Author's note:

After a long time (let us take a moment to thank real life for being annoying), I'm finally back with new content! Though I had originally planned on working on a sequel for Piece of Advice, this idea wouldn't leave my mind since rewatching FMA and so I decided to take my own twist on the story that many others have attempted and hopefully I'll succeed just as much as them!

It's kinda hard to get back IC with everyone after nearly a year so if you feel something wouldn't fit the characters, please mention it to me, I always aim for getting better at writing characters as they should be!

(Note: This author's note had to arrive a day after the story was posted due to the fact that for some reason it wouldn't properly send it. Sorry about that.)

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This wasn't a pretty day, Roy Mustang noted while yawning as he observed the rain mercilessly pouring down upon Central and took his sweet time to walk back to his office. Today's amount of workload had been surprisingly easygoing on his easily distracted mind and it filled Roy with joy at the idea of soon being able to return home to relax under the sound of the pouring rain. Unfortunately the reality was that the day wasn't over just yet. The young Colonel had to bother to return to his office despite having no paperwork as he would not be able to leave Central HQ and head home until he took care of his final obligation: Edward Elric's report.

But as he thought of the name, it tainted his previous glee in grim colours. It wasn't due to the report; the mission had only been like any other in that Edward had been looking for hints on the Philosopher's Stone, only to find a rogue alchemist.

No, the reason behind Roy's reluctance with meeting Edward was rather simple and complicated at the same time. It would be only fair to say that since Edward found out about Hughes' death, their relationship hadn't exactly been positive.

His footsteps solemnly resonated throughout the corridors as Roy bitterly remembered that Edward had barged in the room filled with anger; he remembered the look of pure broken trust on Edward's face that almost hurt. And in the face of Edward's screams and accusations, back then Roy could only silently watch on as his subordinates did their best to restrain the young boy and prevent him from injuring anyone.

"Say something, dammit! Don't you care about a single person around you, you fucking bastard?!"

Roy shook his head in an attempt to dismiss the memories, but they were hard to ignore. After being successfully calmed down, Edward had then done his best to completely avoid him, going as far as to skip out on meals when he had to be in the same building to not risk meeting him. The last time they had talked was five days ago, when Roy gave him his assignment. But the boy didn't even mutter as much as an insult back then so it was just a one-sided talk.

Would he even show up today, or was Roy's time being wasted away? That simple question plagued his mind as he set his hand on the doorknob leading to his office. Roy would have to force him to come using military authority, but in the end it wouldn't really solve the underlying issue. In the end, had he been right in just not saying anything? He could have just blown Edward off in the cold way he always used when bringing the boy back to the reality he had stepped in.

As he turned the doorknob and entered the room, however...