I started this a bit later than usual because the update didn't appear in everyone's inbox. I was naughty and gave myself some days off when I should have been writing. Sorry!
"That might be true, but whoever's doing this could be the first to succeed"
Jean looked on silently. Talk of alchemy meant nothing to him. He couldn't understand why Roy had insisted on making him tag along anyway. This was the awkward time when he would usually be smoking, toying with a cigarette between his fingers while the alchemists talked. He tried to focus on the conversation at hand, ignoring the throbbing sensation in his head.
"Edward, where did you find this book?"
"The library" the teen replied, as if the answer was painfully obvious.
"Don't lie to me FullMetal! Why do you always insist in never telling me first?! Anything could've happened to you!"
"I-"
"I thought you knew better than to go looking for help from the like of him, If I would've known, I-"
"Never have let me go. That's why I didn't tell you first! Does it matter? I came back in one piece and we have a lead, so quit being pissy!"
Havoc looked back and forth between the quarrelling alchemists, his already present headache beginning to grow stronger. He coughed, effectively silencing them both.
"Can you save this for tomorrow? I'd like to get this over with..." he yawned, rubbing his temples tiredly.
"Now" the blonde glared to his superior, "As I was saying... Human Modification. A process that enables a person to modify themselves or another living being at will" Roy followed the passage the teen was reciting from the text book, impressed that a tired Ed had managed to memorise several passages. "However, extreme changes to the genetic material is said to prevent the person from being maximised to full potential, resulting in rejection. There have been no successful recording of- blah blah blah" Ed yawned, closing his eyes and leaning back in the chair, grimacing at the click in his shoulder blades.
"Whether we go after this person or not is debateable. If we leave them be they'll eventually die anyway"
"It's not worth the risk. In the next few days we will launch a thorough investigation" the Colonel stood, signalling for Havoc to do the same. He paused in the doorway and spoke, without looking back at the blonde who was beginning to look relieved at his departure.
"Oh, and FullMetal? My office at 7:00 Am prompt. I believe we need a discussion about a certain book of yours" he smiled, hearing a growl coming from the figure on the couch. "I'll show myself out shall I?"
The irritating ringing grated through his ear drums. Wincing, he held the receiver to his ear groggily.
"Hello?"
"Hey Al, it's not too late is it?"
"It's never too late in the evening to hear from you brother" the younger Elric smiled, raking a hand through his tousled hair. "Something on your mind? It's unusual for you to call this late"
"No, I- I just wanted someone to talk to" Ed replied honestly, leaning back against the headboard of the bed, gazing out of the open window to the velvet midnight sky.
"You mean you wanted someone to talk to about the Colonel?" Al grinned, hearing his brother huff childishly in response.
"Don't get me started on that bastard, or I'll be on line all night"
"I see your fitting in nicely" Al laughed, "Some things never change"
"And never will either. If I ever start to get along with that man, shoot me."
"Brother!"
"Or him, I'm not fussy."
"Don't say things like that, not when I can't keep an eye on you"
Edward sighed, dousing his pallet with a mouthful f whiskey, grimacing at the burning sensation in his throat. It was a vile drink admittedly, but it was enough to stop him from drifting off to sleep... for now.
"He never changes!" the blonde slammed the glass onto the bedside table a little louder than he intended to, producing a clinking noise as the glass collided with the polished wood. "I've tried to get along with him, but its crystal clear he has no intentions of making it easy for me" Ed brushed the loose strands of honey hair from his face, tucking it behind his ear with a metal hand. He growled, "He always manages to piss me off, even when he's not here!" the blonde rubbed his temples tiredly, certain he was going to be in a wonderful mood in the morning.
"Have you told the Colonel this?"
"Of course not!" Ed exclaimed, making Al wince and pull the receiver away from his ear. "People think I'm a soft kid as it is, I don't fancy ruining my reputation any further, if that's even possible"
For the next few minutes, the Elric's had a long discussion about the book from Tuckers library. Ed was trying his best to keep up with the escalating conversation, struggling to summon the complex words and phrases from his tired mind. In all truth, he didn't need Al's help at all. He needed someone to talk to. Someone who didn't work at the office. Ed being Ed, he couldn't simply call his brother and have a relatively normal conversation. He always managed to find some sort of excuse, positive the younger Elric had picked up on this by now, but chose not to say anything.
