Who Would
"Grandfather!" Lanfan watched as her grandfather fell to the ground. She knew before she made it to his side that he would not live.
He coughed out his final breaths as she sat beside, completely disregarding her duty to watch over the prince however much she longed to be fighting by his side. Her eyes flicked over to Ling, watching for any sign that he needed her help.
How could she possibly help? She was just a human, she was barely even worth the title of ninja.
They always said she was too sentimental, too emotional for the job.
She had to be by the Prince's side, but she had to stay with her Grandfather, the man who raised her, in his final moments.
Maybe it wouldn't matter so much if he wasn't just the Prince in her eyes. Maybe it would be easy to give her grandfather the respect he deserved, if her heart didn't beat differently when he was around. Yes, she was far too emotional for the job.
The old man watched her eyes through her mask. That look wasn't one of a soldier with a job to do, it was of a young woman worrying about the man she loved.
"He's a great man, he will be a great king," she could just barely hear his voice. "I'm not sure whether to call you wise or a fool."
Lanfan smiled. "Thank you Grandfather," she whispered.
She felt them coming as she turned away from his smile. She fought them back as she leapt, just in time, to catch Ling by the arm.
Her automail caught, cutting into her stump of an arm. Her chest hit the concrete, knocking the wind out of her.
"Let go of me you moron!" It was Greed who chewed her out.
I'd let go of you if it weren't for him. "Highness…" Lanfan regained her breath, "It is our duty to protect you."
It was her will, could he see that?
Could he see that it killed her?
"Your Automail can't hold that much weight!" I know. "Go take care of the old man-"
She watched as her own blood dripped onto his face.
Could he not see that it was him over all else, regardless of duty? Even family?
They slipped out, in a moment of weakness. No, he was family too. Even if that would never be. Even if she was doomed to watch him with others her whole life.
She watched the tears fall, dying in grief over a family that was never whole to start with.
They splashed across his cheek, his eyes becoming his own and not that creature's.
She saw those eyes, his eyes, and knew.
He did see, he understood.
He was dying for the same reason.
She watched as he shouted, as he pleaded, as he fought, cried and cursed, for years, but she had never seen him like this. All over someone who wasn't even blood. Over an old man and a girl who should have not mattered to him.
This…This was the man she fell in love with, one who shouldn't, but would, love her back.
A/N: So I watched ep 58 or 59 of brotherhood (the royai part was so disappointing, it was much better in the manga!) but this part made me want to write something. It's okay, I guess. I'd like to write more with these characters, but I can never come up with anything XD
So thanks for reading! Drop a review if you want!