So I decided to try something different. I'm not sure that this could really be considered a song fic, but it does follow the lyrics of the song. Well.. The first chapter does. I shall inform you now that this is a three-shot(with rather short chapters). Also, I'm taking the idea of Al's looks from Conqueror of Shambala..And.. I think that's it for now..
Warnings: BoyXBoy relations(Shonen-ai/Yaoi), character death(suicide), angst, incest, excessive flashback use, a bit of violence, not exactly what you would call a 'happy ending', you get the idea...
Flashback
Present time
'Thought'
"Speech"
Lips of An Angel
Chapter One: Memories
Ed sat in the livingroom of the house he shared with Roy Mustang, musing about the past. Flashbacks continuously flowed through his mind like a tainted stream in the woods. There were many that he tried to push away. He finally picked up a book, attempting to distract himself from those phantoms. Just when he though he was safe, a memory hit him hard, one too powerful for him to push away.
- - -
A blond boy lay bloody on the ground, his golden eyes barely open. He felt like he was dying, and figured it was likely to be the truth. He had no way of knowing if the experiment had been successful. Somewhere in the back of his mind, the part not focused on the pain, he was filled with rage. 'This wasn't supposed to happen! We had the Philosopher's Stone! ..Was it a fake..?'
Suddenly he felt a body over his own. Someone was hugging him, and they were crying. 'Why...?' Then a choked sob answered his mental question. "Brother!"
Half-lidded golden eyes peered up into scared brown ones. "Al.." the blond whispered in amazement. "You're back.."
"Brother! Why did this happen?! We had the stone!" the brunette's voice was high-pitched and scared.
"I don't know.. Al.. It hurts..." Ed groaned. Al quickly dressed himself in the clothes they had brought in hopes that the experiment would indeed work. He then wrapped the nearby red cloak around Ed in an attempt to stop the bleeding, picking up his brother, and carrying him to the hospital.
Ed buried his face in Al's chest, breathing in his younger brother's scent. He was exhausted, but he didn't dare fall asleep. He was afraid that when he woke up, he would find it had all just been a dream.
- - -
The blond had dropped his book long ago as he relived the day he had gotten his brother's body back. He still remember it as if it had happened only a day ago. He remembered how happy he was to be able to see his little brother's face again, and also how Al's face had fallen when he saw that Ed was still missing two of his limbs.
Ed sighed as he examined his automail hand. He had been so afraid that Al would reject him the day he woke up in the hospital. In Ed's mind, Al had become perfect, while Ed was still a freak of nature. Of course, the rejection had not taken place, though Al's face was seldom without disappointment when his gaze fell upon the cool metal.
It was a long time before Al could look at Ed without sadness showing in his eyes. When he had finally accepted that Ed was stuck with automail, though, things got a lot better. There was something close to normality then. The brothers were finally happy. Then things started to change, though not in a way that could be classified as bad.
- - -
The brothers shared a laugh over some joke they had heard. They were sitting on the back porch of the Rockbell house in Resembool, sipping lemonade. Both of them found it hard to believe that any place they were could be so peaceful. If was nice for a long while, but eventually they got bored.
Perhaps it was this boredom that caused the changes within them, or maybe it was there all along. Maybe still, it was inevitable, and could not have been prevented no matter what. Whatever the reason, the change happened.
Ed had struggled over his feelings for a long time. He knew it was wrong to allow his eyes to follow the brunette now seated beside him. It was dangerous to let his eyes linger too long. He passed it off as amazement at seeing his brother now in the flesh, but he knew the truth. The feelings he had may have been newly awakened, but they had slept dormant in his heart for a long time.
He had, of course, pushed his feelings aside. He would break his own heart to protect his brother. Ed had always been the type to do anything for his little brother, he had just never realized why. He had never realized how blurred the lines between the different types of love were.
As these thoughts ran through Ed's mind, he was too distracted to notice his brother slowly moving towards him. In fact, Ed was not brought from his musings until a pair of soft lips gently collided with his own. Though he had been wrenched back to reality, he fleetingly wondered if he was dreaming. The thought, like all others, disappeared as Al deepened the kiss.
