AN: Hi guys! Remember to read the new story, the midquel. :)
Chapter 14: What is significant
--
Schiller didn't say anything more after their little chat, and Alfons didn't have any choice but continue working with the motor jet. It hadn't been more than an hour or so since they were captured and brought underneath the mountain. Alfons did as he was told, even if he was worrying sick about Edward and was secretly working much slower than he had to. Anything to make the military get here before he was finished. If the military would just come here, maybe they would have a chance. Then they could find Alphonse Elric and disappear before anyone noticed.
All of a sudden, he heard a loud crash from the other end of the room. He jumped in alarm, nearly hitting his head in the impediment above since he was seated on the inside of the shell. Something was wrong on the other side of the room, and the only thought in his mind was to immediately get to the place Edward was.
Feeling dread of the possibility that his lover was in some terrible danger (more than they already were), Alfons leaped to his feet and started running. Almost right away he was jolted back by his arm. Without turning around to face Schiller, who was the one trying to stop him, Alfons pulled himself quickly free and kept running. The only reason why he managed to do that was probably because Schiller hadn't held him firmly enough as he had tried to catch him while he was already in motion.
Luckily it wasn't very far. Alfons didn't stop until he was by Edward's side, grasping his shoulders and breathing heavily. He searched the large golden eyes in concern. "Edward, are you okay?"
Edward gave him a soft look. He was still sitting shirtless and one-armed, tied up to the chair. "I'm sorry if I worried you," he said in a low voice. "I'm okay, are you?"
Alfons frowned, lifting his gaze. Ackman lay on his back on top of the remaining parts of the table. The table was broken in two underneath his weight. It seemed like he had fallen on top of it so it broke.
"How-?" Alfons managed.
"I kicked him in the gut," Edward muttered. "He started to really get on my nerves."
Ackman moaned and arched onto his side. He was conscious.
Schiller showed up, eyeing the circumstances and crossed his arms. "Well, well," he said. "What is going on here?"
Ackman sneered, sitting himself up slowly, as it seemed he was in pain and glared towards Edward. "I want to hurt him. Punish that little piece of shit!" He started getting up to his feet, and Alfons took a step forward, standing in between him and Edward with a narrow look. He wouldn't let this guy touch Edward.
Ackman stood completely up to his feet, facing Alfons while annoyingly clenching his fists. "Back off, or I'll hurt you first." He started closing in on him.
"Alfons," Edward said warningly.
Alfons didn't move. "Stop this and let us go," he said.
Schiller snorted with a smirk. Just by that little sound, just for a tiny second Alfons' eyes were distracted from being completely fixed upon Ackman. In the next second, Ackman swung his arm against his head. The blow hit him hard against the side of his skull and practically knocked him right off his feet.
"Alfons!" Edward shouted.
Alfons landed heavily on his side on the floor, his breath getting knocked right out of him and he gasped a couple of times, trying to get air down into his lungs. As he clenched his fingers into fists against the hard concrete floor he was finally able to get control over his air again, but a sharp pain throbbed intensely where he had hit his head. It almost made his consciousness slip. Edward's voice sounded far away. All traces of sounds were getting utterly demolished from his ears. Fading away.
With wide eyes, Alfons touched his temple; almost certain he had become deaf again.
No. Stop.
He clenched his eyes tightly, forcing his brain to cooperate. Tried to hear something beyond the pressure against his eardrums. Hear something.
He heard a weak echo. But he had come to a point where he didn't know if it was inside or outside his head.
"Alfons!" Edward shouted out again.
He forced his eyes to open once more. Edward's voice. It wasn't something he had just imagined. He felt a lurch of relief in the pit of his stomach. Edward's voice was unmistakeable.
Then he felt he was picked up by his arms and dragged across the floor towards a chair. He was planted down on it, and forced to stay there while his head rolled on his shoulders of dizziness.
"What is happening here?" a female voice shot in between the ruckus.
Schiller turned calmly towards her. "Nothing in particular, Chairman Eckart."
"Then why isn't he working?" Eckart asked impatiently, gesticulating towards Alfons.
Schiller fell silent, and Ackman snorted. "He came over here because this crippled piece of shit won't keep his dirty mouth shut!"
Edward's eyes flared angrily at him. "Leave us the fuck alone, asshole."
"Hm," Eckart said. "In that case, why don't you punish him by giving him what he wants?" she suggested after looking away from Alfons, nodding towards the armless boy.
Edward struggled against his bonds. Shit. Alfons was hurt because of him and now this. He cast a quick glance at Ackman, who now was grinning again. "What an excellent idea, ma'am."
What did that mean? Edward wondered, until Ackman picked up his metal arm from the floor. It had fallen there when the table broke. But now he was getting the idea.
"And Schiller, you get the Heiderich-boy to work again," Eckart ordered.
"Yes, ma'am."
"I'll be in the main room in case you need me," she said. "I'll be back later for the start of our small event." Then she disappeared in the dark, a door shutting closed after her somewhere.
