Fullmetal Alchemist Fan Fiction ❯ Set in Stone ❯ Arguements and Bets ( Chapter 1 )

I've been toying with this idea for a while now; it's my first Fanfiction, and the first chapter's a bit out of it. I also might change the title later. Reviews would be appreciated, as well as constructive criticism but no flames please. It has spoilers for basically the whole series, but not really until later on in the story, also has a few spoilers for the movie, but I haven't really seen the whole thing myself so it shouldn't be too bad. I don't own Fullmetal Alchemist. Enjoy.

 

Summary: Ed returns after a 15 year absence, and the world he's known has changed. But it seems he's reluctant to reveal where he's been or what he's been doing. As bit by bit the mystery is revealed, can Al and the rest truly realise the danger of the enemies Ed's made before its too late? Or has his fate already been set in stone.

 

`Til The Sun Shines

 

Chapter One

Arguments and Bets

 

`We'll fight, not out of spite

`Cause someone must stand up for what's right,'

- Jewel Hands

 

“Well you can't have cared that much! If you couldn't even make the time to come and see us!”

 

“It's not like I had a choice! Alright, I don't even know why I'm having this argument with you, you don't understand anyway.” Ed stormed out of the house. After all this time, after all the searching, after the sacrifices he had made to finally get across the gate and meet his brother, he was greeted with this.

 

“Wait!” Al called coming out of the house after Ed, “What did you mean you didn't have a choice?” He asked, a lot quieter than before. Ed glared coldly at him, and Alphonse saw something he hadn't noticed before. A darker look in his eyes, a more painful look. “Ed…please, I just want to know what happened. Where have you been?”

 

Ed ignored him, choosing instead to continue along the path. He stopped after a few steps, seemingly changing his mind and turned to face Al.

 

“You know, after all that we'd been through together, after all that we'd done and seen, I would've thought that you'd be happy to see me, that it wouldn't matter what I'd done, or where I'd been, but the fact that I had given up so much to come and see you would be a good enough reason to wait until I was ready to tell you.” He turned and started off the path again, Al standing shocked in front of his house.

 

“I guess a lot can change in 15 years.” He finally said quietly, he was sure Ed had heard, but he made no effort to stop or slow down, continuing down the path, and finally turning the corner, disappearing from sight.

 

“Honey? Are you alright?” Al turned to face his wife of 2 years.

 

He sighed and turned, heading inside. “Yeah, I'm fine. I just need to give him some time to cool off; I need to give myself some time to accept he's back.” He wrapped his arms tenderly around the young woman in front of him.

 

“You'll regret having this argument later, I know you, you hate any type of violence, especially against this brother I've heard so much about.” She said softly, playing with his hair. He sighed, and leaned into her touch.

 

“I don't want to lose him; I don't even think I'm angry at him, I'm angry at myself for giving up, thinking he was dead.”

 

 

“…Fullmetal…” Mustang breathed, unbelievingly. Ed glared.

 

“Colonel Bastard.” He replied smartly. Mustang smirked.

 

“You're late, Fullmetal.”

 

“Yeah sorry bout that, was in a whole `nother dimension, I had trouble finding the right bus.”

 

”What? What's a bus?” Mustang asked, losing his cool for a second.

 

Ed sighed, and rolled his eyes, “Don't worry,” he said, but continued muttering anyway. “Doesn't even know what a bus is, oh hell this is gonna take some getting used to…”

 

“Fullmetal stop muttering, I can't hear you anyway and I don't really care what a bus is. What are you here for?”

 

“I need a place to crash, and I need some money, and some new clothes, and…I have a list.” He said reaching into the pocket of his suit.

 

“No, no that's okay. I can give you Alphonse's address if you want, I'm sure you'd prefer that than the Military hostels.” Ed looked away, an angry look passing across his face. Needless to say, Mustang's interest was tweaked.

 

“I've already been, and I much rather stay here.” He said coldly. Mustang kept his face impassive, making a note to ask about it later, and led Ed to his office.

 

“And before you ask, no I don't want to indulge you in the details.” Ed said, and Mustang winced inside. Am I that predictable? He thought.

 

“No I can read minds.”

 

Mustang spun and glared at Ed, “How'd you learn that one Fullmetal?” he asked, clearly irritated.

 

“Hanging around Noa too much, don't ask. But you're too easy to read anyway.”

 

“I wasn't before.” He answered.

 

“Keep telling yourself that, maybe one day, it'll come true.”

 

“Oh, I can wait Fullmetal; I don't have a very short patience.” Mustang replied smartly.

