I do not own Fullmetal Alchemist.
Please Review!!
Later that evening, Roy Mustang was the only one left. Everyone else had gone home for the night. He sipped at the small glass of liquor he poured for himself. He needed to be alone for the moment. There was something that was bothering him.
Why had Fuhrer Bradley caressed him like he had? And why did his words bother him so? If only he knew the answer. He'd never felt that way in his presence before, so why was today any different? Of course, the way he had touched him was a big part of it. Why would he do something like that? A distant memory jerked at the back of his mind.
Snow was beginning to fall. A recent snow storm had overcome Central. A young boy, around the age of 10, looked into a foggy restaurant window. He gazed hungrily at the plates of food sitting in front of many people. Mashed potatoes…chicken…The boy's mouth watered with every thought and picture of food. He was tired of getting his food from dumpsters and trash. Not only was it unsanitary, but it also made him feel like a mangy dog groping in the garbage for leftovers.
"Poor, boy. Why don't you come with me, son?" a voice said came from behind. The boy turned around to find a man walking toward him. He wore a blue uniform of the military. His voice was calm and somewhat caring.
The man held out his hand to the black haired boy. "I can get you something to eat, clean, fresh clothes, and a warm bed to sleep in. How does that sound?"
The boy's stomach growled with a fierce intensity. He looked up at the stranger that loomed above him. He'd always been told, before his parents died and left him alone on the street, never to talk to strangers, so why should he even consider going with this man? Because he was practically starving to death! He was freezing cold, felt as if he was catching cold, and was malnourished. Maybe he could even help him find his parents!
Shivering, the boy took the man's gloved hand. He got into a cab with the strange man, and it drove away. The boy had never been in one of the cabs before! It was like flying! Though he was still cold, the interior of the cab was slightly warmer. He couldn't wait to sit by a fire. The boy could never stand the cold; he had no idea why.
The cab arrived at a large mansion with tall pillars in the entranceway. What a big house! The boy could not believe that he was being invited into such an elegant residence!
"Come along, son," the man said, placing his hand on the boy's shoulder and giving it a reassuring squeeze. "What would you like to eat?"
The boy stared at his bare feet. "Maybe…some mashed potatoes and chicken?"
"You got it!"
"Really!?" the boy exclaimed. He'd asked many times for food from restaurants, but they had just blown him off, not even offering a single roll.
Inside, the man's face came into clear view. He has tiny eyes, one of which was covered by a piece of cloth. His hair was dark, his mustache bushy. He had small wrinkles near his eyes, and his skin was fair.
"Who are you?" the boy asked.
"You can call me Mr. Bradley, and I will be taking care of you from now on," Mr. Bradley told the boy.
Roy Mustang sat in his chair in disbelief. The Fuhrer himself had taken him in as a child!? But why? What was his reason for doing so? And what about his parents? Where had they gone? Surely, these memories could not exist! They could not be true! He had been told that, after Roy was born, his parents had shipped him off to an orphanage in Central. They had not wanted him, so they had gotten rid of him. Roy slammed his fist hard on the table and stood up.
"Colonel Mustang?"
Roy sighed. "Come in."
Lieutenant Hawkeye came in. Seeing the man's face and glass of liquor made Riza wonder. He didn't usually stay this late, nonetheless to drink or sit in the dark. If he did stay late, it was for working overtime.
"Riza, what are you doing here this late?" Roy asked, replacing the cork in the liquor bottle.
"I should be asking you the same question."
Roy looked at Riza for a brief moment then lowered his eyes to his glass of liquor.
"Is everything alright?" She came over and was now standing beside him, putting her hand on his shoulder and squeezing it gently.
Once again, that feeling of nervousness returned in Roy's stomach. Ignoring the uncomfortable feeling, Roy looked up at Riza who had a soft smile of concern on her face. Roy brought his hand up and placed it tenderly on Riza's cheek, looking into her eyes.
"I'm fine," he told her.
Riza felt her face grow hot as his eyes continued to penetrate hers. Pulling away, Riza went to the window and gazed out into the starry night. "Let me drive you home. You've had quite a bit to drink."
"Okay," Roy replied, the uncomfortable feeling fading, once again.
Chapter 3 Coming Soon!