moonstone: Yes, not sure how Grand got to be brigadier general, the man can't even navigate around a desk without running into trouble and needing to call for the medic. I'm sure he is very sensitive about this... and we must try not to hurt his feelings. -snicker-
GreedxEd: You just want Ed on top all the time now, don't you. One-track minded person.
Emotionally Unstable Fangirl: I'm glad you saw it had been updated! And I hope you found the cute scene you'd been looking for.
iStoleYourChips: Well... if I have to share the chips I will... and thank you! I was really trying to go for entertaining with that chapter.
emodragon: Don't worry, you're not alone with the people who wanted cake after that chapter. If I could, I'd have sent out cake to everyone ahead of time. Cake is quite as good as watching Grand continue to tumble.
black-klepon: Only one episode? I'm guessing it's over by now. I've honestly not watched the new series... not sure if I will. But are you very sad it has ended?
Serenity-moon1: Thank you, and never fear, I don't plan to leave this story high and dry. As for the cake, yes, it is from a real recipe. And I will be passing it on, via my LJ. Just keep an eye on my author notes if you don't look at my LJ to see when I make mention of putting it up. It's a rather lengthy post to make, and I actually need to scan in a diagram, so it won't be tonight.
elemental-heiress: Oh I don't pretend... some of that buttercream section could have totally been taken as naughty conversation. I'm sure I didn't intend it to be like that... And yeah, Ed and Roy do behave a bit differently, they rather have to, considering I'm basically starting from the ground up in a few ways. But I'm glad you're enjoying them like this.
IllusionOfAghony: When you're a ghost, you gotta get your kicks somewhere, somehow. And Grand is perfect material.
Soaha: It is! And I do actually have a recipe...
Barranca: They really are like two teenagers with each other. Which is good for Roy, being so stiff all the time is bad for him, he needs Ed to get him to live a little.
Neena: Well... there might be more blushing on vay-cay day.
Shirosenshi: Roy channeling anything other than 'Flame Alchemist' persona is definitely refreshing XD.
B.D.: I know... their relationship is laying up like that cake. Almost time for them to get to that top and realize they better start eating on what they built together.
accident prone: I'm sure Ed would enjoy a hug from you. And Roy's secret farm? Gawsh, you make him sound like a marijuana distributor.
Mesonoxian: Thank you.
Cheru-chan: Love and hate relationship, eh? I can live with that XD. And yes... I do in fact have a recipe.
LadySorrow1121: Roy's being a bit dense right now. Technically he's got a good excuse, but if Ed were presently alive we all know he'd be all over him by now.
MandaxPanda: You know, I'm really lucky that I haven't gotten any real fanatical Grand fans terrorizing me by now XD. All the crap I throw at him.
Pyrozia: I think you win the lottery today, you just finished the last chapter XD. As such, I'm so happy you're enjoying it so far, and that you are happy with how I'm portraying Ed and Roy. And those are some very good guesses. There's quite a lot in that review you left that really made me very happy, so I'll forgive you for not reviewing until now. Thank you very much. And yes, I do have a recipe... I always come prepared with recipes XD.
So now it is time for my ramblings...
My brother is currently lost in downtown Phoenix, in my car... I'm laughing each time I hang up the phone after giving him new directions. Seriously, how can he get lost when he's supposed to follow the tram tracks south, and there's only one line of tracks? I'm not quite getting that... I just hope he finally figures it out. Maybe I'll get him a GPS for his birthday tomorrow... or promise to get him one. Because I don't have a car right now to go buy him one as he continues to drive around in it lost.
On another note, as for that cake, yes, I do have a recipe. I have a recipe, and a diagram to scan that shows how to layer the cake if you are so inclined to follow the directions absolutely. When I have it up on my LJ, I will make a note of it in a future chapter of this story for those of you who don't stalk my LJ as well.
Now... onto discovering one of the answers to the many questions this story has had you guessing on.
I hope you enjoy!
Chapter Twenty-Three
It was only just past dawn when the Mustang house began to get noisy early on a Saturday morning.
Hazel had decided it was in his best interest to take refuge up on top of the uppermost post of the balustrade. Here, it seemed less likely that he'd be squashed by the flinging about of that suitcase. He'd been accidentally hit by it once before, and as his human hovered over him in horror while he'd stumbled about in drunken circles, he'd decided that once was enough.
"I'm confused."
Roy blinked over at the silvery apparition floating beside him, but didn't pause in rolling up a pair of jeans. "Confused." He repeated while turning to set the rolled pair of jeans within the confines of his smallest suitcase.
