Sorry for taking longer than usual to update this, but college midterms and a case of writer's block kept me really busy.
Anyway, thanks for all the support! I appreciate all you readers so much!
It was worse than Edward remembered.
Because last time Hawkeye hadn't called last minute and informed the Elrics that she and the Colonel couldn't pick them up due to an unexpected, mandatory meeting they had to attend in Eastern HQ. Edward had been perfectly content to wait and delay having to see the living embodiment of some of his worst nightmares, but life was rarely so kind to him. Hence, there was no military escort for them this time.
Just a monster behind the wheel, pretending to be the average family man and making idle talk with his naive younger self.
Shou Tucker had been oh so nice enough to offer the stranded Elrics a ride, even with the unexpected addition of Ed's cousins. Thankfully Tucker's car was larger than the standard vehicle, so Edward was only somewhat squashed against the backseat door while Alphonse's thin body easily fit in the middle and Al took up the majority of space on the left. Yet Edward hardly noticed how his legs were going numb after being cramped in one place for so long since Tucker -that inhuman monster- sat a mere three feet in front of him and held the entirety of his attention. It was taking every ounce of Edward's self control to not reach over the seat and smash his fist into the back of Tucker's head -sooo tempting- and for the first time in Edward's life, he wished he never got his arm back because an automail fist could really bring the pain to this monstrous basta-
"Are you..." Al paused, realizing it would be stupid to ask if Edward was alright when he clearly wasn't. "What's wrong?" He tried again in a low whisper, sensing the heaviness that had blanketed the air ever since Ed stated they would be meeting the Life-Sowing Alchemist. The youngest Elric wanted to help ease the tension in the car, but he wasn't sure what exactly had put Edward and Alphonse so on edge. After all, they had been the ones to ask if they could tag along with Ed and Al. However, they had not seemed enthusiastic when they ask, more so they had looked grimly determined.
Clearly Al wasn't simply imagining the dark mood that surrounded the Elrics of the future because Ed had gone silent for a second while talking to Mr. Tucker and his eyes shifted to glance back at Edward before he resumed talking. Obviously he'd heard Al's inquiry and he too wanted to know what was wrong.
"I'm fine." The hiss came out like a low growl as Edward kept his gaze locked onto Tucker's head, silently agonizing over his loss of alchemy because it could have let him be so much more creative when he got his hands on Tucker.
Seeing Edward was going to be no help to him, Al looked down at Alphonse and was taken aback when the older immediately diverted his gaze to the floor. Alphonse had been mute and reclusive ever since they entered the car, perhaps worst of than Edward. Al noted how Alphonse was hunched over as if he wanted to curl into himself and his eyes held a deep sadness that dulled his gold into a pale lead. Yet Al knew his older self at least wouldn't lie, so he decided to try. "What's bothering you?" He gently nudged Alphonse, hoping the physical contact would encourage Alphonse to respond rather than ignore him like Edward seemed to be doing.
Alphonse didn't outwardly react for a minute, but eventually he raised his head to peer up at Al. The youngest Elric was surprised by the sight of guilt interwoven with sorrow on Alphonse's face because he had seen that expression only once before.
The day Alphonse ran into Hughes.
Al automatically questioned why his older self looked such a way, especially since Alphonse had never told him what he and Hughes talked about last night. Al knew their older selves couldn't tell them about future events, but he was starting to feel an awful lot of trepidation from how bleak the near future seemed to be based on Alphonse and Edward's reactions to certain people.
"Here we are." Tucker's soft, almost monotone voice announced as he slowed the car to a stop in front of his large house. "You can wait in the front yard while I park out back."
Al reluctantly allowed his older self to keep silent before he turned to face the bio-alchemist. "Thank you, Mr. Tucker." He spoke automatically, knowing Ed probably wouldn't remember his manners, but he was confused when he saw Alphonse flinch and Edward's gaze harden due to his words. Al had no idea how his innocent, cordial tone towards Tucker brought dark memories to the minds of their older selves. How they had walked in that stormy morning, Alphonse calling for Mr. Tucker until they found him in the basement...
Tucker temporarily turned off the car and slipped out to unlock the black iron gate in front of the house, and his passengers also took this time to exit the vehicle. Alphonse waited for Edward to scoot out before he followed with the sole of his crutch hitting the ground first. Yet the fifteen year old had only just stood up when he realized his crutch had landed on a crack in the middle of the street and was thus on unstable ground, but he had little time to stabilize himself before he was stumbling forward.
Until pale hands latched onto his shoulders and steadied him.
"Are you alright?"
