Surprise! There's gonna be a second chapter!

WARNING: Some OOC-ness expected, such is the nature of fanfiction. That said, as always, I will do my best to keep them in character. But I make no promises!

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

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Edward Elric slammed the oak door to LtCol Mustang's personal office as he stormed out. His face red with what 1stLt Hawkeye could only assume was twelve year old rage. She cringed slightly when the boy slammed the second door closed with enough force that the motivational pictures hanging along the wall rattled.

Ever one to state the obvious, 2ndLt Havoc said, "Chief didn't seem too happy, did he?"

Hawkeye gave him a flat stare that very simply said, 'Shut up, Havoc.' Then she walked over and knocked lightly on their superior's door before letting herself in. "Sir?"

Mustang was sitting idly at his desk, his chin resting on laced hands, and a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

Hawkeye rose an eyebrow inquisitively. "Did he...agree to sign it, sir?" The way the young man had taken off, she didn't think he'd signed the document, but maybe she'd read the situation wrong….

Mustang sighed heavily. "No. He did not sign it." The man ran a hand through his hair and leaned back. "But he'll be back," he assured her, and possibly himself with a sly smile. "He's upset, sure. But he's a smart kid, Lieutenant. He knows he has to sign it."

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Edward was livid when he exited the Central HQ main building. He turned around dramatically and pointed up to the second floor, "Bastard!" He kicked his foot on the floor and continued to rave. "You said you wouldn't make any decisions for me! Lying bastard!" He picked up a rock and chucked it, hitting the broadside of the building.

Surprisingly, a first floor window flew open and an angry looking woman with short black hair and a beauty mark yelled back. "Hey, kid! We're testing in here! Put a lid on it and go home! Geezus…." The window was slammed shut and Ed stuck his tongue out childishly, mimicking the crazy lady.

"Fine!" Ed shouted back defiantly as he shoved his hands into his pockets and escorted himself off the premises. "Don't wanna be here anyway."

Alphonse had been waiting for his brother on a side street just around the corner. He was crouched, holding a small kitten and talking to three others when he heard Ed walk up.

"Hello, brother! How'd it go?" Al asked cheerily as he stood up with a clank of metal, the small kitten purring softly as it rested on his arm.

Ed scoffed and made a face. "Stupid Lieutenant Colonel said I have to sign a paper to get a physical before we can be considered 'fit for duty' and start going on missions." It wasn't difficult to hear his disdain toward the prospect of getting a physical examination done. Be real, who really liked going to the doctor?

Alphonse set the kitten down, giving its tiny head one last pat. "Oh, well...did you sign it?" Ed fidgeted. "Brother! You have to sign the paper!" Alphonse all but screeched at his obstinate brother. "We'll be stuck here forever if you don't and we're not going to have any money because they'll fire you!"

"So? That bastard already claimed responsibility for us," Ed reasoned. "Let him reap the consequences of that one."

"But Ed! Why won't you just sign the paper? It's just a physical. Mom used to take us to the doctor every year for them and you never had a problem with it then...mostly."

Ed blushed. "Yeah because it was Mom! Do you know what that paper said, Al? It said I have to be accompanied by a parent or guardian! And I am not going to the doctor and having LtCol Lying Bastard hold my hand while I get poked and prodded," Ed complained.

"Yes you are! And if you don't then...then...then…" Al floundered, unable to think of a suitable threat. He grunted his frustration. "Well, I don't know what yet! But just go back and sign it!"

"You sign it! If you want one so-" Ed stopped himself immediately, but they both knew what he had been about to suggest. The older of the two dropped his head in shame. Go get one yourself? Why am I so stupid, he berated himself.

The suit of armor turned around and started walking away. "I would if I could, brother." The enormity that was the suit of armor seemed to shrink with the eleven year old's voice. "At least then I'd know I was still human." He crouched back down with the cats and let his voice echo metallically. "I...need some time alone, Ed."

"O-oh...okay…" Ed kicked himself mentally and turned away slowly. I'm so stupid. He glanced over his shoulder at Al. "I'm sorry, Alphonse," Ed whispered as he walked and then ran away. He had a paper to sign.

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Edward could feel a huge lump growing in his chest as he dashed across the commons, pushing past military personnel who were headed to lunch and earning plenty of "Hey!"s and "Watch it!"s along the way. Not paying attention, he sprinted around a corner towards the stairwell and slammed face first into a pair of breasts. Being the smaller party, he lost the unintentional game of chicken and landed on his back side. "Ow...sorry, uh…" His eyes widened in surprise, mirroring those of the woman he'd assaulted.

