Chapter 3: Afraid of death?
"The Omega? How could that help Al?" Ed's face lifted from his hands, meeting Roy's gaze. The Omega was something similar to the Philosophers Stone; talked about in hushed tones, and reeking of death and failure. It was a force to be reckoned with, from what Ed could tell.
Roy sat behind his desk and folded his hands, glaring between them at the teenager before him. Edward sat slumped in his chair, interest faulting painfully across his face like a drunken clown, traipsing across a stage. "I don't even know anything about it, other than no one's ever successfully forged one and lived to use it."
"The Omega is a stone, similar to the Philosophers stone in size, but completely different in how it is used." Roy began. "It was created for the first time out of Dovries, (A/n: spelling?) years ago."
"Dovries?" Ed repeated. "Near Rush Valley?"
"Yes." Roy replied. "The Omega was created by a man there who had been a chief mechanic in Rush Valley, retired and moved to Dovries. His name was Omegys Gyph."
"Catchy." Ed grinned. Roy rolled his eyes, frustration becoming evident upon his face.
"Shut up. He died shortly after completing it." Ed's eyes widened upon hearing this. Roy couldn't resist a small smirk at Fullmetal's reaction. "His goal was to complete it and restore his left leg to its natural properties. He had an automail one, like yours." Roy indicated. Ed tucked that leg behind the other, glaring,
"Well, go on." He snapped impatiently.
"Very well." Roy cleared his throat, eyes remaining fixed upon Edward's. "The Omega is composed of various and complex items; you need all of them to create a perfect one. The stone is formed using alchemy, a complicated array, which you have no need of." Roy said with obvious chagrin. Ed smirked at Roy, resisting the powerful urge to stick out his tongue, laughing that he was the better alchemist of the two.
"The catch is, the stone can only be used by the alchemist that forges it." Edward's face was crossed by a shadow of confusion. The Philosophers stone worked differently from that; anyone could use a completed one. "And as I said, all the properties must be fulfilled. Check with Scieszka; she has all the paperwork on how to form one."
"But…" Ed's voice caught in his throat, doubt becoming evident on his face. Roy couldn't help but notice how much of a child Edward truly was at times like these. It was easy to forget that Fullmetal was a kid, after all. He took this opportunity to kick Ed into high gear.
"But what, Fullmetal?" Roy rose, hands clamping upon the surface of the wooden desk, a hollow thump radiating from it. "What's the matter? Saving Al too much for you? Or are you scared that you'll die too, just like all the others?" Ed's eyes widened with horror at the mere thought, amazed that Mustang would dare make such an accusation; he leaped from his chair, eyes screaming wrath.
"I am not afraid to die for Al!" He shouted, his hands bashing against the opposite side of the desk, face contorted with blind fury. "And you know it better than anyone!" Tenuous silence exuded throughout the room; their gaze matched ebony to golden eye. Thoughts raced through his mind; the Omega, Al, what had happened to him, and the mocking, curdling tone of Roy's voice ringing in his head. Ed's head fell against his chest, sweat dripping from his forehead, the silence pressing upon them.
"You want to see him before you go?" Roy's voice came hard. A gasp of surprise escaped Ed's lips; see Al? Look once again upon what he had done, the pain he had inflicted upon the only one he had ever, truly cared for? Maybe seeing him, seeing him once more, he could make things right. He nodded, solemnly.
Roy walked from behind the desk, approaching the door. His hand rested on the knob; the emotions vibrating from Edward weren't just leftover anger; they were empty, forlorn, and they expelled fear. The look that was trapped behind golden eyes whispered terror, thoughts racing like words across a typewriter playing again and again through his mind. He couldn't help but feel sympathy for Fullmetal as he guided him down the hall.
"Here we are." Edward pushed in front of Roy abruptly, tearing past as though he was running from death. Roy's eyes slid closed as the sound began; he hadn't warned Fullmetal of this. Edward's hand paused on the doorknob, like a train stopping on a dime to prevent collision His eyes burned, head falling against the hollowed, wooden frame, as he drank in the tortured screaming that sounded through the door.
"Alphonse…" he breathed, a sickened, guilt ridden gasp escaping his throat. Roy's eyes opened slowly, upon hearing Fullmetal. His ebony gaze locked upon the symbol etched into the back of his jacket, the child's form huddled against the door. Edward pounded his fist against it, Al's voice still wailing in pain from within. "What… what have I done to you?"
An: I am so sorry it's so short, people, but I have writers block. Feel free to contact me with ideas.