You readers are awesome! I'm glad so many people like this story and I hope you enjoy reading these last three chapters (four if you count the epilogue).
"Aren't they the most beautiful pair of girls you've ever seen? My darling angels!" Hughes shoved a dozen photos of Gracia and Elicia into Mustang's face, flushing with pride though his friend was leaning away from the pictures like they were diseased.
"Hughes," Mustang groaned from his seat behind the desk, swatting Hughes' arm out of his face. "The Elrics will be here any minute." His lips curved down, tone childishly despairing. "And our conversation is going to be...awkward."
The lieutenant colonel lowered his pictures and backed up with a grin. "Alright, alright, I'll leave you to your preparing." He held up his index finger and waggled it. "But you will be looking at my new family album next time you're in Central."
He tucked the photos in his pocket and turned to stroll out the room, but stopped when Mustang said, "Be careful if you run into that imposter." Hughes glanced back to see the colonel's grim face. "He's dangerous, skilled, and probably unstable if he's copying Fullmetal's look.'" His tone was joking, though his expression didn't lighten. "I have a feeling he'll react violently if he encounters the real Edward."
Hughes nodded solemnly and gave a two-finger salute. "Thanks for the warning, but I'm not planning to be caught off guard." He started to walk out the door, yet paused. "Be careful yourself, Roy."
The man grunted in acknowledgement and Hughes walked out the office, striding through the dark main room and into the dimly-lit hall. A bleary-eyed secretary nearly crashed into him, but Hughes stepped aside and she muttered a hasty apology. However, Hughes wasn't sure he replied as his mind circled around the reason he was in East City.
"He's got to be here," Hughes muttered under his breath, turning into the long hallway leading to the Headquarter's main entrance. He was moving on autopilot even while he lifted his glasses to rub his eyes, more tired than he cared to admit. After all, he had spent the past three days conducting multiple interviews, scanning dozens of testimonies in search of commonalities, confirming his leads' authenticity, and—worst of all—spent time away from his precious family!
However, all his hard work allowed him to track Edward's impostor to East City, where the guy was probably hanging around one of Ed's usual haunts like the library. Unfortunately he couldn't station any officers around those locations since most military personal were busy hunting some man killing State Alchemists, meaning Hughes would have to check himself if the imposter was there.
Though part of Hughes was hoping he wouldn't find the imposter around those places because that would imply he was obsessed with Ed to the point of sharing his hobbies. Not only would that be a sign of mental instability, but it also meant the imposter was an alchemist, and Hughes had seen up-close what type of atrocities alchemy created in the wrong hands.
Hughes turned the corner and looked up, smiling faintly at the double doors ahead because he was that much closer to getting a good night's sleep. Yet his eyes widened at spotting a large hole by the window near them, and he went rigid as a golden-haired boy in a white cloak crawled through the opening. For a second he thought it was Ed, but the guy stood from his crouch and his taller height destroyed that belief. Yet if that wasn't Ed then it was—
He whipped out his gun, ducking behind the corner when the imposter started scanning the hall. He waited for the boy to turn back to the hole, probably about to seal it with alchemy, and flicked the safety off his gun. The imposter stiffened at the sound while Hughes stepped out into the open, glaring hard at the boy.
"Don't move," he warned loudly, aiming his gun at the imposter's shoulder as he turned in case the alchemist had an array on his hands. He didn't see any circles stitched on his cloak or tattooed on his skin, but it was possible they were hidden under his clothes.
"Don't move or I will shoot," Hughes said while approaching the wide-eyed boy who didn't look much older than Ed, and instinctively he wanted to turn his weapon away from the kid, yet Mustang's warning rang in his head so he forced himself to keep his gun up. Though he stopped halfway down the hall when the boy's golden eyes shimmered and he choked.
"Hughes?"
The lieutenant colonel froze, recalling another golden-haired boy hugging him with too thin arms and that same heart-wrenched expression.
"Hughes!"
Suddenly the imposter lurched at him, shower of blue sparks flaring behind him like a halo, and Hughes mentally cursed, realizing the boy had activated a transmutation. He aimed his gun down, following the boy's shoulder as he bent over, and squeezed the trigger.
