Drip. Drip. Drip.
"It's been three days."
Three days, twelve hours, forty-nine minuets, thirty-two seconds and four cases of whiskey. The gate still hasn't opened. Edward still hasn't returned. He did it once for his brother. It took him ten minuets and the life of one homunculus.
"Yes, Sir."
Drip. Drip. Drip.
"He is going to come back, isn't he?"
No, he is not. He has what he want's and you are not it. He died a happy man. He died with Al.
"Yes, Sir."
Drip. Drip. Drip.
"Why did he leave?"
Because he is a selfish, stupid, foolish, little boy, and you are just as bad Roy Mustang.
"I don't know, Sir."
Drip. Drip. Drip.
"Why won't he come back?"
Because he can't. You aren't what he was looking for. Al is already on the other side and the only thing that has ever mattered to the Brothers Elric is each other.
"I don't know, Sir."
Drip. Drip. Drip.
"I love him."
You shouldn't. Love is a human emotion and there was very little human in Edward Elric. He was an angel clothed in blood and pain and darkness and there is nothing Angels love more than to destroy humans.
"I know, Sir."
Drip. Drip. Drip.
"Do you think he loved me, Riza?"
No. I think he loved his brother and you were a way to get him closer to his goal.
"Yes, Sir."
Drip. Drip. Drip.
"I was his first, you know? He told me he wanted it to be special. Be with someone he loved."
That's a lie, Sir. I walked in on him and Grahn months before I walked in on the two of you. Amazing the kind of damage forbidden alchemy can heal.
"Sir."
Drip. Drip. Drip.
"He loved me, didn't he?"
Not one bit. You weren't related enough, sir.
"Yes, Sir."
Drip. Drip. Drip.
"Do you think that he is waiting for me on the other side?"
I think he is happily fucking his baby brother over the arm of his new throne in Hell right now, sir.
"Yes, Sir."
Drip. Drip. Drip.
"Do you think I could make it through the gate?"
Not ever. You are not talented enough, Sir. Not the way he was. You are not a prodigy. You should be happy for that.
"No, Sir."
Drip. Drip. Drip.
"You're right, you know. Edward always was special, always burned brighter than anyone else."
Because he wasn't human, not by the time you got to him. Maybe never at all.
"Yes, Sir."
Drip. Drip. Drip.
"I knew I couldn't hold him but I had to try. Touching him burned but it felt so great to be consumed."
I'm sure bugs feel the same way about lamp light, Sir.
"Yes, Sir."
Drip. Drip. Drip.
"He's not coming back, is he?"
Not for something that isn't a part of him. Not for anything less than Al.
"No, Sir."
Drip. Drip. Drip.
"Then I guess I will just have to go find him, won't I?"
You wont be able to. You are not part of him. You were never meant to be.
"Yes, Sir."
Drip. Drip. Bang.
"Goodbye, Sir."