Al's meeting with Hohenheim in Truth's dimension –
Al felt himself shiver slightly, though not from the cold. Surprisingly, it was a fairly pleasant temperature in Truth's domain so Al was neither hot nor cold despite the fact that he had no clothes on and his body was extremely malnourished. He was watching the big, black set of Gates in front of him calmly. It had only been a minute or two – he was certain it hadn't been much longer but he wasn't completely sure since he had no access to a watch or clock – since the array bonding his soul to the armour had failed and he'd been reunited with his body but he felt no fear. Edward had had a plan to get him back and he knew it was only a matter of seconds before his older brother burst into Truth's domain and demanded they make a deal for Al's return. The way Truth was watching the Gate in an expectant manner only confirmed Al's suspicions. His brother would be here soon.
The frail human knew that Ed was about to appear when Truth twitched slightly. He focused on the same area Truth was watching, a greeting for Ed on his lips only for a strangled, "Dad?" to pass through them when Hohenheim appeared, a black jacket Al recognised as the one some soldiers wore over their military uniform draped over his arm. His father looked the same as he had when he last saw him before the array bonding his soul to his armour had failed – battle-worn, exhausted, shirt hanging off him in rags from when he'd taken the blow from Father for Ed, Izumi, Ayala, and Koda – but there was a determination shining through the weariness in his eyes.
Hohenheim's lips quirked upwards slightly in a smile as his eyes landed on his youngest son before he focused on Truth, who was grinning gleefully. "Oh, I had thought for certain I'd be talking with Edward, not you, Hohenheim," Truth cooed in delight.
Hohenheim gave it a nod before he said, "I hope you aren't too disappointed that Edward isn't here but I thought it was high time my sons stopped giving up parts of themselves for each other and for me to act like the father I should've been to them."
"Dad," Al whispered quietly, his voice catching from disuse but he managed to escape the coughing fit that had threatened to follow by clearing his throat. The sadness that had flashed in his father's eyes as he'd spoken to Truth had caused something deep in Al to stir and he felt the urge to get to his feet and grab his father in a hug. The only reason he resisted that urge was because he knew his body wasn't strong enough to keep him standing upright, let alone support his – minimal as it may be – weight.
Hohenheim gave him another smile but looked back at Truth. "I have come to barter for Alphonse's return to Amestris, soul and body," Hohenheim told the being in front of him.
"And what would you have that you think would be worth your son, body and soul?" Truth asked. The business-like tone in Truth's voice had Al shivering slightly. It unnerved him that his life was being discussed as nothing more than something to trade.
"My stone," Hohenheim told Truth, eyes and voice serious. "You can have all of the souls within the stone still in me, including mine, so long as you send Alphonse back to Amestris, his soul in his body and alive," he said, ignoring the gasped, "no!" from Alphonse.
Truth seemed to be considering Hohenheim's proposal. "You do realise that this would mean that you would be unable to go back with him, yes? And that I would also be taking your Animal's life?" it asked and Hohenheim gave a solemn nod. "It would also mean that you would be unable to be a part of your sons lives. Are you willing to throw the years you could've spent being a father to your children away in place of Edward making the sacrifice he was going to?" Truth asked. There was an undercurrent of pointed cruelty in the being's tone, as though it was delighting in pointing out what it was.
"I'm aware," Hohenheim said, a touch of melancholy in his voice before a steely tone squashed it as he said, "but I refuse to let Edward give up one more thing for Alphonse when I am willing and able to do so in his place."
Truth nodded once. "That's a very handsome price, Hohenheim," it said. Al eyes widened in horror as he realised that Truth was going to accept his father's deal. "In exchange for the souls still within your stone, your own soul, and that of your Animal, I shall return Alphonse to his brother, alive and whole," Truth said, reaching out a staticky hand for Hohenheim to shake but Hohenheim made no move to accept it.
"And I need to speak with Alphonse for a minute or two," Hohenheim said.
Truth released a put-on sigh but the tone of Hohenheim's voice had the being nodding in agreement, knowing that arguing with the Xerxian would be pointless. "Very well," Truth said, hand still extended. "You may have two minutes to speak with Alphonse before I take my payment," it told Hohenheim, who nodded in agreement.
"Dad, no!" Alphonse gasped out, too late as he watched his father grasp Truth's hand and accept the deal. His eyes welled with tears, causing his father's figure to blur as he approached Al's prone form.
"Hush now, Alphonse," Hohenheim soothed as he crouched in front of his son, wrapping the black jacket he'd borrowed from a soldier he didn't know for this exact purpose. "There's no need for the tears. Everything will be alright," he said calmly.
Al managed to raise a frail hand to start wiping the tears that had fallen away so he could see his father properly. "But, Dad," he whimpered, another sob cutting off his words.
"I know you were expecting your brother to appear but as I told Truth, I will not allow your brother to sacrifice whatever he had been planning to bring you back. Neither of you would've been able to perform the transmutation you had if I had been a better father and been there for you and I would never be able to call myself your father if I'd stood by and let your brother activate the array he'd drawn out," Hohenheim told him. His eyes were filled with a mixture of grief and love and his tone was soft but resolute. Alphonse could only listen, tears still spilling slowly down his cheeks, as his father continued speaking. "I had been trying to figure out how to distract Edward so I could activate the array before he could but before I could figure something out, your array failed and your brother abandoned the array to get to yours and Chester's sides so he could use Chester's energy to keep him alive while he tried to figure out what was happening with you. When your array failed, I took the opportunity presented and stepped into the array. I borrowed this coat," he tugged a little at the coat around Al's shoulders, "from one of the soldiers there and explained my plan to Calix as I headed for the array," Hohenheim explained.
