All you've forgotten
Rating: T
Summary: Al and Ed have been surviving on the street that is until they are picked up by the police and placed in a foster home, Al adapts quickly but can Ed forgive all those in the past who hurt him and move on?
Author Note: Major AU! No Alchemy but Ed does have automail. Also I do not own FMA, I wish I did but sadly… I don't.
Chapter eight
(Alphonse)
It's snowing out, the large flakes land softly against the window pane and I smile, the first snow I remember brother, myself and mom dancing around like idiots in the living room. Mother always said that the first snow of the season is magical and that it's something to cherish. I always loved going outside and look skyward, allowing the flakes to fall on my face, tickling as they melted. When the snow got deep enough brother and I would lay about in the frozen rain and make snow angels and then build forts, only to destroy them in a vicious snowball fight. I smile sadly at the memory, we haven't played like children in a long while, not since we left Winry's home. I cast a weary glance over at brother, who in all appearances is napping on the twin bed across from me. His chest heaving with the illness but his golden eyes slit open slightly as he feels my eyes upon him.
"What?" he croaks, voice hoarse with sleep. The pills Doctor Marco prescribed seems to be making my brother very sleepy, while the medication I was given only tastes funny. The night before he was sick, trying desperately to keep silent as he retched in the toilet, but of course I heard him. I haven't lived beside him for this long and not know his sleeping patters and when they are out of whack. Going over I gently sit beside Edward and smile, gazing down at my sick older brother. His face is relaxed and I can barely make out the small slits of his golden eyes. Brother never shows any form of weakness around anyone, save me. He coughs, a deep, wet hacking cough that wracks his whole body before settling down, leaving him breathless.
"Ed, I think you should tell Riza or Alex…" I begin and am cut off by my brother's fierce glare, he doesn't trust the adults. I watch him for a few minutes before looking once more outside, the flakes have somewhat gathered on the window corners.
"Brother, do you remember…" I begin, imagining the last time we danced with mother in our living room.
"Yeah… I do." He answers, pushing himself up to lean against the wall behind him, eyes thoughtful.
"Remember that one time when Winry came over and it started snowing and we danced?" he laughs and I laugh at the memory of when she watched us dancing around like a bunch of fools. My smile fades as another thought strikes me
"We haven't danced since the day she died…. That was over two years ago brother." I mutter and stand, going to the window once more.
"Yeah…" Edward breathes before standing as well and leaving the room, his footsteps fading quickly down the stairs. I wrap my arms around my chest and softly begin to hum a tune and move, mimicking the moves I once copied from my mother. Outside the snow continues to fall.
(Mustang)
The snow falls harder, leaving my windshield streaked with water that promptly freezes. Growling I pull the car off into the driveway of the house owned by Riza Hawkeye and Alex Louise Armstrong. The houses in the neighborhood are all lit up happily, showing the families living inside to be enjoying the snowy day. The house which is now home to the Elrics is on a corner lot and fed with fire wood. Just around the side of the house I can see an ax being swung and know that's where I will find Alex. Resigning myself to having to brave the cold another time I pull my jacket collar up and pull on my gloves, if it's one thing I hate, it's the cold. Slamming my car door I head for where I know the wood chopper is and round the corner, only to find a much smaller person chopping the wood, his bare forearms uncovered and melting any flakes that happen to fall there. Well, one arm is doing so, the other is collecting them, freezing them to the metallic arm. I blink for a moment and shift, quietly trying to go to the front when I step on a stick and snap it, the loud sound makes the boy jump and turn, eyes fearfully blazing as he drops the ax. I stand there for a moment and meet the cat like golden eyes, which are filled with fear, then confusion and then decide on anger at the sight of me. He growls softly and I clear my throat, approaching the issue like an adult.
"Hello Edward." I greet, a smile smirk breaking my usually blank expression, or what I hope is usually blank. I don't really know. The other doesn't respond as nicely and only snarls in return
"Back to take us from yet another place Mustang?" he crosses his arms, the auto mail clunking slightly as it comes to rest against the his chest.
"It wasn't my problem your stay at the old woman's place was illegal." I shrug and I can already see the anger seeping from the smaller guy. His eyes narrow and his stance becomes even more threatening. Knowing this kid's power and strength, especially with his unfair advantage with the metal limbs I don't want to get into trading blows with the kid.
"Why is everything that is good for someone illegal?" he asks, almost rhetorical but something in his gaze tells me different, he just wants me to take the bait. I glare at him… well let's just say I'm a sucker for a beat down.
"Because you're still a child Edward and we, as adults know what's best for you." I reply simply and I watch as the pot over boils and the boy launches himself at me, not with fists but verbally. Something in this kid just snapped and he's taking it out on the nearest thing, which thankfully it isn't me but a piece of wood.
"Yeah, taking us from one place where we were treated decently and putting us with those psychopaths. That was totally knowing what was good for us!" he punches the wood and then turns to me, his eyes blazing wild.
"As adults you should know not to beat on two children much younger than you are, as adults you were supposed to protect us from the bad things! NOT BE THE BAD THINGS!" he shouts, voice going hoarse. He suddenly collapses into the snow, a hacking coughing fit accompanying the outburst. The back door opens and Alex comes out, jumping the rail with ease to kneel beside us
"Roy! What happened here?" he asks and I shrug, watching helplessly as the boy tries to draw air but can't seem to get it. Quickly I strip off my own coat and surrender my own comfort of warmth to the boy, knowing full well having the auto mail limbs laying in the snow isn't helping keep the boy warm. Alex quickly picks Edward up and carries him quickly into the house, all the time yelling for Riza. I quickly follow, confused by the teen's outburst but also alarmed. Riza comes into the kitchen, takes one look at me, then at the boy and runs from the room once more, I watch her go, taking control of the situation. She's always amazed me…. I turn back to the boy, who seems to have gained his air but his eyes are glazed over and unfocused. Pounding feet comes down the stairs and through the other room and the screetching cry tells me the younger brother has arrived
"BROTHER!"I turn in time to jumop out of the way of a darker haired boy shooting past me to slide to his knees next to his brother.
"What happened?" Riza asks, coming back in with a couple of inhale able medicine and gently nudges Alphonse out of the way before tenderly coaxing the exhausted Edward to take the applicator in his mouth and inhale. From where I am standing I can hear the dangerously loud wheezing coming from the boy and grow alarmed.
"Ms. Riza! He was sick all last night." Alphonse gives up and I see the glazed eyes of his older brother toward him in a weak glare before they suddenly roll up inside his head.
"Brother!" Alex grabs the now hysterical Alphonse and drags him a few paces away as the sounds of an ambulance break through the sobbing silence.
"I am very intrigued now." I mutter and go to the front door to greet the paramedics and their stretcher. Intrigued indeed.
So, I got thrown from my horse a few days ago and it was kinda painful to sit and type so the update was much longer in coming than I had hoped. I hope you all have bought your copies of Conquer of Shambala. I have already started to develop story ideas for a Alfonse and Edward fic. So, if you would be so kind and review it would make my days even more enjoyable.