Mirrorworld ch. 34 part 2
After that, it was relatively easy to set his worries aside, and just allow the storm to pass, even if the fact that Edward had taken to randomly ask if he was around every so often - usually when it was quite obvious Alfons was right there - was a bit annoying. Edward, however, derived great and obvious amusement from it, and Alfons didn't miss how every time he did it Winry got a speculating look on her face. Alfons longed to tell her to just back off a little. Surely Edward didn't need so many automail tune-ups, and surely he didn't have to be practically naked for them?
Everybody else, it seemed, got to tease and play with Edward. They scuffled good-naturedly, played with his hair, but Alfons didn't dare join in on the fun lest he betray something he shouldn't. He longed to take a stance once and for all, growl and stake his claim, seat Edward next to him and glare at anybody who came too close.
He was also quite aware that this was completely ridiculous and irrational.
It was just so strange to him, realizing that suddenly there were other people around who regarded Edward as desirable, moreover, people who Edward paid attention to and cared about their opinions. They were no longer an island in the midst of society, and it threw him off balance.
Just a few more days, Edward whispered in his ear at night, when he crawled into Alfons' bed and kissed him all over, endlessly sweet and utterly forbidden. Give Al more time, let the storm blow over, we'll leave and get our own home, but soon. Just a bit longer.
Alfons nodded and pretended to agree, but he knew that it wasn't just Al who needed the time. Clear as day, it was obvious that Edward wasn't ready yet, either. It looked like this storm was really a blessing in disguise. Maybe by the time it was over and the rails were up and running again, things would be different.
~
Something was shaking him out of a nice, sound sleep, and he batted it away irritably.
"Wake up, Alfons!”
He grumbled and rolled over, trying to pull the blanket over his head, but it wouldn't budge.
"Alfons...”
When he finally opened his eyes, he had to squint at the strange brightness. “I'm up, I'm up,” he told Edward, still not quite sure why the early wake-up had been necessary.
"The storm's over!” Edward said gleefully, and Alfons woke up some more.
"Really?” Now that his brain was working better, he could see that the room was flooded with bright sunlight. Out the window the world was white and gleaming, reflecting sunlight off frozen trees and hills. Involuntarily, he felt a smile spread across his face. “It is!”
Edward laughed in delight, tugging on his arms, and for a minute it was as if he weren't blind.
"Come on, Alfons, you should look outside! You should see what Amestris is really like.”
His glee was infectious, and Alfons stumbled after him quickly, just pausing to pull on a pair of slippers and grab a sweater. He even managed to avoid crashing into any walls on the way downstairs.
Everybody else seemed just as excited. The door was thrown wide open, heedless of the cold blowing in, and people were in high spirits. Cain was clamoring to go play in the snow, though Rose warned him that it was still just a bit too deep for him.
"So? What do you think?” Edward asked proudly. Alfons looked around, taking in the clear air, the deep blue of the sky, contrasting with the miles of white that surrounded them. Here and there dark smudges of smoke rising marked homes, and off to one side he could see a large collection of houses, probably Resembool proper.
"It's a lovely world,” he said, because it was, even if he was quite a bit more interested in seeing cities than he was in farmland. Edward beamed, and he smiled reflexively back. So pretty in the sunlight, he thought inanely.
The smile dropped abruptly off his face, though, when he happened to glance to the side and caught sight of Al, who was positively glaring at him. The moment he noticed Alfons' scrutiny, though, the dark look vanished from his face so quickly he wondered if he had imagined it.
"You shouldn't be out here, with your lungs in the state they're in!” Winry was suddenly scolding him, shooing him back inside. Since Edward - and subsequently everybody else - was likewise ushered back in, he didn't resist, still disquieted by what he had seen.
"Well!” Winry announced, “Vacation's over!” There were things to be done. Laundry could be hung out once more, garbage disposed of. Snow had to be shoveled to make a path towards the village, where, Winry explained, the crews would meet up and clear the road. As both Edward and Alfons were patently unable to do that sort of work, they were chosen to stay inside with Pinako while Winry, Rose and Al went to clear the yard, Cain joining in for the fun.
