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rocketfueledcoughHis body had never been found. They searched and searched and found nothing. Had he been dragged onto one of the ships and to the other side? Did he run away? No one was sure.
When they discovered blood by the control panel Edward had last seen Alfons, they started to assume the worst. When, after a week, there was no sign of Alfons, they determined he had died. Just another name on a list of mysteriously dead men from a failed uprising to some. To others, a good friend was gone.
They held the funeral. After that, there was another week until Edward and Alphones had figured out a way to deactivate the gate. Then they talked about what they would do. This was their world now and even if Gracia welcomed the boys to stay in the room, Edward thought it was better to move on, make something of his life here.
Three weeks after his death, Edward and Alphonse planned to start their journey. Three weeks after his death, Alfons Heiderich was standing in front of Gracia's flower shop at dawn.
He had gone back to the factory, the spot he had been taken. It had been deserted and he had the misfortune to walk back. Yet he couldn't be bothered to feel down. As much pain as his body might have been in, his lungs were still clearer than they had been in months.
He was muddy, exhausted, feet bleeding from walking on the rough Earth, still wearing a hospital gown, and carrying a vial of a strange blue liquid. He had the largest smile on his face when he reached his home.
He knocked, since he didn't have his keys anymore. He imagined he'd have some explaining to do to Gracia, but there was time now. So much time.
He didn't expect it to be Edward Elric to answer the door, up early in preparations for the journey later.
The annoyance of the early solicitor faded into shock on Edward's face, Alfons' smile fading for the first time since he realized he would be cured. They stared at each other for the longest time, like they weren't sure they could believe what they were seeing.
Alfons, having gotten a thorough crash course in the strange, reacted first. "Why aren't you home?! You were supposed to get back to your brother!"
"Alfons, you're-"
"Brother, what's going on? Whose yelling?" The two finally looked away from each other, down the hall at Alphonse. He stopped when he finally noticed who was at the door. "Whoa."
"...huh. I always thought he'd be taller than you." Alfons finally said after a few moments.
"WHOSE A PIPSQUEAK SO TINY THAT HE CAN'T EVEN BE SEEN WITH A MICROSCOPE?!"
"I didn't say that much!" "Brother, he's in a hospital gown, stop over reacting!"
Alfons couldn't help laughing at the reaction after a few moments, Edward held back by his little brother, and only calming down when he started coughing. He saw the fear and worry on Edward's face as he grew still. Alfons smiled and held up his hand, to show there wasn't any blood. It calmed him, for the moment.
Later, Alfons would have been herded upstairs and allowed back in proper clothes. Noah was making breakfast and Alphonse was wrapping up his heart feet. Edward sat across the table from Alfons, looking at him like a puzzle he needed to figure out. But Alfons saw it. The glint of happiness and for once, it seemed like Edward was HERE when he had that look in his eye.
"We had a funeral two weeks ago."
Alfons sighed. "I was worried about that."
"Why didn't you call?" Edward asked.
"I couldn't."
"Like hell! You walked out of there without pants, why couldn't you find a phone? And why did you leave, you should be in a hospital!" Edward snapped, but it wasn't real anger. It was anger from the worry and fear and confusion.
Alfons smiled and set down the container on the table. "You're right, I probably should be, in a little while, I won't need to be."
Edward's gaze snapped to the container. "What does that...mean..." He frowned, eyes flicking back and forth as he read the label, mouthing the words. "What kind of compounds are those?"
"No idea, but it's what's been making me better."
Edward looked up, hopeful. "Better?"
Alfons nodded. "I've had an extension. Hopefully as permanent as a human gets."
"But where were you?" Alphonse asked, setting down his foot. "Everyone at the factory looked all over for you."
"Well...that's an interesting story. One that would be great for a Sunday drive." He said, giving Edward a knowing look.
"A Sunday drive? No way...you can't mean..."
Alfons nodded. "I might actually top you in real stories that sound absolutely crazy."
Edward quirked an eyebrow and then smirked. "I dunno. I sounded pretty crazy."
"Hmmm, you'll see. For now, I just want to enjoy being home for a bit and maybe get to know my best friend's brother," he said, offering Alphonse a smile, who returned one, albeit awkwardly. It was to be expected. Not everyday someone met their doppleganger.
"Alfons," Edward said softly, making Alfons look up again. "You're really going to be okay, right?"
Alfons was quiet a few moments, thinking it over. He still wasn't sure on the fate of his rockets or what sort of machines he may have given to evil men. If one of his designs would be what Steve Rogers crashes into the ocean. He still had some healing to do from the bullet wound and he was still sick.
Still, the medicine had already done so much for him, and something told him it'd be enough. He'd recover. He'd be alive. He could see his friends. He could visit his father and finally challenge his little brother into climbing that tree in the back yard. He could still build rockets.
His best friend had his little brother back. And was finally looking at him and seeing him.
There was a lot of uncertainties, but he had time now. Time to do everything he thought he'd never get to do.
