Selfless
Sometimes Alphonse Elric thought his brother cared about things more than he said he did. He said he didn't care about having a girlfriend, didn't care about getting married or falling in love. But Al saw the way Ed looked at the couples they saw in the streets. Al thought his brother just needed a push in the right direction.
But if this was the right direction ... why did it hurt so much? The thought of a girl ... of anyone really, taking away his brother killed him inside. Although he didn't want to admit it. He tried hard to pretend Ed wasn't going to fall in love someday and get married. All Al wanted was to be with his older brother. Maybe even forever.
So now, why was Al trying to set up Ed on dates again? Because the lonely look on his brother's face hurt him more.
Al was shaken out of his reflective thoughts by the front door slamming downstairs. He hopped down the steps, eager to hear how his brother's last date went.
"Brother! You're home!"
Ed looked up with a slight glare. "Al! Stop setting me up on dates!"
"Er ... how'd you know it was me?"
"She TOLD me!"
"... Oops."
"You know I'm too busy with research to date a girl right now. I'll meet someone eventually. Just let it go!"
"I was just trying to help." Al grumbled, although inside he was so happy that Ed DIDN'T like the girl.
Ed muttered all the way up the stairs, slamming the door when he got to his room. Al couldn't help grinning now that Ed was gone and then remembering he was supposed to be helping his brother find a girlfriend, promtly collapsed into a chair.
The truth was ... he really had to face it. It wasn't just someone taking his brother from him ... it was the fact that he was head-over-heels in love with Ed. His stomach turned and he curled up into a ball on the chair. He told himself so many times that it was wrong, that he was sick, that he was mistaken. But it was just undeniable. He was in love with his older brother and he didn't think anything or anyone could or would ever change that. All Ed had to do was turn that gorgeous, soft smile his way, the way he looked when he was his happiest and it was all Al could do to not run over and kiss the older boy.
Al stopped that line of thought as the object of his affections came back down the stairs.
"Hey. Al. Let's go out for dinner." In his own way, that was Ed's form of an apology.
"I'll get my coat, Brother." As Al dashed off, he thought that even though it was wrong to be in love with Ed ... his brother was definitely worth it.