The stairs creaked under Al's heavy footsteps. Edward glanced back at him with an annoyed look.
"Al, walk lighter."
"What do you mean? I can't walk any lighter." Al's tone revealed he was starting to get annoyed with Ed's attitude. They made it to the bottom of the stairs and paused, taking in the sight. The room was filled with the alchemic materials, stocked to the ceiling.
"I knew he did it," Ed whispered as he looked around. Carefully he moved around the piles of stolen property. Alphonse had a difficult time not knocking anything over.
"I don't think I can fit," he declared as the space to walk became too narrow. Glancing up, he noticed a shadow moving overhead. "Brother, I think he's here." Edward turned around towards Al just as something was falling overhead. "Look out!" Ed looked up just as a large amount of liquid drenched him. It was as though it were pouring in the basement. It only lasted for a few seconds but Edward was drenched.
"Ack, what is this stuff?" He sniffed his sleeve, but couldn't determine the stench. "Hah hah, very clever! Where you hoping to rust my automail or something?"
"You aren't the brightest State Alchemist, are you?" Rivers smiled from above.
"You're one to talk, you're such a coward, not fighting fairly!" Ed was busy wringing his jacket off.
"I consider it being smart. I have no intentions of fighting the two of you at once. That would make me stupid." Alphonse grabbed a piece of iron and tossed at the man hovering above them, knocking him to the ground.
"You shouldn't have taken something that didn't belong to you in the first place," The younger Elric told him. Edward made it over to Rivers before he had the chance to get up. Despite the obvious outcome of the fight, the man on the floor glared up at the younger Alchemist.
"Do you honestly think the military needs all this metal? They're just going to build guns and weapons from it and hurt people. You know I'm right." Ed was not in the mood to have a conversation about the military's code of ethics.
"That doesn't give you the right to steal from them." Rivers shrugged his shoulders and smirked in response, rising to his feet.
"Well I tried to reason with you, guess I'll have to resort to more violent methods." Edward arched an eyebrow and brought his hands infront of him for protection. Instead of attacking, the other Alchemist simply started to laugh at the predicament. "So naiive. I don't have to fight you." Ed glanced back at Alphonse, wondering if he understood what the guy was talking about. His younger brother seemed just as confused though. Just when Edward was going to turn back to the thief before them, his breath caught in his throat. His chest started to feel tight, as though his ribcage was crushing his lungs. Trying to suck in his next breath, he realized he felt light headed. As his condition worsened, Al realized he was in trouble and pushed past the obstacles on either side.
"Brother, what's wrong?" Rivers laughed even louder as Ed rubbed his forehead, feeling sweat starting to form.
"I don't know...just...feel...bad." His legs collapsed under him, unable to keep him up. Alphonse reached out, scooping him up quickly. His crimson eyes glared at the man before him who was no longer laughing but still smiled at his accomplishment.
"Shouldn't have been so careless, State Alchemist." As much as Al wanted to take the man down himself, he knew Ed needed help. He hurried for the exit, rushing up the stairs. Once back in the living room, he placed Ed down for a second and clapped his hands together. Alchemy jumped from his fingertips as they pressed against the doorway, sealing the door shut.
"We c..can't leave." Edward started to say but his younger brother would hear none of it as he picked him up again. "I'll be okay. It's not so bad." It wasn't enough to convince Al though as he made it back outside. Ed pushed against him in a need to stand on his own. "Alphonse, put me down!" Shocked by the sudden struggle, he carefully place him down.
"Are you sure, you look aweful." Ed placed a hand on the nearby wall to steady himself. He still felt uneasy but wouldn't let Al know it.
"We have to go back. You had no right just taking me out of a fight." His words might have sounded confident however he was still breathing hard and hadn't let go of the wall yet.
"Fine, then go back. I sealed him in the basement so he couldn't get out." Ed frowned at the challenge that he knew he couldn't complete. The idea of going back into the house and walking down all those stairs seemed like too much. But he was too stubborn to give up now. Al's challenge just fueled his determination even more.
"Fine, I will." He spun on his heel and managed two steps before falling forward. Al moved fast enough this time to catch him.
"Brother, this is serious." Ed's head dropped to the side and his body felt limp.
"Ed, come on. Wake up." There was no response, causing Alphonse to be even more concerned.
A/N- thanks for all of those who reviewed last time. Really made me happy! :) And sorry the chapters aren't very long.