 

“Really.” He frowned slightly. “”Cause you always wanted to know what was going on and as soon as possible.” The same indifferent tone, the same indifferent attitude. It made Mustang annoyed that he couldn't get a reaction, as well as, though he'd never admit it, worried.

 

“Your tongue sure has gotten sharp there Elric. Just where have you been all these years?” He asked out of curiosity, not really expecting an answer, and he wasn't disappointed, Ed instead stepped past him into the office.

 

“Have you ever heard of re-decorating Mustang? This office looks exactly as it did the last time I was here.” Said officer walked in after Ed, scanning his eyes throughout the office, and standing beside his desk, shuddering inside at the fresh pile of paperwork stacked neatly on the corner.

 

“I'm surprised you can remember, let alone that you were able to see over the fibers of the carpet anyway.” Mustang raised an eyebrow when Ed shrugged his shoulder indifferently.

 

He banged his hands onto the desk loudly, still not getting a reaction out of Ed. “Alright Fullmetal spill. It's been 15 years since anyone's even heard anything about you, and you come in here, telling me you've had an argument with you brother of all people, and I can't even get a reaction out of you when I mention your height. Where the hell have you been!?” he asked in a demanding voice.

 

Ed calmly looked around, sitting down at his old desk. “It's not important where I've been Mustang, you wouldn't understand and it won't change anything.”

 

“Like hell! We've all been worried sick about you! We thought you were dead! Do you realize how long 15 years is?”

 

“Yes I do! It's not like I've been sitting on my ass, having a merry old time alright! You've no idea what I've been through; you've no idea why I'm even here in the first place!”

 

“We've got time, why don't you tell me?” Mustang argued back, their voices subconsciously rising.

 

“I just got here!” Ed exclaimed incredulously.

 

“Well here we are theres plenty of time for you to tell now.” Mustang replied.

 

“I've been back in Amestris for 5 bloody minutes and all I get is `where have you been' and `why didn't you visit'! No one's asked me `hey are you alright?' or said `you know what it's good to see you after all these years'. I'm in half a bloody mind to go back!” Ed yelled, standing up and storming over to Mustang, glaring at him defiantly.

 

“I need a room.” Ed said, not in a questioning voice.

 

“They won't let you in, you've no uniform and I doubt that however much you've changed over these years that I could force you into one, and you've no pocket watch.” Mustang said his tone just as deadly.

 

They glared at each other for almost 10 minutes before someone entered the room.

 

“Sir?” Hawkeye's voice drifted to the pair.

 

“I'll go find a Hotel than.” Ed said.

 

“Good luck with no money.” Mustang answered, Ed growled in the back of his throat.

 

“You're not being very co-operative, Colonel.”

 

“That's Major General to you, and you're not being very co-operative either.”

 

“I'll remember that for when I start caring.” With that he turned and exited the room. Mustang growled and muttered incoherently.

 

“Sir…was that…Edward?” Hawkeye asked, Black-Hayate happily wagging his tail behind her, the both of them obviously just returning from a walk. Mustang sighed, sat down and rested his chin on his folded hands.

 

“Yes, that was Fullmetal, just as stubborn as ever.” She stared at him for a while, disbelieving.

 

“Well, is he alright?” she asked after a while of silence. Mustang looked at her and chuckled.

 

“I don't know, but you'd be the first to ask that over `where have you been' from what I'd gathered from his earlier outburst.”

 

Hawkeye saluted. “Sir. Permission to go and speak with Fullmetal.”

 

“Stop being so formal Honey,” he said casually.

 

“Roy…could you try to be more professional while we're at work.” With that she exited the room, hurriedly walking in the direction that Ed has disappeared, Black-Hayate tailing behind her. Mustang twisted the gold band around his ring finger.

 

“A lot's changed since you've been gone, Elric. Something's up.” He said quietly to himself, picking up the phone.

 

 

“Ed! Wait!” Hawkeye called; shortly catching up to the shorter legged blonde.

 

“I don't want to hear it Hawkeye, If Mustang sent you after me so he can yell some more tell him to shove it up his-”

 

“I don't want to hear that language in this building Major.” She said shortly.

 

“-chimney.” Ed finished sarcastically. She looked at him for a while, noticing how much older he looked. His hair was pulled back in a ponytail, considerably longer than she remembered. Signs of aging had appeared on his face that definitely hadn't been there before, and she noticed that he had in fact grown some, though his height still wasn't something to boast about.

 

She pulled him into a hug. “Wha-”

 

“It's good to see you Edward, I really mean it.” She said. Ed relaxed slightly in her grip, but still pulled away rather hurriedly. “If you really do want a place to stay, come and stay with Roy and I for the night.” She offered changing the hand Black-Hayate's lead was in.

