#fic: wrath!roy au | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

disregardcanon · 7 years ago

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fma 03 au where tucker decided to make the kid that was staying with him into a chimera instead of nina

strangely, this au has a happy ending? what?

tucker’s test is approaching. he has a few fucked up animal hybrids in the basement that won’t be enough to give the military and a few bits of research even more laughable than the crock he turned in last year. he needs a breakthrough and he needs it now. he knows that his only chance at all is making another chimera with another human.

he’s already done it before, and he did it with his own wife. he’s not afraid to do it again. he hypothesizes that the reason that the chimera he made of his wife failed was that she was an adult. she was too old to fully adjust to the transmutation. he needs someone younger. really, it just comes down to how young?

nina is a preschooler. she’s already learned a fair amount of human speech and she still has the neuro-plasticity that comes with that age. but she’s also far from fully-formed. if this goes wrong and she’s not able to adjust to the change and gain knowledge beyond what she already has, she will be mentally a preschooler forever.

hell, if it goes WRONG ENOUGH, then she will be completely lost. and, even if he won’t admit it to himself, he doesn’t want to lose her, at least not when he still has a week before the inspection to get together another plan. he can direct his science elsewhere and still keep his daughter, so he decides to try someone else.

it seems wisest to go with someone in the middle of a grown woman and a preschooler. someone in the midst of developing. someone half-way grown. someone that he has easy access to. and someone that still has a physical form.

so the genius twelve year old he’s housing who already suspects him of committing some sort of atrocity, even if he’s not sure what it was? he seems like the perfect option for this attempt. he knows that ed is snooping around, and he fits all the qualifications that tucker has set in his brain.

al is out of the house visiting the hugheses and ed is pouring over some text or another, and it’s easy enough to trick the kid into the basement by promising to let him see his research from the first chimera experiment.

then, shou tucker creates his chimera. this one can talk too. hughes insists on escorting al back to the tucker estate. al is very surprised to see that neither ed nor nina is with tucker when he greets him at the door. hughes insists on staying for a while. maybe getting a tour, because he can tell that there is something UP and he's not leaving al to that alone.

tucker shows them every bit of the mansion and promises that they'll find ed and nina in the basement, which, ya know. not ominous at all. they get down there, and they find glowing eyed abominations in cages and a large, wolf looking beast lying down beside nina, who's gently petting it.

"it's alright," she promises, "it's okay."

"nina," it says, in a voice strange and deep to be human. it sounds a bit like a dog's bark if that dog learned to talk.

"it can talk?" al asks, his eyes widening. tucker runs a hand through the creature's mop of golden hair between its bright white ears.

"al?" it asks. al feels a terrible dread set on, and he realizes he still hasn't seen his brother.

"this is a perfect talking chimera, alphonse," tucker says, "it's an immense improvement on the first. the first one was too old to make the change, but this one? it was in the glow of adolescence. the perfect time for the change."

"how the hell did you make that?" hughes demands. al doesn't miss how his hand ghosts over his gun.

"i will reveal all those secrets at my inspection," tucker says, "i'm sure you will have clearance to view those documents, lieutenant colonel." tucker tries to run a hand through the chimera’s hair, but it flinches away. then seems to glare at tucker.

“bastard,” the chimera growls. strange. that’s not what al expected to hear come out of its mouth. though, it’s probably softer than the “i want to die” that the first talking chimera managed before it did so. it doesn’t set al’s sense of dread at ease, though.

al looks closer at nina, still working her hands, gently, through the creature's fur. it nuzzles closer into her. then he looks closer at the chimera itself.

it's fur is bright white, but it has a mane of golden hair cascading down it’s back. if that weren’t enough, when al examines it a little closer, he can see that it only has three legs.

"where is alexander?" al asks. he thinks he knows what happened here. why ed and alexander aren’t here. why the chimera said bastard. why it called him by name.

"probably running around somewhere up stairs," tucker says dismissively.

“why is it missing a leg?” al demands, the dread in his gut only growing. tucker smiles at him, sadly.

"oh alphonse," he says, "i wish you weren't so observant." then he looks al dead in the eyes as he adds, “alexander had four limbs. edward had two. i suppose you can say they met in the middle.” al feels sick to the stomach he no longer has. tucker made that thing using his brother and the dog.

hughes draws his gun.

“call the police, al,” he orders.

"do you really want to get them involved?" tucker says, "they'll cart him off to experiment on. you won’t even get to say goodbye.”

"change him back," al demands, "fix my brother!" tucker laughs.

"oh alphonse," he says, "a chimera is a perfect transmutation. you can never separate them.” he gestures towards the brother-dog chimera. “it’s not your brother or my dog anymore. this chimera is its own entity.” he looks gleeful as he says it. and al wants to shout that his brother is IN THERE and he wants to beat him bloody with his metal hands that won't even feel it, but nina looks up at him with wide, terrified eyes.

"big brother," nina says, "what's happening?" she bites her lip. "where's little big brother?"

"he's right here," al says, and his voice cracks a little. he gently touches his brother-dog on the head, and he looks up at al with eyes that are somehow both absent and pleading, both far off and intensely in the moment.

"al," the brother-dog-chimera says, "please. it hurts."

"i'll save you, i promise," al says, working his metal fingers through his brother's fur, "i'll get your body back. i swear." the noise of response isn't quite a bark but isn't quite a scream, and al wants to cry but doesn't have the proper parts anymore. tucker made his brother into this. they might have sinned, trying to bring back their mother, but it wasn't like this.

it wasn't anything like this.

"so," tucker says, "what will you do, elric the eldest?" al clenches his fist. he wants to punch tucker so hard that the man’s head breaks against the weight of his hand, but that won't bring his brother back. it won't spare nina from whatever the aftermath of this will be. it won't actually help.

"i'm leaving," alphonse says. he doesn't know where he'll go, but anywhere has to be better than this. then he can gather his thoughts. nina and ed will be safe, and he can figure out how to save his brother from this abomination tucker has made of him.

"take them back to my house," hughes orders, "i'll take care of this." al scoops nina up, and threads his fingers through his brother's fur (hair, he reminds himself hair).

"come on," he says, "we have to leave." the being that both is and isn't both ed and alexander pads behind him, and they make their way to the hughes's residence.

so hughes calls in the military, and they come to arrest tucker for human experimentation and the murder of edward elric. the chimera, as far as anyone knows, died after its creation. hughes and roy had ed declared legally dead along with it so that the military won’t be searching for him to be a lab rat. it wasn’t that hard, either, with ed’s bloody automail just sitting around in tucker’s basement.

al gets to the hugheses, and gracia thanks god that elicia is already asleep for the conversation that they have to have. al is soft with nina and explains it all in a way that she can understand, and nina does not let go of edxander the whole time. edxander doesn't seem to want her to either. a few hours later, hughes finally gets back and tries to pitch his (and roy’s, of course, hughes and roy tend to be a package deal) idea for what should happen now.

"look, al," hughes says, "i can take nina, but i can't take your brother. he's safer with roy."

"look i promise, roy has your best interests at heart. he cares too." al doesn't know if he believes that.

"brother thinks he's a bastard," al says instead. hughes laughs.

"i'm sure your brother’ll let roy know that, too." al realizes that this is a battle he'll lose, and it's probably not worth fighting, as long as his brother is safe. so he agrees to let edxander stay with roy on the condition that the hugheses will take him whenever al is in town staying with them. nina will be able to visit whenever she wants.

nina stays with the hugheses, and al agrees to take on ed's post as a state alchemist to continue their research on the philosopher's stone and ensure his brother's safety. he actually worries what will happen to edxander if he does not agree to take his brother's position.

so we have alphonse elric, eleven years old, soul sold to the military in order to keep his brother from becoming a lab rat.

we have edward elric, melded with alexander. his body is in constant pain but he tries his hardest to stay lucid. and on occasion, he’s there. sometimes he fights through it and he’s just ed. and being just ed includes all the cursing that comes with it. but sometimes it’s just alexander in there. and sometimes it’s just two beings shoved together into a body that doesn’t work right, howling in pain because ed was still growing and their body knows it and tries to accommodate.

