Selim Bradley was a Homunculus. A child was one of those monsters.
Madam Christmas currently pursued physical proof of the Lieutenant’s claim. Almost as soon as he acquired that knowledge from their impromptu meeting during lunch, Roy brought it straight to the person with the best contacts. He couldn’t get caught digging around more than he already had, and the Lieutenant… he hadn’t missed the fresh cut on her cheek. Someone got close to her. Someone hurt her, and he needed evidence before he could act.
All of these damn Homunculi were just pieces on the board he underestimated. They didn’t have him in checkmate yet. Soon, he’d be able to make his move and prove that, once again, they underestimated him.
Alas, that couldn’t happen for some time. The folder in his hand, one that contained details for the North and East training exercises scheduled for the upcoming Spring, proved that. Despite his role as just another sacrifice candidate, Colonel Mustang still had a job to do. Originally, before the mess with the Third Laboratory and losing his team, he was going to attend the training exercises like always. General Grumman requested his presence after the transfer, but, plans shifted, and they both had to make other arrangements. General Armstrong wasn’t going to be there either.
Everything was different this year. Roy held the folder close to his chest with one hand as he prepared to knock on the Fuhrer’s door. It was a simple delivery before he went back to his office. To his surprise, though, the door swung open before he could think to announce his presence, and Fuhrer Bradley stood before him. Instantly, Roy shifted to salute, his training overriding the instinct to glare back. Had he done something to piss him off? Couldn’t be…
No, it was definitely something else. Whether or not the Fuhrer liked it, the Colonel had an eye for detail. He spotted the tears that slid down the man’s face. Frustration, maybe? Not at him, though, but something else. The Homunculi weren’t unfeeling creatures, after all.
“I came to deliver the final details for the North and East training exercises for the Spring, Sir.” He kept a formal tone as he held out the folder. “I just finished ironing everything out with General Grumman earlier this morning. Eastern Command will be hosting the exercises out of an abundance of caution.” Something both of them already knew, no doubt. Now, though, Roy decided to press his luck just a bit. They wouldn’t kill a sacrifice in broad daylight… right?
“Is everything all right, Sir? I can come back at another time.”
Bradley kept eye contact with his subordinate, in what was probably a faulty attempt to conceal that Roy seeing him in this state didn’t bother him in the slightest... but as bad as he hated to own up to it, it did bother him. He caught him in a moment of weakness... a moment of rage... and a moment of sadness. The hand on the hilt of his blade still shook from anger, but he did his best to stifle it. Damn Mustang, always showing up at the worst times.
“No, that is quite alright Colonel Mustang.” He did his best to recover his mask that he would often wear in public. The nice and kind elderly gentleman leader of Amestris, even though it was furthest from the truth. Reaching out, he took the folder a little more roughly than he had meant to and tucked it away under his arm. “Thank you... I’ll take a look at it soon as I am able.” He said with a slight bow of his head to show his appreciation for his work, even though he truly didn’t care at this moment.
His life was a charade, all of it, and he was beginning to hate it. There had always been some resentment towards Father and his siblings brewing deep within him. More rage that he had to keep locked away and hidden, even from himself most of the time... because if he didn’t, it would consume him until there was nothing left. Everything was too easy, too planned, and nothing ever felt real. Like he was an actor in Father’s play... a mere puppet.
At one point in time he believed that he was destined to be Führer of this nation and that belief had enabled him to pull through the rigorous training that Father and the others had in store for him and the other... he had believed humanity was destined to fall into the trap that Father had laid out for them... to be nothing more than mere energy... mere puppets like him. The only difference was he was more a predator than a prey... but even he wasn’t gullible enough to believe that would last forever.
It was people like the man standing before him that recently opened his eyes to the truth... humans were far more deserving than Father had given them credit for... they were capable of learning and changing and becoming stronger, something he had been led to believe wasn’t possible.
“I was about to head outside to blow off some steam. Would you care to join me?” He gave Mustang a half-smile.