Alphonse Elric is (not_fullmetal) wrote in elsewhere_rpg, @ 2017-12-04 21:04:00 |
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Entry tags: | fullmetal alchemist: alphonse elric |
Who: Edward & Alphonse Elric
What: Ed catches Al doing something he shouldn’t.
When: December 2nd, Evening
Where: The Elric/Spartan House
Rating: PG-13
Status: Log - Complete
Alphonse had agreed to work at the hospital with York, who had been excited to accept him. The younger Elric had learned how to suture wounds and do minimal triage, as well as take information, set some broken bones, and he’d even been allowed to help with an ill child, whom he’d entertained and spoken with while York gave her the aide she’d needed. He’d done these things to help the Spartan and also to give him back to Ed, who seemed to be incapable of smiling without York around. When had his brother become so dependent upon the taller blonde? When had he ceased to be able to function without him? Well, none of it mattered. Tonight, York was at the hospital (with Levi, who had joined him), Kirito was.. Well.. who knew where he was. He did as he pleased. Ed was lying uselessly in York and North’s room, and that had left Alphonse to his own devices. So he’d gone to his room and settled down with his Alchemy notes and had begun to practice. Every now and then, the sound of his clapping could be heard. As Ed made his way down the hall to his brother’s room, he’d hear another clap. Then silence. And just as he reached for the door knob, he’d hear yet another clap, and when the door opened, he’d find his young brother there, sitting cross-legged on his bed, notes spread around him, his notebook in his lap. But that wasn’t the odd thing. The odd part was, his brother was cupping his hands. And in them? Blue fire. --- Ed didn’t remember when he’d become so dependant on York, he wished he did. It wasn’t a fun feeling. York had always been there and now that he wasn’t as much Ed was finding it hard. And boring. In the past he might have gotten angry, but with North not around he didn’t have the energy to. He just kept all that stuff inside and it probably ended up contributing to his current state, but even he reached limits of boredom and isolation. Raising an eyebrow as he entered that room and saw that flame he looked at Al’s hands. Was he wearing ignition glove or something? “What the hell is that?” Not so much harsh as it was confused. Maybe a little harsh, but Ed wasn’t exactly feeling cheerful these days. It was like he was in a perpetual slump, he was trying to find alchemy projects that kept his attention but none had, he was trying to keep York from losing his sanity but seemed like he was barely making ground there too. He began to wonder if the two were linked. Ed always had ideas, being out of them was new and unwelcome. Alchemy had always been like breathing, but there was nothing new that had really caught his interest. Maybe that supercharger thing Marco talked about but they hadn’t really started just yet. Ed didn’t even know where to start with it. So there he was, stuck in multiple ways and unaware how to escape. --- Al looked up as the door suddenly opened and he was caught, er.. Blue handed. The young Colonel curled his fingers around the flame and extinguished it. No gloves. No lighter. It was just Alphonse and his alchemy. His cheeks flushed slightly. “Brother.” The word was almost chirped out. “I thought you were sleeping.” A hand came down to close his book carefully, concealing the Alchemy inside. “Have you eaten yet? We could go somewhere for dinner, York left me some money.” Anything to get his brother out of the house. --- Ed stared for a moment and took a step forward to take one of Al’s wrists and look at the hand that produced the blue flame. “That wasn’t just manipulated flame.” He stated as he released his hand after a moment of thought and another glance downward at him. He was somewhere between unimpressed and interested. At this point he couldn’t tell which one was which. “How did you do that?” What was that, actual interest from the elder of them directed at something that wasn’t York? Yeah, it could happen. It just hadn’t recently. Earth and metal were all well and good, but sometimes he just got bored. He was fixated on that hand rather than the other questions that Al had asked. They currently went ignored. --- Was Ed angry? Was that what that was? No.. well, maybe a bit. There was curiosity there, too. And that was what made Al eventually let out a little breath and look down at his hand, then back up at his surrogate brother. “I’ve been trying to figure it out for a few years now.. I finally did it two months ago.” And that blue flame was the result. Blue, because it was sulfur, sulfur from the body, from his skin, his muscles, his tendons. He was burning his own sulfur, literally burning the makeup of his own body to create the flame. He couldn’t control it, he never tried, it was enough just to create it. For Roy. --- Ed had no idea where the hell this had come from. It felt like left