Chapter 4: Departure

Roy looked at the watch placed in front of him, not convinced. "Is this a joke?" Edward glared at him. "What about this makes you think this is a joke? You at least should know what the hell has been going on. You know everything!"

"So you're going to give up restoring your body?" Edward sighed and looked down at his boots. "Yeah, I guess I am. I can't do this without Al."

"You're fine with your automail? What do you think Alphonse would say about this, about you giving up?"

Hearing Al's name from that bastard's mouth made him snap. He smashed his automail hand onto the table, leaving a crater in the wood. The crash caught both Hawkeye and Mustang off guard, Mustang leaning back in his seat a little, Hawkeye looking over at the boy in confusion. Mustang's paperwork flew off the desk in various directions, slowly floating to the ground.

"You don't know a damn thing…you wouldn't know what the hell Al would say about this. YOU DON'T KNOW A DAMN THING!" Ed looked around at the mess he made with angry, tired eyes, then back at Mustang. He wasn't intimidated in the least, just a little surprised. He clapped his hands, placing them on the table, as the desk seemed to repair itself. He picked up the papers and stacked them back on Mustang's desk. Edward retrieved the watch and put it back in front of Mustang. "That's yours to keep," Edward stomped out of the room, slamming the doors behind him.

He stormed past Ross and Bloch, heading back to his dorm. Lieutenant Ross got startled as the boy sped past her. She reached to grab his shoulder, missing, and pulling out his braid. Edward turned around grabbing his hair from Ross's grasp. "Damn it Ross! What the hell do you want?" he snarled, shooting a cold look at her. "I – I was just wondering where you were going. You were in a rush, so - "

"It's none of your business. And you can go, I'm not part of the military anymore."

The boy stormed off again, his heart jumping with regret, but he continued. Damn Ross, those two should've never stuck around.

Ross watched the former state alchemist storm away, leaving her feeling very guilty. Sighing, she turned around, walk opposite of the young boy. Her comrade reached out to her as she walked by him, but she stopped him. Ross rubbed under her nose, but didn't stop walking. "I'm fine, Bloch. I'm fine." She sounded like she wanted to cry; she felt so hurt. What had she done wrong?

Edward arrived at his dorm room, slamming the door shut and locking it. He slid to the floor, his back against the wooden surface. He stared up at the ceiling, relieved to be alone. But he'd be alone for a long time. He started to cry. The young boy put his hands up to his face and sobbed into his gloves.

Roy watched the boy leave the room in a blind fury, Hawkeye observing as well. They both listened to Edward yelling at Lieutenant Ross, making them both sigh with disappointment. Roy slid the watch closer to him, and picked it off the desk.

"Colonel, do you think he meant what he said?"

Mustang shrugged and placed the watch down again. "I don't doubt him, though, I do wonder what he'll do now. Knowing him, he wouldn't go straight back to Risembool, it's unlike him."

Edward's gloves were now damp from his tears. He still sat in the same spot, in front of the door, his legs curled up to his face, his arms wrapped around them, his right hand clinging onto his left wrist. His eyes and head hurt a lot, he didn't want to get up. He looked around for his suitcase, his vision very blurry. He spotted the brown box leaning against the wall.

Ed made his way over to the suitcase, scooting on his butt. He set the box on his lap, his legs now crossed. He opened it, observing the contents inside. Some clothes, one being his famous red coat, some clothes, oil for Alphonse… Nothing interesting. He skimmed over the oil like it was nothing at all. Edward closed the suitcase and stood up, his legs shaking a little. He went over to the couch placed in the middle of the room, sliding past the coffee table then flopping onto the cushions. He didn't bother taking off his boots. Too tired… Need rest…

Edward officially woke up in the middle of the next day, waking up from nightmares 3 times prior, only to fall asleep again. He found himself hanging off of the couch, his hand under his tank top. Ed sat up, stretching, until the pain wouldn't let him. He was already dress, so there was no need for preparation. Ed snatched his suitcase off of the floor and went over to the door. He unlocked it and exited, slowly closing it behind him.