Mistletoe and Memories
AN: Just a Christmas-based fic... post-movie. I think this is only my second first-anime based piece. I haven't seen it for a bit, so some stuff might be off. Probably based off Edward's first Christmas in Germany.
Disclaimer: Fullmetal Alchemist isn't mine. Nope, not at all.
"I don't understand this concept." He frowned at the glittering tinsel and the bright, flashing lights that hurt his eyes. "Is this some sort of contest to see who can decorate their storefront in the gaudiest fashion possible?"
"No, Ed." Alfons Heiderich sounded amused. "It's Christmas. Don't they have it where you come from?"
"No," Edward Elric muttered in reply, kicking at the snowy pavement morosely. "They don't."
Alfons' teasing expression faded. "I'm sorry... I just assumed..."
"Forget it." Edward sent a heap of snow flying into the air. "It's not important."
Alfons remained silent, but he watched the young man carefully. Edward's golden hair was littered with snowflakes that he made no attempt to brush off, and his brown jacket was liberally sprinkled with water droplets, from where the snow had melted. He didn't look happy – Edward rarely looked truly happy, so that wasn't completely surprising, but to be so solemn on Christmas Eve...
"Explain this Christmas to me." Although the words were rude, Edward's tone was polite enough. Alfons smiled slightly and launched into an explanation of the origins of Christmas, going on to add that most people nowadays viewed it as a family holiday more than anything else.
Edward was silent throughout the entire story, his golden eyes distant. He paused by a particularly posh toy store and stared into the display window, fogging it up with his breath. A plush bear sat in one corner, a smart red tie around its neck.
Brother! Brother, look at her, we can't just leave her here in the cold...
Brother, isn't he so cute?
Edward pressed his forehead against the window and sighed softly. Alfons watched him quietly, ready to interfere in case something happened – which seemed unlikely. After a few moments, Edward exhaled again and lifted his weight off the window, backing away slowly.
"Sorry." His voice was low and strained. "Just... sorry. So it's a holiday for everyone?"
"Mmm," Alfons agreed. "My parents are coming over tonight, along with my younger sister. You'll love them, I promise." He smiled encouragingly at his friend, but Edward did not respond. Instead, he changed the subject.
"Why is all of this," he gestured to the merrily-lit shop windows, "necessary for a family holiday?"
Alfons paused, a little stumped on how to answer. "Well... I suppose everyone wants to buy something nice for the people they love. Doesn't that make sense?"
Edward pressed his lips together. 'To me, a family holiday would just be sitting by the fireplace in the Rockbell household, a piping mug of hot chocolate in my hands and a great deal of home-cooked food in my stomach. To me, it would be to be with the people I love, without flash or glitter – just good, old-fashioned silence and laughter. What's so wrong with that?'
"I guess," he replied, squashing his thoughts instantly. It still pained too much, to be thinking that way.
Alfons looked wry. "You don't really think so, do you?"
"No." Edward saw no point in beating around the bush if Alfons had already seen through him. "Frankly, it's stupid."
Alfons sighed. "Look, Ed, I'm sorry you're not used to all of this yet, but it's not stupid. It means a lot to a lot of people – it's often the only time they see their family, on Christmas. The world is getting more and more spaced out and people are getting scattered. What's so stupid about spending a day together with your family?"
"That's not what I meant," Edward sighed. "But forget it. You stick with your Christmas."
And I'll stick with mine.
A warm room, with a rug stationed in front of the fire. Alphonse was curled up on the rug like a purring cat, his eyes sleepy. Winry was in and out of the kitchen, ferrying trays of food to them. Her smile lit up the entire room, and as she gently shook Alphonse awake, he relished the sight of his brother wolfing down food.
"Hey, Ed." Winry took a seat next to him, and Alphonse looked up from his plate, swallowing his previous mouthful. Both of them smiled at him, and Edward felt as if his heart would burst with the warmth and affection he felt for them.
"Happy Christmas."
AN: 708 words. Since Arakawa said that there was no Christmas in Amestris, I wondered how Ed would react to it. Christmas probably wasn't quite as commercialized back then, but it was still the entire gift-exchange thing, from what I heard. Ed's a guy of simple pleasures, in my opinion.
The end part isn't a memory or anything, it's just Ed imagining what it would be like if there was Christmas in Amestris and he was spending it with his brother and best friend.
