Burnout

[pandora_culpa]

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.