AN: This is very much an M-rated chapter! For good and bad. Consider yourself warned.
Chapter 24: First Assignment
"All rise."
The people that had gathered in the courtroom rose from their seats, falling into silence. There was a smaller group of people this time. This was a private occasion, and it was all thanks to the Brigadier General for letting it happen. Alfons stood by Al, Mustang and Hawkeye like the previous time. Apart from them, only a few from Kiehle's unit and the Fuhrer were present in the room, in addition to the usual Council-members, the Judge and of course Edward, together with the two guards. He had been brought in first this time, so he had already been sitting there minutes before Alfons and the others had arrived. This trial was a rare occasion, since it had been requested during a late night meeting by Brigadier General Kiehle, where the Council-members and the Fuhrer had been present.
Alfons had his attention towards Edward's back. He thought it was almost kind of comical that they still didn't let him off with one guard, even if he was restrained by the wooden cuffs.
The Judge stepped into the room and seated himself on the podium. He greeted the Council on his left hand side with a quiet nod.
"This is a rare circumstance, everyone, but new recent discoveries have made the Council make a new session considering Major Edward Elric, a former state alchemist of the Amestris State Military," the Judge started. "Yesterday, Sergeant Thomas Peterson from Brigadier General Carl Rheo Kiehle's unit was arrested, suspected for being allied with the terrorist organization Thule Society." He took a deep breath, like he was still finding this a little hard to believe. "What this has to do with the fate of Edward Elric will become clear by the end of this session," he continued, addressing the Council-members. "Council representative Michael Austen, if you would please elaborate."
The youngest member from the day before rose from his seat on the Judge's left side. "Yes, your honour. It turns out that the man who volunteered to speak Edward Elric's case yesterday was hired after Sergeant Peterson's suggestion. The military has tried to find this man called Manfred Corbin, but he has mysteriously vanished. That is why we have reasons to believe that Corbin is working for the terrorists as well." He paused for a moment, letting the information sink down among the men. "Therefore, yesterday's trial must have been influenced by the enemy."
The Judge nodded. "I understand. In that case, it is my decision that the hearing which found place yesterday considering Edward Elric's sentence is hereby invalid."
Alfons smiled optimistically, and he felt Al getting a little excited where he sat next to him.
"There's a chance," he whispered eagerly.
Alfons nodded. He hadn't told anyone else than Mustang about his certain deal with the Brigadier General, and he intended to continue having it that way. No one else needed to know. All that was left to see was if Edward would go free. If he did he would gladly work for Kiehle, but if he didn't... Alfons didn't know what he would do.
"Today there will be a new and final hearing," the Judge announced. "Brigadier General Carl R. Kiehle will be speaking regarding Elric's case. Brigadier General Kiehle is Edward Elric's commanding officer and is a trusted officer of the Amestris State Military. I trust him to be honest in his point of view. We will make a new decision considering Edward Elric's fate when the details have been revealed from Brigadier General Kiehle's statement. Occasionally he will receive relevant questions from the Council representative, Michael Austen, if something seems to be unclear." He took a new small pause, arranging some of his papers on his desk at the podium. "I will remind our audience that Edward Elric is still charged for deserting the military for two years, two weeks and three days. He is also charged for having been in contact with a hostile terrorist organization, stealing an important experimental project from the Amestris State Military, and in general showing crucial hostility against the military, which lies in the category of illegal terror acts."
Alfons still didn't like the sound of that, and neither did Al. They exchanged quick glances, but Alfons' look told him not to worry. Not yet, at least.
"Edward Elric, do you still declare yourself not guilty in all of these charges?" the Judge asked.
"Yes, your honour," Edward replied.
Mustang thought he sounded more polite today then the day before, and a small smile flashed over his lips. Maybe Edward's spirit had finally returned.
"Then, let's start," the Judge continued, unsurprised. "I call up Brigadier General Carl R. Kiehle to the podium."
The man who was named rose from the bench some rows behind Alfons, and he turned to follow his commanding officer with his eyes as he walked up towards the podium.
"Will he really be of any help?" Alphonse whispered so only Alfons could hear.
Alfons nodded, turning to him. Al looked worried, still having a white patch above his left eye from the incident the day before.
"Anything is better than influence from Thule Society," Alfons pointed out, eyeing the back of Edward's golden head again where he sat between the guards some distance up front. His back was straight and his head turned slightly to the right, towards the podium. Alfons almost had his profile in view. Edward seemed more like himself again. Aware and analyzing everything of the words that were spoken.
"That's true," Al muttered. He couldn't disagree to the fact that Thule Society infiltrating the military complicated things a lot more, of course. "But... Doesn't Kiehle hate my brother?"
Alfons shook his head, smiling meekly. "I think he would rather let Edward live in order to use him."
"Use him?"
"Like he did when we built the flying machine. Edward is a good card against Thule since he in fact knows them better. With his brains, I think it's odd that they would let him get executed in the first place." Unless their reasoning was that he could outsmart them all, and then be considered a threat.
Al nodded slowly. "I hope you're right." He fell silent again and paid attention to what was happening up front by the podium. The Brigadier General had politely greeted and introduced himself properly in front of the Council.
When he started talking, everyone listened with intense interest. "First of all," he started. "I assume that the Council wishes to repeat the question from yesterday considering the mysterious incident in Lior two years ago, about whether or not Edward Elric had something to do with it."
Al abruptly let out a sharp breath. He always got nervous whenever this certain subject was brought up. He wondered if Brigadier General Kiehle knew any helpful details concerning it. He had only faint memories of what had happened himself. But he knew what had really happened. He had been turned into the Philosopher's Stone while being a soul in a suit of armour. And hundreds of soldiers' lives had been used as a sacrifice.
"Exactly what Edward Elric was doing during that time is unknown to me," Brigadier General Kiehle admitted. "But I can tell this much. When I took over the command in Lior after Frank Archer, we discovered a secret laboratory made for illegal production of chimeras underneath Headquarters," Kiehle continued firmly. "Archer's intentions were not approved by the military, and after a lot of research we concluded that there was more than meets the eye about him. The Elric brothers didn't have anything to do with that certain matter, and that's why it shouldn't be considered important in this hearing. Not long after that day, I believe Edward Elric disappeared for a completely different reason."
There was a silence.
"Approved," the Judge said.
Alphonse let out his breath again, slowly this time. Luckily they didn't suspect that the Philosopher's Stone had been created on that day. He could hardly believe it though. The Brigadier General was actually helping. He gazed at Alfons again. He had an unreadable look in his face now.
"Secondly, I don't understand how Edward Elric having contact with the terrorist organization, Thule Society, would prove that he actually worked with them," Kiehle continued reasonably. "The fact that he stole one of their flying machines only proves that he isn't on their side. During our mission to the enemy's hideout I had the opportunity to see with my own eyes that representatives of Thule Society did threaten the lives of the Elric brothers, which therefore increases the probability that they weren't working together."
There was another silence, and Kiehle took a sip of water, looking calm and confident.