His aim was too low, the boy was straightening up too fast, and Hughes' eyes widened in horror while the bullet soared towards the boy's chest.
Concrete shot up from the floor in front of Hughes and giant stone hands wrapped around his gun and firing arm, encasing them completely. Yet he could only gape at the transmutation before a voice screamed, "Brother!"
Hughes' head shot up. "Alex?" he gasped.
Ed crossed his arms in the sofa across the colonel's desk and cocked a brow while the man fidgeted in his seat, mouth twisted with a faint grimace and gaze unfocused on Ed's report in his hand. He shared a look with Al who shrugged slightly to show he was also confused by the silence, and that was all the justification the fifteen-year old needed to regard the colonel and huff, "What's up with you?"
The man snapped to attention, wide eyes shooting to Ed for a second before hastily shifting to Al. He glanced between them and gradually his shoulders sagged while he lowered Ed's report to the desk.
Leveling an almost pitying stare on him, Mustang began, "Well, Fullmetal, it's—" He stopped, seeming to rethink his words, and started again. "We have to discuss your new..."
"My what?" Ed snapped, thoroughly weirded out by the man's behavior, especially since he had no idea why he seemed nervous.
The colonel sighed and straightened up like he was bracing himself, gritting out, "Your newly-discovered...brother."
Ed reeled back, eyes big, and Alphonse startled so hard the couch slid back a foot. Mustang's expression pinched and he continued gravely. "I've been informed you recently met your paternal half-brother, Alex, if I'm not mistaken." Ed paled, realizing he'd talked to Hughes and the man had figured out Alphonse wasn't his cousin. "So we need to discuss how this is going to impact your missions."
"M-my missions?" Ed stuttered, gripping the couch arm tight.
"Yes," Mustang said cautiously, looking from one Elric to the other like he was watching a bomb's timer go down. "I heard Alex has a medical condition, so if you want to take some time off to care for him, that's fine." He gazed down at the desk, face hardening. "I'm aware he has no parents or guardians, and based on the lack of records for any Alex matching his description at Central Hospital, I'm guessing he's been getting treatment sporadically whenever he can afford to."
He stopped to gauge Ed's expression, but he was frozen with shock, mind stuck on the fact Mustang thought Alphonse was his half-brother from his fath—Hohenheim. No wonder the colonel was being cautious, Ed had never hid his anger over Hohenheim abandoning his family, so Mustang probably expected him to explode after meeting a half-brother who had also seemingly been abandoned by the same man.
"Fullmetal?" Ed shook his head and found Mustang frowning worriedly while he gently asked, "Is he younger or older than you?"
It took a minute to realize he was referring to Alphonse, and almost automatically, Ed said, "He's younger."
Mustang nodded. "I thought so. In that case, the family compensation part of your income will be increased to include another dependent in your household."
"Actually." Ed and Mustang turned to Al. "We need to tell you something about Alex..." He glanced at Ed and the teen quickly realized what he was getting at. "It involves Brother's imposter too."
Mustang's lips parted in shock. "The imposter? What does he have anything to do—"
A dull bang echoed outside the office and all of them stiffened, recognizing the sound of a gunshot. The Elrics and Mustang shot up to their feet, Ed asking, "Was that a—"
"Whether it was an accidental firing or not, someone might be hurt." Mustang strode to the door with the boys on his heels and flung it open, hurrying out to the hall right as a voice rang out.
"Brother!"
Ed's heart stopped and Al gasped because that was Alphonse's voice. Instantly Ed tore down the hall, unheeding of Mustang shouting his name because Alphonse sounded terrified and there had been a gunshot.
His boots skidded while he rounded the corner, eyes widening at seeing Hughes standing with one arm wrapped in transmuted he noticed his red cloak by the building entrance and saw Alphonse kneeling over an unmoving Edward behind a black pole sticking out of the ground.
Ed jerked to a stop beside Alphonse who was shaking Edward's shoulder, lips trembling and voice high as he pleaded, "Brother, answer me! Where did the bullet hit you!?"