Alphonse involuntarily gasped when his eyes met Tucker's because those hands were touching him, burning through his shirt and numbing the skin on his shoulders. Because those same hands had experimented on an innocent child and her dog and were now touching him. Alphonse's limbs locked in place, leaving him paralyzed and mute with horror.
Tucker went out without noticing Alphonse's fear and disgust. "You should be more careful with your condition-"
"Get off of him!" Edward snarled loud enough for his words to echo as he yanked Tucker away by the front collar of his shirt and inserted himself in front Alphonse. "Don't you ever touch him!" Pure rage contorted his face, making his pupils dilate and his teeth peek out like that of a rabid animal baring its fangs. Edward's fist trembled violently with the desire to make Tucker bleed because at this moment Edward couldn't think clearly. Not when Tucker's filthy hands had been on his little brother's fragile, innocent body.
He was going to leave Tucker in pieces.
But a metal arm grabbed Edward's fist before he could swing it straight into Tucker's glasses because then the little shards could tear up his face too.
"Ed!" Al whisper-shouted in warning, though his voice held a note of concern as well. While his brother had always been volatile, attacking a state alchemist who hadn't done anything to him -at least not yet?- wasn't something even Ed would risk considering the heavy penalty for attacking a military officer, which all state alchemists technically were.
Ed stepped up to Edward, eyes darting back and forth like a swing from his older self's enraged expression to Tucker who appeared unusually calm for someone on the verge of being brutally beaten. "Let him go." He tried to meet Edward's eyes but his older self wouldn't turn away from Tucker for a second.
"Brother." Alphonse placed a hand on Edward's shoulder and felt the muscle beneath tense, but Edward still didn't look back. "I'm okay, he didn't hurt me." Only those softly spoken words allowed the fury to seep out of Edward. Then slowly and reluctantly, the eldest released Tucker and stepped away without allowing his glare to leave Tucker's face. Though all of Edward's being yearned to attack the bio-alchemist when Tucker simply readjusted his glasses once he was free and gave Edward the look of a scientist who had just found a very unusual, but interesting specimen.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Tucker, he's just worried about his brother." Al covered for Edward, the lie coming easily since it was partly true.
"Yeah, with his condition and all." Ed added to sell the lie, and he was releived when Tucker simply nodded in acceptance.
Though the bio-alchemist stared straight into Edward's burning gold as he stated, "It's understandable." The monotone drone of a voice and the look in Tucker's eyes, perhaps staring at Edward with the same eerie calm he had in face of his own daughter before he transmuted her into a chimera. "Family is a most valuable thing." His lips curved up slightly in a way that may have appeared genuine and friendly to Ed and Al, but to Edward the smile much too closely resembled that cruel smirk he given the sixteen year old on that terrible morning. All that was missing was that hideous mocking laugh as Edward punched him over and over.
Tucker had already turned back to re-enter his car and never saw how Edward started to lunge for him until Alphonse squeezed his shoulder. "Not now, Brother." Only Alphonse's implication that Edward could get Tucker later allowed him to keep still as Tucker drove off.
Though once the car was out of sight Ed rounded on Edward. "What is your problem?!"
Edward blinked, the rage completely leaving him as he took in the confusion and frustration within the eyes of his younger self. Yet Edward quickly schooled his expression. "Nothing you need to know." It wasn't Ed's problem yet, and it never would be if Edward could do anything about it.
"Don't give me that," Ed growled, angered at being left in the dark once more. "I want to know what's going on. What could Tucker have possibly done for you to hate him so much?" He carefully observed the way Edward's face darkened, almost as if he were haunted and scarily similar to how Ed looked when he was thinking about his failed attempt to perform human transmutation, but a dark car pulled up in front of them before he could further question Edward. The Elrics watched as the black escort car parked in front of them before one person exited from the backseat.
"Colonel? I thought you weren't supposed to show up for another hour." Al stared quizzically at Mustang, who nodded his head in greeting with an impassive expression. Having silently took her place beside him, Hawkeye sent the Elrics she knew a brief smile before her eyes scanned over Edward and Alphonse. Immediately Edward realized this Mustang and Hawkeye had no idea who he was, and he began thinking rapidly to make up something that sounded plausible.
"The meeting didn't go on as long as we thought it would." Mustang sounded mildly annoyed as he spoke. "Fortunately Hughes didn't try to force too many family pictures on us."
The Elric brothers stared at Mustang blankly for a moment, not understanding until his dark eyes moved over to Edward and Alphonse. Particularly, his eyes lingered on Edward who Mustang looked up and down with a serious, assessing expression.
"What?" Edward eyed Mustang right back, crossing his arms over his chest to hide his mild discomfort over seeing someone so familiar yet different from the recovering blind man he'd last seen in that basement before he sent Edward back in time.