Edward gritted his teeth as Ackman approached him, holding up his arm. "You want this back, don't you?" he asked with a sly grin.
Edward glared at him. But he replied. "Yes."
"I'll put it back on then," Ackman said. "But I'll decide the rules." With a loose end of the rope he tied up the wrist of Edward's metal hand to his chair, so he wouldn't be able to use it when it connected again.
Edward was only glad he could get it back. The pain didn't matter. He needed to go through with it anyway. Sooner the better.
Ackman arranged the bound arm towards Edward's naked metal ports. Without any warnings, he thrust the arm back in place. The electric shocks burned sharply through Edward's body, making him flinch and jerk after his breath. With heavy intakes of raw air, he let the pain slip away, he leant back feeling relieved. But not for long.
Ackman disconnected the arm again.
Edward's eyes widened and his heart started razing. "What the hell are you doing?"
"Oh, I'm sorry," Ackman said gleefully. "This is just really interesting. It's the first time I see something like it. Did it connect properly? I wasn't entirely sure."
Edward breathed heavily through his nose, finally realizing what Ackman was doing. What a slimy low-rate bastard...
"Do you still want it back?" Ackman asked.
Gritting his teeth, Edward straightened his back a little. "Yeah," he said obstinately. "Is this all you got? Just get on with it."
Ackman grinned. "You're quite cocky, you know that? Let's see how you like this." He abruptly connected his arm again.
This time Edward let out a thin sound of pain, starting to sweat like he had a fever. The pain hadn't even managed to go away before the German disconnected his arm yet again. "Ops," he said. "It slipped."
Edward struggled somewhat at the bonds, testing them. "Torture me as much as you want, bastard," he said, just as obstinate. "You won't be able to break me."
"If you say so." He grinned, connecting it and disconnecting the arm. "If you say please."
"Hell I will," Edward spat, shivering of the stinging pain. "I'll beat you up, you fucking--"
"Beat me up? With only one arm?" Ackman mocked.
Edward breathed hard, looking at his arm with hard golden eyes. "Give it back," he said. "I don't care how many times you plan to disconnect it."
"You don't care?"Ackman rearranged the metal arm against his ports, and pushed.
Edward jolted forwards in his bonds, feeling the agonizing sparkles shoot up his neck to his brain and spread all over the rest of his body, down to last toe. It was the perfect torture. Edward had bitten down on his teeth so hard that he was afraid he'd gnash off parts of bone.
Ackman disconnected the arm again. "This arm is quite remarkable. Do you mind if I have a look at it first? Then I'll give it back."
"Sadistic fuckers," Edward growled, knowing that he had asked for it.
"You shouldn't talk like that, or else I might not give it back," Ackman said effortlessly. "Say please," he repeated.
Edward stilled and closed his eyes with a silent wheeze. They made him beg for his own torture. He had done a huge mistake, reacting on the pain of the connected automail. How could he have shown them his biggest weakness like that? Of course they would use it against him.
"I don't hear you say please," Ackman said helpfully.
Edward gnarled. "Give it back. Please."
"Okay," he replied cheerfully. "Since you ask so nicely." With a violent lurch, he connected the automail for the fifth time.
Edward shouted. His body went into a lock, not even allowing him to breathe.
"Are you sure you don't care how many times I do this?" Ackman asked smugly as he disconnected it again. "I could keep it up for a long time. The question is, can you?"
Edward shot him a look that could kill. "Come on and get on with it," he said stubbornly, refusing to let go of his pride.
Ackman grinned. Just as he reconnected the arm Alfons finally managed to put his mind together again, waking up from his half unconscious state by hearing Edward's tormented scream.
He stared at the scene with wide eyes. "Stop!" he shouted, quickly pulling himself up from his chair. "Don't do this, please." He tried to bolt towards Ackman to stop him, but Schiller was faster, holding his arms back and prevented him from going anywhere. Still he kept on struggling, wanting to just do something no matter how stupid it was. He would punch Ackman the way Edward had taught him if he got the chance!
"Okay, I'll stop," Ackman said, and disconnected the arm again.
"No," Edward whispered.
"See?" Ackman laughed. "He wants it."
Alfons shook his head violently. "I refuse to fix your jet," he threatened. "If you continue, I won't work anymore." It was the only good card he could think of having against them.
"If you refuse to work, you both are useless to us and we might as well kill you," Ackman countered. "What if we put them in the dungeon, Schiller? Like last time, and leave them to rot."
Alfons' eyes hardened, his heart filling with angst. He didn't want to go through something like that again...
"Shut up and stop it," Schiller said. "Heiderich, you'll continue your work."
Ackman stared at him for some seconds. "Fucking coward." But to Alfons' relief he dropped Edward's metal arm on the floor. It dangled in the rope from the chair. "Fine."