Ed inhaled sharply and Al stepped back in horror, having just caught up. "He was shot!?" Al gasped.
Yet Alphonse didn't answer, misty eyes locked on his brother who was either unconscious or worse. Quickly Ed looked back at the pole, noticing the top was chipped like something small hit it hard—the bullet—and Alphonse must have transmuted it from his crutch in an attempt to shield Edward.
A low groan made Ed refocus while Al leaned over Alphonse anxiously and Edward's eyes fluttered open. Ed was relieved to see him awake, but if he'd been shot they needed to call an ambulance now.
"Brother!" Alphonse grasped the front of Edward's cloak like he wanted to yank him up, yet lacked the strength to. "Where did the bullet—"
"Leg," Edward exhaled, pushing himself up and rubbing the back of his head where a lump was forming. "Left leg. I only fell because of that shot and you hitting me with your crutch when you tossed it through the hole." He smiled at Alphonse whose hands were trembling on Edward's cloak as relief lit up his face. "But your transmutation slowed the bullet enough to save me, so thanks."
"Left leg?" Al glanced at Edward's leg, staring at the small hole in his pants where silver glinted. "You're saying it's still..." He wilted, tone growing subdued. "But you were supposed to get back...everything..."
Alphonse's brows drew down in shared sadness and Edward's expression tightened while a dull shock radiated from Ed's heart. He'd noticed during their earlier fight how inhumanly strong the kicks from Edward's left leg were and how his future self limped a bit like when Ed's automail needed a tune up, so he'd suspected the truth already.
"Fullmetal."
Ed and Edward looked over to Colonel Mustang who had his arms crossed, a piece of chalk held loosely between his fingers and a freed Hughes beside him who was staring intently at Alphonse. Al's future self quickly avoided eye contact with the man, a shamed expression on his face, which made Hughes' eyes narrow as Mustang glared at the boys.
"Would you care to explain why you seem to know your imposter and who this other boy..." Mustang stopped, gaze caught on Alphonse with realization filling his irises because he'd seen pictures of the younger Elric back when he recruited Ed. "Alphonse's bod—" He cut himself off, shooting a wary glance at Hughes since he'd nearly mentioned the boys breaking taboo.
Fortunately Hughes was staring at Alphonse, though his gaze soon slid over to Edward, and the sixteen-year old's face fell, a strong emotion brewing in his eyes.
Ed again wondered why the two future Elrics were acting strange around Hughes when the man in question said, "You both knew my name."
Al gulped and Alphonse flinched, but Edward merely closed his eyes as the lieutenant colonel continued, "Alex called you Brother, and he sounds just like..."
Hughes went silent when Edward raised his hand in the "wait" gesture and opened his eyes while Mustang eyed him, brow wrinkled in thought. Edward stared back determinedly and recognition sparked across Mustang's face.
"Fullmetal?" he gasped, dropping his chalk.
Edward glanced from the colonel to Hughes, eyes lingering on the family man before his head hung low in acceptance. "We need to talk."
Hughes frowned and Mustang looked stunned, but Al and Alphonse merely twitched uncomfortably as Ed sighed.
Well, this was going to be fun.
Edward and Alphonse kept their gaze trained on the military dorm's dusty wooden floorboards while Hughes leaned against the wall by the door, lips a line with the bright light above glinting off his glasses and obscuring his eyes.
Alphonse couldn't bring himself to speak anymore, his throat clogged with words he couldn't say as one thought spiraled through his mind. Tell him the truth, tell him the truth, tell him the truth and you can save him.
Alphonse's nails dug into the thin mattress beneath him and he bit his lip, savoring the sting of pain since just months ago he couldn't express his emotions in such a visceral way.
Though he released the cushion when the lieutenant colonel hummed. "Who would have thought a failed human transmutation would someday lead you boys to time traveling."
Alphonse and Edward risked a glance up to see Hughes smiling wryly at the ceiling, and Alphonse's heart thumped like when he walked too fast. Seeing Hughes alive and smiling, unaware of the fate closing over him like a noose, was both a nightmare and a blessing.
