A/N: This is probably the longest chapter I have ever written. I know you've all be waiting to see Everett figure it out, so I decided not to split the chapter up! Don't you just love me? hahaha So, I must say, this came out a little darker than I orignally intended, but I've been watching Black Butler all day, so I guess it got into my mind that it needed to be darker. *sigh* I hope you like it! I added some Armstrong, since I freaking love him and I thought he should be included. I love how he's stoic one moment, then completely sparkly the next. XD I do hope you enjoy this! I won't hold you back any longer!
Chapter Ten
"Of Alchemy and Origins"
This was it. Everett stood in the court yard of Central Command, staring at it in awe. He entered the building, and took a right down the first corridor, like he had been told. He was grasping a leather cuff on his wrist. It had been a gift from Genny, to wish him good luck on his exam. She had a small silver plate installed in the leather, with his transmutation circle carved into it. 'So you won't have to draw with chalk anymore!' was what she told him. He was grateful for the gift, but it didn't help at all with his nerves. He was shaking he was so nervous.
As he continued down the hall to the testing area, a group of officers walked by, giving him an odd look, then whispered to each other. He couldn't understand what they were saying, but he didn't really care either. Finally a sign on a door appeared in his view. 'State Alchemist Exams'.
He opened the door, and found himself in an open room, with desks situated throughout it. A man in a military uniform sat at a larger desk, facing the doorway. He looked up at Everett and smiled.
"You here for the State Alchemy exam?" he asked.
"Yeah…" Everett nodded.
"Name?"
"Everett McCay." He mumbled.
"Here's the written exam. The physical exam will be tomorrow. You will need to be here half an hour earlier. Understood?"
"Yes…" Everett said, taking the packet and a pen from the man.
"You will start the exam in ten minutes, once everyone has arrived." The officer instructed. Everett found a desk near the front, and waited. There were two people sitting behind him, who seemed to know each other. Having nothing to do himself, he listened to their conversation.
"Did you hear that rumor about General Mustang?" the woman asked her friend.
"No, is there one?" the man said.
"Yeah. My brother's friend is part of Fuhrer Grumman's security detail. Apparently the General visited the Fuhrer last night. Turns out he and his wife had a kid when they still worked together."
"That can't be right. They only have a daughter." The man sighed.
"No, listen! Their kid is taking the exam today, apparently. The General wasn't happy about it, I guess."
"Was he adopted, then? How old is he supposed to be?"
"I don't know. We'll have to watch to see if anyone looks like him!" the woman laughed softly.
"It's probably just a dumb rumor, Josephine." The guy said.
Everett rolled his eyes. Some rumors were just too stupid. This one sounded completely fake. If General Mustang, a man he had never seen, had a son with his subordinate, he would've tried a lot harder to keep it a secret. Who was that stupid?
"The exam will begin in one minute!" the officer at the front of the room said, loudly. Everett cleared his mind, and began going over his study materials in his head. He was ready for this. This was it. His moment. He couldn't screw this up.
-oo0oo-
"Do you think he's alright?" Genny asked her brother. They had been out, looking for possible apartments to live in for the past two hours. They were going to meet Everett after the exam and get something to eat, so they were trying to stay near Central Command, which was proving a little difficult.
"Yeah, he studied all night last night." Sam said. "What do you think of this one?"
"It's okay. It would be better with a view." She mumbled, looking out a small window.
"Our first choice has a great view, but that damned lady won't call us back." Sam growled. "Hey,"
"What?" Genny said.
"What the deal with you coming all the way to Central to give Everett that transmutation bracelet?"
"I wanted to give it to him in person." Genny answered. "Dad said it was okay if I came down for a few days, as long as I stayed with Uncle Al and Aunt May."
"You like him, don't you?" Sam grinned, having the same stupid looking grin as his father.
"No! NO! Of course not!" Genny said loudly.
"You do too! I can tell by the way you look at him." Sam laughed.