Edward breathed heavily, watching Alfons with half-lidded eyes. Alfons felt his own trembling, staring worriedly back at him, but couldn't help being relieved. Edward looked pale and feverish. He wouldn't have standed much more of it. He wanted to run to him again and pull him away from this place. But Edward would probably refuse to leave without his brother. He knew Edward had probably not done anything to prevent them from torturing him, all because of his stuck up pride.
"No more messing around," Schiller warned. He pulled Alfons with him back towards the motor jet. The last thing Alfons wanted to do that very moment was working. Edward had looked sick, and Alfons remembered what Winry had told him about the automail causing fevers. It was definitely not healthy to rapidly connect and disconnect automail to the body, several times in a row like that. What if the arm had stopped functioning?
Alfons just stood and looked at the motor jet for a while. He had to figure out a way to get out of here. Fast, before any more horrible or worse things happened. He wondered where the military was. He didn't even know what more trouble they would have, being in the hands of Thule Society or the military. Both of them were pretty high up on the trouble-scale right now. But in the military they would at least have a certain support from Colonel Mustang and his unit.
Schiller started to get impatient. "What are you waiting for, Heiderich?" he asked.
Alfons lowered his gaze and picked up the tools he needed. For now then.
--
Edward gazed up at the hard ceiling of stone high above his head. Ackman had finally withdrawn his attention away from him. He was busy with cleaning up the mess caused by the broken table.
"You know," Edward said. "If you would connect my arm again and let me go, I could fix that table in a second. Call it... a fair peace offering. Then I'll beat you up afterwards." He shot the man a challenging look, despite of feeling worn and his face still had stains of blood. No matter what, he'd continue the attitude so Ackman wouldn't get the wrong idea. Edward was far from defeated yet.
Ackman glared at him. "Shut up."
Edward tried to reach for his pocket. His fingers were just out of reach because of the tight restraints. While pulling at the bonds behind his back and attempted to stretch them, he kept looking relaxed and careless. "Wood is one of the easiest materials to transmute," he went on. "Like forming a paper-plane, and even you could probably be able to figure out that by adding water to wood, wollà - you have paper. Or if you combine paper with--"
"Shut the fuck up!"
Edward shifted, smiling innocently. "I was just bored. You talk about something then."
Ackman stood up, broken pieces of the table in his arms. "Next time you speak, I'll cut off your tongue."
Edward grimaced. "Pretty creative threats."
Ackman dropped the wood and leaped towards him into a charge. Edward was ready for it. The only efficient way to get the ropes looser was to get Ackman pissed off at him. He could take it. It would just give him the adrenaline kick he needed.
"Ackman," a voice said.
Ackman stopped, his hands one inch from Edward's throat.
Dietlinde Eckart stepped forwards from the darkness. "I didn't tell you to stay with him so that he could make you angry."
Ackman gritted his teeth and stepped away from the blond. "Yes, ma'am."
"Get him up, it is time. I have something to show him," Eckart said. "But leave the arm here. He won't have time to do any alchemy without two arms."
Ackman swiftly untied Edward's hand and pulled him up by his hair. Edward protested with a gush of pain, but bit his teeth to endure.
"He may have his shirt back," Eckart said.
Ackman picked up Edward's shirt and stuffed it into his hand.
"How generous of you," Edward muttered, and dried some blood off his face with it. Then he pulled it on quickly as well as he could manage with only one arm. Although he could just forget about the buttons, but that was fine.
Ackman kept a firm grip around his arm as they walked. As they neared the motor jet, Edward could spot Alfons, feeling a stream of relief. He looked tired, but okay.
Alfons met his eyes as he crawled up from his working spot beneath the plane's body.
"You'll come too, Mr. Heiderich," Eckart said with a smile.
Alfons gave Edward a questioning look, but Edward just shrugged. He didn't know what they wanted. But it was better than sitting tied up to a chair.
They were guided through the dark room until they reached a huge door. It led to a long corridor. Walking straight forward, they went by lots of doors and other hallways.
"Where are we going?" Alfons asked from behind him.
"I will show you something," Eckart simply said.
Edward felt an urge to pull himself free and run from door to door. Maybe his brother was just behind one of them? But his first guess would be that this was some kind of dormitory for Eckart's people. The walls were not perfect, rather jagged and coiled slightly. The halls were probably made with alchemy, but the alchemy performance wasn't as flawless as he would've done with stone. The only one from Thule Society that could do alchemy was Dietlinde Eckart herself. He figured she had tried to make herself at home.
In the end of the long hallway there was another huge door. Edward gazed around, memorizing the way they had come. Seemed like this place had been here for a long time, except that it had been a little improved with alchemy. The actual underground tunnels must have been here even before Thule found it.
Eckart opened the doors and swung them open.
Edward's eyes widened as a bright yellow light was shimmering back at him from the new room. In the middle of the room, on the floor, was something horribly familiar. Edward felt a huge dread for the thing.
A big, deep hole. Spirals of yellow and white colours were circling in the middle.
