Chapter 12: Into the Sunlight
--
It was a dark night and the crescent moon shone lucidly between thin layers of trailing clouds. A chilly breeze made the hairs on his neck rise straight up, and around every corner he was almost certain that he had heard someone; someone watching them. He was probably just paranoid because of the military surveillance. He doubted they were being followed in the middle of the night. Still, the uneasiness was chewing at his insides.
"I'm not sure that this is such a good idea," Alfons Heiderich said in discomfort, thinking quietly that paranoia was the least of his problems right now. He trailed after his ponytailed comrade, who stopped instinctively by the porch of the right house.
"I'm not stupid," Edward replied, keeping his voice close to a whisper. "I trust him. And going after Thule without someone knowing could be suicide."
"Yeah, about that," Alfons continued, almost forgetting to talk quietly. "Have you forgotten what day it is tomorrow?"
Edward stepped up to the door, turning his head slightly while he lifted his hands to clap. "No. Why?"
"Your hearing is tomorrow…" Alfons whispered. "If we go—"
"Fuck that already," Edward snarled. "I'm not staying here for crap like that."
"But—"
"Shut it!" he hissed and clapped his hands, touching the door lock.
Alfons didn't want to leave it at that, but he didn't say more of it for now. "Don't you think he has some kind of alarm system?" he asked instead.
"Just stay here, I'll be right back," Edward said in a whisper. He disappeared inside the dark hall.
Alfons stopped silently at his spot and didn't intend to go any further anyway. He wasn't all happy about breaking into Roy Mustang's house in the middle of the night, even if he knew him personally or not. But he had to agree that it was more reassuring to know that someone else knew where they were going before they disappeared. Of course, Mustang wouldn't get to know the details, because they weren't supposed to be found afterwards. But then again… something could go very wrong.
In fact, it all was almost bound to go wrong.
Alfons sighed deep and looked at his watch. It was an old watch; his father had used to wear it. He had sent it to him while he was out in the Great War. It showed 2:30 am. A couple of hours earlier he had practically escaped from Central Military Hospital. He wasn't supposed to be released from there until the morning, but Edward had convinced him that they hadn't that much time. He hadn't even had the time to tell him about the weird eye-mark underneath his foot. At least he couldn't feel it now so he had decided not to worry about it.
They had immediately snuck out the window of the hospital without the soldiers stationed outside his door noticed, gathered some things from their dorm room, and now they were here outside the Colonel's house to leave him a note. Just a note.
Everything really seemed frightening to Alfons. It still hadn't come quite down to him what they were about to do. Maybe he still was a little drowsy from the medicine, and whatever Edward said made sense in an extremely improbable way.
They had to steal the airplane in order to find Edward's brother, before the military attacked Thule Society at their known location, which would happen in only a few hours.
Yes, brilliant logic. Alfons had to convince himself about that for a couple of minutes.
Secondly, Edward's hearing was supposed to be tomorrow, which if he didn't attend, the military would assume him to be a deserter for the last two years and decide at the worst case scenario to execute him.
In only one night, they would get themselves a hell of a lot of enemies. Both from this world and the other. If they could find Thule Society at all. He didn't know how they knew it was exactly there, but he surely didn't think that Thule Society had planned for the military of Amestris to find out. That was at least something.
--
"What are you doing here, Fullmetal?"
Edward froze fast to the wooden floor.
Roy Mustang scowled with his good eye, holding his gloved hand ready to snap. He had been sure it had been a thief breaking in, but underestimating the Fullmetal Alchemist was not something he ought to do either. "I'm afraid I'm out of Scotch this time," he added without lowering his gloved hand.
Edward turned around, seeming to have calmed down from the little shock. He didn't appear to acknowledge the small joke. Edward looked serious. That alarmed Roy.
"Next time you want to get me drunk, feel free to do whatever the hell you want," Edward said sarcastically.
Roy cleared his throat. "It was an accident. I stopped before—" He trailed off. Before what?
Edward scowled at him. "Just forget it. I'm not here to discuss that, I don't have much time."
"Then what are you here for?" Roy asked.
"I'm here to deliver something," Edward replied.
The Colonel finally lowered his arm, realizing that Edward was here for a completely different reason. "What are you talking about?"
Edward looked away from him. "I'll disappear for a while," he said hesitantly.
Roy took some steps towards him. "Fullmetal…"
Edward reached out his state alchemist watch. "I have to go, so I'll sign the paper-stuff later."
Roy didn't accept the silver clock, watching the younger in silent disbelief. "I will not let you leave, at least not without a proper explanation," he stated firmly.
"I thought so," Edward said with a sigh, scratching his neck. "That's why I broke into your house in the middle of the night. You were supposed to be asleep."
"This is not funny, Edward," Roy said, drawing the golden eyes to look at him by the use of his first name. "What are you intending to do?"
"Find Al," Edward replied in a low voice. "Please… don't stop me, or I'll have to put up a fight with you."
