AN/ Hey and welcome to chapter 1 it's the first real chapter and though it's a bit shorter than I normally try and make my chapters I still hope y'all will enjoy it.
it's still only the beginning though so the next one's will hopefully be a bit longer.
A big thank you to everyone who faved, alerted and reviewed, y're awesome!
Also to Wong : Thank you! And yes it truly is a fun thing to say XD
Now then, on with the chappy!

Disclaimer : I do not own Fullmetal alchemist and make no profit of this.

Limping Ed made his way to central headquarters. He spit a glob of blood on the beaten pathway to his left and paused to wipe his mouth with the torn sleeve of his jacket before continuing on. Through the shredded leg of his pants the damaged contours of his automail were visible for all to see. His usually so carefully braided hair floated behind him on the breeze.

All in all he made quite the sight and he couldn't wait till he reached the city, where he would no doubt be subjected to the gawking stares of the citizens and his superiors mocking. Never mind the enormous scolding and the screwdriver to the head he would no doubt get when he had to ask Winry to once again restore his damaged leg. Oh yes, he couldn't wait.

With a sigh Ed finally saw the buildings of central appear on the horizon. With luck he'd reach the city in another hour or so. No thanks to the bastard that beat the shit out of him. Not that he'd ever admit it out loud of course, but Envy had been well on his way to once again leaving him broken and bleeding on the ground. He hadn't though and that was definitely odd. Not that Ed was complaining, but normally the violent homunculus took every opportunity presented to him to belittle and hurt the alchemist, often only stopping because of his companions timely interventions.

What had triggered this strange behavior from his volatile opponent Ed did not know. Envy had just frozen in the middle of their fighting and looked at him. Though not really at him, Ed corrected silently, it had almost been as if he had been looking through him, though what he was trying to see Ed didn't know.

At first he had hesitated, thrown off by the sudden pause and the shock that had taken over Envy's face. Soon though he had recovered and within moments his automail blade had been moving in a graceful arc towards the sin's abdomen.

That had seemed to snap him out of it, but instead of retaliating he just flipped back, took one last searching look at Ed and left. Leaving behind one very confused alchemist to stare after him.

Even now, hours later, Ed still didn't know what had happened. He had searched the surroundings for some kind of clue as to the others unusual behavior but had found nothing.

Eventually he'd had to resign himself to the fact that whatever it had been was probably already long gone, that or it had to have been something triggered by the others obvious insanity. It still didn't sit well with him though. He was a curious person by nature and he couldn't stand not knowing what had caused the sudden shift in the homunculus' behavior.

It seemed his curiosity would have to wait for now though. He had finally reached the city.

Stumbling through the packed streets Ed made his way over to the military headquarters. He glared at anyone that bumped into him, suppressing a wince when one particularly fat citizen knocked into his scratched, human, arm. Luckily the crowds soon thinned and he could walk relatively unhindered for the rest of the trip.

When he finally reached headquarters though, Ed was exhausted. He'd been up since early that morning and had been walking all day. The fight with Envy didn't help matters any either. Now he just wanted to sleep, and eat, but most of all he wanted to sleep.

Grumbling he turned away from the direction of his room and turned instead towards the colonels office. That bastard better be there or he had another thing coming.

Roy sat behind his desk waiting patiently. He'd heard the fullmetal alchemist was back in town and if the curses coming from the hallway were any clue that information seemed to be true.

So when the short alchemist finally came stumbling through the door he showed no surprise, only raising a single mocking brow upon seeing the disheveled state his subordinate was in.

"Why fullmetal, are you alright?" The colonel asked with mock concern, "You almost look like someone stepped on you."

"WHO ARE YOU CALLING SO SMALL AN ANT COULD SQUISH THEM?" The reaction was instantaneous and Roy didn't even try to suppress his smirk. For such a short person Edward had one hell of a lung capacity. A fact that still served to amuse the flame alchemist, no matter how many times before he'd heard it.

"Aren't I allowed to be concerned for my subordinates wellbeing?" Roy asked, doing his best impression of a kicked puppy. Apparently his best was not enough because Ed only scoffed and looked away, obviously still pissed.

Casting a look at the clock on the wall Roy sighed. It seemed he would have to cut this short.

"Fullmetal." He called out to the still fuming alchemist.

Grudgingly Ed looked up, "What?" he grunted.

"Report." Was the only thing Mustang said. Seeing how his superior was serious now Ed sighed and started talking. Beginning with the rumors that had led to his investigation and ending with his confrontation with the homunculus.

Mustang just sat there, listening stoically and sometimes commenting on a particularly stupid or rash action, in his opinion, of the alchemist's. Near the end though he couldn't quite keep his disbelief to himself.

"So the homunculus just turned around and left?" He asked one eyebrow mockingly raised. Somehow he found that very hard to believe.

Ed was by now about to fall asleep on his feet and was not very happy to have to repeat himself, "I just said that, didn't I? He grumbled irately. "You going deaf in your old age, bastard?"

"Nothing of the sort," Mustang answered calmly, "I just find it hard to believe that he would just leave, especially with the track record you two have."

"Well he did so suck it up." Ed snapped.

"Very well then, if you say so." Mustang said, a serene smile on his face that quickly turned into a smirk.

"Perhaps the homunculus just lost sight of you. It's not like that would be very hard to do after all."

Still smirking Roy watched as the boy shot to his feet, only to stumble and fall over thanks to his defective automail leg. Effectively stopping the short rant the boy was no doubt about to give.

"Fullmetal?" He called, pretending he lost the boy, "Hmm now where did he go?"

He smirked as he saw a metallic hand coming up to grip the edge of the desk, soon followed by a groaning fullmetal alchemist.

"Oh there you are." Roy said with a smirk. "I'm sorry I didn't see you there."

"WHO ARE YOU CALLING SO SMALL A FLEE WOULD OVERLOOK HIM?"

Roy tried, really he did, but he couldn't suppress the chuckles that wanted to burst forth at seeing the fuming alchemist.

Ed for his part had had it. Taking one last look at the laughing colonel he turned on his heel and left, yelling out a couple of very colorful curses as he went. The colonel could choke on his laughter for all he cared, he was going to sleep.

Wincing as he heard his door slam shut Roy finally calmed down.

He took a considering glance at his paperwork, all three stacks of them, but decided that they could wait. He deserved a break.

His peace was short lived however, because not even a minute after he closed his eyes he heard the cocking of a gun and felt the cold caress of the barrel against his temple. Groaning in despair he opened his eyes and saw the stern visage of Riza Hawkeye staring at him disapprovingly. Looking back to his desk he resisted the urge to slam his head on the desk. The paperwork had doubled.

With a sigh he grabbed his pen and a form of the nearest stack and dutifully started scribbling.

A guy could never catch a break around here.

AN/ okay, so like I said it's pretty short but it just felt right to end it there. Anyways thanks for reading and please review! xXx~15