Chapter 8

A/N: Now that the exams part is finished the real juicy parts are going to start flowing in. And as of right now I'm gonna start having direct points of view. The other way kept confusing me a little and I'm not really use to writing in the third person. I'm pitiful.

And also… MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY KWANZA, HAPPY HANUKAH, AND whatever other holidays you guys may celebrate.

-X-

Rin's P.O.V.

It's been almost a week since my private exam in Central and now I was working my first day in East City Headquarters. The day after my exam when we were leaving Mustang had informed me that I would be transferred here. I was actually hoping to be sent back to the H.Q. in South City near home or maybe even in Central. Well at least it's not in the North. Truthfully I didn't complain about it. I was under the command of Roy now but with the way things are going I'm starting to get along with him. And I've spent some time with Riza, Jean, and the others I just met: Breda, Falman, and Fuery. They all have been so nice to me… Well, unless you minus one thing.

"Tarin can you have this paperwork looked at please?"

"Sure, just put it on my desk."

"Tarin, where's that form I asked for?"

"It's on the other end of my desk."

Working status: I'm working like a stinking dog, no military pun included. I understand that this is a place where you have to do a lot of work and all; I've done it before. But this is just ridiculous. Since five minutes after I got myself organized, bam, three stacks of paperwork in an instant. If things continue like this I don't know what.

"Silvers." And there was the head of the slave trade now, Colonel Roy Mustang. "Would you mind going to coffee room and get me some coffee?"

I grind my teeth together. He has asked me for something every few minutes. He's asked me and only me. Whether it been for signing something, picking up something, or a delivery. It was really testing my patience. I looked up to him and just smiled. "Sure. I don't mind getting you some coffee."

He had that oh so familiar fake smile. I knew what that smile meant, something mischievous and stupid. "Thanks. Does anyone else want coffee while she's out?" He asked the others, all that requested were Breda, Falman, and Jean. After confirming the orders I started to walk out of door until… "And Silvers, remember that I want a little extra sugar in mine."

"Right on it." I smiled and walked out of the room and straight to the coffee room. Once I got there and closed the door, I let it all out. "Ahh~~!" I screamed, but I tried and muffled the noised by placing my hands over my mouth. "That big, stupid, idiot is driving me nuts. He's a slave-driver. Nothin' but a big nosed power house. When I get back in there Imma… Oh God what am I doing?" I sighed. I tried putting away all my anger and made the coffee.

'I am just fed up with Roy, is all. He's been giving stuff to do nonstop all morning. The others didn't have as much work as I did; might've been the way they treat the new staff around here or something. But I can't believe that though, not with Riza there at least. Maybe the others went through this too or something. Not 'cause it's a prank or anything. I just don't know what.' I sighed out of my musing and checked the coffee. I made a cup for myself first then made the others, just so they won't get cold.

After making my coffee, which I made it to be an ice-coffee by the way, I sat back down and tried to calm my nervous. I tried thinking of things like what's going on back how, how Gramps and Gran were, what Taylor and Cathelynn were doing about now, or what I could do later, but I just couldn't. Every time I tried that stupid Colonel's face pops back in my head and interrupts my thoughts. 'I wished he'd just… just…' I couldn't think of anything bad at the moment. 'That was weird.'

After taking a few more sips of my coffee I noticed that the other coffee was done brewing. I poured them in cups, put in cream and sugar (and the extra for Roy), put them all on a tray and walked back to the office. Before I walked in I made sure not to do anything drastic if something got to me and went to the door.

"Oh, you're back." Mustang looked up at me when I walked in. I gave a coffee to Havoc, Breda, and Falman before going over to Mustang's desk to give him his. Placed the tray on desk and put his coffee in front of him. "What's that?"

"Your coffee…" I thought he was stupid until he pointed to the other cup. "That's my coffee, sir." I hated calling him that.

He shook his head. "I noticed that. I mean in your coffee." When he pointed it out it made way more sense.

"Oh that. I made iced-coffee." Used a couple ice cubes from the fridge, some milk, a little chocolate syrup and presto. "I thought since I was there I'd make some- Wait, hey!" He had grabbed my cup and took a sip out of it. I looked at him to see his reaction.

He looked in the cup like it was some foreign object then back at me. "You made this?" I nod. He took another big sip, one that made me irritate. "This is actually nice."

