Missing Days (Alphonse Elric x Reader)

I Can't Let You Down

        As you awoke from your deep sleep, you felt no better rested than you had felt when you had went to bed. Your eyes felt heavy, and you felt like your head had weights in it. You had no intention of opening your eyes, even if it didn't feel like they were sewn shut. As if all that didn't make you feel bad enough, the right side of your body felt heavy for some peculiar reason.

        The bed sheets felt cold. Your legs and toes and fingers were all numb with coldness. As if on command, you begin to shiver violently.

        "(Y-Y/N)?" a sweet voice echoes.

        You tried to reply back to the all too familiar voice that you had been longing to hear for a while, but all that game out was a pathetic groan that was barely audible.

        The slight weight that was pressed against the right side of our body shifted, and you instantly became lighter. You realized that the boy in the armor had been leaning over you. You felt your hand gently being released, and you realize that he had also had both of his hands around your right hand. 

        A damp cloth shifted on your forehead.

        "You're still running a really high fever, even after the medication I gave you while you were sleeping."

        You pried your eyes open, which took a lot of effort. The light burned your eyes at first, and you blinked as your eyes watered up and tears rushed down your cheeks. Just out of the corner of your eyes you could see Alphonse standing at the bedside. Even though you couldn't see an expression, his metal helmet its same expressionless state as usual, you could tell by the heaviness of the air that Alphonse had to have been worrying over you for a while now.

        "Easy (Y/N), you need to rest. Your fever is really high."

        "Buh..." you attempt to question, but you can't quite seem to talk normally.

        "(Y/N)-" he starts to scold.

        "No... my job... I was sent here to protect you... no little fever.. is going to stop me... Alphonse.. I need to ..." you begin to ramble.

        "Shh..." he says gently, sitting on the very edge of your bed now. "It's okay. Roy got word from Edward about what happened last night. Armstrong came back, since he hadn't fully returned to Central. He's glad that everyone is okay."

        You wanted to get up out of bed. Sitting around like this made you anxious. What if Envy came back? What does he want with you?

        It was almost like Alphonse could sense your uneasiness, because he places his armored hand on your shoulder. You flinch, as a normal reaction to people touching you. 

        "I... u-uh-sorry!" he quickly stutters, pulling his hand away.

        "No! No! You're fine! I promise!"

        "O-oh... okay," he says quietly, "Do you feel okay? Anything I can do?"

        "I'm fine," you lie. You were really cold and wanted nothing but to get out of bed so that you would not hinder the Elrics.

        "You know... you're always really quiet when you lie," Alphonse states gently.

        "I... I'm cold..." you admit, feeling rather ashamed to show weakness. Even if it was in front of Alphonse... you could trust him right? But it wasn't like he knew.

        Alphonse started towards the door.

        "A-Alphonse...?" you ask quietly.

        "Yes (Y/N)?" he replies, turning in the doorway.

        "Why... why were you..." 

        You pause, a blush spreading into your face.

        Why were you holding my hand? You wanted to ask him the question, but you were too embarrassed to ask. What if he thought you were weird for asking? What if he got mad for you asking why?

"What is it? Is something wrong? You can ask me (Y/N)."

"Holding my hand... why were you.. holding my hand...?"

A pink tint spread across Alphonse's armor face.

"I um..."

"Never mind... forget I asked. It was a stupid question."

You turned over onto your side slowly in bed, and closed your eyes. With no other choice after having shut him out, Alphonse slipped out of the room and down the hall, his armor clanking as he goes.  Somehow sleep found you again as a small, sad, and embarrassed tear slips silently down your cheek unnoticed.