Why hello, friends! Oh how I love all of you! You know, I'm really glad to have spent this time with you. You guys just make my days so much more awesome.

I received some AWESOME reviews for the last chapter. I was granted permission to live, although a couple of you added a suspicious 'for now' to the end of that haha. But anyways, thank you all for the wonderful reviews and I hope the final chapter doesn't disappoint.

Disclaimer: I do not own Fullmetal Alchemist or Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood

CHAPTER X

WHAT HE HADN'T EXPECTED

After only a few meager days of recovery, Edward was released back into the harsh environment of Amestris. You could tell by the way in which he walked that he was still in pain, but no one was about to keep the elder Elric from his younger brother a single day longer. Roy had been the one to call Alphonse in the first place, just to inform the boy of his brother's condition, but it ended up with the two Elrics screaming through the phone at each other. Ed eventually succeeded in persuading Al that he was just fine and he would meet him in a few days up north. Roy was surprised that Alphonse had agreed to this, but he didn't question the matter any further.

Now Roy found himself standing in a western train station, sending Edward on his way. After all that had happened, after all that they'd been through, Roy couldn't believe that he wasn't going to see the kid for such a long time. He knew that the boys would probably spend months up in the icy wasteland, and he knew it was for the betterment of their knowledge, but it almost hurt to be away from them for so long. He wouldn't know if they were safe or if they were taking care of themselves or if they were being careful.

Roy sighed and tapped his foot along to the horrible elevator music that played in the train station. He crossed his arms over his chest and looked towards the ticket counter. When he noticed the lack of a red-clad alchemist in the line, his mind immediately went into panic mode. And just when he was about to jump from his seat, a familiar voice bellowed from behind him.

"HEY MUSTANG!" Ed shouted with the complete intention of scaring Roy. And to his satisfaction, it worked.

Roy rocketed out of his seat and turned to glare at Ed, an angry fire in his eyes. "JUST WHAT THE HELL IS YOUR PROBLEM, FULLMETAL!?"

Ed had been laughing so hard at his superior's reaction that he eventually caused his wound to ache. Of course, he immediately stopped his laughter and grabbed at the pain, hoping to rub it away.

Roy noticed his subordinate's actions and let his anger reduce to a mild simmer. "Hey, take it easy. You're going to reopen that fantastic seal of mine."

Ed swatted him away and stood up straight. "Yeah, yeah. Whatever." Ed then sighed and checked the clock, noticing the closeness to his train's leaving time. "Well, I'd better get going. Al's gonna have my ass when I get there…" Ed imagined Al towering over him with his suit of armor twisted into a demonic form. "He's gonna kill me!" Ed cried at the image.

Roy laughed and patted Ed on his automail shoulder, fearing if he touched his flesh one, he'd cause the boy pain. "Alphonse would never do anything of the sort. He's just going to be glad that you're okay."

"I suppose," Ed agreed as he nodded. He then reached down and picked up his lone suitcase before starting for his train. "Hey, thank the lieutenant for me when you get back to Central. If it wasn't for her, I never would've gotten away from that creep," Ed told as he chucked something to Roy.

Roy caught whatever Ed had thrown and held it up to his eyes. He was a bit surprised to see that he had been handed a safety pin. "What'd you use this for?"

"Scratched out a transmutation circle. That worked a lot better than my nail would have."

"Why'd the lieutenant give this to you?" Roy inquired, not quite understanding why Edward would need a safety pin in the first place.

"The hem on my pants was coming undone so she gave me that to hold it in place for the time being," Ed paused and clenched his fists. "If you say one word about my height, I will end you, Mustang."

"I suppose I can spare you for today," Roy laughed as he scratched the back of his neck. He watched nervously as Ed staggered on the train but quickly composed himself as the boy turned back around to face him. "So I guess you'll be on your way now, huh?"

Ed scratched his arm and nodded. "Yeah. I don't want to keep Al waiting any longer," Ed paused and looked into the raven-haired man's eyes. "Hey, thanks for everything, Colonel. You really saved my ass back there. I don't think I would've made it had it not been for you yelling at me," Ed joked with a small laugh. He felt awkward thanking Mustang, but he knew that the man deserved it. Even if just this one time.

