Dedicated to Aevium for loving Al, angst and drama! ;)
Chapter 19: Illuminated
--
Rizembool. During the years Al had considered this as his only rightful home, the lights within the Rockbell's house never seemed to go out. The lights were on, showing that there was someone at home waiting for their return. He was eager to come home again, knowing that he now had his long lost big brother with him. In the end they had both brought each other home, and they were coming home together like they had been years ago when they had been out on one of their journeys searching for the Philosopher's stone.
Al gazed up at his brother's face where he walked beside him, trying to make out what he must be thinking. He was finally back, after over two years and Al wondered how much Edward had really missed it. He remembered clearly what Edward had said last night, and Al couldn't take the small conversation off his mind.
Edward hadn't planned to come back.
While he had been imprisoned by Thule Society he had thought of this possibility, and now Al knew the reason why. He let his gaze shift to the other, taller blond. Alfons Heiderich. Edward had made a really close friend in the other world. This person meant a lot to Edward. But had he been so important to him that Edward had been willing to sacrifice his only chance to get back?
The answer plagued him. Yes.
He drifted suddenly back to the present by a familiar barking, and a black dog came running towards them from the house. Al immediately lit up by the sight of her.
"Den!" he exclaimed enthusiastically and started running to meet up with her. Den jumped up at him, licking his face eagerly to greet his return. Al laughed and rubbed her soft fur on her head before he sat down on his knee and hugged the happy animal. He had really missed the automailed dog. "I'm sorry I left without saying goodbye," he apologized in a low voice.
Edward smiled softly from where he and Alfons stood a couple of metres behind. "Here we are," he whispered.
Then the door to the house opened. Someone had clearly heard the ruckus the dog was making. Winry stepped out on the porch, her eyes widening at the sight that met her. Al rose slowly and let go of the dog, and Den continued over to Edward to eagerly greet him and Alfons as well while wagging her tail.
Winry stood stiff, in shock. "Al," she whispered. She stepped fast forward, suddenly crying out. "Al!"
Al smiled softly, welcomingly letting her wrap both of her arms around his neck and hug him tightly. Her tears were already flowing from her eyes as she dug her nose into his hair. "I can't believe it. Both of you... All of you are really back." She lifted her gaze to Edward, staring at him in both relief and incredulity. Like she couldn't believe that this wasn't just a dream.
"I'm so glad you're okay," she whispered.
Al found himself fighting against his own tears at that moment. "I'm so sorry," he said, pulling away gently to look up in her eyes. "I'm sorry I got angry and didn't call you."
Winry shook her head. "Don't think about that. I'm the one to be sorry for not believing in you. We've been so worried about you. But I knew Ed would find you." She looked up at Edward again, who just smiled sincerely.
Winry let go of Al and hurriedly stepped to Edward, hugging him close and rested her cheek on his shoulder. She couldn't help being a little amused that he had actually become tall enough for her to do that. And finally, he was hugging her back. Had he ever done something like that before? She couldn't remember.
"Sorry it took so long," he said.
"It was worth it," Winry replied, smiling through her tears as they pulled away from each other. Then her gaze fell on the last person among them, who was still keeping the dog company. Her feelings were slightly mixed, and she didn't exactly know how to act towards him. She knew she couldn't trust him...
"It wasn't a failed transmutation, no. But Al didn't appear like he should either, right? He should've been 15, but instead he looked like a 10-year-old when he came back."
"That's true..." Winry replied silently. "And Heiderich is the age Al should have been by now," she told her friend at the small cafe. "Like... there was some sort of replacement." She shuddered.
"So if Heiderich is... what do we do?" Scheiska asked frightfully. "Should we tell someone?"
Winry shook her head. "No. If he's a homunculus, Edward would know anyway. He should know what to do."
Scheiska looked carefully around before continuing to speak, her voice lower than before. "No alien... I mean homunculus is good, right?"
... But not greeting him seemed ridiculous, despite of her suspicions. She smiled at him and he rose to his feet after having been sitting on his knee in the grass, petting the dog. Alfons smiled back. "Nice to see you again, Winry."
"You too," she replied, and couldn't resist his smile. She stepped towards him and hugged him too. He was even taller than her, and her cheek reached his neck. He felt warm. While he seemed a little taken by surprise in a cute sense of shyness, he hugged her back as well.
Winry mused. Like the last time she had met him he seemed so sweet and kind. How could this person not be human?
She didn't understand it. Perhaps Scheiska had been wrong and had taken way too early conclusions about him? Nevertheless, she still believed that he had lied about where he had come from. She had tested him, and he hadn't seemed to know much about his own hometown which made Winry wonder if he had ever even been there at all. But then again, everyone had a right to not want to share everything about themselves, didn't they? Edward and Al had rarely spoken about what they had been doing in the old days, and she knew it was because they didn't want her to worry. Alfons Heiderich could as well as any other person have good reasons.
Winry pulled back and eyed the three. "Let's go inside, but please don't give Granny a heart attack."
Al went ahead inside the house, finding his old Granny Pinako in her usual chair, smoking her pipe. She snorted with a smile. "Alphonse. Finally..." She sighed of relief. "It's good to see that you're in one piece."
He went to her and hugged her. "It's good to see you too, Granny."
"You brought someone with you as well?"
Al stepped back and nodded. "Nii-san's back."
Her eyes widened, and she turned her head towards the door. And there stood none other than the oldest boy she had adopted as a grandchild, after having been mysteriously gone for over two years.
"Hi, Granny," Edward said sheepishly.
Pinako rose slowly from her chair, and still barely reaching Al to his shoulder. "Edward Elric," she greeted. "If Izumi was around, she would beat you to a pulp! I would do it myself if I wasn't so old."
"I'm sorry she isn't," Edward said, bowing his head in respect.
Pinako smiled. "Come here and give your old Granny a hug."
Edward stepped obediently to her, letting her pull him down in an embrace. "You look even more like your father than ever," she murmured.
The teen snorted. "That old bastard, huh."
"You're growing up. But I had expected you to be taller."
"Shut up, old hag," Edward retorted.
Alfons thought it was quite rude to talk to an old woman like that, but to his surprise she just laughed out loud. "So, who is your friend?" she asked and her eyes fell on him.
"Alfons Heiderich," Edward said. "A good friend of mine."
Pinako nodded and smiled at him. "Welcome, Alfons," she said, not commenting how much he looked like Al. Alfons was quite relieved for that. Honestly he didn't want another occasion in which he would have to start lying to be able to live. "Thank you," he said sincerely. "It's a pleasure to meet you."
