A Different Type of Soldier

Chapter 16

Enemies Within

Edward sat at his usual empty table in the lunch hall. He could hear the familiar patter of peas hit the back of his helmet as people tried to hit their mark. He sighed as he looked down at his empty plate. He didn't even care to take off his helmet to pretend to eat. There was nothing there. Ross and Brosh offered him some food but he denied. They already had little as there was, he couldn't let them go hungry. After all, he was getting used to it. The peas didn't seem to bother him other than the fact that he would have to clean it off of his armor that evening. It became routine. He usually ate only once a day when he could manage to strangle food from the service line and

"You alright, Sir?" Brosh asked him as he let out another tired sigh.

"Don't call me sir," Edward snapped half heartedly. The sergeant frowned but said nothing else about it. Edward felt a stab of guilt go through him. No only did he have to suffer the wrath of trapezing food but so did they. Not every soldier there had good aim. He could already see a raveoli stuck to the Lieutenant's jacket and red sauce in the Sergeant's hair. He wondered if they too became used to this or if it bothered them still. As Edward was contemplating whether to say something to them or not he heard a familiar voice come out.

"Can we sit here?" the soft voice of Sergeant Fuery asked the Lieutenant. Edward looked up in surprise to see not only the young sergeant but also some other soldiers of varying levels of enthusiasm, the Lieutenant Breda amongst them. Ross easily nodded her head and made room at the table. It seemed that even his guards were getting bored with just him as company. The new group quickly took their seats in the line of fire.

"Why are you-" Edward started to question but was cut off by Breda's deep voice.

"Hey, we are all in the same unit, we should eat together right?" he stated and Edward's eyes widened at the logic and gratefully nodded his head. The lieutenant then stuck his hand out across the table.

"I am sure I introduced myself enough in the lunch line but you?"

"Captain ED-0001…. Or…. Edward," he said, mumbling the last part. The Lieutenant's eyes widened in acknowledgement and a smirk grew on his face.

"Well, sir-"

"Don't call me sir," Edward snapped again but Breda just rolled his eyes.

"Edward," he over exaggerated. "I know you met Kain Fuery and myself, but this is Second Lieutenant Jean Havoc," he announced clapping his shoulder to a rather grumpy blond next to him. It seemed that the newly introduced Lieutenant wanted anything than to be sitting right there next to him. His arms were crossed and he refused to look in the same direction. "He's kind of sour because he was just getting his aim down with his peas."

"Oh," Edward mumbled as he too looked away from the man. He felt his face heat up slightly as he realised that even people in his own unit were trying to hit him with food. He at least thought that they would allow him to continue in peace but he guessed he was wrong. He felt a spark of aggravation ignite into a smirk and he turned back towards Havoc.

"Well, I don't remember being hit by you. I don't think you were getting close at all-"

Thwap! Before anyone else could stop him, Havoc quickly loaded a ravioli onto his for and flung it at him. It hit him right in the middle of his helmet, smearing red sauce all the way across his helmet's vision. Edward reached his hand up and quickly wiped it from his face but unfortunately that just did more to smear it. He eventually relented and had to take his helmet off to clean it.

"Got you that fucking time, now didn't I?" Havoc snapped at him. There was a tone of anger hidden underneath his joyful smile. Edward would have asked what his problem was but then he suddenly knew what it was, or rather he remembered. Havoc's face struck him as one of the soldiers in Liore. He remembered him standing around and guarding the small group of captured Imperial troopers. He was there. Edward found himself biting his lip as the Lieutenant glared at him. He needed to remember that these people, were the ones who fought and killed his troops. Though he was working with them now, that fact was still stained with the red of his men. They were still out for each other.

He shook his head and tried to bring back the lightfull conversation that was desperately trying to mask the hatred between them both. This was his new unit. Against everything that he lost because of them, against everything that he did to them, he needed to try to atleast find even ground even though he didn't think he would ever get over his time in Liore. He forced a smile across his face as he picked up his fork and the rather beaten ravioli he had wiped from himself earlier.

"I think I can do better," he challenged him. Ross gave him a light warning nudge to tell him he was being childish, but he was. He was nearing only eight years old every day now and that was still far from being an adult even in clone years. However Havoc, even ignored the Lieutenant's chants and grinned devilishly at him.

"I doubt you can do it."

"Two hundred yen that I can hit it. Just name your target," Edward smirked. Havoc leaned up and looked across the room to try and find the best target within range of the fork's capability. However as he was deciding a bright smile played across his face as a light bulb seemed to turn on.

"Colonel Mustang," he jeered. That only made Edward's grin wider.

