It is What it Is (FMA Fanfiction)

Seek and You'll Find

"That's quite the touchy subject you're reading about there. Surely, you couldn't be reading about it for fun."

Alphonse jumped when he was snapped out of his thoughts by a familiar voice. He turned around to see his Xingese friend standing there. "Ling!"

Ling always had had a knack for popping in out of nowhere, but it was no less startling to Alphonse.

"How long have you been there?! And where are your bodyguards?" Alphonse asked.

"Just a short while. And don't tell anybody, but I kind of ditched them... Don't get me wrong, I like them, but being followed around all the time is kind of exhausting." Ling said after a brief pause, scratching his head.

I almost feel bad for his bodyguards, but, as a prince, Ling probably never has any time to himself... I couldn't even begin to imagine it.

Ling sat down beside him and placed his cheek in his hand. "So, if you don't mind me asking... why were you reading about self-harm?"

Alphonse grew a little tense at the question. What can I say? I doubt even Ling will buy it if I said I was just curious. But brother would probably kill me if I told him about it... "Um, well, you see, a friend of mine has been cutting himself, and I'm trying to figure how to help him."

"Perhaps I could provide you with some assistance then." Ling said.

"Well, of course I could use all the assistant I can get, but how do you know about this?" Alphonse was immediately surprised by Ling's offer. How does he know anything about this? Could he-

Ling began to undo part of his sarashi to reveal a section of scars on his forearm. Some of them looked like they must have been pretty bad up close, but, since they were faded, they wouldn't have been that noticeable at a distance.

"Ling, you..." Alphonse didn't know what to think. Ling, of all people, who appeared so happy and content all the time, had went through the same rough period Edward was going through?

"I actually used to cut myself a few years back, so I can answer any questions you have." Ling explained, interrupting Alphonse's thoughts, but confirming his suspicions that he wanted to deny.

He sounds so care-free, like he's not bothered by it at all.

"Wait, are you sure...? I don't want to push you to do something you don't want to..." Alphonse mumbled with uncertainty.

"Go right ahead, really, I wouldn't have offered if I didn't mean it. But first... This friend you speak of..." Ling's eyes narrowed ever so slightly. "It's Edward, isn't it?"

Alphonse was shocked. I really want to deny it, and Brother will probably be mad at me for this, but maybe I can trust him... And Ed needs as much support from friends as he can get right now. (Although Brother would probably deny that they're actually friends...)

"...How did you know?" Alphonse asked incredulously.

"Intuition." Ling answered vaguely.

Of course he wouldn't give a straight answer... .

But it should have been so obvious, Alphonse suddenly realized. Edward had been visibly depressed for at least a month, it would only make sense that Ling would notice, especially if he'd went through the same thing before.

"So how long ago did you find out...?" Ling asked.

"Just yesterday... Apparently, Brother nearly died due to cutting on the mission he went off on with his commanding officer." Alphonse explained.