The Colonel shook his head. "Oh, it's nothing. I'm just surprised Fullmetal won't be a microscopic shrimp next year. At least not entirely."
"Who are you calling a shrimp?!"
"Are you already blind, old man?! I'm almost as tall as you!"
Mustang waited out the explosive reactions, inwardly amused, before he nodded. "You're right." His voice was even and his expression completely serious, causing each Elric to freeze at the unexpected agreement from Mustang. "I must have shrunk a foot last night for you to be anywhere near my height."
The fire relit in the Ed's eyes. "I'm gonna burn down your office for the irony of it!"
Edward raised a clenched fist in warning. "My growth isn't stunted anymore!"
Ed's head snapped over to his older self, rage redirected to a new target. "What's that supposed to mean?!"
Edward gave him a side long glance, smirk already forming. "One day when your older and not a complete pipsqueak, you'll understand."
And once more Ed didn't say a thing before he launched himself towards Edward.
Al and Alphonse rubbed the back of their heads sheepishly as they watched the Edwards start to scuffle. "Sorry, Lieutenant." Al apologized for his brothers' immaturity.
Hawkeye shook her head in the negative. "There's no need. I should have known the Colonel would antagonize Edward regardless of which time period he is from." She didn't sigh, but she clearly wanted to as Mustang observed the fight he had stirred up, showing no signs of being bothered while the Eds scuffled on the ground before him. Al wondered why Edward and Ed weren't attacking each other as violently as they had yesterday -it was more like they were wrestling now- but he figured it had something to do with their encounter last night.
"So Hughes told you about us?" Alphonse questioned to make certain.
"Yes, he figured it would be best to explain the situation to the Colonel and his subordinates so we wouldn't mistaken the older Edward for the impostor." Her perfect calm broke ever so slightly and her almond eyes narrowed while they focused on the Colonel. "He also alerted us about a recent string of murders..." She paused when a handful of dirt was tossed her way, and no longer tolerating the Elrics and Mustang's antics, she cocked her gun.
Loudly.
Everyone immediately straightened up, even the Als, fearing for their lives while Hawkeye plainly suggested -an order in her case- they all calm down because Shou Tucker was coming around the corner and they needed to be presentable.
Edward untangled himself from Ed, who he had barely managed to pin on the floor, and refocused on the mission as Tucker walked up to them, but suddenly a low bark rang out from the front of the house.
"The mutt." Ed knew what was coming and turned around to warn his younger self when a shadow fell over him and he looked up in shock to see a furry white coat and cry out, "Not me, you mangy-" The large weight slammed him into the ground and he saw dark spots in his vision and his head rang as his face smashed into the concrete.
"I told Nina to tie that dog up." He heard someone say from above, but his kind was too muddle to recognize it as pain left him in mute shock.
"Are you okay?" Al asked Edward in concern, but eldest decided talking wouldn't be an option until he could actually see again.
"You're supposed to get my younger self." He mumbled from underneath the creme white dog, but it was doubtful anything coherent actually came out as Edward's finally registered this would be the longest day of his life.
"Lieutenant, please escort these boys to HQ." Mustang announced as Tucker joined them. Then he regarded Tucker. "I'm sorry for the mix up, but Edward's cousins have something else to attend to."
Alphonse blinked in surprise, while Edward squirmed to get out from under the hairy beast. "But Colonel, we need to come with you." He tried to keep the strain out of his voice, but knew he was failing.
Mustang shook his head right as Edward dragged himself out, still panting and glaring at the dog. "I'm sorry, but this is for state alchemist ears only." With that said he turned around to enter the building. Realizing what was happening, Edward struggled to move forward but Hawkeye was suddenly in front of him and he didn't dare move.
"Wait, Colonel, you don't understand-"
Mustang had already closed the door behind him, cutting them off entirely, and it suddenly seemed saving Nina was going to be a lot harder than Edward had thought.
Ed, Al, and Mustang followed Tucker down the hall to a more secluded room where they could be properly introduced to the Life-Sowing Alchemist. Unfortunately, Hawkeye had been given orders to take Edward and Alphonse back to the dorms where they would remain until Al and Ed returned.
"Do you really think that was a good idea, Colonel?" Al spoke softly, the memory of Edward and Alphonse's twin expressions of despair and adamant plea to be allowed in Tucker's home were still fresh in mind.
