A Soldier's Despair

"Something has come up."

Al blinked and looked up. "What?"

All was quiet for a brief moment. Roy calmly folded his fingers together and began to speak.

"War to be exact," he said, his eyes gearing toward Alphonse. "We're going to war with Drachma."

Alphonse's eyes widened. "You're not --" Al trembled and began again, "you're not going to send us off to war, are you?"

Mustang sighed. "Not you, Alphonse."

Al took a sharp intake of breath, mood quickly changing as he realized what Roy was saying. "So -- so you're telling me you're going to ship Ed off to war while I stay here and wait? Just wait for him to come back…or to hear of his death?"

Roy looked sternly at Alphonse. "We already told you that, as a state alchemist, when war comes around, he might be called onto the battlefield at any given time or moment."

"And I am aware of that," Al said, voice slowly rising, "but what I don't agree with is not being able to come along! I won't leave my brother alone in that kind of situation!"

Edward finally spoke. "Al," he said, folding his arms, "you forget, I'm still hooked to the military's leash. I have to bark on command like a good dog of the military."

Tears started to form in Alphonse's eyes. "M-maybe you can't help but be dragged along, but I wanna go too! I won't leave you alone out there!"

"It's not up to me, Al," Edward replied, looking down. "It's up to the big-wigs."

"Then ask them! Ask them if I can come along!" Al exclaimed, turning to Roy.

"I'll see what I can do," Roy replied sternly, "but I can't make any promises."

"I --" The tears in Al's eyes started to flow down. "I don't care if they approve or not! I'm never staying behind!"

Roy sighed as he stood up. "Like I said, I can't make any promises."

Al clenched his fists and looked down at the table, tears still flowing down his cheeks. Roy turned to Ed, his face stressed, yet sincere at the same time. "We haven't officially started war yet. You will be called when we need you."

With those words, Roy left, Riza following in his wake.

"B-brother…" Al managed to choke out before slowly sitting back down in the booth.

"I don't care what the military's answer is," Ed said, looking down and avoiding eye contact with Al. "You're not coming with me."

"Brother, please!" Al pleaded, "I can't... I won't leave you alone out there!"

"No, Al."

Al dropped his hands to his knees, clenching his fists. Tears continued to pour down his cheeks.

"I can't… let you go alone," Al let out before suddenly turning to face his brother. "Please, Brother, you can't just leave me behind!"

Ed continued to look down, refusing to look Al in the eyes.

"I… I just can't lose you again."

More tears ran down Al's cheeks. "And I can't lose you again!"

Edward stood up suddenly and grabbed his coat. "Come on, Al," he said wearily as he slipped it on.

Alphonse, still trying to hold back tears, shakily nodded and headed out behind his brother. Neither of them made eye contact with each other.