"Edward imposter," I shouted, my words echoing absurdly loudly off the narrow street. Stunned silence met my words as the young man in front of me gaped. The chatter had stopped around me as the other customers turned to see what the fuss was about, but I didn't notice, because I was so surprised to see one of the Tringham boys so far from–what felt like–a lifetime ago in Xenotime.
"I have a name you know," the older Tringham said after a moment of awkward silence. I dropped my hand and shut my mouth, slightly embarrassed.
"Right…Brussels or something…"
The blonde slumped slightly before pinching his nose in annoyance. "Russel Tringham! You'd think after all we've been through together, you would remember my name."
"Hey, don't blame me!" I said defensively. "If I remember correctly, most of the time we were in Xenotime you were being the mysterious and hostile imposter and/or I was delirious. I only found out your name at the very end!" I looked around. "By the way, where's mini-me?"
Russel's face scrunched up in confusion. "Mini-?"
"Brother!" A voice shouted, and we turned to look. My mouth dropped open again. If I didn't stop this soon I was going to begin catching flies.
"Is that–" Running towards us was another young man who could only be Fletcher, the boy who had impersonated me in Xenotime. But it was not the boy I remembered. It had only been a year, but he child that had been at least a head shorter than me was now almost as tall as his older brother. He had grown his hair out as well, showing that wavy hair and height was definitely a family trait. He stopped beside his older brother and held out a package.
"Brother, look! I found a vendor who's selling rare seeds," Fletcher said excitedly. Russell glance down at the package in interest. As he looked, I got a chance to stare at the two boys together. Even though they wore plain shirts and overalls, it was like this sparkly aura surrounded the two handsome young men. They were the picture perfect brothers. I wondered vaguely if my brothers and I ever sparkled like that. Suddenly I got this absurd image of me, Al and Ed standing together wearing plain overalls with charming welcoming smiles, sparkles flitting about us, but my mind short-circuited as I couldn't imagine Ed wearing such mundane clothes. Or Al. It would look kind of weird over the armor…Russell patted Fletcher on the head.
"These are great! Our collection is growing." Fletcher smiled widely at the praise.
"Aren't you like eleven? How on earth did you manage to get taller than me!" I said suddenly, because out of everything, that was what stuck out in my mind.
"Heh," Russell laughed, "Now who's the Edward imposter?" Fletcher looked over to me curiously, seeming to just notice I was there.
"Who's this, brother," he said, tilting his head to the side. Yup, still adorable.
"Don't you recognize him? It's Alex Elric."
Fletcher's blue eyes widened. "It can't be…you look so different!"
Look who's talking, I thought. "I haven't changed all that much…"
"No, he's right. I hardly recognized you either in that getup. Looks like you've taken page from Edward and Alphonse's book with the flashy clothes."
"Wait, Al doesn't wear flashy clothes," I said, confused.
Russell lifted his eyebrows. "He wears a suit of armor everywhere he goes."
Oh, right. I guess from an outsiders perspective it would look like he likes to wear strange stuff. Sometimes I forget that others don't know our story. "We like to stand out?" I hedged.
Russell chuckled. "I'll say. So where are those two?" He looked around curiously.
My heart dropped a little. "Oh, you know…we're not together all of the time."
"Hm…I suppose not."
"Well, it doesn't matter. It's great to see you!"
Before I could choke out a startled 'wait!' Fletcher had pulled me into his arms in an exuberant hug. I went rigid, waiting for the onslaught of emotions to come, and I did feel something, but...it was not at all what I was expecting. Instead of a flood, I felt only a small trickle of what the boy was feeling: happiness and excitement. Fletcher pulled back with a frown when I didn't respond and then blushed when he saw the startled expression on my face. He stepped back quickly.
"I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to jump you like that…I just was happy to see you." He scratched the back of his head as his face went crimson. Russell smirked in amusement and elbowed him in the side.
I stared at him dumbly for a second. "Wait…you mean you didn't feel anything?"
"Er, feel what?" he said, his face still red.
