Red Roses2: Ah, I love Ling Yao. I also really like how this chapter ended.
Disclaimer: I don't own Fullmetal Alchemist. It belongs to Hiromu Arakawa.
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Al stared out of the train window, watching the houses, trees, and people fly past. So many times he had seen the same scenes, but never had Mei been sitting across from him. It had always been Ed before – beautiful Ed, dynamic Ed, valiant Ed. . . .
"Did you ever play games of pretend when you were little?" Al asked suddenly, glancing at Mei.
Mei blinked curiously, their adorable daughter in her arms. She looked up at the ceiling as though her memories were plastered on the train ceiling.
"Sure we did," answered Ran Fan, arms crossed and a permanent frown on her face. "It was our duty as older siblings to appease Mei."
Ling leaned on his elbow, his ponytail invading Al's personal space – not that the young Xingese man cared.
"Yeah. I remember when we'd reenact the Golden Alchemist legend and how the Battle of the Boarders ended." Ling gave Mei a disbelieving look. "You were a weird kid, Mei. What kind of seven-year-old wants to act out a history lesson?"
Mei stuck her tongue out at him. Al smiled sadly.
"My brother and I used to play with our friend Winry all the time. Winry always insisted we play house or save the princess." Al chuckled a little. "The weird part about it was Winry always wanted Ed to be the princess or the wife. Watching them argue had been hilarious."
I'm not a girl, Winry! But you'd look better in this dress! No, Winry!
It looks cute on you, Brother. I'm only doing this because you did the puppy dog eyes. I know, Brother. But why make me wear it when Winry's too sick to play?
Because even as a six-year-old, he was a sick-minded manipulator who wanted his brother all to himself. And he hated himself for it.
Ling and Ran Fan shared a look. Mei's husband tended to start strange conversations and then lose himself in his own world.
Mei smiled reassuringly at Al, knowing who preoccupied her husband's thoughts. She wondered if Ed would like her.
~!#$%^&*()_+
Wendy screamed and breathed rapidly. All Edward could do was hold her hand. Hoenheim was in position to catch the baby. Ed clapped his hands together and reheated the water in the tub. Heinrich stood in the kitchen, hanging up the phone angrily.
"Selfish bastard of a doctor!" Heinrich yelled at the phone. He quickly grabbed some towels and hurried up the stairs, taking two at a time. "The doctor's not coming!"
"WHAT!?" Wendy screeched. Edward's face paled.
"It's going to be fine," insisted Hoenheim. "Nothing bad will happen to this baby."
Wendy screamed again.
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Al rang the doorbell, and the door opened almost immediately. He came face to face . . . with himself.
The look alike glared at him.
"Oh. You must be Al Elric."
Al nodded, his voice failing him.
The look alike stepped aside and the Elric-Yao family entered.
"Mr. Hoenheim! Ed! They're here!"
The "thump-clomp" sound of Ed's feet echoed into the hall, and soon Ed appeared on the stairs.
"Hi," Ed said breathlessly. "Um, Dad will come down soon. We just delivered a baby two minutes ago. Dad's cleaning the little guy up."
Mei's face lit up. "Who're the happy parents?"
Ed smiled awkwardly. "Wendy and Edward Heinrich. They've been living here for a while, as has Alfons Heinrich." Ed pointed to Al's look alike. "I'm Ed."
Mei nodded. "I'm Mei, this is my half brother Ling, my half sister Ran Fan, and my step father, Fu. And this adorable angel is Ming."
Ed's gaze landed on the bundle of cuteness in Mei's arms. Ed forced his smile to be wider.
"If you'd like to come into the living room? We'll be right with you." Ed said, his shoulders starting to shake.
As the visitors trooped into the living room, Ling leaned over and whispered into Ran Fan's ear, "Why'd he sound like concierge at a hotel?" Ran Fan shrugged.
Heinrich followed Ed into the kitchen. Ed put the kettle on and turned the faucet on. Heinrich grabbed Ed's shoulders and turned him around.
"Are you all right?" Heinrich asked.
"This isn't about me," Ed said emotionlessly. "This is about Wendy and her baby boy, and Al's new family. I'm not important today. Okay?"
Heinrich frowned, then kissed Ed's lips softly.
"You take care of Wendy. I'll handle them until Hoenheim comes down. Okay?"
Ed nodded and left the kitchen to do just that. Heinrich made the tea and brought it to the living room.
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When Hoenheim finally entered the living room, he raised his eyebrows. He could feel the tension in the air. Heinrich seemed incapable of releasing the grip on his knees or the grimace that was pretending to be a welcoming grin. Ling looked bored, lounging perfectly comfortably in the loveseat, his tea cup completely drained. Ran Fan and Fu apparently insisted on standing; they reminded Hoenheim of imposing sentinels. Al looked terrified of what Heinrich obviously wanted to do to him. Mei sat nervously next to Al, breast-feeding Ming.
Hoenheim sighed.
"I'm afraid dinner hasn't been prepared yet. Is there anything specific you would like?" Hoenheim asked.
Ling responded as though he had lived in the house all his life. "Egg Foo Yung, with lots of pork."
