Corrupted by Grief
@burningflamesofhell (X)
Standing there not far from the Lieutenant Colonel with hands in his pockets Roy could only watch with a sigh as Edward took out the pack of cigarettes lighting one with the zippo that Havoc had given him. Even if Roy commented on it, it was obvious that Ed was going to do the exact opposite as he was instructed. “Still beating yourself up huh? It’s been how long now?” Another sighed as he moved closer hands still in his pockets even as the black jacket flowed out behind him as he moved. The worst part over the years was watching Edward go from the spontaneous kid to the self loathing adult who somehow made it to a rank not far from his own. Standing closer now than he had earlier Roy looked up towards the cloud filled sky. “What’s on your mind Fullmetal?” He asked with a curious tone to his voice.
Pulling in another deep drag, the Lt. Colonel would speak as the smoke slowly drifted from his lips. “Nine years... but who’s countin’?” he shrugged. “And what the hell do you think?” Ed would beat himself until the day he died. He let down the only person in this world that he swore never to. That’s actually how he had managed to actually get himself promoted, he got results... at the expense of himself most times... because he really didn’t care what happened to himself at the end of the day. He would beat himself up every damn day and never think it was enough.
Taking the smoke in his fingers, Ed twirled it a bit, his eyes watching the ember at the end as the light breeze made it flicker and glow. “And who says I have anything on my mind? The only thing I have waiting for me inside is paperwork and maybe another assignment which I’m sure you’re out here to drag me back in to hear all about...” As he spoke, his voice was laden with indifferent sarcasm. Why did Mustang always have to think he had to check up on him anyway? It wasn’t like he was his fifteen year old subordinate anymore... green and naive... Those days were long gone.