Warning: This chapter is very much M-rated. If you don't like it or feel uncomfortable with it, please stop reading when your intuition tells you to.
Chapter 26: Separation
Brigadier General Carl R. Kiehle knew everything. But as long as he did as he was told, no one else would be in danger. No one except Alfons. The Brigadier General had kissed him!
Alfons didn't know what he was supposed to do with that. What did all this mean? Kiehle might try to force himself on him and there was nothing he could do about it. Was he just supposed to take it and accept it?
During the entirety of his life, Alfons had had to accept a lot of things. He was like a doormat, bound to be pressed down and stepped on. He wasn't stubborn enough to quarrel when he disagreed with someone, and always avoided a fight if he could. When he was young he had been picked on at school because the other kids always seemed to find something wrong with him that they had seen fit to pick on him for. The few friends he had earned through his years at school had made their separate ways, which he had too. He hadn't had any contact with them since he moved to Romania to study his dream. He had never had a brother or a sister, so he had always been alone with his parents at home as an only child. Alfons had had a strong bond to his parents. Then his father had died a miserable death in a trench during the Great War. The news came to them in the form of a letter, not much else, and it had devoured his mother from within. He had seen it whenever she hadn't been strong enough to hide it, whenever she had thought he wasn't looking. Alfons suspected it had only killed her faster. She had died from the incurable consumption when he was fourteen, and everything had mainly just been a tragic mess.
Like now.
Now he had to obey to a powerful perverted maniac. If not, this powerful perverted maniac would ruin the lives of all the people he cared about.
Everything was so damn ironic! Back in his own world, in Romania, a person with the same face as Brigadier General Kiehle, even with same name, had taught him a lot of what Alfons now knew about rocket science. In this world, the person with the same face as his former Professor was taking advantage of that knowledge for his own benefit and to gain power.
It was almost too ironic to be true.
Alfons forced himself to believe that he was okay for now. Yes, Kiehle had kissed him and threatened him with words but he hadn't actually harmed him much, had he? At least not yet. And how much could he actually do right underneath the noses of the higher-ups? Maybe if he did a good job with the manual, he would somehow get away in one piece tomorrow too.
He was walking home, holding the new envelope hard in his grip. It was Edward's work. Kiehle had practically stolen it. Alfons walked slowly and tried to sort out the things he could share with Edward and what he had to hide from him. To his great discomfort most of the information weighted on the side of confidentiality. He could barely tell Edward a thing. He would make his lover a murderer if Edward obtained the knowledge of anything Kiehle was doing. Edward wasn't someone who would forgive easily, especially not someone like Kiehle. He had even dragged Alphonse into it as well. Kiehle knew about the human transmutation. He had implied that something would happen to Al if the military knew. Would they execute him too? Or would they put him in a laboratory and do experiments on him?
Alfons shuddered. None of it would be fitting for a thirteen-year-old. Or any human being for that matter.
He arrived at the house and locked himself in. The light was on in the hall and the living room. Al sat quietly on the sofa, reading a book – just what Edward would have been doing when he came home after completing an errand in Munich.
Al looked up. "Heiderich-san, welcome back."
"Thanks," Alfons replied half-heartedly. "Is Edward back yet?"
"No, he's still at Headquarters," Al answered. "Why?"
"No matter," Alfons said. "I'll be working." He headed for the stairs.
"Okay," Al said, a trace of inquiry in his voice, but he didn't say more.
Alfons went up to the study, entering it for the first time since he and Edward first visited the house. The memory was still strong in his mind and for some seconds it actually clouded over his angst.
He sat down by the desk with the envelope. The room was free of dust now. It seemed Hawkeye and Al had been effective while he had been gone. Edward was lucky, having efficiently skipped the whole house cleaning. Alfons sighed, coiled over the envelope without opening it. He had a perfect view out the window from his seat. Even if the sky was a little clouded, streams of sun were still pushing through. The sun was on its way down. Somehow Alfons wanted it to start raining. It would be more fitting to his mood.
Get a grip already! he told himself strictly. He would get nowhere from depressing himself about everything, and he had a deadline. Alfons opened the envelope and took out the copy of the manual. He had two things he had to do. First of all he had to go through it all and add the improvements in notes where they belonged. Then he had to draw and write the whole thing from scratch, because the original would become too messy to be able to interpret.
As he was reading, he noted that he had to concentrate hard on remembering the entire procedure on the making of Azure. It wasn't actually that long ago, but still the memories of it had started to become slightly foggy. There were also things Edward had written down about numerous alchemic processes that Alfons didn't really understand. But he just left those parts as they were. In the end he would have to add the recipe of the fuel he had developed. He was the only one who knew how to make it after all.
Alfons sat there hunched over the desk for the next couple of hours in a deep working trance.
"Anyone home?" Edward called as he entered the door.
"Nii-san," Al greeted and jumped up from the sofa. "How did the meeting go?"
"It was over hours ago," Edward complained. "That bastard Colonel made me do paperwork afterwards and made excuses that he didn't have enough people to get everything finished in time." He looked around, oblivious to his brother's rolling eyes. "I see you guys haven't been lazy around here either. The place looks almost like new."
"It was a lot of work," Al said. "But it turned out quite nice in the end. Riza-san was awesome help."
"Curtains even," Edward commented. "When did she leave?"
"A couple of hours ago," Al said. "Just before Heiderich-san came back."
"Ah, where is he?"
"He went upstairs," Al replied with a shrug. "He said he would be working on something."
"Hm, I'll go check on him," Edward said. "What do you want for dinner by the way?"
"Riza-san bought some chicken and rice." Al grinned. "Let me cook it, okay, Nii-san?"
Edward laughed. "Well, if you insist." He went upstairs, seeing the door to the study carefully shut. Typically him, barricading himself in like that, Edward thought. On the other hand, Alfons hadn't been working like this since they lived in Munich, except when he had locked himself inside the other warehouse while developing the fuel during the Azure-project, and Edward knew Alfons liked working that way. So he wasn't surprised to find Alfons fully concentrated on what he was doing by the desk, to the extent that he didn't even notice Edward knocking several times on the door and then entering the room.
Edward stood still, watching his back for some seconds. "Alfons?" He got no response. Alfons sat scribbling fast and carefully, seemingly all his focus completely on his task. Edward figured it had to be quite important, but Alfons had probably been sitting here since he came home, and he would need a break anytime soon. Edward stepped closer, curving over him and kissing his neck lightly.
Alfons jumped up with wide eyes and turned sharply. Edward squeezed his shoulder gently, slightly startled by the dramatic reaction. "Alfons, relax."
Alfons took a deep breath as his eyes peered up at him. "You scared me, Edward."
"Don't be so jumpy. I knocked," Edward said to his defence. "What's all this?" he asked, gesturing at his papers.
"Work," Alfons repelled. "Just something I have to finish by tomorrow morning."
"That soon, huh," Edward said. "Need any help?"
"No, it's fine," Alfons replied, a little fast.
Edward just shrugged. "Well, I'll call you down when dinner's ready, okay?"
Alfons nodded. He realized he hadn't eaten anything all day. He had just forgotten how hungry he was.
"Hope you'll be finished soon," Edward said with a small smile on his face as he walked out of the room.
Alfons sat still, not turning his head after his lover as he left and just stared down onto the papers. There was no way he would be able to finish all this tonight. He knew Edward had asked to help him, but this was none of his concern.
