I don't own these characters and I don't profit from them.

Reviews are nice! If I get enough love I may turn this into a doujinshi ;3

Shouldn't be doing this

shouldn't be, shouldn't be

…shouldn't…

Roy sighed and knocked on the door to the apartment the Elric brothers shared. He could feel the cold sweat on the back of his neck.

Shouldn't be doing this

He smothered a sharp gasp as the door opened and revealed a startled Al. Roy was amazed, Al's recovery was coming along very well. He was still confined to a wheel chair, but the doctors where sure he would make a full recovery.

But Ed…

They both survived the transmutation; Al received his body back, and Ed his arm and leg. Ed had surprised them all by finding a way without using the philosophers stone. But it was still a forbidden alchemy. When the Military found out they revoked his State Alchemist title

And, after a full investigation, ruled both brothers where forbidden from performing alchemy. Ed quickly fell into a depression afterwards.

"Gen-er..-Cap- Roy?" Al stammered, surprised to see Roy standing in the doorway.

Shouldn't be doing this

Roy didn't know what to say, he just stood in the doorway with a clenched jaw. He knew the brothers blamed him for not standing up for them, for taking the easy way out. Roy had told himself it was what he and his subordinates needed; helping the Elric brothers would shed a bad light on him…and his dreams of becoming Fuhrer would end.

"Al…" Roy cleared his throat. "Its General Mustang now. But feel free to call me Roy." He tried his best to give a winning smile.

Al scowled. "What do you want General?"

Roy abandoned his smile and sighed. "I came to see how you -and Ed- are doing. Its-"

"Its been over a year." Al rolled his chair back, out of the doorway and grabbed the handle. "Ed doesn't need this, he's getting better! Just go away, you being here will make him regress." With a glare Al slammed the door in Roy's face.

"AL!" Roy knocked on the door. "AL!" He received no response. This wasn't what he wanted to happen…but it was what he expected. With a sigh he wiped the sweat from his brow and headed back to his car.

He still had a week of vacation left. "May as well grab some lunch before I head back to Central," He said to the empty car. It was a very small town, so he quickly found a road with some diners on it. Scanning his choices revealed some chain stores, "eh, I can have that back home…" He decided on a small eatery on the corner.

A cheerful teenage girl greeted him and led him to a booth by a window. Roy didn't hear a word she said about the specials, he was too busy thinking how the girls blonde hair reminded him of Ed.

Ed…

"-Will be your waiter, hell be right with you."

Wait, What? Roy went ridged and cold, Calm down…Ed is a very common name Roy." He calmed his nerves by reading over the menu.

"Welcome to Jeene's!" A cheerful male voice said, startling Roy. " What can I get you toda-" The man stopped talking as Roy met his eyes.

Intense golden eyes met solemn black.

"…"

"…"

Ed…Roy took in everything in one quick glance. His eyes where heavy, it looked as if he hadn't slept in days. The golden locks that haunted his nightmares were cut to just above his shoulders, tucked carelessly behind his ears. He was thin. His arms had lost most of their muscle definition.

Roy didn't know what to say to the man he'd come to this town to see. He thought Ed was back at the apartment with Al…not working.

"Ed…"

"EDWARD!" The teen who had seated Roy was calling to Ed. "You have a phone call. Line one." Roy watched Ed turn and head behind the counter and sighed.

I should probably leave. But he made no move to do so.

"This is Ed how ca-"

"ED" Al's voice came from the other end.

"Al what's-"

"Just called to see how you're doing big brother!"

"I-I'm fine Al. …Do you need me at home?"

"N-no. Don't leave work. I just called to check up on you."

"Al. I'm fine."

"Okay, I'll see you tonight!"

"Alright Al." He hung up the phone and sighed.

That was…odd. I haven't had any relapses lately…

He turned around to head back to work. Roy was looking at him.

Roy quickly turned back to his menu when Ed caught him staring.

"I…er…" Ed was standing right next to him. Roy looked up.

Fear and uncertainty shown brightly in Ed's eyes. He saw something deeper, but couldn't place it. Hate? Hope? Roy sighed, "I'm sorry Ed." He looked at the table then back to Ed. "Came here to see you and Al…but he turned me out." He sighed. " I don't blame him. Honestly, I'm on my way home. I didn't know you worked here, don't think I'm stalking you." He was looking at the table again, He couldn't stand the pain in Ed's eyes. " Ed, I just…"

"Roy." It was just his name, but it held so much meaning.

"Ed, is there anything I can do?"

Ed sighed and sat across from Roy. "You can leave. That's what you can do Roy."

"No. I left before Ed. I came here to see how you two are doing and-"

"We are fine. It has been hard, but Al and I are doing well. I work here, and Al runs a small animal shelter. Its not much, but we get by Roy. No one here knows our story. We were able to rebuild our lives. Al even has a girlfriend." Ed's eyes where shinning with unshed tears and his voice was starting to crack. " What could you possibly do other than ruin it?!" He let the tears flow now, and Roy was suddenly very grateful the diner was empty.

"I'm sorry Ed." He started standing up. "Tell Al I'm sorry as well."

"Wait Roy." Ed looked him right in the eye. "I get off in a few…I'll grab a couple of sandwiches and we can go…to the park or something?"

"Ed…?"

"I want to know why Roy." Ed walked to the kitchen and out of Roy's sight.

Reviews are nice! If I get enough love I may turn this into a doujinshi 3