Fullmetal Alchemist Fan Fiction ❯ Set in Stone ❯ Father ( Chapter 11 )

`Til the Sun Shines

 

Chapter Eleven

Father

 

`A wise man learns from the mistakes of others, a fool, by his own.'

-Anonymous

 

Al got home late that night. He sat down on the bed softly, so as not to wake his sleeping wife, and pulled his boots off, not bothering to change. However after minutes of sleepless tossing and turning, he got out of the bed with a frustrated sigh. “Something wrong..?” Michelle asked sleepily.

 

“No, nothing, go back to sleep.” He whispered back to her.

 

“Mm'kay.” She replied, with a goofy smile, drifting back off into slumber. He walked to the lounge, passing Nina's bedroom on the way, a soft smile on his face as he watched the child sleep. He should be happy with what he had. Some people had less. But he couldn't help feeling despondent and rejected about his brothers departure.

 

He sat down, and the couch sagged under his weight, and pulled the slightly crumpled letter out of his pocket. He reached over, and grabbed the letter opener from the small coffee table. And to think, he'd recently had an argument over the uselessness of the little thing, considering the small amount of letter's they actually received, and the even smaller amount of times they remembered the silver knife. The letter made a painfully loud noise in the dead silent room as he unfolded it, leaning back in the couch to read it.

 

Dear Alphonse,

 

I know when you lot decided to `surprise' me, this might not have been quite what you expected.

 

He knew them too well.

 

I'm sorry, that I've had to leave. I'm not the greatest person with emotional words and sappy letters. All I can offer you is part of an explanation. I don't know how to explain this though, I've gotten myself into trouble, as you know, and while I've no problem with being in danger, annoying as it is, I've no wish to drag any of you into it. I don't know how long the mission I've taken will last, but once it's completed, I plan to resign from the Military. I don't plan to return. Of course I don't plan a lot of things; you always used to scold me for it.

 

When we were kids, traveling, we got in a lot of trouble. There was a lot of danger involved. I didn't like putting you in danger then, but it was a burden both of us shared, something we had brought upon ourselves. This time it's different. I've no wish to involve you in my problems.

 

I realise that this might not be a good enough explanation for you. If you sent this to me, I'd throttle you until you realised that we're brothers, and as the older brother, it's my obligat - no, my responsibility to protect you. But times are different; you've got a family to care for, and a responsibility to protect them. I'm sorry, that this might not be what you or I wanted, but I don't regret my decision, because I'd rather have you safe, then selfishly put you in danger.

 

I won't return until I've finished this, until I've made it right. I don't know if I'll be able to return though. Stay safe, be happy. Enjoy living with your friends and your family; don't spend all your time fretting about me.

 

Goodbye.

 

Love Edward.

 

“Idiot…” Al whispered eyes narrowed at the letter. “You are my family…you left, just like Dad…” He stood up, retreating to his study. He needed to sooth his nerves, and nothing did that better then his alchemy.

 

 

“I'm sorry Alphonse, but there's nothing I can do.” Mustang said, his eyes closed and his head resting between his cupped hands behind his head.

 

“Why not?” Al asked. “You hold a high enough rank to call up a search party.” He argued. The other sub-ordinates watched the argument go back and forth.

 

“I can't just call up a search party for someone who's not lost. Fullmetal resigned, which means he made this choice, which means I've no grounds to organise a search party. You've got to face the fact that your brother is only coming back here of his own free will. Neither you nor I can force anything on him, if this is the path he's chosen, idiotic as it is; then we've got to respect his decision and keep our distance.” Mustang said firmly. Then his voice softened. “I understand this isn't easy for you Alphonse, as much as he was a pain…we all wish he hadn't left. But, there's nothing we can do.” He said quietly.

 

“I know…I know…I only hoped.” He sighed. “Never mind, thanks for your time.” He turned to leave.

 

“Would you like to stay Al?” Hawkeye asked. “We never do anything, and the company's always nice.” He smiled, but shook his head.

 

“No thank-you,” he replied. “Michelle's got to go to work in an hour; today's my day off; so I've got to look after Nina. I'll see you around.”

 

 

The man walked through the streets of Central. He was lost, but he wasn't going to admit it, and he'd lost sight of the huge building he'd been making his way towards. “No matter how long I've lived in these parts I can never remember my way around.” He muttered to himself, sitting down on a park bench and taking out a map. He traced his finger along the red dotted line he'd walked down, and figured out a way to where he wanted to go. “Ah there's the Hotel, Alphons should be there; maybe I should just go with him.” He said softly, and stood up on his way again, his glasses glinting in the sunlight.

 

He finally arrived at the Hotel, much to his joy, and saw Alphons outside, in the car park. “Alphons!” He called. The man turned.

