Fullmetal Alchemist Fan Fiction ❯ Protection ❯ Chapter Three ( Chapter 3 )

Hello again. I am back, what it be? *poses*

(Algernon) Do you like showing off your mental malfunction?

(Dms) But of course me dear Algy *smirks sweetly*

(Algernon) Alrighty then…

 

Any who, Chapter three of Protection! Aren't you excited? Oh well if not^-^ I'm going to try something. Today is Valentine's day, so I'm going to keep count on how long this chapter takes me, plus, this is going to be a Valentine's special *squees*

I got A LOT of chocolate *laughs manically*

 

Again I give yaoi warning and spoilers, I also do not own any of these FMA characters, all rights for them go to Hiromu Arakawa. Ideas, comments and flamers are greatly welcome. Enjoy.

!!!!!!A/N: This time, the story is going to be told in Al's point of view.!!!!!!

 

 

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Protection

`Chapter Three'

 

Today is a special day. I'm excited and can't help it. Today Winry said that she would take me into town and let me buy someone something special. Today is Valentine's Day.

 

It's a Friday I do believe, yes, I know this because I've been counting down religiously. My heart felt like it was about to burst out my chest. I was so caught up on thinking that I didn't notice Winry staring at me as we walked down the cobblestone path leading to the main shops.

 

“Hey Al, you okay? You haven't said anything since we left.” She mumbled in a worried voice. I didn't know how long she had been observing me, but I found my cheeks warm up under the recognition.

 

“Yeah, I'm fine, just was… thinking.”

 

“Thinking about what to get your girlfriend ay?” She wasn't helping any with my embarrassment.

 

“No! I mean, s-stop looking at me that way!” I just wanted to crawl into a hole and wait for this day to end. What was I in for?

 

“So… you DO have a girlfriend, how cute! Want me to help you buy her something?” I stared at Winry hard, I did need help because I was a lousy shopper, even if I was sent out to go buy milk or something of that matter, I would either lose the list, or lose the item I had bought. I hated to shop by myself.

 

“Sure.”

 

As we got closer to the shops, love was certainly in the air. There were couples arm in arm, looking in windows and picking out gifts for their special someone. Winry was caught up in the time as well, gasping over small pocket gifts, and her favorite of all, tools and the latest auto mail designs. She needed to get a boyfriend.

 

She caught me glancing at a small vending wagon that had an assortment of glasses and men's gifts.

 

“You know, you should also get something for Scar, he doesn't have anybody and won't be expecting any gifts, he deserves something on Valentine's Day, it's sad to see him just lying in that bed.” She murmured. I too felt bad about Scar. He didn't have any family that I knew of, and he was just, alone. Little did she know, it was him who I was planning to buy a gift all along, not a girl.

 

“Yeah, I'll look for something.” I said in a deep breath. I've been looking for something to give him this whole time. Wasn't it obvious?

 

Winry let out a disturbingly loud gasp and practically threw herself into a window, her face planted against its flat surface like it had been glued there.

“Al! Look at this! Look at it! LOOK, LOOK, LOOK!” Didn't that hurt? She was slamming her face against the glass and waving her hands around. Sometimes I feared for her health.

 

“Look at the design on that auto mail! Isn't that the most gorgeous thing you've ever saw? It has beautiful craftsmanship, made of the latest metals and is most popular than the older models! Isn't it breath taking?!” I took a step back knowing she was about to be all up in my face.

 

“Um… sure.” What else was I going to say to her? I had to deal with this every time we went into town. I wonder if she has scared Scar yet.

 

A devilish little smirk crossed across her pink lips and she got into an innocent position with her hands between her knees and bent forward some, her blonde hair would have been all in her face if she didn't have it pulled back into a ponytail.

 

“You love me don't you Al?” I didn't like where this was heading.

 

“Yes, but no I am not buying you auto mail for Valentine's Day.” I hurried off before she could complain; I had this feeling she was going to hold a grudge against me.

 

“But it's the latest auto mail, and it is Valentine's Day! I thought you loved me.” She pouted with her arms crossed as we walked deeper into town.

