I feel like i didn't do enough editing in this but decided i didn't really care anymore. if there's anything big let me know and i'll change it up.

If there's a part that says, "the the" i might have meant "to the" or something similar, sometimes my fingers just type words they know instead of words i mean.

also, this might get a sequel if i can figure out how to write it. this chapter already seems really choppy, like it's not very free flowing, so we'll see how that goes.

*~*~*~*story*~*~*~*

Ed had been in Mustang's office for over an hour now getting harassed about a report, talking in circles, the same questions asked in different ways. Then she realised it:

Mustang knew.

He must have figured it out somewhere along the line. Ed wasn't sure where and wasn't about to ask, maybe if she left it alone they could get through these last few months of her military contract without issues. At least now she knew he knew. She just had to play along and not fall for any of his traps that would cause her to reveal herself.

The conversation continued, and after a few more questions, Mustang figured it out. She knew he knew! And she was expertly evading his verbal traps in their conversation. He harrumphed at her.

Crap. He knew she knew he knew. Annoying. Now she'd have to just pretend it was obvious and see if she could get out of here before he stopped with his games and realised he was mad at her.

She checked the door with the corner of her eye to judge running distance and when she focussed back on him, she saw his eyes narrow at her. Dropping this ruse of a conversation she darted toward the door and when, predictably, he jumped to block her escape, she pivoted and vaulted over his desk and out the window.

She could hear his frustrated growl from inside. Hah! She shouted back over her shoulder, "You are a terrible chess player!" and ran straight into Armstrong.

She swore at Mustang's return HAH! Then, "Alex, could you bring Fullmetal back in here for me?"

Awww, shit. She struggled but knew it was useless, this WAS Armstrong and she'd probably just hurt herself, time to switch tactics. Obscenities flew out of her mouth at top volume with the hope that maybe she could get Armstrong to drop her out of shock on the way back to the office. It didn't happen, but it did make her feel a bit better, though on the flipside it looked like she was just making Mustang angrier with her.

Eventually the swearing died down and her adrenalin along with it. Frustration took over as the silence slid over the room. She'd been placed on a single chair facing Mustang's desk. Armstrong was a step to the right and back just a little, his hand weighed heavy on her weak right shoulder to keep her in place. The team had followed them in after Ed's shouting and Mustang didn't think it was fair to kick them out. They'd all been deceived.

Mustang affected an air of nonchalance but his team saw right through it, he was furious and if they were allowed to stay and find out why… well, this was going to be good.

"Listen everyone, we have a liar in our midst." He glared at Ed, "Do you have anything you want to tell the team?"

"Fuck off bastard." Obviously yes, but she'd wanted to tell them afterward. After the contract. It could have been a party.

"Ed's a girl."

"You fucking prick! That's not yours to share!" Ed was understandably furious. "I was going to tell everyone when my contract was up!"

"Sir," Hawkeye stepped forward. "This should have been handled differently."

"You knew?" Mustang's eyebrows shot through the ceiling. "You knew and didn't tell me?!"

Hawkeye stood her ground but didn't reply.

Mustang couldn't handle it, "Everyone out except Ed!"

She glared at him, "Why are you so mad Mustang? Upset you didn't know you could have been letching on your own team this entire time?"

The team bolted out the door at that comment and Mustang rounded on her. "YOU'RE the one that messed this up Fullmetal. You've broken my trust. I don't even know who you are."

"I'm still Ed jackass. I'm still me. Just because you figured out i don't have a dick doesn't make me a completely different person."

"YOU FUCKING LIED!"

"I FUCKING HAD TO!"

"BullSHIT!"

"Oh really?! What was i supposed to do? Be under age AND the first female State Alchemist? What kind of attention would that have got me? All those stories of me getting kidnapped, how would they have ended if i was a girl? Would i have been treated the same? Given the same opportunity? I couldn't risk it, not if i was going to get Al's body back. Being young was already enough of a hindrance."

"Why not tell us right after that was taken care of then?"

"With my weak limbs and Al's weak body? Tell me Mustang, are you sure we got all the homunculi? How many calls have you taken about my health and having someone come by to 'interview' me? How many more would you get if my secret was revealed?"

Mustang couldn't hide his surprise fast enough. How could Ed have known he was redirecting suspicious calls to the investigations department? There were quite a few groups that thought a weak State Alchemist was something they could own.

Ed had seen his surprise and instead of being triumphant at winning decided to be honest. "I thought so, and I'm sorry. I tried to limit your involvement after Hughes and Maria and you still protected us. I didn't want to make it worse for you by attracting more attention."

She let the silence sit as he considered her argument, and though his response made her sad, it didn't surprise her.
"Get out."

She left without comment.

The team was waiting outside the office and she took the opportunity to apologise to them and hand her watch to Hawkeye before heading out. What was she supposed to do now?

Well, first i guess, move out of the dorms. Then probably back to Resembool for a quick visit. Al and Winry had moved back to help Al heal and rest. After that… she shuddered… training, if Izumi didn't kill her. She needed to get her strength back in her arm and the time away would help her figure out a career path. There'd be lots of time to think if she was stuck on that island for another month.

.-.-.

Mustang lectured Hawkeye for what seemed like hours before realising that he was just mad at himself. He noticed Riza hadn't really been paying attention.

"Sorry. Can you tell Fullmetal to come back in? I think I need to apologise to her too."

She hesitated, then placed Ed's pocket watch slowly on Roy's desk, "I think she thought you meant 'Get out of the military'."

Roy stared at Ed's watch and then at his paperwork.

The sharpshooter rolled her eyes, "Just go, I'll get Breda to do some of that."

Mustang thanked her and ran from the room.

As he disappeared around the corner Riza let out a long suffering sigh before walking around his desk and slumping down in the big chair. Sometimes this job just felt like babysitting.

*~*~*~*notes*~*~*~*

ugh, i don't like the way this turned out. but i've decided i'm probably not going to spend too much time on it so i might as well get it out there.