AN: I am really excited to write this story :) Enjoy!
Chapter one
Alphonse Elric was gently awoken by the rays of sunshine that warmed his skin. It was funny, really, how something as insignificant as that could make him happy in the morning. Getting his body back came with a price. A price that he would have to live with, from now on. Even with the lingering ache in his back and the dull throbbing in his head, he stretched, untangled himself from his heap of blankets, and sat on the edge of his bed. When his feet came in contact with the floor, he cringed.
He had noticed lately, that he seemed to be sensitive to the smallest of touches. Whether it would be the brushing of his hand onto a wall, or a playful punch from his brother, the sudden contact with his skin felt… Out of place. He had been a suit of armor for four years, though. His old metal shell prohibited him feeling any profound feeling of touch. He could tell if someone else if they were to touch him, but the warmth that accompanied the gestures went unnoticed. You could compare it to holding someone's hand with a leather glove on, really.
Never the less, Al was ecstatic having his original body back. It had been what, less than a month now? He smiled sadly. The list in his blue leather bound journal would have to wait for now. He had to wait until he was healthier to even get to "Eating Winry's apple pie." Al frowned at the thought. Would he ever truly be healthy again? The toll that the Truth mentioned was starting to make him doubt his wellness.
All his family knew was that the doctor's orders were that he had to rest plenty and eat only broth. Not that he was complaining, though; he had taken a liking to Pinako's "Stew without the good stuff," as Ed put it.
Al rubbed the sleep out of his eyes and grabbed his "Stick." (He didn't like the term "Cane," he argues, it makes him sound like an old man.) Leaning against his stick, he plodded downstairs. His gentle morning was put to a halt with his older brother's loud teasing from the living room.
"Hey, Sleeping Beauty, it's about time you woke up!" Al blinked in confusion, a look Ed knew all too well.
"It's one in the afternoon; you've been sleeping since this time yesterday! Even I don't sleep that much, and that's saying something!"
Winry smacked Ed on the arm from her lazy position on the other side of the sofa. "Shut up, Ed, you know he needed the extra rest," she scolded. Ed sighed. "I know, Mom…"
Al gauchely filled in the space between them on the couch. Winry nonchalantly tossed a grape in her mouth, and then offered some to Ed.
"So, Al, how've you been holding up? We woke you up last night for dinner, but you were a walking zombie. You fell asleep at the table, and I made Ed carry you back up too your room," Winry said, recalling the tale with a laugh.
Al blushed and scratched the back of his head. "I did?" He squeaked. "Sorry." Winry chuckled at his embarrassment.
"Don't worry about it; like I said earlier, you really need the extra rest." Ed perked up and reached for the bowl of fruit in Winry's hands.
"Yeah, and you need to pack on the pounds, too. You're still the same size you were on the day we got your body back," Al rolled his eyes and put his hands up in defense.
"Not my fault, brother!" I can't have solid foods yet, right?" Ed glanced at Winry, and nodded. She returned the nod and smiled. Al was amused that the pair could seem to have a whole conversation with each other and not have to utter a word. Forget Elric telepathy, it was more like Rockbell telepathy. Winry tore her eyes away from Ed and smiled warmly at Al.
"Today is the day that you're going to try real food, Al!" Ed passed him the bowl of grapes. Al eyed the purple fruit.
"You want me…To eat these…Grapes?" He asked hesitantly. Judging by Ed's furious nodding, he guessed he didn't have a choice. Oh, and how he fantasized that his first real meal in a living body would be something along the lines of some of Pinako's famous baked potatoes, or maybe even turkey or ham, or…
His thoughts were cut short by Ed's frantic tone. "Well, are you gonna eat them?!"
Al summoned up all of his courage and picked up a grape. He felt his family tensely studying his every move. He turned to them and raised his eyebrows. They were this excited over him eating?
He brought the fruit to his lips and reluctantly bit off of it. After he chewed, he stuck out his tongue while squinting his eyes. "Sour," he declared. "Bleh. I hate grapes."
"You used to love them." Ed said while shaking his head. "When you were a baby, and I wanted you to leave me alone, all I had to do was break out the peanut butter and grapes, and you'd sit in the middle of the floor and eat. Mom would find you with peanut butter smeared across your face, and grapes everywhere…" He grinned evilly at the memory.