His neck hurt. He rubbed his nape with his hand in an attempt to massage away his soreness and sighed deeply. If he was going to have any chances of finishing at all he had no other choice than to just continue working, possibly overnight. He hovered over the desk with his pencil and restored his concentration among the notes and diagrams.
It didn't even seem like it had been five minutes when Edward came back.
"I called up that the dinner is served," he said, standing in the doorframe.
Alfons turned his head. "Oh, I didn't hear you," he replied apologetically.
"Come down and have chicken with us," Edward preserved. "You need a break."
"I'll be down shortly," Alfons said as he turned back to his papers. "I have a lot to do… Just start without me."
"Hm." Edward scratched his temple. "Okay, if you say so. Come down soon then, alright?" He turned slowly in the doorway, awaiting a reply from his hardworking lover, but the reply never came. Edward closed the door and stepped back downstairs into the kitchen.
Al looked up from his plate. "Isn't he coming?"
Edward shrugged, but turned on a bitter smile. "That bastard Kiehle has clearly put a lot on him already."
"It was kind of odd," Al said. "The Brigadier General sent a soldier here to pick Heiderich-san up, even before your meeting was over. Since the Brigadier General was at the meeting as well it would've been more natural to let Alfons know when the meeting would be finished, but he was just told to wait at the office."
Edward frowned. "That is weird."
"Maybe it's just a very important assignment," Al said. "Or else he wouldn't put his whole heart into it like that, would he?"
"Heh," Edward said. "He puts his heart into everything he does. It's the fact that he is doing this work for Kiehle which bothers me. I guess I should talk to him about it. Maybe he simply needs someone to rant to, and it better be me." He smiled at his little brother, more at ease. "He'll come down when he's hungry."
Al nodded and had some bites of chicken. "So, how did the meeting really go, Nii-san?"
"Actually, better than I thought," Edward said while providing himself with food. "Hakuro agreed with me in prioritizing the security of this world, and not assuming that more people of the other world will arrive to join Thule. If only we can kick Thule's asses back into that Gate, I'll close it up and then I don't really care what happens to those people. Either the Gate can have its way with them, or they'll return to their own world."
Al chewed slowly, eyeing his brother. "Isn't that kind of a cruel thing to say, Nii-san?"
"Al," Edward said. "Look what they did to you, what they did to Central and Lior, all those people who have died in vain." He lowered his gaze. "They don't belong in this world."
"But Heiderich-san does?" Al asked rhetorically.
Edward stopped eating and shot him a disbelieving look. "What?"
"You know I don't mean it that way," Al said fast. "What I mean is, they're all still people. What does it matter which world anyone comes from? Either we arrest them as we would anyone else, or they decide to go back into the Gate by themselves. It's not up to us to decide for them to cross through there. It could be a fate worse than death."
Edward closed his mouth as he was just about to start arguing. Deep down he knew Al was right.
"They treated you like an animal, and still you're treating them as human beings." Edward snorted through a bitter smile.
Al lowered his gaze and picked at his food. "Not all of them were like that."
"You mean Schiller," Edward said.
"I know that he was on the brink of madness, or something like that," Al said. "But no matter what, I could never hate him for what he did to me. Because I was never lonely when he was around."
"You're just too good-hearted, Al," Edward sighed. "You've always been like that."
Al smiled a small smile. "And you're just as reckless as always."
Edward continued stuffing food into his mouth. "I'm just tired of having to deal with those bastards. As soon as Thule and the Gates disappear, I'll be able to sleep at night."
"About that," Al said. "Have you gotten the green light to go to Lior?"
Edward nodded. "Yeah. We're leaving tomorrow at 10 am."
Al's eyes brightened up. "That's good."
"You sure you still want to come?" Edward asked.
"Of course I am," Al said excitedly. "It'll almost be like before. And I want to see Roze again as well."
Edward laughed shortly, resting his head in his palm. "Yeah, maybe it'll be a little like before."
While eating the rest of their food and talking about old times, an hour went fast and it was starting to get late.
Al rose from the table as he watched the clock on the wall above the frame of the kitchen door. "It's already 9 o'clock."
Edward scowled. "Damn it, and he's still working." He gathered the unused plate and loaded it with the amount of chicken and rice that was still left.
"It's turned cold now, though," Al said.
"That's his problem," Edward retorted. "He's going to eat it, even if I have to shove it down his throat."
Al laughed a little nervously as his older sibling disappeared out of the kitchen with the plate. In the meantime, Al started to clear off the table.
Edward knocked hard on the door to the study, but as usual he got no reply. "Alfons," he called, opening the door.
Alfons sat with his back turned to him as before and curved over the desk in deep absorption. He was still completely into what he was doing, and made no sign that he was aware that Edward had entered the room again. Edward calmed himself down, even if he just wanted to yell at him and force him to eat the cold food and for being such an idiot. He went over to his side with the plate, stopping Alfons' swiftly writing arm. "Alf-"
Alfons was startled back in his chair and jerked his arm away so fast that it smashed right into the plate. The plate slipped from Edward's metal hand and ended on the floor in a hundred scattering pieces.
Alfons stared at the broken plate and up to Edward again, looking bewildered. "Edward…"
Edward gave him a hard look. "When did you get this edgy?"
Alfons shook his head, rubbing his temple. His head hurt terribly. "I'm sorry."
"It's fine," Edward muttered. "You need a break though. You've been sitting here for hours without taking a breather."
"Oh. Is that the time already..." Alfons clutched his pencil. "But I have to continue until I'm finished."
"Rubbish," Edward said. "It can't possibly be that important that you have to starve yourself all day."
"It is," Alfons argued.
Edward groaned peeved. "What is it anyway?" He leant closer to see, but Alfons tried to hide it away. "It's nothing. It's-"
Edward frowned, not getting fooled just by that. He recognized the notations. "It's my manual, isn't it?"
With just a moment's hesitation, Alfons gave in. "Yeah," he said.
Edward took a small step back again, looking at him with narrowed eyes. "Alfons, why didn't you just say so? I can help you finish this in no time."
Alfons shook his head and turned away from him. "There's no need."
"It's late already," Edward said, taken aback by how repelling Alfons was acting considering all this. "It will be more effective with two people."
"No, Edward," Alfons said, his voice a little sharp around the edges. "Just go to bed, I'll come later, okay?"
"I've already heard that one today," Edward retorted. Why was Alfons behaving like this? This wasn't like him at all. "What are you doing with the manual anyway?" he asked circumspectly. "What is that bastard planning?"
"What do you think?" Alfons muttered. "He wants a better airplane."
"So you're improving the manual for him?"
"Basically, yeah," Alfons said.
Edward sighed. "I can help. I wrote it after all," he added a little sourly.
"It's my job," Alfons grated.
He didn't want Edward to be involved in this. It was his job, after all. Alfons had taken this upon himself, and he wouldn't bother anyone else with it, even if it was Edward's original ideas or not. He was fully capable of doing his own work, and Edward didn't have to blend himself into it, as if he was so much smarter. Alfons knew Edward was smarter than him. But he didn't have to rub it in either.
"Goodnight," Alfons added, as Edward had just remained standing there silently.
"I'm leaving tomorrow with Al," Edward then suddenly said. "Just thought you'd want to know." He turned for the door, but this time it was Alfons who turned after him, surprised.
"Where?" he blurted.
Edward stopped in the door opening. "We're heading to Lior to destroy the first Gate."
Alfons dropped his pencil, rising slowly from his chair. He stared at Edward with a trace of disappointment in his eyes. "Why didn't you say so?" he asked. Edward should've told him this sooner. Now it might be too late for him to come with them. "I want to go with you," Alfons said, his voice small and full of regret.
