Note: If you can think of better names for anything I make up don't hesitate to tell me, I love the feedback :) Also don't freak out because I added television, news, and security systems. It's been a few years they have to advance a little bit. LOL :)
Warning: There is some yoai involving a kiss between the two brothers, nothing else sadly. It's not the time for that just yet. :)
Chapter Two: So the Search Begins
This was not what Roy had been expecting when he took Riza out for a walk in the park.
When they got there it seemed like they would get a quiet morning alone with each other for once, but then when was Roy's life ever quiet, especially with the Elric's in it. They seemed to truly enjoy making his life difficult. But they were both still people he trusted. And those people were far and few inbetween so he was hard pressed not to lose them. So he dealt with them on a regular basis. They had started walking down the path leisurely just happy being together; when they stumbled upon a very passed out Alphonse Elric on a park bench. Probably close to hyperthermia with how cold it had been last night depending on how long he'd been there.
Riza immediately became motherly like she always did around the two brothers and insisted we help the younger Elric. Sighing in defeat Roy agreed knowing full well that Riza would be unhappy the whole time during their walk if they left Al there, nor would she probably even leave with him with him in this condition. So instead Roy went to get the car while Riza went to wake him up. Then when Roy came back Al was in a panic, fully awake muttering something about Edward and moonlight. Whatever he told Riza must have been serious because she was tense and had her let's-get-down-to-business face. With warning bells going off in his head Roy approached Riza. Roy knew that his vacation from being Fuhrer was probably over now.
"What happened?" Roy asked business like as well.
"Edward's been abducted." She reported with a worried look in her eyes. Roy nodded thinking to himself. Of course he has to get himself into trouble on my vacation, but he is a friend.
"Al come with us so you can tell the whole team the story of what happened; I don't think you'd like repeating it too many times." Roy directed at the poor pajama clad male who nodded and walked with the couple back to Roy's car.
Through the whole car ride Al was tense looking out the windows to see if he could catch a glimpse of gold or silver hair. He couldn't believe he had fallen asleep and was belittling himself harshly which only made him tense more. He knew he was making Fuhrer Mustang and General Hawkeye nervous but he couldn't help it. When the car finally reached Central Headquarters Roy was really worried. Al was normally so carefree, so seeing him coiled and tense like a spring was a new and not entirely pleasant experience. And Roy knew Riza felt the same way for the way, for the way she walked as she escorted Mustang and Al through the door. She pushed them into the official Fuhrer's office before going back to get the rest of the team.
It took her a single minute to efficiently shove each member through the door before getting another, then finally returning with Black Hayate trotting after her.
"Everyone ready?" Mustang asked his team.
"Yes sir!" They all replied snapping him a salute even Black Hayate was sitting with his ears pricked looking attentive next to Hawkeye's feet. All except for a slightly shell shocked Alphonse. He motioned for them to stop and they stood at ease while he turned to look at Alphonse.
"So Al, can you tell us what happened?" Roy asked gently. The young man was already slightly traumatized and he didn't want to make it worse. But they did need to know what happened. And it must have been bad.
Al took a shaky breath then began his tale, "So I was awake reading a book around one in the morning because I couldn't sleep, and that's when I heard Nii-san get out of bed. He sort of jumped out of it. I heard the thump… I thought he might of had a nightmare so I just thought that if he didn't go back to bed soon that I would go in and talk to him. It usually helps us both to go back to sleep if we talk… but… maybe two minutes later is when I heard the music."
"Music?" Breda interrupts. But with a glare from Hawkeye he clamped his mouth shut.
"Ya, it was really strange like…I don't know, it…it was sort of a lullaby. And then I heard his window open, so I decided to go check on him you know. And when I got in there…" Al paused remembering the women and the strange way Edward had looked at him.
"Go on Alphonse." Havoc encouraged.
Al took another deep breath then began again, "When I came in there…there was this women in the room…she was touching Nii-san like mom used; smoothing out his hair and all. And he was just standing there. He even agreed to be her 'Child of the Night' and went so far as to call her 'Mother'. But it wasn't just his behavior that was strange. Nii-san was fully dressed in plain clothing. He didn't have his red coat or his shoes; he was just wearing that white button up that you gave him General Hawkeye, and a pair of jeans." Now that statement surprised everyone. Edward always liked his flare.
"Was there anything else off?" Falman asked.
Fuery nodded then asked, "Ya, and what about that woman you mentioned?"
"Well, Nii-san did have a black circle painted on his face with a strange alchemy symbol in the center. Nis-san also had silver eyes for some reason." Al said. The team was silent for a moment digesting the new information.
"What about the women, Fullmetal called 'Mother'?" Mustang asked.
