Trust

Chapter 3

Alphonse Elric stretched his legs out, relaxing on the soft blanket he and his brother had laid out in a quiet corner of the park. They had only arrived several minutes ago, and Al already felt better for it. He was blissfully happy, warm, and comfortable.

The morning had dawned beautifully, all impossibly blue skies and fluffy clouds, and a temperature that couldn't be more perfect if it tried. Edward had therefore decided that the two of them should go outside the minute they had finished eating breakfast. Al was not about to argue with that. Being cooped-up in the apartment had become old several months ago, and he was about ready to pick flowers off the ugly wallpaper in their kitchen.

His insatiable brother had packed a picnic lunch, and despite the fact that they had just ate, he was already picking at it. Al sighed, but couldn't help but grin. Edward could get older, but really, he never showed any signs of growing up. If he kept up his eating habits, however, it was only a matter of time before he grew out.

The bottomless pit paused, an apple half-way to his mouth. "What are you smiling about?" Ed looked suspicious, as if some elder sibling instinct told him that his brother was laughing at him.

"Oh... nothing..." Deviously, Alphonse let his smile grow wider, and was rewarded for his efforts by the other teen huffing and giving him a look. Behind the annoyed mutters he could see Ed's eyes sparkle in amusement, and that made the teasing worth it.

"Brat."

A few minutes later, Ed was quiet again and peacefully lying on his back. The two sat in silence for a long while, both watching the sky and birds. Al felt strangely content. Part of it was the weather and being out in nature, but the other half...

He had walked to the park-- several city blocks-- all on his own, and hadn't stumbled even once. It still amazed him. After all, only a month ago, he couldn't manage more than several paces without his brother's assistance and now he was walking around like a normal boy. It seemed impossible... but wonderful.

Soon, no one would be able to tell he was ever different. Not from looking at him, at least. There would be no way for people to know about those horrible years he had lived encased in armor and unable to feel. He would simply be Alphonse Elric, alchemist. Not The Fullmetal Alchemist's Large and Freakish Brother or Armor Weirdo.

It was all over with. Now they could move on... get everything back into order and simply live happy and well-adjusted lives. Like they were supposed to. All they had to do now was-- oh yes--

"I told you Winry called the other day, didn't I? Brother." Al turned his head slightly as he spoke, so he could get a good look at his brother.

"Eh. I think so... Why?" Ed sounded slightly bored, his automail knee swinging back and forth restlessly as he spoke.

"Well, she and Granny Pinako were hoping we could come over for the Holidays. Just like old times! It's been a while, hasn't it? I know Granny is a good cook, but I can hardly remember what her roast tastes like. Oh!" His eyes widened as a sudden thought came to him. "And I want to try Winry's apple pie. I heard it was good..."

At first, his brother's expression did not change, except to slightly furrow. Then Ed sat up, a small smile on his face, and nodded. "Ah. Yeah, it was pretty good. You'd like it." He shifted on the blanket, staring at a tree a small distance away from the pair. As he did so, a long lock of his hair fell onto his face, almost obscuring his vision. Al absently noted noted that, it was probably time for another hair-cut. He could use one himself, too. "It would be nice to go visit them for a while, sure. Say 'Hi' to everyone or something."

For a while.

Al hid a grimace. He should have expected this, he thought. The few times Alphonse had tried to hint that maybe it was time to move, his brother had changed the subject. Or went strangely quiet. In fact, lately, even unrelated subjects were prone to set the older boy into a mood.

His normally vivacious brother had been acting... strangely apathetic. Even now, at the mere mention of visiting their hometown, Ed shut off. He didn't seem to care. At least not as much as Al did, and that worried him. He knew Edward better than probably anyone else in the world. Alphonse knew every emotion that flitted across his brother's face and exactly what they meant. His brother's nature was an open book to him.

The problem was that the younger Elric didn't want to see what he knew he was right in front of his eyes. Al just didn't want to deal with this now. Maybe some other day, but most definitely not on a day like this. There was no harm in that... right?

"So..." Alphonse shook off his melancholy mood and forced a cheerful expression on his face. He sat up himself, and moved closer to Edward, who was now idly braiding a few long strands of grass together. "How did the visit go yesterday? How was everyone?"

