fossilised | For Alphone LeElric

[ It's still hard to believe in the end.

Especially after being there for so long, they're finally going home. Or at least... where they feel home would be. They've all been given a choice. He doesn't have to go back. He doesn't have to die. Not again. He can live out the rest of his life in a different way. Away from ShinRa and clones and other horrible things. Away from being chased down and on the run constantly. Finally, he has a choice in all this. And he's decided.

But there's one little thing the administrator warned them about.

'Don't let your thoughts slip. If they slip for even a moment, if you lose your focus, I can't guarantee you'll get where you want to be.'

He'd thought it would be easy enough. He thought he could do it. But one moment, he's thinking of Jim and Benbow and the next-

The next he's landing unceremoniously on dusty, hard ground. Dusty, hard warm ground. With the bright sun above already heating up his once ever freezing body. Damn, it's really warm! And sunny! And as he slowly rolls onto his side, he can see green fields for miles and the clear blue of the sky. It's both exhilarating but also confusing and that's when panic sets in his chest. He's a mess of scrambling limbs as he picks himself up onto his feet, eyes darting every which way, wide with dread. Where's-

He cups his hands in front of his mouth. ]

Kunsel! Jim! [ He pivots. ] Zell!

[ Did he really just mess this up, too? What's going on? ]

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[ One moment, he's all consumed rapidly looking around for the friends he was pretty sure he'd left with.

The next? The next there's a young man suddenly clinging to him!? Color Zack white-faced with shock and surprise. He'd been expecting- no, he hadn't even been expecting from one of the others, even if they'd landed in the wrong world. At least they would have been together, but they're not. Instead, there's this young man with barely any meat to him- really, much like he, himself, at this point. Much like many of the victims of that place. This young man with their face buried in his shirt, arms around him like a weak vice, and Zack just stands there for a moment with his hands raised, not sure what exactly to do.

Not sure until he notices that uncanny gold to his hair. But no... No, no... That's not... That's impossible, isn't it.

He's dreaming. Or the administrator lied and it's another hallucination. It really can't be...

He peels off a glove, letting it just drop. Then slowly... Very... very hesitantly... he lets that hand sink into that head of hair. The realness makes his eyes burn fiercely. His vision distorting... But he can't seem to get himself to say anything either. As if the moment he does, everything will return to how it was. His hand curls, regardless, as if on the verge of ruffling it. ]

[In his shock, it doesn't even occur to him that Zack has never seen his original body before, that to his friend it would seem as if a stranger just attached on without explanation.

He's too overwhelmed for such logical thoughts as that. Because this is Zack. It's Zack. After so many months of no evidence that Norfinbury even exists, here is one massive solid piece of evidence right in front of him.]

I've missed you.

[His voice is muffled and choked. A little deeper than before and with no hollow echo, but recognisably Alphonse.]

I tried to get back so many times, but I couldn't.

[ The context of the words fall on death ears. Because in that moment, all Zack can focus on is that voice. And it might not sound like that hollow echo, but that only makes it more real and he finds his own breath hitching in this throat. ]

Ah-Al...!? [ The name's croaked out more than said. But the question's soon forgotten in a rush a pure emotion. In a rush of arms wrapping tightly, so tightly around the young man and he has no shame in tucking his cheek against his hair as a hint of a broken laugh bubbles out of him: ] Al, kid, it's really you...

[ Real and alive and back in his own body somehow! ]

Edited 2016-02-11 21:52 (UTC)

Y-Yeah... yeah, it's me.

[Not the most intelligent of rejoinders, but he's still utterly shellshocked at the appearance of Zack Fair on the road leading up to the Rockbell residence.

The embrace hurts just a little, but he relishes in the small ache, and tightens his own grip as much as possible.]

How did you get here? Is everyone else with you?

[ Feeling that returned grip, if not a weaker one... that's reaffirming in it of itself. Although in his glazed vision, he might have finally noticed the crutch not far from the ground and that gets him to ease on the poor kid. It definitely doesn't stop him from holding onto him for a while longer though and sorry, Al. Your hair might be damp now.

He sniffs as he tries to rein himself in. The questions at least give him something to focus on as he mumbles out in a gravelly voice: ] The administrator sent us all home through this portal. I was going to Montressor with the others... Guess there was a change in plans. [ Admittedly, part of him has to wonder if the others made it. And what the others must be thinking once they realize-

But he shuts that out. Not now. Focus on Al. Focus on the fact that Al's alive. He pulls away just a little bit. Just enough to see him though he keeps him in the circle of his arms. ] But what about you? I mean HOW--?

[ He lets the question hang in the air, unable to finish it as a few tears stray down his cheeks. ]

[Al feels something loosen inside his chest. A knot that's been there and growing tighter in the months since he returned from Norfinbury, the worry about all the friends he inadvertently abandoned and left behind.

And god-- god, he's so proud. He feels like his heart is about to burst with it. He always knew they would find a way out if they just kept moving forwards, and they've proven him right. Maybe this isn't Montressor, maybe Zack didn't end up exactly where he wanted, but people were safe now.]

I know, it's crazy, right?

[He gives a choked half-chuckle and looks up at Zack, so weird to not be looking down at him, beaming brightly.]

I told you that we'd find a way to get our original bodies back one day, didn't I? You should've listened!

[ No less weird as it is for him to not be looking up at Al, especially when that's such a rarity. It's hard to distinguish his face when his eyes blur again, but still he finds a smile. ] I guess I should have... [ That's... totally not a sniff. He totally didn't just sniff as he gives his very real and very human body another squeeze. His smile goes finicky in his next teasing words. ] Got a few inches on you now, kid. Think you'll catch up for real this time? No cheating, right?

[ It's the stupidest joke he could ever make, but humor him, Al. ]

R-Right.

[He pulls back a little bit, smiling all over his face so much that his cheeks are starting to ache.]

I don't think I will catch up now, this is probably as tall as I'm going to get. Brother seems like he's growing now, though!

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