Disclaimer: I own nothing except for my notebook of wonders, which is almost full and falling to pieces....
"Heiderich, I'm fine! I keep telling you, I'm not having nightmares," Ed said stubbornly.
Yes, you are. It was fairly obvious, actually. Edward always looked terrible after a bad night, like he'd slept for even less than he really had. Not to mention, he sometimes shouted in his sleep. Heiderich promptly told him so.
"Just drop it, Heiderich, okay?"
He sighed, but relented for the time being. There was another enigma that wanted a solution.
"Why do you always call me by my last name?"
Edward didn't look at him. "Because you aren't Alphonse."
Heiderich briefly wondered if Ed was going mad. "Of course I'm Alfons."
Ed was studying his right arm intently. "You look so much like him," he said cryptically. "To call you the same thing would be too much."
"Edward, what are you talking about?" Or rather, whom?
"Alphonse."
"Yes?"
"Not you. My brother Al."
Oh. "I look like your brother?"
Ed finally looked up, eyes piercing. "You aren't Al."
Heiderich sighed again. "Yes, I believe we've established that already." He was surprised at himself; sarcasm was not a part of his usual tolerating demeanor.
"I have to keep reminding myself, or I might forget."
Heiderich said nothing. No need to encourage the insanity.
Ed, however, continued without prompting. "It's funny," he mused, seeming to forget his roommate was there. "The last time I saw his face, he was only ten."
Abruptly, Edward turned away. "I'm going to bed," he said shortly.
Heiderich sighed yet again. He swore he'd never exhaled so much in his life before he'd met Ed.
Edward was having another nightmare. Heiderich could hear him from downstairs. He left his work on the table and went to their shared room because maybe this time, Ed would want to talk about it. Heiderich doubted that.
He turned on the light, and Ed was sitting up, looking at him. "Al," he said to his friend, both marvel and sadness permeating his voice.
"I'm not Al," Heiderich said softly.
"That's right," Edward sounded surprised, and he blinked. "You're Heiderich."
A/N: I know. I lied. I was supposed to put this up last week....What am I saying? Nobody knows or cares what I promised! I barely exist! For now……
I know, Ed doesn't call Alfons by his last name. But I do. Because it's confusing.
I was inspired to write this by…well, most of Heiderich's assortment of fanfiction here. I felt the poor guy deserved another story that was not yaoi. Seriously. I had to dilute those huge numbers just a tiny bit.
I have maybe ten one-shots that are just itching to be written. If I can persuade myself to stop reading fanfiction, maybe I could actually write more.
Comments are appreciated. You need to tell me how I can improve! But if you flame, I will rip your liver out and shove it down your throat.