EdWin 100 themes, for the prompt 'Cat'. Set previous anime, Post COS. Enjoy, and comment if you please. :)

Betaed by please-knock, as always.

Disclaimer: Don't I wish...

He'd found the little thing when he was on his way to the university.

It had been crouching under a bush, thin and cold, mewing, absolutely tiny and somehow beautiful, despite being a stray.

Al, of course, picked it up. The cat stared up at him with huge eyes, eyes that reminded him of something. He knew he had to give it a home. The only problem of course, was Ed. Al took a deep breath. It had been a long time since he'd tried this, but he knew he had to give an attempt. With a determined nod, he turned on his heel and walked back to their temporary apartment. On the way, he accidentally squeezed the cat too hard, and it bit him. Then, after he'd pulled back in shock and pain, and was once again holding the little creature, apologizing under his breath, the cat had licked the bite, nuzzling deeper into his hand.

Al could've sworn that his heart turned into something roughly the consistency of hot chocolate.

"Brother?" He called, slipping off his shoes, and carefully sliding off his coat without disturbing the cat.

"Al?" Ed's voice came from the kitchen. "I thought you were headin' to the university. What's wrong?"

Taking a deep breath, Al walked into the kitchen. "Nothing, Ed, you see…I…"

His brother was sitting at the table, a half eaten sandwich in front of him, scattered papers all around it. Ed looked tired, and Al knew why. It'd been one of those nights where the dreams wouldn't leave them alone.

Ed's glazed look faded somewhat as his eyes zeroed in on the small form in Al's hands. He frowned in suspicion. "Al, don't tell me that's-"

"Brother," Al interjected quickly, "I know we move around a lot but I'm an adult now and I think it's high time that I have a hand in a decision like this. And before you decide, just take a look at it."

Al held out the cat, and it blinked at Ed with sleepy eyes. Al watched as Ed's breath seemed to catch, and his shoulders visibly tensed.

"Boy or a girl?" He murmured, staring fixedly at the cat.

Al checked. "Girl."

A small smile lit Ed's face. He stood, moving around the table to stand in front of Al, hesitantly reaching a hand out to the cat. He accidentally flicked it in the nose, and the cat hissed before biting him. Ed winced, but didn't pull back, staring at the cat as it relaxed and released him, gently licking at the wound.

Ed chuckled, running his fingers along her yellow fur, down the back of her neck, and around her ears, listening to the purring.

Al knew his brother well enough to be surprised and wary. There was a sadness to his brother's face at that moment that Al knew well.

"I think you're right, Al. But I think I've got the perfect name for her."

"What?" Al asked, though in that moment, he knew, and cursed himself for not realizing earlier.

Ed smiled again, sadly, and bent down to the cat's eye level, patting it on the head. "I think you'll like it here, Winry."