"Your brother was not happy with me when he realised where I was," Hohenheim chuckled a little sadly. "He told me to get out of the array and called me a shit father when I said that I was going to bring you back. I probably shouldn't be happy that he acknowledged I was his father that way but I am," Hohenheim said with a small smile that Al couldn't help but huff wetly at. "Your brother continued arguing with me but I don't think he realised that the only one who had a chance of talking me out of my decision was Calix and my Animal gave me full permission to follow through with my plan," Hohenheim revealed. "We've both lived extremely long lives – far too long – but you and your brother, Alphonse, you both made all of those years more than worth the struggles and hardships we suffered to get to the point where I met your mother," Hohenheim said, cupping Al's cheek and stroking it softly with his thumb.
Hohenheim's eyes sparkled wetly as he continued to hold Alphonse's gaze. "I love you and Edward more than you will ever know," Hohenheim said softly, "and I am so proud of everything the two of you have accomplished in your lives. In sixteen years, the both of you have done more for your country than I could have ever hoped to do for mine and I know the two of you will continue helping Amestris in ways I could have never imagined," Hohenheim said. Al let out a sob as his heart swelled in response to his dad praising him. "I want you and Edward to make sure you live your lives to the fullest. Don't let past mistakes hold you back anymore. Embrace them and learn from them. Do better than I ever could've and always know that your mother and I are so thankful and proud to call you both our sons," Hohenheim told him, gently pressing his forehead against Al's and closing his eyes as he listened to his son's quiet sobbing. "I will see you and your brother again when it's your time to join me and your mother but try not to join us too soon, okay, son? We can wait as long as we need to for you and your Animals to join us," Hohenheim said.
Al couldn't bring himself to say anything, too focused on his father's words and not sobbing loudly so he could hear them to be able to say anything but that changed when he felt Hohenheim's arms wrap around him, giving him the first hug he'd truly felt for almost six years. "Dad, please don't do this," Al sobbed into his father's shoulders. "We can figure something else out. Ed and I can come up with something so you don't have to leave us again," he cried, his tears now coming at a speed he couldn't hope to try and slow.
Hohenheim tightened his hug, mindful of his son's condition. "I am sorry that I won't get to see you and Edward grow into adults like I want to and I am sorry that I'm causing you this much distress but this is how it should be," Hohenheim told him, cupping the back of Al's head with his hand while the other pressed against Al's back, determined to commit this hug to his memory. "This is the only way I can atone for my sin of not being there for you boys while making sure your brother doesn't have to give up something else of himself for a mistake neither of you would've made if I'd been there for you," he reiterated.
Al sobbed harder, knowing from the tone of his father's voice – so like Edward when he was determined – that he wouldn't be able to change his mind. When he felt Hohenheim try and pull away from the hug, Al tried clutching to him harder but his weakened body couldn't meet his demands and Hohenheim was able to release himself from the hug without any issues. "Please," Al whimpered, unable to stop himself as he watched his father nod to Truth.
"I'm sorry," Hohenheim said, pressing his lips to Al's forehead. "I love you. I love you both. Don't forget that I always have and that I always will," he requested, his voice choking slightly as he pulled away from his youngest son. He forced himself to walk away from his distraught son and came to a stop in front of Truth. "I'm ready," he told the being, voice as level as he could make it.
Truth grinned at him before he gestured towards the second set of Gates that had appeared with Hohenheim. "You know what to do, Xerxian," Truth said, voice delighted. "I'll send your son back to his brother the moment I've gotten all of my payment," it told the walking Philosopher's Stone.
Hohenheim gave Truth a nod before he walked determinedly towards his Gates. He could hear Alphonse calling for him, begging him to stop, to not go through with this but he forced himself to keep going. Only once his Gate cracked opened and the little black hands that would tear him apart to find his stone appeared did Hohenheim turn back to his son. He didn't bother saying anything, having said everything he wanted to while he was speaking with Alphonse, but the least he could do was give his son a reassuring smile so that was what he did. That smile stayed on his face even as he felt the hands grip him and start pulling him towards the Gate so they could get what they were looking for. Only once he was through the Gate did Hohenheim allow the smile to fall from his lips as he awaited his fate. He closed his eyes as he felt the first hand rip part of his flesh away from his body and allowed his mind to focus on one thing: how close he was to reuniting with Trisha finally.
Al couldn't hold back his sobs any longer as he watched his father disappear into his set of Gates. He knew he and Edward would never see him again and that thought was what kept ensuring his tears never ran out. In his grief, he'd almost completely forgotten about Truth being there until it hummed after a few seconds. "Now then, that's the last of my payment received," it said, turning to Alphonse and grinning widely at him, as though it couldn't see the devastation on Al's face. "Well, now, Alphonse! It seems as though out time together has come to an end. It's a shame that I won't have you around for company any longer but a deal is a deal," it sighed before it waved a hand at Al's Gate of Knowledge. Al couldn't hold back the sob that broke through at the sight of the dozens of hands coming towards him. The last thing he heard before blackness overtook him was, "say hello to your brother for me and tell him that I'm a little disappointed he wasn't the one to pay the price for your return. I would've liked to see what the great Fullmetal Alchemist would've given up for his brother."
A/N - Here's the second drabble for you guys! Ngl, kinda upset the last one didn't get any reviews but I'll keep posting these whether I get them or not since I have them written and I need the time to get as many chapters for my new story written but I would really like to hear someone's thoughts on these drabbles so if you guys could please just leave me a couple of words telling me what you thought, that'd be lovely. Anyways, I hope you guys enjoyed this one and I'll see you next week!