Peepers! I know some people really want to kill me…I'm sorry, okay! I'm just a really slow, really lazy person! If I were a homunculus, it'd be Sloth…or Wrath…or Envy…you know what? My sister classifies me as all of them. 'Cept Lust…Nope, I don't lust after no one.

Okay, blab session is over, let's move on folks!

Feel
By Lea Cat
6/1/06

"FullMetal! There you are, I didn't see you behind my papers!" Roy Mustang, Colonel and Flame Alchemist, waited for the expected outburst that never came. Edward just stood on the other side of the desk and stared back at him. After a moment's pause, Mustang sighed and asked, "FullMetal, what's wrong with you?"

"What were you expecting? An outburst? Sorry to disappoint you, but I'm not going to blow up." Ed stated. He proceeded to stare at Mustang with an unreadable gaze.

"…FullMetal, when have you grown up, and why wasn't I informed?" Mustang asked, half joking, half seriously.

"Aw, Brother, quit toying with him, just tell him already!" Alphonse said, walking in the door. It was the first time Mustang had seen Al in his new body.

"Good to see you back in your body, Alphonse. Now, tell me what?" He turned his gaze on Ed. Unfortunately, it didn't affect him the way it normally did. What was wrong with FullMetal?

"We need to continue the search for the Philosopher's Stone." Ed responded flatly.

"Why? Your brother's back in his body, so what else is he missing?" Mustang sighed, exasperated. Honestly, FullMetal always botched things.

"It's not for me, sir…" Al cut in hesitantly. Both men turned to look at Al. Pausing, he continued with a slight stutter. "I-it's for Brother…he's missing something…"

"What are you missing?" Mustang asked. When he saw Ed hesitate, he prodded, "Come on, I'm curious now. What's so important that you need the stone to get it back?" He picked up the cup of coffee sitting on his desk and took a sip.

"My feelings." Mustang spit the coffee back out at Ed's announcement.

Stuttering, he listened to the corny, happy music playing in his head. "Y-you don't mean to tell me that you didn't blow up at the short comment because you were over it…"

"I mean to tell you that I couldn't even if I wanted to." Ed finished for him. Mustang sat back in his chair, stunned. Now that he thought about it, Ed's golden eyes were slightly glazed, as if they were only barely taking in their surroundings. He was also sagging, as if tired, and his body screamed for attention while his mind seemed elsewhere.

And what was with the bandaged hand? He was acting as if it was normal.

"Well…you should start somewhere…Al, are you going to help him?" Mustang asked, accidentally hitting the question that both brothers were arguing over.

"Yes." Al said.

"No." Ed replied at the same time. Both turned towards the other, Al slightly glaring.

"I'm going with you Brother, this is my fault."

"No, you're not, it's too dangerous and I don't want to risk you losing anything else." Ed responded just as fiercely as Al. Well, Mustang mused, if there was one thing the Gate couldn't take, it was Ed's love for Al. It was kind of corny, but still sweet.

"I don't care! I'm going, and that's final!" Al said, stomping his foot to emphasize his words. Ed and Al had a short stare down. In the end, it was Ed who turned away.

"Fine. Do what you want."

"Alright! Where should we start?" Al asked, overly enthusiastic.

Lior.

"Lior." Ed repeated.

"Why start there brother?"

Because Scar is there.

"Scar is there."

"How do you know that?" Mustang asked suddenly. "The military classified that information."

Ed turned a blank eye on him. "I don't know. I guess the Gate is speaking to me."

"That would be useful." Mustang admitted, his tone indicating that he had issues that needed help.

"But are you willing to give up being human?" Ed asked, the wisdom of the Gate nearly leaking off him.

Mustang had no answer to that.

(XXhxaxpxpxyxxdxexpxrxexsxsxixoxnxxhxaxtxrxexdxxhxoxpxeXX)

"Brother, was that wise? You scared the Colonel." Al said, chasing after a fast paced Ed.

"Before, I would have been overjoyed to scare him. It's like I'm detached from this world and watching through someone else's eyes." Ed paused, and turned to Al. "I want my feelings back. Was this what it was like in the armor? …no, at least you could feel anger and happiness…and sorrow…" Ed hung his head and continued walking.

Al was torn between following and bursting into tears. Was it really that bad? Being in the armor was horrible, but it must have been worse to be unable to get sad about it.

Ed wandered through the military headquarters, no specific destination in mind. It was strange. He was so confused, yet everything couldn't be clearer. Well, he wasn't really confused; he just knew that he was supposed to be. "Ugh!" It was strange, but he would have to live without knowing when he needed to eat or sleep or…take care of business…

"Brother!" Ed turned to find Al running towards him. "Brother! It's time to eat!"

"It is?" Ed asked. He should be disoriented. How much time had passed? "Then let's go."

Smiling cheerfully, Al grabbed him by the arm and dragged him off to the mess hall. Once they arrived there, many heads turned, as, usually, it was Ed dragging Al to the mess hall.

"What do you want to eat, Brother?" Al asked. As soon as he said this, the normal chatter resumed.

"I don't care." Ed shrugged. "It'll all taste the same to me, so you pick for me."

Al was disheartened by his brother's lack of enthusiasm. Getting up from the table he had dragged Ed too, he said, "Alright…I'll go get the food."

Ed frowned at Al's retreating back. He was supposed to be happy. That was the reason he gave up the ability to feel.

For a moment, something forgotten lingered in his chest, but then it flitted away.

I'm going to grab the floor and yank it out from under your feet soon, so I suggest you leave a review. Or I'll do something drastic. Seriously…

JK! XD

I doubt I could harm you guys. See ya peeps later! (Is it just me, or did Death's Scythe rub off on me?)

Lea Cat