field to him. “Did he ask you to do this? That asshole?” He doubted it. But apparently Al’s version of Roy was different than his, still if Al kept using that flame who the hell knew what would happen. Ed had noted it’s color and lack of gloves. If he kept using that flame eventually it could probably harm him. Creating something out of a limited resource wasn’t good. Especially when that resource was coming from inside. He released Al’s hand at this point to put his own back in his pockets. If he was angry at anyone is was the idea of Roy asking Al to do something like that. Somehow he doubted it, but whatever. No, anger wasn’t the only thing there. He was just out of practice at being social lately and it probably showed there. --- “No, of course not-- he never would. He..” But Alphonse trailed off. They didn’t need to talk about that. “He’s a good man. He’s my best friend. I wanted to help him.” And this was the best way he knew how. He could supply the fire for Roy’s flame in case of emergency. That was something Roy desperately needed, he had no real backup plan if it was raining, or if his gloves were gone and no flame was available. Since Al was always at his side in battle, he was the backup. Al could be his flame. Roy hadn’t liked it. Not. One. Bit. “..It’s pretty neat, right, Brother?” Admire it for what it was, Ed! --- He’s my best friend Really?....Oh Al, you needed better friends. “I can’t imagine he’s anything like mine then.” He responded a little coldly, Ed would probably never have any kind of real relationship with Roy. The closest he’d gotten was recently at the hospital, and even then eh was pretty sure it was obligation. Roy hadn’t even called him an idiot. “You know that’s fucking dangerous right? I saw that color.” Yeah Al, your brother was still smart. He knew what that blue meant. “You know you can’t use it often.” He didn’t want to lose his brother thanks to Roy Mustang. “...” He paused at that comment though and gave him an exasperated look. “...It’s not bad.” --- “No, he’s not. He’s better.” Far better. He was incredible. More than incredible. Roy was.. Well. He was Roy. Not Mustang. Though, as his brother mentioned the color of the flame, Al could only nod. “It’s for emergencies. If Roy can’t produce for some reason, I can. I used to carry ignition gloves with me just in case, but this is far better. He doesn’t really need the gloves anymore if he doesn’t want-- he can use this.” Al’s fire. Al’s body. If that wasn’t dedication and love, nothing was. “But he won’t. It’s for emergencies only.” But then Ed praised him (sort of) and it caused a pleased smile. He didn’t say a thing though, he didn’t need to. --- “Don’t waste it.” Ed advised as he went and sat at the edge of the near by bed instead of standing there forever. There were times lately he just felt physically heavy. Maybe it was the new amount of steel he had on him, it was heavier than he was used to and he hadn’t been all that active lately to help it along. He gave a faint smile as he watched the blonde for a moment from his spot. “...Thank you. For sending York home.” He knew he’d sort of shut down again lately, but he didn’t know how to get out of it. --- Al’s face softened. “You’re welcome, Brother. I know how much you love him.” And the Colonel had wanted to give his brother something he loved. York was all Ed wanted, so Al had given him that. He could remember a time when he was all his brother had wanted-- but he had to remind himself again (it didn’t happen often, but sometimes...) that this wasn’t his brother. “He’s a good man. I like him a lot. He’s good for you.” And that was all that mattered to Al, nothing else. --- Even if it had only been a short time he got to see York conscious it’d helped. York actually getting some real sleep helped him feel less awful. Part of him sort of wished his Al had gotten to see York. He wondered what he’d have thought of the person Ed chose. They’d both been so young together that neither had even thought this type of thing would be a possibility for them considering how awful their lives were going without adding the element of love to them. “He is.” Ed had convinced himself he’d get to keep him. This was part of some kind of test he was possibly on the verge of failing since it hurt so damn much sometimes watching him leave. “..I ate a little with York. But not much if you wanted to go somewhere..Sorry..I’ve been sort of a recluse apparently.” Marco thought so too. Maybe getting out for something that wasn’t just a trip to the hospital would be good. “Wherever you want to go.” He was trying not to be a depressed asshole. --- “Just somewhere not here.” He wanted to get Ed out of the house. Could anyone blame him? Pushing up to his feet, he’d brush a hand back through his hair and shrug on his coat, then step forward and clasp his hand on his brother’s shoulder, giving a squeeze. “I’m so glad you found him. I love seeing you happy.. But it hurts to see you looking like you just lost your best friend everytime York walks away.” It was a double