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tampered2007-02-26 12:52 pm
opfern.livejournal.com) wrote in tampered2007-02-26 12:52 pm
Log; Complete
When; February 23rd. Evening.
Rating; PG-13.
Characters; Faye Valentine [![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
glock30], Alfons Heiderich [opfern], & Edward Elric [deduced].
Summary; Alfons gets a bit drunk after dealing with the curse day, and Faye keeps him company, but he gets stupid and Edward walks in on it.
Log;
Edward; Finding the admission that morning had been the last thing he'd expected to wake up to. The subsequent 'talk' with Alfons had only made matters worse.
He'd hidden everything. Than night, everything that'd happened, and he'd denied it all. Even after all the questions the day after. Alfons had brushed it all off as a dream, and Ed had been quick to accept that. After all, why would Alfons ever do something like that with him? It was a dream, and a hazy one at that.
Only, it wasn't now. Was it? It was...a memory, forced away into the darkest recesses of his mind. And now, they'd been torn back up, for the entire city to see. Proof of that one night that previous year.
And so, a number of walks around the city later (a few rounds involving various attacks on the sides of buildings, lampposts, and even the occasional bin) had left Ed with only one thing left to do. He needed to confront his 'friend' over it all.
The key slid easily into the door, lock clicking open almost soundlessly as he pushed it forward. Returning the key to his pocket, Ed made his way inside, looking around the room in search of Alfons.
...who was currently sitting in the middle of the sofa, half naked, kissing some woman he'd never seen before. The door slammed shut, eyes narrowed on the pair. "That didn't take long."
Faye; In all fairness, Faye had just been wrapping Alfons' arm like he'd asked. A perfectly innocent request. Yeah. Completely. That was how it had started. She'd told him, just like she would have told anyone else, to take his shirt off while she tracked down fresh bandages and some supplies to clean the wound with. Totally normal. And then somewhere between getting the old bandages off and talking about the day's recent turn of events, Alfons had closed the minimal distance between them and kissed her rather soundly on the mouth.
Faye was by no means a bad kisser. She knew this. She'd been told this. Usually she knew how to kiss, but the shock of Alfons doing something so completely random like kissing her… more or less through her for a loop and made her rather unresponsive. The kiss held little to no emotion on Faye's part. Mostly because this was Alfons here and because she was so completely shocked that her jaw dropped and her stomach made that odd, uncomfortable scrunched up feeling that you usually get when you're about to slip on some ice.
And then it got worse. A lot worse. Someone was opening the door halfway through this odd little monstrosity, someone she didn't know and didn't really want to know her. So Faye pulled back like Alfons had just electrocuted her and shoved him away, feeling like she'd just gotten caught on top of him instead of shocked by him.
"This is completely not what it looks like," she said, getting up, looking to Alfons and then to the new guy and then to the bandages in her hand. "Uh… bandages! He asked me to help, being an expert on the subject and all." And then Faye was out of things to say. The silence was awkward and suffocating. Definitely time to leave.
She tossed her roll of gauze to the new kid and said, "Knock yourself out." Light didn't move faster than Faye Valentine at that point. Although, she did manage to pause at the door and say to Alfons, "You know, for acting the way you do and saying all the crap you say, that was a pretty good kiss. Just, really, don't try it again. I'd have to hit you next time." And then she bolted, and light really couldn't have gone faster.
Alfons; Alfons was left sitting there looking incredibly confused, blinking after Faye's exit rather owlishly before his gaze shifted back to Edward as the door closed. How was he supposed to explain this? Faye had pretty much said all that needed to be said... And really, he was surprised she hadn't hit him this time.
An empty beer can was knocked away by his bare foot as he staggered up and pulled his shirt back on. She really hadn't finished bandaging him, but suddenly he didn't care if that wound of his reopened. Feeling that pain would be a better distraction than nothing.
Embarrassed, irritated, and still...a little confused, he looked over at Edward with a rather worn out glare. "What d'you want?"
Edward; His glare followed the barely dressed woman out the door, a hand reaching backward to slam the door shut once again. It took a few minutes for him to force his thoughts into some kind of order, finally turning back to face the blond.
"What the hell was that about?" Some part of his mind supplied the fact that the woman seemed to be more interested in getting away from Alfons than trying to stand up for what he'd just seen. "Who was she?"
Alfons; "Her name is Faye Valentine. She's the woman whose apartment I cleaned that time, and though she can be crude, she's still very nice and attractive. She was bandaging my arm for me, and I guess I got a little carried away and kissed her."
With a roll of his eyes, Alfons reached down to button up his shirt. "It's not rocket science, Edward. Couldn't figure that much out on your own?"
Edward; Rocket science made more sense to him that the fact that Alfons had been sitting there, kissing some stranger. Sure, it seemed like she wasn't really a stranger to him, but she wasn't...anyone he knew. She wasn't someone Alfons had known for long.She wasn't him.
"And why were you kissing her?" He'd spent the entire day trying to get his thoughts in order, only to have them thrown straight back out, within the first few seconds.
Alfons; With a little groan, Alfons let his legs give out so that he could sit on the couch. His head had been hurting for so much of the day already... He didn't want to get into another fight with Edward. Not again. Why was that all they were doing lately?
Perhaps because their worlds, or at least Alfons', had been thrown topsy turvy.
"I just said she was nice and attractive. Am I to be condemned for kissing a woman, now? If I had known she didn't want to, then I wouldn't have. How was I to know?"
Edward; He frowned, gaze moving away as he tried to calm himself down. It was no use getting any angrier than he had before. ...as much as he wanted to. It would be so much easier to just yell. To revert back to his usual responses to things he was uncomfortable with. But...not for this.
