KissMeDeadlyT-T: I was up real late last night and at Chuck knows that time in the morning, I decided to do some math. So, before this chapter, there were 52 chapters in the drabble series. And I have 47 fics otherwise. Which means…
…THIS IS THE ONE HUNDRETH THING I HAVE POSTED.
HELLA RAD
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Title: Simplicity
Rating: K - T
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Autumn was, without a doubt, his favourite time of the year.
The leaves lost their mundane green and took on vibrant shades of reds and oranges and golds that looked as if they'd been plucked straight from the pages of a fairy tale. They rustled gently in a breeze that carried a mixed scent of dampness, dirt, cranberries and prairie. One by one, they fell to the ground, dancing and playing in the air before falling to rest on dewy grass and dusty dirt paths that were littered with old, squashed apples that had fallen barely a week before.
The sky, dotted with the flapping figures of birds heading south for the oncoming winter, was a foggy gray-blue; it wasn't quite as bright as summertime yet not the dreary blandness it would soon become. The weather was that strange temperature where no one could agree whether it was cold or warm, some people dressing in scarves and jackets while others chose to keep the light blouses and shorts of summer. It was a truly magical time of the year when the world became colourful and vibrant and it was hard to keep from smiling and wistful smile.
He remembered when they were young they'd take the rake from Winry's ramshackle shed and work together to gather the leaves into giant piles. There were trees everywhere; stark and twisted, they stood tall and bare, warm-coloured leaves barely clinging on. There was never a shortage of leaves for them to play in – and they did. They'd throw them above their heads and jump into pile after pile while Den barked and excitedly ran about with them.
Those days, their laughter and squealing could be heard all the way from the train station and the city market. They'd stay outside playing until the sun was setting red and pink and Granny shooed them home. They'd run back to the flashing light in the second story window as the scent of freshly cooked dinner wafted from their house at the top of the hill. The swing would creak on the tree and the wind would rustle the grass of the prairies and swirl up the scent of dead leaves and sweet apples. They would be so excited to see their mom's smile, and after a hug, they'd all sit down at the four-chair table that always had one empty seat and she would make him drink his milk while his brother would giggle beside him.
Those days, they had no clue that there would never be another autumn like this one. That this time next year, there would be no laughter and carefree days full of playing and mindless joy – that everything they knew was going to be brutally torn to shreds and tossed into the wind that used to be so comforting but now brought nothing but memories of pain and anguish and the scent of loss and endless despair.
There was something bittersweet about being here this time of year again, Edward thought as he sat on top of the stairs of Al and Winry's front porch. Den's head sat heavy in his lap. He absently scratched at the dog's soft ears, watching the sky slowly fade into bold shades of pink and orange as the sun set behind the farms on the horizon. If he looked to the west and squinted into the distance, he could see the ashen remains of the house that, so many years ago, he would have been running to with a smile on his face this time of evening. He didn't look that way. Autumn was beautiful – and right now, his life was alright, he thought – and he didn't want to mar that with bad memories.
The breeze made his hair tickle the back of his arms, which were bare. It was chilly, and goosebumps prickled over his skin, but he didn't mind; he was too caught up watching the scenery of his hometown anyway. After all this time, after everything they'd gone through, all the pain and loss and suffering they'd endured… things were back to normal again, and if he tried – really tried – he could almost pretend that being here didn't make him want to cry of joy and cry of sadness at the same time.
There was a hand on his shoulder. Blinking, he tore himself out of his nostalgia and looked up. Black eyes glittered back at him, and he could almost forget the small hollow in his chest that grieved of the past and remember why he was really here. It was Alphonse's birthday, and he'd insisted that Ed – and Roy, too, if he wanted – come visit, because there was apparently something important that he and Winry had to announce. Ed had his suspicions, and he was fairly sure they were right, since Winry had not-so-stealthily wriggled her ring finger and grinned like a moron when Al wasn't looking.
"You're not really here today, are you?"
Ed once again tore himself from his thoughts. "What?" he said, furrowing his brow in confusion.
Roy chuckled and sat next to him as Ed scooted over. "You've been distant all day."
"Oh." Ed looked away again, back to the sunset. "Sorry."
