The door is blocked! [Closed/slightly forward dated >.> ]

[elementofloyalty]

[The absence of one Edward Elric from Garden during this break period had not gone unnoticed.]

[Rainbow has very sensibly obeyed the once-every-three-days rule along with her teammates, and is grateful for it. But she's painfully aware that certain alchemists have not -- have been, in fact, throwing themselves out there no matter what condition they come back in.]

[So, for one of the few times in her life, Rainbow Dash has gotten up early -- and Ed's door, once opened, is still blocked by the hovering, frowning pegasus.]

And just where do you think you're going?

Comments

[elementofloyalty]

So you're a liar.

You don't care about fairness at all, and you don't care about what other people think or do. You don't even care about your precious 'equivalent exchange'.

All you care about is doing what Ed Elric wants, no matter who it hurts, but especially if it hurts you.

You talk big ideals, but you don't believe in anything. Except getting yourself beat up, like it'll somehow make everything better.

[rewritethis]

[He freezes mid-sulk. The fact that she isn't screaming at him somehow makes it sting worse.]

What're you saying? I said I wasn't gonna get beat up.

[elementofloyalty]

You're lying to my face, Ed. I've fought those monsters. I know you're good and I know exactly how powerful they are. If you get involved with them in any meaningful way, you will get hurt, because you would go throw yourself in front of another cadet to protect them before you ever let them get hurt in front of you.

[No. She's not yelling, screaming, or even raising her voice. She's just tiredly resigned, so tired she barely seems able to lift her head now.]

[rewritethis]

And what, you think I'd want to do that for me? You think I'm gonna find it fun, is that it? Or maybe I'm doing it to be the centre of attention, since I don't care about anything or anyone else. What else were you thinking, Dash?

[He's not raising his voice either. That way she can't hear it trembling.]

[elementofloyalty]

[She lifts her head, looks him in the eyes, and speaks from the heart.]

I think you want to get hurt, you don't care if you get hurt, because you think you deserve it. That you haven't been hurt enough yet for whatever happened with your brother.

[rewritethis]

[Down at his side, his right hand curls up again.]

Well, you're wrong. You've got it all wrong.

[elementofloyalty]

Then what's right, Ed? What should I believe from the guy who told me he thought he ought to be dead?

[rewritethis]

That's still true. I still don't know what happened back then.

But... he's not the reason I want to get hurt. I don't. Nobody does. Nobody wants to learn what fear really means for the first time in their life, look around them and realise they're on their own. I know what that's like.

[Compared to his usual motor mouth, he sounds suddenly halting.]

He's... I guess he's the reason I'm not about to let myself die.

[elementofloyalty]

Then act like it. Just saying it isn't enough. Act like it. Take care of yourself!

[She lifts off the ground to free her forehooves for a plaintive gesture.]

Because seeing a friend, or a family member, wreck themselves is a lot of fear, and sickness, and misery, and just plain awfulness! I can guess what your brother would say about your stunts if he was here, but he's not, so I'm the one telling you -- it's not cool, Ed.

It's just not cool.

[rewritethis]

[With a tired kind of finality:] No, he's not here. So what are you getting so worked up for? We both know I can cope.

[elementofloyalty]

Yeah, he's not here. That makes what he cares about more important.

And that's you.

[rewritethis]

[He eyes her critically.]

If I told you it still wasn't your problem, you'd just scream at me again, wouldn't you?

[elementofloyalty]

Well, yeah.

[She exhales, then looks back up at him.]

You're a really smart guy and there are some things you understand better than I ever will. But you don't understand friendship at all.

[rewritethis]

[...Okay, he really can't take her seriously when she gets all earnest like that. The fact that he mostly has been up until now might already be something of a giveaway.]

Of all the things you could single out, you honestly think that's an issue? It's not like I'm gonna be here forever.

[elementofloyalty]

...You really think that matters?

[You're proving her point, Ed!]

You're just gonna stop being friends with me and any other people here, just because you go home?

[rewritethis]

[He opens his mouth, shuts it again after a moment or two passes without him coming up with anything to say, and shoots a surly look off to the side of his feet instead.]

[elementofloyalty]

Maybe you'll understand it this way.

[She leans in to tap his leg gently.]

How many legs do you have?

[rewritethis]

Depends how we're counting. [He figures that probably isn't the reply she's angling for.]

[elementofloyalty]

You've got two of your own. And you've got four of mine.

[She rolls backwards to a more vertical position to put all four legs on display.]

And anyone else whose legs you can count on to bear your weight. And anyone THEY know who'd stick up for a friend of a friend because a friend asked.

You coulda stayed at one leg, but you fought hard to have two again.

[She somersaults backwards, rolling around to face him again, and when she does all playfulness is out of her tone.]

You don't have to go it alone. The things that are important to you you don't have to do by yourself. You've got more legs than just the two stuck on you to prop up the weight you're carrying!

[rewritethis]

Two's enough.

[For some reason, a snippet of a conversation he had some time ago with the version of Mustang who was here floats to the surface of his consciousness.]

I'm not that cruel.

[elementofloyalty]

Cruel?

You're an idiot.

[She says that incredulously, in total exasperation, and with just a hint of fondness.]

What's cruel is shoving away the people that want to be your friends and help you.

[rewritethis]

[He sticks his hands in his pockets.] Sorry if you get that impression.

[elementofloyalty]

Look. Ed. I'm not good at big philosophical speeches or stuff... you know that. I can't come up with some big grand monologue like you did. So I can't really be... convincing. Like that.

But you got through to me a little, so now I'm asking you to just -- trust me. Trust me when I say that everything I'm saying is really, really, really important. Listen to me.

You can't go through life on your own. You don't have to. THIS is what I was talking about, when I was saying equivalent exchange was dumb in some ways, because friendship -- you get back more than you give, Ed. Both the people do. It's not a trade, it's like two legs working together. With one leg you can just hop, but with two you can stand up.

[rewritethis]

[He is stolidly looking everywhere except at her.]

You don't, if you head out today instead of me.

[elementofloyalty]

Oh don't be so literal!

It works like THIS: I take a turn, you heal. You take a turn, I heal. That means we both work a LOT better over the rest of this break than you, alone, going out day after day and never resting.

[She... really seems committed to doing this. He really did get through to her. She's not even asking him to stop going out there, just to let her take a turn so they can both do more.]