 

“Roy?” Ed questioned, it not taking very long for the meaning of that sentence to click. He spotted the engagement and wedding band on her finger and laughed. “My expenses problem has just been solved, now Hawkeye, would you share with me where I can find Havoc and Breda?” he asked gleefully.

 

“What do you mean?” Hawkeye asked suspiciously.

 

Ed chuckled, “I bet those guys' years ago that you two would end up together. I bet them a large amount of money. And I intend to make them pay up.” She sighed, and smiled softly, remembering how the boys had always made bets, mainly involving Mustang and his girlfriends, or Havoc and his attempts at getting a girlfriend.

 

“You're lucky the General was able to keep all his old subordinates or you'd have an awful lot of trouble tracking them down.” She said, turning curtly, expecting Ed to follow her, and after a moment's hesitation he did.

 

“Really? They're all still with the military, I would've expected something to happen.” He said, surprised.

 

“A lot's changed since you've been gone, sir. The military's no longer in control of Amestris.”

 

“So Mustang managed to beat the Fürher then?”

 

“I don't know what you're talking about sir; the Major General was stationed up in the north at the time of the Fürher's death.” Hawkeye stated calmly.

 

“Oh, I see, so say he was in central at the time of Bradley's death, would it be the reason for the unfashionable eye patch?” Ed asked with a smirk.

 

“I think my eye patch is very fashionable thank you Fullmetal, but yes, if I had been here that may have been the cause.” The sound of Mustang's voice made Ed's head turn. He didn't reply, but nodded in understanding.

 

“I've offered him a place at our house tonight, Roy.” Riza said. Mustang looked outraged. “And before you say anything, I know you meant for me to, when is Winry arriving?” she asked.

 

Mustang smirked. “Told you, you're easy to read.” Ed commented. “Why did you call Winry?” he asked, grinning slightly at Mustang's disgruntled face.

 

“The unmoving arm at you side would suggest you are in need of some new automail. She's catching the next train into central.” He said.

 

“I could have called her myself. She's going to call me a lazy jerk `cause I couldn't be bothered calling her, then she'll probably hit me over the head with a wrench. And I've been hit over the head with enough mobile or immobile items to last me a lifetime as it is.” Ed complained, once again sitting at his desk. “So, where is everyone else?” He asked lazily.

 

“Not even a `thanks', you're so ungrateful Fullmetal.” Mustang said, “They should be here shortly.” As he said this, Ed could smell the smoke from Havoc's cigarette waft through the open door.

 

“What'd you want Colonel, I was in the middle of a date.” His voice followed shortly after. Ed greeted the lot at the door.

 

“Pay up.” He grinned, holding out his gloved hand.

 

“Uh…Who are you-” the sentence halted in his mouth. “Ed?” he asked.

 

“You owe me a large sum of money and I'm broke, hurry it up already.” He said, still grinning largely.

 

“I thought the lot of you might like to greet Fullmetal before he stormed off in another childish huff.” Mustang smirked.

 

“Shuddup.” Ed complained. “You're just annoyed that I didn't snap at your `short' comment. I have to say, with one eye your vision would be slightly impaired, so I doubt you'd be seeing right anyway.”

 

“I could be blind and still tell you're short from the way your voice drifts upward from below.”

 

“Ha ha, I forgot how to laugh.” Ed replied calmly. Everyone in the room stared at him. No outburst?

 

“You're not Ed!” Havoc joked. “What a shame, I had all that money in the bank incase you ever returned, I've actually been saving since their wedding, just so I could scrape up enough.” The group filed past him, saying surprised `hello's' still disbelieving.

 

“Wow, is it really you Ed?” Fuery asked.

 

“The one and only.” Ed replied, “I'm off to the bank to get these checks processed.” He sent a look Mustang's way, grinning in glee at his face, still annoyed that Ed had actually made that bet and been right. “Predictable.” He said. Mustang glared. “Who wants to come anyway?”

 

“I'll drive you there; we can stop by Al's on the way back.” Havoc offered. Ed did an entire 180 in attitude, at the mention of Al's name. It didn't go unnoticed.

 

“On second thought, I think I'm going to walk.” He left the room before anyone had a chance to say anything.

 

“Why would he not want to see his brother?” Falman asked.

 

“It seems they've already had a falling out.” Mustang supplied.

 

“No way, Ed and Al? They never fight.” Breda said, looking cautiously sideways at Black-Hayate, who waved his tail happily. Breda glared.

 

“It doesn't matter anyway, they'll sort it out. Get back to work, and no Havoc, you can't go back to your date.” Mustang said, smirking knowingly. Havoc sighed.

`The darkest hour is just before dawn, so, if you're going to steal your neighbors' milk, that's the time to do it.'