Al wasn't too sure about going to talk to Russell. The pain he had caused was still an open wound that would take a lot of time to heal. But after thinking about it, Al concluded it should be done in order to tie up some loose ends. There may be research hidden somewhere that Russell had been working on. Someone could accidentally stumble upon it and it was likely information they wouldn't want falling into the wrong hands again.
So Al made up his mind about the visit. He would go alone. He was probably the only one with some self control to maintain his temper.
It took Al by surprise when he was led to Russell's cell. He was in the same one Al and Edward had been thrown in on their first visit to Briggs when they were teenagers. Russell was even cuffed the same way. Al doubted he knew Xing alchemy but it was best to play it safe. It never hurt to be overly cautious. But it didn't even look like Russell had the motivation to do much of anything. He was curled up, lying on a cot facing the wall that was shared by the next cell. Al couldn't tell if he was awake or asleep; all he could see was the top of his head and his hands. He stood there for a minute, watching Russell through the bars wondering what to say and how he should even begin.
"Are you here to kill me? Because if you are I don't blame you... and I won't stop you either," came an even, monotone voice.
"Death is too easy a punishment for you," Al said surprising himself with how cold and unfeeling he sounded.
"You're right," Russell said with no trace of emotion. "I deserve to be crushed by the guilt... the memory of what I did to all those people that were sacrificed… of what I did to Fletcher. I probably could have stopped Greed from almost killing - "
"You never should have accepted Greed in the first place!" Al interrupted angrily then stopped and took a deep breath before he really lost his temper. Russell could feel sorry for himself all he wanted; Al didn't want to listen to it. "I didn't come here to hear your confession."
"Then why are you here?"
Al decided to just get to the point of the visit. "What happened to General Grumman? He's just as guilty as you and ..."
"He's dead."
"Did the homunculi kill him?"
"It wasn't the army if that's what you mean."
Al wondered if the old man happened to die of natural causes in the middle of their operations. "How did he die then?"
"He tried to shoot Greed but he put the shield up. The bullet ricocheted and hit that bastard in the chest. It was too easy a death for him. He should have been torn apart by the army," Russell answered bitterly. "But then it was an appropriate way for him to die; a pathetic old man dying a pathetic death by his own hand," he added sounding slightly amused. He shifted onto his back and stared up at the ceiling.
"You were just as pathetic for going along with him." Russell flinched but didn't say anything. "Or was this all your idea?" Al continued.
"I wish it was," Russell said. "If I was smart enough to come up with a scheme like his then I would have been smart enough to avoid a man like him."
"Mustang and Havoc destroyed that underground bunker. Jean mentioned finding an office with research notes. Are there any more?"
"No. It was all moved into the bunker and everyone involved with creating the stones were killed by the homunculi army."
Well, that answered most of Al's questions. The other's he wasn't sure he'd like what he'd hear. But he and his brother were always too curious for their own good.
"Why, Russell?" He asked, gripping the bars of the cell tightly. "Why did you do this?"
Russell didn't say anything. He just laid there staring at the ceiling. Al stood there waiting, wondering if he would get an answer. When it looked like he wasn't going to he let go of the bars, frustrated and turned to leave, but stopped when he heard Russell's answer.
"I wanted to be him. I wanted what he had and what he has now."
Al studied what he could see of Russell's face; it was a mask of indifference. Al didn't know what he would be looking for. He had dealt with a lot of pain and disappointment but had been able to forgive and move on. He didn't want to hold onto any resentment. He wanted a reason to not completely hate Russell to help him move forward with the healing process. However, there was nothing about Russell's demeanor that was going to help. But he would try to get something. "You could have. You could have had your own life."
"I know."
His eyes narrowed angrily. It sure didn't sound like Russell knew.
"Oh, do you?!" Al asked disgusted. He could feel his anger rising from the pit of his stomach, like hot molten lava. "Did this revelation come to you while lying here wallowing in your self pity?! Or did it occur to you before you made a mess of your life and nearly destroyed my brother's?!" He had to stop himself from clapping his hands together to blow away the bars and beat the crap out of Russell again.
He turned away, his body shaking in anger. There would be no way to forgive Russell no matter how hard he tried. He was just going to have to live with the resentment and not let it consume him. He was annoyed with Russell's apathy. But what did he expect, for Russell to get down on his knees and beg for forgiveness. Al would have found that annoying and maddening as well. He sighed. Words wouldn't repair what happened. The only thing that would was time. He had nothing else to ask so he left.
Out in the hallway he found Fletcher, looking slightly better than he had a couple days ago when he was released from the Gate. He was standing against the wall, a range of emotions playing across his face as he watched Al approach: anger, confusion… curiosity.
"You talked to him?"
Al nodded and kept walking. Fletcher fell into step beside him. "What did he say? Did he at least offer any kind of apology?"
"No."
"Did he at least sound guilty?"
Al sighed… again. "No. He sounded like he didn't care."
"Figures," Fletcher grunted.
"I'm biased so I probably heard what I wanted to hear," Al tried to explain turning to stop Fletcher.
