The hasty thudding of footsteps behind him. He panted heavily as he tried to escape, his blonde bangs falling over his eyes. He dug his heels into the ground, finding himself at the edge of a roof. A sharp piece of metal stabbed through his left arm, pinning it to a wall.

His yellow eyes widened and he turned, Father standing there in the arousing dust, merely a silhouette.

A silhouette that can kill you.

He wrapped his finger around his throat, his feet kicking out feebly. Father grinned and tightened his grip, Edward's blood oozing down in between his fingers.

His eyes snapped open, sweat trickling down his face. He breathed heavily and his yellow eyes darted back and forth. With a sigh, he sat up, rubbing his eyes. Ed yawned as he silently told himself it was just a nightmare.

"What was this one about?" a familiar voice asked. Ed jerked upright, and turned to see his brother sitting by a dim lamp.

"What are you doing up, Al?" Ed demanded, ignoring the previous question "You should be sleeping."

"I know." He said bluntly, not meeting his gaze. Ed arched a brow and relaxed his shoulders. The two stayed silent, listening to the sound of the clock ticking. A book lie across Alphonse's lap, from the looks of it, he'd been reading all night. The two brothers had been moved to the hospital almost instantly after the fight with Father.

"…So, why are you up?" Ed asked again, smirking a bit "You can't still be scared of the dark, can you?"

Al smiled sadly, still not directly meeting his gaze "That's not what I'm scared of."

Ed tilted his head "Then what's bothering you?" He shrugged "I thought you'd be happy to be able to sleep again…"

"I did too." Al interrupted "But I guess I can't sleep." He shook his head "No, that's not it… I can sleep, I am really tired… It's…" he bit his lip, and changed the subject "You should go back to sleep Brother, you don't want to be tir-."

"What's bothering you?" The way he phrased it was a question. But Ed's tone said it quite differently, and Al understood the meaning. 'Tell me what's wrong.'

"…I'm scared." He mumbled.

"Of what?" Ed grinned "The homunculi are gone, the country's saved, you're out of that armor-."

"That's why." Al said. Ed's confused look made him hastily explain "No, not that I'm out of the armor-I'm really happy that I'm out! It's just-…." He trailed off again.

"It's just….?" Ed prompted.

Al sighed and muttered under his breath.

"What?" Ed blinked "Say that louder?"

"…I'm afraid to fall asleep." Al whimpered. "I'm afraid that I'll close my eyes, wake up, and find myself back in that armor…" He shuddered "I don't want to go back to that…"

"You won't." Edward reassured "Don't be so stupid Al, why would you wake up back in that armor?"

"I don't know." He murmured "But that's the weird thing about fears, I guess." He shrugged "They're always irrational."

"…Get some sleep." Ed said, with a smirk, he added "If you want, I'll stay up all night to make sure you don't magically turn into a suit of armor."

Al smiled softly and yawned at his older brother's words. He settled down onto his bed and turned off the light. He knew Edward's words were joking, but he also was honest about his offer to stay up all night.

And for once, it felt good to take up his brother's offer. He knew Ed would've stayed up all night anyway, even if he didn't go to sleep. Al heard Ed sigh as he shifted into sitting position.

It felt good to be the one being watched over at night, for once. However selfish it was, he doubted Ed would hear any of it.

He was thankful to have Ed for his older brother. No matter what they go through, they'll always be there for each other.

….

:) For those who love their siblings. …It's short. NO ELRICEST, BROTHERLY LOVE!