Alfons sat at the window watching them work, feeling sort of useless. The ache in his chest was enough to warn him off even considering working, but he still felt like he should be doing something. In the end he pulled out a book and sat and read to Edward, which had the added bonus of giving him a legitimate excuse to sit right next to him.
The workers trooped back in around lunch, flushed and laughing, stomping snow off boots and shaking it out of clothes. Because Alfons was looking for it, this time he didn't miss the quick look marring the pleasure on Al's face before he made a beeline for them, and started chattering at Edward about something or other.
It occurred to him that maybe he and Al needed to have a talk, to clarify -
He sighed. Since nobody was supposed to know about him and Edward, clarifications would be difficult.
~
The tail end of lunch was interrupted by a knock on the door, which opened to reveal two men, which seemed well known to everybody (but Alfons), probably from town.
"We're sending out crews to clear the tracks,” the taller one said, taking off his cap and twisting it in his hands, craning just a bit to see into the house. “A whole troop of soldiers even showed up to help, must've been caught in the storm somewhere in the area. Hopefully we should get new supplies on the train that's supposed to clear them out of here.”
Rose sighed in relief. “That's wonderful. We were starting to run low.”
"You and everybody else,” the other man said, his dark beard quivering with a chuckle. “But that's why we're here. The Goldfingers are in a bad way, their house was damaged pretty badly by the storm. And Rose, we were hoping to have you organize the children to help. You've always had a way with them.”
"Of course-”
"Edward!” The first man suddenly said loudly, making everybody jump. “I'd heard you were back! Look at you, alive as anything and looking no worse for wear!”
Edward grinned uncertainly at the air. “Good to be back - Jones and Dale, right?”
"What, gone four years and you already can't recognize us?” the younger one said, mock-offended. “Speaking of which, where were you? Everybody's been calling you dead.”
Apparently noticing the slightly uncomfortable silence at those words, the older one cleared his throat.
"Jones, leave the kid alone. Though,” his tone turned speculating, “we sure could use your help down at the station. I bet you could get rid of the snow in a flash!”
The subsequent silence was even worse than the first one, and Alfons didn't think anybody missed the bleak expression on Edward's face. He hated not being able to comfort him, but at least Al was by his side.
"Edward's hurt,” Winry said shortly. “He's not going anywhere. If you need an alchemist, why not take Al?”
The men jumped on this suggestion eagerly, turning to him, but Al looked less than enthusiastic.
"I don't want to leave Ed,” he said, stepping closer to his brother.
Winry and Rose exchanged a meaningful glance, but it was Pinako who spoke.
"Al, you always said alchemy is a skill to be used for the good of the people.”
Al wasn't particularly happy to hear that. “I won't leave him,” he said stubbornly.
Edward touched him on the arm. “Al, you should go,” he said quietly, forcing a grin. “I won't exactly be going anywhere now, will I? Go show them what you can do.”
"Brother,” Al said plaintively, and Alfons was pretty sure at that moment that Edward would cave, because how could he possibly resist such a plea?
"I don't want to leave you alone,” Al continued.
"I won't be.” Edward gripped his arm. “I'll have Granny and Alfons to keep me company.”
Any annoyance at being listed last evaporated as Alfons realized that it was true, he was going to be left alone in the house with Edward. Fine, with Grandma Pinako too, but finding a quiet corner would be a cinch. Finally he would have Edward all to himself!
He tried to keep the grin off his face as Al acquiesced grudgingly to Winry's admonishments of “for goodness' sake Al, we're in the middle of nowhere, what could possibly happen?”
Shortly afterwards Rose left with the men, Cain's mittened hand firmly grasped in hers, while Winry got together things to take to help the Goldfingers. Alfons would have liked to help, but Winry was quick enough to gather what she needed and brushed him away abruptly, though not unkindly. Al loitered around a few more minutes until Winry shooed him out the door ahead of her, and closed it behind them.
