#the secret elric-yaos

[kattythingz]

ACCESS GRANTED: THE SECRET SATURDAYS ELRIC-YAOS

Yeah, that's right. I made a fucking Secret Saturdays au. I doubt anybody even remembers this show, but who cares baby!!! The brainworms whispered to me, and they told me to feature edling as Drew & Doc respectively, Nina as Zak, and Lumi (snake baby) as Fiskerton! And who am I to question the brainworms???

(Seriously, Ed is a ONE-TO-ONE of Drew. It's kinda scary. And also explains a lot of my love for them both.)

Just relabel the cryptids as chimeras in this au and the kur stone as the philosopher's stone, and bam.

Also, I have no design for him but Greed is absolutely Van Rook. Yes, Ed's ex in this au. Yes, Ling has BEEF with Greed at first. They'll be fiiiine tho. Probably. Iykyk lmao.

Alternative portraits and stupid design details under the cut!!!!

Edling wear their wedding rings as necklaces to avoid damaging them in battle. Given 90% of their job always leads to one. Technically, Ed started the habit, but Ling is a goddamn dork and wanted to match his husband.

Everyone in the family sports some kind of braid and belt. Ed wears a white smaller one over his purple as a nod to Ling's style bleeding into him, and—vice versa—Ling wears a black belt as a nod to Ed's.

The belt is also Ed's way of wearing his husband's culture somehow. (The leather is not going just because he's married now. It's practical!)

Ling's sun pattern on his shirt matches Ed's belt medallion. (Re: dork.)

Ed's spear (and medallion!) is a gift from Izumi! After he was separated from Al years ago, Izumi took Ed in and taught him all her arcane and martial ways. The spear itself is actually a detachable dagger, that Ed elongated into a spear because that's just more his style.

Like Drew's sword, when it's powered by the sun, Ed's spear can shoot fire. (That's what the pattern is, Ling. It's not a fucking lotus, for the last time!)

Ling's sword isn't powered, but the elaborate scabbard was a late gift from Fu.

(Ed's glove is also a gift from Greed from when they were dating.)

The family has been to enough colder chimera habitats that Ed's permanently switched to Northern automail.

Nina wears a mix of elements from both her parents. A Xingese shirt like Ling, and hardy tights and boots like Ed. The knee guards were a mutual insistence from edling.

The buttons on her shirt are poppies! Exactly like Ling's favorite nickname for her, yīngsù (poppy).

Her right-hand bracelets are color-inspired by her parents too. Her left hand's one is just a cute handmade one spelling her name.

She's strangely short for an eleven-year-old. Edling have gotten one too many comments confusing her for eight. Unknowingly being the philosopher's stone and unlocking said powers young does that to a child's growth.

She has a weapon to focus her powers. Unpictured cuz I failed to figure out what it would be lmao.

Lumi's breed is an evolution of the Nambian flying snake! Her species can't quite fly anymore, but they can still glide their massive weights with their head fins.

She learned all her facial expressions from Nina. Hence the happy flare of her head fins, and her big, adorable "beam".

She's also blind! She was blinded fighting a bigger predator in the wild when she was very young, and couldn't possibly survive on her own after that. Edling rescued her not too long after they'd adopted Nina, intending her to just be a pet... Now just as much "their girl" as Nina.

They did not anticipate her to grow so large.

Ed was the one who named her Lumi. Luminous like the moon; or Lulu, as Ling and Nina insist on using instead.

(Ed's grumbling is full of shit. Even he slips up sometimes.)

Her scales reflect light in pearlescent rainbows meant to mesmerize prey! Optimized in the wild, she can camouflage to practically anything.

[muchmossymess]

au where ling comes to amestris early and winds up in dublith instead of rush valley, where he meets a certain greedy immortal...

[edlingao3feed]

A Comet Brings to Life Worlds Apart by Anonymous

https://archiveofourown.org/works/52183330 A Comet Brings to Life Worlds Apart by Anonymous Long ago, the Four Nations lived together in harmony. Then, everything changed when the Fire Nation attacked.. The Avatar vanished for 100 years, and when he's reawakened, spirits of the land gain energy to call upon their allies from other worlds. Lost and confused, how will these foreigners survive in this strange world full of bending? With their own powers weakened as their home spirits are distant, how long will they last? Only with vague words from spirits to aid this 'Avatar' in order to be sent home, they are otherwise thrusted into different places along the world. Interacting with all of these new and strange people is difficult to both parties, but to help each other is crucial to defeat the Firelord before Sozin's comet. Maybe they should all just listen to Aang, and be kids for a bit longer.. (A crack-fic filled with random humor and (eventual) brutal gore.) Words: 4394, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English Fandoms: モブサイコ100 | Mob Psycho 100, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood & Manga, Avatar: The Last Airbender Rating: Mature Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence Categories: Multi Characters: Hanazawa Teruki, Kageyama "Mob" Shigeo, Kageyama Ritsu, Suzuki Shou, Edward Elric, Ling Yao, Riza Hawkeye, Roy Mustang, Sokka (Avatar), Katara (Avatar), Aang (Avatar), Toph Beifong, Zuko (Avatar), Yue (Avatar), Other Characters Relationships: Hanazawa Teruki/Kageyama "Mob" Shigeo, Kageyama Ritsu/Suzuki Shou, Edward Elric/Ling Yao, Riza Hawkeye/Roy Mustang, Sokka/Zuko (Avatar), Sokka & Zuko (Avatar), Sokka & Yue (Avatar), Aang/Katara (Avatar), Minor or Background Relationship(s) Additional Tags: Crack, Crack Crossover, Protective Hanazawa Teruki, Gay Hanazawa Teruki, Autistic Kageyama "Mob" Shigeo, Protective Kageyama "Mob" Shigeo, Mutual Pining, Oblivious Kageyama "Mob" Shigeo, Unlabeled Kageyama "Mob" Shigeo, Secret Relationship, Protective Kageyama Ritsu, Autistic Kageyama Ritsu, Gay Kageyama Ritsu, Suzuki Shou Has ADHD, Suzuki Shou Has Issues, Implied/Referenced Child Abuse, Homophobia, Edward Elric Is A Little Shit, Protective Edward Elric, Bi Edward Elric, Gay Ling Yao, Protective Ling Yao, Riza Hawkeye is a badass, why isnt that a tag, Protective Roy Mustang, Bisexual Sokka (Avatar), Protective Sokka (Avatar), Bisexual Disaster Sokka (Avatar), Oblivious Sokka (Avatar), Eventual Sokka/Zuko (Avatar), Zuko is an Awkward Turtleduck, Hurt Zuko (Avatar), Zuko (Avatar) Needs a Hug, Gay Zuko (Avatar), Protective Zuko (Avatar), Yue Lives (Avatar), Precious Aang (Avatar), Pansexual Aang (Avatar), Avatar Aang (Avatar), Stubborn Katara (Avatar), Badass Toph Beifong, Toph Beifong is a Menace, Toph Beifong Swears, The Author Regrets Nothing, Author Is Sleep Deprived, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Swearing, Other Additional Tags to Be Added This post was automatically generated from an RSS feed of all new AO3 works tagged 'Edward Elric/Ling Yao'.

[ao3feed-zukka]