My mouth dropped open slightly and a tentative hope rose in my chest. I spun on my heel and faced Barret, who had been munching on a sandwich and watching with a bored expression the whole time. "Barret," I shouted. I stalked forward in three abrupt strides and got in his face, making him lean back in surprise. I whipped off the tinted glasses that had been obscuring my eyes and said, "what color are my eyes?!"
Barret continued to chew his sandwich as he stared at me blandly while I invaded his personal space. "I'd say a gross brown-green color. Now quit breathing my air." With that he shoved my face away with his hand, causing me to stumble back. In the second our skin had been in contact, I felt a flash of annoyance obscured by amusement, and then it was gone. I fell back into my empty chair with a shocked expression. I…wasn't projecting my emotions anymore. I was going back to normal…!
"Alex…? What is it?" Fletcher asked tentatively.
Elation beginning to bubble up within me, I jumped back up to my feet and strode over to the younger boy. I lifted my hands and placed them on either side of his startled face, (man, he had grown at least three inches taller than me, I still couldn't get over that) and leaned in close, staring into his blue eyes.
"U-um," he stuttered, his blush coming back with a vengeance, but I ignored him and concentrated. I could feel his confusion and embarrassement, but it was not the deep connection I had felt with Edward and Alphonse. I closed my eyes and leaned in a bit closer, seeing if I could project my feelings to him, when I was suddenly yanked back by Russell.
"Hey, I was trying something," I complained loudly, but he cut me off.
"Just what do you think you were about to do to my little brother," he said, glaring.
"What are you talking about, I was just–" I gestured to Fletcher and then paused when I noticed he was staring at me wide eyed with a blush on his face. I glanced around and we were being stared at by everyone in the restaurant who were looking at us with a wide range of disgust, confusion, to outright adoration.
Suddenly I realized what getting that close to Fletcher might have looked like–grabbing his face, leaning in close– and I face palmed. "No, wait! It's not what it looks like!" I said to the irate protective older brother.
"Then what were you doing?" He said angrily. I mumbled something under my breath and Russel shook my collar, jerking me slightly. "What was that?"
"I said, can we talk about this somewhere a bit more…private?"
Russel narrowed his eyes suspiciously before sighing. "This wouldn't happen to have anything to do with a particular red substance, would it?" For a second I was surprised. How could he possibly know that I was given a red stone? Was it written all over my face? Did I have red lips or something, like I had eaten a red popsicle? But then I remembered. He was there the last time I had been exposed to the red stone, or I guess it was red water, in Xenotime. He probably made an inference by the change in color in my eyes or something. And, seeing as that was about all he really knew about me–that I had strange reactions to red stones and water–it wasn't all that far of a leap. Stupid genius's. There were too damn many of them in this world.
Setting aside that I just contradicted myself in my own mind, I decided I did not like his tone. I glared. He made it sound like I got into a cookie jar I wasn't supposed to or something. "Yes, you caught me," I said, "I'm on my period."
Russell jumped back and dropped my jacket as if it burned him. His face turned as crimson as his little brother's and he began stuttering with wide eyes. "W-wait, what! But you're a guy!" He glared at me a second later, realizing I was joking.
I smirked to myself secretly before nonchalantly straightening my jacket. Gets 'em every time. I glanced around and noticed we still had an audience, and the other patrons were beginning to whisper. Sensing that we may not be welcome anymore if we continued to cause a scene, I turned back to my companion, who was polishing off his lunch, and made a gesture towards the street.
Barret glanced at me with a bland expression and pointedly looked at my own plate, which I just noticed had a sandwich on it as well. Huh, when had that gotten there? I looked back at him and he gave me this look, like, 'I'm going to shove it down your throat if you don't eat it' look. I sighed and grabbed the sandwich, wrapping it in the paper it was sitting on, before beginning to walk away. Barrett grabbed both of our bags, shoving mine on my shoulder (really, he was so rude) and we started to leave the restaurant. I glanced back when I noticed a distinct lack of blonde in my personal space.
Russell and Fletcher were standing where I had left them, both sporting an attractive look of consternation on their faces, as if they couldn't figure out what to make of me. Well, they should suck it up because that was nothing new. "Are you guys coming?" I asked innocently.
