I'd like to make a few quick notes, both somewhat related to FMA: Brotherhood.
One: Having recently finished Brotherhood, I think I've been portraying Alphonse well (something I've been worrying over). It's not really important to you readers, but it's rather a relief to me. What's your opinion about it?
And two: I know I told at least one reader awhile ago that this is set in the 2003 anime world, however, after finishing Brotherhood, I feel that it is more a mix of the two (taking more of the less complex plot of the 2003 anime, while also holding elements related to Truth, Scar and the Homunculi from the more labyrinthine plot of Brotherhood). Okay, so much more so Brotherhood. Whatever.
Disclaimer: You guys know the drill.
Chapter Six
Below courage, there is nothing. ~Kakashi Hatake, Naruto.
It was late, just after ten o'clock, when Reid got the call. Edward and Alphonse had gone to bed about an hour earlier, exhausted after their encounter with Axiom, but were awoken by the harsh ring of the phone. Reid, who was shuffling through files in the living room, fumbled with the cordless receiver, attempting to quiet the blaring ring tone before it woke the Elrics, to no avail.
"Spencer Reid." The young genius murmured into the phone. Edward and Alphonse looked at each other and slipped out of bed, creeping toward the door and peering out. Reid gasped slightly, his eyes widening.
"Detective Marker?" There was a pause. "Where was he...?" Another pause. The Elrics exchanged a concerned glance. "Yes, I'll tell Edward and Alphonse." Reid glanced toward the guest room door and saw two pairs of golden eyes watching him. "Yeah, they're awake. See you tomorrow, Morgan."
"Spencer? What's wrong?" Alphonse asked, stepping into the light of the hall while Edward sunk deeper into the shadow of the guest room, putting his right arm behind his back. Reid squinted at the older Elric curiously, but shrugged off Edward's odd behaviour.
"Detective Marker was found dead in the alley beside his apartment building. It seems that the murderer known as The Siren tortured him and Scar finished him off." Reid explained. Alphonse's face darkened considerably. Reid couldn't see Edward's expression, save for the dramatic narrowing of his eyes -which seemed to glow in the dim light- into almost animalistic slits.
"Thank you for informing us, Spencer. Goodnight." Alphonse said curtly, turning on his heel and disappearing past Edward into the dark of the guest room. Edward turned, flicking the door closed and watching his brother worriedly, leaving Reid to stare at the door, rather stricken. Alphonse plopped onto the bed tiredly, staring at the ceiling.
"Al?" Edward whispered, sitting beside Alphonse. Alphonse's eyes closed and a quiet, resigning sigh escaped his lips.
"You were right, Brother. We have to find Scar... And those other murderers. This has gone too far." Alphonse said, his eyes fluttering open. There was a determined frown on his face, and a hard edge in his eyes. It wasn't a look Edward was used to.
"It has." Edward agreed, also frowning. "Listen, Alphonse." The use of his full name made Alphonse sit up, watching Edward expectantly as the older blond collected his thoughts.
"Ed?" Alphonse prodded gently after a minute or two. Edward shook his head and fixed Alphonse with a steady, yet uncharacteristically frightened gaze.
"I want you to promise... I want you to swear to me that you'll be careful from now on. Please, Alphonse. Things will only get more dangerous from here on out... I can't lose you, Al. Not again." Edward's left hand found Alphonse's right one and gripped it tightly, almost desperately.
"I swear I'll be careful... if," Alphonse paused, his voice holding a trace of authority. Edward looked at him sharply. "you promise that you'll be safe too." Edward visibly relaxed, smiling slightly. But he could not help but remember his brother's words a few days ago.
"You need to take care of yourself, too! You can't be worrying about me! All you do is worry about me! What about you? Do you know how stressful it is for me to have to worry about you for both of us? You're so reckless and irresponsible and stupid! You do things without thinking and you purposely throw yourself in harm's way! You have complete disregard for your own safety and you think you have to carry the weight of the entire world on your shoulders!"
Edward's smile faded into a solemn frown.
Was it selfish to make Alphonse worry so much? To push away the aid that his brother offered so willingly? Was he a bad person to put such a burden on someone as innocent and selfless as Alphonse?
For all the books Edward had read in his sixteen years, he was at a loss for the answers to these questions.
"Give me a little piece of the world, Ed. My shoulder's aren't as strong as yours are yet, but I'll get stronger. We can carry the world together."
It was the least Edward could do, wasn't it? Offer Alphonse a tiny bit of the burden he shouldered. It seemed fair enough. He would do anything for his brother, so why not this?
Edward met Alphonse's gaze with grim certainty, his resolve hardening by the second.
"I swear, Alphonse. I'll be careful. And we'll shoulder the world. Together."
...
Reid woke up and got dressed, as usual.