Edward turned with narrow eyes. "I thought you were busy, doing this stuff?"
"I'm supposed to be finished by tomorrow morning," Alfons said. "I just need to—"
"You're only halfway through the thing," Edward said. Obviously he had noticed exactly how far Alfons had come through the pages. "At this rate you'll be working all night, and there's no guarantee that Kiehle will let you off."
Edward had a point. A good point. It made Alfons feel only more miserable. He lowered his head and turned back to the desk. "I guess. But you said destroying the Gate might be dangerous." He didn't like the thought that Edward was about to do something dangerous when he wasn't around. "I wanted to help you."
"It's fine," Edward said. "There's not much you can do anyways, you're not an alchemist."
Okay, those words actually hurt. Now Edward said that he was useless? Not only useless, but useless at accomplishing things that really mattered.
Great.
Edward realized that his words hadn't made Alfons feel much better. "Look…" he said. "Just ask him tomorrow if he'll let you go then."
Alfons slumped down on the chair. "I doubt that he will."
"Just ask him," Edward repeated. He stepped into the room again, all the way to the desk until he stood by Alfons' side. "I hate arguing like this so just do it."
Alfons had to agree that he didn't like arguing either, and he had possibly become irritated on unnecessary terms. It was probably because he was tired, hungry and his head and neck hurt like hell. Edward had just wanted to help after all. And asking for permission to go to Lior was worth a try.
"I'm sorry," Alfons said in a low voice.
"Me too," Edward said.
Alfons turned his chair towards him and wrapped his arms around Edward's waist while sitting, hugging him closely around his stomach. He wanted to tell him that he wanted to make it up to him, but for now he could only hold tightly around him to be sure he stayed a little longer. He didn't want Edward to leave now. Alfons doubted that he would get any more work done anyway.
He felt Edward's flesh hand in his hair, and the metal one stroking over his back. Edward smiled softly where he stood. "There's still some time left though. Let's finish this thing and go to bed already." He ran his hand through Alfons' hair all the way from his nape and up to his messy bangs and back again. Slow, soothing caresses.
Alfons closed his eyes. "I've missed you today," he murmured into the front of his shirt.
"Missed me?" Edward repeated. "I was looking forward to our celebration, but you were busy sitting here all evening."
"Deadline…" Alfons mumbled.
"That's why we're finishing this together, okay?" Edward said.
Alfons nodded. Edward had his mind set upon something, so there was no way of stopping him. What a wonderful person he was. Alfons hadn't done much to appreciate him lately, he realized, and strongly regretted his behaviour. Edward didn't deserve this. "I'm sorry I couldn't keep my promise," Alfons said timidly.
"We'll make it up some other time," Edward said. "When we get back from Lior."
Alfons let go of him and stared into a couple of deep and warm amber eyes. Then Edward simply scooped all his work into his arms and started carrying it away, out of the study.
Alfons stood up fast, worked up but not stopping him. "What are you doing?"
"I'm moving this to a more comfortable working area," Edward replied. "Follow me."
Alfons rubbed his forehead in an attempt to rub away the pain. When he finally reached the bedroom after Edward, he remained standing perplexed in the doorway for a moment and just stared.
Edward had brought the two beds together into one, and was sitting in the middle with the bundle of papers, already scribbling like mad. "I'll finish the rest of the notes; you can start making the new manual from scratch." Edward stopped for a moment, raving through some papers and found the beginning of the manual which was already finished with small notices and messy improvements scribbled down.
Alfons accepted the papers and sighed though a smile. "Edward…"
Edward started up from the scribbling again, looking at him in askance.
Alfons crawled into the bed and kissed his mouth gratefully. "Thank you," he whispered as their lips parted.
"It's nothing," Edward said. "And you should eat before you continue. Heat up something from the fridge."
Alfons smiled, giving in. "Okay, I'll… I'll be right back." Some food would probably do him good and give him some new energy in addition to the energy he was getting from just by looking at Edward. He went downstairs, finding Al finished cleaning up in the kitchen.
"Heiderich-san, did you eat?" Al asked.
Alfons shook his head. "I'll just have some bread. The plate broke... I'm sorry."
Al laughed. "It's alright. It can be fixed easily, you know." He headed for the living room and the stairs. "I'm going to bed. Goodnight."
"Goodnight," Alfons said with a smile. Sure, a broken plate could be fixed, but fixing his apprehensive mind would in contrast be considerably worse, and unfortunately couldn't be done with alchemy's help. Alfons realized he was scared to go to work tomorrow, and he was scared of the thought that he would probably have to live like this for a very long time. Maybe his only option was to do exactly what he had done today – get so absorbed into work that he forgot about everything else. He had dealt with his earlier consumption the same way before. It was just how he handled his problems best, he guessed. The drawback about it was that he forgot about Edward too...
Hurriedly he made himself something easy and brought it back up to the bedroom to eat while working. Now it was Edward who sat concentrating and oblivious to everything else, on top of the double sized bed.
Alfons climbed up onto the bed next to him. He had already gotten quite far. At this rate Alfons would actually be finished with everything tonight and still get a reasonable amount of sleep. He sighed and started eating while he continued to copy the sketches with the new notifications.
Two hours later Alfons could barely keep his own eyes up. He had started making mistakes while writing and messing up the diagrams, and had to do the page all over again.
Edward's hand was suddenly holding around his wrist. "Just rest now. There's not very much left. Let me do the rest."
Alfons shook his head stubbornly. "No, it's my—"
Edward pulled him away from the papers and tackled him on the bed, pinning him down easily. Alfons struggled half-heartedly, but he knew he wasn't stronger than Edward. Even less now in this condition. He was exhausted.
"Close your eyes," Edward said.
Alfons' body went lax in defeat. "Just for a moment then," he murmured and closed his eyes. "Powernap..." Then he felt Edward's warm mouth against his own and a tongue dipping gently between his lips. Alfons parted his lips and welcomed the kiss, his head lifting up from the pillow to meet him. Edward was still holding down his arms, so he couldn't do much more. The kiss was warm and delicate and Alfons savoured it until Edward parted from him and pushed him down on the bed again.
"Sleep," he said. "If you don't, I'll tie you down with alchemy."
Alfons swallowed. "I'm already asleep." It was almost the truth. The lethargy had gotten a hold of him and was already restraining him from opening his eyes. "Don't mind the rest," Alfons added in a drowsy voice. "It's alright. You sleep too."
Edward smiled and moved back to the stocks of papers, not listening to his lover. He never left something unfinished.
An hour later he gathered the finished manual together in the right order and placed the two exemplars on the nightstand. He turned to Alfons who was sleeping deeply by the wall, still dressed and with his covers only halfway over him. Edward crawled carefully to him and pulled the cover off. Then he started removing Alfons' clothes. Alfons was sleeping so deeply that he didn't even wake up when Edward pulled off his slacks. Then Edward removed his own clothes, pulled the covers back up over them both and snuggled close to Alfons' warm body.
"You should know me by now," he told the sleeping one with a small smile lurking at the corner of his lip.
The next morning Alfons woke up by the ringing clock on the nightstand. It was 8 am, and he was supposed to be at the office in an hour. He stretched and turned it off, still in a daze. He felt like he had been sleeping for only two hours, but he had still slept very well. Edward shifted next to him, draping an arm over his waist. "Fuck..." he mumbled. "Was I drunk last night or something? I can't remember a single thing of what we did yesterday."