Fu and Ran Fan merely stared at him, as though all the problems in their lives were his fault.
"Anything is fine, Mr. Hoenheim," Mei said.
Hoenheim smiled at her. She was so sweet!
"I guess I should - ," Hoenheim started, but Ed whizzed past him.
"I'll cook!" Ed practically yelled, running into the kitchen.
Everyone stared at Ed's retreating back. Heinrich stood up and followed him. Hoenheim sighed. Al relaxed and slumped his shoulders.
"I'm sorry," Al said.
"I know," said Hoenheim.
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Ling apparently liked Ed's cooking, seeing that he ate five helpings of it. Even Ran Fan didn't have anything bad to say about it. Wendy was asleep upstairs, and Edward refused to leave her or the baby. Heinrich had taken Edward his plate.
Mei smiled at Ed. "Dinner was great," she said. Ran Fan nodded in agreement.
"Thanks," Ed muttered, his plate still littered with food.
Ling propped his elbow on the table and placed his chin on his knuckles. A smirk lay upon his lips.
"So Mei, how come you didn't marry the cute brother?" Ling asked.
Mei glared at Ling, and Al covered his eyes, his cheeks flaming. Hoenheim halted the fork's journey to his mouth.
"I mean," Ling continued, "this one actually cooks and doesn't space out all the time. Also," he grinned. "you look a lot like that Fullmetal Alchemist Amestris is so proud of. You him?"
Ed nodded, his entire face bright red; flattery was officially his greatest weakness, after insults.
"He even has a job!" Ling added. "You single?"
Ed's eyes widened.
"He's not interested," Hoenheim snapped as Fu admonished his middle child.
Ling shrugged and leaned back in his chair.
"And for the record," said Heinrich, just now coming back from upstairs. He walked around the table to where Ed sat and put his arms around Ed's shoulders. "No, he's not available." Heinrich smiled in a deceptively pleasant way. Ed blushed madly and refused to look at Al.
Al lifted his face out of his hand and stared at Heinrich for a moment or two. He frowned but didn't say anything.
Hoenheim glared at Heinrich.
"I'm not going to tell you again," the father warned. Heinrich sent him a daring look. Hoenheim narrowed his eyes.
Ed abruptly stood up and grabbed the empty dirty dishes. Completely ignoring Heinrich and Hoenheim, he deposited the dishes into the sink. Heinrich let Ed pull away from him and smirked smugly at Hoenheim.
If looks could kill, Heinrich would be dead.
Ling snapped his fingers disappointedly, muttering a "rats" under his breath. Ran Fan rolled her eyes. Fu mumbled something that sounded oddly like "typical" under his breath. Mei patted Al's hand comfortingly.
"Dad, where's everyone going to sleep?" Ed asked, looking over his shoulder at said man. Hoenheim jolted out of his fuming state.
"Oh. I hadn't thought of that," he admitted.
"Wendy and Edward need their room to themselves," Heinrich interjected. Hoenheim nodded in agreement.
"I suppose Heinrich and I could move out of our rooms and camp out in the living room. . . ." Hoenheim trailed off, looking at Mei to see if she'd like that. Mei smiled benignly at him.
"Whatever you all decide is fine," she said.
"How many rooms are there?" Fu questioned.
"Just four," Al said. "There's Ed's, Dad's, what used to be mine, and a guest's room. I guess Heinrich has my old one. . . ."
A silence carried over them, even the Yao family members aware of the tension between Heinrich and Al.
"Al and Mei can stay in Heinrich's room. Ran Fan, Ling, and Mr. Yao can camp in Dad's room. . . . Heinrich can be in my room for a night if he wants. . . ." Ed said, not looking at the others as he suggested this.
Heinrich's eyebrows flew up in surprise. Hoenheim's glasses slipped off, and he turned around in his seat.
"That's okay with you?" Heinrich asked, disbelieving.
Ed nodded, still not turning around. His shoulders started trembling again. Hoenheim sighed through his nose.
"All right, fine. But just this once." He turned to glare at Heinrich. "And no funny business from you, or I'm kicking you out."
Heinrich held up his hands in surrender.
As Ling, Ran Fan, and Fu were shown to Hoenheim's room, the Yao family couldn't help but wonder what was with the strangely morose air around the famous Fullmetal Alchemist. Ling had a feeling it had something to do with the reason Al met Mei in the first place. . . .
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Heinrich closed the bedroom door and looked over at Ed. The alchemist already slipped off his shirt and tossed it over the desk chair. He collapsed onto the bed, his pants riding low on his hips. Heinrich let his eyes scan Ed's well-toned abs, the sign of physical fitness Heinrich could only dream of possessing. Ed draped his flesh arm over his eyes. Tiny sobs escaped his mouth.
"Ed?"
"I – I just didn't want to be alone. Not with – not with him across the hall – with her."
Heinrich nodded. He understood that. He understood what it was like to be pushed aside for a girl. It happened too often back in Germany.
The engineer unbuttoned his shirt and threw it into the corner. He lay next to Ed and pulled his arm off his face. Ed looked at him, his eyes betraying the fragile composure he had been trying to keep up all afternoon.