He made coffee and watched the news, as usual.
He read the newspaper and brushed his teeth, as usual.
Everything about the morning was just that, usual. Even in spite of the news of Detective Marker's death.
Well, that is, it was all normal until Reid went to check on the Elrics. Usually they were already up by that time (7:16 am), but they had slept in today. So, when Reid opened the door, both blonds were sprawled across the bed, the sheets tangled around them haphazardly.
"Edward, Alpho-" Reid cut himself off, stopping dead in the doorway. Alphonse propped himself up on his elbows, blinking blearily at Reid while Edward stirred, rubbing his eyes and yawning.
"What's wrong, Spencer?" Alphonse murmured, his voice heavy with sleep. He hazily followed Reid's gaze and sat straight up, the colour draining from his face. "Oh my god." Edward finally sat up and squinted at Alphonse and Reid before following their gazes to his automail limbs. He tensed, all remnants of sleep gone in the blink of an eye.
"What... What are those?" Reid questioned, stepping closer to the bed, staring at Edward's arm and leg in awe. Edward scrambled to get his automail covered, but knew it was too late.
"It's automail." Edward grunted, sighing in defeat. He should have seen it coming.
"Automail?" Reid rolled the word on his tongue, testing it and trying to place it. There was not even the faintest hint of recognition.
"We'll explain soon. Can you give us a moment, Spencer?" Alphonse asked, his voice tight. Reid nodded slowly, retreating out the door and picking up the phone. He dialled a number quickly and held the receiver to his ear, listening to the phone ring.
"Aaron Hotchner." The familiar gruff voice answered on the second ring.
"Hotch, I might be a little late in today. Something came up, I'm sorry." Reid said quickly.
"Is everything okay, Reid?" Hotch asked.
"Yeah, Alphonse is just feeling a little under the weather, I'm going to make sure he's fine and then I'll leave." Reid responded evenly.
"Alright, goodbye, Reid."
"Bye, Hotch." Reid said, hanging up.
...
Ten minutes later Reid and the Elrics were seated in Reid's living room. The Elrics, now dressed, sat on the sofa, while Reid sat in an armchair facing them.
"So you lost two of your limbs, I take it?" Reid questioned after a moment of uncomfortable silence. Edward gave a curt confirmatory nod.
"Correct." He grunted. Reid paused noticing the aura of hostility that radiated from the pair, the wall that they had thrown up to protect themselves from him. He felt like an army of one that stood at the base of a fortress. There was no hope of getting in, unless they let him in.
"And I don't suppose you'll tell me how?" Reid asked carefully. Edward and Alphonse shared a dark glance, pain flashing in their golden eyes.
"No." They answered in unison firmly. Reid sighed, but didn't press them. He was sure they would tell him went they were ready. Even if the curiosity about the automail was killing him.
"Alright." Reid stood. "You two can stay here today. I asked Olivia to look after you, she'll be over in a minute." The doorbell rang. "Speak of the devil..." Reid stood and walked over to the door. "I told her you two were feeling under the weather." Reid glanced back at them. The dark circles under their eyes, the waxen quality of their skin. Yes, it was definitely a believable lie.
"Thank you, Spencer, I think we will benefit from a day of rest." Alphonse said quietly, standing and following Edward into the guest room as the doorbell rang again. Reid sighed and opened the door.
"Hello, Olivia. Thank you for agreeing to watch them." He said tiredly to the strawberry blond woman, who grinned.
"It's no trouble, Spencer! I have the day off today anyway." Olivia said brightly. Today she wore a pair of white shorts and a purple shirt with a brown monster-type-thing on it that read: 'Domo, why you so awesome?' in bright blue bubble letters. "Have Eli and Adam ate yet? I suppose it's early... Should I make them some soup? I know a great recipe for Cream of Chicken!" Olivia rambled. Reid smiled, pulling on his coat.
"That would be great, if you don't mind, Olivia." He said. "I'm not sure when I'll be home, there's a lot happening with the case, but if you need to leave, you can just drop them off at the station." He continued, opening the door.
"No worries, I've got all the time in the world, I just need to do a little research and a small report." Olivia tapped the messenger bag that rested against her hip. "But I brought everything I need."
"Thanks again, Olivia. I owe you." Reid smiled, picking up his own messenger bag.
"Nonsense, you totally saved me that time I dropped that Magnesium into the stove..." Olivia smiled sheepishly. "It's the least I can do." Reid slipped on his shoes and stepped out the door.
"Just call if you need anything." He called over his shoulder as he walked to the elevator.
"Will do! Bye, Spencer!" Olivia yelled after him before closing the door and going into the kitchen.
...
Scar stood from Janet's couch, setting down his book. GOD and Janet looked up from what they were doing.
