Chapter 3: Resign

Edward slipped on his jacket, getting ready to leave the hospital. He hadn't fully recovered, now that he was up and about, he had forgotten about the wound on his side that the Slicer had inflicted on him. The Fifth Lab left him with lots of sores and bruises. He lifted up his tank top, observing the layers of gauze wrapped around his stomach. He caressed it with his flesh hand. He felt the rough texture; it made him want to scratch the skin under the bandages. He felt that the skin under there needed some relief from the bandages. He wanted to rip them off himself, but he couldn't risk opening his wounds with the force of taking them off. He grabbed his belt, sliding it through the loops in the pants. He tightened the belt, making sure his pants wouldn't fall down.

Edward slipped his hair over his right shoulder, making a loose braid. He ran his fingers through his bangs, loosening the knots in his hair. He smoothed back his hair, his ahoge bouncing back into place.

Ed had already informed Maria Ross and Denny Bloch that he would be leaving today; they were ready outside the door. He took his time putting on his platform boots, fastening the straps. He slid off the hospital bed, stretching. He had to stop when the pain from his wounds prevented him from continuing. He slipped his white gloves on, putting his hands in his pockets.

He felt something cold and smooth in the right pocket. He pulled his State Certified watch out of his pocket, reflecting on the years he had been a State Alchemist. Edward's grip tightened on the watch, he wanted to crush it into a million pieces. Look at all the trouble it's gotten him into. His throat tightened and his face started to burn. He shoved his emotions away along with the watch. He exited his room, looked at Lieutenant Ross on the left side of the door.

"Ed- Major Elric! I see you're ready to go, would you like us to escort you?" she said, saluting to the boy. She held a light smile, but her eyes looked distressed and tired.

Edward nodded, muttering something under his breath. Ross lost what little enthusiasm she had in her eyes and solemnly followed the state alchemist, her comrade following next to her. She recalled the scene she walked onto when arrived at the Fifth Lab.

Edward stood in the middle of the room, a blue light emitting from his body like a lantern. His body was twitching uncontrollably as he groaned in pain. Maria yelled for the boy, but he couldn't hear her. She struggled to get over to the boy as her comrade called for her to stop. Her right arm was raised in front of her face as she inched closer to the boy. She tried to look into his eyes as she stretched her arms open, only seeing nothing but agony. Ross pulled the boy into an embrace, nestling her chin over his shoulder. Edward's body transferred an electric shock through her, but she only tightened her hold on the boy. His body was freezing cold, but she needed to warm him up.

The glow from the boy's body dimmed as his body slumped towards the ground, trying to return the Lieutenant's hug, only for his arms to slide back down her back. She looked at his face, his eyes now closed. Dried tears left dark streaks that cut through the dust on his face. His tears mixed in with the blood that gushed from the gash on his forehead. Ross hadn't even realized that she had been crying too, she held the limp body to her, starting to feel his warmth return to his body.

Edward ran up to his mother, hugging her around her waist. He buried his face in his mother's stomach, his grip very tight.

"Edward, what's wrong?"

The young blond boy looked into his mother's emerald eyes, his eyes streaming with tears, his nose running as well.

"Alphonse's run away, I can't find him anywhere!"

Trisha stroked the boy's hair, surprising him. She had a soft face and her expression was very reassuring. She had pretty chestnut brown hair, tied into a very loose ponytail, that hung over her right shoulder. Her face was beaming, as she opened her mouth to talk.

"You couldn't protect him."

The little boy got worried. "Protect him…?" He blinked, and the once bright world around him darkened, and he was no longer hugging his mother. She wasn't in front of him anymore. He turned around, seeing three figures standing behind him. There was the body of his mother, with the face of the creature he created from the failed human transmutation. A young girl stood next to a big white dog, she was petting him, but their eyes were white and empty. Next to the girl, a young boy with short blond hair held a familiar helmet in his arms. It was Alphonse.

Edward wanted to reach out to his brother, but he couldn't move.

"Brother, why couldn't you protect us? Why didn't you save us?"

"Alphonse… I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm-"

Edward woke up screaming, but cut off his screaming when he realized he was awake. He saw that he was holding up his left arm at the ceiling. Maria Ross burst into the room, holding up her gun. "Edward, what's wrong?!" Edward was covered in sweat, lying on the hospital bed. He stared into Ross' eyes; his eyes were filled with panic and horror. His eyes reverted back to normal, and closed his eyes. He rolled over onto his right shoulder, sighing. "I'm fine, Ross. You can go."

Ross wanted to hug Edward again, to comfort him to get his mind off of all the horrible things he had to deal with. She observed the boy, though she couldn't get much from behind him. He was hunched over, his hands in his pockets. His pace was very slow, unlike his usual self.

Edward and his two escorts finally arrived at Central HQ, in front of Roy Mustang's office. Edward stood up straight, his hands at his sides. He stared down at the handles on the door, reluctant to open them.

"Major Elric, are you going to go in?" Sergeant Bloch piped up.

Edward took a deep breath, and exhaled, his shoulders slumping. He gripped the handles of the door, unlocked the door, and let himself into the room. He looked back at Ross, then back into the room, closing the door behind him.

"FullMetal? Good Afternoon." Roy looked up from his paperwork, trying to make eye contact with the boy.

"Hey." Ed groaned.

"I'm surprised you recovered so fast Edward, I thought you would still be in the hospital for at least a few more weeks."

"I'm not recovered."

The room grew awkwardly silent as Edward avoided Mustang's gaze. "Well is there something you're here for? It's unlike you to start up a friendly conversation with me."

Edward reached into his pocket, pulling out his watch. "Yeah, there is actually." He placed the watch on this desk, his hand slipping away from it. Mustang looked at the watch, and then looked up at the boy. His gaze was still at the ground. "What's this all about?"

Edward finally lined his eyes up with Mustang. Mustang's eyes were cold and stern; his expression showed that he wasn't amused by Edward's silence. Edward, on the other hand, his golden eyes were faded, around his eyes were dark and sagging. He looked exhausted; he tried to dodge sleep for a few days.

"You can officially say this is my resignation."

A/N: And thus begins Edward's spiral into madness.