He had lied to enough people already, and Winry was one of them. He hated it, and decided to ask Edward if they could tell her the truth about the other world. They didn't have any obligations to the military anymore anyway. Edward had clearly thought about that already, because he gave Alfons a meaningful look.
"Now," Pinako said. "Let's hear it. Where have you all been and what have you been doing?"
Edward nodded. "Everyone might like to sit down."
When everyone had seated themselves in the living room, Edward started his story. From the beginning. He told them about Dante, about the Gate and then about the human transmutation that brought him to another world, separating him from Al. He told them about the University, about how he met Alfons and about Germany. At last about his father and Thule Society and how he managed to do alchemy in a world where alchemy didn't exist.
As each word came out of his mouth, Winry went paler and she watched Alfons, who eagerly joined Edward on the storytelling, speaking about his country called Germany and about the flying machines called rockets he had been researching and developing for a living together with Edward. And she understood she had gotten it all wrong. Alfons wasn't a homunculus, and he had had a very good reason for lying. Beside her Al was sitting, listing closely to every word, unusually quiet.
--
At last the time had gone far passed 2 am, and they were all dead tired. Pinako led Alfons to a guestroom which usually was used for patients, and Edward was to sleep in Al's bedroom on a mattress next to his brother's bed. Alfons let his head fall softly down on the single bed with the comforting pillow underneath his head, the blankets tucked warmly around him and he fell into sleep almost immediately. This night he slept better than he could remember he had ever slept since he came to this world. Things would start to work out, finally.
--
Winry's conscious weighted her shoulders down like she was pulling the whole world after her. She couldn't believe how stupid she had been. Alfons wasn't a homunculus. He was human. Only looking like Al. At least Edward had been telling her the truth about that.
She was up early the next morning and found out that someone else had been too. Edward walked out of the shower, only dressed in his black trousers and a towel rubbing at his loose hair.
"Winry... Good morning," he said as he spotted her.
"Yeah," Winry replied with a small smile and she couldn't help carefully observe the metal that was half of his upper body. "How has your arm been?"
Edward hesitated. "Great. I had some bad luck at Thule Society, but I don't think it was fatal."
"What do you mean?" Winry asked, turning on a strict expression. She didn't even wait for a reply. "Come with me!"
"Wah." Before Edward could reply she had dragged him into the working room, where Winry usually sat making new automail prototypes. She placed him down on a bench and turned to dig into her toolbox. "Let's see, you'll probably need some oil and I'll check if the wires are properly intact."
"I'm fine, Winry," Edward said with a smile.
She didn't reply, knowing that he would have to submit or he knew he would regret it. While she studied his arm and made some corrections to the wires and screws, she wanted to ask him all kinds of questions. Even if he had finally told her everything, something still seemed so unclear. What about the military? Would they come here and look for him? And she wanted to tell him that she was sorry she hadn't trusted Alfons. Edward trusted him, so she should too. And Alfons had never shown anything other than kindness towards her and Edward. Which again made her wonder if that was the reason Edward had been smiling whenever Alfons was around, even when Al was gone. But she would wait with asking him until after breakfast.
As they ate breakfast a while later everything seemed equally strange as well as normal in the small kitchen. Edward laughed and told a story from one of his journeys with Al a long time ago, and sometimes Al would shoot in a comment and grin, and the young man who looked like a replica of the youngest sat by Edward's other side and smiled from hearing the stories. Al looked better today than he had been when he came back. Winry understood that his memories had finally started returning. Everything was like it supposed to be. Almost.
"Edward, I need to talk to you," she said in a low voice when they had finished eating, deciding that she needed to clear up a few things. Edward looked puzzled, but then she beamed at him. "Want to take a walk?" she asked.
"Sure," he said.
When Winry left for the door, she turned and spotted that Alfons had fully volunteered in cleaning up the breakfast table, and even taking the dishes. She took a deep breath as Edward followed her out, just after making some jokes that Pinako might have liked hiring him as her own personal maid.
There was a small silence between them as they walked.
"Are you going to visit your mom's grave soon?" Winry asked with a weak smile on her face.
Edward nodded. "I will later. But that wasn't what you wanted to ask me, right?"
"No," Winry admitted. "I'm just curious still. In order to save Al, you two stole the flying machine, right?"
"Yes," Edward said.
"And you're just getting away with it?"
"No," Edward admitted, and stopped with his hands pushing into his pockets. "We're convicts."
Winry bit down at her own tongue. I knew it... "Were you ever going to tell us that?"
Edward looked away. "I admit, I waited to tell you because I knew you'd be disappointed. I can't stay here. They'll look for me everywhere. And Alfons as well."
"What about Al then?" Winry said, a lump in her chest pressing against her throat.
"He's safe. He has Mustang over him, not Kiehle, and he'll leave a resignation anytime soon anyway."
Winry nodded slowly. "I see... So, you're all leaving?"
Edward nodded. "It will be up to Al to decide what he wants to do. But Alfons and I... we'll probably head off and hide for some time."
Hide? Even Winry understood that that would be hard. The military would do everything in their power to catch them. "Where are you supposed to go?" she asked.
"I don't know yet," Edward admitted.
"Will you... Will you come back?" Winry asked.
Edward lifted his head and glanced at her again. "I hope so."
Winry nodded slowly, feeling warm liquid trickling down from her eyes before she hurriedly brushed them away. "Me too."
--
"Nii-san, I want to show you something!" Al was eagerly tugging at his brother's arm as he had gotten back from the walk with Winry. Alfons had just finished cleaning up and Pinako had gone somewhere else, probably to work on an automail part for a customer.
"There's an alchemy array I developed while I was Sensei's apprentice," Al explained, leading his brother to the living room.
"Sounds interesting, let's have a look!" Edward grinned at him, because anything that had something to do with alchemy always made him happy.
Winry sighed with her hands on her hips. "Like usual. At least they didn't start that reckless sparring already." She smiled at Alfons. "I'll be upstairs working."
Alfons nodded. "See you then." After she had disappeared he lingered a little in the kitchen, actually hesitating to follow after the brothers. He could hear the sound of alchemy and eager voices, and blue light where glinting from the living room.
He walked towards the doorframe and lingered by it to see what they were doing. Al had a drawing of an array in front of him, and by using it he was growing a tree with fruit on directly from the parquet. It was surely incredible. Even Edward was impressed and started eating fruit while speaking in a rush about alchemy and complimenting his brother. The words were flowing so fast that Alfons could neither follow nor understand very much of it. He didn't know very much about alchemy, after all. This was a total contradiction as compared to Al, who seemed to be both following and understanding everything perfectly that Edward was saying, and he replied with his own theories related to formulas which Alfons hadn't even heard of.
