Second chapter is up and running! Polished up like the first. :D

Chapter 2: Questioning

"Can I talk to you in my office, Edward?" Roy said as he casually leaned out of his office.

Ed froze and turned his gaze over to Al. His brother rolled his eyes and shrugged. They both knew the lecture that was going to be bestowed upon them.

Roy held up a hand, "If you don't mind Alphonse, I'd like to have a word with Edward alone please," he said.

Somewhat confused, but unusually relieved, Al obliged; he had a feeling he knew why Mustang was talking to his brother. "I'll meet you in the front hall," he said as he left, not wanting to get caught up in the drama of talking to the colonel.

Ed held his lips tightly together as he entered and took a seat in front of Roy's desk, a place he hated being. Not because he hated getting scolded, but because it was by the colonel. "Yeah?"

"Fun weekend, huh? Did you enjoy the banquette on Saturday?" Four times a year the military held a banquette for its soldiers, one for each season. It kept spirits high and broke the usual monotony that was 'paperwork in times of peace' at central headquarters.

Edward never attended any of the banquettes before. He and Alphonse traveled around too much to bother showing up when they happened; besides, they were too young to go. This was the first time they actually attended because Alphonse being back in his original body was enough of a reason to celebrate. It was also the first time Ed got to fully enjoy himself and not feel guilty about leaving Al out. "Yeah, it was pretty good," he said with his best face.

Had Roy been unfamiliar with Fullmetal's fronts, he may have bought it, "Why did you leave early?"

"I had something at the buffet that didn't agree with me. I went home around one," this time his front was true.

Roy folded his hands as he watched Ed squirm in his seat, "Something doesn't add up, why are you acting so nervous?"

"Nervous? Why would I be?" he said, neglecting to notice he didn't hide his 'tells'.

"Riza said that you asked for a ride."

He nodded, "I felt like garbage, I didn't want to walk."

Mustang leaned forward "Maria took you?"

Ed swallowed hard, "Yeah-she made sure I made it to my room," he laughed a little, "I got sick earlier that night and was kind of weak in the knees, well, knee," he said and gave his automail a tap.

"She helped you to your room?" he probed.

"She did, yeah. That was the end of my night."

Roy sat in awe of the bullshit. How dare Ed think he could pull one over on the Flame Alchemist, "How thoughtful. That doesn't explain why she stayed with you for an hour afterward."

Edward was then confused for a moment, "I fell asleep as soon as I hit the pillow. I don't know why she would have stuck around." He stood up, "Can I go now, I want to get breakfast before it's over."

Roy nodded and waved him out with his hand. "If your not telling me something that I need to hear Fullmetal, you better tell me now," he pointed two fingers at Ed and then linked them back to his eyes, "You get nothing past me."

"Was that a statement, or a request?" Ed cockily asked.

"Both," he said with an equally smarmy tone.

Ed sighed, "There's nothing..." he turned to leave. After a second of silence Roy gave him the go ahead to leave and he did just that. He closed the door behind him, then b-line to find Al again; he was in the cafeteria.

Al looked at Edward as they waited in line, "Was it about...?" he said in a meek tone.

"Yes," he heaved a sigh, "He wanted to know what I was doing on Saturday."

Al raised an eyebrow. "...did he find out?"

With a shake of his head he smirked, "Nope. Maria would get in a lot of trouble if he knew. He bought my story, I think, so we're in the clear. I'm not used to lying on the spot like that though."

Al seemed skeptical, "I don't know; I feel like they're going to drag this one out," he said as he grabbed two tea biscuits.

Ed nonchalantly pushed his tray ahead and adopted a smug tone, "I doubt it. This is a first offense though, I'm sure they won't be too brutal about the whole thing...yeah...so long as I promise to 'never do it again'," he said in a rehearsed voice, "They'll let it slide."

"As long as Lieutenant Ross keeps her word," Al said. Ed was a bit shaken by his brother's suggestion, but decided to forget about the whole thing and just let it blow over.

And blow over, it did not. Back in Mustang's office, he was grilling Maria. "What did you do when you left with Edward?"

Maria thought back to Saturday. Roy was making her nervous with his causal tone on a potentially serious matter, "Well," she began, "I was supposed to drive everyone that night, I didn't drink anything if that's what you're concerned about," she assumed someone saw her driving and assumed she was doing so under the influence.

Roy shook his head and said, "I want to know what you were doing in Edward's room at one in the morning. Someone reported that you two went in and you emerged an hour later."

Maria became flustered, "What?" she said in utter shock, "What in the world are you suggesting!" Second Lieutenant Ross seemed quite upset with the comment and went on the defensive. "Edward wasn't feeling well, so I stayed with him till he fell asleep."

