Disclaimers: I still don't own anything. Nope.

Chapter 5

Fred and George

-_-

Roy awoke with a start from his slumber. Quickly gathering his bearings, he noticed Ed was curled up in the crook of his arm, with a blanket draped over them both. This had Riza's work written iall over it.

Stretching carefully, as to not wake up the sleeping teen beside him, he quietly got up and began to get ready and look at least somewhat presentable to his students. After all, he commanded respect, and showing up looking as he currently did would be his downfall.

With his morning routine done, he went to wake Ed. He carefully shook him as awake, as to not startle him. Ed blearily opened his eyes and saw Mustang above him.

"Hey brat, wake up. I don't want to be late for my first class."

Ed yawned. "Damn it, why can't you go alone. It's your class."

Admittedly, Ed could stay behind and sleep. But what if something happened and Roy couldn't be there to help? Even Havoc and Riza could only do so much, and Mustang could really use the peace of mind that having Ed in the same room gave him. But Roy wasn't about to let Ed know all that. So he did the only reasonable thing and lied.

"I need someone to help keep them in line." At this, Ed looked a little downcast. 'Shit, did I say something wrong?' "Hey, I know it's not the most exciting thing to do, but it beats doing nothing all day."

Ed looked up at him. "After what happened last night, I don't think I'm the right person to help with that. Ask Riza, she'd do anything you asked her to, and they'd actually listen to her and her gun. Not some pathetic handicapped kid."

Hearing the self-deprecating tone in Edward's voice he pulled the teen closer. "I doubt anyone even saw what happened last night with everything happening, and if anyone did and gives you grief about it, I will have them running laps around the castle until dusk."

Ed gave a small smile. "Harsh, Mustang. Have you been taking lessons from Teacher?"

Roy shuddered as he thought of the violent woman. "I…. may have asked her for advice about teaching?"

Ed groaned. "Why would you do that? At the very least, did you make sure Riza didn't hear any of her 'advice'?"

Roy winced. "She may have…. overheard a bit?" Ed gave another groan. Roy glanced at the clock and jumped up. "Well, no matter, get ready quickly. We're almost late." Sighing, Ed got up and went to the bathroom to get dressed.

-_-

As it turned out, Ed took about 5 minutes to get ready, which was half the time it took Roy. As he and Ed walked to class, he could see Ed getting slightly agitated. Roy began the notice small things, like picking at his jacket, or fiddling with the end of his braid. "Calm down, Ed. You're gonna work yourself up for no reason. I promise, nothing is going to happen."

He barely caught Ed's colorful retort, but chose to be the better man and ignored it.

As they got to the class he saw that no one was there yet, much to his immense relief. He quickly got the room set up and set up a chair for Ed by the window, which was near the desk at the front of the room.

As he got done, the first students began to trickle in. He was teaching 6th years today, which were thankfully in Ed's age range, as he hoped that the first day could go without a hitch. He checked the clock on the wall and saw that it was time for class to start. He stood at the front of the class and began.

"Hello, I'm Colonel Roy Mustang, your alchemy teacher this year. You can call me Professor Mustang, however…."

Just as he finished his sentence, an unholy BAM shook the room as two redheads, twins by the looks of it, crashed head first into class. Roy took one look at them and just knew that this was going to be a long year. They kind of reminded him of Ed, before he was taken. He massaged his temples as he wearily asked, "Why are you two late? Class has already started."

"Sorry Professor!" One of the gingers spoke. The other finished the thought. "We got lost on the way, I'm Fred, and this is George."

Roy sighed. He couldn't really fault them for getting lost. "Just… Fred, go sit over by Miss Eliza. George go to the opposite side of the room. I don't care where, just away from Fred." He already knew that the best thing to do in this situation was to separate the nuisances and get on with his class.

He turned around, back to face his students, when he noticed with a hint of irritation that most of them were staring at Ed, with him visibly shrinking under the scrutinizing gazes.

He snapped his fingers to gain the class's attention. Unfortunately, Riza had taken his gloves so he didn't roast anything on his first day. As if he would.

With the attention back to him, he continued. "As I was saying, I am your alchemy teacher this year, at the request of the Headmaster. I will answer any questions within reason that you have. Shoot."

"Who is that behind you?" Of fucking course that was the first question. "That's Edward, my son. I wanted to take him with me on this insufferable job."

"He doesn't look anything like you, though." The student was promptly shushed with an elbow to the stomach and a hissed answer from someone else. Roy chose to ignore the comment.

"Where are you from? You don't sound like you're from here." Roy glanced at his name list. "You're right about that, Miss…. Freya. We are from a small country North from here called Amestris."

At this revelation, several students jumped up, one shouting, "Amestris! The country that recently had a civil war and is the place to learn Alchemy!"

Roy was a bit surprised that so many knew of Amestris, but with the attention Father drew, it really wasn't that shocking.

Questions continued for a while, and Roy noticed Fred and George had been silent the whole time. "Fred, George, do one of you have a question?"

"Well….'" Fred looked down. "I was kind of wondering how Edward got so many scars." At this the class all started muttering to one another. From what Roy could catch, they were all wondering and were glad someone else had asked.

He glanced at Ed and saw his stiff posture and familiar "deer in a headlight" look. He walked over and showed Ed to his office, which was connected to the classroom. He closed the door and turned around to glare directly at Fred. "What the hell possessed you to think that was in any way an appropriate question to ask?" Fred at least had the decency to look ashamed.

"Ed has scars, and yes they're a bit distracting, but that doesn't give any of you the right to stare like he's some sort of show animal. I will not answer your question, Mr. Weasley, and if I catch any of you harassing Ed about it, I will personally make your life hell."

They continued questions after the lecture, but the coldness of Mustang's anger was felt long after everyone exited the classroom.

-_-

After class ended, he grabbed Ed and decided to leave him with Riza and Hawkeye to get him away from nosy students. As they left, he saw Fred approach from his peripheral vision. He moved in front Ed and glared coldly at the other teen.

Fred cleared his throat, looking visible nervous as he approached the duo. He came to a stop in front of Roy. "I came to apologise for my actions in class earlier. It was a sensitive question and I shouldn't have asked. I beg yours and Ed's forgiveness."

Roy was touched he had come apologise. "Thank you, Fred but I'm not the one you should be saying sorry to." At this Fred turned to Ed.

"I'm sorry for my insensitive question earlier, Edward. I understand not wanting to speak about something personal, especially to someone you've never met, and it won't happen again. I hope we can be friends, you seem pretty cool."

At this Ed looked up. "T-thanks. You seem pretty cool too. Don't worry about it, I know my appearance is a bit… unusual."

Fred grinned and dashed off to presumably his next class. Roy sighed and turned to Ed. "You okay, kid?"

Ed gave a small smile, and Roy realized how much he missed that look on Ed. He took Ed to Riza and Jean, and the rest of the day went smoothly, much to Roy's relief.

-_-

Oh my God. I'm so sorry about the lateness of this chapter… I'll get another chapter out after next week as an apology since this is almost 2 MONTHS behind the original publish date. I would do it next week, but I have mid-term exams and I need next week to study.

Thanks for your continued support and advice!