It seemed like he didn't have much to add into their conversation and on top of that he felt utterly stupid for not being able to. So stupid that he didn't want to join them even if he had felt comfortable. But since he didn't, he slowly backed away from the living room doorway. He was obviously excessive, and he felt that the closer he was getting to the brothers when the three of them were alone, the more uncomfortable he was starting to feel. He didn't even know the exact reason. It was just something that didn't click properly. Alfons had a strange feeling that Al had consciously drawn Edward's attention away from him before Alfons could even say anything, and Edward hadn't even noticed that he was still there. It was ridiculous, of course. But still, Alfons couldn't help feeling like he didn't belong in that picture and he silently went upstairs to his received guestroom instead. He figured Edward would find him if he needed him. He lay down on his back on the bed with his arms behind his head. Question after question circulated in his mind. For how long could they stay here, anyway? Wouldn't the military look for them here? They had to be aware of where Edward had used to live. And for how long was Edward thinking of keeping their relationship a secret?
He sighed to himself and closed his eyes. He was tired, like he had often been lately. Even if he had been able to rest properly last night, it felt like he hadn't slept for a minute. His paranoia was creeping back, tormenting his mind like termites. If they stayed here for another minute, they might get caught.
He sat up abruptly, swallowing and looking around the small room which suddenly seemed claustrophobic. He needed some air, but he didn't want to go downstairs. A ludicrous and stubborn voice in the back of his mind wanted to keep him right there where he was to see if Edward would come to him.
He went towards the window and opened it wide. A small, warm breeze of fresh air blew at his face and calmed him down a little. Edward couldn't be at two places at once. He couldn't split himself in two to keep both him and Al satisfied with his company. And of course he still had a lot of catching up to do with Al. Still... Alfons rested his elbows at the windowsill, gazing out over the green hills of Rizembool. It wasn't the first time his thoughts had gone in a selfish direction when it came to Edward. On top of it, deep down he felt like he had the right to be selfish sometimes and it made it even worse.
His eyes fell on a small bookshelf to the right from the window. He stepped over to it and swiftly read over the spines of the books to get his mind onto something else. One of them caught his attention. 'Alchemy for beginners'.
He pulled it out and looked at the dark cover with golden letters decorating the front. Was it possible to become an alchemist simply by educating himself with books? Feeling suddenly a little excited, he went back to the bed and let himself drift away into the content of the book. Alchemy was such an amazing thing, and he wondered if he could really learn it. He had to start somewhere after all. Adjust to this world. And alchemy seemed like a logical place to start if he couldn't study rocketry anymore. But maybe he could use it to build rockets here in this world the way Edward had done with Azure. Edward loved alchemy. If Alfons could do alchemy too, he wouldn't feel so left out anymore. And Edward could have that happy and eager look on his face which made him so adorable whenever he discussed his favoured scientific subject with Alfons too – on a level that he could actually understand. Like he did with Al. Alfons smiled of the idea, and the moment after he had forgotten everything about the military and his paranoia.
An hour later someone knocked the door. "Alfons? Are you in here?" Edward came in without waiting for a reply, and found his lover sitting in deep concentration, buried into the middle of the old book. "So you were here all along," he mused. "Why didn't you say anything?"
Alfons slowly lowered down the book and beamed softly at him. "You were with Al," he said. Although, he felt happy that Edward had actually come to check upon him.
"And does that mean that you have to go hide up here?" Edward asked as he advanced slowly towards the bed, eyeing the book, interested. "You're reading alchemy?" He sat down on the bed and picked up the book.
Alfons blushed a little, deciding to ignore the 'hiding-question'. "Yeah... Do you think I could learn it?"
Edward grinned at him. "Maybe you can. It's hard for a beginner though."
Alfons reached for Edward's human shoulder, feeling in a much better mood and pulled him a little closer. "But you would be my teacher, right?" He carefully started rubbing the sore muscles at Edward's human shoulder, knowing that it would keep Edward there with him – at least for a little while. "I think I'd have an advantage."
Edward leaned into the touch, not at all complaining. "Maybe," he purred, giving himself completely into Alfons' mercy. His muscles were stiff and aching. His back felt like it had been crushed by a rock, and even if he had slept at night he hadn't actually rested much.
Situating himself comfortably behind his beloved friend on the bed, Alfons inhaled deeply into Edward's neckline, nibbling it and leaving a chaste kiss. He liked Edward's neck, especially because he was so sensitive there. Actually, he got a strange feeling that he hadn't been this close to Edward's neck for a long time. Alfons suddenly realized, this was the first time he was completely alone with Edward since the whole terrifying rescue mission. Everything had happened so fast. It had only been three days since they had been captured. Alfons wondered how he had been able to sleep at night at all, albeit he had always thought that concentrating on the present was the most important thing.
Edward relaxed,tilting his head down and sighing contently, letting Alfons' smooth hands get a better access to ease some of the tension there.
"We can't stay here for long," Edward murmured, confirming Alfons' earlier thoughts. "I just haven't brought myself to tell Al yet." He groaned softly as Alfons hit an extra sore spot below his shoulder blade. But no matter how much his muscles hurt, the pain felt good as long as Alfons touched him like that. Edward continued in a low voice. "Even though he probably wants to stay here, I know he'll probably follow me anywhere."
Alfons nodded at that, understanding what he meant. Like today, Al was always making sure to be close around Edward whenever they were together. Alfons almost hadn't had the opportunity to be near Edward at all without making it seem weird, apart from the times when Al had been asleep or in the bathroom. Now that he finally had the opportunity, he ought to use it.
He left another amount of small butterfly kisses on Edward's neck. A trail of goosebumps revealed on the soft skin, and Alfons smiled. He kept rubbing his back while leaving more soft kisses, wondering absent-mindedly if there was an efficient way to transmute Edward out of his clothes with alchemy. Edward didn't seem to mind it, after all. The only thing that stopped Alfons from pinning him down on the bed was the fact that someone could come in. Or hear something. That would probably have been bad, not to mention awkward.
"Hey, Alfons," Edward said silently.
"Yeah?"
"Do you feel... left out because of Al?"
Alfons stilled, but his hands lingered on Edward's back. "It's not..." he started. "I know you should spend time with your brother now while you can. I just..."
