Persuasion

Alphonse threw a pillow at him.

"You're absurd," he insisted.

"What," demanded Edward hotly, "just because I don't find it appealing?" His arms were crossed, and he looked away, huffing and grumping. Al, well used to his brother's moods by now, saw him glance back at him out of the corner of his eye.

"No. Because you don't make any sense," he replied without sighing. "Although that's nothing new. I mean, you'd think it would almost be exactly the same as - "

"Don't even go there," interrupted his brother, face flushing darkly in what he would have protested was anger were Alphonse to comment on how amusing it was. Not to mention endearingly familiar to him; that he was one of the very few people who Edward felt comfortable enough to flush that often in the presence of meant something to him, even after all these years. "It's definitely not the same. Not at all." His voice was stubbornly firm.

Al brought out the big guns. "Oh, but niisan - " he coaxed, "I promise I'll do my best. You know I'll stop if you don't like it."

His response was still firm, but obviously weakening. Already the lines of his face where softening into acceptance. "That's what you say now."

Now Al did sigh, leaning over to flop down onto the couch. A brief thought was spared to marvel at the texture of it, coarse and soft at the same time, as he lay his head on his folded arms and peered up at Ed. For his part, Ed's arms started to slip out of their position, and he began to automatically adjust his posture into being more receptive. He couldn't help it; not when Al was looking at him like that.

"Please, niisan?"

Ed grumped nevertheless.

"I swear it'll feel good."

A small flush, and he hunched with a slight glower.

There was a short pause before Alphonse spoke again, and there was wheedling in his tone. "I'll let you do the same to me."

"Why would I want to do to you what I don't want you to do to me?" he asked reflexively.

"Because you like touching me."

Well, he had him there. "Still..." said Edward reluctantly.

Al changed tactics and scooted forward to rest his chin on his brother's thigh. "You never let me do anything for you, brother."

"Of course I do!"

"Oh, really. I'm not talking about when you're lazy and don't want to set the table or do the laundry, and it's your turn for that by the way."

"Awww, but Al - "

"Quiet; you're getting off topic," chided Al, a mixture of gentility and steel that was needed whenever dealing with his brother. "Please, niisan; at least tell me what you don't like about it."

"No," replied Edward stubbornly. That was the last thing he wanted to do.

With just as much tenacity, he said, "Either tell me so I can do something else for you, or let me persuade you that it's good."

Ed swayed.

Al saw it and went in for the kill.

"I'll let you do that thing to me you've been wanting to do..."

As expected, Ed's eyes lit up. "Really?" he said hopefully before catching himself and abruptly sulking again. "Not good enough," he muttered. In truth he'd already acquiesced, and Al knew it; he was just being difficult.

"Oh, really," replied Al with something that was almost a dark purr. It was his most often used phrase for his older sibling. He couldn't help it if he was skeptical of most of the things that came out of Edward's mouth when he wasn't distraught. "I guess you won't mind me not letting you, then..."

"Um." He latched onto an objection. "And how'd you know I want to do that, anyway?"

"Please, brother. It's obvious." There was a note of teasing in his voice, and not even Alphonse could get away with that completely.

Another flush, lighter with effort. "Well... If you're sure..."

"Oh, very sure," Al was quick to reply.

"I... I suppose."

Al hid his triumph and merely smiled his gratitude, stretching up to kiss the warm, soft skin of Edward's arm. He never got tired of feeling him. "Thank you."

Despite his uncertain shifting, Edward Elric couldn't help but be pleased.