There was a small hem from one of the Council seats. "That was because Edward Elric betrayed them, wasn't it?" Michael Austen said, a little thoughtfully. "Isn't it natural that Thule Society wouldn't forgive him for stealing one of their flying machines? Let's not forget that he stole one from us too."
The Brigadier General nodded and put down his glass. "What hasn't been spotlighted about those circumstances is that Edward Elric's little brother, Major Alphonse Elric, was abducted by Thule Society three weeks ago. While being in imprisonment he sent out a signal call to Central Headquarters. Edward Elric probably found out about this, and he stole the flying machine in order to save his brother."
Austen fell silent and looked at the Judge. Another Council-member rose with a salute towards the Judge. He was one of the Generals. "I can confirm that this information is correct."
The Judge looked thoughtfully from the General and back to the Kiehle. "Thank you, General." The General from the Council sat back down. Then the Judge cleared his throat and looked up towards the audience. "Is Major Alphonse Elric present here today?"
Al opened his mouth in surprise, and he noticed the furrowed look in Mustang's face. The Colonel rose before he could, speaking on his behalf. "Your honour, Major Elric is here today," he said. "I don't think he would've been if Edward Elric hadn't gone out on the mentioned rescue mission."
"I want to call Alphonse Elric up to the podium," the Judge said. "Is that all right with you, Major?"
Alphonse rose resolutely. "Yes, your honour." He had no idea that the Judge would ask other people in the audience than Brigadier General Kiehle, and he had no clue what they might ask him about. But details like that didn't matter.
"Come up to the podium please, I just want to ask you a couple of questions in addition to Brigadier General Kiehle's explanation."
Al nodded, and went a little stiffly up towards the podium. There wasn't any time to be nervous now. If he could help get Edward out of this mess, he would do anything.
He stopped next to the podium, standing beside the Brigadier General and dared glance back to witness the expression in Edward's eyes.
His big brother looked puzzled and worried, but not because he didn't trust Al's reasoning. He was still wondering why the hell the Brigadier General suddenly seemed so generous. Still, he didn't trust his commanding officer for a second. He sent Al an encouraging look.
Al noticed it and felt encouraged as he turned to the Judge.
"If you're uncomfortable with answering my questions, Alphonse, please say so and I'll word them differently," the Judge said kindly, seeing him only as a young boy.
Al nodded slowly.
"You were taken into imprisonment by the enemy for over two weeks, if I've understood correct? Could you give me a brief explanation of what happened?"
Al shuddered involuntary. He had been afraid of the day he would have to explain to the military what happened to him. There were details around that he still hesitated to even tell his brother. But he didn't have to go into details for now, so he guessed it would be all right. "It happened in Lior during the attack from Thule Society. I'm afraid I opposed my commanding officer's orders and went after a flying machine that landed in the desert," he admitted. "I was captured, and when I woke up I was inside the mountain by the south-west coast. They brought me to their leader, Dietlinde Eckart and kept me chained in a dungeon cell so I couldn't do alchemy."
"How did you escape, Alphonse?" the Judge asked, seemingly looking a little troubled by the information.
"It was thanks to Nii-san," Alphonse said, a small smile forming on his lips. "He came into my cell, and he freed me. He carried me out since I was drugged and too exhausted to move on my own. Then I passed out. When I woke up, I was saved lying on a beach below the mountain."
"So Edward Elric successfully managed to save a soldier out of the enemy's grasp," the Judge said. "By stealing a flying machine he himself had developed."
"Which was why he was unable to make it to the first hearing," Brigadier General Kiehle added with a nod. "If you ask me, your honour, his intentions were good. As Colonel Mustang pointed out before, there was no guarantee in finding young Major Elric before it was too late during the spying mission. The mission was known as a complete failure," Kiehle admitted. "Thule Society managed to escape from us."
The Judge nodded. "Thank you, Alphonse Elric. You can sit down again."
Al bowed politely and walked down back to his seat.
Alfons smiled at him. "Well done," he whispered.
Al shook his head. "I hardly did anything..."
"In the end I would like to say that I don't think Edward Elric disappeared because he wanted to betray the Amestris State Military," Carl R. Kiehle continued matter-of-factly. "I don't know the details around it. But I believe the flying machines must come from a place far away, and Edward Elric ended up in that place, unable to return without a flying machine. When he finally got his hands on one, he returned."
"Yes, I've heard the rumours of the unexplainable incident in Lior where the hole appeared on the ground," Austen from the Council mused. "Then the flying object came through."
"That's correct," Kiehle said. "I saw it myself, and when I arrived at the crashed flying machine with my unit, Edward Elric met me out in the desert."
Alfons was silently relieved that his own name remained unsaid. His presence out there in the desert with Edward would probably confuse the whole explanation for the Judge.
"The best way to find out further details about this is to ask the person responsible for all this," the Judge said. "I call up Edward Elric to the podium."
Everyone in the court room stared at the Judge in surprise. Even Edward. His eyes were wide. He didn't have a choice now.
"This is a rare circumstance and there are a lot of facts about Thule Society that has troubled me," the Judge admitted. "Therefore I want to get to the bottom of this case."
Michael Austen nodded, and turned to look at Edward, who was still sitting a little stiffly on his bench.
"Edward Elric. Step up to the podium, please."
Edward rose slowly. The guards remained seated since they hadn't gotten further instructions. Without a word, Edward stepped up in front of the Council, taking Al's place next to the Brigadier General and turned to the Judge. He held his cuffed hands straight down in front of him, gazing curiously at the Brigadier General before he turned back to the Judge.
"I wish to ask one thing of you, because you're probably the only one who can explain it," the Judge declared.
Edward nodded. He just had to lie a tiny bit. Or not directly lie. Twist the truth. Leave out unnecessary details. The human transmutation was one thing. If they found out about that, he wasn't worried about what would happen to himself. It was Al. They would probably close him up in a lab and study him as a rare alchemical product.
"How did you disappear, and where have you been?" the Judge asked.
Edward was silent for a couple of seconds. Then he started to speak, and Alfons closed his eyes. He had missed the sound of his voice.
"An alchemist called Dante made a Gate by using a special array and an infant to strengthen the alchemy. I was pulled through the Gate and when I came to I was in another world." Before anyone could think of interrupting him, he continued. "The hole in Lior was a Gate too, leading to the other world. It is similar to ours, and the only ones from that world who know about our world is Thule Society and they want to destroy it. If we can only stop Thule Society, we'll never have to worry about that other world again. I've been living there for two years with my father. I went to school there. But I couldn't do alchemy, so I started studying mechanics and flying machines. They've provided that type of technology instead of alchemy during their history. In the end, Thule found me and they knew who I was. That's how I came in contact with them."
The story was too unbelievable to not be believed. The Judge never took his eyes off Edward. "I see. How did Thule Society come to this world without alchemy?"
Edward nodded, ready to confess the second largest mistake of his life. "Alchemy could be done in a different and rare way. They forced me to figure it out. By using my own blood as a catalyst, I was able to open the Gate from that side."