Edward gently patted his hand, side-eyeing him, and it was clear from the guilt shadowing his expression that he also wanted to tell Hughes the truth, but the risk was so, so high.
Alphonse's eyes watered, and he turned away to hide it while Hughes forced out a chuckle. "And this is why I avoid alchemy freaks, nothing makes sense anymore when you guys are around." He rubbed the back of his head sheepishly until he noticed Edward and Alphonse's bowed heads.
His expression grew serious, and gaze sympathetic. "You don't have to worry about me telling anyone about your breaking taboo," he said softly.
"We know," Alphonse whispered to hide his hoarse voice. "Our version of you never revealed our secret."
Hughes frowned, likely hearing Alphonse's choked up voice despite his attempt to conceal it, but the boy hoped he'd mistake it for exhaustion. It was just hard acting like everything was okay, knowing Elicia and Gracia were going to cry. That Mrs. Hughes would support him and Brother despite Hughes death being their fault. The woman had even visited them in the hospital a month ago, bringing Alphonse a quiche since he was finally eating solid foods, but more than her delicious meal, he remembered her gently grabbing his hand.
"His death wasn't in vain."
Gracia gave his palm a squeeze while Alphonse gaped from his seat in the hospital bed, the open window casting sunshine across the room. "This," she held up his bony hand, sliding her own over it, "Makes it worth it." She smiled, teary green eyes glittering in the sunlight.
Alphonse bit his tongue to crush the scream ready to burst from his throat. No! It wasn't worth it, no life was worth sacrificing just for him to get his body back...especially not Hughes'.
"It's pretty late." Hughes stood from the wall, glancing at the clock above the bed Edward and Alphonse were sitting on. "I need to go check-in to my hotel room before they give it to someone else." His face lit up. "Though now that the imposter case is closed, I'll be on the next train back to my darling, gorgeous girls tomorrow!" he cheered.
"What are you going to tell them?" Edward asked quietly, brow wrinkled at the floor as he also struggled to look at Hughes. "That the imposter was killed or something?"
"I'm actually thinking the imposter fled the country would be better," Hughes replied casually. "No having to fake a corpse or falsify evidence, makes my job easier." He shrugged.
Edward nodded, and his mouth opened to say something, but he quickly shut it. "Okay, thank you...for everything." His lips firmed into a line, face tight with bottled up emotion.
"No need to thank me," Hughes waved him off with a grin, and something in Alphonse snapped at his words, making him snatch his crutch and clamber to a stand.
The man looked to him in surprise and Edward shot him a worried look while Alphonse bowed his head. "No," he said shakily. "We really do have to thank you since...you'll always be there when we need you."
Hughes blinked owlishly before beaming. "It sounds like I'm going to help you brothers a lot in your journey." Alphonse looked away guiltily. "And I'm glad to. In fact," he reached into his pocket and walked over to Edward, handing him a small card with an elegant hotel logo printed on it, "You boys take my hotel room." He raised a hand to halt their immediate protests. "It's a double bed since they were out of singles, and you four need it a lot more than me."
Edward's hand tightened around the card and his bangs fell over his face, jaw clenched as he bit out. "Thank you."
Alphonse swallowed his own tears because once again Hughes was helping them just because he could and it was killinghim to keep his mouth shut. "You're going to die!" he wanted to scream.
"You're welcome, boys." Hughes went to the door and set his hand on the knob, yet didn't turn it.
Alphonse raised his eyes curiously and Edward looked confused when the man released the knob. "Just one more thing," Hughes said almost to himself. "Tell me...are Gracia and Elicia okay?"
Alphonse inhaled sharply and Edward paled. He knew, Hughes knew—how did he know!?
"Yeah."
Alphonse whirled towards Edward and found his brother scowling at the ground, though his eyes were crinkled with misery. "Yeah, they're okay."
Hughes nodded and exhaled. "That's all I needed to hear." He grabbed the knob and turned it with a click that rang with far too much finality, and Alphonse couldn't stop himself from whispering.
"I'm sorry."