edged sword. He wanted the good things for Ed, but not the bad ones that seemed to come along with them. “We can just head down to the restaurant at the end of the block, they have some wonderful pasta.” And that sounded delicious right now. --- The blonde nodded to that. He was already wearing a rusty red jacket that he’d fallen asleep in actually. Oops. It was a bit like his original red one, the closest thing he could find Beyond the Gate that was similar. That red jacket had been his safety blanket and without it in a strange world he just felt well, strange. “I didn’t realize it would hurt that much either. I guess I haven’t really gotten used to this yet.” He hadn’t said so to York, and wouldn’t. But it was hard watching him go these days. It was hard sleeping in his bed without him. Things were just..hard. “There’s stew leftover for tomorrow if you want it..” Ed rubbed at his temple slightly and gave Al a deadpanned look. “I think I’ve become his wife.” He stood and joined his brother with a bit of a nod. “I can eat pasta.” --- “Oh, thank you, but no. I saw it-- I don’t eat meat.” And the stew had meat in it. Imagine that, Ed. Al had become a vegetarian (before there was actually a word for it, in fact) and no longer ate any meat. It was certainly something Ed could join in on. York might not understand, but he’d surely back it, for his boyfriend. “Are you a happy wife?” Al asked as he turned to lead them out of the room. He knew Ed wasn’t happy without York.. but overall, was he happy that he was the large Spartan’s wife? Al hoped so. He looked happy. Ed deserved it. --- “Since when?” Al didn’t eat it either? Well it probably made sense considering all the random animals he wanted to adopt. “...I’ve been struggling to eat it lately after that Titan it’s hard to eat.” He’d seen arm bits in that things mouth, arms and legs and everything inbetween eaten as easily as chicken. Meat had lost it’s current appeal. “The texture freaks me out, but York likes it.” He liked cooking things for him. It was strange. Even if he didn’t want to necessarily eat the same thing, he didn’t mind at all making him something with the meat he wanted. Glancing over at Al as they left the house finally he nodded. “Over all, yeah. I am.” So of course there was pain along with it. That was just how happiness for Elrics worked out, Ed had accepted this. --- “Since a little over a year ago. It really pissed Roy off.” He smirked some and shrugged up his shoulders, stepping out into the street. “If you don’t want to eat it, don’t. You don’t have to. There are plenty of other things you can eat in place of it. Riza’s been really good about making me meals with no meat and I’ve learned a few tricks, too.” Riza, of course, had been supportive. She always was, mostly silently. He loved her dearly. But as Ed said he was a happy wife, it made the younger man smile wider. “Good. You deserve to be happy with him. You both deserve happiness.” And they looked happy together. Whatever had happened, it was worth it, surely. --- “Good. Asshole.” Ed commented purely out of reflex when it came to Roy. It was just habit really. Al’s Roy or his Roy. “I’ve only been eating it because York asked. I think he was worried so I did, but I’m not there yet. I want to be..I like the taste.” Ed did like the flavor, but he couldn’t get past that Titan. “I’ve mostly been eating the other stuff not meat. Just picking around it.” He admitted with a small shrug of his shoulders. “..Show me? I wasn’t able to eat anything for a while, but I’m okay with things now. I just only remember my mom’s old recipes. They all included it since we lived on a farm.” Ed had always loved it too. Maybe one day he’d rediscover a love for it, but right now that option was out. A ghost of a smile touched his lips at that. “It’s kind of overwhelming.” He didn’t realize how deep love ran. How hard emotions hit when love was involved. It was silly and ridiculous that he couldn’t figure out what to do with himself when depression struck, but he’d never experienced anything like this. -- “Don't push yourself. If you aren't ready, don't do it just to make him happy.” That went for all things. For food, for love, for commitment. If York loved him, he would wait. He wouldn't push. He wouldn't force Ed into anything. And Alphonse really hoped that always remained true, because he was relatively certain he would die if he went toe to toe with the Spartan. He would be crushed into dust and blown away by the wind. So York had better be a good guy and never hurt his brother. “You both will be happy, I'm sure of it. You're good for one another.” A pause followed, then: “And I’m very happy for you. He isn’t what I expected you’d fall for, he’s not what I hoped you’d set your heart on..” Another pause as he considered his next words, then he smiled slowly. “He’s better. I’ve never seen you smile like that before. It’s like he.. Makes you glow, Brother.” Sappy, romantic boy. --- Ed didn’t think York would pressure him into anything, he just needed to actually have