"Yeah, well, I wasn't about to let you die on me. Not only would I have had to do a ton of paperwork, but you owe me for my dry cleaning. Apparently, blood is a hard stain to remove from the military uniforms."

Ed snorted and waved Roy off. "I'll throw it in with that 520 cenz I owe you. But seriously, thank you. I don't know of too many people that could've stayed as level headed as you had in that situation."

The engineer shouted out to all the passengers, signaling the train was about to make its leave. Ed had begun to turn around when Roy stopped him.

"Hey, be careful up there in Briggs. And take care of yourself. Don't get sick or anything like that. And make sure you get plenty of sleep and enough to eat. And try to at least stay out of trouble. And watch your back! And uh, don't get killed, alright?" Roy sighed and offered a smile, knowing full well that he sounded like a mother sending their child off to camp for the first time. Boy, this experience sure had made him crazy, hadn't it?

Ed was a bit surprised by Mustang's incessant worrying, but he smiled back nonetheless. "Relax, colonel. I'll be just fine. I'm not dying any time soon so you can quit your worrying. And you be careful too. Make sure that bastard Bradley doesn't do anything stupid while I'm away."

Roy figured he could be satisfied with that response, so he took a step back and saluted as Ed ran onto the train. As the black and green locomotive pulled out of the station, Ed leaned out of his window and waved goodbye to Roy, also feeling a twinge of sadness from his upcoming lengthy absence.

As much as he hated to admit it, Edward actually kind of like messing with Mustang during his visits. Sure they'd have their fights and get into arguments, but at the end of the day, Edward would always smile when he thought about his time with the colonel.

Roy took in a deep breath as the train disappeared into the distance, taking the golden boy with it to the frosty wasteland known as Briggs. Roy involuntarily shuddered at the mere thought of those temperatures, but quickly brushed the feeling off. He shoved his hands into his pockets and started for the ticket counter, hoping he might have missed every train heading back to Central. For the next fifty years…

Unfortunately for Roy, that was not the case.

His train left in a mere thirty minutes.

'Great. Back to Central I go. Back to that empty office. Back to all that paperwork. Back to my dull, quiet life…' Roy knew those thoughts were a lie. He was just trying to convince himself that nothing would have changed since he'd left. But he knew that his life was practically over. Once he set foot in Central Command, his whole world would come to a crashing end.

Because Roy knew that Bradley would not tolerate something of this level.

Hell, if Bradley had nearly gotten Ed killed for something as small as that file that had been composed, then Roy Mustang was as good as dead. He should just lie on the ground and accept defeat, because Bradley was going to kill him.

He only hoped that his inevitable death would be quick and painless.

…

Twelve hours and thirty minutes later and Roy Mustang found himself standing on the floor of Central Station.

At first, he'd had a hard time willing his body to move. It was like his legs knew what was coming, and they were trying to prevent it. But eventually, Roy forced his body into a forward motion, and he began the trek towards Central Command.

It was a relatively enjoyable day out. A few clouds dotted the bright blue sky with the sun a beaming, yellow focal point. Birds chirped in the distance and children played on the play equipment in the park. The air was warm enough that you didn't need a jacket but not so warm that it was unbearable to be outside.

Roy savored the sweet refreshing air with every breath he took. He supposed that if he had to die, it was a plus that it'd be on such a nice day. He certainly didn't want to meet his death on a rainy day.

Even though his body felt heavy and his footsteps were slow and lousy, Roy felt a sense of relief. With Edward up north in the company of his brother, Roy didn't have to worry about the boy as much. He'd actually been able to sleep these past few nights, and that much needed rest had done wonders for his complexion. His face wasn't as pale and the bags under his eyes had faded away. He even stood a little taller than before. It was amazing what a good night's rest could do for a person.

Roy sighed a deep, heavy sigh as the first signs of Central Command came into view. He briefly wondered if the soldiers would still be angry with him, but he didn't give it much thought. If someone had a problem with him, then they could say it to his face. And that's where he left the thought.

The more pressing concern was Fuhrer Bradley.