1. winry makes edxander an automail dog leg like den’s, and takes it upon herself to braid his mane because no one else in his life knows how to braid, apparently. she knows that’s the way ed would want it.

2. mustang takes edxander in but hawkeye ends up taking him a lot of the time. much to roy's chagrin, he much prefers staying with her.

3. sometimes, edxander will bite mustang or knock him down. sometimes it's when he's in pained, unconscious chimera mode. sometimes it's when he's in dog mode. sometimes it's when he's in ed mode because ed is a little shit.

4. nina loves on al whenever he is in town and calls him big brother and loves on ed at least four times a week. she's the one that coins the term edxander.

5. nina is the BEST big sister to elicia guys you have no idea.

6. al does not make a philosopher's stone in lab 5, but god. he considers it. he thinks his brother would be disappointed in him for even thinking about it, but he dares not tell ed about it himself. if he is disappointed he might try to bite al and then just hurt himself. he might break all his teeth on his armor. and like, being a chimera is bad enough. he doesn’t want ed to be a chimera that can’t even eat.

7. nina insists on learning alchemy from al because alchemy isn't evil, just that thing her dad did with it was. she wants to help get al and ed's bodies back.

8. by the time that liore happens nina is seven and al is fourteen, and by the time that hughes dies she’s just turned eight. nina wants to help, desperately. she’s good at alchemy and big brother’s always galavanting around the countryside trying to figure out how to fix himself and ed and she wants to help. he doesn’t let her and he doesn’t let her and he doesn’t let her, until he makes a stop to see her and ed and gracia and elicia before he sets off for liore and the Scar and Rose and Philosopher’s Stone nonsense.

9. nina stows away on his train and really, it’s probably more dangerous to try to send her back on her own and he doesn’t have time to take her back himself so he decides that he can protect her, just this once, on this one mission. he buys her a bright red marker to carry around in case of emergencies to draw a transmutation circle and that will probably be good.

11.. NOPE NOT GOOD AT ALL! the liore nonsense TM occurs and then al becomes a philosopher’s stone and dante kidnaps nina. she brings her to the homuncu-hideout. nina is fine, but a little freaked out all the time. she surprisingly hits it off fairly easily with wrath, and they bond over their alchemy and she makes him question what it is he’s fighting for. if he even needs to be made human when he already feels everything and can do alchemy and his mother loves him. al, on the other hand, finds chimera tucker. again.

12.. tucker, obviously, doesn’t want to make a doll of nina. because nina is living and breathing and very much not a chimera. he wants al to let him see her. so, his brilliant idea is to offer to make one of his human dolls of so that he can give it to al in "exchange" for the brother he ruined. then he thinks al will let him see nina again. al doesn't know how to explain to this man that humans are their SOULS not their bodies, and no matter what, his brother is melded with alexander... because of tucker himself. it reminds him of majahal in all the worst ways. body over soul.

13.. al leaves. tucker is not able to knock him out.

al runs into lust after this, and she demands that he make her a human. al being Fed Up and just not giving a shit and not seeing the harm in it, actually tries the thing. it does not work.

“i’m sorry,” al says, “i don’t think i can do it. i don’t think it’s possible.” lust laughs.

“of course it isn’t,” lust says, “i served that woman for ten years, for nothing. nothing at all.” but al convinces her that being alive is something and that now that she KNOWS she can leave and go find her way in the world. maybe she does find herself, maybe she doesn’t. but she does leave and he does not see her again.

after just deciding that a human is a soul and not a body, al is a lot less likely to believe that sloth is their mother (this isn’t necessarily better or worse, just different.) he does, however, believe that getting sloth off of dante’s side is a smart idea. he lets her convince him to come to dante (which isn’t hard at all, considering that dante still has nina) and then he convinces her to hightail it as soon as he gets there.

if you count greed, that’s three homunculi down. if you count pride because killing pride is roy’s responsibility, that’s four down. that just leaves envy the pseudo-sibling, wrath who’s already kind of friends with nina and probably won’t fight them, and gluttony. and of course, dante herself, the body-snatching, baby threatening to kill, could be his step-mom if she and hoho never got divorced demoness that she is.

“well hello, alphonse,” dante says as he walks into a great room, “welcome to my abode.” al would roll his eyes if he had any. abode? who says abode? apparently, body-stealing alchemists who wear pink ballgowns in the middle of the day, along with other beautiful women in other beautiful ballgowns. what does she want with rose anyway? and why does the other woman seem so out of it? she doesn’t even seem to notice that al is here. al knows that he should ask about that, but the first thing he demands is

“dante. where is nina?”

“envy,” dante orders, “go fetch the girl. our collateral’s no good if he can’t see her.” envy comes back a minute later, holding nina, who is flailing and shouting, “let me down!” wrath trails behind, looking on with what looks like... worry? what would he have to be worried about right now?

“nina!” al shouts. nina’s eyes widen as she looks over to the sound of his voice.

“big brother!” envy sets nina down, but doesn’t let go of her wrist.

“you can have the brat back after we get what we want,” envy says. al glares. he knows that they can’t tell that he’s glaring, but it makes him feel better.

“i see that sloth didn’t accompany you,” dante says, “such a shame. i was going to make her human.”

“you can’t make a homunculus human,” al says firmly, “i tried with lust. it didn’t work.” dante laughs.

“what?” wrath asks, “that’s what you promised us all?!?!” he looks like his name. dante ignores him.

“oh alphonse,” she says, “you really think that you already know how to wield that stone. learning how to wield a philosopher’s stone properly requires practice. if you allow me to, i can teach you.”

“you already have me here,” al says,”why don’t you just use it yourself?” al doesn’t actually want dante to reach into his chest cavity and rip the stone out, but he doesn’t understand why she WOULDN’T. he knows that she’s a stronger alchemist than he is. she can transmute without a circle. if she really wanted to, he knows that she could take it from him without breaking a sweat.

“well the thing is, alphonse,” dante says, “it’s merged to your armor. it seems that only you can use it. scar ensured that.”

“you’re going to steal rose’s body, aren’t you?”

“not if it truly offends you so much,” dante says, “if you wish, i can find a different host. one who isn’t your friend.”

“but then someone else has to die,” al says. he doesn’t want rose to die, but he doesn’t want anyone else to either. he can’t choose between a friend’s life and a stranger’s. it isn’t right.

“isn’t that just an equivalent exchange, the way that you two always claimed?”

“that’s not equivalent,” al says. he doesn’t know what it is, but it’s not equivalent.

dante laughs.

“equivalent exchange is a ruse, alphonse. a bed time story to tell little alchemists to help them sleep at night. do you think it was equivalent that your brother lost a leg and an arm you lost your entire body? do you think it was equivalent that you two passed that state alchemist exam when you were children, when some people study their entire lives for it? nothing in this world is truly equivalent, alphonse. sometimes we can give far more than we get.”

“but you never give anything,” he says, “you take and you take and you take from people. “

“yes, alphonse,” she says, “because i found the way to cheat the system. why shouldn’t i do whatever i need to get whatever i want? didn’t you promise to do whatever you had to to get your own body back? don’t you desperately want a body?”

“that body isn’t yours.” al doesn’t even know how many bodies that woman has worn through, how many lives she’s stolen for her own greed and vanity. “i want to get my own body back, not steal someone else’s.” dante laughs then, like his mother did sometimes when he said something hopeful but naive.