"Do you...love her?" He wasn't sure where the question had come from. After all, it was just a kiss. It wasn't as though they'd...been seeing each other or anything, right?
Alfons; Alfons stared at Edward like he'd just sprouted wings for a long moment before he burst out laughing. It was a sharp sound, and nothing gentle or warm like his normal laugh. "Love? I hardly know Miss Valentine... I respect her. She's nice. But love? You have to love someone to kiss them now?"
Snatching up another can, he stared down at it while he snapped it open. Canned beer really was a thing of wonder... When had they invented it? In his opinion, it didn't taste quite as good as what he remembered back home, but the convenience far out-weighed that. "You certainly don't have to love them to sleep with them," he muttered under his breath before taking a sip.
Edward; "Bastard." He couldn't help how cold his voice sounded at that single word. Storming across the room toward Alfons, Ed stopped directly in front of him. One hand reached to grab the can free, the other taking a grip of the neck of Alfons' shirt.
Lifting him up to eye level, Ed glared angrily. "Is that what all this is about?" He held the can up a moment, before throwing it angrily against the wall behind the sofa. "You want to get yourself drunk enough to go sleep with someone again? Planning to make sure they don't remember it this time too?"
Alfons; Alfons already felt sluggish these days, but as utterly intoxicated he was, there was no way he could react in time to even try to move out of the way of Edward's grip. Instead he just looked after his lost beer can as if his favorite pet dog had just been hit by a car.
"Damnit! Edward!" Reaching out, he snatched his shirt right back, only he was just trying to shove him away. To get him off, and not touch. Any touch was a bad touch now. "Don't you go there! That wasn't something I planned, and neither was this! It's not like I try to go around seducing people! You were the only one ever! I guess I should just be grateful I didn't die a damn virgin, right?!"
Edward; "Don't!" He was bringing it up again; the fact he was now...dead. It was the one thing Ed didn't want to hear. Alfons could say he hated him, that he regretted everything. But to remind him of that other day. To remind him of an accident in the city taking his life away...
"No, but that doesn't stop you anyway. How many people are you planning to drag into this now? Sick of going after your friends that you want some stranger too now?"
Alfons; Though he knew his right hand was his strongest, it was still currently injured, so his left hand would have to do for what it was about to deliver...which was a punch across the jaw. Though he was drunk, his aim was surprisingly dead on, and it had the force behind it that the one the other day had not.
"Don't WHAT, Edward? Talk about my death? I'm sorry if it makes you uncomfortable, but I'm the one who has to deal with it every day!" Alfons knew he would regret running his mouth off later. A small part of him remembered that he had never wanted Edward to feel guilty about it. So why was he rubbing it in his face? Why was he so angry?
"My heart doesn't beat. I'm cold all the time. So why do I still bleed when cut?! Why am I still sick? I'm caught in this limbo, and I'm not going to have you stand there and judge me just because I was trying to find some comfort in it!"
Edward; Stumbling backward, Ed brought a hand to his jaw, the shock of the attack hurting more than the actual punch. Oh, he'd wake up with a bruise, but that wasn't what mattered to him just then.
"Look, I don't think anyone was planning on letting you die. It happened. It'll be fixed." Even at a cost he knew he shouldn't pay. "But I'm not letting you use that against me. I wasn't there in time. I know that. It isn't going to happen again." His hand dropped, clenching into a tight fist, body shaking slightly as he forced himself not to retaliate. Not yet at least.
"That's not what this is about anyway!"
Alfons; "Edward, would you...stop it! No! It can't be fixed! A life for a life, and I would NOT want to live a life knowing somebody died for me. The only way it can be fixed is if I actually die, like a real person does! No soul, and my body rotting! That's probably the best thing I can have right now, and I'm sure it will happen eventually! This Hell can't keep me forever, and it won't you and your brother, either!"
He was losing it. He knew he was. It was all those damned nights he'd lain in bed, staring at the ceiling and counting the tick tocks of the clock he couldn't see. It was all those damned books he'd read on Germany's history. What it had accomplished. What it had wrecked. Everything, everything was gone, and the one thing he had chosen to let go was staring him in the face and yelling at him, and inside his chest it felt scratchy and raw.
And he was losing it.
"It's exactly what this is about! Concentrate on your own goals! I'm not a part of them anymore!"
Edward; "Do you think I'm going to just forget all of that? You were the one there for me for those two years. I'm not going to let you get stuck here because I wasn't there for another few weeks." That was what it all boiled down to for him. He hadn't been there to protect Alfons the one time he needed it, and so, he'd make up for it somehow.
But to have that want thrown back in his face...? "You're acting like you've got a say in the matter." A glare and Ed looked off to the side. "I'll do what I want to do, no matter what you say."
Alfons; That was it. He just couldn't take any more of this pointless charade. Was it really helping anything?! No! All it was doing was hurting Alfons' head, and making Edward think up crazy plans to bring him back to life.
Stepping forward, he slammed his left hand against Edward's right shoulder, hearing the sharp thud of the metal as it connected with the wall. "No, you won't! Whatever you're planning, I already hate the idea! Edward, I didn't die just so that you could completely negate my choice on sending you home!"
His nails dug into the fabric of his sleeve, and Alfons couldn't meet Edward's gaze as his voice dropped to a whisper. "...I didn't die here in the City. I just happened to be unconscious when you walked in on me and Nill."
Edward; He blinked. And blinked again, all anger disappearing at once. "You..." He shook his head, turning back to look at Alfons again. He...had to be lying, didn't he? After all, when could he have died? "What're you talking about?" And already the hurt was there, entwined within his own confusion.
Lifting a hand to Alfons' shirt, he grabbed a hold of the front, his grip softer than before. "...then...when did you..." He frowned, looking down. "...Alfons. What...what happened?"
