Ahh… second part, gomen nasai for taking so long… this has been in my head for a long time and I just got around to putting it into context.
Disclaimer: I do not own FMA if I did… these fanfics would not be written, they would be in episodes.
WARNING TO THOSE WHO DO NOT LIKE FLUFF! (OR IMPLIED ELRICEST) TURN BACK NOW!... OR YOU COULD CARRY ON AND READ A MOST EXELLENT FIC. smirk
:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:
I watch as you smile, watch you as you laugh standing there with him as you talk about non-essential things. As you touch the sleeve of his uniform lightly he looks down, a flush settles across your nose, fanning out like a butterfly over your cheeks. Your eyes widen slightly as he leans down, brushing the back of his hand over your cheek, shifting your hair he leans close and whispers in your ear.
"WHO DID YOU JUST CALL SHORT AND CUTE LIKE A TEDDY BEAR!"
I cant help but shake my head as you chase him in circles, he laughs as he out distances you easily "Edo I said you are as short and cute as a teddy bear… not like" he laughs gaily as you carry on running, eventually falling to the ground in despair of ever catching the ever elusive colonel. You roll onto your back, eyes opening wide as he leans over you.
My breath hitches as his face nears yours, my eyes fill with tears as you also catch your breath, the cruel likeness of our actions only highlighting my despair. I clench my teeth and face away seconds later I hear you moan softly.
Still facing away from you both I call out over my shoulder "I'll tell the gang you guys are busy okay?" the small sounds break off and I can feel your gaze boring into my back. The soft whisper as you try to move, then the thump as you physically push him off. I try to move, try to stop the tears that are falling down, staining my cheeks. Your heavy hand caresses my shoulder I clench my fists and lower my head, trying so hard not to let the tears show.
"Al?"
Your soft voice, a voice that till only a few nights ago was mine only to hear. Mine, then he took you away from me, I never expected you of all people to go for the normal type. Mr Tall Dark and Handsome, the perfect man… not Small Light and Childish… I know im not what your looking for, and you deserve the best nii-san, im more than sorry that I couldn't keep my promise… at least you have everything else in the world you could want now.
You turn me around and im not surprised to see him at your side, as tall as he is… god, he's far too tall for you, not that im implying that your short… quite the opposite, I realise now that he is freakishly tall (even though Major Armstrong is taller)
Im more your height… or your more mine, we would be so perfect together, after all we've been through I cant stand the thought of the fact that someone else gets to touch you when I should be the one feeling you skin against mine.
Ive been without your touch for so long… and its cruel of you to narrow it down to arms necks and cheeks, to not be able to touch your chest or legs, to not be able to tidy your hair for you in the morning.
To not be able, as I tie your hair, to place a kiss on the skin that I reveal. That you would, instead of turning round and staring before smiling you would let me carry on kissing, down your neck to your shoulder, over scarred tissue and an automail limb. If I recall correctly (which most of the time I don't) you didn't cry out a once when it was attached. Ive seen you helpless, if we didn't have mechanics like Winry I imagine you would need me to do everything for you. Not like I would ever complain anyway. I would do anything for you… I cant say to hell and back because we've done that already.
Even though it causes me great pain to see you this way, staring into my eyes with worry and confusion instead of the love I yearn for I know that this is the equivalent exchange we believed we avoided. You will never love me that way, even if you tell me that you would gladly exchange Roy in return for my eternal well-being… I still am not your most beloved.
I am pulled back to reality as I am pulled to the ground, kneeling, I hide my face in your chest feeling your hand run through my hair while the other remains firmly on my back. Roy has left us to our own devices and is no doubt at the moment traipsing back to East Headquarters with a moody look.
No doubt he will blame me for interrupting his little game, though I don't deny you are so cute when you get angry. The tears still fall and you hold me tighter.
"Alphonse… why wont you tell me?"
My breathing stops, as you angle your head downwards cheek brushing my ear, lips breathing warm air down my neck.
"Tell you what… nii-san?" I add the part hurriedly, so as not to sound rude, you chuckle lightly.
"Whatever you want to tell me that's been eating up your insides over the past week… I know its about me…" You sigh and then pull away. Kneeling in front of me hands still holding mine.
"You know you can tell me anything Al… even if its something bad… I wont hate you for it" I stare at my hands and intertwine them with yours "its not about Roy and I is it?" I look up startled at the sadness in your voice, you cock your head to one side and stare at me "does the idea of us bother you? Is that what you want to-"
"Iie" You stop as I speak I lower my head and shake it softly "its not that nii-san… im happy for you" I look up at your pained gasp and I smile sadly when I see the realisation in your eyes.
"even though it causes me pain to not be with you, I am happy that you are happy-" a tear rolls down your cheek as we stare into each others eyes "-even if im not the one making you smile I can live with that, as long as I get to see you when you do smile" I lift my hand and run it over your cheek, wiping away the tears. I close my eyes as your warm hand wraps around it, pulling it away, for a moment I feel overcome with grief and pain, unable to even think beyond the fact that you now hate me… that is… till you bring it to your lips.
I open my eyes and stare, unable to believe the warmth that flows through me at that simple gesture. "Al," your whispering now "I love you… more than anything or anyone in this world… even myself… and I-" You open your eyes and look up at me "I would never do anything to cause you pain, you was what kept me going all those years… through everything that happened you were there for me and I was there for you"
You look up at me earnest and true "We stood by each other no matter what the consequences, and I will do the same even now!" I cant help the pained sob that chokes me as if forces its way out.
"Demo… nii-san…"
You stand your red jacket billowing with the motion the tears that are falling glittering in the sun "I DON'T CARE!"
"Anything you want is worth much more than my happiness"
"I want you to be happy! That's all I want!"
You take a breath "Then why confess it? Why confess it at all? You knew I will do anything for you!"
I bow my head "I Love you nii-san… nothing can change that, in time I guess I will get over it, find another to love as much as I do you… but that's impossible"
I feel the fingers under my chin, cold steel and am reminded again of my failure to keep my promise. I wrap my fingers of both hands around that powerful but delicate wrist and tug slightly "You will always be my most precious person nii-san… even if I am not yours"
You stare, something soft and something bordering on pity, till the look clears and you step closer till we are barely an inch apart. You smile softly, tip-toeing to reach my cheek as you place a gentle slow kiss there.
You pull back and stare into my eyes, both of us shaking slightly, both eyes shimmering, twin tears falling down our faces. You shake your head and laugh slightly.
"If you want to… you can kiss me in public… if you want to you can hug me and hold me and carry me on your shoulders again, if you want you can crawl into my bed at night and we will talk and I will hold you if your frightened or lonely… just know that no matter how you are, whatever you decide I will always be here for you… I'll never leave your side"
My heart swells as I pull you close feeling the emotion strengthen as I rest my chin on your forehead, I feel your arms wrap round me and we stand still… the sunlight pouring through the leaves of the tree to fall in pools around us.
"Never nii-san?"
"Hai" You murmur softly
"Never"
:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-: