A/N: Well…here's another chapter! Thanks again to the two who reviewed! Sorry for the slow update. My computer had a virus, so…
Warnings: Language
With The Boys
'I'm glad we're back inside,' Edward complained, rubbing the joint on his shoulder.
Alphonse, Azure, and himself were walking back to Mustang's office. Azure and Alphonse were back into their Guild uniforms, thanks to Alphonse.
'It wasn't that cold,' Alphonse said.
Edward pulled the cuff of his jacket up so Al could see his automail.
'Oh,' Alphonse breathed, suddenly embarrassed.
'Don't worry. You-you didn't know,' Edward let the sentence trail off until the Gatekeepers could barely hear him.
Alphonse stared at him oddly for a moment. It seemed like Edward expected him to know. Alphonse slowly took in the rest of Edward's figure, noticing the slight limp in his left leg. The way the leather hung, it seemed his left leg was automail as well. Edward turned around so his back was Alphonse. Alphonse let his gaze wander back up Ed's form, his gaze widening when he saw the symbol on the back of Edward's jacket.
'Es ist dasselbe (1),' Alphonse muttered.
'What?' Azure asked, looking at Alphonse.
'The symbol on his jacket, it's the same one that's on my blue one,' Alphonse said quietly.
'Are you guys coming or not?' Edward said, looking over his shoulder at the two younger boys, narrowing his eyes when they started. 'What are you guys discussing?'
'Nothing. Gatekeeper business,' Alphonse lied, nudging Azure as if to say go along with it.
'Sure.'
Edward turned and began walking back towards Mustang's office. He could still hear the young Gatekeepers muttering behind him, but he paid them no mind. It wasn't any of hi business what his younger brother and his partner talked about. Unless it concerned him of course.
'How is that? I thought that was just a symbol from your flashes (2)?' Azure said, inching closer to Alphonse as they turned onto a more crowded hallway.
'I don't know. Then again, it could just be a coincidence,' Alphonse said, pulling his black jacket closer to him and crossing his arms. He turned his eyes to the floor; just stepping in time with Azure, knowing the younger wouldn't let him run into anything. His head was beginning to hurt.
'Damn it,' he muttered.
'What?' Azure questioned.
'I left my medicine in the dorms at the Guild headquarters.'
'Your migraine medicine?' Azure asked, and Alphonse nodded. 'Are you going to be ok?'
Although Alphonse was one of the toughest Gatekeepers, there was his one weakness, his migraines. He didn't get them often, but when he did, they struck him hard, often staying as long as a week if he didn't take his medication every day. He would be stuck in his dorm room, unable to stabilize, which left Azure to stay with him, and bring him his food and medicine. It also left him with a case of chills, meaning Azure had to bring him extra blankets too. That was partly the reason Azure was his partner. When Azure first showed up on Gatekeeper grounds at the age of 10, Alphonse had gotten a migraine and nearly collapsed during a training session. Luckily Azure was there to help him, and they had been partners ever since. Everyone knew that partners needed each other, but Alphonse needed Azure sometimes more than he liked to admit.
'I don't know,' Alphonse said, bringing a hand up to his temple and rubbing it. He shivered slightly, and Azure reached out and braced a hand between his shoulder blades.
'Do you need to stop?' Azure asked, noticing as Alphonse began to shiver again.
'No. We need to get back to the Colonel's office,' Alphonse said.
Azure scowled. Alphonse's pride wouldn't let him stop. 'Ok.'
Edward glanced back at the young Gatekeepers right before the turned onto the hallway where Mustang's office was located. He grew a little concerned when he saw Azure with his arm on Al's back. He stopped and waited for them to catch up. Once they were beside them, he began to walk again.
'Alphonse. You need to stop,' Azure said softly as Alphonse's footsteps faltered and he nearly stumbled.
'No. I told you I'm fine,' Alphonse said.
Azure sighed and lightly applied more pressure to Al's shoulder blades. He stopped Alphonse for a moment, and pulled his jacket off to give to Alphonse to put over his own.
'Thanks,' Alphonse said quietly as he pulled it over his own. He smiled slightly at Azure.
Azure nodded. 'You're welcome.'
Alphonse faltered again before covering his ears with his hands. The noise in the hallway really wasn't helping much. Azure lightly placed an arm around his waist to keep him steady. Edward finally stood in front of him after what seemed like forever, holding the door to Mustang's office open.
'Thanks,' Azure said, his voiced muffled by Alphonse's hands.
'Good to see you boys are back,' Mustang's voice said as Edward stepped in behind them and shut the door. Alphonse immediately removed his hands, and straightened. He began to slip off Azure's jacket, but the younger stopped him.
'Just keep it,' he said softly.
'So. Are you guys rested? It seems we'll have to be staying with the military for a few more days,' Jacqueline said, the distrust evident even in her voice.
'Yes. Thank you,' Azure said, glancing at Alphonse quickly.
That glance immediately made all attention go to the golden-haired Gatekeeper.
'Alphonse. Are you ok?' a female voice asked, and everyone turned to look at the newcomer; Lieutenant Hawkeye.
'Ye-yes ma'am,' Alphonse said, while Jacqueline narrowed her eyes.
'Alphonse. Tell me the truth. Did you forget your medicine?' Jacqueline said.
Alphonse flinched. 'Yes.'
'You damn idiot. You know you're useless without it. What are we going to do about it? You're already pretty bad, and we can't send Azure back, seeing as how he has to take care of you. Do you realize how fucking stupid that was?' Jacqueline yelled.
'Yes ma'am,' Alphonse said.
Jacqueline glanced at her most experienced Gatekeeper and sighed. 'Answer me. What are we going to do?'
'Could someone else maybe have it? Or bring it?' Roy asked, clearly concerned. Alphonse was beginning to shiver violently, and he was back to holding his ears after Jacqueline's outburst.
'I guess someone could bring it,' Jacqueline. 'Although I hate bringing even more of my members here.'
'Jacqueline. It'll just be for a few minutes,' Azure pleaded as he wrapped both arms around Alphonse as he leaned against the wall.
'Damn it. Fine. We'll have Cameron bring it,' Jacqueline said.
'Thank you,' Alphonse muttered quietly.
Edward stepped over to Mustang's side and pulled him back slightly.
'This never happened in the other world,' Edward said, concern for his brother evident in his gaze. Alphonse may not remember him, but that didn't mean Ed wasn't worried.
'I don't know what's causing it. But whatever it is, it must be pretty severe,' Mustang said.
The door burst open in the next few seconds, causing Al to whimper slightly. All this noise was not making things any easier. In stepped a blonde girl, and Edward groaned.
'Winry,' Edward whined, 'I told you to wait at the train station!'
'I know but you were taking to long,' Winry said.
'Azure, why don't you move him over to the couch?' Mustang said quietly. Azure nodded and helped Alphonse over to the couch. He laid Alphonse down and brushed his hair back. It seemed he was now extremely tired. Azure lightly sat down on the side of the couch and rested a hand on Alphonse's chest. Another thing they had to be afraid of; it seemed Alphonse's heart would speed up during the migraine attacks, and they had to be careful it didn't beat to fast. That would cause serious problems.
Two things then happened at once; Winry spotted Alphonse, and Alphonse's heart began to speed up.
A/N: There we go! I'm not sure if those things happen during a migraine, or maybe they do, but I needed them to happen. This one was pretty short, but it had important information in it. Please review!
(1)It's the same
(2) This is also something that happens during Al's migraines.
