An Array of Wonders

Chapter 9: Snapshot

Edward sighed as he sat in a hard, plastic chair. He'd been in that same little waiting room for who knows how long and his patience was thinning. The blonde boy slowly surveyed his surroundings one last time before he would let himself get worked up into a frenzy of emotions.

A small water fountain was to his left, and about seven chairs, all that looked equally uncomfortable, were to his right. In the front of the room, only a few feet away, was a round desk. A cheerful man with glasses and a nearly contagious smile had been effectively blocking Edward's way into the other room for a period of almost an hour. The wait was enough to make Edward groan. He really didn't have time for this, but there was nothing to be done. Or so the man had repeatedly said. Edward was anxious enough to start gnawing on his fingernails, but he remembered his promise to his mom to stop doing that ages ago. "You aren't a little child anymore, Ed, you shouldn't keep doing that. Be a good influence for your little brother, alright." She had said.

The thought of her made Edward slump into his chair even more than before. He also sent a furious glare in the door's direction. He needed to get in there!

The man who sat at the desk, fiddling with a well used camera, stopped when he heard Edward groan. The man gave an apologetic smile in Edward's direction but shook his head at the glare. He couldn't exactly tell the kid Mustang was currently being held at gunpoint until he finished his report to the Furher. Also, the kid looked like the living dead when he had walked in earlier. A small rest seemed to have refreshed the blonde boy, but the recruit could still see lingering signs of fever on Ed's face.

Maes Hughes sat in his stiff chair, bored out of his mind. The recent report from Central was without a doubt one of the longest he'd been made to listen to in recent years. Hughes chanced a quick look around, knowing that he'd already made Riza a little too edgy today for comfort. Her aim was famous around anyone who showed signs of slacking.

The blonde haired woman's hand was twitching a bit over her holster and Hughes was mildly surprised to find her gaze directed right back at him.

And I'm in for it now.

Hughes raised his hand to give the woman a quiet wave. Both soldiers noticed their superior's cold glare and both had the sense to walk out. Hughes smiled as he entered into the waiting room, and noticed the new recruit giving a evil eye over to a young man who looked, what 12? Oh, wait, after a more searching look he could see that the sick young man had to be at least 14 or so.

"Well hello! You don't look so good, why don't you refresh yourself with a lovely picture of my daughter!!!" Hughes said cheerfully as he whipped out a new photo of his 4 year old trying on her winter ensemble. Wasn't she cute!

Edward slowly looked up at the man who was pushing something awfully close to his face. A picture?

"What's this?" Ed asked, his eyes hazy and his voice horse from an earlier coughing fit.

"Eh, you really don't look to well. What are you doing here right now?" Hughes said, his voice becoming a bit more serious. Looks like this kid should be in bed.

"U-um.. I need to talk to Colonel Mustang! It's really important! My family! Someone kidnapped my mom and brother, and my father went to get them back but he hasn't returned! I don't know why they were taken but I can't just sit around and-" Edward said, his voice speeding up in desperation as he tried to finish his words.

Hughes had to put his hands on the boy's shoulders to stop him from toppling over out of the chair.

"Wait! Calm down! Your family is missing!"

"Yes! I have to find a way to help them! They didn't come back this morning and I need to, and I've been waiting here for the last two hours!" Edward said, his voice nearly frantic and Hughes could tell the boy was about to collapse if he didn't get some help sooner than later.

"Ok, ok. I'll let you see Mustang. You should have been let in much earlier!" Hughes said, then he watched Edward get up and he had to keep his hand on the boy's shoulder to steady him.

For some unknown reason my mind did not want to write this part! Oh well, it's out now. Finally. Review ok.

Scar will have a nice part in the next chapter, I can guarantee that!