What If...

DISCLAIMER:
OBVIOUSLY I DON’T OWN FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST, OR ELSE ROY AND ED WOULD BE LONG OUT OF THE CLOSET AND HUGHES (SNIFF SNIFF) WOULD SOOOOOOOOOOOO NOT BE DEAD. I DO NOT PROFIT MONETARILY FROM THIS CREATIVE GENIUS OF MINE, MORE\'S THE PITY. THE ONLY CHARACTERS THAT I DO OWN (OR ARE ON LOAN FROM THE OWNER) ARE ISIRIUS (MINE) AND MOON (MY BETA). IF YOU NEED TO BLAME SOMEONE FOR ANY OF THE CONTENT IN THIS STORY PLEASE WRITE TO: CAT THE HENTAI MUSE C/O FYRNISIS@HOTMAIL.COM. HE PROBABLY WON\'T ANSWER THOUGH. HE HATES BEING WOKEN UP.

Roy: haven’t you given up yet?

Isirius: *In Amelia (from Slayers, which I also do not own) justice pose*!!!!!! Kinda, yeah… *slumps over*

Ed: What the hell did you do to me? I better not be missing anything else, anything vital…

Isirius: *smirk*

Ed: *sweatdrop* you wouldn’t…. not that…

Isirius: Don’t worry Edo kun, this is a Roy/Ed fic. Your jewels are safe from me. For now.

Ed: What do you mean for now?!? I swear, you touch them and I’ll quit! You can get Hughes to play the dirty parts.

Maes: Now now, Edo kun, she can’t do that. What would my dear Gracia think?

Roy: That you have excellent taste of course. *preening for the mirror*

Isirius: *starry eyes* now boys, I think we can accommodate all of you… *drools*

Ed: Can we just get on with it?

Chapter 2: That Horses Ass.

Al and Winry arrived in Central just in time for the sunrise. Al was grateful to Winry for coming along, especially since he hadn’t yet gotten his limbs into full working order.
He wasn’t quite sure what he was going to do when he got to HQ, no one there had seen him like this. At least Winry was a familiar face and might be able to convince someone to let them see General Mustang. Roy was moving up in the ranks quickly, already a two star General. Of course, that made it so much harder to get in to see him.

“C’mon Al, let’s get a move on!” Winry stood and stretched. “Do you need a hand?”
She looked down at Al. It still kind of creeped her out seeing him like that, like time had stopped for him. It was depressing to think that she’d have wrinkles before he had pimples.

“No, thank you Winry. I can handle myself Let’s just get this over with as soon as possible.” Al wasn’t relishing the thought of facing Mustang with his brother’s resignation, the man was only ever in the worst of moods when it came to the Fullmetal.

The Private behind the front desk at HQ gave Al and Winry the once over. “Can I help you miss?” he looked new.

“Yes, we’re here to see General Mustang please.” Winry said in her best nice girl voice.

“The Private smirked. “If you’re here to pawn the kid off on the General, I should warn you that he doesn’t look a thing like him.”

Oh, this is bad – thought Al. And predictably…

“Why you insignificant little worm!!! How dare you imply that I would sleep with that old warhorse! I’ll cave your skull in you worthless twirp!”

“Now, now, Miss Rockbell, it isn’t very nice to say things like that about our dear General.” said a familiar voice from behind.

“Hughes!” Winry screamed and threw herself on his neck, he was barely able to keep his coffee from spilling. The Private snapped to attention, a little green around the gills. It’s not good to insult friends of the Colonel. Yes, Hughes was also promoted.

“Hello Colonel Hughes” Al said, hoping Hughes would recognize his voice at least. Maes looked down at Al, curiosity on his face.

“And who is this little….” Slowly realization spread on his face. “Alphonse…” His mug fell from his hands, and as if in slow motion fell to the floor and shattered. Captain Hawkeye (also promoted… ok, everyone’s been promoted) was passing at that moment and yelled at Hughes for being so clumsy, not noticing his trancelike stare at the boy until Hughes stepped over his broken cup and kneeled in front of the ‘boy’,

Hughes reached his hand up to Al’s cheek, almost afraid to touch him. Hawkeye stepped up then. “Colonel Hughes, just who is this boy” she said.

