Trooper Station - Before graduation

[light-a-spark.livejournal.com]

When Roy made it into the station, he was greeted by a group of very excited troopers rambling about ghosts and horsemen. They'd even made drawings of what they'd seen the previous evening and Roy wondered if this day was going to end with him digging up bones some dog had buried in the park.

After some discussion, he somehow ended up promising that he'd go patrolling with them if they could give him photographic proof of said ghosts. Shaking his head, he retreated into his office to see what arrangements should be taken for graduation.

Comments

[im-fullmetal.livejournal.com]

It wasn't like Ed had a lot to leave this place, and after he'd handwavily arranged for his books to be shipped back to Germany, all that was really let was to return Mustang's books.

He made his way into the station, his coat on and almost neat with book under his arm. "Mustang," he said with a nod as he made his way into Roy's office.

[light-a-spark.livejournal.com]

Roy glanced up from the paperwork. "You're not here to report seeing ghosts, are you?"

[im-fullmetal.livejournal.com]

"...should I be?" he asked, setting the books on the desk.

[light-a-spark.livejournal.com]

Roy raised an eyebrow at the books. "Not unless you're going insane too."

[im-fullmetal.livejournal.com]

"Least I'd know you beat me there," Ed shot back.

[light-a-spark.livejournal.com]

Roy hummed non-noncommittally and motioned to the books. "Are you done with those?"

[im-fullmetal.livejournal.com]

He nodded. "I won't need anymore."

[light-a-spark.livejournal.com]

"Anything useful?" Roy asked, getting the feeling that he was missing something.

[im-fullmetal.livejournal.com]

"Nothing I haven't considered a hundred times already," Ed said with a shrug. "It's not working."

[light-a-spark.livejournal.com]

"I've got other books," Roy suggested, his eyebrows knitted together as he studied Ed.

[im-fullmetal.livejournal.com]

He shook his head. "No. I've done everything I can here, and I haven't gotten anywhere. Al's still in Amestris, and I'm just wasting time."

[light-a-spark.livejournal.com]

Roy's shoulders tensed. "There's got to be something else we haven't looked at." Not that he knew what, the books he'd read hadn't brought him anywhere either, but there were other sciences on the island.

[im-fullmetal.livejournal.com]

"Thanks, Mustang," he said, sounding sincere and actually a bit grateful for the continued belief. "But it won't help."

[light-a-spark.livejournal.com]

"And you think this world you're in might have the answers?" Roy asked, his question sounding a bit more defensive than he would have liked.

[im-fullmetal.livejournal.com]

Ed shrugged, his shoulders drooping for an instant. "Better than sitting around here going to 'school,'" he pointed out, sounding tired.

[light-a-spark.livejournal.com]

"But there are other sciences here, other theories," Roy pointed out. "They could be of help."

[im-fullmetal.livejournal.com]

"I've been here a year," Edward said. "You think I haven't looked at everything possible? Really?"

[light-a-spark.livejournal.com]

"Everything is a lot," Roy argued, trying not to examine the unease that came with Ed leaving.

[im-fullmetal.livejournal.com]

"It's the right thing to do," he said, absolutely convinced of it. "I want to go home. Maybe you can go home from here, and obviously Al can, but I can't. I know it."

[light-a-spark.livejournal.com]

He understood that, but it still didn't mean he liked it and he was fairly certain that he wouldn't be able to convince the military of letting him follow Ed further. "But at least you're in contact here."

[im-fullmetal.livejournal.com]

"I'm not staying in limbo the rest of my life," he snapped. "Even if I didn't leave now, I'd have to leave next year. What's the point of wasting one?"

[light-a-spark.livejournal.com]

It didn't have to be a waste, but he knew that look and Roy sat back in his chair. "Keep the books," he replied, his voice even again. "Do you have somewhere you can be reached?"

[im-fullmetal.livejournal.com]

Edward nodded. "I'll still be in contact," he said more quietly.

[light-a-spark.livejournal.com]

"Good, then I can let you know when I can prove you wrong and do find a solution," Roy said, sounding cocky.

[im-fullmetal.livejournal.com]

"Like you could find something I couldn't, Mustang," Ed retorted, sounding just as cocky.