Chapter Three – Learning curves

As I said, I hope this chapter will be longer than the last two, but who knows haha xD It looks long hand written, but it's never as long on the pc is it xD So really, it's not my fault; it's technologies! :D * Smirks * Yup. Wormed my way outta that one like a prooo.

Anyway, Enjoy! :)

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Edward stopped, now lost in the corridors and halls of Mustang's home. He gulped, rubbing his eyes, willing them to stop producing tears. None of this was his fault, he didn't ask to be here with that ass-hole, he didn't ask to be a part of that experiment, or to lose his voice. Part of him wanted to just go back to travelling with Al, searching for the stone. As hard as those times were, at least he had something to focus on. He growled, gritting his teeth hard, running his fingers through his hair, hissing as the sharp claws caught his scalp lightly. His heart was thudding hard behind it's cage, the lump still prominent in his throat. How could he be so selfish as to wish Alphonse back into that sorry excuse for a body, especially now he was happy and with Winry, just because he himself felt useless and bored. He growled, his breathing hitching slightly, when he saw it. The loft hatch, slightly ajar, showing off the high beams, that were, in fact, obvious in the lower floors of the house as well. He blinked at them, an ear twitching as he heard a thump, and Mustang cursing. Ed sized up the distance between him and the hatch, jumping and catching the edge, hissing as his battered body protested, and climbed in, already feeling the panic ebb away. He manoeuvred his way up onto the beam, curling the long tail around it for support, and sat, feeling safer than ever. He looked around the loft, taking in the vast space, filled mostly with boxes and old furniture. Edward glanced at the hatch, wondering if he should have closed it up or not. He leant back against a support beam, pushing the thought from his mind, the height bringing safety in his mind.

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Roy grumbled. He hadn't said anything that terrible.. Had he? No, he made fun of Edward all the time! But Edward never ran off like that, or looked as though he could cry at any moment. Roy stood in the large living room, flicking the lighter on and off in the huge fireplace, trying to get a spark. He eventually gave up, admitting he was still too lazy to get the gloves from his jacket, and turned a little more of his attention to the situation at hand; Edward, or, to be more precise, the lack of him. Edward wasn't usually the fleeing type, he thought, checking the rooms one by one on the first floor. Edward usually fought tooth and nail not to lose to the colonel. Roy stopped as it hit him suddenly. He'd gone to far, he, something the notorious flame had never cared to admit. Edward hadn't fought back, because he couldn't fight back. He couldn't retaliate to Mustang's taunts verbally, and his battered condition, physically would have been out of question. Not to mention, the Colonel would have had him court-martialled for attacking a superior, out of pride alone. Mustang gulped, growling as he rummaged for the small blonde upstairs, checking the rooms with a little more vigour as guilt fuelled his frustration. He stopped, running his fingers through his hair, sighing heavily as he wandered back downstairs, sitting down at the kitchen island. He looked at the phone, his heart sinking. It was time to do something, he really wished he didn't have to do. It was time to call in the forces.

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"YOU DID WHAT!?" Riza exclaimed down the phone, causing Roy to flinch and hold the phone away from his ear, gulping.
"...Sorry?" It was worth a try.

"Roy, you idiot! How'd you manage to lose him already!? It's been an hour!" Roy didn't mention his 30 minute search, or his 15 minute escaped with the lighter and the hearth. An hour sounded better than 15 minutes, by a long stretch.

"It wasn't my fault! I was just teasing him! I always tease him! He just ran off, it's not my fault he's over-sensitive." the colonel whined, grumbling. He'd never accept this to be his fault, not out loud anyway, even if it was the death of him, and if Riza brought her gun, it could be. There was a pause, and a sigh. Roy heard Riza shifting some things around.

"...You're hopeless. I'll be there in ten minutes.... Idiot." and with that, she hung up. Roy sighed, placing the phone back into the cradle, slumping into his usual seat on the sofa.

"S'not my fault."

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Edward lay, sprawled out out on his stomach on the beam, in the third floor of the huge house. The sun was starting to inch away from the sunlight in the roof, as the moon decided to make an appearance. Edward scanned the boxes, finally deducing there was nothing of a useful nature in the loft, and Mustang only used it for storage. However it was the huge oak supports that really interested Ed. Mustang's décor followed a neutral theme, with a deep red as an accent in the rich browns and creams that covered his home and all it's surfaces. Mustang used oak a lot, to compliment the old oak beams that were a prominent feature in the lower floors, and the loft, which also doubled, as a perfect hiding place in Edward's eyes. Yep, a perfect hiding place for the miserable, angry and scared leopard-child.

"Edward! C'mon sweetie, Roy promises to keep his big mouth shut now!" Riza's voice called out through the silence, followed by a grumble from a sulky Roy. Edward blinked, and curled up on the beam slightly, peeking over the edge, trying to become invisable.

"Did you check up there?" Riza noted, pointing at the half open loft hatch.

"...No"
"Idiot."
"Well how did I know someone so small could- OW! RIZA THAT WAS MY HEAD, I ONLY GET ONE!" Ed gulped as Riza, followed by the disgruntled colonel, entered the loft.

"Ed?" Riza called softly, flicking on the lights. Edward's tail flicked, re-wrapping itself around the beam, attracting the unwanted attention of a certain hawk. Edward's golden eyes widened, as he flattened against the beam, his ears following suit against his hair. Roy blinked.

"What, he's a monkey now as well as a pain in the-" Riza elbowed Roy, glowering at him.

"Leopard's can climb you dumb-ass, as can Edward." she turned her attention back to the boy in question, smiling warmly. "C'mon, come down from up there.. I'll stay here tonight, so you don't need to worry about the Colonel." Edward watched her, glancing at the colonel, shifting slightly on the wide beam, a tiny whimper escaping. Roy gulped, guilt bottling in his stomach, keeping the grumpy expression plastered on his face, his arms folded as he glared up at the teen. Edward glared at the colonel, a deep growl echoing from his throat.

"C'mon Ed," Riza smiled, gesturing for Ed to come to her. "For me?" Ed turned his grumpy, but somewhat hurt, gaze to Riza, reading her for a moment, because hesitantly, making his way down from the beams.

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Well, it's longer. Not A LOT longer, but it's a good 500 words or so longer. So there. I win. * smug *