"I'm sorry," Edward said. He really sounded sorry too. Alfons suddenly got a bad conscious. "Don't be, it's alright!"
Edward sighed and closed his eyes, leaned back against Alfons' chest and let his mind go from anything else than him. What would he really have done without Alfons? He wouldn't have managed anything. Would not have comprehended anything. He was sure about that. He wouldn't even be here.
Edward turned around and abruptly leant into Alfons' mouth. It felt so reassuring to kiss him, and Edward didn't want to do anything else in the entire world right now. He wanted to show Alfons that he was truly grateful to him. He moved his flesh hand to Alfons' thigh, squeezing lightly.
"Edward," Alfons whispered through the ardent clashing of lips.
"Mm?" Edward replied into his mouth, sliding his tongue delicately over his lips.
"I really mean it this time," Alfons continued, sounding a little breathless as he broke apart. "You have to tell Al about us soon." He knew it was selfish, but he just couldn't help it. Al would probably be around quite a lot in the future, and he couldn't take not being himself around Edward anymore. Even if he was wont to hide their relationship, he wasn't accustomed to having to hide it constantly.
Edward froze for a few seconds before he rested his forehead on Alfons' shoulder, a low sigh escaping his lungs. He had been taken by surprise by this, but knew within himself that he shouldn't have. "I know," he finally said. "You're right."
Alfons felt slightly surprised that Edward actually agreed with him. "Really?"
Truly, when thinking about it clearly, it would be a big step to take. Apart from Mustang, no one else had ever known about their relationship. At least not anyone who would have a huge role to play in their personal life. Not anyone who was related to either of them.
"Yeah," Edward said thoughtfully. "I don't want to hide anything from him anymore. So I guess I will tell him as soon as I'm alone with him. Tonight," he added.
Alfons nodded, feeling quite happy about it. "Good."
"I think he'll be fine with it though," Edward said, a small smile forming on his face. "He's always been the most tolerant person I know." Then he thought it over and added: "Except for you."
Alfons grinned. "Probably because we've had to deal with you all the time."
"Shut up..."
--
"You don't need anyone else in your life than me. I can take care of you." Schiller's voice echoed in the dark. "I can even take you with me back to Germany. I know you would like it there."
Al gazed up, his face pale and his eyes tired. "Will we find my brother there?"
"Of course."
Alphonse sat by himself in the green spring grass, looking thoughtfully out in the air. He enjoyed the sight of the limitless sky and the warmth of the sun tickling his skin. It seemed like a long time ago he could just sit in peace like this and enjoy something. It was even warm enough to sit outside in only his shirt and black trousers, so he hadn't bothered bringing his coat.
Schiller.
He was dead. But the name repeated endlessly inside his head. "Maybe you're here somewhere... somehow," he muttered silently.
He heard light footsteps behind him. Startled, he was pulled out of his deep thoughts.
"Where are Edward and Alfons?" Winry asked, approaching him. She had come back from her study and stretched her arms over her head.
Al thought her voice sounded a little odd, but shrugged. "I think Nii-san wanted some rest."
"I'll go check upon Alfons. I'll be back soon, okay?"
Why had that been so important all of a sudden? Al figured Alfons was capable of being by himself for a while, after all. Did he need Edward to go check upon him every now and then?
Winry nodded at his reply and sat down beside him. "I suppose he has deserved some rest." She followed his gaze towards the blue sky surrounded by huge cotton clouds. "Al, I need to ask you something," she said slowly.
Al let his large bronze eyes be directed towards her with a questioning look.
"I don't know what dangerous things you've been through, but I know that it must've been awful..."
Al remained quiet.
"I just wanted to make sure that... you're okay. Right?"
"Of course I am," Al replied. "Nii-san is back. That's the most important thing."
"About Alfons and Edward," she continued hesitantly. Somehow she felt there was something else she had missed about the two. How happy Edward was whenever he was around Alfons. Or was it because he was around Al? Or had he changed that much in two years?
"What?" Al asked. Somehow, just the thought of his doppelganger made him strangely annoyed. What was so interesting about him anyway? Everyone seemed to have just adopted him into the family like he was Edward's brother as well. What gave him the right to be so close to Edward?
"Well, it's just--" Winry started, but then she was interrupted by a new voice.
"Hooooi!" someone called from some distance away and broke their conversation, making both abruptly turn their heads toward the newcomer.
A brown-haired girl with huge glasses came hurriedly down the small road, carrying a suitcase with her.
Winry quickly rose, gawking at her. "Scheiska? What are you doing here?"
"Winry!" Scheiska waved with a large beam, stopping to leave her suitcase in the grass and pulled the blond girl into a hug. "I wanted to surprise you!" she said excitedly. "I hope I'm not intruding! I wanted to find out what Mustang's response was to your message."
Winry pulled herself back, nervously gritting her teeth. Oh no. The message she was supposed to talk to Mustang about Alfons... She and Scheiska had agreed to look into it together. This was not a good time for that. "Oh yeah, I'll fill you in later, actually I--"
"Oh... Oh my God!" Scheiska had suddenly noted Al sitting behind Winry. She gasped surprised at him as he rose slowly and smiled at her.
"Al!" Scheiska shrieked. "You're back! You're back!" She immediately squeezed him into a tight and long embrace. "I'm so glad you're okay!"
Al laughed. "Thank you."
Winry let out a relieved sigh. At least Scheiska was off the other topic.
"Does this mean... they really brought you home?" Scheiska said as she released him.
Al nodded. "Yes, Nii-san and Heiderich did."
Scheiska's eyes widened in shock. "Is Heiderich here now?"
Winry started waving her arms in panic. "It's not like--! I mean--! He's not--!" She couldn't get out any coherent sentence before the damage was done.
"You really let a homunculus into your house?" Scheiska said horrified.
Al froze with a deep frown. "What?"
Did she say homunculus?
Winry felt the hairs on her neck rise in terror while finding herself still unable to form a real, meaningful sentence.
"Oh, you didn't know?" Scheiska said puzzled.
"Scheiska, don't talk about this out loud," Winry stuttered. "I don't think--"
"Winry," Al said, turning to her. His smile was gone and his eyes were like fierce flames. "Why is she calling Heiderich a homunculus?"
"Because he simply has to be one," Scheiska said matter-of-factly. "There's no other explanation."
Al eyes widened as his thoughts spun around his head. Had he gotten everything wrong? Did Edward know about this? Or had Edward kept things from him again?