Roy's brow furrowed, ignoring the threat. This is ridiculous... "You're going to miss your hearing," he pointed out.
The blond alchemist was already starting to get sick of that line. "Do you really think I care about that?" Edward snapped. "Retrieving Al safely is my only priority."
"They won't listen to that in court, Fullmetal," Roy said, trying to think rationally. The kid couldn't seriously think of dropping out the night before, could he? It would look extremely suspicious, effectively worsening the circumstances. "They will hunt you down until they arrest you," he added severely.
Edward snorted. "They won't find me."
Roy sighed, rubbing his forehead. How did this kid get so arrogant? "They will find you. And what use are you to Al if you're locked behind bars or dead?"
Edward looked away again, not responding.
Roy didn't know of anything more he could say to have him change his mind. Was he really losing him again? Had Edward really thought this through? Roy doubted it, but still, Edward wasn't incapable either. Of course retrieving Alphonse was important. Damn it. He gave in. There was nothing he could do to stop him. To stop him he had to start attacking and knock him out, and possibly do the same to Alfons Heiderich who probably was waiting outside. He didn't want to do that.
The thing left to do was to trust that Edward could take care of himself. After all, he came back after two years of assumed death.
"Where are you going to look for your brother?" Roy asked.
Edward looked back at him, a smile forming, but didn't reply directly to the question. "Could you do me a small favour?"
"What?" he asked.
"Delay the military from attacking Thule in the morning," Edward said.
Roy's eye widened, trying not to act too surprised. But he'd just been held the entire evening trapped in a meeting with the Council, where they had discussed how to go investigate the location first thing in the morning. The information was highly classified, and how Edward had gotten a hold of it was an unsoiled mystery.
"I'm going to fetch Al out of there first," he continued. "Or else, he might get killed by you bastards."
Mustang crossed his arms, trying sort out a solution. He still hoped he would meet up with Edward over there the next day and convince him to come back with him after everything had been cleared out. And hopefully after Alphonse had been found. If he took Alphonse back to Central, it would be easier to get the older brother back with him as well.
"We're not going to just blow the place up, Fullmetal, you know I would've been against that," he said, followed by a deep sigh. "The mission will only be plain investigation, depending on what we will find awaiting us. Either way, the only thing I will intend to do is to search for your brother and bring him out of there alive."
"Then you can save your breath instead, cause I'll do it myself," Edward said, more frostily than he actually meant. He dropped his state alchemist watch on Roy's table and turned to leave. "I would've asked you to come with and help us… but I won't ask you to risk your position again," he said silently. "Good bye, Colonel."
Roy Mustang stood still, not going after him. What? Was he just supposed to accept this? But deep down he still knew he wouldn't be able to stop him. This was Edward Elric, after all. "Fullmetal," he said.
The blond stopped and turned.
"There's no guarantee, but the location showed up right before the attack at Central, and we were just able to track down a phone call from where it came from. The location was suspicious enough that we believe it couldn't have been from anyone else than Thule."
Edward froze. "A phone call? Was anything said?"
"No. It got cut off shortly after Hawkeye replied."
Edward nodded. "I see." Not many people would have the number to call the Colonel's office directly. If Al had tried to contact them it would at least mean that he was alive.
"Good luck, Edward," he said in a low voice.
Edward shot him small smile. "Thank you, Colonel." Then he disappeared out the door.
--
"He caught you, and he didn't stop you?" Alfons asked bluntly, walking fast by his beloved friend's side.
Edward shot him a stare. "He wouldn't be able to, unless he killed me."
Alfons snorted with a small smile. Then his face stirred and he stopped clutching his hurting side. Although it was still painful, his injuries were nothing like they had been the day before. It was healing almost miraculously fast. His thoughts fell once again on the Gate.
Did it have anything to do with it...?
Edward stopped too and turned around with a concerned scowl. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine," Alfons breathed out, forcing a small smile. He couldn't tell Edward yet. He had enough on his mind...
Edward didn't seem to believe him. "You shouldn't come with me…"
Alfons gave him the most dangerous look Edward had ever seen, and it made him speechless.
"I will hear nothing of that, Edward, either I'm coming with you or I will stop you from going myself," he said sternly. He sighed of the look on Edward's face, who seemed not to be sure if he should run away or help him walk. Alfons smiled weakly. "You'll just have to bear with me."
Edward smiled back. "I guess I have no choice then." He grabbed Alfons' arm, and supported him over his shoulder. "We're there soon."
"It's not that bad," Alfons said. "I'll just take some more of that medicine they gave me later."
"You have it with you, right?"
"Yeah, along with the food and water."
Edward nodded pleased.
"How are we supposed to get in, anyway?" Alfons asked.
"I'll take care of the details," Edward said.
--
Coming through the first guard was easy. He was stationed inside a box of glass next to a barricade, to prevent cars from driving into the area without showing their ID.