 

“Ah, I was wondering where you'd gotten to.” He said, smiling. “I take it you didn't manage to find the way to the building?” He asked a knowing smile in his eye. Hoenheim shook his head, his blonde hair swaying with the movement.

 

“Not quite, my mind's not what it used to be. Perhaps we should make the trip tomorrow, in the light of day.” He suggested.

 

“No, we set out to make it there today, and we'll go today, we still have half the day ahead of us. C'mon get in, I'll drive.” He climbed into the sleek black car, followed soon by Hoenheim and drove out of the hotel carpark, heading in the direction of the military headquarters, arriving only minutes later.

 

“Are you sure they'll let us in?” Hoenheim asked. “We're not military personnel, and I know how they are about those kinds of things.” Alphons rolled his eyes, and stepped up the steps, followed by a sighing Hoenheim.

 

“You're just making excuses, I'm sure Ed will be happy to see you.” Hoenheim smiled at him, but still thought a little differently. It's not really Ed I'm worried about, he thought.

 

 

“Hello?” Alphons asked, opening the door to Mustang's office. “Long time no see.” The group looked up at the familiar face as he opened the door wide, not yet stepping into the house. “I heard about Ed's house, I was wondering if you could tell me where he is now?” he asked after they'd all said their hellos.

 

“You won't find him here, Doctor.” Havoc said, “He's resigned, cleared off about a week ago.” Alphons's face turned curious, and another voice drifted through the door.

 

“Hmm, perhaps then, we should return to the Hotel Alphons.” The male voice suggested. Mustang looked up from the pen he'd been fiddling.

 

“Hoenheim Elric?” He asked. Hoenheim poked his head around the door, and laughed slightly.

 

“I was hoping you wouldn't recognise my voice.” He admitted. “We're looking for Edward, you've no idea where he might be?” he asked, following Alphons into the room.

 

Mustang smirked. “I've got ideas, but none are plausible. Alphonse is eager to find him; perhaps you'd have better luck with him.”

 

“That's a brilliant idea.” Alphons exclaimed. “And I'm sure he'd be happy to see you.” Hoenheim sighed.

 

“Somehow I doubt it. Well come on then, I trust you got the address off Edward, you've been planning this from the start, haven't you?” He asked with a weary sigh. Alphons grinned and his eyes sparkled.

 

“I don't know what you mean, how could I have possibly known that Ed wouldn't be here?” He asked in an innocent voice as they walked once again out of the office. Alphons shouted thanks as they disappeared down the hall, still chatting away.

 

“Who was that?” Fuery asked. Looking between Mustang and Hawkeye.

 

“That,” Mustang replied, returning to his sketch. “Was Fullmetal and Alphonse's father.”

 

 

Michelle answered the door, and was surprised to see a man that looked uncannily like her husband. “Hello,” She said cautiously, “Can I help you?” Alphons smiled at her, showing his white teeth.

 

“You must be Mrs. Elric.” He said, making the man behind him start. “I'm Alphons Heiderich, the doctor that treated your brother-in-law, this here's you father-in-law. We're looking for Alphonse, is he home?” She blinked a few times, trying to process the fast string of words he'd just uttered.

 

“Um, Yes I am. Hello, nice to meet you. No, Al is at work…would you like to come in?” She said at last, answering the questions and statements in order. (1)

 

“Why that would be excellent.” He said stepping across the threshold and waiting patiently in the hall for the other two, his eyes darting quickly from the different photograph's on the wall.

 

“He's had a little too much caffeine this morning.” Hoenheim explained quietly, and she giggled and nodded. “I'm Hoenheim Elric, I'm Alphonse's father.” He said, shaking her hand quickly. “Though I'm not sure I really deserve the title.” He added with a small smile.

 

“Please, do come in.” She invited warmly, leading them into the lounge where little Nina was playing. “Al should be home in about half-an-hour, you're welcome to stay. Can I get you something to drink or eat? Cof-water.” She suggested after taking another look at the hyped up man cooing at her daughter.

 

“That would be nice, thank-you.” Hoenheim said, and Alphons nodded in agreement, poking his tongue out at the little girl as she stared up at the man who looked so much like her father. “I suppose then,” Hoenheim said, crouching down and peering over Alphons's shoulder, “that this is my granddaughter.”

 

“Her name is Nina.” Michelle said, handing him and Alphons a glass of water each, and taking the small child into her arms. “I'm Michelle. It's great to meet you both.” Hoenheim nodded in agreement and acknowledgement. “She was born just over 2 months ago.” She said conversationally. “Al was delighted, he loves her to bits. But…for the past week…” she said sadly, her eyes lowering slightly, as she fixed the drool sliding down Nina's chin.