Mustang didn't bother to face Alphonse, but it was to keep Tucker from seeing them have a private conversation behind his back rather than be rude towards the youngest Elric. "It doesn't matter what I think." He replied in a low gruff tone, which betrayed no emotion. "I can't allow your cousins, whom are technically civilians, to listen in on a private discussion that state alchemists are having without a good explanation." He observed the bio-alchemist from the back carefully, searching for signs that Tucker had overheard him and thankfully not finding any, before going on.
"Even if I did allow your cousins in, I'm sure Tucker would ask questions they couldn't answer." Mustang said simply, not noticing the flash of mild surprise on Ed's face because the Colonel had been looking out for their older selves. Ed had originally thought his annoying superior was being unusually cold and flippant to his older self's needs, but it sounded like Mustang had their best interests at heart. Was he imagining such -dare he think it- parental concern from Mustang? Ed shook his head to clear away such disorienting thoughts. It just wasn't the time and he had enough on his plate as it was.
Al looked down, still pondering his older self's reaction to Mr. Tucker. "I understand, but they were acting like it was really important that they come with us." He couldn't help but sympathize with the older Elrics, especially when it was so obvious how something about Tucker was reopening old wounds for the both of them.
"More like they were acting weird and being just as vague as ever." Ed decided to chime in, recalling his own observations and eager to share them if it meant he could figure out what was going on. "You'd think they would just explain already since they're leaving soon." He scowled as he pondered the mystery, not feeling all to sympathetic towards his olde self because of his own annoyance with not being left in the dark. Clearly something significant had happened to Ed and Al -or was going to- in this house, and whatever that was had led to Edward to absolutely loathing Tucker. It must have been something Edward took really personal for that type of hate to be in his eyes, but Ed couldn't think of what it could be since Tucker didn't seem at all that bad, merely a bit aloof at worst.
"Acting strange?" Mustang raised an eyebrow as they rounded the corner. "How so?"
Ed crossed his arms. "Well my older self can't stand Tucker."
"That's not so strange." Mustang stated with a deadpan voice. "You've always been short-tempered."
Ed glared at the back of the Colonel's head, but then he smirked before he spoke through grounded teeth. "You know I think my older self mentioned something about beating you the other day." His smirk grew as Mustang stiffened. "He was so fast you couldn't touch him back at Central Hospital. You getting slow, old man?"
Mustang narrowed his eyes, inwardly sulking but refusing to let Ed know he one-upped him. "He took us by surprise, that gave him an unfair advantage." He refused to pout, but the pout was audible with every syllable.
"Reaaally?" Ed drawled the word out savor this moment of victory. "And here I thought it was just raining that day, and you got all useless again." His smirk turned vicious when Mustang gave him a frown, biting his tongue to prevent himself from yelling since that would unprofessional in front of Tucker.
Al finally saw his chance to enter the conversation. "My older self wasn't angry...he looked sad, like he did with Hughes."
Mustang blinked at this information and Ed refocused. Now the Colonel regarded Al with tamed curiosity. "What about Hughes?" He narrowed his eyes. The Colonel recalled that Hughes had acted fairly normal when he last seen him, but there had been this oddest sensation that maybe Hughes was holding back something during the meeting. Mustang had dismissed it at the time, believing it was of no importance but now he wondered.
"Were not sure, they won't tell us anything." Ed sighed, beyond frustrated at this point because Alphonse had been here for almost four days and he still had no clue why he had panicked when he saw the Lieutenant Colonel.
And come to think of it, Edward had seemed fairly shocked himself when he saw Hughes. Was there a connection between these two incidents? Or were Hughes and Tucker two separate sources of discomfort for Edward and Alphonse?
Mustang made a thoughtful sound, before quietly concluding, "If it's important to your older selves, maybe I should have a talk with Hughes." His expression tightened ever so slightly, the feeling that something was not right making him feel ebb of worry.
Tucker paused as he opened the door to what looked like a dining room, distracting the trio from their pondering. "We can sit in here." Reluctantly, Ed, Al, and Mustang decided now wasn't the time to question the future.
Yet neither the Elrics nor Mustang were the type to let things go unanswered.
Edward and Alphonse passed the threshold of the doorway and entered the room with the Lieutenant leading them in. Hawkeye didn't make a sound as she moved straight to her desk, took a seat, went right back to work as if she had never been gone. However, Breda, Falman, Havoc, and Fuery stilled in their wooden chairs and their hands ceased to scribble signatures onto the documents scattered across the desk. They all stared at Edward with varying degrees of shock.
"No way," Havoc muttered after gaping so much that his cigarette nearly fell out of his mouth. "You can't be Ed." He blinked rapidly as if he didn't quite believe the sixteen year old wasn't just a figment of his imagination.