"You couldn't have picked a target I wanted to hit more," he chuckled. He turned around to see the Colonel walking through the crowd of parting enlisted with his own tray of food. The flying barrage of delights stopped the instant he walked in as to not hit him on accident. It seemed that even other soldiers were afraid of his wrath. Edward knew that Jean picked the Colonel because he was not only a moving target but also near the outer reaches of his fork's range. However, knowing that he just made sure to line up the shot better anyways. Picking up his knee he rested his elbow against it for steady aim and after a short minute he closed his eyes and took in a huge breath to ready himself. He opened them, pulled back on the fork so it was nearly bursting with tension, and released the ravioli so it went flying. He watched as it sailed across the cafeteria and didn't just hit the Colonel but smacked him right in the side of the face.

"Ha!" Edward exclaimed as he turned back to Havoc and opened his hand. "Pay up." The man looked shocked beyond belief that he actually managed to hit the Colonel. Actually now that he looked at it, nearly all of them looked absolutely surprised at his accuracy.

"Remind me not to get on your bad side," Breda laughed as Havoc angrily coughed up the little amount of money. The now ever so slightly poorer man picked up his tray even more upset with him than before and stormed off to sit amongst other people, probably to practice his own aim. Edward watched him go a little upset.

"What did I do," he hummed.

"He's been angry ever since Liore," Fuery elaborated. "We thought that if he met you in person he might be a little less sour against you but… I guess not."

"He was hit in the spine with one of the blasters. We thought he was fine for a few days but … he started to lose feeling in his legs. Bruised spine," Breda told him. "For all we knew his paralysis could have been permanent. Seemed to have lost all hope until just a few weeks ago he was able to feel his toes again. But you could picture having to be on the same team as the guy who shot him." Edward frowned as he looked back over to where Havoc disappeared. They had all lost something in Liore but it seemed it was rather difficult for everyone to understand. He knew that he himself had killed a few rebel soldiers that day. It was blood on his hands that would make him stand out forever amongst the people of the alliance. Yet he also took the killing of his own troops personally. There just wasn't any right anywhere in the matters of war.

"I lost my arm in Liore too. If I were to meet the person who shot it I would be a bit upset too," Edward muttered.

"Wait," Brosh stated, "You mean you really don't know?" Edward looked up suddenly at the sound of their shock. They were looking at each other as if it was common news for them.

"No. I don't know," he repeated.

"Well isn't it obvious that it was-"

"Edward, what do you plan on doing with a measly 200 yen?" he heard a cold voice erupt behind him. Edward looked up to see the Colonel standing rather rigid behind him, his arms crossed and his eyes like ice. However instead of glaring at him, he was giving warning glances towards his other subordinates. Edward could still see the sauce on his face from where he hit him earlier and he looked down at his hand which still held the money that Havoc gave him.

"Wouldn't you like to know," Edward snipped knowing he was just poking the bull at that point. The Colonel reached down and with a swipe of his hand confiscated his earnings. "Hey!" Edward exclaimed reaching after it but the man just easily pocketed it. "It wasn't like I was going to gamble with it. I can't buy anything here anyways. I just-"

"You what?" the Colonel waited patiently for him to continue but Edward found himself stumbling to admit his reason. He felt his face grow red in embarrassment as he turned his eyes down to the floor.

"I just wanted to repay the Rockbells for making my arm," Edward muttered under his breath. There was a moment of silence as the entire table absorbed what he just said. Many knowing smirks played on the soldier's faces except for the Colonel who kept as cool as ever.

"Try getting well earned money next time instead of stealing it off of others…. And a lot more than 200 yen-"

"A little at a time. That was rightfully earned money! I made a bet and he took it," Edward retorted.

"Then make a bet that doesn't have you flinging food into your commanding officer's face," the Colonel snapped at him, giving him a not too light whack across the head. Edward yelped as he clutched his head and glared back at the man. "When you are done eating get cleaned up. You still have your lessons. I don't want to smell you all day."

"Done eating what?" Edward asked him as he motioned to his tray. The black eyes flickered down towards his not only clean tray, but a perfectly unused one. Edward thought he saw a flash of aggravation in there but it wasn't shown. The man quickly muttered some words of fire underneath his breath as he retrieved his tray from his own table and dropped it rather forcefully in front of him. The tray full of food hit the table and splattered a little bit but it was still there. Edward felt a blast of steam in his face as the pasta taunted him. He looked back up in shock at the Colonel, not expecting that at all.

"That food. Now hurry up, clone, I haven't got all day," he growled at him and with that said the man stormed off back towards the service line. Edward's eyes were wide in surprise as he watched the man not only order more food for himself but reprimand the servers for not feeding him. He was not expecting that from anyone, the Colonel of all people. He glanced back down at his tray, his mouth already watering from the sweet aroma of lunch in front of him.