The guard was asleep, so Edward and Alfons got a free pass, crawling underneath the barricade and continued down the long road with warehouses on each side.
"The guarding of this place is terrible," Edward commented. "We should have been arrested by now."
Alfons shuddered slightly. "I'm not complaining that we're not."
"Hold it there you two!"
Alfons heard the sound of a gun loading, and literally froze to the ground.
Edward turned, snorting. One guard. He picked up his ID and held it up. "Edward Elric and Alfons Heiderich," he said.
The guard frowned and came closer, lowering his gun as he recognized them and hurriedly saluted. "Major, what are you two doing here at this hour?"
"We're starting early today," Edward said. "I'll be teaching how to pilot Azure in the morning, so I wanted to prepare some things."
"Yes all right, just wait one second," the guard said, lifting his walkie-talkie to his mouth.
At the same time he did that, Edward's metal foot hit his chin, and quickly after that his automail-hand stroke him across the back of his neck. He passed out, sinking to the ground without another sound.
Alfons gawked. "If you were thinking of doing that all along, why did you bother lying?"
Edward sighed. "Have I taught you nothing, Alfons? Take them off guard."
They hurried towards the west end of the warehouses.
"There it is," Alfons said, pointing at the barrel with fuel he had hid away during the attack at Central.
Edward worked quickly. He found a small plastic can from Alfons' backpack, opening the barrel, filling the can with fuel, wiped it off with a towel and put it back into the pack.
"Since we have to get away in a hurry, we won't have time to bring the whole barrel. This should be enough to get us somewhere." Then he looked at Alfons, smiling sheepishly. "I'm sorry, I know you've worked hard." Then he abruptly pushed the barrel over to the ground making the fuel flow all over the place, along the wall of the west warehouse.
Alfons jumped back, avoiding getting his shoes soaked and looked bewildered at the other. Was he crazy? "What are you doing?"
Edward turned him around with a gentle tug at his shoulder and went through the pack on his back again. "I'm making a small show to get the most of their attention in another direction." He found the matchsticks he was looking for, flaring one of them.
Alfons' eyes widened.
Edward dropped the matchstick into the very inflammable liquid, and quickly pushed Alfons away. "Run towards the east end," he said.
Alfons wasn't a fast runner, but he could when he had to. Soon the whole army would be there, had Edward even thought about that? Typical Edward doing such reckless things! The reason why he hadn't been informed was probably because Edward knew he would be against it. Alfons huffed with a small smile. Someday Edward would pay for this!
Edward was a faster runner than Alfons, but still he held himself behind him to make sure he was okay. He knew it was probably painful for Alfons to run with those injuries. He looked back over his shoulder, seeing smoke welling up towards the dark sky, and the flames licked dangerously at the roof of the warehouse. Soon everyone at the base would be able to see it.
They stopped by the east end, Alfons leant his back at the wall of the warehouse that hid them, breathing hard.
Edward peeked around the corner. The west warehouse had started to flare up real good. He turned back to his friend, and Alfons met his eyes. "No worries," Alfons said when he gained his breath. "I still have… the recipe in my head."
Edward grinned and pushed him back against the wall and kissed him.
Feeling a warm mouth soothingly massaging his own, Alfons was surprised that Edward took time for something like that, but he didn't complain either. He snuggled his arms around Edward's back and kissed him deeper, not wanting it to end all too soon. The air literally smelt of excitement. Or maybe it was just fuel or smoke. The spark was instantaneous as their tongues meshed together in a heated rhythmic dance. Edward pressed his body against his, and Alfons wouldn't mind if this moment had lasted forever. He was a little nervous for what they were going to do next, but the kiss made him feel much better.
After a while Edward pulled back slowly, his lips still parted and eyes closed of the little sensation. Alfons wondered if he even realized how adorable he looked like that.
Then his eyes suddenly opened wary, and Alfons inhaled sharply. They heard the sounds of voices and running footsteps of military boots – heavily armed military soldiers.
Seemed like their little fire had finally drawn some attention.
"Time to go," Edward whispered.
--
Alfons didn't know how surprised he could be able to be as they reached Azure's warehouse from the backside and noticed that it wasn't guarded.
"This is almost too easy," Edward muttered. "This unit sucks, the Brigadier General should teach his men to stand guard more properly." He clapped his hands and touched the wall of the warehouse. A door appeared on the wall.
"Nice," Alfons commented. Silently he didn't complain about the guarding. And of course most of the soldiers would run to check out the other burning warehouse.
Edward opened the door carefully, peeking into the dim warehouse. He could see the plane. She was standing in the middle where they had left her, looking very appealing. The hard part started now.
They moved quickly towards the plane, but hadn't reached it before five guards popped out of nowhere, screaming orders to get down on their hands and feet while getting their rifles ready.
"That's more like it," Edward said.
Alfons stood stiff, wondering what the hell Edward had planned now.
"If you fire something in here, what do you think will happen to this thing behind me?" Edward said pointing at the plane.