He suddenly remembered the Gate. He had seen someone as he was pulled inside the Gate by all the black hands. He had seen Alfons Heiderich at that time, the person that was like his doppelganger from another world. Since he had seen him inside his own Gate, did that mean that they were somehow connected by the soul? Only, if Heiderich was a homunculus, he was just a soulless doll.
Al didn't know what to think. He only knew that homunculi were sins, made by failed human transmutations, and they were from the Gate. Had Edward's transmutation had any weaknesses that had somehow created a homunculus? A parallel sin of Al? A replacement?
Alphonse's breath hitched and he gritted his teeth tightly, and the second after he was suddenly sprinting towards the house before Winry could even think of holding him back.
Winry clenched her fists. "Al! Wait!" she yelled, but the younger teen didn't listen to her.
She turned to her friend with an angry stare. "Why did you bring this up already?"
Scheiska still looked puzzled. "Didn't we find out that he was? I think Al has the right to know. You have to tell Ed too."
"No, listen to me," Winry said. "I've heard enough. I know he isn't a homunculus after all. And I never even got the chance to talk to Roy Mustang. I think I've made a terrible mistake." She was suddenly on the brink of crying, lifting her hands up to her face.
Scheiska scowled with a worried expression. "How do you know that?"
"I know because Edward finally told me where he has been the last two years. And it makes sense now. Somehow."
"But you said you had talked to the military," Scheiska pointed out.
"Yes, before he told me all about it I did talk to the military... After I had waited for a long time on the phone, I finally got through to another officer. He said he was Heiderich's superior officer, since he apparently had been transferred recently. So instead of telling him what I was initially going to tell Mustang, I asked if he knew where Heiderich was from. And I told him that he might have lied..."
"You did?! What did he say then?"
"He said he would look into it... I don't know." Winry let herself fall down on her knees in the grass. "Now he might be in trouble because of me. He had a really good reason for lying about his past. Colonel Mustang even helped him do it. Otherwise he would never have been accepted in this world." Winry stared up at her friend. "He's a sweet guy actually; I just think he has had some very bad luck in his life. And then he ended up coming here."
Scheiska sat slowly down beside her. "Good grief... what have we done?"
--
"We should go downstairs soon," Alfons said. "They might get suspicious."
"Nonsense," Edward replied, pulling him into another kiss. He was still sitting on the guest bed, relaxing toward the wall while Alfons rested against his chest. "We've been away for barely twenty minutes, they'll manage."
Alfons was immediately distracted by soft lips against his neck and cheek and answered the kisses by pressing Edward to the headboard. He caught his lips again in a fervent kiss.
"Get away from my brother!" Al's high voice suddenly brought them both quickly back down to earth. Alfons hadn't even heard that the door had been opened. And only a second later Al had broken him apart from Edward with surprising strength and pushed him down on the floor with all of his weight.
Alfons let out a wheezing sound as all the air was suddenly knocked out of him. The fall had hurt. He found himself lying on his back on the floor with Al on top of him, and with a fist already in the air, prepared to strike.
Alfons clenched his eyes shut, waiting for the fist to hit him before he could defend himself. But it never came. Slowly he opened his eyes again.
Before Al had had any time to hit, Edward had caught his wrist from behind him, sitting on his knees on the bed and holding Al's threatening arm stuck in the air.
Alfons finally let himself breathe again. He hadn't even noticed that he had been unable to inhale because of all the sudden change of events.
"Al," Edward said. His voice was surprisingly calm.
Al was frozen on his knees with his dark-gold eyes fixed angrily at Alfons, and his right arm still pinned above his head. He stood abruptly to his feet and turned to his older brother, fighting to get his arm free. His eyes didn't meet anyone of them now. "Let me go."
"Al, listen to me," Edward said, not letting go. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you."
"Are you completely brainwashed?" Al asked heatedly, lifting his vigorous eyes towards him.
Edward fell silent, just looking solemnly at his little brother.
"He's one of them," Al said spitefully. "He's a spy from Thule Society!"
Alfons swallowed. This wasn't going exactly as they had hoped. He slowly sat up on his elbows on the floor. Still, something told him that Al had been ticked off by something even before he entered the room. He wondered what had made him so angry.
"Al, what are you talking about?" Edward asked. "Let me explain--"
"There's no need!" Al yelled. "You must have known what he was the whole time! I don't know what you're doing, but he's probably using you!" He turned to Alfons again, a clear declaration of war written in his fiery bronze eyes. "Stay away from us," he said coldly. "You're just a fake." When he had come in this person was positioned so close to Edward that he actually felt sick. Why hadn't Edward fought back?
Edward had enough and pulled his brother to him by his arm and grabbed his shoulders when he was close enough. "You're my little brother, Al. I thought you would at least try to understand," he said persistently. "You're somehow different." He sounded bitter. "Whatever you think, it's wrong."
Al fought him, but it was no use. Edward's metal arm actually squeezed so hard it hurt. He stilled as Edward spoke again.
"Alfons and I have to leave soon, before the military starts looking for us here." He looked away, and slowly he let go of his now silent little brother. He stepped off the bed and went past him without another look at him. Without a change in his features, he reached his flesh hand towards Alfons to help him up.
Feeling a little uncertain, Alfons accepted the hand and let Edward help him stand. He was feeling slightly hurt. But what had Al meant by calling him fake? Was it because they were parallel persons? And did he really think he was a part of Thule Society? Where had he gotten these ideas from? Alfons was afraid Al might have started hallucinating or dreaming things he thought were real. What if he was mentally ruined by what had happened to him?
Even if Edward didn't turn towards his brother again because of his anger, Alfons gazed in Al's direction, seeing how his eyes were watering and his shoulders were trembling uncontrollably. Then without another word, Al turned abruptly and ran for the door. He was gone before Alfons could even blink. He looked at Edward again. The older blond had firmly balled his fists at his sides and his teeth were tightly clamped together. He was trembling as well.
Alfons just stood there watching him quietly for a moment. Somehow he was under the impression that the two brothers had never ever had an argument like this before. And it was somehow his fault.
Alfons felt a panicking lump in his chest. He didn't want to be the cause of an angry tension between the two siblings like this, now that they finally had reunited with each other. It had to be a way to turn things around, and when Edward didn't make any signs of moving or saying anything, Alfons figured it was up to him to give Edward some kind of advice. He knew Edward would never be happy if he had to leave Rizembool while not being able to talk with his brother.
"You should go after him," he said silently. Because obviously, not going after Al right now would probably be a bad idea. Postponing it would only make it ten times worse. He left out his hallucination-theory, thinking it would be unnecessary to upset Edward more than he already was.