"The reason Thule Society came to this world, is you?" the Judge said, in disbelief.
Edward lowered his head. "I'm sorry. I'm ready to meet the consequences for that." He resolutely looked back up. "Although I wasn't even sure if it would actually work, they threatened to kill innocent people close to me if I didn't do it."
Brigadier General Kiehle lifted his gaze from Edward and over to Alfons. Alfons tried to look anywhere but in his direction, however that expression just said too much and Alfons cringed as he realized.
Kiehle knew. Or suspected, that he was from the other world too. Was that the reason why he hadn't mentioned his name in his statement in the first place? Perhaps he figured that the Judge or even the Council would start assuming that he was from the other world and that it would complicate things?
Kiehle had been there the day they returned to this world. He had probably always been suspicious by the prospect that Edward had met Alfons in the desert by coincidence. On top of that, Alfons had suddenly spoken an unknown foreign language right in front of him the day before. Kiehle wasn't stupid.
No time to worry about that now, though. It probably didn't matter anyway. Alfons would work under Kiehle for the next two years, and Kiehle would probably not waste that chance away by blabbing on about him and getting him imprisoned. At least not for now.
"I understand." The Judge rose. "We'll take a break while I discuss our information with the Council. We'll start again in thirty minutes."
Edward stood there, unmoving as the Judge and the Council disappeared into a private room. There was some muttering from the audience as the recess started. He turned to his commanding officer who was still standing next to him.
"You've been quite generous today, haven't you?" Edward muttered so only he could hear.
The Brigadier General smiled deviously. "It's an interesting case you have there, Edward. I couldn't let it go by allowing you get executed so easily."
"Thanks," Edward said sarcastically. "Why are you doing this?" He refused to believe that it was mainly out of the goodness of his heart...
The Brigadier General shrugged smugly. "I have my reasons. They're none of your business."
"Try me," Edward muttered, but then they were interrupted by another voice.
"Nii-san!" Al was hurrying towards him, followed by Alfons. Edward sighed through a small smile. But then the two guards stood in between himself and his little brother, before Al could reach him.
Al stopped, looking annoyed at the two guards.
"I'm afraid we can't let you go near the prisoner," one of the guards said.
Al glared at him. "I won't do anything, just let me talk to him-" but then he felt Alfons' hand on his shoulder, and he turned confused at him.
"Hopefully, this will be over soon," Alfons said softly.
"It's okay, Al," Edward said as the other guard led him away back towards the bench. "You did great."
Al stared at his brother, seeing traces of a small smile in his features before he turned around and let himself be directed to his seat.
"I didn't even do anything." Al turned back to Alfons, studying the look on his face. "You're quite optimistic, aren't you?" he asked, sounding hopeful.
Alfons nodded and replied quietly: "I have to be..."
"I will now ask the Council to raise their hands if they think Edward Elric is to be considered guilty of all charges."
None of the Council members raised their hands, and Alfons' stomach made a giant leap. Al leaned forward, his eyes wide with excitement.
"The voting seems to be one-sidedly sure that Edward Elric did not commit the crimes he has been charged with. He will not be considered a deserter or a terrorist. I hereby declare Edward Elric innocent and cleared of all charges."
Alfons could finally breathe again. For the first time Edward turned around where he sat and looked at him. He met his golden eyes, his weak smile and he could only grin back with a ton of relief filling his stomach.
"Although, I have some conditions for your freedom, considering the fact that you were gone for two years," the Judge continued, and the room fell quiet once again.
Edward turned back with a small scowl.
"You will be obligated to remain a state alchemist for at least two years from this day, and in this case the Fuhrer has decided that you will go back to be a subordinate under Colonel Roy Mustang. Do you accept these terms?"
What a punishment... Edward thought and snorted a grimace. "Yes, I accept it," he said.
He had sent Hawkeye after Edward as they were leaving to get Edward's clothes, and there were some formal details to be done. Colonel Roy Mustang stood outside in the sunlight bathing in relief from the recent events. Whatever Alfons Heiderich had done to make the Brigadier General perform that speech, it had probably been worth it. It didn't really matter if he had talents that would help the Brigadier General get a promotion faster – for now. Edward would at least be safe and sound, and he would be reunited with Alphonse. Mustang smiled at the two doppelgangers, who were having a discussion of their own. All three of them were waiting outside of HQ together for Hawkeye to return with Edward.
"But how did you know?" Al demanded as Mustang barged an ear into their conversation.
Alfons seemed reserved, but had a smile on his face and just shrugged. "I just did. There's no other reason."
The older boy was lying. Mustang was the only one who knew the truth, even if he didn't know the whole truth. Unfortunately, that was none of his business. He turned towards the main entrance of HQ and saw Brigadier General Kiehle step outside, followed by a couple of men from his unit. He stopped at the sight of them, and Mustang saluted firmly without a word.
"I'm glad you'll have your subordinate back, Colonel," the Brigadier General said. "I suppose I've played my part of hero for today."
Mustang snorted, his mouth a thin line. He seemed just as haughty as always.
"Heiderich, I need a small word with you," Kiehle requested.
Alfons nodded and walked to him without any questions asked.
The only thing Mustang heard of their conversation was the Brigadier General saying: "...tomorrow morning." and Alfons nodded and said: "Yes, sir."
Then the Brigadier General disappeared again with his unit, and Alfons turned to the door. That was when he saw him.
Followed by Hawkeye, Edward was walking towards him with his hands stuffed inside his pockets and his brown coat draped over his arm. He smiled at him, and Alfons' eyes lightened up brightly.
"Edward." Before he knew what he was doing, he was running right towards him. To his relief Edward didn't look startled as he wrapped his arms around the smaller man's neck and hugged him. Edward actually hugged back and nothing could make Alfons' heart any warmer, because he would never take anything Edward ever did for granted again. He knew better than to start kissing him now, though. That had to wait. They were in the middle of public... But Alfons wouldn't mind tackling him down on a soft sheet right away to just lie beside him forever. He missed that. He had missed Edward so much. It felt like they had been apart from each other for weeks.
Edward let his metal hand stroke gently over his back. "Hi Alfons," he said.
The feel of his touch was warm and inviting, almost unreal. But he was really here now. Alfons pulled him a little tighter and let out a low happy sob into his shoulder. "You scared me," he muttered.
"Sorry..."
"Nii-san!" Al cried, running towards them and Alfons pulled away to let him through.
Al hugged Edward as well and Edward laughed as he closed his arms around him too and spun him around so Al's feet left the solid ground. Al's laughter trickled out of him as he got swung around, and Alfons smiled of the sight of the brothers.
Hawkeye stepped up to Mustang's side, smiling too. Mustang nodded at her, pleased with her work. She had been able to finish all the formal obligations in an impressive amount of time.
"Welcome back, Fullmetal," he said, as Edward let Al down. He gazed at the Colonel, snorting through a grin. "I understand that I won't get rid of you that easily, bastard Colonel."
"Damn right," Mustang countered. "If you do something stupid like that again, I'll seriously fry you like a bean."
