Title: The Permutation of Our Sins
Prompt: #357 / Metamorphosis
Series: Brotherhood
Word Count: 500
Rating: T
Characters: Edward Elric & Alphonse Elric, Winry Rockbell
Summary: Alphonse can't accept that his beloved brother is dying.
Warnings: Swearing. No beta (I apologize for any mistakes you might find!)
A/N: Angst! This is another dark head canon of mine. I hope you enjoy!
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Tears blurred Alphonse's vision as they took his older brother's pitiful sight. Edward prostrated in bed reminded him of their dear mother. Trisha Elric spent months fighting a deadly illness, his brother was following the in her footsteps but at an accelerated pace.
"We should've been ordering our wedding cake by now, Al." Winry's heartbreaking comment stuck with Alphonse for days. Her grieving finally pushed him into action.
Alphonse was confident that his genius could help Edward heal. He activated arrays Mei had taught him and used every ingredient she sent to Amestris, but everything ended in failure.
"Please take care of Winry for me…"
For Alphonse, his brother's dying wish felt like an ultimatum.
Edward was losing the battle, and Alphonse was losing all hope…
His grieving mind started thinking about of forbidden arrays and condemned ideologies; human transmutation turned into an attractive possibility. Alphonse spent the following nights locked up inside his room concocting a sinful plan.
The time for his brother's final treatment happened days later.
Edward opened his eyes when he felt something cold leeching out what little warmth was left in his shriveled body. It took him a few long minutes to understand that he was laying naked on top of an alchemical array. Golden eyes widened in horror recognizing some of the symbols and written incantations.
"Al…please don't do this…" He gasped.
Alphonse was placing his brother's folded clothes on top of Winry's workstation when he heard him calling. He went to Edward and knelt next to him.
"I'm not going to lose you," he answered as he placed an animal claw next to his brother. "The life force contained within this tiger claw will help you heal."
Edward shook his head in disapproval. He was about to complain when a coughing fit stopped him.
"You're going to turn me into a chimera, Al, a fucking chimera!" He cried out when the coughing subsided. "You're going to follow in Tucker's footsteps—" The agitation brought another coughing fit, stronger than the last one, leaving him gasping for air.
Alphonse's expression turned dark, and his eyes narrowed. "I'm nothing like Mr. Tucker," he hissed.
Edward was still recuperating from the coughing fit, but he the found the strength necessary to prop himself on his elbows. "Did you forget what happened to Nina?" He retorted defiantly.
"I will never forget what happened to Nina, Brother," Alphonse answered, wistfully thinking about the little girl who was lost to madness. "This is the only way to save you."
"You're no god—"
"Do you want to die knowing that there was something that could've saved you?"
"Al—"
"You told me once how you held on to dear life after being impaled by a metal rod simply because you didn't want Winry to cry over your lifeless body. Do you want to throw all that away?"
Edward went silent and dropped back to the cold ground.
"Do it…" he whispered.
Tears fell from his eyes when he heard his brother clap.
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The End
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A/N-2: This is an idea for a new story. What do you think of it?