Hughes didn't turn around as he raised a hand in farewell. "Don't be, either of you," he said with a smile in his voice, and tears sprung in Alphonse's eyes while Edward looked stricken. "I know it wasn't your fault, and I don't want you risking the timeline for my sake." He walked out, lowering his hand as he pulled the door shut after him.
"Just keep moving forward, no matter what, okay?"
Alphonse collapsed onto the bed, stunned, and Edward started, likely recalling the same memory.
"Keep moving forward," Gracia said before her sobs were muffled behind her apartment door, Elicia begging her to stop crying.
"Keep moving forward and don't look back, not even for a glimpse."
Hughes pulled the door shut and disappeared from their lives for the last time once again, and Alphonse's face fell in his hands while the tears started to fall.
Edward sat cross-legged on the ground, back against the hotel bathroom door and staring dully at the cream-colored ceiling.
It had felt so natural seeing Hughes again, creating a fresh memory of the lieutenant colonel to replace the fading, blurry ones from months ago. He'd forgotten how vivid his hazel eyes were, the warm timbre of his voice. Though he wasn't as tall as Edward remembered, but he'd grown a lot since the man had—would be murdered... Unless they could find a way to save him without drastically altering the future—was it possible?
"Brother."
Edward jumped when Al entered the room with a paper bag in his hand. "Ed is picking up food from a cafe down the street," he explained. "But I wanted to bring you the new clothes Alphonse and I bought for you." He offered the bag to Edward, who accepted it and peered into its contents with curiosity woven into his features. "It's just stuff for tonight since you'll probably be leaving tomorrow."
Edward smiled, seeing a black button-up shirt and dark pants under a simple toothbrush, toothpaste, and boxers. Yet pulling out the shirt, he noticed bold white letters printed on the back. He held up the long-sleeve and stretched it out, only to gape at the expletive branding it as Al gasped.
"How did—" Al stopped. "Oh, no," he grabbed his helmet, "Ed asked to see your clothes because he wanted to know how much he was going to grow and must have transmuted it while I was petting that stray cat."
Edward's shock twisted into annoyance. "I'll just stick to what I have." He shoved the shirt back into the bag, though he took out the pants since his had a hole in it. "That brat is going to have to do better than prank me like someone's annoying younger cousin," he grumbled, setting the pants aside.
"Cousin?" Al tilted his head and Edward looked up. "Your arguing reminds me more of two brothers."
"Brother?" Edward arched a brow before scowling and slicing his hand through the air. "No thanks, I prefer just Al."
"I guess you would, though..." The younger boy's tone became bashful. "I kind of like having three big brothers." Edward reeled back in shock while Al rubbed the back of his head. "I've never wondered what it would be like if it wasn't just me and Brother, but after Alphonse arrived, and now you, it's kind of like having two extra siblings."
His voice softened, words echoing in his armor like a wispy breeze. "I'm going to miss it."
Edward was stunned, yet soon grinned. "You know, Al told me a little while ago he kinda enjoys being an older brother." His head tilted down, face crinkled with fondness because he enjoyed being a big brother too. However, he heard the shower knob squeak and the sound of rushing water fading from the bathroom, so turned.
"What is it?" Al asked at seeing Edward stand.
"I think Al is done in there." Edward turned a little awkwardly on his stiff automail leg since it hadn't been tuned up in months. "He needs help getting out or he could slip."
The younger Elric made an understanding sound and Edward opened the bathroom door, knocking on it to let Alphonse know it was him before closing it. "Hey, Al," he greeted, heading to the shower where the green curtain had already been pushed aside to reveal his brother sitting in the tub, bony knees tucked under his chin and beads of water rolling down his bare arms.
Alphonse, golden bang pasted over his eye, grinned. "Hi, Brother."
The eldest tried to ignore how Alphonse's ribs stuck out as he reached for the towel hanging off the curtain rod and kneeled down to pat his brother's damp hair dry.
"I realized something."
Edward glanced at his sibling. "What?"
Alphonse frowned a little, gaze shifting to the door. "There's something that isn't going to happen to our past selves because they've seen us."
