If there was one of many things Alphonse Elric appreciated, it was animals. He always had a soft spot for them, whether it be frogs, mice, puppies, kittens, birds, name it and he would always say positive traits about each and every one (that included insects). He took in stray cats and tried hiding them in his armor (though Ed caught him each and every time). He fed starving puppies. He tended to birds with broken wings and nursed them back to health. Al's nuturing nature was odd for such a towering suit of armor meant to be used for combat.
What started off as a normal day became a day of guilt for the young boy, imprisoned in his armor just a month before. Edward was recovering from automail surgery. He was doing well, his fevers grew less frequent and he was walking fine. However, today was a day of rest, as Winry and Pinako insisted.
Since Edward was sleeping and Winry and Pinako were busy with other jobs, Al decided to stay out of everyone's way and stay outside. He knew better than to stray off into town, he'd get dozens of questions or fearful glances. Those were the parts Al hated the most about being in the armor. People judged too quickly or were far too ignorant to heed the truth.
So Al was outside in front of the house. He played with Den for a little while, then sat on the grass and stared at the sky, thinking like he always did. He avoided thinking negative things, because if he did he'd get depressed and poor Edward would start blaming himself, which was the last thing Al wanted now. So he focused on positive things, even things as trivial as the weather.
It was then he heard a quiet thump beside him.
His hearing was surprisingly acute, so Al looked down to see a baby bird, brillant yellow with an orange underbelly, helplessly twittering. Al gasped upon seeing a broken wing, out of place.
"Don't cry," Al replied softly, picking up the bird with huge gauntlets, "it'll be okay. Just let me look at your wing, don't be scared."
The bird tried desperately to free itself from him, but Al held it tight. It began to twitter loudly as Al held it.
"Just calm down!" Al exclaimed, "I won't hurt you!"
Suddenly, there was a crack, and the bird stopped twittering and its head fell limp.
"What...?" Al's soft whisper came. He placed the bird down in front of him.
It did not move. It took Al a moment to register the bird was dead.
"How...?" Al wondered helplessly.
Then he realized yet again he was not a boy with human hands. He was not a boy with a soft yet firm grip.
His gauntlets were heavy, it contradicted his own hands, the ones he used to have. He'd squeezed far too hard with those heavy things.
Realizing he had killed the bird, Al began to cry, tears that were not seen and not felt on his cheeks.
(cries) I'm sorry Al! I love you so much, it pains me to do this to you! I'm sorry, little bird, I didn't mean to kill you off! Man (sniffs) I love Al so much, but this had to be written down. A drabble that makes Al realize he isn't human and he isn't aware of his newfound strength. (sobs) I would have that boy's kids, man! I'm so upset now...just review!!!