"See?" Ross said motioning to his tray, "Doesn't eat until his own does."

"I guess that means you're part of us now," Fuery noted happily.

"I wouldn't go that far," Edward muttered as he delicately picked up his fork and popped a ravioli in his mouth. "But I am sure grateful for the thought."

…

"Why didn't you go before we left?" Ross asked, annoyance very clear in her voice as they were walking towards the cafeteria for dinner. The halls were lightly crowded as many of the other soldiers were on their break as well. Most of them sent glares or elbows Edward's way but that was the least pain he was in at that moment.

"There is no bathroom in the classroom! You know that!" Edward retorted. He felt like his bladder would explode if they didn't allow him to go relieve himself in the next two minutes. Spending all day in a stingy classroom really gets to you, as well as your bladder. At least the Colonel said that he finished his lessons. After an exam they would be done with that part of it. Edward was relieved, but obviously not too relieved as he was trying to restrain himself from dancing around his urge to pee. The Lieutenant groaned as she dragged him over towards one of the male restrooms. Brosh wasn't on duty as some family matter popped up with his younger siblings and so it was only the Lieutenant. The unfortunate thing was, she was a she and he was a he and that meant she couldn't invade his privacy in the bathroom.

"You are supposed to have a guard in there with you-"

"We won't need to go in if we wait here a few more seconds," Edward whined. "I am about to explode." Ross looked slightly repulsed but with a hot breath and a light massage of the temples she relented.

"I will be at the door. You have ten minutes and only ten minutes. If you aren't back out here there will be a manhunt after you," she scolded him, the glare in her eyes frightening him.

"You sound almost like the Colonel," Edward griped but the stare was relentless.

"This is my job and I am not following protocol. Do it quick," she ordered. "Your time starts now."

Edward raced into the bathroom as fast as he could and quickly fumbled to remove his plating. A sigh of relief escaped him as he let out all the spring floods in the Southern Quadrant. He had held it in for too long. It took a little longer to get his plating back on after the deed was done but soon he found himself standing in front of one of the two sinks in the rest room washing his hands. He looked in the mirror at his helmet covered face. It was cleaned yet again by the Colonel's command but that still did nothing to hide all of the scratches and hits it took over the years. The yellow stripes on his armor that marked his position were looking faded and worn. There were small ticks in it, damaging the armor's smooth surface but not its endurity. His golden eyes could be faintly seen through the helmet's lenses and they didn't look up to par either. They held a tired drone to them as he was just ordered around a routine all day. Would he have to spend the rest of his life worrying if he could use the bathroom simply because he needed guards? He groaned as he turned the water off and just hung by the sink for a few moments to try and clear his head.

Suddenly the door to the bathroom opened up and Edward glanced up to see a couple soldiers walk in. They faltered seeing him in there and seemed rather unsettled. Edward was rather surprised to see them too but then reasoned it was a public bathroom. After a few awkward moments of just staring at each other, unsure of what to do, the soldiers continued on their way to use the facilities as if nothing was ever the matter. One of them went straight for the urinals, the other to the sinks right next to where he was standing. Edward found himself taking an ever so slight step to the right as he was a little uncomfortable being so close to a stranger. He was used to the other soldiers' presence in the building and hallways but other than those that concerned him or were in his unit, he was never in proximity with. The man eyed him once but continued to look at his teeth in the mirror as if there were something stuck in them. Edward grabbed the hand towel and started to dry his cleaned hands, trying not to look at him.

"So, do you have a face under that bucket?" the man asked him nonchalantly though Edward thought there was an air of bitterness underneath it.

"Of course," he replied flatly as he reached for his plated gloves that rested on the side of the sink. Just as he was about to grab them another hand came out and snatched them away. Edward was a little taken back as he watched the man inspect them curiously. "Give those back," he ordered, turning to face him fully.

"You sure got a lot of armor for such a shrimp, won't you show me what you look like under that helmet? I am only curious," the man chided with a smirk. Edward glared at the man, not like he could tell through his expressionless helmet.

"I can't. I am not allowed to take it off unless I am eating or a higher military official tells me otherwise," Edward stated flatly the rules and regulations of his armor. "You are only a Private." The man frowned. Though Edward was from the Empire, the rules of courtesies and rank did transfer across the rift to the rebels and vice versa. Upon capture, Captains had to be referred to as sir. Though orders were trifle, there was still a hated sense of respect that came with rank. The young Private however didn't seem to like the rules of courtesies as his fists clenched tightly around Edward's gloves. There was a look of anger in the man's eyes that Edward knew he shouldn't cross if he feared for his life, but it looked like he was too late to realise it.

