And their world changes...

[plant_alchemist]

There had been an earthquake weeks earlier. It had frightened the citizens of Central and had been talked about for days. But it was mostly agreed that something like that wouldn't happen again for a very long time

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[notashortbean]

Ed's on the move through Central, dodging various pieces of debris and building as they fall apart around him. It's easier to adjust to the new weight and stability of the automail than he thought it would be, and he's glad for it - he needs to be in the best condition possible if he wants to make something better out of this fucking dire situation.

His eyes are on the sky as he moves, and he's calculating quickly in his head how to get up to one of the airships. Once he gets up there, he can get closer to his goal, but it's a matter of getting from here to there. It's a wonder that he's not tripped over anything yet, but he has damn good reflexes. They'd only fail him if he let himself stop to think about the fact that this is his home breaking to pieces, and how much danger everything is in.

But he's here to prevent it, not think about it, and if he stopped to do so, he might break. So there he is. Dodge, dodge, stare. Dodge, dodge, stare. Think. Think. A large piece of building falls and nearly hits him on the head - he claps his hands loudly and transmutes it before it can. Shouts a little as he does so, making his presence known.

He's an obvious force to anyone who might be paying attention.

[plant_alchemist]

Russell is a few blocks away from where he used to live, from where he had been forced to watch his home collapse upon itself. He had tried to stabilize the walls, but the vines hadn't held and he'd had to stop Fletcher from running inside to find the cat.

Then there had been the people running away from one direction, shouting about large objects in the air. Screaming, crying. And it can't just be a coincidence that this is all happening only a short time after his meeting in the church. When the door to the lost city was opened again.

He's trying to put that out of his mind right now, as he searches the deserted streets for his brother. He'll have time later to figure out what to do next.

Drawn by the shout, Russell rounds a corner, stumbling over the rubble of a building, thinking that someone is calling out for help.

Russell stops at the sight of blond hair and feels himself staring stupidly because no, it can't be who he thinks it is. Even as much as Russell wants it to be, when did he even get back?

He walks forward, unconscious of the fact that he is doing so, eyes locked on Ed, the only other person with him on the street.

[notashortbean]

"Cowardly bitch," Edward directs towards the sky, his voice carrying loud and far. "Not even man enough to face things directly, you've gotta stay in the air where nobody can reach you!" It's obvious he's frustrated. He's had his automail replaced, he's good to go - but he's not where he needs to be.

He tosses his ponytail over his shoulder as he looks around for ideas, and this directs his vision from the sky to the area around him. He's still adjusting his brain to alchemy again, and he's processing whether he can use it to get himself up there - he's too deep in thought to notice Russ yet, but he's being enough of himself that it can prove that he really is here, can't it?

It's not your imagination, Russ, nor is it an explosion-caused hallucination. Edward Elric is here, and he's pissed.

He even shows it by kicking at some rubble with his metal leg.

[plant_alchemist]

It's as if Ed's yelling has somehow woken Russell from his state of shock so that he picks up his pace - almost running - to close the distance between them.

"Ed how..."

He stops, trying to settle on one question, made more difficult by the many things he wants to say.

"What has been happening?"

It's understandable that this is the first thing he can think of.

[notashortbean]

Edward's eyes widen as Russ approachs. While this was an encounter he should have expected, the moment the rocket crossed the gate, it was one that he had put out of his mind. Perhaps for many reasons, chief among those being that if Russ was far away from Central, then he would be safer than most everyone else Ed cares about. He already has to deal with trying to protect far too many others - and his stress level s just rise at the sight of Russell Tringham.

"Russ," he says, unable to keep the surprise out of his voice. "What are you doing here? You shouldn't - you need to get yourself out of this town. Grab Fletcher and run."

Not even thinking about the fact that Russ is an alchemist too, and capable of fending for himself. Edward glances up at the sky.

"There's a war going on."

[plant_alchemist]

The only reason Russell is still hanging around the deserted streets was due to his search for anyone in need of help. Vines tended to hold up walls long enough to get people out of dangerous buildings.

"I can't leave," he shakes his head, "not yet."

