A/N On The Universe: Okay this is kind of following cannon from the movie verse Conqueror of Shamballa. Where Ed and Alphonse are stuck in OUR world (Parallel world of earth) but instead of them being stuck in 1923, its 2013. AND they are in America, not Germany.
A/N On Reviews: I adore getting feedback and constructive criticism, but I do have one request to make. When commenting, please bear in mind that your comments and suggestions, both good and bad, are your opinion only, rather than (in general) a statement of fact. It is easy to accidentally insult or offend an author by sounding demanding and entitled in a written review, and I know that is never anyone's intention. By all means tell me if you think something seems a bit off, but give a moment's thought to how the tone of your review might be received. Thanks!
Rating Information - Rated "MA" overall due to scenes of an explicit or disturbing nature later on. Meaning Boy on boy, with incest dabbled into there. If you do not enjoy these types of stories, you may press the back button. But if you do enjoy this type of 'kink' then please stay put. Thing are about to get bumpy in here.
Warning: Mild language. implied adult situation. implied incest. Self degradation.
-You've-been-warned.-
Chapter 4: Keep Running.
The night went by without any sign of Edwards return. Alphonse sat numbly on the couch in the dark living room waiting for Ed's headlights to illuminate the room with the sign of his arrival, but they never came.
Al thought long and hard through the night. 'If only I could explain what I meant.' He never should've brought up something as sensitive as Alphonse's human transmutation. It was a subject - at least on Edward's account - categorized under the section: we don't speak of such things, ever. It was underlined and in bold print and everything. It was a taboo topic between the brothers and Alphonse never felt right bringing it up.
So he buried all his questions and worries alongside the seal portal of Shamballa all those years ago. The topic was never brought up again. Alphonse's doubts and worries never went away, though. From time to time they would start their scratching along the edges of his mind; like starved rats scraping at the food just out of their reach.
Things he remembered he loved as a child now turned to ash on his tongue. Thing he knew he would've enjoyed before, he now didn't know if he really wanted any of them.
For example; Alphonse's memory of his childhood play's out like distant echoes bouncing off the hillside. The faint trances of remembrances were all the younger Elric had left. The shards of memory's that left lasting impressions from his childhood through the soul bound and into his adulthood. The warm caress of his mother's hand when he was sick. The sound of his brother's laughter calling him outside to play. The feeling of cold water of the lake lapping at his toes. The taste of delicious milk while eating cookies for a summer treat.
He remembers specifically Edward's hatred of dairy, admittedly more so later in life but nonetheless still strongly as a child.
Their Mother knew this, so when she would give the boy's their treat, there was always one rule. You had to finish your milk. Edward would always give Alphonse his glass of milk when mother wasn't looking and Alphonse would accept it because he loved milk so very much. The rule wasn't for the youngest, but instead for the stubborn elder of the two who hate milk and anything dairy.
This memory is where the trouble and worries all began for Alphonse. The slow process of a trickle down effect in his mind.
Alphonse hates the taste of dairy.
He remembers the first time he'd tasted the stuff back when Edward and Al were separated; Edward lost on the other side of the gate and Alphonse still suffering from memory loss at the time. Winry had handed him a large chilled glass of milk, telling him it had been one of his favorite as a child. Alphonse trusted her and took a large gulp of the creamy white fluid. He almost immediately spit it back out comically all over the kitchen floor, coughing and gasping for air. To say the least, Alphonse thought the drink was disgusting… Something that truly revolted his palate. His idea on milk never changed, even after getting his memory's back.
Alphonse didn't start second guessing himself until he began to realize other traits that reminded him of his brother.
Al's speech pattern changed, he began using words and phrases he would have never dared using while locked in the suit of armor because it was immoral. He now found himself swearing and cursing like a drunken sailor; just like Edward in almost every aspect.
There in lied the problem; everything Alphonse was questioning could be explained away by the fact he was considered an adult now. Everything in humans changes when they enter into adulthood. People change with maturity. It was human nature.
But could Alphonse have missed something vital like a missing link lost somewhere in between his extraction of his soul and the bridge to his human transmutation? Could Edward have somehow transferred some of his traits alongside creating a body for Alphonse?
