victory_road IC Inbox

[armoredsoul]

"Hi, this is Alphonse! Please leave a message and I'll get back to you when I can!"

Comments

[armoredsoul]

[It takes Al a minute or so before he sees that reply, relaying the message to Lust as he is. And even then he stares at the text glowing on the screen for a good long while, not even sure of the answer himself. There are plenty of things he could say, that it's the right thing or that he doesn't want to sink to Envy's level, but none of those are the real truth.]

[He types and deletes and re-types again several times before the message is finally sent out.]

Because even you deserve help.

[Even just saying that felt like a horrible betrayal to his brother, but it was the truth. They were all victims of a tangled web of hurt and hate, even if Envy had chosen to become an active part of it.]

[exeggutorhead]

[By the time Al responds, Lust has already come in and Envy doesn't even see the text for a while.]

[When he does glance back at his 'Gear, it's like a punch to the gut. He doesn't respond himself, because what can he say to that, besides the kneejerk "I don't want your help"? Because he doesn't, doesn't want Alphonse Elric's help or pity or anything at all. He tells himself that he doesn't send it because Lust is in the room and will see him typing and ask questions.]

[He also does his best to ignore the small, insistent voice in the back of his head saying 'no I don't'.]

[Until he can fall asleep, he's just trying not to think about it, to focus on other things. Maybe in the morning he can think of this interaction as nothing meaningful, or as a weird dream.]

[Wishful thinking. Those words are going to stick in his head for a long time.]

[armoredsoul]

[Even if Envy had sent a response, Alphonse wouldn't have seen it until morning. His book is forgotten at this point, as the conflicting guilt and worry twist his stomach around, tighten like a vice around his heart.]

[He should hate Envy, despise every fiber of his being, but he...he can't, anymore. He's seen too much of the hidden parts of the homunculus, the few bits and pieces of him that aren't a broken wreck. And now that he has, he wants to help; it's his nature, he can't help it. But every time he sees his half-brother he also sees Edward bleeding out on the ground, the light fading out of his eyes while Al could do nothing to stop it.]

[He falls asleep curled up tightly against his Luxray's side, tears staining the mane where it cushioned his head.]