Chapter Text
Edward Elric barely made it in the train for his trip again. The reason? An impromptu deal he made with his childhood friend, Winry Rockbell. Or should we say a proposal?
“Really now, Brother? Half my life for half of yours? Good thing Winry did not have a wrench with her you know." Al asked once he reached their carriage, chuckling
" What-? You-? Al!" Ed sputtered, lost for words
" Relax, I'm just messing with you. But seriously, congratulations."
"Uh, yeah. Thanks." Ed said sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck. "Why are we going to East City again? You still need some rest." he continued, changing the subject
"You still need to hand over your resignation, remember? I have called East City Headquarters; they said they do not accept the forms through the mail." Al explained for his brother again. "Please don't tell me you left the forms in Risembool."
" Sheesh Al! It's with me. I just don't understand why can't I just mail the forms in. You know what, I think that Colonel Bas-"
"General, Brother." Al said, interrupting his brother
"What?"
"Its General now. After the promised Day, you, along with Mustang's Team and the people from Briggs got promoted. Don't you remember?" was Al's patient explanation
" Yeah, sure. But why the hell does he want to have me hand over the resignation paperwork?" Ed said
" They also said something that they need to show us. They said it was very important and that we should see that ourselves."
"Damn that Bas-"
"Brother!"
"- for making us go all the way there. I bet he's just making an excuse to avoid the paperwork. Bah! Whatever. Just wake me up when we get there Al." with thus Edward rested his head on the window and promptly fell asleep
With all that had happened in the last few months, General Mustang's office looks exactly the same as what it was before. Unless one would note the lack of paperwork in the new general's desk
"So, tell me again what is sooo important that I need to be here? General Mustang?" Ed asked, voice dripping with sarcasm as he slammed his resignation letter on the unusually clean desk
"Fullmetal, were you not listening to your brother? I told him that we need to receive the paperwork personally as we still need still need you to be here for the deliberation." Mustang explained "Besides, I have something interesting to show you" he added, a smirk in his face
"What the hell Mustang! I don't have time for thi-" Ed started to rant, but was effectively interrupted with the door slamming open
"Yo! Roy! Done with the day? You should see the new pictures of my beautiful Elysia! Isn't she just cute?"
"N-n-no" was all Ed could say, golden eyes wide open in shock, staring at the new person in the room
"Ed! Didn't see you there! You are here to see the pictures aren't you!" Maes Hughes suddenly lunged at Ed, shoving multiple pictures of his daughter at Ed's face
"Maes, I have no time for all that! Stop it or I'll torch you!" Mustang shouted, thumb and forefinger rubbing the bridge of his nose.
"How?" was all Ed could ask, still not believing what he is seeing
"Ah, I believe she should be able to answer your questions" Mustang answered, gesturing to the door.
On the door stood a young girl about the same age as Ed. She was pushing along a tea cart containing some folders and some cups and saucers.
"Sir, you already had about 3 mugs of coffee today, so I'll be brining some hot chocolate for this afternoon. To accompany it would be some oatmeal and walnut cookies. Also, here are the reports for the rehabilitation efforts in Ishval, and the security situation in the border, all of which prepared for your signature. I did a summary of the reports in bullet points for your perusal. Lastly, here would be the mission report from your team. Please look through that first." the girl explained, placing each item on the desk as she spoke. "I'll be back for them later, so please make sure to read at least the summary or I have to inform Hawkeye." she added.
Ed was looking at the newcomer. Long blond hair tied in two low ponytails, pale skin, and gray eyes behind a pair of eyeglasses. She was wearing a white button down shirt under a waistcoat, knee high boots laced by a big violet ribbon and a short pleated skirt of all things. "How the fuck can this—this bimbo explain that!" Ed shouted, waving his arms in Hughes' general direction, where he is currently harassing Alphonse with the numerous pictures of his daughter.
"Well, apparently, this bimbo is the one responsible for that." the girl replied, cocking her head in Hughes' direction.
And that is when Edward Elric snapped. In a flash, the girl was pinned to the wall by a fuming Edward Elric
" What. The Fuck. Did. You do." Ed growled, seething with rage.
"Brother! Please don't hurt her! Mister Hughes said she did not commit the taboo!" Al pleaded, trying to pry his brother's hands off the girl's neck.
"THEN HOW THE HELL IS HE NOT FUCKING DEAD!" Ed screamed
"Fullmetal! Stand down! Sit down and listen to what she has to say!" Mustang ordered.
Grudgingly Ed let go of the girl. "There better be a damn good explanation for this, you hear me Mustang."
"Rest assured, it will be quick and concise. Brigadier General Hughes, if you will?" the girl said, head gesturing to Hughes
" Oh, not again!" Maes Huges said, standing up and he was immediately shot.
Right in the chest, where his heart would be
Ed promptly tackled the girl, who was still holding the smoking gun and punched her repeatedly until Mustang was able to pry him off the girl
Al was too shocked to move. Until he saw Maes Hughes standing up again.
"Being shot never was fun. I tell you that would bruise real bad. What would Gracia say!" Hughes said. Looking at his shirt "and it's bloodied up too! It's impossible for it to come off"
"What? How? But he was—" Ed sputtered "You! What did you do!" he shouted at the girl, glaring at her in Mustang's restraints
The girl stood up, adjusted her glasses and walked until she is in front of Hughes. She then unbuttoned Hughes' military jacket.