'It was possible', Alphonse thought logically fidgeting on the uncomfortable couch. 'But also, I could be over thinking this… Or Maybe I'm just realizing I'm a sociopath who's trying to find blame in somebody else… Stupid… stupid, stupid.'
It was well past midnight and yet Edward still hadn't returned. Alphonse thoughts were straying into a dangerous place. Self-blame. A cold knot of dread echoed through the boy's chest at the realization of the time.
'Brother will be home soon. I-I just know it.' Al tried to reason with the culpable amount of apprehension lingering in the air. It was no use, he still felt sick to his stomach at the vision of Edward's angry eyes painted in his memory before his brother's hasty escape.
A broken sigh past the young blonde's dry lips as he curled into a ball on the cold cushions of the couch. He'd been staring at the empty fireplace for hours with unseeing eyes. His vision gone grayer then the soot stained hearth. The boy's tears had long since dried with a numbing feeling taking over his immense sadness. Alphonse was lost in self-pity and he only had himself to blame.
Well that wasn't entirely true. Alphonse could also lay blame at his brother's doorstep, but wasn't that what gotten him into all this trouble?
'How did that old saying go?' Alphonse thought pressing his cheek into scratchy fabric. 'Always find someone else to blame for your failures.' Thing was, Alphonse didn't want to blame Edward. He just wanted to be in his brothers comforting embrace.
The youngest Elric squirmed around on the couch, trying to find a comfortable position but failing because it was an impossible feat. Another dreadful sigh escaped Al's mouth. Reluctantly, Alphonse sat up from the lumpy couch and stood onto wobbly legs.
Slowly Al made his way down the dark hallway, his palm running the length of the cool wall at his side for support. He left like his leg could give at any moment. Alphonse was weak and felt entirely pathetic but he couldn't help it. The pitiful emotions had already burrowed into his core. The feeling made a home in his chest and had decided it was contented and wasn't leaving anytime soon.
'Sleep' echoed in the boy's mind. 'Sleep will fix everything.' It wasn't a lie, but a simple omission of the truth.
He paused in the archway to his room.
Edward's door was partially open. Al's fuzzy brain was startled awake by this notion. 'Brother always keeps his door closed and locked.'
Before he could decide it was a bad idea, Alphonse crept over to the ajar door. The door creaked as it opened on its hinges. Edward's room was dark but the presence of his brother was living there. The scent of Ed clung heavily in the air. It assaulted Alphonse as he stepped through the threshold. The feeling of trepidation gripped at his stomach. Edward had a weird pet-peeve about people being in his room. Alphonse knew this but he couldn't help himself. He rolled his eyes dramatically at himself. That was quickly becoming Al's new motto in life: 'I couldn't help myself.'
Like a siren calling him to the rocky shores, Edward's bed looked enticingly sweet. Without much of thought Alphonse crossed the remaining distance and fell face first into the ocean of blankets and pillows which smelled of Ed's sweet sillage.
In moments Alphonse was asleep. He descended into sleep, imagining Edward's blankets were his brother's arms wrapped around his tired, wilting frame.
Everything for the moment was motionless, and that was fine by Alphonse.
The second day went by and Edward still wasn't home. There hadn't even been a single phone call to let Alphonse know his older brother was alright and not off dead somewhere in the gutter. The answering machine blinked dauntingly that there were no new messages left in the night.
By this point Alphonse had moved from being hurt to just being fucking, lividly pissed. Alphonse understood Edward was a grown man and he could leave and come as he pleased, but totally disappearing out of your roommate's life, let alone your only family's? It just wasn't right from any angle. No matter how angry or mad you become, if you storm out of the house at least have the decency to pick up the phone.
There were only so many places Edward could've gone. Work, where Ed could've gone to sleep on his office couch at the construction site. A hotel, which seemed entirely wrong. Maybe a friend's house? Though the only friend Alphonse knew about was… *Alfons Heiderich.
Alphonse came to realize all those years ago when he first reappeared through the gate with Edward, if he wanted to fit into his brother new life here in this strange alchemy-less world, Heiderich was going to be a big part of it.
