Work Text:
Edward had insisted he was "perfectly fine."
That should have been Alfons' first warning.
The little neighborhood Kneipe had grown louder as the evening wore on. Empty beer steins crowded Edward's side of the table like tiny monuments to bad decisions. He had started out talking excitedly about mechanics, somehow drifted into theories about parallel worlds, and eventually declared—with absolute conviction—that the wooden coat rack near the entrance was "watching him."
"It blinked," Edward muttered, pointing at it with exaggerated seriousness.
"It definitely didn't," Alfons replied, unable to suppress a smile.
"It did."
"It was a coat."
"A suspicious coat."
Alfons laughed softly.
Edward crossed his arms, looking deeply offended.
"You're laughing at me."
"I'm laughing with you."
"You can't do that."
"Why not?"
"Because..." Edward frowned, losing his train of thought halfway through. "...I forgot."
The bartender chuckled while drying another glass.
"I think your friend has had enough."
"I think you're right."
Edward immediately protested.
"I can walk."
He stood.
He managed exactly two determined steps before the floor apparently decided to become a ship at sea. He tipped alarmingly to one side.
Alfons caught him before he hit the ground.
"I had it," Edward mumbled into Alfons' shoulder.
"I'm sure you did."
"I would've landed gracefully."
"I'm sure."
"...Like a cat."
"Absolutely."
Edward sighed dramatically.
The streets were quiet by the time they left.
The cool night air did little to clear Edward's head. If anything, it made him even sleepier.
He leaned heavily against Alfons as they walked.
After only a block, Edward's feet started dragging.
"I'm tired."
"I know."
"My legs don't work."
"They're working. They just don't want to."
Edward stopped walking altogether.
"No."
"No?"
"They resigned."
Alfons smiled despite himself.
"I see."
"They're on strike."
"I suppose I'll have to negotiate."
Edward blinked up at him with glassy golden eyes.
"...Carry me."
There wasn't even a hint of embarrassment in his voice.
Just complete trust.
Alfons hesitated only long enough to make sure the street was empty.
Then he slipped one arm beneath Edward's knees and the other behind his back.
Edward gave a tiny squeak of surprise as the world shifted.
"...Oh."
Alfons lifted him with surprising ease.
"Comfortable?"
Edward stared at him for several long seconds.
"...You're warm."
"I hope that's a yes."
Edward rested his head against Alfons's chest almost immediately.
"...Mhm."
The answer came out as little more than a sleepy hum.
Alfons adjusted his grip carefully, making sure Edward's prosthetic arm rested comfortably.
"You really are lighter than you look."
"I'm dense."
"I meant physically."
"I have emotional density too."
"I've noticed."
Edward let out a quiet, sleepy laugh.
The sound made Alfons's heart ache in the gentlest way.
The walk home wasn't short.
Edward drifted in and out of awareness.
Sometimes he'd mumble nonsense.
Sometimes he'd point vaguely at stars and attempt to explain constellations that absolutely did not exist.
"That one's shaped like Winry."
"...Stars aren't usually shaped like people."
"They are if you squint."
"I'll remember that."
A few minutes later—
"... Alfons?"
"Yes?"
"...Thanks."
His voice had become much quieter.
More sincere.
"For what?"
Edward's eyes were already closing again.
"...For carrying me."
Alfons looked down.
Edward had unconsciously curled a hand into the fabric of his coat.
Like he trusted completely that Alfons wouldn't let him fall.
"...Always," Alfons whispered.
Edward was already asleep before he heard it.
Getting inside without waking Edward proved almost impossible.
The apartment door creaked.
Edward mumbled.
Alfons froze.
Silence.
Then Edward settled again, pressing closer instead of waking.
Alfons smiled to himself.
Carefully, he carried him to the bedroom.
He knelt beside the bed rather than dropping Edward onto it, easing him down inch by inch until the mattress took his weight.
Edward immediately tried to curl up without opening his eyes.
Unfortunately, his dandies were still on.
"Sorry," Alfons murmured.
He gently untied the laces.