"Sam! Stop it!" Genny put her hand on her hips, her braid leaping into the air for a moment, due to her whipping her head around. "I don't…"
"Why don't you just tell him?" Sam asked, far more serious than before.
"Stop it." Genny said. "I am going to go look at the bedrooms." She made her way into the first room, and looked around at the empty walls and floor.
Of course she liked Everett! He was one of her closest friends. She just wasn't sure if she liked him that way. He was handsome, and his warm brown eyes made her want to melt. Every time he touched her, even if it was him just rubbing up against her as he walked by, a shiver ran through her body. He was smart, kind, funny. But she felt like there was a side of him she hadn't seen yet.
"Hey, Gen, what time is it?" Sam called from the other room. She looked down at her watch, and realized it was later than she thought.
"We need to get to Central Command!" she ran out of the room. "Everett is probably done by now! Come on!"
"We don't have to run, Genny! Hey!" Sam shouted, but she was already out the door.
-oo0oo-
Roy sat at his desk. It was near the end of the day, and he was waiting anxiously for the written exam scores to be brought to him. Almost as soon as he thought the scores were taking too long, the doors burst open, and in walked the ever so sparkly Alex Louis Armstrong, who was now a Colonel, and working with Mustang in the State Alchemy program.
"Good evening, General!" Armstrong said loudly. "You must be anxiously awaiting the scores for the exams, no doubt!"
"Just hand them over, will you?" Roy's eyebrow twitched, as he held out his hand. Armstrong handed Roy the file folder with the exam scores.
"Have you heard the rumor going around about you?" Armstrong asked, suddenly very serious.
"Which rumor is it this time?" Roy asked. There had been at least three rumors that had gone around since he was promoted to General. First, that he and Riza were divorcing, or that he was resigning. They were all quite stupid.
"That you and your wife had a son while she was still your subordinate." He answered. Roy's eyes widened involuntarily. He looked up at the much larger man, unable to speak. "So it's true then."
"Yes." Roy answered, after a very long moment of silence. "Is that all Colonel?"
"Is it also true that he is taking the exam?"
"Maybe." Roy answered carefully.
"Sir, why didn't anyone know?"
"Not even the kid himself knows, Colonel. We gave him up right after he was born, for his and our protection."
"I see." Armstrong said. "Is that why Riza took that long leave of absence?"
"Yeah." Roy was starting to hate these questions.
"So, he must be around sixteen, then…"
"Colonel Armstrong, where are you trying to go with this conversation?" Roy grumbled.
"General, it must've been difficult, giving up your only son!" Armstrong's normal sparkly demeanor reappeared. "You and Riza must have been heartbroken!" The next thing Roy knew, he was being embraced by the suddenly shirtless man, and was being held almost too tight to breath. "I couldn't imagine giving away my first born! Oh the agony you must have felt!"
"Damn it! Put your shirt back on!" Roy pushed the muscled man away. "We're fine, I promise! Now get back to work!"
"Sorry, sir. Right away." He turned to the door. "I believe you will enjoy the scores, General Mustang. Good night!" Armstrong said, as he left Roy's office
"Good night." Roy said. When Armstrong closed the door behind him, Roy grabbed the folder, and opened it. Only two people had nearly perfect scores, the others clearly should have studied more. Josephine Leclerc had a 92%, while Everett, his son, had a 97%. The kid had beat Roy's score of 94%. He couldn't help but smile. Everett would have to be pretty great at the physical exam tomorrow if he wanted to become a State Alchemist, though. He would have to tell Riza about this. He found himself feeling proud that his son had done so well. It was the fatherly type proud that he had felt with Lily. It was weird feeling it with a son he had never officially known.
