Two

Roy

It was gold all around, warm, molten gold and he was drowning in it. It filled his senses until he could smell its richness and the taste was heavy in the back of his throat. The color seeped into his skin, his pores, running through his veins. He thought it would make him feel heavy, unable to lift his limbs, leave his heart laboring but as he stared into the deep pools of gold that were attempting to pull his soul from his body, he felt light, as if he could just float away and join the clouds in the sky.

It took him a moment to extract himself from those eyes.

The blond was standing in front of the desk Roy sat at, trying to look unaffected and failing completely. As if to hide his flaw, he had wrapped his left hand around his metal wrist and was turned slightly so Roy couldn't see it's hard, graceful lines all that well. Considering the faint flush that was gently brushed on the bridge of his nose, the Colonel could tell that behind the ploy, the teen was not proud of his replacement arm. Which again left Roy to wondering.

But those eyes, so defiant, never back down from his own.

"What is your name?" Roy asked softly as he leaned his elbows on the desk and folding his hands under his chin. The boy shifted.

"Edward Elric," and he lifted his chin a little bit, as if expecting some kind of judgmental comment from the man watching him calmly from behind the deck. Instead, Roy lowered his hands and allowed Edward to see his small smile.

"Mr. Elric, then. Those are some impressive fighting skills you've got. Have you trained with someone?" Roy asked, truly intrigued. He was glad Riza wasn't in the room with them just then (she was trying to do some damage control after the display in the cafeteria) because she would be eyeing him with a dozen questions battling behind her hazel eyes.

"Just Ed," the teen said somewhat self consciously, shifting his weight and glaring at the floor. The flush was spreading and Mustang was beginning to realize just how attractive it looked on him. Then he was getting an expectant look and it took him a moment to realize what the kid was looking for.

"Colonel Roy Mustang," he responded as promptly as he could, hiding his sudden discomfiture behind his trademark smirk, "But you can just call me Mustang," Ed gave a sharp nod.

"Yeah, I had some training. I was tired of getting picked on for being sh…shor…different," He said with a grimace and that defiant look was back, again daring Roy to make something of what he had just said. He didn't like seeing this wall Ed kept putting up, like he was bracing himself against some expected cruelty that he seemed so sure was to be thrown his way.

"I see…" Roy sat back in the chair and crossed his one ankle over the other as he stretched his legs out under the desk, regarding the teenager before him, who just stared back. He got a sudden idea, though he wasn't too hopeful as the kid couldn't be more than a sophomore.

"How old are you?" the Colonel asked suddenly, clearly catching Ed off guard. The boy raised his gold eyebrows.

"Eighteen," he answered suspiciously, "Why?" Roy felt his own eyebrows go up, though he fought to control the expressions that might escape and run rampant across his face. A sharp look from Ed suggested he hadn't quite succeeded.

"Truly? You don't look a day over sixteen!" Roy said with genuine surprise. The reaction he got was not quite what he expected, though he would soon find out that Ed would forever keep him just off balance enough that Roy would have no idea what to think. This time, the kid practically exploded.

"WHO ARE YOU CALLING SO SHORT HE COULDN'T HAVE GRADUATED GRADE SCHOOL?!" okay, mental note, the kid was touchy about his height. But, hell, if the result of an unintended slight against Ed's height wasn't entertaining! Stunned, Roy could just stare as the blond fumed away in front of the desk, gold eyes flashing and face beet red. A thought popped into Roy's head just then. The teen was hot when he was mad.

"I said nothing of the sort, Edward, don't get all bent out of shape," Roy chided, though he couldn't help but smirk. Boy, this kid must be a blast to tease. This too, he filed away. Ed subsided, still grumbling under his breath and folded his arms across his chest, forgetting or not caring if the Colonel saw the arm and fixed that smoldering glare upon the raven haired man.

"The only reason why I asked is because I came to this school with the single intent of recruitment into the military and only of age individuals can legally be conscripted," Again a lift of the eyebrow and Roy could see wheels in the teen's brain turning swiftly.

"Is there a reason for the military to be sending their Colonel's into high schools looking to recruit more soldiers?" he asked, all the anger gone, replaced with a calculating, narrow stare. Ah, he was smart too. Roy liked this boy more and more as the minutes went by. This time, Roy decided not to insult Ed's intelligence with another smirk and instead, returned the calculating look with one of his own.

"Not just soldiers, Edward. We are looking for talent," let's see what the kid would do with this. Roy was not disappointed.