time to tell him meat probably wasn’t on his own menu for a while. He didn’t mind cooking it if there was something he thought York would like of course, but for himself he’d probably just end up making something with more veggies. “I know..I just thought by now I’d be able, so I kept trying. He makes me want to try things I might have refused before.” York would probably support anything he did so long as it wasn’t harmful in some way. Ed just found it a little embarrassing. God when had his brother turned into such a sap? “Glow huh?” He gave him an exasperated look and laughed a little. “I guess he has a certain charm. Just don’t tell him I said it, he’s already too damn perfect for his own good. It’s almost annoying really.” Of course it was an endearing sort of annoyance even then the way Ed said it. Ed had spent so long thinking his life didn’t matter, but York made him change that outlook. Made him think just maybe it did after all. “I just wish..” He’d started to say something, but decided not to finish it. It was a more depressing thought so he waved his hand of it. “Nevermind. “ -- Al had always been a romantic, he had turned into a sap when he had fallen in love with the woman of his dreams. She was back home waiting for him now. He wrote her letters nearly daily, so when he got home he could give them to her. So she would know how much he missed her and thought of her. Sometimes, Roy was sure that Al was a female masquerading as a man. Sappy romantic boy. “You wish what? It's just us, Brother. I won't tell anyone.” Ed could speak freely here between them. --- Ed probably would have thought Roy might be onto something if he knew about the letters. Al would receive the teasing of his life. Ed wasn’t so great at writing, he could draw for alchemy but anything else was basically out of the question. There were a lot of things he wished for in that moment, he found himself doing that a lot recently considering York’s recent business at the hospital. “My Al could have met him too. I guess... It’s stupid I know there's no sense in wishing.” He knew that this version of Al accepted York, but would his have? --- The younger Elric’s face softened as his brother said that. “It's not stupid. I wish my brother could meet Mei Chang. I wish you could meet her, too. I wish we could go home to the same world. I missed you, you know. It was a terrible feeling. I already lost one brother, and losing you? It was almost as bad. But at least I knew you were still alive. I knew you were here and that one day I might see you again.” He had accepted he wouldn't see his Ed again until he died. No more attempts to go through the gate. He had a life now. He wouldn't abandon it, or the people in it. “You should explore the portals.. take York with you. Maybe one will take you home again. You can show him where you grew up. He might not be able to meet your Al but.. I know he would have approved. He makes you happy, that's all that matters.” --- Those two weeks Al had been gone hadn’t exactly been a party for Ed either. The only thing that’d kept him together was York. Roy had come to see him, but only to deliver the blow. It’d felt like he’d lost him a second time too, but he didn’t really want to say the words. Instead he just listened and gave a small frown at that. “Do it again and I’ll follow you just to kick your ass.” Chances were even if he’d gone home he wouldn’t be able to have York meet his brother. His brother was likely dead and with no grave to visit. It would be pointless, he had even less of relationship with Roy and Riza of that world than he even did in this one. The only one who might care would probably also throw a wrench at his face. He didn’t really want to face that hot mess. Winry wasn’t bound to be impressed that Ed had fallen in love with someone else. He shook his head a bit. “I can’t...if I take York I don’t think there’s another medic around to replace him. Then everyone’s out of luck because I wanted something ridiculous again.” It wasn’t very like him to think ahead, it weighed on him. “Besides York has the hospital here.” And North, whom Ed was partially convinced York couldn’t function without. Ed wouldn’t be the asshole to take him away from that again. “It’s fine.” Waved off again as he stuck his hand back in his pocket and glanced over the sparse land to the side of them. “I hope so.” Ed was still unsure what Al might think of his new life. Or him, after everything that’d happened with the homunculus. --- Could York function without North? Well, of course he could. He’d functioned for eighteen years without him, and after they’d met, they’d been separated all the time on missions, they rarely got paired up unless it was on a large one. Generally, Freelancer worked in small groups to promote competition instead of large ones that would generate relationships and teamwork. They pit the Spartans against one another. The third time North and York had met up with one another, North had beat the ever-loving shit out of the already-badly-beaten golden soldier and