“your body is gone, alphonse. disappeared through the gate. you will never get your body back, but you can have a body. an organic form, all to yourself. i can even help you pick it out, all for yourself.” she smiles.

“we can find you a boy your age, or perhaps a dashing young man. someone with similar features, or maybe someone with looks you’ve always envied. when you shop for bodies, there really are endless possibilities.” alphonse feels sick to his stomach just listening to her talk like that, even sicker than he did when she suggested that his body might be gone.

maybe it’s impulsive. maybe it’s stupid. maybe it’s selfish, but al needs to know, one way or another. he needs to know if this has all been for naught. if he can get his body back or if the the choice will be between staying in this armor forever or stealing another person’s body, like dante wants him to. he knows what he’ll choose, but he doesn’t want to HAVE to. he opens his chest plate up, and the red light bursts forth from his insides. then, he touches the stone and focuses.

bring me back my body. he thinks. give it back to me.

the world goes white, and then, suddenly, al opens his eyes. he feels the hard ground under his back. he sees dante looking over him, laughing.

“you know,” she says, “i didn’t actually think this would work.” then, she scoops up the philosopher’s stone from his chest.

wait- chest? that’s a human chest. and he feels the ground against his back, and he lifts them up, and- are those his arms? they are they are they are they are! he has his arms back!

dante clutches the philosopher’s stone, and then her hair shifts from black to pink to match her dress.

“ah,” she says, “looks like it works.” al pushes himself off the ground. his body feels weird, being made of flesh and actually feeling things.

“big brother!” nina shouts. she finally breaks free of envy’s hold and she runs over to him, engulfing him in a hug. it feels so warm and right and real after years and years of feeling nothing, but he can’t even feel happy about that. dante has the stone. she’s going to steal rose’s body. she’s going to kill her.

“it appears you were right, alphonse,” she says, “you could get your body back all along. but now that you have it, i don’t need you.” she turns towards rose, and al knows that once she walks the six or seven feet between them, it’s all over. dante will steal rose’s body. this will be the end.

“nina, do you still have that marker?” nina pulls her red marker out of her shoe and draws a quick transmutation circle, then al grabs part of his discarded armor and throws it on the circle. they transmute a knife, and then he throws it directly at dante. somehow, it hits. the knife lodges itself in the rotting skin near dante’s collar bone.

dante seems unfazed as the blood starts to squirt out.

“it seems that i was not clear,” dante says, “if you and miss tucker wish to leave now, you are free to-”

“no! you can’t let him go!” envy screeches, “that’s the son of hohenheim! if i can’t kill him, at least let me kill his son!”

“you will do as i tell you, envy,” dante says, then she sends a fake smile to alphonse and nina, “you can leave unharmed if you do not get in my way any further.” envy shifts into chimera ed, and al feels a stab of pain.

“he wasn’t your only brother, alphonse” envy seethes, and then he shifts into an adult body with long, blonde hair. just like ed’s. “i was your brother- i was SUPPOSED to be your brother. hohenheim made me, years ago! but he called me an abomination. he hated me and he loved you-”

“envy, you are causing a scene,” dante says, sending envy a toxic glare.

“i don’t care, MOTHER! all i wanted was to kill hohenheim, but you won’t even let me fuck with his precious sons!” envy shakes their head.

“lust was right. you don’t give a fuck about us.” dante rolls her eyes, and pulls something out of her bag. then, she throws it at envy, who recoils.

“my- my-”

“it’s your remains, envy,” dante says, “i am tired of your whining. and i am tired of taking care of you. i have what i want. this ends today.” then, she snaps her fingers, and envy’s body disintegrates.

“so,” dante asks, with a fake smile, “what do you say? will you leave?”

instead of answering, nina launches a knife she must have transmuted while al wasn’t looking at dante. it doesn’t hit, but it sends their message loud and clear. they will not go quietly out of this fight. that does not, however, mean that they will fight well.

al doesn’t know how to fight without his armor, and nina has never NEEDED to fight. neither of them knows how to do this. there is a fight, violent and bloody, with lots of improbable alchemy. wrath gets rose out of the line of fire, and al thinks he might, surprisingly, be on their side? they are saved when the elevator door behind them opens and mustang and hawkeye step out, mustang might be bleeding from a wound to his chest, but he still looks raring to fight. hawkeye looks even more so, considering that she’s not even wounded.

al would take a moment to wonder how tf they knew to look here, but he will take this for what it is: a blessing.

“dante,” mustang says, clutching a skull in his hands, “guess who we just killed?” hawkeye holds out her guns, daring anyone to move against her.

“pride too?” dante says, “it appears i’m running out of homunculi.” she drawls this, as if she’s not at all concerned.

“looks like you won’t be a threat, then,” mustang says, snapping his fingers. he produces a large spark. dante snaps her fingers, and the philosopher’s stone glows brightly. then, rains starts pouring from the ceiling. mustang’s flame goes out. he won’t even be able to produce more.

“you really think you can move against me in the rain, general mustang?” she asks, laughing as the rain soaks through her hair and her dress. then, she makes a move to transmute something- but no one will ever know what it would have been.

hawkeye puts a bullet in the middle of her eyes. dante’s body falls down to the ground, dead, just like any other human. the philosopher’s stone falls right along with it. the rain stops, and it gleams right there, on the floor beside her.

mustang’s eyes widen, “is that?”

“the philosopher’s stone,” al says. both hawkeye and mustang’s eyes turn towards him, and their faces light up. apparently, they hadn’t noticed that he was there yet.

“i got my body back,” al says sheepishly.

“he got his body back!” nina shouts. she goes to grab the philosopher’s stone, then shoves it in his hand.

“come on,” she says, “we have to go save little big brother and alexander.” al nods. he hears the stomp of gluttony’s footsteps and then he eats dante’s corpse in one gulp. then he runs away.

“we’ll probably have to deal with that at some point,” mustang says.

“at some point,” al concedes, but there’s NO WAY that he’s waiting another second to go save his brother. (the author is NOT dealing with it. gluttony can just go be a cryptid for all she cares)

14. they go directly to mustang’s house, where he has a few of his guys on edxander duty. luckily for them, edxander doesn’t tend to torment anyone who isn’t named mustang.

al uses the philosopher’s stone and focuses on ed and alexander, as individuals. he tries to remember all the best times that he had with his brother. he tries to remember alexander trailing after nina, barking happily. he tries to remember them in the same room, as different, distinct entities. (after being fused for so many years, it’s harder than al would like to admit to call those memories to the surface without being tainted by the others)

but, thankfully, al is able to do it. when he’s done, ed is lying on the ground, his pink, fleshy body with two stumps, and alexander is lying above him in all his furry white glory. alexander wags his tail. ed moves his good arm.

then, al hears ed’s voice, properly, for the first time in ages. he opens his eyes, irises glinting gold against the white of his eyes.

“am i?” he looks down at his hand in wonder, “am i- back?” his voice cracks a little at the end, like he can’t believe.

“yes, brother,” al says, “you’re back.” then he picks alexander up and moves him, gently off his brother’s body. then he scoops him into a hug.

“al,” he says, eyes widening, “you got your body back?” nina has gone to pet alexander, to let him know that they’re happy to have him back too.

“yeah,” al says, “it’s a pretty new development.” he still feels weird in his body, a little like a colt that’s just learning how to walk. he wonders if ed will feel weird being back in his body.

“get in here, both of you,” ed says, to nina, and then the hug pile gains two new members.

“hope i’m not interrupting anything,” mustang says, “but the team wanted to check on you.” alexander barks, and it sounds like “bastard!” mustang’s looks shocked as the rest of his team follow him into the room.

“did alexander just?” ed tries to say yes, but a bark comes out instead.