Edward made a sleepy noise of protest.
"I'm stealing your shoes."
"...Thief."
"I'll return them tomorrow."
"...Okay."
One shoe.
Then the other.
His coat came next, folded neatly over a chair.
Edward had somehow managed to get one sleeve halfway inside out.
Alfons fixed it before setting it aside.
The room had grown quiet again.
Only Edward's slow breathing filled it.
Alfons disappeared into the kitchen.
He returned with a glass of water.
"...Edward."
"Mmm?"
"You need to drink."
"No."
"You'll regret it tomorrow."
"...Future Edward can suffer."
"Present Edward has to help him."
Edward cracked one eye open.
"...That's cruel."
"It is."
With remarkable patience, Alfons helped him sit up.
Edward leaned against him immediately.
Half asleep.
Hair falling across his face.
Alfons brushed a few golden strands aside.
"Just a little."
Edward accepted the glass with both hands.
Managed two careful sips.
Made a face.
"...Water tastes weird."
"That's because you've had seven beers."
"...Eight."
"You counted?"
"I'm an alchemist."
Alfons couldn't help laughing again.
Edward looked absurdly pleased with himself.
After another few sips, Alfons took the empty glass away.
"Better?"
Edward nodded.
Then promptly rested his forehead against Alfons's shoulder.
"...Don't move."
"I wasn't planning to."
For several minutes they simply stayed like that.
Edward's breathing slowed.
His shoulders gradually relaxed.
The tension he'd carried for weeks—months, perhaps—seemed to loosen in tiny, invisible increments.
"I miss home."
The words were so quiet Alfons almost didn't hear them.
He felt Edward tense slightly.
"I know."
"...I miss Al."
"I know."
"I wonder if..."
Edward swallowed.
"...If he's okay."
Alfons's chest tightened.
He wrapped one arm carefully around Edward's shoulders.
"He'd want you to take care of yourself."
Edward laughed weakly.
"...I'm terrible at that."
"That's why I'm here."
Edward was quiet.
"So someone can remind you to eat."
"...Yeah."
"To sleep."
"Mhm."
"To stop after two beers."
Edward snorted.
"...That one didn't work."
"No."
"...Sorry."
"You don't have to apologize."
"I made you carry me."
"I wanted to."
Edward looked up.
His eyes were still hazy from the alcohol, but there was unmistakable warmth in them.
"...You always take care of me."
Alfons smiled gently.
"Because you matter to me."
The words slipped out before he could stop them.
Edward stared.
Silence settled between them.
Long enough that Alfons wondered if he'd said too much.
Then Edward reached up clumsily.
His fingers found Alfons's hand.
"...I'm glad it's you."
The confession was barely louder than a whisper.
"But..."
Edward yawned.
"...You should stop looking at me like that."
"...Like what?"
"...Like I'm... precious."
Alfons's smile softened.
"You are."
Edward's face turned bright red despite the alcohol.
"...That's unfair."
"Why?"
"...Can't think when you say things like that."
"I'm not asking you to."
Edward huffed.
"...Mean."
"Very."
Another silence.
Comfortable.
Warm.
Edward slowly leaned forward until his forehead rested lightly against Alfons's.
"...Stay?"
Alfons answered without hesitation.
"Of course."
Edward closed his eyes again.
"...Good."
Within moments, he had fallen asleep.
Alfons gently pulled the blanket over him, making sure Edward was tucked in comfortably. He lingered only long enough to brush one last stray lock of hair away from Edward's face.
"You push yourself far too hard," he whispered.
"You don't have to carry everything alone."
Edward, deeply asleep, murmured something unintelligible.
But he instinctively reached for Alfons's hand beneath the blanket.
Even unconscious, he sought him out.
Alfons's heart melted.
He squeezed Edward's hand gently.
"I'm here."
The words were simple.
Quiet.
A promise more than anything else.
Edward's grip relaxed, a peaceful smile touching his lips as he slept.
And Alfons remained beside him until morning, content simply to be there—keeping watch over the person he loved, making sure that, for one night at least, Edward could finally rest.