A Comet Brings to Life Worlds Apart

Read now on Ao3 at https://ift.tt/szZQrBE by Anonymous Long ago, the Four Nations lived together in harmony. Then, everything changed when the Fire Nation attacked.. The Avatar vanished for 100 years, and when he's reawakened, spirits of the land gain energy to call upon their allies from other worlds. Lost and confused, how will these foreigners survive in this strange world full of bending? With their own powers weakened as their home spirits are distant, how long will they last? Only with vague words from spirits to aid this 'Avatar' in order to be sent home, they are otherwise thrusted into different places along the world. Interacting with all of these new and strange people is difficult to both parties, but to help each other is crucial to defeat the Firelord before Sozin's comet. Maybe they should all just listen to Aang, and be kids for a bit longer.. (A crack-fic filled with random humor and (eventual) brutal gore.) Words: 4394, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English Fandoms: モブサイコ100 | Mob Psycho 100, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood & Manga, Avatar: The Last Airbender Rating: Mature Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence Categories: Multi Characters: Hanazawa Teruki, Kageyama "Mob" Shigeo, Kageyama Ritsu, Suzuki Shou, Edward Elric, Ling Yao, Riza Hawkeye, Roy Mustang, Sokka (Avatar), Katara (Avatar), Aang (Avatar), Toph Beifong, Zuko (Avatar), Yue (Avatar), Other Characters Relationships: Hanazawa Teruki/Kageyama "Mob" Shigeo, Kageyama Ritsu/Suzuki Shou, Edward Elric/Ling Yao, Riza Hawkeye/Roy Mustang, Sokka/Zuko (Avatar), Sokka & Zuko (Avatar), Sokka & Yue (Avatar), Aang/Katara (Avatar), Minor or Background Relationship(s) Additional Tags: Crack, Crack Crossover, Protective Hanazawa Teruki, Gay Hanazawa Teruki, Autistic Kageyama "Mob" Shigeo, Protective Kageyama "Mob" Shigeo, Mutual Pining, Oblivious Kageyama "Mob" Shigeo, Unlabeled Kageyama "Mob" Shigeo, Secret Relationship, Protective Kageyama Ritsu, Autistic Kageyama Ritsu, Gay Kageyama Ritsu, Suzuki Shou Has ADHD, Suzuki Shou Has Issues, Implied/Referenced Child Abuse, Homophobia, Edward Elric Is A Little Shit, Protective Edward Elric, Bi Edward Elric, Gay Ling Yao, Protective Ling Yao, Riza Hawkeye is a badass, why isnt that a tag, Protective Roy Mustang, Bisexual Sokka (Avatar), Protective Sokka (Avatar), Bisexual Disaster Sokka (Avatar), Oblivious Sokka (Avatar), Eventual Sokka/Zuko (Avatar), Zuko is an Awkward Turtleduck, Hurt Zuko (Avatar), Zuko (Avatar) Needs a Hug, Gay Zuko (Avatar), Protective Zuko (Avatar), Yue Lives (Avatar), Precious Aang (Avatar), Pansexual Aang (Avatar), Avatar Aang (Avatar), Stubborn Katara (Avatar), Badass Toph Beifong, Toph Beifong is a Menace, Toph Beifong Swears, The Author Regrets Nothing, Author Is Sleep Deprived, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Swearing, Other Additional Tags to Be Added Read it on Ao3 at https://ift.tt/szZQrBE

[cuchufletapl]

my tongue sounds so sweet from your mouth

For Edling Week 2022. Day 4: Study | Style | Understanding

AO3

Honestly, Ling thought, it was surprising that it had taken him seeing the notification pop up on Ed’s phone to understand what was going on with him, because in retrospective he was not being sneaky at all.

“Ah, no, sorry, I can’t hang out this afternoon,” he’d said the fourth Thursday in a row, “I’ve got to meet with my supervisor.”

Which was a rare as hell occurrence, given that Ed hated his PhD supervisor’s guts—allegedly, at least, because Ling had asked many times why he didn’t just ask for a change and he always got a grumble about how Dr Mustang was the only one out of those old fuckers that didn’t underestimate him for being only 20. Still, tsundere appreciation for his supervisor or not, he would usually avoid actual meetings with the man as if going to one too many would send him into an anger-induced coma.

Four in a month should have straight-up sent him to the grave.

“Again?”

“Yeah, you know how I’ve started doing the experiments with the particle accelerator, so I need to check with him semi-regularly. It’s a pain in the ass.”

The next week, Ed had ended up saying, in between exasperated sighs, that the meetings were an actually scheduled weekly thing now, so Thursday afternoons were a no-go now for the time being.

It had been five months since.

To be fair, Ling hadn’t asked him to hang out on a Thursday again after that, and they did see each other plenty either way, being close friends and flatmates and all that, so it had eventually slipped his mind.

But it hadn’t been the only sign.

One time, when they were walking around campus, some girl with dyed hair, at least four layers of vintage clothes on and a Penguin Books tote bag had seen Ed and stopped to say hi for a couple of minutes. Ling had never seen her before, which wasn’t particularly strange even if they both shared the same social circles. And, besides, Ed had tensed like a guitar string the second that she had approached—maybe she was an acquaintance that he didn’t like much. But what had sent him for a massive loop was the fact that she had left with a cheery “see you in class!”

“She goes to your classes?”

Ed had paused for a second. “Yes. Why?”

“She looks our age.”

He was pretty sure that he would have heard by now if there was another prodigy in their university who was doing a PhD at the age that normal people would be an undergrad.

“She’s, uh, actually way older than she seems,” he said, slowly. “It’s because of her style, you know?”

Ling had cocked his head and considered it. “Yeah, I guess. Which, speaking of, what a way to break stereotypes, huh? I would have cocked her for a Humanities student, not STEM.”

Ed had let out a bark of laughter that now Ling, with the benefit of hindsight, realised had sounded so weirdly nervous because she probably had been, in fact, a Humanities student.

Ling thought of himself as a walking lie detector and honestly it was down-right embarrassing that he hadn’t given further thought to Ed’s flimsy excuses other than “that many meetings is a bit weird, but what do I know what PhD students do” and “Ed himself is a metalhead in STEM, you can’t judge someone by their looks.”

Now that he was thinking about it, he had even gotten a glimpse of one of Ed’s writing-practice sheets once, half-hidden under a pile of folders on his desk, when they were watching a movie in his room.

(But in his defence, his brain had probably not fully registered it. For one, he was exhausted after handing in one of the big essays for his International Law module, and secondly—he was too busy trying to play it cool as Ed had ended up falling asleep on his shoulder. Ed wasn’t that skittish with physical touch, but he definitely kept to himself when it came to physical affection, so this instance of near cuddling was a rare enough occurrence that it had Ling’s already poorly contained crush doing somersaults in his chest.)

Still, genuinely, how had he not given a second thought to the fact that Ed was busier than normal and weirdly evasive when asked what he was doing? How the fuck had it been the Duolingo owl the one to finally clue him in?

Ed walked into their kitchen with his backpack ready to burst as Ling had just finished having lunch and was idly scrolling on TikTok. He left phone, keys, and jacket on the counter and started talking about some stuff his supervisor kept pestering him about as he took books upon books out of the backpack—a typical trip back from the library; Ling didn’t even need to ask “what the hell.”

Then, Ed’s phone lit up.

“You got a message.”

Ed was holding a tower of books on his hands. Ling took a moment to appreciate how his flesh arm’s muscles bulged.

“Ah, that must be my brother. He’s coming to visit and he needed me to go pick him up.” He turned towards the living room table to put the books on it. “Read it for me, will you? I’ve got my hands busy.”

Ling was already looking over the phone as he answered, and his “yeah, sure—“ got cut off as his eye caught the second notification on the lock screen, under Alphonse’s text.

“It would be a pity to lose that 93-day streak. Keep practicing Xingese today!”

He blinked and reread it, feeling his view of Edward Elric warp around this revelation. He looked up at Ed, his braid swinging slightly in front of his back as he walked, and his throat suddenly felt parched.

Ed hadn’t said anything. Even though he obviously would have benefitted from one of his closest friends being a native speaker of Xingese, he hadn’t even mentioned that he had been studying the language for at least three months, if his Duolingo streak was to be taken as a metric.

His eyes flickered down to the notification and then back up at Ed, to his profile as he perused the book on the top of the stack and thumbed his lower lip. He probably had kept it a secret for a reason and Ling’s heart burned with the possibility of why.

His lips quirked up and he huffed fondly (maybe a bit lovesick, he would admit). He’d let Ed keep playing at this, then.

“Alphonse says that he’ll be arriving at Central in half an hour,” he said, after actually reading the text notification.

“Okay, cool.” Ed looked up at him and flashed him a smile. This was completely normal, but under new knowledge Ling had to contain a flush. “Thanks.”

After that, the puzzle pieces fell into place. Ling looked it up, and their university offered Xingese classes from 4 PM to 6 PM on Thursdays. The new course for beginners had started at the start of winter term and it was now May, meaning that Ed had probably been studying Xingese for around five months—those frequent meetings with Dr Mustang had been a farce, he’d known that Ed hadn’t complained enough about it.

Although it was unlikely that Edward would be fluent enough already to understand conversation speed, he did start taking care of what he said when he called his family in front of him. Or, rather, when he called Lan Fan, because he had gushed about Ed to her more than once with him present. While it wasn’t like he didn’t flirt with him on a regular basis—he’d called him the most gorgeous man to walk this Earth several times—he was pretty sure that despite his blushing, Ed took it as friendly joke. Ling didn’t want his actual feelings to get discovered on accident because he had underestimated Ed’s Xingese level.

So when he called Lan Fan to finally let it out, he did so when Ed was in lab.

“Oh, I knew that,” she said when he finished telling her.

“… You knew?”