 

“Of course I love you; I just don't want to BUY that for you. Isn't a simple card good enough?”

 

“No.”

 

“I thought it wouldn't be.”

 

“Oh? And what is that supposed to mean?” She asked in a defensive voice. “I'm not that obvious.”

 

“Yes, you are.” I had to bite my bottom lip so that I wouldn't smile brightly. This conversation was going to result with her asking me if I thought she was too obvious over, and over, and over again. This was definitely going to be a long day.

 

I was finally able to change the conversation to getting a gift. We walked from one vender to the next, to shop windows and sidewalk sellers and still nothing. She was trying to get something for a girl; I was trying to get something for a guy. I was about to come out and tell her the reason for me wanting to come in the first place until she spoke.

 

“I wonder what Edward is going to do for Valentine's Day, knowing him; he's probably going to be doing research. He never really paid attention to holidays, not even his own birthday. I wish he would come to visit at least.” She had disappointment in her voice; I knew how she was feeling. I too missed Edward, but there was no possible way to go find him. He changed his locations often due to work. For all I knew he could be in Central or Lior.

 

“You like my brother a lot don't you Winry?” I asked in a soft but curious voice. She had always given hints about her infatuation with him; I knew she had to have something.

 

“I love him, but he is never around to know that I do. The very few times he is, I don't get to speak to him because he's doing something with his job. I just wish it could be like when we were kids and he gave us all the time he had. It's like we don't even exist any more to him.” She threw her hands up and then dropped them lazily.

 

“That's not true.” I said in his defense. “Even though he isn't here doesn't mean he's forgotten us. It's just…”

 

“It's just that he's turning out like your father.”

 

Winry walked ahead of me and held her head down.

No, it was just that I had stopped completely. She was throwing out that Edward was turning out like our father. I didn't know if I should be mad or what. As soon as I thought on it I felt anger bubble. She was saying that he was going to be like our father who had never come to see us and ran out, only to return once when something happens. How could she say that? How could she say that about Edward!

“Winry!” I couldn't put anger in my voice; it was just unnatural for me. “Edward would never be like our dad… never. I know that!” I sped up so that we were the same walking speed.

 

“No you don't Al! The way he is acting right now is just like your father. You don't know anything!”

 

I stayed silent. I couldn't think of anything to say. I couldn't disagree with her but I also couldn't agree. Ed wouldn't turn out like dad… would he? No, he couldn't!

I walked along Winry and stared at the ground. We remained this way for the longest time until she spotted a vender carrying a variety of gift baskets including tools. In the end… she had begged her way into me buying her some.

 

“I love you Al.” She chirped triumphantly and stroked the wicker handle of her gift; she was smiling from ear to ear. At least we got off the subject of my brother.

 

“Love you too.” I mumbled in a soft voice. I moped around a while longer until something caught my eye. I rushed to a nearby window and pressed my face against the glass. Displayed on a small wooden crate was a pair of black paints with a red stripe going up the left side of the leg. It reminded me of the pants I had seen Scar wearing when I first met him. I examined them thoroughly as well as my memories.

I knew the pants Scar had worn were made through his Ishbalan culture, or probably by someone in his family, but maybe this would be a good enough gift from me.

 

When we had found him, he had nothing on, I had no clue why but I suspected some kind of Alchemy, I had long ago pushed the suspicion from my mind afraid to believe it, it would arouse certain fears I had.

 

I couldn't pull myself away from the window. I had to buy these for him. All he had now was a pair of pants that Winry borrowed from a local neighbor. Luckily it fit him, after all, he was a good sized man.

 

“Those are lovely! I bet Scar would like them.” Winry smiled into the window. “It would probably be better than those hand-me-down pants.”

 

“Yeah, I think so too.”

 

Winry glanced back at me with a look of question on her face. “What is his real name?”

 

I looked at her and tilted my head sideways. I had never really thought about that. He had to have a real name besides Scar. I couldn't imagine a mother naming their child that. How ironic would that be?