had dropped him unconscious to the ground. Freelancer bred animosity, not friendship. But somehow, those two had made it. Those two had messed up the curve and had dragged Wash into their little band of misfits. The friendly Freelancers-- with York as the friendliest of all. What had Ed gotten himself into? “It isn’t ridiculous to want to spend time alone with the one you love, and to show them your life. It’s normal. And I’m sure he’d appreciate it.” But even as he said it, he paused and his face brightened a little. “Oh! I brought you something-- I kept forgetting to give it to you.” He reached back to fish out his wallet and flipped it open, tugging out a photograph and offering it over between two fingers. “It isn’t much, and it’s not your family-- not really, but.. Here.” Between his fingers was trapped a photograph of a young Ed, Al, and their mother, all tucked up together and smiling. Their father wasn’t in it-- he had been the one to take the photo, before he’d gone. They all looked so happy. There were lots more photos tucked away in his wallet, which he’d show off if Ed gave any indication he wanted to see them.. But he felt a little silly. It wasn’t Ed’s family in his wallet. --- Ed was pretty convinced he didn’t get to do that. The thought made him a little unhappy. Why did he always have to think of the group? He gave a frustrated sigh as he shook his head slightly as if to rid of the thought. The blonde didn’t have time to lament over it though as Al was fishing for something or another and Ed watched him with a raised eyebrow. He’d been that prepared going through the portal? That sure he was going to come back? Hm. Maybe there was a chance for him and York.. Then Al was showing him a photograph and he hesitated, for a moment just looking at it like he’d never seen the group together like that before. It’d been so long since he’d seen their mother, he’d nearly forgotten what she looked like-but that picture seemed to spark his memory a bit. He touched it with a flesh hand cautiously as though he might break the happy memory. “Is that her?” Fixated on the woman of course. He still struggled to remember her at times. They’d lost her when they were so young, and now it was long ago. --- Ed looked so.. Lost in that moment. It made Al smile a bit sadly for it. The poor man. But Alphonse understood. He missed their mother when he was away for long times, too. He couldn’t imagine losing her altogether. Not her and Ed. It would break him. The loss of his brother had nearly broken him, but somehow he’d managed to keep it together. He’d have given both legs and arms to get him back-- his own soul. Anything. But the Gate had only laughed at him. “That’s her. It was taken before she got sick. She was always so proud of you. Her little genius.” And Al had been her baby. They had both been so loved. And their mother continued to love them both. When Ed had died.. Well. She’d never quite gotten over that. How do you get over a thing like that? She surely never would. “She loved you so much, Brother.” --- For a long time Ed just looked on at it. She looked the same as his, he was sure of it. It might not have been his mother, but the memory had replaced itself and Ed at that point had stopped walking. He really didn’t want to go into the restaurant looking like he might start crying while all kinds of people bothered him with various things. “I’d forgotten what she looked like.” He held himself together, but his voice was a little quieter. “York was asking, but I couldn’t really tell him anything. I didn’t remember much.” It’d all been traumatizing after she’d deteriorated no matter what he had done to try to help her. “...She’s still alive?” Part of him was torn, he wanted to see her but could he keep functioning if he did? His real mother was gone. The thing he’d restored in her place hadn’t been what he thought. -- “Yes, she’s still alive.” He rummaged through the wallet again and produced another image, passing it over. This one was of Al in his uniform, his Colonel’s stars on his shoulders and looking rather impressive. Trisha was with him, holding onto his arm and smiling. She looked so very proud. In her free hand, she held a framed photograph of Edward, a black ribbon in the corner, in his red coat-- he looked embarrassed, but was smiling at least. When they did portraits together, she always had a photo of Ed with her, so he was in the portrait with them. A photo of him sat at the dining table, so when they ate, they ate together. It was standard, really, to do such things and to never forget a loved one. “That one was taken two months ago.” When he’d gotten his promotion. --- Ed didn’t really know what to make of her holding that photo. He was kind of glad not to be forgotten, but on the other side of things he really wouldn’t have wanted that for his own mom. “That must be kind of embarrassing.” The photograph thing. If Roy hadn’t teased him, he was pretty sure someone did. “You’re sure I can take this?” The other photo he meant of course. The one he’d been given. Ed