Alfons scowled. That was the last thing he had expected to hear. "Uhm, no. What do you mean you don't remember? We quarrelled, and then you helped me with... shit," he gasped, suddenly remembered that he had fallen asleep before the manual was finished, and panicked. "The manual," he gasped. "I only have an hour to—"
"What manual? Oh, that one!" Edward's head dropped back down on the pillow, his loose hair sprawled all over. "I remember working on it. I finished it." He scowled, seeming bothered by something.
Alfons just stared at him in wonder. "It's finished?"
"Yeah, of course it is," Edward mumbled. "The train leaves at 10 am. Be there, okay?"
Alfons smiled, feeling unbelievably lucky to have someone like Edward. "I hope I will." He wrapped his arms around him and kissed him ardently. "Thank you."
"No problem." Edward yawned and stretched out on his back beside him with his arms above his head. "I'll be up before you leave."
"Alright." Alfons stood up from bed and noticed the two stocks of paper on the nightstand. He picked them up and watched through them in the dim light. Edward had sorted out it all in the right order, and the new copy was visibly much thicker than the first one. "This is great," Alfons said thankfully. He would never have managed to do this without Edward. He still regretted his guilty thoughts about Edward's superior intelligence. That wasn't it of course. Edward had just wanted to spend more time with him before he left for his mission to Lior.
Alfons wondered if he would be allowed to join the brothers on this mission. It was all up to Kiehle to decide, and he didn't like that very much. But maybe the man would show him a little leniency after all his hard work.
He took a shower, got dressed and went down to fetch some breakfast. He had gotten his appetite back, so he had no problem eating this time. He stuffed the two manuals into a small leather bag, and was ready to leave when Edward finally came down the stairs. His hair was still loose down his back and wet from showering. He wore black pants and a black t-shirt with a red alchemy emblem of Creation on his chest.
Alfons stood still in the hall, just watching him for a moment, thinking how that tight t-shirt really looked good on him.
Edward approached him, looking a little troubled. "Alfons... did I just say that I didn't remember what we did last night?"
Alfons looked at him confused. "Yeah, you did. What's wrong? You've never had a bad memory before."
Edward scratched his head. "Heh. It's probably just because of stress or something," he reasoned.
Alfons shook his head. "If I don't see you later... Be careful, okay?"
"Of course I will," Edward said, forcing a smile. "You worry too much."
"But I'd prefer you do nothing than lose another leg," Alfons muttered.
Edward snorted and kissed him. "Trust me. I won't risk losing this lifestyle." I'm doing this in order to save it.
Alfons kissed back and wrapped his arms around the small of Edward's back while savouring his metal hand gripping tightly at his shirt and his flesh hand caressing his nape. He smelled wonderful and clean, being fresh out of the shower and his lips tasted warm and sweet. The undying attractiveness he emitted made Alfons miss him already.
It felt so good kissing Edward that he let himself get all lost into the warm affection for some seconds. They were too busy to notice that a third person stepped down the stairs and had a good view into the hall where they were standing.
Edward must have felt the eyes on his neck, because he suddenly parted himself from Alfons rather abruptly and turned around to face Al.
Al stared at the scene with a pair of troubled, large eyes and a pale shade of red on his cheeks, visibly uncomfortable by what he had just witnessed.
Alfons' heart had suddenly made a small leap. He had to remind himself of that Al already knew about him and Edward's relationship. He had actually forgotten about it for a second and inwardly panicked. But Al hadn't really seen him and Edward kiss or doing anything that resembled that kind of relationship before (apart from the time in Rizembool when he had attacked Alfons and almost punched him in the face). Alfons' heart took several seconds to calm down. Despite it all, wasn't it only natural to do something like that in front of Al if Al knew and was okay with it? Was he really okay with it?
Al realized that he was the source of the uncomfortable atmosphere and turned away quickly. "Good morning, I'll go make some breakfast, see you later," he said fast and walked a little stiffly into the kitchen.
Edward's shoulders sank a little. "He'll get used to it."
Alfons wasn't so sure. "I have to go." He picked up the bag and checked his watch. "I can't be late."
"10 o'clock," Edward said.
"Yeah, I know. I'll try." Alfons smiled a little reluctantly. "Take care, Edward."
Edward nodded once. "You too. See you soon."
Twenty minutes later Alfons arrived at Headquarters, just a couple minutes before his deadline. He sighed in relief that he had made it as he knocked twice on the door to Brigadier General Kiehle's office.
"Enter," a voice said behind the door.
Alfons went in and closed the door.
"Good morning, Alfons. Just in time, I see," Kiehle greeted.
Alfons bowed politely, feeling slightly sweaty. "I've finished the manual, sir." He opened the bag without waiting for a reply and handed back both of the exemplars so his commanding officer could see the difference.
"Ah, I'm impressed that you did all this in one day," Kiehle remarked. "But I expected that from you." He smiled a conniving smile which made Alfons shudder inwardly.
"I got a little help," Alfons said. "But I've wanted to ask something of you, sir." He'd better get right to it. He had only less than an hour before the train left.
"Oh? And what may that be, Alfons?" the man asked curiously.
Alfons bowed his head again, hoping to make Kiehle allow his request. "I wish to attend to Edward and Alphonse's mission to Lior, please."
Kiehle watched him closely for a moment. "Why do you wish to do that?"
"Because," Alfons said looking up, "I might be able to help. The sooner we'll be able to close the Gate, the less damage will be done to this world."
Kiehle smiled smoothly. "I'm sorry, Alfons, but that is a matter left for state alchemists. There's probably not much you can assist them with. Besides, I need you here."
Alfons couldn't hide the strong feeling of disappointment. "Sir, it would only be for a day or two."
Kiehle rose suddenly from his chair. "A no is a no, Alfons."
Alfons was silent as Kiehle came around the desk to face him properly. "Is this a problem?" he asked.
Alfons looked down to the carpet. "No, sir." It seemed like he wouldn't be going after all.
"Good." Kiehle caught his chin with his hand and forced his head up to look at him. "Now, I have a new assignment for you."
The train station was crowded as the two brothers arrived. It was barely five minutes until the train was to depart, and Edward looked all around for Alfons.
"I don't think he's here," Al said.
"I'll call Headquarters to be sure," Edward said. He headed straight for an available telephone box and put on some coins.
Time really started to get short. If his suspicions were right, his memories of last night hadn't faded just out of the blue. He was actually starting to get concerned, and he was sure the Gate had something to do with it. Alfons' mark as well. It was in fact only his memories concerning Alfons that had grown fainter.
Was the Gate erasing Alfons? What if everyone's memories of Alfons were somehow being meddled with?
It was still too early to make any conclusions, but others might not be noticing it yet. They hadn't known Alfons for as long as he had. He figured, since he had the most memories together with Alfons, and was with him most of the time, he would be the first to notice that something was wrong. He had to stop the Gate, and fast!
Al stood some steps away, watching over their suitcase while Edward was on the phone. They had only needed one since they didn't have to bring a lot of things with them. Everywhere people were quickly bypassing, either coming from one of the trains or heading towards another. A female voice was speaking out of an amplifier in the ceiling, announcing arrivals and departures.
Edward dialled the number hurriedly and listened impatiently to the buzzing tone. "Come on, pick it up already," he muttered.
"Central HQ, this is 1st Lieutenant Hawkeye," a woman's voice in the other end said.
"Hawkeye, this is Edward," Edward said fast.