Roy raised an eyebrow. "He told me he fell asleep right away."

Maria was at a loss for words. She pressed her lips together tightly and then relaxed them and spoke, "That's something you'll have to take up with Edward. Nothing happened, I swear on it."

Roy shook his head. "I wish I could believe that. When I asked Edward about it he got nervous and wouldn't say much of anything. Now, I've known Fullmetal for a while, he's never been known to act nervous like that unless he was hiding something."

She gave him a glare. "Nothing happened sir. He's only a child."

Mustang nodded. "I agree...which is why I'm looking so deeply into the matter. You can go for now, but if I find out anything to the contrary of what you've told me, your job will be on the line." He leaned back in his chair and folded his arms, "Don't leave headquarters until I say so, alright?" Mustang gave his order.

Maria saluted him spitefully. "Freely and gladly," she said to left the office, sure to not slam the door on her way out.

'Again? I must be cursed!' That being said and done she left the room and took off down the hall in a walking sprint to find Edward. 'He got his story mixed up, damn.' After a few minutes of searching she finally ran into both brothers.

The two boys looked at her face and immediately knew that something was wrong. Maria pulled them into one of the vacant conference rooms and shut the door. "Alright, Mustang seems to think that I spent the night with you on Saturday." Ed seemed puzzled. "Well you did...didn't you?"

Lieutenant Ross shook her head. "Not like that...like..." she attempted to make a facial gesture insinuating what the colonel was insinuating. "He the way he thinks it happened...is bad. He thinks that we had...relations of a non-consensual manner." She watched Ed pause to cognitively run the sentence through his brain.

Al chimed in "You mean he thinks that you took advantage of brother?" he said, unsure if he knew what she meant.

Maria nodded, "Yes! Now he's grilling me. Plus, you messed up the story!"

Ed was stunned by the accusation, "Wait, what?"

"On top of that, my job is on the line here. I need an alibi," she said as she rubbed a bead of sweat from her brow.

Ed shook his head. "Woah, woah-this is serious! You don't need to cover for me if your job is on the line. I'll just tell them."

Maria waved a hand, "You'll get in trouble with Mustang if you do that. I'll keep my word, don't worry. Give me some time."

Ed crossed his arms, "You've done too much already, don't think this'll just blow over. Once the colonel catches wind of gossip he's like a bloodhound of the military."

Al nodded."Yeah, and it's brother's fault for doing this in the first place. You shouldn't have to take the fall."

Ed glared at his little brother, "If I go down, you're coming with me."

Al sighed; he was hoping his brother wouldn't have said that. "It figures," Al said and folded his arms.

The group rounded the corner only to run into Mustang as he was happening by; he stopped in his tracks. "What luck. I was just setting out to look for you three. I think I know how to shed some light on this. If you don't mind," Roy insistently showed them down the hall.

The hall led the stairs, leading to his office, leading to a chair which very well could have led to a punch in the face. "Now what? I don't even get through a meal without you breathing down my neck," Ed said as he tried to annoy the colonel out of the interrogation."

You're a soldier, you'll do as instructed. Sit," and they did.

Ed exchanged a worried glance with Maria. Upon getting situated, the questions began. They sat down amidst all of Mustang's crew, Falman, Feury, Breda and Hawkeye; including Lieutenant Havoc who looked rather sour, a toothpick adorn his lips. "Listen Mustang, you're blowing this way out of proportion." Ed stated in a way that made Roy cross his arms.

"Saturday, 1:50 am, noises emitted from Edward's room that disturbed the neighbour. The noises were described as a 'fight' or 'struggle'. Can you explain? Edward said he went to sleep right when he got to his room; who could have been making a 'struggling' noise?" The room fell silent, everyone stared with anticipation. Mustang placed a reassuring hand on Edwards shoulder. "You really don't have to cover for anyone here Ed."

Ed sighed in defeat and brushed Mustang's hand away. "Actually, I'm not covering for her; it's really the other way around," he said rather sheepishly.

"Hmm?" Roy, along with everyone else in the room, seemed confused.

"You seem to think that we..." he couldn't bring himself to say it, "...had relations with Maria on Saturday, and now she's trying to cover it...well," he was embarrassed enough to turn a bright shade of red, "She's...actually covering for me. She did spend some time in my room, but nothing happened."

They all stared on with anticipation, "Go on..." Mustang antagonized."

You see," he paused and looked at all the accusing eyes locked on him and lieutenant Ross. Ed knew he had to tell the truth in this situation; being a good liar means knowing when to quit. "I..."