Alfons; Even Alfons couldn't be angry anymore. It all melted away, leaving behind his tired frame and weary gaze. His arm dropped back to his side, and he stared at his feet, wondering how much he would regret this tomorrow.
"...I'm not really sure, to be honest. It happened before you crossed the Gate. I could still see you. I think I was shot...in the back, but... I couldn't hear it very well over the sound of the engine. Just a sharp...pain. But it was...quick. I think I was only alive for...another minute...on the floor..."
Edward; "You...were shot...?" While sending him back. That meant it had to have been one of the soldiers. They'd killed him before he'd gotten through the gate. ...they'd shot him because he'd been sent through? "...Alfons..."
At least it was all starting to make more sense. "Why didn't you just tell me?" He already knew the answer though. He'd end up reacting...the same way he was. Leaning forward a little, his head rested against Alfons' chest, grip tightening. "...I have to find a way to fix thing."
Alfons; Alfons shook his head immediately at that, throwing both arms around him to hold him secure. Well, as securely as a drunk could hold anybody, anyway. "No," he whispered raggedly.
"Don't do that. Don't take everything on like it's your responsibility, Edward. It... It happened. You can't just...take it back because you don't like it. The best thing you can do for me is to live your best, with your brother...together. All right?"
Edward; He shook his head, unable to look up just yet. "It happened...because you sent me through." There was no other reason for them to have shot him. Not someone who had been working for their cause. "There...there has to be a way..." After half of the things he'd heard about in the city, he knew there was a way to bring the dead back to life. If there was a way he could bring Alfons back, then he'd be free to...
...to return to his own world. While he and Al returned to theirs. "...I want you to come with us." Just him and the two people he cared most about.
Alfons; Alfons shut his eyes, but it couldn't close the pain out. How could someone was strong as Edward still manage to sound so small and pitiful? "I knew of the danger when I sent you through... Even if they hadn't run in and seen, they would have ended up putting the pieces together. I knew that. But...I wanted to. All right?"
Turning his head away, a small cough against his arm reminded him of one of the many reasons he'd made his decision. "I didn't want to die. I don't want to be dead. But...what's the point of hoping for another life when it will probably just end again in a few months? Don't...give me false hope, all right? Please?"
Edward; "...you don't get it, do you?" Pulling back enough to look up at Alfons, he smiled weakly, trying to lighten his words a little. "I wasn't worth your life. Nothing was." Not to just send him through the gate. He...would've found another way. There had to have been another path. One that didn't put Alfons into danger.
His illness. Again, a problem they'd faced for months already. The subject of 'how long' had never been brought up. Instead, it'd been a day to day thing as far as he was concerned. No amount of bugging had changed that matter. But to just give up on hope because of that was something he couldn't do. He could, however, agree with part of his words. He wouldn't give him false hopes. Instead, he'd wait until he'd made some research of his own. "...I'm sorry."
Alfons; After staring down at him for a long moment, trying to formulate a well-educated response, something that could have meaning and depth...all that he ended up doing was grinning, reaching up to cup the other's face so that he could poke at his cheeks.
"Edward, you're cute when you pout, but you're beautiful when you smile. So smile, hm?"
Edward; His head cocked to the side, confused by the sudden lightening of the mood. Not that it wasn't welcome, of course. Anything to change the subject for now. Slowly, a smile made its way onto his face, unable to help himself. ...even if Alfons was using girlish words to try and describe him.
Alfons; "Ah, see? There we go. Now... I think we've moped around and yelled at each other enough today to last us a lifetime, so...help me finish bandaging this, would you?" He clapped a hand against Edward's arm before turning and heading back over to the couch, where he could drop down.
At least this time he wasn't too drunk to unbutton his own shirt, which he slid off to reveal the injured arm that was still only covered with the small patch of gauze.
Edward; Nodding his head slightly, Ed dropped down alongside him, turning to face Alfons properly. His eyes passed over the revealed skin, images of a darkened kitchen flickering back into his mind. "Y-you need me to bandage the rest, right?" He shook his head, hoping to clear the images. Concentrate on the task at hand. Not the memory of how sweat slicked flesh slid across each other as he buried his head into the others neck. No! Focus!
Alfons; Alfons wasn't even really looking at Edward anymore. He was just leaning back against the couch, head tilted while he gazed towards the window. "Mm. Not too tight, though..."
He could remember how many times he'd caught Edward looking out the window before. Now it felt like they had reversed positions. The thought almost made him laugh. Almost.
"...How is your brother? He...saw it."
Edward; Right. He could do this. All he needed to do was to bandage Alfons' arm. He couldn't do it himself, so Ed would help him out instead. No more thinking of the sounds they made. The scent of oil mixed with...something he couldn't describe. No, that would even enter his mind.
Pulling the edge of the bandage free from the roll, Ed shifted closer, slowly starting to bind the offered arm. "Al did?" He hadn't heard anything from Al since the day, beyond their short conversations at meal times. At least he now had some kind of idea as to why he'd been acting strangely. "...what did he see?"
Alfons; Alfons' gaze finally shifted back to Edward. The older teen was making an odd face, but...that was to be expected, when realizing your younger brother had gotten details of your sex life.
"...I did try to be vague, but he's not stupid. He knew who I was talking about. He knows what you and I did..." It was hard to focus. His ears were still ringing from the buzz. The beer might have been weaker than home's, but he had certainly downed enough to make up for that. Reaching up with his free hand, Alfons rubbed at his temple.
"Someone with the same face as him...sleeping with his older brother... I wonder if he hates me now? It seems like he already did, considering the last time we met, on that violent curse day...but... I can't say I acted much better."