"I don't think so," Fletcher said moving on.
"So what are you going to do?" Al asked as he caught up with Fletcher.
"I'm going to forget I have a brother," he said angrily, "and as soon as I leave here I'm going home and I'm going to get married. When I was inside that... that place," he shuddered, fear lighting up his eyes. Al understood all too well. He knew what it was like in the Gate.
"I was left in there thinking that was it," Fletcher went on. "Now I have this second chance and I'm not going to waste it. Russell is a great alchemist, he had the potential and at one time he was a great person. I don't know what happened to him," he added, the fear and anger in his eyes replaced with sadness and the pain of losing the only family he had left.
Al was emotionally spent. He didn't have any words of comfort or advice to offer Fletcher. They walked along in silence until they made there way out of the fort.
It was a beautiful summer day. The sun shone brightly above them. Briggs soldiers went about their business as they continued walking. Being outside was a welcome relief. Being high up in the mountains there was a cool, refreshing breeze. It swept away Al's resentment and anger that had built up during his visit with Russell. He could see it had a similar affect on Fletcher.
"Hey, Al, I was wondering if..." he trailed off looking embarrassed, "… never mind."
"What were you wondering?" Al asked curiously.
"Well," he paused talking a deep breath before continuing, "I wanted to know if you'd be my best man when I get married. I'll understand if you say no," he added hurriedly, "especially after what's happened and we're not that close. We haven't seen each other since we were kids..."
"I'd love to," Al said sincerely, cutting him off.
Fletcher gave him a grateful smile. "Thank you."
They ended up going their separate ways after walking around for a few minutes and Al went in search of his brother. He found Edward with Havoc - both men smoking - and Richard at the very top of the fort.
"Well, Jean," Al said dropping down beside him. "I got Ed out of the military; it's time for me to focus my attention on you."
"I don't know how if you can convince me now," Havoc said. "I've been thinking about it and it's tempting. But what is also tempting is the open rank Ed's left vacant."
"As if you could do what I did," Edward scoffed.
"Well, if I can't convince you to resign then maybe I can get you to quit smoking - you and Ed," Al said with a chuckle. "Those things will kill you."
"Maybe me but not him," Havoc said jerking his thumb towards Edward. "Have you looked at his chest x-rays from our yearly physicals?"
"No, why?" Al asked as Edward remained silent, smirking as he took an extra long drag and blew the smoke at Havoc.
"Clean," Havoc said with disgust, not even bothering to clear the air around him. "He's been smoking for almost twenty years and it doesn't even look like it. Damn freak," he muttered.
Edward scowled at him. "That's what you get for giving me my first cigarette and drink."
"I'll take the blame for those two but not the other habits you developed," Havoc shot back with a smirk as Edward's disappeared.
"Yeah, well that's all in the past," he said looking slightly embarrassed. But he wasn't about to let Havoc off the hook. "Al, can you believe this jerk offered Richard a cigarette? He's intent on corrupting everyone in the family. Don't leave him alone with your kids."
Havoc took a drag and shrugged his shoulders, not looking the least bit concerned. Al just laughed.
"At least Richard turned him down," Edward said proudly.
"Only because I tried it once," Richard piped up with a sheepish grin. "I didn't really like it."
"When was this?" Edward asked.
"Two years ago. I was visiting a friend and he swiped a pack of his Dad's cigarettes."
"I guess I should be glad it was that and not illegal alchemy," Edward said sounding relieved. "So, Al, I thought I saw you walking down below with someone. Who were you with?"
"Fletcher."
"What were you guys talking about?"
"Not much," Al said not wanting to get into specifics. He didn't tell anyone he was going to see Russell. He planned on letting Edward know later. Right now everyone was in a good mood he didn't want to spoil it. "He wants me to be the best man at his wedding."
"You know, that reminds me," Havoc said. "You're good at that sort of thing, Al. Would you be the best man at mine too?"
"What. The. Fuck." Edward said angrily as he glared at his friend. "I let you ride on my coattails all these years and you ask Al to be your best man and not me?!"
"I would have asked you but why would I want someone as my best man who blames me for all his bad habits?"
Al rolled his eyes. "You two fight like an bitter, old married couple. Come on, Richard, this could go on all day. Let's get something to eat."
"Wait, wait," Edward said. "If you're getting something to eat take me too. I'm starving."
"Me too," Havoc said rubbing out his cigarette.
"Hold on a minute, I'm not eating with you unless you make me your best man," Edward said petulantly.
"Honestly, Ed," Al sighed, shaking his head but couldn't hold back his the smile. "You sound like a stubborn child.
"Hey, he was the best man when I got married so it's -"
"No I wasn't!" Havoc exclaimed, looking insulted. "I drove you and Elysia. I was your damn chauffeur!"
"Well, close enough," Edward smirked.
Al couldn't help but laugh. He got up, dusted himself off and helped Edward to his feet. Edward and Havoc continued their discussion on the way to the mess. Al didn't interrupt; no matter how ridiculous they got. It felt good to laugh. He needed it especially after the anger inducing talk with Russell and the semi depressing one with Fletcher.