 

“I don't know.” I answered dumbfounded.

 

“Maybe you could ask?” She added and took my hand leading me into the shop. I felt like a small child instead of a teenager. She had been treating me like this ever since I got my body back.

Going back to her suggestion, what if I did ask, and he exploded like last time? I had no idea what about, but I was pretty sure it was personal or something about someone he didn't like. I didn't want that to happen. I will ask one of these days, before he leaves me. I will ask for his name.

 

“They are so adorable Al, I'm glad you found them.” Winry smiled and poked at the paper sack I was carrying in my arms. The pants weren't much so I figured I should get him something else. It hit me; he didn't have a decent shirt because he didn't want to put one on when he was wounded badly. He might want one now?

 

I kept my head down to think until I ran into something hard. I let out an `oomph' sound and fell backwards, everything I was carrying fell to the ground. Winry dropped beside me to pick up my items, she had an angry look on her face, she didn't see who the person was but she was ready to explode on them.

 

“You need to look where you're going buddy.” She snapped. She didn't know I had been the one who wasn't watching.

 

“No... Its fine Winry, it was my fault anyways.” I muttered and collected me bag.

 

“I wasn't looking where I was going either.” Too familiar a voice announced, a gloved hand reached extended out to me. I looked up to see who it belonged to.

 

“Lieutenant…” It almost fell off my tongue.

 

“Alphonse Elric.” Mustang murmured with a little smile as I took his hand. It had been a while since I had seen him. He was in uniform but had a large leather-like jacket on. His appearance hadn't changed at all.

Those eyes, so familiar. I had always been fascinated with them at times, and scared at others when I had to look at them.

 

“W-what are you doing here Lieutenant Colonel?” I asked in panic. If he was here, then that meant this had to do with Edward, and if it did, Edward was either the one in trouble, or he was here. This couldn't be happening!

 

“I don't get a simple `hello?” He joked and then tilted his head sideways.

 

“I, um… sorry, I was just, caught by surprise… hello?”

I got a small chuckle from him that made me shiver.

 

“I'm just down here for the military, and what a coincident running into you.” He said while adjusting his hands behind his back. He said a soft hello to Winry and looked back to me.

“Hey Al, I'm going to go ahead, just catch up after you're done.” She muttered. I didn't want her to leave me! I wanted to shake her and then put her in front of me for protection.

 

“Okay.” I muttered with a nervous voice. She bowed generously to Roy and started down the crowded street.

 

“So Alphonse, how have you been?” He asked. What was he up to?

 

“Good, I think.” I didn't know how to answer him! I've been used to answering him in a business manner and now he tries to have a normal conversation with me, I guess.

Roy last seen me when I got my body, I'm glad he did then because he would probably freak out or take me back to Central for testing. Edward explained everything to him and he understands. I left without even saying goodbye to him. Edward didn't want to arouse attention in the building; Mustang told everyone that I was being sent back home due to certain circumstances.

 

“You think?” He asked with an entertained expression.

 

“I uh, yes Sir.” I sounded like an idiot. I know I sounded like an idiot and his chuckling wasn't helping any, and that smiling, every time I stuttered it made him smile more. I started to blush but thank goodness he didn't force my face up from looking down.

 

I figured he would finish talking to me, but he continued to walk with me until we reached the path to the auto mail shop. Why had I brought him here? I had to turn around now before he went there. I started to panic. Scar would be taken to Central if found, or he might get shot. I couldn't let Mustang go there.

 

I sat down at the root of a thick tree and sat my bag down. He copied and crossed his legs.

 

“So… how has Edward been?” I asked holding the bag close to me. His eyes were soft, almost a lazy like glance. I always loved it when he had his eyes narrowed a little. It made him look laid back instead of always being strict.

 

“Your brother is back in Central working on some paper work. He's going to go to Lior next for more research. He's been talking about you lately, that's what made me come up here to see you, I mean on my way through that is.” Was that a blush?