Edward looked ready to rant at him for being called a bean, but surprisingly he endured it. Almost like an adult. "I'm hungry," he said instead.
Mustang wasn't surprised, and sighed through a smirk. "I'll take you all to a restaurant. I guess we should celebrate."
Al's smile widened, and Edward's did too. "Great! The Colonel treats!" He turned to Al again, scowling at his forehead. "What happened to you?"
Al touched his white patch. "Long story... I'll tell you all about it later."
Edward crossed his arms. "Hmm. You better tell me so I'll know who's ass to kick."
Alfons stood just some feet away, smiling of the scene.
"We should get going," Mustang said. "Havoc's driving, I asked him to wait outside for us."
Edward nodded and turned to Alfons again as Mustang and Hawkeye started to walk towards a car waiting by the end of the stairs.
There was suddenly a trace of worry in those magnificent golden eyes. "Alfons, are you all right?" Edward asked.
Alfons beamed at him. "Why wouldn't I be? I'm just relieved..."
Edward chuckled softly. "Yeah... Me too."
"Come on," Al said, hurrying happily after the Colonel and Hawkeye. Edward and Alfons followed side by side, exchanging a look which only the two of them could read.
"Later," Edward said, and Alfons felt a prickle of excitement inside his stomach.
Havoc sat by the wheel as they all seated themselves into the car. "Where to, Colonel?" he asked.
Mustang replied with the name of the restaurant.
"Typical, the place where you dated my girlfriend," Havoc grumbled.
At the restaurant Mustang couldn't lift his eyes off the three boys where they sat next to each other around the round table. Edward sat in the middle, laughing and kidding and telling jokes about the prison. "One of the guards was huge, and he looked as stupid as a cave man. He even had a club to beat people with if they didn't behave," Edward said. "Damn, it hurt."
Al was responding with all kinds of emotions, while Alfons rested his head in his palm, looking a little reserved but not completely inattentive. He shot in a worried sentence and occasionally a small smile. But Roy noticed that he seemed to be thinking about something. He guessed it could only be one thing. He would be bound to work under the Brigadier General, and even if the man had helped Edward, he had only done it in order to obtain Alfons as his tool for power. Mustang knew that the Brigadier General would do anything to beat him down in the mud. Roy gnarled his hands into his glass of scotch by the thought of it.
"I could use a drink too," Edward said.
Mustang snorted. "No alcohol for you. Be a good example to your brother."
Edward glared at him with fiery eyes. "Bastard."
Al chuckled. "Let's drink together when I'm old enough."
"You mean, when you look old enough?" Edward grinned.
"Hey," Al whined. But he didn't really complain. He had never had a proper youth, so it was his chance to live it through now. He could finally put his mind to a rest, maybe start school and become something other than a state alchemist. Al's dream wasn't to continue being a dog of the military after all. He's dream had always been to be reunited properly with his brother. Now that it was done, what would he do? He wanted to go on a journey. He wanted to learn new things. Maybe he could study Xingian alchemy and find a way to get his brother's arm and leg back. He knew Edward would protest, but he had already thought about it before and looked up that particular type of alchemy, he even tried healing small wounds.
"Let's find a flat here in Central," Edward said. "When my duty is over, we can move somewhere else and visit other places again like Al and I used to."
Alfons liked that idea. "Yeah, that would be nice."
"But Al can stay at my place until you find something," Hawkeye said, smiling. "You wouldn't mind that, right Al?"
Al shook his head. "No, I'm grateful for your generosity, Riza-san."
"That's probably for the best," Mustang said. "The dorm is usually full. I suggest you get some proper rest tonight, all three of you. You'll be put to work first thing in the morning."
Edward groaned inwardly. "I thought so."
Finally their food arrived, and Edward got caught up in his steak to tell any more jokes. "What's up tomorrow, anyway?" he asked instead, his mouth full of potato and sauce.
"Your old friend, Manfred Corbin," Mustang said, and Edward paused eating. Al and Alfons listened carefully as well.
"You haven't caught him already, have you?"
"No, as you heard from the Judge he vanished after your first hearing," Mustang said. "It's impossible to track him down, unless he has gone back to their old headquarters by the coast."
"Where they kept Al," Edward muttered. "I need to go there again somehow."
"You're going back there?" Al asked in slight trepidation.
Edward didn't meet his eyes. "I have to go."
Mustang stared at him with a hard look. "It's not safe. We're going to plan our move carefully. For now the higher-ups are working with the interrogation of former Sergeant Thomas Peterson."
"Oh, that's right. How did you convince them that he was from Thule?" Edward asked.
"Apparently, a lot of drama happened yesterday. He tried to bring Alfons away."
Edward gawked and looked at Alfons fast. "Are you okay? Why didn't you tell me anything?"
Alfons smiled. "I'm fine. I'm sorry, I never got the chance to tell you yet."
"There was a certain issue, but luckily Al warned me in time," Mustang said. "We stopped him before he could leave the area of HQ."
Edward looked thoughtful. "Do you think he'll talk?"
Mustang shrugged. "Eventually. Either way, I won't tolerate any acting on your own, is that clear Fullmetal?"
"Yeah, sure. But sooner or later I have to go back there," he repeated.
"Why is that?" Mustang asked.
Alfons looked at Edward, sighing. "The Gate is still there," he elaborated.
Mustang's fork stopped halfway towards his mouth. "The Gate is open?" This was news to him.
Al shrunk a little. He hadn't had time to explain anything. He had been busy being furious and worried for Edward all the time.
Edward nodded. "That's why they wouldn't leave that place, or they wouldn't go very far. They need the Gate."
Alfons' thoughts darkened as he thought of what Peterson had told him the day before. They wanted to control the Gate, and to do that they needed a sacrifice. Him...
"And what do we do about this Gate?" Mustang asked judiciously.
"Destroy it," Edward said. "I'm going to try destroying both the one in this world and the one in the other world from this side. Obviously I can't go back to the other world, because one of the Gates will always be open if I do, and I won't be able to come back. Our original plan was to go to Lior and to try connecting with the Gate in the other world, since that was where Alfons and I ended up when we came to this world in the rocket. But we never got that far before I ended up in prison."
Mustang nodded. It made sense.
"Unless we destroy them," Edward continued, "more people will either get through there from the other world or other bad things will happen."
Alfons kept his eyes down on his plate. He still had the mark on his foot to worry about as well, all because of that Gate. What did the Gate want from him anyway? He felt frustrated from it, but he didn't want to discuss any of it ever again. He just hoped that destroying the Gates would be enough...
"If you're going back there, I want to come with you," Al stated.
"No, Al. This is the reason why I told you to stay in Rizembool," Edward said, looking at him this time with firm eyes.
Al was about to argue.
"You're not going back there," Edward said before he could. "I want this day to be the last time you'd have to speak and think about what happened there unless you want to."
Al was silent, looking down at his food.
"It's my decision who goes and who stays," Mustang informed. "And I'm afraid I agree with Fullmetal on this one."