"And you are only a clone," he hissed before Edward felt the man's hand collide between a gap in his armor, the most prominent one being his throat, and latching around it. The force of the excursion slammed him back against one of the stalls and he felt the little amount of air get knocked out of him. Edward's hand reached up and grabbed the soldier's and tried to pry it off of him. His lungs were begging for air within seconds. The man reached up and Edward felt his helmet get pried off of his head. He wanted to yelp as the man accidentally pulled his hair in his effort but all that came out was a gurgle as he tried to gasp for air.

"Ah there's your ugly mug. Hey Johnny! Get a look at this guy. Just to imagine there are a million of you is downright repulsive," the man jeered and a light spout of laughter picked up from the other fellow. Edward's vision started to speckle with stars and he desperately tried to push the guy off of him. As his hand wasn't budging, Edward found his own grabbing around the soldier's jacket. The man looked surprised like he wasn't expecting him to grab him but Edward used the man's faltering grip to his advantage. He pulled the man closer to him and brought his head down into the man's skull. He was released instantly as the soldier hissed to himself under the pain and Edward gasped for air. He tried to take a step away from the two men who were in the bathroom but he found his legs wobble underneath him as he fell to his knees. His raspy breaths raked across a sore throat and his own hand reached up to it to ease the fiery red pain he felt there. Damn, it hurt! Struggling to regain his breath, Edward heard a curse escape the men next to him.

"That bastard!" There was a swift kick to his side that his armor took. The force sent Edward down on his back and he felt a sudden fist slam into the side of his face. Stars flew across his vision and he was left slightly dazed. He saw the fist cock back again to deliver another blow lifted his arms up to protect himself but two more reached up and pulled them back. Another punch was delivered to his cheek bone and the pain brought tears to his eyes. The soldier was standing so close to him that Edward could hear the angry raspy breaths he was dealing along with the other whose breath ran down his neck as he restrained him. Edward brought his leg up to kick the Private away but he felt himself freeze. He couldn't attack a rebel. That was all the General's needed to send him six feet under. But it was in self defense they couldn't just expect him to sit there and take it! Edward tried arguing with himself but he knew there wouldn't be a difference in the Generals' eyes. They would see him as a danger and have him hung either way. Edward didn't know how long it was, but he knew he hurt. The men dropped him and he collapsed back down to the floor of the bathroom, gasping for air. They stood up and dusted their hands off as if ridding them from the dirt they got from touching him. Edward didn't move from where he laid. He didn't think he could bring himself to look them in the eye. He was pitiful not fighting like that and he felt the full effects of the brawl.

"Come on Johnny, let's go," the Private muttered. The other soldier in the bathroom stepped over Edward like he was a heap of trash and nothing more. "Wash your hands you slob. You come in here to use the bathroom and I can't believe you," he scolded Johnny. Edward heard the light sound of water as they finished their duty and the footsteps faded out the door. He groaned as he pushed himself up off the floor now that the coast was clear. His body felt like it wanted to crawl but Edward forced himself to retain the only pride it had left and walked slowly over to the sink. He stood hunched over it as he looked in the mirror. Golden hair hung in disarray around his beaten face. A cracked lip was dripping blood down his chin and a thick scratch above his eye was doing similarly. His left tearing eye was starting to swell red and Edward just knew as it finished its job he wouldn't be able to see out of it. His entire face would be a black and blue mess. He reached his fingers up cautiously and touched it, withdrawing instantly with a hiss of pain.

"Damn it," he felt himself cry out softly. His eyes were watering as he tried to suffer through the pain. He couldn't go outside like that. He couldn't. When all of the other soldiers saw him they would do the same. He would just be a new punching bag for them. His face told him he already was. Edward cursed as his eyes wandered down to the floor. He spotted his discarded helmet and gloves tossed carelessly to the floor. Scurrying over to pick them up he quickly slipped his gloves on his hands so no one else who went in there could get the same idea. He slowly pulled the helmet down over his head, his bruised face screaming at him all the way. It hurt so bad but when the helmet was on, the damage was done and over and it hurt no more than it did before. He looked back in the mirror. With it on he looked normal. A small amount of blue caught his attention and he noticed that the collar of his black underarmor was falling down. His neck was bruised where the Private's fingers dug into his skin. He quickly pulled it back into place and reattached his neck guard.

Edward found himself not wanting to leave the bathroom. He didn't want to go out there and face Ross. What did she know of what happened in there? Did she hear them? Did she allow them in on purpose? Edward shook his head at the silly thought. Ross was protecting him. Remembering that important bit of information had sent him out the door in fear of soldiers trying for round two. With his guards, he was safe.

