This is the end. I hope you have enjoyed reading this at least as much as I have enjoyed writing it… yadda yadda… here's the chapter. Love you, all my reviewers.
Brynn

Chapter 7: Child

"Were're here."

"Yeah."

I sigh. I don't want to go up there. I don't want to face consequences. But I guess there's no choice. I'm going there and lick the hand that feeds me as a proper dog. A proper slave.

"What's wrong, brother?" Al asks. So many things. I wouldn't know where to start. But what worries me worst right now is the man waiting to receive my report, because I… I was gone so long that my memories are skewed and I don't know what to think. How to act.

"Can't you guess? I have to listen to the Colonel's long and sarcastic remarks again… 'So the Philosopher's Stone in Lior was fake, too? How long are you going to continue to use military funds on this wild goose chase?'" Now I'm getting out of character. Doesn't matter. A bit of exaggerating can be healthy. "'Oh? Where's Edward-kun?' 'I'm here!' 'I'm sorry, I'm sorry-'" Now I'm totally out of character. Mustang doesn't apologise, not even when he's ridiculing someone.

"'I couldn't see you over the pile of papers…'" That happened. I know about it. But screw him for rubbing it in… Al is embarrassed by my little role-playing. He's sneaking off. Thinking I don't notice, too absorbed in hating Mustang. Oh, hate him I do.

"But, as you said, we're here, so I must face what I must face… Lets go, Al!"

He's gone. A suit of armour can't sneak too quietly, but for a good measure I check all the directions.

"Huh… Al?"

He's crouching in the corner… Oh no.

"Al!"

I'm going to have to be cruel again. I hate this. But there's nothing to do about it. I don't have my own house to be able to take care of a cat.

A

He was a right prick. I let him know by bowing to him as I was leaving, but he didn't even bother to look at me. He wouldn't tell me about Marco and it's more than obvious that he knew the doctor. Or at least knew about the doctor. Well, my bad feeling from this morning just got worse. And I have a damn good idea how to wipe that smirk – I've had weeks to think about it. He's going to be sorry.

I'm being inconsiderate right now, because he has a lot on his mind with the entire Headquarters sardined in his building, plus most of the Alchemists who escaped from Central. I don't envy him the paperwork. But… Oh no, I don't want to talk to Maes. Not after I fled from the birthday party…

So Elysia rides a tricycle, and? I have a lot of my own problems… one Mustang… no. I absolutely refuse to be troubled by him…

Anyway, this invasion is too suspicious. Something is happening, and it won't be good for anyone in the military. I'm afraid of these phantoms. I can face danger I understand, but fighting shadows… I cannot do this.

And Roy has to. Damn. Talk about confused.

A

"No."

"I'm not arguing with you, Colonel. I submitted the challenge. I only thought it was fair to inform you." Besides, you were the first one being impossible. And this is going to be fun. So stop looking so glum – you don't have to really scorch me, if it possibly turned out that you really are better.

"I don't accept."

I smirk, though I don't really feel like it. The choice is not his. I managed to manipulate him. I deserve a metal.

"Let's make a bet. If I win, you tell me about Marco."

"What about the cat Alphonse keeps in the dormitory?"

I wave my hand dismissively, though I feel a pang of guilt.

"Wouldn't want Ai-chan to claw its eyes out. She would be jealous. Though I can't fathom why," I growl and make to leave. I'm already by the door when he speaks.

"I don't accept."

Screw you, Colonel.

You will want to wring my neck in the next few days. You have many contacts, but I have some too. And the most important man is on my side this time.

A

I'm nervous. My hands are shaking and my throat is dry. I never thought that I… after facing so many people who really tried to kill me… that I would be this nervous about a mock-battle. But it's him in the opposite corner, the Flame Alchemist, the one most of the audience betted on. Well, I'm not a kid. I'm tougher than they think. I am. Really.

My ears catch the 'bean boy' comment and I take it as a clue to vent some of my jitters by starting a rant. Al holds me back.

"Stop calling me small!"

"Calm down, brother." Easy to say.

"Oh, well… today is an important day, when I can hit Colonel's face in front of everyone without consequences…"

"But, brother, I thought the Colonel helped us out…" Sweet, sweet Al. You have no idea of all the things he does to 'help us out'. But that doesn't mean I'm going to melt and go starry-eyed on him like Riza. Poor lass.

"He used me like a slave, threatening to reveal my secret." Sorry, Roy. But you are a jerk.

"So, you have a plan?"

"I'll hit him with my fist!"

I want to laugh now. It really helped a lot with the nerves. I can face the jerk. He's just my stupid superior who happens to like the same kind of beverage as I.

"I don't care about the assessment. But if I win, you're going to give me information on Doctor Marco." Al is safe now. And far away. Good for him.

"And you're going to take care of the cat." Al is far, but Maes listens. Maes is waaay too perceptive; I'll try to avoid him knowing too many of my secrets.

He's smirking. I'll wipe it off. Today I can.

"Now then…"

Hughes is off. Clever man. Only I am as stupid as to stand here. I remember you from the station, still, Colonel Roy Mustang, Flame Alchemist. But that doesn't mean you intimidate me… even if you do, a little.

"Ready – fight!"

"Too slow," he says.

A

I am. Too slow. For him. And I didn't deserve that off-handed compliment. And…

I didn't want to see him like that. Weak. Terrified. Haunted. Not even if it meant I 'won'. I have the feeling that this match wasn't such a splendid idea.

"Waaah. That's why I didn't want to do this."

Bollocks.