Roy imagined every possible way that Bradley could end him.

Would he make it quick with a simple slice of his beloved sword?

Would he take him to the other homunculi and let them finish him off?

Would he find some false crime and have the actual military execute him?

Would he do it slowly and precisely, making many small cuts in certain places so Roy experienced as much pain as possible but wouldn't bleed out till the very last second?

Roy shuddered at the last thought, but had to remind himself that Bradley never seemed the torturous kind of man. Then Roy also reminded himself that anything was possible with these homunculi and he should expect the worst possible death.

One thing that Roy really hoped was that he wouldn't be given to Gluttony. He did not want his tombstone to be read as Eaten by a Homunculus. The thought alone made him want to run for the hills and never look back.

As more and more of Central Command came into view, Roy began to slow his pace. He was going to drag this out as long as humanly possible. He didn't want it to end like this. He didn't want to die at the hands of that overconfident bastard King Bradley.

Who was going to become Fuhrer after the homunculi were defeated if Roy was killed?

Who was going to make Amestris a democracy and help restore Ishval?

Who would restore the nation to its former glory and make it a peaceful place for all Amestrians?

Who would constantly worry about those two Elric brothers and make sure they always had someone to turn to for advice or keep them in line or make sure they were safe and lived long, healthy lives?

Roy didn't want anyone else to take those positions, because as demanding as they were, he truly enjoyed them. They gave him something to strive for, and also gave him an odd sense of fulfillment. He wondered how Edward would take it when he was told about his death. Hopefully, he wouldn't be lied to as Roy had done with Hughes' death.

Roy took one final deep breath, inhaling the sweet sweet fresh air, before stepping through the gate leading into Central Command.

For some people, those gates could be comparable to the Pearly Gates leading into heaven. Those ignorant fools had no idea what was truly going on inside Central Command.

But for Roy, the gates to Central Command were more like the Gates to Hell from his perspective.

As Roy walked the long, bland halls of said military post, he received many different reactions from all the soldiers.

Some saluted as they always had and always would.

Some gave him looks of shock and utter confusion and couldn't help but stare as he passed by.

And then there were some who looked at him with complete disdain and contempt, obviously not caring whether or not Roy noticed these particular scowls.

But no matter the reaction Roy received, he treated them all the same. He ignored every soldier, every civilian, everyone he passed by. He didn't have the bravado to make a scene of things, and he certainly didn't want to engage in any pointless pleasantries.

And then the inevitable came.

Before Roy even realized it, he was standing in front of Bradley's office, his hand raised into a fist, ready to knock on the door.

And Colonel Roy Mustang did not hesitate to do so.

"Enter," The unmistakable voice of Fuhrer King Bradley beckoned from the other side of the door.

Roy did as told, and quietly slipped into the office, closing the door behind him. He took note of the closed blinds and absence of other soldiers and or homunculi.

'He must've been expecting me…' Roy concluded confidently. He may not want to die, but he would never give that bastard the satisfaction of knowing he could shake Roy's confidence.

"I've been expecting you, Colonel. It's so nice that you could finally find the time to come visit your Fuhrer." Bradley's words were colder than ever before, but still somehow lacked emotion. And the homunculus had yet to look up from the paperwork that lay on his desk, adding to the eerie atmosphere of the room.

"I had business to take care of. This was the soonest that I could make it," Roy answered with an equally steady voice. His hard onyx eyes were staring at the being before him, just waiting for something, anything to happen.

And finally, Wrath looked up.

"Would this business include disobeying my orders, leaving your post without permission, and interfering in the work of another soldier?"

Roy stood just a little taller and smirked. "Yes, sir."

Then, rather unexpectedly, Bradley smiled. "Please do take a seat, Colonel. It's to my understanding that you had a long train ride, and I know how uncomfortable those seats can be. Standing like that must be making you tired, so do please sit down and make yourself comfortable."

Roy nearly choked on his own surprise, but sat down nonetheless. This was turning out much differently than expected.

"I heard that the Staron Case has been closed thanks to you and Fullmetal. I must say, that is quite the relief. He was becoming such a nuisance. And I also heard that you saved young Edward's life with your flame alchemy. It's a good thing that you decided to go out as back up for the boy. He really is a valuable resource to the military. It would be a shame to lose him."

