Shattered Alchemist

Chapter 6: Onwards trusty chu-chu!

A/N: Another one for your enjoyment (I'm on a roll, so review some more and see how far it goes :3).

"My, this is such a wonderful surprise...to think the rain would stop after all this time." Henry spoke to no one in particular, staring at the wall with a bright sheen over his eyes. He was lost in the miracle that took the rain away from their small town. It gave them a second chance at real growth. Riza sat with a cup of tea, the tiny dining room empty except for the two of them. Edward was still sleeping well in to the morning. 'So much for a small nap.'

"I think people will still cringe and worry any day it rains naturally. This all seems like one big dream." Riza nodded along with his rambles. There wasn't much to say on the matter. He was happy to talk to himself out of pure joy. Ruining the moment could only end in disaster. Instead her thoughts continued on the slumbering boy. 'He was out like a light. At this rate he may never get up.'

"Mm...is anyone in here...?" Her eyes snapped up to the doorway. A dazed Ed looked between them and gave an unsightly yawn. She could only chuckle, keeping it quiet enough to avoid his suspicion. "Good morning Edward, did you sleep well?"

"Somewhat, I suppose..." Henry smiled and went off to grab another cup of tea, a skip in the step of an old man. Alone with someone she much rather be with, she had him take a seat alongside her. Tilting her head a bit she smiled slightly, it was nice to see him this grumpy. 'When he's this tired it's like back then.' She really needed to stop thinking about the past so much. Ed was here, that's what mattered. It felt like a long game of hide and seek.

"Your feeling better then? If you still need more rest, feel free to have it." She offered him more sleep. Riza would have to shoot him if he accepted as it was already past noon. More sleep would turn him in to a lump. "Ugh, please no. I hate being this dazed and don't want it twice."

'Smart choice Edward, smart choice...'

They chatted together in small sentenced. She couldn't bring herself to go past casual talk. He didn't say much, keeping both answers and questions short. It was a very strained conversation, until...

"I've made up my mind. Since the rain crisis is over here, I...I'll go with you to Central." He floored her with a blunt statement like that. She was taken aback, unable to figure out if she was excited or just surprised. The energy exploded in her words,"Then you'll come back to the military!?"

"I didn't say anything like that! Stop jumping to conclusions. I still have no intention of going back to the military, just because it's run by Mustang doesn't mean I trust it." She frowned a bit and realized her mistake. 'Still being so stubborn, but why else would he go...?' A deep sigh let out her frustrations, allowing Riza to remain composed. "Then what's the point of going back with me?"

"Your going to go back on duty right? If there's nothing left for me to do here...I might as well, you know..." she tilted her head a bit more, his nervous and quickly shifting her eyes very amusing. He groaned, eyebrows twitching. "I'm saying I'll go with YOU, but not the military! Got it!?"

His frustrated yell didn't confuse her half as much as the words themselves. Was he actually saying he was...going back, just for her? Riza blushed uncontrollably and looked away, trying to hide the ideas she came up with based on that. "Th, that...I don't need your help if that's what your saying...I'll be fine."

"So what? I'm going anyway, so deal with it! I'll meet you at the station." He stormed out with the largest hint to his former self as she had seen in awhile. 'I almost blew it by saying I didn't need the help! Damn my stubborn pride.' At least it didn't cause any lasting damage. He was still going and...

"Wait! Station? Then we're leaving now...? I have to get ready!"

Station

She was overly nervous with each minute that passed. It shouldn't take this long just to meet her, should it? Was he having second thoughts or maybe just ignoring her...'Wait Riza, keep it together. Your getting worked up over nothing.' The call of the trains whistle indicated it's soon to be departure. If he was going to take so long she would have bought later tickets. Her feet shifted lightly, back and forth in increasing anxiety.

"Come on Ed..." the whistle sounded again and several people boarded the train. She remembered the old iron shell barely in service. It had been warming up the engine for almost a half hour now. With the lack of rain maybe they could employ something a bit more modern. However, it held a certain charm. The train, like this town, had weathered a long storm. They were almost meant for each other. Both old and unlike the rest, maybe it could be restored alongside the town.

