A/Ns: An idea for a cosplay skit turned into a fiction: What if The Gate's "flow" had a direction change, and (Spoiler!!!!) if there's an alternate world version of everyone in the world of FMA, what if there's another alternate world with opposite genders?

A Change of Perspective

"Colonel!" I yell, furiously glancing from side to side, and everywhere in between as I run down the halls, almost running over several other people. "Colonel Mustang!"

"Edward?"

"Lt. Hawkeye!" I gasp, my boots squeaking on the floor as I halt and turn to face her. "Where's Colonel Mustang?!"

"He's in his office, Edward; what's wrong?" She asks with a concerned raise of an eyebrow.

"An-issue with-civilians-!" I manage, dashing back in the direction of the Colonel's office. "Colonel!" I shout as I wrench the door to his office open.

"Edward?" The dark blue-eyed colonel looks up at me, said eyes widening in surprise. "What's wrong?"

"Hu-human-transmutation-!" I gasp out, leaning against the couch in the man's office.

Through my gasps for breath, I watch from the corner of my eye as he shoves away from his desk, the surprise in his face transformed to serious resolve. "Let's go," he says as he opens the door, waiting for me.

"R-right," I respond within an outburst of air, following him out of the room.

"Good lord," the colonel murmurs, after a sharp intake of breath, probably rich with the bitter, iron tang of blood. "Fullmetal?" He calls up to the top of the stairs where I'm standing. "Are you coming?" Colonel Mustang asks as he takes the steps two at a time, stopping at the third to last one, keeping us more or less eye-level.

"I-in a moment," I reply, after swallowing the slight urge to vomit, a vague burn in the back of my throat remaining.

"Did you tell anyone else?" Colonel Mustang asks softly as I walk down the steps, my footfalls echoing his, but a little off in rhythm.

"No," I answer. "I told the doctor it was a home repair incident."

"Ah."

I glance up at him: his eyes are half-closed, though focusing on the floor of the cellar, his hands making fists in his pockets.

What's he thinking?

Should I care...?

After forever, or at least what seems like it, he sighs explosively, turning to me. "Let's go."

"But," I say, gesturing toward the cellar's main room, "what about-"

"We'll deal with whatever it is later," he answers, a sharp turn bringing him away, and up the staircase, with me following yet again. Though, just for a moment, I think I heard something other than our own clothes rustling around there.

"I can't tell you how thankful I am, Major."

"All in a day's work," I manage, while Mustang regards the self-induced victim.

"You're lucky to have just lost your forearms and half a leg," the colonel remarks seriously, leaning on the man's hospital bed's headboard.

"I am, indeed..."

"Excuse me, Colonel, Major, and Andrew (1)?" One of the nurses pokes her head in. "There's a visitor for the patient."

"Well, not really, ma'am," a strangely familiar voice says from behind the door. The man in the hospital bed freezes up, scooting as far back in the bed as he can when a young woman walks in the door. For a moment, I can't place why the blonde hair and yellow-iris eyes seem so recognizable, when I realize I've seen them, as well as heard the slight thump of mismatched limbs, before. The outfit resembles mine, but a little tighter in places, and shorter (2).

Her easy gait brings her closer, and into sharper focus, as she planted herself in front of my C.O (3). Tilting her head as she regards the colonel, her tight braid, apparently tied at both the beginning and end, swings into view. After some consideration, the girl-who seems to be my height-stands on tiptoe, to better see, I guess, the bottoms of her boots squeaking just the tiniest (not a word, you read me?!) bit. A gloved hand reaches up to Colonel Mustang's face, his jaw dropping more so than mine as she says "I love a man in uniform."

"You know, Fullmetal," he turns to face me, a slight choking tone in his voice, "I think you're a little taller than she is."

For a moment, I feel pity for the man; he doesn't see my feminine counterpart's automail arm heading for his face.

(1) The name of the fellow who attempted human transmutation.

(2) I'll draw this sometime soon, then supply a link.

(3) Commanding officer.

A/Ns: Finally, something that's been beating its wings against the inside of my mind has been released. I pray for those subjected to it. Though, I'm happy it's finished, and it was fun to write again.