Edward; So he'd read all of that then. ...perhaps talking to Al about it later would be a good idea. But at the same time, what if it made things worse? No, he'd think about that later. Right now, his focus was on helping out Alfons.
"He'll be alright." He had to be. "I'll talk to him about it later." Though, at least they were finally back on to the reason he'd come over in the first place. That days curse, his little confession.
"...I didn't want to forget about it, you know..." Reaching the end of the bandage, Ed tucked the end away, taping it into place. Running a hand down Alfons' arms, Ed nodded, happy with his work. "...I still remember bits of it."
Alfons; He watched his hand trail down, almost numbly thanks to the haze of alcohol, but he could certainly feel it. It was warm, unlike him.
Alfons' gaze traveled from his own right arm to Edward's, scanning the metal contraption. It was strange to him. Alien. It wasn't even covered with artificial skin...but Alfons had seen how much movement it allowed Edward. Much more than his old prosthetics. His 'automail' mystified him just as much as the modern computer did.
"...I would touch your right hand after that, sometimes, when I knew you weren't looking. Just to pretend."
Edward; He glanced between Alfons and his automail, shaking his head slightly. If it really all meant that much to him, why hadn't he just told him? Why had he hidden it for so long?
Flexing his hand a few times, he turned his attention to Alfons' own arm once again. Lifting his left hand, it ran gently across his wrist, fingers trailing over a cold hand. "...you didn't have to pretend."
Alfons; "I think I'm...understanding that now. I wish I hadn't been so scared." Turning his hand over, he took hold of Edward's, rubbing his thumb over his knuckles absently while he offered a shy, sheepish smile.
"I guess you were right... I really am an idiot."
Edward; "Told you so." Smirking slightly, his hand closed around Alfons', as he glanced back up at the other once more. "I'm always right. Should know that by now." Turning to sit properly, Ed shifted back in the seat, resting gently against Alfons' side.
"You should learn to listen to me more."
Alfons; Even if Edward was gentle, it still made him flinch. Of course, it was either this side and rest against his injured arm, or the other side and have to hold onto Edward's automail. Deciding that there were better positions for this, he shifted with a murmur of, "Here," before painfully lifting his arm to drape it around Edward's shoulders.
Like that, he was able to use his other hand to reach across his lap and close back around the boy's. Much better. Warmth. He really could get addicted to it. "And I think you're getting a little egotistical there, Elric. Keep it up and I might have to knock you down a peg or two...provided you're still within my line of vision after that."
He was probably going to regret that, but it had been too easy of an opening.
Edward; Seeing as it felt so comfortable, why hadn't they done this before? He knew he enjoyed being close to Alfons. It was why he found it so easy to stay around the blond no matter what'd happened between them before. To now be allowed this close was something he wouldn't soon forget.
Moving carefully against Alfons' side, Ed bit his lip, waiting for him to get comfortable before he could relax. Only then did he rest his head back against a bandaged shoulder. It didn't last long though as an elbow was shoved into Alfons' stomach, for obvious reasons.
Alfons; He'd been expecting it, but it still made him wince and let go of Ed's hand temporarily so he could rub at his stomach. But no matter. He didn't regret it. When a good short joke came a lot, he could never resist. Fortunately, they came along rarely, which was probably better for his safety.
Catching Edward's hand in his again, he drew it up so that he could kiss his palm in tacit apology for the remark. Or really, it was just an excuse to kiss his hand, but excuses were always good to have for back-up in emergency situations.
"Do you think your brother would be angry...if you stayed here tonight?"
Edward; He smirked, about ready to say something along the lines of him deserving it, but his words died in his throat. Instead, his scowl returned back to a smile, his hand turning enough to allow his fingers to trail across Alfons' jaw.
"Angry? Uh..." He wasn't too sure about that. Given what Al had found out that day, he was pretty sure he'd know why he wasn't heading home. But as to whether he'd be upset over it. "...I don't think so."
Alfons; Alfons hoped not... He had a feeling that he and the younger Elric would have to talk things over eventually, and get things squared away. He didn't want to have to walk an egg shells with him forever, if only for Edward's sake.
"Hm, then I guess what I should be asking is..." He tilted his head to kiss his palm again, followed by his rest, until he could lean in close and brush his lips against the shell of his ear while whispering out, "Will you?"
Edward; Some day along the line, Ed hoped that the three of them would be able to stay in the same apartment. It would make things easier in the long run, the two most important people to him under one roof. The trouble was that neither of them seemed to get along too well.
"Well..." he started, amused by the question. Oh, he shuddered, unable to stop the feeling that washed over him at the warm breath on his ear. "Perhaps~" His hand moved to the back of Alfons' neck, tugging lightly. "...depends."
Alfons; Alfons blinked as he was tugged down a bit, and he moved his hand to rest against Edward's leg for balance. Beneath the pant leg, he could feel the hard metal and grooves of craftsmanship. Perhaps it was best that Ed couldn't feel anything in that leg, because Alfons was leaning pretty heavily as he lightly bumped his forehead against Edward's and let their lips get just close enough to brush when he spoke.
"On...?"
Edward; "Mmhmm." His eyes fixed on Alfons', refusing to look away. He had nothing to blame this on. He wasn't drunk. He wasn't under any form of curse. He was just...running on feeling alone. "You have to make it worth my while." And with that, the gap between them was closed as Ed pushed himself upward, lips pressing softly against Alfons'.
Alfons; He was trying not to smile against the kiss, but it was a little difficult when he suddenly felt so elated. No, he couldn't claim complete sobriety during this act, but he could always merrily prove to Edward later that he would also do it without a six pack of beer in him.
Many times over.
Words were abandoned for a bit in favor of deepening the kiss, hoping Edward still didn't mind the taste of alcohol. Finally, though, he had to ease out of it just so he could trail his lips along his jawline and down at the juncture beneath his chin. "Mm... I suppose I can try to think of something."
