-x- Fullmetal Alchemist does not belong to me. …which sucks. ...as does this drabble written for the drabble me community over on lj.–x-

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"I feel kind of…bad for the lobsters though."

The kid's eyes…no, not kid…the man's eyes were watering as he stared into the tank of big red creatures. His hands were pressed up to the glass and with every shaky breath the tank fogged up a bit.

"Alphonse, honestly…this is what they're bred for."

"But they don't even know it's coming! They're totally innocent!"

His voice was desperate. Damn...this backfired. I tried to be nice and bring him out to dinner, just me and him…as friends instead of a Colonel and his subordinate for once. Ok...so maybe it has more to do with needing to speak to him about his brother, but still. I've tried to make it as enjoyable as possible, brought him to the best seafood place in Central, and now look what's happened…

"Alright Al, I'm sorry. We'll just go somewhere else."

"No! Because we'll have to leave them here, and they'll all die anyway!"

It was ridiculous, sure, but the cook was breathing down my neck and the next rude comment he made, I couldn't guarantee I wouldn't snap. …no pun intended.

"Fucking hell kid, just pick one!"

Wrong comment, asshole.

"Sir, you need to step back and lower your voice while my friend decides whether we wish to stay in an establishment that is so cruel to animals."

"Cruel my ass, they're fucking lobster! He's holding up the line, jackass. And who do you think you are?"

…maybe I overreacted. Sure, I should have exercised a bit more self-control. I shouldn't have torched that guy, but damn it felt good.

"Alphonse, shall we?"

"Hmm?"

He looked almost as dazed as the ignorant guy that now lay smoldering on the ground, management tending to him.

"I think we can discuss Ed over some pasta instead, how's that sound?"

"Yea…that's fine. Wait, discuss Ed? What about him?"

…this isn't going to be easy.

"Alphonse did you know that lobsters mate for life? You can actually see old lobster couples walking around their tank, holding claws…"

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