(Inspired by Sama's recent story for Joha's birthday, I've decided to try something myself. This is a direct sequel to it, beginning on the same evening that that story ended. I may make this a multiple choice, or something, and please, feel free to leave joke ideas, tips on keeping people in character, and such as that. Anyway...)
On Rapid Island, a contest had just ensued. It was conclusive, but rigged, and the loser had challenged the winner to a rematch, and the latter of those two was just showing up at the building known as the "Military Embassy"....
Vidit stepped out of his hovercraft. Locking it, he stowed his keys and approached the building. He had his glove, but was not in combat garb. No, he was wearing his dress uniform. He approached the front door, and pressed the doorbell button.
He sighed. He was about to do something that might be deemed cowardly. However, he was more or less convinced that it was indeed the right thing to do. Sure, the challenge had training value, but he got plenty of that anyway. Although Mustang was the last person he'd want to-
"AGENT LIGHT, WELCOME TO OUR EMBASSY! ALLOW ME TO EXPRESS MY HIGHEST AND MOST RESPECTFUL REGARDS! WELCOME! WELCOME!"
"MMM! GRRAGHAG!"
Armstrong had answered the door, and had greeted Vidit in his usual way. Vidit struggled against the embrace, and as he was about to try to pry Armstrong off with the enhanced strength capabilities of the glove, he was released. He collapsed on the ground, gasping for air.
"Something wrong, agent? You look flustered!"
"...*gasp*...have you ever considered that your embraces may be a bit too rough, major Armstrong?"
---
Meanwhile, Mustang and the entire FMA State Military (with the exceptions of Armstrong and Scieszka) crew were relaxing in Mustang's office.
"You know, chief," Havoc speaks up. "I was just thinking...that contest that you "lost"?"
Mustang looks up from his newspaper, intrigued.
"Well, you MELTED more of the ice than that other guy in the third round, right? I mean, he shattered the statue with his glove, sure, but you actually melted more! Maybe you should tell him that."
Mustang's eyes light up.
"You know, Havoc? That's a good idea! And the rematch will be a chance to PROVE my supremacy!"
"What exactly are you trying to prove, sir?" Hawkeye asks.
"What?"
"What, exactly, are you trying to prove? What will defeating Vidit in anything but actual warfare accomplish?"
Mustang, in a rare moment, is actually caught questioning himself.
"What does it need to prove?" he retorts.
Hawkeye signs goes back to reading her own newspaper.
Mustang strides back to his desk.
"I'll call Vidit and let him know that I won that contest, and the rematch is for HIS sake, not mine."
Then, there's a knock at the office door.
"Come in." Mustang calls.
Armstrong, sparkling as usual, steps in, spreads his arms, and opens his mouth.
"MIGHT I INTRODUCE....SAINT AGENT VIDIT LIGHT!" he shouts.
Vidit, however, is staring at the sparkles over Armstrong, before finally deciding not to try to make sense out of it. He steps into the office.
Mustang leans back.
"Ah! Vidit! I was just going to call you! Turns out, you actually didn't melt any more of that ice than I did! I melted more, I won our little contest, even though it was rigged!"
"Very well." Vidit says, formally. "Than perhaps you won't mind as much when I say that actually, I'd like to not have our little "rematch"."
Everyone in the office looks up at that.
"WHAT?" Mustang asks.
"That's right, I'd rather not have our rematch. I did some thinking, and I realize that there wasn't any real good reason we had it. It was a contest spawned of ego, and that's...I don't fight for that. It was ego that was driving me to do it, and...well, that just doesn't seem right. It implies that a person is petty, and small. And frankly, I at least like to think I keep higher standards than that. So-"
"WHO ARE YOU CALLING SMALL?!?!?!?!? COME OVER HERE AND SAY IT TO MY FACE YOU SELF-RIGHTEOUS PUNK!!! I'LL RIP YOUR LEGS OUT AND LOOK DOWN AT YOU LAUGHING!!"
"Brother, calm down!"
"WHAT THE?!?!" Vidit shouts, looking in the direction of the disturbance to see none other than Ed, being restrained by Alphonse, Ed raging and ranting and flailing, looking at Vidit with an expression that seems to demand that he wants blood.
"Don't mind them." Hawkeye speaks up. "Ed's just a little sensitive. Say things like "small" and "higher" or anything like that, and, well, you can see for yourself."