Rating; PG-13.
Characters; Faye Valentine [
glock30], Alfons Heiderich [opfern], & Edward Elric [deduced].Summary; Alfons gets a bit drunk after dealing with the curse day, and Faye keeps him company, but he gets stupid and Edward walks in on it.
Log;
Edward; Finding the admission that morning had been the last thing he'd expected to wake up to. The subsequent 'talk' with Alfons had only made matters worse.
He'd hidden everything. Than night, everything that'd happened, and he'd denied it all. Even after all the questions the day after. Alfons had brushed it all off as a dream, and Ed had been quick to accept that. After all, why would Alfons ever do something like that with him? It was a dream, and a hazy one at that.
Only, it wasn't now. Was it? It was...a memory, forced away into the darkest recesses of his mind. And now, they'd been torn back up, for the entire city to see. Proof of that one night that previous year.
And so, a number of walks around the city later (a few rounds involving various attacks on the sides of buildings, lampposts, and even the occasional bin) had left Ed with only one thing left to do. He needed to confront his 'friend' over it all.
The key slid easily into the door, lock clicking open almost soundlessly as he pushed it forward. Returning the key to his pocket, Ed made his way inside, looking around the room in search of Alfons.
...who was currently sitting in the middle of the sofa, half naked, kissing some woman he'd never seen before. The door slammed shut, eyes narrowed on the pair. "That didn't take long."
Faye; In all fairness, Faye had just been wrapping Alfons' arm like he'd asked. A perfectly innocent request. Yeah. Completely. That was how it had started. She'd told him, just like she would have told anyone else, to take his shirt off while she tracked down fresh bandages and some supplies to clean the wound with. Totally normal. And then somewhere between getting the old bandages off and talking about the day's recent turn of events, Alfons had closed the minimal distance between them and kissed her rather soundly on the mouth.
Faye was by no means a bad kisser. She knew this. She'd been told this. Usually she knew how to kiss, but the shock of Alfons doing something so completely random like kissing her… more or less through her for a loop and made her rather unresponsive. The kiss held little to no emotion on Faye's part. Mostly because this was Alfons here and because she was so completely shocked that her jaw dropped and her stomach made that odd, uncomfortable scrunched up feeling that you usually get when you're about to slip on some ice.
And then it got worse. A lot worse. Someone was opening the door halfway through this odd little monstrosity, someone she didn't know and didn't really want to know her. So Faye pulled back like Alfons had just electrocuted her and shoved him away, feeling like she'd just gotten caught on top of him instead of shocked by him.
"This is completely not what it looks like," she said, getting up, looking to Alfons and then to the new guy and then to the bandages in her hand. "Uh… bandages! He asked me to help, being an expert on the subject and all." And then Faye was out of things to say. The silence was awkward and suffocating. Definitely time to leave.
She tossed her roll of gauze to the new kid and said, "Knock yourself out." Light didn't move faster than Faye Valentine at that point. Although, she did manage to pause at the door and say to Alfons, "You know, for acting the way you do and saying all the crap you say, that was a pretty good kiss. Just, really, don't try it again. I'd have to hit you next time." And then she bolted, and light really couldn't have gone faster.
Alfons; Alfons was left sitting there looking incredibly confused, blinking after Faye's exit rather owlishly before his gaze shifted back to Edward as the door closed. How was he supposed to explain this? Faye had pretty much said all that needed to be said... And really, he was surprised she hadn't hit him this time.
An empty beer can was knocked away by his bare foot as he staggered up and pulled his shirt back on. She really hadn't finished bandaging him, but suddenly he didn't care if that wound of his reopened. Feeling that pain would be a better distraction than nothing.
Embarrassed, irritated, and still...a little confused, he looked over at Edward with a rather worn out glare. "What d'you want?"
Edward; His glare followed the barely dressed woman out the door, a hand reaching backward to slam the door shut once again. It took a few minutes for him to force his thoughts into some kind of order, finally turning back to face the blond.
"What the hell was that about?" Some part of his mind supplied the fact that the woman seemed to be more interested in getting away from Alfons than trying to stand up for what he'd just seen. "Who was she?"
Alfons; "Her name is Faye Valentine. She's the woman whose apartment I cleaned that time, and though she can be crude, she's still very nice and attractive. She was bandaging my arm for me, and I guess I got a little carried away and kissed her."
With a roll of his eyes, Alfons reached down to button up his shirt. "It's not rocket science, Edward. Couldn't figure that much out on your own?"
Edward; Rocket science made more sense to him that the fact that Alfons had been sitting there, kissing some stranger. Sure, it seemed like she wasn't really a stranger to him, but she wasn't...anyone he knew. She wasn't someone Alfons had known for long.
"And why were you kissing her?" He'd spent the entire day trying to get his thoughts in order, only to have them thrown straight back out, within the first few seconds.
Alfons; With a little groan, Alfons let his legs give out so that he could sit on the couch. His head had been hurting for so much of the day already... He didn't want to get into another fight with Edward. Not again. Why was that all they were doing lately?
Perhaps because their worlds, or at least Alfons', had been thrown topsy turvy.
"I just said she was nice and attractive. Am I to be condemned for kissing a woman, now? If I had known she didn't want to, then I wouldn't have. How was I to know?"
Edward; He frowned, gaze moving away as he tried to calm himself down. It was no use getting any angrier than he had before. ...as much as he wanted to. It would be so much easier to just yell. To revert back to his usual responses to things he was uncomfortable with. But...not for this.
"Do you...love her?" He wasn't sure where the question had come from. After all, it was just a kiss. It wasn't as though they'd...been seeing each other or anything, right?
