Chapter 6
Leg Day
Break
"So what's your next class Elrics?" Havoc asked merrily.
"I've got Cultures," Al responded .
"An' I got P.E." Ed answered.
"Hm, same here." Mustang had joined them at the table in the courtyard, the place the group met during breaks.
"Looks like you've got class with me and the Colonel, kid." Havoc smile widely with closed lips.
Ed perked up,"I heard you call Hawkeye 'lieutenant,' too. What's up with that?" Ed aimed the question obviously at Havoc.
"Oh, the nicknames? They're just based off an old game we used to play. They just kinda stuck." Havoc shrugged.
"Oh, brother," Ed's attention focused on Al,"watch out for the P.E. teacher, Mr. Armstrong, he puts new guys up against the best kids in the class to see their physical level. Something about 'the art of evaluating the physical prowess of the young' or something." At that, Havoc cringed ever so slightly. Al started again,"I had to go against Riza at one point. That... was an experience..."
"I creamed you." Hawkeye subtly smirked with her eyes closed as she took a seat.
"Hey, I'm rusty okay!" Alphonse defended.
Ed chuckled at the exchange.
"So that means you're going up against me and... Envy right? For speed and strength?" Havoc directed the later half of the question to Mustang.
"Right." Mustang said with certainty.
"Who's Envy? And what kind of name is that, anyway?" Ed, at first curious, ended his question with confusion.
"Nickname, chief; nickname..." Havoc leaned forward to cradle his head in hand.
"Envy is a member of the Homunculi, a gang inside the school," Hawkeye's voice was tainted with disdain.
"They're a bunch of jerks," Winry wrung the end of her shirt while she frowned.
"They don't do much, unless you catch their attention. They keep a low profile if you keep one, too," Mustang warned. "Envy, however, is quite malicious even when he's not trying to be. He'll get bored quickly if you ignore him though."
"Al'right I'll try not to stick my neck out too much," Ed assured. Geez, if these guys are keepin' out of those guys' way, it's probably better if I did too. I don't need Al worrying about me or about another stupid thing I'd do. Probably don't wanna mess with guys who name themselves after artificial humans...although weird, it's like they're saying they're practically invincible...
-BRRIING-
"Well, let's see what ya got chief." Havoc invited.
"Good luck brother," Al parted.
"Aw come on Al, have some more faith in your older brother."
"Ha ha, I do brother. All right, we should all be going to class now."
Boys Locker Room
"Armstrong's office is right there. Just a heads up, he can be a little... eccentric." Havoc warned.
"Um, okay." Edward headed towards the office.
"Excuse me, I need to see Mr. Armstrong?" Edward said as he entered the seemingly empty office.
. . .
"OH-HO-HO, WHICH OF MY YOUNG STUDENTS IS SEEKING GUIDANCE FROM THEIR MOST CARING TEACHER?"
He's...he's sparkling...
Ed, though startled, looked to see that the voice was coming from a large, very large, mustachioed man with bulging muscles. He was bald... except for the curled blond tress falling from his forehead. Ed noticed the towering teacher's strong, serious, blue eyes on himself.
"I've never seen your face before young man. How may I, ALEX LOUIS ARMSTRONG, help a youth such as yourself?"
"A-ah, I'm a new student."
"Oh heavens! What grand news! What is your name lad?"
"Ah! It's Edward Elric, sir, giant, sir... ehh..."
Armstrong folded his arms and nodded curtly. "I suppose you'll be wanting your gym-wear young Edward?"
"Yeah, actually."
"I see, judging from your stature," -Armstrong headed for a closet containing gym and sportswear-,"these should fit you just right," he said as he handed Ed his clothes.
"And here is your locker number and combination lad," Armstrong grabbed a card from a drawer in his desk and handed it to Ed.
"Thank you." Ed looked at the card while carrying in the clothes in his other arm.
"Most of the other students have entered the gymnasium. Get yourself situated and join us soon after.
"Okay thank you."
Armstrong left for the gym leaving Edward to find his locker. Once he located it, he opened it and began to change.
