HELLOO, requesting for Alphonse Elric x Reader where they're childhood friends. You can choose whatever scenerio you want, but Id like the reader to also be an alchemist, and a good one at that!
Different, Yet Still Him (Alphonse Elric x Reader)
𝗔/𝗡: 𝗮𝗮𝗮𝗮 𝘀𝗼 𝘀𝗼𝗿𝗿𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘆, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗴𝗼!! 𝗶 𝗵𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗸𝗮𝘆!
𝙒𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚? ⇒ 𝙈𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙩
𝙟𝙤𝙞𝙣 𝙢𝙮 𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙘𝙤𝙧𝙙 𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙚𝙧?
𝙗𝙪𝙮 𝙢𝙚 𝙖 𝙘𝙤𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙚?
You’re not opposed to the fact that Al is bigger than you now.
It’s strange, yes. You’re willing to admit that much. But you’re also willing to admit that you noticed that he was starting to pull away from you in terms of height when the two of you were only nine years old. Sure, it made you a little upset when you first came to the realization. Even though it was barely an inch or so at the time, it was still infuriating to a nine-year-old you that there were some shelves that you had to ask Al to reach when you couldn’t (which, upon reflection, was most definitely very dramatic given that you both still had to stand on chairs to reach a lot of things at that age). But looking, you wished you treasured the little things like that a little more.
Back then, you used to be able to borrow his pajamas whenever he and his brother invited you for sleepovers. Back then, you all used to squabble about whose house you all were going to play at on any given afternoon. Back then, you used to race to see who was faster and lift heavy rocks to see who was stronger. Hell, back then, you used to tease the boys about how they weren’t as good at alchemy as you were shaping up to be. Even though you all knew, deep down inside, that they were talented in their own right. Much more than nine-year-old you were willing to admit.
But things were different back then. Because back then, Al was only an inch or two taller than you. Back then, things weren’t so serious or tense all the time- like the country wasn’t gearing up for yet another war. Back then, things could be brighter and happier and just good all around.
Because back then, your best friend's mother was alive. And his house was still standing tall and proud, just as you remembered it. And he and his brother’s bodies looked and functioned just like yours. And Al was only an inch or two taller than you. Only. And yet…
“Look! I got this from the library at Central! But I didn’t have time to read it myself on the train here, so we’re going to have to share, okay?”
And yet you’ve come to understand that you would rather live this life where your best friend is two feet taller than you and made out of metal than a life without him at all.
That’s why you’re smiling and squealing softly as hollow as the suit of armor you call Alphonse moves towards your bed with a book outstretched as you go to gather your blankets and pillows. The book he has for you is the third volume of a book series on lesser known alchemist theories. It was released a couple of years ago, but the library in Resembol only had copies of the first two volumes since they’re much, much older. It’s honestly not the surprise you were expecting to receive from him after he called last week and said he was coming to visit soon. But out of all the souvenirs and goodies from Central he brought to your childhood home for you and your parents to enjoy, this was definitely your favorite. Even though it was only going to be in your possession for the duration of his visit.
Still, you found it hard to care about that little detail as you watched Al awkwardly maneuver around your bedroom in search of a good place for the two of you to sit. No, you were far too busy stifling your laughter as you watched him panic and cry out in alarm any time he came close to knocking down some of the trinkets or knick-knacks or decorations that you had around your room.
Perhaps…perhaps that’s why you’re not so opposed to the fact that Al is much bigger than you now. From what you knew about his family and yours, you always had a feeling that Al being taller than you as the two of you grew older was definitely in the cards (though Ed being much shorter than both of you still has you holding onto a hope that you know you really shouldn’t be). But after…after he got like this, you had your fears and your worries. Human transmutation was one of the very few universal rules that alchemists swore they wouldn’t break, no matter what. And of course, you know better than to naively think that everyone will follow every rule, all the time, no matter what. But things changed when you learned what Ed and Al did.
You don’t know all the details. You never asked, and they never offered. But from what little you were able to pick up, you had some trouble seeing them the same way as you did before it all happened. Not to mention, they changed themselves for a while. They were quieter for a while. More intense for a while. More estranged. More secretive. More…more different than you than they’ve ever been before. And in some ways, they still are like that now. Even your sweet, sweet best friend, Al.
But even so…Al is still near tears when he knocks over the lamp on your dresser in a way that has it crashing to the floor with an ugly, unflattering sound. And he’s still full of apologies and panicked cries and promises to pay for anything he broke as you grab his hand and gently guide him toward the small blanket and pillow pile you set up for the two of you, right by the base of your bed. And when he sits down right next to you, there’s a heavy thud that you still have trouble getting used to hearing as he drops down. Though the sound is only dulled by the fact that he planted himself on the cushion you set up just for him. You know he doesn’t need it as you do. His body doesn’t get the same aches and pains from sitting on the hardwood floor of your bedroom like yours does. You also know that he doesn’t really get cold anymore. So there’s no reason for you to be adjusting the biggest blanket you own so that it fits over both his legs and yours completely. He doesn’t feel these sorts of things. Not anymore. Not since everything happened. And you know this much because you asked him before.
But you don’t care. Because he reaches for the blanket out of instinct. And because you’re not willing to give up an old routine you have with a friend who’s still here, despite it all.
And sure, it’s a tighter fit underneath the blanket now. And you have to rest your face against cool metal instead of a warm shoulder in order to read together like you used to. But his voice is still the same as he gushes over the words on the pages with you. And his personality- his gentleness and consideration for you is still there as he asks for your permission every time he wants to flip a page. It is. Despite everything, it is.
So, no…you’re not opposed to the fact that Al is bigger than you now. You’re also a lot more accepting of the fact that he and his brother performed Human Transmutation now than you were in the past. Just like you’re warming up to the fact that your best friend is a soul trapped in a suit of armor and his older brother is a military dog. Just like you’re coming to realize that this new Al- this one that suddenly gets quiet and tight-lipped when you ask about certain details about his research or travels or adventures is here to stay. But you can’t complain. Not too much anyway. After all, it’s still Al. It’s still your Al. And for you? Right now?
That’s more than enough.