"Well…she was actually kind of plan except for her silver hair and eyes. She was fair skinned too, and couldn't be much older than me and Nii-san." Everyone nodded then looked to Mustang.
Roy paused thinking then began to issue orders. "Well alright. Breda and Falman search Fullmetal's office to see if there are any clues there, analyze everything carefully and be sure to memorise anything that might help us locate him or is suspicious in anyway. This might be related to what he was looking into, heaven knows that boy gets into trouble when doing digging. Fuery check on the security system on the Elric's home to see if it picked up anything, and you can also keep an eye on the communications line and news to see if anything on Fullmetal pops up. And Hawkeye, go to the Elric's house with Black Hayate since he only listens to you, and before you point out that would leave me unguarded I was about to tell Havoc that he was now on Fuhrer guard duty." Hawkeye closed her mouth and nodded, all of them saluted once more and were about to walk out until Roy spoke up again. "Remember that our other duties still need to be attended to. That's why very regrettably I won't be able to join the search today despite what I want." They all nodded looking sympathetically at Roy before leaving. He couldn't stop a sigh of frustration as he watched them leave, he really wanted to go with them but he had an important meeting today with one of the Drachmann officials. Not to mention a mountain of paperwork.
"What do I do?" Al asked Mustang, and he turned his attention back to him.
"You are going to stay here where I or Havoc can keep an eye on you, and rest until Hawkeye comes back from your house." Mustang says sternly. Al looked as if he was going to argue so he continued, "You haven't slept at all, and if you're exhausted how do you expect yourself to protect Hawkeye as well as your own person if anything happens." That made Al close his mouth and sigh in defeat.
"So what do I do now?" Al asked frustrated.
"My meeting doesn't start till noon and Hawkeye should be back long before then, so until she gets back you can lay on the couch and sleep." Mustang said deftly as he moved behind his desk to do some paperwork, and Havoc began his rounds. Al sighed again. He didn't think he could get to sleep but Fuhrer Mustang did have a point, so he laid on the couch and relaxed. And much to Al's surprise sleep overcame him.
When Alphonse opens his eyes he's on a flat grassy field, the full moon huge and hanging near the horizon. Alphonse is confused, when did he get here? Then a gentle lullaby like melody drifts on the wind.
'Come my child of the Night; rest your sorrows and guilt away
Come, come to me my child of Night
Let your heart be at Peace
Let the Moon be your Guide
Be still and let your Mother hold you
Come my child of the Night; rest your sorrows and guilt away'
At first Alphonse see's nothing, then it's almost as if he blinks and his brother is there. He looks the same as he always does, smiling happily at Alphonse and he breathes a sigh of relief. But then he notices as the unbelievably large full moon as it seems to be getting closer taking on a different shape. The gently melody continues as Alphonse heart starts to thump with adrenaline, and he doesn't know why.
'Come my child of the Night; Pay your debt you owe
Come, come to me my child of Night
Let your heart be at Peace
Let the Moon be your Guide
Be still and let your Mother show you the way
Come my child of the Night; Pay your debt you owe'
The moon had become the women Alphonse had seen last night. She smiled a gentle smile that didn't reach her eyes and laughed at Alphonse as he tried to call to his brother, who had changed as well. He now looked like he had when he disappeared, and appeared to be deaf to Alphonse's pleas. And yet the horrid song continued as she grabbed Edward's hand and laughed evilly at Alphonse who was now in a full state of panic.
'Come my child of the Night; don't you fret or cry
For you are one of the Family now
Let your heart and mind be at peace
Let the Moon be your Home
And the Melody your Guide
Be still let your Mother love you forever
The Moon and your Mother will always guide your Way'
Then Edward disappeared into thin air leaving Alphonse all alone with the women. "You're never going to see him again." She said cruelly, pulling her arm back and flinging a blade that lodged itself into Alphonse's chest. The hilt was a pretty silver with etchings of the different phases of the moon carved on the sides ending with a full moon carving at the end. He watched as his blood followed the etchings along the hilt before finally falling to the grass.
Al woke with a start sitting straight up the strange music still ringing in his ears startling the three people in the room.
"Are you alright Al?" Hawkeye asked as she walked toward him lightly resting a hand on the arm of the couch.
"Ya…I think so. It was just a nightmare. How long have I been asleep?" Al responded.
"Six hours," Mustang said evenly, pausing for a moment before asking, "You ready to work?"
Al nodded his head eagerly, ready for a change so he could forget his nightmare. He was so excited he almost missed catching the clothes that were flung at him as he stood up.
"Then go change." Hawkeye said not unkindly. And Al ran to go get changed in one of the bathrooms.
"Remember to contact one of us first before you chase him if you get his trail." Roy said.