You and Riza must have been heartbroken! Roy suddenly couldn't help but remember the months after they gave up Everett. Riza had suffered from postpartum depression, or maybe it was just depression caused by giving up her baby, Roy had never been sure. Even Roy himself had been a little depressed. He had been handed his son, minutes after he had been born, by Winry, who had helped Riza deliver. The infant had more black hair than he had ever seen on a baby. Roy suddenly didn't want to give him up, he wanted to keep him. But he had already done so much to help Riza realize they weren't ready, and he couldn't go back on his word to the McCay's either. So, he and Riza gave their baby away, sixteen years ago. That baby was now a teenager who had no clue what life held for him. And even with all the horrific memories the boy had, he still kept moving forward, and didn't allow anything to hold him back. And for that, Roy couldn't be prouder.
-oo0oo-
The Day of the Physical Exam
"You might want to eat up, Everett. You're going to need all the strength you can get today!" Al smiled from across the table at breakfast.
"I know. But I'm too worried to eat anything." Everett said softly.
"Everett, you don't have anything to be worried about." Genny said from next to him.
"Yeah, you could kick Genny's ass any day." Sam said, chewing on a piece of egg. Genny shot him a glare.
"Sam!" May snapped. "Language please!"
"Uh oh, Sammy has to put a cen in the swear jar!" Lin giggled.
"Don't call me that!" Sam said through his teeth.
"There's a rumor going around Central about General Mustang, apparently. I've overheard several people talking about it." May mumbled. "I didn't really get what it was about…"
"They're saying that he and his wife had a kid while they still worked together." Everett answered. "And that their kid is taking the exams. It's actually kind of stupid, who would actually let that happen, right?" Everett looked around to see Al, May and Genny staring at him, Genny's mouth was open. "What?"
"That is pretty stupid!" Al laughed. "I don't know where people come up with this stuff!"
"Yeah, it does sound dumb." Genny said, looking down at her lap.
"Okay…" Everett could feel an awkwardness he didn't understand hanging in the air. "Well, I should get going. I don't want to be late." He stood, and began walking over towards the coat hanger.
"I'll come with you!" Genny stood up from the table.
"Are you sure? I'm driving there. You'll have to wait for me." Everett mumbled. He had gotten a car last week, and he hadn't been able to really use it yet.
"I can wait!" Genny nodded, grabbing her own coat.
"Alright." Everett said, watching her swing open the front door.
"Good luck, Everett!" Al said, from the conjoined dining room/living room.
"You'd better come back with that pocket watch! We're counting on you!" Sam grinned.
"Right." Everett said nervously.
Everett had left Genny in the lobby area, while he went to the same room as yesterday. He quickly spotted the rumor girl from the day before. She kept eye contact with him as he gave his name to the officer at the desk.
Everett was the eighth person to be called to the exam room. Where they would have to prove their alchemic ability in front of those in charge of the state alchemy program. He followed a very large, mustached, blonde man, who called himself Colonel Armstrong, to the room. He walked into the middle of the badly lit room, and stopped. He looked ahead of him, and saw a black haired man, whose face was hidden by a shadow due to the poor lighting, with two officers of either side of him. He made sure his cuff was still on his wrist, and nervously turned it a couple times.
-oo0oo-
He was ten feet away from his son. Roy could see every one of his features perfectly, under the spotlight. The kid was a little thin, his hair a little longer, and his eyes the same chocolate color as Riza's. It would take a complete idiot not the link them as related. He noticed Everett's nervous twitching, spinning the cuff on his wrist over and over again.
"Begin." He said firmly, his voice sounding a little angrier than he originally intended. Roy realized he was nervous himself, but for a completely different reason.
"Okay." Everett nodded once. He looked down, and pulled out a canteen that had been hanging around his shoulder. "Is it okay if I pour this onto the floor?"
"Please." Roy said.
