It's been awhile, I fully acknowledge that...

This takes place after the end of the original anime, although Ed did not get sent to Germany, in this, Envy was enough of a price for Al's body. I don't agree with the original ending, there was no closure! Lack of closure angers me to no end, albeit frustrates me too.

I do not own Fullmetal Alchemist or any of the characters.

I sat, staring down at my mismatch hands. For once in my life, I was relieved that my brother wasn't here.

I always pushed him away on this day but I think he understands. It may hurt him a bit but he realizes, or at least I hope he does, that on this day, I need time to myself. That looking at him, now a flesh body, still fills me with sorrow over my past mistakes and trapping him in that godforsaken armour.

It is at this moment the damn phone in our shared apartment decides to ring. It's probably Winry, wondering why Al's gone back to Risembol without me and to make sure I'm okay.

Sure, I may have, but most definitely did, propose to her in the most unromantic way possible and in term she accepted in the most unromantic way too, but she's constantly checking on my wellbeing. It worries her that despite my plan to leave the military crashed and burned, but I'm fine. It's not like the guys at the office are oblivious to me. *read in between the lines, they're constantly worried and checking up on me…*

I grab the phone of the cradle and practically foaming at the mouth, "I'm fine Win, I just thought Alphonse could use some time out of the city."

Silence. That's never a good sign with Winry. Finally she replies, "I'm going to ignore that tone and get straight to the point, Fullmetal."

Shit. Okay not Winry, Mustang.

"What do you want Bastard," I growl.

A slight chuckle from the other end, glad to know I amuse him, eh? "Just get down here Edward, it's important."

I roll my eyes, then realizing he doesn't know that I reply. "Last time you said that it was because you needed help finishing some paperwork for the Furher and I was the only one you knew who could forge your signature to a Tee."

"Fullmetal," there's a hidden threat and warning in the tone. "Office. Ten minutes." And with that, being the gentleman that he is, the bastard hangs up on me without even a goodbye.

Grudgingly I stare at the book I was hoping to wallow in today. No such luck. I grab a black coat and shrug it on. I grab my boots and shove my feet into them as I lock the door.

I can feel the stares as soon as I enter the building. Damn them, it's not my fault I forgot to pull my hair into a ponytail or a braid before I left. Okay so maybe it is my fault… But still! Screw them, screw 'em all to hell!

The lack of my obnoxious red coat doesn't help either…

I storm towards Mustang's office, annoyed at the attention I'm receiving, especially since it's this day. Damn, why didn't I go to Risembol with Al…

Slamming open the door with more anger than necessary I storm into the office. Nobody bothers to look up at my typical entry.

"Hey Chief," Havoc say's casually, a cigarette drooping from his mouth. He lifts his head to look at me and his cigarette falls out. "H-ow…"

"Havoc you're going to burn those documents," Hawkeye drawls from the desk across from him.

"Eh..Ed?" Havoc finally manages to sputter out.

Rolling my eyes I lean against his desk. "Shut your mouth, Havoc," I say, flicking him between the eyes. "You're drooling."

His jaw quickly snaps shut but he remains staring at me. "I-you-just-I…" He drops his head onto the desk and it hits with a painful thud.

Everybody jumps at the sudden sound. Then all eyes shoot to me, blonde hair cascading irritatingly between my shoulder blades and short black leather jacket. Good going Havoc…

Quiet tension fills the small office as four sets of eyes all stare at me and Havoc nursing his now bruising forehead. It's Breda who breaks the silence, "Hey Ed…" He says nervously, only adding to the awkwardness.

I sigh, "Is Mustang in his office?"

"He's just on a phone call with a general from Central, Ed." It's Hawkeye who answers.

I nod and head towards the desk that has been designated to me and settle into the chair. "Anything I can do while I'm waiting, Hawkeye?"

She nods and hands me a stack of Alchemic related paperwork. "You can do these Ed, they were for the Colonel to look at but you're just as good," she says. "At least I can count on you to read them thoroughly," she murmurs the last part but the whole office hears it.

I snort, "He's still a lazy bastard despite what others may say…" I pick up the first document and read through it but the eyes on my back are driving me crazy. "Alright," I snap. "Out with the comments before I beg Hawkeye to shoot one of you!"

"You okay Chief," it's Havoc. "You seem on edge."

"I'm fine Havoc," I say as I flourish a signature on the line at the bottom of the document.

"What's up with the new coat and hairstyle, Ed? It's weird seeing you without that bright coat." Breda.

"I forgot to tie my hair back Breda," I sigh, rubbing my temple. "And I didn't feel like wearing it, okay." That and mum used to wear a jacket like this in the fall when Risembol got cold in the winter, I add silently.

As silence once again takes hold of the workspace, Hawkeye stands up and walks into Mustangs office, only to re-emerge moments later. "He's ready for you Ed."

I stand up, grateful to get away from the tense atmosphere and trudge into Mustang's office, closing the door behind me.

"What do you want, Bastard?"

"Now's not the time Fullmetal, this is important," he says, not looking up from his desk.

I cautiously perch myself on the black leather couch and wait for him to continue. The silence in here is tense too, but for a completely different reason.

Sighing, I stand up and make my way to the desk and stand behind Mustang's chair. Peering over his shoulder, I look at the file that seems to have captivated his attention.

Scanning the page I quickly reach the bottom. "Flip," I order and he jumps at my sudden noise. I smirk, realizing he didn't notice me move behind him.

"Hold on, I'm just finishing," the raven haired man grumbles.

A few more seconds and the page flips and I resume my reading. Yet again I quickly reach the bottom. "Flip."

He looks at me with raised eyebrows, "You did not just read that so fast," he accuses.

"I read a lot and have gotten fast, sue me. Now filp."

"When I'm done," He growls.

This goes on for another agonizingly long six pages, and by the end of it I'm shell-shocked on what the innocent file contained.

Taking a shaky breath, I sit back down on the couch and watch the older man with keen eyes.

Okay so this was intended to be a one-shot but my mind got caught up when all the creative juices started flowing so its gonna be 2 or 3 chapters tops.

I got really bored after school today and my internet is being a pain in the ass but I got it working enough to be able to upload this!

Enjoy Amigos!

~Twink