Edward nodded, flipping upside down in the air to hover with his head nearby Roy's as his silver hair hung down towards the floor. "You're not bringing anything that suggests the remotest possibility you might get a date. Yes, I know this weekend is about us – for us, but still. You're making me very curious as to where we're going."
Roy smiled faintly as he searched through his messy dresser drawers for two socks. The matching compatibility of them didn't cross his mind. "It's not a place I'd be likely to want to get a date. But yes, this weekend is for us. I've never broken my word before, and I won't start now."
"Are you sure you don't want to take the whole cake?" Edward asked instead, taking Roy's explanation at face value for the truth as far as he'd manage to get it.
"Even if I ate that cake for all my meals today and tomorrow, I still wouldn't finish it." But then he paused, head cocked to the right as he abruptly reconsidered. "Maybe that's not entirely accurate, but at any rate I'd spend tomorrow night hanging out with the toilet instead of you."
Edward flipped right-side up, legs folding under him as he gave a slight grimace. "That's one part of mortality I really don't miss. That and sugar cookies."
Roy rolled his eyes and made for the bathroom to grab the things he'd need. "The cake will be fine until tomorrow night when we get back. I just need to grab some stuff in here and then we can go."
Edward backflipped through the air, and subsequently the wall with a happy noise. He was about to get out of Central! For the first time since coming here since his death! Not that he didn't enjoy the city. He really did! Roy was here. It was just that the idea of being able to go somewhere beyond the city was exciting!
And he'd be going with Roy.
Logically, it was the only way he could go. But he tried not to think of it that way as he zoomed from the bedroom, past Hazel who startled at his sudden presence which quickly thereafter vanished, and darted down into the living room where he searched out a book.
He'd need something to read tonight while Roy slept. Yes, technically he could go wander around wherever it was they were going, but he still didn't like the idea of leaving far from Roy while the man slept. It was just one of those insecurities that lingered on… and he didn't see any reason to change it until he was damn well ready.
His finger drifted past several titles before it paused, his eyes staring dead ahead, but not really seeing. And finally, with a small smile, he reached over to tug one of Roy's personal alchemy research journals off of the shelf. He didn't even scan it before he was shooting up through the ceiling and walls to exit into the bathroom via the mirror.
Roy toppled down onto the floor before glaring up at the ghost who was practically spinning head over heels in laughter. Toothpaste from the toothbrush that was now dangling precariously in his hand was splattered all across his front and his face in foamy white specks and flecks of blue paste. "Damn ghost." He spluttered through a mouthful of foamy toothpaste.
Edward was still snickering as he fled the bathroom, leaving Roy to scramble to his feet and finish. Setting his chosen reading material on top of the items in the suitcase, he floated over to sit floppily on his side of the bed and wait. "You okay there?"
Roy walked out a minute later, dabbing at his chin with a hand towel, and needing a change of shirt. "One day I will get used to you doing that. Evidently not today."
"Evidently not." Edward smirked at him, watching as Roy flung the towel at him and pulled his dirtied shirt up over his head to fling that at him as well. The towel he swatted away blankly, but he snagged Roy's shirt out of the air as it arced down at him. "I didn't even have to pay!" He cheered, and tossing the shirt above his head he burst out laughing as Roy blushed hotly.
"Someone is in a very good mood." Roy muttered through his blush, and giving the ghost a suspicious look, asked, "are you sure you haven't lied to me about not being able to eat? Because you're acting like you snuck cake last night."
Edward was smirking again as he folded his body horizontal to the bed so he could prop himself up on his elbows and rest his chin in his hands. "Would you prefer I scream and swat your clothes away screaming about cooties?"
Roy deigned not to answer, and the laughter was evidence enough that one wasn't needed. He merely shook his head with an amused smile and dug in his closet for a new shirt, glad to have a moment to get that damn blush under control. And when he'd tugged on a new shirt and faced the ghost, he was composed again.
"Ready?" Edward asked in eagerness.
"I'll just grab the suitcase." Roy announced, striding over. He merely smiled as Edward vanished down through the bed, most likely to go wreak noisy havoc downstairs. The ghost definitely kept him on his toes… just when he thought he had the ghost figured out, Edward threw him another curveball.
Downstairs, Edward was hopping from foot to foot on the floor, just to feel as if he were doing something impatiently energetic as he waited for Roy to haul his lazy ass down the stairs.