Edward didn't meet his eyes. "He probably hates me now."
"Hate you?" Alfons repeated perplexed. "Why would he hate you?"
"Didn't you see him?" Edward said, like that itself explained it all. "I've never seen him like that before."
"Well, most of the hostility was not directed at you, Edward," Alfons informed.
Edward was silenced at that, unsure of how to continue. "I should've told him about it sooner. Then he might have not reacted that much."
"Then, what shall we do?" Alfons asked.
With a low sight, Edward said: "I'll go after him."
--
"Did I scare you before?" Schiller asked.
"Sometimes," Al replied.
"I'm sorry," the man apologized. "I didn't want to harm you."
Al studied his knees as he wrapped his arms around them. He wanted to believe him. He had let him free for now. "Schiller-san," he said. "What is your real name?"
"I'm too old to remember."
"Then how old are you?"
"I'm turning 31 on Christmas Eve."
"That's not very old… But it must be nice having birthday at Christmas," Al thought out loud.
"It isn't," was the sullen reply.
"My birthday is in April. I just turned 13."
"It's November in the real world now," Schiller said.
"November? But here it's May."
"Yes. It's reversed like a mirror," Schiller said thoughtfully.
Al kind of liked that metaphor. "Our ages has reversed numbers," he said. It was almost the same. A mirrored number. He knew he wouldn't have minded being in the other world. What was so great about this one, anyway?
"Do you know how meaningless it is to be born on the same day as Jesus Christ?" Schiller asked suddenly. "You never have your own day that is only yours."
Al frowned. "Who is… Jesus Christ?"
"Someone people believe He will save them from all the misery they have caused upon themselves."
Al stared up into a pair of empty grey eyes. "Schiller-san... Would you take me to Munich?"
Maybe Schiller could save him from this misery he had caused upon himself.
"Sooner or later we're leaving this world," the man replied. "Then I'll take you with me." That was the best he could do.
"Thank you..."
At that time he would've done anything. Absolutely anything...
Not having any idea of what else to do, Al didn't stop running until he was by the small familiar riverbank. He had just ignored Winry's calls after him. He wasn't in any mood to talk with neither her or anyone else. It seemed like everyone had lied to him.
He sat down with his arms around his knees, mourning quietly into his arms. Things hadn't quite developed like he had first thought they would. Edward had made a choice, after all. And he had chosen a copy of him. Deep inside Al had been afraid that something like this would happen all along. Edward hadn't even wanted to come back to this world. Edward would've chosen to stay in the other world with Heiderich if he hadn't been threatened to go by Envy.
Before, Al had lived for Edward, and Edward had lived for him. But now it was different. Alphonse understood everything now. He wasn't the most important person in Edward's life anymore. Which he of course wouldn't always be anyway. Still it hurt. It felt like his older brother had betrayed him. Just because it was him. What made Alfons Heiderich so much more special than him?
Al shook his head. He didn't want to think like this. But still, he did.
"I don't want to do this to you." Schiller stood before him, and Al tugged apprehensively at his chains. "But I might be able to go to Germany soon, and I want to bring you with me. Although, I have to take a necessary advance."
"What are you going to do?" Al asked nervously.
Within his sentence was finished, Schiller had already made the needle ready. Al's large eyes gazed at it, seeing it clearly despite of the dark. "Please," he whispered. "Not again. I don't want to have that." He tugged at his chains above his head again.
Al dug his face tighter into his arms. "Go away," he whispered. He had changed his mind. He didn't want to remember anything anymore. Suddenly he was remembering the frightening things more than the comforting things.
The needle stung at his neck, and he jerked his head back. But he couldn't escape or prevent it from happening. Schiller retrieved the needle. "That wasn't so bad now, was it?"
Al was silent. He felt so tired and helpless. But in the end it didn't really matter what happened, did it? He was stuck here until Thule decided to leave, so he couldn't do anything other than take whatever it was. He took some deep breaths, fighting some dizziness and an awful nausea. But apart from that, he wasn't hurt. Except from the beating. That hurt. Pain was bad. But he was okay. And Schiller was here. He gave him company, so Al couldn't complain.
"No," he finally replied. "It wasn't that bad."
"I know. You're a brave boy, kiddo."
Al grinned a little. Schiller complimented him, after all.
"Now, you wanted me to take you to Germany, didn't you? I know someone that can take us there. He even looks like you. Isn't that funny?"
"Yes," Al agreed. "That's funny." His voice was a little slurred, but he didn't care about that.
"I promise you, Germany is a very nice place to live," Schiller said. "You can live with me."
Al gazed up at Schiller with large eyes. "Really?"
"Yes, kiddo. You don't need anyone else. But you can visit your brother there, of course."
Al thought about it for some time, and in the end deciding that it sounded quite okay. "Then I won't be lonely," he said. "I'm lonely sometimes."
"Me too," Schiller said, sitting down on his knee before him. "But together we aren't, right?"
"Yes," Al said. "When are we going?" He felt excited.
"Soon," Schiller said, patting Al's head. Al thought it felt nice. Which was a little odd. He wasn't used to any form of physical contact, after all. Not even the time after he had gained his body back.
"But first," Schiller continued. "We'll play a game. Do you like games, kiddo?"
Al nodded. Games were always fun.
"I need you to put this on," Schiller said. Then he tied the long, black cloth around Al's head. Covering his eyes.
Al laughed. "It's dark."
"Yes, it is a little dark now," Schiller's voice said. Al thought his voice almost sounded a little different now that he could only hear him, and not see him as he spoke.
"I'm going to find someone and you'll just wait here for me to get you, okay?" Schiller promised. "It will not take long. We'll go into a flying machine but we need to have it ready first."
Al shifted. "Why can't I see anything?" He started to think that the game wasn't so funny after all. It would've been better if he could see something.
"Because someone's coming with us to Germany, but it's a surprise," Schiller explained. "Okay?"
Al nodded, understanding. "Okay." He felt Schiller petting his hair again, and he wished Schiller would stay just a little bit longer.
"Good," the man said. "I'll be coming right back for you soon. I promise."
"Okay," Al repeated reassured.
Then he heard Schiller rise and walk across the room, locking the door and disappearing down the hall.
That had been the last time he heard Schiller's voice. At that time he had of course not known the real truth—that Edward was already in this world. And had Schiller even meant what he had said? That they would all go to the other world to escape the war? Al took some deep breaths, listening to the soothing river.