Apparently, Edward and Heiderich had grown close in the time they lived together under the same roof. How close, Alphonse couldn't be for sure. It'd always been a nagging thought in the back of Al's mind that Edward and Alfons were more then what they appeared to be.
The mere idea that Ed would have ran off to Heiderich because he was hurt by Alphonse sent a black and dark feeling through the boy's stomach, 'It was the only logical explanation...' Al thought mournfully. He looked down towards his hands cupping a steaming mug of tea. He thought about calling over there himself but the legendary Elric pride got the better of him.
'If Edward was going to call, he would've done so already.' Alphonse's mouth sat in a straight depressing line.
It was Monday morning, and Al had class in a couple hours. Even if he didn't want to go because he felt like utter crap, fifty-percent of his grade alone relied on his participation in class. Alphonse had to go; he couldn't jeopardize his livelihood on something so trivial. He sighed wearily into his white mug while taking a sip.
It may hurt to breath now but it didn't mean Alphonse was going to die from suffocation. If Edward didn't want to come home to him, Al would just have to deal with the fallout. It really wasn't fine, but for the moment Alphonse was okay. He had something to focus his pain into.
'In order to keep living I can't let this stifle me. Even if I don't like it, I must endure.' Alphonse stood on that thought from the small kitchen table. He had to get ready for his day.
Alphonse couldn't for the life of him recall the reason why he never got around to cutting his hair. When he was a child he'd always worn it short.
It was probably something to do with the fact Edward mentioned in passing how he thought Alphonse's long hair suited his oval face.
Or maybe it had been when Alphonse took on the mantle of Fullmetal's signature red jacket while wandering Amertris looking for any sign of his missing brother. Alphonse may not totally get what caused him to keep his long hair in the past but he did understand he was tired of living under such similarities to brother.
Alphonse wasn't doing it to get back at Edward in any way. Or at least he didn't intentionally set out for it to appear that way.
He was doing it for his own twisted urge to separate himself from Edward persona. Al had been living in his brother's shadow for so long, and he was finally ready to emerge as his own person. And if that meant cutting his hair, then so be it. He was ready to be Alphonse Elric, not Edward Elric's little brother. The bothers looked so similar at times, it was hard to tell them apart, with matching long blond hair and sharp angled faces. Alphonse couldn't change his bone structure but he could alter his hair…
"Alphonse. The stylist is ready for you." The brightly haired receptionists called out with a friendly smile. She was sitting behind the desk at the front of the salon which strongly smelled of burnt hair and chemicals.
He stood from the rickety silver waiting chair with clenched fist. 'It's now or never…'
It was embarrassing to say the least, removing the scarf which was hiding all the marks along his neck for the stylist to cut his hair. The hairdresser took one glance at the necklace of hickeys etched on the boy's neck before giving him a knowing look. Al had blushed and thought to himself, 'you have no idea lady…'
The finished product was stylish, the hair artist called it the matte side-part style. Apparently it was a classic for men with short sides and a medium length on top.
Alphonse's barley recognized himself in the mirror when it was all over and done with. It'd brought a smile to his lips at the time, right before his eye's caught sight of the horridly bright ringed-marks on his neck. Before anyone else could see the smudges Alphonse wrapped his freshly bare neck with his black and checkered scarf, paid and left for school.
Alphonse walked into his class with a fresh hair style. It was much shorter, a lot shorter then he'd ever imagine having. His neck felt naked and bare without the weight of a braided plait.
Al took a moment to look around the class room. People were just starting to file in. His eyes scanned the few faces talking among themselves before noticing he was actually looking for someone. He stopped himself immediately and took the first seat on his right. He sunk down into the blue plastic chair. The boy rubbed a hand through the short hairs on the base of his neck for the umpteenth time since getting it cut. It was quickly becoming an addicting habit.
A sharp whistle behind him startled the blond out of his trance. Al turned and dropped his hand from his neck. The feeling of flutters took hold of his stomach at the sight of Reese's smiling face.
"Look at this guy, 'all snazzy with his new due," Reese expressed, taking the chair next to Al's. His bright green eyes never left Alphonse's flustered face.
"Yeah…" Al breathlessly exhaled while his fingers grazed the short hairs on his neck again.
