Okay! I'm getting back into CP!

Betaing is all due to the amazing Hyperthia. Of course you guys have had to read SOME of her work, if not all of it. She's awesome. I love her stuff (especially when scar stole christmas like the grinch spoof "When Scar stole Christmas" GOD, that was freaking amazing...like Chuck Norris amazing) But ANYWAY! =D

Short chapter, but this is to even things out. Trust me...next chapter...a little action going on...a little.....OKAY there's ALOT, its like a major part of the story and it'll kill!

Hopefully its written as well as I see it in my head.

It had only been a couple of days and everyone seemed to be feel a little bit better, as they should with all the deaths that seemed to happen within the gang. But Roy had noticed something about Fullmetal, he just seemed so... distant. Always sulking around, snapping orders at people, and making Roy work even harder at cleaning... oh joy.

Roy would have tried to be a little sympathetic with the small bastard if the kid didn't make him clean out a rather small closet in the lobby. Who knew that such a small space could contain so much rotten trash? And who's brilliant idea was it to use the closet as a dump?

But it was pretty disconcerting to see Fullmetal act so... unlike himself. Maybe Roy was just used to the glaring, screaming blond that picked fights with everyone about everything, even though it was all in good fun; not this quiet and unapproachable person that had replaced their leader. The gloom from the one person, holding the family together, quickly spread to the others like some sort of illness. Roy was endlessly surprised with how much one person could affect so many people. The Brat'ja must have really looked up to him to reflect his moods like this; it was as though his joy was theirs, and his sorrows were also burdened onto them. A leader like that was not very common these days. One, who was loved for who they were and not scared into respect or brainwashed into believing that they loved their leader or authority figures. Just like what the government was currently doing, brainwashing ever citizen into believing that their leader wanted the best for them.

Roy glanced up from the floor, his fingers were red and raw from scrubbing with cleaning solutions and dirty rags. Fullmetal stared down at him from the doorway that led out into the dining area.

Biting back a snarky comment like, 'May I help you, your highness?',Instead Roy settled on looking back down at the floor, his knees already soaking wet from kneeling on the slick surface, and he started to wash it again.

He kept his hearing trained on every little sound the boss made. Feeling a little sorry for the kid for a moment but that sympathy was quickly squashed when the Fullmetal spoke again.

"You have to be the slowest when it comes to cleaning, and you don't even do it that well," He remarked, walking up over to the check in the desk, pulling himself up on top of it and sitting down, staring back down at Roy.

Grinding his jaw tightly, Roy continued the same movement of scrubbing the rag back and forth on the floor. He tried to keep his focus on those frothing bubbles, which continued to pile up as he frantically moved the rag back and forth across the wooden floor.

Don't listen to him. He's just trying to get a rise out of you. He told you all about how they were going to push you around.

Thankfully, the kid seemed to be done commenting on his cleaning skills and remained quiet, keeping a well-trained eye on him, as if he was examining him. Roy felt put on the spot, and he swallowed before moving the cloth over another spot on the floor. Out of the corner of his eye he could see the Fullmetal cross his arms and lean forward slightly, watching him like a trained dog and ready to attack if Roy made the wrong move.

"What was your real reason?" The voice nearly made Roy jump, and he almost let the rag slip from his hands. He quickly composed himself before looking over at the leader, sitting back on his heels as he gave him a confused look.

"What are you talking about?"

Fullmetal slid off the desk and walked up next to him. "What is your real reason for coming here to join the Brat'ja?"

Roy hesitantly looked up at the strange gold eyes. He could see all the mistrust and hate that the owner held for the world with just a quick glance. Roy dropped the soapy rag back into the bucket and wiped his hands off his pants.

"I told you. I was fired from the military... " Roy said. "They were my only lifeline, and by joining here I had nothing to lose...not even my life would have been much of a loss... since I would've been dead before the month was over."

"And why is that?"

Roy scoffed, looking down between his knees and to the floor below. "You should know. Being fired from the military on anyone's report doesn't look good for an unemployed man's job application. I would have gone bankrupt, lost my apartment, and ended up out on the streets. You, of all people, should know what happens to people on the streets."

With that last word, Roy had looked back up at the leader and saw a faint trace of guilt and fear flicker through Fullmetal's oddly colored irises, before it was quickly replaced with the usual hate, mistrust, and arrogance. Roy had a feeling that Fullmetal enjoyed being above everyone else. Fullmetal stood proudly above Mustang, who was knelt on the ground. The sharp contrast in elevation gave Fullmetal a look of smugness and authority. It must have had to do with the height complex that Al had told him about.