“He asked me to teach him a bit a few weeks before I left for my internship.” She hesitated for a second before continuing, sounding apologetic, “He made me promise not to tell you because he wanted to surprise you with it. I would’ve told you anyway but he insisted he didn’t have any bad intentions. He even mentioned something about your birthday.”

Ling’s blood roared in his veins. He wanted to get out of their flat, find Ed wherever in campus he was at the moment, and kiss him senseless. “Lan Fan, be honest. Do you think this is a platonic thing?”

She took a couple of seconds to respond. “It could be. But I don’t understand why he would keep something like this a secret for this long if it was just a friend thing.”

“Yeah.” He couldn’t feel his cheeks from how hard he was grinning. “I thought so too.”

When Ed got back that evening, he asked Ling what he was so smiley about while he set to make dinner for the both of them.

“No reason,” he answered in a sing-song voice, but he could tell that Ed knew that he was up to something.

.

Ling checked the time on his phone for the tenth time. It was only seven minutes past six, but he had half a mind to climb the tree that he was leaning on to get to the Xingese classroom on the second floor and see what was taking so long. A trickle of anxiety down his spine had him worried that he had gotten the wrong building, but he had triple-checked the uni website. He couldn’t be mistaken.

Around the ten-minute mark, people started coming out of the entrance. He recognised the probably-an-undergrad-Humanities-student walking out. So that was another theory confirmed.

Not too long after, Ed came out, absentmindedly adjusting his back pack on the one shoulder it was hanging from while his eyes were buried in his phone. Ling felt a thrill of excitement at the fact that he hadn’t been noticed yet.

He approached Edward carefully and silently until he was right behind him. He didn’t dare do what he wished (lower his head until it was level with Ed’s ear), because he knew that Ed’s reflexes would react faster than he’d notice that it was Ling and he’d get metal-punched in the face—he’d sparred enough times with him at the Martial Arts club to fear that.

So, he contented himself with walking a meter from him and enunciating, slowly and clearly, in Xingese, “How was your class?”

Ed turned around so fast that that his ponytail sliced the air like a whip.

His eyes seemed to bulge out of their sockets and his mouth fell open as he became rooted to the spot.

“Ling, where did you come fr—what are you—” he stammered for a few seconds, before a look of comprehension sunk into his face and he scrunched his eyes shut. “Motherfucker,” he cursed with feeling.

Ling laughed.

“Did you honestly think that you were going to keep it a secret forever?”

“Not forever, no. Just until August,” Ed sulked. Ling laughed again and he rubbed his face. “God-fucking-dammit. Did Lan Fan tell you?”

“No. It was… what was the name of the Duolingo owl again?”

Ed stared at him, pocketed his phone that still was in his hand and sighed. “Shit. Well. That’s what I get for using a fucking app for this shit.”

Ling hummed. “Well, you managed to hide it for five months, so that’s pretty impressive.”

“Eleven.”

He blinked. “Eleven?”

“I started last summer. Self-taught, though, so I didn’t get that far.” He shrugged. “The initial idea was to wish you a happy birthday in Xingese last year, but my pronunciation was absolute crap and I decided to study it for longer before, y’know.”

Nearly a year. Ling thought that he might have died.

“How far would you say that you’ve gotten now?”

Ed raised an eyebrow, some of his usual cockiness returning. “Pretty far. I scored the highest on the last test.”

Of course he had.

“So, do you think that you would understand this?”

With his heart in his throat, he pronounced the next string of Xingese words slowly and carefully. Ed frowned in confusion for a second before understanding entered his eyes and he started to flush beet red.

“I—” he started, and then huffed. He averted his eyes. “Yes,” he answered, and he didn’t get the tone quite right, but his accent was adorable nonetheless.

A laugh of joy threatened to bubble up Ling’s throat. He took the hand that was clutching the backpack strap, placed his other hand at Ed’s waist and crouched slightly to let his forehead touch against his.

This was a marvel of a moment and he wanted to savour it. His heart was beating so loud in his ears that he almost didn’t hear Ed snort as he likewise put an arm around him.

“You know, if I’d known it was this easy to get you to ask me out, I would’ve told you that I was studying Xingese ages ago.”

Ling laughed again (to tell the truth, giggled) and nuzzled his nose against Ed’s. He didn’t notice that he had closed his eyes until he heard his—now boyfriend!—hum with the intention to speak and he opened them again.

“So, uh—“ He took a breath. “Can I… kiss you?”

God, yes, Ling was going to die.

“Did they teach you to say that in your university classes?”

“No, shut up,” Ed said, and he cut off Ling’s laughter with his lips.

[humming-fly]

It’s been months but I still haven’t stopped thinking about how this piece of merch implies greed actually knows how to cook

Bonus:

More of my bullshit: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 9.5 10

[totallycorrectfmaquotes]

Edward Elric: Ling, c’mon, I’m your friend, okay? And as your friend, I gotta be honest with you, I don’t care about you or your problems.

[shippybships]

“And so after this I ask Winry’s hand!-” “No.” “-this way you’re both royalty of Xing-” “I said I didn’t wanna in the crown business. Plus Winry’s already busy in Rush Valley with the shop and Paninya.” “…Okay but what if I give her free pass on Xing’s armoury.” “… You get a room for Paninya.” “Of course! This way we invite Lan Fan,we’ll be a complete paramour!” “…” “Get it ? Because ‘armoury’- OW you’re tugging my hair you’re tugging my hair Edward yoU’RE TUGGING MY HAIR.” “…You don’t even know what ‘paramour’ means.”

[jojaydoodles]

Edit: Did you know guys - I actually wrote this horrible thing: here’s the first chapter.

I know that my jokes are painfully unfunny, but there’s no stopping me when I get a stupid idea like this. I tried to make it look more cartoony to save me some time - didn’t work, still spent 3 days drawing it.

For anyone with sense of humor as broken as mine, here is my pitch of an FMA School AU - 80s teen movie style (because that’s all I watched as a kid):

Students: Ed Elric - the angsty, edgy kid who draws horns and pentagrams on school desks, never wears proper uniform and gets into fights with Principal Mustang, about to discover a great conspiracy Al Elric - diligent student who skipped one year, generally tries to follow rules but constantly gets involved in his brother’s trouble Winry - secretly reads automail catalogues in class, teachers pressure her to go to a university, but she’d like to work in a workshop instead Lin Yao & Lan Fan - exchange students from a far away land, they seem nice, but mysterious and keep to themselves - they seem to have a secret agenda... Also, they keep stealing other people’s food Paninya - Winry’s best friend and a trouble child, who’s had run ins with the law in the past Envy - the emo kid who hates everyone and is prone to mean pranks, Ed’s sworn enemy Younger kids in the lower grades: Mei Chang (also exchange student), Selim Bradley (mayor’s son), Nina Tucker (I had to guys, don’t hate me) Staff: Roy Mustang - the principal, who wants to reign in the rebelious students by all means possible, dreams of becoming the mayor Riza Hawkeye - principal’s secretary and assistant, the only person taking care of all the paperwork and school records Olivier Armstrong - the ruthless PE teacher, who tortures her students with insane routines, her motto is ‘survival of the fittest‘ Alex Armstrong - the art teacher, who loves all his students and seems oblivious to the fact that they all hate him Solf J. Kimblee - crazy science teacher, who blows things up and endangers students on regular basis, yet always gets away with it - no one knows how Tim Marcoh - kind-hearted biology teacher, who had a horrible accident that damaged his face, and since kids are the nicest of humans, they tell each other horror stories about the teacher’s supposed criminal past Vato Falman - history teacher, literally no one knows what his teaching is like, because everyone is either asleep or not listening - he tries really hard though Sheshka - school librarian, she can never get the students to return books on time, always lost in her reading

Others: King Bradley - the towns mayor, who advocates for the school to become more elitist and get rid of all the problem children, has some dark secrets Shou Tucker - former biology teacher at the school, fired for unethical behavior - secretly plots revenge Scar - wanted criminal on the run, comes to town to settle things with the people who framed him, gets help from students who uncover a conspiracy and some characters’ dark past Maes Hughes - local sherif and Mustang’s old friend, he suspects that the Mayor is plotting something and manipulating the police force for his own purposes

I can think of more - like Greed running a local motorcycle gang, for example. Or how about the urban legend about Barry The Chopper? Hey, my imagination knows no shame :D

Bonus doodle: Ms Armstrong teaching class. As you can see, I have some unresolved trauma ;<

[spoopy-sloth]

The last of my secret santa gifts (thank the gods!) This is a gift to @karinakamichi, and from one Edling fan to another, I had a lot of fun creating this! Just modern au long-distance boyfriends

[ID: A digital illustration of a modern au of Ling Yao and Edward Elric. Ling is hanging upside down at the edge of a bed, talking on the phone. Ed, also on the phone, is painting his nails in his bedroom.

