As promised. Read, review, enjoy.
Background, Foreground /piece I/
Life, if so precious a thing as to have limitless value, is seen and expressed by each individual in a truly unique way. Those who live as though they will not live tomorrow, boundaries nonexistant, questions and concerns irregardless, enjoy the true euphoria that accompanies being alive—provided they manage to avoid the one big mistake that keys a horrific downfall. Individuals who cower in corners, living in fear of making that mistake, move quietly through life without a single worry of involving themselves in trouble, although it is at the expense of enjoying the company of friends and loved ones and understanding what it truly means to live.
With such individuals in place, what is there for the ones who lie between the lines, who understand and love their life but are cautious enough to stand back and stand down when such actions are needed?
They are the ones whose wisdom provides for others, whose support allows both extremes of the spectrum, whose kindness should be a model for all others.
And yet, they are so often relegated to the background.
In this world, there walks one who lives fearlessly and abides by his own intelligence, rather than hiding with ignorance. He stands in the shadow of one whose legacy and personality far outreach his, and though he himself stands in the background in that regard, the one he follows would be nothing without him.
That is why he chose to follow the man whose back he always watches into an unknown, uncharted, fear-inspiring place he had never seen.
He knows, just as he knew then, that this man needs him to be by his side.
He may stand in the background behind his brother's life, but in their bond Alphonse Elric will always be in the foreground, the one who facilitates the love and keeps things as they should be, a wide smile always behind his hazel eyes.
A/N: Hopefully I'm not getting addicted to this splitting stories into parts thing, but let's face it...some of these shorts are getting so long that they could be their own oneshots. I don't want that to happen, so yes, I'm splitting this one into two. I intended to have a small section describing Al, and then some situational storytelling with him in Munich, but that second part will end up being Short #16. You all won't have to wait too long for it, though, so no worries there. Let me know what you think, because I actually found it fun to focus on Al.
HWH Update: About 2300 words in to Chapter 12, and it'll be 4000 tops. I promise you all, I'm getting closer. Thanks for reading it and this collection, and I implore you to review them both. I really do appreciate it a lot.
LL