Disclaimer: No own, Square/Enix own, yadda yadda yadda. Did anyone else let out a squeal when it was learned Square/Enix did Fullmetal Alchemist? Just me? Hm, damn love of cute Final Fantasy girls in very little...

Empty
By Spinny Roses

Nobody knows who I really am
I never felt this empty before
And if I ever need someone to come along
Who's gonna comfort me and keep me strong?

Rie Fu, "Life is Like a Boat"

He wanted to punch someone. He wanted to lash out to the world, for daring to hurt his brother. For daring to make him sacrifice his morals to restore his brother. For nearly shattering that blood seal.

He shivered, pulling the cloak around him. It was supposed to be a balmy night, but he couldn't feel it. He sat down, pulling his knees close with his flesh arm. He just couldn't get warm. Something wasn't right.

He tilted his head, shivering under his cloak. The nurse would be back soon, and realize he was out of bed, but he had to be outside. He hated hospitals. Hated being inside all the time. He couldn't wait until Winry finally came there to fix his arm. He couldn't stay cooped up like that forever.

If only Mustang had been there. He could have picked a fight with him. Despite the short and underdeveloped jokes, the banter back and forth made him feel better. Mustang was someone he could look up to. He could, but after seeing the Colonel manipulate people several times, he had a hard time doing so.

There really wasn't anything like needling the Colonel. Usually, Mustang just sat there, his smirk firmly on his face. But occasionally, he would open his eyes, looking only at him. His eyes would dance over his figure, taking in the body with hunger. It would piss him off, that the hunger was so damn obvious. Couldn't he have at least tried to hide it?

A hard shiver pulled him from his thoughts. It was just about time to go back in. He stood up, and pulled the cloak even closer. He didn't want to spend that moment with anyone else. Not Al, not Winry, not Mustang. There were precious few moments he could be honest with himself anyway. Having anyone else there... even in a comforting role... would have ruined it.

He didn't want Mustang to kiss him anyway. Really.