A/N- I'm so sorry! It has been so long since an update, but I completed another whole story while I was getting over my writer's block concerning this one.

Disclaimer- I don't own Fullmetal Alchemist or any of its characters.

Chapter 3- Central

It was dark. Clouds filled the sky, a few pink blotches between them to emphasize the fact that morning had come, and pink was not a good sign in the morning. Mostly, it meant that a storm was due. What a crappy day.

Edward had arrived, by train, to Central just a moment ago, and was wandering the streets, looking for either a cab, or the much preferred walk until he reached his destination. He wondered if Roy would be suprised to see him so soon. Certainly, Edward had been called back to Central innumerable times, but of course, he'd always decided against going. Once he'd started cutting, it was far too risky to talk to the Colonel.

Well, there he was, standing outside of the Military Headquarters, suitcase held in his automail hand, walking ever-so-slowly towards the double doors set at the front of the building. Ed didn't want to be there. He didn't want to go back to Resembool, either. But most of all, he didn't want to go to Liore, and he had a feeling that by East City, Roy was about to change his mind, and direct the Alchemist to Liore instead.

"Mr. Elric, sir!" A cry of alarm came from the desk next to him as Maria Ross rushed to his side. Imediately noting the tired black lines under her eyes, Edward felt his suitcase tugged out of his mechanical hand, and rushed over to another odd looking desk. This desk must have been new, because Ed couldn't remember it, no matter how hard he tried. "You finally decided to come!"

"Yeah, and what's up with the luggage thing?" The question was short lived as Edward was dragged into a room that looked as though it were most commonly used for medical assistance. "Hey, what's going..."

"Don't worry, Edward. It's only nessecary we check all alchemists for weapons, as another serial killer is on the loose." Why the hell would you check only alchemists for weapons when it was a serial killer? He was trying to think of something very smart-ass-like to say to Maria when he felt his trench being pulled off. Shit! His mind jumped at the thought, as did his body. Two seconds later, he was at the back of the room, arms held up against the wall. "Something the matter, sir?" Edward stopped, and thought. Would it be better to act like nothing was wrong, or like the sky was falling? He needed some serious help, that was for sure, but when the psychiatrists questioned him, asking him about Liore...

"Oh, it's nothing just that... I have a small rash and I don't feel very comfortable undressing in front of people currently." Was this a good enough excuse? Maria Ross was looking at him as though he'd just smacked her across the face and told her off for something very very crude.

"Well, I suppose we could have someone else come in to check you out." Didn't she get it! He didn't want anyone to see! "I'll go get the Colonel..." That was all it took. Damn, she must've known Ed couldn't stand that guy.

"No! No! That's okay!" With that, Ed pulled his own trench coat off and threw it at his feet. A quick sigh later, and he was seated back on that cold bench, just waiting for someone to see his left arm and scream bloody murder. But if Maria Ross had in fact noticed it at all, she hadn't said anything. Mostly, she was busy checking his pockets for weapons of any description.

"Alright Edward, all done." She saw the look Ed gave her as he walked out of the room, and called out after him, "I don't know why we have to do it either."

Edward was on his way up the stairs to Mustang's office. Oh, how he dreaded seeing that man. Could Roy even be called human? Maybe not.

He didn't even knock, more along the lines of barged right in, hoping the Colonel wouldn't be there, and he could sneak out and go somewhere else for a while, with the excuse that Mustang hadn't kept his word. But sadly for Ed, he had. Roy was seated in his usual chair, mounds upon mounds of paperwork in front of them, most needing just a signature before they could be sent out to face the rest of the world.

"Well finally, I see someone has decided not to slack off for about the millionth time." As though he could really call it slacking. More like avoiding the situation for emotional reasons. "They want you in East City."

"Who wants me?" Edward asked. Wasn't Mustang the reason he was told to come to Central?

"Reporters." Ed through his hands in the air, stood up, and prepared to storm out of the room.

"Ah God, I fucking knew it!" Roy stopped him.

"Hold on, Ed."

"I don't want to speak to you!"

"Well I had to get you here somehow, didn't I? You'd never have shown up to begin with."

"Damn right I wouldn't have."

"You know Ed, the public does have a right to know about the situation. If you'd just give it up and tell them about what happened, we wouldn't be in this sort of a predicament..." Ed was silent, just standing in front of the door, like he was about to leave, but something was keeping him from doing so. "So when are you going to be on your way to East City?"

"I don't know... Someday when I feel like it." Roy sighed.

"Someday isn't a day of the week, Edward. I want you out to Liore as soon as possible, and I don't want any..." Roy had to stop, for he noticed the slight shaking of Edward's body before he collapsed on the floor, tears pouring from his eyes. "Edward..."

"Anywhere but there!" Ed gasped between sobs. Roy stood up, willing to comfort the chibi. When he placed an arm on Ed's shoulder, Edward shot up, arms around Roy almost as though he was seeing an illusion, and this was simply his mother. "Please don't send me to Liore! I can't go back! I just can't!"

And although Roy didn't understand it, he put his arms around Edward, and comforted him.

A/N- I had such bad WRITER'S BLOCK! I'm sorry, that was kind of short, but I'll try and get the next chapter up soon!