Proof of Life
11th May 2007

Series: Blood Brothers
Fandom: Full Metal Alchemist
Pairing: None, so stop asking because there. Is. No. Pairing.

Timeline:
Ed and Al lie awake in bed the night after they and Curtis-sensei have taken the unknown homunculus (soon to be Wrath) home. They have discovered the child is in possession of Ed's limbs. Night time; in bed
Summary: There is more to being who you are than possessing a physical body.


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"Hey Al?" Ed called, "Remember the time that Barry the Chopped idiot convinced you that you were some fake soul?"

"Yeah, I remember that, Nii-san." Al sounded embarrassed when he said, "And I feel stupid for not having talked to you about it. I promise—"

"That's not what I was getting at," Ed waved his auto-mail hand dismissively, the flesh one comfortably tucked under his head.

"Hmm?"

"I meant that… well, I was thinking about the kid." Ed frowned, "Geez, I don't even know what to call him. Anyway, he got me thinking about you."

Al would have crossed his own brows if he'd had them, Ed could just see it. "Why would he remind you of me? I don't understand."

"Yeah, I know. Sorry." Ed took a deep breath before softly saying, "I just meant that, he's a homunculus. Even if he has a human-looking body, he isn't human."

Al's helmet of a head clanked softly as he asked, "So?"

"But he has my arms and he can do alchemy…" Ed wasn't sure if he should say it.

"Sorry brother, I still don't—"

"Al," Ed said, in a dangerous and warning tone of voice that he knew always made Al wary, put him on his guard. "He's not human but he can do alchemy."

"I'm not sure I… know… what you…" Then when it seemed to hit him, "Mean!"

"Yeah, well I think you got it," Ed muttered crossly. He wasn't sure if Al would take it quite the way he--

Al excitedly announced, "I'm not human either!" –had hoped. This was better.

"That's right, you idiot," Ed agreed calmly. "You can do alchemy even without a body. You're really… you. Heck, that's got to be something that messes with the system."

"I bet as an alchemist," Al laghed, "that one's been eating at you a while now,"

Ed rolled over, grumbling, "Damn straight, it has."

Chuckling, Alphonse observed, "Nii-san, you're such a single-minded kind of guy."

"If I wasn't," his brother retorted, "you think we would get as far as we have in so little time?"

"Oh, I don't know," Al said mischievously, "I still have longer strides than you."

"Oh I see," Ed said in a deceptively soft tone. His vocal volume rose dramatically when he rolled over to dangerously demand, "Who you calling so small he can't keep up with an ant?!"

Al giggled.

With a sigh, Edward turned back on his side and muttered, "Transmuting his sorry ass into such a big suit of armour was all my own fault. Should have put him into a doll…"

"But then there wouldn't have been ricocheting bullets or sinking into the sand…" Al laughed again, "Back in the desert that was so much fun seeing you freak out like you did when I grabbed your ankle."

"You're the freak, freak," Ed snapped mildly over his shoulder. "And for goodness' sake, quit reminding me of all the shit I put you through."

A long while later, Al mused softly to himself, "I'm still human…"

Ed smiled, closing his eyes. This ought to sadden him, he considered, wondering why Al would need to find such a thought as profound as he did. But it was just as well. It had given his brother something positive to think about; a new kind of hope. And he could swear even Al's armour had a new sheen to it now. Of course, it was likely his imagination, but it could have been yet another way his brother's soul affected the armour he called his body.

…Just as he practiced alchemy despite it not being a proper physically form.

Yes, thought Ed, letting himself fall further toward sleep. Al was in there. Achieving their goal would only be a matter of time, indeed.

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