"Al, just talk to him. I'm sure he won't-" Roy said as he lay in the grass, hearing footsteps returning to him.
"Talk to him about what?"
Roy sat up, recognizing the voice of the older Elric.
"Where's Al?"
Roy shrugged. "I thought you were him. He left maybe ten minutes ago."
"I thought I 'd catch up with him down here but I guess I'll have to wait until I get home."
The colonel expected Edward to turn and leave but instead the shorter alchemist lowered himself onto the grass beside his superior.
"So I talked to Winry," he said.
Roy nodded. "Al said she would be waiting for you."
Ed was quiet for a moment. "They really seem happy."
"I'm sure they are."
"Yeah. I know. They're both 'nice.'" Ed said, his soft smile betraying the grumble he was aiming for with this voice.
"Yes they are. And good-looking."
"I'm good-looking too!"
Roy chuckled. "Let's not start this again. I just mean that they are an attractive couple. That gets you far in this world."
Ed shook his head and grinned. Good old Roy, always thinking. "I don't think Al is really aiming anywhere high. He will probably just help Winry out at the automail shop. Every shop should have an alchemist around."
Roy nodded solemnly. "Indeed."
They were quiet for a few moments, staring at the river.
"What about you," Roy asked. "I suppose in a few months when your commitment to the military is up, you will be on your way back to Risembol?"
Ed shrugged. "Probably. I have no need for the military now that we have our bodies."
Well that certainly wasn't what he wanted to hear. He pushed himself off the ground and stood.
"Well then, Fullmetal, I wish you good luck on your travels," he said as he turned to walk. He had no intention of letting Edward see his disappointment.
Ed stood up, grabbing softly onto the colonel's sleeve. "I'm not going anywhere now," he said.
"I am aware of that fact."
"So you don't need to make your lazy, half-assed attempt at a goodbye right now."
Before Roy could pull away, Edward was staring him down.
"What did you mean in the office. I only ask because I want to know whether to be disgusted or not," Ed asked, narrowing his eyes.
"About not deserving nice girls? I just meant that-"
"That's not what I 'm asking and you know it."
"Oh. Right. I just know the dating world can be rough. Being a soldier for as long as you have can make it difficult to get back into the game and-"
"You bastard. I ask you a serious question and you lie to me."
Roy watched Ed's ponytail swish as he walked away. He hadn't been...entirely...lying. And besides, if Ed was heading east in a few months, what point was there to trying anyway? He sighed and laid back down at the river's edge, watching it tumble over itself. The cold air made the water seem to run more lazily. It had more of a gelatinous flow to it. Roy soon fell asleep to its sound, lost in thoughts of many failures and few successes.