Edward paused, brow knitting together. Though soon he set the towel across Alphonse's shoulders, the boy rubbing his face against the towel's fluff simply to enjoy the sensation. "Is it something serious?"
Alphonse took his head away from the towel, momentary joy vanishing while he bit his lip. "More like important."
The lines of Edward's face deepened with worry, mind struggling to figure out what Alphonse learned when his brother asked, "Could you get Al to step out for a while? I think I can fix this if I can be alone with your past self."
"Are you sure?" Edward asked, rising and bending to gingerly maneuver Alphonse into a shaky stand, towel unraveling down and blanketing his thin body.
Alphonse's eyes glinted determinedly. "Yes, he needs to hear this from me."
Ed strolled down the sidewalk, red coat trailing after him like a fiery blaze and hands stuffed in his pockets. He'd eaten his fill at the cafe and was overall in a good mood despite being tired and still sore from fighting his future self earlier. Yet all his exhaustion evaporated when he spotted Al leaving the hotel alongside Edward.
His eyes narrowed because it was past midnight, what were those two doing out?
He marched over to the duo, Al noticing the sound of his stomping and turning back. "Brother?"
Edward stiffened and looked over his shoulder, a scowl sliding onto his face. "Ignore him," he scoffed. "It's too late for us to be making a scene." He grabbed Al's gauntlet hand and tugged, the armored boy stumbling after him with a woah!
"Hey!" Ed pointed accusingly at his future self. "What do you think you're doing with my brother!?" He rushed ahead and caught Al's other hand, yanking him back.
Edward jerked to a stop and Al yelped as he nearly toppled back into Ed, but the fifteen-year old didn't notice while he glowered at his glaring older self.
The elder Elric exhaled, tone frustrated while he replied, "I think I dropped Al's letter at Eastern HQ and he's helping me look for it." He jerked a thumb towards Al before cocking a brow at Ed. "So if you're done being an overprotective pipsqueak—"
"I'm not so tiny I thought a speck of dust was a planet!" Ed threw his balled up hands in front of his chest, teeth bared.
However, Edward merely smirked and started dragging Al across the street, and Ed realized he'd insulted him on purpose to make him let go.
"Oh," Ed smirked, "If you want to play dirty then..." He clapped his hands, the sound making Edward whip around to see him crouching and sending a wave of alchemy out towards Al.
"W-wait!" Al cried when the blacktop rose around his feet and solidified, trapping him in place. "Why am I the one being punished!?"
Neither Edward heard him while they strode up to each other, Edward staring him down. "What is your problem!?" he demanded. "I'm only trying to get Alphonse's letter back, you know, since I actually care about my brother," he spat, throwing Ed's words back at him, and something feral yowled inside the younger boy at the insinuation he didn't care.
"Guys, please don't fight," Al begged, futilely trying to pull his legs out the ground.
"I don't care!?" Ed's automail hand curled into a tight fist while he got in his future self's face. "You're the one who's not even trying to fix the time travel array so we can use it to go back in time and prevent our younger self from attempting human transmutation!"
Edward glowered. "This again?" He waved towards the hotel where Alphonse was. "Everything is fine in my time—"
"Is it?"
Edward stopped, brow jumping up in surprise while Ed stared hard at him. "Then why do you and Alphonse walk on eggshells around Hughes?"
Edward's expression turned to granite. "That has nothing to do with—"
"And what about Rose? She might never walk again because of this time travel mess."
The eldest startled. "She...was injured that badly?"
The younger Elric bared his teeth in a tight grin. "Yeah, and that's not even considering anyone else who might have their lives ruined simply because you and Alphonse traveled to this time." He smirked. "However, if you help me we could prevent all the bad things that happened in our lives—to Alphonse," his voice rose to echo in the streets, "And save everyone who might get hurt from the time travel..."
Ed stopped, seeing his older self shaking his head. "What?" he demanded, wondering why his future self was disagreeing.
Edward looked up, sympathy twisting his expression. "I know you're just trying to help Al." Ed's jaw clenched. "But there's no easy, pain-free solution to this, and even if there were," he smiled, "I wouldn't take it."