"Well, it looks good." Reese admitted with a crooked grin. "I honestly almost didn't recognize you…" he spoke easily, slouching down in his seat. His eyes swept the room as he did so. The taller blonde's elbow grazed Alphonse's side as he leaned a bit closer to him. It sent a peculiar warmth through Al's system.
"Do you wanna know how I knew it was you?" Reese teased warmly finally looking back to Al with radiant green eyes.
"How?" Alphonse really did wonder, all the while he subconsciously counted the butterflies fluttering in his stomach.
Reese leaned that much closer, Alphonse could smell the ocean clinging to the taller male. It made Al swallow thickly.
"You sit with a stick up your ass."
"— Excuse me?" Alphonse voice rose higher, and cracked comically. It made Reese burst out with a lurid laugh. Al sank into himself at the horrifying pitch of his voice. Everyone in the room was looking towards him. Reese was only making it worse chuckling that warm chesty laugh. It raked chilling shivers down his spine while simultaneously erupting warmth into his stomach. It still didn't override the mortification of the situation. Al glared daggers towards him.
"W-what?" Reese feigned innocence.
"Don't what me… I do not sit with a…" A blush touched Alphonse's face. His words caught on the tip of his tongue as he thought of something more pleasurable happening to his rear end.
"—with a stick up your ass." Reese quipped with a smile on the verge of a grin. Alphonse glared at him again before turning in his seat to stare at the white board at the front of the classroom.
"I only mean, you have perfect posture, Alphonse." Reese explained playfully as he grazed Al's bicep with a passing touch.
"There is nothing wrong with sitting up straight—."
"…So prefect it could be considered atrocious." Reese interrupted with a touch of a laugh in his words.
"Do you ever get uncomfortable? It sure looks like it's uncomfortable…" The other male wondered out loud. Reese's warm hand moved from Al's arm to the gap between the chair and the middle of his back. Alphonse had to bite back a gasp of being surprised. The touch was unexpected.
Instead Alphonse turned slightly in his chair away from the unwarranted touch.
"Don't you ever get tired of asking questions?"
Reese's smile grew until it touched both of his cheeks, two matching dimples on either side of his face.
"No." He answered unabashed.
Alphonse watched Reese's eye flicker down to his scarf and then back up. The tops of Al's ears were already turning red before Reese could even ask the question hanging in the air. The taller blond never got the chance though, the professor decided that moment to enter the class room.
That was one of the things Alphonse respected Reese for most, his work ethic was flawless.
Two hours later, class was finally over. Alphonse was packing his bag to leave when he felt eyes on his person. Looking to his side Reese was staring at him openly.
"What?" Alphonse questioned, self-consciously touching the edges of his scarf.
Reese's ever present smile slipped onto his mouth. "What are you doing today after class?"
'Waiting around for Brother…' Al thought with a dark feeling freezing his chest. 'Always waiting…' Al looked down at his messenger bag and mumbled out about having nothing to do. The lie left a bad taste in his mouth as he spoke it.
Reese must not have noticed, "Come to my dorm room, then."
"Y-your dorm?" Alphonse parroted back timidly.
"Yeah, you know. That place where I sleep and live…"
"I-I-I… don't know." Al avowed back sadly, ignoring Reese's playful quip. His mouth was set into a firm line as he swung his backpack onto his shoulder. Mindlessly Alphonse clutched at the scarf around his neck like a security blanket, making sure none of the hideous marking below could be seen by anyone, especially from the male before him.
"Seriously, Al?" Reese gave a hard look to Alphonse over his brows. His sharp eyes boring holes through Alphonse's excuses. It left a feeling of helplessness coming over the younger boy.
"Don't you have work after class?" Alphonse questioned back, tucking his bangs behind his ear as he walked out the double doors leading outside. Irked by this, Alphonse realized what he was doing and dropped his hand. There was no long hair to brush away anymore.
"Nope. My friend Mel needed more hours, so I gave her mine." Reese explained following after Al's hurried footsteps.
"Come on Alphonse. It'll be fun."
