Fullmetal Alchemist Fan Fiction ❯ For A Moment ❯ Roy ( Chapter 4 )

For A Moment

 

Disclaimer: Oh, what I'd do if I owned Full Metal Alchemist. For starters, certain people who died would not (don't want to ruin the surprise for those of you who haven't seen episode 25), Roy and Riza would be married with children by now, Ed would have hooked up with Winry by now, Havoc would be in the 3D world so he can be mine, and other things I can't remember right now.

 

Summary: Rated for Ed (you know how bad his mouth gets). “For a moment, eyes as red as the blood I would shed looked back at me.” “Though he would never admit it, for a moment, absolute fear shone in his eyes.” “For a moment, he walked with the souls of the dead.”

Also known as Fullmetal vs. Flame: The Day Roy Showed Fear.

 

What a beautiful day. Not a cloud in the sky. And I have coughorgetcough to embarrass Full Metal before the entire Amestrian Military. Well, this will serve as an example to anyone who gets on my bad side. Except my direct subordinates, who I could just give my paperwork to. And Maes, who had to test my patience by being even more annoying than usual. Why the hell is he playing announcer?

 

“Ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to the Eastern Command Center Festival! A guaranteed break from that soldier grind! Incidentally, take a look.” I had a feeling I knew what was behind the green cloth. Yet the men stared in anticipation. They're still so gullible. Hughes should know better than most that playing with a drunk man's emotions is dangerous, especially when said men have anything that can double as a projectile. The cloth fluttered down to uncover a picture of his daughter, possibly the person he is most obsessed with. She was wearing a yellow dress, laughing and squeezing a teddy bear bigger then herself. Thank goodness she doesn't seem to resemble her father yet, in any way. She really was cute, but no one was in the mood to see her. “My daughter, who turned three this year. Isn't she adorable?” Instantly all kinds of objects and threats sailed through the air, concentrating on the poor family man and his tribute to his little girl. They obviously wanted to see something like Hawkeye in a miniskirt. Idiots. Then something hit the canvas too hard, too high. It tipped forward, and Hughes turned around, hyperventilating as he saw his daughter falling into him. “Oh no! Don't fall on Daddy! Elicia! Ahhhhhhh! Ow!” Only the appearances of my soldiers' faces never wavered the whole time from `why is he ranked higher than us?'

 

After some minutes, Armstrong (I don't need to say any more) and some noticeable damage to Hughes' face, the show continued. “And now, without further distraction, we move directly to the day's main event! In the red corner the Flame Alchemist and hero of the Eastern Rebellion, Colonel Roy Mustang! Give it up!” Instead of applause, which is what Maes was referring to, they seemed to be volunteering to give up their lives. “Lousy ogre!” “You just want a promotion!” “Give me back my girlfriend!” Is it really my fault if you can't satisfy her? Normally their comments wouldn't faze me, but today wasn't a good day to try one's luck. And I could've sworn I saw a spark of—was that pity?—in Maes' eyes. Had it not been for seeing Hawkeye and Farman's blank faces, I would've called out that last one.

 

“In the blue corner, the Full Metal Alchemist and living legend of the people, let's hear it for Edward Elric!” I almost smiled as I saw his teeth clench tighter and tighter with each comment. I just waited for him to break. And break he eventually did. “Good luck, bean sprout!” “Don't call me small! I'll break down your feet and stick `em on your head!” he shouted, trying to fling himself into the audience. Al, of course, stopped him. I saw them talking together about something else. Clearly, I was too far away to hear. Too bad. I wanted to hear all his grandiose and unfulfilled plans for my defeat. After I moved into position, I did catch, “I told you, a fist in his face!” So, no battle plan. He's even dumber than I thought.

 

Full Metal moved to stand across from me. “This assessment means nothing to me. If I win you tell me all you know about Marcoh, and let's not forget, you'll have a new cat.” That would be true, except for one thing. I'm not planning to lose. Hurry up, Hughes. I have other things to do. “Alchemists, get set…” Hughes abruptly stood, bent his head, did an about face and bolted in the opposite direction, calling out as he ran, “Ready and fight!”

 

I see Full Metal hadn't anticipated him running. Did he actually expect Hughes to stand here and get fried trying to referee? It appears that I'll have to teach him while we fight. He spun around and said, “What?” -evidently not paying attention. That gets men killed. “Too slow,” I answered, unleashing my first explosion, knocking Edward off his feet. The crowd seemed surprised. “Damn it, that was a cheap shot!” he countered before doing a smarter thing: getting up and running from my next attack. I smiled and responded, “A soldier favors haste over cleverness, means there are no cheap shots, Edward. Strike quickly and you'll end it quickly too.” I wonder what my men are doing. Havoc's probably explaining to Fury how my alchemy works. These poses outdo Armstrong's any day of the week. I can even sparkle too, just not in nearly as scary a manner.