"Nine minutes," Ross said to him as he stepped out into the busy hallway. Everyone was still heading to lunch. A crowd of blue clad soldiers stood across the hallway and Edward recognised two of them as being the ones who had come into the latrines. They were laughing, poking fun with a victorious pride. Edward felt his face heat up, angry that they were taunting him but his body went cold in fear. They were spreading the word. Others were sure to follow. There was a sudden nudge in his ribs and he flinched at the contact. Ross was looking at him expectantly as she must have said something but he didn't catch it.

"Wh-what?" he stumbled, trying to ground himself back in reality.

"Are you ready to get something to eat?" she asked him, a small worried look crossing her face.

"I-I'm not really hungry-"

"You were saying you were starving in the classroom," Ross stated and Edward knew it was true but didn't want to eat. He couldn't take off his helmet.

"I just wanted to annoy the Colonel and get out of there. I am not actually hungry," Edward mumbled trying to pull a light smile in his voice. "Besides, I had lunch and breakfast already. That's two meals. One more than I am used to getting here. My stomach isn't used to it!" He tried to sound light hearted but it only seemed to make Ross more worried. But luckily for him, she didn't act on it.

"If you are sure," she said as they started their walk to the cafeteria. They both got trays. Even though Edward had no intent on finishing his he was glad to see that the Colonel's scoldings got through to the servers in the line. They gave him a full serving of everything. They sat down at their usual table, but it was now occupied by the other members of their unit. Havoc was looking rather upset with his presence there as he glared at him from across the table. Edward didn't say a word as he poked his food with the fork he was given, bored out of his mind as he waited for the Lieutenant to finish her meal.

"Hey chief, aren't you going to eat it?" Breda asked him as he saw he wasn't touching his food.

"No, I-I am not hungry. I got a tray so that the Colonel wouldn't hit me a new one, yah know?" he said, trying to force the false smile back on his face from before. Breda, just like the other Lieutenant, didn't look convinced.

"Stew is the best meal they make here. I would try it if I were you," Fuery tried to bribe him into eating something but Edward shook his head.

"I will try it later," he mumbled absentmindedly. There was a sudden thwump as the Colonel joined them at the table, dropping his tray down tiredly. Though they both came from the same place, he looked a little more tired than when Edward had saw him in the classroom. He was carrying a file, which he set underneath his tray. He looked rather angry at it and everyone seemed to know it.

"What do you got there, sir?" Fuery asked quietly, hoping not to poke the bear.

"Missing supply report," he groaned and loaded his own mouth with food. "Apparently the ward lost the blood samples from a few weeks ago. I am this close to sending out a search team to find it all."

"Blood samples? We aren't in charge of those. Why are you filling out the missing report for them?" Breda asked. Edward saw the Colonel's eyes flick up to him and his stomach dropped.

"You lost it?!" Edward exclaimed. "You lost my blood samples! I thought you said you were going to make sure no one would get my cloning information."

"I promised you nothing of the sort. I said that we wouldn't make clones, nothing less," the Colonel retorted.

"Paperwork, blood, guard shifts. It's one more thing we have to worry about just because of a stupid clone!" Havoc sarcastically cheered as he twirled his finger in the air.

"None of this is up to me, you know it!" Edward angrily scolded the blond haired lieutenant as he glared back at him.

"It was sure up to you when you shot me in the back. You know I am still doing paperwork on that too?"

"I didn't-"

"So it was just the other clone commander in Liore that nearly took my legs from me," the man boiled.

"Just let me finish-"

"You don't deserve to finish so shut up and eat your dinner, chief, or else we will be finding ourselves doing paperwork on that too," the man snapped back. Edward felt his anger boil and he stood up from his chair ready to make a long winded comeback but the colonel heard what Havoc said. Of course the insult had nothing to sway the Colonel's moral heart, it was very true. But what Havoc said brought the attention of the Colonel back to his plate.

"Edward, why aren't you eating your food?" the man asked him, his voice bitter with disappointment. Edward's eyes flickered down to his tray. The warm sweet smelling steam of the stew taunted him and made his mouth water but he gritted his teeth against it.

"I am not hungry," he forced himself to say. The Colonel frowned.

"I didn't spend all that time at lunch making them serve you just so you won't eat. Sit down, take off your helmet, and eat. I don't care if you aren't hungry," he ordered. Edward closed his eyes as his fists clenched. He had to obey, he had to. Mustang was higher rank. But the fear of what lied underneath the helmet built a stubbornness in him and against it all he let out a hot breath of air and looked down at the ground.

"No," he whispered, barely audible to anyone. Everyone held a look of blasphemy on his face and he saw the Sergeant noticeably recoil with the outburst that was sure to come. Edward knew what to expect but he surely didn't know that Mustang's face could turn that color red.

"No?" the man breathed a fire that would burn even ice. "Did I hear you correctly?" Edward gripped the table with such force he threatened to break it. His eyes were locked on the floor. He reluctantly nodded his head.