ID End]

[kattythingz]

This is not a one-to-one au, edling are NOT related.

One of these days, I'll work on my actual main au. This is not that day. Kill La Kill au, anyone?

This is another collab with the brilliant, incredible, show-stopping @ilovepannacotta!! See his Ling (+Greed) design here, because it turned out SOOOO GOOD, GOD. Everyone praise him NOW!!!

Further au details under the cut!! TW for discussions of SA (iykyk)

Introducing our cast:

Satsuki - Ed

Ryuko - Ling

Ragyo - Dante

Nui - Envy

Mako & co. - Lan Fan & Fu

Soroi - Rose & Noah (twins)

Elite Four - Winry, Mei, Russel, & Lust

Mikisugi - Mustang

Dante took in Ed and Al right after Hohenheim mysteriously abandoned them at the same time. Without their mother, Dante promises that she was their father's friend and that she'll care for them now. Ed is around six when this happens, Al one; he was even younger a couple months ago when Hohenheim revealed to Ed the truth of his research: life fibers.

Ed doesn't trust Dante's convenient timing one bit, but he can't raise his baby brother alone, and they need a stable home. So he accepts her help, thinking he can handle whatever she wants to use them for.

The years prove him dead wrong. Hohenheim, Ed learns, was a being perfectly merged with the life fibers, and he and Al inherited some of that constitution. Al has the greater life fibers between them, 80% to Ed's mere 50%. Dante, too, is an incomplete being—but she aims to change that very soon, with the help of Hohenheim's boys.

Ed's a smart boy. He catches on quickly what she wants from them, and demands that she leave Al alone. Anything she needs, she can take from Ed. Anything.

The years pass. Ed sets out to build his steel castle from the ground up behind Dante's back, doing her bidding like the good little soldier she wants him to be while recruiting allies he can trust in the Elite Four. He meets Mustang as well, the leader of Nudist Beach, and they strike a deal to work together in secret and play enemies in daylight.

Cruelty and ruling with fear are not in Ed's nature, and he does his best to make Honnouji's system as kind as possible while applying Dante's "feedback". But there's also nothing he won't do for his baby brother, and if he has to pick that one life over the masses... he will.

His plans are coming along smoothly until the transfer student's arrival. Ling Yao.

Ling arrives at Honnouji Academy with one goal in mind: to gather as much information on the woman named Dante as possible, and report back to his father. Ling, of course, has no plans on reporting so dutifully—but he is intrigued by what he's heard. The secrets to immortality... If he achieves it for himself, then he can free his clan from his father's "empire".

He quickly hears about Dante's "favorite", the Student Council President and "prince" of Honnouji, Edward Elric. That makes things much easier than Ling anticipated. All he has to do is get close to Edward to get closer to Dante. It helps that Edward is beautiful, and that there's more to him than meets the eye.

Ling is intrigued. And then he falls.

Literally, too, where he meets Greed in the basement of a ruined mansion (the Elrics', unbeknownst to him). Greed is absolutely not Ling's style, and he's never been more uncomfortable in his life. But as he and Greed learn to get along, so too does he warm up to Greed's "awful style".

Ed, in the meanwhile, knows Ling is conniving behind his back. He also knows that Mustang is in on it, but for some infuriating reason, he won't share anything with Ed. Which serves Ed just fine; he doesn't need Ling Yao meddling in his plans, he's more than happy to ignore him.

Only, Ling makes himself impossible to ignore. To the point that Ed makes the chief decision of keeping him secret from Dante, because surely she doesn't need to concern herself with one annoying fuck (that Ed does not like, nor care about, nor wants to see smiling).

But then... there's still Envy. Ed's so-called half-sibling.

In a fit of what has to be pure, malicious spite, Envy casually asks Ed about "how things are going with that other kamui brat", right in front of Dante. The jig is up, and Dante... is not amused.

She's never punished Ed as hard as she had that day. Ed limps out of her office unable to take one more step, and he's lucky that Rose and Noah—his loyal aides and closest companions—waited for him the entire time (despite Envy mockingly telling them "the runt will be a while"). They help him the rest of the way back to his quarters, and for once, Ed lets them fuss freely. He curls up on the couch with Noah's tea in his hand and nuzzles into Rose's warmth on one side, Noah at his other. And he pretends he doesn't fall apart when he whispers, "Thank you, Sister."

The night doesn't end there, however.

Envy deigns to make a visit to Honnouji that same week, claiming they were curious about "the brat to catch the runt's eyes so much". At Ling's disgruntlement, they eagerly spill the beans about what happened. Ed's punishment, at Ling's expense.

Ling... is horrified.

He's horrified, and enraged.

He's not proud of how he loses control. Greed warns him that his blood is getting too hot, but Envy's laughter is even louder over Greed's voice and Ling can't hear a single other thing. He doesn't even realize Ed was forced to intervene and fight him until Lan Fan's hugging Ling on the ground, and Ed's standing over them solemnly.

Ling shouldn't, but all his broken voice can think to ask in that moment is whether Envy was telling the truth.

That Ed wasn't really—raped because of Ling. Please.

Ed's answering silence is damning.

The following weeks are... weary. Ling loses Greed, the Raid Trip happens, and everything inevitably comes to a head when Ed triggers the rebellion against Dante.

Ed's plan fails. Rose, Noah, the Elite Four, and Mustang & co. escape the chaos along with Ling, and Ling swears that he'll go back for Ed, no matter what. The rescue doesn't go according to plan, however, and Ed begs Ling to escape with Al instead while he had the chance, because Ed knows Dante has further use for him but Al isn't guaranteed, please, Ling.

Ling agrees, but that's a decision he comes to regret when their next opponent winds up being... Ed. By Envy's touch, Pride had been "tightened", to affect Ed's mind as well now, where it didn't before.

It's an awful battle. Ling's heart screams and aches when he's forced to rip Pride from Ed's body. It... it feels like he's violating Ed, even though he knows he's not, and this is for Ed's own good—

But the pain ends. Pride is ripped off, and Ed is left kneeling in the blood. He looks up, startled by Ling's warmth when he wordlessly smiles and places a coat over Ed, and Ed's eyes burn. He hasn't let himself cry in so long—and when Rose and Noah immediately group-hug him, followed by the Elite Four & Al, that no-crying sentiment is rendered moot.

Ling stands aside, and his heart must grow six sizes from the sight.

Finally, things are looking up.

[gusu-emilu]

miscellaneous MDZS/CQL fic recs (AO3)

broken into sections: Character Study (-esque), Wangxian, Jiang Cheng ships, Yi City (or Yi City-adjacent), Humor/Crack, and Other

Character Study (-esque)

Wei Wuxian

my eyes got used to the darkness by @curiosity-killed (M, Sunshot Campaign era, 4.4k): The funny thing, the thing that makes his lips curl in a grin and his hands shake with laughter, is that all these cultivators with their lofty principles and noble ambitions can’t even notice the ghost among them. Sure, they shiver at his presence and flinch from his cold hands, but not one of them puts it together. Lan Wangji chases him with healing music and Nie Mingjue frowns solemnly at his dancing corpses—and he laughs and laughs and laughs because they just don’t get it. Emilu's commentary: CW for mild body horror.

Jiang Cheng

in our respective ways by @veliseraptor (T, Sunshot Campaign era, 5.7k): Jiang Cheng has his golden core back. But he seems to have lost Wei Wuxian.

You Know I've Fallen, but I Know How High by villainais (M, Post-WWX's death, 2.7k): Jiang Cheng loses both of his siblings in Nightless City. Minutes apart. He trudges home to Yunmeng with one body, holds a private funeral with a single coffin, and allows himself to wear his mourning robes for ten days—permits himself not a single day more. He is still too young and inexperienced, an unfledged boy to the cultivation world, and he is rebuilding Lotus Pier on his own. He will not gift the other sect leaders the satisfaction of seeing him vulnerable. Propriety be damned. Hanguang-jun emerges from his seclusion wearing white. He does not stop.

Nie Huaisang

it deepens like a coastal shelf by @wolffyluna (M, Post-WWX's death, 21.6k): When Nie Huaisang meets Mo Xuanyu, he realises two things quickly. One, this kid is so doomed. Two, this kid would be a great unwitting spy in his plans to bring down Jin Guangyao. It would be so easy to get into Mo Xuanyu's confidences, and so easy to get him to tell him anything he needs. ...only thing is, that wouldn't be very good for Mo Xuanyu's life expectancy. But he'll do it anyway, if it helps him avenge his brother. A fic about man handing on misery to man, the parallels and cycles in the relationships between Jin Guangyao and Nie Huaisang and Mo Xuanyu, and the lengths these characters will go to meet their goals and if there are lines they won't cross.