I blinked. "R-really? You like it?"

"Yeah."

"Thanks." I took my cup as he handed it back to me. 'Did… did Roy just give me a compliment? That was the first time he's ever complimented me. Besides the times with my alchemy. But still I… What? Something's coming.' I thought, feeling something weird.

"What's wrong?" Mustang asked. I forgot I was still handing at his desk and didn't answer his question. "Tarin, answer-" He was cut off by the door slamming open. We both looked over to the door. "Oh great. You."

"Mustang you bastard!" Some kid and a tall guy in a suit of armor were in the door way. The short blonde one looked fuming mad as he walked- that's an understatement- he stomped over to the front of Roy's desk and slammed his hands on the desk. "Why'd the hell did you send us to a place like that. If we go to a desert one more time I'll-"

"Calm down Fullmetal." Roy put his hand up. "You learned something when you were there at least?"

"That doesn't make a damned bit of difference. You know we hate it when you…" I didn't notice at first, but he had stopped in the middle of his sentence and was staring at me. As I stared back at him I noticed even more of the height difference between us. But what he said caught me so off guard. "And you're here flirting with another one of your little bimbo girlfriends."

Just about the entire room with quiet. I could feel Havoc, Breda, Falman, Fuery, Hawkeye, and the big armored guy's eyes on us. Roy had been previously taking a drink out of his cup and was now choking on it. I had my eyes opened wide like a deer caught in a headlight.

Roy then cleared his throat to speak. "Ed, it is nothing like that. Tarin is not-"

"You… idiot!" I had picked up the kid by the front of his jacket and was shaking him. "Don't you dare call me that. I'm not his girlfriend. And I'm hells not a bimbo either. Ya got that ya little brat!"

"WHO-ARE-CALLING-SO-LITTLE-HE-CAN-LIVE-IN-YOUR-SHOE? You old hag!"

"WHO ARE YOU CALLING OLD? With my looks I could be your sister dammit! Hell, I could be my little sister's twin."

"Would you two quit it?" Roy said, and we stopped yelling at one another. After I put that little twerp down Roy came from around his desk to where we were. "Tarin, this is Edward Elric. He's the Fullmetal Alchemist. The guy in the armor is his younger brother, Alphonse Elric."

"He's the Fullmetal Alchemist?"

"If you say anything about me being small I'll-"

"No I wasn't. It's just…" I walked closer to him and scrunched down to his height. After a minute I patted his shoulder and smiled. "I heard that you were the youngest person to ever pass the State Alchemy exams. It's nice to finally meet ya."

He looked at me like me was shocked by what I just said. "Thanks."

"And Ed." Roy got Ed's attention. "This here is our newest recruit. This is Lieutenant Colonel Tarin Silvers. She had dropped out of the military some years ago as a Major but re-enlist recently. She's also a State Alchemist. The Sub-Terra Alchemist."

"Crystal Alchemist to be accurate." I corrected him. After talking with Bradley I saw to that my codename be changed to something more suitable. And the sudden promotion from Major to Lieutenant Colonel was a surprise to me too.

The suit of armor, who I guessed was Alphonse walked up to me and bowed. "I'm sorry about my big brothers misbehavior. He tends to do that from times."

"No, no. Don't apologize." I reassured him. "It was just a small understanding, is all. But anyway, I see that it's nice that I've finally got to meet the well-known Fullmetal Alchemist."

"Since when were you so fascinated by meeting State Alchemist?" Roy asked. I just glared at him and ignored. I then walked behind his desk and picked up the phone; decided to check up on Taylor and Lynn.

-Roy's P.O.V.-

I watched Tarin as she walked right pass me and went to the phone. My guess was that she was calling her sister so I got Ed and Al to walk away from the phone to give her some privacy.

"Hey Colonel." Ed spoke up. "Why'd Tarin re-enlist in the military? The bigger question is why did she leave in the first place?"

I sighed. "To tell you the truth Ed, I don't really know myself." I scratched the back of my head. "She has been keeping that kind of stuff a secret. I only know a little about her."

"How do you not know anything about you own subordinate? That's stupid. And here I thought you were the big man in charge here."

I just disregarded what he said. "Whatever Ed. The point is that I don't want you being stupid and acting out." That statement was directed to the eldest Elric.

"Colonel Mustang," It was Al's turn to speak, "I think something's wrong with the Lieutenant Colonel." He pointed over to where Tarin was and I looked over.