Everett did exactly that. Once the water had been emptied onto the floor, Everett lifted his arm until it was parallel with the floor. He brought his other hand to the cuff, and the water on the floor began to form a smooth pole of ice, which reached Everett's outstretched arm. He lifted it, and tossed it into the air, a move Roy was not expecting. With a quick tap on his array, the pole splintered into sharp pieces as it fell back into his hand, which was now over his head. Roy realized that the pieces were headed straight toward him. But before he had a chance to flinch, he heard ice hitting ice. He opened his eyes to see a thin wall of frozen water in front of him, the flying pieces lying in front of it. The wall quickly turned to water again, and he found Everett standing a foot away, his hands in a puddle of his canteen water on the ground.
Roy had to admit that his skill and agility was impressive. He certainly didn't expect that much from a boy, his son or not. But, Everett did have a pretty good teacher. Everett stood, and looked at Roy. There was a nervous smile on his face, which quickly turned into a confused stare. The shadow of his hair no longer hid his face this close up, Roy quickly realized. Everett just continued staring.
"Who...Who are you?" Everett asked softly.
"He's General Roy Mustang, kid! Respect your soon to be superior!" an officer next to Roy said.
"There's no need for that." Roy held up his hand, silencing the officer. "That was impressive kid; I actually didn't think you'd be any good."
"Thank you…" Everett still looked confused.
-oo0oo-
His thoughts were racing as the General spoke to him. Why did this man look so much like him, or rather, why did he look so much like this man? He was searching for something in his mind. Something that would help him figure out why he suddenly felt so uneasy.
"You look nothing like either of them…" Genny's voice rang through his head.
"I've thought the same thing. They both have brown hair and different colored eyes. So where did I get this hair from, right?" It was a conversation they had two years ago about his parents…
"Did you hear that rumor about General Mustang? Turns out he and his wife had a kid when they still worked together. Their kid is taking the exam today, apparently… We'll have to watch to see if anyone looks like him!" it was the voice of that rumor girl.
"Was he adopted, then?"
Adopted.
Adopted… Adopted? Was he their son?
No. That couldn't be right. Then he remembered the faces of Al, May and Genny when he had repeated the rumor at breakfast. They all looked shocked, almost terrified. No… His parents would've told him… But if he had been born to two military officers; they would've wanted to keep it a secret, because it was against military law… So, they probably wouldn't have told him… No. No…
"Hey, kid, are you alright?" Mustang's voice said, but it was like Everett was lost in his mind. That voice… Why did it sound comforting, familiar even? He had never met General Mustang in his life…
"Who are you?" Everett asked, his voice far away, even to himself. He began to feel light headed, and unsteady. Like he could topple over at any second. He felt his knees buckle.
"Hey!" someone shouted. Voices became muffled, and his sight became blurry. Then everything faded.
-oo0oo-
Everett woke to find himself in a hospital bed, in the military hospital. It hadn't been a dream; the nauseated feeling in his stomach told him that. He looked over, and saw Genny and another blonde woman sitting in the corner, talking softly. Everett sat up slowly, making the bed creak a little. Genny looked over.
"Everett!" she said, getting up and walking over to his bed side. "You're awake." The other blonde woman got up slowly, but didn't come over. "Everett, this is…"
"I know who you are." Everett said coldly. "You're my mother, aren't you?" He had seen her face while he had been dreaming, after he fainted. She was younger in his dream, but it was undoubtedly her. The woman's face froze.
"I am." She said, her voice was strong, but her body language showed sadness.
"I have one question for you, and then I want you to leave." Everett's eyes became as cold as his tone.
"Everett!" Genny gasped, but she went ignored.
"Ask it, then." Riza said, walking over to him.
"Why?" he said, pausing. "Why give me up, only to start a happy little family a few years later? I thought I was alone. I lived most of my life with an alcoholic, irresponsible woman. Why not tell me then? Why let me suffer like that? Why?"
"We had no idea things were turn out that way…" Riza answered, her mouth stayed stoic, but her eyes were full of tears.
"Get out!" Everett barked, causing both Riza and Genny to flinch. Riza nodded once, and left the room.
"Everett…"
"I meant both of you." Everett growled.
"What?" Genny was a little shocked.
"You knew, right? I could tell by that look on your face earlier. How long?"