"I said no," he repeated, only a little louder. "I am not taking my helmet off." The Colonel stood up from his seat and rounded the table. His steps were slow and deliberate and his burning glare never left him. He stopped only when he was standing right infront of him. Edward felt himself take an ever so tiny step back from him.

"I have the right to court martial you and you know exactly where that will lead you, to the gallows," the man seethed. "Now take your helmet off."

"If i take my helmet off, sir," Edward spat weakly, "I will be sent there anyways." The Colonel seemed to freeze as he looked him in the eye. His face seemed to harden ever slightly.

"Everyone," he said, his voice showing no emotion whatsoever, "Pick up your trays, interrogation room Alpha, now," he ordered. Edward's eyes widened as he felt his heart freeze over. The Colonel, after picking up his paperwork, ignoring his unfinished lunch, grabbed Edward roughly by the arm and dragged him out the door. Edward stumbled behind him and couldn't help but feel the spirits of the universe damn him to hell. He didn't know what was going to happen to him. Was the Colonel going to court martial him? Was he going to send him to execution? Edward felt the cold claws of death start to tickle the bruises around his neck. He felt it hard to breathe as he was lead deeper into the base. The Colonel threw him down into the hard metal chair he was so used to by now. Everyone else followed in behind him as quiet as mice. Havoc looked more like this whole ordeal was a big inconvenience for him. Edward gripped the edges of his chair, his breath caught in his throat as an overwhelming feeling of fear caught hold of him. He felt his heart freeze in his chest and flinched as the Colonel roughly slammed his hands down on the table across from him. His black eyes glared into him with a burning fire.

"Take your helmet off," he ordered again. "We are alone here."

"N-"

"Take off your helmet, or so help me I will rip it from your head. We did not come all the way down here just for you to continue disobeying your chain of command," he scolded. Edward looked down at the floor and then back up at the Colonel. He was still glaring at him, unwavering. He didn't have a way out of this. He closed his eyes and took in a huge breath as his hands reached up and gently removed his helmet. He dropped it down to his lap and he heard quiet gasps come from the people of the room but the Colonel stayed silent. Edward didn't dare look him in the eye. He didn't think his wilting pride could take it.

"You were in a fight," Mustang stated the obvious as if he was still trying to process it. Edward nodded his head slowly, still not wanting to look at him. The Colonel dragged his hands down his face as the situation hit him and he collapsed down in the chair opposite of him. Silence hung in the room for a good few minutes thickening the air like a roux. Mustang let out an angry growl and slammed his fist down on the table. "Fighting is the worst thing you possibly could have done. You assaulted another rebel soldier. Do you know how the Generals would see this? It is an attack on the internal safety of the Alliance!"

"Of course I know that!" Edward yelled at him in retort. "I didn't assault anyone! Neither of them have a scratch on them. They - They…," Edward faltered as he knew his arguing was pointless. He had done nothing. He let himself be beaten. It had hurt so bad and for what? The Colonel was still going to report this. He was still going to be killed for nothing. They were going to pin it on him. There were no other witnesses. Edward felt water build up in his eyes but he quickly buried his face into his crossed arms on the table. He would not do that, not in front of everyone.

"Sir," he heard Ross address him quietly, "Did this all happen when you were in the-" She didn't have to finish as he nodded his head. She let out a light gasp and the Colonel turned to her questionably.

"Who did this?" he asked him.

"I-I don't know. They were two privates," Edward told him lifting his chin to rest on his arms. There was a light harumph from where the other soldiers stood in the room and Edward glanced over to see Havoc crossing his arms arrogantly.

"Whoever they were, I wish that I could have been there," he muttered under his breath. Edward felt like someone shot an arrow through him as he heard the man say that.

"You want to do this?" Edward found himself whispering harshly, as his feet found themselves planted on the floor as his body rose to stand. The blond lieutenant glared at him and Edward felt himself grow very disappointed in the rebel soldier. "You want to beat me to a pulp? Well, go ahead I surely can't stop you! You better get your hits in now before I am just a fucking corpse hanging off a rope! All of you! Come on!" he raged as he grabbed his helmet and threw it across the room. It hit the wall with a clatter and silenced the room with its obnoxious sound. Edward challenged Havoc and the man seemed to want to take it. He looked just about to roll up his sleeves but Breda held him back with his one hand.

"Both of you stand down!" Mustang roared as he shoved Edward roughly back into his seat. "You are making it very hard for me to believe you, clone!" Edward crossed his arms and slumped down in his chair, not wanting to look at any of them. The Colonel turned back to Ross and asked her what had happened.