Edward raised an eyebrow at Havoc and a mixture of amusement and cockiness were evident in his voice as he asked, "Why not? I haven't changed that much." His eyes raked over each member of Mustang's team -so familiar yet different- and they eyed him back.
Yet Havoc was the first to recover from the paralyzing shock and clambered to his feet in a haste, nearly knocking over his chair. "But, Chief, you're..." He approached Edward with slight caution, the cigarette in his mouth dangling loosely as he peered down at the eldest Elric. "It's really you?" He looked the sixteen year old up and down with more disbelief than was warranted, and even poked the golden strand of hair sticking up from Edward's head to confirm he was solid.
"Who else would I be?" Edward asked with mild annoyance, knocking the older man's hand away when Havoc began poking his right arm where automail had once existed.
"I don't know," Breda got up as well and circled Edward with a critical eye. "I don't think anyone could have grown so much in a year. He was pretty small-"
"Who are you calling little?!" Edward demanded, body thrumming with the desire to hurt the next person who mentioned his height or his lack of it -but he'd grown so much!- in the next sentence. Breda smirked, having known there was one foolproof way of finding out if this really was Edward.
"Yup, that's chief for you." Havoc concluded, grinning now and patting Edward on the back.
"You really have grown, Ed." Falman noted with mild curious. Though he did not leave his seat to poke and prod at Edward like Havoc was still doing until Edward bared his teeth like he was preparing to bite his hand off.
Until the radio released a mighty screeching noise and Fuery instinctively pulled away from the radio he had been tinkering with. "Sorry, the radio has been acting up since yesterday." He sighed, wondering if he really could fix the old radio until two thin hands clapped together and fell upon the radio. In a flash of light, the radio was left sparkling like brand new.
Fuery swung his head up in surprise to see Alphonse, who smiled down at him. Yet it was Falman who leaned forward in his seat, openly gaping at the fixed radio. "How did you do that?" He stared at Alphonse, who appeared a bit embarrassed from the awe. "I thought only Edward could."
Fuery blinked rapidly but soon sent a timid smile towards Alphonse, "Thanks..." He paused as something dawned on him and he frowned. "I'm sorry, but do I know you?"
Both Edward and Alphonse became the ones who were gobsmacked in the face of Mustang's crew until Alphonse slowly regained composure. "Oh, Hughes didn't mention me?" He rubbed the back of his head in a nervous gesture and then kept his eyes locked with the ground, "I know I look different, but it's me, Alphonse." He was a bit amused when the entire group nearly fell out of their seats or lost their balance from where they stood.
Havoc immediately walked over to the fifteen year old, swiftly looking Alphonse up and down. "You're Alphonse." He tried to replace the image of the suit of armor that he had associated with Alphonse for years with this boy leaning on a crutch. "You're so much smaller than I thought you'd be." He was puzzled how such an average-sized fifteen year old had fit into that bulky armor he always wore.
Unlike his brother, Alphonse didn't mind the comment and in fact felt mild pleasure that people recognized him as the young boy he was. "It's a bit hard to explain." His embarrassment only grew as everyone crowded him, looking him over as if they had never seen him before, which they technically hadn't.
"Hey, don't crowd him!" Edward chided, having flashbacks from his time in Rush Valley as those annoying vultures had practically tore his clothing to shreds just to get a peek at his automail. "He can't handle too much excitement." He tried to shove his way forward but suddenly the door behind him slammed open.
"Oh, you poor brothers!" Major Armstrong burst into the room, his large frame filling the doorway and tears streaming down his eyes like a sparkling river. "Hughes told me all about your terrible journey from the future!" His voice boomed and echoed with exaggerated yet genuine sympathy. His uniform was still on, but that was subject to change at the rate Armstrong was going.
"Oh the beauty and strength of the brotherhood between you and Alphonse! How daring you were to risk your life just to find your younger brother in the past! How tumultuous a journey it must have been for you both!" He suddenly yanked off his shirt in a fluid motion, and a stunned Edward didn't have time react before a pair of large arms encircled him and lifted him off the floor and tossed him into a solid as rock chest. "Please allow me to restore your strength by holding you in a long, comforting embrace!"
"Get off of me!" Edward screamed, but he could hardly breathe as Armstrong squeezed him as if he were a stuffed animal so it probably sounded muffled.
"But I must encourage with a healing technique that has been passed down in the Armstrong family for generations!" Armstrong did not release him and no one came to Edward's aid since they were still too busy fawning over Alphonse. Said younger Elric was starting to appear anxious in face of all the attention, which he wasn't expecting to receive.
Then a gunshot went off.