"Another Gate," he whispered in disbelief. He gritted his teeth and tossed around at Dietlinde Eckart. "You made Al do this, didn't you, you bitch?!" He was about to spring forward at her but Ackman secured his grip on him, closing his arm around his throat. Edward struggled fiercely, not taking his furious eyes away from Eckart.
"He did it quite willingly, actually. He wanted us to leave this world, after all." Eckart smiled. "And we will. When our purpose is complete."
Edward kicked about. "Where is Al?!"
"I dropped him in there," a new voice said.
Edward froze; his body unable to struggle anymore. His eyes gazed at a tall and slender figure standing by the Gate. He stepped closer with a wide grin. "He thought you were in there after all." Envy shook his head. "Ops, I think I forgot to tell him that you came back with me."
A dark shadow fell over Edward's face, covered by his long golden bangs. "That can't be true..." he said in a low voice.
"It is," Eckart said. "So you don't have to look for him here anymore. It is in there you should be looking." She pointed at the Gate and smiled.
Edward's golden eyes widened. No... It couldn't be true... Was he too late? Had he come all the way here for nothing? No.
"AL!" Edward yelled, pulling himself out of the grasp and started running. The yellow and white spirals circled around in the hole on the floor, being like a major bowl of soup.
That was the reason. That explained everything. He understood now. He had met Al while being down there. Only that he had been behind this world in time. So he could meet Al. If Al was still down there, he had to try to help him get back. Before he ended up in the other world... and they would be separated even more, just like before. Separated forever.
He sprinted right towards the Gate.
"AL!"
I'll save you. I'll do anything. I'll--
He felt a pair of arms lock around his waist and pull him down to the floor, barely a couple of feet away from the opening. Edward got knocked over and landed flat on his stomach, feeling humid tears streaming down from his eyes. He pulled himself up to his knees and clenched his left hand to a fist. He swung it around, faster than a snake, towards the one who tried to stop him. But then he abruptly froze, looking straight into a pair of large azure eyes.
"Edward," Alfons whispered. "Don't..."
Edward lowered his hand slowly, trembling lightly. He felt his shoulders and knees sunk down in defeat and his cheeks were wet. "Alfons. I have to-- I can't just... Al..." He lifted his hand to cover his face.
Alfons crawled up on his knees before his lover, looking straight at him. "You don't know what will happen. You might die. He might already be..." He looked away, not able to actually say it.
Edward shook his head. "No. He can't be."
Alfons eyes narrowed, and Edward suddenly noticed there were tears in them too. "I'm sorry, Edward," he whispered. He lowered his gaze. He didn't know what to do. He understood why Edward wanted to go. But it would be just like last time. He would sacrifice himself. There wasn't even any guarantee that he would find his brother. Edward's heavy breathing woke him from the short trance while the reality sunk in, and Alfons looked anxiously up again.
"It can't be," Edward said. He stood up slowly, the image blurring in front of his eyes. He rubbed them with the sleeve of his shirt, glaring straight towards Dietlinde Eckart. "You're lying."
She raised her brows. "I believe I'm not lying. After he made that signal which brought you here, I decided that would make a proper punishment. After I gave him a good beating, of course."
Edward was trembling with fury. "How dare you touch my little brother. I'll kill you." He lowered his hand to his pocket.
Eckart's eyes narrowed. "Envy," she said fast.
Envy leaped forward, but Edward was already on his knees on the floor, drawing an alchemy circle with a piece of white chalk.
Envy charged towards him, but then Alfons was there in front of him with resolute eyes, blocking the fist and charged with a hard kick. He would give Edward as much time as he could. But he couldn't stand out for long. Envy didn't even seem to feel any pain, and when he charged for the second time, Alfons was knocked right over and landed heavily on his back.
But it had given Edward just about the time he needed. A flash of bright, blue light sparkled around him, and when Alfons pushed himself up on his elbows, he saw a huge spear rise up from the ground and landed in Edward's hand.
Alfons' heart jumped up in his throat. Edward couldn't mean that he was going to kill someone, right?
Envy charged again at Edward, and Edward blocked with his spear, stabbing mercilessly as best he could with only one arm to handle his weapon. But he was disturbingly good with it. Unfortunately, Envy couldn't die. He didn't even bleed.
Edward stopped with his legs apart, breathing heavily in a ready fighting position. "Working together with that bitch again?" he muttered. "You never change, Envy. Even if she betrayed you, you're still being her lapdog."
Envy sniggered. "Hardly. I found some red stones. Looks like there's an old lake of red water underneath this mountain, and that's why I stick around."
Edward snorted. "Still you're helping her. What's in it for you?"
Envy grinned. "Revenge. And entertainment." In a flash he was over Edward again, lunging out an arm. Edward ducked, but got a foot hit directly in his stomach.
He fell on his side, gasping. His spear rolled out of reach. "Damn," he muttered.
Envy stepped up to him, kicked him in the side to make him roll over on his back, and Envy placed his foot on top of Edward's throat. Pressing slightly.
"Say good bye now," he grinned.
