(A/N- Finally! Finally I can get to some fluff! And some stuff not in the movie/original story, so I can put my ideas into it, too!)
"We're here!" Sheska declared after what only felt like a few minutes. With all the talking you two had been doing, the time passed rather quickly.
You stared up at the great oak doors in front of you. Intricate designs decorated them, and it was obvious a master craftsman had been their creator.
"Wow, if these are the doors, the area behind them must be even cooler," you said, amazed.
"It sure is! I need to get back to my servant duties, but I'm sure you'll be fine finding your own way around in there," Sheska called, walking back down the hallway.
"I'm sure I will, too!" You called after her. As she disappeared around the corner, you turned your (e/c) orbs back to the two great doors. You stepped forward, placing your hands on the wood. Holding your breath, you pushed one door open.
Sheska didn't lie to you. There were a lot of books, so many that the single lantern in the room didn't illuminate to the top of the bookshelves. The many bookshelves appeared similar to a labyrinth. But instead of losing yourself in a maze, you could lose yourself in a story.
You gasped as soon as you saw how large the library was. A large curtain was covering a window, which you assumed let in light during the daytime.
You began searching for something to read, which didn't take long. You soon discovered the location of the manga section.
"Whelp, I guess I'm not sleeping tonight," you said to yourself, memories of reading your favorite mangas until sunrise swirling in your head. Once you started reading, it was hard to stop you, no matter how tired you actually were.
You noticed one of those ladders that's attached to the bookshelf at its ends, and you moved it over to the section of your favorite manga author to get a closer look at what was there. The Risembool library's manga section was somewhat lacking, so it didn't take long to find the next book in your favorite series.
You had waited so long for the library to get the next book, you didn't even get off the ladder before you started reading. Soon you were absorbed in the story, still on the ladder, somewhat oblivious to the world around you.
A quiet creak sounded through the library as one of the doors at its entrance opened slowly. However, you remained unaware of it. You also didn't hear a quiet clanking sound move around the library. You were "in the zone," and it was very difficult to get your attention once that happened.
***
Alphonse walked around the library, searching for something to read. He often came here at night, having only the literature to keep him company during that lonesome time when everyone else was sleeping.
That was one of the things he missed the most, being able to sleep. He grew lonely during the midnight hours quite easily, but he was too selfless to wake anyone up to talk with him.
When he first entered the usually dark and empty room of books, he was surprised to find a light source still on. He brushed it off, guessing one of the servants had left it, and continued looking for entertainment.
Turning the corner of one of the shelves, he stopped in his tracks. The clinking noises that accompanied his usual movements ceased as he stared.
The girl from before, the one with (h/l), (h/c) locks and shimmering (e/c) eyes, brimming with curiosity. She was standing on the ladder connected to the shelf, eyes narrowed in concentration as they scanned the paperback book in her hands.
She appeared to have not noticed he was standing there, so Alphonse slowly and carefully walked closer. She still didn't acknowledge him, even when he was directly behind her.
Al's heart would be racing if he physically had one. He thought she looked quite pretty, and smart, when she was focused. He also admired how she had bravely stood up to his brother's angry state without a trace of fear. The way she had attempted to sneak around at first had nearly made him laugh out loud and give away his hiding place when he had been hiding in plain sight.
He'd also realized he'd developed a slight crush on her in the short time she'd been there.
Alphonse gathered as much bravery as he could, and decided to say hello.
***
Your eyes zoomed across the pages, the intense story line gripping your full attention.
(A/N- *cough* Attack on Titan *cough*)
No outside noises could remove you from the story. Well, until you heard a somewhat echoey voice behind you.
"H-hello?"
Rather than simply jumping in place and turning around, you jumped backwards. Into the air. Your book got flung up with you, and you braced yourself for the hard impact of the ground, eyes shut tightly.
But instead of the ground, your body collided with a pair of metal arms. You kept your eyes closed for a few seconds, then when you realized you weren't falling any further, opened them slightly.
You looked up to see a pair of glowing red eyes staring back down at you. You sighed when you realized it was just Alphonse.
Then you blushed when you realized he was holding you bridal style. You darted your eyes back down, feeling your cheeks burn.
"I-I'm sorry I didn't m-mean to cause any t-trouble," you stuttered, flustered.
"It's fine, you're allowed in the library anytime. I just didn't expect someone here so late," Alphonse assured you, before his voice filled with worry. "Are you hurt?"
You relaxed slightly.
"N-no, I think I'm okay. You just startled me more than you probably should have."
Al carefully set you down on the ground. He looked around, spotting your book several feet away. You watched as he walked over and carefully picked it up. His armor clanked as he walked back over to you and placed it back in your hands.
"S-sorry about scaring you, I really didn't mean to."
"I blame myself for it," you chuckled. "It's my own fault for not getting off the ladder before I started reading."
"Usually I'm the only one here around this time. Everyone else has already gone to sleep at this hour," Alphonse told you.
"Why haven't you gone to sleep?" You asked innocently, not knowing that the question hurt him a little on the inside.
He knew you meant well, and that you didn't know the real reason he was still awake. So he simply rubbed the back of his armored head, avoiding eye contact.
"I-I'm just not tired," he lied.
"Yeah, I get that. I've ended up staying up all night many a time. Books seem to prevent sleep from happening for me. I've ended up sleeping through the whole day and staying up all night a couple of times," you laughed.
"Y-yeah, I do that all the time, too," Al commented, unknown to you, meaning it literally.
"So, are we allowed to have food in here?" You asked.
"Y-yes. Why?" Alphonse questioned nervously.
"I'm thinking of camping out in here. Maybe during a rainy day or something. Can you bring pillows and blankets in here?"
"Um, yeah. Why?"
You gave him a mischievous look.
"Pillow forts. That's why."
Al chuckled nervously. His thoughts were jumbled up as he tried to think of something witty or clever to say.
'Why won't my mind think properly around her? Is it because she's so pretty? Or funny? Or lovable?' He thought.
Meanwhile, you had questions of your own.
'Why does he wear that armor? How does his voice sound...small? I can't just ask him directly, can I?'
Your thoughts were interrupted as Winry burst through the doors of the library, Sheska sitting on her shoulder, and the other servants chasing her. Her blue eyes searched, before spotting you and Alphonse. She set Sheska down on the ground, then hastily walked towards you and grabbed your arm.
"Come on, (Y/n)! We're leaving!" She shouted, dragging you out by the arm.
"W-Winry, wait! Why are we leaving!?" You shouted back at her, glancing back at Al. He looked back at you, frozen to the spot.
"I'll explain later! I can't stay another minute in this forsaken place!" Winry told you sternly, pulling you back to the main entrance of the castle. She practically shoved you out the front door. She strutted over to the iron gate and pulled it open.
"W-Winry, we don't even know the way home!" You tried to reason.
"We found our way here, we can find our way back," she said, voice full of determination.
"But that was with Den's help!"
"Then we'll just have to remember our way back!" She started running into the trees.
"Winry!" You screamed, chasing after her.
You had a feeling something bad was going to happen soon, and you prayed that you would both remain safe, unharmed, and alive.