The brothers shared a look for a second, and then Fletcher shrugged with a smile and ran to catch up with me. Russel just sighed before following with a resigned expression.
o-0-o
At another cafe across town, the four of us sat in a secluded corner surrounded by decorative plants for privacy. Barret and I were sitting on one side of the booth while the two Tringhams sat opposite us. It was eerily quiet as I bit off small bites of my sandwich, not really tasting it other than to register that it was pretty good. After all, one doesn't really enjoy food very much if they never feel hungry. It was kind of like going to bed after taking a nap. Besides, he was giving me these looks that said 'eat or die.' Or I was just misinterpreting him. With that blank face, he could be thinking about anything. But his eyes suspiciously narrowed every time I tried to put the sandwhich down…
"So…" Russel said.
"How have you guys been?" I asked suddenly, interrupting whatever he was going to ask. Russel blinked, as if not quit sure how to respond.
Luckily, Fletcher wasn't so unsettled. He lit up with a bright smile. "We've been great! After you left the town, Russel and I were given a huge share of the sky stones–that's what we've decided to call them– and they were a huge hit! Now the town is famous for our jewelers once more, although a lot of them had to learn a new trade after being goldsmiths and miners for so long. Nice earring, by the way, is that the one I gave you?" The boy prattled on, barely breathing he was talking so fast. Was this really the shy boy I had known all those months ago, I mused to myself. "But the point is, the economy in Xenotime is completely restored! And Russel and I were able to buy our own land and build a lab and continue on our work of detoxifying with plant alchemy and–"
"Whoa, kid, slow down," I said with a grin. "You have to breathe at some point."
Fletcher stopped and smiled ruefully. He looked down shyly and I was finally reminded of the shy boy he used to be. "Sorry, I can get a bit carried away sometimes."
"I'll say," Barret said rudely.
"Shut up, Barret," I said without missing a beat.
"Whatever you say boss." I snorted and plucked a piece of meat from my sandwich, nudging my bag and holding it out between my fingers. A quiet mew came from the sac and a little green nose poked out followed by droopy eyes and big ears. Jäger looked around blearily before snatching the meat from my fingers and drawing back into the warm bag. I smiled.
"I don't mean to be rude," Russel said, looking at Barret. The man glanced at him. "but who exactly are you?"
"Barret," the black haired man said shortly.
"Right…" Russel said. He shook his head and turned his attention back to me. "So, Alex, are you going to tell us what happened? You obviously came into contact with the red stone again."
I glared, wanting to tell him something along the lines of 'it's none of your business,' but his expression was worried and sincere. I sighed and folded my hands, looking down at the table.
"Yeah, my brothers used one on me."
Both Fletcher and Russel's eyes widened in shock. "Wait, what do you mean they 'used one' on you! They were there the last time it happened, they knew how dangerous that was," Russel said angrily, and then he winced. "Sorry, Alex, I didn't mean…"
"No," I said ruefully, "you're right. It was dangerous. I could have lost control and gone on a rampage."
"So that didn't happen?" Russel asked tentatively, clearly remembering the last time he had seen me come in contact with the red stone.
"No," I said, shaking my head. "I was badly injured at the time and unconscious when it was given to me. All that happened was a 'huge flash of light'," I quoted, glancing at Barret. He was staring off into the distance as if he was not completely interested in the conversation. I ignored him and continued. "And then I was healed. I didn't wake until two days later."
"So he did it to save you then…"
"Yeah. When I woke up though, I had to face the…unusual consequences. I…didn't take it very well."
"You fought."
I grunted mirthlessly. "More like I yelled horrible things at them and then bashed Ed's head into a bathroom wall. And then I ran. I don't know if they'll ever forgive me…"
"They will," Fletcher suddenly spoke up, his voice filled with conviction. "They'll forgive you because you're brothers. Sometimes I say awful stuff to Russel when I'm angry, and he always forgives me." He smiled up at his older brother, who smiled back and rustled his hair. I squinted. They were sparkling again.
I looked at my folded hands. That was just it, wasn't it? We weren't brothers, not really. Yes, the three of us had become undoubtably close these past few years, reaching a level of trust I never thought would be possible when I first met them under those horrible circumstances, but…those things I said…I frowned deeply.