"How long what?"
"How long did you know?"
"Everett you're scaring me…"
"How long, Genny?"
"I—I found out right after your aunt died…" she could see a fire burning in Everett's eyes. "My parents told me I couldn't tell you! I wanted to! I swear!"
"That doesn't help me now. Does it?" Everett's glare was something she had never seen before.
"Who are you!" Genny shouted. She threw a large envelope at him, and ran out of the room. He managed to catch it. It made a metallic sound, and a silver pocket watch fell out of the unsealed side. He was angry, but the paper inside the envelope made him curious. He had obviously made it into the program. He didn't feel pride or excitement like he had planned. He was just angry. His anger over the current situation overruled that of finally becoming a State Alchemist.
By the order of Fuhrer Grumman, Everett McCay has been given the title of "Polar Alchemist", and is now a certified State Alchemist.
He finally understood why teacher called his specializing in water alchemy ironic. His new title was just as ironic, he thought to himself. It had two meanings in his case. And now that he understood it, he wished he could go back to being ignorant.
His entire life had just been pulled out from under him, and Genny expected him to be okay? He couldn't stop feeling betrayed, lied to, and stupid. How did he not figure it out sooner? He looked nothing like his 'parents', Alice and Ben. He always thought it was a fluke of genetics. He laughed softly at his own stupidity. He was outraged, but at the same time, he felt like a part of him he didn't know had been missing was suddenly there. He knew in his heart that he shouldn't have been so cold to his mother and Genny, but all he wanted to do was be alone. Shouting at them seemed like the quickest, but least efficient way to do it. This was all way too much for him to handle in one day.
-oo0oo-
Roy was on his way to Everett's hospital room when he saw Riza running towards him. Before he could say anything, she had her arms wrapped around his neck, and was crying uncontrollably. He embraced her tightly, having no idea why she was crying.
"He hates me…" she sobbed. "He asked me why we abandoned him! I didn't want to! I didn't!"
"Shh. I know that. Riza… He just needs time to figure it out... I'm sure he'll…" Roy spoke in a whisper, trying to calm her down.
"No… His eyes, they were so… cold. He told me to leave… He hates us. We did that to him! It's our fault he was orphaned!"
"Hey, that is no one's fault!" Roy said sternly. "You can't go blaming yourself for that!"
"I just want to go home, Roy." Riza whimpered into his uniform.
"Go sit in the car, Riza. I'll be right there." He instructed.
"He doesn't want to see us…" Riza said, as he left their embrace.
"He doesn't have that choice anymore." Roy said, marching toward his room.
"What are you going to do?" Riza asked, but Roy didn't answer. She slowly walked out to the car, and waited for his husband, still unable to stop crying. If anyone could handle it, it was Roy. It probably wouldn't be resolved today, but maybe someday it would be.
She had never blamed herself for Everett becoming an orphan. But when you're being yelled at by the son you've never met, one's mind was very pliable. She would have felt just as guilty if he blamed her for the death of a pet. It didn't matter when someone was that worked up. She had managed to calm down enough to realize she had been in hysterics. All she could do now was wait for Roy.
A/N: We get to find out what Roy does next chapter. I am going to try making my chapters longer, since I've had several requests to do so. As I said last chapter, ask and you shall recieve. Tell me what you thought! I need to know! Well, I don't need to, I just want to, but lets pretend I need to. ;) I've decided this isn't going to be a "They make up and live happy forever" story. I am going to bring in a new antagonist for them to fight. I got the idea from a friend. You'll get to see Ed, Al, Roy and Riza in action again (though, I don't know what Ed is going to do without Alchemy... Any suggestions?)! To prove that they're not all old farts. tehehe They will fight along side their children! (I am taking suggestions for an antagonist too, since I'm not sure if I like my idea. Tell me what you would like to see!) Hope you enjoyed the long chapter, and equally long Author's Note! My love goes out to you, my readers!