Brother
The sound of footsteps echoed in the silent hallway.
Olivier Mira Armstrong, strode in front, shoulders thrown back and chin raised, posture confident and proud. Alex followed behind her, feeling awkward and out of place surrounded by gleaming marble and expensive looking furniture and paintings that framed the walls, showing no sign of the fierce battle that had taken place in these hallways just a few weeks away. He was uncharacteristically silent as he followed behind, not knowing what to say, not wanting to make his sister's opinions of him even lower. So they walked in silence, not that he thought his sister minded anyway.
The hallway ended at a pair of fancy double doors, a dark velvet red rimmed by gold around the edges, with handles shaped like snakes. Really, it was amazing how fast it was to repair things when you have alchemists around.
The long-haired blond stoped at the door, one hand resting on the handle - the other on the handle of her sword like always - ready to push it open, before hesitating and turning around to face the bulky male behind her. Alex tensed, anticipating her words to be sharp and biting like usual, bracing himself for the insults that would be hurled at him. This was the first time they were together alone since the battle with the homunculus after all, what with Olivier having to return to the North with what was left of her soldiers to sort things out and him having to deal with the casualties and heavy damages from the battle and organising the troops. She probably had a few choice words for his behaviour then, he had failed to protect her horribly - not that she needed to be protected, his sister was more than capable of taking care of herself - but she was his sister after all and he felt responsible.
But the insults never came, his sister seemed to be in some sort of internal conflict before making up her mind and, clearing her throat, looked at him straight in the eyes.
"You did well the other day. Thank you."
Alex could only stare, shocked speechless. Olivier had just... praised him? Even... thanked him...?
For a moment, his sister's usually haughty expression seemed to soften, the amber rays from the sun shone through the window, illuminating her ice cold blue eyes that seemed to glimmer with warmth, before she turned, cloak whirling behind her, pulled open the door and strode in, usual cold demeanour returned. The door shutting with a bang that bought him out of his shock.
The burden of his sister's disappointment that had weighted so heavily in his heart ever since he fled that day from the Ishabalan battle seemed to lift a little, and he felt relieved, saved, like a near-drowning man taking a gulp of clean, fresh air. His sister had always been stronger than him, perhaps not physically, but mentally and there was a reason they called her the Northern Wall of Briggs and Ice Queen after all. She ruled with an iron fist, cruel and merciless when needed - something he had never been able to achieve.
She might view him with disappointment, he might be nothing but a failure to her, but perhaps, one day, one day she might be proud of him. Would view him not as a shameful coward, but a worthy opponent. And it was with a much lighter heart than he had when he came with that he left.
Perhaps one day he would be someone she would be proud to call her brother.
Yay! Finally managed to write something that isn't angst or sadness. Just a random one-shot I came up with after watching FmaB.