Alfons suddenly noticed that they were standing between the plane and the soldiers. This was probably their best card.
"We don't need to fire to take down traitors like you," one of the soldiers said coldly. He was the first one daring to move, swinging the backside of the rifle towards Edward's head. Edward ducked, grinning, and leaped forward with a clap. He touched the floor, making it melt and trap five pair of feet. The concrete turned hard again, making all of them unable to move their legs. Edward knocked out the nearest soldier, grabbing his rifle from him and pointed it back towards the others, just as the four other dazed soldiers readied their own.
There was silence for a couple of seconds.
One rifle was pointing towards the soldiers, and four rifles were pointing at Edward.
"Throw them," Edward said.
Alfons didn't know how, it was just something about Edward's voice no one could reject. Anything could sound logical when he opened his mouth, no matter what it was. And the soldiers probably assumed that he was serious. They threw their guns away, and Edward nodded pleased. "Alfons, the door," he said.
Alfons nodded, and went to the left wall, pushing a green button.
The big hangar doors started to open up at the front of the warehouse.
In a hurry, Alfons moved back and climbed into the back cockpit. He hadn't really thought about what would happen if they got this far. Everything he did seemed to work on autopilot right now. Main thought was: Get away from here now.
He started the engine, letting it warm up and tucked his backpack down between his feet. He had no idea how to fly this thing; he would leave that to Edward. He put on the goggles and turned on the small radio with a plug into his ear so they would be able to hear each other, throwing a look up front. Still no soldiers ahead. But they didn't have much time. Azure was far from soundless, so in any time the other guards out there would notice that something was wrong.
"Say hello to your boss," Edward said, before he backed away from the soldiers, still pointing the rifle towards them. The propeller had started to pick up its speed, and he climbed quickly into the front cockpit, taking over the controllers and put the plug into his ear, adjusting the speaker in front of his lips. "Ready, Alfons?"
"Yeah, go!"
Edward took a deep breath as he put on his goggles, and then pulled the gear lever. The wheels underneath them started to move. Slowly at first, then they picked up.
Alfons thought it almost was too good to be true. Would they really get away with this?
The plane went clear out from the warehouse, and it was then they met trouble. Even if the field was flat and long, Alfons' breath hitched at the welcome-committee. A large group of soldiers had gathered a formation, aiming their rifles.
"Shit," Edward muttered. "Stay low, Alfons."
Alfons jumped as a series of gunshots hit Azure's front and sides, and he started to panic while he sank down in his seat. "They're shooting at us," he breathed.
"I know," was the slightly annoyed reply. Edward made an abrupt turn, steering the plane around. "Keep your head down!"
Alfons complied and curved his head down under his arms as a new series of loud gunshots loomed in his ears. The soldiers were behind them now, which was at least less chance that they damaged the engine. But either way, this wasn't good. Azure wouldn't stand too much of this. Neither would he. He had already survived through one ballistic trauma, but he had no guarantee that he would handle another one. He hadn't even really recovered properly from the first time, being less than two months ago since it happened.
They picked up their speed and Alfons dared take a short look up front. Edward had been forced to turn towards the north path, which meant they were forced to drive past the fire where every other of the soldiers had been running towards. Some of the soldiers stationed by Azure had probably already warned them, for now a new group was getting into position ahead of them.
He started to change his mind. This wasn't easy. They wouldn't make it.
"They're going to shoot again, Edward!" he bellowed. "We won't make it!"
"Yes, we will!"
"It'll damage the plane too much!" Alfons shouted, starting to panic. "You have to stop!"
"No fucking way!"
Alfons' heart skipped a beating. Was he really serious? They would die before they got into the air. Even as they still put up more and more speed, they would be finished if a bullet hit at any more critical spots. Or worse, hit one of them. It didn't seem like it mattered to the military if they were caught dead or alive.
It was probably too late to stop now. If they stopped, it would be their death anyway.
Behind them soldiers had gotten themselves into cars, and were driving fast after them. They would start firing again any moment, and in front of them the same thing would happen.
They were trapped from two sides.
Then it all happened very fast.
"Edward!" he yelled at the same time as the firing started again, but even if he talked into a radio his voice drowned in all the noise of engines, gunshots and air pressure.
Edward jerked the handle down, and the plane shuddered and jumped lightly up in the air on a warm gust of wind that was caught under their wings for a moment, lifting them into the air, gradually higher over the ground.
With the sound gunshots still thundering inside his aching head, Alfons looked carefully over the edge of the plane. He was staring at a fire underneath him, along with people who looked like small toy soldiers and cars. He was trembling badly and close to hyperventilating. They had avoided the crossfire in the last millisecond. Why did Edward always have to wait for the last millisecond?
He heard Edward's breathing into his ear. "Al… Alfons, are you okay?"
Alfons nodded. But then he realized that Edward couldn't see him, and he quickly added: "Yeah… you?"
"Yeah."