Ed's lips parted while Edward grasped his shoulder. "I helped so many people when I was the Fullmetal Alchemist," his face crinkled tenderly, "I went on so many adventures with my brother and made a lot of friends along the way too." Ed swallowed thickly, hearing the fond joy in his tone. "That doesn't mean the journey didn't hurt."
Edward's face fell. "That I didn't have to make sacrifices," he glanced at his palm on Ed's shoulder with something like longing. "But after going through it all," he brightened, "I'm glad I went through it."
Ed gaped because that was impossible, the teen staring at him with that wide grin couldn't be his future self, not when he had so many regrets and things he'd change in a heartbeat if he could.
"Even that night?" Ed asked breathlessly.
His future self's smile faded and he rubbed the back of his head, but soon nodded. "I don't regret that." He glanced at Al who was watching him silently. "I just regret that other people had to pay for my mistakes."
Ed's heart fractured like glass slowly pressing up against a wall, but then red-hot rage boiled in his throat and he grabbed Edward's shirt collar, dragging him down and snarling, "That must be easy for you to say!" He said so fast it was nearly incomprehensible. "When you have everything you could ever want with your perfect arm and brother whole, and your friends and tall height and everything else showing off you actually did it!"
Edward blinked wide eyes while Ed's chest heaved, yet slowly realization dawned on Edward's face. "You're jealous of me." Ed dropped his collar, stepping back in chagrin. "That's why you've been such a brat, you think I'm better than you."
"I do not!" Ed growled, but instead of inspiring fear, his future self smiled and laughs started rippling up his throat. He clutched his middle and bent over with laughter, making Ed seethe. "Stop laughing!"
Al regarded him, exasperated frown in his voice. "Jealous? Really, Brother? What did you think, I was going to replace you with your future self?"
Ed's lips pressed together and Al gasped. "You did think that!" he said, scandalized. "Brother, that's ridiculous!" He sounded torn between frustrated and aghast.
Ed crossed his arms, cheeks red while he scowled at the floor because his brother was right, it had been ridiculous. His future self was going to leave tomorrow, so even if Al wanted to replace him with his future self, it wouldn't be a permanent change... Then why had it scared him to see his brother leaving with Edward?
A hand settled on Ed's head and he looked up as Edward tousled his hair, still grinning yet no longer laughing. "Oh, man, I forgot this was before me and Al really made friends with people beside Winry. You must not be used to Al paying attention to other people and..." He paused, brow knitting together. "Ah, this must be what Alphonse was talking about." He stared him in the eyes, and bluntly said, "You're an idiot."
Ed blinked as his future self took back his hand, stunned by the claim while the older boy continued. "You should talk to Alphonse." He looked to the hotel. "It's important."
The fifteen-year old wanted to protest, but there was something earnest and kind in the eldest Elric's gaze that made him keep his mouth shut and nod. He stiffly turned and walked straight towards the hotel doors, not even hearing Al's cry of, "Wait a minute, I'm still stuck!"
Ed strode through the lobby, rushing up the staircase and jogging to the familiar room number. He went to grab the knob, but jumped when Alphonse pulled the door open and sighed. "I think the whole city could hear you two arguing."
The fifteen-year old blushed. "Sorry, but your brother's annoying."
"He can be sometimes," Alphonse hummed thoughtfully, and Ed scowled, hearing the technically insult at himself. "But that's not what I wanted to talk to you about..." He backed up with his crutch so Ed could enter the room, and Ed shut the door before regarding him warily.
"Did I do something?"
Alphonse blinked. "Oh, no," he waved him down, "Nothing like that, it's more so..." He frowned. "It actually has to do with my time travel, and an event that won't happen because you and Al have seen me."
Ed crossed his arms. "And this is a problem I'm guessing."
"Yes," Alphonse said firmly, eyes sharpening. "One I have to fix now." His face softened, and Ed's breath stuttered at the tenderness in his golden irises.
"Brother," Alphonse said gently. "We were going to get into an argument, a bad one, and I wouldn't mind that not happening except I learned something during our fight...something you were too scared to tell me." Ed's heart thudded because he couldn't be talking about what he thought, right?