Why do I get the feeling that I'm surrounded by foes? Vidit thought.
"Anyway..." he continued. He looked Mustang straight in the eyes. "I apologize for any arrogance I showed either you, or," he said, looking at Mustang's staff, "any of you. That's what I came by for. I mean, I know it may seem like a little thing, but-"
"YOUWANNAPIECEAME!?" Ed's face is red by now, and Alphonse is clearly having difficulty restraining him.
"Oops...I, well, I said it, and with that, I bid you good evening." With that, Vidit gives a formal military salute.
Mustang gapes for a moment. Quickly, he speaks up.
"You're scared, aren't you?"
"Maybe..." Vidit replies. "...but still, it just, may not seem right. Again, good evening."
Vidit turns, Ed still raging, even throwing in "COWARD! COWARD! COME BACK HERE AND FACE ME! COME BACK HERE AND FACE THE COLONEL!"
Vidit keeps walking, and exits the office.
Mustang stares after him.
"What a nice guy." Fury says.
"You know, maybe he's right, sir." Hawkeye state. "I mean, whatever real quarrel you may have had with him, he's just apologized for it."
"You gotta admit, it takes a special something do that. Look a rival in the eye and apologize. And besides, not having a rematch'll keep us from having to set up and take stuff down. Everybody wins." Falman says.
"...except me." Mustang says quietly, annoyed.
Armstrong is in tears.
"*sniff* What a noble display of gentlemanly conduct and military chivalry! What honor!*sniff*"
With that, something snaps in Mustang. "Traitors! He's not your commanding officer, HE'S not your comrade, I AM!"
Suddenly, a slight crash is heard downstairs, and a slight shriek from Scieszka.
Mustang and Hawkeye spring up and race down the stairs to find Scieszka slumped on the ground, a group of boxes scattered about the hallway, and Vidit standing there...looking shocked and even scared.
"I'm TERRIBLY sorry!" Vidit says, and offers Scieszka a hand up, which she takes slowly.
"My head..." she mutters.
"Again, I'm sorry. I should have been watching where I was going. Here, let me help with the boxes."
He holds up his glove, and slowly, the boxes lift up into the air, and Scieszka, watching this, holds out her arms, and the boxes float into a stack on them.
"What type of-" she begins, but Vidit cuts here off.
"It's not alchemy. Force fields. Gravity manipulation." he says. He taps his glove.
"This thing has a variety of uses." he says. "Are you alright?" he asks.
"Yeah...and thanks." Scieszka says.
"My pleasure." Vidit replies, and they both walk off, Scieszka to whatever office or closet she was carrying the boxes to, Vidit to his hovercraft.
Mustang looks furious.
"Sir, are you-" Hawkeye began.
"NO!" Mustang shouted. "Did you see that look in Scieszka's eye when that AGENT walked off?!"
"No-"
"WELL I DID!" Mustang fumes. "I see how this is, Vidit." he smirks to himself. "You think you can walk in here, play the "better man" card, while getting Ed riled up like me and trying to snatch the heart of one of MY officers!"
"Sir," Hawkeye begins, "I think you're being highly-"
"Quiet! I know a snake when I see one!"
"Please, sir, calm-"
"I know...if Vidit refuses to face me of his own accord, then we'll have to find a way to complicate his life a bit...make it so that he still is testing his skills against mine! I'll show him yet! SCIESZKA!"
"Yessir?"
Scieszka calls, running out from an office.
"Put on some coffee! It's going to be a long night!" Roy shouts, with a twinkle in his eye.
This won't end well. Hawkeye thinks.
Meanwhile, Vidit is driving his hovercar back to his outpost.
Glad that's over. he thinks.
---
Well? Comments? I know that this may be a bit Marty-Stuish, but it sets things up well, doesn't it? Again, comments? Criticisms? Compliments? Places you'd like to see this story go?
Thanks!
You know, your character is awesome Vidit. He takes things seriously in this crazy world of SK&WS, and tries to bring logic and order.
Unfortunately, that's nigh impossible.
Armstrong was perfect Vidit. Awesome job with him!
Hmmm...So Vidit has a hovercraft? Cool! HA has a motorcycle, Spork a jet, and now Vidit's got a hovercraft...Vehicle battle!