AND YOU THOUGHT IT'D BE JUST THAT FLUFF. HA. HAHA. HAHAHA.

Nope!

Reminder that all stories are available first on my blog, masterhawki.

(my teacher was surprised at my use of the word nigh. i'm a writer. what'd you expect.)


The coughing- that's what was the worst. An aching chest, overall tiredness, even the occasional stabbing pain, he could deal with. But the feeling of drowning in his own skin, blood filling the cavity in his chest until he suffocated, succumbing to the violent urge to expel the liquid via his mouth, was nearly unbearable. It reminded him that his time was short, pushing him to work his already overworked self harder then he already did.

It started innocently. Just an itch in the throat, nothing a glass of water couldn't cure. He didn't even make it to the water before doubling over, his lungs desperately trying to escape his chest. This was a bad one. Black spots began to hover in his vision, while red spots began to dot the floor. Right when he thought he could take no more- please let it end- the fit subsided.

That left Alfons, kneeling on the floor and struggling for breath, surround areas splattered in blood. It wasn't the first time, and most certainly wasn't the last, but that didn't make the cleanup any less morbid. With shaking limbs, Alfons reached for the drawer nearest him to retrieve a rag.

That was when the front door decided to slam open. "I'm home," called Edward, the familiar mismatched footsteps confirming his presence.

Panicked, Alfonse threw the rag on the floor, covering most of the blood, before rising to his feet seconds before Edward made his entrance. "How was the market?" he asked, wiping his sweaty palms on the front of his pants.

Edward set the bag of food on the table with a frown. "Not good. Our marks are almost useless. I'm not sure how much longer it'll be until we have to switch currencies." He dug through the bag, and gave a minor cheer when he found what he was looking for. "Someone had apples for cheap. Managed to snag one. Here, I'll cut it-"

Alfons tuned Edward out, glancing down at the rag. The floor was dark enough to camouflage the blood, but with the rag drawing attention to it, the ruse wouldn't last long. Slowly, he bent over, pinching the rag between two fingers.

"Smaller slices okay with you?"

Edward began to turn, shocking Alfons in to standing much to quickly. Spots swam in front of his eyes as he began to be lightheaded, and he stumbled backwards.

"Woah-" And strong arms caught him, leading him back towards the hard kitchen chair. "Are you alright?"

Alfons raised his hand to his forehead, rested his elbow on his knee, al closed his eyes. "Yeah, give me a minute." Measured breaths. In. Out. In. Out-

His breath was cut short by a pair of lips.

Alfons froze. It wasn't their first kiss- Edward had taken care of that weeks ago. But Edward had injured his head, and didn't even remember it the next morning. This- this was deliberate. There was no mistaking that everything was intended, from the flesh arm hanging awkwardly over his shoulder, to the nervously urgent pressure.

When Edwards lips started to move, all thought process stopped. He barely registered the creaking chair, protesting the weight of a second person as Edward settled on his lap. A whimper escaped as Edward abandoned his lips, but quickly morphed into a moan as his jaw was showered with attention. Letting Edward have his fun for a few moments, before grabbing him by the hair and forcing their mouths back together.

All too soon, Edward pulled away.

Lips throbbing, Alfons gave a disappointed, "Mph," before opening his eyes to see Edward frowning down at him.

"Did I taste blood?" he asked, his eyes taking on a worried aura.

Fear raced through his heart as Alfons gave a nervous laugh. "I bit my cheek earlier," he lied. "Must've been that."

Edward nodded, smiling in relief as he let himself off Alfons's lap. "Better move, before we break the chair," he joked.

He didn't respond, too relieved by Edwards easy acceptance of the lie to say anything.

Edward's eyebrows furrowed at the lack of response. "This is okay, right? I mean, I didn't force you into anything you didn't want, right? Cause I can-"

Alfons, annoyed that Edward would ever thing that the kiss was a regret, silenced him with his own lips.


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Wryder