It's been near 8 years since I did an Anime fanfiction, huh? Since before I went on hiatus after my Naruto "phase" and returned in 2012, in my Marvel obsession.

Long story short, after years, and years, and years, I finally watched Fullmetal Alchemist : Brotherhood. How did I put off watching that show for so long, it is wonderful! Dark and quick paced, just the sort of story I like.

This drabble here was something that came to me today; the idea / headcanon that Roy Mustang wouldn't like to talk to any potential children of his on phone due to the fear of a repeat of what happened with Hughes.

- Margot

Four Minutes

"Remember..." His voice trailed off at the natural end of the sentence. The fingers of his left hand tapped the telephone's handle in a consistent rhythm, a subtle nervous tick that he had developed over the past few years. Heaven above- the worry that gripped his chest and made his every pulse ache was unwelcome, but unfortunately familiar. Mustang's ears were filled with the ambiance from two locations and the slight warping of natural noise from the telephone wires. Where he was surrounded by his office and workplace activity so familiar he no longer needed to pay conscious attention, the sound of a train station and mass of people filled his left ear- along with a young voice, a laughing voice, a voice that felt no fear at the way it was distorted by the phone, by the distance.

"Don't call you when I get to Eastern Station-" The tone was half entertained, half mocking. "-wait until mom and I are home. I know. You say that every time."

"Good." The boy sounded so casual. Because that's what it was; a damn simple conversation had at 4:54 in the afternoon on a summer's day. All around him, the faces of work came and went- and on his own countenance was the work face of a man who belonged at his position, who partook in a simple conversation; no work, no political agenda, just a familial phone call. Yet, despite the amount of time that had passed, Roy had yet to make a call that didn't end with the harrowing fear seeping into his muscles, his veins. Thankfully, the way he clenched his gloved right hand wouldn't be visible to anyone on the other side of his desk, his office.

With a deep and measured breath to slow his heart, Roy glanced at the clock on the office wall. 4:58; that's all that had passed since he had picked up the phone, and heard the boy's voice on the other end. Four minutes was how long the conversation had been- and every passing second had Roy wanting to hang up, to have the conversation naturally end... to hear a cheerful goodbye- a healthy sound- followed the phone being hung up- willingly, without sudden pause, an unfinished sentence, or gunfire...
At the same time, he wished the phone could go with the boy, so their conversation would continue through the Amestris countryside until the sounds of the railroad station gave way to a lobby, where a familiar female voice and the sharp barking of a dog would break through the white noise and immediately quell his trauma-fueled fears.

It would take time for the clenched fists and painful pulsing of his heart and every major vein to fade- he knew that. That didn't make times any easier.

"Have a good time in Eastern, and say hello to Hayate and your mother for me."

'Just. Stay safe.'