Hi guys! Back at you with story #12! I want to try and make up for the multiple gaps I've had between chapters, so, yeah. Anyways, not really much to say except that this was a suggestion by Lady Jessica Mustang. Enjoy!

Summary: Edward is getting bullied in the force, specifically by one soldier who likes to make remarks about Edward's mother.

Idea Came From: Lady Jessica Mustang who suggested I write something where Edward or Alphonse or both are getting bullied

Timeline: A month or so after Edward joins the military

Warnings: None

Rated: T for language & fighting

Notes: None

Story 12: Mental Attack

It's no surprise that there would be backlash for letting a child into the military. Of course, it starts out small. The major gossip happens in the cities and towns of Amestris as news got out. Of course, people talk in the halls of the command centers as well.

The presence of Edward Elric only seems to make things worse. He definitely has the attitude, determination, and skills to own the title he has been given; his age is the problem. Especially with the automail. Something a child shouldn't have.

And from this shock and surprise grows seeds of jealousy. How had a child gone through automail surgery? How does a child know how to use alchemy without a circle? How does a child get into the military? Where were his parents?

Of course, none of these questions were ever answered. Which causes the seeds of jealousy to sprout into trees of anger. Everyone was constantly comparing the soldiers and men of the military to the Fullmetal Alchemist. "If a little kid can do it, so can you."

So, it isn't surprising that the soldiers would lash out. Specifically at the child himself. It starts with little remarks here or there that Edward expertly shrugs off. But then they seem to slowly grow into something worse as the soldiers would flat out confront the poor child.

"What's the deal with your arm and leg?" A soldier asks one day as Ed is heading to his commanding officer's office to turn in his latest report.

"What?" Ed asks, looking up at the taller man who seems to tower over the young alchemist. Any normal child would cower in fear and run to hide behind his or her parents. But Edward is no normal child, nor does he have any parents to hide behind.

"You heard me!" The soldier shouts. Two other men round a corner and stop to see what all the commotion is about. "Tell me how the hell you have automail when you're only twelve."

"It doesn't concern you." Ed snaps, voice cold as he moves to walk around the guy. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to-"

Before Ed can even blink the soldier has reached out and snatched Ed's flesh wrist. "You're not going to go anywhere, pipsqueak."

Ed bites his tongue to hold back his rage. He desperately wants to haul off and punch this dude, then fling him out a window just for the comment alone. But he can't, so he tries to stay calm. At least, that's what Alphonse would tell him.

"Let go."

"And if I don't? You gonna call your mommy?" The soldier sneers, faking a baby voice.

Ed completely freezes. His muscles coil up and before anyone can blink, Ed has punched the soldier square in the face with his automail fist. A satisfying crack is heard throughout the hall as the soldier stumbles back, holding his now bleeding nose with rage burning in his brown eyes.

"Damn, Lukas, the kid got you good." One of the bystanding soldiers comments, the other trying not to laugh. Who's ever heard of a little kid punching a solder?

"You little brat!" Said solder shouts, hands clenching into fists as he gets into a fighting stance. "You'll pay for that!"

"I beg to differ!" Ed snaps back, getting into his own fighting stance. He doesn't care that he'll probably get yelled at by Mustang. No one makes fun of him by using his mother. Ever.

By now the yelling has caught the attention of multiple people in the area. They come out of their offices, run down the halls, women alert other people throughout the building. It doesn't take long for a full circle to be created, both Edward and Lukas standing in the middle with a fair amount of space to fight.

No one moves and the air feels still. The two glare pure death at one another, the hostility building. Someone in the audience coughs.

And they fight.

Every Amestrian soldier is taught how to fight at boot camp. Edward, however, has been taught by Izumi; one of the scariest people Edward knows. Except for Alphonse, who can get pretty terrifying when he wants something to go his way. Especially if a cat is involved.

The soldier is basing his attacks more on brute strength. He is more on the offense, shooting quick punches and kicks at the young twelve year old who expertly blocks and dodges. Of course, Lukas being on the offensive causes Ed to be on the defensive. Not that he's complaining. It gives him more of a chance to see the solder's weak spot.

Edward uses his size and automail to his advantage. He easily dodges and blocks Lukas's attacks, his golden eyes expertly looking for any openings he can find to use against the larger man.

Lukas quickly throws a punch at Edward's face, but the child is faster. He instantly ducks down and rushes forwards, twisting his automail fist as he punches Lukas in the gut. Lukas stumbles back, gasping as the air is knocked from him. Ed quickly jumps away from a messy kick thrown at his side, landing a safe distance away from the enraged soldier.

"I've had enough of you!" Lukas shouts, holding his bruising abdomen. "You think you can just waltz in here all high and mighty, acting like you own the place? Huh?!"

"Yes." Ed answers smartly, smirking as Lukas's face goes red with anger; pure rage burning in his brown eyes.

"No more!"

Ed's eyes widen as he watches Lukas pull a gun from the hilt on his belt. The gun is swiftly aimed at Ed's head and the twelve year old quickly reacts. He claps and drops to his knees, slamming his hands against the floor. A wide wall rises up, completely shielding Edward just as the gun goes off.

