Take It All Away
Chapter 21: Changing Tides
By the time Roy arrived at Central, light had just begun to seep it's way into the dark sky above. The hour was still early so the office was mostly empty, save for the occasional soldier or officer attempting to cram in a few extra hours in futile hopes of a raise.
Roy managed to reach his office without event. Upon entering his regiment's wing, he found his first Lieutenant at her desk, already hard at work despite the ungodly hour. Upon his entry, she raised her eyes to meet his, doing nothing to mask her shock at seeing her superior at such an early hour. "General?" She asked hesitantly, as if unsure of what she was really seeing.
"Lieutenant." Roy responded, his voice uncharacteristically low. Riza seemed to sense his urgency and refrained from asking any questions. "I need a favor."
"Yes, General?"
"Get me any information available on the Philosopher's Stone, as well as available details on the creatures known as homunculi."
Hawkeye did nothing to hide her shock. "General…" She trailed off as she received a stern look from said commander. "I'm afraid Fullmetal would be more appropriate to ask-"
"No." Roy cut in sternly. "Fullmetal needs to know nothing of this."
Something about Roy's tone silenced any protests that might have come from the First Lieutenant. With a reluctant sigh, she nodded. "Consider it done, sir."
"Good." Roy said, dismissing his subordinate as he disappeared into his office in hopes of finding something in his personal collection. He heard the Lieutenant leave only a moment later. He then proceeded to turn his full attention to the books that lined the shelves before him. With a determined frown, he set to work.
Roy had only spent ten minutes scouring the contents of his shelves when a file on his desk caught his attention. He knew for a fact that his desk had been cleared off before he and Edward had headed home, which meant that the folder had been placed there recently. With a frown he crossed the room and leaned a hip against the edge of his desk, grabbing the folder and opening it in one smooth movement. His eyes narrowed at the contents before him.
Enclosed within the folder were orders for Fullmetal's transfer…to Drachma.
R-2-F
Eight thirty found an angry blonde storming through the halls of Central. The teen seemed oblivious to the strange looks he was receiving for his behavior and the murmers that seemed to follow his every step. He spun around the corner and found Riza sitting at her desk, her eyes unfocused as they gazed out the window. His anger subsided…a bit.
"You okay, Lieutenant?" He asked softly, wincing at how hoarse his voice still was from last night's…activities.
Riza looked up in surprise, her eyes uncharacteristically distant. "Oh…of course, Fullmetal." She offered a weak smile. "I just allowed myself to-"
"Worry?" Ed offered gently, his mouth turning upwards in a small smile. He sat gingerly on the edge of her desk, ignoring the pain that seared through his lower back. A barely perceptible wince was the only outward sign of his discomfort, and thankfully it went unnoticed by the blonde Lieutenant.
Riza smiled softly. "I just…I can't help but wonder if he's really okay. I've got this…awful feeling…" She trailed off, shaking her head firmly to dispel such bleak thoughts. "I know that Jean is an extremely capable soldier, one of the best Central has to offer, even, but…"
"But you can't help but worry." Ed supplied.
Riza nodded in response. "It's silly, really."
Ed shook his head and gingerly rose from the desk. "You're his fiance, Lieutenant. It's your job to worry about him."
Riza rewarded him with a smile. She was not oblivious to what Edward was doing, and it warmed her to know that the stubborn blonde cared enough to try and console her. "Thank you, Edward. I'm really alright, though."
Ed still had his doubts, but he seemed willing to accept the Lieutenant's response. "If you say so." Ed glanced over his shoulder at the closed door across from Riza's desk. The blonde Lieutenant seemed to read his mind.
"The General's in his office."
He flashed Riza a wolfish grin. "Thanks, Lieutenant. I think I'll go pay him a visit."
Riza shook her head as she watched the blonde disappear into the General's office. She just hoped they'd keep their voices down. With a small chuckle, she went back to work.
R-2-F
"Oi, teme-sama! What the hell are you doing here so early?" Ed demanded by way of greeting the raven haired General that sat behind his heavy oak desk. His anger flared when the man ignored his presence and continued to scan the book that lay on the desk before him. "Oi! I'm talking to you-!"
"So I've noticed." Roy interrupted evenly, his eyes remaining on the pages of the book.
"Then don't ignore me, bastard!" Ed huffed, marching towards the desk and slamming his hands on it's oak surface. "You know I wanted to talk to you about going-"
"I am aware."
"Stop interrupting me! I want-"
"I fail to see why you continue to pester me on this matter." Roy cut in once again, his eyes never lifting from the pages. "We both know that regardless of what I say or do, you plan on leaving to investigate Lior."
Ed's tirade stopped short. "W-what?" He stammered, unable to believe Roy was being so accepting of his decision.
"If you are so intent on going, then I have no choice in the matter. If you were to go against my orders, it would make me appear to be incompetent as the General of the State. Ergo," He paused, rising from his chair and raising his eyes to meet Ed's. "You are to go to Lior…as a civilian."
Ed's brow furrowed in confusion. "As a civilian? Why-"
"As of this moment, I am relieving you of your duties as a State Alchemist." Roy's usually deep, warm voice was now as cold as ice. "You will be able to follow whatever whim strikes your fancy, without tarnishing the name of the State in the process. It's beneficial to all parties involved, and frankly, I grow tired of cleaning up your messes."
