Title - Apart
Author - Fullmetal-Alchemist1uk
Disclaimer - Me no own FMA. Shame
Theme/Challenge (40baisers #13: time passes)
Fandom - FMA
Pairing - Roy/Ed
Rating - PG-13 for swearing

"Edward Elric, stop being so lazy and just get up already. You haven't forgotten about the meeting have you?"

Ed could only manage a faint glare across the room at Alfons. How the hell did he have the energy to be up and about at this time of the morning, Ed didn't want to know. He tried to stifle a yawn as he tried to get out of bed, but couldn't stop the snarl as his fake leg got caught in the sheets. He supposed he should be grateful to i him /i for making it, but damn, he missed the automail. And Al. And Roy.

Once again he had to stop the wondering, just wondering if Al and Roy were all right, or if they were alive at all. For all he knew, the people he cared about most might not even be there even if he managed to get back. He couldn't stop the thoughts from stampeding across his mind though. He hadn't seen his little brother properly since he was eleven, and he wanted to see how much time had changed Al, and indeed if his intended sacrifice had worked.

But Ed was more concerned with Roy. If Al was alive, he would be fine. He had Teacher, and Winry and Granny to look after him. The last time he had seen his Colonel had been before his encounter with the Homunculus that was King Bradley. Ed knew only too well that a fight with an artifical human could be deadly, and he wondered if Roy would still look like Roy even if he had survived.

I've been here too long. Almost two years now. Two fucking years longer than I should have been here. Damnit, if there is a God he must be laughing at me for being so damn useless. It's bloody hilarious - the Fullmetal Alchemist has neither his alchemy or automail to help him now.

He pulled himself up and walked slowly over to the mirror. Aside from the obvious fake limbs that were now plastic instead of metal, he still looked like himself, though slightly taller. It still felt strange to see how dull his hair and eyes appeared, as if merely being here had drained the life from them. Roy had always teased him about them, saying that only dyed hair could appear that gold, and that he must have been a cat at some point in order to have those creepy eyes. That was another thing - the fifteen year old Fullmetal had eyes of strength, confidence, of a stubborn attitude and a belief that all he had to do was clap his hands and most things that he willed would happen. The seventeen year old Edward had eyes that still held all these things, true, but muted. Edward knew better now. He wasn't all powerful. He hadn't been able to save Nina, or Hughes, or his mother. Nor had he been able to stop Al from giving up everything just for his brother to live again, or even to say to Roy "I love you" one last time before they went their seperate ways against the Homunculi.

Ed had to give himself a shake, if he could get back, it wouldn't be done by staring at a mirror and mourning the loss of his younger self.

After all, he had a promise to keep.