"Gee, thanks, Ed. I can really feel the brotherly love," Al muttered.
"No problem. Let's find you something better to eat… How about stew? Granny can make you some! Can't ya, Granny?" Ed yelled loudly so that Pinako could hear. Pinako huffed and removed the pipe from her lips.
"I guess, but I'd better get started." Now it was her turn to yell loudly.
"We wouldn't want the midget to get restless, would we Al?" Right on cue, Ed went into one of his short rants. Al laughed, and announced that he was going to go upstairs and get dressed.
When Al walked up the stairs to get to his room, he had to stop for a second. He felt extremely weak, his muscles felt as though they were on fire. He thought he was going to throw up, but he decided to keep going. After all, he just needed to get used to having a human body again. This was surely normal…Right?
Al studied the spoonful of stew in his hand. The heat radiating from it was enough to make him nervous. His family gathered around the table to watch, and receive their fair share of stew from Pinako. She filled his bowl first, and no one (Not even Ed!) complained. Al slurped the broth first, and then devoured the meat and vegetables. Pinako, Winry, and Ed cheered. Al smiled. He had forgotten how good eating was! His family began to stuff their faces as well. Al took a bread roll from the basket in the middle of the table. They were having such a good time, laughing, talking. Al grinned. Things would finally be normal.
After a few more spoonfuls of stew, Al closed his eyes. Out of nowhere, he began to feel nauseous. He frantically excused himself, and ran to the bathroom. He heard his family calling for him, asking him what was wrong, but he didn't have time to answer. He slammed the door shut. He ran to the toilet and threw up his meal. When he was done, he wiped his mouth with a tissue and rested his burning forehead on the cool porcelain. He began to cry softly. Why did he throw up? He finally got to eat something, and feel okay for a while, and now he felt horrible. It just wasn't fair!
"Al!" Ed and Winry chorused while pounding on the door. "Are you alright?" We're coming in, kay?" Winry's concerned voice caused a pang of guilt inside him. He remained near the toilet, for the queasy feeling in his stomach didn't seem to be leaving anytime soon.
"Kay," he rasped. Ed told Winry to stay outside for a second. Al held his head above the seat and puked again.
Winry and Ed were baffled. One minute, Al was doing fine, talking, and laughing like his old self. Then, out of the blue, he dashed to the bathroom. They chased after him, called his name, and tried to see what was wrong with him. Before they could get to him, he slammed the door in their faces. They convinced him to let them enter, but what they saw was heartbreaking. Al was miserably hovered over the toilet, his downcast face scrunched up in pain.
Ed let her in the bathroom while he cleaned Al up. She gathered medicines and supplies and followed Ed. He carried his little brother up to his room and tucked him in.
Winry brought the supplies into his room. She placed her hands on his forehead and gasped. "Al, you're burning up!" She ran to the bathroom and wet a dishcloth. Al shuddered when she draped the cool material on his fiery skin.
"Al, does anything hurt?" She asked. Al closed his eyes in a last ditch effort to rid himself of some of his pain. "Stomach 'n head." He mumbled. Winry grabbed some medicine from the pile of things she brought upstairs with her. She filled the pink liquid to the marked line and tried to get her friend to sit up. "Al, here, take this, It will hopefully bring down your fever." Al shook his head defiantly. Winry huffed in annoyance.
"Al, why is it that you're such a sweetheart all the time, but when you get sick you turn as stubborn as your brother?"
Al's lips twitched into a smile, but became taut again when a jab of pain went through his abdomen. Ed smirked at his chance to scold his younger brother. These opportunities rarely occurred, seeing as how Al was the one who usually had to keep him in line.
"Al, take your medicine, it will help you," he chided.
"I'll take that crap when you decide to drink milk. Now leave me alone," Al grumbled. Ed shuddered at the mention of the cream-colored drink. Winry was obviously not amused. Al's uncharacteristically indignant attitude was starting to grate on her nerves.
"Al, if you don't take this medicine in the next five seconds, so help me God, I will grab one of my wrenches off that table over there, and stick it so far-" Winry's rant was cut off by Al snatching the vile from her and downing its contents. She smiled softly. "Thank you."
When Al fell asleep, both she and Ed agreed that they needed to keep a closer eye on the younger Elric from that moment forth.
Reviews and constructive criticism are greatly appreciated!