He smiled fondly. "Yes. I am."
When they discovered blood by the control panel Edward had last seen Alfons, they started to assume the worst. When, after a week, there was no sign of Alfons, they determined he had died. Just another name on a list of mysteriously dead men from a failed uprising to some. To others, a good friend was gone.
They held the funeral. After that, there was another week until Edward and Alphones had figured out a way to deactivate the gate. Then they talked about what they would do. This was their world now and even if Gracia welcomed the boys to stay in the room, Edward thought it was better to move on, make something of his life here.
Three weeks after his death, Edward and Alphonse planned to start their journey. Three weeks after his death, Alfons Heiderich was standing in front of Gracia's flower shop at dawn.
He had gone back to the factory, the spot he had been taken. It had been deserted and he had the misfortune to walk back. Yet he couldn't be bothered to feel down. As much pain as his body might have been in, his lungs were still clearer than they had been in months.
He was muddy, exhausted, feet bleeding from walking on the rough Earth, still wearing a hospital gown, and carrying a vial of a strange blue liquid. He had the largest smile on his face when he reached his home.
He knocked, since he didn't have his keys anymore. He imagined he'd have some explaining to do to Gracia, but there was time now. So much time.
He didn't expect it to be Edward Elric to answer the door, up early in preparations for the journey later.
The annoyance of the early solicitor faded into shock on Edward's face, Alfons' smile fading for the first time since he realized he would be cured. They stared at each other for the longest time, like they weren't sure they could believe what they were seeing.
Alfons, having gotten a thorough crash course in the strange, reacted first. "Why aren't you home?! You were supposed to get back to your brother!"
"Alfons, you're-"
"Brother, what's going on? Whose yelling?" The two finally looked away from each other, down the hall at Alphonse. He stopped when he finally noticed who was at the door. "Whoa."
"...huh. I always thought he'd be taller than you." Alfons finally said after a few moments.
"WHOSE A PIPSQUEAK SO TINY THAT HE CAN'T EVEN BE SEEN WITH A MICROSCOPE?!"
"I didn't say that much!" "Brother, he's in a hospital gown, stop over reacting!"
Alfons couldn't help laughing at the reaction after a few moments, Edward held back by his little brother, and only calming down when he started coughing. He saw the fear and worry on Edward's face as he grew still. Alfons smiled and held up his hand, to show there wasn't any blood. It calmed him, for the moment.
Later, Alfons would have been herded upstairs and allowed back in proper clothes. Noah was making breakfast and Alphonse was wrapping up his heart feet. Edward sat across the table from Alfons, looking at him like a puzzle he needed to figure out. But Alfons saw it. The glint of happiness and for once, it seemed like Edward was HERE when he had that look in his eye.
"We had a funeral two weeks ago."
Alfons sighed. "I was worried about that."
"Why didn't you call?" Edward asked.
"I couldn't."
"Like hell! You walked out of there without pants, why couldn't you find a phone? And why did you leave, you should be in a hospital!" Edward snapped, but it wasn't real anger. It was anger from the worry and fear and confusion.
Alfons smiled and set down the container on the table. "You're right, I probably should be, in a little while, I won't need to be."
Edward's gaze snapped to the container. "What does that...mean..." He frowned, eyes flicking back and forth as he read the label, mouthing the words. "What kind of compounds are those?"
"No idea, but it's what's been making me better."
Edward looked up, hopeful. "Better?"
Alfons nodded. "I've had an extension. Hopefully as permanent as a human gets."
"But where were you?" Alphonse asked, setting down his foot. "Everyone at the factory looked all over for you."
"Well...that's an interesting story. One that would be great for a Sunday drive." He said, giving Edward a knowing look.
"A Sunday drive? No way...you can't mean..."
Alfons nodded. "I might actually top you in real stories that sound absolutely crazy."
Edward quirked an eyebrow and then smirked. "I dunno. I sounded pretty crazy."
"Hmmm, you'll see. For now, I just want to enjoy being home for a bit and maybe get to know my best friend's brother," he said, offering Alphonse a smile, who returned one, albeit awkwardly. It was to be expected. Not everyday someone met their doppleganger.
"Alfons," Edward said softly, making Alfons look up again. "You're really going to be okay, right?"
Alfons was quiet a few moments, thinking it over. He still wasn't sure on the fate of his rockets or what sort of machines he may have given to evil men. If one of his designs would be what Steve Rogers crashes into the ocean. He still had some healing to do from the bullet wound and he was still sick.
Still, the medicine had already done so much for him, and something told him it'd be enough. He'd recover. He'd be alive. He could see his friends. He could visit his father and finally challenge his little brother into climbing that tree in the back yard. He could still build rockets.
His best friend had his little brother back. And was finally looking at him and seeing him.
There was a lot of uncertainties, but he had time now. Time to do everything he thought he'd never get to do.
He smiled fondly. "Yes. I am."
