Ripples - Chapter 1

[meredavey]

Title: Ripples – Chapter 1
Author: meredavey
Series: Brotherhood (although it can stand on its own) - Legend!verse, part II
Pairing: Roy/Ed, Al/SECRET
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Rumors are stirring just like Ed's boredom, and the world begins to change. "You shall be as gods, knowing good and evil."
Notes: This is the last chapter in which we really see Roy or hear his point of view until the end. Roy is doing his thing in Central while Ed is on an adventure. While this is about Ed it is just as much about Al. Ripples is going to focus on Al for much of the time while Ed is doing “all the boring stuff”. I’m very excited that I’m going to be able to write Al, he’s just as interesting as his brother. In other words, I highly doubt this is going to be an NC-17 story, except perhaps, an end chapter or two.

A whistle sounded and the rumbling of the ground alerted Edward and Roy to the train’s approach. Ed was rocking on his feet in a quick motion and with a sudden movement he turned to face Roy, his face had a strange expression and he asked,

“Will you be here when I get back?”

“Always, my love,” Roy told him and Ed’s mouth had a little wobble to it before he threw his arms around Roy’s neck and kissed him like it was the last thing he’d ever do.

Roy pulled back from the kiss and closed his eyes for a brief moment and then let Ed go as he boarded the train headed west.

As the train pulled out he raised his hand in a silent goodbye. He saw Ed raise his own and knew he was doing the right thing for Edward.

*~*~*

Edward sat staring out the train window as Central Station faded out into the distance. His mouth moved to words only he knew and for a moment he was lonelier than anything in the world. He wished he was headed home already, but he stiffened his back and tightened his fists. If he went back now it was as good as saying that he couldn’t live his life without depending on Roy. And he really didn’t want to depend on Roy, he didn’t like being dependent on anyone for anything. He’d survived years on his own and now was no exception. He let his head fall to his arm propped up on the sill of the window. He closed his eyes and imagined home.

*~*~*

Back in Risembool, Al leaned his back against Winry’s as they stared up at the star filled sky.

“You know,” Winry began, “it feels great to be home.”

Al hummed and agreed, “It does.”

Winry reached for Al’s hand but Alphonse stealthily moved it away before she could grab it. He could see her hand where she’d left it, smooth and pale due to all the time she spent working indoors. Al looked at his own skin, tanned but smooth due to his excellent health regime and from the time he was outside

The moon was full and beautiful, Al would have gladly lived his whole night in life had he never known how glorious the land looked during the day. Al contemplated this for a bit and let Winry think her own thoughts.

“You know,” Winry began, “you and Ed are more alike than people know.”

“Why’s that?” Al asked.

“Well, both you and Ed hold counsel, he doesn’t mind making a show of it, but you rarely speak your mind, you’re craftier while he goes straight for the jugular.”

“How does that make us alike?”

“Two sides of the same coin, your hearts are worn on your sleeves. You can’t hide things well at all.”

Al’s mouth twisted up into a grim smile. “So you know.”

“That you’re leaving me? Yes.”

“Aren’t you upset?”

“A little, yes.” Winry’s eyes flicked down, “I fought Ed for you – and even after all that I’m going to lose you. He’ll blame me.”

“I already told Brother, told him it had nothing to do with you. I was experiencing love for the first time,” Al smiled, “and it was wonderful. It was puppy love though, and I think both you and I knew it from the beginning, that we would never last. Brother saw it before we did.”

He could hear Winry’s fingers scratching in the grass, her uneven breathing and then her back bowing.

“I always thought, for a long time, that I would end up with Ed. Do you remember the day he protected me? When you two were baiting Scar? At that moment I thought I was in love with him. But that faded as the weeks passed and by the time I saw you both again, I realized it hadn’t been Ed I had been yearning for, but you.”

“I really am sorry, Winry, I would never have –”

“Oh Al, I know you wouldn’t have intentionally done anything to hurt me, you’re far too kind hearted for that kind of deception. Now I look back on the past, three, four years we’ve spent together and wonder if I missed my chance to explore something?”

“I’m sure you haven’t, this falling out will cause ripples and soon we’ll see the effects. There’s probably a better guy for you than me anyways, someone better suited to you. But Winry, you’ll always be my friend, one of the people I will turn to in my greatest need.”

Winry twisted around so she could face Alphonse. She smiled and wrapped her hand around Al’s. “I know, and I’m grateful about that.”

Al squeezed her hand back and they sat beneath the stars for a while longer in silence.

“Where are you going to go?” Winry asked.

“Xing, I think. There’s so much still to learn, things to do. Brother is headed west now, actually.”

“West? He left Central? He left Mustang?”

Al nodded. “Apparently. From what I gathered Brother was being a pain in the ass.”

“So…Mustang dumped him?”

“No, all the traveling we did as kids has made brother a restless soul. Don’t you remember? Even as children he was almost always running, not walking. He doesn’t hold back any. According to Brother, Roy told him to go, travel and come back when he felt better. Brother is using this as an opportunity to gain more insight into the books he found at El Dorado.”

“You mean the ones you have here?”

