Here's chapter fourteen. Just be forewarned, most of this was written in the middle of the night. Or would that be morning? Whatever… My insomnia's back so… yay?
It was also written while watching Cartoon Network's Pokemon Master Marathon. Haha. If someone can tell me where I can buy the DVDs of the Hoenn season, I'd be really really happy.
Indigo, thanks for the cookie. And ShadowAlchemistSu, your reply made me smile.
Enjoy.
Disclaimer: Same as always
Warnings: Angst. Nothing much, though…
Chapter 14: Tension
"…I'm positive, okay?!"
"Wait… what?"
"Positive! Do I have to spell it out for you?"
"…No." Envy wrapped his arms tightly around Ed, squeezing him tightly.
Oh god oh god, please say this isn't true! Ed… Ed can't be positive! He can't!
"C'mon. Let's go." Grabbing Ed's hand, Envy took of running. He had to see Greed. The older man would know what to do… hopefully.
"Ah! Envy stop! I don't want to go anywhere. I… I just want to talk with you for a while…"
At Ed's pleading, the older teen stopped and turned around to look at the blonde. "…Alright. Where should we talk?"
"Well, here. We are next to a bench after all."
"Oh…" Envy sighed and sat, pulling Ed down next to him. "So… talking… First, Edo, I'm kind of bad at this stuff…"
"That's okay. Just listen for right now." Ed gave Envy's hand a squeeze before continuing. "When I found out this morning, all I could think about was you. I was so scared that you'd leave me altogether. After all, you're negative and I'm not… I was so afraid that you'd be scared away… I wanted to keep this from you… But it would've been hard… You probably would have figured out eventually…" A soft blush covered Ed's cheeks and Envy couldn't help but smirk.
"Yeah. I'm not that stupid, Edo."
"One can hope… Anyway, when all these thoughts were running through my head, my dad called. You see, Al told him what happened… He said he didn't believe I'd gotten blood in me by helping someone. Said I wasn't that 'kind-hearted.' We got into a big fight and I let the results slip. Then he demanded to know the real reason why I have HIV now… I just hung up on him and ran. I'm assuming that's when Al called you…"
"Mhm… Edo… You're kinda dumb."
"What?!"
"Thinking I'd leave you and all. You're weird. Yeah, it's hard to handle and yeah I know nothing can really get… er, you know… intimate, between us, but that's fine with me. I… I just want to be here to help you and y'know… keep you around as long as possible…" The last part was whispered as Envy turned to stare at the ground. Ed caught the words, though, and sighed.
"I may not even get AIDS… Some people have lived their whole lives without getting it…" Ed turned to face Envy better and wrapped his arms around the older teen. He felt thin arms wrap around his middle and hold him tightly.
"I won't let you die on me… I swear…"
"Look, Ed, you have to tell him. He's your little brother."
"Yeah but…"
"No butts. Go." Envy pushed Ed through the door. Taking the smaller boy's hand, he went to the kitchen, where he could smell Al cooking something.
"Yo! Alphonse! I found him!"
The brunette spun around and when he saw Ed, he threw his arms around him. "Big brother! You have no idea how worried I was! Never do that to me again!"
"Okay. Geez Al, calm down. There is… there is something I need to talk to you about… Is now a good time?"
"Of course Ed. The food is cooling so I'm not busy right now."
"Good." Ed pushed Al down on a chair while the brunette looked at Envy, his eyes wide in confusion. Envy turned away, sighing softly when Ed started pacing.
"Okay. Alphonse, just… please don't freak out on me… This is so hard for me to tell you…" As Al opened his mouth to protest, Ed shook his head. "Just let me talk before I lose my nerve… Well, you know how I got that blood test? I… I got the results today and well… Little brother, I'm so sorry… I'm… HIV positive…"
When Ed finished speaking, he finished pacing as well. Stealing a glance at his little brother, he bit his lip out of nervousness. Al was just sitting there, staring at the tabletop. Why wasn't he saying something or reacting? Hadn't he just heard what his big brother had said?
