Ed, apart from the exceptionally observant Roy! I'll update again soon, I've found I have to be kinda depressed to write for this story so it will probably be updated at strange times.
p.s. sorry again for the shortness but I didn't want to merge two section together.