Fullmetal Alchemist Fan Fiction ❯ A Love Forgotten ❯ Morning ( Chapter 41 )

A Love Forgotten

By Joyfulmusic

 

I don't own FMA

Note: May contain spoilers!

 

Chapter 41: Morning

 

When Edward finally aroused from his slumber he realized with dismay that his arms were empty. `Was it just a dream?' But as he turned over he felt the twinge where he'd been injured in the fight with the homunculus. Glancing around he noticed the old costume Brie had discarded the night before.

 

Getting out of bed he stretched momentarily. Without bothering to get dressed he exited the room heading across the hall and knocking on the closed door. Inside he could hear the water running and remembered that Brie had wanted to wash her hair. “Yes?” The voice was defiantly not Al's.

 

“Can I come in?” He called, already turning the knob and finding it unlocked. When he received an affirmative he entered. With a smirk on his face he peered around the curtain at her. `She's like an angel.' Before he could say anything though, she threw the washrag at his head. Retreating he smiled wider.

 

“I'll only be another few minutes.” She told him, rinsing the shampoo from her curls. He grunted slightly, taking a seat on the floor just opposite the tub. Leaning back against the wall he watched her silhouette as she finished washing up. She knew what he was doing, but didn't care.

 

Turning off the water she held out a hand to him. “Give me a towel will you?” He complied, allowing her to wrap up before stepping out of the bath. Grabbing another towel she dried her hair as best she could, not wanting to wrap it up like so many other women did. She knew from past experiences that it could give her a headache.

 

Moving to stand behind her as she gazed in the mirror, Edward folded his arms around her. Gently he kissed her shoulder, working his way up to her neck, which earned him a contented moan. Her eyes were closed, her head tossed back and to the side, giving him full access.

 

“Edward.” She breathed, reluctant to look in the mirror afraid she was just fantasizing. The last thing she wanted was to wake up and be stuck in that room. But as his teeth nipped at her flesh she realized no fantasy could possibly be so realistic. Facing her fear she allowed one lid to lift just enough to see his reflection next to hers.

 

Completely forgetting his wound he pulled her against him tightly, causing the pain to return. “Ah…” Reluctantly he loosened his grip, wishing he hadn't made any noise at all. `Maybe she didn't notice.' But to his dismay she had, and the spell was broken, concern moving in where passion had been.

 

“Ed, are you alright?” Turning she touched his cheek, glancing down at his side. Lifting his shirt slightly she was relieved to see the absence of blood. `It's not that bad then.' With a sigh of relief she murmured, “You've got to be more careful. That needs time to heal.”

 

A frown crossed his face, he didn't want to be guarded while showing her affection. “It'll be fine.” He murmured, pulling her close again. She started to resist him but he decided to play the new card she'd just dealt him. “Don't struggle Darling, you might make things worse.”

 

Stopping, Briana gave an amused smile, telling him, “You're horrible, you know that? Using your injury against me.” Of course she didn't mean it, and he knew that. Leaning forward she pressed her lips against his. `Such a child.' But that was part of what she loved about him. If he were somber all the time she would never have fallen for him in the first place.

 

While kissing him, she felt her reluctance melt away completely. As he slipped his tongue into her mouth she had to remind herself not to bite down as she'd done each time Envy had tried that. Instead she allowed hers to meet his in a loving dance as they seemed to float off the ground.

 

A loud bang jarred the couple out of the trance. Shifting quickly she turned the knob. Holding onto the towel tightly she rushed toward the living room where the noise had come from. Andrea was hurrying in from her apartment as well, followed close behind by Alphonse.

 

There on the floor lay several books which had been pushed from their shelf. Sitting on the now clear ledge was one of the two cats. He yawned, peering down contently at the mess he'd made. All four humans took in the scene for a moment before bursting out into laughter at the sheer innocence of the situation. Each of them had feared the worse and was relived by the truth.

 

“Oh… Brie, there you are.” Al managed after regaining his voice. “Better get dressed, Colonel Mustang wants to talk to you.” He saw his sibling's scowl. “Brother he called about the destroyed theater. I had to tell him she'd been located. He just wants to hear her side of the story. It won't hurt.”

 

“Her legs.” The alchemist reminded in a low concerned tone. “He'll want to know how she got the use of her legs back.” Shaking his head he looped an arm around her waist and guided her into the bedroom. Closing the door behind them he let out a sigh. “He can't find out about what really happened to that stone.”

 

Briana nodded solemnly, moving to find an outfit. She rummaged through the closet silently until a thought came to mind. “Do you want to wait and tell Al after we report to the colonel?” She knew he wouldn't want to keep it a secret from his sibling, as he'd said it would have to be kept `in the family'.

 

“We probably need to.” He mumbled, wishing that weren't the case. Alphonse had never been considered a good liar and with his newfound expressions he was even worse. “We'll let him know later. For now we just won't mention it.” After she had slipped it up around her waist he zipped the skirt which fastened in the back, allowing her to continue looking for a shirt.

 

When he tucked the tag to her bra in under the strap she shivered and he feared it was his touched which had caused it. But quickly she told him what was on her mind, thereby explaining the shudder. “They would want to study me wouldn't they?” Her voice trembled with the thought. “I'd be an experiment.”

 

Ed picked up on the dismay that laced through her voice. Turning her around to face him and wrapping his arms around her, he hugged her close. “That's not going to happen Brie. I won't let them lay one finger on you.” But he could still sense the fear that had taken hold of her.

