run, i'm a natural disaster
16. Seeking Peace
They are lying in a field of grass, dewy against their backs, gazing wistfully at the stars. A radio one of them has borrowed from one of the towns they have visited is playing a mournful blues, with far too much tinkling piano and a crooning husky singer. Darius is flicking though Ed's alchemy notebook, pages which she has decrypted for him teaching him about how and why alchemy works, but giving him no room for practical application (Heinkel is very, very glad about this. One alchemy maniac is enough, thank you very much.) Heinkel sketches the pathway of the stars, the shape of the hills and the turning of the seasons. It's a little talent that grants them honest money as well as giving him a little, yet plausible, disguise.
Greed and Ed are talking. They, as the group goes, are very close to each other. It could be because of the Xingese Prince in his head, it could be because they've met before (an age ago, in a different body), it could be because Ed joined him willingly and first, or it could just be because they enjoy each other's company (like he does Darius).
"Do you think- Do you think Al would forgive me?" Ed asks, and Greed looks at her carefully. They'd been talking through the merits of Philosopher's stones and how they actually work. He'd had to correct her on some points, like how the using of souls doesn't just make them vanish, about how it frees them to wherever they are supposed to go ("The Gate?" "Sure, if that's what you want to think, Kitten."), how grateful they are to be used and freed from an eternity of despair (the thanks of the souls that leave him hurt quite a bit, but he doesn't begrudge them it).
"If you use a Philosopher's stone to get his body back?" Ed nods, and Greed leans back thoughtfully.
"Well, he is your brother. He'll probably forgive you for anything." A raise of her eyebrows is the only response he gets. "But, if you explain to him about how they work, he'll understand. He's a do-gooder alchemist just like you, and if freeing them helps you help him, he can't help but understand."
Heinkel and Darius turn around from their respective past-times, not even bothering to pretend that they weren't listening in. "And if he doesn't understand," Greed says, looking inter her eyes. "We're here, Kitten. And we ain't never gonna let you go."
Ed finally smiles, and they all fall asleep leaning against each other, with stars above them and jazz on the radio, and peace in their minds (for the moment).
A.N: Domestic-isity! Yeah! Little bit more fluff for you guys (again, with an angst-y undertone, because, let's face it; it's not FMA:B without an angst-y undertone)
That's my head-canon for the Philosopher's stones, because once used, the souls return to Truth, who is also the universe and God, who deals with the souls as it sees fit. Anyone else got any other ideas regarding this? I'd love to hear them! C:
I am not taking requests for drabbles at this time. D: Sorry.
Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed!
-Tom
[Thanks go to Moonlit Water Sunny River, Hyper V, Mini Hayden and aeva elementia (who has caught up and reviewed every single drabble- that's dedication!), who are all amazing people:
67 whole reviews? *faints* I am amazed- you are all wonderful people, I am so-so-I don't know, blessed (?)/ lucky to have you all. I'm so glad you all enjoy it and read it, and you are all amazing, and I wish I could get more drabbles out faster, but RL is so mother-ducking stupid and there are exams and essays and coursework and colleges to apply to and a-levels to choose, and reading your reviews is the highlight of my day, and I am so glad that you like my silly little drabbles. ily all. ~ 3]