Edward gripped desperately around his ankle. He couldn't breathe...
"That's enough," Eckart shot in.
Envy scowled at her, and to Edward's relief the foot was removed from his throat. "He's mine," Envy gnarled.
"He'll stay here for now," Eckart said calmly. "The Gate still needs a sacrifice in order for us to continue our research. Then we'll get a use of him and he'll get the fate which you wish for him to have."
Envy glared at her. But he said: "Fine."
Alfons trembled lightly on the floor. His head hurt and his mind swayed. They had failed completely. They wouldn't find Edward's brother if he was already inside the Gate. Or dead. Alfons' fists clenched. It wasn't fair. It wasn't--
"Get the jet finished," Eckart said. "They'll be here soon."
Right after she had said it, a soldier in Thule's black uniform showed up through the open doors. "It's confirmed, Chairman Eckart. The military of this world is coming. They'll be here within fifteen minutes."
Dietlinde Eckart smiled deviously. "Very well. Let's give them a good welcome." She turned to Ackman. "Watch the Elric-boy." Then she turned to Schiller. "And you make sure Heiderich does his job."
Schiller and Ackman both nodded.
Alfons stared at his lover. He was still lying on the floor, golden eyes wide open. Alfons opened his mouth, but he didn't know if he could be able say anything. Especially not with everyone listening. He didn't have a clue what Edward must be feeling right now.
"I love you, Edward," he whispered.
Schiller stepped towards him, pinning him with a serious gleam in his eyes. "Stand up. You'll come with me, Heiderich."
Alfons obeyed, slowly pushing himself up to his feet. He wanted to run for Edward, but Schiller had already a strong grip around his arm and pulled him back towards the hall.
"Wait," Alfons protested.
Schiller didn't stop to chat. "Don't fight."
Alfons twisted his head and got one last glimpse of Edward before he was pulled out the doors and down the hall where they had come from.
He was surprised to see that Dietlinde Eckart too was marching after them as well, together with the other Thule soldier.
"What's going to happen?" Alfons said. "How do you know that the military is here?"
Schiller kept pulling further on by his upper arm. "It will be bloody. I'm not taking part of it. Be quiet, Heiderich."
Alfons felt his heart leap up in his throat. Bloody. Colonel Mustang and Riza and Havoc and all the others... they might die. Wasn't it anything that could be done to stop it? Were they just going to sit and watch?
Schiller suddenly stopped. They were back in the dark room with the jet and the vessel. "Finish the work."
Alfons looked down at his working spot in disgust, but then Eckart and the soldier marched on, trespassing them. They were heading towards the black vessel.
Alfons' cobalt eyes stared widely at the hangar door that had suddenly started to open in the ceiling. They were going to attack with the vessel.
Eckart climbed aboard, followed by the soldier. She turned to Alfons and Schiller. "I expect you to come after us when the jet is finished," she said, her voice echoing through the darkness.
"Yes, Chairman Eckart," Schiller said.
Alfons' eyes narrowed. Hadn't Schiller just said that he wouldn't take part in it? Or had it been a personal statement? Maybe Schiller didn't really want to go to war? It was a faint hope, but it was still a hope.
The vessel's engines roared, and the massive machine was driving onto the huge ramp that had lowered down as the ceiling split in two. Soon it would be in the air. Killing more people.
Alfons turned quickly towards Schiller. "Is it true?" he asked in a low voice. "Is his brother... Is Alphonse really gone?"
Schiller replied without turning around. "Yes, he's gone."
The vessel reached the end of the ramp on top of the ceiling and was disappearing out of sight. Alfons stared up after it, thinking fast. "So Al's in the other world? In Germany?" he asked rapidly.
Schiller shrugged. "Dietlinde Eckart punishes them as much as she punishes this world."
Alfons looked confused at him. "Punishes them...?"
"The brothers."
He frowned. "What...? Why?" And why was Schiller telling him this?
"She loved their father, Hohenheim," Schiller replied. "But he rejected her and her beliefs, and after that her despair for everything he had ever touched only grew. Simple as that."
Edward would've loved to hear this... Alfons thought dryly. He looked up at the place the plane had just been, where the opening in the ceiling was still wide. He could see the bright blue sky clearly. He wished he could take Edward and the jet and just fly right out of there. He sighed.
"You know what I think?" he asked.
"No," Schiller said, sounding like he couldn't care less.
"I don't think you really want to destroy this world." Alfons turned to him to see his reaction. This was the only way he could think of. "I can help you. With this jet you can get back any time."
"Why would I do that?" Schiller snorted.
Alfons smiled weakly. "You're German like me. Germany was a mess, but it's all we had. With a little work, our country can be great again. I know I miss that world. Don't you?"
Schiller snorted and grinned. "So you want to just leave and betray your friend?"
Alfons' eyes darkened. "No... If Al is in the other world, Edward would definitely do anything to get back there."
No matter what that meant to leave behind again, or what new problems they would face if they got back, Edward wouldn't part from his brother. And Alfons didn't want him to be parted from his brother anymore either.