It took them almost twenty whole minutes to walk to the train station. Or rather, Roy walked with enough dignity for the both of them, as Edward bounded through the air like a ghost on a perpetual sugar high.
The train station was not overly crowded for this early on a Saturday morning, but there were people. Most of the benches surrounding the four platforms were occupied by at least one person, and two trains were in the station already beginning to pour smoke as the engines were stoked in preparation for early morning departures.
Roy's steps headed to the ticket office, while Edward paused a moment to stare in fascination at one of the trains before realizing Roy was gone and darting after him. He'd get a better look at the train later. He wanted to know where they were going!
"Good morning, sir!" The attendant at the ticket window greeted with customary cheer. "How may I be of assistance?"
Edward was half-wondering if Roy would start to flirt.
However, Roy was entirely polite, and he smiled generically at the attendant. "Yes, I need one ticket for the 8:30 train to Risembool."
Edward could only stare at the man with wide silver eyes, shock thrumming through his incorporeal body making him feel frozen. Unable to breathe – as if he needed to. Roy was taking him… home?
Roy could sense more than see, at the moment, Edward's reaction when the ghost finally learned where they were going. He could sense the shock. Upon being given the ticket he turned to lock eyes briefly with the ghost, giving him a quick smile and a tilt of his head.
Edward jerked after the man, as if suddenly released from some strange time warp. But even still, he couldn't seem to manage to say anything, and he tried. He really did try!
Roy wasn't too unsettled by Edward's stunned silence. He knew the ghost would either speak when he was ready, or not. In the case of the latter, Roy knew he'd be glad of the private military cabins on the train, so that he could get Edward to actually speak. But he wasn't surprised by the silence emanating from the ghost.
And Edward floated after Roy, sinking down onto the bench beside him with a stunned expression still on his face. Now that he thought about it, it seemed almost logical that this is what Roy had had planned. And he was happy! He was! That wasn't the reason for his silence. It was just… difficult.
He was about to go back to Risembool, and all he could do was sit here stupidly next to Roy. It was frustrating!
When the boarding call went up, Roy filed into line to get onto the train, Edward close beside him. And once they'd boarded, he waited for those ahead of him to sit down before making his way to the private cabins reserved for military personnel. All he had to do was flash his State Alchemist pocket watch to whoever came to collect the tickets and he'd be fine.
Upon reaching one such cabin, he rolled the door open on its track and let them inside before shutting it with a quiet click.
Edward settled onto one of the benches feeling rather overwhelmed.
"You going to be okay?" Roy asked gently as he took the bench across from the ghost.
Edward looked at him then, worrying his lip between his teeth a moment before launching another search for his voice. "Yeah. I… uhh… sorry. I guess I'm still – I should have expected this at one point or another, but…"
Roy nodded in understanding, offering a bracing smile. "It's a hell of a memory to go back to."
"Yeah." Edward actually laughed, a strained sounding laugh. And scrubbing his face with one hand he suddenly pushed that hand back through his hair. "I haven't been there since I died."
"I think though," Roy began as the train whistle sounded crisply into the morning air, "that you need this."
Edward felt the train lurch under them as it began to heave its way out of the station, and he felt incorporeal butterflies begin to flutter in his incorporeal stomach. Giving a shaky grin he looked over at Roy. "I don't know what I should feel. Happiness, uncertainty, sadness, I really don't know."
"If you're feeling all of those, I'd say you're feeling what seems normal." Roy answered.
Edward's hands fidgeted in his lap as he nodded, smiling down at his knees in an almost forlorn manner. "I've always wondered, wanted to know for myself that Alphonse was okay. That he was okay, somehow, after I died. He was my only brother, and I died for him."
Roy nodded, but didn't interrupt.
"But… I died there, in Risembool." Edward whispered, giving a light shake of his head. "Hell of a complication, that."
Roy waited a moment, until it seemed that Edward was done. "But you do want to go back, right?"
"Get closure?" Edward looked up at the man, before saying with sincere firmness. "Yes." And he suddenly jerked his hands aside to grip at the edge of the seat. "I want to see my brother again… even if he can't see me."
Roy smiled as he saw Edward begin to look more like himself again, and less like he'd been shocked permanently.
"Thank you, Roy." Edward said after a moment, softly, meeting the man's eyes. "For doing this for me."
Roy's smile didn't fade as he gave a slight nod. And relaxing to one side against the armrest of his bench, he propped his chin in the heel of his hand as he continued to watch his companion.