 

“Edward and Alphonse have always been inseparable.” Hoenheim said. “When they were children, and they used to play with the Rockbells daughter. Those three were troublemakers. And then, when I returned years later, only to find, they'd not been out of each other's company for more than a few days at a time for years.” She looked up at him and smiled. “For Alphonse, it's as though Edward has returned from the dead, but he's come back changed. Not the way that Alphonse remembers him, not the way he's always been.”

 

“He's a sad man.” Michelle commented. “I'm not sure if they all see it, if perhaps he always been like that…”

 

“He was not sad. But he was angry.” Mustang said, coming into the room. “Sorry, Alphonse let me in.” he said, gesturing to the man behind him. “I wanted to talk to you Hoenheim. About this `society'.”

 

“Doctor Heiderich.” Al exclaimed in surprise. “What are you doing here?” He asked. Alphons grinned.

 

“I'm showing an old friend around.” He said. “We came to see Ed but…” he shrugged.

 

Al looked to the man behind Alphons, whom he'd gestured to when he mentioned his friend. “I don't think I've met you.” He said, much to the surprise of Michelle, “Are you….” He trailed off, “Wait a minute…Dad?” he asked, brow furrowed.

 

Hoenheim chuckled somewhat nervously. “It's been a while, Alphonse.” He said. “Not since the time your brother decked me at the Rockbell house I believe.” Alphons tried to hide a snort of laughter, and indeed Mustang's smirk seemed to widen slightly.

 

“Alphonse hasn't memories of the time he spent in the Armor, Hoenheim.” Mustang explained when Al's face turned to one of confusion.

 

“Ah,” Hoenheim said, “Equivalent Exchange.” He laughed quietly to himself. “So…I was right.”

 

“Hmmm?” Al asked. But Hoenheim shook his head.

 

“Just an old man mumbling to himself.” He replied. “Major General Mustang, you said you wanted to ask me a few questions. Perhaps here would not be the best place.” He said, turning to look at the family, Michelle bobbing Nina in her arms, and Al looking all over confused. “Alphons,” he said turning to the other young man at his side, “Our hotel room would be fit, would it not?” Alphons nodded.

 

 

“Dad..?” Mustang had left, and Alphons was asleep in one of the two rooms, leaving Hoenheim and Al in the room alone. Al's quiet voice was easy to hear in the silent hotel room. Hoenheim looked up at Al questioningly. “I've a question for you.” He said.

 

Hoenheim was reminded of when he'd come back to Risembool to find that his children had attempted to resurrect his dead wife, and that Al had acted much the same way then as he did now. “Yes?” He answered, with another question.

 

Al seemed to lose his nerve, but braved the question anyway. “Why did you leave?” he asked determination in his eyes. Hoenheim sighed, and yawned.

 

“Your Brother asked me that once.” He commented lightly.

 

Al sat next down next to Hoenheim. “What did you say to him?”

 

`There are very few personal problems that cannot be solved by a suitable application of high explosives.'

 

(1) I realise he had the day off and Michelle went to work like 2 pages before I wrote that but…it's my story I can do what I want, let's pretend he had an emergency and she only needed to go in for a few hours.

 

So this chapter's kinda short and I suppose it's just filler/bring in more characters chapter. So I hope you liked it anyway, and keep reviewing! I just realised I'm getting rather close to the chapter that I've written up to. Better start writing more on it. Lol I'm just trying to find a way to connect the ending I've got in mind to what I've already written while at the same time making it make sense.

 

Phe: I thought snakes on a plane was only rated M? We got in for a kids price by pretending we were fourteen, which for like half the group was true but. Word says that `snakes on a plane was' is grammatically incorrect lol. Stupid spellchecker and stuff. Anyway Rove is like a talk show that's on in Australia and New Zealand, and the guy called Rove talks to all these celebrities that come over to Australia and there are all these different segments, like what the..? For example. People send in suss stuff or stuff that's been printed incorrectly and sounds funny or photos etc. They had one last night on this paper and it said: `I know you are depressed, but look on the bright side compared to hopeless despair depressed is cheerful. Lol. I'm glad you liked the piano bit.

 

Misa92: I hate how they always show FMA really late, I like had to stay up til 10:30 at night to watch it. Unless it was daylight savings cuz we don't get that in Queensland so all the times on Foxtel go back an hour. Or is that forward? Ahhh the movie came out!!! Need money!!! How am I gonna buy it anyway!!! Why is it when you wanna buy something on the net you need a credit card, do people realise that not everyone is old enough to get a credit card. Gosh! Anyway, hope you like the chapter, and it's all good that it showed up twice, makes me look like I got more reviews. Muahahahaha.

 

Nihonjin_AEC1990: He could of, Muahahahaha. But I'm not going to say or I shall ruin the story. I think those are the only countries they mentioned anyway, I'm not good at remembering specific details unless the extremely interest me. See I fixed it and added to your comment Muahahahaha. I don't know what the evil laugh was for.