Fullmetal Alchemist Fan Fiction ❯ Emotion of Regret ❯ Determination ( Chapter 2 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

DETERMINATION-

Gone.

Roy Mustang, or as he had been dubbed for nearly four years, “the bastard” was gone. It seemed strange to Edward Elric that he would actually miss that smug smirk and the sarcastic comments that would follow once it opened.

Though now, after three years of being stuck in this strange world, Ed had lost much hope of ever leaving. He stopped wishing he had told Mustang how he'd felt.

Because Mustang was not dead, simply gone. Were he dead, at least Edward would have the satisfaction in knowing that no matter what he would never see his commander again. This feeling of knowing that he was alive out there was the worst torture imaginable. That faint and fleeting hope that he could go home periodically built up in his chest as he chased after a new lead. Then violently deflate when it led to a dead-end.

While Edward was traveling through the scientific conventions he had stumbled on a sight that nearly broke his heart. There, standing a mere distance away was the man that he had been searching to find all of this time. The stranger was nearly an exact look-alike to the infamous Flame Alchemist. It appeared that he was watching one of the rare rocket demonstrations. And although Ed's mind was screaming for him to go and speak with the man, he knew that it wasn't Roy. No matter how much it may look like him, he wasn't the same. The pain of literally being torn in two was too much and Ed ran away.

Frequently, when he wasn't having his memories morphed into nightmares, Edward saw the Colonel. He was moping in a depressed sort of way, and usually drinking. The rather large eye patch that Mustang supposedly wore now was like a realization. That this was the real Roy. As people do change over time, that change was proof that he was alive. And that alone gave Edward a faint sense of hope.

It was currently raining where Edward was standing in the middle of a stone street. He never had like the rain, much too depressing. But he really didn't know if Mustang minded it, Ed hadn't gotten that chance to ask.

This rain really wasn't helping at all. It was only making his eyes tear up even more than they had been. It also made it easier for the betraying substance to fall. And Ed had sworn never to cry again. He swore to be like Mustang, to never cry and to not show any real emotion.

Just thinking of the Colonel now made Edward reminiscent. Anything to hear that silky smooth voice one last time, even the bastard remark of commenting on how short Ed was.

And for some reason he actually felt a small comfort in that rain similar to this had fallen on Roy. The rain was all around them, wherever they may be. Giving a special bond.

Yet Ed couldn't help thinking that maybe someday, somehow he would be able to return home once again, to the Alchemist that was waiting.