Alfons swallowed, pressing his back into his seat. And then he suddenly noticed that they were flying. During all the near death-experiences he had for a moment almost forgotten what they were actually doing. He laughed nervously. "We're flying."
Edward took some deep breaths. "Yeah…" He suddenly burst out laughing. "It's working!"
Alfons let out a deep sigh of relief. For an instant there he had really thought they weren't going to make it. It was an odd feeling, but very familiar. The feeling of having escaped death by just a tiny bit.
"Did you see the look on those guy's faces when we took off?" Edward burst out excitedly. "It was priceless!"
"No," Alfons replied sullenly. "I was busy having my eyes shut."
Edward turned around and met his eyes through the goggles. "The important thing is that we made it, and we're on our way."
"Yeah," Alfons said. "But you really scared me there."
Edward chuckled softly and turned around the right way again. "Sorry."
Alfons shook his head, smiling a small smile. "Hell you are." He looked down over the edge again. "We're still quite low. They will still be able to see us."
"I'll get us higher, just give me a second," Edward said.
As they rose higher in the air, the very first rays of awakening light sharply pierced the semi-dark sky. A deep golden sun was showing up from behind the horizontal line, gradually bathing the waddling clouds in a beautiful scarlet glow.
"Wow, look at that," Alfons said.
Edward didn't reply. Even though the sun didn't properly light up Central yet, from up here he could see how the city had been damaged by the bombs. Some buildings had burned, others were half obliterated or completely gone. But despite even that, Central looked beautiful from the sky.
Edward seemed to have drifted off for a moment. Alfons smiled, relaxing more. He had always wanted to fly up in the sky like this. Edward was a good flyer; the plane was flowing steadily on the warm, supporting winds. At the same time as flying was relaxing, it was one of the most frightening things he had ever experienced. Even if he was a scientist, he had the feeling that the possibility to get this piece of junk and metal up in the air was probably a mysterious wonder. Not to mention with the bullet holes.
He hadn't even thought the thought through, before the plane gave a violet shudder and made a sound that didn't sound normal.
Alfons jerked forward, feeling cold sweat on his own neck. "Edward?"
"Yeah," the older replied, sounding nervous.
"What was that?"
"I have no idea."
That wasn't the reply Alfons had hoped for.
The plane shuddered again. Something was terribly wrong. Had they just lost some height?
"Oh God," Alfons whispered, clutching his seat belt.
What if the engine stopped? What if they crashed? They'd be dead even before the plane hit the ground. Alfons wrenched his own brain. Something about the thought of dying felt like a déjà vu...
"Alfons," Edward's voice shot sharply into his ear, making him force his mind back to reality. "Take the steer and keep it steady. Get us higher if you can. The hydraulics should stand at least 6561.7 feet."
"What?" Alfons gawked. "I've never flown before!" The abnormal sound from underneath the plane pierced his eardrums.
"Trust me!" Edward bellowed. "Just keep it steady and don't pull the steer away from you, only towards!"
"O-Okay," Alfons stuttered. He grabbed the steer in front of him, fixing his eyes straight ahead. He could do this. It wasn't that hard. All he had to do was to hold the steer, prevent them from dropping. It would be fine.
But then his mind started spinning. Why did he have to do it if Edward could? Cobalt eyes widened. "What the hell are you doing?!" he shouted.
Edward had released himself from his belts and was getting out of his seat. And they were almost 3600 feet up in the air.
"Stop!" Alfons said, trying to calm himself down. Edward couldn't seriously be thinking to—
"You hear that sound?" Edward said annoyed, meaning the abnormal sound coming from underneath them. "I don't know what it is, but we're damaged and it's not supposed to sound like that. And if I don't do anything about it, we might be hitting the ground sooner than we're able to land this damned thing. So shut up and keep her steady so I don't fall off!"
Alfons shut up and held the steer tighter. There it happened again. Edward said something, and it seemed like the only logical thing to do. His voice was almost like magic.
Edward crawled towards him, supporting himself by holding onto the supporters of the wings above them. He glanced down the side of the plane. "I need to check some cables down there. Seems like it's coming from—"
The rest of his sentence disappeared in a mix of wind and pressure against Alfons' ears. But he caught the drift. Some cables could be destroyed or just cut off.
"I can't reach them," Edward growled.
"We should land," Alfons said fast. "Then we can fix it."
Edward shook his head. "No, we can't. Landing in this condition might kill us."
"Flying in this condition might kill us as well, Edward," Alfons said through gritted teeth, knowing he wasn't very helpful.
"Give me the rope from your pack," Edward said. "I'll tie myself to something."
Alfons nodded, carefully feeling down to his backpack with one hand, finding the rope. He tossed one of the ends to Edward, and the other end he tied carefully around himself as best he could while steering.
Edward looked hesitantly at him. "Alfons, what—?"
"Come on," Alfons bellowed, securing his knot tightly.
Edward nodded fast, tying the rope a fast around his own waist.
