Chapter Five – Work Ethics
Sorry it's been so long! I still keep getting story add's though, so I'm glad it hasn't put people off reading my fic! I've been really up to my neck, GCSE's have been taking up a lot of time, along with some other personal issues xD
But I will try to update more often from now on! ..Try! :)
On another note, I've completely cocked up who I replied to review wise, and who I haven't SO, here's the deal, Review this chapter, and it will DEFINITELY be answered :) Sorrryy!
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Mustang was still grumbling as he poured the coffee from the pot to his mug. He glanced at the time, grunting as he acknowledged he had enough time to skim the paper. He'd seen hide nor hair of Edward since their 'squabble' an hour or two ago, deducting that if the small alchemist didn't turn up soon, Mustang would leave him home alone. Even though Riza had told the dark haired man not to come in, he had some urgent papers that needed picking up, and any excuse to dump the kid on someone else for an hour or so, was a good excuse indeed.
Mustang checked the time again, as he finished the paper, sighing as he got up. Where had the little blonde kreten got to? Ed was never this quiet. Voice or no voice, Edward would be heard if he wanted to be. Mustang stretched, setting out on his brief, bored search for the blonde.
"Edwaarrrdd... Come on kitty-cat..." he called out, yawning as he heard a disgruntled grunt, and a thud as the feline-alchemist glared down at the colonel from the rustic beams. Mustang blinked looking up at the blonde, his face falling to a gaze.
"Get down." Edward hissed back at the colonel, the leopard-ears flattening stubbornly against his skull.
"I won't ask you again Edward. Get down, or I'll MAKE you come down." The colonel's glare hardened, and Edward just hissed again, with less conviction than before, his fluffy tail bristling around the beam. Mustang shrugged, pulling one of his signature flame-embossed gloves. Edward smirked, digging his claws into the beam.
"Oh.. By the way Edward," The blonde's ears pricked as his face fell slightly, as the Colonel's signature smirk returned. "those beams hold no structural relevance to my home. They're merely décor, I won't hesitate in burning every one down." Edward paled considerably, squealing in surprise as the Colonel snapped his fingers, leaping blindly for the next beam, missing by a few inches, and landing with a thump and a yelp. Mustang's smirk widened, waiting for the smoke to clear, looking at the slightly blackened beam, then to Edward. Ed sat up wincing, placing a hand on his ribs, visibly flinching as he heard the Colonels voice.
"Oh, nice of you to join us down here." his voice laced with a smug tone. "Now you're done playing prime ape, I need to go into the office, and you're coming with me, so get dressed, or I'm taking you like that." Ed stood up, wincing once more, glaring at the Colonel, stomping off. Roy smirked, wandering off to the kitchen to get his keys.
"Hey there Boss!" Havoc grinned as Ed and the Colonel entered the office. Riza looked over her shoulder, standing before the filing cabinet.
"Colonel," She straightened, saluting briefly. "I thought you weren't in till next week." she commented, casting a glance towards Edward. Roy shrugged.
"I needed to get some paperwork sorted." he mumbled, heading for his own office. Ed glared watching the colonel disappear behind the dark door of his office.
"Edward?" Ed snapped back to Riza, his glare instantly fading, looking up at the woman who now stood before him. She smiled warmly. "How's the colonel treating you?" Ed took a moment to digest, grumbling under his breath, sitting down on the leather couch. Riza blinked, expression turning serious.
"Ed... Why are you bleeding?" Ed blinked at her, looking down at the blood staining his shirt, his ear flicking curiously. He shrugged looking at her. She knelt down in front of him, gesturing to lift his shirt.
"What happened?" her voice stayed soft, but her expression stayed stern, as she lifting his shirt, sighing at the reopened gash and swollen ribs. Ed looked down at the damage, grimacing.
"Jeez Boss, he didn't hit 'ya did he?" Havoc commented, inspecting the wound over Hawkeye's shoulder, chewing on his cigarette. Ed shook his head quickly, pulling a face at the idea.
"Then what?" Fuery's small voice piped up, leaning on the arm of the couch. Ed glanced in Fuery's direction, hissing through his teeth as Riza dabbed gently at the wound. Falman passed Ed a pad of paper, along with a pencil, and Ed scrawled out the morning's events.
