Three Years Previous
Alphonse Elric…
Ed sat on the ground heaving in sobs. He was holding an arm in his hands. Not a human arm, no, one of complete hollow metal. Ed clenched the metal to his chest. Throwing back his head he let out the must gut-wrenching scream Ed had ever given.
"AL! NOOOOO!" Ed's tears poured down his cheeks and wet the shoulders of Ed's jacket and soaked in to his shirt. He fell forward onto the pavement. He sobbed into the pavement. "I'm so sorry…Al…I couldn't…I couldn't…" Ed choked on his words as new sobs choked him.
The alchemy circle was still smoking. The haunting red glow taunted Ed. It throbbed in mockery of the grief-stricken boy. Laughed at him. Ed slowly lifted his head to only behold the broken apart suit of armor that was formally known as his brother. The symbol that had held his brother's spirit intact was now nothing more than a few streaks red scratched out into the metal surface.
Ed stood in the office. A few new scars already developing on his cheeks. He felt the hot stinging still from Mustang's blow. Ed just stared at the floor. He knew he deserved every single blow from now until the day he died, maybe even after. He felt tears rising at the remembrance of Al, but he swallowed them.
"What were you thinking! That you could bring him back!" Mustang's yells could be heard throughout the halls. Officers gathered outside and hung their heads while listening to his yelling.
"I don't know…" Ed whispered.
"You…DON'T KNOW! It is STRICTLY FORBIDDEN to use HUMAN alchemy! YOU KNOW THAT FULL METAL!" Mustang screamed at Edward again. Hawkeye stepped forward a bit hesitantly.
"Sir…" She interjected. "Edward is still just a-"
"Kid…?" Mustang glared at Hawkeye. "A KID who is old enough to know that this is taboo! And for a REASON! Don't excuse his behavior Hawkeye!"
"I'm not, sir. I am just saying that you could tone it down just a bit…" Hawkeye added coolly with her own glare.
"No…" Ed silently protested. "I deserve this…I deserve every blow you take, every yell, everything. I took my brother's life. How worthless could I get…?" Ed added with a sad smile as new tears stung his eyes.
"Edward…" Hawkeye silently stared at Ed in shock. He has grown up so much…
"You've suffered enough for now…Dismissed." Mustang commanded after his initial shock.
Ed bowed respectfully and took his leave. He walked through the officers. Havoc watched the teenager walk down the hallway. He noticed the heavy burden on Ed's shoulders. He couldn't help but feel sympathy for the kid. Ed had been through so much…and none of this was going to get easier.
Mustang sat down in his chair with a plop. Hawkeye watched him quizzically. Mustang grabbed his coffee mug and chugged the now cold liquid down. He set the mug down with a bit more force than intended. He stared ahead at the walls. Hawkeye watched him silently.
"You think I was too hard on him…?" Mustang asked breaking the silence.
"Yes." Hawkeye responded.
"I wish there was someway to erase time. That way, I could go back and never have gone to Ed and Al after their try at alchemy. Maybe…just maybe…"
"Nonsense. Stop that." Hawkeye commanded firmly. "If you hadn't gone, those boys would have been in a much worse position."
"Al would still be alive; Ed wouldn't be blaming himself…" Mustang argued.
"No…Ed wouldn't be. They both would probably have been dead by now." Hawkeye leaned against the wall slightly. "Who knows what those two could have gotten into?"
"Why do you always have to be right…?" Mustang sighed and smirked.
"I'm not always right…" Hawkeye scowled.
"Yes you are." Mustang chuckled.
"Only when YOU are wrong, sir." Hawkeye grumbled.
Ed looked over at Winry. He watched her angrily dump the chicken in the garbage. His smile had faded from his memories of how Al had been lost. Winry was busy grumbling to herself about chicken.
"Winry…?" Ed stared at the floor.
"Huh…?" Winry responded distracted.
"Do you hate me for what I did to Al…?" Ed heard the platter where the chicken had met the floor. He looked up to find Winry bent down and picking up the hot pieces of burnt chicken.
"Gee…I'm such a klutz! Don't you think?" She joked around to stay off of the subject of Al.
"Win…please…tell me. I have to know…"
"I…I don't know what to say exactly, Edward. I can't answer that…" Winry said continuing to clean up the mess.
"I won't blame you…I hate myself, Win." Ed replied with a sad smile.
Winry turned around and stared sadly at Ed. He feels so guilty over it…doesn't he…? She smiled to lift the spirits.
"Let's get take-out! That way it won't burn!" Winry glared back at the stove top.
