Sorry for the long wait xD;; I bring a short chapter... mainly filler, just to sort out the confusion. Next chapter will be up very soon in compensation. :D

Disclaimer~

Chapter One - Filling in the Blanks

"… What?" Edward breathed, unable to make his vocal chords work.

Mustang's face was hard and firm, though believing - somewhat like a disillusioned child who didn't want to believe Santa Claus wasn't real. "Like I just said, Fullmetal. You have been sentenced to a life sentence in jail for killing seven soldiers yesterday afternoon. The majority of the military - meaning the soldiers who don't know you personally - is looking for you right now. I strongly recommend you up and leave. Right now. Don't leave a single trace behind, because they'll catch you."

No reply.

Roy screwed his face up, panic and worry and urgency finally seeping through his carefully constructed mask of order. "Fuck, Fullmetal! I mean now!"

Ed blinked, snapping out of his daze. "What about Al? He'll be okay, right?"

Mustang sighed. "Yes, he'll be fine, as long as he stays out of it and doesn't try to cover up for you." At Ed's wary glance, he added, "Covering up for your arse is my job."

Ed drew in a deep breath, resting his face in his hands and exhaling a shaky laugh. "Okay. Okay, I'll go. Just make sure I can get to the military dorms without anyone seeing me."

Roy nodded. "All part of the plan." He shoved a map under Ed's drooping nose. "Here." He pointed to a town just north of East City. "You should probably go here. This is far away enough from Central to be out of the way, but not so obscure as to attract attention. You can blend in with the bustle of city life here. It'll be hard to find you. Though you're pretty famous, so you should probably do as much as possible to change your appearance, just in case you come across an Amestrian soldier there."

Ed nodded.

"Only take as much as you can carry." He gave Ed a quick glance up and down. "And burn those clothes."

Ed nodded again, trying his best to take all of it in. He was trying, really, but everything just seemed like a dream. As if, at any moment, he'd wake up and find out he overslept and be late for work and have Roy yell at him and make sarcastic jokes about his height like he always did. "Right," he said as firmly as he could, though he winced as it was barely audible because of the shake in his voice.

Roy nodded in acknowledgement. "Leave, Fullmetal."

To anyone else, that might've sounded rude and dismissing, but Ed knew the bastard - as much as he hated to admit it - and he could see the tense lines in his face and the strain in his voice, giving away the care that shouldn't come from a cold superior officer.

Ed saluted - for the first (and probably last) time in his five-year-long military career - and grinned shakily. "Yes, sir."

Roy shot him a mirthless smirk as he strode out of the wooden door, the look in his eyes sending Ed one final message: Good luck.

With his trademark grin, Ed exited, leaving Roy to sigh heavily into his palms and fish around in his pockets for the key to a secret drawer of his desk - a drawer which held his version of God.

He poured himself a glass of the amber liquid, groaning as the familiar fire incinerated his throat and numbed his throbbing head.

By soon I mean possibly today or tomorrow... :D (Review? x3)