Moral Compass 6- Unarguable
Title: Moral Compass, Unarguable
Spoilers: a mass near the end of the series
Pairing: Alphonse/Kimbley
Rating: NC-17 for previous chapters
Notes: Look, Edward does exist!
Chapter one
Chapter Two- Daze
Chapter Three- Ideas
Chapter Four- Planning
Chapter Five- Sanctity
Chapter Six
Alphonse sighed softly, running his fingers restlessly through the dark hair of the man seated firmly at his feet. The man was only on the floor so that he would have a clear view of his brother, who he’d been watching pace for a good portion of the last hour. He’d known this was coming long before his brother managed to get back through the door, and he couldn’t help but feel a little ungrateful that his first thought was frustration that he hadn’t been gone longer. It wasn’t Edward’s fault that things were going so slowly, and it certainly wasn’t his fault that he had things occupying time he rightfully should have spent with his sibling.
“Al… Look, I’m glad you’ve gone him under control and everything, but he’s still not safe to be around. You’ve been at this for months now, don’t you think, maybe…” He took a deep breath, and closed his eyes, automail fingers running quickly through his bangs, showing just how agitated he was. “Maybe it’s time we gave him to someone else to deal with. He’s almost healed you know, and the only thing keeping him under control is those drugs. It’s not right Al.”
It hurt to hear the upset, pained note in his brother’s voice, but he had to stay by this. Edward just didn’t understand how much time and effort had gone into the man. He didn’t understand how far he’d come. “Brother… I can’t. I won’t give up in the middle of this. I won’t turn him in for jailers who’d just turn around and kill him. Not after so long. You understand that, right?”
The longhaired blond moved to the window, fingers clutching the sill hard enough to make it creak. “Damn it Al. You know I don’t want to agree with you.” He bowed his head, staring down at the grass and frostbitten flowers beyond. “I don’t think this is better for him. It’s not better for you either.”
Alphonse heard the start of something, an annoyed noise of some kind that was really not needed at this particular point in the conversation, and he curled his hands tightly in the strands, the sound cutting off in a half pained, half startled gasp. The teen turned to stroking the hair instead of finger-combing it as an apology. The man really didn’t seem to realize when something was for his own good. “But you do agree with me. You know as well as I do that this time they would execute him, because he’s just not fit enough anymore, or maybe he’d be turned over to someone doing experiments. It’s not safe. It’s not like we’re exactly on good terms with the military right now you know.”
He wasn’t sure if it should have been pleasing to see his brother flinch with realization that his own words had been thrown back in his face, but he was. It hurt to think that he was reduced to that, but he needed to protect them from themselves. Both of them needed someone to be clearheaded, and it was obviously was not Edward, and Kimbley simply wasn’t up to the task.
The silence drew out for a while longer before Edward turned to look at them, letting out a resigned breath. “We should never have taken him in you know. We should have let someone know he was there and let the medical people deal with him, risked that they’d actually take care of the man. We shouldn’t have risked our luck like this.”
Alphonse leaned down, catching the unhappy look of the man leaning against his legs, and he made a soft noise, distracting him from the conversation for a second so he could move his hands to rest firmly on his shoulders, intentionally jarring him before looking to his brother. “Ed, we already did. We can’t go back on that now.”
“I know Al. I know, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it.” He had to look away from the pair, obviously not at ease with how close they were, but unable to make his point any more clear than he had already tried.
Understanding softened the gray-eyed teen’s voice, and he sat up in his seat, shooting his brother’s back a sad smile. “I never claimed you had to brother. Just let me do what I need to do.”
“Sure Al. I think I’m just- I’m going to go get some supplies, do you need me to get anything while I’m out?” Edward didn’t look in their direction as he asked, seemed unwilling to focus his attention back on them.
“There’s a list tacked to the kitchen door.” The reply earned a sharp nod, then the smaller figure was gone from sight, head ducked as he hurried from the room.
Alphonse was certain that his brother would come around eventually. After all, if Kimbley was finally getting used to things, being friendly, then he was sure his brother wouldn’t hold onto his reservations. He just needed to realize they’d made a lot of progress. Turning his gaze to the older alchemist who had at some point looked up at him, eyes narrowed in a displeased glare, the young blond couldn’t help but think that his brother really had lousy timing.