"Sir, we went to the restroom after the class on our way to the mess hall. I couldn't go in with him… for obvious reasons and I stood outside the door. Two men walked in and then a few minutes they walked out, the Captain after them. I didn't know anything was the matter. I accept full responsibility for not following protocol, sir," she said stiffly. Her lip was taut as she was very upset with the result of her actions. She obviously felt really guilty for what had happened. The Colonel turned back to Edward and looked him over once, his eyes were unreadable.

"You really didn't hit anyone?" he asked once more as if to be sure. "They don't have a single scratch on them?"

"No. I wanted to but I didn't. I sat there like a limp rag doll as they punched my face in. They weren't touched," Edward mumbled. "It isn't like it mattered. You are going to send a report in either way and that will be it."

"I don't see any reason on sending a report in because you fell down the stairs," the Colonel told him. Edward's eyes widened as he looked up at the man. He wasn't going to send the report in?

"Why-" Edward started to ask but the Colonel cut him off.

"I don't want to have to deal with the paperwork," the man muttered, giving a weak excuse. He turned back to the rest of the unit ignoring Edward's shocked expression. "From now on the clone will have at least one male guard on him at all times. If Lieutenant Ross needs you to fill in that spot, there will be no objections. You will do it until you are properly relieved. Got it?"

"Yes sir!" they all replied, some less than others. The Colonel pointed to Havoc who had replied less than thrilled.

"Lieutenant Havoc, you are going to escort the Captain back to his chambers-"

"Colonel-"

"Whatever grudge you and the Captain have against each other needs to be resolved. I will not have tension within the unit," he snapped at him. Havoc pushed past Breda and up to the Colonel. He looked rather angry with his new orders and Edward was rather uncomfortable with them too. He couldn't picture what would happen on his walk back to his dorm, not with him on guard.

"Colonel, even you hate clones. Why do I have to change my views when you-"

"Because I am a higher rank that the Captain, I am allowed to despise him," he chided. "You are a Lieutenant, second at that and though the clone is from the empire, a Captain there is a Captain here so he is above you. You cannot hate higher ranks but you can disagree with them all you want. Now whatever you have against him, you better get it out now for if I hear any arguing tomorrow morning at breakfast there will be consequences." Havoc's mouth was open to retort but his angry words were lost in his throat. The fire of rage was sending bridges of flames over towards Edward and he felt his own throat drop to his stomach. He didn't dare speak up against him.

"Ross," the Colonel snapped and the other Lieutenant stepped forward, guilt still played out on her face, "Havoc will be a sufficient enough guard for this evening. You can rest-"

"But sir-"

"Rest," the man ordered. "You will be back on duty tomorrow. The rest of you," he said turning towards the rest of the unit, "there is not to be a word of this. Go." Without a challenge, without a word, the other soldiers filed out of the room. Each gave a slight worried glance towards Edward but other than that they were silent. Edward felt fear build up in his stomach as the room became almost empty, only leaving him with two men that hated him the most. The Colonel was massaging his face tiredly as he seemed to still be sorting out ways to cover up the incident. Edward was still surprised that he was going through such lengths to do this when it was obvious he still hated him with a burning passion. But he saved his life by not turning in a report and for that Edward was grateful. Havoc however looked like he wanted to recreate the incident all over again.

"Clone, you are going to be able to do that weird healing thing to your face right?" he asked him, seriously.

"I don't know. I don't control it-"

"Well try. We can't have you eat in the mess hall until that is all cleared up. People will ask questions. If it isn't fixed by tomorrow morning, take your meals down to the classroom," he told him. "Now. Havoc, take him back and deal with what you have to along the way." The Lieutenant's face was as red as ever, the color clashing with his blond hair. The Colonel however ignored him and turned his back to leave. Edward stood up from his chair, really wishing that the man would stay and take him back instead. He didn't feel safe with Havoc at all. His face would probably look even worse come tomorrow and there still wasn't anything he could do to fight back. But he still kept his mouth shut. He didn't have a voice against the Colonel and after everything he did for him, he shouldn't argue. After all, there still was time for the Colonel to change his mind and turn in the report.

The door closed behind the Colonel and all was still. Edward felt the burning eyes of the Lieutenant on him and he didn't dare look at him. Swifter than Edward had ever seen anyone move before, the Lieutenant had him seized by the chest plate and pinned against the mirror that separated the observation room from the interrogation room. Edward gasped at the shock of the movement but his eyes caught the Lieutenant's fist pull back for a punch. He could feel the fiery anger spewing off the Lieutenant with every breath.

"Do it. It isn't like I can stop you," Edward challenged him. The Lieutenant's grip on him tightened and all of his muscles were posed and flexed. Edward could just imagine the man's fist plowing into his only good eye but it stayed suspended in the air. His golden eyes tore off of the angry man's fist and looked over to his eyes, surprised that he was faltering at all. The anger that held the green orbs under its control was wavering and Edward saw it turn into something that looked more like despair. He was breaking down.

