FMA Drabbles
AN: Just a small collection of short moments. Possibly but unlikely to be related to one another. Usually manga-based, with very little anime at times when I feel like it, mostly just to use the travel-to-earth-which-is-on-the-other-side-of-the-Gate thing.
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Umbrella
On the steps to the East City monument not too far from where, almost exactly two years ago, he had lost a fight and Al had almost lost a lot more, Ed sat, staring into his automail hand, which was covered by its rain-soaked glove.
He sighed, not knowing precisely how long he had been sitting there. They had only really been back in East by chance, but chance had decreed that it be so very close to that day back then. Memories of that time fell upon him like the rain.
Nina and Alexander, no longer recognisable alive or dead, killed in an alley. Soldiers destroyed. Since then, so many, many people. . .
Lost in thoughts and memories as he was, he didn't notice the presence approaching him, or that the rain had suddenly stopped. The presence sighed softly.
"Edward, just how long have you been out here?"
Ed started, looked up. Caught sight of a blue military Amestris uniform on a familiar figure. Roy Mustang blew out a breath that became visible in the chill night air.
"Never mind. Forget I asked. Get up, Fullmetal. Unless you want me to drag you back in – and stay under the umbrella. You need it just as much as I do."
Ed stood, reflexively obeying the commanding voice of his superior officer. Shoved his hands deep into trouser pockets, and started to walk.
"I said under the umbrella, Fullmetal. We don't need you getting rusty, do we?"
Insulted by the comment, he hesitated just long enough for Mustang to catch up to him, and they both walked back. Not following the man, he told himself. Just heading in the same direction.
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Doppelganger
(AN: An AU from post-Conqueror of Shambala)
Edward clambered his way free of the rubble and wreckage made from the destruction of the gate on this side and his and Al's – his Al, not the other one – return to Germany. As soon as he was free, mostly thanks to his new automail arm given to him by Winry only such a short time ago. Only a few feet away he could see his little brother heaving out a relieved sigh, an accomplished and happy smile on his face. Together, as soon as they saw each other again, the burst out into laughter of relief and joy for being together again. Maybe they were stuck on this side of the gate, but even if there wasn't a way back to their world, at least they weren't alone.
The sound of coughing distracted them suddenly, causing them to jump and put their defences up once more. Ed sat up, pushing Al back down quickly so that if whoever it was who was still there.
"All right, who the hell is... What the-! Al?!"
The Al who had been pushed down out of sight sat upright, coming clearly into the view of the blond-haired, blue eyed young man staring at them incredulously from one of the control panels.
"Brother, what is it? What's wrong?"
Ed groaned and put his face in the palms of his hands, a part of him still revelling in the dexterity of his automail, but mostly with, quite simply, the starts of a headache.
"...oh brother..."
"What?" Al, confused, looked around. On his second glance, he caught sight of the same person his brother had seen, who was currently staring at him wide eyed. "Huh?"
Ed sighed. "All right, here goes... Al, meet Alfons Heidrich. Alfons Heidrich, meet my brother – Alphonse Elric." He paused, trying to think of something, anything, really, else to say. Eventually he gave up and groaned again. "Oh boy. This is going to get confusing."
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AN: The first one was inspired by a number of things. Including the song 'Under my umbrella' and the fact that both Ed and Mustang have good reasons not to be out in the rain for too long ;D The second one. . . mainly because I've seen so much fanart around the place with both Als in it at the same time. Which is, needless to say, impossible in canon post-CoS. Thus the confusion AU.