Everyone immediately gave attention to Hawkeye who had already put away her gun and was now observing them with a steel in her eyes that demanded they listen up. "Everyone get back to work." Her voice wasn't raised but it might as well have been. "We have a lot of paperwork that must be finished by the end of the day." Her gaze craned over each member until they promptly retook their seats and dove into paperwork like the must dedicated group of military men that East had ever seen. Though Edward, Alphonse, and Armstrong merely gathered near the doorway in attempt to be far far away from Hawkeye's wrath.
Yet unde the heavy weight of her gaze, Edward cringed and hurried to say, "We'll be going to the dorms now." He gave her a nervous smile, and Alphonse recognized what his brother way trying to do. They needed to return to the Tucker residence because they were running out of time and they could easily sneak off on their way to the dorms.
However, Hawkeye saw through the ruse too. "Alright," She agreed, and then turned to Armstrong. "Could you escort them to the dorms, Major?"
"Of course!" Armstrong happily agreed, but Edward and Alphonse felt their despair building.
Deciding there was no point to try and trick the observant Lieutenant, Edward cut to the chase. "We really need to get back to Tucker's house."
"Mustang ordered me to keep you here until your younger selves return." Hawkeye reminded them warily, but also with a light sympathy because Edward and Alphonse seemed genuinely upset that they couldn't leave. In fact, Hawkeye's careful eye noticed there was an edge of anxiety and near desperation to their pleas. Whatever they wanted to do, it was very important to them.
"But if we don't get out of here until sunset it will be too late." Alphonse admitted, trying to keep his tentative hold on his patience.
Hawkeye rose an eyebrow at the wording and even Armstrong picked up on the negative implication. "What do you mean?" She took care to listen attentively, now concerned.
Alphonse looked to Edward a bit helplessly, uncertain on what he should and should not say. Edward's face pinched together in frustration and then very lowly, he explained, "Someone is going to die and we need your help to save them."
Hawkeye and Armstrong shared the look of someone who had been struck hard and fast, but Edward didn't regret his words.
Not if it meant he could save them.
Ed was zeroed in on the text written on the page, evaluating in his mind whether he should keep reading or if this book would be little to no help in getting Al's body back. He was concentrating so hard that he didn't notice how the glass window behind him was being transmuted, and a large gaping hole was soon left in the glass.
Then someone snorted and mockingly teased, "Well, no one can say I ever had a short attention span, right, Al?"
Ed jumped when Edward plucked the book out of his gloved hands, in order to get his attention, before returning it to Ed. He blinked rapidly as he took in the sight of a smirking Edward, and Alphonse who smiled at him in greeting. "When did you-" He finally caught sight of the transmuted opening in the window.
Edward crossed his arms over his red hoodie, still lightly smirking. "We broke in of course." He shrugged as if this were a normal way to enter someone's home, though Ed silently agreed he wasn't opposed to breaking and entering if he felt it was necessary or more convenient. It seemed some bad habits never would leave the eldest Elric. "I would have broken a window to get in, but Alphonse had a problem with that suggestion." He frowned, near pouting while Alphonse gave him a glance of disapproval.
"Brother, you can't just break a window. The glass could hurt you and it would be noisy." Alphonse tried to be stern, but Edward shrugged it off.
"Yeah, like I care if Tucker catches us." Edward quipped sarcastically. "It's not like I need an excuse to knock him out." He realized he should have held his tongue when Ed gave him a searching glare, mind latching onto Edward's obvious contempt for Tucker.
"Where's Al?" Alphonse interrupted smoothly, covering for Edward.
Ed turned to him and casually stated, "He was playing with Nina last time I checked. You know...Tucker's daughter..." His voice trailed off into a whisper when he saw the brief flash of horror and fury - the latter on Edward's part- that crossed their faces. Though they composed themselves so soon Ed nearly doubted they had ever been disturbed.
"That's it." Taking advantage of their moment of weakness, Ed went up to Edward without giving him much room to back away. "I know you hate Tucker and don't you dare deny it." He added vehemently when he saw Edward open his mouth to protest. "And even Alphonse doesn't like him." That was more telling that Edward hating Tucker because Ed didn't get along with most people on a good day, but Al was a kind soul who could forgive in a heartbeat. The fact that Alphonse still watched Tucker with such wariness and pain meant this man had done something absolutely unforgivable.
And Ed had a right to know.
Edward was tight-lipped and Alphonse looked away, but Ed didn't give in. "Put yourself in my place. Would you like it if your older self was keeping secrets from you when it's pretty obvious something is really wrong here?" He thought he had made a fairly convincing argument, but Edward didn't crack under pressure, just sighed.