"Everything," he heard the man whisper through his clenched teeth. "I thought I lost everything. I couldn't walk, I couldn't move. You shot me. You shot all of us but you didn't kill us. We lost so much. I couldn't use my legs for so fucking long. I thought it was the end. Why are you even here? Why are you taunting me!"

"You aren't the only one who lost something, Havoc," Edward said, not harsh at all. He was just stated the facts. The Lieutenant's fist flexed even more as it pulled back to really pull the punch. He didn't flinch that time. Golden eyes bore right into the green ones, challenging the Lieutenant to even move. "You shot my Company when they had all surrendered. They dropped like marionettes with cut strings. I saw you pull the bloody trigger. You killed every single person I could have called a friend. Unlike your legs, Lieutenant, they aren't coming back." Lieutenant opened his mouth, the fire in his eyes burning his throat with what he wanted to say but Edward didn't let him. His golden eyes froze the man in his place. He needed to tell him what he had to say.

"Havoc, I don't blame you," he said softly. "We were under orders, in battle, we did what we had to do. I still feel traumatized by what happened to my company and I don't think I will ever get over it. But, I don't blame you as I hope you don't blame me." The Lieutenant's grip loosened ever so slightly and Edward finally felt his feet lower all the way to the floor. The man doubled over, nearly resting his head against his white armored chest. Edward's eyes widened as he saw the man start to sob quietly in front of him. He was in distress. He had heard from Breda that the man had bruised his spine and had temporary paralysis for six months thinking that it might just be permanent. The man had lived that long being damned to a chair thinking that he would never walk again. He was emotionally breaking down, but after all that Edward was through he knew that sometimes letting it out was the only way to overcome it. He must have been taking his anger out on him the whole time. After all, he was the one who had shot him.

"Six months, six bloody months, and it still isn't gone," the man hissed to himself. "I still feel the numbness." Edward felt like he should do something but he didn't really know what. He carefully lifted his hand and patted the man's head of bushy blond hair awkwardly.

"Focus on what you can feel, not what you can't," Edward said softly, trying to divert his attention from everything that he had lost. "It will come back. You're okay." That pattern continued until the man's sobs quieted and the tears stopped coming. After a long pause of silence the man looked up at him, his eyes red from crying. He looked gratefully confused.

"Why are you showing me sympathy? After everything we did to each other?" his hoarse voice asked him. Edward was taken back. Did he really think that he was so emotionless because he was a clone?

"I mean… if you want we could duke it out but you already know I can't fight you," Edward muttered, removing his arms and taking a small step back from the man. Havoc stood up and straightened himself out, trying his best to wipe his long due tears from his face. He was holding all that in for six months. "But," Edward started, "against everything that people want to believe, clones aren't bloodthirsty animals, just prisoners of circumstance…. Really really fucked up circumstance."

"Aren't we all," Havoc chuckled lightly, trying to bring some light to something, somewhere. Edward found his smile trying to mimic his but the pain of his bruised face made him falter a bit. He winced and brought his hand up to touch his split lip. It broke open and started to bleed once more. The cost of smiling. Havoc reached into his pocket and brought out a small cloth and gave it to him. Edward took it hesitantly, and held it to his cut, hoping to stop the bleeding as fast as he could. "You aren't what I expected a clone to be-"

"As I found out in my lifetime, I like to disappoint people. It has become habit," Edward muttered under his breath.

"I am sorry for… how I treated you-"

"You are rightfully distressed. We all need to release it somehow," he said. "I wasn't the nicest either, especially to the Colonel." Silence stretched through their conversation and both stared at the floor unsure of what to do then. It seemed that the tension between both of them flew out of the window however they didn't know what to replace it with. They hung in that empty void for a while until Havoc eventually walked over and grabbed Edward's helmet which laid on the floor where he had thrown it earlier. He handed it back to him and Edward found his hand wrapping gently around it.

"I guess this means we sorted it out?" he found himself chuckling lightly. A grin grew on Havoc's face. It was as naturally happy as it could have been in that moment.

"I hope so or else the Colonel is going to be really pissed off in the morning and I really don't want to get on the wrong end of his flames that's for sure." They smiled at each other before Edward sturdied himself to slip his helmet on over his hurting face. He winced as it slid over his head but before he knew it the two of them were leaving the small confines of the interrogation room with their dinners in tow. Havoc was telling him lightly about helping him get some ointment on his cuts when they got back to his room. Edward felt his heavy damned heart lighten a bit with Havoc's light conversation. It gave him hope. Maybe people could really change. He felt they both did.