Title: All the Proud Men Turned to Dust
Rated: PG
Characters: Ed and Roy
Comments: For theladyfeylene with the prompt:

“All the iron turned to rust;
All the proud men turned to dust.”

—

Mustang bent over, reaching out to trail his fingers through the dirt. The earth slid up into the thin crescents of his nails, fitting into the grooves alongside dried and flaking blood.

“It’s finally mine,” he said, fist closing around a handful of dirt before tossing it into the wind.

Sitting on a small rock several feet away, Ed gave the former Colonel a disgusted look. “What’s yours, you idiot? There’s nothing left.” Those last few words faded into a hoarse cry. He covered his face with his hands, smearing blood from a cut across his cheek.

“I wasn’t expecting anything less,” Roy said, voice steady even as his eyes, dark and haunted, scanned the remains of Central. His gaze passed quickly over the splashes of blue uniform spread over patches of black earth. “A country has to fall before a new one can take its place. Equivalent exchange, Edward. You know that better than anyone.”

Even though Ed’s limbs felt like lead, weighted down by fatigue and shock, he somehow managed the strength to jump to his feet and grab Mustang by the rags of his shirt. His fists shook as his eyes flashed in fury.

“That’s bullshit! This didn’t have to happen. Why didn’t you tell me–”

“I didn’t have to tell you, Full Metal,” Mustang said, easily pushing Edward off of him. “You already knew.”

“No,” Ed whispered, crumbling to his knees, forehead pressed into the cool dirt. “Al…” His thin shoulders shuddered.

Mustang turned and walked away, unable to stand the sight of Edward broken. Full Metal would compose himself eventually.

He lifted his chin and muttered, “Hail Furher Mustang.”

The End.