Title: Boiling Point

Rating: M, for mature situations, yaoi, implied sex, and a pairing that may make people hurl. (For weird reasons.)

Summary: Everyone has a boiling point. Ed's tolerance for stupid thing is small, so he snaps more often than he should. But Al can tolerate just about anything. And when strange things begin to happen to his body and he starts craving for things that would disgust anyone, he decides that his once, it's okay to blame Edward.

Disclaimer: I do not own FMA or any of the characters. I made this Fanfic purely out of entertaiment and I did not make any sort of profit off of this.

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Chapter One

"Brother…. Brother!" Al's human voice sounded so strange, so scared. "Brother! Help…"

The older Elric brother was already beside the younger one, smiling through tearful eyes as he removed his jacket and wrapped the timid boy in it. They've done it. They've really done it! Al… Alphonse finally regained his body. Edward sniffed and began wondering what wet thing was on his cheeks. Tears?

"Brother… we… did it," Al gasped, forcing himself to breath. God, it was such a painful task. "We really… did it."

Ed let a small sob escape his lips. "Yeah," he said, voice cracking. "We did."

---

It took several months for Al to fully function his body without the aide of Ed. The first couple of weeks were the most grueling, since Alphonse would throw up anything solid he ate, tired quickly when he tried to sit up on his own, and suffered the most peculiar nightmares.

The older Elric made it his mission to make Al's recovery as pleasant as he humanly could. All Ed needed was hints. Did Al shiver? An extra blanket and pillow. If it was a nightmare, he would be more than willing to snuggle up to Al and murmur words of protection. Did Al's tummy rumble? A second helping of nice warm stew for him, and Ed would eagerly wait by Al's side and asked him how the stew was.

Nothing was spared when it came to Al. Only the best for his little brother.

What made Ed's heart swell was that Al didn't seem too bothered by it. In fact, he seemed to enjoy the attention he was getting from his older brother. Those caring eyes, that soothing voice. The gentle touch. They all felt so damn good.

Too damn good.

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"Brother? What are you reading?" Alphonse leaned over Ed's back as he tried to catch a glimpse of whatever Ed was reading. He saw rather yummy pictures of food and a list of ingredients. A cookbook perhaps?

"Just some things," Ed answered, shutting the book before Al got to determine the type of book. He looked behind his back and patted the armrest, inviting Al to sit onto his lap. "Come 'ere."

The younger Elric was more than happy to oblige, already forgetting about the book. He leapt over Ed and landed on his lap with a soft 'umph!' Arms snaked their way around him, one flesh and the other metal. He snuggled up to his older brother, an activity they both enjoyed.

"What are you thinking about, Brother?" Alphonse asked after a while. He laid his head on Ed's chest and silently counted the number of heart beats he heard.

"I'm thinking about what to make for dinner," Edward sounded grumpy, but he made it in a way so that it was funny. Al chuckled. "What? Don't think I can cook anything, other than stew?"

Reaching for the book, Al said, "No, but you sound like your afraid to cook anything else." He flipped through the pages and stopped at one that looked sweet. "How 'bout this?"

One look at the page and Ed grimaced. "Too many steps." He took the book from Al and flipped through the pages, trying to look for something easier.

Alphonse focused once more on the sound of the heartbeats. They were soothing but he wanted it's rhythm to be a bit faster. More like his own when he was this close to his brother.

Without thinking, Al moved his hand under Ed's shirt, the back of his fingers lightly touching his brother's skin. Ed didn't seem bothered by this. The only effect the touch had on him was his heart rate increased by a bit.

Al smiled. That was more like it. But it still wasn't fast enough. Shifting his gaze ever so carefully at Ed, he braved is hand to go higher. Again, he got no reaction, that is until he reached the little nub on Ed's chest, causing him to squeak. "Al…" he said warningly. "Too high."

Blushing, Al lowered his gaze from his brother's face and stammered, "S-Sorry! I was just- B-Brother!!" Al squealed with laughter as Ed thrust his hands under Al's shirt to tickle him. He wriggled and desperately tried to move away from his brother's hands, which seemed to know just where to poke him.

"That's what you get for trying to tickle me!" Edward laughed, catching his little brother as he wriggled off his lap. Once he stopped to let Al catch his breath, he smiled and looked at the page he left the book on. "Since I won," Ed said smugly. "How's about we order take out?"

---

After dinner, Ed tucked his brother to bed and kissed his forehead, like always. Al made soft sound and mumbled, "You act like a parent, Brother. I can go a night without kisses and hug."

"What? You saying you're tired of them already?" Ed smiled softly, reaching to stroke Al's head. "I have to. One of us has to be a grown up to survive."

I just wish I could help you though, Al thought. I wish I could make you warm and happy, like you make me.

"Brother?" Ed was already making his out of the room when Al called him. "Is it okay if I enlist in the military too?"

Ed made a sour face and shook his head. "No." With that, he shut the door behind him, leaving Al to wonder what was about his brother that made him so… secure.

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Edward was special, Al knew that. He was special for special reasons. For one, Ed gave up his right arm to save him. Another, being the fact that they were brothers. But that didn't explain why his heart raced whenever Edward was so close.

Maybe it was because he could actually feel now? No. Otherwise anyone's kindness would make him feel this way.

So what was it?

Also, Al started having these… thoughts about his brother. Weird thoughts. Sexual thoughts. Alphonse might not have gone through puberty, but Ed didn't spare him from the 'Talk' because of that. Al knew what lust and love and sex were. Ed had told him about it. But what Edward didn't tell his brother was that you could have these feelings for anyone.

Even brothers.

TBC in CH. 2