"Although, the one in Lior will be tricky as well," Edward said thoughtfully. "I could use a good assisting alchemist."
Al lightened up again, staring at him with his big eyes. "Really?"
Edward nodded with a smile. "Of course. We're still a team, like in the old days."
Al seemed to be in a much better mood after hearing those words, and he continued eating his food with an excited smile.
"Let's talk about all this tomorrow," Mustang said. "For now you should all be resting."
They proceeded eating their food, and the subject trailed to more pleasant things. Alfons decided to forget about everything for now and just enjoy the moment instead. He hadn't eaten a good dinner like this in a long time.
Later Havoc picked them up and drove them back to the dormitories. Alfons felt completely worn-out, but happy that he could finally breathe again. He unlocked the door to their old room and went in, followed by the person he had missed very much lately.
Edward closed the door and leant his back heavily against it, sighing deeply. "I hope I'm not dreaming," he said silently.
Alfons turned back to him as he kicked off his shoes and smiled. "You're not." He stepped towards him and Edward stared softly into his eyes. Their lips met fast, so fast that Alfons didn't know who moved first. Edward pulled him closer to him by grasping Alfons' shirt as his back got pressed towards the door. This kiss was fiery and intense, and Alfons found himself being drained of all worries and thoughts. None of it mattered anymore. He let his hands trail up Edward's sides while their lips were locked in a passionate kiss, and he clung to him, almost afraid that he would disappear from him again. Their lips parted and Edward searched his cheek and neck with his mouth to find other fitting places to kiss.
Alfons pulled the older boy away from the wall, kissing his mouth again, and headed backwards to he felt his legs hit the bed. Edward wasn't slow with pushing him down on it, their kiss broke and he pulled Edward on top of him. For a moment, both of them just stared at one another.
"Feels like we haven't done this for an eternity," Edward murmured.
Alfons smiled. "I've missed you too."
Edward leaned down and kissed him again. He liked kissing. He could never get enough, and Alfons didn't seem to mind either. Recently they hadn't had the chance to be alone much, and Edward felt how much he had missed Alfons more than ever. More than he wanted to elaborate. He was sure Alfons knew it too.
Alfons wrapped his arms around him, and Edward let himself rest on top of him and bury his nose into the crook between Alfons' shoulder and neck. The smell of Alfons was familiar and reassuring. It wasn't a dream. Alfons' arms were wrapped protectively around him, like he would never let go.
"Why was Peterson after you?" Edward asked silently. He didn't really want to spoil the moment like this, but he had to know more details. Or he would never be able to rest. "It's troubled me since I learned what happened yesterday."
Alfons hesitated. He didn't think Edward would like the reason at all. But it was best to be honest about it. "They wanted to…"
"What?"
"They were going to use me as a sacrifice. They think they can control the Gate by sacrificing someone from my world."
Edward sat up abruptly. "Control the Gate?" He frowned. "That's impossible. The Gate is only controlling itself, as it controls everything else. It's totally unpredictable." Edward closed his eyes. "I won't rest," he said, lying down and breathed into Alfons' neck again.
Alfons opened his eyes, moving his head down to stare into Edward's golden hair. "What?"
"I won't rest," he repeated, "before I know of a way to remove the mark from you so you'll be safe." He sat up on his elbows, meeting Alfons' eyes. "I promise."
Alfons gave a small smile. The tattoo on his foot was impossible to remove on any normal circumstances. Edward was probably the only one who could do it. But Alfons didn't consider it that important. "Don't think about that now." He leaned forward and his lips graced Edward's once again. "As long as we're together."
Edward pulled him closer and his left hand trailed underneath Alfons' shirt, wanting to let the moment flare up again. Alfons was a little surprised and muffled his breath into Edward's mouth. The evil being on top of him just grinned, and continued feeling Alfons' skin over his chest and flat stomach. His touch was powerfully arousing.
"You have too many clothes on," Edward muttered.
"So do you," Alfons countered.
They were kissing while ruffling and wringing off each other's clothes, bodies hot and lost in the passion. Alfons found himself in the lead, but he figured Edward wanted him to be leading or else he would've lost. He sat on his knees behind Edward, wrapping his arms around his chest and felt the elder's back pressed towards his own chest in the rearranged position. Alfons nuzzled and kissed Edward's exposed nape and back as he moved slowly, thrusting his hips gently, just enough to make Edward arch his body back against him.
"Alfons..." Edward moaned and repeated his name. He curved forward on his palms, and Alfons laced his fingers with his on the sheets. Edward breathed out hard as Alfons moved his other hand down his stomach, enveloping him and stroking in tempo with the rocking movements. His skin was becoming damp from sweat, making his messy fringe stick to his forehead.
"Alfons," Edward repeated, breathing. "I love you."
Alfons inhaled sharply, not thinking he had heard right. Edward had just said that he loved him... Without that he had to... Alfons blinked and clutched his fingers around Edward's hand as he came, Edward following right after. He leaned onto Edward's back, his body feeling lax and relieved. "I love you too," he whispered.
Edward closed his eyes and stretched down on his stomach, his breathing calming down into deep and steady inhales. Alfons rearranged himself to lie on his side beside him, but didn't let go of him. Edward had been through so much lately. Alfons hoped he could finally put his mind to a rest. He started scratching Edward's back slowly and gently, the way he knew Edward liked it. It could even make Edward fall into a content sleep. Edward purred into the sheets and turned his head towards him. "Don't stop that," he murmured.
Alfons continued, and Edward snuggled into him and arranged himself to lay his head on his chest. He felt Alfons wrap his arms around him and continued scratching and stroking his back. Edward closed his eyes and listened to the heartbeat pounding calmly at his ear. This was like heaven to him.
"I'll make sure to tell the Colonel to put you back under his command," he muttered silently, sounding at ease. "So we can work together again. No matter how tempting it may sound, I don't think we can just fly away from it all this time."
Alfons stopped the scratching for some seconds, and Edward made a soft whining sound from the sudden lack of reward, even if his back had started getting reddish by Alfons' nails.
"Yeah, I know," Alfons said, continuing by just rubbing light circles on his back. "That would've been nice." There was no way they could escape Edward's duty as a state alchemist. And he secretly knew he couldn't go back to be under Mustang's command again. Not for a very, very long time. Sometimes you just had to bite the sour apple. He had his own duty he had to follow. That was okay, Alfons thought. What did it matter how they worked as long as they could stay together? And two years wasn't that much after all. The time he had known Edward had flown by like no time had gone at all. They would manage perfectly.
Edward's body felt completely lax on top of him, and soon his breath deepened into a quiet and steady rhythm. Alfons loved it whenever Edward was able to fall asleep on top of him. But that night he was unable to get much sleep himself. But that was also okay. He sighed quietly, holding around his lover. Protectively.
"See? I'm able to take care of you too," Alfons murmured.
Morning came much sooner than he had hoped. He woke with an odd feeling that he had forgotten about something important. It plagued him badly. Still he didn't want to leave the soft bed, and neither did Edward. He yawned and stretched out his naked body next to him while making some adorable waking sounds. Alfons hugged around his chest, not wanting to let go of the comforting warmth. He felt a hand of metal stroking his hair.
