Orphaned

Roy awoke the next morning to a finger poking his side. He grunted and rolled over, swatting the probing digit away, "Let me sleep." he muttered. He didn't know what time it was, and he frankly couldn't care less. It wasn't like he had a job to get up and go to or anything.

"Sorry, can't let that happen." Ed said, way too cheerfully for this early in the morning.

"Why?" the older man groaned. Besides having absolutely no reason to get up, he was aching from head to toe. His body felt like one big black and blue bruise that didn't want to get up right now.

Ed thought about why he had needed to get Roy up so desperately. The finger stopped poking and came to rest on Ed's chin as he racked his brain, 'Why did I come in here?' he wondered. His golden eyes widened, "Oh! You have a phone call." he finally remembered, grinning at the raised eyebrow.

"You seriously forgot that in the time it took to wake me up?" Roy asked, wondering if Ed was suffering from long-term loss of short-term memory all of a sudden.

Ed just shrugged in reply, "Does it matter?"

"Yes, it does." the still-laying-down man turned over in his bed once more, "Take a message."

"The guy said it was urgent." the blond now recalled the short conversation he had had with the caller.

"Who is it?" Roy asked, sighing at realizing that he wasn't going to get out of not taking the call. It would be a lot less hassle then trying to get the information out of Ed anyhow.

"Ummmmm..." the finger that was resting on his chin began to tap lightly, "I don't think he said."

Sighing once more, this time in frustration, Roy pushed the heavy covers off of him and rose to his feet. He padded out to the kitchen and picked up the phone, "Hello?" he answered in a still-sleepy voice.

"Mustang." the voice on the other line greeted, "It's a pleasure to be talking with you."

Half-lidded eyes full of sleep dust snapped open at the strangely familiar voice, "Who is this?" he demanded. He couldn't place the low yet smooth tone of the other man's voice, but knew he had heard it somewhere.

"I'm hurt, I thought you would remember me. After all, I did save your life back at the Underground." This comment left Roy speechless. He now knew who it was, but still had no name to put with the voice, which continued to speak to him, "That reminds me, how is your shoulder?"

Roy glanced to the bandaged wound that had resulted from Amanda's ice crystal, "A little sore." he commented.

The mystery man chuckled at this, "Well, at least you've still got both of your arms. Think, there are some people out there without function of any of their limbs. I do pity them..."

Roy blinked as the other man went way off-topic to feeling sorry for paraplegics, "Yes." was all he had to offer.

A short sigh filled his ears before the almost-haunting voice took its place, "Are you busy today?"

Without thinking, Roy answered, "No." If he had other plans, they could be canceled for this man. Roy wanted to meet him more than anything right now. Not only to properly thank him for saving his life, but to see what he looked like, and to talk with him. A million questions were floating around in his head for the man, most immediate was what name he should give his savior.

"I'm glad to hear that. Perhaps we could get together a little later." he suggested.

Roy nodded, "Where at?"

A slightly amused chuckle came through the line, "Always straight to the point, aren't you?" After a short pause, he continued, "Alright, meet me in the Village Park in an hour."

"I'll be there." Roy promised, not failing to notice the slight change in the man's attitude. Up until now, the stranger had been carefree and flexible, asking Roy if he was available instead of just telling him he wanted to talk to him. Now, though, he left no room for negotiation and told Roy when and where to be. Hanging up the phone, he barely noticed when Ed started talking to him.

"So, who was it?"

Turning to face the short boy, he shrugged, "I don't know, he never gave me a name." he admitted, wondering why he hadn't just outright asked for one. He got the feeling, though, that if he had, he wouldn't have gotten a straight answer. He hadn't told Ed that someone had saved his life last night, or that he had run away the moment he got the chance. He didn't need to be ridiculed for that by a kid. That, and he felt that he was a role model to Ed; the younger one really didn't have many people to look up to, and as his guardian, Roy felt that it was his responsibility. Certainly running away from a fight you brought on yourself wasn't good role-model behavior, so he kept that one a little secret. Nothing damaging, just something Ed didn't necessarily need to know.

"Sounds kind of suspicious to me." Ed commented, frowning, "So, you're meeting him somewhere?" He had heard enough of Roy's end of the conversation to gather that much.

"Yeah, in an hour. I shouldn't be too long, you and Al will be alright by yourselves for a little while, right?"

Ed knew the older one was keeping something from him, but he also knew that, after the last incident, Roy wouldn't keep anything vital from him. Shrugging it off, he nodded, "No problem, just as long as you're home in time to cook dinner!"

Roy chuckled, "Of course." he agreed.

Olive-green eyes smiled as the mystery man hung up his phone, 'Mustang.' he thought, smirking. Roy certainly was an interesting character, knowingly harboring an alchemist in his home. He wouldn't have put it past Mustang to have helped the boy, either. He smirked again, deciding he definitely like Roy Mustang. He then turned his attention to why he had called the older man. He didn't know if Roy would go for the idea, but if it was possible, then he could finally rid himself of that annoying Stephen character. The brunette shook his head, 'I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.'

Roy was the strongest alchemist he could think of for the job, so naturally he went to him. Besides, he knew Mustang at least somewhat. Even if he had never personally talked with him, he had been able to observe his work and ascertain his skill for many years.

"So, are you meeting with him?" came a woman's voice from behind the olive-eyed man. He turned, grinning, "We're meeting in an hour."

The long, blond-haired woman smiled in return, "That's great. Hopefully, he'll help us. What do you think?"

A slight frown touched the man's lips, "I'm really not sure." he soon covered his hesitation with a smile, "But we won't know until we try."

A short nod agreed with him, "Well, good luck." she said, heading towards the door.

"And where are you going?" he wondered.

"You act like my mother." she informed him, "I'm calling Gary to see if he'll fill in for me a little longer, then I'm heading over to check up on the boys."

"Just be careful and don't slip up." he warned her. She was good at keeping a cover, but it had been going on for 6 years, and even the best were bound to slip up sometime.

"I would never!" she feigned offense, "It's insulting that you would even conisder me slipping up like that."

This earned a laugh from the brunette, "Alright, alright. Have fun, but don't be gone too long. And try to get out of there before he shows up."

"Why?" she wondered.

"Just to be safe." he explained.

"Always with being safe." she muttered, opening the door, "Fine, I'll be out of there as soon as I can."

Satisfied, the brunette nodded his goodbye and checked his watch. There was still another half an hour until he had to meet Roy, but it was always best to get there a little early. With one more glance to his home, he locked the door, and was on his way, 'Whatever his decision, it will all end soon.'