Alfons; Alfons stared at Edward like he'd just sprouted wings for a long moment before he burst out laughing. It was a sharp sound, and nothing gentle or warm like his normal laugh. "Love? I hardly know Miss Valentine... I respect her. She's nice. But love? You have to love someone to kiss them now?"
Snatching up another can, he stared down at it while he snapped it open. Canned beer really was a thing of wonder... When had they invented it? In his opinion, it didn't taste quite as good as what he remembered back home, but the convenience far out-weighed that. "You certainly don't have to love them to sleep with them," he muttered under his breath before taking a sip.
Edward; "Bastard." He couldn't help how cold his voice sounded at that single word. Storming across the room toward Alfons, Ed stopped directly in front of him. One hand reached to grab the can free, the other taking a grip of the neck of Alfons' shirt.
Lifting him up to eye level, Ed glared angrily. "Is that what all this is about?" He held the can up a moment, before throwing it angrily against the wall behind the sofa. "You want to get yourself drunk enough to go sleep with someone again? Planning to make sure they don't remember it this time too?"
Alfons; Alfons already felt sluggish these days, but as utterly intoxicated he was, there was no way he could react in time to even try to move out of the way of Edward's grip. Instead he just looked after his lost beer can as if his favorite pet dog had just been hit by a car.
"Damnit! Edward!" Reaching out, he snatched his shirt right back, only he was just trying to shove him away. To get him off, and not touch. Any touch was a bad touch now. "Don't you go there! That wasn't something I planned, and neither was this! It's not like I try to go around seducing people! You were the only one ever! I guess I should just be grateful I didn't die a damn virgin, right?!"
Edward; "Don't!" He was bringing it up again; the fact he was now...dead. It was the one thing Ed didn't want to hear. Alfons could say he hated him, that he regretted everything. But to remind him of that other day. To remind him of an accident in the city taking his life away...
"No, but that doesn't stop you anyway. How many people are you planning to drag into this now? Sick of going after your friends that you want some stranger too now?"
Alfons; Though he knew his right hand was his strongest, it was still currently injured, so his left hand would have to do for what it was about to deliver...which was a punch across the jaw. Though he was drunk, his aim was surprisingly dead on, and it had the force behind it that the one the other day had not.
"Don't WHAT, Edward? Talk about my death? I'm sorry if it makes you uncomfortable, but I'm the one who has to deal with it every day!" Alfons knew he would regret running his mouth off later. A small part of him remembered that he had never wanted Edward to feel guilty about it. So why was he rubbing it in his face? Why was he so angry?
"My heart doesn't beat. I'm cold all the time. So why do I still bleed when cut?! Why am I still sick? I'm caught in this limbo, and I'm not going to have you stand there and judge me just because I was trying to find some comfort in it!"
Edward; Stumbling backward, Ed brought a hand to his jaw, the shock of the attack hurting more than the actual punch. Oh, he'd wake up with a bruise, but that wasn't what mattered to him just then.
"Look, I don't think anyone was planning on letting you die. It happened. It'll be fixed." Even at a cost he knew he shouldn't pay. "But I'm not letting you use that against me. I wasn't there in time. I know that. It isn't going to happen again." His hand dropped, clenching into a tight fist, body shaking slightly as he forced himself not to retaliate. Not yet at least.
"That's not what this is about anyway!"
Alfons; "Edward, would you...stop it! No! It can't be fixed! A life for a life, and I would NOT want to live a life knowing somebody died for me. The only way it can be fixed is if I actually die, like a real person does! No soul, and my body rotting! That's probably the best thing I can have right now, and I'm sure it will happen eventually! This Hell can't keep me forever, and it won't you and your brother, either!"
He was losing it. He knew he was. It was all those damned nights he'd lain in bed, staring at the ceiling and counting the tick tocks of the clock he couldn't see. It was all those damned books he'd read on Germany's history. What it had accomplished. What it had wrecked. Everything, everything was gone, and the one thing he had chosen to let go was staring him in the face and yelling at him, and inside his chest it felt scratchy and raw.
And he was losing it.
"It's exactly what this is about! Concentrate on your own goals! I'm not a part of them anymore!"
Edward; "Do you think I'm going to just forget all of that? You were the one there for me for those two years. I'm not going to let you get stuck here because I wasn't there for another few weeks." That was what it all boiled down to for him. He hadn't been there to protect Alfons the one time he needed it, and so, he'd make up for it somehow.
But to have that want thrown back in his face...? "You're acting like you've got a say in the matter." A glare and Ed looked off to the side. "I'll do what I want to do, no matter what you say."
Alfons; That was it. He just couldn't take any more of this pointless charade. Was it really helping anything?! No! All it was doing was hurting Alfons' head, and making Edward think up crazy plans to bring him back to life.
Stepping forward, he slammed his left hand against Edward's right shoulder, hearing the sharp thud of the metal as it connected with the wall. "No, you won't! Whatever you're planning, I already hate the idea! Edward, I didn't die just so that you could completely negate my choice on sending you home!"
His nails dug into the fabric of his sleeve, and Alfons couldn't meet Edward's gaze as his voice dropped to a whisper. "...I didn't die here in the City. I just happened to be unconscious when you walked in on me and Nill."
Edward; He blinked. And blinked again, all anger disappearing at once. "You..." He shook his head, turning back to look at Alfons again. He...had to be lying, didn't he? After all, when could he have died? "What're you talking about?" And already the hurt was there, entwined within his own confusion.
Lifting a hand to Alfons' shirt, he grabbed a hold of the front, his grip softer than before. "...then...when did you..." He frowned, looking down. "...Alfons. What...what happened?"