My dark thoughts were suddenly interrupted as I received a face full of sandwich. "Agh!" I sat in stunned silence and stared at a smug looking Barret, who calmly licked the mustard off his fingers. A slice of meat fell off my face.
"I told you I would force it down your throat if you didn't eat it," he said calmly.
"Barret," I gasped, "You fucking bastard…!"
Fletcher and Russel laughed behind their hands. I blew a fuze.
"AAAaaagh!" I screamed and flipped Barret's chair for a second time, this time with a lot more force. The man fell to the floor with an oomph and then cradled his head as the chair came swiftly after him. That taken care of, I wiped at my face vigerously. "Ah! You bastard, you got it in my hair," I whined pathetically, trying to use a wet napkin to wipe off the mustard in my ponytail.
Fletcher and Russel were laughing hysterically at this point, and I sent them a fierce glare, but I was too busy making sure I didn't have sandwich all over my clothes to do anything about them.
"You are such a girl sometimes," Russel joked.
"Ha ha, yeah." I said.
Barrett sat up on the floor and lifted a finger. "Well, that's because he actually is–"
I was on him so fast my hair cracked behind me like a whip. I smacked my hand over his mouth, while the two boys looked on curiously. "ONE more word, bastard, and I will rip your FACE off," I hissed. His bland expression didn't change, but I could clearly feel amusement and I had to physically restrain myself from using too much force and actually hurting him. "Stop laughing at me, dammit!"
Barrett merely tilted his head innocently, and I opened my mouth to make another scathing threat when a sudden shiver worked its way down my spine. I stood up slowly and looked around the restaurant with sharp eyes. There were only a few other patrons in the quiet cafe, two men at a table across the room and a small woman walking out of the door, and none of them were paying attention to me. Maybe it was just my imagination, but for a second it felt like someone had been staring at me intently…
"What is it, Alex?" Fletcher asked, trying to see what had caught my attention. The woman shut the door behind her with the tinkling of a bell and the men were deep in their own conversation.
"…It's nothing."
Barret stood from the floor and brushed himself off. "We have to leave. The next train is going to arrive in ten minutes," he said casually, as if I had not just assaulted him.
"Right," I said. I looked over at Russel and Fletcher a bit sadly. It had been great to see them, and I didn't want to say goodbye just yet…
Russell looked at his watch. "Our train is also arriving in ten minutes. You two wouldn't happen to be going to Dublith, would you?"
"Yeah, I'm going to see my master there for a few days…"
"Well, that's great!" Fletcher said. "We are going there to see the Winter Festival! We should travel together!"
"No way, really!?" I said, elated. "Great! Yeah, let's!"
"Oh, joy," Barret said. I tried to elbow him in the ribs, but he swiftly sidestepped it.
Fletcher laughed excitedly and pulled me in by my arm, doing the same to his older brother who bore a long suffering expression on his face. "This is fantastic! Let's go on an adventure!" With that he dragged the two of us along with him, his excitement leaking into me like a sieve and adding to my own. A laugh bubbled out of my chest.
"Oh, wait, hang on," I said, but the boy continued to drag me as if he hadn't heard me. "Barret, grab Jäger!"
Barret grumbled inaudibly but grabbed our bags and began to follow us.
I smiled widely, exhilarated both by the fact that the red stone had worn off enough to allow me to touch others (although I was still being careful with my enhanced strength to make sure my arm was completely slack, lest I hurt Fletcher), and that I would be traveling with the Tringhams, who I had only hoped I would ever see again when we parted last time.
Yes, things were definitely looking up!
o-0-o
Chaos, glorious chaos and destruction reigned down in the city of Lior, on the other side of the continent, and sent shivers of pleasure down Lust's spine.
"Humans never cease to amaze me with their stupidity," Lust simpered in her husky voice. She watched from the highest tower in the Cathedral, watching as shops were looted, buildings were destroyed, and families were torn apart by their little ruse.