"Is it time?" Janet asked, smirking. Scar nodded.
"I'll be back. It won't take long, if they are still with the police." He grunted.
"Of course. And you'll call us if they aren't, correct?" Janet said, dangling a cellphone in front of Scar. Scar took it, nodding again and shoving the phone into his jacket pocket.
"Yes." He walked to the window and gave the other murderers a final glance before dropping to the ground below. He pulled up the hood of the jacket Janet had acquired and put on a pair of aviator sunglasses. "Now, where are you, Fullmetal?"
...
Half an hour later Olivia carried a tray with two bowls of soup out of the kitchen. She knocked on the door and paused, receiving no reply.
"Eli? Adam?" She called, opening the door. Once she stepped inside she dropped the tray, feeling soup splash her legs before rushing to the open window. "Eli! Adam!" She stuck her head out the window, looking around in a flurry of panic.
The bed was made.
The closet was empty.
Cold air rushed in through the window.
There was a scuff mark on the window sill and a footprint on the fire escape.
Olivia rushed back into the living room and grabbed the phone, dialling Reid's cellphone number with shaking fingers. It took three rings for Reid to pick up.
"Olivia? Is everything-"
"Eli and Adam are gone! All their things are gone and the window was left open!" Olivia said, all in one breath. Reid paused.
"Gone? Where would they go? I'll tell the rest of the team and we'll have a search team out soon. Did they leave a note?" He asked. Olivia went back into the vacate guest room and looked around before her eyes settled on a piece of notebook paper folded on the nightstand. She picked it up and read through the careful script.
Dear Olivia and Reid,
We're sorry to leave so suddenly, we really are. But we have to.
Reid, you don't understand what you are getting into, trying to catch Scar. He is a foe unlike any you have ever encountered, we are sure. It would be better for everyone if you let us handle him. Don't bother looking for us, you won't find us and it will only hinder our progress if we have to evade you. Trust us when we say that we will be fine, and that we will take down Scar and his allies. And do not take it the wrong way when we say that we hope to never see you again. We're going home, no matter what it takes.
And Olivia, please do not feel guilty for letting us slip through your fingers, it is not your fault, it is ours. This was the only chance we had to leave, and we had to take it. Do not blame yourself.
Goodbye, and good luck,
Edward and Alphonse Hoenhiem.
When Olivia finished reading through the letter she relayed it to Reid, not even bothering to question the names at the end of the letter.
"Can you stay at my place until I get there, Olivia? I'll be there soon."Reid said. Olivia sat on the guest bed, staring at the letter.
"Sure, Spencer. I'm so sorry."
...
Edward and Alphonse hurried along the crowded main street, their heads down. Both of them had a small backpack slung over their shoulders.
"I feel bad for just leaving like that..." Alphonse murmured, shoving his hands into his sweater pockets. Edward shrugged.
"It couldn't be helped." He muttered. He suddenly grasped Alphonse's sleeve and pulled him into an alley as a police car went by. "Maybe we should stick to alleys, that's where we're likely to find Scar, anyway."
...
Reid led the rest of the BAU team into his apartment to find Olivia still sitting on the guest bed, her expression very similar to that of a lost puppy.
"Olivia? Are you okay?" Reid asked. Olivia looked at him with large eyes.
"I'm so sorry, Reid! I didn't expect them to just leave... I was only making soup... I assumed they were sleeping..." Olivia rambled. Reid smiled at her.
"It's fine, Olivia, we'll find them in a flash, you'll see." He reassured her. Olivia smiled back slightly.
"Okay, I hope so." She glanced out the window. " Especially with those murderers on the loose. They could be in real danger, out there all alone..."
...
An hour passed, in which the Elrics navigated the alleys of Quantico, using a map they had 'borrowed' from Reid. Nothing of note had happened, and they were getting hungry.
"Brother, maybe we should find a cafe or something..." Alphonse suggested quietly.
"Yeah, I guess we-" Both Elrics stopped dead at the voice that came from behind them.
"Hello, Fullmetal."
...
Axiom smirked wickedly, watching the scene unfold in his world. It even went so far as to laugh maliciously, catching the attention of Truth.
"What are you doing now, Axiom?" Truth hissed. Axiom laughed again, smug.
"Oh, nothing, Truth." Axiom called, snickering. Truth gave Axiom an odd look.
"Doesn't sound like nothing." Truth grunted. Axiom grinned.
"Alright, let's see what they do next."
Huh. Lots of really short sections in this chapter. Not sure how I feel about that. How do YOU guys feel about it?
How do you guys feel about the way I portray the Elrics' relationship? I'm constantly worried, because I want them to seem really close, but not like, you know, Elricest (Elric incest) close.
Anyway, send me your input via review, if you don't mind. And I'll see you next update. :)