It is What it Is (FMA Fanfiction)

Confrontation

Story: It Is What It Is, Chapter 11
Disclaimer: I don't own FMA.

(IMPORTANT NOTE AT END)

OH, MAN I HOPE THIS WAS GOOD. IT SEEMS SHITTY TO ME (next chapter will be better I swear, I wanted to get closer to the part that everybody has been waiting so long and patiently for)

I've been so busy lately, due to work and school. But I had this evening free, so I decided to write up a little bit. I haven't had anything with Al for a while, so I really needed a little centric-chapter with him (of course with some of Ed too). But it's probably terrible and rushed(not my intentions, but I might not have this opportunity for a while again, especially due to my senior project...)

One night ago

Alphonse was snapped out of his reverie, as he noticed the lights of the kitchen come on. It was probably around 3 AM, and Len was dead asleep in his room last he knew, so he knew it had to be Rachel...

As he got up, he tried his best to avoid waking up the cats near him, but having a suit of armor naturally made soundless movement virtually impossible, and cats had some of the most attentive ears, just like dogs.

Stepping over the cats in the room, he made his way to the kitchen. Sure enough, Rachel was sitting at the table, a wine bottle in her hand. Her face was slightly flushed, like she might have drank a little too much. She looked like she was deep in thought.

"Um..." Alphonse uttered nervously, not sure what to say.

She jumped, a bit startled, as if she hadn't known he was there. She then relaxed a bit.

"Oh, Al... It's you..." she slightly slurred.

"Are you not able to sleep?" Alphonse inquired, as politely as possible and not to sound too prodding.

"Course not..." the woman said simply, but there was an all too familiar look of longing in her eyes, as if she was thinking about something. It immediately reminded him of his mother, who used to look off into the distance a lot in Hohenheim's absence, never talking about her feelings and always telling him and his brother that there was nothing to worry about. He would be lying if he claimed it wasn't a painful sight to see again. However, before he could ask anything, she changed the subject.

"You goin' back home tomorrow?"

"Yeah... I have too." Alphonse said a little sadly. "I would like stay longer, but my brother is real piece of work sometimes, you know."

Rachel smirked a bit, obviously having heard rumors of the Fullmetal Alchemist. "So I've heard. Riza has told me quite a few stories here and there herself about you two. You must deal with a lot."

"You couldn't even begin to imagine. He's so thick-headed and never listens to reason. Honestly, I sometimes think I should be the older brother..." Alphonse trailed off into silence for a moment, when he remembered how Edward had been complaining about his arm last he saw him, not to mention the occasional looks of sadness he gave when he thought nobody was looking. A small bit of worry began to envelope him. "I just hope he doesn't come back in a cast or something due to breaking his arm or leg in a fight..."

"Hey, I've known Riza for years, and Roy too, so trust me when I say your brother is in good hands," Rachel said, "so cheer up!"

"Mn..." Alphonse uttered, uncertainly. It wasn't that he didn't trust Roy or Riza. It was just that Edward wasn't the type to always cooperate or think things through. Though if something had went that bad, Riza would have probably called them and let them know, so maybe everything was okay after all. Still, it didn't completely settle his anxieties.