"You know in Xing there is a belief that our dreams are influenced more by what happens during the day than our secret desires." Al said plainly.
"Cool?" Edward ventured. Edward just continued to eat his breakfast, not looking back up at his brother.
"Well a lot of times it has to do with something that happened during the day, or something you were thinking about during the day." Al continued to speak. At this point Edward sat there chewing, and staring at Alphonse. "So uh, there is a possibility that maybe if you were thinking about someone you would say their name in your sleep." Al choked out.
"What the hell?" Edward asked after swallowing his food.
"You talk in your sleep, and way more now than usual," Al snapped, "Ever since we had to share a room you have been saying Roy's name a lot."
"No!" Edward yelped as he suddenly jumped out of his seat. "I mean I haven't seen that bastard for years!" Edward yelled, his face starting to grow dark red.
Alphonse just frowned, "It's been years, you can't just be honest with your feelings?" he asked quietly.
Edward's embarrassment faded. "My feelings? I just haven't seen him in forever, and with the upcoming trip to central." Edward chewed on his bottom lip. "I wonder if he would ever remember me."
"Like he could forget you!" Alphonse said with a small laugh.
"That's not exactly what I mean" Edward said with a sigh. He knew Al was going to ask, his mouth felt like a desert he didn't know how he was going to force out his next words.
Alphonse scooted closer to his brother, "You can tell me anything, you know. Are you okay?" Al asked in concern.
"I, uh I need some fresh air." Edward said as he briskly left the room. Right was Edward left, Winry entered from the opposite door.
"Are you two fighting?" Winry asked as the front door slammed.
Al just sighed. "He still won't tell me anything." he said with a groan.
"Now you know how I felt all these years!" Winry growled.
Al glanced up at the angry Winry, "I have to go after him!"
It wasn't long before Al caught up to his brother. Edward was just roaming mindlessly along the road. "Al?" Edward said in confusion when he saw his brother approaching.
"I'm not letting you go until you tell me. We're brothers, we have always had each other." Al said as he held out his arms to block Edward.
"There are some things that we don't need to share." Edward said with a groan.
"Like that you want to sleep with Mustang? Seriously Edward." Al said as he put his hands on his hips in annoyance.
Edward just groaned, "It's not just that!" he finally snapped. Al's eyes opened wide. "Back then, one night Mustang and I were alone, and uh." Edward said, his voice was quivering. It was practically impossible for him to spit out the last few words.
"You and Mustang had sex?" Al screamed.
Edward covered his face with his hand, "That's why I didn't want to tell you!" he snapped angrily. Al took a step back until the anger faded from Ed's eyes. "I'm just a little upset." Edward explained.
"I'm so sorry." Al murmured. His voice was thick and his eyes were on the verge of tears. Suddenly he ran forward and embraced his brother. "I never knew." Al sniffled.
"Of course you didn't." Ed said with a laugh as he hugged his brother back.
"I never noticed anything different between you two." Al said softly as he let go.
"Nothing did change," Edward rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly, "We just acted like it never happened."
"But you fell in love with him?" Al asked with a grin.
"Hell no!" Edward hissed. He just rolled his eyes at the doubtful look Al gave him.
"Well I'm just going to say that in a few days we are going to central, maybe you should give Mustang a visit?" Al ventured.
Edward just groaned, "Suddenly I don't want to go."
Al approached Winry in her shop. She didn't notice him until he was practically on top of her.
"Oh Alphonse! I was so into my work." Winry said with a small laugh.
"I didn't mean to interrupt you." Al said as he glanced out the window.
"What is it, Al?" Winry asked. She knew Al had come here for a reason.
"I have something, uh, that you should know, but don't tell Ed I told you." Al quickly said. Winry nodded silently. "I just felt like you should know why it didn't work out between you and him."
"I know why Alphonse." Winry said with a sigh.
"No, I know the real reason. He told me. He has someone else he likes." Al said slowly, waiting for Winry's reason before he continued.
Winry's blue eyes opened in shock, "Oh?" was all she managed to say.
"This other person is also, um, he's also a man." Al said as plainly as he could. Winry just stared. Slowly one eyebrow raised.
"A man?" Winry repeated.
"Yeah, a man. He slept with a man years ago, before you and he." Alphonse forced out.
"Before him and I? Who was it?" Winry said more to herself. This made a hell of a lot more sense now. She was still pissed Edward didn't trust her and respect her enough to tell her the truth. But now she had a better understanding of why Edward did what he did. Al stayed quiet for a long time, long enough for Winry to go through a mental list of all the men she knew Edward knew. He never acted any different around any of them.
"Well Al?" Winry asked when she couldn't come up with the answer herself.
Al looked like he would rather be anywhere else than with Winry at this moment.
"You have to give me at least a hint." Winry sighed.
It's one word Al! Al tried to mentally prepare himself. Why was it so hard to just tell her? "It's Mustang" he suddenly blurted out.
Winry's face remained unchanged as she started back at Al. "I'm sorry Alphonse, but for some reason I thought you said Mustang. A man who is like fifteen years older than Edward." Winry said with a nervous laugh. Al just awkwardly glanced around the room.
"I-I," Winry stuttered, "are you okay with this?!"
"He just told me! I never knew, but at night I can hear him saying his name. I really think hes in love with Mustang, regardless of what he says." Alphonse said softly.
"I just wish I would have known." Winry said sadly. "Wait, this could have happened when Edward was like sixteen! That child praying animal!" Winry roared as she stood up from her desk.
"You think brother's first time was with..."Alphonse trailed off, he couldn't even finish the sentence.
Winry gasped as she put her hands on the sides of her face. "It probably was! That jerk! That's settled, I'm going to central with you two!" Winry yelled as she slammed her hands down on the desk causing a tin of screws to fall over. "Oh no!" Winry yelped as she scrambled to retrieve the fallen screws.