Roy nodded, not quite knowing how to respond.

"You seemed surprised, Mustang. Were you expecting a different reaction from me?"

Roy was completely shocked. How the hell could this homunculus be so carefree and lighthearted right now? He shouldn't be praising Roy. He should be getting the inevitable murder done and over with.

Bradley's expression suddenly turned dark and he leaned back in his chair. "While you were away, Mustang, I was reminded that Edward Elric is an important sacrifice. Therefore, I am no longer permitted to use him as leverage. It runs too much of a risk of getting him killed."

Roy sighed mentally, feeling relieved ever so slightly. 'At least I know that he'll be safe now. At least from these bastards.'

"And as much as I'd like to kill you for disobeying me, you are also a valuable pawn. You have been given mercy for today, but count your blessings Mustang, because they'll be running short soon."

Roy's gaze restricted and he showed just a slight amount of mocking confusion. "So there's someone else who has even more power than you, huh? What's that feel like? Being at the top all day long but knowing deep down inside that you, yourself, is also nothing more than a pawn?"

"I'd watch my tongue if I were you, Colonel. You're not that irreplaceable."

Roy figured he'd better shut up before he really got himself into trouble, so he quickly turned his serious mode on. "So now what? How are you going to punish me for my disobedience?"

"Unfortunately, you are viewed as a hero by your peers. They see it as you saved the Fullmetal Alchemist's life and stopped a murderer. Therefore, if I were to demote you, too many questions would be asked. And since I've been ordered to spare your life, I can't kill you. But we'll look at it from a different perspective."

Bradley paused to glare into Roy's eyes. The tension in the air was thick enough to cut with a knife, and the glares coming from the two men seemed to spark as they collided.

"I may not be able to use the boy against you… but I still have your lieutenant. She is not an alchemist, so she is not valuable to me or to our plans. If you disobey me again, I will kill her. She can be used against you, and don't think for a moment that I would hesitate to end her life."

All the relief that Roy had previously enjoyed was now suppressed by an unruly anger. Bradley was right. Hawkeye could be killed and it would make no difference to their plans. Because she wasn't an alchemist and apparently, that was one of the requirements.

So Roy was in check yet again.

He'd been able to wriggle free for a few, sweet moments. He was able to enjoy the relief of not having to worry about his life or the life of Fullmetal's for just a few mere moments before he was thrown back into check once again.

But even though his pawn, his knight, his rook, his bishop, and his queen had been stripped away from him, Roy still had his king.

And he certainly hadn't been checkmated yet.

THE END.

Sooooooo? What did all of you think of it? I hope you liked it. I really do.

And now for what I needed to discuss.

There is one person in particular that I really need to thank. If it hadn't been for them, this story never would have been made possible. So a special thank you to the guest reviewer kelly who gave me the idea for this story in one of their reviews left on another one of my stories. I know it wasn't exactly how you expected, but I still hope you were able to read it and I really hope you liked it.

And as a side note off of that, I'd like to emphasize that this story only happened because of that review. I'd love to write another story, so if you have any ideas, I'd very much like to hear them.

(just got a really bad cramp in my foot and am trying really hard not to scream out in pain)

I really wish I could thank each one of you individually. I mean, all of you guys were so supportive and enthusiastic in your reviews that I'd just smile like an idiot for the rest of the day. I know I've said it before, but thank you so much. It really does mean more to me than I could ever express.

I'd also like to thank all of you who followed or favorited my story. That means so much to me as well.

And I really want to give a big thank you to the reader in general. So if you are reading this right now, I am thanking you.

And just for added measure... I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH! :D

(cramp has subsided. Foot is all good now.)

Okay, I'm good now haha. Anyways! If you haven't already, I'd really appreciate it if you'd check out my other stories (Overcoming Differences, When You Forget the Date, and As Simple as a Bullet) Let me know what you think of those as well!

Alrighty guys, that's about it. I hope you enjoyed my story, and I do hope you'll stick around for the next one.

Until we meet again...