Titles
Four drabbles in which Edward Elric reflects upon his many names and titles. Warning for Ed's language. And abuse of italics.
Fullmetal Alchemist
"You're the Fullmetal Alchemist!"
That's why he puts up with everything, Ed thinks. So he can hear the awe and adoration in people's voices when they realize who he is. He practises his reaction; he wants to appear aloof, powerful, and maybe a teensy bit smug ("You just look really smug, Brother"). He always expects the praise that follows – the youngest state alchemist in history, doesn't need a transmutation circle, genius… yeah, he lives for that kind of thing.
Fullmetal Alchemist. His official title, earned (and he had earned it, goddamnit!) at the age of twelve. Only strangers and military officers called him by his full title, and while he was damn proud of it (and he'd tell you so), it had an impersonal feel to it. Cold, businesslike. Metallic.
It was his title. It wasn't his name.
Pipsqueak, Shorty, Bean, Half-pint…
Ed would swear it was a conspiracy. It's not like he was really that short, damnit! He was still growing. He wasn't a tiny little midget who was so small he couldn't walk through a puddle without drowning! ("Nobody said that, Brother"). It was always the same. They'd think Al was him, then, to add insult to injury, they'd call him short. It was so unfair.
Colonel Bastard ("That's not nice, Brother") seemed to think it was funny to call Ed short. He was constantly making short jokes. I can't see you over my paperwork, Fullmetal; what happened, Fullmetal, did you get run over by a mouse; what'd you blow up this time, Squirt? Al had lots of practice catching his brother before Ed could assault his commanding officer. Smug bastard.
It wasn't just that he was… damnit, that he was short… they looked down on him. Because of his age, because of his height, because of his temper. Nobody took him seriously and it made him so mad. They didn't know what he'd lost, they didn't know what he'd given up. He'd been through more than most of those bastards ever would.
They had no right to look down at him.
Edward
Ed liked his name. It was classic but not old-fashioned ("Hey, old fashioned names are nice too, Brother!") and it wasn't a sissy name… like, say, Roy.
Despite it being his name, not many people called him Edward. Hughes, Hawkeye, Pinako, Winry. Just people who he knew personally and respected – well, mostly. Al and Colonel Bastard only called him Ed when they were worried or really angry. He didn't like hearing his name coming from Al or Mustang because something was always wrong. Still, they cared. If he heard someone call him by his given name rather than by his military title, Ed knew that it was someone who cared about him, not just about the Fullmetal Alchemist.
Yeah, Edward was a good name.
Brother
Al.
Only Al called Edward Brother. It was an idiosyncrasy of his, that Alphonse rarely called his brother by his given name; just Brother. It raised a few eyebrows, but Edward never had cared about being conventional. Besides, he liked being called Brother, thank you very much!
It meant so much more than people assumed. Contingent on how it was said, it meant so many different things; Brother, you're being an idiot. Brother, stop and think for once. Brother, where have you been, I was worried! Brother, everything's okay, we're together. Brother, I love you.
Yes, of his many titles, Brother would always be his favourite.