Alphonse glanced over and noticed the plain white shirt Reese was wearing made his bright green eyes shimmer with mirth. There was no doubt in Al's mind that it wouldn't be fun. It wasn't that he didn't want to go, he just couldn't... He needed to go home to see if Edward was back yet. No matter the dark mossy feeling growing in his chest at the idea of seeing his brother, he had to go home. No excuse.
"I-I really need to get home."
Alphonse started walking away hurriedly, not caring if he looked strange. A hand on his elbow stopped him in his downwind march.
"Wait a second..." Reese insisted stepping in front of the shorter male. Alphonse realized then how tall Reese really was as he was staring down upon his form. Reese never broke the contact of his hand on the boy's elbow, instead he reshuffled his hold till he had both of Al's arms in his larger grip.
"What's wrong? Are you upset?" Reese asked with more concern in his voice than Alphonse had heard before.
It didn't feel right to lie to Reese, he deserved the truth. Or at least the closest Alphonse could get to the sick-twisted truth. His reluctance must have shown on his face because Reese's brow pinched together in a worried line.
"I got into this huge fight with my brother, I-I-I... need to apologize to him."
Reese was watching Al with a discouraging expression. His blond brow pinching along the middles; it vaguely reminded Al of Edward when he got perturbed with him. A green feeling touched at his stomach and turned it entirely around.
'Stop thinking of Edward!' He screamed at himself in his mind as he ripped out of Reese hold.
"You wouldn't understand." He snapped out before he could find a care to stop.
Reese look startled by Al's abrupt outburst before the expression melded behind a gentle smile. For some unknown reason, Alphonse jaw hitched with agitation at the feeling Reese was casually brushing off his outburst.
"Explain it to me then." Reese said simply with a lighter, gentler tone.
It took a moment for it to register as he blinked through his confusion, but Alphonse realized through his building anger that Reese wasn't disregarding him. Instead he was trying to help. Once Al rationalized he wasn't being attacked it was like someone had turned his imaginary spigot on, all of his worries and doubts came pouring out in a hurried rush.
He didn't mention things he knew not to talk about, like the taboo topic of his relationship with his brother. Everything else ran out like a rushing waterfall.
Alphonse told Reese about Edward being his only family and best friend. How he felt betrayed by his brother's withdraw from him. He told Reese about the argument yesterday but not what the fight entailed. Alphonse talked through his throat sticking about how Edward had ran from the apartment the night before and how he hadn't returned yet.
"…I-I don't even know where he's at, Reese." Alphonse confessed with tears stinging his eyes. His voice was cracking but he couldn't care. Al had finally hit the metaphorical wall, he was at his wits end.
"Have you tried calling his cellphone?" Reese questioned.
"He doesn't own one. Neither of us do."
Reese's eyebrows rose skywards at this bit of information.
Alphonse understood. In this day and age everyone owns a cellular phone. Alphonse knew it seemed strange not to own one. But seeing how Edward and Alphonse weren't from this world entirely, the idea of actually having one seemed more peculiar. There were many things in this new life that they both had grown accustom too, but mobile phones were not one of them.
"I wouldn't worry too much about it Alphonse. Edward is a big boy. He'll show up sooner or later," Reese console to the best of his ability.
"You're right…" Alphonse took a steadying breath, as he tried to believe in Reese's reassurance. He ran his fingers through his short bangs before repeating himself. "You're right."
"Of course I am." Reese smiled widely, throwing his arm over Al's narrow shoulders. "I'm always right."
The warm somersault-feeling was back in Alphonse's stomach as he watched Reese smiling so open and carefree. The warmth of the other male's body bled through the ice pulsing through Al's veins. Alphonse realized being this close to the other male he could see the laugh lines around Reese's eyes. They made his already eye-catching face grow in attractiveness. A small gleam of hope started to expand in the younger boy's chest.
'Maybe I can survive without brother…'
"Come on." Reese insisted pulling Al towards the student parking lot. "You're coming with me."
Alphonse didn't have time to argue. He was pulled across the blacktop and pushed into a dark blue car. The door closed and Al was left in the silence. Moments later Reese was sliding into the driver side.
Turning sideways in his seat, Alphonse looked over towards Reese. He was still wearing that killer smile. It made Al's heart flutter up into his throat.
