Title: Leaving behind my shadow
Word Count: 497
Series: I guess Brotherhood.
Pairings: Hinted EdxAl, but it's not even noticable
Rating: PG-13 for some cursing
Summary: Something died when Alphonse got his body back...
Notes: This was originally much longer, but shortened to around 500 words for a prompt. I plan to post a longer version when I have time. Enjoy.
Alphonse opened his eyes. He laid there awhile, hearing someone in the kitchen fumbling with pots and dishes. He held out his hand and flexed, his skin so pale he wondered if he would turn translucent and he would truly wake from this dream. His body had grown so much without him. Everything felt surreal.
Al sat up, nearly flying forward. He had to adjust to his own weight. This body was light overall, but the weight was everywhere, unlike the armor. Everything was so finely crafted and now that the armor stared over at him from the corner of the room, he had a respect for it.
Al flopped his legs over the side of the bed and stood, gaining balance on his feet, then waddled over to the full body mirror. Alphonse looked ahead, tracing his body a moment, then turned and pulled his hair up into the tight ponytail. His body was still so thin. I hate this body, he thought, then stopped himself. His eyes teared up and Alphonse started apologizing to the mirror. "How can you wish something like that? That's what Ed would say. I'm not starting off as a good human being, am I?" But then, he thought, Brother would only remind me I've always been human. I have to stop thinking like this. Al tried to resist the urge that was overtaking him. He wanted to climb back into the suit of armor. After all, it was just standing there, empty. He felt he had robbed it of it's own life in some way.
He stepped out, still in his boxers, hands on his hips and staring at the armor. "I don't need to hide in you anymore. I have to face this body and everything that comes with it." Alphonse twisted his lips, then smiled with his eyes closed in mischief, "But maybe playing a trick on Ed would be fun." He then began to climb back into his shell.
"Al!" Ed sighed, "Breakfast will get cold!"
"Brother!" cried Al from the bedroom. But the voice didn't sound the same as it had the night before. The door opened, and Ed was shocked to see the armor standing there.
"Alphonse! What happened?" Ed cried desperately, rushing over. "Why are you-"
Al was laughing.
"Why are you laughing at a time like this?" he cried, scraping his hand over the armor's cheek again and again.
"Brother! Brother!" Al giggled, trying to calm down the little alchemist, "I'm just joking!"
Ed was about to break a blood vessel. "Come out of that tin can so I can rip you a new one!" he roared, "What the Hell is wrong with you? That's not funny, Alphonse!"
When Al could finally stop laughing, he replied, "I'm sorry, Edward. I just wanted to play a trick on you." As one last ode to this body. It's been fun.