was slightly exasperated still at those stars Al wore, but he had to try to remember this wasn’t the brother he’d sacrificed everything for. This Al had lived a different life. He often found himself wondering if his mom would have been as proud of him, heh but how could she. Ed had done terrible things to try to bring her back to them, including losing his own Al. His hand lowered from the photo. “Does..she still live in that farm village? Resembool?” -- No, this wasn’t the brother he’d sacrificed everything for. The two of them, together, had joined the military. It had been a joint choice. Sure, it had been Ed’s idea (as it had been Ed’s idea in his world, to bring back their mom), but Alphonse had agreed whole-heartedly (just as he had in Ed’s world) and the pair had joined up together. Ed hadn’t tried to protect Al from the military. He couldn’t. They’d needed the money too badly. So this Alphonse was a little uneasy with the way Ed hated what he’d become-- it had been Ed’s idea for him to become this. So those hateful stares at his shoulders? It twisted his stomach a bit. Ed had wanted this. Why was this version so angry at him for it? Sure, they had plans to leave when their time was up, to go back home... but now? Now the military was his home. “Of course, Brother.” Alphonse would have given Ed his beating heart if he thought it would help. He’d give Ed everything. Always. He loved nothing in this world so much as he loved the man in front of him. It was a dangerous, blind sort of love. “Take it.” He insisted, pressing the second photo towards him. “It’s yours.” They both were. To remember their mother. “And here--” He took just a second to fish around in his wallet again and produced a small piece of paper, folded neatly and a little worn. He held it out to Ed. “And this.” It was a note. Their mother’s handwriting. It still smelled like her. ‘Alphonse’ was written neatly on the outside. Ed could benefit from it more than Al could. “She does live there. She makes monthly trips out to see me in Central, and I go to see her every four months.” They got leave every other month, he went to see his mother, and Mei Chang, switching back and forth between the two. “She’s quite happy. She’s found another husband-- a good man, by the name of Merrick. He takes very good care of her and makes her happy.” --- Uh yeah, no Al. Hearts remain inside one’s body. Harry had told him this even though the wizard didn’t need to. Blood and organs needed to be inside to continue functioning, so he wasn’t going to ask Al for that any time soon. He was only going to run his thumb unconsciously over the photo he’d been given initially and slip it into his pocket. He didn’t really hold onto a wallet, it wasn’t like he owned anything. It figured, he had people who loved him enough to give him the world, but Ed never actually asked for anything. If you gave him books, they would be used but otherwise he just didn’t ask. He didn’t need things, he needed people more than he realized. Ones who didn’t falter at his touch. At the thing with Al’s name on it he looked up at him. “I can’t take that.” Whatever it was, it’d been meant for Al to have. But the photos, he would take those. Maybe even one day be able to look at that uniform without such a hardness to his eyes. He didn’t reject it, he placed it in the same pocket with the photo of their mother. He’d find a better place for them when they got home though. She still lived there. That part almost had him smiling, but the part about a new husband brought on another sort of apprehensive look. He didn’t know how he felt about that, their mom remarrying. Even when their dad had been a piece of shit.. “..Anyway, I’m glad she’s there. “ -- “At least read it. If you choose to keep it, it’s yours. If not, I’ll take it back. But please.” Alphonse wanted him to read it. It wasn’t long, just a note to tell him that she wanted him to be safe going home and that she loved him, and to always remember that she was there with him in his heart and that his brother was watching over him. That they both were. That he had all her love. It smelled like her, with the tinge of leather from his wallet, but still like her. “We should eat.” His hand came out to set upon Ed’s shoulder and squeeze slightly. “Come on.” --- It took him a moment or two to accept that letter but he nodded. He wouldn’t keep it though likely. “When I lost mom, I lost everything of hers too.” There were many days he regretted burning it all, but that was neither here nor there. He’d burnt their house down, now he’d have to live with that decision forever. The only thing worth going back to in Resembool was Pinako and Winry, but that town held nothing else for him. It wasn’t home anymore without his mother in it. “...This...it means a lot.” He wasn’t good at emotional things, at least not in public places. But then again, even less so by himself. They were hard memories, but they were his. “Yeah.” He let Al take the lead toward that place he'd wanted and Ed followed for a bit of time in silence. |