Array of Consequences
By joyfulmusic
Summary: Everyone assumes Alphonse Elric was killed. Two years later Edward gets married. What happens when the seal containing Al's soul is discovered? Naturally Ed tries to fix his armor, but something goes terribly wrong. What will the consequences of this new array it cost Edward?
I don't own Fullmetal Alchemist
Chapter 4
"You've got rice in your hair." Edward told his new bride as they rode in the back of the cab toward the grand hotel where they'd be spending their honeymoon. Picking a piece out, he held it up to her and smiled. "See." When she frowned he laughed before pulling her into a kiss.
Backing away she shook her head, trying to dust the remainders of their departure from her black tresses. "Oh sure, you can laugh about it. It's all that hairspray Winry used. It's making the stuff stick!" Pouting, she gave up the losing battle. "It wouldn't be so funny if it had gotten into your automail now would it?"
Giving a fake frown, Ed touched his shoulder. In truth he was already worried about what she would think of his physical scars. Somehow he'd managed to keep them hidden over the past two years. Now however, there would be no getting around her seeing them. "Well I doubt it would've hurt but I might have needed repairs."
Kissing his cheek gently Noba laughed. "As it is you'll have to wait until I'm done washing my hair before we do anything. I hate the feeling that stuff gives me. It's like wearing a helmet of hair!" Still smiling, she laid her head on his shoulder, taking his hand in her own.
"So dinner will have to wait then? I suppose the restaurant will hold our table for us seeing as how it's an emergency." He put an arm around her shoulders and laid his head on hers. Doing so, he found that he didn't like her wearing all that hairspray any more than she did.
Sighing slightly, Zenobia closed her eyes. It was finally done. After such a long wait she had finally found the love of her life and gotten married. Her mother would have been so proud. 'I suppose someday I'll be a mother too. But I hope we'll be able to be at our child's wedding.'
Like Edward's mother, hers had died, although it had been when Noba was a teenager rather than a child. She had never known her father. Unlike Ed's, her parents had never married, or even intended to. That had left her to walk down the isle alone, with no one to give her away.
Roy had offered but seemed an unlikely candidate for the job. She had gone without a father figure her whole life, there was no reason for anyone to give her away. Riza had been her maid of honor, with Winry and Mrs. Hughes filling the other slots. Elisia was proud to be a flower girl, along with a few other girls that were children of people they knew through the military.
Now, with her new husband at her side, Zenobia felt secure. Finally she had someone she could call family. And Winry had told that she would be the same as a sister-in-law from now on. Although Ed thought of her in that way, it wasn't quite the same as the way Al would have been an in-law.
When the car rolled to a stop she was jolted from her thoughts. Peering out the window, she was surprised to see just how big the hotel was. This week had been paid for by Roy as his wedding gift. Of course he'd said meals would be up to them, considering how much Ed could eat. Nevertheless, it was quite a grand gift.
Walking into the front lobby Edward saw a waterfall cascading by the elevators. People were going to and fro, doing various things, but none of that mattered to him. Colonel Mustang had already given him the key and the bellboy was seeing to their luggage. All he had to do was find their room.
The alchemist guided his wife to the elevator. Getting inside he told the operator which floor. Then, when they had arrived, he led the way to their room. It was the honeymoon suite, the best in town, or so Roy said. Opening the double doors Ed found that he would have to agree.
The front room contained a table for two with a set of candles and a lacy tablecloth. There was a couch that looked like something from the Victorian age. A set of windows looked out over the city. Two double doors led into another spacious room containing a large canopy bed and Victorian loveseat. The opening beside that went into the bathroom with both a shower and a heart shaped bathtub.
Smiling, Ed turned to his bride who was in awe of the place. "You wanna get in that shower before we go out to eat?" He closed the door behind her, kissing her neck gently. "Or we could just eat here if you'd rather do that. I can always cancel that reservation you know."
Glancing at him, Noba grinned. "We'll discuss eating arrangements after this junk is outta my hair." She started for the bathroom but turned back when she heard a knock at the door. "That should be the bellboy with our bags. See to it while I take a quick shower, ok honey?"
"Alright." Ed sighed, turning back to the door. Opening it he allowed for their luggage to be brought in. Fishing in his pocket he found a sufficient enough tip. After the worker had left he turned to one of his bride's suitcases. Digging through it, he found one of her outfits that he liked.
Walking up to the bathroom door, he knocked lightly. "Noba, I've got you something else to wear after you get out alright?" He called through the door, then waited for an answer. He could hear the running water and was afraid she hadn't heard him. Opening the door slightly, he called again, "I've got you another dress out, so you won't have to wear your gown to dinner."
Opening the foggy glass door she poked her head out and looked at him. "Alright, just set it there on the counter. I won't be but a minute." Closing the door again she sighed. Whatever brand of hairspray Winry had used was a good one, although Zenobia was beginning to wish that it hadn't been.
Walking back into the bedroom, Ed pulled off his suit jacket. If she got to change, then so did he. Tuxedos were fine part of the time, but not if he didn't have to wear them. Pulling off the white shirt, he caught a glimpse of himself in the freestanding full-length mirror. Touching the place where metal met flesh, he scowled.
People tended to find it grotesque. Where Winry saw it as a marvel most women shied away from it. 'Maybe I should have let her see it before we got married.' He thought solemnly, although he knew why he hadn't. It was because he didn't want to lose her. But now it seemed like a cruel thing to do, marrying her before she had seen the extent of what his mistakes had cost him.
He was too engrossed in thought to realize that Noba had come out of the bathroom. Wearing the somewhat revealing dress he'd picked out, she made her way to stand behind him. Smiling at his reflection she could see that he was waiting for her reaction. Wrapping her arms around him and leaning over, she gently pressed her lips against both metal and skin.
Bringing his automail hand up to stroke her cheek, he allowed the relief to flood over him like a welcoming rain. When she laid her head against his cold metal shoulder he could see the love in her eyes. It didn't matter what he'd done in the past, or what he looked like now. All that mattered was that they were together.
"Weren't you going to get dressed so we could make that reservation?" She queried, shifting so that she could kiss his neck. Her wet hair hung over her shoulder, brushing against his back. She smiled when he didn't answer and found he was still gazing in the mirror. "Well?"
Taking in a deep breath and letting it out slowly, he gave her a slight smirk. "Why don't we call for room service instead? Eat here, just the two of us." When she loosened her hold on him, he turned and looped his arms around her waist. He did so to look into her eyes rather than at her reflection. "Would that be alright, my beautiful bride?"
Kissing the juncture once more, she grinned. "That would be perfect." She cooed, pressing her lips against his momentarily. "Although I'm surprised you don't want to show me off. After all, weren't the guys at the office saying that I'm your trophy wife?"
Shaking his head, Edward's grip around her tightened. His golden eyes glowed with passion. "I don't want to share you with anyone." Pulling her into a kiss, he felt as though his whole world were right there in his arms. She was all he needed, from that moment until the day he died.