Edward had been eager to speak to Al for a while now. He was back with the adults, the black sheep of the flock. Being the youngest wasn't easy, and it was hard to make people take him seriously. Most of the team were old enough to be his parents, accept Havoc, who fit in just as well as he did. They were like school children, always finding Roy's response to their antics more and more amusing by the hour. Ed knew as much as the man refused to admit, Roy was defiantly the father figure. Ed assumed so anyway. He wasn't exactly an expert in that category. The blonde hadn't really gotten to know his father as well as he'd hoped. Just as they had started to get along, the teen had been summoned to the battle field. He smiled sadly. Luck never seemed to be on his side...
"Sounds like your having a whale of a time" Al laughed when his brother had finally finished slating his most recent mission, and his superior.
"Don't laugh at my misfortune" Ed grumbled, "Or I'll transmute you in a blimp"
"A what?"
"Never mind..." he yawned, raking a hand lazily through his hair. "I better go, Mustang will kill me if I fall asleep at work" he sighed, "I miss the old days. No office, no paperwork, and no bastard..."
"Despite the fact you've been slating him for almost two hours, I think I'll assume you actually like the man" the young Elric grinned, ignoring the growl coming from the receiver.
"Tell Win and the old lady I said hi" Ed smiled, "Night Al" the blonde lazily slammed down the phone, leaving his arm hanging off the edge of the mattress, skimming the floor. His peered through half lidded eyes, the crimson numbers on the clock flickered and danced before his pupils. He squinted. 1:30 Am. Either the alcohol was keeping him more awake than usual, or the teen's body clock had been permanently damaged after so many nights of late reading. He had the Colonel to blame for that.
Judging by the progression of his latest assignment, it would be several weeks before things calmed down again. Ed wondered if he'd ever grow used to a peaceful lifestyle. Sure it was nice to sit in a warm office once in a while, but the blonde had grown accustomed to freedom, living life without being held back on a leash. Before he knew it, Edward was peacefully slipping into a deep slumber, from which not even a war could wake him.
"Looking good FullMetal" the raven haired man smirked from behind the comfort of his broad desk, "Tell me, how long did it take to peel yourself from the mattress this morning?"
There was an effortless growl from the doorway, a scruffy looking teenager dragged his boots across the floor, and they felt heavier than usual. The team winced at the very sight of him. The blonde's hair hung limply in his face, a piercing glare emitted from a pair of dark, half lidded eyes. His clothing however, was impeccable as always. No matter how exhausted Ed was, he always made sure he was dressed in a decent shirt and coat. He never envied not wearing traditional military uniform. The navy burned his eyes.
Ed collapsed into the familiar leather couch he was rather fond of, clamping his eyes shut to block out the artificial light blazing down from the ceiling.
"Do you have your report?"
"Does it look like it?" the teen muttered tiredly, furrowing his brows in frustration. Damn light...
"Sir?" Risa looked up from her papers, "May I suggest we let Major Elric-"
"Rest? I don't see why I should allow him the privilege. I'm not responsible for what hour FullMetal chooses to sleep lieutenant Hawkeye. If he can't choose a suitable hour to rest, I suggest we let him learn the hard way"
"Bastard..."
"Welcome to the real world Edward. If everyone stopped for a rest the world would come to a standstill"
"Well..." Jean called from the hallway, "Don't say we didn't warn you. Can't blame the kid if he doesn't-"
"Don't you have work to be doing? Both of you?" Roy interrupted, knowing full well Risa was right. He didn't like being wrong, and everyone had certainly noticed. He certainly wasn't going to accept the fact with open arms.
The Colonel shifted his gaze from the dull pile of paperwork to the zoned out teen sprawled across the couch, chest rising and falling peacefully. Memories of the previous night began to set in. It had been Roy that interrupted the teen after all. Seeing the young man in such a state bought a pang of guilt to his heart. Perhaps he could allow Ed to-
"Colonel Mustang Sir!"
Perhaps not. Breda saluted quickly as he ground to a haul, making Ed shift grumpily at the sudden change in noise level. "Pardon the interruption Sir, but your presence is requested on the east wing on central. The Fuhrer would like yourself and the team to investigate the breech in security. The criminal could still be in the grounds Sir." Breda began to catch his breath, nursing a stitch in his side.
Sighing, Roy rose from his seat, pulling on his trademark white gloves as he walked over to the couch.
"You hard the man Edward" he smirked, "We can't keep the Fuhrer waiting. That wouldn't be very professional now, would it?" the blondes golden eyes snapped open instantly, anger radiating from his pupils.
"I'll show you professional" he grit his teeth tightly, knuckles turning white beneath his gloves. For the first time in a while, Roy Mustang felt genuinely sorry for anyone who managed to piss of the blonde today, he truly did. He sure wasn't going to make the same mistake....
Things are finally going to start kicking off, thanks for reading this far :)