Recovering from the shock quicker than Ed, the woman curled one hand into a fist , bringing it up threateningly, and pointed an accusing finger at Edward who was still frozen on the ground. "You!" Her voice was seething. " You're that loud mouth brat from earlier!" She reached down, grabbed him by the scruff, and tugged him back to his feet. "Who do you belong to?"

Ed was stunned. This woman was terrifying. Almost more terrifying than Lt Hawkeye.

"Ed!" he heard an overly jovial voice shout in greeting.

He whipped his head to the left and he felt a wave of relief wash over him.

A wave which which was quickly dragged back out to sea when the woman loudly gave the man a greeting. "Major Hughes," she smiled. Then she snapped to attention wand rendered a salute. "Sir!"

The major playfully saluted back. He hated all the formalities that were carried by the military. "Lieutenant Ross, I didn't know you and Ed were acquainted with each other," he laughed. The lieutenant and Edward exchanged glances which did not go undetected. Hughes lifted an eyebrow. "You aren't acquainted, are you?" Both of them shook their heads. and Hughes sighed. "Alright, lieutenant. What happened here? Because right now, it looks like you're assaulting poor Ed here."

Appalled by the accusation, Lt Ross's mouth fell open. "I wasn't-This brat assaulted me!"

"Well now I'm curious. What'd you do to my Second Lieutenant, Ed?" Hughes laughed.

"I didn't mean it! I swear!" Edward quickly defended. "I just kinda bumped into her and she…"

Lt Ross glared daggers at the boy, daring him to turn this on her.

"She was scolding me for not being more careful," Ed lied smoothly. He was smart enough to look abashed as he rubbed the back of his head.

Hughes nodded. He didn't believe for one second that the young lieutenant had been simply chiding the boy, but they both seemed to agree with his response, so he would accept that as truth. "Well, as long as nobody was seriously injured, I suppose we'll just have you apologize and you can both continue to….whatever you were doing before, I guess."

The lieutenant smirked in victory, waiting for the apology she knew she deserved.

"Go ahead, Lieutenant," Hughes suggested. She gave him a dumbfounded look.

"Sir?"

"Just apologize first as a sign of good faith. I'm sure he didn't mean to run into you. Just look how small and adorable he is!" Hughes curled an arm around Ed's neck, making the squirm and his face grow red.

Ross sighed. She had had enough of her commanding officer's antics. She was hangry and this whole thing was just making it worse by keeping her from her lunch. "Ok, fine. I apologize."

"Now you, Ed."

"Hmpf!" he crossed his arms and turned his face away.

Hughes gave him a shake. "Ed~?" he said expectantly.

"I'm sorry, lieutenant," he ground out, cheeks flushed and lips pursed into a kind of pout.

Her face softened with a genuine smile of forgiveness. Major hughes was right, she decided. The kid was pretty cute. A brat yes. But adorable nonetheless.

"Have a good lunch, lieutenant," Hughes called after her as she walked away. "Oh! And don't forget those documents from supply!"

She waved a hand in acknowledgment and walked out into the commons.

Hughes released Ed, before turning to him seriously. "And you be careful. You're lucky you ran into Lt Ross and not some other prick who would've taken you out back. Where were you headed in such a hurry anyway?"

Ed remembered that he'd been on a mission prior to this whole debacle and deflated instantly as he remembered the...his brother...

"Woah, there! That's not a happy face," Hughes mock scolded. "Did Roy do something?" he asked, jumping to conclusions. "I was just headed up there myself. Want me to yell at him?" he sent a wink to Ed, coercing a small smile to appear. "Come on, we'll go up there together."

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Mustang looked up when the door to his office opened. He was the only one still in because everyone else had gone to lunch. He had been expecting Hughes, but Edward was a surprise. "You're back earlier than I expected," he stated.

Ed looked away, and Hughes was quick to pick up in his stead. "Me? This is the first time I've come to your office all day! My secretary wouldn't let me leave."

Roy rolled his eyes. "Not you, I was talking to Elric."

"Well, it's nice to see you too, Roy," Hughes started complaining, feigning hurt feelings. "Oh, hey!" So speaking of Ed!" He leaned in and cupped a hand around his mouth. "Did you guys fight earlier or something? Because the kid seems pretty down. I mean, just look at him," he gestured back at Ed who was staring past them and out the window. Roy's eyebrows knit together with concern.

"We had a...discussion of sorts. Yes," Roy said to his friend, not taking his eyes off Ed. "He hasn't had his physical yet, so I needed him to sign off on the liability agreement."

Hughes whistled, clearly impressed by something. "Wow, you mean, they're actually letting him sign the agreement? Isn't he a little young to be making those kind of agreements?" Hughes criticized. "I thought you put that paperwork through so that you could sign off on this kind of stuff for him?"