"What the hell is going on!?" A familiar albeit enraged voice shouts, causing everyone to turn and see Colonel Roy Mustang walking briskly down the hall, First Lieutenant Riza Hawkeye following close behind.

The people instantly part, allowing the colonel to make his way to the middle of the circle. He stops between the transmuted wall and a steaming Lukas.

"What is going on?" Roy repeats himself, eyes narrow as he studies Lukas.

"That little brat punched me!" Lukas shouts as Ed walks around from behind the wall, his own brilliant golden eyes glaring. Roy looks at his uninjured and pissed off subordinate.

"He started it!" Ed shouts, pointing at Lukas with a gloved automail finger. "He confronted me in the hall and started pestering me! Then he-"

"That's enough, Fullmetal." Mustang snaps, glaring at the child. "I've heard enough, conciser this a warning." Roy looks to Lukas again, glaring. "For both of you."

"What!? But he-"

"I said enough!" The whole hall goes quiet. People quickly file away, back to what they had been doing before the fight had broken out. "Now get rid of that wall."

And that's how it went. The soldiers provoke Edward, causing a fight, which in turn gets the Fullmetal Alchemist in more and more trouble with Roy Mustang as he is blamed for starting the fight.

That is, until one day when Ed storms into Roy's office, more than upset. He had ran into Lukas, again, which almost caused another fight to break out. Almost. Someone had broken them up, but that didn't stop Lukas from shouting after the kid as he headed for Roy's office. Most of his harsh words were shot at Ed's mom, and if Lukas hadn't been blocked by a whole group of military personnel, Edward would have decapitated him right then and there. With a butter knife.

"Ah, Fullmetal. Nice of you to show up." Roy says, smirking, unaware of Edward's dark mood. "Didn't think you would have made it, seeing as someone could easily step on you."

Roy waits for the usual outburst, but nothing comes. Instead he gets a glare so harsh it would make even the Fuhrur tremble at the sight. His golden eyes are molten lava, burning with acid hate so pure that even Riza steered clear.

"Not. In. The. Mood."

"Your short fuse gone already?" Roy continues, despite the warning signs. He ignores the fact that Ed's hands are curled into fists, crumpling the paper he currently holds. The way his muscles are bunched up, the way he barely breathes. "What, mouse got your tongue?"

"DAMN IT MUSTANG!" Ed explodes as he storms over to Mustang's desk. Roy would be too prideful to admit it, but at that split second when Ed is storming over to his desk and slamming the crumpled report down, Roy couldn't help but fear for his life. He leans back while Riza draws her gun. "I'M TIRED OF PEOPLE PUSHING ME AROUND LIKE I'M SOME TOY! I THREW AWAY THE RIGHT TO BEING A CHILD SO STOP TREATING ME LIKE ONE!"

Ed stands there, breathing heavily as he grips onto Roy's desk with his hands. His automail fingers have created dents, much to Roy's annoyance.

"Where is this coming from?" Roy finally asks as he straightens his posture. Ed turns away, bangs shadowing his face. He doesn't miss the slight tremble that runs through his subordinate's body as Riza puts her gun away.

"It doesn't matter."

"Sir, if I may," Hawkeye says, breaking the tense silence. "I think that the soldier who goes by the name Lukas Verdan has been pestering Edward for the past three weeks."

'That long?' Roy thinks guiltily. He let's out a sigh and pinches the bridge of his nose. He can't believe that he had missed something so obvious. It would explain why Edward has been in a bad mood each time he ends up in Roy's office. "Why didn't you tell-"

"Because you would never listen!" Ed shouts, cutting Roy off. His golden eyes are burning once more, but instead of the previous rage they previously held, they now burn with hurt. "Every time I fought with him you would never listen to me! Not once!"

Roy winces at this. "Look, I though you were just picking fights."

Ed scowls, crossing his arms. "I would choose that over someone making fun of my..."

"Your height?" Roy asks, raising an eyebrow as Edward trailed off.

"My mother."

Roy stops. His mother? Roy hadn't even thought it would come to this. Why would someone attack a child's mother like this? Especially if the wounds haven't healed over.

But no one knows. No one knows that Edward and Alphonse had to watch their mother die in front of them. No one knew that the two prodigies had tried human transmutation to try and bring her back, to see her smile again. No one knows the suffering Edward forced himself to go through for Alphonse's sake, and he is still doing it now.

"Edward," Roy says firmly. Ed quickly looks away, biting his lip. Roy can see the hint of tears sparkling in the corners of Ed's eyes. "Listen, I'll take care of it. Okay? You won't have to hear anything else from Lukas that relates to your mother."

Ed glares defiantly. Without a word he turns and storms out of of the room.

"Sir, if I may ask," Riza speaks up, watching as Edward slams the door behind him. "What are you going to do about Lukas?"

"You'll see."

And so she does. Roy gets Lukas court martialed within the hour. And, by the end of the day, Lukas is being dragged out of the building by two buff looking guys. Roy watches from his window, while Edward watches from the steps below. Roy watches as Edward slowly turns his head and looks up at Roy, their eyes locking. And Ed smiles.

That's it! I don't really have anything to say, so, yeah. Don't forget to leave suggestions for what you want to read in future chapters! Thanks for reading! Have a good day/night!