"I-I have to go home, Reese." He stumbled through his words. The feeling in his throat stifled any attempt at sounding serious.
The other male made a sound in his chest before he took something out of the center console and tossed it into Alphonse's lap.
"…No. You don't…" Reese said before starting the car and reversing out of the parking space.
Alphonse realized the object in his lap was a phone. He picked it up and looked at the shiny black plastic device Reese had given him. "I-I…"
"Call your house, Alphonse." The other male stated bluntly.
"O-okay?" Al spoke it as a question, not a statement. He didn't really follow…
"If he's home, he'd answers, right?"
Reese had a point. It made sense. Alphonse continued to stare down at the black phone in his hand. He wiped a thumb a crossed the glass screen, the residue off his skin left a dotted streak across it.
"Go on…" Reese lured Al as he coaxed the car to a halt in a line of other cars trying to exit the parking lot.
With a calming breath, that wasn't really all that reassuring, Alphonse pressed the button and punched in his home phone number, then he brought it to his ear.
The boy could feel the sweat starting to coat his skin. He pulled mindlessly at the scarf around his neck. The pit in his stomach grew with every passing second Edward didn't answer. After the sixth-set of ringing, the answering machine picked up. He ended the call before he could hear the full cheesy message Edward and he had set up when they first got the machine.
Alphonse didn't know if he felt relieved Edward hadn't answered or completely saddened Ed wasn't home yet. Either way, he felt suddenly numbed to the core as he handed the phone back to Reese.
"He didn't answer..." Al tried to smile but he knew it was coming out as a barely-there upturn of his lips.
Reese pulled out onto the main street and pointed the car in the opposite way of Alphonse's house. Neither of them said anything until they reached Reese's building. When they parked Alphonse followed him mindlessly through front doors and up the rickety elevator to his floor. All the while he thought to himself about where Edward could be.
'…Most likely with Heiderich.' The jealous creature lurking inside of him was ranting and screaming. Al didn't like the idea of his brother getting comfort from another. It left a feeling of dread creeping up his spine. He was assaulted with images of Heiderich, with his similar face to Al's, doing anything to make Edward feel better. It made Alphonse see green.
It must have shown on Al's expression because when Reese turned around from unlocking his dorm-room, the older blond had worry etched into his features.
"You need a drink…" he stated with a smooth knowing smile. Reese gripped Al's wrist and pulled him inside, the door slamming closed behind them.
"No fair!" Alphonse exclaimed at the end of the round. "…You're cheating!
The scrolling red words of 'Finish him' with the equally brutal voice blared from the television.
"Am not." Reese bantered back as he knocked sideways into Alphonse with his shoulder playfully. "I can't help it you suck at video games!" he goaded with a toothy smile.
Reese's character eyes ignited in fire before she kissed her palm and a fiery heart erupted from it. She blew it and it zipped across the screen to land on Alphonse's guy. His dazed character was set ablaze and fell to the floor dead. The screen panned back to Reese's girl.
'Sonya wins.' Growled the voice from the game. 'FATALITY', echoed closely after.
Alphonse stared disgustingly at the T.V.
"I think I'm done." He revealed setting the control down and rubbing at his straining eyes.
Reese turned towards him with a chuckle and agreed. He rose effortlessly from the carpet in front of the television to flip the console off. Al took a sip off his warm beer to his left and made a horrid face. He normally never drank (he didn't like the taste) but when Reese had offered him one, for some reason he didn't refuse. It did calm him down enough so he could enjoy himself without worry, though. So he didn't put much thought behind it.
Al heard Reese snicker again at his expense.
"…'want a fresher one?" Reese offered walking towards the mini-fridge in the corner of his room.
"I really shouldn't. I need to get going soon."
It was a solid excuse not to drink anymore. Al already felt warm and fuzzy from the two he had already consumed.
"You just got here." Reese threw over his shoulder as he knelt down to dig through the back of his tiny fridge.
Not to make Alphonse sound obsessive but he'd been keeping his eye on the time since he got there. He'd already been at Reese dorm for a couple hours now. Actually it was going on four hours, it was now dark outside. Alphonse said as much as he stood from his sitting position at the foot of the bed.
