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Title: Burnout
Word Count: 250
Rating: PG? (I used a swear!)
Characters: Roy, Ed
Series: doesn't much matter
Summary: Ed is larger than life, and Roy worries.
A/N: Written for the
fma_fic_contest, for the prompt 'candle'. I really love writing shortfic like this. Oh, and it tied for first place! That's kinda cool, too. :)

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He shouldn't worry. He knew that. He had other obligations, and it wasn't like his concern was wanted.
But Roy couldn't stop himself.
There were too many holes in the reports he received, too many injuries glossed over. Requests for explanations were met with curses, or a door slamming heavily against the jamb. Attempts to assist were greeted with suspicion, sometimes outright hostility, and he ground his teeth, wondering when the boy would ever trust him.
He'd seen enough to recognize the path that Fullmetal was walking. No, not walking- running, sprinting headlong into more danger than he knew, and if Edward would only stop and look, then maybe he'd see what lay all around him, closing in...
So he demanded accountability. Ed snarled and snapped at him like a tethered dog. He threatened to limit his funding, and Ed nearly leaped over the desk for his throat. He flat-out ordered Ed to fall into line, to restrain himself, to goddamn stop and think sometimes.
It made no difference whatsoever.
There was an old saying he'd heard while growing up. It came to mind whenever Ed stormed through his office, larger than life, loud enough to make his temples throb and so vibrant his heart ached with helpless fear. It sang in his mind, when he thought about where all of this boundless energy was leading, when he thought about things like fate and destiny.
The candle that burns twice as bright, burns half as long.
And Edward Elric blazed.
Word Count: 250
Rating: PG? (I used a swear!)
Characters: Roy, Ed
Series: doesn't much matter
Summary: Ed is larger than life, and Roy worries.
A/N: Written for the
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He shouldn't worry. He knew that. He had other obligations, and it wasn't like his concern was wanted.
But Roy couldn't stop himself.
There were too many holes in the reports he received, too many injuries glossed over. Requests for explanations were met with curses, or a door slamming heavily against the jamb. Attempts to assist were greeted with suspicion, sometimes outright hostility, and he ground his teeth, wondering when the boy would ever trust him.
He'd seen enough to recognize the path that Fullmetal was walking. No, not walking- running, sprinting headlong into more danger than he knew, and if Edward would only stop and look, then maybe he'd see what lay all around him, closing in...
So he demanded accountability. Ed snarled and snapped at him like a tethered dog. He threatened to limit his funding, and Ed nearly leaped over the desk for his throat. He flat-out ordered Ed to fall into line, to restrain himself, to goddamn stop and think sometimes.
It made no difference whatsoever.
There was an old saying he'd heard while growing up. It came to mind whenever Ed stormed through his office, larger than life, loud enough to make his temples throb and so vibrant his heart ached with helpless fear. It sang in his mind, when he thought about where all of this boundless energy was leading, when he thought about things like fate and destiny.
The candle that burns twice as bright, burns half as long.
And Edward Elric blazed.
no subject
Date: 2009-09-29 03:34 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-09-29 03:48 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-09-29 10:31 pm (UTC)And to be honest, I didn't have any continuation in mind. This was something I pulled together fairly quickly once the inspiration struck, and I never really thought about how it might progress. But Ed is pretty much the epitome of 'live fast, die hard', isn't he? I might write more in this vein at some point, but at the moment all my energies are devoted to other projects. Sorry. :(
I'm really happy that you enjoyed this though! It was a lot of fun to write. Thanks so much for reading!
no subject
Date: 2009-09-29 05:01 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-09-29 10:32 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-09-29 06:21 am (UTC)B xxxx
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Date: 2009-09-29 10:41 pm (UTC)You should really come play in that comm. It's wonderful exercise (at least, in the smaller wordcounts) for learning to economize your words, and harness them to maximum effectiveness. I used to play in the
But thank you, so, so much. Your appreciation means loads to me, coming from someone as talented as yourself. :) *hugs hard*
no subject
Date: 2009-09-30 01:00 am (UTC)Very nice.
I loved it. :)
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Date: 2009-10-07 01:17 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-09-30 03:14 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-07 01:20 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-09-30 05:23 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-07 01:20 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-09-30 05:36 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-07 01:24 pm (UTC)I'm glad you liked the piece. Thanks so much, and sorry for taking so long to reply.
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Date: 2009-09-30 10:11 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-07 01:25 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-01 02:39 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-07 01:26 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-01 05:12 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-07 01:27 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-01 02:26 pm (UTC)Sorry if this review sucks. I'm tired and a bit out of it, but I really hope my point gets across. :)
In other words great story as usual (love your work!). Keep writing and I'll keep reading!
-Elle B.
no subject
Date: 2010-01-07 02:14 pm (UTC)But thank you, very much! Ed has always seemed, in my mind, to be one of those people you see just rocketing toward an uncertain end. The kind who live so hard and full, and how can they ever maintain that intensity? I'm so glad that the words carried over that feeling successfully.
Thank you so much for reading. And I apologize for my reply-fail! >.