"It's a pain. That bastard could at least have offered us a one day's break," Edward muttered.
Alfons purred into his neck and kissed his ear and cheek. "I'm afraid we have to go," he sighed. "The Brigadier General told me to meet him this morning as well."
"I still don't understand why he helped me that much," Edward muttered.
Alfons sat up in bed, not answering to that. "I'll take a shower first."
Edward gazed at him for a moment as he rose from the bed, searching for some clothes. "Sure."
Alfons went into the shower and punished himself by standing in freezing water for a minute. He hated himself for not being able to tell Edward about his deal with the Brigadier General. Edward would get angry. He didn't want any of that now. But he knew he'd have to face it later.
He tried focusing his thoughts around what he had forgotten, but it didn't come down to him. In that case he figured it couldn't be very important.
"See you later," he said, leaving a minute before Edward was ready. He was still working with gathering his hair into a ponytail.
"Wait," he heard Edward say. He came out of the bathroom and grasped after Alfons' shirt. "As I said, I'll get him to transfer you back, okay?"
"Don't think about that," Alfons said. "It's all right."
Edward gave him a strange look. "See you later then." He stretched up a little and leaned forward, pressing his lips to his. Alfons kissed back, a small smile forming on his lips.
"Yeah."
Then Alfons left and closed the door after him. His heart somehow felt so much lighter as he walked towards Brigadier General Kiehle's office, despite his unfortunate little secret. Edward was really saved for real. That was the most important thing, and he almost still had trouble believing it, even now. But Edward was okay, and so were Al and everyone else. Things were finally starting to work themselves out. At least they didn't have to flee from the military now. It was better working together with them. Then they would have a chance to stop Thule Society once and for all.
Alfons stopped in front of the Brigadier General's door. He guessed he had to thank him. It was only because of Carl R. Kiehle that Edward had been able to go free with only a small sentence. Even if Kiehle had used the opportunity to make him sign the contract, he couldn't actually blame him either. He was probably doing what he could to get a promotion, and if Alfons could help him with that it was only natural. That was how the adult world worked.
With a small sigh, Alfons knocked on the door carefully.
"Yes, come in," the reply was.
Alfons stepped inside the door and closed it silently behind him.
"Ah, Alfons, I'm glad to see you," his commanding officer greeted.
"Good morning, sir," Alfons said politely.
"Are you well? I hope you got some proper rest last night," Kiehle said conversationally.
"I'm fine," Alfons said, feeling a little indifferent. "I wanted to thank you for speaking for Edward's benefit. You saved his life."
"Oh, you know I couldn't resist when you were asking me so nicely," Kiehle stated.
Alfons thought that sounded a little strange since he had been desperate at that moment and hadn't asked nicely at all, but he didn't make any fuss about it. "So, what is my assignment?" he asked. Kiehle had come to him the day before and told him he had his first assignment ready for him. He was actually quite curious about what kind of work he would be starting to do under Kiehle's command.
"First of all, I wanted to ask you something," Kiehle said. "In the heat of an earlier occasion you told me something about a balance and this Gate. I'm curious on what you meant."
First Alfons just looked at him, confused. What exactly had he meant? What was he talking about again? Usually he didn't have such bad memory. Then he gathered his head together and he figured that Kiehle was referring to the moment where he and Edward had been arrested. His own words as Edward had been pulled away had been something like...
"It's about a huge alchemic phenomenon called the Gate, and if we don't stop it it'll have bad consequences for the balance of the world!"
"I'm not sure if I understand it all myself," he replied honestly as he thought back to what Edward had told him, which wasn't exactly that much. "But if Edward can destroy the Gates, the world will obtain its balance again. At least that's what we hope."
"I see. Let's hope Edward will save the day then." A small smile sprouted on the Brigadier General's lips, and Alfons was sure he had heard a trace of sarcasm. "It's been a long week, hasn't it? I'm glad it all worked out in the end."
"I'm grateful," Alfons said fast, bowing his head. "I'll do my best while working for you." Hopefully he would be let out soon if he kept up this behaviour. He just wanted to receive the assignment right away and get himself drowned in it. He had missed working somehow. Especially with the flying machines, after all.
"I know you will, Alfons," Brigadier General Kiehle said. "In fact, I think a proper thank you would be in order."
Alfons figured he'd thank him by doing a small mission, and waited curiously for further instructions. But to his surprise, Kiehle asked him instead. "So how would you thank me?" A trace of a crooked smile appeared in the corner of his mouth.
Alfons didn't quite understand what the Brigadier General meant. How he would show a proper thank you? "I'll show it by working hard," Alfons replied. "I want Thule to be stopped, so if more airplanes will help I'll do whatever I can to provide it."
Kiehle nodded. "I wasn't talking about the flying machines. I'm talking about this moment right now."
Alfons stared questioningly at him, starting to get alarmed.
"Come closer Alfons, and thank me properly."
"I beg your pardon?" Alfons stuttered. He was starting to get a little nervous. The Brigadier General had an unreadable look in his eyes, making Alfons somehow want to bolt for the door. Something in the back of his mind was telling him to run away and never look back. But another part of him wanted to understand what the Brigadier General was saying.
Kiehle beckoned him over with a motioning gesture of his index finger.
"What do you want me to do?" Alfons asked, his mind swimming in confusion.
"Your contract says, Alfons, that you're obligated to follow every order I tell you to. No questions asked." The Brigadier General looked at him intensely "Are you unable to do a simple thing like that, 1st Lieutenant?"
With a deep breath, Alfons took some slow steps closer to the desk. It was odd to be addressed by rank, but he guessed that was natural. He was new to all these military arrangements, after all. This had to be some kind of strange test. But he couldn't help his heart from beating a little faster as he stopped right in front of the desk.
"Good, but you're not quite there yet," the Brigadier General said smugly. "Come around the desk."
Startled and with only a second's hesitation, Alfons stepped around the desk and stopped beside the Brigadier General's chair. His commanding officer swung the chair to the side to face him. "Very good. How would you thank a man who just saved your dear friend's life, Alfons?"
Alfons took a sharp breath. "I'd tell him that I'm grateful, and that I'll follow my duty as long as the contract lasts." He didn't like this at all. There was something that told him that this wasn't the answer the Brigadier wanted to hear.
"On a long term, yes," the Brigadier General said. "But how would you thank him, right now?"
Alfons scowled, and it took a lot of restraint not to start running. "I don't know, sir," he said in a low voice.
The Brigadier General smiled and nodded. "I see. Then I'll make a suggestion for you. It's been a while since I've had something good in my life, and I'd like you to help me with that."
Alfons waited troubled for him to elaborate what he expected him to do.
"On your knees," the Brigadier General said.
Alfons mind darkened, and he was suddenly starting to become aware of what the Brigadier General was really out after. Again, it took even more of him to not start darting for the nearest exit. He didn't even know if he could make it to the door now before it was too late. This had to be a joke. A very bad joke. He swallowed. "No," he said.
