Ok, I came up with this randomly. I wanted to write Angst and have brotherly fluff in it and got this little thingy. I wrote it on my iPad, so if there are any spelling/grammar mistakes, THEY ARE NOT MINE! So with that, enjoy and please review. If you don't know what's going on, sucks for you. Naw! Just fooling! Ask and I'll PM you the answer.
Wrote this at 11:30 at night, not sure how good it is, but whatever.
The transmutation circle was perfectly put, drawn and then redrawn just to make sure. And everything had to be perfect, because one wrong move and the whole place could fall to pieces. His heart would fall to pieces.
"Edward, he's gone," General Mustang had said just a few months previous, "he's not coming back, face it-"
"But I have to try!" he yelled in retort. "Four years without a body and he sacrifices himself just for me. Four years of searching for the stone . . . and all to have me come out the only one alive! I won't stand for that to be the final output!"
"Fullmetal, think about this. Alphonse wouldn't have sacrificed himself for you only to have you put your own life at risk for him. That wouldn't make him happy. Think of what Al would have wanted."
Silence.
"I'm doing this no matter what Mustang, and I'd like to see you try and stop me."
A hand raised to object, only to be cut off.
"And I'm leaving this here too."
The slap of metal on wood, the origin of the sound a watch. A badge. A tie to the military.
General Mustang had frowned in concern for his subordinate. Death really can impact a persons life in more ways than one. Most of us know that.
And so he left to set up for the day: the date when his little brother would finally have what he deserved all along. And he would be the one to make it happen. It took three years of preparations and not seeing anyone for that same amount of time, buying a house in West City, and not telling anyone where he was.
A resonating clap was heard in the dark of the cavern, and a thud as hands, both made of skin and bone, slapped onto the ground. Red lights sparked everywhere, illuminating the almost pitch black cavern. They danced, as if enraged with him. He was almost positive they were.
Darkness again, then light as a white space loomed over him. A gate in front of him, big and ominous. The toll, what was the toll again?
"Are you really going to go through with this?"
"I have to. For him."
"But Edward, it's risky."
"You think I don't know that?!" Rage, fiery and hot, fueled by years of guilt.
Winry sighed. "Edward please, stop being irrational and listen to people for once. Even if you did find some way to bring him back, what would be the toll-"
"My life."
A gasp, barely audible.
"I will offer up my own life for his. That's Equivalent Exchange, right?"
The smile he gave off was forced and weak, making Winry frown in disapproval. But she knew whatever she said would never change his mind. He was a stubborn man who loved his family. She only wished he loved her like that too.
Oh, yes, that was it. That was the tole: his own life. The real question was, would it work? God, if there really was one out there, please help him this one time. He needed it, because when facing the Gate you never knew when you would come back alive. And deciding between life and death for a departed loved one was the hardest decision of all.
Now he was ready. His mind wasn't all there, but he was ready to take on anything. Just please, please give him his brother back. That was all he asked for. Just a simple request he had begged for for years.
And he walked forward with confidence in his stride, fear in his heart. Fear of never coming back, of never actually attaining his goal. Of failing the most important family member he had. But he would make sure that never happened. He would make sure that his dreams and wishes and pleas came true, because he would make them all a reality and show everyone who believed his little brother dead, wrong.
His brother was in there somewhere, held hostage by his own regrets in need of help from someone. He would be the one to pull him out, he would be the one to save his brother from their past sins. And even if he didn't come out whole, that would be ok, because Al would be here and alive, and knowing that, it was all ok.
-0-
"So he came back alive?" General Mustang said in surprise, turning his head back to his Lieutenant who was holding the letter she had previously read to him.
"Yes, sir. Edward and Alphonse Elric have come back alive and well from what the note says and will be visiting as soon as time permits them. Right now they are currently residing in a town far West, living in a small village in a house just near the borders of the country." Lieutenant Hawkeye read off.
"I see. Very well then." The General turned back to his desk to resume his paperwork. "And how is Edward's physical condition?"
"It doesn't say, sir, he will let you know when he sees you."
"What about Alphonse?" Roy turned his one good eye back to the Lieutenant giving her a furtive glance.
"It doesn't say that either, sir. Be patient and wait for them to come to you like always. You have enough paperwork to finish here anyway."
With that said, he got back to work.