The ticket attendant came and left, leaving the pair to their silence. Edward looking out the window, or looking at Roy; and Roy seemingly unable to take his eyes off the ghost as he caught the scenery out of the corner of his eye.
"Edward."
Edward tore his gaze away from his fascinated watching of the verdant forest they were cutting through to meet Roy's eyes, finding nothing in the man's expression to tell him what Roy was thinking.
"Why did you never ask me to go to see your brother?" Roy asked, having decided he couldn't just not go on not knowing any longer. "You say you want to see him again, and I believe you. You may not be jumping up and down right now, and I understand why… but I can't help but wonder why you've never asked."
Edward's expression grew strained for a moment before he nodded, it was a fair question. And he attempted a small smile. "Had you not taken the initiative like you did, I wouldn't have asked for a while. I've been dead for seven years. I was imprisoned in that office for seven years. Unable to be seen by anyone, except you. Can you understand that I'm scared to try and reach for too much too soon? As if… doing so would backfire on me. Maybe it's not the most reasonable, or logical mentality to ever exist… but I was alone, and I was trapped, for what I had come to accept as eternity. I've not been freed from that very long in comparison."
Roy suddenly stood to sit himself beside the silver ghost. He hadn't known any of this… and now that he did, it made sense. Rather like a dream, you didn't dare to touch it lest you find it shatter. "I'll reach for you then," he promised, "until you're no longer scared. I'm the one constant that won't backfire on you, that I promise."
Edward smiled a bit shyly at the man, warm flickers of gratitude rising within him. And at the knowledge that he'd never heard Roy talk this way to anyone else. It was nice, in a selfish way he'd keep to himself, to feel that he and Roy shared a friendship different for more than the fact of their existence as a ghost and a living man. "And I was a bit hesitant to impose any more on you so soon." He admitted sheepishly.
At that, Roy snorted in protest and drew himself up to level a reproachful look at the spirit. "If I wanted something from you, I'd damn well ask for it. So allow yourself to be a bit greedy when you want something. I'm not such a cold hearted bastard that I'd refuse to take you to see your brother."
Edward was grateful that he actually could let the bench swallow him whole, for he vanished a good foot into it at the look and words he was being given. "Bit greedy, right, got it."
Roy rolled his eyes and switched seats again so that the ghost wouldn't vanish all the way into that bench. "Make sure you remember it. Usually you're good at telling me what you want. Just make sure it applies to everything from now on. If I can't do it, I'll tell you. But at least tell me."
By the time the train was only about ten miles outside of Risembool, Edward had considerably become more enthusiastic, although the hesitation remained in his eyes. But Roy knew there was nothing to be done for it but time as he watched Edward happily look out the windows to marvel at the lakes and hills. Hell, he'd be feeling a bit uncertain yet excited too.
"It's been so long since I've seen the countryside!" Edward exclaimed softly as he peered out the window, hands pressed against the cool glass.
Roy chuckled as he gazed out the window as well to be sure Edward could see. "It is beautiful out here. If you like, we can go hiking a bit. Or rather, I can hike and you can float along."
Edward smiled over at him briefly, "I think I might take you up on that."
By the time the train was puffing into the station at Risembool, Edward was looking more settled, but even so happy. And Roy was glad that the ghost seemed to be relaxing now that they'd gotten this far. But he knew better than to think that Edward's nerves might not reappear when he saw his brother, even if Alphonse wouldn't be able to see him in return.
"You'll have to lead the way." Roy said needlessly as he stood to grab his suitcase from the overhead rack. "But feel free to wander wherever you like, so as along the way somewhere we can stop at an inn so I can drop this off."
Edward nodded as he swung the compartment door open for them. "We'll do that first." He announced with excitement budding in his voice. "And then I want to go see Alphonse."
"My eyes are at your disposal." Roy offered nobly as he followed the ghost out and off of the train.
The next ten-ish minutes the pair spent wandering around the town. It had been seven years, after all, and Edward had been a child then, so he was rather hazy on the schematics. It didn't help that with time, also meant growth and redevelopment.
But in the process, Edward was able to exclaim over familiar sights, or people he recalled, so Roy didn't rush the ghost. Only stayed nearby as unobtrusively as possible as Edward darted around people and buildings while rattling off everything he remembered about the person or place.
At long last they found the inn, and Edward could barely keep still as he waited for Roy to check into a room.
"Just staying until tomorrow?" The innkeeper enquired politely as he slid the required information form across the well-worn counter.
