Morning

By: Keph

Takes place after my other story "Now When Everything Has Changed". A little story about what happened the day after Ed and Al tried to bring back their mother. Manga-based timeline (or at least attempted manga based time-line)

"Good morning, Brother." Al said.

Ed, barely awake, murmured something in agreement. Al was standing by the window. The morning light, that early light the same color as pale honey, streamed in around him. That's why Ed didn't really see him at first...and as such, he had one more moment to forget the night before.

Such a brief moment it was.

Al stepped from that light and Ed's face suddenly tightened.

Al immediatly paused.

Outside the window, a bird sang.

Somewhere chimes were ringing in the wind.

Ed stared up at Al and Al shifted nervously, trying to think of something to say.

"I'll get you breakfast, Brother." He finally said, his voice as bright as he could make it. Then he started from the room.

"Al!" Ed said and reached for his brother as he passed the bed. The arm that he touched was cold to the touch. "Al...I..."

"Yes, yes. You must be hungry. Don't worry, alright? Pinako ba-chan is making breakfast. I heard pans. I'll get you some..."

"Please...Al..." Ed said and his face lowered, his shoulders began to shake. Al, watching him, suddenly remembered him kneeling on the ground the night before, after he had somehow managed to crawl from his bed...Al wondered should that face raise now, would the gaze be as he remembered-reflecting moonlight as surely as guilt? It was a face he never wished to see again.

Ed began to say something as Al stood so strangely still, a disconcerted stillness, as Ed suddenly realized there was nothing breathing in that armor, nothing stirring to betrayed life, only those strange new eyes...He started to speak, but never got there. Suddenly Al had pulled his brother into an embrace. "Brother." Al said sternly in his ear, "Lay down. Please. We'll talk later. We'll talk..."

"Al..." Ed said, realizing that his little brother's voice was swollen with emotion.

"I'll be back with breakfast," Al said and stood, "You must be hungry." Without another hesitation, Al walked from the room.

Ed watched him go.

The morning light reached his bed, but it never reached his eyes.

TO BE CONTINUED...