Al had to admit that it had been an indulgent, frivolous thing to buy that journal. Sure, he could explain it to himself that it might be a way to find his brother, but first, he'd have to find someone who might know him. Not only that, but he'd gotten all those fancy features, like cross-world capabilities, large monitor, fancy stylus (the fingers of his gauntlets were so big they wouldn't let him type properly), and glowy screen
( ... )
The white glow that was all that was left of his eyes went round. He shook his head so vigorously that the steel clanked and ground against his steel collar. "N-no! Of course not!" His voice was filled with horror.
Kill him? How could Zexion think that he would want to kill him? He was taking him to find help, wasn't he?
"Then I have no reason to be afraid of you." He replied. "You must have met some very stupid people."
It was more of an insult towards them than anything else. He continued to stare up at Al obviously far from intimidated. "Can I ask what made you this way?"
Al fell silent, not sure how much he should say. He didn't think that the people he'd met were stupid. After all, the natural instinct of humans was to freak at something that was so unnatural as a moving, sentient suit of armor. Rather, this man was the strange one.
And yet, he spoke with intelligence and clarity, more curious it seemed than any other emotion. It made Al want to answer honestly and clearly. He spoke slowly, chosing his words carefully. "Well, my brother and I were studying alchemy. That's the science of transmuting a substance into another substance. We were very young, and we...overstepped our limits and paid the price."
So this was the result of an accident? Still, if Zexion had a heart, it would have been beating much faster. He drummed his fingers silently against the cool metal, leaving little red prints. "Is all alchemy that dangerous?"
Al nodded as they turned around a corner, passing by more store fronts and buildings. "It can be. It takes a lot of research and work to get the results you want to happen. And the rules for it are absolute." A tinge of pride colored his voice. "My older brother is one of the best."
Mention of Ed made Al think of his brother again. He wondered how to find him now that he'd left. He would have to try to find someone who might be able to help him. Perhaps search out that Leon person that Mister Mickey had mentioned.
Zexion chuckled, a hollow sound despite his efforts to cloak it. "You must have a great deal of admiration for him."
He was far from letting his eagerness overwhelm him. Al had only said it was an accident, and that he and his brother had paid the price. There could still be another person involved, whoever had attached this boy's heart to the armor. He pushed on with the flow of the conversation. "What kinds of things can he do?"
There was something odd about Zexion's laugh that Al couldn't quite place. Something almost empty. It made Al wonder what could have happened to the man that he didn't sound very happy. Perhaps he was also missing someone dear to him. But at least he wasn't teasing Al about a brother complex or anything.
"Oh, he can do lots of things," Al said. His voice softened unconsciously as he spoke. "My brother is very smart. He is a voracious reader. And he's great at martial arts, as well as dagger fighting." Al fondly recalled how his brother could turn his automail arm into a fighting weapon, and how well he wielded it.
"Is he like you?" Zexion asked, indicating Al's body with a tilt of his head. He seemed very comfortable talking about his brother.
He cast a proper glance at their surroundings. He would have to stop leading the poor boy around the district sooner or later, or he would get suspicious. A potion or two would be enough to heal up the injuries Yohji had caused and, while Zexion didn't mind them especially, they needed to be erased before he returned 'home'.
"Like--oh!" Al shook his head. His helmet grated against his collar slightly. "Oh no. He's still got his body. But he lost his arm. He has a metal arm now. Our neighbors, Auntie Pinako and Winry made it for him. And...his leg." Al fell silent for a moment, thinking about how Ed lost his leg. When he took up the story again, his voice was soft and slow, touched with deep emotions. "He lost his leg trying to get me back when everything went wrong. He was able to retrieve my soul and attach it to this suit of armor. Until we can find a way to return everything back to how it was."
One day, they would get Ed's limbs back. One day, they would find a way.