"Move out of the way, coming through!" The scattered shouts of Edward pushing through some of the townspeople gathered at the station. Two large suitcases were swinging over heads and under legs as he fought through, trying to reach her. She waved to him and looked back at the train. 'Too slow...!'

He got closer and she grabbed his hand, yanking him through several people. They ran, together storming through the rest and boarded the large frame which let out a stream of smoke from the roof. "All aboard that's coming aboard, please find your seats!"

"You could have made us miss the train, what took you so long?" With no time to spare they had made it, panting heavily from the final sprint to make it. Through a grumbled voice he said something about Charlie, but she couldn't understand the incoherent words. Together they stole one of the empty cars, pushing their bags inside the above racks. "Back to Central after all this time, has it changed at all?"

"Not really. It's so big you hardly notice when little things change." She answered simply. Really it had been months since she spent more then a few days there at a time. What once her home was no more then a stop over. "I see...did you happen to call Mustang while you were waiting?"

"Yes, I hope it wasn't a problem. He's calling Al back from the front, you'll get to see him." His eyes jumped slightly as he stared out the window. Ed regained himself easily enough, the indifferent stare making her slightly uncomfortable. "Has he been going alright? It's been awhile."

"Al has risen quite easily, he's a very sweet boy. Takes after you, becoming an alchemist at such a young age." His head nodded slightly and made no more mention of it. She just had to know. "Ed, are you looking forward to seeing him? I thought you'd be happier."

"Maybe...but I don't know if I want to see him like that. As an alchemist...it's just something I'd prefer not to." She sighed a bit realizing the wavering of his heart. They stayed in absolute silence for the entire trip. The hum of the bouncing train, it's old engine pushing it across the country at a sluggish pace. They took turns napping even as the long ride took most of the day. Light was fading and then sun going beneath the hills by the time they were close to Central. With such little time she confronted him again. "You know Ed, just because your brother looked up to you and followed the same path...doesn't make it the same. Circumstances are different."

"I suppose." She gritted her teeth at his continued indifferent posture, ignoring her attempts to help him out. He wasn't exactly sulking but this was seriously irritating her. The train began to slow down, pulling in to central at an even slower pace. "Hey Edward..."

"Mm? What is-?" His head turned slightly and just enough. The train stopped with a jerk and Riza used that momentum to close the distance, brushing her lips over his with a soft touch. She couldn't think of any other way to keep his dreary talk from depressing her as well. 'Or maybe it's an excuse..."

Neither one of them could make a sound and neither felt like breaking the light touch. Instead Riza took the initiative to press deeper in to him, where he responded in kind. After several seconds she pulled back slowly, her hand brushing his cheek lightly. "I'll grab the bags, so smile a bit more"

Central Station

It was awkward. Riza didn't think too much about it until they departed the train. The silence gave her plenty of time to realize what she just did. Just a few seconds, that's all it lasted. Even so her cheeks wouldn't stop brightening. They were avoiding each others gaze and walking a few feet from each other, at least. 'Maybe that wasn't the best idea...'

"Little Edward, my look how big you've grown! With such a deep manly figure you may soon have muscles like mine!" Armstrong, brimming with confidence, grabbed the bags from her. His large frame after such a long time surprised Ed a bit, who was grappled under one mighty arm in a mighty choke hold. "Guh...Arm...Strong...too...tight..."

"What are you doing here, it's rare for you to return from duty." She questioned him lightly as Ed gasped when man released him. Loading the bags in to an awaiting car he spoke in the usual booming voice, drawing tons of attention. "I heard of the search for young Edward and had to see such a passionate youth being brought back to sally forth to his dreams!"

"Um...right, I take it your driving us to HQ then?" It didn't click until now why she never missed having him around. The intimidating figure was even worse in the way his speech always reflected a rather optimistic tone. Optimism wasn't bad...in respectful quantities. Sighing she noticed the passenger side filled by a young soldier, and instead took a seat in back with Ed. More awkwardness...