"Yes." Roy answered, not seeing the need to divulge anything more. And he began filling out the form with the standard needed details. "What time is checkout?"
"Noon." Was the prompt reply. "Bar is open until midnight. And my wife serves a fairly mean complimentary breakfast in the morning."
Roy smiled faintly, and signed his name with a flourish before passing the form back across the counter. "If the bar is open until midnight, I can only say I'll strive to wake up in time to indulge in your wife's cooking."
"Roy, even in normal conversation you can sound like you're hitting on someone." Edward rolled his eyes.
The innkeeper, however, didn't appear to notice. "Very good, sir." And reaching behind him, he took a key off a hook on the wall behind him. "Room Seven is yours. I hope it's to your liking."
"Thank you." Roy took the key politely and giving the man a cordial nod he turned to head up the stairs to find the indicated room. And he let he and Edward in once he had.
Edward made a quick circuit around the room, eyeing the unfamiliar furnishings. Fairly standard for a small town inn. A bed, a dresser that he doubted anyone ever used, a nightstand with a lamp, and a door cracked open to reveal a hint of a small connected bath. "Not as seedy as I'd expect. I guess as the only inn in town you have to have some standards."
"Are you so severe on your own birthplace?" Roy queried with a hint of a smile as he stashed his suitcase on top of the dresser.
"I never lived here." Was the wise retort.
Roy chuckled and turned to his silver companion with an expectant look. "Are you doing okay?"
Edward's composure faltered a bit as he sank down onto the bed with a stuttered exhale of breath. "Yeah… I mean, this isn't so bad. Sure, I'm seeing things, people, that were once familiar to me. But it doesn't affect me like I know seeing my brother again will. If I take myself out of the familiarity, it's just like seeing any other new place with you."
"Until we get there." Roy continued, not needing to specify what 'there' meant.
Edward nodded. "Don't get me wrong, it's great seeing all this stuff again. It really is! I've been so happy…" and he looked up to meet Roy's eyes. "It's hard to go there again. I never used to think I would. And then you came along."
Roy bit his lip a moment, before suddenly crossing over to Edward to sink down on the bed in front of the ghost. "Edward, I want you to listen to me. There's no rush, no expectations on you. Honestly, if you were acting fine and completely elated immediately, I'd be concerned what you were trying to hide from me. Just like how we've taken things since we got you out of that office, you can take it slow. And I'll be here, as I always have been, until you truly are fine. So what if you aren't giddy with joy when you see Alphonse again? It wouldn't be normal if you were. Not after what happened."
Edward closed his eyes as he let Roy's words sink in. This wasn't quite culture shock… but it was akin to it. The last time he'd been in Risembool, was the night he died. The last time he'd been in that house, he died. The last time he saw his brother, he'd begged and pleaded for Alphonse to be spared harm, not knowing his life would be taken in exchange for his pleas. Yes… he was excited, and relieved to be able to see his brother again. To have closure on the last act he'd performed in his mortal life. But it was a hell of a night to seek closure on.
"I'll even hum again, if it helps." Roy added with an understanding smile as he watched an unconscious tremble make its way through Edward's silvery form.
Edward opened his eyes then with an attempt at a return smile. "I really am grateful you did this for me… don't think otherwise."
"Idiot." Roy breathed before standing abruptly from the bed, offering down his hand to the ghost. "Edward Elric, I am no fool. Now, take my hand, and let's go see your brother."
Edward looked from Roy's insistent face, and down at the hand several times before he reached out with a slow-forming smile to lay his hand over Roy's as their gazes locked, this time, allowing his hand to pass slightly through the man's. "I do want to see him again."
It turned out that Roy didn't have to hum as they made their way out of the town together and edged out into the rural countryside. The dirt road was well-worn, rutted by cart wheels and stamped flat by the passage of many feet and beasts of burden. On either side it was bordered by either lush fields springing into verdant hills, or the rows of neatly planted crops swaying in a gentle breeze.
Along the way, Edward would mention if he knew someone – those few people that were out and visible this far from town – and he would give Roy a quick summary of what he remembered. He knew the man must think it positively boring, but not once did Roy look anything less than interested.
And then they were rounding one of the last bends in the dirt road, having taken the correct fork.
Edward knew he wasn't floating any slower, but he did notice he was floating closer to Roy and that his hands had taken to fidgeting. Each bit of ground they gained created a perpetual flood of questions in his mind. Would Alphonse still even be there? Would the house still be there? The Gate hadn't destroyed it too as part of the apparent bargain, had it? And how the hell was Roy planning to explain his being there?