Just then, a tear rolled down Al's cheek. The youngest teen jumped up from the chair and ran out of the kitchen.
"Al! Wait! Envy, why didn't you stop him?" Ed glared at his boyfriend, who simply sighed again when the front door slammed closed.
"Let him be. He needs to sort out his thoughts. What you told him is pretty major. He needs to come to terms with it on his own time. We can't force him." When he finished speaking, Envy wrapped his arms around Ed, who had started crying quietly. "Shh… It'll all work out… Somehow…"
Al ran through the city with no real destination in mind. He just ran and ran, as did his thoughts. His big brother, the person he'd looked up to his whole life, was HIV positive. Even though he was so young, Al knew what those words meant. To him, it meant that Ed would die much sooner than he should.
"No!" Kicking a random trashcan, Al stopped running to catch his breath and see where he was.
The neighborhood was rundown, with trash littering the street and sidewalks. There weren't many people around, even though it was the middle of the day. Sleazy looks bars flashed neon CLOSED signs, which waited to switch to open once Happy Hour began.
Oh no… This must be one of those parts of LA that Brother warned me about… He said I shouldn't go here by myself… Oh dear…
The teen frantically looked around, trying to find the fastest way out of there. Just as he was about to start running, a hand clamped down on his shoulder.
"AHH! LET ME GO!!"
"Whoa! Calm down. It's just me!"
Al turned around and looked up into the smiling face of Greed. Relief washed over him at the sight of a familiar face.
"Wow, you sure are loud for such a small kid. Anyway, what are you doing way over here? This is no place for a well-to-do kid like you. Well, since you're here, you want some food? My friend is making lunch and I'm sure she wouldn't mind making extra. Whattya say?"
"Well… I am kind of hungry… But I wouldn't want to impose…" Once again, Al's polite manners made him decline something he wanted. Lunch was sounding really good after all that running.
"Nonsense. I insist. My bar is just down this road. Don't worry; it's still closed for the day so no customers. You'll be safe there. Then after you've eaten, you can tell me why you're in such a bad neighborhood."
Alright… I suppose a quick lunch couldn't hurt…
"Well, look what the cat dragged in. Hello there, kiddo. I'm Martel." The young woman smiled and held her hand out for Al to shake. He smiled and shook Martel's hand. Greed had gone off somewhere, leaving Al alone with the tattooed woman.
"So, what would you like to eat?"
"Anything. Um… Is it all right if I help you? I love to cook…"
Martel chuckled and nodded. "You're such a little housewife."
"Eh?" Alphonse's face turned bright red and he looked at the ground, embarrassed.
"Nothing nothing. Can you get the eggs out of the fridge? We'll make something quick and simple. Omlettes. Besides, that's what Greed said he wanted…"
"Mmm. I love Omlettes." With a smile, Al got the eggs and handed them to Martel. While she worked the stove, the boy raided the fridge for any drinks. "Wow… So much alcohol…"
Martel simply laughed and took the soda Alphonse offered her.
After eating, Greed pulled Al aside. "Now tell me why you were out in this neighborhood. It isn't safe. If Ed knew, he'd probably have a huge fit."
"So what?" Al scowled and stared down at his shoes.
"Oh… You're here because you fought with Ed?"
"Kind of… Greed… I'm really scared… Ed's positive… I don't know what to do…" A tear leaked out of his eye, opening up the waterworks.
Greed wasn't sure of what to do with a crying kid so he simply patted Alphonse on the head. "Calm down… If you need to think things over before going home, you're welcome to stay here as long as you want."
Al wiped his tears and threw his arms around Greed, startling the man. "Thank you Greed…"
Yeah… I like Greed being all fatherly. My friend role-played him like that and it's hard to see him mean. Haha. Anyway, here's chapter fourteen. Review! I command it!