"No, no I wouldn't want to know." Edward placed a hand on Ed's shoulder and gave it a brief, but strong squeeze. "You don't want to know what's going to happen." His tone was even but firm. Ed recognized that tone of voice, the one he only ever used when he was determined not to change his mind regardless of the consequences. It was the same tone he had used a s naive, arrogant child determined to bring mom back if only his little brother would cheer up again. Therefore it was Edward's stubbornness pitted against Ed's as they waged a silent war by glaring at each other for a moment, neither willing to budge on the matter.
"Brother, I'm-" Al stopped short as he rounded the corner and saw who was beside Ed. "Alphonse, you're back!" He sounded both happy and confused by the older Elrics' return.
Ed gave Edward a withering glare to let him know he wasn't done with this discussion before facing Al. He noticed the lack of the little girl who had somehow wormed her way into the Elric brothers' hearts within a mere day, so he asked, "Where's Nina?"
"Oh, she's taking a nap." Al and Ed noted how their older selves released a breathe of relief, as if they didn't want to see Nina for some reason. "I think you really exhausted her when we were playing tag." He went on with good cheer, which was waning as he noticed how Edward and Alphonse held themselves tenser and tenser the longer they stood in Mr. Tucker's home.
Alphonse tried to break the growing unease in the room, by casually regarding Al with his lips slanted down in a frown. "Do you think you could keep an eye on her for us?"
"What? Where are you guys going?" Ed latched onto the unspoken plan.
"Nowhere far, we just need some time to think and then we'll be back." Edward briefly shared a knowing look with Alphonse, which was ironically the same thing Ed and Al we're doing after noting their older selves odd behavior.
"What are you going to do?" Al tried to gather information as subtly as he could.
"Just don't leave Nina by herself for too long, she gets lonely sometimes." Edward neared the window, preparing to exit. "We should be back before sunset."
"But even if we're not, don't leave Nina and Tucker alone." Alphonse's expression was grave and his golden eyes brimmed with emotion.
Al decided not to comment on their weird behavior, knowing it would do him no good at this point. "But the Colonel is sending someone to pick us up. What if they arrive before you come back?"
Edward smiled with a mirth that was entirely faked. "I'm sure you guys will figure something out." He quickly hopped through the window and immediately helped Alphonse through.
"Wait!" Ed stretched hand towards them, appearing half ready to chase after them. "You haven't even told us what's going-"
A low bark resounded above Ed and he barely had time to twist around and spot the shadow of Alexander before he was suffocating under what felt heavy as a truck, but furry as a bear.
"Are you okay, Ed?!"Al leaned down towards his brother in concern.
Edward and Alphonse took this time to leave, though Alphonse was frowning when he noticed Edward held a smug expression. "Brother, you could have warned him the dog was behind him."
Edward shrugged. "I'm just trying to keep the timeline safe. I can't let my younger self miss such a vital experience in his life."
Alphonse had the distinct feeling Edward's satisfaction had nothing to do with that, but he let his brother get away with it just this once.
The sunshine was especially bright today, the sky was crystal clear blue, and the tall grass danced in the occasional gust of wind. Despite the perfect weather, Alphonse and Edward sat on the bench as still as statues with their shoulders weighed down by the burden of having future knowledge.
"We have to decide now. It's going to happen tonight." Edward knew he didn't have to explain this to his genius younger brother, but it was easier to talk about this rather than the core issue. Though when Alphonse remained silent, Edward reluctantly went on. "We could tell Hughes, he'd definitely believe us... Especially since it involves a kid in trouble." His eyes were trained on the concrete below, glad the park was empty so he didn't have any concerned citizens asking why the Elrics seemed so morbid on such a lovely day. Though the emptiness was probably due to the fact this park was near Tucker's home, which was more on the outskirts of the city and thus free of the normal congestion found in the center of East city.
"Or the Colonel, he'd believe us too." Alphonse was quiet, his suggestion weak as if he knew they wouldn't actually tell Mustang what was going to happen.
"There isn't much time to tell him and get his help," Edward's spirit lifted slightly as a humorous thought crossed his mind. "But having Tucker singed is a nice image." The joke wasn't strong enough to keep the smile on his face, and his mood plummeted instantly. "If I have to, I can Tucker down by myself. It's not like I have to face consequences for attacking a Major when we could be sent back to the future any minute now." He hoped it sounded reasonable enough that if they did go with this plan, Alphonse wouldn't try to physically help. He wouldn't risk letting Tucker get his hands on his little brother.
"Which means we also don't have that much time to save Nina." Alphonse's brow furrowed as time seemed to be closing in on them. Each second passed meaning another bit of precious time had flown off into the wind. "And that's assuming we...should save her."