 

“Oh, I see.” I mumbled softly. My blonde hair kept falling into my face making me swat at it instinctively, when I looked up at Mustang I found him watching me gently, I blushed and accidentally smacked myself in the face.

 

 

“Ha ha, I see you haven't changed much Alphonse.” He smirked. Damn those smirks!

 

“Heh, yeah, not much.” I added.

 

“Can I ask you a question?” Roy took a blade of grass between his forefinger and thumb, twirling it in circles inches away from his face.

 

“Sure, anything.”

 

“I as wondering if you wouldn't mind letting me stay at your house for a couple of days. I pay and I'll be gone during the day in town.” He turned his eyes to the side so he could see me out of the corner.

 

He wanted to stay at the shop. I was fixing to freak out. Scar was there, if Scar is found… who knows what will happen! He gazed at me in question. My face was messed up as I thought. He had always been there for me and would have done the same thing if it were I who was asking. I could put Scar somewhere and keep them apart. Yeah, that could happen but… Gawd this is going to end terribly!

 

“Um, I could see if Pinonka has a free room, and if she lets you stay then, sure?”

 

He smiled big and stood. “That would be wonderful.” He extended a hand for me.

 

“You're Welcome.” I answered and took his hand graciously. What had I just done?

 

 

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As soon as I could, I told Pinonka about Roy. She said if I could find some way to keep them apart and neither of them knowing about the other, then we might be able to pull it off. I still was unsure about this, but I couldn't kick him out now.

Winry returned and I too explained to her. She said she would take care of Roy so that I could take care of Scar. I quickly went to where he was making sure I wasn't going to be followed by Roy.

 

When I entered the room, I found Scar sitting by the window staring out. His new arms were wrapped around his bare torso and clutching the back making his skin taut. He didn't stir at my entrance, he remained silent as well. I had the gift for him under my arm and I approached slowly.

 

“Scar?”

 

It took him a while to answer, he was either thinking, or giving himself time to adjust to my presence.

 

“Yes?”

 

I sat the bag on the edge of the bed and took a step back. “I bought you something from town… today is Valentine's Day after all.” I said in a gentle voice. He turned his head some so that he could see me. I shivered when our eyes met.

 

In one, swift motion he turned around and gazed at me softly.

 

“Why did you buy me something?”

 

“I wanted to.”

 

“You shouldn't have.”

 

“But why?” I raised my voice a bit more, but stopped and turned to look at the door.

 

“Because I don't need it.” He added with a snappy-like voice. Why was he so uptight around me? I tried to be nice but he would just take my hospitality and burn it.

 

“You don't even know what it is.” I continued trying to make my voice as soft as possible, one to keep Roy from suspecting anything, two to get Scar to accept my gift. I didn't care if he hated it with his life; I just wanted him to at least open it.

 

“I don't need to know what it is.” He mumbled and turned around to face the window.

 

I took the gift from the bed and approached him. “At least open it. Please.” I would beg if I had to.

 

“Go…”

 

“But-“

 

“Go!” He turned his head sideways some so that he could throw me a pissed look. I bit back tears and dropped the gift. As I left the room I had tears running down my face. Winry passed me and called my name, but I went straight to my room and slammed the door. I didn't care if Roy was here or not, I didn't care. I sobbed softly into my feather pillow and hugged my knees into my chest. I have tried my hardest to get Scar to talk to me. I even went to the trouble of buying him a gift. Why was he being this way towards me? Why!

 

I clutched my fists together and cried. I felt my body grow weak, and then I fell into sleep with my face tear stained. The second time in a week I had cried myself to sleep.

 

 

 

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Oh! Cliff hanger! *does a little jig* you all probably thought Scar was going to kiss him didn't ya? Shame on you! Ha, just kidding. Even though Scar is nice… I had to keep his moody-ish side. Yay, Roy is here now… who I should bring in next? *smirk*

Okay, that was chapter three, Valentine's Day special of Protection. This chapter I also slaved over a hot smoldering computer to bring you this reading entertainment. Idea's, comments, and flamers are always welcomed ^-^ *runs off to watch Inu-Yasha*