"Talent? What kind…" Ed stopped there and the widening of those beautiful eyes told Roy he had come to the right conclusion startlingly fast. "You don't mean—"

"Alchemists, yes." Those eyes flickered away and the shock on the teen's face became something else. A mask had leaped into place, guarding something that was hidden in those deep golden pools. Hmm, intriguing indeed.

"And why is the military so desperate for alchemists, Colonel?" Ed asked him warily, eyes narrow again. Yup, he was definitely hiding something and now Roy was determined to find out what. He looked up into the teen's gaze and saw there a raging intelligence, curiosity sharpening the gold so he felt like he was being pierced by a sword. This was it, the part he hated most. Telling the truth was never one of his strong points. He cringed every time he explained this to the many hopefuls that he'd talked to over the past week. So he took a deep breath and pinned Ed with a sharp gaze.

"We are at war with Ishval," Roy stated flatly, watching Ed's reaction intently. The teen's eyes widened so that they were in danger of falling out of his head and his mouth hung open in shock. Yup, that was pretty much how Roy had felt when he found out six months ago.

"But…but, we won! We won that war already! I thought…I thought there was no more Ishval left…" his stammering slowed to a stop and he looked at Roy, as if expecting him to say he was just joking. God, how Roy wished it was a joke. He had fought in the first war and frustration boiled in him when he realized how completely useless their efforts had been back then.

"We did but it seems that the rout that occurred in attempt to eradicate their numbers…completely was rather more unsuccessful that we had thought and now they have support from the emperor of Xing and its taking a harder toll on our country than we had anticipated. Thus the rather unorthodox recruitment strategy," he gestured easily with a flourish of his hand, grimacing as he did, betraying this distaste about the whole matter.

There was a heavy silence that Roy wasn't sure he wanted broken for the questions that he knew would come. Again, however, he seemed to underestimate Ed. The teen cocked his head to one side, a gesture that made the other man's throat go dry and displayed his uncannily astute mind.

"So Alchemy is our weapon like last time." It wasn't a question and Roy gave a short nod. Ed's eyes narrowed further. "But don't you think that they would have caught onto all our tricks, you know, after the last war? They must have gotten smart if the military has become this desperate," Mustang sighed and let his mouth twist bitterly. Why couldn't the morons that ran their government have half the brains this eighteen year old kid did? Well, if they did, they probably wouldn't have gone to war the first time and Roy wouldn't be staring across a stranger's desk that the most fascinating person he had ever come across.

"We have, unfortunately. Alchemy still holds them at bay but they are figuring out ways to get past our barriers and we need all the help we can get," absently, Roy rubbed his fingers across his eyes, remembering things that were better left buried in the oblivion of the past. Maybe it was the intense and unforgivable color of Ed's eyes but he was starting to feel vulnerable, open, which was making him talk, saying more than he normally would.

"And what of you?" asked the teen and Roy felt like he had been put under an onslaught with that gaze fixed on his face, "Are you an alchemist?" ah, now they came to it. Somehow, the Colonel couldn't help but think that Ametris would fare so much better if Ed was fighting for them.

Instead of answering the question, Roy reached into a pocket in his uniform pants and pulled out a white pair of gloves, their texture rough and smelling a little like gunpowder. On the backs of each were drawn a small, black transmutation circle. He pulled the gloves on unhurriedly and smiled at Ed. Then snapped his fingers.

The static blue light of a transmutation lit the air and the waste basket next to the desk burst into flames.

Ed leaped back with a yell and Roy couldn't help but laugh.

"Th-That-that was alchemy?!" the teen cried, staring as the flames licked up from the waste basket, hungrily devouring whatever was in there.

"Of course," Roy replied smoothly, enjoying Ed's reaction.

"How did you do it?" the blond demanded, fascinated despite himself. Roy chuckled as he watched the kid trying to figure out how Roy was able to pull the fire from the air.

"These gloves," Roy held his hands out so Ed could see the transmutation circles on the backs, "are infused with the necessary elements to ignite a spark and I use that and the oxygen in the air to start the fire. It can make the blaze as large as I need. It comes in handy, though I'm no good on a rainy day," He said the last with a rueful smile and was rewarded with a lopsided smile from Ed. It made his heart beat a little faster.

Then Ed was looking at the floor, a frown marring his features. Very slowly, he reached out to a mug that sat on the desk holding a bunch of assorted writing instruments and pulled out a marker. What he did next shocked Roy speechless. The blond leaned over, a deep frown still lining his face, as if he really didn't want to do what he was about to but was going to do it anyway and with slow, exaggerated movements, drew a perfect transmutation circle on the surface of the desk. Roy didn't even think he could blink, he was so surprised. The mismatched hands shook as they lowered, lowered to touch upon the rim of the circle.

