Chapter 1: Consequence of Laughing
It was just like any other day, walking in the streets after the sun had settled. The street lights were now open, flashing from time to time because of the cold. All the houses were closed up, afraid that winter would bring them bad news. Of course, I wasn't worried too much. I had a decent job, a decent apartment. I could afford some charcoal to warm up the place. I was maybe a little poor, but still in pretty good shape for a lonesome sixteen year old.
Not that it would make a difference in a year or so. I would suppose to be right now fiancé with a beautiful girl who would do all the house cleaning and the cooking, everything that is house related, have at least five to six children with her and have a "decent" job. Of course, this is all through my father's eyes, what the youngest of the five brothers is suspected to do and follow up his dreams. Unfortunately for him, I'm not a follower. I'm a leader; and I'll lead my dreams and make them come true. Even since I was young, I dreamt of what was out there, wanting to see if there was someone else out there who I would have as a friend, who would understand my complex and share it as I do and take me away in their world. Surprisingly enough, I still had little hopes for that dream, but I became an engineer to create a machine which would fly off into space, since the plane was already created and hasn't the capacities to go into space (or at least, no one tried.) It wasn't long until I finally had a group with somewhat the same interests as me and are now constructing on a plan to make a rocket. Though what really intrigues me is that this very day, passing by the train station, I would find my childhood wish, an alien.
There was a boy, sitting in the snow, I was unsure if he was frozen, dead, sleeping or simply waiting, but he seemed to have been out here for awhile. He had golden blond hair tied up in a ponytail, long front side bangs and in between, on top of his head, there was a small antenna of hair. As I approached, I could see more in detail what he was wearing and tried to make sure he wasn't frozen or dead. His chin up to his nose was buried inside his coat as he tried to make himself probably arm. His sleeves had no arms; they were probably inside the coat wrapped around his body to keep warmth. I knelt down in front of him, not wanting to disturb him... I simply lifted my warm hand to lay it upon his cold cheek, just to see if there was still life. As my finger tips touched him, his eyes opened, shocked, startled. He almost acted out like a cat that was cornered by its predator. I removed my hand and chuckled a little at his reaction, simply answering:
"Sorry, didn't mean to wake you. Just making sure you were still alive. It's quite chilly tonight."
I said like anyone would say if they saw him there. That's when I noticed his golden eyes, those sharp golden eyes with fierce fire burning inside of them, a never ending flame. Just by looking by his eyes, I knew he was not of this world. That's what I wanted to believe for my childish dreams.
"… Alphonse…?"
His first word, it penetrated me. I was shocked. I didn't know what to say, what to think. The boy was on the verge of tears, replaced his arms into his sleeves, opened them and threw himself on him, wrapping them around him. I felt the warmth of the boy rise, also from the heat on my cheeks burnt like Venus' raging fumes.
"Alphonse… you've grown so much… you're so…"
The boy pulled away, a little angry as I stayed confused, frozen in place.
"… why are you so tall?! You drank so much milk that you became a giant?!"
I never met someone so tempered, so small, so… different in my life. He was an alien, no doubt about it. I tried to think where we could have met. At school? No, I would have remembered him. How would he know? Could it be his antenna helps him read minds?
"… Do we know each other?"
I asked timidly, not wanting to break his dreams or anything. That's when he froze, he looked at me for a few seconds, laughs a little and fell back on his butt.
"Of course… I'm sorry… you look just like my brother. Though, you must be much older… and you have blue eyes… blond hair…"
The boy rambled on, almost became a mutter at the last words. That's when I felt a little sorry for him. Not because he was different, but because I was mistaken for someone he longed for. It showed in his smile that he was contented to have seen a familiar face. Though, where did he come from?
"… umm. Not to be a burden… I'm sorry if I look very similar to your brother… but what are you doing out here in the cold?"
It was simply because I was worried for him, no human being just stay out in this temperature, even if he was an alien. His eyes lifted up, seeing how worried I was and maybe my face had guilt written all over it, he answered:
"I'm waiting for my father. He said he had a meeting to go to… and well, we don't have a place to stay yet, so I've been waiting here for him."
I wasn't pleased with his answer.
"… Honestly. Get up."
I practically ordered as I got up as well.
"… what?"
He asked me, a little confused of my strict ways.
"Get up."
I offered a smile and handed my hand to help him up. He took my hand, and lifted himself up. He smiled back, a little perplexed by the situation.
"What's up?"
He asked, a little nervous now.
"Follow me."
I said, without spoiling anything. I guessed he was stubborn and wouldn't have followed him if I told him the purpose. But, seeing how he was curious, he followed me. I slowed down to be by his side, and introduced myself.
"I'm Alfons Heiderich. And you are?"
His head lifted up, I noticed then he was really short (or I was giant as he said.) He smiled at me, answering:
"Edward Elric."
That's when I figured that maybe he was British, but he had no such accent. Maybe he was from the American lands. I didn't ask, at least not yet.
"How old are you, Edward?"
I asked, trying not to sound too familiar yet not too formal either.
"17."
"Really now? I'm 16."
This astonished him. He stopped, looked at me up and down.
"You're lying."
"I'm not."
"But you look in your twenties!"
I felt a little insulted from this comment. I raised my voice unintentionally.
"I don't! I look maybe a little older, but not by that much!"
He rolled his eyes, kept on walking, even if he didn't know of the direction.
"Whatever."
I sighed then catch up to him and noticed that I was near the apartment.
"We're almost there."
"You're bringing to my father's, aren't you?"
I was dumbfounded. How could I bring him to his father's if I don't even know who he is or what he possibly looks like? I shook my head.
"Take another guess."
I walked towards Gracia's flower shop, who was also the owner of the apartment building, checking if she was inside or not. Seeing that she wasn't there, I simply came in the front entrance, taking out my keys. I may have been sly up until now, but I think Edward had realized what I was up to.
"... you tricked me."
"I didn't. I knew you would have refused in the first place, but if I didn't say anything, your curiosity would have betrayed you and made you follow me."
I smiled, being as some would say a "smartass". But to my surprise, he smirked and let it go.
"Fine, fine. You win. How did you establish that theory anyways?"
He leaned against the wall as I got to my door, watching every move I would make (I could tell.)
"Well, I thought you were some kind of stray cat."
I finally unlocked the door, just to hear a loud thud behind me, as if he would have fallen. I opened the door, looking back, seeing him on the ground, I hushed him:
"… there's other people who live here you know."
I walked in, kept the door open for him, as he entered with his head down, mumbling more things. Once he found a wall, he decided to bang his head on it, for whatever reason. This angered me a little. It was just as if he ignored what I just told him. I pulled him away, placing my hands on his shoulders, turning him to face me. I glance straight into his eyes.
"What did I just say? And why would you just do that? It's idiotic!"
He seemed a little surprised by what I was saying. He just stared into my eyes, the room being silent for a moment. I don't know, but at that very moment, I felt my cheeks blush slightly, being embarrassed to have done something like that I would assume so, and I walked away into the kitchen, deciding to start dinner for both of us. I grabbed some water, placed it in a pot, waiting for it to fill.
"… you're queer."
His voice echoed in the room. I don't think he had moved from his spot, but now I could hear his footsteps approach me. It wasn't the first then I was called that, or odd, or anything. Really, I wasn't surprised if it was his first impression of me. That's when I heard a chair creak, assuming he had sat down by now. He began to laugh.
"… you care way too much. That'll become your weakness."
I didn't dare look back at him, but I simply smiled and closed my eyes. I answered:
"I know… I know."
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I hope you guys enjoyed the first chapter. I shall update as much as I can. )