There was a tiny voice in the back of his mind, telling him that he wasn't supposed to feel this way. He was supposed to hate the man. The small voice still reminded him that it was Schiller who had captured him and held him down here in this position. That voice pleaded with him to realize that whether or not Schiller had saved his life the man was still part of the enemy who had killed so many innocent people, and for that reason he did not deserve Al's concern.
But he wasn't listening to that voice anymore. It grew weaker and weaker in its conviction to the point where Al could only hear it enough to be ashamed for his actions, but not swayed enough to act otherwise. As long as Schiller would keep his promise and get him out of this place eventually, he would still have a chance to reach his true goal. But one thing did plague his mind as well. Why did Schiller come and drug him and blindfold him without much of a word anyway?
"Nii-san..." Al whispered, feeling the drug starting to envelope his body and mind for real, making him sweat and dizzy.
"Schiller-san?" his voice sounded weak in the dark. "Where are you?" Why did it take such long time for Schiller to get back? He should've been back by now. Al tugged at his restraints, ignoring the fact that they weren't possible to break. "Why aren't you coming back?" he asked the darkness. "You promised!"
The dark didn't reply. The dark always refused to reply him.
Al cringed against the restraints. He didn't like this. He didn't want to be here anymore.
"Schiller-san!" he yelled, feeling a grip of fear taking a hold around his heart. "SCHILLER-SAN!"
Please, just come back and find me. Take me away from here.
His heart raced and his breathing came out rapidly. He could barely move anymore, completely worn out and tired. Then his consciousness started to slip away, and he couldn't hold onto it any longer.
Al took some deep breaths and shuddered. Why was he even remembering this now? Was he going crazy? Why had he felt such a bond with a man he should actually hate?
Al wondered even if he had really hated him at all, even in the beginning. He was afraid that he hadn't. He was supposed to be disgusted by him, because he had been madly obsessed with him and kept him restrained to the dark.
But he still hadn't hated Schiller. Al didn't understand it. Just seeing that man while being kept away from everyone else and the rest of the world—it had somehow made him appreciate him.
And now he was dead. Why was he feeling like someone important had disappeared from his life? It was absurd. He had to be on the brink of craziness.
"Al," a soft voice said behind him.
By the sound of that voice, the little event that just happened in the guestroom back at the house replayed on his mind, and he was suddenly back in the present situation.
He resisted his urge to turn sharply around and just glare. Instead, he hid his face tighter into his right arm and said nothing. It felt like he was split into two halves. One half wanted to talk to Edward and the other simply wanted to be alone.
Edward moved closer and sat down beside him. It was just silent between them for a long time. Once again Al attracted his mind to the calming sound of the river meandering by.
"I was planning to tell you," Edward said, finally breaking the silence. "I'm sorry you found out that way."
"Tell me what, Nii-san?" Al asked in a low voice.
"That I'm... me and Alfons are..."
Al looked slowly up from his arm, frowning. His brother seemed to be a little red in the face at this point. He hadn't been sure if what Heiderich had done had been an assault or not, but clearly Edward didn't see it that way. Was that the reason they had been lying so close, and Edward hadn't done anything to prevent it? He knew that Edward cared about Alfons; that had been obvious. But...
"Y-You love him in... that way?" he asked perplexed.
Edward gave him a small smile. "Yeah..."
"But he is a homunculus!" Al urged. This was just as crazy as the fact that he regretted Schiller was gone. "He isn't even human," he added ghastly. "Which means he probably works for the Society."
Edward abruptly bit down on his own tongue. "What?"
Al didn't reply, just stared bewildered at him.
The older brother scowled before a hollow laughter escaped his throat. "What makes you believe something like that, Al?" He added sharply. "I've known Alfons far longer than I've know about the Thule Society. There's no way he would be siding with those bastards. I can't believe that you're able to actually think such thing."
"Winry and Scheiska told me that he's a homunculus," Al said quietly, as that was the truth.
Edward immediately became fractious. "Are you serious?"
Al scowled. "Well, yeah. But Winry seemed like she wanted to tell Scheiska something. Scheiska kept babbling about him being a homunculus."
"When did Scheiska show up anyway?" He wanted to go and smack their heads together! But first... he had to finish with Al.
"Right now," Al answered.
Edward shook his head. "For the love of... Let me tell you something, Al. The girls didn't know anything about the other world before now. So they must have imagined it was too weird that Alfons looked so much like you when they first met him. But you of all, Al, you know where he is from."
"Sure, I know," Al replied in a low voice. "The same place as them. And it is weird that he looks like me."
"Al. He has even put his life on the line for you." Edward sounded horrifyingly disappointed in him.
Al looked away, almost cringed, starting to regret his words and feel pretty ashamed of himself. Maybe he had been wrong. But that didn't change the fact that Alfons Heiderich was a copy of him, which Edward favoured.
"Therefore, Alfons is as human as you and me." Edward sighed. "And like I said, he would never work with Thule. Please, can you just put all this behind you? It's a big misunderstanding. I'll talk to Winry before I leave."
Al's brows furrowed and he glared at his big brother. "Where are you going, Nii-san?" Was he leaving already?
Edward smiled softly at him. "Sooner or later the military will arrive, even if we left a false trail. They'll find out tomorrow, if not sooner."
"I said, where?"
"I don't know."
"You promised me you wouldn't leave me, and now you're just going?" Al asked, fighting a painful lump in his chest. "I know you didn't want to leave that world in the first place." The words just suddenly rambled out of him. "If you didn't want to come back home, did you even care about seeing me again at all while you were there? You would rather choose to be with my copy, right?" Al abruptly moved to stand back up on his feet without waiting for a reply. He was suddenly too angry now, because he knew he wasn't wrong about this one. But Edward abruptly caught him before he could get very far and held him back down on the ground.
As Al stared a little caustically up at him, he had expected his brother to deny everything he had said, but he didn't. Edward looked like someone had just stabbed his heart.
"You're right," he said sombrely. "I hadn't planned to come back."
Al's eyes widened and he tried to get free. He didn't want to listen to anymore of this. He had done everything he could to get Edward back, and Edward didn't even care?
"But that wasn't because I didn't care about you anymore," Edward continued sharply, like he was reading his mind, and held him down. Forcing him to listen. "When I met you in the white space I realized that you were alive, and that was the most important thing to me. I wanted to shut off the Gate to prevent more people from going through. It would've been bad for this world, and it still is. And I wanted to be with Alfons too. I had simply accepted that as my new life, even if there was never a day where I didn't think about you." He sighed. "And neither you nor Alfons is a copy. You're two completely different and unique people, and I love both of you."