He removed his jacket and next his shirt, revealing a lean and well-toned figure, and quickly replacing it with the gym t-shirt. Next to be replaced were his trousers, so he removed them as well, revealing his boxers, but more interestingly his legs. His right, a flesh-and-blood one, and his left, a steel prosthetic – automail, whose port reached just above his knee.
He quickly donned the red gyms shorts, placed his regular wear in his locker, which he closed immediately after, slipped on his shoes, and headed for the gym.
Ed scurried to the gym only to be greeted by:
"EDWARD – LAD, 'TIS MOST GLORIOUS FOR YOU TO HAVE JOINED US. WE HAVE JUST FINISHED ARANGING YOUR CHALLENGERS."
"Okay..." Edward replied as he joined the group of students.
"Hey look, Elric's got a metal leg!" A random voice called it.
Ed paused and noticed all eyes fall on him and the beginnings of gossip.
Ed's face contorted in annoyance,"Yeah. What about it?"
The chattering stopped.
Edward didn't notice Mustang and Havoc's surprise and them sharing a look before Mustang trained his eyes on Ed.
"Ah, yes, Edward I was made aware by Principal Grumman that one of you Elric's was the benefactor of a prosthetic limb. Will it impede you in any way?"
"Nah, I'm good."
"Very well. Moving on to the matters at hand. It is tradition in my class to have newcomers compete with the best in their class to determine their skill level. AS IS THE TRADITION PASSED DOWN THE ARMSTRONG FAMILY FOR GENERATIONS!"
He's sparkling again... *sweat drop*
"So I've been told..."
"You shall be competing against Jean Havoc in a half-lap race on the track field, and Envy in a one-on-one, supervised spar. Let's proceed then."
Outside Track Field
Edward and Havoc took their places on the track. Armstrong and the other students waited on the other side of the field.
"That leg's not gonna slow you down is it chief?
All that metal's gotta be heavy."
"Of course it is. But wouldn't you know it, you've gotta be as strong as the metal is heavy, maybe more so. Still, haven't really used it to race anybody... it'll be a surprise for both of us." Ed smirked and shrugged one shoulder.
Havoc smirked back,"Sounds good to me."
From across the field, the two could hear Armstrong calling their marks,"...Get Set!"
The two focused themselves.
"GO!"
A quick dig into the track and a bound and they were off.
Right, Left, Right, Left.
The need for a panted breath.
They had only just begun, but so far they were neck-and-neck.
Damn. The kid's fast. We've only started and we're already halfway.
Havoc noticed Ed's face harden and his eyes widen slightly.
Ed's pace slowed only minutely.
Havoc won the race.
"GOOD SHOW LADS! YOU BOTH SHINED WITH TRUE DETERMINATION! YOU ARE AN INSPIRATION TO ALL BRIGHT YOUTHS!" Armstrong sparkled ferociously. "Fine work Jean, you've been a great help in determining Edward's speed level."
"No *pant* problem *pant*" Havoc heaved as he arched himself, placing his hands on his knees.
"Edward, that was a marvelous effort. Everyone head back to the gym."
All the students began making their way to the gymnasium, but Armstrong had stopped Ed. They began their return as well, albeit, at a much slower pace.
"Edward, is there something troubling you lad?"
"Huh? No. 'M fine."
"So why then, tell me, did you lose pace even though you quite the match for young Havoc?"
"Just... lost wind is all."
"Mm...
Are you still up for your spar against Envy?"
"Yeah. I'm good enough for anything," Ed determined, a spark in his eye.
"Envy, would you step up please."
"Sure teach!" Envy grinned toothily with closed eyes.
"Envy, Edward, please take your places in the designated area," Armstrong gestured to a section of the gym.
Ed and Envy placed themselves opposite of each other. Edward took a stance, but he noticed Envy casually standing with a grin.
"I'm assuming these are your beginning stances? Very well. First to the ground is defeated. Begin!"
"Oh, come on Armstrong. How do you expect me to fight against this pipsqueak, and actually take it seriously? I don't wanna hurt the kid ya know."
"WHO'RE YOU CALLING SO SMALL HE NEED NOT FEAR BEING STEP ON BY A BOOT FOR HE'D FIT BETWEEN THE GROOVES OF THE SOLE!"