"Edward? Isn't your train leaving now?"
"Yeah, any minute, I was wondering, do you know if Alfons is still in?" Edward spoke fast. "He wanted to come with me, but he had to ask for Kiehle's permission."
"I'm sorry, I don't know," Riza said. "But I can direct you to Kiehle's office."
"Yeah, thanks," Edward said. She directed the call and once again Edward was listening to a buzzing tone.
"Nii-san," Al interrupted. "Our train is about to leave!"
No one was replying. "Shit," Edward sighed and quickly hung up. "Let's go." He jogged to his brother, picked up the suitcase and hurried towards the nearby train while Al trotted after. The train was about to close its doors, but in the last second Edward managed to stop the lookout. They were the last ones entering the train, and some seconds later the train started moving.
Edward found two available seats next to each other, and he let Al have the window seat before he slumped down with a deep sigh. "I should've known that bastard would hold him back. I'm pissed off now."
"It'll be all right, Nii-san," Al said with his usual gentle voice. "We won't be gone for very long."
"Yeah, I'll finish this quickly," Edward stated. Hopefully he finally was a step closer to get rid of the Gates once and for all. He didn't do this for the sake of the world and the balance fully. He was doing it for Alfons as well. As long as the open Gate existed in either of the worlds, his whole existence would remain a threat. Until Edward had settled those issues once and for all, he wouldn't be able to get a moment's rest.
His little brother had turned for the window and was staring out at nothing as the train picked up speed, leaving the big city of Central behind. The tall telephone poles seemed to line up and stare at them through the windows as they passed by. The fields were already folding themselves outward in the view.
"Hey, Al," his big brother suddenly said quietly.
"Mm?" Al turned.
"Were you... bothered by seeing me with Alfons this morning?"
Al lowered his gaze. Edward had sounded a little anxious, which he didn't want him to be. He wanted Edward to be himself, and that included being himself around Alfons as well. Still, something was bothering him. "That's not it. I mean..." his voice trailed off for a moment as he wondered how to explain. "It just surprised me."
"Ah," Edward said.
"You know I'm not against it," Al said prickly. "Still, sometimes I get this feeling that he means much more to you than me." Which he knew was silly, but the feeling was still there nonetheless.
"Al..." Edward said, being awfully disappointed in his little brother. "You know that's not true. Didn't I tell you that in Rizembool?"
"I'm sorry," Al said in a low voice.
Edward sighed. "Let's just enjoy this ride. This is our first journey after we came back, isn't it? With just the two of us?"
Al nodded. "That's true." A deep and dark voice innermost in his mind was actually glad Alfons hadn't been able to come. Which made him feel even worse, but he ignored it.
Edward sank down in his seat with his arms behind his head, smiling slightly. "I've missed being out journeying with you," he said, and he noticed how much those words meant to his little brother. He decided he couldn't be worrying about Alfons now. He could take care of himself after all. If Edward looked worried while being with Al, of course that would influence Al as well, and he didn't want that.
"How do you like the new house, Al?" Edward asked to get both of their thoughts over to something else.
"It's awesome," Al said, smiling as well now. "I think it'll be great living there. Both with you and Heiderich-san," he added, to ease down on his guilt. He meant it though. He didn't mind Alfons being around, but sometimes he should be allowed to spend time with his brother without him, right? There wasn't much Alfons could have done to help out with this mission anyway.
"That's good." Edward closed his eyes. "For the first time I'm starting to feel like I'm really back."
Al understood what he meant, more than anyone else possibly could. "Me too."
The train ride was peaceful and enjoyable. It brought back all kinds of memories. Both of the brothers had gotten used to travelling by train years ago, and even very recently the train had been mostly useful to them. Edward thought he would rather use the main doors when he left the train this time though. Jumping out the window in full speed wasn't always the most recommended way of departing a train.
After four relaxing hours the Elric-brothers reached their destination. The city of the warm, dry desert lands.
"This feels nostalgic," Edward said at the entrance of the city. The main street of Lior went from where they were standing and straight through the centre, ending by the huge famous church of the god Leto. Large areas of the city were still not rebuilt after the attack from Thule Society, but it was in progress.
"Yeah, we had some trouble here when Cornello had control of the city," Al remarked.
"Let's just hope the people will cooperate with us this time," Edward muttered. "We need to clear off the whole market place."
"It won't be that bad. Roze will meet us there," Al reassured. He had called her before they left home and settled the time and place to meet.
The market place was close to the centre of the city with a huge fountain in the middle. It was crowded with people and small shops were positioned around the circular place. Around the fountain was a huge decorative transmutation circle on the ground. That was the two brothers' target.
On the edge of the fountain a young woman with long, dark hair and pink fringe bangs was sitting with a small boy on her lap. She looked up as the two brothers approached, and she rose quickly with huge eyes.
"Al, Ed...!"
Al smiled warmly and Edward felt a little odd. Roze had been the last person he had seen before he did the human transmutation and vanished off to the other world.
"Hi Roze," Al said, receiving a long hug from her.
"Al, I heard from Winry what happened," Roze said. "I'm glad you are alright."
Al beamed softly. "It was Nii-san who saved me."
Roze lifted her gaze to Edward. "I can't believe you're really back. You were just gone when Al..."
Edward lifted a hand to stop her. "Let's not talk about that." He smiled at her. "It's nice to see you again, Roze."
"You too," Roze smiled back softly. Her boy looked curiously at them where he clung to his mother's arm before he shyly hid his face away behind her leg. "Now dear, don't you remember Al and Ed?" she asked kindly.
The small boy lifted his head up again and his huge walnut brown eyes gazed up at Al, recognizing him and pointing. "Arru!" he said with a big grin.
Al beamed and kneeled in front of the boy. "Hi Eric, long time no see."
"Arru, will you play with me?" little Eric asked hopefully.
"Yeah, of course," Al replied cheerfully. "I just have something I must do first."
"Do magic, Arru!" the boy begged. "Please!"
"I'll do some later, okay?" Al promised.
"Yaay!" Eric jumped excitedly up and down while waving his arms.
Edward smiled. "He's become a big guy."
"He turned three recently," Roze smiled. Then her eyes became serious. "You two haven't come here just because you're on vacation, right?"
Edward nodded. "You could say that."
Roze lowered her voice. "Is it related to the terrorist organization?"
Al rose slowly back to his feet again and he exchanged a quick glance with his brother.
"Kind of," Edward said. "It's related to how they managed to enter this world."
"There are two worlds, and a Gate connects them to each other," Al explained fast.
"We need to get rid of that Gate, and I think I can connect to one of the sources of it from this place," Edward elaborated swiftly and gestured at the area they were standing in – inside the decorative transmutation circle.
Roze nodded slowly, understanding.
"But we need people to take their distance first," Al said. "Could you help us have people leave this place for a couple of hours?"
"Yes, of course I'll help you," Roze said. "Anything to keep those terrorists away. They damaged the city greatly when we were attacked." She looked down softly in the direction of her boy, who was now drawing eagerly on the stone ground with a piece of chalk and Edward followed her eyes.
"We'll keep you safe," Edward promised. "Nothing is going to happen to Lior again as far as I can prevent it."
Roze smiled at him. "After all this time you've been away you have changed a lot, but at the same time you haven't, Ed. You're still the brave and determined person as you were when I first met you."
Edward tried to ignore the fact that his cheeks were heating up. "Alright, let's get started!"