All too soon it seemed, Edward was staring at a house melancholically familiar to him.
That answered one of his questions.
"Just leave it to me," Roy said, taking Edward's expression as evidence enough of what house they were looking at. "I'll get us inside. I may be military, but I can get us into a civilian home."
Edward shot the man a wry look, "usually for nightly conquests. And I hope it goes without saying that if you even look at my brother wrong, I'll rain my ghostly wrath down upon you."
Roy rolled his eyes, but started forward. Glad to see that Edward was settled enough to make such a remark. It was a definite step forward in the direction to Edward being entirely at ease. "Your brother is seventeen now, right? You're only a year older than him? Or… were?"
Edward grunted in the affirmative.
"Then you've no cause to worry. Not that I'd be interested in your brother like that anyway. One of you is enough." Roy informed the ghost matter-of-factly. Not to mention the idea of flirting with Edward's younger brother made him feel rather nauseous.
Edward glanced over at him, "good." Was all he said, firmly. Not even caring to try and rise to the potential indignant argument of just what that 'one of you is enough' thing was about. He figured that Roy probably might have a good point about that. He didn't like to consider himself high-maintenance, but he knew he did require some.
Between the needing Roy to see in order for himself to see, and the fact that he'd downright admitted to Roy at one point that he had been lonely without the man, he'd rather set himself up as a ghost that did require maintenance.
All too soon, though it had felt like eternity, the two of them found themselves at the front door.
The nerves were getting to Edward so badly that he forced himself down to the ground to stand, just to have the feel of something solid pressing up against his feet. Hell, he didn't even know if Alphonse was still here! But he quickly stuffed his hands in his pockets to stop their fidgeting, and try and give himself a more carefree and relaxed posture before turning to nod to Roy. "I'm ready."
Roy gave a slight nod accompanied with a smile before turning to rap loudly on the heavy door.
Edward sidestepped closer to Roy, so that he was nearly touching the man, and stared in nervous anticipation at the door handle, willing it to move.
And then it did.
The door gave a groan of protest as it was hauled open by a teenage boy with caramel-blond hair and matching eyes that stared in mild confusion at the man occupying his stoop.
"Can I help you?"
"Alphonse!" Edward suddenly cried in delight, and before Roy had even managed a response, he'd bolted forward to begin hovering and bobbing around his brother through the air with wide, happy eyes, and a brilliant smile. "You are alive! You're alive! It worked!"
Roy was forced to muster one of his greatest acts of deception yet as he battled to keep a neutral face as Edward exulted around his brother unseen. "You must be Alphonse Elric?"
"Yes." Alphonse frowned slightly in curiosity. He didn't get many visitors. Fuck, he never got visitors from out of town. And this man was clearly not from around here.
"My name is Colonel Roy Mustang." Roy began to explain as Edward finally stilled to hover in front of his brother, twitching as if he longed to throw his arms around the boy and hug him mercilessly. "Seven years ago, your brother wrote me these –"
Edward whirled around, and stared in slack-jawed shock as Roy pulled free a rubber band bound stack of envelopes. The writing just visible enough on one to cause him to recognize that it was in his hand… or, how he'd written when he was eleven. "Those are my letters… the ones you intercepted." He murmured, his gaze jerking to Roy. "I didn't think you still had them. Why?"
"– wanting to find your father." Roy continued as if he hadn't heard Edward, and really, for right now, he had to pretend as if he hadn't. "For some reason I intercepted all of them. And then," he flicked through the stack to show one envelope that wasn't addressed in Edward's writing, "I got this, from you."
Alphonse stared at the stack of envelopes, his face rather paler than it had been. And after a long moment he swallowed hard, and gave a jerk of a nod as he forced his eyes back up to this man's face. "Roy Mustang, you say?" And receiving a nod, he opened the door completely. "Please, come in."
Roy graciously nodded, and did. "Thank you."
"Alphonse!" Edward floated after his brother to hover in front of him again, anguish on his face. "Don't be sad, Al… please… I'm okay, really."
"Do you need anything to drink?" Alphonse asked as he shut the door.
"If you have tea." Roy suggested, hoping to prolong his stay as long as possible for Edward's sake.
Alphonse nodded, "I think there's some left in the box."