"Bullet proof vest. He was wearing the prototype when he was attacked in the phone booth years back. The shot knocked him out cold that time, but point is he was not mortally wounded."
"But the blood? Why is he still bleeding?" Al asked once he found his voice
"Fake blood. A pack of fake blood is inside the vest. It's hard to play dead if you do not bleed once shot." she said, a small, proud smile in her face.
"I think an introduction is in order!" Hughes, said, turning the girl around so she is facing the Elric brothers." This lovely young lady is Colonel Era Armstrong, former assistant head officer of my team in the Intelligence Division. Currently on loan to Roy's team."
"I believe an apology is in order as well for the delayed notification of Brigadier Hughes' non-passing." the girl they now know as Era Armstrong said "With an open attack like that, he has to remain dead. At least until the whole situation blows over. The only ones who knew were his family and his team."
"And even when I was hiding, she managed to have me keep tabs of the Intelligence Division. Without the higher ups knowing, of course. To think she's in a boarding school all those time!" Hughes proudly boasted
"A lady's worth is determined by the number of strings she can pull while keeping her dainty hands clean, Brigadier General." Era said. Looking at the clock in the wall, she said turning to Mustang "Oh my, look at the time. General Mustang, your team should be finished with their respective missions, I should prepare something. Something for the guests as well. Will you be staying, Brigadier General?" the last question directed to Huges.
"Sure! Your sandwiches are always to watch out for. Though it's not as good as my lovely wife's snacks!" Huges replied, hands inching towards the pocket where his wife's pictures are kept
"Of course. And General Mustang? I'll be back for the chinaware after I serve the snacks, please make good progress on those reports. Hawkeye mentioned she'll be checking again to see if you are actually doing your work instead of passing everything off to me as what you have been doing recently. I can only do so much to save your hide." Era finished and she walked out of the office, pushing the tea cart along.
Hughes then explained what happened to him since he was shot by Envy. How his team was the first one to reach the area and how they had faked his death. How they were able to obtain information on Mustang's coup while in hiding ("you can never hide anything worthwhile from my team Mustang! Especially if Era's the one digging." Hughes said, laughing at the look Mustang is giving him) up to the time that his team was in the middle of covering up all the paper trail of all firearm from the neighboring countries that mysteriously made their way to a place called Havoc's General Store.
He then continued with how he showed up to the Fuhrer's office and got his position back. "Since Roy's team is all over the east with the rehabilitation efforts, I figured he needs someone to help him in the office. That is how Era came to help him. In Roy's case, to take over his paperwork before Hawkeye shoots him. Soo, you want to see the pictures now?" Huges then proceeded to bombard Al with the pictures of his wife and daughter
"So, that's why your desk is clear now. I knew you cannot complete your paperwork on your own! Ha-ha!" Ed, who has now recovered from his shock, gloated at Mustang.
"Shut it Fullmetal." Mustang said, crossing over to his desk, starting on the new folders placed in his desk.
"Hey, Mustang, should that Armstrong girl have her own office? She's a Colonel now, right?" Ed asked Mustang
"She should have. Thing is that she is at her boarding school for the majority of the year, they don't give her a permanent post. Now leave me be Fullmetal." Mustang answered, going back to his paperwork
" Brigadier General Hughes? You said her name was Era Armstrong. Is she related to the Armstrong family?" Al asked Hughes, thinking of the members of the Armstrong family that he knows
"Ah, yes! Believe it or not, she's Alex's niece. Something about an Armstrong who studied abroad who married a member of a noble family over there a few generations back and they have to send at least one person per generation to study there. " Hughes answered
"I see. And you also said something about a boarding school? The military actually allowed one of their officers to go to school? "Al continued asking, as he is curious of the girl
"That is the beauty of being in Intelligence, as long as the information you provide is valuable, they are more tolerant of whatever quirks the officers have."
"Wow. I never imagined her to be able to do so much. That is just amazing…" Al muttered to himself as Era came back with the tea cart yet again full of food
A tray of sandwiches was laid on the coffee table. Next were two mugs of coffee, "One for Colonel Elric and Brigadier General Hughes. For Mister Elric" a small smile in Al's direction "Mint tea to relax the body after the long travel" and she took the tea cart out of the office after handing the teacup to Alphonse
Al took the teacup from Era and he was able to get a good look at her. She looks familiar, like he already saw her somewhere. Then he saw her eyes. Black pupils surrounded by circles upon circles of varying shades of gray and black. Then he realized where he saw those eyes
And he dropped his teacup, spilling the tea in his lap.
"Al! Are you okay?" Ed asked, worry evident in his voice
"No, I—I'm fine, really. I just forgot how heavy teacups can be" he answered with a small smile
"Are you sure Al?" Ed asked again, not convinced
"Yeah, I'm okay. I just need to clean my pants" Al said, gesturing to his tea stained pants
"Okay, you need help with that?"
"No Brother!" Al said, a little too forcefully. "Uh, I'm okay, I'll just go to the restroom" and Al went out of the general's office.