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batsutousaiTitle: Our Sinner's Redemption Extras
Fandom: Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
Author: Batsutousai
Rating: Teen
Warnings: Abuse of power?
Chapter Summary: This is the call that Grumman makes to Roy in chapter 17 of Come What May about Ed taking over the alchemy labs, from Roy's perspective.
A/N: I wrote this first, so I knew what responses Ed would hear. So while the conversation might not make sense in the fic, you'll see it actually does, here. :)
"Führer Grumman," Roy said once he'd accepted the phone from Fuery.
"Brigadier General," Grumman replied, his tone mild. "Lieutenant Colonel Elric seems to think you should be put in charge of the alchemy labs here in Central."
Roy blinked at that. "I...see. Fullmetal is aware that I would be unable to do any inspections myself, so the duty would fall to him?"
"He's aware."
Roy caught himself tensing. "Sir," he said, couldn't quite keep the tension from his voice, "might I remind you that Fullmetal is on leave."
From the doorway, Riza sighed, as aware as Roy that, when it served him, Grumman was totally willing to disregard the leave of his pet officers, of which Edward had become a member while Roy was still under the mistaken impression that the young man was planning to leave the military entirely.
"So he is," Grumman agreed.
"Sir," Roy stressed, and he really wished they weren't having this conversation over military lines. Not that it would have changed much, but at least Roy could have yelled.
And he really hoped Edward was giving Grumman hell for this, because he needed his leave. He'd needed the leave after the bombing, but he'd been way too stubborn, too determined to keep cleaning up a mess that wasn't his fault and that should never have been made his duty, for all that he was the best suited to it. That he wasn't going at it alone, and that his chosen team and his academy squad were all clearly loyal to him, made it a little easier for Roy to step back, to not drag Edward back to Ishval with him and hope he could keep the little idiot safe, but still.
Edward was his subordinate, was quickly becoming a close friend, filling in that void that Maes' death had left almost without Roy noticing, and Roy didn't want to see him hurt. He hated that his own choices – his own duty – had left Edward to navigate the darkest spaces of the military without Roy there to protect him from the worst of the landmines. Edward's reports – so much easier to read now he had the full use of his dominate hand back – and finally giving in and getting the phone line installed, had helped close the gap some, but it was all-too-clear that Roy was missing important things, because Grumman's phrasing...
Edward had already been pulled off his leave – or had gone snooping while still on leave – was already involved in the labs, was just waiting for the confirmation that he could tear them apart. And Roy knew him, could make a guess about the sort of mess awaiting them in the labs; Edward was going to be neck-deep in this, whether Roy agreed to take responsibility or not.
'You're going to owe him,' he couldn't say, but he had little doubt Grumman got the message all the same when Roy replied, "I'll take the responsibility, sir. Please tell Fullmetal I expect him to send me a copy of all his reports, including the one I'm sure he's already turned in."
Grumman's laugh was every bit as obnoxious as Edward liked to complain. "I'll be sure to pass that on to him."
"Please also pass on to him, sir, that I expect to hear from him sometime today." Because Edward only called him when it was an emergency, avoided the Hugheses' when he knew Roy was due to call because, he'd said once with a laugh, 'I don't want to cut into your time with Elicia', as if he honestly believed Roy wouldn't like the chance to hear from him when things weren't falling apart around him. (But, then, to be fair, Roy was still a little uncertain where the lines between their growing friendship and their commander-subordinate relationship were himself, and they should probably sort that out at some point.)
"I will," Grumman agreed, before offering, "Ah, that reminds me, Major Armstrong is technically in charge of lab inspections right now. Shall I have him start formally reporting to you?" Since, as the ranking alchemist, all of the State Alchemists technically fell under his purview, though all of them had a local commander they got their assignments from, just as Edward had always been Roy's duty, instead of Brigadier General Grand's.
Alex, Roy knew, was currently reporting to the head of Central City Intelligence, Colonel Hotchkiss, and had probably been passing his reports about the labs on to Grumman. With Roy taking charge of the alchemy labs, all of Alex's reports should go to him, but if Edward was going to be doing the grunt work... "Have him report to Fullmetal."
And, dear gods, he really hoped they got this terrorist situation in hand quickly, because this was a lot of additional work for someone who used to have to be insulted or cajoled into turning in a mission report.
"Of course."
Roy resisted a sigh. "Is that all, sir?"
"It is. Thank you, Brigadier General."
"Sir!" Roy responded before hanging up. Then he turned to Riza and deadpanned, "I'm beginning to understand Fullmetal's determination to punch our Führer upon his resignation."
"Only beginning, sir?" was Riza's bland response, and Fuery and his fellow technician both choked on a laugh.
Roy turned to Fuery. "Fullmetal should be ringing through tonight from a public line. I expect to be told right away."
Fuery saluted. "Yes, sir." Then he relaxed slightly, his expression turning concerned. "Is Ed losing his leave?"
"That's what I intend to find out." Among other things.
Fuery nodded his understanding, and Roy resisted a sigh as he followed Riza back out into the desert.
Come What May Chapters:
01 || 02 || 03 || 04 || 05 || 06 || 07 || 08 || 09 || 10
11 || 12 || 13 || 14 || 15 || 16 || 17 || 18 || 19 || 20
Extras:
Ch 04 (Roy) || Ch 07 (Roy) || Ch 10 (Roy)
Ch 10 (Darius - NSFW) || Ch 16 (Ed - NSFW) ||
We All Need Saving Chapters:
Unposted
Dancing With the Devil Chapters:
Unposted
.
