Chapter 3: Brotherly Advice
(Author's Note: The name of the girl in this chapter had nothing to do with Narnia. I was creating her and the name just came to mind. I later remembered that it was the name of the White Witch, but I'm not changing it because I feel it fits her, and I've grown quite attatched.)
Al sat rigid in the passenger's seat, repeatedly scanning the piece of paper in hand. "You sure this is it?"
Ed slapped a metal hand to his forehead in frustration, wincing as he caught the mistake borne of habit. "Yes, for the millionth time!" He growled in annoyance, putting the sturdy little jeep in park. "Now quit being such a wuss and go give her the damn thing."
They had taken the key to several locksmiths until finding its maker, and had him look up the customer it was designed for.
Jadis Demetri.
Figures, Al thought dreamily. Beautiful girl, beautiful name. He had been boring holes in the paper, concluding that the dainty curves of the written letters were no match for those of their mistress. His stomach jumped at the thought of tracing those indefinable lines, sunglasses sliding off his nose as he stared down at the address note.
"Hey!" Ed snapped his fingers in Al's ear, causing the boy to jerk and the sunglasses clatter in his lap. "That wound up already, are ya?" Ed leaned across to swing the passenger door open, automail catching on one of Al's buttons. Al felt guilty at the breath of relief that escaped in response to it being metal rather than skin which brushed him.
It things were right, he reflected, it would be skin.
"Brother," he began shakily, "I--you give it back."
"What? No. No, no, no!" Ed said as he forced Al out of the car, locking the door behind him.
"But you took it!" Al argued.
"Yeah, cause I knew you never would!" Ed shifted the vehicle back into drive.
"What kind of logic is that?
"The kind that'll get you a girl." he replied matter-o-factly.
"You've been listening to Roy, haven't you?"
"God, no!" Ed retorted. "You want a girlfriend, not a one night stand. Now move out! I'll pick you up in an hour, and you better have a date planned when I get back."
"Yes sir!" said Al, giving a salute. "But are you sure you're okay drive?" Indeed, Edward was flushed and sweating heavily. His eyes, which had become dull and listless over the past few days, were underlined with dark circles.
"Come on, Al." he drawled. "I've survived storms, deserts, explosions, losing limbs, terrorists, serial killers, chimera, homunculi, collapsed buildings, Teacher, and three hours of Hughes' vacation photos…God rest his soul…and speaking of God, he obviously has it out for me, and I'm pretty sure seasonable warmth is not going to be the fatal blow. Now run along, Romeo." The brothers exchanged fond smiles before Ed drove off, leaving Al to fend for himself.
Al watched until the jeep was out of sight, then turned towards the apartment building they'd searched all day for. It was a run down structure, with lots of holes and broken windows. The lawn bore no grass, and the block was surrounded by a mangled chain link fence. Destroyed furniture and alcohol bottles littered the sidewalk, and Al was sure he could make out a bloodstain in the parking lot.
"I can't believe she would live in a place like this…" Approaching the building, he entered an outdoor hallway, his footsteps echoing off the graffiti covered concrete walls.
He finally came across apartment number 27, drawing out the key, and hurriedly patting his hair down. Raising a hand to knock, he began to run over his lines.
"Hi, we met at the train station, I found-no…Hi, I don't know if you remember me, but you were drawing my picture, and…no, that's crap…Ma'am, you wouldn't happen to be…no, that's stupid…Aaarrgh!"
Retracting his hand, Al shoved the key into his pocket, put on his sunglasses and turned to leave, but stopped short upon hearing several locks unbolting.
He took a few steps back, being met in the doorway by the timid artist. Childlike features twisted into a mask of shock. "It's you…," she whispered, approaching him. Her voice suddenly grew bolder as she forced herself to appear relaxed. "Why are you here?"
"Well, I--", Al began awkwardly. "You see I--well, my brother, he--your key!" He fumbled around in his pocket, hand getting stuck. The young girl leaned patiently in the doorframe, stifling a giggle.
"Yes," she said softly. "I thought you'd have it, Mister…?"
"Elric," he answered, straightening and placing the key in Jadis' waiting palm. A jolt of electricity lanced up his arm when their hands touched. "Alphonse Elric."
Smiling shyly, Jadis curled her slender fingers around his before pulling away. "Well, I'd like to thank you, Alphonse. Would you like to come in for coffee?" Al was happy she couldn't see his eyes widen behind his shades. He felt absolutely giddy. Was it really going to be this easy?
"Well, actually Miss Demetri--"
"Jadis."
