"It seems that the Colonel's mind is now digressing with his body." The doctor said, leaning against the counter next to the door.
"Then what do we do?" Riza asked as Roy leaned against her on the examination table. "It seems to fade in and out."
"His brain is becoming more like a light bulb. In effect, his memories are flickering between what he knows and what a five year old would know. There is nothing I can do unless I can get a proper sample of Dr. Striker's serum or you can get the man to give you the correct formula. I can do nothing for him except tell you to be what you can do him. When he remembers you for who you are, be his subordinate, his friend. When he doesn't remember, you are his mother, a confidant, his caretaker. He needs to be able to trust you in both frames of mind."
"And there's nothing you can do?" Roy asked, looking at the doctor with a tired expression.
The doctor shook his head sadly.
"I'm sorry, Colonel, but unless you get something to help with your regression, you will have this problem until your brain won't be able to flicker back to your adulthood. I don't think you're actually losing your memory but it's being locked away, almost like the toddler brain just can't comprehend your memories and adulthood. If worst came to worst, you would regain each memory when you grew back to normal… It would not be fun for everyone around you, but you will still and always be Colonel Roy Mustang."
"But I don't want to grow up again."
"And I will do everything in my power to keep that from happening." The doctor said. He turned to Riza. "When do you plan on seeing that doctor again?"
"Very shortly. We believe it's gone on long enough as well."
"Good. As soon as you can get a sample, bring it here and I can begin to work on it."
Riza nodded and picked up Roy, holding him in her arms as he laid his head on her shoulder.
"Riza, am I too heavy?"
"No, you're fine."
"Are you lying?"
Riza chuckled. "No, Colonel, you're fine. You know I would say something if you were."
"Yeah… I'm sorry all this happened."
"It was no fault of yours."
"If I just hadn't taken those pills…"
"I think that was a very small factor in the big picture, Colonel. I think somehow that serum got into you from your earlier visits and it wouldn't matter if you had taken the pills or not for it to react to you."
"I'm thirsty, Riza."
"What would you like to drink?"
"Just some juice…"
Riza walked past the car and into a small café. She ordered a juice for Roy and a beer for herself. She took the day off to take care of Roy's affairs and after all that's happened, she decided a nice cold beer would knock off the edge. She wasn't prone to drinking but things were getting so frustrating. She was only drinking one since she would have to drive with Roy in the car and him being so little…
She set him in a chair and set the juice in front of him as she went to the other seat. They were silent for a while when Roy finished his juice with a loud slurping noise and he giggled. Riza smiled at him as he set the glass back on the table.
"Ms. Riza?"
Riza sighed, knowing his mind had reverted again.
"Yes?"
"When I grow up, I'm going to marry you."
Riza choked on her beer for a second, coughing and recomposing herself. He looked at her with confusion in his black eyes.
"Did I say something bad?"
"No, no… It just took me by surprise. You wouldn't like me when you grow up. I'll be old."
"So?"
"If you have to grow up again, you'll find a lovely young woman to love and marry her. You'll forget all about me." She said a little sadder than she had wanted to sound.
"Nah, I'll marry you. They'll be so stupid and you're so smart."
Riza laughed a little. "Thank you, Roy."
He beamed at her and Riza had to smile. Roy never liked to talk about his childhood but she had to admit that he was one of the cutest little kids she'd ever seen. Even at this age, he could make women swoon but of course, it was out of adorableness, not suave.
"Hawkeye?"
"Yes, Colonel?" she said, hearing the sincerity in his voice.
"If… If I have to grow up again… you'll be there for me right?"
"Of course I will. I won't leave you."
He seemed uneasy and then looked up at her.
"If something happens and I end up having to grow up from being a baby, will you give me a new identity?"
Riza frowned. "What do you mean?"
"Well that doctor said my memories should stay recessed until I grow up but I don't want to be me anymore. I don't want to remember this… I want you to give me a whole new identity. If I have another life to live, I want to do it without being tied to this life. I can't watch you watch me if you keep me the same Roy Mustang in your life. I want to protect you…"
Riza smiled, understanding, and reached out, touching Roy on the head.