"He tried to set you on fire!" Havoc piped up, reading the events. Ed's ear flicked shaking his head, pointing at the word 'beam'. Havoc shrugged, clearly not seeing the difference. "Are you sure Ed should be staying with him?" he remarked, directing the question at Riza. Riza stood up, heading for the first aid cabinet, pulling out a bandage and some tape.
"For now, Edward has no where else to go, I'll talk to the colonel." she stated, gently bandaging Edward rib's. Ed groaned, snatching the pad and scrawling a message. Falman took the pad from him reading the message aloud.
"Why can't I stay in the dorms?" the men looked to Riza, Ed scowling at the bandage, pulling his shirt back down. Riza stood up brushing down her uniform.
"Not an option Edward. I'm sorry but no one knows the side affects, if any, this transmutation may have." Ed's scowl deepened, growling. Havoc ruffled his hair, slumping into the seat next to him.
"Awh, cheer up boss, the Colonel will come around, he's great fun when he loosens up." Ed grumbled, his tail flicking agitatedly.
Roy looked up as his office door clicked open, watching the blonde lieutenant enter, silently shutting the door behind her.
"Colonel," Oh god here it comes. Roy sat back in his chair, watching the lieutenant with cool, obsidian eyes.
"Yes Lieutenant?" He replied calmly. His eyes drifted to the gun holstered at her side, and back to her face, considering the possibility of her drawing the weapon.
"What happened between you and Edward this morning," she started, folding her arms curtly. "He was bleeding." Roy blinked at her, clearing his throat, and regaining his composure.
"He was? I didn't notice." he replied, glancing over his paperwork.
"I'm sure you didn't. What happened?" Roy shrugged coyly.
"Nothing much. He was being stubborn and fell."
"From where?"
"One of the beams in my living room."
"Why was he up there colonel?" Roy shrugged once more, looking back at the lieutenant, leaning his chin atop the makeshift platform created by lacing his fingers together.
"Why would I know Lieutenant. Edward is strange."
"So why did he fall?" Riza pressed, waiting to hear the colonel's string of excuses. "Because Edward seems to have gotten the impression that you tried to set the beam on fire." Roy stiffened, clearing his throat.
"Fire may have been administered..." Riza rolled her eyes sighing heavily.
"You really thought that trying to set him on fire would get him to open up to you?" Roy grumbled, mumbling.
"He won't be opening up much with no voice will he..."
"Colonel!" Riza snapped, catching Roy's gaze. She sighed once more. "Sir this isn't going to get him out of your hair. It will just make him worse, he's not going to calm down and listen to you, if you try and set him on fire."
"...The beam." he mumbled.
"What?" Riza raised an eyebrow.
"..I tried to set the beam on fire. Not him." Riza watched him for a moment, waiting for the smirk, but it didn't come.
"..That.. makes it okay does it?" Roy's eyes narrowed, mumbling.
"Probably not." Roy growled standing up, grabbing his papers. "I'll do the rest at home." he uttered, getting up and edging round the desk, going to step past his lieutenant.
"Try talking to him.. nicely." Riza murmured as he stepped alongside her, her voice soft.
Roy glanced at Ed, who was sat in the passenger seat of the car, looking back at the road. He gripped the the steering wheel a little tighter, sighing.
"..How is your side now?" he inquired, through his teeth. Ed's freckled ears flicked, and he looked up at the colonel, raising an eyebrow, a clearly bewildered expression across his face. The colonel glanced at him, grumbling to cover up the embarrassed frown.
"Well?" Ed watched him for a moment, then blinked and smirked, folding his arms. Roy glanced back and moaned.
"Yeah alright, Riza told me to talk to you." Ed rolled his eyes, shaking his head hopelessly, looking back out the window. Roy sighed. This wouldn't be easy.
"...S'pretty cloudy today." he mumbled, stubbornly continuing. Ed's jaw dropped, and his stare bore holes into the colonel's head. The colonel mentally face palmed, cursing himself for trying to talk about the weather. The WEATHER of ALL things. Ed continued to stare, his ears drooping hopelessly, shaking his head once more, a disappointed groan echoing.
"''EY! I'm trying alright!" Roy defended, pulling into his drive, growling. Ed merely rolled his eyes, undoing the seat belt and hopping out of the car.
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Here we are! Another chapter :3 I hope it was worth the wait, but probably not haha. Poor Eddy-kins, living with mean ol' Roy :3 haha no Roy's just a failure when it comes to Ed. :3