“we’re not fixed,” ed says, “i don’t feel- i don’t feel the same. as i did back then.” al wants to say that of course he doesn’t, because ed did manage to grow a little since he was twelve. since he used to be human. but al knows that’s probably not the case. he can’t imagine that he and alexander spent so many years fused together without it actually rubbing off on each other.

nina takes his hand.

“but you’re better, right? you’re better, little big brother?” ed nods.

“yes nina,” he says, “i’m better. thanks to you guys. all of you. except the bastard.”

“excuse you?” mustang says, with feigned insult.

“alright,” ed says, smirking, “bastard included.” al didn’t trust the guy, back when he had to leave ed with him, but he really proved himself. he cares about them in his own smug way. even enough to come yell at al for not letting him know what his plan was earlier back in resembol.

15. ed isn’t the same. not really. spending that long as a chimera changes some of a person’s behaviors, and it seems like it might have changed his makeup a little too. but he’s not in pain anymore, and he’s always ed, without alexander or seething mass of pained chimera thrown in the mix. it’s not perfect, but it’s so much better.

16. winry makes him new, human automail for the first time in years. she doesn’t even complain about it. then, she moves to rush valley to study with the best automail mechanics out there and to make out with paninya.

17. ed and al and nina all make the decision that they want to try to help other people affected negatively by alchemy like in the end of brotherhood. they travel around, researching and having great adventures and loving each other.

18. wrath makes his way to the curtis’s and stays with them, and eventually he meets up with The Gang TM to help them with their quest and be friends. because i love wrath curtis and he deserves nice things okay

19. nina eventually changes her name to elric because fuck her dad

20. thank you for coming to my ted talk

#fma aus #alphonse elric #nina tucker #fma 03 #fma 2003 #edward elric #the elric brothers #maes hughes #roy mustang #wrath curtis #dante fma #shou tucker #sunkelles writes #i wrote an entire fic here guys jesus christ #chimera edward elric #i might make this into a real fic at some point #but chances are pretty slim

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nightofnyx8 · 4 years ago

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Thank you!!!

Gahh I just wanted to say thank you very much @royaiweek for giving me the opportunity to participate in such a wonderful event this past week! Writing about Roy and Riza has both broken my heart and cursed my soul all at the same time, and I really can't get enough of them!

I also wanted to say thank you very much to everyone who has reblogged or liked or left a kudos or comment on one of my fics this week! I'm trying to get through the replies with finals and such, so I'll get to yours soon!

In case you missed it, the pieces I wrote for Royai Week 2021 are listed below (mostly for my organizational sanity), and please please please don't forget to check out all the other wonderful fics and art (and songs!) that people have created this past week, because they've all really outdone themselves. Have a fantastic day! ❤❤❤

Royai Week 2021

nightofnyx8

Endgame (G)

Royai through Wrath's perspective

I'm Only Me When I'm With You (T)

Royai College AU (because I can)

The Distance Between Us (M)

Paranormal Romance

All That Really Mattered (G)

Royai had a baby, Ed's along for the ride

Where You'll Never Reach (T)

A Lust!Riza oneshot

#royaiweek21 #fanfiction #ao3 #royai #Royai Week #Roy Mustang #Riza Hawkeye #thank you for all your inspiration and support!#see you next year #thanks most of all to my husband who put up with me writing all of this this week

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fullmetalscullyy · 4 years ago

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What's the fic you keep rereading for the good angst?

anooooon there’s so many how can i choose 😭 but i’m going to post a list no one asked for anyway bc :))) it’s for the good angst. the people need to know.

again, i’ve probably forgotten a bunch of fics! but these all slap so there’s plenty to dig into here

absent by BleedingCoffee - the summary says it all (plus there’s some phenomenal plot in it too for riza): A mysterious event at the Warehouse 13 lot allows Riza to find out what Roy's life would have been like without her. RoyAi

humanity by @the-flame-and-hawks-eye - chimera!riza fic anyone? :))) now this is the good stuff i’ve read it like four times (and haven’t in a while, i’ve been slacking) but omg. please read. summary: After a horrifying incident, Edward and Roy race against the clock to try and make things right, while Riza struggles with the notion of what it truly means to be human.

don’t go (where i can’t follow) by omytheon - hunger games au anyone? 👀 w roy and riza as katniss and peeta 👀 summary: Everyone is shocked when Roy Mustang and his best friend, Riza Hawkeye, are chosen as tributes for the Hunger Games. Only one person can survive the Games, which is going to be difficult since both of them are dead set on keeping the other alive. The journey through the Games is as intense as it is emotional, forcing Roy to come to grips with everything he's ever feared and more.

wrath by minerva aemilius - wrath!roy who marries riza :)))) just think of the angst! tbh this is a classic for me. i read it back when i was in the fandom first time round and hoo boy. i always go back to it. it’s incredible. summary: Führer President Bradley has been killed in a freak accident, leaving the Wrath homunculus without a host. But a replacement has been found: an unwilling Colonel Roy Mustang. Now Hawkeye and the rest of his team fight to save him, and he struggles to survive, as Wrath takes possession of him and everything he holds dear

i would part the sea by ohmytheon - an assassination attempt happens at roy and riza’s wedding. just read bc omg. angst city central (”close your eyes, Bug” - cue me sobbing). summary: What is supposed to be a wonderful day that finally joins their family together as one becomes a harrowing moment where Roy and Riza come face-to-face with the possibility of losing one another - or maybe someone even more important to them.

#i uhhhh also just reread all the angsty shit from my own fics LMAO #self indulgence on point #fic rec #anon #ask #forgot to add but these are all royai

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envythepalmtree · 4 years ago

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Happy 300 followers to me! To celebrate, here are my favorite homunculi-centric fics. The homunculi are hard to do well, and I think these authors should get more love :)

When there is strife, there is Pride by @juurensha

Teen and Up, No Archive Warnings Apply

Chapters: 6/11

I'm loving this fic so much!! It's an AU where the Hughes family adopts "Selim," Pride starts getting soft for the family, and Maes lives. The premise seemed so out-there but it's executed amazingly. I'm really enjoying the look into Pride's psyche, as he tries to justify his affection for the Hughes family and slowly starts to question his loyalty to Father. The dynamics of the homunculi fam are interesting, too - both Lust and Pride are the "leaders" of the siblings, and they're constantly jostling for Father's favor. Feels almost like court officials fighting for the favor of the king.

Counting Bodies Like Sheep by @adelmortescryche

Teen and Up, No Archive Warnings Apply

Chapters: 1/1

King Bradley dies, and Roy becomes Wrath. I love the storytelling - it sounds like Wrath. And it sounds like Roy. I love how it gets so much across in so few words - how Roy is bound to Father now, but he's not Father's dog. He's not going to blindly obey. It's such a cool concept and I loved reading it.

Kiddie Table by laurakinnie (if they have a tumblr, let me know!)

Teen and Up, Graphic Depictions of Violence

Chapters: 2/?

It's pretty dark, but the storytelling is absolutely hilarious. AU where Ed and Al are homunculi. Something happened to Trisha and I'm excited (scared) to find out what, exactly.

Natus Ex Invidia by @area51fugitive

Teen and Up, Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings

Chapters: 1/1

This fic was AMAZING. The storytelling was almost poetic, and the perfect amount of horrifying. It's a canon compliant fic that takes place in Xerxes, from the perspective of Father/the Dwarf in the Flask. It didn't just feel like the dwarf in the flask, it felt like Envy. Even though Envy won't be born for centuries, I can see their personality forming through Father's jealousy. And it was so interesting to have Envy's preferred form based off that Xerxian slave. It's dark and does not shy away from the awfulness of slavery and abuse.