-0-
West City was a place he rarely visited. It wasn't that it was a bad place, more like all of the action was in East City or Central, sometimes even South, but rarely West and never North. North was where it always snowed, and that could be a problem for getting around. So now that he owned a house in West City, he was quite content to just stay there. For Al's sake.
"What a cute little baby, is he yours?" People asked this wherever he went, and the answer was always the same.
"No, this is my baby brother Alphonse." This was said with a forced smile that had been perfected over the years and could fool even the smartest of people. After this was stated, the usual questions were asked and compliments were given.
"May I hold him?"
"How old is he?"
"Such pretty hair and oh! His eyes are grey! So exotic!"
He had gotten used to these things, and now never payed these people much mind. It was ok though for them to say things like this, it only meant that his brother was real.
-0-
"Big Brother, where are you taking me?"
Childish laughter ensued as the boy was lifted up onto the hip of his elder sibling.
"I'm taking you to meet some very important people, so be on your best behavior. I'm counting on you, this is for Big Brother's sake, ok? Can you do this for me?"
A nod of the younger's head. "Of course I can. Anything for Big Brother."
Another smile from the elder, only half forced. And then they reached the door to the room they were looking for.
-0-
Laughter was heard from outside the door, childish and playful. It wasn't like there to be a child at Headquarters. Sure, most Military Personnel's had children, but why bring them to work? It was pointless and would only disrupt people.
Mustang sighed. Even if he didn't want to admit it, the Elric brothers had always been like family to him. He looked out for them, took care of them, reprimanded them. They were like the children he never wished he had. But he doubted they would ever see him as a fatherly figure.
Speaking of the Elric brothers, Edward had written them saying that he and Alphonse would be dropping by that day. His whole office had been chaotic. Everyone was excited to see them both again.
The door swung open lightly, making everyone in the office turn their heads to see a man dressed casually in jeans and a T-shirt, his long blond hair in a pony tail, currently being tugged on by a child. Said child was small, looking to be five or maybe younger and the man probably in his mid-twenties.
"Stop pulling on my hair you little bug," the man said, although he laughed when he did. But now he turned and whispered to the child, who instantly stopped pulling on his hair and the man pulled away. "Better."
"Excuse me sir, but may I help you?" asked Mustang, ever so polite.
"Mustang, you haven't changed a bit in all this time," the man replied, smirking as the child huddled closer to him, trying to hide himself in the man's chest.
"Do I know you?" Mustang asked, but he had a feeling the voice sounded familiar. Surely it couldn't be-
"Please Colonel, you seriously don't recognize me?" And a signature smirk was set upon his lips.
After that the office was in an uproar. He was back, the Fullmetal Alchemist was back! And he . . . had a child with him? That was unusual.
Hawkeye was the first to speak as she walked up and, to her amazement, looked up at Edward. He was, of course, only a few inches taller than her, but it was a difference from almost 8 years ago. "Nice to see you again Edward. And who us this little guy? Is he yours?"
Edward only smiled, surprising the group at the gentle touch to it as he turned around to address the child in his arms. "Can you say hi and introduce yourself? Be polite, remember?"
The child looked up, a light blush on his face and he stuttered to answer. "I am . . . Alphonse Elric. Big Brother calls me Al. I am . . ." Here he paused to count on his fingers. ". . . Almost this many!" And he held up his hand, all of his fingers spread wide to show his age.
The room stared, making the child - no, Alphonse - uncomfortable, and burry himself back into Edward's chest. Edward looked back up, seeing the shocked faces of the group and smiled again, explaining to Al to wait outside the door while he talked to the 'Important People.' And Alphonse did just that with a hug to his brother and a scamper out of the room to sit near the door.
Before anyone could ask, Edward explained, and they all bowed their heads in silence. Apparently the Gate didn't like that Edward came back for his brother, and even after he gave up so much already, Ed couldn't have him back. So Edward made a deal. To have Alphonse back; without memory of anything that had happened in his life. In return, he got Al back as an infant, newborn and in need of help. It was the price they had to both suffer. Edward mentally, Al spiritually.
But everyone believed that somewhere inside that five year old boy, Alphonse was still alive, begging for help from anyone who could hear.
Ok! I done here! I'll probably edit it later, but not now because I need to plug back in my clock and reset my alarm and then go to bed. HAPPY SLEEPING!
Please review! I beg of you! Please!