"BAHAHAHAHA! Looks like shorty's got a complex –"
(And that was the day Envy died.)
(Nah, I'm totally kidding.)
Edward socked Envy majorly in the jaw with a right hook,"THAT'LL TEACH YOU TO CALL PEOPLE SMALL YOU WALKING PALM TREE!"
Envy stumbled backward and rubbed his soon-to-be bruised jaw.
"*sneering* I'll get you for that, you little runt."
Envy rushed Edward, throwing a left punch. Ed caught it and threw his own left fist, which Envy reciprocally caught. Ed jumped up and kick off of Envy, subsequently back flipping and kicking up Envy's jaw. Ed landed less than a meter from wherethe initial kick off was while Envy stumbled backward. Edward landed in a cushioning crouch; a loud pop was heard. What? Not now! Ed grabbed his left knee and made a split-second decision – he gunned for a recovering, pushed-off Envy. Edward swept Envy's legs and the older boy was down.
"Daaamn, Kid's got some moves, eh Colonel?" Havoc watched the whole thing in open-mouthed-smiling awe.
"Yeah... Who know he could move like that?" Surprised and impressed, Mustang eyed Ed in scrutiny.
"Well done Edward. Sorry for the loss of your status Envy.
Come now everyone. I feel we have all earned a good day of soccer!"
"All right!" "Yes!" *other assorted words of exclamatory happiness* "woo"
Edward, with a soft open mouthed smile, then, tap-kicking the floor with his left leg deeming it safe for use, was about to join the others, but then felt a tug – a yank – on his hair. His eyes hardened then widened. He was flying backwards. A knock to the head, flipping to his feet, slamming on his back with a fwapping thud, skidding slightly.
"GAH-HA," Ed winded out when his back hit the ground.
"Oh no." Mustang uttered.
"Ed!" Havoc ran to Edward's side. Havoc's eyes hardened; his mind raced.
"Envy! To the Principal's office! I'll deal with you when I arrive there."
"Yeah, fine, sure, whatever," Envy sauntered without a care out of the gym.
Armstrong came to Ed's side – opposite of Havoc – and picked him up. Ed's limp head dipped into the crook of Armstrong's right arm.
"I shall take Edward to the infirmary. Until I return – Laps – every one of you."
There was groans of protest, but Armstrong would have none of it.
"That was..." Havoc whispered.
"It was Envy. And a show of his encompassed brutality," Mustang finished.
"Al."
It was lunch and Alphonse was coming out of his cultures class only to find Havoc waiting for him.
"Havoc? What's up?" But Alphonse noticed his serious face. "What's wrong?"
"Al – well... just... just come with me." Havoc started leading, Alphonse followed.
They quickly arrived at the infirmary and Al shot Havoc an inquisitive look. Havoc turned around to face Al.
"Okay, Al. Don't freak out. Ed got a little roughed up in his spar. He's been in here since the middle of fifth period."
Al looked speechless, but – "Okay. I won't freak out, but... I'm going to check on Ed now."
"All... right..." Havoc replied as Alphonse calmly walked into the infirmary.
Al came up to the nurse and questioned about his brother.
"Oh yes. I checked on him earlier, when he was brought in. I called your father. I was just about to check on him again. Please follow me."
"What happened to him?"
"Well, from what Mr. Armstrong told me," she pulled back the curtain shielding Edward, who was sleeping peacefully in the infirmary bed,"He received a head injury and has some bruising on his back, but it all seems pretty minor. Your brother's tough; most kids would have a concussion from the way his teacher told me he sustained the injury."
"Yeah.. brother's always been kind of a hard head...
So... he'll be okay?"
"Oh yes. He just needs some rest."
"Oh good." Al breathed a sigh of relief,"He had me worried."
The nurse returned to her desk and Al took a seat near his brother. A minute or two later, he heard the door open and a feminine voice ask for Ed. He turned slightly to see Winry. She was about to greet Al, but stopped short to stare past him. He followed her line of sight.
Ed was awake, with a grimace on his face.