It's still his home, even if everyone else has already fled.

"Is there anything I can do?"

[notashortbean]

"Don't be dumb," Edward says, ignoring the statement and query entirelly. "There's no reason you can't leave. None of this is - it's not your fault. You don't need to fix it."

This situation is grudgingly, slowly, teaching him to be more mature. But it's hard to do that, in the face of unnecessary danger.

[plant_alchemist]

"I could have run with everyone else," Russell replies, sounding calmer than he feels, "but this is my world too and I will fight for it."

Because who better to fix something than the people who live there? Russell is involved...has been for a while now, really, and he would never forgive himself if he left Ed like this.

[notashortbean]

Edward studies Russell's face for a long, quiet moment; it's not clear what he's looking for, but finally he nods, satisfied that he's found it. "Fine," he says, "But if you get yourself killed..."

He trails off, but his words ring with a heavy warning, his eyes intense and dark.

[plant_alchemist]

He silently acknowledges that last comment by laying a hand on Ed's shoulder. He gives a reassuring squeeze, trying to communicate through touch what he doesn't think he'd be able to say out loud.

"What do you need me to do?" he asks suddenly, all business.

[notashortbean]

If Ed were able to muster up a smile, he would at that physical gesture. He wishes that he could, really, but since he can't, he just puts his mind quickly to thought on what Russ might be able to do.

The problem is simple enough. Ed needs to get from point A (the ground) to point B (the air). But even with alchemy, he's not sure what could be done with the materials around him, unless -

- unless they make use of a few ridiculous measures. Ed's suddenly thinking of an old fairy tale from the other world, and it seems pretty damn perfect. There's that smile now, in a form of a smirk, and it's almost like the old Ed has returned. "Feel like using your alchemy, buddy?" He points up at the ships in the sky. "Because if you can apply your special brand to get me up that high, then I think you've earned your keep."

[plant_alchemist]

Russell can't help but smile at Ed's expression. It's familiar and comforting and he lets out a small laugh, thinking that maybe everything wouldn't be so bad after all.

His mind is already racing with ideas: a tree, tall with a thick trunk, or a climbing vine - but attached to what? Maybe a combination of the two, or --

He pauses to look at Ed, his turn to grin.

"What did you have in mind?"

[notashortbean]

"Eh," Ed says, and smirks even more. For once, he's willing to roll with the punches, and be the one that doesn't take himself seriously - maybe it's being home that's doing it to him. "How about a really big beanstalk?"

[plant_alchemist]

Russell's face seems to light up - something that really only happens when he gets the opportunity to do alchemy on such a large scale. Especially with something he's never attempted before.

He creates the array in his mind, able to add things or take them away easily, quickly. Improvising.

Chalk in hand, he crouches down, sketching out a circle, lines, and symbols, with a practiced hand.

Light flashes and Russell is confident that he made it work, combining the strength of a tree with the ability to grow like vines.

He steps back, out of the way of the rapidly growing beanstalk.

[notashortbean]

Edward steps back as well, not feeling like getting hit in the face by a big giant plant. He puts his hands on his hips and watches it grow, before glancing at Russ. There's a look on his face, one that's caught somewhere between admiration and pride.

"I knew you could do it," he says. "Always been good with stuff like that. Could just kiss you, you talented bastard..."

There's that use of 'bastard' as a compliment, something he hasn't gotten a chance to do in far too long. Nor has he gotten a chance to deliver one of those kisses, and they've got a moment before the plant stops growing, so he grabs Russ by the collar and does exactly that.

In the dimestore novels that Ed's so fond of, the hero always earns one before he goes off to war. This can be his one.

[plant_alchemist]

Russell stands staring, head back, following the plant's progress skyward. It had been far too long since he'd done anything like that he had almost forgotten what it felt like. He doesn't notice Ed's glance, momentarily distracted by mental notes for potential modifications, still in research mode.

And then Ed is speaking to him, grabbing him, and then kissing him and Russell is kissing Ed back, distracted from the plant by something just as welcome and someone just as important to him.

The beanstalk stops growing, leaving the faint smell of fresh dirt hanging in the air.