Lan Xichen

an old man in dried mouths by @tenacious-minds (T, Post-Canon, 3.3k): Xichen thinks. The tea had always stained the crockery red. Emilu's commentary: Lan Xichen and Jin Ling talk about Jin Guangyao.

can you be a quiet man? by @basket-of-loquats (Unrated, Post-Canon, 70.7k+) But something inside him snapped at Guanyin Temple-- and Lan Wangji watched it happen, saw the exact moment that Lan Xichen went from broken to shattered, when he buried his sword into Jin Guangyao’s chest, when his sworn brother stared up at him with wide eyes, blood dripping from his mouth, when he pulled himself closer and closer and closer-- When he whispered "Why don’t you die with me?", and Lan Xichen hadn’t argued. Emilu's commentary: Lan Xichen / therapy with a side of Wangxian.

Wen Ning

breathless (but i'll pretend to breathe for you) by swordsainted (T, Burial Mounds Settlement era, 4.1k): Wei Wuxian is silent for a long minute, and then he looks at Wen Ning, something raw and open and hurting behind his eyes. “I’m sorry,” he says again, softer this time, and Wen Ning shakes his head, still smiling. “You’ve protected everyone. How could I hate you for that?”

Mo Xuanyu

stand at the pit's mouth by @eldritch-elrics (M, MXY's death, 9.3k): The dreams and regrets of a man on the edge of oblivion. Emilu's commentary: Surrealist/absurdist screenplay.

Wangxian

I would wait for a thousand years by bleuett (T, Immortality Post-Canon, 10.4k): During the worst of winter, a traveler comes to stay at Lan Wangji's inn. He wears a red ribbon in his hair. “Do you see the rabbit?” Wei Ying asks and points at the moon. “That’s the moon rabbit, he helps make Chang’e more immortality elixir. He keeps Chang’e company.” “I do not wish the rabbit for company,” Lan Wangji says tightly. “You are the one I want by my side.” “And I’m here, Lan Zhan. If you go to the moon, I’ll follow you, I’ll always be here now.” Emilu's commentary: Lan Wangji meets Wei Wuxian centuries later and does not remember the past. There is also an excellent podfic by @forgotten-envies

Look Not With The Eyes by Spodumene (G, Post-Canon, 28.1k): Wei Wuxian returns from his travels to join Lan Wangji on a routine night hunt, but when things take an unexpected turn, Wei Wuxian will have to fight for what he's really looking for. Emilu's commentary: Case fic.

All In A Good Time by bigboobedcanuck (E, Post-Canon, 8k): Lan Zhan is struck by a curse that brings him intense physical pain unless he's being touched. He is stoic and tries to hide his suffering. Wei Wuxian is worried and protective. Perhaps they will finally admit their feelings?

Across a Lake of Glass by Zizzani (E, Figure Skating AU, 92.2k+): Each year, Gusu Skating Club runs a camp for only the most elite athletes of each region. This year brings a new skater from the Yunmeng Club who wears skates lined with red and a smile made for war. He skates like a demon. Figure skating au featuring lots of healthy rivalry, pre and post-competition bonding, and an inexplicable fall from grace through the eyes of the media.

Jiang Cheng Ships

Chengqing

display my heart for you to see by @souridealist (M, Post-Canon Wen Qing Lives AU, 5.5k): Jiang Cheng has his own secrets. Some of them are part of the unburied past; some of them are about how long it's been since anyone has touched him.

while I'm in this body by @souridealist (E, Post-Lotus Pier Massacre, 3.9k): For just a few minutes, alone in her office, Wen Qing allows her self-control to slip enough to cry. It's just her luck that that's when Jiang Cheng comes looking for her. Emilu's commentary: Femdom.

Chengning

it may be that it doesn't matter by @wildehacked (T, Post-Canon, 6.6k) “Are you crying?” Jiang Wanyin asks him, and Wen Ning frowns. Pats his cheek with one hand. “No.” Emilu's commentary: Holy Grail of Chengning.

Whatever It Is by morau (E, Post-Canon, 20.5k): It starts, as with a lot of things, with a very poorly thought out prank, courtesy of Wei Wuxian. Emilu's commentary: A LOT of sex and even more emotions lol

won't run away (we're here to stay) by @qi-ling (T, Post-Canon, 3.5k): "Please don't feel any pressure to accept this, and you can take as much time as you need to think about it." It's a set of robes, in shades of deep purple, complete with leather bracers. Cut in a different style than that of the disciples or household staff, closer to the understated robes Wen Ning typically wears. He reaches out to feel the fabric. His deadened nerves can't sense delicate textures well, but even he can tell it's of a quality on par to Wanyin's own wardrobe. This is startling enough coming from Jiang Wanyin, but then Wen Ning notices the belt. In particular, the silver bell in the shape of a lotus affixed to it. Only recognized members of the Jiang sect may wear the clarity bell. Or, Jiang Cheng has an invitation for Wen Ning.

Zhancheng

By Proxy by @veliseraptor (E, Post-WWX's death, 12k): Jiang Cheng and Lan Wangji, looking for comfort in all the wrong places. Emilu's commentary: Hate sex that made me cry

Yi City (or Yi City-adjacent)

Songxuexiao

Heaven Has A Road But No One Walks It by @silvysartfulness (M, Post-Yi City arc Canon Divergence, 123k+): One of the most complex spells of demonic cultivation the world has seen is brought to fruition, and Xiao Xingchen draws his first shaking breaths in over seven years. This, it turns out, is only the start of his problems. Emilu's commentary: Pretty sure everyone already knows about Silvy's happy songxuexiao road trip fic but it has to be here.

Xue Yang & Lan Xichen

Hours On Empty series by @lady-of-the-lotus (M to E, Post-Canon, 57.8k+): AU where Wei Wuxian never came to Yi City and Xue Yang is still running around post-canon disguised as Xiao Xingchen. "Fractured Ice" - Xue Yang whisks a nihilistic Lan Xichen off on a murder roadtrip to raise Xiao Xingchen and Meng Yao from the grave. Because that will solve all of their problems, right? "Control" - "Fractured Ice" retold from Xue Yang's pov. "A Thousand Miles In Its Light" - Alternate ending to "Fractured Ice" and "Control"

Songxiao with Xuexiao Flashbacks

Nothing Beside Remains by @eldritch-elrics (T, Post-Yi City arc Canon Divergence, 21.9k): And Xiao Xingchen is dressed in dark clothing that is not his, and his sight is all of a sudden sharp in a way that it has never been before, and Xue Yang is not here. “He wouldn’t,” he breathes. “No, he wouldn’t do that. He’s too—” “He’s too what?” Wei Wuxian steps a foot closer, face hard-set. “Too cruel? Or too kind?” Or: Xue Yang uses the Sacrifice Summon on Xiao Xingchen. Xiao Xingchen lives with the consequences.

Humor/Crack

The Hangover: A pre-wedding Dramedy series by natcat5 (M, Modern AU, 51.6k): It is not a bachelor party. That was made clear on all the invitations. It is a congratulatory get together for Jin Zixuan, attended by his family, the family of the bride, and the young masters of the other two families in their circle. The gathering is not to go later than midnight, everyone must drink in moderation, and no one is allowed to be hungover tomorrow. Wei Wuxian had promised Yanli, three fingers in the air. Jiang Cheng had rolled his eyes, but promised as well. Saturday morning, Nie Huaisang and Jiang Cheng wake up alone in a hotel room, missing shoes, phones, and almost all their memories of what in the world happened last night. Also missing: Wei Wuxian, brother of the bride, Lan Wangji, esteemed guest, Lan Xichen, esteemed guest, Jin Zixun, cousin of the groom, Jin Guangyao, brother and best-man, Jin Zixuan, THE GROOM, who is due at his bride-to-be's house in six hours. That's plenty of time to find everyone...right?

Jiang Cheng Loves Jar Jar Bombad Mui by @lady-of-the-lotus (G, Post-Canon, 1.7k) Jar Jar Binks washes up on the shores of Lotus Pier. Can he win the lonely Jiang Cheng's proud heart? Neb neb answer is yesa. Emilu's commentary: There's also a podfic by @aowyn. Yes, with a Jar Jar voice.