"My messes?" Ed croaked, unable to hide his hurt.
"Did I stutter?" Roy inquired icily, arching a single eyebrow. He held out his hand expectantly, his eyes never straying from Edward's. "Now, if you'd please…"
Ed stared at the extended hand, and then into the eyes of the man before him. Tears began to gather in his eyes as he searched desperately for some hint of jest, some sign that Roy was just messing with his mind. He found none. "Roy-"
"I am a busy man, Elric."
Ed's breath caught in his throat at the harsh formality in which the General referred to him. Even Fullmetal was preferable to the cold, impersonal sound of his surname on the General's lips. The same lips, that only last night had…
An angry sob was barely choked back as Ed reached inside his jacket pocket and slammed the heavy metal of the pocket watch on the oak desk instead of the outstretched hand. Ed couldn't bare the thought of so much as touching the man whom he had been foolish enough to trust.
Roy flinched ever so slightly as the pocket watch was slammed onto the desk, the sound echoing in the suddenly too quiet room. He met Ed's accusing eyes unflinchingly and raised his chin. "I believe you know the way out."
Ed gave a short, disbelieving sound which resembled something between a snort and a sob before spinning on his heel and storming out of the room, the door closing behind him with such force that it bounced back on it's hinges with a resounding slam.
Roy sank back into his chair wearily, rubbing the bridge of his nose wearily as he fought to keep his emotions in check. He was certain that the look in Ed's eyes would haunt him for many nights to come. Despite his inner turmoil, Roy's resolve held firm.
He carefully slid a folder from beneath the open book in front of him, his eyes narrowing as the accursed orders were before him once again. He knew there would be hell to pay for his actions, but Roy was prepared to accept the consequences that would inevitably befall him. At least now Roy could be certain the Elric brothers were far from Bradley's reach.
Roy held the folder over a lit candle, watching the flame slowly creep up the paper, leaving only the charred remains of the paper in it's wake. He knew without a doubt that there would be no turning back now.
R-2-F
Alphonse looked up in surprise as the front door was threw open, revealing the disheveled form of his older brother. His eyes widen and he bolted to his feet. "Brother? What's wrong?" He demanded, crossing the foyer to stop in front of his brother. The look that Ed's eyes held made Alphonse take a step back. "Brother…?"
"Get your stuff, Al." Ed whispered, his voice dangerously close to cracking.
"Brother, what's going on?"
"Just get your stuff, Al!" Ed snapped, his voice breaking painfully.
Al chose not to press any further and merely complied. He would find out what was wrong with his older brother later.
R-2-F
It did not come as a surprise to Roy when Riza tentatively entered his office later that day wearing a severe expression. Before she could even open her mouth, Roy nodded his consent. No words were exchanged between the pair as Riza nodded in return, hesitating only a moment before opening the door to allow three people inside.
No pleasantries were exchanged. Bradley, accompanied by two soldiers, entered the room, his expression fierce. "Where is the boy?" He demanded angrily, his one visible eye flashing dangerously.
Roy rose from his seat, his chin raised ever so slightly in defiance. "I'm sure I have no idea to whom you're referring to, Fuhrer."
Bradley walked across the room and angrily swept an arm across Roy's desk, scattering papers and books haphazardly to the floor. "Do not play games with me, Mustang!"
Roy arched an eyebrow elegantly, choosing to ignore the pleading look he was receiving from his First Lieutenant. "Might I ask what game it is we are playing?"
"Do not mock me, General!" Bradley raved, bringing his face dangerously close to that of the General's. "Where have you sent Fullmetal? Where have you hid him!"
It was rare to see the usually aloof Fuhrer so out of sorts, and Roy found a smirk coming to him naturally. "Where indeed?" Roy chuckled grimly. "Fullmetal is no longer under my command…or any other, for that matter. As of today, Edward Elric has been relieved of his title as a State Alchemist."
Roy felt the Fuhrer's fist connect with his jaw before he even saw the man move. He did nothing to dodge Bradley when the man kneed him in the stomach, causing the renown Flame Alchemist to double over as the air was forced from his lungs. From the corner of his eye, Roy saw Riza move to help him, but stopped her before she could take a step. "Stay out of this, Hawkeye!" He rasped out, his breath still uneven from the previous blow to his stomach.
"But.."
"That's an order!"
Bradley seemed amused by the First Lieutenant's predicament, but turned his attention back to the man doubled over before him. Without a second thought, he kicked the man in the side, causing Roy to lose his balance and fall heavily to his knees. Bradley smirked in satisfaction upon seeing the famed soldier on his knees before him. "Arrest him." He ordered, his eyes never leaving the General's beaten form.
The two soldiers, whom had remained unmoving in the background until now, moved forward and gripped both of Roy's arms, lifting him roughly to his feet. Roy winced as his bruised ribs protested the movement, but he raised his eyes to meet Bradley's visible eye unflinchingly. He managed a decent smirk…before everything went black.
R-2-F
Author's Note: Wow, this chapter went totally different than I planned, but I like this version better than what I'd originally planned! Thanks to all of my reviewers, we've nearly reached 300 reviews on this story! How crazy is that? Things will be coming to an end pretty soon, so things are going to start moving pretty fast here.
Until next time!
R2F