Edward shuffled through the halls of Central Command with a huff. He didn't know what it was about the man, but something about Mustang just irked him in a way he couldn't explain. He let his stiffened shoulders fall slack and he tried to calm himself. He rolled his neck and shook himself off before trotting down the cement steps leading out of the building. He let the night air cool his body as well as his mind. He thought a nice walk by himself might be just what he needed to calm down before he reached the dorms.
"Mister Elric! Wait up!" Never mind. He grimaced as he spun around to see the source of the voice. A middle aged man with greying black hair and a military uniform waved and jogged to catch up with him. He looked to be a fair amount older than Mustang, and as he approached, Ed could make out a bit of stubble on his jaw and a thick mustache resting stop his lip. Taking a closer look, he could see his rank pins were that of a lieutenant colonel. Ed's brow furrowed slightly in confusion. He had gotten quite familiar with the other officers at HQ, and he was fairly certain he had never seen this man before. Though it was difficult to keep up with all of the privates and seargents, he was certain he would remember a lieutenant colonel hanging around. The man panted a bit as he came to a stop in front of him, smiling as he held out a hand. "Mister Elric! It's so great to finally meet the amazing Fullmetal Alchemist! I'm Lieutenant Colonel James Rogers," He shook Ed's hand giddily. "Do you have a minute?" He asked, placing an arm around Ed's shoulders. Ed quickly became uncomfortable and shrugged the arm off.
"Uh, sure... I guess." The man smiled with barely withheld excitement and nodded furiously.
"Oh, thank you Mr. Elric! How about we take a walk?" The man gestured to the calm streets around them. Ed was uneasy about the situation, but the man seemed nice enough, so he decided to play along. Ed smiled faintly.
"Please, call me Ed." The man nodded.
"Of course, Ed. Shall we?" The lieutenant colonel began to walk with his arms behind his back, hands grasped to get her. Ed followed him cautiously. "I've been meaning to speak with you for some time," He started. "I don't get out to Central, much. I'm stationed way out east, in a small town called Murin." Ed nodded and hummed in realization. That explains why he had never seen him before. The man walked down an alley, and Ed hesitated slightly before following. "Even all the way out in Murin, you have quite the reputation! Everyone knows of the great Hero of the People, Edward Elric, the Fullmetal Alchemist. It's certainly a great pleasure to finally meet you in person." Ed nodded.
"Sure. Likewise." He said casually. He had these types of conversations often, and he was pretty sure he had an idea as to where it was headed.
"I understand you're from out east as well, am I correct, Ed?" Ed nodded slightly, now nearly certain he knew what was coming next. "It must have been hard, the transition from country to city life, would you say so, Ed? Leaving family, and all familiar things behind?" Ed inwardly snickered as he thought of his house burning to the ground.
"You have no idea." Ed responded with a chuckle. Rogers smiled down at him.
"Well then I'd like to present you with an opportunity, to transfer under my command in the east." Ed sighed. He knew it. He had already had dozens of other officers try to recruit him. They promised him promotions, pay raises, he even had one officer try to bribe him with 'hot secretaries'. He shuddered. At this point, Ed drowned out the conversation, already knowing his answer. Though he'd never say it, he liked working under Colonel Mustang. The team was great and they were all kind to him, and they never treated him like a kid or as if he was lesser-than. Even though he and Mustang often butted heads, he trusted the man. Most importantly, he trusted him to keep Ed and Al's secret. Therefore, there was nothing that could convince him to transfer out. He continued walking down the increasingly secluded alley, and began to feel a little uneasy.
"... So what do you say, Elric? We have a deal?" Rogers stopped in his tracks, a hopeful glimmer in his eyes despite the dark night. He held out a hand, waiting for a confirming shake. Ed studied the offered appendage for a moment, before meeting the other man's gaze.
"Sorry, I don't think so." Ed spun on his heel and continued walking, before a strong hand gripped his left wrist from behind. His heart began to beat a little faster as he felt hot breath on his ear.
"Are you sure you wouldn't like to reconsider the offer, Elric?" The once cheery voice now seemed to slither through his ears and down his spine. He couldn't help but shudder. Ed's gaze towards the ground hardened.
"I said no." Ed tried to yank his hand out of Roger's grip, but the hand only tightened it's grip and pulled Ed closer. Ed grimaced and was sure he'd have a bruise in the morning. Before he could catch his breath, he suddenly felt a brief moment of weightlessness before hitting the ground on his back. Hard. He shivered as his head cracked against the pavement. His vision blurred and his lungs became paralyzed. He gasped and let out a few coughs as he regained his composure. He had a stinging pain on the back of his skull, and warmth leaking out of it. He cursed under his breath. His vision came into focus to reveal James Rogers leaning into his face with an unnerving smile, his knees digging hard into Ed's upper arms, disabling his use of alchemy. Rogers tsked.
"Oh, Edward. This could have been so much easier if you had just cooperated." He smirked. "Changed your mind yet?" Ed stayed silent as he glared into his eyes with as much intensity as he could. Rogers sighed. "They were all right. You are stubborn." A swift punch to Ed's temple, and everything went black.