"But don't fall," Alfons added.
Edward snorted, but nodded. "My weight might cause some disturbance. Try tilting us slightly to the left."
Alfons did as he was told, following Edward's instructions. The plane drooped carefully sideways. Edward grabbed the lower wing-set, and lowered himself down the right side of the plane.
Alfons felt his hands were shaking. He couldn't see Edward anymore, and he tried to concentrate on the road ahead. They had broken the clouds and were finally above them, where they were hid from the world. Then he heard the sound of a transmutation and saw blue sparkles of lightning shot up.
"Did you find it?" he asked breathlessly.
"No, I just made something to stand on," a calm reply said. "Keep this position."
"O-Okay," Alfons replied, not daring to even move.
Edward clapped again, as he stood on a small transmuted ladder. The wind pulled at him, trying to throw him off balance. He caught a glimpse of the damage, something flaring dangerously behind a metal plate pierced with a couple of bullet holes. He removed the metal plate with another transmutation and stared carefully into the stock of cables. Some of them were cut and melted.
The plane shuddered once again, more aggressively this time. "Aaah!" Edward yelled.
The plane suddenly dropped height fast, falling underneath the clouds again. The rope tightened painfully around Alfons' waist.
"Edward!" he yelled, gasping for air. "Shit!" He clutched the steer tightly, trying to regain the control over the plane. Come on, come on, he told himself or the plane or anyone.
Just stop dropping!
The plane flattened out, leaving Alfons sitting there and just breathe hard and struggling to calm himself down. "Edward, are you okay?"
Edward didn't reply, which alarmed Alfons. He yelled: "Edward! Edward!"
"Ouch… stop shouting in my ear, damn it," Edward growled. He had grabbed onto one of the supporter poles below the wing with his metal hand in the last second, as his feet were shoved away from the solid stance by the shudder and where now dangling in thin air. The rope around his waist was tightly holding him back from swinging further outwards – the wrong way. Edward breathed heavily, clutching the iron pole with his left hand as well.
"Are you alright?"
"Y-Yeah… No problem." Edward cleared his throat and started down at the clouds underneath his feet. "Just keep it steady," he added, sounding way more calm than he was supposed to be.
"Yeah, got it."
With some struggling noises, Edward managed to lift himself back up, stretching out his arm to reach back to the transmuted ladder. He managed to reach it and lifted himself up, holding on tightly and pressing his back against the ladder on the wall of the plane. He sighed deep in relief. That had been a close call.
Then he turned back to the wires and cables inside the plane's stomach. He clapped and touched them. The damaged cables and metal melted back together, and the engine went over to a more soothing sound.
"I did it," Edward said.
"Thank God," Alfons said silently.
"There is no God," Edward muttered. "Uhm, I need some help to get up."
"Climb, I got you," Alfons said, holding tightly around the rope.
Edward clenched the rope with both hands and carefully started to climb up again along the side of Azure.
The rope tightened around Alfons' stomach again, making it slightly uncomfortable to breathe, but he endured it. While holding the rope tightly with one hand and the steer as steady as he could with the other, he felt Edward's weight pulling at the other end and soon he could see a hand over the edge of his cockpit. As soon as he was sure Edward had a good hold, he moved fast to clutch around his arm, dragging him over to him.
Edward ended up on the floor together with his pack between his legs, breathing hard. The space was narrow, but Alfons didn't care.
"Good job," he said in a low voice, a small smile on his lips.
Edward turned at him and grinned. "I'd do that again any day."
--
Finding himself quite comfortable between Alfons' legs, Edward studied the map he had transmuted. "We're heading south-west, until we reach the sea," he said. "It's the only coast line Amestris has. We'll follow it further west. Their hiding place looks like to be a mountain on the south-west coast."
Alfons felt more secure with manoeuvring the plane, as long as they switched when they were going to land the thing. "How long will it take?" he asked.
"I don't know," Edward said. "Around one hour perhaps. But it depends if I can find somewhere to land before we run out of fuel."
Alfons released a complaining sound. "Why do you always name the worst thing that could possibly happen in that light tone?"
Edward shrugged, not directly replying. "I'm curious of that hiding place. Maybe they found a cave or something in the mountains."
Alfons didn't reply. His thoughts were drifting off. Edward had told him about the last meeting with Mustang on their way to the warehouses. They had only been able to find this place because someone had called directly to Mustang's office. Edward was sure it had been Al. Alfons hoped so, and then they at least knew he was alive up until two days ago. But two days was a long time. If the one who called really was Al, why hadn't he said anything? The only reason Alfons could find likely, was that he had been caught. And what would Thule do thereafter?
He didn't dare say this out loud. Edward's hope was the main thing that kept them going.
The golden sun had started to set properly on the sky, shining brightly in between the cumulus clouds on the cobalt background. Alfons had managed to regain some of their lost height, as there were clouds both above them and underneath, hiding them from curious eyes on the ground.