Also, I'm gonna be that person and plug my own fic: so I throw stones at walls I'll never climb

Teen and Up, No Archive Warnings Apply

Chapters: 1/1

I really enjoyed writing this and I'm super proud of it! It's a one-shot centered on Envy, who's ordered by Pride to act as Selim's "friend" after Mrs. Bradley worries her son isn't making friends. I really loved exploring Envy's grief over Lust, and their buried jealousy of humans that they're in such denial over. I also loved exploring how messed up their family is, how conditional Father's love is. Humanizing Envy while showing just how cruel they are, reminding the reader that they've done horrible things and will continue to do so.

#homunculi #pride the arrogant #roy mustang #edward elric #alphonse elric #dwarf in the flask #van hohenheim #wrath the furious #envy the jealous #fma fic #fic recs #aure speaks #homunculi fam

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presumenothing · 5 years ago

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fmab (+03) fic masterlist

because even i’m starting to lose track of what i’ve posted so far. all writing is eventually crossposted to ao3, individual tumblr posts linked below the cut because it’s lengthy as hell

(this is like 85% post-promised day fic with the occasional canon-divergence au for flavour, ft lots of resembool kids, riza, and roy. basically gen with near-zero ship content because that’s how i roll)

update: total wordcount has now broken 20k 25k 30k 35k 40k 45k(!!!!)

update 2: now with crumbs of 03 content because yeehaw

april

“Actually, Winry – can you do something for me?”

“Lieutenant. Would you ever consider learning alchemy?”

“I guess I just – want to figure out who I am. Me, not the Fullmetal Alchemist.”

Besides, the scars on his palms have been – pardon his language – hurting like a bitch ever since he woke to this gloomy weather this morning.

Ishval had given him plenty of practice at that soldier’s art of taking even the lightest of naps whenever circumstances permitted.

[au] Ed has never had reason to hate how swiftly his mind works, not until now.

It’s just simple clerical error that leads to Edward Elric retaining his title and pay as a State Alchemist, even after the Promised Day. No, really.

may

He’s just tired, not about to collapse.

These days Ed’s journals are actual proper travelogues, no coded shit or anything.

[au] It doesn’t even start until after they arrive in Resembool.

(can’t have been the more socially-adjusted brother, obviously.)

[au] “I don’t,” Ed bites out, “know any damn alchemists.”

Maes raises an eyebrow and sloshes his near-empty cup pointedly.

august

[wip] “Is this about Al, or you?”

“–of course I know these aren’t the most efficient routes!”

Ed seriously considers dyeing his hair more than once, in the After.

Winry only needs a glimpse of red to know what it must be.

Rush Valley talks. Winry listens.

Much as Al loves his brother to itty-bitty-and-very-shouty pieces,

The first time someone mistakes Al for the Fullmetal Alchemist,

+ The thing is, Al gets it.

“Brother told me that you told him about Ishval,” Alphonse says.

It’s an honest observation – as honest as he can ever get, at least –

[au] In another world, she is never named the Hawk’s Eye.

“Somehow I doubt your place is much better, sir.”

would it be the most impossible thing to have happened to the Elrics?

“I can’t believe he didn’t tell us,” Ed growls,

a minimum age limit on all candidates for the State Alchemist exam.

“There’s gotta be a shark somewhere around.”

The Elrics make transmuting without circles look easy.

The problem, if Riza is to put it into words,

Al completely botches the first dozen or so transmutations

(Ed? Talking about automail? Over food?)

[au] in the end it’s Al who really takes after their father.

“Fullmetal realising his celebrity status? Woe betide us,”

The tea is actually well-made, first of all, not burnt

“Not like– I mean, personal about me, not you!”

[au] “Huh,” Al says.

Still less work than getting entropy-murdered by Olivier, he decides.

[au] It’s not every dead person that he sees.

[au] They weren’t even meant to stop in Resembool.

Jean just wants to make one thing – okay, a few things – very clear.

Ed knows this firsthand from too much Winry exposure.

The lump on the couch lets out a string of wholly intelligible noises.

september

“Take me out to dinner,” Riza says.

“We’re not even in Amestris, though.”

[au] Riza had been angry too, when she had let herself be, but hers is a cold ire, locked beneath glaciers and the burn of frostbite. Wrath makes no such pretences.

[outline] But in the case of Fullmetal – more specifically in the case of Fullmetal and Youswell – Roy mostly wishes he could unknow things.

[au] Roy forces enough air into his lungs to get the words out. “You’re dead.”

[outline…?] winry’s gonna like this, al says.

Alphonse flaps a hand. “Oh, because it’s complete bullshit.”

“Y’know, you really aren’t that tall, Brother.”

getting to finally keep a cat hadn’t been very high on his list of priorities.

[au] “Edward. Get out of here, take Envy with you.”

[wtnv au] “Welcome to Resembool.”

october

just because you’re immortal doesn’t mean you can’t die from food poisoning, young man.

[au snippet] It’s sort of a belief, in the eastern parts of Amestris,

[03] Al’s hug is the first real thing he’s felt in years.

[03] Never thought you were, Ed retorts lightly, and lets Alfons turn away with a huff.

“When you said to come visit you in Rush Valley this is not what I was expecting!”

(and jeez, only Ed would manage to make it necessary to keep a kit on hand for actual minor-to-major catastrophes during a semi-honeymoon trip)

november

[03] Except the sight of his brother only serves to make everything worse, for once.

[au] The worst thing about this is that it’s not even equivalent.

[au] “You wanna know why? The real reason, not the quantum bullshit I fed Mustang.” (+ more in the tag)

[snippet] And just for that I won’t be leaving Wrath any.

“I shall finally exact the decisive vengeance that I have always dreamed of,” Scar booms right back before Armstrong can even ask,

Al knows from the moment he wakes up that it’s going to be a good day.

[snippets] The real disaster comes when Ed learns how to weaponise his height.

[03 au] The man in the brown overcoat. That’s all anyone ever seems able to recall of Edward.

[au] They say the Elric house is haunted. Of course. Empty houses are always haunted.

Of course, this assumes that said person is an alchemist of some ability, and that said life has been one of some loss and strife.

“Are you alright? Nod for yes, swear at me for no.”

from the intervening pause he surmises Riza is jotting something down on the notepad she keeps by the phone.

She’s been looking forward to the day when her hair finally gets long enough to – well, no longer be short.

“Remind me of this the next time I decide to trust Ling any further than I can throw him.” ( + xing tag)

december

Ed’s almost twenty when he realises that Hawkeye must’ve been around his age when she was deployed to Ishval.

[au] At least this far out from Amestris Ed could mostly brush the first one off as an interplanetary translation fuckup.

bonus textposts and assorted nonsense

the Better Alchemist™️

on the topic of ed’s scrawl

al, defender of cat

*csi miami theme but with cats*

on the topic of flat affect + 200000% turbo by default

on the topic of pain tolerance + further thoughts

ed @ mustang’s problem solving skills

ok but about liore…

terrible TERRIBLE ideas (three of them)

putting the SHORT in SHORT-TEMPERED

clap reflex

you’re retired, ed, r e t i r e d

and by “ambidextrous” i mean “confused”

protip: you can’t

YEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAH (aka csi miami theme, riza redux)

feral ducklings, the continuation(??)

does THIS count as elric telepathy

honestly, y’all

too much fire?? sounds fake

on the topic of academia

sometimes the stars align

on the topic of riza hawkeye

terrible idea, berthold version

immortal troubles

THE CHURCH OF EDWARD ELRIC

PRIDE (& WRATH): one, two, three (4koma)

objectively the worst post-cos timeline

serious stuff: fma drama cd, daughter of dusk

asks: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 aka izumi pwns roy, 9 aka not coffeeshop au, 10 aka legalities, 11 aka autograph woes

#fma #fullmetal alchemist #fmab #fma 03 #fanfiction #mine #yes i'm basically allergic to titles that is definitely it #ficlist

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thefledglingdm · 5 years ago

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TheFledglingDM Works List

hello, all!! i realized that my fics are all out of order and sporadic on my blog, and idk how to hyperlink things otherwise, so i thought i would just dump my fics into one post pinned at the top of my blog. you can find all of my works here, but this post just has the ones i’m proud of enough to rep. organized by fandom.

