Hello Everyone! This is my first fanfic so I'm not entirely sure what I'm doing. Please feel free to give me any tips or pointers. This may start off a tad slow but I promise it will get better.

The story takes place right around FMA Brotherhood Episode 21. For the purpose of this story, let's just say that Roy's wounds have healed and Havoc is up and moving in a wheelchair.

Disclaimer: I do not own Fullmetal Alchemist or Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood

CHAPTER I

THE LATE REPORT

"Hey, Ed," Winry Rockbell approached quietly. Her blonde ponytail swayed from side to side as she skipped over to her friend's bed.

Edward Elric let out a morning grumble and rolled over onto his side. He pulled the white covers over his head to hide the light streaming in from the window.

"Brother, get up already," Alphonse Elric moaned. His armor body clamored as he approached his sleeping brother.

Edward let out a loud sigh and sat up in bed. "What do you guys want?" He asked in a pained voice while rubbing his eyes and letting out a yawn. He looked over to Winry and his foggy mind started to clear up. "Why are you all dressed up? Are you going somewhere, Winry?" Ed inquired kindly while swinging his legs over the side of the bed. He felt the cold of the hardwood floor on his flesh foot and drew it up quickly.

"Ed, I got a call from Garfiel… I need to make a rush visit to repair some of my clients. I'm leaving in just a few minutes but I should be back in around a week. Is that okay?"

Ed smiled and nodded. "You have people that need you, Winry. I'm not going to be the one that keeps the world's greatest automail mechanic away from her customers." Ed paused and thought for a moment. He turned to his younger brother and stared at him intently.

"Is something on your mind, brother?" Al questioned. He shifted in his chair and his armor rubbed together causing an unpleasant screeching sound to ring in everyone's ears.

"I think you should go to Rush Valley with Winry, Al. With all that's been going on around here, I'd feel better if she had someone with her while she's away. And besides, I have to go see the colonel and I'm sure he's going to have some work for me to do."

"I wouldn't mind having an extra hand to help me out with all of my backed up customers. You wouldn't mind that, Al would you?" Winry smiled brightly to convince Alphonse of going with her.

Al looked back and forth between Winry and Edward and finally let out a sigh. "Just don't go getting into trouble while I'm gone! And mind your manners with the colonel! I just know this is a bad idea, leaving you all alone in central with no one to keep you in check, but I just can't say no to Winry's smile."

"Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you, Al! Now I can get done quicker and we'll be back before you know it! Try not to destroy Central while we're gone, Ed!" Winry called as she picked up her jacket and rushed out of the door, dragging Al behind her.

Ed laughed and ran his hand through his bangs. He excitedly hopped off the bed and started for the shower. On his way, he noticed an envelope sitting on the table and his blood ran cold. "SHIT! I was supposed to drop that off yesterday!" Ed dove into the shower and hurriedly got ready for the day. Without even bothering to grab breakfast, he ran out of the dorm room with envelope in one hand and red jacket in the other. 'Mustang's gonna have my ass for this!'

…

"So Fullmetal, you've finally decided to drop off your report," Colonel Roy Mustang snorted. He kept his head buried in his paperwork while the young alchemist stepped into his dull office. The rest of his crew continued with their work even though they knew where this encounter would eventually lead.

"Shut up and take the damn report," Edward hissed. He plopped onto his favorite couch and crossed his legs.

Mustang flipped through another report while he began his lecture. "Fullmetal, you need to get your priorities straight. I am your commanding officer and you need to turn your reports in on time. What the hell were you doing for the past three days?"

Ed shuddered as he remembered the visit to the remains of his burned house. The sickness he had felt from the rain and the memory of that thing he and Al transmuted consumed his thoughts for only a mere moment until he returned to reality. "None of your damn business."

"You know, bad manners aren't an attractive quality to most people. As well as being short."

"WHO THE HELL ARE YOU CALLING SHORT!?" Ed screamed. He stood up angrily and stormed for the door. 'I don't have to stay here and deal with that bastard. I've got better things to do.' As Ed reached for the door, the colonel's phone began to ring. Normally, Ed would have left as quickly as possible to get back to Al, but since he was alone for the week, Ed decided to stay and listen to the call.

"Yes? Uh-huh. Okay. Uh-huh… Alright, I'll send someone right away." Roy placed the phone back on the receiver and looked up to his youngest subordinate. "Hey, Shorty; you wanna catch a criminal for me?"

Ed growled as steam radiated from his very being. "Call me short one more time…" He snarled.

"Yeah yeah, whatever. Anyways, we've got a rogue alchemist terrorizing the city. Can you handle it or not, Fullmetal?"

Ed smirked and pulled on his jacket. "Don't you worry your pretty little ass, Colonel. Consider it done."

Ed closed the door behind him as he heard the colonel give one final call. "And turn the damn report in on time for once!" Ed spat out a curse at the colonel's remark and started for the scene.

"Sir," First Lieutenant Riza Hawkeye started. She walked over to the colonel's desk and set down a few more files. "Don't you think you were a bit harsh to Fullmetal?"

The colonel let out a pfft and continued his work. "That brat deserved it."

"Really, sir? Because I don't recall him saying anything smart to you before you called him short," The lieutenant stated matter-of-factly.

The colonel looked up and met Riza's scolding stare. He returned to his paperwork with a scowl on his face, realizing his trusted lieutenant was right. "I've got too much work to do to be worrying about some kid's damn feelings," Mustang pouted.

"Yes, sir." Riza saluted Roy as she walked out of his office to get the rest of his files. Once she was gone, the rest of Mustang's crew busted into laughter.

"What the hell are all of you laughing at!?" Roy shouted, his onyx eyes boring holes into each one of his subordinates.

"Damn, colonel, she's got you whipped!" Jean Havoc bellowed while rocking back and forth in his wheelchair. He pulled a cigarette and lighter out of his blue military jacket and lit up a smoke. The grey wisps swirled around his dirty blonde hair and rose to the ceiling.

"Take it outside, Havoc. The rest of us want to live longer than fifty," Mustang sighed. He began to sign the next stack of documents the lieutenant had brought him. 'First I get a late report from Fullmetal, then my own lieutenant calls me out on being an ass and my whole team laughs about it! That shrimp better hope he gets his ass kicked on this assignment… If not, I'm going to kick it myself…'

Alright, so I'm pretty sure that sucked on any number of levels. But hey, who am I to be a pessimist? Why don't I let the lovely readers voice their opinions. Please, I'm begging you, be gentle with me.

For future reference, I plan to update on Fridays from this point forward. If you're very adamant on me updating sooner, I might consider it. Don't worry, I'm a pushover. Until next time, comrades!