"BROTHER!!!" the door to the office was nearly splintered apart as a tall, wild looking blond slammed into the office. Roy was nearly scared right out of his skin, having been so focused on those uneven hands and he stared at the new arrival with probably a rather amusing look on his face. His teeth clicked when he shut his mouth. The tall teen was staring at Ed with amber eyes that looked slightly panicked and a lot worried.

"Brother, I heard you were in a fight! What happened? Are you okay? It was Envy, wasn't it? I thought you promised to stop fighting!" Ed was holding his hands up in a sheepish gesture as if he hadn't whirled in shock when the door had slammed open and Roy noticed that the boy was leaning his hip against the edge of the desk, hiding the circle from the new comer who was grilling the shorter boy, concern written all over his handsome face. His blond hair was lighter than Ed's and cut short enough so that it brushed against his collar and his eyes were a different shade of yellow. Yet the resemblance was there.

This must be Ed's brother.

"Al, Al, I'm fine really, calm down," Ed was saying and Roy noticed that the expression on his face was softer, the smile warmer, if still a bit on the sheepish side, as if the boy in front of him was the most important person in the world. Roy felt a pang and he stood, as if to remind the two that he was there.

Ed noticed and looked at him sideways, as if trying to convey something through the simple glance. The gold eyes touched upon the desk and Roy understood. He didn't want his brother to know what they were talking about. Interesting.

"This is Colonel Roy Mustang," Ed said to his brother and both sets of eyes descended upon Roy, disconcerting in their similarity. He managed a nod at the taller boy as Ed continued his explanation, "He is here to talk to some of the seniors about the military, you know, like a promotional kind of thing," The other boy nodded and stepped over to the desk and offered a hand.

"I'm Alphonse," said Ed's brother with a disarming smile that Roy felt himself returning, "I'm Ed's younger brother. I'm sorry he caused so much trouble…" Ed's screech cut him off.

"AL!" but Roy wasn't paying attention. Younger brother?! What the hell? The boy was almost a foot taller than Ed! As a matter of fact, he was taller than Roy! With difficulty, Roy managed to mask his disbelief and took the teen's hand which was strong and warm. He liked Al immediately.

"Does he do this kind of thing often?" Roy asked Al with a smirk, seeing the shorter blond beginning to fume again, metal arm glinting as if warning of the impending explosion. Al's eyes were sparkling.

"Yeah, all the time. He just can't control his temper," the younger brother giggled, as if he found it hilarious at how angry they were making Ed, which was just proving his point. Roy snorted and folding his arms over his chest, regarding the shorter brother with an amused gaze. Apparently, Ed did not find this the least bit funny.

"I have noticed," Roy said dryly and almost lost it when Ed's face darkened, a tick prominent over his left eye.

"Stop. Talking. About. Me. LIKE. I'M. NOT. HERE!" Roy did laugh then, and was joined by Al, much to Ed's chagrin. "AL, YOU TRAITOR, KNOCK IT OF!!!!" to which the taller boy wiped tears from his eyes.

"Sorry, brother," he said contritely, smile still tugging on his lips. It was fascinating, the dynamic of these two brothers and the pang was back, stronger with its return.

"Thank you for your…help," Ed was bowing shallowly in Roy's direction and he noticed that as he came up, he brought his arm in a subtle, sweeping gesture across the desk, successfully smudging the transmutation circle beyond recognition. Al didn't seem to notice because he was staring at the blood on his older brother's knuckles. No doubt that was a conversation that was often visited between the two boys, judging by the tight look that had appeared in Al's face.

Roy returned the gesture in the form of a salute.

"Of course. I would appreciate it if you would think about what I have told you. Here is my card if you have any questions. I would like to hear from you again soon," he said as he pulled a little white card out of his breast pocket with his information on it and handed it to Ed, who took it with shadowed eyes, the gold muted. Their fingers brushed and a jolt went through Roy at the contact, barely managing to hide the resulting shiver. Ed's eyes flew to his face, the gold suddenly alive again in surprise and Roy just looked back, keeping his expression as bland as he dared. The teen just nodded and the card disappeared into a pocket in his leather pants.