"Colonel, I don't think it will come to that but if it did, then I will do as you ask. You will always be my superior."
"But that's the point, Hawkeye, I won't be your superior anymore; I'll be child. I don't want to be a spoiled kid and if you treat me like I'm your colonel, then I'll be like Fullmetal."
Riza laughed. "You know that Edward isn't spoiled."
"No… but I think that I'll still be like him dammit." He growled. "If I have to grow up again then I'll technically be a prodigy like him but not really. He's a cocky, stupid, arrogant kid who knows he's able to do pretty much anything but… What can he do? He lost his parents and technically had to take care of his brother like a father. I'll have you, Riza, but I'll be just like him. I want to make my own way…"
"If that happens, Colonel, I promise to make sure you're the most disciplined kid in the military academy."
"Who said I would go there?"
"I know you, Colonel. Even though you'll have a new identity, those memories will be there and your thrive for fixing this country will still be there. You'll get in the military… then I'll be your superior and your mother." Riza said with a glint in her eyes.
"Hmm." Roy said.
Riza just laughed. "It won't come to that but it would be funny."
"Yeah… hey, maybe you can establish the mini-skirt female military uniform idea."
"No."
Roy laughed. "Worth a try."
"You're cute, but not that cute."
They talked some more and then headed back to the car.
"So what did the doctor say?" Edward asked over the phone.
"He said that his mind is flickering between his real age and what a toddler should be thinking. As long as I stay constant, he said that will be easier to deal with."
"What do you mean?"
"As in, when he's mentally the Colonel, I am his trust subordinate who will be with him every step of the way. When he's mentally a toddler, I am the caretaker that will never leave him and will be with him every step of the way."
"Ah, I see."
"He told me something a little disturbing today."
"Oh?"
Riza looked at the sleeping Colonel beside her, his mouth open and snoring slightly.
"I think he's giving up."
"What? The Colonel?"
"He told me today that if he has to grow up again, he wants to be given a new identity."
"Why would he want that?"
"He said he didn't want to remember this adventure as well as me thinking he will come back or something. He wants to make a new life… though he'll go back into the military. I know he will because of his determination to fix this country. I know that that will never leave him… I told him I would be his superior and his mother."
"Ouch, double whammy… Ooh! I'll be his superior too!" Edward chuckled manically. "Maybe he should just grow up again…"
"Edward…" Riza chuckled.
"Payback for all those bogus missions." They both chuckled. "In all seriousness though, that's not a good sign. We need to go see that stupid doctor soon. If Colonel Bastard is giving up then we need to hurry."
"I can go up there tomorrow if you want to come with me."
"Yeah, sounds good. Al can watch the Colonel if you want him to."
"That sounds good. I just hope his mind will stay with him."
"Nah, Al just entertains kids by taking off his head and then letting them ride in his armor… or looking for kittens. Whichever is the easiest."
They talked some more on the phone.
A phone hung up and someone smiled in the dark room.
"What's got you happy?" someone asked.
"It looks like our plan is going well. They'll be coming here tomorrow. Remember to give them a bad batch. Just one more time and things will be in place…"
"And what about this guy? Are you sure we need him?"
The woman looked over at the man that was tied up in the chair, a gag in his mouth and looking at them in horror.
"We need him to make sure we give them the wrong potion of course. For once, we have a captive that we have to keep alive. When we get things done, though, we can scrap him."
"Can I eat him, Lust, can I?"
The black haired beauty touched her fat companion on the head as he looked at the doctor in hunger.
"Not now, Gluttony. We must wait a little longer… Envy, please do us the honors."
The dark green haired man gave a maniacal grin and sparks flew a little as his body changed from his svelte self and into the man tied up in the chair.
"It sucks having to change in to an old man like you but, we have to do what we can to make sure that idiot colonel doesn't get in our way. Thanks a lot Dr. Striker for hiring me."
Dr. Striker tried to yell at them as the three left, leaving the doctor to only hope things didn't go south for the poor Colonel.
and we find out who the enemies behind all this is. our lovely homunculi. yay! and poor roy, his little brain just can't handle every life cycle. will he be able to keep his mind or no? will he be able to defeat this? so many questions! and is he just giving up?