Disclaimer: Nope, they're not mine.
A/N: OK, a bit of departure from my usual RoyxEd. I'm loving this couple right now.
Spoiler: Spoiler for end of series.
Research
"Tag, you're it!" giggled the blonde boy, tapping the khaki-haired boy on the shoulder.
"Fletcher, you cheated!" Al yelped, not quite sure why he said it, as he had been tagged fair and square.
"I did not!"Fletcher said, plopping down in the orchard next to his collapsed friend.
They leaned against a lemon tree and caught their breath. The blonde boy rested his head on his best friend's shoulder. This was one of the first times they had played together, finally being able to after Al got his body back and Ed had returned from...where ever...and was able to transport his brother to Xenotime.
Their older brothers had holed themselves up in the greenhouse, claiming to have very important work and could the boys not disturb them, please? Al had suspected that it was merely a chance for them to one-up each other under the guise of "research."
Al smiled as he felt Fletcher's breathing slow and become more consistent. They had spent the better part of the last week outside as not to disturb their brothers and got little sleep because the older boys also spent late nights in the greenhouse doing more research. They were so loud at night. Al could hear the yells and the sound of tussling. There must have been some powerful alchemy going on in there!
Al knew that his brother enjoyed himself, despite the begrudged attitude he tried to carry off. Ed always came to bed smiling.
As much as the elder Elric liked to talk about how he disliked Russell, Al knew that Ed was drawn to him and his love of alchemy. So much about the two was so similar. It only made sense that the two engaged in these thinly-veiled meetings of their minds.
Fletcher stirred and Al looked up when a yell was emitted from the greenhouse across the orchard.
"Russell!"
Al stood up, recognizing the agonized cry as belonging to his brother. He was ready to run through the lemon trees when the greenhouse fell silent. The tussling, scuffling, and yelling had ceased. The younger boys settled themselves beneath their tree again, only looking up when Ed exited the greenhouse and walked in their direction.
Al watched his brother approach, as the older boy straightened his askew coat, reigned in his tousled hair, and put a cool hand to his flushed cheeks.
"Another good research session, brother?" Al asked with a grin.
Ed grinned back. "Yeah, a good research session," he said, picking a clump of moss out of his hair. "Excellent research."