"Of course I know." He muttered, still loud enough to be hear, "You try living on the streets for nine years, without all those things you were complaining about. I lived without all those luxuries for that long. Why couldn't a full-grown man do it?"

"You were on the streets that long? How old were you?"

Fullmetal growled, walking back up to the check-in desk, this time leaning back on it and crossing his arms,"That's none of your business. Get back to work, the floors aren't going to clean themselves."

Roy begrudgingly took the filthy rag from the bucket and rung it out, letting the water fall into the container and went back to scrubbing the same spot he had been before Fullmetal had questioned him.

Roy didn't like how the kid just stood there, leaned up against the desk with his arms crossed loosely over his chest, and staring at the wall with no particular interest in it. He seemed like he was going through a pretty tough time getting over that Brat's death, whose name Roy did not know.

Taking a deep breath, Roy pushed his instincts aside, and he opened his mouth. He spoke before he could even think anything through.

"You seem pretty upset."

"Yeah?" Fullmetal quipped, nostrils flaring, "And that's your business how? If you don't quit being so nosy, I'll teach you a lesson myself. Got it?"

Roy kept his eyes trained on the spot that he was cleaning and continued. "I've noticed how it affects the others. Have you?"

"...What?" Fullmetal snarled. "What are you talking about? They're fine!"

The screech of metal met Roy's ears, but he felt like he was on a roll now, and he couldn't stop when he was so far into the game.

"You being depressed. It affects your guys too. They must really care about you if they get so upset about how you're feeling."

"Fuck you. Keep cleaning."

"Everyone's gone or asleep. That's why you came to me isn't it? To keep your mind off the guilt but no one else was available-"

"Shut the hell up!" the blond yelled, slamming his fist on the desk.

The wood splintered and gave way to his clenched hand and Roy stared in shock as he realized it was Fullmetal's flesh one. Blood trickled down his fingers as he clenched them again, glaring menacingly at Roy.

"You have no fucking clue about what you're saying!" Fullmetal pointed a metal finger at him, " Don't even think you can understand anything about me. You just keep your mouth shut, do what I say and I won't kill you-!"

"Then why haven't you killed me yet?" Roy asked, blandly. The regret for saying those words screamed in his head, but he kept his defiant stare trained on Fullmetal's.

"Because I'm giving you a chance, you moron!" Fullmetal yelled at him before lowering his voice," You're too much of a free thinker and don't know when to shut that trap of yours. No wonder they fired you... And I'm trying to give you a place to stay and be a part of, but you don't seem to fucking realize that!"

"I do, but you don't seem to realize that I'm trying to be a little sympathetic!" Roy yelled back, immediately biting his tongue as he saw that he had just pushed Fullmetal towards the edge.

"I don't need anyone's sympathy!" The blond snapped, throwing his fists down to his sides, angrily," Got that?!"

Roy realized that it was time to pull back and shut his mouth before he really did get himself killed. Nodding in resignation, Fullmetal huffed but never relaxed his aggressive stance. It was as if he was waiting for Roy to say another word. Instead Roy resumed washing the floor as though it would calm the tension in the air.

"I was... I was twelve when I was living on the streets..." Fullmetal said in a low tone, "I ran away from an orphanage where I lived for years. You think you know what it's like to live on the streets by just looking at homeless people, but you don't have any idea. You've never seen the night like I have, and I just... I just don't want anyone else have to go through that, alright? That's why this place is open to anybody.

"So... for your next rule," Fullmetal continued, 'If there's ever someone that needs help, help them.' I don't know what kind of monster could leave someone dying in the streets and walk along like nothing was wrong. But the military is full of them."

"I'd never-" Roy began to protest, to somehow defend himself that he would never ignore someone who needed his help. But Fullmetal just shook his head and interrupted him.

"Just remember the rules and you'll be fine," He said, " And be grateful that Kevin and Jeremy like you so much." He threw over his shoulder as he walked off, leaving Roy smiling to himself.

Looks like Kevin had a talk with Fullmetal like he said he would.

That explained why Fullmetal held back so much. However, Roy didn't know how Kevin got cose enough to the Fullmetal to be able to talk him out of beating the ever living out of the mouthy "newb."

Perhaps he'd be able to get some answers from Kevin after a few more weeks. Sighing heavily, Roy set back to work getting the floor cleaned.