After those meddlesome boys had left, Lust had to slightly alter her plans, but with a convenient switch of Father Cornello with someone a bit more…competent, their plot was actually greatly accelerated. Lust licked her lips as she watched the people of Lior tear themselves apart, trails of smoke curling into the air saturated with screams. It wouldn't be long now before the military got involved, and then they could really begin.
"Manipulate a few details, spout some empty rhetoric to the believers, and you have a fine recipe for instant violence. Wouldn't you say Gluttony?" Lust said, petting the bald head of the short man beside her.
"Fools, all of them," Gluttony said with his high, whiny voice. He peaked over the railing and grinned childishly. "Lust, can I eat them?"
"Not just yet, dear," Lust said absently. "We are almost done here."
Lust was interrupted in her musings by the ringing of a phone on the table next to her. She frowned. That was a direct line, and only a few knew that number, and that meant trouble. Ah, well, there wasn't much left to do here anyway.
She delicately lifted the phone to her ear with her thin gloved hand. "What is it," she said, examining her nails.
An unfamiliar feminine voice answered her on the other end, but the unmistakable tone of arrogance and malice immediately identified the caller.
"I know something you don't know," the voice sang in an obnoxious falsetto.
"Envy," Lust said absently. "Spit it out, I haven't got all day."
"Oh please," Envy said, "I did all of the heavy lifting in Lior with all those speeches, you hardly have anything left to do."
"What do you want, Envy."
"Oh, alright," her colleague said irritably. "You can be such a cold bitch sometimes, you know that? Why don't you try showing affection to someone other than that tub of lard for once."
"Envy," Lust said, allowing annoyance to seep into her voice.
"Your little pet is here, in Anklem."
Lust paused for a second surprised. "I thought the Elric's were on their way to Resembool."
"Yeah, well whoever you have tailing them should get there eyes checked, because one of the little ducklings has strayed."
Lust frowned in annoyance. This was not good news. If they had separated, it would be harder to track their movements.
"That's not all," Envy sang.
"Out with it," Lust snapped.
"The boy has been fed more red stones," Envy said bluntly.
The woman felt a spike of alarm at the news. She put a hand over her mouth in thought. Damn, how had they gotten ahold of them? She had thought she would have more time, but if he was being fed the red stones…
"You better hurry before another one is ruined," Envy said smugly from the other side of the line.
Lust grimaced and glanced at Gluttony, who was swiping at the air with a blank expression of insanity on his face. She hoped it wasn't too late… "I don't suppose you could keep an eye on him till I get there?" she asked, already knowing the answer.
"No can do, toots," Envy replied predictably, "I've got my own duties to get back to. I've already saved your ass once when you let that fool Cornello die, and I'm not going to do it again unless there's something in it for me." With that, the phone was abruptly hung up, leaving only a dial tone to ring in the frowning woman's ear. Irritably, she slammed it down on the receiver, shattering the phone in the process.
"Lust," Gluttony whined, sucking on his finger and shuffling over. The woman looked down on him coldly. No, she would not let another one be ruined like the pathetic lump in front of her. She had hoped that she could give the boy a few more years to mature before she went through with her plan, but it looked like she was out of time.
She stood. "Go home, Gluttony. We're through here."
"What about you?" Gluttony whispered, looking up at her piteously.
"I have a little errand to run," Lust said grimly. She just hoped she wasn't too late.
o-0-o
In Aklem, a short but plain woman hung up the phone she was holding abruptly, a demented look of smugness on her face. She glanced behind her and watched three boys board a train, followed by an older man. Oooh, it would be great fun to watch the drama unfold if the woman followed them, but alas, duty calls. With a final shrug, the woman turned into an ally and the air began to ripple around her. A few seconds later, a large man with a broad nose and a stern expression stood in her place. He plucked a cigarette out of his pocket and lit it, walking down the street with an uneven gait.
Oh, ho, what was that all about? Not telling! Ehehe. Is Alex in danger? Maaaybe.
Heh, this chapter was so fun to write! Barret is being unexpectedly interesting, and Fletcher was so cuuuute! Yeah, they are going to hang around a bit longer. I can't wait!
Next chapter: An interesting family dinner, Alex plays around with his new strength, and the boys go to a festival!