"Ah, of course," Schiller said. "So you think I'm the soft one that would let you two go if you brought me back to our country by using this jet, all together like in a happy ending and just run away from the war in this world?"
Alfons lowered his gaze. He didn't care if it was cowardly. Edward had trusted Roy Mustang before, when Thule Society had disappeared through the Gate in Munich. They could trust him again. It didn't matter if he and Edward stayed in this world or not. Realistically thinking, they couldn't stop a war and the military would probably execute Edward anyway, which was probably beyond anything even Mustang could do something about. They weren't even under the Colonel's command anymore. Everything was a mess.
They could only run.
"Yes," Alfons said. "Please."
Schiller's eyes narrowed. Abruptly he pushed Alfons back into the wall of the jet, holding him there, making Alfons gasp of the pain in his back.
He felt something cold against his wrist, and struggled fiercely. "Let me go!"
The handcuff tightened around his wrist while Schiller pressed him against plane. Then he secured the other end of the cuffs to one of the thick metal cylinders of one of the plane's legs.
"Be a good boy and stay here," Schiller said. "There's something I have to take care of." He let go of Alfons and turned around.
"Wait!" Alfons bolted after him, but his hand didn't let him go more than a couple of steps. "Why do you want this war?!" he outburst desperately. "No one has anything to gain from it. Only loss. I know I'm being a coward, but I've had enough of war!"
Even if he had always been on the sideline, he knew that war was never the answer. He had suffered loss of family because of war. Even seen real images of this world's Great War against Ishbal. Enough.
Schiller stopped, turning only half. "Some people always deserve to die." He walked off and pressed the button that closed the ceiling above his head, leaving Alfons confused and discouraged. He gazed up as the stream of sun was getting thinner, like hope fading away. Darkness was falling over the room once again, and Alfons felt like it was swallowing him whole.
He pulled at his chain and tried to slip his hand though the metal ring of the cuff. But the gap was too small. He looked around, towards the tools spread over the floor. With his one free hand he stretched to reach something he could use, but his fingertips was too far away from the necessary implements.
Alfons sank to his knees with his arm locked above his head, staring hopelessly down to the concrete floor. A mere minute after he heard the roaming of an engine above his head, above the ceiling of the mountain, and the vessel took off.
What was he supposed to do now?
--
"Schiller, where are you going? You were supposed to watch the other kid," Ackman said stringently.
Schiller stopped, gazing towards his companion who stood by the frightening hole in the ground. "He can't go anywhere," he said. "I have something to do." Then he continued towards another door that Edward hadn't noticed before now.
Schiller disappeared into the darkness, although Edward could spot the light of a torch and that Schiller disappeared downwards. Like walking down a stair. To a basement?
Edward's golden eyes thinned, suddenly remembered what Ackman had said earlier. He had mentioned a dungeon. A dungeon similar to the one he had been held imprisoned in Munich.
He still lied on his back on the floor by the Gate. Ackman turned around and he kept pretending to be unconscious.
"Hey, wake up, cripple," Ackman said. "Or I'll throw you in that thing your brother made."
Edward didn't stir. It was hard, but he managed. His body was completely worn out. The only reason why he hadn't given up yet was because of the man called Schiller - who had went by and disappeared down a stair.
A faint hope. But it was still hope.
Ackman stepped up to him and curved down to fetch him. First then Edward acted. He rolled back, getting both of his feet up in the air and let them fly with all leverage he could manage towards Ackman's face.
He hit him directly at his nose. Blood was flowing down Ackman's features as he was pushed backwards with a strength he wasn't prepared for. Edward was up in an instant, at the same time as Ackman found his balance. Edward shot up his left leg, hitting the man underneath his chin. The corpulent man's pupils disappeared up in his head, and his body sank unconsciously to the floor. He laid there completely still, his eyes closed.
Edward stood unmoving for a while. Then he noticed that the man's chest was weakly heaving up and down. He snorted. "Lucky. Don't underestimate a cripple." He looked around the room, making sure he was alone. His entire body arching in pain. "Damn it," he muttered, trying to ignore it as well as he could. He watched Ackman lying there again, seriously considering do make it hurt even more for him. He had tried to hurt Alfons, and Edward felt the anger trickle in his stomach by the thought of it. But he hadn't much time, and it wasn't fair to put up a fight with someone who was already lying down.
Edward moved and studied the Gate more closely for the first time. The alchemy performance was beautiful and horrifying all together. It was almost like a copy of his own transmutation in Munich.
"Al," Edward whispered. "You better not be down there."
He turned around from it. Now he only had to find Alfons and his arm. Then...
"Edward!"
Edward jumped, his breath hitching and stuck in his throat. The voice had taken him by surprise.
Alfons appeared suddenly through the open doors. "I see you're okay."
Edward could've died of relief. "Alfons! How did you get here?"
"I managed to free myself," he said, looking towards Ackman's body with interest. "What happened?"