Alfons; Even Alfons couldn't be angry anymore. It all melted away, leaving behind his tired frame and weary gaze. His arm dropped back to his side, and he stared at his feet, wondering how much he would regret this tomorrow.
"...I'm not really sure, to be honest. It happened before you crossed the Gate. I could still see you. I think I was shot...in the back, but... I couldn't hear it very well over the sound of the engine. Just a sharp...pain. But it was...quick. I think I was only alive for...another minute...on the floor..."
Edward; "You...were shot...?" While sending him back. That meant it had to have been one of the soldiers. They'd killed him before he'd gotten through the gate. ...they'd shot him because he'd been sent through? "...Alfons..."
At least it was all starting to make more sense. "Why didn't you just tell me?" He already knew the answer though. He'd end up reacting...the same way he was. Leaning forward a little, his head rested against Alfons' chest, grip tightening. "...I have to find a way to fix thing."
Alfons; Alfons shook his head immediately at that, throwing both arms around him to hold him secure. Well, as securely as a drunk could hold anybody, anyway. "No," he whispered raggedly.
"Don't do that. Don't take everything on like it's your responsibility, Edward. It... It happened. You can't just...take it back because you don't like it. The best thing you can do for me is to live your best, with your brother...together. All right?"
Edward; He shook his head, unable to look up just yet. "It happened...because you sent me through." There was no other reason for them to have shot him. Not someone who had been working for their cause. "There...there has to be a way..." After half of the things he'd heard about in the city, he knew there was a way to bring the dead back to life. If there was a way he could bring Alfons back, then he'd be free to...
...to return to his own world. While he and Al returned to theirs. "...I want you to come with us." Just him and the two people he cared most about.
Alfons; Alfons shut his eyes, but it couldn't close the pain out. How could someone was strong as Edward still manage to sound so small and pitiful? "I knew of the danger when I sent you through... Even if they hadn't run in and seen, they would have ended up putting the pieces together. I knew that. But...I wanted to. All right?"
Turning his head away, a small cough against his arm reminded him of one of the many reasons he'd made his decision. "I didn't want to die. I don't want to be dead. But...what's the point of hoping for another life when it will probably just end again in a few months? Don't...give me false hope, all right? Please?"
Edward; "...you don't get it, do you?" Pulling back enough to look up at Alfons, he smiled weakly, trying to lighten his words a little. "I wasn't worth your life. Nothing was." Not to just send him through the gate. He...would've found another way. There had to have been another path. One that didn't put Alfons into danger.
His illness. Again, a problem they'd faced for months already. The subject of 'how long' had never been brought up. Instead, it'd been a day to day thing as far as he was concerned. No amount of bugging had changed that matter. But to just give up on hope because of that was something he couldn't do. He could, however, agree with part of his words. He wouldn't give him false hopes. Instead, he'd wait until he'd made some research of his own. "...I'm sorry."
Alfons; After staring down at him for a long moment, trying to formulate a well-educated response, something that could have meaning and depth...all that he ended up doing was grinning, reaching up to cup the other's face so that he could poke at his cheeks.
"Edward, you're cute when you pout, but you're beautiful when you smile. So smile, hm?"
Edward; His head cocked to the side, confused by the sudden lightening of the mood. Not that it wasn't welcome, of course. Anything to change the subject for now. Slowly, a smile made its way onto his face, unable to help himself. ...even if Alfons was using girlish words to try and describe him.
Alfons; "Ah, see? There we go. Now... I think we've moped around and yelled at each other enough today to last us a lifetime, so...help me finish bandaging this, would you?" He clapped a hand against Edward's arm before turning and heading back over to the couch, where he could drop down.
At least this time he wasn't too drunk to unbutton his own shirt, which he slid off to reveal the injured arm that was still only covered with the small patch of gauze.
Edward; Nodding his head slightly, Ed dropped down alongside him, turning to face Alfons properly. His eyes passed over the revealed skin, images of a darkened kitchen flickering back into his mind. "Y-you need me to bandage the rest, right?" He shook his head, hoping to clear the images. Concentrate on the task at hand. Not the memory of how sweat slicked flesh slid across each other as he buried his head into the others neck. No! Focus!
Alfons; Alfons wasn't even really looking at Edward anymore. He was just leaning back against the couch, head tilted while he gazed towards the window. "Mm. Not too tight, though..."
He could remember how many times he'd caught Edward looking out the window before. Now it felt like they had reversed positions. The thought almost made him laugh. Almost.
"...How is your brother? He...saw it."
Edward; Right. He could do this. All he needed to do was to bandage Alfons' arm. He couldn't do it himself, so Ed would help him out instead. No more thinking of the sounds they made. The scent of oil mixed with...something he couldn't describe. No, that would even enter his mind.
Pulling the edge of the bandage free from the roll, Ed shifted closer, slowly starting to bind the offered arm. "Al did?" He hadn't heard anything from Al since the day, beyond their short conversations at meal times. At least he now had some kind of idea as to why he'd been acting strangely. "...what did he see?"
Alfons; Alfons' gaze finally shifted back to Edward. The older teen was making an odd face, but...that was to be expected, when realizing your younger brother had gotten details of your sex life.
"...I did try to be vague, but he's not stupid. He knew who I was talking about. He knows what you and I did..." It was hard to focus. His ears were still ringing from the buzz. The beer might have been weaker than home's, but he had certainly downed enough to make up for that. Reaching up with his free hand, Alfons rubbed at his temple.
"Someone with the same face as him...sleeping with his older brother... I wonder if he hates me now? It seems like he already did, considering the last time we met, on that violent curse day...but... I can't say I acted much better."
Edward; So he'd read all of that then. ...perhaps talking to Al about it later would be a good idea. But at the same time, what if it made things worse? No, he'd think about that later. Right now, his focus was on helping out Alfons.