"Sure thing," another bow, "See ya 'round, Colonel," Al bowed too, adding a soft, "Goodbye, Colonel. Nice to meet you," and the boys were turning to go. Roy watched silently as the taller boy proceeded, Ed looking alomst delicate compared to his younger brother, though Roy realized whoever underestimated him would end up like the boys down in the cafeteria and the idea gave him chills. His heart skipped, lodging itself onto the back of his tongue when Ed looked back right before he disappeared in the hall, eyes bright with an emotion Roy couldn't decipher. The impression of a sea of burning gold stayed with him for the rest of the day.

Hawkeye entered the office ten minutes later to find the Colonel standing at the grimy window, hands clasped behind his back and a far away look on his handsome face.

"Colonel? Would you like to speak to the rest of the students?" she asked, not daring to mention the look she had just caught on her superior's face. Roy turned to her and shook his head.

"There's no need. I think I may have found someone with the potential to be one of the best alchemists we've seen in a long time," he said, gathering his black over jacket that was slung over the back of the chair and his hat, choosing not to see the strange look that his Lt. had just thrown at him.

"You mean the boy that was just in here? Isn't he a bit young?" she asked doubtfully, eyeing her superior.

"I assure you, he's of legal age. We just have to wait for him to make his decision," and he left it at that, knowing Riza and knowing she wouldn't question him further. As he thought, she just nodded.

"Well, then we should head back to Headquarters so you can finish the paperwork you have been neglecting all week," with that statement, a black cloud settled over him. He hated paper work.

Roy just groaned in grudging acceptance as they stepped into the coy light of the spring sun.

Ed

The murmurings of the TV held no interest for him that afternoon, though he sprawled in front of it and poured through the channels anyway, on the offset chance that he might find something remotely interesting. Yet, as the blur of channels hastily flickered across the screen, his mind wandered. In truth he had only put on the TV in hopes of a distraction because his mind was full of memories that no eighteen year old should ever have to contemplate.

The conversation with one Colonel Roy Mustang still rang through his head. It disturbed him greatly, though it was none of his business, really, that Ametris was at war and nobody outside the military seemed to know about it. What disturbed him even more was that Alchemy was being used on the front lines again and they were seeking ever more creative ways to bring down a nation that should no longer exist. And he had been asked, in a roundabout way, if he would like to become a weapon and use his alchemy for war. What was worse, he was actually considering. The problem was, today had been the first time in seven years that he had contemplated even using Alchemy. To be honest, he hadn't even been sure that he could. It had all been for the benefit of a dark haired, dark eyed with a voice as smooth as fucking silk and a condescending smirk that made Ed's heart skip. Oh, and did he mention said beauty was a man?

Unreasonable and quite volatile anger rose up in him then, like a rising tide and he pulverized one of the couch cushions with his automail fist. Stuffing exploded around the room, giving him momentary pause.

So stupid, breaking his promise that he would never use alchemy again for a man he didn't know because the smooth bastard had beautiful eyes.

DAMN HIM!!

A pillow followed the cushion to a rather gruesome end and another curse exploded from his lips like the feathers did from the pillow, bringing a worried Al into the room, amber eyes wide with alarm.

Alarm turned to pinched annoyance as he watched his older brother fuming on the couch surrounded by cotton stuffing and down feathers, looking fit to kill.

"Whatever it is that pushed you over the edge this time does not warrant you destroying the upholstery, brother," growled the taller boy, his voice uncharacteristically sharp as he strode into the room in an attempt to save any more pillows or couch cushions from a similar fate. The fire faded as soon as it came and Ed looked around himself guiltily, self-loathing thick on the back of his throat.

"I lied to you, Al" he said quietly after watching Al stoically picking up bits of white fluff on the floor. The younger teen froze, lifted his head to look at his brother, the question bright in his eyes. He wasn't one to judge, Ed knew, but words were trying to stick in his throat, choking him. The curiosity burned in Al's eyes.

"What are you talking about?" no trace of the previous iron left in Al's voice, replaced with careful non-emotion that Ed took to be caution and worry. His hands were shaking in his lap.

"Do you remember that day?" he asked instead, keeping his eyes facing away from his younger brother's gaze that he knew could read him so well. The couch dipped as the younger teen joined him, the remains of their couch forgotten.

"Yes." Such a simple answer and yet behind it was veiled so much pain. To think, he could have lost everything, all because he was selfish. Selfish and still such a child.

"What about it?" the words were quiet. Strained. Al was just as pained by those memories as Ed was and both of them hated talking about it, neither one breaking the silent pact they seemed to have made that they wouldn't speak about the unspeakable unless it was absolutely necessary. Still, Ed hid from his brother's eyes, pulling apart a piece of stuffing with his fingers.