He startled, having finally heard her, and slowly stood. “Captain Hawkeye, may I present to you Alphonse Elric.” He said plainly.

Hawkeye stared at Hughes for a few moments, then turned back to the boy who was looking at her with a small smile on his face.

“Al?” she cracked out, then fell to her knees and swept him into a hug. It took Al a moment to respond, and to realize that she was shaking. He pulled back and looked at her face, seeing tears streaming from her eyes.


Both responses were repeated often as Hughes and Hawkeye escorted Winry and Al to Mustang’s office. People stopped working to gawk at the ‘boy’ from the armor that had wandered the halls for years. When they reached the office, Mustang was standing outside waiting, Armstrong next to him. Someone had called ahead of them.

“Al?” asked the General, a soft look to his face.

“Hello General Mustang.” Al replied. “I have a message for you from Ed.”

“So that little pain in the ass finally did it… how?”

“We’ll get into that in a minute, sir. If we could step into your office?” It was slightly disturbing to hear such grown up words from such a young mouth, but then Al was grown up wasn’t he. Roy nodded and led the way into his office. Al and Winry both took seats in front of his desk and he sat behind. Hawkeye closed the door behind her as Armstrong and Hughes took seats at the couch, leaving room for her in the middle.

“So Al,” Mustang started, “how does it feel?”

“Short. I think I have vertigo in reverse.” There were a few laughs around, Winry’s being the loudest. She’d had longer to get used to it.

“And Fullmetal? Why isn’t he here basking in his achievement?” Mustang’s voice was a trifle sarcastic, a slight twist to his lips.

Al dropped his eyes. The room got quieter. “Al?”

“There was… a backlash. Something we couldn’t have predicted.” He still hadn’t raised his eyes. The room went silent.

“What happened” voiced Hughes, his voice barely above a whisper. “Is he…” he couldn’t finish his sentence. Al looked up at him.

“He’s alive, he’s just different. He’s on bed rest right now, but…. He asked me to give this to you.” Al passed the box to Mustang, who looked at it like one would look at a poisonous snake.

“What is it?” he finally asked. Al looked at him, then looked back down.

“Just take it” he whispered. Roy reached out and took the box, setting it on his desk. It was about four by six inches, not as intimidating as some of the boxes he’d received, but for some reason he couldn’t quite bring himself to open it. Nevertheless…

“Before you open it,” interrupted Al, “I want you to know. I’ve decided to become a State Alchemist.” Roy stopped and looked at Al. Now he REALLY didn’t want to look inside that box. But… He flipped the lid open. He saw the letter with his name written on it first. He lifted it out, and underneath he saw the watch. It froze him. Slowly, almost not believing it, he lifted the watch out by the chain. There were shocked gasps around the room. Ed had only ever willingly parted with his watch once, and had done a lot of damage to those who tried to take it. Not a good sign.

He set the watch down next to the box, unfolded the letter, and began to read.

To: Second Star General Roy Mustang
From: Edward Elric, the Fullmetal Alchemist

Dear Roy:
I’m very sorry I can’t be there in person to do this, but I can barely get out of bed long enough to pee let alone go see your sorry ass. So as a consolation I’ll make this short and sweet.

I QUIT!

Don’t bother sending back the watch, I won’t take it. And I think that if you saw me right now you’d agree that I’m unfit for duty. And don’t bother asking what’s wrong with me, I’ve sworn Al and Winry to secrecy. It’s not a matter for the State anymore anyway. So do me a favor. Tell everyone thanks and goodbye for me, and leave me the hell alone. If I see any military personnel near the Rockbell’s property I’ll fry them.

Yours Most Grievously,
Edward Elric, formerly the Fullmetal Alchemist.


P.S. Be nice to Al when he passes.

Roy could only stare for a minute, heedless of the eyes watching him. Finally, he spoke: “That SON OF A BITCH!”