A/N pokeperson01 this is dedicated to you for your reviews and encouragement. Hope you enjoy the chapter.

Roy's POV

I heard the cafeteria doors open but my sole attention to the captain in front of me. A voice said furiously," Men stand down! Mustang off with you gloves. Captain Hughes you better resnap your holster on that weapon." I pulled off my glove immediately recognizing the Brigadier General's voice. The one known as Hughes hesitated for a moment before complying.

The Brigadier General stared at me for a moment before he said," Mustang you should know better. You may have gotten your flames somewhat under control but it is still alchemy. Don't you dare use that here especially with so many fellow soldiers around." He rounded on Hughes who was smirking at me and said," And you! You are the older one you shouldn't let him get to you. You should especially not piss off the youngest State Alchemist in Amestris Army. He's not only an alchemist but those gloves would burn you alive. I would know I trained him once he joined."

He pinched the bridge of his nose and said looking us both in the eye and said," You both will spend all day tomorrow digging six by six feet holes starting from five in the morning to eight in the evening. Together no exceptions or you will be doing it again." We both snapped to a salute and said," Yes sir!"

The General looked between us then nodded said," At ease then soldiers. Wolf I want to see you in my office before lights out tomorrow." I stiffened and said," Yes sir. I'll be there before I eat."

After that he looked between us and then left. Hughes glared at me and said," This is your fault!" I rolled my eyes and said," Get over yourself Captain. Your just as much at fault as I am."

With that I sat back down to finish my dinner. I heard him puff up in anger and my hand wandered back to my gloves. This man could decide to attack me and I needed to be ready for it. After a moment of him still standing there I heard him turn around and walk away. I let out a sigh of relief. I didn't want to get in any more trouble than I already was in but I would defend myself as necessary.

The next morning I stood out in the dirt fields outside of the bootcamp area. Ten minutes after five Hughes finally showed up. He said snidely," I can't believe that I have to dig holes with a freak. The least the General could have done would make us do it separately." Ignoring the freak comment I said beginning to dig," We will both be fighting on the battlefield whether we like it or not; there is a chance that we will fight on the same missions."

Hughes glared at me but I kept my eyes on my my work. I had to keep my temper if I ever wanted to change people's perceptions of alchemists. Three holes later the sun came up and we both had taken off our uniform jackets. My sweat had made the white uniform shirt practically see through. It showed several of the scars that I had earned fighting the death eaters.

The wounds had healed nicely but the scars would likely never fade. Hughes eyes widened at the sight of the scar just under my ribs that he saw, when I lifted my arms to throw the dirt. He asked," How did you get that?" Looking to where he was pointing I saw that he noticed the scar. I said dully," I was on protection duty in England until I was ordered to return. There was an attack at a nearby village that I had escorted my charge to. I ordered him to hall his ass back to the school. I took care of the attackers in the village. What we didn't know was there was a dozen of them waiting for us on the trail. I took an attack meant for him. Then spent three weeks in a coma for it. That's one of the reminders that no good deed goes unpunished."

Silence was my response and I continued to dig. Eventually he said," I was wrong about you Major. Let's start over. I am Captain Maes Hughes from Central Command. After the war I plan on proposing to my girlfriend. You?" I turned to face him watching him warily," Major Roy Mustang from Eastern Command. I grew up in Central before August when I passed my State Alchemy Exams."

He asked curious," What did you do to pass?" I said rubbing the back of my neck," I fought Louis Armstrong in a battle exam. It wasn't much of a fight on my part. A lot of dodging the Strongarm alchemist."

His eyes widened in shock as he said," Major Armstrong is one of the top battle alchemists in Amestris you had to be good to survive that." I gave him a small tentative smile and said," Yeah it was hard but I'm glad I did it."

By the time we had finished our punishment we had a new understanding. Maes understood that I was not an arrogant alchemist like the others he had met. I now knew that he had treated me the way he did because of the other State Alchemists he had met. We went back to our rooms where I showered and changed into a clean uniform.

From there I went out of the barracks to the command. I knocked on the door to the General's office. A voice said," Enter." I stepped in and saluted the older man. I said," Major Mustang reporting as requested."