Alfons couldn't help feel happy about the weather. They were flying right into the sunlight. The experience had been far from comfortable if the rain had been pouring down, and the sky dark as pitch. He hoped that continued on their way further too. When they had rescued Al.
"Edward," Alfons said in a low voice.
"Yeah?"
"Where are we supposed to go, after we've retrieved your little brother?" It was a positive question, which he really wondered the answer to.
Edward was silent for some long minutes, still studying the map, as if he could find an answer there. "Rizembool, I guess," he replied. "It will be up to Al what he wants. Either way, if he wants to go home we'll take him there. But at least I can't stay there for long. It's the first place the military will look."
"Yeah… so then what?"
Edward turned around to face him, a faint smile on his lips. "We can go wherever we want."
Somehow Alfons felt pleased with that. Usually he would've preferred a detailed plan of what he was to expect, simply because he liked being structured and liked knowing what he was doing. But now it was different. Neither of them knew what they were really heading for. It was scary, but exciting too. They could rather decide minutiae like the future when the time came.
Soon they had the sea beneath themselves. Alfons could just admire it. He had only seen the sea once, on a field trip at the University in Romania. Munich was the heart of Europe, engulfed by land in every direction. He had always longed to see it from the sky like this. Edward was resting his arms on Alfons' thighs and had laid his head back and closed his eyes for some minutes. Alfons didn't mind. Even though Edward didn't want to admit it, he was probably still tired of the hard week of work. His fevers had at least ended.
Edward lifted his head and blinked. "I almost dozed off."
"It wouldn't hurt you," Alfons said. "But I think we're there soon."
Edward pushed himself further up and looked over the edge. "Yup. I should get back into my seat."
Alfons nodded slowly. Even though it was dangerous, it was more dangerous to land with two people in the same cockpit where one of them didn't have a seat belt. He scanned the area, seeing a huge mountain ahead of them.
"Do you think… that is it?"
Edward looked up while working on the knots on the rope around his waist. It would be too short of slack to let him cross the body of the plane with them tied together. "Yeah. Go high, in case they can see us coming."
Alfons complied, wondering slightly if they would be caught right after landing. Obviously the plane was still far from soundless and invisible.
Edward released himself from the tie, and stood slowly up in front of Alfons. With some awkward rearrangements, Edward managed to climb over Alfons and crawled towards his own cockpit underneath the highest set of the wings, holding onto everything he possibly could cling on to with his strong automail hand.
When Edward slumped back down in his seat, Alfons managed to breathe again. He hadn't even noticed that he had held his breath.
"All right," Edward said, securing his belts. "I'll take over."
Alfons let go of the steer and leant back in relief. He glanced behind himself over his shoulder at the blond. Edward looked more determined than ever, but Alfons couldn't help but dread for what was coming. They needed a long straight road, or else they wouldn't be able to land.
They were high above the mountain. Edward started circling around it and gazed down, eyes narrowing like a hawk. "Of course," he said.
"What?" Alfons said.
"They've already solved our problem for us."
Alphonse stared down the many thousands of feet towards the ground. On the top of the mountain there was a large, long road. Thule Society had either found it by luck or made it by themselves. Obviously they would need a place to land their own aircraft as well.
"They'll see us," Alfons noted.
"Possibly. But I don't care," Edward shot back. "We can't land somewhere else and risk using days to climb back up."
He was right.
It was about then the plane made a different sound than it should once again. Alfons' eyes widened. Something wasn't right. "Get us down quick!" he breathed.
Edward was already on to it, or had the plane just dropped height on its own accord? Edward headed for the road, while turbulence was getting a hold of the plane and shook it like a toy of plastic. Alfons took a deep breath, afraid that the turbulence would rip the wings to pieces. They were already down to 2000 feet and he could clearly see more details of the ground beneath them. Mostly ocean, but the mountain was getting into view again as Edward slimmed down his circle and started on a straight, but slightly diagonal line towards the road.
"We're down on fuel," Edward said.
Alfons glanced down on the dashboard. He was right. But that couldn't be right. The tank roomed 6 litres, and that was enough fuel to keep the plane going at normal speed for at least 3 hours.
"We're leaking," Alfons said in horror.
"Hold on," Edward said calmly. He kept a slight diagonal line as steady as he could. A little turbulence wouldn't affect him; he had done this before after all. Only that it was almost two years ago. He shrugged it off. "It's like learning how to swim," he said cheerfully. "Once you've learned, you never forget."
Alfons looked down, seeing only the huge deep ocean straight beneath them. "Just in case…" he said hesitantly. "Are you a good swimmer?"
Edward laughed shortly. "No. I've never learned."
Alfons' stomach made a small twitch. But then they were suddenly clear of the water below, and had only solid ground underneath the plane. The road had already begun. Edward had to get them down on their wheels soon, or else they would be too short on straight road.
In deep concentration, Edward lowered them slowly and the wheels of Azure touched the concerted roadway, bounced once up in the air again, before it hit the solid road and continued rolling further in fast speed.