"Colonel… Why did you go easy on me?" I didn't need you to. You should have won, fair and square. I don't need to be handed unfair victory to boost my ego.

"The last attack. You've had enough time to finish me off."

He looks away from my eyes and his shoulders slump a little. Haunted. Just like before, during the match. Part of me wants to go over there and… I don't know… hug him or something. But I remain where I am.

"It took place many years ago. There was a rebellion in a place called Ishbal."

"The one that took place in the East when the Ishbal people clashed with military?"

"I saw a lot of unpleasant things."

I know that feeling. I suppose it was obvious to me for a long time that you have your own store of horror-stories. That's why I feel so… so attracted to you. That's why I trust you.

"Doctor Marco, who ran away from the battlefield, was the sanest person there. I still believe that."

"That's why you didn't tell me anything?" Yeah, I can understand that. It still isn't safe… and the more it means to me, although I'll probably never tell you either way.

"Perhaps you should see him as well. Marco, that is."

My eyes widen in shock.

"He's alive?" So that's why you didn't tell anything! Now it makes sense. I'm sorry I've been a pain in the arse about it.

"Colonel, I still haven't heard the reason why you stopped the last attack… Nevermind." I suppose I have heard the reason. But…

No, don't turn around! Riza and Alphonse are watching and we are meant to be working here! They'll come to pry us apart to stop us from killing each other-

"Edward." He stands up from the rum he was sitting on and I have to crane my neck a bit to see his face. He has those eyes again. I can't look away for long enough to confirm whether the two blurs moving out of focus are indeed Riza and Al.

"Would you mind me telling you some… stories?"

I shake my head. For a totally insane moment I want to kiss him. But that's Riza's gun aimed at his temple and I have to scowl and grumble something about a stuck-up lazy git to appease the two intruders.

Minutes later, Roy is chest-deep in a crater, absently tapping the rock with the side of his spade while I'm transfiguring the mass into a resemblance of flat surface. We're carefully back to back. Riza doesn't watch us in favour of conversation with my brother.

"I have to make sure Al gets rid of the cat. So…"

"You can't," he says quietly. And then… "I understand."

No, you don't, jerk. I meant nothing like that.

"You're not coming."

I roll my eyes.

"I didn't say that. I'm going to be late."

A

"I know that I said I'd be late, but I didn't mean this late," I say from the kitchen chair where I'm sitting, petting Ai-chan, upon hearing the front door open. Mustang staggers inside and he looks a whole lot worse than he did a few hours ago – I realise when he gets into sight.

"You're smashed," I state coldly and set the cat on the floor. She leaves. Mustang slumps into the opposite chair. He looks bad.

"Maes wanted to talk. I didn't have a believable excuse." Apology accepted. I haven't been sitting here too long, anyway.

"I'll make coffee." He looks like he needs it. I can do with some, too, lest I would fall asleep right now. The day was long and eventful. I got to kick Roy's ass… except that I blotched it. But I'm not disappointed. It was all I wished it to be.

"You said you have a story to tell me."

He rubs the root of his nose. Headache, on top of everything.

"Too many… There's something more important. Edward, the National Alchemists fled Central because of a serial murderer."

That doesn't make sense.

"Alchemists are scared of a murderer?"

"He killed ten National Alchemists so far. And he-"

I can see where he aims.

"Followed the procession. He's here. You're afraid." I wait for a while, but he doesn't acknowledge me. It means I hit – full score. Damn. There's a serial murderer running around and Roy, Al and me are primary targets. I'm so glad Winry's back in Risenbool.

"Does Hughes have a descritpion?"

"A bloke with a scar on his forehead, shaped like a cross."

I freeze. That's… improbable. But that man… he asked me if I was a National Alchemist. Uh.

"They call him 'Scar'."

I set a mug of muddy brown liquid in front of him. No point in worrying. But it could be a good idea to get assigned to a mission quickly.

"What did you want to tell me?"

He laughes. 'So many things.'

"I wanted to give you something."

Fighting gravity, he stands up and trudges out of the room, leavig the steamy drink on the table. A while later he's back, takes a sip, and throws a folded sheet of paper in front of me.

I straighten it and stare. It's a map. There is a faded grey cross over the mark of a small village. I look up at Mustang. He swallowes a mouthful of coffee.

"Marco."

He doesn't just know that the man's alive, he knows where. No wonder he was being thick-headed about it before.

"Thanks."

"About the assessment-"

I shake my head.

"I have an idea. A story, right?"

He nods.

"Thanks, Roy," I repeat, stand up, and make for the front door. Ai is nowhere in sight – pity, I wanted to say Goodbye. It's strange, how I'm going to miss the cat, even though I really saw it twice. Thrice, counting today.

"Goodbye," I whisper into the darkness. My fingertips are already touching the knob-

A pair of arms that are stronger and faster than mine spins me around.

"What do you think you are doing, Hagane?" Roy asks and I absently reach to brush his hair out of his eyes. I want to see- there's incomprehension and the obligatory pain. What does he not understand? Aren't my actions clear?

"I'm enough of a nuisance as it is," I say evenly and shrug off his hands. He stands there for a while, assessing me, and I, for all in the world, don't have an idea what's stopping me from turning around and leaving the place. Forver. Finally, he smirks.

"Stupid, stupid child."

Three things I'm not.

But when he kisses me again I realise there are still too many things I have to learn. Still too many years in front of me. I want the shining white world again, to squash the desire to die. He knows. Maybe he does, too.

I've been stupid, and I've been a child. And he doesn't mind.

OWARI