It was like flipping a light switch. As soon as the words were out of his mouth, Ed quickly turned to him, smiling brightly. "Pretty good! Had a fun time, and everyone was happy to see me. They kept asking about you, too! So," he elbowed Al carefully, gently, "...you better come next time. I won't make excuses for you again." He winked as he finished up.

Al vigorously nodded, his earlier concerns fading away as his feelings of pride from earlier that morning returned.

He had wanted to go. It was only lingering concern and fear that made him stay home in the first place. The mere thought of being on his feet and socializing all day was draining... he didn't want to think what it would have been like to experience it. However, he was ready now. He was getting better... his presence here in the park was proof enough of that.

"I'd be glad to, Brother! Maybe we can go next week? After my next appointment." He ducked his head in mock irritation as his brother made an affirmative noise and leaned towards him, an arm outstretched. Ed was growing far too fond of ruffling his hair. That hair-cut couldn't come soon enough... for the sake of his sanity.

"Hm. But you didn't answer my question..." Al gave the other teen a curious look. "Was everyone well?"

His brother grabbed another sandwich out of the basket. "They sure seemed to be. Let's see... Everyone had some good news to share during lunch. Oh yeah! You wouldn't believe it... Lieutenant Havok says he has a date this Thursday!" He paused while Al grinned, then continued. "The Colonel didn't come along though, I only got to speak to him briefly. I mean, er..."

Al raised an eyebrow as Ed appeared to fumble for words. Odd.

"...I didn't have much time before I had to go! And he seemed really busy with some paperwork. The stack almost went up to his shoulder-blades...!"

Al whistled softly. "That sounds higher than usual. The Lieutenant wasn't helping him with it?" The woman, though strict, always had been willing to lend her superior a hand if it looked like he was in danger of being overwhelmed. At least she had been in the past. It was no big secret that she was fond of him.

Ed shrugged. "I saw her heading to his office as I left. She looked really determined." He shivered. "I guess she was going to give him... uh... help."

"That's... good for him. I guess. Maybe." Ed snorted at that, and Alphonse had to stifle a snicker.

"If State Alchemists are the dogs of the military... she's most definitely the Master!" proclaimed the older Elric, now beginning to laugh for real. That proved to be too much for Al, who joined him. They laughed for several minutes before they finally stopped. Al, still smiling, then prepared to lay down again. While laughing was fun, it certainly was tiring. A nap sounded good all the sudden.

"It was strange though..."

Al blinked, freezing mid-way down. "What was, Brother?"

"Now that I think about it... Everyone seemed to be busy. I mean, more busy than usual. No one tried to extend their lunch breaks past their usual time... not even Breda! And you know how he is."

"That is odd, yeah."

Edward looked thoughtful. "And maybe that was why Lieutenant Hawkeye wasn't in there helping the Colonel from the get-go. Her desk was almost as much of a mess. She works very quickly, too." There was a long, pregnant pause. Al was almost certain he could see mental gears turning in his older brother's head.

He must have figured something out, because Edward almost jumped to his feet. "Aha!"

Feeling slightly bemused and just a tiny bit frightened, Al reached for his jug of water. Was this the same brother who had been acting zombie-like over the prospect of visiting friends earlier? "What now...?"

"They are trying to hide something from m-- us. That's what!" Seeing Al's dubious expression, Ed jabbed a finger at the sky. "They were! A few times, I asked questions... you know... the usual stuff. I just wanted to know what they had been up to at work lately. For... ah... reasons."

Making a mental note to ask about that at a later date too, Al sipped his water. "And they didn't share?"

"Not even to moan and whine! Not a thing. See, that is different, right?" Al nodded, and Ed got a vindicated look on his face. An expression that the younger Elric knew only too well. "So they are hiding something..." A new expression started to dawn on the Fullmetal Alchemist's face then, one Al had not seen in ages. A look of determination.

Oh no...!

"Ha! Well, if that bastard Colonel thinks he can hide something from me... he's got another thing coming!" Now, Edward really did get on his feet, sounding excited. "I bet it has something to do with us too. He always gets especially closed-mouthed if we are involved somehow. Don't worry, Al, I'll get to the bottom of it and-- Hey, what's that look for! You know I CAN!"

Indeed, the younger boy did. That wasn't the problem. He was just wondering if it was too late to send the Colonel a word of warning.

He probably would be needing it.