Disclaimer: I don't own FMA. I do own an Ed figurine. And it is good.

Chapter 3

Roy was staring out the window. His entire team, even Hawkeye, had left. All there was to do now was work. And he hated doing his work. Even if it was only signing papers. A lot of them.

He smiled. His sister was home, and he—well, he was doing alright. So was a certain shrimp and his sibling. Roy's first intention for the two boys had been to watch them, and worry over them. He'd gotten both Elrics into the mess, and he intended to get them out. But as Ed had gotten older, he no longer wanted to be their keeper, guardian, or general authority figure. Quite the contrary. Roy had to admit to himself that he wanted Ed for his own. But unless Fullmetal made an initiating movement, he'd be satisfied with Ed's happiness.

A click. The opening of his door intruded his thoughts.

"Brigadier General?"

"Come on in, Edward." Roy spun around in his chair so that he could look at the blonde. They'd come to a bit of an agreement. First names in private. It kept them calm enough by themselves, but it was awkward when others were around

He watched Ed plop himself onto the couch and prop his head on the armrest so that he could watch Mustang. "Roy, I have a few questions."

The Flame Alchemist opted for a smirk. "I thought you might. Go on."

Ed nodded. "Roy, your sister… Why is she called the Night Alchemist?"

"She's tricky. Uses a lot of scare tactics in battle."

"That's it?"

"Not entirely." Roy propped his hands on the desk. "I just can't tell you the rest."

"But why not?" Ed's voice turned frantic, and he sat up. "Roy, I need to know!"

"Why? Because you plan on fighting her?"

"I—" he hesitated.

"So you were," the older alchemist accused. "And why should I tell you how to defeat my sister?"

"Because," Edward explained desperately. "She doesn't take me seriously."

Mustang sighed. "Edward Elric, my sister does take you seriously."

"No she doesn't! Didn't you hear the way she spoke to me?"

"Adrian spoke to you in a civil manner after you lost your temper."

"She was treating me like a kid!"

"Did it occur to you," Roy began softly. "That she treated you like a child, because you acted like one?"

Ed fell silent, gold eyes staring in shock at his superior. "What makes you say that?"

"You got angry over a situation you cannot control." Mustang did not speak again until Ed made eye contact once more. "Look, Edward, I know you want to protect Al. Because he looks up to you, and you want to do everything in your power to protect him from the world. But you can't. He's seventeen now. And you can't always protect him… You know this, yet it still hurts."

Ed blinked. "How… How did you know that?" Roy had just put his feelings of the last few months into words.

The black haired man swallowed, looking at the alchemy circle on the back of his gloves. "Because that's exactly how I started feeling when Adrian became a state alchemist."

The Fullmetal Alchemist looked closely at Roy for any signs of a lie. But what would possess someone to lie about something like that? "Then I guess," he finally suggested. "That you and I are more alike than I've realized."

"You know Ed," Mustang said off-handedly, signing one of the papers in front of him. "You should really learn to keep that temper in control. It doesn't suit your small stature."

Ed knew a challenge when he heard one. "I'll keep that in mind."

Roy's eyes narrowed, though they crinkled at the edges, revealing his true opinion. "Good. Now, you wanted to know about Adrian's alchemy?"

The blonde boy groaned. "I tried looking her up in the state alchemy records. All that was listed was her name and code name."

"There's a reason she was on a high profile covert mission in Ishbal. Now I wonder why they would send only one alchemist on a five-man team."

He blinked at Roy. And an idea hit him. Ed jumped off the couch, running behind the desk to give his commanding officer a hug.

Roy blushed furiously under Edward's tight grip. "I can't breathe," he choked. Under other circumstances he may have enjoyed the embrace. Yet he couldn't help but wonder if Ed was trying to choke him.

"Sorry," Ed uttered in a placated tone. He backed up, then headed over to the door with a wave over his shoulders. "Thanks Roy." He didn't look back. Couldn't let the colonel-bastard see his blush.

Mustang waited to hear the door click closed again. Had Edward really understood his clue? Or had the prodigy simply made assumptions?

X—X—X

Ed looked up from his book, and his lunch to realize Hughes was jabbering away to him about Elysia's latest antics.

"… and so I said, 'Elysia, darling. What do you want to eat?' And do you know what she told me?" He didn't even bother to wait for the reply. It would never come. "She said 'Daddy, I want to go to the dinner-store'! Isn't that just adorable?"

Ed stared at the gushing father.

"She meant a restaurant Ed. God, don't give me that look."

"He took another forkful of potatoes into his mouth, turning back to 'Strange Alchemy'. He vaguely noticed a tray being put next to Hughes', and a flicker of a glance upwards told him it was Adrian. This time she wore the military uniform (pants—no skirt), but she was lacking one thing. Her odd gloves.

"Hey Maes," she said brightly before taking a forkful of food. "Look, Fullmetal, I'm sorry about what I said. It was kind of harsh."

Ed carefully marked his page, and put the book on the table. One hand clutched at it as though she would steal it if he let go. "No… It was my fault. I lashed out at you, I shouldn't have done that."

Hughes almost spit out the coffee he'd just taken a sip of. "Did you just apologize to her?"

The woman blinked. "Is it an uncommon occurance?"

"Pshyeah."

The smallest alchemist glowered. "She up, Major."

Dad-of-the-century put his hands up in defeat. "Alright Ed. But you know I'm not a major anymore."

"Whatever."

Adrian took that moment to cut in. "What'cha readin'?"

"Eh," Ed murmured, distracted from his banter. "Oh. It's Strange Alchemy. I'm going to figure out your secret."

"It's not in there."

"I know I—what?" Edward blinked.

Roy's younger sister grinned. "You won't find my alchemy talent in there, Ed. Actually, it's not really that hard. If you really want to know, you should stick to the basics."

"We'll see," he said, quirking one eyebrow.

She took another forkful of food. "I do wish you luck, though. And that reminds me. I was recently contacted about my alchemy inspection." She seemed to have gained the full attention of both Hughes and Edward. "I asked if they'd given the Fullmetal Alchemist his yet. When I was given a negative, I requested you as an opponent for the battle. Just as I had originally planned. You, not your brother." She grinned at him. "I suspect you'll be speak to someone about the matter soon."

Edward leaned forward. "Is that an official challenge?"

"Why yes," she replied indifferently. "Yes, I do believe that it is." The younger Mustang's brown eyes met Ed's golden ones. "Are you up for it?" She grinned even wider.

'Freaking Cheshire cat,' he noted, but grinned back all the same. "Adrian Mustang, you've got yourself some competition.

"Good. I want to have a good fight some time soon."

X—X—X

Hawkeye stood behind Mustang. "Sir, only a few more papers. Then you can go home."

He groaned. "My hands hurt." Nevertheless, he kept signing.

"Sir," Hawkeye asked tentatively. "Are you and Edward fighting?"

Roy smiled. "Ed knows where to draw the line. We came to an understanding."

She nodded. "He seems tense enough. I don't think he could handle arguing with you on top of everything else."

"I beg to differ, Hawkeye. Edward is quite capable."

"I know that sir."

Mustang replaced his pen, and straightened his papers. "I'll be leaving now," he told her, standing.

"Alright. Good night sir."

"Good night Hawkeye."

MCR rocks my socks.