Hello everyone! Before you even ask, yes, I am still working on Breaking Point. I refuse to forget it! I just decided I would do this to help keep away writer's block. Basically, I'm just going to write a bunch of one-shots based off of quotations that I find. If you have a specific quote you want me to do, tell me in a review. The one-shots will range from angst to humor (so basically anything) and any pairing I feel like doing, if any. I'll try to keep the ratings to T and under. Hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Fullmetal Alchemist. I do not own any of the quotes unless I specifically say so.

88888888888

"The Creator gave man two ears and one mouth; there is a reason why He did so." Thomas Barron

Pairing: Brotherly EdxAl

888

"Almost done," Ed muttered to himself as he made the final adjustments on the transmutation circle. "Perfect. You ready, Al?"

Al fidgeted uncomfortably in his armor. Something told him this was going to end badly. Ed was convinced that his calculations were right, that he'd finally found a way to make a Philosopher's Stone without human lives. He felt that it was perfect, and he'd have Al back before nightfall, but Al…was…uneasy. It was a strange feeling that he could only remember ever having on a few occasions, one being the night they tried to bring their mother back.

"I don't know about this," Al said quietly.

"It'll be fine," Ed assured, only slightly noticing the uneasiness in Al's voice. "What could go wrong?"

"A lot…"

"You're just being paranoid. The calculations are perfect."

They'd thought that last time, too. They were wrong.

"It's too risky," Al said a little bolder.

"Do you want your body back or not?" Ed said getting angry. He looked expectantly at Al, waiting for an answer.

"…Not if it means we could get hurt."

"Sometimes you gotta take risks, Al!"

"But…"

"You'll never get anywhere in life if you don't!"

"But…"

"Come on, let's do this before it gets too late."

"Wait a minute…"

"We don't need a minute! It's ready now! So let's-"

"I said wait a minute!" Ed took a shocked step back. It was so rare that Al ever yelled. He couldn't quite remember the last time Al had yelled. "Can you listen to me for just one minute?"

"But we-"

"Listen! You never listen! Just listen to me for one minute!"

Ed tried to find the words to speak but came up empty so he simply nodded. The tension in the air lowered, but only slightly.

"I don't think we should do this," Al said firmly. "I've got a really bad feeling about it."

"It's just a feeling," Ed said in a quiet voice that was far from normal.

"No! It's not just a feeling! I had the same feeling when you said we should bring Mom back! I had the same feeling the entire time we were training at Teacher's house! I had it the strongest on the night we tried to bring her back! I tried to tell you about it, but you insisted we try anyway because you never listen!"

Ed was silent for a moment before nodding and saying in a calm voice, "I'm listening now."

"I just don't want to do this," Al said, his voice moving from angry to pleading. "I just know it won't end well. I know you said the calculations are perfect, but you said that last time. You said it wasn't the calculations, it was us. Who's to say it won't happen again? We're not skilled enough to do something no one's ever done before! I don't want to see you get hurt more…I can wait until we find a safer way…Please, just don't go through with it."

Ed looked from Al to the transmutation circle. It was perfect. There was no reason it shouldn't work…but Al was right. It'd been perfect the last time, too. Had he only listened, they wouldn't even be needing this circle. But the calculations were so perfect…

…

"…Fine," Ed said softly. "If you're sure you don't want to try…we won't."

"I'm sure," Al said.

Al would have loved to smile at his brother for finally taking the time to think things over, but for now, he was content as he was, armor and all, as long as he and Ed were together.

88888888888

"The Creator gave man two ears and one mouth; there is a reason why He did so." Thomas Barron

Equivalent Exchange: I write, you review.