“Yes. I have half and Brother has the other half. We divided them up accordingly. We’ll both be doing research, and when we finish we’ll meet and put all our knowledge together.”

“It sounds,” Winry paused, “fun.”

“I missed research, I missed the exhilaration of finding something new to do, learning something. Brother and I have an extremely extensive knowledge of alchemy stored up, and used in the right way it could become the exact thing needed to heal.”

“To heal,” Winry’s eyes lit up, “that would be wonderful, considering my aspirations in that department fell through.”

“Well,” Al told her, “you’re brilliant at making automail. That definitely counts for something.”

“I appreciate your faith in me.”

“Always.”

*~*~*

Roy sat in his office, Ed had left yesterday and their large house seemed so lonely without him. He missed Ed’s energetic displays of enthusiasm, the books and piles of notes tossed every which way. He missed that half smile Ed gave him when Roy caught Ed doing something he thought was embarrassing. He missed the brilliant mind that lithe body contained. He missed Ed. But Ed was bored, and things tended to break when Ed was bored. All he had to do to find proof was to look at Ed’s time in the military. There was plenty of proof there.

Ed was a genius alchemist. Or had been. Ed never let him forget that little fact. He was an alchemist no longer. He couldn’t preform alchemy, he may be able to understand it, but that alone did not make him an alchemist.

He let his pen scrawl his name on a form that required his signature. He gazed a bit hopelessly out into space as his pen faltered.

Roy knew he’d done the right thing and he’d keep telling himself that over and over again. Ed was ridiculously young still, only twenty and still coming into true manhood. He’d been a child for so little time, had had to grow up so fast, and had missed doing so many things. But he loved Ed because of who he was. There was no one like him, not even Al could compare. Al may have the knowledge and alchemic ability, but if Ed still had his alchemy Ed would be the more powerful.

Even though Al could put his older brother on his ass while sparring and while his alchemic abilities were stronger than most, Edward had always been more adept in that area.

Al, the calm younger brother.

Ed, the wild older brother.

One half of the same coin.

Yet, Edward had claimed not even a week before he’d left, that Roy was his other half. That even if Al was his brother, he loved Roy, that Roy completed him, that Roy was his “soul-mate”. Ed despised the word, or so he’d said after speaking it, but couldn’t find any other way to describe how he was feeling towards Roy.

If Roy believed in a higher deity he’d say he was blessed.

His eyes worked their way down to his paperwork. Ed had also said that he needed to stay focused on his objective, his goal because even though Ed had fulfilled his, Roy had yet to accomplish his.

Ed had even grinned and said he’d support him from the bottom if need be. Roy remembered his eyes growing large and alarmed. Edward had worriedly asked if he’d said something wrong.

Roy had shaken his head no, and pulled Edward into a tight embrace saying, “I’m glad you’re not in the military anymore, I wouldn’t be able to protect you from them.”

He still remembered Edward’s eyes, solemn and watchful with a bit of worry. They’d softened though and Ed’s hand had curved against his cheek. There’d been no need for words, they knew what each other needed.

He would most definitely miss Ed’s companionship.

He pulled another piece of paper across his desk and read it with slightly widening eyes.

Well. He thought, one good thing has happened today, I can only hope for another.

*~*~*

Mei stood silent and watchful in the Hall of the Emperors. She prayed to her dead father and grandfather and their ancestors asking them to bring glory and happiness to her and her family and the current Emperor. She turned from the ancient reliquaries and headed into the Main Hall. It was a long corridor that was a good fifteen feet wide with tall ceilings. It lead to the Throne Room of the current Emperor. She still held a slight distaste for him, but he’d said the information he had for her had bearing on her current studies and if she would like to see it she should come right away.

Fleet-footed she walked down the long carpeted hallway to the two large doors at the other end. The guards offered her a little bow before rapping their fists on the door. A moment later a voice called out “Enter!” and the doors began to creak open slowly.

Mei felt a bit impatient as she waited for them to completely open and the herald to announce her.

“Princess Mei of the Chang Clan to see you, your Imperial Majesty.”

“Come,” the Emperor commanded and beckoned her closer. Clothed in scarlet and gold he looked more royal than he had ever before. His second in command loitered behind the throne, awaiting his every word.

“You called for me?” Mei bowed respectfully before standing up once more and looking the Emperor in the eye.

Ling grinned. “I did. I think you might find this interesting. Lately there have been rumours of magi, of witches roaming the Eastern Desert as well as along the borders here at Xing and Amestris. I think it might be worthwhile to look into, don’t you?”

Mei felt irritation grow. “You know there’s no such thing as witches! There is alkhestry and alchemy, but not magic. It’s simply not possible.”

Ling lowered his brows. “After everything we’ve seen, are you sure you want to call it impossible?”

Mei’s mouth twisted downwards with some sourness. “No,” she admitted reluctantly.

“Well then! Why don’t we send a letter to Ed or Al and tell them of this interesting news?”

The young princess rolled her shoulders. “Ed’s headed west and Al is on his way here according to this letter I received yesterday.”

Ling rubbed his hands together saying, “This is certainly getting exciting!”