Edward looked up sharply, and Alphonse could feel his surprise without looking up from the cement floor. "I'm not saying I don't want to, Brother, but...we have no idea what could happen to the timeline if Nina lives." He forced the words out despite the lump his throat, making his heart pump blood faster as he stressed over the possibility Nina would be transmuted again. An event he doubted his weakened heart could handle.
Edward opened his mouth, closed it, and then tentatively reassured him. "It might not affect anything, not really. Especially if time is like a river and events like us defeating Father are inevitable."
"But what if they're not?" Alphonse didn't want to play devil's advocate but he knew they had to think this through. "If Nina lives and by a series of events causes us to lose against Father or someone else dies instead of her-" He cut himself off because he was speaking too quickly so he forced himself to breathe before continuing. "What right do we have to pick her life, one life, over the millions of innocents in Amestris?" His heart hammered in his chest and his breathe shuddered with every intake because their decision could very well become that serious.
"You're right," Edward admitted it with a heaving sigh. "We don't have the right to decide who lives and dies, and I'd never sacrifice millions of lives for one." His voice wobbled and Alphonse raised his head to see Edward was staring at him with piercing, misty eyes. It didn't take him long to recall how two months ago in their time period, Edward had been standing over Alphonse's empty, broken armor and refusing to use a Philosopher's stone even to save the precious life of his little brother. Alphonse grinned a thin smile, glad that his brother had and would continue to keep their promise to never sacrifice innocent souls for one life, no matter what.
"But that just means we have to be extra careful." Edward regained a spark in his eyes, determination strengthening him. "We must save Nina in a way that will least effect the timeline."
Alphonse's gained an expression of interest at his brother's renewed confidence. "How?"
Edward straightened in his seat, his face probably appearing harsh and jaded to the outside looker, but Alphonse knew that the anger was merely a coverup for his emotional turmoil -a brave front- and he was more than likely on the verge of an emotional breakdown. He reached out and placed his still bony hands on Brother's to let him know Alphonse was with him no matter what and as he always would be.
Edward gave him an appreciative smile that soon ebbed away. "This is going to sound terrible..." He felt Alphonse's hand curl around his, perhaps unconsciously bracing himself for Edward's next words. "But if we want things to go almost exactly like they did last time, our younger selves have to believe Nina is transmuted tonight and dies the next day." He heard Alphonse's horrified gasp but he refused to take back down on his suggestion. "Just hear me out." He wasn't sure if he was talking to Alphonse or himself.
"I don't mean they always have to think that, but they need to believe that just like we did for a while." He mulled over his next words. "At least until Father has been defeated. Then all the influences that Nina's..." He still hated thinking about this ugly truth he hoped desperately to change. "Death had on our decisions wouldn't change." He finally raised his eyes to decipher Alphonse's reaction.
Said younger brother was staring at Edward, eyes glassy and hand limp on top of Edward's, but soon he reeled in some of his emotions. "It is awful, but it could work, Brother." He forced himself to rationalize, because thinking emotionally wouldn't help him or Nina right now. "If Colonel Mustang hid Nina for us like he did with Lieutenant Ross then not too much would change with our younger selves actions, and hopefully only a few things would change with the Colonel's life."
Edward agreed eagerly, "All we have to do is get Nina out of there tonight, after our younger selves have left, and then turn Tucker in. I'm sure Hughes would believe us." The speech flowed easily as he truly started to believe they had a chance. "He'll help us find enough evidence to get Tucker thrown in jail permanently." His teeth snapped together in a grim, victorious smile.
Alphonse also straightened in his seat, hope renewing him and giving him a confidence that a few minutes ago hadn't existed. "We can do this." He looked up at the sky, noting that the sunset was going to start soon and the sunlight was already waning as the sun lowered in the sky. "We're really doing this, Brother." He gave Edward a bright smile and though the eldest didn't return it, Alphonse saw his shoulder were no longer slumped over with emotional burden.
Edward gave Alphonse a brief hair ruffle and his lips lifted on the edges in the beginnings of a sunny smile."Yeah, Al, we really are."
"Edward Elric."
Edward's head shot up to see a man with white hair and Ishvalan tan skin before a hand full of deadly intention flew towards his head.
"BROTHER!"
The alchemy sparked in deconstruction.
Please don't hate me, but I planned out this cliff hanger ending months ago.
Next chapter, without giving away too much, will reveal what Scar just did to Edward and how this affects Alphonse. Also, expect every character that's in Easy City to show up because next chapter is the last chapter of this fanfic (excluding the epilogue) and I'm going out with a bang for this finale.
Play time is over. You readers have been warned.
See ya in two weeks!