Hunter x Hunter

and i’m passing through your life | Rating: T | Status: Complete

Summary: Inspired by a tumblr prompt: "Things you said when you thought I was asleep.” or: Leorio takes a nap prepping for the trek to the Dark Continent. Kurapika just wants some coffee.

and i’ve been so lost without you (are you lost without me, too?) | Rating: T | Status: Complete

Summary: 5 times kurapika smiled on the black whale + 1 time leorio did. or: there is something between kurapika and leorio. too bad they’re the last to know.

dissonance and consonance | Rating: T | Status: Complete

Summary: a leopika pacific rim au.

The Blood Runs Stale | Rating: M | Status: Complete

Summary: a vigilante hunter x hunter au.

light of my life, pain of my ass | Rating: T | Status: Complete

Summary: a hunter x hunter wedding planner au.

you steal the air out of my lungs | Rating: T | Status: In Progress

Summary: a hunter x hunter heist au

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood

The Flame-Witch and Deadshot | Rating: M | Status: In Progress

Summary: A FMAB role reversal AU.

Once | Rating: M | Status: Complete

Summary: riza and roy's relationship over the years. covers childhood, ishval, the series, and post-promised day.

First | Rating: E | Status: Complete

Summary: After the Promised Day, Roy and Riza bone. Takes place immediately after the events of Once, but can be read alone.

Much Ado About Nothing

Bea and Ben: or, A College of Wit-Crackers | Rating: M | Status: Complete

Summary: a modern college AU of Much Ado.

there’s a skirmish of wit between them | Rating: T | Status: Complete

Summary: A series of oneshots - the story is marked complete and most should stand alone. Requests are accepted! A prequel to Bea and Ben

Haikyuu!

absurd behavior (this is how it’s always been) | Rating: T | Status: Complete

Summary: Kageyama thought he knew how his life was supposed to go. And then he met Hinata, and everything went off the rails.

the world will follow after | Rating: E | Status: Complete

Summary: kei would rather die than go to hinata and kageyama's wedding alone. what’s a man to do but hire a hapless fool to be his boyfriend for a week?

this is the way the world ends | Rating: E | Status: Complete

Summary: to kiyoomi, being in love with miya is like his world is ending, over and over and over. a companion piece to the world will follow after.

runner, runner | Rating: T | Status: Complete

Summary: on the eve of their one night in tokyo following a match, atsumu, sakusa, and bokuto somehow lose hinata. they have mere hours to find their star player, or risk their coach's wrath.

daybreak | rating: T | Status: Complete

Summary: with mere hours to go until his bus leaves the city and he leaves kageyama behind - again - hinata races across tokyo to tell his best friend he loves him.

i wish to be found | Rating: T | Status: Complete

Summary: a tsukkiyama you've got mail au.

if you got a kiss on your lips | Rating: T | Status: Complete

Summary: tsukishima, yamaguchi, and the meet-cute.

#my writing #fanfic #fmab fanfiction #royai #hxh #hxh fanfic #leopika #shakespeare #shakespeare au #bea and ben #much ado about nothing #much ado #killugon #haikyuu!!#haikyuu fanfic #tsukkiyama #sakuatsu #kagehina

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takaraphoenix · 4 years ago

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You've been obsessed with DC comics recently so here's something fun to do. Demigod AU, who has who for godly parents? This is not limited to any one Pantheon too. Also, why did you pick whoever you pick for parents? Feel free to pick whichever DC characters you want. I'm curious to see what you come up with

Mmmmh... So I gotta preface that by saying this is def an AU I’ll never end up writing. I mean, the Greek gods are literally canon in the DCverse and part of the fun is how diverse the power-sources of the heroes are; to narrow them down to only one of the canon power-sources is kind of taking the fun away in an actual fic.

Kay, so, first the ones that wouldn’t change because their powers are already rooted in Greek mythology. Diana Prince, princess of the Amazons and daughter of Zeus, Arthur Curry, legacy of Poseidon and prince of Atlantis, Billy Batson, bearer of the powers of Shazam, a wizard whose powers are literally granted by the gods.

All the speedsters - Barry Allen, Jesse Wells, Wally West - would be children of Hermes, because speedsters (and also because the speedsters always seem to have tricker-esque characteristics to themselves). Though, granted, especially with Barry there is also the temptation of Zeus because of the lightning powers. Perhaps a legacy.

Jefferson Pierce, clearly Zeus, that one doesn’t need explaining. And through him, his daughters are legacies of Zeus.

Both Killer Frost and Leonard Snart would be children of Chione, which would be fun because that’d make them siblings and I think I’d like to see that. And Lenny’s sister Lisa Snart would be his mortal half-sister who kind of aquires the Midas-touch to make up for her gold-gun.

Silena Kyle would not be a demigod but she would be a faithful priestess of Bastet and thus blessed by her.

Pamela Isley is just 100% Demeter’s kid, she even has her momma’s wrath.

Kara Danvers and Clark Kent defy any such thing, it’d cut too many of their powers to narrow it down to one god. Maybe they were chosen ones, blessed by all Olympians?

Zatanna is definitely a legacy of Hecate (since her dad had the title and powers before her). Because magic, duh.

Oliver Queen and Roy Harper, obviously, Apollo because archery.

Also I am tempted to just make the Birds of Prey huntresses of Artemis; many aren’t even necessarily superpowered and they tend to be primarily women (though I’ve seen the occasional Dick or Hank in the lineup before too).

Korinad’r is a daughter of Helios. Because... sun, fire, bright, but also... just, her raw power? That’s stronger than the gods so she is a daughter of a titan.

Tara Markov as a daughter of Gaea would be fun and very powerful.

Dunno what to do with Batman. I mean, Bruce’s whole thing is not having powers. So he’d just be a mortal, I guess.

It would be fun if Barbara Gordon was a literal Oracle; gifted with sight from Apollo.

Dick Grayson... son of Hermes? Athletes and trickery, he is kind of a mischievous one.

Naturally, Felicity Smoak is a daughter of Athena.

Am probably forgetting a lot, but that’s all I can think of right now. xD”

#DC Comics #PJOverse #elements1999

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lannisterdaddyissues · 4 years ago

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answer all 20 fma questions go. i am holding you at gunpoint 🔫✨

ANON YOU HAVE SAVED MY LIFE IM OBSESSED WITH U NOW JFDJSGJFSKGJ but please dont hold me at gunpoint who do u think u are riza hawkeye--

1.) What type of Alchemy would you use?

i'm currently on the pre-med track so medical alchemy would be cool!! but if i'd have to fight then i will cheat and say i can do lightning alchemy bc guess what its my fantasies and I GET TO CHOOSE THE ALCHEMY HEADCANONS but it would probably be related to water alchemy somehow since lightning comes from charged particles in the clouds. maybe i could primarily be a water alchemist and lightning is a subset of that!

2.) What would your state alchemist codename be?

hmmm im gonna cheat and decide yes i can do lightning shit bc i said so so i guess my codename would be something lame and on the nose like the lightning alchemist or the spark alchemist :/ im lame and useless like roy but on the opposite end of the spectrum because i can only use my alchemy when its wet or raining boohoo...