Armstrong happily took over driving. Riza thought he would break the wheel off as they pulled out and headed in to the city. It would be fine if there wasn't that tension hanging between her and the other occupant of the back seat.

They kept separate during the ride, practically hugging the opposing doors to avoid the embarrassment of facing that kiss. 'He returned it, so it isn't me...then why is this...so embarrassing...!' For someone used to an entirely professional demeanor, Riza was highly unused to this. She kept telling herself it was a simple matter but words didn't really come. Occasionally their eyes would meet, they would gasp, and then look away again.

"Ah Ed..."

"Um, Riza..."

They spoke at the same time, jumped slightly, and returned to silence. This wasn't going to be easy...

Upon reaching Central they split up, with Ed heading off with Armstrong and herself going to report on the search. A small break after that was needed.

Fuhrers Office

The giant office still as cold as ever, constantly filled with voices of people she knew and those who were replaced too fast for anyone to notice. Paperwork was shuffled from side to side. Work continued even as she entered. Passing through the busy space Riza opened the door to the back room, where only Mustangs secretary was sitting. "Oh look Riza's back, hey there!"

She waved to one of the newer men, having not yet felt the wrath of her bullets. Everyone around him quickly tried to pull him away from saying anything more, just in case. 'Like I have the time or patience to worry about what they are saying.'

"Oh Miss Riza, may I help you?" It was a new one again, the same repeat in young and tiny girls that were replaced almost weekly. A rather irritating but expected quality of the former colonel. "I am here to make my report to the Fuhrer, is he busy?"

"Fuhrer Mustang...busy? My no, please go right on in." At least she was aware of how little work he actually did in a single day. Although having shaped up, he still maintained several hard to break quirks...the ones most in need of changing too.

"Colonel Riza Hawkeye reporting for duty." She spoke plainly upon entering, closing the door behind her at the sound of his audible groan. 'It's almost fun to bother him with military talk now.' Despite it being protocol, his reactions and attempts to create an informal environment were amusing. "Yes, take a seat. What do you have to report?"

She took her place in one of the two comfy chairs in front of his desk, enjoying the sinking feeling yet again. Hopefully there would at least be one day before going back to the front lines. "I entered the town of Rainfall as ordered and immediately began a search for the priority target, the Full Metal Alchemist. The rain impeded it the first day, but progress led me to find him staying with a researcher on the outskirts of the town. After negotiations he agreed to come back, but not on a promise to rejoin the military. Specifics will be submitted in a written report."

"Ugh, no need. I don't want more paperwork to go through! I get the idea...so the pipsqueak is back now. I'll have to reinstate him tomorrow it seems." He obviously wasn't paying much attention, most likely snapping back in at the word 'report'. "I have already mentioned he does not wish to rejoin the military. All requests to do so have been unsuccessful."

"Then...what in the world did he come back for!? Stupid runt, he's just wasting my time then!" He growled out and slammed the desk, hints of the old rivalry forming in his words. She just released a sigh and let him vent. There was nothing to do about it. "You will both be deployed along with Al in two days."

"Excuse me, I just told you Ed has no plans to-" Another growl cut off her sentence, the tight fist he made threatening to ignite the glove on his hand. "I understand that. You have all of tomorrow to talk him in to it before you are deployed the following day. I'll expect a womans touch to be enough to persuade him."

Riza was blushing, yet again. It seemed to be an almost natural occurrence since meeting Ed again. This was becoming far too common for her enjoyment. 'W, woman's touch!? What is he getting at!?' Maybe the familiarity with Mustang's thought process, or just the early incident...but she took an entirely different perspective on it. "W, with all due respect sir..."

"Oh, and if you refuse I'll dock your pay so far your paychecks will have you owing money." A bluff? Could it be one? She couldn't take the chance and just gritted her teeth. This would be...a problem.

A/N: Another little chapter I knocked out of the way. A bit shorter than the others, but three updates this quick...can you complain? No, but you can review! :3