FMA: Gilded (Perfect)
Sixteenth chapter of Gilded! First chapter/explanation of this fic is here, with links to later parts.
Title: Gilded
Prompt: Perfect
Fandom: Fullmetal Alchemist (manga/Brotherhood)
Word Count: 457.
Rating: G
Summary: In which Al has a slow awakening.
Warnings: SPOILERS through to the end of the manga/Brotherhood. I've been advised by evil_little_dog to warn for "incessant cuteness" as well. :)
Author's Notes: This is yet another of those chapters that takes place in a hospital in Central. :)
Disclaimer: Fullmetal Alchemist and all associated characters, settings, etc., belong to Hiromu Arakawa-san. The only profit I make from this work of fiction is my own satisfaction and, possibly, the enjoyment of others.
When he heard the slow, steady beep… beep… beep of a heart monitor, his first thought was Oh, Brother must’ve been hurt again. His second thought was Why don’t I remember Brother getting hurt? And his third thought was interrupted by the sudden rush of memory.
Refusing to join his body and soul at the Gate… protecting Mei… Brother was stuck, Brother was trapped - he had to do something, he had to save him-!
“Whoa, Al, it’s okay! Calm down, it’s okay - it’s okay - it’s me -”
“Brother?” Al asked tentatively. Then he sucked in a startled breath as he remembered the rest: destroying his bloodseal to give Brother his arm back, waiting at the Gate, Ed coming for him - Ed, with two flesh arms and worried eyes and that tremulous, joyous smile - walking out of the Gate, seeing everyone, his father’s hand being so warm…
He could feel - Brother’s hands were holding him steady - had he been thrashing around? He could smell - a bitter, clean scent that had to be medicine or antiseptic or that pervasive hospital stench Ed always complained about. He could taste - well, had there been anything to taste, he could’ve tasted it. He could hear and he could -
He gasped. “I can’t see!” His tongue felt overly thick and heavy in his mouth - the words came out almost garbled - but of course Ed understood.
“No, it’s all right - the doc put a wrap over your eyes, they’re still sensitive - there you go.”
Calloused fingers touched his face, pulled something away. Al blinked; the swirl of colors and bright lights slowly separated into Ed’s face, with eyes that suddenly looked as fearful as they had when Al had emerged from the Gate. Al reached up - there was a tug on one hand, where he noticed an IV had been put in, but his other was free - and patted Ed’s hair, his jaw, his nose, his cheek. Ed’s eyelashes tickled Al’s fingertips when he blinked. “I can feel you,” he whispered.
Ed made a soft choking sound, then suddenly wrapped his arms around Al and pulled him close, ignoring the injuries his own bandages must be covering.
“Brother,” Al continued excitedly into Ed’s quivering shoulder, “I can feel you - I can smell - I can breathe - Brother, I was sleeping! I was asleep! I can sleep!”
“I know,” Ed whispered, but his shoulders were still shaking and his voice trembled too.
“Brother, are you all right?” Al tried to pull away, to look into Ed’s face, but he was too weak, yet. Ed slowly released him and Al was shocked to see the dampness in his eyes. “What’s wrong?” he asked, suddenly panicked, and Ed laughed, though wetly.
“Nothing’s wrong, Al. Everything is perfect.”
TBC ( Part 17 - Quit)