The Brigadier General frowned at him. "I don't think I heard you right. This is your first assignment, Alfons. Are you opposing me?"
An assignment? Hell it was. Alfons gathered all courage he could possibly cling on to. "I won't do it."
The Brigadier General was faster than a snake, shooting out an arm and grabbed him by the collar. Alfons yelped as he was pulled down by force, ending up on his knees in front of the man, who held him down. Alfons grasped around the Brigadier General's wrist. He still had no idea what the commanding officer really wanted him to do, but he was alarmed enough to not want to find out.
"Let me go," Alfons said, as calmly as he could.
The Brigadier curved down at him with a smug smile. "I don't think so. Tell me one thing. You and Edward didn't meet in Lior, did you?"
Alfons swallowed hard. "What are you talking about?"
"Don't play stupid with me. You're not his cousin. I looked into your file, and not very surprisingly I found out that your attests are false." Kiehle shook his head. "You are from that other world and you two came here together, didn't you?"
Alfons had wondered if the Brigadier General would notify him about that. He saw it in the man's eyes that something had come to his understanding under the new hearing, after all. But he hadn't figured he would dig into his background story. This would change a lot...
"Is that the reason you look like Alphonse Elric? Is this other world some sort of strange copy?"
Alfons struggled again, not liking this at all. "No. Please. Let me go."
"No, you have a job to do," Kiehle replied. "You wouldn't mind doing it to Edward, right?"
Alfons' eyes widened.
"Ah, so it is true," Kiehle continued smoothly. "I had my suspicions when I overheard you two at the prison. But I was never sure until now."
"You're wrong," Alfons breathed, already panicking. Had they been overheard? Right now he didn't even remember what he had said. "We're not—"
"You're an awful liar with that expression in your eyes." The Brigadier General sighed. "How sweet. To be honest, I had my hopes that you would offer to sign the contract when you realized that your dear friend was done for."
Alfons' eyes narrowed. Had he played right into his hands all along? He tried to form words, but he couldn't.
"I can't let your talents go to waste to benefit idiots like Roy Mustang," Kiehle spat.
Alfons shook his head in disbelief. "I agreed to work, not to this." Not to please his perverted desires…
"If you don't obey me, do you know what will happen?" Kiehle asked, his voice dangerously soft.
Alfons answered by struggling, but Kiehle gripped him harder and locked his other hand around his wrist.
"I was capable to get Edward out of that mess, but I'm also fully capable to reverse the judgment. Do you understand?"
Alfons stopped struggling and just glared at him. Had he heard right? How the hell...? If he didn't obey his last word, Kiehle would actually put Edward in trouble again. How could he have this much influence? Alfons pulled in a sharp breath. "Edward is innocent! And you'd be willing to have him executed… to kill him?"
"Understanding from what you told me yesterday, the terrorist organization wants Edward dead. They will target him and sooner or later succeed anyway. But until they do, being around him will be dangerous to everyone at HQ and Central," Kiehle reasoned.
Alfons shook his head, his voice starting to sound as scared as he felt. "Edward isn't a danger to anyone. On the contrary, he is the only one who can save this world."
Kiehle snorted. "You should give those thoughts a rest. I'm the one in charge of you. You belong to me now."
Alfons struggled again, but received a hard slap across his cheek. He stiffened. It wasn't the first time this man had hit him, he just remembered. Why had he not been more careful around this man?
"Now," Kiehle said. "Obey me, or I'll have a small chat with the Judge and the Council, not to mention the Fuhrer himself. You don't want that, do you?"
No, Alfons didn't want that. He breathed heavily and his heart was beating like one long humming tone.
"You'd rather do me a favour than see your dearest friend die?"
Alfons lowered his head. "Yes," he whispered.
"Good."
Alfons was trembling badly as the Brigadier General slowly let go of his collar and nonchalantly started to undo the fly of his pants.
Alfons still sat on his knees, petrified, but tried to calm himself down. It wasn't like he had never done this before. But… he wasn't supposed to do it to anyone other than Edward...
Carl R. Kiehle undid his pants and pulled down his underwear in front of Alfons' unwanted view.
"And put some effort into it," Kiehle added. "You owe me a lot, don't you?"
Alfons inhaled deeply, and then he did something he hadn't even considered the day before when he signed the contract. The only thought he tried to keep in his mind was: This is for Edward... To keep him safe.
It was the first time both of the Elric-brothers were in his office as themselves. The sight was amusing. Colonel Roy Mustang eyed them both where they were seated on his sofa before the desk. He knitted his fingers together under his chin, smirking. It was almost like the old days.
"We haven't had any luck in the interrogation of Thomas Peterson for now."
"Just let me talk to him," Edward fumed. "I'll beat him up till he talks."
"I'm not letting go of your leash on a job like that, Fullmetal," Mustang replied nonchalantly. To his surprise Edward was silent at that, and said instead: "Tell me, how did Al know that Peterson was taking Alfons away?"
"I was with him," Al replied silently. "You won't like this, Nii-san, but Peterson held a gun at us. He wanted to kill me. But then Alfons saved me by going with him."
"Alfons tied Al up to make it look like Al couldn't do anything before Peterson had escaped," Mustang said.
"But I was able to get free, and ran to warn the Colonel," Al finished.
Edward scowled at this. "That bastard. Now I really want to beat him up."
"I thought so," Mustang said. "But let the Investigation Department take care of it. What I wanted to discuss with you two, is the Gate."
Edward nodded. "There's something wrong," he started. "Alfons has a mark on his foot. The Gate made it when he came to this world, and at first we didn't even notice it. He just had some strange visions sometimes of things about this world that had actually happened, like the Ishbal war and alchemic reactions."
The Colonel frowned. "What does this mean?"
Edward shook his head. "I don't know. But if that mark isn't removed in time, Alfons will die."
There was a heavy silence in the room. Al stared at his brother with huge eyes. "There must be something we can do," he said suddenly, feeling worried. Alphonse had gotten to know this strange person that looked like an older version of him very well lately, and he already thought of him as a friend. He respected him as much as he respected his and Edward's relationship, even if the thought of it was still a little alien to him. "Nii-san."
Edward nodded, picking up his old state alchemist watch. The Colonel had given it back to him when he had arrived at the office with his brother. He clutched it firmly in his hand. "That's why I have to destroy the Gates as well. It might be the only way to remove the mark."
Mustang nodded. "I'll permit you to go to Lior and study the old end of the Gate that appeared there." The brothers exchanged an excited look. "But-" he added, "wait a couple of days before you leave."
"That long?" Obviously Edward wasn't satisfied with that.
Roy Mustang nodded. "I'm sorry, but it is Fuhrer Hakuro's decision. He has some business with you tomorrow morning along with the higher-ups."
"What business?" Edward asked.
"They want to know the details concerning the other world," Mustang replied.
"Shit," Edward muttered. "I don't want to talk with them about that. They probably don't care about what I said, that the rest of that world is unknowing and harmless compared to Thule Society. What's to stop them from behaving like Thule and attempting to start a war?"