"I knocked him out," Edward replied fast. "I saw Schiller walk down to some basement. I just know... if my brother is still here, he'll be down there."
Alfons gazed at him. "Edward..." he said silently. "He's not there."
Edward frowned. "How do you know? I refuse to just give up. Not now that we've gotten this far."
Alfons touched his arm. "You're cold," he muttered.
"We can't stay here," Edward said, ignoring Alfons' concern. "The military will be all over this place soon."
"You're right. Come with me." Alfons stepped closer and kissed him.
Edward's eyes narrowed and wanted to pull away, but he didn't. It felt a little reassuring, after all. But even if Alfons didn't believe him, he wouldn't be against checking the place out together with him, would he? ... His thoughts were abruptly interrupted as he felt a tongue force its way into his mouth and he pulled back quickly, swinging his fist right at the false face.
Alfons got knocked over in surprise, landing heavily on his butt. He touched his cheek and looked questioningly up at Edward. "That hurt," he said.
Edward breathed hard, rubbing his mouth off in disgust. "How dare you use his form, Envy."
Alfons' lips formed into a sly grin, a grimace Edward had never seen Alfons use before and he licked the blood off his lip. "I'm impressed. You figured me out fast."
"No monster can impersonate a human being," Edward said in a low voice.
Envy sniggered with Alfons' voice. "But you were still fooled enough to entertain me. I love to see how all gushes of relief disappear from your eyes. It thrills me."
"You're a sick creature," Edward spat. "This isn't even an even fight, you spineless coward."
"Who says anything about fighting?" Envy shrugged. "You know I hate it. It's the killing part that I'm fond of."
Edward snorted, trying to hide his apprehensiveness behind it. He wouldn't stand a chance without two arms. He started backing off from him, towards the only place he still could go. The Gate.
"Watch out there, pipsqueak, or you might slip and fall in," Envy mocked.
Edward hated that he used Alfons' face and voice. "Change your shape, you bastard," he said.
"No," Envy said, using Alfons' innocent laugh. "I like it in this body. And I meant it, you know. You could come with me, be my little pet and I'll stay in this shape just for you. Isn't that equal exchange?" He grinned.
Edward leaped forward, his fist ready. He came as such a surprise that he managed to get a hit directly at his opponent's stomach and pin him to the floor. Sitting heavily across Envy's chest, he straddled his arms underneath his knees and clenched his left hand around his throat.
"This is rather an exciting position," Envy commented.
Edward tightened his grip. Even though lack of oxygen wouldn't affect a being with no soul.
"What if I did this?" Envy continued. His features changed, but not much, his hair grew, his clothes changed and his eyes morphed to a deep bronze colour.
Edward's eyes widened. His breath made a halt in his throat. "Al," he whispered.
Al stared up at him, looking innocent and nervous. "Nii-san, what are you doing?"
Tears welled up in Edward's eyes. "Stop... stop."
"What do you mean, Nii-san?" Al asked. "Don't you remember me?"
His voice. His body. His eyes. Each of it was exactly like Al was supposed to be.
But his soul wasn't.
Edward closed his eyes shut, and with a scream he pulled the smaller body off the floor and shoved it right towards the Gate. Al's form wasn't as heavy as Envy himself.
Even if Envy hadn't expected that, he managed to stop by the edge, gripping around Edward's only arm as he grew taller and his hair turned emerald green. Purple eyes pierced through him. "Wow, you would still try to kill me in that form. I actually thought you were softer than that, pipsqueak."
Edward breathed hard, his eyes stinging. "Don't you dare... use them..." he exhaled. "I'll never forgive you." Then he shot his leg abruptly up, hitting Envy's stomach.
Envy tipped, letting go of Edward's arm in shock as he lost his balance. With a yell he fell backwards towards the yellow spirals. He snatched the edge of the Gate, holding with one hand and glaring up towards Edward.
"Damn you, pipsqueak!" he bellowed. He tried to get up, then he saw Edward crawled for the chalk, and his purple eyes widened. "What are you doing?! Stop it!" He struggled to get up.
Edward drew a circle on the floor, quickly and feebly with his left hand, but it was still a transmutation circle. He touched it, and soon a grid of hard metal grew from the floor, covering over the entire opening, locking Envy inside a prison with the only way of escape was going down.
Envy shouted and cursed, clutching the network of metal over his head. "I'll kill you for this, Edward Elric!" he bawled loudly.
Edward pushed himself to his feet, saying nothing as Envy's hands slipped from the grasp, and Envy was falling, screaming and kicking, down inside the Gate. And vanished.
Using some seconds just to value the air streaming to his lungs, Edward turned away from the Gate.
Fifteen minutes had long gone.