"Is everything alright?"
The concern in Roy's voice made his stomach warm pleasantly. "Everything's great," Ed replied, and it was the truth. He'd returned his brother's body, gotten his arm back, hell, stopped the end of his country. Everyone – well, almost everyone, his mind added with a painful heart throb, was healthy and happy and living because of it. His brother and his best friend were engaged. Life was, essentially, everything he'd pined and longed for during all those years when he'd felt like there was something eating him from the inside. He had a family now. His loved ones were safe. It was perfect, or at least perfect enough for him. It was just the memories that still plagued him that turned his bliss sour and made his stomach twist anxiously.
"You look sad," Roy said. He didn't sound very convinced, and Ed couldn't blame him.
Ed looked over and met black eyes again. He could easily see the concern there. It made his heart feel warm to see the eyes that were usually cold and stony melted with so much open emotion, and caused a little flutter in his chest because he knew he was one of the only people those eyes showed such expression to. Again, he offered a tiny smile.
"I'm not sad," he said, looking back towards the fields. The pinks and reds of the setting sun played in the gold of his eyes. "I'm happy, really," he said when Roy looked dubious. "I just can't believe it's been nearly ten years since I left." He shrugged, running his fingers through Den's fur. "It's just… weird, I guess. To be back to normal here. It's like nothing changed, even though it's completely different, you know?"
Roy nodded. "It's nice here," he said quietly. "It's a shame your childhood was cut off so short. You could have grown up here. I wonder if you'd have been better off if you hadn't learnt of alchemy at all. If I hadn't come and offered you a place in the military."
A part of Ed was still bitter that he hadn't had a childhood here. He never dwelled on that, though; it was his own fault that It had happened, and plus, there was no point crying over spilt milk.
"We'd all be dead and you know it if you hadn't offered me that job." When Roy didn't answer, he grinned, and elbowed the man light in the ribs. "Don't look so sad, you bastard. It sucks, but growing up in the army did have its perks." He wiggled his eyebrows and grinned wider, hoping to change the desolate mood their conversation had taken.
"Indeed." A soft kiss planted to the crown of his head as an arm wrapped around his shoulders, warm and solid. It successfully melted away the rest of Ed's nostalgia, and he was able to smile for real this time as he leaned into the embrace. "We would never have gotten to throw punches at each other, and I just don't think I'd be the same man I am today without that in my life." Roy sniffled. "Tragic thought, really."
"Drama queen," Ed murmured, but his cheeks heated pleasantly.
Roy's hand rubbed at Ed's arm, which had goosebumps from the cold. "We should go in." The touch drifted to his thigh. "Your automail must be starting to hurt. You look tense."
Ed chuckled a bit. "Was it obvious?"
"Not really, but I tend to notice your body's reactions, since I do enjoy to play around with them." There was a slight twist of the lips that had Ed's cheeks flaring warm enough to heat him up.
"You gonna perve on me while we're having this chick-flick moment?"
"Come on, Ed, that's such a crude way to put it." Roy looked offended, but his eyes glittered. "If anything, I'm… courting you."
"Courting me?" Ed echoed, snorting in disbelief. He clapped Roy on the shoulder. "Nice try, geezer. We're already banging and we live together. It's a little too late to court me, but you're welcome to keep trying. "
"And you're bitching about me ruining the moment."
"You know what? I don't think there's a such thing as a 'moment' with us."
"There could be, if you didn't need to be so crude all the time."
"Hey, hey, you hear that? That's the sound of autumn telling you to shut the hell up and appreciate the sunset, damnit." Ed leaned into his side, shooting a half-assed glare up at his grinning lover. "So listen."
"You really are romantic deep down inside, aren't you?"
"Shut up."
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KissMeDeadlyT-T: It's so awesome that I'm posting my one hundredth thing and it's my birthday in… about one hour. ;) Some nice reviews would be sweet for a present, but you guys already leave such nice reviews that I feel it's useless to even say this! Haha thanks for sticking with me so long, guys, it really means a lot. Hearing so many different people's input on my writing and even meeting so many people over this has been… pretty amazing, if I'm going to be honest. It's kinda cheesy, but that might be the best gift you guys could give.