Other

Nie Huaisang & Wen Ning

By Name by nirejseki (G, Post-Canon, 1.3k): After the traumatic events in the now-collapsed temple, Wen Ning lingered behind and unexpectedly saw Nie Huaisang, the undisputed victor of an all-around terrible evening, sitting on the steps of the temple, looking exhausted and miserable, as if he’d won nothing at all. Wen Ning found himself drifting over to him.

Jiang Yanli & Nie Mingjue

utility by magicites (G, Arranged Marriage AU, 2.3k): Jiang Yanli and Nie Mingjue's wedding is a political one — a gesture of unity between their Sects. A way for her parents to finally get some use out of the plain-faced sham of a cultivator they call a daughter. “Jiang-guniang,” Nie Mingjue says, and the formality in such a setting as intimate as their wedding chambers startles her, “I don’t wish to bed you. Or any other woman, for that matter. It isn’t fair for you to live alone because of my own preferences.” She rests her hand on his arm, cool relief flooding her body like water on a summer afternoon. “If it helps, I don’t feel desire for men,” she whispers.

Jin Guangyao / Nie Huaisang

Pulling Strings by @eldritch-elrics (E, Post-WWX's death, 5k): Nie Huaisang, quite drunk, turns up at Jin Guangyao’s door one night with an unexpected request. Emilu's commentary: Nie Huaisang knows Jin Guangyao killed Nie Mingjue. This interaction is more symbolic than anything else...

[presumenothing]

When Yi had been tasked with accompanying His Highness the Crown Prince Yao on the trade deal negotiations with Amestris, this is not what they had been expecting. 

(Then again, they hadn’t expected to be tasked with this at all to begin with – if they’d ever wanted an eventful life they would’ve joined literally any other department besides the Ministry of Revenue, for heaven’s sake.

“Because the Minister is ancient and I’m allergic to the desert,” Vice-Minister Chen had said blandly; clearly the why had been writ large on Yi’s face, even though they hadn’t been about to ask aloud. “Besides, it’s no secret that the Crown Prince has the best chance of getting a favourable deal out of those Amestrisans anyway, as long as he doesn’t get distracted. That’ll be your main job, though nominally you’re there as a third party to ensure that he doesn’t ask for anything blatantly in favour of the Yao or Chang clans, since the Lins aren’t affiliated to either. Security’s already handled as well, you don’t have to worry about that.”

………Yi hadn’t even realised that could be something to worry about until right then. It was knowledge they really, really could’ve done without, just like the terrifying midnight visit from the Crown Prince’s knife-happy bodyguard to make sure that Yi isn’t some kind of assassin posing as a finance undersecretary.

Totally uncalled for, since if it’d been daylight Yi could’ve just shown with a schedule and simple math that they didn’t have time to work two jobs even if they’d wanted to.

Which they don’t; the only person they’ve ever wanted to murder is that one clerk in Jingzhou who always messed up the tax filings, and even that would be more trouble that it was worth.) 

Anyway. Yi’s preparation for this diplomatic visit had mostly been focused on reviewing the proposed trade deal, but they’d known even before leaving Xing that they were going to be negotiating with the Flame Alchemist, and… well, even someone who cared as little about politics as they did couldn’t help having some kind of assumptions on hearing that.

Which, Yi decides as they accept a mug of tea from General Mustang’s capable adjutant, only goes to show why they should continue sticking with numbers forever, seeing as pretty much every one of those assumptions had been mistaken. The tea is actually well-made, first of all, not burnt like the traders to Amestris always complained about.

It’s not poisoned, either, though of course Yi only thinks about that after the Crown Prince has taken several big gulps of tea, any one of which would probably have been sufficiently toxic if it’d actually been poisoned.

Which is in turn after the adjutant places a mug on… huh, the sill of a half-open window.

Yi blinks at that, then at the Flame Alchemist, who heaves the familiar sigh of the bureaucratically-burdened. “Can you please ask Lan Fan to just come in, we really could do without another assassination scare.”

The Crown Prince laughs – cackles, more accurately, like it’s not weird at all that a foreign general knows his bodyguard by name. “For that, your sentries would actually have to spot her first. Anyway, it’s just more incentive for you to wrap this up quickly, no? I’ve got an all-you-can-eat out there somewhere with my name on it!”

“Please don’t say that like I’m the one who’s been causing the delays in this deal.”

“Well, the last time it was Ed– huh, where are they, anyway?” the Crown Prince asks, twisting around in his seat like he expects someone to materialise despite the closed office door. “I’d have thought they would be here by now.”

General Mustang looks very much like he’s mentally pinching the bridge of his nose, which Yi mostly recognises by virtue of experiencing the exact same emotion. “In interest of finishing this sometime today, I banned the Elrics from stepping foot into Central Command until Hawkeye gives them the all-clear.”

Yi’s brain gets so stuck on the Elrics (calculating their potential lucrativeness in Xing’s economy is one of the most popular Ministry of Revenue party games after all) that they almost miss the Crown Prince’s question. 

“So what’s the all-clear?”

“These kittens we happened to have found this morning,” answers General Mustang, the Flame Alchemist, as his adjutant indicates the definitely-meowing cloth-lined basket in one corner of the room. “Which I’m sure you wouldn’t want to deprive Alphonse of for a moment longer than necessary – stop laughing before I stuff these documents in your face.”

Then the general has to dodge the thwip of a knife flying in through the window to embed itself in the wall while the Crown Prince falls off his seat laughing and the adjutant remains completely unruffled.

“More tea?” she asks serenely.

Yi nods fervently, holding out the mug like they hadn’t left the desert after all. “Please.”

.

.

.

(more fics here)

[royaidaydreams]

New Year’s Eve

Happy Holidays @lieutenant-sarcastic! I was your Secret Santa for @fmasecretsanta2020 and I really, really, really, hope you enjoy. ‘Tis the season for some Edwin family and Lingfan! It can also be read here on AO3.

***

New Year’s Eve

The living room curtains fluttered in chilly December air. Odd, because Edward and Winry Elric were trying to keep their house warm with their new furnace, not turn it into an icebox on New Year’s Eve.

Ed stopped and stared, wondering who opened it.

Their son wasn’t old enough. Standing on his tiptoes, the little blonde boy barely reached the window ledge to peer out at the snow covered fields. Winry was still working in her garage. She and her large pregnant belly spent the past four hours awkwardly, but enthusiastically bent over the latest prosthetic limb in her workshop.

So who opened it?

Was it him earlier when he and Bennett were playing? No, Ed thought to himself. He was exhausted chasing a toddler through the house all morning, not senile. Definitely not forgetful.

Ed shut the window and peered out at the little town of Resembool in the distance. Farm houses  and their barns dotted the horizon, their roofs draped in a blanket of snow. Nothing looked out of place. And just for a moment Ed felt nostalgic for a time that hadn’t even passed.

He shook his head, pushing the idea away. Sure, he missed this –– the wagon wheel ruts framing the path leading to the house, ice skating on the Myers’ frozen pond until February,, Winry’s little shiver every time she chucked garbage out the back door insisting she didn’t need a coat for those two seconds –– when he traveled across the country with Al in the past.

But he wasn’t traveling anymore. He was home now.

How could he miss something that wasn’t even gone? Any plans to travel were put on hold. He and Winry agreed that he wouldn’t leave again, not even for an overnight in East City until the new baby was two years old.

Ed turned to go back to his study for the rest of Bennett’s nap. He had almost reached the doorway when another cool breeze teased the hair on the back of his neck.

Ed whipped around. The curtains swayed in front of the open window again. Only this time, they framed two familiar figures perched on the sill. One cloaked in black, perfectly still as a statue behind her mask. The other, eyes squinted shut, smiled merrily with rosy cold cheeks.

Goddmanit.

Ed should have known it was them the moment he saw the open window.

Even underneath the layers of thick, heavy silks they both looked as if a single day hadn’t passed since he last saw them after the Promised Day all those years ago in Central City.

“Hi there!” Ling Yao waved brightly. “Long time, no see!” he said cheerfully, as if he wasn’t sitting in Ed’s living room window in the dead of winter.

“Can’t you two use the door like normal people?” Ed muttered to himself.

Ling must have heard him, because the other man’s cheeky smile insisted they could not.

“What are you doing here?” Ed folded his arms across his chest in annoyance. “Don’t you have a country to run?”

“Haha,” Ling laughed, but didn’t actually answer the question. Instead he climbed through the window, Lan Fan following behind as his ever steady shadow. At least she had the decency to shut it behind her. “It really has been a long time,” Ling continued, brushing the snow off himself. “It looks like you finally grew up after all.”

