ladywiltshire:

Hey you guys wanna see something sad? Watch FMAB Episode 54!!

Here, we see Greedling shook to his core over Edward extending an invitation to join up with him and his ragtag chimeras. Why?

Ed goes right for the fucking jugular, calling him out. He knows Greedling is just gonna go piss off somewhere and bide his sweet time until the Promised Day and could really use a team. He instantly knows what Greedling needs, not what he says he wants. Hell, there’s something they both want from this Father asshole opening the Gate: it only makes sense to join forces.

It stops Greedling in his tracks. We then realize that it is not the fact that Ed sees through Greed like he’s saran wrap which bothers him so deeply (”This dickbag obviously wants friends”). Greed’s immediate reaction to Ed’s proposal, and ultimate motivator in his decision to isolate himself, is based in fear.

Fear of loss.

What does the douchebag do? He deflects, obviously, laughing it off like a jackass (although it appears he is still somewhat pained) until he resorts to his number one coping mechanism:

His identity. “This is who I am.” Look at him! He’s got goals and everything! He’s reminding himself just as much as Edward that, um, he’s Greed the Avaricious, thank you very much. Working alone for Greed obviously has nothing to do with being afraid. No one is going to disrupt his narrative – not even his memories, and certainly not the crushing sense of loss deep within him. Not the emptiness, the loneliness, or the futility of his ambitions. Nothing.

We then realize Greed’s existence itself is cruel. Father brought into consciousness a being that would always, always be searching… for something he can never find. Every time Greed has been brave enough to reach out for something, it is taken from him. Every time Greed has something, he can only anticipate having more of it or feel the fear of potential loss. No matter how much Greed has, it will always feel like nothing.

And what is greed itself other than a sin of anticipation? I need more of this now, I need to keep it for the future, I need, I need, I need… there is no power or control, only desperation and the expectation of despair. He expects that if he teams up with Ed, Ragtag, and Bobtail, that he’ll lose them.

Greed has not known and will never know contentment or peace, even though he could if he were willing to admit that his motivations are much more simple than accumulation of worldly goods – if he could let go of his identity and allow his friends to connect with him. He turns down Ed because he doesn’t want yet another group of affiliates to fall victim to the homunculi… he’s afraid of the future and he’s sad about the past.

And Ed knows this.