Summary: Edward is only eighteen years of age, and he is already his three-year-old brother's legal guardian. There are sad times, there are happy times, there are awkward and miserable times, but underneath it all, their bond can never be broken. AU. Co-written with Rogue Alice.
Disclaimer: The Amber Raven does not own Fullmetal Alchemist, and neither does her collaboration partner! This is an AU, so quite a few things won't match up to cannon. :) Ages, especially. XP
Drabble One: Of Parenting and Grocery Stores
.~.
Alphonse Elric bounced impatiently in the shopping cart seat as his big brother compared prices on soup. "Stop that, Al," Edward scolded absentmindedly, picking a can off of the shelf. Rotating the can, the young man scrutinized the product's ingredients as if he suspected tampering.
"Big Bwuder, I want candy!" Al declared with as much authority as a three-year-old could muster. His little lower lip puckered out in determination and his tiny hands fisted.
"No." Ed replied sternly, replacing the soup back onto the shelf.
"Pwease?" Alphonse's eyes shined with a manipulative innocence that was just a bit unnerving. Unfortunately, Al knew how cute he was, and he was always willing to take advantage of the fact. And, sometimes, it got to Edward.
"No," Edward snapped.
"Why?" questioned the small boy, looking frustrated.
Edward had to refrain from sighing. It was already difficult enough to care for his brother by himself, without having to reason with the little brat about such trivial things. Alphonse questioned everything, and he was always looking for a debate. Edward wondered if he, himself, had been a difficult toddler. If so, he didn't know how his late mother had stayed sane if he was anywhere near as argumentative as Alphonse.
"Because, Alphonse, candy is not a healthy alternative to food."
"Altertanh…alternuhuuh…." Al, stumbling over the new big word, opted to go with his usual approach. A tantrum. "You're a meany-turd, Bwuder!" An elderly lady down the aisle flashed Edward a disapproving glance, to which he returned an apologetic smile. Turning back to his brother, he gripped the toddler's chin roughly, forcing Alphonse to pay very close attention.
"Listen here, Al. I'm not going to let you throw a fit in the middle of public," Ed fiercely whispered into his little brother's face, his tired eyes filled with desperation and anger. "You don't get any candy today. Especially when you act like that. If you don't straighten up, I'll tell Mrs. Curtis to put you in time out at daycare every day this coming week." Ed released the toddler's chin. "DO you understand?"
"Mhm hmm." Alphonse answered with a timid nod of his head and a defected slouch to his shoulders. Edward hated scolding his brother, but sometimes he didn't have the energy, nor the money, to keep up with a small child's whims.
"Good. Now, we need milk…" Edward's attention shifted to the shopping list behind his eyes, mentally checking off the items that sat in the cart and prioritizing what else needed to be acquired during the grocery shopping for the week.
A. N. Hello, everyone! This is just a little something that my friend and I thought up! You should all check out her works, as they are fantastic. ;P Her penname is Rogue Alice.
This is an AU drabble anthology of sorts, so please keep an open mind.
Please Review! ;3
-The Amber Raven