Ed’s temper flared instinctively. “Alright that’s it ––”

“What is going on here?” Winry demanded, waddling into the living room doorway. One hand pressed against her back to ease the strain of her pregnancy, making her look less intimidating than she sounded. “Ed, you’re supposed to be working during Bennett’s nap, not shouting across town.”

She froze, wide blue eyes finally taking in the sight of the two strangers in her house. Though she didn’t remember officially meeting Lan Fan, she had met Ling on two separate occasions: first in Rush Valley, and then here in her home. She vividly remembered throwing him out of her bedroom before serving dinner to him and the rest of Ed’s company. That was a strange day.

Long afterward, Ed filled her in on the details of his identities.

Winry’s mouth opened about to say something before she stopped and turned to her husband. “Why is there a ninja and an emperor in my house?”

Ed shrugged, not knowing any more than her.

“You should have told me they were coming over. I would have cleaned up, but I didn’t even hear the door.” She tugged self consciously at the oversized shirt and mismatching pants. They were her last clean ones, other than the blouse she saved for their special New Year’s dinner tonight–– she knew she should have asked Ed to wash the laundry early this week.

Normally the motor oil under her fingernails never bothered her. Guests saw her in various states of disarray all the time. Sweaty. Greasy hair pulled back with a bandana. Dark sleepless bags under her eyes months after Bennett was born. Nearly all of those guests were automail clients or  neighbors, not the ruler of a foreign country.

Overalls and dirty work clothes suited Winry just fine, but she also enjoyed wearing skirts and dresses too. Late pregnancy made her more self conscious than usual. She felt like a stranger in her own body.

“That’s because they didn’t use the door,” Ed muttered under his breath. “You look fine, Win,” he reassured, walking toward her and laying his hand gently on her arm. “If Ling cared enough, he would have let us know he was coming.”

Ling gave a small half bow. “Our apologies.” He spoke to Winry (and very clearly not Ed). “We made the decision to stop by rather last minute. We can leave if you like. It’s awfully cold out there, but we can probably find somewhere warm to stay,” he said, purposefully tugging at Winry’s over emotional heartstrings.

That bastard.

Winry looked horrified by the idea. “Of course you can stay, we won’t just throw you out.”

“We could,” Ed corrected half heartedly.

She continued as if she hadn’t heard her husband. “Take your boots off before the snow melts all over the floor.” The idea of hosting guests for the new year celebrations excited her just a little. “Would you like something to drink, something to eat?”

“Yes, please! That would be great!” Ling answered. Lan Fan removed her mask at last, smiled, and nodded.

“I’ll get it,” Ed volunteered, eager to control the serving size before the two mooches could eat them out of house and home.

***

Winry waddled into the kitchen. At nearly nine months pregnant she didn’t have a large repertoire of movement. Ed finished filling a pitcher with water from the tap and put two glasses on a tray for Ling and Lan Fan as she came to stand beside him.

The small act was so domestic and familiar, he just wanted to pull her close and squeeze her tightly.

“Do you want them to leave?” Winry asked sincerely, meeting his warm golden eyes. “Because they don’t have to stay. It doesn’t matter that it’s the new year. You know them best; if you want me to kick them out, that’s fine. We can tell them I’m going into labor and ––”

“They aren’t that bad,” Ed admitted reluctantly. “But they will eat everything in this house if you let them. I’m not exaggerating. Don’t let them in the kitchen.”

Winry nodded.

But clearly something was still bothering Ed. He looked away quickly, back to the task in front of him.

Even if her husband thought he was being subtle (and he definitely wasn’t), Winry could read his body language as easily as she diagnosed faulty wiring. Ed was no mechanical prosthetic, but she knew him long enough to see when his fist clenched with stress. His shoulders hunched forward trying to shield whatever burden he carried from her.

“What’s wrong?” she asked gently

Ed waved her away. “It’s nothing.” He started cutting slices of apple to put on the snack tray.

“Edward Elric!” Winry snapped using the same stern voice she used on their naughty toddler. “Do not lie to me,” she commanded. “Something is clearly bothering you. What is it?”

He sighed. “It’s not a big deal. Really, it’s stupid.”

“It’s only stupid if you don’t tell me,” she deadpanned.

He loved her straight forward attitude, even if it frustrated him. Their stubborn personalities clashed just as much as they complimented each other. Sometimes Ed didn’t know if he wanted to fight his wife or kiss her.

“Fine. It’s New Year’s Eve and I wanted it to be the three of us,” Ed admitted. “Every year we have family and friends around. I just wanted it to be us this once.”

Oh.

She leaned sideways and hugged him, though her big belly made it difficult. “It still will be,” Winry reassured. “We don’t have to change how we celebrate. We can still make dinner, exchange gifts, and stay up to watch the fireworks. Nothing about that involves Ling and Lan Fan.”

That’s why Ed loved Winry so goddamn much. Even though he wanted a quiet holiday he knew Winry missed having a full house. Al was still in Xing, studying alkahistory under Mai, and his absence left an impression every inch of the house. Much to Winry’s disappointment, Granny’s current contract in Rush Valley kept her there until the spring. Growing up, the Rockbell household had always had an open door. He, Al, and the entire town of Resembool took advantage of it. Automail clients came and went all the time.

Now their house was louder with their son, but not necessarily as full of life as it had once been with their extended families around.

“It’s not the end of the world,” Ed admitted. “We’ve got lots of food, they’re already here –– might as well share it. Then at the next festival we can brag to the town we hosted the Emperor of Xing.”

“Is he really the emperor?” Winry asked critically, grabbing a slice of apple for herself. Large as she was, her ferocious appetite still remained. “He doesn’t seem very …” She trailed off trying to summon the right description.

“Regal. Sane. Diplomatic. Official.” Ed supplied, grabbing another apple to replace the one Winry ate.

“Royal,” she concluded.

“That’s because he hasn’t figured out how to use a goddamn door.”

Winry snorted in laughter.

Ed shrugged. “If not already, he will be one day. Maybe we can get a straight answer out of him about why he’s here tonight. I’ll take this out,” he said nodding downward to the tray “and then check on Bennett, he may be awake by now.”

Winry leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. “Thank you.” She shuffled to the door. “I’ll go find a padlock for the pantry.”

Ed suspected both Ling and Lan Fan would break any padlock they used (no matter how industrial), but it definitely couldn’t hurt to try it.

***

Ed sank back into the well-worn couch after dinner warm, full, and happy. If his wife ever decided to quit the automail industry he was sure she could easily become a chef instead. Thinking about the roasted rack of lamb still made his mouth water. Ling and Lan Fan ate their way through the entire table’s worth of garlic mashed potatoes, buttered rolls, savory green beans, and candied yams. The feast was worth every hour spent preparing it.

And Ed couldn’t even bring himself to care. For once he didn’t need to put away any leftovers.

So the Xingese duo earned their keep already. He actually enjoyed their lighthearted company. Bantering back and forth, recalling the strangeness of the first time they met in Rush Valley came naturally. Had it really been that long ago?

The padlock survived a measly 30 seconds under Ling’s scrutiny. But the prince only entered the pantry and cellar to fetch every vegetable, spice, and seasoning (and then some) for Winry. If anything else happened to disappear Winry turned a blind eye in favor of the help.

Lan Fan’s watchful eye prevented Bennett from covering himself with flour halfway through cooking. She let Winry examine the steel plating of her automail arm. The kitchen still echoed with his wife’s squeal of excitement seeing it. The rolls nearly burned because the two women were so engrossed in conversation they didn’t hear the timer ring.

After standing all afternoon, dividing his attention between cooking, catching up with Ling and Lan Fan, and wrangling Bennett, Ed’s good leg ached fiercely. Maybe he was just getting old. The dark warm house nearly lulled him to sleep.

If it weren’t for the fireworks bursting overhead, he would have already passed out.

He turned to look at Winry’s profile, lit by the colorful flashes of light from the window. She cradled Bennett on her shrinking lap. His little blonde head rested against her chest, mouth open, and leaving a wet patch of drool on her blouse.

It was late. How she hadn’t collapsed from exhaustion yet was beyond him.

Gently, Ed took her hand in his.

“Happy New Year,” Ed whispered.

“Happy New Year,” Winry repeated. Through the window the New Year’s fireworks glowed red, green, then yellow as they rained downward over the town. They admired the sight for another moment before she spoke again. “Are you ready for your gift?”

Oh yeah, after all of the food he had completely forgotten the last tradition of the holiday.

