Disclaimer: Title is a Billy Joel song. Hagaren doesn't belong to me, either. But this story does.
This was lime that failed. Beta-work by Sockren. Elricest. Sap. Yaoi.
The Longest Time
by Maaya
It is the first time Alphonse feels the sort of sheets Edward has slept on so many times in their military dorm room. They are plain white and smells of cheap, strong washing powder.
It is the first time he actually feels the temperature in there. Edward always complained; too hot, too cold. He is surprised to note that Edward is actually right - he had thought his brother had just made a storm out of the snowflake. Today it's too cold; when it gets warm suddenly outside, the heating-apparatus reacts strangely, turns off, and it gets too cold inside. At least, that is what they both think after having discussed the problem.
They both sit, half-naked in the bottom-bunk, both were too lazy to climb up to the other and they don't mind sharing for a while. They want to talk about stuff and enjoy each others company first.
Edward moves a finger lightly over Alphonse's soft chest absently as they talk, it does almost not qualify as contact that loose is his touch. He compares his own skin to Alphonse's pale, new flesh and even though Edward isn't tanned, the difference is greater than he would've liked; guilt throbs above his stomach when he thinks it is his fault his brother hasn't been able to tan for years. Alphonse rolls his eyes at him then; Edward sees it from the corner of his eyes and understands that his brother thinks he is silly. 'It's in the past, now,' the eye-roll says. 'Stop being stupid, I was never angry at you.'
Going lower, Edward dips the finger in Alphonse's bellybutton - suddenly the stomach has jumped backward, almost into itself, accompanied by the sound of a fast inhale; skin clings to the now outlined ribs. He grins; it feels nice to know he can tickle his brother again.
It's even nicer, in a different, breathless way, when Alphonse revenges himself by moving fast fingers all over Edward's chest and stomach, teasing the armpits and making him squirm and shout and laugh, breathing with intervals because it is hard to concentrate on trivial things like air right now. He cries uncle and both boys lie satisfied, side by side in the thin bunk, grinning like there's no tomorrow.
Sometime later, Edward realizes that his little brother has fallen asleep - the breaths come deep and even. He wonders; should he climb over the unconscious body and up in the top bunk, but decides that Alphonse's warm body beside him doesn't feel that bad. And moments after that, he falls into the realms of sleep, and the feeling of being whole follows him there.
End