Edward followed much like a puppy after his brother, all the way into the kitchen. Which told him that Roy was close behind. And although the familiarity of his old home was affecting him, making him nostalgic and something in his chest ache, he was more affected by seeing his brother again. "I really am glad you're alive." He said over Alphonse's shoulder, even though he knew his brother couldn't hear him.
After a while the tea was ready, and Roy was waved to sit down at the kitchen table where he was shortly joined by Alphonse, Edward sank into the chair between them.
"So, Colonel," Alphonse began as he passed over the sugar, "what brings you here only now? You're about seven years overdue."
Roy looked up to judge Alphonse's expression, the tone hadn't sounded anything more than conversational, and that was what made him wonder if the younger Elric wasn't hiding accusation somewhere. But finding nothing but curiosity, albeit hinted with an understandable sadness, he relaxed.
"I bet he wouldn't believe the truth." Edward said softly from his chair, a sort of emptiness to his voice. "I just wish there were a way… a way he'd believe I was okay… but he'd just think you crazy and chase you out."
Roy could understand Edward's wants, wishes, but also understood as well as the ghost why he couldn't tell Alphonse any of that, the truth included. As much as he hated the idea of outright lying to Edward's younger brother, he knew he had to. "You really know how to pose a difficult question."
Alphonse smiled faintly, "I'm not trying to accuse you, just curious."
Roy took a sip of his tea to bide him a bit of time before he commenced his story, not exactly a lie, but not the real reason he was here either. "I once knew your father. I think that I was the only one who actually was on comfortable speaking terms with your father, everyone else was too damn scared of the man. And probably for good reason." And he slowly began to draw a lazy circle on the table with his forefinger. "At the time your brother started sending letters trying to find him, I was actually attempting to do the same. Edward sent letters to every person he could find, I expect, who might have come in contact with your father. I might not have been sending letters, but I was launching visits. And the people, the same people your brother wrote trying to find your father, passed the letters into my possession."
"Isn't that some sort of mail theft?" Alphonse smirked.
Roy chuckled a bit, "not if it was voluntarily done. I didn't demand them." And he didn't think that he'd divulge the fact that that was the truth… only up to a point, for in some cases he'd actually threatened people nearer the last letters via fire to hand over a letter if he had seen they had one. He wasn't sure why he'd become so adamant that he have every single letter Edward had written, but he'd wanted them. Even though they were all mostly the same. He'd wanted them.
"More like extortion, knowing him." Edward offered, not knowing how close to being right he was.
"And really, it was kind of a heavy thought your brother's letters put on those he wrote to… even unknowingly me. I don't know if you ever read what he wrote in them –"
Alphonse shook his head.
"– but they definitely made me search harder for your father. Not just because of what I wanted to find him for. But because his sons were looking for him." Roy lowered his eyes to the table with a somewhat sad look that faltered his smile. "I know I'd have tried to find my dad, had my mom been that sick." Had his own father still been alive. "At the time I received the last letter I would from Edward, I had been planning to come here. To see if there wasn't anything I could do, since I was failing at my search for Hohenheim. But near the end of my plans to come and visit, I received your letter."
It was there that Roy paused a moment, a slight frown on his face as he let himself dwell back on the memory of it. And then he was setting all the bound envelopes on the table, freeing them, and pulling out the one in Alphonse's hand. And he held it there in front of himself before tossing it across the table to Alphonse.
"But what I never understood is how it came to be in my mailbox."
Alphonse reached forward to pick up the letter, and unaware of the ghost of his brother hovering above his shoulder to see, he looked down at it. It was then that he remembered… he hadn't known where to send it… he just had.
All that was on the envelope was the return address, and in the upper left hand corner, his father's name.
Edward looked quickly back up at Roy, catching the man's eyes as Alphonse busied himself with staring at the envelope, lost in remembrance. "You got this in your personal mailbox?"
Roy gave a slight nod.
"Seven years ago, you get this… and then you find me?" Edward looked aside as a confused frown made its way onto his face. "You're the only person who can see me."
Roy picked up his tea and took another sip, knowing what Edward was thinking. What the ghost wasn't saying. So far, everything about the two of them pointed to them having been meant to find each other. But what neither of them could understand was why. Why was it he who could see Edward, and no one else?
Alphonse finally looked away from the envelope, and slid it back across the table to Roy. "Keep it. If it came to you, keep it. It seems like you're meant to have them anyway." He said, waving a hand at the stack of envelopes.
