Edward woke to the last cracklings of electricity and dust swirling through the air. He managed to push himself into a sitting position and started coughing the dust from his still-sensitive lungs. He could just barely hear his name over the sounds of the rough coughs, and he found himself confused.
"Alphonse," he rasped as his brother flew into the center of the circle and hugged him tightly. "Alphonse… Where… What…? Where are we? The last thing I remember is… Is… Roy." It was a hazy memory, but the feeling of lips on his was unforgettable.
Al ignored the question, his hands a flurry of motion as he took Edward's vitals. His temperature was fine, and there didn't seem to be anything wrong with his lungs. Edward's heartbeat was normal, eyes full of life and shining again. Alphonse couldn't understand it. The Gate hadn't taken anything, and yet, the transmutation was a complete success.
"Oh wow," Al whispered. "It… It worked. I can't believe it. It actually worked." Edward was silent, pushing Al back and off of him. His head hurt, his muscles ached, and he felt like crap. He wasn't even sure if he still had typhus or not. For all he knew, he could just drop dead in ten minutes.
"Alphonse… The last time, I saw you, I had typhus, and I was dying. And now, you're sitting here telling me that 'it' worked. Tell me honestly, Alphonse. Did I die?" Again, Alphonse said nothing, staring at his hands.
"We're at the lab, Brother. I… I'm sorry," Alphonse whispered, avoiding the last question. "I couldn't… I'm not ready to bury you, Brother. We… We only just got our bodies back. We have our research. You have… You have Roy." Edward shook his head, trying to figure out what Alphonse wasn't saying. Then, the realization hit him, and fear for his brother flooded his veins.
"Oh no. No. No, Al… Alphonse, tell me you didn't… You know it's forbidden! We swore we would never use that kind of alchemy ever again! How could… Why would you! You could have lost your body again. You never know what the Gate is going to take as payment!"
"I'm sorry, Brother! I had to. I couldn't… I couldn't watch you die, Brother. I had to bring you back. And the transmutation was successful. There's no blood except for what was left after… After you died." Edward sighed, bowing his head.
"Al… That was such a risky, dangerous thing to do. Why… We swore. Never again." He gave a violent shiver and wrapped his arms around himself. "Let's get home. It's a little cold." For now, he would drop the argument. He was in no condition to fight. Al grabbed a blanket and wrapped it around Ed before helping his brother home, sadness and euphoria giving him very conflicting emotions and thoughts. Later, after Ed had eaten, bathed, and rested, Al called Roy at the Central offices.
"Alphonse, you're not sick, are you? You spent a lot of time around Edward, taking care of him. You could have easily gotten it yourself."
"No. No, Roy, I'm not sick. I promise. It's just that I… I need you here."
"I can't talk today, Al. I'm sorry. I have a lot of work to do, and I really just want to be left alone."
"I know, Roy. But… I have something here. I need you to come take a look. It's… It's of the utmost importance."
"I've told you, Alphonse. I'm not helping you with human transmutation. Not anymore. I wasn't happy with it the first time. I accepted the second time as necessary, but never again, Alphonse. Despite what you think, researching something that's been forbidden is not of utmost importance. Not anymore. Though," Roy added with a sigh, "I'm beginning to understand why you did it the first time." The admission pulled at Al's heart, reminding him all over again of why he'd done what he did.
"It… It isn't about that. Not… Not exactly. Please. I have something I need you to look at for me." Roy sighed.
"I really am swamped today. I'll be there tomorrow morning or afternoon."
"Thank you, Roy. Thank you. I"ll see you tomorrow." There was a crash upstairs followed by a long, loud series of thumps and bangs. "I have to go. I'll talk to you later. Bye." Al hung up before Roy could say anything else, and by the time he got upstairs to check on Edward, his brother was already dead again.
Notes: This chapter has been brought to you by Jason Abram. I'm up next for chapter 4! See you all then!