"Of course," Riza said with a smile, "Come, Black Hayate." The dog that had been asleep next to Roy's feet stood, stretching and yawning as he walked to Riza. "See you soon Fuhrer Mustang." with a small smile at the formal name.
"See you General Hawkeye." Roy replied with a smile of his own as her and Black Hayate left the office.
Five hours later
Riza and Al had been following behind Black Hayate for some time now and Alphonse was starting to get tired again. Probably because of his long sleepless night the night before.
"Need a rest?" Riza asked him as he walked beside her. He nodded but spoke quickly before she stopped.
"I'll be ok, just keep going. I'll catch up," Al panted as he pointed to Black Hayate who was wagging his tail, nose in the air as he trotted a little faster. "He's got something."
Hawkeye narrowed her eyes about to argue when Black Hayate barked and ran out of sight, making Riza have to give chase. Al stopped, panting in little breaths wanting nothing more than to run after the dog as well but not having the energy for it. Al just barely caught his breath, and was about to go where he had seen Hawkeye disappear when a strong arm wrapped around his midsection and dragged him into the alley way. Al gave a startled yelp and was about to clap his hands to use alchemy, but he was stopped by gentle hands around his wrists.
"None of that now little brother," said a familiar voice with a laugh. Al gasped and turned around to see Edward behind him.
"Nii-san!" Al exclaimed. Edward just smile and nodded looking at Alphonse with fond and loving expression that made Al's cheeks turn rosy and his insides turned to mush, it was the way that Edward had always looked at him. It made him feel safe. That is until he looked into his eyes. They may have held emotion now but they were still that silver, and the mark on his cheek also remained, it reminded him a lot of his nightmare. That's when he realized that he was also looking up to look Edward in the eye. "Nii-san you're taller." Al stated. Edward nodded a happy and proud look in his eyes. Then the expression on his face shifted to one of worry, as he reached out a hand to brush his brother's cheek affectionately, lightly using the pad of his thumb to trace the dark circles underneath Al's slightly darker amber eyes.
"You didn't sleep much last night did you?" Edward asked with concern.
"Of course not you dummy." Alphonse had meant it to sound angry but he was soothed by his brother's touch, so it sounded more like a statement. "And it's your fault for leaving like that, saying those weird things. I ran around all night looking for you." Edward didn't touch him like this often but when he did Al always enjoyed it.
"Oh Al, I'm so sorry. I can't explain right now but I will, I promise." Edward said softly and soothingly reaching up with his other hand to cup the back of Alphonse's neck, bringing him ever so slightly closer to his brother while rubbing lightly with his fingers at the nape of his neck. Al closed his eyes enjoying the touch and the soothing tones from Edward, but he still spoke.
"Nii-san, I don't understand…" Edward shushed him, and Al allowed himself to be pulled forward until they were barely less than an inch apart.
"Maybe not right now you don't, but you will I promise Al." Then Edward placed his lips on Alphonse's mouth. Startled Al's eyes snapped open and his hands went to his brother's chest but he didn't push him away. Ed insistently kissed Al's lips gently and lovingly until he relaxed into his brother's touch once more, and closed his eyes. He kissed Edward back timidly as his arms found their way around the elder Elric's neck. The chaste kiss lasted until the two brothers pulled apart for air.
"Nii-san?" Al asked gently. Why did he kiss me? Alphonse thought. Edward shushed Al once more before responding.
"Do you trust me?" With a little thought Alphonse nodded his head. "Good. Close your eyes Alphonse." Edward said. But the way Edward said Al's name made him shudder as he closed his eyes. He felt Edward move because he still had his arms around his neck. He didn't move much, and then Al felt Edward push his lips onto his mouth again, though this time he also felt the tip of his tongue swipe a crossed his bottom lip making him shudder.
"Nii-san wa-!" Alphonse tried to protest but Edward took advantage of the fact that Al had opened his mouth, by gently pushing his tongue into it. Al tasted something sweet as Ed pushed that something to the back of his throat causing him to swallow. Realizing what he had just done he recoiled from Edward.
"Nii-san what did you give me!" Al panted his cheeks red anger flashing in him red hot. But he was already feeling tired. His knees buckled and Edward caught him gently lying him down on the floor with his head in Ed's lap.
"A sedative to help you sleep, after all it is my fault that you're so tired. I may not be able to come visit you soon, but I will come and explain everything. I promise. Now sleep my dear Alphonse." Edward said soothing, gently stroking Al's cheek with the back of his hand. Al tried to fight the sedative, but he was losing as his eyelids drooped.
"Nii-san." Al said softly and he put all the frustration he could into the single word. And he heard a soft reply from Edward.
"I love you Alphonse." And with that Al's whole world drew dark.
To Be Continued. . .
Thanks so much for reading :) Tell me what you think please.
