Shattered Lives

Chapter 4: Brother Mine

Alphonse sat quietly in his favorite chair, staring out at the evening-scape of Risembool. His very pregnant wife, Winry, was already in bed and fast asleep after her now nightly foot massage. The couple had been together for nearly three years and married now for at least two. This child was their first and was expected some time at the end of four months. Alphonse was a respected community member, having found a knack for his alchemic insight in medical development; many of the treatments he had developed were now used throughout Amestris.

All in All, life was good… almost perfect. And yet, every evening found Alphonse sitting in front of this very window, staring out at the road that stretched to the horizon.

It was true, his life was perfect, or at least… it would be were it not for the gaping hole in his heart.

Al sighed heavily, lifting his glass of lemonade slowly to his lips… and nearly dropping it as the nearby phone began to ring. Frowning slightly, he set his glass down and moved to answer, wondering who would be calling him at such an hour.

“Hello?”

“Alphonse?” a gruff voice answered. Al’s face immediately split into a smile.

“Colonel! Good to hear from you, sir! A little late for a call though… is everything all right?”

Roy had a habit of calling the check up on him and Winry but the man never called so late, knowing the couple were early risers and tended to be in bed by now.

Roy had to sigh on the other end of the line. Whereas he had always had trouble getting Ed to call him ‘sir,’ he had been likewise unable to get the younger Elric to cease.

“No, nothing’s wrong. Just the opposite actually, I have some wonderful news.”

“News? What news?” Al asked, his voice holding more than a hint of confusion. Something in the Colonel’s tone told him this was no ordinary call.

“Alphonse… I found him…” Roy couldn’t help it, his voice cracked slightly with emotion as he spoke the words he had waited to tell Alphonse Elric for years. “I found Edward…”

Silence answered him on the other end and Roy understood. Al was probably trying to reason out if he was dreaming, or if, for some sick reason, Roy would be lying to him. As if responding to his thoughts, Alphonse shakily replied.

“Mustang… if you’re lying to me…” Al’s voice nearly broke but Roy had to chuckle slightly as his eyes started to water.

“No Al,” he said, letting his emotion show through his voice. “I really found him… I’m looking at him right now.”

Al’s breathing became heavy and labored, obviously fighting a breakdown as Roy could only offer his support from afar.

“Let me talk to him! Can I talk to Brother?” Al asked desperately.

“He’s sleeping Alphonse… it’s been a rough day and I’d rather let him rest for now,” He explained slowly. “I don’t think I could wake him if I wanted to at the moment.”

“He’s alive,” Al sobbed into the phone, Roy staying silent to let the young man try and pull himself together. They shared in each others relief for long moments. Roy waited to breach the hardest issue until he was certain that Al had at least managed to get one foot back underneath him.

“Listen Alphonse, I called you first because you deserved to be the first to know… but also to prepare you…” Roy started slowly, sensing Al’s attention immediately snapping back to him.

“W-what’s the matter? Is he all right? Is brother all right?!” Al’s panic had been expected but Roy still couldn’t help feeling like a heel for causing it.

“I won’t lie to you Al… he’s roughed up. But I swear to you he’s going to be fine,” Roy said sternly. “Do you believe that?”

“Of course, Sir… I trust you with my life as well as his… but… what happened?” Al asked hurriedly, a hint of annoyance in his tone.

“I’m not certain myself,” Roy admitted. “We haven’t really had a chance to talk. It’s been a long day and he hasn’t done much else but sleep.”

“I want to see him… where are you? I’ll meet you two and then we can….”

Roy knew he was about to feel like an absolute bastard, but the next few days would be crucial in helping Edward cope with what he’d been through. Too much too soon would overwhelm him and possibly destroy anything that was left.

“Alphonse,” Roy started, trying to sound authoritative. “I’m going to bring him to Central. We’ll be there within the week… but I need you to meet us there.”

“All due respect, Roy,” Al answered. “I need to see him. I have to see him. He needs me!”

“Believe me Al, I understand. But Ed’s going to need some time to come to term with normal life again… he was… in a less than favorable situation… and I know he wouldn’t be able to face you. He loves you so much Al… and he wouldn’t want you to see him now.”

There was a long pause on the other line and Roy knew that Al was about to come back with another argument. The man was stubborn… like his brother.

“Please Al,” Roy tried, knowing that Edward would desperately need time before facing his old life. “I promise I’ll explain everything when we get there and let you plow into the ground for weeks… just give us this time.”

Another long pause before…

“All right, Roy. You’ve got a week before I come looking for my brother. I can’t thank you enough for having found him… but I just… need to see him,” Al went from sounding pissed to apologetic in two seconds flat and it made Roy smile.

“I know Al, and I want to get you your brother back as soon as possible,” Roy reassured. And the man in the bed right now isn’t quiet your brother… and he may not be again. Roy couldn’t bring himself to say that to Al. He knew that whatever abuses Ed had suffered couldn’t be erased in a week, but hopefully by then, Ed would have a spark back in his eyes.

“Yes, sir… are you certain I can’t speak with him?” Al’s hopeful voice made Roy feel worse, but he really didn’t think he could wake Ed up.

“I’m sorry Al… tell you what. When he wakes up tomorrow and feels up to it, we’ll give you a call.” It was the best he could do.

“Yes, sir,” Al’s voice was defeated and Roy wanted to just let him speak with Ed. “Well, you get some rest sir…”

“You too Al,” Roy said.

“And sir?”

“Yes Al?”

“Please… please… take good care of Brother.”

“I will Al. We’ll see you in a week all right?”

“All right. Good night, Roy.”

“Good night Al.”

Kuragari: Well, that conversation went a little awkwardly but I’m not sure I could’ve done better. oh well!