He looked to Edward, who seemed just the tiniest bit disappointed. His query whether everything was okay was interrupted by Granny Pinako, who was looking between the two of them, an unreadable look on her face.
"I'm going to be in the workshop, if you need me,” she said. Her raspy voice was completely guileless as she added, “though you might have to yell a bit loudly so I hear you over the machinery. Alfons, watch over the shrimp. He's a pain when he gets bored.”
No way. Absolutely no way. He gulped and stammered out agreement, which was mostly directed at her retreating back. Either this was the greatest coincidence ever, or she knew, and was giving them tacit approval.
"I am not a shrimp,” Edward groused. “I've grown taller! Haven't I, Alfons?”
"Er, not that I've noticed,” he said absently, still preoccupied. “I always thought you were a fine height, why?”
If she knew, wouldn't she have just said something? Or was this just how she chose to do things?
Edward sputtered, looking shocked. “T-that's... what do you mean fine, I'm...”
"Huh?” Looking at Edward, it was obvious something was bothering him, though Alfons wasn't quite sure what. “Edward,” he said, lowering his voice, “did you hear what she said? Do you think she-”
"Fuck what she said!” Edward nearly shouted. “Say it again!”
"Say what?” Now Alfons was bewildered.
"That thing about my height.”
Whatever this was seemed to be important to Edward, and he felt a flash of concern. Quickly running over everything he had said in the past few minutes, he tried to figure out what could have elicited this sort of reaction. “I, uh, don't think I said anything about it?” he said uncertainly. “I said I think it's fine?”
He had no clue where this was coming from. Oh, he could remember one or two jokes in the rocket team back in Germany about Edward being the 'little one', but it hadn't made much of an impression on him besides the fact that it seemed to annoy Edward a bit.
Certainly nothing to warrant the strange look currently on Edward's face.
"I'm... not tall,” Edward said, with some difficultly.
"So?”
"Everybody here used to tease me about being short all the time!”
Why was this such an issue? “You're not exactly tall, but I don't really get what the fuss is about,” Alfons said. He just hoped he wouldn't piss Edward off. They were wasting valuable time, damn it! The house was empty, and Pinako was gone, and all Edward could talk about was his height?
"You mean you never noticed it?” Edward asked, stark disbelief on his face. Alfons wanted to shake him.
"No,” he said impatiently, taking his hand and starting to lead him to the stairs. One of them had to keep their wits about them. “Edward, the house is empty, or haven't you realized-”
"No, wait a second!” Edward interrupted, digging in his heels. “Why did you never tease me about-”
"Because I don't care,” Alfons cried in frustration. “Why the hell would I tease you about being short?”
"So now you are calling me short?”
Alfons wanted to tear out his hair. “NO,” he bellowed. “I don't give a damn how tall you are! I never even thought about it until this very moment!”
Edward blinked, confused, but at least the weird animosity was dying.
"As a matter of fact, right now I care far more about getting you horizontal than how far you reach on a vertical axis anyway!” He was nearly panting with the effort of not shouting that last line. Better hope Pinako was right about the machinery being loud.
"Horizon- oh.” Understanding dawned, and he flushed just a little bit, but was thankfully finally starting to look interested.
"Yes,” Alfons said, steering Edward towards the stairs. Now Edward came willingly, apparently finally understanding the wonderful situation. “So how about-”
His words were cut off by a kiss slightly clumsily pressed to his mouth. It took Edward a moment to fine the proper angle, since he couldn't see, but Alfons was quite happy to compensate. Talking was overrated anyway.