"How did he find your...soul?" Zexion's expression was puzzled, traced with careful sympathy. He didn't know much about alchemy - how did one lose a leg of all things while trying to reclaim a heart? He was sure the 'accident' Al referred to had something to do with the heartless but now... now he wasn't so sure.
The scent of darkness grew heavier as they moved inveritably deeper into the second district. "Stop here, please." He placed the hand he'd been using for guidance on Al's chest plate, silently imploring him.
Al obediently came to a standstill. He was a little relieved that they had stopped. Zexion was asking a lot of uncomfortable questions. It was better that he stop trying to describe things that he only knew second hand, having not been there for the pertinent parts. His brother had told him a little afterward, but he had been reluctant to talk much, and Al didn't like to remind him about their mistakes.
He looked around, wondering where they were. "Is this the Third District then? I don't see a hospital."
He might as well have not heard the question. "Let me down?" Zexion asked. "I promise not to swoon."
He covered some of the excess blood with a thin illusion to make things look less severe - as far as he was concerned, it was just window dressing anyway. The dizziness had worn off and the cuts were messy but closed.
He let Al grasp the change of subject and left it, at least for the moment. He needed to find the brother, too.
At first, Al was uncertain about letting Zexion go. After all, that wound had looked awful, not to mention he had looked so weak. But a closer look showed that the damage wasn't as bad as he thought.
"Okay," he said hesitantly. He lowered Zexion carefully, still holding him up as his feet touched the ground. "Are you sure?"
Al straightened, a little surprised and pleased that he was being invited to stay with Zexion. He had been afraid that the man would just tell him to go away. That would have caused Al to worry about him. "Sure!" His voice was bright, filled with pleasure at being asked to stay.
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Kill him? How could Zexion think that he would want to kill him? He was taking him to find help, wasn't he?
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It was more of an insult towards them than anything else. He continued to stare up at Al obviously far from intimidated. "Can I ask what made you this way?"
Reply
And yet, he spoke with intelligence and clarity, more curious it seemed than any other emotion. It made Al want to answer honestly and clearly. He spoke slowly, chosing his words carefully. "Well, my brother and I were studying alchemy. That's the science of transmuting a substance into another substance. We were very young, and we...overstepped our limits and paid the price."
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Mention of Ed made Al think of his brother again. He wondered how to find him now that he'd left. He would have to try to find someone who might be able to help him. Perhaps search out that Leon person that Mister Mickey had mentioned.
Reply
He was far from letting his eagerness overwhelm him. Al had only said it was an accident, and that he and his brother had paid the price. There could still be another person involved, whoever had attached this boy's heart to the armor. He pushed on with the flow of the conversation. "What kinds of things can he do?"
Reply
"Oh, he can do lots of things," Al said. His voice softened unconsciously as he spoke. "My brother is very smart. He is a voracious reader. And he's great at martial arts, as well as dagger fighting." Al fondly recalled how his brother could turn his automail arm into a fighting weapon, and how well he wielded it.
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He cast a proper glance at their surroundings. He would have to stop leading the poor boy around the district sooner or later, or he would get suspicious. A potion or two would be enough to heal up the injuries Yohji had caused and, while Zexion didn't mind them especially, they needed to be erased before he returned 'home'.
Reply
One day, they would get Ed's limbs back. One day, they would find a way.
Reply
The scent of darkness grew heavier as they moved inveritably deeper into the second district. "Stop here, please." He placed the hand he'd been using for guidance on Al's chest plate, silently imploring him.
Reply
He looked around, wondering where they were. "Is this the Third District then? I don't see a hospital."
Reply
He covered some of the excess blood with a thin illusion to make things look less severe - as far as he was concerned, it was just window dressing anyway. The dizziness had worn off and the cuts were messy but closed.
He let Al grasp the change of subject and left it, at least for the moment. He needed to find the brother, too.
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"Okay," he said hesitantly. He lowered Zexion carefully, still holding him up as his feet touched the ground. "Are you sure?"
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