It took some time, but it wasn't completely impossible. Roze wandered among the people, explaining that they needed to leave because of an underground problem and made people spread the word.
Edward and Al separated themselves and had a talk with all the merchants in the area and made them help clear away from the circle as well.
"It might be dangerous to stay near the circle," Alphonse explained. "So while we fix the problem people should be keeping their distance."
"I'm an alchemist," Edward told them reassuringly. "I'll leave the surface of it exactly as it is when I'm finished."
The people didn't get any details of what the problem exactly was. Only that it was underground and had to be repaired by alchemists. Still, they trusted the story and started to move away.
"Nice work, Al," Edward said as they met up again a while later. "They're clearing off even faster than I expected."
Roze caught up to them some minutes after, still holding her child's hand. "Seems like they're leaving and trusting it to you." She smiled.
"Thank you for your help," Edward said. "Now, you should go to a safe place as well." He stood by the end of the circle and curved his knees, exploring it. Then he clapped his hands and touched the ground. The circle on the ground started changing. More symbols and complicated lines started to reveal on the ground, connecting to the old array.
Roze hesitated. She left her boy to play with Al for a while, who sat down on his knees in front of him and showed the eager boy some alchemy tricks. The small boy laughed excitedly as Al transmuted a small horse of stone from the ground.
Roze stepped closer to Edward and lowered her voice. "What you're about to do... Is it very dangerous?"
Edward rose to his feet again without turning to her as he looked the circle over carefully. "I don't know. Possibly."
Her brows narrowed in a worried expression. "Don't do anything rash. You might disappear again..."
Edward turned to her and smiled softly. "Don't worry. I have too much to lose to let that happen."
Al stood up with the child on his back and went back to Roze with him. The boy was laughing and tugging at Al's ponytail.
"Eric, that's enough," Roze said strictly.
"Mom, can I play more with Arru later?" the boy asked, disappointed that playtime would be over this soon.
"Al is a busy alchemist, you must let him work now," Roze said. She lifted Eric up in her arms, and turned to face both of the brothers again. "Good luck, you two. Please, promise me that you'll be careful."
Edward nodded. "We will."
They watched her leave, and Eric looked over her shoulder and waved enthusiastically at them. Al waved back.
When she was at a good distance away, Edward turned back to the transmutation circle. "You better stay back, Al."
Al frowned. "Aren't we together on this?"
"Yeah," Edward said with a small smile. "If something happens... I need someone to pull me away from the array."
Al didn't like the sound of that. "What exactly are you expecting to happen?"
"Hopefully nothing will on the surface," Edward said. "But if it does, I want you to run away from here as fast as you can. And if there's a rebound, it'll affect me and nothing else. In that case, you must pull me away."
Or what? Al wondered, but Edward didn't take his time to answer any more questions. "Are you ready?"
Al nodded firmly. "Yeah."
"Alright, let's do this." Edward kneeled by the transmutation circle and composed himself for what he was about to do. Then he clapped his hands and touched the circle. Closing his eyes he felt the sparkling energy trickle through his body from his hand and automail. No matter what kind of transmutation he did, he just loved the feeling of alchemic energy rushing through his body.
The array started to glow bright blue, and Al kept a close watch. If any signs occurred that something was wrong, he would step in immediately and stop the transmutation.
Edward kept his eyes closed and concentrated hard. His goal was to reach a point beyond the surface that had once been related to the Gate in Munich. He was quite possibly the only one who could do it, since the Gate in Munich was his Gate. If he could just find that point, he would know how to disconnect it from this world and at the same time destroy the open Gate in Munich from this side. It would be hard, but it was worth a try.
Al started to get restless. Nothing was really happening, and he wondered if Edward was closer to what he was trying to do. His face showed no trace of whether he was succeeding or failing.
Edward's forehead furrowed. Then he opened his eyes and parted his palms from the circle. The activation of the array ceased down and the bright blue light died out.
Al rushed to him. "Nii-san, did something happen?"
"No," Edward said. "I need a link."
"A link?" Al echoed.
"Blood," Edward replied. He clapped and transmuted his metal arm to a blade.
"Why do you need blood here? We're not inside the Gate," Al pointed out.
"But we still need it to link the array to the missing source via the Gate, just like I did with your soul."
"I see," Al said, feeling concerned. "But at that time you gave away your arm in exchange."
"Fortunately we don't need a sacrifice at the same level as that time, or Thule for that matter, when our intention is only to link to the Gate," Edward reasoned, remembering Alfons' words. Thule Society was planning to sacrifice someone from the other world to control the Gate. Alfons. But Edward would make sure they'd never get the chance! In this arrangement, blood would do. At least that's what he hoped. He used the blade to cut the inside of his hand. He didn't even grimace as the blood trickled out of his palm. "Stay back."
Al obeyed and backed up a step. But nothing more.
Edward clapped again and touched the array. It activated and brightened up again. This time he felt an immediate change. This was different from the first time he tried. The alchemy felt different. More like it was draining all the energy out of his body, and blanketing his sight in darkness. First he was a little startled, but he didn't stop. It felt like this was supposed to happen, so he couldn't back out now. This might be his only chance.
The first thing he felt was how all his senses weakened. He couldn't see or hear anything, like he had already been swallowed by the dark depths of the Gate. But as he continued concentrating his mind, he felt the darkness change. It wasn't just an empty darkness anymore.
It was like flowing through a tunnel, and he was staring into it from his half sitting position. Even if the tunnel was still pitch black, it seemed to have an end far out in the distance. Something glinted, and a light turned up like someone had pressed a switch. Edward squinted his eyes at it. It wasn't strong, at least not yet. But the light seemed to come closer to him, and as it drew closer it became stronger.
As he got a better look at the light, he noticed that something was particularly special about it. The light was parted. There were two sets of different lights. One was glowing white and purple, and the other white and yellow. Both of the pair of lights twirled around each other like two small tornados. On the surface of it, it was quite pretty to watch. But that wasn't the point. These two lights meant something, and Edward's mind worked fast to figure out what. He couldn't risk losing this opportunity. As he watched closer, the two sets of colours were moving, running parallel from each other before they suddenly merged into one.
He let out a quick gasp. These two lights resembled the two Gates. If this meant what he thought it did, then...
Suddenly the black tunnel transformed into whiteness which immediately blinded him.
Oh no... Edward didn't like the look of it. Understanding what was about to happen, he struggled to deactivate the transmutation. But he couldn't. The huge black Gate emerged behind him, like it was blocking his way of escape.
You cannot touch it, it said.
Edward tried to move his body, but he couldn't. Before he had managed to move, a mob of creepy black hands swirled around his legs and arms, keeping him in place. "No," he whispered. "If something happens to me, Alfons will..." He hadn't even thought about that. If he disappeared like this, Alfons would still die. Vanish. Everyone would just forget about him. It wasn't equivalent exchange.
"Move!" he yelled to his own body, but it wouldn't listen. He was paralyzed. "What do you want?" he asked the Gate, his voice a little shaky.
The lights will not be separated, it said.
Edward could do nothing to escape as one of the sneaking black hands snaked around his throat and lifted him. He twisted and struggled, trying to pry the arm of the size of a child's off of him while his legs didn't have contact with solid ground any longer.
Your time will come soon.
It felt like everything was crumbling around him, and the darkness swallowed the two sets of lights which resembled the sources he was after. Edward stared after them in defeat. He had lost them.
"AAAHHHHH!"
