Dogs of the Military
[drabble challenge for Beckymarie]
"Alphonse will be fine. He is Fullmetal's brother, and more than sufficiently talented of his own merit."
Winry looked up in surprise, then scrambled to her feet. "Ah, Brigadier-General--"
He smiled at her, distantly polite. "Miss Rockbell. The test won't end for some time yet, and he has passed the written exam before. It changes very little from year to year."
She fussed a bit with the sleeve of her coat, then forced her fingers to stop. "I know. Al's smart, he'll be fine. I just--" she glanced up at his impassive face, and for just a moment, she thought she saw a brief flicker of emotion.
"I just wish Ed were here," she finished, lamely. "He should be, today of all days."
Brigadier-General Mustang shrugged, but his expression softened, fractionally. "Field agents rarely have good timing with their assignments," he said. "No one expected that Fullmetal would need this much time, especially himself."
Winry bit her lip. "He's such a loyal--dog of the military." The insult tasted bitter, trying to catch behind her teeth. "Al's going to turn out the same way, and--"
He cleared his throat. "Miss Rockbell."
She straightened, and blinked hard. Her eyes stung, but she refused to rub at them, not when the Brigadier-General's dark eyes were sharp on her face, stripping through to study the very core of her. She did not apologize.
Then, he said, "Miss Rockbell, have you ever owned a dog?"
Surprised, Winry blinked. "Yes--at home. Den was my fifth birthday present."
"Then, perhaps, you understand," he said. He turned partly away from her, looking up the wide marble steps. "Dogs will choose one master to be loyal to with absolute certainty, to the point where they will dedicate their entire lives to that one master's commands."
Winry's face fell. "And the master Ed chose--and that Al's choosing--is the military."
"Hardly." His voice was wry. "Fullmetal's only master is himself; Alphonse the same."
"But--"
"The other part of a dog's nature, Miss Rockbell, is that he is a pack animal. Just because you cannot command him does not mean you cannot request of him, or that he will not, if he believes in you, give himself as a friend to your cause." The Brigadier-General's face was distant, and his right hand strayed momentarily to his left, where under his glove were automail fingers she'd installed herself, just a year previous.
"Winry, I've got a big favor to ask you--"
"So, then," he continued, dropping his hands, "a dog will expect the same loyalty from you. And there are times," he added, almost smiling, "that even despite your better judgement, you will listen to him."
Winry considered this, tangled her fingers a bit more with the frayed hem of her coat. "Then, you--"
"Dogs are simple creatures, Miss Rockbell," he said, then pulled a watch from his pocket--not the silver, but one of ordinary brass. "But that doesn't mean they're stupid. There's still an hour left until the exam officially ends. Will you wait?"
Winry straightened the edges of her coat with a few sharp tugs, then nodded. "It's only one more hour," she said. "I don't mind." His loyalty is worth my patience.
This time, there was no mistaking the expression that crossed the man's cool face. His acknowledging nod held no trace of mockery. "Give my best to Alphonse--and to Fullmetal, when he returns."
She nodded, watched him walk away in silence. Then she blew at her chilled hands, and sat back down, to wait out that remaining hour.
--end--