False dawn found them still sitting there together with their coats pulled across them. The pale light of the fading moon made strange shadows out of the burnt timbers and tumbled stones. A faint breeze teased across the grass and caused Ed to shift and sigh.
They had spoken of the years apart sporadically and in soft tones. Ed had been saddened at the passing of Izumi and had held his brother as he spoke of the trauma of waking up in the flesh and going through a form of sensory overload. It had basically shut him down for two months until he had begun to recover and rediscover himself and the world around him. Al had felt the sorrow in Ed as he told of the strange familiars he had found and the friends he had made and lost on the other side and he had been slightly worried about the few words Ed had used to describe the political unrest of that other world. Maybe Ed had been right and it was better that he be on this side of the Gate and not over there. Al had been particularly happy to hear of a counterpart to Maes Hughes on the other side. The brothers had been very upset at his death and to know that somewhere he was still alive – sort of - felt like a balance corrected to Al.
There were still many things to share but they had time. There was no hurry and Ed knew that some stories were just too painful and some were too commonplace to speak of yet. The simple pleasure of being together again was all they needed to know right now.
"What are we going to do, Ed?" Al asked in a whisper. He hadn't thought of what would happen afterwards. He hadn't even known if he would still be here, and all the hoping for success had not really prepared him for it.
"You said you sent your resignation in?" Ed questioned. He had told Al off when his brother had told him that he'd passed the State Alchemy Exam and joined the military a year after Ed's disappearance. The changes in the chains of command within the military had allowed him a degree of freedom that Edward had never had. A new Fuhrer and a more moderate outlook on racial tensions and border expansion had helped rein in the more rabid elements of the military. The then General Mustang had kept an eye on him and tried to help him in his search. Al had refused to take an official title. As he had told the General at the time "It wouldn't be right, Sir. I am not doing this for the people. I'm doing this for me." And Ed. It had been his unspoken thought throughout his whole term of service.
"Yes, last week Brother. When I knew I was going to go through with the array, I thought it best not to still be a part of them." There was another reason too, but not one he was willing to discuss just yet. He was in enough trouble already. Mailing his letter of resignation along with his pocketwatch was probably not the recommended method of resigning but Al had not wanted to face the Brigadier-General. Mustang had an arcane sixth sense for secrets and what Al had been about to attempt was not something he had wanted the older man to know.
"Winry is first," Ed sighed. "Before all else, I have to get my arm done. Then we have to, or at least I will have to go to Central." Ed groaned. "Mustang is going to laugh his head off at this one."
"I'm sure he won't be that bad, Brother." Al soothed. The Brigadier-General was one of the few people who had believed with Al that Edward was not dead. But four years was a long time and Al knew that hope and belief could only be carried for so long. "He's mellowed a bit since back then."
"Yeah right. Sorry Al, but somehow I can't see him cutting me any slack over this." Ed shivered at the smirk and the comments Mustang was sure to bestow upon him.
"Ed…" Al asked after a small pause.
"Hmm, yes?" Ed was still picturing the wide smirk on Mustang's face and replied absently.
"How do you actually feel?"
"What do you mean, Al?" Ed looked at his brother. He could have sworn that he saw a blush on Al's face.
"Umm, being a girl and all, Ed. How do you feel?" He rushed out, feeling embarrassed.
"It doesn't feel real, Al. It's like I'm inside someone else's skin." Ed paused as he tried to find the words to describe it. "I mean, I still think I'm male. I just seem to have lost some parts and gained different ones."
"You do look different though, Ed."
"I do?" Ed looked at Al. "How different?"
.
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