Roy Mustang stared thoughtfully at him. "I don't know. If Alfons continues to work under the Brigadier General, they will probably have the aircraft they need within months."
That reminded Edward of the thing he was going to ask of Mustang. "Colonel," he said. "Make them transfer Alfons back to you."
The Colonel snorted. His smirk was long gone. "I can't."
"Why?" Edward asked.
"There's not even any point trying," Roy said honestly. "If you ask him, he could possibly tell you why himself."
"You know?" Edward asked, leaning forward. "Tell me."
Mustang rested his cheek on his palm. For the love of God... "Alfons has signed a two year contract."
Edward frowned in a mix of confusion and anger. "What? Why the hell would he do that?"
"Can't you think of a reason?"
Edward took a deep breath as everything dimmed. "Of course... How could I be so stupid that I didn't see it before."
"What?" Al shot in. "Did Heiderich-san sign the contract in order to get the Brigadier to speak your case?"
"Yeah..." Edward replied. "I'm going to fucking kill him."
Mustang sighed. "Alfons did it for you. It was probably the only reason why you got let off with such a light sentence."
Edward was about to reply, but fell silent as he felt a hand squeezing his flesh arm, and a pair of large bronze eyes fixed at him. "Nii-san," Al said. "I would've done the same thing. Don't be mad at him."
Edward's tension loosened a bit. "He didn't even tell me..."
"Because he knew how you'd react," Mustang said.
Edward rose. "I need to talk to him. Can I go?"
Mustang nodded, allowing him to leave.
Alfons Heiderich hurried down the corridor and finally found the door to the place he was looking for. He barricaded himself inside the door, breathing rapidly. Then he dropped the envelope he was holding on the floor and hovered over the toilet, emptying his stomach in it. He felt like he would choke on the sour taste.
In general he couldn't believe that he had actually done that. But he had had no choice, did he? He had the pictures and the words of the last experience burned into his mind. He had been on his knees. Helplessly obliging.
"And put some effort into it. You owe me a lot, don't you?"
Alfons arranged himself a little closer in between his commanding officer's legs, but didn't let the expression of disgust on his face go by unnoticed. He wanted the man to know how sickened he was, and didn't care if he knew. He really hated this man. Before now he hadn't even known that he could in fact hate a person like this.
He closed his eyes. This is for Edward… It had been the only thought in his mind that mattered right there and then. Edward would be safe if he did this.
Then he brought most of the organ into his mouth and sucked. He put the necessary effort into it, hoping to end it as quickly as possible. The taste was salty and bitter.
Kiehle closed his eyes and grinned. "Oh yes," he moaned. He grasped a fist of Alfons' light hair on the back of his head, making sure he wouldn't retreat. "Very good. Keep going like that."
Alfons tried not to think. Tried not to let himself be brought down mentally as well. The only thing he could do was to finish it. He couldn't let anything happen to Edward. Not now that thing was finally starting to work out…
"Use your tongue more," Kiehle ordered between his ragged breaths.
Alfons did, breathing a little short through his nose. Kiehle barely let him pull back enough to breathe with his mouth as he was firmly gripping the back of his head with both hands. Alfons' own hands were placed on the Brigadier General's knees in order to support himself. The Brigadier General started to move his hips, pushing it further down his throat and Alfons had a hard time keeping up the pace for a moment. All the time, orders like faster, more and harder were hissed sharply into Alfons' ear.
Alfons endured it. Endured it all. Eventually it would be over, and he would run away and he wouldn't let something like this repeat. He rubbed his tongue fast up and down the underside of Brigadier Kiehle's erection while bobbing his head, before he graced the tip of the head, knowing that those particular areas were the most sensitive ones.
After a while, he noticed the body above him started to jerk in small spasms and he closed his eyes tighter.
Finally…
A bitter substance filled his mouth and he swallowed it fast. The alternative was to choke on it, which wasn't any more preferable. Then he pulled away and remained sitting defeated on his knees, trying hard not getting sick over the carpet. He didn't look at the man as he dressed himself properly again, but he could still feel the smug grin that was shot at him.
"Don't forget to take the envelope on my desk with you," Carl R. Kiehle said.
Alfons squinted a little at him in surprise.
"It's a gift," Kiehle elaborated. "And you better be grateful for that too. You're free to go."
Alfons scowled, discreetly drying off some sticky substance from his cheek with the back of his hand. "I won't accept any more gifts from you, thanks." His voice sounded a little hoarse.
"It's an order," the Brigadier General said.
Alfons went silent and stood up, still a little shaky.
"See you tomorrow, Alfons." Kiehle smiled smoothly at him.
Alfons turned for the desk, seeing a large brown envelope lying there. He grabbed it without a word and left hurriedly out of the office. He met no one's eyes as he ran down the hall, and luckily he didn't meet anyone he knew.
And now he sat in front of the toilets in one of the common restrooms, his chest heaving up and down in a quick-paced motion. What if he told the higher-ups what had happened? Maybe he could get Kiehle locked up for it. But the second after the thought made his heart sink down to his shoes. Brigadier General Kiehle was a highly respected officer and liked by the Fuhrer. According to him he had the power to turn the entire judgment around.
No one would believe in accusations like that against someone like him. And Kiehle knew it. That's why he hadn't even bothered to threaten Alfons to silence. If Alfons went out and blabbed, Kiehle would definitely get Edward killed. Maybe he would even tell the higher-ups about his and Edward's relationship.
It was taboo. It was forbidden.
On top of that Kiehle knew that he was from the other world. There was no way he would get away from that either.
Edward would be executed, and Alfons would be either locked up or would meet the same dreadful end. Kiehle would tell them that he wasn't the person he appeared to be, and proof would lie in his own personal false attests. He lowered his head, letting his light bangs cover his eyes. What was he supposed to do? The alternative was to suck it all up and be forced to obey Kiehle's desires for at least two more years.
He inhaled deeply. On the other hand... Kiehle had said that this had been for thanking him properly for helping Edward. That didn't mean that Kiehle would force himself onto him again, right?
He had just owed the Brigadier General thanks, right? If that had been the only way, he would show no regrets. Yes, he decided. This wasn't something that would happen again, after all…
He stood up and went over to the sink, washing out the sour taste of his mouth and drank some water. Then he felt a little better. He was about to leave the bathroom, but then he stopped knowing he had forgotten about something. He turned to the envelope on the floor, seriously considering just leaving it there. But after a minute of letting his mind spin, he went back and picked it up. He wondered what the Brigadier General had possibly wanted to give him as a gift. But if he accepted it, how was he expected to thank him this time?
Alfons didn't want to be in the position where he had to offer his thanks to the Brigadier General ever again. So he compromised with himself. He brought the envelope back to his and Edward's dorm room, but he didn't open it. Instead he slumped down on the bed on his stomach, inhaling Edward's scent from the sheets. "I'm sorry..." he whispered, clasping his eyes shut tightly like he was trying to capture the tears from escaping.
"I'm sorry..."