3.) Would you serve in the military?

yell heah their uniforms are sick! i would like to be an army doctor tho :/ idk about fighting other people and electrocuting them to ash. i would DEFINITELY be on edward elric's call list when the promised day comes around tho, i refuse to miss a chance to go toe to toe with a homunculus

4.) Alchemist/Engineer/Soldier? alchemist! maybe soldier. not sure.

5.) Would you commit the taboo? mmmmm yeah probably if i had sufficient motivation, ignoring the fact that it doesn't work because i would probably ignore that

6.) Favorite character? answered! it's roy :)

7.) brOTP? HYUROI!!!! their friendship is so so so so personal to me. i love it platonically and romantically, i love it in pre-canon and canon, i love it in an au, i love it no matter what. there has never been an anime friendship more personal and close to the heart than hyuroi

8.) OTP? ROYAI!!!!! it's been 7 years and i'm still utterly obsessed with them. how arakawa-sensei managed to make a tangible love story with two characters who barely ever touch and arent even allowed to look each other in the eye without getting arrested on suspicion of secretly fucking is beyond me. she is a genius

9.) Which theme song do you find yourself singing the most/the catchiest? either rain by sid (fmab op 5) or undo by cool joke (fma op 3)!

10.) FMA or FMAB? fmab by a long shot! fma is good as a standalone because you don't know what you're missing out on lmao

11.) nOTP? mmm i wouldn't exactly call this a notp but i don't really ship edling all that much even though it's popular. i don't actively dislike it tho. i do hate edvy though bc that's gross and whenever i see it i gag.

12.) Character you’re most like/relate to? winry! she and i both have our Special Hyperfixation™ (automail for her and medicine for me), and i felt a real kinship with her, esp in 03 because at some points she felt like an afterthought which i am used to feeling that way too. but she's always so optimistic and a little hot-headed with her friends which is definitely me!

14.) Who (which character) do you look the most like?

hehehe i also look a lot like winry if you mix her with catherine elle armstrong! just give me shorter hair and that's me!

15.) Black Hayate or Den? ...................black hayate :(

16.) Favorite deadly sin? answered! it's wrath/king bradley :)

17.) Who would you want as your parents? hohenheim and trisha bc they remind me of my parents in some ways! my dad is awkward like hohenheim but he could also totally kill god without breaking a sweat and my mom is totally a momma bear and she would fight anyone who messes with us

18.) Who would you want as your child(ren)? mmmmmmm the main three i guess? ed al and winry? i would also totally adopt baby pride/selim because look at that face... hes so precious

19.) Part that made you cry the most? i never cry at fiction but hughes' death is a given, and also rain (fmab op 5) definitely gives me the feels whenever i watch/listen to it

20.) Least favorite character? answered! it's a tie between shou tucker and envy :)

21.) Your favorite FMA AU? i love the various time travel fix-it fics on ao3 where ed goes back in time and fixes everything, but my hands-down all-time favorite fma au ever has to be the meaning of hyacinths by @starryeyed-char! (shoutout!) it's an au where hughes lives and roy "dies" instead of him and the writing is so EXQUISITE i cannot express to you in enough words how amazing and incredible this series is. it is absolutely a must-read. caveat that it's still being written and currently has eight parts, but the author plans to take it all the way to the promised day so just be patient for the next installments!!

#ask #reply #anon ask #fandom ask #fma #GOD BLESS THIS ASK #I LOVE TALKING ABOUT FMA SO FUCKING MUUUCH

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lotusthewriter · 2 years ago

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What I've Done - Chapter 4

Fandom: Fullmetal Alchemist (2003)

Rating: T

Relationships: Alphonse (Wrath) & Edward

Characters: Alphonse Elric (Wrath), Edward Elric, Sloth, Dante, Envy, Izumi Curtis, Scar, Rick, Leo; MINOR - Roy Mustang; other characters to be added

Summary: “As soon as the homunculus decides to shove these feelings down his throat and take the alchemist to Dante for once and for all, his troubled opponent finally dares to say something that stops the world from going.

“… Al?”

It paralyzes Wrath.”

A Homunculus Alphonse Elric AU.

Word count: TBA

AO3

First chapter | previous chapter

A/N: I'm aware that the chronological order of FMA 2003 is confusing in this AU, but I always enjoyed Al's interactions with the Ishbalans, and especially with Scar. I also like it because Al is questioning his existence, so I made sure to include it in this story.

I apologize if anyone is OOC here, but I want to thank everyone who has been reading the fic so far. <3

TRIGGER WARNINGS - death, grief, repressed trauma, child abuse, physical and emotional abuse, emotional neglect, canon-typical violence, self-sacrifice, suicidal thoughts, blood and injury, loss of limbs, and references to racism and genocide. (More might be added)

P/roship DNI.

“So the pipsqueak gave you a haircut?”

Rolling his eyes, Wrath instead ignores the comment, knowing that feeding Envy’s bullying only makes everything worse.

But of course, Envy knows exactly how to annoy other people.

“I wonder how the favorite must feel knowing that he failed his first mission,” he teases.

Wrath has learned better than to fight back.

“... I wonder, too,” he bites, “how pathetic you, Lust, and Gluttony are for Dante to entrust one person with a pipsqueak.”

Immediately after, he gets a punch to his gut, causing him to drop on his knees. Envy is growling like a furious animal.

“You’re just lucky because you’re an alchemist,” the older homunculus says, pulling Wrath’s now shortened hair hard.

Although it hurts like hell, something in Wrath has him smirk at the reaction, because Envy really is pathetic enough to bully people when he can’t measure up to anything himself.

Their little exchange doesn’t last longer, though, because Dante has called them all to another meeting. Usually the meetings are brief, with the exception of a few, and Dante doesn’t mention Wrath’s failure. Instead, she emphasizes on the Philosopher’s Stone, so everyone needs to try their hardest to make it happen. In the end, Dante orders Envy, Lust, and Gluttony to return to Liore, Sloth and Pride to remain in the military, and Wrath… to stay behind while everyone is dismissed.

Wrath can tell everyone is judging him as they leave, based on their looks. Envy still looks grumpy and he internally wishes he could kill Wrath over and over again. The others just ignore his existence, as usual, only this time the weight of his failure is crushing.

Still, Dante cups his face so very gently, and pushes some of his irregular bangs away from his left eye.

“Wrath, my dear,” she whispers even though nobody else is in the room. “I want you to head to Central to look for the alchemist you seek. Sloth told me he should be there tonight.”

The boy frowns. “I’m… going alone?”

Dante hums in confirmation. “You still need to prove yourself to your fellow homunculi. I know you can do it, Wrath, but they still don’t know your full potential. I want you to focus on your goal, and to keep persevering.” She rubs his cheeks with her thumbs delicately. “Can you do that for me, sweetheart?”

Wrath doesn’t hesitate to nod, though swallowing his nervous gulp, because he knows what happens when he fails.

“Good,” Dante smiles, kissing him on his forehead. “I’ll be waiting here for you. Go out there and make me proud.”

“I will.”

(Wrath’s smile doesn’t feel genuine.)

(He only smiles because Dante wants him to.)

(And that’s how it’ll always be.)

The Central is huge.

Wrath has no idea why Dante wants him to go this far. He clearly doesn’t belong out here. His first mission made sense, because it was in the forest, a place that he knew from the palm of his hand. But the Central is a whole other level that should’ve been reserved for more advanced missions.

Then again, it’s what Dante said: everyone needs to see that he’s worthy. If he couldn’t succeed in an easier task… then he should try harder to prove what he can give to them.

He should fight for himself, for the homunculi, for Dante.

That’s his whole goal.

As for his objective, however… he has no idea where to even look.

Which hotel is it? What if Ed is out in town to eat? What if the military has already called him somewhere else?

Wrath only has one way to know.