Suddenly Ed was kissing back, and hearts collided along with lips. Neither of the brothers bothered to question their actions. It didn't matter what they did anymore. They had committed so many sins before, what was one more? This made them happy, and that was all that mattered at the time.
- - -
As happy as those memories were, they were always tinged with sadness as they passed through Ed's mind. They were such good times, it was too bad they didn't last. Ed couldn't complain too much though, it had been he that caused them to end. He still continued to believe that it had been for the best, it had to have been. It scared him to think that all the pain had been for nothing. He had broken both of their hearts, and if that had been meaningless...
Al hadn't spoken to him in years; not since the break up.
- - -
Al kissed Ed on the cheek, as was the norm at the time. "I love you, Brother," he said, expecting his brother to say it back. When no response came, he looked at Ed, concern evident on his face. "Brother? Is something wrong?"
Ed sighed, and stared off to the side. "We can't do this anymore, Al.." he said softly.
"What do you mean?" Al asked, his voice full of confusion mixed with a drop of fear. Ed turned his head to stare directly into Al's eyes.
"You know what I mean," he said seriously.
"B-but Brother! You said it didn't bother you! You said the taboo didn't matter!" Al was shaking from the raw emotion he was feeling. The anger, the sadness. Ed was sure he could hear the younger boy's heart breaking.
"Al," Ed said sternly, though his voice was also tinged with sadness. "I'm leaving, and I want you to find happiness after I'm gone, understand?"
Al shook his head in denial. "No!"
"I'm sorry, Al..." Ed said softly. Without looking into his brother's eyes, he got up, and walked towards the door.
"Brother, no!" As soon as the door slammed closed, Al screamed "DON'T LEAVE ME!"
Ed heard him, but didn't stop. He couldn't, or he would never be able to leave. He didn't want to leave, but he knew it was for Al's own good. Their relationship wasn't healthy. Ed didn't have a problem with it, but he knew the world did. He hadn't thought things through as he shared his first kiss with Al. He hadn't know what would happen.
He wasn't leaving because he wanted to, he was leaving because he had to. He couldn't see Al hurt and shunned anymore. If Ed could do anything to prevent or ease his brother's pain, he would. He didn't care if he hurt himself in the process. He didn't care if he felt like he had just fallen into a lake of shattered glass. He didn't care if he was slowly bleeding to death on the inside. As long as Al was happy, he would be fine.
- - -
A tear fell from a golden eye as the memory of that day attacked Ed's mind. It was shortly after when he had gotten together with Mustang. Ed's relationship with the colonel was everything the one with his brother had not been. Where the Elric brothers' relationship was gentle and warm, Ed and Roy's was rough and cold. The new relationship was lacking love, though sex was not a rare occurrence. Neither were Ed's tears. While Roy held affection for Ed, he knew the boy could never love him, and that the relationship would forever be empty and meaningless.
As mentioned before, Ed had not had any contact with his brother since the elder of the two had walked away. Ed wasn't surprised though, he had known that there was no looking back after making his decision. Of course, that didn't stop the pain that was tearing him apart inside. The monster that haunted him, kept him from sleeping. That monster was the reason he was awake at that moment.
Ed hadn't known that Al was going to be married until he received a letter from Winry after the fact. She had informed him that she was sorry that she couldn't invite him to her and Al's wedding, but her husband had insisted. Ed had been filled with bitter happiness at the news. That was three years ago, and two after the break up.
Ed was snapped once again from his musings as a shrill sound filled his ears. He looked around, confused, before the realized the telephone was ringing. He hurried to it, jumping over the coffee table as he rushed to pick up the receiver. He hoped the sound had not awaked Mustang.
He put the phone up to his ear, nearly immediately hearing sniffles and half-sobs. His heart sank. He didn't knew who it was, but he knew that they were crying. "Hello?" he asked softly.
"B-brother?" the voice on the other end choked out.
So.. For some reason, I feel the worst for Mustang in this fic. 'Cuz he's stuck with Ed.. And Ed has absolutely no interest in him.. So sad.. Anywho! Please review!