A Man's Soul

Summary: Roy decides to try a transmutation...

Disclaimer: I do not own Fullmetal Alchemist or any of its characters, I'm just their friend.

Written By: The Castle in the Clouds


Roy Mustang stepped out of the shower, dripping wet as he reached for a towel. When it came to showering he liked the water as hot as it could go. When the water was falling over him and he was engulfed in its warm touch he couldn't help but wonder if that's what the center of a fire felt like.

Maybe, maybe not. Did it matter?

Roy began drying off as he roughly ran the towel over his head, his hands moving in quick circular motions. The alchemic build of water began to run through his head as the damp solider compared it to the alchemic composition of fire. The hottest point on a flame was 1670 Kelvin or 1400 degrees Celsius, so if water were heated up to match the temperature it would end up as steam.

So does that mean steam is closer to fire?

Roy shook his head as he wrapped the towel around his waist. It was both a blessing and a curse to be an alchemist, to have a scientific and alchemic thought behind everything. Sure it came in handy in tight pinches, and its what enabled him to use his flame alchemy. But still, it had a profound impact on the simpler things in life, like a hot shower.

Roy gave a deep sigh as he walked over to the bathroom sink, turning on the faucet and taking up a toothbrush. As he went to brush his teeth he paused a moment as he stared into his reflection. Memories began running through his head as he sent down the brush and leaned into the sink, letting the water continue to run. It wasn't long ago that he was blind, that he couldn't see. He was helpless and useless, two words he never like to hear. It wasn't long ago when he came face to face with that... that thing. What did Edward call it?

The Truth?

Roy gave a small shiver and he stood up straight and kept his eyes focused on the mirror. Its said that a man's eyes is the window to his soul, but if a man cant even see into his own eyes to evaluate his own self... did he even have a soul?

Roy looked down at his hands as he turned them over and observed his blank palms. He was so used to having ignition gloves to preform alchemy, its what made him who he was. But Ed and Al? Their teacher Izumi? They could do it by slapping their hands together and controlling the alchemic energy, they could do it even in the rain.

Mustang gave a small smirk as he recalled how they were able to do it. Edward had once told him that it was because he saw the truth and entered the gate, seeing and learning so much knowledge that it threatened to explode his skull. He had been there too, right? He saw the truth, he gained all that knowledge but never ended up doing anything with it. He knew he was able to do the same.

"If this doesn't work I'm going to wring your neck Fullmetal..."

Roy smirked and he slapped his palms together, blue electricity and transmutation light flowing around his hands. With a smile he placed them on the mirror and transmuted it into a more elegant and featured mirror. Roy stepped back and gave a smirk, surprised at his first time results.

"Well well, maybe this will be more handy than I thought."

As Mustang stared into his new creation it suddenly cracked, his reflection now shattered.

"Damn..."

Maybe he should just stick to flame alchemy.