Roy just smiled awkwardly. "Well, Edward and I made an agreement, which I intend to honor. And in order to do that, he has to sign the agreement," Ed still wasn't paying attention so Roy raised his voice slightly. "Or at least give me permission to sign it. Which he has yet to do." Still nothing.

Hughes looked between the two of them. He felt like he was perhaps intruding. And Ed was still being...quiet, which was unnerving since the kid had been the exact opposite since he set foot in Central. Hughes looked at his wrist, "Well, look at that, I seem to have forgotten my watch in the office. I should probably go get it. I'll have to talk to you two later! Good luck with your physical, Ed! If you're good, maybe they'll give you a lollipop!" He winked again and gave the boy a pat on the shoulder before showing himself to the door. "Later, Roy!"

The door clicked shut and Roy looked up expectantly and sat just watching Edward for a few moments before saying, "Have a seat, Edward."

The blond looked up, startled by the suggestion. "I-I'll stand. I'm just here to sign the paper," he admitted, his voice dull.

Roy shrugged. "Suit yourself." He pulled the paper out from under the report he had most recently been going over. "What made you change your mind?" he asked as he set the paper in front of Ed.

"Nothing in particular," Ed said, his voice wavering slightly, exposing his lie.

Roy sighed, somewhat disappointed. He had hoped Ed would tell him what was wrong, but it seemed they weren't quite there in their relationship. He'd just have to let him deal with whatever was bothering him by himself this time around.

He handed a pen to Edward who carefully wrote his name in unpracticed and barely legible handwriting at the bottom, before handing the document back.

Roy received it and effortlessly scrawled his name underneath Edward's. He looked at the two names and noted that his handwriting was elegant compared to the twelve year old's, even though he'd only taken a second to scribble out a signature. The difference in something as simple as handwriting blew his mind and magnified the age gap for him. Had he really convinced this child to join the military? What was he-

"Can I go?"

Mustang snapped back to the present and saw Ed fidgeting from his flesh leg to the metal one.

"What? Oh, yes. Thank you. You're free to go," Mustang confirmed. "Just be here by eight tomorrow morning and we'll get you to your appointment."

Ed nodded and lifted his hand while he contemplated whether or not he was supposed to salute as he'd seen the crazy woman from before do. In the end, he decided to just give a half-hearted wave before shuffling out.

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Edward unlocked the door to his apartment, expecting to be alone. But to his surprise, he was greeted by a high-pitched, "Welcome home, brother."

"Al?" Ed said, unsure of how to go about apologizing. He hadn't had much time to think about it since running into that Lieutenant Ross lady. "Al, I'm really, really sorry about earlier..." He slouched in on himself. "I wasn't thinking when I said what I did. That was dumb…"

"I'm sorry, too, brother," the armor said sadly. He too regretted yelling at his brother. He knew how much Ed was a sacrificing for him and he knew how much Ed hated going to the doctor. Even though he'd visited the doctor numerous times when they were younger, he'd always had to be dragged in kicking and screaming by their mother just to get small things like shots or stitches.

Simple apologies exchanged, the two of them were silent for a moment, letting the air between them clear, almost literally.

"Brother?" Al asked after a little voice quiet and full of innocent curiosity.

"Yeah, Al?" Ed looked up with a crooked smile.

"Did you sign the paper?"

Ed's brow twitched and he scrunched his face to throw a dirty look at his younger, but much taller, brother. "Shut up, Al. Of course I signed it. Bastard knew I'd be back too…."

Al wasn't smiling physically, but his chest swelled hearing the underlying words his brother had meant to say. "I love you too, Ed. And it can't be that bad. It's just a physical."

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A/N:

So...

I originally didn't want to post this under Signatures because I have this thing about commitment and longer stories. I like...don't do them. I'm more of a one-shot, one-kill kinda person and chapters scare me. So that said, I actually posted this second chapter within hours of the first one and promptly took it down because I freaked out….sorry. I had to make a few very minor changes and I also wanted to figure out where I was going with the third chapter. Since you are seeing this chapter, it's safe to say I figured out where I wanna go with the third chapter.

I want to apologize for selling Parental!RoyEd and not delivering this chapter...I promise it'll be there next chapter. It's just 2ndLt Ross kinda just hijacked everything. She wasn't even supposed to be in this...but she bullied her way in. That probably had something to do with sleep deprivation...no way to be sure though. Also, Ross is probably super OOC. Sorry. I kinda have a head-canon version of her I'm attatched to. Anywho...

If you liked what you read or have a critique, I ask that you PM or leave a comment. If you didn't like what you read and want to complain about something, you are also free to leave a comment, but don't think I will care. Because as I said in the last chapter, I had fun writing this.

Thanks so much for reading!

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