Chapter 8

The storm outside was in full force. From his office window, Roy watched the lightning cutting through the sky. It had rained for three days in South Headquarters, but this was the first true storm he'd seen since his arrival nearly a month ago. Thunderstorms had never bothered him. Even as a child, he'd been somewhat fascinated by them. After Ishbal, things changed. There came a time when the booming thunder reminded him of the artillery pounding away at the stone walls of the city. Nearly five years later, Roy had learned to leave that part of the past behind him...or at least, he tried like hell.

Roy poured himself a brandy from the decanter on his desk and picked up Hughes' latest letter.

Roy,

How are things in South Headquarters? I heard you may be up for another promotion when you make it back. Congratulations. Central's been boring lately, but Elycia is getting cute enough to change that (I sent you some new pictures). With the Fuehrer on the move, a good portion of headquarters has cleared out and I've been enjoying the peace and quiet in the library.

Ed is doing well. He's nearly mastered walking with the prosthetic leg Lujon made for him. He gets around much quicker with his crutch, and the arm is useless. Still, he wears them in public. I think he enjoys not being stared at so much. I also think he enjoys his time with Izumi. She has a temper, but she keeps him in line. I have to admit, Ed is actually a lot smarter than I would have thought. Even without a formal education, I'd take him over just about any university student. The one and only bad thing I have to report is that Ed seems to be plagued by nightmares. He doesn't know that I've noticed, but I have heard him crying out in his sleep. Given what he went through, I can't say I blame the kid.

Sincerely,

Maes

P.S. No luck in finding the book I borrowed from you. I guess I will just have to get you another one.

Though the letter was light and friendly, Roy understood what Hughes was really telling him: He still didn't know anything about Hoenhiem. With all of the information Mustang was privy to, his mail was closely watched. The military wouldn't risk secrets slipping through the cracks. Roy pulled out a pen and scratched a terse reply. He'd see Hughes soon enough; there was no reason to be longwinded

His time away from Ed had given him some time to think things over. The more he though about it the more he was sure of his choice. Roy would avoid Ed from now on. Ed was simply too much of a temptation...though that in itself was a mystery. What was it about the boy that made him so different? Of course, there was the obvious fact that Ed was crippled, but it wasn't any perversion that drew Roy to him. There was something else. Something undefined

Roy handed his reply to a secretary on his way to the door. "See that this gets sent with tomorrow's post."

"Yes, sir," the young woman replied obediently.

Riza was waiting for him with an umbrella under the overhang when he came out. Her own trench coat was soaking wet. "I'm not going to miss this weather," she murmured.

"Don't get too excited about leaving just yet, we still have one more week until we get back to Central," he told her curtly.

"Sir, you don't sound happy to be going back. Is there something wrong?"

"Nothing at all."

"Pay attention, Edward," Izumi warned. She pointed to the equation on the board. "Now, if XY is greater than the AB..."

Ed was tired of equations and history lessons. For the first time since his tutoring began, Ed was completely disinterested in what was happening on the board. Ed had always loved to learn. His mother had taught them herself, and both he and Al were way ahead of the other kids when they came to the orphanage. If Ed could get his hand on a book, it became one of his most valued treasures. Somehow, though, Ed's mind wasn't on algebra. All he could think about was Roy's letter.

The day before, Hughes had taken Ed along with him to the library. Though many sections were off limits, Ed had still loved the place immediately. There were more books in the Central Library than he could read in a lifetime. He sat down at a table with a good sized stack while Hughes went to look at some official military records.

"I'll be back in about an hour," Hughes said tossing his coat over the back of a chair. The Major didn't notice a paper fall from his pocket, but Ed did.

He picked the slip up when Hughes was gone, and opened it.

Hughes,

Keep the brat busy. I am beginning to think he was better off where he was. I am done with him for the moment.

Mustang

Those words turned his heart cold. They confirmed all of the nagging suspicions Ed had in his mind. Mustang was nothing more than a heartless bastard, and he had tricked him. Ed felt like such a fool. Even with all of the things against such a match, Ed had hoped. Lying in bed at night, he had savored the memories of sleeping in Roy's arms. Those memories were treacherous. Foolish! Foolish! Foolish!

"EDWARD!"

Ripped from his thoughts, Ed stared at Izumi-sensei as his thoughts gathered. "Gomen-nasai," he muttered.

Izumi sighed and closed her book. "You haven't been here all afternoon. Perhaps it's best if we both stop wasting our time."

"Sensei, I didn't mean to daydream," he told her hanging his head.

"I believe you, Ed," she agreed. "However, whatever is bothering you is only holding you back. I suggest you take the day and deal with it. Tomorrow we'll cover both chapters."

Ed nodded. "I'll try."

With Izumi gone, Ed went into his room and put on his prosthetics. He wore them mostly when he went out of the house. In fact, Ed found them uncomfortable, and they slowed him down. He was always glad to come home and take them off, but there was something to be said for them. Walking in public was more a matter of pride than anything. It made him feel like more than just a cripple. His lopsided gate and rigid arm attracted less attention than an his stumps had. They afforded him a sort of anonymity.

The streets of Central were quiet that day. Ed smiled at a few of the Hughes' neighbors as he passed, but he didn't stop to chat. Today, he wanted nothing more than to be alone. The city was good for that. Though crowded with people, Ed found Central to be a lonely place. Here, people didn't know each other the way they had in Risembol. Ed found it easy to avoid people here.

Eventually, Ed settled on his usual destination. A small cafe on the corner of Third Street had become his favorite spot not long after his arrival. With his phantom ankle throbbing, Ed gladly took a seat near the window. The cafe was owned by a short, heavy set woman by the name of Amelia. She didn't bother to ask what Ed wanted before bringing him a cup of chocolate and one of his favorite almond pastries.

Ed accepted the fare with a smile. "Thanks."

Amelia nodded. "Bad day?"

"Nah," he lied, "I've just got some things to think about "

Before she could ask him more, Ed shoved most of the pastry into his mouth prompting a motherly sniff from Amelia. "When will teenage boys learn to chew their food?" she murmured before going to greet a newcomer

Despite his attempts to clear his head, Roy Mustang was front and center in Ed's thoughts that day. Somehow, Mustang was the cloud that he couldn't escape. A bitter ball of betrayal lodged in his throat and he set aside the pastry. Damn Mustang for making Ed hope. That, Ed found to be the cruelest lie of all.