“Me first,” Winry said excitedly. With some effort, she pulled a small box from her between herself and the arm of the couch. It was red. A wire ribbon wrapped around it like a bow.

Carefully, Ed unfolded the bow, untwisted the wire, and lifted the lid. His heart melted. Ed looked up between Winry and the gift in aww. Inside the box sat a shiny new pocket watch. The cover gleamed in the faint flashes of light from the window revealing a hand carved engraving of the Flamel Cross.

His symbol. The one he wore on the back of his coat for years.

“Winry,” he breathed. “It’s beautiful.” Clearly she put a lot of time into the project. He traced his fingertips over the detailing lovingly. She may not have understood alchemy, or the meaning of the symbol, but she knew it was important to him.

“Open it,” she suggested.

Ed picked the pocket watch out of the box and clicked open the little latch. Unsurprisingly, the hands on the face displayed the correct time.

On the opposite side, inside the cover, lay one word. Elric.

“It’s big enough that you can put a family photo in there.” Winry explained. “One day we’ll take one of all four of us after Baby Sarah gets here.” Then you can take it with you when you travel again. We’ll always be with you.”

Tears began to form at the corner of Ed’s eyes and he blinked them away.

“Thank you. I don’t know about your gift anymore, Win,” he said with some embarrassment. “It’s not exactly something I can wrap.”

Winry’s eyes lit up with curiosity.

“You work so hard taking care of everyone else, your patients, Bennett, me, so tomorrow is our day to take care of you. Sleeping in, breakfast in bed, bubble baths, whatever you want is yours. You don’t have to lift a finger.”

She squeezed his hand affectionately. It was exactly what her aching body wanted. “You’re so sweet, Ed. That’s the perfect gift. I couldn’t ask for anything better.”

“Same.” He held the pocket watch in his other hand, expecting to feel the familiar weight of his old state alchemist pocket watch. But it wasn’t. This one was lighter, slightly smaller. And for that reason alone it was perfect.

They eventually drifted off to sleep, snuggled up on the couch as a family. Winry and Ed still held hands as the fireworks crackled and popped above them, lighting up the night’s sky.

***

Ling watched the fireworks fall like the shooting stars he grew up watching in Xing. The snow covered countryside of Resembool glowed beneath the colored lights. He lay back against the roof and stretched his arms over his head. Relaxed. Lan Fan sat beside him far more vigilant as her eyes darted between the light show and the surrounding landscape.

Sometime after dinner the two climbed through the window of the upstairs guest bedroom onto the roof. Ling shivered, unused to the frigid temperatures, and saw Lan Fan watch him out of the corner of his eyes.

His faithful shadow.

She must be freezing too, but no part of her body language, still and silent as a stone, gave any indication. Beneath the thermal layers she kept her automail arm hugged against her chest for body heat.

Winry recommended it. Though the mechanic said the temperatures here didn’t dip to low enough extremes like Northern Amestris to worry about damaging the electric nerves or the skin around the port.

She watched her breath steam and curl in front of her face. The weather in the Yao clan’s land remained warm and pleasant all year long, and though she wouldn’t admit it, she missed the long sunny days of her homeland. As the bodyguard to the prince and future emperor, she refused to let the barbaric temperatures bother her.

“We’ll be home soon enough,” Ling said quietly.

It didn’t matter how softly he spoke, she was always listening. Lan Fan nodded once, enjoying the thought. She rarely participated in the colorful New Year’s festivities in Xing, but memories of the parades and fried dumplings made her nostalgic.

“Then we can celebrate a proper New Year.”

Lan Fan heard the words that went unspoken, in the palace when I am emperor.

If Ling played the game of court politics correctly, perhaps they could be back next year in time to witness the blossoming trees, the first sign of the Xingese new year. The vial containing the philosopher’s stone weighed heavily in her master’s pocket. Returning now risked delivering immortality to the current emperor too soon. The prince’s timing must be perfect in order for him to ascend to the throne.

So for now he kept the stone safe. And she protected him as they wandered through random 

Amestrian cities and villages to avoid assassins and other greedy heirs.

Ling picked up the mug of cider at his side. It had been steaming hot when they came out. He took a small sip to taste the cold drink and found it acceptable.

“To a proper New Year next year,” he said cheerfully holding the mug out for a private toast. “To wine and endless feasts. We’ll share them together.” Lan Fan picked hers up too. The mugs clicked against each other merrily. 

They drank from the cold ceramic and shivered.

And though there was no alcohol, Ling’s tongue loosened far more than usual. Maybe due to the privacy of the rooftop, or the good cheer of the evening. “I’ve got all that I need this year as long as you’re at my side.”

Lan Fan flushed, though it was difficult to tell from the cold reddening her cheeks.

“My Lord,” she warned before he could say anything further damning. “I am here to serve you,” she reminded him. Unlike Edward and Winry downstairs they would never be a couple. Ling had far greater pursuits in life than love. Lan Fan, with all of her strength, promised to let him reach his full potential. Even if it meant her place was behind the throne, hiding in the shadows, not beside it in full regalia.

“And I am forever grateful,” Ling responded sincerely. He said no more.

They turned back to watch the fireworks overhead in a comfortable silence. The explosions flared in a large display one after another in the finale, usuring in the new year. 

Lan Fan searched for the chi of those nearby. In the house she felt Ed and Winry sleeping comfortably with their children. Ling’s own chi, familiar and vibrant, reached out to her as it always had. Privately, she welcomed it. Sensing everyone’s safety, she allowed herself to sit back and enjoy the New Year’s fireworks.  

[alchemic-elric]

MUSE DETAILS

NAME: Edward Elric ALIAS: Fullmetal  AGE: 16 * (verse dependent - can range from 5 - 20+ )  FAMILY: 

Van Hohenheim ; Father Trisha Elric; Mother (Deceased) Alphonse Elric; Younger Brother

SIGNIFICANT OTHER:  *Verse dependent; Ling Yao 

𝙿𝙴𝚁𝚂𝙾𝙽𝙰𝙻.

RELIGIOUS BELIEF:  Agnostic (He’s met God in person and still thinks he’s a joke) SINS: greed  / gluttony /  sloth  / lust / pride / envy / wrath   VIRTUES: chastity  /  charity  / diligence / humility /  kindness  / patience / justice  PRIMARY GOALS IN LIFE:  Return Al’s body back to normal KNOWN LANGUAGES: Amestrian ; Xeresian* (future verse;  Xingese, Cretian, Drachman)  (*I would assume since Xeres was the birthplace of Alchemy, it would be close to Latin in our world) SECRETS: Committing the Taboo, Automail right arm and left leg, his brother has no body, true motives for hunting the Philosopher's Stone.  ~~~~~ 𝙿𝙷𝚈𝚂𝙸𝙲𝙰𝙻.

BUILD: scrawny  / bony  / slender / fit /  athletic  /  curvy  /  herculean  /  pudgy  /  average. HEIGHT:  -retracted-  SCARS / MARKS:  Edward has scars around the base of his automail ports on his left leg and right shoulder as a result of surgery.  He has a scar above his right eye from a sword wound that refuses to heal, and scars on his left shoulder and right side from sword wounds from the same fight.  He has a matching set of scars on his left side of his stomach and back close to his spine from an ‘accident’ in Baschool.  ABILITIES / POWERS:  Edward has control over basically any solid object with Alchemy at his finger tips. He can use Alchemy without a circle by clapping his hands together and creating a circle within his body.  ~~~~~ 𝙵𝙰𝚅𝙾𝚁𝙸𝚃𝙴𝚂.

FOOD: Breakfast foods and pie are Edward’s comforts.  DRINK: Orange Soda PIZZA TOPPING: N/A; Edward won’t eat it.  COLOUR:  Crimson Red; Gold; Black; White  MUSIC GENRE: Heavy Metal; Grunge  BOOK GENRE: Mystery and Sci-Fi ; when he’s not reading a science book MOVIE GENRE:  Action; Comedy  SEASON: Winter CURSE WORD: Fuck. SCENT(S): Old books; grease; and ink  ~~~~~ 𝚁𝙰𝙽𝙳𝙾𝙼.

SINGS IN THE SHOWER:  No, but he’s fallen asleep in the bath before.  LIKES BAD PUNS: Yes and he makes them without a second thought while grinning mischievously at you for them.  FAVORITE GAME: He doesn’t make time for games.  ~~~~~

Tagged by : @swordsandfeathers & @angcrmanagcmcnt​ 

Tagging:  @valiant-noble-soul​ @mangataonegdaj​ @rxinbowtrxveler​ and anyone else who wants to do it