He wasn’t ready to split his attention yet.
Spoilers: a mass near the end of the series
Pairing: Alphonse/Kimbley
Rating: NC-17 for previous chapters
Notes: Look, Edward does exist!
Chapter one
Chapter Two- Daze
Chapter Three- Ideas
Chapter Four- Planning
Chapter Five- Sanctity
Chapter Six
Alphonse sighed softly, running his fingers restlessly through the dark hair of the man seated firmly at his feet. The man was only on the floor so that he would have a clear view of his brother, who he’d been watching pace for a good portion of the last hour. He’d known this was coming long before his brother managed to get back through the door, and he couldn’t help but feel a little ungrateful that his first thought was frustration that he hadn’t been gone longer. It wasn’t Edward’s fault that things were going so slowly, and it certainly wasn’t his fault that he had things occupying time he rightfully should have spent with his sibling.
“Al… Look, I’m glad you’ve gone him under control and everything, but he’s still not safe to be around. You’ve been at this for months now, don’t you think, maybe…” He took a deep breath, and closed his eyes, automail fingers running quickly through his bangs, showing just how agitated he was. “Maybe it’s time we gave him to someone else to deal with. He’s almost healed you know, and the only thing keeping him under control is those drugs. It’s not right Al.”
It hurt to hear the upset, pained note in his brother’s voice, but he had to stay by this. Edward just didn’t understand how much time and effort had gone into the man. He didn’t understand how far he’d come. “Brother… I can’t. I won’t give up in the middle of this. I won’t turn him in for jailers who’d just turn around and kill him. Not after so long. You understand that, right?”
The longhaired blond moved to the window, fingers clutching the sill hard enough to make it creak. “Damn it Al. You know I don’t want to agree with you.” He bowed his head, staring down at the grass and frostbitten flowers beyond. “I don’t think this is better for him. It’s not better for you either.”
Alphonse heard the start of something, an annoyed noise of some kind that was really not needed at this particular point in the conversation, and he curled his hands tightly in the strands, the sound cutting off in a half pained, half startled gasp. The teen turned to stroking the hair instead of finger-combing it as an apology. The man really didn’t seem to realize when something was for his own good. “But you do agree with me. You know as well as I do that this time they would execute him, because he’s just not fit enough anymore, or maybe he’d be turned over to someone doing experiments. It’s not safe. It’s not like we’re exactly on good terms with the military right now you know.”
He wasn’t sure if it should have been pleasing to see his brother flinch with realization that his own words had been thrown back in his face, but he was. It hurt to think that he was reduced to that, but he needed to protect them from themselves. Both of them needed someone to be clearheaded, and it was obviously was not Edward, and Kimbley simply wasn’t up to the task.
The silence drew out for a while longer before Edward turned to look at them, letting out a resigned breath. “We should never have taken him in you know. We should have let someone know he was there and let the medical people deal with him, risked that they’d actually take care of the man. We shouldn’t have risked our luck like this.”
Alphonse leaned down, catching the unhappy look of the man leaning against his legs, and he made a soft noise, distracting him from the conversation for a second so he could move his hands to rest firmly on his shoulders, intentionally jarring him before looking to his brother. “Ed, we already did. We can’t go back on that now.”
“I know Al. I know, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it.” He had to look away from the pair, obviously not at ease with how close they were, but unable to make his point any more clear than he had already tried.
Understanding softened the gray-eyed teen’s voice, and he sat up in his seat, shooting his brother’s back a sad smile. “I never claimed you had to brother. Just let me do what I need to do.”
“Sure Al. I think I’m just- I’m going to go get some supplies, do you need me to get anything while I’m out?” Edward didn’t look in their direction as he asked, seemed unwilling to focus his attention back on them.
“There’s a list tacked to the kitchen door.” The reply earned a sharp nod, then the smaller figure was gone from sight, head ducked as he hurried from the room.
Alphonse was certain that his brother would come around eventually. After all, if Kimbley was finally getting used to things, being friendly, then he was sure his brother wouldn’t hold onto his reservations. He just needed to realize they’d made a lot of progress. Turning his gaze to the older alchemist who had at some point looked up at him, eyes narrowed in a displeased glare, the young blond couldn’t help but think that his brother really had lousy timing.
He wasn’t ready to split his attention yet.