"He'll be alright." He had to be. "I'll talk to him about it later." Though, at least they were finally back on to the reason he'd come over in the first place. That days curse, his little confession.
"...I didn't want to forget about it, you know..." Reaching the end of the bandage, Ed tucked the end away, taping it into place. Running a hand down Alfons' arms, Ed nodded, happy with his work. "...I still remember bits of it."
Alfons; He watched his hand trail down, almost numbly thanks to the haze of alcohol, but he could certainly feel it. It was warm, unlike him.
Alfons' gaze traveled from his own right arm to Edward's, scanning the metal contraption. It was strange to him. Alien. It wasn't even covered with artificial skin...but Alfons had seen how much movement it allowed Edward. Much more than his old prosthetics. His 'automail' mystified him just as much as the modern computer did.
"...I would touch your right hand after that, sometimes, when I knew you weren't looking. Just to pretend."
Edward; He glanced between Alfons and his automail, shaking his head slightly. If it really all meant that much to him, why hadn't he just told him? Why had he hidden it for so long?
Flexing his hand a few times, he turned his attention to Alfons' own arm once again. Lifting his left hand, it ran gently across his wrist, fingers trailing over a cold hand. "...you didn't have to pretend."
Alfons; "I think I'm...understanding that now. I wish I hadn't been so scared." Turning his hand over, he took hold of Edward's, rubbing his thumb over his knuckles absently while he offered a shy, sheepish smile.
"I guess you were right... I really am an idiot."
Edward; "Told you so." Smirking slightly, his hand closed around Alfons', as he glanced back up at the other once more. "I'm always right. Should know that by now." Turning to sit properly, Ed shifted back in the seat, resting gently against Alfons' side.
"You should learn to listen to me more."
Alfons; Even if Edward was gentle, it still made him flinch. Of course, it was either this side and rest against his injured arm, or the other side and have to hold onto Edward's automail. Deciding that there were better positions for this, he shifted with a murmur of, "Here," before painfully lifting his arm to drape it around Edward's shoulders.
Like that, he was able to use his other hand to reach across his lap and close back around the boy's. Much better. Warmth. He really could get addicted to it. "And I think you're getting a little egotistical there, Elric. Keep it up and I might have to knock you down a peg or two...provided you're still within my line of vision after that."
He was probably going to regret that, but it had been too easy of an opening.
Edward; Seeing as it felt so comfortable, why hadn't they done this before? He knew he enjoyed being close to Alfons. It was why he found it so easy to stay around the blond no matter what'd happened between them before. To now be allowed this close was something he wouldn't soon forget.
Moving carefully against Alfons' side, Ed bit his lip, waiting for him to get comfortable before he could relax. Only then did he rest his head back against a bandaged shoulder. It didn't last long though as an elbow was shoved into Alfons' stomach, for obvious reasons.
Alfons; He'd been expecting it, but it still made him wince and let go of Ed's hand temporarily so he could rub at his stomach. But no matter. He didn't regret it. When a good short joke came a lot, he could never resist. Fortunately, they came along rarely, which was probably better for his safety.
Catching Edward's hand in his again, he drew it up so that he could kiss his palm in tacit apology for the remark. Or really, it was just an excuse to kiss his hand, but excuses were always good to have for back-up in emergency situations.
"Do you think your brother would be angry...if you stayed here tonight?"
Edward; He smirked, about ready to say something along the lines of him deserving it, but his words died in his throat. Instead, his scowl returned back to a smile, his hand turning enough to allow his fingers to trail across Alfons' jaw.
"Angry? Uh..." He wasn't too sure about that. Given what Al had found out that day, he was pretty sure he'd know why he wasn't heading home. But as to whether he'd be upset over it. "...I don't think so."
Alfons; Alfons hoped not... He had a feeling that he and the younger Elric would have to talk things over eventually, and get things squared away. He didn't want to have to walk an egg shells with him forever, if only for Edward's sake.
"Hm, then I guess what I should be asking is..." He tilted his head to kiss his palm again, followed by his rest, until he could lean in close and brush his lips against the shell of his ear while whispering out, "Will you?"
Edward; Some day along the line, Ed hoped that the three of them would be able to stay in the same apartment. It would make things easier in the long run, the two most important people to him under one roof. The trouble was that neither of them seemed to get along too well.
"Well..." he started, amused by the question. Oh, he shuddered, unable to stop the feeling that washed over him at the warm breath on his ear. "Perhaps~" His hand moved to the back of Alfons' neck, tugging lightly. "...depends."
Alfons; Alfons blinked as he was tugged down a bit, and he moved his hand to rest against Edward's leg for balance. Beneath the pant leg, he could feel the hard metal and grooves of craftsmanship. Perhaps it was best that Ed couldn't feel anything in that leg, because Alfons was leaning pretty heavily as he lightly bumped his forehead against Edward's and let their lips get just close enough to brush when he spoke.
"On...?"
Edward; "Mmhmm." His eyes fixed on Alfons', refusing to look away. He had nothing to blame this on. He wasn't drunk. He wasn't under any form of curse. He was just...running on feeling alone. "You have to make it worth my while." And with that, the gap between them was closed as Ed pushed himself upward, lips pressing softly against Alfons'.
Alfons; He was trying not to smile against the kiss, but it was a little difficult when he suddenly felt so elated. No, he couldn't claim complete sobriety during this act, but he could always merrily prove to Edward later that he would also do it without a six pack of beer in him.
Many times over.
Words were abandoned for a bit in favor of deepening the kiss, hoping Edward still didn't mind the taste of alcohol. Finally, though, he had to ease out of it just so he could trail his lips along his jawline and down at the juncture beneath his chin. "Mm... I suppose I can try to think of something."