 

“I'm…” She faltered, unwilling to admit what she'd already considered accepting as truth. She had thought about believing it, but had not yet recognized the idea as fact. “I'm not...” Her words cut off momentarily before she was able to say it, “I'm more like those homunculi now. Maybe I am one of them.”

 

Pulling her back the alchemist shook her to try and make her snap out of whatever trance she was in. “Did Envy tell you that?” She nodded gravely. `And with my voice no doubt.' Embracing her closely once more he persisted, “You're not one of those creatures Brie. You have a soul and that makes you human.”

 

`A soul?' She choked on that concept. `Is that really all it takes for one to be considered human?' She couldn't help but wonder if he had thought that before his brother had been bound to that armor. “What if you're wrong Ed? What if I am just some sort of freak now?”

 

He refused to let her go, although she was trying to move away from him. Peering deep into her blue-green eyes he questioned, “Is that what you really think? Is that what Al was when you first met him?” He shook his head solemnly, “You know that's not true. Even with automail I was still me, right?”

 

Finally giving up and relaxing in his arms she laid her head on his shoulder. “I'm just so scared. It seems like I've never been normal and I never will be. As a child others would tease me about being an orphan, now they'd probably want to put me in a circus freak show.”

 

Rubbing her back soothingly Ed tried his best to calm her. “You're not a freak. Unless of course you count the people who say you were some sort of lunatic for marrying the Fullmetal Alchemist.” She giggled which made him smile. “We can put off seeing Mustang if you want to.”

 

Sighing she pulled from his grasp. “No I should probably get it out of the way.” But instead of moving to finish changing she took a seat on the bed. A thought came to mind and she looked up at him questioning, “Is the scar on the back of my shoulder still there?”

 

She wasn't willing to mention that he'd been the one to put it there. He already knew this of course, although he didn't actually remember the event. She leaned forward for him to look. Rubbing her skin gently he murmured. “Yeah it's still here, but it's real faint. Why, what are you thinking?”

 

Before he'd even finished the question she was standing and moving across the room. He watched as she picked up a small glass figurine. Holding it over her head she dropped the object onto the table, effectively shattering it. Without giving her husband the chance to protest she grabbed one of the shards and slid it across her arm.

 

Ed was at her side a moment later, jerking the glass away. “What do you think you're…” His lecture faded away as he looked at the wound which she was studying so intently. A small trickle of blood began to seep from the cut, but began to heal quickly. Picking up the towel she'd tossed on the bed he pressed it against the slash. “You shouldn't have done that.”

 

She was still looking at the spot, as if she could see it through the cloth now blocking it from her view. A moment later she'd grabbed another piece of glass and slid it across her leg. Again her husband took it from her and began scolding, although she wasn't paying him any mind.

 

The second wound never even had a chance to bleed. The skin healed over almost as quickly as it had sliced open. She rubbed her free hand over it. “So it's slower from the waist up.” She muttered, interrupting the speech she was being given about not hurting herself on purpose.

 

With a scowl Ed took hold of her chin, forcing her to lock eyes with him. “I don't want you doing this. We don't know when the effects will wear off.” He could tell that she wasn't convinced so he persisted, “The stone that brought Al and I back got used up. It could be the same way with the one that's inside you. So I don't want you trying anything else like this alright?”

 

Briana frowned but nodded. `It's seeping into my nerves and traveling downward first. That's the only thing I can think of.' Returning to the task of getting dressed she wondered, `If it does get used up then what? Will I loose the use of my legs again?' She was only brought back to reality when she felt a kiss on the back of her neck.

 

Smiling she turned to meet his lips. He was still worried about her. It seemed the only way to get her mind off of less pleasurable subjects was to seduce her. Of course that was one thing he was willing to do without question. “I love you.” He breathed into her ear before nipping at it.

 

“Mmmm” She mumbled, contented with simply being near him. They didn't have to do anymore than be close for her passion to be fulfilled. Perhaps that was because it was true love, running deeper than mere physical attraction ever could. “Mustang is waiting.” She reminded, knowing he was trying to lure her from her one and only task that needed to be fulfilled that day.

 

“He can just wait.” Ed grumbled, inhaling deeply, as if taking in her very existence. She gave off a low giggle which he took to mean she agreed. It wasn't until he slipped his hand behind her neck, lacing his fingers in her hair that she pulled away quickly. “What is it?” He questioned, concerned by her reaction.

 

Shaking her head she moved close to him again, taking his arms and looping them around her waist. “It's nothing.” She mumbled, kissing him passionately to cover up her shame. But he wouldn't let the response die so quickly. He turned his head away, his lips out of her reach.

 

“What happened?” He demanded, not cruelly but with enough force to show that she had to answer. When she didn't he released her, shifting so that he could see her full expression. She was embarrassed, that much was certainly clear, but there was something more. “Tell me.” He pleaded softly.

 

Her lips parted slightly, her gaze not focusing on face but just to the side of him. “He would kiss me. I didn't want him to, wouldn't allow it willingly. So he'd hold my head, like you did just then.” She blinked a few times, her eyes becoming filled with tears. “I'm sorry.”

 

Gently the alchemist pushed her hair away from her face. “It's alright. It's not your fault.” Sighing at her still melancholy mood he wasn't sure what to do. One question still lingered in his mind that would have to be answered, although he didn't want it to even be asked. “Did he rape you?”

 

Briana shifted her glazed over eyes to look directly into his golden ones. “No Edward. He thought if he just waited long enough that I'd learn to love him. Assumed that I'd start to hate you because of the beatings.” Running a hand over his cheek she whispered, “But I could never do that.”