« 005 » fifth circle. action. backdated to the 22.
[ There's a suit of armor sitting by the fountain today. It's slumped over, birds have landed on the broad shoulders and perched upon the jutting horn. evening is falling.
There's a large, red bow tied around the armor and a note. Happy Birthday Edward. ]
There's a large, red bow tied around the armor and a note. Happy Birthday Edward. ]
-Wait.
Wait.
There is a very familiar suit of armor by the fountain.]
Reply
Dropping to his knees in front of Alphonse, he gives the armor a shake, eyes wide, hopeful and frightened at the same time. The bow is registered, but now focused on, especially when Al doesn't seem to be awake right now.]
Al! Al, wake up!!
Reply
Brother?
Reply
Reply
And then?
Then, the head shifts. It tilts up, and up, and up, then clatters noisily off to the side... ]
Reply
Oh.
My.
God.
Al's in the armor.
Physically. In the armor.
As in it's his body.
Holy shit.]
A... Al...
[Hesitantly, shakily, he reaches out, to grasp Al's shoulder. He's thin, like he's barely there at all, but it's- it's solid. It's real. And it's the same Al he saw in the gate.
Holy shit.]
Reply
[ He feels like he's slept a thousand years. Oh. Sleep. He was sleeping. He's sleepy. It's a bizarre feeling. He can feel his hand. His toes. He's shivering.
He can feel it.
He can feel it.
Oh. Oh. Oh. He can feel it! He turns to stare at his hands, flexing bony fingers, golden eyes going wide. ] It's...!
Reply
Okay, breathe, Edward. This is serious, you need to breathe.
For a long moment, he can do nothing but stare. Al's... Al's really...
And finally his gaze drifts down to the ribbon around the chestplate. Happy Birthday. They'd really... and after only doing one mission...!
It's a dream come true. And in one quick motion he's unclipped the armored chestplate, flinging it aside to grab Al and pull him into a hug. He could probably stand to be a little more gentle about it, but he at least has the decency not to hold him so tightly as to break those fragile little bones.
His brother... his brother is whole again...!!]
Al, I can't believe it! Just look at you!
Reply
It kind of hurts. It's all kind of unpleasant. But that doesn't matter, because he's reaching out and gripping his brother as tightly as his malnourished body will allow. His shoulders shake slightly, there's a sob - and all at once the overwhelming joy is increased tenfold because he can cry and smile and everything is wonderful. ]
I'm back!
Reply
Come on, let's get you out of that thing!
[He grabs his jacket next, pulling it off to wrap it around Al's shoulders, offering what little comfort he can from the frosty air. As he does so, a new addition to his body is suddenly visible.]
Reply
Oh, your automail... [ bro.
bro.
i'm going to touch it. ]
Reply
Yeah, isn't it awesome? Winry made it for my birthday!
Reply
It looks so cool. [ Speaking of cool? This is cold. ]
Reply
[So excited, so excited...! But yes, it is damn cold outside, and touching metal probably isn't helping, although Al might notice that the metal itself seems to be radiating heat...
The thought doesn't occur to Edward right away, though, as he's busy brushing aside happy birthday thoughts in favor of finishing with the armor and bundling up his fragile little brother, lifting him up out of the armor as carefully as he can. If his body was normal, Al would probably have been too heavy to carry him like this, but being so frail...
Augh, that just makes him worry again. Without even glancing back at the armor that used to house Al's soul, he starts to move in the direction of their house.]
Winry's going to freak out when she sees you!
Reply
Maybe they aren't so bad. [ Winry. Winry. Oh god, he can see Winry with his own eyes again and be at her eye level and maybe even have to look up slightly and everything is beautiful. he can hug her and taste her cooking and - ]
Reply
Reply
Leave a comment