Al stilled at this and lied motionlessly on the ground. He didn't understand. Did Edward really love Alfons? Why? Alfons Heiderich looked like him, but he knew Edward would never have had that kind of feeling directed towards him. So what made Alfons so damn exceptional that Edward would choose to stay with him and leave on a journey with him no matter what Al chose to do? If he chose to stay here, Edward would still leave. Al understood that his brother had to flee, but still everything about this bothered him more than he wanted to admit. What was he to Edward really?
"Al," Edward said, noting how quiet Al had become. "Did you hear what I said?"
"Yes," Al whispered.
Then Edward let go of him and wrapped his arms around his own knees. "Look. I know all this is hard to understand. But falling in love with him wasn't anything I had control over. It just sort of happened."
Al sat up slowly without a reply. Now what had he done? Edward looked unhappier than he had ever seen him before, or could even remember him being. Was this all his fault?
Edward gazed down into his arms, afraid of what his little brother was really thinking about him now. "I don't want to come up with excuses. Heh, I can't excuse the one good thing that happened to me while I was away from you. I can only hope you won't hate me for doing that choice at that time, when I had the chance to go back. I was in another world, and there was no guarantee of surviving by going through the Gate," he said reasonably.
Alphonse still didn't look at him. Deep inside he knew that his older brother must be right, and at least going through the Gate wasn't safe. Still, he had done it for Alfons.
"It just seemed like the right thing to do at the time, even if it was painful to think that I might never see you again," Edward added silently. "At the time we actually went, I didn't like it. But since I had no choice, I was set upon making it so I could see you again." By that he gazed at his little brother carefully, trying to sort out what he must be thinking. At least he didn't run away or look angry anymore. "You should know, in general, choosing between you two is an impossible thing for me to do," he continued earnestly. "The only thing I can hope for is that both of you choose me." A short, dry laugh escaped his throat, agreeing with himself that it sounded as selfish as it could be.
Al leisurely sat himself more up by supporting himself on his palms and his legs crossed beneath him. A soft scowl appeared on his face. "What do you mean, Nii-san?" He thought his own voice sounded weak and far away.
"That you will come and live with us." Edward tiredly rubbed his forehead. "I know it is a selfish thing to ask of you. I know that you probably don't want to leave Rizembool."
Al shook his head slowly. "You're wrong, Nii-san. The only thing I want is to be journeying with you again, and make new memories," he candidly said.
"I'd like that too," Edward said, the small smile coming back on his lips. "If you're not bothered by me being with Alfons, that's all."
Al was silent for some seconds. It was still hard to imagine. But then he finally said: "I'm sure I could get used to it."
It would make Edward happy. He had seen how he looked around Alfons Heiderich after all. How Edward had cared for him out in the forest, and the looks they were sharing. Al could admit to himself that he had been a little jealous at that time, even if he didn't feel the same kind of love towards Edward as Heiderich supposedly did. But somehow it all made sense now, but he honestly didn't know if he would be able to think of this relationship as normal. But who was he to judge upon anyone? The look he received from his older brother, how his golden eyes had suddenly shifted into a happier look was everything Al needed to be convinced. In fact, the way Edward had looked when he had thought Al wouldn't approve of the truth, was something he'd rather never see again.
Edward felt very relieved. "Thank you, Al. That really means everything to me."
Al pushed his shoulder, just wanting to get the topic the hell over with. "Just be honest from now on, Nii-san..." he said instead. "I want to know what happened to you in the last two years. And I'm still remembering new things everyday of the time I was in the armour."
Edward nodded, agreeing. "I know. I'll tell you anything you want to know." He wrapped an arm around his little brother's shoulders, not minding the change of subject. He wanted to talk about Al now, and nothing else. He smiled softly. "I understand Sensei took good care of you and trained you before you became a state alchemist, right?" he asked. "She would never have let you become a state alchemist; she would rather have killed you."
Al blushed slightly. "Yeah, I suppose so."
Edward rose to his feet and offered him a wily look. "In shape?"
"I wouldn't underestimate my young appearance if I were you," Al said matter-of-factly, feeling suddenly much better.
Edward grinned at him.
Abruptly Al was on his feet, still curved down and shot out a leg to knock Edward's feet away underneath him.
Edward was quick and leaped over Al's foot, dodging the move with ease. "Not bad," he commented after landing on the ground again.
Al sprung up and made a well-rehearsed drop kick towards Edward's side. He dodged that too, but not with as much ease as the first attack. Al noticed and grinned, but he noticed also that Edward didn't attack him back during the sparring. He didn't like being treated with silk gloves, and made an abrupt move toward Edward's ribcage again with his foot. Edward caught his foot with his hands, holding him in place. Al shot up his other leg, supporting himself on his hands and flipped around as he managed to free his leg. He rolled onto his feet some distance away to catch his breath.
Edward stood at the same spot, smiling at him. He looked proud. Al couldn't help appreciating it, especially because he had felt so ashamed of himself lately. Still he said: "Don't take me lightly, Nii-san. Attack me."
Edward laughed. Al reminded him of himself. "As you wish," he said. He started forward, his left hand ready. There was no way he would use his automail arm on Al, which Al just had to accept. He made some moves to get close to him, before he took a swing. His fist hit exactly where he had planned, but froze as he had somehow pressed the pause button.
Al had his arms crossed over his chest underneath his fist, preventing his attack to damage the planned spot.
Edward grinned. "You're almost better than you were as a suit of armour."
There was a glint in Al's large eyes. "You're worse than you were when you were 12."
They continued sparring for a while as the sun was starting to set, and Al felt pleased that his words had made Edward let go a little more. Still he ended up tackling Edward down on his stomach and held his arms. They both laughed and made jokes, and Edward complained that he would never win against him.
They rested on their backs, watching the sun go down behind the treetops. Edward had almost forgotten how beautiful the sunset was in Rizembool.
"When do we leave?" Al asked after some minutes of silence.
Edward didn't reply at once. Then he said. "Tomorrow morning. We can't take any risks by staying too long."
"I see." Al agreed.
The brothers had been completely oblivious to the shadow lurking behind some trees close by. The man called Thomas Peterson went back to the train station of Rizembool and used the telephone box standing on the platform.
"Sir, I've found them. It's like you thought. They didn't travel up North."
"Well done, Sergeant," his commanding officer, the Brigadier General, said at the other end of the line. "Was Heiderich with them as well?"
"I didn't see him, but I feel confident assuming that he was inside the house."
"Splendid. Wait there for the reinforcements."
"Yes, sir."