This one-shot is following "empty" in that those two and the next four are in a series. When the first five one-shots are done, you will be able to see a pattern in the titles that will lead to the sixth one. Think of these, perhaps, as "Downhill to Central" type things except less gay and they aren't connected.
I'm disappointed. Only Frenchii understood "empty". Alphonse had commited suicide and Edward had turned to drugs for the answer.
The bright sun outside mirrored his portrayed feelings. Everyone around him smiled back on him, catching his contagiously happy mood. They were at his house, everyone was, it was a celebration. Edward and Alphonse were over in the corner of the garden conversing with Havoc, and young Winry was laughing with Gracia and Elysia. He himself walked back and forth, making conversation with everyone, and making everyone love him.
"How about a picture, Hughes!" Someone cheerily grins. Inwardly, he cringes. More talking, more peppiness. He had been keeping up the act twice as hard today, and it was wearing on him.
"Yeah, Hughes!" Roy chimed in, raising a glass. "C'mon, you've always got your camera!" Everyone grins at who they believe he is.
"Sure..." He stuttered, but damn them, they don't notice. There's more smiling. Gracia walks out of his house with a camera, smiling along with the rest of them, and he feels some pride. Not at her, but at the fact that he hides himself so well even his wife doesn't even notice.
Elysia nudges her way into every photo, making Edward trip over her and everyone laugh. The flash from the camera burns into his retinas, angering an inner beast.
Suddenly he screams. It rebounds around the yard, and everyone stares at him. Little Elysia tottered up to him, frowning and tugging on his arm. "Wat's wong Daddy?" She asks him cutely.
The rage at these people for not noticing the real him behind this fake mask snaps. He grabs the little girl and swings her up like he's done before, but this time it's done with malice.
"Nothing's wong wit Daddy," He mocks her, slender hands wrapping around her neck. Elysia took a sudden breath to scream, but the only noise that is heard is this huge crack of bone.
He shudders, and moves his hand to his side, dropping the lifeless girl. As the stunned and tearful party watches, the knife draws across his neck, and he falls beside his broken daughter.
Los buenos se muerden jovenes...
"empty" was better.