Cardinal Sin (1) : Rebirth of the Fullmetal Alchemist

14 - Central

In Ed's opinion, visiting Central with Phil and Frederick was just as good as taking a walk with an exasperated mother and a child simply overflowing with an annoyingly large amount of energy. He himself felt like an old man as he needed a cane to walk (this was due to three ribs Herman had so graciously broken). People cast him odd looks because the embarrassing white splint on his nose was the main attraction of his face.

"My god!" Phil, who had run ahead, was shouting. "Frederick, come look at this building! It's simply incredible."

"Central's just another city, there's nothing interesting about it," Ed mumbled, his voice sounding funny because of his new injury. "Why is he so excited?"

"Phil is just like that," Frederick said with a slight chuckle, regarding his old friend with a warm, caring smile.

Ed glanced several times from Frederick to Phil, eyes narrowed. After a moment, he said, "Ooooooh, I get it now. It's love. Must have been weird living with him." He then proceeded to quicken his step and leave a very dumbfounded and, once he'd processed Fullmetal's statement, flustered Frederick.

"Eeeeeeedward!" Phil called, running up excitedly to his companion. "You know this city, don't you? Take us somewhere."

"Where?"

"Anywhere! I just want to see Central before we go visit this Mustang man."

"Huh..." Ed put on a face that made him look like he'd just had a bright idea. "There is one place..."

"Ah? Spit it out! Where are we going?" Phil gripped Ed's arm, half-walking, half getting dragged along, like a child begging its parent for sweets.

Turning his very serious head to the other, Elric said flatly, "To Mustang's office. We're going to see Mustang."

Letting out a mighty groan, Phil cried, "You're a heartless disappointment of humanity!" and stomped off to complain to Frederick.

Allowing himself a little smirk, Ed led the way a good many paces ahead all through Central from the train station to the Military building in which Colonel Mustang's office was located. He waltzed inside as he'd done back in the days he really did retain the title of the Fullmetal Alchemist, greeting soldiers and other state alchemists left and right—everyone he came across was more concerned about his face than with his actual presence. Phil and Frederick kept close behind, timid in the crowd of militants, all wearing the same blue uniform.

As they progressed through the building, Ed's mood shot down into the muck. He realized just how much he'd once dreaded meeting with Mustang, but have not seen the man for so long, he supposed he'd forgotten that. It didn't take long for him to sink back into that mindset.

"Ugh, why did we even stop by here, again?" he muttered angrily to himself, his neck disappearing into his shoulders and his head craning forwards, a grumpy look on his face so he looked like even more of an old man. "It's not like I have to report every little thing I learn on philosopher's stones like back when Al and I were trying to get our bodies back. All he's going to do is mock me. 'Oh, look at that, Fullmetal, looks like you've gotten a little taller. How's it feel to be finally at a normal height instead of down to the earth? Or are you hiding high heels in those boots of yours?'. Ah, damn it, damn it, damn it, that rotten old goat!"

The people who passed by him were very concerned.

At last, the dreaded moment had arrived; the door to Mustang's door loomed before them. He gave a long sigh, moaned, "I don't want to see him" then raised his fist and banged loudly on the door.

"Come in," came the familiar, commanding voice of the Colonel.

"Here we go..."

Ed burst into the room. He'd gotten a sudden idea of how he could make fun of the Colonel before the latter got around to doing it first.