She had her ear a few inches away from the phone. You could hear whoever was on the other side screaming and yelling. When she tried talking back the person seemed to shout back at her. After a minute she realized we were staring at her and hung up the phone. "Did you guys hear that?" We nodded. "Was it really loud?" We nodded again and she sighed.

"Was there something wrong?" I asked concerned.

"No, not really. I just called the others to see how they were and told Taylor I met another State Alchemist. Now she says they'll be here later on before I leave to meet him." She tried laughing about it but it didn't work. "Anyway I'll go back to my work now." She sulked back to her desk and started back on her work.

"Uhh… Is she all right?"

"Yeah Ed." I sighed and went back to my desk. "She'll be fine after a little while. Just don't worry about."

-X-

It was late in the afternoon now and nothing's really happened. Everyone was quiet and doing work. Even Ed was quiet. I stood up from my desk and headed to my private office. I walked in and went straight to the window that had a view on the front of the headquarters and a little scenery of the city.

'Just a little longer. After I get transferred to Central I'll be one more step closer of being Fuhrer.' Each time I look out this window it's what I think about. 'My dream to become Fuhrer of this country will come into reality. With a team like I have and the support they give me, there no way I can't reach my goal.' I sighed and sat at my desk in front of the window. I placed my hands over my face and groaned. 'But still, it's all coming to slow. The sooner I'm the Fuhrer the better this country will be.' Just then a knock came on the door. "Come in."

The door opened and I heard footsteps coming in the room. The walking ceased in about the middle of the room. Then there was a faint remark that I barely could comprehend it, "Wow."

Taking my hand from over my eyes and looked over to see who walked in. I already guessed would it was and smirked. "You like it?"

Tarin looked around the room. It wasn't really much but it seems to definitely get her attention. It was nothing but my private office, all that was in there was a bookshelf, a giant wall hanging with an Amestris dragon on it, the desk, and the large window. "Yeah. I like it." She spoke softly as she walked up to my desk. "Really some private office you got here. Do I get one or I have to be a Colonel?"

"We'll look into after a couple weeks. But for now you should just stay at your new desk." I saw the pout on her face as she placed a stack of papers on the desk. I looked through them and saw that she had done all she needed to do. "You did a good job with these. How well can you forge a signature?"

"I can't say that I'm a pro at it but I do a decent job. Why ask?"

"Just asking. Maybe one day I can let you borrow my office, if you agree to sign a few papers." She stuck her tongue out at me. "For someone who's a grown-up you act very much like a kid. How old are you again?"

She scoffed. "First of all, I am, this way as a sign that I can still maintain my childhood self. And second, I never told how old I was and you aren't gonna know for a while. But good try for asking." She leaned on the desk almost sitting on it. "Are you flirting with me again? You know this is more a business place when we're here right." When she said that I laughed. "What's so funny?"

"It's just that… Why do you get the idea that I flirt with you?"

"I don't know. Maybe because you are a flirt and I can read your face."

"Well, you are attractive; even for a woman who won't tell her age and acts like a kid. You have more of a sense of humor than other women, I can have a real conversation with you beside you just talking about yourself and-"

"Can you get to some point today, please?" She heaved a heavy sigh.

"Rin, how would you like to go on a date with me?" I asked her. I was almost surprised with myself that I was able to ask her like that, but at the same time I wasn't.

She pushed herself off the desk walked over to the side of my chair. Smiling, she cupped my cheek and came face to face with me. "Thanks for the offer Mustang, but no thanks. I still have a couple things to get in check before I can go back to the life of dating."

"So does that mean I won't have another chance if I asked again?"

"Don't say that but at the same time don't get your hopes up."

Rin moved her hand from my face and began to walk toward the door. After that little moment I realized something else about her; Tarin Silvers is definitely not the shy type.

Just as she was about to turn the doorknob a scream was heard.

"What the hell was that?"

"How the hell am I supposed to know? You've worked here longer. Hell, you're in charge!" She then ran through the door and I was right behind her.

-X-

A/N: This was the smallest update gap I've ever done. Only a few days, haha. I want you guys to keep up the reviews since they are like a little energy source for a writer. I would also like you guys to look at a poll I have up on my profile (it's a kingdom hearts poll but still please try and look into it.) Anyways I hope you all have a great holiday season!