Lurking in the shadows, he manages to find a phone booth unnoticed. With great memory, he already knows what to do, and who to call. As it tries to reach the other end, he admittedly feels his gut acting out of anxiety, because… he usually stays out of the way until someone notices him.

(He only goes with Dante’s permission.)

Either way, when the other end picks up, the same coldness already speaks to him.

“You are not supposed to call this number.”

Wrath gulps, feeling like the cold has stabbed him in the chest.

“I-I… I just wanted to–”

“You’re not ready.”

This is barely lasting a minute, and he feels like he’s breaking apart with every word that comes out of Sloth’s mouth.

“B-But Dante said–”

“You’re confused, and if you really cared about our cause, you would have taken it more seriously. For starters, you wouldn’t have called me.”

Wrath’s violet eyes are blurring.

“Please, I need help,” he begs, “I need help so I can be good. I can’t fail again.”

“You need help because you only care about yourself.” Sloth doesn’t hesitate at all. “Because you are pitiful. You make no difference.”

The worst part is, she doesn’t even sound hateful. She just sounds indifferent.

And somehow, that makes Wrath cry.

He tries to swallow it back down, but Sloth likely knows.

“Don’t call this number again,” she says rather professionally, like she doesn’t know Wrath.

(Maybe that’s true, because even after three years, they only feel like strangers around each other.)

The phone dies.

Wrath involuntarily lets go as the tears burn his cheeks.

Afraid of being seen, he runs away, having not realized that it’s raining now. His clothes get the worst of it as he flees, one of his shoes flying away. He barely sees whoever is passing by, but it’s not like they would notice him or bother to worry anyway.

Sloth’s words just replay in his mind like a broken and repetitive melody, like the music Dante plays in her mansion late at night. When one is cold and brutal, the other is nostalgic and melancholic.

(Both equally haunting.)

Wrath has run so much that his legs give up and he falls in the shadows of a dark alley. There are a lot of empty wooden boxes stocked onto the other that previously served to keep food. The homunculus’ baggy, dark clothes feel too cold, and the freezing rain mixes with his hot tears. Unable to hold it in anymore, Wrath openly cries for the first time outside, not trapped in the mansion, not trapped in his room. He doesn’t have to be silent right now.

He only has his own comfort, so he hugs his knees tightly, trying to calm himself down with his own company. He was taught to do things this way.

Even if all he wants is Dante’s warm hug.

Even if all he wants is Sloth not to hate him. Or anyone in general not to hate him.

Even if…

He wants a family again.

Every time he hears Sloth’s voice now, he remembers the woman with brown hair and green eyes that always smiled at him, that always hugged him whenever he had nightmares or couldn’t sleep at night.

And he hates to admit it, but…

Wrath remembers Ed’s loyalty, his protectiveness.

And he certainly recalls the young alchemist yelling his name in the forest, because it still feels like Ed is looking for him this entire time. Especially right now in the rain.

(Does he want Ed to find him?)

Wrath is supposed to hate him.

He needs to hate him.

He does hate him.

He does.

But…

…

Maybe Sloth is right.

He is confused.

He is pitiful.

He doesn’t make a difference.

(Besides…)

(Ed would probably hate him, too.)

…

The moment Wrath hears rushing steps, he freezes in place like a statue.

Much to his bad luck, the steps are coming his way. He doesn’t dare look up, but from what his senses can tell, it seems like at least two people have come to hide in this very alley.

Somewhere near him, Wrath can tell someone is yelling angrily.

Then it’s gone.

The two strangers sigh in relief, tired out of running, probably.

“We lost him,” one of them says, satisfied. They sound… young. Like a boy. “Here, eat up.”

“I don’t want any!” The other, younger, protests. “What were you thinking?! You just picked it up out of nowhere and stole it! If Mom knew we were–”

Something… grumbles and silences the two kids.

“There, see?” The older one is soft. “You can’t be so hard on yourself.”

Wrath knows said words aren’t meant for him. He has nothing to do with those two, whoever they are.

Still…

Wrath sniffs again and sobs quietly.

“Whoa, did you hear that?” The elder boy whispers.

“It’s… a kid,” the other observes, concerned.

The homunculus doesn’t look up, afraid of what they’re going to think of him.

There’s some thoughtful silence between the three, until Wrath hears some shuffling.

“Um, hi?” The younger voice speaks up, and a hand touches the other’s shoulder, causing Wrath to flinch violently.

“Oh, sorry! I didn’t mean to scare you,” the older one says. “Hey, are you hungry? We have some apples here, if you want.”

Sniffing again, Wrath considers it. At this point he has nothing left to lose. He doesn’t even have a place to go. Maybe he needs to eat something to clear his head.

The homunculus slowly lifts his head, indeed finding two boys gazing at him with sadness and curiosity. They look very similar, so maybe they’re siblings. Unlike Wrath, who’s pale and has purple eyes, the duo is brown-skinned and… red-eyed.

Ishbalans.

Wrath remembers Dante mentioning them when it came to the Philosopher’s Stone. He remembers Ishbal being devastated and its people massacred. This is Wrath’s first time seeing them.

He pushes these questions for later though, because the older one is holding out an apple for Wrath, even smiling at him. The fact that two strangers are being so kind to him, more than the people he has known his whole life, makes him want to cry miserably again.

Wrath barely raises his head, knowing the two are going to see through him and judge him, so he eats the apple in silence, slowly.

“I’m Rick,” the younger Ishbalan says with a smile, “and this is my brother Leo. What’s your name?”

Wrath doesn’t reply and looks away.

“Hey, aren’t you even gonna tell us your name?” Leo asks impatiently.

The homunculus insists on being silent.

Leo groans.

“Great, he’s just like Scar,” he curses under his breath. “But at least he’s eating something.”

Everything stops.

“... Scar?”

His first word surprises the two Ishbalans.

They also look shocked by Wrath, who instinctively exposed his pale face and violet eyes.

Regardless, Rick answers his question.

“Yeah, that’s him,” he replies. “Do you know him?”

Wrath shakes his head.

“Well… you could follow us and meet him, if you want,” Rick suggests. “He’s not bad like everyone makes him look like.”

Leo elbows his younger brother’s arm kind of aggressively.

“What are you doing?” He hisses. “What if he wants to hurt him? Or us, for that matter? Look at him!” Leo gestures at the entirety of Wrath’s pathetic form.

“What, now you’re going to judge him the same way everyone judges us?” Rick argues, firm but patient.

Wrath’s defenses seem to lower the more Rick speaks. He’s supposed to be on a mission that he can’t fail, and yet here he is, talking to two human boys, and one of them is treating Wrath, a homunculus, like a person.

“Don’t listen to him,” Rick reassures Wrath with a friendly smile. It reminds the latter of the past, of looking into a mirror. “I mean it, you can come with us! You don’t have to be alone.”

Wrath shouldn’t feel… warmth inside him. This is selfish. He knows Dante wouldn’t approve, nor would Sloth or any of the other homunculi. Wrath needs to find the Fullmetal Alchemist and bring him to justice. He can’t lose time.

But…

Scar is with them.

Wrath heard that Scar seeks State Alchemists. Maybe he’s looking for Ed, too.

Maybe Wrath and Scar could… team up.

He’ll do anything for his mission.

His mission only.

Wrath stands up and… takes off the dark hood that covers his head, exposing his whole head and wetting his messy black hair.

While Leo looks suspicious, Rick has the biggest smile on his face, completely welcoming of the stranger.

(Wrath tries his best not to smile back.)

#fullmetal alchemist #fma 03 #alphonse elric #fma wrath #fma 03 wrath #fma dante #fma sloth #fma 03 sloth #fma rick #fma leo #alternate universe #homunculus al #homunculus alphonse elric #fma au #abuse tw #bullying tw #neglect tw #fanfiction #long post

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