Alfons let out his breath hard. He hadn't even noticed that he had been holding it in again. His breath went fast. They were on the ground. They were alive.
Edward didn't slow down. His narrow eyes already scanned the road, not entirely sure what he was looking for, but he had almost expected something to happen as soon as they had gotten their wings off the air. Either way, he couldn't help let out a breath of relief. "All right back there, Alfons?" he asked.
"Yeah. Great job," Alfons managed. He laughed and rested his head back.
Edward kept driving until they reached the beginning of a forest at the very end of the road, and somehow he managed to sneak the plane in between the trees.
The engine died even before he was done, which alarmed Alfons to a great extinct. "If we had continued any longer up there, we wouldn't have made it," he muttered apprehensively.
"No reason to dwell upon that," Edward said, letting himself off his belts. "I need to repair it immediately, or else we won't be able to get our asses away from this place soon enough later."
Alfons rubbed his head, still quite relieved that they were alive. Typical Edward to just shrug everything off like it was an everyday routine and move on with it.
Edward jumped out of his cockpit, spent some seconds scanning the close area for something (or someone), before he continued around Azure's body to investigate the damage.
Alfons slowly let go of his seat belts.
"Stay up there for now, Alfons," Edward said. "Keep watch."
"O-okay," Alfons said. He shook his head. There was no way to back out now. Of course, he wasn't thinking of backing out either. But he couldn't be blamed for wanting to just breathe for some seconds after all the action.
Their purpose for being here was still not forgotten. They were here for Edward's brother. Finding him was top priority. Alfons had always been aware that they would risk both of their lives doing this, he had just not thought about it that way.
And if Thule Society had seen them arrive in the air, they probably wouldn't be slow on coming out to meet them.
On the other hand, he had risked his life ever since he had come to this world, by keeping his real identity a secret for the higher-ups. It was almost the same. Almost.
He heard the sound of alchemy, and blue sparkles shot up from underneath the front of Azure.
Edward showed up a second after, climbing up to him. "Give me the remaining fuel," he said.
Alfons searched his backpack for the small can. It roomed only 3 litres. But it should be enough to get away. He hoped. He handed Edward the can. "Did you fix it?"
Edward took the can underneath his flesh arm, nodding. "Some damn bullet was stuck down there. But nothing fatal. The pistons weren't hurt, and that was probably why we made it. I fixed the tank and some other things." He climbed down, and this time Alfons followed.
There were no signs of movement from anywhere. Maybe they hadn't been seen after all. Or if this place was the right place… Even if Thule Society definitely had landed their aircraft here, it didn't mean that they were here.
Edward filled the tank with fuel and placed the lid securely back in place.
"We need a plan," Alfons said, instinctively lowering his voice. "If they're here, we can't just rush in."
Edward closed the top, shielding the engine inside and looked at him. "There's only one way," he said.
"And what is that?" Alfons asked a little hesitant, having experienced examples of Edward's 'only ways' before.
"I have to get caught. They'll bring me straight in where we want to be," Edward said, as rationally as he suggested going to the store. He pulled out of his long, brown coat and went to stuff it into the cockpit together with the backpack. He couldn't bring anything important with him because they would probably just take it from him anyway.
Alfons followed after him. "Are you mad?" he snapped.
"It's the only way," Edward said, jumping down from the cockpit again and landed on his feet in front of Alfons. "You'll stay here and be ready to take off as soon as you see me, okay?"
"You can't be serious," Alfons quarrelled. "They might even kill you."
Edward shook his head. "I doubt it. They didn't kill my brother yet, and I'm an alchemist. They wouldn't just waste that. They'll probably try to use us for their own achievements, just like last time."
Alfons wasn't totally convinced.
"Look," Edward said. "If we wander around just playing hide and seek, we might spend hours for nothing, not even finding anything. The military is probably on their way here already."
Alfons gave in. "All right," he said. "But I'm not staying here. I'm coming with you."
Edward faltered. "Alfons, please…"
Alfons lunged out a fist, hitting Edward hard across his cheek. Maybe a little too hard. Edward rambled backwards, hitting the ground on his back. He instinctively touched his cheek with his flesh hand, staring up at Alfons with wide gold eyes.
"I'm not here just to be protected by you," Alfons said harshly. "I'm here to help you. You will not go in there risking your life on your own. We're together on this! If I ever be a burden to you again, I'd rather die."
Edward mouth opened, but not a sound managed to get out. For a moment, it was almost like Alfons knew… About the balance between him and Al. That two parallel persons couldn't live in the same world at the same time. That he had accepted that it would be him that had to go...
No. Alfons couldn't possibly know. Edward shook his head a little, trying to shake his senses of reason back to his head. He was just overreacting. He hadn't really expected Alfons to punch him.
Slowly, he pushed himself up from the ground, eyes narrowed and a small smile on his face. "Let's go," he said.