"And I said something really important to you." Alphonse's gaze fell and he closed his eyes. "You know, I had the opportunity to rejoin with my body before you got my body from the gate." Ed started. "But I rejected my body and returned to the armor."
Ed's mouth dropped. "Why would you do that!? You've been waiting for years."
Alphonse smiled sadly. "Because my brother was in trouble." Ed stilled. "And what was the point in getting back my body if I had to return to a world you weren't in?" He slowly released his crutch and let it fall, walking to Ed.
"Oh, Brother," Alphonse wrapped his arms around him, resting his head on his shoulder. "How could you ever think I hated you?"
Ed gasped, trembles starting to wrack his body while Alphonse pulled back to gaze mournfully at him. "Did I not say it enough? How I love you more than anything?" Ed's lip wobbled, tears stinging his golden irises as Alphonse ran his fingers through his hair, touch so reminiscent of their mother's it ached Ed's soul. "Even when you get on my nerves and we're screaming at each other, I never once stop loving you, Brother."
"So please stop thinking I hate you," Alphonse begged, expression crumbling. "It would tear Al apart if he'd known you spent all this time believing such a lie...like it tore me apart knowing you thought that," he said brokenly.
"Al," Ed whispered, but his voice was strangled and he couldn't speak.
So he simply reached up and embraced Alphonse back, burying his face in his brother's neck and squeezing his eyes shut to keep in his tears. "You should hate me," he hissed through clenched teeth.
Alphonse didn't reply, but his arms tightened around him and Ed knew his answer.
Never.
The next morning, Alphonse sat on the bed in a sky blue, collared long-sleeve and tan pants, talking to his younger self over the tea in his lap.
"It's really creamy and smooth, kind of like that Dublith tea we tried at that store by Teacher's place," Alphonse said to his excited younger self who was wiggling rather adorably despite being a suit of armor. "It has some spice in it too, cinnamon I think," he described the best he could, knowing Al enjoyed just hearing he was tasting flavors again.
Edward stepped out of the restroom, white cloak gleaming since Alphonse had used alchemy to clean it, and glanced around warily. Alphonse's lips quirked up, knowing why his brother was on guard, and he quickly assured, "Ed is still out talking to Colonel Mustang."
Edward's expression lifted, but then the door banged open and his younger self barged in, an excited gleam in his eyes. "Did you guys already eat breakfast?" he asked in a rush.
"Yes, Brother," Alphonse said, tea cup in hand.
"Actually, I still haven't—"
"Great, because Al and me have to head out now," Ed said like Edward hadn't been speaking, making his older self glower. "Though it might be okay if you want to tag along."
Alphonse angled his head. "What's your mission?" He frowned thoughtfully and Edward did the same. "After Liore, what did we do again..."
Ed smirked. "Well, the colonel decided not to be a jerk for once and is going to introduce us to this bio-alchemist."
Edward inhaled sharply and Alphonse's fingers went loose around the tea cup, skin draining of color.
"Apparently this Shou Tucker is an expert on chimeras, like the one Cornello made—"
The cup smashed into the ground, shattering into three pieces, and Ed's head snapped up to see the stunned horror on the future Elrics' faces. "What's wrong?" he asked, worriedly looking between the two.
"Are you okay?" Al gently touched Alphonse's shoulder, only for his future self to regard him robotically before turning to Edward.
"Brother," Alphonse choked, desperation in his gaze, and Edward's hands balled up as he glowered at the ground.
"Al," Edward said through clenched teeth. "I think for her...it's worth the risk."
Alphonse gasped while their past selves looked confused, but soon his eyes narrowed and he nodded. Hughes might have chosen to die, but life had just given them a second chance to save an innocent little girl, and they had to try to save her.
Even if it cost them everything.
I really need to stop with these cliffhangers, but the story demands it.
Next time, you will see how Edward and Alphonse deal with the Nina situation. Mustang and Hawkeye will be in the picture too. Also, Hughes might not be done showing up in this story...maybe...
See ya in two weeks!
Revised: 2/27/22