This was familiar. Walking slowly, tugging and half-leaning on each other, pausing every few steps to kiss and pull at clothes. Seeing Edward in the bright sunlight was so much better than stealing kisses under cover of darkness, finally allowing his eyes to feast on all the differences he had only been able to feel until now. They fell onto his bed, already tangled together, Alfons trying to reach as much of Edward's skin as possible without pulling away from his mouth. He hardly registered Edward's slight clumsiness, but there was something just wrong enough to make things feel strange. Edward was jumpy, unable to throw himself into it with the abandon Alfons loved, eyes eerily wide and staring.
They separated a bit, still close enough for Alfons to feel Edward's hot breath on his face, and he drank in the sight of him. Unconsciously he shifted, trying to get Edward to look at him, before he reminded himself that Edward couldn't. The thought that Edward might never focus bright gold eyes on his own again, that they might never again exchange a naughty look across a table, or feel the intensity of Edward's gaze on his back when doing even the most mundane activities, suddenly made him ache. He rubbed his face into Edward's neck (the side far from the automail), closed his eyes. Edward might never again be able to pick him up and toss him across a room, and he wondered how much that helplessness was eating at his lover.
"Edward,” he whispered, brushing his lips against the smooth skin at the base of his neck. A hand tangled in his hair, just as strong as he remembered, even if it was a left hand instead of a right one. They had paid the price, yet still remained together. Even if Edward never saw again, Alfons would still be by his side, reminding him to be thankful for what they did have.
"Hey,” Edward rumbled. “So you really meant it when you said it doesn't matter that I'm not so ta-”
Alfons groaned.
~
It was sort of strange, but in retrospect Alfons regretted not spending the time just talking to Edward, enjoyable though sex had been. After cleaning up, they sat together, Alfons trying to wrap around his lover as much as he could, a torrent of a thousand things he absolutely needed to talk to Edward about yearning to break free. But what to start with? He was so content right now, happy to just have Edward next to him, talking about jobs and such seemed out of place.
"Mm, I was thinking,” Edward said suddenly, burrowing his face into Alfons' shoulder. “We can ask the bastard what to do about the rockets thing. He's a bastard, but I bet he can tell us what would be safe. Even if he'll just want to credit it to himself, probably.” Edward snorted.
"You think so?” His heart lifted, despite how he had schooled himself to deal with disappointment. “Is-” He cut himself off, hearing sounds from downstairs.
"Are they back?” Edward asked, looking surprised. “That was awfully quick.”
Disappointment nearly choked Alfons. It hadn't been nearly enough time! Why couldn't they have taken a bit longer, damn it? “I'll go check.” Please let it not be them, please let it not be them-
There was definitely someone coming, he could hear the footsteps nearing quickly, though... they sounded sort of strange. Running, and definitely more than one pair of feet. Curious, he lay his hand on the door handle and twisted it, opening the door to the dull black muzzle of a gun.
"Wha-”
Before he could react he was shoved face-first into a wall, the gun pressing into his back, making his recent wound scream in protest. A voice growled in his ear not to move even a muscle, emphasizing with another press of the barrel. Petrified, Alfons didn't dare protest, his mind sluggishly trying to comprehend what was going on.
"That's him!” One of the blue-clad figures behind him shouted. There were many of them, moving so quickly Alfons couldn't figure out how many, but they seemed to flood the room. He desperately wanted to turn and look, but his wound throbbed and the remembered pain of being shot held him immobile.
"Alfons?” Edward's cry choked off abruptly, and Alfons' heart stopped in his chest.
"What about-”
"Leave him! We have to get out of here!”
He would have fought back, then, pushed by desperation to try one of the moves that Edward had taught him and damn the consequences. But before he could do more than formulate that thought something hit the back of his neck hard, smashing his face into the wall. He saw stars, gasping for breath that wouldn't come, then his knees gave way and he hit the floor hard. He didn't know how long he lay there, trying to recover from the blinding agony in his head and the fire in his chest that brought tears of mingled pain and frustration to his eyes. His nose hurt, bleeding down his upper lip and smearing across his face, but wiping it away was beyond his capabilities at that point.
When he could finally see, though, he perceived one thing.
Edward was gone.
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