"I'm sorry he hurt you," Heinrich whispered, stroking Ed's bangs. Ed closed his eyes and tilted his head into Heinrich's caresses. "May – may I help make it hurt less?"
"How will you do that?" Ed breathed, so quietly Heinrich almost didn't hear it.
Heinrich rolled so that he hovered over Ed. He tilted Ed's head towards him, and Ed opened his eyes. Heinrich gazed into those golden, beautiful eyes and saw the pain and sorrow they held. His heart ached for him.
He kissed Ed softly, fingers ghosting over Ed's cheek. Ed kissed him back just as softly. Heinrich's hand slowly traveled to Ed's mandible, then to his collar bone. Heinrich darted his tongue out to taste Ed's lips. The alchemist let out a soft moan as he opened his mouth, almost too submissively, and gave Heinrich entrance.
Heinrich felt the impressive muscles of Ed's chest, wondering how he never noticed how well-built the younger man was. He supposed it made sense, since Ed was in the military, but he never imagined it would feel like this.
He liked it. Ed wasn't like anyone else he had ever met, even if he did look a little like his older brother. So it made sense that he'd be different in every way, not just personality-wise.
Ed gasped for breath, so quietly it was worrisome. Despite the strong, well-built body beneath him, Heinrich worried he'd accidentally break him like a china doll. It was almost like Ed was antique armor: had seen so many battles and was tough as steel, but fragile enough to be kept from careless museum-goers. Heinrich kissed Ed's neck, careful not to leave a mark; that would be hard to explain to Hoenheim. His hand trailed down to Ed's abs, Ed gasping as Heinrich discovered he was sensitive there. The engineer felt the rough scar on Ed's side and how Ed shuddered as he traced it with his thumb.
He wondered if Ed thought his hands were too rough, with their calluses and blisters from working with the airplane and tools. Suddenly, he felt his hands weren't good enough to touch this beautiful creature.
He waited for Ed to tell him no before letting his hand go lower, his palm scraping against Ed's belt buckle and brushing Ed's crotch.
Ed stiffened against him, and he halted. He pulled his mouth up to Ed's ear and whispered, "I'll stop whenever you want me to. I won't do anything you don't want. But you'll need to tell me."
Ed's response was relaxing into Heinrich's touch and locking lips with him again, still gently, still softly.
This wasn't out of sexual need. It was more of an emotional journey that Ed had been afraid to take before and needed Heinrich to guide him. He let Heinrich touch him there, let Heinrich kiss him, and let Heinrich press their chests together. Their breaths mingled, and it seemed like their heartbeats became one.
Ed needed this. He was also pretty sure he wanted this, too. Not just moving on, but Heinrich too.
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Mei blinked awake, thinking Ming was crying. She looked down at the tiny bundle of joy lying between her and Al. She rubbed the sleep out of her eyes and took a better look. Ming lay there, perfectly asleep, her pretty black hair matted on her forehead. Slowly, Mei glanced up at Al.
Al covered his mouth and nose with his hand, but it did nothing to suppress the sobs. He sat upright in bed, back pressed against the headboard. Two waterfalls of tears poured down Al's cheeks. He squeezed his eyes as tightly as he could, but it didn't stop the tears. His shoulders shook violently, and his whole body trembled with the emotion he tried to bottle up.
Mei sat up and touched his shoulder.
Al jumped, eyes snapping open wildly and gasping in mid-sob. He looked at her, and she smiled sadly at him.
"You still love him very much," Mei stated.
Al nodded, his lips pressing together fruitlessly, trying to reign in another sob. She stroked his bangs, but he pulled his head away. He swallowed hard.
"He tried so hard to keep himself together today. . . . Who does Heinrich think he is, anyway? Saying things like that, holding him like that, in front of everyone. . . ." He's mine, mine, mine. No, no, no. Yes, yes, ye – NO! "I don't like him."
Mei nodded understandingly. "I don't think the rest of us did either, your father included."
Al nodded, feeling a little better. But the thought of Heinrich being with Ed, in Ed's room, the same way he had always been in there with him. . . . His blood boiled, and he felt the outrageous urge to cross the hall and transmute him into something . . . not attractive.
Can I kiss you, Brother? Uh, sure. You mean like Mom does before we go to bed? Not really. . . . More like this. Ed's eight-year-old eyes widened as his little brother pressed his lips against his. Al quickly pulled back. Was that okay? Ed nodded, unable to find words. Al smiled. Good. Ed cocked his head to the side, confused. Had Al been older, the sight of Ed in that dress with his head to the side like that would've induced a nosebleed.
Al gripped the sheets tightly in his fists. "I'm sorry, Mei. I'm really sorry."
"It's okay."
Al shook his head, knowing how ungrateful and selfish he was being. He had a kind, understanding, and beautiful life. His brother was moving on, even if it was with a jerk even Hoenheim didn't approve of. He should be happy. He should be. More tears rolled down his cheeks as he restrained himself from following through with the thoughts of strangling Alfons Heinrich.