Edward didn't even know if the scream was coming from him. A sharp light flashed before his eyes and it felt like he was thrown backwards. He landed heavily on his back and breathed in like mad, like he hadn't been able to breathe for a long time. Maybe he hadn't. But fortunately, the black hands which had been holding him were gone. And so was the Gate.
"Nii-san! Nii-san!" His younger brother was shaking him and calling out worriedly. "Are you all right?"
Edward opened his eyes slowly and was blinded by the sharp sunlight. He propped himself up slowly on his elbows and noticed that he was several feet away from the array. He hadn't merely imagined he'd been thrown backwards, it had actually happened. He tried moving both of his arms and legs.
Phew, they still seemed intact.
"What happened, Nii-san? Did it work?" Al asked desperately for answers.
"No," Edward said sullenly. "I was wrong. We can't destroy the Gate by linking from this place after all."
"Why?" Al asked.
"Every Gate that is open is linked to each other," Edward said in a low voice. "Which means yours and mine. That's the reason why we could see each other while inside the Gate, even if we were in the two worlds' timelines. I think I saw the energy sources which link to both Munich and Amestris. But it won't work from here, because this place technically doesn't have an open Gate."
"Sounds logic though," Al agreed.
"Even if I could destroy it," Edward said, "it would've been a problem."
"Why?" Al asked again.
"The link to Munich, in other words my Gate, would be entirely sealed. Thule Society would be trapped in this world forever," Edward muttered. "Even if it's not my decision, I'd like to give them a chance to go back – for the sake of the balance."
Al took a deep breath. "So that means, basically the only place we can destroy the Gates from is..."
"From your Gate, yes," Edward confirmed. "At Thule Society's hideout."
Alfons Heiderich was tired. The pen in his hand still danced over the sheet of paper, down to the end where he signed. For hours he had been sitting by a desk in a room next to the Brigadier General's office with a stock of paperwork. Kiehle had given him this job because of the lack of people at the office today. It was mainly an easy job to do, but it didn't mean that it wasn't tiring. Every new case he started going through required more effort from him, and in the end he found the need to take a small break. He was alone in the room. His eyes fell on the cup of tea that Kiehle's secretary, Vera, had brought him a while ago. He had forgotten about it, so it had probably turned cold already. Kiehle's secretary was a nice person though. She had probably no idea how Kiehle really was in person, Alfons thought darkly. He leant back in his chair, resting his sore shoulders and stretched until his muscles creaked loudly. Luckily it was the end of the day, so he would be out of there soon. Though, thinking that he could only return to an empty house made him a tad depressed. He didn't know how long Edward and Al would be gone, but in all probability they would stay overnight in Lior, if not more if the mission took longer than predicted. Hopefully they would take an early train home tomorrow, and he would have Edward in arms' reach again in at least twenty-four hours.
Twenty-four hours seemed like an eternity. At least when he was separated from Edward.
Alfons sighed, resting his elbow on the desk and took a sip of tea. Even if it had turned cold it didn't taste too bad. Since it wasn't much time left of the day, he decided to finish the case he was working on quickly and go home ten minutes early. He had done a lot during the hours he had been working, after all. He took another sip of tea and hovered over the desk again with the pencil in his hand. Writing reports on unsolved cases weren't actually challenging since he had a strict manual to follow, but it surely wore out his head. He had started to feel a little dizzy, and he blinked to make it pass away. As he opened his eyes again it still didn't disappear. Maybe he hadn't eaten a proper lunch. He put the pencil down and his hand shot up to his dazed head. His eyesight became blurry. It was then Alfons realized that something must be wrong with him.
Bathroom. Water. That would probably do him good. Alfons rose from his chair and took some steps across the floor. But then his legs failed him and the room was spinning fast as his knees hit the floor. The rest of his body followed by tilting sluggishly forward and he ended up on his stomach. Just as darkness swallowed his mind and sight, the last thing he heard was the door to the office opening up.
He was in another room when he woke up. He was sure of it. Still his body was lax and refused to respond much to what his brain ordered it to do. A soft groan escaped his lips.
"Everything will be okay, Alfons," a voice said. "Just be quiet and relax."
Alfons scowled. Whose voice was that? It was someone he knew. He twisted his head weakly. He was lying on his back on a couch.
Someone had started to undo the laces on his shoes. Probably the same person that had spoken. His shoes were removed.
Alfons opened his eyes and turned his head straight again. His vision was still slightly blurred but he could make out a contour of the man standing over him. Brigadier General Kiehle.
"What...?" Alfons managed. His body lacked strength to even move. How had he gotten here? Where was here? He stared straight up in the ceiling for a moment and thought it resembled an office. Kiehle's office?
"I'll take good care of you," the voice droned.
"What happened?" Alfons tried again to speak.
"You're tired. Close your eyes and be good."
Alfons didn't like this, and he suddenly realized. "The tea..." He shuddered and finally became more aware. "Did you put something in it...?"
"How rude," Kiehle purred. "Although, I'll be honest since you're such a sharp boy. I added a mild sedative when Vera wasn't looking."
"Why?" Alfons didn't know if he really wanted to know.
"What do you think?" Kiehle's hands ran up his thighs and found their way underneath his shirt. "Didn't I tell you that I wanted something good in my life? That you would submit to me?"
Alfons' eyes narrowed. Even if he was scared, he didn't let his mind cloud over of fear. At least not yet. "Don't touch me."
"Are you going to fight me?" Kiehle asked sardonically.
Alfons tried moving again, tried to lift his legs and support himself with his arms. His fatigue was practically visible as he struggled to get his body to listen.
Kiehle grinned, watching him. Then he simply straddled Alfons down on the couch between his thighs. "Just that won't do."
"Get away from me!" Alfons breathed.
Kiehle's hand traced over his nipples and the other lowered dangerously close to his more private areas. "No. Have you forgotten about everything, Alfons?"
Alfons gasped out as his hand moved fast up to his chin and closed around his cheeks to keep his head locked in his direction.
"I know everything about you. I know everything that can ruin your life in this world. You know that, don't you?"
Alfons twisted his head away from the grip. "I don't care! Leave me alone, or I will—"
"Oh, is that so?" Kiehle said thoughtfully, cutting him off and at the same time pinned both of Alfons' arms above his head. His face was barely a few inches away from Alfons' nose. "You might not care about yourself, but what about the others? What about Edward?"
"Bastard!" Alfons gritted his teeth and tried to jerk out of the position, but he was too weak. The drug still had an effect on him. "If you touch Edward..."
"Then what?" Kiehle wondered, skilfully unbuttoning Alfons' shirt with one hand as he held down both of his slender wrists with the other. "You're in no position to make threats. Besides, I know you better than that. You're not capable of hurting a fly, are you? Especially when I can get your dear Edward executed tomorrow if I wanted."
Alfons stared up at the man who was pinning him down with wide timid eyes. That's not possible... Edward... Edward couldn't...
Kiehle's lips connected with his into a forceful kiss. Alfons wanted to protest, but it only came out as a weak muffled groan. The man captured his mouth hungrily and proceeded by pushing his tongue between Alfons' lips. The younger didn't respond to the kiss, though he deeply considered biting down his teeth. But then, what would happen to Edward? His struggling was weakening and he no longer tried to twist his head away.
"I want you to listen," Kiehle continued as his lips parted from him, starting to open the fly of Alfons' trousers as he spoke. "Your body belongs to me as long as the contract you signed lasts, and I'll take advantage of it. In return, I'll give you protection. You're from the same world that is working to destroy us; do you really think that won't matter in a trial if the higher-ups knew the truth about you?" Kiehle let go of Alfons' arms as his trousers were removed.