--
Sitting on the cold, hard floor Alfons arched back against the leg of the plane. His right arm was stiff, still being handcuffed above his head. He had given up on reaching the tools long ago, and tried to gain some rest now that he had the chance. His injuries hadn't completely healed, and his head was a little fuzzy. But he wouldn't get far by feeling sorry for himself. This situation was both his own and Edward's fault. They had walked right into this trap. So they just had to face the consequences. If the military managed to defeat Thule, they might get a chance to run. They wouldn't be sent to prison right away, right? If they were brought to the military hospital again, they could break out of there like they had done last night. The only difference was that they probably would be much heavier guarded than last time.
And was it only last night they had gone from the hospital, visited Mustang and then stolen Azure?
It rather felt like several days ago.
Alfons shifted his position, pulling his legs towards himself and curved them underneath him. His wrist was sore and blooded by the metal ring of the handcuff that kept him in place. He rested his head back and closed his eyes. He wondered how Edward was doing.
"Alfons," a voice whispered, very close to him.
Alfons jumped, and arched back in fear, hardly believing his own eyes. His heart throbbed hard against his chest. "Edward..." he stared with wide eyes. Did he start hallucinating now? "Tell me I'm not dreaming."
Edward stood right before him, giving him a weak smile. "I'm sorry, but you're not."
"How did you-?"
"It doesn't matter," Edward said, curving down to check upon his blooded wrist. "Ackman is knocked out and Envy's gone."
Alfons felt a gush of relief. Edward was really here. They were finally together again. Now they only had to escape, before the military or Thule came here. But then he saw the look in Edward's eyes. He had never seen a more distressing look on anyone before.
Edward looked back at him, sinking to his knees in front of him. His body was still one arm short. "Alfons..." His voice was still only a whisper. "I'm sorry for everything. For all this. It's my fault. I said I would protect you. But... but I just..."
Alfons grabbed him with his free hand and pulled him to his chest. "Edward," he said. "It's okay. It'll be all right." He didn't know if it actually would. But Edward didn't need to hear that. "I told you, I didn't come here to be protected by you."
Edward fisted his shirt with his one hand. "I won't forgive that bastard for what he almost did to you... If I get the chance, I'll-"
Alfons put a finger at his mouth, and then he leaned forward and kissed his lips fast. "Stop," he said.
Edward took a sharp breath and shook his head. Then he found himself simply digging his face into Alfons' shoulder. "I won't mess up anymore," he promised. "I'll definitely get you out of here. I'll make sure you won't get hurt."
Alfons smiled weakly. "I didn't doubt it for a second."
Edward snorted. "Liar. But thanks."
Alfons stroked his hand over his hair and back and Edward sat up slowly, looking around. "I need something to draw with..."
Alfons stopped him by lifting his free hand; touching Edward's stained face and brushed off some messy golden locks. There were still traces of tears in his golden eyes.
Alfons leaned forward and kissed his cheeks, wanting to kiss away the hurt and pain. He didn't care where they were, or that Schiller might be back soon. The way Edward was feeling was more important. And right now, Edward's feelings were like a messed up mix of chemicals ready to explode.
Alfons just held him for a moment as best he could. Edward let him, squirming into his lap with his thighs straddling his. His hand was cold against his skin.
Alfons curved his head and kissed his lips, only softly. "We can take the jet," he said. "We can go back to Munich. Maybe your brother is even there, alive," he added uplifting. "Schiller told him that you were there. He probably wanted to go through the Gate to find you."
Edward smiled softly, meeting his lips soothingly with his before he parted them from him. "No."
Alfons pulled back, frowning. "Why not?"
Edward shook his head lightly. "I think he's still here. These people mess us up really good, always wanting us to think the opposite of what the truth is. I saw Schiller go down a stair to a basement. I'm going after him. If my brother isn't down there..." he stopped, falling silent. "Either way, I can't let you go back to the other world," he continued softly. "Everything would most likely be like before we left. Everything."
Alfons didn't reply. He didn't mind having their life back the way as it was before. Except for one thing.
His consumption would be back, haunting his lungs until he was dead. And he had been living more or less one of his last days on Earth the day they left his world. He had literally felt the end was near. He didn't have any more time left on the other side...
He lowered his gaze, knowing that he didn't have to answer.
"That's why, we're staying here," Edward said, slowly standing up to his feet. "I won't risk letting you go through that again."
Alfons had to admit that he didn't want that either. But that meant... Edward would give up finding his brother for his sake?
Edward found a sharp tool in the pile of implements. He went back to Alfons, drawing a small transmutation circle on the surface of the handcuff. He touched it, transmuting the handcuffs to a different form and Alfons hand was free, dropping tiredly down in his lap. He rubbed his sore wrist, looking up at his lover with a small smile. "Thank you."
Edward reached a hand towards Alfons. "It's the only hope I have left."
Staring indisputably at him, Alfons nodded. "Okay. Then, we'll go after Schiller." He took Edward's left hand, letting him help him to stand back up to his feet.
He had been wrong. As long as Edward had something to hold on to, he wouldn't give up on his brother. No matter what, it was worth trying out. "Anyway, let's get your arm back first," Alfons added.
They would need it.