"The promise that I made, to never do alchemy again…" here he paused, the guilt building up so fast and thick he could barely breathe. A quick swallow and a grimace belied the depth of Ed's discomfort but Al didn't move, keeping his eyes on the long, gold lashes that were hiding the expressive pools of gold from view. After a few tries, he managed to force the words past the lump. "I almost broke it…this afternoon…talking…talking to the…to Colonel Mustang…" and he stopped, stalled, unable to go on. God, he was such a pathetic creature, seeped in self-loathing and unable to face his brother, who was the most understanding person he knew and would still not judge him, broken promise and all. It was himself he couldn't face, himself that was doing the judging. There was a shifting of movement on the couch cushion that Al occupied and Ed jumped when his hand reached out and briefly touched the back of Ed's jarring him enough so that he could see his older brother's eyes. They were dark with something Al was sure he didn't like the look of.

"What happened?" that was all. It was all that was needed. Al understood his brother completely and the darkness in Ed's soul was something he was familiar with. So, feeling terrible and a giant weight trying to press him into the couch, he told Al his encounter with Colonel Mustang, keeping his eyes on his hands, though when he mentioned the war, he felt his chest tighten and glanced up to see his brother's shock. Thankfully, he waited until Ed finished talking before he said anything.

"I thought that war was won already," said the younger Elric sadly, a deep frown tugging at the corners of his lips. Ed sighed and sat back, hands behind his head as he contemplated the ceiling. Nothing about the alchemy but Ed hadn't expected Al to bring that up. The tension eased from him, though the guilt was still there.

"I thought the same but if the military has begun to recruit right from high schools, it's bad enough to risk the secrecy that they have hidden this thing in up till now," he commented almost casually, as if it was another continent he was talking about. Al made a non committal noise in the back of his throat and there was a silent pause as the boys fell prone to their own thoughts, broken only by the incoherent mutters from the TV. Then Al shifted again and another brush of his fingertips against the back of Ed's flesh hand again brought their eyes together so they could see each other's thoughts.

"Will you accept?" his question was small but it left the room feeling heavy and devoid of enough air for the both of them. Ed took a deep breath and took comfort in the familiar amber that was his brother's soft gaze.

"I don't know, Al," he whispered, letting his head fall back against the couch again, "I really don't know,"

This place. He was in this place again, the same place he visited in his nightmares every time. A place that had been a sanctuary, filled with love, hope and a child's bright outlook of the world, having never come into contact with misery or hopelessness.

The darkness took hold of his happy life long before he was aware of it and by then, it was too late.

His mother was already dead.

So he did what had seemed natural. He turned to Alchemy. Even at the age of eleven, he was a genius, the power flooding through him like it was the most natural thing in the world.

He tried to bring his mother back. The beings behind the gate tried to take his brother in recompense. Equivalent exchange, said the voices, taking apart his ten year old brother's body and sucking him away. Away from Ed. Still. Still, the transmutation should have worked but in the circle that he and his brother had so painstakingly labored over was not his mother.

It was a nightmare, hissing his name, gurgling wetly. Not human.

Blood dripped to the floor under him. Pain washed over him. His leg. His left leg was gone. Equivalent exchange.

But where was Alphonse?

So he went back, back to that gate and they laughed at him.

"We gave you what you wanted. You got your mother back…" more laughter and Ed wavered in pain and lack of blood.

"It wasn't even human. Where is my brother?" the sound of their mad giggles threatened to tear his skin apart and helpless tears streamed down his face. "WHER IS MY BROTHER?!"

"Here, Brother," just a ghost. He was barely even visible. Still, Ed cried out in relief. Al was not dead.

"If you want him back, you must give us an equivalent," hissed those voices and Ed cringed.

"Anything…" he whispered and pain ripped through him again. Al was screaming behind him, begging him not to do anything for his sake. To go BACK. But Ed could not live without Al. If only he had known.

"Fine. We take another limb and all the knowledge you have collected on alchemy, because it makes you proud and it is second in value to you after your brother's life. We also take all the memories you have of the one you just sacrificed you brother's life to restore. You will just remember the atrocity you have created in your arrogance. That will be all you have of your mother…" And Ed wailed and wailed and wailed at the loss…

And awoke, screaming, in his bed, sheets twisted around him so they felt like thousands of tiny hands, pulling him away, stealing from him, dragging him back, back into the gaping opening of a giant gate…