"When I learned your brother was dead, I cancelled my trip." Roy continued once he'd put the envelope back in the stack and bound them once more. "I know it seems, perhaps heartless of me right now. But at the time I didn't feel it was right to impose on you when you'd just lost your brother. And certainly not to bring you the news that I'd not yet found your father."
Alphonse tilted his head with a small smile as he considered the man. "You may be right about that. But you're in good company, I've not found him either. As far as I'm concerned, my dad is dead by now. Else, why has he been away so long? It just doesn't make sense. It's of course unable to be made official… but I do believe I'm the only one left."
Edward flopped back into his chair, causing it to squeak in protest just a bit. "Should of asked yourself why he left, not why he's been gone so long. He doesn't care about us, Al. He left. Plain and simple."
Roy glanced at Edward once, quickly, before turning his attention back to Alphonse. "I guess you could say I'm here now to do what I had wanted to do seven years ago. See that you at least, are still doing okay now."
"You said you knew my father a little?" Alphonse asked instead, not bothering to waste this man's time with how he was doing. After seven years, no one bothered with asking him that. And he wasn't sure what to say to such a question anyway.
"Back when I first joined the military." Roy divulged helpfully. "He wasn't exactly military… but we got along. I think he'd met your mother by then, but I never met her myself. And then I went to war in Ishbal and never saw him again."
"Why did you start looking for him again?" Alphonse pressed with a small frown.
Roy tapped one of his fingers atop the table, knowing that right now was a good time for a lie. He didn't want to burden either of Hohenheim's children with why he had been looking for the man. "I was ordered to. I don't know anything more than that."
Alphonse slowly nodded, and took it as it was. If it had been military ordered, it was reasonable that this Mustang guy wouldn't know anything more about it. And then something in his head clicked, and he stared almost agape at the man across from him. "You're the Roy Mustang?"
"What does he mean with that 'the' crap?" Edward bristled. "Please tell me my own brother is not about to fawn over you and make me want to hurl!"
Roy actually shared that last sentiment, but he hoped for the best possible outcome. "Yes."
"Flame Alchemist Roy Mustang?" Alphonse quickly clarified of his guest.
Roy nodded, "the same. Why?"
Alphonse raised a hand before quickly getting up. "You're supposed to be one of the best alchemists in the State!"
"Supposed to be?" Roy wasn't sure how he should take that one. "I'm guessing you aren't one of those that hates State Alchemists, but why are you so…"
"Hey, I was impressed with you too." Edward piped up.
Roy couldn't help but wish he could inform Edward that the ghost had also made reference to him not seeming scary, and that hardly seemed the opinion of an impressed individual.
Edward then grimaced, "not that I'd be in the fan club falling at your feet trying to get a date."
"Our old teacher, Edward's and mine," Alphonse rattled off, "despised State Alchemists. But still, you're an alchemist. And a good one! I've never met another highly skilled alchemist but our teacher before." And then his expression darkened a bit. "And brother… of course."
Roy took a chance to cock an eyebrow at Edward, teacher? The ghost had had a teacher at one point? He didn't think Edward would have needed any assistance.
"I'll tell you later." Edward muttered in explanation to the brief look.
Roy decided that Edward most certainly would, and turned his full attention back to Alphonse. "Well I'm glad I could stop by then. Although I am regretful for the reason… I just wanted to see that you were doing okay."
Alphonse sat back down with a shrug. "As okay as can be expected. I am glad though that you did. I don't get much company here. I help out with some of the farmers crops for extra cash, but even then mostly all I get to talk to are the lettuce plants. And being seventeen… it's a good time to hide as much as possible from my friends. Most of which are girls. They get rather…" he paled nervously a bit, "ravenous at this age."
Roy cracked a grin as he laughed. "They don't mellow out, I hate to tell you. Best just to brace yourself and go for it. Trust me, you'll still walk away from it alive."
"We are not talking about my brother's love life." Edward groaned, burying his face in his hands before jabbing a finger at Roy. "Especially not you, you'll turn him into a manwhore like yourself. Tell him that commitment is a good thing! Finding someone you love is a good thing!"
Roy didn't, it would have seemed far too suspicious given his reputation. But he didn't fail to notice that Edward's ideals were starting to become an endearing quality about the ghost. As archaic of ideals as they were.
But he had to rescue Edward nonetheless… and besides… this was a rare opportunity. "I was wondering, if it's not too presumptuous of me," Roy began, "if you would tell me a bit about your brother."
"That depends," Alphonse said with a growing hopeful smile as he turned his cup of tea between his hands, "are you staying for lunch?"