"It's getting dark…" Al's words faded off when Reese stood from crouching with a new beer in hand.
"Aww, you're no fun." Reese joked, twisting the cap off of his bottle and tossing it towards the trash. It hit the rim of the metal bin and bounce to the floor.
"Yeah, well you're a horrible at making a simple basket…" Alphonse teased picking up one of his empty bottles and tossing it from where he stood into the trash can. It swished in, a perfect throw. Reese frowned, and Alphonse gave him a charming smile.
"What?" Al innocently chirped walking towards his shoes to put them on.
Alphonse heard Reese mumbling under his breath about him being a show off, it made Al smile wider. Reese merely took a gulp of his beer and leaned a hip against the white fridge at his back.
There was silence between them for a moment but the kind that was comfortable because you were in the presence of a friend. Or at least Alphonse felt this way, he didn't know what Reese was feeling. Looking up from tying the laces on his blue converse-sneakers, Al's lingering smile slipped from his lips. Reese was watching him with his sharp eyes. A serious expression over taken his normal happy face.
Al's spine straightened from his bent over position. He felt his hackle rise in defense and a chill raced down his spine. Before he could even open his mouth to ask what happened to evoke such a reaction in the other male. Reese's piercing eyes flickered down to Al's neck.
A cold bolt of realization shot through Alphonse's system. 'Oh no…'
His hand automatically shot up to check his scarf covering his neck. His fingers met bare skin. 'Oh, no. no. no...' Alphonse thought frantically, re-wrapping his neck. When he had bent over to tie his tennis shoes, he'd forgotten to guard the checkered scarf to stay in place. The fabric was allowed to slip from his bruised throat.
Alphonse felt mortified. His cheeks burn with shame. He could hear his heart beat swooshing in his ears. Al couldn't bring himself to look up. He knew if he did, he would see Reese's disgust. As if the other male would know the marks had been left by Al's own brother.
'Sick; sick; sick.'
"I thought you said there wasn't anyone else, Alphonse." Reese sounded hurt. It was evident in his voice. It made Al flinch in shame.
He had said that. Alphonse sighed wearily. He was tired of having to keep up with his lies. So, god-damn tired…
"I-I'm sorry." Al somehow managed to say despairingly. It was a weak apology but it was the best that he could manage at the moment. He had so much already piled on. Anymore and he was sure he would finally snap.
"You're sorry?" Reese scoffed hurtfully. "Sorry that you lied to me or are you sorry because you were caught?"
"I'm sorry, that I had to fucking drag you into any of this!" Alphonse bellowed standing suddenly, a hot tear slipped down his cheek. "I-I-I have to go. J-just leave me alone…"
Alphonse ran out the dorm, took the stairs down three at a time. He tripped and fell once or twice but it didn't hinder his escape. He needed out. He ran until he hit open air and still that didn't stop him. His chest burned from the strain but he couldn't stop, the cold night made it harder to breath. Al's cheeks were wet but he ignored his tears… He ran until the landmarks became familiar and he realized then, he was in his neighborhood. Alphonse could see his apartment, it wasn't until he turned the corner of the grey building did he slow his pace.
Edward's black pickup truck was sitting in their designated parking spot.
'Brother...' Alphonse's mind screamed! 'Brother is home.'
To be continued...
• Alfons Heiderich: Is a character exclusive to the Fullmetal Alchmeis the Movie: Conqueror of Shamballa. He died at the end. But in my story he survives and is the only person in this life (other than Alphonse) that knows about Edward's other life, from before.
It doesn't hurt me.
You wanna feel how it feels?
You wanna know, know that it doesn't hurt me?
You wanna hear about the deal I'm making?
You be running up that hill
You and me be running up that hill
And if I only could,
Make a deal with God,
And get him to swap our places,
Be running up that road,
Be running up that hill,
Be running up that building.
If I only could, oh...
You don't want to hurt me,
But see how deep the bullet lies.
Unaware that I'm tearing you asunder.
There is thunder in our hearts, baby.
So much hate for the ones we love?
Tell me, we both matter, don't we?
You, be running up that hill
You and me, be running up that hill
You and me won't be unhappy.
Five reviews for update.