"…Jadis, I was kind of wondering…maybe would you…I mean, we just met, but--"
"Shhh," she breathed, placing a finger over his lips. "Be here at 8:00. Don't overdress. I know a place."
"Huh? Really!" Al quickly corrected his tone. "I mean, of course. Eight o'clock. And, Miss Dem--I mean, Jadis…you're a wonderful artist."
It was apparent that the words had stung in some way. Lip trembling, Jadis took a step back, bowing her head and gazing up at Al through her lashes.
But still she smiled.
"Al, you own all of ten outfits." said Ed. "This should not be that hard." He was sunken into a beanbag chair, wrapped in an afghan blanket.
"I know!" Al cried. "But it is! You know I've never been on a…" he was cautious with the last word, "date."
"Neither have I, and I'm still emotionally in tact. Take a breather, hon." With his back still turned, Al let himself cock an eyebrow. Did he just call me hon? He spun around to face Ed, who looked just as puzzled, but quickly masked it with the usual face of irritation. "She said casual, right?"
Both were now satisfied that is was simply a slip of the tongue, and continued the conversation as if the word had never entered it. "Y-yeah…but I don't wanna be sloppy casual."
"If you want relaxed and good looking," Ed suggested with a grin, "I've got tons of that stuff!"
"I hope you're not talking about the liquid latex pants. I almost lost circulation! To very vital areas!"
"Are they really gonna be that vital on the first date? And about the pants, what can I say?" he coughed, tightening the blanket around him. "They grew on me."
Still blushing towards his brother's earlier comment, Al retorted. "At least something on you did."
Ed merely ground his teeth, too weak to counter further. The drive earlier that day had taken a hefty toll, but Al couldn't drive himself. He had yet to obtain his license.
The younger Elric frowned in disapproval, knowing that Ed would be healing faster if he'd quit overexerting himself. But no amount of reason or pleading on Al's part would change things. Giving up on that battle for the moment, Al fitted himself with a black pair of cargo pants. Ed had bought them for himself two sizes too big, expecting his legs to respond and grow overnight. With them, Al wore a long sleeve button down shirt, deep crimson in color. He'd bought it on a whim the day before, just after leaving the train station.
It had been a very eventful first couple of days.
A car horn caught his attention, and he leaned out the window to see 2nd Lt. Havoc waiting three stories below. Al didn't want Ed to drive them; that was both bad for him and embarrassing for Al. Calling a cab was out of the question. He'd felt awkward asking it of the Lt., but Jean was a good natured man and had taken a liking to Al the day they'd met. Alphonse seemed to have that effect on people. But he claimed to owe it to simple common courtesy.
"Sounds like your coach is here, Prince Charming." Ed said hoarsely from his plush seat. "It's the footman I'm worried about." Al held up a finger to Jean, signaling he'd be down in a minute.
"Now come on, Ed. You know he's a nice guy." He returned from the window, throwing on a denim jacket and heading for the door. "And he always said if I needed anything, not to be shy and just ask."
Audibly straining as he rose, Ed followed Al into the living room, still clutching the blanket as if it were a shield. Al was checking for his keys and wallet when Ed finally worked up the nerve to warn his brother.
"Al," he started, already catching the boy's attention with his dire tone.
"Yeah?" The reply was dulled by the fact that he was already halfway out the door. Ed could feel his heart sinking.
"Be careful." Al froze in mid-stride. How could Ed possibly be thinking of danger at a time like this? He turned critical eyes on the housebound blonde.
"Of what?" His cynicism was clear. "It's a date." he finished sternly.
Perfect, thought Edward. Now he chooses to be confident. When he has no idea. Why did I set this up? I'm putting him in harm's way all over again. Oh yeah…so he can be happy. Right?
Al place strong hands on narrow hips, staring Ed down.
"Look, Edward…" he paused, setting a firm hand upon Ed's tired shoulder. "Brother…This was your idea, and because of you, I finally feel up to it. I spent five years looking at beautiful women I'd never be able to touch. And I'm barely here for a month and one practically falls into my lap!"
Ed's worrisome expression remained adamant, adding to itself a twinge of guilt. "Sorry, Al." He grasped Al's hand with his left one. "Didn't mean to ruin the mood." Al became intensely aware of the pressure being applied to where their skin met. It somehow frightened him. Ed, however, seemed to be enjoying Al's reaction. He smiled broadly, the happiest he'd looked in days. "Now you go have fun. And be back before midnight, or Havoc'll turn back into a mouse."
"R-right…" Al stammered, abruptly breaking contact. Ed wasn't affected. And Al could feel that ominous smile follow him all the way to the car.