 

It was all Full Metal could do to dodge my shots. At this rate the battle will be over soon. His yells were starting to annoy me. “Just wait till I stop running!” Then he leaped into the crowd, pushing Fury's head into the wall. “Sorry!” he apologized over his shoulder. Does he really think I care about any of these people? If they're stupid enough to stick around, that's none of my concern. But for Edward's sake, I'll play along. “Well, I guess I can't torch you all.” Now to get him to disclose his location. I boomed out, “This is hard, he's such a small target.” Like clockwork, he started jumping up and down, ranting, “Who are you calling small?” “If your opponent is of choleric temper, seek to irritate and never fall for an enemy's taunts,” I imparted while I prepared to fire. I should've told the Fuhrer that things might get a little out of hand.

 

Soldiers took to the sky like fireworks, shrieking all the way. Edward was included, screaming, “You've got to be kidding!” It was a spectacular display. Kimbley would've liked it at least. Scary bastard. Finally it looks like people are getting the point and clearing the area. I couldn't see for the smoke and wondered if I'd get billed for this. “Okay, maybe I overdid it.” Then, through the smoke I could make out Full Metal's form. I raced to him, ready to torch him. “Need more?” I haughtily questioned, before realizing that it wasn't Full Metal after all, but a dummy. So where was Edward? If not here, then he's…I did a 180 just in time to see him rush toward me, his arm now

a blade, and shred my glove. “Cheap shot!” he glowered. Was he still mad about earlier? I had to admit, the trick Ed used was ingenious, as well as hilarious. It would've had me falling over laughing, if I'd had the luxury of laughing. At this point it was downright irritating. `Damn!' I thought. “Without that glove you can't make flames anymore, can you?” I saw his smirk coming as he clapped his hands and touched the ground, adding, “That's advantage Elric.” A cannon, huh? I'd expected something somewhat more creative from the Mini Metal Alchemist.

 

I gave my trademark smirk. I hadn't had this much fun in a long time. But unfortunately, like all things, it was time for it to end. I removed my left hand from my pocket where it had stayed all afternoon, informing Edward without words that he'd underestimated me, and because of it, had lost the battle. I was amazed at his shock. I promptly got rid of the cannon in the most ostentatious manner possible: by blowing it up. Full Metal was catapulted into the sky. I walked over to him as he landed in the debris, coughed and turned to look at me. “All war is deception. Think that your enemy has a weakness and it becomes his strength. Remember that.” That was possibly the most important lesson he needed to learn from today. “Just end it,” he spat glumly. He, like me, was ready to go home and take a nice long shower. “You don't have to ask,” I responded, raising my hand. But in the blink of an eye, Full Metal, my friends, the grounds had disappeared. Instead I saw a dingy shack and a young boy who couldn't have been older than Edward. For a split second, I was no longer at Eastern Command. I was in Ishbal. For a moment, eyes as red as the blood I would shed looked back at me. Eyes that matched the setting sun, the flames that I engulfed their city in, the Philosopher's Stone. Alchemy's curse; my curse. I remember after that short-lived memory, I `awoke' to find Edward with a look of renewed determination on his face. I briefly wondered why until I saw that his auto-mail arm, now transmuted into a blade, was an inch, maybe two from my throat. I was nervous about even sweating; the kid looks like he's out for blood.

 

Bradley announced the end of the match with a calm “All right. That's far enough,” and clapped. “An excellent fight by two skilled alchemists.” It seems that Full Metal doesn't yet understand the concept that it's over, so I turn and salute. He gets the point and lowers his arm. Still playing the `perfect soldier,' I answered, “We are honored by your compliment, Fuhrer.” A silent warning to Full Metal, who even now has a problem showing respect at times. And apparently has a problem taking a hint. “Don't stop us now. We're not done yet.” What's his problem? You almost killed me, congratulations. I want to take a shower. Good for him it's not Gran he's talking to. He would've been failed on the spot. Bradley appears amused as he points out, “That may be true, but if I let you go on,” One look onto our `battlefield' was enough to finish his statement, but he continued, “it would be much harder for just the two of you to clean up.” You've got to be kidding me. Someone tell me he's kidding me, please! It looks like my shower will be delayed, by several hours. Full Metal's going to regret this.

 

 

A/N: Yes, I updated on Independence Day. Hooray for the freedom to write whatever the hell I want! R&R, people! Have to go now, and rewrite the end of the next chapter ;D See you all next week!