"Stop," Alfons whispered.
"You'll be in the same difficult situation as your dear friend Edward was in just a couple of days ago, which I saved his sorry ass from. Isn't that right?" The hand trailed over his shorts, stroking lightly with one finger in a small circle around Alfons' groin outside the thin cloth.
"Please, don't..." Alfons whimpered as his commanding officer started pulling his shorts down as well, completely exposing him.
"You don't have to be shy. I've been dreaming about this moment for a long time. I love the way you look, the virtue of your body, the innocence in your eyes. From the start I wanted it all to be mine. I saw the same in Alphonse Elric, but the kid was always too protected by Mustang so it would've been too risky to make a move at him. I almost had a chance in Lior when Mustang wasn't around to babysit him, but regrettably Thule was attacking us and then kidnapped him, so my chance slipped."
Alfons' eyes were wide in shock and Kiehle chuckled hungrily down at his naked form, drinking in the view. He was only wearing his shirt with each button undone, which didn't exactly shield him. But the thing bothering Alfons the most that flowing second wasn't that, but the fact that this perverted bastard had actually considered making a move on Al.
"And then suddenly you showed up," Kiehle added with a wicked grin. "A mature but still perfectly young copy, and immediately it became my goal to earn you. I knew it wouldn't be very hard to get you transferred from that idiot Mustang, and then I would eventually get you all to myself." His hand traced over his belly, attacking his navel with an index-finger. It made Alfons shudder and writhe, but then Kiehle captured his wrists again and kept them pressed down to the couch. "Do you think of me as cruel? You shouldn't. You should rather be grateful to me for saving the ass of your precious little boyfriend, shouldn't you?" His fingers traced down lower, tickling the inside of his thigh where Alfons hadn't managed to press his legs together properly.
He neither replied the Brigadier General nor said anything, just clasped his eyes and teeth shut as tightly as he could. It was already enough that he could hear everything. And feel.
"Answer my question!" Kiehle barked, slapping his hand hard against his thigh.
It stung and Alfons whined. Cold shivers trickled over his exposed body, and right there and then he didn't dare reply to anything he knew Kiehle wouldn't want to hear. "Yes," he whispered.
"So are you still going to fight me? It will only hurt even more," Kiehle reasoned. His hand was now starting to touch him where only one person was allowed to. His fingers traced slowly, almost gently along his manhood.
Alfons cringed and wanted to die of shame. Was he really going to let this happen to him?
The hand then started stroking him more firmly.
"No..." he wheezed. "Don't..."
"No? Don't?" Kiehle grinned. "Your body is responding."
"I don't want this," Alfons managed. "Please..."
But then without a warning, Kiehle suddenly flipped him effortlessly around. Alfons ended up on his stomach instead with a sharp gasp. He was pinned again, and when he once again put up a weak struggle, Kiehle grabbed his arm and twisted it up behind his back.
Alfons yelled out.
"You can cry all you want," Kiehle spoke calmly. "No one will hear you. Besides, most of the staff has already gone home for today. We won't be disturbed."
The pain throbbed in his arm and shoulder, and Alfons had no way of putting up an efficient struggle in this position. This could only be a nightmare... A terrible nightmare. Alfons went lax, digging his face down into the sofa.
"I told you that you would have to submit to me," Kiehle purred. "I know you're the kind of person who would put others needs before your own, correct me if I'm wrong. If you resist, other people will suffer as well. Oh, they would put Mustang through court-martial for faking your ID and lying to the most powerful people of the state. Who knows, the information about Edward performing a human transmutation might slip out, and then it'll be the end of him as well."
"Stop," Alfons managed.
But Kiehle was right. He couldn't fight it. He couldn't let Edward go through all that suffering again. Edward couldn't die. And Mustang... The Colonel had never done anything to harm him. He had rather done everything in his power to help him, no matter how grim the situation was. Mustang didn't deserve to get his state alchemist licence and position stripped just because of Alfons.
So he closed his eyes. Just get it over with...
Alfons forced himself to fall into a state of indifference. So what if he was getting fucked by this man. He would never agree to it mentally, but yet he didn't have a choice. The alternative would be so much worse—he couldn't even imagine.
"That's better," Kiehle droned, feeling his resistance weakening. "And don't say stop." He continued stroking almost soothingly over his lower back. "Say more. You might as well get used to it." Abruptly he pushed his knee between Alfons' thighs and forced his legs apart. Alfons whimpered into the fabric of the couch and clutched it tightly with the unrestrained hand. It was too late now. He couldn't be saved. It had been too late the moment he had signed that contract.
The molesting hand stalked lower and rubbed against his puckered entrance. A finger pushed forcefully inside him, making Alfons utter another weak sound. His body was still feeling heavy from the sedative, but it made it easier to relax. If he could just relax, maybe it wouldn't hurt.
"Your body becomes much more responsive because of the drug I gave you," Kiehle murmured. His finger thrust in and out, soon added by another finger.
Alfons ignored his arousal completely, but gasped as Kiehle pressed his crotch against his thigh, letting him discover the hard bulge inside the Brigadier General's pants. The two fingers were scissoring to stretch him, and Alfons supposed he should be thankful for that. Kiehle's intention wasn't to hurt him. Only to break him, while satisfying his own lust. Alfons shut his eyes hard as the fingers withdrew and he heard the man undo his own fly.
Swallowing hard, Alfons tried to remain calm as he could only wait in apprehension of what was going to come. He felt a hard length moist with pre-cum rubbing against his buttocks, then up and down along the crevice of his pale flesh.
Just make it quick... Just do what you want. I won't break. I'll never submit mentally.
Edward wouldn't.
Still holding his arm in a lock behind his back and around his hipbone with the other, Kiehle pushed his pulsing hard organ into Alfons' rectum, and Alfons' eyes widened and his lips parted to scream. His cheek was getting pressed down onto the sofa, onto the fabric, and his skin was already starting to become damp with sweat.
"Nice and tight," Kiehle purred, staying still inside for a moment to savour it. "Good boy."
He miscalculated. It hurt. The man had literally ploughed right into him without much caution. Because of the lack of lubricant the fingering preparation was near insignificant. Alfons wanted to scream into the fabric. Maybe he did. His throat felt rusty.
As the older man started moving, Alfons simply stilled like he wasn't really there, but somewhere far, far away. Repeatedly Kiehle pulled back, thrusting hard into him again, and the pain burned fiercely through his whole body, breaking down his nerves. It felt like he was going to rip from the inside any moment, cutting into his spinal cord. Whenever he tried to move into a different position to make it hurt less, Kiehle simply pressed him down harder and nailed him in place where he wanted him.
Alfons' mind had gone completely blank. This was happening and he couldn't do anything about it. He could only pray that the man would finish quickly. The thrusting started to pick up speed, and Alfons couldn't even control the ragged breathing of throaty moans escaping through his gritted teeth. Of pain, not pleasure.
"Good boy," Kiehle repeated in a sickly seductive tone. "Moan for me. You like this."
"No," Alfons breathed spitefully. Make it stop. Get it over with.
Kiehle thrust harder, deeper, grunting and breathing into his ear. Tightening the grasp around his hip, he pulled Alfons even closer, dominant and possessive of his new treasure.
The sound and musky smell of sex became only less and less significant to Alfons. He had brought this upon himself, and now he was only paying as a part of the exchange. Edward had been set free and he had become the prisoner.